Hatsune Miku Domino's Pizza Japan Ad.

Uhhhh....what? Guess this will Japan centric, I can't imagine this will work in other places.

Wow, a special treat for Makoto Shinkai fans.

A friend of mine linked me this album on imgur of Makoto Shinkai productions stills and works which is remarkable. Being a fan of his work, this is indeed a big boon for me.

Here is the album, enjoy!

LINK

Myosis - An awesome animation short from France

An awesome 3 minute animation short.

anime

Hayao Miyazaki announcing his retirement

The beloved anime director, Hayao Miyazaki is announcing his retirement. I dunno if this has to do with storm of criticism against him for anti war stance that he expressed so overtly in last movie, Kaze Tachinu but the announcement has an interesting timing nevertheless. I certainly remembered that he came back after his son, Goro directed Earthsea back in 2007-2008.

One might say that his comeback is not very successful, Ponyo and Kaze Tachinu has failed to garner the applause like his best previous works - Nausicca, Spirited Away, Totoro and Mononoke Hime. Perhaps he felt he has lost his touch hence the retirement? Purely speculation from me though. Or health reasons? He will make more announcement soon at Tokyo after noted absence at Venice film festival.

No other details are known yet.

Source

anime

Kaze Tachinu is Miyazaki's criticism against resurgent Japanese nationalistic past.

Kaze Tachinu, latest movie from maestro, Hayao Miyazaki has generated controversy for lack of cuteness and very somber tone - in fact some people felt it is a veiled criticism of current Japanese crawl back to nationalism that cost the nation so dearly in World War 2. In fact some quarters in Japan hit back at the film maker, asking him to stay away from politics.

"Right after you see the first successful Zero flight there's a scene where the ground is littered with smashed planes, which is his message right there." - a poignant statement to me.

I haven't watch the movie yet but this views have gave me a lot of pause for thought and needless to say, makes me more intrigued about it than ever.

anime

Captain Harlock / キャプテン・ハーロック The Movie (2013) Trailer is Up.

Just look at the lush CG. Reportedly it is the most expensive Toho Studio movie to date - USD$30 million estimated so far. Soon at the cinemas around Fall 2013.

Looks cool.

anime

First Trailer of Kaze Tachinu / 風立ちぬ (2013)

Hayao Miyazaki's newest movie, Kaze Tachinu first trailer now out. I can't wait to see what is going to be since Kotaku article said it is adult friendly and kids find it boring. Means it is for adult audience which is a very good news to me.

anime

ufotable is Doing Another Fate Related Project?

Oh...kay, before I got too excited, Typemoon's fan  favourite studio, ufotable announced that they will do a project based on Fate/Stay Night saga. So far, not much is known, it can be from a reboot of the series (which I am very doubtful ) to a new series on the last route of Fate/Stay Night visual novel, Heaven's Feel which many people considered as the best of all routes (I hope is this one). Or some parody chibi-fied gag based on Fate universe.

Needless to say, as a fan, I welcome this development very much.

anime

A New Poster Magica Puella Magi Madoka Movie 3 plus the Release Date.

I am more interested in this one since it is supposedly new story of Madoka. You can see the release date too.

anime

Anime for March/Apr 2012.

The list is somewhat incomplete, more updated will be posted up soon. Definitely will watch Fate Zero Season 2, some passing interest on Accel World, Uchuu Kyodai and TasogareX Amnesia. And plus the new jazz anime series from Watanabe and Kanno.

Looks like 2012 is picking up.

anime

New Jazz Anime Series that caught my interest...

Sakamichi no Apollon?

Wow. Just check out these 2 names for this upcoming series.

Director: Shinchiro Watanabe (Bebop, Champloo)
Music Composer: Yoko Kanno.(Macross, Bebop)

The series is about 3 students in school and their passion for jazz despite came from very different background. What else I need to say? Only question mark for me is the quality of the writing. Animated by New Madhouse and Tezuka Productions.

Scheduled for April 2012 release. Something worthwhile to watch for 2012 for me at least after the end of Fate Zero Season 1.

anime

Madoka movie? Really?

Perhaps one of the biggest news of the year, the award winning series Magica Puella Magi Madoka (recently won like 12 out of 21 categories at New Type Anime Awards 2011 in Oct ) might have a movie coming up. I do not know if the movie is going to be a glorified recap of the series or a completely new story. I do remember Urobochi hinted that the series has yet to run its full course yet in Vol 6 commentary track, much to surprise to the voice actress cast of the series.

I awaiting for more details, should be coming up soon in the Newtype Magazine.

anime

Jin Roh director finally back on scene with Letter to Momo

7 years is a long, long time. Hiroyuki Okiura is the dude behind Jin-Roh which I quite like it, directed this movie for 7 years (yes I have to repeat myself twice). The story synopsis is pretty simple, after received a letter from her late father, Momo went to island with her mom and starts to notice weird thing(s) around her.

Looking forward to this, the movie start to premiere in Japan next year I think.

anime

Berserk The Movie trailer is out

Yeap, it is out. Looks good.

anime

Miyazaki talk with R.Kelts at UC Berkeley 2009

Still cranky after this years, the old man hasn't lose much of his spirit. Hee. Kelts wrote for Japanese newspaper on pop culture, specifically anime scenes nowadays.

anime

Cranky old man Miyazaki interview with BBC Jonathan Ross

Hahahah, he is already a cranky old man here. Recorded on 2002.

anime

Ghost in the Shell: Solid State Society 3D

Ghost in the Shell: State Solid Society 3D? Damn. These people are pushing consumers to get 3D capable TVs.



Apparently remade with 3D technology, shown in Japan on 23rd March this year. Looks nice with new opening sequence. I wonder if Production IG is going to release any new GITS. Just wondering.

anime

Fractale / フラクタル

Yutaka Yamamoto, director of Kannagi, Black Rock Shooter and The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi Season 1 is coming up with new anime which soon to be aired on 14th January 2011. The series was called Fractale. I have no idea what is the story about so I will quote this synopsis here:

"In the future, the world is managed by a network called the Fractale System. A boy named Crane is living an aimless life with his parents, who are actually computer-generated "Doppels". One day, he runs into a pretty girl named Furyune, who is being pursued by someone. When he rescues her and helps to keep her hidden from her pursuers, he is pulled into her troubles as well. After meeting her, his life will never be the same."

Yamamoto staked a lot on this series, wrote that he will retire if Fractale fails. Pretty bold. Some people called him a drama queen, some people are impressed by his commitment to make good anime. One thing that struck me is one of the staff is an anime scholar whose task is to develop the story. Now I am really curious when I learn about this. Looking at the trailer, it reminds me shades of Last EXILE for some reason.

The only reason I want to watch this is because of Yamamoto.

Cast:
Clain : KOBAYASHI Yuu (小林ゆう)
Phryne : TSUDA Minami (津田美波)
Nessa : HANAZAWA Kana (花澤香菜)
Enri : IGUCHI Yuka (井口裕香)
Sunda : ASANUMA Shintaro (浅沼晋太郎)

Staff

Director : Yamamoto Yutaka (山本寛)
Original Work : Mandelbrot Engine (マンデルブロ・エンジン)
Series: Composition : Okada Mari (岡田麿里)
Original Story Concept : Azuma Hiroki (東浩紀)
Original Character Concept : Hidari (左)
Animation Production : A-1 Pictures
Production Assistance : Ordet

Home Site

Airing on 14th January 2011.

anime

Shoji Kawamori short anime

I find this anime short done by the famous Macross guy, Kawamori. It is tongue in cheek humour, using NHK building with Domo-Kun as the "captain" of the transformed mecha to block the meteor.

anime

Impressive anti war animation from Chinese artist

Titled "See Through" or 打，打个大西瓜, it is 3 years worth of work by a Chinese artist goes by name of Jokelate. Great timing, good music and crisp animation with strong anti-war massage. Nicely done.

anime