Next Club Meeting: April 20, 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.

Saturday, January 31, 2015

Disney Confirms ‘Star Wars VIII & IX Release Dates

[Source: CBR.com] Confirming what many have long assumed, Disney CEO Bob Iger has announced the studio is targeting a 2017 release for Star Wars: Episode VIII, followed in 2019 by Episode IX.

The official word arrived in Disney’s annual report, a copy of which was received by Get Your Geek On’s David Gremillion, who’s a stockholder.

“As one of the few people allowed to visit the set during filming … and one of the fewer who’s seen most of the footage … I can assure the millions of Star Wars fans who have spent the last decade hoping for a new movie this one will be worth the wait,” Iger wrote. “And it’s only the beginning of a new era of exceptional Star Wars storytelling; next year we’ll release our first standalone movie based on these characters, followed by Star Wars: Episode VIII in 2017, and we’ll finish this trilogy with Episode IX in 2019.”

In April 2013, it was revealed that Disney planned to release a Star Wars film every year over roughly a six-year period, alternating between trilogy entries and spinoffs. As Iger referred to these films as “this trilogy,” it may imply another trilogy is in the works (which certainly wouldn’t be a surprise).

Before we get to all of those other films, however, J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars: The Force Awakens hits theaters on Dec. 18.

Friday, January 30, 2015

The MINIONS Super Bowl Spot


Gru is recruited by an organization to stop Scarlet Overkill, a super-villain who, alongside her inventor husband Herb, hatches a plot to take over the world.

Thursday, January 29, 2015

Terminator Genisys Movie - Big Game Spot


He's ba-a-a-a-ack. Watch the new Terminator Genisys big game spot starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. 

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

GHOSTBUSTERS Cast Revealed

Tweeted by director Paul Feig, telling us that all-female cast of GHOSTBUSTERS will be:

KRISTEN WIIG

MELISSA MCCARTHY

KATE MCKINNON

AND LESLIE JONES.

Here are character descriptions for the four protagonists. There's Erin, a parapsychology professor at Columbia, much the same way the original three guys were in GB 1. She used to work with Abby, who, at the time the story begins, has been hunting ghosts on her own alongside a partner named Jillian. Then there's Patty, an MTA worker who, by happenstance, comes across the main ghost the other three GBers are pursuing. It's possible Wiig will play Erin, Jones as Abby, McKinnon as Jillian, and McCarthy as Patty, though there's a chance that Jones and McCarthy's roles will be switched.

Even bigger than that is who Feig wants for the contemporary Walter Peck, the computer nerd dead-set on revealing the GHOSTBUSTERS efforts as a hoax: Peter Venkman himself, Bill Murray.

Also, Peter Dinklage might play the villain, "a creepy mechanical genius." Stay tuned.

GHOSTBUSTERS (as it's currently called) will release on July 22, 2016,

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

New Teaser for Fantastic Four


FANTASTIC FOUR, a contemporary re-imagining of Marvel’s original and longest-running superhero team, centers on four young outsiders who teleport to an alternate and dangerous universe, which alters their physical form in shocking ways. Their lives irrevocably upended, the team must learn to harness their daunting new abilities and work together to save Earth from a former friend turned enemy.

Monday, January 26, 2015

Emma Watson confirmed in Beauty and the Beast

Emma Watson to play Belle in Disney's Beauty and the Beast live-action movie.

Sunday, January 25, 2015

Empire's AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON Covers

Empire magazine has premiered its two AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON covers. 

Saturday, January 24, 2015

A look at the Nominations for Best Animation

Here are this year's Academy Award picks for
Best Animated Feature and Short
[Source: blastr.com] Last week, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced its final nominees for this year's Academy Awards, with the usual controversial additions and omissions to get movie fans' blood boiling.  In the category of Best Animated Feature, the most notable exclusion from the hallowed list was The LEGO Movie, a universally loved box-office hit.  

With the art of animation in all its amazing incarnations hitting its creative stride in recent years, and while our LEGO furor is still fresh, let's dive into this year's 10 nominees for Best Animated Feature and Best Animated Short to see which ones might see the glint of gold come Oscar Night on Feb. 22, 2015.  
Sample each nominated selection below and shout out which ones were your favorites ...

NOMINEES FOR BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM

THE BOXTROLLS

Oregon-based Laika Animation's stop-motion steampunk fable about a society of underground trolls who raise an orphan boy named Eggs, and their attempt to thwart the town villain and save the town of Cheesebridge. Laika created the worlds of Coraline and Paranorman, and this latest animated confection could have some serious momentum with its Halloween-time release and Burtonesque charm.

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2

Toothless and Hiccup expand the wild dragon society of Berk in this sequel to 2010's mega-hit How To Train Your Dragon, which some say surpasses the original. Here Hiccup discovers his long-lost mother and faces a formidable new foe named Drago. With The LEGO Movie kicked to the curb, this crowd-pleasing followup from the folks at DreamWorks could have a clear flight path to Oscar gold.

THE TALE OF THE PRINCESS KAGUYA

Here's a lush, mystical folktale that celebrates the art of hand-drawn animation, lovingly rendered from Studio Ghibli (The Wind Rises, Spirited Away) and director Isao Takahata (Grave of the Fireflies). Hailed as a masterful achievement in visionary storytelling, this old-school animated masterpiece might be this year's sleeper to steal the storied statue.

BIG HERO 6

This is Disney's heavyweght CGI entry into the race, with a lovable healthcare bot named Baymax joining forces with a spunky kid inventor and his gang of young inventors to become the unlikely champions of San Fransokyo. Big Hero 6 was a critical and box-office slam dunk, and without competition from those little Danish bricks, this candy-colored entry is by far the favorite.

SONG OF THE SEA

A lush and lyrical Irish fable about a lighthouse keeper's children and the last of the mythical sea creatures called Selkies. This hand-drawn animated feature was directed by Tomm Moore, who was also nominated for Best Animated Feature for 2009's The Secret of Kells. A long shot in the race, but a worthy addition to this year's fantastic group of nominees.


NOMINEES FOR BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM

THE DAM KEEPER

A poignant, 18-minute tale of a pollution-choked future and a young pig's job to keep the town's windmill dam's sails spinning. Directed by Robert Kondo and Dice Tsutsumi, this children's storybook tale has a simple beauty and charm that could entice Academy members to punch its ticket to glory.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Using a blend of traditional animation, stop motion, motion graphics and time-lapse techniques, this modern meditation on aging and the elderly has a trippy, phantasmagoric quality that resonates long after the end. Director Daisy Jacobs used life-size sets for her animated sonnet about caring for an elderly relative. Totally absobing and innovative, and a worthy underdog.
FEAST

Disney's touching short about a stray puppy and its relationship to its owner's love life through the enticing continuity of food. Screened before last summer's Big Hero 6, Feast was directed by Patrick Osbourne, a lead animator on Wreck-It-Ralph, Tangled and Bolt, and carries that Disney-fied CGI gloss we've all become accustomed to. Definitely the one to beat.

A SINGLE LIFE

Pia, a carefree woman, experiences a wild ride through space and time as a strange vinyl record allows her to leap between stages of her life. Directed by Joris Oprins, this whimsical offering comes from the Netherlands and is considered an admirable opponent despite its long-shot status.

ME AND MY MOULTON

From Torill Kove, the Academy Award-winning director of the 2006 animated short The Danish Poet comes the funny story of three sisters living in an eccentric, unconventional Norwegian family who yearn for a bicycle. Told in an amusing, primary-colored style that might find its way into Academy voters' hearts.

And that's your field. Now that you've absorbed a taste of them all, chime in and tell us who'll win Oscar evening.

Friday, January 23, 2015

DEAD RISING Live-Action Movie

D E A D   R I S I N G: WATCHTOWER 
Based on the popular video game franchise, will be released on Crackle in its feature form on March 27, 2015.

Principal cast for the upcoming feature-length project includes Jesse Metcalfe (Dallas), Meghan Ory (Intelligence, Once Upon a Time), Virginia Madsen (SIDEWAYS), Dennis Haysbert (MEN, WOMEN and CHILDREN), and Rob Riggle (LET’S BE COPS, 21 JUMP STREET).


“DEAD RISING: WATCHTOWER” takes place during a large-scale zombie outbreak. When a mandatory government vaccine fails to stop the infection from spreading, the four leads must evade infection while also pursuing the root of the epidemic, with all signs pointing to a government conspiracy. Politics, public paranoia, and media coverage play an important role in the story’s narrative.


“The Dead Rising” game franchise has sold over 7.6 MM copies worldwide. Publisher Capcom has sold over 100 MM game copies worldwide, including juggernauts “Resident Evil,” “Street Fighter” and “Mega Man.”


Legendary Entertainment’s Television and Digital Media division will produce “DEAD RISING: WATCHTOWER.” The feature is written by Tim Carter, who will also produce with Tomas Harlan under their Contradiction Films banner.

Thursday, January 22, 2015

Anime Viewing Schedule for January 24, 2015

Saturday, January 24, 2015
Wood Dale Public Library
Hurry, so you don't miss it!
The meeting is this weekend!
Watch "Tale of Princess Kaguya" @ 2:30 pm
Main Meeting Room, 10:15 am to 5:00 pm
(Click on links to view Video Previews)

10:15 - 11:05    Nisekoi 19-20
11:05 - 11:55    Nagi no Asukara 22-23
11:55 - 12:45    Captain Earth 19-20
12:45 - 1:35      Aldnoah Zero 9-10
1:35 - 2:05        Club Meeting / Announcements
2:05 - 2:30       
Parasyte - the maxim 7

2:30 - 4:47        The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (Movie)

 
Keep watching the exciting new anime series: Aldnoah Zero and Parasyte!
ANIME DESCRIPTIONS ARE BELOW

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Next Club Meeting is January 24, 2015

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
"Nothing to fear. I'm just a maaaagical princess from another dimension!"
- Star vs The Forces of Evil

The First Club Meeting of 2015
is this weekend!

Wood Dale Public Library
520 N. Wood Dale Road
Wood Dale, IL  60191
Main Meeting Room
Saturday, January 24, 2015
10:15 AM - 5:00 PM

Our next club meeting will be at the Wood Dale Public Library
Main Meeting Room (on your right as you enter the front doors), 
from 10:15 AM to 5:00 PM 
(until the library closes).

There is public transportation available. 
A Metra train-stop is located within walking distance. 

Please note: If you are driving, please park your car 
on the south side of the building (not the front) in order to 
make room for other library patrons.
 
A Viewing Schedule will be posted soon.
 
Hope to see you all there!

(Click below for maps

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Batman vs Robin Trailer


B A T M A N   VS   R O B I N
The 23rd DC Universe Original Movie is inspired by the graphic novel Batman: The Court of Owls.

Monday, January 19, 2015

Mech For Sale on Amazon

There's a functional $1 million 
mech robot for sale on Amazon
[Source: TheVerge] Bloomberg Businessweek journalist Brad Stone billed Amazon as "The Everything Store" in his 2013 book about the company. Now, here's irrefutable proof: if you have ¥120,000,000 (about $1,020,000) handy, you can currently buy a rideable mech robot through Amazon Japan.

The robot is Kuratas, a passion project of Japanese blacksmith Kogoro Kurata that has been in development for several years. It's 3.8 meters (12.5 feet) tall, weighs 5 tons, and should be able to scare the snot out of entire towns with aplomb. (Kurata bills the machine as a "toy," but that seems like a liberal use of the term.) Its terrifying BB Gatling gun can rattle off 6,000 rounds per minute, set to trigger when the pilot smiles.

There are a few disclaimers with the Kuratas: it's not available for discounted shipping through Amazon Prime, seemingly. It also doesn't come with the arms, which are available separately. You arguably don't need the arms if you just want to tool around in a giant mech bot — but if you're going to spend a million dollars on this thing, you might as well go all-in.

Sunday, January 18, 2015

Star vs The Forces of Evil

STAR VS THE FORCES OF EVIL
After having skirmished with a number of dangerous monsters, Star Butterfly arrives on Earth to live with the Diaz family. However, rather than living a normal life, Star, with her new-found friend, Marco Diaz, continues to battle villains throughout the universe as well as in their high school, mainly to protect her extremely powerful wand, an object that she is still yet to master.

Premieres Tonight - Get A Sneak Peek Now!


The Middle‘s Eden Sher voices the title character in the show that follows fiercely awesome teen princess, Star Butterfly. After a few bold skirmishes with other-worldly monsters, Star is sent by her Royal Parents to live with the Diaz family on Earth, bringing along her own unique inter-dimensional style to her new planet.

With the Diaz’s teenage son Marco by her side, this foreign exchange student from another dimension embarks on new adventures battling evil villains throughout the multiverse and in high school, all in an effort to protect her powerful magic wand which she is still figuring out how to use.

In the preview episode, “Star Comes to Earth/Party With a Pony,” as tradition dictates, Star receives the royal magic wand for her 14th birthday, but her parents worry that she is not ready for the responsibility and send her to a place they deem safe – Earth. Then, Star’s best friend from her home dimension pays a visit and feels threatened by Star’s new friendship with Marco.

The preview episode of Star vs. The Forces of Evil airs THIS Sunday, January 18th @ 9PM ET/PT on Disney Channel — right after the premieres of Austin & Ally and K.C. Undercover!

The ep will be available to verified users on WATCH Disney XD and WATCH Disney Channel on Monday, January 19th.

Saturday, January 17, 2015

If HARRY POTTER was an Anime

'HARIPOTA' ANIME
Fan-made animation of what Harry Potter and friends would look like as anime characters.

Friday, January 16, 2015

2015 Oscar Nominations

Which Animated Feature Film 
Do You Think Will Win?
[Source: LA Times] The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences nominated "Big Hero 6," "The Boxtrolls," "How to Train Your Dragon 2," "The Tale of The Princess Kaguya" and "Song of the Sea" for best animated feature, a diverse list of films which nevertheless omits a popular favorite, "The Lego Movie."

In a year with no film from frequent contender Pixar Animation and some very strong movies from industry outsiders and newcomers, the category reflects the tastes of the academy's animation nominating committee, a group that tends to select films with an eye toward the roots of the craft in stop-motion and hand-drawn techniques.

"The Lego Movie," the first film from the newly rebooted feature animation division at Warner Bros., is the highest grossing animated movie of the year, having collected $257.8 million domestically, and it's among the best reviewed, with a 96% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
"In previous years there’s been an obvious front-runner in the animation race," said Eric Beckman, president of GKIDS, the tiny New York-based distributor of Japan's Studio Ghibli movie "Princess Kaguya" and Ireland's Cartoon Saloon film "Song of the Sea." "Without 'Lego' in the race, I'm at a loss as to who that is."

The animation nominating committee, which is composed of both members from the animation branch and from other branches, selected two computer-animated movies at large studios -- Disney's "Big Hero 6" and DreamWorks Animation's "How to Train Your Dragon 2" -- and three smaller films made with the industry's oldest techniques, Laika's stop-motion "The Boxtrolls" and GKIDS' two hand-drawn films.

"We’re in a time where the CG film is the main expression of animation these days, and in a weird way, the old stands out as new," said Graham Annable, who directed "The Boxtrolls" with Anthony Stacchi.

The branch may have stumbled on "The Lego Movie's" genesis as a film about a toy brand, or on its mostly CG animation, which was produced by Animal Logic Studios in Australia.

"It's less about box office or popularity or visibility," said "How to Train Your Dragon 2" director Dean DeBlois. "The nominating committee are absolute lovers of animation. They get together and carefully watch each film."

The animation world is a small and tightknit one -- Chris Williams, who directed "Big Hero 6" with Don Hall, was recently in DeBlois' wedding -- but it's been growing rapidly, which may have also affected "The Lego Movie's" prospects.

"The Lego guys are so insanely talented," Williams said. "I was saddened to see that. But it’s one of those years where there's so many great animated films. Pixar and [Disney and Pixar chief creative officer] John Lasseter have been really important as far as raising the bar and pushing what an animated movie can be, and a lot of other studios have answered that call and raised their game. I see an industry that is so strong right now."

"The Lego Movie" did earn one nomination, for its original song, "Everything is Awesome" by Shawn Patterson. But its filmmakers, Chris Miller and Phil Lord, expressed their disappointment on Twitter about their omission from the animation category.

Thursday, January 15, 2015

THE GOD

A bronze statue of the Hindu deity, Shiva, the personifaction of calm, is irritated by a pesky fly and comes to life in order to rid himself of it. But in his increasingly frustated attempts, Shiva causes himself more and more problems until...

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

New Ultron Trailer

A V E N G E R S :   A G E   O F   U L T R O N
A new trailer for Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron has been released, showing off more Ultron and a mind-blowing look at the Iron Man vs Hulk battle that will finally introduce the Hulkbuster armor.

Monday, January 12, 2015

New Pics for Ant-Man


ANT-MAN
  • Entertainment Weekly has dropped a few more stills from Marvel and Peyton Reed's ANT-MAN. We get a look at the back of the ANT-MAN suit, a behind-the-scenes shot of both Paul Rudd and Reed working through a scene in Pym's lab, and a better look at Evangeline Lily's Hope Van Dyne than we got in the trailer.


      Sunday, January 11, 2015

      The Lazarus Effect starring Olivia Wilde

      T H E   L A Z A R U S   E F F E C T
      ________________________________________________________________________________
      [Source: blastr.com] The studio that brought us Paranormal Activity and Insidious is taking on straight-up sci-fi horror in the first trailer for The Lazarus Effect.

      The film definitely seems to have a Flatliners vibe, and follows the team behind a controversial research project to find a way to bring people back from the dead. As you’d suspect, they succeed, but it doesn’t go exactly as planned. Namely, a scientist played by Olivia Wilde (TRON: Legacy) comes back as a freaky mix of Carrie-meets-zombie.
      ________________________________________________________________________________
       

      Saturday, January 10, 2015

      Puppet/Live-Action Film "Present For You"

      P R E S E N T   F O R   Y O U
      Actor Joe Odagiri (live-action Mushishi's Ginko, Kamen Rider Kuuga's titular character) stars in the live-action and puppet-animated film Present For You. The 3D film is slated to open in Tokyo's Shinjuku Wald 9 and other theaters in Japan on February 7.
      The story centers around Shigeru Kajiwara (played by Odagiri), a man who works part-time at a health food company. Due to a certain incident, Kajiwara pleases an boss (Isao Natsuyagi), who is in charge of the parent company "Give Me Money." The boss puts him in charge of the dummy corporation Present for You that ostensibly sells health food. The boss decides that certain people are unnecessary and bags them up to send to Kajiwara. It is Kajiwara's job to deal with those people. One day, the important politician Soichiro Muneoka (Akira Emoto) is delivered, and Kajiwara's situation takes an unexpected turn.

      The World of GOLDEN EGGS television anime director Yoshihiko Dai directed the project at the studio PLUS heads inc. Dai spent about five years completing the film's world. The film won the International Feature - Live Action division in the 3D Creative Arts Awards in January 2014. The film made its world premiere at the Busan International Film Festival in 2013.

      Friday, January 9, 2015

      New 'Ghost in the Shell' anime announced

      G H O S T   I N   T H E   S H E L L
      Hot on the heels of news that Scarlett Johansson will star in Rupert Sanders’ live action version of GHOST IN THE SHELL comes this new teaser for GHOST IN THE SHELL: ARISE.  This is the newest animated release in the cycle, which hits Japan early Summer.

      Thursday, January 8, 2015

      Scarlett Johansson Confirmed as Major Kusanagi

      S c a r l e t t   J o h a n s s o n
      G H O S T   I N   T H E   S H E L L
      DreamWorks’ upcoming Ghost in the Shell flick has finally found its leading lady. Earlier today, Variety reported that Scarlett Johansson had signed on the dotted line to star in the upcoming big-screen adaptation of the highly popular Japanese anime.

      Back in October, it was reported that Johansson had been offered the lead role, but at the time the actress had yet to say yes. Now it looks like it’s finally a done deal. Thanks to her high-profile role as Black Widow in many a Marvel flick and her recent turn as the title character in last year’s Lucy, the actress has proven she can be quite the bankable action star. As for what she'll be up to in Ghost in the Shell, here's your one-line synopsis:
      The story follows the exploits of a member of a covert ops unit of the Japanese National Public Safety Commission that specializes in fighting technology-related crime.
      Rupert Sanders (Snow White and the Huntsman) will helm the film, which was penned by Bill Wheeler.  Avi Arad and Steven Paul will be producing, with Paramount having the option to come on board as co-producer. DreamWorks and Steven Spielberg, who's been a longtime fan of the original, will oversee production.

      Below is a cosplay pic of what we may be seeing in the live-action movie:

      Wednesday, January 7, 2015

      Ant-Man Trailer

      • The wait's over! Get your first full, official look at Marvel's "Ant-Man," first seen during "Marvel's Agent Carter"! Watch now and see the movie in theaters July 17!

          Tuesday, January 6, 2015

          Mad Max Fury Road Pics

           
          [Source: Reddit] Here are some new images from MAD MAX: FURY ROAD, due on screens May 15, 2015. See the new pics below:

          Monday, January 5, 2015

          Neill Blomkamp's secret Alien project

          B L O M K A M P ' S   A L I E N
          [Source: blastr.com] Iconoclastic director Neill Blomkamp (District 9, Elysium) seems to have a pretty busy schedule, with his new movie Chappie coming out in March and myriad other creative projects and diversions, but it seems he still had time to work on an unknown, unsanctioned Alien project while we were snoozing!

          This preoccupation with the worlds inhabited by the Alien franchise led to some truly majestic concept art supporting this rebellious undertaking, done completely outside any studio direction or involvement. Blomkamp dropped these images yesterday to the surprise of most everyone, with an incredible array of concept art depicting Ripley wearing some type of xenomorphic pilot suit, Weyland-Yutani headquarters, a dry-docked Dreadnought spaceship, an aged, disfigured Corporal Hicks and a new evolution of the facehugger. Playing around in Ridley Scott's and James Cameron's Alien sandboxes seems to agree with Blomkamp, but he renounced any studio involvement last night and hinted that this was simply an interesting exercise in applying his unique vision to the material.

          Think this was the renegade director's way of calling attention to his Alien/Aliens love to helm a studio sequel, or just something to pass the time? Have a look at the art below: