Live-action Akira adapation picks up steam

- greenlit by Warner Bros.
- late February/early March start
- helmed by Jaume Collet-Serra ("Unknown")
- "Tron: Legacy" star Garrett Hedlund is being considered for one of the leads
- Appian Way's Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Davisson Killoran are producing with Andrew Lazar
- Katsuhiro Otomo, who wrote and directed the 1988 the anime, will exec produce

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The ultimate otaku room is impressive...then very scary

I'm warning you, the end of this video is going to freak you out. I can appreciate the massive amount of otaku love going on here, but the end of the video is just a tad too freaky!

Rinne no Lagrange - The latest marriage of schoolgirls and mechs

Yet another mech-related anime is on the way, and this time it focuses in on a group of schoolgirls that pilot these beats. Rinne no Lagrange certainly has some pretty visuals, but I'm not too sure the pairing of mechs and schoolgirl drama is something that entices me.

Of course, I'm more than willing to give the show a shot and see how it fairs. No word on localization at this time, as the series isn't set to debut in Japan until next year. We'll have to see how it does over there before talk of localization pops up.

Did the PV for Rinne no Lagrange impress you? Does this seem like something you'd want to check out?

Understanding anime

Anime can be truly confusing to those that aren't really schooled in what anime is all about. Even then, there are some anime features that even long-time fans can get thrown off track by. While there are plenty of anime series' out there that are easy to understand, there are others that might throw the viewer for a loop.

This is one of the reasons why anime has trouble really getting into our culture, moreso than just a niche placement. It's this barrier of understanding that blocks the path to true success. Some of it has to do with cultural differences, while other aspects come in through critical thinking and the way the story is fed to the viewer.

Are audiences outside of Japan just unwilling to actually think about a series when watching it? Are we expecting a show to tell us exactly what's going on and what the motivations are, in no uncertain terms? Is that the case, or are some anime features just too deep into their country of origin's culture that the localization result doesn't make for good viewing?

Japanese game dev says game industry needs to avoid the anime industry's mistakes

“That’s because it’s (anime) not as mainstream as it used to be. They’re making it for a particular audience. I think that’s why. I watch a lot of anime but it’s for the techniques, not as entertainment. As a product, I think it’s going downhill. The general audience won’t find those interesting. It’s impossible to figure out what the target audience is for Mawaru-Penguindrum. Same goes for Madoka Magica. It’s for a very core audience like us, who enjoy them. The video game industry has to make sure they don’t make the same mistake.” - CyberConnect 2 CEO, Hiroshi Matsuyama

Mr. Matsuyama has made his feelings on the anime industry very clear. He has nothing against anime as an art form, but he believes the recent wave of content is pandering to nothing but a closed group of fans. This leads to smaller markets and fan support, which is no good for the industry itself.

Do you feel that this is the way the anime industry is heading? Does the anime industry need to stop making content just for itself and its fans? Is it time to spread out and try a new approach with content that could possibly bring in new anime viewers?

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Is Gundam AGE the best place for me to start?

I know two things about Gundam AGE. The first thing is the violent fan reaction to this version of Gundam. Fans of the franchise are not happy about the direction at all, as it's skewing younger and towards newcomers to the series. The second thing I know is that this Gundam entry is the one that entices me the most.

See, I don't have the 'baggage' of the previous Gundam series entries with me. I'm looking at Gundam with fresh eyes, and what I see here is definitely appealing. Indeed, I know that this is an attempt to get younger kids into the Gundam franchise. I think that's the element that really sells me on it.

I need a starting point for the franchise. Something other than going back and watching the very first Gundam release all the way up to what's available now. I need something new and fresh, something a little more simplistic in its tone. I need to really ease myself into this world of Gundam, and I believe AGE could be what I need.

Gundam fans, how do you feel about AGE? Are you open to the idea of this new start for the franchise, or do you happen to be one of those people that is foaming at the mouth with this direction? I'd love to hear from both sides on this one!

Getting the full experience

When I stumble upon an anime that I really like, I want to make it my mission to follow all the series offers closely. One of my pet peeves is getting interested in something and then missing out on elements that further the main story. The issue with this is that multiple anime series' offer new storyline content that comes from outside the anime.

The fact that these companies branch out and offer new content via other mediums is not a bad thing. It just makes it tougher for fans to really keep tabs on what's happening. When you have to take in 10 different types of content to stay on-top of a franchise, things can get very hectic.

Usually it all starts off with a manga. When that becomes popular enough, the translation to anime begins. When that step of the process is a success, the sky is the limit. This can lead to more manga, a movie, video game adaptations, light novels and much more. All this content coming out can make your head spin, and if you miss one of those elements you might miss a new/interesting/important story element!

How do you keep tabs on your favorite franchises? Say for example, One Piece. Do you read all the manga, watch the entire series, play the games and more? Is there just too much content and too many avenues for you to stay completely in the loop?