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.
The CLAMP Festival 2011 Tokyo will be held on September 24 at Tokyo’s Ajinomoto Stadium. Tickets go on sale on August 27, and with your ticket of 7,350 yen or roughly $91.00 you will get an original manga booklet by CLAMP. If you know of any of your patrons that are planning a trip to Tokyo during this time you might let them know of this event.
Japan is at it again by using manga style drawings to represent Articles of the Japanese Constitution. Yuko Morita is a lawyer in the Daini Tokyo Bar Association and uses the pen name Aka-Neko to write and draw manga. Recent she and the publisher PHP Kenkyusha has released Constitution Girls – Nihon-Koku Kenpo, which depicts each Article of the Japanese Constitution as moe girls (See above).
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2011-06-29/constitution-girls-book-turns-law-into-moe-girls
The Tokyo Big Sight Exhibition Center commissioned seven creators to draw manga style representations of Tokyo neighborhoods. The end result is pictured above. The images above along with others other general images made to represent the Center will have life size versions at the Japan Expo in Paris from June 30 – July 3. At the Expo you will be able to take pictures with the characters and write messages of support back to the communities still recovering from the March Earthquake. The images above counter-clockwise are: Shiro Asakusa – You Higuri; Ruri Akihabara – Shunsaku Tomose; Reia Genza – Akira Hiyoshimaru; Kyosuke Shinjuku – Katsuki Kuzuya; Azusa Daiba – Toko Hinamatsuri; Mio Shibuya – Reine Hibiki; and Souta Ikebukuro – Kanan Asuka.
It is being reported that James Mangold, the director of 3:10 to Yuma and Knight and Day has been tapped by 20th Century Fox to direct the next Wolverine movie. Hugh Jackman will be back in the title role of the film, currently titled The Wolverine. The screenplay is currently being written by Christopher McQuarrie is slated to begin filming this Fall in Japan. Jump over for a brief article below.
Mickey recently gifted Logan with some Japanese Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh Cards. This is how it goes when you follow the progression of pictures. Logan first sees that he has some new packages of cards from Mickey. Next Logan realizes that they are from Japan! And finally third he appreciates what he is holding in his hands. Kudos to Mickey for getting these for Logan, as you can tell they were a smash hit!
Anime News Network has an article that will be of interest to libraries that purchase manga. Japan is experiencing a paper and ink shortage because of the earthquake and tsunami. Therefore, many manga, newspapers, and magazines are being delayed. This will of course effect the manga industry in translating new material to the international market. Some of your libraries titles might be delayed because of this, but tell your patrons to be patient and understanding (which most will be) of what has happened in Japan. Link below to the full article.
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2011-03-28/manga-creator-ayano-yamane/not-enough-paper-ink
Anime News Networks site has posted a video from Youtube featuring several Japanese voice actors. These actors lended their talent in a performance to help boost the moral of all of Japan during this time of crisis. Below is the link to see who all took part in the performance and you can see the video below. It takes a little bit of time for the video to download so please be patient.
The following songs are from Anime News Networks’s site that were issued by Sphere and Yoko Kanno and posted on YubTube, for the Earthquake and Tsunami victims. Follow the links below to the actual article as well as audio to listen to the songs or listen to them below.
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2011-03-14/sphere-milky-holmes-support-quake-victims-in-words-song
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2011-03-13/yoko-kanno-posts-song-to-support-quake-victims
I just wanted to let our brothers and sisters in Japan know that we are thinking about them with the recent earthquake and Tsunami. We hope all of your loved ones are safe and well. I also want to extend this to all other countries that this is effecting.