How the heck am I supposed to board this plane if I keep getting news to post?

So, we’ll make this short’n’sweet: Nebs has noticed that ADV is getting back on track with its release schedule, starting with a new volume of Kanon. Which is going to make their Acen panel way less awkward! (Once again, feel free to leave some questions for ‘em.)

So, FUNi is doing all these licensing announcements this week; they also plan to announce the final of that slew on Saturday at their Anime Central panel. (And by the way, Anime on DVD has figured out what tomorrow’s license is– here’s the dead giveaway.)

But I just got a press release declaring that they’ve got another announcement up their sleeves, this one on Monday, and they’re giving away a different sort of hint. Here are the hints they sent in their e-mail:

Oh, the drama of it all.

And…

Saturday is to die for.

…At least, I think they’re both clues for the Monday title, in spite of the Saturday reference in the second one. The panel on Saturday will also feature instructions on how to find out the Monday announcement title.

Get speculatin’! I have my own personal guess after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »

Reader Yue alerted me to the fact that FUNi has their next hint up. My first instinct is to say Shigurui, and I can find a couple of images similar to that, but not that exact one, so maybe I’m wrong. Definitely looks bloody though.

(A small part of me also wishes that it could be a Hellsing image– I mean, it’d definitely be an “OMG NO WAY” title for them to score, and they have talked about trying to rescue some Geneon licenses, though I don’t know how Geneon’s possible deal might affect things…though it doesn’t matter since that doesn’t look like any Alucard shot I’ve ever seen.)

Anyone recognize that shadow? Yeah, I don’t either…but here are some recent, unlicensed mech series: Kishin Taishin Gigantic Formula, Idolmaster: Xenoglossia, Kiss Dum Engage Planet, Kotetsushin Jeeg…any other ideas?

Oop– looks like we found it! And by “we” I mean several awesome readers. Hit the jump if you want the surprise spoiled. Read the rest of this entry »

What a dramatic day! First the Yaoi House stuff dies down, then hopes are raised for a Geneon comeback, and now this?

AnimeonDVD reports that SuperTechnoArts, known for Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure and…um…well, that’s pretty much it, may be folding. Their website is gone and AnimeNation says JoJo’s been withdrawn.

For those unaware (i.e. most of us), SuperTechnoArts was created as the North American arm of the Tokyo-based company APPP Co. (Another Push Pin Planning Company). Their only US releases, as far as I can tell, are JoJo, Sci-Fi Harry, and Shadow, all OVAs by APPP. Hmm!

This one goes firmly in the RUMOR! category for now, but Nebs reports that Geneon may be in talks with an unnamed major US distributor to help save Geneon’s catalogue, or at least some of it. Says Nebs:

If we don’t hear anything by mid-summer we probably won’t hear anything.

Even if a major deal is struck, it won’t involve Geneon’s entire catalog circa Sept 2007. The new company will cherry pick those releases like people at Ruby Tuesday pick over the salad bar.

The ‘major distributor’ they are in talks with is NOT one of the existing US Anime studios.

Not entirely sure where Nebs pulled this from; the source link is Robert’s Anime Corner Store, on which I can’t find any such information (nor is it on the RACS blog). But Nebs is, well, Nebs, so I’ve got an e-mail out to get more specifics on that and in the meantime I’m giving the benefit of the doubt.

EDIT: The source is the RACS e-mail newsletter, which AnimeUK has reproduced the text of. An excerpt:

Geneon has been in serious talks with a major US home entertainment distributor for about the past three months to get their titles back on the street. I know exactly who it is, how far along they are, and the details that are going to make or break the deal. The trouble is I can’t make any of that info public without jeopardizing our relationship with the new company, but perhaps it’s helpful to let you guys know that there is something serious in the works.

The three points I attributed to Nebs above are also from Robert’s newsletter. So, there you go, and we’ll see what happens.

Edit II: I just wanted to make a note that even if this rumored deal doesn’t happen, it’s nice to think that Geneon is still fighting for their titles.

Okay, they really gave it away too easily with the picture on their website, which AoD picked up on instantly….but I just got the official press release: FUNimation has acquired the rights to the sequel to Gunslinger Girl, Gunslinger Girl Il Teatrino.

The most interesting tidbit in the release? “FUNimation Entertainment will release all 13 episodes of Gunslinger Girl Il Teatrino in one complete DVD release in 2009.” So, you have to wait until next year, but at least you’ll get it all at once.

So far the announcements have had a nice, well-rounded quality about them: a traditional shoujo series (Save Me! Lollipop), a shounen comedy (KenIchi: The Strongest Disciple), and now a seinen show. The press release says they’ll have another announcement tomorrow, but this time there aren’t any hints on the front page of the site– any speculation?

Uh-oh– ANN reports that TitleMatch, the DVD supplier for ImaginAsian, has halted production of ImaginAsian’s classic anime trio, Nobody’s Boy Remi, Orguss, and Cat’s Eye(!). The network is still airing all three, however, and is working on getting it back out on DVD.

So, Anime Central is this coming weekend, and the live programming schedule is up, so I now have a list of companies whose panels I’ll be attending (I’m so excited! They’re all on Saturday and they’re all in the same room. And there’s even a lunch break between them! Go ACEN schedulers!):

- Yaoi Press
- Bandai Entertainment
- FUNimation (coincidentally, Host Club panel– I assume fan panel –at the same time?)
- ADV (!)
- VIZ Media

Yes, ADV will actually be running a panel, if this schedule is correct. That should be interesting to sit in on. And no, don’t tell me to ask questions like, “how the hell did you f!@# up Gurren Lagann?” I don’t want to bully them, and if they’re willing and able to tell us they probably will. And someone else will probably ask it anyway.

FUNimation is continuing their week-long license announcement spree: I just got a press release announcing that they’ve picked up the action comedy KenIchi: The Mightiest Disciple (known to fansub fans as History’s Strongest Disciple Kenichi). Here’s their blurb:

Not every wimp gets a chance to change his fortunes. But Kenichi just might. The guy is a walking “kick me” sign. He’s weakest among the weak and the bullies stalking his school remind him every chance they get.

With nobody on his side and zero self-confidence, Kenichi looks destined to bounce from fist to fist until graduation. Until he meets her.

There’s something about Miu. She’s kind, she’s pretty… and she’s an incredible fighter who lives in a dojo with six powerful masters of the Martial Arts – a group of experts skilled in the ancient disciplines of hand to hand combat.

These elite warriors have dedicated their bodies and minds to the endless pursuit of perfect technique.

Now, Kenichi will be their student.

He will have to do more than just toughen up. Kenichi must become the mightiest disciple and learn to stand strong for the powerless… if the training of his six new masters doesn’t kill him first.

The series is due out in 2009. Hey, FUNi? Where’s my Host Club?