Posts Tagged ‘production ig’

As you may recall, last summer The Agency of Cultural Affairs of Japan launched a special project to help sustain the anime industry for at least a little longer. The plan was to give the Japan Animation Creators Association (JaniCa) the funds and backing to recruit four studios to create four government funded anime shorts. In order to participate in the program, the studios had to agree to hire crews that were almost entirely made up of inexperienced workers and have them work directly with veteran animators, directors and studios such as Mitsuru Hongo (Sakura Taisen), PA Works (Angel Beats, Canaan) and Production IG (Moribito, Eden of the East, Sky Crawlers) in order to learn their trade and, hopefully in turn, stay in the industry so that it has a future. Well, it was a nice idea while it lasted.

6 months. That’s all it took for news to hit reporting that the entire project is going to be suspended until further notice due to disputes over funds and budgets by two factions WITHIN JaniCA between founder and former chairperson Ashida Toyoo and chief auditor and lawyer Okeda Daisuke. According to Toyoo and his party of supporters, Toyoo was forced from his position under a false charge after Okeda allegedly distributed the funds in a manner that favored profit over results. On the other side, Okeda and his supporters insist that they are right because Toyoo and another staffer threatened to derail the project much sooner with demands for a bigger budget for the executive producer position. They also allegedly demanded that the project be canceled entirely if they didn’t get what they want. The dispute is reportedly headed to court and will be decided there. Meanwhile The Agency of Cultural Affairs of Japan have suspended all support for the project until things are settled.

So who is right and who is wrong? Better question; who cares? Last year the government stepped in and offered the anime industry a small injection of life. It wasn’t going to be a miracle cure but it was still a band aid that had potential to at least give the industry a bit more life. Instead, infighting derails it and leaves fans facepalming all over again. Oh well, guess we can add this to the list of other projects that failed before they even had a chance like Anime no Chikara (yeah, remember that?).

Via MyAnimeList

At a press conference held on Friday, Fuji TV announced that in the summer two new series will be filling the Noitamina late night anime programming block: Usagi Drop and No. 6.

Usagi Drop is based off an award winning manga by Yumi Unita and will be produced by Production I.G. In the manga, a 30 year old man named Daikichi returns home from his grandfather’s funeral to find a 6 year old girl outside his house. It turns out that the girl is named Rin and is the illegitimate daughter of his now deceased grandfather. With no one else in the family willing to take responsibility for the child, Daikichi decides to adopt and raise her.

Also based off a manga, No. 6 is a much darker title which will be produced by Studio Bones. Taking place in 2013, the hero is a boy named Shion who was recognized as having a gifted intelligence since he was 2. Because of this he has been allowed to live in the luxurious part of ideal city No. 6, Cronos. On his 12th birthday, he meets and hides a boy who has escaped from the private security section of the city. Stripped of his privileges because of his actions, Shion is sent to a slum where he eventually begins to learn the secrets behind the ‘ideal city’ No. 6.

For those of you at home who like to keep track of these things that fills the Noitamina block all the way through the summer. This season Fractale and Hourou Musoko are slotted to premiere next week and in the spring it will be C and Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae o Boku-tachi wa Mada Shiranai (AnoHana).

Via MyAnimeList 1 and 2

January is a really important month for me because there is just so much going on! Oh right, yeah there’s the new year I guess but if you have your priorities in order, you’d actually be referring to the first new anime season of the year! It’s a really small season this year though. I only have 21 new series (down from 29 last year) on this year’s preview, not including the OVAs/OADs that will be listed in part 2. This is just not a season for studios to be multitasking it seems. A quarter ago, JC Staff were the busy ones but this season they’re quietly working on one (Yumekui Merry). Instead, Studio Deen are the busy ones this season with three different series premiering (Starry Sky, Kore wa Zombie desu ka and Dragon Crisis). Studio Pierrot is right behind them with two (Beelzebub and Level E) though that’s only technically since they’re only co-producing one of them.

So there’s a lot to cover to let’s get into it already. Part 1 of this season’s review covers everything up until 1/8, which is roughly half the season. Don’t forget that I’ll be spending the entire month getting my early impressions up as I am able to view the new episodes. Feel free to chime in with your own opinions along the way.

Haiyoru! Nyaruani: Remember My Mr. Lovecraft
Studio: DLE Inc.
Premiere Date: 12/10
Genre: Comedy
Adapted From: ONA/Light Novel

What It’s About

A Cthulhu deity has taken the form of a seemingly harmless silver haired girl. While wandering around, she comes across a high school boy, Mahiro Yasaka, being attacked by aliens and saves him. For those unaware, that’s never just the end of it when it comes to Cthulhu.

Why You Should Care

I haven’t looked at this one yet but I already know it’s going to make for interesting viewing. The most experienced people on the cast are the voice cast and character designer, Koin (Kanokon). But come on… it’s anime and Cthulhu! Are you really going to tell me that you’re not the least bit curious?

Starry Sky
Studio: Studio DEEN
Premiere Date: 12/23
Genre: Shoujo Romance
Adapted From: PSP Games

What It’s About

Yahisa Tsukiko is the first female to enroll in what was formerly an all boys school. While making her way through the school and meeting her classmates, she bumps into 12 different boys. Not so coincidentally, they all have personalities that match the 12 signs of the zodiac.

Why You Should Care

Studio DEEN is producing three series this season so if you don’t like this one, there are still two more chances down the road.

Cast and crew for this series include fan favorites Jun Fukuyama  and Daisuke Ono playing Azusa (Mr. Sagittarius) and Suzuya (Mr. Cancer) respectively; music is being composed by Tomoki Kikuya (Squid Girl, Kyouran Kazoku Nikki, Hidamari Sketch, Asu no Yoichi, Da Capo II) and the bishies are safe in the hands of Maki Fujii (07-Ghost).

Rio – Rainbow Gate!
Studio: XEBEC
Premiere Date: 1/4
Genre: Ecchi Comedy
Adapted From: Slot Machine
Available via Crunchyroll

What It’s About

Originally a popular slot machine character (don’t laugh, anyone remember pachinko based series Umi Monogatari?), Rio Rollins Tachibana makes her debut working in a casino where she is known as the ‘Goddess of Victory’. What she really wants is to get closer to her mother who was also known as one of the best card dealers ever and to do this she must collect 13 special cards called ‘gates’.

Why You Should Care

I’m not saying that this is absolutely going to be an ecchi series but it does have the same studio (Xebec) and director (Takao Kato) as To Love Ru. It’s also premiering on acid nipple satellite network AT-X. Draw your conclusions here.

Kimi ni Todoke Season 2
Studio: Production I.G
Premiere Date: 1/4
Genre: Romance
Sequel

What It’s About

The continuing stories of shy girl Sawako making friends in her class. In the first season, she was able to strike up a relationship with the most popular boy in class among others.

Why You Should Care

All of the cast and crew remain the same; Production I.G is still handling the animation and Hiro Kaburaki remains in the directors chair. The only change is the addition of Mamoru Miyano playing Kento.

This is one the series from this year that I would love to sit down and give another chance someday. It didn’t grab me the first time but there is still something special to this series.

Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica
Magical Girl Madoka Magica
Studio: Shaft
Premiere Date: 1/6
Genre: Magical Girl
Trailers

What It’s About

After days of research and watching all 10 trailers here’s what I’ve put together about this series: there are magical girls and they grant wishes.

Why You Should Care

This is the first series of the season that I’ve given up all hope of being able to resist based solely on the crew: animation from Shaft (Bakemonogatari, Maria Holic, Hidamari Sketch), director Akiyuki Shinbo (Bakemonogatari, Hidamari Sketch), music composed by Yuki Kajiura (Madlax, Noir, Aquarian Age, Pandora Hearts, Mai Hime), theme songs from ClariS (OreImo) and Kalafina (Sora no Woto) and character designs from Umi Aoki (Hidamari Sketch).

So psyched to see this it’s not even funny. Alright, maybe a little.

IS: Infinite Stratos
Studio: 8-Bit
Premiere Date: 1/6
Genre: Sci-Fi School Comedy
Adapted From: Light Novels
Trailers

What It’s About

In the future, wars are fought with exoskeletons called Infinite Stratos and are almost exclusively piloted by females. When 15 year old Ichika discovers that he is one of the few exceptions, he is given a full scholarship to an all female school that trains IS pilots.

Why You Should Care

There are a couple of reasons to get optimistic about this one. Director Yasuhito Kikichi has done giant mechs (Macross Frontier) and one of the writers, Fumihiko Shimo, has done school romance (Clannad, Full Metal Panic, Kanon [2006]). Additionally music is being composed by Hikaru Nanase (Chrno Crusade, Canaan, Da Capo, Scrapped Princess, Super Gals).

However, it’s still a school comedy with giant mechs and this is the first time studio 8-Bit has been credited for animation production. Keep your expectations reasonable.

Yumekui Merry
Studio: J.C. Staff
Premiere Date: 1/6
Genre: Action Comedy
Adapted From: Manga
Trailers

What It’s About

Fujiwara is a completely normal boy beyond the fact that earlier in his life he discovered a power to see the auras surrounding people while additionally having constant dreams about cats fighting a war. Not surprisingly, while walking around one day an odd cat girl falls on top of him and drags him into the middle of a war being fought by cats.

Why You Should Care

Early looks at the animation from JC Staff make me want to care about this release but it’s already becoming a struggle.

Director Shigeyasu Yamauchi has the most impressive resume out the cast and crew with having worked on 5 different Saint Seiya releases.

Wolverine
Studio: Madhouse
Premiere Date: 1/7
Genre: Action
Adapted From: Marvel Comic
Trailer

What It’s About

Wolverine, the tough mutant with superhuman healing, senses and retractable claws travels to Japan to investigate Advanced Idea Mechanics. While there he’ll run into familiar figures from his past.

Why You Should Care

Iron Man wasn’t really received that well so it’ll be curious to see how the second of four Marvel anime adaptations (Blade and X-Men are still to come) sits with fans.

Just like with Iron Man, the pilot will be directed by a veteran, in this case famed director Rintaro (a whole host of Leiji Matsumoto titles). Starting with episode 2, the series will be directed by Hiroshi Aoyama (Rocket Girls). As a side note, how lame is that? “Alright guy, Rintaro has done his thing. Now make the rest of the series just as good.”

Wolverine will be played by Rikiya Koyama who has done other tough guys like Emonzaemon in Katanagatari, Jubei in Ninja Scroll and Reiji in Witchblade.

Gosick
Studio: Bones
Premiere Date: 1/7
Genre: Mystery
Adapted From: Light Novels
Trailer
Available via Crunchyroll

What It’s About

Taking place at the St. Marguerite Academy in the fictional European country Sauville during 1924, a boy named Kazuya Kujo transfers into the school. Eventually he meets and befriends a girl named Victorique who is only interested in solving mysteries (including some that even the local detectives can’t figure out). Throughout the series, Kazuya and Victorique will make their way around solving cases and forming bonds with those who need help.

Why You Should Care

Beyond animation from Studio Bones (Tokyo Magnitude 8.0, Ouran High School Host Club, Fullmetal Alchemist) it’s hard to come up with reasons to be genuinely excited about this one. Director Hitoshi Nanba worked on Heroman and Kotaro Nakagawa composed the music for Code Geass and Hayate the Combat Butler but other than that… eh.

Cardfight!! Vanguard
Studio: TMS Entertainment
Premiere Date: 1/8
Genre: Card Fighting
Trailer
Available via Crunchyroll

What It’s About

Again, after careful research this is what I’ve come up with: the main character is a third year middle schooler and becomes really good with a new card game. But someone else comes along who says they are better and so the two must duel. Probably repeatedly.

Why You Should Care

Yet another series about dueling cards but this one was put together by YuGiOh mangaka Akira Ito, Duelmasters technical advisor Satoshi Nakamura and Bushiroad president Takaaki Kidani and they really want you to like this series. So much so that JAM Project has been acquired to sing the OP.

Other interesting names attached to the crew include director Tsuji Hatsuki (Rurouni Kenshin, Samurai X, YuGiOh Duel Monster GX) and Tsubasa Yonaga (Ren in Big Windup!) as the lead card dueler.

Freezing
Studio: A.C.G.T.
Premiere Date: 1/8
Genre: Sci-Fi Action
Adapted From: Manga
Trailer

What It’s About

In an alternate future where Earth has been invaded by aliens, Aoi Kazuya enrolls to fight in the resistance. Entering a school that’s training genetically modified women called Pandoras to fight and men to be their partners, Aoi ends up meeting the most powerful and popular girl named Bridgette. Despite being warned of her unique personality, Aoi teams up with her to fight together.

Why You Should Care

At first I thought this was going to just like Infinite Stratos. Now I see that the primary difference is that this series will be darker, bloodier and more ecchi.

This is another series premiering on AT-X and features not only the director of IkkiTousen (Season 1), Takashi Watanabe, but also two writers who have worked on the franchise.

Animation is being produced by A.C.G.T who you might remember from Koi Kaze, Seven of Seven (I’m trying not to hold that one against them) and Human Crossing.

Onii-chan no Koto nanka Zenzen Suki Janain Dakara ne!!
Because For Some Reason My Big Brother Doesn’t Like Me At All
Studio: ZEXCS
Premiere Date: 1/8
Genre: Sibling Complex Comedy
Adapted From: Manga
Trailer

What It’s About

Nao is in love with her brother Shusuke but contains her feelings because those types of relationships are still illegal. However, once she finds out that she isn’t actually a blood relative but rather adopted after her real parents died all bets are off! With no laws to stand in her way, Nao begins her quest for a real relationship with her brother despite his ex constantly standing in her way.

Why You Should Care

Tired of sibling complex series yet? Seems like this is a trend that’s going to be around for awhile longer.

This one will be broadcasting on normal television so keep your ecchi expectations a bit lower.

The cast and crew behind this series is impressive at least: ZEXCS (Da Capo, Chu Bra, Canvas2, H20 Footprints in the Sand) is handling animation, Keitaro Motonaga (Akane Iro Somaru Saka, Katanagatari, School Days, Princess Princess) is directing and Tomoki Kikuya is composing his second score of the season (Starry Sky being the other).  The cast includes Eri Kitamura (Yui in Angel Beats, Saya in High School of the Dead) as Nao, Toshiyuki Toyonaga (Tayura in Kanokon) as Shusuke and Marina Inoue (Kiryuu in Akane Iro Somaru Saka, Natsuru in Kampfer) as Iroha.

Mitsudomoe Zouryouchuu!
Studio: Bridge
Premiere Date: 1/8
Genre: Comedy
Sequel
Available via Crunchyroll

What It’s About

The continued adventures of the Marui triplets making life miserable for their teacher as he tries to hook up with the bumbling school nurse.

Why You Should Care

No crew announcements but the animation studio is staying the same so I’m assuming this means all or most of the cast and crew will be returning.

Whew, that’s it for now. Later this week I’ll be posting the second half which covers the rest of January, February and all of the OVAs and OADs that are starting to be released this season. So, got any picks on what looks good this season?

Available from Amazon Available from Right Stuf

Eden of the East Released By: Funimation Released: 10/19/10 Reviewed: 11/17/10 Rated: 15+

While on a school vacation to Washington DC, Saki runs into a mysterious naked man with no memories of who he is. All he has in his possession is a cell phone and a gun which makes for a strange start for what will become an even stranger relationship between the two. Taking on the name Akira Takizawa, he returns to Japan with Saki and begins his search for answers into who he is and what powers are contained within his phone.

What he learns is that he’s one of a dozen people in the country who have been given a fortune and the ability to do almost anything they can imagine in order to change the country for the better. Unfortunately with the answers he finds, Akira learns that not everyone who has been given this opportunity have had the same ideas on how to go about things. While learning of his past, Akira will also learn about his own low points which are as shadowy as the craters left behind from a mysterious missile attack on Japan which left no casualties and no one to blame some months earlier.

Good and the Bad

Of all the reviews I’ve written lately, Eden of the East is one that has given me the most trouble. Produced by Production IG and released in 2009, this series has sustained a constant buzz ever since its release. Now that I’ve finally watched it all I’m left with one nagging feeling: That’s it?

Before anyone gets the wrong idea, I’m not winding up to tear this one apart. Contrary to things that I might say later, I did mostly enjoy this series. When taken as a whole, Eden of the East has a solid story and manages to tell it while going down some interesting paths along the way. Sometimes those paths even lead to even more interesting conclusions. Exploring the theme of Japan returning as a renewed world power, it’s hard to think of another series that has even explored the concept as deeply as this one.

For the first half, Eden of the East creates a deep path for viewers to follow. A group of people are given almost limitless funds to change their country for the better. Certainly there are going to be differing ideas on how to go about it but there are also going to be successes and failures along the way. What kind of miserable failure would drive someone to completely erase their memories? For the first part of the series, questions like these are presented and very slowly brought into focus.

Once things start to hit the middle of the series things begin to slow down through half hearted searches down alternate paths. Within the first third of the series, two more people who are involved in the game are introduced to the audience who are polar opposites of each other. While one squanders his opportunity, another does amazing deeds that may not get him declared the winner but can at least keep his conscious clear. With this pattern established, the series is able to give answers to both the audience and its lead character simultaneously. Once the story travels down this path a third time though, the pace completely stalls and never really recovers.

Once the audience gets to the other side of the rescue story, the sense of urgency that was once apparent is nowhere to be found. What was once a race to find out the mysteries of Akira’s past becomes a race to push answers into the final episodes. In the closing episodes, Eden of the East manages to tie up the largest puzzle in a not entirely pretty bow. As for those alternate paths that the series half heartedly explored earlier? Apparently not important enough to worry about beyond the plot that Akira had to solve within an episode in order to give things a coincidental ending.

And finally in a flash I realized that was the answer I was looking for. This isn’t a terribly poor produced series. It actually has very typical, high standard Production IG animation and a story which breaks molds in the landscape. What it doesn’t do is give the audience any really consistent senses of urgency or tension. The story is always moving forward towards answers but eventually the series just runs out of steam hoping that fans will coast through the last third of the series and yet still have enough leftover momentum to carry them into the follow up movies. Instead, this lack of consistent tension serves to slowly take viewers out of a series that started with a lot of promise.

Music

Composed by Kenji Kawai, the background score really flexes the muscle of the experienced composer. Using a full orchestra, the music uses strings to provide most of the melodies and does a great job of setting an air of tension that is constantly surrounding Akira. During Saki’s time on the screen, the melodies shift to piano themes and creates a sweet, almost homey atmosphere particularly when she is struggling with decisions.

Just to heap on some extra praise, Funimation really goes out for their fans with this release. In the original television broadcast, the opening theme was a song performed by British rock band Oasis with another song used for international broadcasts. As an extra treat, the theme song from Oasis is included with the first episode of the set before changing to the international theme.

Dub vs. Sub

Listening to this set entirely in English, I was really surprised at how easily quickly I felt comfortable with the performances. Throughout the set, I would try to listen carefully in places to spot inconsistencies but I always felt like the characters felt particularly natural and easy to listen to. Led by Leah Clark (Saki Morimi) and Jason Liebrecht (Akira Takizawa), I was particularly struck by the naturalness to their banter early in the series. When these two are first getting together and flirting, it’s hard to not be charmed by the sweet, casual sound in the voices.

Overall

I’ll give credit to Eden of the East for being innovative and well produced. In the end though, this is another good concept which fizzles out towards the end. I recognize this series for being another unique speck in the landscape worth giving attention to. But that’s really all it is and when the buzz dies so will this series. If you need a slowly unraveling story, you might give this one a chance but you’re not missing anything if you don’t stick it out.

I’ve never been a huge fan of Appleseed but I get the excitement about it so here’s the new dish: A new TV series has been announced to begin in Spring 2011. The new series will be called Appleseed XIII and tell a brand new story about Deunan and Briareos. Interestingly, this production will feature very few names attached to the previous movies. Replacing Shinji Arameki as director will be Takayuki Hamana (Beast Player Erin, Prince of Tennis) while replacing Masaki Yamada as character designer will be Goto Takayuki (Ghost in the Shell: Solid State Society). The series itself will be produced by Jinni’s Animation Studio and Production I.G.

As I mentioned, I’m not a die hard fan of the Appleseed franchise but I do have a good time with each new one that is released. I haven’t heard about a lot coming out this spring to be excited about so this sounds like something that will be cool to be reminded about in six months or so.

<Via MyAnimeList>

After the first week, it’s easy to understand why everyone would lose a little excitement for the rest of the month but come on everyone, there’s still so much good stuff to look forward to! Featured in the last two weeks of the summer season are the returns of Strike Witches and Sengoku Basara and the much talked about premiere of Shiki. How can you not be excited? Asobi ni Iku Yo? Alright yeah good point.

So here it is, the last installment of the summer season preview! I know that in part 1 I said I’d be splitting this into three parts but I’d rather just get this all done in one swoop.

Strike Witches 2
Studio: AIC
Genre: Moe/Fanservice Action
Adapted From: Manga, OVA, First Season… and here we are 
Premiere Date: 7/7
Trailer 

First Impression: Didn’t want to watch season 1, feeling much the same for season 2 right now.

The girls who refuse to wear pants while flying around the sky are back for a second season. All pants should beware.

Why You Should Care:

- This is the third series that AIC is producing this season (there are four total if you count Asobi ni Iku yo from AIC+). Extra notably, this is also the series that was originally scheduled to be produced by Gonzo before they were replaced with AIC.

- Other than that, it appears that things are going to stay roughly the same with the cast and crew.

- If you had this one on your summer simulcast radar congratulations; Crunchyroll recently announced this one for their lineup.

Shiki
Corpse Demon
Studio: Daume
Genre: Horror
Adapted From: Manga 
Premiere Date: 7/8
Trailer

First Impression: Horror series haven’t been getting very far this year but this looks interesting.

A remote mountain village with 1300 residents are starting to drop like flies shortly after a family moves into an abandoned mansion. After doing some investigating the village realizes that they are under attack by vampires.

Why You Should Care:

- While he made a small guest appearance in the Tono no Issho OVA, this is the time pop singer Gackt has voiced a lead anime character.

- Not surprisingly, Shiki has already been announced for simulcast by Funimation. The series will be airing during Fuji TV’s Noitamina block which Funimation started simulcasting in the spring with The Tatami Galaxy and House of Five Leaves.

Asobi ni Iku yo
Let’s Go Play
Studio: AIC+
Genre: Sci-Fi Romantic Comedy
Adapted From: Light Novel 
Premiere Date: 7/10
Trailer

First Impression: I’m not sure you could drink this series watchable.

While attending a memorial service, a boy named Koi meets a mysterious girl with cat ears named Eris who claims to be an alien. Now Koi’s life involves living with a strange alien and protecting her from the government agents and his scheming best friend who want to take her away.

Why You Should Care:

- I’ll admit it, this is a tough one.

Sengoku Basara 2
Studio: Production I.G
Genre: Historic Action
Adapted From: Video Game
Premiere Date: 7/11

First Impression: As Funimation put it, the manliest manly anime ever.

The series that re-imagines famous figures from Japanese history as pizza eating shonen warriors (the non-turtle kind) returns for a second season.

Why You Should Care:

- Replacing popular Japanese rock band led by Takanori Nishikawa, Abingdon Boys School (Darker than Black, Soul Eater, Tokyo Magnitude 8.0), for the OP will be T.M. Revolution (aka Takanori Nishikawa).

- The cast remains the same for this season but a new director, Kazuya Nomura, will be leading them.

- Yup, Funimation will be simulcasting this one too.

OVAs/OADs are notoriously hard to get any sort of information on before their release. Consider below a rough primer for what’s coming up but keep in mind details might be sketchy in places.

Kure-nai OAD
Studio: Brains Base
Premiere Date: 7/2

In the original manga and anime series (which aired in 2008), a teenage boy works for a woman doing odd jobs that often involve putting his life on the line. On one occasion, his mission is to protect a young girl who is being hidden from her family for her own safety.

Why You Should Care:

- New character designs (that some fans are saying aren’t actually an upgrade)

Shin Koihime Musou
Studio: Dogakobo
Premiere Date: 7/7

In the newest release, the lady warriors return for a story set in St. Francesca Academy. After a fierce battle between students, everyone visits a southern island to unwind.

Why You Should Care:

- “visits a southern island” means this is going to be one long beach episode filled with fan service and bikinis.

Black Lagoon: Roberta’s Blood Trail
Studio: Madhouse
Premiere Date: 7/17

The long awaited 3rd season takes the form of a 5 episode OVA focusing on warrior maid, Roberta.

Why You Should Care:

- Funimation wasted no time with this one so count this as licensed and set for release in the US next year.

Hen Zemi
Abnormal Physiology Seminar
Studio: XEBEC
Premiere Date: 7/23
Trailer

Based on the manga, the comedy series focuses on Nanko Mutsutaka who has been placed in an Abnormal Physiology class filled with weird students despite being fairly ordinary herself.

Why You Should Care:

- A comedy from the director of Hidamari Sketch and the studio that brought you Heroic Age, Kanokon and Shuffle.

Aki Sora Yume no Naka
Studio: Hoods Entertainment
Premiere Date: 7/30
Trailer

After receiving an OAD earlier this year, Aki Sora returns in an OVA telling the story of a forbidden relationship between siblings and their quest to keep it a secret.

Why You Should Care:

- Very ecchi in content (one of the trailers for this release was a 30 second sex scene with a voice over) so take that for what its worth.

- I didn’t get into the manga series but the OAD released earlier this year was a surprisingly enjoyable and well done release.

Queen’s Blade: Utsukushiki Toushi-tachi
Studio: ARMS
Premiere Date: 8/25

The warriors of Queen’s Blade return though no information is available on what they’ll be doing besides fighting.

Why You Should Care:

- Media Blasters has already picked up the TV series, could an OVA license be far behind?

- The ED theme features all 19 characters!

Sora no Otoshimono OAD
Premiere Date: 9/9

The super dangerous 14th episode of the TV series that was deemed too risqué to even be released as a DVD extra finally gets to see its release along with Vol. 9 of the manga.

Why You Should Care:

- Another one where the TV series has already been picked up (Funimation currently has it) so perhaps we’ll see it stateside eventually?

- The title of this bonus episode roughly translates to "Here and peep locker room girls!" And that sound you hear is my head banging against my desk as I think about how many people probably already have this pre-ordered.

- So apparently this episode was too hot for TV and too risky to be included as an extra on the DVD but it’s just safe enough to be released as a limited edition manga extra? Whatever.

And that’s it for the summer season! Be sure to keep checking back over the next couple of weeks as I make my way through as many of the new premieres as I can before the end of the month/end of the season wrap up post. So what’s been good for you so far this season? Anything coming up that you’re really excited about?

You have to feel bad for any company that had to compete with the excitement that Funimation generated last night by announcing 17 new titles. Despite this, both Aniplex and Viz Media managed to get a little share of that love from fans by each announcing a new anime license of their own.

At their panel last night, Aniplex finally confirmed the license that has been rumored to exist for at least the last couple of weeks, Durarara. Premiering this past spring on Crunchyroll and helmed by the same team that created Baccano, the series has been a consistent topic of discussion every week as new episodes rolled out.

Armed with details, Aniplex told fans that the series would be seeing a DVD release in January 2011 in 3 sets and will come complete with a full English dub. No cast list was available at the time of the panel but Aniplex reps did confirm that the full cast would be announced at Otakon. Quick aside, way to give a story a couple extra weeks of life with minimal effort Aniplex!

Hosting their panels this morning, Viz Media and Production I.G also showed that they are still very much in the game with some announcements of their own. Viz Media was up first and announced that they will be simulcasting the new summer supernatural action series, Nurarihyon no Mago. The series premieres on televisions in Japan on Monday but I haven’t been able to find an exact time that it will be made available for fans in the US.

Closing things out this morning, Production I.G gave fans a nice little post script to the Utena TV license announced yesterday by Right Stuf. In their panel, it was confirmed that Right Stuf also has the license to the Revolutionary Girl Utena movie. Additionally, Production I.G also confirmed that they are currently involved in the live action Ghost in the Shell adaptation being worked on by Avi Arad.

Day 3 of Anime Expo isn’t over yet though! Even as we speak, eroge localizers Manga Gamer is presenting their panel and if anything new comes out of that I’ll be sure to post it up as soon as possible!

The company responsible for keeping anime studios Production I.G and Xebec alive is in bad shape according to their latest financial report (Japanese .pdf link). According to their latest Income Ratio report, parent company IG Port suffered a loss of $2.2 million last year due to the allowance of bad debts. Some of the debts came from an unnamed Production I.G anime tanking. Most of the debt is listed as coming from Xebec however after the studio failed to collect payment for an anime movie being partially produced by them (MyAnimeList notes that they are currently involved with Break Blade and Fafner: Dead Aggressor ~Heaven and Earth~) and the cancellation of a TV series connected to the movie which makes the team behind Fafner as the more likely culprits in this mess.

Hm, now that I think about it that movie was announced back in December and it’s been all quiet since.

If I’m reading things correctly, this is the first time that IG Port has suffered a loss since their stocks became publically traded. This doesn’t mean that either studio or its parent company are on the verge of bankruptcy. I do suspect some interesting times are ahead for these two studios though so it’ll be interesting to see what comes out of each in the next year. Hopefully IG Port is able to send some persuasion over to the Fafner team and manages to get things “fixed”. 

<Via MyAnimeList>

The subject of low wages for animators in Japan has been a hot topic of debate as of late. Over the last few months, multiple reports have surfaced indicating young animators in Japan are suffering from poverty line wages which is causing many to leave the field quickly. In an episode of ANNCast recorded this past April, Nmerichi “Chi” Umennachi confirmed that many students leaving college with the intention of becoming animators also assume that they will eventually leave the field to become engineers.

Recognizing some of these problems, which is a good first step, the Japan Animation Creators Association (JAniCA) created a new project earlier this year. The project sounds simple but once I got down into the details I started to see this as possibly the next great experiment to follow up the less than impressive Anime no Chikara initiative put together by TV Tokyo and Aniplex earlier this year. Sorry to those of you who like K-ON joins the army… err, Sora no Woto (which I did) and Senkou no Night Raid (which I didn’t).

In the initial announcement (Japanese .pdf link), JAniCA revealed that four companies would be chosen to animate four different 23 minute animations. The animations would only be given a budget of 38 million yen (a little over $400K) each and would be allocated according to a pre-determined formula that gives more than half to the animation staff.

The purpose of the project is really straight forward: train new young animators and HOPE to the gods that they stick around. According to the 2005 study (Japanese .pdf link) that JAniCA used to put together this project (I’m trying to ignore the fact that they used a 5 year old study for this but whatever), animators, specifically key frame and in between artists, are the most important part of the animation industry but are the most under appreciated. Which is more amazing that it took a complete study to make this assessment or that it took five years to see the study produce a result?

To help curb this, any company that wanted to apply to be part of this project had to be willing to bring on new young animators to work with experienced key frame animators through lectures and direct guidance. The intention is to take up to 40 young artists and give them the training and guidance to stay in the industry for longer with progress being judged along the way by industry veterans.

Earlier today, a new press release (Japanese .pdf link) was issued to the media from JAniCA revealing that four companies have been chosen to participate in the project:

Title: Kizuna Ichigeki
Company: Ascension
Director: Mitsuru Hongo (Sakura Wars/Taisen, Outlaw Star, Spirit of Wonder)
Producer: Hitoshi Mogi

Title: Ojisan no Lamp
Company: Telecom Animation Film (LilPri, Tide-Line Blue)
Director: Teiichi Takiguchi
Producer: Koji Takeuchi

Title: Bannou Yasai Ninninman
Company: P.A. Works (Angel Beats, True Tears, Canann)
Director: Masayuki Yoshihara (Asst. Director – Moribito, Eden of the East)
Producer: Kenji Horikawa

Title: Tansu Warashi
Company: Production I.G (Eden of the East, Blood+, Beast Player Erin, Ghost in the Shell)
Director: Kazuchika Kise (Animation Director – Blue Seed, Evangelion 1.0, Figures of Happiness)
Producer: Hidekazu Terakawa

Note: Project titles subject to change

No details were provided about what each of these projects are going to look like but the time line set by JAniCA has production finishing on each of them in February. Besides Ascension (whom I know nothing about at the moment), the initial lineup has my curiosity piqued. I’d already like to see what Yoshihara will create with his first project as primary director. More importantly though, hopefully, Mitsuru Hongo will be working on something closer to Sakura Taisen than Immortal Grand Prix.

For those of you who are wondering when animation is going to start returning to its golden era… keep waiting because these projects aren’t going to do that. Actually, I’d be willing to bet that most of them are going to look pretty bad but THAT’S precisely the point everyone should focusing on. These are four professional productions which are going to be put together by what is hopefully only a small part of the next generation of animators (Yeah, I’m noticing a lot of hope attached to this story too).

But If only half of the young animators stick with it and stay in the industry think of the possibilities for 10 years, or even 5 years, down the road when someone who was trained by the director of Patlabor or Outlaw Star has had a chance to get their ideas sorted out.

I’m trying to keep my expectations reasonable but since there’s still just a bit of idealistic fanboy optimism left in my body let me express just one hope for this project: long term commitment. I feel confident that most of these titles are going to look pretty bad and may not have widespread commercial success. Please do not panic and pull the plug on the project after just one go at it. Rotate the staffers and companies involved but for once, stick with something and find out if its working before you pull the plug and replace it!

<Thanks to Welcome Datacomp for translating these press releases so that the rest of us could read them!>

Available from Amazon Available from Right Stuf

Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit Released By: Media Blasters Released: 11/4/08 – 12/8/09 (DVDs) Reviewed: 4/20/10 Rated: 13+

The Story

Taking place in an earlier, feudal era of Japan; the story begins when a spear wielding female mercenary named Balsa arrives in the New Yogo Empire. After witnessing an accident and saving the youngest prince from drowning she is invited to the castle as a reward for her courage. While there Balsa is asked to meet with the second empress and learns the accident she witnessed was actually an attempt on the prince’s life. The Star Readers (essentially educated diviners) of the castle have determined that inside Prince Chagum is a demon and he must be killed by the orders of the Emperor, Chagum’s father. Tasked with keeping Prince Chagum safe, Balsa accepts the job as part of her own personal atonement for sins from the past. Taking the boy into hiding, she puts her life on the line to make sure no one ever realize he has escaped the castle alive.

Over the course 26 episodes, their secret will be revealed however and hunters from the castle will attempt to track them down. Meanwhile Balsa, with the help of her best friend and a mystic named Torogai finds out more about what is inside Chagum. Together they will begin a journey to see him find and fill his true destiny within the spiritual and physical worlds.

More behind the cut

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