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Premium Bandai Selling Token Ranbu Characters as Sweet Bean Jellies
The men of Token Ranbu seem rather tasty as sweet bean jelly treats. Six characters from the popular Japanese web browser game are being represented as sweet bean jellies. The snacks are currently available for pre-order on the Premium Bandai website. As a set of six, each jelly is individually packaged. The characters represented as jellies are Mikazuki Munechika, Kogitsunemaru, Ichigo Hitofuri,...
Irregular at magic high school's Miyuki Tries to Maintain Modesty for 1/8-Scale Figure
Preorders opened this week for Broccoli's Miyuki Shiba figure from The irregular at magic high school. The 1/8-scale figure shows Miyuki getting caught in the middle of putting her school uniform on. She holds her uniform against herself but it can be removed to reveal her just in her underwear. The figure costs 11,500 yen (US$97) and will ship in January. Aniplex of America is releasing the Irre...
New Fan Project Aims to Reanimate Dragon Ball Episode
A new fan project titled "Seven Star Re-Animate" is collaborating with volunteer animators to reanimate an episode of Dragon Ball. The project will re-animate the English dub version of episode eight, "The Kamehame Wave" and is currently wrapping most of production. The team of animators were inspired by Kaitlin Sullivan's popular "The Moon Animate, Make Up!" project that premiered last year. Seve...
Slowpoke Pokémon Gets Official Reggae Tribute
The original Pokémon anime series' first opening them is iconic as is the closing Pokémon rap. Could a new reggae number dedicated to the glassy-eyed Slowpoke work its way into fans' hearts? The reggae song was released to celebrate Slowpoke's PokemonCenter.com debut. The shop is selling Slowpoke-themed shirts, belt buckles, glasses, and notebooks. The pink water-psychic Pokémon earned itself into...
International Orders Open for Ghost in the Shell Ukiyo-e Prints
Pazzy Entertainment and living Japanese national treasure Ichibei Iwano are working together to create and sell traditional ukiyo-e prints on tetsuki-hōshō-washi (Japanese hand-made paper) of the Ghost in the Shell film posters. The poster creator for the original 1995 film, Hiroyuki Okiura, is signing each print via a wood-carved and hand-printed signature. A second print based on the most recen...
Dōjin Circle Draws Mecha Modeled After Sex Toy
Moe anthropomorphization may be a craze sweeping Japan, but what about mechamorphization? The dōjin circle Kuramochi Zukan specializes in it and has drawn mecha based on the Tenga line of male sex toys. Tenga Boy and Tenga V Tenga Robo first appeared on the group's Twitter account on Valentine's Day and White Day (a gender-flipped version of Valentine's Day on March 14), where it caused a sensatio...
Good Smile Company Officially Releases April Fool's Fundoshi Accessory
Good Smile Company is doubling down on its April Fool's joke from earlier this year by actually selling fundoshi add-ons for its Nendoroid figure line. Fundoshi (traditional men's underwear) will come in both white and red and in rokushaku and etchū versions. The accessory has its own official website and is part of the company's newly minted Orange Rouge line of male character merchandise. The s...
Evangelion Designer Yoshiyuki Sadamoto's Hatsune Miku Gets 1/8-Scale Figure
Evangelion character designer Yoshiyuki Sadamoto's drawing of virtual idol Hatsune Miku is getting a 1/8-scale figure courtesy of Good Smile Company. Pre-orders opened on Thursday for 12,000 yen (US$100). The "Greatest Idol" version was originally designed as the cover art for sound producer Mitchie M's album of the same name in 2013. Sadamoto had been interested in Hatsune Miku before, and agree...
See Japanese City from Cat's Point of View
Street viewer emphasizes feline perspective, landmarks
― Thanks to Google's Street Viewer, we can now walk around towns from around the world, glancing at stores, taking detours down side streets and getting lost without even leaving the comfort of our chairs and air conditioning. To shake things up a bit, Hiroshima Prefecture is developing Hiroshima Cat Street View, which works in a similar fashion,...
Onsen Yōsei Hakone-chan Star's Twitter Pictures Attract New Fans
Saki Ono is fresh to the voice acting scene. Her major roles so far include President Unko in the cross-dressing comedy Himegoto and she's set to star as the onsen fairy Hakone in Onsen Yōsei Hakone-chan next month. She doesn't have a bunch of iconic roles under her belt yet, but Ono's Twitter pictures are garnering attention. 「VENUS PROJECT」ニコ生ご視聴ありがとうございました皆さん優しくてと~っても楽しかったです路未ちゃんの活躍見て頂けましたか??秦佐...
Natsume's Book of Friends Fan Disk Compiles Anime Theme Songs, Music
Fan disk celebrates 2nd performance of sound theatre production on December 5
― Aniplex's official website for the Natsume's Book of Friends TV anime series announced on Wednesday that it will release a fan disk for the franchise. The disk, titled Natsume Yūjin-Chō Oto no Tayori (Natsume's Book of Friends - The Tidings of Sound) will collect theme songs from the four TV anime seasons, as well as sele...
Love Live's Rin, Hanayo Get S.H. Figuarts
Tamashii Nation's S.H.Figuarts line opened pre-orders for Love Live idols Rin Hoshizora and Hanayo Koizumi figures on Monday. The best friends can be bought together or separately. Rin and Hanayo each come with three interchangable faces and seven hands. The idols are dressed in the costumes from the "Bokura wa Ima no Naka de" performance seen in the anime's first opening sequence. Both figures t...
Yowapeda Racers Dress Up for Halloween Crane Prizes
Toy manufacturer Chara Hiroba is adding some spooky Yowamushi Pedal plushes and phone straps as crane game prizes for Halloween. The boys of Hakone Academy—Jinpachi Tōdō, Hayato Shinkai, and Yasutomo Arakita— are dressing up as a police officer, a werewolf, and a Jiang Shi (Chinese hopping vampire). They're joined by Sohoku High School's Yusuke Makishima, Shōkichi Naruko, and Sakamichi Onoda. The...
New Pokémon Variety Show to Premiere in Japan in October
Pokémon fans, it's time to have a talk. On TV, that is. A new Japanese variety show, Pokémon no Uchi Atsumaru? (Let's Meet Up at the Pokémon House?), is set to premiere on TV Tokyo on October 4. Reaching out to fans of all walks of life, the new program aims to deliver the latest Pokémon information, discuss its universal appeal and deliver a love of Pokémon to all of its viewers. Shows will be he...
Kirby, Megaman Join the Nendoroid Line-Up
Two Nintendo video game stars are getting the Nendoroid treatment. Good Smile Company opened pre-orders for Kirby and Mega Man (Rockman) figures on Monday. Due to Kirby's unique spherical shape, the Nendoroid utilizes magnets to make all of his poses possible. He comes with four different facial expressions: smiling, serious, inhaling, and puffed up. He also comes with a series of props for befor...
Gackt Teaches Japanese Actor How To Get Rich in New Lottery Commercials
Like a wise guru, a famous Japanese rock star offers a famous Japanese actor some sage advice in a new series of amusing lottery commercials. In advertisements for "Big" lottery games in Japan, singer Gackt stars as a charismatic man with incredible wealth. Wishing to follow in his footsteps is a lowly business worker, played by Japanese actor Hidetoshi Nishijima. In one commercial, Nishijima asks...
NZ's Weta Workshop Makes Life-Size Tank for Girls und Panzer Event
Girls und Panzer is setting off to war in their new promotional display tank. In commemoration of the Girls und Panzer movie releasing in Japan in November, a special promotional event was held on August 29. At the "Girls und Panzer Panzer IV Landing" held at Belle Salle Akihabara, a group of girls cosplaying the main characters of the show—known collectively as the Anglerfish Team—appeared with a...
MOVIC's Eternal Masterpiece Line Adds Trafalgar D. Law's Kikoku Sword
Trafalgar D. Law's Kikoku sword Kikoku will get a replica as part of MOVIC's Eternal Masterpiece line of collectibles for adults. The sword from Eiichiro Oda's One Piece manga and anime series resembles a nodachi but is even larger. The official website's images are currently CG mock-ups, but they show the white fur-lined crossguard, black sheath, and red rope tie. The sword is available for pre-...
Manga Series Focuses on Real-Life Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Survivor
Yuichi Okano is a second-generation hibakusha (atomic bomb survivor) and the creator of the manga series Pecoross no Haha no Tamatebako (Pecoross' Mother's Treasure Chest) , a series that chronicles the daily life of Pecoross and his mother living with dementia. The series is autobiographical with Pecoross being a stand-in for Okano. Recently the series has focused on another character, a bully na...
Sailor Moon Lottery Adds Neo-Queen Serenity Figure, Musical Pocketwatch
Bandai Premium's Ichiban Kuji lottery is adding some unique character goods, including a Neo-Queen Serenity Kyun-Chara figure, a stuffed Luna, high heel charms, glassware, and a replica of the pocket watch seen in the original television anime and Sailor Moon Crystal. The The "Pretty Treasures" lottery collection will run at convenience store chains like Family Mart and Circle K Sunkus, as well a...
Glass Mask-Based Onna Kaizoku Bianca Play's Cast Photographed in Costume
Visuals for the theatrical adaptation of Onna Kaizoku Bianca ("Pirate Woman Bianca"), a play performed in the manga and anime Glass Mask, were revealed on Monday. The play will be staged from September 9 to 13 at the AiiA 2.5 Theater Tokyo in Shibuya. The cast includes: Fūka Yuzuki as Bianca Castagni (the lead role played in the manga by Maya) Masakazu Nemoto as Silver Keisuke Kaminaga as Lorenzo ...
Rose of Versailles' Oscar, Andre Promote British Trench Coats
Oscar and Andre are taking some time off from the French Revolution to model Aquascutum trench coats. The British "luxury brand" has price points to match Marie Antionette's budget with coats costing as much as US$1,250. The ads featuring Lady Oscar and Andre were put up throughout Japan. A special site will also launch on September 12 with an exclusive manga chapter. The story, which visitors ca...
One Piece's Robin Figure Wears a Sweater, and Not Much Else
Summer's almost over but One Piece's Nico Robin is still lounging by the pool. The Premium Bandai shop will open pre-orders on Friday for its Limited Edition Portrait of Pirates (P.O.P.) Nico Robin Version B.B. (Bathing Beauy) figure. The figure shows Robin in a bikini bottom, low-cut blue sweatshirt, and hair tied back in twintails. The 1/8-scale figure measures 130mm (5in) high and costs 9,288 ...
Jump Square Publishes To Love-Ru -Trouble- Darkness Heroine Poll Results
The October issue of Shueisha's Jump Square magazine will include the results of its popularity poll for the heroines of To Love-Ru -Trouble- Darkness on Friday. Fans of the series voted in multiple categories including: Which character would you want to be your girlfriend (or wife) ? Which character would you want to be in your family (but not as a wife/girlfriend) ? Which character would you wan...
Pokémon's Misty Figure Makes a Splashy Debut
The promised Cerulean Gym Leader Misty figure debuted at the Premium Bandai shop. Like the earlier Brock figure, Misty is depicted as she appears in the original Pokemon Red and Pokemon Blue games. The page opens up with game dialogue overlaid by the games' background theme music. "Hey! Future Champion!" "This gym leader, Misty, is a pro who uses water Pokémon!" "Hey, you!" "Trainers who want to ...
Nogizaki46 Idol Sayuri Matsumura Wants to be a Voice Actress
Already boasting her voice talents as an idol, Nogizaka46 member Sayuri Matsumura wants to lend her voice to anime. In a recent interview for women's life Japanese news source "Woman Insight", Matsumura expressed her interest in becoming a voice actress. "I'd like to become a voice actress for anime," she said. "But I've realized how difficult it can be. I'm still growing used to the job I have no...
Ghost-Like Veggie Mascot Udolla Represents Tachikawa
This veggie-like mascot may look a little ghastly, but he just wants to learn about his home town. Udolla—a relatively new Japanese mascot character for Tachikawa, Japan—is a monster that mutated from "udo", a subterranean vegetable that is grown in a farm in Tachikawa. While his face isn't one you'd want to run into in an alleyway, Udolla is a friendly character that only wants to learn more abou...
Miyagi Prefecture Produces Cute 5-Minute Anime Short to Advertise Farms
A boy learns to appreciate his vegetables in an animated short/advertisement. Miyagi Co-Op, a Japanese food company aptly based in Miyagi Prefecture, has recently released a five-minute animated short film to promote Megumi Field, its food farming branch. In "The Boy Who Became a Tomato", a young boy who hates eating his tomatoes at dinner wanders into a strange vegetable field where he himself be...
Tōken Ranbu's Shokudaikiri Mitsutada Joins Nendoroid Line-Up
Good Smile Company's Orange Rouge line of male character goods is adding a Nendoroid of Shokudaikiri Mitsutada from the popular Tōken Ranbu game. The character joins the already announced Tsurumaru Kuninaga, Kogitsunemaru, Kashu Kiyomitsu, and Mikazuki Munechika Nendoroids. Shokudaikiri comes with three expressions: standard, combat, and concerned. He can either carry his sword sheathed or he can...
Chaos Dragon Game's Raika Gets Nendoroid
Good Smile Company announced earlier this week that a Raika Nendoroid is in the works. The figure is based on a character from the Chaos Dragon: Konton Senso (Chaos Dragon: Chaos War) smartphone game which is turn based on Red Dragon, the "role-playing fiction" story born from the "table talk role-playing game" sessions by five prominent anime, game, and art creators. 商品化発表】先ほどのキャラホビステージでも発表がありまし...
Shake Your Booty to the Noragami Dance
Venerate Yato while getting some exercise
― Like any proper god, Yato of Noragami needs a festival to celebrate and worship him. The Geidankyo Building in Shinjuku, Tokyo, will hold such a festival on the weekend of October 3 and 4, where fans of the anime can get Noragami merchandise, play a mystery game, and watch a sneak preview of the show's upcoming second season, Noragami Aragoto. They also get...
Girls und Panzer Now Has Inflatable Tank Ammo, Ensemble Tank Figure
Panzer vor! Girls und Panzer still has merchandise available for anime fans with an interest in military hardware and giant, lumbering vehicles. Pair-Dot has produced a miniature model of a Panzer IV Ausf. H with Team Anglerfish nestled inside in chibi form. It is 115 millimeters long (or 4½ inches) and costs 4,760 yen (or about $39). You can buy it here. Pair-Dot has also made life-sized inflata...
Persona's Labyrs Gets Super-Deformed for Parfom Figure
The fighting mechanical maiden from Persona 4 Arena stands tough and proud even as a chibi. The recent Parfom series of chibi action figures is now introducing Labrys, the fifth generation anti-shadow suppression weapon, to its ranks with her own figure. Developed by Phat Company and figure design circle Ryunryuntei's Toona Kanshi, the figure comes with a variety of parts. Along with her signatur...
Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon's Hestia Figure Poses Cutely
The energetic Boob-String Goddess and head of the Hestia Familia floats adorably as a brand new figure from Good Smile Company. Hestia, the female protagonist of Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?, is being presented as a display figure created by figure manufacturer Max Factory. Standing more than six inches, this figure comes with exchangeable parts for two different poses. While...
Incredibly Hard Resident Evil Survival Game Announces Current Winners
The notoriously difficult Japanese theme park survival game has recently announced its current "survivors", and they are not many. The winners of Universal Studios Japan's "Resident Evil: The Escape" virtual reality game has only a handful of winners after 55 days of competition. Of the staggering 24,000 original participants in the game, only eight of them have survived the zombie onslaught until...
Endless Waltz Altron Gundam, The Origin Gouf Get Figures
Premium Bandai opened pre-orders this week for Master Grade Endless Waltz XXXG-01S2 Altron Gundam and High Grade YMS-07A-0 Prototype Gouf from Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin. Altron Gundam will ship in October and Gouf will ship in November. Hajime Katoki redesigned Chang Wufei's mecha for the three-part original video anime. The 1/100-scale figure recreates the Gundam's Dragon Fangs and its Twin...
Doraemon Kids Grow Up Fast in Grand Theft Auto Fan Parody
Doraemon also more canine than usual
― The cast of Doraemon get themselves into all sorts of trouble in their many wacky adventures, but they haven't quite gotten this bad. This fan art was uploaded by EN Aaa onto Weibo, a Chinese microblogging service, and Pixiv. It's the result of combining the artist's favorite game, Grand Theft Auto V, and anime, Doraemon, with gleeful disregard of their drastica...
Horror Manga Artist Suehiro Maruo Draws Kinniku Shōjo Tai Album Cover
Award-winning horror manga artist Suehiro Maruo has teamed up with Japanese rock band Kinniku Shōjo Tai for the cover illustration for the album "Omake no Ichinichi (Tatakai no Hibi)." The 13-track CD goes on sale on October 7 and includes the opening theme for Ushio & Tora, "Mazeru na Kiken." The cover artwork is an illustration Maruo originally drew for the Kinniku Shōjo Tai lead singer Kenji Ōt...
Black Lady Takes Over Sailor Moon Crystal's 12th Blu-ray Cover
Chibi-Usa's evil alter-ego, Black Lady, is featured on the cover of the 12th Blu-ray volume of the Sailor Moon Crystal series. Set for release on September 9, it includes episodes 23 and 24 with commentary by voice actresses Hisako Kanemoto (Sailor Mercury), Rina Satou (Sailor Mars), Ami Koshimizu (Sailor Jupiter), and Shizuka Itou (Sailor Venus), as well as and director Munehisa Sakai. The speci...
Madoka Magica Girls Cross Over with Phantom of the Kill RPG
From August 28 to September 21, Puella Magi Madoka Magica will be crossing over with the hit smartphone RPG Phantom of the Kill. Some Madoka Magica witches have trespassed into the realm of Phantom of the Kill, and it's up to the magical girls to follow them, link up with their sisters in arms, and wipe the witches out. The above commercial is also available with Homura and Kyubey speaking (below)...
Metal Gear Solid V Commercials Feature Stealth Wedding
Also: Big Boss coffee
― With the release date of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain drawing near (September 1), fans are anxious to learn the Metal Gear Solid series' greatest remaining mystery: how Big Boss became a villain. A new Japanese commercial shows a family who's taken their appreciation of the landmark franchise very far. The bride explains that over 28 years (which, not coincidentally, ...
Love Live, Idolm@ster Perform Together at Animelo 2015
Two of anime's largest idol franchises joined together for a special performances at Animelo Summer Live 2015 on Friday. The cast of Love Live! and The Idolm@ster performed fan-favorite songs Wonderful Rush, ~Kiramekira~, No brand girls, and Go My Way!! Animelo Summer Live 2015-THE GATE-初日、μ'sはアイドルマスターさんとコラボをさせていただきました! ありがとうございました!!! #lovelive #anisama pic.twitter.com/ri6APuKy2a— ラブライブ!公式 (@LoveL...
PlayStation Cat Mascots Cross Over with Danganronpa, Shiren the Wanderer
Toro Inoue and Kuro, the white and black cat mascots for the PlayStation consoles in Japan, have wandered into some unusual territory — the dark world of Danganronpa and the fantasy take on feudal Japan of Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer. Nao Horiguchi, the cats' original character designer, also drew these illustrations of Toro and Koro imitating Danganronpa's Monomi and Monokuma... .....
Woolly Yoshi Amiibo Gets Super-Size Version
The cuddly, wool Yoshi Amiibos introduced for the upcoming Yoshi's Woolly World Wii U game this fall is getting a big brother. Set for release on December 10, the giant knitted Yoshi is 4,000 yen (US$33) and yes, he's still a functional Amiibo. So far the giant Yoshi is only shown in green. The mini knitted versions also come in pink and blue. They're slated for release around the same time as Yo...
Ash Heads to the Wrong Side of the Tracks in GTA V Mash-Up
Bless the internet and its love for putting together the strangest things. YouTube user MerFish has taken American opening animation for the original Pokemon anime series and recreated it entirely out of characters from Grand Theft Auto V. The video went up on Wedneseday, Merfish's birthday. The creator wrote: Today I turn 23 years old, and for 17 of those years I have devoted my life to Pokémon. ...
Pearl Diver Mascot Controversy Continues to Rage
Japanese coastal city split over moe character
― We earlier reported on the Japanese coastal city of Shima in Mie Prefecture, which unveiled a new mascot character named Megu Aoshima in November. Shima has an ancient tradition of pearl diving carried out by women called ama who train themselves to dive about 60 feet underwater without breathing equipment, and Aoshima hopes to be one someday. She is a...
NHK Documentary Series Peeks at Process of Drawing Manga
Hosted by Naoki Urasawa
― An upcoming Japanese documentary TV series will examine the process of drawing manga from an insider's perspective. Urasawa Naoki no Manben (which, roughly translated, means "Naoki Urasawa's Manga Exertions") is hosted by veteran manga artist Naoki Urasawa (Monster, Pluto, 20th Century Boys) and follows different artists each episode, watching them draw their manga from scra...
Parents Give Transformer-Loving Son the Ultimate Cake
Two parents decided to work together to give their son a real Transformers cake. YouTube user "russellmonro" first created a platform using a 3D printer with sound clips of Optimus Prime. The boy's mother then created the cake, keeping in mind to hide the mechanics behind the transformation. Their son, wearing an Optimus Prime costume, can't help but grin when the surprise is revealed. His guests ...
Monster Musume Event Hands Out Tenga Eggs
An upcoming fan event for the Monster Musume anime series at Asagaya Loft in Tokyo's Suginami ward will hand out some very adult toys for participants that are 18 or older. The event is screening the full version of episode six and as a tie-in to the story's events where Papi lays an egg, visitors will get their own Tenga Egg. The "Easy Beat" Tenga Egg is a disposable male masturbation aid that c...
Date A Live's Kotori Itsuka Gets 1/8-Scale Figure
Preorders opened on Tuesday for Broccoli's Kotori Itsuka figure from Date A Live II. The 1/8-scale figure shows Kotori wielding her halberd in her Efreet Astral Dress. The figure costs 15,700 yen (US$131) and will ship in February. Gekijōban Date A Live: Mayuri Judgment (Date A Live the Movie: Mayuri Judgment) opened in theaters in Japan on Saturday.
Device Puts Vocaloid 'Hologram' on Your Smartphone
Pony Canyon will debut a new holograph smartphone device featuring the Vocaloids Hatsune Miku and Kagamine Rin at the at Tokyo Science Museum's Hatsune Miku Magical Future 2015 exhibit next week. The Sumahoro device that utilizes two mirrors to create multi-layer holograms from a dedicated app. The player's first release will be "Karakuri Pierrot" music video performed by Hatsune Miku and "Lost O...
AKB48's Haruna Kojima & Bear Mascots Gather for Ted 2 Event
America's popular vulgar talking teddy bear recently went international and posed alongside a pop idol and a team of his fuzzy peers. AKB48's Haruna Kojima recently appeared as a member of the "Ted Fan Club" at a Japan promotional event for the U.S. film, Ted 2 last week. Kojima expressed her enthusiasm for the film at the event as well as her shock at the film's content. "Ted says a lot of very m...
Eva Pilots Freshen Up Your Room with New Fragrance Holders
Not only do mentally unstable children make great robot pilots, but they can also leave your room smelling rather nice. The Eva Store, a Japanese online shop for all things Neon Genesis Evangelion, is now selling Eva Fragrance Holders. Previously purchasable through Japanese 7-Eleven catalogs, these fragrance holders are now being made available online. Each of the three variations comes fashione...
Cosplayers, Ice Sculptures Featured at Majestic Prince Pachislo Fan Event
A fan event to promote a new pachislo Majestic Prince game was held in Akihabara on Wednesday. The 2013 sci-fi anime series has left fans hanging for sequel ever since the financial firm Fields Corporation announced it was considering the prospect two years ago. While that idea has yet to come to fruition, Majestic Prince has since received a 3D CG mobile game and the new pachislo game. Visitors ...
Q Transformers Celebrates Cooking Papa Anniversary, Interviews Main Character
The chibi Autobots' radio talk show recently guest-starred the protagonist of Cooking Papa to celebrate the manga's 30th anniversary. The eighth episode of season two of the anime web series Q Transformers: Kaettekita Convoy no Nazo featured a special guest on its air waves. Three of the Autobots spoke with Kazumi Araiwa, the main character to Cooking Papa to celebrate its launch in Kodansha's Wee...
Australian Game Retailers Add Hideo Kojima's Name on MGS V Displays
The staff at Australian game retailer JB Hi-Fi stores are not-so-subtly sharing their opinion on Konami's decision to remove both "A Hideo Kojima Game" phrase and the "Kojima Productions" logo from Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain game's website and packaging. The stores' displays include handmade poster boards and signs emblazoned with the missing credits. The images were shared on Kojima's T...
Golden Darkness Dons Yukata for New Figure
Figure company FREEing is releasing To Love Ru: Darkness' Golden Darkness in a pink butterfly yukata for its newest figure. The 1/8-scale figure shows Golden Darkness in the midst of getting ready while handing her obi towards the viewer. Pre-orders opened on Tuesday. The figure costs 11,852 yen (US$100) and will ship in June. FREEing also released a yukata version of Momo Belia Deviluke. Fans ca...
Super Pochako Gets a Tan for New Bikini Figure
Super Sonico's friend Pochako spent her summer at the beach. The new figure from Daiki Kougyou is a remake of one released last year, only this time Pochako is sporting a tan and black bikini. The 1/5.5-scale figure is up for pre-order until October 21 for 14,800 yen (US$125). Orders will ship in January 2016. Other figures of the Nitroplus mascot girl include "Beer Girl" version, Bunny version, ...
Typhoon Takes Out Colossal Titan at Oita Train Station
The monsters of Hajime Isayama's manga are no match for nature's wrath. The Colossal Titan at Oita Station was thwarted by Typhoon Goni as the storm crashed into Japan over the last 24 hours. The storm, which besides upending the display, has also lead to 200,000 homes being evacuated, power outages, and cancelled flights. Numerous injuries were also reported. 大分駅の巨人 頭が無いやん 台風>巨人 pic.twitter.com/T...
Solanin's Inio Asano Writes Song, Draws Illustration for Dempagumi Inc.
Girl band Dempagumi Inc. (Punch Line) and artist Inio Asano (Solanin, The Perfect Insider) teamed up for the band's new single "Ashita Chikyū ga Konagona ni Natte mo" (Even if the Earth Shatters Tomorrow). Asano both wrote the song's lyrics and drew the inside jacket illustration for the first press, limited edition CD, vinyl, and cassette. The single is set for release on September 16. Asano prev...
Food Wars! Boys Get Hugging Pillow Covers
The Animate Shop is reaching out to Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma fans with hugging pillow covers. The shop is offering the usual covers of female characters like Erina and Ikumi but also added protagonist Sōma Yukihira, his self-declared rival Takumi Aldini, and the French cuisine chef Kojirō Shinomiya. Each pillow case costs 10,000 yen (US$83) and will ship in October. You can also find more Sho...
New Toyota Char Auris Gets Commercial Version in October
Toyota's venture with the fictional Gundam company Zeonic brought the Char Exclusive Auris II concept car to the Chara Hobby event at Makuhari Messe. The company announced at its Zeonic Toyota booth on Saturday that the Chara Exclusive Aurus II will get a commercial version beginning in October. The company didn't announce a price. Toyota revealed both a Char and Zaku concept car at the Mori Arts ...
Pokémon Set to Scare for Halloween Parade Campaign
Ghost-type Pokémon (along with some spooky-in-spirit types) are getting ready for trick-or-treating fun for a new Halloween-themed event. Japanese Pokémon Centers will soon celebrate the "Halloween Parade 2015" event at their locations. Customers will be able to pick up several Pokemon Halloween merchandise. Naturally, Pikachu plays his own part in the festivities, as many Pikachu plushes now com...
Saki Figures Opt for Band-Aids Over Underwear (NSFW)
Hobby Japan will open mail orders for a new pantyless Saki figure courtesy of Amakuni. The Ako Atarashi figure debuted at the Character Hobby 2015 event last weekend in Tokyo. Ako's pose and lack of panties is based image included in the limited edition Blu-ray release of Saki - The Nationals. The band-aid, on the other hand, seems to be thought up by Amakuni. Below images are NOT safe for work. ...
Singer HIMEKA Tweets About Hardships in Industry
Since returning to her home country of Canada after visa issues and being dropped by her label, French-Canadian singer HIMEKA has expressed sadness over the strife she had faced in the music industry. The singer recently posted a series of Tweets on her account counting up her grievances. They have since been deleted. "I just want to escape from all the fake-ness," she stated. "It's not that peop...
Pokémon Continue Exploring in New Super Mystery Dungeon Ad
The newest iteration to the Pokemon Mystery Dungeon series features the largest cast of creatures to date. The latest Japanese ads for the upcoming Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon (Pokémon Chō Fushigi no Dungeon) features a group of children "becoming Pokemon" and setting off on a grand adventure. The game will boast every single Pokemon in the series. That means that over 720 Pokemon will be featur...
JAPIC Offering 2 Month Stay in Tokyo for International Animators
The Japan Image Council (JAPIC) is accepting applications for its A-AIR Tokyo 2016 (Animation Artists in Residence Tokyo 2016) program. Three lucky artists from around the world will get to stay in Tokyo for 70 days between January 7 and March 17, 2016. Winners will have their travel expenses and rental accommodations paid while receiving a living allowance and expert assistance. Winners will also...
Pripara Ending Edited After BPO Complaints
Broadcasting Ethics and Program Improvement Organization (BPO) Japanese media watchdog group posted thinly veiled complaints about the late-night anime SHIMONETA: A Boring World Where the Concept of Dirty Jokes Doesn't Exist, Pripara, and Chibi Maruko-chan lottery ticket ads earlier this month. The complaints lodged against Pripara mentioned girls appearing in swimsuits in the anime's ending seque...
Is the order a rabbit's Cocoa and Chino Get Chibikyun Figures in New Lottery Prizes
Ichiban Kuji's newest lottery this month is focusing on the upcoming season of Is the order a rabbit?? The goods collection is titled "Is the order a rabbit? Kokoro Pyonpyon" (Heart Hopping) and launches on Saturday. Collectors will want to get their hands on the Cocoa and Chino Chibikyun figures. The prizes include: A Prize: Pillow B Prize: Cocoa Chibikyun figure C Prize: Chino Chibikyun figure ...
DRAMAtical Murder's Kōjaku Gets Nendoroid
Good Smile Company's Orange Rouge line of male character goods is adding a Nendoroid of Kōjaku from Nitroplus' Dramatical Murder game and anime series. The character pairs well with his childhood friend and previously released Nendoroid, Aoba. Kōjaku comes with three expressions: standard, smiling, and embarrassed. He can either carry his sword sheathed or he can hold a drawn sword ready for atta...
High-Quality Fate/stay night Saber Dress and Armor Costs US$4,000
Fate/stay night's Saber's costume elegantly combines grace with combat utility, but it's complicated enough to dissuade most cosplayers. For those determined to pull it off, however, the Japanese cosplay provider Cospa has prepared the definitive Saber cosplay set. The rubber band is looped around the buttons rather than fastened to them to make it difficult for the corset to lose its shape. The s...
Gundam's Dom Now Available in Chocolate Tofu Form
According to Sagamiya Foods, a tofu producer, a "Tofu War" has been raging for years on many fronts — space, Earth, and extraterrestrial colonies. Now Zeon has unleashed three formidable ace pilots onto the front lines on Earth, the so-called "Three Black Stars": three different Dom suits — Gaia, Mash, and Ortega — who strike fear in the Federation's heart and are capable of taking ...
Gun Down Zombies with Hyperdimension Neptunia Girls
Left 4 Dead 2 mod swaps out original cast
― Although the girls of Hyperdimension Neptunia will fight off zombies in the upcoming PlayStation Vita game Gekijigen Tag Blanc + Neptunia VS Zombie Gundan, a mod posted in January 2013 will let curious players get an idea for what that would feel like. [HTT✰] Nana Deviluke has replaced eight characters in the zombie FPS Left 4 Dead 2 with Neptunia character...
Haikyu!! Characters to Get Nendoroids
Also: August 19 was Haikyu!! Day
― The production committee of Haikyu!!'s second season officially designated August 19 as "Haikyu!! Day." The date was most likely chosen because of goroawase, a Japanese system that matches numbers with similar sounds; ha-i-kyū sounds like "8-1-9." (This has led to August 19 also being designated as Haiku Day and Motorcycle [Baiku] Day.) In the video below, Kenma Cat...
Ghibli's Princess Mononoke Film Shrunk into 3-Minute, 8-Bit Video
CineFix's 8-Bit Cinema feature is back with another Studio Ghibli film. On Tuesday, the group uploaded a version the beloved Princess Monoke. Much of the film's story is condensed into a quick three minutes and is transformed into 8-bit as Ashitaka attempts to remove his curse and finds himself entangled in the war between Iron Town and Lady Eboshi and Princess Mononoke. The film was previously ad...
Ubisoft's Just Dance Gets Yo-kai Watch Edition
Ubisoft and Level-5 are teaming up for a special edition of the Just Dance rhythm game. The Wii U game that tasks players with performing dance moves to the beat of songs is adding Yo-kai Watch characters, like Jibanyan, Komasan, and Komajiro. Yo-kai Watch Dance JUST DANCE Special Version doesn't have a release date yet. The anime series features its own choreographed dances like the ending theme ...
Odin's Sphere Leifþrasir Release Gets Accessory Set, Art Book in Japan
Before Odin's Sphere Leifþrasir (romanized Odin Sphere Leifthrasir) heads West next year, fans in Japan will get a special accessory set. The set will go on sale on January 14, the same day as the game's release for PS4, PS3, and PS Vita. It includes a blue pouch, a potion charm, and a large screen cleaner cloth. The set retails for 3,480 yen (US$28). First editions of the game will also bundle a...
Inventor Makes Functioning Castle in the Sky Flaptter
Inventor Kazuhiko Kakuta has worked on creating a functional RC model of the Flaptter from Castle in the Sky for the last four years. He began designing the model as part of his already well-established love for flying machines. He uploaded a prototype in January, but went back to tweaking it. A video showing off the latest version was uploaded on Tuesday. The new version adds a stabilizer and min...
Go Back to School with Earthbound
Mother 2 (EarthBound) video game creator Shigesato Itoi helped curate a series of home and office goods based on the game. The goods include notebook covers, bookmarks, pencil cases, card cases, and bags. The notebook and planner covers specifically fit Hobonichi products. They depict locations like Saturn Valley and the game's cast. Mr. Saturn himself was also turned into a pattern for the cover...
B-Project Unveils Ten Idols
Character designs by Yukihiro Utako
― B-Project, the latest male idol project, has unveiled character designs for ten idols: the duo Kitakore, the three-man unit Thrive, and the five-man group MooNs. The designs are the work of Yukihiro Utako, who has drawn the studs of Devils and Realist and Uta no Prince-sama. Further details about the project remain unavailable. A press conference will be held at ...
Maki Figure Joins Love Live! Birthday Figure Line-Up
Dengekiya launched its Love Live! Birthday Figure Project in January with Kotori Minami and has since released Eli, Rin, Kayo, and Umi for fans and collectors alike. Pre-orders opened Friday for ANN readers' favorite μ's girl, Maki Nishikino. Like the other girls in the series, she's depicted wearing the costume from "KiRa-KiRa Sensation." The 1/8-scale figure comes with a clear file with the ima...
DMM's Latest Game: Racecars as Girls
Also: trucks, buses, even lawnmowers
― The game website DMM has scored huge successes with anthropomorphized battleships (in Kantai Collection) and swords (in Tōken Ranbu). Its latest game zeroes in on another machine beloved by many men: sports cars. Racing Musume. ("Racing Girls") imagines girls as race cars and places you in the position of coach, monitoring their races and doing what it takes to ...
Akira Animator Koji Morimoto Draws DJ KRUSH Album Cover
Japanese hip hop producer DJ Krush's newest album Butterfly Effect got some special artwork by animator and director Koji Morimoto. Morimoto might be best known as the assistant chief animator on Akira, but his other works range from Short Peace, Mind Game, and Spriggan to Kiki's Delivery Service, Magnetic Rose, and Eternal Family. Sample tracks from DJ Krush's album are streaming on SoundCloud. T...
Monster Hunter Diary Felynes Come to Life in Commercials
The Monster Hunter Diary video game series (a spinoff of Monster Hunter) features a village of cat-like felynes who lead a peaceful, relaxing, small-town life in addition to hunting monsters. The games place an emphasis on simple pleasures like fishing, catching bugs, designing your room, and interacting with other characters. The newest version, Monster Hunter Diary: Poka Poka Felyne Village DX,...
Digital Watches Are the Champions with New Digimon Character Watches
These Digivices won't exactly help you save the Digital World, but at least they can tell time. The official Premium Bandai website is primed to sell a brand new set of digital timepieces known as the Digimon Adventure Premium Character Watches. Modeled after the Digivices used by the eight "Digidestined" protagonists of the very first season of Digimon, these watches come in eight different colo...
Golgo 13 Snipes on The Rim of Your Cup
PUTITTO is adding Takao Saito's Golgo 13 to its series of drink companion figures. Unlike its friendlier incarnations like Pikachu and the Kantai Collection girls, professional assassin Duke Togo looks to be taking aim at the drinker. Other figures in the collection show him enjoying a cigar, hanging by his knees, or climbing in wearing scuba gear. A secret figure is also planned. Capsule machine...
School-Live! Takes to Japanese Sea Park for Mystery Event
This cross between the sea and the dead is no Pirates of the Caribbean. The zombie apocalypse survival girls of School Live! are heading to Yokohama Hakkejima Sea Paradise in a special collaboration event. For the "School Live Heart-Throbbing Excursion" event, patrons delve into the world of the anime as they solve mysteries placed around the park and obtain special aid kits in order to "survive" ...
Chihayafuru's Suzu Hirose Considered Most Disliked Female Celebrity
Fallout from insensitive comments in June still strong
― Suzu Hirose, who portrays Chihaya in the live-action version of Chihayafuru and Kaede in The Boy and the Beast, is considered the most loathed female celebrity by Japanese women in their 20s, according to a major advertising agency. The research hasn't been officially published yet, but according to an employee, "Compared to her popularity aft...
Are Anime Sports Collaborations Effective?
Article looks at effects of three soccer collaborations
― The project Anime × Soccer!! (or Animation × Soccer) brings together three different Japanese soccer teams that have collaborated with anime in recent years: Mito Hollyhock, Tokyo Verdy, and F.C. Gifu. All three teams are in the 2nd Division of the J. League (Japan's professional soccer league), and all of them are struggling financially. Acco...
Noragami Celebrated in Upcoming Shinjuku Festival
Supernatural anime Noragami is all the rage at an upcoming festival in Japan. The Geidankyo Building in Shinjuku will soon host the "Yato Festival", a Noragami-themed event tailored for fans of the show. While information is currently scarce, the festival is expected to feature a special mystery game, a dance event where patrons can groove to the special "Noragami Ondo", limited edition Noragami m...
Upcoming Monster Musume Cast Speaks About Their Roles
What's it like to for the cast of a monster girl harem anime to voice their promiscuous roles? The Japanese voice cast of the Monster Musume anime gets down and dirty as they share their thoughts on their work on the show in the "Monster Musume Production Process" to air on Saturday. This special recaps the first seven episodes of the anime and offers a glimpse into its relatively-more suggestive ...
Banpresto Adds Mew Plush to Its Pokémon Crane Game Prizes
Banpresto is branching out its line of "I♥" goods with a new Pokemon. The cat-like alien Mew is joining the series that originally included Pikachu and Eevee. So far the collection only includes a soft plush. It measures 26cm (10.25in) and will appear in Crane King machines starting on September 19.
Terraformars Gets Episode 0 Manga Chapter on Shinjuku Station Walls
Terraformars fans visiting Shinjuku Station will soon be treated to a must-read chapter while they wait for their train. In order to celebrate the recent announcement the anime sequel to Terraformars, Shinjuku Station is holding a special "Raw Manuscript Exhibition" across its Tokyo Marunouchi Metro Line concourse. Original author Yū Sasuga and artist Kenichi Tachibana are displaying a brand-new m...
Shokugeki no Soma Lottery Goods Include Erina Figure, Dishes
Erina, Alice, and Ikumi mouse pads also available
― The Minna no Kuji lottery prizes has everything you need to set a Food Wars! table or add another Erina figure to your collection. The following prizes will debut in early September: A Prize: Erina figure B Prize: A poster depicting Erina and Sōma in yukata C Prize: Bowls D Prize: Glass cups E Prize: Notebook and sticker set F Prize: Rubber straps ...
Shining Resonance's Linna Mayfield Gets 1/8-Scale Figure
Shining Resonance protagonist and elven witch Linna Mayfield is getting a 1/8-scale figure in January from Kotobukiya. The figure, which shows the wind magic user in a pose similar to Kim Kardashian's Paper Magazine cover, depicts Linna balancing the pitch penguin Fromage on her backside. Both Fromage and Linna's hat are removable. Her Dragon Spine Tran Rod doesn't come with the figure. The figur...
Welcome to the NHK's Kendi Oiwa Tours His Work Space
The French television program toco toco began streaming its interview with manga creator Kendi Oiwa (Welcome to the NHK, Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag -Kakusei-, Tsurami Entangle) on Saturday. In video, Oiwa takes viewers on a ride on JR's Chūō line during rush hour and back to his work space. Oiwa published the manga adaptation of Tatsuhiko Takimoto's Welcome to the NHK! novel from 2004 to 2007....
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