Corpse Princess

Surprisingly, when Makina Hoshimura was murdered she didn’t actually die. Stuck on earth as a living corpse, she’s now one of the shikabane hime charged with hunting down the evil undead. Armed with two submachine guns and the help of a secret society of Buddhist monks, Makina must kill 108 undead souls in order to gain entry into heaven. 

2009 TV Series (episodes 1-13). Director: Akira Mano. 315 minutes. DVD, bilingual, $59.98. Distributor: Funimation.

Gunslinger Girl Il Teatrino

A quiet war still rages on the streets of Italy between the government and a terrorist group known as the FRF. The front lines of this conflict, however, are not filled with the glaring stares of brutish soldiers, but the pig-tailed cuteness of little girls. The tender remnants of former lives, these cybernetic assassins are manipulated by the Social Welfare Agency, a covert anti-terrorist and intelligence outfit. And though killers they may be, they’re still little girls in those awkward stages of growing up.

FUNimation Entertainment officially announced the acquisition of four new titles: Tetsuwan Birdy Decode, Sekirei, Full Metal Panic!, and Full Metal Panic? FUMOFFU.

Ichi

Ichi is the latest reimagining of the familiar Zatoichi story. Yet, from one glimpse of the box art your assumptions will immediately stumble. The blind swordsman is now a beautiful young woman that trudges the countryside as a poor musician. On this path she searches for her place in the world and the blind sensei that long ago taught her swordplay. However, this journey is obstructed by a town bled by extortionists, their ominous leader, and a failing samurai in need of inspiration. With each step and accurate slash, Ichi will both find what she seeks and what she truly cannot see.

Dante's Inferno

Ah, Dante’s Divine Comedy. As a trained Classicist, albeit a Hellenist, I do know Latin Epic poetry.  And Dante’s allegorically Christian reworking of Latin Epic in the Tuscan dialect is as familiar as the grooves of my tsuka. For better or worse, however, Dante’s Inferno: An Animated Epic isn’t quite the faithful adaptation. Instead of recounting Dante’s spiritual crisis in the 14^th century, in which Vergil ultimately aids him through an illuminated necromancy, this epic is all blood and mayhem.

Goyou

Chatter about studio Manglobe’s anime adaptation of Natsume Ono’s manga Sarai-ya Goyou (House of Five Leaves) has only lightly sugared the internet since 2010 commenced. But during the Tokyo Anime Fair this project decided to whet our appetites even further. 

Here is the latest streaming schedule from FUNimation as of 5/7/10, including YouTube and Hulu!

FUNimation

FUNimation and NAMCO BANDAI announce the latest Dragon Ball release for the PSP.

Kaze No Stigma

2009 TV Series (episodes 1-12). Director: Junichi Sakata. 288 minutes. DVD, bilingual, $59.98. Distributor: Funimation.

The prodigal son returns.

Kazuma was once the heir to the fire-wielding Kannagi clan. But his inability to manipulate his family’s magic was too much for an impatient father. Consequently, he was sent packing with nothing but the shirt on his back and the beginnings of a very large chip on his shoulder.

Bamboo Blade

Toraji is a slightly dusty Kendo instructor in need of a tournament win. His part-time teaching gig barely satisfies his landlord, let alone his belly. Enter Tamaki. This pint-sized girl is an unwitting master of the bamboo sword. With her skill Toraji is guaranteed both instant success and a decent meal! But there’s just one problem. Tamaki would rather watch anime than join his all-girl squad. Can he convince her, and simultaneously redeem himself?