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Death Note's Ryuk Inspires Face Mask
Death Note fans, get ready as Ryuk joins the line of anime-themed face mask packs in a limited-time Harajuku store. The "Death Note Face Pack ~Ryuk~" appears as a collaboration between the shop and the new Death Note film, Death Note: Light up the NEW World. The "Isshindou Main Shop DESIGN FACE PACK" is a store open just from October 8 to November 30 in Tokyo Plaza Omotesandō Harajuku's third flo...
Thermae Romae's Author Mari Yamazaki Draws Illustration for Upcoming Bathhouse-themed Film
Mari Yamazaki, author of Thermae Romae, drew an illustration for the upcoming Japanese film Her Love Boils Bathwater (Yu o Wakasu Hodo no Atsui Ai). The live-action film comes out on October 29 in Japan. The story follows Futaba (Rie Miyazawa), who has a tender and tough side, and her daughter Azumi (Hana Sugisaki). When Futaba learns that she doesn't have much time left to live, she decides she h...
Drink to Rohan with New JoJo's Bizarre Adventure x Noritake Tea Set
Bandai introduces a tea set collaboration between JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond is Unbreakable and ceramics makers Noritake. The bone china tea cup and saucer set's design is based on JoJo's stand-using manga creator Rohan Kishibe and uses motifs such as his signature hairband and pen nib. The interior of the tea cup sports Rohan's Stand '"Heaven's Door" and the center of the saucer is decora...
Dr. Slump Ranks #1 in Top Jump Gag Manga Poll
Gag manga often don't enjoy the widespread appeal that top series have. It can be difficult for comedy stories to become huge hits because different things make different people laugh. So when a gag comedy manga wants to hit a home run, it's got to aim for out of the park. The Goo Ranking website's latest manga-related poll asked people which gag manga is the "strongest" to ever appear in Shonen J...
Cocktail Prince Mobile Game Streams 4 More Character Videos
Geechs' upcoming mobile game Cocktail Prince, which centers on attractive young males who represent cocktails, announced four more characters and their voice actors on Thursday. The project also began streaming videos for the newly announced characters. The "Moody, Roguish Young Man," White Lady Voiced by: Hiroyuki Kagura Day Job: apparel shop employee Height: 167 cm (5'7") Hobby: film appreciatio...
Yu-Gi-Oh!: The Dark Side of Dimensions Holds 2nd, 3rd Dub Voice-Over Contests This Month
People who want to try their hand in the dueling arena of voice acting will have two more chances this month to become extras in the English version of the Yu-Gi-Oh!: The Dark Side of Dimensions film. 4K Media will hold its second audition contest at New York Comic Con on October 8 and October 9. The third and final contest will also be held in Minneapolis later this month. The contest will be hel...
Is the order a rabbit? Girls Appear in French Town That Inspired Anime's Setting
Twitter user Nobel Choco created an augmented reality (AR) plugin that allowed him to take Is the order a rabbit? characters Chino and Cocoa to the real-life town that inspired the anime's setting. He posted a video on Monday that shows the girls in Colmar, France, a town in the European country's northeastern region. 作ったARプラグインを早速使って、聖地巡礼に行きましたー。二期EDの場所です。#カスタムメイド3D2 #CM3D2 pic.twitter.com/vijT6a...
Love Live! Sunshine!!'s Riko Overtakes Yō to Win 'Image Girl' Poll
Love Live! Sunshine!! character Riko Sakurauchi (voiced by Rikako Aida) overtook Yō Watanabe (voiced by Shuka Saitō) to win 7-Eleven's "image girl" popularity poll. Yō was ahead in the interim results that the campaign unveiled in mid-September. Yō took second place in the poll, and Hanamaru Kunikida (voiced by Kanako Takatsuki) finished at #3. Hanamaru also ranked third in the interim results. C...
Fans Compare Apparent Leaked Live-Action Bleach Photos to Cosplay
From Fullmetal Alchemist to Ghost in the Shell, this year has seen plenty of leaked photos from live-action remakes of popular anime and manga. Apparent leaked photographs from filming of the Bleach live-action film adaptation appeared online this week. Although not all comments were critical, some net users complained that the photos are a letdown. They said the costume looks cheaper than cosplay...
Save the World's Music in Show By Rock!! Real Escape Game
TV anime SHOW BY ROCK!! bursts into Sanrio's Puroland theme park in a new Real Escape Game attraction, "Pyu~ru Land the Escape from the Ultimate Crisis!" Puroland appeared in the anime as the virtual theme park "Pyu~ru Land". In the escape game, participants become members of the band, and have to clear the mystery with hands-on activities within one hour before the Queen of Darkness' "Black Hole ...
Shinkalion Combines Speed of Bullet Trains with the Power of Giant Robots
Project to encompass toys, events, magazine features
― Bullet trains have long been an icon of Japan and its forward-looking, technologically driven society. Giant robots are another Japanese icon and are a staple of toy stores and children's anime. ShoPro has taken what might be a natural step: combine the two with the transforming mecha Shinkalion. There is another video narrated in Kansai dialect,...
Sanrio Boys Make Their Idol Debut With 1st Single Release
The Sanrio Danshi (Sanrio Boys) multimedia project can officially add music to its line up. The mascot-loving ikemen are releasing their first single, "Fun! Fantastic girl!" on November 16. The song, produced by Elements Garden, is the theme song for the Sanrio Danshi ~Watashi, Koi o, Shirimashita~ (Sanrio Boys ~I knew love~) smartphone dating app game. The game launched last month. The single wil...
High School Students Design Tesla Coil That Plays K-ON! Theme
Cultural festivals are a staple of Japanese high school life, giving students an opportunity to plan and execute complex tasks and demonstrate their organizational ability. Most opt for something like a snack stand or a haunted house, but Takatsuki High School's Electric Physics Club chose to do something cooler: a Tesla coil that plays the opening theme to K-ON! Season 2, "GO! GO! MANIAC." けいおん‼︎...
Giant Schoolgirls Trample Akiba in Live-Action Promo for Onideka Manga
Onideka's giantess heroine confronts a new rival in the streets of Akiba in a live action, special effects video promoting the release of the second volume of the manga. The video stars model Hiko Achiha (Achinami) as the school idol-turned-giant Hanasei Kiryuin and idol Haruka Momokawa as the unpopular, maid idol-turned-giant Kanae. Keita Yatera's Onideka manga runs in Shogakukan's seinen magazin...
your name Setting Becomes Latest Anime Pilgrimage Site
Nearby town also attracts Hyōka fans
― Anime studios have long used real locations as models for their work, and even when these locations are ordinary small towns and suburbs in Japan, devoted fans of the related anime have turned them into "pilgrimage" locations or "holy lands" to visit. With the recent smashing success of your name, the model for Mitsuha's hometown — Hida, a small town in the...
Preview New King of Fighters XIV's Kyo Kusanagi Nendoroid in Video
Take a 360 degrees look at the new Kyo Kusanagi: Classic Version Nendoroid from the videogame THE KING OF FIGHTERS XIV in Good Smile Company's product video. The Kusanagi clan heir comes with multiple flame effect add-on parts to recreate moves like the "Ura 108 Shiki: Orochinagi". The fire-controller stays in his classic school uniform, but comes with an interchangeable confident face and combat...
RWBY Volume 3 Japanese Dub Trailer Streamed
A promotional video of the Japanese dub of Rooster Teeth's anime-style RWBY web series' third volume is streaming on the Warner Bros. Anime YouTube channel. The volume is getting a two-week limited theatrical release in Japan starting on December 3. The cast includes: Saori Hayami as Ruby Rose Yōko Hikasa as Weiss Schnee Yu Shimamura as Blake Belladonna Ami Koshimizu as Yang Xiao Long Hiro Shimono...
Two Part Anime Shorts Promote the Future of Fuel Cells
Ene-Farm, a company best known for providing household fuel cells, has produced the first of a two part anime short to promote the future of its energy technology. Titled "Ima no Watashi ni dekiru koto…" (Now I can do this...), the anime takes place in 2102 where future has advanced beyond what was imagined in the 21st century and in 2016. 17-year-old Nami (Hitomi Harada) is a high school girl liv...
Wake Up, Girls! Idol Group Is Back With a New Music Video
Anime director Yutaka "Yamakan" Yamamoto might have declared anime is dead, but his Wake Up, Girls! idol group is still going strong. The group, consisting of Airi Eino, Kaya Okuno, Mayu Yoshioka, Minami Tanaka, Miyu Takagi, Nanami Yamashita, and Yoshino Aoyama, released a music video for their new single "Bokura no Frontier." The track serves as the ending theme for this season's Scorching Ping P...
2-Million Yen Life-Size Saekano Up for Auction—For Double the Price
The 20 life-size statues of Megumi Kato, the video game heroine conjured up by Saekano's Tomoya Aki cost a pretty penny when it debuted earlier this year. Now, one of the buyers is hoping to recoup the two million yen (US$19,729) cost and then some. Seller "shuffle_lianthaus_kaede" has put one of the statues up on Yahoo! Auctions for the "buy now" price of four million yen (US$39,459) or bidders c...
Pre-Orders of XSEED's Story of Seasons: Trio of Towns Game Come With Adorable Capybara Plush
XSEED Games announced on Monday that those who pre-order its upcoming release of Marvelous' Story of Seasons: Trio of Towns (Bokujō Monogatari: Mitsu no Sato no Taisetsu na Tomodachi) Nintendo 3DS game will receive a plush capybara, a replica of the capybara that appears in the game as a pet. The "pocket plushie" is 3.5 inches tall. XSEED also released some screenshots of the capybara in the game....
Aomori Prefecture Celebrates Bungo Stray Dogs
Themed train, cookies, juice and more
― Osamu Dazai, a central character in Bungo Stray Dogs, originally hailed from northern Honshu's Aomori Prefecture, and to celebrate its native son and encourage more literary enthusiasts to visit the area, the prefecture is promoting Bungo Stray Dogs — with an emphasis on Dazai, naturally. First, the local Tsugaru Railway's Run, Melos! train (named after an...
Watch Anime Producer Shouji Murahama Play Post-Apocalyptic Survival Game
Part of documentary series profiling Japanese creators
― Longtime anime producer Shouji Murahama (Hellsing, Last Exile, Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water) is profiled on the October 1 episode of toco toco tv, a French TV series available online focusing on Japanese creators and what inspires them. In Murahama's case, it's post-apocalyptic survival games. Murahama also takes viewers into his current ani...
Love Live! Sunshine!! Reveals 2nd 'Center' Poll's Interim Results
The official website for Kadokawa's Dengeki G's Magazine announced interim results for its second Love Live! Sunshine!! "center" idol poll. The winning character will feature in the center position as the lead on the Aquors idol group's third single CD. The current rankings are: Yoshiko Tsushima Kanan Matsūra Hanamaru Kunikida Riko Sakurauchi Yō Watanabe Chika Takami Dia Kurosawa Mari Ohara Ruby K...
All 2,400 Pages of Death Note Manga Compiled in One Really Big Volume
Includes previously unpublished story
― For two and a half years and over 12 manga volumes, Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata enthralled Japan (and later the world) with Death Note, the suspenseful story of a teenage prodigy entrusted with the powers to kill anyone at will. With the fourth live-action film, Death Note: Light Up the New World, coming out on October 29, now might be a good time to recolle...
Video Introduces Japan's Mini Famicom, 30 Classic Games
Nintendo began streaming an introduction video on Friday for its Nintendo Classic Mini Family Computer. The video introduces the system and the 30 games that will come built in with the Japanese release. The Nintendo Classic Mini Family Computer will come with (games listed in chronological order of their original release): Donkey Kong Mario Bros. Pac-Man Excitebike Balloon Fight Ice Climber Galag...
D. Gray-man Celebrates Halloween with Themed Cafe
Celebrate Halloween with the D. Gray-Man Hallow cast at a limited-time, themed cafe complete with original, character-themed food, drinks, and limited edition goods. The "D. Gray-Man HALLOWEEN CAFE" will take place in Tokyo's Harajuku AREA-Q cafe from October 14 to 31. Tickets for the event went on sale on September 27 for 2,800 yen (US$27.70). One ticket includes entry into the cafe, your choice...
Hide Cup Noodles in a Girls und Panzer Tank Ammo Round
Have you ever fallen victim to a cup noodle thief? Have you ever gotten hungry while driving your tank around on the battlefield? It's OK, loads of people have. If you're like them, why not try storing your treasured cups of noodles in a life-size tank ammo round case inspired by Girls und Panzer? Nissin Cup Noodles is teaming up with Girls und Panzer to offer a limited number of "cup noodle stoc...
Yokosuka Stores Triple Their Revenue Thanks to High School Fleet
Local merchants attract new regular customers
― Yokosuka, a Tokyo suburb with both American and Japanese naval facilities, is the setting for the spring 2016 anime High School Fleet, and much like the similarly themed Girls und Panzer's setting, Ōarai, it is promoting the anime to attract tourists. So far, the efforts are paying off: the Yokosuka Tourism Promotion Committee has estimated that the re...
Anime Director Yamakan Declares Anime Dead
Complains about moe, continues to praise your name.
― Anime director Yutaka "Yamakan" Yamamoto (The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Lucky Star, Wake Up, Girls!) caused a bit of a stir in July when he proclaimed at an event in Osaka that "anime is dead." He was influenced by Toshio "Otaking" Okada, a former Gainax staffer and cultural commentator, who earlier pronounced "otaku is dead" (sic). On Septem...
Go Behind-the-Scenes of Hikaru Utada's 'Hanataba Wo Kimini' Track
Singer Hikaru Utada's new Fantôme album has done very well internationally since its release on September 28. The album is the singer's first release in nearly a decade and includes tracks like "Sakura Nagashi" (the Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo theme song) and "Hanataba Wo Kimini" (the theme song for the Toto Nee-Chan: Fatherly Sister drama). In a new video uploaded to YouTube, Utada will gi...
Shibushi City Pulls 'Sexist' Eel Girl Ad
The city of Shibushi in Kagoshima came under fire after releasing an eel-farming ad that features an eel personified as a young woman in a school uniform bathing suit. The city quickly pulled the ad after receiving many complaints that the commercial is "sexist" and the concept of "cultivating" a woman is inappropriate. The video starts with a girl in a pool asking to be fed. A man narrates over i...
3-D Model of Life-Size Oreimo Statue Unveiled
Ayase strikes a risque pose
― In honor of Tsukasa Fushimi's 10th anniversary since his debut as a light novel author with Jūsanban-me no Alice, fans were allowed to vote on which character from his more famous light novel series, Oreimo, would be converted into a life-size statue. The result was announced on a Nico Nico Douga live-streaming video on August 29: Ayase, who received about 40% of the vot...
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...
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