Monthly Archives: December 2022

ABLAZE Publisher Announces Summer 2023 Publications

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ABLAZE’s summer 2023 releases will include Manga, Manhwa & webtoons graphic novels. ABLAZE titles are distributed in print worldwide by Diamond Comic and Diamond Book Distributors. Digital versions of ABLAZE titles are available via most major digital platforms. 

Wakfu Vol. 1: The Quest for the Eliatrope Dofus

The adventures of the Brotherhood of the Tofu continue in a story that directly follows season 2 of the TV series! See the heroes of WAKFU ride again in the brand new manga series written by Tot, the creator of WAKFU & DOFUS, and illustrated by Said Sassine!

The TV series is based on the tactical turn-based MMORPG developed by Ankama Games of the same name. The game is a squeal to Ankama’s previous game, Dofus. The games series has attracted over 40 million+ players worldwide and is especially well-known in France.

As for the TV series, the first season of 26 episodes began airing on 30 October 2008, and new episodes would continue to air into January 2010. The third season of Waku premiered on Netflix worldwide on April 6, 2018, and featured an all-new English cast with Voice actors from Los Angeles. On May 7, 2020, Ankama announced that season 4, intended as the story’s final chapter, is currently in development. A Kickstarter campaign to fund its production was launched on June 8, 2020; the target was reached within an hour after the campaign was started.

Manga Synopsis

Yugo, Ruel, Percedal, Amalia, and Evangelyne are now living their lives, each on their own. The adventurers reunite at Alibert’s for Yugo and Adamai’s birthday, launching this latest saga when a party pooper comes to interrupt the celebrations and forces our friends to set off on the road once again for adventure! Available June 27th

TERROR MAN Vol. 1 by Handong Woo and Kojin Ho

Based on the hit Korean webtoon, this comic offers a complex, compelling story of an unlikely hero who is misunderstood and unappreciated for the good he does.

Written by Handong Woo and illustrated by Kojin Ho, this Manhwa series began serialization on the official Thai Webtoon on December 15, 2016. The series has two seasons, with a third season seemingly on hiatus. Currently, there is no official English release; however, ABLAZE will release a new manhwa series based on the hit Webtoon comic on June 27, 2023.

Manhwa Synopsis

Jungwoo Min has a special ability, one that lets him see when a path leads to a misfortune or disaster. He uses his “Eyes of Misfortune” to spot these unfortunate events and stop them. Disguising himself as a terrorist, he begins using his power to save people from certain danger. This leads him to become feared by the people he is looking to save. Soon he discovers that the more he saves others, the unhappier he becomes. Thus unfolds the story of a hero and his struggle between happiness and despair. And the unfortunate reality of saving the world, even while becoming a supposed terrorist…or TERROR MAN.

CENTAURS Vol. 1 by RYO SUMIYOSHI

CENTAURS delivers a story of adventure and freedom inspired by Japanese mythology and features impressive art and character designs by Sumiyoshi, who created creatures for the bestselling Monster Hunter game series.

Manga Synopsis

Created by Ryo Sumiyoshi, best known for ASHIDAKA: The Iron Hero, this epic fantasy adventure is set in an alternate medieval Japan, where humans co-exist with the mythic half-man/half-horse beasts known as centaurs, or “jinba”. The centaur race was long revered as gods in ancient times; however, with the advent of the Sengoku (warring states) period, humans started to enslave and use them for military purposes due to their speed, stamina, and ability to communicate in human language. Centaurs living in the plains were rapidly subjugated; in contrast, large numbers of centaurs living deep in the mountains were still free due to their relative isolation.

A wild and proud samurai jinba from the mountains named Matsukaze, known as the redheaded rock tiger, is caught while protecting his son. He is traded to a feudal lord and taken to his land. There he meets another centaur named Kohibari, whose village was burned down as a child. He is a tame centaur who had his arms amputated when he was captured and has given up hope of escaping his human captors. If they can get over their differences and work together, they just might be able to return to the wilds as free centaurs. Available July 11th.

All these titles are available for preorder on Amazon.

About ABLAZE Publishing

ABLAZE is based in portland Organ, and according to their official website, The mantra of ABLAZE is quality first, with the goals of giving creators a platform, bringing new voices into the conversation, serving as diverse an audience as possible, and bringing some of the best content from all corners of the globe to readers. ABLAZE currently has published over 80 titles. For more information, visit their official website here.

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Eric Wong Interview – Behind The Virtual World of U

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We began this year with Mamoru Hosoda’s latest anime film, BELLE, and our exclusive interview with Kylie McNeill, the English voice of Suzu/Belle. Hosoda gave us an exclusive interview during Animation is Film Festival 2021, in where he stated the follow about BELLE,

BELLE was first screened on July 15, 2021, at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival, where it received a 15-minute standing ovation. The film was released in theaters across Japan, earning a total of ¥6.53 billion at the box office and $1.8 million in the U.S. Initially Belle premiered at the Animation is Film Festival 2021, serving as the centerpiece film. Belle quickly gained popularity due to the vocal performances of artists Kaho Nakamura and Kylie McNeill (English dub), both who had never done any voice-over work prior. Additionally, anticipation for the film grew due to Hosoda’s art direction and artistic elements from Disney’s 1991 animated film, Beauty and the Beast.

Kaho Nakamura (Japanese voice) & Kylie McNeill (English Dub)

When creating the virtual world of U, Hosoda sought out different artists, until he found Eric Wong’s work online. Highly impressed by Wong’s work, Hosoda’s team contacted him for the opportunity to work as the designer of the world of U . From U”s background and buildings to the U”s clouds and sky, Eric spent the COVID lockdown meticulously working on designs and renders for U. Watch our exclusive interview with Eric Wong and find out how he created U and much more!

To learn more about Eric Wong and his work, visit his official website at, http://www.ericwong.co.uk/

Want more BELLE content? Check our following BELLE article and Cast Interviews:

Interview with Kylie McNeil (Suzu / Belle) | Interview With Paul Castro Jr. (Dragon/Ryu) | Mamoru Hosoda’s BELLE | Review | BELLE premieres at Animation Is Film Festival 2021

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After 25 years Ash Ketchum Departs from the Pokemon Anime Series

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The Pokemon Company announced its next Pokemon anime series, and for the first time in 25 years, Ash Ketchum and Pikachu will not be the main characters.

Original Visual Key Art
2022 Comparison – 25 Years Later

The announcement comes after Ash achieved his long dream of becoming a Pokemon Master in the 42nd episode of Pokémon Ultimate Journeys. Ash began his journey in 1997, and only in 2022 did he make his dream of becoming a Pokemon Master a reality by being crowned as the world champion.

A commemorative episode set to air on December 23rd in honor of their 25-year-old Journey. The final episode featuring Ash and Pikachu will air on January 13th, 2023, with a brand new Pokemon series set to air sometime in April 2023.

The new series will feature new main characters, Liko and Roy. Their journey is set to begin alongside their Paldea starter Pokémon, Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly. Sarah Natochenny, took to social media to express her love for the character and fans after voicing Ash for 15 years, from 2006 – 2022.

Watch the new series announcement trailer here

It is fan speculation that Ash and Pikachu will return in cameo roles in the upcoming series. Perhaps even serving as a trainer for Liko and Roy. What do you think of the new characters? Will you be watching the new series without Ash and Pikachu? Comment below! We’d like to hear from you!

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Laika Limited Edition Steelbooks – Now Available

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For the first time ever, you can enjoy two LAIKA films on 4K UHD which includes a limited edition steelbook case.

Brought to you by Laika Studios and Shout! Factory, these two groundbreaking and Academy Award-nominated stop motion features, Coraline and ParaNorman, are now available in 4K for the first time ever! The films have been through 4K restoration with HDR and Dolby Vision plus Dolby Atmos for the ultimate entertainment experience.

Coraline and ParaNorman were painstakingly remastered by the team at LAIKA, led by LAIKA CEO (and Kubo and the Two Strings Director) Travis Knight, and Visual Effects Supervisor Steve Emerson, who pored over each film shot-by-shot, paying close attention to every last detail and color to present these groundbreaking films in the most dynamic format.

The use of Dolby Vision has made these films look more spectacular than ever before, with vivid colors and exacting picture quality, and with highlights brighter and essential dark elements darker, unleashing the full potential of HDR technology. The films were also mixed in Dolby Atmos spatial audio, bringing out more details and clarity in the sound, resulting in an even more immersive experience for fans.

The SteelBook releases feature new hand drawn art from auteur illustrators carefully selected to newly represent the films while keeping their original spirit alive. Known for creating bold and vibrant illustrations, Cancun-based illustrator and Art Director Cesar Moreno created the art for Coraline, and the ParaNorman cover art was drawn by Kevin Tong, an artist living and working out of Austin, TX.

The sets include all the bonus features of the recent LAIKA Studios Editions and a new booklet.

Laika films, Kubo And The Two String and The Boxtrolls are also set to be released in 4KUHD February 28, 2023. Each SteelBook + Blu-ray set with beautiful new hand drawn art. The sets include all the bonus features of the recent LAIKA Studios Editions and a new booklet. The Boxtrolls Steelbook case will be created by Cancun-based illustrator and Art Director Cesar Moreno, and the Kubo and the Two Strings cover art was drawn by Kevin Tong.

You can purchase Coraline and ParaNorman and PREORDER Kubo and The Boxtrolls below:

Anime Pasadena 2022 – Death Note Interviews

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Anime Pasadena 2022 was held in mid-November 2022 at the Pasadena convention center. The event had over 40 guests, panels and various activities, including autographs sessions and an after party.

One of many highlights from Anime Pasadena 2022 was the reunion of the Death Note cast. Although Shannon Chan Kent who voiced Misa Amane was unable to attend as previously announced, the show continued with voice actors Brad Swaile (Light Yagami), Brian Drummond (Ryku) and Alessandro Juliani (L Lawliet). Despite having huge lines, all three voice actors stayed late into the night to signing fan items.

According to an interview granted to us by Alessandro Juliani, this is the first time they’ve all gathered together for anime convention. Juliani stated, This was the first time he had attended an all anime themed convention. Adding, he mostly attending conventions or events that deal with his on camera work.

Watch our interviews with Death Note cast members, Alessandro Juliani and Brian Drummond as they speak about their work in the anime series as L and shinigami, Ryku!

Interview with Alessandro Juliani (L)

Interview with Brian Drummond (Ryku)

Anime Pasadena 2023 has been announced, you find more information on this event here.

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Knights of the Zodiac: Saint Seiya Live Action Film | Trailer

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On Thursday, December 1st, Sony and Toei Animation premiered the first trailer for Tomasz Baginski’s live-action Knight of The Zodiac, starring Mackenyu as the protagonist, Seiya.

Mackenyu as Seiya

The film stars Mackenyu as Seiya, Sean Bean as Alman Kido, Famke Janssen as Guraad, Madison Iseman as Sienna & Nick Stahl as Cassius. According to the film’s IMDB page, the film is set to be a live-action remake of the 1986 anime adaptation.

Knight of The Zodiac Live Action Teaser Trailer

Knight of the Zodiac: Saint Seiya Origins

The film is based on the Saint Seiya Anime series, which is adapted from Masami Kurumada’s manga series of the same name. Saint Seiya was published in Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine from 1986 to 1990,and according to comipress.com, the manga series has sold well over 25 million copies in Japan as of 2007 and has over 50 million copies in circulation as of 2022, according to Animate Times.

The series was adapted into an anime series in 1986, three months before the first manga volume was published. The anime series was produced more quickly than the manga; therefore, Toei Animation created original stories to fill in the gaps between story arcs. These original stories were not featured in the original manga.

Kurumada’s Highly Influential Series

The Seiya series is considered to be one of the most highly influential anime of the 80s, inspiring other works such as Mobile Suit Gundam Wing and Mobile Fighter G Gundam. According to Jonathan Clements and Helen McCarthy in their published work, The Anime Encyclopedia: A Guide to Japanese Animation Since 1917, Saint Seiya also inspired Legend of Heavenly Sphere Shurato, Ronin Warriors, and Wild Knights Gulkeeva, all released between the late 1980s and early 1990s.

The series was highly influential that, according to an article by Mark McHarry; Matthew Thorn, a cultural anthropologist and an Associate Professor at the Department of Manga Production at Kyoto Seika University, stated that at the peak of the Seiya popularity, the yaoi genre was also making its way to the top at the same time. The Seiya boom, alongside Captain Tsubasa, largely contributed to popularizing the term “Yaoi” in the late 1980s.

The Saint Seiya Media Franchise

The Saint Seiya manga is composed of three sagas Sanctuary, Poseidon, and Hades. All three sagas were then divided into different story arcs. As previously stated, the original 1986 anime series featured original stories that were not featured in the manga and were only made specifically for the anime series.

The Seiya manga series spawned several spin-offs, including Saint Seiya Episode G by Kurumada, The Lost Canvas by Shiori Teshirogi, Saintia Shō by Chimaki Kuori, and most recently, Dark Wing by Kenji Saito and Shinshu Ueda.

The 1986 anime also spawned a few spin-offs which included three original video animations released from 2002 to 2008. A fifth film, Saint Seiya: Heaven Chapter – Overture was released in 2004, followed by Saint Seiya: Legend of Sanctuary in 2014. Novels based on the series were also written between 1988 and 2002. Other media featured video games, musical productions and drama audio CDs. Netflix released an original net animation titled Knight of the Zodiac: Saint Seiya, which premiered in 2019.

The First Attempt at an American Adaptation

Sometime in the 1990s, an American adaptation/remake of the series was set to be produced by Renaissance-Atlantic Entertainment and retitled as Guardians of the Cosmos; apparently Guardians of the Galaxy was already taken. Unfortunately, or fortunately, the show was never aired and was eventually lost to time until Youtuber Ray Mona discovered the pilot in early December 2022.

With all this rich history, the only question in the mind of long-time Seiya fans is, will Hollywood get it right this time? Only time will tell. Film Director Tomasz Baginski is known for his work on The Witcher series, having worked on both the game and the 2019 TV series serving as exclusive producer. Lead star Mackenyu rose to fame with the Chihayafuru: Kami no Ku trilogy and is known in the anime community for portraying Enishi Yukishiro in the Rurouni Kenshin live-action film. Baginski’s Knight of the Zodiac is set to be released in 2023.

For more information and updates on the film, ahead on over to their official YouTube channel.

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Krystal Fox – 20 Years Later | STAR FOX Estelle Ellis Interview

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September 23rd of this year marked the 20th anniversary of Star Fox Adventures, which was Released by British video game developer Rareware.

Adventures offered a different take on the Star Fox series, originally a beat ’em up, space-shooter game. Adventures was intended to be an original game with no connection to the star fox series titled Dinosaur Planet, which was set to be released for the Nintendo 64.

Dinosaur Planet

The original game was set in an open world and would follow two protagonists, Sabre the wolf and Krystal the fox, and allow players to interchange characters via Swapstones. However, Shigeru Miyamoto & Nintendo held a meeting with Rareware, who had a contract with Nintendo then, to merge Star Fox and Dinosaur Planet into one due to Sabre’s similarities with Fox McCloud.

Promotional image featuring Krystal Fox before the redesign

After agreeing, Rareware staff would discuss how they would fit their characters and art style into the Star Fox universe. Although Dinosaur Planet game never officially saw the light of day, the first 50 Minutes of the game was leaked online in 2021. The outcome from the merge was Star Fox Adventures which was released on September 23rd, 2002, for the Nintendo Gamecube, instead of the Nintendo 64.

Most of Rareware work on Dinosaur Planet was eventually made it into the final version of the game; this included some of the characters, most notably Krystal The Fox.

Krystal Through Time

Voiced by Estelle Ellis, and later by Alésia Glidewell, Krystal has been featured in various Star Fox games, including Star Fox Assault in 2005 and Command in 2006. Krystal’s last appearance was in Ultimate as an Assist Trophy in 2018. Since then, Krystal has not appeared or even been mentioned in any official Star Fox game. Additionally, she did not appear in the latest star fox title, Star Fox Zero. Much about Krystal is unknown; from her early origins in Dinosaur Planet to today, her stance in the game series is officially unknown.

Here to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Star Fox Adventures, the game that introduced us to Krystal the Fox, is former voice actress Estelle Ellis the voice of Krystal! After nearly 20 years, Estelle returns to the spotlight to speak about her experiences behind the mic, voicing Krystal and her experience now with the Krystal fan base.

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