Monthly Archives: February 2021
No New Avatar Video Game Yet, But a Tabletop RPG Is on the Way
While an official video game based on the franchise newer than 2014 remains a pipe dream for now, an official tabletop RPG set in the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra is in the works thanks to a partnership between Magpie Games and ViacomCBS.
The RPG's core book is currently set to release in February of 2022, and will allow players to take on the roles of heroes within the Avatar universe, undertaking missions such as protecting merchants from the Triple Threat Triad, exploring the Spirit World, or helping rival Earth Kingdom communities broker peace. Player characters can be created using playbook templates included with the game.
Two supplements are planned to follow the core book, one focusing on Legend of Korra's Republic City slated for August 2022, and a second centered around the Spirit World, coming in February 2023.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/19/original-avatar-the-last-airbender-pilot-episode-was-way-different-ign-now-"]
Helping lead the development of the game is James Mendez Hodes, an RPG writer, developer, and cultural consultant who has worked on games including 7th Sea, Scion, and Monsterhearts. In a blurb on his official website, Medez Hodes says the game is powered by the Apocalypse World system: "easy to learn, flexible, and fun to design in even if you’re new to game design."
Per Magpie Games CEO Mark Diaz Truman in a press release, Magpie has deliberately worked with multiple Asian designers in an effort to keep the game "true to the authentic, diverse spirit of both [Avatar: The Last Airbender and Legend of Korra]."
Past tabletop releases from Magpie have included Root: The Roleplaying Game, Masks: A New Generation, and card game Wizard Kittens.
Currently, a live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender series is in the works at Netflix; however, as of late last year, the series' original creators are no longer involved in the adaptation.
And as for video games, with nothing official on the horizons, there was nonetheless an incredible unofficial adaptation made in Dreams last year, focused on Aang.
[poilib element="accentDivider"]
Rebekah Valentine is a news reporter with IGN. You can find her on Twitter @duckvalentine.
Super Nintendo World Videos Show Off Full Mario Kart and Yoshi Rides
A new series of Super Nintendo World videos from Universal Parks News Today have given us our best look yet at the rides, merchandise, food, and so much more from the much-anticipated park coming to Universal Studios Japan.
Universal Park News Today shared 20 videos on its YouTube page, each with a focus on a different part of Super Nintendo World. While it may contain certain spoilers if you want to experience the magic of this park for yourself, we've gathered together all the best details from each one.
Hopefully this will help make the wait for the park to officially open a bit easier, as it was recently delayed from February 4, 2021, to a date that will be announced once Osaka Prefecture's state of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic is over.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/11/30/super-nintendo-world-reveal-trailer"]
Mario Kart: Koopa's Challenge
As guests enter Mario Kart: Koopa's Challenge, they walk into a rendition of Bowser's Castle. As Mario music plays in the background, guests walk up the stairs and are greeted by a giant statue of Bowser. As they go through the ride, there are tons of Mario and Bowser-themed items that adorn the walls, as well as Mario Kart trophies that will be familiar to any who have played the games. There are in-universe advertisements and posters, as well as power-ups scattered across the queue. A van from MKTV (Mario Kart Television) even makes an appearance, which looks set up and ready to capture all the action. One piece on the wall is the "Team Koopa Rules of the Road," which is Team Koopas plan on how to stop Team Mario. The three rules are;- Play smart.
- Crush Team Mario.
- Win the Golden Cup or else!!!!
Yoshi's Adventure
Yoshi's Adventure has a very colorful and artful look that is seen quite often in the Yoshi games. As you go through the queue, you see fruit and blocks that you can use your Power Band to interact with, Yoshi eggs and flowers all over the place, and so much more. Toadette even makes an appearance. The ride itself seems to be a slower ride, most likely geared towards children, and takes you through a course that goes around Super Nintendo World. Each group of guests rides in a different color Yoshi, and it looks to give a great overview of the entire park. We also get a look at some important parts of Yoshi's history, including a glimpse of Super Mario Galaxy 2, his time with Baby Mario and Peach, his trusty friend Poochy, baby Yoshi, Captain Toad, and more.Walking Around Super Nintendo World
As guests walk towards Super Nintendo World in Universal Japan, they are greeted to a walkway adorned with score markers from the early games and other Mario items. The entrance of Super Nintendo World features a giant Star on the floor alongside both a pipe to enter the park and a few to take pictures in. As you walk through the entrance pipe, it feels a bit as if you are traveling through hyperspace. As you walk out of the pipe, you arrive in the entryway of Princess Peach's Castle, complete with shifting paintings on the wall and the stained glass portrait of her a la Super Mario 64. Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Toad were even waiting outside to greet fans and take photos. There are so many things to take in and items from Mushroom Kingdom to find and discover like 1-Ups, Fire Flowers, Key Coins, and more. There are also Coin Boxes, Mystery Boxes, and little Mario symbols located around the park that can be interacted with a Power Band to make something special happen like an iconic sound, secret glowing 8-Bit Mario or Bowser, or more. There are also LED walls with enemies that can also be played with. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/12/18/super-nintendo-world-direct-presentation"] Music Boxes take over one of the walls in Super Nintendo World, each which light up with different colors. If you hit a few of the same colored boxes in a row, it will reward you with a classic song from Mario's history. Much like Disney World and Disneyland's Hidden Mickeys, there also appears to be Hidden Pikmin all around Super Nintendo World just waiting to be found. Ultimate Key Challenge Mini-Games are placed around Super Nintendo World, and each have a challenge guests must complete, including having to crank a wheel to defeat a Goomba, repairing a broken Key Coin on an LED screen, hitting POW blocks to make a Koopa shell hit another POW block, one that has you touching an LED screen filled with tiles to switch ? to !, and one that has you turning off a bunch of alarm clocks to not startle a Piranha plant.Bowser Jr. Shadow Showdown
Guests can partake in the Bowser Jr. Shadow Showdown, which tasks you with swatting away virtual enemies, ducking to avoid Bullet Bills, and even collecting Fire Flowers to shoot fire at your enemies. When you play, you are looking at your shadow, and you have to physically do all the motions, not unlike Fruit Ninja on the Kinect. What's a bit different about this interactive experience is that you have to collect three keys around Super Nintendo World for the chance to face off against Bower Jr. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=super-nintendo-world-in-universal-studios-japan-sneak-peek&captions=true"]Super Nintendo World Merchandise and Food
One of the best parts of going to a theme park is the wonderful exclusive merchandise and food you can buy, and Super Nintendo World provides both. The 1-Up Factory is one of the stores and features a TON of Mario-themed gifts and treats. From chocolate crunch to collectible tin boxes to pins and key chains to t-shirts to figures to water bottles and cups, there appears to be something for everyone. There are also a wide collection of plush toys, including a row of blocks with hidden 1-ups inside, wearable blankets of Mario and Yoshi, Princess Peach's Crown, and more. You can find pretty much everything you'd expect to find in a store in Disney World or otherwise, but with a Mario twist. Mario Motors is another store guests can visit, and it features many gifts themed after Mario Kart, including collectible cookie tins to a Mario Kart wheel filled with chocolates to keychains and pins to exclusive Mario Kart and Power-Up figures. There is even a Blue Shell plushie. Kiniopio's Cafe is one of the main dining spots at Super Nintendo World, and it offers a ton of delicious-looking options, most with a bit of Mario flair on them. For example, the Mario burger comes with a Mario hat on top and the Super Star Rice looks like a Star power-up. It is also a sit-down restaurant, and you can see a bunch of virtual Toads in a virtual kitchen cooking up all the food. Some of the food and drink choices include;- King Bowser's Hamburger Steak with Bread or Rice
- Fish Bone Meunière with Bread or Rice
- Mario's Bacon Cheeseburger
- Luigi's Green Curry Chicken Sandwich
- Teriyaki Chicken and Super Star Rice
- Chef's Special: Omelet Rice with Shrimp and Mushroom Cream Stew
- Yoshi's Spinach Carbonara
- Fire Flower Spaghetti and Meatballs
- Piranha Plant Caprese
- Yoshi's Favorite Fruit and Veggie Salad
- Mushroom Soup
- Super Mushroom Pizza Bowl with Mushroom Tomato Sauce
- Portobello Mushroom Pizza Topped with Bacon and Vegetables
- Kids Hamburger Meal with Mario Figurine Pick
- Kids Curry and Rice Meal
- ? Block Tiramisu
- Goal Pole Cake
- Double Cherry Chocolate Cupcake
- Princess Peach's Cake
- Super Star Lemon Squash
- Super Star Hot Yuzu Lemonade
Super Nintendo World Videos Show Off Full Mario Kart and Yoshi Rides
A new series of Super Nintendo World videos from Universal Parks News Today have given us our best look yet at the rides, merchandise, food, and so much more from the much-anticipated park coming to Universal Studios Japan.
Universal Park News Today shared 20 videos on its YouTube page, each with a focus on a different part of Super Nintendo World. While it may contain certain spoilers if you want to experience the magic of this park for yourself, we've gathered together all the best details from each one.
Hopefully this will help make the wait for the park to officially open a bit easier, as it was recently delayed from February 4, 2021, to a date that will be announced once Osaka Prefecture's state of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic is over.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/11/30/super-nintendo-world-reveal-trailer"]
Mario Kart: Koopa's Challenge
As guests enter Mario Kart: Koopa's Challenge, they walk into a rendition of Bowser's Castle. As Mario music plays in the background, guests walk up the stairs and are greeted by a giant statue of Bowser. As they go through the ride, there are tons of Mario and Bowser-themed items that adorn the walls, as well as Mario Kart trophies that will be familiar to any who have played the games. There are in-universe advertisements and posters, as well as power-ups scattered across the queue. A van from MKTV (Mario Kart Television) even makes an appearance, which looks set up and ready to capture all the action. One piece on the wall is the "Team Koopa Rules of the Road," which is Team Koopas plan on how to stop Team Mario. The three rules are;- Play smart.
- Crush Team Mario.
- Win the Golden Cup or else!!!!
Yoshi's Adventure
Yoshi's Adventure has a very colorful and artful look that is seen quite often in the Yoshi games. As you go through the queue, you see fruit and blocks that you can use your Power Band to interact with, Yoshi eggs and flowers all over the place, and so much more. Toadette even makes an appearance. The ride itself seems to be a slower ride, most likely geared towards children, and takes you through a course that goes around Super Nintendo World. Each group of guests rides in a different color Yoshi, and it looks to give a great overview of the entire park. We also get a look at some important parts of Yoshi's history, including a glimpse of Super Mario Galaxy 2, his time with Baby Mario and Peach, his trusty friend Poochy, baby Yoshi, Captain Toad, and more.Walking Around Super Nintendo World
As guests walk towards Super Nintendo World in Universal Japan, they are greeted to a walkway adorned with score markers from the early games and other Mario items. The entrance of Super Nintendo World features a giant Star on the floor alongside both a pipe to enter the park and a few to take pictures in. As you walk through the entrance pipe, it feels a bit as if you are traveling through hyperspace. As you walk out of the pipe, you arrive in the entryway of Princess Peach's Castle, complete with shifting paintings on the wall and the stained glass portrait of her a la Super Mario 64. Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Toad were even waiting outside to greet fans and take photos. There are so many things to take in and items from Mushroom Kingdom to find and discover like 1-Ups, Fire Flowers, Key Coins, and more. There are also Coin Boxes, Mystery Boxes, and little Mario symbols located around the park that can be interacted with a Power Band to make something special happen like an iconic sound, secret glowing 8-Bit Mario or Bowser, or more. There are also LED walls with enemies that can also be played with. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/12/18/super-nintendo-world-direct-presentation"] Music Boxes take over one of the walls in Super Nintendo World, each which light up with different colors. If you hit a few of the same colored boxes in a row, it will reward you with a classic song from Mario's history. Much like Disney World and Disneyland's Hidden Mickeys, there also appears to be Hidden Pikmin all around Super Nintendo World just waiting to be found. Ultimate Key Challenge Mini-Games are placed around Super Nintendo World, and each have a challenge guests must complete, including having to crank a wheel to defeat a Goomba, repairing a broken Key Coin on an LED screen, hitting POW blocks to make a Koopa shell hit another POW block, one that has you touching an LED screen filled with tiles to switch ? to !, and one that has you turning off a bunch of alarm clocks to not startle a Piranha plant.Bowser Jr. Shadow Showdown
Guests can partake in the Bowser Jr. Shadow Showdown, which tasks you with swatting away virtual enemies, ducking to avoid Bullet Bills, and even collecting Fire Flowers to shoot fire at your enemies. When you play, you are looking at your shadow, and you have to physically do all the motions, not unlike Fruit Ninja on the Kinect. What's a bit different about this interactive experience is that you have to collect three keys around Super Nintendo World for the chance to face off against Bower Jr. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=super-nintendo-world-in-universal-studios-japan-sneak-peek&captions=true"]Super Nintendo World Merchandise and Food
One of the best parts of going to a theme park is the wonderful exclusive merchandise and food you can buy, and Super Nintendo World provides both. The 1-Up Factory is one of the stores and features a TON of Mario-themed gifts and treats. From chocolate crunch to collectible tin boxes to pins and key chains to t-shirts to figures to water bottles and cups, there appears to be something for everyone. There are also a wide collection of plush toys, including a row of blocks with hidden 1-ups inside, wearable blankets of Mario and Yoshi, Princess Peach's Crown, and more. You can find pretty much everything you'd expect to find in a store in Disney World or otherwise, but with a Mario twist. Mario Motors is another store guests can visit, and it features many gifts themed after Mario Kart, including collectible cookie tins to a Mario Kart wheel filled with chocolates to keychains and pins to exclusive Mario Kart and Power-Up figures. There is even a Blue Shell plushie. Kiniopio's Cafe is one of the main dining spots at Super Nintendo World, and it offers a ton of delicious-looking options, most with a bit of Mario flair on them. For example, the Mario burger comes with a Mario hat on top and the Super Star Rice looks like a Star power-up. It is also a sit-down restaurant, and you can see a bunch of virtual Toads in a virtual kitchen cooking up all the food. Some of the food and drink choices include;- King Bowser's Hamburger Steak with Bread or Rice
- Fish Bone Meunière with Bread or Rice
- Mario's Bacon Cheeseburger
- Luigi's Green Curry Chicken Sandwich
- Teriyaki Chicken and Super Star Rice
- Chef's Special: Omelet Rice with Shrimp and Mushroom Cream Stew
- Yoshi's Spinach Carbonara
- Fire Flower Spaghetti and Meatballs
- Piranha Plant Caprese
- Yoshi's Favorite Fruit and Veggie Salad
- Mushroom Soup
- Super Mushroom Pizza Bowl with Mushroom Tomato Sauce
- Portobello Mushroom Pizza Topped with Bacon and Vegetables
- Kids Hamburger Meal with Mario Figurine Pick
- Kids Curry and Rice Meal
- ? Block Tiramisu
- Goal Pole Cake
- Double Cherry Chocolate Cupcake
- Princess Peach's Cake
- Super Star Lemon Squash
- Super Star Hot Yuzu Lemonade
Cyber Shadow Review
What do you associate with the term "ninja game"? Perhaps you think of speedy action and superhuman agility, crazy character maneuvers, intense swordplay, or sneaky stealth. Odds are, however, that you also associate video game ninjas with games that are really, really hard. You wouldn't be wrong; in the long history of ninja-themed games, a lot of the standout titles are known for the formidable challenges they present. Knowing that, you'd likely expect a retro-throwback 2D platformer starring a cyborg ninja to be a tough test of your skills. Enter Cyber Shadow, a game that delivers everything above, especially the difficulty.
Cyber Shadow puts you in the role of the titular Shadow, a cyborg ninja awakened from stasis in the ruins of a massive city. A mad scientist is on the rampage, having fashioned an army of robotic supersoldiers in a crazed quest to revive the dead, and it's up to you to foil his ambitions. It's a simple premise, but Cyber Shadow's story has a complexity that reveals itself as you progress. As you find the souls of your fallen comrades and discover records of the city's destruction and the lunatic doctor's experiments, you learn of a backstory far more interesting and tragic than a simple “mad scientist gone rogue” yarn.
Shadow starts the game quite weak, having simple jumping, slashing, and running capabilities. Thankfully, the first level is a merciful introduction, with plentiful health drops, relatively weak enemies, and lots of checkpoints. But it's not long before things start to ramp up considerably, with early bosses and their bullet-spewing, fast-moving patterns giving you a taste of what's to come very soon. By the second area, you start to feel the pressure--quite literally, as crushing factory debris and instant-kill compactors make it clear that your mission is not going to be a walk in the park.
Continue Reading at GameSpotCyber Shadow Review
What do you associate with the term "ninja game"? Perhaps you think of speedy action and superhuman agility, crazy character maneuvers, intense swordplay, or sneaky stealth. Odds are, however, that you also associate video game ninjas with games that are really, really hard. You wouldn't be wrong; in the long history of ninja-themed games, a lot of the standout titles are known for the formidable challenges they present. Knowing that, you'd likely expect a retro-throwback 2D platformer starring a cyborg ninja to be a tough test of your skills. Enter Cyber Shadow, a game that delivers everything above, especially the difficulty.
Cyber Shadow puts you in the role of the titular Shadow, a cyborg ninja awakened from stasis in the ruins of a massive city. A mad scientist is on the rampage, having fashioned an army of robotic supersoldiers in a crazed quest to revive the dead, and it's up to you to foil his ambitions. It's a simple premise, but Cyber Shadow's story has a complexity that reveals itself as you progress. As you find the souls of your fallen comrades and discover records of the city's destruction and the lunatic doctor's experiments, you learn of a backstory far more interesting and tragic than a simple “mad scientist gone rogue” yarn.
Shadow starts the game quite weak, having simple jumping, slashing, and running capabilities. Thankfully, the first level is a merciful introduction, with plentiful health drops, relatively weak enemies, and lots of checkpoints. But it's not long before things start to ramp up considerably, with early bosses and their bullet-spewing, fast-moving patterns giving you a taste of what's to come very soon. By the second area, you start to feel the pressure--quite literally, as crushing factory debris and instant-kill compactors make it clear that your mission is not going to be a walk in the park.
Continue Reading at GameSpotThe Suicide Squad Plot Synopsis Confirms Corto Maltese Setting
Warner Bros. has released a new plot synopsis for director James Gunn's The Suicide Squad, one which confirms the movie will be set in a familiar DC locale. The war-torn nation of Corto Maltese will serve as the backdrop for the latest DC movie.
Here's the full synopsis from the studio's press release:
Welcome to hell—a.k.a. Belle Reve, the prison with the highest mortality rate in the US of A. Where the worst Super-Villains are kept and where they will do anything to get out—even join the super-secret, super-shady Task Force X. Today’s do-or-die assignment? Assemble a collection of cons, including Bloodsport, Peacemaker, Captain Boomerang, Ratcatcher 2, Savant, King Shark, Blackguard, Javelin and everyone’s favorite psycho, Harley Quinn. Then arm them heavily and drop them (literally) on the remote, enemy-infused island of Corto Maltese. Trekking through a jungle teeming with militant adversaries and guerrilla forces at every turn, the Squad is on a search-and destroy mission with only Colonel Rick Flag on the ground to make them behave…and Amanda Waller’s government techies in their ears, tracking their every movement. And as always, one wrong move and they’re dead (whether at the hands of their opponents, a teammate, or Waller herself). If anyone’s laying down bets, the smart money is against them—all of them.[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-suicide-squad-whos-who-full-cast-and-character-reveals&captions=true"] Corto Maltese is a fictional island nation in the DC Universe located off the coast of South America. The country first appeared in 1986's The Dark Knight Returns #3, where it was the site of a proxy war between the US and Soviet Union. Corto Maltese has also been referenced in multiple live-action DC projects over the years. For example, in 1989's Batman, photojournalist Vicki Vale shows off a portfolio of photos documenting the devastating civil war in Corto Maltese. The country also served as the backdrop of multiple episodes of Arrow: Season 3. But thanks to The Suicide Squad, it appears fans will get their closest look yet at this perpetually troubled country. This new synopsis doesn't reveal exactly why Rick Flag and Task Force X are sent to Corto Maltese, but it sounds as though the team is being dispatched to hunt down and either destroy or retrieve an important artifact, while using the carnage of the civil war as cover for their operation. Are they searching for some sort of doomsday weapon? A powerful relic like Eclipso's gem or a Green Lantern ring? Let us know your theories in the comments below. The Suicide Squad will debut in theaters and on HBO Max on August 6, 2021. There's no trailer yet for the movie, but Warners did include some footage in a sizzle reel of upcoming releases. Gunn is also writing and directing a Suicide Squad TV series spinoff starring John Cena's character Peacemaker. The filmmaker has said Guardians Vol. 3 will likely be his last as the franchise's director. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/23/suicide-squad-kill-the-justice-league-game-announcement-trailer-dc-fandome"] For anyone looking for more information on the massive ensemble cast in this DC movie, check out our full breakdown of The Suicide Squad's characters. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.
The Suicide Squad Plot Synopsis Confirms Corto Maltese Setting
Warner Bros. has released a new plot synopsis for director James Gunn's The Suicide Squad, one which confirms the movie will be set in a familiar DC locale. The war-torn nation of Corto Maltese will serve as the backdrop for the latest DC movie.
Here's the full synopsis from the studio's press release:
Welcome to hell—a.k.a. Belle Reve, the prison with the highest mortality rate in the US of A. Where the worst Super-Villains are kept and where they will do anything to get out—even join the super-secret, super-shady Task Force X. Today’s do-or-die assignment? Assemble a collection of cons, including Bloodsport, Peacemaker, Captain Boomerang, Ratcatcher 2, Savant, King Shark, Blackguard, Javelin and everyone’s favorite psycho, Harley Quinn. Then arm them heavily and drop them (literally) on the remote, enemy-infused island of Corto Maltese. Trekking through a jungle teeming with militant adversaries and guerrilla forces at every turn, the Squad is on a search-and destroy mission with only Colonel Rick Flag on the ground to make them behave…and Amanda Waller’s government techies in their ears, tracking their every movement. And as always, one wrong move and they’re dead (whether at the hands of their opponents, a teammate, or Waller herself). If anyone’s laying down bets, the smart money is against them—all of them.[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-suicide-squad-whos-who-full-cast-and-character-reveals&captions=true"] Corto Maltese is a fictional island nation in the DC Universe located off the coast of South America. The country first appeared in 1986's The Dark Knight Returns #3, where it was the site of a proxy war between the US and Soviet Union. Corto Maltese has also been referenced in multiple live-action DC projects over the years. For example, in 1989's Batman, photojournalist Vicki Vale shows off a portfolio of photos documenting the devastating civil war in Corto Maltese. The country also served as the backdrop of multiple episodes of Arrow: Season 3. But thanks to The Suicide Squad, it appears fans will get their closest look yet at this perpetually troubled country. This new synopsis doesn't reveal exactly why Rick Flag and Task Force X are sent to Corto Maltese, but it sounds as though the team is being dispatched to hunt down and either destroy or retrieve an important artifact, while using the carnage of the civil war as cover for their operation. Are they searching for some sort of doomsday weapon? A powerful relic like Eclipso's gem or a Green Lantern ring? Let us know your theories in the comments below. The Suicide Squad will debut in theaters and on HBO Max on August 6, 2021. There's no trailer yet for the movie, but Warners did include some footage in a sizzle reel of upcoming releases. Gunn is also writing and directing a Suicide Squad TV series spinoff starring John Cena's character Peacemaker. The filmmaker has said Guardians Vol. 3 will likely be his last as the franchise's director. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/23/suicide-squad-kill-the-justice-league-game-announcement-trailer-dc-fandome"] For anyone looking for more information on the massive ensemble cast in this DC movie, check out our full breakdown of The Suicide Squad's characters. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.
Studio Ghibli Theme Park Will Include a Life-Size Howl’s Moving Castle (But It Won’t Move)
Japan’s upcoming Studio Ghibli theme park, due to open in 2022, is building its own Howl’s Moving Castle, reports Tokyo Shimbun (via Kotaku).
Unfortunately, the whole “Moving” thing is a bit too fantastical for our world, and it’ll be a bit smaller than what we see in the movie.
Howl’s not-so-moving castle will stand at approximately four to five stories tall. An artist’s depiction can be seen in the image below.
[caption id="attachment_2469074" align="alignnone" width="640"]
Credit: Studio Ghibli[/caption]
The castle is part of the park’s Witch’s Valley area, one of five areas in the park themed after Ghibli movies. Construction has also been started on a Princess Mononoke village, a Dondoko forest from Totoro, a Springtime of Life area that features elements from The Cat Returns and Whispers of the Heart, while Witch Valley also contains Kiki’s Delivery Service.
The Ghibli theme park is scheduled to open in 2022, but the Witch Valley and Princess Mononoke areas will open one year later.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2015/11/20/our-favorite-studio-ghibli-films-ign-anime-club"]The Ghibli park is being codeveloped by the government of Japan’s Aichi prefecture and the Chunichi Shimbun newspaper. The park is located near Nagoya, a site that held a world’s fair in 2005, attracting 22 million visitors across 460 acres. Famed Ghibli film director Hayao Miyazaki is reportedly involved in the design of the parks, which won’t have “rides” in a traditional sense and won’t cut any trees down to make room for development.
If all that’s got you on a Ghibli kick, why not check out our 10 favorite Miyazaki movies. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Joseph Knoop is a writer/producer/neighbor for IGN.Studio Ghibli Theme Park Will Include a Life-Size Howl’s Moving Castle (But It Won’t Move)
Japan’s upcoming Studio Ghibli theme park, due to open in 2022, is building its own Howl’s Moving Castle, reports Tokyo Shimbun (via Kotaku).
Unfortunately, the whole “Moving” thing is a bit too fantastical for our world, and it’ll be a bit smaller than what we see in the movie.
Howl’s not-so-moving castle will stand at approximately four to five stories tall. An artist’s depiction can be seen in the image below.
[caption id="attachment_2469074" align="alignnone" width="640"] Credit: Studio Ghibli[/caption]
The castle is part of the park’s Witch’s Valley area, one of five areas in the park themed after Ghibli movies. Construction has also been started on a Princess Mononoke village, a Dondoko forest from Totoro, a Springtime of Life area that features elements from The Cat Returns and Whispers of the Heart, while Witch Valley also contains Kiki’s Delivery Service.
The Ghibli theme park is scheduled to open in 2022, but the Witch Valley and Princess Mononoke areas will open one year later.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2015/11/20/our-favorite-studio-ghibli-films-ign-anime-club"]The Ghibli park is being codeveloped by the government of Japan’s Aichi prefecture and the Chunichi Shimbun newspaper. The park is located near Nagoya, a site that held a world’s fair in 2005, attracting 22 million visitors across 460 acres. Famed Ghibli film director Hayao Miyazaki is reportedly involved in the design of the parks, which won’t have “rides” in a traditional sense and won’t cut any trees down to make room for development.
If all that’s got you on a Ghibli kick, why not check out our 10 favorite Miyazaki movies. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Joseph Knoop is a writer/producer/neighbor for IGN.War Machine Will Appear in Falcon and the Winter Soldier
Don Cheadle said War Machine will appear in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, according to a report from BroBible.
BroBible spoke with Cheadle about his own Disney Plus show, Armor Wars, and how it will address the death of Tony Stark that happened in Avengers: Endgame, but not before spilling the beans on his involvement in the next MCU show set to premiere on the streaming service. He said the fun of the MCU is that all of the characters get to show up in each other's stories across different mediums be it movies or television.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/12/11/marvels-falcon-and-the-winter-soldier-official-trailer-1"]
"It's really a fun and interesting and, by all imagination, completely open-ended — this can go anywhere," Cheadle said. "It's great. I can't wait to get in the room with the writers and figure out how all those things (connecting Armor Wars to the MCU) happen. You know, Rhodey shows up in Winter Soldier and Falcon's show. So, it can be a lot."
This was news to the world and it's unclear if it's a secret Cheadle let slip out in classic Tom Holland fashion or if it's something he's allowed to talk about. Regardless, it's exciting to learn that Cheadle's James Rhodes, who is War Machine, will be involved with The Falcon and the Winter Soldier in some capacity.
Cheadle also explained to BroBible how the War Machine-centered show, Armor Wars, will address Tony Stark's death.
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"The death of Tony Stark, I'm pretty sure, will play a role in the series," Cheadle said. "Where we've been sort of progressing Rhodey — even in the last film where he's now up again and he's now walking again and he's now mobile again — so as the technology continues to develop and we keep making innovations in the suit and what happens, I imagine there's gonna be another elevation and another way that we're going to keep digging into that part of Rhodey."
Cheadle continued and said figuring out a way to bridge what's happening in the comics with what's happening in the MCU is really exciting. It's unknown at this time when Armor Wars is set to premiere on Disney Plus, but The Falcon and the Winter Soldier premieres on March 19.
While waiting for these shows to be released, read about how The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is going to bring back some of the earliest MCU characters, and then check out Anthony Mackie in his new Falcon costume.
Meanwhile, Marvel's first foray into Disney+ TV is off to a rollicking with WandaVision. Check out the full WandaVision episode release schedule, how WandaVision fits into the MCU timeline, and our WandaVision Easter Egg guide.
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Wesley LeBlanc is a freelance news writer and guide maker for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @LeBlancWes.