Apple has uploaded the official English trailer from Disney for Studio Ghibli’s Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea. Shortened to simply Ponyo, the movie will be in theaters on August 14th with the expected A-list of currently popular movie stars attached. Don’t be surprised to see a bilingual DVD come out around December/January.

Active Anime has posted an interview with FUNimation actress Brina Palencia about her career and taking over the role of Rei Ayanami in Evangelion 1.0.

FUNimation has posted the ninth full episode (subtitled) of their new series Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood in the video section. At the time of this posting, the server is constantly needing to pause and buffer due to traffic. If an ad begins at the start of the episode, you can click the ‘X” in the top right corner. You will skip the ad and get straight to the episode. The episode currently will not let you pause and load the rest of the episode into the player so viewing it — even on a high speed connection — is going to be a pain. You may want to hold out for the FUNi YouTube Channel version.

FUNimation’s plans of streaming new One Piece episodes for Toei has been put on hold for the near future. FUNi released a statement Saturday concerning their thoughts of the subject.

As anime fans know, FUNimation Entertainment and Toei Animation had planned for the first ever online simulcast of the series ‘One Piece’ tonight at 9:00 pm CDT., just one hour after its premiere on Japan’s Fuji Television. Unfortunately, in the last 24 hours we have determined that the FUNimation servers were compromised, even though we employ strict security standards. An unknown individual accessed and posted episode 403 online and as a direct result of this illegal act, all U.S. and Canadian fans will be deprived of access to this great anime series for the immediate future. We will make every effort to locate and prosecute the perpetrator(s)to the fullest extent of the law and will provide updates regarding this most serious matter.

Now, while this may seem like some 1337 hacker cracked into the FUNi video server, the real truth is a little simpler. A streaming video server stores the real video files elsewhere on the online server. In theory, you can only access the streaming video link and not find out where the real video file is stored. Of course, if you can figure out how to work a torrent file then figuring out where a video is stored is just as simple. Cartoon Network learned this the hard way. As G.I. Joe: Resolute premiered on TV and on their website, an employee would load the next episode or two to be ready to go in a few days. Well, if you use a fairly generic file structure like ASFIX_GIJOE_EPISODE01.FLV for the original file, someone is going to put two and two together to find the other ten videos that may be stored in the same directory. FUNi ran into the same problem by uploading files hours — sometimes days — in advance of when the video would go online. Eventually someone starts posting links to the real video files on different forums and someone else may even upload the video to other streaming servers.

The aftermath of the situation had quite a few videos pulled from the server last night. Phantom would run the front ad and then give an error for the actual show episode, for example. As of right now, One Piece and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood appear to be the only two shows with its episodes complete pulled off the server still.

FUNimation has posted the ninth full episode (subtitled) of their new series Phantom ~ Requiem for the Phantom TV in the video section. At the time of this posting, the server has doing just fine, but as the day progresses expect some need to pause and buffer due to traffic. If an ad begins at the start of the episode, you can click the ‘X” in the top right corner you will skip the ad and get straight to the episode. The best suggestion is to start the episode, pause it, and find something else to do for awhile as the player loads the episode completely. Phantom TV airs in Japan at 2:15am on Friday’s, which just happens to be 45 minutes before it gets posted by FUNimation.

FUNimation has posted the eighth full episode (subtitled) of their new series Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood in the video section. At the time of this posting, the server is doing just fine, but as the day progresses expect some need to pause and buffer due to traffic. If an ad begins at the start of the episode, you can click the ‘X” in the top right corner you will skip the ad and get straight to the episode. The best suggestion is to start the episode, pause it, and find something else to do for awhile as the player loads the episode completely.

By combining five special Gran Diva vehicles, the six Gran Knights can form the super robot God Gravion and defeat any Zeravire that attacks planet Earth. However, each pilot has a different reason for being here. Eiji Shigure has come to the castle of Klein Sandman in search of his older sister Ayaka who sent him a letter asking for help. While searching the castle, Eiji gets dragged into piloting the Gran Diva G-Attacker and joining the team until his sister is located. Created and directed by Masami Obari (Angel Blade, Virus Buster Serge) and animated by GONZO (Vandread, Kiddy Grade, Gate Keepers) comes Gravion: Divine Steel from ADV Films. (more…)

Viz has announced they will be closing down the print version of their Shojo Beat magazine with the final issue appearing on newsstands in June. With the cost of paper rising and the economy still squeezing personal budgets, it doesn’t come as a surprise to see Shojo Beat closing in the increasingly shrinking world of print media.

The final issue of Shojo Beat magazine will be the July 2009 issue which is on newsstands June 16th.

We are very proud of the past issues of Shojo Beat magazine and the efforts of the entire team. The magazine developed quite a fan base but unfortunately in today’s difficult economic climate we felt the need to place our resources elsewhere at this time.

Of course all of our great shojo manga titles previously serialized in Shojo Beat magazine will still be published and available as graphic novels under the Shojo Beat imprint from VIZ Media.

Each Shojo Beat Subscriber will be receiving a free copy of the August issue of SHONEN JUMP magazine with the pertinent information on what their subscription/refund options will be.

FUNimation officially announced the Evangelion 1.0: You Are (Not) Alone cast Saturday at Anime Boston. The FUNi production crew will be taking your questions about the movie from now until midnight on Monday so get one in soon if you have one. Evangelion 1.0 will be released in the U.S. in the Fall of 2009. Evangelion 2.0 will debut in theaters in Japan at the end of June.

Director: Mike McFarland
Writer: John Burgmeier

Cast:
Misato: Allison Keith-Shipp
Shinji: Spike Spencer
Ritsuko: Colleen Clinkenbeard
Ibuki: Caitlin Glass
Gendo: John Swasey
Rei: Brina Palencia
(more…)

FUNimation has posted the eighth full episode (subtitled) of their new series Phantom ~ Requiem for the Phantom TV in the video section. At the time of this posting, the server has doing just fine, but as the day progresses expect some need to pause and buffer due to traffic. If an ad begins at the start of the episode, you can click the ‘X” in the top right corner you will skip the ad and get straight to the episode. The best suggestion is to start the episode, pause it, and find something else to do for awhile as the player loads the episode completely. Phantom TV airs in Japan at 2:15am on Friday’s, which just happens to be 45 minutes before it gets posted by FUNimation.

FUNimation has posted the seventh full episode (subtitled) of their new series Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood in the video section. At the time of this posting, the server is doing just fine, but as the day progresses expect some need to pause and buffer due to traffic. If an ad begins at the start of the episode, you can click the ‘X” in the top right corner you will skip the ad and get straight to the episode. The best suggestion is to start the episode, pause it, and find something else to do for awhile as the player loads the episode completely.

FUNimation has posted the seventh full episode (subtitled) of their new series Phantom ~ Requiem for the Phantom TV in the video section. At the time of this posting, the server has doing just fine, but as the day progresses expect some need to pause and buffer due to traffic. If an ad begins at the start of the episode, you can click the ‘X” in the top right corner you will skip the ad and get straight to the episode. The best suggestion is to start the episode, pause it, and find something else to do for awhile as the player loads the episode completely. Phantom TV airs in Japan at 2:15am on Friday’s, which just happens to be 45 minutes before it gets posted by FUNimation.

FUNimation has posted the sixth full episode (subtitled) of their new series Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood in the video section. At the time of this posting, the server is doing just fine, but as the day progresses expect some need to pause and buffer due to traffic. If an ad begins at the start of the episode, you can click the ‘X” in the top right corner you will skip the ad and get straight to the episode. The best suggestion is to start the episode, pause it, and find something else to do for awhile as the player loads the episode completely.

Debbie Rothstein’s A Faery Hunt theater show has been nominated for a Nickelodeon 2009 Parents’ Pick Award. We encourage you to go vote for the project from now until July 15th so Debbie and company can win.

Click Here to vote:  

FUNimation has posted the sixth full episode (subtitled) of their new series Phantom ~ Requiem for the Phantom TV in the video section. At the time of this posting, the server has doing just fine, but as the day progresses expect some need to pause and buffer due to traffic. If an ad begins at the start of the episode, you can click the ‘X” in the top right corner you will skip the ad and get straight to the episode. The best suggestion is to start the episode, pause it, and find something else to do for awhile as the player loads the episode completely. Phantom TV airs in Japan at 2:15am on Friday’s, which just happens to be 45 minutes before it gets posted by FUNimation.

FUNimation has posted the fifth full episode (subtitled) of their new series Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood in the video section. At the time of this posting, the server is doing just fine, but as the day progresses expect some need to pause and buffer due to traffic. If an ad begins at the start of the episode, you can click the ‘X” in the top right corner you will skip the ad and get straight to the episode. The best suggestion is to start the episode, pause it, and find something else to do for awhile as the player loads the episode completely.

FUNimation will have the fifth full episode (subtitled) of their new series Phantom ~ Requiem for the Phantom TV in the video section at 1:00pm Central Standard Time in the US. At the time of this posting, the server has doing just fine, but as the day progresses expect some need to pause and buffer due to traffic. An ad will be at the start of the episode, yet clicking the ‘X” in the top right corner will skip the ad and get straight to the episode. The best suggestion is to start the episode, pause it, and find something else to do for awhile as the player loads the episode completely.

Phantom TV airs in Japan at 2:15am on Friday’s, which just happens to be 45 minutes before it gets posted by FUNimation for us to enjoy subtitled here. That’s a pretty fast turnaround.

FUNimation has posted the fourth full episode (subtitled) of their new series Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood in the video section. At the time of this posting, the server is doing just fine, but as the day progresses expect some need to pause and buffer due to traffic. An ad will be at the start of the episode, yet clicking the ‘X” in the top right corner will skip the ad and get straight to the episode. The best suggestion is to start the episode, pause it, and find something else to do for awhile as the player loads the episode completely.

Discotek Media has updated their news page with a list of street dates and new licenses. Titles of interest include the Crying Freeman anime series (previously from Streamline on VHS and ADV on DVD), Hana Yori Dango Final the Movie (live action movie for Boys Over Flowers), and a reminder of Fist of the North Star the Movie coming out in May.

Fist of the North Star the Movie
Street Date May 19th

Oh! My Zombie Mermaid
Street Date: July 28th

Hana Yori Dango Final: The Movie
Street Date: August 25th

Sex and Zen
Street Date: September

Uzumaki
Street Date September

Tokyo 10+1
Street Date October

TBD:
Stormriders
Burning Paradise
Taxi Hunter
Crying Freeman Anime Series Complete Collection
Female Prisoner Scorpion Jailhouse 41
Kani Goalkeeper

Unfortunately we had to delay the Stormriders DVD for the time being. The master that we received was pretty dirty and not in as good of condition as we were expecting. We really don’t want to release it the way it is so right now we’re looking at cleanup options or getting a new master. Everything else has been completed but the master is the problem right now. Surprisingly the Stormriders is in much worse condition then Ebola Syndrome or Chinese Torture Chamber Story. Any updates will be posted here.

Burning Paradise we are getting ready to get the master so hopefully that one is in better condition. The Taxi Hunter master also has a lot of dirt and we’re also looking at cleanup options on that before we set a street date. These three titles are going to be released, but with the time and cost of cleanup we have to take them one at a time.

Kani Goalkeeper is still not out because we haven’t received the materials. Until they send the materials we can’t set the date. Hopefully they come soon and if so it will be added as soon as possible.

According to CrainsNewYorkBusiness.com, Central Park Media filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on April 27th and closed its doors for good. The company owes its creditors $1.2 million dollars. Under Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the company’s assets are liquidated in order to pay back some of the money owed to its creditors. CPM has been quiet for well over a year now with companies like RightStuf picking up licenses starting to lapse.