It seems like its a big day for classic anime. Trigun with a new movie and now Slayers having a new series.  This was  an anime series that I loved. With newer styles of animation it will be interesting to see how things change, since a lot of the drawing styles and hair styles were very influenced in the 90’s. I will be looking forward to this. 

Page 24 of Fujimi Shobo’s Dragon Magazine’s April issue — which is officially on sale on February 29 but was previewed early — has announced that a new television anime project is in the works for Hajime Kanzaka’s Slayers fantasy light novels. The official title and the cast has yet to be revealed. The official Hajime Kanzaka Fan Club has confirmed the news and added that the project will feature an anime-exclusive story, split across two cours (two seasons of three months). Director Takashi Watanabe will oversee J.C. Staff, the same studio that worked with him on all three previous Slayers television series. Kanzaka also created the Lost Universe novels, manga, and anime series.

The fan club could not confirm who will be in the project’s cast or even if Lina, the popular character voiced by Megumi Hayashibara, will be featured in this project. The club’s news report did say that more details will be revealed in Dragon Magazine and anime magazines. Central Park Media and FUNimation Entertainment both released the three previous Slayers television series in English in North America.

http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-02-27/new-slayers-tv-anime-series-in-the-works

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Now playing: Opie and Anthony – O&A 02-27-08
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One of my all time favorite animated series. A lot of the people who worked on the original series are coming back to do the movie so hopefully this will be good. I am though a bit surprised that there will be a movie made since the anime was not that popular in Japan. 

The promotional cover wrapper on the 14th and final volume (released on Wednesday) of Yasuhiro Nightow’s Trigun Maximum manga has revealed a 2009 opening for the previously announced Trigun theatrical animation project. The tentatively titled “Trigun the Movie” project will feature a completely original story from Nightow and Trigun series director Satoshi Nishimura (Hajime no Ippo/Fighting Spirit, Shin Cho Bakumatsu Shonen Seiki Takamaru), as well as a script by Yasuko Kobayashi (Claymore, Shakugan no Shana, Witchblade anime). Takahiro Yoshimatsu (Jubei-chan – Secret of the Lovely Eyepatch, Ninja Scroll series) will return from the Trigun television series to design the characters that Madhouse will animate. The manga’s cover wrapper indicates the story will be about “Vash vs. Wolfwood,” the two main characters of the popular manga.

The possibility of a Trigun movie first arose over two years ago in an interview with Madhouse founder Masao Maruyama and later at Tokyo Anime Fair 2006.

http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-02-27/animated-trigun-the-movie-planned-for-2009-in-japan

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Now playing: Opie and Anthony – O&A 02-27-08
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This is huge news especially that Leonardo DiCaprio’s film production company has taken control of this, so it’s good news that this will actually get done. 

After once acquiring the rights to produce an American live action adaptation of Katsuhiro Otomo’s manga series Akira then letting those rights expire, Warner Bros. has re-acquired adaptation rights, this time in conjunction with Legendary Pictures, the studio behind 300, and Leonardo DiCaprio’s film production company Appian Way. According to The Hollywood Reporter and Variety Magazine, first time feature film director Ruairi Robinson has been hired to helm the production of two live action Akira movies that will cover the first and second half of the Akira manga story. Relative newcomer screenwriter Gary Whitta will write the films. Leonardo DiCaprio will reportedly serve as one of several producers.

The setting of the movies will be changed from Neo-Tokyo to “New Manhattan.”

The first film is tentatively scheduled for theatrical release in the summer of 2009.

http://www.animenation.net/news/index.php?id=12146