Kūden Noise no Himegimi Manga Changes Magazines and Has a New Title

Posted on by Lesley Aeschliman

The first 2019 issue of Kodansha’s Evening magazine has announced that Kei Toume is launching a “new” manga series in the magazine’s third issue on January 9, 2019. The magazine’s title is Kūden no Himegimi (Static Princess), and the advertisement features a character and plot summary that matches those of her earlier manga Kūden Noise no Himegimi (Static Noise Princess). However, the magazine did not specify whether the new serialization is a continuation or a remake of Kūden Noise no Himegimi.

Toume launched Kūden Noise no Himegimi in Gentosha’s Comic Birz magazine in July 2016, and Gentosha will publish the third compiled volume on January 24, 2019. Comic Birz ended serialization in June 2018.

Toume will also launch a manga tentatively titled Hōkago Cinema on Gentosha’s Comic Burst platform when it launches in January 2019.

Source: ANN

Cinedigm Acquires Streaming Services Viewster and Viewster Anime

Posted on by Lesley Aeschliman

Cinedigm has announced that it has agreed to acquire video streaming service Viewster and its subsidiary Viewster Anime. The company expects the acquisition to be finalized in January 2019.

Cinedigm will combine the offerings of Viewster and Viewster Anime with its own library of channels and content. The company will also take control of all of Viewster and Viewster Anime’s content, applications, and social assets. Cinedigm will handle ad sales in-house. Viewster and Viewster Anime will join Cinedigm’s Digital Networks Group, which includes networks such as Docudrama, CONtv, HALLYPOP, WHAM, Dove Channel, and COMBAT GO.

Viewster was founded in Zurich, Switzerland in 2007, and its current library includes more than 5,000 films and series. Cinedigm plans to make Viewster “a core part of its ad-based content strategy.”

Viewster Anime will continue as a standalone brand under Cinedigm. The service’s current anime lineup includes Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie, Jin-Roh – The Wolf Brigade, Fist of the North Star, and Mononoke. The service adds new content every week and offers programming in various languages.

Source: ANN

Aggretsuko Anime to Get a Christmas Episode on December 20, 2018

Posted on by Lesley Aeschliman

Netflix has announced that it will stream a Christmas episode for the Aggretsuko anime worldwide on December 20, 2018.

The service also notes that the episode features a punk cover of “Jingle Bells” by Tim Timebomb from Rancid. Rareko is once again directing and writing the episode at Fanworks.

Netflix describes the story of the “We Wish You a Metal Christmas” episode as:

While Retsuko desperately makes plans for Christmas Eve, her new obsession with seeking validation through social media spirals out of control.

Source: ANN

Mirai Nominated for Critic’s Choice Awards

Posted on by Lesley Aeschliman

The Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA) has announced its nominees for the 24th Annual Critics’ Choice Awards. Mamoru Hosoda and Studio Chizu’s Mirai film received a nomination in the Best Animated Feature category.

The other nominees include The Grinch, The Incredibles 2, Isle of Dogs, Ralph Breaks the Internet, and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. The winners will be announced at an awards gala on January 13, 2019.

The film is nominated in the Best Motion Picture – Animated category for the 76th Annual Golden Globes on January 6, 2019, and is also nominated in two categories for the 46th Annual Annie Awards on February 2, 2019.

GKIDS and Fathom Events began screening Mirai in 700 U.S. theaters on November 29, 2018, and the film also screened on December 5 and December 8, 2018. GKIDS also held its own theatrical release in the United States on November 30, 2018.

Source: ANN

VIZ Media’s Weekly Shonen Jump to Add Haikyu!!, Demon Slayer, and More to Its Simulpublishing Lineup

Posted on by Lesley Aeschliman

Andy Nakani, Editor in Chief of VIZ Media’s Weekly Shonen Jump, has announced that the new English Shonen Jump service is adding the following Weekly Shonen Jump titles for simultaneous publication with Japan:

  • Haikyu!!
  • Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
  • Chainsaw Man
  • ne0;lation
  • Gokutei Higuma (tentative title)
  • act-age
  • Jujutsu Kaisen!!

In addition, Nakani confirmed that the company will continue to simultaneously publish all of the series that it is currently serializing from Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump, Jump SQ., and V Jump, bringing its total number of simultaneously published series to 25.

Nakani also announced that new chapters of Weekly Shonen Jump manga will debut at 3:00 p.m. EST on Sundays, 22 hours earlier than the digital English edition of the magazine’s current release time on Mondays. Issues normally debut on Mondays Japan time, which is still Sunday on North American time. (The combined fourth and fifth issue will debut on a Saturday in Japan, so VIZ Media will release the chapters on Friday, December 21, 2018.)

The final issue of the digital magazine debuted on December 10, 2018.

Source: ANN

GKIDS and Shout! Factory Schedule a Blu-Ray/DVD Combo Pack Release for the Perfect Blue Anime Film

Posted on by Lesley Aeschliman

GKIDS and Shout! Factory have announced that they will release Satoshi Kon’s Perfect Blue anime film as a Blu-ray Disc/DVD combo pack on March 26, 2019. The release will include a new digital remastered version of the film along with the original SD version. It will be the first North American Blu-ray release for the film.

Other special features include a “Lectures by Satoshi Kon” featurette, an “Into the Blue” interviews featurette, an “Angel of Your Heart” recording session, and an English version of “Angel of Your Heart.”

GKIDS and Fathom Events screened Perfect Blue in 500 U.S. theaters for two days in September 2018. The screenings earned US$420,881 at the box office.

Source: ANN

VIZ Media Releases the Shojo Manga Series Kakuriyo: Bed & Breakfast for Spirits

Posted on by Lesley Aeschliman

VIZ Media announces the release of Kakuriyo: Bed & Breakfast for Spirits on January 1, 2019.

Kakuriyo: Bed & Breakfast for Spirits was illustrated by Waco Ioka and features character designs by Laruha. The series, which is based on a collection of popular Japanese light novels by Midori Yuma, is rated “T” for Teens and will be published in print under VIZ Media’s Shojo Beat imprint with an MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN. The series is also available digitally for $6.99 via viz.com and the VIZ Manga App, as well as from the NOOK, Kobo, Kindle, iBooks, comiXology, and Google Play stores. Future volumes of Kakuriyo: Bed & Breakfast for Spirits will be published on a quarterly basis.

In the series, Aoi Tsubaki inherited her grandfather’s ability to see spirits – and his massive debt to them. Now she’s been kidnapped and taken to Kakuriyo, the spirit world, to make good on his bill. Her options: marry the head of the inn her grandfather trashed or get eaten by demons. But Aoi isn’t the type to let spirits push her around, and she’s determined to redeem her grandfather’s IOU on her own terms.

“The stakes are high for Aoi Tsubaki in Kakuriyo: Bed & Breakfast for Spirits as she attempts to pay off her grandfather’s massive debt while avoiding being consumed by demons or giving into the pressure of marrying one of them,” says Pancha Diaz, Editor. “We look forward readers discovering how this determined and resourceful young woman rolls up her sleeves and saves herself with plenty of surprises for her captors at every turn.”