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Sword Art Online Novel 7
Theron's favorite part of Sword Art Online shows up in its original light novel form, and he finds the experience a little diminished from its anime adaptation.
― The seventh novel in the core SAO storyline corresponds to episodes 18-24 of Sword Art Online II, which in my evaluation is the best SAO story arc released in the U.S. to date. I expounded on the merits of its storytelling in great detail i...
Review: Harmony
After the flawed but entertaining Empire of Corpses, the second film in the Project Itoh series is a pretty serious letdown. Nick Creamer does the postmortem.
― The first film in the Project Itoh series, The Empire of Corpses, was a fairly well-composed adventure romp. Its attempts to use zombies to speak to the nature of the human soul were somewhat half-baked, but those issues couldn't prevent it f...
Spice & Wolf Novel 17
One of the most unusual and mature fantasy franchises to come out of Japan comes to a conclusion with this epilogue and accompanying short stories. Theron reminisces.
― For those who might be contemplating skipping ahead to this novel to see how the story ends, much of what happens in “Conclusion,” the main part of this novel, will not make a whole lot of sense unless you have, at the least, read bot...
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of Apr 29-May 5
Re:Zero shoots up the charts and threatens the top two spots - see how all your other favorite shows are faring in our weekly user rankings!
― Our team of reviewers are following 24 anime series of the Spring 2016 season and readers are rating each episode as the reviews go up. So let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season. Keep in mind that these rankings are ...
Friday, May 13
Assassination Classroom season 2 ‒ Episode 18
"This episode's success hinges on Assassination Classroom's ability to deliver a serious, compelling action scene, and the show does exactly that."
Sword Art Online Novel 7
Theron's favorite part of Sword Art Online shows up in its original light novel form, and he finds the experience a little diminished from its anime adaptation.
― The seventh novel in the core SAO storyline corresponds to episodes 18-24 of Sword Art Online II, which in my evaluation is the best SAO story arc released in the U.S. to date. I expounded on the merits of its storytelling in great detail i...
Naruto Shippuden ‒ Episode 460
"In addition to delving into Kaguya's past, we get an extended glimpse of what the show's world was like before the advent of ninjutsu."
Flip Flappers TV Anime Reveals New Key Visual
The staff of the Flip Flappers television anime series revealed a new key visual for the series on Friday. The series will premiere in October. The series will star M.A.O as Papika and Minami Takahashi as Cocona. The story is as follows: How does the world look in your eyes? Papika and Cocona, the heroines of the story, hold the keys to open the door. When the two girls meet, their adventures in a...
TRUE, Minami Perform Theme Songs for Regalia: The Three Sacred Stars TV Anime
Minami Kuribayashi changes stage name to Minami
― The official website for Infinite's Regalia: The Three Sacred Stars original television anime series announced on Friday that TRUE will perform the show's opening theme song "Divine Spell," and Minami will perform the ending theme song. The staff has not yet revealed the title for Minami's song. TRUE previously performed theme songs for Sound! Euphoni...
Robot Park Attraction to Feature Special Gundam Footage
Attraction opens on July 16, footage screens at theme park's Kirara theater
― The official Gundam.info portal site revealed on Wednesday that a new "Robot no Ōkoku" (Robot Kingdom) attraction at the Huis Ten Bosch theme park in Nagasaki will feature special Gundam footage. The attraction will open on July 16, and the footage will screen at Huis Ten Bosch's Kirara theater. The new attraction is billed...
Natsume Develops Wild Guns Reloaded PS4 Shooter Game
Game is followup to 22-year old SNES game
― Game developer and publisher Natsume announced on Thursday that it is partnering with Natsume Atari Inc. to develop Wild Guns Reloaded for the PlayStation 4. The game is a followup title to Natsume's Wild Guns SNES game released 22 years ago. Natsume will showcase the title during this year's E3 event in June. Natsume describes Wild Guns Reloaded: Wild Guns...
Emi Nitta Event Will Require Bag Searches, Pat-Down Checks
Event takes place on August 20
― The official website of voice actress Emi Nitta's "Nitta Emi no Emusic Magic" radio program announced last week that her "Tsunraji 100-kai Kinen 'Emi no Ie ~Natsu no Omoide Seisakujo~'" event on August 20 will require bag checks and pat-down searches for all attendees. In addition, attendees are required to bring identification, and are prohibited from bringing sharp ...
ReLIFE Stage Play's Cast, Performance Dates Announced
Kensho Ono, Yuichi Nakamura, Taishi Sugie, Seiya Konishi, Akira cast for September play
― The official website for the stage play adaptation of Yayoiso's ReLIFE manga revealed the play's cast and performance dates on Wednesday. The main cast includes: Kensho Ono as Arata Kaizaki Yuichi Nakamura as Ryō Yoake Taishi Sugie as Kazuomi Ōga Seiya Konishi as Akira Inukai Akira as Nobunaga Asaji Kensho Ono a...
Naoki Serizawa: 'I Want to Start New Manga Series in Late 2016-Early 2017'
Resident Evil: The Marhawa Desire artist also plans new Saru Lock series
― Manga artist Naoki Serizawa announced on Twitter on Tuesday that he wants to start a new manga series either at the end of this year, or early next year. He noted in the post that he had just met with an editor of Kodansha's Weekly Shonen Magazine. Serizawa stated last November that he plans to begin a new series in Kodansha's...
Live-Action Happy Marriage!? Series Reveals Additional Cast
Norika Fujiwara, Jin Shirasu, Mariko Shinoda, Yoichi Nukumizu, more join June series
― The staff of the live-action drama series adaptation of Maki Enjōji's Happy Marriage!? manga announced additional cast for the series on Thursday. The additional cast includes: Norika Fujiwara as Taeko Sōma, Hokuto's secretary Jin Shirasu as Yū Yagami, a new hire under Chiwa's wing Mariko Shinoda as Misaki Shitara,...
Crunchyroll Adds 'Ah My Buddha!!' Anime to Catalog
Series offered with English dub, subtitles
― Crunchyroll announced on Thursday that it has added the Ah My Buddha!! anime to its catalog. Crunchyroll is offering the series with both the English dub and the original Japanese audio with English subtitles to users in the United States and Canada. The entire series is available for premium users, while only the first 13 episodes are available for free u...
Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari SP 3DS Game Delayed Indefinitely
Game remakes River City Ransom NES game
― The official website of Arc System Works' Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari SP Nintendo 3DS game announced on Wednesday that the game has been indefinitely delayed. The game was previously slated for release on June 2. The developer cites the need to improve the game's quality as the reason for the delay. Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari is a remake of the original NE...
Idea Factory's Mr. Osomatsu Game Listed for PS Vita With 6 Special Editions, Drama CD
Amazon began listing a PlayStation Vita game tentatively titled Osomatsu-san The Game on Thursday, with Idea Factory as the developer. Idea Factory previously announced in January that its Otomate brand — which develops otome romance simulation games intended for female players — is developing a video game based on the Mr. Osomatsu anime. The game's standard edition is priced at 6,804 yen (about U...
Strike Witches Spinoff TV Anime Brave Witches Debuts in Fall
The official website for the Brave Witches spinoff television anime revealed on Friday that the series will premiere this fall. The website also updated with the draft character designs for Alexandra Pokryshkin. The new anime series will center on the 502nd Joint Fighter Wing "Brave Witches," unlike the earlier anime's focus on the 501st Joint Fighter Wing "Strike Witches." Takaaki Suzuki is retur...
Thursday, May 12
Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress ‒ Episodes 4-5
"Episode 5 finally gives us the deeper look into Mumei's character that viewers have been waiting for, without putting the brakes on Kabaneri's nonstop action."
Jurassic World Co-Writer Derek Connolly Works on Pacific Rim 2
Daredevil showrunner Steven S. DeKnight directing sequel film
― Entertainment news source The Hollywood Reporter revealed on Thursday that Derek Connolly has joined the production team for Pacific Rim 2, the planned sequel to Guillermo del Toro and Travis Beacham's 2013 science-fiction robot film. It is currently unclear if Connolly is writing another draft of the script or developing story ideas. Co...
And you thought there is never a girl online? ‒ Episode 6
"With some recent heavier concerns out of the way, episode 6 takes a more purely comedic turn."
Frontwing Offers 'The Leisure of Grisaia' Bonus Episode on Steam
Story focuses on Michiru Matsushima
― Game developer Frontwing announced on Thursday that it will release the The Fruit of Grisaia bonus episode "The Leisure of Grisaia" (Grisaia no Yūkan) on Steam on May 18 for US$2.99. The episode was initially offered as a download code with the third Japanese DVD and Blu-ray of the anime adaptation of The Eden of Grisaia, and has not previously been released in E...
Chinese Social Game Turns Historical Figures into Moe Girls
Includes dictators like Adolf Hitler, Kim Jong-un
― The moe boom has led to a wave of anime and games representing macho Asian historical figures as cute girls, such as Koihime Musō and The Ambition of Oda Nobuna. A Chinese social networking game, Meng Wang EX ("Moe King EX"), has nonetheless raised eyebrows among a few Japanese netizens for its take on "great" political and military leaders of the p...
Monster Hunter Generations July 15 Release Date, Special Edition New 3DS Revealed
North America, Europe get different limited edition systems
― Nintendo of America and Nintendo of Europe announced on Thursday that Capcom's Monster Hunter Generations (Monster Hunter X) Nintendo 3DS game will ship in the west on July 15. In addition, both North America and Europe will get a special edition New Nintendo 3DS XL system that will ship on the same day. The system will be blue in North Am...
Carli Mosier Joins Cross Ange English Dub Cast as Hilda
1st BD/DVD slated for release on June 21
― Sentai Filmworks announced with a video on Thursday that Carli Mosier will play Hilda in its dub of the CROSS ANGE Rondo of Angel and Dragon anime. Sentai Filmworks previously announced Brittney Karbowski as Vivian and Kira Vincent-Davis as Salia. The first half of Cross Ange is slated for release on Blu-ray Disc and DVD on June 21, and the second half is sl...
Sadako & Kayako Want Your Vote for the Ghost with the Most
The promotional campaign for Sadako vs. Kayako, the upcoming horror film that pits Juon: The Grudge and Ringu ghosts against one another launched tongue-in-cheek "general election" ads. The commercials have a seemingly serious political slant for what is actually a popularity contest between the two characters. In the video, using an interpreter, Sadako tells potential voters that the country is s...
Adult Swim to Air Gundam: Iron Blooded Orphans Anime
25-episode series premiered in October
― Turner revealed in a press release on Thursday that it has acquired the Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans anime to air on Adult Swim. Jason DeMarco, co-founder of Adult Swim's Toonami block confirmed on Twitter that Gundam will air on Toonami. The 25-episode series premiered in Japan in October, and ended with a teaser that it would return this fall. Da...
Cute High Earth Defense Club LOVE! 2nd Season's Promo Video Introduces Transfer Students
Cast-performed opening and ending theme song titles revealed
― Pony Canyon began streaming a promotional video on Thursday for Cute High Earth Defense Club LOVE! LOVE! (Binan Kōkō Chikyū Bōei-bu Love! Love!), the second season of the Cute High Earth Defense Club LOVE! television anime. The video introduces the "mysterious transfer students" Akihiko Beppu and Haruhiko Beppu, and asks "are they friend ...
My Hero Academia Casts Kouki Uchiyama as Tomura Shigaraki
Debuts in episode 8 on May 22; pop-up shops open in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya
― This year's 24th issue of Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine is revealing the voice cast member and design for another character in the My Hero Academia (Boku no Hero Academia) anime on Monday. Kouki Uchiyama will play Tomura Shigaraki, who will debut in the anime in the eighth episode on May 22. The magazine is also repor...
Review: Harmony
After the flawed but entertaining Empire of Corpses, the second film in the Project Itoh series is a pretty serious letdown. Nick Creamer does the postmortem.
― The first film in the Project Itoh series, The Empire of Corpses, was a fairly well-composed adventure romp. Its attempts to use zombies to speak to the nature of the human soul were somewhat half-baked, but those issues couldn't prevent it f...
Dynasty Warriors Strategy RPG's August 3 Date, Character Roster Revealed
Roster is smaller than full list of characters that franchise has featured over the years
― Kadokawa's Weekly Famitsu magazine held a streaming program on Thursday to unveil the August 3 release date, character roster, and live gameplay footage from Shin Sangoku Musou: Eiketsuden (Dynasty Warriors: Legend of Great Heroes), the first strategy role-playing game inspired by KOEI Tecmo Games' Dynasty War...
The Super Ball Performs The Morose Mononokean TV Anime's Opening Theme
2-man unit to make major debut with theme song for series premiering in July
― The official website for the television anime adaptation of Kiri Wazawa's The Morose Mononokean (Fukigen na Mononokean) manga announced on Thursday that the two-man unit The Super Ball (pictured at right) will make their major debut with the show's opening theme song, titled "Tomodachi Meter" (Friend Meter). The duo will r...
Heroic Legend of Arslan 2nd Season Reveals New Cast, Characters
Tetsu Inada, Tesshô Genda, Sōma Saitō join 2nd season premiering on July 3
― The official website for the Arslan Senki: Fūjin Ranbu (The Heroic Legend of Arslan: Dust Storm Dance) television anime series revealed three new character designs and their respective cast members on Thursday. The new cast members are (character name romanizations are not officially confirmed): Tetsu Inada (Tsubasa: RESERVo...
Gundam Build Fighters Try Anime Gets 'New Special Footage' on TV in August
The official Twitter account for the Gundam Build Fighters Try anime series announced on Thursday that the series is getting "new special footage" that will air on TV in August. The account did not specify if the new footage would be an anime. Sunrise originally made the announcement at a booth at the Shizuoka Hobby Show on Thursday. The booth also lists the title "Extra Battle Go Fight!!." The sh...
Battery Novels By No. 6 Author Get New Manga by Wandering Son's Shimura
Manga debuts on June 11; Shimura also draws character designs for TV anime
― The June issue of Kadokawa's Monthly Comic Beam magazine revealed on Thursday that Takako Shimura will launch a new manga adaptation of Atsuko Asano's Battery novels in the magazine's next issue, which Kadokawa will publish on June 11. Shimamura is also drawing the character designs for the novels' upcoming anime adaptation....
Illustrator T-Ray Arrested for Solicitation of a Minor
Artist drew cover art of enka singer Sachiko Kobayashi's single, SHIMONETA end card illustration
― Saitama prefectural police arrested Yūki Okamura – the real name of illustrator T-Ray – on Wednesday on charges of soliciting a minor to perform sexual acts. According to police, the 28-year old T-Ray allegedly gave money amounting to 22,000 yen (about US$202) to a 17-year old female high school student...
Crunchyroll Adds Lost Universe Anime to Catalog
Series available with both English dub, subtitles
― Crunchyroll announced on Wednesday that it has added the Lost Universe anime to its catalog. The anime is available to Crunchyroll members in the United States and Canada in both the English dub and the original Japanese audio with English subtitles. The entire series is available for premium users, while only the first 13 episodes are available for...
Nintendo Lowers Price of 2DS Handheld System in May
Also: Disney Magical World 2, Style Savvy: Fashion Forward come to N. America
― Nintendo of America announced on Wednesday that the Nintendo 2DS handheld gaming system price will drop from US$99.99 to US$79.99 on May 20. The system will still come bundled with the Mario Kart 7 digital version. In addition, Nintendo revealed that it will release the Style Savvy: Fasion Forward and Disney Magical World...
KLab, Broccoli Develop Uta no Prince-sama♪ Shining Live Smartphone Game
KLab, Broccoli entered business partnership in January
― Game developer KLab (Love Live! School idol festival) announced on Wednesday that it is co-developing a smartphone game alongside game and character goods company Broccoli for the Uta no Prince-sama franchise titled Uta no Prince-sama♪ Shining Live. The game will be a rhythm game, and it will be available on both iOS and Android devices. KLab w...
The Morose Mononokean Anime's 2nd Promo Reveals More Cast, Staff
Ayahi Takagaki, Ikue Otani, Yōko Hikasa, Chinami Hashimoto, Junichi Suwabe cast in July anime
― The official website for the television anime adaptation of Kiri Wazawa's The Morose Mononokean (Fukigen na Mononokean) manga began streaming the anime's second promotional video on Thursday. The video introduces additional cast members for the anime. The additional cast includes: Ayahi Takagaki as Zenko F...
Wednesday, May 11
Ace Attorney 6 Game's New Japanese Video Hints at Phoenix/Apollo Confrontation
Game out in Japan in June; N. America & Europe in September
― The Japanese website for CAPCOM's Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Spirit of Justice (Gyakuten Saiban 6) Nintendo 3DS game posted the third promotional video on Wednesday. The video introduces the game's characters and setting, and hints at a confrontation between Phoenix Wright and Apollo Justice. The game is slated for digital release in N...
Bungo Stray Dogs ‒ Episode 6
"The pacing is so jumpy in this episode that it feels like we barely have a chance to register the story's importance."
SEGA 'Investigates' HD Remaster of Shenmue, Shenmue II Games
SEGA Europe's Dan Sheridan stated in a SEGA central video on Wednesday that SEGA is "investigating" an HD re-release of Shenmue and Shenmue II. In the video, Sheridan answers a fan question regarding an HD remaster of the first two Shenmue games, and replies that while SEGA wants to release remastered versions, quality concerns and licensed properties present within the game must be investigated f...
Twin Star Exorcists ‒ Episode 6
"This episode was a return to form, even if that form had a few rough edges to begin with."
Funimation Previews 'And you thought there is never a girl online?' Anime's Broadcast Dub
1st English-dubbed episode premiered on Wednesday
― Funimation posted a video previewing its broadcast dub of the And you thought there is never a girl online? television anime series on Wednesday. The first dubbed episode premiered on Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. EDT as part of Funimation's DubbleTalk block. The series premiered in Japan on the Tokyo MX channel on April 7. Funimation is already streaming ...
Canada's Official Twitter Account Asks: 'Which Pokémon is the Most Canadian?'
The Pokémon Company announced the starters for the Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon Nintendo 3DS games on Tuesday, prompting waves of excitement. The renewed interest made its way to our northern neighbor. Canada's official Twitter account asked the internet which Pokémon is the most Canadian. .@Pokemon has been around in Canada since 1998! Which Pokemon do you think is the most Canadian? #PokemonSunM...
DIY Video Series Shows How to Make Your Own Metroid Arm Cannon
The web series "DIY Prop Shop" took on Samus' Arm Cannon in its latest video. While the version won't shoot beams of energy at your foes, it does add a finishing touch to your Metroid costume. Host Vinny Logozio breaks down how to make the item using PVC pipe, foam, and a wooden dowel. The actual light requires a bit of tech savvy and a soldering iron. The DIY Prop Shop series has more videos deta...
Japanese Comic Ranking, May 2-8
Haikyu!, Kuroko no Basuke Extra Game, Bleach, Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma, Gintama in top 5
― Rank Title Est. Weekly Copies Est. Total Copies Release Date Publisher Author Highest Rank Weeks on List 1 Haikyu!! 21 522,078 524,971 2016/05 Shueisha Haruichi Furudate 1 2 2 Kuroko no Basuke Extra Game Ato-hen 418,688 420,346 2016/05 Shueisha Tadatoshi Fujimaki 2 1 3 Bleach 72 292,028 294,275 2016/05 Shu...
Japan's Video Game Rankings, May 2-8
Kirby: Planet Robobot remains at #1
― Japan's Game Ranking: May 2-8 Rank System Title Maker Release Date Weekly Copies Total Copies 4Gamer Reader Review 13DS Kirby: Planet Robobot Nintendo April 28 79,807 224,653 50 23DS Yo-kai Sangokushi Level 5 April 2 33,996 498,883 60 3PSV Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū 2016 Konami April 28 24,827 109,800 4PS4 Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū 2016 Konami April 28 23,936 125,...
Crackle to Stream Robotech TV Series, Film
Series debuts on Sony's streaming service on May 15
― Sony's video streaming service Crackle announced on Wednesday that it has acquired streaming rights to Harmony Gold's Robotech television series and the Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles feature film. Crackle will post all 85 episodes of the series and the film on May 15. Crackle streamed an introduction video for the television series: Crackle anno...
Songs Announced for Halko Momoi's New Cover Album
Singer and voice actress Halko Momoi opened the floor to submissions in March for her Pink Hippo Album ~Self Cover Best~, her new album of cover songs. The title is taken because many of the tracks were created by Momoi, either in composition or lyrics, but not performed by her. She asked fans to submit songs originally performed by men to include on the release. Momoi announced the CD's track lin...
Sentai Filmworks Adds Hanakyou Maid Team: La Verite Anime
Series about boy who inherits a team of maids aired in 2004
― Sentai Filmworks announced on Wednesday that it has licensed the Hanaukyou Maid Team: La Verite (Hanaukyo Maid Team: La Verite) television anime. The company plans to release the series digitally and on home video. Sentai Filmworks describes the story: After losing his mother, 15-year-old Taro Hanaukyou moves to live with his grandfather i...
Bodacious Space Pirates: Abyss of Hyperspace Film's English Dub Casts Kira Vincent-Davis, More
Full new and returning cast list announced
― Sentai Filmworks announced the English dub cast for the Bodacious Space Pirates: Abyss of Hyperspace (Mōretsu Pirates: Abyss of Hyperspace -Akū no Shien-) anime film on Wednesday. The company plans to release the film on Blu-ray and DVD on June 14. The full English cast, under director Christopher Ayres and ADR scriptwriter Katelyn Barr, includes: Luci Chr...
Winner of New Game! Anime's Theme Song Group Name Contest Announced
fourfolium unit sing opening theme song "Sakura Skip," ending theme song "Now Loading!!!!" for July anime
― The official website for the television anime adaptation of of Shōtarō Tokunō's New Game! manga announced the anime's theme song artist unit name as well as the theme song titles on Monday. The new unit composed of Yūki Takada, Megumi Yamaguchi, Megumi Toda, and Ayumi Takeo will be named "fourf...
Netflix, DreamWorks' Voltron Reimagining's Full Trailer Streamed
Full series to debut on June 10 on Netflix
― The official Netflix US & Canada YouTube channel began streaming a full trailer for Voltron: Legendary Defender, a reimagining of the 1980s animated Voltron project which will stream exclusively on the Netflix service on June 10. Executive producer Joaquim Dos Santos, executive producer Lauren Montgomery, and writer Tim Hedrick — all of whom had worked tog...
Answerman - Would An American Creator Have Control Over Their Anime?
If JK Rowling agreed to an anime adaptation of Harry Potter, how much creative control - or even input - would she really have? Justin gets into it.
― Branko asks: Japanese authors appear to have a lot of control over how their works get adapted into anime. However, that is not true everywhere especially in Hollywood. So if an American author, like say George R.R. Martin wanted to produce an anime a...
Ace Attorney 6 Heads West as Ace Attorney - Spirit of Justice
Digital release slated for September
― Capcom's United States and United Kingdom branches began streaming a trailer announcing a western release for the Ace Attorney 6 Nintendo 3DS game on Wednesday. The game, titled Ace Attorney - Spirit of Justice, will be available digitally this September. The game's theme is a "courtroom revolution." The game is set in a country called the Khura'in Kingdom, a "c...
Barakamon Prequel Manga Handa-kun Ends in June
Anime adaptation to premiere in July
― The June issue of Square Enix's Monthly Shonen Gangan magazine announced on Thursday that Satsuki Yoshino's Handa-kun manga will end in the July issue on June 11. The series has an upcoming anime adaptation that will premiere in July. The manga is a spinoff of Yoshino's Barakamon manga. Yen Press has licensed Handa-kun and is releasing it digitally and in print....
Spice & Wolf Novel 17
One of the most unusual and mature fantasy franchises to come out of Japan comes to a conclusion with this epilogue and accompanying short stories. Theron reminisces.
― For those who might be contemplating skipping ahead to this novel to see how the story ends, much of what happens in “Conclusion,” the main part of this novel, will not make a whole lot of sense unless you have, at the least, read bot...
Joker Game ‒ Episodes 5-6
"Now that the year is 1939, and we've found ourselves following a newly Axis-allied D-Agency, Joker Game has taken on a decidedly different tone of transition."
Udon Entertainment Licenses Persona 3 Manga
1st volume of manga adaptation of Atlus RPG slated for September
― North American publisher Udon Entertainment announced that it licensed Shuji Sogabe's manga adaptation of the Atlus role-playing game Persona 3. Udon will publish the first volume in September. Udon describes the manga: Persona 3 follows a diverse group of high school students as they stumble upon a strange phenomenon known as the “Da...
Crunchyroll Adds You're Being Summoned, Azazel, Sketchbook ~full color'S~ to Catalog
Both series available in U.S., Canada; Azazel 2nd season available to free users next week
― Crunchyroll announced on Tuesday that it has added the You're Being Summoned, Azazel and Sketchbook ~full color'S~ anime to its catalog. Both anime are available to members in the United States and Canada. Both the first You're Being Summoned, Azazel season and the second season, You're Being Summoned, Azazel...
Scared Rider Xechs TV Anime Adds Cast, Staff
Ayaka Shimizu, Satomi Akesaka, Koji Yusa, Hitoshi Bifu, Hiroki Yasumoto cast for summer anime
― The official website for the television anime of Rejet and Red Entertainment's Scared Rider Xechs romance adventure game announced more cast and staff members on Tuesday. The new cast includes: Ayaka Shimizu as Akira Asagi, the main character Satomi Akesaka as Salome Hako Sakura, a character original to th...
Digital Manga's Kimagure Orange Road Kickstarter Campaign Ends
Campaign raised US$154,097, achieved all stretch goals to publish all 6 omnibus volumes
― Digital Manga Inc.'s Kickstarter campaign to publish Izumi Matsumoto's romantic comedy manga Kimagure Orange Road ended on May 10 at 6:00 p.m. EDT. The campaign successfully raised US$154,097 from 938 backers. It achieved all its stretch goals, which will allow Digital Manga Inc. to publish all six 3-in-1 omnibu...
Love Live! School idol festival ~afterschool Activity~ Arcade Game's Trailer Shows Cards
Custom profile cards, 3-player cooperative game mode previewed
― Square Enix began streaming a promotional trailer for Love Live! School idol festival ~afterschool Activity~, its upcoming arcade version of KLab's Love Live! School idol festival smartphone game, on Wednesday. The trailer describes the effects of the different cards that can be acquired in the game, the game's custom profile cards, and...
Makoto Shinkai Publishes Kimi no Na wa./your name. Novel Before Film Opens
Novel debuts June 18, ahead of film's August 26 opening
― The official website of Makoto Shinkai's new Kimi no Na wa. (your name) anime film announced on Tuesday that Shinkai will publish the original novel that inspired the film. Kadokawa will release the book on June 18, ahead of the film's opening. It will be priced at 560 yen (about US$5). Shinkai has previously written novels tied to his 5 Centi...
Warner Delays Godzilla 2, Schedules Godzilla vs. Kong
Godzilla 2 now slated for March 22, 2019, Godzilla vs. Kong for May 29, 2020
― Hollywood news website The Wrap reported on Tuesday that Warner Bros. has set the release dates for its Godzilla 2 sequel film and its Godzilla vs. Kong film. Godzilla 2 is now slated for March 22, 2019, delayed from its original June 8, 2018 date. Godzilla vs. Kong is now slated for May 29, 2020. Warner Bros. is also prod...
Tuesday, May 10
Off-the-Wall Swiss Otaku Recreates Bakuon!! Fanservice Scene
Otaku and general mischief maker "@meidocafe" or "Extreme Swiss Otaku" previous grabbed attention for plastering a men's restroom with posters of Yudachi Kai Ni from KanColle and posting pictures of himself dressed as Hestia while posing suggestively with his television. His latest target is the girls' motorcycle club anime Bakuon!! The show recently aired a fanservice segment of the female charac...
Official Bakuon!! Itasha Motorcycles Will Go on Sale
The Bakuon!! anime about a girls' motorcycle club quickly snagged real-life sponsors like the NORIX SIMPSON motorcycle helmet and Kawasaki, Suzuki, Ducati, Honda, and YAMAHA motorcycle manufacturers. It was only a matter of time before the series' characters graced the frames of their favorite machines. The anime's official Twitter account announced that three ita-sha motorcycles will go on sale o...
Famitsu Awards Honor Splatoon, Hideo Kojima, More
Tōken Ranbu, Monster Hunter Generations, Super Mario Maker, Puzzle & Dragons also among award-winners
― Enterbrain's Famitsu magazine announced the Famitsu Awards 2015 winners in a ceremony on Tuesday at the Tokyo Dome Hotel. Console, PC, and smartphone games that went on sale in Japan between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2015 were eligible for the awards. The winners were chosen by fan poll. Gam...
Dead or Alive 5 Last Round Will Add Gust's Atelier Series Costume
The May 26, 2016 issue of Weekly Famitsu magazine is announcing on Thursday that Dead or Alive 5 Last Round will collaborate with Gust for at least one costume. Gust is the developer of the Atelier and Ar tonelico series of games. KOEI Tecmo America will release Atelier Sophie: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Book (Sophie no Atelier: Fushigi na Hon no Renkinjutushi) on PlayStation 4 and PlayStatio...
North American Anime, Manga Releases, May 8-14
The Fruit of Grisaia, Strawberry Marshmallow anime ship
― Anime Releases Title Publisher Suggested Retail Price Date Cosplay Cuties DVD (Adult)Please Adult Source Media US$24.99 May 10 The Fruit of Grisaia Season 1 Blu-rayCite Sentai Filmworks US$59.98 May 10 The Fruit of Grisaia Season 1 DVDAnimeNewsNetwork Sentai Filmworks US$49.98 May 10 Strawberry Marshmallow TV Collection Blu-rayPlease Sentai Fi...
Game Maker Konami: Similarly Named Company in Panama Papers Is Unrelated
Game maker Konami posted the following notice on Tuesday, denying connection to a company listed on the Offshore Leaks Database: The "Konami Corporation Limited" that appears in the Offshore Leaks Database, what is called the "Panama Papers," is entirely unrelated to Konami Group. Last month, a group of news media outlets revealed the "Panama Papers," a collection of leaked files detailing the off...
Viz's Shonen Jump to Preview Takuan and Batsu's Daily Demon Diary Manga
Series by new creator Kentarō Itani to debut same day in Japan
― Viz Media's digital anthology Weekly Shonen Jump announced on Monday that it will begin Kentarō Itani's Takuan and Batsu's Daily Demon Diary (Takuan to Batsu no Nichijō Enmachō) manga on May 16 as part of its "Jump Start" initiative. The manga will debut in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine in Japan on the same day. The manga begin...
Cocktail Prince Mobile Game Casts Its Leads
Geechs' Cocktail Ōji (Cocktail Prince) mobile game starring male characters inspired by alcoholic drinks announced the voice actors of its star ikemen on Tuesday. The player will control a woman who was previously living a carefree life until she inherits a bar from her grandfather and is tasked with reviving its popularity in just one year. She hires six "princes" to assist her but could find he...
Ushio & Tora Anime Key Visual Teases Upcoming Battle
Manga news website Comic Natalie and other news outlets shared a new key visual for the currently-airing Ushio & Tora anime on Wednesday. Ushio & Tora premiered last July, but its 39-episode run was split into two seasons. The first season reached the 26th episode last December, and the second season began with the 27th episode on April. The anime's final episode will coincide with the manga's fin...
binaria to Perform Danganronpa 3 Anime's 'Despair Arc' Opening Theme Song
Anime's two arcs to air simultaneously in July
― The official website for this year's Danganronpa 3 -The End of Kibōgamine Gakuen- (Danganronpa 3 -The End of Hope's Peak Academy-) television anime announced on Tuesday that binaria will perform the opening theme song for the anime's "Zetsubō Hen" (Despair Arc). The musical unit binaria is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2016. Its members include A...
Shaft's Madogatari Exhibit Publishes Heroine Poll's Results
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 — wrapped up its Nagoya run on Sunday. The exhibit included the Madoka Magica concept movie, an exhibit on Gekidan Inu Curry (the animation troupe behind Madoka Magica's witch realm), an art exhibit based on a short story by Nisi...
Miles Edgeworth to Appear in Ace Attorney 6 Game
Image also shows Simon Blackquill, other returning and new characters
― The preview image for video game news magazine Famitsu's May 26 issue revealed a key visual showing the main characters for Capcom's upcoming Gyakuten Saiban 6 (Ace Attorney 6) Nintendo 3DS game on Tuesday. The visual reveals that Reiji Mitsurugi (Miles Edgeworth) will appear in the game. The preview image also shows returning ch...
The Best and Worst of the Season So Far: Week of Apr 29-May 5
Re:Zero shoots up the charts and threatens the top two spots - see how all your other favorite shows are faring in our weekly user rankings!
― Our team of reviewers are following 24 anime series of the Spring 2016 season and readers are rating each episode as the reviews go up. So let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season. Keep in mind that these rankings are ...
The Seven Deadly Sins: Signs of holy war 4-Episode Special Premieres on August 28
This year's 24th issue of Kodansha's Weekly Shonen Magazine is revealing on Wednesday that the Nanatsu no Taizai: Seisen no Shirushi (The Seven Deadly Sins: Signs of holy war) television anime special will premiere on August 28. The four-week special will air on MBS and TBS on Sundays at 5:00 p.m. The announcement confirms that the Arslan Senki: Fūjin Ranbu (The Heroic Legend of Arslan: Dust Storm...
MeiQ no Chika ni Shisu PS Vita RPG Heads West in Fall
Compile Heart dungeon crawling game offered with English dub & subtitles
― The official website of publisher Idea Factory International announced on Monday that it will release Compile Heart's MeiQ no Chika ni Shisu PlayStation Vita game in North America and Europe this Fall under the title MeiQ: Labyrinth of Death. It will offer both physical and digital download releases for the game. Idea Factory ...
Pokémon Sun & Moon's November 18 Date, Starter Pokémon Revealed in Video
Hawaii-inspired "Alola region" & live-action Japanese intro video also shown
― The Pokémon Company announced the release dates and the three Starter Pokémon in the Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon Nintendo 3DS games in a video on Tuesday. The game will debut in Japan and North America on November 18, followed by Europe on November 23. The three Starter Pokémon are: Grass-type Rowlet (Mokuroh in Japan) CA...
Japan's Animation DVD Ranking, May 2-8
Mr. Osomatsu sells 5,275 more during Golden Week, followed by live-action Assassination Classroom sequel's song, Is the order a rabbit??, Daisuke Namikawa & Nobuhiko Okamoto, Takuya Eguchi
― "Sayonara Sensa-tions," the theme song for the live-action Ansatsu Kyōshitsu: Sotsugyō-hen (Assassination Classroom: Graduation) film by the group "Sensa-tions," sold 1,299 copies for a new total of 212,213. In i...
Japan's Animation Blu-ray Disc Ranking, May 2-8
Is the order a rabbit?? sells 5,316 more during Golden Week, followed by Mr. Osomatsu, Owarimonogatari, KonoSuba, SNAFU TOO
― Rank Last Week Title Weekly Copies Total Copies Release Date Maker Artist/Category Highest Rank Weeks on Chart 1 7 Is the order a rabbit?? Vol. 5 (Limited First Edition) 5,316 8,188 16/5/2 NUE Animation 1 2 2 2 Mr. Osomatsu 4th Matsu (Limited First Pressing Blu-ray Disc) 4,13...
Final Fantasy: Brave Exvius Game App Briefly Listed as Heading West
A website for Gumi and A-Lim's Final Fantasy: Brave Exvius smartphone game briefly went public on Monday. According to the website, Square Enix is bringing the game to the West. The site was available in English, French, Spanish, German, Simplified Chinese, and Korean. The site described the game: So begins a new tale of crystals… An all-new RPG in the classic Final Fantasy tradition! Square Enix ...
One Piece Film Gold Adds 4 Guest Cast Members
Comedians Kendo Kobayashi, Korokke, Nadaru, actor Arata Furuta cast in July 23 film
― The staff of the One Piece Film Gold anime movie revealed four additional guest cast members on Tuesday. Comedian Kendo Kobayashi as Dice, a gigantic card dealer and part of Gild Tesoro's crew Actor Arata Furuta as Kent Beef Jr. and Pork, two partners who compete in the turtle car race with Luffy Comedian Korokke as...
Controversial Artist Rokudenashiko Found Guilty on Obscenity Charge
Recently engaged artist Megumi Igarashi —pen name Rokudenashiko— was found guilty of breaking Japan's obscenity laws in Tokyo court on Monday. 44-year-old Igarashi was arrested in July 2014 for distributing 3D printer data of her own genitalia as part of a backer reward for her crowdfunding campaign to construct a vagina kayak. Judge Mihoko Tanabe ruled that the data was "flat and inorganic" but r...
Love Live! Voice Actress Aina Kusuda's 2nd Album Ranks #3 With 9,000 Copies
2nd album sold more, ranked higher than 1st album last October
― Voice actress and singer Aina Kusuda's new album, Next Brilliant Wave, sold 9,000 copies in its debut week and ranked #3 on the Oricon album chart for the week of May 2-8. The album shipped on May 4. Next Brilliant Wave both sold more copies and ranked higher on its first week than her first album, last October's First Sweet Wave. That ...
Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster Heads to PC on May 12
HD remasters of PS2 games previously released on PS3, PS Vita, PS4
― Square Enix opened a product page on Steam for its Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster game, revealing that it will release the game collection for the PC on Thursday, May 12. The game's product page describes the game: FINAL FANTASY X tells the story of a star blitzball player, Tidus, who journeys with a young and beautiful summoner na...
Gundam the Origin III: Dawn of Rebellion's 1st 13 Minutes Streamed
Video available with English dub or subtitles; limited theatrical screening in Japan begins May 21
― The Gundam.info website posted the first 13 minutes of the Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin anime's third episode, Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin III Dawn of Rebellion (Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin III Akatsuki no Hōki), on Tuesday. The video is available with the English dub, or with the Japanese aud...
Monday, May 9
Spiderman Swings Into Feudal Japan for New Figure
Move over Darth Vader, Spiderman has his own samurai dreams to fulfill. Marvel's web-slinging superhero is joining Tamashii Nation's Meisho Realization figure series later this year and Bluefin will distribute it in late summer or fall. The reimagined seven-inch Spiderman looks at home in feudal-era Japan with web-like black and crimson armor. Customers can pose Spidey in a number of ways thanks ...
Strike the Blood Gets New Original Video Anime Series
Light novel series inspired TV anime in 2013, earlier OVA last year
― The wraparound jacket band on Gakuto Mikumo's 15th Strike the Blood light novel volume announced on Tuesday that production on a new original video anime (OVA) series has been green-lit. More details will be announced at a later date. The jacket band notes that the novel series is in the final part of the Seisen arc. The school act...
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time Novel Gets New Live-Action Show
Yuina Kuroshima, Sexy zone idol group member Fūma Kikuchi star in July series
― A live-action television adaptation of Yasutaka Tsutsui's The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (Toki o Kakeru Shōjo) novel has been green-lit. It will premiere in NTV channels in July, and will star Yuina Kuroshima (pictured right), as well as Sexy Zone idol group member Fūma Kikuchi. The new series' story centers on a third-y...
Super Mario Gets Cubed for Minecraft Wii U Edition
The Wii U retail edition of Minecraft is partnering with Nintendo's iconic plumber for the “Super Mario Mash-Up Pack.” The additional content includes Super Mario-themed skins, a pre-made world, music and textures. The trailer boasts giant colossus versions of the game franchise's characters and elements from Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario 64. The pack will be available digitally starting on ...
Sailor Moon Crystal: Season III ‒ Episode 32
"The Witches 5 are nearly gone, which means that the time is approaching for bigger bads to actually enter into the fray."
Kumamiko - Girl meets Bear ‒ Episode 6
"What it lacks in laugh-out-loud humor, this episode makes up with a surprisingly sentimental story that develops the relationship between Machi and Natsu."
Attack on Titan Exhibition Goes Overseas, Starting with Italy
The Attack on Titan exhibition took over Tokyo in 2014, followed by stops in Oita, Osaka, and Taipei with the exhibit currently running in Sapporo until the end of the month. Its next stop is a large leap out of Asia and into Europe, specifically Italy. Attack on Titan producer Kensuke Tateishi revealed on Saturday that the exhibit will head to Treviso in northern Italy during the Nipponbashi fest...
Voice Actor Yoshimitsu Shimoyama Reveals Marriage to Satomi Arai
Voice actress Satomi Arai (Beatrice in Re:Zero, Peke in To Love Ru: Darkness) announced her marriage in 2012. Arai had kept the union under wraps for four years as well as her almost two-year-old son. The identity of her husband wasn't disclosed. On Friday, the last mystery was revealed when voice actor Yoshimitsu Shimoyama announced the two were married. Shimoyama, who plays Alzack Connell in Fai...
Age 12 Shōjo Manga Gets New 3DS Game in August
Game featuring new original character Cocona ships August 4
― Shogakukan and Happinet Games opened a website on April 28 to announce 12-Sai ~Koi Suru Diary~ (Age 12 ~Loving Diary~), the second Nintendo 3DS game inspired by Nao Maita's 12-Sai (Age 12) manga and anime. Happinet Games streamed a promotional video with the announcement. The game will tell two different stories. In Hanabi's story, titled ...
Novelist Tomohiro Matsu's Memorial Celebrated with Tribute Casket Art, Anime Theme Song
Mayoi Neko Overrun! and Listen to Me, Girls. I Am Your Father! novelist Tomohiro Matsu's memorial service was held on May 8 after his sudden passing from an unspecified sickness on May 2. Many friends and acquaintances came to pay their respects at the service. Special attention was made to acknowledge not only Matsu, but his work as well. The theme song "Happy New Nyaa" from the anime adaptation ...
Uppers PS Vita Action Game's Videos Preview More Gameplay Mechanics
Brawler game set on island where brawling is entertainment slated for July 14
― Game developer Marvelous began streaming two more gameplay videos on Sunday for its upcoming PlayStation Vita brawler action game Uppers. The first video introduces demonstrates how players can pick up and toss heavy objects, and the second video demonstrates how players can knock objects away. Marvelous previously stream...
Answerman - Why Do Older Funimation DVDs Have Multi-Angle Credits?
One reader uncovers an ambitious DVD extra from years and years ago, one forgotten by time that makes little sense to modern man. Justin explains the mystery.
― Chris A asks: A handful of my older Funimation DVDs (“Rumbling Hearts” and the 2003 “Fullmetal Alchemist” come to mind) will show an English or Japanese logo in the opening titles based on what the selected audio language is. They accomplish...
My Hero Academia: Battle for All's 3DS Gameplay Videos Preview Denki, Yūga
May 19 game features same voice cast as anime, includes side stories for each playable character
― The official website for Bandai Namco Entertainment's My Hero Academia: Battle for All Nintendo 3DS game began streaming two more gameplay videos on Monday. The video for Denki Kaminari introduces his fighting style. The fighter can use multiple hits followed by a large discharge of electricity to make ...
Re:Zero -Starting Life in Another World- ‒ Episode 6
"The series is consistently finding a nice balance between its lighter fare and more grim content, and the transitions are smoother than normal too."
One Piece ‒ Episode 740
"I don't know if Toei is just excited to move onto the Zou arc, but whatever it is that's whipped them into shape these last few episodes, I don't want it to stop."
Danganronpa 3 TV Anime's Story Previewed Before July Debut
1 Mirai-hen episode & 1 Zetsubō-hen episode will air every week this summer
― The official website for the Danganronpa 3: The End of Kibōgamine Gakuen (Danganronpa 3 -The End of Hope's Peak Academy-) anime posted story introductions for the anime's two arcs on Monday. Mirai-hen (Future Arc) The world was close to being destroyed by Ultimate Despair, who caused "The Biggest, Most Awful, Most Tragic Ev...
The Heroic Legend of Arslan Season 2 Reveals Character Art for Hilmes
The official website for the Arslan Senki: Fūjin Ranbu (The Heroic Legend of Arslan: Dust Storm Dance) television anime series revealed the character illustration for Hilmes on Monday. Yuuki Kaji is returning to voice the character in the second season. The website previously revealed the character illustrations for Arslan, Daryun, Narsus, Elam, Gieve, Falangies, Alfreed, and Jaswant. The second s...
fhána Performs Tales of Zestiria the X TV Anime's Ending Theme
July premiere confirmed for ufotable series
― The official website for the Tales of Zestiria the X (pronounced "cross") television anime series revealed on Monday that fhána will perform the show's ending theme song. fhána previously performed theme songs for Gingitsune, Comet Lucifer, Witch Craft Works, Haruchika – Haruta & Chika, The Eccentric Family, and Celestial Method, among others. The website...
Killer Killer Manga is Revealed as Danganronpa Spinoff in 3rd Chapter
Sasako Mitomo launched series on March 9
― The June issue of Kodansha's Bessatsu Shonen Magazine revealed the full title of Sasako Mitomo's Killer Killer manga on Monday as Danganronpa Gaiden: Killer Killer, revealing the manga as a spinoff of Spike Chunsoft's Danganronpa game series, and specifically a spinoff of the upcoming Danganronpa 3: The End of Kibōgamine Gakuen television anime series. Bessa...
Detective Conan: The Darkest Nightmare Film Earns 5 Billion Yen, Sets Franchise Record
20th film in franchise sells 3,982,700 tickets in 23 days
― Detective Conan: Junkoku no Nightmare (Detective Conan: The Darkest Nightmare), the 20th Detective Conan (Case Closed) anime film, has earned approximately 5.057 billion yen (about US$47 million) as of Sunday, setting a new record high for the film franchise. The film has sold about 3,982,700 tickets in the 23-day period from its opening on ...
Whistle! Stage Play's Visuals Feature Cast in Costume
Additional cast also revealed for play debuting in Tokyo in August
― The official website of the Whistle! BREAK THROUGH -Kabe o Tsukiyabure- (Whistle! BREAK THROUGH -Tear Down the Wall-) stage play adaptation of Daisuke Higuchi's Whistle! manga revealed two new visuals featuring the play's cast in costume on Saturday and Sunday. The visual revealed on Saturday features the members of Sakura Jōsui Jun...
Ace Attorney 6 Game's Ad Shows Ema Skye, Leifa Padma Kurain
Nintendo 3DS game ships in Japan on June 9
― Capcom began streaming a 15-second commercial for its upcoming Gyakuten Saiban 6 (Ace Attorney 6) Nintendo 3DS game on Monday. Hōsuke Odoroki (Apollo Justice): What's so awesome about Ace Attorney 6? Akane Hōzuki (Ema Skye): Forensic investigation, of course! Leifa Padma Kurain: Wait a moment! It is the power of spirit mediums! Phoenix Wright (Ryūichi Naru...
Tsubasa to Hotaru Anime's 1st New Episode Streamed
3-episode series stars returning cast Kanae Itō, Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, Takahiro Sakurai
― The official YouTube channel of Shueisha's Ribon magazine began streaming the first new episode of the television anime adaptation of Nana Haruta's Tsubasa to Hotaru shōjo romantic comedy manga on Sunday. In the new episode, Tsubasa's class is planning a Christmas party, and Tsubasa wants to invite Aki. She visit...
Dragon Ball Super Anime Starts 'Future Trunks Arc' In June
Future Trunks, new enemy "Goku Black" appear in story planned by Akira Toriyama
― The official website of the Dragon Ball Super television anime series revealed on Monday that the series will begin a "Future Trunks Arc" on June 12. Original creator Akira Toriyama is plotting the story and designing the new characters for the arc, including Future Trunks' design (below). The new arc follows the conclu...
New Rock Musical Bleach Will Center on 'Soul Society Arc'
Rock Musical Bleach - Mō Hitotsu no Chijō debuts in Tokyo, Kyoto in summer
― The upcoming new installment of the rock musical adaptation of Tite Kubo's Bleach manga revealed its title and plot details on Monday. The full title of the play is Rock Musical Bleach - Mō Hitotsu no Chijō (Rock Musical Bleach: Another Above Ground). The play will be based on Rock Musical Bleach - The All, the fifth rock mu...
New Haikyu!! Stage Play Revealed For This Fall
Play will feature Nekoma High, Date Tech High, "Battle at the Trash Dump" match, interhigh qualifiers
― A new stage play adaptation of Haruichi Furudate's Haikyu!! volleyball manga has been green-lit. The stage play's full title is Hyper-Projection Gekijō Haikyu!! "Karasuno, Fukkatsu!" (Hyper-Projection Stage Play Haikyu!! "Karasuno Returns!"). The play will debut this fall. The story will feature Ne...
MAGES' 'B-Project' TV Anime Reveals Key Visual, More Cast
Hisako Kanemoto, Kousuke Toriumi, Kazuyuki Okitsu, Daisuke Namikawa join cast of July series
― The official website of of B-Project: Kodō Ambitious — the television anime of MAGES' fictional male idol project featuring character designs by Devils and Realist creator Utako Yukihiro — revealed more cast and characters as well as a new key visual on Sunday. The new characters and cast members are: Hisak...
Sunday, May 8
Ushijima the Loan Shark Manga Gets 3rd Live-Action TV Season, 2 New Films
Season 3 premieres July, both films open in fall
― The live-action adaptation of Shohei Manabe's Ushijima the Loan Shark (Yamikin Ushijima-kun) manga is returning with Season 3 on television in July, along with two films titled Yamikin Ushijima-kun Part 3 and Yamikin Ushijima-kun The Finale debuting this fall. Takayuki Yamada (Train Man, Crying Out Love in the Center of the World, Crows Zero, Gantz, ...
Japanese Fans Polled on Favorite Mid-Season Spring 2016 Anime
Winner didn't even appear on "most anticipated" lists
― The Japanese anime, manga and video game character database Charapedia conducted a survey of fans' favorite spring 2016 anime a month into the season. (Technically, the question was "Which anime would you like to keep watching next week?") The survey was carried out from April 28 to May 4 and canvassed 10,000 people. 61.1% of the respondents wer...
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Loot Anime Joins Forces with Crunchyroll for Greatness
New bonus for ANN readers, fill out the survey and get a discount code to subscribe to any Loot Crate subscription.
― 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! Looters with a Crunchyroll Premium account can now link that account to ...
Special Yu-Gi-Oh! Movie Screening Lets Fans Be Noisy
Also: Film includes frame drawn by Kazuki Takahashi
― Film screenings in Japan are usually staid affairs: the audience is quiet and respectful of other viewers. But sometimes fans want to have fun and let themselves go; movies are a social event, after all. In their honor, several theaters around Japan are offering special screenings of Yu-Gi-Oh!: The Dark Side of Dimensions on May 13 that encourages...
Sket Dance's Kenta Shinohara Launches Astra Lost in Space Manga
Manga debuts on Shonen Jump Plus app on Monday simultaneously with voice drama
― This year's 23rd issue of Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine announced on Monday that Kenta Shinohara (Sket Dance) is launching a new "space adventure" manga series titled Kanata no Astra (Astra Lost in Space) in Shueisha's Shōnen Jump Plus app on the same day. The second chapter will debut on May 14, and future chap...
My Hero Academia ‒ Episode 6
"Characters like Bakugo go a long way to making My Hero Academia feel a little bigger than just Midoriya's story."
Series Premiere: Tanaka-kun is Always Listless (Episodes 1-5)
The always-listless Tanaka-kun has drifted into our Daily Streaming Reviews lineup by popular demand! Here's Rebecca's review of the first five episodes...
Haifuri Military Recruitment Poster Criticized
The navy-themed anime Haifuri collaborated with the Japan Self Defense Forces' Kanagawa Provincial Cooperation Office to design a recruitment poster for the Japanese military. Since April 10, this poster drawn by Naoto Nakamura, Haifuri's character designer, has adorned walls around Kanagawa Prefecture south of Tokyo. "Seeking Ground, Sea & Air Self-Defense Forces!" But not everyone's happy with m...
Mardock Scramble's Susumu Kudo Directs Minami Kamakura High School Girls Cycling Club Anime
Bakuon!!'s Kurasumi Sunayama writes script
― The wraparound jacket band for the eighth compiled volume of Noriyuki Matsumoto's Minami Kamakura Kōkō Joshi Jitensha-Bu (Minami Kamakura High School Girls Cycling Club) manga announced on April 9 that Susumu Kudo (Mardock Scramble: The First Compression, Dear Boys) will direct the upcoming anime adaptation. Kurasumi Sunayama (Bakuon!!, scripts on Yowamush...
Matsuno Brothers Steal the Show at Mr. Osomatsu Merchandise Market
Life-size Ichimatsu statue also on display
― Over the weekend of May 7 through 8, the Fes Osomatsu-san, a Mr. Osomatsu-themed fan gathering and merchandise market, took over the rooftop space at Makuhari Messe, a large convention center in Chiba near Tokyo. The highlight of the event for many was the opportunity to buy this figure of Ichimatsu evoking Episode 16, when he attempts to pass himself off ...
Attack on Titan: Junior High Manga Teases Upcoming Ending
Comedy spinoff that launched in 2012 inspired anime adaptation last year
― The June issue of Kodansha's Bessatsu Shonen Magazine published a new chapter of Saki Nakagawa's Attack on Titan: Junior High spinoff manga on Monday along with a note that reads "In just a little bit... the final chapter!!" in the chapter's margin. Nakagawa launched the comedy manga in Kodansha's Bessatsu Shonen Magazine in A...
Fafner Anime Franchise Teases 'Super-Important Announcement' in 2016
The official Twitter account for the Fafner franchise reported on Sunday that "Seitan-sai" (Birthday Festivals) for Fafner EXODUS anime's lead characters Kazuki, Maya, and Sōshi will be held this year. The account teases that Sōshi's event will have a "super-important announcement," and adds that the franchise's official website will provide further details in the future. Sōshi's in-fiction birthd...
Mr. Osomatsu Festival Announces More Events, But Not New Anime Season
12 of the main voice cast members for the Mr. Osomatsu television anime appeared at the two-session special event "Fes Matsu-san '16" at Chiba's Makuhari Messe center on Sunday. The event announced two more event projects this year, but did not announce a new anime season. The "Haru no Matsu no Ichi" merchandise campaign from early April will come back as "Haru no Matsu no Ichi Returns" with new g...
Heroic Legend of Arslan Anime's 2nd Season Will Have 8 Episodes, July 3 Premiere
The June issue of Kodansha's Bessatsu Shonen Magazine is revealing on Monday that the Arslan Senki: Fūjin Ranbu (The Heroic Legend of Arslan: Dust Storm Dance) television anime series will premiere on MBS and TBS on July 3, and the series will have eight episodes. The new season will air on Sundays at 5 p.m. on MBS and TBS, which is the "Nichigo" timeslot. The staff had announced in March that the...
Flying Witch ‒ Episode 5
"Flying Witch seems like it'd be a pretty dangerous show to watch in the lazy hours of the afternoon."
High School Fleet ‒ Episode 5
"Concerns over the teenage mutant ninja hamsters aside, I don't see this series going off the rails any time soon."
New 'Takuan to Batsu no Nichijō Enmachō' Manga Launches in Shonen Jump on May 16
Author Kentarō Itani first published manga as 1-shot last October
― This year's 23rd volume of Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine announced on Monday that Kentarō Itani is launching a new series titled Takuan to Batsu no Nichijō Enmachō (Takuan and Batsu's Everyday Grade Book) in the magazine's next issue on May 16. The manga will be featured on the issue's front cover, and the first chapter will...
Miyuki Kitagawa's Seisei Suru Hodo, Ai Shiteru Manga Gets Screen Adaptation
7-volume manga follows woman who falls in love with her company's married vice president
― The June issue of Shogakukan's Petit Comic magazine revealed on Saturday that Miyuki Kitagawa's Seisei Suru Hodo, Ai Shiteru manga will receive a screen adaptation. The announcement did not state whether the adaptation will be live-action or anime, or in what format (for example, television series, video projec...
Takashi Taniguchi's Onara Gorō Project Gets TV Anime Shorts Starting in July
Series about talking fart is 3rd anime collaboration between Kyushu Asahi Broadcasting, ILCA
― Independent anime creator Takashi Taniguchi's (Mori no Andō) latest work Onara Gorō (Fart Gorō) is receiving a mini television anime project. The anime will consist of weekly five-minute episodes that will air late at night on Kyushu Asahi Broadcasting and stream on YouTube starting in July. Taniguchi previ...
New York Asian Film Fest to Screen Hentai Kamen 2
1st film won 2013 Audience Award at festival
― The organizers of the New York Asian Film Festival announced on Thursday that it will be screening the North American premiere of the sequel to the live-action HK/Hentai Kamen film, HK/Hentai Kamen Abnormal Crisis. The film will premiere in Japan on May 14. Director Yūichi Fukuda is returning to direct the film, and Ryohei Suzuki and Fumika Shimizu are r...
Tokyo Ghoul Ranks #7 on U.S. Monthly Bookscan April List
Attack on Titan, One-Punch Man also rank
― The sixth volume of Sui Ishida's Tokyo Ghoul manga ranked #7 on the Nielsen BookScan's Top 20 list for April. The first volume ranked #10 and the fifth volume ranked #18. The first volume of the manga had ranked at #9 in March, and the fifth volume had ranked at #8 in March. The 18th volume of Hajime Isayama's Attack on Titan manga ranked #11 on April's list...
Is the Order a Rabbit?? Anime Gets New Special Episode
Character song CD, rebroadcast also slated for this summer
― The official Twitter account of the Is the Order a Rabbit?? television anime series announced on Saturday that the series will receive a new special episode. More details will follow on the anime's official website and Twitter account. The official Twitter account also announced a new character song CD series on Saturday. The CD series will...
P to JK Romantic Comedy Manga Gets Live-Action Film
Film about marriage between policeman, high school girl opens in spring 2017
― A website opened on Saturday to announce that Maki Miyoshi's P to JK romantic comedy manga will receive a live-action film adaptation in spring 2017. Kazuya Kamenashi (live-action Joker Game's Jiro Katō) and Tao Tsuchiya (Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends' Misao, live-action Aozora Yell's Tsubasa Ono, live-action Orange's N...
Princess Knight, Kimba the White Lion Composer Isao Tomita Passes Away
Pioneering synthesizer artist, frequent Osamu Tezuka collaborator was 84
― Record company Nippon Columbia Co., Ltd. announced on Sunday that famed composer and synthesizer artist Isao Tomita passed away of chronic heart failure at Tokyo Metropolitan Hiroo Hospital at 2:51 p.m. on Thursday. He was 84. Tomita was born in 1932 and started his music career while in college at Keio University. In 1963 he ...
Kimi wa Pet/Tramps Like Us Manga Gets New Live-Action TV Series After 13 Years
Series about woman who takes in homeless boy previously inspired 2003 drama, 2011 Korean film
― Fuji TV announced on Sunday that Yayoi Ogawa's Kimi wa Pet (Tramps Like Us) romantic manga is getting a new live-action television series. Noriko Iriyama (Peter no Sōretsu, Akahana no Sensei, pictured below right) stars in the series as Sumire Iwaya and Jun Shison (live-action From Five to Nine's Amane Hos...
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