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Dec 29 – Site Update - Posted By Adam
Anime News of the Week (12/24 - 12/30)
RIP Keiji Nakazawa
Keiji Nakazawa, the acclaimed author of the semi-autobiography manga Barefoot Gen, has died from complications brought on by lung cancer. He was 73. Nakazawa’s best known work told of his struggles as a six year-old following the bombing of Hiroshima, in which the majority of his immediate family was killed. The manga sold 6.5 million copies and was translated in ten different languages. In the words of the author, “Our generation must continue to tell of the horrors of atomic bombs and war.” Link
RIP Gerry Anderson
Gerry Anderson, best known for creating the children's show Thunderbirds, has died at the age of 83. Anderson's work was also well-received in Japan, where Thunderbirds was adapted into a popular anime series. Link
RIP Takashi Tanaguchi
Japanese voice actor Takashi Tanaguchi has died suddenly at the age of 65. His work included Montblanc Cricket from One Piece and Kōichi Komoda of Bokurano.
Sony Discontinues PlayStation 2
Sony Japan has announced that they would stop shipping PlayStation 2 consoles to retailers, signaling the unofficial death of the console. Since its premier in 2000, the console sold 150 million units worldwide, becoming the most popular home console in history. Link
Steins;Gate Creator Releasing Light Novel
Chiyomaru Shikura, known for creating the cult franchise Steins;Gate, announced that he will premier his first light novel, Occultic;Nine, in the spring. The story surrounds nine eccentric individuals who stumble upon a strange and sinister plot.
Live Action Fuan no Tane Coming Next Year
Famous horror manga Fuan no Tane ("The Seeds of Anxiety") has been greenlit as a live-action film, which will premier in 2013. The manga follows the unconnected stories of young protagonists who find their normal lives invaded by an inexplicable entity. The manga was partially inspired by the personal experiences of mangaka Masaaki Nakayama. Link
East Meets West In New Toyota Commercials
Japanese filmmaker Takeshi Kitano and French actor Jean Reno are seen together on film for the time in a series of Toyota commercials. One ad shows Reno as a reincarnation of Doraemon and Kitano as a reincarnation of Sengoku era warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
Inferno Cop Begins Streaming
We reported last week that Hiroyuki Imaishi has a new anime, Inferno Cop. This week, you can watch the first episode, “The Badge from Hell,” free on the YouTube AnimeBancho channel. Be warned, it's for mature audiences only. (Press "CC" for English subtitles.) Link
Lupin III Creator Returns With
A new anime by mangaka Kazuhiko Kato (also known as Monkey Punch), the creator of Lupin III, will premier in January. The anime, Bakamatsu Gijinden Roman, tells the feudal era story of Manjiro, a jack-of-all-trades who by night becomes the Robin Hood-esque Roman. This concept originally began as a pachinko game, of all things.
How Studio Ghibli Tackled Ni No Kuni
How did Studio Ghibli contribute its animation expertise to the upcoming PS3 game, Ni No Kuni? Watch the development diary video below.
Anime Releases
- Berserk: The Golden Age Arc I - The Egg of the King DVD/Blu-Ray/Collector's Edition (UK release)
- Gintama: The Movie DVD/R2 (English)
- Hakuoki: Record of the Jade Blood - Season 2 DVD (English)
- IDOLM@STER: Xenoglossia - Collection 2 DVD (Japanese)
- Mass Effect: Paragon Lost DVD (English)
- Persona 4: The Animation - Box 1 DVD/R2 (French)
Manga Release
- Oh My Goddess! Volume 43
