Anime Expo 2014

Daisuki

While the Daisuki panel was high on energy, thanks to the crowd-rousing efforts of the panelists, it was not without a host of technological setbacks, which pushed the start of the panel back half an hour, and prevented the company from showing the premiere of an animation called Sushi Ninja. Eventually, though, the panelists were able to start, offering a look at the the newly relaunched Daisuki.net online streaming portal, which features programming like Puella Magi Madoka Magica, One Piece, Sword Art Online, and more.

After the brief video introduction, the panelists showed trailers for some of this season's new simulcast series, including Aldnoah.Zero, a science fiction mech show created by Gen Urobuchi (Fate/Zero, Madoka Magica). The series will be available to stream on Daisuki starting July 6, and is being distributed by Aniplex of America.

Next on deck was A-1 Pictures' Persona 4 the Golden Animation, also distributed by Aniplex of America. Slated to premiere July 10, the series is being directed by Tomohisa Taguchi, who directed Persona 3 the Movie #2 Midsummer Knight's Dream, and worked on the opening and several episodes of Persona 4 The Animation.

The panelists ended their video presentation with two teasers for Sword Art Online II, which will start streaming on Daisuki on July 6. The series will be available for free, with subtitles in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian, depending on region. Those attending Anime Expo will be able to watch the first episode on Friday, July 4, with original light novel author Reki Kawahara and illustrator and character designer abec in attendance. The screening will take place at 7PM in Live Programming 1.

The panelists then introduced a guest from Banpresto, Yuko Koketsu, who showed images of some of the company's upcoming products, including figures from Sword Art Online that will be available at the Daisuki web store. Featured products included Sword Art Online Kyun Chara figures from the first two seasons, as well as Sword Art Online II. Products will be launched September, October, and November.

While technical issues prevented the panelists from showing Sushi Ninja near the end of the panel, the first episode can currently be viewed online at Daisuki.net.

Those who stuck around were rewarded with a rock-paper-scissors game for Sword Art Online prizes, with all attendees receiving Sword Art Online II posters.