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ANNCast - Buncha Crunch
Victoria Holden and Evan Minto, the hosts of Crunchyroll's weekly podcast Crunchycast, finally stop by ANNCast to talk about what it's like working at Crunchyroll, the glory and the struggle of social media, and winter 2016 anime!
― ANNCast Episode 252: Buncha Crunch Victoria Holden and Evan Minto, the hosts of Crunchyroll's weekly podcast Crunchycast, finally stop by ANNCast to talk about what it's...
The Case of Hana & Alice
Fans who took the plunge on Flowers of Evil will find a lot to like in this similarly-rotoscoped film about two troubled but sympathetic teens by veteran live-action director Shunji Iwai.
― Most anime fans are familiar with the subgenre colloquially named "Cute Girls Doing Cute Things". The Case of Hana & Alice, though, is an interesting variant; Kooky Girls Doing Kooky Things. Admittedly, their kook...
Log Horizon: The West Wind Brigade GN 1
This Soujiro-centered spinoff of the Log Horizon franchise gives us an idea of what other people were getting up to while Shiroe was plotting and planning. It has some repetition, but overall offers some interesting new information and characters.
― The original Log Horizon, be it anime, novel, or manga, has a lot of characters floating around while only focusing on a select group. Despite that, it o...
orange: The Complete Collection GN 1
Orange's first three volumes are bittersweet as they explore the possibility of going back and saving someone's life. It's beautiful, but also can be very difficult reading if you relate too closely to the situation.
― It feels like stories about fixing the mistakes and regrets of the past have been popping up a lot in recent months – from winter 2016's Erased anime to Arina Tanemura's magical woman ...
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of Feb 5-11
Konosuba drops to the #2 spot and a huge surge for GATE have left the chart in total chaos! Find out what rose to retake the title of #1 in our weekly user rankings.
― Our team of reviewers are following 27 anime series of the Winter 2016 season and readers are rating each episode as the reviews go up. So let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season. Keep in mind...
Saturday, February 20
Tamori to Perform Live-Action Tensai Bakabon Show's Theme Song
Masanobu Takashima, Takurō Ōno, Kazuki Enari join cast of March TV series
― Japanese comedian, musician, and actor Tamori will perform the theme song for the live-action television adaptation of Fujio Akatsuka's classic comedy manga Tensai Bakabon. He will perform the well-known theme song "Tensai Bakabon" from the 1971 television anime adaptation of the same name. Tamori had a close relationship wit...
4th & Final Tamayura Film's Video Previews Maaya Sakamoto Song
Delayed film to open in Japan on April 2
― Shochiku began streaming a 30-second promotional video for Tamayura: Sotsugyō Shashin Dai-4-bu Ashita -Ashita- (Tamayura: Graduation Photos Part 4: Tomorrow -Tomorrow-) on Saturday. The video previews Maaya Sakamoto's theme song "Sotsugyō Shashin" (Graduation Photos). The fourth and final Tamayura film will open in select theaters in Japan on April 2 and run...
Milky Holmes Film's Latest TV Ads Highlights Hirano, Cordelia
Film opens on February 27
― The official website of the Gekijōban Tantei Opera Milky Holmes: Gyakushū no Milky Holmes (Detective Opera Milky Holmes the Movie: Milky Holmes' Counterattack) film began streaming two more ads for the anime film on Friday and Saturday. The ads focus on the characters Hirano Hasegawa and Cordelia Glauca. Previous ads centered on Sherlock, Twenty, Saku, Elly, and Stone Rive...
School Battle Anime 'Hundred' Introduces Character Emil in Video
Rumi Ookubo voices character in anime premiering in April
― The official website for the upcoming television anime of Jun Misaki's light novel series Hundred began streaming a new character promotional video on Friday for the character Emil Crossford (voiced by Rumi Ookubo). The website previously streamed a character video for Hayato last week. The anime's full cast includes: Yoshiaki Hasegawa as Ha...
2016 Crayon Shin-chan Film Reveals Guest Cast
Ken Yasuda, Michiko Kichise, Tonikaku Akarui Yasumura cast for April 16 film
― The official website of the 24th Crayon Shin-chan film, Eiga Crayon Shin-chan Bakusui! Yumemi World Dai Totsugeki (Crayon Shin-chan the Movie Fast Asleep! The Great Assault on the Dreaming World), announced on Wednesday that the film will feature Ken Yasuda, Michiko Kichise, and comedian Tonikaku Akarui Yasumura as its gue...
Alice in Borderland Fantasy Manga Ends in March
Manga's 17th volume shipped on Friday
― This year's 12th issue of Shogakukan's Weekly Shonen Sunday magazine revealed on Wednesday that Haro Aso is ending his Alice in Borderland (Imawa no Kuni no Alice) manga in the magazine's 14th issue, which Shogakukan will publish on March 2. The manga entered its final arc last March. The manga revolves around Ryōhei Arisu (pronounced the same way in Japanese a...
Starmarie Performs Onigiri TV Anime's Opening Theme Song
Series adapting Cyberstep's MMORPG premieres on April 6
― The official website for the upcoming anime adaptation of Cyberstep's massively multiplayer online role-playing game Onigiri announced on Wednesday that the idol group Starmarie will perform the show's opening theme song "Hime wa Rankiryū☆Goikkō-sama." Starmarie formed eight years ago, and the group performed the fourth ending theme song for t...
Belladonna of Sadness Anime Film's Trailer Previews 4K Digital Restoration
Restoration of Eiichi Yamamoto's 1973 experimental anime film opens in U.S. in May
― Cinelicious Pics began streaming a red-band trailer on Thursday for its upcoming release of Eiichi Yamamoto's 1973 experimental anime film Belladonna of Sadness (Kanashimi no Belladonna). Note: This video contains nudity and is not safe for work. The story of Belladonna of Sadness follows Jeanne (Katsutaka Ito) after...
Friday, February 19
New Lupin III Series Streams Ad For Unaired Episode 'Venice of the Dead'
Zombie-themed episode will ship with 4th BD/DVD release on March 23
― VAP began streaming a promotional video on Wednesday for the unaired "Venice of the Dead" episode of the new Lupin III (Lupin III: Part IV) television anime series that VAP will ship with the fourth Blu-ray Disc and DVD release on March 23. The home video release will mark the episode's first release in Japan. In the 23-minute epis...
Hatsune Miku Goes Classical for NHK Orchestra Performance
The NHK Symphony Orchestra is celebrating its 90th anniversary with a special concert titled "N Symphony CLASSICS × POPS with SPECIAL ARTISTS." The performance is pairing the orchestra with modern pop artists and virtual idol Hatsune Miku is no exception. Miku will dance and sing in real time by following the orchestra's command thanks to Crypton Future Media's "Real Time 3DCG Control System." The...
Capcom UK Shows How to Make a Killer Resident Evil Burrito
The crew at Capcom UK headed to Cantina Carnitas in Hitchen, Hertfordshire, England to get the low down on how to make a zombie-turning burrito. The ingredients include red and green herb and a super secret T-Virus hot sauce that packs a serious punch. Capcom UK note that this will probably be the only episode of "Cooking with Capcom" but you can let them know you want more video game inspired cui...
Rage of Bahamut: Manaria Friends Anime Casts Kikuko Inoue, Wataru Hatano, More
Kimiko Koyama, Yūma Uchida, Chiharu Sawashiro join cast
― The official Twitter account for the Rage of Bahamut: Manaria Friends television anime series announced five additional cast members on Friday. The website also posted visuals for three of these characters. Wataru Hatano as Owen Kimiko Koyama as Rue Kikuko Inoue as Miranda In addition, Yūma Uchida will play William and Chiharu Sawashiro will p...
Toei, Frontier Works' Mahō × Shōnen × Days Project Gets 3rd Drama CD, Novel
Toei Animation and Frontier Works' Mahō × Shōnen × Days!!!!! project is getting a new novel bundled with a drama CD next month. The novel is titled Mahō × Shōnen × Days!!!!! Yuenchi ni Shikakerareta Kuroi Wana (Mahō × Shōnen × Days!!!!! The Dark Trap Set at the Amusement Park) and is written by Risa Ishikura and features illustrations by project character designer Toshie Kawamura (Karneval, Smile ...
Digimon, Transformers: Robots in Disguise Musician Paul Gordon Passes Away
Keyboardist/guitarist of The B52's also composed music for Power Rangers Wild Force
― The official Facebook page for American band The B-52's announced that band member Paul Gordon passed away on Thursday. He was 52. Gordon collaborated on songs for Saban's English version of Digimon and Transformers: Robots in Disguise, as well as Power Rangers Wild Force. The Digimon songs he co-wrote and performed...
New York Times Manga Best Seller List, February 7-13
Monster Musume, Naruto: The Seventh Hokage and the Scarlet Spring, Assassination Classroom, 2 Tokyo Ghoul volumes, Magika Swordsman and Summoner, Deadman Wonderland, One-Punch Man, My Hero Academia, One Piece
― The New York Times newspaper listed the manga bestsellers in the United States for the week ending on February 13. Rank Prev. Rank Title Author Publisher Weeks on List Cover 1 -Monster Musume ...
Chitoge is Ready for Adventure in Super Mario Maker
Creators have had plenty of fun with Nintendo's Super Mario Maker Wii U level-creating game. Some got "creative" with the format while others added their own characters or others from popular franchises. So far, all the game's collaborations were from other video game franchises. On Thursday, Nintendo began streaming a video announcing Chitoge from Naoshi Komi's Nisekoi manga will take over for Ma...
Zero Escape Inspires Real Escape Game Room in Los Angeles (Update)
Game starts April 15
― Aksys Games and "Real Escape Game" producer SCRAP Entertainment announced on Friday that it will host a Real Escape Room based on the Zero Escape video game series in Los Angeles. The "Real Zero Escape: Trust on Trial" room will open at Weller Court on April 15 and continue for an unspecified amount of time. SCRAP stated on Twitter that it is planning to run the room for a few ...
Live-Action Bar Lemon Heart Series Gets 2nd Season in April
Baijaku Nakamura, Kazuhisa Kawahara, Satoru Matsuo reprising roles from 1st season
― The BS Fuji channel announced on Thursday that a second season of its live-action television series adaptation of Mitsutoshi Furuya's Bar Lemon Heart manga will premiere on April 4. Baijaku Nakamura, Kazuhisa Kawahara and Satoru Matsuo are all reprising their roles as the bartender, Megane-san, and Matsu-chan (Matsud...
ANNCast - Buncha Crunch
Victoria Holden and Evan Minto, the hosts of Crunchyroll's weekly podcast Crunchycast, finally stop by ANNCast to talk about what it's like working at Crunchyroll, the glory and the struggle of social media, and winter 2016 anime!
― ANNCast Episode 252: Buncha Crunch Victoria Holden and Evan Minto, the hosts of Crunchyroll's weekly podcast Crunchycast, finally stop by ANNCast to talk about what it's...
Sherlock Manga Heads to US, UK From Titan Comics
Manga adapts 1st episode of BBC's Sherlock series
― Titan Comics announced at the ComicsPRO retailers summit in Portland, Oregon on Friday that it will publish the Japanese manga adaptation of the BBC series Sherlock episode "A Study in Pink" in the United States and United Kingdom. The company will offer the manga both digitally and in print this June. In addition to the main manga, Titan Comics' re...
Live-Action Omukae Desu Drama's Lead Cast Photographed in Costume
Sota Fukushi, Tao Tsuchiya cast in drama airing in April
― The staff of the live-action television drama adaptation of Meca Tanaka's Omukae desu manga revealed a visual of the lead actors for the drama in costume on Thursday. Sota Fukushi (seen left in picture below) will play protagonist Madoka Tsutsumi, while Tao Tsuchiya (right) will play Sachi Aguma. The staff revealed that the drama will premier...
Answerman - What's The Deal With Engrish?
You've seen it all over the internet: hilariously misguided English phrases on public signs and clothing from Japan and other Asian countries. Where does it come from?
― Michael asks: Something I've wondered for a long time is why in so many anime, the characters will be speaking in Japanese and then randomly say a few English words. An example would be in shonen anime when a character announces the...
Fate/Grand Order Smartphone Game Crosses Over With Garden of Sinners in Anime Ad
Type-Moon's official YouTube channel began streaming a new anime television commercial for its Fate/Grand Order smartphone game on Friday. The ad announces a collaboration between the new game and The Garden of Sinners, the anime film series based on Type-Moon founder Kinoko Nasu's light novels. Fate/Grand Order will feature The Garden of Sinners heroine Shiki Ryōgi as a limited event Assassin Ser...
The Case of Hana & Alice
Fans who took the plunge on Flowers of Evil will find a lot to like in this similarly-rotoscoped film about two troubled but sympathetic teens by veteran live-action director Shunji Iwai.
― Most anime fans are familiar with the subgenre colloquially named "Cute Girls Doing Cute Things". The Case of Hana & Alice, though, is an interesting variant; Kooky Girls Doing Kooky Things. Admittedly, their kook...
Manga Creator Satomi Koe Passes Away
Artist drew 110-volume series Nijitte Monogatari with writer Kazuo Koike
― Manga creator Satomi Koe passed away on February 14 due to gallbladder cancer. He was 65. Koe debuted as a manga creator in 1973. In 1978, he and Kazuo Koike launched the Nijitte Monogatari manga (pictured at right) in Shogakukan's Weekly Post magazine. He and Koike would continue to work on the manga until they ended it in 20...
Girls Beyond the Wasteland ‒ Episode 7
"This episode is better than the two previous ones because the antics are somewhat entertaining and the drama is grounded in some realistic emotion."
Tanaka-kun wa Itsumo Kedaruge Anime's Cast Revealed
Kensho Ono, Yoshimasa Hosoya, Natsumi Takamori, Kotori Koiwai, more cast for April anime
― The official website of Nozomi Uda's Tanaka-kun wa Itsumo Kedaruge (Tanaka is Always Listless) manga revealed the cast of the upcoming television anime adaptation of the manga on Thursday. The anime's cast includes: Kensho Ono as Tanaka Yoshimasa Hosoya as Ohta Natsumi Takamori as Miyano Kotori Koiwai as Shirai...
Super Robot Wars OG: The Moon Dwellers Gets English Version in Asia
Game ships in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia in English this year
― Bandai Namco Entertainment Asia began streaming an English trailer on Thursday for the Super Robot Wars OG: The Moon Dwellers (Super Robot Taisen OG: The Moon Dwellers) simulation role-playing game for the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3. The trailer reveals that the game will ship with an English language ver...
Super Lovers Anime's 1st Promo Video Previews Yūsuke Yata's Opening Theme
Main cast performs ending theme for series premiering on April 6
― The official website for television anime of Miyuki Abe's boys-love manga Super Lovers began streaming the show's first promotional video on Friday. The video introduces the show's main cast, and also previews Yūsuke Yata's opening theme song "Okaeri." (Welcome Home). The official website for the show has also revealed that the voice ...
Hakuōki: Otogisōshi TV Anime Premieres on April 5
The official website for the Hakuōki: Otogisōshi TV anime revealed on Friday that the series will premiere on April 5. The series will premiere on Tokyo MX at 9:55 p.m. and on Mie TV at 11:10 p.m. The show will air on Tuesdays in the same time slots. The show will also air on Sun TV starting in April. The series of anime shorts will feature the characters from the Hakuōki games in chibi form, and ...
Live-Action Erased Film's 2nd Behind-the-Scenes Video Streamed
Tsubasa Nakagawa interacts with director Yūichirō Hirakawa in video for March 19 film
― The Mainichi Shimbun newspaper's MAiDiGiTV YouTube channel began streaming a second behind-the-scenes video for the live-action film of Kei Sanbe's Boku dake ga Inai Machi (The Town Where Only I Am Missing) manga on Thursday. The video shows director Yūichirō Hirakawa (Rookies: Graduation) being strict on child ac...
Live-Action Terraformars Film's Clip With Incomplete CG Streamed
Takashi Miike's film will open in Japan on April 29
― The staff of the live-action Terra Formars film released a new 20-second clip from the film on Friday. The clip features incomplete CG footage. In the scene, Mina Ōbari (a character based Zhang Ming-Ming and played by Eiko Koike) says, "Bugs 2's windows are made of specially hardened glass. They won't easily be..." The film will open in Japan on A...
GameSpot: Hideo Kojima Wants New Game to Expand Into Anime
Kojima: "I want to make something that will have a big enough impact to become a series"
― Metal Gear Solid series creator Hideo Kojima stated in an interview with GameSpot during the 2016 D.I.C.E. Summit event that he wants his new game to "have a big enough impact to become a series." According to Kojima, this impact could lead to "something outside of games, such as anime, manga, figures; somethin...
Anne Happy/Unhappy Go Lucky! Casts Yumi Hara, Chitose Morinaga
Anime about students with "bad karma" premieres in April
― The official website for Anne Happy/Unhappy, the television anime adaptation of Cotoji's Unhappy Go Lucky! comedy manga, announced two new cast members on Friday. The new cast includes: Yumi Hara as Kodaira-sensei The homeroom teacher of Tennogofune Academy's class 1-7, a special class that aims to defeat misfortune and take good luck. Chito...
Kamen Rider #1 Film's Trailer Shows Original Kamen Rider
Hiroshi Fujioka, Kamen Rider Ghost both appear in film opening in Japan on March 26
― The official website of Toei's upcoming Kamen Rider 1-Gō (Kamen Rider #1) film began streaming a trailer for the film on Wednesday. The trailer features Hiroshi Fujioka playing the role of the original Kamen Rider/Takeshi Hongō. The film is due out in Japan on March 26. The film is the first project in Toei's "Super...
Sega Develops New Sangokushi Taisen Game
Arcade trading card game to feature voice acting, collaboration with manga creators
― Sega revealed at the Japan Amusement Expo 2016 event in Chiba on Friday that it is developing a new game in the Sangokushi Taisen (Romance of the Three Kingdoms Wars) arcade trading card game franchise. The game franchise features trading cards with illustrations of characters from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms ...
Milky Holmes Film's TV Ads Highlight Elly, Stone
Film opens on February 27
― The official website of the Gekijōban Tantei Opera Milky Holmes: Gyakushū no Milky Holmes (Detective Opera Milky Holmes the Movie: Milky Holmes' Counterattack) film began streaming two more commercials for the anime film on Thursday. The commercials focus on the characters Hercule "Elly" Barton and Stone River. Previous ads centered on Sherlock, Twenty, and Saku. The film ...
Studio Pierrot Animates Puzzle & Dragons X TV Anime Premiering on July 4
Also: Promo video streamed for original 3DS game shipping in 2 versions on July 28
― Gung Ho Online Entertainment announced at a press event on Friday that Studio Pierrot will animate the television anime adaptation of the Puzzle & Dragons X ("Pazudora Cross") Nintendo 3DS puzzle role-playing game. The event also revealed that the anime will premiere on July 4 on TV Tokyo, and will air on Mondays at ...
Cute High Earth Defense Club LOVE! Season 2's Title Unveiled
The staff of the Cute High Earth Defense Club LOVE! (Binan Kōkō Chikyū Bōei-bu Love!) television anime revealed the title of the second season on Thursday. The second season is titled Cute High Earth Defense Club LOVE! LOVE! (Binan Kōkō Chikyū Bōei-bu Love! Love!). The first season began airing in Japan in January 2015. Crunchyroll, Funimation, and Viewster streamed the anime as it aired in Japan....
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part 4's Theme Song Artist, Visuals Unveiled
THE DU performs "Crazy Noisy Bizarre Town" opening theme for April anime
― The official website of the television anime adaptation of Hirohiko Araki's JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable (JoJo no Kimyō na Bōken: Diamond wa Kudakenai) manga unveiled new visuals for the anime on Friday. In addition, the site announced that THE DU will perform the anime's opening theme song, titled "Crazy...
Capcom's Attack on Titan Arcade Game Features Omni-Directional Maneuver Gear Controls
Attack on Titan: Team Battle supports 8 players in versus or cooperative game modes
― Capcom detailed its new arcade game titled Shingeki no Kyojin: Team Battle (Attack on Titan: Team Battle) during the Japan Amusement Expo event on Friday. The game is based on Hajime Isayama's Attack on Titan manga, and will be an "online cooperative action" game. Capcom showed the game machine, which models the omn...
Thursday, February 18
Anna Sui Sailor Moon Collaboration Expands With Purses, Jeweled Accessories
Sailor Moon x Anna Sui goods are expanding with new necklaces, bags, earrings, bracelets and brooches. The items are going on sale at Isetan stores in Tokyo from March 16–22, Nagoya from March 30–April 5, and Osaka from April 8-14. Jewelry Starry Sky Music Box pendant - 23,000 yen (US$203) Key of Space-Time necklace - 23,000 yen (US$203) Moon Stick pendant necklace - 21,000 yen (US$185.50) Sailor ...
New Pokémikke Goods Combine Pokémon & Sweet Treats
New Pokémikke collaboration goods are combining some of the most popular Pokémon with delicious desserts for keychains, button pins, and decorative acrylic plates. The designs show Pikachu, Bulbasaur, Charmander, Eevee, Emolga, Gengar, Diglet, Swadloon, and Goomy enjoying treats like ice cream, konpeitō, and cupcakes. The buttons and keychains include the same designs but also add Ditto as a jell...
Viz's Shonen Jump Previews Kimetsu no Yaiba Manga
Fantasy series runs as part of "Jump Start" initiative
― Viz Media published the first chapter of Koyoharu Gotōge's Kimetsu no Yaiba (Blade of Demon Destruction) fantasy manga in its digital manga magazine Weekly Shonen Jump on Monday as part of its "Jump Start" initiative. The manga debuted on the same day in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump in Japan. The manga's first chapter follows Tanjiro, a charco...
Group Recreates Mr. Osomatsu Opening Sequence in Live-Action
The group Kusarine Project took on the daunting task of shooting a live-action recreation of Mr. Osomatsu's second opening sequence. The video is shot using as little animation as possible and quickly gained popularity with 80,000 views on Nico Nico Douga and YouTube combined. The side-by-side comparison video with the original opening also has about 10,000 views. The parody video is dubbed "Rabum...
Japan's Animation TV Ranking, February 8-14
Shimajirō anime film airs
― Shimajirō to Ōkiina Ki, the third theatrical film based on the Shimajirō tiger cub character from Benesse's Kodomo Challenge educational line, aired on TV Tokyo on Thursday, February 11 at 10:05 a.m. and earned a 1.2% rating. The live-action drama based on Saburō Megumi's Fragile - Byōrii Kishi Keiichirō no Shoken (Fragile - The Finds of Pathologist Keiichirō Kishi) manga ...
Sentai Filmworks Licenses Softenni! TV Anime
2011 comedy about soft tennis picked up for home video distribution
― North American anime distributor Sentai Filmworks announced on Thursday that it has licensed the 12-episode 2011 comedy anime Softenni! for digital and home video distribution. Sentai Filmworks describes the story: Softenni! follows the exploits of Asuna Harukaze, a girl with an almost obsessive love for soft tennis, a popular form...
Nintendo Closes Patreon for Fan-Made Super Mario Brothers/Sonic Animation
"Super Mario Bros. Z" features characters, sprites from Nintendo games
― Creator crowdfunding platform Patreon removed the page for Alvin-Earthworm's "Super Mario Bros. Z" animation project after receiving a DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) takedown notice from Nintendo. The animations feature characters and sprites from the Nintendo's Super Mario Bros. and Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog franchises...
Hiroshi Motomiya Ends Katsu Fūtarō!! Manga in March
Manga about Buddhist scholar who shares his teachings with society launched in 2013
― This year's sixth issue of Shueisha's Grand Jump magazine announced on Wednesday that Hiroshi Motomiya will end his Katsu Fūtarō!! manga in the magazine's next issue, which Shueisha will publish on March 3. The Grand Jump website describes the manga: Fūtarō is an ascetic Buddhist scholar living in a temple deep in t...
Assassination Classroom Anime Casts Nobunaga Shimazaki, Kotono Mitsuishi
God of Death & Hiromi Shiota's voice cast members announced
― This year's 12th issue of Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine is revealing on Monday more of the cast in the Assassination Classroom anime. Nobunaga Shimazaki will play the God of Death, and Kotono Mitsuishi wil play Hiromi Shiota. The magazine is also announcing that Yusei Matsui will end the original manga in five more chapters in Mar...
ERASED ‒ Episode 7
"As Satoru is lead away by the police, he pleads with whatever force gives him his power to be sent one back one more time."
Blood Blockade Battlefront Boys Get Hugging Pillows
Zapp, Leo, Klaus, and Steven are snuggling up in their pajamas for new hugging pillowcase covers. While the appeal of these cases are usually their suggestive posing, Leo and Klaus are shown fully clothed in stocking caps. Gakken Plus seems to be working an adorable angle with the new merchandise instead of a sexy one. The pillow cases will ship in late April for 11,000 yen each (US$97). Yasuhiro...
Hasbro, Sunrights Plan International Launch of Beyblade Burst Toys, Anime
Toys slated for 2016 in N. America; anime shopped to broadcasters
― Toy company Hasbro and production company d-rights' US subsidiary Sunrights announced plans on Monday to launch the Beyblade Burst toys and anime outside of Japan. Hasbro will distribute the toys in North America this year, and expand to "most major international markets" in 2017. Like Takara Tomy's Beyblade Burst toys, which launche...
Katsucon 2016 Cosplay Video Shows Valkyrie Eevee-lutions, Super Heroes Galore
YouTube filmmakers BeatdownBoogie and director Micah Moore, the minds behind the Hang 'Em Hyrule Zelda western headed to Katsucon in Maryland last weekend to capture the convention's stunning cosplay. In the group's eight-minute video we see valkyrie-style interpretations of all the Eevee evolutions, the Forest Spirit from Princess Mononoke, plenty of Marvel heroes, and fighters from League of Leg...
Crunchyroll Adds Fushigi Yugi Anime to Catalog
Site also adds Ultraman Nexus, Ultraman Gaia, more episodes of Zatch Bell, Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal
― Media distribution service Crunchyroll announced on Wednesday that it has added the Fushigi Yugi television anime series to its catalog, as well as the Fushigi Yugi OAV (all nine episodes) and the Fushigi Yugi Eikoden video anime series. The anime are all available with an English dub and with the original Ja...
Digimon Adventure tri's Meicoomon Joins Digimon World -Next Order- Game as DLC
Digimon World Re:Digitize Decode's Rina and Mirei to also appear again
― This year's 12th issue of Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine is revealing two downloadable scenarios for the upcoming DigimonWorld -Next 0rder- PlayStation Vita game on Monday. In the first scenario, players meet Meicoomon, the cat-like Digimon that first appeared in the Digimon Adventure tri. anime. Meicoomon has lost its m...
Active Raid ‒ Episode 7
"The show can occasionally pull off a good episode, but this was most definitely not one of them."
Porno Graffitti, Brian the Sun Perform My Hero Academia Anime's Theme Songs
Rock band Brian the Sun's major label debut will be anime's ending theme
― This year's 12th issue of Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine is revealing on Monday the performers of the theme songs for the television anime of Kōhei Horikoshi's My Hero Academia (Boku no Hero Academia) manga. The rock band Porno Graffitti is performing the opening, and the rock band Brian the Sun is performing the endin...
Log Horizon: The West Wind Brigade GN 1
This Soujiro-centered spinoff of the Log Horizon franchise gives us an idea of what other people were getting up to while Shiroe was plotting and planning. It has some repetition, but overall offers some interesting new information and characters.
― The original Log Horizon, be it anime, novel, or manga, has a lot of characters floating around while only focusing on a select group. Despite that, it o...
Myriad Colors Phantom World ‒ Episode 7
"This episode is a lot of fun, and it gets some bonus points for being a little smart about it too."
Ushio & Tora Anime Season 2's Visual Posted
The official website for the Ushio & Tora anime posted the key visual for the anime's third cours (quarter of the year) or second season on Thursday. The visual depicts Ushio Aotsuki amid burning flames, with Tora and the nemesis Hakumen no Mono in the background. Rock band Lunkhead is performing "Kessen Zenya" (The Night Before the Decisive Battle), the ending theme song starting in the new cours...
Haruchika – Haruta & Chika ‒ Episode 7
"The way this episode tied together the different characters and plots elements was superb."
KonoSuba – God's blessing on this wonderful world!! ‒ Episode 6
"A party of beginner adventurers shouldn't be even thinking about challenging a Dullahan-style death knight."
Assassination Classroom Manga to End in 5 Chapters
Manga's end in March to coincide with graduation season in Japan
― This year's 12th issue of Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine is revealing on Monday that Yusei Matsui's Assassination Classroom manga will end in five more chapters. The issue states that the manga will end in Weekly Shonen Jump's 16th issue, which will ship in March. The manga's end is coinciding with the end of the academic year...
One Piece Kabuki Play Previewed in TV Ad
Ichikawa Ennosuke IV stars as Luffy, Hancock, Shanks in Osaka/Fukuoka runs after sold-out Tokyo run
― Shueisha Manga Net posted a television commercial for the Kabuki stage play based on Eiichiro Oda's One Piece manga on Wednesday. The commercial features footage from the play's sold-out run in Tokyo last fall, and it promotes the April 2-26 run in Fukuoka's famed Hakata-za theater. Before its run in...
Live-Action Nobunaga Concerto Film Stays at #2, Earns 3.2 Billion Yen
Selector Destructed WIXOSS opens at #12, 2nd Yo-kai Watch film falls to #7
― The live-action film of Ayumi Ishii's Nobunaga Concerto historical manga stayed at #2 in its fourth weekend, the weekend of February 13-14. The film sold 221,760 tickets over the weekend, and earned 283,385,300 yen (about US$2.48 million). The film has sold a cumulative 2.54 million tickets and earned 3.2 billion yen (US$28 ...
Live-Action Sakura no Ame Film's Trailer Streamed
March 5 film based on Hatsune Miku's "Sakura no Ame" song stars Maika Yamamoto, Kōdai Asaka
― The official website for the live-action film inspired by Vocaloid composer halyosy's song "Sakura no Ame" (Rain of Cherry Blossoms) began streaming a full trailer on Wednesday. The film will open on March 5. The website previously posted the film's teaser trailer and poster, which contains the text "Even if...
Tonkatsu DJ Agetarō TV Anime Casts Daiki Yamashita, Kouji Ishii, Kenjiro Tsuda, More
Keiji Fujiwara, M.A.O, Takashi Matsuyama, Chafurin also cast in April anime
― The official website for the television anime adaptation of author Ipyao and artist Yūjirō Koyama's Tonkatsu DJ Agetarou manga unveiled a new visual and the main cast for the anime on Thursday. The anime's cast includes: Daiki Yamashita as Agetarō Katsumata Kouji Ishii as Agesaku Katsumata Kenjiro Tsuda as Shūgo Oshibori Ke...
Whistle! Soccer Manga Gets Stage Play Adaptation
Play to run from late August to early September in Tokyo
― A stage play adaptation of Daisuke Higuchi's Whistle! manga has been green-lit. The play will run in Tokyo's Theater 1010 from late August to early September. The cast and staff have not yet been revealed. Higuchi stated that he is "looking forward to how Whistle! will be adapted for the stage." Whistle! centers on Sho Kazamatsuri, a boy who ...
Terraformars Revenge Anime Sequel Series' New Visual, Cast Revealed
Sayaka Ohara, Yuuki Ono, Takahiro Fujiwara join cast for April series
― The official website of the Terraformars Revenge TV anime sequel series revealed a new visual on Thursday, as well as more returning cast and new cast members. The visual contains the text "Revenge against fate." The returning cast includes: Tooru Nara as Aleksandr Asimov Nozomi Sasaki as Hong Hidenori Takahashi as Jet The newly ...
Love Live! School idol festival ~afterschool Activity~ Arcade Game Unveiled With Teaser
Game will have demo events in Sapporo, Hakata, Sendai, Nagoya, Osaka from March-May
― Square Enix began streaming a teaser trailer on Wednesday for its upcoming Love Live! School idol festival ~afterschool Activity~ arcade game. The game is the previously announced arcade game adaptation of KLab's Love Live! School idol festival smartphone game. The game's newly opened official website indicates loca...
Girls & Panzer Film's Japanese BD/DVD Release Includes OVA
Also includes song CD, 3 commentary tracks, special video content, more
― The official website of the Girls und Panzer anime franchise revealed on Thursday that the Japanese Blu-ray Disc and DVD home video release of the Girls und Panzer anime film will ship on May 27. Both the Blu-ray Disc and DVD releases will ship with a new OVA that will take place after the events of the movie, as well as an epi...
Funimation Licenses The Girl Who Leapt Through Time Anime Film
Funimation to ship film in "special home video edition" later this year
― Funimation Entertainment announced via press release on Wednesday that it has acquired the North American rights to Mamoru Hosoda's The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (Toki wo Kakeru Shōjo) anime film. Funimation will release the film in a "special home video edition" later this year to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the film...
Wednesday, February 17
Lupin the 3rd Lottery Includes Blue Jacket Lupin Figure
Blue jacket Lupin, the star of Lupin III: Part IV and his partner-in-arms Jigen are getting figures as part of a new lottery campaign. Starting in March, Ichiban Kuji will hold the "Lupin the 3rd ~Eien no Aibō-hen~" lottery. One entry costs 620 yen and participants could win figures, memo pads, glassware, cell phone straps, draw string bags, or playing cards. The lottery prizes include: Prize A: ...
2 New Manga Launch in Shonen Jump+ Web Manga Site This Month
2 new manga titled Tetsuwan Adam, Bye Bye Jinrui
― This year's 11th issue of Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine announced on Monday that two new manga are debuting on Shueisha's Shonen Jump+ web manga site in February. The first manga, pictured right, is titled Tetsuwan Adam (the title references Astro Boy's Japanese title, Tetsuwan Atom, and the listed English title is "Adam the Astroboy") by Ry...
Russian Cosplayer Heads to the Slopes in Sailor Moon Bikini
Russian cosplayer Yuliya, aka Yukiko Ai, took the term "snow bunny" literally by heading to the slopes wearing nothing but a Sailor Moon bikini and a snowboard. Yuliya brought her GoPro 4 camera and a selfie stick to capture herself serpentining down the slopes. Yuliya has also bundled up in a Pikachu kigurumi to snowboard. #краснаяполяна #winter #snow #snowboarding #mountains #clouds #krasnayapol...
Gintama ‒ Episode 310
"Although the audience is once again presented with a large amount of information, episode 310's relaxed pacing prevents it from becoming overwhelming."
Japanese Comic Ranking, February 8-14
Handa-kun, My Hero Academia, The New Prince of Tennis, Kurosaki-kun no Iinari ni Nante Naranai, Harumatsu Bokura in top 5
― Rank Title Est. Weekly Copies Est. Total Copies Release Date Publisher Author Highest Rank Weeks on List 1 Handa-kun 5 95,287 95,287 2016/02 Square Enix Satsuki Yoshino 1 1 2 My Hero Academia 7 73,611 223,055 2016/02 Shueisha Kohei Horikoshi 1 2 3 The New Prince of Tennis 17 54...
Babymetal Idol Group Set to Appear on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
The Japanese idol group Babymetal, the "hardcore" spin on Japanese idol culture, will head to The Late Show With Stephen Colbert to promote their new album Metal Resistence. The group's American distributor RED announced the group is confirmed to appear on the program during the week of the album's April 1 release. The three idols, Suzuka Nakamoto (Su-Metal), Moa Kikuchi (Moametal), and Yui Mizono...
Japan's Video Game Rankings, February 8-14
Shin Megami Tensei IV FINAL, Valkyria Chronicles Remaster games debut
― Japan's Game Ranking: February 8-14 Rank System Title Maker Release Date Weekly Copies Total Copies 4Gamer Reader Review 13DS Shin Megami Tensei IV FINAL Atlus February 10 96,349 96,349 2PSV Dragon Quest Builders: Alefgard o Fukkatsu Seyo (Including Bundled Editions) Square Enix January 28 24,536 248,943 87 3PS4 Valkyria Chronicl...
Prince of Stride: Alternative ‒ Episode 7
"Nothing of note occurs during this half hour of loosely related montages, but if you can ignore the plummeting animation quality, there's plenty of man candy to go around."
Live-Action Astro Boy Film Heads to New Line, Acquires Writers
San Andreas' Andre Fabrizio, Jeremy Passmore to pen script
― The Hollywood Reporter's Heat Vision blog reported on Wednesday that Warner Bros. subsidiary New Line Cinema is in talks to acquire Animal Logic Entertainment and Tezuka Productions' planned live-action film based on Osamu Tezuka's Astro Boy. In addition, New Line has tapped San Andreas writers Andre Fabrizio and Jeremy Passmore to write th...
Power Rangers Spinoff Comic to Focus on Pink Ranger
Boom! Studios and Saban Brands announced on Tuesday that they will launch a mini comic series focusing on Kimberly Hart, the Pink Ranger from Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. The series, titled Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Pink, will begin in May and is slated for six issues. Brenden Fletcher and Kelly Thompson are writing the series and Daniele Di Nicuolo is providing the art. Elsa Charretierdrew t...
Wakayama's Late Cat Stationmaster Inducted Into Hall of Fame
Kishi Station in Kinokawa, Wakayama lost a local celebrity, Tama the Stationmaster, last year at the ripe cat-age of 16 years. Tama brought in throngs of tourists and boosted the station's overall business to 2.27 million passengers in 2014, from 1.92 million in 2005. The station sold photos and merchandise of the tortoise-shell feline and she was summarily promoted again to acting president of Wa...
Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun English Dub Casts Ty Mahany as Nozaki
Series to ship on DVD, Blu-ray, limited edition combo pack on March 29
― Sentai Filmworks announced with a video on Wednesday that Ty Mahany will play Umetaro in its English dub of Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun. Mahany joins Scott Gibbs, who plays Mikoto Mikoshiba (Mikorin), and Monica Rial, who plays Yū Kashima. The series ship on March 29. The DVD complete collection retails for US$59.98, the Blu-ray D...
King of Fighters XIV's 6th Trailer Introduces King of Dinosaurs, Maxima, Clark Still, Terry Bogard
PS4 game with 50+ fighters slated for this year
― The US PlayStation blog posted a sixth trailer for SNK Playmore's upcoming The King of Fighters XIV PlayStation 4 game on Wednesday. The video previews all 13 previously-announced characters and four new additions: King of Dinosaurs, Maxima, Clark Still, and Terry Bogard. King of Dinosaurs is new to the franchise while the other three characters are r...
Onigiri Fantasy Anime Announces Main Staff, April Premiere Date
Takashi Yamamoto to direct anime based on MMORPG at Pierrot Plus
― The official website for the upcoming anime adaptation of Cyberstep's massively multiplayer online role-playing game Onigiri announced the broadcast details and main staff on Wednesday. The series will premiere on Tokyo MX and BS Fuji on April 7 at 1:00 a.m. Takashi Yamamoto (Final Approach, Nanatsuiro Drops) will direct the series at...
Answerman - How Come More Anime Characters Don't Have Tattoos?
We live in a world where anime characters suffer from a woeful lack of sweet tattoos. One brave reader wants to know where all the ink is - Justin gets into it.
― Matthew asks: Something I've noticed in anime is that they're aren't a lot of characters that have tattoos. By tattoo I mean purely aesthetically ink tattoos used as a means of self expression. Most tattoos that I've seen in anime are tatt...
Kurage no Shokudō Anime's March 9 Date, Theme Song, Teaser Video Revealed
Customi-Z performs "Shiosai" theme song for OVA
― StarChild's official website for the anime of Miyako Aoyama's light novel series Kurage no Shokudō (literally, Jellyfish Restaurant) announced that the original video anime will ship on Blu-ray Disc and DVD on March 9. The cast completed recording their roles on December 2. The website is also streaming a promotional video: In the story, the protagoni...
Squid Girl/Shinryaku! Ika Musume Manga Ends on February 25
Comedy manga's 22nd volume will be last
― This year's 12th issue of Akita Shoten's Weekly Shōnen Champion magazine is announcing on Thursday that Masahiro Anbe will end his Shinryaku! Ika Musume (Squid Girl) manga in the magazine's next issue, which Akita Shoten will publish on February 25. Franken Fran creator Katsuhisa Kigitsu's Kyōdai - Shōjo Tantei to Yūrei Keikan no Kaiki Jikenbo manga will end ...
Snow White with the Red Hair ‒ Episode 18
"This week marks a semi-return to form for Snow White with the Red Hair as everyone stops being shocked and horrified by the situation and starts to react to it."
Black Butler Manga Gets New Anime Film in Early 2017
Luxury Liner arc adapted from Yana Toboso's manga
― A theatrical anime film adaptation of the "Gōka Kyakusen" (Luxury Liner) arc from Yana Toboso's Black Butler (Kuroshitsuji) manga has been green-lit. The Kuroshitsuji Book of the Atlantic (Black Butler: Book of the Atlantic) film will open in early 2017. Toboso created a visual for the film: The "Gōka Kyakusen" arc appeared in the manga's 11th throu...
orange: The Complete Collection GN 1
Orange's first three volumes are bittersweet as they explore the possibility of going back and saving someone's life. It's beautiful, but also can be very difficult reading if you relate too closely to the situation.
― It feels like stories about fixing the mistakes and regrets of the past have been popping up a lot in recent months – from winter 2016's Erased anime to Arina Tanemura's magical woman ...
Ace of Diamond act 2 Manga to Bundle 2 Original Anime DVDs
July 15/September 16 DVDs to adapt stories from original manga's 47th volume
― Book retailers are listing Yūji Terajima's fourth and fifth Ace of Diamond act 2 manga volumes with two limited-edition DVDs on July 15 and September 16, respectively. The DVDs will feature original anime that adapt stories from the 47th volume of original Ace of Diamond manga. The story of Yūji Terajima's original manga b...
Battle Spirits Double Drive Anime's Video Shows Main Staff, Story
Kunihisa Sugishima, Katsumi Hasegawa return from Battle Spirits Burning Soul
― The official Battle Spirits Youtube channel began streaming a promotional video for Battle Spirits Double Drive, the latest television anime series inspired by Bandai's Battle Spirits card game, on Monday. The video describes the anime's story, reveals the staff, and previews the two new starter decks for the card game. Ku...
Live-Action Diaspolice Project's Behind-the-Scenes Video Posted
4 directors helm 10-episode April series; film opens in summer
― Toei Movie Studios began streaming a behind-the-scenes video for the live-action film and television series adaptation of Richard Woo (Takashi Nagasaki) and Shinichi Sugimura's Diaspolice: Ihō Keisatsu manga on Wednesday. The video shows lead actor Shota Matsuda filming the first-person perspective shot seen in the film's teaser video. ...
Rock Band Monobright Performs New Bono Bono Anime's Theme
"bonobono Suru" song debuts alongside TV anime in April
― The official website for the new 2016 anime of Mikio Igarashi's four-panel gag comedy manga Bono Bono announced on Wednesday that rock band Monobright (Gintama) is performing the theme song. The song is titled "bonobono Suru" (Do the bonobono). Yōsuke Momono, the band's vocalist, composed and wrote the lyrics for the song. The new anime will p...
Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 to Bring Back Pole Dancing
Kadokawa's Weekly Famitsu magazine is confirming on Thursday that pole dancing will make a return in KOEI Tecmo's Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 game. Pole dancing was featured in Dead or Alive Xtreme 2 and Dead or Alive Paradise. Koei Tecmo will publish the game exclusively in Japan and Asia for the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita on March 24. The game's PS Vita version is titled Dead or Alive Xtreme ...
Haikyu!! Cross team match! Game's Video Previews Fully Voiced Story Dialogue
2nd Nintendo 3DS game based on Haruichi Furudate volleyball manga ships on March 3
― The official website of Bandai Namco Entertainment's Haikyu!! Cross team match! Nintendo 3DS game began streaming the second promotional video for the game on Tuesday. The video previews the game's features, including story mode, the fully voiced character dialogue, and the volleyball portion. The game is slated to s...
7th Dragon III Code: VFD 3DS Game's English Trailer Streamed
Sega's dungeon crawler RPG slated for this summer
― Sega of America began streaming an English trailer for its upcoming American release of its 7th Dragon III Code: VFD Nintendo 3DS game. The video highlights the dragons that are the antagonists of the game's story. Sega describes the dungeon crawler RPG's story: In 7th Dragon III Code: VFD, the world is engulfed in a time of darkness and great peril...
Attack on Titan Game's Video Showcases Levi's 'Cleaning' Costume
PS4/PS3/PS Vita game slated for Thursday; N. America, Europe release this year
― KOEI Tecmo Games posted a video for its upcoming Attack on Titan game on Wednesday. The video shows Levi in his "Cleaning" costume, seen in episode 15 of the anime. KOEI Tecmo previously streamed videos previewing the game's training grounds, as well as gameplay from PS3 and PS Vita versions of the game. Last month Koei ...
SKE48 Idol Group Sings 2016 PriPara Film's Theme
Members cosplay as PriPara characters to promote "Chicken Line's" March 30 debut
― The official website for the PriPara anime franchise announced on Wednesday that idol group SKE48 is performing the theme song for the PriPara Mi~nna no Akogare Let's Go PriPari (PriPara Eeeeveryone's Longing Let's Go PriPari) anime film. The song is titled "Chicken Line." The group will release the song on March 30 as...
Pokémon: XYZ Trailer Reveals Saturday Cartoon Network Premiere
Series premiered in Japan last October
― The official English Pokémon website began streaming a trailer for the premiere of the Pokémon the Series: XYZ (Pokémon XY & Z) anime on Cartoon Network on Tuesday. The trailer confirms that the series will premiere on Saturday at 7:00 a.m. EST. The website describes the series' first episode: In the first episode of the new season, Bonnie makes an unusual new...
Tuesday, February 16
Idolish 7 Characters Get First Figures by Tamashii Nations
Rival group Trigger gets manga by Arina Tanemura; new in-game idols introduced
― Two of the idols from the Idolish 7 "big media-mix project" are getting figures as part of Tamashii Nation's Figuarts Zero line. Pre-orders opened on Friday for the Riku Nanase and Sogo Ohsaka figures. Both of the characters' poses are based on original key art for the franchise. Each figure costs 5,400 yen (US$47). Rik...
Pied Piper Licenses Skip Beat! Anime, Plans Crowdfunding for Release With English Dub
Indiegogo campaign for DVD/Blu-ray slated for March 1-31
― Pied Piper, Inc. (Time of Eve) announced on Tuesday that it has acquired the North American home video rights for the Skip Beat! television anime series. The company plans to run an Indiegogo campaign from March 1 through March 31 to fund the release on both DVD and Blu-ray. The campaign's goal is US$210,000 for localization costs, including ...
Miyavi, Yoshiki Turn Out for KISS x Ukiyo-e Project Debut in West Hollywood
American rock group KISS debuted its commemorative ukiyo-e art prints at the Morrison Hotel Gallery at the Sunset Marquis Hotel in West Hollywood over the weekend. The prints show the band members as samurai, oni, and with Momoiro Clover Z. The premiere also drew star-studded attendees, including X Japan leader Yoshiki and Japanese rock star Miyavi. Miyavi, although primarily a singer and guitari...
Fairy Tail Stage Play Reveals Ayu Manaka as Lucy
Play based on Hiro Mashima's manga to run in Ikebukuro from April 30-May 9
― The official website for the stage play of Hiro Mashima's Fairy Tail manga revealed a visual of Ayu Manaka in costume as Lucy Heartfilia on Tuesday. The website previously revealed visuals of D-BOYS actor Shuuto Miyazaki as Natsu, Atsushi Shiramata as Gray, Hirofumi Araki as Jellal, Kento Ono as Hibiki, and Ren Ozawa as Lyon...
North American Anime, Manga Releases, February 14-20
Free! Eternal Summer, Love Live! School Idol Project season 2 anime, Franken Fran manga ship
― Anime Releases Title Publisher Suggested Retail Price Date Bleach Movies: The Unforgiven Double Feature (Bleach the Movie: Fade to Black, Bleach the Movie: Hell Verse) DVDPlease Viz Media US$14.98 February 16 Love Live! School Idol Project Season 2 Premium Edition Blu-rayPlease NIS America US$69.99 February...
1 In 10 Emotional Viewers "Cried" At Pokémon Super Bowl 50 Advert
The Pokémon franchise aired a nostalgia-inducing commercial for its 20th anniversary during the Super Bowl football game on February 7. The minute-long video has since been viewed more than 22 million times on YouTube and the shorter, 30-second ad that aired on TV has garnered its own 825,000 views. Fans, charmed by the "Train On" message or just happy to see Gyarados on their TVs, took to Twitter...
Flying Witch Anime's 1st Promo Reveals April Premiere Date
Minami Shinoda, Eri Suzuki, Shinsuke Sugawara star in anime set in Aomori
― The official website for the television anime of Chihiro Ishizuka's Flying Witch manga posted the first promotional video on Wednesday. The video reveals that the anime will premiere on April 9 on NTV, and Aomori Broadcasting will also debut the anime on April 15. The cast includes: Minami Shinoda as Makoto Kowata Eri Suzuki ...
Dai-Shogun Great Revolution CG Reboot's Concept Movie Streamed
Kickstarter to fund anime slated to launch in March
― Anime creator Kazuya Sasahara (Cat Shit One: The Animated Series) began streaming a concept video for his CG-animated reboot of Dai - Shogun - Great Revolution on Tuesday. The video page announces that the Kickstarter campaign to fund the project will launch in March 2016. The campaign was originally slated to launch in January. The video features...
Toonami's Dimension W Trailer Previews English Dub
Christopher R. Sabat, Jad Saxton star in anime premiering February 27
― The official Tumblr for the Adult Swim network's Toonami programming block posted an English-dubbed trailer for the Dimension W television anime on Tuesday. The anime's English dub will premiere on Toonami on Saturday, February 27 at 12:30 a.m. (effectively Sunday, February 28 after midnight). Funimation will stream the dubbed ep...
Prince of Tennis Valentine's Chocolates Flood Konomi's Office
Perhaps against better judgment, the editors of Jump Square magazine reinstated the annual Prince of Tennis character popularity contest. Readers took up the helm again, sending boxes upon boxes of chocolates to Jump Square for their favorite Prince of Tennis character. Manga creator Takeshi Konomi snapped a picture of his flooded office on February 12 and posted it on Twitter on Tuesday. The staf...
Sentai Filmworks Licenses Hakuoki: Wild Dance of Kyoto Anime Film
1st half of 2-part film project opened in 2013 in Japan
― Sentai Filmworks announced on Tuesday that it has licensed the Hakuoki ~ Demon of the Floating Blossom: Wild Dance of Kyoto (Hakuōki Dai-isshō Kyoto Ranbu) anime film and plans to release it digitally and on home video. Hakuōki Dai-isshō Kyoto Ranbu is the first of a two-part film project. The film opened in Japan in 2013 and the sequel, Hakuō...
XBlaze Code: Embryo Heads to PC via Steam
PS3/PS Vita visual novel from BlazBlue world shipped in 2014
― Akysys Games announced on Tuesday that it will release the XBlaze Code: Embryo visual novel on PC via Steam on March 1. Arc System Works' "adventure of blue fate" begins 150 years before the events of the main BlazBlue story. High school boy Tōya (voiced by Yukitoshi Kikuchi) is drawn by the sound of a bell into an abandoned facility invo...
Utawarerumono OVA's English Dub Cast Announced
Sasha Paysinger, Vic Mignogna, John Gremillion, more return from TV series dub
― Sentai Filmworks announced the cast for its English dub of the Utawarerumono OVA on Tuesday. Many of the cast members are returning from English dub of the original television series, which ADV Films first released on DVD in 2007. Kyle Colby Jones is directing the dub. New cast announcements include: Allison Sumrall as F...
Mikasa Voice Actress Plays More of Koei Tecmo's Attack on Titan Game
KOEI Tecmo posted the second video showing Attack on Titan's Mikasa voice actress Yui Ishikawa playing the company's Attack on Titan game on Wednesday. Yui Ishikawa and KOEI Tecmo's producer Hisashi Koinuma celebrated Mikasa's birthday with the first video last week. Koei Tecmo Games' Omega Force subsidiary (Warriors/Musou franchise) is developing the game for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, and PS ...
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of Feb 5-11
Konosuba drops to the #2 spot and a huge surge for GATE have left the chart in total chaos! Find out what rose to retake the title of #1 in our weekly user rankings.
― Our team of reviewers are following 27 anime series of the Winter 2016 season and readers are rating each episode as the reviews go up. So let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season. Keep in mind...
Ichigo Takano's Sci-Fi Romance Manga Orange Gets TV Anime This Summer
TMS/Telecom Animation Film anime with Steins;Gate/Terraformars director, Chihayafuru 2 writer, Escaflowne designer
― A television anime adaptation of Ichigo Takano's science-fiction romance manga Orange has been green-lit. Hiroshi Hamasaki (Steins;Gate, Terraformars) is directing the anime at TMS Entertainment and Telecom Animation Film, and Yuuko Kakihara (Chihayafuru 2) is writing the scripts. Nobu...
Milky Holmes Film's TV Ads Center on Twenty, Saku
Movie opens on February 27
― The official website of the Gekijōban Tantei Opera Milky Holmes: Gyakushū no Milky Holmes (Detective Opera Milky Holmes the Movie: Milky Holmes' Counterattack) film began streaming two more commercials for the anime film on Monday. The commercials focus on the characters Twenty and Saku Tooyama. The film will open in 10 theaters in Japan on February 27. The film's story w...
Lunkhead Performs Ushio & Tora's New Ending Song
"Kessen Zenya" will debut in the anime in April
― This year's 12th issue of Shogakukan's Weekly Shonen Sunday magazine is revealing on Wednesday that rock band Lunkhead is performing the ending theme song starting in the third cours (quarter of the year) of the Ushio & Tora anime. The song is titled "Kessen Zenya" (The Night Before the Decisive Battle). The anime premiered last July, but its 39-episo...
Mr. Osomatsu ‒ Episode 19
"Taken on their own, each of this week's stories is amusing, but they fail to live up to the comedy standard set in previous weeks."
Love Live! Girls Get Minty Fresh in Newly Animated Chewing Gum Ad
Maki Nishikino voted by fans as Kissmint campaign girl
― Love Live! fans had a chance to vote for which μ's idol member will be the campaign girl for Glico's Watering Kissmint chewing gum last year, and they chose Maki Nishikino. To celebrate, Glico posted a newly animated television commercial featuring Maki and the μ's tune "Angelic Angel": Fans voted after buying one of 16 different gum variants (...
Japan's Animation DVD Ranking, February 8-14
Mr. Osomatsu sells 3,338 more, followed by Kamen Rider Drive, Is the order a rabbit??, Riho Iida & Aina Kusuda, Over the Rainbow
― The Kamen Rider Drive Final Stage & Bangumi Cast Talk Show sold 2,508 copies to debut at #13 on the overall DVD chart. Riho Iida and Aina Kusuda's Iida Riho to Kusuda Aina no Memorial Journey ~Ripikusu Sanpo in LA~ vol. 1 landed at #23 with 1,210 copies. Vol. 2 was #24 wi...
Japan's Animation Blu-ray Disc Ranking, February 8-14
Is the order a rabbit?? sells 8,065 at #2, followed by Wagnaria!!3, K Return of Kings, Eir Aoi, Mr. Osomatsu
― Eir Aoi Special Live 2015 World of Blue at Nippon Buddōkan sold 2,430 copies to debut at #10 on the overall Blu-ray Disc chart. Kamen Rider Blu-ray Box 2 sold 1,515 to land at #15. The Wake Up, Girls! variety program WUG Ban! debuted at #27 with 880 copies. Rank Last Week Title Weekly Copies...
Some of the 10th Annual Seiyū Awards Winners Announced
Showtaro Morikubo, Kikuko Inoue, Maruko-chan, Sachiko Chijimatsu, Tadashi Nakamura, Michiko Nomura, AŌP, more
― The organizers of the 10th Annual Seiyū Awards announced some of the winners on Tuesday. Merit Awards Award for the seiyū who have contributed to many genres, including foreign works, over the years Sachiko Chijimatsu Agency: 81produce Roles: Dokonjo Gaeru (Pyon-kichi), Mahōtsukai Sally (Ka...
Kuma Miko: Girl Meets Bear Anime Reveals Theme Song Details
Maki Hanatani performs opening; Natsumi Hioka, Hiroki Yasumoto perform ending
― The staff of the television anime of Masume Yoshimoto's Kuma Miko: Girl Meets Bear announced details on the anime's opening and ending theme songs on Tuesday. Maki Hanatani from idol group Fullfull☆Pocket performs the opening theme song "Datte, Gyutte Shite." Bonjour Suzuki (Yurikuma Arashi opening theme) serves as sound ...
Kairi Shimotsuki Ends Brave10 S Manga in March
Original Brave10 manga inspired 2012 TV anime
― Manga creator Kairi Shimotsuki (Brave10, A Century of Temptation, Madness) announced on her official Twitter account on Monday that she will end her Brave10 S manga in the next issue of the Monthly Comic Gene magazine, which Media Factory will publish on March 15. Shimotsuki previously revealed that the manga will end this year. Shimotsuki launched the ...
Attack on Titan Game's Ad, Costume, Story Videos Streamed
PS4/PS3/PS Vita game slated for Thursday; N. America, Europe release this year
― Koei Tecmo Games began streaming a 30-second commercial for its upcoming Attack on Titan game. The commercial features narration by series protagonist Eren Jaeger (Yuuki Kaji). Koei Tecmo Games streamed two earlier videos on Saturday. The first video previews some of the alternate costumes in the game, while the second v...
Live-Action Erased/Boku dake ga Inai Machi Film's Behind-the-Scenes Video Posted
Tatsuya Fujiwara discusses role with director Yūichirō Hirakawa in March 19 film
― The animeanime.jp website posted a behind-the-scenes video on the live-action film of Kei Sanbe's Boku dake ga Inai Machi (The Town Where Only I Am Missing) manga on Monday. The video shows lead actor Tatsuya Fujiwara discussing with director Yūichirō Hirakawa (Rookies: Graduation) how his character should react to dis...
Monday, February 15
Takarazuka Revue's Rurouni Kenshin Stage Play Previewed in Ad
Seina Sagiri & Miyu Sakihi star as Kenshin & Kaoru in ongoing production
― The ticketing company e+ posted a commercial for the stage musical of Nobuhiro Watsuki's Rurouni Kenshin manga by the famous all-female musical theater troupe Takarazuka Revue on Monday. Seina Sagiri, the top star of the revue's Yukigumi group, and Miyu Sakihi, the revue's top performer of female roles, stars in the musical. S...
The Idolm@ster Shiny Festa Smartphone Games End Service in March
Games currently discounted, music DLC available for free until March 15
― Bandai Namco Entertainment revealed on Monday that it will end its service for The Idolm@ster Shiny Festa iOS games on March 15. Those who own the game will still be able to play them after the specified date, but they will no longer be able to download music, and Bandai Namco Entertainment cannot guarantee the game will contin...
Mr. Osomatsu's 2nd Opening Theme Single Ranks #2 with 25,000 Copies
Highest ranking Mr. Osomatsu single yet, beating ending theme's #3 December ranking
― Japanese entertainment news and ranking website Oricon revealed on Tuesday that "Zenryoku Batankyū," the CD single of the second opening theme for the Mr. Osomatsu (Osomatsu-san) anime, ranked #2 in the Oricon singles chart for the February 8-14 week. The single shipped on February 10 and sold 25,000 copies in its f...
Sion Sono Returns to Direct Shinjuku Swan Sequel
Gou Ayano & other cast members reprise roles with Rurouni Kenshin's action director Kenji Tanigaki
― A sequel to the live-action film of Ken Wakui's Shinjuku Swan manga has been green-lit. Filming on the tentatively titled Shinjuku Swan 2 began on January 27 and will continue for two months, including filming in Kanagawa and Yokohama in early March. Returning from the first film are: Gou Ayano (Gatch...
Titans Aim to Take Over Shinjuku Station With Giant Scratch-Off Poster
Sony Computer Entertainment Japan Asia put up a giant scratch off poster of 50 fearsome Titans in Shinjuku Station on Monday. The poster is part of the "Wall Shinjuku Recapture Strategy" campaign to promote KOEI Tecmo's Attack on Titan game for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, and PS Vita. The game will hit store shelves in Japan on February 18. The poster measures 12 meters in length and is 2.4 mete...
The Boy and The Beast Promotes Shibuya Tourism With Location Map
To celebrate the home video release of Mamoru Hosoda's The Boy and The Beast film on February 24, the Shibuya tourism office will distribute "The Boy and The Beast × Shibuya Location" maps showing places in Shibuya that appeared in the film. In addition, the Studio Chizu Shop in the Loft Yokohama store opened on Monday. The store will give out a limited number of The Boy and The Beast clear files ...
Raiden V Shooter Game's Opening Movie Streamed
Xbox One game ships in Japan on February 25
― Game developer Moss began streaming the opening movie for its upcoming Xbox One side-shooter game Raiden V on Monday. The game will ship in Japan on February 25 for 7,400 yen (about US$65). The download edition will cost 6,800 yen (about US$59). First-run copies will include an original soundtrack CD. Source: Siliconera; Sato
New Manga Anthology Mixes Boys-Love and Zombies
A new boys-love manga anthology from Enterbrain is combining romance and and the very undead. The collection is titled B's-LOVEY Anthology: BL of the Dead. The listing describes the works as a collection of the "ultimate love stories" taking place in a world of zombies where a lover is "the only sustenance I have to survive this world." The volume includes stories by Homerun Ken, Hidesato Kimura, ...
Yowamushi Pedal's 8th Stage Play Reveals New Cast in Costume
8th stage play begins with Onoda's 2nd year, premieres in March
― Marvelous' official website for the upcoming Butai Yowamushi Pedal ~Sōhoku Shinsedai, Shidō~ (Stage Play Yowamushi Pedal ~Sōhoku New Generation, Start~) stage play based on Wataru Watanabe's high school bicycling manga Yowapeda (Yowamushi Pedal) revealed four new cast members in costume on Monday. The cast members are: Shinichirō Ueda ...
Exclusive: Otaku USA to Produce New Jersey's Anime Fan Fest
Otaku USA Magazine announced on Monday that it is partnering with MAD Event Entertainment to produce the "Otaku USA Anime Fan Fest" convention in Somerset, New Jersey. The first event will take place from May 6-8 2016. MAD Event Entertainment first announced the inaugural Anime Fan Fest last October. Otaku USA Magazine told ANN that, now that it is on board, the event will be expanded.
Space Brothers Creator Introduces 3D Printer Studio, Workplace in French TV Program
The French television program toco toco began streaming its interview with Space Brothers manga creator Chūya Koyama on Sunday. In video, Koyama takes viewers to FabCafe Tokyo in Shibuya, a venue that specializes 3D printing. Visitors can watch their creations come to life using equipment at FabCafes in Japan, France, Thailand, and Taiwan. After exploring the FabCafe, Koyama introduces his studio ...
Hiroshima Formally Drops Plans to Reclaim Land in 'Ponyo's' Harbor
Miyazaki comments on ruling over locale that inspired 2008 film
― The Hiroshima Prefectural Government announced on Monday that it will formally drop the land reclamation plan in Tomonoura — the harbor in the southwestern Japanese prefecture of Hiroshima that inspired the seaside locale in Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki's Ponyo film. The decision ended a nine-year lawsuit over the issue. The local ...
Answerman - Why Did Saint Seiya Bomb In North America?
It's one of the biggest and most influential anime franchises in Latin America, but the mythical golden warriors of Saint Seiya just never found a big audience in the states. Why is that?
― Geoff asks: Saint Seiya is one of the most popular anime of all time worldwide, especially in Europe and Latin America, even bigger than Dragon Ball Z and Sailor Moon. It is a Shonen fighting series, the most suc...
Yona of the Dawn Stage Play Trailer Shows Off Characters in Costume
Stage play covering the Water Tribe Arc opens in Japan in March
― The official YouTube channel for the Yona of the Dawn stage play adaptation began streaming a promotional video showing off the cast in costume. The video also explains the premise of the original manga. The play will cover the Water Tribe Arc. The arc runs from volume 14 to 16 of the original manga, and was not covered by the anime ad...
Durarara!! ×2 The Third Arc ‒ Episodes 5-6
"After weeks upon weeks of sinister setup, the final climax of Durarara!! is off like a shot in two of its most pulse-pounding, fist-pumping episodes yet."
Platinum Games' Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Shows Leonardo Gameplay in Video
PS4/Xbox One/PS3/Xbox 360/PC game slated for summer
― IGN posted a gameplay video for the leader Leonardo from the upcoming Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants in Manhattan action game. Platinum Games (Bayonetta, Transformers: Devastation) is developing the game, and Activision will release the game on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC this summer. Activision describes the ga...
Dimension W ‒ Episode 6
"While the jury's still out on whether Dimension W will be good, I'm confident in calling it good enough."
Nikkei: Bandai Namco Halts New Arcade Games Due to Arcade Slump
Company also projects significant downturn in Yo-kai Watch toy/hobby sales
― Bandai Namco Holdings released its third quarter financial report last Tuesday, revealing that the company and its subsidiaries report a projected estimate net sales of 560 billion yen (about US$4.91 billion) for the fiscal year that will end on March 31, which would be a 1% decrease compared to the 2015 fiscal year. The com...
Bandai Namco Pictures Registers 'Aikatsu Stars!' Trademark
Bandai Namco Pictures registered a trademark on February 9 for "Aikatsu Stars!." The trademark is for animation, games, character shows, books, and music, as well as merchandise like food and drinks. The first 50-episode Aikatsu! television anime series premiered in October 2012, and the fourth "season" (fourth year of broadcast) premiered in October. The franchise's first anime film opened in Jap...
Battle Spirits Double Drive Anime's Main Cast, Character Designs Revealed
Latest Battle Spirits anime premieres on April 6 on TV Tokyo
― The official website of Battle Spirits Double Drive, the latest television anime series inspired by Bandai's Battle Spirits card game, revealed the main cast for the anime on Sunday. The cast includes (note: the character name romanizations have not yet been officially revealed): Makoto Koichi as Shunta Mogami Mutsumi Tamura as Yoku Albat...
Yo-kai Watch x 3 Kingdoms Collaboration Game Previewed in Video
3DS game ships in Japan on April 2
― Level-5 began streaming a promotional video on Monday for its Yo-kai Sangokushi (Yo-kai Romance of the Three Kingdoms) Nintendo 3DS spinoff video game. The game is a collaboration between Level-5's Yo-Kai Watch franchise and Koei Tecmo Games' Sangokushi (Romance of the Three Kingdoms) video game franchise. The game will ship in Japan on April 2. Level-5 is collabo...
Dance With Devils Musical Reveals More Cast in Costume
Daiki Ise, Kōhei Norizuki, Ryūjirō Izaki, Subaru Kimura cast in March 3-13 musical
― The official website for the upcoming Dance With Devils stage musical revealed new visuals on Sunday, depicting the cast of Noel, Holland, and Jek in costume. The newly revealed visuals include: Kōhei Norizuki as Noel, Lindo's senior exorcist Ryūjirō Izaki as Holland (double-cast with Subaru Kimura), Rem's training i...
Tōken Ranbu Stage Play Casts Taizō Shiina as Fudō Yukimitsu
New visual unveiled for play opening on May 3
― The official website of the stage play adaptation of DMM's Tōken Ranbu online browser game revealed last Friday that Taizō Shiina will play Fudō Yukimitsu in the play. Taizō Shiina as Fudō Yukimitsu The website also unveiled a new visual for the play, showing Hiroki Suzuki in costume as Mikazuki Munechika. The rest of the cast includes: Yoshihide Sasaki...
Animated Short of What Happens Before War? Anti-War Picture Book Streamed
Peace activist group Ribbon Project produced book in 2004
― Filmmaker and artist group NOddIN released an animated short based on Ribbon Project's Sensō no Tsukurikata (What Happens Before War?) picture book last Wednesday. The video is English-subtitled. Peace activist group Ribbon Project produced the original picture book in 2004. The book describes the societal and policy changes that happen in a...
D-Selections Performs 'Hundred' School Battle Anime's Opening Theme
Special label unit consists of 5 Dive II Entertainment artists
― The official website for the upcoming television anime of Jun Misaki's light novel series Hundred announced on Sunday that D-selections will be performing the series' opening theme "BLOODRED." D-selections is a group made up of a collection of artists from Dive II Entertainment, and includes: Tatsuyuki Kobayashi, Azuki Shibuya, Yūki Wak...
2016 Pokémon Film's Plot Revealed With New Mythical Pokémon Magearna
Kunihiko Yuyama returns to direct film premiering on July 16
― The Pokémon Company International officially revealed the new Mythical Pokémon Magearna (pictured below) on Sunday. The announcement also revealed the plot of the upcoming Pokémon film, titled Pokémon the Movie XY & Z: Volcanion to Karakuri no Magearna (Pokémon the Movie XY & Z: Volcanion and the Tricky Magearna, official English title no...
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