- Astro Boy, the CG animated movie currently in the works at Imagi Studios, now has a North American release date: October 23... 2009. Toys, games, books, fast food crap and other stuff based on the age-old sci-fi manga and anime are also incoming.

- Taro Aso, Japan's most popular self-professed manga fan politician, has been chosen to become the country's next prime minister, at the age of 64 (no wonder they called him a "Cool Old Dude" in Akihabara). If all goes smoothly, he will formally take on his new job as head of government tomorrow, September 24. Power to the otaku!

- The second season of Natsume Yuujinchou, reportedly scheduled for January 2009, is being announced in the November issue of Hakusensha's LaLa magazine, on sale tomorrow. That'll give soon-to-be-prime-minister Aso something to read about... though I kind of doubt he's into fantasy shoujo stuff.

- The online video service Hulu.com today launched an Anime channel where you can watch a few shows, perfectly legal, and perfectly free. If you're perfectly North American, that is. So far they have the full series Death Note (with subs) and Mushishi (dubbed), some Naruto episodes, as well as the classic Speed Racer and Astro Boy animes. Future additions will include Bleach, Basilisk, Black Blood Brothers, Kiddy Grade, Moon Phase (just call it Tsukuyomi, ffs), Peach Girl, and School Rumble.

- So did Joost, sort of.

- And in highly off-topic story, Oprah got pwned by over 9000 penises. Epic fail.