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.

Thursday, August 31, 2017

Prequel Short Film "Nexus: 2036"

BLADE RUNNER 2049
Presenting a prequel to the Blade Runner 2049 film. This “in-world” short film explains what happened in the world of Blade Runner between the first movie, set in 2019, and this sequel, set in 2049. The short film "Nexus: 2036" takes place in the year 2036 and revolves around Jared Leto’s character, Niander Wallace. In this short, directed by Luke Scott (Morgan), Wallace introduces a new line of “perfected” replicants called the Nexus 9, seeking to get the prohibition on replicants repealed. This no doubt has serious ramifications that will be crucial to the plot of Blade Runner 2049.

At Comic-Con this summer, Warner Bros. unveiled a teaser that offered a bullet point rundown of the events that have occurred in the Blade Runner timeline since Ridley Scott’s original movie. This “in-world” piece is one of three short films that will debut ahead of Blade Runner 2049, which will further flesh out the Blade Runner universe with even more information. In 2023, government authorities legislated an indefinite “prohibition” on replicant production, as a year prior a massive EMP detonated on the West Coast and is pinned on Replicants. So in this Wallace piece, we’ll see the beginnings of the new Replicants that are created after the prohibition is lifted.

In Blade Runner 2049, thirty years after the events of the first film, a new blade runner, LAPD Officer K (Ryan Gosling), unearths a long-buried secret that has the potential to plunge what’s left of society into chaos. K’s discovery leads him on a quest to find Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), a former LAPD blade runner who has been missing for 30 years.

Wednesday, August 30, 2017

Get Season 3 of Star Wars: REBELS on DVD


STAR WARS: REBELS
Behind The Scenes - The Darksaber
The story of the Ghost crew is far from over. While Sabine confronts new challenges on her home world of Mandalore, Ezra's growing power as both a Jedi and a rebel leader helps the rebellion acquire new resources and recruits for the fight ahead. However, the Imperial effort to eliminate the rebellion is now being led by the coldly analytical Grand Admiral Thrawn, whose strategic, tactical and cultural insights make him a threat unlike any they have faced before.

Tuesday, August 29, 2017

Monday, August 28, 2017

"A Fox And A Mouse" - animated short film


A FOX AND A MOUSE
Watch this beautiful and touching award-winning 3D animated short called "A Fox And A Mouse" as a lonesome fox hunts a mouse - and their relationship evolves as two owls begin to interfere with the hunt!

Sunday, August 27, 2017

Saturday, August 26, 2017

Batman... by Gaslight, New Animated Adventure

GOTHAM BY GASLIGHT
[Source: Syfy] Gotham by Gaslight was essentially the first Elseworlds imprint released in February of 1989, and the period-set one-shot issue was written by Brian Augustyn and drawn by Hellboy creator Mike Mignola. I recall reading it back in the day, absorbed in its Victorian-era Dark Knight prowling the moody, gaslit boulevards of Olde Gotham hunting down the notorious slasher Jack the Ripper, and thinking how cool this would be as a feature film. Well, we may not be getting a live-action rendition of this atmospheric tale, but an animated feature arriving in 2018 is a welcome consolation prize.

Here's the original synopsis:

“In an age of mystery and superstition, how would the people of Gotham react to a weird creature of the night, a bat-garbed vigilante feared by the guilty and the innocent alike? The very first Elseworlds tale re-imagines the Dark Knight detective in Victorian times and pits him against the infamous murderer Jack the Ripper.”

“Batman in this story is a little bit more accessible," noted executive producer Bruce Timm.  "He’s a little bit more human than what we’re used to seeing. […] The subject matter is a little bit tricky for us because you’re basically dealing with a serial killer who murders a bunch of prostitutes. It’s pretty potent stuff.”

Enter into the murky metropolis of this alt-history Bat-story in the preview below, and tell us if Batman: Gotham by Gaslight looks like a promising jaunt back in time.

Friday, August 25, 2017

Meet Cleopatra in the newest Assassin's Creed

Assassin's Creed Origins
New Adventures in the Series' Biggest World Yet
Assassin's Creed Origins director Ashraf Ismail and historian Maxime Durand talk about the important characters you'll encounter on your adventure through Ancient Egypt and what you'll be doing while exploring a vast world in conflict.

Thursday, August 24, 2017

'Stranger Things' Poster Screams ALIEN

STRANGER THINGS Season 2
[Source: Syfy] Following that killer A Nightmare on Elm Street-inspired Stranger Things poster, now the Netflix series is taking on Ridley Scott’s Alien.
 
With a tagline that reads “In the Upside Down, no one can hear you scream,” instead of “In space no one can hear you scream,” this latest season 2 poster is an homage to the landmark 1979 sci-fi/horror movie that starred Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt and John Hurt.
Here's the Stranger Things season 2 poster...
 And now, the original poster for Alien:
As we all know, the Duffer Brothers’ series is a love letter to the 1980s, and this new poster continues that trend. Stranger Things has also released posters inspired by those from Stand By Me (1986) and The Running Man (1987) — check out the gallery below.

Stranger Things returns on Oct. 27 on Netflix.

Wednesday, August 23, 2017

More Evil than the TV series...

TODD and THE BOOK OF PURE EVIL
-THE END OF THE END-
Continuing where the critically acclaimed cult TV series left off, Todd and The Book of Pure Evil: The End of The End: The Animated Feature Film (or TATBOPE: TEOTE: TAFF for short) returns to Crowley Heights to find Todd, Jenny and Curtis grieving the loss of their dear friend Hannah, whose death may or may not have been caused by Todd's banishing of the Book. The three must reunite to fight evil when the Book of Pure Evil returns to Crowley High, bringing with it some familiar faces (Guidance Counsellor Atticus Murphy Jr., Jimmy the Janitor, and The Metalhead Dudes) as well as some new foes, such as the Sweater Vest Beast and an Acidic Acne-Faced Teen. But these enemies are merely warm-ups to the final battle with their greatest nemesis yet: The New Pure Evil One, whose intimate knowledge of our heroes may ultimately lead to their destruction! Todd & The Book of Pure Evil: The End of The End: The Animated Feature Film is loaded with the same juvenile jokes, gore gags, and satanic sing-alongs that made the original TV series a worldwide hit.

Tuesday, August 22, 2017

'The Last Belle - Award Winning Short Film


T H E   L A S T   B E L L E
The Last Belle is an award winning 2D animated short film, featuring the voices of Sienna Guillory, Colin McFarlane and Amanda Donohoe, and directed by Neil Boyle. The film was created using 'old-school' technology: 35,000 hand-drawn and hand-painted pieces of artwork, shot directly onto 35mm film with a rostrum camera, to achieve a traditional 'cartoon' feel.

Monday, August 21, 2017

Watch the Total Eclipse here!

The solar eclipse will be happening in the Chicago area starting around 11:54 AM and reach its peak at 1:18 PM. Click below to see what a Total Eclipse could possibly look like in your area.

Sunday, August 20, 2017

Starship Troopers: Traitor of Mars Trailer (2017)

STARSHIP TROOPERS: Traitor of Mars
C'mon you apes, you wanna live forever?! Casper Van Dien and Dina Meyer return as the voices of Johnny Rico and Dizzy Flores in this new animated movie based on the classic film. Coming to theaters one-night-only on August 21, available on Digital August 22, and out on 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo Pack, Blu-ray and DVD September 19.

Saturday, August 19, 2017

Award Winning 2D Music Video: "Delta"



D E L T A
Check out this stylish 2D animation in this work called "Delta" created by the talented folks over at Wizz/CRCR. CRCR also was recognized for their artistic abilities, winning a Bronze Cube in Art Direction for the '70s sci-fi universe they created from scratch for the music video "Delta."

Friday, August 18, 2017

First trailer for Godzilla Anime on Netflix

G  O  D  Z  I  L  L  A
Knights of Sidonia studio Polygon Pictures is hard at work with Toho on a Godzilla anime, known as Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters, which will arrive on Netflix at some point this year. The Godzilla anime will be directed by Kobun Shizuno, who directed the Detective Conan: The Darkest Nightmare and other Detective Conan movies, Fist of the North Star: The Legend of Kenshirô, Fist of the North Star: The Legend of Toki and Knights of Sidonia, and Hiroyuki Seshita (Blame!, Ajin). The screenplay will be penned  by graphic novel writer Gen Urobuchi (Madoka Magica, Thunderbolt Fantasy Puella Magi, Fate/Zero, Psycho-Pass).
 
“We’re looking forward to bringing a spectacular entertainment experience for both existing fans of Godzilla and people new to the franchise,” said Godzilla director, Kobun Shibuno in a statement.
 
“I’m thrilled to collaborate with two very talented colleagues, Mr. Gen Urobuchi and Director Kobun Shizuno to bring to life a unique vision of a universal human drama set in an epic world.” Meanwhile, screenplay writer Gen Urobuchi added, “I am very honored to join this Godzilla project as one of its Japanese creators. I’m grateful for all the support and really excited to bringing this content to fans worldwide.”
 
"We are truly delighted to unveil Godzilla, which is the latest addition to our growing  catalogue of Netflix original anime content”, said Greg Peters, President, Netflix Japan. "Working with the best creators such as Toho in bringing Godzilla to Netflix users in over 190 countries marks a major milestone for us."
 
Here's the first trailer for Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters, which looks gorgeous!

Here's the voice cast:
Yuki Kaji (Attack on Titan, AJIN: Demi-Human), Takahiro Sakurai (AJIN: Demi-Human, BLAME!), Tomokazu Sugita (Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker, Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure), Junichi Suwabe (Nodame Cantabile, Prince of Tennis), Kana Hanazawa (BLAME!, Psycho-Pass)  and Mamoru Miyano (AJIN: Demi-Human, The Seven Deadly Sins).

Godzilla is one of the most recognizable symbols of Japanese popular culture around the world. Starting in 1954 and through 29 films Toho’s Godzilla was the face of atomic fears that gripped Japan since bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The first time an anime version of a Godzilla character appeared on Japanese television was in a crossover with Crayon Shin-chan. The Godzilla franchise inspired a western animated series from Hanna-Barbera in 1978 and then a follow-up to the maligned 1998 American Godzilla film from Roland Emmerich.

Stay tuned for an official Netflix release date!

Thursday, August 17, 2017

Celebrating 100 Years of Anime

Los Angeles Anime Film Festival
Celebrates 100 Years of Anime
[Source: ToonZone] Did you know anime is now 100 years old? Don’t you think that sounds like a good excuse to throw as many landmark anime films on the big screen at the same time?

Then you’re way ahead of the Los Angeles Anime Film Festival (LA-AFF), which features a blockbuster lineup of anime hits, one after another, starting tomorrow. The LA-AFF takes place September 15th through the 17th and all programs will be showcased at the Regal L.A. LIVE: A Barco Innovation Center in Downtown Los Angeles.

The festival begins with the North American debut of No Game No Life Zero and wraps up with Akira, and is sandwiched in the middle with My Neighbor Totoro, Summer Wars, Ghost in the Shell, Cowboy Bebop: The Movie and more. Here’s the full schedule and lineup:

Opening Gala Screening – Friday, September 15 No Game No Life Zero, dir. Atsuko Ishizuka, Japan, 2017
*North American Premiere
Namakura Gatana (Special Presentation)
Closing Film – Sunday, September 17 Akira, dir. Katsuhiro Otomo, Japan, 1988
Festival Lineup 009 Re:Cyborg 3D, dir. Kenji Kamiyama, Japan, 2012 Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day, dir. Tatsuyuki Nagai, Japan 2013 Cowboy Bebop: The Movie, dir. Shinichirō Watanabe, Hiroyuki Okiura, Yoshiyuki Takei, Japan, 2001 Ghost in the Shell, dir. Mamoru Oshii, Japan, 1995 Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence, dir. Mamoru Oshii, Japan, 2004 (35mm) Kiki’s Delivery Service, dir. Hayao Miyazaki, Japan, 1989 King of Prism by PrettyRhythm dir. Masakazu Hishida, Japan, 2016
*North American Premiere
Love Live! The School Idol Movie, dir. Takahiko Kyogoku, Japan, 2015 Metropolis, dir. Rintaro, Japan, 2001 Miss Hokusai, dir. Keiichi Hara, Japan, 2015 My Neighbor Totoro, dir. Hayao Miyazaki, Japan, 1988 Paprika, dir. Satoshi Kon, Japan, 2006 (35mm) Pigtails, dir. Yoshimi Itazu, Japan, 2015 Porco Rosso, dir. Hayao Miyazaki, Japan, 1992 Red Turtle, dir. Michaël Dudok de Wit, France/Belgium/Japan, 2016 Summer Wars, dir. Mamoru Hosoda, Japan, 2009
Tickets for each individual screening are now available at http://la-aff.eventbrite.com.

Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Tales of Alethrion proloque


T H E   F I R S T   H E R O
The Tales of Alethrion proloque "The First Hero" is about Alethrion, whom the land is named after, and a lovely backpacker girl called Amerath. They are the original creators of the map which we see later in The Reward, carried by Vito and Wilhelm. It is the first tale that takes place long before many of the other episodes in the series which we hope to get funded through Kickstarter.

Tuesday, August 15, 2017

Watch the first episode of DuckTales!


DuckTales! Woo-oo!
Watch the first full episode here!
Donald Duck takes Huey, Dewey and Louie to Scrooge McDuck's mansion where they uncover family secrets, leading to an epic road trip to the Lost City of Atlantis.

Based on the Emmy Award-winning series treasured by a generation of viewers, Disney XD's animated comedy-adventure series "DuckTales" chronicles the high-flying adventures of Duckburg's most famous trillionaire Scrooge McDuck, his mischief-making triplet grandnephews, Huey, Dewey and Louie, temperamental nephew Donald Duck and the trusted McDuck Manor team: big-hearted, fearless chauffer/pilot Launchpad McQuack, no-nonsense housekeeper Mrs. Beakley and Mrs. Beakley's granddaughter, Webby Vanderquack, resident adventurer and the triplet's newfound fierce friend.

Sunday, August 13, 2017

Dolby Presents: Silent, a Short Film


S I L E N T
"Silent" is an animated short film created by Academy Award® winning Moonbot Studios (http://moonbotstudios.com). It celebrates how storytellers, inventors, and technology work together to create cinema magic.

The story follows two street performers who dream of bringing their "Picture and Sound Show" to life. When they discover a magical contraption inside an old theatre, they embark on a cinematic adventure of sight and sound to find the audience they always wanted.

The sound was created by Oscar® nominated sound designer Steve Boeddeker (http://www.skysound.com/bio/steve_boe...).

"Silent" debuted at the Scientific and Technical Academy Awards on February 15, 2014.

Saturday, August 12, 2017

Marvel knows how to have fun!


GUARDIANS' INFERNO
Dust off those far out platforms and enjoy this blast from the past! Get the “Inferno” music video + more bonus features when you bring home "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2" to Digital Aug 8, Blu-ray Aug 22 & new to 4K UHD.

Friday, August 11, 2017

EW reveals images of THE LAST JEDI

Entertainment Weekly has released a ton of exclusive pictures for
T H E   L A S T   J E D I
EW has two different covers
Rose and Finn journey to a crazy casino on a planet called Canto Bight.
Chewie with a Porg, a cute penguin-like creature from Ahch-To
Finn's piloting one of those red dust ship things from the trailer
These "Force-nuns" are caretakers of Ahch-To
The Praetorian Guard are back
Rey training on Ahch-To
"Just a scratch"
Kylo gets a new starfighter
Poe and BB-8 are sticking with Leia
"For the last time, I don't want yer Jedi Scout cookies!"
Rian directing Carrie Fisher
Rian Johnson and producers, Ram Bergman and Kathleen Kennedy
Finn and Rose