Afro Samurai

The voice of Afro Samurai, Samuel L. Jackson would like Andre 3000 to play ‘Afro’ in the Live Action Afro Samurai. From MTV Movies Blog:

“We have a live-action plan,” Jackson revealed, saying that he wants to see Afro’s battle with Number One up on the big screen with flesh-and-blood actors. “Hopefully, that script will come together and we’ll be able to do that in the next two years or so.”

Asked who he wants for the flick, the producer responded: “You know, when I look at him, I see Andre 3000,” Jackson grinned. “So, maybe so.”

What do you think? Would Andre 3000 make a great Afro Samurai or is there someone else you’d like better?

Historic Collaboration Bridges Western And Eastern Popular Comic And Graphic Novel Traditions

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, in conjunction with Stan Lee’s POW! Entertainment has announced the North American debut of the exciting Prologue Chapter of ULTIMO in the September 2008 issue of SHONEN JUMP magazine, which hits retail outlets nationwide on August 5, 2008 for $4.99. ULTIMO is the result of a historic collaboration between comics legend Stan Lee, creator of many iconic superheroes including Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, and the X-Men, and Hiroyuki Takei, the creator of the popular SHAMAN KING manga (graphic novel) series.

The ULTIMO story: High above Farmless City, citizens are stunned by the sudden appearance of two floating figures. Are they human boys, monolithic robots, or something much more strange? As the battle ensues between them, destruction and devastation falls on the hapless city. One figure is Vice, and seems to be as evil as his name implies. The other is Ultimo, intent on trying to stop Vice from wreaking more havoc. But who are Vice and Ultimo really? Where did they come from? A new mystery begins with the fate of the world possibly hanging in the balance! The ULTIMO Prologue Chapter recently debuted in a special standalone issue Jump SQ. published by the Japanese manga magazine Jump SQ., the sibling publication of Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump, which is historically the best-selling manga magazine in Japan.

“Wow! This is just what I’ve been waiting for!” says an excited Stan Lee. “For the very first time I’m able to create superheroes in the fantastic Japanese manga style thanks to my lucky partnership with the great Hiroyuki Takei. What a kick it’ll be to join Hiroyuki-san in offering brand new, action packed stories to an army of readers in both the Eastern and Western worlds!”

“Word of ULTIMO’s development and subsequent debut in Japan led many domestic fans to wonder when they would get a chance to read it so we’re very excited to offer the North American debut in the upcoming September issue of SHONEN JUMP,” says SHONEN JUMP Editor-in-Chief Marc Weidenbaum. “ULTIMO was developed as a true collaboration with Stan Lee sending his initial story idea to Takei-san, who developed artwork and characters and reworked the plot to fit into the Japanese manga storytelling style. The result is something extremely compelling and we invite everyone to check out this historic release in our upcoming issue!”

For over half a century, Stan Lee has been synonymous with superhero comics. In addition to creating countless memorable series and characters, including Spider-Man, the Incredible Hulk, the Fantastic Four, the X-Men and Daredevil, he served as the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics. Lee remains a hugely respected and dynamic figure in the entertainment industry and continues to develop a variety of film, television and video game properties.

Unconventional author/artist Hiroyuki Takei began his career by winning the coveted Hop Step Award (for new manga artists) and the Osamu Tezuka Award. After working as an assistant to famed artist Nobuhiro Watsuki (RUROUNI KENSHIN), Takei debuted in Weekly Shonen Jump in 1997 with Butsu Zone, an action series based on Buddhist mythology. His multicultural adventure manga SHAMAN KING debuted in Japan in 1998 and has been adapted into a popular animated television series. The SHAMAN KING manga series is also published in North America by VIZ Media; for many years it was serialized in English in SHONEN JUMP magazine.

For more information on ULTIMO, SHONEN JUMP and VIZ Media please visit www.shonenjump.com or www.viz.com.

YouTube is hosting full episodes of the following Funimation anime series: Blue Gender, Kiddy Grade, Peach Girl and Slayers. I guess it’s part of the ongoing battle against illegal anime downloads (i.e. BLASSREITER on Crunchyroll.com)

Funimation Anime Series on Youtube!

You won't embed my anime videos!

I noticed one odd detail, and this is the first time I’ve seen this on YouTube - the embed feature has been disabled, which means you can’t embed the shows on your website (see the proof in the screenshot. Weird! Anyway, here are the shows (with links to each playlist):

• Blue Gender Episodes 1-8
• Kiddy Grade Episodes 1-8
• Peach Girl Episodes 1-8
• Slayers Episodes 1-8

Oh, and here’s the original announcement that caught my eye. So be sure to check them out, then come right back here and let us know what you think!

So there are a few more images from the live action Dragonball Z movie out there. Here are two promo images from the movie. To me, the first on is ‘kinda ok’, while the other one is ‘kinda sucky’:

The "Kinda OK" Dragonball Z Picture

The "Kinda Sucky" Dragonball Z Picture

What do you think?

Anime Network and Right Stuf

Anime Network, America’s #1 Anime Channel, has teamed up with anime distributor Right Stuf to add seven new shows to its VOD lineup, beginning with Boogiepop Phantom TV, Gravitation TV, and Shingu on August 7^th, 2008.

Four more Right Stuf shows will be added to the lineup through Fall 2008, including Boogiepop Phantom and Others, Gravitation OVA, Piano, and To Heart.

WHERE: Anime Network, America’s #1 Anime Channel
HOW: Don’t have VOD? Don’t worry! Catch To Heart on DVD, available at www.rightstuf.com or wherever home media is sold! Shows and airdates are detailed below:

Boogiepop Phantom

Boogiepop Phantom TV Returns to U.S. TV

In a world where monsters rule the night, young girls should be extra careful. Because some urban legends are terrifyingly real. Horror meets anime in Boogiepop Phantom. 12 episodes.

• WHEN: Episode 1 available beginning August 7^th, 2008

Gravitation Returns to U.S. TV

Shuichi always dreamed of becoming a pop star. A chance encounter with a mysterious stranger changes both his career and his love life for the better. 13 episodes.

• WHEN: Episode 1 available beginning August 7^th, 2008

U.S. VOD Television Premiere of Shingu

When a long-held secret begins to unravel, Earth’s future will fall into the hands of the unlikeliest of heroes. Get ready for twists, turns, and intergalactic mayhem in the most exciting anime invasion ever. 26 episodes.

• WHEN: Episode 1 available beginning August 7^th, 2008

U.S. VOD Television Premiere of Boogiepop Phantom and Others

Five students try to piece together the puzzle of a new drug and recent disappearances among the student populace. While the teachers believe them to only be runaways, the female students whisper among themselves about the urban legend of Boogiepop.

• WHEN: Episode 1 available beginning September 3^rd, 2008

Piano

U.S. VOD Television Premiere of Piano

Miu Nomura is a 14-year-old 8th-grader who has been playing piano since early childhood. She grows up gradually while her friendship, kinship, and love affairs evolve around her, but those relationships inevitably affect her piano performance. 10 Episodes.

• WHEN: Episode 1 available beginning September 3^rd, 2008

U.S. VOD Television Premiere of To Heart

Life flies by for two high school students. And a childhood friendship turns into something more. Will love bloom? Or will their eyes stray? Find out as a classic dating sim is brought to life.  13 episodes.

• WHEN: Episode 1 available beginning October 1^st, 2008

U.S. VOD Television Premiere of Gravitation OVA

Love trouble causes Bad Luck’s Shuichi to fall into a writing slump and thanks to his big mouth bragging to the press about how talented he is, the band can’t even hire someone else to write the lyrics for them. If they don’t manage to break Shuichi out of his slump soon, it could mean the end of Bad Luck for good!  2 episodes.

• WHEN: Episode 1 available beginning October 2^nd, 2008

About Anime Network

Anime Network, a subsidiary of A.D. Vision Inc. (parent company to ADV Films), is America’s #1 Anime Channel, reaching more than 43 million households with thousands of hours of exciting, eye-catching serialized programming. Launched in North America in late 2002, Anime Network is the nation’s top video-on-demand (VOD) offering, and is also available on mobile and broadband platforms. The network continues to broaden its national roster of multi-system operator (MSO) agreements, bringing the elusive 18–34, tech-savvy male demographic back to television and driving demand for additional digital services offered by MSOs. For more information, visit www.theanimenetwork.com.

About Right Stuf, Inc.

Currently celebrating its 21st year in business, Right Stuf, Inc. was one of the first players in the U.S. Japanese Animation (”anime”) industry, as both an anime producer/distributor and a retailer. Right Stuf works to promote knowledge of its own products, as well as the anime and manga industry, in general, through its online storefront at RightStuf.com and a variety of media including podcasts and special publications.

Nozomi Entertainment, Right Stuf’s production division, is dedicated to the highest quality releases. True to the Japanese word that inspired its name, Nozomi’s focus is on “what fans want.” By focusing on a limited number of anime properties each year, the Nozomi production team ensures each release receives the care and attention to detail it deserves.

From anime classics like Astro Boy, Kimba and Gigantor to modern comedies, dramas and favorites such as The Irresponsible Captain Tylor, His and Her Circumstances, Gravitation, Shingu: Secret of the Stellar Wars, Ninja Nonsense, To Heart, The Third: The Girl With the Blue Eye, Emma: A Victorian Romance, Maria Watches Over Us and ARIA, Right Stuf and Nozomi Entertainment produce quality programming for fans of all ages and interests. For more information, visit www.rightstuf.com and www.nozomient.com.

Anime Insider Magazine Issue 59 is now out. There’s a great opening article about how the anime industry is embracing Blu-ray DVDs, an in-depth look at Gurren Lagann and more!

Anime Insider #59 - August, 2008

The August 2008 features include:

• Racing For Time - The chase is on in as Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle continues the journey in season 2. By Gia Manry
• Master & Commander - In ‘Code Geass’, Lelouch can order anyone to do anything - but there’s a new Geass in Area 11. By Rob Bricken
• A Time To Drill - Seven years later, the troubles of the ‘Gurren Lagann’ Brigade are just beginning. By Rob Bricken
• 50 Years of Tokyo Tower - As Japan’s most-destroyed monument reaches it’s golden anniversary, ‘Anime Insider’ pays tribute. By Andrez Bergen
• Returning Champions - Discover the five new-school remakes of old-school anime and why they rock. By Rob Bricken
• We Will Rock You - Our exclusive interviews with T.M. Revolution and Miyavi. By Summer Mullins
• Vassalord Manga Preview - A cyborg vampire hunter faces his dark side with the help of a wisecracking vampire. By Nanae Chrono

There’s lots of other great stuff in this issue, so be sure to check it out!

Afro Samurai 2

There’s a little bit of additional news on Afro Samurai 2: It’s going to air as an ‘original movie event’ on SPIKE TV (like the series) in January 2009. Samuel L. Jackson, who voices Afro will be joined by Lucy Liu (of Charlies Angels fame) and Mark Hamill (of the good Star Wars movies).

From MovieWeb:

Lucy Liu will give voice to Sio, a beautiful, seductive and sadistic mastermind plotting to destroy Afro Samurai. Liu is the star of several Hollywood blockbuster action-adventure films including Charlie’s Angels and Kill Bill and has joined the cast of the ABC drama Dirty Sexy Money. Liu can currently be heard as Master Viper in the animated film Kung Fu Panda.

Additional casting includes Mark Hamill as Bin, Sio’s manservant and protector…best known as the young hero Luke Skywalker in the original Star Wars trilogy…

We’ll have more details on Afro Samurai 2 when we find out more!

School Rumble, Season One is over, but school is still in session with sneak peeks behind the scenes in School Rumble, Extra Class!

Plot Summary

Ever wonder what happens before or after an episode? Apparently someone has and has collected all those random, odd moments. Catch a gander at the girls as they soak in some hot springs. Or watch as Yakumo discovers she can see more than the average high schooler. Be amazed at Class 2-C as they relive their time as Neanderthals.

Class isn’t over yet, and it’s time for a little fill in the blanks!

Review

Extra Class is a cute addition to the series, but isn’t necessary to understand the series. It’s an extra, a bonus for diehard fans of series. The OVA has its moments where the laughs are quality, but its nothing compared to the first season of the anime.

Conclusion

Both “episodes” of Extra Class are filled with randomness only a fan of the series would understand. There is no further development, nor forthcoming explanations, yet it’s entertaining for those who want just a little more School Rumble in their lives.

Rating

School Rumble, Extra Class gets 3 outta 5 Hammies!

Retail Info

• Publisher: Funimation
• Release Date:June 17, 2008
• Retail Price: $19.98
• Number of discs:1
• Episodes: 1-2
• Run Time: 50 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Language: English, Japanese
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Format: Animated, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen