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Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? Novel 5
Danmachi's fifth volume takes us deeper into the Dungeon than ever before as Bell finds himself out of his depth and Hestia breaks a major rule to find him.
― What is it that keeps Is It Wrong to Try to Pick up Girls in a Dungeon's Bell Cranell from being an obnoxiously overpowered hero? He certainly has many of the traits of those Gary Stu like figures from other series: insane luck, amazing abiliti...
ANNCast - RahXephon
Zac, Jacob and a special guest revisit the beautifully composed and thoughtfully constructed Evangelion-alike RahXephon after putting it off for way, way too long.
― ANNCast Episode 258: RahXephon Zac, Jacob and listener Alexander Smit (Twitter @BioD42) revisit the beautifully composed and thoughtfully constructed Evangelion-alike RahXephon after putting it off for way, way too long. You can listen ...
Monster Musume: I ♥ Monster Girls GN 1
It's a licensed collection of doujinshi about Okayado's Monster Musume! It's an odd release, but for fans of the original, there are definitely stories to enjoy.
― I'll admit that it's a bit of an oddity – Okayado's harem comedy Monster Musume is already rife with fanservice and largely functions as a slice-of-life story about everyman Kimihito's forced coexistence with a variety of hot monster girl ...
Fairy Tail BD+DVD Part 19
The Eclipse Spirits arc remains lackluster in its finale, but the rest of the filler episodes on these discs are pretty funny as Fairy Tail indulges in some lighter fare before things get serious next set.
― It's the little moments that make this set of episodes, which finishes up the Eclipse Spirits storyline and then embarks on a series of one-off episodes (plus a two episode mini-arc), none of whi...
Saturday, May 7
Usogui Gambling Manga Inspires Live-Action Film for 10th Anniversary
OVA bundled with Toshio Sako's Young Jump manga in 2012
― This year's 24th issue of Shueisha's Weekly Young Jump is announcing on Thursday that Toshio Sako's Usogui manga has a live-action film project in the works. The story follows a brilliant gambler named Baku "Usogui" Madarame as he lays down his life as the wager for various games. The manga is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. Weekly...
Shōnen Maid ‒ Episode 4
"Now that the key players have settled into their respective roles, it feels like the show—and its stories—have a lot more breathing room."
Big Order ‒ Episode 4
"Compared to the inconsistent and messy affair we've been working through the past few weeks, this episode of Big Order was a legitimate breath of fresh air."
California's Fanime Hosts Animator Yoshihiro Watanabe
Voice actresses Cristina Vee, Lisle Wilkerson also join May 27-30 convention
― California's FanimeCon revealed on April 28 that it will host animator Yoshihiro Watanabe. Watanabe is a key animator and character designer, and has done character design work on such anime as Soul Link, Brighter than the Dawning Blue, Heaven's Lost Property, Haganai, and The Testament of Sister New Devil. He has also dra...
Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? Novel 5
Danmachi's fifth volume takes us deeper into the Dungeon than ever before as Bell finds himself out of his depth and Hestia breaks a major rule to find him.
― What is it that keeps Is It Wrong to Try to Pick up Girls in a Dungeon's Bell Cranell from being an obnoxiously overpowered hero? He certainly has many of the traits of those Gary Stu like figures from other series: insane luck, amazing abiliti...
1st Worldwide Mobile Game for Chibi Maruko-chan Launches
Chibi Maruko Chan Dream Stage available now on iOS, Android devices
― Game developer Animoca Brands launched its Chibi Maruko Chan Dream Stage iOS and Android smartphone game on Wednesday. The company streamed a video previewing the game. Animoca Brands describes the game: Maruko-chan wants to make it big on TV! Join her and her friends as she strives to learn new talents and earn new items to impres...
Persona Rapper Lotus Juice, Singer Shihoko Hirata to Perform at Otakon Matsuri
Street festival to be held on August 11 before main convention on August 12-14
― The staff of the Otakon convention announced on Thursday that Lotus Juice and Shihoko Hirata, a rapper and singer respectively known for their songs in the Persona series, will perform at the convention's Otakon Matsuri event on August 11. Lotus Juice has provided music for much of the Persona game and anime series, incl...
Studio Ghibli Co-Produced Film The Red Turtle to Open Annecy
Gamba, Anthem of the Heart anime films to screen out of competition
― The 40th Annecy International Animation Film Festival announced on April 27 that The Red Turtle, the latest work by award-winning Dutch animator and director Michael Dudok de Wit ("The Monk and the Fish," "Father & Daughter" animated shorts), will open the festival. Studio Ghibli is co-producing the film with French film production...
The Pokémon Company Earned US$2.1 Billion in 2015
Retail sales up US$100 million from 2014
― According to the May issue of License! Global magazine, The Pokemon Company International earned US$2.1 billion in 2015. The magazine ranked the company at #29 on its “Top 150 Global Licensors” list, followed by Cartoon Network. The company's overall retail sales increased by US$100 million from 2015. In 2014, The Pokémon Company marked its first year earnin...
36th Doraemon Film Earns 4 Billion Yen, Sets New Franchise Record
11th film in new series sold 3,559,400 tickets in 62 days
― Eiga Doraemon Shin Nobita no Nihon Tanjō (Doraemon the Movie: Nobita and the Birth of Japan 2016), the 36th anime film in the Doraemon franchise, has earned more than 4.037 billion yen (about US$37.7 million). The film sold about 3,559,400 tickets in the 62-day period from its opening on March 5 to May 5. The film is the 11th installment and...
Anime Expo's SPJA Announces Youth Protection Program
Convention particpation policies outlined to protect young attendees
― The Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA), the California-based non-profit organization behind Anime Expo, announced on Friday that it will launch the Youth Protection Program for this year's convention. SPJA is partnering with the Nonprofit Risk Management Center to launch the program to protect young attendees a...
Friday, May 6
Free Comic Book Day 2016 Kicks Off Tomorrow With Manga Samplers
Free Comic Book Day 2016 kicks off tomorrow and in case you forgot about the manga samplers since that were announced way back in December, here's what you can snag at participating shops. Viz Media will offer Santa Harukaze's Pokémon: Pocket Comics -Legendary Pokémon- and a preview issue of ONE and Yuusuke Murata's One-Punch Man coupled with Kōhei Horikoshi's My Hero Academia. Kodansha Comics wil...
Concrete Revolutio ‒ Episode 18
"This episode demonstrates one of the show's core themes better than any episode before it."
Shin-chan's Buriburizaemon Returns for the 1st Time in 9 years
Shin-chan's imaginary friend, Buriburizaemon, will return to the small screen for the first time in almost nine years. The character is a backstabbing, lazy pig that Shin-chan often imagines when discussing ancient Japan. He used to make semi-regular appearances, but his voice actor, Kaneto Shiozawa, passed away in 2000. Buriburizaemon was quietly retired after Shiozawa's passing, but he did reapp...
New KanColle Dōjinshi Doubles as English Textbook
Inspired by popular English textbook character Ellen Baker
― Now that Kantai Collection (KanColle) has an American battleship, Iowa, who uses lots of English phrases, the opportunity seems ripe for a KanColle dōjinshi that teaches Japanese spekers English. And that's what the dōjin circle Yudokuya is doing with its latest publication, Dawn Horizon. It casts Iowa in the role of an English teacher with...
Naruto Shippuden ‒ Episode 459
"The battle against Kaguya has been a long time coming, but there isn't much action this week."
True Identity Behind C.V. Ore! Voice Actor Manga's Creator Revealed
C.V. Ore! ("Character Voice Me!"), a manga about voice acting, has ran in Magazine Special since January. It is drawn by Haruki Ueno (Big Hero 6), but it was planned by a voice actor who went by the pseudonym Tatsuya Yukimura. Yukimura's true identity was finally revealed on May 6, and it's none other than... Yoshitsugu Matsuoka (Kirito in Sword Art Online, Shōta in The [email protected], Sōma in Food Wa...
ANNCast - RahXephon
Zac, Jacob and a special guest revisit the beautifully composed and thoughtfully constructed Evangelion-alike RahXephon after putting it off for way, way too long.
― ANNCast Episode 258: RahXephon Zac, Jacob and listener Alexander Smit (Twitter @BioD42) revisit the beautifully composed and thoughtfully constructed Evangelion-alike RahXephon after putting it off for way, way too long. You can listen ...
New York Times Manga Best Seller List, April 24-30
Akame ga Kill!, I Am a Hero, 2 Tokyo Ghoul volumes, One-Punch Man, Sword Art Online: Phantom Bullet, The Devil is a Part-Timer, High School DxD, Taboo Tattoo, Attack on Titan
― The New York Times newspaper listed the manga bestsellers in the United States for the week ending on April 30. Rank Prev. Rank Title Author Publisher Weeks on List Cover 1 -Akame ga Kill #6 Story: Takahiro / Art: Tetsuya Tash...
Taboo Tattoo Anime Unveils Main Cast, Character Designs
Makoto Furukawa, Chika Anzai, Mikako Komatsu star in July anime
― The official website for the television anime of Shinjirō's Taboo Tattoo manga updated on Friday with the main cast and their character designs. The cast includes: Makoto Furukawa as Justice Akatsuka (nickname Seigi), a boy who had a strange rune engraved on his hand after saving a mysterious man. A user of Akatsuka-style Jujitsu, he i...
Japan's Video Game Rankings, April 25-May 1
Kirby: Planet Robobot, Star Ocean 5 -Integrity and Faithlessness-, Rose to Tasogare no Kojō games ship
― Japan's Game Ranking: April 25-May 1 Rank System Title Maker Release Date Weekly Copies Total Copies 4Gamer Reader Review 13DS Kirby: Planet Robobot Nintendo April 28 144,846 144,846 2PS4 Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū 2016 Konami April 28 101,981 101,981 3PSV Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū 2016 Konami Apri...
Japanese Comic Ranking, April 25-May 1
Boku Dake ga Inai Machi, Wolf Girl & Black Prince, Space Brothers, Kingdom, Attack on Titan
― Rank Title Est. Weekly Copies Est. Total Copies Release Date Publisher Author Highest Rank Weeks on List 1 Boku Dake ga Inai Machi (Erased) 8 208,237 208,237 2016/04 Kadokawa Kei Sanbe 1 1 2 Wolf Girl & Black Prince 15 131,767 132,701 2016/04 Shueisha Ayuko Hatta 2 1 3 Space Brothers 28 126,499 267,384 2016...
Monster Musume: I ♥ Monster Girls GN 1
It's a licensed collection of doujinshi about Okayado's Monster Musume! It's an odd release, but for fans of the original, there are definitely stories to enjoy.
― I'll admit that it's a bit of an oddity – Okayado's harem comedy Monster Musume is already rife with fanservice and largely functions as a slice-of-life story about everyman Kimihito's forced coexistence with a variety of hot monster girl ...
Live-Action Shimauma Film's Web-Exclusive Trailer Shows More Graphic Scenes
Film based on Fumio Obata manga about con artist who crosses yakuza opens on May 21
― Japanese film news website Cinema Today began streaming a trailer on Thursday for the live-action film adaptation of Fumio Obata's Shimauma manga. The trailer is a web-exclusive version of an earlier trailer with added scenes of graphic violence. Note: The below video may not be safe for work. The film's main cast i...
Naoshi Arakawa's New Farewell My Dear Cramer Manga Gets Simultaneous English Release
Manga about girls soccer by Your Lie in April author launched in Japan on Friday
― Your Lie in April manga creator Naoshi Arakawa launched the Sayonara Watashi no Cramer (Farewell, My Dear Cramer) soccer manga in the June issue of Kodansha's Monthly Shonen Magazine on Friday. Kodansha Comics additionally announced on Friday that the manga is getting a simultaneous digital release in English on Kindle...
angela, fripSide Collaborate on Ajin 2nd Season's Opening Theme Song
2nd season based on Gamon Sakurai's manga premieres in October
― The official website for the Ajin anime franchise announced on Friday that angela and fripSide will collaborate on the opening theme song for the anime's second season. The new season will premiere in October. The duo fripSide has performed theme songs for Schwarzes Marken, A Certain Scientific Railgun, A Certain Scientific Railgun S, S...
Pokémon Sun & Moon Games to Reveal More Details On May 10
Video game development company Game Freak's composer and director Junichi Masuda posted on Twitter and on his blog on Friday that Game Freak will reveal more information about the Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon Nintendo 3DS games on May 10, "around" 9:00 p.m. JST (8:00 a.m. EDT). The games are slated for Holiday 2016, and be available on the Nintendo 3DS worldwide in Japanese, English, French, Itali...
Exclusive: Harmony Film's English-Subtitled Clip Shows Tuan Kirie
Film will run in select theaters in the U.S. on May 17-18
― Funimation shared a new English-subtitled clip from the Harmony film exclusively with ANN on Friday. Funimation will screen the film in select theaters on May 17 and 18. Funimation also streamed an English-dubbed theatrical trailer for the film on April 22. Funimation describes the story: In a future ruled by an unwavering dedication to good...
The Silver Case Game Gets HD Remastered Release Worldwide For PC This Fall
Grasshopper Manufacture, Suda51 originally released PlayStation game in 1999
― Grasshopper Manufacture announced on Friday that it will release an HD remastered version of The Silver Case game worldwide on PC this fall. The company had previously launched a teaser website for the game last month at the "believeintheinternet.com" URL, and has also launched an English Twitter account for the game. Gras...
Media Blasters Anime Titles to Expire on Hulu
Sentai Filmworks' Upotte!! & Nanaka 6/17, Bandai Visual's Saber Marionette J & Simoun, 4Kids' Tai Chi Chasers, Animeigo's Bubblegum Crisis also listed as expiring
― The Hulu streaming service is listing all Media Blasters anime titles as expiring on Saturday. Affected titles include Ah! My Goddess, Blade of the Immortal, Mazinkaiser SKL, Holy Knight, Mirage of Blaze, Squid Girl, Girl's High, Rio - R...
Funimation Lists English Dub for Barakamon Anime in June
Funimation streamed comedy series as it aired in 2014
― Funimation's website is listing the Barakamon television anime with an English dub premiere of the first two episodes on June 28. Funimation has not yet officially announced a dub for the series, and the company did not respond to ANN's request for confirmation by press time. Funimation streamed the series in North America as it aired in Japan i...
Kira Vincent-Davis Joins Cross Ange English Dub Cast as Salia
1st BD/DVD slated for release on June 21
― Sentai Filmworks announced with a video on Thursday that Kira Vincent-Davis will play Salia in its dub of the CROSS ANGE Rondo of Angel and Dragon anime. Sentai Filmworks announced Brittney Karbowski as Vivian last week. The first half of Cross Ange is slated for release on Blu-ray Disc and DVD on June 21, and the second half is slated for August 23. Sentai ...
Kimagure Orange Road Kickstarter Funds Final Omnibus Volume
All stretch goals reached; campaign ends on May 10
― Digital Manga Inc.'s Kickstarter campaign to publish Izumi Matsumoto's romantic comedy manga Kimagure Orange Road reached its fifth and final stretch goal of US$119,900 on Thursday. This will allow the company to publish a sixth and final 3-in-1 omnibus volume for the manga. The campaign will end on May 10 at 6:00 p.m. EDT. As of press time, the ca...
Thursday, May 5
Zelda, Sonic the Hedgehog, Space Invaders Make 2016 Video Game Hall of Fame
Grand Theft Auto III, The Oregon Trail, The Sims also inducted on Thursday
― The Strong, the self-described "national museum of play" in Rochester, New York, announced the 2016 inductees to its Video Game Hall of Fame on Thursday. The inductees include The Legend of Zelda (1986), Sonic the Hedgehog (1991), Space Invaders (1978), Grand Theft Auto III (2001), The Oregon Trail (1971), and The Sims (2000...
Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya 3rei!! Anime's 2nd Video Unveils Cast, Staff, July 6 Premiere
Misato Fukuen, Ryoko Shiraishi, Rie Kugimiya, Sumire Morohoshi, Yumi Kakazu join cast
― Kadokawa began streaming the second promotional video for Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya 3rei!!, the fourth television anime based on Hiroshi Hiroyama's Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya manga, on Friday. The video reveals the anime's July 6 premiere on AT-X, Tokyo MX, and other channels, and also confirms the anime'...
Kinnikuman Villain Robin Mask Gets Life-Size Knight Helm
Premium Bandai opened pre-orders for a 1/1-scale recreation of Kinnikuman villain Robin Mask's knight helm. The mask is made of soft vinyl and ABS while the eyes are a clear material. The inside is hollow, by unfortunately Premium Bandai warns buyers not to wear it. The helm is a recreation of a previous version sold by the Megatrea Shop in 2009. It measures approximately 350mm (13.8in) and costs...
Crunchyroll Adds Yowamushi Pedal Sequel Film
1st, 2nd compilation films added earlier this week
― Crunchyroll announced on Wednesday that it has added the Gekijōban Yowamushi Pedal (Yowamushi Pedal: The Movie) sequel anime film on Thursday. The film is already available to premium users in the United States, Canada, South Africa, Central and South America including the Caribbean. The film will be available to free users after two weeks. Crunchy...
Assassination Classroom season 2 ‒ Episode 17
"Instead of a cheesy inspirational moment where everyone falls in line with Nagisa's idea, the show embraces the reality of good people having different opinions on the right thing to do."
And you thought there is never a girl online? ‒ Episode 5
"This was the make-or-break moment for the show and it soars rather than stumbles."
Ghost in the Shell's Tachikoma Inspire Electric Guitar
The robots of Ghost in the Shell have inspired real-life remakes but the Tachikoma GT might be the first of its kind. The electric blue headless guitar is a completely original design conceived and handmade by the TC Gakku store in Shinjuku. The instrument has a built-in EL Neon light board along the neck, the Public Security Section 9 logo at the top, and the robot's bowling ball-like eyes work ...
Voice Actress Chiaki Takahashi Cosplays as Busty School Girl for petit milady MV
Voice actress and singer Chiaki Takahashi dropped in on singing duo Aoi Yuki and Ayana Taketatsu to appear in their latest music video "Seishun wa Tabemono desu" (Youth is Food), the theme song for the short-form anime Pan de Peace! Takahashi isn't a cast member for the show, but she didn't mind donning a school uniform and loosening the tie a bit to promote the single's release this week. プチミレディの...
Tasty Pokémon Recipes Head West in New Cook Book
Viz Media announced on Thursday that it will deliver the tastiest incarnation of Nintendo's Pokémon franchise to Western fans this December. The North American licensor acquired the rights to The Pokémon Cookbook, a volume containing 35 mouth-watering dishes from snacks to full entrees. Readers can learn how to make Pokéball sushi rolls, Pikachu ramen, and mashed Meowth potatoes. Maki Kudo create...
Hollywood's Variety Magazine Honors Makoto Shinkai Among 2016's '10 Animators to Watch'
Voices of a Distant Star creator is 1st Japanese animator in list's 2-year history
― The entertainment industry magazine Variety honored Makoto Shinkai at its 10 Animators to Watch ceremony on Tuesday. Shinkai, the auteur director behind Voices of a Distant Star, 5 Centimeters Per Second, and Garden of Words, is the first Japanese animator so honored in the list's two-year history. The other animator...
Loot Anime Joins Forces with Crunchyroll for Greatness
The monthly mystery subscription service Loot Anime has done the fusion dance with Crunchyroll to form Loot Anime x Crunchyroll. To celebrate, we're announcing our latest theme: UNITY.
― The monthly mystery subscription service Loot Anime has done the fusion dance with Crunchyroll to form Loot Anime x Crunchyroll, a new partnership with new powers that will benefit subscribers of both platforms! Loo...
Naruto, Yakitate Japan Singer TiA Wins Singing Competition in Brooklyn
Japanese pop-singer TiA (also known as Tomoka Takayama) won the singing competition "Rip the mic" in Brooklyn last night. The singer walked away with US$1,000, the opportunity to have her songs played on the radio, and magazine coverage. TiA previously competed in the Brooklyn 'X' Factor contest against 11 other talented vocalists for the grand prize is US$5,000 last June. However the finale was "...
Persona 4 Arena Ultimax Stage Play's Ad Previews Scenes
Stage play adapting Arc System Works, Atlus fighting game runs July 6-10
― The official Facebook page of the stage play of Arc System Works and Atlus' Persona 4 Arena Ultimax (Persona 4: The Ultimax Ultra Suplex Hold) 2D fighting game began streaming a commercial for the play on Thursday. The commercial previews some scenes from the play. Text: The sequel to December 2014's Persona 4 the Ultimate in ...
NisiOisin's Zaregoto Novels Launch Anime Project
9-volume series from writer of Monogatari, Medaka Box
― After a countdown, the official website of writer NisiOisin updated on Friday to announce that an anime project of his Zaregoto novel series is launching. Nisioisin wrote nine volumes for the series from 2002 to 2005, and also published seven novels in the Ningen spinoff novel series from 2004 to 2010. Take illustrated both novel series. Del Rey...
New Power Rangers Film's 'Translucent Extraterrestrial Armor' Revealed
Director: outfits reflect original show's theme of coming of age, metamorphosis
― Entertainment Weekly magazine presented the first look at the hero costumes for the new Power Rangers film on Thursday. According to the magazine, the outfits are "translucent extraterrestrial armor that crystallizes around their bodies." Director Dean Israelite adds, "The show was about kids coming of age, about metamo...
Twin Star Exorcists ‒ Episode 5
"This week was easily Twin Star Exorcists's weakest entry so far, and a troubling red flag for what the future of the series might hold."
Live-Action Nigakute Amai Film Unveils Visual, More of Cast, September Debut
Film casts Yasushi Fuchikami, Hiyori Sakurada, Mackenyu, Su, Hideo Nakano, Mako Ishino
― The staff for the live-action film of Yumiwo Kobayashi's romantic comedy manga Nigakute Amai (Bitter and Sweet) revealed the film's visual, additional cast, and September 10 opening date on Wednesday. The visual recreates the art from the cover of the manga's first compiled book volume. The film will star Haruna ...
Persona 5 RPG's New Video Reveals September 15 Date
Anime special's September airing, concert, 20th anniversary event also outlined
― A live-stream event by Atlus on Thursday revealed the fourth promotional video and the September 15 Japanese release for the Persona 5 role-playing game on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3. The game will cost 8,800 yen (about US$82). A 13,800-yen (US$129) 20th Anniversary Edition will add a Persona 5 art book, the five-d...
Kobito-Zukan Picture Books About Mysterious Creatures Get TV Anime Spinoff
Creatures that are neither insects nor plants revamped for anime
― A television anime adaptation of the popular Kobito-Zukan picture book series has been green-lit. The retitled Chobitto-Zukan anime spinoff will run on the Kids Station, Tokyo MX, and TV Kanazawa channels. The picture book series launched in 2006 and follows Kobitos, mysterious creatures that are neither insects nor plants. The series...
The Heroic Legend of Arslan Season 2 Reveals Character Art for Alfreed, Jaswant
The official website for the Arslan Senki: Fūjin Ranbu (The Heroic Legend of Arslan: Dust Storm Dance) television anime series revealed the character illustrations for Alfreed and Jaswant on Thursday. Manami Numakura and Wataru Hatano respectively are returning to voice the two characters. The website revealed the character illustrations for Arslan, Daryun, Narsus, Elam, Gieve, and Falangies last ...
Voice Actor Junichi Miyake & Artist Aoi Nishimata's Fairy Tale Wedding at Tokyo Disneyland
Voice actor Jun'ichi Miyake and illustrator Aoi Nishimata announced last month that they were getting married at the Cinderella Castle in Tokyo Disneyland on May 5 (Children's Day in Japan). When the ceremony took place, of course people took pictures of the happy occasion, which they shared on Twitter on the hashtag "#西又葵・三宅淳一結婚式" (Aoi Nishimata, Jun'ichi Miyake Wedding Ceremony). Here are some o...
Tōken Ranbu: Hanamaru TV Anime's Teaser Video, Premise Unveiled
Series about cheerful lives of boys representing historical swords premieres in October
― The official website of Tōken Ranbu: Hanamaru, one of two television anime adaptations of DMM's Tōken Ranbu online browser game, began streaming a teaser promotional video for the anime on Thursday. The video previews the two main characters Yamatonokami Yasusada and Kashū Kiyomitsu. Yasusada: The clock turns ba...
Only Yesterday Film's DVD/BD Release Listed on July 5
Amazon is listing the DVD and Blu-ray Disc home video release of Studio Ghibli and Isao Takahata's Only Yesterday anime film on July 5. North American film distributor GKids released the film in theaters in the United States and Canada from February to April. It had announced that it had also licensed the non-theatrical, home video, and television rights for the film. GKids describes the film: It'...
Duo fripSide Performs 2nd Schwarzes Marken Game's Theme
Duo also performed anime's opening theme song
― The official website for the television anime of the Muv-Luv Alternative spinoff novel Schwarzes Marken announced on Wednesday that the duo fripSide will perform the theme song "white relation" for Schwarzes Marken Junkyōsha-tachi (Martyrs, tentative title), the upcoming second PC game adaptation of the novels. The duo also performed the "white forces" ...
Wednesday, May 4
Crunchyroll Adds 2nd Yowamushi Pedal Compilation Film
1st film debuted yesterday on Crunchyroll
― Crunchyroll announced on Wednesday that it has added Yowamushi Pedal Re:ROAD, the second of two compilation films for the Yowamushi Pedal anime. The film is already available to premium users in the United States, Canada, South Africa, Central and South America including the Caribbean. It will be available to free users next week. Crunchyroll added the firs...
Love Live! Sunshine Mini-Unit CYaRon's 1st Single Previewed
The Love Live! Sunshine mini-unit CYaRon!, comprised of characters Yō Watanabe (Shuka Saitō), Ruby Kurosawa (Ai Furihata), and Chika Takami (Anju Inami), are releasing their first single, "Genki Zenkai DAY!DAY!DAY!" on May 11. The single comes with two songs, the title track and the song "Yozora wa Nan demo Shitteru no" as well as a drama part titled "Pine Moon o Sagashite ❤." Lantis is streaming ...
Megadimension Neptunia VII PC Release Slated for Summer
Idea Factory International announced on Wednesday that it will release Megadimension Neptunia VII on PC via Steam. The PC version will run at 60 frames-per-second and include original Japanese voice-overs. Idea Factory International will also offer DLC bundles. Idea Factory released the Megadimension Neptunia VII game for the PlayStation 4 in Japan in April 2015, and then released the game in the ...
Light-Up Hikaru Skirt Creator's Next Project is Skirt With Robot Arms
The "wearable special effects" skirt project, "Hikaru Skirt" (Shining Skirt) debuted last year, claiming to turn the "zettai ryōiki" (i.e. the "absolute territory" between where a girl's skirt ends and her stockings begin) into "komorebi ryōiki,"or "territory where sunshine filters through the trees." Idol group Mōsō Collaboration wore the skirts for their music video, "Mahou no Juice" last year. ...
New Jersey's AnimeNEXT to Host Fruits Basket/Kamisama Kiss Director Daichi
Director also known for comedy shorts such as Gag Manga Biyori, Tonkatsu DJ Agetarō
― New Jersey-based anime convention AnimeNEXT announced on Wednesday that it will host director Akitaro Daichi as a guest of honor for its 2016 convention. Daichi's directorial credits include Fruits Basket, Kodocha, Bokura ga Ita, Now and Then, Here and There, and Kamisama Kiss. He is also known for directing comedic...
Virtual Reality Developer Creates 3 Studio Ghibli Scenes to Explore
While many a developer has used the Oculus Rift and other virtual reality headsets as opportunities for virtual groping, dates, and smooching Hatsune Miku, UK-based studio Fire Panda created a demo with three scenes from beloved Studio Ghibli films for users to explore. In the demo is the boiler room from Spirited Away, the bus stop from My Neighbor Totoro, and the meadow from Howl's Moving Castle...
Sailor Moon Crystal Set 1 on DVD/Blu-ray Previewed in Dubbed Trailer
1st 14 episodes on Blu-ray/DVD on August 16
― North American distributor Viz Media posted an extended English-dubbed trailer for Sailor Moon Crystal Set 1- The Dark Kingdom Arc. Viz is offering the set on DVD, in a Blu-ray/DVD combo pack, and in a limited-edition Blu-ray/DVD combo pack on August 16. The limited edition will feature: Episodes 1-14 + Extras on 2 Blu-ray Discs and 2 DVDs English dubbed ...
Right Stuf Schedules Gundam Build Fighters on Blu-ray/DVD on August 2
With English Animax dub/subtitles
― Anime retailer Right Stuf and its Nozomi Entertainment distribution arm revealed on Wednesday that it will release the 2013 Gundam Build Fighters television anime on Blu-ray Disc and DVD on August 2. Both the Blu-ray Disc and DVD releases will include the show's 25 episodes with English dubbing and Japanese dubbing with English subtitles. They will also include cle...
Sentai Filmworks Adds Chaika the Coffin Princess Season 2
Chaika the Coffin Princess Avenging Battle to be available via digital outlets, home video
― North American anime distributor Sentai Filmworks announced on Wednesday that it licensed Chaika the Coffin Princess Avenging Battle, the second anime season based on Ichiro Sasaki's Chaika the Coffin Princess novels. The anime "will be available through select digital outlets, with a home video release to fo...
Kamen Rider Figuarts Dance to Love Live! in Stop-Motion Video
Niconico video user Pegahsa has combined their love of anime idols and tokusatsu heroes to create a series of stop-motion, dancing videos. Beginning last July, Pegahsa has recreated Love Live! idol µ's' music videos using Kamen Rider S.H. Figuarts figures. The latest video recreates the scene where Rin, Maki, and Hanayo sing "Hello, Hoshi o Kazoete" in Love Live! The School Idol Movie. Niconico 【コ...
Bungo Stray Dogs ‒ Episode 5
"This may have been a one-shot interlude episode designed to introduce us to the character of Edogawa Rampo rather than to further the overall plot, but it's also one of the most enjoyable thus far."
Voice Actress Kanako Toujô Gets Married, Aims to Move Overseas
Naruto Shippūden's Karin actress looks to start a family overseas
― Voice actress Kanako Toujô announced on her blog on Saturday that she has gotten married and intends to move overseas. She did not reveal the identity of her husband, but she did reveal that he works at a regular company outside her industry field and that they plan to move overseas thanks to his job. She plans to think of her family...
Dragonball: Evolution's Writer Issues Apology to Fans
Derek Padula, author of The Dao of Dragon Ball book and scriptwriter for Dragon Ball Z: Light of Hope live-action pilot, contacted Dragon Ball Z: Evolution live-action film scribe Ben Ramsey for his next upcoming book, USA DBZ. What he wasn't expecting to get what as an apology. The book will have a chapter focusing on the development of Dragonball: Evolution, a film widely regarded as, at best, a...
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Live-Action Film of A Girl at the Bottom of Onna Hierarchy Manga Opens May 28
Story follows girl at the bottom of high school's pecking order who imagines revenge
― The official website of the live-action film adaptation of Shi-ko Suzuki's Onna Hierarchy Teihen Shōjo (a girl at the bottom of Onna Hierarchy, or "A Girl at the Bottom of the Female Hierarchy") manga revealed on Wednesday that the movie will start screening in Tokyo's Cineka Omori on May 28. The film already premi...
To Love-Ru -Trouble- Darkness OVA Adapts 54th, 55th Chapter
2nd planned OVA ships with 17th volume on December 2 starring Haruka Tomatsu, Sayuri Yahagi
― The official website of the To Love-Ru -Trouble- Darkness anime revealed the details on the original video anime (OVA) bundled with the manga's 17th volume on Monday. The OVA will adapt the manga's 54th chapter ("First accident? ~Hajimete no~") and 55th chapter ("I think ~Ippo Mae ni~"). The anime's official...
Answerman - Are Japanese Bento Boxes Really So Extravagant?
Increasingly elaborate and beautiful bento boxes show up in anime all the time - are they really that over-the-top and difficult to make?
― Jake asks: I have watched a lot of anime and I have noticed something interesting with the food most characters eat. It seems like a lot of time and attention is put into the average breakfast and bento box lunches, which appear to be really extravagant. I might...
New Interpretation Stranger of Sword City PS Vita RPG Revealed for July
New features include new character, classes, mechanics, events
― Japanese game developer Experience Inc. announced during its 10th anniversary celebration event at the Akihabara UDX on Monday that is developing a new version of its Stranger of Sword City (Tsurugi no Machi no Ihōjin) game for the PlayStation Vita titled Shinshaku Tsurugi no Machi no Ihōjin - Kuro no Kyūden (New Interpretation Stranger...
One Piece Burning Blood Videos Preview Whitebeard, Marco, Joz
PS4, PS Vita, Xbox One, PC game out in N. America on May 31, Europe on June 3
― Bandai Namco Entertainment America began streaming three character move set videos for its upcoming One Piece Burning Blood PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, PC, and Xbox One game on Wednesday. The videos preview the move sets for Whitebeard, Marco, and Joz. Confirmed playable characters in the game include: Luffy, Doflami...
Fairy Tail BD+DVD Part 19
The Eclipse Spirits arc remains lackluster in its finale, but the rest of the filler episodes on these discs are pretty funny as Fairy Tail indulges in some lighter fare before things get serious next set.
― It's the little moments that make this set of episodes, which finishes up the Eclipse Spirits storyline and then embarks on a series of one-off episodes (plus a two episode mini-arc), none of whi...
Udon no Kuni no Kiniro Kemari Anime's Sōta, Poco Character Designs Unveiled
The Animate Times website unveiled two character designs for the television anime adaptation of Nodoka Shinomaru's Udon no Kuni no Kiniro Kemari (Poco's Udon World or lit. The Udon Country's Golden Furball) manga. The designs show Sōta and Poco, the anime's two main characters. Sōta Poco The anime will air this year, and will be 12 episodes long, with each episode running for 30 minutes. The "hear...
One Piece Burning Blood Videos Preview Sengoku, Smoker
PS4, PS Vita, Xbox One, PC game out in N. America on May 31, Europe on June 3
― Bandai Namco Entertainment America began streaming two character move set videos for its upcoming One Piece Burning Blood PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, PC, and Xbox One game on Tuesday. The videos preview the move sets for Sengoku and Smoker. Confirmed playable characters in the game include: Luffy, Doflamingo, Fujitor...
Fairy Tail's Laxus Dreyar Spinoff Manga Launches
Previous Fairy Tail Gaiden: Rhodonite spinoff ended in March
― Kodansha's "Magazine Pocket" app launched the first chapter of the Fairy Tail Gaiden: Raigō Issen manga on Wednesday. The spinoff manga by Kyōta Shibano focuses on the character Laxus Dreyar from Hiro Mashima's Fairy Tail manga. Shibano started the Fairy Tail Gaiden: Rhodonite spinoff manga in "Magazine Pocket" last November, and ended it...
Zelda: Twilight Princess Manga Creators Tease Overseas Release
The official Facebook account of manga creator duo Akira Himekawa posted previews of their currently running manga The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess on April 29 (see gallery below). The duo also posted in English that the compiled book of the manga is slated for June 24. After the book's release, the post notes that "other countries publishing companies will have contracts with a Japanese pub...
Tuesday, May 3
Barakamon Spinoff Anime Handa-kun Reveals New Visual, Designs
The official website of the television anime of Satsuki Yoshino's Handa-kun manga unveiled a new visual and character designs for the anime on Monday. Sei Handa Junichi Aizawa Reo Nikaido Akane Tsutsui Yukio Kondo Takao Kawafuji The anime will premiere in July on the TBS, BS-TBS, and other channels. The manga is a spinoff of Yoshino's Barakamon manga. Yen Press has licensed Handa-kun and is releas...
Crunchyroll Adds Yowamushi Pedal Re:RIDE Compilation Film
1st compilation film premiered in Japan in September 2014
― Crunchyroll announced on Tuesday that it has added Yowamushi Pedal Re:RIDE, the first of two compilation films for the Yowamushi Pedal anime. The film is already available to premium users in the United States, Canada, South Africa, Central and South America including the Caribbean. It will be available to free users next week. Wataru Watana...
Sayaka Sasaki Sings Ending Theme For Garo: Divine Flame Anime Film
Video featuring theme song, teaser trailer streamed for April 11 film
― The official website for Garo: Divine Flame, the first Garo anime film, announced last Saturday that Sayaka Sasaki will perform the film's ending theme song "HOWLITE." The site began streaming a video for the film previewing the theme song. The site also previously streamed the third teaser trailer for the film on April 11. The 8...
Good Smile Company Designs Brand-New Cardcaptor Sakura Figure for 15th Anniversary
Figuremaker Good Smile Company is celebrating its 15th anniversary with a brand-new 1/7-scale Cardcaptor Sakura figure. The figure is based on an entirely new design drawn by CLAMP and sculpted by Takayuki Kawahara. It has so far only been shown unpainted and is currently on display until May 5 at the Animate AKIBA Cultures Zone in Tokyo, Akihabara. Good Smile Company's will also reveal its 600th...
P.IDL Idols Sing for Toei's Popin Q Anime Film
Dance-themed original anime premieres in Japan in winter
― The official website of the Popin Q anime film announced on Monday that the idol unit P.IDL will perform the opening theme song "Teenage Blues" for the film. Daisuke "DAIS" Miyachi composed the song and also wrote the lyrics. The project had used the song for promotions when Toei Animation announced the project last year. The film will premie...
Sailor Moon Crystal: Season III ‒ Episode 31
"And the Most Awesome Transformation of the Week prize goes to…Sailor Mercury!"
Sayaka, Kyoko Inspire Magical Lingerie from SuperGroupies
Magical girls Sayaka Miki and Kyoko Sakura are inspiring their own bra and panty sets from mail-order fashion website SuperGroupies. The lacy lingerie is the second round in the Madoka Magica intimates line. SuperGroupies debuted Madoka, Homura, and Mami-inspired sets in March. The Sayaka lingerie is light blue and has a "fortissimo" (ff) charm, a reference to the character's hairpin in the Madok...
One Piece ‒ Episode 739
"The One Piece anime has been on a roll lately as we power through all the post-arc shenanigans."
Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Break Time Anime Shorts' 4th Episode Features Rem & Ram
Short episodes to stream for a limited time
― The official website for the Re: Life in a different world from zero (Re: Zero Kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu) television anime series began streaming the fourth episode of Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Break Time on Tuesday. The spinoff anime short series airs after each episode of the main anime's airing. The episode will be available online until May 17 at 6:00...
Footage of THQ/Black Pearl's Scrapped Akira Game Resurfaces
In 1993, Larry Siegel of Black Pearl Software and later THQ managed to acquire the rights to create a a multi-platform video game based on Katsuhiro Otomo's Akira manga and anime film. Jim Gregory worked on the Super Nintendo version and a Game Gear and Sega Genesis version were also in development at the time. The Genesis version was shown at the Consumer Electronics Show in 1994, and issues of g...
Samurai Warriors Stage Play Unveils Additional Cast in Costume
Keisuke Ueda, Ryutarou Akimoto, Masanari Wada to reprise roles in June 29-July 4 adaptation
― Marvelous is producing a new stage play based on KOEI Tecmo's Sengoku Musou (Samurai Warriors) games from June 29 through July 4 at the AiiA 2.5 Theater Tokyo. The new play will follow the "Shikoku Campaign Chapter." The cast will include (note: historical names are written family name first, while voice act...
Can You Name 10 More Anime from the 90s?
How well do YOU remember the anime of the 1990s? Here are 10 more classic shows - but can you recall them all?
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Visual Art's/Key's Air Visual Novel Gets PS Vita Port This Summer
Port adds visual novel version of Kanna & Uraha's side story novel
― Japanese video game developer Prototype announced on Saturday that it will port Visual Art's/Key's 2001 visual novel Air to the PlayStation Vita and PlayStation TV this summer. The new port will add a visual novel adaptation of the spinoff novel "Hatsuzora no Shō" (New Year's Sky Chapter). The story focuses on Kanna and Uraha, and h...
Level-5 Head Teases More on New Work in 'I' Franchise
Level-5 president and CEO Akihiro Hino posted several tweets on Sunday to offer a little more information on a new "I" product which he first teased in March. The main hint was a picture (right) of a new character. Hino added that the new work will return to the origin of "I" and hence be straightforward and hotblooded. It will not have incarnations or leaps in time, and it will not be a pro leagu...
Medabots DS/3DS Game Studio Delta Arts Shuts Down
Also developed DS games for Thomas the Steam Engine, Rilakkuma, Mini 4WD
― Delta Arts, the studio behind many of the recent Medabots (Medarot) games since 2010, announced that it ceased all operations at the end of April. The studio did not give the reason for its shutdown or the circumstances that led to it. The studio worked on the main numbered games and other titles in the Medabots/Medarot franch...
North American Anime, Manga Releases, May 1-7
Gundam Evolve OVA; Shomin Sample, The Heiress and the Chauffeur manga ship
― Anime Releases Title Publisher Suggested Retail Price Date Azumanga Daioh Complete Collection DVD (Sentai Selects)Please Sentai Filmworks US$49.98 May 3 Gasaraki DVD (Anime Elements)Cite Nozomi Entertainment US$39.99 May 3 Gundam Evolve DVDAnimeNewsNetwork Sunrise US$24.99 May 3 A Little Snow Fairy Sugar Complete Collection ...
Japan's Animation DVD Ranking, April 25-May 1
Mr. Osomatsu sells 24,288, followed by Black Butler musical, Gintama, Owarimonogatari, Meiji Tokyo Renka film
― Musical Black Butler -Chi ni Moeru Lycoris 2015- landed at #11 on the overall DVD chart with 3,796 copies. Takuya Eguchi's Eguchi Takuya no Ore-tachi Datte Iyasare Tai! 2 debuted at #22 with 1,795 copies. The standard edition for the live-action film of the My Love Story!! manga ranked #30 ...
Japan's Animation Blu-ray Disc Ranking, April 25-May 1
Owarimonogatari sells 21,606, followed by Mr. Osomatsu with 21,331, KonoSuba, SNAFU TOO, Fafner Exodus
― Yui Horie's Horie Yui o Meguru Bōken V ~Nerawareta Gakuensai~ Blu-ray sold 3,229 copies to debut at #15 on the overall Blu-ray Disc chart. The Musical Black Butler -Chi ni Moeru Lycoris 2015- landed at #16 with 2,975 copies. Rank Last Week Title Weekly Copies Total Copies Release Date Maker Artist...
2nd Chihayafuru Film Opens at #5, Terraformars at #7
Detective Conan tops box office for 3rd week, Crayon Shin-chan, I Am A Hero, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Assassination Classroom also rank
― Chihayafuru: Shimo no Ku, the second live-action film of Yuki Suetsugu's Chihayafuru manga, opened last Friday on 294 screens. It sold 193,226 tickets and earned 216,326,200 yen (about US$2.04 million) over Saturday and Sunday to rank #5 in the box office. The film earned about ...
Period Manga Creator Sakumi Yoshino Passes Away at 57
Creator of Shōnen wa Kōya o Mezasu, Juliet no Tamago manga
― Manga creator Sakumi Yoshino passed away due to an unspecified sickness on April 20. She was 57. Yoshino was born in Osaka on February 19, 1959. She debuted with her "Utsu Yori Sō ga Yoroshii no!" manga in Shueisha's Bouquet magazine in 1980. Following that, she debuted two other manga in Bouquet, including Shōnen wa Kōya o Mezasu (1985-198...
'Mayoi Neko Overrun,' 'Listen to Me, Girls. I Am Your Father!' Novelist Tomohiro Matsu Passes Away at 43
Author also wrote other light novel series, staffed Comiket for years
― Writer and light novel author Tomohiro Matsu passed away suddenly on Monday due to an unspecified sickness. He was 43. The editorial department of Shueisha's DX Bunko label made the announcement on the label's official website on Tuesday. Matsu is perhaps most well known for his Mayoi Neko Overrun! (Stray Cats Overrun!) and Liste...
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