Anime News

Ghibli will be announcing their next movie on December 15th. The director on the project has not been indicated.

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retailer Mangaoh listed, then removed the listing for a game based on a second Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha movie

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Tokyo International Anime Fair announced the four pilots it will sponsor in 2011 for the "Creator's World Anime Pilot Production Support Project"

Tokyo Int'l Anime Fair Sponsors 4 Anime Pilots for 2011
posted on 2010-10-22 16:13 EDT
From Mardock Scramble CGI's Kodama, Catblue: Dynamite's Higa, Shadow Skill 3's Ichikawa, Cavity Express' Muto
The Tokyo International Anime Fair has announced on Friday that it is sponsoring four anime pilots which will be unveiled at next year's fair in March. The "Creator's World Anime Pilot Production Support Project" selected the following works:

• Interior
Creator: French curve/Tetsuro Kodama (Mardock Scramble CGI director, Yasai no Yousei - N.Y. Salad art director, Namie Amuro's "Wild/Dr.")

• Kanai
Creator: Studio RF/Romanov Higa (Catblue: Dynamite, TANK S.W.A.T. 01, Metal Gear Sold: Peace Walker cut scenes, Hellsing Ultimate action director)

• Monster ni Natta Domerika
Creator: Kazuya Ichikawa (Shadow Skill 3/SOS TV Walpurgis Night Fever director, Appleseed: Ex Machina CG layout and motion team leader)

• Kaseki Dorobo to Kyoryuseki
Creator: Kenji Muto (Cavity Express, Gift)/Sugarless Factory/Honesuta

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Ghost in the Shell creator Masamune Shirow's Appleseed, previously adapted into an OVA and two CG movies, is now slated to be adapted into 13 episode OVA Appleseed XIII

planned staff includes director Takayuki Hamana, screen writer Jun’ichi Fujisaku, character designer Takayuki Goto and mech designer Atsushi Takeuchi

Following a world war that killed half the world's population, the city-nation of Olympus stands as a beacon of hope in a world of chaos and conflict. The utopian metropolis is governed by Gaia, a vast artificial intelligence, and administered by a genetically engineered humanoids known as Bioroids.
Although Olympus seems like a peaceful city on the surface, racial (human vs. bioroids vs. cyborgs), religious, and political conflicts lurk underneath — threatening to overturn the delicately balanced "peace." Security threats such as terrorists and anti-government criminals abound, so the use of force becomes a necessary evil even in this so-called "utopia."

Deunan, a young female warrior, and Briareos, a veteran cyborg-soldier, are both partners and lovers, as well as members of ES.W.A.T., the elite special forces serving Olympus. They are deployed wherever trouble strikes.

Conspiracy, terrorism, deadly military weapons technology, greedy corporations, and power-hungry politicians — these are just some of the threats that Deunan and Briareos must contend with as they fight to protect Olympus and save mankind from plunging into another war.

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preciciously vulger child comedy Crayon Shin-chan is being spun off into Shin-men, staring five elemental super heroes.

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Yoshihiro Togashi's Level E will be adapted by in a Studio Pierrot / David Production co-production

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s&m 101 seinen manga Nana to Kaoru is getting an anime to be packed in with a limited edition of volume 6

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anthropomorphized fighter plane girls vs aliens Strike Witches is getting an anime movie

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a third Isshoni Training cute girl training OVA, Isshoni Training 026: Bathtime with Hinako & Hiyoko is slated for December release

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A two episode Valkyria Chronicles 3 OVA tie-in has been scheduled for Spring, 2011

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Fractale will be on Noitamina starting in January

cast includes

Crane: Yu Kobayashi
Furyune: Minami Tsuda
Nessa: Kana Hanazawa
Enrico: Yuka Iguchi
Sunda: Shintaro Asanuma

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Volume 31 of the Air Gear manga will include an original "Trick" anime episode, animating a fight from volume 24,

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Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra will be doing their first anime work, providing the theme songs for the One Piece and Toriko 3D movie double feature.

The band's keyboardist, Yuichi Oki, composed the song that will be used in "One Piece 3D." It is the series' first instrumental theme song.

Trumpeter NARGO was put in charge of the "Toriko 3D" song, and the result is described as a rhythmic tune that fits the manga's themes of gourmet food and fighting.

No release date for the theme songs has been announced yet.

Preview images of the anime can be seen here

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Shaft's Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica from director Akiyuki Shinbo (Bakemonogatari, Hidamari Sketch) will direct. Hidamari Sketch creator Ume Aoki will provide the original character designs which Takahiro Kishida (Durarara, Noein) will adapt for animation. Phantom & Blassreiter TV series screenwriter Gen Urobuchi will compose the screenplay. Composer Yuki Kajiura (Noir, Kara no Kyoukai) will score the series.

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Precure All-Stars DX3: Deliver the Future! The Rainbow-Colored Flower That Connects the World will hit Japanese theatres in March

A trademark has been registered “Suite Precure,” presumed to the title of the eighth Precure series

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Hiroyuki Kitakubo (Roujin Z) will overseeing Gonzo's 26 episode Satria: The Warriors of the 7 Elements

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Producer Kouji Yamamoto confirmed that well regarded Aoi Hana will not be getting a second season due to low DVD sales of the first

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Unlike the first, second Saint Seiya: Lost Canvas OVA will only be made available as a direct to video OVA

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Sora no Otoshimono Forte will be continued in a theatrical film

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Staff for the prison scape OVA Norageki! , scheduled for January 22, includes director Hiroaki Ando (Digital Juice, Steamboy & Tekkonkinkreet CGI director)
writer Dai Sato (Freedom, Eureka Seven).

Masaru Gotsubo (Shounen Tantei Inugami Geru, Samurai Champloo manga) and Kimitoshi Yamane (Escaflowne, Cowboy Bebop) are responsible for the character and mechanic designs, respectively. Masayuki Okubo and Yusuke Takeda (Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo) are overseeing the CG and art, respectively. Masanori Tsuchiya (Halo Legends' "Homecoming") is directing the sound, and Yuji Tone (Koisento) is directing the photography.

The cast includes Miyu Irino (Koseinen, "Good Young Man"), Takako Honda (Ii Onna, "Good Woman"), Kazuma Mori (Chunen Otoko, "Middle-Aged Man"), Meg (Ota-Onna, "Female Otaku"), and Seizo Katou (Rojin, "Old Man")

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The eighth volume of light novel series Shinichi Kimura's Kore wa Zombie Desu ka? will feature an original anime episode

Junk Space

More of the Best Anime Openings

The Best Comic-Con '09 Cosplay - G4tv.com

 Kung Pow Panda Too!!!  

As expected, when a movie makes a zillion dollars, there has to be a sequel. Prepare for the Return of Awesomeness in... Kung Fu Panda 2.

Clone Wars' Jedi Get a Costume Change

Clone Wars' Jedi apprentice Ahsoka Tano gets a more modest costume this week.

After two seasons trotting around the universe half-naked in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Anakin Skywalker’s female understudy is finally dressing the part of a mostly modest Jedi warrior.

Ahsoka Tano’s costume change, viewable in the exclusive first-look image above, debuts Friday in The Clone Wars‘ new episode, “Heroes on Both Sides,” according to a Lucasfilm representative.

Read more...

Full Length Green Lantern Trailer

In brightest day, in blackest night

No evil shall escape my sight.

Let those who worship evil's might

Beware my power, Green Lantern's light!

The World Only God Knows

 Highly Recommended - When Virtual Dating Becomes Real

Keima is bishōjo gamer who is called "The Capturing God" on the Internet for his ability to capture any girl in any bishōjo game but does not like girls in real life. One day, he accidentally accepts a contract with the demoness Elsie to help her capture evil spirits that have escaped from hell and have hidden themselves in girls' hearts with the only way to force these spirits out is to make the girls fall in love with him. Keima angrily explains to Elsie that he doesn't like girls and his "capturing skills" only work in games but is shocked to learn that both of them will be killed by the magical collars on their necks if he breaks his contract, forcing him to comply. His first target is his classmate, Ayumi Takahara who is training for the upcoming track-and-field meet. Keima cheers her on by displaying banners using Elsie's magical raiment at the field everyday. While Ayumi is annoyed by his actions, Keima believes she will eventually get used to him and like him. After a confrontation with jealous seniors, Ayumi sprains her leg a day before the meet. However, Keima confronts her that night as he figured out that Ayumi faked her injury because her meeting with the seniors made her question her confidence. Keima consoles Ayumi and tells her to believe in herself, which makes her fall for Keima. They kiss when Ayumi keeps Keima from falling down the stairs, forcing the spirit out of her body and allowing Elsie to capture it. Ayumi wins the meet but loses all of her memories with Keima, though she blushes when Keima congratulates her. Much to his confusion, Elsie has transferred to his school, claiming to be his sister. 

See the First Episode

The Surprise Anime Hit of the Fall Season!

 Shinryaku! Ika Musume - Translation: "Invasion! Squid Girl"

This is an instant fan favorite. Kawaii and funny. Watch the anime to find out for yourself.

Angered by the pollution in the seas, a squid girl named Ika Musume comes from the sea and declares the invasion of Earth at a nearby yakisoba stand, but isn't taken seriously due to her small stature. When she goes to plead her case, she is mistaken for a waitress, which puts the responsibility of invading the world into perspective. When she breaks a hole in the store with her tentacles trying to hit a mosquito, the store manager, Eiko Aizawa, puts her to work in order to pay for the damages. Later, Ika meets Eiko's little brother, Takeru, who goes to great lengths to pretend to be a squidperson so he can be Ika's comrade. During a rainy day where there are few customers, Ika takes the opportunity to try and take over the stand, but is overpowered by the eldest sister, Chizuru. As punishment, Ika is forced to use her own ink to make Squid Ink Spaghetti, which becomes popular. [Source: Wikipedia]

(Squid Girl tries to swat a mosquito)

Watch the first episode!

The Best Song From the Scott Pilgrim Movie

Summer Wars' Current U.S. Theatrical Dates Listed

The North American anime distributor listed the current theatrical dates for Mamoru Hosoda and MADHOUSE's Summer Wars film as of Friday: 

Dec 3-8	Chicago, IL	Siskel Film Center
Dec 10-16	Los Angeles, CA	AMC Covina 30
Dec 24-30	San Francisco, CA	Landmark Bridge Theater
Dec 29-Jan 4	New York, NY	IFC Center
Jan 5-12	Boston, MA	Museum of Fine Arts
Jan 7-13	Denver, CO	Starz Film Center
Jan 7-13	Santa Fe, NM	CCA Cinematheque
Jan 14-20	Los Angeles, CA	Laemmle Sunset
Jan 21-27	Philadelphia, PA	Landmark Ritz at the Bourse
Jan 23-Feb 3	Honolulu, HI	Academy of Arts
Jan 28-Feb 3	Seattle, WA	Landmark Varsity

For those of us living in Chicago, we will be planning to see Summer Wars as a group. Keep an eye out for further updates.

AUBURN MEGURINE - Anime Music Video

le royaume des chats - AMV

Anime Viewing Schedule for November 13, 2010

Here's what we will be showing at the Club Meeting this weekend:

Noon - 12:50   Asobi ni Iku yo! 1-2

[Source: Wikipedia] The story revolves around Kakazu Kio, an ordinary high school freshman living in Okinawa. A girl with cat ears appears before him during a memorial service for one of his family ancestors. The girl calls herself Elis and claims she is an alien. Before long, fanatical alien worshipers and a mysterious government agency are in hot pursuit of Elis, but Kio's childhood friend Manami — who wants to follow in her father's footsteps in the CIA — captures Elis. Kio finds himself having to protect Elis from everyone. The episode starts with three members of different factions listening to a special newscast about an alien message, the first part of which has been translated to mean "coming to play". One of the members is then called to battle aboard an enemy ship. She successfully infiltrates the ship and disarms the Captain. The situation is disrupted by a UFO passing too close to both ships. When the same member comes to, the enemy captain detonates the ship. Later, during a memorial service for one of his ancestors, Kio Kakuzu finds a cat-like alien sitting at the buffet table. The alien introduces herself as Elis, and the two have a short conversation before Kio accidentally drinks beer and passes out. The next morning, Kio wakes up with a hangover and finds Elis sleeping half naked next to him in bed. Kio's startled cry wakes her up, and she heals his hangover with a handheld device. Manami Kinjō and Maki Itokazu then visit Kio, and upon seeing Elis half naked and with cat ears and a tail, they misinterpret the situation, thinking that Kio brought a girl home and forced her to cosplay all night. After discovering that Elis is an alien, they both abruptly leave without saying why. Kio goes on a walk to gather his thoughts and runs into Aoi Futaba, who asks Kio on a date. Aoi is interupted by a man in a car who she names as her Uncle. He offers her a ride home. It is later revealed that Manami is in recruiting to become part of the CIA, Aoi is a Momiji for the Immigration Bureau of Japan, and Itokazu is the leader of an organization of SF fans called "Beautiful Contact", and they are all given orders to eliminate Elis.


12:50 - 1:15  Shiki 3

[Source: Wikipedia] Seishin works on a novel called "Shiki", which describes the undead. Natsuno goes to school and meets his best friend, Mutou Tohru, along with Ritsuko. He hitches a ride with them to Mizobe, where they later meet up with a fellow classmate, Masao Murasako, who intensely dislikes Natsuno. Masao has an estranged relationship with his family. Natsuno remembers how he did not want anything to do with the villagers since he moved here, until he met Tohru. Meanwhile, Toshio still cannot find a source to the anemia-afflicted victims. His childhood friend, Mikiyasu Yasumori, brings his wife Nao, who is worsening from anemia. Toshio questions Mikiyasu if his workers or clients have been behaving strangely, and Mikiyasu tells him that his family met the Kirishiki couple a few nights ago. Seishin meets Kirishiki Sunako, who claims to be a fan of his essays. She hints at knowing his attempted suicide in the past. Nao passes away the next day from her illness. Masao arrives at Tohru's house to announce her death and discovers Natsuno staying over. He almost gets into a fight with Natsuno before Tohru breaks them up. Tohru goes outside to get a soft drink and meets Tatsumi, who is the Kirishiki's steward. He ominously tells Tohru that he will be meeting him again very soon.


1:15 - 2:00    Isekai no Seikishi Monogatari 8

Kenshi Masaki is a 15 year old boy that unwillingly traveled from his homeland on Earth to the alternate world of Geminar. In Geminar, the countries usually wage wars against each other by using the Seikijin, humanoid weapons that were originally discovered within ancient ruins. After being deceived by a mysterious organization to participate in an attempt to assassinate Lashara Aasu XXVIII, the young princess of the Streya Empire, he ends up captured after he relucts to kill her when he had the chance. After Lashara and her servants figure about his situation, they decide to give him aid. Disguised as Lashara's servant, Kenshi moves with her to the Holy Land, a virtually impregnable fortress that serves as an academy to train Seikijin pilots selected from around the world. With his kindness, tenacity, and being gifted in a wide range of skills that vary from cooking and cleaning to advanced techniques of survival and combat, Kenshi eventually becomes a celebrity in the academy, becoming the object of affection of many female students and making some of the male students envious of him. However, the same organization who deceived Kenshi is secretly working behind the shadows inside the academy, and a widescale conflict which will engulf the entire world of Geminar is about to begin.

2:00 - 2:50   Umineko no Naku Koro ni 23-24

[Source: Wikipedia] In 1998, Ange interrogates relatives of the Rokkenjima murder victims and hires a boat captain to take her to Rokkenjima, discovering Sakutaro's torn remains as well. In 1986, the cousins are informed of Kinzo's test from the hostages in Kuwadorian and are forced to lock Gohda and Kumasawa in the storehouse to keep them from interfering. Jessica and George are individually tested by Ronove and Gaap, respectively, and instructed to choose which of the islanders will be next to die: themselves, their true loves (Shannon for George and Kanon for Jessica), or everyone else. Jessica chooses herself for Kanon's sake so that he may live his life to the fullest, while George chooses everyone else as he is willing to go so far for his love for Shannon to be accepted. Unwilling to leave the hostages in the dungeon, however, Jessica and George defiantly engage their respective demons in combat. Jessica and George are about to land their final blows on their opponents when Gaap teleports the two into each other, killing them both as their magically-empowered attacks collide. Temporarily resurrected by Ronove as a favor, Jessica calls Battler at the guesthouse to warn him of their enemies' magic. Meanwhile, the hostages are able to break out of Kuwadorian, but are killed off one by one on their way to the mansion until only Kyrie remains. Before she too is killed, Kyrie calls Battler as well and tells him to believe in witches. Afterward, Maria is sent off to take her test when Battler receives another phone call, this time from the newly revived Beatrice, and heads off to confront her, discovering Gohda and Kumasawa dead in the storehouse along the way. Beatrice gives Battler his test: to remember a sin he committed six years ago. However, Battler is clueless as to what that may be, much to Beatrice's frustration, prompting her to take her anger out on Kinzo by spontaneously killing him. Having lost her interest in the game, Beatrice decides to abandon it by deeming Battler unqualified to be her opponent, revealing that his birth mother was not Rudolf's first wife Asumu as he had believed, and claiming that he is not Kinzo's grandson Battler, the only one eligible to fight her. Questioning his own identity, Battler fades away, and Beatrice retires to the newly opened Golden Land with Maria. 
 

2:50 - 3:15    The World God Only Knows 1

[Source: Wikipedia] Keima Katsuragi, a second-year high school student, is an avid bishōjo game player. He is known on the Internet as "The Capturing God (落とし神, Otoshi-gami^?)" for his legendary skills to be able to "capture" any 2D girl in games. However, in his actual school life, Keima is known as otamegane (オタメガネ), a derogatory portmanteau of the two words otaku (オタク) and megane (メガネ-"glasses") and is considered nothing but an intelligent yet gloomy geek with glasses. At the start of the series, Keima receives an e-mail offering him a contract to "capture" girls. When he accepts it, thinking it is an invitation to a game, a demon from Hell named Elsie appears. She asks for his cooperation to help her in catching runaway spirits. These spirits hide themselves inside the hearts of girls', and Elsie suggests that the only method to force the spirits out is by "capturing" the girls hearts—making them fall in love with him and filling up the gaps which the runaway spirits hide in. Interested only in 2D girls, however, Keima is appalled by the idea and refuses the assignment as he has no romantic real life experiences whatsoever. Nevertheless, with the contract already agreed, Keima has no choice but to help Elsie no matter what as they will be beheaded if they fail. While the series focuses on Keima and Elsie adventures on capturing spirits, the series also makes fun and parodying common and popular cliches about dating sims, anime character stereotypes and pop culture.

3:15 - 4:15    Club Meeting and Announcements
-  Anime News
-  Cosplayers
-  Convention Coverage
-  New Anime Releases
-  And other interesting stuff...
  

4:15 - 5:15    Katanagatari 6

[Source: Wikipedia] Shichika Yasuri, the main character of the story.After living on a certain island in the country of Tamba for the past twenty years, he is sought out by Togame with a mission to find twelve unique swords. As a practitioner of the Kyotōryuu school of swordplay, he does not use a single sword when fighting, instead using his hands and legs as his primary weapons. In a sense, he is actually a physical fighter, but since he uses hand-chops, he considers it to be an art of the sword. The reason why he practices Kyotōryuu is because the Yasuri family has no talent in handling swords, which dates back to as far as the first head of the school, Kazune Yasuri. He is in love with Togame and will do anything she tells him to do; however, he sometimes considers her orders a hassle. After defeating Hakuhei Sabi and retrieving his sword, Shichika also inherits Hakuhei's title and becomes known as the strongest swordsman in Japan. His catchphrase is "but before then you'll be torn to pieces". Togame is a self-titled strategian. She arrives on the island where Shichika resides in order to seek his help with finding the final twelve swords forged by Shikizaki Kiki. Her father was Takahito Hida, the leader of the last rebellion and also one of the people Mutsue Yasuri had killed back then; this makes Shichika the son of Togame's father's killer. The reason behind her seeking help from Shichika is that he has no reason to keep the swords for himself and she believes that people who work for love can be trusted the most; that is why she tells Shichika to fall for her. She has a habit of saying "cheerio" while punching Shichika.

5:15 - 6:05    Occult Academy 4-5

[Source: Wikipedia] The story revolves around Maya, the daughter of the former Headmaster of a private Japanese academy dedicated to the study of the occult, and time traveling agent Fumiaki Uchida, a mysterious young man who travels back in time from 2012. In 1999, Maya returns to the Academy, both for her father's funeral and for her goal to destroy the Academy, as she hates everything occult. Occult Academy is apparently situated in Nagano, as the Matsushiro Underground Imperial Headquarters are shown to be nearby.^[4] In episode 10 the acedemy was actually Maya's Christmas gift therefore giving her a reason of not destroying the school. Maya successfully assumes her father's place as the academy's headmistress. She later meets Fumiaki Uchida whom makes his appearance from the future. Having no luck in finding the Nostradamus Key, Bunmei meets Mikaze Nakagawa at the diner she works in. Meanwhile, people are mysteriously disappearing around the city.


6:05 - 6:30    Shinryaku! Ika Musume 1

[Source: Wikipedia] Angered by the pollution in the seas, a squid girl named Ika Musume comes from the sea and declares the invasion of Earth at a nearby yakisoba stand, but isn't taken seriously due to her small stature. When she goes to plead her case, she is mistaken for a waitress, which puts the responsibility of invading the world into perspective. When she breaks a hole in the store with her tentacles trying to hit a mosquito, the store manager, Eiko Aizawa, puts her to work in order to pay for the damages. Later, Ika meets Eiko's little brother, Takeru, who goes to great lengths to pretend to be a squidperson so he can be Ika's comrade. During a rainy day where there are few customers, Ika takes the opportunity to try and take over the stand, but is overpowered by the eldest sister, Chizuru. As punishment, Ika is forced to use her own ink to make Squid Ink Spaghetti, which becomes popular.


6:30 - 8:00    Eden of the East - Movie 2: Paradise Lost

[Source: Wikipedia] The story of political and subversive intrigue in the series finally reaches endgame. Even as the law enforcement net tightens around Saki and her fellow Eden of the East associates over alleged terrorist activities, the complex web surrounding the mysterious Mr. Outside is finally untangled as the remaining Selecao attempt to outmaneuver one another. Takizawa's memories and identity are also finally revealed including his association with a former Prime Minister and his request to be the King of Eden.

Trois Petits Points

Le Loups Garous Trailer

Le Royaume

"Le Royaume" (The King and the Beaver), Student graduating film 2010 at Gobelins, L'école de l'image.

Written, directed and animated by Nuno Alves Rodrigues, Oussama Bouachéria, Julien Chheng, Sébastien Hary, Aymeric Kevin, Ulysse Malassagne & Franck Monier.

Music by Mathieu Alvado.

Mardock Scramble

Warning: NSFW (Nudity)

Mardock Scramble promo http://www.kohiore.com (c) Tow UBUKATA

Released November 6, Japan

Here’s the trailer for Susumu Kudo’s Mardock Scramble: The First Compression, the first of three planned films based on a series of cyberpunk novels by Tow Ubukata.

The story revolves around a down-and-out teen prostitute in Mardock City named Rune Ballot (voiced by Megumi Hayashibara). One day, she’s picked up by an ambitious casino manager named Shell who gives her everything she could want. Renewed by a false innocence, a false past, and now the false life Shell has given her, Ballot feels grateful. However, she can’t help but be curious about why he’s done so much for her, so she does some research about his past on a computer. This turns out to be a mistake which will change her life greatly. When Shell finds out what she’s done, he attempts to burn her to death by blowing up her car.

Due to the high crime rate in Mardock, a new law called “Scramble 09” has given police carte blanche to take extreme and otherwise illegal measures to revive crime witnesses. With this in mind, they allow a professor to bring Ballot back from the brink of death by reassembling her entire body with reinforced synthetic fiber. When she finally wakes up, her confused mental state eventually turns toward revenge as Shell is revealed as her killer.

Source: Official website via Affenheimtheater

San Diego Comic-Con 2010 Exclusives

Nothing get's our mimo-hearts racing like 2010 Comic-Con Exclusives, so Alec & Sucklord roamed the floor during "Preview Night" to get a look at all the great designer toys, artwork, and other exclusive releases at SDCC! 

Empire Magazine Reveals First Look at Tintin Movie

[Source: EmpireOnline.com] Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson have chosen Empire to reveal the first look at The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn. Headed our way next October, the film adapts the enormously popular books by Hergé in performance-captured, 3D form.

Our exclusive and specially-Weta-created cover is a riff on the iconic image of Tintin (Jamie Bell) and his dog Snowy picked out by a spotlight as they are running. Then we have a couple of stills from the film, one showing you Andy Serkis’ Captain Haddock and another with Haddock and Tintin adrift at sea and signalling for help.

“With live action you’re going to have actors pretending to be Captain Haddock and Tintin,” says Peter Jackson. “You’d be casting people to look like them. It’s not really going to feel like the Tintin Hergé drew. It’s going to be somewhat different. With CGI we can bring Hergé’s world to life, keep the stylised caricatured faces, keep everything looking like Hergé’s artwork, but make it photo-real.”

So what can we expect from the story? Here’s what Spielberg told us. “The first part of the film, which is the most mysterious part, certainly owes much to not only film noir but the whole German Brechtian theatre — some of our night scenes and our action scenes are very contrasty. But at the same time the movie is a hell of an adventure.”

The film also stars Simon Pegg and Nick Frost as Thompson and Thomson respectively (“When people first heard that bit of casting they thought that we’d gone barking mad,” says Jackson. Adds Spielberg, “The Thompson Twins can’t be clones of each other. Nick and Simon provided all the differences we needed to foil for each other. They have a wonderful moment in the movie where they start to have an argument about whose sidekick is whose.”) and Daniel Craig as Red Rackham. It also features Cary Elwes, Toby Jones, Mackenzie Crook and Daniel Mays.

And for those of you thinking really far ahead, what has Jackson got planned for his Tintin adventure if and when the planned sequel happens? “One of my favourites is The Seven Crystal Balls, so that’s the one I’ve always been thinking of,” he says. “I also really like the Eastern European ones, the Balkan ones like King Ottokar’s Sceptre and The Calculus Affair. I think it’s a terrific setting for a thriller, the weird Balkan politics and the mysterious secret service agents. I think the Moon ones are terrific, but they’d be good for the third or fourth Tintin film, if we get that far. We want to keep his feet on the ground just a little bit longer.”

For much, much more from Spielberg, Jackson and their entire cast, pick up the new issue of Empire, today. Or better still, order your copy online now!

For a full preview of this month's issue - click here.

The Story of Tezuka Osamu

We found this wonderful website featuring the Life and Times of Tezuka Osamu, creator of Astroboy, Kimba the White Lion, and Black Jack. He is also known as the "Godfather of Anime." The website is in English with plenty of photos and facts covering not only his illustrious career in manga and anime, but his childhood upbringing and influences upon modern day animation. It's a great site if you are doing research on him. To check it out for yourself...

CLICK HERE

There also flash games available, but those are in Japanese. With some careful scrutiny, you should be able to figure out the rules for each. The game BANG! is a card matching game.  A card is drawn for you and you must match it with one of the face down cards above. You only have a few seconds to match as many as you can. It's a little more challenging than you may think.

The Best Video Games Available Now

Fall is here and the weather is slowly getting colder. What does that mean? It's time to stay inside, get warm and play some video games. Here are the best video games available right now.

Read more...

Awesome Figures

[Source: aicn.com]

NEON GENESIS EVANGELION ANI*STATUES SHIKINAMI ASUKA ~BALLERINA~ & REI AYANAMI ~BALLERINA~

Based on original illustrations by Yoshiyuki Sadamato in his Art Collection “Camine,” the female Eva Unit pilots wear pretty outfits and come with exclusive diamond image bases that connect together so you can display them as a matched set.

Rei sits 4 ½ inches tall (1/7 scale), and was sculpted by Kouei Matsumoto.
srp $69.99
Available in FEBRUARY

Sculpted by Kouei Matsumoto, the Asuka is nearly 9 inches tall (1/7 scale).
srp $69.99
Available in MARCH

MAGICAL GIRL LYRICAL NANOHA THE MOVIE 1ST ~ NANOHA TAKAMACHI –EVERYDAY WEAR- ANI*STATUE

The main character of the hit property Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha, NANOHA TAKAMACHI is a spirited young girl who accidentally stumbles upon a magic user from another planet in The MOVIE 1st.
The schoolgirl comes equipped with her Raising Heart wand and Fate’s ribbon, as well as interchangeable parts let you display her in Device Mode! Nanoha stands 6 ½ inches tall (1/8 scale) atop an exclusive base.

srp $69.99
Available in April

© NANOHA The MOVIE 1st PROJECT

MANAKA DE IKUNO!! ~ KOMAKI MANAKA ANI*STATUE
FromRPG parody Manaka de Ikuno!! FINAL DRAGON CHRONICLE GUILTY REQUIEM, a spinoff of the To Heart 2 series, comes the class representative turned sorceress, KOMAKI MANAKA

Komaki is 8 inches tall (1/8 scale) floating on her specially designed base.

srp $69.99
Available in MARCH

© 2009 Leaf/AQUAPLUS

AYRTON SENNA -50TH ANNIVERSARY- FINE ART STATUE
The second in an extremely limited series of sporting figures from Kotobukiya, the legendary icon of Formula One Racing returns in an all new commemorative Fine Art Statue commemorating five decades since his birth: AYRTON SENNA – 50TH ANNIVERSARY

Senna stands 13 inches tall, and his special base is decorated with the Senna Foundation’s 50th anniversary logo and serial number. The logo is also prominently displayed on the anniversary packaging, making this a truly one of a kind commemorative Fine Art Statue.

srp $199.99
Available in JANUARY

© ASE - Produced under license from INSTITUTO AYRTON SENNA.

ONE-SHOT BUG KILLER!! HOI HOI-SAN ~CHANGE OF COSTUME~ PLASTIC MODEL KIT

Stand 4 1/2 inches tall, and the set is comprised of approximately 150 pieces, including three sets of eyes so Hoi Hoi-San can look straight ahead, up, or down.

srp $39.99
Available in MARCH

ORE NO IMOTO GA KONNANI KAWAII WAKE GA NAI ~ KIRINO KOSAKA ANI*STATUE
Coming to you straight out of the popular Ore no Imoto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai (“My Little Sister Can’t Be This Cute”) franchise is the secretive and mature young girl KIRINO KOSAKA

Sculpted by Takaku & Takeshi, Kirino stands over 7 inches tall (1/8 scale) on an exclusive display base. Don’t miss out on your cute and smart otaku sister!

srp $59.99
Available in MARCH

STAR WARS EMPIRE STRIKES DARTH VADER ARTFX+ STATUE
Darth Vader has a standard stance standing tall with his hands at his belt, though he does come with bonus arm parts for alternate poses. And, like the other ARTFX+ Statues, he has magnets in his feet for display on the included base

ARTFX+ Statues are fun-to-assemble pre-painted snap-fit kits that can be easily put together in seconds without glue or modeling skill. Darth Vader stands approximately 8 inches tall (1/10th scale)

srp $44.99
Available in MAY

TM & © DC Comics (s10)

MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS KOTOBUKIYA COLLECTION
X-FORCE X-23 FINE ART STATUE

Sculpted by Erick Sosa, X-23 stands approximately 11 inches tall (1/6 scale) perched atop a New York City building rooftop.

srp $159.99
Available in MAY

Marvel, Wolverine: TM & © 2009 Marvel Entertainment, Inc. and its subsidiaries. Licensed by Marvel Characters B.V. www.marvel.com. All rights reserved.

MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS KOTOBUKIYA COLLECTION
X-MEN DANGER ROOM SESSIONS ROGUE FINE ART STATUE

Based on a concept from the artistic pair of Manuel and Leo Silva

At nearly 12 inches tall, Rogue is perfectly in scale (1/6) with the other Danger Room Sessions members Wolverine, Psylocke, and Sabretooth. Sculpted by Erick Sosa, the X-Man is completed by her amazing Sentinel face base on top of a mechanical projector. Every mutant in the Danger Room Sessions series is mounted on a unique Danger Room holographic environment with translucent parts that glow with a built-in LED light in the base.

srp $174.99
Available in JULY

Marvel, Rogue: TM & © 2010 Marvel Entertainment, LLC and its subsidiaries. Licensed by Marvel Characters B.V. www.marvel.com. All rights reserved.

MARVEL X BISHOUJO COLLECTION BLACK CAT BISHOUJO STATUE

Black Cat stands just over 9 inches tall (in the new Marvel x Bishoujo 1/7th
scale) atop an exclusive display base consisting of a miniature building in deep perspective and an adorable plush Spider-Man. Sculpted by Takashi "GILL GILL" Tsukada, Black Cat is taking this Bishoujo line to all new heights!

srp $59.99
Available in MARCH

Marvel, BLACK CAT: TM & C 2010 Marvel Entertainment, LLC and its subsidiaries. Licensed by Marvel Characters B.V. www.marvel.com. All rights reserved. 

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The newly announced 100th figure in the Revoltech possable figures line will be Evangelion's Unit 01 with a based depicting the angel Sachiel

AME-COMI HEROINE SERIES: CATWOMAN (V.2) BLUE SUIT VARIANT PVC FIGURE, DESIGNED BY PAITOON RATAN • SCULPTED BY JONATHAN MATTHEWS

In a cool blue suit, Catwoman is on the prowl for the purrfect diamond. This variant version of Catwoman is based on classic colors from the 1960s.

Packaged in a 4-color window box with J-hook, this non-articulated PVC statue stands approximately 8.25” high and includes a display base.

On sale June 15, 2011 * Statue * $60 US

AME-COMI HEROINE SERIES: BATGIRL (V.1) BLACK SUIT VARIANT PVC FIGURE, DESIGNED BY UDON STUDIOS • SCULPTED BY JONATHAN MATTHEWS

What’s black and yellow and classic all over?

Batgirl in her variant costume! Due to popular demand, Batgirl buzzes with brilliance in her variant costume of traditional colors.

Packaged in a 4-color window box with J-hook, this non-articulated PVC statue stands approximately 8.25” high and includes a display base.

On sale June 15, 2011 * Statue * $60 US

Jeff Bridges Talks 'Tron' Sequel at Comic-Con

Jeff Bridges, star of the original 1982 flick 'Tron,' unveils early test footage from the film's sequel 'Tron: Legacy,' at Comic-Con in San Diego. The film, also starring Olivia Wilde and Garrett Hedlund, is due for release in 2010. (July 27)