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.
Thousands of years after civilization was destroyed by a cataclysmic event, humankind has adapted and a new way of living has evolved. Gigantic moving cities now roam the Earth, ruthlessly preying upon smaller traction towns. Tom Natsworthy (Robert Sheehan)—who hails from a Lower Tier of the great traction city of London—finds himself fighting for his own survival after he encounters the dangerous fugitive Hester Shaw (Hera Hilmar). Two opposites, whose paths should never have crossed, forge an unlikely alliance that is destined to change the course of the future.
Think you've seen every animated version of Star Wars? How about the one series Star Wars shelved? Hector has a really good feeling as he explores the short-lived series Star Wars Detours on this week's Animation Investigation!
Art for Lauren Faust-Produced “DC Super Hero Girls”
DC Super Hero Girls is an all-new animated action-comedy series from Warner Bros. Animation and based on characters from DC Entertainment. Featuring fresh character designs and storytelling from Emmy® Award–winning producer Lauren Faust (Super Best Friends Forever, My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends), DC Super Hero Girls will be coming soon to Cartoon Network.
The world may know them as Wonder Woman, Supergirl and Batgirl, but not-so-typical teenagers Diana, Kara and Barbara, alongside their Super Hero friends have much more to deal with than just protecting the citizens of Metropolis from some of the most sinister school-aged Super-Villains of the DC Universe. After all, being teens is tough enough, what with school, friends, family and the chaos that comes with managing a social life. But add super powers and a secret identity to the mix, and things can get a lot more complicated.
Sure, gal pals Bumblebee, Zatanna and Green Lantern Jessica Cruz are always there to lend an ear, a shoulder to cry on, and a fist to punch with, but what happens when Diana and her favorite study buddy and fencing partner, Tatsu, can’t agree on how to dole out justice as Wonder Woman and Katana? Or when Barbara finds out her Gotham-Con bestie is teen-fiend Harley Quinn? Along with all their friends, foes and frenemies, this squad of super teens navigates the unique growing pains that come when you’re a teenager trying to fight the battles of the world and the battles of growing up at the same time.
The new series is a global initiative with Cartoon Network and builds on the successful DC Super Hero Girls global franchise, including direct-to-video movies as well as digital webisodes launched in 2015 and viewed by millions of fans on the DC Super Hero Girls YouTube channel, as well as the DC Super Hero Girls mobile app.
Lauren Faust is executive producer with Sam Register (Teen Titans Go!) also serving as executive producer.
About “DC Super Hero Girls” Global Franchise (Warner Bros. Consumer Products and DC Entertainment)
DC Super Hero Girls is an exciting global franchise centered on super heroic storytelling that helps build character and confidence and empowers girls to discover their true potential. Featuring DC’s most powerful and diverse line-up of female characters as relatable teens, the DC Super Hero Girls universe offers immersive experiences in multiple formats including animation, books, toys, apparel, games and more.
[Source: ToonZone] What is Viz Media planning on releasing later this year? What are the two properties they announced today for American consumption this fall?
First off, Viz will be bringing the Accel World: Infinite Burst feature film to the US. The movie is a continuation of the Accel World animated series, which was released in 2012.
In ACCEL WORLD: INFINITE BURST, Haruyuki and his friends are playing the online fighting game Brain Burst, locked in a territory battle with a rival group as usual. But things take an unexpected turn when a mysterious black cloud kicks them out of the game and prevents them from reentering. The seemingly impossible phenomenon isn’t just an isolated incident—it’s spreading and preventing all Burst Linkers from accelerating. Haruyuki and the others soon learn that to protect the bond that connects them, they must confront a powerful ancient being that has been sealed away since the dawn of the “Accelerated World”!
Look for Accel World: Infinite Burst to come to Blu-Ray and DVD this fall — it will include exclusive special extras like the two OVAs “Reverberation” and “Vacation.”
We get a look at the new aged character designs from HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 3: HIDDEN WORLD. The brief plot description: “Hiccup and Toothless again team up, against a new threat, to save their home and free the dragons. Additionally, Toothless meets a love interest, a white Fury (Toothless' breed of dragon). He also finds what appears to be a luminescent new dragon world.”
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 3: HIDDEN WORLD hits theaters 2019
Fire Emblem is a tactical role-playing game franchise developed by Intelligent Systems and published by Nintendo. First produced and published for the Family Computer (Famicom), the series consists of fifteen main games and three spin-offs, that are playable across multiple game systems. Described by its creators as a "role-playing game
simulation", the gameplay revolves around tactical movement of
characters across grid-based environments, while incorporating a story
and characters similar to those in a more traditional role-playing video
game.
A noted aspect of gameplay is the permanent death of characters in battle, removing them from the rest of the game should they be defeated. In the newer titles, from Fire Emblem: New Mystery of the Emblem
onwards, players get the choice between Classic mode, where characters
permanently die or Casual mode, where fallen characters will rejoin in
the next battle. The series title refers to the titular object, the
"Fire Emblem", usually portrayed as a royally treasured weapon or
shield, representing the power of war and dragons, a recurring element
in the series. Development of the first game began as a dōjin project by Shouzou Kaga
and three other developers. Its success prompted the development of
further titles in the series. Shouzou Kaga headed development of each
entry until the release of Thracia 776, when he left Intelligent Systems and founded his own game studio to develop Tear Ring Saga.
No games in the series were released outside of Japan until two characters, Marth and Roy, were included as playable characters in the 2001 fighting game Super Smash Bros. Melee. Their popularity eventually convinced Nintendo to release the next game, The Blazing Sword, in Western regions under the title Fire Emblem
in 2003. Many games in the series have sold well, despite a decline
during the 2000s which resulted in the series' near-cancellation.
Individual entries have generally been praised, and the series as a
whole has been lauded for its gameplay, and it is cited as a seminal
series in the tactical role-playing genre. Characters from multiple
games have also been included in crossovers with other franchises.
THE HAPPYTIME MURDERS is a filthy comedy set in the seedy underbelly of Los Angeles where puppets and humans coexist. Two clashing detectives with a shared secret, one human (Melissa McCarthy) and one puppet, are forced to work together again to solve the brutal murders of the former cast of a beloved classic puppet television show.
T H E W I T C H E R Mads Mikkelsen / Netflix Series
The Witcher is an upcoming fantasy drama series created by Lauren Schmidt Hissrich for Netflix based on the book series of the same name by Andrzej Sapkowski. Premise Geralt of Rivia, a Witcher and mutated monster hunter, tries to find his place in a world full of beasts and cruel people.
"In the heartwarming live action adventure 'Disney’s Christopher Robin,' the young boy who embarked on countless adventures in the Hundred Acre Wood with his band of spirited and lovable stuffed animals, has grown up and lost his way. Now it is up to his childhood friends to venture into our world and help Christopher Robin remember the loving and playful boy who is still inside.
[Source: comicbook] Winnie the Pooh is coming back to the big screen this summer in Disney's Christopher Robin, and the first full-length trailer for the film has finally been released online.
Christopher Robin stars Ewan McGregor as the titular character, who has grown up and grown away from his friends in the 100 Acre Wood. Now that he's been bogged down with the stresses of life and the real world, Christopher's old pals have returned to help remind him of who he used to be.
This means that Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, Piglet, and many other characters from the animated franchise will be making their way to our world in the film. Instead of remaining cartoons in the real life, like in Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, these characters will be walking, talking stuffed animals when they appear to Christopher.
On Thursday, Disney took to Twitter to announce that the trailer for Christopher Robin would debut during Friday's episode of Ellen. The announcement, which you can see below, came with the release of the official Christopher Robin poster.
Christopher Robin is stuck in a job where he is overworked, underpaid and facing an uncertain future. He has a family of his own, but his work has become his life, leaving little time for his wife and daughter, and he has all but forgotten his idyllic childhood spent with a simple-minded, honey-loving stuffed bear and his friends. But when he is reunited with Winnie the Pooh, now tattered and soiled from years of hugs and play, a spark is rekindled, and he is reminded of the endless days of childlike wonder and make believe that defined his youth, when doing nothing could be considered something. Following an unfortunate mishap with Christopher Robin’s briefcase, Pooh and the rest of the gang including Piglet, Eeyore and Tigger, step out of the forest and into London to return the crucial possessions…because best friends will always be there for you."
Directed by Marc Forster, Christopher Robin is set to hit theaters on August 3.
[Source: aintitcool] With the invention of the internet, things have changed in the world for both the better and the worse. When it comes to video games, it seems pretty much all around good, though. Especially for indie games, because they are able to get the attention and appreciation they deserve.
TO THE MOON is very well thought out indie RPG that you can pick up on Steam, with overwhelmingly positive reviews. This game was actually made with RPG Maker XP (that takes me back), by Kan Gao.
“The story, set in the future, follows two doctors who offer to fulfill a dying man’s last wish using artificial memories. The game features relatively few gameplay mechanics, with the player controlling the two doctors, exploring the narrative and solving puzzles as they try to reconstruct the dying man's memories in order to fulfill his wish.”
TO THE MOON is a tear-jerker and a comedy. From what I’ve read, you actually get to travel through the dying man’s memories and see his life. Supposedly it’s only a 4-5 hours adventure, which seems worth a $9.99 price tag.
You can enjoy the trailer for the game. (Try not to cry.)
Many details about the TO THE MOON feature are so far kept under wraps, but Gao is promising in his announcement on YouTube it is in fact happening. Gao also says that they have a “significant budget” that is above YOUR NAME and some big animation players involved, how mysterious and exciting!
[Source: SyFyWire] For three decades, My Neighbor Totoro has withstood the test of time as one of Studio Ghibli’s greatest anime films. The forest spirit, Totoro, has become so beloved that Studio Ghibli adopted him as their official mascot, and he remains a very popular character to this day. Now, Totoro is even getting his own restaurant in Bangkok.
Via SoraNews24, May’s Garden House Restaurant is the first Totoro-themed restaurant officially licensed by Studio Ghibli. The restaurant isn’t officially open yet, but it’s currently welcoming hungry diners during its preview period while collecting feedback. There’s even a giant Totoro at the entrance of the dining room, which will probably be one of the most popular attractions there.
Studio Ghibli co-founder Toshio Suzuki was heavily involved with the creation of the restaurant, thanks to his friendship with the proprietor, Kanyada; whose nickname is “May.” The report notes that Suzuki was so taken by Kanyada’s chicken wings and sympathetic to her business struggles that he came up with the idea for May’s Garden House Restaurant. He also created the restaurant's official logo.
While there are numerous Totoro characters placed throughout the restaurant, May’s Garden House will also be home to Colko and Peeko, two new creations made and designed by Suzuki himself. Colko and Peeko are also the restaurant's official mascots.
There are a few parts of May’s Garden House that aren’t yet completed, including a playground for children, an orchid glasshouse, a boat water pool, and more. Even the menu hasn’t been finalized yet, although it will include dishes inspired by Totoro and his spirit pals. But we’re not quite sure what this Catbus snack is supposed to be.
May’s Garden House Restaurant also has its own official Instagram account, which will continue to entice visitors even after the grand opening later this this month.
A N I M A T R I X N E T W O R K Saturday, May 26, 2018
Fountaindale Public Library
"Get ready! We're flying to a new location!"
Remember! We'll be in a Different Library! Fountaindale Public Library 300 W. Briarcliff Rd.
Bolingbrook, IL 60440
2nd Floor Board Room, 11:15 am to 5:00 pm
11:15 - 12:05 Houseki no Kuni 7-8 12:05 - 12:55 A Place Further Than the Universe 5-6 12:55 - 1:45 Violet Evergarden 7-8 1:45 - 2:20 Club Meeting / Announcements 2:20 - 3:10 B - the Beginning 5-6 3:10 - 4:50 Mary and the Witch's Flower [Movie]
All anime presented are fan-subtitled unless otherwise noted.
Don't miss the exciting anime series: B - The Beginning and Houseki no Kuni!
[Source: Entertainment Weekly] EW exclusively revealed that Warner Bros. Animation is bringing back the iconic cat-like aliens for new animated series called ThunderCats Roar, which will debut on Cartoon Network in 2019.
Check out an exclusive sneak peak at the show above.
The original ThunderCats show aired from 1985 and 1989, and followed the adventures of Lion-O, Cheetara, Panthro, Tygra, Snarf, and WilyKit and WilyKat, the refugees of the planet Thundera who end up on Third Earth. While ThunderCatsRoar plans on staying true to the original’s premise and will feature tons of action, it will also lean into the inherent comedy of the world, too.
“I think the world that they built lends itself really well to comedy because of how silly and crazy and outlandish those ideas are and some of those settings are,” says producer Victor Courtright in the exclusive behind-the-scenes video above. “But at the same time, it wouldn’t be ThunderCats if it didn’t have super cool action elements because that’s what people came back to. It’s very much something that we want to lean on. So with the new show, we’re not walking away from the action in any bit. Every step we take towards comedy, we take two more towards really cool action scenes and explosions and lasers and actions effects.”
Here’s the official logline for the series: “Staying true to the premise of the original series, Lion-O and the ThunderCats — Tygra, Panthro, Cheetara, Wilykat, and Wilykit — barely escape the sudden destruction of their home world, Thundera, only to crash land on the mysterious and exotic planet of Third Earth. Lion-O, the newly appointed Lord of the ThunderCats, attempts to lead the team as they make this planet their new home. A bizarre host of creatures and villains stand in their way, including the evil Mumm-Ra, Third Earth’s wicked ruler who will let nothing, including the ThunderCats, stop his tyrannical reign over the planet.”
ThunderCats Roar stars Max Mittelman (Justice League Action) as Lion-O and Wilykat, Erica Lindbeck (DC Super Hero Girls) as Cheetara and Wilykit, Patrick Seitz (Justice League Action) as Tygra and Mumm-Ra, and Chris Jai Alex (Star Wars: Battlefront II) as Panthro.
Today at Anime Central, Kenichi Sonoda officially launches his Kickstarter Project: Bean Bandit.
very time I am invited to events in North America, I am always left with the memory that fans want a new Riding Bean and Gunsmith Cats. One day, my friend brought me a plan for crowdfunding anime. I realized then how fun it would be to make more extreme and more profound animated works just for the fans without being bound by the opinions of publishers and editors.
That is why I started this Kickstarter.
Our initial goal is to produce a five-minute animation. Should we receive more support, we are planning to make it longer. I would be truly happy if we gathered enough pledges to create a 20-minute anime with a slick original opening!
I also intend to prepare an art book featuring concept art, design, and a newly drawn original color comic if possible.
The animation, art book, and manga will be available in both Japanese and English. Additionally, the finished animation will be released on a Blu-ray disk at the highest quality.
