Tag Archives: ANN

Yamakan and Vocaloid Join Forces

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Yamamoto Yutaka, the famous director of the first Haruhi season, as well as his studio Ordet, have announced that they are producing an “anime project” for the Vocaloid song Black Rock Shooter. Although the format of the project is unrevealed, speculation is leaning towards an animated music video for the song. The anime is due for release next April, although a “pilot version” will be released on September 30th. This pilot release, which includes a CD single and a booklet with anime artwork, also includes a DVD (or Blu-ray) that may contain a preview of the anime.

Here are some screenshots from the project, which can also be viewed on the Black Rock Shooter website.

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Aya Hirano of Namek

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ANN is reporting that Aya Hirano, the voice of Haruhi Suzumiya, is slated to portray Dende in upcoming episodes of Dragonball Kai. Dende’s brother Cargo will be voiced by Satomi Satou, who played Ritsu in K-On!

Dragonball Kai is a HD remastering of Toei’s popular anime Dragonball Z, and features a condensed plotline which follows the manga more closely than the original series. All voice acting is being rerecorded for Kai; however, since the original seiyuu who portrayed Dende and Cargo, Tomiko Suzuki, passed away in 2003, it was necessary to find new actors.

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Endless Eight End Confirmed

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The latest volume of Newtype magazine confirms that the controversial Endless Eight arc, which has stretched on for seven episodes of Haruhi’s “second season”, will conclude this week with its eighth and final episode. This development comes as no surprise to Haruhi fans, many of whom correctly predicted E8’s length several weeks ago. The new episode is scheduled to air in Japan in approximately twelve hours.

–Via ANN

Japanese Anime Industry Shrinks

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ANN is reporting that the Japanese anime industry has shrunk for a second year in a row, with revenues down over $2 billion in 2008. Drops in both box office revenues and DVD sales contributed to this downward trend. Yasuo Yamaguchi, the director of the Association of Japanese Animators, thinks he knows the problem.

“The spread of free Internet downloading is having a deadly effect.”

Of course, that MUST be what’s wrong. I’m sure this industry decline has NOTHING to do with endless moe filler, ill-advised publicity stunts or ridiculously overpriced DVDs. Good call there, Yasuo!

Meanwhile, while the Japanese anime industry is floundering, the American industry is thriving. Must be a fluke.

K-On! Music Tops Charts

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K-On!’s most recent release, Hōkago Teatime, has become the first character album ever to top the Japanese charts, selling 67,000 copies since its release last Wednesday. With Maddy Caddy set to release in a few weeks and hype at an all-time high, K-On! looks set to fill the void left in otakus’ hearts by Endless Eight…

–From ANN

25th Single Release for Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu

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A new milestone for our favorite anime series The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya was reached after the release of Aya Hirano’s new single Super Driver on Wednesday. Since the release of the first single Bouken de-show de-show? in 2006 the franchise has officially sold over 1 million CD’s across 25 releases. This includes the most popular release of the lot, Suzumiya Haruhi no Tsumeawase, which to date has sold over 200,000 copies and includes personal favorites such as Aya’s God Knows! and Lost My Music.

The latest offering, Super Driver, is certainly catchy in OP form but until I hear it in full length without an animated sequence I cannot judge. This CD should also contain the full length version of Tomare!, the theme to the ED containing the voices of  Minori Chihara and Yuko Goto alongside Aya.

–From ANN