Trigun:
Classic “cyber SF western” anime Trigun is set to return with a theatrical anime in the spring of 2010.
The movie will star Vash, Nicholas, Meryl and Milly as they struggle to prevent yet another city succumbing to the calamities which follow in Vash’s wake, much as with the original series.
The original seiyuu cast will be reprising their roles.
The TV anime was adapted from the manga serialised in Young King Ours in 1998, so just what prompted this sudden revival is not clear, but the movie will doubtless be welcomed by the many fans of this extremely well received series.
Source: http://www.sankakucomplex.com/2009/10/0 ... announced/
Gantz:
Hiroya Oku’s popular ero-sci-fi manga series Gantz will be adapted into two CG heavy live action movies, starring Kazunari Ninomiya as Kei Kurono, and Kenichi Matsuyama as Masaru Kato.
The films are set to premiere in Japan in the winter and spring of 2011. Both actors are said to be in training for the action sequences, with filming set to begin shortly.
The adaptations will be directed by Shinsuke Sato, while Watanabe Yuusuke will be adapting the manga’s storyline.
Just who will be playing the various busty female characters the series is well known for is not clear.
The series has previously been adapted into an anime, though it remains to be seen whether the drastic change from sexually tense surreal science fiction horror to bloody special powers battle manga the series underwent will be reflected in the adaptation.
Sankaku: http://www.sankakucomplex.com/2009/10/0 ... announced/
ANN
The NTV News 25 program and Sports Hochi newspaper report on Thursday that Hiroya Oku's Gantz science-fiction action manga will be adapted into two live-action films starring Kazunari Ninomiya (Tekkonkinkreet, Letters from Iwo Jima) of the Arashi musical group and award-winning actor Ken'ichi Matsuyama (Death Note, Detroit Metal City, NANA, The Legend of Kamui). Shinsuke Sato (The Princess Blade, Suna-dokei, Oblivion Island: Haruka and the Magic Mirror) is directing.
The story follows a young Tokyo college student who is reanimated after a deadly subway accident. Kei Kurono (Ninomiya) and his friend Masaru Kato (Matsuyama) go on violent, seemingly endless missions at the behest of an unseen host.
This is the first time that these two well-known actors have worked together. Filming begins next month and is slated to end next April. The two leads have been undergoing training and practicing action sequences. The films will open in the winter and spring of 2011.
Oku just returned from a three-month hiatus to launch the "Final Phase" of his Gantz manga in this year's 44th issue of Shueisha's Weekly Young Jump magazine on Thursday. Gantz has been running in the magazine since July of 2000, and the 26 current volumes have sold over 10 million copies.
Dark Horse Comics announced at Anime Expo 2007 that it licensed the manga for North America, and it will publish the eighth volume next month. ADV Films released Gonzo's television anime adaptation of the manga.
Update: More background information added. The project will be split into two films.
Update 2: According to the Mainchi Shimbun paper, Yūsuke Watanabe (20th Century Boys trilogy, Robo Rock, Bloody Monday, Kami no Shizuku, Yasuko to Kenji) is writing the screenplays. Takahiro Sato (Death Note, 20th Century Boys) is producing the project, and Digital Frontier (Summer Wars, Appleseed, Evangelion: 1.0 You Are [Not] Alone) is in charge of the CG work.
Update 3: Young Jump has launched a site for the movies.
Update 4: The project is budgeted at 4 billion yen (about US$45 million). Addressing the extremely violent nature of the movie, Ninomiya said, "I'm happy with just appearing in a work that I love so much! I'll try my very best to make everyone love it too!" Matsuyama said, "This work has so many original and bold points. I'm going to try to tackle the challenge of this new kind of movie."
Source: http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/20 ... ction-film
More Links:
Trigun:
http://www.trigun-movie.com/
Gantz:
Sports Hochi: http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/entertainmen ... T00004.htm
Movie Site: http://yj.shueisha.co.jp/gantzspecial/
Gantz DVD Live Action Commercial [Old]: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3dkB4u5sa4
