Having last aired in syndication in the States 5 years ago, Dragon Ball GT will be returning to air January 16, 2012 on NickToons.

With the Dragon Ball Kai series already ended in Japan and coming to an end in the USA in early January of 2012, the next step is obviously to re-visit Dragon Ball GT. Consisting of 64 episodes, GT is not based on the original Dragon Ball manga from Akira Toriyama and first aired in the States on Cartoon Network in 2003.

Dragon Ball is pushing 30 and is among one of the most fan-loved anime series worldwide (though Dragon Ball GT is hated by fans because Toriyama admitted this series was not canon). NickToons will begin airing Dragon Ball GT beginning Monday, January 16, 2012 at 7 PM ET.

A new chapter of the Space Battleship Yamato series is on the way! If you don’t know anything about the anime series Space Battleship Yamato (or Starblazers as it’s known here in the States), this news bite may not be up your alley.

The official website for the Space Battleship Yamato 2199 anime remake film is up and running, and it’s currently featuring the very first teaser trailer for the Yutaka Izubuchi-directed project. Check it out below.

Izubuchi’s name may ring a bell to you guys out there. He is perhaps best known for his work on RahXephon, and is also credited for his works on WXIII: Patlabor The Movie 3, Gasaraki and the manga Rune Masquer. He is joined by character designer Nobuteru Yuki (Escaflowne, Record of Lodoss War) in this XEBEC and AIC produced film, which is based on the original story by late Yamato series producer Yoshinobu Nishizaki.

Space Battleship Yamato 2199 hits Japanese theaters on April 7, 2012.

We’ll keep you posted if this one is planned to make its way Stateside.

The series will launch as a commercial-free presentation of the 90-minute movie, “Voltron Force: New Defenders Trilogy,” Thursday, June 16, at 8:30 p.m. (ET). The half-hour series follows the adventures of a new class of recruits as they join forces with the original team to fight evil by forming Voltron, the legendary super robot. The first original Voltron content in 10 years, this new iteration from World Events Productions in association with Classic Media and Kickstart Productions will feature never-before-seen Voltron configurations when the team’s Lions unite. The series will regularly air Thursdays at 8:30 p.m. (ET) on Nicktoons.

Set five years after Voltron: Defender of the Universe, Voltron Force follows three new recruits – Daniel, Vince and Larmina – as they get a once-in-a-lifetime chance to train alongside their heroes – Keith, Lance, Hunk, Pidge and Allura – and learn to fly incredible robot lions. The series will journey to new planets, discover new powers and unearth ancient secrets. Voltron will be needed once again to combat a rising evil in the galaxy and a tyrant from within. Bonds will be formed, friendships will be tested and plenty of laughs will be had as the Voltron Force gels together as a team in an epic battle of good versus evil.

“Over the last few years, we have revealed different pieces of the Mass Effect world through different media. Extending the story through an anime medium is another amazing opportunity for us,” said Casey Hudson, Executive Producer for the Mass Effect series. “Partnering with FUNimation ensures that we will bring this rich universe to life with the utmost quality and the same attention to detail that the Mass Effect games are known for.”

Production of the Mass Effect anime movie has already begun. Digital and home video releases are scheduled for the summer of 2012.

San Francisco, April 2, 2011 - Marvel’s Head of Television Jeph Loeb announced casting for two of the company’s much anticipated anime series, IRON MAN and WOLVERINE, at its WonderCon panel today in San Francisco to the delight of fans in attendance. Both series will premiere on G4 in July 2011.

As the exclusive US TV home for the series, G4 will air IRON MAN and WOLVERINE along with the BLADE and X-MEN anime series later this year. The network will premiere an exclusive clip from WOLVERINE on Wednesday’s Attack of the Show at 7 pm ET/PT.

Megacon played host to an excess of top named stars such as guests of honor Stan “The Man” Lee, and William “Captain Kirk” Shatner.  Other special guest ranged from artist and writer of the comic industry like J. Scott Campbell, Frank Cho, and Mike Perkins.  Each talented individual couldn’t be happier to meet and greet fans and contribute to their hand cramps by signing comic collections, poster, cards, maybe even a belly button or two for the adoring public and overzealous fan.  Personalized sketches were dished out of your favorite fantasy, sci fi or comic heroine or villain depending on your line waiting superpower.  If you didn’t have a chance to visit artist alley you missed a preview to up and coming talent showcasing their creative ability. The Alley seems to grow yearly and is a great place to network or let everybody see what you have to offer.  The versatility of talent varied in range from your usual independent comics and original art for sale to your unique such as making balloon superheroes.

The anime seemed to be scaled back a bit in presence compared to last year at least on the showroom floor.  I find it hard to believe with the array of anime themed events listed that what was seen on the floor was hardly an example of the Otaku that came to show their love for the culture.  What there wasn’t a shortage of was “Free hugs” or “Free Glomps” signs that were being carted around.  I’m sure you all know what a hug is and they are free, but Webster defines “glomp” as A hug in the manner of a small child, similar to a bearhug but often including one or both legs as well as arms. Also a hug in which the hugger jumps and catches the victim by surprise or off-guard. Occasionally referred to as a cross between a running tackle and a bearhug.  Kidding about the Webster part but now you know what a glomp is.

If you’ve been to Megacon or any convention for that matter you’ll know that costuming or Cosplay is a big part of it.  More for some than for others, but for those that missed the meaning of this one it’s short for “costume play”, a type of performance art whose participants outfit themselves, with often-elaborate costumes and accessories, as a specific character or idea. Characters are usually sourced in various Japanese and East Asian media, including manga, anime, comic books, graphic novels, video games, and fantasy movies.   This year I saw a sprinkle of Naruto, and a dash of Jedi, even added a pinch of Captain America and Thor to celebrate the upcoming release for the Marvel movies of the same name. But that barely scratched the surface of the more elaborate cosplayers that came to the show.

Megacon certainly brings together individuals with common interest, whether your hobby is collecting comics, watching anime, or meeting your favorite star. It’s already known as the largest convention in southeast florida and you’re guaranteed to good time with like minded people.  With no shortage of sights to see, and collectibles to gather three days just isn’t quite enough to see it all.

If you are like me and was sorely disappointed at how poorly The Last Airbender film, directed by M. Night Shyamalan represented the animated show, then buck up because a sequel to the hit television series is in the works. The original series garnered 5.6 million viewers, was nominated and won awards from the Annual Annie Awards, the Genesis Awards, the primetime Emmy awards and a Peabody Award chronicled how Aang The Avatar, and his group of friends setting out to help him master the four elements so he can save the world from the evil Fire Lord Ozai and end the war with the fire nation.

The new series, titled The Last Airbender: Legend of Korra, was announced last summer at San Diego Comic Con by series creators Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko. It explains how Korra, a teenage girl from the southern water tribe has become the new Avatar and must learn airbending from Tenzin, the son of Aang and Katara. The series is set 70 years in the future and contains a stellar voice cast which was released last week, including:

KORRA voiced by Janet Varney
JINORA voiced by Kiernan Shipka
HIROSHI SATO voiced by Daniel Dae Kim
MAKO voiced by David Faustino
ASAMI voiced by Seychelle Gabriel
LIEUTENANT voiced by Lance Henriksen
BOLIN voiced by P.J. Byrne
TENZIN voiced by JK Simmons

Dante Basco, who lent his voice to Prince Zuko confirmed his return, via twitter stating that he will be giving voice to a different character related to Zuko in some way. The Legend of Korra is slated to be a mini-series originally at 12 episodes, but Nickelodeon ordered an additional 14 bringing that total up to 26. To me this shows how much faith they have in the new series to wash the bad taste of the film from the mouths of all the fans. The animation style is apparently the same as we get a look at the protagonist in action and is scheduled to begin airing on Nickelodeon in early 2012. The official synopsis of the show is below:

“The Legend of Korra” takes place 70 years after the events of “Avatar: The Last Airbender” and follows the adventures of the Avatar after Aang – a passionate, rebellious, and fearless teenage girl from the Southern Water Tribe named Korra (voice of Janet Varney).

With three of the four elements under her belt (Earth, Water, and Fire), Korra seeks to master the final element, Air.  Her quest leads her to the epicenter of the modern “Avatar” world, Republic City – a metropolis that is fueled by steampunk technology.  It is a virtual melting pot where benders and non-benders from all nations live and thrive.

However, Korra discovers that Republic City is plagued by crime as well as a growing anti-bending revolution that threatens to rip it apart.   Under the tutelage of Aang’s son, Tenzin (JK Simmons), Korra begins her airbending training while dealing with the dangers at large.

You have to hand it to Christopher Nolan & Co. Fan speculation for his third Batman film was already at a fever pitch before the credits rolled on The Dark Knight. For two years, most of them were so busy obsessing over the “whens” and the “whos”, they never considered the “ifs”. This was evident in a lot of fans getting their bubbles burst when the filmmakers had to officially announce that the Riddler would NOT be appearing in the film. As someone who doesn’t really care for the character anyway, I had a good laugh at the fan community’s expense off of that one! And with casting and other news trickling it, it seems like they’re gonna keep throwing us curve balls long after filming even starts, now announcing not only that Tom Hardy will in fact be playing Bane and not Dr. Hugo Strange, but that Anne Hathaway will be playing Selina Kyle aka Catwoman.

The inclusion of Bane is certainly an interesting one, given his significance in the Batman mythos; he discovered Batman’s true identity and broke his back, putting him out of commission for months. Given Hardy’s own ability for physically transforming himself for roles (the film Bronson, for example), I could easily see him packing on the muscle to be a physically imposing threat to Bale’s Batman. The hope of fans, I’m sure, is that Nolan will present the character as the psychological and intellectual equal to Batman that he’s been in the comics, and not portrayed as a monosyllabic goon ala Joel Schumacher’s Batman and Robin.

I must say, however, I’m a bit on the fence regarding Hathaway’s casting. Sure, I didn’t really think there was anything to Heath Ledger that suggested he could pull off the Joker, when he was initially cast, but I’m not about to wholeheartedly adopt the “In Nolan We Trust” mantra for every decision he makes regarding these films, like scores upon scores of other fanboys. I had resigned myself to the fact that Catwoman probably wasn’t even going to be in this film, so the fact that she is is a bit surprising. But Hathaway, as great of an actress as she is, doesn’t really do much for me. There’s a certain balance of intelligence, defiance, and sex appeal to Selina, and how she plays off of Batman and vice versa. It’s not enough (for me anyway) that she’s a good-looking capable actress. Different actresses have different strengths, and different looks. Hathaway still skews fairly wide-eyed/geeky cute to me, never sultry or mysterious (she’d honestly be better as Barbara Gordon). I need to buy it in the eyes. I need a look that says “I’m going to sex you, and you’re gonna like it”, and at the same time ” . . . right after I zipline off the top of this skyscraper with a satchel full o’ bling!!” I’m gonna need a solid chunk of footage before I can even begin to formulate a real opinion on this.

The demo lets players control either Super Saiyan Goku, Ultimate Gohan, Kid Buu or Demon King Dabura as they square off in versus mode.

Dragon Ball: Raging Blast 2 releases for both PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on November 2, 2010.

The Naruto franchise remains both a popular and profitable one. Naruto Shipuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2 will release on October 19, 2010 on both the PS3 and Xbox 360, marking the first time a title an Ultimate Ninja Storm title has appeared on the Microsoft console.

Gamers that don’t want to wait for October can download the demo both over Xbox Live and PlayStation Network now.

Calling all filmmakers and fans of Asian cinema! The San Diego Asian Film Foundation has announced its call for 2010 entries for their 11th annual film festival to be held October 21-28, 2010. The festival is estimated to bring in an audience of 18,000 through the eight days to celebrate Asian cinema, interact in Q/A panel discussions with actors and filmmakers, and attend special events. Its rising popularity plus the strengthening voice of Asian cinema ranks the SDAFF as one of the must-attend film events each year. Allow me to share with you my experience with the festival before sharing the rules for entry.

I’ve personally witnessed the attendance grow and the quality of films get stronger in each of the last three SDAFFs. The event is easily accessible and casual but the atmosphere is filled with excitement. Screenings are filled with eager viewers who want to watch stories told from the Asian perspective, and are able to fill the large void left by what Hollywood thinks you want to see each week. Where else can you get short and feature films from the US, Canada, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and the Philippines in one place? It’s always programmed with provocative selections including eye-opening documentaries, fun family pleasers, Bollywood classics, and new releases by popular Asian filmmakers, which are impossible to find playing at a theater near you.

Along with submitted films, a sample of the official selections screened last year include the vampire thriller Thirst by fan-favorite Park Chan-Wook, John Woo’s epic Red Cliff, the brutally violent Yang Ik-Joon buzz film Breathless, the Korean crime hit Rough Cut directed by Hun Jang, and the story of Bruce Lee’s master Ip Man starring Donnie Yen. This festival is lean in fat, rich in flavor, high in noodle count and well, maybe a little high in MSG. In other words, if you love Asian Cinema, this is one of the best places to find it!

Do you want to enter a film in this prestige and fast-growing festival? The San Diego Asian Film Festival is competitive and is seeking entries in the following categories:

• Narrative Feature
• Narrative Short
• Documentary Feature
• Documentary Short
• Animation

An independent jury selects winners in each category plus a Grand Jury prize winner. Festival programmers will award a first-time filmmaker the George C. Lin Emerging Filmmaker Award along with a $1,000 prize.

Films/videos submitted must be directed or principally acted by an artist of Asian or Pacific Islander descent; or whose subject matter relates to Asian or Pacific Islander culture.

**Early Deadline is April 30, 2009 ($25 Submission Fee)

**Late Deadline is June 11, 2009 ($40 Submission Fee)

There’s a little something for everyone with a program designed for audiences of all ages and all interests. Panel discussions from the past have included one with comic creators Jim Lee and Greg Pak, a spotlight on Korean films, and workshops for budding filmmakers. If you are a filmmaker, consider entering into this fine festival, and if you are a filmgoer start making your plans for one of the coolest stops on the film festival tour.

The 11th San Diego Asian Film Festival is scheduled for October 21-28, 2010 at the Mission Valley UltraStar Cinemas at Hazard Center. All rules, entry forms, application, and festival info can be found online at www.sdaff.org. The San Diego Asian Film Festival is an event of the San Diego Asian Film Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to connecting audiences with the Human Experience through the Pan-Asian media arts.

From Kotaku:
Microsoft is teaming with five productions houses for a series of seven short films called Halo Legends, reports the Los Angeles Times. The five production houses are some of the biggest names in the industry:

The creative director overseeing the production is Shinji Aramaki, director of Appleseed and Appleseed Ex Machina. Microsoft has also roped in Warner Bros. to distribute Halo Legends on DVD and via digital platforms early next year.

It’s filmed from a screen on the expo floor, but it’ll do until an official release:

After being tied up for what seemed like a millennium in legal shenanigans, Fist of the North Star: The Movie finally returns to DVD! Brought to you by Discotek Media, the Fist re-release includes the classic Streamline English dub track, but lacks the alternate Japanese ending (bummer). That notwithstanding, Fist of the North Star is a must buy for any classic anime heads or new anime lovers with a bit of taste.

Thanks to ENI for this one.

On September 29th, Warner Bros. Animation is set to release it’s sixth entry into it’s line of DC Universe one-shots, Superman/Batman: Public Enemies. The story is based on the Jeph Loeb/Ed McGuinness comic series, and teams the Caped Crusader and the Man of Steel against the rest of the DC Universe after Lex Luthor places a bounty on Supes’ head. If you’re a fan of these DC animated flicks, then this one should be the best yet, as Warner Bros. and Co. have pulled out all the big guns for this one!

The rest of the story can be found here

With scripts by comics legend Warren Ellis, and art direction by Joaquim Dos Santos of Avatar: The Last Airbender and Justice League Unlimited fame, this new animated series intends to take G.I. Joe to the ass-kickery of the 80′s.

Check out the trailer and tune in tonight at 6pm on adult swim.

We loved the first episode, and you can see the regular adventures on Mission G, or simply embedded right here: