Monday, January 8, 2007

Anime news bits.

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First NewType USA's issue for 2007!


With 20 pages of exclusive scoops on sizzling shows debuting in the US and Japan, the January 2007 Newtype USA’s issue of Newtype USA is a must-read for any anime fan!


About Newtype USA:Newtype USA is the official English-language version of Newtype, Japan’s #1 source for information about anime and manga. Newtype USA includes all the best Japanese content translated, plus loads of original U.S. material: anime, manga, music, game, and toy reviews, feature articles, director interviews, artist profiles, and regular columns by industry experts, tastemakers and deep-cover insiders. Newtype USA also includes awesome bonus gear, such as a centerfold poster, a manga (comic) insert and an exclusive bonus DVD. For more information, visit http://www.newtype-usa.com.


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Miyazaki-san next project?



On page 97 of the January issue of Animation Magazine it states that Miyazaki's in-progress-but-not-named project is based on a Chinese story called "I Lost My Little Boy". This hasn't been confirmed by any other source so please take with a grain of salt.


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New Anime sites...




New Anime Sites (Japanese Only)Koutetsu Sangokushi's official site is now online. The series premieres this spring in Japan. Kaibutsu Oujo also has a teaser site, but the show has not yet been scheduled for Japanese TV.


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Mizushima Seiji and Masahiko Okura possible new anime...





Another New Anime From Mizushima SeijiDai-Guard and Fullmetal Alchemist Director Mizushima Seiji is said to have another new anime project in the works within 2007 besides the Oh! Edo Rocket TV series being produced by Madhouse.


Masahiko Okura's Next ProjectBlue Sub No. 6 and Yukikaze Director is said to be developing a new TV series based on "Suu Nin No Onnanoko Tachi Ga, Tagaini Seichou Shi Nagara Issho Ni Tsukuriage Tei Ku".


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GONZO pulls off Mardock Scramble.





GONZO announced the following:



"Apology for "Mardock Scramble" Production Discontinuance - Apology from limited company Gonzo - To our regret, Production on "Mardock Scramble", an Original Video Animation that is under development will be discontinued becuase of various circumstances. To fans and affiliates: it will not be possible to produce the goods. I am very sorry for troubling you. - Representative Junji Fujita



The same apology can now be seen on the official website at mardock.jp. Gonzo first announced the project in February, 2005 by acquiring the rights to the popular cyberpunk genre Japanese science fiction novel by To Ubukata. The author had played a creative role in video game and manga production in the past, most recently in 2004 he worked on Soukyuu no Fafner.

Scramble won the Japanese SF Grand Prize in 2003, and has sold 160,000 copies across three volumes in Japan's domestic marketplace. This marked the first time GONZO had planned to adapt the work of a Sci-Fi novel. Another first for this project, all of the characters were to be fully rendered in 3DCG. Scheduled release was planned for the end of 2006. According to GONZO, their plans were to create a distinctly Japanese feel with the fully CG production that differs from offerings coming from outside Japan. By the start of 2006 the production had gained serious momentum, GONZO began referring to it as their 15th anniversary project.

Talented staff had been assembled such as Director Yasufumi Soejima, Character Designer Range Murata and weapons designer Mahiro Maeda. Likewise, a cast of top shelf voice actors were announced including Hozumi Goda as Doctor, Jouji Nakata as Boiled and Megumi Hayashibara as Ballot. Hayakawa Publishing released the 1st book in the sequel novel series Mardock Velocity in Japan in November, 2006.


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NARUTO FOR THE NINTENDO DS™ - BELIEVE IT!

source: http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/

TOMY AND D3PUBLISHER OF AMERICA ANNOUNCE THE UPCOMING RELEASE OF NARUTO™: NINJA COUNCIL™ 3 FOR THE NINTENDO DS™LOS ANGELES –

Nintendo DS™ owners will finally have a NARUTO game to call their own. TOMY Corporation and D3Publisher of America, Inc. (D3PA) today announced the upcoming release of NARUTO: Ninja Council 3 for the Nintendo DS™. Anticipated to ship in Spring 2007, NARUTO: Ninja Council 3 is based on episodes from VIZ Media's hit anime series SHONEN JUMP NARUTO and will feature mission-based gameplay for up to four players. The ninja action game utilizes an interchangeable attack system allowing players to combine attack techniques from all available characters in the mission to increase their chance of success.


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Ghibli's Gedo Senki tops box office chart!


Source: www.theotaku.com





Gedo Senki has grossed the most revenue of any original Japanese film than any other for the year of 2006, pulling in a total of ¥7.65 billion (about $64.54 million USD). The highest grossing non-Japanese film was Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, bringing in ¥11 billion (about $92.81 million USD.)