Next Club Meeting: December 14, 2024, at the Fountaindale Public Library in Bolingbrook from 11:00 am - 5:00 pm
The Animatrix Network is an anime & manga fan club located in the Southwest suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. We usually meet on the third Saturday of each month (except when holidays or conventions coincide). The meetings are free and open to the public. Join us for a day filled with anime.
This site provides news, reviews, commentaries, and previews of the world of anime and everything it inspires, such as live-action films, comics, music, art, and other weird things to enjoy and contemplate.
The Animatrix Network is an anime & manga fan club located in the Southwest suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. We usually meet on the third Saturday of each month (except when holidays or conventions coincide). The meetings are free and open to the public. Join us for a day filled with anime.
This site provides news, reviews, commentaries, and previews of the world of anime and everything it inspires, such as live-action films, comics, music, art, and other weird things to enjoy and contemplate.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
COMIC-CON: The Exclusive TRON Legacy Trailer
Friday, July 30, 2010
Thursday, July 29, 2010
COMIC-CON: The THOR Trailer
The SDCC exclusive Thor trailer leaked on the internet. Click on the picture below to watch it while you can before it's gone. [Source: ComicBookMovie.com]
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
COMIC-CON: Ryan Reynolds recites the Green Lantern Oath
[Saturday, July 24, 2010] This was an awesome panel! Ryan Reynolds stars as the Green Lantern. A little boy in the audience asked him how he felt when saying the Green Lantern Oath for the first time. Reynolds thought the kid was so cute that not only did he recite the Oath, but he also autographed something for him. It was a really great moment as you can see from the video:
COMIC-CON: More Boos in Hall H
[Saturday, July 24, 2010] During the Trailer Park session in Hall H, the trailer for the movie Devil stood out. It started as a very interesting clip and some people in the audience commented that so far it looked good, then the name of the director was shown and all 6,500 people in Hall H groaned and booed. Check out the trailer for yourself and you'll know what we mean...
COMIC-CON: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows
[Saturday, July 24, 2010] This panel was a disappointment. Very little in the way of new footage was shown. In fact, it was mostly the trailers we've already seen. And since this would be the last Comic-Con before the last film can be promoted, we were expecting most of the primary cast to shown up, but instead only one cast member managed to find time to attend: Tom Felton (Malfoy).
COMIC-CON: Green Hornet
[Friday, July 23, 2010] Seth Rogen stars as the Green Hornet. Seth commented that his hero is J.J. Abrams and that he is often mistaken for him. Jokingly, Seth has no problem taking the credit for his films.
Christoph Waltz as the Villain in the Green Hornet
COMIC-CON: Priest
[Source: Anime News Network] The North American publisher Tokyopop points to the 115-second trailer for Scott Stewart's live-action film adaptation of Min-Woo Hyung's Korean manhwa Priest this past weekend. The film stars Paul Bettany as the titular priest who attempts to rescue his niece from vampires. Also starring in the film are Cam Gigandet, Maggie Q, Karl Urban, and Christopher Plummer. After three delays, the movie is now slated for release in 2D and stereoscopic 3D on May 13, 2011. Tokyopop announced at Comic-Con International on Saturday that the movie's prequel comic Priest: Purgatory is available now on Apple's App Store. Tokyopop is also releasing Ghostface, another series from Hyung.
Paul Bettany |
Maggie Q |
COMIC-CON: Scott Pilgrim Panel
[Thursday, July 22, 2010] The cast of Scott Pilgrim appeared at Hall H and Michael Cera walked out on stage dressed as Captain America. He was disappointed that he wasn't chosen for the role himself.
Michael Cera as Scott Pilgrim and Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Ramona V. Flowers |
COMIC-CON: TRON Legacy Panel
[Thursday, July 22, 2010] Awesome footage was shown at this panel. This might be the movie of the year!
Showing off his action figure.
COMIC-CON: The Megamind Panel
[Thursday, July 22, 2010] Will Ferrell as Megamind. Brad Pitt was a no-show but a cardboard stand-in was used instead.
Monday, July 26, 2010
City Under Siege!
Robbers with super powers go on a crime spree. Who is strong enough to stop them?
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Water Tree Nana - MAD
Water Tree Nana - With song of songstress [teiruzu] MAD Trickstar
Saturday, July 24, 2010
COMIC-CON: Cowboys and Aliens
After an hour postponement due to the stabbing in Hall H, efforts were made to put things back on schedule. Jon Favreau, director of Iron Man, came out with great excitement from the audience to introduce the stars of his newest film, Cowboys and Aliens: Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford. Standing ovation for Harrison who came out escorted by two police officers and in hand cuffs. Guess that was the only way he was coming to the con. It was a cute gag.
Favreau then showed a special clip of the new movie which he said was just shot in 4 weeks. Looked very good. Can't wait to see it.
COMIC-CON: Stabbing at Hall H
There was an altercation in Hall H just a couple of minutes ago! A man who refused to switch seats was stabbed by the man sitting next to him. Stabbed in the eye! There was blood everywhere! Security came and arrested the guy. Paramedics arrived quickly.
Panels have been postponed until the blood can be cleaned up. Currently they are running trailers to keep the crowd calm.
Video of the assailant being carted off by the police.
Video of the assailant being carted off by the police.
UPDATED - July 26, 2010
UPDATED - July 27, 2010
COMIC-CON: Boos and Stuff
The trailer for Gulliver's Travels just got booed by everyone in Hall H. ^^
Friday, July 23, 2010
COMIC-CON: Friday Update
The Friday Event schedule was perhaps the weakest of all the Comic-Cons I have ever attended. But despite that there were still some very good panels to see. The Sony presentation of Priest, The Other Guys, and the Green Hornet was of very appreciative note. The trailer for Priest looked fantastic, and was the most promising feature of the night. Based on the manga by Tokyopop, Priest is set in the future where the war of the vampires have sent mankind on the brink of extinction. The Church turns to their last line of defense: The Priests, warriors of tremendous skill and power who single-handedly defeated the vampires. But once the vampire threat had been eliminated, the Church feared the power of the Priests and ordered them to be indoctrinated back into normal society. Years later, the vampires returned and only one Priest remained to confront the growing horde.
Revealed: Transformers 3 Opening Spolier
[Source: Blastr.com] Are you going to see Transformers 3? Of course you are! If all you care about is watching Michael Bay blow stuff up real good and getting a glimpse of the new Megan Fox (you know, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley), read on. But if you want every moment to come as a complete surprise, think twice before continuing on to find what we found out about the movie's opening scene.
Since you're still here, that means you're not going to blame us if we spoil something for you, right?
According to Devin Faraci over at Chud, Transformers 3 will start off with a a robotic disturbance on the moon that's picked up by Earth scientists, who alert the government. The news makes it way to the White House, where men in black suits rush through the halls, burst into the Oval Office and tell the president (whose back is to the camera), "Sir, something's happened on the moon!"
The president turns around and (OK, here comes the spoiler)—
It's John F. Kennedy.
That's right. Transformers 3 won't begin in modern times, but rather back in 1961 or 1962, and deal with the Transformers' involvement in the space race, and why JFK was so insistent that the U.S. make it to the moon first.
If you've read this far, what do you think of the new direction for the Transformers franchise? Does it seem like a fun way to go?
Thursday, July 22, 2010
COMIC-CON: The cast of SALT
Angelina Jolie makes a surprise appearance at Comic-Con this year in order to promote her new film SALT which opens this weekend.
COMIC-CON: Just how long are the lines?
COMIC-CON: Everyone stands in line...
Aack! After standing in line for over three hours, I managed to get within feet of the door to Hall H where I planned to see the panel for Megamind and TRON Legacy, but alas, it was not so. Hall H has a capacity crowd of over 6,000. It was absolutely full. The only way people in line hoped to get in was if people inside left. But after the Megamind panel, there was no sign of anyone leaving Hall H. Which meant everyone inside were there for TRON. And when its at full capacity, they weren't letting anyone else into the Hall. The Comic-Con staff told those of us in line that there was no hope of getting in to see TRON, and with that news, people left. So I am currently still in line for the next panel, SALT. Still closer to the door, and with better chances to get into Hall H. Word is that Angelina Jolie will appear in person!
Tales from Earthsea - Official US Trailer
A trailer for the the North American release of Ghibli's Tales From Earthsea, which opens August 13, rated PG-13.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
COMIC-CON: Preview Night!
Arrived at San Diego airport today. Overcast sky. A bit chilly for a city that's suppose to be know for its warm sunny climate. I hope this isn't an omen of things to come.
Preview Night was not as crowded as it was last year. Probably because the convention capped the attendance. Didn't see too many cosplayers. Usually we see tons of them in costume. But the Exhibit Hall was its usual magical self. I love this place!
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
We're heading to San Diego Comic-Con!
Tomorrow, the biggest comic/multimedia event of the year takes place in San Diego Comic-Con. Thousands of fans gather for the annual migration to see the latest offerings from Hollywood and the realm of comics and video games. We will be there to report to you all the coolest news first hand. Keep your eyes on this site for updates.
Starcraft II: What's the big deal?
[Source: Yahoo Video Games] With its July 27 launch date fast approaching, Blizzard's behemoth StarCraft II is about to give gamers a perfectly good reason to avoid that evil summer sun in favor of the warming glow of a computer monitor. The heavily-anticipated game is the biggest of the summer -- and we don't just mean in terms of expected sales.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Blizzard's parent company Activision has spent over $100 million developing the strategy sequel. And that doesn't include whatever extra they'll spend marketing it over the next few months.
The good news for Blizzard? Other games to feature that kind of insane budget -- specifically, Rockstar's twin hits Grand Theft Auto IV and Red Dead Redemption -- went on to massive success. Perhaps the more you spend, you more you make, after all.
So on the off-chance that terms like "build order" and "Zerg rush" mean nothing to you, do yourself a favor and check out the handy video below to find out why everyone is in a tizzy over this epic real-time strategy game.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Messenger From the Sea
[Source: TwitchFilm.net] Over the last few years an interesting trend has emerged in the world of Japanese animation. You can call it the rise of the indies, a wave of purely independent animators creating their own feature films and OVA releases at remarkably high quality, building a loyal cult of followers around the globe at the same time.
Makoto Shinkai is the most obvious example of this phenomenon, and probably the highest profile, but there are plenty of others as well. Among them, an animator who calls himself simply Nosferatu. Working largely in monochrome with his signature character, Non-Chan, Nosferatu has assembled an impressive body of work and will be releasing a half hour Non-Chan starring short titled The Messenger From The Sea next month. The first teaser for this has just come on the scene and it is rather tasty.
Makoto Shinkai is the most obvious example of this phenomenon, and probably the highest profile, but there are plenty of others as well. Among them, an animator who calls himself simply Nosferatu. Working largely in monochrome with his signature character, Non-Chan, Nosferatu has assembled an impressive body of work and will be releasing a half hour Non-Chan starring short titled The Messenger From The Sea next month. The first teaser for this has just come on the scene and it is rather tasty.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Parody of AT-AT Day Afternoon
Here's the original version:
Preview of the 11 official GIANT Comic-Con bags
[Source: Blastr.com] If you've ever tried to make it across the main floor during the San Diego Comic-Con—which is something like Times Square at midnight on New Year's Eve, except more chaotic—you know one of the biggest bottlenecks is around the Warner Brothers booth, where free bags are handed out that are so large you could carry small (and not-so-small) children in them.
We're hoping those crowds might be alleviated a bit this year, since Comic-Con has decided to make the Warner Brothers bags the official bags of the convention and all attendees will receive one when they sign in.
Check out the bags for The Big Bang Theory, Chuck, Fringe, Nikita, The Vampire Diaries, Batman: The Brave and the Bold, The Looney Tunes Show, Scooby-Doo!, Clash of the TitansBrightest Day—plus the official Comic-Con promo they'll all share—below.
Strangely, what you won't see below is the bag promoting Human Target, which Warner Brothers has mysterious held back. (Sounds like a case for Christopher Chance to us!)
Which one do you want the most?
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Olivia Wilde will kick butt in cyberspace
The O.C. and House vet told MTV about her character Quorra (whom they call "Cora"), the right-hand woman of Jeff Bridges' character Flynn, who was himself last seen in 1982's Tron. Wilde says of her character kicking butt in the world of Tron (where getting splattered in a lightcycle duel seems an everyday matter), that "I'm a very passive, nonviolent person, but there's something to be said for playing a very strong woman, and being able to train yourself to do something that you never thought you'd be able to do is one of the highlights of being an actor."
Friday, July 16, 2010
We're heading for San Diego Comic-Con!
The Animatrix Network will be at San Diego Comic-Con next week! Stay tuned for daily updates for all the coolest stuff this side of the universe!
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Scooby Doo: Mystery Inc.
Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated premiered on Cartoon Network on July 12, 2010 and airs new episodes every Monday at 7 pm ET.
Here's a video clip of Mystery Inc. in action:
Links
Ryan Reynolds As Green Lantern!
[Written by Mike Ryan] Green Lantern's alter ego, Hal Jordan, was known as the man who knew no fear. Ryan Reynolds, who is the star of the movie of the same name, is living up to that reputation. In new a new photo showing Reynolds in his "Green" getup, which hugs his every muscular ripple, little is left to the imagination.
The buzz for next summer's blockbuster-in-the-making reached a fever pitch this week when photos of Reynolds as Green Lantern emerged -- particularly the one that graces the cover of the July 23 issue of Entertainment Weekly. At first glance, even a casual fan might notice that Reynolds's costume has a painted-on look. That's because it is digitally "painted" onto the actor's body.
For filming, Reynolds' actual costume that he wears on set is full of sensors, much like the suits that athletes wear when lending their on-field moves to video games. After the scenes are shot, the sensors allow for the costume to be added via post-production technology. The reveal of Reynolds' computer-created costume has garnered reactions that range from praise to saying the thing makes Reynolds look a little "silly."
Soon after the EW cover emerged, a second set of photos were released, featuring Reynolds with his co-star and on-screen love interest, Blake Lively. Lively -- who, to the chagrin of her admirers, appears fully clothed in the photos -- plays Carol Ferris, the daughter of an aerospace tycoon who hires Hal Jordan as a test pilot. The photos also depict co-stars Peter Sarsgaard, Tim Robbins, and Angela Bassett as their "Green Lantern" characters.
This version of "Green Lantern" is, thankfully, a far cry from what was almost unleashed upon the world around five years ago. Jack Black, not a man known for his physical prowess, was originally cast as Green Lantern in what was to be a spoof described as a "zany comedy version a la 'The Mask.'" Black and Warner Bros. (also the studio behind 2011's "Green Lantern") eventually scrapped the idea because of pressure from DC Comics (the creators of "Green Lantern") and the backlash over Black's casting.
For those not in the know: Green Lanterns (yes, plural) are basically an intergalactic police squad that divided the universe into 3,800 sectors. Hal Jordan, an Earth-based test pilot, is selected by the Green Lantern Corp. to patrol sector 2814. Every Green Lantern is given a power ring that is capable of creating a quasi- energy-beam version of whatever the user desires. If Hal Jordan wants to fight crime with a giant corkscrew, the power ring will create a giant corkscrew.
"Green Lantern" is due for a June 2011 release. On July 24, at Comic Con in San Diego, the cast (Reynolds, along with co-stars Blake Lively, Peter Sarsgaard, Mark Strong and director Martin Campbell) will be making their first public appearances associated with the film. It's unclear if Ryan will be looking like the lean, green fighting machine he is on the EW cover: according to Us Weekly, Reynolds separated his shoulder earlier this week during a mishap on the film's New Orleans set.
Peter Fernandez, Voice of Speed Racer, Passes Away
[Source: ToonZone.net] Peter Fernandez, best known to animation fans as the voice of Speed Racer, passed away this morning due to lung cancer at the age of 83. Fernandez was instrumental in many of the earliest anime imports to the United States, including Speed Racer and Marine Boy, working as a translator/script writer, director, and voice actor on those shows, as well as the composer to the theme song for Speed Racer. In addition to a cameo role in the live-action Speed Racer movie and a recurring role as Spritle in Speed Racer: The Next Generation, Fernandez was also the voice director for Cartoon Network's Courage the Cowardly Dog and Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Transformers 3 - Filming in Chicago
[Source: SciFiWire.com] Michael Bay! Explosions! The streets of Chicago turned fiery this weekend thanks to a Transformers 3 scene Bay was shooting in which Optimus Prime sped through a series of explosions. Luckily, thanks to the video below, we don't have to wait for the film to hit theaters to get a taste of the action.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Monday, July 12, 2010
Puzzle Agent: the animated horror game
[Source: SciFi.com] I love the above animated short by artist Graham Annable. The pacing. The long shots. The anatomically correct dog. The closing scream. The borderline inappropriate choice of music. Annable is a frequent collaborator with Telltale Games. If The Hidden People is any indication of the tone of their upcoming game Puzzle Agent, I'm sold. I'm ready for an animated horror game that isn't played for laughs.
Puzzle Agent is a Professor Layton style adventure game consisting of puzzles and cutscenes inspired by Annable's Grickle series of comics. In this promo video, Telltale designer and writer Mark Darin describes Puzzle Agent as Fargo meets Twin Peaks and X-Files. But Annable characterizes it as "a lot of Kubrick, maybe a little Lynch in there".
A recent viral website for the game suggests that Hidden People is the basis for the first episode of Puzzle Agent. The press release linking to the site -- mysteriously minus any reference to Puzzle Agent or Telltale, but sent out by Telltale's PR agency, so you do the math -- promises more specifics this Friday.
Puzzle Agent is a Professor Layton style adventure game consisting of puzzles and cutscenes inspired by Annable's Grickle series of comics. In this promo video, Telltale designer and writer Mark Darin describes Puzzle Agent as Fargo meets Twin Peaks and X-Files. But Annable characterizes it as "a lot of Kubrick, maybe a little Lynch in there".
A recent viral website for the game suggests that Hidden People is the basis for the first episode of Puzzle Agent. The press release linking to the site -- mysteriously minus any reference to Puzzle Agent or Telltale, but sent out by Telltale's PR agency, so you do the math -- promises more specifics this Friday.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
The Dead Taun-Taun Wedding Cake - Yum!
[Source: SciFiWire.com] Christopher J. Trevas has been creating amazing Star Wars art since 1995, for projects such as Jedi vs. Sith: The Essential Guide to the Force and Star Wars Blueprints: The Ultimate Collection. So when it came time for the guy to get married, you just knew the wedding cake had to be Star Wars-themed.
But who knew it would end up being so ... well ... disgusting? (But tastefully so!)
The cake, baked by Courtney Clark of Cake Nouveau, re-creates that famous scene from The Empire Strikes Back, and both attracts and grosses us out at the same time. But that doesn't meant we don't want a piece!
But who knew it would end up being so ... well ... disgusting? (But tastefully so!)
The cake, baked by Courtney Clark of Cake Nouveau, re-creates that famous scene from The Empire Strikes Back, and both attracts and grosses us out at the same time. But that doesn't meant we don't want a piece!
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Dragon Age: Warden's Fall
Episode 1 (Epic New Original Machinima Series!) Friday, July 9, 2010
Next Club Meeting is Saturday, July 10, 2010
Anime Viewing Schedule
Noon- 12:25 Kiddy Girl-and (episode 3)
Twenty-five years after Éclair and Lumière, (from the flagship Kiddy Grade series), rescued the galaxy from destruction's doorstep, the GTO (Galactic Trade Organization), created after the defeat of the GOTT (Galactic Organization of Trade and Tariffs), act on behalf of universal peace by combating criminal activity. Their special ES division mirrored after the GOTT's ES (Encounter of Shadow-work) force, now includes publicly acknowledged ES member candidates. The series follows three such trainees, Ascoeur, Q-feuille, and Di-air as they work their way to ES membership.
12:25 -12:52 Cencoroll
In Cencoroll, large, mostly white amorphous creatures have been appearing in a town modeled after Sapporo, Hokkaidō, Japan. Tetsu (テツ?) (Hiro Shimono) is a male high school student who keeps one such shapeshifting creature named Cenco (センコ, Senko?), which he can control via telepathy, though wants to keep it a secret. An inquisitive girl named Yuki (ユキ?) (Kana Hanazawa) chances upon Cenco at school when it is transformed into a bicycle. After Tetsu arrives to retrieve the bicycle, Yuki inadvertently causes Cenco to transform back into its normally large form by poking it in the eye. Yuki is much more interested in Cenco than Tetsu and accompanies them into town. There, a boy named Shū (シュウ?) (Ryōhei Kimura), who controls two of the creatures, confronts Tetsu in order to obtain Cenco. Tetsu manages to fend off Shū's attacks while also protecting Yuki, and they leave while Shū's creature is incapacitated. Shū confronts Yuki later that day and gets her to tell Tetsu to meet and fight Shū again.
In Cencoroll, large, mostly white amorphous creatures have been appearing in a town modeled after Sapporo, Hokkaidō, Japan. Tetsu (テツ?) (Hiro Shimono) is a male high school student who keeps one such shapeshifting creature named Cenco (センコ, Senko?), which he can control via telepathy, though wants to keep it a secret. An inquisitive girl named Yuki (ユキ?) (Kana Hanazawa) chances upon Cenco at school when it is transformed into a bicycle. After Tetsu arrives to retrieve the bicycle, Yuki inadvertently causes Cenco to transform back into its normally large form by poking it in the eye. Yuki is much more interested in Cenco than Tetsu and accompanies them into town. There, a boy named Shū (シュウ?) (Ryōhei Kimura), who controls two of the creatures, confronts Tetsu in order to obtain Cenco. Tetsu manages to fend off Shū's attacks while also protecting Yuki, and they leave while Shū's creature is incapacitated. Shū confronts Yuki later that day and gets her to tell Tetsu to meet and fight Shū again.
A 15 year old boy, Hiroshi Kuzumi, has recently moved into a new town in the mountains. The town is separated into new and old streets by the river, and many mysterious local cultures still remain. Although confused and enjoying his new life, one person kept her distance from him: class committee member Kushinada Nemuru. In their few encounters she gave him a word of advice: "Stay away from the old streets."
1:40 - 2:25 Isekai no Seikishi Monogatari 4
Kenshi Masaki is a 15 year old boy that unwillingly traveled from his homeland on Earth to the alternate world of Geminar. In Geminar, the countries usually wage wars against each other by using the Seikijin, humanoid weapons that were originally discovered within ancient ruins. After being deceived by a mysterious organization to participate in an attempt to assassinate Lashara Aasu XXVIII, the young princess of the Streya Empire, he ends up captured after he relucts to kill her when he had the chance. After Lashara and her servants figure about his situation, they decide to give him aid. Disguised as Lashara's servant, Kenshi moves with her to the Holy Land, a virtually impregnable fortress that serves as an academy to train Seikijin pilots selected from around the world. With his kindness, tenacity, and being gifted in a wide range of skills that vary from cooking and cleaning to advanced techniques of survival and combat, Kenshi eventually becomes a celebrity in the academy, becoming the object of affection of many female students and making some of the male students envious of him. However, the same organization who deceived Kenshi is secretly working behind the shadows inside the academy, and a widescale conflict which will engulf the entire world of Geminar is about to begin.
Kenshi Masaki is a 15 year old boy that unwillingly traveled from his homeland on Earth to the alternate world of Geminar. In Geminar, the countries usually wage wars against each other by using the Seikijin, humanoid weapons that were originally discovered within ancient ruins. After being deceived by a mysterious organization to participate in an attempt to assassinate Lashara Aasu XXVIII, the young princess of the Streya Empire, he ends up captured after he relucts to kill her when he had the chance. After Lashara and her servants figure about his situation, they decide to give him aid. Disguised as Lashara's servant, Kenshi moves with her to the Holy Land, a virtually impregnable fortress that serves as an academy to train Seikijin pilots selected from around the world. With his kindness, tenacity, and being gifted in a wide range of skills that vary from cooking and cleaning to advanced techniques of survival and combat, Kenshi eventually becomes a celebrity in the academy, becoming the object of affection of many female students and making some of the male students envious of him. However, the same organization who deceived Kenshi is secretly working behind the shadows inside the academy, and a widescale conflict which will engulf the entire world of Geminar is about to begin.
2:25 - 3:15 Angel Beats 7-8
Angel Beats! takes place at a high school in the afterlife in a Purgatory between Heaven and Earth where students learn to give up any lingering attachments they still have from life before finally going to Heaven. While the injuries or cause of death is gone, those in the afterlife school can still feel pain or other things as they did when they were alive, as well as dying again, only to awaken with no injures several minutes later. The story follows the main protagonist Otonashi, a boy who lost his memories of his life after dying. Upon awakening in the afterlife, he meets a girl named Yuri who invites him to join the Shinda Sekai Sensen (SSS) (死んだ世界戦線?, lit. Afterlife War Front), an organization she founded and leads which fights against God for the cruel fates the SSS members experienced in life. Their only enemy in the world is the school's student council president Angel, a being with supernatural powers who is in charge of keeping the status quo and fights against the SSS. Yuri believes that anyone who follows Angel's orders and behaves like a normal student at the school will eventually disappear and pass on to Heaven. However, those who fulfill their dreams in the afterlife will pass on as well. In the SSS, there are two sub-divisions which help in the SSS's operations against Angel. The first is a four-girl band named Girls Dead Monster whose objective in the SSS is to cause a diversion from other activities the SSS is engaged in, while on the surface appearing to be a normal all female band. This includes distracting Angel and a large number of "normal" students and teachers at the school Yuri deems "non-player characters" as they are not human, but look and act the part. Another organization in the SSS is the Guild, located far below the surface of the afterlife world, which serves to supply the weapons the SSS uses against Angel. Anyone in the afterlife is able to create anything out of dirt that they had memories of in life, and the Guild uses this ability to mass produce weapons. Angel uses a similar ability to create her supernatural powers.
3:15 - 4:15 Meeting/Announcements/Strange sightings
We will be showing highlights of Anime Expo 2010, including cosplay videos and photos. This should prove to be a very interesting meeting! Don't miss it!
Seven years ago, Yuto Amakawa's parents died in a car accident, leaving him alone without a single relative. Ever since then, his childhood friend, Rinko Kuzaki, has woken him up, cooked for him, and generally takes care of him. The only thing he has from any relative is a mysterious amulet given to him by his grandparents (an omamori). On his 16th birthday, the amulet he wore has lost its effectiveness and Himari—a cat spirit samurai girl—suddenly appears in his life as his bodyguard. There is only one small problem: Yuto has an allergic reaction to cats!
5:05 - 5:55 Katanagatari 4
Katanagatari centers on Yasuri Shichika, the seventh head of the Kyotō-ryū (虚刀流?, literally "swordless style") of Japanese sword martial arts. One day, a girl named Togame arrives on the island where Shichika and his older sister Nanami live with a favor to ask from him. She tells him that she is on a mission to find and collect the final twelve swords forged by a master swordsmith by the name of Shikizaki Kiki and that she needs his help. They both then leave the island together to seek out the swords.
The story centers around a boy named Akihisa Yoshii, also known as the idiot or "Baka" of the titled anime. He attends Fumizuki Academy, a school where the staff rigidly divides the students based on the results of their academic scores. At the start of the school, students are academically sorted by entrance exam test grades. In this case, Class A is filled with the highest-scoring students; therefore, their classroom was filled with many prestigious items (air conditioners, fancy seats, huge spaces, etc.), while the state of Class F is the complete opposite of that, leaving much to be desired.
This academy has something special, where all the students manage to call forth Summoned Beings (Shōkanjū, or "Avatars" in the official English translation). These Beings are used for battles between the classes to capture the facilities of the classroom. Since Class A is filled with prodigies, they all have strong Summoned Beings, while Class F has drastically weak ones in comparison. These beings are supplied in health by the matter of knowledge in a certain subject. Points vary and could even be supplied greatly in a F student if when calling a battle.
On the day of the placement test, an intelligent girl named Mizuki Himeji suffers from a fever and is unable to complete her test, hence her reigning in a score of zero. As a result, she is pigeonholed into Class F together with Akihisa Yoshii. Akihisa, who worries for her health, pitches an idea to his class to rule over the higher-level classes by doing a Summoned Being War for both Mizuki's sake and to get more and more privileges. Aside from Mizuki (who happens to be the second-ranked student in the year), there is also the class representative Yūji Sakamoto, the bishōnen Kinoshita Hideyoshi, the perverted Tsuchiya Kouta, and the tomboyish Shimada Minami (who, as Akihisa claims, is his worst enemy).
6:20 - 8:00 Oblivion Island: Haruka and the Magic Mirror (Movie)
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED *****
"Where do all your childhood treasures go when you grow up?"
Production I.G and Fuji Television Network present a new full length computer graphic animation feature film - Oblivion Island: Haruka and the Magic Mirror (ホッタラケの島 〜遥と魔法の鏡〜, Hottarake no Shima: Haruka to Mahō no Kagami?) is a 2009 Japanese CG animated film directed by Shinsuke Sato. It was nominated for the award for Excellent Animation of the Year at the 33rd Japan Academy Prize.
Story: Haruka lost her mother at a young age. While her mother was still alive, she received a hand mirror from her as a gift. After her mother's death, she had forgotten about the mirror, and eventually lost it. One day, she decides to go to a local shrine and pray for the hand mirror to be returned to her. It is there that she accidentally encounters a small masked fox-like creature which she secretly follows to the land of forgotten things. In this magical world, humans are not allowed. Lost items are bartered and treasured amongst the fox-like folk, who use the discards of humans to build fantastic machines such as mono-rail trains that use bicycle tires for wheels and party balloons for dirigibles. And on this isle of Oblivion, the most valuable lost item of all is that which Haruka has come to seek.
This is a truly remarkable film. The word "magical" has often been used to describe many other animated movies, but none other deserves it more like Oblivion Island. This is like having Hayao Miyazaki direct his own Pixar film in full CG anime style.
Story: Haruka lost her mother at a young age. While her mother was still alive, she received a hand mirror from her as a gift. After her mother's death, she had forgotten about the mirror, and eventually lost it. One day, she decides to go to a local shrine and pray for the hand mirror to be returned to her. It is there that she accidentally encounters a small masked fox-like creature which she secretly follows to the land of forgotten things. In this magical world, humans are not allowed. Lost items are bartered and treasured amongst the fox-like folk, who use the discards of humans to build fantastic machines such as mono-rail trains that use bicycle tires for wheels and party balloons for dirigibles. And on this isle of Oblivion, the most valuable lost item of all is that which Haruka has come to seek.
This is a truly remarkable film. The word "magical" has often been used to describe many other animated movies, but none other deserves it more like Oblivion Island. This is like having Hayao Miyazaki direct his own Pixar film in full CG anime style.
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