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.

Sunday, May 31, 2020

Saturday, May 30, 2020

BLOOD QUANTUM Red Band Trailer (2020)

The dead are coming back to life outside the isolated Mi'gMaq reserve of Red Crow, except for its Indigenous inhabitants who are strangely immune to the zombie plague.

BLOOD QUANTUM
The term "blood quantum" refers to a colonial blood measurement system that is used to determine an individual's Indigenous status, and is criticized as a tool of control and erasure of Indigenous peoples. The words take on even more provocative implications as the title of Jeff Barnaby's sophomore feature, which grimly depicts an apocalyptic scenario where in an isolated "Mi'gmaq" community discover they are the only humans immune to a zombie plague. As the citizens of surrounding cities flee to the "Mi'gmaq" reserve in search of refuge from the outbreak, the community must reckon with whether to let the outsiders in - and thus risk not just the extinction of their tribe but of humanity, period. The severe and scathing portrait of post-colonial Indigenous life and culture that Barnaby previously captured in the acclaimed Rhymes for Young Ghouls here deftly collides with the iconography and violent hyperbole typical of the zombie genre. The Undead are spectacularly and gruesomely ...

Friday, May 29, 2020

Mushroom And The Forest Of The World


MUSHROOM and the
Forest of the World
An enthusiastic young forest sprite has to teach a special song to a bird that can’t sing. Creators: Madeleine Flores and J. Smith

Thursday, May 28, 2020

Porter Robinson & Madeon - Shelter (Music Video)

S H E L T E R
Shelter tells the story of Rin, a 17-year-old girl who lives her life inside of a futuristic simulation completely by herself in infinite, beautiful loneliness. Each day, Rin awakens in virtual reality and uses a tablet which controls the simulation to create a new, different, beautiful world for herself. Until one day, everything changes, and Rin comes to learn the true origins behind her life inside a simulation.

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Metal Family - (Animated Music Video)

Avantasia - The Story Ain't Over
Metal Family is a Russian-made series of animated shorts about a Russian Family, consisting of Masculine Girl, Feminine Boy dad Sebastian "Glam", biker wife Victoria, and their children, the Deadpan Snarker "Dee", and Heavy. The series follows the family's creative ways of dealing with everyday problems in a slice-of-life manner. The animated series was used to make this music video.
(In Original Russian Language, Subtitled in English)

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

Monday, May 25, 2020

Vinland Saga - The Best Anime of 2019

"Vinland Saga is one of the BEST Anime in the past ten years. It has a solid story, strong fascinating characters, and excellent animation all taking place in the heart of historical fiction. Vinland Saga deserves to be on everyone's Must-See anime list."
- anim8trix
VINLAND SAGA
Fifteen years ago, the Viking commander, Thors Snorresson, deserted a sea battle and commenced a peaceful life in Iceland with his wife Helga. Now, in the year 1002, their young son, Thorfinn, longs to see the paradise called Vinland. However, the Viking Floki arrives at Thorfinn's village planning to murder the boy's father Thors, who is revealed to be a former Jomsviking. After his father's death, Thorfinn joins Askeladd's crew in order to avenge his father and constantly challenges his commander to various duels. By 1013, Askeladd's company find employment as mercenaries in the Danish invasion of London under Thorkell the Tall.

The two Viking bands later clash when their commanders seek to capture the young Danish Prince Canute, Askeladd's company succeeding but are forced by Thorkell's forces to take refuge for the winter in the frozen north of England near the Danish encampment at Gainsborough. Upon finding the effeminate Canute timid and heavily dependent on his caretaker Ragnar, a deeply disappointed Askeladd briefly changes his initial plan of backing the prince to hold him ransom. But a sudden attack by Thorkell's brigade forces Askeladd to change his mind, murdering Ragnar to force Canute to stand up for himself. The prince brings both Thorkell and Askeladd's remaining forces under his command as he confronts his father, who decides not to kill Canute after he proves his worth, while adamant to have Harald as his heir.

Canute and his companions formulate a plot to put him on the throne, but things don't go according to plan.

Sunday, May 24, 2020

Monstrum - Official Trailer

M O N S T R U M
It’s the 16th Century. The plague has taken over and fear runs rampant in the streets. When rumors of a vicious beast roaming Mount Inwangsan—called “Monstrum” by terrified masses—begin to spread, fear turns into panic. In order to quell the rising panic, King Jungjong brings his most trusted general, Yoon-gyeom, back from retirement. Joined by his daughter Myeong, his right-hand man Seong-han, and royal court officer Heo, Yoon-gyeom sets out to find the mysterious creature. Is the creature, Monstrum, real? Or a figment of mass imagination?

Premieres May 14 only on Shudder (US, Canada and UK)

Saturday, May 23, 2020

SNYDER CUT - Corporate Drama Behind Release

THE SNYDER CUT
On May 20th, the day after Ruby Rose’s exit from Batwoman, Zack Snyder announced the upcoming release of The Snyder Cut of Justice League for HBO Max. But why, after so long in limbo, was it suddenly announced now? Could it have something to do with Star Wars The Mandalorian over at Disney+ ? In this editorial, we will very briefly recap exactly what the Snyder Cut is and isn’t, why releasing it wasn’t an issue before, why it’s being released now, what form it might take.

Friday, May 22, 2020

Going to Japan to Recreate Anime in REAL LIFE

ANIME EXPEDITION
The Anime Expedition is a pilgrimage we took in November 2019 to visit the real life locations from some of our favorite anime of all time. The series features scenes from Your Name, My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU, Yuru Camp, K-On!, Tsuki Ga Kirei, Tamako Market, and several more! We did our best to recreate the scenes exactly and will upload compilations of the comparisons alongside each episode. Featuring Anime vs. Real Life locations from Tokyo, Mount Fuji, Yamanashi, Toyosato and Kyoto

Thursday, May 21, 2020

Disney's Amphibia


Disney's AMPHIBIA
Lovable frog Sprig tries to take down a mysterious beast by himself to prove that he’s responsible. Sprig takes new friend Anne swimming in a nearby lake to help her feel less homesick!

The series chronicles the adventures of a self-centered 13-year-old Thai-American girl named Anne Boonchuy After stealing a mysterious music box on her birthday at the advice of her friend Sasha, she is magically transported to Amphibia, a wild marshland tropical island full of anthropomorphic frogs and dangerous creatures. She soon meets and befriends an adventurous 10-year-old frog named Sprig Plantar who will guide her to be a true hero while discovering the first true friendship of her life as she lives with the Plantar family.
Watch the First Episode

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

The SpongeBob SquarePants Anime

What if SpongeBob SquarePants was an Anime?
Artist Narmak created his animated vision of what that would be like. Enjoy these anime openings and endings he made himself.

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

"I Am With You" - At Home With Olaf

"I Am With You" At Home
Wherever you may be, here’s a special message from Olaf’s home to yours. “I Am With You” Music and Lyrics Written at Home by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez. Performed at Home by Josh Gad. Directed at Home by Dan Abraham.

Monday, May 18, 2020

Katee Sackhoff as Live-Action Bo-Katan Kryze

The Mandalorian Gets Battlestar Galactica's
Katee Sackhoff to star as Bo-Katan Kryze
[Source: Syfy] First Ahsoka Tano, now Bo-Katan Kryze. The animated women of the Star Wars universe are turning out in full force for the second season of The Mandalorian. It was big news when the first live-action Star Wars show added Rosario Dawson to its cast as the legendary Padawan of Anakin Skywalker, but now there's another face well-known to genre fans joining the fray — this time reprising a character she brought to life on Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

Katee Sackhoff, whom some fans will know from her work as Starbuck on Battlestar Galactica, is reprising her role as Bo-Katan Kryze from both Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels. The only difference this time around is that she won't just be lending her voice to the one-time leader of Mandalore. She'll be playing her in her entirety. Slashfilm reports that the Mandalorian warrior (who once served under Mandalorian showrunner Jon Favreau's Pre Vizsla in the Death Watch) that gets her hands on the legendary Darksaber will be turning up in Season 2 after filming her role in February, before coronavirus pandemic precautions led to production shutdowns.

Basically the instigator behind the Siege of Mandalore that was so essential to the plot of the recently-ended Clone Wars series from Dave Filoni, Kryze likely has a bone to pick with Moff Gideon, who was revealed to have the Darksaber during The Mandalorian's Season 1 finale. Whatever her story may be in the series, it's almost certainly linked to this weapon and Gideon's possession of it. 

How Boba Fett and Ahsoka Tano tie into all this alongside Pedro Pascal's Din Djarin and Baby Yoda...well, that's another story entirely. However, fans wanting to get a good grasp on the breadth of The Mandalorian's plotting should probably start doing their Filoni homework by binging his animated Star Wars shows in the following months.

The Mandalorian will return to reward fans' homework diligence in October.

Sunday, May 17, 2020

UNBEATABLE - The Rhythm Adventure Game


U N B E A T A B L E

UNBEATABLE is a rhythm-adventure about siblings, creative blocks, and rocking out in a world where music summons dangerous monsters. TALK your way through trouble as you explore vibrant locales. FIGHT your way through exciting arcade-perfect rhythm setpieces, featuring an original soundtrack by Peak Divide. In development by D-Cell Games for PC/Mac/Linux.

Saturday, May 16, 2020

Visit Anime Central Online


ANIME CENTRAL ONLINE
No need to leave your house!
Visit ACen's Virtual Convention Online.
Shop, View Panels, Watch Cosplays, and more!
Check out the Schedule for Events all Weekend.

Friday, May 15, 2020

Remembering ACen 2010 - The Music Video!

ANIME CENTRAL 2010

May 14-16, 2010
Donald E. Stephens Convention Center Rosemont, IL
Anime Central 2010 Edit REVISITED. This is Edit One a throwback to 2010 with the original video footage that was shown and taken in our original 2010 edit with all new Cosplay photos from Animatrix Network!

Photos: Animatrix Network (Anime and Manga Fan Club of Chicago)
Otaku Social Network
Edit: DioXtreme

Thursday, May 14, 2020

Remembering the Cosplays of Anime Central's Past


Even though ACen is cancelled this year,
we can still celebrate Anime Central's
greatness by remembering past cosplays.
Join us as we travel down Memory Lane...

Click to Rediscover Past ACen's...
           ▶  Anime Central 2019
Anime Central 2018           
          ▶  Anime Central 2017
Anime Central 2016           
           Anime Central 2015

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

Live-Action Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!

Trailer for Live-Action
Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!
Source: AnimeNewsNetwork] The official Twitter account for the live-action project of Sumito Ōwara's Eizōken ni wa Te o Dasu na! (Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!) manga began streaming a 30-second teaser trailer for the film on Wednesday. The video previews the "Greatest World" imagination segments in the film, and highlights the Robot Club's robot model.

The film was originally scheduled to open on May 15, but TOHO and the film's production committee delayed the film's opening until further notice, due to the spread of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Nogizaka46 idol group members Minami Umezawa, Asuka Saitō, and Mizuki Yamashita star in the live-action project as the characters Sayaka Kanamori, Midori Asakusa, and Tsubame Mizusaki. They also perform the film's theme song "Fantastic Sanshoku Pan" (Fantastic Three-Filling Bun). Rock band Thinking Dogs perform the series' theme song "Heavenly ideas."

The six-episode television series premiered on April 5 on MBS, and on April 7 on TBS. The film and series have the same staff and cast. Oto Abe and Satoshi Uekiya co-star in the series.

The live-action project also stars Sakurako Konishi as student council president Tōru Dōtonbori, Ema Grace as student council secretary Sowande Sakaki, Riko Fukumoto as attack squad leader Hisashi Ashima (character name romanizations not official), Ryō Matsuzaki as student council treasurer Shunya Ō, Suzunosuke as Kuroda, Masayuki Deai as Asakasa, and Masahiro Takashima as Fujimoto-sensei.

Tsutomu Hanabusa (live-action 3D Kanojo Real Girl, Kakegurui, Asahinagu) is directing the film and series.

The manga follows Midori, Tsubame, and Sayaka, an energetic trio of first-year high school girls who come together in the Eizouken (Video Research Club) to turn their anime dreams into a reality. Midori is nervous to create an anime alone. She meets Tsubame who appears to be a well-to-do girl but she really has artistic dreams of being an animator. Midori's best friend Sayaka has the financial sense to bring the project to fruition and joins the pair on their quest.

Ōwara launched the manga in Shogakukan's Gekkan! Spirits magazine in 2016. The series was nominated for the 11th Manga Taisho awards in 2018, and it won the top Bros. Comic Award in 2017. Dark Horse Comics licensed the manga, and will release the first volume on October 6.

The manga inspired a television anime by Masaaki Yuasa and Science SARU that premiered on NHK General on January 5, and ended on March 22 with 12 episodes. Crunchyroll streamed the series in North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Africa, Oceania, and the Middle East.

Watch the Trailer

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

Justice League Dark: Apokolips War - Trailer

Justice League Dark: Apokolips War
Justice League Dark: Apokolips War features the largest Super Hero cast in the history of DC Universe Movies with dozens of actors/characters spotlighted in a grand ensemble of talent reprising their roles from this six-year story continuum. Matt Ryan (Legends of Tomorrow, Constantine), Jerry O'Connell (Carter, Bravo's Play by Play, Stand by Me) and Taissa Farmiga (The Nun, The Mule, American Horror Story) anchor the cast as Constantine, Superman and Raven, respectively - the triumvirate determined to assemble the forces necessary to lead humanity's final attack.
Alongside that trio are the long-running core of Justice League voices -- Jason O'Mara (The Man in the High Castle, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) as Batman, Rosario Dawson (Briar Patch, Daredevil, Sin City) as Wonder Woman, Shemar Moore (S.W.A.T., Criminal Minds) as Cyborg and Christopher Gorham (Covert Affairs, Insatiable, Ugly Betty) as The Flash - as well as JL-adjacents Rebecca Romijn (X-Men, The Librarians) and Rainn Wilson (The Office, The Meg) as the voices of Lois Lane and Lex Luthor, respectively. Warner Bros. Home Entertainment will distribute the film on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital in Spring 2020.

Monday, May 11, 2020

Adventure Time: Distant Lands - BMO Full Trailer

Adventure Time: Distant Lands
Giddy up, BMO is gonna be a hero! Adventure Time: Distant Lands streaming soon on HBO Max.

Unlikely heroes Finn (a silly kid with an awesome hat) & Jake (a brassy dog with a big kind heart), are the best of friends and always find themselves in the middle of heart pounding escapades as they traverse the mystical Land of Ooo.

Sunday, May 10, 2020

San Diego Comic-Con Goes Virtual this Year!

[Source: Syfy] San Diego Comic-Con will indeed go on as scheduled this summer — from the comfort of your living room.


After initially scrapping the 51-year-old convention for the first time in its history due to coronavirus concerns, organizers of the granddaddy of all cons have announced that they're putting on a virtual edition that will enable convention goers to cosplay all they want on their cozy couches at home.

No doubt regular attendees will appreciate not having to stand in line for hours on end to cram into Hall H. The legendary room has become a hotbed for Hollywood studios teasing their biggest superhero tentpoles, not to mention a go-to source for breaking entertainment news.

A virtual version of the fan-favorite con is clearly better than nothing, though it's still unclear exactly what that looks like, or even whether it's taking place on the previously scheduled dates of July 23-26. Nor do we know what Hollywood and comic book talent will be zooming in to participate.

A rep for Comic-Con wasn't immediately available for comment.

Still, this is welcomed news, seeing as it wasn't a certainty that an online SDCC confab would even happen at all when organizers confirmed they were calling things off back in mid-April due to the spread of COVID-19.

"Extraordinary times require extraordinary measures, and while we are saddened to take this action, we know it is the right decision,” Comic-Con spokesman David Glanzer said at the time.

That announcement, which came in the wake of a string of other cancellations, including WonderCon Anaheim and SXSW, also noted that Comic-Con would be rescheduled for July 22-25, 2021. Presumably that date will still stand next year.

While others attempted to put together other cyber events, such as last month's HomeCon, the lone major live-action convention holdout is Disney's Star Wars Celebration 2020, which as of press time is still scheduled to go on in August.