Ah, I remember it like it was only yesterday.

Initiate dreamy recollection. (Possibly in black and white, because why not.)

Getting off the school bus and running home as fast as we could, dumping our stuff in a pile by the front door and plopping down in front of the television. Toonami was on Cartoon Network, and Dragon Ball Z was bringing the late 90’s anime awesomeness. Going Super Saiyan on my younger siblings and getting yelled at by my parents, ah yes, those were the days…

Whoa, okay. No more nostalgic flashbacks, I promise. Let’s talk about that DBZ movie! For those of you who were out of the loop, or maybe training in a hyperbolic time chamber or something, Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection ‘F’ got a limited theatrical release here in the States. Funimation handled the English dub and distribution for North America, with screenings initially planned from August 4th to the 12th, but with an encore run extended through the 17th in some locations.

This time around, arguably the most iconic villain in the franchise is resurrected with the help of the Dragon Balls and some fancy regeneration tech. Frieza is back!

Warning: Spoilers Ahead

I must say, the depiction of Earth’s hell is truly chilling. The movie opens on Frieza being tormented by adorable creatures of unspeakable cuteness in a world that is just so… pleasant… Oh, I shudder thinking about it!

Lucky for Frieza, former lieutenant Sorbet is bent on returning the Frieza Force to its former glory, and he starts by reviving its former leader. I thought it was a little odd that Shenron couldn’t bring fully restore Frieza, but just go with it.

At this point, the anticipation was building and the tension was palpable. The build-up for the epic showdown is the bread and butter of the franchise. Frieza in a regeneration chamber with Maximum the Hormone’s “F” rocking in the background. (Any Death Note fans in the house?) I couldn’t have been the only one head-banging in the theater.

There were a ton of guest appearances from characters throughout the DBZ universe here. Almost to the point where it felt like they were just checking boxes of appearing characters. Over the years the cast of characters has grown absolutely immense, so it’s understandably difficult to choose cameos that would benefit the story and who would be superfluous. That is except for Android 18, because I would have been SO disappointed if she wasn’t in the movie. What 18 and I had was special. Um, I mean. Never mind. No, I don’t want to talk about it.

I really appreciate the fact that the characters felt genuine to the way I remember them. Goku, lighthearted and merciful to a fault. Vegeta, the lovable a-hole. The two Saiyans bickering over who’s turn it was to punch Frieza in the face. And there is plenty of face-punching to be had, it is a DBZ movie after all, but for me that wasn’t the real draw. Where this movie really shines is in capturing the essence of those characters we came to know and love on that old standard-definition TV screen.

“But Jory,” you say, “I don’t have the nostalgic feelz for DBZ. Will I still enjoy this movie?”

I’d say, most emphatically, definitely, maybe. Even if you’ve never seen an episode of Dragon Ball Z, there’s still plenty of good laughs, fast-hitting action, and sufficient character explanation to enable anyone to understand what’s going on and enjoy the ride. Not that you’ve ever needed a Ph.D to understand what’s going on in the Dragon Ball universe.

My wife was quick to point out that the ending felt anticlimactic and abrupt. As we’ve seen before so many times, most of the top tier Z fighters and villains have destroyed a planet or two when fighting, but the way that Whis so casually rewound time didn’t feel that satisfying. But this isn’t her review. And what does she know anyway? She married me, so clearly her decision-making is questionable at best. (Love you hun.)

The “limited release” strategy by Funimation was a very conservative move. I’m honestly not surprised that the release was extended in some theaters. The figures floating around say the film brought in around $8 million in the US. That places it near the bottom of the top ten highest-grossing anime films to date, but when compared to any of the Pokémon movies it doesn’t quite match up. However, it is still impressive when you take into account the relatively small number of theaters that screened the film.

What did you think? Was it a light-hearted dip into the nostalgia pool that was easily forgotten? Did it reignite that love for the Z fighters that you had long ago? Or are you new to the genre and cultivating your new-found passion for animated martial arts (and face punching)?

Tell us! We want to know!

The post Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection ‘F’ Goes Super Saiyan God at the Box Office appeared first on Geek News Network.

FUNimation® Entertainment has announced theater dates in the U.S. & Canada for the widely anticipated Attack on Titan Live Action movies!

Attack on Titan Part 1 hits theaters beginning September 30th with Part 2 arriving in theaters on October 20th. This means you wont have to wait long between installments, thank goodness!

“Fan reaction to Attack on Titan was extremely positive at the world premiere and we’re pleased to be able to announce dates for the theatrical releases in September and October,” said Gen Fukunaga, CEO and President of FUNimation Entertainment. “Attack on Titan is a worldwide phenomenon and we are excited to bring the live action movies to not only fans of the manga and anime but also horror fans as well from across the U.S. and Canada.”

That’s right folks! Strap into your 3D Maneuver Gear, Attack on Titan will to breech the walls of North American theaters later this fall.

For more information visit:

http://www.attackontitanthemovie.com/

Source:

FUNimation

The post ATTACK ON TITAN | Movie Release Dates Revealed appeared first on Geek News Network.

Photos taken at Anime California 2015 by:

ModelMosa [www.facebook.com/ModelMosa],

All rights reserved.

Please visit our Flickr page for more photos of events we cover!

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Photos taken at Saboten Con 2015 by:

ModelMosa [www.facebook.com/ModelMosa],

Zaa Cosplay [www.facebook.com/zeldachann],

Ben Stadler-Ammon [www.s-astudios.com]

All rights reserved.

Please visit our Flickr page for more photos of events we cover!

Click on any image to open gallery.

Photo by Zaa Cosplay [www.facebook.com/zeldachann]. All rights reserved.

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Photo by Zaa Cosplay [www.facebook.com/zeldachann]. All rights reserved.

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You know that feeling when you finish watching the first episode of a series on Netflix and you’re like, “Welp, there goes the next 6 hours of my life. I’ll see the rest of you humans later.”

Honestly, how did we ever procrastinate before Netflix?

I’m referring to a series titled The Seven Deadly Sins, of which Netflix recently acquired the exclusive streaming rights. I feel like the distribution of Knights of Sidonia worked out pretty well, so I’m glad to see them continuing the trend by picking up another anime title. I hope to see the company continue to support and distribute anime series in the future. This manga adaptation is produced by the Aniplex subsidiary A-1 Pictures Inc., the same studio that brought us Fairy Tail and Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic. That should give you an idea of the animation style and feel you can expect.

The series takes place in a time before the magical and non-magical works had been separated. It’s a time of magical warriors and holy knights and vile demons. A good starting point, right?

Our unlikely heroes are a now disbanded team of ex-knights know as, you’ll never guess, the Seven Deadly Sins. Okay, I’ll start by saying get the Fullmetal Alchemist sins out of your head immediately. Yes, there is a sin of Wrath, Envy, etc. Not similar in any way. Erase all memory of the homunculi from your mind. There, now that that’s out of the way, you can enjoy the series for what it is. It’s a tale of good versus evil, of justice versus tyranny, of order versus chaos. And it’s excellent.

The characters are well-developed, and you really begin to empathize with them. Each one has a compelling back story and brings a unique flavor to the table. The point being that in the medieval / knights / magic fantasy genre, it’s all too easy to fall back on clichés and under-developed character molds that leave you uninterested in the story. It’s so refreshing to get a genuine, character driven story that gives you “the feelz”. Honestly, I was ready to pick up a sword and take on the entire Order of Holy Knights for Princess Elizabeth. I did, actually. Granted it was a cosplay sword my wife left by the couch.

I really am an adult, I promise.

While that might sound like an anime geared for the younger audience, the adult language and tasteful sprinkling of adult content let you know it has the more mature viewers tastes at heart. They don’t skimp on the blood either, which always makes me smile.

And to those who don’t like subtitles, you’ll be happy to hear that it is streaming in an English dub as well. In fact, it’s a pretty good one too.

All 24 episodes are streaming now on Netflix. So go add it to your friend’s or parent’s Netflix queue that you’re currently using. It’s okay, we won’t judge you (out loud).

The post The Seven Deadly Sins: Netflix Exclusive Anime appeared first on Geek News Network.

That’s right Arizona anime fans! Chris Sabat and Sean Schemmel are coming to Taiyou Con January 15th-17th, 2016!

Anyone who knows us here at GNN is aware that were big Dragon Ball Z fans! We loved the most recent movie in theaters and we can’t wait to catch up with some of the voice cast. So whoever summoned Shenron and asked that these two be guests at the convention together, we thank you.

Sean Schemmel is best known as the voice of Goku from Funimation’s English dub of Dragon Ball Z, and Chris Sabat has lent his voice talents to a number of characters in the Dragon Ball franchise including Vegeta and Piccolo. Both of these me are legends in the field with extensive voice acting careers spanning multiple anime and video game franchises. If you’ve watched any amount of English dubbed anime in the last decade, you’ll recognize the voices of these talented individuals.

Excited yet? You should be!

Taiyou Con is a three day convention held in Arizona dedicated to anime, manga, video games, and many other aspects of Japanese culture. The event offers a chance to meet your favorite voice actors, singers and artists. Head over to the Vendor Hall and load up on some official merch or scour Artist Alley for that masterpiece you’ve been looking for. Let’s not forget that sweet, sweet cosplay. Taiyou Con will be hosting cosplay gatherings all weekend long, as well as an official masquerade showcase and cosplay competition.

This years event will take place at the Mesa Convention Center. Need a hotel room? Taiyou Con has partnered with the Marriott Mesa to bring you discounted room rates during the convention weekend.

And as always, Geek News Network will be there bringing you event coverage, news, and guest interviews!

For more event information check them out on Facebook or visit www.taiyoucon.com.

Images courtesy of Taiyou-Con

The post Dragon Ball Z Voice Cast heading to Taiyou Con 2016! appeared first on Geek News Network.

Geek News Network interviews Yuu Asakawa at Taiyou Con 2016. Yuu Asakawa is a voice actress most known for Crypton Future Media’s Vocaloid, Megurine Luka. She has also played the part of numerous anime characters from Akame ga Kil, Love Hina and much more. She discusses her experience at Taiyou and finding new ways to contribute to the community.

Director of Filmography: Chris Campbell
Reporter: Jory Blaine
Camera Operator: Paul Ling
Video Edit: Paul Ling

The post Interview: Yuu Asakawa | Taiyou Con 2016 appeared first on Geek News Network.

For those who don’t know much about Anime Boston, it is a 3-day convention that takes place in the Hynes Convention Center at the Prudential Center in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the largest anime convention in the north east and the second largest on the east coast (Second to Otakon). Taking place from March 25^th to March 27^th, Anime Boston has the theme of Undokai! Or field day! So pack up your Free! And Haikyuu! Cosplays! Anime Boston was one of my first conventions I’ve been to and have been hooked ever since. They have great guests, the location is awesome, and all around, it is fun and has a great atmosphere. If it is a convention you’re interested in, going to for the first time, or a long-time veteran, here are some things to know about the upcoming convention.

Location and What’s in the Area

Right in the heart of Boston, the Prudential Center is a fairly large one-story mall that houses the convention center. So whether you want to walk around in cosplay and go shopping in the con, or go out and about to get some new clothes, it is all easily accessible and don’t even have to leave the same building! In addition, three hotels are in the almost immediate vicinity. The nearby Marriott has a sky bridge connecting to the mall, a Hilton is right across the street from the Sheraton, one of the sponsored con hotels. Speaking of which, the Sheraton is also connected to the mall, essentially connected to it. There are many hotels around that are within walking distance of “the Pru” and even with Boston’s great transit, there are many hotels easily accessible as the Green Line subway heads right to the Prudential Center (Just be sure to get on the correct E line!)! With the Prudential right on Boylston Ave, it is a fantastic place to get food, let alone all the restaurants within the mall itself! However, as the food court had recently closed, thus, be ready to spend a little more money on restaurants than typical fast-food, albeit, with great restaurants like Wagamama, PF Changs, and the Cheesecake Factory, as well as many other more local restaurants, you’ll be more concerned with what you want to eat from all the variety!

The Convention Center

The Hynes Convention Center is massive. Boasting 176,500 square feet of space over 3 floors, it is one of the better laid out convention centers I have been to, as well as one of the largest. Generally, the first floor has a large open space room in the center that has a small divider with some passageways that serve as the main dealer’s room. Plenty of space leaves room for brief, in-passing, photo opportunities of cosplayers and famous figures, and still a decent flow of traffic that doesn’t get too clumped up. The halls themselves are also quite wide. You’ll find many people sitting and taking a break, chatting with friends, and also taking pictures. As with most con etiquette, be sure to ask for a picture first!

Registration and other Organization

This con is very, very, well run. If you pre-register, you get a code that you need to print or have on your smart phone. Simply scan it at the registration table, show your ID and BAM! you get your pass. There is rarely ever a line at preregistration or day of registration. Getting into the con is the only thing that can be hit or miss. If you get there early, you can get through bag check (also extremely efficient), and into the con easily. However, mainly on Saturday, getting to the con mid-morning can get really long and you can end up in Line-Con for a good chunk of time. Some of the hallways where the line comes out of can be rather narrow for the amount of people and is probably one of my only complaints about Anime Boston, however, like stated earlier, this is generally only at peak hours. Lines for major events are kept to a minimum and the staff helps with finding the end of a line, as well as keeping everything in order and from getting too crowded.

Guests

The guest list is very good this year, so far, as some of the guest list has yet to be announced. Usually, Anime Boston hosts a few Japanese guests. Last year, pop-idol LiSA, who sang multiple themes including Sword Art Online and the Fate series, was the guest of honor. This year, a running theme seems to be Your Lie in April, as the Japanese guests, Kyohei Ishiguro, who directed Your Lie in April among other titles such as PSYCHO-PASS and some of Fairy Tail, is one of the guests with Yukiko Aikei accompanying him. Yukiko Aikei, who was the animation director of Your Lie in April, was also a character designer for the popular Accel World, and the main design producer of the recent LOVE LIVE! series.

The musical guests this year consist of nano.RIPE, a rock group that helped with music with anime such as The Devil is a Part-Timer, Bakuman, and Non Non Biyori. ALI PROJECT, is another musical guest performing at Anime Boston. They worked on music for big hit anime like Code Geass, Rozen Maiden, some .hack series, and The Girl Who Leapt Through Space.

Aniplex takes the cake this year for American voice actors at Anime Boston. A large part of the cast from the english dub of Your Lie in April, Carrie Keranen (Hiroko Seto), Erica Lindbeck (Kaori Miyazono), and Max Mittleman (Arima Kousei), all making an appearance

The big man himself, Patrick Seitz makes another appearance at Anime Boston. Seitz is one of the most popular voice actors in English dubs, boasting a large resume of anime and video games with works like Laxus from Fairy Tail,  Gamagoori from Kill la Kill, as well as parts in StarCraft II, League of Legends, and World of Warcraft, being some of the most notable. His work in script-adaptations and English dubs in anime and games, is also well-noted, keeping on the theme of working in Your Lie in April, as well as Space Dandy, Fire Emblem: Awakening, and Steins;Gate.

The guests of honor this year are Tony Oliver and Eric Vale. Oliver has played in many movies such as Hoodwinked Too and the Muppet’s Wizard of Oz, as well as anime and games with parts in Cho-Bits, Naruto, Everquest, World of Warcraft, and Dynasty Warriors.

Vale also has an impressive list of works as Kimblee in Fullmetal Alchemist, Trunks in Dragonball Z, and Nishiki in Tokyo Ghoul. Including voice acting, Vale is an establish script writer, producing and writing the film Chariot, and writing for over 50 anime programs.

This is only a small look into the guest list and that even more great talent is being announced!

Cosplay, Panels, and Programming

As with any convention, cosplay is a major part of the event. With Anime Boston being one of the premier anime conventions on the east coast, many people pull out all the stops, however, the friendly environment is comfortable to all, games, anime, and pop culture alike. In addition, all ranges of cosplay will be there from closet to full blown armors, no one will ever feel out of place here. Including just cosplay itself, there is a pleathora of activities ranging from pre-applied events like Cosplay Dating Game, Cosplay Chess, and Deathmatch, to more improvisational events like Cosplay Shenanigans, cosplaying here is always loads of fun!

The panels all come in a wide variety, depending on who signs up at the correct time. Cosplay tutorials, anime discussions, cosplay games, and other ahem topics (wink, wink, nudge, nudge), all will make their appearances and never leave a dull moment at this convention.

Unfortunately, the schedule has not been released and does not get released until, roughly, a week or two before the con. For people like me, who love to plan and see what is going on, this is a terror. However, the Anime Boston staff is merely making sure everything can run smoothly and taking care of any last minute additions or drop outs to panels.

Conclusion

Should you go to Anime Boston? Yes. This con is one of the best on the east coast. The city of Boston is incredible, with a lot to do and eat. The con venue is great, good spacing and scheduling, and the atmosphere is exhilarating and fun. One of my favorite cons of all time and on that I will continue going to as long as I can. Hopefully I will see you there!

In the meantime, catchya later!

~Matthew “Yama Arashi” Rauch

The post Anime Boston 2016 | What to Expect appeared first on Geek News Network.

The Fan Voice Podcast returns, and what a better thing to talk about than the ups and downs of Hollywood (and beyond) reboots, remakes, and sequels. We spend some time discussing Deadpool and returning the essence of a character to future iterations. Then we move to discussing reboots and sequels as a whole through film television and gaming.  When should something be rebooted? What makes a reboot fresh and innovative and what makes a reboot overuse a franchise and make it stale?

Find us at:

TheFanVoice.com

Facebook.com/TheFanVoicePodcast

Twitter – @FanVoicePodcast

Youtube.com/TheFanVoicePodcast

Email – fan@thefanvoice.com

Roboskater by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Artist: audionautix.com/

The post THE FAN VOICE PODCAST Episode 1: Reboot appeared first on Geek News Network.

Last night Square Enix held an event in Los Angeles with the sole purpose of “uncovering” Final Fantasy XV. The event was hosted by Kinda Funny’s Greg Miller and Tim Gettys, each representing a demographic that Square Enix is targeting with Final Fantasy XV. Greg Miller, a well-known personality in the gaming community and former editor at IGN, loves video games, appreciates Final Fantasy as a series, and recognizes its importance to video games, but has never been hooked by any of the entries he’s tried. Tim Gettys on the other hand, has been a Final Fantasy fan most of his life. Square Enix has made it clear that Final Fantasy XV will appeal to both Greg and Tim, as well as everyone who can identify with either viewpoint.

A total of fifteen announcements, or “uncoverings”, were made through the course of the show. Here’s a recap of each uncovering with a little commentary for good measure:

Uncovering #1: Creator of Final Fantasy, Hironobu Sakaguchi, was present at Uncovered: Final Fantasy XV

Uncovering #2: New Trailer

Uncovering #3: Yoshitaka Amano, the artist commissioned to create many works for various Final Fantasy titles was also present, and the new art for Final Fantasy XV titled “Big Bang” was shown. (Pictured below)

Uncovering #4: Florence + The Machine has recorded a cover of Ben E. King’s Stand By Me that will be the official theme of Final Fantasy XV. Final Fantasy XV is a tale of brotherhood, camaraderie, and fellowship. I can’t think of another song that encompasses these qualities better than Stand By Me. While it is virtually impossible to improve on this song, Florence + The Machine’s rendition is absolutely beautiful and has been on repeat the entire time I have been writing this.

Uncovering #5: Various gameplay videos were shown to illustrate the versatility in Final Fantasy XV. All three videos are compiled below with commentary from Greg and Tim.

Uncovering #6: A montage was shown that shows a wide variety of environments players will see in Final Fantasy XV

Uncovering #7: A five-part anime series titled “Brotherhood: Final Fantasy XV” will provide back story about the four main characters. Episode 1 is available right now, check out a trailer below.

Uncovering #8: A feature-length CG movie will release later this year available for download and streaming titled “Kingsglaive”. While the game will follow Noctis on his road trip to reach his fiance, Kingsglaive will show what is happening in Crown City after he leaves.

Uncovering #9: Audi has partnered with Square Enix to create one real life version of the Audi seen in Kingsglaive.

Uncovering #10: Kingsglaive will feature voice work by Game of Thrones’ Lena Headey and Sean Bean, as well as Aaron Paul from Breaking Bad.

Uncovering #11: Justice Monsters V, a mini game playable in Final Fantasy XV, will also be released separately for iOS, Android, and Windows 10 devices.

Uncovering #12: A new demo is available now titled “Platinum Demo”. Platinum Demo,unlike Episode Duscae, tells a story that will not be in Final Fantasy XV. Players will be ableto play as a young Noctis as he explores a dream-world while exploring new mechanics in Final Fantasy XV. DLC bonuses will awarded in the final game for progress made in Platinum Demo. Kingsglaive, Brotherhood, Platinum Demo, and Justice Monsters all represent an expansive universe that Square Enix wants to center around Final Fantasy XV.

Uncovering #13: There will be three editions of Final Fantasy XV available. A “standard” Day One Edition for $59.99 that includes the game and a DLC sword, Masamune. A $89.99 Deluxe Edition will get you everything in the Day One Edition PLUS an exclusive steelbook case, a Blu-Ray copy of Kingsglaive, a DLC outfit, and a recolor option for the car (DLC). A $269.99 Ultimate Collector’s Edition will get you everything in the Deluxe Edition (minus the steelbook) PLUS its own steelbook design, a Blu-Ray copy of Brotherhood, a special soundtrack, various in-game packs, a 192-page hardcover artbook, and an exclusive Play Arts Kai Noctis statue. This edition is exclusively available through the Square Enix Online Store and is currently wait-listed.

Uncovering #14: Final Fantasy XV will be released September 30th, 2016.

Uncovering #15: One final trailer closed out Uncovered: Final Fantasy XV giving more insight to the story and showing off the beautiful world they have created. Check it out below:

There you have it! Fifteen announcements for Final Fantasy XV. I am like Greg Miller. I appreciate Final Fantasy and recognize it as an important part of gaming present, past, and future. My only experience with Final Fantasy is the 10-15 hours I put into Final Fantasy XIII, and the countless hours I’ve poured into Kingdom Hearts (favorite series of all time). After watching Uncovered: Final Fantasy XV I am absolutely hooked by what I’ve seen so far and anxiously await September 30th!

Those interested in the full show can watch the archive here. Those who liked the two wacky hosts can check them out here.

The post Uncovered: Final Fantasy XV Recap appeared first on Geek News Network.

Guest of Honor, artist Yoshitaka Amano has attended several conventions in the US before, but this will be Amano’s first time attending Anime Expo.

As a Japanese artist, character designer, and illustrator, Amano also works in the grounds of scenic art and stage costumes. Hired at Tatsunoko Production at the age of 15, he has created characters for some of the most prominent TV animations in Japan. He then became an independent artist in 1982. He is most well-known for his work as a character designer, title logo designer, and image illustrator for the Final Fantasy series. Since his debut, Amano’s career as an artist has flourished, producing paintings with his unique, mysterious touch in solo shows in cities such as New York, Paris, and London.

Amano will participate in a panel, as well as autograph sessions. Schedule TBA in Spring 2016.

MICHI, the first Anisong artist from Okinawa, aims to share her love for anime with the world–her personal motto is “Anime is a universal language.” Her debut single, “Cry for the Truth/Secret Sky”, was featured as the main theme song for Rokka -Braves of the Six Flowers-.

MICHI will be heading to Anime Expo 2016 for her first North American convention appearance! In addition to her panel and autograph sessions, MICHI will be performing on the Community Stage.

Coming from Koza, the heart of the Okinawan music scene, she developed a straightforward and carefree singing voice. With a rare expressiveness and innocence that fans love, MICHI is paving the way for a new generation of anisong artists.

MICHI’s second single, “Checkmate!?” can be heard in Dagashi Kashi’s opening theme. Her third single, “Realistic!” will be featured as the ending theme for P.A. Works’ upcoming series, Kuromukuro.

Naoshi Arakawa will be making his first overseas convention appearance. He will participate in a Q&A panel as well as autograph sessions. (Schedule TBD.)

Manga artist Naoshi Arakawa made his debut in 2007 with Tsumetai Kousha no Toki wa Tomaru(The Time Stops on a Frozen Campus), a manga adaptation of the mystery novel by Mizuki Tsujimura. After finishing his original soccer series in 2010, Sayonara Football, he started his most renowned work, Your Lie in April—a series about the lives of young, talented classical musicians. In 2013, Your Lie in April won the Kodansha Manga Award and was then adapted into an anime series the following year. A live-action movie will also be released later this fall. He is currently preparing to launch a brand new series in Monthly Shonen Magazine.

Keep checking back as we will continue to update this with more new guest announcements! And don’t forget to purchase your badge for Anime Expo 2016 today!

The post ANIME EXPO 2016 welcomes its first round of guests! appeared first on Geek News Network.

The post ANIME EXPO 2016 welcomes its cosplay guests! appeared first on Geek News Network.

BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe, the premier publisher of anime videogames, announced today DRAGON BALL® XENOVERSE 2, the most expansive and comprehensive Dragon Ball videogame experience to-date. DRAGON BALL XENOVERSE 2 is currently in development at famed Osaka, Japan based videogame developer DIMPS® and will be available for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One, and for PC Digital.

Developed to fully utilize the power of current generation gaming consoles and PCs; DRAGON BALL XENOVERSE 2 builds upon 2015’s highly successfulDRAGON BALL XENOVERSE will further immerse players into the largest and most detailed Dragon Ball world ever developed.

“As the franchise is celebrating its 30^th Anniversary, Dragon Ball games are a fan-favorite within BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment’s huge videogame portfolio and DRAGON BALL XENOVERSE 2 will surely build upon that illustrious legacy. The first DRAGON BALL XENOVERSE game was a massive success and allowed millions of players to fulfil one of their dreams: have their own avatar and character in the DRAGON BALL universe! With DRAGON BALL XENOVERSE 2, we’re working closely with the team at DIMPS to push this experience to new heights.” said Hervé Hoerdt, VP of Marketing & Digital at BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe.

The post Bandai Namco announces DRAGON BALL XENOVERSE 2 appeared first on Geek News Network.

With Con-Season about to come into full swing, let’s all jump aboard the hype train that is barreling towards this year’s Anime Expo.

Anime Expo is one of my favorite conventions of the year. Based in the heart of Los Angeles at the Los Angeles Convention center, walking up to the front entrance and seeing the huge Anime Expo welcome sign in the LA sunshine is the best and most inviting sight to see.

Last year was my first AX and ever since then, I have vowed to try and return every year. With so much going on, it is hard to get into words why it is so perfect. First off, the actual con hall. Walking into the main entrance you are met with an abundance of amazing things: the cosplay, the people, and the huge replica anime characters. It makes you want to stop dead in your tracks and take it all in but you know you have to make it to the real beast, the vender hall. This is one of my favorite parts of AX and that is because every booth is something interesting. Not to mention the size of the hall! You could walk through every day of AX and always find something new and interesting.

I personally think there is one other thing that makes Anime Expo stand out from the rest and that is the people, more specifically the cosplayers. I don’t know what it is about AX but everyone brings out their A-Game here. You see some of the most talented cosplays here. One of the really unique things that I think is so great is that although this is an anime convention, you see all different types of cosplay ranging from video games, Disney, comics, and of course anime and manga. Additionally people are so happy to be in their cosplays at AX. Everyone is excited to either be showing off their excellent craftsmanship or just share the experience of a fandom with thousands of other people.

With how much is put into Anime Expo every year, I can hardly wait to see what they have in store this year. Get your badges today!!

The post A Look Ahead at Anime Expo 2016 appeared first on Geek News Network.

By now, everyone should know that Anime Expo is so much more than just the con show floor and panels. Sitting in the heart of downtown Los Angeles, Anime Expo is surrounded by concert halls and venue spots that they take full advantage of.

So far this year, AX has kept a lot under wraps. There are only four ticketed events on their website. These include: Anisong World Matsuri Makes American Debut, an interactive Butler Café performance, a Maid Café inspired by those in Akihabara, and the Anime Expo Masquerade with a running tradition of over 20 years. Unfortunately, that is all we know of right now.

While we wait in anticipation for the rest of the events to be announce, let’s take a look back at the best of last year’s shows. 2015 was a huge year for Anime Expo in terms of events and concerts. Every year, they try to bring out the best and most prominent artists, performers and music groups and they did not disappoint. Some of the biggest headliners from last year include: Cool Japan Festival featuring IA & WagakkiBand, Momoiro Clover Z, with a special appearances by Gene Simmons & Paul Stanley of KISS, Fate/stay night [UBW] Special Event featuring Aimer & Ayano Mashiro, Evangelion 20th Anniversary Celebration feauturing Yoko Takahashi. All of this not to mention my favorite show: Anamanaguchi and Porter Robinson presented by Crunchyroll.

Crunchyroll put on an amazing show at the Microsoft Theater across the street from AX. At first this was marketed as an Anamanaguchi concert with a secret guest. Originally, Crunchyroll offered their premium members free and discounted tickets (depending on where you sat) with availability to purchase in person at AX. The most exciting part was the reveal of Porter Robinson as the special guest the day of the show.

Another amazing event held at Anime Expo last year was the American red carpet premier of Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection F. This was a full-blown celebrity event featuring the voice actors of the movie, music artists and other stars from hit television shows and films. In addition to attending the premier, some of the actors participated in a panel and signing at the convention.

Of course there is so much more to be announced in terms of events for Anime Expo. Many large partners of AX are still hard at work planning the best of the best events for this year. If you want to stay completely up to date, make sure you keep checking out Anime Expo’s website under ticketed events and schedule (coming mid-June).

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Shelter tells the story of Rin, a 17-year-old girl who lives her life inside of a futuristic simulation completely by herself in infinite, beautiful loneliness. Each day, Rin awakens in virtual reality and uses a tablet which controls the simulation to create a new, different, beautiful world for herself. Until one day, everything changes, and Rin comes to learn the true origins behind her life inside a simulation.

Short Film with A-1 Pictures & Crunchyroll

Original Story by: Porter Robinson

Music: Porter Robinson and Madeon

Cast: Rin – Sachika Misawa

Lyrics :

i could never find the right way to tell you
have you noticed i’ve been gone?
cause i left behind the home that you made me
but i will carry it along

mm it’s a long way forward
so trust in me
i’ll give them shelter like you’ve done for me
and i know i’m not alone
you’ll be watching over us
until you’re gone

when i’m older i’ll be silent beside you
I know that words are not enough
and they won’t need to know our names or our faces
but they will carry on for us

The post SHELTER | Short film by Porter Robinson and Madeon appeared first on Geek News Network.

Watch the first trailer for Ghost in the Shell, directed by Rupert Sanders and starring Scarlett Johansson and Takeshi Kitano.

Based on the internationally-acclaimed sci-fi property, GHOST IN THE SHELL follows Major, a special ops, one-of-a-kind human-cyborg hybrid, who leads the elite task force Section 9. Devoted to stopping the most dangerous criminals and extremists, Section 9 is faced with an enemy whose singular goal is to wipe out Hanka Robotic’s advancements in cyber technology.

The post GHOST IN THE SHELL | Trailer #1 appeared first on Geek News Network.

The first trailer for the upcoming Fullmetal Alchemist live action movie was revealed today in Japan via the Warner Bros. Japan official Twitter. Based on the popular manga by Arakawa Hiroshi, the movie is coming Winter 2017 and stars Yamada Ryosuke from popular boyband Hey!Say!JUMP as protagonist Edward Elric.

Check out the official site and follow the official Twitter as well.

The post Fullmetal Alchemist Live Action Movie Trailer Premiere! appeared first on Geek News Network.

Anime Expo, the nation’s largest celebration of Japanese pop culture announced today that it will launch a new Pre-Show Night for the 2017 event.  Pre-Show Night will feature programming and events from 6PM – 2AM on Friday, June 30, 2017.

During the new Pre-Show Night, attendees will be able to start enjoying Anime Expo activities earlier than ever before. Content and areas that will be available to fans on Pre-Show Night to include: panels, the entire Entertainment Hall, a concert at Microsoft Theater (TBA), Karaoke, Manga Lounge, AMV Theatre, AXDance, Lounge 21, Maid Café, Butler Café, Night Café, Screenings, and Tabletop Gaming.

“We’re excited to extend the AX experience by offering more content and activities for attendees on Day 0, which had previously been a day reserved only for badge pickup,” said Jon Baumgardner, SPJA Director of Entertainment, “Starting in 2017, attendees will be able to kick off their Anime Expo with a concert, Karaoke, panels, and much more at the newly-introduced Pre-Show Night.”

Access to Pre-Show Night will require a separate ticket, priced as:

• $10 Pre-Registration with 50% Discount Code: AX2017
• $20 Onsite
• Included with all Premier Fan badges

Link to Purchase: http://www.anime-expo.org/registration/

Additional details regarding Pre-Show Night programming and other AX news to be announced every day next week starting Monday, November 21, 2016 leading up to the Black Friday Sale, where 4-day passes will be discounted from $65 to $55 from 11/25 at 12:01 AM to 11/28 at 11:59 PM.

4-day badges will increase to $75 on November 29 at 12:01 AM or after the discounted Black Friday passes have sold out.

Anime Expo will run from July 1 through July 4, 2017 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, with Pre-Show Night on June 30, 2017. To purchase passes for Anime Expo, please visit http://www.anime-expo.org/registration/

For more information about attending, please visit http://www.anime-expo.org/registration-help/

AX 2015 PV from SPJA Marketing on Vimeo.

The post Anime Expo Introduces Pre-Show Night for 2017 appeared first on Geek News Network.

If you’re looking for something fun and entertaining to do to kick-off the start of the new year, make sure to put Taiyou Con on your calendar! Coming to Mesa, Arizona from January 6-8, Taiyou Con is an anime/manga focused convention providing an array of exciting events such as cosplay meetups, live performances, a chance to waltz the stage in a masquerade, and so much more!

Shihoko’s adorable soft spoken character may deceive you in person, but when she is on stage, her voice illuminates the venue with power and soul. Grew up listening to mainly Funk and Soul, her talent was recognized by Shoji Meguro in his works of Persona 4 series. The game has gained international recognition and it’s still loved by many fans around the world. The soundtrack Persona 4 The GOLDEN earned a title in SOUNDTRACK ALBUM OF THE YEAR of THE JAPAN GOLD DISC AWARD 2013.

Lotus Juice is one of the pioneers in rap for official Japanese anime and game music, Lotus Juice’s ingredients are from 90’s Hip Hop, J-Pop, Dub, Rock, Comedy, Love and many more. He is well known for his works with Shoji Meguro from ATLUS Japan, ripping the mic on the track “Mass Destruction” on the game Persona 3.

Teddyloid started his career as MIYAVI’s DJ and Sound Producer by joining his world tour when he was only 18 years old. He also produced OST for the GAINAX anime “Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt” with ☆Taku Takahashi(m-flo). He has also had experience in units with Shibasaki Ko and DECO*27, he established galaxias!, he has also sound produced for Momoiro Clover Z “Neo STARGATE” and had a guest appearance in 2013 Seibu Dome Taikai.

How can you follow such a great lineup of live performances? With a stellar group of voice actors! Taiyou Con welcomes Yuko Sanpei (Renton Thurston from Eureka Seven, Ryo Akizuki from IDOLM@STER, Boruto Uzumaki from Boruto: Naruto the Movie, and Pride from Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood), Akemi Kanda (Nanako Dojima in Persona 4, Asuna Kagurazaka from Negima!, Kazuki Arisaka from Tona-Gura!, Czesław ‘Czes’ Meyer from Baccano!, and Ryou Fujibayashi from Clannad) and Clifford Chapin (Katsuki Bakugo in My Hero Academia, Conny Springer in Attack on Titan, Charles Grey in Black Butler, Koto Fujisaki in Noragami, and Yuri Dreyar in Fairy Tail), all of whom have done extensive work in anime and video games alike.

Taiyou Con is also welcoming Mega64 to their lineup! They are a series of short films and videos that recreate classic and current video games in real life created by Rocco Botte, Derrick Acosta, and Shawn Chatfield. These hilarious videos can be seen on YouTube! Their panels should be fun and hilarious!

With tickets starting at just $45 for the entire weekend, how could you pass up the opportunity to dive into this little world? If you can’t afford an entire weekend pass, no worries – a one day badge is also available! Or, if you have those extra bucks lying around, a premiere fan badge is also an option, which will grant you front-of-the-line access to all events and autograph signings, as well as a cool merch package! Not only that – if you’re wondering what to do with the young ones, Taiyou Con has that covered, too! Kids 12 and under actually get in for free (that’s right, free), so you’ll have no trouble dragging them with you; unless, of course, you have already converted them into mini Otakus, then dragging their little bodies will not be necessary.

No matter what, however you choose to enjoy Taiyou Con, you will definitely have a great time, meet wonderful people, and make lifelong memories! So, come and celebrate the wonderful world of anime, manga, video games and all-around Japanese culture in January at Taiyou Con 2017!

The post Taiyou Con 2017 | A Japanese Culture Convention appeared first on Geek News Network.