Next Club Meeting:September 20, 2025,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.
A squid-like creature, known as a Happian, leaves his home planet with the desire to spread happiness across the universe. He lands on Earth, but quickly finds himself in danger of captivity by its inhabitants. Fortunately, he is found by an unsmiling little girl named Shizuka Kuze, who feeds him and names him Takopii. Feeling indebted, Takopii decides to do everything in his power to bring a smile to her face. The task is easier said than done, however. Shizuka is bullied by her classmates, she does not have a father, and her mother is never home—though the gravity of these issues flies over the naive Takopii's head. Even so, Shizuka does have one source of happiness: her dog Chappy. The connection Shizuka and Chappy share only increases Takopii's desire to make the girl smile. While Takopii's attempts to lift Shizuka's spirits lead to unintended consequences, he is determined to take things into his own tentacles, test his understanding of human beings, and achieve his goal of spreading happiness.
DAN DA DAN: FIRST ENCOUNTER in theatres starting September 13! See the first 3 episodes on the big screen with special bonus content! DAN DA DAN follows Momo, a high school girl from a family of spirit mediums, and her classmate Okarun, an occult freak. The two of them start talking after Momo rescues Okarun from getting bullied. However, an argument ensues between them – Momo believes in ghosts but denies aliens, and Okarun believes in aliens but denies ghosts. To make the mutual deniers believe in each other, Momo goes to an abandoned hospital known for its UFO sightings, and Okarun goes to a tunnel that is said to be haunted. In each place, they encounter overwhelming paranormal activity that transcends comprehension. Amid these predicaments, Momo awakens her hidden power and Okarun gains the power of a curse to challenge the paranormal forces! Their fateful love begins as well!?
Based on the popular manga by Yukinobu Tatsu, DAN DA DAN is an electrifying, action-packed love letter to sci-fi and horror with the heart of a ruthlessly funny teen rom-com. The directorial debut from Fuga Yamashiro is the latest series from cutting-edge animation studio Science SARU (The Colors Within, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off) with pulse-pounding original music from kensuke ushio (Chainsaw Man).
This is a story about Momo, a high school girl who comes from a family of spirit mediums, and her classmate Okarun, an occult fanatic. After Momo rescues Okarun from being bullied, they begin talking. However, an argument ensues between them since Momo believes in ghosts but denies aliens exist, and Okarun believes in aliens but denies ghosts exist.
To prove to each other what they believe in is real, Momo goes to an abandoned hospital where a UFO has been spotted and Okarun goes to a tunnel rumored to be haunted. To their surprise, they each encounter overwhelming paranormal activities that transcend comprehension. Amid these predicaments, Momo awakens her hidden power and Okarun gains the power of a curse to overcome these new dangers! Their fateful love begins as well!? The story of the occult battle and adolescence starts!
Aliens: Fireteam is a new three-player co-op PvE shooter set in Ridley Scott's Aliens universe. It's due out in Summer 2021 for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, PS4, and Xbox One. Stay tuned to IGN all month long for exclusive IGN First coverage on Aliens: Fireteam!
The Decades Long Rights Battle Over ‘Macross’ And ‘Robotech’ Has Finally Been Resolved
By Ollie Barder
[Source: Forbes] In
a pretty astonishing turn of events, both Bigwest and Harmony Gold have
agreed to work together on the global distribution of the Macross and
Robotech franchises.
This has been one of the longest running legal battles in anime and I never thought I would see it resolved in my lifetime.
To
put it simply, Robotech was built from three disparate mecha anime;
Macross, Southern Cross and MOSPEADA. Tatsunoko Productions sold the
these rights to Harmony Gold, who then edited them together to create
Robotech.
The issue was that in the case of Macross, Tatsunoko
Productions was not the only owner of the property. The other party
involved was a Japanese company called Bigwest, that has in the years
since funded the creation of new installments in the Macross saga.
There
have been many legal battles about this issue of incomplete rights
ownership, but it looks like these have finally been worked out between
Bigwest and Harmony Gold.
While I thought this could be some kind
of delayed April Fool’s joke, both the original Macross and Robotech
sites have press statements to confirm this (here and here
respectively). I even checked with Shoji Kawamori’s team and they
confirmed this was actually real as well
Considering that the
bulk of the Macross saga has been landlocked to Japan, I am just glad
that both the work of Shoji Kawamori and Kazutaka Miyatake will finally
be made more widely available.
As to the details of what this agreement entails, this is what the official press statement has to say:
“Tokyo
based BIGWEST CO.,LTD. and Los Angeles based Harmony Gold U.S.A.
announced an agreement regarding the worldwide rights for the legendary
Macross and Robotech franchises. This expansive agreement signed by both
companies on March 1, 2021, ends two decades of disagreements and will
allow Bigwest and Harmony Gold to chart a new path that will unlock the
great potential of both the Macross and Robotech franchises worldwide.
The landmark agreement immediately permits worldwide distribution of
most of the Macross films and television sequels worldwide, and also
confirms that Bigwest will not oppose the Japanese release of an
anticipated upcoming live-action Robotech film. The agreement also
recognizes Harmony Gold’s longstanding exclusive license with Tatsunoko
for the use of the 41 Macross characters and mecha in the Robotech
television series and related merchandise throughout the world excluding
Japan. Moving forward, both parties will cooperate on distribution
regarding future Macross and Robotech projects for the benefit of both
franchises.”
Regarding the details of what Macross instalments
will be given a wider release remains to be seen. I have also reached
out to companies like Bandai Spirits to find out whether their extensive
toy and model kit lines for Macross will also be finally released
globally.
In any case, as a long-term fan of Macross, I can happily say that today is definitely a good day.
ALIEN: The Battle for Ryushi Trials of Machiko Noguchi
Three species found themselves in conflict over dominance on the planet Ryushi. A Yautja hunt had gone terribly wrong, a xenomorph infestation had plagued the planet, and a small human population was caught in the middle, fighting for survival.
"Robotech or Super Dimension Fortress Macross is an anime series many of you [under the leadership Barry Bend] have requested that we cover over the years. Well, I finally got around to watching the Macross Saga and studying the ship at the center of the show: the SDF-1."
Three friends making a web series about their town discover that their neighbors are being killed and replaced by creatures who are perfect copies of their victims.
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).
The hit animated series Rick and Mortyis heading into the Alien universe, and they’ve even managed to figure out how to kill a facehugger. Quick, get those Alien folks on the phone.
The crossover clip finds Rick and Morty heading out to help with a distress call, and what they find is a ship overrun with facehuggers and aliens. When Rick meets up with a facehugger, he manages to take it out thanks to his (umm) diet of heavy drugs and alcohol. Turns out, the way to take out a facehugger is to kill it with alcohol poisoning. So, umm, smart? Sure, it’s an obvious bit of cross-promotion, but still a lot of fun.
[Source: Yahoo!News] Actor Bill Paxton died due to complications from surgery, PEOPLE confirms.
“It is with heavy hearts we share the news that Bill Paxton has passed away due to complications from surgery,” a family representative said in a statement. “A loving husband and father, Bill began his career in Hollywood working on films in the art department and went on to have an illustrious career spanning four decades as a beloved and prolific actor and filmmaker. Bill’s passion for the arts was felt by all who knew him, and his warmth and tireless energy were undeniable. We ask to please respect the family’s wish for privacy as they mourn the loss of their adored husband and father.”
The Texas native, who was nominated for an Emmy for his work in the TV mini-series Hatfields and McCoys, began acting in the 1970s. His earliest acting credits include minor roles in blockbusters such as Terminator (1984) and Aliens (1986).
Paxton’s fame rose in the 1990s thanks to roles such as Morgan Earp in Tombstone (1993), Fred Haise in Apollo 13 (1995), the lead role in the 1996 hit Twister and as treasure hunter Brock Lovett in Titanic (1997).
His television credits include a lead role in HBO’s Big Love, for which he earned three Golden Globe nominations, as well as Hatfields and McCoys.
Paxton’s final big-screen role will be in the thriller The Circle, which is currently in post-production, alongside Emma Watson and Tom Hanks. Paxton said in a 2007 interview with PEOPLE that he and Hanks kept in touch after costarring in Apollo 13 — and Hanks was an executive producer of Big Love.
“We write each other letters,” said Paxton. “I love that I’m working for Tom again. forged an alliance.”
The actor is survived by his two children, James and Lydia Paxton, and his wife of 30 years Louise Newbury.
Paxton’s son was recently tapped to join the actor in his new CBS drama.
“I was thrilled to have my son guest-star on the eighth episode of Training Day,” Paxton told PEOPLE earlier this month. “He plays the son in a father-son robbery team, and my character, whose dad was also a criminal, tells him, ‘We’re both our father’s sons, but that doesn’t have to define us.’ It was surreal saying that to him.”
Paxton was starring with Justin Cornwell in the new cop drama Training Day, which picks up 15 years after the 2001 Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke film of the same name.
Paxton also spoke with PEOPLE about his latest TV obsession.
“I loved watching Stranger Things with my daughter ,” he said. “But I had surgery last spring and binge-watched all of Downton Abbey while I was recuperating. I got so engrossed in it, I was devastated when I got to the end.”
At 8 years old, Paxton witnessed a speech given by President John F. Kennedy the morning of his assassination. During the 2007 AFI Dallas International Film Festival, the actor shared recently discovered photos of himself as a young boy perched on the shoulders of a man who offered him a lift so he could see the president speak n the parking lot of the Hotel Texas in Fort Worth.
Celebrity pals such as Rob Lowe, who starred alongside Paxton in the 1995 film Frank and Jesse, took to social media to mourn the loss of the veteran actor.
“Devastated by the sudden loss of my close friend and one of the finest actors in the business, Bill Paxton. Renaissance man, raconteur and uniquely American national treasure,” Lowe wrote in a series of tweets. “His filmography speaks for itself. His friendship was a blessing. My love to Bunny, James and Lydia.”
He continued, “In his memory, on this Oscar Sunday, watch ‘One False Move’ or ‘A Simple Plan’ to see this lovely leading man, at his finest.”
[Source: blastr.com] Iconoclastic director Neill Blomkamp (District 9, Elysium) seems to have a pretty busy schedule, with his new movie Chappie coming out in March and myriad other creative projects and diversions, but it seems he still had time to work on an unknown, unsanctioned Alien project while we were snoozing!
This preoccupation with the worlds inhabited by the Alien franchise led to some truly majestic concept art supporting this rebellious undertaking, done completely outside any studio direction or involvement. Blomkamp dropped these images yesterday to the surprise of most everyone, with an incredible array of concept art depicting Ripley wearing some type of xenomorphic pilot suit, Weyland-Yutani headquarters, a dry-docked Dreadnought spaceship, an aged, disfigured Corporal Hicks and a new evolution of the facehugger. Playing around in Ridley Scott's and James Cameron's Alien sandboxes seems to agree with Blomkamp, but he renounced any studio involvement last night and hinted that this was simply an interesting exercise in applying his unique vision to the material.
Think this was the renegade director's way of calling attention to his Alien/Aliens love to helm a studio sequel, or just something to pass the time? Have a look at the art below:
ALIEN: ISOLATION PRE-ORDER CONTENT UNITES ORIGINAL MOVIE CAST
Sigourney Weaver and Key Cast Members from Ridley Scott’s Classic 1979 Film AlienAdd Their Voice and Likeness to Two Downloadable Bonus Levels.
SAN FRANCISCO and LONDON – July 9, 2014 – SEGA® of America, Inc., SEGA® Europe, Ltd. and Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products today announced exclusive pre-order bonus content for Alien: Isolation™, featuring the vocal talent and likenesses of key cast members of the 1979 Ridley Scott masterpiece, Alien. Academy Award-nominated and Golden Globe-winner Sigourney Weaver (Ellen Ripley), Tom Skerritt (Dallas), Veronica Cartwright (Lambert), Harry Dean Stanton (Brett), Yaphet Kotto (Parker) and Ian Holm (Ash, likeness and sound-alike) are set to feature in two downloadable bonus missions, which allow you to relive two classic scenes from the movie.
“Working with the original cast has been an incredible experience,” said Alistair Hope, Creative Lead on Alien: Isolation. “It was important to us to have the key original cast members reprise their roles in order to perfectly capture the atmosphere of the movie. For some of the original cast, this is their first appearance in an Alien video game. Seeing them reprise those roles after 35 years was an unforgettable experience.”
Anyone who pre-orders the game will get a free upgrade to the Nostromo Edition, which includes the bonus content “Crew Expendable”. Players can choose to play as one of three surviving crewmembers, only moments after Brett’s death at the jaws of the creature. As Ellen Ripley, Dallas or Parker, players can explore the Nostromo from habitation deck down through engineering, coordinating their efforts with Lambert and Ash to lure the Alien into the ship’s airlock.
In addition, consumers who pre-order at GameStop will exclusively also receive “Last Survivor” in which players pick up the story as Ripley tries to escape on the Narcissus. On hearing the screams of Lambert and Parker, players must navigate their way back down through the Nostromo in order to activate the self-destruct sequence, before retracing their steps back to the Narcissus shuttle and their escape.
Alien: Isolation is a first-person survival horror game capturing the fear and tension evoked by Ridley Scott’s 1979 classic film. Players find themselves in an atmosphere of constant dread and mortal danger as an unpredictable, ruthless Xenomorph is stalking and killing deep in the shadows. Underpowered and underprepared, you must scavenge resources, improvise solutions and use your wits, not just to succeed in your mission, but to simply stay alive.
Alien: Isolation will be available from October 7, 2014, for Xbox One the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Windows PC, Xbox 360 games and entertainment system from Microsoft and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system.
For more information and to keep ahead with the latest news, find us at alienisolation.com, follow us on facebook.com/alienisolation and join the conversation on twitter.com/alienisolation.
You and your friends are the deadliest killers in the galaxy.
Another glorious day in the Corps.
Buckle up, soldier! Welcome to Aliens™: Colonial Marines. Created by Gearbox, the critically acclaimed and fan-favourite developers of Borderlands and Brothers In Arms, you and your friends will become the most badass military outfit in the galaxy – the US Colonial Marines. It’s up to you to not just survive, but wipe out the Xeno infestation.
Enlist in the Marine Corps. Bringing you a true sequel to the classic Aliens film, get tooled up with classic Marine weapons including pulse rifles, motion trackers and flamethrowers.
The most authentic Aliens experience ever. Using authentic environments inspired by the film series including Hadley’s Hope, the Sulaco and LV-426, you will be immersed in an eerie, atmospheric world where any moment could bring your death.
Drop-in/Drop-out co-operative gameplay. The masters of co-op bring their expertise to the Aliens universe. Xenos getting too tough? Call up your buddies so they can drop in with extra firepower. The whole campaign can be played with a squad of up to four players, dropping in and out as necessary through self-contained missions within an over-arching narrative.
Loadouts and upgrades. Create your perfect killing machine. An extensive upgrade system allows players to customise their characters to play the way they want. Earn experience to get perks, new weapons and new looks for your squad.
Pre-Purchase on Steamand receive S.H.A.R.P. Stick! As referenced by Hudson in Aliens™, the prototype sonic-harpoon artillery remote projectile (S.H.A.R.P.) rifle fires time-delayed, explosive-tipped darts that embed themselves into enemies or terrain.
