Next Club Meeting: July 19, 2025, 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.

Saturday, July 5, 2025

"Yes, My King..."

Apocalypse Bringer Mynoghra:
World Conquest Starts with the Civilization of Ruin
Coming July 6, 2025
In Eternal Nations, a fantasy strategy game where players manage an empire, Takuto Ira is a legendary player who sits atop the leaderboard. Takuto goes unconscious during a hospitalization and awakens on the continent of Idoragya, which looks just like the game. Takuto meets Sludge Atou, his favorite unit in the game, and decides to build Mynoghra, an evil empire, in this isekai apocalypse anime.

Thursday, July 3, 2025

How will your story end?

THE SANDMAN - SEASON 2
Everyone loves a good story, but all stories must come to an end. The Sandman returns for its epic final season.
Vol. 1 - July 3 | Vol. 2 - July 24, only on Netflix.
In the first season, Morpheus, the personification of dreams and one of the seven Endless, was captured in an occult ritual in 1918. He escaped in 2025, after being held captive for 106 years. He set out to restore order to his realm the Dreaming. In the second season, Morpheus faces the forces of Hell in order to rescue someone he loves.

Wednesday, July 2, 2025

Korean AVENGERS Assemble!...

H I - F I V E
After receiving mysterious organ transplants, five strangers awaken with extraordinary abilities. Banding together, they become an unlikely superhero team known as the “Hi-Five.” Directed by: Kang Hyeong-cheol Cast: Yoo Ah-in, Oh Jung-se, Park Jin-young, Ahn Jae-hong ,Lee Jae-in, Ra Mi-ran, Kim Hee-won, & Shin Gu.

Tuesday, July 1, 2025

One chance to save us all...

PROJECT HAIL MARY
Based on Andy Weir's New York Times best-selling novel, starring Academy Award® nominee Ryan Gosling, and directed by Academy Award® winning filmmakers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller.
Only in theaters and IMAX - 3.20.26
In the near future, scientists observe a global dimming event coinciding with the formation of a bright line from the Sun to Venus. The exponential rate of dimming will cause a catastrophic ice age within 30 years. The world's governments cooperate and appoint former European Space Agency administrator Eva Stratt unilateral authority and legal immunity to solve the problem. A space probe is sent to Venus, and it is discovered that the line contains alien microbes.

Stratt appoints Ryland Grace, a junior high (middle) school teacher and former molecular biologist to study a sample of the organism recovered from Venus. He discovers that the single-celled organism consumes electromagnetic radiation and uses radiant energy to move, naming it "Astrophage". Grace also discovers that Astrophage reproduces by feeding on the heat of the Sun and carbon dioxide on Venus. Other scientists discover that Astrophage can be mass-bred for use as rocket fuel.

Astronomy data reveals that Astrophage has also infected and dimmed nearby stars, but one star, Tau Ceti, has resisted the infection. An Astrophage-fueled starship, the Hail Mary, is created to travel to Tau Ceti and obtain information about Astrophage resistance. There is only enough time to breed enough Astrophage for a one-way trip, so the crew are tasked with returning the findings to Earth with unmanned mini-ships called "beetles". Grace trains the science experts for the mission, but they are killed in an accident shortly before launch. With no time to train a comparably-skilled replacement, Stratt forces Grace to join the mission. Grace threatens sabotage, so a sedative is administered to him before launch, with a temporary amnesia-inducing drug set to be administered shortly before he awakens.

Years later, Ryland Grace emerges from his coma aboard the Hail Mary with no memory of his identity or situation. Grace finds that his crew members have died and gives them a space burial. Hail Mary reaches Tau Ceti and is approached by an alien starship, which Grace names "Blip-A". The other ship indicates that its home system in 40 Eridani is also plagued by an Astrophage infection. Blip-A docks with Hail Mary, and the two ships establish first contact. Grace develops a system to communicate with the spider-like five-legged alien, whom he names "Rocky". Rocky, a skilled engineer, has been in the Tau Ceti system for 46 years and is the last survivor of his crew.

Unfamiliar with the concept of relativity, the Eridians greatly overestimated the amount of fuel needed for a round-trip to Tau Ceti, and Grace learns that the Blip-A has enough Astrophage fuel for both ships to return to their planets. Grace and Rocky discover Astrophage's home planet in orbit around Tau Ceti, which Rocky names after his mate and Grace names "Adrian". The planet's atmosphere is found to contain a natural predator of Astrophage. The predator is found to live in the upper atmosphere of Adrian, forcing Grace and Rocky to construct a 10 kilometer chain made of xenonite, an Eridian xenon compound with extraordinary tensile strength and heat resistance. While collecting a sample, a hull breach occurs, and Grace and Rocky risk their lives to save each other...

Monday, June 30, 2025

"Finish her!..."

Young Ladies Don’t Play Fighting Games
Kuromi Girls' Academy is a refined, elegant school that expects the very best in deportment from its young ladies. Aya got into this peerless rich-girls' institution on a scholarship, and hopes to grow as lovely as her fellow student and idol Shirayui. But Shirayui hides a terrible secret: she's a trash-talking, combo-chaining, newbie-stomping, ruthless hardcore gamer! Could a mutual indulgence in no-holds-barred video game combat grow into a deeper rapport between these two girls?

Sunday, June 29, 2025

"Sisters! Let's Fight As One!"

S h i n s e i   G a l v e r s e
Zero crash-lands on the war-torn planet Amatera with no memories and no idea who she is. Amidst a brutal conflict between the local resistance and the imperial Gevuran forces, she meets Ring, a charismatic young leader fighting to save the world. As Zero’s identity slowly awakens, she discovers she’s no ordinary girl—she’s a cosmic being known as Galverse, a key to something far greater than any one planet.
 
Shinsei Galverse is a fan-funded, original sci-fi anime directed by Ayaka Ohira, blending 90's anime nostalgia with contemporary storytelling. Throughout its production, fans have enjoyed unprecedented behind-the-scenes access, actively contributing to story elements, character designs, creative works, and even the anime’s marketing and release!
Watch the Anime here... 

Saturday, June 28, 2025

The Vampire Love Story Continues...

Call of the Night - Season 2
Ko overcomes his confusion about becoming a vampire and decides to "like" Nazuna, while Nazuna resolves to make Ko "fall in love" with her. Without understanding what "love" even is, the two of them spend their nights together in a frenzy. Meanwhile, Detective Uguisu Anko is closing in with her plot to kill vampires, not just Nazuna. A vampire's weakness is "anything they were attached to when they were human" and so they all try to get rid of this weakness before it's too late. But, Nazuna has no memory of her human life. What is Nazuna's hidden past? Why did Anko start killing vampires? And what is the "secret" that Nazuna and Anko share? For Ko, Nazuna, Anko, a fun "late night" doesn't end here... a new "night" begins!

Friday, June 27, 2025

Yes, they actually made a Bowling Anime...

Turkey! Time to Strike
Mai Otonashi is a second-year student and the captain of the Ikkokukan High School Bowling Club, and recently, she’s struggled to win. Whenever she scores a Turkey, three consecutive strikes, she follows it up with an unbeatable split—the Snake Eyes. This is the story of Mai, Rina, Sayuri, Nozomi, and Nanase as they fight, fall, and rise again in pursuit of victory in the final days of summer.

Thursday, June 26, 2025

The Legendary Isekai Returns...

The Rising of the Shield Hero - Season 4
The end of the third season teased that Raphtalia would be at the center of a huge new story, but the trailers and promotional materials have instead teased that the brother and sister duo Alta and Fohl will be taking the center stage this time. Either way, there’s going to be a lot of chaos coming Naofumi and his party’s way as the new season hits our screens later this Summer.
Release Date: July 9, 2025

Wednesday, June 25, 2025

The whole gang is back...

Ranma 1/2: Season 2
The first season adapts approximately the first four volumes of the original manga, leaving off with Akane's restored memories of Ranma. If the second season plans to cover a similar amount of material, it should include Mousse's arrival and finish up with Happosai's introduction to the story.
Coming to Netflix in October 2025

Tuesday, June 24, 2025

Praise the Fool...

Lord of the Mysteries
The story begins in the year 1349 of the Epoch Calendar. Zhou Mingrui, a Chinese youth transmigrates into the body of a university graduate, Klein Moretti, after the latter's questionable suicide.
Arriving June 2025
Finding himself in a world reminiscent of late Victoria era England with mystical powers, Zhou Mingrui (now Klein Moretti) searches for a way to go home. After reproducing a ritual that presumably was the catalyst of his transmigration, he masquerades as a god-like entity and forms an organization known as the 'Tarot Club'. After becoming an official Beyonder (Those with supernatural abilities), he tries to find out what happened with Klein's suicide while growing his power to eventually return home.

Monday, June 23, 2025

One decade of absolute greatness...

My Hero Academia - FINAL SEASON
Izuku has dreamt of being a hero all his life—a lofty goal for anyone, but especially challenging for a kid with no superpowers. That’s right, in a world where eighty percent of the population has some kind of super-powered “quirk,” Izuku was unlucky enough to be born completely normal. But that’s not enough to stop him from enrolling in one of the world’s most prestigious hero academies.
October 2025

Sunday, June 22, 2025

Jim Henson's Punch-Out...

Felt That Boxing
Get your first look at the announcement trailer for Felt That Boxing, the puppet-based pugilism game from Sans Strings Studio. Felt That Boxing combines comedic storytelling with intense arcade fighting action. Felt That Boxing is coming to Steam, release date TBD.

Saturday, June 21, 2025

When the "Mother-in-Law" is a Real Dragon...

C L E V A T E S S
One of the Lords of Dark Beasts, Clevatess’s reign shatters when he revives a hero he personally slayed and adopts an orphaned humanoid baby—the last hope to save a dying world. Now bound together, what fate awaits this unlikely trio?
Release date: July 2025

Friday, June 20, 2025

What the heck did I just watch...

UMAMUSUME: Pretty Derby
Horse Girl Racing!
Umamusume: Pretty Derby is racing towards its English debut! The English release of the game will launch on June 26, 2025. Faster than Anyone is a glimpse of what's to come in the dramatic world of Umamusume racing, set to the song "Girls' Legend U".
Yes, it's a game where you can race your Horse Girls!

Thursday, June 19, 2025

This Game will leave you Speechless...

Out of Words
A handcrafted, hand animated story of first time love and the confusion that comes with it, Co-Op Platformer Adventure, Out of Words is coming to PC through the Epic Games Store in 2026.

Players follow the story of Kurt and Karla, two characters who have lost their voices. As they journey through the fantastical world of Vokabulantis, they confront obstacles that test their relationship and communication. The narrative explores themes of emotional connection, cooperation, and identity, as the characters work together to restore their ability to speak and understand one another.

The plot focuses on the characters’ shared quest to recover their voices and navigate their relationship amid growing challenges in their environment. The game presents a metaphorical exploration of language, love, and the difficulties of communication in the modern world.

Wednesday, June 18, 2025

Anime Viewing Schedule for June 21, 2025...


 A N I M A T R I X   N E T W O R K
Saturday, June 21, 2025
Fountaindale Public Library
VIEWING SCHEDULE
          11:15 - 12:05   Apothecary Diaries - Season 2 eps 3-4
          12:05 - 12:55   M.S. Gundam GQuuuuuuX eps 5-6
          12:55 - 1:30     Club Meeting
          1:30 - 2:20       Lazarus eps 5-6
          2:20 - 3:10       The Super Cube eps 5-6
          3:103:35       To Be Hero X eps 5
          3:35 - 4:55       Predator: Killer of Killers [Movie]
 
Don't miss out on the Action!
 
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: Ranma 1/2 and Urusei Yatsura
* ANIME DESCRIPTIONS ARE BELOW *

Tuesday, June 17, 2025

Monday, June 16, 2025

Fight your way out of the Pit...

Gachiakuta
Crawl back from the abyss of Hell to change this lousy world!
Rudo lives in the slums of a floating town, where the poor scrape by under the shadow of the rich who live a sumptuous life, simply casting their garbage off the side, into the abyss. Then one day, he’s falsely accused of murder, and his wrongful conviction leads to an unimaginable punishment—exile off the edge, with the rest of the trash. 

Down on the surface, the cast-off waste of humanity has bred vicious monsters, and if Rudo wants to have any hope of discovering the truth and seeking vengeance against those who cast him into Hell, he will have to master a new power and join a group known as the Cleaners who battle the hulking trash beasts of the Pit!

Sunday, June 15, 2025

Happy Father's Day!

Father and Daughter
Director - Michael Dudok de Wit
A father bids farewell to his young daughter; she grows up longing for his return.

This short film won 24 awards, including:
* Oscar / Best Short Film, Animated / Academy Awards, USA, 2001
* BAFTA Film Award / Best Short Animation / BAFTA Awards, 2001
* Jury Award / Best Film / Anima Mundi Animation Festival, 2001
* Cartoon d'Or / Cartoon Forum, Europe, 2001
* Best Animation / International Competition
* Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival, 2001

Saturday, June 14, 2025

Next Club Meeting is June 21, 2025...

A N I M A T R I X   N E T W O R K

Get in on the Action!

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, June 21, 2025
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.
 
(Click below for maps)

Friday, June 13, 2025

Every death echoes, and the sea never forgets...

BLOODSHORE
BLOODSHORE is a cinematic dark fantasy short set in the heart of an endless magical war. A legion of battle-worn wizards storm a cursed coastline, where steel meets sorcery, and time itself bends under the weight of bloodshed. Arcane rituals, collapsing ships, and forgotten gods clash in a grim spectacle of magic and fate.

Thursday, June 12, 2025

Invasion of the Adorable Cats...

Nyaight of the Living Cat
Run! In 20XX, the world is dominated by cats. A virus which turns anyone who touches a cat into a cat has spread into a worldwide nyandemic. Cats rub against people, turning them into cats. Can humanity fight their urge to pet cats to survive in this cat-ridden world? The momentously catful comic is getting a TV anime in 2025!
Coming July 6th! 

Wednesday, June 11, 2025

Samurai SWAT team on a rescue mission...

KODAMA
Arthur, a member of an elite SWAT Samurai team, embarks on a rescue mission into the spirit world in order to recover his father from vengeful Japanese Yokai Spirits.

Tuesday, June 10, 2025

Our Heroes Have a Legacy...

STAR WARS: Episode VII
The Force Reborn (An Alternate Universe Trailer)
Welcome to an ALTERNATE UNIVERSE vision
of the Star Wars sequel trilogy!
Star Wars Episode VII-A: The Force Reborn imagines a bold new chapter in the galaxy far, far away. Set nearly 30 years after the fall of the Empire, the New Republic thrives in peace and prosperity.

Admiral Han Solo and Former President Leia Organa Solo prepare to step back from public life; Luke and Mara Jade Skywalker oversee a flourishing New Jedi Order, and Lando Calrissian, now the galaxy’s wealthiest man, is transforming the planet, Xanidia, into the galaxy’s ultimate vacation destination—with six artificial resort moons.

At the same time, a new generation of heroes are emerging. Jedi Padawan Ben Skywalker grows stronger in the force with each passing day. Jedi Knight Jaina Solo perfects her skills as she aspires to live in harmony with the force. Ex-Jedi Knight Jacen Solo has left the order to seek adventures. Aramis Calrissian is a rising young executive in his father’s intergalactic megacorporation. And Lieutenant Ariana Calrissian serves on board a New Republic Star Explorer.

But peace is fragile.

When massive bio-engineered ships bearing the ancient and fanatical Yuuzhan Vong suddenly emerge from beyond the galaxy, the fragile balance is shattered.

As thousands of worlds fall and fleets rally, two generations of heroes—old and new—must rise to tip the scales… Or the galaxy will be lost forever.

✨ FEATURING:
• Admiral Han Solo & Former New Republic President Leia Organa Solo
• Jedi Masters Luke & Mara Jade Skywalker
• Lando Calrissian
• Ben Skywalker
• Jacen Solo & Jaina Solo
• Aramis Calrissian & Ariana Calrissian
• Chewbacca, R2-D2 & C-3PO
• The Yuuzhan Vong

This fan-made “Alternate Universe” trailer reimagines Star Wars Episode VII with fresh characters, high-stakes conflict, and familiar faces. No official Star Wars footage is used; all visuals and audio are original creations inspired by the Original and Expanded Universes.

A LITTLE BACKGROUND: While there were a number of things about the sequel trilogy that I did enjoy (mainly the cast and some of the designs), it wasn’t really what I was expecting. I always found it somewhat odd that the New Republic would be so inept that they’d fumble away the galactic government in roughly 30 years… Luke would become a disillusioned hermit… Han and Leia would become estranged… The First Order would turn former leaders back into rebels… And that somehow Emperor Palpatine would return. After everything they’d fought and sacrificed for, there was no happy ending.

Although I’ve never read any of the Expanded Universe novels, I did become familiar with some of the characters and storylines (mostly through Wookiepedia and Google searches). When the sequels were originally announced I figured that Disney/Star Wars would pull some of the more popular elements from the EU, streamlining it into a tight and exciting new cannon trilogy of stories. But I suppose that might have involved paying various writers and creators.

A couple of years ago I wrote a very short outline for what I thought might have made a nice sequel trilogy that felt more like Star Wars. Some elements were pulled from the EU, some things were remixes, and several elements were completely new creations. Back then I was able to loosely visualize characters and designs using AI—primarily for my own curiosity and satisfaction—before setting the idea aside.

Fast forward to three weeks ago when I got the idea to see if I could write and produce a trailer for what would be the first entry in an alternate universe sequel trilogy. Here’s the result.

This first trailer was a fun creative experiment imagining a different path for the Star Wars saga. Sound off below! I’d love to hear your reactions, ideas, or even your own Alternate Universe takes. Also, let me know if you’d like to see an Alternate Universe trailer for Star Wars Episode VIII-A, tentatively titled “A Darkness Rises”

If you enjoyed Star Wars Episode VII-A: The Force Reborn, be sure to check out more videos on my channel."
- Blue Sun Studio

Monday, June 9, 2025

And now, whatever way our stories end...

I know you have rewritten mine by being my friend… 
WICKED: FOR GOOD
Last year’s global cinematic cultural sensation, which became the most successful Broadway film adaptation of all time, now reaches its epic, electrifying, emotional conclusion in Wicked: For Good.

Directed once again by award-winning director Jon M. Chu and starring the spectacular returning cast, led by Academy Award® nominated superstars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, the final chapter of the untold story of the witches of Oz begins with Elphaba and Glinda estranged and living with the consequences of their choices.

Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), now demonized as The Wicked Witch of the West, lives in exile, hidden within the Ozian forest while continuing her fight for the freedom of Oz’s silenced Animals and desperately trying to expose the truth she knows about The Wizard (Jeff Goldblum).

Glinda, meanwhile, has become the glamorous symbol of Goodness for all of Oz, living at the palace in Emerald City and reveling in the perks of fame and popularity.

Under the instruction of Madame Morrible (Oscar® winner Michelle Yeoh), Glinda is deployed to serve as an effervescent comfort to Oz, reassuring the masses that all is well under the rule of The Wizard.

As Glinda’s stardom expands and she prepares to marry Prince Fiyero (Olivier award winner and Emmy and SAG nominee Jonathan Bailey) in a spectacular Ozian wedding, she is haunted by her separation from Elphaba.

She attempts to broker a conciliation between Elphaba and The Wizard, but those efforts will fail, driving Elphaba and Glinda only further apart. The aftershocks will transform Boq (Tony nominee Ethan Slater) and Fiyero forever, and threaten the safety of Elphaba’s sister, Nessarose (Marissa Bode), when a girl from Kansas comes crashing into all their lives.

As an angry mob rises against the Wicked Witch, Glinda and Elphaba will need to come together one final time. With their singular friendship now the fulcrum of their futures, they will need to truly see each other, with honesty and empathy, if they are to change themselves, and all of Oz, for good.

Wicked: For Good also stars Emmy nominee Bowen Yang and Bronwyn James as Glinda’s fawning assistants, Pfannee and ShenShen and BAFTA and Grammy nominee Sharon D. Clarke (Caroline, or Change) as the voice of Elphaba’s childhood nanny, Dulcibear.

The film is produced by returning Tony and Emmy winning powerhouse Marc Platt p.g.a. and by multiple Tony winner David Stone. The executive producers are Stephen Schwartz, David Nicksay, Jared LeBoff, Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox.

The first film, Wicked, released in November 2024, earned 10 Academy Award® nominations, including Best Picture, and won the Oscars® for Costume Design and Production Design. To date, the film has grossed $750 million worldwide.

Wicked: For Good is based on the generation-defining musical stage play with music and lyrics by legendary Grammy and Oscar® winning composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz and book by Winnie Holzman, from the bestselling novel by Gregory Maguire. The screenplay is by Winnie Holzman and Winnie Holzman & Dana Fox. The film score is by John Powell & Stephen Schwartz, with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz.

Sunday, June 8, 2025

Things will be different now...

For all of you...

The Blood of Dawnwalker

The Blood of Dawnwalker is the first chapter of Rebel Wolves’ brand new role-playing saga — a single-player open-world dark fantasy action-RPG with a strong focus on story and narrative. Developed on Unreal Engine 5 for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox X|S. 

You play as Coen, a young man turned into a Dawnwalker, forever treading the line between the world of day and the realm of night. Use your skills and combine vampiric strength with human resolve as you take on a quest to save the ones you love. Face your foes - be they human, monster, or the ticking clock itself. But remember - the real evil may bask in the sun's light, and the most loyal of allies could lurk under the cover of night. Learn more at https://dawnwalkergame.com

Saturday, June 7, 2025

"Tell me why we fight..."

Because our Enemy still lives...
Predator: Killer of Killers
In Viking-era Scandinavia, Norse warrior Ursa leads her son Anders and the rest of her clan on an expedition to destroy the Krivich tribe and their leader Zoran, who murdered Ursa's father. They track down Zoran to his fortress, where Anders kills him. Afterwards, a towering Predator warrior ambushes Ursa's group, killing her men while Anders is seriously injured after a building collapses on top of him. Ursa fights the Predator alone and kills it, but Anders dies in her arms of his injuries.

In feudal Japan, Kenji and Kiyoshi, two children of a warlord are trained to be warriors. However, Kenji runs away after he refuses to fight his brother for the right to be his father's successor, only returning years later once their father has passed on. He infiltrates a castle and confronts his brother, fighting Kiyoshi before ultimately sparing his life, but his brother falls off a balcony after a railing gives way, seemingly to his death. Left shaken by what has happened, Kenji is suddenly ambushed by a Predator, who slays the castle guards and chases him to a pond where he finds Kiyoshi still alive. They battle the Predator together and kill it, but Kiyoshi dies of wounds he suffered during the fight.

During World War II, American car mechanic Torres is drafted into the US Navy as a fighter pilot. Out in the Atlantic Ocean, his squadron searches for a mysterious aircraft that has completely annihilated another unit, which a grounded Torres discovers is armed with exotic, highly dangerous weapons. He takes a run-down fighter to warn them, after which a Predator spacecraft attacks and destroys his squadmates. Torres manages to outmanoeuvre the alien craft, and tricks it into using its own weapons to destroy itself. After his tour of duty, Torres returns home to fix cars in his garage, but is abducted by a Predator ship. After being awoken from suspended animation, he is put in a cell with Ursa and Kenji.

The three are brought to an arena and presented to a Predator Warlord, who orders them to battle to the death with the survivor to fight the Warlord afterwards.

Friday, June 6, 2025

More Cosplay at ACen 2025...

Anime Central 2025 - REEL 1
Anime Central (ACen) is the largest anime, manga and Japanese popular culture convention in Chicago and the Midwest. ACen happens once a year in the Spring (around April or May) less than 30 minutes from downtown Chicago, in Rosemont, IL. The convention is held at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center and the Hyatt Regency O’Hare in Rosemont, IL.

Thursday, June 5, 2025

Take me to your "leader"...

E L i O
For centuries, people have called out to the universe looking for answers—in Disney and Pixar's all-new feature film Elio, the universe calls back! The cosmic misadventure introduces Elio, a space fanatic with an active imagination and a huge alien obsession. So, when he's beamed up to the Communiverse, an interplanetary organization with representatives from galaxies far and wide, Elio's all in for the epic undertaking. Mistakenly identified as Earth's leader, Elio must form new bonds with eccentric alien lifeforms, navigate a crisis of intergalactic proportions, and somehow discover who and where he is truly meant to be.

Wednesday, June 4, 2025

The murderous doll is back...


M 3 G A N  2.0
And this time she’s not alone.

The original creative team behind that phenomenon—led by horror titans James Wan for Atomic Monster, Jason Blum for Blumhouse and writer-director Gerard Johnstone—reboot an all-new wild chapter in A.I. mayhem with M3GAN 2.0

Two years after M3GAN, a marvel of artificial intelligence, went rogue and embarked on a murderous (and impeccably choreographed) rampage and was subsequently destroyed, M3GAN’s creator Gemma (Allison Williams) has become a high-profile author and advocate for government oversight of A.I. Meanwhile, Gemma’s niece Cady (Violet McGraw), now 14, has become a teenager, rebelling against Gemma’s overprotective rules. 

Unbeknownst to them, the underlying tech for M3GAN has been stolen and misused by a powerful defense contractor to create a military-grade weapon known as Amelia (Ivanna Sakhno; Ahsoka, Pacific Rim: Uprising), the ultimate killer infiltration spy. But as Amelia’s self-awareness increases, she becomes decidedly less interested in taking orders from humans. Or in keeping them around. 

With the future of human existence on the line, Gemma realizes that the only option is to resurrect M3GAN (Amie Donald, voiced by Jenna Davis) and give her a few upgrades, making her faster, stronger, and more lethal. As their paths collide, the original A.I icon is about to meet her match. 

M3GAN 2.0 is written and directed by acclaimed returning filmmaker Gerard Johnstone, from a story by Gerard Johnstone and Akela Cooper, based on characters created by Akela Cooper & James Wan. 

The film co-stars returning cast members Brian Jordan Alvarez and Jen Van Epps as Gemma’s loyal tech teammates, Cole and Tess, and new characters played by Aristotle Athari (Saturday Night Live, Hacks), Timm Sharp (Apples Never Fall, Percy Jackson and the Olympians) and Grammy winner and 11-time Emmy nominee Jemaine Clement (Avatar: The Way of Water, What We Do in the Shadows). 

Produced by James Wan, Jason Blum and Allison Williams, the film is executive produced by Joe Hill, Gerard Johnstone, Adam Hendricks, Greg Gilreath, Michael Clear, Judson Scott and Mark D. Katchur. 

The first M3GAN film shattered box office records, opening to $30.4 million domestically to become the biggest opening weekend for a PG-13 horror film since A Quiet Place Part II. The film went on to gross more than $180 million worldwide.

Tuesday, June 3, 2025

The fight isn’t over yet...

STRANGER THINGS
Get ready for the epic series finale of Stranger Things.
Volume 1, November 26, 5pm PT* 
Volume 2, Christmas, 5pm PT* 
The Finale, New Year’s Eve, 5pm PT* 
 
* (Releasing worldwide all at once, date may vary based on your local timezone)