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Aired: October 21st, 2010
They opened the panel with a video showcasing the plethora of titles that Aniplex is associated with accompanied by the cheers of the crowd. Aniplex has tons of US partners including Funimation, but this summer, they started launching titles to the fans themselves under Aniplex of America starting with the Gurren Lagann the movie.
Their new sites include AniplexUSA.com for new series news and DurararaUSA.com which includes English voice cast videos. Cast Video Part 1 came out a month ago featuring Johnny Young Bosch for Orihara Izaya. Part 2 is with Crispin Freeman as Heiwajima Shizuo with part 3 which came out on 10/11 with Brice Papenbrook as Kido Masaomi. The company attempts to really connect with the fans since they include not just news, but they have cosplays pics, videos, twitter and facebook sites. Their youtube/AniplexUS includes the cast videos along with trailers.
Oreimo trailer was played. The series will be started on 10/8 at 1:30pm streaming on ANN (though currently, there is problems with the streaming.) Togainu no Chi -Bloody Curse- trailer was shown which will started streaming on 10/13 at 1:30pm also on ANN.
Of course, the manga is already released in the US. The CEO of ANN, Christopher MacDonald was introduced with cheers from the crowd.
The famed Durarara!!! trailer was played. The preorders started at the convention with Part 1 of the dvds coming out January 25, 2011. A 3 part release, with the first including ep. 1-9. ‘Delux digipak with clear slip case’ which will include 5 collectable postcards which are the pics on the original Japanese packages…since the American releases will have newly drawn artwork done by the original Brain Base studios. Part 2 will be 3/29/11 and part 3 in 5/11 with price $49.98. Pre-orders include a lower price along with Celty’s keychain.
The trailer of R.O.D. came with the info on the release of the complete blu-ray collection which is exactly like the Japanese version, artbook and all. The price is $199.98 with a pre-order discount of $159.98. It’s awesome that Aniplex is bringing out Japanese versions to the US…and I fully support these prices. Hey, we want the goods, we better pay the prices. ^.^
The trailer and world preimere screening panel info for Mardock Scramble -The First Compression- was shown. Obvious from the bloody, violent and awesome trailer, the movie is 18+ only with ID checks being in place for the screening. This will be movie trilogy. It’s based off of 3 novel series of sci-fi adventure. Author Ubukata Tow-sensei won the 24th Best Japanese Sci-fi Award in 2003 for the series. He made opening remarks at the screening. The novel will be released in 1/18/11 by Viz Media.
The trailer for Star Driver was shown with series premiere on saturday at the convention. This Fall season anime with talented staff including director Igarashi Takuya (Soul Eater,) character designer Ito Yoshiyuki (Fullmetal Alchemist,) and Studio Bones. President of Bones, Minami Masahiko was present at the screening.
Another screening was the Welcome to the Space Show screening which (as they remarked) was shown during Otakon this year. Many of the staff of R.O.D. was part of the movie.
They went into detail about the Durarara!!! related events at the convention including the panel with Crispin Freeman, a cosplay gathering and a scavenger hunt. They show the English voice cast clip with Crispin (Shizuo) which was hilarious. New voices announcements include Mela Lee as Karisawa Erika, Brian Beacock as Yumasaki Walker and Steve Blum as Kadota Kyohei. At the con, they sold an NYAF exclusive, Durarara!!! t-shirt which was black with Celty’s helmet on it. On Nov. 1, they will make the final cast announcement via the site.
The Q&A session commenced. With every question, someone can choose a Gurren Lagann item from the front. Of course, the shirts, towels and figures went first.
Q: Will the R.O.D. movies be included in ‘The Complete Blu-Ray’ boxset as well?
A: The ‘movies’ are the ‘ova’…so it includes the 3 episode ova in the boxset.
Q: What are some other projects that Aniplex is working on, other than the ones shown already?
A: We are planning for the Fullmetal Alchemist movie, which is the biggest project for next year.
Q: Episode 12.5 and 25 for Durarara!!!…will they be in the American dvds?
A: Yes, they will be dubbed as well. 12.5 is in part 2 disc, and 25 is at the end.
Q: Will there be a Durarara!!! movie?
A: We need fan support to make it happen. Please blog and make comments.
Q: Concerning Gurren Lagann, will we have the film release of ‘Parallel Works’?
A: ‘Parallel Works’ is a music video which was released in two parts with the 2nd part released just this year. We included the first 4 music clips in the movie. The 2nd movie will have the other 4 clips from ‘Parallel Works’. However, due to the timing of releases, we couldn’t release the 2nd part of ‘Parallel Works’ yet….
Q: Concerning the re-release of R.O.D., there was a translation error with the first version of the OVA. Will it be re translated? Also, will the longer previews will included in the set?
A: I will double check, so thank you for mentioning it. We’re still in the production process. Yes, the longer previews will be in the set.
Q: Is Vic Mignogna going to be in Durarara!!! or Star Driver?
A: There is still no further plans with Star Driver yet. But with Durarara!!!…no.
Q: What is the release date for season 2 of Black Butler?
A: That is a Funimation question. The anime is streaming online currently with a possibility of a second season release next year.
Q: Since some Aniplex titles are streaming on ANN, how do you decide which site to stream it on?
Christopher Macdonald: This question is actually for AniplexUSA since they’re the ones who decide which titles we get. We just have two titles right now. Of course, if those two do well, then we’ll get more next season.
A: This Fall season, we have 2 Aniplex titles out of 3 streaming on ANN. If this goes well, we will think about more next season. So it’s up to the fans. We also want to hear from the fans if you like it. So show your support via twitter or facebook.
Q: Currently, you’re not bringing to the US everything that you make, so when will you start doing that?
A: Aniplex is producing almost 20 titles per year. As mentioned before, we’re still working with US companies like Funimation. The reason why Aniplex is now in the US is because we want to maximize the exposure to our titles. So we try to show as much possible. If fans support increase, we will increase our titles.
Q: Do you think we can have the Japanese voice actors do make cast videos that is accesible in the US?
A: Japanese voice actors are a bit shy. But if that’s what fans want, we will definitely think about it.
Q: Will Hell Girl season 2 and 3 be licensed?
A: This is up to the current company to license it.
Q: Star Driver looks like an awesome series. Will that be release in the US some time soon?
A: The series is new, just being aired in Japan. So please wait for the news on it.
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