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Celebrate 30 Years of Slime Slashing with Dragon Quest Anniversary Video
The Dragon Quest video game franchise is in the midst of its 30th anniversary celebrations this year. The fantasy role-playing game series has received announcement after announcement. Just this week, Square Enix previewed next year's Itadaki Street (Fortune Street) game for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita titled Itadaki Street: Dragon Quest & Final Fantasy 30th Anniversary. The company is also...
Professional Cosplayer Enako Reveals Her Lucrative Income
Professional cosplayer Enako confessed her shocking income of 10 million yen (US$97,763) in just two days of summer Comiket. She appeared on the Nakai No Mado T.V. program's Otaku Report segment on September 14 and confirmed she does in fact make a living doing only cosplay. These sort of international events are known to pay of well for popular cosplayers, however her actual net profit is unknown...
Black Cats Mix Business & Pleasure for Japan's Yamato Transport Service Ad
The Yamato Transport Company is a staple in Japan and a godsend for travelers. For a low fee, they'll move a person's luggage from one destination to another within the country, making those close quarters subway and train rides much more convenient. The company's logo is immediately recognizable, showing a mother black cat carrying her kitten in her mouth. The company is hoping to garner favor by...
Watch Cardcaptor Sakura's New Interactive Clow Cards & Sealing Wand in Action
Takara Tomy's interactive Clow Card set are now on sale and the company is streaming preview videos to show collectors how they work. The set of 52 cards include RFID chips, so they interact with a brand-new Clow Card Book, a Sealing Wand (that lights up), Sealed Key, and even a talking Kero-chan plush. Different cards come with different items. Cards designated with a pink star (see linked image...
Final Fantasy XIV & Yo-kai Watch Crossover Closes With October In-Game Event
Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward is ending its collaboration with Yo-Kai Watch with one last hurrah. A special "Eoruzea Dai Shūgō Nyan!" in-game event will start on October 3, the last day of the collaboration's run. The game's official YouTube channel began streaming a tie-in video on Wednesday. Thirteen characters from Level-5's video game series appear in the game, along with collaborative weapon...
iShōjo+ Creator Fulfills Promise for Nude Character Art (NSFW)
Manga creator Toshinori Takayama put his money where is mouth is and published the topless versions of characters Bunny Pink and Ayu Yuzuki on Jump+. Takayama previously wrote on Twitter that he would only release the image if his post got 10,000 retweets. The post only got 7,721 retweets but Takayama wrote he was able to convince the staff to let him publish the images. The original ecchi color i...
Lost Silent Hill Game Pitch Revealed in Video
Before fans shed many a tear for the cancelled Silent Hills horror game that would have brought together Hideo Kojima, Guillermo del Toro, Junji Itō, and Norman Reedus, studio Climax Los Angeles pitched its own Silent Hill title in 2006. It too, never saw the light of day. The game would have taken place in Arizona and starred protagonist Father Hector Santos. The priest would have utilized water,...
Nintendo Announces Pokémon Sun & Moon Legendaries 3DS XL Console for N. America
The legendary Pokémon of Nintendo's Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon Nintendo 3DS games are also getting their own New Nintendo 3DS XL console in North America. The black portable gaming console has both Solgaleo and Lunala engraved on the front and back. The console will be released on October 28 ahead of the games' debut on November 18. It costs US$$199.99. The same design was revealed for Japanese ...
Hello Kitty Honors Kochikame Ending with Collaboration Art
The ending of Osamu Akimoto's Kochira Katsushika-ku Kamearikouen-mae Hashutsujo ("Kochikame") manga drew attention from colleagues and Weekly Shonen Jump staff. Sanrio's own top mascot, Hello Kitty, is also honoring the event with some unique crossover art and merchandise. Shueisha's Jump+ app and website launched a comic on September 12 starring Hello Kitty's alter ego Ichigoman. The comic's sixt...
FFXV Collaboration Model PS4 With Moon Image Planned for Release
Bundle will be available exclusively at GameStop in U.S., EB Games in Canada
― Square Enix's upcoming Final Fantasy XV role-playing game is inspiring a collaboration model PlayStation 4. The tie-in console features a large image of the moon, one of the key motifs from the game. The lunar image also changes based on what angle a player views it. The console and controller include logos and character n...
Gintama Figure Line Plans Poll for Anniversary Release
MegaHouse's GEM line of figures covers a variety of anime series, but it has specifically released characters from the Gintama anime for the last seven years. To celebrate, the figure line opened the "G.E.M. Gintama Commercialization Election - 7 Year Edition" website. Four figures are up for vote to mark the event. The selection includes: Kagura (Two years later version) Sōgo Okita (gender-swapp...
L'Arc en Ciel's Hyde Expresses Frustration at the State of Japan's Hit Music Charts
"It's annoying that the chart is nothing but anime and idol music. It's not necessarily bad or something like that, but it gives off the feeling that you don't need to work harder than other people. If foreigners look at it, I think they'll get the feeling that it's a very different, strange music chart. That's more or less the culture of Japan, but I want it to go on changing, with more blending ...
One Piece Film Gold Creators to Attend Special Screening
Also: cosplay, glowsticks, shouting O.K.
― One Piece Film Gold, the latest entry in the One Piece film series, has hit the jackpot, earning over 5 billion yen (or US$48 million) since it opened on July 23. To celebrate, a special screening has been arranged for September 22 at the Marunouchi Toei in Tokyo. The director (Hiroaki Miyamoto), writer (Tsutomu Kuroiwa) and producer (Hiroyuki Sakurada) will...
New Poll Asks Men Which Shōjo Manga They'd Recommend to Other Men
Japanese manga magazines usually have distinct demographic targets narrowed by age and sex. This is usually evident within the title, like Shōnen Magazine, Shōnen Jump, Shōnen Gangan, Shōnen Champion, Shōnen Sirius, and the list goes on. That said, many readers will walk across the aisle and read manga even if it isn't "for" them. There are plenty of men reading shōjo and women reading shōnen mang...
NTT Develops 1st VR Training System for Pro Baseball Players
NTT considering MLB promotion through U.S. subsidiary, Golden Eagles will use system beginning 2017
― NTT Data and the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles baseball team announced on Monday that it has developed a virtual reality training system for baseball players. The system allows both pitchers and batters to mimic practical real-life situations in a simulated environment. NTT is considering promoting th...
Decorate Your Home with Human-Sized Great Mazinger, Devilman Statues
Beyond the realm of figure collecting, there is statue collecting — acquiring figures so big they look like they'd belong in a sculpture gallery. Some fans may have to settle for cheaper and more flexible substitutes like cardboard stands, but for the ambitious and deep-pocketed, there are human-sized recreations of giant anime characters. Mitsurin, the soft vinyl toy brand of the entertainm...
Bandai Namco Denies Idolish 7 Plagiarism Allegations
Self-insert character claims also dismissed
― Given the plethora of idol-themed media out there with similar characters, art styles, and themes, it can seem that some of them are carbon copies of each other. Unfortunately, that's exactly what some fans have taken to saying about Idolish 7, a mobile game about male idols. Last month, skeptics posted images on Twitter comparing Idolish 7 trading cards ...
The One Piece Rap is Back, But This Time It's for Fanta
Fanta, a caffeine-free fruit-flavored soda, is reviving Luffy's notorious rapping abilities in a new television ad. Both Fanta Grape and Fanta Orange flavors are getting limited edition One Piece packaging starting on September 12. An animated advertisement will begin airing on September 13 and shows the Straw Hat crew dressed in formal clothing at a party. The commercial is a play off a previous...
Support Kumamoto Earthquake Reconstruction with Anime Tamago DVD Compilation
Includes five shorts by young animators
― Almost five months after the powerful earthquakes that struck in mid-April, Kumamoto Prefecture in Kyushu continues to rebuild at great cost. To alleviate the burden from governments, Anime Tamago, a young animator training project previously known as Anime Mirai, will release a compilation DVD of five of its anime shorts. Aside from what is needed to recoup ...
New Poll: Two-Thirds of Japanese Don't Care About AKB48
Although AKB48 is often referred to as a "national" idol group with high name recognition and popularity, a new poll by the online research group Qzoo suggests that interest in AKB48 is waning in Japan. 67.8% — over two-thirds of participants — claimed that they had "no interest" in the idol group. The poll was conducted from July 22 to 25 among 1,376 respondents of both genders and ages spanning...
Even the Voice of Yu-Gi-Oh's Kaiba Wouldn't Befriend Him
In light of the Yu-Gi-Oh! THE DARK SIDE OF DIMENSIONS film, which opened in Japan on April 23 and will premiere next year in North America, ANIME NOW! interviewed the Japanese voice of Seto Kaiba, Kenjiro Tsuda. In the interview, Tsuda reveals that even after voicing the character for the last 15 years, he wouldn't want to be friends with him. "I definitely don't want to become friends with him. I...
Voice Actors Revealed for Four Cocktail Prince Characters
Tough guys, a fashionista, and a health nut
― The mobile game Cocktail Prince, which stars a cast of pretty boys representing various cocktails, revealed four additional voice actors on September 8. The "Tough Guy Who Likes Pretty Things," Kamikaze Voiced by: Tomoaki Maeno Occupation: Idol Height: 177 cm (5'10'') Hobby: cooking His glare is fierce and his words are blunt, but actually he's just shy. ...
Monster Hunter Stories 3DS Game Collaborates with The Legend of Zelda
Capcom's YouTube channel released a teaser video on September 7 showcasing the addition of Link from The Legend of Zelda into the new Monster Hunter Stories Nintendo 3DS game. The collaboration is in celebration of The Legend of Zelda's 30th anniversary this year. According to the Monster Hunter Stories official website, the main player can equip Link's sword and clothes as special armor. The hero...
Cultural Critic Hiroki Azuma: Shin Godzilla, your name. Signify End of an Age
"That special otaku aimlessness and hopelessness [has] vanished entirely"
― Makoto Shinkai's new film, your name., along with Hideaki Anno and Shinji Higuchi's Shin Godzilla, has been a roaring success at the Japanese box office. But Hiroki Azuma, a cultural critic and developer of the original story for Fractale, sees additional portent behind these recent hits. On September 8 he tweeted a link to a...
New Comedic Live-Action Video Gracefully Advertises PS4 Price Drop, Persona 5
Ichiyō Higuchi, the famous Meiji era writer and the face of the 5,000 yen bill, comes to life for her "J-Pop debut" in a PlayStation 4 and Persona 5 ad uploaded by PlayStation Japan on Wednesday. The 5,000 yen bill star's catchy song tells us about the new 5,000 yen drop in price for the PlayStation 4 console, from 34,980 yen (US$341) to 29,980 yen (US$292), at the same time that Persona 5 will be...
LED Goku Figures Feature Shining Kamehameha
Premium Bandai opened pre-orders for its latest "Next Vendor's Innovation" figure. The line includes figures with unique gimmicks, like Hisoka from Hunter × Hunter and his glowing crotch, a trembling Vegeta, and original figures of Pokemon Red & Blue's Misty and Brock. The newest figure brings Goku's iconic energy attack to life by placing a blue LED light in his hands. The Dragon Ball Z HG Lumin...
CG Girl Saya's Realism Will Have You Doing A Double Take
While android creators are still trying to overcome the Uncanny Valley, computer graphics are progressing leaps and bounds. Take Saya2016, a 3DCG school girl that looks so lifelike at first glance, you might not believe she only exists on the internet. The CG artist duo Telyuka created Saya. Even more impressive is the fact that the creators are entirely self-taught, having no formal training in c...
Preliminary Results for 2016 Newtype Awards Are In
The preliminary results for the annual Newtype Awards are in revealing some of this year's fan-favorite series. Shows like Re:Zero, Rewrite, High School Fleet, Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress and Macross Delta are tracking well as picks in multiple categories.The voting is conducted by readers of Monthly Newtype magazine and will close on September 14. The eligible anime were those broadcast between...
Professor Oak Also Gets "Regional Form" in Pokemon Sun & Moon
Actually a cousin
― Among the innovations that the upcoming 3DS games Pokemon Sun and Moon will bring to the Pokemon series are regional forms, versions of Pokemon that evolved differently from their regular forms on the island environment of Alola. It appears that Professor Oak will also get his own regional form. This new character is currently known as Professor Nariya Orchid (Orchid being Profess...
Pokémon Go Glitches Inspire Creepy Fan Art
The Pokémon Go AR game took the world by storm causing both business windfalls for those savvy enough to take advantage of the craze and a slew of accidents and targeted crime. While trainers took to their parks, streets, and local landmarks, Niantic did their best to update the game to meet privacy concerns and server-related glitches. One glitch has in turn inspired art. Twitter user Brachy look...
Sony to Sell Limited Edition High-Res Hatsune Miku Headphones
Sony opened a pre-order page for its Hatsune Miku h.ear on high-resolution headphones. The original smartphone compatible headphones feature a folding design, bright colors, and cost US$199.99. The Hatsune Miku editions come in the "Miku Model" and "Producer Model." The former is a viridian blue with a picture of the virtual idol on either side. The Producer Model is Bordeaux pink and has ear cov...
Poll Picks the Top 10 Anime Ending Sequences
In a follow-up to yesterday's Top 10 Anime Openings, the Anime! Anime! website also asked its readers to select their idea of the coolest anime ending sequences. Like the previous poll, choices were solicited on Twitter before the survey went up with the top 22 endings. A total of 766 men and women participated in the poll. The Top 10 results are: "Sugar Song to Bitter Step" by UNISON SQUARE GARDE...
A Certain Magical Index's Kamachi Has Written A Novel A Month for 24 Months
Shows no sign of stopping
― Light novel author Kazuma Kamachi appears to be going for some kind of award. The pen behind A Certain Magical Index and Heavy Object has so far published a new light novel every month for the last two years. Kamachi is heading into his third year with no immediate signs of slowing down. His streak began in September 2014 with the launch of the light novel series Mitō Shō...
Glass Mask Manga Collaborates with Cellphone Screen Protection
Glass Mask, Suzue Miuchi's long-running shōjo manga about an up-and-coming theatre star, is collaborating with Glass Premium Film. The product is a smartphone screen protection film. The company recently added iPhone compatibility and is teaming up with the similarly named manga for a series of comedic commercials. The first commercials are titled "Kyōka Glass Mask Osoroshii Ko-hen Atype" and "Kyō...
Poll Picks the Top 10 Anime Opening Sequences
An anime series' opening sequence is where staff can kick things off and really sell the premise of their show. A comedy or drama can include short sequences introducing its cast, an action show will use quick cuts of battles, and mecha series can show pans of its highly detailed robots. The Anime! Anime! website asked its readers to pick which opening sequence they think is the coolest. Choices w...
Anime Director Yamakan Says He Envies Makoto Shinkai's your name. Film
Anime director and Ordet animation studio founder Yutaka "Yamakan" Yamamoto posted on his blog on September 5 his reactions after seeing Makoto Shinkai's film your name.. Here we go—the biggest landmine title is out. Whatever people have to say about it, they all seem to be saying it's a mess. I went to see it. First of all, it was a work that made me envious for the first time in a long time. A w...
Golgo 13's Creator Reacts to Kochikame Manga Ending After 4 Decades
Osamu Akimoto is ending his over four decades-long comedy series Kochira Katsushika-ku Kamearikoen-mae Hashutsujo (This is the police station in front of Kameari Park in Katsushika ward) on September 17. As Golgo 13, the oldest manga running at over 45 years, also nears its end, its creator Takao Saito commented on the finale of Akimoto's KochiKame. have to say good work. When serializing somethi...
Ghibli Film Fan Vote Results for Theater Screenings Announced
The results for the "Studio Ghibli General Election" poll, in which Japanese fans were asked to vote for which Studio Ghibli film they most wanted to see in theaters again, were announced on television in Japan on Tuesday. The preliminary poll ran from August 13-20 and the top five results, given in no particular order, were Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, Castle in the Sky, Kiki's Delivery S...
Yo-kai Watch Continues to Spook Visitors at Universal Studios Japan
Yo-kai Watch returned to Universal Studios Japan in Osaka this summer and will continue to spook visitors into January. The Universal Yo-Kai Watch Festival includes the "Yo-kai Watch: The Real 4" which has visitors walk through a town street searching for hidden Yo-kai with the help of a Yo-kai Pad (map), Yo-kai Watch (which alerts the wearer to nearby yōkai) and Yo-kai Lens (which allows the Yo-k...
iShōjo+ Creator Promises to Post Nude Character Art for Retweets
Manga creator Toshinori Takayama is promising a racy reward if one of his Twitter posts gets 10,000 retweets. The artist behind the fanservice manga iShōjo+ wrote on Monday that if his post gets 10,000 retweets, he'll reveal nude art of characters Bunny Pink and Ayu Yuzuki on Jump+. The current art shows the two characters hugging in swimsuits. このグラビアには、実は芸能界の闇を感じさせる(?)裏バージョンが存在するとのこと…。あまりにも危険な物の為...
Fate/Grand Order x Prisma Illya Cross Over Campaign Detailed
Details about the crossover campaign between Fate/Grand Order smartphone game and the Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya the magical girl spin-off series were announced Tuesday and it appears Illya's magical girlfriends and other characters will be making appearances. The "Mahō Shōjo Kikō ~Prisma Cause~" (Magical Girl Journey ~Prisma Causeway~) event will launch in-game on September 8 with an original...
Idol Fan Draws Brutally Honest Introspective Webcomic
"I haven't made any progress. I haven't really attained any happiness"
― Fans of Japanese pop idols are notorious for the intensity and passion with which they follow their favored singers and groups. Sometimes their fandom veers into unhealthy territory: they may develop an obsession with their favorite idols (like Me-Mania in Perfect Blue), they may spend exorbitant amounts of money on their hobby,...
Hikaru Utada's Plans 1st TV Appearances in 5 Years
Singer Hikaru Utada returned from hiatus this year after a six year break from the music industry. She released her newest single with the tracks "Manatsu no Tōriame" (Midsummer Shower) and "Hanataba o Kimi ni" in April. Now Utada is continuing her career revitalization with a series of television appearances after five years off the air. She'll first appear in the special program SONGS Special Ut...
P.A. Works Asks 'Man at Arms' Crew to Create Kuromukuro Sword
Animation production company P.A. Works approached the blacksmiths at Baltimore Knife & Sword to recreate Kennosuke Tokisada Ōma's sword from their current anime series Kuromukuro. The staff of Baltimore Knife & Sword regularly appear in the web series "Man at Arms: Reforged" where they have recreated Trunks' sword from Dragon Ball Z, Voltron's blazing sword, Erza Scarlet's sword and armor from Fa...
Tōken Ranbu Sword Hotarumaru Reconstruction Finished
Sword to be formally offered to shrine next spring
― The reconstruction of Hotarumaru, a famous sword kept at Aso Shrine in Kyushu since the 1300s, was effectively completed in a ceremony on August 27 at the same shrine. The ceremony was shown on a broadcast on the local news station TeleVitamin News on August 29 and subsequently made available online due to popular demand. The process of forging the...
Roboticists Develop Moving Hatsune Miku Doll
To be displayed at Hatsune Miku event
― Speecys (the designers of Sony's Vaio computers and Aibo robotic dogs) and toy maker Volks have teamed up to develop a moving Hatsune Miku doll. Part of Volks's Dollfie Honey line of dolls based on 2-D characters, Miku is 60 cm (about 2 feet) tall and has 28 joints (three at her waist, eight in her legs, 14 in her arms and three in her head). She also has soft...
Suicide Squad's Joker & Harley Quinn Join the Nendoroid Lineup
Suicide Squad versions of Joker and Harley Quinn just joined the line of Nendoroids from Good Smile Company Inc. The Joker: Suicide Edition comes with a smiling, a shouting and a glaring expression face plate along with removable razor and electroshock tool add-ons. The company states that this Nendoroid is a bit unique from the others with slightly longer hands and feet to both keep the "chibi" ...
Nintendo to Release Compilation of Legend of Zelda's Best Music
Spans 30 years of musical classics
― One of the most consistently acclaimed aspects of the Legend of Zelda video game series is its music, which spans everything from simple 8-bit-era catchy tunes to tense, bombastic battle fanfares to quiet, beautiful melodies. With the series welcoming its 30th anniversary this year, Nintendo will release The Legend of Zelda Game Music Collection, a compilation of ...
Miyagi Prefecture Bets on Pokemon Go for Regional Revitalization
Allocates 30 million yen in annual budget for related expenses
― Miyagi Prefecture in Tōhoku was one of three prefectures most affected by the earthquake/tsunami/nuclear disaster in March 2011. It still hasn't completely recovered, and it's turning to the latest smartphone craze, Pokemon Go, for an economic boost. On August 30, the prefecture announced that it was setting aside 30 million yen (US$290...
Universal Studios Japan's Shonen Jump Exhibition Breaks Records for August Attendance
Check out our photo gallery
― The theme park Universal Studios Japan (USJ) reported attendance numbers of 1.63 million for August 2016, an increase of 15% over the comparable figure from the previous August. USJ has managed to top its previous August's attendance figures for six years in a row now. The success is attributed to the popularity of its Universal Jump Summer, which showcases famous manga ...
Haikyu!! Switches Genres for Ichiban Kuji Lottery
Merchandise based on non-existent action movies
― Are you a big fan of Haikyu!!, but getting tired of all the volleyball? If so, the October Ichiban Kuji (a lottery that often involves anime merchandise) is for you, since it's based on two different fictional action movies starring the Haikyu!! cast. They are supposedly directed by Chikara and are based on his ideas for films. One set of prizes (the...
Moe Grand Prix Seeks to Anoint the Cutest of Them All
Includes regional, organizational mascots as well as personal characters
― Japan is full of moe characters, as any visitor to the country knows. Besides the steady stream of anime and manga featuring them, cities, prefectures, companies and organizations of all kinds design their own moe characters to act as appealing mascots for their services or attractions. Even humble neighborhood clubs or cafes ...
Princess Serenity, Prince Endymion Formal Wear Inspire Porcelain Mugs
Bandai has teamed up with Noritake, an esteemed Japanese porcelain manufacturer with a pedigree dating to 1904, to create two mugs inspired by Princess Serenity and Prince Endymion's formal regalia. The Princess Serenity mug is pure white with gold accents that mimic the designs on her dress and small moons hidden in the pattern. Prince Endymion's mug also takes notes from his princely attire wit...
Trafalgar Law Joins Line-Up of Fanservice One Piece Figures
Trafalgar Law is giving Sanji a run for his money. Law is joining the Portrait of Pirates (P.O.P.) line of figures' "Sitting on Chair" (SOC) series. The SOC series celebrates the 12th anniversary of the P.O.P. figure line and focuses specifically on characters sitting in chairs. Sanji kicked it off on April 1 by sitting in a leather chair in low-rise pants and an open jacket. Law is following San...
World Trigger's Border Units Inspire Hoodies & Scarfs
Following the earlier release of a Tamakoma branch uniform-inspired jacket, World Trigger fans now have more options to show off as two more styles of hoodies based off the Arashiyama and Tachikawa units hit cosplay shop ACOS on November 17. There are two sizes available, medium and large, for 8,500 yen (US$84.60) each. Alongside the jackets, ACOS previews three matching scarf designs for each of...
KYOMAF to Sell Official Mr. Osomatsu "Pine" Bonsai, Incense, House Fresheners
The Kyoto International Manga Anime Fair tweeted on August 22 that they will be selling an appropriately chosen pine tree bonsai tie-in to Mr. Osomatsu (the "matsu" in their name means pine tree). The bonsai trees, priced at 3,000 yen (about US$30), are a collaboration with Kyoto's seedling makers. There are six different stickers for each brother available, but just one variety of the base. Othe...
Regalia Producer Explains Anime's Broadcast Halt
Not ashamed at original version, but also doesn't feel it's the staff's best work
― On July 28, the anime Regalia: The Three Sacred Stars stunned its fanbase by announcing a month-long halt in its broadcast. The reason for the cessation given at the time was a "recognizable difference between the show's planned quality [and the current quality]." With the show's broadcast restarting on September 1 fr...
Person Hacks Ukraine Shopping Mall Screen, Puts Up New Game Hentai Dōjin Page
In a shopping mall in Zaporozhye, Ukraine, shoppers received a shock when the usual advertisements on a large plasma screen were suddenly swept aside in favor of the English translation of a New Game hentai dōjin page. The dōjin page, featuring protagonist Aoba Suzukaze, stayed on the screen for a span of 15 minutes. The store's employees gave the story that the screen was just outside of their st...
Fate/Grand Order Smartphone Game Crosses Over With Prisma Illya in Anime Ad
Type-Moon's official YouTube channel began streaming a new anime television commercial for its Fate/Grand Order smartphone game on Friday. The ad announces a collaboration between the game and Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya, the magical girl spin-off series based around Fate/Stay Night's Illyasviel von Einzbern. Fate/Grand Order will launch an in-game event in mid-September titled "Mahō Shōjo Kikō...
MyAnimeList Opens Registration for 5th Manga Translation Battle Contest
MyAnimeList, opened pre-registration for the fifth MANGAPOLO's Manga Translation Battle contest. MANGAPOLO is Dentsu's manga-sharing YouTube channel and it runs the contest with full support of Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs. Pre-registered contestants will be notified on September 14 with official registration begins on the website. Like previous contests, participants will be asked to selec...
Toshio Suzuki: Red Turtle Makes Miyazaki Want to Return to Work
Retired Ghibli producer Toshio Suzuki revealed in a press conference that all it takes is a good film to get Hayao Miyazaki to reconsider his retirement. According to Suzuki, Miyazaki watched Michael Dudok de Wit and Studio Ghibli's The Red Turtle (La Tortue rouge) animated film last month and commented that he wanted to return to work to make something with the film's staff. Miyazaki also praised...
New ALL OUT!! Rugby Anime Meets DAYS Soccer Anime in Crossover Art
Special collaboration art with the main players of popular sports series ALL OUT!! and DAYS will adorn the cover of the September 6 issue of the anime information magazine Ani-An! Both protagonists joined their rugby and soccer clubs as beginners in their respective series and came to love the sport, giving it their all. They're also both one of the shortest players on their teams, with Kenji Gion...
Gravity Rush, Silent Hill Creator Keiichiro Toyama Tours Sony in French TV Program
Gravity Rush and Silent Hill video game series director Keiichiro Toyama was recently featured on the French program toco toco, which interviews Japan artists and creators about places that are meaningful to them. In the video, Toyama takes viewers on a tour of places in the Shingawa and Yokohama areas. The places include Sony Interactive Entertainment where he's working on Gravity Rush 2 for Play...
Model Ayami Nakajō Dresses as Dr. Slump's Arale in Skirt Commercial
Model and actress Ayami Nakajō (Fatal Frame live-action film) dressed as Arale from Akira Toriyama's Dr. Slump manga and anime for a recent skirt commercial. She's joined by television actress Yuki Uchida as Akane and Kengo Kora (Miss Hokusai) as Pisuke. In the commercial, Arale transforms from her usual outfit into a GU Japan pleated skirt. Comic Natalie is also streaming a video that goes behind...
Cruel Angel's Thesis Maintains Its Top Spot as Fav Anisong
Music information magazine CD & DL Data announced the ranking results of their poll that asked 6,956 people (3,819 men and 3,137 women) in their teens, 20's, and 30's their favorite anime song. Cruel Angel Thesis / Yōko Takahashi / Neon Genesis Evangelion Touch / Yoshimi Iwasaki / Touch Moonlight Densetsu / Dali / Sailor Moon Makafushigi Adventure / Hiroki Takahashi / Dragon Ball CHA-LA HEAD-CHA- ...
Sharp Co. Spots Its 30-Year-Old PC in your name. Film, Makoto Shinkai Confirms
Sharp Co.'s official Twitter account posted that one of its older PC models seems to have appeared in Makoto Shinkai's new film, your name. (Kimi no Na wa), and Shinkai took to Twitter himself to confirm their suspicions. The model in question is from Sharp Co.'s x68000 series, which was released on March 28, 1987. 映画「君の名は」でこれが映るシーンありとの未確認情報 pic.twitter.com/MdiYMXbDjB— SHARP シャープ株式会社 (@SHARP_JP) A...
Keiji Fujiwara Thanks Fans for Support After Crayon Shin-chan Replacement
Air Agency announced on August 8 that voice actor Keiji Fujiwara, who plays Hiroshi Nohara in Crayon Shin-chan, will be taking a break to recover from an unspecified illness. In response to surprised and concerned fans, Fujiwara posted the following message on the Air Agency Twitter page. 藤原啓治です。病気療養で休業させて頂くにあたって多くの方達にお世話になりました。心から感謝しています。休業して気づいたのは世の中は思っていたより色彩に溢れ美しい事、そしてざわつく気持ちを抑えるだけの気力に満ちている自分...
Fans Follow Godzilla's Path of Destruction from Shin Godzilla in Tokyo's Ōta Ward
Staff at the Keikyū Kamata tourist information center in the Ōta ward of Tokyo have put together an unofficial map of Godzilla's path of destruction from the recent movie Shin Godzilla to aid fans wanting to visit various sites where scenes were filmed. Several fans have documented their journeys across Ōta ward's Kamata neighborhood, where the primary Godzilla-stomping action takes place. In rega...
Build Your Own Pokémon Eevee at Build-A-Bear Workshops
The Pokémon-themed Build-A-Bears continue with the introduction of an Eevee option to workshops slated for September 1. Following Pikachu earlier this year, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom will soon be able to Build-A-Eevee, as well. The basic 14-inch Eevee with its Build-A-Bear-exclusive trading card is priced at US$28, with extra add-ons available such as hooded Poké Ball paja...
Nintendo's New 3DS XL Console is Out of This World
Nintendo announced a new galaxy-themed New 3DS XL on their official Twitter page on August 29. Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aimé introduces the product in a short promotional video below. Out of this world! A New Galaxy Style New Nintendo #3DS XL is coming to stores starting this week for $199.99!https://t.co/v1K471XLBi— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) August 29, 2016 The Gala...
Hatsune Miku Takes Down Twintails in New Shampoo Ad Featuring Scarlett Johansson
The previously announced commercial for Lux shampoo and conditioner featuring virtual idol Hatsune Miku and Ghost in the Shell star Scarlett Johansson has been posted on the official campaign site and will begin airing on Japanese television on August 31. In the commercial, which is shown below, Miku is inspired by a billboard of Scarlett Johansson with straight, long hair and decides to try taki...
Voice Talents Yukari Fukui, Iku Nakahara, Natsuki Hanae Announce Individual Marriages
Yukari Fukui (Gurren Lagann's Nia, Kill La Kill's Sukuyo Mankanshoku, High School of the Dead's Shizuka Marikawa) announced on August 28 that she and Tablier Communications Corporation director Kenji Yamamoto entered their names into the family registry. She added on her blog, "In a relationship of two people it cannot be helped that they are inexperienced as a spouse, but, I think that it is goo...
Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 Adds Keijo! Crossover
The September 15, 2016 issue of Weekly Famitsu magazine is announcing on Thursday that Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 will collaborate with Daichi Sorayomi's Keijo!!!!!!!! (Hip Whip Girl) aquatic sports manga for a series of swimsuit costumes. The costumes come on the tail of the Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 VR announcement. The game, which boasts the female cast of the Dead or Alive fighting game franchise rel...
7-Eleven Turns to Fans to Pick Its Love Live! Sunshine!! Image Girl
Japan's 7-Eleven convenience stores will launch a voting campaign on September 1 to select which Aqours idol will be its official image girl. The winning Love Live! Sunshine!! character will get a new figure designed by series character designer Yūhei Murota and created by figuremaker ALTER. 7-Eleven will announce more details about the figure's release and price later. Voters will get one of 18 o...
Code Geass Gets New Figures, Lottery Campaigns for 10th Anniversary
We're a few months away from the upcoming Code Geass 10th anniversary event on on November 27. The series' special 10th anniversary website updated on Thursday to announce the release of the ARTFX J Lelouch CODE BLACK 1st Live Encore! Ver. and the G.E.M. series Code Geass Lelouch of the Rebellion R2 Zero 10th Anniversary figures and two upcoming lottery campaigns. Note: The official website is cu...
P.A. Works Continues Gag After Studio is Destroyed in Kuromukuro Episode
P.A. Works' 15th anniversary anime project Kuromukuro got meta in a recent episode where the studio was shown being destroyed. Toyama prefecture is the home of P.A. Works and also the setting of Kuromukuro, so it was only a matter of time before the show's giant robots crossed path with the animators' workplace. The actual studio also doubled down on the gag, putting up a sign saying that large sc...
Japanese Fans Vote for Ghibli Film They Most Want to See in Theaters Again
Interim results were announced for the first "Studio Ghibli General Election" poll, in which Japanese fans were asked to vote for which Studio Ghibli film they most wanted to see in theaters again. The preliminary poll ran from August 13-20 and the top five results, given in no particular order, were Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, Castle in the Sky, Kiki's Delivery Service, Princess Mononoke...
Mr. Osomatsu Ichigeruge Plush Announced, Includes Attached Laptop
The online anime shop ACOS announced an "Ichigeruge" plush from the recent anime Mr. Osomatsu. It is priced at 1,900 yen, or about US$19, without tax and will be released on December 15. 【#おそ松さん】イチゲルゲのぬいぐるみキーホルダーが登場!立体で再現された姿はゲルゲファン必須アイテム!予約開始です♪https://t.co/WdrSB8KiPs pic.twitter.com/BAqVmEmMxR— アニメイトコスチューム館ACOS (@ACOS_animate) August 24, 2016 The purple, fluffy plush includes a mini attached cl...
Premium Bandai Offers Huggable Pokémon PC Cushions Featuring Eevee, Pikachu
Premium Bandai has announced huggable Eevee PC cushions as part of their new Pokémon-themed PC cushion line. Reservations opened on August 25 and will run until October 31, and the items will be shipped in November. The PC cushions have two detachable parts: an Eevee stuffed animal and an arm rest pillow. Both are made of polyester. The arm rest pillow has a keyboard design on it, with original i...
Smite Foes in Style with Space Sheriff Gavan's Laser Blade
Gavan Dynamic!
― If you've been itching to vanquish evil lately but just don't have a cool enough weapon for it, never fear: Tamashii Lab, which fashions collectible items from Bandai properties, has developed the laser blade from the iconic 1980s action show Space Sheriff Gavan. Kenji Ohba, the actor who portrayed Gavan, is summoned to test out the sword. He is very impressed, especially with its s...
Naval City of Yokosuka Uses High School Fleet to Draw Tourists
Models efforts after Ōarai's success with Girls und Panzer
― The popular spring 2016 anime High School Fleet is set in Yokosuka, a Tokyo suburb with an American naval base and Japanese naval port and training facilities. To capitalize on being showcased in the anime, the city is promoting its connections to the show and attracting tourists interested in cute high school girls and the military. High S...
Japanese Readers Choose Shonen Jump's Worst Heroines
Unexpected "winner"
― Heroines in shōnen manga tend to be nice girls, sometimes with combat abilities, who usually end up falling in love with the hero. Like any protagonists, they're supposed to be likeable and relatable... but sometimes we get characters who are anything but: lazy, brutal, arrogant, incompetent, and/or selfish. To designate the worst heroines in Weekly Shonen Jump's history, the ed...
Hideaki Anno's Studio Khara Gets 10th Anniversary Exhibition
Hideaki Anno's Studio Khara will hold its first exhibition in Harajuku's Laforet Museum for one week in November. The exhibition is Khara's first and will commemorate the studio's 10th anniversary. The event will showcase production materials from the Evangelion films and Japan Animator Expo. The exhibition will run from November 23-30. Anno founded Khara to produce the four-film remake of his Eva...
Give Your Hair Virtual Idol Shine with Hatsune Miku-Endorsed Lux Products
Virtual idol Hatsune Miku is promoting shiny, straight hair as the spokesmodel for Lux shampoo and conditioner. In an upcoming commercial, Miku sees Ghost in the Shell star Scarlett Johansson in video billboard for Lux Straight & Beauty shampoo and conditioner and decides to use the products herself. The commercial will premiere on August 30 and feature Miku without her trademark twintails. "Hello...
Cocktail Prince Mobile Game Streams 3 Character Videos
Cocktail Prince, the upcoming smartphone game by Geechs that revolves around a cast of attractive young male bartenders who all represent cocktails, is streaming three voice videos for its characters Kiss in the Dark, Pink Lady, and Seventh Heaven. The characters are voiced by Takuya Satou, Mutsumi Tamura, and Daiki Yamashita. Kiss in the Dark Voiced by: Takuya Satou A man with an adult sex appeal...
Pre-Orders Open for Nendoroid Meta Knight from Kirby
Good Smile Company has opened pre-orders for a new Nendoroid Meta Knight figure from the Kirby video game series. Pre-orders will end on September 21, and the figure will be released in March 2017. The figure can assume a variety of poses and is approximately 60mm in height. It comes with a stand and several optional parts, including Meta Knight's cape, wings, and sword, as well as a large slashi...
Go Nagai Concert to Feature Music from Mazinger Z, Cutie Honey, Dororon Enma-kun
An orchestral concert featuring music from the works of Go Nagai will be coming to the Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre on September 18. It will include songs from variety of his original works, such as Mazinger Z, Devilman, Cutie Honey, and Dororon Enma-kun. The concert will also feature special guest Ichiro Mizuki, who sang the theme songs for Mazinger Z, Great Mazinger, Godannar, Space Pirate Captai...
Aussie Restaurant Designs Pikachu, Charmander, Bulbasaur-themed Poké-Burgers
The Sydney burger joint Down N' Out is offering new themed burgers featuring the classic Pokémon Pikachu, Charmander, and Bulbasaur. The burgers were designed by Down N' Out's creative director, Ben Kagan, and each comes with a trading card listing its ingredients. Prospective trainers are not given the choice of which burger they want, but are given one randomly. Kagan said, "The flavors and the...
Sanrio Characters Wish You Happy Birthday in Audio Greeting Cards
Sanrio fan or not, these cute audio greeting cards may at least bring about a smile. Gudetama, Hello Kitty, My Melody, Cinnamoroll, Little Twin Stars, and Pom Pom Purin all send birthday wishes when their decorative greeting card opens. Sanrio Japan posted to their YouTube channel the preview videos for each character's card on August 23 along with a seventh card that includes everyone except Gude...
Leaked Photos Give Potential Look at Live-Action Ghost in the Shell's Section 9 Task Force
Several unconfirmed leaked photos from Rupert Sanders' upcoming live action Ghost in the Shell film have surfaced on the internet, giving a potential look at the costuming for the task force Public Security Section 9. Tawanda Manyimo as the explosives specialist, Borma (sometimes called Boma), showing his trademark optical implants: Yutaka Izumihara as the tactical sniper, Saito: Pilou Asbæk as th...
Phantasy Star Online 2's Shin Godzilla Event Continues with Wearable Godzilla Suit
A new promotional video has been released for the Shin Godzilla collaboration event in Sega's online role-playing game Phantasy Star Online 2. The event began on August 10 with the Heisei version of Godzilla invading the game lobby, and it will last through September 7. A wearable Godzilla suit and mini Godzilla device appeared on Wednesday. The event also features destroyable-city room goods and ...
Psyduck Shows Off Dance Moves in Fan-Created Animated Video
An animated video of the perpetually confused water-type Pokémon Psyduck dancing to the song "GOIN'!!!" from The [email protected] Cinderella Girls has been making waves across the internet. The video was created using the freeware program MikuMikuDance, or MMD, which was originally created for the Vocaloid character Hatsune Miku. ポケモンGOIN'!!!コダック マシシ氏 pic.twitter.com/mohOw1mpjr— [email protected] (@enupi_mmd...
Japanese Fan Builds Impressive Gundam Model Using Only Legos
One dedicated Japanese fan, who goes by the handle JAN, has created an impressive model of the RX-78-2 Gundam using only Legos. The model took about 1.5 months to construct, and they worked on it for an average of two hours every day. Even though the model is made of Legos, the joints move, and it can hold its beam rifle and prepare to fire. No adhesive was used to hold the Legos together, and non...
Square Enix's Final Fantasy Tabletop Games Coming to N. America, Europe
Square Enix is bringing the Final Fantasy TCG: Opus 1 tabletop game and a new addition,Chocobo's Crystal Hunt, to Europe in September and North America in October. Previously released in Japan and selling over 3.5 million boosters, Final Fantasy TCG: Opus 1 will be available in a different configuration for its Europe and North America releases. The two player game will be sold in the traditional...
Detective Conan 20th Anniversary Concert Planned for KyoMAF2016
A "TV & Movie 20th Anniversary Detective Conan Concert" will be held on September 17 at the ROHM Theater in Kyoto for this year's Kyoto International Manga and Anime Fair, or KyoMAF. Similar concerts were held in Tokyo and Osaka in March, where music from throughout the long history of the show was played by a special orchestra. The upcoming concert at KyoMAF will include theme songs from the TV ...
Sanrio Boys Designed as Cinderella-Seeking Princes
The official Twitter account for the Sanrio Danshi multimedia project is launching a new campaign featuring the mascot-loving ikemen as princes. The account has tweeted designs of Kōta Hasegawa, Yū Mizuno, Shunsuke Yoshino, and Ryō Nishimiya is formal attire holding an elaborate shoe. Evidently, they're seeking their own Cinderella. 【お知らせ】サンリオ男子につきまして新規撮り下ろし『メルヘンシリーズ』をご紹介いたします。順次商品化予定です。一人目、長谷川康太。...
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