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.

Tuesday, July 31, 2018

Animated Version of Aquaman SDCC Trailer


AQUAMAN - Hanna-Barbera Style
Arthur Curry learns that he is the heir to the underwater kingdom of Atlantis, and must step forward to lead his people and to be a hero to the world. 

 This work uses excerpts from: 
     - Super Friends (1973-1988) 
     - Aquaman (1967-70)

Monday, July 30, 2018

Live-Action Kim Possible Movie!

LIVE-ACTION MOVIE 2019
[Source: GameSpot] If you were a kid in the early 2000s, you probably saw the red-headed teenager sporting a beeper and going from cheerleading to fighting crime in a matter of minutes. The show went off the air in 2007, but now, Kim Possible is getting a live-action movie, and the film made a surprise appearance at Comic-Con.
Disney Channel's presentation focused on the upcoming television adaptation of Big Hero 6, Mark McCorkle and Bob Schooley are producing the show. However, they also the created Kim Possible and they're writing the new movie, so it makes sense that they had something to share about the project at Comic-Con.

Sadie Stanley will portray the crime fighting teenager, and many of the original characters from the show will be appearing on the big screen. Best friend Ron Stoppable will be played by Sean Giambore, Isaac Ryan Brown will play tech wiz Wade and Kim Possible's arch enemies, Dr. Drakken and Shego, will be played by Todd Stashwick and Taylor Ortega, respectively.

There isn't much information about the plot yet, but they did release the first photo of Stanley in costume as Kim possible and she's really rocking those combat boots.

Sunday, July 29, 2018

Recap of Star Wars at San Diego Comic-Con


The Star Wars Show heads to San Diego Comic-Con to capture the epic response to The Clone Wars' triumphant return, Star Wars Show correspondent Matt Lieb gets into his typical hijinks around the show floor, and we get an up-close look at the amazing creations of Magic Wheelchair.

Saturday, July 28, 2018

SDCC 2018: Fantastic Beasts:2


Fantastic Beasts:
The Crimes of Grindelwald
At the end of the first film, the powerful Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp) was captured by MACUSA (Magical Congress of the United States of America), with the help of Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne). But, making good on his threat, Grindelwald escaped custody and has set about gathering followers, most unsuspecting of his true agenda: to raise pure-blood wizards up to rule over all non-magical beings. 
Slated for release on November 16, 2018
In an effort to thwart Grindelwald’s plans, Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) enlists his former student Newt Scamander, who agrees to help, unaware of the dangers that lie ahead. Lines are drawn as love and loyalty are tested, even among the truest friends and family, in an increasingly divided wizarding world. 

Friday, July 27, 2018

Star Trek: Discovery - Season Two Premiere


STAR TREK: DISCOVERY
[Source: Syfy] Here is our first look at season 2, and it is definitely not playing around. You've got Anson Mount's Captain Pike, old/new colorful uniforms hitting the scene, Tilly talking about the power of math, Tig Notaro, and a mission that seems to be centered on Burnham's foster brother...Mr. Spock. Spock will definitely appear on the show, though we don't yet know who will play him. Whether or not it ends up being Zachary Quinto, well, the trailer isn't revealing that card yet. Still, this looks like a blissful return to the world of Star Trek: Discovery— give it a watch, and try to have a little fun along the way. Ruffle a few feathers.

Thursday, July 26, 2018

SDCC 2018: SHAZAM!


S H A Z A M !
We all have a superhero inside us, it just takes a bit of magic to bring it out. In Billy Batson’s (Angel) case, by shouting out one word—SHAZAM!—this streetwise 14-year-old foster kid can turn into the adult Super Hero Shazam (Levi), courtesy of an ancient wizard. Still a kid at heart—inside a ripped, godlike body—Shazam revels in this adult version of himself by doing what any teen would do with superpowers: have fun with them! Can he fly? Does he have X-ray vision? Can he shoot lightning out of his hands? Can he skip his social studies test? Shazam sets out to test the limits of his abilities with the joyful recklessness of a child. But he’ll need to master these powers quickly in order to fight the deadly forces of evil controlled by Dr. Thaddeus Sivana (Strong).

“Shazam!” also stars Jack Dylan Grazer (“IT”) as Billy’s best friend and ultimate superhero enthusiast, Freddy, part of the foster family that includes Mary, played by Grace Fulton (“Annabelle: Creation”); Darla, played by Faithe Herman (TV’s “This is Us”); Eugene, played by Ian Chen (TV’s “Fresh Off the Boat”); and Pedro, played by Jovan Armand (TV’s “Hawaii Five-O”). Cooper Andrews (TV’s “The Walking Dead”) and Marta Milans (TV’s “Killer Women”) play foster parents Victor and Rosa Vasquez, with Oscar nominee Djimon Hounsou (“Blood Diamond”) as the Wizard.

Firmly set in the DC universe but with his own distinctly fun, family-centric tone, the screenplay is by Henry Gayden, story by Gayden and Darren Lemke. Shazam was created by Bill Parker and C.C. Beck. Christopher Godsick, Jeffrey Chernov, Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia and Hiram Garcia serve as executive producers.

Sandberg’s creative team includes his “Annabelle: Creation” director of photography Maxime Alexandre, production designer Jennifer Spence, editor Michel Aller and costume designer Leah Butler.

“Shazam!” is set for release on April 5, 2019. 

Wednesday, July 25, 2018

Alita: Battle Angel | Official Trailer


ALITA: BATTLE ANGEL
From visionary filmmakers James Cameron (AVATAR) and Robert Rodriguez (SIN CITY), comes ALITA: BATTLE ANGEL, an epic adventure of hope and empowerment. When Alita (Rosa Salazar) awakens with no memory of who she is in a future world she does not recognize, she is taken in by Ido (Christoph Waltz), a compassionate doctor who realizes that somewhere in this abandoned cyborg shell is the heart and soul of a young woman with an extraordinary past. As Alita learns to navigate her new life and the treacherous streets of Iron City, Ido tries to shield her from her mysterious history while her street-smart new friend Hugo (Keean Johnson) offers instead to help trigger her memories. But it is only when the deadly and corrupt forces that run the city come after Alita that she discovers a clue to her past – she has unique fighting abilities that those in power will stop at nothing to control. If she can stay out of their grasp, she could be the key to saving her friends, her family and the world she’s grown to love.
In Theaters December 21, 2018
Directed by: Robert Rodriguez 
Screenplay by: James Cameron and Laeta Kalogridis 
Based on the Graphic Novel ("Manga") Series: "Gunnm" By Yukito Kishiro 
Produced by: James Cameron and Jon Landau 
Cast: Rosa Salazar, Christoph Waltz, Jennifer Connelly, Mahershala Ali, Ed Skrein, Jackie Earle Haley, Keean Johnson

Tuesday, July 24, 2018

SDCC 2018: The Dragon Prince Trailer


THE DRAGON PRINCE
Two human princes forge an unlikely bond with the elfin assassin sent to kill them, embarking on an epic quest to bring peace to their warring lands. All episodes of The Dragon Prince (Aaron Ehasz, Avatar: The Last Airbender) streaming September 14.

Monday, July 23, 2018

SDCC 2018: YOUNG JUSTICE: OUTSIDERS

YOUNG JUSTICE: OUTSIDERS
Highly anticipated by fans and picking up after the dramatic events of Season 2, Young Justice: Outsiders finds our heroes reuniting to take down a metahuman trafficking organization. This special San Diego Comic-Con sneak peek relives some of Young Justice's most impactful moments before giving us our first look at Outsiders.

Sunday, July 22, 2018

SDCC 2018: Aquaman - Official Trailer

A Q U A M A N
From Warner Bros. Pictures and director James Wan comes an action-packed adventure that spans the vast, visually breathtaking underwater world of the seven seas, “Aquaman,” starring Jason Momoa in the title role. The film reveals the origin story of half-human, half-Atlantean Arthur Curry and takes him on the journey of his lifetime—one that will not only force him to face who he really is, but to discover if he is worthy of who he was born to be…a king. 

The film also stars Amber Heard (“Justice League,” “Magic Mike XXL”) as Mera, a fierce warrior and Aquaman’s ally throughout his journey; Oscar nominee Willem Dafoe (“Platoon,” “Spider-Man 2”) as Vulko, council to the Atlantean throne; Patrick Wilson (“The Conjuring” films, “Watchmen”) as Orm/Ocean Master, the present King of Atlantis; Dolph Lundgren (“The Expendables” films) as Nereus, King of the Atlantean tribe Xebel; Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Netflix’s “The Get Down”) as the vengeful Black Manta; and Oscar winner Nicole Kidman (“The Hours,” “Lion”) as Arthur’s mom, Atlanna; as well as Ludi Lin (“Power Rangers”) as Captain Murk, Atlantean Commando; and Temuera Morrison (“Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones,” “Green Lantern”) as Arthur’s dad, Tom Curry. 

Wan directs from a screenplay by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick (“The Conjuring 2”) and Will Beall (“Gangster Squad,” TV’s “Training Day”), story by Geoff Johns & James Wan and Will Beall, based on characters from DC, Aquaman created by Paul Norris and Mort Weisinger. The film is produced by Peter Safran and Rob Cowan, with Deborah Snyder, Zack Snyder, Jon Berg, Geoff Johns and Walter Hamada serving as executive producers. 

Wan’s team behind the scenes includes such frequent collaborators as Oscar-nominated director of photography Don Burgess (“The Conjuring 2,” “Forrest Gump”), his five-time editor Kirk Morri (“The Conjuring” films, “Furious 7,” the “Insidious” films), and production designer Bill Brzeski (“Furious 7”). They are joined by costume designer Kym Barrett (“The Matrix” trilogy, “The Amazing Spider-Man”) and composer Rupert Gregson-Williams (“Wonder Woman”).

Warner Bros. Pictures Presents a Safran Company Production, a James Wan Film, “Aquaman.” The film is set to hit theaters on December 21, 2018, in 3D and 2D and IMAX, and will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

Saturday, July 21, 2018

SDCC 2018: Clone Wars Returns!


STAR WARS: The Clone Wars
Reporting in for another tour of duty
[Source: Yahoo!] There’s another “Star Wars” TV show on its way to expand the franchise, but this is one fans thought had already become one with the Force.

At San Diego Comic-Con 2018, Executive Producer Dave Filoni announced “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” is making a comeback. The announcement came during the 10-year anniversary panel looking back at the show, and included a new trailer teasing where the story will pick up.

You can watch the trailer for the new episodes of the series above.
As StarWars.com detailed, “Clone Wars” is getting 12 new episodes, all of which will stream on Disney’s new proprietary streaming service — which means fans will have to pay for a new subscription to see the continuation of the “Clone Wars” story.

“Star Wars: The Clone Wars” was a beloved animated series that filled in the gaps of what happened to the characters of the “Star Wars” prequels between “Episode II: Attack of the Clones” and “Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.” It heavily featured the exploits of Anakin Skywalker (Matt Lanter) and his Padawan apprentice, Ahsoka Tano (Ashley Eckstein) and Obi-Wan Kenobi (James Arnold Taylor), as well as a group of the Republic clone troopers fighting in the war against the Separatists.

The series ran for five seasons before it was canceled after Disney’s purchase of Lucasfilm, with much of the story left unfinished. Parts were picked up later in the animated series “Star Wars: Rebels,” which takes place much closer to “Episode IV: A New Hope” in the overall “Star Wars” saga — that movie is set 19 years after the events of “Revenge of the Sith.” Both Ahsoka and Anakin, as Darth Vader, make appearances in “Rebels,” as does Obi-Wan, who by this point is hiding out on Tatooine and watching over a young Luke Skywalker.
At the end of “The Clone Wars,” Ahsoka had just left the Jedi Order. As the trailer shows, it looks like some time has passed since then, but Anakin and his apprentice are set to be reunited with both old and new friends. Undoubtedly, the new episodes will do a better job bridging the gap between the prequel stories and elements like “Rebels” and the original trilogy. Right now, fans are left waiting for more information — specifically when the new “Clone Wars” episodes will be available.

Friday, July 20, 2018

Godzilla: King of the Monsters SDCC Teaser

GODZILLA: King of the Monsters
The next chapter in Warner Bros. Pictures' and Legendary Pictures' cinematic MonsterVerse: an epic action adventure that pits Godzilla against some of the most popular monsters in pop culture history. Starring Bradley Whitford, Millie Bobby Brown and Vera Farmiga.

Thursday, July 19, 2018

Anime Vieiwng Schedule for July 21, 2018

A N I M A T R I X   N E T W O R K
Saturday, July 21, 2018
Fountaindale Public Library
"Ain't nuthin' gonna stop me from getting
to the club meeting this weekend!"
Fountaindale Public Library
300 W. Briarcliff Rd.
Bolingbrook, IL 60440





2nd Floor Board Room, 11:15 am to 5:00 pm
11:15 - 12:05   Houseki no Kuni 11-12
12:05 - 12:55   A Place Further Than the Universe 9-10
12:55 - 2:10     Violet Evergarden 11-13 (end)
2:10 - 2:45       Club Meeting / Announcements
2:45 - 3:35       B - the Beginning 9-10
3:35 - 4:50       A.I.C.O. Incarnation 5-7

All anime presented are fan-subtitled unless otherwise noted.
 
Don't miss the exciting anime series: B - The Beginning and Houseki no Kuni
ANIME DESCRIPTIONS ARE BELOW

Wednesday, July 18, 2018

Attack on Titan Season 3 SimulDub Trailer

ATTACK on TITAN Season 3
Coming to FunimationNow on August 2018! Binge-watch all of Season 1 and 2 on FunimationNow today!

Tuesday, July 17, 2018

Next Club Meeting is July 21, 2018

 A N I M A T R I X   N E T W O R K
Can't wait for the next club meeting!

Fountaindale Public Library
300 W. Briarcliff Road
Bolingbrook, IL  60440
Board Room (2nd Floor)
 
Saturday, July 21, 2018
11:15 AM - 5:00 PM
 

Our next club meeting will be at the Fountaindale Public Library
Board Room (Second Floor), 
from 11:15 AM to 5:00 PM.

 
A Viewing Schedule will be posted soon.
 
Hope to see you all there!

(Click below for maps

Monday, July 16, 2018

Sneak Peek: Indivisible

I N D I V I S I B L E
Animated Opening by Studio TRIGGER and Titmouse
Take a look at the first ~30 seconds of Indivisible's gorgeous animated opening by Studio TRIGGER and Titmouse!


Sunday, July 15, 2018

Tales of Vesperia Remastered - Anime Expo Trailer


TALES OF VESPERIA: DEFINITIVE EDITION
Did you miss the Anime Expo Tales of Vesperia trailer? We've got your back with the replay!

Friday, July 13, 2018

ANIME EXPO 2018 Cosplay Highlights

Anime Expo 2018 took place in Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California, USA

Thursday, July 12, 2018

First Look at 'The Dragon Prince'

THE DRAGON PRINCE
[Source: Syfy] Fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender are posting their best reaction gifs following Netflix’s official Twitter announcement today that Airbender head writer Aaron Ehasz has signed on to bring an all-new animated fantasy series to the streaming giant. 

Netflix announced the new project, titled The Dragon Prince, in a tweet describing the show as “a new animated series about two human princes who forge an unlikely bond with the elfin assassin sent to kill them, embarking on an epic quest to bring peace to their warring lands.”

Animator Giancarlo Volpe (Star Wars: The Clone Wars) also shared the news of the “secret show” he’d been working on via Twitter, after getting the official go-ahead from Netflix. He also promised more information about the project when the show’s San Diego Comic-Con panel goes live on July 21.

Though it’s been off the airwaves a full decade since its three-season run ended at Nickelodeon in 2008, Avatar: The Last Airbender spawned an ardent fanbase that continued to gobble up the vividly animated story of a world in which a few telekinetically gifted heroes could “bend” one of the classic elements — earth, water, air, and fire — to their will.

The network followed up with the similarly successful sequel series The Legend of Korra in 2012, in which the titular hero became the successor to Aang, Airbender’s protagonist: the one hero who could manipulate all four elements.

While there’s not much more to go on than the information Netflix revealed in its Twitter announcement, the art style for The Dragon Prince looks right in line with what we’ve seen from Airbender and Korra. The SDCC panel is sure to bring additional details to light, just in time for the show to land at Netflix; included in The Dragon Prince’s official panel announcement is the news that the show will be premiering on the streaming service sometime this September.

Wednesday, July 11, 2018

Behind the Scenes of "MORTAL ENGINES"

M O R T A L   E N G I N E S
London welcomes you. An exclusive look inside Mortal Engines.
Thousands of years after civilization was destroyed by a cataclysmic event, humankind has adapted and a new way of living has evolved. Gigantic moving cities now roam the Earth, ruthlessly preying upon smaller traction towns. Tom Natsworthy (Robert Sheehan)—who hails from a Lower Tier of the great traction city of London—finds himself fighting for his own survival after he encounters the dangerous fugitive Hester Shaw (Hera Hilmar). Two opposites, whose paths should never have crossed, forge an unlikely alliance that is destined to change the course of the future. 
Mortal Engines is the startling, new epic adventure directed by Oscar®-winning visual-effects artist Christian Rivers (King Kong). Joining Rivers are The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogies three-time Academy Award®-winning filmmakers Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, who have penned the screenplay. The Universal and MRC adaptation is from the award-winning book series by Philip Reeve, published in 2001 by Scholastic.

In theaters December 14, 2018

Tuesday, July 10, 2018

Monday, July 9, 2018

Cosplay Photos from Anime Midwest 2018

ANIME MIDWEST
July 6-8, 2018
Anime Midwest took place this past weekend, July 6-8, 2018 in Chicago drawing an estimated 15,000 plus people to the Hyatt Regency O’Hare & Convention Center.

One of the great things about this con was the amount of cosplay going on. There was everything from the first time cosplayer in attendance to those who put a ton of time and money into their outfits. Every one of them were amazing for the enthusiasm they had for the characters they represented.
 
Here are some photos we took over the weekend.

Sunday, July 8, 2018

Spider-Man co-creator Steve Ditko Dies

STEVE DITKO
(November 2, 1927 – c. June 29, 2018)
[Source: Syfy] Steve Ditko, the visionary comics artist and writer who co-created, with Stan Lee, the characters of Spider-Man and Doctor Strange, has reportedly died at the age of 90.
 
Reports of Ditko's death began surfacing Friday night (June 29) on social media, and now the New York Police Department confirms (per The Hollywood Reporter) that Ditko was found dead in his apartment that day, and that he was believed to have died two days prior (June 27). Ditko leaves behind no known survivors. 

The extremely reclusive artist, who was still said to work in a midtown Manhattan studio as of 2016, did not give an interview or make a public appearance in more than five decades. His contributions to comics and pop culture, however, cannot be understated. Launching his career in 1953, Ditko got a job two years later at Marvel Comics precursor Atlas. In 1962, editor Stan Lee began developing a teen superhero and, after initially working with Jack Kirby, turned to Ditko.

Spider-Man debuted in Amazing Fantasy #15 (August 1962), with Lee and Ditko's initial 38-issue run setting Peter Parker on the path to become one of the world's three most popular superheroes (alongside Batman and Superman). A year later, in Strange Tales #110 (July 1963), they introduced Doctor Strange, the master of the mystic arts. 

Ditko continued to work at Marvel, DC, Charlton, and other publishers before leaving mainstream comics in 1998, creating or co-creating characters like Squirrel Girl, the Question, the Creeper, and many more. While remaining on the fringes of the industry until his passing, Ditko and his sumptuous, instantly recognizable artwork influenced it in ways that will never be forgotten.

Saturday, July 7, 2018

A Live-Action Gundam Movie is Coming!

Mobile Suit Gundam 
One of the most influential giant robot sagas of all time, is heading to the big screen.
[Source: io9] Legendary has just announced a new collaboration with Sunrise at Anime Expo 2018 that will see Gundam get its first ever live-action movie. Details are scarce and a provided press release by the studio stresses no story details are being revealed right now. However, it does include a brief synopsis for the premise of the original beloved anime series and its setting in the “Universal Century,” the main timeline that many of the dozens of Gundam anime, mangas, and video games have been set in:
The original Gundam series is set in the Universal Century, an era in which humanity’s growing population has led people to emigrate to space colonies. Eventually, the people living in the colonies seek their autonomy, and launch a war of independence against the people living on Earth. Through the tragedies and discord arising from this human conflict, not only the maturation of the main character, but also the intentions of enemies and the surrounding people are sensitively depicted.
It technically won’t be Gundam’s first foray in Hollywood—there’s long been attempts to bring the franchise to the big screen before, and technically the RX-78-2, the first and perhaps most recognizable Gundam mecha, made its big screen debut in Ready Player One this year. But it’s a big step for a beloved series like this—and given Legendary has already had success with giant robot movies in the form of Pacific Rim and its sequel, it’s got the experience needed to bring the most beloved giant robots of all to the big screen.

Friday, July 6, 2018

The Legend of Otaku Trucker


Legend of Otaku Trucker
Featuring Logan Cunningham and Caldwell Tanner, animation by Justin Hall and Tony Wilson.
See You, Space Trucker 

Thursday, July 5, 2018

CGI Animated Short Film HD "EXODE


▁ ▂ ▃ ▄ ▅ ▆ ▇ ▆ ▅ ▃ ▂ ▁ EXODE ▁ ▂ ▃ ▄ ▅ ▆ ▇ ▆ ▅ ▃ ▂ ▁
One march ends, a journey begins. In a desert land, the last breath of a giant creature spurs the exodus of an entire people.

Wednesday, July 4, 2018

Watch FIREWORKS this July 4th Week!

Watch Fireworks during a special 3-day only theatrical event on July 3, 5, and 7!
https://gkidstickets.com/us/fireworks/?campaign=gkidseblast
Fireworks
A film by Akiyuki Shinbo & Nobuyuki Takeuchi

Producer Genki Kawamura follows up his mega-hit Your Name with another tale of star-crossed teenage lovers with a sci-fi fantasy twist.
Shy Norimichi and fast-talking Yusuke, are goo-goo-eyed over the same elusive classmate, Nazuna. But Nazuna, unhappy over her mother’s decision to remarry and leave their countryside town, plans to run away and has secretly chosen Norimichi to accompany her. When things don’t go as planned, Norimichi discovers that a glowing multi-color ball found in the sea has the power to reset the clock and give them a second chance to be together. But each reset adds new complications and takes them farther and farther away from the real world – until they risk losing sight of reality altogether.
https://gkidstickets.com/us/fireworks/?campaign=gkidseblast