Next Club Meeting:May 23, 2026,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 in today's pop culture, such as live-action films, comics, music, art, and other weird things to enjoy and contemplate.
In a world where sports and magic combine, farm boy Key discovers his ultra-powerful natural talent and learns he could be the legendary Dragon Striker. Set at Kal Asterock, an elite school for students who possess extraordinary abilities, Key joins goalkeeper Ssyelle on a scrappy new team to challenge the school champions. As he struggles with the raging dragon inside him and Ssyelle fights to hold her team together, they learn dark secrets of the past and uncover an ancient evil.
Katsuhiro Otomo, the legendary creator behind Akira, is officially returning to the anime industry after more than 12 years with the launch of a brand-new animation studio called Oval Gear. Otomo remains one of the most influential figures in anime and manga history after creating the groundbreaking Akira manga and directing its iconic anime film adaptation, which helped shape modern cyberpunk storytelling worldwide.
The newly announced studio has already sparked major excitement among fans because its branding heavily references Orbital Era, the long-awaited anime project Otomo originally announced years ago. Many viewers now believe the film could finally move forward under Oval Gear with Otomo directly leading the creative process while building a new generation of anime talent around him.
According to the studio’s official statements, Oval Gear was created not only to produce new animation projects but also to preserve and pass down Otomo’s artistic philosophy and visual storytelling style to future creators. The studio is already recruiting production staff and freelancers, signaling a major new chapter for one of anime’s most respected creators. Humans waited over a decade for this man to return, and the anime world instantly reacted like a dormant volcano waking up. Completely justified, honestly.
The year is 2029. In near-future Japan, networks and micromachine technology have advanced dramatically. Motoko Kusanagi, a full-body cyborg, leads Public Security Section 9—an offensive unit known as the “Shell Squad,” formed to stop threats before they escalate. While investigating high-level cybercrimes, the team encounters a phantom: an unidentified hacker known as the “Puppet Master.” Based on the manga “The Ghost in the Shell” by Shirow Masamune originally serialized in YOUNG MAGAZINE published by KODANSHA Ltd.
The “Branch of Reincarnation” grants the talents of past lives but only to those who slit their own throat with it. Touya Senji, crushed by self‑doubt and overshadowed by his gifted brother, believes he’s destined to remain ordinary… until he witnesses his quiet classmate Haito Luo Buffett battling a serial killer with powers from a former life. Now Touya is pulled into a world where reincarnated talents, hidden pasts, and deadly secrets collide, and the Branch awaits his choice.
Follow Leo and Erin’s emotional survival journey from the very beginning
to the latest episode of this Ghibli-inspired zombie apocalypse story.
Episode 1 begins with Leo and Erin trying to survive in a ruined city, gathering food, escaping real-looking zombies, and finally reaching a survivor compound where hope still exists. Inside the compound, Leo slowly finds comfort, friendship, and a place that feels safe, while Erin invites him to join a new supply mission for the people who still need help.
Episode 2 takes them to an enormous old river ship near the dock, where their mission turns dangerous. They search for supplies, discover the ship’s hidden kitchen, share a rare peaceful meal, and then face disaster when Erin falls into the river. Leo returns broken, believing he lost Erin, while Commander Alden and the search team desperately look for him. But the story takes a hopeful turn when Erin wakes up alive in a hidden hospital, rescued by Sofie and Dr. Martin.
The latest episode continues with Leo, Erin, and Sofie finally crossing paths again in the city. New bonds form, old guilt begins to heal, and the three stand together as a team against the dangers around them. What started as a survival story becomes a story about friendship, family, courage, forgiveness, and finding light even when the world feels lost.
A cinematic anime survival story filled with emotional moments, rooftop escapes, abandoned cities, real-looking zombies, quiet healing scenes, and hopeful reunions.
After death, before reincarnation, the souls of the deceased transit through a fantastical realm known as, Another World. Gudo is a spirit that helps to guide these transient souls to their reincarnation. While guiding a young girl named Yuri, he learns that humans have emotions that he does not understand. Tasked by Goddess Mira to help Yuri control her rage and prevent her transformation into a monster, Gudo embarks on a perilous mission.
Two thieves enter the same dungeon searching for a gem worth incredible wealth, but what they find along the way is worth more than all the treasure in the dungeon combined. This is the BYU Center for Animation's 2025 short animated film project.
Animated fan film based on the novel by Timothy Zahn.
The feature-length animated (made without AI) adaptation of
Star Wars: Heir to the Empire, based on the novel by Timothy Zahn.
The Rebel Alliance has destroyed the Death Star, defeated Darth Vader and the Emperor, and driven the remnants of the old Imperial Starfleet to a distant corner of the galaxy. Princess Leia and Han Solo are married and expecting Jedi twins. And Luke Skywalker has become the first in a long-awaited line of Jedi Knights. But thousands of light-years away, the last of the Emperor's warlords has taken command of the shattered Imperial fleet, readied it for war, and pointed it at the fragile heart of the New Republic....
"For this live-action series, I chose 'Kiki's Delivery Service.' Since the setting is in Europe, the process of preparing these beautiful scenes was a joy. I tried to capture the essence of Studio Ghibli as much as possible, right down to the ending scene! There were so many pretty scenes I wanted to include, but I had to cut it down to keep the video from getting too long. 😂 Still, I hope the atmosphere of this story reaches you. This video is an ASMR sound experience created with AI. It provides a healing experience that satisfies both your hearing and sight." - Hinariel
May the 4th became a popular pun due to its similarity to the iconic Star Wars quote: "May the Force be with you".
According to gadgets.ndrv.com, the first use of the May the fourth pun was in May 4th 1979 when Margaret Thatcher became UK Prime Minister and an article in The London Evening News bore a congratulatory advert by her party, which read: "May the Fourth Be with You, Maggie. Congratulations."
May 4th became dedicated to Star Wars and was started organically by its fans, but is now celebrated around the world.
On the surface, Satoko has it all—she’s beautiful, the daughter of a nobleman, and at a prime age for marriage. Unfortunately, she is also quite ill and only has a short time left to live. Before she can secure a marriage that will redeem her worth in her family’s eyes, she finds herself the target of the mysterious assassin Shinpei, and her plans are put in jeopardy. To save herself, she makes a desperate proposal—of marriage! When it comes to love, however, Shinpei takes “until death do us part” seriously.
After over a decade of fan abuse and insultingly bad stories, the Star Wars franchise lies in ruins. Judging by the lack of excitement for the Mando and Grogu movie and Starfighter, it feels like the franchise is on its last legs. But I believe Disney still has one last chance to save Star Wars, one final opportunity coming up... but the window is closing fast.
Weekly Shonen Jump's Neo-Japanese Sword Action series begins here!
From day one, the Kagurabachi manga has captivated fans, weaving a blood-soaked tale of revenge through breathtaking sword-fight sequences. And now, known for its uncompromising quality, animation studio Cypic brings the story to life with jaw-dropping visuals!
Flames of resolve, kindled by hatred.
Chihiro Rokuhira is a boy who aspires to become a swordsmith, and took daily training under his father Kunishige, a renowned swordsmith. Their days, once filled with laughter, are brutally torn apart by an attack from the mysterious sorcerer organization, the Hishaku.
What is stolen from them are the six Enchanted Blades—swords of immense power capable of shaping the fate of the nation—and the gentle, warm life they once shared.
From that day on, everything changed. In a world engulfed in darkness, Chihiro takes up Enten, the seventh Enchanted Blade left behind by his father, and sets out on a blood-soaked path of revenge.
KAGURABACHI set for a TV Anime Adaptation by Cypic in April 2027!
Japan in itself is another world and on another level when it comes to the sights and sounds. These onsen and their locations make that statement even more real.
Turboblacktion brings Bert and Ernie to life in a high-stakes Miami caper set to a dramatic soundtrack. The duo navigates tense confrontations and dangerous situations in this action-packed parody.
From Rumiko Takahashi comes a supernatural tale woven across eras...
Eight years ago, Nanoka Kiba was saved from the wreckage of a fatal accident at Gogyō Town Shopping Center. Drawn to the abandoned passage of storefronts on her walk home from school in present day, she becomes inexplicably transported to Japan's Taishō period where she meets the mysterious Mao, a fellow traveler whose arrival at a ghost-inhabited village is simultaneous with hers. Together, they investigate the bizarre events that begin to occur around them, and Nanoka soon pieces together her broken memories of the accident and how she and Mao may have something more sinister in common.
Everything is at stake in the long-awaited Season 4 of The Legend of Vox Machina. The Chroma Conclave’s path of destruction spreads like wildfire while the Cinder King hunts down Vox Machina. Our lovable band of misfits must rise above inner (and outer) demons to try and save their loved ones, Tal’Dorei, and all of Exandria.
After every product made by the Acme Corporation has backfired on Wile E. Coyote in his pursuit of the Road Runner, down-and-out human billboard attorney Kevin Avery represents Coyote in a lawsuit against Acme. A growing friendship between Coyote and Kevin motivates their determination to win the court case, as it pits them against Buddy Crane, the intimidating boss of Kevin's former law firm, who now represents Acme.
The school life is more dangerous than the underworld begins now!! A colorful cast surrounding Juzo—and formidable enemies—make their appearance one after another! Set to electrifying tracks by aespa and RIIZE, the school life races forward at full speed!
When she doesn’t feel well, when there’s a test, when she doesn’t want to go to school... I take her place. I’m her replica. I’m not meant for anything else. But that changed when I fell in love. I wear my hair up so the boy I fell for knows it’s me. We skip school and promise to meet again tomorrow, and every day after. I’m her replica. Everything about me is borrowed and empty, but my heart is mine.
As maidens from the Five Clans battle for the Crown Prince’s heart, jealous Keigetsu uses forbidden magic to swap bodies with the beloved Reirin. Switching places does not guarantee happiness for Keigetsu with her new body's ill health leaving her hanging on the verge of death. Meanwhile, Reirin, now wearing the face of a scorned outcast, must answer for Keigetsu’s crimes in a dangerous trial. The unlikely pair become increasingly entangled in each other’s lives and they will need to work together to survive after discovering the dark conspiracies brewing beneath the palace's genial surface. To confront the deadly threats lurking in the shadows, Reirin must embrace her new identity and defy their expectations of the court's inept villainess.
Takuya Seo, a loner student, is a fan of anime series targeted towards young girls, but is embarrassed about others finding about this interest. He sits behind two gyaru classmates, Kotoko Ichiji and Kei Amane, whom he sees as belonging to a different caste. However, after accidentally dropping his eraser and overhearing them talking about anime, he realizes that they actually share similar interests. The three set up a relationship, bonding over their shared fondness for anime.
Goodbye, Lara is an upcoming original Japanese anime television series created and animated by Kinema Citrus for the studio's 15th anniversary. It is directed by Takushi Koide and written by Anna Kawahara, with Shiori Tani designing the characters and Yuma Yamaguchi composing the music. It is set to premiere in July 2026. The opening theme song is "Sayonara Lara" performed by Ikimonogakari.
Goodbye, Lara was announced at the 2024 Anime Central convention in Chicago, Illinois, alongside another original anime project titled Ninja Skooler.
Lara, a mermaid princess who is beloved by her father, the Sea King, and her sisters, enters into a forbidden love with a human prince and aspires to live with him on land. She drinks a potion created by Grace to become a human, only to be tricked into drinking a potion that turns her into bubbles. She vanishes into the sea and would only be reborn if she finds true love. 200 years later, Lara is reborn in Lake Biwa, and she sets out to find her true love.
In a dystopian neon metropolis of 2150, a rogue bio-weapon known as Subject "J" fights to uncover the truth behind a forbidden experiment— while becoming the most hunted entity in the city.
GODZILLA MINUS ZERO picks up in 1949, two years after the tumultuous events of Godzilla Minus One, and continues the story of the Shikishima family as they face an all-new calamity. Additionally confirmed out of CinemaCon, Ryunosuke Kamiki, the hero who faced Godzilla’s terror in Godzilla Minus One, returns as Koichi Shikishima, and is joined by Minami Hamabe as Noriko Oishi, who miraculously survived Godzilla’s first attack on Tokyo.
In the sprawling slag heaps of NiiroCradle, a fugitive android visits the Patchwright, an unlicensed body mechanic, begging him to trace a fragment of a childhood memory.
DreamWorks Animation, the studio that brought you unforgettable bonds between a boy and a dragon in How to Train Your Dragon, an ogre and a donkey in Shrek, and a robot and a gosling in The Wild Robot, now welcomes a dazzling and emotional story about two lifelong best friends who must come together before they drift apart in Forgotten Island.
The new original film is written and directed by Academy Award® nominee Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado and is produced by Academy Award® nominee Mark Swift, the filmmaking team behind Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.
Grammy and Academy Award® winning supernova H.E.R. and Liza Soberano (Lisa Frankenstein, Alone/Together) star as high school graduates Jo and Raissa, who have been best friends since grade school but are now about to embark on separate life paths.
While celebrating their last night together, Jo and Raissa stumble upon a mysterious portal that transports them to the fantastical island of Nakali, packed with magical and mythological creatures they grew up hearing stories about from their Filipino families.
Some of these figures will become friends, some foes. Joined by well-meaning-but- hapless weredog Raww (Dave Franco) and a small-but-mighty pack of pals, Jo and Raissa must face The Dreaded Manananggal (Tony winning icon Lea Salonga), the most feared creature on the island. When they discover that the memories of their entire friendship are the price for returning home, Jo and Raissa will race to find a way to leave the island before they forget each other forever.
The film’s all-star voice cast also includes Emmy nominee Jenny Slate (Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, Dying for Sex), Manny Jacinto (The Good Place, Top Gun: Maverick), BAFTA nominee Dolly de Leon (Triangle of Sadness, Ghostlight), global comedy superstar Jo Koy (Haunted Mansion, Jo Koy: Live from Brooklyn) and Emmy winner Ronny Chieng (The Daily Show, M3GAN).
Forgotten Island - In Theaters September 25
Every Filipino Reference in Forgotten Island Trailer
Bhan explores how the unique economic and regulatory landscape of the 1980s and 90s allowed for the creation of experimental OVAs and films. This era fostered bold, niche storytelling and distinct animation styles that are rarely seen in today's mainstream anime industry.
For twelve years, the Earth Federation has ruled with an iron fist. Its ministers live in luxury. Its people live in fear. Hathaway Noa knows this better than anyone. The son of legendary commander Bright Noa, he grew up in the shadow of a war that was supposed to bring freedom — and watched that promise rot from within.
Now he leads MAFTY, a resistance movement willing to do what others won't.
But as the Adelaide Conference draws closer and Federation forces close in, Hathaway finds himself pulled toward something unexpected: Gigi Andalucia, a mysterious woman whose cryptic words cut deeper than any weapon. Her presence stirs something in him — something he's spent years trying to bury.
The mission is set. The enemy is ready. And nothing is what it seems.
Winter was once the only season in the world-but such an existence was too lonely to bear, and so it created Spring to love. Before long, the earth wished for more time to rest in the cycle, and Summer and Autumn were born. The ones who carry the cycle are called the Agents of the Four Seasons. Hinagiku, the Agent of Spring, disappeared from this land ten years ago, taking the season of spring with her. Now, after incredible hardship, she has returned to restore the cycle to its proper state-and, as in the myth passed down since the dawn of time, she sends her love to Winter.
A revolution sparked by nuclear war, natural disaster, and misrule leads to the collapse of Japanese society. The country splits into three nations vying for hegemony, and the Sangoku era begins. Aoteru Misumi, a former agricultural officer, vows to reunify Japan. He rises through the ranks with only his knowledge and eloquence. Witness the legend of the man later hailed as a genius strategist.
In a world where certain humans command mighty supernatural duos called Daemons, it is the birthright of "the children who sunder day and night"—twins Yuru and Asa—to rule over these powerful entities. Separated from a young age and unaware of the truth of their birth, brother and sister must fight to make their way back to each other, claim their birthright, and save the world...
After dying in a car accident, an unnamed man finds himself reincarnated in another world as a sentient sword with powerful abilities and no recollection of his name, though he remembers everything else from his previous life. Accepting his fate as a sword, he begins to seek someone to become his wielder, fighting and gaining powers. He discovers a caravan of slave traders under attack by a two-headed bear. A young catgirl slave, Fran, discovers the sword, and uses him to kill the bear. After being freed from slavery, she names the sword "Teacher", and the two embark on an adventure together.
Supergirl stars Milly Alcock in the dual role of Supergirl/Kara Zor-El. The film also stars Matthias Schoenaerts, Eve Ridley, David Krumholtz, Emily Beecham, and Jason Momoa.
When an unexpected and ruthless adversary strikes too close to home, Kara Zor-El, aka Supergirl, reluctantly joins forces with an unlikely companion on an epic, interstellar journey of vengeance and justice.
