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, August 31, 2018

DuckTales: Shadow War!


T HDE U SCHKATDAOLW E WSA R !
After discovering the truth about the Spear of Selene, the duck boys blame Scrooge for the loss of their mother and leave their uncle to his misery. Meanwhile, Magica De Spell is close to exacting revenge on Scrooge, so the family must come together and race against time to plan a dangerous rescue mission to save Uncle Scrooge and the entire city from Magica's Shadow War of Revenge!

Thursday, August 30, 2018

Screechers Wild - Cartoon Toy Ad

So what do you get when you mix 
Hotwheels + Beyblades + Transformers?
S C R E E C H E R S   W I L D !
It’s twenty minutes in the future in a blue-sky world, and Screechers Wild competitions are all the rage. Xander and Ringo are brothers who live in Zephyr City where the most important competitions happen, but can't yet compete themselves. Until, one night, everything changes. Watch the First Episode below:

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

First Trailer for MOWGLI


M  O  W  G  L  I
A human child raised by wolves, must face off against a menacing tiger named Shere Khan, as well as his own origins.

Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Cate Blanchett, Andy Serkis Directed By: Andy Serkis

US Release Date: October 19, 2018

Tuesday, August 28, 2018

COIN | Pilot Episode


C   O   I   N
A love-letter to classic games, COIN is a pilot setting up the world of a grizzled plumber tasked to save the world...all of them. Animated by Exit 73 and produced by Polaris.

Monday, August 27, 2018

Pre-Finale Recap of Adventure Time


ADVENTURE TIME IS ENDING!
Here's what you need to know about the show
Need an Adventure Time recap before the series finale? Us too! Which is why we've collected every bit of adventure time lore we can into one video to get you caught up before "Come Along With Me" airs September 3rd!

Sunday, August 26, 2018

ALIENS - The Expanded Universe

A   L   I   E   N   S

 Xenomorph Biology Experiments Performed by Dr. Church - Explained
BIOLOGY: First in a series of videos investigating Colonel Dr. Church, a twisted scientist obsessed with the Xenomorph, as depicted in the comic Aliens: Labyrinth. This video takes a look at his experiments and studies of the creature's biology, and possible psychic capabilities. 


Dr. Church's Survival Within the
Xenomorph Hive - Explained
SURVIVAL: Second in a series of videos exploring Dr. Church, recalling his youth and experiences held captive by the Xenomorphs, which lead to a deeper understanding to the species (From the Graphic Novel, Aliens: Labyrinth).

Saturday, August 25, 2018

See the Rickmobile at Graham Crackers

The RICKMOBILE at Graham Crackers Naperville
It will be in the parking lot of Graham Crackers Comics of Naperville, Sunday, August 26th from 2PM to 5PM. The Rickmobile is a mobile one-of-a-kind pop-up shop that offers fans of the show a chance to get their hands on exclusive, custom-designed Rick and Morty collectibles. Quantities are limited and they will only be taking credit or debit, no cash.

Friday, August 24, 2018

Amazing Pilot Episode by Talented Filmmaker


SONG IN THE SKY
In a world where the ground is lost to legend, an emotionally-damaged fighter pilot must defend her floating city from eldritch monsters.

Song in the Sky is a show about loss, trauma, and ultimate, painful recovery, framed against a fantastical backdrop of dogfights, monster battles, and existential mystery. It’s Top Gun by way of Evangelion, set in a world where the ground fell away long ago, and the last floating city fights for survival against the Lovecraftian abyss below the clouds. 

Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/samfrederich to see more episodes made.

Song in the Sky is a cartoon pilot that is in development to become a larger series as we speak!

Thursday, August 23, 2018

Anime Viewing Schedule for August 25, 2018

A N I M A T R I X   N E T W O R K
Saturday, August 25, 2018
Fountaindale Public Library
Moana: "We don't understand what she's saying."
Anna: "Her subtitles are turned off."
Vanellope: "Ahh."

Fountaindale Public Library
300 W. Briarcliff Road
Bolingbrook, IL 60440




2nd Floor Board Room, 11:15 am to 5:00 pm
11:15 - 12:30   A Place Further Than the Universe 11-13 (End)
12:30 - 1:20     Hinamatsuri 1-2
1:20 - 2:10       B - the Beginning 11-12 (End)
2:10 - 2:45       Club Meeting / Announcements
2:45 - 3:35       Megalo Box 1-2
3:35 - 4:50       A.I.C.O. Incarnation 8-10

All anime presented are fan-subtitled unless otherwise noted.
 
Don't miss the exciting anime series: B - The Beginning and Megalo Box
ANIME DESCRIPTIONS ARE BELOW

Wednesday, August 22, 2018

Coming Soon: Your very own Terminator...


Ibuki is the 10-year-old robot child
that will haunt your dreams
[Source: TechCrunch] Professor Hiroshi Ishiguro makes robots in Osaka. His latest robot, Ibuki, is one for the nightmare catalog: It’s a robotic 10-year-old boy that can move on little tank treads and has a soft rubbery face and hands.
 
The robot has complete vision routes that can scan for faces and it has a sort of half-track system for moving around. It has “involuntary” motions like blinking and little head bobs but is little more than a proof-of-concept right now, especially considering its weird robo-skull is transparent.

“An Intelligent Robot Infrastructure is an interaction-based infrastructure. By interacting with robots, people can establish nonverbal communications with the artificial systems. That is, the purpose of a robot is to exist as a partner and to have valuable interactions with people,” wrote Ishiguro. “Our objective is to develop technologies for the new generation information infrastructures based on Computer Vision, Robotics and Artificial Intelligence.”
 
Ishiguro is a roboticist who plays on the borders of humanity. He made a literal copy of himself in 2010. His current robots are even more realistic, and Ibuki’s questing face and delicate hands are really very cool. That said, expect those soft rubber hands to one day close around your throat when the robots rise up to take back what is theirs. Good luck, humans!

How soon are we to this...
"I need your clothes, your boots and your motorcycle."

Tuesday, August 21, 2018

Marvel Rising: Initiation

Stand Out. Rise Together. The next generation of Marvel heroes debut in "Marvel Rising: Initiation"
Gwen Stacy AKA Ghost-Spider, wrongly accused of a crime she didn’t commit, seeks to clear her name and deliver justice. Unfortunately, her dad is not only Captain of the NYPD, but spearheading the manhunt! To make matters worse, other young heroes—Ms. Marvel, Squirrel Girl, Quake and Patriot—are after Ghost Spider as well. But, as the chase to uncover the truth winds down, a darker threat looms along the horizon, and very soon, these heroes will need to put aside their differences and work together as a team.

Monday, August 20, 2018

Next Club Meeting is this Saturday, August 25

 A N I M A T R I X   N E T W O R K
Whoa...! Witness a possible execution at this weekend's meeting!
Bring your friends!

Fountaindale Public Library
300 W. Briarcliff Road
Bolingbrook, IL  60440
Board Room (2nd Floor)
 
Saturday, August 25, 2018
11:15 AM - 5:00 PM
 

Our next club meeting will be at the Fountaindale Public Library
Board Room (Second Floor), 
from 11:15 AM to 5:00 PM.

 
A Viewing Schedule will be posted soon.
 
Hope to see you all there!

(Click below for maps

Sunday, August 19, 2018

First Trailer for Star Wars: Resistance

Here's the First Trailer for the Next
Star Wars Animated Series, Resistance
[Source: Gizmodo] All wings, report in! The next animated series set in the galaxy far, far away is just two months away: Lucasfilm and Disney have confirmed that Star Wars Resistance is taking flight October 7. And we’ve finally got our first look at the anime-inspired visuals of the next animated chapter in the Star Wars saga.

Confirmed by Lucasfilm and Disney today, Resistance, set in the years before the events of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, will premiere on the Disney Channel at 10 pm EST on October 7. The series will air on Disney Channel, before also airing on Disney XD at a later date. The series, which revolves around the ace fighter pilots of Leia Organa’s burgeoning Resistance, follows a young pilot named Kazuda Xiono (voiced by Days of Our Lives’ Christopher Sean), recruited by the rebel group to conduct secretive spying missions on the growing reach of the villainous First Order. Here’s the synopsis for the pilot episode:
Poe and BB-8 assign newly-appointed spy Kaz to the Colossus, a massive aircraft re-fueling platform on an outer rim water planet, home to colorful new aliens, droids and creatures. While undercover, Kaz works as a mechanic and lives with Poe’s old friend Yeager, a veteran pilot who operates a starship repair shop run by his crew: Tam, Neeku and their old battered astromech droid, Bucket. Kaz soon finds himself in over his head with his new friend BB-8 as he’ll have to compete in dangerous sky races, keep his mission a secret from his newfound family, and avoid the danger of the First Order.
Check out the full trailer below:

Saturday, August 18, 2018

Disney's version of the Nutcracker

The Nutcracker and The Four Realms
All Clara (Mackenzie Foy) wants is a key – a one-of-a-kind key that will unlock a box that holds a priceless gift. A golden thread, presented to her at godfather Drosselmeyer’s (Morgan Freeman) annual holiday party, leads her to the coveted key—which promptly disappears into a strange and mysterious parallel world. It’s there that Clara encounters a soldier named Phillip (Jayden Fowora-Knight), a gang of mice and the regents who preside over three Realms: Land of Snowflakes, Land of Flowers and Land of Sweets. Clara and Phillip must brave the ominous Fourth Realm, home to the tyrant Mother Ginger (Helen Mirren), to retrieve Clara’s key and hopefully return harmony to the unstable world. Starring Keira Knightley as the Sugar Plum Fairy, Disney’s new holiday feature film “The Nutcracker and the Four Realms” is directed by Lasse Hallström and Joe Johnston, and inspired by E.T.A. Hoffmann’s classic tale.

Friday, August 17, 2018

Monsters and Gunslingers


C L I F F S I D E
Monsters and shootouts abound in this animated western comedy following an overconfident kid, his apathetic partner, and a spider-girl with some serious boundary issues. What will it take to save CliffSide from some rather unconventional evil in the surrounding cliffs, and will our hero ever actually learn anything?

Episode 1 - "Pilot"
Getting tangled up with an excitable spider-monster named Cordie who suffers from a validation complex to rival his own, Waylon quickly learns his bold gunslinger talk leads to horrifying actions when put into practice by his new super-fan. Now he’s got some explaining to do and a western standoff or two to perform if he hopes to scrape by without learning anything from this whole ordeal.

Thursday, August 16, 2018

Live-Action Kim Possible Teaser

See Live-Action Kim Possible In Action
[Source: Yahoo!] Here’s the sitch. One thing studios have been known to do is take popular animated characters, and repackage them into live-action movies. And the Disney Channel is no exception to this popular trend, as they just released the first teaser trailer for Kim Possible, the live-action reboot of the beloved animated series of the same name. In this version, fans will finally get a chance to see Kim Possible in the flesh, who will be played by actress Sadie Stanley, whose only other screen credit is a background role on the Nickelodeon show Game Shakers.

The original Kim Possible was a massively popular animated series that ran on the Disney Channel from 2002 to 2007. In it, titular character Kim Possible was a high school cheerleader and part-time crime fighter. In each episode, Kim struggled with balancing a high school life full of assignments, love interests, and schoolyard rivalries, all while trying to stop one evil genius after another from destroying the world. 
 
Kim Possible was originally voiced by actress Christy Carlson Romano, who will make an appearance in the live-action reboot, though it is unclear what role she’ll play. Patton Oswalt, who voiced villain Dr. Dementor in the original show, is set to return for the reboot as well. 
 
Sean Giambrone will co-star with Stanley as Kim’s best friend and sidekick, Ron Stoppable. The original Ron Stoppable, voiced by Will Friedle, was an affable goofball who loved nachos and his pet naked mole rat, Rufus. Ron’s best known for adding laughs to the series, which shouldn’t be a problem for Giambrone who proved his comedy chops playing Adam Goldberg in ABC comedy The Goldbergs. 
 
Though the teaser-trailer is only a few seconds long and not much is known about its plot, fans are still excited for a character, who many associate with their middle school days, to get a new generation of followers. 
 
Kim Possible will be released on the Disney Channel in 2019.

Wednesday, August 15, 2018

Merida Speaks Her Mind

More Disney Princesses in the new Wreck-it Ralph Trailer
"We can't understand her."
 
"She's from the other studio."

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Gal Gadot joins Wreck-it Ralph 2

New ‘Ralph Breaks the Internet’ Clip Reveals Gal Gadot as Shank
[Source: Collider] Giving us a horrifying glimpse into the future where Disney buys Warner Bros. and Wonder Woman officially becomes a Disney princess, Gal Gadot has joined the cast of Ralph Breaks the Internet, the sequel to the 2012 animated hit, Wreck-It Ralph. Gadot provides the voice for Shank, the gritty, leather-clad street-racing star of a video game named “Slaughter Race.” A new clip from Disney gives us our first glimpse of Gadot’s character in action, competing against Sarah Silverman‘s Sugar Rush champion, Vanellope von Schweetz.
 
The short teaser is fun, and Gadot was practically manufactured in a laboratory to do voice-acting. But the real treat here is the latest look at the assembly of Disney Princesses that this movie managed to pack into one scene, the one moment of this movie that’s basically guaranteed to fulfill the title’s promise. Your mileage may vary when it comes to seeing Cinderella chillin’ with Pocahontas, but the dig at Pixar is admittedly A++.

Check out the clip below. Ralph Breaks the Internet debuts in theaters on November 21.


Here’s the official synopsis for Ralph Breaks the Internet:

“Ralph Breaks the Internet” leaves Litwak’s video arcade behind, venturing into the uncharted, expansive and thrilling world of the internet—which may or may not survive Ralph’s wrecking. Video game bad guy Ralph (voice of John C. Reilly) and fellow misfit Vanellope von Schweetz (voice of Sarah Silverman) must risk it all by traveling to the world wide web in search of a replacement part to save Vanellope’s video game, Sugar Rush. In way over their heads, Ralph and Vanellope rely on the citizens of the internet—the Netizens—to help navigate their way, including Yesss (voice of Taraji P. Henson), who is the head algorithm and the heart and soul of the trend-making site “BuzzzTube,” and Shank (voice of Gal Gadot), a tough-as-nails driver from a gritty online auto-racing game called Slaughter Race.

Monday, August 13, 2018

The Begun of Tigtone

T I G T O N E
Tigtone is a 15-minute medieval project from Andrew Koehler and Benjamin Martin, based on their 2014 short The Begun of Tigtone. Focusing on a quest-obssessed hero, Tigtone will combine "highly rendered, hand-painted fantasy art, motion capture performance, 2D animation, and pseudo-3D visual effects," thanks to the folks at Titmouse. The series is meant as a satire of fantasy tropes that one would find in role-playing games, video games, and movies. Blake Anderson (Workaholics) serves as producer and will also lend his voice to the cast.

Sunday, August 12, 2018

First Look at Rooster Teeth's 'gen:LOCK'

gen:LOCK teaser trailer features
Doctor Who's David Tennant in action
[Source: Syfy] t's already been reported that Doctor Who's David Tennant will be lending his vocal stylings to the new Rooster Teeth mecha sci-fi series gen:LOCK, but now, thanks to a newly released teaser trailer from the Austin-based company, we have our first official listen to Tennant in the previously teased role of Dr. Rufus Weller (aka "Doc"), the inventor of the technology that features in the show's name. 

Tennant joins the previously announced voice cast for the series, including Michael B. Jordan (Black Panther) — who is also producing gen:LOCK through his company, Outlier Society Productions — as lead Julian Chase; Dakota Fanning (Coraline) as pilot and Chase's love interest Miranda Worth; and Koichi Yamadera (Cowboy Bebop, Ghost in the Shell) as recruit Kazu Iida.

gen:LOCK, part of the next phase of Rooster Teeth's planned animation slate, will revolve around a diverse group of young pilots tasked with operating giant, mechanized robots as part of a fight against class warfare. The story takes place in a dystopian, futuristic version of Earth.

Check out the first trailer released by Rooster Teeth above, which features Tennant in the role of Doc and a new character named Colonel Raquel Marin, voiced by actress Monica Rial (RWBY, Fullmetal Alchemist). From what we can garner, Tennant's Doc has a promising new pilot initiate to train, known as Yasamin Madrani. Unfortunately, it may be a little easier said than done to secure her, as Colonel Marin doesn't feel too inclined to spring the newest recruit free from the Mesa Detainment Center.

What will happen when Madrani and Chase ultimately cross paths? We'll have to find out when gen:LOCK premieres in January 2019, with a planned eight-episode first season.

Saturday, August 11, 2018

The country's biggest arcade is in Chicago!

Galloping Ghost Arcade is a 640-piece gamer's paradise in Chicago
[Source: Syfy] Looking at the Galloping Ghost Arcade just outside Chicago, it becomes easy to forget that traditional arcades are nearly dead. While on the outside it looks like a small place to hit up a few old-school arcade games, the lines of machines swarmed by players show how bustling it truly is. Being the largest arcade in the U.S., Galloping Ghost Arcade has built both an impressive collection and a strong community focused on both the nostalgia and the continuing tradition of arcade gaming.
Of course, Galloping Ghost’s beginnings were smaller. Starting with only 130 games, the arcade has increased its library nearly five times over, with a current collection of over 640 games. Focused on “bringing arcade gaming to the public,” Galloping Ghost eschews tokens for a flat $20 fee for the day, allowing players to experiment and dive into the arcade’s library without spending obscene amounts of money. 

Even with the large number of players usually gathered to check out both popular classics and hidden gems, the sheer amount of games means there are virtually no lines for specific titles. Any fear of missing out is further dampened by the arcade's long operation hours and low entry fee; whether you’re dropping in for a couple rounds of Space Invaders or sticking around till it closes at 2 a.m., you will easily find something to enjoy.

While the lively community and low price tags are welcome perks, the main driving force behind this arcade is its library. With classic titles such as Galaga, Pac-Man, and Street Fighter, players are able to experience the very games that dominated arcades during their heyday. However, it is the less common games that make the Galloping Ghost Arcade so interesting to explore. Since most of these games feature quick playtime, it's easy to experience a wide variety in only a few hours. Of course, with 640 titles, the array of options could easily leave you paralyzed. For those looking for a few quick picks, here are some interesting lesser-known games worth checking out at Galloping Ghost.

Metal Gear Arcade
Easily one of the more recent arcade games at the Galloping Ghost, Metal Gear Arcade takes the settings and visuals from Metal Gear Solid 4 and blends it with third-person action. Besides the Metal Gear title, the most interesting aspect of Metal Gear Arcade is its controls, with a controller that is a cross between a light gun and a traditional controller. Granted, this does make movement feel awkward, but the entertaining action and modern style still allow players to find some fun in this odd Metal Gear title.

Rad Mobile
While a more traditional racer, the moving arcade pod makes Rad Mobile a must-try at Galloping Ghost. Relying on a tilting arcade pod, the game helps players feel like they’re racing through these courses, with each turn actively thrusting the pod into every direction. Admittedly, this can lead to some motion sickness, but if you are willing to power through, Rad Mobile can be a memorable time with a standard racer.

Grid
Grid feels like a Quake-style FPS converted into a third person, multi-cabinet local-multiplayer shooter. Using both a joystick and a trackball, Grid oddly mirrors the accuracy seen in standard shooters, allowing players to actually track moving targets. However, Grid is meant to be played for the experience rather than the game itself, as its maps are overly simplistic and the matches themselves lack any real pacing. Despite the shallowness, Grid is something definitely worth trying just for the controls.

Holosseum
Speaking of games worth trying solely for the experience, Holosseum creates a holographic effect through curved mirrors. The game itself is just a standard fighting game, lacking anything that makes it stand out, but is worth trying solely for the weird holographic effect.

Ninja Baseball Batman
A fun little beat-em-up, Ninja Baseball Batman sends players to retrieve the stolen artifacts from the Baseball Hall of Fame. Like most beat-em-ups, the gameplay is relatively shallow and relies more on graphics to keep players entertained, but the baseball theme and relative silliness make Ninja Baseball Batman a fun time.

GORF
A combination of numerous space shooters, GORF allows players to sample a new playstyle each level. Taking levels from Galaxian and Space Invaders, GORF feels like the game version of a homemade mixtape, combining pieces from multiple sources to make an enjoyable experience. If you have limited time and want to experience a multitude of games, GORF can give you a nice sample of the classics.

Friday, August 10, 2018

Ginza Holiday Festival this August 10-12, 2018

435 W Menomonee St, Chicago, IL 60614
Join the Midwest Buddhist Temple on the weekend of August 10-12 for our 63nd annual Ginza Holiday Festival. Come for your favorite Ginza offerings: our Chicken Teriyaki and other menu favorites, our exciting stage presentations featuring Taiko, Martial Arts and Japanese Folk dance, the expanded shopping experience, or the Japanese cultural exhibits highlighted again by the Waza master craftsmen from Japan. To learn all of the details about this year’s Ginza visit www.GINZAHOLIDAY.com.
We hope to see you at Ginza and don’t forget to tell your friends and family!

Thursday, August 9, 2018

WORLD OF HORROR announcement trailer

WORLD  of  HORROR
Behold the dreadful tale of WORLD OF HORROR, the unsettling cosmic horror retro RPG from panstasz and Ysbryd Games, headed to Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and Steam in 2019. http://wohgame.com/ 

The Old Gods are reawakening, clawing their way back into a world that’s spiraling into a mysterious madness. In a small, seaside town of Japan, the population’s sanity is dwindling and otherworldly, grotesque creatures terrorize those who call the place home. It’s the end of the world and the only solution is to confront the terror reigning over the apocalypse. 

Navigate this hellish, roguelite reality through turn-based combat and unforgiving choices. Experiment with the events of a playthrough by building a deck of event cards to discover different outcomes for your battles against the darkness. Different decks may even unlock new mysteries or clues. 

WORLD OF HORROR features branching stories with five playable characters to brave the chaos, each with their own story and a different perspective on the events that unfold. Unravel puzzles and mysteries through spells that sacrifice sanity. Uncover disturbing and shocking clues. Diligently search every nook and cranny, scouring for helpful items that may come in handy in another twisted encounter. 

Experience the quiet horror of this love letter to the works of Junji Ito and H.P. Lovecraft. WORLD OF HORROR is free of typical jump scares, relying solely on its unnerving environments and amorphous terrors to create a gnawing sense of dread. Complimented by a haunting chiptune score and a 1-bit art style with a variety of available palettes, WORLD OF HORROR presents a series of frightening and unsettling accounts that linger well after stepping away.

Wednesday, August 8, 2018

Ruby Rose cast as Batwoman on The CW

RUBY ROSE is BATWOMAN
[Source: Syfy] The CW has found a star for its Batwoman standalone series within the confines of the Arrowverse. Orange Is the New Black star Ruby Rose will be playing the titular hero, the network announced Tuesday. 
 
Upon learning that she'd locked down such a major role, Ms. Rose posted on Instagram, writing about how she was "an emotional wreck..because this is a childhood dream." 
It looks like the rumor that the network was seeking a lesbian actress turned out to be true. In the post-Crisis comics, Kate Kane is a Jewish LBGTQ character — one of the first openly gay personas in the DC universe.

Her character is described in a CW release as a "highly trained street fighter primed to snuff out the failing city’s criminal resurgence. But don’t call her a hero yet. In a city desperate for a savior, Kate must overcome her own demons before embracing the call to be Gotham’s symbol of hope."

Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, and Geoff Johns will produce, while Vampire Diaries alum Caroline Dries writes and produces. Batwoman is set to make her debut during the annual Arrowverse crossover in the fall among Arrow, Legends of Tomorrow, The Flash, and Supergirl

According to CW president Mark Pedowitz, the Batwoman pilot is aimed for mid-season, although it is unclear on whether it will get picked up for a full series.

Rose's other credits include Resident Evil: The Final ChapterJohn Wick: Chapter 2xXx: Return of Xander CagePitch Perfect 3, and the upcoming The Meg.