Interest
— Archives —
- All
- •
- Anime
- Manga
- Novels
- Games
- Music
- Merch
- Events
- Industry
- People
- Live-Action
Text-only Compact View
Text-only List View
Text-only Grid View
List View with Images
Grid View with Images
ANN Readers: Blue Exorcist: Kyoto Impure King Arc Is Most Anticipated Winter 2017 Anime
ANN readers weighed in this week on which anime series they are most looking forward to ringing in the new year. The Japanese website Charapedia held the same poll and participants resoundingly elected the new season of Gintama. The readers on Anime News Network are looking forward to Gintama as well, but not as much as the new season of Blue Exorcist. It hedged above Little Witch Academia which i...
Shin Godzilla, Evangelion Face-Off Continues with Symphony Performance
Performers include Megumi Hayashibara, Yoko Takahashi, Satoru Matsuo
― The ongoing mashup between Hideaki Anno's Shin Godzilla and Neon Genesis Evangelion properties continues with a concert featuring Cruel Angel Thesis singer Yoko Takahashi, Rei Ayanami voice actress Megumi Hayashibara, Inuyasha composer Kaoru Wada and Shin Godzilla actor Satoru Matsuo. The concert will take place at the Bunkamura O...
I☆Ris Member Yū Serizawa Planning Her Solo Debut
i☆Ris idol group member and voice actress Yū Serizawa announced she will be making her solo debut with the release of a mini-album and a photo collection book. The book, Kimi to is slated for release in February followed by the album in April. The photo album will be released on February 10 and includes images of Serizawa in the wilderness and other outdoor areas. It will bundle a DVD and retail f...
Yuri!!! on Ice! Character Designer Releases 1st Artbook at Comiket
The figure-skating anime Yuri!!! on Ice! wrapped on Wednesday, leaving behind a huge fandom in its wake. The show features character designs by Tadashi Hiramatsu, whose design work dates back to Gainax's His and Her Circumstances and more recently Parasyte -the maxim-. In his over two decades of animating, storyboarding, and directing, his work has never been collected in a published format until ...
Yuri!!! on Ice Dominates Fall Anime on Twitter Rankings
Yuri!!! on Ice Tweeted over a million times, with Haikyu!! and Tōken Ranbu following
― The Kadokawa Ascii Research Laboratories content and information trend analytics company revealed its research on the most-Tweeted fall anime show on Wednesday. The research takes into account the number of Tweets from November 24 to December 14, and counts Tweets that are tagged with both the title of the show and...
Tokyo Joypolis Planning Sword Art Online Attractions
The Tokyo branch of Joypolis, located in the harbor district of Odaiba, is planning Sword Art Online attractions to premiere in the indoor theme park from January 21 to February 26. The "Gekijō-ban Sword Art Online - Ordinal Scale - in JOYPOLIS Extra Stage Joypolis o Kōryaku Seyo!" (Sword Art Online the Movie: Ordinal Scale - in Joypolis Extra Stage Capture Joypolis!) collaboration event is commem...
Finder Manga Creator Yamane Contributes to Animate Stores' 30th Anniversary Project
Japan's Animate retail chain is celebrating the 30th anniversary since its founding in 1987, and the otaku stores launched a project for the occasion. Animate is teaming up with publishers and famous manga creators for the collaborative project. Animate announced on Monday that boys-love manga creator Ayano Yamane (Finder, A Foreign Love Affair, Crimson Spell) is participating in the Anime Tenchō ...
Lelouch Lamperouge Transformed Into Danny Choo Smart Doll
Lelouch Lamperouge will get a 10th anniversary Smart Doll as part of a collaboration with Sunrise. The announcement was made on December 2, Lelouch's birthday, and also promises the "the other main 3 characters to follow soon after." Lelouch is slated for release in the early first half of 2017. He will measure 61cm (24in) tall. The price is still to be determined. Danny Choo's Smart Doll has bee...
Takuya Eguchi Draws 'Unique' Giraffe for Sho-Comi & Wacom
Voice actor Takuya Eguchi (Hachiman in My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU, Shinji in Kuroko's Basketball, Takeo in My Love Story!!) is continuing to bless the world with his "unique" doodles. Eguchi is the creator of "Egumon" a monster design that changes its appearance based on his creator's whim. Egumon was spotted on Eguchi Takuya no Ore-tachi Datte Iyasaretai! ("Takuya Eguchi's 'We Want to Be Heale...
Doraemon Gets 'Anywhere Door' VR Experience in February
Experience takes users from Nobita's room to new film's South Pole setting
― To commemorate the March 4 opening of Eiga Doraemon: Nobita no Nankyoku Kachi Kochi Daibōken (Doraemon the Movie 2017: Great Adventure in the Antarctic Kachi Kochi), the 37th film in the Doraemon franchise, Bandai Namco Entertainment is planning to launch a new virtual reality experience based on Doraemon's Anywhere Door. Th...
Ghost in the Shell Live-Action Film Gets Tribute Manga in Young Magazine
Manga is 1st installment in project commemorating Hollywood film adaptation
― Dreamworks and Paramount's Ghost in the Shell live-action film starring Scarlett Johansson opens in Japan on April 7. To celebrate the film's opening, Monthly Young Magazine published a one-shot by Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex manga creator Yu Kinutani. The one-shot is titled "A Day in the Life" and follows the s...
Super Heroine Boy Manga Shows Tough Guy Addicted to Precure-Like Anime
Do you know a guy who's rough around the edges but secretly has a soft spot for shōjo anime? If so, Parari's Super Heroine Boy manga may be the series for him. The first compiled book volume just shipped in Japan on Friday. The story begins when, one morning, juvenile delinquent Wataru Ōishi suddenly and unexpectedly watches an anime targeted at young girls. Wataru causes mayhem and disrespects ad...
Yuri!!! on Ice Offers Cellular Support, New Goods at Comiket
Japanese mobile provider Au by KDDI is collaborating with the Yuri!!! on Ice television anime at the Comiket 91 convention this month. The partnership is providing a signal-boosting base station truck to support wireless services for Comiket visitors. An art piece that looks like a giant cell phone will stand next to the truck. The LCD screen will show social-networking-style images that also app...
80 Artists & Writers Contribute to Katsuhiro Otomo Tribute Book
Naruto's Kishimoto, Last Exile's Murata, Monster's Urasawa participate
― Katsuhiro Otomo's Akira manga and film has influenced generation after generation of creative professionals around the world. Fans have created CG and live-action fan trailers and scientists even named a galaxy after his work. Next year, 80 of Otomo's contemporaries will honor him with a tribute book. Tribute to Otomo will be av...
Haruhi Suzumiya Website Goes 'Missing' Again
This year seems to promote Blu-ray box set
― The official website for The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya franchise is in it for the long con. Every year since 2007, the website has gone "missing" on December 18, a reference to the date the titular character disappears in The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya film. The page first vanished with a false 404 error in 2007, a precursor to the announcement o...
Trigger Sells Trigger Girls Artbook at Winter Comiket
Studio Trigger has its share of iconic anime girls from its recent works. Luluco, Akko Kagari, and Ryūko Matoi. On top of the stars of the company's anime works, Trigger also has three mascot girls, Trigger, Muzzle, and Spring, who are often the subject of guest artwork on the company webpage. The girls starred in an anime short earlier this year to celebrate the studio's fifth anniversary. Now, ...
PreCure Ending Theme Compilation Album Delayed
The magical girl mega-franchise PreCure will debut its 14th installment, Kirakira ☆ Precure a la Mode next year after the currently airing Mahō Tsukai Precure! wraps up. To celebrate the journey, Sony Music and Marvelous planned to release a compilation album of all the franchise's ending themes so far, but those plans were dashed nearly as quickly as they were announced. The PreCure Ending Theme...
This Sword is Your Ticket to the Sword Art Online Movie
Available at Comiket
― Could there be a more awesome way to gain admission to a theatrical screening of Sword Art Online the Movie: Ordinal Scale than to present a sword? Sure, it sounds overly dramatic, but that's how you could do it thanks to this promotion. At the Aniplex booth at this winter's Comic Market (Comiket), you can buy the sword for 2,000 yen ($17); a movie ticket is attached to the hil...
Final Fantasy XV's DLC Offers Mariachi, Moogle/Chocobo Outfits
Comes in free and purchasable packs
― Just in time for the holidays, the new PlayStation 4/Xbox One game Final Fantasy XV is offering two downloadable content (DLC) packs, the Holiday Pack + and the Holiday Pack (free version). The Holiday Pack + includes: Protection Ring Command Booster (Noct only) Phantom Booster (Noct only) Instant Kill Victory Song Battle Skill Victory Song Key of Good Fortune St...
Anime Directors Seiji Mizushima and Yamakan in Twitter Spat
Reasons unclear
― Noted anime directors Seiji Mizushima (Fullmetal Alchemist, Concrete Revolutio, Mobile Suit Gundam 00) and Yutaka "Yamakan" Yamamoto (The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Fractale, Wake Up, Girls!) have become involved in a Twitter spat, although the details aren't clear at present. It only became known on December 16, when Mizushima tweeted that he had been blocked by Yamakan. The tw...
Galaxy Express 999's Maetel Models for Hair Product Line
From Yu-Gi-Oh!'s Yugi Mutou to Bleach's Kenpachi Zaraki, anime characters are known for their wild and colorful hairstyles. Many are well-endowed in the hair department, but few moreso than Galaxy Express 999's Maetel. The golden-haired character became the model for Socialtech's Chap Up line of hair products on December 1. Galaxy Express 999 manga creator Leiji Matsumoto drew a special illustrati...
Ink Wash Painter Portrays Rurouni Kenshin Fighters
Rurouni Kenshin artist Nobuhiro Watsuki could portray fluid sword battles with only ink and pencil. Now Watsuki's characters are being painted in a more traditional ink-based format: sumi-e, or ink wash painting, which emphasizes their power, grace and elegance with a particularly Japanese aesthetic. Kenshin The artist behind these works is Okazu, an Osaka-based painter who specializes in Warring...
Drink to Yoshikage, Dress Like Rohan With New JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Tea Set, Accessories
The JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable anime and high-end ceramics maker Noritake unveiled a Rohan Kishibe tea set in October, and now the partnership is adding to its lineup with a Yoshikage Kira set. Fans who want to channel their inner serial killers (!?) can purchase the set inspired by the anime series' antagonist. Bandai is offering the bone china cup and saucer set that featur...
Gintama is Most Anticipated Anime for Winter 2017
Vote for yours in ANN's poll!
― Next year will be an exciting one for Gintama fans because the both the live-action film of Hideaki Sorachi's manga and the latest television anime will premiere. The anime is celebrating its 10th anniversary, and the last season ended in March. The fifth season ranked #1 in Charapedia's poll asking fans which Winter 2017 anime they are anticipating the most. Here are ...
Anisong Fitness Gets Anime Fans Exercising to Their Favorite Songs
First song: "Cruel Angel's Thesis"
― Like many countries gearing up for the Olympic Games, Japan is trying to promote sports and fitness more actively. But what could get anime fans, with their sedentary habits and introverted tendencies, up and moving? King Records thinks it has the answer: anime songs! Anison Fitness, a venture by King Records along with web production company Kayac, combines catch...
Original Digimon Toys Get Remake for 20th Anniversary
The February issue of Shueisha's V Jump magazine is announcing on Saturday that Bandai will release the "Digital Monster Ver. 20th" keychain games as remakes of its Tamagotchi-like toys from the 90s. Bandai is releasing the toys to mark the 20th anniversary of the Digimon franchise next year. Like the originals (pictured above), the LCD toys will feature familiar Digimon characters in their class...
Girls & Panzer Ambassador/Pro Wrestler, Town Mascot Face Off in Promo Campaign
Official Girls und Panzer ambassador and pro wrestler Masahiro Chōno is confronting a new rival: the clam-nosed, sardine-haired mascot character Araippe. The wrestler with "black charisma" and character with "white charisma" are teaming up (facing off?) in a promotional campaign for "The Oceanfront Town" of Ōarai, Ibaraki. The town's official tourism information YouTube channel began streaming 15-...
NHK to Honor Anime's 100th Anniversary with "Top 100" Ranking
Separate poll for anime songs
― Despite the discovery of a three second-long animated clip from 1907, 1917 is generally acknowledged as the birth year of anime with the production of Ōten Shimokawa's now-lost Imokawa Mukuzō Genkanban no Maki ("Tale of the Doorman Mukuzō Imokawa"). To celebrate anime's upcoming centennial, NHK will present a TV program in 2017 listing the 100 best anime as determined ...
Pokémon Sun & Moon's Alola Form Marowak, Raichu, Meowth Get Plushies
Mimikyu & Bewear also go on sale
― The Pokémon Sun & Moon video games introduced their reimaginings of classic Pokémon (and Professors) with regional variants. Monsters like Meowth, Vulpix, Rattata, Cubone, and Raichu have all adapted to the tropical climate whether its learning to surf or just get really fat. Pokémon Centers in Japan are adding three of the Alola form Pokémon to its line-up of stuf...
Summon Fate/Grand Order Servants in Real Life With AR App
Type-Moon and FGO Project launched the free Fate/Grand Order AR app for iOS and Android devices on Wednesday. Users can visit certain areas of Japan to "summon" Servants through augmented-reality (AR) camera functionality. The new app is related to TYPE-MOON's smartphone role-playing game Fate/Grand Order and "FGO Winter Festival 2016-2017: da Vinci-chan Code" project. People who use the AR app ca...
Kirby Gets 25th Anniversary Orchestra Concert in Tokyo, Osaka
Everyone's favorite star-riding pink puffball is getting its time to shine with a full orchestrial concert dedicated to its 25th anniversary. The concert will showcase popular songs that have filled past Kirby's works, feature a retrospective talk about the character's history, and limited edition merchandise. Taizō Takemoto is conducting both performances. The Tokyo concert will take place at Bun...
Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony Gets PS4, PS Vita Console Variants in Japan
Sony announced on Wednesday that Spike Chunsoft's Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony (New Danganronpa V3: Minna no Koroshiai Shin Gakki) PlayStation 4 and Playstation Vita video game is inspiring corresponding console variants in Japan. The “New Danganronpa V3" limited edition PlayStation 4 model comes with a Jet Black body and a top cover featuring mascot Monokuma. It also comes with a custom theme...
Figure Build Close-up: Vegeta's Saiyan Space Pod
Figures are provided courtesy of Bluefin Distributors Who says the Dragon Ball Z universe doesn't have any cool mecha? The Saiyan Space Pod is a reminder that the show's characters rely on technology as well as magical strength. Thanks to Bluefin, I had a chance to build my own model of this uniquely Saiyan machine. At 6.3 inches tall, the finished model is an unmissable conversation piece. But f...
Kingdom Manga Celebrates 10th Anniversary With Real Escape Game, Drink, Figure
The third and fourth combined 2017 issue of Shueisha's Weekly Young Jump magazine unveiled on Thursday three more parts of a project to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Yasuhisa Hara's Kingdom manga. Shueisha already filmed a special live-action video to mark the anniversary earlier this year. The magazine announced that SCRAP will hold the "Aru Dai Senjō Kara no Dashutsu" (Escape from that Great...
Legend of Zelda Manga Offered on Free Comic Book Day 2017
Free Comic Book Day 2017 is almost six months away but next year's line-up is already planned with some manga series to keep an eye out for on May 6, 2017. The committee announced its Gold Sponsor Comic Books on Monday. Viz Media will offer Akira Himeakawa's The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time manga. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time manga is based o...
Yuki Yuna Is a Hero Anime Launches Project With Setting City in Kagawa
The official website for Yuki Yuna Is a Hero announced on Tuesday that the anime series is launching a collaborative project with the city of Kan'onji, Kagawa. The city served as the anime's setting. The first part of the project, "Sanshū Chūgaku Bunkasai in Kan'onji-shi" (Sanshū Junior High Culture Festival in Kan'onji), will be held on February 5 at 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. The anime's five main ...
Taste Final Fantasy XV Food With Stew Recipe, Café Menu (Updated)
Tastemade offers a video network of food and travel content, and its Japanese team expanded to exploring virtual gastronomic journeys with a Final Fantasy XV video posted on Saturday. Before teaching viewers how to create a "simmering hodgepodge stew" full of beef and vegetables, the cook demonstrates the most important step: removing one's stylish silver gloves. The video starts with Ignis Scient...
Anime Series Turning 10 in 2017 Are Guaranteed to Make You Feel Old
Anime series anniversaries can cause a sense of fandom whiplash. Suddenly your first show, the one you obsessed over and brought you into the fold, is 10, 15, 20, or 25 years old. This year brought the 50th anniversary of Ultraman, the 40th anniversary (and end) of Kochikame, the 30th anniversary of Dragon Ball, Saint Seiya, The Legend of Zelda, and Dragon Quest, the 20th anniversary of Pokemon, t...
Fan Throws Yuri!!! on Ice-Inspired Rice Ball Plush to Skater Medvedeva
Note: The bottom portion of this article contains SPOILERS for Yuri!!! on Ice episode 10 Russian figure skater Evgenia Medvedeva has made no secret of her love for Yuri!!! on Ice. The skater regularly posts images from the anime series on her Twitter feed. An appreciative and observant fan apparently noticed her affection for the series and decided to give Medvedeva a special gift. @kubo_3260 嬉しいで...
Manga Creators Celebrate One Piece's 20th Anniversary on Shonen Jump Cover
The second and third combined 2017 issue of Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine, which shipped on Monday, is celebrating the 20th anniversary of Eiichiro Oda's One Piece manga with a special cover. Manga creators drew their own characters as the main characters of Oda's iconic series. Artists including Haruichi Furudate (Haikyu!!), Yūki Tabata (Black Clover), Takamasa Moue (Ole Golazo), and Koy...
Love Guru Looks to Make Comiket Connections Safer with Free Condom Distribution
This year's winter Comic Market 91 is right around the corner where collectors, dōjin artists, and industry professionals will make a mass exodus to Tokyo Big Sight from December 29-31. Visitors bring out their wallets to take home all the goods of their self-proclaimed waifu, but others also use the event as the opportunity to make a love connection in the 3D world. The official Twitter account f...
Musical Duo ClariS' 1st Live Telephone Broadcast Gets 25,000 Viewers
The mysterious musical duo ClariS has never revealed their faces, even when performing live. Fans are so desperate for a hint of their true identities that 25,000 tuned in to a special Nico Nico live streaming broadcast when the pair came on via telephone on Saturday. The streaming event marked the musical unit's first live telephone appearance. Clara and Karen politely answered fan questions at t...
Aya Hirano 'Might' Become Idol After Taking Online Quiz
Everyone of a certain generation has taken more than a few Buzzfeed quizzes. Our Facebook feeds are full of friends' life-altering discoveries about what kind of breakfast sandwich or shōjo anime character the latest online quiz told them they are. Even celebrities dabble in the world of meaningless but entertaining personality quizzes. Voice actress, actress, and singer Aya Hirano shared her resu...
Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue Inspires PS4 Model in Japan
Sony Interactive Entertainment Japan Asia and Square Enix announced that Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue game will also get its own PlayStation 4 console variant in Japan. The “Kingdom Hearts 15th Anniversary Edition” PlayStation 4 model comes with a Jet Black body and an original Kingdom Hearts design top cover with the 15th anniversary logo. It also comes with a custom theme and ma...
BPO's Latest Viewer Complaint Criticizes Depictions of Anime Boy's Genitals
Complaints to Japan's Broadcasting Ethics and Program Improvement Organization (BPO) watchdog group regularly relate to anime, and messages the organization received in November were no exception. BPO reported that it received 1,557 complaints from television viewers in Japan last month, and it recently posted a summary of 21 of those viewer concerns. One comment said, "In a late-night anime progr...
Haikyu's Hinata Takes on Shin Godzilla
Can Hideaki Anno's take on TOHO's infamous monster be defeated by Karasuno's shrimpy decoy? Haikyuu! creator Haruichi Furudate pitted the aspiring volleyball player against Godzilla in a collaborative illustration in this week's double issue of Weekly Shonen Jump. In this version, Hinata isn't so small and is instead being "piloted" by the team's setter, Kageyama. Furudate has previously produced ...
Vegeta Meets Toshiba's Vegeta Refrigerator
Fans of Dragon Ball are familiar with its characters' naming patterns, many of main fighters are named after food and those that aren't have the joy of being christened as underwear. Villains also have themes: household appliances, instruments, and a magical phrase used in Disney's Cinderella. In an unexpected twist, Vegeta (vegetables) is fusing with Frieza into a literal refridgerator. Toshiba, ...
Arby's Name-Checks a One Piece Song, Last Guardian, More
The marketing team over on the official Arby's Twitter account is having a field day with pop culture references. An account dedicated to promoting roast beef sandwiches isn't where you'd expect ti find One Piece's Thousand Sunny ship, an intricately carved rendition of Trico from The Last Guardian, or the labyrinth from HBO's Westworld. The company tweeted an image of the Thousand Sunny sailing t...
Universal Studios Japan Reveals 1st Concept Image for 'Super Nintendo World' Attraction
Attraction in Japan to open 1st sometime before Tokyo Olympics in 2020
― Nintendo revealed on Monday the first conceptual rendering image and more details about its now-named "Super Nintendo World" theme park that it plans to open at the Universal Studios Japan park in Osaka before the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. The latest press release also reveals that the Japanese park will be the first one to open, ...
Yuri!!! on Ice Unveils Goods for Art Exhibit, Comiket
Original illustrations, charms, badges and more
― There is no shortage of Yuri!!! on Ice merchandise in the otaku marketplace these days. Fans can collect everything from tissue cases to body products to sweatshirts to Nendoroids. The hit anime series just unveiled more goods that will be available at two events this month. The Yuri!!! on Ice Exhibition is being held at Tokyo's pixiv Zingaro gallery...
Celebrate Christmas with Your Favorite Anime at AniSugar
Re:ZERO, Age 12, Fate/stay night and more
― The usual way for Japanese to celebrate Christmas is with a cake and a cute date. The bakery AniSugar, located in Hamamatsu, offers anime fans both of these with Christmas cakes featuring popular anime characters in sexy Santa outfits. 4,780 yen ($41.70) Re:ZERO - Starting Life in Another World is the most popular cake this year. AniSugar also sells other i...
Monster Strike The Movie Premieres with Limited-Time Only Prizes
Theaters packed, showings sold out
― Monster Strike The Movie, the theatrical adaptation of the popular smartphone game Monster Strike, premiered on December 10. Fittingly, moviegoers are treated to free prizes that can be used in the game. On opening weekend, moviegoers are given ten Oratama per day for use in the game; afterward, theaters will only give one per day. Moviegoers also get to play on A...
Shake Hands with KING OF PRISM Characters at Tokyo Karaoke Parlor
KING OF PRISM-themed karaoke sessions also available
― Advances in virtual reality (VR) technology have made it possible to shake the hands of anime characters. The karaoke parlor Karaoke no Tetsujin on Sunshine-dōri, Ikebukuro, which opened on December 9, will give visitors the opportunity to meet and shake hands with Kōji, Hiro, Kazuki and Shin from the anime KING OF PRISM by PrettyRhythm. Visitors...
Yo-kai Watch Characters Lose Their Smartphone App Popularity Poll to 3 Trillion Yen
The iOS and Android smartphone puzzle game Yōkai Watch Puni Puni opened a popularity poll on November 9 to commemorate the first anniversary of its launch. The game closed the poll and announced the results on Monday, but the promotional campaign may not have created as much cause for celebration as it had hoped. The poll pitted the app's Yōkai Watch characters against "other" objects, concepts, a...
Market Research Reports Idol Otaku Annual Expenses at US$700
Yano Research Institute released its 2016 otaku market report on December 7. The report published the results of an online survey about individuals' annual otaku expenses. According to the report, idol otaku spent 79,783 yen (about US$700) each in the past year, which was the highest yearly fandom expenses reported among the top 20 types of otaku. That number is down about 16% from the previous ye...
Evangelion's Anno Criticizes In This Corner of the World's Heroine
Nikkei Business Online published an interview with In This Corner of the World anime film director Sunao Katabuchi (Black Lagoon, Mai Mai Miracle) on Friday. At the end of the interview, which took place in Tokyo on November 30, Katabuchi mentions that he met Neon Genesis Evangelion creator Hideaki Anno the day before. Katabuchi asked Anno if he had seen In This Corner of the World, and Anno repli...
Hayao Miyazaki Calls AI CG Animation Presentation 'An Insult to Life Itself'
On November 13, Hayao Miyazaki starred in a special about his upcoming CG animation film Kemushi no Boro on NHK titled Owaranai Hito - Miyazaki Hayao (The Man Who Is Not Done: Hayao Miyazaki). The 50 minute documentary included a scene where Miyazaki and former Ghibli producer Toshio Suzuki attend a presentation by CGI team at Dwango Artificial Intelligence Laboratory. The presentation is led by D...
Pokémon Go Partners with Starbucks in U.S.
The official Pokémon website announced on Thursday that Starbucks will be a partner for the Pokémon Go smartphone app. About 7,800 U.S. Starbucks stores will become PokéStops and Gyms for a limited time beginning on Thursday. Starbucks will also offer a Pokémon Go Frappucino. The staff of the app previously revealed that Sprint will be the game's first partner in the United States, similar to the ...
Pole Dancers React to Ending Sequence of Yuri!!! on Ice Episode 10
Techniques identified, critiqued
― Yuri!!! on Ice has already won a crowd of admirers — including real figure skaters — for its fluid and well-informed depiction of ice skating. The ending credits sequence of Episode 10 show Yūri Katsuki and Christophe Giacometti pole dancing, which has earned a new round of appreciation from real pole dancers on Twitter. Rinko Nakamura reacted enthusiastic...
South Park's Ike Watches Naruto on Crunchyroll, Googles Yuri!!! on Ice
The American adult animated series South Park has been referencing Japanese culture and anime for years. The television show parodied the theme song from Studio Ghibli's My Neighbor Totoro in 2010, Kenny transformed into a Japanese princess in 2013, and the series featured a yaoi episode last year. The long-running show's latest anime reference involves the character Ike Broflovski. In the latest ...
Mr. Osomatsu, your name, Yūichi Nakamura Win Yahoo! Japan's 2016 Search Awards
Other winners include Dean Fujioka, Keyakizaka 46, Pikotarō
― Every year, Yahoo! Japan honors the subjects or people who have racked up the most searches on its search engine (or who have shown the sharpest climb in searches since the previous year) with the Yahoo! Japan Search Awards. In the anime category, Mr. Osomatsu triumphed, despite technically premiering last year. Another anime also topped t...
Experience Porno Graffitti Concert via PlayStation VR This Week
Sony Music Entertainment is partnering with Little Star Media to offer J-rock fans a chance to experience a concert through PlayStation VR this week. The virtual reality (VR) platform Littlstar Japan's PlayStation VR app is offering a Porno Graffitti concert from December 7 to December 14. The app's users can experience a 360-degree panoramic video of the rock band's concert. The Littlstar VR Cine...
Saint Seiya Get Limited Edition 30th Anniversary Golden Watch
Licensed product company Imperial Enterprises is accepting pre-orders for a limited edition watch commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Saint Seiya series. The watch shows the silhouette of Sagittarius glistening on the face and 12 other Zodiac-inspired warriors engraved in the band links. Each is sold in a commemorative box with a picture of the palace on the front. Only 3,000 of the watches...
Kamen Rider Ryuki Actor Satoshi Matsuda Helps Capture Criminal
Man attempted to take upskirt photos of Matsuda's wife
― Actor Satoshi Matsuda helped assist the capture of a man who had allegedly been attempting to secretly take upskirt photos of Matsuda's wife. According to Kyoto Prefectural Police's Uji station, Matsuda and his wife were shopping at a store in the town of Kumiyama on Wednesday when the man allegedly made his attempt. The 35-year-old man reporte...
Young Animators NPO Launches Crowdfunding Campaign
AEYAC (pronounced "ay-yack"), a non-profit organization (NPO) dedicated to supporting young anime creators, launched a crowdfunding campaign on December 1. The campaign is collecting donations on the JapanGiving fundraising website until December 31. The organization began streaming a video about the crowd-funding campaign on November 29. The campaign is seeking to collect at least 3,000 yen (abou...
To Love-Ru -Trouble- Darkness Announces Manga's Nipple Count
The To Love-Ru franchise's female characters are known for exposing their "assets" on the page or on the screen. A true test to determine obsessed fans would involve detailed knowledge of every characters' risqué depictions. The publisher of Saki Hasemi and Kentaro Yabuki's To Love-Ru -Trouble- Darkness manga decided to conduct such a test. Shueisha's Jump Square magazine recently held a Supreme Q...
Minamata City's Anime-Style 'First Love' Podcast Launches 2nd Volume
The city of Minamata, Kumamoto began streaming a new podcast for its "Hatsukoi Project 2016" campaign on November 25. "Minamata Hatsukoi Podcast Toki no Kakehashi" (Minamata First Love Podcast: Suspension Bridge of Time) is the second volume of Minamata's promotional campaign that launched in February. The new podcast volume is a two-part bittersweet "adult love story," and the first part will be ...
Yui no Shinobi Ninja Riceball Guys Get Manga
The upcoming card-based smartphone game Yui no Shinobi reimagines popular rice ball flavors as attractive ninja fighting to reclaim their land and serve their lord. Visualworks has revealed more than 12 characters and sub-characters so far, and is now adding a prologue manga to its promotion plans. The manga launched on Tuesday with the first two pages and will continue to update on the website ev...
Japan's Moomin Theme Park Opening Pushed Back to 2019
The Moomin theme park in Japan, originally scheduled to open next year, is pushed back to 2019. Titled "Metsä," the theme park will open in spring 2019 at Lake Miyazawa, which is located in a relatively undeveloped corner of Hannō, in Saitama Prefecture northwest of Tokyo. It will be divided into two zones: a free "Metsä Village" with nature activities and lakefront restaurants and shops, and a "M...
Charmander Joins Build-A-Bear's Online Exclusive Line-Up
Build-A-Bear is continuing its line-up of Pokémon pals to dress-up and take home. The company announced that original starter Charmander is now available as an online-exclusive option. The stuffed fiery friend is US$61.00 and includes recorded Charmander sounds, a Great Ball hoodie, Lucario hoodie, and a Build-A-Bear Workshop exclusive Pokémon TCG card. Charmander joins previously released Pikach...
Shueisha Offers 'Jump VR' Mook About VR Tech
Mook also contains instructional manga, columns, 22-year-old Kochikame chapter featuring VR
― Shueisha will offer a new mook (magazine-style book) on December 16 titled "Jump VR." The mook will focus on VR technology and head-mounted displays such as the PlayStation VR, HTC Viva, and Oculus Rift/Touch, and will feature over 40 titles that use the technology. It will also feature instructional manga a...
Gainax Animation Studio Operating Out of 45-Year-Old Condo
Gainax, the studio behind Neon Genesis Evangelion, Gunbuster, Nadia - The Secret of Blue Water, and Kare Kano, has downsized not only in animation output but also in office space. The company relocated to the "Hattori Building" in Musashino, Tokyo around October. Unlike its previous office space in Mitaka, Tokyo, the new location is actually a 45-year-old housing complex. According to a private cr...
Konami Puts a Cap on Castlevania Unreal Engine Fan Remake
2016 has not been a good year for fan games. YouTuber and developer Dejawolfs is the latest to receive a cease and desist from a video game company, in this case it was Konami putting an end to their Unreal Engine remake of Castlevania. Dejawolfs had put in over a year into the game before receiving the letter last month and completed the first level back in April. The project was aptly titled Cas...
Support Kumamoto Earthquake Relief with One Piece Merchandise
Donations accepted as "hometown taxes"
― Over seven months after the earthquakes that devastated Kumamoto Prefecture in Kyushu this year, the area is still rebuilding. As Eiichiro Oda, the creator of One Piece, is from there, he is pitching in to help with a campaign using One Piece artwork. The campaign, which also includes One Piece-themed trains and stamp scavenger hunts, involves donating money ...
Pokémon Bring Wedded Bliss for One Couple
Two big Pokéfans tied the knot on Saturday with enough Pokémon memorabilia to make any collector smile. One attendee shared images for the bride and groom's centerpieces and themed artwork on Twitter, and the photos have since been retweeted over 48,000 times and liked 64,000 times. Small terrariums with Pokémon in their natural habitats were at the tables. Guests were greeted by pixel artwork of ...
Cup Noodles Continues Its Final Fantasy XV In-Game Campaign in Weird Ad
In September, Square Enix revealed that Nissin Cup Noodles would appear in Final Fantasy XV, going so far as adding a noodle-themed side quest. Fans were somewhat incredulous as to the results. Nothing says Final Fantasy like a Cup of Noodle billboard next to a trailer in the desert. pic.twitter.com/m5Hdszbl9E— NickMeteorain (@NickMeteorain) November 30, 2016 Final Fantasy XV real for having that ...
Celebrate New Cardcaptor Sakura Manga with Wand, Cards, Clow Book and More
The Cardcaptor Sakura manga, which debuted 20 years ago, is returning to store shelves with a new story arc, the Clear Card arc. To celebrate the occasion, toymaker Takara Tomy is unveiling a bevy of Cardcaptor Sakura goods to rekindle those childhood memories and hopefully attract some new fans. Sakura's iconic Sealing Wand has been recreated 52 cm (20 inches) long. It comes with five Sakura Card...
First "Superhuman Sports Games" Held in Tokyo
Blast energy from your hands with the power of virtual reality
― The Superhuman Sports Society has been developing sports that use machinery and advanced technology to transcend the physical limitations of the human body and go in new directions in sports. Their efforts were on display on November 23 at the first Superhuman Sports Games, held in Tokyo Tower Media Studio. The first sport we see in the...
Themed Sake Warms Up Inuyasha, Kinnikuman Fans This Winter
Anime-themed sake lets fans drink in their favorite shows, including Moyashimon, AnoHana, Urusei Yatsura, and Lucky Star. This winter, thirsty otaku will be able to get a taste of two manga and anime: Inuyasha and Kinnikuman. Niigata Prefecture's Fujinoi sake brewing company has already offered Urusei Yatsura, Maison Ikkoku, and Ranma 1/2 sake inspired by Niigata native Rumiko Takahashi's manga. ...
One Piece Film Gold's Limited Edition Includes Real Treasure Chest
The official website for One Piece Film Gold announced details of the anime's home video releases on Thursday. For the ultimate unpirated home-video experience of this year's box-office hit, fans can purchase the anime film and hide it with the rest of their booty in an exclusive treasure chest. The One Piece Film Gold Blu-ray Golden Limited Edition box set includes a special treasure chest with ...
CNN Article Spotlights Japanese Dating Sims for Women
With the recent success of games like Tōken Ranbu and Idolish 7, the female market is increasingly in the Japanese pop cultural spotlight. CNN, too, has recently written an article surveying the rise in popularity of reverse harem games and putting them in the context of Japan's sagging birth rates and a society-wide aversion to sexual intercourse. Gangsters in Love The article profiles women like...
Twelve More Ninja Rice Balls Revealed
Salmon, tuna, Spam, and more
― The upcoming card-based smartphone game Yui no Shinobi reimagines popular rice ball flavors as ninja fighting to reclaim their land and serve their lord. While four character designs had been revealed earlier in November, twelve more have been unveiled since then, creating quite the cast of tasty young men. Masunosuke Sakenobe represents salmon and is described as an ov...
Grave of the Fireflies Tops Poll of Anime's Most Miserable Endings
The Goo Ranking website asked readers which anime has the most "miserable bad ending" for its characters. The site conducted the poll from November 14 to November 16 and published the results on Friday. The #1 anime on the list comes as no surprise to most classic anime fans. Grave of the Fireflies follows 14-year-old Seita and his four-year-old sister Setsuko in the final days of World War II in ...
Sword Art Online Heroines Sparkle for Mobile Game Christmas Event
The girls of Sword Art Online are getting into the holiday spirit for a limited time event in the Sword Art Online: Code Register mobile game. Each of the female characters will appear in the special outfit until December 25. The outfits range from Santa-inspired to a glittering snow bride. Asuna Yuki Sinon Suguha Annette Players can participate in the event for a chance to get a six star Annette ...
Resident Evil Classifieds: Security Zombies Wanted for Live-Action Film Premiere
If those part-time retail and fast-food gigs aren't enough to make ends meet, becoming a zombie could be the answer. The part-time job news service An has a listing seeking security guard zombies for the world premiere of Resident Evil: The Final Chapter. The listing is searching for two zombies to act as security at the live-action film's world premiere red carpet event at Tokyo's Roppongi Hills ...
Saki Setting to Hold Summit for Anime Holy Sites
Ryoko Shiraishi to hold discussion
― The Lucky Star shrine in Washimiya, the Girls und Panzer bastion of Ōarai, and now the your name setting of Hida: these are just a few of the more well-known anime "holy sites" that dot Japan. When an anime is set in a certain locale, or even if background scenery strongly resembles a certain locale, that anime's fans will flock to the area to see the sights for t...
Become a Mascot-Loving Ikemen With Sanrio Boys Cosplay
The retail chain Animate's cosplay shop ACOS unveiled Sanrio Danshi (Sanrio Boys) cosplay school uniforms on Thursday. The outfits transform Sanrio fans into mascot-loving ikemen characters from the multimedia project. The Hijirikawa High School uniforms include a jacket with embroidered patch, pants, and a neck tie. People who want to create accurate cosplay will have to supply their own white s...
The Sailor Guardians Know a Good Car When They See One in Latest Ford Commercial
Last month, Usagi and Luna longed for a 2017 Ford Fusion in the company's latest Overdub advertisement. In the company's latest commercial, she's convinced the other Sailor Guardians of the vehicle's many perks especially its parking assistance feature. The cast of Viz's new dub for the original series return to reprise their roles, too. Ford has previously created Overdub YouTube ads with David H...
Race to Make Your Own Sonic Plush at Build-A-Bear
Build-A-Bear Workshop announced on Thursday that it is partnering with Sega to offer Sonic the Hedgehog plush. This year marks Sonic's 25th anniversary, and this is the first time Build-A-Bear has collaborated with Sega. A limited-edition bundle available online for US$35 includes an exclusive Gold Ring and 4-inch by 6-inch print. The Sonic Team designed the print in Japan for Build-A-Bear. The o...
Girls und Panzer Collaborates on 6th Ibaraki Blood Drive
Girls und Panzer is again teaming up with the Ibaraki Prefecture Red Cross Blood Center to promote a blood drive. The anime's characters Miho, Saori, Hana, Yukari, and Mako appear as nurses on promotional posters in blood donation rooms. The collaboration is running from December 1 to January 31. People who donate 400 milliliters of blood in Ibaraki Prefecture during that period will receive one ...
Yuri!!! On Ice's Makkachin Tissue Case Heads to Real-Life Rinks
The official Twitter account for the Yuri!!! On Ice television anime announced on Sunday that Victor's dog-shaped tissue case is heading to the real world. In the anime, figure skater Victor appears rink-side with a brown tissue box case inspired by his own poodle named Makkachin. The real Makkachin tissue cases will be made of fluffy "poodle boa" fabric and retail for 3,400 yen (about US$30). Av...
Power Ranger Film's Rita Repulsa Hijacks Official Twitter Account
The new Power Rangers film stars Elizabeth Banks as classic villain Rita Repulsa, albeit heavily modernized and sans giant hair horns. Instead, the character shows an strange affinity for weird products like coyote urine hunting spray. At least, that's what she was promoting when the character took over the official Power Rangers Twitter account for Cyber Monday. 65 million years later and I'm sti...
Life-Size Statue of Oreimo's Ayase Previewed in 1/2-scale Prototype
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 series' star Kirino was passed over in favor of her best friend Ayase with 40% of the vote. A 3-D model of the statue's proposed pose was shown...
56-Year-Old JoJo Creator Araki Wins Best Dresser Award
The Men's Fashion Unity association held the 45th Best Dresser Awards in Tokyo on November 30. The JoJo's Bizarre Adventure manga's fashionable creator Hirohiko Araki received the Best Dresser Award for the academic and cultural category at the event. Entertainment news website MAiDiGiTV began streaming videos from Araki's appearance at the event on Wednesday. After Araki receives his award in the...
Fairy Tail's Hiro Mashima Already Beat FFXV
Square Enix's Final Fantasy XV role-playing game dropped in Japan on Tuesday, prompting excited fans to download and marathon through the game as soon as possible. Fairy Tail manga creator Hiro Mashima was no exception. He wrote on Twitter that he was counting down the hours until the game was available. He also mentioned the benefit of being self-employed, in this case. FF15まであと4時間!明日は休むと自分で決められる...
Jiro Taniguchi Explores Venice in Louis Vuitton Travel Book
In 2014, manga creator Jiro Taniguchi continued his relationship with France when he was hired by luxury brand Louis Vuitton to pen one of its travel books. The company has published a number of high-end travel guides for destinations like London and New York, but Taniguchi's book exploring Venice is unique for being entirely illustrated. Until recently, the volume was only available in Louis Vuit...
For all articles, see the archives