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.

Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Anime Viewing Schedule for December 3, 2016

Saturday, December 3, 2016
Wood Dale Public Library
"Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!"
Main Meeting Room, 10:15 am to 5:00 pm

10:15 - 11:05    Macross Delta 13-14
11:30 - 11:55    Re:Zero - Starting Life in Another World 8-9
11:55 - 12:45    91 Days 1-2
12:45 - 1:35      Izetta: The Last Witch 5-6
1:35 - 2:05        Club Meeting / Announcements
2:05 - 2:30        Flip Flappers 4
2:304:40        Rurouni Kenshin (Live-Action Movie)

All anime presented are fan-subtitled unless otherwise noted.
 
Start watching the exciting new anime series: Macross Delta and Flip Flappers!
ANIME DESCRIPTIONS ARE BELOW

Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Modern Retelling of the Wizard of Oz

E M E R A L D   C I T Y
[Source: blastr] The 10-episode event series from visionary director Tarsem Singh (The Fall, Immortals) stars Adria Arjona (Person of Interest) as a thoroughly modern Dorothy Gale and Daredevil’s Vincent D’Onofrio (who’s almost unrecognizable in the role, what with the full head of dark hair and beard) as The Wizard. Oliver Jackson-Cohen (A World Without End, The Raven) plays the show’s hunky version of the Scarecrow (Dorothy finds him on a cross covered in dirt and straw) named Lucas. Emerald City also features new takes on the Cowardly Lion, the Tin Man and basically just about every Oz characters. Even Toto got a makeover.

In the blink of a tornado's eye, 20-year-old Dorothy Gale and a K9 police dog are swept into a world far removed from our own - a mystical land of competing realms, lethal warriors, dark magic and a bloody battle for supremacy. Starring Vincent D'Onofrio (Daredevil, Jurassic World) as the guileful Wizard and directed by the visionary Tarsem Singh across three European countries, this is Oz completely reimagined - a place where familiar characters show up in fresh, unexpected ways, and where an unsuspecting young woman holds the fate of kingdoms in her hands. And as Dorothy navigates this dangerous world and uncovers her true destiny, we'll see there's no place like... Oz.

Here's the trailer for Emerald City below. The first two episodes will debut on Jan. 6 on NBC.

Monday, November 28, 2016

The Chinese Mad Max Ripoff - Mad Sheila

M A D   S H E I L A
[Source: blastr] While we wait for that rumored Imperator Furiosa (played by Charlize Theron) Mad Max: Fury Road movie prequel to hit the road (pun intended), we may have the next best thing — a Chinese movie that totally rips off George Miller’s Mad Max.

Titled Mad Shelia, the movie takes us to a post-apocalyptic dune-covered wasteland that looks an awful lot like the world of Max Rockatansky. Complete with the movie’s heroes being attacked by a convoy of armored vehicles, motorcycles and 4X4s, and villains plucked from Miller's world.

The trailer below plays a lot like the 2015 blockbuster movie that nabbed an Academy Award nomination for Best Motion Picture. Not sure Mad Shelia will get nominated for anything (well, perhaps for best cheesy movie that’s so cheesy it's good), but you never know! I mean, it looks like a lot of crazy low-budget fun. Anywhoooo. Check it out below, and be sure to take a look at the movie poster which also totally rips off the "What a Lovely Day" Fury Road poster.

Sunday, November 27, 2016

Last Club Meeting of the year is December 3, 2016

 A N I M A T R I X   N E T W O R K
Let's get rolling to the last club meeting of the year!

Wood Dale Public Library
520 N. Wood Dale Road
Wood Dale, IL  60191
Main Meeting Room
Saturday, December 3, 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, November 26, 2016

Fullmetal Alchemist Live-Action Movie

FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST MOVIE
[Source: blastr] Directed by Fumihiko Sori (Ping Pong, Ashita no Joe), the movie stars Ryosuke Yamada (Assassination Classroom) as Edward Elric and will feature a CGI Alphonse Elric (Edward’s little bro) in full-body armor. Although the 30 second trailer doesn’t reveal too much of the movie yet, we do get our first look at Edward and a cool sneak peek at Alphonse's armor.

The movie filmed in Italy with a full Japanese cast (the story is set in a fictional world influenced by the European Industrial Revolution) is slated to open in Japan in the winter of 2017 (not sure when or if it will hit North America yet) and will apparently tell the whole story in one movie. We’re also told the character of Edward is being aged up from 15 in the manga to 20 years old in the movie.

Here’s a brief description of the Fullmetal Alchemist story via Anime News Network:

In an alchemical ritual gone wrong, Edward Elric lost his arm and his leg, and his brother Alphonse became nothing but a soul in a suit of armor. Equipped with mechanical “auto-mail” limbs, Edward becomes a state alchemist, seeking the one thing that can restore his and his brother's bodies...the legendary Philosopher's Stone.

Published between 2001 and 2010, the manga was adapted into two anime TV series titled Fullmetal Alchemist and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood; and two full-length anime movies: Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa and Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos. This is the first live-action adaptation.

Friday, November 25, 2016

Ballerina - Dream to Dance

B A L L E R I N A
BALLERINA is a beautifully animated tale about following your dreams, with an all-star voice cast that includes Elle Fanning, Dane DeHaan, 'Dance Mom's' Maddie Ziegler and Carly Rae Jepsen. Coming to cinemas this Christmas.

Félicie is a young orphan from Brittany with only one passion: dance. With her best friend Victor, who wants to become a great inventor, she devises a madcap plan to escape the orphanage for Paris, the City of Lights where the Eiffel Tower is still being built! Félicie will have to fight like never before to surpass herself and to learn from her mistakes, to make her wildest dream come true: becoming a prima ballerina at the Paris Opera...

Thursday, November 24, 2016

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Be Safe and Healthy
With Family and Friends
 
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
From All of Us at the

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

The Hunt is on for More Smurfs

SMURFS: THE LOST VILLAGE
With the evil wizard Gargamel (Rainn Wilson) hot on their trail, Smurfette (Demi Lovato), Brainy (Danny Pudi), Clumsy (Jack McBrayer) and Hefty (Joe Manganiello) embark on a journey through the Forbidden Forest to find a mysterious village.

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Dr. Who's Superhero-themed Christmas


DOCTOR WHO CHRISTMAS SPECIAL
The Return of Doctor Mysterio
BBC America has debuted a first sneak peek at Doctor Who’s upcoming superhero-themed Christmas Special “The Return of Doctor Mysterio” during the BBC’s annual Children In Need telethon (in the UK).

The nearly 3-minute-long clip features Peter Capaldi — who’s obviously back in top shape as the Twelfth Doctor — as well as Matt Lucas as Nardole, who was last seen with his head separated from his body in last year’s Yuletide special “The Husbands of River Song.” Lucas is said to be a regular presence in Season 10 when the show returns in the spring of 2017. And although that’s great news in and of itself, I’m really just glad to see Nardole back in one piece! Phewwww!

The special taking place in New York City will also introduced Charity Wakefield in the role of Lois Lane a fearless reporter, and Justin Chadwick as a super-strong, bullet-proof Superman-like superhero. Here’s an official description of the Xmas episode:

The Doctor, played by Peter Capaldi, teams up with an investigative journalist, played by Charity Wakefield (Wolf Hall, The Player) and a superhero to save New York from a deadly alien threat. Matt Lucas (Bridesmaids, Little Britain) returns to the series as Nardole and Justin Chatwin (Orphan Black, Shameless) joins the cast in a guest starring role as Grant.

“The Return of Doctor Mysterio” is penned by showrunner Steven Moffat and will debut on the BBC, BBC America and Space on Christmas Day.

Monday, November 21, 2016

King Kong Returns in epic new film

KONG: SKULL ISLAND
Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures’ Kong: Skull Island reimagines the origin of the mythic Kong in a compelling, original adventure from director Jordan Vogt-Roberts. In the film, a diverse team of explorers is brought together to venture deep into an uncharted island in the Pacific—as beautiful as it is treacherous—unaware that they’re crossing into the domain of the mythic Kong.

Sunday, November 20, 2016

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Featurette


 - a  SRTOAGRU E  WOANRES  story -
Rogue One tells the story of how a group of unlikely heroes unite to undertake a daring and seemingly impossible mission to steal the plans for the Death Star. In theaters December 16, 2016.

Saturday, November 19, 2016

Official Trailer for Beauty and the Beast

c
The upcoming movie is an adaptation (and it looks like a pretty faithful one) of the House of Mouse’s 1991 Oscar-nominated Beauty and the Beast animated feature, which is itself based on Madame Leprince de Beaumont’s classic fairy tale.

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast is a live-action re-telling of the studio’s animated classic which refashions the classic characters from the tale as old as time for a contemporary audience, staying true to the original music while updating the score with several new songs. Beauty and the Beast is the fantastic journey of Belle, a bright, beautiful and independent young woman who is taken prisoner by a beast in his castle. Despite her fears, she befriends the castle’s enchanted staff and learns to look beyond the Beast’s hideous exterior and realize the kind heart and soul of the true Prince within.

Beauty and the Beast will open on March 17, 2017.

Friday, November 18, 2016

CGI Anime Short: "X-STORY" - by Vitaliy Shushko


X-STORY
Enjoy this truly amazing 2D/3D Anime Short film created by the talented Vitaliy Shushko and his amazing team!

Thursday, November 17, 2016

Anime Viewing Schedule for November 19, 2016

Saturday, November 19, 2016
Wood Dale Public Library
"Hope we can find some fantastic beasts this weekend!"
Main Meeting Room, 10:15 am to 5:00 pm

10:15 - 11:05    Macross Delta 11-12
11:30 - 11:55    Re:Zero - Starting Life in Another World 6-7
11:55 - 12:45    Joker Game 11-12 [End]
12:45 - 1:35      Izetta: The Last Witch 3-4
1:35 - 2:15        Club Meeting / Announcements
2:15 - 2:45        Flip Flappers 3
2:45 - 4:40        Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV

All anime presented are fan-subtitled unless otherwise noted.
 
Start watching the exciting new anime series: Macross Delta and Flip Flappers!
ANIME DESCRIPTIONS ARE BELOW

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Just what is ‘Justice League Action’?

JUSTICE LEAGUE ACTION
Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman lead the DC Comics Super Heroes against their most infamous foes in adventures packed with relentless thrills, fun and action. No need to wait for the good stuff to start, each eleven-minute episode jumps in with lightning-paced action and heroics. Whether defending the Earth, facing invaders from space, or battling the bizarre forces of magic, the always-rotating team of Justice League heroes, are up to any challenge.
[Source: Collider] Nothing will ever compare to the Justice League and Justice League Unlimited animated series. But, fans were geeking out over the prospect of another cartoon coming to Cartoon Network starring DC’s pantheon of superheroes, Justice League Action. We’ve already seen some footage and heard some details from the network, but if you were expecting something more aligned with Unlimited, a batch of new clips have been unearthed to prove otherwise.
Comic Book Resources discovered some clips of Action from the YouTube channel Things I Like, and they illustrate a much more cartoony version than some of us may have been hoping for. It’s more Teen Titans Go! than Justice League Unlimited, based on the animation, the humor, and the fact that Khary Payton (King Ezekiel on The Walking Dead) reprises his voice role of Cyborg from Teen Titans Go!
 
There will still be tons of action, as we spotted in the trailer from Comic-Con.

The clips showcase a number of characters, including Batman, Superman, The Flash, Joker, Mongul, Toyman, Blue Beetle, and Chronos. In one, we see the heroes trying to save the Clown Prince of Gotham from Mongul before he’s thrown into outer space, while another features the team under the thrall of Toyman, as he forces them to perform a dance routine. Then there’s a face-off with Batman and Blue Beetle battling the time-manipulating Chronos after an encounter with crime boss Carmine Falcone.
 
Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill return as the voices of Batman and Joker, respectively, while Rachel Kimsey voices Wonder Woman, Jason J. Lewis voices Superman, James Woods voices Lex Luthor, and Josh Keaton voices Green Lantern. Other characters popping up will be Firestorm, Darkseid, Harley Quinn, Zatanna, Lobo, Hawkman, Vixen, Brainiac, Mr. Freeze, and many more.
 
Justice League Action will debut on November 27th with 11-minute installments. Watch the new clips below.