Anime News: Ultraman to Netflix ; gen:Lock BTS Sneak Peek ; KenIchi: The Mightiest Disciple Returns To Funimation

According to Variety, Netflix is developing an all-new Ultraman feature-length animated film inspired by the live-action series of the same name that will be slightly different than the ongoing animated series that is already streaming on the network. This endeavor will see Shannon Tindle teaming up with Tsuburaya Productions and Netflix animation with an influx of voice talent from both Japan and Western countries for a series that will take some visual cues from the anime, all-the-while not being an anime given that it’s being produced mostly in America with American producers and such.

The film will follow Ken Sato, a superstar baseball player who returns to Japan to become the latest hero to carry the mantle of Ultraman. His plans go awry, however, when he is compelled to raise a newborn kaiju monster — the offspring of his greatest enemy — as his own child. Sato will also have to contend with his relationship with his estranged father and the schemes of the Kaiju Defense Force.

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Michael B. Jordan has posted a sneak peek behind-the-scenes clip for production of gen: Lock season two which is slated to premiere sometime later this year on HBO MAX. The Gray Haddock created series features Michael B. Jordan in the lead role as Julian Chase and also sees the actor as a producer on the show. Doing so allowed Michael to put together a more inclusive writer’s room for the upcoming season which includes Daniel Dominguez, Maasai Singleton, Evan Narcisse, Kristle Peluso, and Gavin Hignight. Rounding out the cast for the sci-fi mecha anime is Dakota Fanning, Maisie Williams, Asia Kate Dillon, Golshifteh Farahani and David Tennant.

Synopsis: On a dying Earth in the midst of a now unstoppable climate collapse, two utterly distinct visions for the future of the human race have come to dominate: The Polity and the Union. The future of humanity, if it is to have one, rests in some form of mechanization or digitization. On opposing sides of this fundamental debate, the Polity and the Union remained locked in a brutal and unforgiving war…

A war the Polity is losing, despite the heroic efforts of their greatest soldiers, the Gen:Lock team – Chase, Cammie, Yaz, Kazu and Val, who continue to upload their minds to their Holon units and fight for their vision of a better future on the front lines.

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Funimation has announced that they are streaming all 50 episodes of KenIchi: The Mightiest Disciple starting today in English dub format.The TMS Entertainment production was directed by Hajime Kamegaki and was part of Funimation’s catalog until 2018 when the rights expired and were grabbed by Discotek. Now the series is back in Funimation’s hands as of May 15th and ready for perusal.

Synopsis:

“Weak Legs” Kenichi Shirahama would rather spend his time reading self improvement books than fighting. However, when he finally works up the courage to become strong and join his school’s karate club, he is coerced into fighting a bullying upperclassman who is intent on getting him kicked out of the club. He is about to give it all up until he falls for his mysterious new classmate, Miu Furinji. In order to face this challenge, he undergoes rigorous training at the dojo she lives at, Ryouzanpaku. Some initial training by the masters there allow him to defeat his upperclassman, however his fighting prowess brings him to the attention of the powerful gang of delinquents, Ragnarok. Wishing to protect the things he loves and determined to have the strength to face the increasing adversity, he must learn various martial arts from the dojo’s resident masters, taking Karate, Muay Thai, Ju Jitsu and Chinese Martial Arts and combining them to create his own fighting style!