anime

FUNimation has announced an indefinite hiatus on the continued release of Dragon Ball Z on Blu-ray. The “Level 2.1″ disc scheduled for release on March 27 will not be released. FUNimation has explained, “Due to technical challenges of restoring from the original film frame by frame, we are unable to continue these releases by way of this process.” FUNimation expects to research more practical and commercially viable means of remastering the Dragon Ball Z anime for future Blu-ray release.

I suppose this is going to push the after-market value of the domestic Dragon Boxes even higher than they already are, unless FUNi reverses its memoriam decision and begins reprinting them.

Source: Anime News Network

NIS America has announced its acquisition of Sunrise’s current slice-of-life gag comedy TV series Daily Lives of High School Boys (Danshi Kokosei no Nichijo). Specifics of the release have not been confirmed yet. The series premiered on January 9.

In September 2011, Viz Media announced that it had contracted marketing & placement company T3 Networks Inc. to market Viz anime titles to television networks and film distributors. T3 Networks Inc. announced earlier this week that it had ceased all business operations, explaining, “We lack the sales, personnel and additional resources essential to continue operations as a business.”

Source: Anime News Network

Cowboy Bebop director Shinichiro Watanabe is helming the anime adaptation of Yuki Kodama’s drama manga Sakamichi no Apollon. The April Noitamina series tells the story of an introverted intellectual high school boy in the 1960s who finds common ground through jazz music with his new school’s female class president and a delinquent boy. The manga was the winner of the “Best General Manga” category in this year’s prestigious Shogakukan Manga Awards. The anime from studio MAPPA/Tezuka Productions is an all-star production reuniting director Watanabe with Cowboy Bebop music composer Yoko Kanno. Nobuteru Yuki (Escaflowne, Paradise Kiss) provides character design. Ayako Katoh (Chihayafuru) & Yuuko Kakihara (Persona 4 the Animation) are co-writing the scripts. Yoshimitsu Yamashita (Hyoge Mono) is serving as animation director. Shinichiro Watanabe hasn’t directed a full anime production since helming his “Baby Blue” segment of the 2007 anthology film Genius Party.

Can’t say that I immediately like the CG animation, but this is already assured of being one of 2012′s most acclaimed and respected shows simply based on its pedigree. It is certainly nice to see Noitamina getting back to unconventional adult oriented anime.

Source: Anime News Network

Gekkan Flowers Magazine has formally announced the development of an anime based on Aloha Higa’s lady’s comedy manga Shirokuma Café (Polar Bear Café). The slice-of-life gag comedy revolves around the animal patrons that visit a Café run by a polar bear. The manga premiered in 2006 and has three collected volumes. The anime adaptation will premiere in April.

Source: Anime News Network

Nico Nico Douga has announced plans to simulcast next month’s Black Rock Shooter television series online with subtitles in eight languages. The show will premiere on the Fuji TV network’s Noitamina programming block on February 2. The show will debut online at 11:00pm on February 3 for online viewers in the United States, Canada, France, Belgium, Monaco, Switzerland, Andorra, Italy, Germany, Spain, Mexico, Chile, Argentina, South Korea, Taiwan, China, and Singapore.

Source: Anime News Network

The teaser trailer for AIC’s TV series adaptation of Ishiki’s four-koma gag manga Acchi Kocchi (Place to Place) originally released last month is now streaming on the series’ official website. The daily life school comedy will premiere this April.

Source: Moon Phase

Kadokawa has released a streaming ad for the Japanese home video release of the Sora no Otoshimono: Tokei-jikake no Angeloid motion picture which confirms that the anime franchise is getting a third TV series.

Source: Anime News Network

Weekly Shonen Sunday magazne will formally announce next week that the 47th collected volume of Shun Matsuena’s Shijo Saikyo no Deshi Kenichi (History’s Strongest Disciple Kenichi) will be released in May in a limited edition including the franchise’s second OVA. The first OAD will be released on March 14, bundled with limited edition copies of the 46th volume of the manga. Unlike the 50 episode TV series from 2006 that was animated by TMS Entertainment, the OVAs will be animated by Brains Base (Kurenai, Baccano).

Strictly speaking, these anime releases are actually OADs, but Shogakukan identifies them as “OVA” format.

Source: Anime News Network

Developer Imageepoch and distributor Bandai/Namco Games have released a streaming teaser trailer for the upcoming Playstation 3 animation RPG Tokitowa. The game’s FMV sequences along with character movement and battle animation is entirely animated in HD by studio Satelight (Aquarion, Macross F).

Source: Anime News Network

Director Goro Miyazaki’s second film, Studio Ghibli’s Kokuriko-Zaka Kara (From Up On Poppy Hill) was Japan’s highest grossing domestic film of 2011, bringing in 4.46 billion yen ($57.6 million USD). The film came in fourth in Japanese 2011 box office receipts behind Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part Two, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, and Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol. Goro Miyazaki’s first film, 2006′s Ged Senki, was also the top grossing Japanese film of its release year.

Seven out of 2011′s top ten grossing Japanese films were anime or manga related:

1. Kokuriko-Zaka Kara 3. Pokemon movie 14 5. Gantz 6. Kaibutsu-kun 7. Detective Conan: Quarter of Silence 8. Gantz 2: Perfect Answer 10. Doraemon: New Nobita and the Iron Men Platoon

Source: Tokyograph

Question: If you owned a television network and had carte blanche to put any anime on you wanted to at anytime you wanted which ones would you choose?

Answer: Following a bit of consideration over this question, I realize that I probably wouldn’t be a good programming executive because my ideal line-up is too eclectic and idealistic to be practically effective. After a few minutes of thought, I realized that if I had carte blanche to program a television network of anime the way I wanted, I’d envision a network that encapsulated the spirit of anime. I’d select many of the shows that influenced, intrigued, and inspired me; shows that contributed to forming my perception of anime.

From the 1960s, I’d pull titles like Goku no Daiboken, Ribon no Kishi, Gegege no Kitarou, Sasuke, and Dororo because they’re stylish, creative, and simply still very fun to watch even by today’s standards.

From the 1970s, I’d want influential, memorable titles like Matsumoto’s Uchu Senkan Yamato, Uchu Kaizoku Captain Harlock, and Ginga Tetsudo 999. I’d also select landmarks titles like Cutey Honey, Shin Lupin III, and Shinzo Ningen Casshan because they’re good, and they contributed to the tone and style of modern anime. I’d select Sasurai no Taiyo, Muteki Chojin Zambot 3, and Tosho Daimos because they’re good shows that reflect the spirit and feeling of their time. For the same reason, I’d pick Chojin Sentai Baratack. It’s not one of the best 70′s robot anime, but it’s the one which most epitomizes 70′s robot anime in my mind. I’d also love to expose more viewers to the Manga Nihon Mukashi Banashi series that’s little known in America but far ahead of its time in terms of esoteric, experimental, stylish animation techniques and design.

From the 1980s I’d largely select shows that I think emblemize the spirit of the golden era of anime: Sue Cat, Urusei Yatsura, Taiyo no Kiba Dougram, Patalliro, The Kabocha Wine, Tokimeki Tonight, Macross, Stop!! Hibari-kun!, Cat’s Eye, Tokuso Kihei Dorvack, Tongari Boshi no Memoru, Kyoshin Gorg, Dirty Pair, Aoki Ryusei SPT Layzner, What’s Michael, Kido Senshi Gundam Z, Maison Ikkoku & Ranma 1/2, City Hunter, Kimagure Orange Road, Chouon Senshi Borgman, Warau Salesman. Among these picks, Sue Cat, Patalliro, Stop! Hibari-kun, Tokimeki Tonight, What’s Michael, and Urusei Yatsura reflect the casual weirdness of 80′s anime. Dorvack isn’t one of the golden era’s greatest robot anime, but it epitomizes the look and style of golden era sci-fi anime better than most of its sibling shows. Warau Salesman may be one of the 1980′s best loved iconic characters that remains practically entirely unknown in America.

I divide the 1990s in half. From the first half, I’d pick titles including Fushigi no Umi no Nadia, Kingyo Chuuihou!, Mahou no Princess Minky Momo, Dragon Ball Z, Hime-chan no Ribbon, Ghost Sweeper Mikami, Akazukin Chacha, Mahou Kishi Rayearth, Fushigi Yuugi, and in substitute for the OVA series, the first Tenchi Muyo TV series. These are fun shows that begin to reveal the emerging sophistication of contemporary anime.

Beginning with Evangelion, my picks from the 1990s are divided into the mature, serious exceptional anime like Tenkou no Escaflowne, Kido Senkan Nadesico, Kido Senshi Gundam W, Shojo Kakumei Utena, Kenfu Denki Berserk, Hameln no Violin-Hiki, Seihou Bukyou Outlaw Star, Cowboy Bebop, and Serial Experiments Lain, then a selection of contrasting fun and unique shows that serve as a counterbalance: Kiko-chan Smile, Slayers, Momoiro Sisters, Popolocrois Monogatari, D4 Princess, and Soreike! Uchu Senkan Yamamoto Yohko.

Because I think that the 2000s are adequately represented with domestic DVD releases and largely aren’t that unfamiliar, I’d personally concentrate on contemporary anime that I consider forgotten and deserving, or shows deserving of re-evaluation. Among them: Miami Guns, Hidamari no Ki, Chikyu Bouei Kazoku, Jyuuni Kokuki, Saishu Heiki Kanojo, Princess Tutu, Hanada Shonen-shi, Air Master, Uchu no Stellvia, Futari wa Pretty Cure & Pretty Cure Max Heart, Fuujin Monogatari, Damekko Doubutsu, Gallery Fake, Fushigi Hoshi no Futago Hime, Hachimitsu to Clover, Ichigo Mashimaro, Renkin San Kyu Magical? Pokaan, Yakushiji Ryouko no Kaiki Jikenbo, Binbou Shimai Monogatari, and Shion no Ou.

I realize upon reflection that my own picks largely exclude shounen adventure anime. Shows like Yu Yu Hakusho, Naruto, One Piece, and Bleach may contribute to the popularity of anime, but in my mind they don’t contribute as much to the subconscious impression of what anime is. Sailor Moon is also not on my lists, possibly because its influence wasn’t especially strong on my own development as an otaku. While I think that a selection of titles like these would evoke a palpable impression of anime as a pulsing, maturing, creative entertainment medium, I’m not convinced that a large American audience would be eager to watch these shows in order to appreciate them individually and absorb the impression that they create collectively.

Whoa shit, Shu acting pretty badass there. I’m not dreaming this entire episode am I?

LOL wut. Oh man, this is getting pretty social commentary now isn’t it? But seriously, teh bloody fuck how they made that Genomic Resonance Counter thing and Tsugumi just had to conveniently pick it up from the terrorists last week who conveniently already have it somehow but no idea how the fuck to use and she conveniently manages to figure out the exact thing it was. They really have horrible composition skills.

Man, I sure didn’t expect Haruka to join the dark side. She does know her own son is trapped in there and she’s helping the same people trying to kill him… right?

Lots of Tsugumi this week, which makes me very very happy.

Oh man, her Void. Or more like how she pulls it out.

<+sagematt> From now on I shall only refer to “plot devices” as “voids”.

I have to say, I’m inclined to agree.

Best omake art yet so far. Oh man, that Void is certainly abusable.

Well, this episode is probably the most decent yet so far since…. the episode where Haruka got introduced? Still that isn’t saying much, but I will grudgingly admit Shu finally did something on his own accord this week.

Still I’m not liking how the show is going with the “convenient” magic tool that allows Void powers to be ranked. I mean, the whole time we’ve been shown Voids as some kind of plot hax that allows the characters to conveniently bypass certain obstacles or give them some magic ability so it feels kinda stupid to suddenly have a tool that “conveniently” spits out a numerical figure to rank them. And then Shu’s giving in to Yahiro’s “help” with his governance of the school. Not a very good idea when he’s a backstabbing, drug-pushing psychopath. Really, Shu, you have shitty taste in friends.

Oh well, no point griping about it since Shu’s still fucking retarded after all, even if he can pull off some cool stunts. I’m sure allowing Yahiro to run shit for him is going to backfire gloriously soon enough. In fact, the next episode preview has a shot of Shu lying on the ground all beaten up and shit. I’m going to prep a nice bottle for next week’s episode…

©2012 Kurogane's Anime Blog. All Rights Reserved.

Ah! Now I know why they decided on marine biology for their university course.

Yay, Nanasaki next week! Finally!

©2012 Kurogane's Anime Blog. All Rights Reserved.

Well fuck, never knew macaroons could be sexy.

And that’s all the fanservice you will get from this episode.

Also I certainly wouldn’t feed any three year old fried chicken and chips. And Miu, stop hugging your uncle every other scene!

©2012 Kurogane's Anime Blog. All Rights Reserved.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, That saved a wretch like me, I once was lost but now am found, Was blind, but now, I see.

Begining with Episode 40, Eureka sevenN starts its final opening sequence for the series. The opening verse from the song is from a iconic 18 century song “Amazing Grace”. Amazing grace is a song with a “message that forgiveness and redemption are possible regardless of the sins people commit.” In the homestretch of the show, redemption and love is found for three of our protagonists; Captain Jurgens, Lieutenant Dominic, and Anemone.

T’was Grace that taught my heart to fear. And Grace, my fears relieved. How precious did that Grace appear The hour I first believed.

Jurgens captains the ship Izumo. In Episode 44, while visiting Warsaw, we find that Jurgens lost is wife and daughter in the war. These loses hardened Jurgens, and he typically follows orders without question. But while visiting Warsaw, his home town, he begins reading the last issue of Ray=Out. In this, he finds truth in the situation. His eyes are finally opened, and his belief in truth renewed, when he learns of Dewey’s, and his path to redemption begins. In the following episode, He makes the choice to join Gekkostate, and begins his fight against Dewey. His final act in Episode 49 is to take in the Ageha Squad, as reparations for his actions leading to the current state of the world.

 Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come; ‘Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far and Grace will lead me home

Warsaw is also a turning point for Lieutenant Dominic. Dominic finally makes his move with Anemone in Episode 43, only to be rejected. In his downtrodden state, Dewey terminates Dominic’s assignment to Anemone, and is ordered to find her replacement. In Warsaw, he visits the Novac Foundation, which experiments on girls with Desperation Disease. When he witnesses the sick experiment, and the death of all three subjects, he reaches his limit. He decides then to fight against Dewey, and confess his love to Anemoe. In Episode 48, He purposefully risks his life to chase after her, to confess his love. He rushes through an opening made by Dewey to reach her below the surface, wrecking his ship along the way.

  Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail, And mortal life shall cease, I shall possess within the veil, A life of joy and peace.

In this episode we see Anemone at her emotional bottom pit , a point of utter despair, her confidence wiped out. GhostLightning expresses how heartbreaking this is. Her dialogue revels it all:

Someone on my mind? I had someone. Yeah, past tense. I think about how I should have told him how I felt. I want to live, to give so many feelings to people. He isn’t with me any more! It’s too much. It’s too much!

But Dominic’s selfless act, risking his life on a hope that his love will be returned, is enough to convince Anemone to stop her attack, and finally return his feelings of love for her. Both can now find rebirth in the new world order that is about to begin.

When we’ve been here ten thousand years Bright shining as the sun. We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise Than when we’ve first begun.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, That saved a wretch like me, I once was lost but now am found, Was blind, but now, I see.

Begining with Episode 40, Eureka sevenN starts its final opening sequence for the series. The opening verse from the song is from a iconic 18 century song “Amazing Grace”. Amazing grace is a song with a “message that forgiveness and redemption are possible regardless of the sins people commit.” In the homestretch of the show, redemption and love is found for three of our protagonists; Captain Jurgens, Lieutenant Dominic, and Anemone.

T’was Grace that taught my heart to fear. And Grace, my fears relieved. How precious did that Grace appear The hour I first believed.

Jurgens captains the ship Izumo. In Episode 44, while visiting Warsaw, we find that Jurgens lost is wife and daughter in the war. These loses hardened Jurgens, and he typically follows orders without question. But while visiting Warsaw, his home town, he begins reading the last issue of Ray=Out. In this, he finds truth in the situation. His eyes are finally opened, and his belief in truth renewed, when he learns of Dewey’s, and his path to redemption begins. In the following episode, He makes the choice to join Gekkostate, and begins his fight against Dewey. His final act in Episode 49 is to take in the Ageha Squad, as reparations for his actions leading to the current state of the world.

 Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come; ‘Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far and Grace will lead me home

Warsaw is also a turning point for Lieutenant Dominic. Dominic finally makes his move with Anemone in Episode 43, only to be rejected. In his downtrodden state, Dewey terminates Dominic’s assignment to Anemone, and is ordered to find her replacement. In Warsaw, he visits the Novac Foundation, which experiments on girls with Desperation Disease. When he witnesses the sick experiment, and the death of all three subjects, he reaches his limit. He decides then to fight against Dewey, and confess his love to Anemoe. In Episode 48, He purposefully risks his life to chase after her, to confess his love. He rushes through an opening made by Dewey to reach her below the surface, wrecking his ship along the way.

  Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail, And mortal life shall cease, I shall possess within the veil, A life of joy and peace.

In this episode we see Anemone at her emotional bottom pit , a point of utter despair, her confidence wiped out. GhostLightning expresses how heartbreaking this is. Her dialogue revels it all:

Someone on my mind? I had someone. Yeah, past tense. I think about how I should have told him how I felt. I want to live, to give so many feelings to people. He isn’t with me any more! It’s too much. It’s too much!

But Dominic’s selfless act, risking his life on a hope that his love will be returned, is enough to convince Anemone to stop her attack, and finally return his feelings of love for her. Both can now find rebirth in the new world order that is about to begin.

When we’ve been here ten thousand years Bright shining as the sun. We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise Than when we’ve first begun.

@joethepeacock looks great! very nice work

RT @joethepeacock: This is where we stopped on the new Ghost in the shell piece today. There's much more to do but for now whatcha think ...

@joethepeacock yeah, been following the project. great work!