Interest
— Archives —
- All
- •
- Anime
- Manga
- Novels
- Games
- Music
- Merch
- Events
- Industry
- People
- Live-Action
Text-only Compact View
Text-only List View
Text-only Grid View
List View with Images
Grid View with Images
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...
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...
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...
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...
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 ...
Cygames Donates 100 Million Yen to Kumamoto Earthquake Relief
In the wake of the Kumaoto earthquakes of April 14 and 16, many have come forward to show their support, whether through words of encouragement, self-restraint, or financial aid. Mobile game developer Cygames announced on April 20 that it will donate 100 million yen (about US$915,323) to earthquake relief. The company will allocate 20 million yen (US$183,065) each to Kumamoto Prefecture, the Japan...
Hideki Kamiya Interested in Making Ōkami Sequel
Game celebrates its 10th anniversary
― The PlayStation 2 game Ōkami, hailed at the time for its artistry and compelling gameplay, reached the 10th anniversary of its initial release in Japan on April 20. Ken'ichirō Yoshimura, the game's lead character designer, posted this commemorative artwork on Twitter. Hideki Kamiya, the game's director, marveled at how recently he had marked the 10th anniversary...
Eiichiro Oda, Hajime Isayama Show Their Support After Kumamoto Earthquakes
One Piece cast also records message for people in affected areas
― As Kumamoto Prefecture continues to cope with the aftermath of the devastating earthquakes of April 14 and 16, figures from the anime anime and manga industry are sending their support. Eiichiro Oda, the creator of One Piece, feels a special connection to Kumamoto as it is his hometown, so on April 19 the official One Piece Twitter ac...
Sleeping Bag Pikachu Toys Add More Eeveelutions, Kanto Starters, Ditto, Raichu
The cozy-looking plushies from the Pikachu Nebukuro (Sleeping Bag) Collection are back with more sleeping bags, this time in Banpresto's Crane King claw games. Starting on May 12, players have a shot at grabbing 13-centimeter (about 5-inch) plush Pikachus tucked away in their Vaporeon, Jolteon, or Flarion sleeping bags: The Kanto starters—Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle—will also arrive on Ma...
Get a Summer Job Voice Acting in HoneyWorks' Next Anime
HoneyWorks next anime film is looking for some part-timers to fill out its voice acting ranks. The TownWork website is hosting a job listing for voice actors with recording planned to start in June. The chosen applicants will receive a 30,000 yen (US$275) daily wage for up to eight hours of work per day. Applicants can be inexperienced since dedicated staff will be on hand to help with voice train...
Kodansha's Sam Yoshiba Supports Scarlett Johansson Casting Choice for Live-Action GitS
Paramount Pictures and Dreamworks Pictures' live-action Ghost in the Shell film has not been without its detractors since production started with its lead, Scarlett Johansson, filling the role of Major Motoko Kusanagi. Many lamented the decision as just another in a long line of Hollywood whitewashing, where a non-White character is recast with a White actor or actress. Essays on the topic, citing...
Japan Happy Meal Toys Opt for Show By Rock's President Over Popular Bands
McDonald's in Japan are getting in on the Sanrio popularity contest by offering tie-in toys of some of the frontrunners. Pom Pom Purin, Cinnamon, My Melody, Gudetama, Little Twin Stars, Hello Kitty, Kirimi-chan, and three of the bands from Show by Rock are currently in the lead. All the mascots are getting their own prizes with the exception of the Show by Rock bands. For some reason, the entry i...
Anime Nazi Image Lands Russian Activist in Police Questioning
A campaigner for the Russian liberal democratic political party, The People's Freedom Party (PARNAS), was summoned for questioning by Russian police after he shared a video on social media that included an anime character wearing a swastika armband. Public display of Nazi symbols is outlawed in Russia and Semyon Kochkin, who shared the video on his VKontacte page, could face 15 days in jail. The v...
Mario Creator Shigeru Miyamoto Shares Thoughts on 20 Years of Pokémon
Video game designer and producer Shigeru Miyamoto sat down for a brief video to congratulate the Pokémon game series for reaching 20 years. In the short video, Miyamoto reveals that he actually started working on production for the game six years before its release with now president and CEO of The Pokémon Company, Tsunekazu Ishihara, around the same time Nintendo was creating EarthBound. He noted...
Leiji Matsumoto Takes the Stage at Cupitron Concert
Designed "digital fairy" costumes for pop trio
― The idol group Cupitron performed a concert at the Hokutopia Dome Hall in Tokyo on April 17 while wearing the "digital fairy" costumes Leiji Matsumoto had designed for them. As part of the performance, they sang the theme song to the Galaxy Express 999 film — based on a manga Matsumoto created — while a video of the character Maetel played on...
Nekogahara's Nora Chiyo Comes to Life in Shōnen Magazine Edge
Also runs magazine for a day
― Hiroyuki Takei's manga Nekogahara: Stray Cat Samurai follows a wandering, one-eyed samurai, Nora Chiyo, as he "cuts through insolence." Nora Chiyo also happens to be a cat, but Takei's art style makes him look sufficiently badass. In real life, though, a cat like Nora Chiyo just can't quite cut it. The real-life Nora Chiyo appears in a "gravure" spread in the May issue ...
Kumamon Suspends Twitter Updates in Wake of Kumamoto Earthquake
Also: Mayumi Tanaka, One Piece kabuki troupe support victims
― Kumamon, the beloved mascot of Kyushu's Kumamoto Prefecture, has refrained from updating its Twitter page since an earthquake struck its home on April 14. In response to concerns from its fans for his well-being, the bear's official home page posted that social media updates have been suspended because "we put the people who have been aff...
Godzilla Resurgence's Fearsome Monster Gets Soft Vinyl Lottery Figure
Bandai's Ichiban Kuji lottery is kicking off the inevitable new wave of Godzilla merchandise for Godzilla Resurgence (Shin Godzilla), the first new Japanese Godzilla film in 12 years. The lottery kicks off in late July, just in time for the film's theatrical opening on July 29. Included in the prizes is 35-cm soft vinyl figure of Takayuki Takeya's (Kamen Rider Drive, live-action Attack on Titan) ...
Sailor Moon Exhibit Opens in Usagi's Hometown
Check out original art, light show, tons of merchandise, Queen Neo Serenity's dress, and more
― A lavish Sailor Moon exhibit opened on April 16 in Tokyo's Roppongi Hills Observation Deck, which happens to be located in Sailor Moon's hometown, Azabu #10. The 36-foot-high entrance hall resembles Princess Serenity's Moon Castle and is hung with giant scrolls of the Sailor Guardians drawn by Naoko Takeuc...
Shonen Jump Heads to Universal Studios Japan This Summer with Three New Attractions
Represented by One Piece, Death Note, DBZ
― The always popular titles of Weekly Shonen Jump are taking over Universal Studios Japan this summer, with three of the magazine's most famous manga represented with new attractions. This year's 20th issue of Weekly Shonen Jump is announcing on Monday that Dragon Ball Z's Goku will take on the diabolical Freeza again in a 4-D attraction, which ups the realis...
Puzzle and Dragons x Shonen Sunday Collaboration Continues with Case Closed, Kyou Kara Ore Wa!!
Also: new characters from previous series collaborations
― In 2015, the mobile game Puzzle & Dragons formed a collaboration with Weekly Shonen Sunday, allowing several of the magazine's most popular characters to appear in the game. It began with characters from Inuyasha, Flame of Recca, and Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic, and later expanded to include familiar faces from Ushio & Tora, Urusei Yatsura, ...
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure OP Artists Will Hold Joint Concert
The opening theme song artists behind JoJo's Bizarre Adventure are gathering for a special live concert on May 28. "JO☆STARS Special Live 2016 ~Bizarre Night~" will take place at Zepp DiverCity Tokyo with Hiroaki "Tommy" Tominaga, Coda, and Jin Hashimoto. Each performer sang openings for the series as solo tracks before collaborating on "JoJo - Sono Chi no Kioku ~end of THE WORLD~" for JoJo's Biz...
New Twitter Trend: High School Girls Posing in Noodle Restaurants
Publicity campaign for udon chain
― The Japanese noodle restaurant chain Marugame Seimen, which specializes in udon (thick wheat noodles), has started a social media marketing campaign targeted at high school-age girls, JK Udon Kawaii ("High School Girls Udon Cute"). The idea is to take a picture of yourself posing while at one of Marugame Seimen's restaurants; the goal is to make udon "more cute, fu...
Sanrio's Puroland Theme Park Will Get a Facelift
Sanrio's Puroland theme park has hosted all kinds of events amid its own mascot paradise. A mystery event starring Hatsune Miku, a stage reading of a yaoi novel, and a dance event featuring a rapping Frieza have all graced the stage. The Tama park's efforts aren't in vain either, as stock in Sanrio continues to grow. The theme park will invest five billion yen (US$9.2 million) by 2020 to increase ...
New App Lets You Hatch & Raise Your Very Own Boy
Tap items to boost your "love points"
― If you're tired of the same old formula being reused in your otome games, Otomedō is here with an... innovative new idea for getting to know a cute boy: raise him from birth! Chitcha Danshi ("Teeny Boy") starts when you find a mysterious egg on the road, which hatches into... a miniature bishōnen. It's your task to raise him into a fine young man. This involves...
Could Love Live! Make an Appearance at the Tokyo Olympics?
Culture Minister supports the idea
― Love Live! School idol project has taken Japan's anime enthusiast community by storm in the past few years (as any regular reader of ANN can attest), and it's even achieved some mainstream recognition, as epitomized by its appearance in last year's Red and White Song Battle. But is it ready for the world's biggest stage — the Summer Olympics opening ceremony?...
BBK/BRNK Tops Poll of Most Satisfying Winter 2016 Anime
KonoSuba, ERASED take next 2 spots
― The Japanese anime news and review website Anipota conducted a survey of the most satisfying winter 2016 anime from March 23 to April 12. It received 11,557 responses. Here are the results. BBK/BRNK, 2,703 votes KONOSUBA, 2,531 votes ERASED, 1,440 votes Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash, 853 votes GATE, 441 votes Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju, 404 votes Myriad Colors Phant...
Mr. Osomatsu Brothers Cosplay as Sailor Guardians for YOU Magazine
The brothers of Mr. Osomatsu are revealing their magical girl side on the May issue cover of YOU magazine today. Shueisha's manga magazine shows all of the Matsuno brothers dressed as Naoko Takeuchi's own Sailor Guardians. Osomatsu takes the lead as Sailor Moon, Karamatsu is Sailor Mercury, Choromatsu is Sailor Jupiter, Ichimatsu is Sailor Mars, Jūshimatsu is Sailor Venus, and Todomatsu is Sailor ...
Rina Hidaka Plays Kantai Collection Arcade Before Launch This Month
Voice actress Rina Hidaka (Mutsuki, Yayoi, Mochizuki) tested out the Kantai Collection Arcade game ahead of its nationwide launch on April 26. The game was initially planned for release last summer but has faced continued delays. Throngs of fans came out to Osaka for a location test last month. In the video, Hidaka shows off some of her characters that appear in the game, the room decorating featu...
Q-Pot Accessory Brand Reveals Mouth-Watering Sailor Moon Goods
The high-end accessory brand Q-pot's newest line of Sailor Moon accessories are set for release on June 30, in celebration of Usagi Tsukino's birthday. The accessories incorporate magical items from the third season, Sailor Moon S but with a tasty dessert twist. The items include: Cosmic Heart Macaron charm 13,000 yen (US$119.50) (*also comes in a necklace version for 15,000 yen/US$139) Rainbow M...
English Textbook Publisher Asks for Discretion in Portrayals of Teacher Character Ellen Baker
Asks for fan artists to complete permission form
― Last week we reported on the sudden online popularity of Ellen Baker, a young English teacher featured in the new edition of the Japanese English-language textbook New Horizon. Her cute appearance sparked a surge of interest on Twitter and Pixiv, with fan art, doctored images and English songs. As is usual for anything on the Internet, several of the...
Fight Flyaways With Cardcaptor Sakura Sealing Wand Hair Dryer
Cardcaptor Sakura's Sealing Wand isn't just for capturing Clow Cards, it also battles bad hair days. A new hair dryer modeled after the magical item is now available for pre-order until May 8. The item is the latest collaboration with mail-order otaku fashion site, SuperGroupies. The hair dyer costs 10,260 yen (US$94) and is expected to ship in July. The appliance folds at the neck for easy stora...
Pokémon General Election's Official Website Opens
The Pokémon General Election 720, a name that harkens to AKB48's own annual popularity contest, opened its official website on Thursday, ahead of upcoming poll. The "720" in the title means exactly what it sounds like: voters can choose from all 720 known Pokémon, from Bulbasaur to Hoopa. The upcoming Pokémon the Movie XY & Z: Volcanion to Karakuri no Magearna featured monsters Volcanion (#721) an...
Nintendo Celebrates 15 Years of Animal Crossing in New Video
On April 14, 2001, Nintendo released its first incarnation of Animal Crossing for the Nintendo 64 console. A world of talking with your animal neighbors, pulling weeds, decorating your house, and attempting to get out from under your crippling debt owed to Tom Nook. Nintendo began streaming a "Thank You" video for the franchise to celebrate its 15th anniversary. Nintendo released Animal Crossing: ...
Justin Bieber Shares His Anime Pin-Up Girl Coloring Page
The recently dreadlocked Justin Bieber has joined the coloring books for grown-ups trend. The singer, who was spotted perusing the coloring book section at Georgia Tech's Barnes & Noble, later shared his finished work on Instagram on Wednesday. The image is of an anime-style tribes girl licking a tomahawk. I colored this its dope Cuz I actually sat down for 30 min and finished I never can sit stil...
U.S. State Department Includes Japan's 'Unfettered' Access to Animated Porn in Human Rights Report
The U.S. State Department released its annual survey of human rights in nations throughout the world on Thursday, noting some improvements in Japan but also listing an array of problem areas. Among the problems listed are an "unfettered availability of sexually explicit cartoons, comics, and video games, some of which depicted scenes of violent sexual abuse and the rape of children." The reports s...
Grandpa Wants to Live His Pirate Dream in One Piece Burning Blood Live-Action Ad
One grandfather gets the opportunity to live his dream as The King of Pirates in a new live-action ad for One Piece: Burning Blood. After revealing his secret to his grandson, the two face off in battle with their own Devil Fruit powers. Grandson: Grandpa, when you were a kid, what did you wanna be when you grew up? Grandfather: The King of the Pirates. Grandson: Then we're enemies.... Grandfather...
Yummy Mart's Pokemon Lingerie Collection Captures the Sex Appeal
Peach John, the lingerie brand behind recent Evangelion and Sailor Moon collections have set their sights on GAME FREAK's most iconic monster. The company's sister brand Yummy Mart is releasing a lingerie and sleepwear line based on Pikachu beginning on April 20. The line-up includes: Pikachu towel poncho. 5,480 yen (US$50) Eye mask. 1,680 yen (US$15) A pajama set with Pikachu's PokeDex number fe...
Character Designer Akio Watanabe Draws Cardcaptor Sakura at Official Café
Character designer Akio Watanabe, also known as Poyoyon Rock, headed to one of the six Animate cafés hosting a Cardcaptor Sakura theme this month. He ordered the Tomoyo Afternoon Tea Set and Kuro-chan's Hot Orange Cocoa before drawing his rendition of the show's lead character. さくらかふぇ いってきたで〜(^O^)/☆ pic.twitter.com/NlJMu7fx6A— ぽよよんろっく㌠ (^-^)ﾉ☆ (@punipoyo) April 13, 2016 Watanabe is the character d...
Babymetal Album Is Japan's 1st to Crack U.S. Billboard's Top 40 in 53 Years
Kyu Sakamoto's Sukiyaki reached #14 in 1963; Utada ranked #69 in 2009
― Metal Resistance, the second album from the Japanese idol and heavy metal fusion group Babymetal, charted on the U.S. Billboard's Top 200 at #39 in its first week. It is the first Japanese album to chart on the U.S. Billboard Top 40 since Kyu Sakamoto's Sukiyaki and Other Japanese Hits in 1963, 53 years ago. Metal Resistance ship...
Animaniacs, Freakazoid Producer Credits Pokémon For WB Cartoon Decline
Producer, director, and animator Tom Ruegger held an Ask Me Anything (AMA) on Reddit on Tuesday where the Animaniacs creator answered fan questions to celebrate the show's move on to Netflix. User "aznprd" asked what led to the decline of Warner Bros. cartoons, like Freakazoid, Animaniacs, Pinky and the Brain, and Tiny Toon Adventures. Ruegger responded that it was the advent of Pokemon. According...
Persona 3 Films' Lotus Juice Covers Danganronpa Tracks
Japanese rapper Lotus Juice, the voice behind the Persona 3 films themes and songs from Soul Eater, Black Butler, C – Control – The Money and Soul of Possibility, and JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, recently played Spike Chunsoft's Danganronpa PlayStation Portable/PlayStation Vita game. He found he really enjoyed the music, so the rapper wrote that before he knew it, he found himself writing to it and d...
Gainax Expands Into The World of Tomato Farming
Gainax, the animation studio behind Neon Genesis Evangelion and Gurren Lagann is expanding into the world of agriculture. The company is founding "Gainax Marche," an off-shoot company located in the vicinity of Gainax West and dedicated to growing organic tomatoes. The tomatoes and juice can be mail-ordered on the official website. The company is growing three varieties of tomatoes with different ...
Pom Pom Purin Dashes Ahead in Sanrio's 2016 Character Popularity Poll
Voting opened on Sunday for Sanrio's 2016 character popularity poll. Leading the pack is last year's winner Pom Pom Purin, followed by the steadfast Cinnamon in second, and My Melody in third. Despite his lackadaisical nature, Gudetama is sitting at fourth place, followed by Yoshikitty, the mascot created in collaboration with X Japan's Yoshiki. The current Top 10: Pom Pom Purin Cinnamon My Melod...
Slayers Illustrator Draws Megumi Hayashibara for Her Birthday
Accomplished singer and voice actress Megumi Hayashibara celebrated her 49th birthday on March 30. Hayashibara wrote on her blog on Tuesday that she received a special gift in the mail. Slayers light novel illustrator Rui Araizumi sent her a doodle of her character Lina Inverse and a portrait to wish her a happy birthday. Starting in 1986, Hayashibara has voiced fan-favorite characters like Faye V...
Prevent the Cockroach Uprising With Terraformars Bug Spray, Traps
The upcoming Terraformars live-action film film has some practical advice to prevent the eventual evolution of cockroaches into bipedal, man-killing monsters: pesticide and traps. The products are part of a larger marketing campaign that includes a Jouji Lab website, a company that appears in the film. The company is shown creating several real products by Earth Chemical, including Black Cap traps...
Cerevo Inc's Psycho-Pass Dominator Accessories for Sale
Cerevo Inc's Psycho-Pass Dominator smart toy went on sale on in March and the company recently opened pre-orders for its accompanying protective case and display stand. The Cerevo Dominator goes above and beyond previous Dominators created by Bandai's Proplica line and Ichiban Kuji's release with a camera viewer and wireless LAN capabilities, allowing users to view Crime Coefficients with their s...
Giant Robot Takes The Stage at Nana Mizuki's Tokyo Dome Concerts
Nana Mizuki welcomed an extra-large guest on to the stage during her two-day concert at the Tokyo Dome. 80,000 people attended the "NANA MIZUKI LIVE GALAXY 2016" concerts on Saturday and Sunday to see the Cross Ange singer perform but got a special surprise when a 7.7m tall, 1.5 ton robot joined her on stage. The "GALAXY-7" moved on the stage, allowing Mizuki to sit on it during her performance of...
Cocktail Prince Game Expands Its Stable of Intoxicating Love Interests
Geechs' Cocktail Ōji (Cocktail Prince) mobile game starring male characters inspired by alcoholic drinks is expanding its cast of characters before the game's release this fall. The simulation game lets players manage and decorate a bar and participate in training mini-games with their favorite guy. Geechs announced a total of nine characters so far, including three new ones. The official website ...
Event Report: Sailor Moon Fan Club Launch
Performances by Kotono Mitsuishi, Kenji Nojima, Mitsuko Horie, Momoiro Clover Z
― This past Sunday was the launch event for the official Sailor Moon Pretty Guardians fan club. Held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, over 2,000 pre-registered members lined up to pick up their membership cards and bonus lip gloss. The entrance was decorated with a giant moon that visitors could sit on and take a pict...
Industry Shares Messages After Digimon Singer's Passing
Kouji Wada's passing on April 3 touched Digimon fans and colleagues alike. The 42-year-old "Butter-Fly" singer passed away from cancer in his upper pharynx, a disease he had battled since a malignant tumor was discovered there and on a lymph node in his neck in 2003. The following are comments posted on Twitter from Wada's colleagues upon hearing the news of his passing. Koji Wada, you did a good ...
Upcoming Horror Film Rain Woman to be Screened in 4DX
Format lets you feel water, wind, motion and more
― Takashi Shimizu (Ju-On: The Grudge) is famous for his frightening horror movies, and his latest offering, Ame Onna ("Rain Woman"), seems like it won't disprove his reputation. The film follows Rika (Nana Seino), who's sinking into depression and alienating her boyfriend, Ryū (Shuntarō Yanagi). Every night she has the same dream: a little girl waits ...
Japanese Readers Pick Shonen Jump's Most Erotic Manga
Masakazu Katsura does well
― As Weekly Shonen Jump gradually becomes more sexualized, the Japanese survey site Goo Ranking wondered which older titles defied the magazine's young demographics to get its readers hot and bothered. Naturally, it surveyed Shonen Jump readers to see which series they remembered most fondly. The survey was carried out from March 29 to 31 and collected results from 250 men,...
Japan's Highway Service Stations Get Anthropomorphized in Web Novel
Character designs by Mel Kishida and Noizi Itō
― Just when you think you've seen everything get anthropomorphized into moe characters, something else comes along to prove otherwise. The latest project turns Japan's highway service stations into attractive female characters. NEXCO Central Japan, which operates highways in central Japan, in cooperation with the telecommunications company Dwango, is pub...
Postal Worker Uses [email protected] Alias to Commit Fraud
Steals $75,000 worth of parcels
― In late March, the postal worker Kazuki Kasai was arrested for theft and abusing his position to commit mail fraud. He used several aliases in his crimes, including "Hibiki Ganaha" — an [email protected] character. Kasai worked at the Kyoto Central Post Office, where he was in charge of directing parcels to their proper points of delivery. He took advantage of this po...
Production I.G Animates T.M. Revolution's Latest Music Video
T.M. Revolution, the singer who has performed theme songs for such anime as Rurouni Kenshin, Soul Eater, Mobile Suit Gundam Seed, Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Destiny, and Valvrave the Liberator, released a new music video on Saturday for his song "Committed RED" that features animation by Production I.G. The below video is region-locked and not available in all areas. The concept of the video is "the ...
Prime Minister Abe: Dōjinshi Safe Under TPP
Also: Japanese government targets illegal video hosting websites
― The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a trade agreement signed in February between 12 Pacific Rim nations (Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States and Vietnam), has long unsettled manga and anime fans because its intellectual property provisions could reclassify dōjinsh...
Japanese Netizens Pick the Most Handsome Pokémon
Charmander was Japanese college student's and ANN readers' favorite original starter Pokemon but gamers had a different pick when it came to the "most handsome." Plenty of attention is given to cute Pokemon, but a different set of criteria is considered when picking a handsome team of fighters. The top choice was the scientifically-created Mewtwo. Voters found his appearance stylish and his top-ti...
Yui Ogura Tries Out Police Work for a Day
Promotes traffic safety in hometown
― On April 6, voice actress and idol singer Yui Ogura (Tsukiko in The "Hentai" Prince and the Stony Cat., Binkan-chan in SHIMONETA, Kokona in Yama no Susume) donned a police uniform for a day and took on the duties of a police chief in the mountain city of Kiryū her hometown in Gunma Prefecture northwest of Tokyo. She participated in a spring campaign to improve tr...
Job Listing in Japan Seeks Mr. Osomatsu Fans to Help with Their Favorite Show
Blu-Ray/DVD, manga editing position
― Mr. Osomatsu may have inspired pages and pages of fanart, but a new listing on the Japanese employment listing website an gives fans a chance to actually contribute to the production of their favorite show. The listing seeks a "hatarakimatsu" (hataraki means "working") to take part in editing sessions for a series of shorts to be included on the Mr. Osomatsu Blu-...
Savage Garden's Darren Hayes Gives a Shout-Out to Latest JoJo Ending
The second episode of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond is Unbreakable premiered on Friday, and with it the show's opening and ending theme song. Like previous seasons, Diamond is Unbreakable tapped a Western artist to provide the ending theme, which is fitting, given the show's many references to Western pop and rock music. Season four makes use of duo Savage Garden's 1996 track "I Want You." Voc...
David Hayter Returns as Solid Snake in Ford YouTube Commercials
Original Solid Snake voice actor David Hayter is reprising his role in a pair of Ford commercials on YouTube. The "Overdubs" ads include "A Codec Call to Remember" and "A Meeting with Psycho Mantis." The first shows Solid Snake and Col. Roy Campbell (Paul Eiding) discussing the Ford Focus' "Practical Vehicular Action." The second ad has enemy Psycho Mantis trying to sell Snake on the merits of a 2...
English Teacher Illustrator Comments on Character's Sudden Popularity
"It's kind of amazing how much activity went into this"
― On Thursday, we wrote about the new Japanese middle school English-language textbook, New Horizon, and its cute English teacher character, Ellen Baker. Japanese netizens swiftly became infatuated with Ms. Baker, and Twitter and Pixiv have been flooded with fanart of her. (The previous article focuses on a particular meme involving Ms. Baker de...
Cancelled Metal Gear Solid Fan Remake Returns with David Hayter
The cancelled Metal Gear Solid Unreal Engine 4 "Shadow Moses" fan remake has reemerged as the The Fan Legacy: Metal Gear Solid. The new project is a virtual reality, first-person museum experience focusing on fan-art gifted from contributors of the "Shadow Moses" project. Original Solid Snake voice actor David Hayter has signed on to contribute to the project. It's slated for release for free for ...
Nintendo Offers Kirby, Super Smash Bros.-Themed Amiibo Diorama Kits
Both diorama kits available on April 28 in Japan
― Nintendo revealed on Thursday that it will offer diorama kits for its Amiibo figures. The company will offer Kirby- and Super Smash Bros.-themed diorama kits on April 28 in Japan. Each diorama kit will have space to display the Amiibo figures, as well as accessories to match the theme. Users can also fold the kits for storage or transport. The Kirby...
Anthropomorphized Version of Sanrio's Fillet Mascot Kirimi-chan Gets 2 Manga in April
Kirimi-chan credited for 1st manga, Soyogo Iwaki draws 2nd manga
― The official website of Kadokawa's Sylph magazine announced on Monday that the magazine will begin serializing a manga this month based on the anthropomorphized version of Sanrio's Kirimi-chan mascot. The manga is titled Kirimi-chan Gijinka Aquarium ~Kirimi-tachi no Legend~, and Kirimi-chan herself is credited as the writer, with assi...
Fans Recreate Classic Zelda in 3D for 30th Anniversary; Nintendo Takes it Down
Developers Mike McGee and Scott Lininger created an ode to Nintendo's classic The Legend of Zelda game for the franchise's 30th anniversary. The result was is a browser game that took the original pixel art from the NES game and brought it into a 3D world. Unfortunately, the game didn't get to stay up very long. Nintendo asked the creators to remove the game for copyright infringement not long aft...
Arina Tanemura Draws Idolish 7 Project's 'Koi no Kakera' Album Jacket
The CD jacket art for the Mezzo single, the latest CD release from Idolish 7 "big media-mix project" was revealed on Tuesday. Like the previous Good Night Awesome single, Arina Tanimura drew the jacket artwork. Kasumi Fukagawa (Persona 3 The Movie #1 Spring of Birth assistant animation director) also drew art for the release. MEZZO is a duo consisting of Tamaki Yotsuba (KENN) and Sogo Ohsaka (Atsu...
Erotic Sketch of Code Geass' C.C. Auctioned for 830,000 Yen
An erotic sketch of Code Geass' C.C. drawn by the series' character designer Takahiro Kimura fetched 830,000 yen (US$7,670) on the auction site Mandarake on Wednesday. The auction opened last month with a starting price of 60,000 yen (US$554) but climbed to its sale price after 60 bids. The sketch is signed by Takahiro Kimura with a January 4, 2009 date. If your curiosity has gotten the better of ...
Mega Man Creator Inafune Makes His Own Super Mario Maker Level
The Polygon website's YouTube channel streams an interesting series called "Devs Make Mario" where video game developers like Castlevania's Koji Igarashi and Shovel Knight's level designer Michael Herbster make their own Mario levels in Super Mario Maker. The latest developer is Mega Man's Keiji Inafune. He created a jump-focused level with a retro feel. Inafune is currently working on the crowd-f...
University Professor Uses Bakemonogatari in Japanese Literature Class
Wants to break down barriers between "literature" and "light novels"
― Are light novels "literature?" With their fantastic elements, casual writing style and dialogue, and young demographics, Japanese generally do not think so. They are rarely taught in university classes on Japanese literature. But Masahiro Hirose, a professor in the subject at the Aichi University of Education near Nagoya, is tryin...
English Textbook Character Inspires Battle-Ready Meme
The English-teaching textbook New Horizon released its newest edition and added a new character, Ellen Baker. Ellen is a cute, blonde assistant language teacher that appears through out the pages to help teach concepts. Her design has attracted attention on Twitter, not only for being cute but also because one particular image is ripe for meme images. In the original, Ellen-sensei is discussing he...
Future GPX Cyber Formula Zero Inspires New Merch Ahead of 2017
The Future GPX Cyber Formula Zero original video anime is inspiring a resurgence of merchandise. Why this particular OAV? Within the series, Formula Zero took place in 2017; a futuristic sounding year when the episodes were released in 1994. The line of goods includes two new zip-up parkas and a reprint of Bleed Kaga's earrings. The zip-up designs are based on Hayato Kazami's Sugo Asurada team an...
Sanrio Boys Get Their Own Line of Merchandise
The official Twitter account for the cute guys of "Sanrio Danshi" (Sanrio Boys) project announced that they will get their own line of merchandise starting in June. Sanrio will release clear files, keychains, a calendar, and more on a monthly basis. The project opened its website earlier this year. The project stars Kōta Hasegawa, a high school boy that loves the yellow Pom Pom Purin dog. By mere ...
Watch Babymetal Make Their U.S. Television Debut on The Late Show
The official YouTube channel for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert began streaming the Japanese idol group Babymetal's performance from last night's show. The trio performed the track "Gimme Chocolate!!" from their 2014 album Babymetal. Their new album, Metal Resistence was released on April 1. The trio's world tour kicked off with a performance at The SSE Arena Wembley in London on April 2. The ...
Oscar-Winning Studio Robot Animates 4th Marukome Miso Ad
The anime studio Robot returned to animate the fourth commercial for Marukome, a food company best known for its Ryōtei no Aji (First-Class Flavor) miso products. The 30-second and 90-second versions of the "Ryōtei no Aji-Eki Miso Jōkyo-Hen (Ryōtei no Aji Brand Liquid Miso Soup: Moving to Tokyo Chapter) ad are streaming on Marukome's website, and will debut on television on April 7. The story foll...
Sailor Moon Crystal: Season III's 1st Blu-ray/DVD Art Previewed
The first episode of Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Crystal: Season III debuted this week and pre-orders quickly opened for the season's first Blu-ray and DVD releases. The franchise's official website revealed that like previous seasons, the home video release will include a limited edition that comes in a special box. The first volume's box shows Uranus and Neptune. Special features include audio ...
Funassyi Follows Up Budōkan Announcement With Virtual Reality Stage Play
Funassyi is following up its solo Budōkan concert announcement with another one-of-a-kind mascot experience.The unofficial pear-fairy mascot of Funabashi City will star in a virtual reality stage play at the DMM VR theater beginning on June 30. The story is titled "Legend of Funassyi" and promises to be an "epic fantasy adventure" performed live on a holographic stage in full CG animation. Tickets...
Japan Anima(tor)'s Exhibition's Teddyloid, DAOKO, Hibiki Yoshizaki Return for College CM
The minds behind Japan Anima(tor)'s Exhibition's "ME! ME! ME!" and "GIRL" shorts teamed up for a commercial to promote HAL Tokyo College of Technology & Design. Composer Teddyloid (Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt, Space Patrol Luluco), rapper DAOKO, director Hibiki Yoshizaki (Yozakura Quartet ~Hana no Uta~) and character designer PALOW created the commercial. The video streamed on YouTube ahead o...
Babymetal Idol Group's Late Show Appearance Confirmed
The official website for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert confirmed the Japanese idol group Babymetal will appear on the show tonight. The group's American distributor RED announced in February 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 announcement, the information was removed from RED's website for the album, ...
Latest Unreal Engine Fan Project is Castlevania
Fans have been revisiting classic video games and souping them up with the Unreal Engine for high-definition remakes. Amateur game developers have taken on Pokemon, environments from The Legend of Zelda, and Super Mario 64. The "Shadow Moses" project was attempting to remake Metal Gear Solid but staff shuttered the project last month. YouTuber Dejawolfs spent four months on his own remake of Castl...
Wrestling Trio Go Super Saiyan for Wrestlemania 32
The WWE's Wrestlemania 32 kicked off on Sunday with plenty of surprises outside of headline matches between Roman Reigns and Triple H, the Undertaker and Shane McMahon, and Dean Ambrose and Brock Lesnar. One ring entry that grabbed anime fans was the trio The New Day. The group busted out of a giant cereal box to reveal themselves in Saiyan Armor from Dragon Ball Z. The #BootyOs are flowing on the...
Goku Cosplayer Takes His Flying Nimbus to Los Angeles
Goku cosplayers on flying nimbuses are popping up all over the world to delight and astound civilians. The latest cosplayer is Johannes from Melonboard Electric Skateboards who rode around on a few of company's boards in Los Angeles. YouTuber YUKON1 made a similar video in February where he rode around in Taipei. A previous Goku cosplayer was spotted flying around Dragon Con in Atlanta last year. ...
Life-Size Godzilla Reminds Visitors To Manage Their Oral Hygiene
Official Shinjuku tourism ambassador and rampaging monster Godzilla wants to remind visitors that taking care of their teeth is important for bodily health. The Godzilla bust atop Kabuki-cho's TOHO Cinemas Shinjuku can be seen holding an equally giant cup with the word "Isodine" written on the side. Isodine is a brand of mouthwash being promoted by Mundipharma in collaboration with Toho. The cup w...
Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress Takes Over Shibuya in Commercial, Wall Ads, Masks
Staff dressed as "Kabane" hand out tissues
― Fuji TV's Noitamina programming block began streaming a new commercial on Monday for WIT Studio's original television anime series Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress (Kōtetsujō no Kabaneri). The video features the main cast giving a message to fans and features animation from the upcoming series. Text: Shibuya-only commercial Cast: Everyone currently walking th...
4 New Versions of McDonald's Anime Shorts With AKB48 Idols Streamed
Chūgoku, Kyūshū, Hokkaido, Chūbu/Hokuriku versions streamed
― McDonald's is streaming four more versions of its "Mirai no Watashi" (The Future Me) campaign anime shorts. The first video is the Chūgoku version of the short, featuring the voice of Ikumi Nakano, who is from Tottori prefecture in the Chūgoku region of Japan. The second video, the Kyūshū version, features Narumi Kuranoo, who hails from Ku...
Zombie Schoolgirls ”Infest" Uniqlo to Promote I Am a Hero
Customers visiting Ikebukuro's Sunshine 60 shopping complex on April 1 were treated to an unusual sight at the Uniqlo outlet: 20 high school girls dancing in zombie-like makeup. They were impersonating ZQNs, the monsters of I Am a Hero, a horror-thriller manga with an upcoming live-action film adaptation. The ZQN-schoolgirls performed three times for three minutes each at the store entrance, in th...
Funassyi Gets Its Own Concert at the Budōkan
Freaks out over prospect
― Funassyi, the bizarre yet very excitable pear-based mascot unofficially representing Chiba Prefecture's Funabashi City, has amassed quite the fandom in Japan over the past few years, even eclipsing other, official yuru-chara (regional mascots). On April 1, it gained a privilege other yuru-chara can only dream of: a concert at Tokyo's famous Nippon Budōkan concert hall (whic...
Luffy Gets into Superhero Mode in Live-Action One Piece: Burning Blood Ad
Also: watch Japanese comedian get electrocuted
― Luffy tries out some Spider-Man-style aerobatics in the new (mostly) live-action ad for One Piece: Burning Blood, an upcoming fighting game. Tokyo is being assaulted by Crocodile and Enel, so who else are you gonna call? If you're interested in watching some gameplay footage, this Japanese ad has several minutes of it. It also attempts to recreate a ba...
Naruto Cheers on My Hero Academia's Deku
Words of support from Masashi Kishimoto
― With the premiere of the anime adaptation of Kōhei Horikoshi's hit Weekly Shonen Jump manga My Hero Academia swiftly approaching, its protagonist, Deku, recently got a shout-out in Shonen Jump issue 17 from a fellow aspiring warrior: Naruto. Naruto is shouting "Congrats on getting an anime! Believe it!!" (Yes, the "believe it" bit is actually dattebayo.) Naru...
Corporate Twitter Accounts Get Their Own 4-Panel Manga
Sharp and Tanita personified as handsome young men
― If you've ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes in corporate social media departments, Sharp, a major electronics manufacturer, and Tanita, a firm specializing in digital scales, have an entertaining answer. These companies attracted a following through their Twitter accounts, which led to a four-panel manga in the magazine Kurofune Zero abo...
One Hundred Famous Artists Scheduled for Exhibit on April 29
Ume Aoki, Otohiko Takano, Hajime Ueda, and 97 more
― Eshi 100-nin-Ten (100 Artist Exhibit) is scheduled for April 29 through May 8 this year. As the name indicates, it displays artwork from 100 prominent artists and illustrators in the anime, game, and light novel industries. This year's theme is "color." The theme transcends the word's dictionary definition to encompass the concepts "the condition t...
Character Designer Mel Kishida to be Maid for a Day
Gonzo illustrator Mel Kishida (Hanasaku Iroha, Atelier Rorona: The Alchemist of Arland) will try out a new job on April 3: maid. At a maid cafe, no less. He will carry on the proud tradition of cute Japanese maids, drawing pictures on omrice (omelets filled with rice) with ketchup and chanting cute incantations (his will be "Mel Mel"). He will also hold an autograph session. What Mel Kishida-chan ...
New Cannabis Works Art Book Explores Tatsuyuki Tanaka's Sensibility
13 years after the publication of the art book Cannabis Works, veteran animator Tatsuyuki Tanaka is back with a follow-up, Cannabis Works 2. The work contains book covers, magazine illustrations, CD jacket illustrations, art for the Tokyo Anime Award Festival 2015, character designs for Short Peace (among other projects), drawings and sketches for various unrealized projects, and a 22-page story ...
Prince of Tennis Creator Will Sing Jump Shops' Theme Song
Takeshi Konomi, the manga artist best known for Prince of Tennis, has signed an exclusive artist contract with Shueisha. He became the publisher's one, and only, in-house recording artist. He kicked off his career with a stage show in January and is now recording a theme song for Shonen Jump Shops. (It should be noted that Konomi tweeted the image on April 1). 【JUMP SHOPのテーマ曲】をこの度依頼を受け作らせて戴きました(๑•...
Leiji Matsumoto Designs Sci-Fi Inspired Costumes for Idol Trio
Leiji Matsumoto , the man behind Galaxy Express 999, Star Blazers, and Captain Harlock can add "techno idol costume designer: to his long list of achievements. Matsumoto himself designed costumes for the idol trio Cupitron for their latest single covering the Galaxy Express 999 theme song. The designs were inspired around the motif of fairies in a digital world. Cupitron formed in 2014 and include...
For all articles, see the archives