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Funimation ADR Director, Voice Actor Joel McDonald Welcomes Baby Boy
Funimation ADR director and voice actor Joel McDonald announced the birth of his son, Beck Austin McDonald, on Twitter on Wednesday. McDonald had comically tweeted the progress of his son's birth using the hashtag "#BeckWatch2016." Beck Austin McDonald. 6 lbs, 11 oz. 19.6 inches. Worth the wait. pic.twitter.com/CK6uw3IUIk— Joel McDonald (@AtYes2Ats) March 17, 2016 McDonald is possibly best known f...
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part 4 is Spring 2016's Most Anticipated Show
Vote for yours in the ANN poll!
― Like its predecessor, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders Egypt Arc, Diamond Is Unbreakable is the most anticipated anime premiere for its respective season. Charapedia's recent poll asked anime fans to pick which Spring 2016 show they can't wait to watch. JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable ranked highest in combined male and female votes and a...
Game Developers Choice Awards Showed Heart-Warming Satoru Iwata Tribute
The beloved Nintendo company president Satoru Iwata passed away last July. Since his death, the fan community has continued to pay tribute to his work within the gaming community. The Game Developers Choice Awards showed a heart-warming animated tribute created by Raber Umphenour, Shawne Benson, David Hellman, and Chris Kohler in San Francisco on Wednesday. Iwata saw the start of his gaming career...
Live-Action Terraformars Film's Ad Shows Theater Manners
Film based on Kenichi Tachibana, Yū Sasuga's science fiction manga opens on April 29
― The official website for the live-action film of Kenichi Tachibana and Yū Sasuga's science-fiction manga Terraformars began streaming a manners video on Tuesday. The video describes the film's premise and advises audiences on what not to do in a theater, such as using your cellphone, making noise, or flying. Shōkic...
T-Virus Perfume Will Leave You Smelling Like the Freshly Reanimated
A new perfume created by Capcom will go on sale, but customers might want to be on the look out for some suspicious "side-effects." The T-Virus perfume is named after the mutagenic virus created by the Umbrella Corporation that turns living beings into horrifying zombies in the Resident Evil video game series. The perfume will be sold in limited quantities at the Capcom Cafe in Shinjuku starting ...
Divine Gate Smartphone Game Collaborates with Blood Blockade Battlefront
GungHo Online Entertainment and Acquire's smartphone "panel RPG" Divine Gate will collaborate with Yasuhiro Nightow's Blood Blockade Battlefront anime series starting on March 25. So far, staff have only revealed Klaus Von Reinhertz and Leonardo Watch. The collaboration will include an original story and dungeon and run until April 8. Divine Gate wrapped up its collaboration with Shakugan no Shana...
New Powerpuff Girls Gets Japanese Dub Starring Aki Toyosaki, Sumire Uesaka, Tomo Muranaka
Craig McCracken's The Powerpuff Girls is coming back in an all new series on Cartoon Network on April 6. The show about three crime-fighting girls made of sugar, spice, everything nice, and a little Chemical X will also premiere in Japan on April 9 with a Japanese dub cast of anime alumni. Aki Toyosaki (Yuruyuri San Hai!, K-ON!, To Love Ru: Darkness) will star as the leader Blossom. Sumire Uesaka ...
Interactive, Rubbing-Activated Hug Pillows Finally Get Release Date
Last year, former Kyushu Institute of Technology researcher Koichi Uchimura launched a crowdfunding campaign for his Ita-Supo, the first talking hug pillow that responds to your caresses. He hoped to raise 500,000 yen (US$4,460) but the project saw a huge demand. The campaign earned a total of 3.7 million yen (US$32,844). A year later, pre-orders are open for the sensor, and two pillow case bundl...
Wazamonogatari Novel Promoted with 2 More 8-Bit Game Videos
NisiOisin's second light novel volume in the "Off Season" of the Monogatari Series got two more 8-bit game promotional videoes. The first video is designated as the second in the "Kyūketsuki Quiz-Hen" (Vampire Quiz Chapter) and the second video a cross-over with NisiOisin and VOFAN's Bōkyaku Tantei novel series. The game can be played by scanning the website's QR code on a mobile device. Players t...
JoJo Part 4 Will Have 3 Versions of Upcoming PV in 3 Different Cities
The upcoming television anime adaptation of Hirohiko Araki's JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable manga will get a new promotional video on March 21. The catch is that the video will have three versions and each version will be shown once on street screens in three separate cities at the same time. The video will air on the Tokyo Shinjuku Alta Vision screen at Shinjuku Station's east e...
Japanese Comedian Hosts Sex Toy Commercial Contest (NSFW)
Winner gets million yen's worth of Tenga
― On March 5, Japanese comedian Atsushi Tamura of the duo London Boots and Mark1 Mark2 hosted a contest of the best amateur commercials for Tenga and iroha, two popular Japanese sex toys. The event was held at the Loft/Plus One in Shinjuku, Tokyo and also included Hideki Morimoto (of the comic trio Nibun no Go!) and Kōichi Matsumoto (representative director of...
Dance Concerts to Feature Months Anthropomorphized into Handsome Guys
Two different groups: black and white
― If you've ever wondered what months would look like as people, the answer is obviously as bishōnen in spiffy uniforms. That's the formula Tsukiuta, a music and drama CD series, used when it was launched in 2014, and now it's getting an upgrade to live actors and a dance concert. The characters are divided into two groups, Six Gravity (who wear black) and Procel...
Japanese College Students Weigh In on the Best Original Starter Pokémon
Tell us your favorite original starter in ANN's poll!
― Charmander, Squirtle, and Bulbasaur are back in the limelight for the original Pokémon generation's 20th anniversary. Japan's MyNavi decided to put the highly-contested status of "best starter" to rest by asking 400 college students which Pokémon they choose. The results were close, but the hot-headed Charmander pulled ahead with 39.3% of the vo...
Japanese AV Star Revealed as Shonen Jump+ Manga Writer
Shueisha's Shonen Jump+ manga website launched in 2014 with over 30 different, free series for readers to peruse. Among series like Akira Amano's ēlDLIVE and Hidekaz Himaruya's Hetalia World Stars was Seiyū Mashimashi Club. The four-panel series, written by newcomer Hibari Meguro and drawn by School Rumble creator Jin Kobayashi, follows girls who aim to be the top voice actresses. The writer has r...
Hideo Kojima Talks Oscar Winners in Latest "Hideo Tube" Video
Video game director Hideo Kojima uploaded the second video to his "Hideo Tube" channel on Thursday. Novelist Kenji Yano returns as a guest to discuss the results of the 88th Academy Awards, some of the progress of Kojima Productions, and two recent foreign films opening in Japan; Magical Girl and Escobar: Paradise Lost. Kojima stated that with the huge influx of subscribers, new videos will probab...
Queer Japan Documentary Kickstarter Reaches Goal
Documentary features interview with manga creator Gengoroh Tagame
― Director Graham Kolbeins and co-writer Anne Ishii's (Massive: Gay Erotic Manga and the Men Who Make It editors) Queer Japan documentary project Kickstarter campaign reached its US$45,000 goal on Monday. As of press time, the campaign has raised US$45,710, with 23 hours to go. The documentary looks at artists, activists, and every day...
To Love-Ru Darkness Itasha Car Barely Covers Panty Shots
To Love-Ru -Trouble- Darkness is no stranger to fanservice. Panty shots are only the tip of the iceberg from a series that inspired a nude tissue box and "enhanced" chapters of the manga. One fan is keeping in the spirit of the show a To Love-Ru -Trouble- Darkness itasha car. The design strongly features Golden Darkness on the back and front. Each image is carefully aligned so that when she raises...
Gakuen Handsome's 3rd Music Video Stars Teruhiko Saionji
The infamous and weirdly designed boy's love visual novel Gakuen Handsome debuted its third music video, this time starring Teruhiko Saionji. The track "Haitoku no Lesson" (Immoral Lesson) is included on the Gakuen Handsome Character Song CD Vol. 2: Teruhiko Saionji album set for release on May 10. Like the previous two, the music video immediately jumps into absurdity. At one point, Teruhiko appe...
Woman-Centric Dōjinshi Event's Massive Lines Rival Comic Market
The Tokyo Big Sight exhibition center is best known for hosting the biannual Comic Market dōjinshi event. The summer and winter events bring in throngs on fans numbering over half a million in three days. Last weekend, the convention center saw another huge crowd with lines even rivaling Comiket. The sea of people were there for Haru Comic City 21 on Sunday, another dōjinshi event with encompassin...
White Day Turns the Tables for Mr. Osomatsu, Fate/Stay Night, Seraph of the End
It's White Day in Japan, a day when men gift chocolates to women, to reciprocate thanks for the chocolates they received a month earlier on Valentine's Day. In the anime world, this means plenty of male characters are put into the limelight for celebratory images and tie-ins. The Matsuno sextuplets held a campaign at FamilyMart where special clear files were given away to customers. The vampires o...
Office Lady Usagi Promotes Chocola BB Joma Energy Drink
Usagi Tsukino has hawked a lot of goods, from the Yomiuri Giants baseball team to glasses and beauty products. Her latest campaign imagines the Guardian of Love and Justice grown up (or maybe she just used her Disguise Pen) to transform into an Office Lady. The more "mature" Usagi drinks the Chocola BB Joma energy drink to keep going during the long hours of fighting alien threats and working a n...
Northern Japanese Town Offers March Comes in Like a Lion Goods
Part of online tax payment program
― Early March seems like an appropriate time to roll out a merchandise campaign for March comes in like a lion, Chika Umino's manga about Rei, a talented if solitary player of shōgi (a chess-like game native to Japan). Rei hails from Tendō, a town in Yamagata Prefecture famous for making shōgi game pieces. To celebrate this connection, Tendō is offering its citizen...
Shonen Jump Offers Year of Back Issues to School Exam-Takers
Taking college entrance exams is a nerve-wracking, stressful, and exhausting experience. Worst of all, with all that studying to do, students find it hard to keep up with their favorite manga! Even if they do well on the tests, they're stuck with the daunting task of catching up on all that One Piece or Nisekoi. But luckily for them, Weekly Shonen Jump is stepping in with a kind offer to make that...
Virtual Worlds Clash in Sword Art Online x .hack Game App Crossover
Crossover costumes, accessories, bonuses, more offered in each game
― The Sword Art Online: Code Register and .hack-inspired New World: Vol. 1 Ginrui no Otome (Maiden of Silver Tears) games for iOS and Android devices are running a crossover campaign this month. As the tagline below teases, ".hack … Sword Art Online … In the moment two worlds intersect, a new game story begins." People who log into N...
Rumiko Takahashi Draws Album Jacket for Lyricist Friend Yuho Iwasato
A compilation of the songs written by Yuho Iwasato, Ms. Lyricist, will be released on May 25 to celebrate 35 years of her contributions to the Japanese music industry. Her old friend, Rumiko Takahashi (Inuyasha, Ranma 1/2, Urusei Yatsura), did her a favor by drawing her for the album jacket. Ms. Lyricist will contain 33 of Iwasato's songs. Those that were used in anime are: "Love is Changing" by H...
Ditto Infiltrates Pokémon Plush Line as Pikachu, Charmander, Squirtle, More
Something about Ditto's derpy face and his power to turn into other Pokémon is endearing. He so badly wants to be a member of the group but no matter what he does, his face gives it away. Take last year, where one Ditto must have really wanted to dance with the 1,000 Pikachu in Yokohama. Children loved him anyway, even if his eyes were a little beady. Starting on March 26, Ditto is at it again by...
Love Live! Character Designer Yūhei Murota Gets Married
Yūhei Murota, the character designer of Love Live! School idol project, revealed on his Twitter account on March 10 that he had gotten married last month. While his wife's identity is unknown, he explained that he chose that day to spread the word because it was his new wife's birthday. "I'll do my best [to foster] a happy household and job!" he tweeted. Murota, who is 31, originally intended to s...
One-Punch Man's Top-Ranking Superhero Sorta Revealed [Spoiler]
Blast appears in webcomic flashback
― Blast, the first-rank S-class superhero occasionally referred to in One-Punch Man, has remained a mysterious, awe-inspiring figure in the story... until now. The latest chapter of the webcomic, Chapter 106, was posted on ONE's official website on March 9, and we finally see what Blast looks like. Tatsumaki reveals that she has a connection with Blast. Although sh...
Japanese Commercials Pit Six Pretty Women Against Spicy Cups of Soup
Yū Serizawa, Rena Takeda among them
― Pokka Sapporo Food & Beverage's line of spicy soups, Karaō ("King of Spice"), appeals to those who find the standard broths in instant soups too tame or bland. To promote the brand, Pokka Sapporo enlisted the efforts of six attractive ladies — voice actress Yū Serizawa, cosplayer Nekomu Otogi, actress Rena Takeda, gravure idol Anna Konno and idols You Kikkaw...
New Manga Looks Behind the Scenes of Prison School Anime
Hiroshi Kamiya has bad feeling about this
― Anime fans who love finding out what goes on behind the scenes of their favorite shows should get a kick out of a new manga about the making of the anime version of Prison School. It's called Anime Prison School wo Tsukutta Otoko-tachi ("The Men Who Made the Prison School Anime") and is drawn by Hanamura. There was uncertainty over how to depict the Prison ...
Lum Proves She's Still the Original Waifu in Best Green-Haired Character Poll
Rumiko Takahashi is a very rich lady, a fact that be contributed namely to her popular manga series like Urusei Yatsura, Maison Ikkoku, Ranma 1/2, and Inu Yasha. The characters from her most popular series have lasting staying power. The alien Lum from Urusei Yatsura is no exception, having debuted almost 40 years ago but still voted as the audience's favorite green-haired character. The Goo Ranki...
Pokémon Center Kyoto Prepares Exclusive Merch for Grand Opening
The new Pokémon Center in Kyoto is opening on March 16 and the shop is preparing its line of exclusive goods to celebrate the event. All customers will receive a shopping bag with either maiko (apprentice geisha) Pikachu or okuge-sama (court noble) Pikachu. The center will also have stuffed versions (2,400 yen), metal pins (630 yen), and metal charms (500 yen) of both designs, a Pokémon Center Ky...
Put Your Otome Goods on a Angelique, Haruka, or La Corda d'Oro Credit Card
Choosing your eternal bishōnen life partner can be hard, especially with so many franchises to choose from. Neo Romance feels your pain and so it's collaborating with the Epos Card so customers don't have to choose. Instead they can (perhaps irresponsibly) charge all their favorite otome games and merchandise. Three card designs were revealed on Thursday, one from Angelique Retour, one from Haru...
Naruto, Tōken Ranbu, Stray Dogs Get Traditional Crafts at Anime Japan 2016
Anime Japan 2016 is continuing its offering of official anime character goods blended with traditional Japanese crafts this year. The [email protected] Cinderella Girls, Rascal the Raccoon, Mr. Osomatsu, Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans, Votoms, Tōken Ranbu, Naruto, Fate/Grand Order and Bungō Stray Dogs all served as inspiration for the goods. Regional artisans who specialize in crafting each in...
Japanese Anime Fans Pick Extracurricular Club They'd Most Like to Join
Students in Japan have a variety of clubs to pick from to suit their interests. Some are straightforward, like literature or a sports team, while others that show in anime and manga are more ambiguous. The Japanese website asked its readers which of their favorite anime and manga sports teams they would want to join. The results show a blend of interests at first, but the motivation for joining pa...
Love Live x Powerpuff Girls Collab Heads to AnimeJapan
The collaboration between the characters of Love Live! and The Powerpuff Girls continues with special merchandise planned for AnimeJapan 2016 this month. The "Love Live!~μ's meet Powerpuff Girls" exhibition toured Tokyo, Hiroshima, Sapporo and Nagoya since it kicked off last year. The AnimeJapan exhibit will sell pass cases, handkerchief sets, clear file sets, cookies, cell phone straps, keychain...
Woman-as-Sushi Plate Scene Gets Detective Conan Its 1st BPO Complaint in a Decade
The Japanese Broadcasting Ethics and Program Improvement Organization (BPO) watchdog group recently published viewer complaints from February, one stemming from a nyotaimori scene from an evening anime program. Nyotaimori is the practice of eating sushi off a woman's naked body. The complaint asks for consideration of the ethical implications, the time zone when the program aired, and the potentia...
Koei Tecmo Streams Costume Video for Attack on Titan Game
KOEI Tecmo began streaming a DLC content video on Wednesday showcasing its recent holiday costume releases. Watch and Levi delivers his monologue dressed as Santa Claus and Mikasa cuts up Titans in a witch costume. The Christmas-themed costumes launched on Thursday, and costume pack bundles are slated for March 17. The new DLC is 350 yen per costume or 1,200 yen for the whole set of four. A Christ...
Nowisee Cross Contents Project Adds New MV
Official app hosts music videos, songs, manga, light novel
― The Nowisee "cross contents project" launched its app to host its tie-in music videos, song tracks, novels, and manga chapters. The videos, released monthly since August, are titled "Vibration," "Hard-Boiled," "Bluemoon," "Ko Inu" (fox dog), "Platanus," "Nano," "Confusion," and "Kanzensei Sekai ni Yadoru Shikaku." The project plans to inclu...
Sailor Suit & Machine Gun Film Dies at the Box Office
Even the cuteness of Kanna Hashimoto and Hello Kitty couldn't save the live-action Sailor Suit and Machine Gun: Graduation film at the Japanese box office. The film opened in 12th place on 238 screens. It garnered 27,746,139 yen (US$$243,965) over the weekend, or an average of 116,573 yen (US$1,025) per screen over two days—each theater had roughly 60-70 people seeing the movie the entire weekend....
The Prince of Your Dreams Could Be Growing In Your Bathtub
Bishōnen games have gotten more and more "creative" over the last few years with muscle-bound tapping games, sea cucumber-obsessed classmates, pigeons, monsters, and anthropomorphisized sushi. Creators are looking anywhere and everywhere for inspiration, including at the bottom of the bathtub. Mobile game creator hipopo is breaking new ground with the "forbidden romance" game Aka no Prince ~Koi no...
Kantai Girls Mobile Game Looks a Lot Like a Certain Other Game
A Thai mobile game titled Kantai Girls has more in common with DMM's Kantai Collection than title alone. For instance, all of the characters in the game. The app's Facebook page notes that the game does include micro-transactions and one of the game's ads includes animation sequences from the KanColle television anime. ☺☺Posted by Kantai Girls on Friday, March 4, 2016 Kantai Collection's name is e...
ANN Readers: Favorite Winter 2016 Anime Theme Songs
Last week, Anime News Network readers weighed in on their favorite theme songs for the Winter 2016 anime season. Fans in Japan picked their top five, choosing the Haruchika – Haruta & Chika opening song "Niji wo Ametara" by fhána as the top choice, followed by themes from Utawarerumono, KonoSuba, Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans, and Ajin. ANN reader's choices were vastly different, with o...
British Animator Teases R-Type Animated Short Project
Paul Johnson, who previously created a Doctor Who fan-animated film in the style of 1980s SF and action anime is working on a new project. Johnson teased his latest work adapting the R-Type side scrolling shoot-em-up arcade game from the late 80s. The YouTube channel Mashed commissioned the project due for completion some time in April. Johnson shared stills and video clips from the project on Twi...
Eva Train Gets New Visual, Campaign Bonuses
The Evangelion Shinkansen opened its doors in November. Modeled after Unit-01, the inside has a cockpit simulator, dioramas, and enough beer to get Misato drunk. Starting on March 15, the train will offer new campaigns specifically to attract kids during spring break. Parents who accompany their elementary school age children from March 15 to April 17 in the "exhibition and experience room" will g...
Fan-Made Metal Gear Solid Remake Cancelled
The Unreal Engine 4 engine fan remake of the original Metal Gear Solid game is no more, according to post on the project's official Facebook page on Friday. The staff cited "reasons beyond our control" for the game's demise. The "Shadow Moses" project was operating without permission from Konami. They had hoped to get the greenlight from the company to continue their work. The staff did not state ...
Chihayafuru Creator Draws Jacket Art for Perfume's Live-Action Film Theme
The creator of the Chihayafuru manga series drew the band Perfume for the release of their single FLASH. The album contains the titular track used as the theme song for the Chihayafuru: Kami no Ku and Chihayafuru: Shimo no Ku live-action films. Yuki Suetsugu and Perfume are mutual fans of one another. Perfume requested Suetsugu to draw the illustration like the first manga volume cover if FLASH wa...
Over 1,000 Line Up for KanColle Arcade Location Test in Osaka
Last weekend, the staff of the Kantai Collection Arcade game set up test cabinets in Osaka. The test cabinets let players try out the game's final stage, but would only be available until 11:00 p.m. Sunday. The game was initially planned for release last summer but has faced continued delays. Fans were eager to try out the long-awaited title with over 1,000 lining up for a chance to try it out. 4時...
Ultraman 50-Year Anniversary CD Set Has 99 Theme Songs
Ultraman is getting a most impressive CD box set for its 50th anniversary Nippon Columbia. The five-disc set has over six hours of music with a total of 99 themes from the tokusatsu TV show and films. Ultraman X, Ultraman Ginga, Ultraman Retsuden, Ultraman Nexus, Ultraman Cosmos and more are included. The set costs 6,480 yen (US$57.50) and is available now. Bandai's S.H. Figuarts line added a 50t...
Kinnikuman Statue of The Mountain is a Whopping 8lbs
His own appearance not withstanding, Kinnikuman faces some odd-looking opponents in the ring. One of them is "The Mountain," a guy who looks like a literal mountain wearing a gi. He hails from Mt. Everest and measures 285 cm high (9'4"). Company SpiceSeed is releasing a garage kit of the daunting fighter from the 7 Devil Chōjin Arc and while the figure is scaled down, it's still approximately the...
Fight! Iczer-One TV Airing Censorship Isn't Even Trying
Fight! Iczer-One a sci-fi OVA blending gruesome visuals and nudity like only straight-to-video anime of the 80s could. Originally released in 1985, the show got a recent television broadcast in Japan to celebrate it's 30th anniversary. The broadcaster in Kanagawa ran into some problems with the the frontal nudity, though. Instead of adding the now common carefully placed steam or shafts of light, ...
Rakugo Master Mixes Gundam With Classic Story
If you're currently enjoying the the rakugo performances in Studio DEEN's Shōwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjū but think the stories could use a little more mecha, Sunrise's latest collaboration might whet your appetite. The piece called "Last Shooting" was performed by shinda (master) Shiraku Tatekawa and intertwines the heroes of Gundam with Edo-era Japan. The story is based on the rakugo piece "Daiku Sh...
Prince of Tennis Chocolate Count Finally Complete
Boxes of chocolates overtook manga creator Takeshi Konomi's office last month after Jump Square magazine reinstated the annual Prince of Tennis character popularity contest. The sheer number of confections was daunting, but eight staff members completed the tallies on Saturday morning. 【テニプリバレンタイン日誌】今朝まで8人体制で、一生懸命皆さんのキャラへの愛情を集計し終わりました҉٩(#´◇'#) ۶҉ ｱﾘｶﾞﾄｰ!プレゼント総数11万2863個♪個人別は⑱巻で、学校別ランキングはこの後発表します✭*゜...
Mr. Osomatsu's Iyami Steps Up to The Pitcher's Mound
The mischievous Iyami made his way to the pitcher's mound to start Samurai Japan's warm-up match against Chinese Taipei (the Republic of China) at the Kyocera Dome in Osaka on Sunday. The flamboyant character looked cheerful in his Samurai Japan uniform worn over his bright purple pants. He laughed sarcastically in his characteristic "Sheeeh!" pose while audience members cheered him on, yelling "I...
Voice Actors Mark Ishii, Voice Actress Atsuko Enomoto Announce Marriage
Two met each other on a program; ceremony took place last month
― Voice actor Mark Ishii and voice actress Atsuko Enomoto announced on their Twitter accounts on Monday that they have gotten married. The ceremony took place last month, with their relatives in attendance. The two both shared on Twitter that the two met each other on a program. They found out that they shared many of the same interests,...
Flee from a Zombie-Infested Hospital in I Am a Hero Real Escape Game
Real escape games involve getting out of a certain place within a tight time limit, so it's no surprise that the latest franchise to get the real escape treatment is I Am a Hero, a zombie horror manga. For added realism, the game will take place in a former hospital. "Escape from a Certain Hospital" casts you as a hospital intern. While you're focused on work one day, everyone around you suffers m...
Yowamushi Pedal Seniors Get Silver Graduation Pendants
Characters represented by animal motifs
― Yūsuke, Jinpachi, Yasutomo and Hayato — the seniors of Yowamushi Pedal Grande Road — are approaching graduation, and now they've got silver pendants to celebrate. Thanks to the jewelers of Artemis Kings, you can buy these necklaces to show your fan appreciation for these characters. Each pendant is designed to evoke its corresponding character. Yūs...
Harness the Power of Science in Upcoming 2-D Fighting Game
Game pits famous scientists against each other, gods
― Scientists may be stereotyped as nerdy, bookish weaklings in the popular media. But what if famous scientists could actually use their inventions or discoveries to fight? A Brazilian fighting game under development explores these possibilities. Science Kombat will pit scientists across history against each other. Sure, they have the usual fightin...
Kadokawa to Plan 88-Stop Anime Pilgrimage Tour for Foreigners
Opportunity for obscure Japanese regions to promote themselves
― Mindful of anime's popularity and recognition abroad, and eager to promote tourism to parts of Japan outside of Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, Kadokawa is planning an 88-stop anime "pilgrimage" around Japan for foreigners in cooperation with local authorities. The plan was first announced on March 1 at a meeting in Tokyo for representatives of...
Watch Hatsune Miku Get Drawn with Only Three Colored Pencils
Also: Madoka with a cheap pencil set
― Professional illustrators (and even passionate amateurs) do their work with fancy, expensive software and fancy, expensive art tools. But you can also create some beautiful art with only basic, ordinary tools and a bit of talent. Illustrator and manga artist Moja Cookie (Choppiri O-shaberi de, Choppiri Koseiteki na Dōbutsu-san-tachi) is attracting a lot of atten...
Princess Jellyfish's Manga Artist Supports Form-Fitting Bras
Tired of ill-fitting bras? Sick of wire cutting into your chest? So are the "girls" of Tokyo Tarareba Musume, a manga by Akiko Higashimura (Princess Jellyfish). In a new ad, they complain how hard it is to find a good bra and endorse Wacoal's Suhada bra. The ad begins with Rinko telling her friends that she's thrown out another bra because it doesn't fit her body well. They empathize, and compare...
Fan Rendition of Vocaloid Artist's Real Song Muted on YouTube
Rights holder later apologizes, restores sound
― Vocaloid lets its users write their own songs and hear them sung by a voice-like software. It can be a great way for musicians to promote their work... but sometimes Vocaloid pieces sound a little too close to the originals. Vocaloid enthusiast Mizuki Takaoka learned this the hard way. Sekai no Owari's original song Takaoka uploaded the VOCALOID4 Libra...
Net Manga Depicts Character Falling Out of Love with Favorite Anime
Friend's criticism ruins her appreciation forever
― A new amateur manga posted on the Japanese image-sharing website Pixiv has struck a chord among anime fans for its blunt depiction of a girl whose enthusiasm for a particular popular anime gets permanently shattered when a friend bashes it. "There was an anime I loved. But one day, for a certain reason, I fell out of love with it." The manga, Watash...
Upcoming Bishōnen Game Suspiciously Involves Sextuplets
Katamusubi, the developers of the bishōnen game Tokimeki Office, are making another game starring a cast of attractive men. In this case, they are sextuplets. Hmm... what recent anime popular with women involves sextuplets? Sōma is the eldest. He may crack a lot of jokes, but he's dependable in critical times. Kakeru, next in line, has a forceful personality and butts into conversations often, but...
Gecco Will Release 1/6-Scale Quiet Statue from Metal Gear Solid V
The silent sniper Quiet from Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain will get a 1/6-scale statue from Gecco Corp. The company crafted the statue in detail down to the smallest bolt on her rifle and the tears in her tights. Her head is interchangable with a butterfly mark face. Both the knife and handgun are detachable as is the suppressor on the rifle. The base's theme is the Aabe Shifap Ruins where...
WATAMOTE's Tomoko Goes Out to the Ball Game to Support The Chiba Lotte Marines
The Chiba Lotte Marines revealed the artwork and merchandise for its collaboration with WATAMOTE. An unlikely sports supporter, sleep-deprived and anti-social protagonist, Tomoko looks more enthusiastic in artwork created by manga artist Nico Tanigawa. The collaboration will promote the games against the Saitama Seibu Lions on April 8, 9 and 10. Three seating areas are designated for fans, two inc...
Build the Tiniest Original Pokémon With Nanoblocks
The nostalgia for the original Pokémon generation of games is reaching ever higher this year. The 20th anniversary kicked off with celebrity-hosted parties, fan events, and apps. Pokémon Red & Blue 3DS bundles and Nendoroids were also announced. Nanoblock is the smallest building block toy. Created by Kawada Co., the intricate blocks are a great tool for translating pixels into 3D models. The com...
Zelda's Link Makes Google Maps Cameo — But Only for 24 Hours
The Google Maps app is replacing its yellow pegman with an intrepid adventurer for one day only. On March 5, the yellow locator icon will be replaced with The Legend of Zelda's Link. The change marks the release of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD for Wii U. 【トワプリHD】…マロだ。海外では今日がトワプリの発売日らしいな。その記念に、Googleマップのペグマンがリンクになっているらしいぞ。3月5日の16時59分までは確認できるから、時間があったら見てみろよ。 pic.twitter.com/hFF3gKBVWw— ...
Fans Pick the 5 Best Winter 2016 Anime Theme Songs
Last month, Mora Topics ran a Twitter poll with the hashtag "#俺的2016最強冬アニソン" (#Oreteki2016SaikyōFuyuAnison, My Strongest 2016 Winter Anisong) to see what is this season's strongest anime theme song. Over 5,000 users weighed in with their favorites. The results are: "Niji wo Ametara" by fhána (Haruchika – Haruta & Chika OP) "Ten Kakeru Hoshi" by Suara (Utawarerumono: The False Faces OP2) "fantastic...
Attack on Titan Characters Trick-or-Treat Early in Latest Game
Eren has already tried his luck as a LAWSON employee. Now the Survey Corps. member and his cohorts are celebrating Halloween early courtesy of a new costume pack in KOEI Tecmo Games' Attack on Titan console game. The characters suit up as classic monsters like werewolves, vampires, and witches. Armin appears to be a pumpkin-pants gentleman of some sort. The new DLC is 350 yen per costume or 1,200 ...
Simpson Motorcycle Helmets Are Latest to Collab with Bakuon!! Anime
The upcoming TV and OAV anime adaptation of Mimana Orimoto's Bakuon!! manga is tying up a bunch of deals with real motorcycle clubs and merchandise companies. The series is adding the NORIX SIMPSON motorcycle helmet. The character Raimu Kawasaki will wear the helmet in the show. NORIX joins Kawasaki, Suzuki, Ducati, Honda, and YAMAHA motorcycle manufacturers. Real bikes made by the companies are b...
Award-Winning One Piece Kabuki Play Inspires Figure, Official Merch
The award-winning Kabuki stage play based on Eiichiro Oda's One Piece manga was a hit with both critics and fans during its run last year. So much so, the play returned this year for runs in both Osaka and Fukuoka. MegaHouse's Portrait of Pirate (P.O.P.) figure line is commemorating the performance with a 1/8-scale Luffy figure wearing his Kabuki regalia from the Osaka performances. The Kabuki Ed...
Moto Hagio's Sci-Fi Artwork Gets Exhibit in Tokyo
Moto Hagio, the creator of classic manga works like The Heart of Thomas and They Were 11, is getting her own exhibit this month dedicated to her sci-fi works. The "Moto Hagio Sci-Fi Original Space Play Exhibition, Fly Into a Different World" will open on April 9 at the Kichijoji Art Museum in Mushashino, Tokyo. The exhibit will focus on Hagio's Star Red, Hyakuoku no Hiru to Senoku no Yoru, They We...
Kazuo Koike to Hold Reddit AMA on Thursday
― Manga creator Kazuo Koike will hold an AMA (Ask Me Anything) on Reddit on Thursday at 8:30 p.m. EST. Koike will reveal the Reddit URL on his official Twitter account before the AMA takes place. The manga creator's latest project includes a Kickstarter campaign for a motion comic version of Lone Wolf and Cub in Japanese and English. Koike co-created several popular manga titles that have been licen...
Eternal Sailor Moon's Weapons Imagined as Pens, Sailor Starlights Get Pullip Dolls
The final season of the Sailor Moon's original TV run is getting its share of merchandise. The Prism Stationary collection, which has turned the characters' magical items into pointers and pens since the 20th anniversary began in 2013, might be wrapping up. The "Eternal Set" includes the Eternal Tiare and the Holy Moon Chalice. The two can be combined to create the Moon Power Tiare. The ball-poin...
Tralfagar Law Gets Gender-Swapped for Sexy P.O.P. Figure
MegaHouse's Portrait of Pirates (P.O.P.) Limited Edition B.B. figure line has included sexy swimsuit versions of Nico Robin, Boa Hancock, and Nami. P.O.P. Limited Edition is just one of 13 collections in the P.O.P line. Previous collections included "Motion Ability Statue," "Edition-Z," "Neo MAXIMUM," "Sailing Again," and more. MegaHouse is now adding "I.R.O (Informal Request ONE PIECE)" to the s...
Romance Novelist Iris Johansen's Stormy Vows Gets Manga Adaptation
New York Times best-selling author Iris Johansen's romance novel Stormy Vows got the manga treatment by Ohzora Publishing. The one volume manga is titled Arashi no Oka de no Chikai and was released on Monday. The author's official website describes the original novel: Fiercely proud of her independence, Brenna Sloan felt her assurance crumble under Michael Donovan's forceful approach. They were bo...
Replace Your Platinum With a Sailor Moon Crystal Credit Card
If you plan to charge your next purchases in Akihabara, Tsutaya's T-Card credit cards will fit right in. The company is releasing two Sailor Moon Crystal credit card designs. One features Sailor Moon herself while the other is a silhouette of the five original Guardians. Applications for the Sailor Moon design will open on April 1. The silhouette design is currently available for order and will s...
Marukome Questions the Meaning of 'Kawaii' in Avant-garde Miso Soup Ad
Marukome is a food company best known for its Ryōtei no Aji (First-Class Flavor) miso products not asking existential questions like, "what is 'kawaii' ?" In a new ad, the company tackles the question through the mind of a girl pondering whether it's "cute" or "sexy" or sometimes a little "gross" or "pure." She eventually decides that it is both a fleeting window of time and an eternal concept fro...
Naruto & Sasuke Face Off in New 1/6-Scale Statues by Tsume
Luxembourg-based Tsume created its first 1/6-scale Naruto statues to celebrate the release of the Naruto Shippuden Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 video game. The statues depict the titular character facing Sasuke Uchiha in a dynamic showdown. Only 1,000 statues were made and are already sold out. Each costs 279 euros (US$303) separately or both could be purchased together for 529 euros (US$575). Tsume al...
Sony President, Square Enix CEO Settle the Score in Call of Duty: Black Ops III
Sony Computer Entertainment Japan and Asia President Atsushi Morita challenged Square Enix CEO Yosuke Matsuda to a Call of Duty: Black Ops III duel a few weeks ago. Morita issued the challenge via an official video on the PlayStation Japan YouTube channel on February 19. Not one to go back on his word, both parties showed up to battle in a live-streamed event on Nico Nico Douga on Friday. Viewers ...
S.H. Figuarts Ultraman Fights Invasions While You Sleep
Bandai's S.H. Figuarts line is adding a 50th anniversary Ultraman figure, standard Ultraman figure, and his foe alien Baltan to the line-up. The company kicked off the announcement with a stop-motion video of Ultraman and Baltan. The two wage battle while their own snoozes on the couch. The 50th anniversary edition will go on sale in July for 8,640 yen (US$76). The set includes alternate hand pos...
This UFO Catcher Game Is Totally Rigged, Part II
UFO catcher games are part skill and part dedication. Few are designed to get a prize on a first try or even first five tries. This can be frustrating, but nothing more so than a game that is literally impossible to win. Twitter user @Aru0000 encountered that problem while trying to get a Love Live! plush. The outcome was so absurd, they couldn't help but laugh. りんちゃんとるぞぉ!……!!!???アームがとれました。 pic.tw...
Hatsune Miku Song Ranks Top Choice for High School Graduation Theme
In America there are plenty of go-to tracks used ad nauseum every year for high school graduation. Baz Luhrman's "Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)" and Green Day's "Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)" are almost as traditional as "Pomp and Circumstance." The Japanese music app Nana asked teens which song the want most for their own high school graduation. Surprisingly, many students didn't choo...
Have a Magical Stay in the Mahō Tsukai Precure! Hotel Suite
Shirakaba Resort's Ikenotaira Hotel facing Shirakaba Lake in Nagano prefecture is creating a room suite fit for a magical girl. The Mahō Tsukai Precure! Dream Room will open on March 4 and be available for booking until January 9, 2017. Note: Above is the Go! Princess Precure room design offered last year. The room includes unique PreCure wallpaper and decor, toothbrushes, puzzles, hair scrunchies...
Mr. Osomatsu's Todomatsu, Ichimatsu Bishōnen Hug Pillow Designs Revealed
The final two bishōnen hug pillow design of the Mr. Osomatsu sextuplets were revealed this weekend. The youngest and spoiled sibling Todomatsu and the cat-loving Ichimatsu round out the group. Brothers Karamatsu, Osomatsu, Choromatsu, and Jūshimatsu's designs were revealed last week. The bishōnen character designs first appeared in the premiere episode of Mr. Osomatsu. The pillowcase costs 16,200...
New How to Draw Panties Manga Drawing Book Teaches Exactly That
Manga artists and character designers have released videos and hosted seminars to better novices' art skills. There's plenty of how-to books on the market for the same purpose, from questionable "pose books" to detail books teaching how to draw hands or men's fashion. Publisher Ichijinsha's latest highly-specific entry is concerned with one intimate garment. The book is titled Pants no Kakikata (H...
New Vegeta Figure Literally Trembles with Fear
Premium Bandai is accepting pre-orders for a slightly more interactive Dragon Ball Z figure. The "Hajimete no Gatagata" (Trembling for the First Time) Vegeta figure shows an injured, crying, sweating Vegeta that actually shakes. The figure recreates the moment when Vegeta stood in front of Frieza's final form in episode 85 and found himself crying for the first time in his life. The vibrating ped...
Tokyo Anime Award Festival 2016's Current Fan Vote Tallies
While the nominees for Animation of the Year at the Tokyo Anime Award Festival 2016 have already been announced, fans get to make their voices heard too. The fan vote for Anime of the Year will be held until March 6. The initial list of 489 titles has already been whittled down to 20, all of which were aired/screened between November 2014 and October 2015. The current ranking is: SHŌNEN HOLLYWOOD ...
Tokyo Theater to Screen Girls und Panzer Film with 'Extreme' 4DX
The Girls und Panzer movie is showing in Japanese theaters equipped with 4DX technology. This provides a much more immersive theater-going experience, with sometimes aggressive chair movements, mist, steam, scents, and chairs pounding your back like you're at a massage. The Cinema Sunshine Heiwajima, in Tokyo's Heiwajima district, is taking 4DX one step further on March 5 with "extreme" screenings...
Fist of the North Star Statue to Welcome Hokkaido Bullet Train
To be located in North Star city
― On March 26, the Hokkaido Line will finally connect Honshu, Japan's main island, to the northern island of Hokkaido by high-speed bullet train. To welcome the occasion, the Oshima-Ōno Station in Hokuto, Hokkaido, will be remodeled into the "New Hakodate-Hokuto Station," and will receive a bronze Fist of the North Star statue. Hokuto means "north star" or more accura...
Bus Tour of Live-Action Patlabor Filming Locations Planned
Also: visit to life-size Patlabor
― On February 25, the crew that maintains and sets up the life-size Patlabor mecha, the AV-98 Ingram, announced via Twitter that a bus tour of the filming locations of The Next Generation -Patlabor- is being planned for March 27. The tour will conclude with a visit to "Section 2" to see the Patlabor in person and take pictures with it. More details are promised short...
Business School for Japanese Pop Culture to Open in Akihabara
Study how to be an idol, cosplayer, or dōjinshi artist
― The Tokyo School of Anime will open a spin-off school, the Akiba Business School, in Tokyo's Akihabara district, its main pop culture shopping district. The school will train students out of high school for careers in Japan's pop culture and entertainment industry. Tokyo School of Anime's mascot The school has six majors: Idol, Idol Producer, M...
Relive Dramatic Scenes from One Piece, Dragon Ball Z with Figures
Sanji's farewell and Gohan vs. Cell
― Banpresto's Dramatic Showcase line of figures recreates memorable or emotional scenes from One Piece. In early March, the sixth set in the series will be released, and it depicts the scene in Episode 30 where Sanji bids farewell to his mentor, Chef Zeff, to join the Straw Hat pirates, prostrating himself before the chef in respect. A set of figures from Dragon Ba...
Gantz Creator Draws Seiko Ōmori's New CD Jacket Art
Gantz and Inuyashiki manga creator Hiroya Oku drew album jacket artwork for singer Seiko Ōmori's new album TOKYO BLACK HOLE. The CD will be released on on March 23 in three editions; Tokyo Edition, Black Edition, and Hole Edition. The latter will only be produced in limited quantities and bundles a CD, DVD, and book. The Black Edition comes with a CD and DVD while the Tokyo Edition only includes t...
Japanese Fans Pick Their Favorite Anime Narcissists
A certain sextuplet triumphs
― Narcissists may not seem like likable characters, but sometimes they can win fan followings and boost their anime's popularity, whether because of the humor narcissism provides or because their self-absorption underlines how awesome they are. Charapedia, a Japanese anime/manga character database, conducted a survey of 10,000 fans to find out which narcissists were most ...
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