Next Club Meeting: April 20, 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.

Monday, November 30, 2015

The Star Wars-Winnie the Pooh Story

STAR WARS - WINNIE THE POOH
In a series of prints, James Hance re-creates the story of Winnie the Pooh and friends in the Star Wars world, such as Chrisolo Robin and Wookiee the Chew, formerly known as Winnie the Pooh. Together they explore places like Hoth, complete with cold-weather garb, and even get out of trouble in Sarlacc's Pit. The artwork is not only heartwarming, but also for sale, with all of the prints priced at $15. Whether you're setting up your child's new room or nursery or just want these sweet paintings yourself, check out what they look like. They're bound to make your day.

Sunday, November 29, 2015

The Secret Life of Pets


Taking place in a Manhattan apartment building, Max's life as a favorite pet is turned upside down, when his owner brings home a sloppy mongrel named Duke. They have to put their quarrels behind when they find out that an adorable white bunny named Snowball is building an army of abandoned pets determined to take revenge on all happy-owned pets and their owners.

Saturday, November 28, 2015

SANJAY'S SUPER TEAM (Directed by Sanjay Patel)


[Source: blastr.com] Pixar's entry into this season's Oscar race, this eye-popping CGI short chronicles the fanciful daydreams of a young Indian boy who conjures up Hindu superhero gods from his active imagination after growing bored with his father's religious meditations. Patel's sentimental animated short will premiere in front of Disney's The Good Dinosaur when it is released later this week.

Friday, November 27, 2015

'Force Awakens' Trailer Focuses on Kylo Ren


The previous trailer focused on the heroes, so this one focuses on the villains. Kylo Ren speaks throughout and there are a lot of explosions, Stormtroopers and scenes draped in red colors. Harrison Ford crawls out of some wreckage, Chewie yells about something, and we’re treated to one massive TIE Fighter/X-wing air battle.

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

First Trailers for Disney's ZOOTOPIA


Z o o T o P i a
The modern mammal metropolis of Zootopia is a city like no other. Comprised of habitat neighborhoods like ritzy Sahara Square and frigid Tundratown, it’s a melting pot where animals from every environment live together—a place where no matter what you are, from the biggest elephant to the smallest shrew, you can be anything. But when rookie Officer Judy Hopps (voice of Ginnifer Goodwin) arrives, she discovers that being the first bunny on a police force of big, tough animals isn’t so easy. Determined to prove herself, she jumps at the opportunity to crack a case, even if it means partnering with a fast-talking, scam-artist fox, Nick Wilde (voice of Jason Bateman), to solve the mystery. Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Zootopia,” a comedy-adventure directed by Byron Howard (“Tangled,” “Bolt”) and Rich Moore (“Wreck-It Ralph,” “The Simpsons”) and co-directed by Jared Bush (“Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero”), opens in theaters on March 4, 2016.

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

New 'Civil War' Trailer


CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR
Captain America (Chris Evans) and Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) face off in the first epic trailer for Marvel’s “Captain America: Civil War,” in theaters May 6!

Sunday, November 22, 2015

Curtain to Fall on 'Gravity Falls'

G R A V I T Y   F A L L S
[Source: Yahoo!TV] Gravity Falls creator Alex Hirsch took to social media to announce that the Disney XD series will wrap after two more episodes. “There’s no easy way to say it so I’m just going to say it: Gravity Falls is coming to an end,” he said in a Tumblr post. “There are two more episodes left: “Weirdmageddon II: Escape from Reality” and “Weirdmageddon III” which will be our hour long series finale. After that, Gravity Falls as we know it will be over.”

The animated series, which launched on Disney Channel in June 2012 and moved to Disney XD in August 2014, chronicled twins Dipper and Mabel, who live with Great Uncle Stan in the off-kilter town of Gravity Falls, Oregon.

Hirsch pointed out that he was ending Gravity Falls, rather than it being cancelled. It wasn’t a matter of ratings: The show’s midseason premiere in July drew Disney XD’s biggest audience ever for a regular series broadcast in Live+3.

“This is 100% my choice, and its something I decided on a very long time ago,” he wrote. “I always designed Gravity Falls to be a finite series about one epic summer- a series with a beginning, middle, and end. There are so many shows that go on endlessly until they lose their original spark, or mysteries that are cancelled before they ever get a chance to payoff.”

Friday, November 20, 2015

Meet the stars of MTV's Shannara Chronicles

THE SHANARRA CHRONICLES
[Source: blastr.com] With The Shannara Chronicles set to premiere early in the New Year, MTV has decided it was finally time for us to get to meet the main characters populating the upcoming fantasy series.

The new TV show is based on the beloved Shannara books by Terry Brooks (who is also on board as executive producer) and takes place in a post-apocalyptic world that looks much more akin to J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings than it does to, say, Mad Max. Which is pretty normal when you have elves and magic and druids and demons. The series was even filmed in New Zealand, and from what I've seen so far, I think it looks absolutely gorgeous, even though the special effects don't hail from Weta Workshop but were surprisingly made in-house at MTV. The new series also has the added bonus of featuring LOTR alum John Rhys-Davies.

The five videos below introduce us to Allanon (Manu Bennett, of Spartacus and Arrow fame), the last remaining Druid; Amberle (Poppy Drayton), a new member of The Chosen; the human Eretria (Ivana Baquero), a member of the thieving Rover clan; the Elven King Eventine (Rhys-Davies) and his sons Arion (Daniel MacPherson) and Ander (Aaron Jakubenko); and, last but not least, our young hero Wil Ohmsford (Austin Butler), a half-human, half-elf who happens to be the last survivor of the Shannara bloodline.

A L L A N O N
Meet Allanon, played by Manu Bennett. As the last remaining Druid, he knows something incredibly important has begun when the Ellcrys Tree begins to die. Can he help save the Ellcrys and livelihood of the Four Lands?


A M B E R L E
Meet Amberle, played by Poppy Drayton. After becoming a member of The Chosen, she must accept a responsibility to protect the legendary Ellcrys Tree. But when the Ellcrys begins to die, she realizes her latest induction is only the beginning of a dangerous journey. Can she handle what lies ahead?


E R E T R I A
Meet Eretria, played by Ivana Baquero. A member of the thieving Rover clan, Eretria is a delicate balance of strength and sensitivity… but can the others trust her?


E V E N T I N E
Meet King Eventine, played by John Rhys-Davies. Flanked by his sons Arion and Ander, played by Daniel MacPherson and Aaron Jakubenko, Eventine has ruled over the Elven kingdom of Arborlon for decades… but can he keep the Elven people safe from emerging dark forces? 


W I L
Meet Wil Ohmsford, played by Austin Butler. Wil is a half-human, half-elf, and the last survivor of the Shannara bloodline. Can he live up to the weight of his family name when the Four Lands needs him most?

The ten-part first season is based on the second book published, The Elfstones of Shannara, and was developed by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, whose other new post-apocalyptic series, Into the Badlands, just premiered on AMC this past Sunday.

The Shannara Chronicles will premiere on January 5, 2016, on MTV.

Thursday, November 19, 2015

Sesame Street: The Hungry Games


HUNGRY GAMES: CATCHING FUR
Cookieness Evereat is back to play in the Hungry Games. Can Cookieness and her friends, Finnicky, Tick Tock Lady, and Pita escape from the poking monkeys and tickling winds? Find out in The Hungry Games: Catching Fur. May the cookies be ever in your flavor. 

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Anime Viewing Schedule for November 21, 2015

Saturday, November 21, 2015
Wood Dale Public Library
Welcome to the First Order
"I would like to welcome all of the new club memebers..."
Main Meeting Room, 10:15 am to 5:00 pm

10:15 - 11:05    One Punch Man 1-2
11:05 - 11:55    Charlotte 4-5
11:55 - 12:45    Beautiful Bones 1-2
12:45 - 1:15      Club Meeting / Announcements
1:15 - 2:15        Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin (Part 2)
2:15 - 3:05        Lupin the Third (2015) eps 1-2
3:05 - 4:45        Ghost in the Shell: New Movie
All anime presented are fan-subtitled unless otherwise noted.
 
Keep watching the exciting new anime series: Beautiful Bones and Lupin III (2015)!
ANIME DESCRIPTIONS ARE BELOW

10:15 - 11:05    One Punch Man 1-2
One Punch Man
Plot Summary: [Source: Wikipedia] The story takes place in the fictional Japanese metropolis of City Z. The world is full of strange monsters that mysteriously appear and cause disasters. Saitama, the protagonist, is an exceptionally powerful hero who easily defeats the monsters or other villains with a single punch. However, due to his overwhelming strength, Saitama has become bored with his powers and is constantly trying to find stronger opponents who can fight him. On his adventures, he meets new friends, enemies, and his own disciple, the cyborg Genos, and joins the Heroes Association in order to gain fame for all of his efforts to defeat evil. Despite defeating many strong monsters that even the Heroes Association’s top members are unable to defeat, Saitama struggles to gain respect. Most people look down on him due to his plain physical appearance, and some accuse him of being a counterfeit hero. Only a small number of individuals recognize his incredible talent and humility towards others.


11:05 - 11:55    Charlotte 5-6
C H A R L O T T E
Plot Summary: [Source: Wikipedia] In an alternate world, a small percentage of children are able to manifest superpowers upon reaching puberty. Yuu Otosaka, a boy who awakens the ability to temporarily possess others, hopes to use his power to live an easy going high school life. However, he is caught red-handed by the mysterious Nao Tomori and is forced to transfer to Hoshinoumi Academy (星ノ海学園 Hoshinoumi Gakuen?, "Star Ocean Academy"), where he and the other student council members must help students with abilities.

11:55 - 12:45    Beautiful Bones 1-2
BEAUTIFUL BONES: Sakurako's Investigation
Plot Summary: [Source: Wikipedia] Sakurako Kujō is a genius beauty in her mid-twenties whose life is centered around one thing and one thing only: bones. With little tolerance for others, she would be completely isolated in her study full of skeletons if it weren’t for high school boy Shotaro—her new assistant and constant companion. Why exactly she has taken a shine to him remains a mystery, but one thing is clear: Whenever the two go out together, the chances are high that they will come across a human corpse.

12:45 - 1:15     Club Meeting / Announcements
Convention Highlights
  • Convention Coverage
  • Animation News from around the world
  • Cosplayers/Skits/Masquerade
  • Anime Music Videos
  • And other weird, interesting stuff...

1:15 - 2:15    Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin (Part 2)
Mobile Suit GUNDAM: The Origin 2
"Artesia's Sorrow"
Plot Summary: [Source: Wikipedia] It is the year Universal Century 0079, and the eighth month of a vicious war between the Earth Federation and a breakaway nation of space colonists, the Principality of Zeon. The story follows the crew of the ship White Base, as they fight to ferry the experimental RX-78 Gundam mobile suit to the Federation base at Jaburo. Although for the most part faithful to the original series' plot (all of the major events unfold in mostly the same manner as the TV series, though often in different locales), Yasuhiko has taken the liberty of changing certain elements in the series universe, giving a different character to the series and the struggle that unfolds. Primary among these is the presence of mobile suits in both sides well before the conflict begins—in fact, in the flashback sequences, both the Earth Federation Forces and Zeon use Guntanks in 0068, and they and the Guncannon mobile suit are described as "obsolete" and fit for target practice in the first volume (in the TV series proper, both units were as new as the Gundam itself, designed to serve as long and mid-range fire support units). Other differences concern the breadth of the Gundam's journey to Jaburo. Where it's implied that the White Base's journey to Jaburo in the series was pretty much a circumnavigation of the globe unconnected to many real-world locations, Yasuhiko's journey places the White Base's landfall near Los Angeles, the headquarters of Garma Zabi (in the series, Garma was based out of a generic "New York"—Origin in fact states the Zeon occupation HQ as Los Angeles City Hall, with Garma residing in Hollywood/Beverly Hills) and moves the craft steadily to the southeast, and down the South American coast—past Caracas, Venezuela and through Macchu Picchu and into Brazil, where Jaburo, the headquarters of the Earth Federation, is located. This retelling cuts out some of the more trivial encounters seen in the original series, while keeping and expanding on important characters like Garma, Ramba Ral, and the Black Tri-Stars. As a direct result the events of Operation Odessa which takes place around the Ukrainian city of the same name, occur after the events of Jaburo, as opposed to the anime where they occur before. Yasuhiko further finally tells the entire back story of the Gundam universe in the manga. After the successful defense of Jaburo, the story diverts into a very in-depth flashback, told primarily from the viewpoints of Sayla and Char (with a secondary thread being told from Amuro's POV) recounting the downfall of Zeon Zum Deikun, the rise of the Zabi family, the construction of Side 7 and the research into Mobile Suits, and leading up through a decade until the launching of the One Year War. It also goes into detail answering many previously unanswered questions such as the appearance of heretofore unseen Zeon mobile suits prior to the MS-05 Zaku I, how Dozle Zabi received his trademark scars and even the origin of Casval Deikun/Edward Mass' "Char Aznable" identity. Volume fourteen, deals with the Battle of Loum at the beginning of the One Year War, and is the last piece of the in-depth flashback. The story shifted back on track to the original anime's storyline, featuring the White Base's involvement in the Federation's Operation Odessa, as well as including Kai Shiden's encounter with Miharu. Afterwards, the manga deals with the end of the Odessa campaign and (in another departure from the series) takes M'Quve and his Gyan out of the picture before he has a chance to confront the Gundam.

2:15 - 3:05    Lupin the Third (2015) Eps 1-2
Lupin the Third (2015)
Plot Summary: [Source: Wikipedia] After receiving a mysterious invitation, Inspector Zenigata arrives in San Marino for Lupin's wedding to Rebecca Rossellini, a wealthy heiress and businesswoman. It's soon revealed that the marriage is a sham, and that Lupin plans to steal the Royal Crown of Liberty, a rare artifact given to women to wear on the day after their wedding. Zenigata unravels the plan after someone claiming to be Lupin sends him a message, and begins chasing the criminals. As this is happening, Fujiko attempts to steal the Crown by tying up and gagging a local administrator and stealing his identity. She is captured in the ensuing chase, and Lupin is forced to surrender the Crown in exchange for her release. Someone disguised as the local police captain then leaves with the Crown, but is cornered by Lupin. After removing their disguise, it is revealed that the mastermind behind the entire plot was Rebecca, and that she deliberately manipulated Lupin to serve as a distraction while she stole the Crown herself. She manages to escape with the artifact, while Lupin remarks that he should have made her sign divorce papers before she left.

3:05 - 4:45    Ghost in the Shell: The New Movie
GHOST IN THE SHELL: The New Movie
Plot Summary: [Source: Wikipedia] Set after the events of Arise, the film involves the assassination of the Prime Minister of Japan which is publicly described as the "greatest event since the war". It is up to Public Security Section 9, led by Major Motoko Kusanagi, to discover the true nature of the murder. They are aided by the Prime Minister's son, Osamu Fujimoto.