Masaaki Yuasa Directing A Trippy "Space Dandy" Episode - We Have No Clue What's Going On

And as expected from the director of movies like Mind Game, this episode is looking as bizarre as we've come to expect from his camp. Yuasa is contributing his quirky directing style to the 16th episode of the series, which airs this Sunday in Japan.

It's been a fantastic time for the director, who's been spearheading the popular Ping Pong anime series, as well as contributing his talents to co-directing western shows like Adventure Time (The 'Food Chain' episode). I'm predicting one of the strangest episodes of an anime I've probably seen in years, if the trailer is any indication.

"Big Hero 6" Gets It's First Official Trailer

Following a few months of trailer, we finally got the first official trailer for Big Hero 6, Disney's upcoming feature-length animated release for 2014. Based off of the relatively fringe comic created by Marvel's Steven T. Seagle and Duncan Roleaue, Big Hero 6 follows the exploits of a Japanese superhero team, although the film adaptation takes place in a hybrid setting called 'San Fransokyo,' a trans-Pacific megalopolis.

Based off of the images released of the cast so far with characters including Go Go Tomago, Honey Lemon and Wasabi it seems like the cast has also been quite culturally diversified compared to their comic incarnations. Seems like a safe move to guarantee the broadest appeal possible when the movie comes out.

The movie follows lead character and robotics prodigy Hiro Hamada and his robotic sidekick Baymax as they team up with a group of reluctant crime fighters to take on a mysterious, Kabuki mask donning villain called Yokai. Fun fact, the comic book also starred the likes of Silver Samurai and Sunfire, but it's likely that those characters were sidelined due to Fox Studios currently having the Xmen license in their pocket.

The movie is being co directed by Don Hall (Winnie The Pooh) and Chris Williams (Bolt) as well as a whole smattering of staff from high profile projects like Frozen and Wreck It Ralph, so there's a pretty good chance that this will be quite an entertaining flick. The movie is slated to release on November 7. Check out a few more images of the rest of the Big Hero 6 cast after the break.

A Look At Goro Miyazaki's Latest - "Ronia The Robber's Daughter"

The first trailer for Goro Miyazaki's latest foray into the directors seat since 2011's understated Up On Poppy Hill and 2007's divisive Tales from Earthsea is coming in the form of an upcoming TV show called Ronia. Based off of Swedish author Astrid Lindgren's 1981 story by the same name, the show will narrate the tale of a girl growing up in a medieval era setting alongside a clan of robbers in a castle.

A lot of people didn't expect the series to be a hybrid 2D/3D short, with the trailer revealing that the characters will actually be cel shaded models on hand painted backgrounds. This has lead to quite a bit of heated discussion between fans of Ghibli's work, decrying Goro's choices with the series- Although honestly we've already seen Ghibli go down the 3D route with the likes of the Level 5/Studio Ghibli videogame Ni No Kuni.

The production is a collaboration between Studio Ghibli, Polygon Pictures and Japan's NHK channel which is set to debut in the fall season of this year. No plans as of yet for a western adaptation.

"The Last Fiction" - An Initial Glimpse At Iran's Feature Animation Industry

While the media has made it a point to regularly convey Iran as a one dimensional country obsessed with nuclear power, the country actually has an amazing arts scene that we've been following for a while. They've made some amazing strides in the international movie industry, including 2010's critically acclaimed Farewell Baghdad and 2011's drama A Separation winning an Academy Award.

This week brings us a new chapter in Iran's attempt to capture international audiences with The Last Fiction- a production by Hoorakhsh Studio, founded in 2005. The initial trailer is showing some amazing promise so far as a historical feature, employing a realistic hand animated style with a palpable sense of epic scale.

Adapted from a 1,000 year old epic poem called Shahnama (The Book of Kings), The Last Fiction is based off of one of the country's highest regarded literary masterpieces, chronicling the rise of the Persian empire. The movie itself will actually focus on the tale of Kaveh, a blacksmith who leads a revolt against a ruthless, despotic foreign ruler with mythical powers called Zahhak.

As of now it's unknown how far off the movie is from release, but considering the quality of animation so far, I'm really excited to see what these guys will be able to accomplish. Check out a look into Hooraksh's animation studio after the break, to get a rare glimpse at how Iran's young animators and artists work.

"Master Jiang And the Six Kingdoms" - An Awesome Looking Animated Feature From China

One thing to note before even clicking play on this impressive animated trailer - The animation for this short was created in it's entirety by two former Studio Vasoon animators, Pei Wei and Li Fei. We recently featured some of the work they did on another upcoming Chinese feature called God Hunters (Seriously, check it out), which left quite an impression on us as well.

This new production by the relatively unknown Anima CUC entity looks like an absolutely fantastic, epic affair starring many diverse kingdoms, and it actually reminded us a little of the likes of a more feature length Korra and The Last Airbender with some of the elemental themes and stylization present throughout.

After a little research on the Chinese IMDB equivalent (Called Mtime), the plot seems to revolve around the awakening of an ancient evil put to sleep during an era of darkness. The awakening of this evil will ultimately unite kingdoms from around the world, as well as an unlikely hero called the 'Fishing rod child,' who will rise to the occasion to counter this threat. The movie is slated for a 2016 release, and based off the presence of early subtitles I'm hoping this will also be intended for an international release.

"Might No. 9 The Animated Series" Gets It's First Trailer

Announced at Anime Expo earlier this week, Comcept announced that they are collaborating with Japanese animation company Digital Frontier to create Mighty No. 9: The Animated TV Series. For those of you unfamiliar with the project, Mighty No. 9 is the brainchild of former Capcom producer Keiji Inafune, a long time veteran who worked on projects including Onimusha, Megaman and Dead Rising.

Following a 23 year stint at the company, Inafune left to form Comcept and successfully utilized Kickstarter to fund a spiritual successor to Megaman, a franchise that continues to be neglected by Capcom.

The animated series will revolve around Beck, a transforming robot pitted against a combat robot league known as The Mighty Numbers. The animated show will focus on a target audience of 6-11 as well as fans, indicating that the show might be aiming for a mass audience reach to grow the Mighty No. 9 brand.

Digital Frontier will be taking care of the production of the animated series, best known for their work on Capcom tie in feature Resident Evil: Damnation as well as most of the cut scenes in Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance. This animated project kind of feels like a return to the animated video game show tie ins that dominated the 80's and 90's, which included some truly hilarious westernized takes on franchises like Mega Man, Street Fighter and Darkstalker. 

"Brutus The Bound - The Infinite Gladiator" - An Upcoming, Blood Soaked Animated Series

Brutus The Bound is another short from Exit 73 Studio, the same folks who brought us the amazing, retro animated rampage short Coin last year. With a narrative and stylistic premise similar to Samurai Jack with the time traveling warrior premise, Brutus is one over the top, violent bastard.

While Studio 73 didn't specifically mention what this was for other than a 'Winter 2014' note at the end, it sure feels like a pitch animation for an animated series we'd find on a channel like Adult Swim. Either that or a promo for the IP development services that the New York based studio is capable of. Either way I enjoyed loved it from start to finish, including the amazing ending credits.

Brutus, a great warrior from a distant planet, is ripped from his past and taken to the future of an evil Overlord. The Overlord holds Brutus' family hostage, and binds Brutus in a temporal harness, forcing him to become an Infinite Gladiator, fighting opponents throughout time and space.

"When Marnie Was There" - A First Look At Studio Ghibli's Upcoming Feature

Studio Ghibli's next project will feature Hiromasa Yonebayashi (Arrietty) resuming the directors post in this adaptation of Joan G. Robinson's novel by the same name. This premiere trailer seems to indicate that this will be another understated feature following a trend that the studio has adopted since 2008's Ponyo, which was probably their last 'fantastical' feature. Not that we mind, The Wind Rises (2014) was probably one of the best movies the studio's ever put out. Looking forward to seeing how this turns out.

Anna hasn't a friend in the world - until she meets Marnie among the sand dunes. But Marnie isn't all she seems...

An atmospheric ghost story with truths to tell about friendship, families and loneliness. Anna lives with foster parents, a misfit with no friends, always on the outside of things. Then she is sent to Norfolk to stay with old Mr and Mrs Pegg, where she runs wild on the sand dunes and around the water. There is a house, the Marsh House, which she feels she recognizes - and she soon meets a strange little girl called Marnie, who becomes Anna's first ever friend. Then one day, Marnie vanishes.

Glen Keane's "The Duet"

Legendary Disney animator Glen Keane (Tangled, Paperman) worked with Google on a project called Duet, as part of their Spotlight Stories initiative. Duet tells the story of Mia and Tosh, and how their individual paths in life weave together to create an inspired duet.

Created in collaboration with Motorola, Spotlight Stories is a creative endeavor intended to offer users a completely new, and creative way of interacting with their phones using technology like augmented reality, smart sensors and animation to create an all new narrative experience.

A very curious experiment, although I'm most interested in figuring out how the companies involved intend to apply the knowledge gleaned from this experimental project on a broader scope.

"King Star King" By Adult Swim Is Absolutely Insane, And Now Online

King Star King finally premiered online in it's entirety last night, one of the first Titmouse projects to not make it to broadcast television for reasons as of yet unknown. After years of checking out what Adult Swim's had to offer, I have to admit I'm a little baffled that they opted for this curious online only approach. For anyone that's watched Adult Swim for long enough, it kind of begs the question as to whether the content was an issue.

Developed by J.J. Villar, a former Dreamworks artist, King Star King follows the exploits of a He-man like warrior and his intergalactic exploits (And his job at a waffle restaurant). The series' outlandish, psychedelic style reminded me of the absolutely incredible SuperJail, also created by the mad geniuses at Titmouse.

As of now the entire first season of King Star King is available to watch online on Adult Swim, with the series finale only being viewable if you manage to complete ten levels of Floppy King, the videogame tie in available on the website as well. Have to commend them for the novel approach, it's rare to see companies tie a full episode behind a challenge like that.