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Welcome to our News archive for June 2008 - to see this month's news please click on the button below.
 


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30th June 2008

Castle of Cagliostro on Film4

Hayao Miyazaki's directorial debut, Castle of Cagliostro is on Film4 today at 4.30pm!  Don't worry if you miss it though, as it is being shown again on Friday (4th July) at 5.10pm.

Source: Film4
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30th June 2008

Translated Early Review of Miyazaki's Ponyo

We're desperate to see Hayao Miyazaki's forthcoming new film, Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea, so any news on it always piques our interest!  The film, which is out in Japan on 19th July, has received an early review courtesy of Japanese industry insider Hashimoto Atsushi, and it seems pretty positive.  The review is translated on the Ghibli fansite extraordinaire Ghibliworld.com, and can be read here.  It's obvious that Hashimoto is a fan of Ghibli, but it is encouraging to see a positive review at this early stage, as some Japanese reviews of Miyazaki's last feature - Howl's Moving Castle - were not so positive. 

Source: Ghibliworld.com
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29th June 2008

Satoshi Kon Book on its Way

Stone Bridge Press, publishers of such classic anime books as Helen McCarthy's Hayao Miyazaki: Master of Japanese Animation and Frederick Schodt's Dreamland Japan: Writings on Modern Manga, have announced that they will be releasing a book about leading anime director Satoshi Kon.  The book, Andrew Osmond's Satoshi Kon: The Illusionist, is 96 pages long and will be released on 1st August and will cover the director's TV and film work to date.  The author is a contributor to both the Sight & Sound and Animerica magazines, and with only a handful of similar books available in English Satoshi Kon: The Illusionist should prove an interesting read.

Source: AnimeNewsNetwork
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25th June 2008

Origin Trailer!

Manga Entertainment are giving the superb looking film Origin: Spirits of the Past a limited theatrical release at London's ICA cinema on 12th July, and have released a trailer to whet our appetites!  Please click on the link below to view:

Origin Trailer

Source: Manga
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25th June 2008

UK Manga Exhibition

An exhibition of art by UK manga artists has been announced.  Hosted by lecturer and leading promoter of Japanese culture Akemi Solloway, the exhibition will take place on 16th August 2008 at The Vestry House in Richmond.  Artists can pay to display their works at the event, although artworks of Akemi herself can be displayed for free.  Check here for more information!

Source: Akemi Solloway
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25th June 2008

More Manga Screenings!

Manga are doing another free screening for those in Manchester, this time a retro-tastic double bill of Lupin 3rd: The Secret of Mamo and Space Adventure Cobra.  The screening is at 6.30pm on Monday 30th June in Zavvi in Manchester's Arndale Centre.  The event is open to wristband holders only, and the wristbands are available in store on a first-come, first served basis from 9am on Saturday 28th June.  Wristbands are free but limited, so get there bright and early!  Note that the event is for over-15s only.

Source: Manga
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24th June 2008

Post-Break News Roundup!

We've all been on holiday in the last couple of weeks, so things have been a bit on the quiet side here!  However, quite a bit of news has occurred whilst we've been away (typical!), so read on to see what's been going on!

  • Following Tokyopop's restructuring and reduction in releases in the USA, Tokyopop UK have announced that they will also be cutting their releases by about a fifth, from around 25 to 20 volumes per month.  They cite a 4% drop in sales and a reduction in their share of the graphic novel market from 80% to 50% as reasons for the reduction.

  • Tokyopop's UK Events and Conventions Co-ordinator Andrew Whelan has been promoted to UK Marketing and Sales Manager.

  • ADV Films have reportedly cancelled their individual releases of Kurau Phantom Memory and Red Garden, and instead will release complete series box sets on the 28th July and 25th August respectively.  Both boxsets will be priced at £34.99.

  • Popular anime director Makoto Shinkai was in London last weekend for a question and answer session at the British Film Institute.  Although we missed out on it AnimeUKNews has posted a detailed blog entry that covers the whole event, check it out here.

  • Castle of Cagliostro is showing on Film4 on 30th July at 4.30pm and on 4th July at 5.10pm, both screenings will be of the English dub.

  • A remastered version of the original Ghost in the Shell film has been announced for release in Japan on 12th July.  The new version, called Ghost in the Shell 2.0, boasts remastered visuals and sound, with the original voice cast re-recording their dialogue for a new 6.1 audio mix.  We expect to hear about a UK release relatively soon.

  • Sonia Leong's manga adaptation of Romeo & Juliet has been nominated for a Harvey Award in America.

  • Oscar winner Hayao Miyazaki's latest film, Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea, opens in Japanese cinemas on 19th July.

  • More actors have been announced for the forthcoming CGI Astro Boy film currently being made by Warner Brothers in America.  Nicholas Cage, Donald Sutherland, Nathan Lane, Bill Nighy and Eugene Levy join the previously announced Freddie Highmore on the cast list.

  • Rumiko Takahashi has finally ended her epic manga Inu-Yasha in Japan.  The series clocked up 558 chapters in total, that's a whopping 56 collected volumes!

  • The British Film Institute are to show 24 classic Japanese films throughout July, check out the BFI Website for more details.

  • The American arm of ADV Films has stopped publishing PiQ magazine.  The magazine was a replacement for the popular NewType USA, but has proven to be another victim of ADV's financial troubles.

Source: AnimeNewsNetwork; AnimeUKNews
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4th June 2008

Gravitation Invitation!

MVM are giving fans the opportunity to pick up the first volume of their forthcoming romantic comedy drama Gravitation a month before it officially hits the shelves!  The distributor have put the DVD on sale early through their online shop www.anime-on-line.com, and are selling it at the knock-down price of £11.99.  The series focuses on the budding pop star Shuichi who's desperate for success, and finds inspiration in the unlikely form of the famous novelist Eiri Yuki.  However is he motivated by a desire to prove the critical author wrong, or is he just motivated by desire for him?  Gravitation is a popular and mainstream example of the Yaoi (homosexual romance) genre and if you can't shell out the dosh for the first volume right now, you could always have a go at our competition!

Source: MVM
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4th June 2008

New UK VIZ Media Releases Announced

Five new releases have appeared on VIZ's UK schedule today, consisting of the starts of two manga series, a complete manga collection and a fan book.  The first new releases, coming our way on 4th August, are Tekkonkinkreet Black & White - the manga that inspired the critically acclaimed film - and the first volume of Bleach creator Tite Kubo's debut manga Zombie Powder.  Following on the 1st September are the Naruto Official Fan Book, and the first two volumes of the eagerly anticipated shojo (girls) manga title Vampire Knight.  We personally can't wait!

Source: VIZ Media
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3rd June 2008

Tokyopop US Split

Tokyopop have announced today that they will be splitting their US and Japanese operations into two separate companies.  European operations are unaffected by the change and won't be split but in the other territories Tokyopop Inc are to create a new company called Tokyopop Media LLC which will handle film adaptations of their manga as well as digital development.  Manga publishing responsibilities will remain with Tokyopop Inc.  As part of the change the group will shed 39 staff members and will also cut its publishing production from a current level of around 500 titles per year to 200-225 per year.

Although the UK operation isn't affected directly by the restructure, this reduction in titles will no doubt have a knock-on effect here in years to come.  However, the amount of titles released here is nowhere near the level the US sees, so it may be some way down the line.

Source: ICv2
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3rd June 2008

Gentleman's Alliance Cross Ends in Japan

The July issue of the manga magazine Ribon, which went on sale in Japan today, saw the end of the popular shojo (girls) manga Gentleman's Alliance Cross.  The series, written and illustrated by leading shojo manga author Arina Tanemura, has proven popular worldwide but the series' end means that the release of the collected manga should conclude with either the tenth or eleventh volume.  So far six volumes of the series have been released in English.

However, Tanemura fans need not despair!  The same issue of Ribon magazine that sees the end of Gentleman's Alliance Cross also sees the start of her next series Mistress Fortune.  Apparently it's the first time an artist has ended a series and started a new one in the same issue, and it no doubt won't be too long till the new series gets an English language release.

Source: AnimeNewsNetwork
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3rd June 2008

New Event Added

We've added a new event to our Events Diary, The Grand International Cosplay Ball which is due to be held in London at the end of November!  Set in the elegant surroundings of The Clapham Grand, an ex-Victorian theatre, the evening promises to be one of the most ambitious cosplay events ever held in the UK.  For more information check out the website here.

Source: Grand Cosplay Ball
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2nd June 2008

Gravitation Clips

MVM's forthcoming series Gravitation is set to turn a few heads in the UK with its story of a gay pop star who tries to balance achieving success in his band with his feelings for a bandmate.  Few anime series focus seriously on a homosexual relationship or characters, although it's common in manga, so it'll be interesting to see how it will do.  To get an idea of what the show's all about MVM have sent us through some clips!  Please click on the links below to view.

Clip 1
Clip 2
Clip 3
Clip 4

Source: MVM
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2nd June 2008

Latest Reviews!

A few new things to check out:

Bleach Series 2 vol 1 (Anime Review)
Speed Racer Lego - Speed Racer & Snake Oiler (Merchandise Review)

Trinity Blood vol 1 (Manga Review)
Voltron Defenders of the Universe Collection 1 - Blue Lion (Anime Review)
Yotsuba & Monochrome Animals (Book Review)

Source: Various
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2nd June 2008

Today's New Releases

A quiet day with only two releases, the cel-shaded Appleseed sequel Ex-Machina and the retro-tastic Voltron!

Appleseed 2 - Ex Machina (Warner Bros)
Voltron Defenders of the Universe Collection 1 - Blue Lion (Manga)

Source: Various
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2nd June 2008

May News Roundup

  • Several new anime licenses were announced at the MCM London ExpoBeez announced .hack://G.U., whilst Manga announced Buso Renkin, MÄR, Megaman Star Force, Ichigo 100%, Honey & Clover, Hellsing Ultimate, the first Bleach movie and the second Naruto movie.  MVM announced the Revolutionary Girl Utena prequel The Adolescence of Utena.

  • ADV Films announced that the first volume of Welcome to the NHK would be out in August.  They are also considering a deluxe Guyver box set for 2009.

  • Beez announced plans for deluxe Gundam Wing and Wolf's Rain box sets for 2009, and confirmed that they were looking into the possibility of launching an online Bandai Channel to stream anime.

  • ADV Films admit that the release of Makoto Shinkai's 5 Centimetres Per Second is very much up in the air.

  • Hugh David, the former public face of ADV Films in the UK, has been taken on full time by Lace Group (ADV's new UK distributors) following his work for them as a consultant.

  • Beez plan to release anime on BluRay, whilst Manga will be releasing Ghost in the Shell 2 on the format.

  • Another of Manga's forthcoming titles, Origin: Spirits of the Past, received a free screening in Zavvi in Manchester's Arndale Centre on 26th May.

  • The big-budget, live action adaptation of the popular retro manga Speed Racer hit cinema screens on 9th May.  It's pretty good.

  • ADV Films announce loads of box set releases, including RahXephon, Madlax, Coyote Ragtime Show and Yugo The Negotiator.  They also announce a straight-to-box-set release for E's Otherwise.

Source: Various
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