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The legendary creator behind Cowboy Bebopand his latest anime series, Lazarus, has revealed the heartwarming tribute that helps make up the new show.

Per an interview with creator Shinichiro Watanabe posted on YouTube and translated via X (formerly Twitter), the question of what interesting facts about Lazarus that fans might not already be aware of came up. "I worked with screenwriter Keiko Nobumoto, and we planned to create together, and we would both develop the story and the characters," Watanabe explained. "But right at the beginning, while we were creating the story and characters, she got sick and was hospitalized."

Cowboy Bebop Creator's New Anime Series Is a Tribute to the Late Keiko Nobumoto I: “Could you share any interesting fact about the creation of Lazarus that the fans might not know?â€W: “I worked with screenwriter Keiko Nobumoto, and we planned to create together and we...

With roots dating back to the late '50s, the mecha anime genre is easily one of the oldest and most varied in the medium. Many creators have used the genre as a vehicle to tell war stories, featuring kids barely in their teens holding it together in a world where every day could be their last.

It can be daunting to figure out the ideal way around this animated world with hundreds of possible shows to watch. Fortunately, the best mecha anime series of all time quickly distinguish themselves. Whether viewers are new to the genre or want more mecha goodness, there's no shortage of excellent mecha anime to enjoy.

Updated by Sage Ashford, March 23rd, 2024: The mecha anime genre has enough classic series to watch to keep an anime fan busy for years. Even the big franchises like Gundam and Macross have a few underrated gems that...

Now that J Balvin has made his mark in Japanese animation, after starring in Crunchyroll’s hit anime series “Solo Leveling,” TheWrap thought it’d be a good idea to list all the Hollywood stars who’ve also lent their voices to the genre.

It already takes a lot of training and focus to be an actor, but one must unlock a new skill in the craft when it comes to voice acting, especially when it comes to anime. And now that anime has risen in popularity, more and more stars are carving out their lane in the industry as voice actors.

All the actors listed voiced roles for the English dub versions of these shows and films, many of which you’ll recognize right off the bat. Here are 17 celebrities who rocked the mic as anime characters.

Bryan Cranston and Isamu Alva Dyson from “Macross Plus” Bryan Cranston as...

When fans get into mecha anime, they start out by coming for the giant robots. After watching a while, they start to see mecha anime can be so much more than just the robots, discussing politics and showing the indomitable will of the human spirit. Yet at the heart of it all, there's still a thrill to watching cool giant robots throwing down.

Sometimes, viewers want the cool robot fights just as much as they want the political intrigue and strong character writing. Fortunately, some of the best mecha anime know how to do both. These series can manage an awesome story while also showing off pulse-pounding action and perfectly choreographed combat to keep viewers invested all the way to the end.

Related10 Essential Mecha Anime That Changed the Genre Forever (& Aren’t Gundam)

Mobile Suit Gundam might be the biggest name in Mecha anime, but several other popular franchises...

Read Robert Kirkman's superhero comic "Invincible" now, and it's hard not to hear the character voices from the animated series. Prime Video's "Invincible" has quite the recognizable voice cast, stocked with bona fide celebrities, prolific TV actors and celebrated voice actors. Mark Grayson himself is played by Steven Yeun, whose breakout role was Glenn on "The Walking Dead," also based on a comic by Kirkman. The show's most famous performance so far is probably J.K. Simmons as Mark's superhero dad, Omni-Man. Lightning struck twice, because Simmons is as perfectly cast as Omni-Man as he was as J. Jonah Jameson in "Spider-Man." 

"Invincible" season 3 has upped the cast's ante once more, including scoring two "Breaking Bad" alums. Aaron Paul, the erstwhile Jesse Pinkman, voices Scott Duvall/Powerplex, an energy-absorbing super-villain with a grudge against Invincible. Jonathan Banks,who played Mike Ehrmantrau, has also been cast in a mystery role.

Beginning in the 1980s, the Macross anime franchise is one of the most iconic and influential mecha properties, right alongside the likes of Gundam. Long kept out of the West in the streaming era, many entries in the franchise are finally heading overseas in early 2025.

A new Hulu programming listing will see several Macross shows added to the streaming platform's lineup in the coming days. These include the concert compilation of videos tied to the first series, as well as the modern classic Macross Frontier. This finally ends the mecha anime's absence from the West, putting it on the same streaming service that also hosts several shows from a "rival" property.

Related One of Gundam's Most Underrated Anime Gets First U.S. Streaming Home After Nearly 30 Years

Debuting almost 30 years ago on Japanese television, an overlooked 1990s Gundam anime is finally available to stream internationally.

Macross Fronter and Multiple Others...

It's been a while since I featured Anime Limited in this category (the last one was Belle two years ago...), but that doesn't mean the Scottish distributor has been quiet. In fact, the company got itself slightly reorganized and joined forces with several other distributors to streamline their ordering processes. Thankfully, what didn't change is that now and again they release an Ultimate Edition. Here is their newest, and it's... a science fiction spectacle by Watanabe Shinichirō, with a legendary soundtrack by Kanno Yōko? Wait, didn't they ultimate-release Cowboy Bebop already? Well, years before Cowboy Bebop, the two had collaborated already on the Ova-series Macross Plus and the movie version of that series. And Anime Limited has now released a stellar, stellar release of both....

[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...

It’s not just the legendary Dragon Ball franchise, back in the early days of Akira Toriyama’s career, he has also offered a minor but promising manga, named Dr. Slump. Long before Dragon Ball, this manga used to please the readers with Toriyama’s unique sense of humor and creativity.

Senbei Norimaki from Dr. Slump anime | Credits: Toei Animation

Now, in a surprising twist, the Dr. Slump manga unexpectedly shares one thread with the critically acclaimed Western TV series, Breaking Bad! It certainly does sound like an unlikely connection between a Japanese manga from the 1980s and a gritty American drama. So what could be the connecting link between Dr. Slump, Dragon Ball, and Breaking Bad?

Bryan Cranston Had Voiced Toriyama, But Not the Way You Might Think! Bryan Cranston as Walter White from Breaking Bad | Credits: High Bridge Productions, Gran Via Productions, and Sony Pictures Television

Bryan Cranston...

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Iconic anime director Shinichir Watanabe is back with a new look at the future in Lazarus. After making his debut with Macross Plus, Watanabe found his biggest breakout hit in the original Cowboy Bebop anime, serving as the creative lead and director of the beloved space western anime and its theatrical movie. He would go on to find success with the likes of Samurai Champloo, the anime adaptation of Kids on the Slope and Carole & Tuesday on Netflix, among others.

With Lazarus, Watanabe finds himself returning to the sci-fi genre and setting the story in 2052, in which a utopian-like society has been formed. During this period, a scientist designs a miracle drug, only to later reveal in 2055 that the drug has just a three-year half-life, leaving those who took the drug, which proves to be the majority of society, with little time to live.

Cowboy Bebop is that anime that fans watch just for the vibes and music. Sure, the ending is quite emotional but the whole show itself presents a much relaxed but chaotic atmosphere that is fun for any fan of any genre. It’s also one of those anime that is added in a starter pack along with Death Note and for good reason.

Light Yagami | Credits: Studio Madhouse

The creators took a lot of inspiration from Star Wars for sure. The whole space-theme and battles of Spike Spiegel with Galactic thugs and Syndicates are definitely a nod to Luke Skywalker and his battles with Darth Vadar and the Galactic Empire. But fans will not believe the main intent behind Cowboy Bebop‘s creation and it’s more tied to Star Wars than they think.

The reason for making Cowboy Bebop Spike Spiegel | Credits: Studio Sunrise

According to an interview with Forbes,...

Macross fans, get ready, because another beloved series is now available in a stunning package with the arrival of the Macross Zero Limited Edition . Packing the complete series with a bunch of physical extras, the set is available to order now as a Crunchyroll Store exclusive . Originally released in 2002 as part of the Macross 20th anniversary celebration, Macross Zero features the legendary Shoji Kawamori as director, with Satelight on animation production. In addition to episodes 1-5 in Japanese with English, French and German subtitles, here's an overview of the bonuses you can expect with the exclusive limited edition version: On Disc: "Macross Zero Zero" bonus footage Voice Actor comments Pv Audio commentary with Hiroyuki Kashima, Atsushi Sakiyama, Tomisaburo Hashimoto, Hiroshi Yagishita Audio commentaries from Shoji Kawamori, Kenichi Suzumura, Sanae Kobayashi In the box: 128 page booklet 8 x art cards Folded poster Related: Macross Plus Ultimate Edition Blu-ray Box Coming This Fall...

The current generation of anime weebs won’t know this, but Cowboy Bebop was one of the gateway series that led to the worldwide recognition of the anime industry. The eccentric story of Cowboy Bebop follows the adventures of Cowboy Spike Spiegel and his friends, who journey through space and work as bounty hunters in the year 2071.

Cowboy Bebop | Credit: Studio Sunrise

It was directed by Shinichiro Watanabe, who is famously known in the anime industry for his works like Samurai Champloo, Space Dandy, etc. Watanabe is one of the best-known anime directors in history, and most of this fame comes from Cowboy Bebop. However, Cowboy Bebop was not his first project as a director.

Cowboy Bebop fans might not know this, but Watanabe also worked on the famous Japanese franchise Macross from the 80s. He was involved with the second production of the franchise called Macross Plus. But his...

Highly regarded for his creative vision, Shinichiro Watanabe’s journey before his directorial debut with Cowboy Bebop is quite remarkable. Before he started working on his first original project, Watanabe worked on various projects as the episode director and the co-director.

Kou Uraki | Credits: Studio Sunrise

One project that especially sticks out to him is the Gundam Ova, Stardust Memory, as fans still question him about the ending of the series. In an interview, Watanabe voiced his frustrations regarding the Ova series and his journey before the beginning of his directorial endeavors.

Shinichiro Watanabe on Gundam Ova Ending Nina and Kou | Credits: Studio Sunrise

Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory is a 13-episodes-long Ova from the Gundam series. Shinichiro Watanabe worked on it as an episode director. While speaking about his journey to becoming a renowned director, Watanabe shared (via an interview with Forbes) that fans still ask him about the ending of Gundam 0083.

With a genre-defying mix of space adventure, noir, and jazz-infused style, Shinichirō Watanabe’s Cowboy Bebop is one of the greatest anime ever made. But the road to its creation was anything but smooth. In fact, the anime that is now considered a masterpiece nearly wouldn’t get made at all.

Faye Valentine from Cowboy Bebop | Credit: Studio Sunrise

The creation of Cowboy Bebop was a risky venture; Bandai’s misguided belief that the anime wouldn’t be financially successful almost caused the project to be abandoned altogether. Ironically, the show’s near-failure played a major role in molding it into the cultural phenomenon that it is today.

Shinichirō Watanabe’s Inspiration for His Own Creation: Cowboy Bebop

In an interview conducted by Ollie Barder via Forbes, Shinichirō Watanabe reflected on his journey as an anime director. Originally passionate about movies since childhood, his interest shifted to the anime industry...

After getting penciled in for a 2024 launch earlier this year, a release date has officially been confirmed for MacRoss -Shooting Insight- . Red Art Games announced plans to release the shoot 'em up on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch in North America and Europe on December 6, 2024, with multiple physical releases available in addition to the digital version. Both the PS5 and Switch versions will be available physically in North America and Europe, but the PS4 physical version will be Europe-only. Those who opt for the Collector's Edition will get a copy of the game in an exclusive box with a Steelcase, original soundtrack CD, double-sided poster and five exclusive MacRoss collector medals. Pegi-rated versions are available through Red Art Games and Esrb-rated versions are available through Vgp .  Related: MacRoss -Shooting Insight- Game Gets 2024 North America, Europe Releases Here's how Red Art Games describes  MacRoss -Shooting Insight- : MacRoss Shooting...

Musical mecha anime Macross 7 is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year with a solo concert from Nekki Basara himself! An explosive event deserves an equally explosive poster, and that's exactly what we get today. Check out the new visual for the upcoming Basara Explosion 2024, featuring art of Nekki Basara in front of his iconic robot, Fire Valkyrie: Related: Macross Plus Ultimate Edition Blu-ray Box Coming This Fall from Anime Limited The MacRoss 7 30th Anniv. Basara Explosion 2024 from Fire Bomber concert will be a solo concert event featuring performances from Yoshiki Fukuyama, the singing voice of Basara. Nobutoshi Hayashi, who voiced Basara, will also make a guest appearance. Tickets for the concert will be on sale July 18-28, and concerts will take place at Zepp venues across Japan between September and November 2024. Source: Comic Natalie...

California is once again gearing up for Anime Expo -- a thrilling four-day weekend filled with exclusive events for some of anime's biggest franchises. This year, Crunchyroll's Expo lineup is stacked with behind-the-scenes events and exclusive premieres for a plethora of major titles.

As detailed in a recent press release, Crunchyroll is hosting over 20 different events at Anime Expo 2024. Featured franchises include established anime series like One Piece, Black Butler and Tower of God, as well as breakout hits like Bocchi the Rock! and 2024's Solo Leveling. Those looking forward to the summer and fall anime seasons are also in luck, as Crunchyroll has several premieres lined up for highly-anticipated future titles, such as After-School Hanako-Kun, No Longer Allowed in Another World and Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian, among others. Additionally, the Crunchyroll Store will have a booth where fans can peruse the company's expanding collection of original and exclusive anime-themed goods.

Studio Ghibli co-founder Isao Takahata, who passed away in 2018, has received a posthumous North American release of his final anime TV series, Chie the Brat. The release comes from Discotek Media, a distribution company that focuses on licensing and distributing anime and other Japanese media, especially retro titles from the 1970s, '80s and '90s.

Discotek announced this week that Takahata's Chie the Brat - The Original First TV Series - Blu-ray has officially been released via the Crunchyroll Store. Fans in North America can now order the Blu-ray for the first time ever, priced at US$52.46 ($69.95 Msrp), with Crunchyroll teasing the release, "This complete collection includes all 64 episodes of the groundbreaking comedy classicpresented in high definition with the original Japanese language and English subtitles!" Readers can check out the Blu-ray footage, cover and additional stills below.

Related Studio Ghibli's Anime Art Book Receives English-Language International Release

Ghibli's upcoming...

Popular anime series My Dress-Up Darling will soon receive some must-have merchandise for franchise fans, with the My Dress-Up Darling Official Anime Fanbook being released this fall season in the U.S.

The Crunchyroll Store opened pre-orders for the My Dress-Up Darling Official Anime Fanbook (Hardcover) ahead of its estimated shipment date of Sep. 24, 2024. The fanbook features over 100 full-color pages of rare, hard-to-find promotional art from creator Shinichi Fukuda, and more, with Crunchyroll describing it as a "must-have for fans of the sweet and spicy rom-com that took the world by storm!" As of writing, the fanbook costs US$19.99, currently discounted from $24.99. Readers can check out the English front cover provided by Crunchyroll, with additional previews also seen below.

Related Studio Ghibli's Anime Art Book Receives English-Language International Release

Ghibli's upcoming English-language art book explores how the iconic studio created some of the most breathtaking anime architecture of all time.

Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle, the highly-anticipated cinematic follow-up to the Haikyu!! anime series, premiered in Japan earlier this year. Now, Crunchyroll is providing fans with a special sneak peek of the film as it begins its North American theatrical run.

As detailed in a recent press release, Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle is now officially playing in theaters across the United States and Canada. Additionally, Crunchyroll and distribution partner Sony Pictures Entertainment have made both the English dub and the original Japanese version (with English subtitles) available to Western moviegoers. In honor of the film's debut, Crunchyroll has released an exclusive clip that introduces the players that will be facing off in the long-awaited showdown between Karasuno High School and Nekoma High School. This particular scene also serves as a handy introductory tool for newcomers to the franchise.

Related Exclusive Macross Plus Box Set Marks Its First-Ever Physical Media Release Outside...

The Macross franchise is finally escaping the legal stranglehold it had been in for decades, with Harmony Gold and Big West finally releasing entries in the series around the world. This includes a Blu-ray collection for a series that's never been available on physical media in the U.S. -- until now.

Macross Plus was the true sequel to the original series, and the "movie" also helped to pioneer animated techniques in Japan. Now, it's finally coming out with a physical release in the West, with the title containing more than just the movie itself. Soon available for purchase exclusively in the U.S. through the official store of the world's largest anime streaming platform, the Blu-ray also includes several additional items for Macross fans to enjoy.

Related Transformers Gets Shattered Glass' Optimus Prime & War for Cybertron's Jetfire Reissues Two more sets of previous Transformers action figures are being reissued,...

Over the weekend at McM Comic Con London, Anime Limited announced plans to release a Macross Plus Ultimate Edition Blu-ray , with a launch penciled in for fall 2024. For folks in the UK, the set will be available via AllTheAnime.com . For Sharon Apple fans in the U.S., the Crunchyroll Store will carry the set exclusively in the region. The Macross Plus Ultimate Edition packs the four-episode 1994 Ova in a large rigid slipcase. Physical bonuses include a hardcover book looking back at the history and production of the series—complete with staff interviews, character designs, background and key animation art and more—as well as a series of nine art cards and an A3 "concert promo" poster. The discs themselves include the movie and Ova versions of Macross Plus , with options for the original Japanese language with subtitles as well as both the Manga Entertainment dub for the Ova and...

The original Gundam movie trilogy is set to receive its first-ever 4K Uhd release for international markets, shipping out this summer as the franchise celebrates 45 years in 2024.

Animation distributor All The Anime opened orders for Mobile Suit Gundam Movie Trilogy (4K Uhd) on May 9, 2024, with fans currently able to pre-order the Collector's Edition for around $125, discounted from $150 until June 6. The Blu-ray officially releases on June 24, with All The Anime's official X (formerly Twitter) account teasing the release, "A piece of anime history Own the original Mobile Suit Gundam trilogy in stunning 4K Uhd quality for the first time outside of Japan - now available for pre-order!" Readers can check out images from the upcoming Gundam Blu-ray below.

Related A Silent Voice Anime Director Returns With New Film & International Release Window Gkids reveals the release window for Science Saru's The Colors Within (Kiminoiro), helmed by the acclaimedA Silent Voiceanime directorNaoko Yamada.

Launched in 2012, Kontravoid is the solo project of Cameron Findlay. Born in Canada and based now in LA, Findlay has perfected his own brand of dark pop that cruises freely through electronic music genres. With the release of the video for his latest single “Reckoning,” Findlay also showcased his love for anime. Tapping into his love of the works of Yoshiaki Kawajiri, the video provides a window into this overall influence anime has on his artistic endeavors. When an artist is so clear about their love of anime, naturally we have to talk to them! Keep reading to learn more about Findlay’s influences and see his top 10 favorite anime. Can you tell me a little about your anime journey? How it started and where you are now? Are there genres you gravitate toward? Findlay : I grew up in Toronto, and in the late ’90s/early 2000s there used...

The majority of Macross' anime library is heading to Disney+ in 2024.

The official Macross website has revealed that 18 titles will be distributed exclusively on Disney+ by the end of 2024 internationally, with only The Super Dimension Fortress Macross and The Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Do You Remember Love? tagged for Japan only. Readers can check out a special newly drawn visual by Macross F character designer Risa Ebata, along with the full list of Macross titles heading to Disney+, below.

Related Dragon Ball Creator's Sand Land Anime Series Reveals New Trailer & Release Date Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama's upcoming Sand Land anime series receives a new trailer for its release date announcement on Disney+. The Macross Anime Catalog Streaming on Disney+ in 2024 The Super Dimension Fortress Macross (Japan only) The Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Do You Remember Love? (Japan only) The Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Flash Back 2012 The Super Dimension Fortress Macross II -Lovers,...

Do you know what would make Disney+ so much better? Unedited versions of movies like Splash? No. Adding the missing Simpsons episodes? Nah. The answer is anime, namely Macross!

Yes, the legendary mecha series is coming to Disney’s streaming service! The news was posted on the series’ official website. Although a date for Macross‘s global launch hasn’t been announced, it appears it will happen this year.

Image Credit: Disney | Macross

“It has been decided that the ‘Macross’ series will be distributed in Japan and around the world in 2024 on the content brand ‘Star’ of Disney’s official video distribution service Disney+!“

However, American Disney+ subscribers will need to make some concessions. Not all of the eighteen Macross series will be available Stateside.

Two of the eighteen series will be locked down strictly for the Japanese audience:

“The Super Dimension Fortress Macross” (Limited distribution in Japan) “The Super...

Video game publisher Red Art Games announced a North American and European releases for the MacRoss -Shooting Insight- shooting game set for later this year, as the Japanese version of the game is set to be released on March 14 for the PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch by Bushiroad Games. Further details on the Western release such as release dates, packaging and specifications for the standard and limited editions will be revealed at a later date. Red Art Games describes MacRoss -Shooting Insight- MacRoss Shooting Insight is an all-new MacRoss game, the latest entry in the landmark science fiction franchise! When multiple dimensional folds suddenly occur across space-time, pilots and songstresses alike find themselves inexplicably transported to the Battle 7! From there, six stories unfold with the fate of the galaxy at stake. Pilots, songstresses, and characters from five MacRoss series take center stage in a completely original story. Sources: Red Art...

Bryan Cranston is an accomplished voice actor in addition to his on-screen roles, having provided English voice-overs for Japanese anime. He has played various characters in anime series and films, including Joseph "Joe" Thax in Eagle Riders, Isamu Alva Dyson in Macross Plus, Eddie Barrows in Armitage III, and Fei Long in Street Fighter II - The Animated Movie. Cranston's involvement in anime shows and movies has contributed to the popularity and success of these works, and he has played a role in introducing anime to Western audiences.

While Bryan Cranston is best known for his movie and television acting from major titles like Breaking Bad, Drive, and Malcolm in the Middle, the award-winning actor was an accomplished voice actor with a taste for plahying roles in cartoons, and interestingly enough, dubbing anime.

Like many young actors looking for their big break, Cranston nourished his early acting career by doing assorted odd jobs,...

Kodansha is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Macross franchise with a commemorative art book full of history and deculture.

Previewed by publisher Kodansha, the Macross Super Encyclopedia is getting its second volume, which features cover art by Ichiro Itano. Itano is a prolific animator and producer who pioneered a style of action sequence seen in Real Robot mecha anime. These dogfights combine acrobatics with massive explosions, accentuating the drama present in Macross and other mecha franchises. The book cover image is the first such work from Itano for the franchise in over four decades. The upcoming new volume of the Macross Super Encyclopedia is centered specifically on the original incarnations of the property, comprised of The Super Dimension Fortress Macross movie retelling The Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Do You Remember Love? and music video collection The Super Dimension Fortress Macross Flash Back 2012.

Related: Crunchyroll Settles in User Information Privacy...

With over 50+ films, Camera Japan Festival is proud to announce its full and diverse programme, combining films ranging from de newest and best Japanese arthouse, animation, documentaries, short films and classic cinema.

The 18th edition of the festival will be opened at Rotterdam based LantarenVenster on September 21st with a festive screening of Takahashi Masaya's European premiere of The Dry Spell. One day prior, the festival unofficially kicks off at Worm with a very special screening of Spaghetti Ramen. From 28 September – 1 October, the festival moves to Amsterdam's LAB111.

With three international and ten European premieres, the festival consists of a very special and exclusive film programme. Films such as Tsugaru Lacquer Girl, Firing the Lighter Gun and The Rest of Our Lives, will have their first screenings outside of Japan, here, at Camera Japan Festival.

As if the international premieres were not special enough, the festival is honored to welcome...

Shoji Kawamori's Super Dimension Fortress Macross has not just endured and evolved for more than four decades, but it's considered one of manga and anime's most important space opera mecha franchises alongside Mobile Suit Gundam and Space Battleship Yamato. Macross follows an alternate version of the Earth's history after they reverse-engineer complicated alien technology to form mecha and pivotal tools to aid them in a galactic war.

Macross' legacy has branched out to anime, feature films, light novels, and more than 40 video games. Each new Macross chapter adds something new to the equation, but the mecha series has also found such popularity through its ability to proudly embrace particular shonen genre stereotypes.

Related: 10 Best Anime Series That Set The Standard For Mecha

There’s A Contrived Love Triangle

Shonen series have a complicated relationship when it comes to romance. Romance can be a central component in shojo series, but...

Macross is easily one of the biggest and most popular mecha anime franchises—though that's mostly in Japan. The series found quite a bit of success in its native country due to its combining giant robots with Japanese music idol culture. Sadly, there hasn't been much widespread international presence for the property since the 1980s, but this is finally changing.

An international re-release of Macross Plus is finally on its way, bringing one of the best entries in the franchise to audiences everywhere. It's the first time in decades that this has happened, with the series and its predecessors/successors previously caught up in all manner of legal entanglements. Those walls are finally tumbling down, and it's just in time for the mecha genre's revival.

Related: What Is Gundam & How Many Gundam Anime Are There?

Macross Plus Is One of the Best Anime In the Franchise

Originally released in 1994, Macross Plus...

For a long time the Macross anime franchise couldn’t escape the shadow of Robotech, at least in America. Ever since Robotech utilized the first Macross series as part of its amalgamation of three shows in the ‘80s, it’s been difficult for Macross to make its own place in the United States. Due to complicated legal problems most of the franchise besides the original series wasn’t legally available in the U.S. for the past 20 years. This was a shame since the Macross franchise continued on from its original series with multiple sequels, films, manga, and more.

Now we’re finally getting it. After the agreement earlier this year between all parties involved with Macross and Robotech, the theatrical film Macross Plus is coming to US theaters on December 14th. The synopsis for the film, set in the same universe as the first Macross series, is below.

In...

Since any New York City cinephile has a nearly suffocating wealth of theatrical options, we figured it’d be best to compile some of the more worthwhile repertory showings into one handy list. Displayed below are a few of the city’s most reliable theaters and links to screenings of their weekend offerings — films you’re not likely to see in a theater again anytime soon, and many of which are, also, on 35mm. If you have a chance to attend any of these, we’re of the mind that it’s time extremely well-spent.

Film Society of Lincoln Center

“Total Verhoeven” begins with the likes of RoboCop, Showgirls, and Turkish Delight.

Film Forum

Experience the best of an oft-maligned format with “3-D Auteurs,” showcasing contemporary and classic technological innovation.

Labyrinth will screen on Sunday morning.

Museum of Modern Art

“Tom Hanks: A Tribute” begins tonight, while “To Save...

Upcoming manga/anime-themed feature film Black Hat is currently in the fundraising stage, and among the cool incentives being offered is an opportunity to attend the premiere with one of the stars, Brooke Lewis herself!

We have some information on the project below; for more visit the official Black Hat fundraising campaign at Seed & Spark, "like" Black Hat on Facebook, and follow Black Hat on Twitter (@blackhatanime).

And be sure to head over and check out the sights at BrookeLewis.com as well. Oh, Ms. Vampy, how we love ya!

From the Press Release

The national fundraising campaign for Black Hat has launched to promote the passion of the anime, manga, and cosplay community with writer/director/actor Robbie Bryan (iMurders, The Stand-In). The launching pad is with Seed & Spark, a truly independent filmmaking community where filmmakers and audiences come together for crowd-funding, production, and streaming distribution.

The campaign coincides...

McM Expo/London Comic Con returns to ExCel London on 25th – 27th October. As well as hosting a galaxy of great sci-fi, movie, games, comics, anime and cosplay content, they’ve also got their usual huge line up of special guests – with more guests being added all the time! see www.mcmcomiccon.com for the latest London Comic Con news – but here’s a round-up of who’s been announced so far:

Red hot fantasy-noir show Lost Girl is coming to McM London Comic Com, with stars Ksenia Solo (Black Swan, Life Unexpected) and Rachel Skarsten (Transporter: The Series, Birds Of Prey) plus executive producer Jay Firestone (Andromeda, La Femme Nikita). Stars from hit sci-fi series Warehouse 13: Kelly Hu (Arrow, X-Men 2, The Vampire Diaries); Eddie McClintock (Bones, Desperate Housewives) and actor/director Saul Rubinek (Frasier, Curb Your Enthusiasm). The stars of new crime thriller By Any Means: Warren Brown (Luther,...

The voice cast of the upcoming animated film from directors Lauren Montgomery (Green Lantern: Emerald Knights, Superman/Batman: Apocalypse) and Sam Liu, (All-Star Superman, Superman/Batman: Public Enemies) 'Batman: Year One' has been revealed. One thing that may come as a disappointment to many is that veteran voice actor, Kevin Conroy will not provide the voice for Batman as he has for years in the television shows, 'Batman: The Animated Series,' 'Batman Beyond,' and 'Justice League.' Conroy also did the voice of Batman for Liu's aforementioned animated feature, 'Superman/Batman: Public Enemies' and Montgomery's 'Superman/Batman: Apocalypse.'Suffice to say, it is a little shocking to hear that Conroy won't be the voice of Batman, but given that his tone is that of a hardened, older gentleman and 'Year One' tells the tale of a young Batman,...

Directed by: Mamoru Oshii

Written by: Kazunori Itō, Masamune Shirow

Cast: Atsuko Tanaka, Akio Ōtsuka, Tamio Ōki, Yutaka Nakano, Shigeru Chiba

Music: Kenji Kawai

A question posed throughout all of human history, one possibly more insightful and more relevant than the meaning of life, deals with that of humanity.

What makes a human being? Is it our body? Our intellect? Our consciousness? What makes man any different from a machine performing functions? Could a machine be more human than a human? The list goes on and on, and there’s still no definitive answer to the question - but it certainly gets us to think, doesn’t it? In 1995, an anime readdressed this question using cyborgs.

Science fiction often asks this question, as well as its other related issues, and much of this discussion began in the popularly writings of Isaac Asimov. Ghost in the Shell, produced by Production I.

The Halo franchise is going the Animatrix route by releasing a series of anime short films in a collected anthology entitled Halo Legends. The collection will feature seven stories told across eight episodes, all serving to expand the mythology of the Halo universe, much in the same way that the recently-released Halo 3: Odst sought to do.

For those of you still waiting on your live-action Halo movie, it seems as though you’ll have to make due with Legends for now, so, if “universe expansion films” like The Animatrix or Batman: Gotham Knight haven’t turned you off completely to this sort of thing, check out these highlights from the Halo Legends official press release:

Go deeper into the Halo universe than

ever before with Halo Legends, an all-new, CG and traditional anime

PG-13 experience that presents enthralling new stories from one of the

world’s most popular video game franchises.

Exactly what you've all been waiting for... Sort of. Warner Home Video has announced today that they will release Halo: Legends, a series of seven animated short films. It will hit DVD and Blu-ray on February 9, 2010. For your amusement, please see the official press release below: Go deeper into the Halo universe than ever before with Halo Legends, an all-new, CG and traditional anime PG-13 experience that presents enthralling new stories from one of the world’s most popular video game franchises. Produced by 343 Industries, a part of Microsoft Game Studios, the exciting tales-beyond-the-games will be distributed February 9, 2010 by Warner Home Video as a Special Edition 2-disc version on DVD and Blu-Ray for $29.98 (Srp) and $34.99 (Srp), respectively, as well as single disc DVD for $19.98 (Srp) due date for all versions is January 5, 2010. The chapters will also be available On Demand and Digital Download. Halo Legends is a seven-story anthology – told across eight spectacular episodes – that explores the...