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    Anime News of the Week (1/27 - 2/2)

Hayao Miyazaki Wins Annie Award, Otomo Honored

At the 41st Annual Annie Awards, Hayao Miyazaki walked away with the award for Outstanding Writing In An Animated Film for The Wind Rises, defeating both Frozen and Monsters University in the category. The two big winners of the night were Frozen and Adventure Time, which were respectively the Best Animated Feature and Show of 2013. Finally, director Katushiro Otomo was honored with the Winston McCay award for lifetime achievement. Link

Hikaru Utada To Remarry

Singer/songwriter Hikaru Utada announced that she will remarry. The lucky man is Italian and Utada met him during her international travels. She also notes he is “sincerely loved by all friends” and has a “large, cheerful, bustling family, like one straight out of a manga.” Utada was previously married to film director Kazuaki Kiriya. Link

Upotte!! Dub Cast Announced

Sentai Filmworks has announced the English cast for the 2012 action anime, Upotte!!. The cast includes Genevieve Simmons, Brittney Karbowski, Emily Neves and Nancy Novotny. In addition, this marks the first role as voice director for longtime associate director Leraldo Anzaldua. Expect a DVD/Blu-Ray release on February 18. Link

Miyazaki Levels Complaint Against Industry

Famed director Hayao Miyazaki has recently become as well known for his controversial stances as he is for his iconic films. In a recent statement, he scorned the anime industry, saying the animators who are now in charge cannot animate correctly. The problem, he states, is from a flood of anime fans whose perception of humanity has been clouded by the otaku lifestyle and anime anatomy. Link

Miyazaki The Younger Returns

In lighter news, Goro Miyazaki (From Up on Poppy Hill) announced his latest project via an NHK interview. He is set to direct a series entitled Ronia The Robber’s Daughter, an adaptation of Astrid Lidgren’s children’s book. Studio Ghibli, in association with POLYGON PICTURES, will be producing. This mark’s Goro Miyazaki’s first venture into a full series. Link

Anime Under Ethics Investigation

The Japanese agency Broadcasting Ethic and Programming Improvement Organization (BPO) have accused a currently airing anime of excessive immorality. The title, Recently, My Sister is Unusual, has content that includes high school students referring to explicit sexual situations during a primetime slot. This has forced the show to be pushed to a later time and investigated by the BPO on decency violations. Link

And There’s The Bell

Mangaka Takuya Mitsuda has announced the end of his long running manga Buyudan. He cites poor sales as the reason behind this decision. Buyudan follows an honors student as he finds his way into the world of amateur boxing, becoming devoted to the sport. Link

The Moon, Revisited

In anticipation of the Sailor Moon reboot, a series of animators want to give the series a makeover unlike any other. "The Moon Animate! Make-Up Project" seeks to reanimate an entire episode of Sailor Moon (specifically Season1, Episode 38) with each animator getting different sections to showcase their style. All are welcome to take part in the undertaking. Link

Sony Could Fall To The Smartphone

Technology company Sony fell to an alarming position in the Japanese credit rating market. Credit analytic division Moody’s K.K. rated Sony’s unsecured bonds at a “junk level”, causing concern for an impending default. The reason is the smartphone market, which has forced Sony’s technology sector into obsolete territory. Link

Denver Broncos Linebacker Still Can Be The Very Best

After coming off a gut wrenching loss to the Seattle Seahawks, many will wonder how the Denver Broncos are taking it. Defensive linebacker Nate Irving might have the best response: just play some Pokémon X/Y. Prior to the big game, he was quoted in The Wall Street Journal that instead of partying in New York City, he used Pokémon to feel comfortable and relax. Irving also recounted his early childhood, which also consisted of Pokémon, and the reaction his team has had to his introverted habits. Link

What Makes An Anime?

PBS Idea Channel is at it again with the anime conversation. This time around, host Mike Rugnetta covers a hotly contested topic. Are programs like Avatar: The Last Airbender and Avatar: The Legend of Korra anime, despite not being created by or premiering in the country of Japan? More importantly, what is the definition of the term anime?

Senpai Club Is Not Your Average Anime

In almost a perfect response to Idea Channel’s video, a new anime by Studio Makebabi.es very well may change the definition of anime…forever (bit of an exaggeration). Senpai Club is the first anime inspired work from the country of Sweden. The shōjo gag title also boasts an entirely Japanese dub. Just don’t take it too seriously.

Anime industry Honors Late Icon

Last week, we mentioned the passing of Ichirô Nagai, a voice actor who work spanned 45 years. With news of his passing, many offered condolences and tributes. Warner Brothers Japan honored him as the Japanese voice actor for Professor Dumbledore in the Harry Potter film series, the Sosen Book Market in Tokyo honored him a father figure in anime, directors Hitoshi Nanba and Masaaki Yuasa created artworks of his likeness, and dozens of voice actors shared their experiences of Nagai. Link

RIP Masaaki Tsukada

Voice actor Masaaki Tsukada passed away on January 27 due to natural causes. He was 74. Tsukada was a chief force in the shōnen world, voicing Genryūsai in Bleach, Toto in One Piece, General Grumman in Full Metal Alchemist, and Wang in The Irresponsible Captain Taylor. Voice actor Masakazu Morita spoke on his experiences regarding Tsukada, saying the late actor would affectionately call him Ichigo during recording sessions. He also noted that Tsukada always had on a smile when talking to co-stars. Link

Anime Premieres

  • HappinessCharge PreCure!
  • Little Busters! EX

Anime Releases

  • Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan: Demon Capital - Set 1 DVD/Blu-Ray (English)
  • Sword Art Online - Part 2 DVD/Blu-Ray (UK Release)

Manga Releases

  • Attack on Titan Volume 11
  • Gantz Volume 30

Video Game Releases

  • A Short Tale of Solitude (PC) (USA/EU/AUS)
  • Broken Age (PC) (USA/EU/AUS)
  • Dogs of War Online (PC) (USA/EU/AUS)
  • Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Z (PS3/360/VITA) (USA/EU)
  • Dustforce (PS3/360) (USA/EU/AUS)
  • Halo: Spartan Assualt (360) (USA/EU)
  • Life Goes On (PC) (USA/EU)
  • Loadout (PC) (USA/EU/AUS)
  • Luxuria Superbia (PC) (USA/EU)
  • Naurto Shippūden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 Full Burst (PC) (USA/EU)
  • Octodad: Dadliest Catch (PC) (USA/EU/AUS)
  • Our Darker Purpose (PC) (USA/EU/AUS)
  • Rekoil (360) (USA/EU/AUS)
  • Rymdkapsel (PC) (USA/EU/AUS)
  • Shadowrun Returns: Dragonfall (PC) (USA/EU)
  • Strike Vector (PC) (USA/EU/AUS)
  • Ten Thousand (360) (USA/EU)
  • The Castle Doctrine (PC) (USA/EU/AUS)
  • Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition (PS4/ONE) (USA/EU)
  • Unreal Land (360) (USA/EU)
  • X Rebirth (PC) (USA)
  • Worms: The Revolution Collection (PS3) (USA/EU)

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