Gundam 00 Series Only for 6 Months?
There's been some unconfirmed speculation in fan circles that the latest Gundam TV animation, Gundam 00 (Kido Senshi Gandam double-o"), will only get a 6 month (26 episode) run in Japan when it starts broadcasting in hi-vision high definition format (the first ever Gundam series to do so) on October 6th on MBS and affiliate networks. The traditional format for Gundam television series almost exclusively since 1979 has been a 1 year run and currently the latest series is also currently officially slated to go 1 year as well. 00 will be directed by Seiji Mizushima with scenario written by Yosuke Kuroda and character designs by Yun Koga. Breaking from past traditions, the series will be set in 2307 AD of the Gregorian christian era calendar system.

Tokyo Anime Fair 2008 Website
The official website for Japan's largest anime festival / trade show, The Tokyo Anime Fair, has been revamped in 2008 livery at www.tokyoanime.jp. There you can view a greeting from the senior staff and some other basic information. Exhibition applications are being recieved as of Sept. 1st. The seventh holding of the fair will occur March 27-30th, 2008. 270 companies and 107,713 people attended over the 4 days in 20.

Microsoft Enters Anime Industry
At a strategy briefing for partners in Tokyo titled "CONNECTED" on August 29th, American software firm Microsoft continued their promotion of a digital lifestyle campaign which is ongoing this year, seeking to make Windows Vista and the PC a nucleus. President & CEO of Microsoft Co. Ltd., Japan and Corporate Vice President Darren Houston delivered a keynote address stressing the importance of contents providers and revealed three television broadcasters (Nippon Television Network Corporation, TBS and TV Tokyo) would be partnering with them on some of their Media Center offerings. TV Tokyo announced their plans to synch up their Ani-Tele anime exclusive channel up to Windows Media Center, mentioning their main site draws 50 million accesses per month. Features involved a simple user interface, easily navigable via remote control. They plan on offering rebroadcasts of new shows there just days after they've aired on television and many older shows for free.

Ichigo Ichie To Be Animated
Stationary manufacturer Mindwave has announced characters from their popular series Ichigo Ichie will be adapted to an animation officially titled "Ichigo Ichie Koi Bana Tomo Bana". A series of 13 5 minute episodes has been confirmed. Broadcast will occur through Kids Station from October. Mindwave's company strategy has ben interesting in they don't license chara from other firms but have developed their own brands in-house and actively licensed those out to other products with some success. The stationary are popular with female school students ranging from elementary through high schools.er

Scenes On Live Action Higurashi no Naku Koro ni
Famitsu and Dengeki Online have an exclusive first look, having gotten access to the set of the live action Higurashi no Naku Koro ni movie which is filiming now on location at a Shinto shrine in Nagano Prefecture, Takatomachi. Pics include Director Ataru Oikawa and cast Goki Maeda (Keiichi), Airi Matsuyama (Rena), Rin Asuka (Mion), Aika (Rika), and Erena Ono (Satoko).

Live Action Dragonball To Shoot In Montreal
Toonzone Forums have referenced a new article in yesterday's Montreal Gazette which states 20th Century Fox is expected to shoot the live action DBZ film in the Quebec, Canada city along with 2 other "big-budget movies" over the next year; each is said to have a budget of at least $100 million. There are no details yet as to when the three shoots will begin, but they are expected to wrap production by next July.

Lucky Star PS2 Game To Use Anime Voice Cast
Famitsu uncovered the 4 lead heroines and much of the anime cast will reprise their roles in the upcoming PlayStation 2 release of Lucky Star: Ryou Sakura Gakuen Sakura Fujisai. Sale is scheduled for November 29, 2007 at 7140 Yen.More at: ANS