Jurassic Park actor passes away...

SAM NEILL

(14 September 1947 – 13 July 2026)

Actor Sam Neill, known for his roles in the "Jurassic Park" films and "Peaky Blinders," died on Monday, according to his official social media account. He was 78.

"Sam was surrounded by family and passed with the dignity that has characterised his whole life," the statement, which was posted early on Monday, said. "The loss was sudden and unexpected, but blessed by the fact that Sam remained cancer-free."

Sir Nigel John Dermot "Sam" Neill (14 September 1947 – 13 July 2026) was a New Zealand actor and businessman. Known as a leading man in film and television, he has received nominations for three Primetime Emmy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 1991 Queen's Birthday Honours, for services as an actor.

Born in Northern Ireland to an English mother and a New Zealand father, Neill moved to Christchurch with his family in 1954. He first achieved recognition with his appearance in the film Sleeping Dogs (1977), followed by leading roles in My Brilliant Career (1979), The Final Conflict (1981), Possession (1981), Evil Angels (1988), Dead Calm (1989), Death in Brunswick (1990), The Hunt for Red October (1990), The Piano (1993), In the Mouth of Madness (1994), Event Horizon (1997), The Dish (2000), and Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016). He came to international prominence as Dr. Alan Grant in Jurassic Park (1993), a role he reprised in Jurassic Park III (2001) and Jurassic World Dominion (2022).

On television, he portrayed Merlin in the miniseries Merlin (1998) and Merlin's Apprentice (2006), the former of which earned him nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award and the Golden Globe Award. He was also Golden Globe-nominated for playing Sidney Reilly in Reilly, Ace of Spies (1983) and a British Officer during World War II in One Against the Wind (1991). He also played Thomas Wolsey in The Tudors (2007), and as Major Chester Campbell in Peaky Blinders (2013–2014). He is also known for narrating various documentary projects.

From Oscar Award-Winning Studio LAIKA...

@}~ Wildwood ~{@

After her baby brother is abducted by a murder of crows, headstrong teenager Prue McKeel launches a desperate rescue mission into the Impassable Wilderness—an enchanted forest hidden just beyond Portland, Oregon. Joined by her hapless but loyal classmate Curtis Mehlberg, Prue navigates a world of talking animals, bandits, and powerful figures driven by grief and ambition. As the pair is drawn into a conflict threatening the balance of the forest itself, Prue must discover strength and belief she never knew she possessed. If she hopes to save her brother and protect Wildwood’s fragile future, she will have to risk everything. From Oscar-nominated and BAFTA-winning LAIKA, Wildwood is a sweeping adventure about love, sacrifice, and the magic that reveals itself when we dare to look beyond the familiar.

Tenchi Muyo Returns!

Tenchi Galaxy Kickstarter Now Live!

With the help of Masaki Kajishima, Toru Miura, Hiroshi Negishi, and fans from around the world, Armiger Entertainment is proud to present the spiritual sequel of Tenchi Universe: TENCHI GALAXY!

TENCHI GALAXY follows the Tenchi gang as they travel to the planet of the space pirates, MIKUNI, in search of an artifact that was stolen from Jurai. In order to get it back, they must face NIIMI, the queen of the space pirates. What dangers await them? What connection does Niimi have to Ryoko? And whose side is Nagi on?

Tenchi, the girls, and Ryo-Ohki return to the screen just as you remember them.

Detective Kiyone will be appearing in anime form for the first time since 1999, along with Nagi and Ken-Ohki for the first time since 1995!

We personally reached out to the classic English voices of Tenchi Muyo! to see if they would be interested in reprising their iconic roles for another adventure...and they enthusiastically agreed!

We also have some exciting newcomers to the franchise to announce: Cristina Vee is stepping into the role of the one and only Princess Ayeka!

In addition, hololive English Advent's devilish diva and virtual idol Nerissa Ravencroft is portraying the spunky space pirate: Risa!

The Next Club Meeting is July 18, 2026...

A N I M A T R I X   N E T W O R K

FIFA World Intergalactic Cup!

M O N T H L Y   M E E T I N G

 
Fountaindale Public Library

300 W. Briarcliff Road

Bolingbrook, IL  60440

Peggy J. Danhof Board Room

 (2nd Floor)

Saturday, July 18, 2026

11:15 AM - 5:00 PM

 

We will be in the BOARD ROOM on the Second Floor.

 
Hope to see everyone there!

 

A Viewing Schedule will be posted soon.

 

(Click below for maps)

What's the crime for impersonating an immortal?

The Eight Immortals

All Wishes Come True

Release Date: July 24, 2026, in Chinese theaters. Animation Studio: Pearl Studio (Kung Fu Panda 3)

Director: Mu Zhengyang 

Voice Director: Chen Hao (Nezha)

Animated comedy feature film inspired by the classic Chinese folklore tale "The Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea." The film will also be getting a global release later this summer.

Let's see what kind of trouble we can get into...

Sleeping Giants

(Oh yeah, BIG trouble!)

Inside the ancient ruins of a Sleeping Giant, adventuring friends 2-BIT and Oggy awaken a harmless-looking robot, Hopper, only to find it’s a villainous AI with delusions of grandeur.

A long time ago in a parody far, far away....

THE ULTIMATE STAR WARS RECAP CARTOON!

(Episode IV A New Hope)!

Follow Luke Skywalker on his journey to become a Jedi knight or whatever!

From the mind of Masamune Shirow...

Complete History of Ghost in the Shell

We're covering the entire Ghost in the Shell franchise, from the manga to the films to the video games to the multiple animated series, plus books, short stories, and theater plays.

There's probably some stuff I missed, but this is as thorough a Ghost in the Shell retrospective as I can make, so sit back with a cold can of natural oil and dig in.

The net is vast.

The Most Beautiful Animation You'll Ever See...

Goodbye, Lara!

Once upon a time, a mermaid princess named Lara fell in love with a human prince. To be with him, she used a witch’s potion to become human—but the magic came at a cost: If she failed to find true love, she would vanish into sea foam forever. Now, 200 years later, Lara awakens in Lake Biwa with one final chance at life and love.

The Jedi and Sith Have Disappeared...

THE NINTH JEDI

A terrible age of conflict now mires the galaxy in chaos...

Star Wars: Visions Presents - The Ninth Jedi, an all-new

anime series, streams August 5 on Disney+ and Hulu.

Celebrating America's 250th Anniversary!

Happy July 4th, 2026

Celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary with the Faith & Freedom. Honor the Founding Fathers to the presidents who shaped our nation, their stories highlight the miracle of Providence, the enduring American Spirit, and the Faith that helped build this country.

For those of us who wish we were there...

Anime Expo 2026 Full Walkthrough

July 2-5, 2026

Los Angeles Convention Center

Los Angeles, California

The first Anime Expo was held from July 3–6, 1992, at the Red Lion Hotel in San Jose, California. Many of its original staff came from Anime Con, an anime convention held in San Jose in 1991, and later absorbed by the SPJA in 1992. In 1994, Anime Expo made a strategic relocation to the Southern California area, and all subsequent conventions have taken place there since.

It currently holds the title of North America's largest anime convention, a title which it has consistently held every year except in 2003, in which its attendance was slightly edged out by the East Coast anime convention Otakon. From 1,750 attendees in 1992, Anime Expo's size has increased to over 107,658 in 2017, making Anime Expo the largest anime and manga convention in North America.