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Canadian Figure Skater Kevin Reynolds Performs Routine to Cowboy Bebop's Tank
Canadian figure skater Kevin Reynolds performed his short program at the 2016 Canadian National Figure Skating Championships to a classic anime opening theme song. Reynolds sampled Yoko Kanno's "Tank!" from Cowboy Bebop to accompany his set while dressed as Spike Spiegel. The skater shows off some seriously fancy footwork, landing a quadruple Salchow-triple toe loop and triple flip. Although he fe...
Kana Hanazawa Doesn't Understand Her Latest Commercial
Performs stunts to promote new smartphone
― It's not unusual for stars to perform in Japanese commercials, but what they're asked to do can sometimes lead to head-scratching. Even Japanese stars can get perplexed at their commercials, as Kana Hanazawa (Akane in Psycho-Pass, Kuroneko in Oreimo, Zange in Kannagi: Crazy Shrine Maidens) demonstrates. Hanazawa is promoting Sharp's new AQUOS smartphone and...
Dagashikashi Inspires Its Own Snack Collaboration
It seems natural that a manga like Dagashi Kashi would get its own branded snacks. That's what its readers thought, anyway, and in the January 20 issue of Weekly Shonen Sunday, a collaboration was announced with two established noodle brands from the Oyatsu Company: Baby Star and Butamen. Hotaru looks especially porcine because buta means pig. Dagashi Kashi Butamen (above) will be available on Fe...
Pokémon's Full Minute-Long Version of Epic Super Bowl Ad Streamed to Celebrate 20th Anniversary
Short version of live-action ad to air on February 7
― The official website for the Pokémon franchise posted the full 70-second version of the live-action commercial that will air during the Super Bowl football game on February 7. The commercial celebrates the 20th anniversary of the first games. Upcoming products include Nendoroids of the game's classic starters' evolutions and protagonist, clothing...
Uniqlo Introduces Ultimate Muscle to T-Shirt Lineup
Manga chosen to represent Japanese pop culture
― Uniqlo, a Japanese clothing store with an international presence, has always played a role in spreading Japanese pop culture to a global audience with its unique T-shirts and other clothes. Now it's Ultimate Muscle's turn to be added to its T-shirt stock. Uniqlo will roll out a line of T-shirts called UT ("the new Model T") in the spring and summer fea...
Japanese Music School Held Sound! Euphonium Concert
Videos now available on YouTube
― The Freshmen Wind Ensemble at Senzoku Gakuen College of Music, a music school in Kawasaki, held a concert on October 24 devoted entirely to the Sound! Euphonium soundtrack. Four pieces from the program have just been uploaded to YouTube: "Starting the project," "RYDEEN," "Crescent Moon Dance," and "Tutti!" Sound! Euphonium fans can watch the playlist here; the concer...
High School Girls Head to Studio in Latest Installment of Dōjin Anime Series
Includes guest appearance by heavy metal guitarist
― Anime fans with a passion for rock will be glad to hear that Metako and Muffyu, the high school girls of the "High School Girls Shop for a --" web anime series, are back with another installment. This time, they've apparently run through Muffyu's shopping list and opt to visit a studio to make the most out of the sound equipment there. "High School...
Watch Japan's Self-Defense Forces Band Play Girls und Panzer Tunes
The Girls und Panzer television series and film has brought big bucks to the town of Ōarai in Ibaraki prefecture. The government's coast guard has teamed up with promotional posters to teach things like water safety. The Japanese Self-Defense Force's Music Corps is taking the reins in a Girls und Panzer collaboration. The band played "Girls und Panzer Suite" at the Ibaraki Prefectural Cultural Cen...
Platinum Games' Hideki Kamiya Not Pleased After He's Caught Running Stop Signal
Vents frustration on Twitter
― Hideki Kamiya, the designer of popular games like Bayonetta, Okami and Viewtiful Joe who works at PlatinumGames, had an unfortunate run-in with the law on January 21. According to a bitter post on his Twitter account, Kamiya ran a stop signal on his bike, but was caught "by the police" thanks to media cameras. (According to a later post, he was surrounded by five of th...
Toriyama Expresses Dissatisfaction With Dragon Ball Adaptations
Interview, rough drafts, sketches, guest drawings, scathing comments, and more
― On January 21, the editors of the magazine V Jump published Dragon Ball 30th Anniversary Super History Book, a look back at 30 years of one of Japan's most famous comics. The book contains a commemorative manga, sketches, a long interview with Akira Toriyama (Dragon Ball's creator), Weekly Shonen Jump magazine covers, co...
His and Her Circumstances Voice Actress Wins Prestigious Literary Award
Also comments on possibility of return to industry
― Yukiko Motoya is most known to anime fans for her role at age 19 as Aya in His and Her Circumstances, although she also appears as the model in the ending theme to FLCL. Since those roles, however, she has drifted away from the anime industry and pursued a different passion — the theater, where she has achieved renown as both a playwright and ...
Erotic Manga Artist Threatens to Quit Unless Pirates Stop
While content creators have varying reactions to piracy, generally they're not too thrilled about it as it cuts into their profits. Gujira, an erotic manga artist (Gal toka Bitch toka Iroiro), is having a particularly hard time coping with illegal downloads of his work. On Twitter on January 17, Gujira complained that he had received notice via mail that copies of his manga books had been illegall...
Yandere Simulator Proves Too Brutal for Twitch
Yandere Simulator is unforgiving in its sandbox-style setting where players can murder other classmates all in the name of love. How a player goes about pulling off the crime ranges from killing someone and disposing of the evidence, faking a suicide, or kidnap and torture. This proved to be a bit much for the streaming service Twitch. Yandere Simulator's developer "YandereDev" announced that the ...
Dead or Alive 5 Last Round Adds Classic Tatsunoko Costumes
The girls and boys of Dead or Alive 5 Last Round are teaming up with the classic characters from Tatsunoko Production for a new set of costumes. The fighters will take design cues from Yatterman, Yatterman Night, Time Bokan, The Genie Family, The Adventures of Hutch the Honeybee, Tekkaman, Casshan, Hurricane Polimar, Gold Lightan, and this season's Nurse Witch Angel Komugi R. The 16 costume set is...
Sanrio Opens Website for Its Mascot-Loving Boy Mascots
Sanrio debuted "Sanrio Danshi" (Sanrio Boys) Twitter account in December. The project introduced five attractive male characters who just so happen to love Sanrio character products. On Friday the company opened a special site dedicated to the group with a story section and character profiles. The character profiles will be added next week and the site will reveal four other sections in the future...
Limited Evangelion Store Will Open in Osaka
On February 10, to celebrate the recent opening of the new Evangelion the Real 4-D: 2.0 attraction at Universal Studios Japan and the Evangelion shinkansen running through Osaka, a limited Evangelion Store will open in the Lucua department store's Isetan closet location. The Osaka Evangelion Store will be in business until March 1 with limited edition goods on sale, including items based on the E...
'Romance Wedding' Design Added to Sailor Moon Marriage Registration Form Selection
The star couple of Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon are gracing Japanese marriage registration forms with a fourth design. The new image shows Usagi and Mamoru posing at their own wedding in front of a floral pavilion. Konin Todoke previously issued marriage registration forms featuring Usagi and Mamoru kissing under a crescent moon, the series' magical items, and Sailor Moon in her Crystal design sit...
Life-Size Saekano Statue Production Doubled To Meet Demand
Demand for the life-size statues of Megumi Kato, the video game heroine conjured up by Saekano's Tomoya Aki was so great that Aniplex doubled production from 10 to 20 statues. Each statue measures 158cm (62in) high for 1.98 million yen (US$16,751). Like most expensive, limited edition memorabilia, interested customers can enter their information into a lottery. The 20 winners will be able to purc...
Shizuoka Muslim Association Runs Anime Video to Promote Mosque Construction Campaign in Shizuoka
Campaign launched in 2010 seeks 300 million yen
― The Shizuoka Muslim Association is running a campaign, seeking funds to build a mosque in Shizuoka prefecture. To promote the campaign, the Shizuoka Muslim Association produced an anime video, and began streaming it in June from the Muslims in Japan website. Sakura Takagi (Kill la Kill, Parasyte -the maxim- key animation) and Kana Kōno (Dragon Ball Z:...
Unico Floral Jellies Are Pretty Enough to Eat
Osamu Tezuka's beloved Unico manga is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a special collaboration with the floral sweets company Havaro. Starting on February 1, the company will create a pink jelly accented with edible flowers to mirror a similar, albeit much larger, version that appeared in the manga's fifth chapter. The jelly will come inside a pink box made to look like a giant Unico manga v...
Shueisha's 2nd 'Manga Trailer' is For The Walk Drama Film
The February issue of Shueisha's Jump SQ. magazine published a short "manga trailer" earlier this month to commemorate the Japanese theatrical release of the live-action The Walk film starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ben Kingsley, and Charlotte Le Bon. Manga creator Hira Hamaya drew the manga. Jump SQ.'s website has posted a one-page preview of the manga. The "manga trailer" is a part of a new proje...
Gamer Plays Ocarina of Time Using Only an Ocarina
Gamer and streamer MonotoneTim used a little technological wizardry to really get into character as Link. Using an actual ocarina as a controller, he took on The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and played through the game in a six and half hour stream. Initially, he struggles to get the controls down as different notes function as directional controls and buttons. By the time Tim gets to the firs...
Live-Action Attack on Titan Tops Most Disappointing Movie Ranking
Even the urging of creator Hajime Isayama couldn't keep director Shinji Higuchi's live-action Attack on Titan film out of a recent "most disappointing movie" poll. HiHo magazine's March issue published its "2015 Fiscal Year Stinker Awards" listing the year's top 10 most disappointing films. In first place is the the first live-action Attack on Titan film, that was lambasted by some 140 Japanese cr...
Maki Love-Liver's Outfit Takes the Cake
Love Live and its dedicated fanbase have grabbed attention beyond otaku circles and into mainstream consciousness. The term "Love-Liver" was nominated as a top buzzword of 2015. One particular fan even appeared in a men's fashion magazine sporting his itasha-style memorabilia outfit dedicated to Kotori. These attention-drawing outfits show off a Liver's favorite character and their dedication to c...
Mr. Osomatsu Bros. Get Plushies, Signing Seals
The brothers of Mr. Osomatsu have taken the anime world by storm, garnering enough attention to get their own video game and sell-out magazines. The series' popularity on pixiv is leading to predictions of a Comiket dōjin surge next year. In the midst of this, Osomatsu and the gang are also inspiring an increase in merchandises. This includes a new plush dolls from Takara Tomy and signing stamps ...
Saint Seiya 30th Anniversary Exhibit Will Display 12 Life-Size, Golden Armor Saints
The Golden Saints will be true to their name in an upcoming exhibit at Tokyo Akihabara UDX in June. The 30th anniversary exhibition will host 12 life-size replicas of the Saint's Golden Armor for the first time. Staff already completed versions Gemini Saga, Leo Aiolia, Virgo Shaka, Scorpius Milo, Sagittarius Aiolos, and Aquarius Camus. This exhibition will feature newly created versions of Aries ...
Latest Monogatari Novel Promoted with Super Mario Game Spoof
Wazamonogatari, the second light novel volume in the "Off Season" of NisiOisin's Monogatari Series is getting a mobile game tie-in. The website will formally launch on January 30, but is currently hosting a Super Mario spoof video depicting Koyomi's sister Karen Araragi hitting a block that rotates out the kanji of the series' previous novels. When the block displays "Waza," Shinobu and a donut co...
Otaku On the Receiving End of GOP Strategist's Trump Supporter Insult
The term "otaku," in reference to anime otaku, is used more as a snide insult in Japan compared to its use in the West. The label used to have a heavy social stigma that has only recently begun to subside. Republican strategist Rick Wilson made it known that Western anime fans' reputation apparently isn't unlike their Japanese counterparts when he likened Donald Trump supporters as "childless sing...
Metal Gear Solid Fan Remake 'Shadow Moses' Project Posts 1st Trailer
The Unreal Engine 4 has brought countless games into stunning 3D thanks to dedicated fans. The Kanto region from the original Pokemon Red & Blue games was adapted by "Preston Dunagan" on YouTube last week while Mario, The Legend of Zelda and Sonic the Hedgehog have also made the jump into the 3D world. The group iRam Gamer is working on recreating the original Metal Gear Solid using the same engin...
Street Artist Hides Replica Legend of Zelda Artifacts in Austin, Texas
Street artist Ezekiel Buchheit is adding a little adventure to the Austin, Texas area. The multi-talented Buchheit, who is also a software engineer and dog daycare owner, is hiding Legend of Zelda items straight from the games around town in hopes of adding a sense of fun to residents' everyday lives. The project is dubbed "Hyrule in Austin," and includes Buchheit's handmade items from the game. T...
Color Version of 1 Million Yen Life-Size Lum Figure Revealed
Rumiko Takahashi's original alien girlfriend is being recreated as a life-size statue with supervision by Takahashi herself. A few teaser images of the prototype were shown last month. PALSHOP, Shogakukan's commercial site, is finally revealing all the goods with full-color images. Lum's pedestal of stars features a handwriting print of Rumiko Takahashi's signature. Lum measures 164cm high (64.5i...
Free!'s Iwami Tops Ranking of Rural Locales to Live
Safety, convenience, hospitality to newcomers are deciding factors
― Iwami, a seaside town in Western Japan's Tottori Prefecture, is graced with picturesque coastal scenery. It's the setting for the popular swimming anime Free! Iwatobi Swim Club. But according to the magazine Inaka Kurashi no Hon ("Book of Country Living"), it's remarkable for another reason — it's the best rural area to live in...
Tokyo Court Rejects Agency's Damage Claim Against Former Idol for Dating
The precedents for idols who violated the "no dating" clauses in their contracts is getting confusing. A talent agency in Japan sued a 23-year-old woman and former idol for compensation after she allegedly violated a clause in her contract by dating a male fan in 2014. Presiding Judge Katsuya Hara of Tokyo District Court, however, did not find in favor of the agency and instead claimed that such c...
Love Live! x Powerpuff Girls Collab Reaches New Levels with 'Snow Halation'
In November, The Powerpuff Girls and Japan's top fictional idol group crossed over to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Powerpuff Girls' Japanese television debut. The Parco Museum in Sapporo is hosting the "Love Live!~μ's meet Powerpuff Girls" exhibition starting on January 22 and is switching to a winter theme. The exhibit is taking cues from the idol group's popular single "Snow Halation" ...
Ajin Manga Creator Plans to Return to Ero-Manga Roots
Gamon Sakurai's Ajin horror manga has earned plenty of accolades since its debut in 2012 and has since been the subject of a television anime and film trilogy by POLYGON PICTURES. Despite his new found fame, Sakurai revealed back in October that he wants to return to his previous career after Ajin wraps up. He'll still draw manga, but Sakurai got his feet wet in the world of eromanga under the pen...
Love Plus Artist Designs Gatebox's 1st Holographic Robot Character
Robots and artificial intelligence tech have made continuous advancements to improve the lives of humans, whether it's through lightening the workload or providing companionship. Vinchu is working on the development of its Gatebox "Holographic Communication Robot," which would complete voice-command tasks like a universal remote control and greet tired workers when they come home. The robot charac...
Toyota's 'Prius! Impossible Girls' Campaign Turns Car Parts Into Girls
Toyoto has never shied away from a good geek tie-in. The company's Auris model was adapted as a ride especially designed from Gundam's Char Aznable. The Toyoto Aqua has run along side Final Fantasy's Chocobos and the Prius c explored dungeons and castles from Monster Hunter and Dragon Quest to name a few. The company's Prius model is taking note from DMM for its new compaign, "Prius! Impossible Gi...
New Initial D Film Staff Reveal Movie Original Toyota86
The Shin Gekijō-ban Initial D Legend 3 -Mugen- film will open in Japan on February 6, but staff revealed a unique Toyoto86 that will appear in the movie ahead of the premiere. The orange two-door did not appear in Shuuichi Shigeno's original manga's final chapter. It's exact purpose in the story, like whether it replaces Takumi's iconic Panda Toyota AE86, is a mystery. Fans will have to see the fi...
One Piece's Sanji's Full Name Revealed!
Sanji, the suave, fleet-footed chef of the One Piece pirate crew, has long remained cloaked in mystery... until now.
― Sanji, the suave, fleet-footed chef of the One Piece pirate crew, has long remained cloaked in mystery... until now. The current chapter in the One Piece manga, released on January 18, suggests some tantalizing facts about Sanji's past. The panel says "The groom will be... Sanji, thi...
Explore Heartland of Anime with Seiyu's Life! Characters
Bus tour through Tokyo's Suginami Ward
― Suginami Ward in west Tokyo is the location for many anime studios, who bought office space there when land was cheap yet easily accessible from central Tokyo. It's now considered the heartland of anime, with studios like A-1 Pictures, Gonzo and Sunrise based there along with the Suginami Animation Museum, which explains how anime is produced. Since this is al...
Mamoru Miyano's New Music Video for Ajin Ending Gets Spooky
Voice actor Mamoru Miyano is adding Ajin to the list of anime he's starring in (he plays Kei, the main character) that he also performs the theme songs for. In Ajin's case, it's the ending theme, "How Close You Are." Its music video was released on January 14, and it's decidedly spooky and solemn, in keeping with the anime's bleak tone. It boasts dark visuals, a creepy dancer, and melancholy lyric...
Tour Pokemon's Kanto Region Remade in Unreal Engine 4
The location of the original Pokemon Red & Blue games, Kanto, is a familiar map for many older gamers. It features mountains, forests, oceans, islands, fields, an impressively long bridge, and cities large and small, and is partly based on Japan's real-life Kanto region. Preston Dunagan has faithfully recreated the whole map (except Viridian Forest and the Safari Zone) in Unreal Engine 4 without t...
K-On's Mio's Birthday Goods Include Light-Up Bass Effector
The girls of the Hokage Tea Time band regularly got instrument tie-ins during height of the show's popularity. Autographed guitars were especially popular in Lawson campaigns. Interest in the series has waned, which isn't unusual for a show that's almost seven years old. Still, the characters' birthdays usually get some kind of recognition with new tie-in goods. Bass player Mio Akiyama is celebra...
Ghost in the Shell Realize Project to Hold Awards Ceremony
Symposium, project exhibition also planned
― The Ghost in the Shell Realize Project was launched in November 2014 to explore and further develop emerging technologies like optic camouflage, substitutional reality and human-like robots with the goal of pushing the world closer to the one we see in the Ghost in the Shell series. A "hackathon" was held in October and November to bring together Japan's b...
Prince Zen Returns in Silly Snow White with the Red Hair Live-Action Ads
Suzuki, the young office worker who couldn't stop daydreaming about Prince Zen (the dashing male lead of Snow White with the Red Hair), returns in two more commercials for Hakusensha's shōjo manga series. Maybe someday her prince will come... but it won't be today. In this one, Zen asks her "Have you found what you're looking for?... I have." Turns out it's just a janitor telling her she looks bad...
Polnareff's Heartbreaker Earrings Can Be Yours
The Stardust Crusader's square-topped Stand user is notable for a number of ways. There's his very tall, silver hair for one and his asymmetrical tank top. His earrings are another attention-grabbing accessory. They make two halves of a heart, not unlike popular "best friend forever" friendship necklaces from the 90s. Premium Bandai is selling real replicas of the earrings for 7,776 yen (US$66). ...
Universal Studios Japan Opens "Cool Japan"-Themed Attraction Set
Attack on Titan, Evangelion, Resident Evil among properties featured
― After an initial run in early 2015, the Universal Studios Japan theme park in Osaka is bringing back Universal Cool Japan. The theme is based on the brand "Cool Japan," the government's attempt to promote Japanese popular culture on a global scale. The five major Japanese brands chosen by the park are Neon Genesis Evangelion, Atta...
New Pokemon Center Brings the Goods To Kyoto
The new Pokemon Center Kyoto will open on March 16. The shop will cover 206.2 square meters (or about 2219 square feet) in the Kyoto Takashimaya department store. A total of 10 Pokemon Centers are currently open throughout Japan with locations in Sapporo, Sendai, Ikebukuro, Yokohama, Nagoya, Osaka, Hiroshima and Fukuoka. The store will stock over 2,500 kinds of Pokémon goods — including exclusive...
This Year's Laputa TV Screening Tweets Tops at Half of Previous Record
Japanese Twitter users continued their tradition of tuning into the annual television screening of Studio Ghibli's Laputa: Castle in the Sky. Every year, viewers take to Twitter to tweet the pivotal word “balse” at the same moment that the main characters Pazu and Sheeta chant the word at the climax of the film. In 2013, the viewers set a world record of 143,199 tweets per second. This year, a tot...
Sleeping Bag Pikachu Toys Add Snorlax, Flareon, New Expressions
Bandai's Ichiban Kuji lottery is expanding its Pikachu Nebukuro (Sleeping Bag) Collection of the iconic mascot in sleeping bags that look like other Pokemon. The previous campaign included plush Pikachus inside Charizard, Ekans, and Eevee sleeping bags. An additional prize included the Charizard sleeping bag but with a sleeping expression. The next round is adding new sleeping bags and Pikachus, ...
Defeat Junk Mail With Magic Knight Rayearth Light Up Letter Opener
Hikaru's "Sword of Light" from Magic Knight Rayearth is ready to defeat unwanted mail and open packages as a highly detailed letter opener by MOVIC. The opener is 15cm long (6in) and made of die-cast zinc. The replica is part of MOVIC's Eternal Masterpiece Collection which has included Trafalgar D. Law's sword Kikoku, Cardcaptor Sakura's wands, and weapons from Tales of Destiny, Magi, Sword Art O...
"Goeppels-chan" Puts Moe Spin on Nazism in Fan Videos
Parody of Nazi propaganda chief
― The creators of the fan anime Moe Moe Nazis Shōjo Goeppels-chan ("Moe Moe Nazi Girl Goeppels-chan") are seeking funding for the third installment of the series through the crowdfunding website Fundiy. The anime follows Geri Goeppels, a 14-year-old moe girl version of Joseph Goebbels, who was minister of propaganda in Nazi Germany. "Goeppels-chan" is a child prodigy a...
Hayakawa Celebrates 70 Years With Sci-Fi, Mystery Manga Anthology Reprints
Publisher Hayakawa is celebrating its 70th anniversary with two manga anthology reprints. One collection is dedicated to mystery works while the other compiles sci-fi stories printed over the publisher's long career. Included are stories by the likes of Osamu Tezuka Leiji Matsumoto, Go Nagai, Moto Hagio, and Shotaro Ishinomori. Titles presented in italics are entirely new works. Comic S─Hayakawa P...
Sailor Guardians Ready for Summer as Yukata Petit Chara Figures
Megahouse is continuing its line of Sailor Moon Petit Chara figures with yukata versions ready to hit the summer festivals. The figures show Usagi, Chibiusa, Ami, Rei, Makoto, and Minako wearing traditional yukata. Each character is also adorned with a flower hair accessories or in Minako's case, a festival mask that looks like her cat Artemis. Pre-orders will open on January 21 and the figures w...
Bring Home Your Life-Size Saekano Girlfriend for 1.98 Million Yen
Video game heroine Megumi Kato is otaku Tomoya Aki's dream girl and could very well come home with you if you're willing fork out the cash. Aniplex will sell a total of 10 life-size figures measuring 158cm (62in) for 1.98 million yen (US$16,751). Like most expensive, limited edition memorabilia, interested customers can enter their information into a lottery. The 10 winners will be able to purcha...
Sword Art Online Girls Explore 'Maid World' in New Lottery Campaign
The girls of Sword Art Online have brought in a pretty penny for the franchise's creators, whether the characters are lounging under parasols or starring in their own manga spin-off. Bandai's Ichiban Kuji lottery is introducing "Sword Art Online Maid World" prizes with the characters as, you guessed it, maids. Starting on January 16, Asuna, Yūki, Leafa, Lizbeth, Silica, and Sinon will ditch their...
Singer Kumi Koda Releases Interactive 360-Degree MV Teaser
Singer Kumi Koda first entered fan consciousness when she performed theme songs for Final Fantasy X-2. The singer has since performed themes for Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse, The Law of Ueki, and Gilgamesh. Her newest album Winter of Love goes on sale on January 20 and includes the tracks "On and On," "No Me Without You," and "Dance in the Rain." Koda released a short music video for "Dance ...
Japanese Fans Revisit Pokemon: The First Movie's Alleged Christian Morals
The plot in Pokemon: The First Movie holds a special place in fans hearts for both the anime introduction of Mewtwo and causing floods of tears throughout theaters. In the story, Mewtwo declares revenge on mankind for his cruel treatment and even goes so far as petrifying Ash when the hero attempts to protect his beloved Pikachu. This causes a change of heart in Mewtwo and Ash is returned to his o...
Divine Gate Tops Amazon Japan Searches After 1st Episode Premiere
The anime adaptation of Marvelous' Divine Gate video game performed poorly in Nico Nico rankings and the Anime News Network Preview Guide. Charapedia put it starkly in the middle. Both Japanese websites were measuring interest prior to the show airing while the preview guide is based solely on the series' first episode. Despite the lackluster reception, it looks like Divine Gate has found its fanb...
Love Live Girls Tie On Aprons for Family Restaurant Collab
The characters of Love Live! have starred in a variety of campaigns from ramen to Sega games. Next on their to-do list is the Coco franchise of family restaurants. The campaign will launch on January 19 and have limited-edition clearfiles for customers who purchase off a special menu. The first file features the idol group's second year members, the second file features the first year members, an...
Prince of Tennis Valentine's Chocolate Vote Returns
After years of drowning in boxes of chocolates, the editors at Jump Square magazine called off its annual Prince of Tennis character popularity contest. Readers used to send in chocolates to their favorite character and the results were tallied, but the event began spiraling out of control until Jump Square's basement was overtaken by sweets. The format was changed to simple ballot for 2015. Fans ...
Pokémon Kicks Off 20th Anniversary with Live-Action Super Bowl Ad
The Pokemon video game franchise launched 20 years ago with Pokémon Red & Blue for the Nintendo Gameboy. The Pokémon Company International is planning a year worth of special events including new product launches, promotions, and a unique ad. A live-action commercial will air during the Super Bowl on February 7. Nintendo has previously created live-action ads for its Pokémon Mystery Dungeon video...
Mamoru Miyano Doodle Inspires Stuffed Toy
Takuya Eguchi's silly doodles are in good company. Popular voice actor Mamoru Miyano is also fond of sketching simplistic characters. One is titled "Koitsu" (or simply, "Guy") and is designed with an egg-like body, stick limbs, and silly expressions. Anything Mamoru Miyano touches lately turns to gold, so why not his doodles? Koitsu is jumping into the 3D world with crane and lottery prizes. Two ...
Gudetama, MegaMan, Square Enix Get Monster Hunter X Collaborations
Monster Hunter X is on an unstoppable quest to collect all the possible collaborations. Previous campaigns include Ushio & Tora, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Yowamushi Pedal, Metroid, The Legend of Zelda, Star Fox, and even Sanrio's Kirimi-chan have lined up to battle monsters in the new game. Capcom and Square Enix are adding their own iconic characters. Capcom announced MegaMan-themed costumes and weapons will a...
Miyazaki Remains Oblivious To Ghibli Films' Twitter Records
Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli's 1986 anime film Laputa: Castle in the Sky set a world record on Twitter in 2013 when the film reaired on TV. Users on 2channel and other forums gathered together to tweet the pivotal word “balse” at the same moment that the main characters Pazu and Sheeta chant the word at the climax of the film. This set a record of 143,199 tweets per second. This wasn't the fir...
Love Stage Manga Creator Draws New Sister-in-Law
Manga creator Eiki Eiki has never shied away from featuring her family in her work. Her younger brother and musician DAIGO is the direct inspiration for Shōgo Sena in her Love Stage yaoi manga with a few obvious adjustments. One difference that the BREAKERZ lead recently tied the knot with actress Keiko Kitagawa. Eiki Eiki celebrated the news by drawing her new sister-in-law on Monday. DAIGO and K...
Anime Series Celebrate 'Coming of Age' Day
Of Japan's many holidays celebrated throughout the year, a number of them recognize age-oriented milestones like Children's Day and Respect for the Aged Day. Today also marks a holiday in Japan: Coming of Age Day. Usually this day is reserved for celebrating teens who cross over into adulthood by successfully reaching the 20-year mark this year. If you've paid attention to many of the merchandise ...
Nico Nico Users Pick Most Anticipated Anime of Winter 2016
Totally different results from Charapedia poll
― A poll has been conducted among Nico Nico Douga users of their most anticipated anime of the winter 2016 season. The results were determined through a combination of the percentage of respondents who claimed they would watch the anime and the degree of anticipation they felt for the anime. ERASED Ajin Shōwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjū DAGASHIKASHI Myriad Col...
Details Are Here for Sekai no Owari's Upcoming Vocaloid
Sekai no Owari, the indie pop band who sings "Dragon Night," "ANTI-HERO" (Attack on Titan) and "Mermaid Rhapsody" (Kuragehime), will have its own Vocaloid later this month. VOCALOID4 Library Fukase, as the name indicates, is based on the distinctive, soft voice of Sekai no Owari's lead singer, Fukase. It has its own image character, whose design was chosen in a Pixiv contest. The Vocaloid's offici...
Matsuno Brothers Team Up with Japan's National Baseball Team
Mr. Osomatsu seats to be available at March games
― Last year's surprise hit anime, Mr. Osomatsu, is heading to the baseball stadium this March for a collaboration with Samurai Japan, Japan's national baseball team. On March 5 and 6, 300 designated Mr. Osomatsu seats will be provided at warm-up matches against the team from Chinese Taipei (the Republic of China). The seats will be decorated with imag...
Girls und Panzer Goods Bring Windfall to Coastal Japanese Town
Revenues increase 21-fold from last year
― Ōarai is a coastal town in Japan's Ibaraki Prefecture, not far northeast of Tokyo. With a population of 17,000 and an economy dominated by the nuclear industry, fishing and agriculture, it was once most known for its monkfish and as a weekend seaside destination for Tokyoites. But then Girls und Panzer came along, and the town started to see a boom in Girls ...
Level-5 CEO Wants Greater International Push for Yo-kai Watch
"Hollywood is one of my targets"
― Level-5, the developer of the Yo-kai Watch video game, held an event on January 8 at Tokyo's Kanda Shrine to pray for the success of its new film, Eiga Yo-kai Watch: Enma Daioh to Itsutsu no Monogatari Da Nyan! Akihiro Hino, its president and CEO, was in attendance (along with 21 Yo-kai Watch characters) and delivered some remarks on the movie's success at the Japan...
New Poll: Which Shōnen Jump Anime Are Best to Show Your Kids
Poll focuses on women
― The Japanese site My Navi Woman conducted a poll between November 19 and 21 of 405 women between the ages of 22 and 34. The topic: Which anime based on Weekly Shonen Jump manga are best to show your kids? Shonen Jump has been around for a long time, appeals to multiple demographics, and has spawned anime that are well-known around Japan and the world, which made the site's ent...
Broccoli Lays Down the Law for Dōjin
"We do not allow the sale of goods for the intent of profit"
― Media creators have differing views on fan culture and the dōjinshi that are its hallmarks. While some embrace it and see dōjin as fascinating explorations of their own ideas, others suppress it as copyright infringement and intellectual theft. Broccoli, the creators of Uta no Prince-sama, Galaxy Angel, Di Gi Charat, and other popular fr...
Japan's All-Female Takarazuka Musical Revue Takes on Abraham Lincoln
Show to explore Lincoln's turbulent life and ideals
― The Takarazuka Revue, an all-female musical theater troupe, is an icon of Japanese culture and has taken on Western stories, both original and classic, in the past. Its latest offering turns to American history for inspiration. For the People - Lincoln, Jiyū wo Motometa Otoko- ("The Man Who Called for Freedom") portrays the life of Abraham Lincoln...
Most Popular KanColle Characters Ranked by Pixiv Fan Art
Pixiv fan art can be quick go-to to figure out a series, or character's popularity. myrmecoleon has used the site with varying success to predict trends at Comic Market, for example. Kantai Collection's own popularity at Comiket was predicted this way. A closer look at the video game and anime series' fan art from the last year was also used to see which characters were most popular on the fan art...
Japan's Favorite Anime Idols Join Hatsune Miku at Sapporo Snow Festival
The official website for Snow Miku 2016 announced an official collaboration with the Love Live! anime's idol group μ's. There isn't any joint concerts announced yet, and so far the organizers only promise a snow sculpture of the top-selling idols. Miku will have her own sculpture in her sporty, owl-themed design. A sculpture featuring Umi, Honoka, and Kotori was shown at last year's event. The gir...
New Street Fighter's Chun-Li Figure Shows Off Her Signature Move
Hong Kong toymaker BigBoysToys is continuing its figureline-up up with Capcom Japan to release a series of Street Fighter character figures. The third figure is a super-deformed Chun-Li performing her signature move, Hyakuretsukyaku. The figure not only poses like her video game counterpart, but she also shouts while the blue energy blast lights up. The figure's stand mimics Chun Li's stage from ...
The Tenga Mario Maker Level is No More
Those hoping to explore the inside of the Tenga male masturbation aid with Mario have missed their opportunity. In November, gamer and Twitter user @Moscow17 created the "Super Tenga Nai Brothers" level in Mario Maker based on a cross-section of a Tenga. The perverted joke lasted about two months but the level is now gone. A play through video featuring the song by Vocaloid producer Owata-P on Nic...
Indulge Your Love of Pointy Chins with Gakuen Handsome Goods
Animate also premieres music video
― Gakuen Handsome, the firmly tongue-in-cheek boys-love game, has a substantial fanbase in Japan, despite (or perhaps because of) its janky artwork. Fans of Sakuya, the purple-haired, sharp-chinned soccer prodigy, now have a bevy of goods to indulge their appreciation. There's an A2 poster (16.5 × 23.4'') advertising Sakuya's character song, "Legend of Sexy," which...
Kotobukiya Announces 1/8-Scale Is The Order a Rabbit's Chino Figure
Part-time cafe waitress, part-time magical girl, Chino from Is the order a rabbit? will get an adorable 1/8-scale figure from Kotobukiya in May. The figure measures 150mm (6in) high and is based on the manga's second volume cover. Chino is depicted in an underwater city in her cool, blue uniform with the rabbit Tippy. Her hat is removable, so you can play Tippy on her head instead. The Chino figu...
Gecco Will Release 1/6-Scale Ultraman Statue
Gecco Corp. are releasing a 1/6-scale statue of the tokusatsu hero Ultraman. The statue is slated for release in May. The Ultraman statue has both a color timer on the chest and glowing LED eyes. The arms can be changed out with Spacium Blade parts and the head can be switched with the Shinjiro head or unmasked. The design was supervised by original writer and artist Eiichi Shimizu and Tomohiro S...
Puzzle & Dragons Collaborating With Crows x Worst V
The Puzzle & Dragons mobile game announced that the game will collaborate with the Crows x Worst V video game. The site didn't announce the exact start date, but it should be "soon." The Crows Worst V video game is based on Hiroshi Takahashi's two manga series following groups of delinquents. Crows has inspired multiple spin-off manga and several live-action films. The collaboration will include a...
Gakuen Handsome's 2nd Sakuya Mitsurugi Music Video is Still Ridiculous
The infamous and weirdly designed boy's love visual novel Gakuen Handsome debuted the second music video starring the purple-haired "bishōnen" Sakuya Mitsurugi to promote his ridiculously titled "Legend of Sexy" character CD. Like the earlier released anime, the "Kagami no Naka no ME" (translated as either "The ME in the Mirror" or "The Eye in the Mirror") music video is flash animated to the heig...
Hello Kitty x Mazinger Z Die-Cast Crossover Toys Unveiled With Anime Short
Specially painted Mazinger Z, Hello Kitty Chogokin toys slated for May, June
― Bandai posted an English-subtitled anime short to promote its Mazinger Z and Hello Kitty crossover project on Wednesday. The video also teases a possible collaboration between Getter Robo and My Melody at the 1:45 mark. The Mazinger Z and Hello Kitty collaboration will include two revamped toys in Bandai's Chogokin line. ...
Xebec Animator Posts Monthly Paystub of 131,330 Yen/US$1,103
An image of an official looking paystub for was posted by an animator claiming to be a three-month contract employee for studio Xebec (To Love-Ru, Lagrange - The Flower of Rin-ne, Tokyo ESP). The stub reveals the rather dismal monthly pay of 131,330 yen (US$1,103). According to the employee, the stipulations for his contact included the base pay of 130,000 yen (US$1,092), plus an additional 5,300...
Zekkyō Gakkyū Manga Creator Gives Drawing Tips in How-To Videos
Emi Ishikawa, the creator of the award-winning shōjo horror manga Zekkyō Gakkyū, shared drawing tips in a new series of videos. The videos cover from the panel layout all the way to finishing a piece. Ishikawa uses the Intuos Comic drawing tablet for her artwork in these videos. Wacom's Japanese branch has released a series of videos in the past featuring popular manga artists drawing with their t...
Universal's Evangelion Attraction Ad Unveils Original Design for Eva-04
Mechanical designer Ikuto Yamashita provided new weapon
― Universal Studios Japan began streaming a new promotional video for its upcoming Evangelion attraction, "Evangelion The Real 4D: 2.0" on Sunday. The video unveils a new attachment called the "Rapid Borer" for Evangelion Unit-04. Evangelion mechanical designer Ikuto Yamashita designed the new attachment. The attraction puts users into the entry...
Gackt Attributes Recent Hair Loss to Stress of Appearing on TV Asahi Program
Singer Gackt confessed in a blog post on Tuesday that he's developed bald spots due to the pressure and stress of appearing on TV Asahi's Geinoūjin Kakuzuke Check (Entertainer Rating Check) program. The bald spots are caused by alopecia areata, or spot baldness, an autoimmune disease where small, round areas of hair fall out. Gackt appeared on the program on January 1 as part of its 65th anniversa...
Happy 75th Birthday, Hayao Miyazaki!
Acclaimed director Hayao Miyazaki is celebrating his 75th birthday today and fans of the retired director's works are posting tribute videos and artwork to mark the occasion. Well-known Vine animator Wahyu "Pinot" Ichwandardi created a tribute vine for the director's birthday. Vimeo user dono created this 3D video tribute last year set to music by Ghibli-regular Joe Hisaishi. Tribute to Hayao Miya...
Digimon GEM Figure Line Adds Wizardmon & Gatomon, Garurumon & Yamato
The GEM line of high-quality figures revealed plans to add Wizardmon (Wizarmon) with Gatomon (Tailmon) and Yamato "Matt" Ishida and Garurumon. The figure series already includes Mimi Tachikawa with Palmon, Kōshirō "Izzy" Izumi with Tentomon, Sora Takenouchi with Piyomon, Joe Kido with Gomamon, Ken with Wormmon, Takeru with Angemon, Hikari with Angewomon. The Wizardmon figure measures 145mm high (...
Amagi Brilliant Park's Isuzu Dons Pirate Gear for New Figure
Max Factory's 1/7-scale figure of Amagi Brilliant Park's Isuzu Sento is bringing the pirate booty. The figure captures Isuzu in her "Female Pirate Isuzuruha" outfit from episode seven of the anime series by Kyoto Animation. Her pose is confident but her facial expression reads a little embarrassed as she crushes Tiramy underneath her leather boot. The figure's eyepatch and pirate hat can be remov...
Circulating Photos Claim to Show Anno, Higuchi's New Godzilla
Three private photos allegedly taken at Toho Studios claim to show the titular monster of Hideaki Anno and Shinji Higuchi's Godzilla Resurgence (Shin Godzilla) film. The pictures, if legitimate, show a monster covered in reddish scarring, rows upon rows of teeth, and a concave chest. Mahiro Maeda (Mad Max: Fury Road) and Takayuki Takeya (live-action Attack on Titan) are reimagining the iconic mons...
New Osaka Otaku Cafe Is Strictly Nerdy Girls Only
A new cafe is Osaka's Nipponbashi district—the Kansai equivalent of Akihabara—opened on December 26 with a very specific clientele. The Ataraxia Cafe strictly serves female otaku and female otaku only, no ifs ands or buts. The cafe wants to promote an atmosphere where even the shiest fujoshi or female cosplayer can let their hobby flag fly without feeling self-conscious. The staff are also all wom...
Kirimi-chan Mascot is Latest Character Showing Up in Monster Hunter X
Star Fox, Legend of Zelda, Metroid campaigns also starting
― Kirimi-chan., Sanrio's salmon fillet mascot-turned-magical girl, in joining the fight in Capcom's Monster Hunter X Nintendo 3DS game. The character, like previous campaigns with Ushio & Tora, Yu-Gi-Oh!, and Yowamushi Pedal, includes special items and events. Kirimi-chan joined the fray on New Year's Day and will only appear for a limited ti...
Artwork Revealed for Granblue Fantasy/Slayers Collaboration
New version launches on January 26
― Characters from the 1990s fantasy light novel/anime series The Slayers will appear in Granblue Fantasy, a smartphone RPG popular in Japan, according to an announcement in Dragon Magazine in November. Granblue Fantasy's official site has now unveiled official artwork for Lina, Naga and Gourry, who will be available in that game as allies. Unfortunately, further det...
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