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.
Showing posts with label samurai. Show all posts
Showing posts with label samurai. Show all posts

Monday, May 5, 2025

He’s going to be the greatest samurai in Japan!

YAIBA: Samurai Legend
Follow Yaiba on his quest to be a real samurai in this new 
anime series from the creator of Case Closed and WIT Studio!
Yaiba Kurogane is an adventuring boy who knows how to be a samurai and little else. Yaiba lives with his father, Kenjurou, in the forest. One day, while Yaiba was eating, a troop of gorillas came to attack. Yaiba and his father escaped and hid inside a box, but they did not know that the box was full of pineapples and was going to be transported into the city. In the city, Yaiba finds out that he is a legendary warrior and has to fight the evil of a demonic looking high-school student named Takeshi Onimaru.
Amusing Fact: The anime shows how Yaiba's antics and behavior inadvertently turns Onimaru from a nice decent high school boy into an utterly evil demonic world dominating maniac. Witness the creation of a supervillain!
The people that Yaiba meets along his journey to become a true samurai encourage him, train him, or inspire him to greatness, though at heart he is still a child, and his incredible skill with a sword is matched only by his kindness towards his friends. Though he tends to leap before he looks, and his thick-headedness tends to turn potential allies into enemies, his friends soon clobber him, and salvage the situation. This unlikely group embarks on a host of incredible adventures where they meet legendary figures from Japanese history, and finally overcome impossible odds, and put everything on the line, to save the entire planet from a threat not of this world.

Wednesday, April 30, 2025

The Epic Battle Between Ninja and Samurai...

SHOGUN'S NINJA
Set in 17th-century Edo, an era of unprecedented peace under the rule of Shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa, samurai govern the land. However, beneath this tranquility, a gripping tale of revenge and survival unfolds. 

Kagaribi and Okyo, descendants of the once-legendary FUMA ninja clan, are determined to restore their family’s lost honor. Struggling to survive, they take on various tasks for the townspeople, barely getting by, while clinging to the hope of reviving their clan’s former glory. Their peaceful lives are shattered when their friend, Oran, is kidnapped by the formidable YAGYU clan, the Shogun’s elite samurai force. At the same time, the Shogun, disillusioned with his own belief, plots to betray the very Shogunate he commands. 

Caught in the heart of a deadly conspiracy that threatens the Shogunate’s survival, Kagaribi and Okyo must take up arms to rescue the Shogun, standing firm as the Shogunate’s unyielding protectors against the advancing YAGYU clan. As they uncover long-buried secrets about the fall of the ‘Fuma’ clan, they are thrust into a battle that will determine not only their family’s fate but the future of the Shogunate itself. 

Now, the legendary FUMA NINJAS face off against the indomitable YAGYU SAMURAI in an epic clash of honor, duty, and destiny-one that will decide the fate of the Shogunate.

Friday, March 28, 2025

When the Gears of Fate Go Haywire...

Kijin Gentoushou
In the Edo period, there was a shrine maiden called "Itsukihime" in the mountain village of Kadono. Jinta, a young man who acts as the shrine maiden's guardian despite being a stranger, encounters a mysterious demon who speaks of the far future in the forest where he went to defeat it. From Edo to the Heisei era, this huge Japanese fantasy series follows a demon man who travels through time while continuously questioning the meaning of wielding a sword.

Friday, January 10, 2025

Found this Treasure of an Anime...

Blades of the Guardians
An extraordinary guard walks in the desert of the Western regions. On the way to escape killing by the government, he took a guarding task with the destination to the capital Chang 'an. The task was thought of as just a simple one, but actually it is a road full of crisis and danger. A journey affecting the fate of the world begins.
Watch the Entire Series Here...

Saturday, July 6, 2024

The Boy Who Ran Away and Became a Hero...

The Elusive Samurai
In the year 1333, the Kamakura shogunate government comes crumbling down. A trusted vassal, Ashikaga Takauji, betrays the shogunate and organizes a rebellion. Hojo Tokiyuki, the rightful heir, escapes the massacre with a Shinto priest named Suwa Yorisige to Kamakura. On the run and fighting to stay alive, Tokiyuki sets in motion his plan to reclaim his birthright.
The Elusive Samurai is coming to Crunchyroll July 6th!

Saturday, April 27, 2024

"I don't fight humans anymore..."

Garouden: The Way of the Lone Wolf
On the run from a past crime, Juzo Fujimaki is blackmailed into joining an illicit tournament and has to face top martial artists in deadly match-ups.
"Garouden: The Way of the Lone Wolf" streams May 23 only on Netflix!

Friday, December 15, 2023

War, passion, and power set in Feudal Japan...

S H O G U N
Based on James Clavell’s novel, FX’s Shōgun is set in Japan in the year 1600 at the dawn of a century-defining civil war. Lord Yoshii Toranaga is fighting for his life as his enemies on the Council of Regents unite against him, when a mysterious European ship is found marooned in a nearby fishing village.
Coming February 2024 on Hulu and FX

Thursday, September 28, 2023

Witness the Greatest Samurai that Ever Lived...

O N I M U S H A
Capcom's "Onimusha," the landmark survival action video game series set in Japan’s feudal Sengoku period, is being adapted into an anime series that will start streaming from Thursday, November 2, only on Netflix. Directed by Takashi Miike, this ambitious series will focus on Miyamoto Musashi, who is modeled after Toshiro Mifune, the Japanese film icon known around the globe. This is the beginning of an intense series full of realistic action in which Musashi's blade slices through evil as he traverses a land plagued by poverty.

Monday, June 26, 2023

A classic, universal, and unfading tale…

Rurouni Kenshin
Rurouni Kenshin is headed to Anime Expo 2023 for the U.S. premiere featuring special guests Soma Saito, Rie Takahashi, and Producer Masami Niwa! 
 
About Rurouni Kenshin: With over 72 million copies of the comic series sold and a total box office revenue of 19.3 billion yen from the live-action movie series, the legendary masterpiece loved by all generations worldwide, Rurouni Kenshin comes back to life as a brand-new TV anime in 2023. 
 
The original work was serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump in 1994, and in 1996 it was made into a TV anime for the first time. Since then, it has undergone numerous developments, from OVAs to theatrical releases, and now with Rurouni Kenshin: The Hokkaido Arc serializing in Jump SQ. 
 
This long-awaited work aims to reconstruct the original story from the first episode using the latest animation technology, to create a Rurouni Kenshin anime that will appeal to current anime fans. 
 
For the animation production, talented staff such as director Hideyo Yamamoto (Strike the Blood) and Hideyuki Kurata (Made in Abyss) for series composition were gathered. The cast members will be renewed, with Soma Saito in the role of Kenshin Himura. 
 
After nearly 30 years of serialization, the new TV anime Rurouni Kenshin is coming soon. 

Monday, November 7, 2022

My Goal is Immortaility... At All Cost!

HELL'S PARADISE: JIGOKURAKU
Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yuji Kaku. Set in the Edo period of Japan, it follows the ninja Gabimaru and the executioner Yamada Asaemon Sagiri as they search for the elixir of immortality.

Monday, September 26, 2022

A Battle Royale for fighting game fans...

NARAKA: BLADEPOINT
Naraka: Bladepoint is an action-adventure battle royale game developed by 24 Entertainment and published by NetEase Games Montreal. It is a battle royale game where up to 60 players fight each other to be the last one standing. Check out the awesome animated trailer for Naraka: Bladepoint's 1-year anniversary trailer featuring the brand-new map of Holorot.

Sunday, July 25, 2021

Fena: Pirate Princess on Adult Swim, August 14

FENA: PIRATE PRINCESS
Fena: Pirate Princess is an upcoming original Japanese anime television series created by Production I.G and Kazuto Nakazawa. The series is a co-production between Crunchyroll and Adult Swim. The series is scheduled for an August 2021 world premiere on both platforms before its broadcast in Japan in October 2021.
Fena: Pirate Princess tells the tale of a young orphan girl, Fena Houtman, living in a fantastic alternate history version of the 18th century. Fena has been raised on an island where there is no hope of escaping the dark destiny forced upon her by her captors, to be used and discarded by the soldiers of the British Empire. But Fena is more than just another powerless orphan. When her mysterious past comes knocking, Fena will break the chains of her oppressors. Her goal: escape her captors, forge a new identity, and search for a place where she can truly belong and find out the true mystery behind the keyword: "Eden." It's the story of the adventure of a lifetime she and her crew of misfits and unlikely allies will have, in pursuit of her goals!
Season One Premieres August 14 at Midnight

Monday, June 21, 2021

The STRONGEST Demon Slayer! Yoriichi Tsugikuni

Yoriichi Tsugikuni
Origin of the STRONGEST Demon Slayer!

The Story of Yoriichi Tsugikuni the Strongest Demon Slayer of All Time, and the one man Kibitsuji Muzan fears!

Sunday, June 20, 2021

Dynasty Warriors - Official Trailer

Dynasty Warriors
Based on Koei Tecmo's namesake game. The Yellow Turban Rebellion breaks out in the late Eastern Han Dynasty. With the help of his trusted right-hand men Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, militia leader Liu Pei successfully suppresses the revolt. The calculating warlord Dong Zhuo takes advantage of the situation and takes control of the court, stirring further unrest.
Only on NETFLIX July 1, 2021.
Watch the Trailer

Wednesday, April 28, 2021

Tale of the Legendary Black Samurai...

- Y  A  S  U  K  E -
In a war-torn feudal Japan filled with mechs and magic, the greatest ronin never known, Yasuke, struggles to maintain a peaceful existence after a past life of violence. But when a local village becomes the center of social upheaval between warring daimyo, Yasuke must take up his sword and transport a mysterious child who is the target of dark forces and bloodthirsty warlords. 
Premieres April 29, only on Netflix
Watch the Trailer

Tuesday, November 24, 2020

Onmyoji Demonic Feast

ONMYOJI * DEMONIC * FEAST
While crowds gather and celebrate at a lively festival a demonic feast for numerous demons and spirits is about to commence! The Demonship once again rises from the sea mist, the Lord of the sea Suzuka Gozen joins the feast held by the Demon King as the ultimate guest. As dark clouds shroud the moon's luminescence Ungaikyo uses his power to shape the future. What fate will Ungaikyo reveal? 

Monday, November 9, 2020

CGI Animated Short Film: "Alleycats"

A L L E Y C A T S
CGI 3D Animated Short Film: Alleycats Animated Short Film by Blow Studio. Featured on CGMeetup Nail, the last surviving warrior of the Siamese clan, breaks into enemy territory with only one goal on his mind: avenge his father’s death. Alleycats is an action thriller produced by Blow Studio and directed by Alejandro Jiménez & Bernardo González. A dramatic story of revenge full action and violence.

Thursday, April 2, 2020

Samurai & Shogun (Rick and Morty)

R I C K  and  M O R T Y
- -  SAMURAI and SHOGUN  - -
Drunken life, dreamy death.
[Source: AnimeNewsNetwork] Adult Swim began streaming a five-minute "Samurai and Shogun" animated short on Saturday for the Rick and Morty animated television series. Anime studio Studio DEEN produced the short. Staff members include director and scriptwriter Kaichi Satō, producer Koji Iijima, and executive producer Maki Terashima-Furuta (President of Production I.G. USA). The short aired during Saturday's Toonami programming block.

The short stars Youhei Tadano as "Rick WTM72," and Keisuke Chiba as "Shogun Morty." The pair reprised their roles from the Japanese dub of the animated series. Jason DeMarco, senior vice-president and creative director for Adult Swim, posted on Twitter on Saturday that his team "spent a year putting together a five minute Rick and Morty Lone Wolf and Cub anime short."

Monday, October 21, 2019

Fan-made 'Afro Samurai Champloo'

AFRO SAMURAI CHAMPLOO
Here is the supercut of the web series, Afro Samurai Champloo, featuring all three episodes with BRAND NEW MUSIC by Shing02 + Jack The Rip! We also have a special ending for you guys that you cannot afford to miss! Just in time for the 15th Anniversary of Samurai Champloo. Now sit back and pour yourself a saké.

Friday, September 27, 2019

'Blade of the Immortal' comingc to Amazon Prime

BLADE of the IMMORTAL
This is the new trailer for the "Blade of the Immortal" anime reboot which will retell the entire series. Starts streaming on Amazon Prime on October 10, 2019. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4L4lQKZNVA