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Pioneer announced at AnimeExpo that they have appropriated the rights to the new Sol Bianca OAV series (for release starting this winter in three volumes), Trigun (for release starting in February in eight volumes), and Nazca (for release starting in 2000 in four volumes). All three will be in subtitled and dubbed formats as well as DVD, but the latter two was slipped earlier in Diamond's Previews publication. The release of Sol Bianca will come only a few months after the Japanese release, slated for September. Pioneer also got the rights to both 3x3 Eyes series, brought over from the Streamline catalog. Release plans for this title are not known.
Central Park Media has announced several new DVD's for the second half of 1999, including Battle Skipper, Cybernetics Guardian, Darkside Blues, Genocyber, Knights of Ramune, Midnight Panther, My My Mai, Strange Love and Wild Cardz, as well as Beast City, Lady Blue, and the previously announced UrotsukiDoji Perfect Collection.
ANN has been hearing rumors from sources considered to be reliable that Central Park Media would not be licensing the remainder of Revolutionary Girl Utena. We went to CPM press contact Mee-Lise Robinson to ask about this, to which she replied, "we are still in negotiations with our licensor about obtaining the rights... so I cannot tell you anything official for certain. But, as things stand, both parties are enthusiastic about bringing over more of the Utena series." As such, marketing details have not been considered regarding the series, which gets much darker in tone.
AnimeOnline reports that the next theatrical project for Madhouse Studio was announced at Anime Expo. The film, to be based on a story by Osamu Tezuka (Astroboy, Kimba, etc...), is called Metropolis. The only detail known about the project is that it will be animated digitally. Other news out of Japan includes a TV series based on the Wild Arms RPG for Playstation, two Weiss Kreuz OAV's, a live-action and computer-animated Gundam movie to be called G-savior, the new You're Under Arrest OAV series, the Oh! My Goddess movie, and the new Vampire Hunter D movie, which all due out before the end of the year.
Kia Asamiya (Nadesico, Steam Detectives, Silent Mobius) will be adapting Star Wars Episode 1 into Manga form, according to TheForce.net. The release comes in two parts (between July and August) for 160 pages of manga total. No word of an American release yet.
ANN has been hearing rumors from various places that Manga Entertainment will be releasing the Evangelion movies theatrically, and will be dubbed by ADV's talent. Manga hasn't returned our e-mails yet, but we will attempt to confirm this information as soon as possible.
Hideaki Anno, director of Evangelion and Love & Pop will be making his next movie with Studio Ghibli. Few details are known about this project, other than that it may be live-action, and will also include a story-board artist for Evangelion.
Can one magical intern defeat The Blade of Michelob?― Surprise, it's a special comic celebrating Anime News Network's 25th anniversary. Artist Robin Sevakis returned to draw a short series of comics focusing on Anime News Network's mascots of the past and present and what would happen if they all met. Enjoy the finale to the limited comic run! How will Azure turn the tide against her most formidabl...
The winners of the American Manga Awards are in! Coop and Lucas take a look at them and share their thoughts.― The winners of the American Manga Awards are in! Coop and Lucas take a look at them and share their thoughts. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the participants in this chatlog are not the views of Anime News Network. Executive editor Lynzee Loveridge is a judge for the Ameri...
mono is an anime where the slice of life is done right, and makes for a worthy successor of its sibling series Yuru Camp.― When I shipped up to Anime Boston this year, I distinctly remember a big banner advertising mono on display for any ongoers mozying their way up the escalator. Its display almost seemed boastful, as if it wanted to swallow people going further and further up the escalator with m...
Daniel Cruz of PEN America emphasized the toll censorship can take on authors: “Authors stop writing the content that's getting censored.”― Panels about manga being targeted by book-banning campaigns have had a regular presence at anime conventions for as long as I can remember. In light of the current political climate (be sure to read Coop Bicknell's deep dive into the state of manga censorship in...
Since its debut, the series has evolved into a full-fledged franchise, with adaptations in anime, mobile games, and other formats. Despite its immense popularity worldwide, its creator, SIU, had never met his North American fans in person before.― Tower of God, one of the most iconic titles on WEBTOON, has captivated global readers with over 1.3 billion cumulative views. Since its debut, the series ...
Packages over US$100 in value no longer accepted beginning on Wednesday―
The Japan Post announced that effective on Wednesday, it will temporarily suspend package delivery to and from the U.S. for packages exceeding US$100 in value and consumer goods, citing recent legislation surrounding import tariffs. Personal items under US$100 in value, as well as small EMS packages will still be accepted for ...
As Steve says, "A studio does not make an anime. People make anime." But what tools should those people be using? Chris and Steve discuss.― As Steve says, "A studio does not make an anime. People make anime." But what tools should those people be using? Chris and Steve discuss. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the participants in this chatlog are not the views of Anime News Network.S...
If you’re looking for true love, it’s in short supply in this series – in a healthy way, at least.― Last year, I reviewed the first volume of the manga adaptation of To Sir, Without Love: I'm Divorcing You. I said at the time that the story was somewhat uncomfortable, and that, paradoxically, it would have benefited from being slightly more explicit, and that I was curious to read the original light...
Mayuzuki’s sheer unpredictability and gleefully ribald storytelling are a breath of fresh air.― Jun Mayuzuki is one of my current favorite manga authors, mainly for her most recent work on the still-ongoing Kowloon Generic Romance (the excellent single-season anime adaptation concluded only last season). I jumped at the chance to review this collection of her early manga work, some of which predate ...
What's the secret behind Demon Slayer's intense popularity? According to experts, it's a lot of things.― Lynzee asks: “Why is Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba anime and manga so popular in Japan?” Demon Slayer is popular in Japan for the same reasons it is popular everywhere else, and that is a good thing because not many of my Japan-based anime industry friends wanted to comment either on or off the...
If you've never played a farm sim before, Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar might be a great place to start.― There's a major difficulty when it comes to reviewing Story of Seasons games: they're slow. Moment-to-moment gameplay is repetitive (you're doing the same tasks daily over and over), the game can take a long time to throw new wrinkles in the formula at you, and even fervent playing means that i...
One might scoff at the notion: “Influencers are making anime now?” Such reductive thinking conflicts with the reality that the lines between industry professionals and content creators have been steadily blurring.― GeeXPlus made waves here at Anime Expo by announcing GeeXProductions, a new IP division. As an internet influencer talent agency, GeeXPlus has been a supportive home for a range of varie...
This a must-play game for both existing Shinobi fans and newcomers alike.― Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is the perfect balance between modern sensibilities and nostalgia, making it one of the best action-platformer games of 2025. This will inevitably gain comparisons to Koei Tecmo and The Game Kitchen's Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound which was released last year due to both utilizing similar ninja archetypes,...
Whether you read the old English editions or missed them, it's worth picking this up, because you don't have to be an isekai fan (modern or otherwise) to appreciate a book this good.― The isekai genre has taken a hit in recent years. For many, the term has become inextricably linked with storytelling shortcuts, male power fantasies, villainesses, and other tropes that have become so paper-thin from ...