And how is everyone’s Thursday night going? It’s been a fairly decent week for me with lots of things getting done including a new DVD review which should be up in a couple of days. But here are all the things that were happening while I was distracted….

Anime Adaptation Announced for Wandering Son: From the creator of Aoi Hana, Takako Shimura, comes this school drama-romance about a feminine boy in the 5th grade and his classmate, a girl who wishes she was a boy. No details on when it’ll be released or who is producing the animation.

Eh… I really didn’t care for Aoi Hana so I’ll let all of you be excited on my behalf.

14th Episode of Sora no Otoshimono Removed From Final Disc: A notice on the official website has alerted fans to a change to the last DVD volume being released on June 25th. Originally the disc was set to contain the uncensored version of episode 13 and a special 14th episode which was ‘too hot for television’. For some unknown reason though, the unaired episode has been postponed and will be replaced with the TV version of episode 13 and footage of a live event… and all for the exact same price.

Best part about it though? The notice also says that the release format for the 14th episode will be announced later meaning that they plan on getting fans to buy yet another overpriced DVD to see it and that’s not being kind of prick-ish at all.

If you planning on buying the Japanese DVDs and are now bummed by this news, cheer yourself up with this footage from a live Sora no Otoshimono event held recently

Tokyo Debating Complete Ban on Loli Materials: It’s been a very dark time for a certain population of the anime community. After a now very well known sentence was rendered, then there was Funimation and the whole Bund issue and now it’s been learned that even our own holy land is turning against us!

A legislative amendment has been submitted to amend current child welfare laws to include language banning sexually provocative ‘visual depictions’ of any character who looks or sounds like she’s under 18 (regardless on if the character actually is or not). The proposal goes to deliberation on March 18th and should it make it out of committee, will be put to a vote on March 30th.

I’m going on record and saying I don’t think anyone has anything to worry about. I just don’t see this one passing but then again, what do I know about Japanese law and government?

Dragon Ball Z Kai Gets NickToons Premiere: Speaking of kids (eh… sort of), the revamped version of DBZ will premiere in March on Nickelodeon and expose a brand new generation of suburban kids to Goku and how to say ‘It’s over 9000!’ until everyone around them wants to tape their mouths shut. Honestly, my reaction to this upon reading the headline this morning was ‘Oh, Funimation is going to make some money off that,’ but even I can admit that this is great news for those of us who would like to see new fans join the community.

Toshihiro Kawamoto Announced for Anime Expo: Finally, Anime Expo sent out a press release tonight announcing Toshihiro Kawamono as their latest special guest. Best known as a co-founder of Studio Bones and the character designer for Cowboy Bebop and Wolf Rain’s; his latest project has him teaming up with Stan Lee for this spring’s Heroman. (Full press release below the cut)

Anime Expo® 2010 announces Japanese animator, TOSHIHIRO KAWAMOTO, as an Official Guest of Honor

Anaheim, CA – March 11, 2010 – Anime Expo® is excited to announce today that renowned Japanese animator, Toshihiro Kawamoto, will be an official Guest of Honor at its July convention. Anime Expo, the United States’ largest anime and manga convention is scheduled for July 1 – 4, 2010, at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Mr. Kawamoto will take part in autograph sessions, meet-and-greets and attendee panels.

Toshihiro Kawamoto is among the most well-known animators and character designers in the industry. His impressive career spans over two decades in which he has worked on such beloved anime titles as Cowboy Bebop, the Mobile Suit Gundam 0083 series, Golden Boy and Wolf’s Rain as chief animation director and character designer. Kawamoto-San has most recently acted as key animation director for Sword of the Stranger, Escaflowne: The Movie, Fullmetal Alchemist and Eureka Seven.

Toshirio Kawamoto has also co-founded BONES, a Japanese anime studio that has produced over 30 popular titles. Such series as Ouran High School Host Club, Soul Eater,Wolf’s Rain and Fullmetal Alchemist were all produced by the famed anime studio. Kawamoto-San is currently working on his next title, Hero Man, as chief animation director along with Spider-Man co-creator, Stan Lee.

Kawamoto-San joins Anime Expo’s 2010 line-up along with seiyuu Yuu Asakawa, J-rock band SOPHIA, and anime director Shinichi “Nabeshin” Watanabe. To stay updated on all of the latest Anime Expo 2010 news, follow us on Twitter, become a fan on Facebook and check us out on YouTube.

To register for Anime Expo 2010, please visit our website.

About Anime Expo®

Anime Expo is located in Los Angeles and is the nation’s largest anime and manga convention. The Expo serves to foster trade, commerce and the interests of the general public and animation industry. This event serves as a key meeting place for the general public to express their interest and explore various aspects of both anime and manga, as well as for members of the industry to conduct business. AX 2010 will be held July 1 – July 4, 2010, at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Southern California. More information can be found at www.anime-expo.org.

About the Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation

The Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to popularize and educate the American public about anime and manga, as well as provide a forum to facilitate communication between professionals and fans. This organization is more popularly known by its entertainment property, Anime Expo®. More information can be found at www.spja.org.

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