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.

Wednesday, July 31, 2024

Epic Drone Show & Fireworks at SDCC...

Night Time Show at SDCC
To celebrate the release of the new Marvel movie ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’, a drone show was shown above Petco Park during San Diego Comic-Con 2024. And a surprise announcement for an upcoming Marvel movie was made at the end.

Tuesday, July 30, 2024

The MCU is DOOMED!

Dr. Doom announced at Comic-Con
Somehow Robert Downey, Jr. returned. Yes, RDJ is back in the MCU and now playing Doctor Doom, who is (presumably) an evil variant of Tony Stark this time around. Will audiences go for it? Is this Disney's Hail Mary pass to save the Marvel box office? Does having a multiverse cheapen all stakes?

Monday, July 29, 2024

Without Heroes, who do we look up to?

We've Become A Culture Without Heroes...
Cinematic heroes used to inspire generations of audiences to be better, stronger, see further and do more with their lives. But what happens when you take those heroes away? What's left?

Sunday, July 28, 2024

Walk Through the Biggest Comic-Con in the U.S...

San Diego Comic-Con 2024
"Get ready to geek out! Join me for an epic tour of the San Diego Comic Con 2024 exhibit hall. I'm diving deep into the heart of the action, showcasing all the mind-blowing booths, exclusive merchandise, and incredible cosplay. From Marvel to DC, Star Wars to anime, it's all here .With over 130,000 attendees, Comic-Con is held every summer in July, and literally takes over San Diego. The main attraction of Comic-Con is the Exhibit Hall, but there are hundreds of panels, and tons of off-site events in the Gaslamp District. San Diego Comic-Con is like heaven on earth for nerds, geeks, and fans!"

Saturday, July 27, 2024

Friday, July 26, 2024

"We were brothers once..."

TRANSFORMERS ONE
Built like brothers. Forged into enemies.
Witness the origin that transformed our world.
TRANSFORMERS ONE is the untold origin story of Optimus Prime and Megatron, better known as sworn enemies, but once were friends bonded like brothers who changed the fate of Cybertron forever. In the first-ever fully CG-animated Transformers movie, TRANSFORMERS ONE features a star-studded voice cast, including Chris Hemsworth, Brian Tyree Henry, Scarlett Johansson, Keegan-Michael Key, Steve Buscemi with Laurence Fishburne and Jon Hamm.
Only in theatres September 20.

Thursday, July 25, 2024

Travel the Spirited Path...

Uncovering Spirited Away
A Documentary Across Japan
Join me as I travel across Japan to uncover the places which inspired Studio Ghibli's "Spirited Away". From stunning bathhouses, to an ancient festival which Hayao Miyazaki used as the basis of his iconic Spirit World.

Wednesday, July 24, 2024

It's Over... and Done!

The Acolyte's Nightmarish Finale
Join us for our autopsy of the final episode of this terrible Star Wars show.

Tuesday, July 23, 2024

In space, no one can hear you scream...

A L I E N :  M O N D A Y

"Animated by myself over six years and co-directed by Claudia Montealegre, this short film is a tribute to both Ridley Scott's Alien and classic 80s anime alike. I hope you enjoy it!"
- Paul "Otaking" Johnson

Monday, July 22, 2024

The Newest Dragon Ball Series Arrives!

DRAGON BALL DAIMA
The all-new anime series “Dragon Ball DAIMA”will be released in October 2024. Mysterious new characters appear in the newly unveiled trailer!
"Hello. I'm Akira Toriyama.
I'm currently working on a new Dragon Ball.
The title is "Dragon Ball DAIMA".
"DAIMA" is a made-up term, which in Japanese characters would be "大魔" or in English would be something like "Evil."
Due to a conspiracy, Goku and his friends are turned small.
In order to fix things, they'll head off to a new world!
It's a grand adventure with intense action in an unknown and mysterious world.
Since Goku has to make up for his petite size, he uses his Nyoibo (Power Pole) to fight, something not seen in a long time.
I came up with the story and settings, as well as a lot of the designs.
I'm actually putting a lot more into this than usual!
Things will unfold that close in on the mysteries of the Dragon Ball world.
Hope you all enjoy these different-from-usual battles that are cute and powerful!!"

  — Akira Toriyama @ New York Comic Con 2023 (Before his death in March 2024)

Sunday, July 21, 2024

Beyond Sick & Wrong... It was WrongSick!

THE ACOLYTE
The Acolyte: Lightsaber Fights, Force Powers, and... Plot Holes? We break down EVERYTHING in Disney+'s Star Wars series, The Acolyte. Did it live up to the hype? Prepare for laughs, groans, and maybe a little hope for the future of Star Wars.

Saturday, July 20, 2024

Another Rumiko Takahashi Remake of a Classic...

RANMA 1/2 Remake
MAPPA is producing the remake. Konosuke Uda (One Piece: Dead End, Galaxy Express 999: Eternal Fantasy) is directing the series, while Kimiko Ueno (Delicious in Dungeon, Eternal Boys) is handling the series composition. Kaoru Wada (Inuyasha, Ace Attorney) is composing the music, and Hiromi Taniguchi (FLCL Alternative, Saga of Tanya the Evil) is doing the character design. 
 
Most of the cast from the '80s and '90s series will be reprising their roles.

The cast includes:
Kappei Yamaguchi as Ranma Saotome (male)
Megumi Hayashibara as Ranma (female)
Noriko Hidaka as Akane Tendo
Minami Takayama as Nabiki Tendo
Kikuko Inoue as Kasumi Tendo
Koichi Yamadera as Ryoga Hibiki
Rei Sakuma as Shampoo
Akio Otsuka is replacing Ryunosuke Ohbayashi as Soun Tendo.
Meanwhile, Cho will take over as Genma Saotome, replacing Kenichi Ogata.
Ogata is still part of the cast, although he will now serve as the series’ narrator.

The Ranma 1/2 remake is coming out on Netflix on October 5, 2024. The anime will premiere in Japan on October 6 at 12:55 a.m. JST and Netflix will stream the episodes after.

The official synopsis from MAPPA reads:

“Ranma Saotome and Akane Tendo of Tendo Dojo are betrothed to each other by their parents. But Ranma faces a unique problem… Ever since he fell into the cursed springs of Jusenkyo while training in China, his body has acquired the peculiar trait of transforming into a girl when doused with cold water and reverting to a boy with hot water. Get ready for the slapstick, action-packed rom com featuring Ranma, Akane, and a vibrant cast of unique characters!”

Friday, July 19, 2024

Cosplay at AX 2024...

ANIME EXPO 2024
Anime Expo is the largest Anime Convention in North America, it takes place in Los Angeles every July. It took place in July 4-7 2024 at the Los Angels Convention Center.

Thursday, July 18, 2024

"A Two-Hour Andrenaline Rush!"

TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS:
W A L L E D   I N
Many years after the bloody turf war that ushered in an uneasy era of peace in Hong Kong’s underworld, the notorious Kowloon Walled City serves as a fortified, lawless safe haven for gangs and refugees alike. But when a skilled underground fighter runs afoul of the most feared Triad boss in Hong Kong, a bounty is placed on his head despite his connections to the leader of the infamous enclave. As his pursuers violate the tenuous territorial truce to exact their vengeance, the fallout reignites old grudges, bringing decades of building tension to a brutal, bloody boiling point.
In Theaters August 9, 2024

Wednesday, July 17, 2024

Anime Viewing Schedule for July 20, 2024


 A N I M A T R I X   N E T W O R K
Saturday, July 20, 2024
Fountaindale Public Library
VIEWING SCHEDULE
          11:15 - 12:05   The Apothecary Diaries 17-18
          12:05 - 12:55   Metallic Rouge 11-12
          12:55 - 1:20     Club Meeting
          1:20 - 2:25       Leviathan
          2:25 - 2:50       Frieren 8
          2:50 - 4:50       The Boy and The Heron [Movie]
 
Jedi GIF by Star Wars
"Take this! Take that! Don't mess with me! I am modern feminist
Kathleen Kennedy. I'll ruin your franchise! Oh... wait, I already did."
 
Fountaindale Public Library
300 W. Briarcliff Road
Bolingbrook, IL 60440 
Peggy J. Danhof Board Room
(Second Floor)
 
From 11:15 AM to 5:00 PM

All anime presented are fan-subtitled unless otherwise noted.
Don't miss these exciting anime series: Solo Leveling and Frieren
* ANIME DESCRIPTIONS ARE BELOW *

Tuesday, July 16, 2024

History’s greatest heists await...

TIME BANDITS
Discover the adventure. Check out the Time Bandits trailer for the upcoming live-action, comedic adventure series starring Lisa Kudrow (“The Comeback”), Kal-El Tuck (“Unseeing Evil”), Tadhg Murphy (“Conversations With Friends”), Roger Jean Nsengiyumva (“You Don’t Know Me”), Rune Temte (“Eddie the Eagle”), Charlyne Yi (“Knocked Up”), Rachel House (“Heartbreak High”), Kiera Thompson (“Martyrs Lane”), James Dryden (“Ready Player One”), Felicity Ward (“The Office” Australia), Francesca Mills (“Harlots”) and Imaan Hadchiti (“Thor: Love and Thunder”). “Time Bandits” also features special guest appearances by Waititi and Clement. Time Bandits is a television adaptation of the beloved cult classic movie by the same name. 
 
Created for television by Jemaine Clement (“Flight of the Conchords”), Iain Morris (“The Inbetweeners”) and Taika Waititi (“Reservation Dogs”), and produced for Apple TV+ by Paramount Television Studios, Anonymous Content’s AC Studios and MRC, Time Bandits is an unpredictable journey through time and space with a ragtag group of thieves and their newest recruit: an 11-year-old history buff named Kevin. Together, they set out on a thrilling quest to save the boy’s parents — and the world. 
 
Consisting of 10 episodes, “Time Bandits” is produced for Apple TV+ by Paramount Television Studios, Anonymous Content’s AC Studios and MRC. Jemaine Clement, Iain Morris and Taika Waititi executive produce, write, and direct select episodes, with Clement and Morris serving as co-showrunners. Garrett Basch and Tim Coddington also executive produce along with Jane Stanton who executive produces for Handmade Films. 
 
Time Bandits will premiere globally on Apple TV+ with the first two episodes on Wednesday, July 24, followed by two new episodes every Wednesday through August 21, 2024.

Monday, July 15, 2024

"Which one will you save?"

DRAGONKEEPER
Travel back in time to ancient China, find your destiny, and become a DragonKeeper.
As ancient China falls under the rule of an evil Emperor, a fiery young girl rebels. Alongside a powerful dragon, she embarks on a journey to recover the last remaining dragon egg and save the world.

Sunday, July 14, 2024

Next Club Meeting is July 20, 2024

A N I M A T R I X   N E T W O R K
  M O N T H L Y   M E E T I N G

Fountaindale Public Library
300 W. Briarcliff Road
Bolingbrook, IL  60440
Peggy J. Danhof Board Room
 (2nd Floor)
Saturday, July 20, 2024
11:15 AM - 5:00 PM
 
We will be in the BOARD ROOM on the Second Floor.
 
Hope to see everyone there!

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

(Click below for maps)