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No-Rin BD+DVD
Though it doesn't quite amount to much more than a fleeting good time, there's plenty of fanservice and a few decent jokes in this raunchy comedy.
― The basic premise – a city-bred idol retires to the country, where she gets indoctrinated into the ways of agriculture – seems ripe for all manner of “fish out of water” situations, and to an extent this 12 episode series from 2014 does use that approach...
Gundam Evolve
This collection of shorts from across the Gundam Universe features the return of Heero Yuy (for a few moments, anyway), but struggles to be anything more than a curiosity. Lauren Orsini straps in.
― Right now, Gundam is booming overseas and parent company Sunrise has taken note. In the second half of 2015, the company partnered with anime retailer Right Stuf to re-release six series from the classic ...
Real Account GN 1
Don't write this one off just because you're sick of "trapped in a game" stories - Real Account has some tricks up its sleeve that make it worth checking out.
― There comes a point in a genre when many consumers say “enough.” For the trapped-in-a-game genre, which is relatively young as these things go, that moment has been creeping up for many people, which may discourage them from picking up Okusho...
The List - 8 Dubious Anime Dub Opening Songs
There once was a magical time in anime dub history where North American anime licensors dubbed over Japanese opening and ending songs. These eight songs represent the very worst the English anime song genre has to offer.
― Lynzee Loveridge is on a short hiatus, so this week we're reprinting a classic List. New columns will return next Saturday! There once was a magical time in anime dub history wher...
UQ Holder! GN 4
UQ Holder finally finds its feet in this volume, demonstrating far more drama, fun, and creativity than ever before.
― I knew this manga was worth believing in. In spite of its lackluster early volumes, I knew Akamatsu had it in him to make a truly satisfying shounen manga, one that demonstrated all the passion and creativity that occasionally glimmered through in Negima. It's taken a while, but UQ H...
Tuesday, April 26
Dress as Your Favorite Matsuno Brother With Mr. Osomatsu Loungewear
Also: Karamatsu's sunglasses offered
― Premium Bandai opened preorders on Tuesday for cotton loungewear based on the Matsuno brothers' outfits in Mr. Osomatsu. The two-piece set includes grey pants and a shirt with their suit design on the front and the pine symbol from their casual clothes on the back. The pine symbol also appears on the back pocket of the pants and in embroidery on the sleeve. Of ...
Tiger & Bunny's Kotetsu, Barnaby Inspire Wristwatch Designs
Premium Bandai opened preorders for two classy new wristwatches based on Tiger & Bunny's Kotetsu T Kaburagi and Barnaby Brooks Jr. on Tuesday. Each watch will come with a cowhide leather strap for business settings and a polyester strap with a more casual look. Kotetsu: Barnaby: The watches will run 14,800 yen (about US$133) each, and are slated to arrive in September. You can dress head-to-toe i...
Cosplay 'Industry's Longest Wig' Offered
Wig is 160 cm long, available in 10 colors
― Cosplay wig store Assist Wig is now offering what it's billing as the "industry's longest wig," which boasts an impressive 160 centimeters (about 5.2 feet) of straight fiber locks on the back and sides, and 38 centimeters (about 1.2 feet) in the front. It can be seen here on a 160-centimeter-tall model (left, in 5-centimeter heels) and a 150-centimeter-ta...
Pyu to Fuku! Jaguar's Usuta Gets Tribute Illustrations from Jump+ Artists
Kyosuke Usuta is getting a series of tribute illustrations from his peers at Weekly Shonen Jump+ to celebrate his 20th anniversary as a manga creator and the release of the second volume of Food Fighter Tabelu. Manga creators Kōhei Horikoshi (My Hero Academia), Ryo Nakama (Isobe Isobee Monogatari ~Ukiyo wa Tsurai yo~), Hideaki Sorachi (Gintama), Mitsutoshi Shimabukuro (Toriko), Kōji Ōishi (Inumaru...
North American Anime, Manga Releases, April 24-30
Rage of Bahamut: Genesis, Earl and Fairy, Garo The Animation, Dororo anime; Servant x Service manga ship
― Anime Releases Title Publisher Suggested Retail Price Date Cromartie High School DVDPlease Discotek Media/Eastern Star US$39.95 April 26 Dai-Guard DVDCite Discotek Media/Eastern Star US$44.95 April 26 Dororo DVDAnimeNewsNetwork Discotek Media/Eastern Star US$49.95 April 26 Earl and Fairy DVDPlea...
Gainax's Silent Möbius PC Game From 1990 to be Reissued
Limited physical edition slated for September in Japan
― Video game publisher D4 Enterprise opened preorders on Tuesday for a new package edition of Gainax's 1990 PC-9801 game Silent Möbius via its online mail-order site. The new version will be compatible with Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10. The game's story takes place in 2026. The famous sunken ship Titanic appears in the sky ab...
Japanese Final Fantasy XIV 7-Eleven Items Could Head West
Final Fantasy XIV producer and director Naoki Yoshida revealed at the Penny Arcade Expo East convention in Boston over the weekend that Square Enix is in talks to bring over Japanese 7-Eleven Final Fantasy XIV items to North America. Yoshida was scarce on details beyond that discussions were happening. The convenience store chain in Japan quickly sold out of soft drinks with participating game cod...
A Certain Magical Index Producer: 3rd Anime Season Is 'Plausible'
Producer, Straight Edge founder, and former Dengeki Bunko Editor-in-Chief Kazuma Miki posted on his official Twitter account on Monday regarding the possibility of a third season of the A Certain Magical Index anime. He writes: "Please understand that this is an unofficial statement. I am always receiving everyone's passionate opinions on this. Index anime [season 3] is plausible, so please wait!!...
Photo Kano Creators Unveil Reco Love PlayStation Vita Games
"Blue Ocean" and "Gold Beach" versions involve filming girls
― Kadokawa Games will unveil its new love simulation PlayStation Vita game Reco Love in Famitsu Magazine on Thursday. Producer and scenario-writer Ichirō Sugiyama (Photo Kano, KimiKiss) is again teaming with Dingo to create the game. The game will have two versions: Reco Love Blue Ocean and Reco Love Gold Beach. The story and heroine events...
CyberConnect2 Announces 'Project Venom'
Famitsu magazine to unveil more details
― Kadokawa's Weekly Famitsu Magazine is reporting on Thursday that CyberConnect2 is working on a new title, code-named "Project Venom." The project coincides with CyberConnect2's 20th anniversary. The magazine will feature comments from the developers, planning materials, and a long interview with CyberConnect2's president and CEO Hiroshi Matsuyama. CyberConnec...
No-Rin BD+DVD
Though it doesn't quite amount to much more than a fleeting good time, there's plenty of fanservice and a few decent jokes in this raunchy comedy.
― The basic premise – a city-bred idol retires to the country, where she gets indoctrinated into the ways of agriculture – seems ripe for all manner of “fish out of water” situations, and to an extent this 12 episode series from 2014 does use that approach...
'What a Wonderful Katamari Damacy' Trademark Filed in Japan
A trademark for "Subarashiki kana Katamari Damashii" (What a Wonderful Katamari Damacy) was recently filed under Bandai Namco Entertainment's name in Japan, and went public on Tuesday. A trademark for Amazing Katamari Damacy was filed in Europe earlier this month. Trademarks for Legend of Vandia and Tsuki no Paradise (Paradise of the Moon) were also filed under Bandai Namco Entertainment. Square E...
Mamoru Miyano, Daisuke Ono, Takahiro Sakurai Join DAYS Soccer Anime's Cast
Soccer anime premieres this summer
― This year's combined 22nd and 23rd issue of Kodansha's Weekly Shōnen Magazine is revealing additional cast information for the television anime adaptation of Tsuyoshi Yasuda's DAYS soccer manga on Wednesday. The new cast members are: Mamoru Miyano (Death Note's Light Yagami, Steins;Gate's Rintarō Okabe) as Kiichi Ōshiba Daisuke Ono (Durarara!!'s Shizuo Heiwajima, ...
New Cardcaptor Sakura Manga Is Sequel Launching in June
Series takes place in Sakura's 1st year of junior high school
― The June issue of Kodansha's Nakayoshi magazine is announcing on Saturday that the members of the creative team CLAMP are launching the new Cardcaptor Sakura sequel manga series in the magazine's July issue on June 3. The manga will take place after titular character Sakura graduates from Tomoeda Elementary School, in her first year of j...
Japan's Animation DVD Ranking, April 18-24
Kurobas Cup 2015 sells 9,052, followed by Haikyu, Drive Saga Kamen Rider Chaser, From Five to Nine, live-action Bakuman.
― Kuroko's Basketball's Kurobas Cup 2015 event DVD landed at #1 on the overall DVD chart with 9,052 copies. Drive Saga Kamen Rider Chaser Break Gunner Special Edition sold 4,436 copies to rank #6. The DVD Box for the live-action television adaptation of Miki Aihara's From Five to N...
Japan's Animation Blu-ray Disc Ranking, April 18-24
Last Code Geass: Akito BD sells 16,560, followed by Drive Saga Kamen Rider Chaser, Kurobas Cup, Haikyu!!, Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans
― Drive Saga Kamen Rider Chaser Break Gunner Special Edition sold 8,426 copies to rank #3 on the overall Blu-ray Disc chart. The regular edition was #17 with 2,979 copies. The Kurobas Cup 2015 event Blu-ray Disc landed at #5 with 7,732 copies. The deluxe edition Blu-r...
'Final' Live-Action Resident Evil Film Opens First in Japan on December 23
The upcoming film Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (Biohazard VI: The Final) will open first in Japan on December 23, before any other country in the world. It will then open in the United States on January 27, 2017. Live-action Resident Evil film franchise producer and director Paul W.S. Anderson announced in 2014 that he was penning the first draft of the film's script, and that it should be the...
Switch Witch, Ao no Haha Manga By Pupa's Sayaka Mogi to Both End
Author's Pupa manga inspired TV anime short series in 2014
― The fifth compiled book volume of Sayaka Mogi's Switch Witch manga revealed last Wednesday that the manga's sixth volume will be the last. In addition, the June issue of Futabasha's Monthly Action magazine revealed on Monday that Mogi will end her Ao no Haha manga in the magazine's next issue, which Futabasha will publish on May 25. The Swi...
Shin Crossbone Gundam Dust Manga Series to Launch in July
Crossbone Gundam sequel set further in Universal Century timeline than Victory Gundam
― The June issue of Kadokawa's Gundam Ace magazine revealed on Tuesday that Yuichi Hasegawa will launch Shin Crossbone Gundam Dust, a new sequel to the Mobile Suit Crossbone Gundam manga series, in the magazine's September issue on July 26. The manga is set in a previously undepicted timeframe of UC 0168 — even furt...
Aksys Games to Release tri-Ace's Exist Archive PS4/PS Vita RPG in N. America
N. America release physical/digital release slated for October 18; Europe release also planned
― North American video game publisher Aksys Games announced on Monday that it will publish Spike Chunsoft and tri-Ace's Exist Archive: The Other Side of the Sky sideview role-playing game on the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita in North America on October 18. Aksys Games confirmed that the game will get b...
Kimagure Orange Road Manga Kickstarter Offers All Volumes as Add-Ons
Volumes were previously "locked" as stretch goals; 2nd stretch goal for volume 3 reached
― Digital Manga Inc.'s Kickstarter campaign to publish Izumi Matsumoto's romantic comedy manga Kimagure Orange Road updated on Monday. With the new update, all of the manga's 3-in-1 omnibus volumes are now available as add-ons for all backers. The omnibus volumes for the manga were previously locked behind progre...
Danganronpa 3 Anime Will Air Both Arcs Simultaneously in July
2 episodes will air weekly; Toshiyuki Morikawa, Mai Nakahara, Junichi Suwabe cast for "Mirai Hen"
― The official website of the Danganronpa 3: The End of Kibōgamine Gakuen (Danganronpa 3 -The End of Hope's Peak Academy-) anime announced on Tuesday that the anime will premiere both its "Mirai Hen" and "Zetsubō Hen" parts in July. As a result, two new Danganronpa 3 episodes will premiere every week. Th...
NIS America Will No Longer Publish Atlus Games in Europe
Upcoming Odin Sphere Leifthrasir release will not be affected
― NIS America managing director Takuro Yamashita revealed in an interview with British video game news website MCV on Monday that NIS America will no longer publish Atlus games in Europe. According to Yamashita, NIS America terminated its relationship with Atlus "around ten days ago." Atlus will also no longer distribute NIS America titles...
Monday, April 25
Crunchyroll Adds New Shōnen Ashibe GO! GO! Goma-chan Manga
Crunchyroll also streaming TV anime
― Crunchyroll announced on Monday that it has added Hiromi Morishita and Junko Ogino's new manga adaptation of the Shōnen Ashibe GO! GO! Goma-chan television anime. The manga is available to Crunchyroll members worldwide excluding Japan. The new manga series debuted on the June issue of Futabasha's Gakken Action magazine on Monday. Crunchyroll is also streaming the...
Naruto's New Sexy Technique Gets a Bishōjo Figure
Premium Bandai opened preorders on Monday for a new Naruto Uzumaki figure... featuring his "New Sexy Technique" (Oiroke no Jutsu). The 1/8 scale figure, from Megahouse's G.E.M. line, will ship in September for 12,528 yen (about US$113). This isn't the New Sexy Technique's first appearance as a figure: Megahouse released a "Naruko" figure among its Petit Chara Land - Naruto Shippuden: Uzumaki Naru...
Love Live! Site Reminds Numazu Pilgrims to Mind Their Manners
The official website for the Love Live! franchise reminded visitors heading to Numazu, Shizuoka, the real seaside town where Love Live! Sunshine!! is set to mind their manners. Shops in Numazu, including Gamers, Animate, Izu Mizuno Sea Paradise, the Awashima Marine Park, and Deep Sea Aquarium will have shopping bags while the Izuhakone Railway will wrap its Sunzusen 3501 train in Love Live! Sunshi...
I Am a Hero, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Zutto Mae Kara Suki Deshita, Sound! Euphonium Films Open; Detective Conan Still Tops Box Office
Crayon Shin-Chan, Assassination Classroom, Chihayafuru, Doraemon films rank in top 10
― Detective Conan: Junkoku no Nightmare (Detective Conan: The Darkest Nightmare), the 20th Detective Conan (Case Closed) anime film, topped the Japanese box office chart again in its second weekend. The film sold 522,023 tickets over the weekend for 679,206,300 yen (about US$6.1 million), bringing the film's box off...
Good Smile Company Lends Support to Kumamoto With Figure Sales
Good Smile Company is lending its support to the earthquake affected Kumamoto Prefecture by donating the proceeds from two figure sales to aid relief efforts through Cheerful Japan. Good Smile Company, in collaboration with Crypton Future Media, DMM.com, and Nitroplus is releasing Hatsune Miku: Cheerful version and Nendoroid Mikazuki Munechika: Cheerful version. The Hatsune Miku: Cheerful version...
Mr. Osomatsu App Lets Players Experience Anime Scenes as Mini Games
"Mr. Osomatsu Nonsense Party" launched in Japan on Friday
― The Mr. Osomatsu anime may have ended in March, but D-Techno launched a smartphone game app in Japan on Friday for fans who want to relive the series. It's called Osomatsu-san Hachamecha Party! (Mr. Osomatsu Nonsense Party). Players are able to select from a number of mini games inspired by scenes from the anime, such as the otoshi game in t...
Scary Lessons/Zekkyō Gakkyū: Tensei Special Anime Streamed
Kids' horror manga previously inspired live-action film
― A short anime special based on Emi Ishikawa's Zekkyō Gakkyū: Tensei manga aired on Oha-Suta (Good Morning Star) variety program on the TV Tokyo network on Tuesday. The official YouTube channel for Shueisha's Ribon magazine also streamed the one-and-a-half-minute episode. In the video, a girl's classmate disappears during a game of hide-and-see...
Sailor Moon Crystal: Season III ‒ Episode 30
"Despite all its important revelations, this week's episode feels a little slow, as if it wasn't put together quite right."
Kumamiko - Girl meets Bear ‒ Episode 4
"There's still a lot to like in this show, but it needs to spread its repertoire out a bit. Every joke gets stale if you tell it too many times."
Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV CG Film Posts 1st Theatrical Teaser
Film opens in Japan on July 9
― Square Enix posted the first theatrical teaser trailer for the Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV feature-length CG film on Monday. Text: The newest work from Final Fantasy, a franchise which has sold over 110 million copies worldwide... Text: Another story told within the same world, time, and place as Final Fantasy XV. Text: Everything is for the sake of the "Future King....
Godzilla vs. Evangelion Continues With Art by Kaiju Designer Yuji Kaida
The staff of this year's Godzilla Resurgence film have continued to play up that the film is helmed by chief director Hideaki Anno. Godzilla faced off against Unit-01 in this year's April Fool's joke on the film's official website and Bandai Namco Entertainment and Granzella Inc.'s upcoming collaboration game Kyoei Toshi (City Shrouded in Shadow) also looks to have both the mecha and monster appea...
Honobono Log Art Book of Couples & Families Gets TV Anime
Collection of Fukamachi Naka's popular Twitter art inspires anime on NHK
― An anime adaptation of Fukamachi Naka Gashū Honobono Log ~Taisetsu na Kimi e~ (Naka Fukamachi Art Collection: Heartwarming Log ~To Precious You), an illustration book by popular artist Naka Fukamachi, will air on the NHK-General channel in Japan. While many manga and novels have inspired anime in the past, there are few art co...
ReLIFE Anime Casts Noriaki Sugiyama, Himika Akaneya, Daisuke Namikawa
Kensho Ono stars as a man who gets second chance at a high school life in July anime
― The streamed Niconico Live program for the television anime of Yayoiso's ReLIFE manga announced more cast members on Monday: Himika Akaneya (Pripara's Laala) as Honoka Tamarai, the captain of the volleyball team. She has a spacey personality and is easy-going, but is extremely skilled at sports and has monster stre...
Midori Days' Inoue Launches Shitei Bōryoku Shōjo Shiomi-chan Manga
New series centers on boss of scary organization who becomes a beautiful young girl
― The June issue of Shogakukan's Shonen Sunday S magazine revealed on Monday that Kazurou Inoue (Midori Days) will launch the Shitei Bōryoku Shōjo Shiomi-chan (Designated Violent Girl Shiomi-chan) manga in the magazine's July issue, which will ship on May 25. The June issue of Shonen Sunday S describes the manga as fo...
Answerman - How Hard Is It To License Western Music For Use In Anime?
Savage Garden is in Jojo's Bizarre Adventure! How does that happen, how much does it cost, and how tough is it to get those music rights for anime? Justin dives in.
― Chris asks: With the release of Jojo 4 using the hit song "I Want You" by Savage Garden. I am wondering how do they get this song to play on legal streamers? Considering it may be an expensive song. Is streaming not the same as buying ...
Amazing Banpresto Figures
Over in Japan these awesome figures can be won in arcades at the "Crane King" and similar games, but you can order them online too.
― Tokyo Otaku Mode is an official partner of Banpresto, authorized to sell Banpreto figures online to customers outside of Japan. Normally, there's only one way to get these highly sought after figures, travel to Japan and try your luck in an arcade. Tokyo Otaku Mode sav...
Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization Game's Longer 2nd Trailer Unveils Release Date, Limited Edition
Philia, Strea character images unveiled
― Bandai Namco Entertainment began streaming a longer version of the second trailer for the Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization game on Monday. The trailer reveals that the game will ship in Japan for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita on October 27. Both the PS4 and PS Vita editions will be available in regular and limited editions. The limited editions will ...
Gundam Evolve
This collection of shorts from across the Gundam Universe features the return of Heero Yuy (for a few moments, anyway), but struggles to be anything more than a curiosity. Lauren Orsini straps in.
― Right now, Gundam is booming overseas and parent company Sunrise has taken note. In the second half of 2015, the company partnered with anime retailer Right Stuf to re-release six series from the classic ...
One Piece ‒ Episode 738
"I really was not expecting to enjoy this episode as much as I did."
Chi's Sweet Home Manga Gets New 3DCG Anime This Fall
New Chi's Sweet News manga launches to commemorate new series
― This year's combined 22nd and 23rd issues of Kodansha's Morning magazine is revealing on Thursday that Kanata Konami's Chi's Sweet Home manga is getting a new 3DCG television anime series that will premiere this fall. The issue will additionally publish the first chapter of a new Chi's Sweet News manga that is commemorating the new anime...
Maid Sama!'s Fujiwara Starts Final Arc of 'Does Yuki Fall To Hell?' Manga
"Military history story" manga launched in February 2014
― The June issue of Hakusensha's LaLa magazine announced on Saturday that manga creator Hiro Fujiwara's Does Yuki Fall To Hell? (Yuki wa Jigoku ni Ochiru no Ka) manga launched its final arc in the chapter published in the same issue. The "military history story concerning boys and girls" revolves around Yuki, a girl who has lived in the rural a...
She and Her Cat Manga Inspired by Makoto Shinkai's Short Ends Next Month
1999 short anime also inspired 4-episode TV anime in March
― The June issue of Kodansha's Monthly Afternoon magazine revealed on Monday that Tsubasa Yamaguchi's manga adaptation of Makoto Shinkai's She and Her Cat (Kanojo to Kanojo no neko) anime short will end with its fourth chapter in the magazine's July issue on May 25. Yamaguchi launched the manga in Monthly Afternoon on February 25. Monthly Aft...
PSP Go's Warranty Maintenance Service in Japan Ends on July 31
Sony cites difficulty in procuring parts as reason
― Sony Interactive Entertainment Japan Asia announced on its official Japanese PlayStation website on Monday that it will discontinue its warranty service and maintenance for its PlayStation Portable Go device on July 31. The company cited difficulty in procuring parts for the device as the reason for the service's discontinuation. The company furthe...
The King of Fighters XIV PS4 Game's 2 Trailers Reveal August 23 U.S. Release Date
20+ more characters also revealed for fighting game
― SNK Playmore announced at a press presentation at Tokyo's e-sports Square Akihabara on Monday that its The King of Fighters XIV PlayStation 4 game will ship in Japan on August 25. SNK Playmore also began streaming two English trailers on Monday for the game. The videos reveal the new characters Nakoruru, Shun'ei, Luong, Nelson, and Sylvie Paula Pa...
My Hero Academia: Battle for All Gameplay Videos Preview Eijirō, Shōto
May 19 game features same voice cast as anime, includes side stories for each playable character
― The official website of Bandai Namco Entertainment's My Hero Academia: Battle for All Nintendo 3DS game began streaming two gameplay videos on Sunday for Eijirō Kirishima and Shōto Todoroki. The video for Eijirō previews his gameplay mechanics based on his "Hardening" quirk. Although he is a slow fighte...
Sailor Uniform Loungewear are for Women, Too
Men's sailor uniform loungewear offers "spring" line
― Having had success with its Bokusera line of girls' sailor uniform-inspired loungewear for men, BIBI LABS is now offering something similar in women's sizes. "For those women who want to wear the sailor uniform until they die," the website touts. The line is simply called "Sailor Uniform Collection," or "SeraColle" for short. These cozy cover-up...
Maaya Sakamoto Performs Opening Theme Song for Amanchu! Anime
Anime about diving club premieres in July
― Voice actress and singer Maaya Sakamoto announced on her official website on Monday that she will perform the opening theme song "Million Clouds" for the television anime adaptation of Kozue Amano's Amanchu! manga. Sakamoto will release the single with the song on the same day as her first live album, which does not yet have a name or release date. Sunday m...
Tokyo Government Offers Support for Original Anime Production to Promote Overseas Business Development
Campaign to take applications from April 28-May 26; successful applicants to be awarded 300,000 yen
― The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Bureau of Industrial and Labor Affairs announced on Friday that it is accepting applications for original anime productions to promote overseas business development. The campaign will offer selected winners the opportunity to conduct pitches, proposals, and business ...
NISA Delays PC Version of htoL#NiQ Game to May 18
NIS America announced on Friday that it is delaying the PC release of the htoL#NiQ: The Firefly Diary game again from April 25 to May 18. The game was originally supposed to ship on March 14 before being delayed to April 25. NIS America explained that the delay is intended to fix common issues that the game's beta testers experienced, notably problems with playing in 60 frames per second and frame...
Danganronpa 3 Anime Casts Chiwa Saito, Masaya Matsukaze, Takako Sasuga
Tomokazu Sugita, Miho Arakawa also reprise roles from Danganronpa 2 game
― The official website of the Danganronpa 3: The End of Kibōgamine Gakuen (Danganronpa 3 -The End of Hope's Peak Academy-) anime revealed additional cast members for both its "Mirai Hen" and "Zetsubō Hen" parts on Monday. The newly-announced cast members appearing in the "Mirai Hen" part of the anime include: Chiwa Saito as Aoi ...
Ultraman Orb Series Revealed With Star Hideo Ishiguro
Series with main character who combines powers of previous Ultraman characters premieres in July
― Japanese newspaper Sports Hochi revealed details on Monday on Ultraman Orb, the new Ultraman series debuting this year. Hideo Ishiguro (live-action Gokusen's Kengo Honjo) is playing Gai Kurenai (seen right), the series' main character, who uses a round transformation item to "borrow" the powers of previ...
Sunday, April 24
Naruto Stage Musical's Visual Shows Main Cast in Costume
Character visuals show Yūgo Satō as Rock Lee; FLOW's "Hikari Oikakete" image song confirmed
― The official website of the Live Spectacle Naruto stage musical unveiled a new visual on Monday featuring the play's characters in costume. The site also revealed visuals for the new characters, including Yūgo Satō in costume as Rock Lee, who is new to this run of the play, as well as Kaoru Fujiki and Tatsuy...
Naruto Shippūden Anime Reveals Visual For New Arc Starting in May
New arc to feature "final decisive battle" between Team 7, Kaguya
― Tokyo TV's official website for the Naruto Shippūden television anime series revealed a new visual on Monday for the series. The visual is for the new arc of the series that will start in May. The combined 21st and 22nd issue of Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine provided more details on Monday regarding the new arc. The issue co...
Shaft's Madogatari Exhibit Heads to Nagoya with New Heroine Poll
Also: lottery for Shaft character art
― Studio Shaft's Madogatari exhibit, which celebrates their 40th anniversary and focuses on its two most popular works — Puella Magi Madoka Magica and the Monogatari series — saw immense fan turnout in Tokyo, Osaka and Sapporo. Now it's touring in Nagoya as well, but with some new features. Exhibit patrons will be able to participate in a popularity pol...
Funko's Pop! Vinyl Figure Series Adds Sailor Moon, More Dragon Ball Z Characters
The cast of Sailor Moon are getting their own figures from Funko's ubiquitous Pop! Vinyl line, which feature super-deformed characters spanning all corners of pop culture. The five Inner Senshi and Tuxedo Kamen are arriving in in July. It would seem Sailor Moon and Sailor Venus are the best value—they come with Luna and Artemis, respectively. Another Sailor Moon figure, this one with her Moon Sti...
Amatsuki Performs Opening Theme to Gainax Fukushima's Masamune Datenicle
Short anime series premiered in Date, online on April 24
― The J-pop singer Amatsuki performed the opening theme to Masamune Datenicle, the short anime series Gainax Fukushima produced to promote the town of Date in Fukushima Prefecture and its native son, 17th-century warlord Masamune Date. The song, "Mikazuki Resize," is written by Mafumafu (Reikenzan: Hoshikuzu-tachi no Utage), who is part of the ...
Gochi-Show! Cooking & Simulation App Gets English Release This Summer
App teaching basic techniques & recipes comes in two versions featuring male or female characters
― The official website of Creative Freaks' Gochi-Show! and Gochi-Show! for Girls cooking game apps began streaming two 30-second English trailers for the games on Saturday. The trailers preview the games' cooking modes and adventure game modes. Creative Freaks' official website states that the English ve...
Re:Zero -Starting Life in Another World- ‒ Episode 4
"It would be nice if the technical merits were a little stronger, but there's still enough intriguing stuff going on here to keep viewers coming back."
Flying Witch ‒ Episode 3
"The show's fundamental contrast between rural and magical life is extremely strong, and this episode elaborated on that platform with a variety of nice gags and endearing experiences."
Keiko Suenobu Launches Life 2 Manga
Tokyopop published part of original manga in English
― The June issue of Kodansha's Monthly Afternoon magazine revealed on Monday that Keiko Suenobu (Limit) is launching a sequel to her Life manga. The Life 2: Giver Taker manga will launch in Monthly Afternoon's August issue on June 25. The issue also revealed that the original manga has more than 10 million copies in print. Kodansha is releasing a n...
Macross Delta's Prince Heinz Songs Sung by Melody Chubak
TV anime's 1st soundtrack goes on sale on June 22 with 6 vocal songs
― 19-year-old Canadian/Japanese vocalist Melody Chubak (Plastic Memories) is contributing the singing voice for Heinz, the young prince of the antagonistic Windermere Kingdom in the Macross Delta television anime series. She sings the song "Aura Sala ~Hikaru Kaze~" in episode 3 and "Zarudo Vaasa! ~Ketsui no Kaze~" in episode 4. Voic...
Hantsu x Trash Risque Water Polo Manga Bundles 2nd Original Anime DVD
Limited edition ships on June 6 in Japan
― This year's combined 21st and 22nd issue of Kodansha's Weekly Young Magazine announced on Monday that the 10th compiled volume of Hiyoko Kobayashi's Hantsu x Trash manga will bundle an original anime DVD (OAD) when it ships on June 6. The magazine teased an original self-contained story where "Miyoshi-sensei's breasts will be rubbed." The limited edition eig...
Orange TV Anime Casts Makoto Furukawa, Seiichirō Yamashita, Kazuyuki Okitsu
Series adapting Ichigo Takano's sci-fi romance manga premieres this July
― The June issue of Futabasha's Monthly Action magazine revealed more cast on Monday for the television anime adaptation of Ichigo Takano's science-fiction romance manga Orange. It also revealed the designs of several of the characters when they are 26. Seiichirō Yamashita (Haruchika – Haruta & Chika's Keisuke Katagiri) as Kaker...
My Hero Academia ‒ Episode 4
"Our feet have stepped forward onto school ground and thus the "Academia" part of the title is in full effect as Midoriya and his peers face the U.A. high school entrance exam."
Oh My Goddess' Fujishima's New Toppū GP Manga Gets Simultaneous English Release (Updated)
Series about motorcycle racing to launch next month
― This year's June issue of Kodansha's Monthly Afternoon magazine announced on Monday that manga creator Kousuke Fujishima will launch his new series, titled Toppū GP, in the next issue on May 25. The June issue also announced that an English version will run online at the same time as the Japanese edition. Fujishima will publish the first two chapt...
Real Account GN 1
Don't write this one off just because you're sick of "trapped in a game" stories - Real Account has some tricks up its sleeve that make it worth checking out.
― There comes a point in a genre when many consumers say “enough.” For the trapped-in-a-game genre, which is relatively young as these things go, that moment has been creeping up for many people, which may discourage them from picking up Okusho...
Midori/Shōjo Tsubaki Live-Action Film's Extended Trailer Streamed
Film about orphan girl abused by freak show troupe opens on May 21
― Nippon Television's VAP began streaming an extended trailer on Thursday for the live-action film adaptation of Suehiro Maruo's Shojo Tsubaki horror manga. The trailer previews the film's theme song "Ano Ko no Jinta" by musical sister group Charan-Po-Rantan. (Note: The video below is not safe for work.) The film will open in Japan on...
NIS Acquires Adventure Game Developer Full On Games
CEO of company behind Fuuraiki, Missing Parts games passed away in February
― Nippon Ichi Software announced via press release on Friday that it has acquired adventure game developer Full On Games (FOG). Full On Games is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nippon Ichi Software. Full On Games, which was founded in 1996, is the developer of the Kuon no Kizuna and Missing Parts series on the PlayStation, P...
Sadako vs. Kayako Horror Crossover Film's 1st Trailer Streamed
Ring/Ju-on crossover film premieres on June 18
― Kadokawa Films began streaming on Friday the first trailer for the Sadako vs. Kayako horror film. The video teases that "a video with a curse" and "a cursed house" will "finally intersect" in "the greatest of Japanese horrors." The video also previews Sekima II's "Noroi no Sha.Na.Na.Na" theme song. The film will open in Japan on June 18. The movie's ca...
Koihime†Enbu Game Gets English PC Release via Steam in May
Demo of fighter playable at PAX East
― Publisher Degica Games' official Twitter account announced on Friday that it will publish a Steam PC port of Unknown Games' Koihime†Enbu arcade fighting game, which features characters from the Koihime Musō franchise. A demo version of the game is playable at the PAX East convention in Boston this weekend. Degica Games will publish the game on Steam in May. The ...
North Carolina's Animazement to Host Toshiyuki Watanabe, Sōichi Noguchi
May convention to also donate to Kumamoto earthquake relief efforts
― North Carolina's Animazement convention announced on Thursday that it will host composer Toshiyuki Watanabe and astronaut Sōichi Noguchi at its 2016 convention. Watanabe is a Japanese composer, arranger, record producer, and educator who studied composition and arrangement for classical music and jazz at Berkley College of Music in...
ISLAND Visual Novel Gets Manga Adaptation
Naoya Yao launched adaptation of visual novel on Thursday
― The official Twitter account for Frontwing and PROTOTYPE's ISLAND visual novel announced on Thursday that the visual novel is getting a manga adaptation. Simsum Media Co., Ltd. published the first chapter of the manga on Thursday in the third issue of its Cosplay Channel magazine. Naoya Yao is drawing the manga, and Yao also posted a preview...
Puzzle & Dragons X TV Anime's Trailer, 3DS Game's Gameplay Video Streamed
Game to ship in 2 versions on July 28 after anime's premiere
― The official YouTube channel for Shogakukan's Coro Coro Comics magazine began streaming a trailer on Saturday for Studio Pierrot's television anime adaptation of the Puzzle & Dragons X ("Pazudora Cross") Nintendo 3DS puzzle role-playing game. The trailer features the protagonist Ace and his partner Tamazō, as well as the protagonist's riv...
Bandai Namco Pictures Registers 'Hebotto!' Trademark
Bandai Namco Pictures registered four trademarks on March 31 for "Hebotto!." The trademark is for animation, games, home console games, trading card games, board games, music, as well as merchandise like food, drinks, posters, and stationary and other paper products. Bandai Namco Pictures officially launched last April. The company handles Sunrise's intellectual property aimed at children and fami...
Peach Girl Live-Action Film Casts Mei Nagano as Sae
Rurouni Kenshin, My Love Story!! actress plays antagonist in 2017 film
― The official website for the live-action film adaptation of Miwa Ueda's Peach Girl shōjo manga revealed on Saturday that Mei Nagano (live-action Rurouni Kenshin's Tsubame, live-action My Love Story!!'s Rinko) will play the role of antagonist Sae Kashiwagi in the film. Mizuki Yamamoto (live-action Black Butler film) will star as ...
Saturday, April 23
Vocaloid Study Guides Make Learning History & Science Catchy
Putting rhythm to meteorology and the medieval Japanese monarchy
― Junior high school students associate learning history and science with leafing through dry textbooks and memorizing facts and vocabulary to pass monotonous tests. The Japanese educational publisher Gakken Plus seeks to address this with its Music × Study Project, which combines the sort of historical and scientific concepts middle sc...
High School Fleet ‒ Episode 3
"Even as it focuses on establishing the cast and delivering big action scenes, the show continues to move the plot forward."
Series Premiere: Haven't You Heard? I'm Sakamoto (Episodes 1-2)
"So far, I've been consistently amused by Sakamoto's unyielding perfection, but it's also the kind of gimmick I can see getting old quickly."
Ditto Continues Its Unsuccessful Infiltration of Pokemon Plush Line
The 132nd Pokemon, Ditto, has the rare ability to transform into other Pokemon it comes in contact with. This makes it perfect for infiltration and espionage (as Green in Pokemon Adventures can attest). Unfortunately, sometimes the transformation doesn't quite work out that well. A new set of Pokemon plushies look a lot like Eevee, Jolteon, Flareon, Vaporeon, Gengar and Poliwag... but something's...
Japanese Music Industry Sees 1st Rise in 3 Years
Anime music releases reach record 1,022 releases in 2015
― The Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) released its "The Recording Industry in Japan 2016" report for the year 2015 on April 8. Audio Sales According to the report, the combined revenue acquired through sales of audio records (CD/analogue disc) and music videos (DVD/Blu-ray Disc) increased by 1% in 2015 compared to the previous ye...
This Nissan Car Expresses Driver Emotions With Manga Effects
Car reads driver brainwaves, projects them onto the ground
― Nissan is celebrating the 5th anniversary of its totally electric Nissan Leaf, and to do so it teamed up with NeuroSpace and produced a special version car. As the video below shows, the car comes equipped with a headband that will read the driver's brainwaves and project their emotions on the pavement in the form of one of 33 manga-style s...
Anonymous;Code Visual Novel Adds More Characters
Game is 1st title by MAGES. president Chiyomaru Shikura's Chiyomaru Studio
― The official website for Anonymous;Code, the first standalone title from MAGES. president Chiyomaru Shikura's Chiyomaru Studio, unveiled more characters and organizations of the "science visual novel" on Monday. Cross Yumikawa A member of the Bike Graper group "Crow," as well as Poron's best friend and partner. He is a good ...
The Asterisk War ‒ Episode 16
"Long story short: the fights don't ascend above common anime action clichés, which also include the unreasonably-long pauses in the midst of matches while characters talk."
Splatoon Wigs Available as Items in Miitomo
Also: Splatoon clothes, ink tanks, squid badges
― On April 20, the Miitomo official Twitter account posted the tweet below, which advertises two Splatoon wigs — one a boy's, one a girl's — as items in Nintendo's new social networking service. The catch? Twitter users had to retweet the tweet first. 10,000 retweets would mean the boy's wig would be available, and the wigs would both be avail...
Kiznaiver ‒ Episode 3
"In short, Kiznaiver now looks like it's definitely smart enough to earn its focus on character psychology and human connection."
Ace Attorney ‒ Episode 4
"Nobody can deny that this wacky show stays true to its wacky source material—at the cost of any outsider getting all the jokes."
Kazuo Umezu's My Name is Shingo Manga Inspires Stage Musical
Mitsuki Takahata, Mugi Kadowaki star in musical touring 5 Japanese cities this winter
― The science fiction manga Watashi wa Shingo (My Name is Shingo) by Kazuo Umezu (Drifting Classroom, Makoto-chan) is inspiring a stage musical adaptation that will run from December 2016 to January 2017 in five locations in Japan (Kanagawa, Shizuoka, Toyama, Kyoto, and Tokyo). Watashi wa Shingo ran in Shogakukan's...
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable ‒ Episode 4
"This is the episode of the batch so far that feels the most reminiscent of Stardust Crusaders."
The Lost Village ‒ Episode 4
"The Lost Village can be entertaining when it's moving slowly because its characters are so inherently silly, but I was happy to see the show actually get moving this week."
Asami Imai Performs New Song for Shizuoka Promotional Anime Short
Anime short debuts on May 2 featuring Imai's "spRINGtime" song
― Shizuoka prefecture's SYZ Project, the prefecture's collaboration project with DLE, Inc. (Eagle Talon), announced on Tuesday that it will once again produce a short anime video featuring singer and voice actress Asami Imai's new song "spRINGtime." The anime video will again feature Taimu-chan, the project's mascot character. The video w...
Big Order ‒ Episode 2
"Where it takes a lot of shows at least a handful of episodes for their wheels to start falling off, Big Order only needed two weeks to prove that it has absolutely no clue what it's doing."
Season Premiere: Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress (Episodes 1-2)
"Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress is a revenge-of-the-nerds adventure that actually delivers on the promise of its premise: that giant dorks can be heroes without letting go of their geekery."
The Last Blade 2 Gets PS4/PS Vita Release on May 24
SNK Playmore fighting game will have cross-buy, online multiplayer
― The official U.S. PlayStation blog announced on Tuesday that SNK Playmore will release The Last Blade 2 fighting game on the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita on May 24. The game will be available for cross-buy (purchasing the title digitally on one platform also enables it to be played on another platform). SNK Playmore also began...
The List - 8 Dubious Anime Dub Opening Songs
There once was a magical time in anime dub history where North American anime licensors dubbed over Japanese opening and ending songs. These eight songs represent the very worst the English anime song genre has to offer.
― Lynzee Loveridge is on a short hiatus, so this week we're reprinting a classic List. New columns will return next Saturday! There once was a magical time in anime dub history wher...
Concrete Revolutio ‒ Episode 16
"Concrete Revolutio continues to craft strong individual stories, without packing in too many details to lose its viewers this time."
UQ Holder! GN 4
UQ Holder finally finds its feet in this volume, demonstrating far more drama, fun, and creativity than ever before.
― I knew this manga was worth believing in. In spite of its lackluster early volumes, I knew Akamatsu had it in him to make a truly satisfying shounen manga, one that demonstrated all the passion and creativity that occasionally glimmered through in Negima. It's taken a while, but UQ H...
Ushio & Tora ‒ Episode 30
"It's a real level-up episode, showing the strengths of Ushio & Tora 2.0."
Himitsu - The Top Secret Live-Action Film Casts Kouji Kikkawa
Kikkawa plays serial killer Kiyotaka Kainuma in August 6 film
― The official website for the live-action film of Reiko Shimizu's Himitsu - The Top Secret psychological science-fiction manga announced on Wednesday that Kouji Kikkawa will play the character Kiyotaka Kainuma in the film. The site unveiled a visual of Kikkawa in costume (shown right). The site describes Kainuma as a serial killer who opp...
Voice Actor Junichi Miyake, Artist Aoi Nishimata Marry
May 5 ceremony at Tokyo Disneyland, followed by June 24 photo & essay book
― Voice actor Junichi Miyake (pictured at right) and illustrator Aoi Nishimata simultaneously announced on Saturday evening that they are marrying each other. They will hold a formal ceremony at Tokyo Disneyland's Cinderella Castle on May 5, which is Children's Day in Japan. Nishimura posted an illustration for the announcemen...
Viewster Adds Sora no Manimani to Its Anime Lineup
New episodes of 2009 romantic comedy available weekly
― The streaming site Viewster added the 2009 anime adaptation of Mami Kashiwabara's Sora no Manimani manga to its streaming lineup. Viewster premiered the first six episodes on April 1 and has been adding one episode per week. In the story, Saku Ōyagi is a quiet bookworm who moves back his former hometown as a high school freshman. He meets his ch...
Nintendo Streams English Trailer For Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE RPG
Atlus localizes Wii U game shipping in U.S. on June 24
― Nintendo began streaming a "first beats" trailer on Friday for the Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE (Genei Ibun Roku #FE) Wii U role-playing game. The Shin Megami Tensei and Fire Emblem crossover game will ship in the United States on June 24, and it will have English text while retaining its Japanese audio. Nintendo told the Game Informer news websit...
Dai-Shogun Reboot Kickstarter Campaign Fails to Reach Goal, Creator Posts Comment
Kazuya Sasahara says project is "temporarily frozen"
― Anime creator Kazuya Sasahara's (Cat Shit One: The Animated Series) Kickstarter campaign to create a virtual reality 3DCG-animated reboot of Dai - Shogun - Great Revolution ended on Friday after raising US$44,988 of its US$200,000 goal. Sasahara had commented on Friday that the Kickstarter would be his last challenge, but after the campaign ended...
Grasshopper Manufacture Opens 'Believe in the Internet' Teaser Site
Grasshopper Manufacture CEO Gōichi Suda or Suda51 (Let It Die, Lollipop Chainsaw, Killer is Dead) posted a link on Twitter on Friday to a teaser website with the URL "believeintheinternet.com." The site features logos for PLAYISM and Active Gaming Media alongside Grasshopper Manufacture. While the site featured three triangle images on Friday, it now features five. PLAYISM additionally posted a li...
Tekken X Street Fighter Game's Development Put on Hold
Tekken director Harada says release window has "become difficult" to find
― Tekken game director Katsuhiro Harada confirmed in an interview with the GameSpot website that development of the Tekken X Street Fighter game has been put on hold. During the interview posted on Friday, GameSpot asked Harada about the status of the game. Harada replied: That's a difficult question to answer. When we develop ...
God Eater: Resurrection Game Video Reveals June 28 Release Date
God Eater 2: Rage Burst game ships in N. America on August 30
― Bandai Namco Entertainment America began streaming a story trailer for the God Eater: Resurrection game on Friday. The video reveals that the game will ship for the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita in North America on June 28. A release for Windows PC via Steam will follow on August 30, the same day the game will ship for the PlayStati...
Funimation Reveals Gonna be the Twin-Tail!! Anime's Dub Cast
Austin Tindle, Sarah Wiedenheft, Mikaela Krantz, Morgan Garrett star
― Funimation announced the English dub cast for the Gonna be the Twin-Tail!! television anime at the Anime Detour convention on Friday. The cast, under ADR director Jerry Jewell, ADR engineer William Dewell, and script writer Samuel Wooley, includes: Austin Tindle as Sōji Sarah Wiedenheft as Aika/Tail Blue Mikaela Krantz as Erina/Ta...
Seikatsu/Hero Mania Seikatsu Live-Action Film's Character Video Shows Toshida
Other character videos, trailer streamed for May 7 film based on Shigeyuki Fukumitsu's manga
― The official website of Hero Mania Seikatsu, the live-action film of Shigeyuki Fukumitsu's Seikatsu (Life) manga series, began streaming a character video for Toshida (Masataka Kubota) on Thursday. The site previously streamed character videos for Nakatsu (Masahiro Higashide), Kusaka (Tsurutarō Kataoka), an...
Friday, April 22
Defend Your Client in the Ace Attorney Real Escape Game
Spirit medium village has a murder mystery to solve
― The Ace Attorney games and anime adaptation are inspiring a Real Escape game titled "Reibai Mura Satsujin Jiken" (Spirit Medium Village Murder Case) this summer. Yuuki Kaji (the voice of Phoenix Wright/Ryūichi Naruhodō in the anime) and Aoi Yūki (the voice of Maya Fey/Mayoi Ayasato in the anime) recorded original lines for the game, but not necess...
KanColle Film's Teaser Video Previews Animation
Franchise's 1st anime film opens in Japan this fall
― The official website for the KanColle anime film began streaming a 45-second teaser video on Saturday. The video previews animation for the film, titled Gekijō-ban KanColle (KanColle Movie Edition), and focuses on Fubuki. The anime film is slated to open in more than 50 theaters throughout Japan this fall. Advance ticket sales began on Saturday, a...
Sound! Euphonium TV Anime's 2nd Season Premieres in October
The official website for Kyoto Animation's Sound! Euphonium anime franchise announced on Saturday that the previously announced second season will premiere in October. The website stated that it will reveal more details at a later date. The Gekijō-ban Hibike! Euphonium: Kitauji Kōkō Suisōraku-Bu e Yōkoso (Sound! Euphonium the Movie: Welcome to the Kitauji High School Concert Band) film opened on S...
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Eyes of Heaven English Video Reveals June 28 Release Date
Fighting game's latest trailer previews 3rd part of manga, anime
― Bandai Namco Entertainment America began streaming a new trailer for the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Eyes of Heaven fighting game on Friday. The video reveals that the game will ship for the PlayStation 4 in North America on June 28 and previews the third part of the manga and anime, Stardust Crusaders. Bandai Namco Entertainment began ...
Bakuon!'s Raimu-Senpai Stars in Live-Action Ad, Gravure Photo Feature
Raimu will visit stores for photo ops during Golden Week
― Raimu Kawasaki, the silent senpai of the Okanoue Girls' High Bike Club, has been hard at work advertising the Bakuon! anime adaptation. She starred in live-action commercial for the first Blu-ray and DVD, and has most recently appeared in her own gravure photo feature in Akita Shoten's Young Champion Retsu magazine. The five-page spread ran i...
Assassination Classroom season 2 ‒ Episode 15
"Assassination Classroom is back after some unfortunate delays, and it even brought new opening and ending theme songs to make up for the wait."
Joker Game ‒ Episode 3
"It's a spy adventure that anyone can enjoy and understand, wearing its anti-war themes on its sleeve without letting them detract from the scheme-driven fun of the action in a classy period setting."
Game Company Level-5, Rock Singer Yoshiki Donate Millions of Yen to Kumamoto Earthquake Relief
Level-5, the video game company behind Inazuma Eleven, Professor Layton and Yo-Kai Watch, announced on April 22 that it is donating 100 million yen (about $911,893) to the Japan Red Cross in its efforts to aid the victims of the earthquakes that struck Kumamoto Prefecture on April 14 and 16. The company also plans further charity efforts through its media properties. Level-5 is based in Fukuoka, w...
'4-Gatsu no Kimi, Spica' Manga Gets Live-Action, Movie Comic DVD
Live-action drama contains original scene
― Shogakukan published this year's 10th issue of its Sho-Comi magazine on Wednesday, and it bundled a DVD that included both a live-action drama and movie comic adapation of Miwako Sugiyama's 4-Gatsu no Kimi, Spica romance manga. Shogakukan previously streamed a video previewing both adaptations last week. The live-action drama stars Tomu Fujita as Taiyō Udag...
Tales of Berseria to Launch Early 2017 Outside of Japan
The official Tales of... Twitter account announced on Friday that the English version of Tales of Berseria is slated for early 2017 outside of Japan. The game will be available on PlayStation 4 and PC. Bandai Namco Entertainment will ship the game for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3 in Japan on August 18. [Via Tales of Series]
Controversial Artist Rokudenashiko to Marry Waterboys Frontman Mike Scott
Also publishes manga memoir
― Rokudenashiko ("Good-for-Nothing Child"), the pen name of Megumi Igarashi, announced on Nico Nico Douga on April 19 that she will marry Michael Scott, the lead singer of the British-Irish rock band The Waterboys. She is 44 years old, he 57. The wedding is scheduled for this autumn, and the couple plans to live in Ireland afterward. Rokudenashiko achieved notoriety for he...
New York Times Manga Best Seller List, April 10-16
The Ancient Magus' Bride, Attack on Titan, One-Punch Man, Attack on Titan: Before the Fall, Fairy Tail, Assassination Classroom, Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma, Tokyo Ghoul, Nichijou, Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's
― The New York Times newspaper listed the manga bestsellers in the United States for the week ending on April 16. Rank Prev. Rank Title Author Publisher Weeks on List Cover 1 -The Ancient Magus' Bride #4 Ko...
Asami Seto, Nao Tōyama Join Regalia: The Three Sacred Stars Anime Cast
Anime also casts Yui Ogura, Yurika Kubo
― The official website for Infinite's Regalia: The Three Sacred Stars anime announced four additional cast members on Friday. Asami Seto (Chihayafuru's Chihaya, Valvrave the Liberator's Shōko) as Ingrid, a cool beauty with a gentle tone, who will do anything to achieve her goal. She works with Kei. Nao Tōyama (GATE's Lelei la Lelena, Nisekoi's Chitoge) as Kei, ...
Sega Genesis/Mega Drive Emulator to Launch on Steam
Sega announced on Wednesday that Steam will launch a "Sega Classics Hub" emulator on April 28 for all players who have purchased ports of Sega Genesis (Sega Mega Drive) games on Steam. Games will be accessible through the hub, which will offer a "spot-on emulator, local co-op for games that support it, optional graphic enhancement filters, the ability to save states at any point during gameplay an...
I Am Setsuna Teaser Trailer Reveals July 19 Launch in the West
Game slated for PS4/PC; Square Enix will consider Vita version with demand
― Square Enix North America began streaming a teaser trailer for its upcoming I Am Setsuna game for PlayStation 4 and PC via Steam. The video reveals the North American and European release date of July 19. In Japan, the game is titled Ikenie to Yuki no Setsuna (Setsuna of Sacrifice and Snow), and shipped on February 18 for Pl...
Answerman - Why Do Streaming Anime Websites Still Use Flash?
Most anime streaming websites use Flash, which most people agree is a huge pain. Why don't they use the more accessible HTML5? Justin digs into it.
― Stefan asks: I notice that all the major anime streaming providers use Flash-based players for their desktop services. In view of the performance and compatibility advantages to HTML5 videos, why do you think this is the case? Is it a requirement impos...
Dr. Slump Voice Actress Lists Arale Role in Dragon Ball Super
Mami Koyama played character in earlier Dragon Ball guest appearances
― Voice actress Mami Koyama's official website lists her upcoming roles and appearances, and recently revealed that she will play Arale in the Dragon Ball Super episode airing on Fuji TV on May 15. Arale is one of the main characters of Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama's earlier manga Dr. Slump. The character previously appeared ...
My Monster Secret/Actually, I Am... Stage Play's Cast Unveiled
Play runs from May 11-15 with 8 performances starring Ryo Oshima, Rin Asuka
― The official website of the stage play adaptation of Eiji Masuda's romantic comedy manga Jitsu wa Watashi wa (Actually, I am...) revealed its cast on Thursday. The cast includes: Ryo Oshima as Asahi Kuromine Rin Asuka as Yōko Shiragami Former SKE48 female idol group member Tomoka Wakabayashi as Nagisa Aizawa Asuka Nagayoshi...
Avabel Online Smartphone Game Gets TV Anime
Takashi Kondo, M.A.O, Hisako Tōjō, Megumi Toda star in anime based on Asobimo's 3D RPG
― Asobimo, Inc. announced on Friday that its Avabel Online 3D smartphone role-playing game is getting a television anime adaptation. Kenichi Imaizumi (Brynhildr in the Darkness, Katekyo Hitman Reborn!, Komori-san Can't Decline) is directing the anime at Felix Film, and Bingo Morihashi (Devil May Cry anime) and Naok...
Nicole Perlman, Brian K. Vaughan, More Join Hasbro's Cinematic Universe Writer's Room
The Hollywood Reporter's Heat Vision blog reported on Thursday that the Hasbro Cinematic Universe has finalized its writer's room. The shared universe will combine five Hasbro brands: G.I. Joe, Micronauts, Visionairies, M.A.S.K. (Mobile Armored Strike Kommand) and ROM. Akiva Goldsman (A Beautiful Mind) will oversee the writer's room and serve as executive producer of the films. Michael Chabon (The...
Persona 5 Website Launches Countdown Ending on May 5
Atlus' website for the Persona 5 video game launched a countdown on Friday that will end on May 5 at 10:30 p.m. JST (9:30 a.m. EDT). The URL for the website also features the numbers "0505." The game is scheduled to ship in Japan for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3 this summer, and is already confirmed for a North American release. The game is also getting an anime special that will be broadcast o...
BlazBlue Continuum Shift Stage Play Gets Reboot in August
Jun Watanabe serves as action coordinator for play running in Tokyo from August 10-14
― Arc System Works announced on Friday that its BlazBlue Continuum Shift "Live Act" stage play will get a reboot this year. The original stage play ran in 2014. The new stage play will run for eight performances from August 10-14 at the Shinjukumura LIVE theater in Tokyo. Arc System Works is credited with the origin...
BlazBlue CentralFiction Ships on PS4, PS3 This Fall With Themes by Faylan, KOTOKO
Faylan announced in January that she was taking a long-term hiatus
― Arc System Works announced on Friday that its PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3 ports of its BlazBlue: CentralFiction arcade game will ship this fall and will have an opening theme song by KOTOKO and an ending theme song by Faylan. Faylan had announced in January that she was taking a long-term hiatus due to an autoimmune disease. Fay...
River City: Tokyo Rumble Nintendo 3DS Game Heads West
Natsume collaborates with Arc System Works; game playable in this year's E3
― Game developer and publisher Natsume announced on Thursday that it will collaborate with Arc System Works to release River City: Tokyo Rumble on the Nintendo 3DS in the West. The game is a localization of the Nekketsu Kōha Kunio-Kun SP: Rantō Kyōsōkyoku 3DS game. Natsume revealed that the game will be playable at this year'...
Stranger of Sword City Heads to PC via Steam in June
NIS America slated to release game's PS Vita version in N. America, Europe on April 26
― NIS America announced on Thursday that it will release Experience Inc.'s Stranger of Sword City (Tsurugi no Machi no Ihōjin) game on the PC via Steam in June. NIS America previewed the PC version's new "Picture Gate" feature – which allows players to upload images as character portraits – by showing screenshots o...
Live-Action Aozora Yell Film Casts Mirai Shida as Yūka Mori
Film about school concert band opens in Japan on August 20
― The official website for the live-action film of Kazune Kawahara's Aozora Yell (Yell for the Blue Sky) manga announced on Friday that the film has cast Mirai Shida (The Secret World of Arrietty's Arrietty, The Wind Rises' Kayo Horikoshi) for the role of Yūka Mori, and unveiled a visual of the actress in costume. Yūka is a third-year student...
Illustrator Unearths Top-Notch Flash Animation From 2003
Illustrator and manga artist Zen Yasumori surfaced on Twitter in March and has used his account to post works that have long laid dormant on his HD drive. While many of these are fan art and webcomics, a Flash animation from around 2003 has gained particular attention. The characters shown are from Water Engine, a manga Yasumori drew for the adult magazine Comic Reishiki ("Comic Zero"). While the ...
Kyary Pamyu Pamyu to Perform at J-Pop Summit Festival's Opening Concert in San Francisco
Opening concert to be held on July 22, event runs from July 22-24
― The organizers of the J-Pop Summit Festival announced on Thursday that model and singer Kyary Pamyu Pamyu will perform at the event's opening night concert at The Regency Ballroom in San Francisco on July 22. The event itself will be held at the Fort Mason Center in San Francisco from July 22 to 24. Tickets to the concert will go on ...
Setoutsumi Live-Action Film's Trailer Features Ayami Nakajō
Sousuke Ikematsu, Masaki Suda star in film opening on July 2
― The official website of the live-action film adaptation of Kazuya Konomoto's Setoutsumi manga began streaming a trailer for the film on Friday. The trailer shows the character Ichigo Kashimura, played by Ayami Nakajō. The film's staff also unveiled a new poster visual for the film. The film will open in Japan on July 2. The website previo...
Danganronpa 3 Anime Casts Kanata Hongou, Rie Kugimiya, Kenta Miyake
Daisuke Kishio, Kotono Mitsuishi also reprise roles from Danganronpa 2 game
― The official website of the Danganronpa 3: The End of Kibōgamine Gakuen (Danganronpa 3 -The End of Hope's Peak Academy-) anime revealed additional cast members for both its "Mirai Hen" and "Zetsubō Hen" parts on Friday. The new cast members appearing in the "Mirai Hen" part of the anime include: Kanata Hongou as Ryōta Mitar...
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