News

Daily Links of the Day: Ponyo, ADV in UK, Appleseed

Some of these news items will have full articles written in ANN.

Miyazaki's Newest in English: Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea

The third-party GhibliWorld.com information website notes that the flyer for the latest film from director Hayao Miyazaki (Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle) lists the official English title: Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea. The Studio Ghibli film is tentatively set to open in Japan this summer.

Lace Announces ADV's Relisted UK Releases for Spring

As promised, Lace Digital Media Sales has announced the rescheduled release dates for all the ADV Films releases in the United Kingdom for spring. Lace picked up distribution of the titles after ADV Films closed its London office. The announcement also notes that former ADV Films UK staffer Hugh David will continue working on the titles as Lace's marketing consultant.

More Appleseed: Ex Machina Videos Posted Online

The IGN entertainment website has posted more video clips to mark this week's home video and on-demand release of the Appleseed: Ex Machina movie. Shinji Aramaki's computer-graphics science-fiction film is now available in North America on DVD, Blu-ray Disc, and Xbox Live's download service.

Macross Mini-Concert, Talk Show at Tokyo Anime Fair

The official Japanese website for the Macross Frontier robot/romance adventure series announced that the Tokyo International Anime Fair 2008 will hold a mini-concert and talk show on March 30. The concert will debut the singer known as May'n in her role of the "Songstress of the Galaxy," Sheryl Nome. Newcomer Megumi Nakajima (Ranka Lee) will also appear to sing the trademark Macross anthem, "Do You Remember Love?" The event will feature a discussion with Macross co-creator Shoji Kawamori and the latest anime footage. The Macross Frontier series will premiere in Japan on April 4.

UCLA to Hold Japanese Pop Culture Conference This Week

The University of California, Los Angeles is holding a J-Wave USA conference about Los Angeles as a gateway to Japanese culture during March 13-15. Speakers will include Japananimerica author Roland Kelts, Otaku USA editor-in-chief Patrick Macias, and Pacific Media Expo CEO Mike Tatsugawa. The event will also display works by artists Mikiko Hara and Mika Ninagawa (director of the live-action Sakuran movie).

Report on State of Japanese Animation Industry

The Animation Insider website posted a report on the state of the Japanese animation industry. The report covers the prospects for new animators, the low wages and long hours of current staffers, the financial crunch facing new productions, and the uncertainty in the business as a whole.

Dungeon of Windaria RPG Adapts 1986 Anime Classic

The Famitsu game news source reports that the 1986 anime film classic Windaria is being adapted into a Nintendo DS role-playing game called Dungeon of Windaria. The player takes on the role of the anime's Izu as this boy tries to prevent war between two feuding countries. Hiroyuki Hirano (personal site) adapts Mutsumi Inomata's original character designs for the May 5 game release. Thank you to Emerje for the news tip.

Live-Action Dragonball to Open in Japan in March

James Wong and Twentieth Century Fox's live-action film adaptation of Akira Toriyama's Dragonball fighting manga will open in Japan in March of 2009, even though the American release has been pushed back to April 3, 2009. Source: Sports Hochi via Tokyograph

Japanese Store Sells Osamu Tezuka Manga Online

The Japanese virtual bookstore Papyless will upload at least 448 stories from the manga pioneer Osamu Tezuka, including Mighty Atom/Astroboy, Black Jack and New Treasure Island, starting on March 18. One volume will cost 105 yen (about US$0.98) for a 48-hour "rental," or 315 yen (US$2.95) for an outright purchase. Papyless has 80,000 other titles online. Source: AFP

Million-Yen Pure-Gold Astroboy Figure Offered

Japan's Imperial Enterprise mail-order company is offering a 1-million-yen (about US$9,000) pure-gold figure of Mighty Atom (Astroboy) to mark the 80th anniversary of his creator Osamu Tezuka's birthday. Only 80 figures will be made, each from 80 grams (2.8 ounces) of gold and a natural diamond. Source: animeanime.jp

Gundam, Galaxy Express 999 Take the Train

A Gundam monument will be erected at Seibu's Kamiigusa train station in Tokyo's Suginami ward (an area known as "Gundam's town" thanks to the nearby studios of Sunrise) on March 23. The Seibu Shinjuku train line will play "Tobe! Gundam" ("Fly! Gundam") as its chime when it leaves the station. Starting on March 15, the trains will also have an original Gundam headmark during Japan's spring break.

The Seibu Ikebukuro line has been running trains with an original Galaxy Express 999 headmark from March 1 to March 17. On March 16, the Galaxy Express 999 creator Leiji Matsumoto (Space Battleship Yamato, Space Pirate Captain Harlock) will serve as stationmaster for one day to mark the Neritan Anime Project in Oizumi event and the Tokyo International Anime Fair later this month. Source: animeanime.jp