Next Club Meeting: October 17, 2026, 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 in today's pop culture, such as live-action films, comics, music, art, and other weird things to enjoy and contemplate.

Monday, October 5, 2026

It's about time!

Jonny Quest Live Action!
(Click to Watch on YouTube)
About 15 years ago, I recreated the opening title sequence for the greatest animated show ever on television. Like many, I have waited patiently for Hollywood to finally address the obvious need for a live-action JQ movie. With nothing on the horizon, I finally decided to create something on my own. Though JQ was obviously produced in color, I purposely chose to go with a black-and-white look in keeping with my earliest and fondest memory of watching Jonny Quest in our living room on our tiny black-and-white television. Like before, I claim no ownership of Jonny Quest, and this recreation of Episode One is just for fun and to show Those In Charge what it could possibly look like. Enjoy!
- Roger Evans

Sunday, October 4, 2026

An Amazing Original Sci-Fi Adventure Movie...

Kaina of the Great Snow Sea
[Ooyukiumi No Kaina]
Kaina of the Great Snow Sea (大雪海のカイナ, Ōyukiumi no Kaina) is an original Japanese anime television series created by Tsutomu Nihei and animated by Polygon Pictures to commemorate the studio's 40th anniversary. The series aired from January to March 2023 on Fuji TV's +Ultra programming block. A manga adaptation with art by Itoe Takemoto was serialized in Kodansha's shōnen manga magazine Monthly Shōnen Sirius between February 2022 and June 2024. A sequel anime film titled Kaina of the Great Snow Sea: Star Sage premiered in Japanese theaters in October 2023.
Kaina lives on a world covered in an organic membrane called the Canopy, created by massive Orbital Spire Trees. Far beneath the Canopy at the foot of the Orbital Spire Trees lies the endless Snow Sea, where Princess Ririha and her country of Atland struggle to survive against the cold and the rival nation of Valghia. When Ririha travels to the Canopy in a desperate bid to save her country, Kaina rescues her, setting in motion events that will lead the pair to travel the world to uncover its secrets.

Saturday, October 3, 2026

This is the BEST Animated Movie of the Year, BUT...

R.I.P. "Forgotten Island"
DreamWorks' Forgotten Island wound up being a massive flop, bringing in only $12 million opening weekend. Could this be a very bad sign for critically acclaimed ORIGINAL animated movies in an age of Hollywood consolidation? Oh, almost certainly...

Friday, October 2, 2026

A Grand Fantasy Story Unveiled!

THE FAKE ALCHEMIST
As an indie hit that became a legendary sensation, surpassing 1 million copies in its commercial edition in Japan, this new monumental “isekai” finally gets a TV adaptation!
In the city-state of Orichalconia, a world where alchemy and magic are deeply rooted in the lives of the people, the reincarnated Paracelsus ekes out a living as an alchemist while hiding his “cheat skills”.

However, his life changes dramatically one day after he enters into a contract with a shaman slave-girl, Nora, and later meets Coco, an elf who has lost all four limbs and five senses.

To save Coco, what began as a rescue attempt in a small workshop gradually escalates into a battle involving alchemy and sorcery, space and even the gods themselves—
The curtain now rises on this story, filled to the brim with “everything fantasy”!
 
Interview "The Fake Alchemist" Jirō Sugiura & Umemaru

Thursday, October 1, 2026

Ladies & Gentlemen! The Canon Star Wars Sequels!

The Skywalkers
A STAR WARS Anime Fan Film
"The Skywalkers serves as the first long-form anime episode born from the Star Wars comedy shorts I have been posting over the past couple months. Brought to you with help from loads of talented people! This fan project is intended to strictly be taken as a parody of the incredible galaxy George Lucas created."
- Jar Jar Jargon

Wednesday, September 30, 2026

What are the Roots of Forgotten Island's Myths?

How Forgotten Island Adapts Philippine Myth
Dive into the enchanting world of “Forgotten Island,” a DreamWorks film that beautifully adapts Philippine mythology into a vibrant story of friendship and folklore. Directors Januel Mercado and Joel Crawford blend authentic myths with creative storytelling, bringing to life fantastical creatures like the manananggal, batibat, and sarimanok while preserving the deep cultural roots and darker themes that make these tales unforgettable. From the winged, vampiric Manang to the protective Batiba and the mischievous duwende, the film stays true to its source material while making it accessible for a family audience. Alongside human characters Jo and Raissa, “Forgotten Island” explores themes of memory, separation, and trust, transforming traditional stories into a heartfelt coming-of-age adventure.

Tuesday, September 29, 2026

"If you win, you'll meet Senki. If you win, that is..."

D A R K  M A C H I N E
THE ANIMATION
Popular esport DARK MACHINE captivates people all over the world and has transformed the economy of Japan, where there is an exclusive economic zone called "Golden Valley." Ajima is the seventh "Senki" — a title given to the game's strongest player — and effectively controls the region through DARK MACHINE.

Protagonist Kairi arrives in Golden Valley with his late grandfather's final words in mind: "Find Senki." He then happens upon a young girl named Rudora, who is being pursued by Ajima's subordinate. Kairi becomes a DARK MACHINE player after connecting with Rudora, and his talent blooms with each fierce battle.

Will Kairi be able to hold his own against Senki and carve out his own destiny? His battle to reach the pinnacle of DARK MACHINE starts now.
Coming October 13th!

Monday, September 28, 2026

Gotta beat this level!

Cat-Eared Maid Flag Challenge [2 Stages]
Seedance2.5

Sunday, September 27, 2026

Celebrate 40 Years of Castlevania!

The Original NES Classic Now Available for Free!
CASTLEVANIA: 40th Anniversary!
Available
September 25, 2026 - October 24, 23:59 (JST)
* Players who download the game during this period will continue to be 
able to download and play it after the promotion has ended.
Castlevania is a gothic horror action game first released in Japan in 1986, followed by its international debut on the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1987. Beloved by players around the world, the franchise has grown to include more than 30 titles over the years. On September 26, 2026, the Castlevania series will celebrate its 40th anniversary. To commemorate this milestone, we are making the original Nintendo Entertainment System version of Castlevania available for free for a limited time on the App Store and Google Play. As a token of our gratitude to all the players who have supported the series over the years, we are delighted to share the game that started it all and hope you will enjoy experiencing the beginning of the Castlevania saga as part of this special 40th anniversary celebration.
 

Saturday, September 26, 2026

"Welcome to the Future..."

⭒.‧₊˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ .R a y  G u n nᯓ★˖₊‧..⋆
Academy Award winner Brad Bird, the visionary director of The Incredibles, Ratatouille, and The Iron Giant, brings you a whole new world to investigate…
In Metropia, a gigantic city in an alternate future as seen from 1939, private eye Raymond Gunn (Sam Rockwell) is drawn into a case involving aliens, murder and a multimedia star named Venus Nova (Scarlett Johansson).
Watch Ray Gunn - in select theaters December 4 and on Netflix December 18.

Friday, September 25, 2026

"Even the gods are destined to one day FALL..."

Fatui Harbingers:
G O D F A L L  P R O T O C O L
[Aired Genshin Hoyofair 2026]
“What is the price of killing a god?
The god stays silent
As if the thought had never once crossed his mind
To all those who dare not look up to the heavens,
Her Majesty the Tsaritsa says this:
‘Behold, even the gods have their limits.’”
 
-  Pierro, Director of the Fatui Harbingers

Thursday, September 24, 2026

"Am I still dreaming? I need to wake up!"

Dreamland
Ever since his moth­er died in a fire,
Ter­rence has seclud­ed him­self in an emo­tion­less world.
He goes through his dai­ly teenag­er life apa­thet­i­cal­ly… with one excep­tion! The sim­ple sight of a flame plunges him into a world of fear, an awak­en ver­sion of his night­mares – for, every time he falls asleep, he help­less­ly relieves the trag­ic event, thus rekin­dling his pyro­pho­bia. Until that one night he can’t bear it any­more and stops run­ning away from the dev­il­ish flames. Lit­tle does he know that, by doing so, he over­came his great­est fear and became a Trav­el­er: a very spe­cial kind of Dream­er, able to explore Dream­land, the dimen­sion born from mankind’s dreams… and nightmares!
Dreamland is coming to Crunchyroll October 16th!