Read some interesting news today. Funimation and NicoNico have joined forces to provide streaming services. The combination of these two can prove to be a win win for fans and providers alike. Being powerhouse in distribution, Funimation can gain possible first dibs to shows for simulcast. (more…)
Lone Otaku
Anime, Manga, Figurines and Other Otaku Interests
Tags: News
Japan To Invite 10,000 Lucky Visitors To Japan
Japan has announced that it plans to invite 10,000 people to visit Japan on them. Well not completely, you would need to cover food, lodging, etc. The cost of the plane tickets would be covered. The catch is, you will need to publicize about your visit. (more…)
Production I.G.’s New Project, A Letter to Momo
Production I.G., known for a number of great anime series has gathered up a number of well known names to work on their latest anime movie project, A Letter to Momo.
Letter to Momo
This movie is about a girl, Momo, who after growing up in a big city has to move to a remote island following the premature death of her father. There, she and her mom live together in the old family house. Compared to the city, time appears to have stood still. Momo is none to thrilled about her new surroundings. But most of all, she is uneasy about an unfinished letter from her father. The letter contained two words: “Dear Momo…” What was her father going to say.
Some of the staff include:
Director / Screenplay / Storyboard: Hiroyuki Okiura (Jin-Roh)
Key Animation Supervisor: Masashi Ando (Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away)
Key Animators: Toshiyuki Inoue (Tokyo Godfathers), Ei Inoue (The Cat Returns), Takeshi Honda (Evangelion: 2.22 You Can (Not) Advance), Tetsuya Nishio (The Sky Crawlers), Hiroyuki Aoyama (Summer Wars)
Background Art: Hiroshi Ono (Kiki’s Delivery Service)
Animation: Production I.G (Ghost in the Shell, Jin-Roh)
With names like these, I am looking forward to seeing this movie. I think the wait will be worth while. It is due to be in theaters in Japan in 2012.
Source: Production I.G.
Funimation joins U-verse Channel Line Up
Exciting news for fellow Otaku that have U-Verse as their television provider. Funimation Channel has finally been added for our viewing enjoyment. On channel 1484 you should find Funimation streaming it’s animation goodness into your homes. I’ve already scheduled a number of shows to record and view on my leisure.
This is the HD channel for Funimation so the picture is pretty good. So far on the show list that I recall is Baccano, Claymore, Soul Eater, Samurai 7, and few others. I’m looking forward to catching up on a few series here that I have not seen. If I like them, I’m likely to buy the DVD sets.
So far it appears they are airing the English dub versions of shows here. I caught a glimpse of Ouran Host Club this morning in English. Caught me off guard but I’ll have to watch more to tell if I’ll watch the Japanese dub when I get the DVDs.
Do you have access to the Funimation channel? Do you enjoy it’s programming?
Funimation Alliance with NTV; to Simulcast “Rainbow”
Funimation has announced that it has entered into an agreement giving them exclusive rights to the U.S. online simulcast of the networks newest animated series “Rainbow“. This collaboration will allow the simulcast and streaming of already aired episodes and the remaining episodes of the 26 part series. Starting June 1, 2010, Funimation will air episode 9 one hour after its premier in Japan.
Looking forward to seeing the series. The storyline seems pretty good.
Source: AnimeNewsNetwork
Anime Expo 2010 Guest News
Anime Expo has announced that host voice actresses Yui Horie and Eri Kitamura at the July 1 – 4 convention in Las Angeles. Both actresses will be promoting their work in the Toradora! anime, which will be released through NIS America in July.
Other characters that these actresses have voiced include:
- Aoi Hana (Kyōko Ikumi)
- Bakemonogatari (Tsubasa Hanekawa)
- The Tower of Druaga: the Sword of Uruk (Fatina)
- Kämpfer (Akane Mishima)
- B Gata H Kei (Miharu Takeshita)
- Vampire Knight (Yuuki Cross)
- Angel Beats! (Yui)
- Bakemonogatari (Araragi Karen)
- Blood+ (Saya Otonashi)
- Dance in the Vampire Bund (Nelly)
- Durarara (Mairu Orihara)
- Kodomo no Jikan (Rin Kokonoe)
Sounds like Anime Expo will be an exiting one this year. Does not appear I will get to make it so if you manage to get there, let me know how it was. I wouldn’t mind getting an autographed photo either of either or both of these actresses. (hint)
Source: AnimeNewsNetwork
A Word About Bootleg
An article posted on the Good Smile Company website, warns about a knock-off version of the Nendoroid Puchi Vocaloid figures that seems to be circulating. Reading through the article (using Google translate) you can piece together what makes these bootleg copies.
Bootleg Nendoroid Puchi Vocaloid
For a better example, here is Miku in both the bootleg and original form. The bootleg version is on the left.
Nendoroid Puchi Bootleg Comparison
This article was originally spotted on Alafista.com.
Underground bicycle parking
I originally read about this over on Danny Choo’s website. Quite interesting concept. In a country where there are a huge number of bicycle used every day this makes perfect sense. To combat the lack of parking space for bicycles, the Japanese have devised an automated underground storage system. Hmmm, this seems vaguely reminiscent of the movie Minority Report for some reason… Check out the link to Danny’s site below for more details.
Source: DannyChoo.com
Good news for fans of Ghost in the Shell…
Ghost in the Shell: SAC to Spawn 2 New Manga in Japan…
According to ANN, Kodansha has confirmed that it will launch two new manga based on the Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex television anime series in December.
Ghost In the Shell Manga, Issue 5
From ANN:
The first of the upcoming manga, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex – Tachikoma na Hibi, will launch in the January issue of Kodansha’s Monthly Young Magazine on December 9. Masayuki Yamamoto is drawing this all-new manga based on Production I.G’s 2002 video anime series of the same name. This spinoff series of bonus anime shorts recounted the tongue-in-cheek stories of the Tachikoma AI tanks from the main Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex anime.
The second manga, simply titled Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, will launch in the 2009.02 issue of Kodansha’s Weekly Young Magazine on December 14. Yu Kinutani, the creator of the Amon and Shion manga and the artist of the Steamboy, Leviathan, and Pairon manga, will draw this manga version.
I’ve not read the Manga. I started with the anime itself. I like the style of the anime so I doubt I’ll be getting into the Manga series. I’m also looking forward to the Live Action version of Ghost In The Shell.
Source: ANN
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- L'Arc-en-Ciel to Play in New York in March October 18, 2011
- AKB48 Anime October 18, 2011
- Saber and Melon October 17, 2011
- Lalaport October 17, 2011
- Anime Magazines October 14, 2011
- Shinobu Oshino Figure October 12, 2011
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