We are just having fun reviewing and discussing comic books, graphic novels, manga, anime/animation, music and movies that we have recently read, listened to or watched.
Another example of how anime and manga characters are being used in everyday life in Japan. Totalsoft, an insurance company in Japan, is using Moe characters on their new website. The site is primarily aimed at men in their 20’s and 30’s to teach them about insurance….What insurance is and the different types of insurance. The characters used were designed by Wataru Kikuchi.
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2011-07-19/insurance-explained-with-moe-characters
Bandai will begin selling a line of cosmetics with Lum-chan, from Rumiko Yatsura’s Urusei Uatsura, as the products spokesperson (image). The product will go on sale on July 29th and will have eyeliner for 1,260 yen ($16) and mascara for 1,575 yen ($20). This is something you can use for talking points with your young ladies that come into the library that are interested in anime and manga.
Thanks to ICv2 for providing a this teaser trailer for next Summer’s Batman: Dark Knight Rises. The movie is scheduled for release July 20, 2012.
ICv2 is reporting that Yen Press will be releasing a Anne Rice graphic novel. Interview with a Vampire: Claudia’s Story is the title of the upcoming graphic novel. It isn’t an adaptation of the novel, however it looks at the events of Interview with a Vampire from Claudia’s point of view. Scheduled release is in the Fall of 2012.
All Nippon Airways unveiled it’s newest jet paint design yesterday. The ceremony was held at Toyko’s Haneda International Airport. You can see an image of the jet above, which is a Pokemon jet “Peace Jet” where the company wants to express to their costumers and public “a world where the children’s futures are filled with smiles and peace”. It’s great to see when companies can have fun like this.
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2011-07-18/ana-unveils-pokemon-peace-jet-to-cheer-on-japan
AMC’s site has the new teaser trailer for the second season of The Walking Dead. You can view the trailer below. However, it is a little brutal, but that’s kind of what you expect from this type of show.
If you are going to Comic-Con this week you could attend the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund welcome party. Follow the link for all the information:
http://cbldf.org/homepage/sdcc-youre-inivited-to-cbldfs-25th-anniversary-comic-con-welcome-party/
Marvel’s site is announcing that they and the Army and Air Force Exchange Service will be giving away a free special Captain America comic to soldiers, that celebrates the soldiers in today’s Armed Forces. This special issue will be available in U.S. Exchange Services first and then will hit the foreign Exchange Services. The story centers around Captain America’s effect on his fellow soldiers and will also give readers a sneak peak of the upcoming Captain America: The First Avenger. The comic is written by William Harms and illustrated by Shawn Martinbrough.
http://marvel.com/news/story/16294/a_free_captain_america_comic_for_us_soldiers
Here are most of Bilbo Baggins’ dwarf companions that will be making the Quest of Erebor with him, in Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. I didn’t want to have to make multiple posts so I waited until I could put the majority in one post. When the last images are released I’ll post them as well. Thanks to ICv2 for the images.
Warner Bros. is currently going with Jaume Collet-Serra to director the live-action Akira. Collet-Serra is known for his movies Unknown, starring Liam Neeson, and Orphan. Thanks to ICv2 for this report.
