Akemi's Anime Blog

Notes and musings about what we're currently watching, as well as goings-on in Japan. Check it out.

Real-life Ponyo Village Saves Bay From Destruction

10/01/2009

News from Japan: Tomo no Ura, the town used as a basis for Ponyo, has won a lawsuit to stop Hiroshima prefecture from filling in part of the bay to build a parking lot. ...
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Two Symbolic Takes on WWII

09/29/2009

The cracked mini-history-lesson-comedy Hetalia Axis Powers and Valkyria Chronicles take such opposite angles on retelling WWII it's hard to believe they're based on the same actual event. ...
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What's New At The Site

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Nov. 1, 2009

Two double reviews: Lengthy discussions of the spectacular Code Geass and its mostly-disappointing sequel R2, plus the disturbing Bludgeoning Angel Dokuro-chan and its not-so-disappointing sequel. Also another review from reader Chainclaw, of Steamboy.

Jun. 9, 2009

New reader review from deep in the backlog of Ninja Scroll: The Series by longtime contributor Chainclaw, the first of several.

Jun. 1, 2009

New official reviews of the fun Allison and Lillia, season 1 and season 2, and the hilarious Kyouran Kazoku Nikki.

Apr. 4, 2009

New official review of Dennou Coil.

Mar. 29, 2009

New official review of Popotan and a reader review of Batman: Gotham Knight by longtime contributor Wolfwood.

Mar. 21, 2009

New official review of Shadow Star Narutaru and a reader review of Eureka Seven by Jared Prewitt. More of both to follow.

Feb. 22, 2009

Though it's been up for a few days already, we're going to give the blog thing a shot, with commentary on what we're currently watching. This isn't in place of any reviews; rather, it's making my internal notes public in the hopes some might find them interesting, plus a few side bits of commentary that didn't fit anywhere else on the site. We're also going to try and add bits of Akemi's commentary on interesting goings on in Japan, if her schedule permits. Also, since the blog is more about process than product, it makes more sense to post details with what's going on at the site there rather than here; the news feed will, thus, return to what it was in the old days, more of a brief list of changes. The blog is linked from the home page or available at blog.animeworld.com; feel free to comment if you love or hate the idea--it's a work in progress.

And on that note, two new reviews today, both of rather goofy comedies: The crazy, funny Akahori Gedou Hour Rabuge and the weak Itsudatte My Santa. Also fixed the review search, which was somewhat broken.

Jan. 1, 2009

Welcome to 2009: today we celebrate AAW's tenth birthday. '08 was a rather quiet year here, and we did hope to have something a little more exciting ready for an anniversary announcement, but it's not ready yet, so oh well. Instead, just a thank you to all of the 10 million people who've visited AAW over the past decade, and a wish of a good 2009 to all.

Aug 16, 2008

New reviews! First another unexpectedly good Geneon comedy, Dokkoida?!. Second the obscure action-western Early Reins.

And third, our first two reviews to include Blu-ray info: Yukikaze and SOS Tokyo Metro Explorers: The Next. We figured that, since the silly next-gen format wars finally ended it was time to get on the boat, in particular reviews of the ridiculously expensive not-quite-imports from Bandai's Honneamise label, like these two, to help you decide if it's really worth quadruple the price of the DVD for a high def version.

More stuff and reader reviews to follow in the near future.

June 5, 2008

New review today of one of the funniest things the editorial "we" have seen recently, Daphne in the Brilliant Blue. The review actually isn't quite done, but it turns out RightStuf is running a clearance sale on a bunch of Geneon DVDs, among which is Daphne for a paltry $5 a disc, so we wanted to spread the word while the gettin's cheap.

Also at work on plenty of other stuff, but we'll wait until it's more finished to talk it up.

Archive of old "what's new" things.

Industry News

News Provided by Anime News Network

Gintama's 2010 Anime Movie Teaser Streamed

2009-11-07 at 18:16:50
Gintama: Shinyaku Benizakura-Hen to open in Japan next spring Full Article at ANN

Ghost in the Shell: SAC to Spawn 2 New Manga in Japan

2009-11-07 at 16:35:27
Masayuki Yamamoto's Tachikoma na Hibi, Yu Kinutani's Ghost in the Shell: SAC Full Article at ANN

Oshii's Musashi Holds U.S. Premiere in San Francisco

2009-11-07 at 11:13:54
Film penned by Ghost in the Shell's Mamoru Oshii at int'l animation fest this month Full Article at ANN

Mari Okazaki Ends Suppli Romance Manga in Japan

2009-11-07 at 10:45:03
Side story based on Tokyopop's workplace romance to launch in January Full Article at ANN

Nikkei: Ishinomori Work to Get Hollywood Film in 2012 (Updated)

2009-11-06 at 19:08:24
Shotaro Ishinomori created Kamen Rider, Cyborg 009, Harmagedon, The Skull Man Full Article at ANN

Baby & Me's Ragawa to Launch Mashiro no Oto Manga

2009-11-06 at 16:11:47
Akachan to Boku creator Marimo Ragawa's 1st series in shōnen magazine Full Article at ANN

Former ADV Dubbing Studio Voices Halo Legends Project

2009-11-06 at 14:06:37
Seraphim Studios produces English soundtrack for Japanese-animated anthology Full Article at ANN

U.S. Cartoon Network Puts Bakugan on Saturday Nights

2009-11-06 at 10:08:14
Return of anime to regular early weekend evening slot after Toonami's end Full Article at ANN

New York Times Manga Best Seller List, October 25-31

2009-11-06 at 09:25:41
New Negima, Naruto, 2 new Tsubasa books, new xxxHOLiC, new Maximum Ride, Soul Eater, Death Note novel, Rosario, Yu-Gi-Oh R Full Article at ANN

Yoshitaka Amano's N.Y. Salad Gets 3D Film Green-Lit

2009-11-06 at 08:54:36
Final Fantasy/Vampire Hunter D artist depicts lives of veggies in N.Y. kitchen Full Article at ANN