At Anime Vegas, FUNimation announced that they have the Negima anime, and further revealed that Greg Ayres will voice the title character, Luci Christian - Asuna, and Colleen Clinkenbeard will be directing.

Galaxy Anime TV has put up an audio interview with veteran script adapter/voice director Marc Handler about his work on FLCL, Naruto and the new Astro Boy, and his thoughs about the current state of the dubbing industry.

Synch-Point has passed along a cast list for their release of Leave It to Piyoko, due out the 15th of next month:

Directed by Fusako Shiotani
Adapted by Stephanie Sheh

Pyocola Analogue III - Sandy Fox
Rik Heisenberg - Grant George
Ky Schweitzer - Michael Sinterniklaas
Coo Erhard - Wendee Lee
Di Gi Charat - Jessica Gee
Petit Charat - Miyuki Sawashiro
Rabi~en~Rose - Michelle Ruff
Gema - Jennifer Sekiguchi

Space Hermit - Dave Mallow
Narrator - Steve Kramer
(more…)

Mari Iijima, the Japanese voice actress for Lynn Minmei in the original Super Dimension Fortress Macross TV series, will reprise her role in the upcoming English dub of the series by ADV. An accomplished singer and songwriter, Mari is fluent in English, having lived in Los Angeles since 1989.

This is not the first time an actress has played the same role in both the Japanese and English versions; Miyuki Sawashiro played Puchiko in Synch-Point’s dubs for both Di Gi Charat the Movie and Leave it to Piyoko, before being recast due to a scheduling conflict.

J-Revolution.com now has an interview available with Naruto lead Maile Flanagan.

Central Park Media have finished tallying the votes for their Outlanders “fan-casting” contest, and announced the first castmember - Rebecca Soler, who will be playing “Kahm’s sexy, feline best friend” Battia. Her winning audition and acceptance video can be found on CPM’s Outlanders website. The rest of the castmembers will be revealed monthly leading up to the DVD release on February 7, 2006.

Chiriri - Mia Bradly
Hororo - Jennifer Sekiguchi
Kururu - Mari Daniel
Sarara - Vicky Green
Senseisan - Yuri Lowenthal
Tamachan - Riva West

Directed by Ezra Weisz
Adapted by Mike Greco
Produced by Media Concepts

Bottle Fairy Vol. 1 is due out from Geneon Entertainment on November 11 and will retail for $24.98.

Inuyasha producer Toshifumi Yoshida writes in his livejournal that he’ll be overseeing the recording of the final four episodes of the series next week.

Manga Entertainment has made available several clips of their English dub for Street Fighter Alpha: Generations, due out later this month:

Akuma, Ryu and the darkside
Fight With Old Man
Ryu Vs. Akuma
Sakura Vs. Ryu

Press Release: Central Park Media - Kakurenbo: Hide & Seek

For Immediate Release:
ADULT SWIM’S HALLOWEEN TREAT – KAKURENBO: HIDE & SEEK

New York, NY (October 11, 2005) - Central Park Media is proud to announce that its award-winning CG sci-fi horror anime Kakurenbo: Hide & Seek is to be broadcast on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim. Kakurenbo: Hide & Seek will have its worldwide network television premiere on October 29th at midnight between episodes of Fullmetal Alchemist and Samurai Champloo.

“Kakurenbo is an amazing, frightening, beautiful animation,” said Newton Grant, Business Development Director at Central Park Media. “And for Adult Swim to air this gritty, gothic story in time for Halloween, we couldn’t be happier.”

Kakurenbo: Hide & Seek is the first film by the new animation studio YAMATOWORKS, an independent computer graphics production house founded by Syuhei Morita, a veteran of the prolific Studio 4C (The Animatrix, Steamboy). Morita left Studio 4C to found YAMATOWORKS to create CG productions with the look and feel of traditional 2D animation. Despite Kakurenbo being YAMATOWORKS’ first project, some of the biggest voice acting talent on both sides of the Pacific were attracted to it – with its cast led by Junko Takeuchi (Naruto) in Japan and Michael Sinterniklaas (ALIEN NINE, Fullmetal Alchemist) in the United States.

Screened at more than twenty of the most-prestigious film festivals around the world including the Tokyo Anime Fair, Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival, and Fantasia International Film Festival, Kakurenbo: Hide & Seek has received significant recognition and a number of awards including Best Short Film at the Fantasia International Film Festival and the Exemplary Production Award at the Tokyo Anime Fair. In addition, preview showings at Anime Expo, San Diego Comic-Con, and Otakon this past summer were standing room only.

Kakurenbo: Hide & Seek will be released on DVD on October 11, 2005 and will be priced at $19.95srp.

Central Park Media has been a leading supplier of anime in the United States since 1990. The company currently manufactures and distributes three home entertainment labels, each offering anime product for a distinct and discriminating anime audience: U. S. Manga Corps, Central Park Media and Software Sculptors. With exclusive rights to hundreds of book, video and music products, the company has become a leader in integrated media, as well as a leading publisher of graphic novels under its CPM Press label. Central Park Media also carries a broad array of documentaries released under its CPM label, as well as live-action Japanese feature films under its Asia Pulp Cinema label.

Press Release: Central Park Media

For Immediate Release: Incredible Action For a Super Low Price

In December, Legend of Himiko DVD Collection and Maze DVD Collection re-priced to $29.95srp and $39.95srp respectively, Demon City Shinjuku re-priced to $9.95srp.

New York, NY (October 11, 2005) – Central Park Media announced the upcoming re-pricing and re-release of Legend of Himiko – the story of an ordinary earth girl bestowed with incredible powers so that she can save Earth, Maze DVD Collection – which follows the adventures of Maze who uses her super powers to cope in a zany fantasy world, and Demon City Shinjuku – one man’s battle to save earth from the creator of Vampire Hunter D.

The 3-disc Legend of Himiko DVD Collection will be priced at $29.95srp and the 4-disc Maze DVD Collection will be priced at $39.95. All individual DVDs will be available at the new, low price of $9.95srp each.

All DVDs will have audio tracks in both English and Japanese with English subtitles. All titles will have a pre-order date of November 22, 2005 and a street date of December 20, 2005.

Maze
Features the creative talents of Katsumi Hasegawa, screenwriter of Photon and The Slayers Next!

Transported through time and space, Maze has gained incredible powers… and one astronomical problem. Every night, she transforms into a lecherous man! Bonus features include: 1st episode of the Maze TV Series, English and Japanese with English Subtitles, DVD-ROM.

Running time: 85 minutes
Genre: Action/Adventure
Rating: 16UP
WEA Selection: 436080
SRP: $9.95
UPC: 7-95243-60802-0

Maze DVD Collection
Maze wakes up with amnesia in a zany fantasy world, only to find herself surrounded by evildoers and baby-sitting a spoiled princess. Luckily, she’s developed explosive superpowers to help her cope! But the powers come with a strange side effect… Every night, Maze transforms into a flirtatious man!

DVD Features Include: Behind the Scenes Video, Meet the Characters, Big Sister-Brother, Art Gallery, Interactive Menus, Chapter Stops, Sneak Peeks, Languages: English & Japanese with English Subtitles, DVD-ROM.

Running time: 600 minutes
Genre: Action/Adventure
Rating: 13UP
WEA Selection: 436180
SRP: $39.95
UPC: 7-95243-61802-9

Legend of Himiko:Sacred Fire
From the creator of Sakura Wars!

In a world where the dead walk, where good and evil exist as palpable forces, a darkness is stirring. The undead march against the cities of light, to capture the sacred fire that is the source of their power. But one hope remains. Called into this world by the magical flame, a young girl named Himiko is thrust into the maelstrom of danger, betrayal, and war. For she is heir to the sacred fire, and holds a power that could save its Guardians if she survives!

DVD Features include: Sneak Peeks, Art gallery, Meet the Cast, Japanese advertisements, Production Sketches, Textless opening and ending, English & Japanese with English Subtitles, DVD-ROM. English tracks in 5.1 Dolby Digital.

Running time: 100 minutes
Genre: Action/Adventure
Rating: 13UP
WEA Selection: 752176
SRP: $9.95
UPC: 7-19987-21762-1

Legend of Himiko:The Pendant
Produced by Ouji Hiroi (creator of Sakura Wars and Virgin Fleet)

War ignites among enemy camps, and both sides desperately seek Himiko, an Earth girl with the power to save, or destroy them all. But even as a fugitive, Himiko has found allies, fierce warriors of great magic and swordfighting skill. She’ll need all the help she can get to survive in this alien world, and discover her true power. As armies march and treachery abounds, the fate of the world rests upon the shoulders of one girl!

DVD Features Include: Art Gallery, Music Video, English Outtakes, Japanese ads, English & Japanese with English Subtitles, Trailers, DVD-ROM.

Running time: 100 minutes
Genre: Action/Adventure
Rating: 13UP
WEA Selection: 752177
SRP: $9.95
UPC: 7-19987-21772-0

Legend of Himiko:Sword of Seven Blades
From the creator of Sakura Wars!
Produced by Ouji Hiroi (creator of Sakura Wars and Virgin Fleet)

An evil king conquers the land by transforming innocent people into monsters. Earth girl Himiko must use her newfound skills in magic to defeat this army of darkness.

DVD Features Include: Art Gallery, English Language Behind-the-Scenes Video, Japanese ads, English & Japanese with English Subtitles, Trailers, DVD-ROM.

Running time: 100 minutes
Genre: Action/Adventure
Rating: 13UP
WEA Selection: 752178
SRP: $9.95
UPC: 7-19987-21782-9

Legend of Himiko DVD Collection
Produced by Ouji Hiroi (creator of Sakura Wars and Virgin Fleet)

In a world where the dead walk, an evil King stalks the land, transforming innocents into mindless monsters for his armies. But one hope remains. Called to this world by magic, an Earth girl named Himiko has been granted incredible powers to save this world… or destroy it!

DVD Features Include: English language track in Dolby Digital 5.1, Art Gallery, English Outtakes, Music Video, English Language Behind-the-Scenes Video, Japanese ads, Production Sketches, Textless Opening & Ending, Character Profiles, English & Japanese with English Subtitles, Trailers, DVD-ROM.

Running time: 300 minutes
Genre: Action/Adventure
Rating: 13UP
WEA Selection: 752179
SRP: $29.95
UPC: 7-19987-21792-8

Demon City Shinjuku
Directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri (Director of the VAMPIRE HUNTER D series, NINJA SCROLL, and the X TV Series)!
Original story by Hideyuki Kikuchi (Creator of the VAMPIRE HUNTER D series)!

“Dazzling animated scenes of mayhem”- DVDCult.com
“Features some wonderfully gory battle scenes”- Rue Morgue
“Too good to miss” - Animerica

Kyoya’s father was a great warrior, but he died at the hands of a diabolical psychic who unleashed demons onto the Earth. Now, Kyoya must discover his latent powers and finish the battle his father started, before humanity is destroyed forever! DVD Features include: Trailers, English & Japanese with English Subtitles.

Running time: 82 minutes
Genre: Supernatural Action/Adventure
Rating: 13UP
WEA Selection: 752291
SRP: $9.95
UPC: 7-19987-22912-9

About Central Park Media:
Central Park Media has been a leading supplier of anime in the United States since 1990. The company currently manufactures and distributes three home entertainment lines, each offering anime product for a distinct and discriminating audience: U. S. Manga Corps, Central Park Media and Software Sculptors. With exclusive rights to hundreds of book, video and music products, the company has become a leader in integrated media, as well as a leading publisher of graphic novels under its CPM Press label. Central Park Media also carries a broad array of documentaries released under its CPM label, as well as live-action Japanese feature films under its Asia Pulp Cinema label.

For high resolution, downloadable artwork and information, please visit CPM’s electronic press kit at:
www.centralparkmedia.com./cpmdb/presskit.cfm

New:
Kizuna
Gravitation: Lyrics of Love
Naughty Nurses
Hammerboy

Updated:
Shadow Star Narutaru

Active Anime has talked with ADV voice actor Chris Ayres about how he got his start in voice acting, and then landing his first lead role, Kei Kurono in Gantz, less than a year later.