Monster coming to Syfy channel
Viz has announced that Monster, the anime based on the mangy by Naoki Urasawa, will air on Mondays beginning Oct. 12 on the Syfy channel.
The show, rated TV-MA, will be rebroadcast the following week on the sister channel, Chiller.
“Naoki Urasawa’s ‘Monster’ weaves an engrossing story of politics, psychological intrigue and murder,” said William Germain, VIZ Media’s Director of Programming Sales, in a release. “The multi-layered plot and mysterious characters that make Naoki Urasawa’s manga a smash hit are adapted wonderfully for the animated series, which remains true to the original story.”
In “Monster,” Dr. Kenzo Tenma saves the life of a young boy named Johan. Years later, Johan appears to be a serial murderer. Suspected of being the murderer himself, Dr. Tenma must go on the run, as he attempts to track down a monster.
For more about the “Monster” manga, see http://www.vizsignature.com/monster/.
Click past the cut for the full release.
When Superman met Wonder Woman: Voice actors Yuri Lowenthal and Tara Platt at Comic-Con
Husband and wife voice actors Yuri Lowenthal (Superman in “Legion of Superheroes”) and Tara Platt (Wonder Woman in “DC Vs Mortal Kombat”) took a few minutes to talk to me at Comic-Con International about their upcoming book, Voice-Over Voice Actor, available for pre-order at BugBotPress.com.
- Matt Price
From Jewel Box to Dream Girl: Oklahoma provided start for actress Tara Platt
Actress Tara Platt. (c)2008 John Phillips. Used with permission.
Oklahoma-raised Tara Platt has voiced superheroes, starred in movies and written a book.
Platt is maybe best known as the voice of Temari on the anime hit “Naruto,” but she has also portrayed superheroes Dream Girl (on “Legion of Superheroes”) and Wonder Woman (on the “DC vs. Mortal Kombat” game). She’s also appeared on “Charmed” and “Gilmore Girls.” But it all got started in Oklahoma, where Platt lived from age 7 to 11.
Dream Girl from Legion of Superheroes.
“I remember we went to see ‘Annie Get Your Gun,’ and there were a bunch of kids my age in the chorus,” Platt said. “They were dressed up in fun costumes and singing and seemed to be having a blast. After the show, I turned to my mom and said, ‘I wanna do that.’”
Platt’s mother told her that it takes lots of skill, time and energy to become an actress, but didn’t discourage her.
“She said that if I read the paper and came across an audition listing, that she would take me,” Platt said. “A few months later I saw an ad for the Jewel Box Theatre’s production of ‘Wait Until Dark’ with a role for a 9-year-old girl. I auditioned and got Gloria, and I haven’t looked back since!”
Wonder Woman from DC Vs. Mortal Kombat
Platt lived in Oklahoma while her father attended the University of Oklahoma’s medical school. She said her overall memories of the state are wonderful.
“I ended up going to elementary school there at Wiley Post Elementary,” Platt said. “We did the Sooners’ Run where we pretended we were pioneers and got to run across the school yard and stake out land with our red wagons and toy guns.”
That imagination is still in play today.
“A definite draw to (voice-over acting) is the ability to not be constrained by looks or age or gender,” Platt said. “Anywhere your imagination can take you, you have the possibility of working as a voice actor.”
Tara Platt and Yuri Lowenthal. Photo (c) Boris Kievsky, used with permission
In the English dub of Naruto, Platt voices Temari, the eldest of the Sand Siblings, who bears an iron fan. Naruto is a Japanese show based on the manga of the same name. The show, about a young ninja who seeks to become the greatest ninja of all, has a large fan base in Japan and the United States.
“There are such strong characters, and really so many that there is a character for everyone,” Platt said. “They deal with real issues; it isn’t just a ‘kids show.’ There are major conflicts that Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke and the various other characters … are all dealing with that parallel many things we all must deal with: disappointment, rejection, family conflict, life and death, love, loss and many other important things. I think that is one of the reasons that Naruto is a fan favorite. That and the ninjas, of course!”
Platt’s sharing her knowledge of the voice-over world in an upcoming book. With husband Yuri Lowenthal, also a voice actor, Platt has written “Voice-Over Voice Actor: What It’s Like Behind the Mic,” which comes out this fall and is available to pre-order at BugBotPress.com.
Voice-Over Voice Actor, from Bug Bot Press
“There are tips, exercises and practice copy in addition to the nuts and bolts about the business,” Platt said.
In addition to frequent voice work, Platt takes on other roles in front of and behind the camera. Platt’s film production company with Lowenthal, Monkey Kingdom Productions, recently finished the psychological thriller “Tumbling After.” They’re also working on a documentary about the world of voice-over with director and documentarian Boris Kievsky.
Platt will be in front of the camera in some upcoming commercials and in a live-action sci-fi romantic comedy feature starting next month.
By Matthew Price
From Tuesday’s The Oklahoman
Marvel anime videos from Comic-Con
Check out these videos, shown at Comic-Con, of anime versions of Iron Man and Wolverine.
You can check out my report on the anime portion of the Marvel animation panel at NewsOK.
- Matt Price
Japanese man wants to marry comic-book character
A tip of the hat to The Oklahoman’s Jay Marks, who points out this unusual story on Yahoo:
TOKYO (AFP) – A Japanese man has enlisted hundreds of people in a campaign to allow marriages between humans and cartoon characters, saying he feels more at ease in the “two-dimensional world.”
Seems to me to be taking fandom to a new extreme. Check out the whole story in the link.
- Matt Price
DVD review: Speed Racer – The Complete Classic Series Collection
All 52 episodes of the 1960s animated series “Speed Racer” are avail-able in one limited-edition box set. These episodes have been released in single volumes before, each with a variety of special knickknacks, so if you already own those, there’s not anything new here to justify a new purchase. But, if you don’t yet own the series, this set provides “Speed Racer” for under a buck an episode.
The series comes in an oversized “Mach 5” tin case that may not fit on your DVD shelf. Inside, the discs are in a cardboard fold-out sleeve that’s about the height of a CD case. So, packaging wise, the “Complete Classic Series” is kind of an odd fit.
“Speed Racer” is the English adaptation of the Japanese anime “Mach GoGoGo.” Speed Racer is a young hotshot driver who competes in races around the world, and often gets entangled in action-packed adventures. Racer X, Speed’s closest competitor, is secretly Speed’s brother Rex, thought dead. “Speed Racer” was one of the first cartoon series to bring anime to the United States, and while it’s certainly kid-focused and a bit dated, it’s a powerful nostalgic thrill for those of the right age.
— Matthew Price
From Friday’s The Oklahoman
DVD review – Fantastic Four: World’s Greatest Heroes, the complete first season
“Fantastic Four: World’s Greatest Heroes” mixes the characters created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby with modern animation and anime-influenced design.
The Fantastic Four is a super-team. The team’s adventures are based on the Marvel Comic book.
Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic) is the genius leader who can stretch his body like elastic. Sue Storm (Invisible Woman) can turn invisible and project force fields. Ben Grimm (The Thing) is an orange, rocky monster, and Johnny Storm (Human Torch) can turn himself into a flame and fly.
The melding of 2-D and 3-D animation could be jarring for some, and the designs aren’t directly lifted from the comic book. French animation house Moonscoop tried to modernize the look, with the “4” logo seemingly spray-painted on The Thing’s rocky hide and the Torch sporting a Japanese anime-style haircut.
Several guest-stars from Marvel Comics appear, including Hulk and Iron Man.
The featurette “From Origin to Animation” is a treat for fans, as Lee talks about the Fantastic Four’s creation. The “Rise of the Rogues” featurette showcases the Fantastic Four’s villains, including Doctor Doom. Also included is a partial reprint of the “Ultimate Fantastic Four” No. 1 comic book.
— Matthew Price
Batman: Gotham Knight widget
Here’s another widget – this one for the animated DVD “Batman: Gotham Knight.”
Another “Gotham Knight” trailer
Batman: Gotham Knight trailer
For the upcoming direct-to-DVD animated feature.
