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.
It's been 50 years since we saw Samurai Jack and time has not been kind to him. Aku has destroyed every time portal and Jack has stopped aging, a side effect of time travel. It seems he is cursed to just roam the land for all eternity. Samurai Jack premieres Saturday, March 11th at 11pm ET/PT on Adult Swim.
[Source: SyfyWire] We've known since Friday that Stranger Things would finally reveal some Season 2 footage during Super Bowl LI, and now that footage is here!
As expected, we don't get much in the way of plot, but if you're a fan of the show the images are enough to get you very, very excited. Dustin, Lucas and Mike as Ghostbusters! Will going in for some sinister-looking tests! Eggo! Hopper getting his hands dirty! Eleven's face!
Oh, and it looks like we should get ready for a monster that puts the Demogorgon to shame. Check it out.
BLADE of the IMMORTAL (Live-Action Motion Picture)
Blade of the Immortal(無限の住人) is an upcoming Japanese jidaigeki action film directed by Takashi Miike, starring Takuya Kimura and Hana Sugisaki and based on the manga series of the same name by Hiroaki Samura. It is scheduled for release in Japan by Warner Bros. Pictures on April 29, 2017.
Blade of the Immortal follows the deeds of Manji, a skilled samurai who has a decisive advantage: no wound can kill him, except for a rare poison. In the past, his criminal actions led to the death of 100 other samurai (including his sister's husband). He becomes immortal at the hand of an 800-year-old nun named Yaobikuni, and is compelled by the death of his sister to accept the quest that will end his agelessness. He has vowed to make amends by killing 1000 evil men, and until he does Manji will be kept alive by "sacred bloodworms" (血仙蟲kessen-chū?), remarkable creatures that allow him to survive nearly any injury and reattach severed limbs even after hours of separation. They work by sacrificing themselves to seal the wound - they're worms that were bred to be as close in their chemical and physical make-up to humans as you can get without being human. They cannot handle regrowth on a large scale, but, for example, can reattach a severed limb or seal a hole in the brain.
Manji crosses paths with a young girl named Asano Rin and promises to help her avenge her parents, who were killed by a cadre of master swordsmen led by Anotsu Kagehisa. Anotsu killed Rin's father and his entire dōjō, making them a family of outcasts. Anotsu's quest is to gather other outcasts and form an extremely powerful new dojo, the Ittō-ryū (a school teaching any technique that wins, no matter how exotic or underhanded), and has started taking over and destroying other dojos.
In addition, another group calling itself the Mugai-ryū has emerged, in opposition to the Ittō-ryū. Its true leadership and motives are initially a mystery, but its methods (any tactics that leads to victory) resemble those of the Ittō-ryū. They try to enlist Manji's help as they seem to want the same thing. Eventually Manji joins but quickly pulls out after he finds out a member, Shira, is way too sadistic for his tastes. After a while Manji finally discovers that the Mugai-ryū work for the government. They are all death row inmates who are allowed to live only if they serve the shogunate. While Manji and Shira quickly grow to hate each other, after Shira runs off, Manji remains on friendly terms with the other members of the group.
[Source: RocketNews] Some of the most famous faces of anime are ready to welcome you to the 2020 Games!
There are still three years until the much-anticipated 2020 Olympic Games takes place in Tokyo, but already it’s all everyone can think about. Hotels, convenience stores, and businesses of all kinds are trying their best to make their services more foreigner-friendly in time for the Games, from providing menus and food descriptions in English to making little changes to maps in the hopes they will be little easier for foreigners to understand.
Some of the 2020 Olympic’s official ambassadors have been selected now too, and fans of Japanese pop culture are very excited about the reveal. The Olympic Channel of Facebook recently introduced the characters in a video that has already been viewed over two million times!
The ambassadors are Astro Boy, Sailor Moon, Luffy from One Piece, Naruto, Goku from Dragon Ball, Crayon Shin-chan, two of the magical girls from Pretty Cure, and Jibanyan from Yokai Watch. Since many people with an interest in Japan and Japanese pop culture were first drawn in by some of these iconic characters and their respective anime, there has been a lot of excitement surrounding the announcement, with foreign fans leaving comments such as:
“My female dog is called Serena (Usagi’s name in Brazil!), and my male cat is called Naruto… I’m very happy they are in Olimpics [sic] Game!”“Looks like I’m definitely going to the 2020 olympics now”“Astro Boy! The whole reason I got into anime & Japanese culture…”
“GOKU AND SAILOR MOON! Only in Japan haha I love it!!”
Still, it looks like some would like to see other well-known characters added to the lineup.
“Where’s Pikachu?”“I’m kinda surprised Shin-chan made it up here. His humor…isn’t for kids lol”“I was hoping they could use some of the anime sports stars too… Haikyuu characters and some Slam Dunk or Kuroko.”
It’s true, there are many more prominent icons that could have made the cut, and with it being the Olympics it would make sense for a few characters from sports-related anime to be selected too, but as the video says at its closing, there may be more to come! You can also find those official goods on the Tokyo 2020 online shop.
Let us know who you would like to see as a Tokyo Olympics ambassador!
A sequel to Journey To The West: Conquering The Demons, the Monkey King is back. Now tamed by Tang Sanzang, Monkey King has become one of Tang’s disciples. Tang, Monkey King, Sandy and Pigsy band together to fight demons as they continue their journey west. We get to see this crazy film February 3rd here domestically! Tsui Hark rules!
When I heard this song in the theater, my "offensive" radar detector went off with sirens blaring. Just what the heck were they spelling!? Hear for yourself. ^_^ Good L.U.C.K.
[Source: LA Times]"Stranger Things" won the SAG Award for ensemble in a drama series, and David Harbour, who plays Chief Jim Hopper, delivered an impassioned speech about the importance of fighting for the disenfranchised.
Read his speech in full below:
This is unreal. I’m supposed to start talking. I’m sorry. I’m sick.
On behalf of this fearless and talented cast, we would like to thank -- oh, it's so heavy -- Netflix, Shawn [Levy], Matt [Duffer], Ross [Duffer] and the amazing casting director Carmen Cuba .
I would just like to say that in light of all that’s going on in the world today, it’s difficult to celebrate the already celebrated “Stranger Things,” but this award from you, who take your craft seriously and earnestly believe, like me, that great acting can change the world, is a call to arms from our fellow craftsmen and women to go deeper and through our art to battle against fear, self-centeredness and exclusivity of our predominantly narcissistic culture. And through our craft to cultivate a more empathetic and understanding society by revealing intimate truths that serve as a forceful reminder to folks that when they feel broken and afraid and tired, they are not alone.
We are united, in that we are all human beings and we are all together on this horrible, painful, joyous, exciting and mysterious ride that is being alive.
Now, as we act and the continuing narrative of “Stranger Things,” we 1983 Midwesterners will repel bullies. We will shelter freaks and outcasts, those who have no homes. We will get past the lies. We will hunt monsters. And when we are lost amidst the hypocrisy and the casual violence of certain individuals and institutions, we will, as per Chief Jim Hopper, punch some people in the face when they seek to destroy the meek and the disenfranchised and the marginalized. And we will do it all with soul, with heart, and with joy.
We thank you for this responsibility. We thank you.
[Source: Yahoo!News] “Stranger Things” officially became an Emmy contender on Sunday night with its upset win for drama ensemble at the SAG Awards.
The 1980s-set sci-fi romp bested the night’s big winner, “The Crown,” in the category, along with such heavyweights as “Game of Thrones” and “Downtown Abbey” and another buzzy newcomer, “Westworld.”
Nowhere was the surprise of the victory more evident than on the wide-eyed face of “Stranger Things” star Winona Ryder as the group trundled on stage to collect the award. While star David Harbour read an impassioned “call to arms” for the artistic community, the four youthful co-stars of “Stranger Things” were jumping up and down and hugging one another.
Enjoy this awesome CGI 3D animated short created by 46 talented artists
from 16 countries collaborated through the Artella platform to make
'DUEL' as the show opening short film for the 2016 CTN Animation Expo!
Learn more about the virtual studio platform here: http://wwwArtella.com
[Source: FoxNews] The Oscar-nominated actor Sir John Vincent Hurt has died. He was 77.
Hurt's agent Charles McDonald says the actor, who battled pancreatic cancer, died Friday in London.
The actor received Academy Award nominations for playing a heroin addict in "Midnight Express" and the tortured John Merrick in David Lynch's "The Elephant Man." Hurt had a career that spanned over 50 years in television, film and voice work. He terrified audiences in "Alien," and spoofed that very same scene in "Spaceballs."
As prolific as ever, Hurt recently appeared alongside Natalie Portman in the Oscar-nominated film "Jackie" as a priest who consoles the recently widowed first lady. Hurt leaves behind a few production credits, including Joe Wright's "Darkest Hour, where Hurt plays Neville Chamberlain.
The Telegraph reported that he was awarded a knighthood in 2014.
"I like being Sir John. It works, doesn’t it? Or John,” the actor said. “The only thing that sticks in my craw is when people say ‘Mr Hurt’. I tell them it’s no longer correct."
Hurt considered life and death during an interview in 2015 while fighting cancer.
“I can’t say I worry about mortality, but it’s impossible to get to my age and not have a little contemplation of it,” Hurt said. “We’re all just passing time, and occupy our chair very briefly.”
The wiry Hurt brought gravitas to Alan Parker's 1978 film "Midnight Express," for which he received a supporting actor Oscar nomination (he lost to Christopher Walken for "The Deer Hunter") and an uneasy humor to Kane in Ridley Scott's "Alien," immortalized by his disturbing death scene, which Mel Brooks later poked fun at with Hurt's help in "Spaceballs."
"It was terribly sad today to learn of John Hurt's passing," Mel Brooks wrote on Twitter. "He was a truly magnificent talent."
Hurt is unrecognizable in perhaps his most memorable role as the lead in David Lynch's "The Elephant Man." He endured eight hours in the makeup chair daily to transform into John Merrick. The elaborate mask prohibited him from sleeping lying down or even eating while it was on. His would eat his last meal midmorning as the mask was being applied -- usually raw eggs mixed in orange juice -- and not again until after midnight.
"To be quite honest, the film was misery to make because of the physical problems, so if it's working I'm jumping for joy," Hurt said in a 1980 interview. Hurt did score a lead actor Oscar nomination for the role, but lost out to Robert De Niro's performance in "Raging Bull."
Hurt was also a prolific voice actor, appearing as Hazel in the animated "Watership Down," and as Aragorn in Ralph Bakshi's "The Lord of the Rings." He also voiced The Horned King in "The Black Cauldron" and provided the narration for "Dogville."
In the "Harry Potter" films, Hurt played the wand-maker Mr. Ollivander. In recent years, he appeared in notable fare such as "Melancholia," "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy," "Only Lovers Left Alive" and "Snowpiercer."
"We're all just passing time, and occupy our chair very briefly," Hurt said in a 2015 interview while undergoing treatments for the early stage cancer.
As prolific as ever, Hurt recently appeared alongside his "V for Vendetta" co-star Natalie Portman in the Oscar-nominated film "Jackie" as a priest who consoles and advises the recently widowed first lady.
Hurt leaves behind a few in production credits, including Joe Wright's "Darkest Hour" which is listed as still filming. Hurt plays Neville Chamberlain in the film about Winston Churchill's charge against Hitler. Gary Oldman plays Churchill.
Detention is a atmospheric horror game set in 1960s Taiwan under martial law. Incorporated religious elements based in Taiwanese/Chinese culture and mythology, the game provided players with unique graphics and gaming experience.
Greenwood high school, located in a remote mountainous area, two students found themselves trapped and vulnerable. The place they once knew has changed in unsettling ways, haunted by evil creatures. To escape, they must explore the mysterious campus filled with ominous objects and puzzles. How will they survive in this ever threatening environment? Could they return to safety in one piece?
Set in a fictitious world in the 1960s Taiwan under martial law, Detention, the story-driven atmospheric horror incorporated East Asian elements rarely used in games. Taoism, Buddhism, Chinese mythology, the game draws on local Taiwanese cultural references to tell an unique and terrifying story.
In this 2D atmospheric horror side-scroller, players navigate the main characters in a classic point and click fashion to explore a high school where evil encroaches. While hiding from the rampaging monsters, you are to find items to interact with in the otherworldly rooms. And as more mysteries unveiled, the dark past of a cursed school will finally surface.
2D atmospheric horror with spine-chilling atmosphere.
Immersive gameplay and puzzle solving experience
Unique Taiwanese/Eastern cultural references.
Original sound tracks, fusing Electronic, Lo-Fi, and Rock with traditional Asian instruments.
Unique and appealing graphics.
Multiple language support. (Including English, Chinese)
Mac, Windows and Linux support
“Like so many crashing waves, every facet of Detention moves in one harmonious lockstep towards an unavoidable tragedy, drowning out the world around you.”
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.
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.
Disney has finally announced the official title for Rian Johnson‘s Star Wars: Episode 8. The Force Awakens sequel will be titled Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
Episode 8 is Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Lucasfilm released the following statement:
We have the greatest fans in this or any other galaxy. In appreciation of the fans, we wanted them to be the first to know the title of the next chapter in the Skywalker saga: STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI. THE LAST JEDI is written and directed by Rian Johnson and produced by Kathleen Kennedy and Ram Bergman and executive produced by J.J. Abrams, Jason McGatlin, and Tom Karnowski. STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI is scheduled for release December 15, 2017.
Here's how this new title looks in line with the other live-action Star Wars film releases:
Episode I: The Phantom Menace
Episode II: Attack of the Clones
Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
Episode IV: A New Hope
Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Episode VIII: The Last Jedi
The title seems to obviously in reference of Luke Skywalker, who Rey finds on Ach-To at the end of The Force Awakens. Rey exhibits force sensitives and abilities but the title suggests she is not yet a Jedi. So if she did have Jedi training as a young kid, she never passed the padawan stage, which should be obvious.
The full Star Wars: The Last Jedi teaser poster can be seen below.
