Update:06-19-04
.:SITE NEWS:.
Become a staff member of AGN:
AGN staff members are looking for new satff memebers for Anime/Gaming/Manga reviews,News,page making,and Tutorials. Plz e-mail us if you would like to join our staff.
.:ANIME NEWS:.
New Anime on Cartoon Network:
Friday night / Saturday Morning will see the Cartoon Network premieres of .hack//DUSK (Legend of the Twilight Bracelet) at 1:00am and Cyborg 009 Season 2 at 1:30
Genndy Tartakovsky Does Astro Boy :
Sony Pictures has announced that Samurai Jack and Dexter's Laboratory creator Genndy Tartakovsky will write and direct their Astro Boy adaptation. Originally set to be a live action adaptation, production was halted in 2000 due to similarities with Steven Spielberg's A.I.. The film was then re-envisioned as an all-CGI feature, to be directed by Eric Leighton (director of Dinosaur). However, the film is now being produced as a mixture of live-action, animatronics and CGI, with Tartakovsky replacing Leighton and Don Murphy (Angryfilms), Lisa Henson (Jim Henson) and Kristine Belson (Jim Henson) producing. No mention yet on when the film will be released.
Linkin Park Anime Music Video at MTV.com :
The new Linkin Park Video, animated by "The people that animated Kill Bill" is now available to watch on MTV.com
.:GAME NEWS:.
Sammy in joint venture with Toei:
Game publisher and Pachinko machine maker Sammy Corp. is about to expand its business model. Via a new partnership with Toei, one of Japan's oldest and most prestigious film companies, it will enter the movie theater business. The two companies plan to open a total of 10 cinema complexes in Japan over the next five years. The first cinema complex to be established by the two companies will be in the Chiba prefecture and will consist of a 12-screen complex with 2,200 seats. The cinema complexes will be built alongside amusement facilities that Sammy will operate. Sammy is hoping the two entertainment options will attract a larger audience than either a stand-alone movie complex or a game complex. The new venture will start off with a capital fund of 50 million yen ($450,000). Sixty percent will come from Sammy, and 40 percent will come from a Toei subsidiary. The name of the new venture has yet to be announced. Sammy's movement toward the movie theater business is seen as one of numerous new ventures that will likely come from its highly profitable Pachinko and Pachislot businesses.
Naruto Hero 2 on the way :
Game developer CyberConnect2 is working on a sequel to its Naruto fighting game. That news was released on the developer's Web site as well as in the popular Japanese weekly, Jump. Currently titled Narutimate Hero 2, the sequel will be released on the PlayStation 2. Details on the title are scarce at the moment, but it's known that an upgraded game system and cel-shading techniques (as was featured in the original Narutimate Hero) will be employed. Also, Narutimate Hero 2 will feature a number of new characters, including ninja master Jiraiya and three young ninjas: Shikamaru, Chouji, and Ino. Naruto: Narutimate Hero 2 is scheduled for release in the fall of 2004. No retail price has been announced. CyberConnect2 also confirmed that a new RPG is in development. A teaser page for the currently named Project GU is now live. The page presents a number of rough sketches. Specifics regarding platform and price have not yet been announced.