I just got the list of Viz’s manga releases for the first half of 2010, and it’s a long list. So, rather than give you my fun, yet abridged synopses of these undoubtedly great titles, especially since I have yet to read any, here’s the initial installment straight from the mouth of PR:

Change always accompanies the new year. And The Anime Beat is no different. That's right folks, I'm continuously expanding this little dog and pony show!

Focused, artfully drawn, a steady pace, a much older protagonist, Naruto Shippuden The Movie extracts everything you love about a given episode and lets it pervade 94 minutes of film. That’s right.

On Saturday February 20, 2010 at 2:30pm DC Anime Club will be hosting an costume creation workshop called “Cosplay Corner” at the Martin Luthur King, Jr Memorial Library 901 G St NW Washington, DC 20001 in Room A5 on the A Level. "Cosplay" is short for "Costume Play", in which fans of Japanese Animation (Anime) and Japanese Comics (Manga) dress up as their favorite Anime, Manga and Video Game Characters by costumes they make themselves. The word “Cosplay” was coined by Nov Takahashi of the Japanese Studio, "Studio Hard". DC Anime Club will teach members how to create their own costumes: everything from making cosplay props, to places where materials can be acquired, to even acting as their characters. DC Anime Club has also given Cosplay Presentations at the Smithsonian Anime Marathon an event which is part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival and the Fiesta Asia Parade where

This event is free and open to the public for Ages 13 and up.

For more information please call (703) 655-1412 visit the DC Anime Club website at http://dcanimeclub.org.

CHS Otaku Fest is a one day anime convention held at Centennial High School (4300 Centennial Lane) in Ellicott City, Maryland. Its designed to be a gathering ,celebration and promotion (for fans, by fans) of all thing related to Japanese animation, manga, and East Asian culture. The event will go from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on April 24, 2010. Activities will include a dealer's room, discussion panels, anime screenings, artist's alley, video game tournament, an AMV contest, a masquerade and much more. For more information visit chs-otakufest.com.

DC Anime Club invites all Duelist to our Yu-Gi-Oh tournament on Saturday February 20, 2010 Martin Luthur King, Jr Memorial Library 901 G St NW Washington, DC 20001 at 2:30pm in room A5 on the A Level of the Library. Sign up for the tournament starts at 2:00pm.

Age range for this tournament is 13 and Up. This event is free and open to the public.  DC Anime Club’s Yu gi oh tournament is sponsored by Anime Wallscrolls dot com.

For more information please visit DC Anime Club website at http://dcanimeclub.org or call (703)-862-4317.

Gallery 1988 and Mattel present:
“Under The Influence: He-Man and the Masters of the Universe”
100 artists reinterpret the influential 80's toy and cartoon property.
Opening reception date is Friday, January 8th, 7-10 pm. The show will run through January 29.

Gallery 1988
7020 Melrose Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90038
Contact : (323) 937-7088
http://www.nineteeneightyeight.com/entry/home.html

DC Anime Club’s Manga Drawing Workshop

DC Anime Club will be hosting a Manga (Japanese Comics) Drawing Workshop on Saturday January 16, 2010 3:00 pm-5:00pm at the Martin Luther King, Jr Memorial Library 901 G ST NW Washington, DC 20001 in Room A10 on the A Level of the Library.

DC Anime Club Artist Cheyenne “Angel” Lewis will teach participants the basics on how to create their own Manga characters. This event is free and open to the public. Age range 13 and up.

For more information please visit the DC Anime Club website at http://dcanimeclub.org.

About DC Anime Club:
 
DC Anime Club was established in 2003 to introduce and educate people in the Washington, DC area about East Asian culture, through viewing and discussion of Japanese animation (also known as anime) and Japanese comics (manga).

We also work to provide a positive, alternative activity to the youth in the area by exposing them to foreign culture, encouraging artistic expression and creativity, and providing opportunities for participation in community activities and leadership.

DC Anime Club is a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization. Contributions to DC Anime Club are tax deductible to the extent allowable under the law.

DC Anime Club has been featured in many newspapers and publications .

CONTACT: Chris Wanamaker, (202) 262 2083 president@dcanimeclub.org

Between Apple itself and Verizon’s latest mapping parody, we’re all familiar with the phrase “There’s an app for that.” Well, don’t leave anime out!

My previous words still stand: this is the underdog team we just love to root for! Bamboo Blade Part 2 delivers the same blend of comedy, high school drama, and sword-cracking action that made the initial DVD pack so enjoyable.

This is your last chance to see the Halo Legends anime preview on Halo Waypoint and Xbox LIVE. On Saturday January 2nd the final preview episode will run for 24-hours. Remember, DVD, Blu-Ray, and digital formats will be released on February 16th 2010.

While not compelling or even groundbreaking in character or content, I did enjoy the show. El Cazador de la Bruja is friendship and crazy times induced by gunpowder.

Drama, drama, drama! And no, I don’t mean they kind running the halls of your vapid high school, or that reality series showcasing the worst angels of or nature. This is the good kind, the stuff of fiction.

Well, I haven’t seen it yet. But I’d lay down 20 in Vegas that Cobra The Animation is all about guns and girls.

Considering this is only the first box, this collector’s series has clearly been chosen to convey the ultimate and final expression of the Dragon Ball saga. Although I’m not a fan, this ain’t too shabby.

For those already tapped into the streaming vein of PlayStation Network, anime is definitely on its Christmas list. Here’s the latest post from my friends at PSN. And, evidently, this is only a small part of the 12-day promotion.

As perhaps the worst decade in global economic history comes to a close, 2010 won't be so bad for Naruto and Bleach fans.

At any rate, the monstrous popularity of Bleach overshadowed, and continues to overshadow, the mediocrity of the Bount. No matter how many complaints you can hurl, the Bount cycle did not deviate from the essential Bleach aesthetic: the deep bonds of friendship and a never-ending chain of bankai wielding battles.

Whether you’re a Voltron fan or not, for $3.99, you really can’t lose! One again, it satisfied my gaming appetite; and this says a lot, since, besides Tetris, the gamer in me tends to shrink in the face of mobile phone play.

On March 2, 2010 Aria The Origination DVD collection, which includes the final third season and OVA, will drop into stores and cyber outlets everywhere.