New Direction for "Star Wars" Animation

Lucasfilm has announced a major change in direction for Star Wars animation in the wake of the company’s acquisition by Disney and announcement of a movie slate 

 

First, a new animated show is in development that will be "...set in a time period previously untouched in Star Wars films or television programming."  No details on when the show will be launched were provided.

Second, Lucasfilm is going to "wind down" Star Wars: The Clone Wars.  No new episodes are being produced for Cartoon Network, but new story arcs are being produced in the form of bonus content to be delivered in a yet-to-be-disclosed way. 

And last, Star Wars Detours, the planned animated comedy series, has been postponed "until a later date."  The company’s statement provided an explanation.  "Detours was conceived and produced before we decided to move forward with the new Star Wars trilogy, and in the wake of that decision, Lucasfilm has reconsidered whether launching an animated comedy prior to the launch of Episode VII makes sense," it said. 

Ghost in the Shell: Arise Details and Videos Surface

Those clamoring for details after the initial announcement of Ghost in the Shell: Arise can rest a bit easier now, as a bunch of information has been ironed out along with a few looks at the anime itself.Arise is being developed as a four-part OVA, with the first 50-minute chapter set to debut in Japanese theaters on June 22 prior to a Blu-ray release in July. 

The role of a younger Motoko Kusanagi goes to singer/voice actress Maaya Sakamoto, who also voiced the young Major in the original Ghost in the Shell movie, as well as Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence and Stand Alone Complex. 

Additional cast members include Kenichirou Matsuda as Batou, Shingaki Tarusuke (Kariya from Fate/Zero) as Togusa, Tomoyuki Dan (Japan's very own Batman voice) as Ishikawa, Nakakuni Takuro as Saito, Yoji Ueda as Paz, Kazuya Nakai (Zoro from One Piece) as Borma, and Ikkyu Jyuku as Daisuke Aramaki. The series is being directed by an animator on the Ghost in the Shell films, Kise Kazuchika, with Tow Ubukata (Mardock Scramble) writing and Cornelius (Appleseed: Ex Machina) handling the music. 

Here's a look at the opening, as well as a trailer: 

KFC goes DBZ to promote new film

Children dream of wielding his power. Grown men pose screaming in their mirrors on Youtube, hoping to one day transcend humanity and unlock his Super Saiyan power. Son Goku is an icon.
And what better use for an icon than to shill some product, right? In the run up to the release of the new Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods film, Goku addresses the (presumably young) viewer:
“Let's go to Kentucky! Eating chicken'll make you strong!”

The ad then pushes the promotional “Strongest Set,” with a drumstick, a side, and most importantly, a bottle that glows with the godly radiance of the Dragon Balls – or, if one is lucky, Goku's gleamin' Super Saiyan hairdo.

Goku joins a pantheon of heroes in shilling food to kids (and big kids too): Kinnikuman loved Yoshinoya beef bowls, the Super Sentai teams and Kamen Riders are forever pitching sausages. And of course, there was that Zeon tofu from a while back.

But back to KFC: your Otaku USA Japan Team made its way to the storied chicken friery to gorge – err, report on the promotion –  this past week.


Before one even gets through the doors, one is hit with a blast of east-meets-chicken awesomeness: at several KFCs throughout Japan, Colonel Sanders himself has been given a Super Saiyan makeover, complete with orange-and-blue DBZ training duds and an oversized Dragon Ball of his very own.
Once inside, to say KFC has been “decked out” DBZ-style would be a bit of an exaggeration, but there are various placards, posters and cardboard cutouts about advertising the new film, not unlike any Happy Meal promotion in the States.


The giveaway, though, a fairly high-quality metal bottle for carrying around water or other liquids, is more useful for adults than your average Happy Meal toy, provided you feel no shame carrying around a bottle with a big Dragon Ball on top.
As mentioned, there are eight variations on the bottle representing the seven Dragon Balls, plus the Super Saiyan Super Hair-topped model, reportedly the rarest of the bunch. So imagine our surprise when we received two of them! Though you’re supposed to receive them at random, the employee behind the counter was kind enough to swap our extra Super Saiyan Goku with a Piccolo, so if you’re in Japan and get saddled with a character you don’t like, all is not necessarily lost (they’re probably breaking the rules for you if you try this, so remember to smile and say thank you).


The relative usefulness of KFC’s promotional product probably points to the pan-generational appeal of Dragon Ball, which is popular here with adults and kids alike. We certainly spotted plenty of both on our trip, including many hardcore fans who looked willing to take the caloric hit to collect all eight.
All this KFC silliness, remember, is to promote the upcoming Dragon Ball Z film, Battle of Gods. That film, which takes place between chapters 517 and 518 of the original DBZ manga, hits theaters here in Japan on the 30th of March, and you can expect our review shortly thereafter.

Third 'Hobbit' Film to December

The release of The Hobbit: There and Back Again is moving from July 2014 to December 17, 2014, according to Hollywood Reporter.  The July date had been an aberration; all three of the Lord of the Rings and the first two Hobbit films were December films.  That takes the third Hobbit movie out of head-to-head competition with X-Men: Days of Future Past.

Hercules, based on the Radical graphic novel, was moved earlier this week out of August to July 25, 2014.  It now has only one tent pole leading into its premiere week instead of two.

'R.I.P.D.,' '2 Guns,' 'Kick-Ass 2' News

Universal made announcements about three of its summer 2013 comic-based movies Thursday.  R.I.P.D., based on the Dark Horse comics, will now be released in 3D, according to Deadline.  The release date will not be changed, however; the conversion will have to be ready for the July 19th release date R.I.P.D.took when Kick-Ass 2 moved onto its June 28th release date. 

Kick-Ass 2, meanwhile, is moving later in the summer to August 16th.  That date is being vacated by 2 Guns, which is moving two weeks earlier to August 2nd, when it will be up against 300: Rise of the Empire, Red 2, and The Smurfs 2. 

That’s got to make August 2, 2013 some kind of record, with four films based on comics released on the same day.

'Pride and Prejudice and Zombies' Movie

Del Rey released an excellent graphic novel adaptation of the novel. The novel has sold over 1.5 million copies. Panorama will produce, finance, and rep foreign sales for a film adaptation of bestselling mash-up novel Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, according to Variety. The film will be introduced at Cannes. David O. Russell (Silver Linings Playbook) has written the screenplay but is not officially attached as director. 

DC, Capstone Sponsor Kids Contest

DC Entertainment and chapter book licensee Capstone are sponsoring a superhero writing contest for kids in grades 3-6, the companies announced.  The contest, "Be a Super Hero, Read!," asks kids to write about a real hero in their lives, describing their powers such as courage, generosity, or imagination.  The winner will receive a trip for four to Warner Bros. Animation Studios and DC Entertainment offices, and the person described in the winning essay will receive a $2500 donation to the charity of his or her choice. DC Entertainment and chapter book licensee Capstone are sponsoring a superhero writing contest for kids in grades 3-6, the companies announced.  The contest, "Be a Super Hero, Read!," asks kids to write about a real hero in their lives, describing their powers such as courage, generosity, or imagination.  Essays are to be written between March 1st and April 15th.  Then on May 15th, kids will be able to vote online for the winner, which will be announced at Book Expo America.