Animes That Will Work In A Live Action Film Adaptation

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With anime growing and growing and gaining more mass appeal to American audiences. Hollywood has taken note and are starting to license some anime's for a big screen adaptation such as Bleach, Akira (was scrapped), Robotech and many more. However Hollywood has not been successful with faithfully adapting anime for live action. Today I wanted to give a list of anime shows and movies that I think will work in live action and appeal to American audiences. I will name the anime, the genre I think it will fit in, how long I think the movie should be, the rating of the film and estimated budget cost.

 Lupin The 3rd
Genre: Action/Comedy
Running Time: 1hr & 45 Mins
Rating - PG-13
Estimated Budget - 50 Million Dollars











Lupin The 3rd is a anime I can see working in live action. It has all the elements that can make it a long running movie series. The tale of a master thief and his crew has been done over and over again in Hollywood. However I don't think Hollywood has encounter someone quite like Lupin and his gang. The characters in Lupin The 3rd are off the wall and will be guaranteeing fun as well as laughs. The movie should start with a mini backstory on Lupin and his crew using sources from the original manga and some of the anime movies. Then transition into the big mission and goal of the film. A live action attempt was tried in the 70's but I think it's time to bring Lupin into the big screen.

 Grave Of The Fireflies
Genre: Drama
Running Time: 2hr and 20 mins
Rating - PG-13
Estimated Budget - 70 Million Dollars








For the record I know this movie has tons of live action adaptation. However I don't think it did good job as the anime. A "Grave Of The Fireflies" live action with a bigger budget will be great. This is my favorite anime movie of all time, and I would love American audiences to see a story on these two orphans struggling to survive after losing they mother in a time of World War 2. If it has the right direction and the best of the best Asian actors, and a revamped of the anime's original soundtrack, I think this could be an Oscar contender. However it will have to be in the hands of people who care deeply about the message and the characters.

 Perfect Blue
Genre: Thriller/Suspense
Running Time: 1hr and 40 mins
Rating - R
Estimated Budget - 35 Million Dollars









Some critics said that if Alfred Hitchcock got into anime he would have made "Perfect Blue." I have to agree with that statement. "Perfect Blue" is a psychological thriller that just happens to be in anime form. The story of Japanese pop idol wanting more for her career decides to become an actress. When she leaves things become very dark as she is stalk by someone who was not happy with her decision. This anime is very mature that is why I the live action will be rated R. The anime is filled with graphic images, rape scenes and nudity, but the overall psychological aspect of the main character is what I want audiences to see on the big screen.

 Gunslinger Girl
Genre: Action/Drama
Running Time: 2hr
Rating - R
Estimated Budget - 50 Million Dollars















This will be a very controversial film for American audiences and it's just wishful thinking. I don't think a movie of teenage girls as assassins will fit well with some people. However if Hit-Girl can kill why can't the Gunslinger Girls. The movie is not just about the kills. This anime has heart about girls who were near death and save by a government organization and trained as assassins. The relationship between the girls and the mentors should be the main focal point of the movie. Gunslinger Girl will be an emotional but action pack ride if it's done right.

 A Wind Named Amnesia
Genre: Drama
Running Time: 1hr 50 mins
Rating - PG-13
Estimated Budget - 35 Million Dollars















The apocalypse didn't happen by a zombie outbreak, or by a nuclear war but it happen with a simple whisper in the wind. "A Wind Named Amnesia" is a movie I will like to see a live action version of. It has great characters and a nice plot of only one man remembering what it's like to be human while others have forgot. 

 Mobile Suit Gundam
Genre: Action/Drama
Running Time: 2hr and 20 mins
Rating - PG-13
Estimated Budget - 100 Million











If a Robotech movie is in the works than you can't forget about Mobile Suit Gundam. This is one of the anime's that started the mech crazed in anime. The story is pure classic and with war like the original Mobile Suit Gundam it will be nice to see who American audiences choose the Zeon or Earth Federation. The action will have to be top notch and taken with care that is why the budget is 150 million dollars. 

 Vampire Hunter D
Genre: Action/Horror
Running Time: 1hr and 50 mins
Rating - R
Estimated Budget - 45 Million















Who doesn't love a tale about vampires and the people that hunt them? This would be one hell of a movie that I could probably see Tim Burton producing. Vampire Hunter D is one of the most beloved anime characters and with the right studio it can easily become a franchise. All I ask is that they use the manga and the two movies as source material.

 Elfen Lied
Genre: Horror/Drama
Running Time: 1hr and 50 mins
Rating - R
Estimate Budget - 45 Million











Another anime that might be hard for American audiences. However  Elfen Lied has great commentary on bullying with Lucy's backstory. This will be a great horror movie with drama elements. I can imagine the rampage Lucy will go on in this movie. This film will have a lot of gore, but keep intact the core dramatic story of Lucy. The vectors CGI will be pricey to make it look realistic as possible. 

 Those are my choices of for anime's that I think will work in a live action film. Let me know your choices in the comment section and what do you think of my choices. 

VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES OURAN HIGH SCHOOL HOST CLUB MANGA BOX SET

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OURAN HIGH SCHOOL HOST CLUB Box Set will be released on November 6th. The new box set bundles Volumes 1-18 of the bestselling manga series and also includes a special notepad featuring full-color character art.

The OURAN HIGH SCHOOL HOST CLUB Box Set will be released under VIZ Media’s Shojo Beat imprint, is rated ‘T’ for Teens, and will carry an MSRP of $139.99 U.S. / $159.99 CAN.

OURAN HIGH SCHOOL HOST CLUB was created by Bisco Hatori and has been a bestselling series in North America since its debut. In this screwball romantic comedy, Haruhi, a poor girl at a rich kids’ school, is forced to repay an $80,000 debt by working for the school’s swankiest, all-male club – as a boy! There she discovers just how wealthy the six members are and how different the rich are from everybody else.

“Bisco Hatori’s OURAN HIGH SCHOOL HOST CLUB is one of shojo manga’s great comedies, and we invite fans to pick up the complete series in this new, value-priced box set from our Shojo Beat imprint,” says Nancy Thistlethwaite, Editor. “The gender-bending OURAN HIGH SCHOOL HOST CLUB, a New York Times bestselling manga that was also adapted into a popular anime series, has become a beloved fan-favorite with its mix of humor, romance, and drama.

Bisco Hatori made her manga debut with Isshun kan no Romance (A Moment of Romance) in LaLa DX magazine. The comedy series, OURAN HIGH SCHOOL HOST CLUB, was her breakout hit. Hatori also created the shojo series, MILLENIUM SNOW (available from VIZ Media), which won the Outstanding Debut in the 26th Hakusensha Newcomers’ Awards. Bisco Hatori also enjoys reading all kinds of manga and is especially fond of the Saki Hiwatari’s sci-fi drama, PLEASE SAVE MY EARTH, and Takahiko Inoue’s basketball classic,SLAM DUNK, which are also published in North America by VIZ Media.

A free chapter 1 preview of OURAN HIGH SCHOOL HOST CLUB may be read athttp://www.vizmanga.com/ouran-high-school-host-club. For more information on OURAN HIGH SCHOOL HOST CLUB, or other shojo manga titles from VIZ Media, please visit www.shojobeat.com.


Lolita- a Lifestyle, Not JUST a Fashion

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Oh how I ALWAYS yell Sundays are for Lolitas!!!!! And it never fails that they certainly are. But today is Monday, right?! Well! I'm getting you a jump start on the weekend. I have SUPER sweet stuff to share before we continue to the last (starting) Everyday Lolita post. 
It took forever to sift through pics from NYCC, but I'd rather start your week of with a cavity or two and diabetes in a blog post! Enjoy some Lolita looks from around comicon while I go check out Hello Kitty for President! *giggle*
             
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Just a FEW quickies ... 
Be sure to join us on our new Otaku Time Tumblr, for quick geeky & fashion posts. You can submit & share ANYTHING you'd like with the Otakus & Geeks crew!

If there's EVER anything you'd like to see covered, fashion or art related ... or if you just want to send a kind note, be sure to shoot me an email at imani@otakusandgeeks.com >^.*<
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'Til next time, you know what it is ...

~je t'adore!
<3 IKB

Blur Studio's THE GOON Movie Kickstarter Enters Final Week

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BLUR STUDIO'S THE GOON MOVIE KICKSTARTER 
ENTERS FINAL WEEK!

November 2, MILWAUKIE, OR - David Fincher, Blur Studio, Eric Powell and Dark Horse Entertainment have come together to launch a Kickstarter campaign for the award-winning comic series "The Goon." 

Learn more about the effort and watch Fincher, Blur Studio and Eric Powell introduce the project here: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/624061548/the-goon-movie-lets-kickstart-this-sucker

For over 12 years, Eric Powell's comic book "The Goon" has amassed fans around the globe with its fantastic world of mobsters, zombies, killer robots, giant fish-men and mayhem. Two years ago, David Fincher and Blur Studio optioned "The Goon", developed a feature film script written by Powell and created a proof of concept clip to show Hollywood studios the incredible potential of a Goon animated movie. While the clip generated lots of enthusiasm, the movie still isn't green-lit primarily because PG13 animation is a challenging concept for studios. 

"The Goon" Movie Proof of Concept Trailer: http://vimeo.com/50254919

After investing hundreds of thousands of their own money and countless hours of effort, the team has opted to reach out to "The Goon" fanbase, comic book lovers, the movie industry, and frankly anyone with a pulse willing to donate, with a Kickstarter campaign to take their development efforts to the next level.  

The proof of concept short featured the voices of actors Paul Giamatti as Franky and Clancy Brown as The Goon, both of whom will reprise those roles for the film. Slated to co-direct are Blur Studio co-founder Tim Miller and Jeff Fowler, a director who has been with Blur for ten years. Miller was creative director on the "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" opening title sequence and is also on board to direct "Deadpool" for Fox and "Gravel" for Legendary Pictures; Fowler directed the Academy-Award nominated animated short "Gopher Broke" and has helmed many commercials and projects at Blur Studio. 
"The Goon" on Last Call w/Carson Daly: http://vimeo.com/52485546
Blur Studio is an award-winning production and animation studio in Venice, CA made up of Oscar-nominated artists who have created stunning story-driven CG work for feature films, commercials and games for over two decades. Executive Producer David Fincher is the critically acclaimed director of Seven, Fight Club, The Social Network and The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.
"I admit it—I came to this party late. Chinatown, and the Mystery of Mr. Wicker was—regrettably—my introduction to The Goon and the incredible world created by Eric Powell. I thank Tim Miller—who snapped me out of my Goonless existence when I was looking for material to possibly make into an animated feature, and he suggested I peruse a copy he had (suspiciously) nearby. Of course I marveled at the characters and was smitten with the mise-en-scene, but it was the language—that uncategorizable: Dead End Kids Meets Abbot and Costello Meet the Mummies—that unlikely Powellian patois that absolutely hooked me. If this is your first time, you are in for a treat—if not, you already know how lucky you are." - David Fincher  
Please visit the Kickstarter link for more details and feel free to share it with your readers. If you'd like additional information, images or assets feel free to contact Karen Raz @ RazPR.
 
 

VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES THE RELEASE OF NAUSICAÄ MANGA BOX SET

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VIZ Media is proud to announce the release of the NAUSICAÄ OF THE VALLEY OF THE WIND Deluxe Box Set, which collects all 7 volumes of the original celebrated manga (graphic novel) series by Hayao Miyazaki into 2 new hardcover editions packaged in a special illustrated slipcase. A full-color double-sided poster is also included and each volume features 8 full-color page inserts.

The NAUSICAÄ OF THE VALLEY OF THE WIND Deluxe Box Set is scheduled for release on November 6th, is rated ‘T’ for Teens, and carries an MSRP of $60.00 U.S. / $67.99 CAN. A movie adaptation is also available on DVD and Blu-ray from Walt Disney Home Entertainment.

In a long-ago war, humankind set off a devastating ecological disaster. Thriving industrial societies disappeared. The earth is slowly submerging beneath the expanding Sea of Corruption, an enormous toxic forest that creates mutant insects and releases a miasma of poisonous spores into the air. At the periphery of the sea, tiny kingdoms are scattered on tiny parcels of land. Here lies the Valley of the Wind, a kingdom of barely 500 citizens; a nation given fragile protection from the decaying sea's poisons by the ocean breezes; and home to Nausicaä.

“NAUSICAÄ OF THE VALLEY OF THE WIND is a true manga masterpiece, an epic fantasy story written and illustrated by legendary Studio Ghibli founder/director, Hayao Miyazaki, the creator of My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, and Howl’s Moving Castle,” says Masumi Washington, Senior Director, Editorial. “NAUSICAÄ OF THE VALLEY OF THE WIND remains one of Hayao Miyazaki’s most widely acclaimed works and delivers a powerful message of ecological conservation and preserving our fragile environment for future generations. This new Deluxe Box Set arrives just in time for the start of the 2012 Holiday shopping season and we know it will be high on many fans’ wish lists this year. We invite them to look for this newest addition to VIZ Media’s Studio Ghibli Library.”

Hayao Miyazaki is one of Japan's most beloved animation directors. In 2005 he was awarded the Venice International Film Festival's Golden Lion Award for Lifetime Achievement. His Studio Ghibli received the festival's prestigious Osella Award for overall achievement in 2004. Miyazaki's films include Spirited Away, winner of the 2002 Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature Film, as well as Castle in the Sky, My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service, Princess Mononoke, Howl's Moving Castle, and Ponyo, all of which have received tremendous acclaim in the U.S. Miyazaki's other achievements include the highly regarded manga series NAUSICAÄ OF THE VALLEY OF THE WIND and STARTING POINT: 1979-1996, a collection of essays, interviews, and memoirs that chronicle his early career and the development of his theories of animation. Both titles are available in English from VIZ Media.


Neon Alley: The 24 Hour Anime Channel Review

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Are you one those people who can't get anime on cable? Can't find the anime you want on Netflix or other avenues? Then you might want to check out Neon Alley the 24 hour anime channel on the PS3 and online. Neon Alley is brought to you by VIZMedia. This 24 hour anime channel consist of shows like Blue Exorcist, One Piece, Berserk, Naruto, Inuyasha: The Final Act, Vampire Knight just to name a few. Non stop anime all day long with limited advertisement. The great thing about Neon Alley is each week you will get premiere movie or episode. All the shows are in English dub and uncut. In addition Neon Alley also includes some live action movies like Initial D: The Movie. 

 So far the channel is up to a promising start. However there is a few things I would like to see change. It would be nice if you have the ability to pause, fast forward, rewind etc. Or have the ability to watch the show that you miss later on in the day by having an option replay menu, instead waiting for that episode to re-air. The advertisement is very limited and keeps true to the subject matter. You will see advertisements from anime conventions, latest manga, and anime shows that will appear on the Neon Alley network. Finally Neon Alley allows a free one week trial. After that it cost a small fee of $6.99 a month which is fair price for non stop anime channel. With new premieres and soon exclusive content coming Neon Alley is heading to the right direction. Hopefully we will see a little more upgrades in the menu and give users more control, still this something all otakus should check out. 

 Pros 
Non-stop anime.
Afforable monthly fee.
Premieres every week.

 Cons
Lack of controls for the user, such as rewind, fast forward.
No menu for replay shows that aired that day.
Lack of titles (keep in mind that is for now).       

 Neon Alley is available on the Playstation 3 store. For more info visit http://neonalley.com/.





    by Nathaniel Jean-Pierre



Music Monday: Top 5 Singles On Oricon Chart For Week 43

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Music Monday is here and you know what that means. It's time for the top 5 singles on the Oricon Chart. This weeks artist Kara, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, Tokyo Girls Style and more. Check out the top five of the week.



LeetStreet Boys "L3g3nds" Album Review

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LeetStreet Boys are back with they 3rd album "L3g3nds." For those who don't know about this otaku band. Let me just give you guys a mini brief history on them from the official website. LeetStreet Boys is an anime otaku band that gained international attention in 2008 with their breakout single and music video Yuri The Only One. Widely recognized as one of the first western anime bands to gain international recognition based on being genuine, innovative otaku artists, the band continues to produce music, multimedia, and live concert performances. The band consist of Matt (Lead Singer), Justin (Lead Guitar, no not me) Rose (Bass) and D-dos (Drums).

 The band's 3rd album "L3g3nds" can be describe in a few words geeky awesomeness. If your looking for music that talks about topics such as E3 booth babes, anime, rpg's with lyrics that gives references to popular geek culture look no further. The album consist of 11 songs and I didn't skip one single track. The opening instrumental song "L3g3nds" is a great start to the album. The guitar and drums will remind of you a Legend Of Zelda theme or an RPG game. It did a great job to get me pumped for the album. 

 The second song "Sakura" is my favorite song off the album. This is the one that I played till it annoyed my neighbors. This is a track fans will expect from the band, a upbeat song with lighthearted lyrics. I love the lyrics in this song "When this story ends you will fall from the sky in my arms, till the legend lives on in the stars. Sakura...Sakura." The lead singer Matt voice towards the end of the song will have you hook and will make you press the repeat button. 

 The third song "Booth Babe" is my least favorite song on the album. The song is not bad at all. It's about a guy trying to pick up an E3 booth babe. It has some clever lyrics and nice references. The chorus might stick in your head after a couple of listens. It has a nice wordplay on the e in the E3. The song is a nice addition to the album, it just wasn't for me. The lyrics might ruffle some feathers of our lady friends. Trust me you have heard worst! 

 The fourth song "Imaginary Boys" I believe will be the favorite track for otaku girls. A song about guy trying to get the girl but she is just into her dream boy like the one she sees in manga and videogames. This song is packed with tons of references from Full Metal Alchemist, Yaoi and many more. I love the lyrics and the production on this song with the guitar, bass drums and a little bit of 8 bit makes this song a must listen.

Other honorable mentions are My Life Is An RPG, Final Boss, Otaku Rave are all stand out tracks. These three songs all have different tones. Final Boss is pure epic and probably the most tough track on the album. This is a song any RPG gamer can appreciate with lyrics referencing the struggles of beating a final boss, what it's like to face the challenge and how important the win is. The guitar and drums come in at the right time and Matt's voice will paint a picture of an epic battle that is taking place. The guitar solo in this song is awesome. Trust me play this song when you reach your final boss in your game. Otaku Rave is more of a party song with electro/dance style and it's brilliant. Imagine a dance song for otakus with plenty references from anime and videogames. This is excellent dance track that I can see otakus dancing too at a cosplay party. Finally another track worth mentioning is The Song Of Time. Zelda fans this one is for you and it's my second favorite song on the album. It's a great way to end the album. Beautiful lyrics, romantic and great production. 

 Final Thoughts - LeetStreet Boys are definitely one of a kind. There aren't many bands that can sing songs about anime, manga, cosplay, E3, rpg's and make it fun for everyone. Even if you're not familiar with some of the references on the album, you will enjoy it's lighthearted lyrics, catchy choruses  and production that you can dance, rock out and be moved by. If you call yourself an otaku, gamer, geek, cosplayer or whatever you need to give this album a listen. It's an experience that everyone should enjoy. Now I'm going to listen to Sakura for the 100th time. 

Tracklist & Rating

 1. L3g3nds (5/5)
2. Sakura (4.5/5)
3. Booth Babe (3.5/5)
4. Imaginary Boys (4.5/5)
5. My Life Is An Rpg (4/5)
6. Final Boss (5/5)
7. Otaku Rave (4.5/5)
8. Harajuku Girl (4/5)
9. Hikikomori (4.5/5)
10. Worlds Apart (4.5/5)
11. The Song Of Time (5/5)

 Final Rating - 4.5/5 a must listen!!!!
Buy “L3g3nds” CD through the LeetStreet Boys website store!
Buy “L3g3nds” digital copy on iTunes.  



Interview With LeetStreet Boys

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Hey Otakus and Geeks we have another exciting interview today. We had a chat with the Otaku band LeetStreet Boys. The band has two albums and just recently released they 3rd album " L3g3nds." We had a chat with the lead singer Matt to talk anime, the 3rd album and more.

OtakusandGeeks.com: Let’s start with the origins. How did the band form? Also how did you come up with the name?

LeetStreet Boys: I wrote Yuri The Only One for a one-time performance at an anime convention, and I had no idea anything more would come of it. LeetStreet Boys (using the 3s as Es) was the first cool name we came up with, after rejecting The Free Hugs and Sexy Jitsu.

OtakusandGeeks.com: Your music topics are amazing. It’s really rare to find an Otaku/Geeky band. How do you choose the topics to your songs?

LeetStreet Boys: Thanks! On L3g3nds I brainstormed a list of song topics before writing any music.  Stories I wanted to tell inspired by personal experiences or the experiences of otakus I've met. Popular anime and games are always changing, but the emotions that fans experience are timeless.

OtakusandGeeks.com: Do you have a favorite record that holds a special place?

LeetStreet Boys: I've probably listened to Green Day's “Dookie,” Sugarcult's “Start Static” and the Final Fantasy VII soundtrack more than anything else.

OtakusandGeeks: Has there been any changes in style of music from your debut album to recent album L3g3nds?

LeetStreet Boys: I've tried to keep the arrangements consistent between albums. I want fans to get what they expect from a LeetStreet Boys album. L3g3nds has more chiptunes on it in places where lead guitar would be. Because we're usually playing shows with only one guitarist rather than 2, I wanted the guitar to be playable live no matter what. There's also more piano-driven songs. Since piano is my main instrument I feel like there are times where I can better communicate through piano than guitar.

OtakusandGeeks.com: Tell us a little bit about the 3rd album L3g3nds and what was the process of creating it like?

LeetStreet Boys: My goal was to balance between writing songs for teen and adult fans and to have more diversity compared to Otaku Hearts. I did a huge amount of revision on some of the song arrangements over six months. I wrote and recorded even more songs and scrapped the ones I felt were weakest. The album mixing happened over a relatively short period of time. It involved lots of intense  discussion, late nights listening and making tough decisions quickly. I also want to commend Powers for stepping up to the challenge of doing more guitar solos than originally planned.

OtakusandGeeks.com: Do you have a favorite song on the 3rd album?

LeetStreetBoys: My personal favorites are Sakura for the music, and Imaginary Boys for the lyrics.

 *Note* - Sakura is our favorite song on the track as well :).

OtakusandGeeks.com: Let’s talk anime when it comes to anime, do you have a specific genre that you like to watch?

LeetStreet Boys: I personally enjoy mystery like Detective Conan and Kindaichi Casefiles, as well as fantasy like Vampire Hunter D and FullMetal Alchemist.

OtakusandGeeks.com: Who is your favorite anime character and why?

LeetStreet Boys: Tamaki from Ouran High School Host Club, because of the way he can charm women.

OtakusandGeeks.com: Here at OtakusandGeeks.com we have a Cosplay Girl Of The Week. Have you seen a Cosplay Girl that made you say wow, she looks just like the character?

LeetStreet Boys: Of course! We're releasing a music video for our song “Cosplay Girlfriend” around end of year. Look out for it!

OtakusandGeeks.com: Tell us about the LeetStreet Boys webcomics. How did that start?

LeetStreet Boys: There was no way we realistically had the resources to make an anime, so we started a webcomic. It helps keep fans interested in LeetStreet Boys between releasing new music.

OtakusandGeeks.com: Speaking of comics. Do you have a favorite superhero and least favorite superhero?

LeetStreet Boys: My favorite is a good James Bond movie. My least favorite is a bad James Bond movie. I hope Skyfall will be a good one!

OtakusandGeeks.com: You guys perform at a lot of conventions. What is the most awkward moment with a fan?

LeetStreet Boys: 99% of fans are wonderful and make me feel totally comfortable. Unfortunately there are 1% of fans that are prone to do stupid things which is why rules exist. I've learned to be careful what I say to teen fans, because it's such an emotional age.  That being said, I tend to become friends with and / or fall for my fans. If I didn't love being with fans there is no way that I would do what I do. I can be awkward too!

OtakusandGeeks.com: Finally how can your fans keep in touch?

LeetStreet Boys: Follow all LeetStreet Boys' adventures on our website! http://www.leetstreetboys.com/




Leiji Matsumoto Creator Of Galaxy Express 999 Knighted in France

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Leiji Matsumoto, renowned creator of the celebrated manga Captain Harlock, has been honored with the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres on October 23rd, 2012 for the series’ wide influence on French popular culture. The ceremony took place at the French Embassy in Tokyo. 


Established in 1957, the “Ordre des Arts et des Lettres” recognizes luminaries across literature, film and music. Significant title holders include T.S. Eliot, Bob Dylan, Clint Eastwood, Takeshi Kitano, Emir Kusturica and Patti Smith.

Born in 1938, Mr. Leiji Matsumoto drew his first manga at the age of five. He began his career in 1954 with his comic strip Hachimitsu no Boken which earned him the Best New Writer prize for a long narrative, in the first Manga Shônen awards ceremony.  His first success came in 1971 with Otoko Oidon, followed by Galaxy Express 999 which was adapted for television and film. His works recount a journey of discovery - or how "a man can grow up" – with space and science-fiction themes as a backdrop. The following year, he won the Kodansha Cultural Price, in the child manga category. A man’s fight against misery is what Matsumoto seems to develop as his favorite topic. His career launched, he published several hit titles: “Gun Frontier” (1972), “Space Battleship Yamato” (1974), “The Cockpit” (1975), “Space Pirate Captain Harlock” (1977), “Galaxy Express 999” (1977), “Danguard A” (1977), “Queen Emeraldas” (1978).

Reputed for his sci-fi tales, he similarly ventured into many other genres: comic strips about animals, war stories or shôjo manga, for young girls. Executive Director of the JCA (Japan Cartoonists Association), Mr. Matsumoto heads up their copyright department and has a seat on the Takarazuka University of Fine Arts' council. Meanwhile his work on the French group Daft Punk's music videos helped him to reach a worldwide audience.

Leiji Matsumoto is also taking part in the upcoming Captain Harlock remake project.  For this new movie, “SPACE PIRATE CAPTAIN HARLOCK” (to be released in 2013), the latest techniques and the most talented artists in the world worked together in Japan, to offer both the new and the former generations the best of today’s animation! A new chapter of Leiji Matsumoto’s legend is about to be written!