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Japanese image boards have been buzzing with excitement lately as some documents from studio BONES (guys behind FMA, Darker than Black, Ouran, Soul Eater) got leaked into the internet revealing that the studio is working on a second Full Metal Alchemist series as well as a sequel to Darker than Black. These are very exciting news for fans of either series although speculation on how the hell they will milk FMA after the movie ending is driving everyone insane.

Honestly I’m more excited about the continuation to Darker than Black, it has a deeper plot, music by Yoko Kanno and a talking cat. You cant top Yoko Kanno and a talking cat, its simple impossible.

Thanks Shiku!

As controversial as Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is he’s always been very supportive of Japanese pop culture and exporting it to the world (alledgedly as a means of world domination). An ouspoken Manga fan, Prime Minister Abe is now proposing a Foreign Manga Award that would be given to the top manga creators outside Japan. Mr. Abe has wants this award to be the ”Nobel Prize of Manga”, something I’m sure Alfred Nobel would be very proud of.

Also, anyone else think this will eventually be awarded to Doujinshi artists, furry included and webcomic artists (read: Fred from Megatokyo)? Or will anybody dare and say Manwa?

[ANN]

Even though i have seen it, 3 years ago to be exact, Viz is airing the first Naruto movie in America, with first reports months ago of it being only in major cities and a select few other cities, over 160 different theaters have decided to show it, which is impressive, and shows that maybe American culture is finally deciding to accept anime and other quirky Japanese items. Now I’m not going to tell you to go see the movie, no, in fact, i don’t really like Naruto, and i absolutely loathe the English dub, but the movie, was definitely a good one, if you like Naruto is a good one to watch, but if you like action like i like my…er, well we’ll let you think of something clever for that.

If you want my opinion:

Movie: Pretty damn awesome for Naruto (believe it! ugh)

[ANN]

Geneon, what can i say? Thanks is not enough, what did they do you ask? Well, think about this for a second… Black Lagoon, would you think that it would even stand a chance in America? With all the different translated scenes with the Japanese/English crossovers, there would be a lot of confusion with that, but Geneon has taken on that challenge full force after deciding to bring it stateside, with the launch of the new website www.Blacklagooncompany.com we can expect to see some action sometime soon, who knows, maybe some exec at Adult Swim could pick it up? If that happened, i would definitely watch it.

[TheOtaku]

Microsoft has announced that their on line media server XBox Live, will start distributing ADV produced, and released anime, saying that ADV is the largest distributor (legal) in America. No word on when this one will start, it will also start alongside Warner Brothers movies, and various Television shows, and Internet clips from totalvid.com

[ANN]

Japan, in its ever increasing attempt to promote and develop its gross national cool will be opening the first international anime research lab come this may.

Masaki Tsuji, a legendary writer for old school anime shows like Astroboy and Kimba, will lead the institute. Among his colleagues will be some of the most influential people in the industry, and naming their projects is more than enough presentation.

Detective Conan, Inuyasha, Kindaichi Shonen no Jikenbo, Kekkaishi, Fullmetal Alchemist, Shaman King even someone from Fist of the North Star.

So what will the world’s first anime ivory tower be dedicated to? Well anime research and academic development of the subject, of course! This place will deal with everything, from choosing the path anime will take in digital distribution to ethical concerns of outsourcing and all that very interesting stuff.

Pictured above, an actual anime lab scientist hard at work.

[ANN]

If you’ve long dreamed to be among the few, the proud, the hated, the english voice actors who dub anime, well the time is now! Bang Zoom Entertainment is giving a Voice Acting Boot Camp. For $299 USD you get:

• Get lots of mic experience
• Unlock the secrets of getting a good agent
• Learn how to nail a voice acting audition
• Receive handouts on how to become a great voice actor

“And much much more”, Oh, sure this may sound like sales copy for your typical seminar but hey, voice acting isn’t exactly the greatest of industries, you might get lucky! Next thing you know you will be at a Con getting the same attention and admiration a murderer gets. Then again, you might just be able to pull a Golden Boy.

[Bang Zoom Entertainment]