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.
Director of Grave of the Fireflies and Princess Kaguya
Co-Founder of Studio Ghibli
[Source: AnimeNewsNetwork) Anime director and Studio-Ghibli co-founder Isao Takahata passed away in a Tokyo hospital on Thursday. He was 82.
The Japanese websites Sanspo and NTV News 24 reported the news, and both cited unnamed related parties who said that Takahata had been in declining health since last summer.
Takahata joined Toei Douga (now Toei Animation) in 1959 after graduating from the University of Tokyo. He had a long career directing such classics as Little Norse Prince Valiant (Taiyō no Ōji - Hols no Daibōken), Alps no Shōjo Heidi, Anne of Green Gables, and Panda! Go, Panda! before he co-founded Studio Ghibli with Hayao Miyazaki. He went on to create the feature films Grave of the Fireflies, Only Yesterday, Pom Poko, and My Neighbors the Yamadas.
Takahata's final film as director was The Tale of Princess Kaguya, which debuted in 2013. Takahata told entertainment news website Variety in 2016, "I have several projects that I still have in mind that I am currently working on to get closer to realizing. Whether those will be finalized as films is something that no one, myself included, can know."
Steven Universe fills you in on everything you need to know about Rose Quartz, the Crystal Gems, and the Diamond Authority before you dive in to new episodes! And there might just be a sneak peek of what’s to come...
Hisone Amakasu is a rookie in the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, where she is situated at their Gifu base. She decided to join the force to distance herself from other people, as she was finding it difficult to acknowledge that her innocent words were hurting them, despite that not being her intention. Amakasu's decision led to her life being changed when the concealed "OTF" dragon inside the base chose her to be his pilot, where she discovered her destined role as a dragon pilot during their ascension in the skies together. According to legend, dragons are thought to possess a key to unlocking the future of the world.
A lonely office worker living in Tokyo finds herself between fantasy and reality as she escapes her mundane life and into her imagination if only for a moment in time.
ISLE OF DOGS tells the story of ATARI KOBAYASHI, 12-year-old ward to corrupt Mayor Kobayashi. When, by Executive Decree, all the canine pets of Megasaki City are exiled to a vast garbage-dump called Trash Island, Atari sets off alone in a miniature Junior-Turbo Prop and flies across the river in search of his bodyguard-dog, Spots. There, with the assistance of a pack of newly-found mongrel friends, he begins an epic journey that will decide the fate and future of the entire Prefecture.
A N I M A T R I X N E T W O R K Saturday, March 31, 2018
Wood Dale Public Library
♪ ♫ ♬ "I'm so excited... and I just can't hide it!" ♪ ♫ ♬ I can't wait for the weekend!
Main Meeting Room, 10:15 am to 5:00 pm
10:15 - 11:05 Houseki no Kuni 3-4 11:05 - 11:55 A Place Further Than the Universe 1-2 11:55 - 12:45 Violet Evergarden 3-4 12:45 - 1:35 Inuyashiki 3-4 1:35 - 2:15 Club Meeting / Announcements 2:15 - 3:05 B - the Beginning 1-2 3:05 - 4:35 Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters [Movie]
All anime presented are fan-subtitled unless otherwise noted.
Don't miss the exciting anime series: B - The Beginning and Inuyashiki!
After surviving a near fatal bovine attack, a disfigured cafeteria chef (Wade Wilson) struggles to fulfill his dream of becoming Mayberry’s hottest bartender while also learning to cope with his lost sense of taste. Searching to regain his spice for life, as well as a flux capacitor, Wade must battle ninjas, the yakuza, and a pack of sexually aggressive canines, as he journeys around the world to discover the importance of family, friendship, and flavor – finding a new taste for adventure and earning the coveted coffee mug title of World’s Best Lover.
Our next club meeting will be at the Wood Dale Public Library, Main Meeting Room (on your far right as you enter the front doors), from 10:15 AM to 5:00 PM (until the library closes).
There is public transportation available. A Metra train-stop is located within walking distance.
Please note: If you are driving, please park your car on the south side of the building (not the front) in order to make room for other library patrons.
'Won’t You Be My Neighbor?' takes an intimate look at America’s favorite neighbor: Mister Fred Rogers. A portrait of a man whom we all think we know, this emotional and moving film takes us beyond the zip-up cardigans and the land of make-believe, and into the heart of a creative genius who inspired generations of children with compassion and limitless imagination.
The sequel anime series was announced on March 24, 2016 via the Toonami crew's Tumblr and Facebook page that 12 new episodes of FLCL would be produced in cooperation with Production I.G. The upcoming episodes will be split into two individual seasons: FLCL Progressive(フリクリ プログレFurikuri Purogure, "FLCL Progress") and FLCL Alternative(フリクリ オルタナFurikuri Orutana, "FLCL Ortana") which will serve as sequels to the popular series which was broadcast on Adult Swim's anime block in 2003.
The crew includes Neon Genesis Evangelion character designer Yoshiyuki Sdamoto and original series director Kazuya Tsurumaki. The sequel series Progressive will premiere on Adult Swim’s Toonami programming block on June 2, 2018. In the United States, FLCL Progressive will air in June, and FLCL Alternative will air in September In Japan, the premiere will be divided into two theatrical showings, with FLCL Alternative releasing in September 7, 2018 and FLCL Progressive in September 28, 2018.
The official synopsis of the series was published by Adult Swim:
In the new season of FLCL, many years have passed since Naota and Haruhara Haruko shared their adventure together. Meanwhile, the war between the two entities known as Medical Mechanica and Fraternity rages across the galaxy. Enter Hidomi, a young teenaged girl who believes there is nothing amazing to expect from her average life, until one day when a new teacher named Haruko arrives at her school. Soon enough, Medical Mechanica is attacking her town and Hidomi discovers a secret within her that could save everyone, a secret that only Haruko can unlock.
But why did Haruko return to Earth? What happened to her Rickenbacker 4001 she left with Naota? And where did the human-type robot 'Canti' go?
Production I.G vice president Maki Terashima-Furuta announced at the annual 2016 Anime Expo that original series character designer Yoshiyuki Sadamoto would be reprising his position for the upcoming sequel and that Psycho-Pass director Katsuyuki Motohiro would be supervising the production. Additionally, it was announced that Japanese alternative rock band The Pillows would be returning to provide the musical score for the anime.
The Glassworker (شیشہ گر) is a film by Mano Animation Studios, directed by Usman Riaz. A coming-of-age story about two children from separate walks of life, set in the fictitious Waterfront Town. Vincent is an apprentice Glass Blower learning from his father in their Glass Shop. Alliz is a prodigious violinist striving to find her own unique voice on the instrument. The film will comment on the affects of war on children and follow both characters through their formative years as life gets more complicated and inhibits their friendship. Mano Animation Studios is Pakistan's first hand drawn animation studio. The team comprises of upcoming creatives from Pakistan and extends to Malaysia, Canada, South Africa, United States and the UK. Backed with $116,000 on Kickstarter, Mano Animation Studios has just released the first 10 minutes of their feature film. The short ‘Prelude’ is the opening of the full feature and is the first short hand-drawn animation to come from Pakistan. This includes a behind the scenes documentary following the making of the work.
Release Date: End 2020.
Space explorers Diego the dog and Orbot the robot are stranded on a remote planet while in the middle of a friendly fight. Created by Lynn Wang and Ed Skudder.
[Source: ToonZone] GKIDS, the acclaimed producer and distributor of animation for adult and family audiences, announced that it has acquired the North American distribution rights to FIREWORKS, from director Nobuyuki Takeuchi and general director Akiyuki Shinbo. The deal for the film was negotiated by Eric Beckman of GKIDS and Rui Machida at Toho Co., Ltd. GKIDS will release the film theatrically in Summer 2018.
SYNOPSIS
Producer Genki Kawamura follows up his mega-hit Your Name with another tale of star-crossed teenage lovers with a sci-fi fantasy twist. Shy Norimichi and fast-talking Yusuke, are goo-goo-eyed over the same elusive classmate, Nazuna. But Nazuna, unhappy over her mother’s decision to remarry and leave their countryside town, plans to run away and has secretly chosen Norimichi to accompany her. When things don’t go as planned, Norimichi discovers that a glowing multi-color ball found in the sea has the power to reset the clock and give them a second chance to be together. But each reset adds new complications and takes them farther and farther away from the real world – until they risk losing sight of reality altogether.
Fireworks tells a simple story of adolescent longing that taps deep wells of emotion. It is tale of youthful wistfulness, missed opportunities and long-ago dreams, of the urgency of young lovers, and the desire to create a separate universe, a magic place outside of time, where they can be together.
ABOUT NOBUYUKI TAKEUCHI
Born February 27, 1967 in Hyogo prefecture. In the late 1990s, Takeuchi was the animation director for TV series Revolutionary Girl Utena (1997) and Silent Möbius (1998). In the Shaft animes, he was the visual director, storyboard artist, and episode director for MOON PHASE (2004, 2005), and in recent years, the production designer for numerous episodes of Monogatari series including Bakemonogatari (2009). He was also a key animator for Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away (2001), The Cat Returns (2002), Howl’s Moving Castle (2004), Tales from Earthsea (2006), and Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea (2008). He was in charge of production design setting in the Kizumonogatari series (from 2016) for which Akiyuki Shinbo was the chief executive director.
ABOUT AKIYUKI SHINBO
Shinbo made his directorial debut in 1994 with Metal Fighter MIKU and has worked closely with animation company Shaft since 2004. The first Shinbo-Shaft collaboration, TV anime series Puella Magi Madoka Magica (2011), was made into a feature-length movie later, and the new edition of Puella Magi Madoka Magica The Movie: Rebellion in 2013 became an unprecedented box office hit as a movie adaptation of a late-night anime series. He has won numerous film awards including the Animation Grand Prize at the 15th Japan Media Arts Festival hosted by the Agency for Cultural Affairs. His filmography includes Pani Poni Dash! (2005), the Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei series (from 2007), Monogatari series (from 2009), and Arakawa Under The Bridge (2010).
The final trailer for INFINITY WAR is here! This is the last bit of new footage we may see until its release on April 27th. 76 characters in a single Marvel movie. Prepare yourselves for utter AWESOMENESS! Iron Man, Thor, the Hulk and the rest of the Avengers unite to
battle their most powerful enemy yet -- the evil Thanos. On a mission to
collect all six Infinity Stones, Thanos plans to use the artifacts to
inflict his twisted will on reality. The fate of the planet and
existence itself has never been more uncertain as everything the Avengers have fought for has led up to this moment.
Warner Bros. Pictures’ “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” is the second of five all new adventures in J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World™.
At the end of the first film, the powerful Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp) was captured by MACUSA (Magical Congress of the United States of America), with the help of Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne). But, making good on his threat, Grindelwald escaped custody and has set about gathering followers, most unsuspecting of his true agenda: to raise pure-blood wizards up to rule over all non-magical beings.
In an effort to thwart Grindelwald’s plans, Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) enlists his former student Newt Scamander, who agrees to help, unaware of the dangers that lie ahead. Lines are drawn as love and loyalty are tested, even among the truest friends and family, in an increasingly divided wizarding world.
The film features an ensemble cast led by Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, Ezra Miller, with Jude Law and Johnny Depp. The cast also includes, Zoë Kravitz, Callum Turner, Claudia Kim, William Nadylam, Kevin Guthrie, Carmen Ejogo, and Poppy Corby-Tuech.
“Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” is directed by David Yates, from a screenplay by J.K. Rowling. The film is produced by David Heyman, J.K. Rowling, Steve Kloves and Lionel Wigram.
Slated for release on November 16, 2018, the film will be distributed worldwide in 2D and 3D in select theatres and IMAX by Warner Bros. Pictures.
Lili refuses to let go of her childhood and fights a sandstorm that threatens to take it away. In the heart of the storm she rediscovers the joy of childhood, but forced to choose between illusion and reality.
STEPHEN HAWKING (1942 - 2018) Famed physicist, dies at age 76
[Source: FoxNews] Stephen Hawking, the famed theoretical physicist who defied a diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis to live virtually his entire adult life with the disease – in a wheelchair and paralyzed but making constant contributions to a world few could understand – has died at age 76, a family spokesman said.
Although Hawking may have been incapacitated physically, he managed to write books, including the best seller "A Brief History of Time," teach physics and mathematics, deliver speeches and even float in zero gravity, all while working in the fields of cosmology and quantum gravity.
He was not modest about what he wanted to do. "My goal is simple," he once said. "It is a complete understanding of the universe, why it is as it is and why it exists at all."
"My goal is simple. It is a complete understanding of the universe, why it is as it is, and why it exists at all."
- Stephen Hawking
Hawking reached his eighth decade, but was forced to miss a scientific debate to mark his 70th birthday in January 2012 because he was discharged from a hospital only two days earlier. His personal assistant told the Daily Telegraph at the time his speech was getting noticeably slower, sometimes only a word a minute.
As part of the events surrounding his birthday, Hawking gave a rare interview to New Scientist magazine and declared there was still one puzzle left for him. Asked what he thought about most during the day, Hawking replied, "Women. They are a complete mystery."
In earlier interviews, Hawking was frank about his physical restrictions. "I'm sure my disability has a bearing on why I'm well known," he said in an interview with the BBC. "People are fascinated by the contrast between my very limited physical powers, and the vast nature of the universe I deal with.
"I'm the archetype of a disabled genius, or should I say a physically challenged genius, to be politically correct. At least I'm obviously physically challenged. Whether I'm a genius is more open to doubt."
Hawking was married and divorced twice. His first wife, Jane Wilde, was a fellow student at Cambridge to whom he was married for 28 years. He then married his nurse, Elaine Mason, whom he was with for 11 years before they separated.
He is survived by three children from his first marriage, Robert, Timothy and Lucy.
Stephen William Hawking was born Jan. 8, 1942, in Oxford, England. He had two younger sisters and an adopted brother.
Stephen William Hawking was born Jan. 8, 1942, in Oxford, England. He had two younger sisters and an adopted brother.
He later said the diagnosis prompted recurring dreams in which he would sacrifice his own life to save others.
"After all, if I were going to die anyway, it might as well do some good," he said. "But I didn't die. In fact, although there was a cloud hanging over my future, I found, to my surprise, that I was enjoying life in the present more than before."
Shortly after earning his PhD, Hawking became a professor at Cambridge, working as a research fellow then a professorial fellow before becoming the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics. That same position, which he held from 1979 to 2009, was held by Isaac Newton in 1669.
Hawking was awarded 12 honorary degrees and was elected one of the youngest Fellows of the Royal Society in 1974. He was later made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1982 and a Companion of Honor in 1989. He is also a member of the US National Academy of Science and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009.
Hawking's research focused on cosmology and the basic laws of the universe. Along with Roger Pemrose, he applied a new model to Einstein's General Theory of Relativity. The model showed that space and time are infinite, and they would begin with the Big Bang and end with black holes.
He also concluded that black holes should emit radiation, and that the universe has no edge or boundary in imaginary time.
Hawking was never afraid to voice his opinion, even if it could be considered controversial.
Using a mathematical basis, he said he was almost certain that alien life existed in other parts of the universe. "The numbers alone make thinking about aliens perfectly rational," he said. "The real challenge is to work out what aliens might actually be like."
"I believe that life on Earth is at an ever-increasing risk of being wiped out by a disaster such as sudden nuclear war, a genetically engineered virus, or other dangers. I think the human race has no future if it doesn't go into space."
- Stephen Hawking
Hawking – or his animated lookalike -- appeared on numerous television shows, including "Star Trek: The Next Generation," "The Simpsons," "Family Guy," "The Big Bang Theory," and "Dilbert." In some instances he appeared as himself, while in others animated characters were created to resemble him.
A 2014 biopic, “The Theory of Everything,” examined the courtship, marriage and eventual separation of Hawking and his first wife, Jane. The movie, which was directed by James Marsh, starred British actor Eddie Redmayne as the famous physicist.
In order to communicate, Hawking used a computer system attached to his wheelchair. He used a switch to select words printed on a screen, and as he formed sentences they were sent to a speech synthesizer.
His accent was described as Scandinavian, American, or Scottish. Hawking began using the voice synthesizer in 1985, when he contracted pneumonia and had an emergency tracheotomy.
Disney’s “Christopher Robin” is directed by Marc Forster from a screenplay by Alex Ross Perry and Allison Schroeder and a story by Perry based on characters created by A.A. Milne. The producers are Brigham Taylor and Kristin Burr with Renée Wolfe and Jeremy Johns serving as executive producers. The film stars Ewan McGregor as Christopher Robin; Hayley Atwell as his wife Evelyn; Bronte Carmichael as his daughter Madeline; and Mark Gatiss as Keith Winslow, Robin’s boss. The film also features the voices of: Jim Cummings as Winnie the Pooh; Chris O’Dowd as Tigger; Brad Garrett as Eeyore; Toby Jones as Owl; Nick Mohammed as Piglet; Peter Capaldi as Rabbit; and Sophie Okonedo as Kanga.
Harpy and her pet goblin cat Pumpkin are enjoying a peaceful day in the forest, until a couple of baby monsters have a spat! Created by Brianne Drouhard. This short is based on Brianne’s webcomic, Harpy Gee. For those who are interested in reading it, here it is: http://www.harpygee.com/comic/cover
Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden is a tactical adventure game combining the turn-based combat of XCOM with story, exploration, stealth, and strategy. Take control of a team of Mutants navigating a post-human Earth. Created by a team including former HITMAN leads and the designer of PAYDAY. Coming to PS4 in 2018.
For their eighth fully animated feature, Illumination and Universal Pictures present The Grinch, based on Dr. Seuss’ beloved holiday classic. The Grinch tells the story of a cynical grump who goes on a mission to steal Christmas, only to have his heart changed by a young girl’s generous holiday spirit. Funny, heartwarming and visually stunning, it’s a universal story about the spirit of Christmas and the indomitable power of optimism. Academy Award® nominee Benedict Cumberbatch lends his voice to the infamous Grinch, who lives a solitary life inside a cave on Mt. Crumpet with only his loyal dog, Max, for company. With a cave rigged with inventions and contraptions for his day-to-day needs, the Grinch only sees his neighbors in Who-ville when he runs out of food. Each year at Christmas they disrupt his tranquil solitude with their increasingly bigger, brighter and louder celebrations. When the Whos declare they are going to make Christmas three times bigger this year, the Grinch realizes there is only one way for him to gain some peace and quiet: he must steal Christmas. To do so, he decides he will pose as Santa Claus on Christmas Eve, even going so far as to trap a lackadaisical misfit reindeer to pull his sleigh. Meanwhile, down in Who-ville, Cindy-Lou Who—a young girl overflowing with holiday cheer—plots with her gang of friends to trap Santa Claus as he makes his Christmas Eve rounds so that she can thank him for help for her overworked single mother. As Christmas approaches, however, her good-natured scheme threatens to collide with the Grinch’s more nefarious one. Will Cindy-Lou achieve her goal of finally meeting Santa Claus? Will the Grinch succeed in silencing the Whos’ holiday cheer once and for all?
When the creator of an MMO called the Oasis dies, he releases a video in which he challenges all Oasis users to find his Easter Egg, which will give the finder his fortune. Wade Watts finds the first clue and starts a race for the Egg.
After the demise of the Jurassic World theme park on Isla Nublar, the dinosaurs roam freely on the island for four years until an impending volcanic eruption threatens to end them. Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard), the former park manager, has now founded the Dinosaur Protection Group, an organization dedicated to saving the dinosaurs. She recruits Owen Grady (Chris Pratt), a former dinosaur trainer who worked at the park, to help her rescue the remaining dinosaurs from the island. Owen also tries to find Blue, the last remaining of the four raptors he trained, but he and Claire learn about a conspiracy that could result in dinosaurs becoming the Earth's dominant animals once again.
In the midst of working off a prison sentence, an astronaut named Gary meets mysterious, planet-destroying alien Mooncake, with whom he immediately bonds. But Gary doesn't realize that his new sidekick is actually in demand by the sinister Lord Commander, who will do all he can to secure Mooncake's untapped evil powers. This animated intergalactic comedy follows Gary and Mooncake's adventures to unlock the mystery of "Final Space," where the universe ends.
At the Final Fantasy 30th Anniversary Exhibition, we've had concept art for the FF7 Remake shown. Here, it was learned that during a fan-only event, they revealed new in-game screenshots and that character models have been changed.
In a barren and cold world, a lone knight travels toward a sole beacon of hope; a beautiful, golden city. When the knight’s way is blocked by an infallible monster, the knight must fight to reach his goal; but can they defeat the monster from within the heavy armour without facing the memories that haunt? WITHIN, WITHOUT was made by a team of 3rd year Character Animation and CG Art students at The Animation Workshop/VIA University College in Viborg, Denmark.
Get ready to Make, Play, and Discover with Nintendo Labo! Nintendo Labo is a new line of interactive build-and-play experiences that combine DIY creations with the magic of Nintendo Switch. Available on April 20, 2018!
Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2 leaves Litwak’s video arcade behind, venturing into the uncharted, expansive and thrilling world of the internet—which may or may not survive Ralph’s wrecking. Video game bad guy Ralph (voice of John C. Reilly) and fellow misfit Vanellope von Schweetz (voice of Sarah Silverman) must risk it all by traveling to the world wide web in search of a replacement part to save Vanellope’s video game, Sugar Rush. In way over their heads, Ralph and Vanellope rely on the citizens of the internet—the netizens—to help navigate their way, including a webite entrepreneur named Yesss (voice of Taraji P. Henson), who is the head algorithm and the heart and soul of trend-making site “BuzzzTube.” Directed by Rich Moore (“Zootopia,” “Wreck-It Ralph”) and Phil Johnston (co-writer “Wreck-It Ralph,” “Cedar Rapids,” co-writer “Zootopia,”), and produced by Clark Spencer (“Zootopia,” “Wreck-It Ralph,” “Bolt”), “Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-Ralph 2” hits theaters on Nov. 21, 2018.
