Anime News: Trails Of Cold Steel, Megalobox 2, Ghibli, Attack On Titan and More
Funimation, the leading distributor of Japanese animation has had a foot in production for some time now, but expect it to step up a gear as competition grows from the likes of Netflix. They have just announced that they will be a co-producer on the forthcoming anime fantasy The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel. Adapted from the JRPG series of the same name ( a spin-off from the Legend Of Heroes franchise that began in 2004), Funimation are producing the series along with USERJOY, SYOU and NADA. Trails Of Cold Steel is set to debut in 2022. Funimation describes the series:
Trails of Cold Steel tells a massive story of war set in the Erebonian Empire. They follow Rean Schwarzer, a student in the military academy of the empire, and how his class gets involved in the conflict between the noble and working class
Funimation has also announced that they will stream Megalobox 2: Nomad as part of their Spring 2021 line-up. The sequel to the cult 2018 sci-fi sports anime ( a futuristic spin on the classic Tomorrow's Joe boxing manga and anime) will be simulcast on Funimation Now from April 4. The series is set seven years after the original and will reveal what it takes to get Joe back into the ring. TMS has revealed a new promotional image for the series and a new trailer that you can check out below.
Netflix have released a trailer for Part four of Pokemon Journeys: The Series, now streaming for subscribers in the US. Happy 25th birthday Pikachu!
GKIDS Films and Shout Factory have announced that they will be releasing new Steelbook editions of latter Studio Ghibli films The Secret World Of Arriety and The Wind Rises on June 22. The films will join the recent release of other classics from the Ghibli library which includes Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro and Kiki's Delivery Service. As with the rest of the releases in the range, the Blu-Ray and DVD combo-pack will be identical to the previous release but will come in limited-edition Steelbook packaging with new artwork and an exclusive booklet.
Crunchyroll have released a teaser for Attack On Titan: The Final Season's epic series finale. Don't watch it if you're not up to date of course- lest you be spoiled!
Amazon Studios is working on a live-action adaptation of Hellsing, the ultra-violent vampire manga and anime from creator Kouta Hirano. The series is a relatively smart choice for a westernisation- it's set in a modern-day alternative Britain where the Hellsing Organisation and their pet tame vampire Alucard (geddit?) protect the populace from vampires, ghouls and eventually an invasion of undead Nazis. The manga has been adapted twice into animation, the 2001 TV series and the OAV series Hellsing Ultimate. The series is being adapted by John Wick screenwriter Derek Kolstad into a feature film. "Damn, this is a dream", Kolstad told Deadline, claiming he'd been obsessed with adapting the series since his brother had introduced him to it. Could it be the first decent western anime adaptation,or will it be another *shudder* Dragon Ball Evolution?
Popular anime The Ancient Magus Bride is getting a new outing. The Ancient Magus Bride: Nishi no Shonen to Seiran no Kishi is a new three-episode OAV series, that is described as the start of a new anime project. The series is set before Chise attends the College and will focus on the character Gabriel. It will be animated by Studio Kafka, a new animation studio that has been formed for this project. The series will be released in Japan from September 10.
