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Character Desinger Mel Kishida 'Ran Out of Ideas' After Working on 3 Atelier Games
Game developer Gust held the "Atelier Series 20th Anniversary Presentation" event in Tokyo on Wednesday to honor its Atelier video game series. Atelier Rorona: The Alchemist of Arland, Atelier Totori: The Adventurer of Arland, and Atelier Meruru: The Apprentice of Arland character designer Mel Kishida reflected on his work for the series at the event. Kishida said he "was nervous at first" when he...
'Miracle Robot Force' Project Launches Crowdfunding Campaign for Theme Song, Anime Music Video
The "Miracle Robot Force" project announced on Thursday that it will launch a Campfire crowdfunding campaign to produce a theme song and anime music video. The project is producing the theme song in cooperation with Nippon Columbia. Nippon Animation began streaming a promotional video for the crowdfunding campaign on Thursday. The website also features "image art" from the anime staff. The crowdfu...
Henkei Shōjo's 2nd Transforming Girl Will Give Utena a Run for Her Money
Last month, DLE revealed its Henkei Shōjo project of transforming girls. Characters Haru and this week's Rin aren't the garden variety magical girls. No, Haru and Rin transform into vehicles. Haru stunned a girl in a white dress when she became a jet plane to retrieve her hat. The poor girl is shocked again when Rin runs up to a gas station and starts guzzling gasoline. It only gets weirder from t...
Voices of Eren, Conny Try Video App's Attack on Titan Stamps
Attack on Titan voice actors Yuuki Kaji (Eren Jaeger) and Hiro Shimono (Conny Springer) recently had some fun testing out video communication app SNOW's new stamps. The pair demonstrated the Attack on Titan stamps during a Line Live special program on Wednedsay, and the anime's official Twitter account posted some videos of their experiments. 【「SNOW」コラボスタンプ①】昨夜のLINE LIVE特番の番組中に撮影した動画をアップ!最初は、口を開ける...
Bahamut Disco Takes Over Shibuya With Burlesque Techno Concert
Final Fantasy summon Bahamut is giving up attacking foes in favor of a disco party at the Huis Ten Bosch theme park in Sasebo, Nagasaki on July 1 followed by its grand opening on July 15. But before he settles in, Square Enix is going to throw a disco party for the dragon and Shibuya on June 16 and 17. The disco party is a virtual reality experience that takes place in a "450-degree" video space, ...
Maho Girls Precure! Villain Gets Official Hugging Pillow
Toei Animation is reaching out to its older female fans for some up and coming merchandise. Namely, a hug pillow cover featuring the Maho Girls Precure! villain Orba. The studious retainer for Deusmast is depicted relaxing on one side of the pillow cover and shown topless in his final form on the other side of the pillow. If the item itself wasn't a hint, the 8,000 yen (US$73) price point will ke...
Unravel a Layton Mystery & Discover a Secret Cafe Location in L.A.
Level-5 is promoting the English release of Layton's Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires' Conspiracy (Layton Mystery Journey: Katriel to Daifugō no Inbō) Nintendo 3DS game with an interactive mystery during this year's E3 Conference. Los Angeles residents can uncover hidden clues to discover the location of a secret Professor Layton cafe open on June 14 only. The mystery is currently a...
Universal Studios Japan's 'Super Nintendo World' Breaks Ground
Universal Studios Japan broke ground for its anticipated "Super Nintendo World" theme park addition on Thursday in Osaka. Fans came out to see Mario, Universal Studios Japan CEO Jean-Louis Bonnier, Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto, and Universal Creative president Mark Woodberry run, jump, and crush some Goombas on a special scrolling stage. The planned park in Japan will include rides, interactive are...
Attack on Titan Creator Laments His Poor Drawing Skills at Signing Event
Attack on Titan manga creator Hajime Isayama held a signing event at the Animate store in Utsunomiya, Tochigi around September 2, 2013. For the two-part event, he apparently signed about 100 autographs, talked to fans, and accepted gifts. Isayama's remarks about the event on his blog began recirculating online again this week. Isayama offered super-deformed character illustrations with his signatu...
NHK Program Discusses Anime Industry's Financial, Working-Condition Problems
Although many people in Japan see work in the anime industry as a dream job, those lucky enough to find employment in the field face disillusionment. The anime market is now a 2 trillion-yen (about US$18.2 billion) business, but animators and companies involved in making anime often see poor returns. Work in Japan's anime industry has become known as a kind of "black labor" due to low wages and ve...
Can Oculus Founder Palmer Luckey Bring Us More Re:Zero?
Oculus founder Palmer Luckey might be followed by controversy and questionable cosplay choices, but the man knows a good waifu when he sees one. Luckey, a man estimated to be worth US$700 million in 2015, directly asked Re:ZERO light novel author Tappei Nagatsuki who has to give money to in order to produce a Re:ZERO Rem IF film. Who am I supposed to talk to about funding an anime adaptation of th...
Skirt no Naka wa Kedamono Deshita Throws Cross-Dressing Contest
Fans prep for dual showing of risque anime that allows traditional monk drumming
― Next season's Skirt no Naka wa Kedamono Deshita tells the story of quiet college girl Shizuka who finds herself romantically entangled with Ryō Kirishima, an attractive cross-dresser. The staff are putting together a contest offering 50,000 yen cash (US$456) and the chance to appear in an episode end card for the most ...
Mr. Osomatsu Unveils Sugarmatsu, Chickenmatsu, More Collaborations
In addition to revealing a new visual and the October premiere date for the new season of the Mr. Osomatsu anime, staff released a slew of collaboration and event announcements for the franchise on Tuesday. Character and anime merchandise maker Ensky is offering sugar figures of the Matsuno brothers for use on Christmas cakes and other confections. The full list of ingredients is as follows: sugar...
Tokimeki Tonight's Ranze & Shun Smooch on Wedding Application Form
Where can a half-vampire, half-werewolf girl find love? Koi Ikeno's long-running supernatural romantic comedy manga Tokimeki Tonight starred one such girl and her potential beau Shun Makabe. Ikeno has revisited the series multiple times with one-shots, retellings, and prequels to recapture Ranze and Shūn's romance. Fans of the series can now immortalize their own love with an official Tokimeki Ton...
Ayane Sakura Will Answer Your Appliance Questions as FAQ-Bot
Panasonic is introducing a new AI character to help users figuring out their new-fangled electric appliances. The animated, talking FAQ-Bot Yui was created in conjunction with BEDORE, Animate Lab, and NAZ Animation STUDIO and is voiced by Ayane Sakura, the voice actress behind My Hero Academia's Ochaco Uraraka. FAQ-Bot Yui is part of Panasonic's official "CLUB Panasonic" membership site and apps. ...
Retro Gamer to the Rescue After Mana Collection Released With No Manuals
Square Enix's Seiken Densetsu (Mana) role-playing game series has entertained gamers for over 25 years. North America, too, has fans of the action role-playing game series. While we haven't gotten the opportunity to play every entry, Secret of Mana and it sequels have sent players to battle Rabites and collect Elemental Spirits year after year. Veteran players are accustomed to the series' Ring Co...
Skin Clinic Accidentally Adopts Resident Evil's Umbrella Corp. Logo
In one of the most unfortunate cases of logo design, the Medcare Skin Centre in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam found itself attraction attention across the Internet, and not for the clinic's promise of patient satisfaction. The clinic's logo is very familiar to anyone who picked up a copy of the Resident Evil (Biohazard) video game series in the last 20 years or sat down to watch one of the live-action...
Umaibō Corn Snack's Moe Character Gets Life-Size Statue
Yaokin's line of Umaibō puffed corn snacks have crossed over with anime including Sword Art Online, Madoka Magica, Attack on Titan, and Kan Colle. Now the snack's official character Umami-chan is getting a chance to stand on her own without the backing of an anime franchise. A life-size statue of the character debuted in the Loft store in Abeno, Osaka on Saturday. The figure is 153 centimeters (ab...
Anime Heidi's Grandpa Takes a Swing at Coaching in Prince of Tennis Manga
The latest chapter of Takeshi Konomi's The New Prince of Tennis manga debuted in the July issue of Shueisha's Jump SQ. magazine on Sunday. Fans were quick to notice that the Swiss team's coach who appears in the chapter looks familiar. Twitter user @suicakaede posted images from the character's introduction. "Jin Onojiiha" looks nearly identical to the character Alm-Öhi (Onji) from Isao Takahata's...
Attack on Photo: Become a Titan With New App Stamps
In the second season of the Attack on Titan television anime, which premiered on April 1, Eren transforms into a Titan to continue the battle for human survival. Fans can now picture themselves as Titans with the help of the video communication app SNOW. The app is collaborating with the anime to offer themed stamps to use with photos taken on the app. The first three stamps of the collaboration d...
Fans Declare 2017's Favorite Tales of Characters
Every year, the Tales of video game franchise asks its players to vote on their favorite characters, mascots, and villains. The results were announced on Sunday. Tales of Zestiria's Mikleo, the protagonist's childhood friend, took first place. Tales of Characters Popularity Poll 2017 Mikleo (Tales of Zestiria) Ludger Will Kresnik (Tales of Xillia 2) Luke fon Fabre (Tales of the Abyss) Asbel Lhant ...
Jōtaro Battles DIO in USJ's JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Attraction Ad
Osaka's Universal Studios Japan (USJ) amusement park began streaming a promotional video for its upcoming "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: The Real 4-D: DIO's World" attraction on Sunday. The 15-second video previews the battle between the Stands of Jōtaro and DIO. Jōtaro's Stand Star Platinum and DIO's Stand The World will fight in a 4D attraction inspired by JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusader...
Cowboy Bebop's Spike Appears in Sally Forth Newspaper Comic
Hilary Forth is hardly the first preteen to dream about Cowboy Bebop's smooth protagonist Spike Spiegel. That's exactly what happened in the latest Sally Forth comic strip by Francesco Marciulano and Jim Keefe. Hilary is in the midst of an anxiety-ridden dream where she's likely to fail her English test since it's about advanced mathematics and she left her historical headgear at home. She wakes u...
Recreate Evangelion's Gruesome Scenes With Revoltech Figure's Bonus Parts
Kaiyodo's Revoltech Evangelion Evolution series of figures is adding Rebuild of Evangelion Unit-01 and Unit-03 figures. The figures will let fans recreate scenes from the anime in gruesome detail. The new Evangelion Unit-01 figure's bonus parts include the remains of the Fourth Angel (Shamshel). The Angel's core features an LED light. The figure can recreate the scene where Unit-01 rips off the A...
DIY Video Series Shows How to Make Your Own Yu-Gi-Oh! Millennium Puzzle
The web series "DIY Prop Shop" took on Yūgi Mutō's Millennium Puzzle in its latest video. While the version doesn't contain the memories of a deceased Egyptian pharaoh, it does make a stunning display piece or cosplay prop. Host Vinny Logozio breaks down how to make the item using cardboard, foam, and a little bit of free-handing to make the item really pop. The DIY Prop Shop series has more video...
Sailor Moon, My Melody Collaboration Goods Include Cases, Bath Salts, Plush
The official website for Sailor Moon announced on Sunday that the franchise is collaborating with Sanrio's My Melody character for a new Atarikuji prize lottery. The lottery will offer 70 items at each location, and each prize ticket will cost 700 yen (about US$6). The prizes are a vanity case, lap blanket, multi case, mug, five varieties of bath salts, six varieties of mirrors, six varieties of ...
Inio Asano's Dead Dead Demon's Dededededestruction Gets 'Vignette' Figure
Inio Asano's Dead Dead Demon's Dededededestruction manga might be on hiatus again, but fans can get ready for its return this fall with a brand-new figure. Good Smile Company is releasing a "vignette" figure in December and pre-orders are currently open for 18,333 yen (US$166). Characters Kadode Koyama, Ouran Nakagawa, and the in-series manga character Isobeyan are shown precariously balancing on...
Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend Offers Megumi Hug Pillow Cover, CD Set
The Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend Megumi Box with hug pillow cover went on sale for preorder on Friday. The set is the third installment of the series' heroine box project from Kadokawa's Fujimi Shobo brand. The set includes a Megumi hug pillow cover with art by the original light novels' illustrator Kurehito Misaki. Novel author Fumiaki Maruto provided the scenario for the bundled "s...
Idol Time PriPara's Food-Loving Yui Becomes Rice Ambassador
Voice actress Kana Hanazawa appeared as a real-world poster girl for Zen-Noh, Japan's National Federation of Agricultural Co-operative Associations, in 2014. Now Zen-Noh is working with a 2D PR representative. The federation announced at Tokyo Toy Show on Friday that Idol Time PriPara anime protagonist Yui Yumekawa is its new "Rice Support Ambassador." In the anime, Yui is a sixth grader with a pe...
Japan Toy Awards 2017 Honor Bandai Namco Toys
The Japan Toy Association announced the winners of this year's Japan Toy Awards on Wednesday. Bandai Namco Group products received several awards. Bandai's Formania EX v Gundam received the grand prize in the High Target Toy category. Formania EX is Bandai's display model series that emphasizes design and detail. The 18-centimeter (about 7-inch) action figure for adults features multi-textured col...
Dragon Quest's Metal Slime Gets Sleek Laptop
If a unique Slime PlayStation 4 controller and New Nintendo 2DS XL console isn't enough for your Dragon Quest tech fix, Tsukumo will release a Metal Slime laptop. The Metal Slime notebook is based on Acer's Aspire V13 V3-372-H58G laptop . It includes Windows 10 Home Edition, an Core i5-6267U CPU, an 8GB memory, a 1TB HD drive, and a 13.3 LCD screen. The computer has a seven hour battery life. Spe...
Yuri!!! on Ice's New Scale Figures Adds Yuri Plisetsky
Chara-Ani's Toy's works brand revealed the design for its third addition to its Yuri!!! on Ice scale figures on Tuesday. The Yuri Plisetsky figure shows the young skater is his Agape costume and is slated to go on sale around winter 2017. 【新商品情報】トイズワークス企画進行中「ユーリ!!!on ICE」スケールフィギュアシリーズ第三弾、ユーリ・プリセツキー 公式描き下ろしイラスト初公開!2017年冬頃発売予定 #yurionicehttps://t.co/4MeFg2cA1g pic.twitter.com/6Qz6BV0YfO— トイズワークス (@...
New Sailor Moon Merch Includes Room Fragrance, Compacts, Brushes, Wand
The Sailor Moon franchise recently unveiled its latest wave of merchandise. The releases are part of a project to celebrate the franchise's 25th anniversary. Premium Bandai is offering the Stallion Rêve Room Fragrance inspired by the item Chibiusa uses to communicate with Pegasus in Sailor Moon SuperS. This is the second room fragrance inspired by the anime-only item. Inside the dome, a miniature...
Hakujuji Bandages Launch 3rd Gintama Collaboration With Video
Japanese medical supplies manufacturer Hakujuji announced its third collaboration with the Gintama anime on Friday. The promotional campaign is streaming the first new animated short titled "'M' to 'M'" ("M" and "M"). In the video, the Yorozuya members introduce the campaign and read a letter from a Hakujuji public relations representative. The characters discuss what the meaning of "M" in this "K...
Golden Boy's Tatsuya Egawa Claims GTO Plagiarizes His Debut Manga
Manga creator Tatsuya Egawa (Golden Boy, Tokyo University Story) appeared on the Otona no Yoru no Wide Show Barairo Dandy (Adult Night Wide Show Rose-Colored Dandy) talk and variety show on Wednesday. During the episode, Egawa claimed that Tohru Fujisawa plagiarized his debut manga in the GTO manga. Egawa said that Fujisawa was once his disciple at a weekly magazine. He laughed as he recalled that...
Astro Boy Gets Limited Reprint for Tezuka's 90th Birthday
One manga's greatest visionaries' most iconic creations is getting a limited edition reprint to celebrate his 90th birthday. Osamu Tezuka's early Astro Boy (Tetsuwan Atom) manga chapters will be released in a three compiled volume set limited to only 777 copies with serial numbers. This 90th birthday edition collects chapters serialized from 1951 to 1956 in Shōnen magazine. This is a second reprin...
Jun Fukuyama's Passionate Dance Instructor Promotes KFC's 'Chizza'
Jun Fukuyama's (Black Butler, Assassination Classroom) appeared in his first Kentucky Moshimo Gekijō (Kentucky What If Theater) "mini drama" series of live-action shorts on Thursday. Perhaps more eyecatching than Fukuyama's turn as a passionate dance instructor is the particular KFC food item the character promotes in the short. After briefly interacting with the viewer, the "Jonetsu na Shakō Danc...
Irregular at Magic High School Follows Up Bean Collab with Pickles, Nippers
The irregular at magic high school film, titled Gekijōban Mahōka Kōkō no Rettōsei: Hoshi o Yobu Shōjo, has added two more head-scratching collaborations to its promotional campaign. The anime is offering pickles from Kyoto pickle company Daiyasu and nippers from tool maker GodHand. Traditional shibazuke pickles combine eggplant and cucumbers with red shiso leaves in a salty and sour concoction. Th...
Phantom Thief Jeanne Creator Tanemura Celebrates 20 Years with Art Exhibition
It's hard to believe, but 20 years ago popular manga creator Arina Tanemura made her debut with the one shot "Niban-me no Koi no Katachi" and quickly rose to recognition with her single volume work I.O.N. Since 1997, she produced hit after hit like Phantom Thief Jeanne, Time Stranger Kyoko, Full Moon O Sagashite and most recently Akuma ni Chic×Hack. To celebrate her career milestone, an exhibition...
Re:Zero's Rem Is Ready for Matrimony in Kai-Ri-Sei Million Arthur Game
Square Enix's Kai-Ri-Sei Million Arthur mobile game is adding Re:Zero's (arguably) best girl as a knight and a 3D boss. Rem is joining the game in a special collaboration until June 15 and her knight design is absolutely matrimonial. The game's Rem bride artwork is a new take on the concept after official artwork at Comiket 91 opted for a skimpy, bikini dress. The boss version of Rem is equipped w...
Kirito Ditches Virtual Reality for an Old School Game
Kirito and crew are often on the cutting edge of future technology, exploring new worlds in completely immersive virtual and augmented reality games. These adventures have their fair share of risks ranging from not being able to log out to being shot by a guy who will kill you in real life. It's easy to understand why Kirito might turn in his headset for some old-fashioned kendama fun. The ASCII ...
Kouichi Yamadera's 'Date' Picture Leads Voice Actor Twitter Trend
Multi-talented voice actor Kouichi Yamadera, also known as "the man with the seven-colored voice," is currently trending on Twitter. He got a huge response after tweeting the following on Wednesday. 彼氏とデートなう。に使っていいよ。 pic.twitter.com/cEvJBDszRS— 山寺宏一 (@yamachanoha) May 31, 2017 In the tweet, Yamadera says of the picture of himself, "You can use this as 'On a date with my boyfriend.'" The tweet appa...
Archie Comic's Metroid Comic That Never Was
Artist Steven Butler recently shared his commissioned artwork for an American Metroid comic once considered by Archie Comics. The project was floated about six years ago, but ultimately Archie went with a Mega Man adaptation instead. Butler's detailed sketches show both Zero Suit Samus and various takes of her in her Power Suit. He even included highly-detailed version of the boss Ridley. Nintendo...
Celebrate the Worlds of NisiOisin at Upcoming Exhibition in Tokyo
Novelist NisiOisin is best known to Western readers as the author of the Monogatari series but his creations extend beyond Koyomi Araragi's supernatural encounters. He also provided the stories for Medaka Box, the Okitegami Kyōko no Bibōroku series, Imperfect Shojo, Kubikiri Cycle, and the upcoming Jūni Taisen anime series. These worlds sometimes crossover and now fans can take a walk through them...
Wakako-zake Promotes Tasty Bar Snacks for 3rd Year
Wakako, the protagonist of Wakako-zake, is continuing her endorsement of Iwatsuka Confectionary's line of bar snacks "for adults." The campaign kicked off in 2015 with Ebi Kari, a deep-fried rice cracker stick flavored with shrimp and curry (garam masala, to be more specific), Ebi Kuro Koshō, a similar cracker that uses black pepper and ultra-pink sakura shrimp, and Shio Wasabi (salt and wasabi) ...
Nintendo Celebrates Dairy Farmers on 'Milk Day' with 1-2-Switch Mini-Game
Nintendo is celebrating Japan's hardworking dairy farmers on June 1, otherwise known as "Milk Day," and what better way then inviting them to a large-scale match of 1-2-Switch's Milking mini-game? The Central Dairy Council sponsored the "Roppongi Ranch" event on May 27 in Roppongi Hills building complex in Minato. The event featured locally produced milk and ice cream, educational workshops, a qui...
Manga Delves Into Early Careers of Famed Game Creators
1st chapter focuses on Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi
― Manga creator Keiichi Tanaka (Doctor Chichibuyama, G no Samurai, Utsu Nuke, Pen to Hashi) launched his Wakage no Itari ~Game Creator no Seishun~ manga on Dwango's Den-fami Nico Gamer website on Wednesday. The manga depicts real game creators when they were young and had just joined the video game industry. Den-fami Nico Gamer's editori...
Yuri!!! on Ice Characters Cameo in Steven Universe Comic
The figure-skaters from MAPPA and Sayo Yamamoto's Yuri!!! on Ice anime series took a break from practicing at the rink to check out a local Renaissance Faire in Beach City, the home of Cartoon Network's Steven Universe. Yūri, Victor, Yuri Plisetsky, and Otabek Altin all make background cameo appearances in the Steven Universe #4 comic by author Melanie Gillman and illustrator Katy Farina. Anime Ne...
Uta no Prince-sama Staff Apologize for Starting Concert Before All Attendees Entered
The "Utano☆Princesama Maji LoveLive 6th Stage" event was held this past Saturday and Sunday at the MetLife Dome in Tokorozawa, Saitama. The event drew huge crowds. Unfortunately, there were so many audience members scrambling to get inside at the same time on the first day, that not everyone was able to enter before the event started. Some fans apparently were less than pleased about the situation...
Transforming Digimon Toy Line Gets Anniversary Upgrade
Tamashii Nation's 1999 release of Digimon character figures that Digivolve via Transformers-style moving parts are getting an upgrade. The "Digivolving Spirits" line is debuting in November with Agumon who Digivolves into WarGreymon. The company wants to accomplish designs that couldn't be done with prior technology from the original release. These figures boast improved joints and balance and a ...
A3! Ikemen Game Gets 1st Manga Anthology, Serialization
The "ikemen-raising" mobile game A3! has over three million downloads, top selling tie-in CDs, and a new ad campaign that played on big screens outside of some of Japan's major train stations. The game is now getting its first official manga anthology with contributors including HoneyWorks' Yamako, Zekkyō, Yukiko and many others. The game's character designer Ryō Fujihara drew the cover. The full ...
Jun Fukuyama's Jobs Include Dance Instructor in KFC Shorts
KFC Holdings Japan revealed the details on Thursday of voice actor Jun Fukuyama's (Black Butler, Assassination Classroom) appearance in the second part of the Kentucky Moshimo Gekijō (Kentucky What If Theater) "mini drama" series of live-action shorts. The first Kentucky Moshimo Gekijō - Moshimo Fukuyama Jun (Kentucky What If Theater - What If Jun Fukuyama) short will debut on the AbemaTV streamin...
Net Users Suspect Political Pressure in Shippū no Hayato Manga's End
This year's 26th issue of Kodansha's Weekly Morning magazine unexpectedly announced that Hideki Ohwada's (Mobile Suit Gundam-san, Mudazumo Naki Kaikaku) political manga Shippū no Hayato Shotoku Baizō Densetsu!! (Gale-Force Hayato Income-Doubling Legend!!) will end in the next issue. After speculation about pressure from the political world, the J-Cast News website decided to contact the Morning ed...
Eromanga Sensei Gets Its Own 'Painful Plane'
Few can boast owning an itasha, or picture-wrapped car, with their favorite video game or anime character but even fewer can claim an ita plane. Starting next week, the E-Flight Academy will unveil a Eromanga Sensei plane at Nagoya airport to the public. The academy deals with Internet communication courses for prospective air traffic controllers and pilots. The wrapped plane is a Piper PA-46 ligh...
M.A.O Stars as Henkei Shōjo's Transforming Jet Plane Girl
On Friday, we introduced you to DLE's Henkei Shōjo project with a theme song video and anime clip. The clip introduced the project's first character Haru, a girl that can inexplicably transform into a jet plane. The short caused a stir on Twitter and racked up more than 1.65 million views. While Haru has few lines in the short, DLE promised to reveal the voice behind its trending character. On Thu...
Mobile Game Idols Suit Up as Real Wedding Guests
The idols from the mobile game Tokimeki Restaurant ☆☆☆ are crossing into the 3D world as wedding guests. The Almalien Tokyo wedding venue in Ikebukuro will have life-sized panels of the 3 Majesty and X.I.P. idols, for a total of six characters, available for pictures on June 24-25. The venue will place the cut-outs near the chapel entrance for pictures and also offer a limited sweets buffet. Freel...
Takara Tomy's Fantasy Animals, Mr. Osomatsu Collaborate on Aquarium Tour
Takara Tomy Arts and Kamio Japan's Kūsō Suizokukan (Fantasy Aquarium) characters are collaborating with Mr. Osomatsu to hold the "Honmono Suizokukan Tours" (Real Aquarium Tours) event this summer. Takara Tomy Arts began streaming a promotional video for the event on Monday. The Kūsō Suizokukan characters are composites of sea and land animals. For this collaboration, they will combine with the six...
Idolish 7 Anime Music Video Shows Re:vale Idols' Song
Production I.G. animated, Shinobu Tagashira directed music video for "No Doubt" song
― The official Twitter account for Idolish 7, Bandai Namco Entertainment's fictional male idol group multimedia project, posted an animated music video for the project on Tuesday. The video features the song "No Doubt," performed by the characters Momo and Yuki from the idol unit Re:vale. Souichiro Hoshi voices Momo,...
Gamers' Osaka Store Transforms Into Eromanga Sensei's Takasago Books
The Gamers store in Namba, Osaka briefly rebranded itself as "Takasago Books," one of the locations in the Eromanga Sensei anime series. The store is one of protagonist Masamune's favorite places and where he regularly encounters Tomoe Takasago, the daughter of the shopkeeper. Visitors at the Gamers location can also meet up with Tomoe, and she'll even recommend new releases despite being reduced ...
Love Live! Sunshine!! Mini-Unit Guilty Kiss' 2nd Single Gets Preview Video
The Love Live! Sunshine!! sub-idol group Guilty Kiss is bringing the drama for their new single "Koware ya Suki" which also includes the track "Shadow gate to love". Lantis is hosting a preview of the single that is slated for release on June 21. "Koware Yasuki" is Guilty Kiss' second single. It includes both tracks, two off-vocal versions, and a drama track titled "Jū-ban Shōbu❤Numazu Yamaya no J...
TV Show Calls Out Miyazaki for 'Retiring,' Apologizes for Misquoting Him
Anime fans often snicker at Hayao Miyazaki's supposedly repetitive and insincere retirement announcements. Fuji TV's Wide na Show program, which stars the comedy duo Downtown's Hitoshi Matsumoto and comedian Kōji Higashino, decided to call out the Studio Ghibli co-founder for his fickleness. The program featured a segment on Miyazaki on Sunday that showed apparent quotes from the director as he ex...
Kunihiko Ikuhara, Kotono Mitsuishi Attend Sailor Moon R Film Screening in July
An upcoming screening of Sailor Moon R: The Movie in Ginza will have two very special guests. Director Kunihiko Ikuhara, of Revolutionary Girl Utena, Penguindrum, and Yurikuma Arashi fame will attend the event with Usagi Tsukino voice actress Kotono Mitsuishi on July 1. The screening is part of what has become annual celebrations in honor of Usagi's birthday on June 30. An earlier screening will t...
Kemono Friends Gets Collaboration with Japan Racing Association
The Japan Racing Association (JRA) and the immensely popular Kemono Friends anime are teaming up for what's likely to be a new web game. The collaboration is only a teaser site for now, but the JRA previously collaborated with Kingdom just earlier this month with two online games. The teaser site features a button with the phrase "This collaboration is too cool!" and a counter. Each time the butto...
Listen to Hitorijime My Hero's Opening Before the Premiere
Wataru Hatano is starring in the upcoming television anime Hitorijime My Hero as Natsuki, a friend of the main character Kōsuke Ōshiba played by Tomoaki Maeno. Besides his turn as Natsuki, Hatano is also performing the series' opening theme "Heart Signal." In the video, Hatano is a doll come to life. After his owner leaves the room, Hatano takes it upon himself to tidy up her room. The video is in...
Lucky Star 10th Anniversary CD Collection Includes 50+ Tracks
The Lucky Star anime series was a late 2000s phenomenon thanks in part to its catchy opening dance sequence, casually irreverent humor, and the backing of fan-favorite studio Kyoto Animation. The anime series is now a decade old, if you can believe it. Music production company Lantis is noting the series' anniversary with a four-disc CD release of all of Lucky Star's ending themes and character so...
Re:Zero VR App Gets Emilia Version on June 6
Dospara Stores in Japan launch testing booth campaign; VR app featuring Rem launched for iOS, Android devices on Friday
― The official website of the Dospara PC parts store revealed on Friday that the "Life in an Alternate World With Rem in VR" smartphone app now has testing booths in Dospara stores and 22 stores throughout Japan. The booths allow people to try the VR app for themselves. The campaign...
Bungō to Alchemist Smartphone Game Teases New Literary Figure
DMM Games' upcoming Bungō to Alchemist (Literary Masters and Alchemist) smartphone game teased its newest literary figure on Friday. If at least 200,000 people pre-register for the game, all players will receive the character. The teased character has a "deep connection to Soseki Natsume," who is also a character in the game. Some net commenters believe the new writer character may be Masaoka Shik...
High Speed! -Free! Starting Days- Film's Event Streams Digest Video
The official website for the High Speed! -Free! Starting Days- anime film began streaming a digest video of the "Iwatobi Chūgaku Suiei-bu Kirokukai Otsukaresama Party" (Iwatobi Junior High School Swimming Club Meet Appreciation Party) event on Friday. The video features the anime's main cast speaking, drawing, and reading lines at the event, which was held at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan arena in Tokyo o...
Iriko Aoiro's Manga Anthropomorphizes Japan's Prefectures
Iriko Aoiro launched the Japonism 47 comedy manga in 2011 to showcase what makes each of Japan's prefectures unique. The manga anthropomorphizes the 47 prefectures of Japan and highlights regional differences. The fourth compiled book volume, titled Japonism 47 Appare Nippon Minaoshi-hen (Japonism 47 Splendid Japan Review Edition), shipped on Tuesday. The characters who represent Hyogo, Miyagi, Wa...
Sword Art Online Character Designer Collaborates With Kids' Clothing Brand
Character designer Shingo Adachi (Sword Art Online, Wagnaria!!, Galilei Donna) is collaborating with the Japanese children's clothing brand Betty on a new project. For the first part of the project, Adachi contributed illustrations of characters wearing Betty products. The characters appear on a display at Betty's new store in Harajuku, Tokyo, which opened on May 3. Betty debuted in 2003, and the ...
J-World Tokyo Theme Park Marks Reborn! Anime's 10th Anniversary
Namco's J-World Tokyo indoor theme park revealed the details of its new Reborn! event on Thursday. The "Future Edition" event is one part of a three-part celebration to mark the 10th anniversary of the anime of Akira Amano's Katekyo Hitman Reborn! manga. The event will offer merchandise with new "Chibi World" illustrations of the anime's characters. "Chibi World" is the theme park's line of origin...
Fans Choose Heiji Hattori as Detective Conan Escape Game's Main Character
Scrap's Real Escape Game revealed the main character and title of its newest Detective Conan attraction on Wednesday. Fans voted for Heiji Hattori (also known as Harley Hartwell in English) to star in "Scotland Yard kara no Dasshutsu" (Escape From Scotland Yard). The attraction's story is set in the newly opened theme park Tōto London City. Attractions like the Tower Bridge Coaster, Buckingham Maz...
Kemono Friends' Videos Preview Character Song, Soundtrack CDs
The official YouTube channel for the Kemono Friends television anime began streaming promotional videos for the Japari Café drama and character song album and the anime's original soundtrack CD on Friday. The videos preview many of the tracks on both CDs. The Japari Café drama and character song album will feature five songs, including a special version of the anime's opening theme song "Yōkoso Ja...
Makoto Kobayashi Draws What's Michael? Manga's Cat for 1st Time in 29 Years
Cat comedy manga What's Michael?'s creator Makoto Kobayashi released a special illustration of the series' title character for the first time in 29 years on Thursday. The illustration features on the front covers of this year's 26th issue of Kodansha's Weekly Morning magazine and Weekly D Morning digital magazine. The illustration is part of manga creator Jōkura Kōji's (also known as Yūji Moritaka...
Mamoru & Usagi Hear Wedding Bells for New Petit Chara Figures
Usagi Tsukino's dreams of martial bliss have finally come true thanks to a new Petit Chara figure set from MadHouse. The figures include Usagi in a stunning wedding dress, Mamoru in a snappy tux, and Luna and Artemis wearing flower collars. The figures' design is based on a new illustration creator Naoko Takeuchi drew for Konin Todoke's "Romance Wedding" marriage applications last year. Cards dep...
Henkei Shojo Anime Short Redefines 'Transforming Girl'
DLE began streaming the "one chorus version" of the Henkei Shojo (Transformation Girls) net anime shorts' theme song "Me-Chu-Pa-La" on Friday. The video features animation from the first short, titled "Haru-hen" (Haru Version), which debuted on March 27. The theme song performed by Haru is available for download on the project's official website. The first short (embedded below) has been viewed mo...
Victor's Butt Steals the Spotlight on Yuri!!! on Ice Soundtrack Cover
The Yuri!!! On Ice soundtrack cover art has forgone ice-skating imagery in favor of Victor's well-sculpted backside. Yuri, Yurio, Macchin, and even a bowl of katsudon are also on the cover drawn by series character designer Tadashi Hiramatsu. The album is slated for release on June 28 and includes a TV-size version of the opening theme "History Maker" by Dean Fujioka and illustration from the firs...
Women Reveal Their Top Fate/Grand Order Servants
The Fate/Grand Order smartphone game will be in Western players' hands soon enough. The reappearance and familiar franchise faces and new servants will again face off in a quest for the Holy Grail. The new shake-up on the premise has gamers re-evaluating who is there favorite servant. The Anime! Anime! website tried to find out by asking players, specifically female players, who is their favorite ...
Irregular at Magic High School Film's Characters Star as Beans in TV Ads
Gekijōban Mahōka Kōkō no Rettōsei: Hoshi o Yobu Shōjo is collaborating with Dentsu's Mameshiba characters to promote the anime film's opening in Japanese theaters on June 17. The irregular at magic high school anime's characters Tatsuya and Miyuki Shiba share a last name that is also part of the bean dog character line's name. The collaboration's first television commercial began streaming on Thur...
Re:Zero Novel Illustrator Gets 1st Artbook
If you're still hankering for more Re:Zero or are an avid fan of the light novel's artwork, illustrator Shinichirou Otsuka will get his first artbook on September 23. The Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- Shinichirou Otsuka Art Works Re:BOX contains all the pictures of your favorite girl, whether its Emilia or Rem. Additionally, as if customers needed more to sweeten the deal, the set not ...
JoJo's Araki Maintains Vampire Status in Poll of Unaging Celebrities
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure creator Hirohiko Araki has enjoyed another claim to fame outside of his popular, long-running manga series. The 56-year-old is known to be a snappy dresser and some speculate suspiciously youthful for his age. Microsoft's How Old Do I Look? website placed him at approximately 27-years-old in 2015, and fans have jokingly dated his existence as far back as 3,000 BC. Accordin...
Pikachu Continue to Multiply in This Year's Yokohama Parade
The Pikachu population in Yokohama is growing out of control in the annual Yokohama parade. Last year's march of 1,000 Pikachu will be outdone this year as organizers promise at least 1,500 of the iconic rodent when the event kicks off on August 9. This year's event is titled "Pikachū Dake janai Pikachū Tairyō Hassei-chū!" (Not Only Pikachu, but a Lot of Pikachu-chu!) and will culminate on August ...
Yūri, Victor Reach Out for Yuri!!! on Ice's New Scale Figures
Chara-Ani's Toy's works brand revealed designs for its second wave of Yuri!!! on Ice scale figures on Wednesday. The Yūri Katsuki and Victor Nikiforov figures are slated to go on sale around fall 2017. In the special illustrations, Yūri and Victor look like they are reaching out to each other and are about to hold hands. The studio MAPPA, which animated the Yuri!!! on Ice television anime, provid...
Madoka Magica's Gekidan Inu Curry Illustrates New Utena Album
A combination of two giant magical franchises has lead to one very distinct album cover. Gekidan Inu Curry, the mind behind Madoka Magica's symbolic labyrinths unleashed their unique aesthetic for the Revolutionary Girl Utena Barbara Waisei-ko Mokushiroku: Arsenothelus Zettai Fukkatsu Hikari to Orpheus Zettai Meifu Yami compilation CD. The album collects all of composer J.A. Caesar's equally symbo...
Attack on Titan Returns to Joypolis Theme Park This Summer
The Tokyo Joypolis theme park announced on Thursday that it will hold a new Attack on Titan event from July 13 to October 1. The Attack on Titan in Joypolis Season 2 event will feature collaboration attractions, merchandise, and food. The event will again feature a life-size statue of an Attack on Titan character. Tokyo Joypolis is holding a Twitter campaign to reveal the character for this year's...
Angels, Tourists Descend on Gabriel Dropout's Setting City
Hamamatsu, Shizuoka is one of the latest cities in Japan to capitalize on its status as an anime setting and pilgrimage site. The city is the setting of Ukami's Gabriel DropOut manga, and the series' television anime adaptation debuted in January. The city is collaborating with the anime to release sightseeing maps that highlight locations in the anime. The collaboration also launched an official ...
May'n Takes on Ultra Street Fighter II Game's Guile in Video
Singer May'n appeared as a special guest on the 64th episode of the Capcom TV! web program on Wednesday. In the video, she plays two matches in the upcoming Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers Nintendo Switch game. May'n plays as Ryu to take on the program's assistant Chocolat Ikeda playing as Blanka around the 26:15 mark. Other people on the program also face off against each other. Fo...
Takuya Eguchi Takes a Turn as Business Shellfish
Popular voice actor Takuya Eguchi took on one of his strangest roles on Friday. Known for voicing characters in Konosuba, My Love Story!, and My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU, Eguchi's roster remains humanoid. The voice actor can now add "weird shellfish businessman" (businessmollusk?) to his resume. Eguchi joined the cast of "Kaishain" ("Clamployees"), animated shorts that star varieties of shellfis...
Father Hides Real Nintendo Switch in Son's Cardboard Version
Twitter user Mohikan recently posted some pictures of his creative, game-loving son. The boy had no idea that his father had a huge surprise in store for him. On April 5, Mohikan posted a picture of his son playing "Poop Prince Adventure 2" on his newest homemade PC. Mohikan noted that the PC's display has a "mysterious 29:8 aspect ratio." 息子の自作PCがまた新しくなってました。ディスプレイは29:8という謎のアスペクト比で『うんこおうじのぼうけん2』が...
Yuri on Ice Boys Hang Up Their Skates for Bellhop Uniforms
Yuri and Victor are happy to greet visitors at Ikebukuro Sunshine City's Prince Hotel starting on July 1. Yurio is also there but judging by the character art, it's only because he needs more spending money for tiger shirts and katsudon pirozhkis. The hotel is offering "Concept Rooms" for patrons that feature super-deformed characters decorated throughout the space. Reservation costs also guarante...
Fukushima Gainax's Art Exhibition Honors Whisper of the Heart Director
Anime studio Fukushima Gainax's "fantasy and art" museum Fukushima Sakura Yūgakusha is collaborating with Fukushima Chuo TV to hold the "Kono Otoko ga Ghibli o Sasaeta. Kondō Yoshifumi-ten" (This Man Supported Ghibli. Yoshifumi Kondō Exhibition) exhibit. The exhibition to honor animator Yoshifumi Kondō will run at the museum from June 3 to August 31. Kondō was born in Niigata Prefecture in 1950, a...
Space Brothers Manga's Serika Fund Supports ALS Research
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease and motor neurone disease (MND), features in Chūya Koyama's Space Brothers manga. In the lead-up to the International Alliance of ALS/MND Associations' global day of recognition for ALS on June 21, the manga and its partners launched the Serika Fund (Serika Kikin Uchū Kyōdai ALS Project). The project's website states that "Ser...
Shinji Gets in the Damn Boat with Eva Fish Grip
Where did you draw the line at ridiculous Evangelion merchandise? Was it the Tomato juice commercials? The Schick campaign where Gendo shed his beard? A NERV bucket? Hideaki Anno's crowning franchise has something for everyone even if that something has nothing to do giant robots. Case in point, the anime is starting its first collaboration with fishing gear. Next month a Unit-01 color-coded DRES...
Yuri!!! on Ice Lottery Brings Plush Skater Prizes
This month's Minna no Kuji ("Lottery for Everybody"), a lottery that everyone can win, is bringing the boys of Yuri! on Ice into winners' hands. Starting on May 28, fans can try their hand at winning a large banner showing Victor, Yuri, and Yurio skating together, stuffed dolls of all three guys, zipper pouches inspired by their skating costumes, hand towels, rubber mascot characters, a wall-scro...
Anime Ads Ask: Can Laundry Detergent Bring Romance?
Can the fluffy feeling of cotton and an alluringly clean scent foster a budding romance? Kao's Fragrance New Beads line of laundry detergents intends to find out in two animated advertisements. In the first ad titled "New Student", Kaori encounters Hanamura on a crowded subway train. The mixing smells of everyone on board is unpleasant but when the shifting train causes Kaori to draw close to Hana...
Dress Up Your Drinks With an Extra Frilly Sailor Uniform
In 2015, concerned citizens everywhere found a solution to a nagging problem: bottle perspiration. Well, technically, condensation. It's not that there wasn't already a solution; table coasters have long protected furniture from troublesome rings left my chilled beverages. It's just that this wasn't a cute enough solution. Enter Kitan Club's bottle underwear. Panties be they striped, polka-dots, o...
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