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.
[Source: Wikipedia] Alan Rickman, the versatile actor best known for his iconic roles in Harry Potter and Die Hard, has died at the age of 69. The star was reportedly suffering from cancer. For younger fans, Rickman is likely best known as Severus Snape, the potions master in the smash hit Harry Potter film franchise.
Rickman died of cancer on 14 January 2016 at the age of 69. His final film, Alice Through the Looking Glass, will be released in May 2016.
Rickman was born in Acton, London, to a working class family, the son of Margaret Doreen Rose (Bartlett), a housewife, and Bernard Rickman, a factory worker. His ancestry was English, Irish and Welsh; his father was Catholic and his mother a Methodist. His family included an older brother, David (b. 1944), a graphic designer; a younger brother, Michael (b. 1947), a tennis coach; and a younger sister, Sheila (b. 1950). Rickman attended Derwentwater Primary School in Acton, a school that followed the Montessori method of education. When he was eight years old, Rickman's father died, leaving his mother to raise him and his three siblings mostly alone. She married again, but divorced his stepfather after three years. "There was one love in her life", Rickman later said of her. He excelled at calligraphy and watercolour painting. From Derwentwater Junior School he won a scholarship to Latymer Upper School in London, where he became involved in drama. After leaving Latymer, he attended Chelsea College of Art and Design and then the Royal College of Art. This education allowed him to work as a graphic designer for the Notting Hill Herald, which Rickman considered a more stable occupation than acting. "Drama school wasn't considered the sensible thing to do at 18". After graduation, Rickman and several friends opened a graphic design studio called Graphiti, but after three years of successful business, he decided that if he was going to pursue acting professionally, it was now or never. He wrote to request an audition with the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), which he attended from 1972–74. While there, he studied Shakespeare and supported himself by working as a dresser for Sir Nigel Hawthorne and Sir Ralph Richardson.
His role as Hans Gruber in Die Hard earned him a spot on the AFI's 100 Years...100 Heroes & Villains list as the 46th best villain in film history, though he revealed he almost did not take the role as he did not think Die Hard was the kind of film he wanted to make. His performance as the Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves also earned him praise as one of the best actors to portray a villain in films. Rickman took issue with being typecast as a "villain actor", citing the fact that he had not portrayed a stock villain character since the Sheriff of Nottingham in 1991 His portrayal of Severus Snape, the potions master in the Harry Potter series (2001–11), was dark, but the character's motivations were not clear early on. During his career Rickman played comedic roles, including as Sir Alexander Dane/Dr. Lazarus in the science fiction parody Galaxy Quest (1999), portraying the angel Metatron, the voice of God, in Dogma (also 1999), appearing as Emma Thompson's foolish husband Harry in the British Christmas-themed romantic comedy Love Actually (2003), providing the voice of Marvin the Paranoid Android in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005), and the egotistical, Nobel Prize-winning father in Nobel Son (2007).
In 1965, at the age of 19, Rickman met 18-year-old Rima Horton, who became his first girlfriend and would later be a Labour Party councillor on the Kensington and Chelsea London Borough Council (1986–2006) and an economics lecturer at the nearby Kingston University] They lived together from 1977 until his death. In 2015, Rickman confirmed that they had married in a private ceremony in New York City in 2012.
Shortly after his passing, his peers in Hollywood took to social media to express their condolences. Among them was Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe, who wrote:
Alan Rickman is undoubtedly one of the greatest actors I will ever work with. He is also, one of the loyalest and most supportive people I've ever met in the film industry. He was so encouraging of me both on set and in the years post-Potter. I'm pretty sure he came and saw everything I ever did on stage both in London and New York. He didn't have to do that. I know other people who've been friends with him for much much longer than I have and they all say "if you call Alan, it doesn't matter where in the world he is or how busy he is with what he's doing, he'll get back to you within a day".
People create perceptions of actors based on the parts they played so it might surprise some people to learn that contrary to some of the sterner(or downright scary) characters he played, Alan was extremely kind, generous, self-deprecating and funny. And certain things obviously became even funnier when delivered in his unmistakable double-bass.
As an actor he was one of the first of the adults on Potter to treat me like a peer rather than a child. Working with him at such a formative age was incredibly important and I will carry the lessons he taught me for the rest of my life and career. Film sets and theatre stages are all far poorer for the loss of this great actor and man.
A Fan-Fiction produced by YOHAN FAURE & VIANNEY GRIFFON
Based upon DRAGON BALL Z created by AKIRA TORIYAMA
The World isn’t like it’s supposed to be.Something happened along the way.
With these words TRUNKS reminds himself the arrival of CELL, the loss of his friends and his training for combat. While he knows he doesn’t have any chance, he will try to make the difference and bring back the lost hope. This Fan Fiction was born from our desire to adapt DRAGON BALL Z into a film, while adopting a dramatic and realistic approach. THE FALL OF MEN is set in different future, inspired by characters of the DBZ saga, this untold story pays tribute to AKIRA TORIYAMA’s universe
Evil Dead and DC collide in this sequel to 2013's "Marvel Zombies vs. Army of Darkness" fan-film. After narrowly escaping a zombie infested NYC and a pack of blood-thirsty (Marvel) superheroes, Ash Williams finds himself suddenly transported to a whole new universe. Can he stop the supernatural apocalypse?
[Source: blastr.com] There are a total of nine scifi/fantasy TV shows airing in Janaury 2016. Here is the list to help you set your television-watching schedule.
The Shanarra Chronicles - Premiers January 5 [MTV]
Based on a series of novels by Terry Brooks, The Shannara series was a rather blatant, um, “homage” of Lord of the Rings, with elves and quests and swords. But it was a must-read for fans in the 1980s who had exhausted Tolkien and Zelazny’s Amber series and were still waiting for Guy Gavriel Kay and Terry Pratchett to come along.
However, this show, which takes place in a fantastical, post-apocalyptic Earth, very much has a style of its own. Young elven Princess Amberle becomes a Chosen, a guard of the Ellcrys tree, the first woman in memory. But this high fantasy is balanced by a surprisingly modern attitude. At one point, Amberle tells an older woman, “I need your help.” The older woman asks plainly, “How far along are you?”
Shadowhunters - Premiers January 12 [ABC Family]
Shadowhunters is based on Cassandra Clare’s six-book series The Mortal Instruments, (which, as you may recall was turned into the 2013 film, The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones). In the series, young Clary Fray learns she’s a shadowhunter, that is, born with angelic blood. However, our heroine was given an extra dose of angel blood in utero, which means she kicks demon tail with extra emphasis.
With a teenage audience firmly in marketers' cross-hairs, the action (demons doing dirty deeds) and the creepy emotional troubles (love interest Jace Wayland may or may not be Clary’s brother) will be less Supernatural, more The Vampire Diaries.
Second Chance - Premiers January 13 [Fox]
A dead policeman, Ray Pritchard, is brought back to life in a new body, one that’s stronger and faster than you’d expect from a revenant. That’s because the body he inhabits has been genetically spliced from multiple fabulous sources. But he’s still the same 75-year-old man on the inside. And that man was a jerk.
When the show begins, Pritchard works to find his killer, as well as to repair the relationships (his son called him “selfish”) he damaged during his first chance. Along the way, he gets help from twins Mary and Otto Goodwin, the Frankensteins to Pritchard’s Frankenstein’s Monster.
Colony - Premiers January 14 [USA]
It’s the near future, and aliens, who are prepping to take over the world, have sent a force to occupy the world’s major cities. The sick and weak are culled. Food is scarce. And Will and Katie Bowman are just trying to stay alive with their two children…and find their missing third child.
The family’s survival is placed in jeopardy when Will is arrested. Proxy Snyder, who collaborates with the aliens, suggests that if Will helps expose the leaders of the Resistance, he can have his son back by telling him, “Good things come to the loyal.” Only one big problem: Katie is with the Resistance.
Legends of Tomorrow - Premiers January 21 [CW]
The DC Universe takes some of Arrow and The Flash’s characters, adds a few new ones to the mix, stirs them up with a mission to save the future, and voila. Instant superhero team.
In this show, time traveler Rip Hunter, played by fan favorite Arthur Darvill, arrives to recruit our protagonists. To stop the villainous Vandal Savage, Rip has to bring the soon-to-be legendary team to the past (and I assume, eventually, to the future). From what we’ve seen in the trailers, this team will have to be extra BAMF-y to compensate for the fact that they’re wearing bell bottoms.
Beowulf - Premiers January 23 [Esquire TV]
Hwaet! Beowulf is the hero of this epic Old English saga-turned-TV show, and he has more than Grendel and his mother to contend with. Returning to his home, the Shieldlands, after the death of his adoptive father, Hrothgar, Beowulf has to survive court intrigue…and Hrothgar’s unwelcoming son. It’s a loose adaptation, to be sure.
This show, which will air here in the U.S. on Esquire TV, was actually produced by the UK channel ITV. Season one began airing in the UK on January 3.
The X-Files (miniseries) - Premiers January 24 [Fox]
The 1993-2001 series is one of my all-times favorites. After all, it's not every series that balances horror, humor, and paranoia with as much dexterity. Even though ardent fans recognized the need to close the X-Files, we kept the home fires burning for Mulder, Scully, and their trust issues. We’re being rewarded with a six-episode miniseries.
In the upcoming series, creator Chris Carter promises us we’ll be getting everything we loved about the original X-Files--and that includes alien conspiracy and monsters of the week episodes. And what X-Files run would be complete without a humorous episode? Oh look, there’s an episode entitled “Mulder and Scully Meet the Were-Monster.” I'm already grinning.
The Magicians - Premiers January 25 [Syfy]
Another trilogy-turned-TV show, Lev Grossman’s The Magicians is beloved by readers, who liken it to a more grown-up Harry Potter. At the beginning of the book, a young man tries to interview at Princeton, but finds himself interviewing for Brakebills, a school of magic, instead.
Amusingly, our geeky protagonist Quentin Coldwater is in love with a fantasy series of novels. And as the books (and TV show) progresses, he learns these novels are real. Dangerously so.
Lucifer - Premiers January 25 [Fox]
Initially a creation of Neil Gaiman, Lucifer had his own comic book written by the fabulous Mike Carey (and if you haven’t read his Felix Castor novel series, you should get on that immediately). In 75 issues, Lucifer cemented himself as one of Vertigo’s most popular villains.
Bored with reigning in hell, Lucifer vacates the premises and moves to Los Angeles, where he runs a nightclub (how very devilish of him). Soon he finds himself teamed up with a policeman to solve crimes. It seems the Morningstar has an ability to get everyone to confess their darkest desires—everyone except the pretty female cop he teams up with.
Inspired by watching boring Transformers action figure reviews, the ShartimusPrime youtube channel was launched in 2008. Engaging the audience with an edgy sense of humor while maintaining appropriate language for all ages, action figure collecting has never been this fun, and videos are posted daily! Unexpectedly, the channel became more popular for Marvel Legends reviews and collection display videos. After a few years, the channel has branched out to review other figure properties aside from Marvel Legends and G1 Transformers Masterpiece. Hot Toys, Star Wars, Diamond Select Toys, DC Collectibles, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Dragon Ball Z, Attack on Titan, Godzilla, Evil Dead, and The Walking Dead toy lines have all been added to the roster of nearly 2,000 video reviews. Japanese import figures from SH Figuarts, Bandai, Figma, Square Enix, and Medicom MAFEX have been favorites as well. More recently, Kotobukiya Statues (including the very sexy Bishoujo line) and NECA Toys have become more prevalent on the channel. Being a big fan of movies such as Spider-Man, Batman, X-Men, Iron Man, Captain America, The Avengers, Evil Dead, Pacific Rim, Aliens, and other films has lead the channel in the direction of also reviewing movies, movie trailers, blu ray releases, and tv shows. News updates for 2016 releases and beyond are also posted. Audience engagement is a big part of this channel, with giveaways and fan mail being read publicly once a week in the PO Box Pick-Up videos. Impressive “Shart-Art” is shared via social media and included in the opening theme song. The audience is also kept up to date with any changes to the channel, along with recent comic book pick-ups, unboxings, and action figure hauls. Stop-motion segments punishing the popular meme of the Big Time Let Down Spider-Man close most of the comparison segments, and are compiled together for guaranteed access to patrons. Lastly, all figure reviews close with a slideshow featuring dynamic poses of the figure inspired by ACBA, with the added bonus of music performed and recorded by ShartimusPrime himself.
Dragon Ball : The Magic Begins 1991 Ultimate Edition ('"New Dragon Ball: The Legend of Shenlong", Dragon Ball La Pelicula Un Magico Viaje Latino) is an unofficial Chinese live-action remake of the first Dragon Ball film The Legend of Shenlong (known as Curse of the Blood Rubies in the English version). The plot revolves around a rag-tag group of heroes, led by Son Goku (dubbed "Monkey Boy" in this film) trying to stop the antagonist named King Horn from using the wish-granting "Dragon Pearls" (a rename of the artifacts known as Dragon Balls from which the manga takes its name) to rule the world.
During the Cold War, a secret organization "Patriot" has created a squad of superheroes, which included participants from various Soviet republics. For years, the heroes had to hide their identity, but in hard times, they again take the case.
Ice Age: Collision Course is an upcoming 2016 American 3D computer-animated film produced by Blue Sky Studios. It is the fifth installment in the Ice Age film series and a sequel to 2012's Ice Age: Continental Drift.
Presenting ReCore an XBOX ONE EXCLUSIVE from the legendary creator Keiji Inafune and the makers of Metroid Prime. As one of the last remaining humans, forge friendships with courageous robot companions and lead them on an epic adventure through a mysterious, dynamic world.
WARNING - This fan film features violence of a graphic nature, and is intended for a mature audience.
DISCLAIMER: The Empire Falls is a non-profit film for private use only, and is not for sale or resale. It is strictly for the promotional use of the filmmaker. It is in NO way endorsed by Disney or Lucasfilm nor is it intended to undermine or compete with any existing or forthcoming material. The Empire Falls is created for fun and should not be sold, rented or used for anything of the sort. The Filmmakers make no claim to any of the characters, locations, storyline, props, costume designs, logos, names or situations that are trademarked, copyrighted or otherwise protected by the federal, state, international or other intellectual property law. This film is produced solely for the personal enjoyment of the cast, crew and any other Star Wars fans.
This fan-made trailer uses scenes from the 1990's Superman/Batman/Justice League animated series to recreate the Batman v Superman Dawn Of Justice trailer.
Enjoy this CGI Animated short about an astronaut who embarks on a deep-space mission to find life on another planet. This film was painstakingly pieced together by a small team of artists working for Goodby Silverstein & Partners in San Francisco. This same team also worked together on Photoshop’s 25th Anniversary commercial which won three prizes at Cannes and was nominated for an Emmy in 2015. Credits: "Lone" is a short film written and directed by Timothy Plain, starring Tod Puckett and animated by Conrad McLeod, Chris Kelly, Colin Trentor, Nathan Shipley, Chris Carmichael, Mike Landry and Justin Steele. Music by Vincent Pedulla. Sound Design by Dave Baker.
It might drop down your chimney, it might mysteriously fill your stockings, it may even slip itself under your tree, but be sure... This Christmas… EVIL IS BACK. Bloody Cuts return with a frightful Christmas cracker of festive catastrophe, as Oliver Ebsworth, Sian Breckin and Jonah Russell deliver to you Episode 9: “Deathly Presents”. This year we’ve cooked up a Christmas pudding of pleasurable pain in association with RØDE Microphones, marking a reiginiton of the Bloody Cuts series.
A YouTube user named Phillysteak decided to cut a new trailer in which he or she uses the audio track from the live-action one, only fusing it to scenes from the animated show:
The Expanse follows the case of a missing young woman who brings a hardened detective and a rogue ship’s captain together in a race across the solar system to expose the greatest conspiracy in human history. The episodes are available at Syfy.com, as well as on demand cable, satellite and telco platforms. The early release episodes are scheduled to air December 22 and 29. Said Sara Moscowitz, Senior Vice President, Brand and Strategic Marketing, Syfy: “By giving viewers the opportunity to watch Episodes 3 and 4 early, we’re not only providing a little holiday gift for the series’ existing fans, but we’re also allowing new viewers who’ve heard about THE EXPANSE to catch up on the series,” Sara Moscowitz, Senior Vice President, Brand and Strategic Marketing at Syfy, said. “With the potential to hook a broad audience over the holidays, we hope to debut Episode 5 to a committed, passionate fan base on January 5.”The Expanse airs regularly on Syfy on Tuesday nights.
