Next Club Meeting: December 14, 2024, 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.

Friday, February 28, 2014

Star Wars Gowns in Rodarte's Fall 2014 Runway

[Source: LA Times] The fashion force was with Rodarte designers Kate and Laura Mulleavy on Tuesday when they presented the strongest collection of their career, capped off by five stunning finale gowns incorporating classic artwork from the "Star Wars" films.
 
The sweeping silk charmeuse looks, made with the blessing of Disney and the films' creator George Lucas and his wife Mellody Hobson, avowed fans of the brand who have been spotted before at Rodarte shows, featured the most beloved characters of the epic story, Luke Skywalker, Yoda, C-3PO and R2-D2. Also translated onto silk, the Death Star and a beautiful landscape of the twin suns of Skywalker's home planet Tatooine.

The gowns are not for sale, but will be available in the fall for editorial shoots and potential exhibits (which is good timing, as the next installment of the "Star Wars" film franchise is due in December.)

The collection was inspired by memories of the way the designers were dressed as children in the early '80s, in smocked dresses, boyish, high-waisted pants, crochet knits, colorful eyeglasses (made for the show by Oliver Peoples) and more.

"We couldn't have done a collection like this and not included 'Star Wars', said Kate Mulleavy. "Those films represent for us a time when anything was possible."

"And it's so rare that you can use a film still as artwork and have it look like a painting. It's so beautiful," Laura Mulleavy said.

The Mulleavys approached Disney (which owns LucasFilm) about using images from the films, and it was suggested to them that they visit the archives. "But we already knew the images we wanted," Laura said, "and we were afraid we'd go into the archives and never come out."

As for whether or not the designers, who are based in L.A., would collaborate with Disney on a "Star Wars" project again -- say perhaps costumes for a film -- they said, "Who wouldn't'? I'm sure they are taken care of, but who wouldn't do it?"

Here's a rundown on the collection:

The look: Sweetly nostalgic, quirky and layered. Hard and soft (kind of like childhood) but ultimately grown-up. The most commercial collection they've ever done.

Key pieces: Variegated knit turtleneck worn with off-the-shoulder jersey top, pale pink silk chiffon pleated pants and mustard sequin shawl. Ochre-colored chiffon butterfly sleeve dress with hand smocking. Long taupe wool vest worn with off-the-shoulder gray top and silk chiffon pleated pants. Crochet sleeveless sweater over turtleneck and red paper bag waist drawstring pants. Plaid wool jacket with shearling collar. Cosmic-looking teal glitter coat with shearling collar. Metallic lace and sequin striped gowns. Starry glitter and black silk velvet draped gown. 

The verdict: Utterly gorgeous. Fashion through a child's eyes in the best way. And a poignant expression of the designers' fascination with storytelling and cinema. But also a collection full of great-looking pieces, including the cool pleated chiffon pants, sleeveless jackets worn with off-the-shoulder tops, glittery coats with shearling collars and to die black dresses.

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Godzilla - Official Main Trailer

In theaters May 16th
An epic rebirth to Toho's iconic Godzilla, this spectacular adventure, from Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures, pits the world's most famous monster against malevolent creatures who, bolstered by humanity's scientific arrogance, threaten our very existence.

Gareth Edwards directs "Godzilla," which stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson ("Kick-Ass"), Oscar® nominee Ken Watanabe ("The Last Samurai," "Inception"), Elizabeth Olsen ("Martha Marcy May Marlene"), Oscar® winner Juliette Binoche ("The English Patient," "Cosmopolis"), and Sally Hawkins ("Blue Jasmine"), with Oscar® nominee David Strathairn ("Good Night, and Good Luck.," "The Bourne Legacy") and Bryan Cranston ("Argo," TV's "Breaking Bad").

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Wind Rises Earns US$306,000 Opening Weekend

The Wind Rises
[Source: AnimeNewsNetwork] The Box Office Mojo website reports that Hayao Miyazaki's final film, The Wind Rises opened in limited release this weekend in 21 theaters with an estimated US$306,000. Those box office receipts gave the film a per-screen average of US$14,571, the second highest among all films in the United States this weekend (after Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me's US$15,000 average on two screens).

Disney released the film in North America, and Studio Ghibli International produced the English-language dub starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Emily Blunt with producer Frank Marshall (From Up On Poppy Hill, The Secret World of Arrietty, Ponyo).

The film is now playing in Landmark Theaters across the United States including Kendall Square Cinema in Boston, Century Centre Cinema in Chicago, The Landmark in Los Angeles, Lagoon Cinema in Minneapolis, Sunshine Cinema in New York, Hillcrest Cinemas in San Diego, Embarcadero Center Cinema and California Theatre in San Francisco, Tivoli Theatre in St. Louis, and Bethesda Row Cinema in Washington D.C. The film will get a wide release on February 28.

The film also played in New York and Los Angeles in November and in Santa Monica last month.

The Wind Rises won the Annie Award for Writing in an Animated Feature Production on February 1. The film is nominated in the Academy Awards' Best Animated Film category.

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Harold Ramis, Chicago actor, dead at 69

Harold Ramis
(1944 - 2014)
"Best-known as an actor for 'Ghostbusters', 'Stripes', writer/director for 'Caddyshack', 'Groundhog Day'"
    • [Source: Chicago Tribune] Harold Ramis not only may be the most successful comedy writer-director that Chicago has produced, but some wouldn't even confine that statement to Chicago.
    • “Harold was clearly the most successful comedy writer-director of all time,” said Tim Kazurinsky, who followed Ramis at Second City and later became his friend. “The number of films that he has made that were successful, that were blockbusters, nobody comes close. Even in light in of that, he was more successful as a human being.”
    • Ramis' career was still thriving in 1996, with “Groundhog Day” acquiring almost instant classic status upon its 1993 release and 1984's “Ghostbusters” ranking among the highest-grossing comedies of all time, when he decided to move his family back to the Chicago area, where he grew up and had launched his career.
    • On Monday, Ramis was surrounded by family in his North Shore home when he died at 12:53 a.m. of complications from autoimmune inflammatory vasculitis, a rare disease that involves swelling of the blood vessels, said his wife, Erica Mann Ramis. He was 69.
    • Ramis' serious health struggles began in May 2010 with an infection that led to complications related to the autoimmune disease, his wife said. Ramis had to relearn to walk and suffered a relapse of the vasculitis in late 2011, said Laurel Ward, vice president of development at Ramis' Ocean Pictures production company. He never fully recovered.
    • Ramis leaves behind a formidable list of achievements, with writing credits on such enduring comedies as “National Lampoon's Animal House” (which upon its 1978 release catapulted the film career of John Belushi, with whom Ramis acted at Second City), “Stripes” (1981) and “Ghostbusters” (in which Ramis also co-starred), plus such directing efforts as “Caddyshack” (1980), “National Lampoon's Vacation” (1983), “Groundhog Day” and “Analyze This” (1999).
    • Previously he was the first head writer (and a performer) on Second City's groundbreaking television series “SCTV,” and more recently he directed episodes of NBC's “The Office.”
    • Ramis' comedies were often wild, silly and tilting toward anarchy, but they also were cerebral and iconoclastic, with the filmmaker heeding the Second City edict to work at the top of one's intelligence. This combination of smart and gut-bustingly funny led a generation of comedic actors and filmmakers — including Judd Apatow (“The 40 Year Old Virgin,” “Knocked Up”), Jay Roach (“Meet the Parents,” the “Austin Powers” movies), Peter Farrelly (“There's Something About Mary,” “Dumb and Dumber”), Jake Kasdan (“Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story,” “Orange County,” both of which featured Ramis in small roles) and Adam Sandler (who starred in his own wacky golf comedy, “Happy Gilmore”) — to cite him as a key inspiration.
    • “When I was 15, I interviewed Harold for my high school radio station, and he was the person that I wanted to be when I was growing up,” said Apatow, who would cast Ramis as Seth Rogen's father in “Knocked Up” and would produce Ramis' final movie, “Year One” (2009). “His work is the reason why so many of us got into comedy. We grew up on ‘Second City TV' and ‘Ghostbusters,' ‘Vacation,' ‘Animal House,' ‘Stripes,' ‘Meatballs' (which Ramis co-wrote). He literally made every single one of our favorite movies.”
    • Ramis also left behind a reputation as a mensch and mentor.
    • “He's the least changed by success of anyone I know in terms of sense of humor, of humility, sense of self,” the late Second City founder Bernie Sahlins, who began working with Ramis in 1969, said of him in 1999. “He's had enormous success relatively, but none of it has gone to his head.”
    • Ward recalled that when she first began working for Ramis 15 years ago as his assistant, he had to be in California for a month, and he told her that although he didn't need an assistant out there, she should go anyway because it would be a good experience for her, and he'd make sure her expenses were covered.
    • “He just did it for me,” she said. “He loved teaching people. He loved helping people. He loved seeing people succeed.”
    • The son of Ruth and Nathan Ramis, who owned Ace Food & Liquor Mart on the West Side before moving the store and family to Rogers Park, Ramis graduated from Senn High School and Washington University in St. Louis.
    • For his first professional writing gig, he contributed freelance arts stories to the Chicago Daily News in the mid-1960s.
    • Richard Christiansen, his Daily News editor (and later Tribune theater critic and entertainment editor), recalled one assignment in which Ramis covered a rock concert attended mostly by authority-scorning teenagers. “When it was over, he noted that the kids came out of the concert, and the parents were waiting for them in their cars to drive them home,” Christiansen said with a laugh. “It was a gift for noticing life's ironies and twists that distinguished his writing eye at the very earliest.”
    • Ramis also wrote and edited Playboy magazine's “Party Jokes” before and during his Second City days. After some time away from Second City, he returned in 1972 and came to a major realization while acting alongside a relative newcomer in the cast.
    • “The moment I knew I wouldn't be any huge comedy star was when I got on stage with John Belushi for the first time,” he said in a 1999 Tribune interview. “When I saw how far he was willing to go to get a laugh or to make a point on stage, the language he would use, how physical he was, throwing himself literally off the stage, taking big falls, strangling other actors, I thought: I'm never going to be this big. How could I ever get enough attention on a stage with guys like this?
    • “I stopped being the zany. I let John be the zany. I learned that my thing was lobbing in great lines here and there, which would score big and keep me there on the stage.”
    • With his round glasses lending a professorial air, Ramis would become the calm center of storms brewed by fellow actors, playing the bushy-haired, low-key wisecracker to Bill Murray's troublemaker in “Stripes” and being the most scientific-minded “Ghostbuster.” Later roles included the sympathetic doctor of James L. Brooks' “As Good as It Gets” (1997) and the charming “Knocked Up” dad, whose dialogue, Apatow said, was almost all improvised.


    Monday, February 24, 2014

    Ray Park battles Fire Genies in horror film 'Jinn'


    In the beginning, three were created. Man made of clay. Angels made of light. And a third made of fire. Stories of angels and men have captured the imagination and been etched into history crossing boundaries of culture, religion and time. These two races have dominated the landscape of modern mythology, shrouding the evidence that a third was ever created. This third race, born of smokeless fire, was named the Jinn. Modern man has all but forgotten this third race ever existed.
    It is time for him to remember...

    Sunday, February 23, 2014

    Project 'Z'


    Arcade game company Taito released a teaser for its "Project Z" and began streaming a live-action video.

    The video begins with breaking news running on the giant screens at the Hachiko exit of Tokyo's Shibuya station. The contagion of a malignant virus is spreadly rapidly in Japan, but details are scant. The website reveals that the "outbreak" of the project will be coming soon in 2014.

    Saturday, February 22, 2014

    Toriyama Reveals Identity of Goku's Mother

    ‘Dragon Ball’ Creator Akira Toriyama
    Reveals The Identity Of Goku’s Mother
    [Source: JEFusion] When Akira Toriyama first introduced Goku in the pages of Dragon Ball, things were simple: He was a monkey-tailed boy from the wilderness who was raised by a martial arts master who wore a magical ball that when you combined it with six others it summoned a dragon for a wish and there was a girl who wanted them and — fine, fine, things weren’t that simple. As time went on and Dragon Ball shifted from a wild adventure comedy to a more straightforward battle manga as Dragon Ball Z, things became even less simple. Goku’s evil brother Raditz showed up on a mission to kill everything on Earth and revealed that he was among the last of a race of alien warriors called Saiyans. That meant Goku’s biological folks were just some dead jerks. In the manga, that was pretty much the end of the story, but the explosive popularity of the anime adaptation led to a movie about his Saiyan dad, Bardock. So who was Goku’s mom? The question’s lingered for nearly 25 years… until now (potential spoilers below).

    According to an announcement by Toriyama in Japanese publisher Shueisha’s recent Saikyō Jump #3, Goku’s mother is called Gine. Like all Saiyans, her name is a vegetable pun, which this time around is apparently a play on the Spring Onion known as “Negi.”

    According to the announcement, Gine met Bardock while serving on his team of warriors. Bardock was known for saving the lives of his fellow low-ranking soldiers, which was an uncommon act of kindness in a cruel culture. He saved Gine a number of times, leading to a romantic relationship, which was also rare among Saiyans who simply coupled to breed. Since she was not a gifted fighter, she moved on from… warrior-ing?… and spent her remaining days on planet Vegeta working at… a meat distribution center?

    Goku’s mother (including her character design) will be fleshed out further in the supplemental material of the collected edition of Toriyama’s Jaco the Galactic Patrolman one-shot in April in Japan. We’ve contacted Viz to see when the material might be headed to North American readers and will update once we get official word.

    Friday, February 21, 2014

    Star Wars: REBELS

    Meet the key characters of Ghost crew:
    SABINE - The Explosives Expert/Artist

    Sabine is a key member of the Ghost crew in Star Wars Rebels. As seen in this special video, featuring early design concepts, animation tests, and final art, Sabine is unlike any Star Wars character -- especially in her love for blowing things up and tagging her work with graffiti.

    Dave Filoni, executive producer of the animated series, discloses that Sabine is a Mandalorian. She has a great understanding of weapons and combat like few others, and has turned against the Empire. "She is spunky, she's feisty, she's got a little bit of attitude," says actress Tiya Sicar, who is voicing the character. Additionally, Sabine is an artist, which is reflected in her hair, personalized armor, and graffiti calling cards. After the Ghost crew hits the Empire, Sabine makes sure the Empire knows who did it. Concept artist Amy Beth Christenson says that the Star Wars Rebels animation team has created a library of graffiti tags for Sabine, and is constantly adding to it.


    In the end, Sabine is a strong, no-nonsense heroine. As Sicar says, "I think she's kind of an inspiration."

    EZRA - The Street-Smart Hero

    In Star Wars Rebels, fans will see the rise of the Rebellion through Ezra: a 14-year-old con artist who learns to fight for a greater good. The seemingly-reluctant hero is revealed here in a video filled with character concept art, early animation, and creator interviews.

    Growing up on his own in the age of the Empire, Ezra has had to rely on his wit and cunning to get by. As voice actor Taylor Gray explains, "He's very street-smart, he's a pickpocket, he's a little thief. But he's doing it all because he needs to survive."

    Executive producer Dave Filoni adds that Ezra is not a bad kid. Although he may enjoy stealing from the Empire, his behavior has been influenced by the world around him - a world that is under Imperial control.

    But his hard life has also made his world smaller. "He doesn't really trust anyone," says Rayne Roberts, creative executive of Star Wars Rebels. "That's kind of his motto in life. He has that hard edge at times." When audiences first meet Ezra, he is not yet a Rebel and is not yet interested in restoring freedom to the galaxy -- but that will soon change when Ezra is introduced to his new surrogate family: the crew of the Ghost.

    Greg Weisman, executive producer, says, "His eyes get opened to the fact that there are people who care, who are trying to fight the good fight. And he becomes one of them." Still, there is more to Ezra than even he knows.

    Ezra is Force-sensitive, Filoni reveals, though he is unaware that he is tapping into this mystical energy field. Ezra knows he has some strange abilities, but they're "instinctive and reactionary." It is only through his relationship with Kanan, a Jedi Survivor and crew member of the Ghost, that Ezra will learn the true nature of his power. Together, they will forge new paths and destinies - and a rebellion will rise.

    KANAN - The Cowboy Jedi

    Not every guardian of peace and justice was lost to the tragedy of Order 66. Introducing Kanan, a survivor of the Emperor's Jedi purge and one of the main characters of Star Wars Rebels.

    Kanan, voiced by Freddie Prinze, Jr., is a less traditional Force-wielder than fans are used to seeing. He carries a blaster, is a little sarcastic, and keeps his past a secret. "I like to call Kanan 'the cowboy Jedi,'" says executive producer Dave Filoni. As shown in this video, his Jedi robes are long gone, replaced with armor and a holster, though a samurai-like ponytail hints at his Jedi Knight origins.


    In Star Wars Rebels, set between Episode III and IV, Kanan has been underground for years, evading the Empire. If the Imperials become aware of his existence "he's going to get killed," says art director Kilian Plunkett. He still has his lightsaber, but no longer uses it for fear of revealing his true identity -- and has ultimately forsaken the ways of the Jedi Order.


    Star Wars Rebels will show Kanan's journey as he rediscovers himself, just as a rebellion begins to form against the Empire. According to Filoni, "He's a gunslinger that needs to put the gun away and pick up the sword again, and fight for noble causes and selfless causes." But what will happen when he chooses to reignite his Jedi weapon, fighting once again for a greater purpose?


    The video closes with a tease of what's to come: an encounter with the nightmarish Inquisitor, the Empire's Jedi hunter.

    CHOPPER - The Grumpy Astromech Droid
    He can be cranky, he takes his time, and he can sometimes have a bad attitude. But he's also incredibly loyal and heroic. Meet Chopper, astromech droid of the starship Ghost in the highly anticipated Star Wars Rebels animated series, revealed for the first time in this exclusive video.

    According to Dave Filoni, executive producer of the series, "He likes to do things the way that he wants, not necessarily the way the crew wants, or as fast as the crew would like, but he gets the job done... If Artoo's your favorite dog, Chopper's the cat."


    There are some key differences between Artoo and Chopper. "Artoo actually cares whether or not you like him," says Kilian Plunkett, art director of Star Wars Rebels, "whereas Chopper doesn't care at all. Half the time he doesn't even do what he was asked to do. He just decides to go off and do something else."


    Chopper is a new kind of droid in Star Wars -- he is not completely subservient to his masters, and he can be gruff. This personality is echoed in the character's look and sound: Chopper appears more beat up and run down than most astromech droids, and his beeps are in low, grunt-like tones. "He's built from all these different parts. There's not one part of him that's original," says concept artist Amy Beth Christenson. Chopper's design, as seen in the video, takes direct inspiration from original trilogy concept artist Ralph McQuarrie's initial ideas for R2-D2, including the expressive arms that fold out of his head.


    In the end, Chopper is an essential part of the team, and often saves the day -- even if he complains while doing it.


    ZEB - The Muscle
    Every team needs a tough guy. Introducing Zeb, the (smart) muscle of the Ghost crew from Lucasfilm's upcoming animated series Star Wars Rebels. He is revealed for the first time in this video, featuring concept art, clay sculpts, and final renderings of the character, in addition to creator interviews.

    Zeb is a well-trained honor guard and is highly educated, according to executive producer Dave Filoni, which juxtaposes his brutish, alien appearance. He's voiced by Steve Blum, who says, "He's got a bit of a chip on his shoulder, hates Chopper...and is starting to build a relationship with Ezra, begrudgingly."


    Zeb's favorite pastime: beating up Stormtroopers, or "bucket heads," as he's heard calling them. He's an agile fighter, using his hands, feet, and acrobatics. But there is more to Zeb than pounding Imperials. "It's just going to be exciting to develop him and his bizarre new species," says Filoni, "and to explain to the audience where he came from."


    HERA - The Pilot
    Hera is the heart of the Ghost crew from Star Wars Rebels. The Twi'lek is an ace pilot, able fighter, and is revealed to fans in this behind-the-scenes video featuring creator interviews, character sketches, and animation previews.

    Hera is voiced by Vanessa Marshall, and is an especially gifted pilot. "I think she really makes flying the Ghost look easy," says Joel Aron, CG supervisor. And while she's strong-willed, Hera also keeps the group together, and can be warm and nurturing. "She knows how to talk to them to get the best out of themselves and to be part of that team," Aron says. "That to me is the commander of a ship."


    Hera wears "utilitarian flight gear," orange in color, with her Twi'lek head-tails hanging down her back. She's not particularly glamorous, and is just focused on getting the job done. Like every member of the Ghost team, she has her reasons for rebelling against the Empire. Uncovering those reasons will be part of the Star Wars Rebels story, says executive producer Dave Filoni.


    "Every time we get a script," says Marshall, "I am breathless with anticipation. I cannot wait to read what's next because I want to see where we're going, too."

    Thursday, February 20, 2014

    Premiere of First Guardians of the Galaxy Trailer


    In the far reaches of space, an American pilot named Peter Quill finds himself the object of a manhunt after stealing an orb coveted by the villainous Ronan. In order to evade Ronan, Quill is forced into an uneasy truce with a group of misfits including Gamora, Rocket, Drax the Destroyer and Groot. But when Quill discovers the true power of the orb and the menace it poses to the cosmos, he must rally his ragtag rivals for a last, desperate stand — with the galaxy’s fate in the balance.

    Wednesday, February 19, 2014

    Anime Viewing Schedule for February 22, 2014

    Saturday, February 22, 2014
    Wood Dale Public Library
    Zoom in to this month's meeting!
    Main Meeting Room, 10:15 am to 5:00 pm
    (Click on links to view Video Previews)

    10:15 - 11:05    Noragami 1-2 [Video]
    11:05 - 11:55    Nagi no Asukara 4-5 [Video]
    11:55 - 12:45    Kyokai no Kanata 9-10 [Video]
    12:45 - 1:35      Kill La Kill 8-9 [Video]
    1:35 - 2:15        Club Meeting / Announcements [Video]
    2:15 - 3:05        Wizard Barristers 1-2
    [Video]
    3:05 - 3:55        Coppelion 8-9 [Video]
    3:55 - 4:45        Ghost in the Shell: Arise OVA #2 [Video]

     

    ANIME DESCRIPTIONS ARE BELOW -- Spend the day watching some of the best anime from Japan --

    10:15 - 11:05    Noragami 1-2
    Plot Summary: [Source: Wikipedia] Noragami literally means "Stray God." Hiyori Iki was a regular middle school student until she gets hit by a bus in order to save Yato's life. This incident causes her to transform into a half-phantom. Soon after she learns that Yato is a war god, and her life is never the same again.
    Episode 1 "A Housecat, a Stray God, and a Tail": Mutsumi is sitting in her classroom, and is being bullied by her classmates, when she sees a "phantom" outside her classroom window. She prays to God to save her. Yato responds by tossing and catching a 5 yen coin, and then destroys the phantom with his Shinki (Divine Weapon), who was in the form of Tomone. When the battle is finished, Yato then reverts Tomone back to her human form and she rudely comments on Yato's behavior and how she "had enough." She tells Yato that she insists on quitting then starts to cry. Yato, unable to stop her crying, agrees to let her go. After which, Tomone's real attitude surfaces and she parts with the least bit of respect for Yato. After writing his cellphone number on a wall in a park, he eventually gets a call about "Milord" being missing. It turns out that this call, was in fact about a missing cat named "Milord." Yato finds the cat in the middle of the road and chases it, where he is pushed out of the way of a bus by Iki Hiyori, resulting in her being hit. After Hiyori awakens in her family's hospital and spends the night, she is awoken by the voices of phantoms, and finds Yato in her bed. She retreats with cat-like reflexes. After telling her that she is the first human to ever save him, Yato introduces himself as a god. The two talk, and Yato leaves via the window. A few days later, Yato uses catnip to find Milord, and is then attacked by a phantom which Milord was teasing. Hiyori then appears and runs away with Yato. After Hiyori attacks the phantom, and the two manage to lose it, Yato ponts behind her (at her "tail") and tells Hiyori that her soul has leaked out. Hiyori collapses back into her body. Yato returns Milord to his home and carries Hiyori. After she wakes up and calls Yato a pervert, he explains about her being stuck in between the Far Shore (in human terms, the afterlife) and the Near Shore (where the living reside). Hiyori asks for his help, seeing as he is a god, and he holds up five fingers and requests money in return. Hiyori mistakes the cost for 50, 000 yen, and 500, 000 yen, but Yato tells her the correct amount, 5 yen.
    Episode 2 "Snow-like": Hiyori once again leaves her body, this time while bathing. At school, while changing for a class, she leaves her body again. She then decides to wander the city as she is able to move more swiflty in her 'living phantom' form, and she eventually winds up in a park. Yato gets a call from Hiyori, who doubts his claims that he is a god because he is yet to help her, and he appears next to her suddenly. He then tells her that he cannot do anything without a Shinki. He then gets a call from someone asking for help (it turns out to be cleaning the mould from a bathroom wall) and disappears. Hiyori then takes it upon herself to find a Shinki for him. After Yato gets yet another call from Hiyori, who claims to have found a Shinki, he yet again appears before her only to find that the so-called Shinki she found was a bona-fide phantom. Hiyori then tries to attack it but is stopped by Yato, who pulls on her "tail." Yato is then bitten by the phantom. He injures it, causing the phantom to temporarily retreat. He prevents Hiyori from touching his injury, explaining that his arm has been "blighted," which is a type of defilement that spreads, and that unless it is excorcised or cleansed, it remains and eats away at you. Yato then explains that Hiyori's "tail" is not a tail, but a lifeline that connects her physical and ethereal forms. The phantom reappears and they retreat from the phantom once more. Yato stops dead in his tracks because he found an uncorrupted spirit. He claims it as his Shinki, and it transforms into its weapon form, a katana. Yato then sees a flashback of the spirit's memories and stands still on the top of a powerpole, seemingly in shock, and then starts to collapse. He is then eaten by the phantom, katana in hand. Hiyori screams his name,and he managed to kill the phantom, lands on powerlines, and then falls to the ground. He lays on the ground for a moment, crying. Later, he is seen cleansing his hand with the katana propped up beside him. He tells Hiyori that the katana's name is Yuki, and less formally, Yukine. The katana then reverts to his human form, a teenage boy with blond hair and orange eyes.

    11:05 - 11:55     Nagi no Asukara - "A Lull in the Sea" (Episodes 4-5)
    Plot Summary: [Source: Wikipedia] Long ago, human civilization had lived on the oceanfloor. However, there were many humans who wanted to live above the surface and they moved to land creating a fundamental separation between the two. After their school closes down, four middle school students from the sealand have to go to school on the mainland. This is about their lives as they adjust to a new environment and the relationships with each other.
    Episode 4 "Because We're Friends": Miuna and her friend Sayu ask Hikari to come up with a plan to break apart Akari and her father Itaru for good but he declines, claiming that he despises underhand schemes. In home economics class, Manaka decides to have some of her classmates taste the dish she made with her friends in an attempt to befriend them too, but they shove her away dropping it on the ground and cause a commotion in class. The boys refuse to apologize and when Hikari learns that someone destroyed the offering, he blames them for it while the real culprit, Sayu confesses that she did it to get back at Hikari for refusing to help them. Remembering Hikari's words Miuna reprimands her friend for it and while returning home, Hikari and Manaka rescue Itaru from drowning after he borrowed some diving gear to see Akari at the village and they discover that Miuna's deceased mother was from Shioshishio. Meanwhile, Akari reveals to Uroko that she was friends with Miuna and her family and after her mother died, she decided to take care of her and her father in her place, but with Miuna's rejection, she decided to give up on it. After learning from Sayu that she was the one who destroyed the offering, Hikari apologizes to the boys that he wrongly accused and Manaka stands up for him, which makes Chisaki sad as once again Manaka helps Hikari while she could do nothing for him. 
    Episode 5 "Hey, Sea Slug": Still depressed with what happened, Chisaki does not join her friends on their way to school and when she finally leaves, she meets Tsumugu. Chisaki then confesses to Tsumugu that she likes Hikari unaware that Manaka, who returned to pick her up, was hearing them. Meanwhile, Akari breaks up for good with Itaru, claiming that she would never replace Miuna's mother in her heart. However, Akari learns later that Miuna diappeared and after warning Hikari about it, he and his friends manage to find her. Claiming to his sister that they will take care of her for the night, Hikari and co. have dinner with Miuna and after the others leave home, Miuna confesses to Hikari that she always liked Akari, but rejects her out of fear of one day losing her just like it happened with her mother and Hikari manages to cheer her up. In the next day, a worried Akari finds Hikari and Miuna sleeping peacefully beside each other and reconciles with her.

    11:55 - 12:45    Kyokai no Kanata [Beyond the Boundary] (Episodes 9-10)
    Plot Summary: [Source: Wikipedia] One day high-school student Akihito Kanbara instinctively goes to save his fellow schoolmate, Mirai Kuriyama from committing suicide. Following his pleads however, Mirai suddenly stabs Akihito with a sword formed out of her own blood and is shocked to discover that Akihito is an immortal "half-youmu"—the offspring of a supernatural creature called a youmu and a human. After learning that Mirai is a Spirit World Warrior and the last surviving member of her spirit hunting clan, their lives become intertwined as Akihito seeks to help Mirai gain the confidence to kill youmu so that she may stop attempting to kill him as practice.
    Episode 9 "Silver Bamboo": Upon arriving at the Shindō shop, Mirai horrifically discovers Akihito in his youmu form. Meanwhile, as Hiroomi and Mitsuki have their hands full with the giant youmu, Izumi faces off against Miroku who escapes when a fireball distracts Izumi. Afterwards, Izumi returns to the shop and attacks Akihito in front of Mirai before he too manages to escape. At the same time, Hiroomi and Mitsuki manage to defeat the large shadow and later rendezvous at Akihito's apartment with Izumi and Mirai. Here, Mirai relays Ayaka's explanation that the Calm had weakened Akihito's human half more than his youmu half, causing the latter to surface. As they track Akihito into the woods, Izumi suggests that Mirai can now kill Akihito with his immortality nullified by Calm since if it ends, his youmu half would likely gain dominance over his body and become unstoppable. The following day, as Mitsuki and Hiroomi ponder on Izumi's ulterior motive, the latter confronts her using Miroku's rationale of manipulating Mirai and that she deliberately weakened Akihito's human half with her freezing barrier, prompting his youmu emergence. However Izumi instead warns him about the Society. Dissatisfied, Hiroomi tries to get Mirai to change her mind from killing Akihito and later enters the Nase family archives where he discovers the shocking revelation of Akihito's youmu half being the one Beyond the Boundary. Just then, as Miroku manages to steal the Hollow Shadow's stone from the Nase vault, Mirai tracks Akihito's youmu form to a deserted part of the forest under the silver rainclouds and engages him in a furious battle, eventually severely wounding him. Finally, with her heart breaking, Mirai rushes Akihito to deliver the fatal blow.
    Episode 10 "White World": A flashback shows Izumi summoning Mirai to Nagatsuki City. In the present, Akihito awakens in his apartment and learns that Mirai had been taking care of him following his youmu transformation. The two later arrive at the Literary Club where Mirai reveals that she exists via a portion of her blood within Akihito and they are simply a part of his dream since he remains unconscious following their last encounter. She goes on to explain that she was sent to Nagatsuki City with the sole purpose of killing the Beyond the Boundary youmu but couldn't bring herself to harm Akihito. Instead, she used her blood during the Calm to draw the youmu out of Akihito and into herself before vanishing. Mirai then kisses Akihito before the dream ends, with the latter awakening in a state of shock. Six months earlier, Izumi summons Mirai to Nagatsuki City and brings her before the Nase family head where they enlist her aid in destroying the Beyond the Boundary youmu within Akihito Kanbara before the Society of the Spirit World Warriors gets to it first. Mirai later transfers to Nagatsuki High and fails to kill Akihito on numerous occasions, instead getting to know him better. However Izumi warns her to emotionally distance herself from Akihito. Failing to do so, Mirai comes to understand Akihito's pain during the Hollow Shadow incident and later makes it known to Izumi during the lantern festival of her choice to not kill Akihito. Izumi then uses her freezing barrier to help the youmu surface from Akihito's body during the Calm and manipulates Mirai into thinking that she can save him by sacrificing herself to the youmu—to which Mirai agrees. Elsewhere, in the snowy white Mirror World, Mirai makes her way towards the Beyond the Boundary's core. 

    12:45 - 1:35     Kill la Kill (episodes 8-9)
    Plot Summary: [Source: Wikipedia] Kill la Kill is set at Honnouji Academy (本能字学園 Honnōji Gakuen), a fictional high school in post-apocalyptic Japan that is dominated by its fearsome student council, led by Satsuki Kiryuin. The council members wear special uniforms called Goku Uniforms (極制服 Goku Seifuku) that grant them superhuman abilities, which they use to oppress the rest of the school's students and staff. Ryuko Matoi, a student wielding half a scissor-shaped longsword, transfers to Honnouji Academy in search of the owner of the other half of the scissor blade, the person who killed her father. Defeated by the council after interrogating Satsuki over the killer's identity and whereabouts, Ryuko comes across a sentient sailor uniform she names Senketsu, who puts himself on Ryuko. Using Senketsu's special abilities, Ryuko stands up against Satsuki and her henchmen, the Four Elites, to liberate Honnouji Academy from their iron grip and find out the truth behind her father's murder.
    Episode 8  "I Will Wipe My Own Tears": Satsuki announces her new election system in which students must survive a seven-day battle against each other in order to stand out on top and earn Goku Uniforms, sending the entire school into a state of emergency. Meanwhile, Ryuko takes Mako to the ruins of her old house, where she tells her about the circumstances surrounding her father's death. Finding no further clues in the basement where she found Senketsu, Ryuko and Mako head home, only for their scooter to run out of gas. They end up encountering Ira who, having just attained his driving license and is taking the week off, offers to take them to a gas station. During their drive, they are attacked by the automotive and airsoft clubs, who are targeting Ira's Three-Star Goku Uniform, Shackle Regalia. Recalling how he first met Satsuki, Ira unleashes his uniform, which uses the power of masochism to evolve into Scourge Regalia and lay waste to his opponents. After a week passes, Honnouji's strongest assemble for the Sudden Death Runoff Election, with only Ryuko and the Elite Four making their way to the top. There, Satsuki challenges Ryuko to defeat each of the Elite Four in exchange for details concerning her father's death, her first opponent being Ira. 
    Episode 9  "A Once in a Lifetime Chance": As Ryuko awaits the time for her battle against Ira, Aikuro asks her to drop out of the match, warning that she is not ready to face the Elite Four, to which she naturally declines. The battle soon begins, with Ira activating his Shackle Regalia, attacking himself in order to provide the power needed to transform into Scourge Regalia. Ryuko finds that the Shackle Regalia also serves as an armor protecting its Life Fibers, and is unable to damage the Shackle Regalia without powering up the Scourge Regalia form. Undeterred, Ryuko keeps on attacking, forcing Ira to bring out Scourge Regalia's full power, attempting to forcefully mold Ryuko into a model student. However, Senketsu sets a plan into motion by pulling Ryuko out of her synchronized mode, allowing her to use Senketsu's fangs to break into Ira's uniform and destroy it from the inside using a new form, Senketsu Senjin, winning the match. With Ira defeated, Ryuko prepares to face up against her next opponent, Houka Inumuta. 

     1:35 - 2:15     Club Meeting / Announcements
    • Convention Coverage
    • Animation News from around the world
    • Cosplayers/Skits/Masquerade
    • Anime Music Videos
    • And other weird, interesting stuff...

    2:15 - 3:05    Wizard Barristers 1-2
    Plot Summary: [Source: Wikipedia] In 2018, humans and wizards live together in Tokyo. Police continue to protect order in society, but wizards (known as Wud) are tried according to magical law via Magic Prohibition Law, in special courts defended by wizard barristers via the Court of Magic. At age seventeen, half Japanese half Canadian Cecile Sudou, has just become the youngest wizard barrister after passing the bar exam at age fifteen, and begins work at the Butterfly Law Offices. While she hasn't realized it yet, she has tremendous magical potential.

    3:05 - 3:55    Coppelion (Episode 8-9)
    Plot Summary: [Source: Wikipedia] In 2016, a catastrophe occurs after a nuclear meltdown from the nearby Odaiba nuclear power plant contaminates Tokyo, forcing the government to order its citizens to evacuate. 20 years later, Tokyo has become a ghost town due to the high levels of radiation which the government has banned entry for anyone. When a distress signal is received from Tokyo, the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force dispatches 3 teenage girls from the Dispatch 3 Special Force Coppelion. Due to genetic engineering, the Coppelions are immune to radiation while also possessing special skills. Thus the Coppelions journey to the ruined capital to find survivors.
    Episode 8 "Sisters": Shion and Kanon Ozu attacks Ibara's entourage, forcing the rest to hide to safety. As Ibara fights the Ozu sisters, the Taeko and rest learns from Haruto who reveals the origins of the Coppelions and the Ozu twins: the Coppelions are actually clones of humans who have died with immunity to radiation and special abilities added into their DNA and the Ozu sisters sadistic behavior is due to the "mother" they were clone from was an actress who was actually a serial killer. Ibara is captured by the Ozu sisters with the help of the Ghosts, revealing they have decided to ally with the Ghosts in their plans not just because they hate humans but also hate Ibara since their school days. Ibara manages to escape thanks to a noise grenade and she and her entourage commandeering a tank. With the Ozu sisters chasing them on their motorcycle, Ibara tricks Shion into using her super strength to hit a liquid hydrogen shell to trap her, and shoot a cannon shell at both sisters. While Shion gets knocked out, Kanon isn't and uses her powers of electricity to stun Ibara. Kanon reveals her hatred of humans came after eavesdropping a conversation between Haruto and Onihei that the Coppelions will someday die. With humans using them as dolls, Kanon wants them to die so the Coppelions will be the new dominant race. However, Ibara is unswayed and defeats Kanon by using an electric cable to diffuse her powers. As Ibara leaves the Ozu sisters tied up, Mr Nonsense consoles Aoi. Later, Haruto and the rest of the survivors at the Planet learn that due to the Ozu sisters placing barrels of radioactive waste around the city, the radiation is spreading due to an upcoming storm.
    Episode 9 "Diversion": With radiation spreading to the Planet in two-three days and preventing the survivors from having any safe passage out, Ibara and Haruto come up with an idea to transport the survivors to safety by fixing and using the city's broken Rail transportation. But knowing the Ozu sisters will come after them once they are free, thanks to Kanon's tacking abilities, Ibara forms two teams; one team led by her will be a diversion for the Ozu Sisters while the others go and fix the power to the railway and escape. With Ibuki experiencing more labor pains, Taeko is afraid of delivering the baby until she is contacted by Granny Ayame by radio who tells her that she will help her deliver Ibuki's baby. As the Coppelions and the survivors prepare to evacuate the Planet for their escape plans, everyone has one last dinner inside the dome where Aoi finally comes out thanks to Mr Nonsense. Before they leave, Ibuki asks the Coppelions to rescue one more survivor, the baby's father, who is revealed to be the 1st Division Soldier who helped Aoi escape. Joined by Aoi and Mr Nonsense, Ibara and Haruto head out to draw out the Ozu sisters while Taeko, Ibuki, Gennai, Oyakata and Gojiro heads to the railway.

    3:55 - 4:45    Ghost in the Shell: Arise OVA #2
    Plot Summary: [Source: Wikipedia] Freed of her responsibilities with the 501 Organization, Motoko Kusanagi must now learn how to take orders from Aramaki. Someone hacks the Logicomas, and Batou enlists the help of former army intelligence officer Ishikawa and former air artillery expert Borma. Kusanagi also seeks to enlist ace sniper Saito and undercover cop Paz into the new Public Security Section 9. The two groups rival each other in a case involving a man who receives false memories of a refugee transport operation.