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.

Wednesday, February 14, 2024

Anime Viewing Schedule for February 17, 2024


 A N I M A T R I X   N E T W O R K
Saturday, February 17, 2024
Fountaindale Public Library
VIEWING SCHEDULE
          11:15 - 12:05   The Apothecary Diaries 7-8
          12:05 - 12:55   Metallic Rouge 1-2
          12:55 - 1:30     Club Meeting
          1:30 - 2:20       Solo Leveling 3-4
          2:20 - 2:45       Frieren 3
          2:45 - 4:45       Psycho-Pass: Providence [Movie]
 
"We promise there will be minimal property damage... this time."
 
Fountaindale Public Library
300 W. Briarcliff Road
Bolingbrook, IL 60440 
Peggy J. Danhof Board Room
(Second Floor)
 
From 11:15 AM to 5:00 PM

All anime presented are fan-subtitled unless otherwise noted.
Don't miss these exciting anime series: Solo Leveling and Frieren
* ANIME DESCRIPTIONS ARE BELOW *
 
11:15 - 12:05   The Apothecary Diaries 7-8
The Apothecary Diaries
Plot Summary: The series is set in a fictional country modelled after Ming-era China. Maomao, a young girl who works as an apothecary in the red-light district, is kidnapped and sold to the Imperial Palace as a servant. However, she still retains her curious and eccentric personality and plans to work there until her years of servitude are over, without drawing the attention of anyone. One day, after hearing the rumors that the emperor's children are critically ill, she begins to investigate the cause, using her experience as a pharmacist, and successfully solves the mystery of their illness. Even though she intends to remain anonymous, her actions eventually catch the attention of an influential eunuch, and soon finds herself solving various mysteries in the royal court.
 
 
12:05 - 12:55   Metallic Rouge 1-2
M E T A L L I C   R O U G E
Plot Summary: In a world where humans coexist with androids called Neans, a group known as the Immortal Nine rises up against society. Tasked with disposing of the revolters, a Nean named Rouge Redstar (aka Metal Rouge) and investigator Naomi Orthmann head to Mars to track them down… but first, Rouge wants some chocolate.
 
 

12:55 - 1:30     Club Announcements
"On your mark. Get set. Go!" 
Gina Carano
Dismal Disney
PIXAR
STAR WARS Future
Doctor Who
Video Games


1:30 - 2:20   Solo Leveling 1-2
SOLO LEVELING 
Plot Summary:  In a world where hunters — human warriors who possess supernatural abilities — must battle deadly monsters to protect mankind from certain annihilation, a notoriously weak hunter named Sung Jinwoo finds himself in a seemingly endless struggle for survival. One day, after narrowly surviving an overwhelmingly powerful double dungeon that nearly wipes out his entire party, a mysterious program called the System chooses him as its sole player and in turn, gives him the extremely rare ability to level up in strength and turn anyone he kills into a loyal minion called a shadow. Jinwoo then sets out on a journey as he fights against all kinds of enemies, both man and monster, to discover the secrets of the dungeons and the true source of his powers.


2:20 - 2:45   Frieren 3

FRIEREN
Plot Summary: The story follows elven mage Frieren, a former member of the party of adventurers who defeated the Demon King and restored harmony to the world after a ten-year quest. In the past, the heroic group included Frieren, human hero Himmel, dwarven warrior Eisen and human priest Heiter. Before they part, they observe the Era Meteors together, a meteor shower that occurs once in fifty years. Frieren agrees to see them again and offers them a better view the next time the celestial event occurs. Frieren then departs and travels the world in pursuit of magical knowledge. Frieren returns to the capital fifty years later; however, humanity has changed, and her former companions have distinctly aged. After one last adventure to see the meteor shower, Himmel dies of old age. During the funeral, Frieren expressed guilt for not attempting to learn more about him. Frieren then pays a visit to her other former comrades. She accepts an offer to teach and care for Fern, an orphaned child adopted by Heiter. She also receives an invitation to travel far north, to the resting place of souls, and see Himmel again to bid the hero a fitting farewell and express her feelings. To fulfill those requests, Frieren embarks on a journey together with Fern while still pursuing her passion for learning magic. Frieren's elven nature grants her an extremely long lifespan, causing her to view periods of years or decades as ephemeral (this perception of time makes her consider the ten-year adventure with Himmel's party a fleeting experience). The story thus takes place across a long time, with periodic flashbacks accompanied by the physical and mental development of characters apart from Frieren herself. 
 
 
2:45 - 4:45    Psycho-Pass: Providence
PSYCHO-PASS: PROVIDENCE
Plot Summary:  In January 2118, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs vessel guarding Professor Milicia Stronskaya is attacked by a paramilitary group called the Peacebreakers. One of the leading operatives, Kai, murders Stronskaya while searching for her research - the Stronskaya papers - before being intercepted by Shinya Kogami, now working as a special investigator for Foreign Affairs's Suppressing Action Department. However, Kogami fails to stop the Peacebreakers after being attacked by a seemingly brainwashed SAD agent.

Back in Tokyo, Inspector Akane Tsunemori contests the existence of Japan's Ministry of Justice and the application of international law, as part of the Sibyl System's growing expansion abroad, during a meeting with the government's top officials, along with Atsushi Shindo, who heads the nation's Immigration Bureau. Both of them receive word about the Peacebreaker incident and travel to the discovered wreckage of Stronskaya's vessel, where MWPSB Chief Josui Kasei orders Tsunemori to leave the investigation at the hands of the SAD, led by agent Frederica Hanashiro and SAD Director Yabuki. However, a preliminary investigation by enforcer Nobuchika Ginoza reveals how the vessel was under SAD protection, while enforcer Sho Hinakawa determines that Professor Stronskaya sent a last-minute message to PSB analyst and Tsunemori's mentor, Joji Saiga.

Saiga speaks to Tsunemori in private about his working relationship with Stronskaya, whose research details the effects of the Sibyl System on foreign countries, while also stating that Stronskaya's message leads him to a PO box in Dejima - a sector in Japan designed to house immigrants waiting to be naturalized into the country. With the new lead, Chief Kasei creates a joint task force with the PSB and SAD to retrieve the Stronskaya papers before the Peacekeepers. Hanashiro briefs Tsunemori's team about the organization, once a black-ops unit by Foreign Affairs before going rogue, and its cult-like fanatical leader Tonami, who is leading the organization under their "god" - The General. Meanwhile, Kogami reunites with Tsunemori and Ginoza, despite heated tensions. While creating a psychological profile of Tonami, Saiga encourages Kogami to apologize to Tsunemori for his actions leading to his exile from Japan, while warning him not to give into his violent nature once more. Kogami makes a half-hearted apology, while Tsunemori warns him that she'll be forced to take him down if he breaks the law again.

At Dejima, the task force arrives at the PO box, but it is revealed to contain a decoy package to hide the papers' whereabouts. Tsunemori and Kogami surmise that the operation is a ploy to lure the Peacebreakers out of hiding. Peacebreakers Bokamoso Murrary and Kai lead operatives in an assault against the task force, where it is revealed that the Peacebreakers have low Crime Coefficients, superhuman endurance, and the ability to brainwash SAD agents. During the battle, Director Yabuki is captured, and Saiga is mortally wounded and left hanging off a ledge; he reassures Tsunemori about being open-minded about truth and justice before falling to his death. While Ginoza dispatches Murray, Kai overcomes Kogami after a lengthy skirmish, but immediately departs and leaves subtle clues leading to the Peacebreakers' headquarters.

Tracking down Kai at the Peacebreakers base, Kogami and Ginoza rescue Yabuki and confront Kai, who reveals his true identity as undercover SAD agent Akira Vasily Ignatov. Back in Tokyo, Akira debriefs Kogami about the existence of the Divider, a software that hacks into cybernetic implants within the Peacebreakers to disassociate feelings of guilt, thus granting their combat and brainwashing abilities. In addition, Akira states that he has the Papers, with Professor Stronskaya organizing her death to maintain Akira's cover. The Papers are revealed to be the model for a Conflict Coefficient - essentially allowing Sibyl to control warfare and foreign relations. Immediately after the debriefing, Tonami takes control of Yabuki and Akira and attempts to escape with the research. But Akira manages to fight off Tonami's control, thus allowing Shindo to fatally wound him. Before dying, he asks Shindo to look over his brother Kei.

With the papers at hand, Shindo exchanges the research to the Sibyl System in return for keeping his criminally asymptomatic son, Arata, from being integrated into the system, while betting on Sibyl's belief in human potential. However, this results in Shindo being disavowed by Bifrost. On the day of Kei's wedding to his wife Maiko, Shindo reassures the couple and his son to use the truth to determine the right path for justice before leaving the reception to commit suicide as part of keeping his silence on his deal with Sibyl. During the inquest, Arata confronts Tsunemori about his father's actions, to which she encourages him to search for the truth himself.

Ginoza alerts Tsunemori that Kasei has shut down the investigation. Once confronted by Tsunemori, Kasei states that Sibyl has agreed to give the Peacebreakers the Papers and their own sovereign state in northern Japan, in return for supporting Sibyl's global expansion. Unwilling to let Tonami and his organization escape justice, Tsunemori teams up with Kogami and Hanashiro on an official raid on the Peacebreakers. The assault team, consisting of Tsunemori, Kogami, Ginoza, and Hanashiro, arrives on the island, while Shimotsuki leads the support team in hacking a highly guarded satellite to disable the Divider and get the team's Dominators online. Hinakawa and enforcer Teppei Sugo narrowly manage to control the satellite, allowing the assault team to fight off the Peacekeepers.

Meanwhile, Tsunemori faces Tonami and the General...

1 comment:

  1. I've watched that Psycho-Pass movie already and it's pretty good. Also it takes place between season 2 and 3 so if you haven't seen 3 then you'll be fine.

    ReplyDelete