Weekly Ramen Bites Nov. 4-9

This where I recognize all the news stories that I didn't during the week and post them all here for you.

Dragon Ball Z:Battle of Z's New English Trailer Features Flow's Cover Song - Well..... Its there. I like that you can get the Ninja suit for Goku. I haven't played any of the new Dragon Ball Z games since Budakai Tenkachi 3 on Wii. The cover isn't bad I..... just have affection for the old one.

GTO Early Years get sequel. - This will not die. It will not go away. Ever! It is true, there will be a sequel. It will still follow, Oni-Baku the duo of Eikichi and Ryuji. Seriously though why won't you die. I like you but die.

Sword Art Online: Extra Edition to Stream Worldwide - OMG! I can't wait! The spciecial will air January 1st 2014 and be avaliable immediately after it airs in Japan on Crunchyroll and Daisuki.

One Piece Celebrates 300 Million Copies with Special Prefecture Posters - 300 Million copies! How many milestones are you going to set Japan! First it was Twitter than Television and now manga! Well....... not exactly manga since the record wasn't set or shown to be broken but its still a feat nonetheless.

"Yea! We broke a record!" That's what Luffy would say.

Read More

500,000,000 for Cowboy Bebop

Cowboy Bebop Live Action without Keanu Reeves

Not sure if you been keeping up with this project but Keanu Reeves has been trying to make a live action adaptation of Cow
boy Bebop for some time now. During a Q&A session on Reddit this past Sunday, a fan asked about his Cowboy Bebop project Reeves responded with;

Cowboy Bebop does not look like it is going to happen with me in it. The script that was written was great and amazing, but it would cost like half a billion dollars to make it, and while I wished and hoped I would have done that project, we are working on trying to get Bill & Ted 3. There's a script and we are trying to put it together.

Twentieh Century Fox, 3 Arts Entertainment, and the anime studio, Sunrise were on to produce the film. Its still possible that the movie will happen just not as soon as we would like. Keanu Reeves was slated to play Spike in this adaptation but it looks like that's not going to happen. I'm excited for this, I really am. The screenplay is being written by Peter Craig, who wrote The Town which is a really good movie. Thanks to Pacific Rim a Cowboy Bebop movie might actually be good. My only concern is how will it play out and which characters will make an appearance in the movie. Will it be just Spike and Jet or will Faye and Edward be in it as well? 

We won't know but we'll just have to wait and see. See ya, Space Cowboys n' Girls. 

Read More

No Anime Winners @ Annecy 2013

Annecy International Animated Film Festival is a animated film festival held in Annecy, France every year. Out of 26 categories not one anime won an award. Berserk Golden Age Arc II: The Battle for Doldery was up best feature film but it lost to Uma Historia de Amor e Furia (Rio 2096: A Story of Love and Fury). There were other anime in other categories like Kick-Heart in the short film category. 


I'm not going to be one of the "ani-hards" or "otakus" that claims "anime is the best form of animation and blah blah blah." Has anime won Annecy Awards in the past? Yes. Has an anime film/show/project won in at least one category every single year? No. The point I'm trying to make is that instead of looking at this like a lose consider this a win for animation, specifically 2D animation. Most of the films that were competing or won were 2D animated films. A lot of 2D animated films/shows/projects are still considered "kid stuff" especially in North America. I don't know if Berserk deserved to win or not I can't make that call, because I haven't seen it. Don't look at this as a defeat, look at this as a step forward.  

Read More

Ghost in the Shell Surface Ad & Free DOA Game

Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate Gets Free Version for PS3

Temco Koei Games announced earlier this week that they are releasing a free version of Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate on the PS3 and 360. The free version of the game has four characters; Kasumi, Ayane, Hayate, and Ryu Hayabusa. The game also comes with an online fighting mode, and access to an offline mode that doesn't have story mode. The extra's are going to cost some money, extra characters cost around $3.99 each and story mode will cost around $14.99. Expect the game to hit North American shelves by the 3rd of September. 

"Free game!" I screamed, until I noticed there are only four characters to fight with, along with having to pay extra money for the other characters. Then I have to pay $14.99 for story mode! F----k that! Then I calmed down, thought on it for a bit and realized "this could a brilliant move." You bring in gamers with the free game, and if they like what they see they could purchase some extra characters or perhaps the story mode if their interested in the DOA world. This could also turn out bad. Gamers could download the game and be satisfied with the bare bones offering or worse hate it. We'll just have to wait and see but you can bet I will downloading this as soon as it becomes available. 

Ghost in the Shell Arise TV Ads Pitch Microsoft Surface Tablets

The creators of Ghost in the Shell: Arise annouced that Microsoft is streaming two crossover commercials with the Window's Surface and the anime. The commerical displays the words "Ghost in the Shell, One more story of a begining. Ghost in the Shell Arise is set in 2027 after the fourth non-nuclear world war. New Port City is still recovering from the aftermath of a bombing caused by a self-proclaimed mine. 

Talk about your advertising.If couldn't get anymore blunt then that I would hit you over the head with the darn device itself. There is some good out of this like, there's a new ghost in the shell anime, and due to product placement meaning they might have a bigger budget. I'm excited, yet thrown off because of the way it's presented but I'll just take it for what it is.

Read More

Sword Art Online comes to Toonami and DVD

Region 1 Sword Art Online DVD/Blu-ray Details Revealed

A few days ago the official U.S. Sword Art Online website announced Region 1 releases of the DVD/Blu-Ray later in August. The DVD and Blu-ray's will be released in 4 sets the first set in August, the second set in September, etc. The price for the DVD is around $40 while the price for the Blu-ray is $90. Now the DVD will not have many special features but the Blu-Ray's will. There was a announcement at Anime Boston about SAO coming to Toonami in August of this year. The announcement was made by Aniplex of America who licensed dubs for Madoka Magica, and Blue Exorcist.

Yes, Yes, Yes! (Daniel Bryant reference sorry about that). I am excited for this, I made semi right prediction. Okay, so it was really a prediction but a hypothesis. So know the U.S. not only gets DVD/Blu-rays but we also get a new show on Toonami! How awesome is that! My only gripe is that the DVD has now special features and taking into consideration the price of the Blu-Ray's is it worth it. It might be. I really like this series although I don't really like that second half I can tolerate it. I do have another concern about the English dub. I'm hoping its really good and they that they made it just as good or better than the subs. I won't purchase probably until it appears on Toonami, because I would like to hear the English dub before I buy it. 

 

Read More

Guilty Crown gets Dubbed

‘Guilty Crown’ Debuts Dub Trailer & Cast Reveal

Months after its shown on Hulu in its Japanese version the show finally gets a english dub. The DVD/Blu-Ray combo will be released sometime in August. The plot is centered around a boy named Shu who gains the ability to use voids by pulling them out of one's chest. He also meets a girl by the name of Inori, who is part of an organization to overthrow the government. Shu join's the organization in hopes of being able to make difference. Or something like that.




Well..... finally! I must say that this was actually quicker than I thought. I didn't think we see a dubbed version of Guilty Crown until December 2013. This is a "guilty pleasure" in the sense that it just looks so cool. Some plot elements are not the best but heck it has it's moments even if they are sappy.

Read More

Gantz Manga End & New Pokemon X/Y Trailer

Hiroya Oku's Gantz Manga to End in 2 More Chapters

The 24th issue of Shueisha's Young Jump magazine announced that Hiroya Oku's Gantz have two more chapters until it ends. This is a follow up the Oku's announcement about the manga ending soon. The manga has been in the "Final Phase" since 2009 and Oku's wanted to end it in 2012. Gantz is about a group of people who are reanimated to life to fight aliens.

I always wanted to get into Gantz, but like all these things not enough time too much anime I was already watching but couldn't stop it because it will ruin the momentum and blah blah blah. It did have me curious though I might check it out now, or not and wait another 5 years to watch or read it. 

Pokémon X/Y Gameplay Trailer Shows New Pokémon & Region

The Pokemon company streamed online a 70 second trailer that shows a new region and some gameplay footage. This game will be the first installment of the sixth generation of the Pokemon games. This marks the 13th game of the series on the handhelds. The game will be launched in October of this year. 

A new Pokeman game! That means.......................... Ash goes into another region and does the same thing over and over again. Besides that I'm actually excited about the game this time around I haven't really been excited mostly due to the gameplay (I really don't like playing the same thing over and over and over again), but I could give this a shot. When I get a 3DS.

Read More

Goku eats KFC & New Guilty Gear comes West!

Dragon Ball's Goku Chows Down on Fried Chicken in KFC TV Ad

KFC in Japan is collaborating with Dragon Ball Z to help promote the new movie DBZ movie Battle of Gods. In the commercial that they aired Goku is telling kids that chicken will make them big and strong. It also seems that several KFC's in Japan is going all in, by dressing the colonel in DBZ cosplay.

Uhhh........ This is interesting. Funny, mind blowing, mind f#$%!#$ery, etc. I only put this here because I found it interesting. Sometimes I wished they do that sort of thing in America, it would make things interesting.

Unto more serious news....

Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus R to Be Released in the West

Arc System Works confirmed that the the new Guilty Gear game, Guilty Gear: XX Accent Core Plus R will be released in the west. The game is for the PSVita system and will be released in Japan later this year. No word on the western release date.

Oh yes! A new Guilty Gear game! For a system I don't have! Yes! Seriously? This game looks awesome enough to make go out and buy a PSVita (not really). I wish they could make a game for the big consoles it's bad enough I don't have a PSVita but its not going to be available on anything else.

Read More

10 Years of PreCure and 10 more to come?

Precure Producer: 'Precure Is Still Just 10 Years Old'

Hiroyuki Matsushita is the producer of Smile PreCure, Suite PreCure commented at a press conference for the new PreCure, Dokidoki! PreCure a couple of weeks ago that he would like the Pretty Cure (PreCure) series to go on for another 10, 20, even 30 years. He said: This is the 10th year for Precure, but it's still just 10 years. I want the show to go on for 20, even 30 years.

I've never sat down and watch the Pretty Cure series as a whole but I was looking forward to it coming to the FoxBox, but alas that never happened so I never really just looked for it. Ten years yet, ten years! Thats a long time to keep a series especially an anime series. I give kudos where it suppose to go but I have a feeling that its not going to go on for another 10 to 20 years. Who Knows.

Read More

New Kamen Rider X Super Sentai Crossover

Kamen Rider x Super Sentai x Uchū Keiji Super Hero Taisen Z Crossover Film Revealed

From the 2012 film

A notice on The Ibaraki Film Commission website asking for extras for the crossover movie involving Kamen Rider x Super Sentai x Uchu Keiji Super Hero Taisen Z. This film will be a sequel to last years crossover film Kamen Rider x Super Sentai: Hero Taisen. Shinichiro Shirakaru the producer from the first film will be producing this as well. Expect this to come out in the spring of 2013.

"I wanna be an extra!" I know this isn't an anime/manga news story but this is under Asian entertainment and I'm a fan of Tokusatsu especially Super Sentai and Kamen Rider.  Many people may take these things as kid shows but if you watch the original version you could see its a little more mature (not much though). They're corny yes, but thats the point you can't take this stuff to seriously. 

Read More

Gurren Lagann Ends & New Sentai License

Gurren Lagann Manga to End This Year

Kotaro Mori announced on twitter this week that the Gurren Lagann Manga will come to an end in 2013. He wrote the final volume and will be shipped by the end of the re-broadcast of the anime in Japan. There's no word on when it will hit North America since it's stopped being distributed in January 2012.

Well. I always say this "its better to learn about something when it ends." Why? To avoid the hype and its better watching since I can watch the whole thing in fewer sittings. Now it is said to see any anime franchise end and I assume many will be sad after this.That's all I got.

Sentai Filmworks Licenses Tegami Bachi: Reverse Anime

 Sentai Filmworks announced on Thursday that they have acquired the license fore Tegami Bachi: Reverse animated series. Reverse is a sequel to the fantasy manga Tegami Bachi. The story focuses on a boy named Lag Seeing. He becomes a "letter bee" delivering messages throughout AmberGround, which is cast by eternal darkness. The anime will be available on DVD and other media outlets this year.

I've got nothing... Seriously nothing. The series is on Crunchyroll but its near the bottom (or middle whichever you prefer) of the shows page. I might give this one a look. Besides its not like I can overload on anime right? Right?

Read More

Persona 3 Movie & and Samurai Bride 1st Promo

Persona 3 the Movie '#1' to Open in 2013

On Saturday Aniplex posted on their website on the Persona movie. "Persona 3 Movie #1 2013 in theaters." There is also a teaser trailer for the film as well that ran at the end of Persona 4 The Animation: Factor of Hope.




I've never played any of the games but I am interested in the Persona 4 anime series. This simple teaser trailer however has the fans excited. Hopefully one of these days I can get my hand on one of these Persona games and see what the fuss is about.

Hyakka Ryōran Samurai Bride's 1st Promo Streamed

The promo video for Hyakka Ryoran Samurai Bride's promo is now streaming on the official webiste. Samurai Bride is the name of the second season of the show Samurai Girls. The cast and crew stays the same except for the composition, which is being done by Saturo Nishizono (Needless, Yamada's First Time). The studio ARMS is still producing however.




"Holy ish! Girls with samurai swords battling it out oh yea!" "Wait a minute is that catgirl in there, they're in maid outfits." "Its cool I can get with that got to have a daytime job right?" "Pantie shots, fan service, super big boobs." *slaps own face* So its one of these, huh? When the teaser first started I was impressed by the animation and thought I would be seeing some great action scenes with that. I wasn't wrong I was just surprised by the assets. I'm was just hoping for a pure action show with strong female characters, and good animation. Is that so hard to do? Maybe the action is at the forefront and all the pantie stuff is rare enough in the show but there for those who want fan service.

Read More

Next Naruto film in 2014

Naruto Movie 10 Announced for 2014

Saturday at the Jump Festa the Naruto staff announced a new Naruto film set for release in 2014. This will be the tenth movie in the Naruto franchise and will mark the 15th anniversary year as well. There's not much information right now but if you want to know more you have to get future additions of Shonen Jump magazine.

Naruto... Naruto... Naruto... I love the manga, not a fan of the anime. This is one of the cases where I prefer the manga over the anime. The movies on the other hand I will watch mostly because you can't read it in the manga and they feature better animation then the show does. I'm hoping this one is special because it will be in the time frame for the 15th anniversary. 

P.S. Thanks saiyanisland for having the only picture about this

Read More

Shonen Jump Theme Park & Live Action xxxholic photo!

Shonen Jump Magazine Gets Its Own Theme Park Next Summer

It was announced today by Namco Bandai Group that there will be theme park based on the weekly manga magazine Shonen Jump. The theme park will be placed on the third floor of the Sunshine City World Import Mart Building and will cover 1.52 acres. Namco will be the main operator of the park while Bandai will be offering expertise in toys, hobby goods, entertainment content, and amusement facilities. Floor plans have already been made public and it set to be done sometime in 2013.

"I wanna ride the DragonBallZ ride mommy!" That will be me when this theme park comes to fruition. I seriously can't wait for this and I might have a take a trip to Japan.


Live-Action xxxHOLiC Cast Photographed in Costume

The premium channel WOWOW has put a photo on their website (link here) with some of the cast posing. The photo shows the two main leads Anne who plays the witch Yuko and Shoto Sometani who plays Watanuki, the boy who helps Yuko. The show will premiere on February 24th on the network.

Uhhhhhh..... I've heard of this anime before but I never really had an interest in it but it was always recommended to me. With these anime shows getting these live action shows just doesn't make sense (to me at least).

 
     

Read More

One Piece Ad & 4th Yamato 2199 Promo Stream!

One Piece Film Z's 'Glorious Island' Prologue Previewed in Ad

A campaign for the One Piece prologue to Film Z called the Glorious Island has a campaign that will be running along side the anime in December and January. 

I just found this interesting. I am also envious because of the amount of advertising they're doing for this. If a North American distributor but this much effort into hyping up or marketing an anime then there could be possibly be more sales and demand.

4th Yamato 2199 Anime Film's Promo Streamed

The fourth Space Battleship Yamato 2199 trailer went up online a couple of days ago. The film covers episodes 11-14 of the remake Space Battleship Yamato. Its release date is January 12.



I can't believe I let this slip by me. I've heard of the original anime a long time ago, I just never got around to watching it. If this is the fourth movie then I got to play catch up. One more thing. Is it more or is this thing that happens all the time? When a series comes out and it ends then they make a movie(s) based on the same series but with a different take on it. I'm not all that new to anime but I will admit when there are things I don't understand or just don't get.

Read More

Jin Roh goes live action & Hand-to-Mouth by Cruncy

Kim Jee-woon Plans Live Action JIN ROH: THE WOLF BRIGADE

Jee Woon-Kim (The Last Stand, & I Saw the Devil) is in line to possibly direct a live action version of Jin Roh: The Wolf Brigade. The film has yet to be green-lit, and no word on who else will be added to production. The film takes place in alternate universe where the Nazi's won WWII and Japan becomes a military state. It was written by Mamoru Oshii who also worked Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence, and Patlabor.

Hmmmmm.... I really don't know what to think of this. One hand I'm applauding this as a good endeavor especially if Jee Woon-Kim became the director, but on the other hand I'm thinking "why make a live action movie if there already is a animated one?" I could understand if it was a 20+ episode season that could be condensed but it's already a movie. The only reason I can think of this being green-lit is because they could sell it to an western audience (no one takes cartoons as a serious story telling medium over here) after its Asia run. I could be wrong and the live-action version could be good. I say to wait and see. (We will be keeping you posted with this story just because I'm very interested).

Crunchyroll Streams Wooser's Hand-to-Mouth Life TV Anime

On Tuesday Crunchyroll announced that they will be streaming Wooser's Hand-to-Mouth Life TV anime series. Streaming will start December 11 and put up by 1:00 pm EST. The series is adapted from the manga with the same name by Yoshiki Usa and Tomoko Fujinoki. The 3D shorts center around Wooser, a interment mascot who belies people with its charming appearance. The series will be directed by Toyonori Yamada ,who is director of photography on Gurren Lagann. The anime will be produce by the studio Sanzigen, which has done many effects for other shows such as Gurren Lagann, and Dog Days.

It looks so cute! *slaps myself several times* Didn't I just do an article on cute things, damn it! The premise seems interesting a cute thing that tricks people. Well that happens all the time but we shall see where they take this. Except a first episode impression when this comes out. 
  

Read More

Street Fighter X MegaMan game & Pokemon Pokedex App

2 video game news items? It's about anime still don't worry. Yesh!

Capcom Offers Free Street Fighter x Mega Man Crossover Game

Saturday Capcom announced that they will release a new free video game Megaman X Street Fighter a free pc crossover game that puts Megaman against all the street fighters instead of robots. The game was created by "Singapore superfan" Seow Zong Hui, Capcom decided to backup the game later once it seeing some early code at EVO 2012 in July. This comes in just in time for the 25th anniversary of Megaman, and on the heels of the 25th anniversary of Street Fighter. 



Is it me or does Capcom really like crossovers? It's nice to see Capcom do these things even if it was made by another person not affiliated with them. The fact they backed up the guy, can really show that Capcom does want to its fanbase something good. My second question is though, why is it free? Surely they know that people would pay for this, not a lot of money but $2-$5 wouldn't be a bad price. It is a good gesture though. I have download this when it comes out December 17th.

Pokémon: official Pokédex app launches on iOS devices

The Pokemon Company has launched its new Pokedex app over in Europe and North America. It works for iPhones, iPads, and Android compatible devices. All 640 Pokemon are complied into, but its going to cost you 1.49 in pounds and $1.99 in the U.S. Additional packs are going to cost somewhere around $3-$5 extra. The Pokedex App contains all the basic information on every single pokemon where they live, their atttacks, their type, etc.

Is it bad that I know this is a complete waste of money and yet I want it? Probably but it would be cool as novelty for the older fans, and for younger ones they could follow the show with their pokedex. It doesn't really much else except that. 

Photo courtesy of iTunes- Pokedex app Download for Apple

Read More

New DBZ Movie footage!!!!

Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods Film's Latest Footage Aired

A morning television program called "Mezamashi Terebi" showed a clip from the new the movie Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods. The clip features the Z gang and a couple of new aliens into the mix. The film is set after the defeat of Majin Buu, but don't count it as a spin-off it's part of the DBZ timeline. Akira Toriyama is handling the story and design, and Masahiro Hosado is directing (DBZ episode director). The film has a release date of March 30. 




Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh!!! Sorry nostalgia moment. I can't believe I'm actually excited about this especially considering that I have a love/hate relationship with the show.  Worst part is that I didn't hear about this until now. I love Dragon Ball and GT was OK, but DBZ had me frustrated at the overly long talk scenes and cheering at the fight scenes. It's simple show that went on too long but I still watch it from time to time just because it was part of my childhood. It's nice to see a classic comeback even if there are people who truly hate this title. Now the only debate is should I fly over to Japan and see it when it comes out or wait until it gets over here?

Read More

New Robot Battle anime and Zettai Karen spin-off Preview

Robot Battle Anime Kakutō Jyūki Aragane's Promo Streamed

Sometime last week a new anime called Kakuto Jyuki Aragane was streamed on facebook and youtube. The plot centers around a boy who fights in a gasoline powered robot, in order to save his town's factory from going bankrupt. This is a joint project between Project Entertainment(Ozma) and  a the newcomer Wonder Creators.




Medabots! Not really but I've been hearing the comparison a lot. There is a lot that looks promising but I can also see the holes. Will these 3D fight scenes be epic or were they just too cheap to animate in 2D so they decided that 3D will be cheaper? Wonder Creators doesn't give me much ease either even if the starter of the company is an established producer. Who knows? There's no due date so it's going to be while for this one.

Zettai Karen Children's Hyōbu Anime Previewed in Video

A website for the spin-off Zettai Karen Children (Psychic Squad) called The Unlimited- Hyobu Kyosuke started streaming their promotional video for the anime. The video features Hyobu, an esper outlaw who was betrayed by humans long ago. The production will be handled by a different company called Manglobe, as well as the character design by Jun Takagi (Romeo X Juliet, Submarine 707R).




Well this is new. I've heard of Psychic Squad before just never held my interest enough to watch it fully but this has me curious. I just find it weird that they pretty much cleaned house in terms of production and character design. The only guess I can come up with is that they want this to as stand-alone as possible without relying on the audience seeing Psychic Squad beforehand. I have to check it out when it gets here.

Read More

Shonen Jump same day as Japan

Weekly Shonen Jump Alpha Shifts To Simultaneous Release With Japan In January

The online manga magazine Shonen Jump announced last week that they will release new manga in the west simultaneously with the release in Japan. This process will start in January. Viz Media, the largest North American publisher, distributor and  licensor reports that its weekly Shonen Jump Alpha magazine will be synchronized with the Japanese releases of manga. The reason for this change is to celebrate SJA one year anniversary.

“North American fans have been waiting for a long time for real-time publishing to synchronize with Japan, and it’s about to happen in WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP ALPHA,” says Alvin Lu, Executive Vice President, Publishing. “A robust VIZ Manga digital infrastructure, combined with our close relationship with WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP in Japan allows us to close the gap in release schedules. We look forward to fans continuing to look to WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP ALPHA for the latest hot new manga titles straight from Japan!” - The Fandom Post

It's about time! It was only a matter of time before they do this. I never thought it would be so soon. This is a good move by Viz Media, especially since its coming after Crunchyroll giving its premium members near simulcast with the broadcast in Japan. I shall reiterate this shows that the western audience is demanding foreign goods faster, and the way it's suppose to be seen. Hopefully they'll see some increase in membership or a sales increase. 

Read More