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Bleach Anime Film Stars' Australian Tour a Massive Success

Apr 24th 2012

To celebrate the Australian premiere of the latest film in the much beloved anime franchise Bleach, entitled Bleach the Movie: Hell Verse, voice actor Masakazu Morita (voice of lead character Ichigo Kurosaki) and director Noriyuki Abe travelled to Australia to share in the celebration at the Gold Coast Film Festival presented by Australia Fair Shopping Centre. Their visit was a massive success.

Holding a masterclass on anime production, the pair was met with spirited questioning from adoring fans who have followed the series since it began as a manga (graphic novel) and has evolved into film, toys, and a highly regarded television series that has produced over 350 episodes in only eight years.

The real highlight came in the screening of two Bleach films: Bleach the Movie: Fade to Black, the latest Bleach film to see release in Australia, as well as the Australian premiere of Bleach the Movie: Hell Verse, near a year before it is set to see home distribution. The screening of Hell Verse proved so popular with fans festival organizers have arranged an encore screening of the film on Saturday 28 April at 12.30pm at Birch Carroll and Coyle Australia Fair Cinemas.

Fans also had a chance to interact with the pair at Supanova Pop Culture Expo where the pair proved huge fan favourites.

In their spare time, Mr Morita and Mr Abe took in the Gold Coast attractions, beach and scenery including a JPT Glow Worm Night Tour. Travelling to the Natural Bridge cave and waterfall, the pair was met with the sight of glow worms like stars in the night sky. A spectacular sight to behold on one of the most popular tours in the Gold Coast region, both were amazed by the experience.

The Gold Coast Film Festival presented by Australia Fair Shopping Centre, will be held April 19- 29 at Birch Carroll and Coyle Cinemas at Australia Fair Shopping Centre in Southport. Gold Coast City Council's Film Gold Coast is the major Government sponsor of the event. The full program of films and events available now at www.gcfilmfestival.com

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column

11 comments

This Week in Anime - What's Weekly Shonen Jump's Next Big Manga?

Apr 25, 13:00

11 comments

manga

Some of Shonen Jump's biggest manga hits are approaching their end. Does the magazine have new heavy-hitters lined up to take up the mantle? ― Some of Shonen Jump's biggest manga hits are approaching their end. Does the magazine have new heavy-hitters lined up to take up the mantle? Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the participants in this chatlog are not the views of Anime News Netwo...

news

7 comments

Voice Actor Takaaki Seki Dies at 54

Apr 25, 09:18

7 comments

people

Seki voiced Shutaro Kiba in Mōryō no Hako, Zhang Fei in Sōten Kōro ― Talent agency En-kikaku announced on Tuesday that voice actor Takaaki Seki died on April 15 due to esophageal cancer. He had been undergoing medical treatment. He was 54. There was a funeral held for close relatives. Seki was born in Osaka, Japan on November 5, 1969. He entered the En Theater Institute in 1995 and joined Engeki Shūd...

column

9 comments

The ANN Aftershow - Will You Watch Solo Leveling Season 2?

Apr 24, 18:00

9 comments

anime

James and Lynzee reflect on the end of Solo Leveling and whether its worldbuilding is worth its edgy turn. PLUS: The big monsters of Kaiju No. 8, & court intrigue in Yatagarasu! ― Will You Watch Solo Leveling Season 2? James and Lynzee reflect on the end of Solo Leveling and whether its worldbuilding is worth its edgy turn. PLUS: The big monsters of Kaiju No 8, court intrigue in Yatagarasu, and a li...

review

Dark Moon: The Blood Altar Volumes 1-2 Manhwa Review

Apr 24, 12:00 manga

Some books are good. Some books read like self-insert fanfiction from the early days of AO3, but you can't stop reading and enjoying them. Dark Moon: The Blood Altar is one of those. ― Some books are good. Some books are not and read sort of like self-insert fanfiction from the early days of AO3, but even though you recognize that they aren't objectively filled with literary merit, you can't stop rea...

interview

2 comments

Interview: Voice Actors Rika Hayashi and Hiroki Tōchi Talk About Their New Golf Anime, Tonbo!

Apr 24, 09:00

2 comments

anime

Hayashi and Tōchi play mentee/mentor in heart-warming golf anime series. ― Golf anime Tonbo! is one of the new anime premiering in the Spring 2024 season. At Anime Japan 2024, we sat down with lead voice actors Rika Hayashi and Hiroki Tōchi to talk about their characters, their experiences with golf, and the positives of country life in Japan. In her first voice acting role as a main character, Hayas...

interest

29 comments

Japanese TV Special Ranks Top Anime Songs, as Chosen by Foreign Fans

Apr 23, 19:16

29 comments

music

What are non-Japanese anime fans' top choices? ― Fans have been debating the greatest anime songs as long as anime has been around. Japanese TV regularly raises the topic for domestic fans, but every so often, Japan also presents the international perspective. On April 21, TV Asahi hosted a nearly three-hour special ranking favorite anime songs by non-Japanese and non-domestic anime fans. In a March ...

column

79 comments

This Week in Anime - So, Is Sound Euphonium Queerbaiting or Not?

Apr 23, 13:30

79 comments

anime

The third season of Sound Euphonium reignites the fandom controversy over Reina and Kumiko's relationship. Chris and Steve delve into it and why 'queerbaiting' is such a loaded term. ― The third season of Sound Euphonium reignites the fandom controversy over Reina and Kumiko's relationship. Chris and Steve delve into it and why 'queerbaiting' is such a loaded term. Disclaimer: The views and opinions...

review

30 comments

Wonderful Precure! Episodes 1-12 Anime Review

Apr 23, 12:00

30 comments

anime

You can't accuse the Pretty Cure franchise of resting on its laurels. Wonderful Precure! could move too slowly for some viewers. But these episodes are full of unmitigated joy. ― You can't accuse the Pretty Cure franchise of resting on its laurels. While there are distinct similarities between all iterations of the long-running Magical Girl franchise, recent years have done their best to maintain the...

review

1 comment

Dead Dead Demon's Dededede Destruction Part 1 Anime Film Review

Apr 22, 12:00

1 comment

anime

Part District 9 meets O Maidens in Your Savage Season, part grimdark deconstruction of Doraemon. ― Many anime films are adapted from manga and Dead Dead Demon's Dededede Destruction is no exception. Usually, a film will cover a single arc of the greater plot—giving the story on screen a solid beginning, middle, and end. However, this is not the case with the first Dead Dead Demon's Dededede Destructi...