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Anime/Manga/Game Industry Celebrates April Fool's Day 2017 - Part II
posted on by Lynzee Loveridge
It's that time of the year again: the cherry blossoms fall, and the April Fool's pranks fly. Japan's anime, manga and video game industries are fun-loving enough to participate in this tradition every year. Here are 2017's best anime-related April Fool's pranks.
B-Project
The idols of B-Project become the youngest idols ever...for "Baby Project." The site has a poll to vote for which baby should become an adult. The top three will get special photos.
[Link] The Idolm@ster Cinderella Girls
4月1日 0:00より、「メガネショップ」をオープンしました!
— スターライトステージ(@imascg_megane) March 31, 2017
LIVE用のメガネを購入することができますよ!
詳細はアプリ内お知らせをご確認ください。
4月1日 14:00に強制アップデートを実施予定です。#デレステ pic.twitter.com/s311SrE6Pb
The idols got megane makeovers.
[Link]
Detective Conan
Character Heiji Hattori has hijacked the official Detective Conan portal webpage.「もろたで!工藤!!!」っちゅうわけで俺、服部平次がTwitterジャックしたるでー!!あ~偉い人らから「絶対言うたらアカン!!」って釘さされとったから辛かったわぁ~!もろたもんは公式サイトで見せびらかしたるでー!!https://t.co/XIM6rO75cd pic.twitter.com/0kHaSMVWah
— 服部平次 (@conan_file) March 31, 2017
[Link]
Girls und Panzer
Characters Alice Shimada and Maho Nishizumi are debuting as the idol unit "Boko Sisters." The girls are going all out with a week-long event, tanks, CD single, and more.
[Link] Hanayamata
The amateur band "Need Cool Quality" will make their major debut. The revealed CD jacket bares a close resemblance to The Beatles' "Please Please Me" album.
[Link] Hell Girl
The series starring the infernal Enma Ai has seen the light. "Tengoku Shōjo" (Heavenly Girl) asks "Moppen, ikite miru?" ("Would you like to give life a try, again?")
[Link] Ikemen Series
CYBIRD's Ikemen games are trying out some new genres. The company's Magical Days game will get a suspense-horror film, the site is also holding a general election to judge its character's butts in jeans, and finally, it will launch a vampire series starring famous historical figures.
[Link] The Idolm@ster Side M
The official website announced the frog character Pierre will get his own anime film.【理由(ワケ)あって、カエれない!?】
— 映画『カエールの大冒険』公式 (@KAERRE_MOVIE) March 31, 2017
『劇場版 カエールの大冒険』2017年全世界同時公開決定!
監督・脚本・音楽・出演はカエール!着ぐるみ付き前売券も発売開始しました!(宣伝P)https://t.co/unx15l7nlf #カエールの大冒険 pic.twitter.com/ihv9mrDIK3
The website is also holding a "Muscle is Mission" campaign focused on the character Seiji Shingen, who is a former Self-Defense Forces member. The site is hosting a mini-game to try out, too. [Link]
Kakegurui Compulsive Gambler
大人気「#賭ケグルイ」の次なるスピンオフは、まさかの食マンガ!!
— ガンガンJOKER編集部【公式】 (@gangan_joker) March 31, 2017
作画は「賭ケグルイ(仮)」の川村拓が担当します☆
単行本1巻のカバーは鈴井涼太が飾ります!
どうぞ皆様お楽しみに☆☆☆#エイプリルフール
賭ケグルイアニメ公式アカウント→@kakegurui_anime pic.twitter.com/Rl0jRqFLCd
The original manga is getting a new spin-off focusing on novelty food titled "Tabegurui" (Compulsive Eater).
[Link]
Shibuya Kingyo
The goldfish from Hiroaki Aoi's manga have landed and this is not a drill.【金魚注意報発令】
— ガンガンJOKER編集部【公式】 (@gangan_joker) March 31, 2017
渋谷スクランブル交差点にて〝人喰い金魚〟の目撃情報が寄せられました。
この写真…お分かりいただけるだろうか?渋谷上空に浮かぶ巨大な金魚…!
渋谷は危険です! 決して近付かぬようにしてください!#これは訓練ではない #渋谷金魚 #エイプリルフール pic.twitter.com/cIJYAtyu3O
[Link]
Kuroko's Basketball
The Kuroko's Basketball bird mascots fill in for the characters in a trailer for the Last Game movie.
[Link]
Marginal #4
Atom's classmate Ayanokoji Hidemaro joins the idol group.
[Link] New Game
The anime is reimagined as a fantasy tale where Aoba has already overthrown the demon king but finds that an even more powerful demon needs to be defeated.
[Link] Nippon Ichi Software
Company employees show how to properly cook your fish. This is just the latest installment in the company's ongoing April Fool's joke referencing Honō no Ryōrijin Cooking Fighter Hao
[Link]
The Prince of Stride
The site has changed to an obvious reference to AKB48 as POS48 (unfortunate acronymn...) with detailed member information. Like the real-life idol group, the site is holding a popularity contest.
[Link] Rejet x Kemono Friends
The characters from Diabolik Lovers, Margina #4 and more get animal counterparts ala Kemono Friends
[Link]
The Royal Tutor
The website is promoting the merits of turtlenecks. The fictional country in the series will sell the turtlenecks for 61,800,000 yen (6180 is read ro-i-ya-ru; or "royal").
[Link] Sakura Quest
The anime is taking the "quest" part literally and launched a classic-RPG inspired website where Yoshino Koharu battles a Chupacabra.
[Link] Show by Rock
Thunderbolt Fantasy x Tōken Ranbu
In a collaboration that seems too good to be true, the sword boys of Tōken Ranbu become puppets in the same style as Thunderbolt Fantasy.TsukiPro x Isobe Isobee Monogatari: Ukiyo wa Tsurai yo
MOVIC posted an image on Twitter of the boys from TsukiPro drawn in the style of Isobe Isobee Monogatari: Ukiyo wa Tsurai yo. The characters traveled back in time to the Edo period. If the tweet is shared enough times, MOVIC promises that audio drama stories about the scenario will be created. [Link]【レッツRTで候!】#ツキプロ の空・昂輝・志季・柊羽が磯部磯兵衛物語の世界へタイムスリップ?!気になる物語は500RTで1話⇒1000RTで2話⇒1500RTで3話⇒2000RTで4話大公開!レッツRT☆https://t.co/yVPy8yFl7F #磯部磯兵衞 #プロアニ pic.twitter.com/Yb7gtfROqN
— ムービックの中の人 (@movic_jp) March 31, 2017
Tsukiuta
The idols of Tsukiuta jump into a 16-bit video game.[Link]
Uta no Prince-sama
The website becomes "Prince Cat" and begins with a interactive game.
[Link] Yuri Fan Sanctuary
Animate teases opening a "Yurimate," a store specializing just in yuri goods. The site says it'll open on April 15 but the address is the same as Animate's Ikebukuro store.
[Link] Yuri on Ice x Rage of Bahamut: Virgin Soul
The official Twitter account for Yuri on Ice announced that Victor will stand in for Favaro's role in the upcoming Rage of Bahamut: Virgin Soul anime. Both series are animated by MAPPA.
[Link] (Thanks to CrowLia)follow-up of Anime/Manga/Game Industry Celebrates April Fool's Day 2017 - Part I
this article has been modified since it was originally posted; see change history