Archive for June, 2008

Spirited Away book out now!

Monday, June 30th, 2008

Andrew Osmond has written a book about Hayao Miyazaki’s modern anime classic, Spirited Away (Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi).
In it he details Miyazaki’s herculean creative journey–writing, storyboarding, directing…the man has been known to hand-draw crucial animation sequences himself, such is his dedication to his art. As a result, his reputation is such that he is [...]

Japanese Embassy in UK holds manga contest

Saturday, June 28th, 2008

If you’re over 14 years of age and live in the UK, you might like to know that the Japanese Embassy over there is holding its annual manga-writing (sorry, it’s just for writing, kids) contest, titled Manga Jiman 150, until the 26th of September.
All entries must stick to the contest theme, which is “150″.
First prize [...]

GON, beloved manga with no dialogue, to become anime

Thursday, June 26th, 2008

Gon is a scrappy little dinosaur living in a prehistoric world with no humans around, and where none of the animals speak. The manga, created by Tanaka Masashi, came out in the early ’90s and established itself as a modern-day classic.
And while talk of anime adaptations tarted early it was only recently that Daewon Media [...]

Astroboy gets a cell phone makeover

Wednesday, June 25th, 2008

Okay, to answer the two questions I’m sure you’ll have after seeing the image above:
Yes, that’s supposed to be Atom-kun, known internationally as Astroboy. And yes, the license owners know about it. In fact, this new interpretation of the iconic anime and manga character was given their blessing.
Astro-chub was illustrator Lily Franky’s version of Astroboy, [...]

Miyuki Kanbe, 24

Monday, June 23rd, 2008

Japanese singer and anime voice actress Miyuki Kanbe died of heart failure at a hospital in Kawasaki last June 18. She had been sick for a while and took a break from her theater role as Eponine in the musical Les Misérables in 2007 due to poor health. She was in and out of the [...]

In more ways than one, a touching ending for Itazura na Kiss

Saturday, June 21st, 2008

Romance shoujo manga Itazura na Kiss is called “the bible of romance” for its influence on later manga creators.
But then in 1999, just as Itazura na Kiss was set to conclude, series creator Kaoru Tada met an accident at home, slipped into a coma and later died.
Now it’s up to her music producer husband, Shigeru [...]

Macross Frontier: an anime, a hit single, a catchy dance vid

Thursday, June 19th, 2008

After having its soundtrack become the first anime soundtrack to break into #3 in the weekly album chart in Japan in over a decade, it comes as no surprise that the people behind the long-running anime franchise are putting rather high expectations and heavy preparations behind the soon-to-be released “Interstellar flight” single from their Macross [...]

Anime Blog Awards lineup

Wednesday, June 18th, 2008

Here are the winners for this year’s Anime Blog Awards:

Best Episodic Blog Gold Award
Random Curiosity

Best Episodic Blog Silver Award
Subculture Anime Blog

Best Episodic Blog Bronze Award
Star Crossed Anime Blog

 

Best Editorial Blog Gold Award
The Animanachronism

Best Editorial Blog Silver Award
RIUVA

Best Editorial Blog Bronze Award
Hop Step Jump

 

Best Team Blog Gold Award
THAT Anime Blog

Best [...]

Japan not outlawing kiddie porn anime and manga… yet

Monday, June 16th, 2008

The Japanese government has put off making the decision to amend its child pornography laws, despite a bill seeking to do so having been passed into the parliament’s lower house last June 10.
The reason given was that more time was needed to study the “virtual pornography” applicable to anime, manga and software.
Right now it’s illegal [...]

Cartoons or Anime: How can you tell?

Friday, June 13th, 2008

I guess it’s a bit like the way auto enthusiasts can tell a 1977 Chevy from a 1967 Chevy? Or is it? Some people just can’t tell an anime from a regular cartoon. Especially these days that non-anime ‘toons are starting to look more and more like anime.
For the confused, about.com lays down the rules– [...]