Category: Anime

The latest Acrobat edition of Animation World Magazine is now online! This issue tackles TV animation. Karen Raugust delves into how more animation producers are going after the faith-based market. Joe Strike tales a look at the new moves in adult animation. And Chris Panzner looks at the innovative new series DELTA STATE.

On Feb. 15, 2005, ADV Films will release the BLUE SEED Thinpak Box Set. BLUE SEED, based on the popular manga by Yuzo Takada (3X3 EYES), is an action/adventure series with a touch of horror and full of hideous, shape-shifting beasts with a bad attitude and a voracious appetite for human flesh.

The newest issue tackles the topics of education and training. Karen Raugust looks at how convenience and flexibility make distance learning a viable option for animation. Jim Korkis takes a wonderful historical look at animation training, which began in the studios. Raquel Benitez covers the crucial topic of office politics its the rules that can land and keep you your first job. As well, Marisa Materna looks at training in a totally different world of animation non-entertainment science-based 3D. Anime expert Fred Patten reviews GHOST IN THE SHELL 2: INNOCENCE.

Walt Disney Pictures has plans to turn the Japanese book series, KIKIS DELIVERY SERVICE, into a live-action feature film, reports VARIETY. Oscar-winning animation director Hayao Miyazaki previously turned the series into an acclaimed anime film. Screenwriter Jeff Stockwell (THE DANGEROUS LIVES OF ALTAR BOYS) will pen the script based on Eiko Kadano's books.

The story follows 13-year-old burgeoning witch Kiki who moves to the city with her talking cat Jiji where she becomes delivery person for a local bakery.

VooDooDog, Animal Logic and ATTIK all took home Gold World Medal Awards at the New York Festivals 2005 International Film and Video Awards Competition.

This week in AWN's Forums, moderator Larry L. confesses that he just doesnt get anime. A new thread as started for reactions to the first trailer of CORPSE BRIDE. More members post their worst memories of bad direction theyve been given in their careers. Others continue to post their thoughts on Cartoon Networks FOSTERS HOME FOR IMAGINARY FRIENDS. Another thread is discussing the Oscar nominations. Additionally, we have personal Websites, sketches and animation for everyone to check out.

Wao Corp., an Osaka-based cram school managing company, has announced that in 2006 it will launch a school to teach students how to produce animated films and operate animation production companies, reports YOMIURI newspaper. The school will be the first of its kind in Japan and is being established in the Suginami Ward, Tokyo ward where nearly 70 animation production companies are located.

Seven Seas Ent. announced the launch of an exclusive webmanga series, AOI HOUSE. Debuting at www.gomanga.com on Jan. 24, 2005, with updates coming every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, AOI HOUSE is a comedy series written and created by Adam Arnold, co-creator of ANIMEFRINGE: ONLINE ANIME MAGAZINE, and illustrated by Jim Jimenez, a veteran comic artist and animator. The manga follows the trials and tribulations of two down-on-their-luck college boys who join an anime club dominated by crazed fangirls. Seven Seas plans to release AOI HOUSE strictly as a free webmanga.

TOKYOPOP has recruited two of the animation worlds most celebrated scribesCraig Bartlett and Mark Seidenbergto develop television scripts inspired by two of its hot youth properties, STRAY SHEEP and KARMA CLUB.

First on deck, veteran screenwriter Bartlett, creator and writer of HEY ARNOLD! and JOHNNY BRAVO, has just wrapped development on a kids comedy series based on the beloved characters in Tatsutoshi Nomuras international sensation STRAY SHEEP. The series debuted in 1994 as a series of animated shorts on Japanese television.