This weekend, a massive Anime Film Festival was hosted over at the Gateway Megaplex as a part of Salt Lake City’s “FanX!”

The first thing that stood out to me was that almost all of the events’ staff appeared in full, Anime-themed cosplay, and they were happy to be there talking with attendees and sharing their passion with the rest of the fan community.

As soon as I got to the theater, I noticed that everything was presented in glorious subs – meaning everything shown was in its original, subtitled from. As I explained in a previous article, Anime fans have kind of a mixed history with Dubbed Anime from companies changing and sometimes outright removing large parts because they thought American audiences wouldn’t like or understand it… (Looking at you “4Kids”.)

I also noticed the films had a bit of grain to them. Talking with event organizer Hraefn Wulfson later that night revealed that he had decided to bring in 38mm film projectors to show the movies in the same way they were originally shown in the theaters. This amazed me! I got to see Studio Ghibli films the way they here originally meant to be seen off of the same prints that went through the theaters. Nothing “FanX” had to offer compared to this experience for me!

There were only a couple minor flaws at this event. One: I had wanted to see a little more variety in the movies – most of what I got to see were Studio Ghibli, or Ghibli-like. Two: and I didn’t know about this until the last day… The advertisement for this event was negligible at best. If I had been sent a press release ahead of time, I would have arrived completely prepared to toss my press pass into the rafters because I would have had no reason to leave!

Overall, the Anime Film Festival was a fantastic experience that I deeply hope I will get to repeat at the next “FanX!”

Last night Cartoon Network announced during the Toonami block that they will start airing Attack on Titan, on 5/3/14. The number of people shocked by this should be 0%… Attack on Titan, has become one of the biggest things to happen in Anime in years and Funimation just finished their dub for the show. Also Toonami has become more popular gaining high viewer rates as well as trending on Twitter every Saturday night.

Call it the perfect storm of this show will air! The only question was when…

The new Toonami lineup will be starting with Attack on Titan, and Space Dandy moving to the time slot behind it. Now all we need is Kill la Kill, and all of this years major shows will be on TV again, make it happen C.N.

Viz Media’s Anime Streaming service Neon Alley, will now be changing itself to a free to stream platform hosted on Hulu and is claiming that they’ll now have “simulcast world premieres”.

I’ve got to say I’m a little impressed… This is actually what Anime fans want.

Since the dawn of high speed internet, or really the dawn of rewritable video tape Anime has been a pirate heavy industry where people often time favor fan subs over Dubs and DVD releases. Why? Well fast and free for one. Why wait for a company to re-dub or re-sub something that has been out in Japan for sometimes years before we can have the option to pay $26.00 for a three to four episode DVD?

Next, Anime Dubs have a history with the collective fan base, and not a good one… Dubbing company’s like 4Kids Entertainment, long dead as they are, are still considered the boogeymen of Anime fans everywhere. Changing what a character says or heavily editing a show to make it more “Americanized” is something that never has been, or never really will be tolerated.

But free streaming and simulcasts along with the option to chose from both subs and dubs, You have me there. I think this is what we’ve wanted all along. I really hope this works out well and is successful.

San Francisco, CA, March 31, 2014 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest publisher, distributor and licensor of manga and anime in North America, is officially relaunching NeonAlley.com April 1^st as the new home and consolidated online destination for FREE streaming anime content in the U.S. The new NeonAlley.com will deliver the hottest in subbed and dubbed digital series, simulcast world premieres, exclusive on-demand access, and a massive legacy catalog of new as well as classic favorites (in HD when available).

 

The new Neon Alley streaming destination will be available on demand to U.S.-based fans for FREE at NeonAlley.com. It will also be available anytime, anywhere across many different devices, including PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Roku, Chromecast, and a variety of other mobile devices through the subscription-based Hulu Plus Video-On-Demand service. Additional details on Hulu Plus-enabled devices can be found at http://www.hulu.com/plus/devices. For a limited time, fans who visit NeonAlley.com can receive a free 2-week trial to Hulu Plus – please check out the site for details.

 

“VIZ Media begins a new era for fans across the U.S. as we present the all new free Neon Alley online destination, focused on delivering the best in compelling digital anime content,” says Brian Ige, VIZ Media Vice President of Animation. “Supported by our media partner Hulu, Neon Alley offers a variety of rich programming combined with the ease and flexibility of on-demand access, with web and mobile device interoperability across all major platforms. We look forward to delighting new and veteran fans alike with even more exciting new programming announcements in coming months!”

 

VIZ Media invites anime fans to join the Neon Alley launch celebration with a special “Raven’s Watch and Win” contest running from April 1^st to April 6^th.  Sign up for a FREE NeonAlley.com membership (current members are also eligible) and watch each day’s “Raven’s Pick of the Day” episode. Just leave a comment after the show ends and be automatically entered to win fun anime prizes that include Neon Alley gift bags, DVDs, assorted collectables and other premiums. The previous day’s winners will be announced each day. For full details and rules, please visit: viz.com/na_sweepstakes.

 

Each month, fans can look forward to limited time, specially curated Neon Alley selections of full-length anime feature films, and April kicks off with an exciting double feature. BERSERK: THE GOLDEN AGE ARC 1 – THE EGG OF THE KING and BERSERK: THE GOLDEN AGE ARC 2 – THE BATTLE FOR DOLDREY will be available on Sunday, April 6^th for one-week-only, until April 12^th, presented with easy-to-use selections for dubbed and/or subbed dialogue options.

 

Neon Alley will host over 1,200 subtitled and dubbed episodes of smash and fan-favorite shows, including BLEACH, BLUE EXORICIST, RANMA ½, MAGI, VAMPIRE KNIGHT, with new episodes added each week. Don’t miss the Neon Alley subtitled debut of GARGANTIA ON THE VERDUROUS PLANET on April 15^th. The premiere of the dubbed version of the sci-fi action adventure anime will follow later in the year. April is also a great time to watch the subtitled versions of BLOOD LAD and COPELLION in preparation for the forthcoming dub episode debuts. The new Neon Alley will also bring fans entire seasons of dubbed series on-demand at the same time – perfect for marathoning at your leisure – starting with the April 1^st launch of Season One of both BLEACH and INUYASHA, with subbed options available as well.

It’s as if though millions of Fangirls cried out in joy, and were suddenly silent… for two seconds before they squealed some more!

Yesterday Toei Animation posted a new image on sailormoon-official.com with the text…

The Legendary series that has captured the hearts of girls everywhere “pretty guardian Sailor Moon” is finally back after 20 years! It will be streamed worldwide simultaneously on *NicoNico Douga Beginning July 2014!

Toei has also started a count down campaign with a circling moon and the text “eight days left…” I’m going to assume this counts down to the official and full reveal. This conveniently coincides with next weekend’s inaugural AnimeJapan trade show, hint hint…

Love it or hate it get ready, Sailor Moon is most likely going to dominate the Anime scene for the next year or two, again…

* NicoNico Douga, is a Japanese streaming website.

Toonami, Cartoon Network’s late night Anime TV block, that worked its way back onto the air mostly through social media and long term fan support, is creating a new weekly mini series that fits in between airing Anime episodes and commercial breaks coming in 2015.

This is the sequel to the original mini series that aired in 2000, “The Intruder”, that was part of a unique yearly event called the “Total Immersion Event” where T.O.M. and Sara, the robot hosts of Toonami, fought an unknown alien intruder that came aboard their spaceship. The event later let fans help redesign the then damaged ship by using an 800 number or voting on the Toonami website where they could also enter to win a free trip to Japan.

The new mini series seems similar to the one that came before it but there is a bit of a twist this time. Toonami is asking viewers this weekend to use Twitter, Facebook and any social media platform they have available to them to post about the event, or Toonami in general with the hashtag #intruder2, most likely to try and get more funding for the project.

SPECIAL TOONAMI ANNOUNCEMENT!

On September 8th, 2000, TOM encountered a creature that changed the face of Toonami. In 2015 (date tbd), TOM and Sara will face that creature again.

Toonami is happy to announce THE INTRUDER: PART 2! Why are we telling you about this so early? Simple! WE NEED YOUR HELP. This weekend, we need every Toonami faithful to Tweet, FB post, Instagram, etc  the hashtag, “#intruder2.” The level of interest you guys show will determine how BIG the story we get to tell is. This adventure is in YOUR HANDS. Let us know if you’re excited for THE INTRUDER: PART 2 by posting about it, talking about it, and making your excitement known to the world! TOM and Sara are about to have their greatest adventure yet… and we promise, Toonami will not be the same.

DUN DUNNNNNN

Love, The Toonami Crew.

 

This at first seemed like a self promotion gimmick, but with the recent history behind Toonami’s TV renewal this most likely is not the case.

If I had to take a guess as to the current state of Toonami, it’s likely that the C.N./Adult Swim, executives are a little confused as to why an Anime block from the 90’s that reentered TV mostly by showing reruns and recycled 3D animations is doing so well in a 11:00 pm. time slot. This must be a little odd for them to say the least… I’m willing to bet this is their way of testing the waters and seeing just how much money they’re willing to invest in future projects involving Toonami over the next year or so.

With that said, I’ve never been more excited to see a Toonami event in my life, and like most childhood fans of the programming block I’ve seen most of them! It should be interesting to see just what they come up with this time now that the Toonami has more of an “Adult” focus, as opposed to its more child friendly roots.

Original Intruder (2000)

Gax-  Toonami faithful, and apparently sometimes Toonami historian… my job is weird.

Black Lagoon will be hitting the Toonami air waves on Cartoon Network March 22nd replacing Soul Eater after the airing of its final episode.

I’m really excited to see Black Lagoon coming to the block it’s an awesome little action Anime that’s all about modern day pirates!

So Toonami has two shows about Ninjas and two shows about Pirates now, anyone noticing a trend?

Well here we have it folks, the biggest premiere of the Anime season! Here’s what Miss Mecha and I think… spoilers, we’re both hardcore Shinichirō Watanabe fans.

Miss Mecha Zero – I am REALLY excited. It looks like Space Dandy is about to break into multiple dimension and time/space theory. Thankfully, the show is a full-on satire with lots of fun references to other sci fi universes (such as a monkey general and ship that clearly alludes to Planet of the Apes and a referenced alien that is definitely from the side of a Galaga cabinet!).

Admittedly, I didn’t find a whole lot of humor around the ‘Hooters-like’ themed restaurant, but at least they had the sense to mock the concept and fan service in general. Once they had added “Meow” and set off in search of aliens, though, I was sold. The show kicked into high gear and I didn’t want the episode to end! Ok, so maybe I’m a little too excited considering it’s just the first episode, but given that most anime start on an introduction-heavy rant I’m glad to see this didn’t follow the formula.

Gaxbot – I loved the episode! Back when the first trailer hit I posted about how they made an Anime just for me and that seems to still be true. And let’s not forget I’m an asshole critic who’s impossible to please.

The first thing that stands out to me other than the top quality TV animation is how tight the timing on the humor is. Your mileage may vary but environment driven jokes, fourth wall breaking and overconfident dumb people always get a laugh out of me. Most of the jokes for the episode revolve around title character himself Dandy, who’s a first class moron that thinks he’s hot stuff but lacks any skill or brain power to get the job done. I like to think of him as a drunken nineteen year old in a Spike Spiegel cosplay at an Anime convention trying to impress all the lady’s, I assure you both are fun to watch. Can’t wait to see what next week brings.

There you have it kids, stay dandy!

The Youtube Station Nacho Punch wanted to know what “Star Wars” would look like as a cheesy ’80s anime and they gave it to us.

True, it fails to take into account some of the greatest anime of the 80s that wasn’t like this at all, Robotech, but we can imagine what Star Wars would be like in that vein simply by watching The Clone Wars.

My favorite part of this was Vader inexplicably turning into a scorpion.

“Since Man first looked up at the stars, he has dreamed of faraway worlds, imagined encountering alien beings, and then capturing them for money.” 

Toonami is bringing another heavy hitter to their lineup after what many would say has been a bit of a slow Fall Season for anime fans. Space Dandy, coming to us from the creators of Cowboy Bebop and Fullmetal Alchemist (including director Shinichiro Watanabe himself), promises to be an eclectic jump around the galaxies as our anti-hero hunts exotic, alien monsters. 

Dandy is accompanied by a less-than-intelligent cat alien named “Meow” and what will clearly be a character-crippling weakness around a pursuit for…”boobies.” *Sigh* I have no idea what to think other than maybe they’re finally taking a stab at making fan service into satire? One can only hope. It might be nice to see traditional fan service concepts get poked and prodded for once. That peculiar obsession aside, I’m actually looking forward to the show quite a bit and am especially looking forward to the high-octane, music-infused action that is sure to be a staple of the series given Watanabe’s involvement. 

 I highly recommend checking Space Dandy out on your local Cartoon Network channel (and I’ll be sure to check back in with my thoughts after I’ve had a chance to digest an episode or two). The first episode is set to air tonight at 11:30 PM (EST/PST). 

Yesterday on the Toonami Tumblr feed it was announced that Space Dandy (by the creator of Cowboy Bebop, Shinichirō Watanabe) will be airing on Toonami and will also be premiering in the U.S. before it premiers in Japan. Who knows what kind of evil black witchcraft Turner Broadcasting pulled out of their ass to get this to happen but I love it!

Take that Japan, this time you have to pirate from us the good old U.S. of A. To an get Anime before it airs! Turnabout is fairest of all plays Japan, the fairest of all plays…

BIG HONKIN’ TOONAMI ANNOUNCEMENT!

Hey everybody! Just wanted to drop you all a line and announce a couple pieces of Toonami news.

First, we are proud to announce that Toonami will be WORLD PREMIERING the new series from Shinichiro Watanabe (Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo) and Studio BONES (FMA, Soul Eater, many more), SPACE DANDY! SPACE DANDY is a brand new series that will be premiering in the U.S. BEFORE it premieres in Japan (yep, you read that right)! Details on that to follow soon.

Oh, and when will it premiere? Sooner than you think- This January, at 11:30 PM!

“Did I just read 11:30?”

Yep, you read that right. Space Dandy will kick off an expanded 6-1/2 HOUR TOONAMI broadcast every Saturday. Toonami Faithful, we got our extra half hour!

Oh, you’re STILL not satisfied? Fine. We have some other great news that will be coming in the next few weeks, but until then we’ll drop one more little tidbit: In December, Toonami will take a break from our regular schedule and have a bit of holiday fun, with three weeks in a row of a movie special to kick off the block! What movies, you ask? Well, you’ll have to wait a bit on that. 🙂

Finally- if you have more questions about all this, GOOD- ask them here! We’ll be doing our monthly Toonami Q&A this Sunday from 11am et, to whenever we hit the tumblr post limit! Remember, your question could end up on our monthly on-air Tumblr Q&A session with Tom and Sara.

WHEW- okay. Keep your eyes locked right here over the next few weeks for more details on all of this, as well as some other VERY exciting developments we can’t talk about yet. And in the mean time, do make sure you check us out on November 2nd, when we’ll be airing some fun little surprises in the daylight savings hour (2am)!

WE WILL NEVER STOP

Love, the Toonami Crew.

Trailer