Anime
Netflix’s Yasuke Brings New Flair to the Samurai Anime: Review
<span class="localtime" data-ltformat="F j, Y | g:ia" data-lttime="2021-04-26T20:50:17+00:00“>April 26, 2021 | 4:50pm ET The Pitch: Yasuke (LaKeith Stanfield) isn’t your typical feudal samurai warrior, and no one will let him forget it: He’s Black. During an age of honor, tradition, and uniformity, the infamous Black Samurai’s high rank makes him a target in a world full of bigotry. But after a lifetime of pain and blood, all he wants to do is live peacefully. Unfortunately for him, that doesn’t seem to be what fate has in mind. Based on the historical figure of the same name, Yasuke follows the samurai as he abandons retirement to help transport a mysterious, magical child (Maya Tanida) to safety. The series combines the creative vision of LeSean Thoma...
Live-Action Gundam Movie Suiting Up at Netflix
<span class="localtime" data-ltformat="F j, Y | g:ia" data-lttime="2021-04-12T22:29:23+00:00“>April 12, 2021 | 6:29pm ET Suit up and get ready to fight: A live-action movie adaptation of the popular anime series Gundam is booting up at Netflix. As Variety reports, Jordan Vogt-Roberts (Kong: Skull Island) will direct. Scriptwriting duties will be handled by Brian K. Vaughn, the famed comic book writer behind Y: The Last Man. Story details haven’t been announced, but Vaughan will have no shortage of source material. Yoshiyuki Tomino launched the TV series Mobile Suit Gundam in 1979, and while the original run was cancelled due to lack of interest, it’s become a defining landmark in the mecha anime genre. Since then,...
Netflix’s Animated Series “Yasuke,” Featuring Music From Flying Lotus, Receives First Trailer
This month, honor has a new name. Netflix’s hotly anticipated new anime series Yasuke lands on the streaming service with an all-star cast behind the project. Fans of Flying Lotus will be especially pleased to hear the renowned producer is contributing an original soundtrack to the project. Flying Lotus has been involved in the project since at least 2018, and by all indications his foray into scoring the series has been a successful one. “Working on anime is my new favorite thing,” FlyLo tweeted. “I think imma try [and] stay a while. Can happily keep doin it.” Now, Yasuke has a new trailer offering more insight into the story behind the legend of the first Black samurai. Originally a boatsman, Yasuke is told he is to fulfill a prophecy, which ...
Netflix Shares Trailer for Yasuke, New Anime Scored by Flying Lotus: Watch
Flying Lotus is one of the creative forces behind a new anime series called Yasuke, which is set to premiere on Netflix on April 29th. In anticipation, the first trailer has been released and is streaming below. FlyLo both executive produced and scored Yasuke, but he’s hardly the only big name attached. LeSean Thomas, a veteran of The Boondocks and Black Dynamite, created and directed the series, while LaKeith Stanfield (Atlanta) voices the titular character. Yasuke takes its name from the first Black samurai to serve a warlord in Japan. “Yasuke is a fascinating, mysterious figure in Japanese history that’s drawn a growing interest in today’s media over the decades,” Thomas said in the press release. “I first learned of Yasuke’s role in Japanese history over a deca...
Slushii Drops Dubstep Remix of “My War” from Anime Series Attack on Titan
Slushii has paid tribute to one of the biggest anime shows out there with a new dubstep remix of Attack on Titan‘s current theme song. Originally recorded by the Japanese rock group Shinsei Kamattechan, “My War” took over as the theme of the show on the premiere of its fourth and final season late last year. Leaving the iconic, catchy vocals from the beginning of the original largely intact, Slushii, an overt anime and manga fan, eases listeners into the rework. After introducing some vocal samples from the show, he unleashes chaotic, choppy bass at a scale as epic as the battles depicted in the series. Fans of both the show and the producer took to social media in droves to share their admiration for the remix, which was created and released in just one day. You can...
So, Japan Now Has a Life-Size Gundam Robot That Moves
Let’s run down the 2020 checklist, shall we? Unyielding pandemic? Check. Murder hornets? Check. Massive political and social unrest? Oh yeah, check. 60-foot high mobile robot overlord? Thanks to Japan’s Gundam Factory Yokohama and its working, moving replica of the classic RX-78-2 suit, big ol’ check. The live-size working mecha suit, dubbed the RX-78F00, is the featured attraction at the Gundam Factory, an amusement center originally expected to open in October but delayed due to COVID-19. Situated along the Yokohama Bay, the themed experience will welcome fans of the pioneering and eternally popular manga and anime series. For the unaware, Gundam are giant, pilot-controlled suits made popular through a long-running series of comics, TV shows, movies, video games, and toy lines. They’re e...
Zack Snyder’s Army of the Dead Gets a Prequel Film and Anime Series
Zack Snyder’s Army of the Dead has grown from a lone Netflix movie to a shambling horde of a franchise. Via Variety, the director and the streamer have now announced a new prequel film and anime series. Snyder actually began his career by directing 2004’s Dawn of the Dead, which had a script from another soon-to-be blockbuster director, James Gunn. But this isn’t a return to Romero; Army of the Dead is Snyder’s own creation. It’s about a zombie outbreak that hits Las Vegas at the same time a ragtag group of mercenaries are pulling off [removes glasses] the greatest heist in history. In a statement, Snyder spoke about working with Netflix. “I’m incredibly excited for the opportunity to partner with Netflix again as we expand the Army of the Dead universe with both a...
Ranking: Every Studio Ghibli Movie from Worst to Best
With the launch of HBO Max on Wednesday, May 27th, 21 of the 22 Studio Ghibli movies will be available for streaming in the United States for the first time ever in both original Japanese audio with subtitles and English dubs. Due to distribution and licensing rights, Grave of the Fireflies will be unavailable at the time of this writing. Odds are if you’ve ever watched an anime movie, it was probably one from Studio Ghibli. The brainchild of Hayao Miyazaki has always striven to animate its films by hand whenever possible and limit CGI to a minimum. Not only has this process created a distinct visual style, but it has also served as a rock-solid foundation for a legacy that’s unmatched by any other animation studio besides perhaps Disney. Suffice to say, it’s no surprise that Studio Ghibli...
HBO Max Announces Crunchyroll Anime Titles at Launch
HBO Max is weeks away from dropping 10,000 hours of premium content into your living room. One of the more anticipated facets to the programming, however, is the onslaught of anime heading your way. In anticipation of the network’s May 27th launch, WarnerMedia and Crunchyroll have unveiled the titles you can expect to find on day one. All in all, 17 Crunchyroll titles will be made available immediately upon launch, including Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Re:ZERO – Starting Life in Another World, and In/Spectre. Naturally, the collection will expand over time with titles such as Hunter x Hunter and Death Note already confirmed for the immediate future. “Anime is a celebrated, diverse art form with a rich culture rooted in imaginative worlds and vibrant characters. Crunchyroll has centra...
