Spiderwick Chronicles’ Highmore to Star as Astro Boy
February 29, 2008
Hong Kong’s IMAGI studios has announced that Freddie Highmore will play the title role in the 2009 computer-graphics film adaptation of Osamu Tezuka’s Astro Boy manga. The 16-year-old English actor most recently starred in the twin roles of Jared and Simon Grace in The Spiderwick Chronicles film that opened two weeks ago on his birthday, February 14. His first big break was playing Peter in the Finding Neverland film with Johnny Depp. Highmore won several awards for portraying the boy who would eventually inspire Peter Pan. Highmore and Depp reunited to play Charlie and Willy Wonka, respectively, in Tim Burton’s remake of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Highmore’s first starring role in a computer graphics film was in Arthur and the Invisibles. He also voiced Pantalaimon, the animal-like dæmon companion of the lead character Lyra, in The Golden Compass.
Space Jam’s Timothy Harris is writing the film, and Flushed Away’s David Bowers is directing. Warner Borthers. Pictures and The Weinstein Company are planning to release the film worldwide in 2009.
Animated Trigun the Movie Planned for 2009 in Japan
February 28, 2008
The promotional cover wrapper on the 14th and final volume (released on Wednesday) of Yasuhiro Nightow’s Trigun Maximan manga has revealed a 2009 opening for the previously announced Trigun theatrical animation project. The tentatively titled “Trigun the Movie” project will feature a completely original story from Nightow and Trigun series director Satoshi Nishimura (Hajime no Ippo/Fighting Spirt, Shin Cho Bakumatsu Shonen Seiki Takamaru), as well as a script by Yasuko Kobayashi (Claymore, Shakugan no Shana, Witchblade anime). Takashiro Yoshimatsu (Jubei-Chan - Secret of the Lovely Eyepatch, Ninja Scroll series) will return from the Trigun television series to design the characters that Madhouse will animate. The manga’s cover wrapper indicates the story will be about “Vash vs. Wolfwood,” the two main characters of the popular manga.
The possibility of a Trigun movie first arose over two years ago in an interview with Madhouse founder Masao Maruyama and later at Tokyo Anime Fair 2006.
ADV Comments on Relisted Titles, New Release Schedule
February 28, 2008
In late January, the North American anime distributor ADV Films quietly placed three dozen titles on hiatus. No official announcement was issued by the company; however, the titles were removed from the company’s website, and retailers did not receive their orders for those titles. Among the removed titles were all of ADV’s ongoing series, and a significant number of earlier catalog titles. All the removed titles had been licensed by ADV in the period since Sojitz Corporation of Japan invested in A.D. Vision, ADV Films’ parent company, in 2006. The titles were licensed in conjunction with ARM Corporation, a subsidiary of the Japan Contents Investment fund that was co-founded by Sojitz.
A leaked article on the ICv2 retailer news resource indicated that the hiatuses were a result of a suspension of certain aspects of ADV’s alliance with ARM. However, ICv2 went on record stating that the article had never actually been posted and was incorrect. While the status of ADV’s alliance with ARM remains unknown, ADV Senior Vice-President of Sales and Marketing Mike Bailiff explained that Sojitz is still an investor in A.D. Vision and stated, “There have been no changes in ADV’s corporate structure.”
Bailiff also explained why the company made no official statements regarding the removed titles. “There are a lot of parties involved in any anime production, and that can complicate even the best of negotiations. Frankly we had to keep quiet in the interest of resolving this situation as quickly as possible. My staff and I have been in touch with most of our retail partners, who have been remarkably patient and understanding.
“I understand fans’ frustration — particularly those who follow the business of anime so closely. But this wasn’t a situation that could be worked out over the Internet. I just hope fans understand that we’re doing what we must to get back to the business of delivering first-rate anime. That’s our focus. We’ll be issuing further updates as we work through this backlog and establish fresh delivery dates for additional titles.”
As reported on Tuesday, ADV has announced new shipping dates for many of the titles that were removed in January. Some of the titles appear to have accelerated shipping schedules, with subsequent volumes being shipped shortly after the first re-scheduled volume. For example, Project Blue Earth SOS Volume 2 will ship on March 11, only two weeks after the first volume. Likewise, Moonlight Mile Volume 2 will ship on March 18, only three weeks after the first volume. Most notably, Kanon Volume 3 will ship on March 4, only seven days after Volume 2. Regarding the shipping schedule, Bailiff stated that the company is working through the titles scheduled for release earlier this year and added, “Our goal is to get fans’ favorite titles out to them as soon as possible, and that means a few weeks of heavier than normal shipments.”
In regards to titles that have yet to re-appear on ADV Films’ release schedule, Bailiff told ANN that the company is working hard to get all its removed releases re-scheduled. “We’re working with all of ADV’s licensing partners to get our titles back on track and into fans’ hands just as soon as possible. Obviously we can’t comment on ongoing negotiations, but I can assure you that a lot of people are working very hard to deliver all the titles fans have been asking about.”
While the shipping schedule announced earlier this week made no mention of removed catalog titles (for example, 009-1 and Guyver), all of which had been licensed with ARM’s involvement, Bailiff explains that his company is already filling back orders for those products.
Finally, Bailiff stated that not only is his company working through its backlog, but it is also preparing to announce new titles. “We’re readying a few announcements for the not-too-distant future. Of course, I can’t tell you what they are until negotiations are complete!”
Sony Includes 1st Blood+ Episode on Non-Anime DVDs
February 26, 2008
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE) is promoting Jun’ichi Fujsaku’s Blood+ vampire anime series by featuring the first episode as an extra with at least two upcoming live-action films. SPHE is bringing out Blood+ on both a single five-episode DVD and a full-season 25-episode collector’s box on March 4. The series expands the story of a vampire-hunting girl that was first told in Hiroyuki Kitakubo and Mamoru Oshii’s Blood: The Last Vampiremovie.
The first episode will be included on the DVD of 30 Days of Night, a horror film based on a graphic novel about a vampire attack on a small and isolated town in Alaska. That film is due out on February 26. The same Blood+ episode will also be available on the April 15 release of the low-budget monster flick Loch Ness Terror. SPHE promoted the anime in a panel with the English-language dubbing director Michael Hack, actors Ben Diskin(Kai) and Dave Wittenberg (Solomon), and script editors Joe D’Ambrosia and Tom Teves at this past weekend’s WonderCon in San Francisco.
Dorothea’s Cuvie, Hanakyo’s Morishige Launch New Manga
February 26, 2008
Manga artists Cuvie (Dorothea), Morishige (Hanaukyo Maid Team, Koi Koi Seven) and T?ta Kitakawa (Sweet Sketch) have started new manga in the 11th issue (released on February 19) of Akita Shoten’s Young Champion Retsu magazine in Japan. Cuvie’s new Nightmare Maker manga is about a device that allows a person, Uchida, to create any dream imaginable. CMX Manga is launching the English release of Cuvie’s earlier Dorothea manga in April.
Morishige’s Keimai one-shot manga centers on a boy named Tanishi who gets invited to the home of a female tennis teammate. The titulate character of Kitakawa’s Arisa one-shot manga is the supposed “ideal” maid, although she goes back and forth between being kind-hearted and angry.
Miku Hatsune Virtual Idol D?jin Game Approved
February 26, 2008
The Ejin Kenky?sho dojin software circle has announced on Friday that the software developer Crypton has approved Ejin’s unofficial game based on Crypton’s Miku Hatsune virtual idol character. Crypton had originally created Miku Hatsune to personify one of its Vocaloid vocal music synthesizer releases. Crypton asked Ejin Kenky?sho and another d?jin circle, Murder K?b?, to cease distribution of their Tatakae! Ore no Hatsune Miku ver.1.2 (Fight! My Miku Hatsune ver. 1.2) fighting simulation adventure game two weeks after its January 25 release. Crypton has now aproved the game, although Eijin has to rename the game as Ike! Miku to Mikurobo Kenky?sho (Go! Miku and the Miku-robo/Microbo Laboratory). Eijin says it will change its game’s logo and packaging (pictured at right) to reflect Crypton’s request, so it will release the revised game after a short delay.
Ejin notes that Crypton has also changed its guidelines and online Q&A page. Crypton no longer explicitly forbids unofficial releases based on Miku Hatsune, as long as those releases do not damage the image of its products. There are two official manga titles based on Miku Hatsune, and an unknown number of unofficial d?jinshi manga.
Natsume Yujin-Cho Manga to be Animated for TV
February 25, 2008
<!–(Select the first red button on the top of the linked page to see the next-issue preview.) –>The April issue (released on February 23) of Hakusensha’s LaLa Shojo magazine has announced in its next-issue preview that Yuki Midonkawa’s Natsume Yujin Cho (Natsume’s Book of Friends) ghost-story manga will be animated for television. The manga began in LaLa magazine in 2005, and the fifth volume of the manga will be released in Japan on March 5
The story revolves around Natsume, a boy who has been able to see ghosts since he was little. Unfortunately, humans shun him, and there is not much fondness between him and ghosts either. One day, he inherits a Y?jin-Ch? (”Book of Friends”) from his grandmother. The book is actually full of contracts that his grandmother made to trap ghosts. As one ghost after another shows up, Natsume tries to release or help them — even while many of them seek vengeance on him.
China Extends Bans on Foreign Animation, Horror Fiction
February 25, 2008
China’s State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) has broadened its restriction on non-Chinese animated programming, including anime, on television. Starting on May 1, local stations may not show any animation that was not produced in China between the hours of 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. According to SARFT, this policy will serve to “provide a favorable environment for the innovation of China’s cartoon industry.” The ban was first enacted in 2006, but originally only ran until 8:00 p.m. SARFT is also requiring that all cartoons that are being shown on television must be specifically approved. The decision has specifically affected Japan’s Pokemon, America’s Mickey Mouse, and America’s SpongeBob SquarePants.
The Chinese government has also expanded its separate restrictions on audio and video products with elements of mystery and horror last week. Of particular concern to China’s General Administration of Press and Publications are products that “involve alien-looking characters and fictional story telling, both specifically plotted for the sole purpose of terror.” According to the government, the ban will “protect the country’s children and teenagers’ psychological development.” This ban follows an earlier one on “terrifying publications” that targeted the Death Note manga in April of 2006. That earlier ban came about after school officials expressed concerns about the effect of the manga on Chinese youths. Harry Potter, Shrek, E.T. are three Western characters that will not be banned outright, but will be heavily edited in their releases.
Warner, Leonardo DiCaprio to Produce Live-Action Akira
February 22, 2008
The Hollywood Reporter and Variety entertainment trade periodicals both report that Warner Brothers and Appian Way, the production company of actor Leonardo DiCaprio (Titanic, The Aviator), will adapt Katsuhiro Otomo’s Akira manga into two live-action films. Each film will cover three volumes of the renowned science-fiction manga about a governmental genetic project and a teenager’s attempt to save a fellow biker gang member.
The manga set in Neo-Tokyo, a city rebuilt after being destroyed in a mysterious explosion. Otomo directed his own animated film adaptation that premiered on July 16, 1988 — the same day that the story has the fictional Tokyo being destroyed. The first live-action film is scheduled for release in the summer of 2009 and will move the story’s setting to “‘New Manhattan,’ a city rebuilt after being destroyed 31 years ago.”
Ireland’s Ruairi Robinson will be making his feature directorial debut with this project, and Gary Whitta (Book of Eli) is writing a script. Warner Brothers once had the film rights for Akira before, but Executive Vice-President Greg Silverman (300, Batman Begins) had to re-acquire them from Kodansha after a round of pitched bidding that reached seven figures. Mad Chance’s Andrew Lazar, DiCaprio, and Appian Way’s Jennifer Davisson will produce. No announcement has been made regarding the cast.
Kadokawa Cans Japanese Haruhi Suzumiya D?jin Game
February 22, 2008
The souvenir circ. dojin group has announced that it has ceased distribution of its Suzumiya Haruhi no Gekit? (The Fierce Fighting of Haruhi Suzumiya) action game in Japan at Kadokawa Shoten’s request. The unofficial game has the characters in the Harui franchise’s SOS brigade fighting each other in gameplay similar to Koei’s Dynasty Warriors franchise. (It also has character cameos from another Kadokawa comedy franchise, Lucky Star.) Kadokawa Shoten is the publisher of Nagaru Tanigawa’s original Haruhi Suzumiya science-fiction comedy light novels and later manga, as well as the distributor of the anime version and an upcoming game for the Nintendo Wii console.
Kadokawa previously requested that another d?jin circle, ClassiC, cease distribution of an unauthorized Keroro Guns? (Sgt Frog) puzzle game called Otoshimasu in 2004. Kadokawa has been one of the Japanese companies that has requested Google’s YouTube video-sharing service to take down unauthorized videos of its material, although it has since said it will open a YouTube channel with its drama series, anime, and other content. Crypton, the makers of the Vocaloid vocal music synthesizer and its Miku Hatsune idol mascot, asked the Ejin Kenky?sho and Murder K?b? d?jin circles to cease distribution of their unauthorized Tatakae! Ore no Hatsune Miku ver.1.2 (Fight! My Miku Hatsune ver. 1.2) fighting simulation adventure game two weeks after its January 25 release.
