Next Club Meeting: March 16, 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, May 31, 2017

Trailer for Marvel's 'Cloak & Dagger' series

Marvel's Cloak & Dagger, or simply Cloak & Dagger, is an upcoming American cable television series created for Freeform by Joe Pokaski, based on the Marvel Comics characters of the same name. It is set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), sharing continuity with the films and other television series of the franchise. The series is produced by ABC Signature Studios and Marvel Television, with Pokaski serving as showrunner.

The series stars Olivia Holt and Aubrey Joseph as Tandy Bowen / Dagger and Tyrone Johnson / Cloak, two teenagers who acquire superpowers and form a romantic relationship. A television series featuring Cloak and Dagger entered development for ABC Family in July 2011. In April 2016, Cloak & Dagger received a series order for Freeform, the new name of ABC Family, and by that August, Pokaski had joined the series as showrunner and executive producer. Holt and Joseph were cast in January 2017, with Andrea Roth, Gloria Reuben, Miles Mussenden, Carl Lundstedt, James Saito, and J.D. Evermore also starring in the series. Filming on the series began in February 2017 in New Orleans.

The series, consisting of 10 episodes, will premiere in 2018.



Tuesday, May 30, 2017

Trigger's 'Little Witches' are coming to Netflix

LITTLE WITCH ACADEMIA
[Source: ToonZone] Netflix has announced they will be the exclusive streaming home of Studio Trigger’s Little Witch Academia television series, and the first season will begin showing up there by the end of next month. It shouldn’t surprise anyone that Netflix holds the rights, as they currently offer the two preceding shorts starring the characters.

Little Witch Academia began as a 30-minute short released online back in 2013. Response was strong and Studio Trigger announced a follow-up short, but only if it was backed through crowdfunding. They wound up earning over four times the amount they asked for — there was a clear paying audience and a hunger for more.

Both shorts and the series are basically an animated version of The Worst Witch, with klutzy main character Akko serving in the Mildred Hubble role. She idolizes celebrity witch Shiny Chariot and wants to follow in her footsteps. When she starts going to class at Luna Nova Academy, the same magical school that Shiny Chariot graduated from, she finds it’s much harder than she anticipated. But she has her pals Lotte and Sucy to back her up.

The first season of Little Witch Academia is still running in Japan, and 20 of the 25 ordered episodes have aired so far. Netflix will be getting the first thirteen, with the remaining twelve presumably on their way later. They’ll be available June 30 exclusively on the streaming service.

Monday, May 29, 2017

Vanity Fair's STAR WARS 40th Celebration


V A N I T Y  F A I R 's 
Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Vanity Fair has released some stunning new Star Wars: The Last Jedi pics, as well as a cool on-set video: right on time for Star Wars’ 40th anniversary. The photographs (taken by Annie Leibovitz) included in the gallery below are a mix of behind-the-scenes shots with character portraits that offer a first look at Laura Dern as Vice Admiral Amilyn Holdo and Benicio Del Toro as a “shifty” character simply called DJ. “You’ll see — there’s a reason why we call him DJ,” director Rian Johnson (Looper) told Vanity Fair.

Sunday, May 28, 2017

Vanity Fair's 'Last Jedi' Covers

V A N I T Y   F A I R
In honor of the Star Wars 40th anniversary celebration, Vanity Fair has unveiled four magazine covers featuring Captain Phasma unmasked, a new member of the Rebel Alliance and the late Carrie Fisher as General Leia.

Front and center on the four VF covers are some of the main protagonists of the upcoming Star Wars movie, The Last Jedi. We have: Rey (Daisy Ridley) and Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill); Captain Phasma (Gwendoline Christie), Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) and General Hux (Domhnall Gleeson); Finn (John Boyega), BB-8, Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) and Rose Tico (Kelly Marie Tran), a new character described as “a Resistance maintenance worker and the new character with the most screen time in Episode VIII.”

The final cover sees Carrie Fisher standing alone in a poignant tribute from the magazine, with all the photographs taken by legendary photographer Annie Leibovitz. The next entry in the franchise set in a galaxy far, far away, Star Wars: The Last Jedi is written and directed by Rian Johnson (Looper). The movie will open on December 15.

Saturday, May 27, 2017

Final Trailer for 'Valerian'

V A L E R I A N
and the City of a Thousand Planets
VALERIAN AND THE CITY OF A THOUSAND PLANETS is the visually spectacular new adventure film from Luc Besson, the legendary director of The Professional, The Fifth Element and Lucy, based on the ground-breaking comic book series which inspired a generation of artists, writers and filmmakers.

In the 28th century, Valerian (Dane DeHaan) and Laureline (Cara Delevingne) are a team of special operatives charged with maintaining order throughout the human territories. Under assignment from the Minister of Defense, the two embark on a mission to the astonishing city of Alpha—an ever-expanding metropolis where species from all over the universe have converged over centuries to share knowledge, intelligence and cultures with each other. There is a mystery at the center of Alpha, a dark force which threatens the peaceful existence of the City of a Thousand Planets, and Valerian and Laureline must race to identify the marauding menace and safeguard not just Alpha, but the future of the universe.


In Theaters July 21, 2017

Thursday, May 25, 2017

Happy 40th Anniversary Star Wars!


S T A R   W A R S
Celebrates 40th Anniversary
On May 25, 1977 “Star Wars” opened in 32 US screens including the legendary Mann’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood, California. Director George Lucas built a brand based off a story of triumph over evil and of a hero’s tragic fall and eventual redemption. The movie soon became a phenomenon and an important part of pop culture. Four decades later it continues to enthrall audiences all over the world.
Next up is ”Star Wars: The Last Jedi.” The sequel begins where “The Force Awakens” left off, with Rey (Ridley) meeting Luke on a remote island, filmed off the coast of Ireland. Some shots in the trailer also suggested Skywalker training Rey on the island. In “The Force Awakens,” Adam Driver’s Kylo Ren has turned to the dark side after being tutored by Luke.
Written and directed by Rian Johnson, the “Star Wars” sequel will follow J.J. Abrams’ box-office smash “The Force Awakens.”

It will be Carrie Fisher’s last appearance in the core “Star Wars” films that follow the saga of the Skywalker family.

The Last Jedi” is due in theaters December 15.




Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Roger Moore Dies at Age 89

SIR ROGER MOORE
(October 14, 1927 – May 23, 2017)
Sir Roger Moore has died at the age of 89. He played 007 in seven Bond films including Live And Let Die and The Spy Who Loved Me. Producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli have released the following statement:  

"We are heartbroken at the news of Sir Roger Moore’s passing. On the screen, he reinvented the role of James Bond with tremendous skill, charisma and humour. In real life, he was a genuine hero working as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for many years dedicating his life to alleviating the suffering of children all over the world. He was a loyal and beloved friend and his legacy shall live on through his films and the millions of lives he touched. We shall miss him enormously. Our love and thoughts are with Deborah, Geoffrey, Christian his grandchildren and his wife Kristina.”

Saturday, May 20, 2017

Trailer for 'War for the Planet of the Apes'

War for the Planet of the Apes
In War for the Planet of the Apes, the third chapter of the critically acclaimed blockbuster franchise, Caesar and his apes are forced into a deadly conflict with an army of humans led by a ruthless Colonel. After the apes suffer unimaginable losses, Caesar wrestles with his darker instincts and begins his own mythic quest to avenge his kind. As the journey finally brings them face to face, Caesar and the Colonel are pitted against each other in an epic battle that will determine the fate of both their species and the future of the planet.

In Theaters - July 14, 2017

Friday, May 19, 2017

First Trailer for Star Trek: Discovery

STAR TREK: DISCOVERY
Before Kirk, Spock and the Enterprise there was Discovery. Now, one of the most iconic and influential global franchises returns to television with Star Trek: Discovery. The CBS All Access Original Series arrives this Fall.

Star Trek: Discovery is an upcoming American television series created by Bryan Fuller and Alex Kurtzman for CBS All Access. It is the first series developed specifically for that service, and the first Star Trek series since Star Trek: Enterprise concluded in 2005. Set roughly a decade before the events of the original Star Trek series, separate from the timeline of the concurrent feature films, Discovery explores a previously mentioned event from the history of Star Trek while following the crew of the USS Discovery. Gretchen J. Berg and Aaron Harberts serve as showrunners on the series, with producing support from Akiva Goldsman.

Sonequa Martin-Green stars as Michael Burnham, the first officer of the USS Discovery. The new series was announced in November 2015, and Fuller joined as showrunner the next February. In addition to Fuller and Kurtzman, who wrote for previous Star Trek series and films, respectively, the crew includes several other previous Star Trek creatives. The production put emphasis on carrying on the legacy of the previous series, including making efforts to feature a diverse cast. In October 2016, Fuller stepped back from showrunner due to other commitments, after establishing the series' mythology and broad story arc. Berg and Harberts took over day-to-day production, and Goldsman joined as support. Discovery is filming in Toronto, and has filmed on location in Jordan.

Star Trek: Discovery is set to debut on CBS with a two-part premiere in "fall" 2017, before moving to All Access. The first season will consist of 15 episodes.

Thursday, May 18, 2017

Celebrate Anime Central's 20th Year!

animation by anim8trix
ANIME CENTRAL's 20th ANNIVERSARY 
May 19-21, 2017
Donald E. Stephens Convention Center
5555 N. River Road, Rosemont, IL 60018

www.acen.org
 

 

Wednesday, May 17, 2017

How to kill an ALIEN facehugger

Rick and Morty meets ALIEN: Covenant
The hit animated series Rick and Morty is heading into the Alien universe, and they’ve even managed to figure out how to kill a facehugger. Quick, get those Alien folks on the phone.

The crossover clip finds Rick and Morty heading out to help with a distress call, and what they find is a ship overrun with facehuggers and aliens. When Rick meets up with a facehugger, he manages to take it out thanks to his (umm) diet of heavy drugs and alcohol. Turns out, the way to take out a facehugger is to kill it with alcohol poisoning. So, umm, smart? Sure, it’s an obvious bit of cross-promotion, but still a lot of fun.

Alien: Covenant opens May 19

Tuesday, May 16, 2017

New Sci-Fi Comedy from the creator of 'Family Guy'


T H E   O R V I L L E
From Emmy Award-winning executive producer and creator Seth MacFarlane (FAMILY GUY, “Ted”) and directed by Jon Favreau (“The Jungle Book,” “Iron Man”), THE ORVILLE is a one-hour science fiction series set 400 years in the future that follows the adventures of the U.S.S. Orville, a mid-level exploratory vessel. Its crew, both human and alien, faces the wonders and dangers of outer space, while also dealing with the familiar, often humorous problems of regular people in a workplace…even though some of those people are from other planets, and the workplace is a faster-than-light spaceship. In the 25th century, Earth is part of the Planetary Union, a far-reaching, advanced and mostly peaceful civilization with a fleet of 3,000 ships. Down on his luck after a bitter divorce, Planetary Union officer ED MERCER (MacFarlane) finally gets his chance to command one of these ships: the U.S.S. Orville. Determined to prove his worth and write a new chapter in his life, Ed finds that task all the more difficult when the First Officer assigned to his ship is his ex-wife, KELLY GRAYSON (Adrianne Palicki, “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” “Friday Night Lights”). As the new commander, Ed assembles a qualified, but eccentric crew, including his best friend, GORDON MALLOY (Scott Grimes, “ER,” “Justified”), who has problems with authority, but is the best helmsman in the fleet; DR. CLAIRE FINN (Penny Johnson Jerald, “24,” “The Larry Sanders Show”), one of the Union’s most accomplished physicians; BORTUS (Peter Macon, “Shameless,” “Bosch”), an alien from a single-sex species; ISAAC (Mark Jackson, “That Royal Today”), an artificial life-form from a machine society that thinks biological life-forms are inferior; navigator JOHN LAMARR (J. Lee, FAMILY GUY, “The Cleveland Show”), whose casual humor cuts through even the most dire situations; ALARA KITAN (Halston Sage, “Neighbors,” “Goosebumps”), a young, inexperienced security officer whose home planet’s high gravity gives her superior physical strength; and YAPHIT, a gelatinous creature voiced by comedian Norm Macdonald (“The Middle,” “Saturday Night Live”). Somehow, Ed and Kelly must put the past behind them and, with the help of the crew, navigate fascinating and sometimes dangerous adventures in outer space, as well as the tumultuous and captivating day-to-day personal relationships with their colleagues.

Monday, May 15, 2017

Lost Property - An Animated Short Film

LoST PrOperTy
A kind old man works at a lost and found. Every day, an old lady comes in looking for something she's lost. She shows him a photograph of the item and he takes her through the corridor of doors into rooms filled with lost belongings.

Each day, the old lady comes in looking for a new item, and each time, he patiently helps her look for it. But as the failures grow, hopes are faded and losses feel stronger.

Desperate to help the old lady, the old man tries harder and harder. And with each increased effort, the rooms go deeper, the expectations grow higher and the experience gets richer.

Until she finds what she's really looking for.

Sunday, May 14, 2017

New zombie flick may be the best one yet!

IT STAINS the SANDS RED
In the new horror film It Stains the Sands Red, a troubled woman from Las Vegas named Molly (Brittany Allen) finds herself stranded in the desert with a ravenous zombie on her trail. At first, she’s easily able to outpace her undead pursuer, but things quickly become a nightmare when she realizes the zombie doesn’t need to ever stop for rest. Running low on supplies and beat down by the harsh environment, Molly has to summon the strength she never knew she had to ultimately face both the zombie and the demons that have chased her all her life.

It Stains the Sands Red is directed by Colin Minihan and costars Juan Riedinger. The film receives its North American premiere at the L.A. Film Festival in June and will then be released in cinemas and on digital platforms this summer by Dark Sky Films.

Saturday, May 13, 2017

There are still pages left in this story...

B L A D E   R U N N E R   2049
Thirty years after the events of the first film, a new blade runner, LAPD Officer K (Ryan Gosling), unearths a long-buried secret that has the potential to plunge what’s left of society into chaos. K’s discovery leads him on a quest to find Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), a former LAPD blade runner who has been missing for 30 years.

In theaters October 6

Friday, May 12, 2017

Anime Viewing Schedule for May 13, 2017

Saturday, May 13, 2017
Wood Dale Public Library
"It's been so long since our last meeting! Are we even on the right planet?"
Main Meeting Room, 10:15 am to 5:00 pm

10:15 - 11:05    Macross Delta 21-22
11:05 - 11:55    Re:Zero - Starting Life in Another World 16-17
11:55 - 12:45    91 Days 9-10
12:45 - 1:35      Dragon Dentist 1
1:35 - 2:15        Club Meeting / Announcements
2:15 - 2:40        Little Witch Academia (2017 TV series) ep 7
2:40 - 4:30        League of Gods (Movie)

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

Thursday, May 11, 2017

Star Tours: Immersion

STAR TOURS 360 VR RIDE
Remember the "Ultimate Star Wars Adventure", back in 1987 at Disneyland? Star Tours is back! Board again onto the StarSpeeder 3000, and prepare for an eventful flight to Endor with your captain RX-24 (Rex), now in 360° and 4K.

Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Next Club Meeting is Saturday, May 13, 2017

 A N I M A T R I X   N E T W O R K
Translation: 
"After a long wait, we're back again for our monthly meetings!"

Wood Dale Public Library
520 N. Wood Dale Road
Wood Dale, IL  60191
Main Meeting Room
Saturday, May 13, 2017
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

Tuesday, May 9, 2017

Trailer for Stephen King's TV series 'The Mist'

T  H  E    M  I  S  T
Spike’s The Mist centers around a small town family that is torn apart by a brutal crime. As they deal with the fallout an eerie mist rolls in, suddenly cutting them off from the rest of the world, and in some cases, each other. Family, friends and adversaries become strange bedfellows, battling the mysterious mist and its threats, fighting to maintain morality and sanity as the rules of society break down.

The 10-episode drama is based on Stephen King’s 1980 horror novella about a small Maine town (the author’s locale of choice) suddenly shrouded in a mist that’s hiding some unearthly monsters. The book was most recently adapted for the big screen by former Walking Dead showrunner Frank Darabont back in 2007 and starred Thomas Jane, Marcia Gay Harden and Laurie Holden.

The Mist is set to premiere on June 22 at 10 p.m. on Spike.

Monday, May 8, 2017

THE DARK TOWER - Official Trailer

In a world full of superheroes, there’s only one Gunslinger. From the epic best-selling novels by Stephen King comes...
THE DARK TOWER
There are other worlds than these. Stephen King’s The Dark Tower, the ambitious and expansive story from one of the world’s most celebrated authors, makes its launch to the big screen. The last Gunslinger, Roland Deschain (Idris Elba), has been locked in an eternal battle with Walter O’Dim, also known as the Man in Black (Matthew McConaughey), determined to prevent him from toppling the Dark Tower, which holds the universe together. With the fate of the worlds at stake, good and evil will collide in the ultimate battle as only Roland can defend the Tower from the Man in Black.

In Theaters August 4

Sunday, May 7, 2017

Guardians of the Galaxy 2 POST CREDIT SCENES


Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 All Five Post Credit Scenes breakdown! What were the post credit scenes after Guardians of the Galaxy 2?

SPOILERS AHEAD!

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 ended with FIVE post-credit scenes, with big reveals for the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and Erik Voss is here to break them down. Who is Adam Warlock, and why is he important to the Marvel comics? Who are The Watchers? Could Star-Lord Peter Quill be Adam Warlock's father? Is Stan Lee a Watcher? What is the importance of seeing Groot as a teenager and Kraglin using Yondu's yaka arrow? Where is the Miley Cyrus cameo? And who are the Ravagers gathered by Skarat Ogord (Sylvester Stallone)?

Saturday, May 6, 2017

Mondo's 'The Thing' board game

"THE THING" Board Game
[Source: blastr] If anyone loves anything having to do with John Carpenter's The Thing, it's ME!! This was one of the most influential films of my life as an impressionable, nerdy teen growing up in California when it struck theaters in 1982, ranking right after Ridley Scott's Alien. So I'm giddy to reveal the first look inside the chilly new board game based on the classic film.
 
With its 35th anniversary hitting in June, The Thing is being celebrated as Carpenter's true masterpiece, far closer in execution to the source material -- John W. Campbell's 1938 novella, Who Goes There? -- than the 1951 Howard Hawks-produced film. As such, Mondo announced this project in February, but now we have box art and a board!
The Thing: Infection At Outpost 31 is being released by Mondo in conjunction with USAopoly. If you think about it for a moment, the sci-fi horror yarn makes for a perfect setting and plotline in a Clue-like, hidden-identity tabletop game. The standard version of the nightmarish novelty will be in stores and available online this October, and a special, limited-edition Mondo prestige version will be sold at MondoTees.com.


Here's the full description and press release:
An alien lifeform has infiltrated a bleak and desolate Antarctic research station assimilating other organisms and then imitating them. In the hidden identity game THE THING ™ INFECTION AT OUTPOST 31, you will relive John Carpenter’s sci-fi cult classic in a race to discover who among the team has been infected by this heinous lifeform. The game has been designed to be as authentically cinematic as possible, ensuring that the players will experience the paranoia and tension that makes the film so great.

"Mondo brought more than their storied design acumen to the table," said Joe Van Wetering, Creative Design and Game Development at Project Raygun. "Thanks to their deep understanding and reverence for THE THING, they helped define the tone and shape the game play itself. INFECTION AT OUTPOST 31 reflects a true collaboration between our two brands resulting in a game that will excite tabletop and film aficionados alike."

The regular version of the game features artwork and designs by Justin Erickson of Phantom City Creative. The Mondo exclusive version, sold exclusively through MondoTees.com, is limited to 1,982 copies, and features different packaging artwork by Jock. The limited edition game will also come with a Mondo print, enamel pin and two additional sculpted movers: the Norwegian character and the Palmer Thing.

Commenting on the design, artist Justin Erickson said, "with THE THING box art, I wanted to focus on the isolation of Outpost 31 and hint at the hidden alien dangers that lurk around every corner. The title of the game cut out of the ice/snow is a call back to the Thing originally being cut out of the ice by the Norwegians."