Anime

    SDCC’09: Halo gets the anime treatment

    Stephen SchleicherBy Updated:4 Comments3 Mins Read

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    Microsoft has announced Master Chief and the rest of the crew from the Halo video game franchise are getting the anime treatment in a new movie.

    “Halo Legends,” which will officially debut at a panel presentation today at Comic-Con International in San Diego, is being produced by Microsoft’s 343 Industries and features creative direction from anime pioneer Shinji Aramaki, director of the critically acclaimed “Appleseed” and “Appleseed EX Machina” anime features, and Mamoru Oshii, director of the landmark “Ghost in the Shell” movies, with additional production from Joseph Chou of J-Spec Pictures. The compilation will include a series of short stories that explore different times, themes and characters from the “Halo” universe and will be distributed globally by Warner Home Video, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. company. Influential studios that are part of the project include the creators behind some of the most popular and celebrated anime to come from Japan, such as “The Animatrix,” “Cowboy Bebop,” “Fullmetal Alchemist,” “Ghost in the Shell,” “Dragon Ball” and more.

    From the press release

    Studios involved in the “Halo Legends” project include Bones Inc., Casio Entertainment Inc., Production I.G, STUDIO4 Degrees C and Toei Animation.

    • Bones. Founded in 1998, Bones has become one of the top animation studios in Japan in less than a decade. The studio is best known for its incredible body of work on mega-hit franchises such as “Cowboy Bebop: The Movie,” “Fullmetal Alchemist,” “Sword of the Stranger” and “Eureka Seven.”
    • Casio Entertainment. Casio Entertainment was founded in 2004 and is renowned for its visual effects work on the movie “Dai Nipponjin” (“Big Man of Japan”), which was officially invited to the 2007 Cannes Film Festival and nominated for Best Visual Effects at the 2008 Asian Film Awards. Casio Entertainment is also known for its computer-generated animation support work on several top Japanese video games.
    • Production I.G. Production I.G has produced a number of acclaimed feature films, original video animation, TV shows and video games. For their storytelling and quality of animation, “Ghost in the Shell,” “Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade” and “Blood: The Last Vampire” have earned critical accolades in Japan and all around the world. “Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence,” directed by Mamoru Oshii in 2004, was the first Japanese animation feature ever to compete for the Palme d’Or at the Festival de Cannes.
    • STUDIO4 Degrees C. STUDIO4 Degrees C is one of the top animation studios in Japan. Founded by the industry veteran Eiko Tanaka and acclaimed animation artist Koji Morimoto, it has become globally known for its uncanny ability to marry the spirit of high art with mainstream anime aesthetic. STUDIO4 Degrees C is known for works including “The Animatrix,” “Tekkonkinkreet” and “Batman: Gotham Knight.”
    • Toei Animation. Toei Animation, established in 1956, is the oldest animation studio in Japan. Toei has produced the largest number of global hit TV anime series for kids, such as “Dragon Ball,” “Digimon,” “Sailor Moon,” “One Piece” and many more.

    The complete “Halo Legends” collection will be distributed by Microsoft partner Warner Home Video, which will have more to announce on its release and distribution plans soon.

    If you want to catch the trailer, check out GameTrailers TV with Geoff Keighley at 12:30 AM on Spike TV.

    via Microsoft

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    Stephen Schleicher began his career writing for the Digital Media Online community of sites, including Digital Producer and Creative Mac covering all aspects of the digital content creation industry. He then moved on to consumer technology, and began the Coolness Roundup podcast. A writing fool, Stephen has freelanced for Sci-Fi Channel's Technology Blog, and Gizmodo. Still longing for the good ol' days, Stephen launched Major Spoilers in July 2006, because he is a glutton for punishment. You can follow him on Twitter @MajorSpoilers and tell him your darkest secrets...

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    4 Comments

    1. Big Money B.G. on

      HELL YES!!! In short of getting a live-action movie, well…this might just be better!

    2. Gaumer on

      I dont even play the games and I like this. The Halo Universe has really taken on a life of its own outside the game and I like it.

      The nooks are great; the comics have been pretty fun; this looks to be just as cool

    3. Stacy B. on

      With the names behind it (especially Production I.G.) this looks like it could really not suck!

      Better than Live Action? Probably. I used to have nightmares of them taking Master Chief’s helmet of and it being Bruce Willis!

    4. Big Money B.G. on

      Them casting any “Name Actor” as Master Chief would be terrible, terrible. That’s why I’m almost hoping a live action film will never be made. There should NEVER be a face behind that helmet, or “Halo” loses a lot of its appeal.

      Hopefully though, if it does get made, they’ll take a cue from “V for Vendetta”, casting names AROUND the main character, but also having a recognizable-enough voice behind the mask in Hugo Weaving.

      Clint Eastwood’s voice for Master Chief! :)