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Anime Expo 2012 AMV contest: video list and links!

In what may or may not be the last post about this year’s AX, we’re bringing you the AMV setlist from this year’s AMV contest, complete with links to where you can watch them. The Anime Expo AMV contest had a strong showing again this year, though many of the videos shown had debuted previously elsewhere. I am also pleased to note that all AMV events were absolutely packed this year, so if you too are an AMV fan, you’re in increasingly good company! 

Without further ado, this year’s Anime Expo AMV contest finalists (winners in bold). Click to watch them!

Drama

Action

Comedy

Random/Fun

AMTV-PRO

Enjoy! 

~Fushi

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FictionJunction wows fans at Anime Expo!

Despite being crammed into a Dealer’s Hall-sized concrete room full of metal chairs rather than the Nokia Theater thanks to this year’s Anime Expo being double-booked downtown with the X-Games, Saturday night was a very special time for Anime Expo con-goers who had the opportunity to see the wildly famous composer Yuki Kajiura with her band FictionJunction.

Setlist included:

    1. The beginning of the end (Fate/Zero)
    2. The battle is to the strong (Fate/Zero)
    3. The image theme of Xenosaga II
    4. Vanity (from solo album “Fiction”)
    5. In the land of twilight, under the moon (.Hack//Sign)
    6. Hanamori no oka (Hokuto no Ken)
    7. Parallel hearts (Pandora Hearts)
    8. Salva Nos (Noir)
    9. Forest (El Cazador De La Bruja)
    10. Sis Puella Magica (Madoka Magica)
    11. Credens Justitiam (Madoka Magica)
    12. Himeboshi (Mai HiME)
    13. Duran Shoukan (Mai HiME)
    14. Mezame (Mai HiME)
    15. Stone cold (Sacred Seven)
    16. Zodiacal sign (Aquarian Age)
    17. Open your heart (.Hack//Sign)

(Encore)

  1. The World (.Hack//Sign)

As you can see, the concert focused on anime pieces, with the crowd going wild for music from Fate/Zero and .Hack//Sign. The biggest fan-favorites were - predictably - the awesome renditions of “Sis Puella Magi” and “Credens Justitiam” from Madoka Magica. Kajiura also talked a bit about the band and her work. Pictures of the concert were prohibited, but the band wanted to take one with the audience, which can be seen above!

If you weren’t at Anime Expo, don’t despair! Kajiura’s music is now available via iTunes, and you have another chance to hear her work in action this season in Sword Art Online. 

~Fushi

Setlist information courtesy of canta-per-me

More details from Viz about Neon Alley!

At an Anime Expo panel this weekend, Viz revealed a few more details about its new venture “Neon Alley,” which we first wrote about last week. If you need a refresher: Neon Alley is Viz’s new anime streaming service, which will be providing a network-style lineup of anime and related content around the clock via a “major videogame console” for $6.99/mo. 

The attached video is a (well made, I must say) trailer premiered at the panel. So far, the anime that will definitely be on Neon Alley are:

  • Berserk
  • Bleach
  • Blue Exorcist
  • DeathNote
  • Inuyasha & Inuyasha: Final Act
  • Kekkaishi
  • Lagrange: The Flower of Rinne
  • Naruto & Naruto: Shippuden
  • Nura: Rise of The Yokai Clan
  • Tiger and Bunny
  • Vampire Knight
  • Zetman

In terms of additional content, Viz reiterated that Neon Alley will feature martial arts movies and behind-the-scenes content, and will also have anime shorts, OVAs, music videos, and anime news. A big announcement at the panel revolved around Neon Alley’s news features: they will be provided by Anime News Network!  ANN was there at the panel, and said that some of the anime news you can expect on Neon Alley will be information about upcoming conventions, and news from Japan.

Viz also announced that it will be partnering with other industry members to bring content to the network. As we have reported, the main partner at this time is Aniplex, who will be sending the dub of Blue Exorcist over to Neon Alley to premiere. However, Viz representatives also mentioned that talks are open with other industry leaders, so Neon Alley may be seeing more non-Viz content as well!

Viz representatives also answered the burning question generated by the original announcement: “what will happen to Viz’s content on other services, such as Hulu and Adult Swim?” Thankfully, the answer is that such content will remain. According to Viz, the purpose of Neon Alley is to provide fans greater access to dubbed, uncut anime content, not to replace any existing services. You will still be able to access Viz content in all of the ways that you already do, and the premieres of anime such as Blue Exorcist and Inuyasha: Final Act on Neon Alley will not prevent them from later being aired on blocks such as Adult Swim should the network chose to pick them up.

Regarding the details of subscribing to Neon Alley, Viz confirmed that the price will be $6.99/mo. The network will also have limited commercials similar to Hulu. Viz says that the reason for the limited commercials is that it’s the best way to keep the monthly price affordable for fans, as they are trying to strike a balance between the best content and an affordable price.

Unfortunately, the platform via which Neon Alley will be available was not announced at the panel. We’ll have to stay tuned to see which “major videogame console” Neon Alley will debut through.

~Fushi

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Sentai Filmworks is Licensing All of the Anime

Sentai Filmworks may have just “won” Anime Expo, despite not even hosting a panel. Ok, maybe it’s not really a competition in that regard, but they have licensed even more shows in addition to those previously announced.

Sentai have added:

  • Jinrui wa Suitai Shimashita
  • Space Brothers
  • Detroit Metal City
  • Qwaser of Stigmata

Again, Sentai’s recent practice of licensing recent shows is at work here, as Jinrui wa Suitai Shimashita and Space Brothers are from Spring and Summer 2012 respectively. The other two shows serve to beef-up an already robust catalog of fan-favorites!
~Mike Tamburelli
Via. Crunchyroll

During the weekend of Anime Expo, some news belonging to the word Campione! has come up quite a few times.

It appears that the anime adapted from the light novels by Jo Taketsuki is part of the summer line up for the popular site Crunchyroll.

The anime has also been liscensed by Sentai Filmworks.

It has been planned for Campione! to be released in 2013.

Above is a video for the commercial that had been released.

~Jami

Via: CR

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NIS America Explains Licensing Philosophy at Anime Expo 2012

Finally, the last of the larger publishing companies in North America did not have much at all in the way of new announcements, but did offer some insight into the licensing and production process. To me, NIS really stands out with the quality of their packaged releases, so I am sure it was nice for fans to get an in-depth view.

Ano Hana, Kimi ni Todoke, Bunny Drop, and Ghastly Prince Enma Burning Up are NIS’ soonest-to-be-released, with the first two being available on the show floor, and the second two releasing in August and September respectively.

Mitsu Hiraoka, the company’s producer, talked about what goes in to deciding which anime to license. Firstly, it has to be something that they think the fans will really enjoy. The second principle that guides licensing is a show’s narrative quality: it must be highly story-driven, smart, and fairly intricate. Finally, NIS selects anime based on their sense of humor. That does seem to pinpoint their licensing choices quite a bit!

To wrap up, the company divulged their plans for their newest license, Natsume’s Book of Friends. Included in the first package will be the first two seasons of the show. Preorders begin now, and it is set to release this fall!

~Mike Tamburelli

Via. Anime News Network

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Sentai Filmworks Announces New Licenses at Anime Expo 2012

Sentai Filmworks is among the newest of players in the North American anime industry, having absorbed anime licensing and publishing assets from now-defunct ADV Films. Sentai have a unique strategy: they will more often than not release anime in sub-only sets, and acquire the rights to brand-new titles very early on. This two-fold strategy usually allows them to release new anime faster than any other company (with a few exceptions).

Likely due to the fact that they are still rapidly expanding, the company did not host its own panel at Anime Expo, but they were able to announce their new acquisitions via press release. The new acquisitions include:

  • La Storia Della Arcana Famiglia
  • Campione!
  • Natsuyuki Rendezvous

As the above titles are brand-new shows, you will be able to watch them via Crunchyroll and various other streaming services. Home video release for all three is planned for next year. The following two shows are older, and will receive home and digital release this year:

  • Mayo Chiki
  • Idolm@ster: Xenoglossia
Mayonnaise chicken anyone?
~Mike Tamburelli
Via. Crunchyroll
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Funimation Adds a Slew of New Anime Titles at Anime Expo 2012

Anime Expo has already entered upon its third day, and true to the nature of what is arguably the largest and most important anime convention in North America, many publishers have announced new licenses. At this point, Funimation is the largest and perhaps most well-established publisher in business today, and the company let-loose on their newest acquisitions:

  • Aria the Scarlet Ammo
  • Jormungand
  • Blood-C
  • Blood-C: The Last Dark
  • Michiko & Hatchin
  • Appleseed XIII
  • Ikki Tousen - Great Guardians
  • Ikki Tousen - Xtreme Xecutor
  • Eureka 7: Astral Ocean

The company have also acquired two new simulcasts:
  • Binbougami ga!
  • Aesthetica of a Rogue Hero

Additionally, Funimation confirmed that their “Elite Video Service” will be extending its reach to more platforms, including iOS, Android, Roku, and Samsung Smart TV.
~Mike Tamburelli
Via. Crunchyroll
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Right Stuf Anime Expo Panel News

Anime retail and distribution company Right Stuf had some exciting announcements at their panel yesterday at Anime Expo!

Right Stuf have announced a new studio label entitled “Lucky Penny”, which the company describes as a label for “high-quality and budget-friendly editions” of anime releases. In addition, they announced three new licenses which will be the first to be released under the label. Ristorante Paradiso, Hyakko, and Aoi Hana: Sweet Blue Flowers will be released in the near future.

~Mike Tamburelli

Via. Anime News Network

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Aniplex Anime Expo Panel Announcements

Aniplex USA confirmed a few new items for 2012 at their panel at Anime Expo yesterday, and reviewed some tidbits we already knew.

The company re-stated that OreImo will be seeing a re-release in the form of a DVD boxset on July 10. The set will also include a 2-sided poster. The Baccano! Blu-ray set will be re-released on July 31st. Bakemonogatari will be released as a sub-only collection, and will contain dual-subtitle streams (one with and one without signs). There is still no release date.

As for new information, Blue Exorcist will receive an English dub. Aniplex are partnering with Viz Media’s new “Neon Alley” service to provide the broadcast. Bryce Papenbrook will be voicing Rin Okumura, and Johnny Yong Bosch will play the part of Yukio. Aniplex will also be releasing the “Mikunopolis” concert event from last year’s Anime Expo. They did not specify whether it would be on DVD or Blu-ray.

~Mike Tamburelli

Via. Anime News Network and Crunchyroll

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Crunchyroll app to be added to three new devices

It was recently announced during Anime Expo today that Crunchyroll will be releasing it’s app onto the PS3 and the Samsung Smart Tv. The app will also be releasing onto the PlayStation Vita as well.

The countries that the app will start out in are North America and Canada. Users will receive a 30 day free trial whenever they download the app from the PlayStation Network or from Samsung Smart TV’s Smart hub.

Both the apps are set to release in July while the one for the PS Vita is set to release later this year.

~Jami

Via: CR

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PSA: enter to win Panty&Stocking goodies from Funimation!

As much as I want to keep this hush-hush and improve my own odds of winning the prize, it’s only fair that I inform our wonderful followers about ANN’s contest this week. From now until the 30th, you can enter to win one of four copies of the Panty&Stocking boxset from Funimation. One grand prize winner will receive the boxset and a poster signed by the Japanese cast - which you’re not going to find anywhere else in America. Head on over to ANN’s contest page to enter.

If you’re a fan of Panty&Stocking, take note that Funi will also be holding  a whole host of special events to promote the series at Anime Expo: see the full list here. 

~Fushi

Via: ANN

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Can’t get enough of anime songs at karaoke? Anime KARAOKE MA’★ available from iTunes!

Anime KARAOKE MA’★ is an iPhone app for the die-hard anime fan in you, and the best way to bring karaoke home that is currently available stateside. It has a pretty awesome song list that is updated regularly, the ability to switch back and forth between Japanese and English-character display (zomg!), and of course can be plugged into speakers to simulate the real karaoke experience.

If you’re already the Anime KARAOKE MA’★ master, well, Anime Expo has a contest for you! In addition to its regular contest, this year it will be holding a special contest for Anime KARAOKE MA’★ app users. The contest will take place on June 30th and you have to register online, so make sure to check it out on the AX page. Singer of the FATE/ZERO opening LiSA will be there to present the prize, so there’s your incentive to check it out.

Anime KARAOKE MA’★ is available as a demo version for free on iTunes. If you like it, you can subscribe for $2.99/mo for access to the full song catalogue.

Via: Anime Expo

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Yuki Kajiura To Have Her Songs Released On iTunes

Yuki Kajiura, most known for composing the music of .hack, Fate/Zero, Tsubasa: RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE and Noir, will have her music released on iTunes in America and Europe.

Pretty much any song you can think of hers will be included, such as her two albums Fiction and Fiction II and the music she performed as part of the duo See-Saw. 

I hope iTunes continues to bring music from the anime world because iTunes doesn’t have a whole lot of that music on the site as of recent.  Hopefully, as the days (or years… whatever) go by, they will see just how popular these songs are.   I mean, iTunes does want more popularity right?  Well, what better way to get some than putting anime music on the site.  Don’t you agree?

Along with this announcement, it is known that Kajiura will be performing with her group FictionJunction on keyboards at this year’s Anime Expo.   A “special guest vocalist” will be featured and will begin at 7pm on June 30. 

Now you have another reason to go to Anime Expo along with the 3,000 other reasons! 

Source: ANN

Shaine Scalph

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