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   Sneak Peek of Dragonball Z movie from Japanese fan site.

Hollywood has discovered what Japanese and scores of American fans already knew that Anime and Manga is hot!  For those of you who don't know- Anime is  (アニメ, Anime^?) (pronounced [anime] ) in Japanese, but typically pronounced /ˈænɪmeɪ/ or /ˈænɪmə/ in English) is an abbreviation of the English word "animation", originating in Japan through the roots of manga.  Although the term is used in Japan to refer to animation in general, in English usage the term most popularly refers to material originating from Japan, a subset of animation.  It is traditionally hand drawn, but computer assisted techniques have become quite common in recent years. It is used in television series, films, video, video games, and internet-based releases, and represents all genres of fiction.

Manga (in kanji 漫画; in hiragana まんが; in katakana マンガ, Manga^?) is the Japanese word for comics (sometimes called komikku コミック) and print cartoons. In their modern form, manga date from shortly after World War II but have a long, complex history in earlier Japanese art.

Either way the content from these hit comics and animated cartoons alike are coming to the big screen.  Everyone knows about Speed Racer in theaters now.  Then there is Dragonball Z starring Justin Chatwin (from War of the Worlds) this new written by director James Wong is due in theaters April 8, 2009 tells the story of of Goku, a young man locked in a struggle with the evil Piccolo (James Marsters) over some mystical globes known as 'dragon balls'.  Fox studios who is distributing the film is keeping the production tight lipped.  However if you are still curious you can cruise on over to Myspace and dig around where one of the movie's co-stars drops in from time to time to give every body a scoop. 

AKIRA: Stephen Norrington (LXG) will direct a live-action adaptation of the Japanese manga Akira for Warner Bros. James Robinson and Stephen Norrington are the screenwriters and Jon Peters (Batman, Batman Returns) will produce. The project seems to be on hold and no date has been announced. Set to be released in 2009

Imagi Animation Studios announced that Freddie Highmore will be providing the voice of Astro Boy in the upcoming CG-animated motion picture adapted from Osamu Tezuka’s manga of the same name.  The young english actor has build a solid track record playing the wide eye wonder kid in many family oriented films, the most recent is The Spiderwick Chronicles.  He is also no stranger to voice acting with roles in Arthur and the Invisibles and The Golden Compass.  Not a bad choice, I think he would fit perfectly as the heroic robot boy. 

Warner Bros. Pictures plans to release Astro Boy worldwide in 2009.

There's more to come and I will keep you guys posted!

Article and Poster courtesy of Cinematical.   

Cinematical has just received this exclusive teaser poster for City of Ember (click to enlarge), due out this October 10th courtesy of 20th Century Fox and Walden Media. Based on the best-selling novel from Jeanne Duprau, City of Ember was written by Caroline Thompson (Edward Scissorhands) and directed by the very talented Gil Kenan (Monster House). Oh, but the talent doesn't stop there -- check out this cast: Bill Murray, Saoirse Ronan, Tim Robbins, Martin Landau, Toby Jones and Harry Treadaway. And did I mention it was produced by Tom Hanks?

And here's a synopsis for ya: "For generations, the people of the City of Ember have flourished in an amazing world of glittering lights - underground. But Ember's once powerful generator is failing . . . and the great lamps that illuminate the city are starting to flicker. Now, two teenagers in a race against time, must search Ember for clues that will unlock the ancient mystery of the city's existence, and help the citizens escape before the lights go out forever."

Early buzz tells us the film looks gorgeous, so that's definitely a good sign. We've also been told that the first trailer for City of Ember will debut in front of Prince Caspian this weekend. (Chalk up another reason to hang with those peeps over in Narnia.) Once again, City of Ember arrives in theaters on October 10th.

So who's excited for this one?


Thanks cinematical!

Urban Fantasy is alive and well in Hollywood.  Along with Ironman, a new superhero is set to break free in movies this summer.  His name is Hancock.  Hancock is a hard-living superhero who has fallen out of favor with the public enters into a questionable relationship with the wife of the public relations professional who's trying to repair his image.

Directed by Peter Berg (Late for Dinner) and stars Will Smith (as Hancock), Jason Bateman and Charlize Theron.

Release date July 2008  
A  resurrected cop does battle with a villain whose quest for immortality threatens an entire metropolis in Sin City creator Frank Miller's adaptation of Will Eisner's acclaimed graphic novel. When a rookie cop is brutally killed and mysteriously brought back to life, he assumes the guise of The Spirit (Gabriel Macht) -- a masked crime fighter who prowls the shadows of Central City on a supernatural mission to keep the urban landscape safe. Upon discovering that his arch nemesis, The Octopus (Samuel L. Jackson), is determined to live forever even if it means wiping out the entire population of Central City, The Spirit must race to stop the diabolical villain from achieving his cold-blooded plan. Release date December 2008

No Serious he really does!  You gotta love that brown fedora!

This one is better than before by Marvel Studios and Universal Pictures is set to release The Incredible Hulk this time starring Edward Norton. 
Check out this behind the scenes sneak peek!

This thing is huge!  I always think in terms of alien life forms.  You know I was reading an article not to long ago in a science journal that not all alien life forms have to carbon based like you and I.  There is a possibility that they (the alien life) could be silicon based.  Of course their entire structure and the way they synthesize food and nourishment would be completely different.  But you never know!  So let your imagination run wild when you write your scifi stories.  And if you are reader, do the same...cause the universe is a really big place and everything isn't the same all over.

Take a look at this cool video.

THE OMEGA STATION : A CRYPTICON DESIGNED SPACEBASE INSTITUTION

THIS IS A CUSTOM DESIGNED VISION OF A USRC/UN SANCTIONED PRIVATE SPACEBASE FACILITY. MERGING THE PRIVATE SECTORS WITH THE GOVERNMENTAL INSTITUTIONS, UNDER NASA GUIDELINES TO FUSE THE MESS OF COMPANIES INTO ONE SYSTEM. A SPACEPORT TO OTHER DESTINATIONS - THE MOON AND OTHER PLANETS - THIS IS A DOCK FOR REFUELING AND SCIENTIFIC STUDY AS WELL AS PRIVATE TOURIST AND RESEARCH HABITATS IN THE BIGELOW SECTIONS.

A SPACE CASINO AND ENTERTAINMENT SECTION IS THE MAIN FOCUS OF SPACE COMMUNAL INTERACTION. THIS IS A TEST OF OUR WILL TO COLONIZE IN SMALL HUMAN BATCHES - FAR AND AWAY FROM EARTH. AS A RESULT, EARTH CLIMATE SIMULATION ROOMS, V.R. SIMULATORS AND SENSORY EXCITERS WILL BE ENGINEERED INTO THE STRUCTURE.

SOOTHING SOUNDTRACKS WILL PERMEATE TO PSYCHOLOGICALLY ENHANCE MORALE AND KEEP THE MIND POSITIVE.
SOUNDWAVE TECHNOLOGY IS A LARGE PART OF OUR RESEARCH BUDGET.

DESIGNED BY ALAN KARALIAN AND RYAN GREEN IN 2007.

George and the gang at ILM along with some company named Nikko has done it again!  Go see for yourself.

http://www.nikkoamerica.com/nhe/dvd_projector_video.html

 

 

 

 

 

As Shuttle Lifts Off, NASA Will Man Destruct Switch—Just in Case

Each time the space shuttle rises from its launchpad at Cape Canaveral, Fla., an Air Force officer waits anxiously for the first 2 minutes to pass safely. If the spaceship were to veer off course and endanger a populated area, this range safety officer would bear the terrible responsibility of flipping a pair of switches under a stenciled panel reading “Flight Termination.” The first switch arms explosives on the shuttle’s two solid rocket boosters. Flipping the second switch would detonate them, destroying the shuttle and crew.

“If something happens when it’s just off the pad, there’s only a couple of seconds [to react],” says Bryan O’Connor, a former shuttle commander and NASA’s chief of safety and mission assurance.

To Read More...http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/air_space/4262479.html