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.

Friday, July 31, 2015

Happy Birthday J.K. Rowling!

Today is J.K. Rowling's 50th birthday!
The "Harry Potter" author was celebrated by Time magazine, who asked the films' stars to say something nice on this big day. Here's what they had to say. 
 

 
Alan Rickman, who played Severus Snape in the series, said "The Happiest of Birthdays, Jo. A breeze for the supreme Time-traveler." 
 
Robbie Coltrane, who played Hagrid, said, joking, "You don't look a day over 40. ... Perhaps you could celebrate your half century by writing a hilarious film. Perhaps, starring, I don't know, a large Scottish man." 
 
Finally, Matthew Lewis, who played Neville in the series, said, "I would like to thank Jo for changing MY life ... That's not even to mention her generosity and loyalty when it has come to supporting everything that I have done in the years since Harry Potter." 
 
There's many more birthday wishes and it's nice to see such admiration from the stars for the creator of a game-changing franchise.

Thursday, July 30, 2015

Stitch! Anime Special

Stitch! Perfect Memory
[Source: AnimeNewsNetwork] A new Stitch! anime special, Stitch! Perfect Memory, will air on Japan's Disney Channel on August 7. This will be the first new anime special for the franchise in three years. 
 
Yuu Aoi will guest star in the special as "Tiira," an information analysis robot from the Galactic Federation

In the story, a mysterious giant tank rocket begins stealing resources from various planets. On Earth, Yūna and Boogoo get involved in the incident and disappear. In order to save Yūna, Stitch teams up with Tiira. 

The Stitch! anime is based on Disney's Lilo & Stitch! film. Disney co-produced the series with Japan's Mad House anime studio. 

Unlike the previous Lilo & Stitch! sequels which starred a Hawaiian girl named Lilo, the Stitch! series is based in a fictional island (not dissimilar to Japan's Okinawa) with a heroine named Yūna. The title character Stitch, a runaway alien test subject, remains largely unchanged in MADHOUSE's version. 

The anime series spawned two sequel series in Japan: Stitch!: Itazura Alien no Daibōken and Stitch!: Zutto Saikō no Tomodachi. The original series premiered in Japan in 2008, and the two sequels premiered in Japan in 2009 and 2010. A one-hour sequel special, Stitch to Suna no Wakusei, aired in 2012. 

The series premiered on Disney XD in the United States but only five episodes aired. The first season has aired with the English dub in other territories. 

Take a look at the anime tv show dubbed in English:

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

New Batman v Superman Pics

"Superman stands in the ruins of Wayne Manor..."
The marketing blitz surrounding Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice continues to churn, and now we have a few new pics of DC’s heavyweights getting ready to face off.

Empire has debuted three new pics from the film, along with a cover shot, showing Ben Affleck’s Batman and Henry Cavill’s Superman in action. The Batman shot is arguably the coolest of the set, with the Dark Knight rocking his battle armor beside the Bat-signal (which is apparently being used to lure Supes in for a fight). It’s dark, gritty and gorgeous. Classic Snyder, basically.
The Superman shot reveals the Man of Steel standing in the charred ruins of Wayne Manor. Why? No clue, but he doesn’t look very happy about being there. The third shot focuses on Jesse Eisenberg’s Lex Luthor, who looks the part of hipster CEO in the modern Silicon Valley era (just look at those kicks!). He also has hair, which we'll expect to change by the time the screen fades black.
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice opens March 25, 2016.

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Electra Woman and Dyna Girl Trailer

Grace Helbig and Hannah Hart fight crime with punches and puns in 
"Electra Woman and Dyna Girl."  Video screenshot by Bonnie Burton/CNET
ELECTRA WOMAN and DYNA GIRL
[Source: Yahoo!TechThe first trailer for the "Electra Woman and Dyna Girl" webseries starring YouTube celebs Grace Helbig and Hannah Hart debuted Saturday at VidCon.

The original 1976 "Electra Woman and Dyna Girl" series from Sid and Marty Krofft starred Deidre Hall and Judy Strangis. The show aired 16 episodes as part of the kids series "The Krofft Supershow." 

In 2001, the WB Network commissioned a pilot for a reboot of "Electra Woman and Dyna Girl." However, unlike the original show this pilot was written as a cynical parody -- and never aired.

This newest rendition of "Electra Woman and Dyna Girl" from Legendary Digital Media and Fullscreen follows two superheroes (with Helbig as Electra Woman and Hart as Dyna Girl) as they relocate from Akron, Ohio to Los Angeles in hopes of fighting crime. 

Of course, it's not as easy as they think when they discover other vigilantes who aren't exactly thrilled with their arrival in the City of Angels.

In the new trailer, we see the dynamic duo punching bad guys, wearing colorful costumes, getting a Hollywood agent, perfecting their victory dance and driving a car that would even impress Batman.

This isn't the first time Helbig and Hart have teamed up. The two also starred in the YouTube celeb fest feature film "Camp Takota" and have appeared on each other's shows: Hart's "My Drunk Kitchen" and Helbig's "The Grace Helbig Show."

"Electra Woman and Dyna Girl" is due to debut later this year.

Monday, July 27, 2015

Bugs Bunny Turns 75-Year-Old

Watch His Animated Debut in 'A Wild Hare'

Bugs Bunny first appeared on July 27, 1940
[Source: Yahoo!TV] You’ve got to hand it to Bugs Bunny — he looks pretty good for 75. (Then again, he has been gray from the very beginning.)

Monday marks the iconic Looney Tunes wisecracker’s animated debut — opposite Elmer Fudd, no less — in the 1940 Warner Bros. short “The Wild Hare.”
 
The 7-minute cartoon features so many monumental firsts: the first time Bugs locked lips with an adversary, the first time he faked his own death and, of course, the first time he uttered those immortal words: “What’s up, doc?”
Original production layout drawing by Chuck Jones for his 1943 short cartoon, "Super Rabbit"
Original lobby card for the 1943 Chuck Jones directed "Super Rabbit"
Photostat of a Tex Avery model sheet of Bugs Bunny.
"The Evolution of Bugs Bunny" a hand-painted cel art edition by Chuck Jones
[Source: Time.com] Here’s how the world’s favorite cartoon rabbit came to be. Animator Chuck Jones gave credit to Tex Avery for the character, but Warner Bros. had made several rabbit cartoons in the studio’s earlier years. There were cutesy rabbits and wacky rabbits, but those rabbits aren’t Bugs. (One distinction, Jones explained, was that Bugs’ craziness always serves a purpose–in contrast to the unhinged Daffy Duck.)

The Wild Hare bunny is uncredited, though that changed before the year was up. Bugs was an instant star. By 1954, TIME noted that he was more popular than Mickey Mouse. (Mel Blanc, who voiced the character, later claimed that the name was his idea, saying that they were going to call the character Happy Rabbit, but that Blanc suggested naming him after animator Ben “Bugs” Hardaway. Alternatively, the name is sometimes traced to a sketch that designer Charles Thorson did on Hardaways’ request, with the caption “Bugs’ bunny”—as in, it was the bunny that Bugs had asked him to draw.)

Though Virgil Ross was the animator on A Wild Hare, Chuck Jones became one of the more famous hands behind the Bugs Bunny magic. In 1979, when The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Movie came out, TIME critic Richard Schickel noted that “it is possible that some day Animator Chuck Jones may come to be regarded as the American Bunuel” for the fact that Jones and the groundbreaking surrealist filmmaker so well understood the psychological underpinnings of comedy.

As these images from the late artist’s archives show, Bugs Bunny may have taken a long time to be born—but he sure has aged well.
Original production layout drawing by Chuck Jones for his 1943 short cartoon, "Super Rabbit"

Sunday, July 26, 2015

1/6 Scale Millennium Falcon is Huge!

M I L L E N N I U M   F A L C O N
Check out the first photos of the Hot Toys 18-Foot Sixth Scale Star Wars Millennium Falcon. This year Hot Toys is partnering up with The Walt Disney Company (Hong Kong) to bring the biggest Star Wars presence in the event where a number of Star Wars collectibles by Hot Toys and life-size exhibits will be on display! Starting today we will give fans some sneak peek of what to expect at ACGHK! … If you want to see this spectacular exhibit in person, then you have to come to Hot Toys’ booth (E15-16) at ACGHK in Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre this week!

Saturday, July 25, 2015

The Good Dinosaur - Official US Trailer


T H E   G O O D   D I N O S A U R
"The Good Dinosaur" asks the question: What if the asteroid that forever changed life on Earth missed the planet completely and giant dinosaurs never became extinct? Pixar Animation Studios takes you on an epic journey into the world of dinosaurs where an Apatosaurus named Arlo makes an unlikely human friend. While traveling through a harsh and mysterious landscape, Arlo learns the power of confronting his fears and discovers what he is truly capable of.

THE GOOD DINOSAUR opens in theatres November 25, 2015! 

Friday, July 24, 2015

Attack on Titan: Live Action Trailer


A T T A C K   on   T I T A N
The popular anime is headed to US theaters. Check out the first subtitled look!

Thursday, July 23, 2015

Retro 90's Anime Special

To celebrate our Big 20, we will be going RETRO! 
Anime from the 1990's will dominate 
our Viewing Schedule this weekend. 

 It's all up to you. 

Tell us what you want to see!

Just don't miss the Party! 
"Gentlemen do not steal Ladies' crowns!"
It'll be like a Royal Celebration!

Join us for a 

We'll be showing some Anime  
Fan Favorites 
from the 1990's.

Send us your Anime suggestions 
for our walk through  
Memory Lane.

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Rancor Costume comes to Comic-Con

This Rancor Costume Takes Star Wars 
Cosplay To A Whole New Level
[Source: TechCrunch.com] Comic Con is full of Vaders, Boba Fetts, and Storm Troopers. But how many people can say they’ve roamed the show in an ultra detailed, kind-of-terrifying Rancor costume?

Just one — special effects artist Frank Ippolito.

Built in just a month by Ippolito and a team of artists along with our friends over at Tested, the costume is about as intense as they get. 

My favorite trick of the whole project: as you may note, the Rancor’s eyes don’t happen to fall in a place that offers the wearer much of a view to the outside world. So how do they keep him from running into walls and stepping on small children? There’s a camera hidden in one of the nostrils; inside the costume, he’s wearing a pair of goggles that beams that camera feed to his eyes.

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Monday, July 20, 2015

Chinese 3D ‘Monster Hunt’ Tops Foreign Box Office

MARTIAL ARTS EPIC FILM
M O N S T E R   H U N T
[Source: Yahoo!Movies] Chinese 3D epic “Monster Hunt” dominated the foreign box office this weekend, picking up a leading $72 million.

The fantasy adventure is smashing records, setting a new benchmark for opening day and single day grosses ever for a local film. It also pulled in $8.7 million from Imax screenings, a new opening weekend record for a Chinese-produced film, topping 2014’s “The Monkey King.”

The film is drawing crowds for its special effects-driven battles between humans and monsters. It’s not the only Chinese release doing big business. “Jianbing Man,” a comedy about a fading movie star who finds himself in danger, racked up $61 million, nabbing third place on overseas charts, while “Monkey King: Hero is Back,” roped in $21.5 million for a fifth place finish.

Second place went to Universal’s “Minions,” which added $66.2 million to its haul, bringing its global total to $625.8 million. The film is screening in 56 territories, with eight more territories slated for release over the next two months.

Ant-Man,” Marvel and Disney’s latest superhero adventure, nabbed fourth place with $56.4 million. The comicbook movie opened in 37 markets, including such major territories as Russia, France, Australia, the United Kingdom, Brazil and Mexico. Globally, the film, which topped the domestic box office with $58 million, has earned $114.4 million.

Sunday, July 19, 2015

90's Flashback - Celebrating the Big Anime Invasion

We'll be showing some Anime  
Fan Favorites 
from the 1990's.

Send us your Anime suggestions 
for our walk through  
Memory Lane.

Tell us what you want to see!



Saturday, July 18, 2015

Watch the 10 Biggest Panels at SDCC 2015

Missed out on Comic-Con? 
Watch 10 of the biggest panels right now...
[Source: blastr.com] Another San Diego Comic-Con has come and gone. Movie stars, comics creators and con staff are likely in hibernation, attendees are adding all their new swag to their geeky trophy rooms, and everyone's trying to fight off the dreaded scourge of Con Crud. It was a big con, even without Marvel Studios, and everyone from Lucasfilm to Warner Bros. to Bill Murray brought their best to the dozens of panels the event hosted this year. By now, you've likely heard all the biggest news and seen all the biggest trailers, but what if you want a slightly more intimate Comic-Con-from-a-distance experience? What if you'd like to feel a little more like you actually did get to sit and watch Harrison Ford walk into Hall H?

Well, thanks to the magic of the Internet, you can. Dozens of high-quality videos of full panels have already hit the web, and more are likely to arrive before the week is out. So, if you want to get closer to the con, check out 10 of the biggest panels below.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens


Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice


The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2


Doctor Who


The Walking Dead


Game of Thrones


William Shatner's The Autobiography of James T. Kirk


Fear the Walking Dead


Fantastic Four, Deadpool, and X-Men: Apocalypse


Arrow, The Flash, Gotham, Legends of Tomorrow, and Supergirl

Friday, July 17, 2015

Amy Schumer Does 'Star Wars'

Amy Schumer Joins the
'Star Wars' Bikini Brigade
[Source: Yahoo!Movies] It only appeared on screen for a grand total of 150 seconds, but even today, the metal-bikini outfit that Princess Leia wore at the beginning of the 1983 Star Wars sequel Return of the Jedi remains a fixture in the pop-culture pantheon. 

Among previous actresses who’ve paid homage to the steely swimsuit: Jennifer Aniston, who wore it during a famous scene in Friends (it was Ross’s fantasy, of course); Olivia Munn, who wore during a live Attack of the Show segment; Yvonne Strahovski, who wore it on the comedy Chuck; and Kim Kardashian who donned it when she was less famous.

Now joining the bikini brigade is Trainwreck writer and star Amy Schumer, who dons the outfit on the cover of the new issue of GQ magazine. The 34-year-old Schumer isn’t just paying homage to Leia in the photo — she’s also seen sucking on one of C-3PO’s metallic fingers. The picture is just one of several highly sexualized Star Wars-themed shots featured in the magazine, more of which can be seen below.

Thursday, July 16, 2015

Verizon and Star Wars at SDCC 2015


Check out what Verizon and Star Wars brought to San Diego Comic-Con 2015 with highlights from the Star Wars panel in Hall H and the Concert for the Fans afterwards.

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

From the Mouth of Minions...


Is this Mcdonald's Minion toy swearing? 
WTF?! Does this Minions Happy Meal toy really swear? Toy from a Happy Meal that we got from McDonald's promoting the new "Minions" movie. Pretty sure it is saying "Well I'll be damned." And "WTF"

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

The Best Trailers of Comic-Con 2015

Best Trailers from San Diego Comic-Con 2015
[Source: Yahoo!Tech] If you ever have the chance to attend Comic-Con in San Diego, you should take it. It’s an incredibly chaotic and suffocatingly crowded event, but it has become one of the most important events of the year for the entertainment industry. There are dozens of panels to attend, stars to meet and items to buy that you won’t find anywhere else.

But the great thing is that even if you can’t attend, you still won’t miss the best part: The trailers.

Even without Marvel Studios in attendance this year, there were still tons of movie and TV trailers worth getting excited about, from an extended look Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice to behind-the-scenes footage from Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Below, we’ve rounded up the 10 trailers that we couldn’t stop watching from Comic-Con 2015.

Ash vs. Evil Dead


Deadpool


Heroes Reborn


Rock the Casbah


Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice


The Shannara Chronicles


Sherlock Special


Star Wars: The Force Awakens


Suicide Squad


The Walking Dead: Season 6

Monday, July 13, 2015

Nintendo President Satoru Iwata Dies at Age 55

Nintendo President Satoru Iwata 
Passes Away at Age 55
[Source: Yahoo!News] On Sunday, Nintendo issued a brief statement on its website confirming that CEO and president Satoru Iwata passed away over the weekend at the age of 55.

After skipping last year’s E3 altogether, Iwata sent out a letter to shareholders informing them that during a routine checkup, a growth had been discovered in his bile duct. The physicians made it clear that the smart choice would be to have it removed as quickly as possible, so he opted to have surgery sooner rather than later.

By all accounts, he seemed to be recovering in the months following the operation, but as the statement today noted, “President Satoru Iwata passed away on July 11, 2015 due to a bile duct growth.”

Iwata has been the face of Nintendo for well over a decade, helping to shepherd in the GameCube, the Wii, the Wii U, the DS, the 3DS and thousands of games that have released over the past three console generations. I’m personally going to miss the incredibly enlightening (and humorous) Iwata Asks sessions in which the president of the company sat down with groups of developers to discuss their games.

He was one of the most passionate executives the industry had ever seen, bringing his personality to the forefront every step of the way. It’s a tragic loss for the industry and one we won’t soon forget. Rest in peace, Iwata-san.