Ghibli fans will be happy to hear that Ghibli World, one of those crazy huge Ghibli fansites, is the proud host of the latest trailer for the upcoming Ghibli opus Gedo Senki. The trailer was originally recorded from the television show "Zoom In Super" and is currently only available in Windows Media format, and it comes in two sizes. Tall and Viente[WMV]! Or something! I hate ordering coffee these days. I miss "large," you know?
P.S. Having some website issues today due to the host. Not sure what that's all about. Plus, work is hectic, so Weekend Rollup on Monday will cover today as well, since there is still lots of news, especially about trailers. Like this one right here for the Hellsing OAV.
As part of something called Freedom Project, which is dubbed "A story of freedom fighters set in the 23rd century," Otomo Katsuhiro has directed a commercial for Nissin's Cup Noodle. The 30-second long commercial is done in that extremely creepy and sort-of-gross 3D cel-shaded style, and was sort of mystifying in a way. At any rate, and on a redeeming note for the commercial itself, it features Utada Hikaru's "This is Love" which will be on her upcoming album, Ultra Blue Album. A… uh… fitting title indeed. Seriously though, I can't stand that 3D stuff. It creeps me out. 3D should be for realism, or at least for semi-abstract renderings. That stuff in the commercial is a little too uncanny valley for me.
In a move that I can only suggest is an intelligent one, the Kids WB channel has dropped all anime programs for the upcoming Fall lineup. In a press release that was sent outthis morning, the Kids WB channel announced that they were dropping all their anime titles. Well, that's not 100% accurate. It's more like they failed to announce that they would be continuing any of their shows. Surely, it is a time for celebration. Anyway, this announcement isn't too much of a surprise, considering recent proclamations suggesting that 4Kids was looking focus on a more American-created set of shows, so it's pretty common to see a major broadcast partner go in that direction themselves. We can see from this press release that Kids WB will be invoking their DC properties to milk some kids shows out of it, and maybe American kids can go back to watching well produced shows that were created for their own language, in their own language.
Your days are numbered cheap, dubbed anime! Bwahaaaaahaha! Full press release after the jump for those interested. I'm edgey and I kick ass and I'm from the future. You like anime? I'm anime all over shit pig[Some bad language].
Finally! I know I've been waiting for this one for a while, and of course you have too, even if you like 2000-tan better, you will still be excited to know that a date and price and finally been announced for Yuuyu's XP-tan PVC. Fine! I won't keep you in suspense any longer! She's set to come out in late August and she will cost you 6,090 yen. If you think that's a bad price, then you aren't my friend anymore because 1.) it's XP-tan, c'mon and 2.) she's a full 21.5 cm tall. That's a good size.
Yamato's Story Image Figure is probably one of the most prolific series of figures you could imagine, and it's pretty popular in the US due to the fact that's it one of the only companies with US distribution (as limited as it is). Anyway, the most recent announcement of additions to Yamato's SIF EX line is this lovely Sayaka Yumi figure from Mazinger Z. The 270mm tall figure has been announced for a release in late July and will cost you 7,140 yen when it drops.
A picture after the jump. It has pretty flowers on it. It's um, a bit NSFW but it's sort of hard to tell, so I posted on here anyway. PG-13, right? View at your own risk, or whatever.
Are you a fan of dubbed anime that's been edited for kids? Boy howdy, do I have good news for you then. Cartoon Netowrk and Viz Media are launching a free, broadband streaming service called Toonami Jetstream. The service is set to serve up full, free streaming episodes of all of the regular cast of characters from the Toonami lineup. To be more specific, expect to see Naruto, Samurai Jack (woohoo!), Hikaru no Go, MAR, and Prince of Tennis, with other series like Zoids Genesis planned for a later launch on the service.
That's the long and short of it, but I feel it's necessary to point out that some of those shows — namely MAR, Tennis no Ouji-sama, and Hikaru no Go (oh and basically everything else) — will be airing on this net station, in dubbed only format, at the expense of seeing a retail DVD release, until such a time as Viz feels like it. You may remember that I told you this would happen. Oh well. You can read the full press release after the jump. It's pretty long though.
Ok, I'm not sure who reported this, or who maybe thought it was true, but apparently, someone has been spreading the rumor that Animage was going to announce that Lindsay Lohan (*vomit*) and Joss Whedon (*cheer*) would be working on a Fox funded live-action Sailor Moon movie. Apparently anyone who took this seriously has absolutely no idea who Joss Whedon is and the sort of material he tends to work with. To add to that, they also have no idea who big of a worthless skank Lohan is, meaning I should hope that Whedon would have the good sense not to ever go near her, professionally or otherwise. Anyway, it's not true, and doesn't even remotely sound true.
In what is a sure sign that anime is moving on up — you know, to the East Side. Something about an apartment. — the first episode of the much hyped anime Tokko will be shown at the Cannes Film Festival. The episode will be screened twice, subtitled, during the 11 day festival, both on the 19th and the 23rd of May. Also appearing will be a subtitled trailer for Le Chevalier D'Eon (how appropriate) The festival is set to take place from May 17th until May 28th, and will be the 59th year that it has run. Or, maybe it's just the 59th festival. That's not really important. These are French people after all. (I only kid, France is a nice place. Viva la France.)
Man, I'm just not having good days lately. You know? I totally walked out of the office to go to the bathroom and as soon as the door clicked shut I was like "Shit!" I mean, who locked their keys in an office? It's embarrassing. I was planning to get the weekend rollup done right after that. But at least I'm doing it now! Next week will be different! Anyway, on to the rolley polley uppey… duppey? Yeah, I hate it when I do that too.
Anime/Manga
In somewhat depressing first news, Animate Group bought up Biblos' yaoi stuff. So it will still make its way to the market. WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE?!
They're just trying to depress me to death, I swear. Hip hop idiot Kanye "Big Retarded Douche" West has gotten it in his mind to capitalize on the popularity of that Black Panthers cartoon show on Adult Swim and make a manga-style attrition. He will be offending your senses with the help of strung-out loser for life Bill Plympton. Hey, I liked The Tune as much as the next guy, but leave it at that, you know?
Idoru, a book by the guy who wrote the short story on which Johnny Mnemonic was based, is being turned into a *sigh* "Japanese anime film." The story also names a writer that doesn't sound terribly Japanese, but names no production company, so chances are pretty good that this will be another American farce passing itself off something else. American fans are expected to file into the theaters in an orderly fashion and make idiotic fangirl/boy comments throughout the course.
Sorry about that. It's just… it's a downward spiral we're in right now. I need to move.
Yoshino Sakura for a more reasonable 5,040 yen. Both of these are from Volk and in late May.
Griffin's Estelle Blanche resin kit from the Trinity Blood. We had some news about that in the US recently, I seem to recall. She'll also be outi n late May for 9,975 yen. God resin kits hurt the wallet.
And lastly among those is the Mai-HiME resin kit featuring Natsuki and Shizuru. Also due out in late May and will run 10,290 yen.
Due out in July from Kotobukiya is this Kattsu PVC. It will run you a scant 2,940 yen, stands 15cm tall and promises not to pop out of her dress at any important social functions.
Nina Williams, you know, that lady from Tekken and the oft maligned Death by Degrees, has a PVC coming out in July for only 3,360 yen.
I swear, Kotobukiya is going for the biggest poliferation award, because here's some more figures. This time from Pia Carrot he Youkoso G.O. First is Kugahara Mimori (my favorite). Second is Yaegashi Kanae. Both are due out in late August and will run you 4,410 yen.
Ok, there's more than this, but this is the last one I will do for today. Yes, it's yet another Kotobukiya figure. This time it's Fiina Fam Aashlight from Youake Mae Yori Ruri-iro na. She's due out in August and also runs 4,410.
Now on sale
Sexy, sexy Max Factory 1/8 scale Aishia from D.C.S.S. She will run you 4,500 yen.
Got some Kotobukiya next. Mmmm. More like KotoBOOTYkiya.
The first one is this 1/8 scale Sonora PVC from Summon Night 3. I need more money. You guys send me some money. I only need 3,990 yen. C'mon.
And lastly, is this Kotobukiya set of trading figures. When will To Heart 2's reign of figure-based terror end? Hopefully never. These are some expertly carved trading figures. I mean, you know. Nice stuff. They will run you 6,300 yen for the set.
Bam! Done! That took forever and there is still more. I mean, feel free to browse on over to HobbyNet and look at all the stuff they have listed, but posting a Weekend Rollup at 23:15 is cutting it a bit close anyway. Anyway, I will maybe post some more figure bits tomorrow to catch a bit of that up and have more complete news, but I am a teribly busy man. I barely have time for the lot of you. I'm just kidding! Don't leave! I still love you!
Do you guys like the format? You know, normal posts during the week and a Weekend Rollup on Monday? I mean, I do it this way because I sort of have to, but do you like it? Which sort of posts do you prefer? I'd just like to know for sake of information. Do you like the witty banter of the long posts or the info blast of the Weekend Rollups? Are the full pictures after jumps a nice feature? FEEDBACK PLZ!
Monday's just haven't been good days for me lately. I'll have to put the Weekend Rollup together later tonight, as I locked all the stuff I had prepared in my office along with the keys to said office. So now, instead of writing figure and anime news, some of which pisses me off very, very much(I'm looking at you Kanya West), I am watching Amaenaideyo and sipping chocolate milk. It's a hard life, I know. But I'll get down to business later, when I can, so don't fret, just check back later.
