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The Ancient Magus' Bride GN 3
The Ancient Magus’ Bride turns inward in its third volume, challenging the uneven relationship at the heart of its magic and mystery.
― The third Ancient Magus' Bride opens in blood and thunder, as the attack on Chise that closed out the last volume prompts a wild response from Elias. Shedding the trappings of his nearly-human form, Elias billows across full-page spreads in black and bone, spine brea...
Shelf Life - Turn A Gundam: The Movies
James finds out whether or not the Turn A Gundam movies are a decent substitute for the series, along with all of this week's new anime releases on DVD and bluray!
― I got buried under a landslide of teenage nostalgia last week. First Sentai Filmworks announced that they were planning a new physical release for Azumanga Daioh, then Discotek Media did the same with Cromartie High School. I watched (a...
Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? Novel 4
Bell's defining defeat of the Minotaur has qualified him for Level 2 as an adventurer, a feat which shocks Eina in this fourth light novel.
― The main story in the fourth DanMachi novel was directly adapted into episode 9 of the anime. The episode did feel like it had rushed things a bit, but not until I read the novel version did I appreciate how much. However, the source material only supplied 161 ...
The Mike Toole Show - Awesome Unadapted Manga
Mike digs into a big pile of great manga that, against all odds, have never been adapted into anime, and wonders what some of your favorite unadapted manga are.
― Last week, amid the bustle of Arisia, Boston's biggest science fiction fan convention, I did something I'd never done at a con before: I focused on books. I met con guest of honor John Scalzi, the Redshirts and Old Man's War guy, and had hi...
The List - 6 Villains That Saved the Day
Sometimes all it takes to save the day is a bad guy with a change of heart. Here are six anime where the villain became the hero!
― The heroes might be the stars of the show, but a work of fiction is really made by an awesome antagonist. Someone the audience loves to hate or finds catharsis through a villain's disregard for the rules in lieu of getting what they want. The audience grows attachment t...
Die Wergelder GN 1
Hiroaki Samura subtitles his new series "Bad Bitch Action," and while that's only true of a few of the characters, this is still an intense, disturbing, and sometimes funny series that means it when it says its for mature audiences.
― Can you put a price on a life? According to the ancient Germanic practice of wergeld (also spelled “wergild”), you sure can – the word means “man payment” and refers to...
Wednesday, January 27
NY Int'l Children's Film Fest to Show The Boy & the Beast, Hana & Alice
Festival to screen Mamoru Hosoda's latest on February 26, before March theatrical opening
― The New York International Children's Film Festival (NYICFF) will screen Mamoru Hosoda's The Boy and The Beast and Shunji Iwai's The Case of Hana & Alice films in February and March. The festival will screen The Boy and The Beast ahead of its formal March 4 theatrical opening in the United States. Funimation l...
Onigiri Fantasy MMORPG Gets TV Anime in April
CyberStep's game inspired by Japanese folklore offered in English in PC/PS4/Xbox One
― Japanese game developer CyberStep announced on Wednesday that a television anime of its massively multi-player role-playing game Onigiri has been green-lit. The anime will premiere on the Tokyo MX and BS Fuji channels in April. CyberStep describes the story: Onigiri thrusts its players into mystical Japan, a land f...
Rie Takahashi Narrates Mahō Tsukai Precure! Anime's 3rd Preview Video
Takahashi stars as Cure Miracle in newest Precure series premiering on February 7
― TOEI Animation began streaming a third preview video on Wednesday for Mahō Tsukai Precure! (Maho Girls Precure!, or "Magic User Precure"), the 13th and newest Precure (Pretty Cure) television anime series. Rie Takahashi narrates the ad as her character Mirai Asahina/Cure Miracle. The anime will premiere on February 7 ...
Mushibugyo Manga Changes New Character's Design, But Editors Deny Plagiarism
Shonen Sunday editors: manga creator Hiroshi Fukuda never heard of Girls Frontline game
― The editors of Weekly Shonen Sunday magazine announced on Tuesday that the design for a new character in Hiroshi Fukuda's Jōjū Senjin!! Mushibugyō manga has been changed, after a Twitter post noted that this Mushibugyo character looks like one in the Chinese game app Girls Frontline (Shōjo Zensen). However, the ...
Fire Emblem Fates RPG's Western Release Will Not Have 'Petting' Feature
Feature allows players to "pet" party members to boost affection
― Game news website Kotaku confirmed with Nintendo that the North American and European release of its Fire Emblem Fates Nintendo 3DS game will remove the "petting" feature present in the game's original Japanese version. The feature allowed players to "pet" one of their party member's face by rubbing on the screen or tapping on the sty...
Classic Anime Reimagined For 'Surreal' Boxers, Tights, More
Swimmy Design Lab is teaming up with the anime from your childhood and reimagining it as a surreal, fever dream. The company is redrawing the characters in a style reminiscent of "Doland" and "Sanic" memes but instead its Astro Boy, Detective Conan, Urusei Yatsura, and Minky Momo. The designs are being sold on boxers, tights, tote bags, tablet cases, and more. Customers can also custom order a T-...
Kono Bijutsu-bu niwa Mondai ga Aru! Comedy TV Anime's Cast, Designs Revealed
Yūsuke Kobayashi, Ari Ozawa, Sumire Uesaka play eccentric school art club members
― The official website for Imigimuru's Kono Bijutsu-bu niwa Mondai ga Aru! (This Art Club Has a Problem!) comedy manga unveiled the main cast and character designs for the manga's television anime adaptation on Wednesday. The cast includes: Yūsuke Kobayashi as Subaru Uchimaki Ari Ozawa as Mizuki Usami Sumire Uesaka as C...
Tuesday, January 26
One Piece Capsule Toys Hang On for Dear Life
Capsule vending machines will be stocked One Piece cup companions who desperately want to stay afloat. The line-up of five characters all have Devil Fruit powers, an attribute that greatly weakens them if they become submerged in water. The line-up includes Tony Tony Chopper, Ace, Luffy, Doflamingo, and Law all balancing precariously. The toys will debut at the end of the month for 300 yen (US$2....
Singer Faylan Goes on Extended Hiatus Due to Autoimmune Disease
Sang themes for CANAAN, Future Diary, Gundam AGE, Grisaia
― Hiromi Sato, representative director of the talent management agency S, announced on singer Faylan's official website on Wednesday that Faylan will be taking a long-term hiatus due to an autoimmune disease. According to the statement, Faylan visited a doctor this month after feeling unwell, and the doctor gave her the diagnosis and advised t...
Durarara!! ×2 The Third Arc - Episodes 1-3
"At long last, it's the beginning of the end for Durarara!!"
Hai-Furi TV Anime's Staff, April Debut, Story Details, Characters Unveiled
Anime's official website to stream 1st promotional video in mid-February
― The March issue of Kadokawa's Comic Alive (cover shown right) magazine is revealing more details for the upcoming original television anime Hai-Furi on Wednesday. The magazine is revealing more of the anime's story, staff, and characters, as well as the anime's April premiere. The new staff are as follows: Director: Yuu Nobuta...
Japan's All-Female Takarazuka Musical Revue Coming to New York City
Japan's long-standing, all-female musical theater troupe is coming to America to perform the Tony Award-winning musical Chicago this summer. The Takarazuka Revue will be in town to perform six shows at the David H. Koch Theater from July 20-24. Tickets will go on sale for US$50-110. The group is an icon of Japanese culture, adapting everything from Rurouni Kenshin and Lupin the 3rd to the life of ...
Prince of Stride: Alternative ‒ Episode 4
"This episode saw Ayumu face his demons head on, to mixed results."
Hello Kitty Arms Herself in Sailor Suit and Machine Gun Collaboration
Of the many things Hello Kitty has dressed up as, from Love Live idols to giant robots, none have seen Sanrio's popular mascot wielding a machine gun. The design is part of Hello Kitty's collaboration with the live-action Sailor Suit and Machine Gun: Graduation film starring idol Kanna Hashimoto. Hello Kitty's version is a little more tame; the gun is pink and appears to have a cork stuck in the b...
Compile Heart, Idea Factory International Open Teaser Site for New Title
Game developer Compile Heart (Hyperdimension Neptunia) announced on Tuesday that it is teaming with Idea Factory and Idea Factory International to launch a new brand titled IDEA FACTORY INTERNATIONAL. The companies opened a teaser site for the first title in the new brand. The teaser site reads, "At any time—even if you must sacrifice yourself—do you think you would want to save someone?" and has ...
Pan de Peace! TV Anime Slated for April
The official website for Kadokawa's Monthly Comic Cune announced on Wednesday that the television anime of emily's Pan de Peace! (Peace Through Bread!) manga will premiere in April. The April issue of Monthly Comic Cune will announce the cast and staff on February 27. The "cute and soft bread four-panel manga" centers around Minami (top left in below images), an airheaded girl who is starting high...
North American Anime, Manga Releases, January 24-30
Giant Gorg, Kingdom, Momokyun Sword, Wicked City, Yowamushi Pedal anime; Orange, Taboo Tattoo, How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend, Log Horizon: The West Wind Brigade manga ship
― Anime Releases Title Publisher Suggested Retail Price Date Aldnoah.Zero Set 3 Limited Edition Blu-rayPlease Aniplex of America US$94.98 January 26 Aldnoah.Zero Set 3 DVDCite Aniplex of America US$39.98 January 26 Corpse Party:...
Shinjuku Station Hosts Interactive Dragon Quest Builders Wall
Square Enix's Dragon Quest Builders is launching for PS3, PS4, and PS Vita on January 28. The game follows the franchise's original hero as he attempts to rebuild the land, quite literally. The game's marketing department took this idea and ran with it for a mural-size poster in Shinjuku Station. An 80 meter wall near the promenade near the Marunouchi Line is covered in 180,000 Lego-like blocks. T...
Resident Evil Umbrella Corps' 2nd Trailer Reveals May Release
Competitive shooter available May 12
― CAPCOM began streaming the second trailer for its upcoming third-person shooter game Umbrella Corps on Tuesday. The video reveals that the game will be released for PlayStation 4 and PC via Steam in North America, Europe and Japan in May. In Japan, the game is slated for May 12. Although the game is set within the Resident Evil/Biohazard universe, it will only h...
.hack Smartphone Game Guilty Dragon Ends Service
Westen release was planned but never realized
― Bandai Namco Entertainment announced on Friday that it will end service for its smartphone game Guilty Dragon: Tsumiryū to Yattsu no Noroi (Guilty Dragon: The Sin Dragon and the Eight Curses) on March 23. The game is part of its .hack franchise. The RPG takes place in a large-scale world where players can meet others and acquire equipment in their adven...
SMAP Idol Tsuyoshi Kusanagi Tries to Recreate Cup no Fuchico's Poses
And ends up getting dunked
― Cup no Fuchico is a popular line of drink companions featuring an unassuming office lady created by Kitan Club who hangs on, climbs over, and otherwise keeps a watchful eye on your drink. Her popularity has lead to further collaborations, like turning Fuchico into earbuds, dressing up for Christmas, and turning to the tables to explore underneath the cup. SMAP idol Tsuyos...
Mr. Osomatsu ‒ Episode 16
"Episode 16's first story is one of the funniest Fist of the North Star/Mad Max parodies I've ever seen."
Endride ~X fragments Anime & Smartphone Game to Launch
Web countdown to end at midnight JST Thursday
― The combined March/April issue of Monthly Appli Style magazine is announcing on Thursday that a smartphone game and a new anime project called Endride ~X fragments are launching. The Twitter account enride_anime opened on Wednesday, and it posted a link to an endride.jp website with a countdown and images. The countdown will end at midnight on Thursday ...
The Ancient Magus' Bride GN 3
The Ancient Magus’ Bride turns inward in its third volume, challenging the uneven relationship at the heart of its magic and mystery.
― The third Ancient Magus' Bride opens in blood and thunder, as the attack on Chise that closed out the last volume prompts a wild response from Elias. Shedding the trappings of his nearly-human form, Elias billows across full-page spreads in black and bone, spine brea...
'Detective Pikachu' Game to Debut With Male Talking Pikachu Voice on February 3
A never-before-seen Pikachu teams with boy to solve mysteries
― The Pokémon Company announced on Wednesday that it will release the Meitantei Pikachu ~Shin Combi Tanjō~ (Famous Detective Pikachu: The Debut of a New Duo) game as a digital download for the Nintendo 3DS in Japan on February 3. The game features a "Pikachu you've never seen before" with a voice similar to Toru Ohkawa. Text: A city where ...
The Idolm@ster PS4 Game's Title, Screenshot Unveiled
Famitsu to publish The Idolm@ster: Platinum Stars' setting, producer interview, more
― Kadokawa's Weekly Famitsu magazine is unveiling on Thursday more details, including the title and screenshots, for The Idolm@ster game that Bandai Namco Entertainment will release on the PlayStation 4 console. The magazine will devote four pages to The Idolm@ster: Platinum Stars game. The feature will publish infor...
My Wife is the Student Council President TV Anime Gets 2nd Season
Yumi Nakata's 9th manga volume shipped with unaired episode on DVD on Wednesday
― Production on a second television anime season based on Yumi Nakata's My Wife is the Student Council President (Okusama ga Seitokaichō!) manga has been green-lit. The announcement was made in the March issue of Ichijinsha's Monthly Comic Rex magazine on Wedneday. The "erotic comedy" manga follows a student council vice-...
Live-Action Ghost in the Shell Film Switches Distributors from Disney to Paramount
Film news website ComingSoon.net reported on Monday that Walt Disney Pictures will no longer distribute Dreamworks and Paramount's live-action Ghost in the Shell film. Variety further reports that Paramount Pictures is the film's new distributor, in addition to co-financing the film. The film is still slated for release on March 31, 2017. The Hollywood Reporter reported last September that Dreamwo...
Japan's Animation DVD Ranking, January 18-24
Haikyu! sells 7,768, followed by Nana Mizuki, Ace of Diamond, 3rd Persona 3 film, Free! ES event
― The Nana Mizuki Live Adventure DVD sold 3,310 copies to rank #8 on the overall DVD chart. The Free! Eternal Summer Special Event Iwatobi/Samezuka Joint Cultural Festival (Evening Session) event disc debuted at #17 with 1,552 copies. Soreike! Anpanman Happy Otanjōbi Series 2-gatsu Umare (Soreike! Anpanma...
Japan's Animation Blu-ray Disc Ranking, January 18-24
3rd Persona 3 film sells 17,396, followed by Nana Mizuki, Haikyu!!, Monster Musume, Little Witch Academia 2
― The Nana Mizuki Live Adventure Blu-ray Disc sold 14,341 copies to rank #6 on the overall Blu-ray Disc chart. The Free! Eternal Summer Special Event Iwatobi/Samezuka Joint Cultural Festival (Evening Session) event disc debuted at #18 with 2,511 copies. Rank Last Week Title Weekly Copies Total ...
Nitroplus Blasterz PS4/PS3 Game's Video Previews Saya
XSEED Games offers PS4/PS3 crossover fighting game in N. America on February 2
― North American publisher XSEED Games began streaming a character spotlight video this week for its upcoming PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3 crossover fighting game Nitroplus Blasterz -HEROINES INFINITE DUEL-. The video highlights the character Saya from Gen Urobuchi's visual novel Saya no Uta (The Song of Saya). XSEED Ga...
Nobunaga Concerto Is 1st Film to Top Star Wars: TFA in Weekend Box Office Totals in Japan
Live-action Orange drops to #7, Kizumonogatari drops to #9
― The live-action film of Ayumi Ishii's Nobunaga Concerto historical manga topped the Japanese box office in its opening weekend. The film opened on Saturday on 324 screens and sold 465,956 tickets and earning 615,988,400 yen (about US$5.21 million) over the weekend. Nobunaga Concerto is the first film to top Star Wars: The Force Awakens in J...
Glay Vocalist Teru to Guest-Star in Ace of Diamond
Rock band has performed opening theme songs for anime
― The official website for the Ace of Diamond: Second Season television anime announced on Monday that vocalist TERU of the rock band Glay will guest star in the 43rd episode on February 1. His role has not yet been revealed. Glay performed "Hashire! Mirai," the third opening theme song for the first season of the anime. The group also performed b...
Funimation's Baccano! License to Expire in February
Funimation Entertainment confirmed in a forum post on Monday that its home video and streaming rights for the Baccano! anime are expiring. The series will be removed from Funimation's streaming service and the show's website will close on February 8. Funimation released the series on four DVD singles in the first half of 2009, and released the complete series box set in December of that year, and ...
Age 12 Shōjo Manga About Girl's Coming of Age Gets TV Anime
Nao Maita's manga already inspired 2 video anime series, live-action DVDs
― The official website for the Aikatsu game posted a listing for March issue of Shogakukan's Ciao magazine. According to an image in the listing, the magazine issue is announcing on February 3 that a television anime adaptation of Nao Maita's 12-Sai. (Age 12) shōjo manga has been green-lit The story of Maita's original manga be...
Teekyū Director Shin Itagaki Animate Glay's Music Video
Director Shin Itagaki (Teekyū, Gurren Lagann Parallel Works) teamed with GLAY's Hisashi (Ace of Diamond, Kaikan Phrase) to produce an animated music video for the new single "Kanojo wa Zombie" (She's a Zombie). The concept was envisioned by Hisashi who asked the style to mimic Studio Trigger director Hiroyuki Imaishi (Kill la Kill, Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt). The music video is one of four ...
Activision Confirms Platinum Games' Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles With Trailer
PS4/Xbox One/PS3/Xbox 360/PC game slated for summer
― Activision confirmed its Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants in Manhattan action game on Monday with a trailer. The video acknowledges that Platinum Games (Bayonetta, Transformers: Devastation) is developing the game, and that the game is slated for release on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC this summer. Activision descr...
Monday, January 25
Eren Picks a More Mundane Line of Work in Latest Attack on Titan Game
As a member of the Survey Corps., Eren has the dangerous task of traveling beyond the safety of the city walls and directly into Titan territory. In KOEI Tecmo Games' upcoming Attack on Titan game, they're giving Eren a safer line of employment. Or at the very least, a different uniform. The game is collaborating directly with LAWSON's convenience stores to distribute an exclusive LAWSON uniform c...
New Koromon Figure Set Reveals Digimon's Bathroom Secrets
MegaHouse's GEM line of high-quality figures has introduced much of Digimon's staple cast already. Now the figure and goods manufacturer is adding some pint-sized Digimon to its "Korokore!" desktop figures. Specifically, its a set of Koromon doing wacky things, like holding a slice of watermelon with its ears, taking a nap on a pillow, sitting with baby Hikari "Kari" Kamiya, posing with his mouth...
Street Fighter V Cinematic Trailer Features Story Mode Expansion
Illustrations previewed for character focus story mode
― The official US PlayStation blog announced details on Street Fighter V's story mode on Monday. Capcom will release a free expansion with the game series' first "cinematic story experience" in June 2016. The Street Fighter YouTube channel began streaming a trailer for the expansion. The expansion's story will focus mainly on M. Bison and Shadalo...
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...
Crunchyroll Adds Shiratori Reiko Live-Action Drama
1st episode premiered in Japan on January 14
― Media distribution service Crunchyroll posted the first two episodes of the live-action drama adaptation of Yumiko Suzuki's Shiratori Reiko de Gozaimasu! (I'm Reiko Shiratori!) manga under the title "Shiratori Reiko" on Monday. The series has English subtitles. The series will consist of 10 30-minute episodes. The first episode premiered in Japan on Janu...
Snow White with the Red Hair ‒ Episode 15
"Things are clearly heating up, and I feel like these first three episodes have been trying to get us to the real jumping off point for this season's main plot."
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...
Sekai Project Adds PS Vita Port as Backer Reward for Root Double Kickstarter
Digital Vita port available to backers pledging US$225+
― Video game localizer and publisher Sekai Project announced on Sunday in an update to its Kickstarter campaign to localize and release Regista/Yeti and Takumi Nakazawa's Root Double: Before Crime * After Days: Xtend Edition visual novel that it has approval to release the game on PlayStation Vita. The PS Vita port will not be released at the sa...
Rumiko Takahashi, Naoki Urasawa, More Draw 1-Shots For Big Comic Spirits Magazine
This year's ninth issue of Shogakukan's Big Comic Spirits magazine (cover shown right) announced on Monday that it will celebrate its 35th anniversary by publishing one-shot manga from multiple authors. The authors listed include Naoki Urasawa (Pluto, 20th Century Boys), Katsutoshi Kawai (Monkey Turn, Tomehane! Suzuri Kōkō Shodōbu), Kôji Kumeta (Joshiraku, Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei), Rumiko Takaha...
Editor: My Love Story!! Manga is Approaching Climax
Author's new manga debuted in Bessatsu Margaret on January 13
― Takaaki Imai, the editor-in-chief of Shueisha's Bessatsu Margaret magazine, revealed in an interview published by Japanese entertainment news website Comic Natalie on Friday that Kazune Kawahara and Aruko's romantic comedy shōjo manga series My Love Story!! (Ore Monogatari!!) is approaching its climax. When asked about the status of Bess...
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...
Schwarzes Marken ‒ Episode 3
"The meat of this episode is the story, and at least one half of it shines."
La Corda d'Oro 4 PS Vita Game's Promo Video Reveals March 10 Delay
Game delayed to improve quality
― Koei Tecmo Games began streaming a new promotional video on Monday for its La Corda d'Oro 4 PlayStation Vita dating simulation game. The video reveals that Koei Tecmo Games is delaying the game in Japan to March 10. Koei Tecmo originally announced plans to release the game on February 25, but delayed the release in order to improve the quality of the game. The game's...
Answerman - What Does Darker Than Black's License Withdrawal Mean?
Funimation's license for Darker than Black recently expired, and Aniplex chose not to renew it. What does that mean for that show, for Funimation and for the industry? Justin gets into it.
― Stan asks: I heard the news of Funimation losing their license to Darker Than Black. People speculate (or is it confirmed?) that the license was taken away by Aniplex of America. So I was wondering, is this one ...
One Piece ‒ Episode 727
"After an awesome fight episode between Fourth Gear Luffy and Doflamingo, I'm more-or-less done with any of the citizens of Dressrosa stuff."
Shelf Life - Turn A Gundam: The Movies
James finds out whether or not the Turn A Gundam movies are a decent substitute for the series, along with all of this week's new anime releases on DVD and bluray!
― I got buried under a landslide of teenage nostalgia last week. First Sentai Filmworks announced that they were planning a new physical release for Azumanga Daioh, then Discotek Media did the same with Cromartie High School. I watched (a...
Mighty No. 9 Game Delayed Until Spring
Game creator Keiji Inafune announced in Japanese and English on Monday that comcept is delaying its Mighty No. 9 game again from February to this spring. He explained that "the issues relating to the network modes were more critical than expected." Inafune elaborated that the bugs deal with matchmaking, and were exacerbated by the large number of supported platforms ("the solution for each platfor...
Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? Novel 4
Bell's defining defeat of the Minotaur has qualified him for Level 2 as an adventurer, a feat which shocks Eina in this fourth light novel.
― The main story in the fourth DanMachi novel was directly adapted into episode 9 of the anime. The episode did feel like it had rushed things a bit, but not until I read the novel version did I appreciate how much. However, the source material only supplied 161 ...
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...
Valkyria Chronicles Remastered RPG Heads West This Spring
PS4 remaster of PS3 game offered on physical disc and via PSN digital download
― Sega announced on Monday that it will release Valkyria Chronicles Remastered, the revamped PlayStation 4 version of the PlayStation 3 tactical role-playing game, in North America and Europe this spring. It will be available as a physical disc release and as a digital download on the PlayStation Network. The game will ret...
Fairy Tail Stage Play Reveals Female Cast
Play runs in Tokyo from April 30 to May 9
― The official website for the stage play of Hiro Mashima's Fairy Tail manga revealed the female cast of the play on Monday. Ayu Manaka as Lucy Heartfilia Minami Tsukui as Erza Scarlet Misaki Momose as Wendy Marvell Anju Inami as Angel The show's other cast members include: Shuuto Miyazaki as Natsu Dragneel Atsushi Shiramata as Gray Fullbuster Naoya Gomoto as...
Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash's 3rd Episode Anime Music Video Streamed
Blu-ray Disc/DVD commercial, special event ad also streamed
― TOHO Animation began streaming an anime music video for Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash on Sunday, featuring the third episode insert song "Stand on the Ground" by (K)NoW_NAME. (K)NoW_NAME is a new project founded by Toho Animation Records. The project produced the opening ("Knew Day") and ending ("Harvest") theme songs, as well as songs within...
Tsuyoshi Abe Pictured in Costume as Red Eye For 2nd Live-Action Assassination Classroom Film
The staff of Ansatsu Kyōshitsu: Sotsugyō-hen (Assassination Classroom ~Graduation Edition~), the second live-action Assassination Classroom (Ansatsu Kyōshitsu) film, revealed a picture on Monday of Tsuyoshi Abe (live-action Hana Yori Dango) in costume as the assassin Red Eye. This year's eighth issue of Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump had revealed the image earlier on Monday. The film has also cast ...
Sun Ken Rock Manga to End on February 22
Crunchyroll releases Boichi's manga about Japanese delinquent in Korea
― This year's fourth issue of Shonengahosha's Young King magazine (issue cover pictured at right) announced on Monday that Boichi will publish the final chapter of the Sun-Ken Rock manga in two more issues. The manga will take a break in the next issue, and then end in this year's sixth issue of Young King on February 22. The seri...
Kendo Kobayashi, Jungle Pocket Guest Star in Yu-Gi-Oh!: The Dark Side of Dimensions Film
Kazuki Takahashi draws designs for new characters
― The official website of the Yu-Gi-Oh!: The Dark Side of Dimensions film revealed on Wednesday that comedian actor Kendo Kobayashi (live-action Yatterman's Tonzura) and comedy group Jungle Pocket will guest star in the film. The comedians will guest star as the Kudaragi Group. Jungle Pocket will make their voice acting debut to play the subordinates ...
Makoto Shinkai's She and Her Cat Anime Gets Manga Adaptation
Manga will begin in April issue of Monthly Afternoon magazine
― The March issue of Kodansha's Monthly Afternoon magazine revealed on Monday that Makoto Shinkai's She and Her Cat (Kanojo to Kanojo no neko) anime short is inspiring a manga adaptation. The manga illustrated by Tsubasa Yamaguchi will begin serialization in the magazine's April issue next month. Shinkai's PR staff posted a preview image o...
Naruto Shippūden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 Battle Video Shows Minato, Lee, Guy vs. Madara
PS4/Xbox One/PC action game to ship in early February
― Bandai Namco Entertainment began streaming a battle video for the upcoming Naruto Shippūden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 (Naruto Shippūden Narutimate Storm 4) PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC game on Monday. The video features Minato, Lee, and Guy fighting Madara in his Six Paths form. Naruto Shippūden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 will feature the largest ...
Isobe Isobee Monogatari Anime Short Episode Streamed
Anime starring Daiki Yamashita premiered online last month
― Shochiku began streaming an episode of the short anime adaptation of Ryō Nakama's Isobe Isobee Monogatari ~Ukiyo wa Tsurai yo~ (Chronicle of Isobe -The Life Is Hard-) manga on Monday. The short shows protagonist Isobee trying to relax on a Sunday, but failing to find a good posture for relaxing. A previous issue of Weekly Shonen Jump magazi...
Sailor Moon Crystal Anime's 3rd Season Visual Features Outer Senshi
AnimeJapan event in March to announce new Sailor Moon project
― The official website of the Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Crystal anime unveiled the visual for the anime's third season on Monday. The visual previews the anime's character designs, and unveils the Outer Senshi characters for the first time. The anime will have a stage program at the AnimeJapan 2016 event on March 26. The stage program wi...
Toei Animation Reveals Popin Q Original Anime Film
Shiori Izawa, Ari Ozawa, Tomoyo Kurosawa, Asami Seto, Atsumi Tanezaki star in dance-themed film
― Toei Animation revealed the Popin Q feature-length original anime film project on Monday. The company had previously previewed the project last April under the title "file(N):project PQ" as a dance-themed original anime film project. The film is commemorating the 60th anniversary of Toei Animation. Toei ...
Rock Band Galileo Galilei to Break Up After Spring Tour
Anohana band's 4th and final album Sea and The Darkness ships on Wednesday
― Rock band Galileo Galilei announced on their official website on Monday that the band will break up after their spring tour from March to April. The band posted the following message on the site: After the release of our fourth album Sea and The Darkness, and our spring tour starting in March, Galileo Galilei will disband. A...
Sunday, January 24
Seisen Cerberus Mobile Game Gets TV Anime in April
Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, M.A.O, Maaya Uchida, more star in anime by studio Bridge
― Social networking and mobile gaming platform GREE announced on Monday that it is supervising and producing a television anime adaptation of its Seisen Cerberus mobile game, in partnership with Chinese video streaming platform iQIYI. The anime is titled Seisen Cerberus Ryūkoku no Fatalite, and it will premiere on TV Tokyo ...
Isobe Isobee Monogatari Stage Play's Additional Cast, Main Visual Revealed
Takuya Inoue, Yoshihiro Nakayama star in play running in Osaka in April
― The eighth issue of Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine revealed new cast information and the main visual for the stage play adaptation of Ryō Nakama's Isobe Isobee Monogatari ~Ukiyo wa Tsurai yo~ (Chronicle of Isobe -The Life Is Hard-) manga on Monday. The show's official website has also posted the visual and additional ca...
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...
Shiratori Reiko de Gozaimasu! Manga Gets New 1-Shot Story
Manga inspires new live-action drama, with live-action film this year
― The March issue of Kodansha's Kiss magazine revealed on Monday that Yumiko Suzuki is drawing a one-shot manga for her Shiratori Reiko de Gozaimasu! (I'm Reiko Shiratori!) manga, which Kodansha will publish in the magazine's next issue on February 25. The story will depict Reiko and Tetsuya, who are now in their 40s. The original ...
Nodame Cantabile Gets 1-Shot Manga in February
Story to revolve around Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 3
― The March issue of Kodansha's Kiss magazine revealed on Monday that Tomoko Ninomiya will publish a one-shot manga for her Nodame Cantabile manga series in the magazine's next issue, which Kodansha will publish on February 25. The story will revolve around Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 3. The original manga series centers around Nodame ...
Dimension W ‒ Episode 3
"After two episodes of intense plot setup, it's nice to get some downtime with our main characters."
Terror in Resonance Stage Play's Main Cast Revealed in Costume
Ryunosuke Matsumura, Mashū Ishiwatari shown in full costume for play debuting in March
― The staff for the stage play adaptation of the Terror in Resonance (Zankyō no Terror) anime revealed character visuals for the two main characters on Thursday. Ryunosuke Matsumura as Nine Mashū Ishiwatari as Twelve Megumi Han and Mitsuaki Kanuka are reprising their roles from the anime as Five and Mukasa, respect...
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...
X Japan Documentary's Video Clip Streamed
Film premiered in competition at Sundance Film Festival on Saturday
― The Hollywood Reporter began streaming a scene on Friday from X Japan's documentary film We Are X. The clip features band leader Yoshiki talking about forming the band in 1982. The documentary premiered on Saturday at the Sundance Film Festival in the festival's World Cinema Documentary Competition. YOSHIKI and the film team attend...
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...
My Hero Academia Arcade Card Game Launches in April
This year's eighth issue of Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine (issue cover pictured at right) revealed on Monday that the Boku no Hero Academia: Gekitotsu! Heroes Battle (My Hero Academia: Clash! Heroes Battle) arcade card game based on Kōhei Horikoshi's My Hero Academia manga will launch in arcades in Japan in April. Takara Tomy Arts is developing the "hero card battle" game. In the game, p...
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...
2nd Live-Action Assassination Classroom Film Casts Tsuyoshi Abe as Red Eye (Updated)
Abe plays assassin in March 25 film based on Yusei Matsui's manga
― This year's eighth issue of Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine revealed on Monday that Tsuyoshi Abe (live-action Hana Yori Dango) will play the assassin Red Eye in Ansatsu Kyōshitsu ~Sotsugyō-hen~ (Assassination Classroom ~Graduation Edition~), the second live-action Assassination Classroom (Ansatsu Kyōshitsu) film. The magazine ...
BBK/BRNK ‒ Episode 3
"After two weeks of big battle scenes, BBK/BRNK has finally settled down enough to give us a more detailed picture of what's going on."
Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans ‒ Episode 16
"From the slum dwellers to the demonstrators to the people in power, everyone has a horse in this race, and this episode is sure to inform their upcoming decisions."
Kousuke Fujishima Ends Paradise Residence Manga, Starts New Series
Oh My Goddess! creator launched slice-of-life manga in 2008
― Kousuke Fujishima's Paradise Residence manga ended in the March issue of Kodansha's Monthly Afternoon magazine on Monday. Fujishima will launch a new series this spring. The story of Paradise Residence revolves around tomboy Hatsune Takanashi's life in a females-only dorm, and looks at the behind-the-scenes of girls who attend an all-girls...
Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash ‒ Episode 3
"Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash is a slow burn, but if it's still holding your interest, I feel like we're going to be rewarded."
The Mike Toole Show - Awesome Unadapted Manga
Mike digs into a big pile of great manga that, against all odds, have never been adapted into anime, and wonders what some of your favorite unadapted manga are.
― Last week, amid the bustle of Arisia, Boston's biggest science fiction fan convention, I did something I'd never done at a con before: I focused on books. I met con guest of honor John Scalzi, the Redshirts and Old Man's War guy, and had hi...
Gintama Manga's 65th, 66th Volumes to Bundle Original Anime DVDs
TV anime's main cast, staff return for OADs in August, November
― Shueisha announced in December that the 65th and 66th compiled volumes of Hideaki Sorachi's Gintama manga will bundle original anime DVDs (OADs). This year's eighth issue of Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine (issue cover pictured at right) confirmed details of the release on Monday. The 65th volume will ship in Japan on August 4, ...
World Trigger Anime Casts Tomokazu Sugita as Masato Kageura
Junichi Suwabe returns for "B-Class Rank Battles" story arc's start on January 31
― This year's eighth issue of Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine (issue cover pictured at right) announced on Monday that Tomokazu Sugita (Gintama's Gintoki, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya's Kyon) will play Masato Kageura in World Trigger television anime. Kageura is the leader of the B-class #2 unit called Kageu...
Funimation, GameSamba Team With NGames for Free-to-Play Games Based on Anime
NGames removes unlicensed One Piece-based Pockie Pirates game
― Funimation Entertainment, GameSamba, and Chinese game developer NGames Interactive Limited announced on Monday that they are entering a strategic partnership to create mobile and web games based on anime and other entertainment properties. The games will be free-to-play. NGames will collaborate on Funimation and GameSamba's previously an...
Granblue Fantasy Smartphone Game Has 8 Million Registered Users
The official website of Cygames' Granblue Fantasy smartphone game revealed on Monday that the game has 8 million registered users. The game will hold a campaign to celebrate the achievement. The website also unveiled details on its "Slayers Magna" crossover event. The event's story centers on a phenomenon occurring in the ancient battlefield that is taking out Skyriders one by one. Players will la...
Nicktoons' Yu-Gi-Oh! Arc-V Teaser Reveals February Premiere
Latest series in Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise premiered in Canada last August
― The Nicktoons channel is airing a teaser promo for the United States airing of the Yu-Gi-Oh! Arc-V television anime series. The teaser previews the show's English dub, and reveals that the anime will begin airing on the channel in February. The official Yu-Gi-Oh! Youtube channel previously streamed the show's English opening with ...
A Certain Magical Index/Shana Singer Mami Kawada to Retire, Perform Final Concert in May
Sang Aokana, Please Teacher, Hayate, To Love-Ru Darkness theme songs
― Singer Mami Kawada announced at the LisAni! Live concert on Sunday that she will hold her "final" live concert on May 21. The "Mami Kawada Final Fan Festival 'F'" at the Tokyo Dome City Hall will feature musical acts Kotoko, fripSide, and Maon Kurosaki as guests. Kawada's 16th CD single "Contrail ~Kiseki~" will go on sale on Janua...
Final Fantasy Explorers 3DS Game's English Promo Video Streamed
Multi-player action RPG ships in N. America on January 26, in Europe on January 29
― Square Enix of North America began streaming a promotional video for the Final Fantasy Explorers multi-player action role-playing game for the Nintendo 3DS on its official YouTube channel on Thursday. Square Enix describes the game as follows: FINAL FANTASY EXPLORERS focuses on cooperative play with friends, utilizin...
Tsuburaya Posts Teaser Video for Upcoming Ultraman Project
New website celebrates 50th anniversary of Ultra Series
― Tsuburaya Productions Co., Ltd. began streaming a region-locked teaser video for an upcoming Ultraman project on a new website on Friday. The website and video are part of a project that marks the 50th anniversary of the Ultra Series, which began on January 2, 1966 with Ultra Q. The "All Ultra heroes movie!!" video includes clips from every ma...
Kill Me Baby Actress Ai Takabe Appears in Live-Action Detective Special in February
Actress was charged with drug use in November after police found cocaine in her house
― Tokyo Broadcasting System Television, Inc. (TBS) announced on its official website on Saturday that Kill Me Baby voice actress and idol Ai Takabe (real name, Ai Nakayama) will appear in a live-action detective special on the channel. The two-hour drama titled Sen no Sōsakan Nishi Kaneko will air on the channel on ...
SMAP's 2003 Single Tops Oricon's Daily Singles Chart on Friday
SMAP x SMAP program drew 31.2% rating average on Monday
― Male idol group SMAP's March 2003 single "Sekai ni Hitosu Dake no Hana" ranked at #1 on Oricon's daily singles chart on Friday. The single had been steadily climbing up the chart since newspapers reported on a possible breakup of the band on January 13. On January 14, the single jumped from outside the rankings to #9. On Tuesday the single ran...
Luck Life Performs Bungō Stray Dogs Anime's Ending Theme
"Battle action" anime to premiere in April
― The official website for the upcoming television anime of Kafka Asagiri and Sango Harukawa's Bungō Stray Dogs manga announced on Saturday that Luck Life will perform the series' ending theme song "Namae o Yobu yo" (Call My Name). The song's single CD will ship on May 11. Luck Life previously performed the ending theme song for Junjō Romantica 3. The offici...
Luck & Logic Streams 2nd 'We Are Luck & Logic Club' Anime Short
Yuka Ozaki, Eriko Matsui, Rimi Nishimoto star in 1-minute anime short series
― The official YouTube channel for the Luck & Logic franchise began streaming the second episode of the "Watashi-tachi, Rokuroji-bu!" (We Are the Luck and Logic Club!) short anime series on Saturday. The one-minute anime series is airing before each full Luck & Logic TV anime episode. The anime short features three high scho...
Saturday, January 23
Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans' October-March Run Listed as 1st Season
Amazon Japan's product description for a TV Anime "Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans" Original Sound Tracks album is listing that the October 2015-March 2016 airing of the anime is the anime's "first season." Sunrise has not officially announced that the TV anime series would have a second season beyond the two cours (two quarters of a year) that it is slated to air. The album will ship on ...
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...
Luck & Logic ‒ Episode 3
"This entire plot was a misstep for me. What's working for me, however, is the growing character development."
Haikyu!! Second Season ‒ Episode 16
"You know those episode endings that just make your jaw drop a little as you whisper “oh hell” under your breath? This would be one of those."
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 ...
Ace of Diamond: Second Season Anime Casts Tsubasa Yonaga
Voice actor joins cast as Shinji Akamatsu
― The official website for the Ace of Diamond: Second Season television anime series revealed on Wednesday that Tsubasa Yonaga (Yowamushi Pedal's Sangaku Manami, Cardfight!! Vanguard's Aichi Sendō) will join the show's cast as Shinji Akamatsu. The new season premiered on TV Tokyo, TV Osaka, TV Aichi, TV Hokkaido, TV Setouchi, and TVQ Kyushu Broadcasting on la...
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...
Dokumushi Horror Manga's Live-Action Film Previewed in Trailer
Ryota Murai, Rina Takeda star in adaptation of Michio Yasu, Keito Aida's manga
― The official website for the live-action film of Michio Yasu and Keito Aida's Dokumushi manga began streaming a trailer on Tuesday. The trailer features the theme song "Never Ever" by the idol duo Faint★Star. The film will open in theaters and as a Niconico live broadcast in Japan on April 9, and it will have a two-week ...
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 ...
Dagashi Kashi ‒ Episode 3
"Dagashi Kashi isn't funny enough to survive as a comedy, but it could certainly work as a slice of life if it continues to treat its characters like people."
The List - 6 Villains That Saved the Day
Sometimes all it takes to save the day is a bad guy with a change of heart. Here are six anime where the villain became the hero!
― The heroes might be the stars of the show, but a work of fiction is really made by an awesome antagonist. Someone the audience loves to hate or finds catharsis through a villain's disregard for the rules in lieu of getting what they want. The audience grows attachment t...
Heavy Object ‒ Episode 15
"All things considered, the show's return to its first location is looking like a successful one for now."
Live-Action Kōdai-ke no Hitobito Film's Teaser Reveals June 4 Opening
Haruka Ayase, Takumi Saitou star in romantic comedy about family of telepaths
― The official website of the live-action film adaptation of Gokusen creator Kozueko Morimoto's Kōdai-ke no Hitobito manga began streaming a teaser for the film on Wednesday. The teaser reveals' the film's opening date of June 4. Narrator: A plain and boring girl who is prone to daydreaming: Kie Hirano Text: Daydreaming gir...
Rainbow Days Anime Listed at 24 Episodes
Online retailer Amazon is listing the six home video releases of the Rainbow Days television anime series with 24 episodes. The series premiered in Japan on January 10. Funimation is streaming the series as it airs in Japan. Funimation is streaming the 12-minute episodes along with the 12-minute live-action voice actor series club RAINBOW. The manga centers on a group of four male high school stud...
Die Wergelder GN 1
Hiroaki Samura subtitles his new series "Bad Bitch Action," and while that's only true of a few of the characters, this is still an intense, disturbing, and sometimes funny series that means it when it says its for mature audiences.
― Can you put a price on a life? According to the ancient Germanic practice of wergeld (also spelled “wergild”), you sure can – the word means “man payment” and refers to...
Shōwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjū ‒ Episode 3
"I'm a big fan of the pacing so far – the extended flashback structure allows me to enjoy the momentary story beats while also predicting how they could build up to the first episode."
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...
Tōken Ranbu Stage Play Reveals Additional Cast
Daisuke Hirose, Toshiyuki Someya, Taizō Shiina join play opening on May 3
― The official website of the stage play adaptation of DMM's Tōken Ranbu online browser game revealed additional cast members for the play on Wednesday. The additional cast includes: Daisuke Hirose as Ichigo Hitofuri Toshiyuki Someya as Tsurumaru Kuninaga Taizō Shiina in an as-yet unannounced role In addition, the staff announc...
'Engaged to the Unidentified' Team Animates 'New Game' Show at Doga Kobo
A store display for Shōtarō Tokunō's New Game! manga revealed the director and main staff for the manga's television anime adaptation. Director Yoshiyuki Fujiwara (Engaged to the Unidentified, GJ Club, Plastic Memories) is reuniting with series script supervisor Fumihiko Shimo (Clannad, Engaged to the Unidentified, Myriad Colors Phantom World) and character designer Ai Kikuchi (Rainbow - Nisha Rok...
Kouji Wada to Perform Digimon Adventure tri. 2nd Film's Ending Theme Song
New version of insert song from Digimon Adventure to be featured in March 12 film
― The official website for the six-part Digimon Adventure tri. film project announced on Friday that Kouji Wada will also perform the ending theme song "Seven ~tri.Version~" for the second film, Digimon Adventure tri. Ketsui (Determination). The song is a new version of the Digimon Adventure insert song "Seven." Kōhei K...
Mysterious Joker New Anime's Promo Video Previews New Rival Character
Show's "3rd & 4th Season" will premiere on April 4
― Tokyo MX's official website for the Mysterious Joker TV anime series began streaming a promotional video on Saturday for the new series, which is slated to premiere on April 4. The new series, titled Mysterious Joker Season 3 (Kaitō Joker Season 3), is being billed as the "third and fourth season" of the anime. The video previews the show's returni...
New Duel Masters Versus Revolution Final Anime Revealed in Teaser Video
New series featuring talking hamsters, new transfer students to premiere in April
― ShoPro (Shogakukan Shueisha Production) began streaming a teaser video on Saturday to announce that it is launching the Duel Masters Versus Revolution Final (Duel Masters VSRF) television anime series this April. The video reveals that the new series will feature talking hamsters, as well as "amazing transfer students...
Miss Hokusai Anime Film Wins at 70th Mainichi Film Awards
Umimachi Diary live-action film also wins 2 acting awards
― The Mainichi Shimbun and Sports Nippon Shimbun newspapers announced the winners for the 70th Annual Mainichi Film Awards on Thursday. Keiichi Hara and Production I.G's Miss Hokusai film won this year's Best Animation Film award. Additionally, Ryo Orikasa's "Suijun Genten" animated short won the Noburou Oofuji Award, which honors animated wor...
Beyblade Burst TV Anime's Video Introduces Characters
Latest series inspired by Takara Tomy toys to premiere in April
― Takara Tomy began streaming the second promotional video for the Beyblade Burst television anime on Saturday. The video introduces the main Bladers participating in the WBBA tournament, including the main character Bart and his friend Shū. The story follows Bart Aoi, a hot-blooded kid who loves to attack and wields a Beyblade named Val...
Funimation's Darker Than Black License Expires
Funimation Entertainment confirmed in a forum post on Thursday that it no longer has home video or streaming rights for the Darker Than Black anime. The series has been removed from Funimation's streaming service. Funimation first released the series on DVD singles starting in 2008, then released the full season DVD box set in 2010 and again in 2011 as part of its Anime Classics line. Funimation r...
Friday, January 22
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...
GATE ‒ Episode 15
For much of the series Tuka has been mere eye candy, the pretty elf girl who's usually around but doesn't actually do much. Episode 15 finally brings her to the forefront.
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...
Girls & Panzer Film's Immersive 4DX Screenings Confirmed
4DX screenings to begin on February 20 in Japan
― The official Girls Und Panzer blog confirmed on Friday that the Girls und Panzer anime film will have 4DX screenings at 30 theaters. The 4DX screenings will begin in 27 of these theaters on February 20, followed by three more on March 20. The blog also update the list of regular theaters. The regular theater list and the 4DX theater list combined brin...
'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...
Lupin the Third (TV 2015)
"After months of waiting, the new Lupin III: Part IV anime (otherwise known as "Blue Jacket") has finally arrived on American shores."
Meca Tanaka's Omukae Desu Manga Gets Live-Action Drama
Manga about high school student helping to ferry lost souls was published by CMX Manga
― Hakusensha's LaLa magazine announced on Saturday that Meca Tanaka's Omukae Desu manga will get a live-action television drama adaptation. An official website for the drama opened on the same day. The website also announced that LaLa magazine will begin a sequel series about Madoka and Nabeshima in its April issue...
New York Times Manga Best Seller List, January 10-16
4 One-Punch Man volumes, Naruto: The Seventh Hokage and the Scarlet Spring, Blue Exorcist, 2 Tokyo Ghoul volumes, Naruto, My Monster Secret
― The New York Times newspaper listed the manga bestsellers in the United States for the week ending on January 16. Rank Prev. Rank Title Author Publisher Weeks on List Cover 1 1One-Punch Man #4 Story: ONE / Art: Yuusuke Murata Viz Media 2 22Naruto: The Seventh H...
Osamu Tezuka's Wansa-kun Manga Gets Stage Musical
Play about dog searching for mother opens in August
― Nelke Planning announced on Wednesday that a stage musical adaptation of Osamu Tezuka's Wansa-kun (Little Wansa) manga has been green-lit. The play will run at Tokyo's Theater Tram in August. Kensaku Kobayashi of the Condors dance company will direct the play. Kōhei Kiyasu will pen the play's script. The production began auditions for roles on Fri...
Omakase offers massive savings on Otakon registration.
Normally Otakon costs $80 to $100 (2015 price), but with Omakase you can your Otakon registration and your first Omakase box for only $29. This deal ends tomorrow, January 23 at midnight PST.
― Fans considering attending Otakon 2016 might want to act fast, as OMAKASE announced a special limited-time promotion this week in collaboration with Otakon, offering new subscribers a free Otakon 2016 membersh...
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...
Sekai Project is 'Looking Into' Bringing Root Double Game to PS Vita
Video game localizer and publisher Sekai Project announced in an update on Tuesday on its Kickstarter campaign to localize and release Regista/Yeti and Takumi Nakazawa's Root Double: Before Crime * After Days: Xtend Edition visual novel that it is looking into the possibility of bringing the game to the PlayStation Vita, as well as more backer tiers and rewards. The updates also began streaming tw...
Answerman - Who Makes Anime Opening Sequences?
An opening sequence can be the chief way people are sold on a show and can live on long after the show's relevancy has faded. Justin explains how these little works of art get made.
― Adam asks: You've talked before about how music gets chosen for opening and ending sequences, but I'm curious about the animating side of it. I've noticed most openings and endings specifically credit a single storyboa...
Tomokazu Seki, Mai Nakahara to Appear at Event for Gen Urobuchi's New Project
Nitroplus announced details on Friday for its Wonder Festival (Winter) 2016 stage event on February 7 about writer Gen Urobuchi's next project. Urobuchi, Nitroplus producer Digitarou, Good Smile Company representative Takanori Aki, and voice actors Tomokazu Seki (Psycho-Pass' Kogami) and Mai Nakahara (Fairy Tail's Juvia) will appear at the event. Nitroplus will also unveil a promotional video at t...
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:...
Libra of the Vampire Princess Kickstarter Ends After Reaching 1st 3 Stretch Goals
Game will get 2 "mini episodes," new English theme song by Shindo Mayumi
― The international licensing and translation group Mikandi Japan and XERO reached the first three stretch goals on Monday for their Kickstarter campaign to localize the Libra of the Vampire Princess (Kyūketsu-hime no Libra) visual novel. The campaign then ended on Wednesday, raising US$183,106 of the US$125,000 goal. The stretc...
Assassination Classroom ‒ Episode 25
"Of Assassination Classroom's various attempts at depicting a serious conflict, this is one of the show's better efforts."
A Silent Voice Ranks in YALSA's Top 10 Graphic Novels for Teens
Ajin, Your Lie in April, One-Punch Man, more make Great Graphic Novels list
― The American Library Association's (ALA's) Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) released its 2016 list of Great Graphic Novels for Teens. Of the 112 overall titles, 15 manga titles are on the list. Yoshitoki Ōima's A Silent Voice (Koe no Katachi) additionally ranked in the Top Ten graphic novels overall this yea...
Naruto Shippuden ‒ Episode 445
"With no conceivable end in sight, Jiraiya's Ninja Scrolls keeps chugging along at a punishingly slow pace."
Late Singer Origa Gets Final Single Release in Japan
Single "My Way" released on Wednesday with track by Watusi, Sugizo dedication
― Bellwood Records released late singer/songwriter Origa's final single "My Way" on Wednesday in Japan. The single contains the single's title track "My Way," as well as "Freedom," a track by COLDFEET's Watusi, with whom Origa had frequently collaborated. X Japan and Luna Sea guitarist Sugizo wrote a dedication on the singl...
Mudazumo Naki Kaikaku's Ohwada Launches Manga About Prime Minister Hayato Ikeda
Shippū no Hayato manga centers on Japanese Prime Minister during post-war economic boom
― This year's eighth issue of Kodansha's Morning magazine (cover shown right) announced on Thursday that Hideki Ohwada (Mobile Suit Gundam-san, Mudazumo Naki Kaikaku) will launch a new manga series titled Shippū no Hayato in the magazine's next issue, which Kodansha will publish on January 28. The series will focu...
Chinyūki Live-Action Film Casts Satoru Matsuo as ChinChin
Junpei Mizobata, Pierre Taki, more also join cast for film opening on February 27
― The staff of the live-action film adaptation of Gatarō Man's Chinyūki ~Tarō to Yukai na Nakama-tachi~ manga announced on Friday that Satoru Matsuo be joining the cast of the film. Matsuo (live-action Attack on Titan's Sannagi) will be playing the role of ChinChin, the owner of a ramen shop who has a superb sense of ta...
Nitroplus Blasterz PS4/PS3 Game's Videos Preview Ein, Al Azif, Mora
XSEED Games releases PS4/PS3 crossover fighting game in N. America on February 2
― North American publisher XSEED Games began streaming more character spotlight videos this week for its upcoming PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3 crossover fighting game Nitroplus Blasterz -HEROINES INFINITE DUEL-. The videos highlight the following characters: Ein from Phantom of Inferno, Al Azif from Dues Machina Demon...
Nippon Animation's 3rd Sinbad Film Delayed to May
The official website for Nippon Animation's Sinbad three-part anime film project began streaming a teaser video on Friday to reveal that the third and final film in the franchise will open in Japan in May. The film was originally slated to open in March. Text and Narrator: The series' third work finally concludes Text: A mysterious gate / The magic tribe's secret / Midday night Narrator: The secre...
Valkyria Chronicles Remaster PS4 Game's Video Introduces World
Remastered version of 2008 PS3 game slated for February 10
― Sega began streaming a world introduction video for its Valkyria Chronicles Remaster PlayStation 4 game on Friday. The company had streamed a story introduction video last week for the game. The remastered version of Sega's PlayStation 3 game is slated to ship on February 10 in Japan. Text: 1935, Europa Text: To the east, the East Europan I...
Valkyria: Azure Revolution PS4 Game's Complete Teaser Trailer Streamed
2 videos about the game's music also streamed
― SEGA began streaming the complete version on Friday of the earlier teaser trailer for the Valkyria: Azure Revolution role-playing game for the PlayStation 4. SEGA is also streaming two videos previewing the music for the game. The first video previews the game's main musical theme "Aoki Kakumei" (Azure Revolution), as performed by the Tokyo Symphony Orc...
Nintendo Comments on Changes in Western Localization of Fire Emblem Fates
Nintendo confirmed the removal of a controversial dialogue option from its North American and European release of the Fire Emblem Fates Nintendo 3DS game with the video game news site Siliconera on Friday. Nintendo reiterated in the statement to Siliconera that there will be "no expression which might be considered as gay conversion or drugging that occurs between characters," before following up ...
One Piece: Burning Blood Video Features Boa Hancock, Robin, Nami, Perona In Action
Swimsuit costumes for characters available in 1st print copies of April 21 game
― Bandai Namco Entertainment began streaming a promotional video for its One Piece: Burning Blood PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, and Xbox One game on Friday. The video shows the recently revealed Boa Hancock, Nico Robin, Nami, and Perona characters in action. The video also reveals that "Natsu no Musume" (Summer Girl) s...
Gal*Gun: Double Peace Game Headed West on PS4/PS Vita
PQube to publish shooter game in 2016
― Game publisher PQube announced on Thursday that it will publish Inti Creates' Gal*Gun: Double Peace PlayStation 4/PlayStation Vita shooter game in North America and Europe in 2016. Inti Creates had been seeking an international publisher for the game last year due to the positive response from fans outside of Japan. The game shipped for PlayStation 4 and PlaySt...
Gundam the Origin III Opens in Japan on May 21 With Collector's Edition BD, Streaming
Sunrise's official Gundam portal site announced on Friday that Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin III Dawn of Rebellion (Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin III Akatsuki no Hōki), the Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin anime project's third episode, will open in Japan on May 21. The advance sales and streaming of the episode will also begin on the same date. As with previous episodes, the episode will open in ...
Gundam Thunderbolt Anime's 2nd Episode Preview Streamed
2nd episode begins streaming on February 12; on January 29 for Gundam Fan Club members
― Bandai Visual began streaming a preview video on Thursday for the second episode of the anime adaptation of Yasuo Ohtagaki's Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt manga. The second 18-minute episode (out of four episodes) will begin streaming on February 12 at 12:00 p.m. JST. However, the Gundam Fan Club will host an ea...
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