Mio Akiyama figure makes me drool
This gorgeous Mio figure by Alter is a 1/8th scale reproduction of the K-On lyricist and bassist. Can’t you feel the moooooe?
The figure is available for pre-order at play-asia. Hit the jump for more pictures.
Source: Sankaku Complex
Fall 2009 Anime Preview
Thanks to Chartfag who put together this wonderful visual reference there is a quick look at the upcoming Summer 2009 season. Click on the image for the full size:
The shows that I’m probably going to picked up right at the start of the season are the sequel to Darker Than Black, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, and the sequel to White Album.
Darker Than Black was a great show that suffered from an ending that, while climactic, answered none of the mysteries that the series had opened. Hopefully the sequel will pick up and carry the story to a satisfying conclusion.
Any video game enthusiast should know about Romance of the Three Kingdoms. If not from the classic Koei series of the same name then from the insanely popular Dynasty Warrior series it is hard to avoid being exposed to an adaptation of the classic novel. As a fan of all those games and the story itself I can’t wait to see this modern Anime adaptation. The show is a joint project with Japanese and Chinese studios. That fact should keep the Chinese authentic feel of the story intact.
While I was lukewarm on White Album it was a pretty entertaining story that had characters which I need to see finish their stories.
I’ll be checking out other shows in the Fall season but those three are the ones that I can’t avoid.
Iron Man and Wolverine Anime Trailers
Marvel and Japanese animation studio Madhouse have released trailers for anime based on popular comic book characters Iron Man and Wolverine. While these characters are well known in the states Marvel has decided to go a different direction for the Japanese adaptation. They describe it as “Popular Super Heroes redesigned and repurposed as emerging from the fabric of Japanese culture” which I’m going to assume means there is going to be much more MOOOOOOOOOE.
Marvel Anime Iron Man teaser
Marvel Anime Wolverine teaser
Source: SankakuComplex
New K-On! episode to ship with 7th disc!
K-On!’s official website has announced that the 7th Blu-Ray/DVD of the series will include a brand new episode. The new episode has been greenlit and is going into production to be released with the limited edition run of the final volume on January 20th 2010.
I like that the production companies are giving the consumer more incentive to purchase DVDs. But to only include it in a special edition, which I can only assume will be very expensive and possess an extreme resale value. With one hand the publishers are rewarding the fans and with the other they are punishing them. I’m still going to buy it, of course.
Source: AnimeNewsNetwork
Conan O’Brien raises the quality of English dubs…. slightly
I’ve made it very clear that I’m not a fan of English language dubs of anime. Especially with how far the quality of voice work has dropped since the anime explosion in the late 1990s. Acceptable dubs like Evangelion and Cowboy Bebop are things of the past. But we might be rescued by an unlikely source: Tonight Show Host Coana O’brien!
Conan and Andy Richter recently visited Bang Zoom Entertainment in Los Angeles and did some voice work for Manga Entertainment’s new dub of Ghost in the Shell. The two comics managed to improve both the American production of the anime and the script for the film. If the industry could afford actors as talented as Conan and Andy then perhaps anime would see a resurrection in the States.
But, alas, this was a one time deal and I don’t think we’re going to hear their voices or improvisations in the finished product. Masamune Shirow wouldn’t have approved of the pair anyway. Sigh… I’ll just have to stick to English subtitles.
It’s also very cool to see the awesome anime themed office space of Bang Zoom Studio. Probably the only opportunity that fans will get a tour.
The 1.311 Million Yen Lucky Star sketch
A sketch of Lucky Star’s Kagami by illustrator Naru Nanao went for 1,311,000 Yen (or about $14,000) at a Yahoo! Japan auction. The Sketch was given away for free in a random drawing among readers of the magazine COMPTIQ. Nanao made the drawing to celebrate the end of the Lucky Star anime even though Nanao wasn’t involved with the series.
While it is a rare sketch I think paying so much for a drawing is a little extreme in the digital age. I don’t think anything would make me pay so much for a picture…. or anything short of a house. Even the car I want cost under $13,000….new!
Source: AnimeNewsNetwork
Yutaka Yamamoto also hates “Endless Eight”
As one of the few people on the internet who isn’t in a blind rage at Kyoto Animation for running six “Endless Eight” episodes, episodes which bring the “time loop” science fiction trope to a new extreme, I can understand why there is such frustration since I also want the story to move on as well and explore more of the Haruhi story. But I also think that the stretching out of Endless Eight is a sign that we will have more Haruhi much sooner than distance between seasons 1 and 2.
Yamamoto-San admits to being part of the creation of the Endless Eight episodes but agrees that the arc should have been limited to two episodes. I think three would have been the sweet spot to hit… but I’m not a famous animation direction so what say to *I* have in the matter.
I have to give Yamamoto-San some credit for standing up and saying that the direction of the show is wrong but at the same time I’m a little reluctant to celebrate his bluntness because he no longer works for Kyoto Animation and has no impact on how Haruhi was produced. It feels like he is slapping Kyoto in the face by suggesting he could have done a better job.
Anyway, enjoy the video after the jump.
English Language Ponyo trailer
The new animated feature from master film marker Hayao Miyazaki, Ponyo, is getting a wide release in North America. Hayao Miyazki came out of semi retirement in 2003 to direct “Howl’s Moving Castle” and it seems like he isn’t going to stop making movies anytime soon.
The story is about a goldfish named Ponyo who becomes friends with a young boy and decides to live among the humans. However, once Ponyo makes the decision it creates a crack in an ancient magic spell that puts the world order in danger. The movie will open in US theaters on August 14th and will be fantastic. We’re talking about Hayao Miyazaki after all.
But the real reason to watch the trailer: Liam fucking Neeson
Hit the jump for the trailer
Trigun Movie Trailer
During Yasuhiro Nightow and Satoshi Nishimura’s panel at Anime Expo 2009 they revealed the new Trigun movie to the world for the first time eleven years after the end of the original series. The movie is based on an original story that looks like it takes place during the original series, not afterwards. Fans who have seen the show will know why after seeing the trailer.
The trailer doesn’t contain any information about a possible story or when we can expect the film to be released. The studio hasn’t even begun working on the film yet! Even if it is a little early to get excited it feels good to know that there is more Trigun at some point in our future.
Vanguard Princess allows you to watch adorable anime girls beat each other senseless
Vanguard Princess is a freeware 2D fighter developed by a former Capcom employee. The game features gorgeous animation and plenty of Moe. Best of all it’s free to download here. Enjoy your Fourth of July!
Source: Kotaku
