Anime News

SEGA of America, Inc. and SEGA Europe Ltd. today on July 6, 2007 that Bleach: Shattered Blade will be available on the Wii and Bleach: The Blade of Fate on the Nintendo DS. Based on the hit animated series, Bleach offers relentless action and dazzling swordplay with crisp, highly-stylized graphics that deliver an authentic anime experience.  Bleach: Shattered Blade on the Wii and Bleach: The Blade of Fate on the Nintendo DS is slated for release in fall 2007, just in time for the beginning of the highly-anticipated second season on Cartoon Network.

Is anime more popular than sex? Well, if you go according to the latest Wikipedia search results during the month of April 2007. It is. Anime search terms came at 26% of all searches, second only to general research search terms. Read this article at Anime Insider for more details, it’s cleverly entitled Anime is 10% Better Than Sex.

The website for the second Bleach movie has been launched.  The scheduled release date is December of 2007 in Japan.

More Gunslinger Girl anime is likely on the horizon as Marvelous Entertainment, producers of the first series, adds funding for the project in its 2006-2007 budget. The first anime series spanned only thirteen episodes despite having plenty of manga material for more stories. Part of the reason might have been that each episode cost 13 million yen to produce. Hopefully, the producers will learn to be more conservative this time around.

Sunrise has announced a new Gundam anime series called Mobile Suit Gunadam 00.  The new show will premiere in October of 2007 and takes place in 2307AD.  Fans of the Gundam universe will know that this is different from the calender year which previous Gundam series have taken place, including the recent Gundam Seed series.  A short trailer is available at the official website.

A sneak teaser trailer on the newest installment of Appleseed series.  A short trailer in currently available at the website with some amazing CG animation.

There’s a new Suzumiya Haruhi page up, not sure if it’s official or not because the design is pretty bare bones.  There’s some video and also a poll where you can vote for which voice actor to provide the english dubbing for The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi characters.  Right now, it’s for Mikuru Asahina.

IGN is promoting Coyote Ragtime Show by hosting episode 1 for free on its website.  Coyote Ragtime Show has been licensed by ADV for North American DVD release beginning sometime in early 2007.

Saint October is a neo-gothic themed anime starring three girls who solve mysteries and combat evil. Looks like Rozen Maiden with guns and swords. Apparently the gothic lolita style is still popular in Japan. Animation is by Studio Comet, the same people who did the School Rumble anime. Airs in 2007.

Japanese official site

Rumors of a second series for Higurashi No Naku Koro Ni have been confirmed in magazine advertisements in Japanese manga magazines.

Source: Anime News Service