Recently in shonen anime Category

So I've been watching "Inuyasha the Final Act" on hulu.com and I must say the producers are keeping everything on a brisk pace.

There's only been six episodes so far but three of Naraku's incarnations have already bit the dust plus Inuyasha's sword can now absorb demon powers and cut a demon vortex. For those who don't know the show, it's about a half-dog demon, half-human character and his friends who are on a mission to kill another half-demon, Naraku, and stop him from completing the so-called Jewel of Four Souls which he plans to use to make himself a full demon.

This series picks up where "Inuyasha" left viewers dangling a couple of years ago and promises to finish it. Let's just hope they do and not give us any filler episodes.

It uses the same Japanese voice actors and the same animation studio so watching the new series is like settling in on a familiar armchair. I have heard complaints about the quality of the animation from some viewers but I think the show looks fine.

Among the offerings for the anime fall season is a series that finally wraps up the Inuyasha saga.

When the show ended, there was no resolution and the bad guy, Naraku, along with his minions were still alive. I had to read the manga to know how Inuyasha, the half dog demon/half human, defeats Naraku, gets more sword techniques and deals with the Kikyo/Kagome issue.

So I welcome the new anime that aims to wrap up the popular show created by Rumiko Takahashi.

According to VIZ Media, INUYASHA THE FINAL ACT will stream on ShonenSunday.com/anime and Hulu.com hours after it airs in Japan. A new episode will air every Saturday.

The first episode is available for viewing at http://www.hulu.com/inuyasha-the-final-act
and at www.shonensunday.com/anime

If ya want to see a bigger version of the trailer, click on the screen on this page. A bigger screen should pop up.

Here's the latest promo by VIZ Media which is now making episodes of "Inuyasha" available via the iTunes Store.

(www.iTunes.com) in the US and the iTunes Store (www.itunes.ca) in Canada. iTunes is launching with episodes 1-13 for $1.99 per episode or $22.99 for one full season.

From today until Aug. 31, the first episode will be available as a free download.

The long-running anime and manga known as "Inuyasha" has already ended. But the episodes are available on DVDs. I'm not sure if Adult Swim on Cartoon Network still puts on the re-runs. Doubt it though.

Here is a synopsis of the show courtesy of VIZ: "Pulled back in time to Japan's ancient past, Japanese high school girl Kagome finds her destiny linked to a dog-like half-demon named Inuyasha, who remembers Kagome's previous incarnation as the woman who killed him - and to the Shikon Jewel, or "Jewel of Four Souls," which can fulfill the greatest dreams of any man or monster. Now Kagome and Inuyasha must work together to search for the scattered shards of the jewel before everyone's nightmares are given the power they need to come true."

Sorry for the looong silence. Unlike some folks, I can't afford to ignore my daily gig. Otherwise the bills don't get paid.

Anyway, I was checking out my e-mail and came upon this VIZ Media announcement of their fall DVD releases. The second "Bleach" movie will be available in stores Sept. 8. with a price tag of $29.92. Just in time for my birthday ....

Here's a synopsis of the film from VIZ:

BLEACH THE MOVIE 2: THE DIAMONDDUST REBELLION • Rated 'T' for Teens
After the treasured Ouin is stolen, Toshiro Hitsugaya disappears and becomes suspected of treason. When the Soul Society calls for his capture and execution, Substitute Soul Reaper Ichigo Kurosaki vows to prove Hitsugaya's innocence. Will the secret of the Ouin and Captain Hitsugaya's motives be revealed before his honor, his life, and the Soul Society are destroyed?

Attention Naruto fans.

VIZ Media announced today that the latest installment of "Naruto Shippuden" will be shown free March 26 on its official Naruto Web site, www.naruto.com , the same day it will air in Japan.

Episode 101 (with English subtitles) can also be viewed in Canada but on www.Joost.com

VIZ points out that this is the first time the official U.S. Naruto Web site will air an episode with the broadcast in Japan. As the company says in its release: "The special simulcast is part of VIZ Media's ongoing plan to bring hit animated properties and the latest content to its audience via the Web."

I suspect it's a way to bypass fansubs.

"Naruto" is a popular anime and manga here and in the land of the Rising Sun. Anime conventions always seem to have tons of fans dressed up as the teen-aged ninja Naruto or other characters from the show. OK the correct term for such a fan is a "cosplayer".

Final parting shot from VIZ. Earlier "Naruto" episodes are available for free on several Web-based, video streaming outlets that partnered with VIZ Media, including HULU and JOOST. "Naruto Shippuden" episodes can be viewed for free on www.naruto.com

With the new year just around the corner, I find myself mulling over anime I saw this year. Some were horrible, a few were excellent but most were entertaining enough.

I noticed many of the shows I watched had a supernatural or magical theme. I don't even remember seeing anything mecha-related. Sorry but giant robots leave me cold.

I have to feed the artsy fartsy side of moi now and then so I gravitate toward shows that look unique, tackle an unusual subject matter or tell a tale in a way I haven't seen before. "Mononoke", which deals with the adventures of an unusual medicine peddler, fit that bill. You should check out the show when you have the chance. I suppose you could say "Mononoke" was a spinoff of "Ayakashi" since the peddler was a character in one of the featured tales there.


Yes, I also saw my share of shonen anime from "Naruto Shippudden" to "D. Grayman" this year. The latter ended recently and was a letdown. Since the manga isn't finished, the animators decided to end the show just after the Black Order's headquarters get attacked. Lame. I hope they later come out with movies.

Do stay away from the mess that is "Le Chevalier D'eon". It is loosely based on a historical figure who was a spy for the king of France and who had a fondness for wearing women's clothing. In the anime, he dons dresses when the ghost of his murdered sister possesses him. The show is a mishmash of historical figures involved in conspiracies, secret societies and other arcane stuff. While the animation is beautiful, the plot is too convoluted and unbelievable. And anyone who loves history better steer clear of this anime which plays fast and loose with the facts.

I enjoys fansubs like a lot of anime fans because I get to watch a series airing currently or just finished airing in Japan. However, I always make a point to buy the licensed versions of shows I like.

With the advent of the Internet, it has made it easier and faster for anime fans to see current shows. Not surprisingly, some anime companies are opting to license a series even before it finishes its run in Japan or they're choosing to show episodes online.

VIZ media announced that beginning January 15, it will begin streaming "Naruto Shippuden" just days after being shown in Japan. It will be free and available at www.Naruto.com There will also be an accelerated publishing plan for the "Naruto" manga beginning in February 2009.

"Naruto Shippuden" picks up the tale after a now 15-year-old Naruto returns to Konoha from his training with Jiraiya. Everyone in his group has advanced in rank except him. Gaara is now Kazekage and Sakura is now a medical ninja.

Here's the release from VIZ:

"This campaign is the latest expansion of VIZ Media's ongoing strategy to utilize the web to its maximum potential to stream a variety of hit animated properties.

Beginning on January 15, the latest episode of "Naruto Shippuden" (English-subtitled) will be available for free viewing on the official "Naruto" website, www.Naruto.com, within days of its original air date in Japan. A new English-subtitled episode will be added every Thursday thereafter.

On January 2nd, VIZ Media will also debut for free, eight uncut, English-subtitled episodes from the beginning of the "Naruto Shippuden" series on www.Naruto.com. Each Friday thereafter there will be an additional eight uncut, English-subtitled episodes added on Naruto.com until the series eventually catches up to the current third season of the hit program. Also, coming this week, an exclusive sneak peek of "Naruto Shippuden" debuting on Naruto.com.

On the manga side, VIZ Media has unveiled an accelerated publishing schedule for upcoming editions of the "Naruto" series, making them available to North American audiences sooner than ever before offered by VIZ Media. Beginning in February 2009, 11 new volumes of "Naruto" will be released over three months, moving the series from Volume 34 (February 2009) to Volume 44 (April 2009) before returning to a quarterly release schedule beginning with Volume 45 (July 2009).

Earlier "Naruto" episodes are also currently available for free through a variety of web-based, video streaming outlets that have partnered with VIZ Media, including HULU and JOOST."