Instead of the usual separate posts about different news articles, I am going to combine this time.

Akimbo Goes out of Business
hurt the industry for this service to be shut down, it will certainly effect other companies who are doing the same thing. With major Cable/With all my recent interest in streaming anime, this one caught my interest. While Akimbo didn’t provide services similar to Crunchy-Roll, that is web based streaming of content, it was a service to let viewers pick and choose what shows they wanted to watch, and get them on demand. I think while it wont necessarily hurt the Industry, it may effect providers of simular services, good and bad. With the already many Cable/Satellite carriers offering there own on demand services (including the one I use myself), it’s hard to be a small company that wants to find a niche market. Akimbo did sign contracts with various anime licencing companies to make their content available to there users. One of these companies was ADV, a subsidiary of AD Vision who also happens to own the Anime Network. The Anime Network is available on quite a few major cable services; so while the thought of a service that provides anime to the mass market sounds like a good idea. Consumers will opt for the same service included in a package deal.

Vertigo Entertainment Developing U.S. Death Note Remake
Vertigo Entertainment has plans to develop a Death Note Remake for America. Vertigo who has worked on many of the Japanese-to-America horror films has set its sight on this animated series. After reading the article it is unclear if they plan on remaking the show, or if they plan on making a movie out of the show. I am split on how I feel about this. For the most part I appreciate the effects that go into American remakes, the stories tend to loose something in translation. If anything I hope that its going to be made into a movie, and not a TV show. This will allow for a higher budget for the film, (much higher then the average Japanese film) and for the most part be less of a risk then trying to make a television series. Viewers are fickle, and for the most part I don’t think that the average viewer will stay tuned to a Death Note remake week after week.

The latest Episode of Macross F was very good. There was some action, a lot of character development, and some new information on the mystery fighter.

There episode opens up with Alto fighting the mysterious purple veritech. There are grappling and he yells at Michael to take a shot. He fires and the opening credits roll. We then see Sheryl at the school doing a small documentary about joining the Mihoshi Acadamy. Alto is annoyed that she is using there time to do her show. Michael then talks to Sheryl’s manager and of course flirts with her. She knows who she is, and says she is sorry about his sister. Michael is quite shocked about this

The scene changes to the SMS team on mission, Alto arguing with Michael about allowing Sheryl to use there training time. A Vajra appears and the team takes action. Alto without thinking start to chase it down and eventually catches it, Michael tells him to hold it in place so he can take a shot. The scene is identical to the one at the opening except its the Vajra instead of the purple veritech. Just as Michael pulls the trigger, he remembers what Sheryl’s manager said to him, he hesitates and misses. The shot grazes the head of Alto’s ship.

Ranka is busy promoting herself, and is passing out something (I couldn’t tell what it was). She notices the person who played the harmonica at the end of episode 8, and then he dissapears.

A Vajra nest is said to be in the surrounding space, so the SMS is ordered to go and collect samples. While they are out, the purple fighter launches as well, and a woman gives him orders to destroy the nest, to keep the SMS from getting samples. In a battle with some small type Vajra, Klan is saved at first by the purple veritech, then it opens fire on her. A battle ensues that is pretty good. It shows how skilled the mystery man is, seeing how he decimates Klan Queadluun-Rea Power Armor, destroying its legs and arms, leaving her to float in space, still alive. Alto once again gives chase, catching it, and Michael is taking aim, bringing us back to the beginning scene. A scene is shown where Klan is talking to Alto about Michael’s sister, and what happened to her. I won’t ruin that part for you. Then Michael takes his shot, hitting the purple veritech, who then escapes and procedes to destroy this target, the Vajra nest. The ending is good, showing that Alto and Michael have put aside there quarrel.

I can’t wait till Episode 10. The mystery man is intriguing, and more veritech action is a must. That being said, I don’t mind the episodes where there is little action, and instead focuses on the love triangle that is developing between Ranka, Alto, and Sheryl.

Keeping with news stories, Bandai entertainment has announced that it would be airing Gurren Lagann on the Sci-Fi channel. This actually surprised me, not because the show would be shown on American television, but because Bandai is the one doing it. I first watched the series as it was being aired on Japanese TV. By the end of the series, ADV had it licensed and was making it available to watch on there website. After that I pretty much stopped keeping up with the news.

Today on the other hand, I read that Bandai Entertainment (There will soon be no Bandai Visual USA) has licensed it. While the show will be shown in a dubbed format, they have yet to reveal who the voice actors will be, but they promise that Simon will be pronounced correctly with a short i.

In other Gurren Lagann News, Gainax has announced that they will make two (yes thats 2, not 1) Gurren Laggan Movies. The reason is that they cant fix the entire story into one film. I am assuming that the end of movie 1 will include up to the defeat of the Spiral King, and the second movie will conclude the story.

Good job Gainax. Unlike the new Eva movies that Gainax has made, I am sure that I would love to re-watch the Gurren Laggan story. More on the Eva Movies in a future post.

I just read this article on Anime News Network about 4 high school students and there “Death Note”. Apparently they had written the names of teachers, fellow students and even celebrities into the notebook. I’ll let you read the story yourself for details but for now I am going to interject my opinion.

Expelling  a student based on a notebook is going  little too far. This being said, these students should not be let off scott free. I say let the parents decide the punishment, weather it being a grounding, or in severe cases, therapy. I am unsure if the school faculty was aware of the show, which shows late night on Cartoon Networks Adult Swim. To me, this is on the same level as writing cryptic poems, albeit going a bit farther. This also raises the question as to weather these students actually did anything wrong. While its pretty obvious that actions can be illegal, this is public morals sliding its toes into determining weather thought and ideas are illegal. Making a notebook that lists the names of people you want to off is one thing. Actually doing them is another.

I do feel sympathy for the school though. Recently there have been student attacks in high schools and in universities as well. But this is a fad within the anime fandom that will eventually die down, just like when i was a kid and my friends likes to make believe they were Goku.

Latest episode was truly epic. Zero in choosing not to battle his own sister, chose to exile himself, along with the rest of the Back Knights onto an iceberg ship. In a very Three Amigo’s way too (or Legion, or V for Vendetta). Also, Zero Dog, as you can see in the picture below. Click to enlarge as always. There is also a chubby zero, and a multitude of female zero’s in a pinker costume. If you look closely all the zeros are just copied and pasted onto the background. Not nitpicking, it’s not like it matters when that shot is only on for about 3 seconds.

Anyway… can’t wait till next one airs and gets subbed. Speaking of can’t wait, someone needs to release some more Druaga episodes. YouTube and Crunchyroll have really shitty quality.

Looking forward to some new series. Here is some info on whats coming soon (that I am interested in, the rest I don’t really care about)

Also included are the information on the new series’. Thank You to ANN and Fansubwiki for the info.

Ikkitousen: Great Guardian

Start Date: 6/11/2008
Chanel: AT-X 9:30
Episodes: 13
Plot: ??
Opinion: It’s sequel to the Ikkitousen: Dragon Destiny. I personally have not seen the first 2 seasons so I can’t really say much about a 3rd season. I guess if the fans like it then it must be good. This makes me want to go back and watch the first 2 before this one comes out, but it’s most likely not possible in 2 weeks.

Slayers REVOLUTION

Channel: TV Tokyo
Start Date: 7/02/08 25:20
Episodes: ??
Plot: ??
Opinion: Being a fan of the first Slayers series’, you can count on me watching the new one. Its been over 10 years since TRY came out and I can’t wait to see the new material.

Birdy the Mighty Decode

Channel: Tokyo MX
Start Date: 7/05/08 22:30
Plot: While pursuing a criminal, the pretty but reckless interplanetary police officer Birdy Cephon Altirra accidentally kills Tsutomu, an earthling high school student. To make amends, Birdy is forced to share her own body with Tsutomu’s spirit so that he can continue his own life. At first, Tsutomu knows nothing about his situation but soon discovers that his body is starting to take certain actions without his mind ordering it. In times of action, Birdy takes full control of their shared body, transforming it back into her original female form.
Opinion: Loved the OAV. A must Watch

Blade of the Immortal

Channel:AT-X
Start Date: 7/13/08 24:00
Plot: Manji is a crass, violent samurai with a special ability: he cannot die. Cursed with immortality by the nun Yobikuni as punishment for his ruthless deeds, he has grown weary of his ageless life. The only way to lift the curse is to slay 1,000 evil men. So Manji wanders Japan, shedding the blood of the wicked on his quest to finally die.
Opinion: Mixed. I like most samurai shows. At least ones that at least try to keep to period stuff (Champloo, I hate you so much.) Ill Start this one and see how it goes. The killing of 1000 evil men makes me cringe, as such a high number makes me wonder if this show is the next 200+ episode monster what I will eventually drop.
Sekirei

Channel: Chiba TV, Tokyo MX
Start Date: 7/??/08 –:–
Plot: Minato is a total loser. He’s failed to make it into college twice, he’s unpopular with women, and he’s unemployed. But suddenly one day he met a girl dashing inhumanely fast down the road he walked, chased by 2 bandits with electrical powers. From that day on Minato’s life changed forever. The Girl, Musubi was not any ordinary girl she was a “Sekirei”, and suddenly she just bestows Minato with the power of an Ashikabi, one of a mysterious set of “masters” in an awesome battle royale between hordes of cute girls (and males) with individual special powers called “Sekirei’s”. Eventually Minato’s true capabilities will release his useless self into truly understanding all of the Sekirei’s that he embarks to gather, and his own strength.
Opinion: It’s Battle Royal, except less violent, and more cute girls. I have a weakness, so yes I’ll check it out.

for those of you who dont quite get the title of this post, you either have not seen CG:R2 yet… or you didnt notice the engrish in the first episode. I am not alking about a bad fansub either.

The SIS’s KnightMare frames have a start up screen with some words on it. Here is a pic..

Click on the image to see it larger

So far the story has been good, GG has been awesome and released 7 and 8 on the same day… gonna watch them soon.

This weeks episode deals with morals. Yui thinks that all the girls are acting immorally (she even uses the term slutty) because Rito talks to them and corrupts them. She decided to punish Rito having the principal prohibit him talking to girls for 2 whole weeks. Rito doesn’t like this because it keeps him and Haruna apart, and goes home from school alone, only to be followed by Yui. Yui realizes that Rito is actually a kind caring guy and decided to get his punishment lifted… till Lala gets an idea…

This episode was pretty funny, and somewhat disturbing. You see, the guy from episode 7, Ren is going around in his girl form, and as a girl, he has a girls personality. Ren has also fallen in love with rito, and tries to kiss him again, only to sneeze and turn into a guy again just before it happens…. Ugh… what is wrong with the world? It’s disturbing…

its the same person…

That being said, I won’t give up on the series.

Just finished watching Frontier EP 08. I am a bit divided about how i feel about this episode. There is no dogfights, very little action.

The episode revolves around Ranka getting transferred to Mihoshi Academy (Where Alto goes). But her transfer is overshadowed by a visit by Sheryl. They get along enough but Sheryl’s sudden visit upsets Alto, who finds it bothering.

Sheryl’s fame starts to get in the way of Ranka’s budding carrier as well. And at the end Ranka is alone and starts singing Aimo, only to be interrupted by the mysterious man who pilots the red Variable Fighter playing her tune on her harmonica. It cuts from there, and it shows that Sheryl also decided to transfer to Mihoshi to learn how to fly.

マクロスF (Macross Frontier)

Plot: Set 13 years after the story of Macross 7. This story follows the 25th Colonization Fleet Macross Frontier. Alto Saotome is a hotshot who loves to fly. Called “Princess” because of his feminine looks. He flies aerobatics at Sheryl Nome’s opening concert on Frontier. Only for a new alien menace to attack the fleet. Watching the alien Vajra enter the ship and kill a pilot, Alto decides to pilot the abandoned VF-25 Messiah himself to save a young girl, Ranka Lee.

This is one of the most anticipated titles this season. It’s the 25th anniversary of the original Super Dimentional Fortress Macross and the producers aren’t holding anything back. The animation is beautiful and as always the music is fantastic. For people who are fans of the original series, there are small things that connect the worlds together. Ozma makes multiple Fire Bomber References. While the characters themselves are new, they are reminiscent of the characters in the original series. You have Alto Saotome who is an updated Hikaru Ichijo. Ozma Lee, who is leader of the Skull Squadron, resembles Roy Focker. The captain of the ship, Jeffrey Wilder is a lot like Captain Bruno Global. For those of you who liked Minmay in the original series get double in Frontier. Sheryl is a singing sensation who does what she wants, and Ranka is just starting her musical carrier.

While there are a lot of simularities between character types, this by no means takes away from the experience of the show. If anything it makes it better for old fans, gives them something to remember from their childhood.

Music
This is a huge part of the Macross Universe, and the tradition continues.
Both Ranka and Sheryl sing in the show and the new music is great.
Ranka even sings an updated version of 私の彼はパイロット(My Boyfriend is a Pilot)

OP: Maaya Sakamoto – トライアングラー (Triangular)

ED: Ranka Lee (Megumi Nakajima) - 愛・おぼえていますか (Do you Remember Love?) EP01 Deculture Edition Only
Ranka Lee (Megumi Nakajima) – アイモ (Aimo)
Sheryl Nome (May’n) – ダイヤモンド クレバス (Diamond Crevasse)