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Gantz:O, Mr. Osomatsu Fuse Together in Weird CG World Magazine Collab Cover
The six Mr. Osomatsu brothers get a Gantz:O makeover for the October 8th cover of CG graphics magazine CG World. The Gantz character Jōichirō Nishi from the "full 3D CG" anime film GANTZ:O appears with different wacky expressions in the brothers' colors and pose amidst the movie's setting of Osaka's neon Dōtonbori district. The magazine includes a feature article about the GANTZ:O film, overseen b...
Gintama Goes Ape for Halloween at J-World
Last year, Namco's J-World Tokyo indoor theme park gave us Prince of Tennis chocolates for Valentine's Day and a Naruto ninja haunted house for Halloween. This spooky season, the park is going gorilla and bringing out bananas with a Gintama event. J-World Tokyo offers changing themes devoted to manga from Shueisha's Shonen Jump magazine. Gintama Halloween Gorifes 2016 is a "Festival of the gorilla...
Junichi Suwabe Asks People to Stop Illegal Uploading
Voice actor Junichi Suwabe discussed illegal uploading on his official Twitter account on Wednesday. He said: Production costs are required to make programs. If [producers] can't recover production costs, then [the show] will end, and it's also not possible to make new programs. Why is illegal uploading bad? There might not be much thinking along those lines, but it's essentially the same act as l...
Patlabor's Freebie Kiichi Gotō Calendar Makes Magazine Sell Out
The November issue of Shogakukan's Monthly Big Comic Spirits magazine went on sale in Japan on Tuesday, but it's already sold out in many stores and online. The boost in sales is due to the issue's bundled, exclusive calendar of Patlabor's Captain Kiichi Gotō. Many magazines in Japan offer similar free bonuses to encourage people to purchase the magazine, but few items become as much of a marketin...
Musician's English Cover of your name's Theme is Beautiful
Singer and cover artist Rebecca Watanabe took on the task of translating RADWIMP's theme song “Zen Zen Zense” from Makoto Shinkai's your name. anime film and the results are beautiful. First, here's the original version. The original song delivers the lyrics and a pretty difficult tempo, starting slow and then quickly speeding up. Watanabe manages to mirror the flow in an eloquent way her cover. B...
Store Your Treasures in Chibi Moon's Stallion Rêve
Bandai opened a pre-order page for its recreation of Sailor Chibi Moon's Stallion Rêve communication device. The colorful orb appears in Sailor Moon SuperS and is used by Chibi-Usa to talk to the mysterious Pegasus. While Bandai's version won't allow you to communicate with magic horses, it does work as a great container for rings and other jewelry. The Stallion Rêve has two sections inside it, t...
Dead or Alive Xtreme 3's Keijo! Crossover Shown in Video
The girls of Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 show off their Keijo!!!!!!!! (Hip Whip Girl) swimsuits in the game's latest collaboration video. They even try their hand at the manga and anime's aquatic sport, a variation on the sumo circle only the players are on a circular water platform and must knock their opponent in using only their "assets." In Dead or Alive Xtreme 3, that also means exploding swimsuit...
Cute High Earth Defense Club LOVE! LOVE! Boys Return to Hot Springs
The beautiful boys from the Cute High Earth Defense Club LOVE! LOVE! anime are returning to the hot springs. Oedo Onsen Monogatari, a Japanese hot spring hotel chain, began streaming on Monday a television commercial that features the main characters of the series. The anime started its collaboration with the hot spring chain in March 2015 when the campaign released images of characters in yukata....
Complete Your Cardcaptor Sakura Halloween Costume with Her OP Dress
Takara Tomy, the makers of the interactive Clow Card set want to give Cardcaptor Sakura fans the full experience. The company is now accepting pre-orders for an official Cardcaptor Sakura costume modeled after her outfit from the series' first opening animation. The costume, which includes the blouse and dress as a single piece, along with Sakura's hat, gloves, and wings costs 16,200 yen (US$161)...
Sanrio Donates to Earthquake-hit Area Every Time its Video is Watched
Sanrio Japan uploaded a video on September 26 starting a new initiative of "One Action for One Love" to help the Kumamoto and Oita prefecture areas still heavily affected by the 7.3 magnitude earthquake that hit this past April. The video states that Sanrio has "thoughts they want to send to everyone in Kumamoto and Oita." The company will donate one yen for every time the video is played. The ini...
Live-Action Gundam Short Imagines a Documentary After the One Year War
2 Federation & Zeon engineers look back at First Gundam conflict that altered humanity
― Rhizomatiks, a Japanese avant-garde media arts studio, created an eight-minute live-action short called "Gundam Behind the Front." The video presents a fictional documentary on the aftermath of the One Year War seen in the first Mobile Suit Gundam television series and movies. Sunrise, the anime studio behind the...
Black Butler Creator Draws Tōken Ranbu Anthology Cover
Yana Toboso, creator of the Black Butler manga, drew the front cover art of the new Tōken Ranbu anthology released on September 27. Square Enix's monthly magazine G Fantasy tweeted about the book, "The "Tōken Ranbu -ONLINE- Anthology Comic ~Sukueni no Jin~" anthology is on sale in Japan today. A splendid writing staff is gathered here now! Heartwarming, comedic, serious sword-men's various every d...
Break Out Your Dancing Shoes, It's Time to 'Hare Hare Yukai' Again
A long, long time ago in the year 2006, there was a dance known as "Hare Hare Yukai" and fans across the globe dedicated their time and choreography skills to memorize it. It was the ending theme to The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya and every cosplay contest for the better part of a year featured dancers dressed as Haruhi, Yuki, Kyon, Itsuki and Mikuru recreating the sequence. FUNimation Entertain...
Villian Teams Eagle Talon, Suicide Squad Meet in Crossover Promos
The villain-protagonists of Himitsu Kessha Taka no Tsume (Secret Society Eagle Talon) introduces another team of villains in three comical crossover promotional videos (English subtitles may be accessed in the videos' Closed-Caption options). DLE animation studio, producer of the flash animation Eagle Talon, uploaded these short videos on September 11 to its YouTube Channel. Eagle Talon originally...
You're Not Sadako When You're Hungry in Snickers' Latest TV Ad
Snickers candy bar's latest ad campaign has shown what a bad case of 'hangry' looks like. This Super Bowl ad this year, for instance, showed Marilyn Monroe as a disgruntled Willem Dafoe until she satiated her hunger with a Snickers. Another showed Betty White getting tackled in a game of football until she has a Snickers and transforms back into "Mike." Each commercial ends with the phrase, "You'r...
New Orleans' Mysterious Pikachu Statue Raises US$2,000
The mysterious Pikachu statue that appeared in a New Orleans' park in August sold for US$2,000 at auction on last Sunday. The statue was briefly erected by unknown artists at an unused fountain in Coliseum Square before being donated for auction to raise funds benefiting the Coliseum Square Association. The statue was ultimately sold by the Neal Auction Company for US$2,000 to a just as mysterious...
Super Sailor Moon's Kaleidomoon Scope Joins Proplica Line
Super Sailor Moon's Kaleidomoon Scope from Sailor Moon SuperS is getting the high-end Proplica treatment from Bandai. Sailor Moon fans can now practice their twirling while yelling "Moon Gorgeous Meditation" with the seventh item in the toy line. The item is available pre-order starting on September 30 and will ship in March. Each wand is 13,000 yen (US$129) and has both functioning lights and so...
Survey Asks Fans Which Showa-Era Anime They Want to Reboot
Both the Hollywood and the Japanese film industry have released their fair shares of remake films this summer. From Ghostbusters to Shin Godzilla, both sides of the Pacific have been able to fill their nostalgia quota by re-experiencing old favorites. In light of this trend, the animeanime.jp website asked its readers which Showa-era (1926-1989) anime they would want a studio to remake. Their sur...
Tokyo Police Join Forces With Final Fantasy to End Traffic Accidents
Square Enix is set to release the World of Final Fantasy PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita game on October 27. The Tokyo Metropolitan Police decided to utilize the game's release for a collaborative campaign to promote traffic safety. The traffic division of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police made a poster that aims to put an end to traffic accidents. The poster's title reads, "Traffic Accident 'Final...
March comes in like a lion's Ryūnosuke Kamiki Appears at Shōgi Tournament
Gets ranked as amateur
― March comes in like a lion revolves around the traditional Japanese chess-like game of shōgi, so it's not surprising that Ryūnosuke Kamiki, who plays Rei in the upcoming live-action film adaptation of the manga, appeared at J:COM-Hai, an annual shōgi tournament for kids. "I'd like to introduce many more people to shōgi through my involvement with March comes in like a lion," ...
Prince of Tennis II's Ryō Shishido Character Gets 2nd CD After 10 Years
Hyōtei Academy's Ryō Shishido's long-awaited second solo character album for The Prince of Tennis II is almost here. It's been about 10 years since Shishido's last solo album Zero came out on February 8, 2006. This new album, I'll be right here, becomes available on September 28. In excitement for the new release, Toshiyuki Kusuda, the voice of Shishido, commented on Twitter on September 21, "the...
Pharmaceutical Company Creates Anthropomorphisized Eye Drop Anime to Teach Ocular Health
Eri Kitamura, Yōko Hikasa, Mamiko Noto, Emiri Katō, more cast members join 4 episode project
― Japanese company Santen Pharmaceuticals is running a new information campaign in Japan to teach people about how the human eye works, and how eyedrops can help maintain it. Of course, they've judged that the easiest way to make this understandable is by using anthropomorphized anime versions of eyedrop acti...
Say "I Choose You" to Your Betrothed with Pikachu Bridal Jewelry
Shinjuku clothing store sells Pokémon rings, other goods
― Since Pokémon has been around for 20 years, its fanbase has grown up. Some of them have even gotten married, or are thinking about doing so. If your loved one shares your enthusiasm for Pocket Monsters, why not seal your relationship with jewelry of the beloved critters? The clothing store Alta in Shinjuku, Tokyo, is selling a range of Pokém...
Listen to Kyubey, Magical Girls on Madoka Magica Headphones
Japanese electronics company Denon began accepting preorders on Friday for headphones inspired by the Puella Magi Madoka Magica anime films. The wireless, noise-cancelling headphones include Bluetooth capabilities. These special-edition AH-GC20 headphones feature original guidance recordings from the anime's main characters. The recordings from Kyubey, Madoka, Homura, Sayaka, Kyōko, and Mami incl...
your name.'s Trailer Gets Reworked Into Horror Film
"Wherever you are in the world, I'm going to go and see you... NO MATTER WHAT"
― your name. tells the tale of two seemingly ordinary youngsters who switch bodies in their dreams and become determined to meet each other in real life. It is very sentimental and romantic, like Makoto Shinkai's other films, but also has an optimistic, hopeful tone. But could its premise have been used for a horror story ...
i☆Ris Voice Actor/Idol Group Gets Its Own Webcomic
Drawn by longtime collaborator Yūta Taneda
― The idol group i☆Ris, which consists of voice actors Saki Yamakita, Yuu Serizawa, Himika Akaneya, Yuuki Wakai, Miyu Kubota and Azuki Shibuya, now has its own webcomic, courtesy of Yūta Taneda, who has illustrated i☆Ris merchandise for about two years. Temporarily titled Shūkan i☆Ris ("Weekly i☆Ris"), the manga follows the women in two different formats: a ...
LETRONS: Turkish Transforming Robots in Disguise
We've seen Angry Birds transform into Autobots and Decepticons. We've seen people transform into Optimus Prima and Grimlock. We've even seen several individuals and companies attempt transforming mini cars. Now, for possibly the first time, we get to witness a full-size car transform into an anthropomorphic robot and move around. What an age to be alive. Check out, Turkish "startup and R&D company...
Take a Look Back at 25 Years of Sailor Moon with Anniversary Guidebook
Also: figure of Sailor Moon eating parfait
― With manga, anime, live-action series, stage musicals, and a massive pile of merchandise, the Sailor Moon series has a lot to offer its fans. Now they can relive the franchise's highlights in a 20th anniversary guidebook. The book includes information on the recent exhibit in Roppongi Hills, an overview of Sailor Moon-related merchandise, and interviews w...
PLAMAX Recreates Pacific Rim's Gipsy Danger in 1/350 Scale
Good Smile Company opened preorders for Max Factory's PLAMAX JG-02: Gipsy Danger figure kits on Wednesday. The 1/350-scale figure recreates Gipsy Danger, a Mark-3 American Jaeger that Raleigh Becket and Mako Mori pilot in the Pacific Rim film. The kit comes ready to assemble, and it includes decals and an LED light for the turbine on the Jaeger's chest. The figure stands about 230 millimeters (9....
Cast, Staff Discuss A Silent Voice Anime Film in Making-Of Video
Kyoto Animation began streaming a making-of video for its A Silent Voice anime on Thursday. The video introduces the film's story and features interviews with the cast and staff. The film adaptation of Yoshitoki Ōima's A Silent Voice (Koe no Katachi) manga opened on September 17 on 120 screens and ranked #2 at box offices in Japan. The film earned 283,000,000 yen (about US$2.8 million) and sold 20...
Custom Final Fantasy XV Xbox Up for Grabs for 1 Lucky Winner
Fans that pre-ordered Final Fantasy XV on Square Enix's website now have a chance to win a custom Xbox One console. The one-of-a-kind model imitates protagonist Noctis' "Engine Blade" weapon. The prize is one of the weekly "Carbuncle Surprises" made available to customers who pre-order the game. The prizes range from action figures, real clothing based on character's outfits, a new entertainment s...
Evangelion's Yoshiyuki Sadamoto Designs Characters for Upcoming Mystery RPG
Tomokazu Sugita, Hekiru Shiina headline all-star cast
― Preorders are being taken for Black Rose Suspects, a suspenseful mystery RPG for smartphones. It has attracted attention for its character designs, which are by Yoshiyuki Sadamoto (Neon Genesis Evangelion, Summer Wars, Nadia: Secret of Blue Water). After another Great Depression called the Greatest Gap, the world has come under the rule of a sin...
Fans Compare Changes from Regalia Re-Broadcast Episodes
The Regalia: The Three Sacred Stars anime series was suddenly halted for a month in July to fix what its producer Takayuki Nagatani cited as a "recognizable difference between the show's planned quality [and the current quality]." The show's first four episodes were aired again, this time with quality corrections. Fans are now comparing screenshots to see what kind of things were adjusted. Example...
Anime Fans Choose the Strongest Robot Pilots
Gundam series is dominant; pick your choice in ANN's poll!
― Mecha anime have been hallmarks of the medium for decades, but it's usually the robots themselves that get the spotlight, glory, and figures. Charapedia, a Japanese anime/manga/game character database, conducted a poll of its readers to determine which robot pilots in anime were the strongest. The poll was carried out from September 9 to 14...
Mamoru Miyano Gets Caught in a Rain Storm for Uta Pri OP MV
Singer and voice actor Mamoru Miyano is putting on the waterworks for his latest single's music video, "Tempest." The track serves as the opening for this season's Uta no Prince-sama Maji LOVE Legend Star anime series. The song is Miyano's 15th single and is being released simultaneously with his 16th single, "The Birth," on October 12. "The Birth" is the theme song for the Ajin: Shōgeki film. The...
Sanrio Puts The Great Passage Mascots' Heads into Books
Characters will provide commentary about each episode
― The Great Passage (Fune wo Amu) novel and upcoming anime series follows the employees at the Genbu Shobō publishing company. Two employees, Majime and Masashi, work together to compile a medium-sized Japanese dictionary titled "The Great Passage." Sanrio is creating mascot characters to represent the series and literally putting their heads in b...
SHAFT's Madogatari Event Gets Encore in Tokyo
Studio Shaft launched the "Madogatari" exhibit last year to celebrate its 40th anniversary. The exhibit focused on its two most popular works—Puella Magi Madoka Magica and the Monogatari series—and ran in Tokyo, Osaka, and Sapporo with a huge fan turnout. Due to its success, the exhibit got an additional tour in Nagoya earlier this year. Now, the popular exhibition is getting a "Tokyo Encore" at ...
Naoki Urasawa Celebrates Billy Bat's Ending With Unique Video
Naoki Urasawa's manga series Billy Bat just ended with its 20th volume that went on sale today in Japan. In celebration, Urasawa himself planned a unique one minute short film created in flip-book style using photos of about 600 drawings of the bat done on all different surfaces, including buildings and people. Urasawa oversaw the whole Billy Bat video, from the initial planning to the character'...
One-Punch Man's Tatsumaki Whirls Into The Nendoroid Collection
One-Punch Man's Tornado of Terror joins Good Smile Company's Nendoroid line-up this February 2017. The S-Class Rank 2 hero can sport a collected, confident expression or let out a battle cry as she controls the included debris with her powers. Tatsumaki's emerald curls are also interchangeable with a more disheveled version for when she is in full esper mode. The Nendoroid costs 4,444 yen (US$43....
Fans Debate Japan's Biggest Otaku 'Sacred Sites'
The Otakuma economics newspaper posted an article on Tuesday discussing the "Otaku San Dai Seichi," Japan's three big otaku "sacred sites." Tokyo's (in)famous Akihabara district and Osaka's Nipponbashi, known for its "Den-Den Town" electronics and otaku shops, are known as hot spots for otaku. However, Nagoya's Ōsu area is the third of the "Otaku San Dai Seichi," but it receives significantly less...
UnColle Toilet App Asks Users About Their 'Business'
Japan has a certain fascination with poop. Play with some Japanese children for five minutes, and the subject is bound to come up. But it's not only kids that obsess over "number two." Japan's world of adults is also liable to utilize poo-shaped characters and the like. The Japan Unko Society, a group dedicated to educating the public on the relation between bowel movements and overall health, la...
Show Off Your Power Level in Cardboard Dragon Ball Z Armor Costume
Japanese stationary stores are getting in on the Halloween costume game with Dragon Ball Z armor made entirely of cardboard.The "Kire chau! Danbōru Series" (Wearable! Cardboard Series) is releasing the costume in both adult and child sizes on September 30. The costume is the series' first anime tie-in. The costume only requires assembly; no glue, scissors, or coloring needed. The child costume co...
Ghost Talker's Daydream's Meguro Draws Pride and Prejudice and Zombies Image
The reimagined Jane Austen story Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is opening in Japan on September 30. The film combines the classic romance story of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy against the backdrop of a 19th century England overrun by zombies. Manga creator Sankichi Meguro, the creator Ghost Talker's Daydream, is currently serializing a manga with a similar story with writer Kyōsuke Kagami based on th...
Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress Promotes Blood Drive Campaign
The characters of Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress are helping promote an upcoming blood drive at this weekend's "Kōtetsu-jō no Utage" (Iron Fortress' Banquet) event at Zepp Tokyo. So long as participants aren't infected Kabane, they can donate at the Red Cross station at the event and receive a B2-size poster. Participants do not have to have tickets to the actual event to participate in the blood d...
Mr. Osomatsu Brothers Receive XYLISH Makeover for New Gum Flavors
A collaborative effort between Mr. Osomatsu and Meiji's XYLISH Mint Assortment gum brings you the new "Sukkiri-matsu-san" (refreshing-matsu-san) limited edition gum flavors and new designs for the brothers. Besides the Mr. Osomatsu gum, Meiji is also holding drawings for special Mr. Osomatsu XYLISH design products. In order to apply to enter the drawing, you first purchase one of the gum packs th...
ANN Readers: Haikyu!! Season 3 is Most Anticipated Fall 2016 Anime
Mirroring Charapedia's results last week, Anime News Network readers also voted for Haikyu!! as the most anticipated show for the Fall 2016 season. The Karasuno volleyball team is set to face off against the favored Shiratorizawa and their ace Wakatoshi Ushijima when it premieres in October. Natsume Yūjin-Chō Go and Sound! Euphonium 2 continue the similarities by taking the second and third place ...
Kameari Station Says Goodbye to Kochikame Manga
Osamu Akimoto's Kochira Katsushika-ku Kamearikouen-mae Hashutsujo ("Kochikame") manga officially ended on Saturday in Weekly Shonen Jump and the series' 200th compiled volume. The series followed the daily exploits of Ryotsu "Ryo-san" Kankichi, a police officer in Kameari, in Katsushika Ward of Tokyo. The actual Kamaeri Station train station is bidding farewell to the series in a special way: by t...
Makoto Shinkai Comments on your name.'s 10 Billion Yen Revenue
Makoto Shinkai, director of the hit anime film your name., stated in a recent interview with the "Watching Japanese New Movies" announcer Shinsuke Kasai that he's a bit worried about what the film's success means for him as a creator. "The box office revenue exceeding 10 billion yen (US$98 million) is honestly frightening," Shinkai said. "This box office revenue is not exactly proportional to my ...
Enjoy Your Ramen in Company of AR Girls
Nissin Food Products will release a new line of Cup Noodles you can enjoy in the company of cute girls on September 20. If you hold out your phone with the corresponding smartphone app on towards the "Nissin Raoh" Cup Noodles, the "Raoh" anthropomorphic girls appear. They'll keep you company as you wait for your ramen to be ready and even eat together with you. Yes, eat together with you; the augm...
Anthropomorphisized Model Kit Nippers 'Nipa-ko' Gets Manga Series
Japan has made it very clear over the years that literally anything can be reimagined as a cute boy or girl. Companies have created princes out of cocktails, gum, and obscure Egyptian gods and princesses from cigarettes, electronic appliances, and of course, warships. The newest anthro character to be put in the spotlight is Nipa-ko, the mascot for GodHand Tools' "Ultimate Nipper", a full-flush ni...
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure's Araki Draws Art for National Sports Festival
The Japanese prefecture of Iwate is holding the 71st National Sports Festival (Kokutai) from October 1-11 and the 16th National Disabled Persons Sports Festival on October 22-24 this year. JoJo's Bizarre Adventure creator Hirohiko Araki is helping promote the upcoming festivities with a promotional image dubbed "Iwate Ningen Sanka" (Iwate Person Anthem) that depicts a female athlete backed by trad...
Shaman King Creator's Nekogahara Collaborates with Nobunaga's Ambition Game
Hiroyuki Takei's manga about a samurai cat is the subject of a new crossover with Koei Tecmo's Nobunaga's Ambition (Nobunaga no Yabō) strategy role-playing video game series. The manga is collaborating with a specific mobile spin-off called Nobunyaga no Yabō where the characters are reimagined as cats. Takei's manga's titular character, Nekogahara, will appear in the game and Takei will also draw ...
Final Fantasy XV Guys Chill Out with Nissin Cup Noodles
Cup Noodle sidequest, in-game product placement shown
― Noctis and his friends are taking a break from exploring the world of Eos to camp out with a warm cup of Nissin Cup Noodles. The company is collaborating with Square Enix's upcoming role-playing game in a new commercial. The commercial was shown during the Square Enix's panel at the Tokyo Game Show over the weekend. The staff also revealed that ...
Takuya Sato, Tsubasa Yonaga, Atsushi Abe & Daisuke Hirakawa Form Visual-Kei Band with Stuffed Animal
Visual-kei bands are known for their stage presence, elaborate make-up, and lavish costumes. Stuffed animal members are certainly not the norm, but newly formed band Listen to Rin includes one among its rank of voice actors. Popular voice actors Takuya Sato, Tsubasa Yonaga, Atsushi Abe and Daisuke Hirakawa fill out the band with "KON=BU" otherwise known as "Hachi Oji" or "Hamilton Cesare", one of ...
Space Patrol Luluco's Character Designer Draws Luluco's Ending Theme's Musicians
Image appears as YouTube backdrop
― Music producer TeddyLoid met singer Bonjour Suzuki while producing "Pipo Password," the ending theme to Trigger's short anime series Space Patrol Luluco. Apparently they got along, because they're now releasing an EP, "Silent Planet 2 EP Vol. 2." To honor the EP, the character designer Mago, who also worked on Space Patrol Luluco, has drawn the duo as if they were ...
Re: Zero Novel Ad: 'TV Anime's Sequel' is in the Novels
An advertisement sign for the Re:Zero -Starting Life in Another World- franchise at Akihabara station in Tokyo states: TV anime's final episode Even though "That's All This Story Is About" is over. Original Work: Re: Zero Kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu "That's All This Story Is About" isn't over. The latest 9th novel volume "That's All This Story Is About"... absolutely can't end here. The [novel] ...
Watch Makoto Shinkai's 5 Centimeters Per Second Under the Stars in Tokyo
Screening by Tokyo National Museum
― Makoto Shinkai's new film Your name. has revived interest in the director's oeuvre. If you're hankering to watch (or rewatch) 5 Centimeters Per Second, a poignant tale of two separated lovers with lavishly drawn skies, what better way to do it than under the star-strewn autumn sky in a park in Tokyo? The Tokyo National Museum, located in Ueno Park, will screen the...
Open Envelopes with Style and Grace with Sailor Uranus Letter Opener
Comes with Sailors Uranus & Neptune envelopes
― Everyone seems to crave swords: they're elegant, straightforward, powerful, and associated with chivalry and romantic heroism. But they're pricey, and you can't exactly actually use them. How about a letter opener instead? They're small, convenient, and actually useful. Premium Bandai has an antique-style letter opener modeled after the Space Sword of ...
JR-West Extends Evangelion Bullet Train Campaign
Kaworu train announcements, stamp rally at bullet train stations, and more
― The Neon Genesis Evangelion bullet train has been in service for almost a year, with cool Evangelion-related bonuses like badges and postcards. Evangelion fans who haven't yet had the chance to ride the 500 Type Eva train are in luck, because the West Japan Railway Company (JR-West) has extended its service to spring 2018 an...
Fall Anime Trickster Recruits Actor for Bit Role Through Twitter
Autographed posters also available
― It can be hard for an aspiring voice actor to get a career started in the anime industry (or any industry, really), but the upcoming anime Trickster: Edogawa Rampo 'Shōnen Tantei-dan' Yori offers them an unusual opportunity. It seeks an actor for a "mob character" (bit part), and it's recruiting via Twitter. "I seek an apprentice detective" (a play on the series' ...
Official Sailor Moon Fan Club Expands Overseas
Japanese fan club also expands
― In recognition of Sailor Moon's broad international popularity, the official Sailor Moon fan club, Pretty Guardians2016-2017, is expanding overseas. The club was founded in July and caps its membership, yet it is launching a membership drive in Japan as well. Members gains access to club information (both online and in print), the twice-monthly radio show of Kotono Mi...
Ai Shimizu Celebrates Moe Ultraman Comedy Manga's 2nd Volume
The second volume of Shun Kazakami's Ultra Kaijū Gijinka Keikaku: feat. POP Comic code (Ultra Monster Personification Project: feat. POP Comic code) manga went on sale in Japan on August 19. Voice actress Ai Shimizu (Is This a Zombie?'s Dai-sensei, Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha's Suzuka; pictured below), comedian Kamoshida Seven, and Kazakami are attending an event in Tokyo on Sunday to celebrate th...
Rock Band KISS Teams Up With Astro Boy for Exhibit
From magazines to films to idol groups to small white cats, rock band KISS has a significant history of collaborations in Japan. This time the band is teaming up with a small metal boy: Tetsuwan Atom, or as he is known in the English-speaking world, Astro Boy. The U.S. band is holding "KISS Expo Tokyo 2016~Jigoku no Hakurankai~" (KISS Expo Tokyo 2016: Hell's Exhibition) at Tokyo's Laforet Museum H...
Yō, Hanamaru Lead in Love Live! Sunshine!! Popularity Polls
Love Live! Sunshine!! character Yō Watanabe (voiced by Shuka Saitō) is currently in first place in an "image girl" popularity poll. The poll is part of a collaborative campaign with the 7-Eleven convenience store chain. However, this is the intermediate result, and Yō could still lose her crown before the poll closes on September 30. Riko Sakurauchi (voiced by Rikako Aida) is currently in second ...
Rose of Versailles Garden Opens in Tokyo's Swanky Ginza District
Riyoko Ikeda's The Rose of Versailles manga is inspiring a rose garden in Ginza, an upscale shopping district in Tokyo. The "scent of roses and The Rose of Versailles" will be the theme of the "Autumn Rose Garden 2016" event. The garden will open in the Royal Room on the 10th floor of the FANCL Ginza Square building from October 28 to November 4. Chiba's Keisei Rose Garden is collaborating with t...
Hiro Shimono, Karamatsu, Other Celebrities Appear in Fried Chicken Mook
Also: Japan's 250 best fried chicken restaurants
― Japan's distinctive style of fried chicken, kara'age, has many fans. So many, in fact, that Kadokawa is publishing a mook (magazine/book) dedicated entirely to it: Kara'age Walker 2017. The mook focuses on celebrities with a penchant for fried chicken. On the cover is Yua Shinkawa (Shūko in the live-action Blue Spring Ride). Within, readers will find...
'Gum Kare!' Chewing Gum Boyfriends Get Idol Manga
Confectionery company and conglomerate Lotte is continuing its "Gum Kare!" campaign with a new manga series, Gum Kare! -Idol Hajimemashita- (Gum Boyfriends!: The Idols Get Started). Akino Shiina is illustrating the manga based on Lotte's original concept. In the story, the handsome personified gum characters are starting their own idol group called chu♡chu SUNSHiNE. The heroine of the story is a f...
Charapedia: Haikyu!! Season 3 is Most Anticipated Fall 2016 Anime
Fans are chomping at the bit to see the Karasuno volleyball team face off against Shiratorizawa and their ace Wakatoshi Ushijima in the third season of Haikyu!!. The underdog team's match against one of the nation's top competitors will premiere on October 7, but fans already shared their excitement by ranking it as their top choice for the season on the Charapedia website. In a season full of seq...
[email protected] Cinderella Girls: Starlight Stage Game Hijacks Train Station Promenade
From September 12 through 18, Shinjuku station is decorated in [email protected] Cinderella Girls: Starlight Stage's girls for the game's first anniversary. One of the main attractions of the event is their cute parade across a promenade. The video shows 155 of the idols marching in town and each unit dancing. The parade continues for about 15 minutes. Pinya and the Usa-chan robot are hidden in the parad...
Sapporo Pokémon Center to Hold Pikachu Festival Over Holiday Weekend
Pikachu to appear
― The Pokemon Center in Sapporo will celebrate the upcoming three-day weekend (September 19 is Respect for the Aged Day) with a Pikachu Matsuri (festival). Young Pokémon fans can gather to play Pokémon bingo, make Pokémon window stickers, and play various Pokémon carnival games. On September 17, there's a Pokémon cube puzzle and "Pikachu's dice safari." On the 18th, the dice safari...
Death Note Classifieds: Part-Time Shinigami Wanted
The part-time job news service An has a listing searching for Shinigami (gods of death) in the lead-up to the opening of the Death Note franchise's newest film, Death Note Light up the NEW world. Yes, you too could hold life and death in your fingertips with the use of a provided magical notebook. Or maybe not. The job listing fails to mention whether successful applicants will be provided with an...
Make Your Own Pokémon Go Egg Incubator
Whether you need a unique way to decorate your room or that one detailed finishing touch on your cosplay, this do-it-yourself infinite-use Pokémon Go egg incubator tutorial has you covered. The AWE me YouTube channel, home to shows Man At Arms: Reforged, Super Fan Builds, and Epic How To, uploaded the video on September 9 as part of their DIY Prop Shop series. The incubator only costs US$18 to mak...
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...
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