Norageki!

Bandai Visual Promo Video

The story is set in a certain isolated prison with a seemingly honest and good young man, a sensual woman, a former military middle-aged man, a seemingly young female otaku, a mysterious old man, and a cat. One day, a sudden power outage opens the locks and everyone is mysteriously set free from their cells. However, all of the guards are missing, and the prisoners cannot find any exits. While the old man performs a bizarre act, an unusual phenomenon befalls the prison and the prisoners within.

NARUTO Shippuuden Movie 5

Blood Prison - July 30, 2011

Anime News from Japan

Awesome Anime Coming This Summer!

[Source: AICN.com by Scott Green]

Studio Ghibli Inc.'s new Goro Miyazaki feature film, "Kokurikozaka Kara" (From Kokuriko Hill) will hit movie theaters across Japan on July 16. The film of the "Kokurikozaka Kara" is set in Yokohama in 1963, as opposed to the original manga which is set in 1980.

Hayao Miyazaki Discusses His Next Feature Film - Miyazaki says "Because my script was two months late behind a plan, the production is the severe situation."

CLAMP and Production I.G will be collaborating on a new series in the Blood vampire franchise. CLAMP will be providing the Blood-C anime with story and character design. Ranmaru Kotone will be adapting it into manga

The Blood-C anime will consist of an anime series, slated to hit Japanese TV in July, and an anime movie - both directed by XXXHoLic's Tsutomu Mizushima

Hellsing OVA VIII is scheduled for a June 22 release

First illustration from Gainax' Dantalian no Shoka

The Blu-ray of Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex: Solid State Society's 3D conversion will feature four new Tachikoma na Hibi shorts

Kunihiko Ikuhara (Revolutionary Girl Utena, Sailor Moon) announced that his next anime will be called Mawaru PenguinDrum, planned to hit Japanese TV this year.

Junji Ito's absurd walking-dead fish horror manga Gyo will be adapted into an OVA by ufotable (Kara no Kyoukai)

An OAD episode of teen prison super-powered combat manga Deadman Wonderland will be packaged with a limited edition of volume 11 of the manga. The anime adaptation of the series premieres on Japan TV April 16th.

A third season of Hayate no Gotoku is expected after this summer's movie

AIC will be producing a short adaptation of the winner of the Kodansha Light Novel Bunko New Author Prize

A new Prince of Tennis OVA Another Story II ~Ano Toki no Bokura will mark the 20th anniversary of the series, episodes shipping in August and October.

Yozakura Quartet - O.A.D Series

Original Animation on DVD

A third Yozakura Quartet ~Hoshi no Umi~ episode will ship with a special edition of the manga in September.

News from Japan

Upcoming Projects from Overseas...

[Source: AICN.com by Scott Green] 

Aniplex confirmed that a television anime adaptation of Persona 4 is in the works. Seiji Kishi (Angel Beats!, My Bride is a Mermaid) is directing the project at AIC ASTA. Game franchise designers Kazuma Kaneko and Shigenori Soejima are credited with the Persona concept designs and original character designs, respectively. Similarly, the game's Shoji Meguro is composing the music. The cast, also retained from the original game, includes Daisuke Namikawa (Yu Narukami), Showtaro Morikubo (Yosuke Hanamura), Yui Horie (Chie Satonaka), and Ami Koshimizu (Yukiko Amagi).


A bonus episode of Sayonara Zetsubo Sensei will be offered to consumers who purchase the Blu-rays of three Sayonara Zetsubo Sensei series.

Leiji Matsumoto (Captain Harlock) is supervising a Fuji TV adaptation of the Japanese space probe Hayabusa for the Fuji TV Yume Special: Tamori x SMAP Bokura wa Mirai o Shinjiyo! ~Uchu e no Chosen to Kiseki no Monogatari~

A third Princess Resurrection OAD anime is being produced.

An animated tie-in is being produced for Capcom's Monster Hunter game MonHun Nikki Girigiri Airu-mura Airu Kiki Ippatsu

RPG Eiyu Densetsu: Sora no Kiseki (The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky) is being adapted into an Emotion produced anime directed by Masaki Tachibana ( .hack//Quantum), with scripts by by Makoto Uezu (Katanagatari, School Days, Utawarerumono). Atsuko Nozaki (Tokyo Magnitude 8.0) and character design by Kinema Citrus (.hack//Quantum)

Probably not primarily targeted at Japan... Studio 4C (TekkenKinkreet) and France's Ankama (Wafku) are collaborating on an adaptation of Guillaume Renard's (aka Run) urban sci-fi comic series Mutafukaz.

Alice in Wonderland inspired visual novel game Heart no Kuni no Alice ~Wonderful Wonder World~ (Alice in the Country of Hearts ~Wonderful Wonder World~) will be adapted into an anime feature film produced in collaboration with Asahi Production.

a 12th episode of cute girl meets HP Lovecraft anime Haiyoru! Nyaruani: Remember My Love (Craft-sensei) will be packaged with the DVD release of the web anime

a new “Kira” OVA based on the murder mystery games Higurashi no Naku Koro ni (When They Cry) will mark the 10th anniversary of the series.

New footage is being produced for a 10th anniversary Scryed Alteration remastered, abridgment of the superhero action series..

NisiOisin's Bakemonogatari prequel light novel Kizumonogatari will be adaptated into anime movie

Risque samurai manga Manyu Hikencho will be adapted into anime

a second season of restaurant based comedy Working: Wagnaria has been announced

Kiichi Hotta's school like comedy Kimi to Boku will be getting an anime adaptation.

The July Japanese Blu-release release of Studio Ghibli's Whisper of the Heart with feature English language audio and English subtitles
English subtitles will also be on the Arrietty: The Borrower DVD scheduled for a 6/17 release - the limited edition will have a clothes pin to commemorate the micro-heroine

Manga
Blade of the Immortal's Hiroaki Samura will be launching new manga Beageruta in the Nemesis anthology. The action story revolves around battles over money between three woman: a "passionate psychedelic revenger" named Nami, a "china dress-wearing killing machine" named Je-Mao, and a female gang leader named Shinobu Aza.

Fullmetal Alchemist creator Hiromu Arakawa's next manga will be Silver Spoon, a high school/agricultural manga set in Hokkaido, to run in Weekly Shonen Sunday starting with issue 19

A Fullmetal Alchemist prototype will run in the June issue of Monthly Shonen Gangan

Battle Angel Alita: Last Order's has begun its Evening

Berserk has resumed its serialization

School Rumble's Jin Kobayashi will be launching romantic comedy Ichiro Heian! in the next issue of Bessatsu Shonen Magazine

Masami Tsuda's Kare Kano/His and Her Circumstances is return for a one shot in the June issue of LaLa.

A spin off will run in Feel Young starting in June

Bunny Drop, released in North America by Yen Press, soon to be adapted into anime and live anime, will be ending in April.

Masami Kurumada and Shiori Teshirogi's Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas - Meio Shinwa Gaiden will launch in issue 25 of Weekly Shonen Champion

The main Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas prequel to the popular fight manga is ending in issue 18 of the anthology.

the 18th issue of Weekly Shonen Sunday will feature the conclusion of Yellow Tanabe's Kekkaishi - released in North America by Viz.

Tomochika Miyano's (Yubisaki Milk) new series Rika will start in issue 5 of Young Animal Arashi
Tohru Fujisawa (GTO) will be collaberating with on new manga police manga Soul Messenger
Two girl rockband K-on characters will be launching, one with Manga Time Kirara with the characters in college and one in Manga Time Kirara Carat, with the characters in high school.

Tezuka's Phoenix is getting a new Japanese release

Bamboo Blade story creator Masahiro Totsuka and Samurai Harem: Asu no Yoichi manga creator Yuu Minamoto confirmed in a shared April 7 blog entry that they are launching a new series called Haru Polish in the June issue of Akita Shoten's Monthly Shonen Champion magazine on May 6.

Mizu Sahara, author of the Voices of a Distant Star manga, will have new drama series Tetsugaku Retora running in Monthly Sunday

Live Action
Not in Japan... but a Korea adaptation of shoujo manga Hana-Kimi is in the works.

Kentaro Otani will be directing a "Young Black Jack" special for NTV with Masaki Okada as Osamu Tezuka's renegade surgeon.

The bizarre Arakawa Under the Bridge, already the inspiratio for two anime series, will be getting a live action TV series, slated for summer 2011. Hayashi Kento (20) and Kiritani Mirei (21) have been cast

The sequel to JIN, the adaptation of a manga about a brain surgeon transported back to the Bakumatsu era has been licensed to 80 territories

casting is being done for a TV adaptation of 70's manga Ore no Sora: Keiji-hen, about the son of an industrial who choses to become a police officer

The Korean adaptation of City Hunter is now filming


Sayaka Yamazaki's manga Shima Shima, about a stores that rents men to sleep besides insomniac women is getting a live action TV drama with Akiko Yada and Shohei Miura as the leads

Yuuki Obata's shoujo manga We Were There, released in North America by Viz, will be adapted into a live action movie

Thermae Romae, an award winning manga about the Roman and Japanese shared love of public bathes, will be adapted into a live action movie

Boxing manga Avec Punch is getting a live action movie from director Furusawa Takeshi

Chuya Koyama’s manga Uchu Kyodai, about two brothers seeking to become astronauts, will be adapted into a live action movie

Evangelion creator Hideaki Anno and Khara, the studio behind the Rebuild of Evangelion movies will be producing live-action documentary film called Kantoku Shikkaku about late actress Yumika Hayashi.

Birds of a Feather :: Festival

An Animated Short by Kelli Davis

Happy Easter!

"When You Believe" from the Prince of Egypt

In the film, this song of inspiration is performed by the characters Tzipporah (Michelle Pfeiffer) and Miriam (sung by Sally Dworsky). The protagonists of this ballad recall tough times that have them questioning their faith: they have prayed for many nights to God but those prayers seem to remain unanswered, and they wonder if they are wasting their time. Nevertheless, they realize that although times may be difficult, "there can be miracles when you believe" in God.

Children Who Chase Lost Voices From Deep Below

New Film by Makoto Shinkai

Best Costume Ever!

A Baby T-Rex Visits a School

Walking With Dinosaurs is an awesome show where Life-Size Dinosaur Puppets walk across the stage. Here, one of the "creatures" from the show comes to dine on some screaming school children.

Kyoukaisen-jou no Horizon

"Horizon on the Middle of Nowhere"

Fullmetal Alchemist: Milos no Seinaru Hoshi

Trailer for the Second FMA Movie in 2011

Appleseed XIII Trailer

Masamune Shirow's Epic Heroes Return...

CODCON XVI Masquerade Report

Here are the Winners of CODCON's First Annual Masquerade

Many thanks to everyone who participated!
<< Continue >>

'Cowboys & Aliens' Theatrical Trailer

The Summer's Sci-Fi Western Heats up the Big Screen

The trailer for 'Cowboys & Aliens' directed by Jon Favreau. Starring Olivia Wilde, Harrison Ford, and Daniel Craig.

Anime News

Upcoming in North America

[Source: AICN.com] BioWare and FUNimation Entertainmen announced an agreement to create an anime feature film adapted sci-fi game Mass Effect™. Tokyo-based anime and international feature film production company T.O Entertainment, Inc. has signed on as a co-producer on the video. B

Casey Hudson of BioWare, executive producer of the Mass Effect series, will serve as executive producer on the film, along with FUNimation President and CEO Gen Fukunaga and Director of Original Entertainment Chris Moujaes and T.O Entertainment's CEO Takeichi Honda and Yui Shibata.

Production of the Mass Effect anime movie has already begun. Digital and home video releases are scheduled for the summer of 2012.

Funimation acquired additional rights to "Fractale" and Freezing, which have recently wrapped up their simul-stream runs.

FUNimation now has the U.S. and Canadian home entertainment, broadcast, digital and merchandise rights to the 12 episode anime series. Funimation will release Fractale on DVD and Blu-ray in 2012.

Funimation also licensed “Tales of Vesperia ~ The First Stike” from Bandai Visual Co. Ltd. FUNimation now holds the home entertainment, broadcast, theatrical, digital, and merchandising rights for the title in the U.S. and Canada.

The movie is the anime adaptation of the role-playing video game (RPG) for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 published by Namco (now Namco Bandai Games) and is directed by Kanta Kamei. A veteran of the Japanese animation industry, Kamei has worked in several "Tales of" series titles, and directed the movie part of Tales of Legendia (2005) as was on staff on Blood: The Last Vampire (2000, visual effects and key animator), Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003, visual supervisor), Innocence (2004, visual effects and key animator), IGPX (2005, visual effects) and Asience: Hairy Tales (2007, director of photography).

Tales of Vesperia ~ The First Strike ~ (2009) is his directorial debut in a feature film.
FUNimation will release the feature on DVD and Blu-ray in 2012.

Rosario + Vampire has been delaued from September to December

Fanfare/Ponent Mon

Amazon lists that Jiro Taniguchi's will be released in June 23

IDW
American comic publisher IDW has some releases that may be of interest to AICN Anime readers

Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters #4
Eric Powell & Tracy Marsh (w) • Phil Hester (a) • Eric Powell, Jeff Zornow (c)
France is in danger when the mysterious egg that washes ashore begins to hatch, but should the military be worried about what's inside the egg or those creepy kids who found it? Also, a community of monks has a religious experience of the 3-headed variety. And all the while, Godzilla seems hell-bent on coming to America...but hasn't Anguirus already claimed it as his turf? Fight! Fight! Fight!
FC • 32 pages • $3.99
*2 regular covers will be shipped in a 4-to-1 ratio (4 Eric Powell, 1 Jeff Zornow cover)

Godzilla: Gangsters & Goliaths #1 (of 5)
John Layman (w) • Alberto Ponticelli (a) • Geof Darrow, Alberto Ponticelli (c)
Detective Makoto Sato is on an unrelenting quest to bring down the Takahashi crime syndicate. Sato's efforts earn him a one-way trip to a tropical getaway, courtesy of the Tokyo criminal underworld. The exotic locale? MONSTER ISLAND! Alone and facing death at the hands of both gangsters and goliaths, Sato must use his wits to survive—and enlist the aid of some most unusual friends. Join superstar creators John Layman (Chew) and Alberto Ponticelli (Unknown Soldier) for this unusual and exciting miniseries!
FC • 32 pages • $3.99
*2 regular covers will be shipped in a 4-to-1 ratio (4 Geof Darrow, 1 Alberto Ponticelli cover)

Suicide Forest
El Torres (w) • Gabriel Hernandez (a) • El Torres (c)
The legend of the Aokigahara forest (which lies just outside of Tokyo) says that those who have committed suicide in the massive wilderness are cursed to have their souls trapped within its very roots. Unfortunately for Alan, his girlfriend, Masami, committed her suicide there and she’s now on a vengeful mission to ruin his life!
TPB • FC • $17.99 • 104 Pages • ISBN: 978-1-60010-947-8

Transformers Classics, Vol. 1
Bob Budiansky, Bill Mantlo, Ralph Macchio, Jim Salicrup (w) • Frank Springer, Alan Kupperberg, William Johnson, Mike Manley, Ricardo Villamonte, Herb Trimpe, Don Perlin (a) • Guido Guidi (c)
Relive the original Transformers stories that started it all—now re-mastered and re-presented! Pulling from the original '80s Marvel material, this first volume offers some of the most beloved stories from TRANSFORMERS' history, including the seminal "Car Wash of Doom," "Crater Critters," "Warrior School!" and many others in their entirety.
TPB • FC • $24.99 • 276 Pages • ISBN: 978-1-60010-935-5

100 Penny Press: Transformers Classics #1
Bill Mantlo, Ralph Macchio (w) • Frank Springer, Kim DeMulder (a) • Bill Sienkiewicz (c)
FC • 32 pages • $1.00

Transformers: Heart of Darkness #4 (of 4)
Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning(w) • Ulises Farinas (a) • Farinas, Casey Coller, Livio Ramondelli (c)
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Transformers # 20
Mike Costa (w) • Guido Guidi (a) • Marcelo Matere, Guido Guidi (c)
FC • 32 pages • $3.99
*2 regular covers will be shipped in a 1-to-1 ratio.
Selling Points:
Art by fan-favorite Guido Guidi!

Transformers 3: Movie Adaptation #1 (of 4)
John Barber (w) • Jorge Jimenez Moreno (a & c)
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Transformers 3: Movie Adaptation #2 (of 4)
John Barber (w) • Jorge Jimenez Moreno (a & c)
FC • 32 pages • $3.99


Transformers 3: Movie Adaptation #3 (of 4)
John Barber (w) • Jorge Jimenez Moreno (a & c)
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Transformers 3: Movie Adaptation #4 (of 4)
John Barber (w) • Jorge Jimenez Moreno (a & c)
FC • 32 pages • $3.99


Transformers Prime, Vol. 3
Joseph Kuhr (w) • Various (a & c)
TPB • FC • $7.99 • 104 Pages • 5” x 7” • ISBN: 978-1-60010-960-7

Transformers: The Complete All Hail Megatron
Shane McCarthy, Simon Furman, Andy Schmidt, Nick Roche, Mike Costa, Josh Van Rekk, Shaun Knowler (w) • Guido Guidi, Casey Coller, E.J Su, Robert Deas, Emiliano Santalucia, Don Figueroa, Andrew Griffith, Nick Roche, Robbie Musso, Marcelo Matere (a) • Trevor Hutchison (c)

The DECEPTICONS have won, the AUTOBOTS are defeated, and the time for conquest is at hand! After finally succeeding in defeating the AUTOBOTS, the DECEPTICONS set about ruling our planet with an iron fist. Their forces invade and control New York City where, before long, they manage to cripple the United States. It's a war between the armed forces of the United States of America and a giant species of technologically advanced killing machines—a war that suddenly becomes incredibly one-sided! That is, unless the AUTOBOTS can muster their ranks and come to humanity’s aid. But the way things are going on Earth, nothing short of a miracle will save the planet from utter extinction!
HC • FC • $75.00 • 492 Pages • 7x11 • ISBN: 978-1-60010-955-3

IDW will be bringing the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles back in a new comic series in summer 2011. In addition to the all-new series, TMNT fans will also be treated to newly remastered collections of classic Turtles comics, beginning with the original 1980s series that started this worldwide phenomenon.

Additionally, in fourth quarter 2012, Nickelodeon will premiere a new CG-animated version of the wildly popular Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise.


Image Entertainment
Cowboy Bebop: Knockin' on Heaven's Door will be released on Blu-ray June 28th for $17.97

Kodansha
Kodansha USA Publishing announced return of Naoko Takeuchi’s SAILOR MOON, coming September 2011. Out of print for six years, SAILOR MOON re-launches along with Takeuchi’s two-volume prequel series CODENAME: SAILOR V, in print in the US for the first time—making this one of the most highly anticipated manga releases in years.

The SAILOR MOON manga, which originated in Japan in 1992 and debuted in the US in 1997, follows Usagi Tsukino, a young girl who transforms into super heroine Sailor Moon to combat evil and fight for love and justice in the name of the Moon and the mysterious Moon Princess. The first successful shôjo (girls’) manga release in the US, SAILOR MOON changed the book landscape and helped establish the foundation for the manga craze; in particular drawing attention to the popularity of comics among female readers.

Prequel series CODENAME: SAILOR V, the first of Takeuchi’s “magical girl” manga, will make its highly anticipated debut in the US alongside the SAILOR MOON re-launch. In CODENAME: SAILOR V, teenager Minako Aino fights as Sailor V against the villains of the Dark Agency before she discovers Sailor Moon.

The Kodansha USA editions of SAILOR MOON will be published on a bi-monthly schedule and follow the 2003 Japanese re-release format of the classic series. The original 18 volumes have been condensed into 12 volumes covering the main storyline, and two volumes dedicated to short stories. Each volume has gorgeous new cover art, retouched interior art and dialogue along with extensive bonus material from Takeuchi, and detailed translation notes.

Relationship comedy Love Hina returns in omnibus form this September. The first omnibus will contain volumes 1-3 of the original Love Hina series and will be priced at $19.99. This edition of Love Hina features an entirely new translation.

Shojo series Tokyo Mew Mew, a shojo classic, also returns in omnibus form in September. The first Tokyo Mew Mew omnibus will contain volumes 1-2 and will cost $14.99. This edition contains a new translation.

Following up on Shugo Chara, which concludes with the 12th volume in September, comes Shugo Chara Chan! in November. Created by PEACH-PIT and some of their closest mangaka friends, Shugo Chara Chan! Volume 1 stars all of your favorite CHARActers in hilarious 4-koma (4-panel) gag strips. Shugo Chara Chan! is priced at $10.99.

@Full Moon is the sequel to Until Full Moon, and it releases in November. Find out what happened to Marlo, the half-werewolf/half-vampire, and his paramour, David. A new vampire has come to town and no one knows her secrets. Only Marlo, whose curse is still in full effect, can unravel them. But can he do it in time? Both volumes in this two-volume series are priced at $10.99.

TO: Elliptical Orbit

Movie available on Blu-ray & DVD June 7, 2011

Priest: Genndy Tartakovsky's Animated Prologue

From www.BleedingCool.com

Maggie Q introduces the animated prologue to Priest. This section was directed by Genndy Tartakovsky, creator of Samurai Jack and Symb-Bionic Titan.

Sometimes The Stars

One Girl's Journey Through a Surreal Landscape...

"Sometimes the Stars" is a gorgeous new song from Adelaide, Australia band The Audreys, taken from their 2010 album of the same name. The accompanying short animated film, produced by Luke Jurevicius and directed by Ari Gibson & Jason Pamment, is about a lost girl's journey through a surreal landscape, and her yearning to make a connection in this distant yet strangely familiar world.

Tiger and Bunny Trailer

A Different Kind of Heroes

The series takes place in a fictional city called Sternbild City, where 45 years before, individuals with superpowers called "Next" started appearing and some of them became superheroes. Each of city's most famous superheroes work for a sponsor company and their uniforms also contain advertising, most of them for real-life companies. Their heroic activity is broadcasted on the popular television show "Hero TV", where they accumulate points by each feat accomplished and the best ranked hero of the season is crowned "King of Heroes". The story mainly focuses on veteran hero Kotetsu T. Kaburagi aka Wild Tiger who is assigned with a new partner, a young man named Barnaby Brooks Jr. While Kotetsu prefers to work alone, Barnaby shows him a different perspective on being a hero.

X-men Anime!

The Phoenix Saga told Anime-style

Episode One

(Click on the "CC" button to activate Closed Captioned subtitles)

Episode Two 

(Click on the "CC" button to activate Closed Captioned subtitles)

Newsletter - April 2011

News: Anime with Disaster Scenes Face Changes After Quake posted on 2011-03-14 12:28 EDT

Precure film edited; Oniichan no Koto Nanka Zenzen Suki Janain Dakara ne—!! & Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 episodes not re-run

Several anime with disaster scenes or themes face changes after the March 11 earthquake (Tōhoku Chihō Taiheiyō-oki Jishin) and tsunami.

• Precure All-Stars DX3 Mirai ni Todoke! Sekai o Tsunagu Niji-Iro no Hana, Takashi Otsuka's third film to combine the casts of all the Pretty Cure (Precure) magical girl television series to date, is still slated to open in Japan this Saturday, March 19. However, part of the film is being edited out since a tsunami scene or scenes "are reminiscent of the disaster."

• The anime television channel AT-X announced on Monday that it is cancelling its re-runs of the 10th episode of the Oniichan no Koto Nanka Zenzen Suki Janain Dakara ne—!! anime "at the request of the rights holder." However, AT-X will still run the rest of the series, from the 11th episode onward, as planned starting on March 25. The 10th episode already aired on broadcast television on March 12 with a scene of characters being swept away by a giant wave — during the time that television stations were superimposing a graphic of tsunami warnings over all programming.

• Another anime television channel, Animax, is replacing the rest of its re-run of Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 with other programming "due to circumstances." For example, instead of running the seventh episode of this anime (which recounts a hypothetical quake in Tokyo) on March 15 and 16, Animax will run selected episodes from the best of Lupin III and Kiteretsu Daihyakka.

Other media are affected in Japan as well. The game maker Yeti announced that it will refrain from publicizing Root Double, the latest adventure game from Never7 -the end of infinity- director Takumi Nakazawa, due to the earthquake. The story of the game deals with the meltdown of a nuclear reactor.

The Japanese release of Feng Xiaogang's live-action Aftershock film about the 1976 Tangshan earthquake is being delayed from March 26 to an unspecified date. The release was already delayed from March 7 due to the February 22 earthquake in New Zealand. Manga creator Tomonori Inoue did report on Twitter on early Monday morning that he would be meeting with his publisher about what to do with the future of his post-apocalyptic action manga Coppelion. However, he assured his readers later that day that the meeting would be about the way that the manga will be published and distributed in the future — and not about the ending of the series of some had feared.

Stay in My Memory

An artful Masterpiece

An animated music video to 'Stay in My Memory' by Bim, using stop motion and cut out animation. A couple from a pop up book is separated, and the woman goes in search of her love.

CODCON Gaming Convention, April 15 - 17, 2011

"A Taste of Gaming"

CODCON is the annual gaming convention and fundraiser to the College of DuPage Sci-fi/Fantasy Club. This will be the club's 16th convention. The convention will be held at the Turner Conference Center, SRC 2800, starting on April 15th 2011 at 6 PM and ending on April 17th 2011 at 6 PM. We are excited to bring gamers a great time! 

The theme for this year is: "A Taste For Gaming". 

Go to the CODCON website for more info: http://2011.codcon.com/

The Animatrix Network Anime Fan Club will be running the Anime Room at CODCON. We will also be having a MASQUERADE on Saturday, April 16, at 8 pm. All cosplayers are welcome to attend!

Come join us for a weekend of gaming and anime! 
 

CODCON  ANIME  SCREENING  SCHEDULE

FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 2011

7:00 pm - 8:40 pm       Escaflowne [Movie]  

8:40 pm - 10:25 pm     Fullmetal Alchemist: 

                                     Conqueror of Shambala [Movie]

SATURDAY, APRIL 16, 2011

10:00 am - 11:00 am   Darker Than Black ep. 1-2

11:00 am - 1:00 pm     Rahxephon [Movie]

1:00 pm - 2:55 pm       Summer Wars [Movie] 

2:55 pm - 3:45 pm       Dragonaut ep. 1-2

3:45 pm - 5:00 pm       Black Lagoon [Vampire Twin eps.]

5:00 pm - 6:00 pm       Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn ep. 1

6:00 pm - 7:00 pm       Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn ep. 2

7:00 pm - 8:00 pm       Rin: Daughters of Mnemosyne ep. 1

8:00 pm - 9:00 pm       Masquerade

9:00 pm - 10:00 pm     Queen's Blade 1-2

SUNDAY, APRIL 17, 2011

10:00 am - 11:00 am    Love Hina 1-2

11:00 am - Noon          Project Blue Earth SOS ep 1

Noon - 1:40 pm            The Girl Who Leapt Through Time

1:40 pm - 3:20 pm        Lupin III: Farwell to Nostradamus [Movie]

3:20 pm - 3:45 pm        Aquarion ep. 1

3:45 pm - 5:00 pm        Black Lagoon [Terminator Maid eps.] 

Continue to

<< Anime Descriptions >>

The Governator - OFFICIAL TRAILER

"I Luv Caleefornia!"

Who has special "Speak Sprays" (disguised as breath freshener) that let him speak a foreign language? Who has an electronic "Fly Spy" with a mini-cam that activates through his ring, and tracks through his "G Shades"? Who has Bubble Trouble (bubblegum), that splats to form a face mask secret identity. With his 3 amazing teenage cohorts, his underground lair of super vehicles, and his digital super suits, who delivers the ULTIMATE in both comedy and action. The GOVERNATOR! (Here's a sneak peak at some of the action!!......)

Next Club Meeting is Saturday, April 9, 2011

Anime Programming Schedule

EVENT DATE: April 9, 2011

EVENT TIME: Noon - 8:00 PM

EVENT LOCATION: Building K, Room 131

Viewing Schedule

Time	Title	Ep
Noon- 12:50	Asobi ni Iku yo!	10,11
12:50 - 1:15	Shiki	8
1:15 - 2:00	SUPERNATURAL The Animation (Eng Dub)	1,2
2:00 - 2:50	Tokyo Magnitude 8.0	1,2
2:50 - 3:15	The World God Only Knows	6
3:15 - 4:15	Club Meeting Announcements	-
4:15 - 5:05	Katanagatari	11
5:05 - 5:30	Occult Academy	10
5:30 - 5:55	Gosick	3
5:55 - 8:00	Mobile Suit GUNDAM Unicorn	1,2

PLEASE NOTE: OUR MEETING LOCATION IS IN BUILDING K.

Screenings are FREE, but donations to the club are welcome.  Viewing Schedule is subject to change. All are Fan-subbed unless otherwise noted.  Some titles may contain scenes of nudity, adult situations and/or violence.

ANIME DESCRIPTIONS

Noon - 12:50   Asobi ni Iku yo! 10-11

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[Source: Wikipedia] The story revolves around Kakazu Kio, an ordinary high school freshman living in Okinawa. A girl with cat ears appears before him during a memorial service for one of his family ancestors. The girl calls herself Elis and claims she is an alien. Before long, fanatical alien worshipers and a mysterious government agency are in hot pursuit of Elis, but Kio's childhood friend Manami — who wants to follow in her father's footsteps in the CIA — captures Elis. Kio finds himself having to protect Elis from everyone. It's Christmas and the Catians decide to prepare a special present to mankind, while Kuune, the captain of the Catian mothership pays a visit to Kio's house. However, the festivities are interrupted when the Dogisians launch an attack on them. Then, with the Catian ship en route to collide with Earth and Kuune out of commission, Kio is appointed the new captain of the Catian forces, and he sets with the girls to an abandoned launch base in Russia as part of their plan to aid their friends in space.


12:50 - 1:15  Shiki 8

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[Source: Wikipedia] Seishin works on a novel called "Shiki", which describes the undead. Natsuno, Kaori and Akira dig up Megumi's coffin to find it empty, confirming their suspicions. Kaori is suddenly captured by someone but manages to repel him using the good-luck charm she gave to Megumi. Natsuno arrives and kills the man in self-defense. They realize that the man has no body heat prior to being "killed", meaning he's one of the vampires. They partially bury him in Megumi's grave, hoping the adults will take notice. In the morning, the three return to the forest and discover that the vampire had revived and covered the grave back up. Natsuno decides to finish off old lady Motohashi, who just died from the "illness", if she arises from her grave. Meanwhile, Seishin suspects Sunako is one of the risen, by her speech and her genetical illness. While Natsuno is still outside, a young girl, Shizuka Matsuo, wearing kindergarten uniform and using a Japanese-style puppet to talk, goes to his house and asks her parents to let her in and claims to know Natsuno. Natsuno's father suspects the girl though he reluctantly invites her in due to his wife's persuasions. However, the girl, whose eyes glow ominously, asks to wait in Natsuno's room.


1:15 - 2:00    SUPERNATURAL: The Animation

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Based on the hit television series, "Supernatural: The Animation", is a 22-episode series from Studio Madhouse, who also brought us Batman: Gotham Knight and of course Death Note. The anime project will not only remake the best episodes from the live-action version but also depict original episodes not seen in the live-action version. Those original episodes will include prologues of the Winchester brothers’ childhood, anime-only enemies, and episodes featuring secondary characters from the live-action version. Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles will be doing the voice work for the series' Stateside debut. Although Padalecki has signed on to dub all 22 episodes, Warner Bros. Japan says Ackles will only voice his character Dean in the final two due to scheduling conflicts. "Supernatural: The Animation" is set for initial release in Japan on February 23rd, and a U.S. version is expected to be released on DVD, though no release date has been announced. Supernatural creator Eric Kripke is credited as creator of the anime, which is co-directed by Shigeyuki Miya (Lupin III: Green vs Red, Aoi Bungaku Series) and Atsuko Ishizuka (Aoi Bungaku Series).


2:00 - 2:50   Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 (eps 1-2)

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[Source: J-List] The now-prophetic Tokyo Magnitude 8.0, which premiered on July 9, 2009, tells the story of a large earthquake centered in Tokyo and the journey of a girl named Mirai and her younger brother Yuki to get back home, with the help of a woman named Mari. The project was conceived by Fuji TV and animation studio Bones as a way to realistically portray how a serious disaster might unfold, to tell an interesting story as well as to prepare people for this kind of disaster ahead of time. The series is great, with fascinating and realistic characters and better writing than a whole shelf of anime series, and I recommend it (but keep a box of tissues handy). The show is interesting in another way, because it lets those living outside Japan experience a realistic side of modern Japanese young people in the 21st century, in the character of the 13-year-old Mirai. At the beginning of the series, she uses her keitai (cell phone) constantly to retreat from the real world and all its unpleasantness, earning her the nickname keitai seijin, or "Alien from Planet Cell Phone." Mirai is constantly bored, lacking the capacity to be emotionally moved by anything, and the only opinions she offers about the world are futsu (translatable as "normal" or "same as usual" but in this case it functions more like "whatever" or "I don't care") and betsu ni (meaning "nothing in particular"), which are indicative of her general melancholy about life. In the first episode she becomes frustrated with everything and says, "I wish the whole world would be destroyed," and naturally that's when the quake hits. By the end of the show she's changed greatly, a personal journey that can be compared to Spirited Away, only with more sadness and earthquakes. I am secretly hopeful that Japan's young people, who have been heiwa boke (hei-wa boh-kay), meaning "spoiled rotten from too much peace and prosperity," will somehow be changed by the great tragedy Japan has experienced, and will realize the preciousness of life, like Mirai eventually did.
 

2:50 - 3:15    The World God Only Knows 6

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[Source: Wikipedia] Keima Katsuragi, a second-year high school student, is an avid bishōjo game player. He is known on the Internet as "The God of Conquests (落とし神, Otoshi-gami^?)" for his legendary skills to be able to "conquer" any 2D girl in games. However, in his actual school life, Keima is known as otamegane (オタメガネ), a derogatory portmanteau of the two words otaku (オタク) and megane (メガネ-"glasses"), and is considered nothing but an intelligent yet gloomy geek with glasses. At the start of the series, Keima receives an e-mail offering him a contract to "conquer" girls. When he accepts it, thinking it is an invitation to a game, a demon from Hell named Elsie appears. She asks for his cooperation to help her in catching runaway spirits. These spirits hide themselves inside the hearts of girls, and Elsie suggests that the only method to force the spirits out is by "conquering" the girls hearts, making them fall in love with him and filling up the gaps which the runaway spirits hide in. Interested only in 2D girls, however, Keima is appalled by the idea, and refuses the assignment as he has no romantic real life experiences whatsoever. Nevertheless, with the contract already agreed, Keima has no choice but to help Elsie no matter what, as they will be beheaded if they fail. Aside from focusing on Keima and Elsie's adventures on capturing spirits, the series also makes fun and parodying common and popular cliches about dating sims, anime character stereotypes, and pop culture.

3:15 - 4:15    Club Meeting and Announcements
-  Anime News
-  C2E2 coverage
-  COD-Con in April
-  New Anime Releases
-  And other interesting stuff...
 
  

4:15 - 5:05    Katanagatari 11

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[Source: Wikipedia] Shichika Yasuri, the main character of the story.After living on a certain island in the country of Tamba for the past twenty years, he is sought out by Togame with a mission to find twelve unique swords. As a practitioner of the Kyotōryuu school of swordplay, he does not use a single sword when fighting, instead using his hands and legs as his primary weapons. In a sense, he is actually a physical fighter, but since he uses hand-chops, he considers it to be an art of the sword. The reason why he practices Kyotōryuu is because the Yasuri family has no talent in handling swords, which dates back to as far as the first head of the school, Kazune Yasuri. He is in love with Togame and will do anything she tells him to do; however, he sometimes considers her orders a hassle. After defeating Hakuhei Sabi and retrieving his sword, Shichika also inherits Hakuhei's title and becomes known as the strongest swordsman in Japan. His catchphrase is "but before then you'll be torn to pieces". Togame is a self-titled strategian. She arrives on the island where Shichika resides in order to seek his help with finding the final twelve swords forged by Shikizaki Kiki. Her father was Takahito Hida, the leader of the last rebellion and also one of the people Mutsue Yasuri had killed back then; this makes Shichika the son of Togame's father's killer. The reason behind her seeking help from Shichika is that he has no reason to keep the swords for himself and she believes that people who work for love can be trusted the most; that is why she tells Shichika to fall for her. She has a habit of saying "cheerio" while punching Shichika.

5:05 - 5:30    Occult Academy 10

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[Source: Wikipedia] The story revolves around Maya, the daughter of the former Headmaster of a private Japanese academy dedicated to the study of the occult, and time traveling agent Fumiaki Uchida, a mysterious young man who travels back in time from 2012. In 1999, Maya returns to the Academy, both for her father's funeral and for her goal to destroy the Academy, as she hates everything occult. Occult Academy is apparently situated in Nagano, as the Matsushiro Underground Imperial Headquarters are shown to be nearby. In episode 10 the acedemy was actually Maya's Christmas gift therefore giving her a reason of not destroying the school. Maya successfully assumes her father's place as the academy's headmistress. She later meets Fumiaki Uchida whom makes his appearance from the future. Having no luck in finding the Nostradamus Key, Bunmei meets Mikaze Nakagawa at the diner she works in. Meanwhile, people are mysteriously disappearing around the city.

5:30 - 5:55    Gosick 3

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[Source: Wikipedia] The year is 1924, the place, Sauville, a small European country neatly tucked beside the Alps... Kazuya Kujo has been studying abroad at the prestigious Saint Marguerite Academy, where urban legends and horror stories are all the rage. Most Kazuya ignores but the story of the Queen Berry, a mysterious ghost ship, really gets to him. Of course, his brainy friend Victorique is much more intrigued by true stories, and she uses her unrivaled logic to solve mysteries even the town's famous detective can't. Ironically, it is Victorique's inquisitive nature that leads the duo to board a ship that matches the Queen Berry's description to a tee, a ship that might just hold the key to solving a sinister mystery... After surviving the events at the ship along with Kujo, Victorique uncovers the truth behind what happened there, and about a similar incident that occurred ten years before. Her deductive reasoning astonishes her audience as she reveals the reasons behind both incidents.

5:55 - 8:00    Mobile Suit GUNDAM Unicorn [MOVIES 1 - 2] 

 ***** HIGHLY RECOMMENDED  

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[Source: Wikipedia] A Neo Zeon remnant group called the "Sleeves" travels to Side 4's Industrial 7 colony, so that its captain, Zinnerman, can receive a "key" to something known as "Laplace's Box" from Vist Foundation leader Cardeas Vist. The item is said to be capable of either restoring the future or destroying the world. Audrey Burns seeks to meet Vist first and convince him not to turn over Laplace's Box, believing the Sleeves will use it to start another war. Along the way, she is rescued by 16-year-old student Banagher Links, who agrees to take her to Vist. Meanwhile, a battle breaks out between the Federation's Londo Bell taskforce and the Sleeves. As the collateral damage rises, the colony is evacuated. Amidst the chaos, Banagher discovers the fatally-wounded Cardeas Vist in the cockpit of the Unicorn Gundam. Before his death, Vist entrusts the Gundam to Banagher, who realizes that Vist is his father. Banagher then launches in the Unicorn and confronts the Sleeves' elite pilot, Marida Cruz, who is piloting the Kshatriya. The transformed Unicorn Gundam overpowers the Kshatriya and Marida is ordered to retreat. The Unicorn is picked up by the Londo Bell ship Nahel Argama. Banagher is questioned by Daguza Mackle about how he came to possess the Unicorn Gundam but is interrupted by the Sleeves' surprise attack. Full Frontal, the leader of Neo Zeon, demands that the Nahel Argama hand over any items related to Laplace's Box, including the Unicorn. Daguza tries to ensure safe passage by holding Audrey, revealed to be Zeon Princess Mineva Lao Zabi, hostage, but Frontal refuses to accept they have the real Mineva. With no other choice, Banagher sorties in the Unicorn against the Sinanju; he fights well, but is captured when blindsided by the Kshatriya. Banagher is taken to meet Frontal at the Sleeves asteroid base of Palau. After discussing the nature of Zeon with Marida, who is placed in charge of watching over Banagher, a crew member from Nahel Argama disguised as a bum bumps into Banagher and passes him a map and a transmitter, telling him to get to the 14th space gate or risk being killed in the coming battle. Banagher laments over how the colony will become a battlefield soon.