Darren LABEREE

Otakon 2009
Anime News Network's Otakon 2009 coverage begins!

Available Now:
Photo Gallery: Cosplay Day Two
The Art of Translation with Trish Ledoux
Naomi Tamura Focus Panel
Ishiguro and Kikukawa Focus Panel
Blog: Con Sketching Day Three
Funimation
Bandai Entertainment
Kikuko Inoue
Aniplex
Madhouse
Opening Ceremonies
2009-07-17

Interview: Kurt Hassler
Christopher Macdonald sits down with Yen Press founder and head honcho Kurt Hassler for a discussion of their properties and the manga market in 2009. 2009-07-20

Astro Toy with Rob Bricken - D.Gray-Man Deformed Figure Series
Rob inspects a series of surprisingly impressive D.Gray-Man gashapon. 2009-07-19

Eureka Seven #14 Now Streaming!
More Eureka Seven headed your way. New episodes every day till we run out! We gots them dubs, and we gots them subs. 2009-07-19

Hey, Answerman!
Brian shreds across your screen in his bitchin' dirt bike, slamming a Mountain Dew(tm) in one hand and applying AXE(tm) Body Spray with the other, and erstwhile answers your questions about liking things, the ANN Preview Guides, plus the triumphant return of Hey Answerfans! 2009-07-17

Gurren Lagann GN 1
It's no surprise when a hit anime series gets converted to manga form. So it should also come as no surprise that, after comparing the two, the original is better.

KenIchi the Mightiest Disciple DVD Season 1 Part 2
Upticks in seriousness notwithstanding, it's still very, very silly. The forward strides it takes are only enough to ensure that its mix of silly fun doesn't stagnate. Which is, of course, exactly as intended.

Bleach DVD 17
The Bount arc gets properly underway, and lays a solid foundation, as Ichigo and associates encounter a new threat. The actual course of events is a very typical mix of flashy action, silly comedy, and good old-fashioned angst, but it should keep fan interest.

Night Head Genesis Sub.DVD 5
Remains to the end frustratingly uneven but invariably mature. Worthy of serious consideration by anyone looking for a change of pace in a teen-dominated market.

The Magic Touch GN 1-3
The only thing “magical” about The Magic Touch is how quickly you will be absolutely desperate to get its yucky fingers out of your personal space.

Shikabane Hime: Kuro Episodes 1-12 Streaming
Not a show to sit twiddling its thumbs, it's crammed to the gills with plot revelations and gorgeous violence. Stiff acting dampens the emotional impact, but why quibble when you can enjoy?

King of Bandit Jing in Seventh Heaven DVD
Whether you're a new fan looking for some unexpectedly substantial eye candy, a returning Jing-ite, or simply enjoy watching reality get twisted like a pretzel, Seventh Heaven won't disappoint.

Evangelion: 1.0.1 You Are [Not] Alone (dub)
Eva is the kind of anime that will never be replicated—unless that replication involves splicing the original into a series of movies.

Vampire Hunter D: Pale Fallen Angel Parts 3 and 4
Things only get more complicated for D as his mission to escort the Baron concludes in this twelfth American release of the Vampire Hunter D novels. Though many interesting things happen, it still has the same strengths and weakness as most previous novels.

Kimi ni Todoke GN 1
Kimi ni Todoke is hands down one of the best new English-translated manga series of 2009. Read this one even if you are not ordinarily a shoujo manga fan. It is simply not to be missed.

Baccano! DVD 2
Can a series that sometimes gets tremendously gory also be tremendously fun? This one seems intent on proving that a series can be both. Its plethora of converging story threads, combined with the ongoing antics of Isaac and Miria, make watching this an involving and highly entertaining experience.