ADV Films' US arm has taken a bit of a battering this month, as we have previously reported they have lost a slew of licenses to their competitors and have been forced to cancel a number of releases.  However, it has been unclear how this would affect the UK arm of ADV, until now.

ADV Films UK have confirmed their previously announced releases for July, August and September (see release schedule for details), and announced their planned releases for Autumn and Winter as the following:

Gilgamesh Complete Collection
Kino's Journey Complete Collection
Najica Blitz Tactics Complete Collection
Neon Genesis Evangelion Ultimate Limited Edition
Peacemaker Complete Collection
Samurai Gun Complete Collection

Not only is this a major step down from the heady days of six releases per month, but there's also no sign of any new series or titles.  More worrying though is that ADV UK have lost the same titles that their US cousins did.  This means that there will be no further releases of Ah! My Goddess: Flights of Fancy, Red Garden, Kurau Phantom Memory, Pumpkin Scissors and Welcome to the NHK until further notice, although current stock will remain on sale.  This also affects series that ADV US have lost that have already been released here, including the likes of Coyote Ragtime Show, Paniponi Dash, Le Chevalier D'Eon, Jinki:Extend and Guyver: The Bioboosted Armour.  All existing stock will remain on sale, but no more will be produced until further notice.

The fact that they have said that they have put these titles on hiatus instead of cancelling them altogether suggests that they may be trying to reacquire the UK licenses for some of them from FUNimation, more news as we get it.

After months of uncertainty about its release, Manga Entertainment have finally announced that the excellent anime The Girl Who Leapt Through Time will receive a limited theatrical run from 19th September 2008.  The film follows a young girl who discovers she has the ability to leap back in time, she uses her power to make her school life perfect but is unaware of the effects this could have on others.  The Girl Who Leapt Through Time was the pick of the films shown at May's Anime Allnighter, and we've been hoping for Manga to announce its release for ages.  Trust us when we say it is an excellent film, and check out our mini-review here.

Hollywood's interest in anime continues it seems, with reports emerging that the American producer Erwin Stoff has snapped up the rights to make a live-action film based on Shinichiro Watanabe's classic anime Cowboy Bebop.  The film is apparently in the very early stages of production at Fox, and Stoff has promised the same degree of faithfulness to the source material that he demonstrated on A Scanner Darkly, which was based on a novel by Philip K Dick.  We think that Cowboy Bebop has a lot of potential as a live-action film, so we'll be keeping an eye on this one and will keep you posted.

Somewhat predictably, Japanese box office receipts for last weekend put Oscar winning anime director Hayao Miyazaki's Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea firmly at number one in the Japanese film charts.  The film opened on 481 screens across Japan, and in its opening weekend it was seen by over 1.25 million people, raking in ¥1,575,820,000 (approx. £7.9m).  However, it still has some way to go if it is to beat Japan's current box office record holder - the same director's critically acclaimed Spirited Away.  Miyazaki's 2001 Oscar winning anime took ¥30.4 billion in Japan alone - that's around £141m!

The new Dragon Ball Collectible Card Game may have only been released in America a week ago, but Bandai have already announced a booster pack!  Due for release on 17th October, the Dragon Ball CCG: The Awakening booster will add 100 new cards to the game.  Each 10-card pack will cost $3.99 (approx. £2) and will contain one holographic foil card per pack, with super-rare gold foil cards being found in an average of one in eight packs.  The booster set will focus on powered-up versions of the characters, including super-saiyan versions of Gohan & Vegeta, a second form of Cell, Androids 19 & 20 and the final form of Frieza.

VIZ have announced that they will be releasing a new live-action Nana film on DVD on July 29th in America.  The film - inventively titled Nana 2 - is the second based on Ai Yazawa's excellent shojo manga Nana, a story about two very different young women with the same name.  Unfortunately only the manga has been released in the UK so far, but we really hoping the live action and anime incarnations will cross the Atlantic sooner rather than later.

We've put up a few new reviews for you to check out, and don't forget to keep an eye on our events diary and release schedule, which are being updated all the time!

D.Gray-Man vol 3 (Manga Review)
Lupin the 3rd: The Secret of Mamo (Anime Review)
Space Adventure Cobra (Anime Review)
Vampire Knight vol 1 (Manga Review)

A Japanese bioscience research team have discovered a new protein which they have decided to name after a Pokémon!  Pikachurin, named after Ash's favourite Pokémon Pikachu, plays an important role in relaying moving images from the eyes to the brain and the research team though the swift-moving electric mouse was a fitting moniker for it.  It is hoped that research into the protein will help advance treatment for Retinitis Pigmentosa - a major cause of hereditary blindness.  Who said that anime doesn't have a practical use?

FUNimation have today announced that they have licensed the anime series Baccano!.  The series, which is set in 1930s America, follows several different stories and how they intertwine and spiral out of control as thieves and alchemists cross paths with killers and the mafia.  No release date has been given yet, and as it is a random US release we generally wouldn't mention it except that FUNimation are streaming the first episode through their website for free!  In order to watch it click here, the password is Flying Pussyfoot.

Bit of a random one this.  An anime spin-off from the hit Disney film Lilo and Stitch is due to begin airing in Japan this October, and the official website has now been launched.  The spin-off, known as Stitch!, focuses on the titular alien crash landing on a tropical Japanese island near Okinawa where a local girl befriends him.  The girl, Yuna, tells him of a special stone that will grant any wish, but to obtain it he needs to perform 43 good deeds - which is not something he's going to find easy!  It sounds good fun, and although the website is in Japanese there is a trailer for the series on there.  If you want to check out what Disney anime looks like click here, and select the third blue button on the right hand side of the screen!

Cult Japanese director Takeshi Miike - yes, the guy who brought us Audition and Ichi the Killer - is tackling something a little bit more light hearted with his next offering, Yatterman.  Based on the 1970's sci-fi comedy of the same name, the film looks pretty bizarre and a lot less controversial than his previous works.  To see a teaser trailer click here, then click on the Yatterman logo and then the 'Trailer' option on the bottom left of the screen.

VIZ Media have today announced the launch of VIZ Productions, a wholly owned subsidiary with the sole purpose of producing and licensing live action film and TV series based on anime and manga.  VIZ Productions aims to act as a bridge between Japanese anime & manga companies, studios and production houses, and hopes to announce its projects and strategies over the coming months.  The news is quite interesting as it shows that VIZ are expecting Western companies to look to the East for inspiration and stories to bring to new audiences.  VIZ Productions' role appears to be international and although their strategy is unannounced there are hints that they will focus mainly on cinematic offerings at first, and possibly aim to bring some female-orientated 'shojo' titles to the big screen.  More news when we get it.

Fans of trading card games may be interested to know that a new anime expansion pack is on its way.  The Highlander Trading Card Game 2nd Edition is due to get a new expansion pack in late October that is based around the anime film Highlander: The Search for Vengeance.  The set will be called Search for Vengeance and will be available in 10-card booster packs ($3.99) and 50-card starter decks ($12.99).

Fans of retro sci-fi rejoice!  ADV Films US have announced that they will be reissuing the DVD of Battle Angel Alita in America, although only 10,000 copies will be produced.  The two-episode anime adaptation of Yukito Kishiro's popular sci-fi manga has only been released on VHS in the UK, but a DVD was released in America several years ago.  The DVD has been out of print for ages and is now quite rare, with second-hand copies regularly selling for above their original retail price.  Release date hasn't been announced yet, but keep your eyes on online DVD importers like Play-USA and DVD Pacific over the coming weeks for it.

The Barbican Cinema in London is hosting a long weekend of Osamu Tezuka anime in September, giving UK fans a unique chance to catch some of the late great director's works.  Tezuka was a pioneer of both anime and manga, and is so important to both that he is referred to as the God of Manga in Japan.  The Barbican's Tezuka Season marks the 80th anniversary of his birth, and between the 18th and 24th of September a host of films, TV episodes and short films will be screened alongside an exhibition of Tezuka's art.  The season is curated by Anime Encyclopaedia co-author Helen McCarthy and includes many films and episodes that will be screening in the UK for the first time.  It's rare to see an event like this in the UK, and with the likes of Astro Boy, Kimba the White Lion and Princess Knight all on show it really is unmissable.  For further information please check out the following press release.

Leading online retailer Play.Com are offering the first two volumes of the Death Note anime series for just £4.99 each when you buy the forthcoming live action Death Note film on DVD.  To be honest this is an absolute bargain, check out the offer here!

ADV Films have confirmed that the American voice actor Mike Kleinhenz has died at the age of 56.  Fans will know Kleinhenz from his many ADV dub roles, which spans their entire catalogue and most famously includes Andrey Kalilin in Full Metal Panic!, Friday Monday in Madlax and Kabapu in Excel Saga.  Kleinhenz died on Friday 11th July from a heart attack.

After two successful cosplay nights this year (read our feature on the first night here) - Bristol Anime Club have announced two more for 2008! 

The first will be held on Saturday 18th October 2008 and the other on New Year's Eve 2008.  Both will be held at The Cavern Club, the basement of The Crown pub, Corn Street, Bristol. 

For information on price and directions visit our event page here. 

Animetion attended both previous Cosplay Nights and will be there once again!  We are very pleased that the previous nights were successful to allow another two this year, we look forward to more in 2009!

Jin Kobayashi's popular romantic comedy manga School Rumble is due to end next week in Japan.  The manga will finish its serialised run in this year's 34th issue of Weekly Shonen Magazine, which will hit shelves in Japan next Wednesday.  The manga has been running in the magazine since 2002.

Studio Ghibli co-founder Isao Takahata is preparing to make a new film, his first since 1999's My Neighbours the Yamadas.  No story details have been released as yet, but considering the 72-year old director's previous output - which includes Grave of the Fireflies and Only Yesterday - we have pretty high hopes!  We really can't wait to see what Takahata has up his sleeve, and with Hayao Miyazaki's son Goro planning his next anime feature and Miyazaki senior's latest work Ponyo on the Cliff By the Sea out in Japan at the weekend, the studio's immediate future looks brighter than ever.

Anime fans in North-East London rejoice, a new anime society is due to launch next month in your area!  NEL:AMS - aka the North East London Anime and Manga Society - is due to start meeting on 12th August at Fulwell Cross Library in Ilford, Essex.  The weekly meet starts at 7pm and ends at 10pm, and will include - amongst other things - anime screenings, talks, gaming and manga art competitions.  Attendance is limited to 50 due to fire safety regulations in the Library so make sure you contact them and sign up rather than just show up on the day - for full information please check out their Facebook event page here.

4Digital Media, the UK distributor of the live action Death Note films have launched an impressive website for the franchise.  The website includes cast information, trailers, story details, cinema listings, DVD details and an impressive competition which is due to end on Monday night (21st July).  Most interestingly, the website confirms an October DVD release for the second Death Note film - The Last Name - and confirms a December release for the spin-off film L: Change the World.  This film focuses on the fan-favourite super-sleuth L and is set prior to the events of Death Note.  Like the other films it will get a cinema release, but details are scarce at the moment.  Keep an eye on the website over the coming weeks for further details - click here to check it out. 

Tokyopop's US arm have announced the acquisition of two shojo (girl's) manga series from Natsuki Takaya, the creator of the incredibly popular Fruits Basket.  The two series, Phantom Dream and Tsubasa: Those With Wings, are from earlier in Takaya's career and Tokyopop plan to cross-promote the first volume of the latter with volume 23 of Fruits Basket.

Phantom Dream is a five-volume long fantasy series about Tamaki, the last in a line of summoners who protect mankind from evil.  The first volume is due out in the US in December.

Tsubasa: Those With Wings is a fantasy adventure series which focuses on a young thief and an ex-army man seeking Tsubasa, an object that will grant them any wish.  The story appears to have some shonen-ai (see glossary) elements and will be released over three double sized volumes.

No news has been forthcoming about official UK releases for these titles, but they will be easily obtainable on import once they hit the shelves in the US.

US anime distributor VIZ Media have announced that dubbed episodes of Naruto, Bleach and Death Note will all be available to buy and download through the American iTunes Store.  The episodes - 41 of Bleach, all 37 of Death Note and 25 of Naruto - will be available there from today.  FUNimation and Manga Entertainment have already added anime series to the US iTunes Store, but as yet the UK has not followed suit.  It does set a good precedent though, and it will no doubt not be too long before anime is available here in the same way.

Just added to our events diary is a cosplay cafe charity event being held in Hove on Sunday 3rd August 2008. 

The event will run between 12pm and 4pm and will be held at Rox School of Dance & Drama in Hove, Brighton and is in aid of Great Ormond's Street Hospital. 

The organisers invite you to come along, eat cake and dance to Hare Hare Yukai!  For further visit the blog here and follow the Facebook link. 

Whilst ADV's status in the US is still a bit shaky, they're still churning out some releases here in the UK!  A trio of DVDs and a boxset from them are joined by the impressive looking anime Batman special Gotham Knight.

Batman: Gotham Knight (Warner)
Batman Gotham Knight Blu-Ray (Warner)
Batman Begins / Batman Gotham Knight Double Pack (Warner)
Guyver The Bioboosted Armour vol 7 (ADV)
Guyver The Bioboosted Armour Complete Collection Box Set (ADV) - Play.Com Exclusive
Pumpkin Scissors vol 2 (ADV)
Utawarerumono vol 6 (ADV)

In another example of Japan's increasing focus on online anime piracy, a Japanese file-sharer has been jailed for 18 months.  In Japan downloads of copyrighted material for personal use are allowed in law, however, uploading such material is a criminal offence.  The ruling convicted 41 year-old Moriyoshi Inoha of illegally sharing episodes of various anime via a file-sharing network called Share.  The program promised anonymity for its users but security researchers discovered flaws in it that allowed them to identify uploaders in 2006.  Inoha is one of three defendants in the case, which is the first to be brought against Share users, and is the first to be tried and convicted.  Japanese uploads of anime episodes is the main source of material for Western fansubbers, and such crackdowns are likely to become more commonplace as Japan starts to pay more attention to illegal anime distribution in the West.

It's probably the most highly anticipated game for a fair few years, and now it's also an anime!  Capcom recently showed a special anime promo to promote the home version of the game at Japanese press junkets, and now they have put it on their official website for the general public to enjoy.  The promo will not be included on the PS3 or Xbox 360 version of the game, but it has been stated that similar anime sequences will be used in order to flesh out the character backgrounds.  The promo is damn good and features a fight between Ryu and Akuma, the dialogue is in Japanese but don't let that stop you checking it out here!

A big MVM release day today, with one gatecrasher in the form of MÄR vol 1 from Manga!

Ah! My Goddess TV Series Box Set (MVM)
Berserk vol 6 (MVM)
Black Lagoon vol 3 (MVM)
Gravitation vol 1 - Fateful First Encounter (MVM)
MÄR vol 1 (Manga)
Shakugan no Shana vol 2 (MVM)

Anime inspired t-shirt and fashion designer Terratag have launched a competition to design a robot to be printed on one of their t-shirts.  Any style of robot is permitted and entries must be no larger than 35cm wide by 45cm wide and use no more than four colours.  Entries should be submitted as a JPEG file (no larger than 1MB) to paul@terratag.com by August the 1st.  The entries will then be displayed on Terratag's website until the 15th August to be voted on by the public, with the winning design being printed on a limited edition t-shirt and the winner receiving £250 and 10 t-shirts printed with their design.  Check out the Terratag website for more details.