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.

Saturday, April 30, 2016

Vic Mignogna Beams Us to Fan-made Final Frontier

STAR TREK CONTINUES
"Star Trek Continues" is exactly what it sounds like: A fan-made science fiction series that picks up where the original "Star Trek" TV show left off, putting Kirk, Spock and the rest of the starship Enterprise's crew through a whole new set of adventures in the final frontier. The cast — made up of of talented voice- and stage-actor Trek fans, including Vic Mignogna as executive producer (and Kirk) — works on an exact-replica set, evoking the original show's performances to create what feels like lost episodes from the series itself. 
Read more here.

Friday, April 29, 2016

Alice Must Save the Mad Hatter Before its Too Late

Alice Through the Looking Glass
In Disney’s “Alice Through the Looking Glass,” an all-new spectacular adventure featuring the unforgettable characters from Lewis Carroll’s beloved stories, Alice returns to the whimsical world of Underland and travels back in time to save the Mad Hatter. Directed by James Bobin, who brings his own unique vision to the spectacular world Tim Burton created on screen in 2010 with “Alice in Wonderland,” the film is written by Linda Woolverton based on characters created by Lewis Carroll and produced by Joe Roth, Suzanne Todd and Jennifer Todd and Tim Burton with John G. Scotti serving as executive producer. “Alice Through the Looking Glass” reunites the all-star cast from the worldwide blockbuster phenomenon, including: Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway, Mia Wasikowska and Helena Bonham Carter along with the voices of Alan Rickman, Stephen Fry, Michael Sheen and Timothy Spall. We are also introduced to several new characters: Zanik Hightopp (Rhys Ifans), the Mad Hatter’s father and Time himself (Sacha Baron Cohen), a peculiar creature who is part human, part clock.
Alice Though the Looking Glass opens May 27.

Thursday, April 28, 2016

Anime Viewing Schedule for April 30, 2016

Saturday, April 30, 2016
Wood Dale Public Library
Tuesday was ALIEN Day!
"Here, we remember when Xenomorphs didn't have
a name and were actually terrifying."
Main Meeting Room, 10:15 am to 5:00 pm

10:15 - 11:05    One Punch Man 11-12 (End)
11:05 - 11:30    Flying Witch ep 1
11:30 - 11:40    Space Patrol Luluco 1
11:40 - 12:30    Noragami Aragoto 6-7
12:30 - 1:05      Club Meeting / Announcements
1:05 - 1:55        Lupin the Third (2015) eps 8-9
1:55 - 2:45        Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress 1-2
2:45 - 4:45        The Boy and the Beast (Movie)
All anime presented are fan-subtitled unless otherwise noted.
 
Start watching the exciting new anime series: Noragami Aragoto and Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress!
ANIME DESCRIPTIONS ARE BELOW

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Nintendo's Star Fox Anime

Star Fox Zero: The Battle Begins
Fox, Falco, Peppy and Slippy are back to save the universe in the Star Fox Zero for Wii U, now available! Star Fox Zero: The Battle Begins was produced in collaboration with Shigeru Miyamoto, and Production IG and WIT Studios.

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Master Jiang and the Six Kingdoms


Chinese animated feature, Master Jiang and the Six Kingdoms, coming in 2016.

Monday, April 25, 2016

Big Fish and Begonia

From the animation company that
brought us Legend of Korra...
Big Fish and Begonia
[Source: blastr] Merge into the magical realm of shape-shifting dolphins, Asian fire dragons, flying unicorn fish, evil wizards and funneling water spirits in this first fantastic trailer for Big Fish and Begonia, an upcoming anime fantasy feature from Studio Mir, the animation company that brought us Legend of Korra.

Directors Liang Xuan and Zhang Chun have been developing this ambitious anime fairy tale for over a decade via crowdfunding and their self-owned studio, B&T. Studio Mir became attached to the lyrical film, once titled Da Hai,  in 2014, and now it's destined for a wide Chinese release on July 8, 2016.

Here's the official synopsis:
It is a world within our world, yet unseen by any human, and the beings here control time and tide and the changing of the seasons. On the day Chun turns sixteen, she is transformed into a dolphin to explore the human world. She is rescued from a vortex by a human boy at the cost of his own life. Chun is so moved by the boy's kindness and courage that she decides to give him life again. But to do this, she must protect the boy's soul, a tiny fish, and nurture it to grow. Through adventure and sacrifice, love grows, yet now she must release him back to the sea, back to life in the human world.

Hopefully the date for an American premiere will be announced soon!

Sunday, April 24, 2016

Next Club Meeting is this Saturday, April 30, 2016

A N I M A T R I X   N E T W O R K
"A little purple rain must fall..."

Wood Dale Public Library
520 N. Wood Dale Road
Wood Dale, IL  60191
Main Meeting Room
Saturday, April 30, 2016
10:15 AM - 5:00 PM
 

Our next club meeting will be at the Wood Dale Public Library
Main Meeting Room (on your far right as you enter the front doors), 
from 10:15 AM to 5:00 PM 
(until the library closes).

There is public transportation available. 
A Metra train-stop is located within walking distance. 

Please note: If you are driving, please park your car 
on the south side of the building (not the front) in order to 
make room for other library patrons.
 
A Viewing Schedule will be posted soon.
 
Hope to see you all there!

(Click below for maps

Saturday, April 23, 2016

The Magnificent Seven - Teaser Trailer


M A G N I F I C E N T   S E V E N
Director Antoine Fuqua brings his modern vision to a classic story in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures’ and Columbia Pictures’ The Magnificent Seven. With the town of Rose Creek under the deadly control of industrialist Bartholomew Bogue (Peter Sarsgaard), the desperate townspeople employ protection from seven outlaws, bounty hunters, gamblers and hired guns – Sam Chisolm (Denzel Washington), Josh Farraday (Chris Pratt), Goodnight Robicheaux (Ethan Hawke), Jack Horne (Vincent D’Onofrio), Billy Rocks (Byung-Hun Lee), Vasquez (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo), and Red Harvest (Martin Sensmeier). As they prepare the town for the violent showdown that they know is coming, these seven mercenaries find themselves fighting for more than money.

Friday, April 22, 2016


WARCRAFT the MOVIE
The film portrays the origin story of the initial encounters between the humans and the orcs, with an emphasis upon both the Alliance's and Horde's sides of their conflict. Featuring characters such as Durotan and Lothar, the film will take place in a variety of locations established in the video game series.

Thursday, April 21, 2016

OVERWATCH - Alive


O  V  E  R  W  A  T  C  H
Set your sights on the latest animated short from Overwatch, Blizzard’s upcoming team-based shooter. Then play FREE during the Open Beta May 5-9! "Alive" weaves a tale of Widowmaker, the peerless Talon assassin who stalks her prey with deadly efficiency. In this episode, we spend a fateful night in London’s King’s Row—where you’ll discover how one death can change everything.

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Triumph! Find The One... Again!


If it's support you need, Triumph has it!
Triumph returns to a land far, far away to offer support to in a way that only Triumph can, with a sequel to last year's film, Find The One! (See below...)

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

A Power Rangers Villain Returns

Rita Repulsa from the original Power Rangers
A big-budget, big-screen reboot of Power Rangers seemed like a bizarre idea, but the latest bit of casting news seems like this thing could be absolutely bonkers. In the best possible way. An original series villain Rita Repulsa will be back in action. The interesting part? She’ll be played by Elizabeth Banks (The Hunger Games, Pitch Perfect), which is a surprising (and A-list) actress to take the story.
First Look of Elizabeth Banks as Rita Repulsa

Monday, April 18, 2016

New Upcoming Godzilla Film

G O D Z I L L A   R E S U R G E N C E
Godzilla returns to Japan for sushi and destruction. Even though the last time we saw the iconic monster was in Gareth Edwards’ 2014 Godzilla, this is TOHO’s first Godzilla film in more than a decade, since the release of Godzilla: Final Wars in 2004. Co-directed by Hideaki Anno (Neon Genesis Evangelion) and Shinji Higuchi (who did the visual effects on the Gamera trilogy), with a screenplay by Anno, the movie is the 29th entry in TOHO’s franchise and will be released July 29.

Sunday, April 17, 2016

Scarlett Johansson in 'Ghost in the Shell'

G h o s t   i n   t h e   S h e l l
[Source: blastr] Here's a first look at Scarlett Johansson's cyborg operative, Major Motoko Kusanagi, in Paramount and Dreamworks' adaptation of the classic Ghost in the Shell anime and manga sensation created by Masamune Shirow back in 1989.   The studio chose this moment to tease the image of Johansson's "The Major" to celebrate the start of production on their futuristic cop thriller in Wellington, New Zealand.  
With a screenplay draft by Jonathan Herman (Straight Outta Compton) and directed by Rupert Sanders (Snow White and the Huntsman), this big-budget cyber odyssey also stars Beat Takeshi Kitano (Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence), Kaori Momoi (Memoirs of a Geisha), Chin Han (Captain America: The Winter Soldier), Danusia Samal (Tyrant), Lasarus Ratuere (Terra Nova), Michael Pitt (Hannibal) and Pilou Asbæk (Lucy).

Here's the official synopsis:
Based on the internationally-acclaimed sci-fi property, “GHOST IN THE SHELL” follows the Major, a special ops, one-of-a-kind human-cyborg hybrid, who leads the elite task force Section 9. Devoted to stopping the most dangerous criminals and extremists, Section 9 is faced with an enemy whose singular goal is to wipe out Hanka Robotic’s advancements in cyber technology.

Saturday, April 16, 2016

ALIEN INFINITY - sci-fi animated short fan-film


A fascinating cgi animation made using elements from ALIENS and other video game/scifi films.

Friday, April 15, 2016

Live-Action Terra Formars (2016)

T E R R A   F O R M A R S
In an attempt to colonize Mars, 21st century scientists tasked with terraforming the planet seed it with a modified algae to absorb sunlight and purify the atmosphere, and cockroaches whose corpses spread the algae across the planet as they feed. Five hundred years later, the first manned ship to Mars lands and its six crew members are attacked by giant mutated humanoid cockroaches with incredible physical strength, later labeled "Terraformars"; the crew is wiped out after sending a warning back to Earth. Two years later, BUGS II, a multinational expedition of genetically modified humans, is sent to collect 10 samples of both sexes of roaches, and exterminate the mutated bugs to take control of the red planet. Only two survivors manage to return to Earth, one swearing to return and avenge their fallen companions. As a third expedition is assembled questions are raised about the true origin of the Terraformars and their connection with a deadly virus afflicting mankind. To fight the Terraformars' strength and agility, members of the second and third expedition undergo genetic modification to inherit the characteristics of other organisms, only possible after having a special organ implanted with a 36% chance of surviving the surgery itself.

This live-action film is directed by Takashi Miike directing and will be released in Japan on April 29, 2016. U.S. release dates pending.

Thursday, April 14, 2016

Marvel's Doctor Strange - Official Trailer

D O C T O R   S T R A N G E
This fall we see the arrival of Doctor Strange, one of the most exciting Marvel origin films yet. Doctor Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) is an accomplished surgeon who, after a car accident, loses his greatest tool: his hands. In an effort to get his career back, he travels the world in search of something, or someone, that can fix him. In his travels, he meets The Ancient One (Tilda Swinton), who shows him paths of magic and astral projection he'd never known before, and as a result he becomes a magical superhero. Mads Mikkelsen plays the villain.

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

The Loud House - Animation Premiere

T h e   L o u d   H o u s e
The series focuses on Lincoln Loud, an 11-year-old boy, who lives in a house with his ten sisters—eldest sister Lori, unintelligent yet beautiful blonde Leni, aspiring rock star Luna, jokester and comedian Luan, energetic athlete Lynn, gloomy emo Lucy, personality-opposite twins Lola and Lana, intellectual genius Lisa, and baby Lily—and how he tries to survive as the only son in the family by finding creative solutions to the ordinary and chaotic problems in the household.

Debuts May 2 On Nickelodeon At 5 PM


One boy. Ten sisters. What could possibly go wrong?

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Final Fantasy XV Movie: KINGSGLAIVE

FINAL FANTASY XV MOVIE
K I N G S G L A I V E
The first official trailer for a new feature-length Final Fantasy XV tie-in movie has been released. Titled Kingsglaive, the CGI animated movie will be available digitally as well as on Blu-ray, but won’t be shown in movie theaters. 

The magical kingdom of Lucis is home to the world’s last remaining Crystal, and the menacing empire of Niflheim is determined to steal it. King Regis of Lucis commands an elite force of soldiers called the Kingsglaive. Wielding their king’s magic, they fight to protect Lucis. As the overwhelming military might of the empire bears down, King Regis is faced with an impossible ultimatum – to marry his son, Prince Noctis to Princess Lunafreya of Tenebrae, captive of Niflheim, and surrender his lands to Niflheim rule. Although the king concedes, it becomes clear that the empire will stop at nothing to achieve their devious goals, with only the Kingsglaive standing between them and world domination.

Monday, April 11, 2016

The BFG - New Trailer

Disney's T H E   B F G
Directed by Steven Spielberg
The upcoming fantasy movie is based on author Roald Dahl’s beloved children’s book (published in 1982) about the magical tale of a lonely young girl named Sophie (Ruby Barnhill) who discovers that giants are real thanks to a 24-foot-tall Big Friendly Giant (Rylance’s BFG) who, despite being freakishly tall (he’s a giant after all), has a kind and gentle soul. Through him, we are introduced to Giant Country and some of its less-than-kind inhabitants who are bigger and scarier and like to eat people, as well as Dream Country.
Disney’s “The BFG” tells the imaginative story of a young girl and the Giant who introduces her to the wonders and perils of Giant Country. The BFG (Mark Rylance), while a giant himself, is a Big Friendly Giant and nothing like the other inhabitants of Giant Country. Standing 24-feet tall with enormous ears and a keen sense of smell, he is endearingly dim-witted and keeps to himself for the most part. Giants like Bloodbottler (Bill Hader) and Fleshlumpeater (Jemaine Clement) on the other hand, are twice as big and at least twice as scary and have been known to eat humans, while the BFG prefers Snozzcumber and Frobscottle.

Upon her arrival in Giant Country, Sophie, a precocious 10-year-old girl from London, is initially frightened of the mysterious giant who has brought her to his cave, but soon comes to realize that the BFG is actually quite gentle and charming, and, having never met a giant before, has many questions. The BFG brings Sophie to Dream Country where he collects dreams and sends them to children, teaching her all about the magic and mystery of dreams. Having both been on their own in the world up until now, their affection for one another quickly grows, but Sophie’s presence in Giant Country has attracted the unwanted attention of the other giants, who have become increasingly more bothersome. Sophie and the BFG soon depart for London to see the Queen (Penelope Wilton) and warn her of the precarious giant situation, but they must first convince the Queen and her maid, Mary (Rebecca Hall), that giants do indeed exist. Together, they come up with a plan to get rid of the giants once and for all.

Opening July 1, The BFG also stars Bill Hader (Inside Out, Superbad), Jemaine Clement (Flight of the Conchords), Penelope Wilton (Doctor Who, Downton Abbey) and Rebecca Hall (The Prestige, Iron Man 3).

Sunday, April 10, 2016

Attack on Titan - Action Video Game

A T T A C K   on   T I T A N
Following a successful launch in its native Japan, the eagerly anticipated action game will be released on August 30th, 2016 across America under the title, Attack on Titan.

We also confirmed that Attack on Titan will be available for players to enjoy on a wide selection of consoles and is currently being developed for physical release on the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, and Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, and for digital-only release on the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, PlayStation®Vita handheld system and on PC via Steam®.

Attack on Titan is coming:
Physically: PS4, Xbox One
Digital: PS3, PS Vita & PC Steam on August 30th, 2016 for America!

Attack on Titan closely follows the riveting story-line of the anime’s first season and focuses on the exploits of various key characters, putting the player in a position to relive its most shocking, courageous and exhilarating moments. It revolves around the story of three young people who survive the destruction of their walled city district by enormous, man-eating Titans and eventually go on to join the Scout Regiment in order to protect humanity from this overpowering foe.

Friday, April 8, 2016

The Nameless City - Hard Cover

RECOMMENDED READING
T H E   N A M E L E S S   C I T Y
(By Faith Erin Hicks. April 6 from First Second)
Faith Erin Hicks — Eisner Award winning cartoonist of Friends with Boys — hasn’t been shy about her influences for latest project, The Nameless City. The first book of a planned young-adult graphic novel trilogy, Nameless City is largely inspired by the folklore and history of 13th century China, and also draws inspiration in varying degrees from some of Hicks’ favorite works like Bone, Full Metal Alchemist and Avatar: The Last Airbender.
The rooftop-running girl named Rat, a native of the titular city, forms a friendship with Kai, a boy born of the city’s newest conquerors, and together they set off to discover the secrets of their mutual home. As Rat attempts to teach Kai about his city, the two will begin to unravel a conspiracy that could change Nameless City’s destiny. The Canandian artist’s perfect blend of manga and Western comic sensibilities is accompanied by the warm, earthy colors of Jordie Bellaire (The Wake), making this a must-read book for adventure fans of all ages.

Thursday, April 7, 2016

STAR WARS: ROGUE ONE - Official Teaser


Get your first look at
ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY 
in theaters this December.


Wednesday, April 6, 2016

First Look at Batman: The Killing Joke Movie

T H E   K I L L I N G   J O K E
[Source: blastr] It’s been a long time coming, but an animated feature-film adaptation of the iconic (and brutal) Batman: The Killing Joke comic is finally in the works. Want to see how it’s shaping up?

The first teaser trailer has been released, which is basically your worst DC nightmare brought to life. Stylistically, this one looks in line with what fans have come to expect from the existing run of DC animated films — it’s clean and looks to be on the right track. Though, for a story this famous, you wonder if they might’ve wanted to make a bit more effort to mimic the art style from the graphic novel. A minor quibble, but still.

The scenes shows here look to be a beat-by-beat adaptation of the comic story, with all the creepy and unsettling visuals you’d think would be there. This is going to be a hard movie to watch. No doubt. Throw in the fact that Mark Hamill’s Joker is beyond terrifying, and yeah. Creepy. Kevin Conroy's Batman will certainly have his hands full.

Along with the first teaser, an extended featurette about the project can be viewed below.

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

The Powerpuff Girls Return (TOON)


POWERPUFF GIRLS ARE BACK!
[Source: blastr] Week-long series premiere! - We've been hearing about this for what seems like forever, and now it's finally real. The Powerpuff Girls are back, and Cartoon Network's celebrating the dawn of a new series with a full five days of new episodes. Sadly, the original cast isn't returning, but Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup are back in full force, and we'll definitely be seeing a fun mix of new threats and old foes. So spend your week going back to Townsville. Check out a preview below.

Monday, April 4, 2016

Ratchet and Clank Official Trailer


R A T C H E T   and   C L A N K
Ratchet and Clank tells the story of two unlikely heroes as they struggle to stop a vile alien named Chairman Drek from destroying every planet in the Solana Galaxy. When the two stumble upon a dangerous weapon capable of destroying entire planets, they must join forces with a team of colorful heroes called The Galactic Rangers in order to save the galaxy. Along the way they'll learn about heroism, friendship, and the importance of discovering one's own identity.

Sunday, April 3, 2016

Superman - The Golden Age of Animation


S  U  P  E  R  M  A  N
A look at how the Fleischer brothers pushed the limits of animation to create the definitive Superman.

Saturday, April 2, 2016

Set Photos from The Doctor Strange Movie

D O C T O R   S T R A N G E
[Source: ScreenRant] Following the trend established during Phase Two of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there are not one but two Marvel Studio films releasing this year. The first is the vigorously hyped Captain America: Civil War, in which opposing factions led by Iron Man and Captain America will square off. The second is Doctor Strange, a film that will establish the more mystical side of the MCU – an area where many of Marvel’s current cinematic roster would be found wildly out of their element.

Since unveiling our first look at Benedict Cumberbatch in his full Doctor Strange attire (looking as he had stepped straight off the comic book page) a smattering of set photos and videos have appeared online, giving an even better impression of how Cumberbatch will embody the role of Marvel’s Sorcerer Supreme. As filming continues this weekend in London (standing in for NYC), more photos have cropped up which feature not only Cumberbatch but also his Doctor Strange co-star Chiwetel Ejiofor (playing Baron Mordo).

Take a look below at a handful of set photos depicting Strange and Mordo suited up and ready for battle.
In the past Marvel Studios has never shied away from their characters having bright and colorful costumes, but it’s undeniable how downright “comic-booky” Cumberbatch and Ejiofor appear. Yet, there’s sense of weight and structure to these robes, which certainly lends a bit of realism and will hopefully counteract them appearing too costume-y. Still, some of the poses caught on camera – and in particular these actions shots courtesy of Just Jared – give Doctor Strange something of a Power Rangers-vibe – especially the images that show Cumberbatch and Ejiofor joined by other students of the Ancient One, coming together to wield their magics and battle evil.

Click Here for More Set Photos

However, for as silly as these actors may appear now, sporting colorful wizard robes while dramatically pointing and posing their hands, once the visual effects work is added these scenes will surely come across as epic as intended. Fans already got a bit of taste of how magic is conjured in the MCU with Scarlet Witch in Age of Ultron, but Doctor Strange will depict characters displaying a multitude of magical powers. MCU guru Kevin Feige has already revealed that Strange himself will have variety of abilities, from casting spells to opening portals. He can also fly thanks to his Cloak of Levitation, which is possibly what we see being filmed in those photos that snapped Cumberbatch in mid-leap.

Captain America: Civil War will release on May 6, 2016, followed by Doctor Strange – November 4, 2016; Guardians of the Galaxy 2 – May 5, 2017; Spider-Man – July 7, 2017; Thor: Ragnarok – November 3, 2017; Black Panther – February 16, 2018; The Avengers: Infinity War Part 1 – May 4, 2018; Ant-Man and the Wasp – July 6, 2018; Captain Marvel – March 8, 2019; The Avengers: Infinity War Part 2 – May 3, 2019; Inhumans – July 12, 2019; and as-yet untitled Marvel movies on May 1, July 10 and November 6, 2020.