This week on Anime Update: news from Comic-con, a new Berserk trailer from Japan, and the recently opened Guinness World Record-breaking coaster at Japan’s Fuji-Q!
First up on this week’s update: Viz Media held a 25th anniversary party at Comic-con this weekend and had lots of announcements to share with fans. On top of the news recently shared at Anime Expo, Viz also unveiled their new and improved VizManga.com,which will now support more than just Apple digital content. In their official press release they discussed the following additions:
“With this new expansion of our existing digital platform, fans can browse and access from ANY computer or web-enabled device (Android, Blackberry, etc) the rapidly growing library of the most popular manga in the world on the VIZ Manga App for iOS devices, currently offering 40 series and over 300 volumes, including NARUTO, BLEACH, BLUE EXORCIST, VAMPIRE KNIGHT, and more! And, as before, registered users can view and access their purchased manga on VIZManga.com and through the VIZ Manga App, no matter which device or digital experience they prefer! To celebrate the launch of VIZManga.com, all Volume 1 manga titles will be 40% off through July 31st! The first chapters of all manga titles will also be available as a free preview!”
Next on this week’s update: An amazing new Berserk trailer has just appeared for the upcoming re-imagined series of animated films (originally, the manga was turned into an anime series in 1997). Part one of the upcoming films, Berserk Golden Age Arc 1: Egg of the Supreme Ruler, is set to premier in Japan in January 2012. This film series is aiming to more closely follow the story in the manga, and director Toshiyuki Kubooka is an excellent choice for the project having extensive experience in the anime and videogame world. He has contributed his many talents to Batman: Gotham Knight, Gunbuster, Giant Robo, several of the Lunar games, and Yamato 2520.
Berserk is a fantasy epic that follows the story of a young mercenary, Guts (Gattsu); a female soldier who has suffered a difficult past, Casca (Kyasuka); and the leader of mercenary group “Band of the Hawk,” Griffith (Grifisu). The story is set in medieval Europe and forces readers/viewers to question the true meaning of humanity, and the places that ruthlessness, compassion, and death take during a violent war.
Let’s hope these new films get picked up for U.S. distribution. So far they look to be quite promising, and the animation quality is stunning.
Last on this week’s update: Fuji-Q Highland in Japan has added another amazing roller coaster to their park – this time breaking the Guinness World Record for World’s Steepest Coaster with the addition of Takashiba. Recently opened on July 16th, Takashiba is 141 feet high with a vertical fall of 121 degrees. The coaster travels up to speeds of 100 mph:
Takashiba isn’t the first amazing and mind-bending coaster to be added to Fuji-Q. Roller coaster lovers around the world travel to Fuji-Q every year to check out their cutting edge rides. Click over here to their website and you’ll see video of some of the most intense roller coasters in the world.
I leave you this week with a Japanese classic I’ve been re-watching (and enjoying tremendously) – Takeshi’s Castle aka Most Extreme Elimination Challenge. It’s great to watch in the original Japanese or the humorously re-written, dubbed English version:
https://youtu.be/SdPWfFsrgf4