The Anime Times

Hakugei � Legend of the Moby Dick

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Alderwood) — Wed, 9 Nov 2005 22:08:00 -0800

Hakugei � Legend of the Moby Dick: Ahab Awaits (Vol.1 Screener) :: ActiveAnime.com :: Where Anime News and Reviews Matters: "This science fiction adaptation of the classic work Moby Dick by Herman Melville takes the audience into the distant future where instead of hunting whales, Captain Ahab salvages giant abandoned spaceships that have been nicknamed �whales� for their hulking presence in the ocean of outer space. A fascinating rebirth, the same mysterious allure of sea adventures applies to those of space. The live fast, get rich, and die young attitude of the �whale hunters� is the dream of everyone to strike it big and live out the rest of their days in lazy splendor.

This volume introduces the universe of Moby Dick and sets up the story with just enough detail to let the audience know that there will be much unraveling of mysteries to follow in later episodes. Lucky Luck, the young narrator, wants to join Captain Ahab�s crew and become a glorious whale hunter himself. In his trials to be accepted he meets all of the eclectic crew members who make this tale worth telling. On the first hunt, they find a pod containing an android who serves to further complicate their lives with his unknown past. An interesting setting for this tale, there is much left to be discovered in this series.

The Legend of the Moby Dick is animated in the classic style of earlier shows, so don�t expect any innovations there. The main focus here is to futurize (as in surpassing modernize) the widely-known story. It�s fun to see a new mysterious interpretation which is the real draw of the show."

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Check Out Takeshi's Racer

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Alderwood) — Thu, 3 Nov 2005 09:12:00 -0800

Toon Zone - Your Source for Toon News!: "Anime studio Production I.G. has made an impressive name for itself. They launched a new era of animation technology in Japan with Ghost In The Shell, which not only managed to top the U.S. Billboard Video Sales charts, but also brought digital compositing and digital animation into play in Japan. They used their success not only to animate a legacy of fan-favorite anime titles ranging from the totalitarian dystopia Jin-Roh to the absolutely insane Dead Leaves, but also used it to spawn sub-studios such as Xebec and BeeTrain. They've even done work for US partners ranging from Cingular to Quentin Tarantino. They've shown they have serious skills, some good ideas and are willing to work with other people. So when Cartoon Network and Toonami announced they would produce an original anime series, no one was surprised that I.G. was the studio they chose."

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Elfen Lied Vol. #4

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Alderwood) — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 16:07:00 -0700

AnimeOnDVD.com >> Disc Reviews >> Elfen Lied Vol. #4: "The mysterious organization protecting humanity from the deadly power of the Diclonius is faced with the devil's bargain. Will they unleash #35, the deadliest mutant yet, to hunt Lucy down? Or will they risk letting the notorious killer slip through the cracks? Things have never been easy for the young misfits at the heart of this battle, but they've never had it harder than this.

As Kohta learns how Nyu's past is inextricably tied to his life's greatest tragedy, he may find that protecting her means destroying himself. Even those who have already lost pieces of themselves to this brutal fight have more to lose. As Nana goes from hunter to hunted, and Bandoh from lawman to outlaw, the shadow of death creeps closer. And what of the man who the diclonius call 'Papa'? How far will Kurama go?"

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news anime manga drawing anime

Ghost In The Shell 2: Innocence

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Alderwood) — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 12:02:00 -0700

Review: Ghost In The Shell 2: Innocence: "Mamoru Oshii's Ghost In The Shell (1995), based very loosely on a manga of the same name by Shirow Masamune, was to become one of Japan's most successful feature anime exports of all time. Its blending of stylised fight sequences and humanist philosophy in a dystopian cyberpunk setting made it one of the most important influences on, amongst other things, the Wachowski Brothers' The Matrix (1999). Even today, Ghost In The Shell stands up to the competition - until, that is, it is set alongside its next generation sequel, Ghost In The Shell 2: Innocence, which, though scrupulously backwards-compatible with the original, makes it, and everything else besides, seem entirely redundant."

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news anime manga drawing anime

Blogcritics.org: Anime 101: Sub or Dub?

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Alderwood) — Mon, 10 Oct 2005 17:40:00 -0700

Blogcritics.org: Anime 101: Sub or Dub?: "Sub or Dub? This question often arises much debate among anime watchers. Most people have a preference, rather to watch the show with subtitles or watch it dubbed.
I usually watch the English dub first and then watch it subbed to catch some of the edited things and jokes. The dub has to be really bad for me though to watch it subbed right away.
I have never taken any Japanese classes; but after watching subtitles for while you can pick up on words and their meanings.
Here are some recognizable words (If anyone sees misspellings, please correct me!):
Nani - What?
Oswari - Sit! (when commanding a dog)
Chibi - Small, Runt
Ohio - Good Morning
Neko - Cat
Inu - Dog
Bento - Boxed Lunch
Senpai - senior (ex/1: just starting high school everyone is your senpai. ex/2: Starting a new job and someone is teaching you the ropes, he/she is your senpai. In other words, not only people older than you but people with more experience regardless of age.)
Kouhai - Opposite of senpai; junior
Feh - Hmph!
Hikari - Light
Matte - Wait
Hiaku - Hurry up"

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news
anime
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drawing anime

The Age of Aquarius?

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Alderwood) — Sat, 8 Oct 2005 09:30:00 -0700

Kyouta has a dream of making his band, T.L. Signal a big success. But strange events soon draw him in to a world he didn't even know exists � and a psychic battleground where he will be a key player! Originally adapted from a popular collectible trading card game, Aquarian Age features stunning animation from the renowned studio MADHOUSE (Chobits, X).

For centuries, five supernatural factions have waged war for supremacy over mankind, with legend prophesying that one day the Aquarian Age will begin, and only one group will reign supreme! Now Kyouta's dreams of becoming a pop idol must take a backseat to his destiny when he and his girlfriend Yoriko unwillingly become embroiled in the conflict, as both may hold the power to turn the tides of war in favor of whichever faction can control them! Can love conquer all? "

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Goddess Anyone?

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Alderwood) — Fri, 7 Oct 2005 09:02:00 -0700

Anime News Network - Review: "Kosuke Fujishima's much-beloved long-running manga about a decent young man who wishes for , and gets , a real goddess as a girlfriend sees its third anime incarnation in this new TV series. Long-time fans of Fujishima's work will love this series for how faithful it remains to the manga, while newcomers will find a light-hearted and enchanting take on anime romantic comedies. Those new enough to the hobby to be unfamiliar with Ah! My Goddess might not recognize it as such based solely on this volume, but this is one of the prototypical ,harem anime titles; its original OVA release back in 1993 probably deserves almost as much credit (or blame, depending on how you look at it) as Tenchi Muyo for getting that subgenre rolling. Unlike most recent harem series, though, AMG never descends into the crass exploitation which all too often mars the value of such series. This is as clean and gentle as anime romantic comedies come; those looking for fan service or racy humor are watching the wrong series."

Lupin the 3rd

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Alderwood) — Wed, 5 Oct 2005 20:11:00 -0700

WarCry� Network: "For the uninitiated, Lupin the 3rd is the world's greatest thief. He steals stuff, sometimes aided, sometimes hindered, by a rotating cast of characters. It's usually very funny, but the plot is incredibly good, and it's not afraid to mash things together, such as a serious scene followed by a goofy extended chase sequence. It's not a particularly tense show and there's never the question of whether Lupin will pull off whatever outrageous theft he's plotting. It's a question of how he'll do it. In Crisis in Tokyo, he's after some rare photographic plates. Insanely valuable, of course, but also of interest to just about everyone. The race is on!

Inspector Zenigata is after Lupin again, to the surprise of no one familiar with Lupin the 3rd. The inspector races onto a plane to chase the world's greatest thief, only to find himself victim of a staged crash and playful fireworks display put on so Lupin can taunt him. Well, he also wants to steal what Zenigata is carrying, but Lupin does take a real joy in tweaking Zenigata. The Lupin-in-his-underwear chase that follows will surely please Lupin's female admirers, and all this is before the opening title card even shows."

NTUSA October '05

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Alderwood) — Wed, 5 Oct 2005 08:26:00 -0700

Animation Insider - NTUSA October '05 "The most popular moving pictures magazine currently available, Newtype USA, is gearing up to deliver a huge cover story on what is perhaps one of the most highly anticipated domestic releases of the year. And while profiling a computer animated film such as Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, the magazine is still sure to cover just about every other key anime program and manga release for the fall season. The Newtype USA October issue is as jam packed with extra materials as it always is, with exclusive interviews, collectable inserts, and a free DVD featuring only the latest anime releases:
Out of the ruins of Midgar, the reluctant hero emerges once again. Cloud Strife, the beloved spiky-haired star of the hit PlayStation RPG Final Fantasy VII, has finally returned in a stunning new CG animated film, Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children. To celebrate, Newtype USA has a beautiful collectible cover along with an in-depth feature including an exclusive interview with the renowned director Tetsuya Nomura. This is a must-have issue for the millions of Final Fantasy fans, as well as anyone who needs to know more about this hot new movie. "

"Mermaid Flesh Eater"

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Alderwood) — Sun, 2 Oct 2005 10:44:00 -0700

WarCry Network: "When a person consumes the flesh of a mermaid, they receive ever-lasting life. But rather then a blessing, immortality is a curse. Hundreds of years ago, a young fisherman named Yuta ate the flesh of a mermaid and ever since he's had to watch his friends and family die away with time. Mermaid Forest is a blend of Yuta's past and present as he joins forces with a woman who shares his curse named Mana. Together they quest for a way to break the curse so they can live and die like normal people."

tags - news
anime
manga
drawing anime

eigoManga Joins Devil's Due

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Alderwood) — Fri, 30 Sep 2005 15:34:00 -0700

eigoManga joins Devil's Due Publishing in release of Rumble Pak: "eigoMANGA Ltd. and Devil's Due Publishing, Inc. have announced the release of RUMBLE PAK vol.1 (OCT052934 E) an on-going, 64 pgs, B&W comic book series, beginning this December.

Previously released through eigoMANGA's own label, the on-going series will start with the latest line-up of original manga created by eigoMANGA STUDIOS and contributing artists.

We're excited to be bringing such a large offering of manga into the DDP fold. We've been looking for a way to offer a steady stream of manga to both comic book shops and bookstores, and found the perfect partner in eigoMANGA, said Joshua Baylock, president of Devil's Due, in a press release. I think it will be two-fold. For eigoMANGA, they will feel the company is amplifying its publishing and distribution capabilities. This should give retailers even more confidence in eigoMANGA product.

For Devil's Due, they will see that we are finally moving into the manga market, although slowly, and adding even more diversity to our company line-up."

I Think I'm Turning Japanese

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Alderwood) — Thu, 29 Sep 2005 20:18:00 -0700

Turning Japanese - Film - Entertainment - smh.com.au: "Akira was the pebble that started the anime avalanche. Then there were the brilliant Ghost in the Shell and Princess Mononoke. By the time Spirited Away won the best-animated-feature Oscar in 2003, the Japanese studios had long forged a reputation for magnificent, thought-provoking animation that challenged anything coming out of Hollywood.
Sydney will be anime central in October. Spirited Away director Hayao Miyazaki's latest hit, Howl's Moving Castle, is screening here in the Japanese and English versions, the latter voiced by Billy Crystal and Lauren Bacall. Reelanime features a hit parade of anime films such as Millennium Actress, Escaflowne, the astonishing Ghost in the Shell and its mesmerising sequel, Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence. The Animania Festival has everything from anime to manga comics and karaoke. Anime is also part of the Supanova Film Fan Festival, which includes voice actors from the cartoon Dragonball, as well as John Rhys-Davies (The Lord of the Rings)."

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anime
manga
drawing anime

Anime News Network - Press Release

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Alderwood) — Thu, 29 Sep 2005 20:06:00 -0700

Anime News Network - Press Release: "Los Angeles, CA � September 28th, 2005 � AAA Anime, Inc., one of the largest distributor of Japanese animation, manga, and related merchandise in North America has announced today an exclusive hobby and specialty retail market distribution arrangement with leading Japanese �JPOP/JROCK� music record company, Tofu Records. Effective beginning September 29th, 2005, AAA Anime will assume administration over all of Tofu Records retailers accounts and distribution services to the anime and specialty market in a move that will significantly increase both the awareness and availability of �JPOP� and �JROCK� music in North America.

Tofu Records is the leading music label for Japanese (�JPOP� and �JROCK�) music in North America., Tofu Records represents well known Japanese Platinum recording artists and bands such as L�Arc~en~Ciel, T.M. Revolution, Nami Tamaki, Asian Kung-Fu Generation, and POLYISCS. Tracks from these best selling artists are prominently featured in some of today�s hottest anime properties on television including Mobile Suit Gundam SEED, Naruto, and Full Metal Alchemist.

�Anime and Manga have both become very significant representations of Japanese pop culture in North America and we�re very excited to be able to increase the availability of JPOP and JROCK to the American audiences. Tofu Records has done a tremendous job and we are honored to represent such a recognized global brand,� states Richard Tong, CEO of AAA Anime, Inc. "

How's About A Gothic Lolita?

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Alderwood) — Thu, 22 Sep 2005 17:49:00 -0700

Toon Zone - Your Source for Toon News!: "You know, what with Gothic Lolita tea parties at various anime cons, Gwen Stefani openly chilling with Harajuku-district Gothic Lolitas in her music videos and manga like Godchild, Tsukuyomi: Moon Phase, and Doll all getting picked up for distribution in the States, it seems like it's a safe bet that what started as a little fashion trend in the hip districts of Tokyo is making its way over here. Not sure what that has to say about the people who are into it (I mean, the word lolita is right up in the name of the genre, so I'm not even going to try to parse what it has to say about the people who are into it, both as observers and as participants), but I've got to say it does make for some cool-looking clothes, manga and anime. One such cool-looking and genuinely entertaining 'GothLoli' anime is La Portrait de Petit Cossette, an Aniplex/Geneon project directed by Akiyuki Shinbo, whose background includes other GothLoli works like Tsukuyomi: Moon Phase."

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anime
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drawing anime

Anime Encyclopedia

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Alderwood) — Sat, 17 Sep 2005 17:06:00 -0700

Anime News Network - Special review: "While anime in its modern form has only been around for approximately the last 40 years, animation in Japan extends back over twice as long, as this work proves. In the early days of anime, independent animators worked vigorously to produce what eventually would pave the way to Astro Boy in 1963. In the 1980s, a boom of independent studios and a dramatic influx of money produced some of the most diverse anime series ever.

The Anime Encyclopedia includes information about animation in Japan dating back to 1917, with pictures from productions as early as 1924. The bulk of information concerns titles from 1979 onward, but many earlier anime series also grace the pages of the Encyclopedia."

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anime
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drawing anime

Killer Cosplay

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Alderwood) — Thu, 15 Sep 2005 08:03:00 -0700

Anime News Network - Review: "The first volume of HMT was most noteworthy for its utter lack of originality and creativity. The second volume doesn't fare any better. This is not to say that it isn't occasionally entertaining; the whole sequence set in Comake in episode 5 is actually rather funny and Ikuyo's menacing laugh is always good for a chuckle. The lack of effort in coming up with something fresh and different is so obvious, though, that some of the characters actually joke about it in one episode � but even that doesn't come across well. The only element in this volume that is in any way clever is the cosplay costumes worn by the maids and Taro in the Comake piece. These are not just generic cosplay outfits, as are seen in most other anime dealing with cosplay; they represent major, identifiable characters from at least seven prominent anime titles likely to be familiar to American fans. (There's probably actually eight titles represented, but I could not place who Sanae was supposed to be.) The biggest hoot, and possibly the most endearing moment in the series so far, comes from seeing who Taro is portraying. It's a costume that viewers probably will not see coming, but he just looks so right in it."

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anime
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drawing anime

Anime News Network - Review

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Alderwood) — Wed, 14 Sep 2005 18:30:00 -0700

Anime News Network - Review: "There comes a time in some animators' lives when they realize that the only way to enjoy working on a lame show is to stop taking it so seriously. Maybe that's what happened in Star Ocean EX, where an entire episode is devoted to a comical giant robot rampage (plus some recaps), and the snappy exchanges between characters become more entertaining than the epic battles they get into. This adaptation of the hit video game continues to lack any semblance of originality, pulling out every cliche it can think of. Outside of the main quest, however, there's some light comedy that brightens up an otherwise dull series. Maybe there's some hope yet."

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anime
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drawing anime

Giant Robots - Evil Threat!

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Alderwood) — Mon, 12 Sep 2005 13:47:00 -0700

Toon Zone - Your Source for Toon News!: "Giant Robots. Who wouldn't want one? A robot the size of a skyscraper would be cool, but a ten-foot tall robot would be nice too. For one thing, it would be easier to take care of and hide in case you're ever chased by the police all over the city. Plus, it wouldn�t talk much, so you wouldn�t be annoyed by a sarcastic sidekick every ten minutes. But what happens when people use their giant robots for evil? "

Aeon Flux - Hot Babe Hotter DVD

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Alderwood) — Tue, 6 Sep 2005 18:03:00 -0700

MediaGab - Aeon Flux: "A full-blooded, American Anime
Aeon Flux. It exists within its own genre and nearly is its own genre. It is what I like to term 'American Anime.' That is, that there is an obvious inspiration taken from Japanese style animation. However, this is not Japanese. This interesting hybrid is the brainchild of one Peter Chung.

Being American, this animation is more realistic looking, the characters looking less like anime and more like animated real people. The style strikes me as American too, all clean lines and sleek though utilitarian functionality.

Aeon Flux is a complex, quirky, and very weird animation that tells the tale of two nations, Bregnia and Monica. At some point, these nations became estranged from one another and a border wall armed with automatic guns now clearly seperates them. It is vaguely like East and West Germany during the cold war. Matters were made worse when Bregnia is forced under the control of a new and strange leader, Trevor Goodchild. The motives and desires of Trevor are unusual in the extreme."

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Anime, the Next Generation

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Alderwood) — Mon, 5 Sep 2005 08:33:00 -0700

Wired News: Anime, the Next Generation: "It wasn't that long ago that finding Japanese animation in the United States was quite a challenge.
You'd have to check the back corner of your local comic book store, where you'd find half a dozen 30-minute videos for $40 each. And the only anime on television was a heavily edited version of the shojo (young girls') show Sailor Moon.

Times have changed. As of this month, there are more than 3,100 anime DVD titles on shelves. By title, they account for nearly 7 percent of all DVDs. In 2005 alone, 473 anime DVDs have been released from 20 different publishers.
Anime also continues to make inroads on the airwaves, both network and cable. Kids' programs like One Piece and Shaman King are some of the most popular on Fox's after-school toon lineup. And more grown-up fare like InuYasha fills out Cartoon Network's highly rated, late-night Adult Swim programming block. "

tags - news
anime
manga
drawing anime

Geneon Partners with Musicland

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Alderwood) — Mon, 5 Sep 2005 08:24:00 -0700

Geneon Partners with Musicland for First-Ever National Mall Tour with Fan-Favorite Yoko Ishida :: ActiveAnime.com :: Where Anime News and Reviews Matters: "LONG BEACH, Calif. � Geneon Entertainment, a leader in introducing anime to the United States, announced today that it is partnering with Musicland to produce the Anime Fusion tour, a national mall tour featuring Japanese singing sensation Yoko Ishida. Yoko is well-known among anime fans as the voice behind the theme songs of many best-selling anime titles. She will perform in Suncoast and Media Play locations throughout the country along with the Para Para dancers, who embody the dance craze unleashed by the red-hot Para Para Paradise videogames."

Inu-Yasha - Secret of the New Moon

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Alderwood) — Sat, 3 Sep 2005 12:10:00 -0700

"BACK FROM THE GRAVE
As Kagome tries to keep up with her social life and school in modern times, she constantly has to split her time with the search for the Shikon Jewel in Inuyasha's. When Kagome, Inuyasha, and Shippo come across a young girl who tells them her village is plagued by spider-demons, Inuyasha reluctantly agrees to help. But there's a problem. During certain periods of the moon cycle, half-demons lose their supernatural powers, becoming fully human for a night. And that night has arrived! The other two episodes are about a witch stealing Kikyo's ashes by desecrating her grave. If she carries through with her plans, Inuyasha might have to face the priestess that ensorcelled him a second time!

This show is very clever. I was really intrigued by the circumstances of what really happened the day Kikyo bound Inuyasha to the sacred tree 50 years ago. Both sides have their own version, each thinking the other betrayed them. It makes me want to know what really happened. I thought the love story that comes to light between the two was touching. This anime is way above average and owes that not only to the great animation but also the awesome stories of Rumiko Takahashi! Excellent show!"

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anime
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drawing anime

Blood Anime Becomes Game

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Alderwood) — Sat, 27 Aug 2005 17:01:00 -0700

Blood Anime Becomes Game News Story From 1UP.COM: "If you've seen Production I.G's 2000 anime short film Blood The Last Vampire, you'll soon you'll be able to see a brand-new anime TV series based on the universe entitled Blood+ - and then a bit later a the Blood+ game on both your PSP and PS2.
When the original film was released in 2000, Production I.G followed up with not just one but two PlayStation 2 games. These were basically choose-your-own-adventure books brought into anime form. Filled with big-budget animation and original stories, the two volume game should've been a hit in Japan and beyond, but they made the volumes 15-30 minutes long and priced at $60 a piece. Most people bailed out of the deal."

tags - news
anime
manga
drawing anime

QTK ANIME'S "DARK-N-LIGHT"

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Alderwood) — Fri, 26 Aug 2005 18:24:00 -0700

Here's some "homegrown" manga from QTK. They're just getting warmed up... So we'll be keeping an eye on them...^_^

QTK ANIME'S First Graphic Novel - DARK-N-LIGHT :: ActiveAnime.com :: Where Anime News and Reviews Matters: "August 25, 2005 - QTK ANIME has been in business since 2003. Writer and artist Keita Browne created the company along with her sister Quiana and close friend Tiffany. The idea stemmed from their love of Anime and Manga. After attending their first convention in Rosemont, IL in April 1998, they were determined that they would leave their own individual mark in the Anime and Manga industry. From there, Quiana, Tiffany, and Keita decided to take some initiative and start up their own Manga publishing company. Together they used the first letters of their names to create a trendy name for the company, Q.T.K. ANIME (Quiana, Tiffany, and Keita).
Since the company's conception in 2003 QTK ANIME has added many artists and writers to their staff. Currently in 2005, QTK ANIME will be publishing their arsenal of Manga-styled comics including genres in romance, sci-fi, fantasy, and drama."

Dark-N-Light, a 116 page Manga styled graphic novel, will be available August 2005 in selected comic book stores in the Midwest, or directly from QTK ANIME for $7.99.

For more information, contact QTK ANIME by phone 708-207-1773 or e-mail at info@QTKANIME.com

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anime
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drawing anime

"U.S. Teenage Girls Prefer Japanese Heroes"

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Alderwood) — Wed, 24 Aug 2005 19:40:00 -0700

AlterNet: WireTap: U.S. Teenage Girls Prefer Japanese Heroes: "Usually, the publication of a new comic book is not news.
But, gadzooks! The July launch of 'Shojo Beat' comic book for young women is up there with the latest Harry Potter sequel as one of the year's biggest publishing stories.
A thick, square-bound magazine published by Viz, Shojo Beat collects six English-language manga (Japanese comic books) and publishes them in monthly installments and distributes them at retail outlets such as Wal-Marts and bookstores--territory long ago lost by American comics. Manga are among the most vital sector of U.S. publishing, showing double-digit growth for the past three years. In the U.S., manga is a $110 million a year industry, but in Japan the manga market grosses approximately $4.7 billion each year."

Yes, it seems the ladies are in the manga "drivers seat"....kinda scary ^_^

Mark

tags - news
anime
manga
drawing anime