Next Club Meeting:August 15, 2026,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 in today's pop culture, such as live-action films, comics, music, art, and other weird things to enjoy and contemplate.
Set against the vibrant backdrop of a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world. The film follows Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm and Ben Grimm as they face their most daunting challenge yet. Forced to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond, they must defend Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer (Julia Garner). And if Galactus' plan to devour the entire planet and everyone on it weren't bad enough, it suddenly gets very personal.
Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four: First Steps arrives in theaters July 25.
Mortal Kombat II is the sequel to the action combat movie based on the Mortal Kombat game IP distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. Bask in the gore-filled trailer with plenty of blood, no mercy, and fatalities galore. Mortal Kombat II is in theaters and IMAX across North America on October 24, 2025, and internationally beginning 22 October 2025.
From New Line Cinema comes the latest high-stakes installment in the blockbuster video game franchise in all its brutal glory, Mortal Kombat II. This time, the fan favorite champions—now joined by Johnny Cage himself—are pitted against one another in the ultimate, no-holds barred, gory battle to defeat the dark rule of Shao Kahn that threatens the very existence of the Earthrealm and its defenders.
Karl Urban stars as Johnny Cage, alongside Adeline Rudolph, Jessica McNamee, Josh Lawson, Ludi Lin, Mehcad Brooks, Tati Gabrielle, Lewis Tan, Damon Herriman, with Chin Han, Tadanobu Asano as Lord Raiden, Joe Taslim as Bi-Han, and Hiroyuki Sanada as Hanzo Hasashi and Scorpion.
Director Simon McQuoid returns to helm the follow up to his explosive 2021 cinematic adventure, from a screenplay by Jeremy Slater, based on the videogame created by Ed Boon and John Tobias. The film is produced by Todd Garner, James Wan, Toby Emmerich, E. Bennett Walsh and McQuoid, and executive produced by Michael Clear, Judson Scott, Slater and Lawrence Kasanoff.
Joining McQuoid behind the camera are director of photography Stephen F. Windon, production designer Yohei Taneda, editor Stuart Levy and costume designer Cappi Ireland, with casting by Rich Delia and music by Benjamin Wallfisch.
KPop Demon Hunters is a MASSIVE success, and the soundtrack topped the charts here in the USA. Geeky Sparkles talks about the movie, and some of her other recent KDrama picks.
A N I M A T R I X N E T W O R K Saturday, July 19, 2025
Fountaindale Public Library
VIEWING SCHEDULE
11:15 - 12:05 Apothecary Diaries - Season 2 eps 5-6
12:05 - 12:55 M.S. Gundam GQuuuuuuX eps 7-8
12:55 - 1:30 Club Meeting
1:30 - 2:20 Lazarus eps 7-8
2:20 - 3:10 The Super Cube eps 7-8
3:10 - 4:50 KPop Demon Hunters [Movie]
This is our Fight Song!
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 Solo Leveling
* ANIME DESCRIPTIONS ARE BELOW *
11:15 - 12:05 The Apothecary Diaries - Season 2 eps. 5-6
The Apothecary Diaries
Plot Summary:
Maomao visits the northern garden, where the madam at the Verdigris once performed for the former envoy. There, she encounters Shisui, who is collecting caterpillars that metamorphose into moths. These moths, when flying under the moonlight, create a sparkling effect, making the scene look otherworldly. Inspired by this, Maomao devises a plan with Shishui and Xiaolan's help. At the banquet, Maomao observes the two envoys, Ayla and Aylin. She suspects their intentions might involve a political marriage or a display of their peerless beauty, especially since their gift of mirrors to the concubines could be seen as a provocation. During the event, Ayla attempts to approach the emperor, shocking the court, but Aylin stops her. The banquet ends without them being impressed. However, as the envoys leave in their carriage, they witness a mesmerizing sight—a figure dancing under the moon, surrounded by glowing lights. When Ayla demands an explanation, Maomao names the figure "Diana", referencing a western moon goddess. As their carriage moves on, Maomao reveals the trick behind the illusion: the lights were actually male moths, drawn in using a scent trick originally meant to sabotage the madam's past performance. The true performer is Jinshi, whose identity was carefully concealed to complete the illusion. Later, Maomao contemplates on who might have conspired to introduce the scented oils that could have endangered Gyokuyou and Lihua's pregnancies. Jinshi considers the possibility that the special envoys were involved, as they had hoped to become concubines but were foiled when they were humiliated by the Moon Fairy act. Maomao believes Gyokuyou is the primary target and suspects Jin of attempting to poison her while pregnant with Lingli. She also theorizes that Suirei was the one who taught Jin about poisons, though her motives remain unclear—especially regarding why she targeted Jinshi. Maomao later discovers the clinic, separate from the doctor's office, where ladies-in-waiting would go to recuperate when ill, staffed only by older women, and is impressed with their professionalism and application of modern practices. When Maomao bumps into Jinshi just outside of the clinic, she suggests that the same should be applied at the doctor's office. However, it's not easy because only men are allowed to become doctors, and only doctors are allowed to perform certain functions such as the making of medicines, something Jinshi advises her to conceal. However, a supervisor at the clinic may have found out when Ailan, who has a cold, takes the medicine Maomao gave her.
12:05 - 12:55 Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX 7-8
Mobile Suit Gundam:GQuuuuuuX
Plot Summary:
Kycilia meets with Side 6 representatives to seek funding for the Yomagn'tho Solar Ray project and grows suspicious with the increased military police presence in Izuma. Meanwhile, Nyaan pilots the GQuuuuuuX and joins Shuji to fight Gates and Deux, the latter piloting a smuggled Psycho Gundam mobile armor, as the Cyber-Newtypes cause destruction in their mission to kill Kycilia. Amate tries to steal the Clan Battle prize money, but flees when Annqi calls her out on her recklessness and warns her dangerous predicament. Nyaan abandons the plan and asks Shuji to run away without Amate, as the Red Gundam unleashes another Zeknova and disappears, taking Shuji with it. Xavier defends Kycilia from Gates and Deux, and Challia kills the Cyber-Newtypes with his Kikeroga, proving his loyalty to Kycilia. Amate is branded as a fugitive by Side 6 and attempts to escape in the GQuuuuuuX, which starts responding to her frustrations, until she is subdued by Challia. He takes Amate and the GQuuuuuuX into his custody and begins planning to assassinate both Kycilia and Gihren to prevent a civil war, while Xavier finds Nyaan and invites her to serve under Kycilia. During the divert of Solomon, Char tries killing Kycilia when he is distracted by a Federation mobile suit piloted by his sister Artesia and becomes trapped in the collapsing asteroid base. Challia overhears Char talking to someone before Solomon is engulfed by the first Zeknova, while Kycilia is notified a test subject held by Granada codenamed the "Rose of Sharon" vanished. In the present, Nyaan is escorted around Granada by Xavier, who introduces her to classmate Miguel Serveto and the Gundam GFreD mobile suit. Nyaan learns its previous pilots were killed prior to testing and is informed by Xavier of the distrust between Kycilia and Gihren. They accuse Miguel of being a spy for Gihren behind the mysterious deaths. Miguel explains it is to prevent the GFreD from turning its pilots into "Diablos", when the GFreD's Psycommu responds to Nyaan's presence and kills him. Kycilia learns of the incident and strives to further train Nyaan in her goal to activate Yomagn'tho and replicate the Zeknova, as Xavier tells Nyaan about the GQuuuuuuX's escape to Earth. Meanwhile, an engineer named Shirouzu converses a researcher on Kycilia's projects and the search for the Rose of Sharon as they travel to Yomagn'tho.
12:55 - 1:30Club Announcements
Anime Midwest 2025
M3GAN 2.0
Elio
Jurassic World Rebirth
Superman
Trailers
Video Games
1:30- 2:20Lazarus (7-8)
LAZARUS
Plot Summary:
The last ice floe in the Arctic melts due to global warming. Lazarus remembers that Skinner predicted this event exactly three years before. Naga's memory bank analyzation is completed and outputs four oceanic coordinates in or near Manila Bay, the Maldives, the Sakishima Islands, and Tuvalu. Skinner purchased land from these coordinates shortly before they were submerged by rising sea levels a decade before. Doug goes to Manila, Axel goes to the Maldives, Leland goes to Sakishima, and Chris goes to Tuvalu. All four locations have something in common: most of the local residents suffered from a genetic form of analgesia; they cannot feel any pain. Skinner bought their islands to give them the money needed to relocate before they fully submerged. Eleina traces the money back to the defunct Hague Institute, where Hersch used to work under Skinner. Elsewhere, Hersch meets with Abel, who warns her that the U.S. Army Intelligence Corps is searching for Axel. Hersch believes that Skinner left a trail of clues because he wants to be found. Returning back to land in Fiji, Chris encounters a woman she recognizes who calls her out by her real name, Alexandra. Chris is taken prisoner by the Russian spy team she was once part of, led by agent Inga. At headquarters, the rest of Lazarus confronts Hersch about her past ties with Skinner. She admits to them. She also was recruited by the NSA. To rescue Chris, the team heads out to the oil rig in the Barents Sea that she is being held captive on. Axel infiltrates the rig and helps Eleina gain access to its systems, while Doug rams a remote-controlled tanker into the rig to provide a distraction, which also ignites a fire. Taking advantage of the chaos, Chris escapes her captors and reunites with Axel. As Axel departs to neutralize some of Inga's men, Inga confronts Chris. Chris admits that she faked her own death because it was the only way to escape Russia without having Inga also branded as a traitor and executed. Chris and Inga were lovers. Chris is willing to let Inga kill her. Inga, however, hesitates. One of Inga's men arrives and attempts to kill Chris, causing Inga to sacrifice herself by taking the bullet instead. Axel and Chris manage to escape the enflamed rig as it begins to collapse.
2:20- 3:10The Super Cube 7-8
THE SUPER CUBE
Plot Summary:
In an accident, an ordinary boy, Wang Xiaoxiu, obtains a space system called "Superpower Cube" from a high-latitude cosmic civilization and gains extraordinary powers. When the school belle, Shen Yao, Wang Xiaoxiu’s longtime crush, confesses her love to him, the delinquent Sun Jun, who also has a crush on her, is provoked. Wang Xiaoxiu resolves the crisis with his wit and extraordinary powers, but it also brings more disasters as a result. Shen Yao is taken to the world of extraordinary beings by a mysterious person, and Wang Xiaoxiu embarks on a journey to rescue her. Fighting in the bizarre universe, he finds the meaning of fairness and justice on the path to becoming a peerless powerhouse.
3:10- 4:50KPop Demon Hunters [Movie]
KPOP DEMON HUNTERS
Plot Summary:
For generations, demons preyed upon humans, feeding their souls to their ruler Gwi-Ma. A group of three women rose as demon hunters and sealed the demons from the human world by creating a magic barrier known as the Honmoon. Their legacy continued across generations, with each new trio using their singing voices to maintain the Honmoon.
In the present, the K-pop girl group Huntr/x – comprising Rumi, Mira, and Zoey – are demon hunters under the guidance of Celine, a previous hunter who raised Rumi. After completing their world tour, Huntr/x prepare to release a new single, "Golden", until Rumi begins losing her voice due to secretly being part demon, which only Celine knows. As a child, Celine told Rumi the complete eradication of demons will turn the Honmoon gold, a final seal that could permanently banish them and possibly erase her demon patterns.
In the demon realm, Gwi-Ma grows enraged at his minions' failures. A demon named Jinu proposes a new strategy to form a K-pop boy group, the Saja Boys, to drain fans' energy and weaken the Honmoon, in exchange for Gwi-Ma erasing his human memories. Huntr/x encounter the Saja Boys and quickly uncover their true nature, but fail to stop them during a scuffle. Jinu discovers Rumi's demon nature as they fight, but helps hide it from her bandmates.
Meeting privately, Jinu tells Rumi that demons are enslaved by feelings of shame and sorrow through voices from Gwi-Ma. He reveals that 400 years earlier, Gwi-Ma granted him a beautiful voice that helped him and his family emerge from poverty but then condemned him to the demon realm; Jinu now lives with guilt over his family's subsequent downfall.
As the Idol Awards approach, Huntr/x rush to produce a new song, "Takedown", to expose the Saja Boys, while the boy group's popularity skyrockets. Mira grows suspicious of Rumi when she questions if "Takedown" is too hateful toward demons. Torn between her identities, Rumi proposes a plan to Jinu: If he helps Huntr/x win the Idol Awards and strengthen the Honmoon, he could freely stay in the human world.
As the Honmoon weakens and more people have their souls stolen by demons, Mira insists to Rumi they prioritize saving lives over rewriting "Takedown". Rumi confides in Jinu that her shame over her heritage weakened her voice, but talking with him has healed it. After singing together, Jinu in turn confides that he no longer hears voices, and resolves to sabotage the Saja Boys' plan. However, Gwi-Ma summons Jinu, reminding him of their deal and the truth he hides – that he willingly abandoned his family when he gained fame – before threatening to return the tormenting voices unless he does his bidding....
Kenji is a shy, part-time moderator for OZ, the virtual reality world that powers everyday life, until pretty and popular Natsuki recruits him to be her fake boyfriend. While posing as an affluent suitor to Natsuki’s family, Kenji finds that a rogue A.I. program has stolen his online identity, and Kenji is accused of hacking OZ and causing real-world catastrophes. As the destruction in OZ throws Natsuki’s family into disarray, Kenji must unite his newfound connections to overcome an impending cyber apocalypse.
In theatres July 27-29
Against a backdrop of stunning countryside vistas and virtual spaces bursting with color, Summer Wars is a timeless epic that explores life in the digital age from Academy Award®-nominated director Mamoru Hosoda (BELLE).
A group of six friends is transported from a theme park ride into a magical realm filled with dragons, dark sorcery, and perilous quests. Gifted unique weapons by the mysterious Dungeon Master, the kids become heroes in this strange land, each with a role — Ranger, Magician, Acrobat, Cavalier, Thief, and Barbarian. Together, they seek a way home while facing the evil Venger, battling monsters, and uncovering the realm’s secrets. Along the way, they must rely on their wits, courage, and each other to survive this enchanted and dangerous world.
In Your Dreams is an upcoming American animated musicaladventurefantasy comedy film directed by Alex Woo, and co-directed by Erik Benson from a script by Woo and Benson and a story by Woo, Benson, and Stanley Moore. The film stars Simu Liu, Craig Robinson, Cristin Milioti, Jolie Hoang-Rappaport, Elias Janssen, Gia Carides, Omid Djalili, SungWon Cho, and Zachary Noah Piser. Produced by Netflix Animation and Kuku Studios, it is set for release on Netflix on November 14, 2025.
Stevie and her little brother Elliot journey into the wildly absurd landscape of their own dreams to ask the Sandman to grant them the perfect family.
Enslaved by an evil tyrant who wishes to destroy her people, barbarian huntress Red Sonja must unite a group of unlikely warriors to face off against Dragan the Magnificent and his deadly bride, Dark Annisia.
Red Sonja is an upcoming American sword and sorcery film directed by M. J. Bassett and written by Tasha Huo, based on the Marvel Comics/Dynamite character of the same name. The film stars Matilda Lutz as the title character, alongside Wallis Day, Robert Sheehan, Michael Bisping, Martyn Ford, Eliza Matengu, Rhona Mitra, and Veronica Ferres.
"The Water Magician" is an anime series that follows the adventures of Ryo, a character reincarnated in a fantasy world where he wields powerful water magic.
The story centers around Ryo, a young man who dies and is reincarnated in a magical world known as Phi. He possesses the ability to use water magic, which he initially believes will allow him to live a peaceful life. However, Ryo quickly finds himself in a challenging environment filled with monsters and dangers. He must learn to harness his abilities to survive and thrive in this new world.
As Ryo navigates his new life, he trains for twenty years, developing his skills and encountering various characters, including adventurers and formidable foes. His journey is marked by battles, friendships, and the quest for knowledge about his powers and the world around him.
Freshly arrested, Chiharu and Makina are sentenced to scrub the Milky☆Subway.
It was supposed to be simple. Spoiler: it’s not.
Arrested for reckless space driving, super human Chiharu and cyborg Makina are sentenced to clean the Milky☆Subway—an old interplanetary train. Easy enough, right? Wrong. When the train suddenly takes off, they are thrown into a high-speed space-train spectacle packed with chaos, no plans, and zero strategy. Just pure momentum!
Ruri Rocks (Japanese: 瑠璃の宝石, Hepburn: Ruri no Hōseki; lit. 'Ruri's Jewels'), also known as Introduction to Mineralogy, is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Keiichirō Shibuya. The story features high school student Ruri, a girl who loves minerals and jewelry who meets graduate student Nagi, fostering an interest in mineralogy. It has been serialized in Enterbrain's seinen manga magazine Harta since August 2019, with its chapters collected into five tankōbon volumes as of September 2024. An anime television series adaptation produced by Studio Bind is set to premiere in July 2025.
Virgin Punk: Clockwork Girl Conditions for Receiving Bounty:
Bring the brain of a wanted criminal possessing illegal Somadea to authorities. Whether the target is alive or dead… is irrelevant.
The year is 2099. Humanity has advanced, overcoming all injuries and illnesses with the development of the Medical Android Technology “Somadea.” However, along with the development of Somadea, crimes misusing said technology have rapidly increased. Somadea grants physical abilities far superior to those of normal flesh and blood, and by illegally modifying it, Somadea can be misused for criminal purposes. To deal with these Somadea crimes, the government established the Bounty Hunter System. Civilians registered as bounty hunters are permitted to kill illegal Somadea users designated as wanted criminals by the police. In return, they are rewarded with large amounts of bounty money. In this unforgiving world, Ubu Kamigori makes a living hunting down criminals as a bounty hunter. But one day, when she returns home from a job, she finds the man with whom she has a sordid history waiting there – Mr. Elegance. And so, her destiny begins to unravel. A tale woven by mechanical girls and the smell of gunpowder smoke, this suspenseful action begins!
A Yasuomi Umetsu X SHAFT Collaboration Yasuomi Umetsu is an incredibly talented writer, director, and character designer from Japan who has captivated fans from all over the world with his unique worlds from works such as KITE (1998) and MEZZO FORTE (2000), among others. In recent years, he has worked in multiple capacities, including directing the opening and ending sequences of various popular titles and working as an animator. This occasion marks his return as animation director, for the first time in 10 years, with the title VIRGIN PUNK.
Animation studio SHAFT joins forces with Director Yasuomi Umetsu to animate the visuals for this title. The studio has created and gifted the world with much-loved titles such as Puella Magi Madoka Magica and the Monogatari series.
VIRGIN PUNK is the progeny of Yasuomi Umetsu and SHAFT, an entirely original animation series created and planned by this talented team.
Yuya Takahashi, a screenwriter known for his work on the Kamen Rider series and drama Mountain Doctor, takes the reins of the script. Maximizing the unique animated expressions found in VIRGIN PUNK, he depicts the anguish experienced by Ubu, the story’s protagonist, who must live her life as a bounty hunter, painting a story of the intense characters that draw her in with their desires and chaos, interwoven into her life.
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.
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.
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.
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...
