So I popped by the ADV booth and asked the questions that I could remember (that weren’t too harsh– I’m not inclined to kick people when they’re a bit down), and all I really got is that there’s no comment on Gurren Lagann, ADV Manga is still going to churn out books, and there’s no release date yet for Yotsuba&! volume 6.
Sorry I couldn’t get more, but hopefully they’ll schedule more panels throughout the summer cons.
Something I didn’t mention in my Yaoi Press report was that Yamila Abraham, when asked about publishing yaoi novels as well as comics, said that it tends not to work very well, and pointed to Iris Print as an example– saying that the company has actually closed up shop.
I’ve fired off an e-mail to Kellie to get her take; while I was googling to make sure I hadn’t missed some kind of announcement I noticed that Boys Next Door’s blog has some statements from Iris writers, while C.B. Potts offers her own response.
So, things aren’t looking too good for Iris, but for the moment we do NOT know anything about Iris’ status officially, so we can file this one in the “rumor” box.
So VIZ and ADV both ended up not having their panels. ADV we were told (slightly) in advance that they had no one to run the panel. Rumor had it that an ADV staffer was at their booth, but keep in mind that he might have been handling the booth and therefore unable to leave it and come to the panel. I’m going to swing by the booth tomorrow and see if I can get some questions answered.
As for VIZ, no one appeared and the staff didn’t know why. But unlike ADV, VIZ also didn’t have a booth at the convention or any other events to my knowledge, so I can’t help but wonder if it’s simply a scheduling error, like what happened at Sakura Con? (That could even be the case for ADV.) I’m dropping an e-mail out to them to see if they have anything particular to say about it.
So, all in all, pretty minimal announcing here at Acen, leaving FUNimation as the big stars of the weekend announcement-wise– and really, D.Gray-Man? Color me shocked; I wasn’t even going to try it at first because the manga is Jump/Shueisha…just goes to show, you can never assume.
There isn’t a lot going on tomorrow (besides me running by the lost and found to pick up my laptop cable. OOPS!); Len and I are talking about going to see Speed Racer (which he hasn’t seen and I’d totally see again) or Iron Man (which neither of us has seen). I want to see Iron Man but since it’s a con weekend I sorta feel like he should see Speed Racer. OH, THE DECISIONSES.
So, I’m sorry if it wasn’t everything you ever dreamed of this weekend, but cheer up: Fanime is next weekend, and it promises a lot of good adventure (and possibly that missing Bandai Entertainment license, though on the other hand they may have to hold out for Akon or god knows what later con), and Akon is the weekend right after that. And Fanime, at least, I know I’ll have massive internets for! ♥
There wasn’t a lot of new stuff mentioned at the Yaoi Press panel, and I was so frantic about trying to get Internets that I don’t have a full write-up like I do for Bandai Entertainment and FUNimation, but the main announcement was that Dany&Dany are doing a new book for Yaoi Press titled Anima (which is pronounced ah-KNEE-mah).
This was actually announced at the Dany&Dany panel the previous day, but I wasn’t at it, unfortunately. The series is going to feature a lot of lush costumes, a la Bram Stoker’s Dracula we’re told, but it’s actually set in the future and involves love between humans and androids. We got to see the cover and the inside art and it looks really nice, so I’m looking forward to checkin’ it out.
Aaaaand FUNimation’s panel…
So, here are all the detailed notes I typed up for Bandai Entertainment…
No, seriously, the newest clue from FUNimation on their Monday announcement (…I think. The e-mail was titled “Saturday Announcement Clue #3,” so maybe they’re just going to tell us everything Saturday? I dunno):
A man and a woman, doomed destiny
Is love the savior, the perfect key?
The answer awaits you, wait one night
To ye old fan, an anime delight
So yeah, I’m pretty sure that my guess is right.
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 I’m heading out shortly to get going on my trip to Anime Central (don’t forget to check the list of industry panels and drop any questions you’d like me to try and get answers to), which means that except during my brief waits at the airport, I probably won’t be posting much. (Thankfully, we already know what FUNimation will announce has announced.
So here’s a required reading list to keep you distracted from work/school/chores:
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.