Coming in spring 2010 is a collaboration between Marvel comics and Japanese animation studio Madhouse.
Marvel and Madhouse are both heavyweights in their industries and are creating four new anime versions of classic Marvel superheroes.
Marvel and Madhouse expect that merging these traditional North American comics with Japanese anime will produce ground breaking results, and redesign the classic stories for Japanese society.
They are slated to appear on the Animax channel in Japan.
Implications - These will definitely be fan favorites for people who love anime and comics in general. The images are intricate and highly detailed and the storylines are captivating.
Comic-Anime Mashups
Marvel and Madhouse Collaborate to Recreate Iron Man and Wolverine
Trend Themes
1. Anime-comic Collaborations - Opportunity for more cross-industry collaborations and mergers between traditional North American comics and Japanese anime studios.
2. International Storytelling Adaptations - Potential for creating new, culturally-relevant adaptations of classic comic stories through partnerships with international animation studios.
3. Intricate Character Design - Demand for highly detailed and visually appealing character designs in both anime and comic industries.
Industry Implications
1. Comic Publishing - Opportunity to expand comic audience through adaptations and collaborations with anime studios.
2. Anime Production - Chance to work with western comic publishers to create hybrid content that appeals to fans of both mediums.
3. Broadcast Networks - Demand for anime adaptations in western markets, creating an opportunity for TV networks to acquire and air the content.