Spongebob teams up with NHK for more Japanese screentime this summer!

The top ranking animated show for children in the USA, five years in a row, SpongeBob Squarepants is now joining the NHK line up Sunday evenings starting July 2007.

As according to the deal made by Wowmax Media, this summer NHK Educational will run 13 episodes of the show featuring the sponge himself, his pet snail Gary, his starfishy bud Patrick , and his squirrel friend, Sandy.
(Image © 2007 Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved)

“Naughty Naughty Pets” begin broadcast on NHK !

The animated shorts based on the essays and art of New York designer Wendy Ann Gardener.

The popular characters from North America and their own animated cartoon finally land in Japan. Starting April 21st, as part of "Nyanchyu’s Worldwide Network" audiences can watch Naughty Naughty Pets on NHK Educational TV every Saturday Morning.

These mischievous little rascals play adorable tricks on Wendy Woo, a girl who loves animals and looks after them everyday when she gets home from school. Wowmax Media will advance the license of the merchandising etc. as an exclusive agent in Japan.
(Image © 2005 DECODE/Shorts Productions Inc.)

A collaborative event between Japanese and Korean animation creators

"Korean and Japanese Animation Today", a special event at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood, was held this March 31st.

The Japan Foundation is an independent administrative agency and in cooperation with the government related agency in South Korea, co-sponsored the event, to introduce an animated feature film from both countries.

The uniquely collaborative screening included the animated feature from Japan “The Girl Who Leapt through Time”, winner of the Japanese Academy Award for Best Animated Film; as well as the widely renowned and controversial Korean film, “Aachi & Ssipak”. The event also included panel discussions with the supervising directors of both films.
(Image © 2006 TOKIKAKE FILM PARTNERS © 2006 STUDIO 2.0/ JTEAM STUDIO)

Masaki Kaifu joins a symposium for TAF 2007

Masaki Kaifu made a speech as part of a panel titled "The Latest Trends of the Europe and America Anime Market and Outlook for the Future” (Sponsored by: JETRO).

This is the third year the symposium was held during the Tokyo International Anime Fair, and yet again it filled to capacity with industry professionals interested in the situation of Japanese animation in western markets, as well as strategies for Japanese enterprise overseas.

Masaki Kaifu appears at New York Comic Con 2007

Wowmax Media representative, Mr. Masaki Kaifu was asked to speak as a panelist in symposium “Mobile Comics for the Emerging U.S. Market: Trend Lines & Opportunities" as part of the second annual New York Comic Con.

After speaking about the trend of advanced mobile entertainment through phones in Japan, he discussed with other panelists about business opportunities for comics, manga and animation in the mobile market for the United States.

Supporting the Mayor of Los Angeles while in Japan

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, met with representatives of the Japanese entertainment industry through Wowmax Media, during his trip to Tokyo.

On October 10th, the Mayor attending the Tokyo International Film Festival and met with Mr. Tsugihiko Kadokawa to discuss the roles Los Angeles City can play in the film industry. The Mayor also attended the 19th Annual Tokyo International Film Festival Opening Eve Reception, where the film “Love & Honor” premiered. He shook hands and exchanged greetings with Director Yoji Yamada and Japanese Film Celebrity Takuya Kimura as well.

Tokyo Project Gathering: “Lost Angeles” from Heavy Metal Video!

The Tokyo Project Gathering selected the property “Lost Angeles” to be exhibited at their event (TPG) this year. The project market, held from October 22nd through October 25th in Roppongi, Tokyo, is a market for projects that are being internationally co-produced.

It's a part of TIFFCOM, (the Tokyo International Film Festival Content Market). World-renowned comic and illustration magazine Heavy Metal, along with their film brand Heavy Metal Video, presented the project “Lost Angeles”. Interested in creating an animation based on the popular comic, Co-Producer Joe Pearson also attended TPG, and was well received by prospective international partners.

Wowmax Media Exhibits at MIPCOM

October 9th-13th, Wowmax Media presented content at the MIPCOM Market as exhibitors. These programs are already airing in Japan on NHK, and in China on CCTV, and are now available for sale in other territories.

Birdy, the High Flying Little Plane: 60 episodes x 10 minutes, 3D Animation Series (HD) Currently airing on NHK in Japan. Birdy’s kindness can touch every child… Somewhere in South Seas, lie the Bird Paradise Island, where little plane named Birdy is a learning to be a guided-tour plane.

Laugh Everyday: 365 episodes x 5 minutes. Currently airing on CCTV in China. Sweet Panda, Sour Fox, Spicy Rabbit and Bitter Parrot, as the main characters, can bring laughter and happiness to children, with new adventures to follow everyday for an entire year.

New Anime Titles Launch Mobile Wallpapers and Screensavers in North America

On September 12, 2006, FunMobility added their first anime properties to their “Wallpaper Universe”, under the brand “Anime Newtype”. As an agent of Kadokawa Shoten Publishing, Wowmax Media presents Wallpaper Universe with images specially selected from the Newtype Mobile service already available in Japan.

Now fans can download such popular titles as Sergeant Frog and Neon Genesis Evangelion directly to their mobile devices.
(Image © 2006 Mine YOSHIZAKI/Kadokawa Shoten)