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Luffy's Gum Gum Devil Fruit Goes Life-Size
Luffy's fate took an irreversible turn when he found the Gum Gum Devil Fruit in Shanks' treasure chest. Premium Bandai is now offering all aspiring Rubber Humans their own life-size fruit, although this one isn't for eating. Third in the series, the shop previously sold the Flame-Flame Fruit and Op-Op Fruit. Luffy's Devil Fruit is 150mm (6in) high, making it roughly the size of a cantaloupe. It c...
Kuroko's Basketball Deodorant Will Keep You Smelling Clean
Sports and sweat just don't mix, which is why the boys of Kuroko's Basketball are collaborating with Premium Bandai for a second series of antiperspirant "deodorant water" to keep you smelling fresh on the court. Each character comes on color-coordinated bottle with a unique smell. Some are expected deodorant scents, like citrus and florals, while others are headscratchers. What exactly does "squ...
Divine Gate x Blood Blockade Battlefront Smartphone Game Collab Shows More Images
More images were revealed for the upcoming collaboration between the Divine Gate mobile game and the Blood Blockade Battlefront anime series. The anime's official website initially revealed only Klaus Von Reinhertz and Leonardo Watch but has since updated with Zapp Renfro, Chain Sumeragi, Steven A. Starphase, K.K., Zed O'Brien, and Mary Macbeth. The collaboration starts on March 25. Divine Gate wr...
Chitoge Dethrones Onodera, Marika in Shonen Jump's Nisekoi Character Poll
In 2014, Weekly Shonen Jump held a character poll asking readers who their favorite character was. 24,000 fans participated, choosing demure classmate Kosaki Onodera as the #1 choice followed by the secretly unrefined Marika Tachibana as #2 and Raku's "fiance" Chitoge Kirisaki as #3. This year things got shook up. This year's 17th issue of Weekly Shonen Jump will publish the results of the latest ...
Kyoto Animation Marks 50,000 With Short Animation
Fan-favorite studio Kyoto Animation (K-On, Clannad, Free) reached over 50,000 Twitter followers last week. The studio marked the occasion with a short, adorable animation to thank its fans. 京都アニメーション公式Twitterが5万フォロワーを突破しました!皆さま本当にありがとうございます!感謝の気持ちをアニメーションにこめてお届けします。これからもよろしくお願いします!https://t.co/l8U2uz5llN pic.twitter.com/g2yHQ2W7Bv— 京都アニメーション (@kyoani) March 17, 2016 Kyoto Animation is currently an...
Universal Studios Japan's Eva Unit-04 Gets Its Own Revoltech Figure
The Evangelion Unit-04 design created by Evangelion mechanical designer Ikuto Yamashita for Universal Studios Japan's "Evangelion The Real 4D: 2.0" attraction is getting a Revoltech EX figure. The figure will get limited sales online and at Universal Studios Japan, although the website is currently sold out. The figure comes with multiple hand parts and action effects to simulate how the Eva look...
New Akihabara Shrine Seeks Miko to Perform Figurine Memorial Services
Akihabara is well known as a otaku paradise with plenty of shops catering to anime goods among the more electronic superstores and crane machine arcades. The district is already relatively close to the Kanda Myōjin Shrine, a shinto shrine that "hired" Love Live!'s Nozomi as a shrine maiden mascot after she appeared as one in the anime series. Akihabara will welcome a new shrine next month. The loc...
Love Live! 'Final' Concert Ticket Auctioned for 430,010 yen
The girls of the Love Live! School idol project idol unit μ's have had a good run. Their singles have regularly ranked in the Oricon charts and overall they were the the eighth best-selling musical act in Japan of 2015. News broke that the March 31-April 1 concerts will be the group's final performances before the group breaks up, and while the members denied the "break up," Emi Nitta acknowledged...
Love Live! Gets Its Very Own Knockoff Dress-Up App
Also: Vocaloid, KanColle
― It seems like Love Live! School idol project is everywhere these days: Sega arcades, tombstones, chewing gum, white rice, men's fashion magazines, The Mike Toole Show, etc. The anime is popular enough that it's receiving the time-honored badge of hit franchises: obvious foreign ripoffs. This dress-up app available on the iTunes store is titled "Dress up ' School idol love l...
Sadako vs Kayako Cup Companions Keep Drinks Spooky
Who would win in a ghostly face-off? The Ring's angry psychic spirit Sadako or Ju-on: The Grudge's vengeful Kayako? A new live-action film, Sadako vs Kayako is asking that question when it opens in theaters in Japan on June 18. To promote the upcoming duel of cursed onryō, PUTITTO is releasing a line of drink companion figures perfect for keeping your beverage deathly cold. The figures include Ka...
Girls & Panzer Helps Ōarai Spring Matsuri Festa Draw 80,000
The coastal town of Ōarai in Ibaraki Prefecture has seen much economic success since the Girls und Panzer anime merged with its annual Angler Fish Festival in November. Since the merge, the town has seen a steady increase in attendee turnout, starting with 65,000 in its first year in 2012 before jumping to 100,000 in 2013. This year the anime also joined forces with the Ōarai Spring Matsuri Kairak...
Your Lie in April, One-Punch Man Top Sugoi Japan Awards 2016 Results
The Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper published the winners of its 2016 Sugoi Japan Awards. The project promoted pop cultural works that fans feel are most deserving of foreign attention. Divided into four categories — anime, manga, light novels, and "entertainment novels" — the awards promote the works that have the "universality," "originality" and "potential" to be big international hits. The time fram...
New T-Shirts Combine All Esper Dayo! with Tenga
Lottery for prize package including autographed shirts
― New T-shirts are now available that combine Yoshirō, the hero of the manga All Esper Dayo!, with Tenga, a popular Japanese sex toy brand. Tenga makes several appearances in the series, and the 2013 live-action TV adaptation is famous for a sexy scene between Yoshirō and Sae. Above, the gravure idols Ami Tomite, Anna Konno, and Airi Shimizu mod...
Final Fantasy Type-0 Characters Do Some Spelunking in Game Crossover
Special stage, characters in Spelunker HD Z
― March 19 marked the one-year anniversary of the release of Spelunker HD Z (Minna de Spelunker Z), the sequel to the HD remake of the classic cave exploration game Spelunker. It's also the one-year anniversary of Final Fantasy Type-0 HD, the HD remake for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One of the PlayStation Portable game Final Fantasy Type-0. Since both of these ...
The Pokémon Company, U.K. Artist Create World's Largest Pokémon Trading Card Mosaic
The Pokémon Company and U.K. artist Quentin Devine created the world's largest Pokémon Trading Card as a mosaic. The mammoth undertaking measures 10 meters (33 feet) on its longest edge, seven meters (23 feet) wide. Overall its 71.54 square meters (770 square feet) and is comprised of 12,987 individual cards. The picture itself is, of course, Pikachu, and replicates the original card's artwork dra...
Madoka Magica Girls Hop Into LAWSON Easter Campaign
The magical girls of Puella Magi Madoka Magica are returning to LAWSON's for a new Easter-themed campaign. The new round of lottery goods and point prizes reimagine the girls with bunny ears and their soul gems as giant Easter eggs. Customers can get original bromide art starting on April 5, although a unique bromide featuring Kyubey and the Dessert Witch will be available at AnimeJapan 2016 on M...
Gainax Fukushima Tohoku Earthquake Short Gets 25-Minute Version
Anime studio Gainax Fukushima's "Omoi no Kakera" (Fragments of Feelings) animated short to promote Fukushima and Tohoku will get a 25-minute version. The extended version will run on NHK on March 24 at 8:15. The channel will also run the original two-minute and five-minute versions intermittently. The original two-minute short follows junior high student Rina Satō (voiced by Kiyono Yasuno), an ene...
Draw the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Way with Rohan Kishibe's Manga Creator Set
The May issue of Shueisha's Ultra Jump magazine will bundle everything JoJo's Bizarre Adventure fans need to start drawing Diamond Is Unbreakable. Specifically, the manga-within-a-manga Pink Dark Boy drawn by character Rohan Kishibe. The set comes with an excerpt of the manga's layout, manuscript, special manga manuscript paper, screentone decal, and a memo pad. The May issue will hit store shelve...
Pacific Rim Gets Fan-Created Anime Title Sequence
Once upon a time, Guillermo del Toro's giant robots-fighting-monsters film Pacific Rim had a sequel, comic books, PlayStation 3 video game, and animated series in the works. Two of those came to fruition and the sequel, while put on the back burner a number of times, is now moving forward with Daredevil and Spartacus alum Steven DeKnight. The animated series is still missing in action but the show...
Assassination Classroom, Kami-Usagi Rope Get Collab Episode
Ryōsuke Yamada, Kazunari Ninomiya guest star in episode airing on March 22
― The television anime series Kami-Usagi Rope: Warau Asa ni wa Fuku Kitarutte Majissu ka!? will broadcast a special collaboration episode to commemorate the opening of the live-action Ansatsu Kyōshitsu: Sotsugyō-hen (Assassination Classroom ~Graduation Edition~) film on March 25. The episode, titled "Kansatsu Kyōshitsu" (Obser...
Aniston, Bateman Film Need Extras to Play 'Harajuku Clique/Bronies/Hello Kitty Lovers'
4 Star Casting is seeking extras to play a Harajuku clique, bronies, and Hello Kitty lovers in the tentatively titled Office Christmas Party film starring Jennifer Aniston, Jason Bateman, and Olivia Munn. Shooting is scheduled for the end of this month and early April in Chicago. Actors will be compensated and the listing specifically asks for multicultural actors of all types. The ad includes two...
Sanrio Gears Up for Its 2016 Character Popularity Poll
Sanrio and its huge stable of character mascots are gearing up for this year's character popularity poll. The voting will kick off on April 10 and last through June 19. The winners will be announced at Puroland on July 2. Sanrio has over 450 different characters, however only 100 are up for vote. New choices include Rilu Rilu Fairilu from Rilu Rilu Fairilu ~Yōsei no Door~, Diet member Pepepepen fr...
Splatoon Fanbook Includes Art by Attack on Titan's Hajime Isayama
Nintendo's Splatoon Wii U shooter game is getting a mook titled Splatoon Pia on March 23 with fan art by well-known creators, including Attack on Titan's Hajime Isayama. Mikasa is shown in the upper left side giving a thumbs up of approval. The book also has interviews and comments with celebrities like voice actors Takuya Eguchi (Takeo Gōda in My Love Story!!), Jun Fukuyama (Assassination Classr...
Pile Sneaks Hidden Message into Song Lyrics
Gives credit to person who made her a star
― The Korean-Japanese singer Pile's new self-titled album includes the song "P.S. Arigatō...," ("P.S. Thanks..."), which contains a message hidden in the lyrics. At first glance it seems like a typical J-pop love song. The lyrics sing about "wanting to dream once more with you," "putting heart in the song," and, of course, lots of "shining." But the bold cha...
Arina Tanemura Holds Annual Birthday Party For Fans
Full Moon artist talks about recent adventures, gives out prizes on 38th birthday
― Last Saturday was famous shōjo manga artist Arina Tanemura's (Full Moon O Sagashite, Phantom Thief Jeanne) 38th birthday. And, as she does every year, she spent her special day with her fans at a birthday event. For the price of 6,500 yen (about US$58) per ticket, fans had the chance to attend her birthday bash. The e...
Sanrio Mascot Cinnamon Gets Unauthorized Lewd Twitter Account
The Sanrio character Cinnamon has his own Twitter account, which he uses to keep his 243,000 followers up to date on all of his important activities. Here's a sample, celebrating his birthday on March 6: おはよう♪きのうはたくさんの温かいメッセージどうもありがとう!みんなが居てくれるから、ぼくはぼくで居られるんだ。これからもずっと、お友達でいてね☆ pic.twitter.com/Z7QIitRi4j— シナモン【公式】 (@cinnamon_sanrio) March 6, 2016 Good morning♪ Thank you for all the warm messages ye...
Industry Insiders Offer Reality Checks on Directing Erotic Games, Voice Acting
"95% of directors quit"
― Three industry insiders recently offered insights on the sometimes dispiriting workings of the erotic game and voice acting fields. On March 15, Kei Mimasu, founder and CEO of the adult visual novel developer Akabeisoft2 (Boku no Hitori Sensō, G Senjō no Maō), related the dropout rates for various positions in the erotic game industry based on his experience: "Directors: abo...
Crowdfunding Secured for Anime Short on Kyoto's Subway Girls
Anime to be screened at Kyoto's Subway Day
― Crowdfunding for an anime short based on Kyoto's subway system's promotional campaign, Chikatetsu ni Noru ("Ride the Subway"), has been achieved, with 1.84 million yen (US$16,438) currently raised through the website Makuake. This is enough money for an anime between 30 seconds and one minute; the length will expand to two minutes if 2 million yen (US$17,...
Nagoya Suburb Promotes Itself with Anime Short
Anime follows five high school girls in relay club
― Kariya, a suburb of Nagoya, will use an anime short produced by Zexcs to promote itself to tourists. The anime, Hikari ~Kariya wo Tsunagu Monogatari~ ("Hikari ~A Story Connected with Kariya~"), tells the story of a high school ekiden (long-distance road relay running) club and its efforts to prepare for the ward tournament. Since the story takes pl...
Final Fantasy's Yoshitaka Amano Art Exhibit Features David Bowie Pieces
Yatterman also featured among artwork
― Artist Yoshitaka Amano, possibly best-known for his artwork and character designs for the Final Fantasy franchise, held his "Amano Yoshitaka: Shinka Suru Fantasy" (Yoshitaka Amano: The Evolving Fantasy) exhibit in Tokyo's Yurakucho district from January 29 to March 8. Aside from showing off his works for the video game series, he also showed off some of his wor...
Time-Lapse Video Shows Artist Draw Dark Souls III Scene in Chalk
FromSoftware began streaming a live painting video on Friday to promote the release of its Dark Souls III PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC game. The time-lapsed video shows a gothic cityscape form as one artist draws and smudges it out of chalk. The drawing was created by 20-year-old artist Renarena at the Kansei Happyō Shiyūkai event on March 10. The game is slated to ship in Europe and North Amer...
Saekano's Megumi to Appear in 3-D at AnimeJapan 2016
Uses latest projection mapping technology
― At this year's AnimeJapan convention at the Tokyo Big Sight convention center, fans of Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend will be greeted at a certain booth by a 3-D version of Megumi, the "boring girlfriend" of the title. She will be made by the latest projection-mapping technology by Sony and can be viewed from many different angles. The project is...
Kakyoin's Soul Puppet, Vanilla Ice's Stand Recreated as Pouches
Jotaro, Joseph, and Kakyoin faced a formidable enemy in the form of Terence T. D'Arby and his Stand Atum when they attemped to enter DIO's stronghold. D'Arby challenges to Kakyoin to a match of the F-Mega racing game with his very soul on the line. The outcome finds Kakyoin as one of D'Arby's collection of puppets. Bandai Premium is now offering the creepy voodoo doll-like puppet to fans to want ...
Yaya Han Debuts Cosplay Fabric Line
Cosplayer Yaya Han and Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores debuted an exclusive line of fabrics made in conjunction with CosplayFabrics.com. The fabrics are made especially for costumes, ranging from superheroes and Steampunk, to anime characters. They include four-way stretch spandex, four-way jumbo spandex, brocade and coutil fabrics and foil, liquid leather, and embossed armor plate coatings. A tota...
Princess Serenity Sits Serenely for Figuarts Zero Chouette Figure
Bandai's first Figuarts Zero chouette figure is none other than Princess Serenity from the Sailor Moon anime and manga series. The glossy figure sits on a crescent moon with one foot dipped delicately in a pool of water. Her hands are clasped together as she stares off in the distance. Her dress' silky shine was achieved by using a glossy pearl paint. The "chouette" line of figures is focused on ...
Babymetal Idol Group Releases New Video, Late Show Appearance Possibly Cancelled
The Japanese idol group Babymetal, the "hardcore" spin on Japanese idol culture, released a music video for their single "Karate" on Thursday. The song is featured on the group's upcoming album METAL RESISTANCE. The group's American distributor RED announced last month that the group was confirmed to appear on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert the week of the album's April 1 release. Since the an...
McDonald's Anime Short Attracts Fast Food Part-Timers With AKB48 Idols
Studio Colorido (Taifū no Noruda) produced a "Mirai no Watashi" (The Future Me) campaign anime short for McDonald's restaurants, and McDonald's posted the short on Wednesday. The short is part of McDonald's new "Crew ni Narō. Campaign" (Join the Crew. Campaign) to attract part-time restaraunt staff members. It depicts the coming-of-age of a new crew member named Sumire. AKB48 idol group member Yui...
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...
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