What Am I Watching - It's Up To You!!!!

So, I'm at that time where I've been thinking about which series to watch and review. But no luck. Then I realized that I have 800+ people who visit this awesome site, and I came up with an (unoriginal) idea! How about the anime community recommend me on what to watch and review? After thinking about it, the idea sounded like a good one, so now's the opportunity for some creative juices to flow!

Oh, and don't worry, I won't be doing this all of the time. This is just a nice bit of fun for you guys.

Click here for the Facebook page!

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Anime News - Toei Funded Live-Action U.S. Pilot of Starzinger/Spaceketeers Anime

American producer William Winckler revealed, in an interview posted on Saturday on the website SciFi Japan, that he wrote, produced, and directed a nine-minute live-action pilot "based very, very loosely" on Toei Animation's Science Fiction Saiyuki Starzinger television series. (A shorter 3-minute pilot was also produced.)

Jim Terry Productions had dubbed the 1978-1979 Starzinger anime into English and aired it as Spaceketeers as part of its syndicated Force Five package in the United States. The original anime centered around a princess and her three android companions who embark on a journey to the Great Planet and save the universe.

The Toei-financed live-action pilot of Starzinger used Red Digital Cinema Camera technology along with green-screen compositing, computer animation, and music by Mel Lewis. Winckler reported that he presented the pilot to the American television channel Syfy, "and the president of Syfy liked it and wanted to see the finished movie."William Winckler Productions (WWP) is "now waiting to hear back from Toei on the next step," although the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake (Higashi Nihon Daishinsai) disaster "put a hold on a lot of things."

Over the past two years, WWP produced 23 English-dubbed, feature-length compilations of several Toei Animation titles, including three for Starzinger. Winckler had previously worked on the 1984 English dub for Tekkaman, the Space Knight (Uchū no Kishi Tekkaman, 1975), as well as the English dubs for other animated and live-action works.

Toei also commissioned pilots for computer-animated remakes of its Space Pirate Captain Harlock and Gaiking anime, and it first screened the pilots during Tokyo International Anime Fair in 2010.

(animenewsnetwork.com)

Make of it what you will. I, for one, thinks its too late for this kind of stuff. BUT he did say that is was very loosely based on Starzinger. To be honest, I am getting sick of the millions of remakes that have spewed out recently. Hey, here's an idea, make an original concept that defined this generation! Instead of making all of these Thundercats, Voltron Force, Smurfs, Gaiking, Akira, Cowboy Bebop and Transformers remakes, make our own classic series, is what I'm saying.

Meh, just ignore my input.

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Anime News - Bandai Entertainment Adds Nichijou, Gosick Anime

The North American anime and manga distributor Bandai Entertainment announced at its Otakon panel on Saturday that it licensed the Nichijō (My Ordinary Life) anime and Gosick anime. Bandai Entertainment also announced its license of the Nichijō manga and Code Geass: Shikkoku no Renya (Code Geass: Renya of the Darkness) manga.

Nichijou

Keiichi Arawi's original Nichijō manga revolves around a group of female students living what would be a normal high school life, except that it also includes a talking cat, a robot, deer-wrestling, and other strange anomalies. (!) Crunchyroll has been streaming Kyoto Animation's ongoing television adaptation outside Japan since it premiered in April.

Gosick

The Gosick anime adapts Kazuki Sakuraba's mystery novel series, in which Kazuya Kujo studies abroad at the Saint Marguerite Academy in a small European country in 1924. Kazuya joins forces with Victorique, a girl with deductive powers that rival Sherlock Holmes', to solve mysteries. The anime ran in Japan from January to June, and Crunchyroll streamed it outside Japan. Tokyopop released two of the original light novel volumes in North America.

Code Geass: Renya of the Darkness

Goro Taniguchi, the director and story co-creator of the original Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion television anime series, created the Shikkoku no Renya manga spinoff's story concepts and scripted the story. The manga is set in the same official Code Geass history as the anime, but in Japan's historical Edo era. The story begins when Renya, a 17-year-old boy with a mechanical left arm and shuriken-throwing skills, encounters a mysterious, perpetually young woman named "Reifū C.C." Artist Tomomasa Takuma launched the manga in Kadokawa Shoten's Monthly Shōnen Ace magazine last year after working on the Code Geass: Nightmare of Nunnally and Kurogane Communication manga. (Bandai Book published Nightmare of Nunnally and other earlier Code Geass manga, while Go! Comi published Kurogane Communication. The second compiled book volume of Shikkoku no Renyashipped in Japan in May.

(animenewsnetwork.com)

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Anime News - ICv2: North American Manga Sales Fell 15% in 2010

The retail news source ICv2 reported at its ICv2 Comics, Media, and Digital Conference last week that North American sales for manga fell from (US)$140 million in 2009 to (US)$120 million in 2010, a decrease of 15%. This is awful news because according to ANN.com, manga sales in 2007 and 2008 were (US)$210 million and (US)$175 million, respectively, which means that manga sales have actually decreased by aroung 43% between 2007 and 2010. That's not the end of it there; The sales drop in 2010 is actually smaller than the 20% assum that ICv2 estimated last October!

And converting this to yen doesn't help due to the fact that the dollar has weakened, as sales have dropped from 2007's ¥25 billion to the ¥10.5 billion reported for 2010.

But every cloud has its silver lining, right? ICv2 stated that there are signs that the US sales decline might actually be slowing this year, if not ending. According to animeanime.biz, first quarter sales in 2011 were down 10%, which is better than recent years (declines in 2008, 2009, and 2010 were 17%, 23%, and 15%, respectively.).

The overall North American comic marketplace, including Japanese manga, dropped 7% to (US)$635 million in 2010, making it the third straight year of decline. "Floppy" magazine-style comic sales dropped 8%, while compiled graphic novel volumes dropped 5%. ICv2 associated the slump to the overall economic situation as well as the downturn in retail as shown by the bankruptcy of the Borders bookstore chain.

Conversely, the North American digital comic market actually grew from (US)$500,000 to (US)$1 million in 2009, to (US)$6-8 million this year.

ICv2 referenced four topical points in the North American manga marketplace in the past year: Viz Media maintaining its strong #1 market share, Tokyopop's leaving the manga business, Kodansha entering the market, and Yen Press rising to #2 in market share.

(animeanime.biz)

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Anime News - Astarotte's Toy! EX Video Anime's Promo Streamed

The YouTube channel of the Astarotte's Toy! (Astarotte no Omocha!) anime began streaming a promotional video of footage from the upcoming EX Blu-ray Disc and DVD volume on Saturday. However, the official blog for the anime acknowledged that the volume has been delayed from August 26 to September 7.

The EX original video anime will feature side stories not shown during the recent television anime seriesadaptation of Yui Haga's original Lotte no Omocha! manga. The limited first edition of the EX volume will include a box illustrated by Haga for all seven volumes of the series, as well as a special CD and other bonus extras. Crunchyroll streamed the television series outside Japan as it aired.

(animenewsnetwork.com)
 

Here's the vid, folks. Looks interesting. =)

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Anime News - UK High Court: BT Must Block File Indexing Site

A judge in London's High Court of Justice ruled on Thursday that BT, the United Kingdom's largest Internet service provider (ISP), must block users from the file-indexing website Newzbin2. The plaintiffs were representatives of the Motion Picture Association (MPA), the industry group that includes movie studios such asWarner Bros., Fox, Disney, and Paramount Pictures.

The verdict set the precedent for forcing ISPs to block websites that share or index copyrighted material overthe Internet in the United Kingdom.

The defendants, Chris Elsworth, Thomas Hurst, and Lee Skillen, started up and managed Newzbin, a Britain-based website that indexes Usenet discussion groups with posted files. Users on Newzbin (and later on Newzbin2 on servers relocated outside the United Kingdom) pay money to search for archived files and directly download them at maxed-out speeds set by their ISP's.

The MPA argued that Newzbin2 receives over one million pounds (about US$1,643,000) a year from its 700,000 users through the illegal Internet distribution of movies and television programs.

The MPA won a similar case last year, forcing Newzbin to take down links to copyrighted material and payment of damages.

(animenewsnetwork.com)

Not quite anime news, but it could effect the way some people, moreso our friends from across the pond, when it comes to distribution of anime. What do you all think?

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Anime News - Hulu, Crunchyroll, Crackle to Stream Star Driver

The North American anime distributor Aniplex of America announced at its Otakon panel on Friday that the Hulu, Crunchyroll, and Crackle websites will begin streaming the Star Driver Kagayaki no Takuto anime with English subtitles on August 17. The first two episodes will stream on that date, with a new episode every Wednesday after that.

(animenewsnetwork.com)

Looks really cool. I honestly have never heard of this show, but judging from the style and the logo (reminds me of Gunbuster), this series looks like another one for the torrent list.

Opening's nice too.

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Anime News - Aniplex USA to Dub Puella Magi Madoka Magica

The North American anime distributor Aniplex of America confirmed at its Otakon panel on Friday that it will dub the Puella Magi Madoka Magica anime series into English.Aniplex of America added that it is in "negotiations" for the new Rurouni Kenshin anime project and a Blu-ray Disc release of the anime film Welcome to THE SPACE SHOW.

(animenewsnetwork.com)

I'm pretty confident that this will end up a positive. Aniplex USA, as far as I remember, has a pretty solid track record when it comes to this kind of stuff.

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Anime News - Aniplex USA to Release Oreimo on DVD in October

The North American anime distributor Aniplex of America announced at its Otakon panel on Friday that it will release the Oreimo (Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai) anime in a DVD box set in October. The box will include all 12 television episodes plus the four video episodes with English subtitles only. The box will include a 16-postcard set and a 24-page booklet.

(animenewsnetwork.com)

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Urgent Message To Readers

I apologize if you see some things that don't quite seem right, like the missing search button jpg, but I am on the process of fixing the HTML of this page, and I wanted to notify you guys of that. Another thing that has been bugging me is the article images in the home page. I don't like stretched images, as I'm sure you don't either. If anyone knows how to fix this annoyance, it'd be great not just for me, but all of the users who visit this site. Thanks, and keep reading!

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Anime Festival Orlando 12

So, Anime Festival Orlando is coming soon, folks, and if you haven't pre-registered, I'd recommend you get a pass anyway. The convention is arguably my favorite because of the fact that A) it isn't cluttered, and B) the focus is 100% on anime. Granted, Megacon is great for the DC half of me, and their venue is fantastic considering the amount of people coming in. Anime Sushi (one of the best clubs in Orlando) are also great guys to work with, and their experience definitely shines through. 

But Anime Festival Orlando just fits the perfect convention for me, as a staff member. Let me tell you guys something: I HATE International Drive. Now, for those of you who have never been in Orlando, you shouldn't be concerned too much. But for those of us who have lived here, I thinks it's safe to say that I-Drive (as it's called) is both fun and annoying to drive in. Or maybe it's just small-town Jean-Louis talking again. But since I'm the one writing this article, I will say that I do not want to drive after a hard day's work to another hotel, all the while dealing with assholes on beeping their horns at me when I'm clearly going the speed limit. Conventions like AFO and Jacon (Okay, I didn't exactly like that convention, but..) both run their convention inside of a hotel, so if you're like me, and you've had a long day, you can simply go to your room on a separate block. Awesome.

I know what you're thinking guys. Shut up you condescending ass, and get on with what we care about:  the guests, and you're right to think that. The guests for this year's edition of Anime Festival Orlando will be...

Johnny Yong Bosch

For the Power Rangers fans who are reading this right now, yes, this is the black ranger. And if you're an anime fan, you are probably confused as to what this guy has to do with anything anime. Well, after working with the Power Rangers show, he made a career out of voice acting for various anime, his first role being Vash the Stampede of Trigun fame. His other roles include He later went on to play the voices of Kaneda in Akira, Renton in Eureka Seven, Claus in Last Exile, Clair in Heat Guy J, Sakaki in Witch Hunter Robin, Mike in Please Twins, Albert in The Count of Monte Cristo, Kiba in Wolf’s Rain, Itsuki in The Melancholy of Haurhi Suzumiya, Ichigo Kurosaki in Bleach and Lelouch Lamperouge in Code Geass. Hell of a portfolio there.

Quinton Flynn

Next up is Quinton Flynn. He voiced characters as famous as Jonny Quest, Spiderman, Speed Racer, The Human Torch, and Timon. His film and TV experience includes Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, King of Queens, Animaniacs, Woody Woodpecker, and Robot Chicken.

His list of credentials don't just include TV and film, as he's also done video game voice acting as well. He's voiced as Raiden from Metal Gear Solid series, Axel in Kingdom Hearts II, and Reno in Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children (I know, movie, but still, he's a FF character). 

His anime roles include Iruka-sensei in Naruto Shippuden, Marcus Damon in Digimon Data Squad (I watch that, so what?) and Carl in Blood+.

Blake Foster

Next up is another Power Rangers alum, Blake Foster. He's worked in the industry since he was a kid, working with guys like Chuck Norris, Christopher Reeves, and William M. Macy. His list of credits include Family Album, Brady Bunch in the White House, Kids World, Above Suspicion, Beverly Hills: 90210, Casper Meets Wendy, Two Of A Kind, Boy Meets World, and of course, TURBO: A Power Rangers Movie.

Jason David Frank

Another guest is Jason David Frank, who has played as Mighty Morphin Green and White, Red Zeo, Red Turbo, and then returned as the Black Dino Thunder Ranger. He has appeared in more episodes than any other actor (225 total), and has appeared in both full-length movies, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers The Movie, and TURBO. And according to the site, he is also an accomplished martial artist.

---

A highly accomplished and respected martial artist with 33 years experience, Kyoshi Frank currently holds a seventh degree black belt in American Karate and a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He is the owner/operator of Rising Sun Karate and MMA, with two schools in Texas and one in California. He is also the founder/CEO of Jesus Didn’t Tap, the first Christian-based line of MMA clothing and fight gear. Inducted into the World Karate Union Hall of Fame in 2003 as the American Karate Master of the Year, he is the founder of Toso Kune Do, his own style.

---Animefestivalorlando.com

----

The fifth guest is Reuben Langdon, who's probably most famous for voicing (and motion capturing) the role of Dante in Devil May Cry 3&4, as well as Marvel vs. Capcom 3. But he has also voiced as Date Masamune in Sengoku Basara: Samurai Heroes, Ken Masters in Street Fighter IV, and Chris Redfield in Resident Evil 5, and has had roles in Castlevania: Curse of Darkness and Dead Rising. 

He has also starred as Detective Kanada in Monster, so that pretty much qualifies him as awesome.

Wendee Lee

Then of course, you have Wendee Lee. If you don't know her voice work, I'll be happy to list them for you. 

• Faye in Cowboy Bebop
• Konata in Lucky Star
• Moegi in Naruto
• Rumi in Perfect Blue
• Sprocket in Viewtiful Joe
• Mitsuka in DearS
• Loretta in Wild Arms
• Umi and Princess Emeraude in Magic Knight Rayearth
• Ryoko in Samurai Girl: Real Bout High School
• Ruriko in Gatekeeper
• Sakura in Sakura Wars
• Yoko in Bastard
• Mika in Angel Tales
• Takao in Chobits
• Kero in Cardcaptor Sakura: Movie 2
• Maetel in Cosmic Warrior Zero
• Yuri (Streamline) in Dirty Pair
• Mako in Digimon Tamers
• Urd in Adventures of the Mini Goddesses
• Ouri in Gestalt
• Mitsuki in Dual! Parallel Adventures
• Mai in Duel Masters
• Isa in Gad Guard
• Nadia in Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water
• Kaolla Su in Love Hina
• Kiyone in Tenchi Universe - on

And she has a ton more roles. She is one of the more respectable people in this industry, and having her in this convention is a great honor.

Dan Southworth

Yet another Power Rangers actor, he played as Quantum Ranger in Power Ranger: Time Force. Like Johnny Yong Bosch, he moved on to other things like video games. His roles included Vergil in Marvel vs. Capcom 3 and Devil May Cry 3, Credo in Devil May Cry 4. He also deals with stunts and motion capture in video games like Halo 3, Resident Evil 5, and Ghostbusters: The Video Game.

John Swasey

Like Wendee Lee, this man has performed a ton of roles in anime (first role being in Goldenboy), including...

• Area 88 - Mickey Simon
• Aura Battler Dunbine - Bann Burning
• Baccano! - Van Dyke
• BECK: Mongolian Chop Squad - Kamejima
• Beet the Vandel Buster - Zenon
• Best Student Council - Ryuheita Iwazakura, Narrator
• Big Windup! - Tosei Coach
• Birdy the Mighty: Decode - Geega
• Black Butler - Undertaker, Mr. Damiano (Ep.1)
• Blade of the Phantom Master - Fuan-Bo
• Blassreiter - Shido Kasugi
• Blue Drop - Headmaster Fukamachi
• Bubblegum Crisis: Tokyo 2040 - Dr. Stingray, Quincy Rosenkroitz
• Burst Angel - Professor
• Case Closed - Booker Kudo (After Randy Tallman)
• Case Closed: The Phantom of Baker Street - Booker Kudo
• Casshern Sins - Gido
• Le Chevalier D'Eon - Teillagory
• Chrono Crusade - Edward "Elder" Hamilton
• Claymore - Isley
• Coyote Ragtime Show - Mister
• D.Gray-man - Dr. Director
• D.N.Angel - Daiki Niwa
• Dragon Ball Z Kai - Dodoria
• Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies - Narrator
• Dragonaut - The Resonance - Eiji Kamishina
• Darker than BLACK - Huang
• Detective Loki - Fenrir
• Devil May Cry: The Animated Series - Fredi
• E's Otherwise - Kyou
• Elfen Lied - Professor Kakuzawa
• Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone - Gendo Ikari
• Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance - Gendo Ikari
• Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid - Gates
• Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood - Van Hohenheim
• Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa - Karl Haushofer
• Gantz - Muso Tokugawa, Naozumi Saito, Yoshioka
• Ghost Hound - Mayor Motoi Yazaki
• Glass Fleet - Conrad
• Gunslinger Girl -Il Teatrino - Christiano Savonarola
• The Guin Saga - Casslon, Count Rickard
• Guyver: The Bioboosted Armor - Fumio Fukamachi
• Halo Legends - Sergeant Hauser (Homecoming), Captain (Odd One Out)
• Hell Girl - Ryousuke Sekine
• Innocent Venus - Maximas Drake
• Jinki:Extend - Genta Ogawara
• Kaleido Star - Ken Robbins
• Kaze no Stigma - Bernhardt Rhodes
• Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple - Mototsugu Shirahama
• Kurau: Phantom Memory - Ichise
• Legends of the Dark King - Ryuga, Jirai
• Linebarrels of Iron - Dr. Amagatsu Kizaki
• Martian Successor Nadesico - Seiya Uribatake
• Moonlight Mile - Robert
• Murder Princess - King Forland
• Mushishi - Saishu (Ep. 9)
• My Bride is a Mermaid - Gozaburo Seto
• Nanaka 6/17 - Taizo Kirisato
• Neon Genesis Evangelion - Gendo Ikari (Director's Cut)
• One Piece - Sir Crocodile, Gan Fall
• Orphen - Volkan
• Ouran High School Host Club - Chairman Yuzuru Suou
• Pani Poni Dash! - Michael
• Peacemaker - Isami Kondo
• Princess Nine - Principal Mita
• Project Blue Earth SOS - Secretary General Freeman
• Puni Puni Poemy - Narrator
• RahXephon - Shougo Rikudoh
• Red Garden - Claude
• Rin ~Daughters of Mnemosyne - Tajimamori
• Saiyuki - Zenon
• School Rumble - Captain Genkai Goto (2nd Season) (After Randy Tallman)
• Sengoku Basara - Oda Nobunaga
• Sgt. Frog - Kogoro (556)
• Shigurui: Death Frenzy - Kengyou Shizuhata
• Shin-Chan - Yoshiji Koyama
• Sorcerer on the Rocks - Count Cuttlefish
• Soul Eater - Lord Death (Shinigami)
• Steel Angel Kurumi - The General
• Summer Wars - Mansuke Jinnouchi
• Tears to Tiara - Drwc, Tempesta, Ogam
• The Super Dimension Fortress Macross - Captain Bruno J. Global
• The Wallflower - Hanayashiki Hiromi
• Tokyo Majin - Koni Fernandez, Mikuriya, Togo Narutaki
• Trigun: Badlands Rumble - Gasback
• Trinity Blood - Archbishop Alphonso D'Este
• Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle - Mr. Glosum
• Utawarerumono - Sasante
• Venus Versus Virus - Soichiro Nahashi
• Xenosaga: The Animation - Andrew Cherenkov

Yeah, I got some of that from Wikipedia, but that's the anime he's been associated with. He's a powershouse.

Christina Vee

And lastly, we have Christina Vee, whose portfolio includes roles such as Nanoha in Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha, Kanaria in Rozen Maiden, Louise in Zero no Tsukaima, Aika in Aika R-16, and Mio in K-ON. Other anime she was involved in include Hare+Guu (great show), Hannazuki no Miko,  and The Blade of the Immortal.

Not only does she work on anime voice acting, but she also provides voices for video game characters, such as Sylphy in Luminous Arc 2, Noel, Mu-12, Nu-13, and Lambda-11 in the Blazblue series, Cinnamon in Rune Factory Frontier, Kluke in Blue Dragon: Awakened Shadows, Anri in Sakura Wars: So Long, My Love, Lian Shi in Dynasty Warriors 7, Compa in Hyperdimension Neptunia, and Saki, Sakia, Sarapatra, and Filament in Ar Tonelico: Qoga.

She also hosted AnimeTV and Funimation On Demand with Johnny Yong Bosch and Jonathon Meza, and helped promote Haruhi Suzumiya Season 2 as Haruhi.

While there will also be your usual anime convention events like the AMV contest, Cosplay Contest, and Costume Contest, there are also great panels in AFO. The one notable difference between, lets say Megacon, is that panelists can host panels of a more hardcore or adult nature, since the event runs longer. For example, Orange Anime would normally run the Hentai Game Show panel, and FJ this year will run a Hardcore panel that is everything that you're thinking it is. A buddy of mine mentioned that Anime World Order will run the always-awesome Panel of Doom panel in AFO as well. If that's the case, go if you're not squeamish, or easily offended, haha.

So, yeah, I will be on staff for this event, dealing with and helping people like you readers. Like I said, it's always fun to help out and work in these conventions, and I wouldn't trade that much of anything.

..

Well, maybe a well-financed career in graphic design, a popular podcast with a solid fanbase, or an employment with Media Blasters and Funimation, but other than that, I wouldn't trade that experience for anything. 

Now I will pose a question to you, the reader. What convention is YOUR favorite to stop by and have fun in, and what are some funny/awkward experiences have you had in said convention?

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Anime News - Negima, Hayate the Combat Butler Films' Trailer Posted on 2011-07-29 13:30 EDT

The official website for the double-billed Negima! Magister Negi Magi: Anime Final and Hayate the Combat Butler! Heaven is a Place on Earth films began streaming a combined trailer at midnight on Saturday. Unlike the previous teaser trailer, this full trailer has animated footage. The films will open together on August 27.

Akiyuki Shinbo (Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei) is returning to direct the Negima! film at Studio Pastoraland SHAFT with character designer Noboru Jitsuhara of the recent Negima! video anime projects. Manga creator Ken Akamatsu is credited with the original story, and Deko Akao (Arakawa under the Bridge, Astarotte's Toy, Pretty Rhythm Aurora Dream) is scripting.

First-time director Hideto Komori (animation director of Darker than BLACK, Ergo Proxy, House of Five Leaves) is helming and designing the Hayate the Combat Butler film at the studio Manglobe (The World God Only Knows). Yasuko Kobayashi (Kamen Rider Ryuki, Kamen Rider Den-O, Blassreiter, Casshern Sins, Claymore, Shakugan no Shana) is scripting based on a plot concept by manga creator Kenjirou Hata. Wataru Maeguchi (Kaichō wa Maid-sama!, Suzy's Zoo Daisuki! Witzy) is composing the music, while fripSide is performing the theme song "Heaven is a Place on Earth."

Although the original manga for these two films run in different magazines from different publishers, TV Tokyoaired the television anime adaptations of both. Together, the original manga for both have sold over 30 million copies.

[Via Yaraon!]

(animenewsnetwork.com)

Not much of a fan of Negima, but I do have a soft spot for Hayate the Combat Butler, so I'll be checking that out. What do you think?

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Anime News - Barefoot Gen's Hiroshima Documentary Trailer Streamed

The Cinema Today website began streaming a 136-second trailer for this year's Hadashi no Gen ga Mita Hiroshima film on Wednesday. The Japanese-language documentary depicts the city of Hiroshima through the eyes of Keiji Nakazawa, the atomic bomb survivor who created the semi-autobiographical manga Barefoot Gen (Hadashi no Gen). Yuko Ishida's directorial debut will open in Tokyo on August 6.

At the age of 6, Nakazawa survived the 1945 Hiroshima bombing, but lost his entire family except for his mother. He drew Barefoot Gen from 1973 to 1985, based on his experiences during the bombing and of his struggle to survive in the aftermath. The resulting 10 volumes of Barefoot Gen have since sold over 10 millon copies and have been translated in English, Russian, Korean, and many other languages.

Last Gasp Publishing republished the Barefoot Gen manga in North America. The story has been adapted into two animated films and a live-action television drama special in Japan. Producer Northrop Davis and a partner have been pitching the story to Hollywood studios.

(animenewsnetwork.com)

Here it is. I remember crying when I was watching the movie. That bombing scene and the resulting death of the main character's family was too much to take.

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Anime News - Ben-To School Comedy TV Anime's 1st Promo Streamed

The official website for the television anime adaptation of Asaura's Ben-To"school serious/gag action" light novel series began streaming the anime's first promotional video on Friday.

The story revolves around a poor high school student named Yō Satō. Satō goes to the supermarket one day and discovers a bentō (boxed meal) on sale at half price. Just as he reaches to grab it, he ends up on the floor unconscious. Satō has just entered the fierce, no-holds-barred "supermarket survival battle" for half-price bentō.

The anime will premiere in Japan this fall. Shin Itagaki (Devil May Cry, Mayoi Neko Overrun!) is directing the anime, and he is also responsible for story editing (with Kazuyuki Fudeyasu of Bleach, Monster and Gunslinger Girl) and design works. Katsuzo Hirata (Cosplay Complex, Hand Maid May) is designing the characters, as well as being the Chief Animation Director. Taku Iwasaki (Black Butler, Gurren Lagann, Soul Eater) is composing the music.

Asaura has been publishing the light novel series through Shueisha's Super Dash Bunko imprint since 2008. Kaito Shibano (Luminous Arc simulation role-playing games' character designs) illustrates the volumes. InTakarajimasha Inc.'s 2011 edition of its Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi! guidebook, Ben-To is #5 on the list of the top 10 light novel series. Nine series on the list have an anime or will get one: Toaru Majutsu no Index, Baka to Test to Shōkanjū (Baka and Test - Summon the Beasts), Bungaku Shōjo, Seitokai no Ichizon, Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai(Oreimo), Durarara!!, Kami-sama no Memo-chō, and Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai. The only one without an anime is Sword Art Online.

[Via Yaraon!]

(animenewsnetwork.com)

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Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

Sorry for the size and everything, but I wanted to mention that our blog is now on Facebook and Twitter.    So, yeah, leave a question, comment, whatever. It's always good to keep in touch with the community.

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Anime News - Gokicha/Cockroach Girls To Be Serialized In Magazine

Yet another 4-Koma getting recognition. =D As far as I know, Gokicha (Cockroach Girls) is a story about an anthropomorphized gokiburi (cockroach) who is looking for a human buddy in Hokkaido. Rui Tamachi just launched the series in the September issue of Manga Time Kirara Carat magazine Thursday. A dōjin series, this manga's creator now has plans for a mobile anime soon.

[full story here]

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Anime News - NY Anime Fest to Host Fairy Tail Creator Hiro Mashima

The organizers of New York Anime Festival announced on Thursday that it will host Fairy Tail manga creator Hiro Mashima on October 14 and 15 in New York City. He will appear at his own Q&A session and in a larger Fairy Tail panel with voice actors Todd Haberkorn, Colleen Clinkenbeard, Cherami Leigh, and Newton Pittman. He will then appear at a premiere screening of Fairy Tail.

In addition to creating Fairy Tail and drawing the manga since 2006, Mashima created the Rave Master manga and anime, Monster Hunter Orage manga, and Monster Soul manga.

The venue is the Javits Centre in Manhattan (map). The Anime Festival is a part of October's New York Comic Con.

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Anime News - Novelist Sakyo Komatsu Passes Away

Influential science-fiction novelist Sakyo Komatsu passed away in an Osaka hospital on Tuesday, July 26 at 4:36 p.m. due to pneumonia. He was 80 years old.

Komatsu wrote a number of novels that gained recognition not only in Japan, but around the world. Perhaps his best known novel is Japan Sinks!, which inspired two live-action films and a live-action television series. His stories also inspired the Komatsu Sakyo Anime Gekijō television anime series.

Komatsu was born in Osaka and he graduated from Kyoto University in Italian literature. After working as a magazine editor and a factory foreman, he became a comedy scriptwriter. He then made a name for himself in large-scale science-fiction epics with historical and literary themes with the 1964 novel Nihon Apache-Zoku.

Komatsu's 1973 disaster novel Japan Sinks! inspired a live-action movie in the same year it was published. Shinji Higuchi, one of the founders of the anime studio Gainax, directed a second live-action film version in 2006 under the English title Doomsday: The Sinking of Japan. The second film starred SMAP singer Tsuyoshi Kusanagi and actress Kou Shibasaki (Battle Royale, Dororo) with cameos by Evangelion director Hideaki Anno, Gundam creator Yoshiyuki Tomino, Hataraki Man creator Moyoco Anno, and actress Mayumi Shintani (Cutie Honey's Scarlet Claw). The novel itself has sold over three million copies and won an award from the Mysery Writers of Japan. Komatsu then wrote a sequel that won a Seiun Award from the Japan Science Fiction Convention in 2007.

A service was held for family members.

Source: Nikkei

(animenewsnetwork.com)

Oddly enough, I just got into this man's work. 

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Anime News - Princess Mononoke Is No Longer a Buena Vista Title

Responding to a query by ANN, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment confirmed on Tuesday that Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli's 1997 film Princess Mononoke is no longer a production of its Buena Vista Home Entertainment label.Walt Disney Studios suggested contacting Lionsgate Films for further information. However, Lionsgate told ANN that there was "no current information on the release of this title."

Disney's former subsidiary Miramax released the film theatrically in the United States, and then released it to DVD in 2000 (cover pictured). After Miramax's founders Bob and Harvey Weinstein left the company in 2005, Disney sold the company to Filmyard Holdings in 2010. In February, Miramax licensed the home video release of 550 titles in its catalog to Lionsgate and StudioCanal, and then licensed 251 more titles to Echo Bridge Entertainment.

[Via The Fandom Post, Mania, animenews.biz]

(animenewsnetwork.com)

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Anime News - Totoro Marks 500th Week in Top 300 DVD Chart

The DVD of Studio Ghibli's popular anime My Neighbor Totoro marked its 500th week on Oricon's DVD sales ranking chart this month. During the July 18-24 week, it landed at #33 by selling 2,184 more copies for a grand total of 1,084,134.

The DVD first went on sale nine years and 10 months ago on September 28, 2001, and it has been a unprecedented "long seller" since then. It sold its 1-millionth copy last May after 440 weeks on the chart. It is only the fourth million-copy anime title; Studio Ghibli's Howl's Moving Castle sold over one million copies since 2005, while Spirited Away sold over 2.3 million copies since 2002.

On Japan's all-time DVD sales ranking chart, My Neighbor Totoro is #9. The DVD tends to double its sales during summer vacations and extended holiday seasons.

Besides Totoro, other Ghibli works benefited from the July 16opening of the studio's latest film, Kokuriko-Zaka Kara. Arrietty(7,291 more copies for a new total of 230,737), Kiki's Delivery Service (1,055 more copies for a new total of 460,973), and Laputa(893 more copies for a new total of 730,524) ranked #7, #80, and #92, respectively, on the most recent weekly top 100 chart.

Source: Oricon

(animenewnetwork.com)

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Mythical Detective Loki Ragnarok Manga to Resume Online

After seven years, Sakura Kinoshita will resume her Mythical Detective Loki manga in a new series that launches in Mag Garden's online manga magazine Beat's on August 25. The new manga series is tentatively titled Matantei Loki Ragnarok ~Shin Sekai no Kamigami~ (Mythical Detective Loki Ragnarok: The Gods of the New World).

The occult mystery story follows the Norse god Loki after he is exiled to the mortal world in the form of a human child. He must collect auras of evil in order to return to the world of gods, so he runs a detective agency to accomplish this.

Kinoshita began the first Matantei Loki (Mythical Detective Loki) manga series in Square Enix's Monthly Shonen Gangan magazine in 1999. The manga then migrated to Mag Garden's Monthly Comic Blade magazine under the new title Matantei Loki Ragnarok (Mythical Detective Loki Ragnarok) in 2002. Matantei Loki Ragnarok inspired a television animein 2003 before ending in 2004.

ADV Manga published the Mythical Detective Loki Ragnarok manga in North America, and ADV Films co-produced and released the entire television anime series.

Source: Comic Natalie

(animenewsnetwork.com)

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Tiger & Bunny Gets Manga Series (Updated)

So, Tiger and Bunny is getting a new manga series. I'm sure 98% of the anime community is gonna love this news as much as I am. Young Jump is going to announce that Hiroshi Ueda (of Full Metal Panic! Sigma fame) will be illustrating a Tiger and Bunny manga, starting in the 5th issue of Miracle Jump in October.

Check out the link yourself!

I also found out that Masakazu Katsura will be drawing a one-shot based on the series. Don't know Mr. Katsura? He only made Video Girl Ai, DNA2, and Zetman! Excited as hell for this, fellow readers!

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Kenji Kamiyama's Full Xi Avant Anime Streamed

The official website for the stereoscopic 3D theatrical release of Kenji Kamiyama's Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex: Solid State Society movie began streaming the full version of Kamiyama's Xi AVANT animeshort on Tuesday. While the online streaming of Xi AVANT is in 2D, theaters in Japan added a stereoscopic 3D version of the anime to screenings of Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex: Solid State Society this past Spring. The short is a tie-in with the NTT Docomo's next-generation Xi data service.

Kamiyama just established Steve N' Steven, a new consulting firm for planning and producing animation in advertising and other areas, with the ad firm Hakuhodo on April 1.

Source: Saishin Anime Jōhō

(animenewsnetwork.com)

Here's a sneak peek at the piece. Looking awesome so far.

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Persona 4 the Animation's New Extended Promo Streamed

The Mayonaka TV teaser website for the Persona 4 The Animationproject began streaming a new extended promotional video on Wednesday. (Like the previous videos, this one debuted at midnight in Japan or 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday EDT, and is only viewable for a limited time.) The anime will premiere on Japan's MBS, TBS, andCBC stations this October.

Shihoko Hirata, the singer of the opening and ending theme songs for the original Persona 4 game, will also perform the anime's opening theme song "sky's the limit" and the ending theme song "Beauty of Destiny" (with Lotus Juice). The official Twitter account for the animeconfirmed that the anime will last two kūru or half a year, and the official site posted the second key visual image from the anime.

Director Seiji Kishi (Angel Beats!, My Bride is a Mermaid) and the anime studio AIC ASTA are adapting the Persona 4 role-playing game from Atlus into a television series. Persona concept designer Kazuma Kaneko, original character designer Shigenori Soejima, and musical composer Shoji Meguro are reprising their respective roles from the game for the anime.

Cast members Daisuke Namikawa (Yu Narukami), Showtaro Morikubo (Yōsuke Hanamura), Yui Horie (Chie Satonaka), and Ami Koshimizu (Yukiko Amagi), Tomokazu Seki (Kanji Tatsumi), Kappei Yamaguchi (Kuma), Unshou Ishizuka(Ryōtarō Dōjima), Akemi Kanda (Nanako Dōjima), and Mitsuaki Madono (Tōru Adachi) are all returning from the game to play their respective characters.

Source: MyCom Journal

(animenewsnetwork.com)

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Baby, Please Kill Me! 4-Panel Comedy Manga Gets TV Anime

The September issue of Houbunsha's Manga Time Kirara Carat magazine isannouncing on Thursday that a television anime adaptation of Kaduho's Baby, Please Kill Me! (or Kill Me Baby) 4-koma (four panel) comedy manga has been green-lit. The manga follows Sonya, an assassin girl who goes to school between missions, and her fearless yet not-so-smart friend Yasuna. Joining them is Agiri, a ninja in Sonya's organization.

The manga series launched in Manga Time Kirara Carat in 2008 after the magazine ran a one-shot early version of the story. The third compiled book volume shipped in February.

[Via Yaraon!]

I love reading 4-koma manga (Lucky Star, Suzunari!, SS. Astro, Shoulder-a-Coffin Kuro) because, like Calvin and Hobbes and Dilbert, they're straight to the point and I end up laughing my ass off reading them. Just reading off of the synopsis, I can tell that I am going to enjoy reading it at least.

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U.S. Nicktoons to Air Monsuno, Jakks Pacific to Sell Toys

The companies Jakks Pacific, Dentsu Entertainment USA, FremantleMedia Enterprises, and The Topps Company announced on Wednesday that the American children's television network Nickelodeon has picked up the worldwide broadcast rights to the Japanese-animated series Monsuno. The series targets theNickelodeon viewership of young boys ages 6-11, and tells a boys' action story centered around "re-awakened Monster DNA that finds its way into the unsuspecting hands of adventure-seeking boys."

The 52-episode series was previously reported as an original product from Jakks Pacific, Dentsu Entertainment USA, FremantleMedia Enterprises, and The Topps Company. Jakks Pacific owns exclusive worldwide rights to manufacture Monsuno's toy products.

"We anticipate that this property will cross over into multiple entertainment and licensing opportunities, and represents an important achievement for the Company in its development and exploitation of children's content and proprietary properties," said CEO and President of Jakks Pacific Stephen Berman in a press release.

Jakks Pacific had previously licensed the rights to make toys for Dragon Ball, Pokémon, Yu Yu Hakusho, and other animation properties. However, Monsuno will be the first entertainment property that Jakks Pacific owns and is directly co-producing.

Monsuno is expected to air next spring.

(animenewsnetwork.com)

Hide your wife, hide yo' kids, 'cause Monsuno's comin'.

..

I'm expecting another Zevo-3 here, sadly. Hopefully, in the best scenario, this show ends up being great to watch, like Avatar: The Last Airbender or Skyland. Hopefully.

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Tekken Film, Game's Promo Video Streamed

Bandai Entertainment released two promotional video clips for the computer-animated movie Tekken: Blood Vengeance 3D after showing them at Comic-Con International on Saturday. The film will premiere in select American theaters this Tuesday. The videos feature the character Xiaoyu rushing to school late on a panda and battling Alisa.

The film will run in over 375 American movie theaters on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m., but it will not open in Japan until September 3.

Bandai Entertainment's "Tekken Channel" account on YouTube also added a short trailer for the Tekken Hybridmovie/game combination pack that will ship on December 27. The bundle will include Tekken: Blood Vengeance 3D, playable on Blu-ray Disc players, and the PlayStation 3 games Tekken Tag Tournament HD and Tekken Tag 2 Tournament Prologue.

Namco initially released Tekken Tag Tournament for PlayStation 2 in 2000, but this will be the first American disc release for the Tekken: Blood Vengeance 3D film and the Tekken Tag Tournament 2 game.

(animenewsnetwork.com)

I loved Tekken as a kid, even the anime that came out a few years ago. But that anime is one of those things that, as you grow up,  the lack of quality shows. So here's to hoping that Bandai does the series justice! And here's a video of Tekken Hybrid.

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Phi-Brain: Kami No Puzzle's 2nd Promo Trailer Released

The public broadcaster NHK began streaming the second special promotional movie for the Phi Brain: Kami no Puzzle television anime series on Friday.Sunrise is producing this original anime for the NHK Educational TV channel.

The school adventure story revolves around Kaito, a puzzle-loving freshman at the private high school named "Root Academy." He is selected as a candidate for "Phi Brain" for his extraordinary mental skills. One day, he and his childhood friend Nonoha tackle the "unsolvable puzzle" hidden in the underground ruins near the school. They are guided by the mobile device given to Kaito by the student council president.

The puzzle is the "philosopher's puzzle," a life-threatening creation of a mysterious intelligence group known as "POG." When he defeats the puzzle, he is designated as a "Solver." Together with Nonoha and other Solvers, Kaito battles POG at "philosopher's puzzles" all over the world.

Junichi Sato (Kaleido Star, Princess Tutu, Tamayura) is directing off scripts supervised by Mayori Sekijima (Saber Marionette J, Star Ocean EX, Jyūshin Enbu - Hero Tales). Hajime Yatate, the collective penname for the creative staff at Sunrise, is credited with the original story.

The anime wil premiere in Japan this fall.

Source: Presepe News

(animenewsnetwork.com)

I may be part of a minority here, but I like the game genre. I mean really like it. And yes, that includes childrens' card games.  After the disappointment of Bakugan: Gundalian Invaders, I've been looking for something to watch outside of Yu-Gi-Oh Zexal (yeah, what?) and Bakegyamon, so this I'm definitely keeping this anime series on file.

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GTO's Fujisawa, Iketeru Futari's Sano to Launch Manga

ASCII Media Works' monthly online seinen magazine Dengeki Comic Japanannounced on Monday that creator Tohru Fujisawa (GTO) and artist Takashi Sano(Iketeru Futari) will launch a new manga series called Black Sweep Sisters on August 25. The "thrilling dark action" manga centers around two dissimilar ("one large-breasted, the other small-breasted") sisters who are exorcists for rising evil spirits.

The October issue will also launch the mysterious fantasy manga Suiheisen no Innocence manga by Taro Sekiguchi (Teioh, Get Sports, Wild Baseballers) and the four-panel manga Hitorijime Otōto Izumu by Kaname Uchimura.

(animenewsnetwork.com)

Tohru Fujisawa has a great track record with me. GTO was a classic, and its nice blend of comedy and real-and-hard teenage drama never gets old. Rose Hip Zero was also a great read, though I haven't gotten too far with the series. Heck, I'll even say that I thoroughly enjoyed Tokko on Sci-Fi's Ani-Monday block, if not for the catchy opening.

Takashi Sano's work I'm less familiar with, as I've only watched Iketeru Futari and Usagi-Chan de Cue!, one of which I liked (Futari).

To put these two creators into perspective, I've decided to show one video from Fujisawa and another from Sano. Yes, I know the GTO trailer kinda stinks, but you'll get the idea.

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Anime Director Toyoo Ashida Passes Away

Animators Atsuko Watanabe and Hiroshi Koujina reported that anime director and character designer Toyoo Ashida passed away on Saturday, July 23. He was 67.

Ashida served as the series director for the two Fist of the North Star television anime series,Kuso Kagaku Sekai Gulliver Boy, and Sōten Kōro. He also directed the Fist of the North Star Movie, the Vampire Hunter D video anime, and The World of Narue. His many character design credits include UFO Senshi Daiapolon, the 1979 Cyborg 009 television anime, several Fairy Princess Minky Momoprojects, the Ginga Hyōryū Vifam titles, the Chō Mashin Eiyūden Wataru anime franchise, and Gulliver Boy.

In addition to his animation career, Ashida co-founded the labor group Japan Animation Creators Association (JAniCA) in 2007, and served as its first president. He founded Studio Live in 1976, and as the studio's president, he became the mentor of Watanabe, Koujina (the current head of Studio Live), and many other animators.

A private service for family members was held on Monday.

(animenewsnetwork.com)

....

I feel terrible. The man has directed some of anime's greatest. Thoughts go out to his family and friends. RIP.

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What Am I Watching - Urusei Yatsura

Bow down.

Synopsis - Meet Ataru Moroboshi: he's the most perverted human being this side of Handbanana. (Okay not that bad) He was also chosen by the leaders of Earth to defend it from an alien race, the Oni Race, in a game of tag. Meet his opponent, Lum: She's the princess of said race. She can also fly and shock the holy hell out of people. Meet Shinobu: Ataru's bitchy (for good reason) girlfriend, who in the midst of this affair, promised to marry Ataru if he beat Lum. Well, Ataru ends up beating Lum and says something along the lines of "Now I can get married! =D", prompting Lum to assume that he was talking about her. And thus, what is considered by many to be the greatest anime comedy in history, begins.

Review - That wasn't the only thing that began either. With this series, I began my foray into anime. Actually not quite. If you were being technical, it'd be Ronin Warriors or Sailor Moon. But it was Urusei Yatsura that got me that little nine-year-old to start watching and studying licensing companies, J-pop, and the history of the whole shindig. That wasn't all, though; Urusei Yatsura was the first anime, or anything really, that I watched subtitled. Before that, it was all Robotech and Voltron for me. Then after this, I got into Macross and GoLion. I owe alot to this series obviously, but why should you give two craps about a series made in the late 70's? Actually there are layers upon layers of reasons as to why you should make it an obligation to watch at least an episode.

Okay, so there isn't really much of an ongoing plot to this show. This is very much in the mold of The Simpsons, if anything. But like the Simpsons, this show's humor and characters are what carried it for so damn long.

As mentioned, the characters are what made this show a classic. As a matter of fact, many of these characters' archetypes are used today. For example, Ataru Moroboshi, as mentioned above, is your pervert main character that every female wants dead.

Hmm..nice.

Shinobu is the human love interest of the main character who will just have to admit that she will never compete with what Lum's got.

Hi...who are you again?

Hell, she (along with Lum) also made that "I love you, and the only way I can show it, is to make you scream bloody murder.." archetype.

Look at her face if you know what's good for you.

Mendou is your rich kid who flies jets to school...

...and of course, you have the most famous one from this show: the alien/not-quite-human girlfriend. Lum made this shit popular, and without her, Chii, Lala, Ren, and Ai wouldn't have had such luck with guys.

5 bucks to the anime fan who gets who she is.

With that said, the characters are amazing. They never grow stale, but instead end up being better than they were at the beginning. Ataru Moroboshi puts me in the odd position of being the most misogynist and vile human being I have ever watched, but I can't help but feel sorry when Lum gives another volt of her love. Or how you can't help but admire his vigor and determination at trying to get laid. I mean, he's even chased after dinosaurs! A solid mention has to go to Lum's storm troopers a'la Ataru's friends. At first, you see, they may seem like the best of friends, but like all guys that age, their jealousy of Ataru leads to them making sure that Ataru meets an untimely demise, especially the one in the glasses. I have heard that they weren't even in the manga, which makes me respect them that much more. Think about it. Characters who weren't even in the original format manage to be entertaining. I dig. Plus you have characters like Kurama the crow lady, Lum's best friends (Benten, Oyuki, and Ran the twat), Sakura, Ten, etc. that build the foundation from which this comedy shows its quality.


The humor within the show is top-notch and would appeal to anybody. If you enjoy Japanese mythology, you will be rolling on the floor. If you just like characters that break the fourth wall, or are just so fucking stupid (again, in a funny Simpsons way), why wouldn't this appeal to you? I find the show humorous to this day, despite the art being alot worse than what I remembered, haha.

The music itself is classic. It doesn't matter how old you are, Lum No Love Song will still be a fun song to listen and dance to. The background music, which consists of synthed up versions of said song, normally add a cuter tone to the show, in my eyes. The first ending theme, Uuchu Wa Taihen Da, is also awesome, and I can't help but feel giddy watching Lum dance to the music. That's not to say the 2nd and 3rd openings and endings weren't great. As much as I hated it as a kid, I grew to love the cheese of Dancing Star and Cosmic Cycling.

The character designs were done by Akemi Takada (Jin-Roh, Fancy Lala, Kimagure Orange Road), a fact I did not know years ago. Looking back, I can see where some of the designs draw parallels. The characters are very unique in that if I were to, say, walk around in Anime Expo and see a cosplayer dressed as Mendou... I'd get it. The art and animation (not designs here) are...aged. It's obvious that would happen, so I'm not going to pick on it too much here. The art does pick it up a notch on the later episodes (Beautiful Dreamer-era), but yeah, Angel's Egg this is not.

I watched the series subbed, because the Animeigo tapes, well, only had them in that format. Thinking about it now, I really wouldn't have it any other way. Think about Lum saying "Darleen~!" the way she says it. Oddly enough, there was a dub that was released, but it was scrapped. I would like to see it just for shits and giggles, even though I know it just won't match the original seiyuus' work.

So overall...what's more to say? The series was and is still a hit. The characters are amongst my favorite of all time. This show is my favorite of all time, and the fact that the characters, the music, the humor, everything in this show is continuing to influence the game just shows how much quality this series has. Heck, take your kids to watch it with you. Outside of that scene in the first episode, it's very much a safe and funny show to chill and eat popcorn to.

-----------------------

Story - 7

Characters - 10

Content - 10

Animation - 6.75 (cumulative of later episodes included)

Music - 10

Overall - 9.75 

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Wanted to give it a ten, BUT the animation and "story" kind of lowers the rating.

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