HALO Legends and Mamoru Oshii.

Mamoru Oshii, the genius behind Ghost in the Shell movies and many of my favourite series will be helping Shinji Aramaki (Viper's Creed, Appleseed ) to animate history of Spartan Warrior System in HALO anime adaptation. Apparently, some of the biggest guns of anime industry will be involved; Toei, Production I.G, BONES, Studio 4C. There will 7 short stories based on HALO universe in plan to be animated.

Personally, I think gaming is getting bigger than movie in USA. Microsoft is banking on this to offset disappointing Vista OS sales.

This development is hardly surprising as entertainment becomes more immerse friendly and integrated instead of stand offish media.

Madhouse adaptation of Iron Man and Wolverine

Suh-weet! Looks dynamic and I suspect this is a movie tie-in for sequel for Ray Downey Jr Iron Man 2 next year. Slated to be 12 episodes next spring with another superhero, the nasty Wolverine...



Madhouse has respectable name in creating awesome, action packed animes hence my enthusiasm for this news. With big name like Sony to bankroll the effort, expect top notch animation and production for the series. There is 2 more superhero series by this cross boundary collaboration which not announced yet AFAIK. The series is slated to be aired on ANIMAX in Spring 2010.

I definitely checking out this.

LDP's anime against DPJ

First time I see an anime specifically done on behest of political party to criticize opponent, this clip shows DPJ leader lookalike is giving false promises to his date. It is an allusion that DPJ leader only capable of honey words but not action.

Cheers.

Soft Power Discussion no 7: The End of Rozen Aso?

With impending fall of Premier Taro Aso, his stimulus program for Japanese softpower which including establishment of pop art center/"anime palace" that will showcase manga and anime is now very much in doubt. DPJ, opposition party already mounting offensive on Taro Aso's plan to strengthen Japanese softpower (164 billion USD right now), citing it is non sustainable and export reliance will not guarantee Japanese economy revival. DPJ argued for trimming budget and more cuts on domestic front to ease the fiscal pressure instead of Keynesian economics practiced by Taro Aso.



Taro Aso popularity slid into red zone prompting his own party seniors to ask him step down to prevent LDP complete defeat in upcoming snap election scheduled on August 2009. His approval rating is 18.6 percent, polled on 15th July 2009 by local media which pretty much nailed the end of his era as Japanese premiership.

Even domestic anime industry did not really embrace Aso's vision and setting up of anime palace plan (called National Center for Media Arts), citing it has no real goal and inadequate budget to help the ailing industry in meaningful manner. Some even feared possible censorship from the proposed body, stomping on freedom of expression.

Only a miracle can save his doomed government.

Yutaka Yamamoto comments on Haruhi Season 2

What he thinks of latest story arc in Season 2 of Haruhi, the series that he direct the highly acclaimed prequel and considered his magnum opus which becomes anime of the year (2006). I sensing bitterness in him when he talks about this. Not too surprising considering how acrimonious his dispute with Kyoto Animation.

Black Lagoon OVA/ OAD is confirmed

Slated for 2010 release, it will retain essentially same crew from last 2 TV series but instead of creative restrictive TV environment, it will be released in OAD/OVA format which means less censorship and clever angle treatment. Principally, I think the 30 manga epic run on return of Roberta the Maid will be used as main material of the OAD/OVA.

* me dances

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