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Space Battleship Yamato: The Classic Collection GN
Leiji Matsumoto's classic manga that eventually reached the English-speaking world as "Star Blazers" is now available in this hardcover collector's edition. Rebecca Silverman has the details.
― Three years before Captain Harlock set sail, manga master Leiji Matsumoto chronicled the adventures of a different space-faring band, the crew of the Yamato. Drawing from Japan's military history, the story is...
Take That! - Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy Giveaway
We're giving away 5 copies of Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy. Play the first 14 episodes on Nintendo Switch, Playstation 4, XBOX ONE or Steam!
― Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy released this week and our friends at Capcom want to celebrate by giving away game codes to some lucky Anime News Network readers! You've seen the anime, now play the classic games that started it all. Become Phoen...
Shelf Life - Dagashi Kashi
James takes a bite out of this sugary slice-of-life comedy about junk food, while Paul breaks down all this week's new blu-ray releases!
― Thing I learned this week: if you're going to pick up a late-night shift at your job, you probably shouldn't also pick up the morning shift for the next day. There is not enough caffeine in the world to overcome the crushing realization of "I was just here a few ...
Mysteria Friends
This relaxing slice-of-life yuri anime is worlds apart from its Rage of Bahamut franchise cousins, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Theron Martin digs into this surprisingly satisfying short series.
― This offering from the winter 2019 season has a more convoluted production history than most. Originally titled Rage of Bahamut: Manaria Friends, it was announced in 2015 and scheduled for broadc...
Candy Color Paradox GN 1
If you're a fan of the lighter side of BL, this newest series from Isaku Natsume makes for a sweet treat. Rebecca Silverman has the details.
― Candy Color Paradox is far from Isaku Natsume's first series from Viz's SuBLime imprint – previous works include Ginger Honey, Devil's Honey, and False Memories. That means that for some readers, this is already an anticipated release, especially since her sto...
Tencent Gets Approval to Sell Nintendo Switch in China
Government approved release of Switch with trial version of New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe game
― The Reuters news agency and The Wallstreet Journal newspaper reported on Thursday that China's Tencent conglomerate has earned key approval to begin selling the Nintendo Switch console in China. The Chinese province of Guangdong, where Tencent is registered, gave approval to the company on Thursday to re...
Tubi TV Streams One-Punch Man Anime, 3 Naruto Films in Canada
Site to also simulcast One-Punch Man season 2 in Canada
― Viz Media announced on Tuesday that it has entered a content deal with the Tubi TV streaming service. As part of the deal, Tubi TV is now streaming the Naruto the Movie: Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow, Naruto the Movie: Legend of the Stone of Gelel, and Naruto the Movie: Guardians of the Crescent Moon Kingdom anime films. Tubi TV is also stre...
Cop Craft Anime Casts Fumiko Orikasa, Kenji Hamada, Ryousuke Takahashi
Mai Nakahara, Marina Inoue, Satoshi Tsuruoka also cast in summer series
― The official website for Cop Craft, the television anime of Shoji Gatoh's Cop Craft Dragnet Mirage Reloaded light novel series, revealed additional cast members and character visuals on Thursday. The newly announced cast members are: Fumiko Orikasa as Cecil Epps Kenji Hamada as Jack Roth Ryousuke Takahashi as Tony Mcbee Mai Nak...
Hakata Mentai! Pirikarako-chan TV Anime Shorts Previewed in Video
Anime based on Fukuoka's Hakata ward premieres in July
― The official website for Kyushu Asahi Broadcasting's Hakata Mentai! Pirikarako-chan anime shorts began streaming a short video for the show on Thursday. The anime will debut on Kyushu Asahi Broadcasting in July. The anime is inspired by the products of Fukuoka city's historic Hakata ward. The anime will center on a walleye pollock roe (mentaiko...
Funimation Reveals Code Geass: Lelouch of the Re;surrection Anime Film's English Dub Cast
Film screens in U.S., Canada in May
― Funimation Films is currently listing the English dub cast for the Code Geass: Lelouch of the Re;surrection (Code Geass: Fukkatsu no Lelouch) sequel anime film: Johnny Yong Bosch as Lelouch vi Britannia Kate Higgins as C.C. Yuri Lowenthal as Suzaku Kururugi Christopher R. Sabat as Bitool Elizabeth Maxwell as Shamna Gabe Kunda as Qujappat Jared GIlmore as Shalio K...
Death End Re;quest Game Launches for Steam on May 16
― Idea Factory International announced on Tuesday that Compile Heart's Death end re;Quest game will launch for PC via Steam on May 16. The release will include all of the original content from the Japanese version of the game, as well as English, Japanese, and traditional Chinese subtitles. The Steam release will allow players to obtain the free and paid DLC from the PlayStation 4 version, except fo...
Dragon Star Varnir Game's Battle System Trailer Reveals June Release in N. America, Europe
Game launches on PS4 in N. America on June 11, in Europe on June 14
― Idea Factory International began streaming a battle system trailer on Wednesday for Compile Heart's Dragon Star Varnir (Ryūsei no Varnir) PlayStation 4 game. The video reveals the game's North American release on June 11. The company will release the game in Europe on June 14. Idea Factory International previously noted that it has...
XFlag, Tatsunoko's Pandora to Akubi Crossover Anime Film's 1st 6 Minutes Streamed
Film opened in Japan on April 5
― XFLAG began streaming the first six minutes of it and Tatsunoko Production's new anime crossover film Pandora to Akubi (Pandora and Yawn) on Thursday. The film opened at the EJ Anime Theater Shinjuku in Tokyo on April 5, and then opened in four other theaters in Japan on April 12. The film stars Yui Ogura as Pandora and Sally Amaki as Akubi. The cast for the first ha...
Tsuburaya Productions Reveals Ultraman Taiga Series Premiering on July 6
Show's protagonist is son of Ultraman Taro who can transform into 3 heroes
― Tsuburaya Productions announced on Thursday that its new series in the Ultraman franchise is titled Ultraman Taiga. The series will premiere on TV Tokyo on July 6 at 9:00 a.m. The new show is the seventh consecutive "New Generation Heroes" series in the Ultraman franchise. Tsuburaya Productions describes the new series: Alie...
Caravan Stories Game's PS4 Version Gets N. American Release in July
Free-to-play exploration game previously launched for smartphones, PC
― Game developer Aiming announced on Thursday that its PlayStation 4 version of its Caravan Stories game will launch in North America in July. A teaser website for the North American release will open within the next few days. The game officially launched in Japan and Asia on Thursday. In the game, players are able to explore the g...
Ingress Anime Gets New Composer for Global Release
Anime debuts on Netflix outside of Japan on April 30
― The White Bear public relations agency confirmed with ANN on April 10 that American composer Jacob Yoffee (LeBron James' Best Shot series, Disney Channel's Andi Mack series, MTV's Finding Carter series) has composed a new soundtrack for the global release of the Ingress anime based on Niantic's AR game. Hidehiro Kawai (The Relative Worlds, Phanto...
Crunchyroll, VRV Re-add 1st Seasons of My Hero Academia, Attack on Titan, Overlord Anime
Sites had removed 1st seasons of My Hero Academia, Attack on Titan in February
― The Crunchyroll and VRV streaming services have re-added the first seasons of the My Hero Academia, Attack on Titan, and Overlord anime to their catalogs. Crunchyroll had stopped streaming the first seasons of the Attack on Titan and My Hero Academia anime in February, but the shows' respective second and third seasons w...
2nd Live-Action Saint Young Men Season's Teaser Video Reveals June 1 Premiere
New poster visual also revealed
― The official website for the live-action series adaptations of Hikaru Nakamura's Saint Young Men (Saint Oniisan) manga began streaming a teaser trailer on Thursday for the show's second season. The staff also revealed a poster for the second season. Similar to the release of the first season, the second season will stream online and will also screen in theaters. The ...
Cardfight!! Vanguard: High School Arc Cont. Anime's Promo Video Reveals May 11 Premiere
Another new season to premiere around April 2020
― Bushiroad revealed a new promotional video for the Cardfight!! Vanguard: High School Arc Cont. anime in a livestreamed presentation on Thursday. The video features the opening theme song "Invincible Fighter" by Raise A Suilen. Raise A Suilen are the third live band from Bushiroad's BanG Dream! franchise, and they will perform the opening and ending t...
BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle Game's Arcade Version Launches on April 25
― Arc System Works announced on Thursday that the arcade version of the BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle crossover fighting game will launch on April 25. The original PlayStation 4 and Switch game shipped in Japan and Asia in May 2018. Arc System Works America released the game with an English dub in North America in June 2018, and PQube released the game in Europe later that same month. The game also lau...
Seven Seas Licenses World's End Harem: Fantasia, Destiny Lovers, Saki the Succubus Hungers Tonight Manga
Under Ghost Ship imprint for mature readers
― Seven Seas Entertainment announced on Wednesday that it has licensed LINK and SAVAN's fantasy spinoff manga World's End Harem: Fantasia (Shūmatsu no Harem: Fantasia), Kazutaka and Kai Tomohiro's thriller manga Destiny Lovers (Desu-Raba), and Mikokuni Homare and studioHIP-CATs' romance manga Saki the Succubus Hungers Tonight (Saki-chan wa Konya mo Peko Pek...
Gundam Gets Caffeine Fix for Latest Anniversary Collab
Mobile Suit Gundam's 40th anniversary includes collaborations both big and small. The newest announced partnership will pair the mecha franchise with Georgia Emerald Mountain Blend coffee and will include specially designed cans and vending machines starting on April 22. The collaboration not only celebrates Gundam but the coffee brand too. The Emerald Mountain Blend flavor first hit shelves 25 ye...
Suit Up to Become a Gang-Star with JoJo's Fashion Line
The characters of Hirohiko Araki's JoJo's Bizarre Adventure manga and anime are always on the forefront of avant garde fashion. They've appeared on fashion magazine covers, on the runway, and in editorial photo shoots. The boys of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind are no exception as Giorno Giovanna and Bruno Bucciarati are inspiring a new fashion collection from X-girl. The fashion line inclu...
Series Premiere: Fruits Basket—Episodes 1-2
"This shojo classic is one of the most emotionally rewarding stories I've ever experienced, and I hope many more new fans can open their heart to Tohru and her animal friends this season."
High-End Yuri on Ice's Victor Doll in the Works
The doll brand Ring Doll showed off images of its upcoming Victor Nikiforov collaboration model on Twitter on April 10. The ice skater looks lithe in his skating costume from his medal-winning Free Skate program. The doll's design is currently in progress and Ring Doll will update prospective customers as changes are made. Currently there is no price point for the Victor doll but Ring Doll's adult...
Season Premiere: One Punch Man Season 2—Episodes 1-2
"OPM is back, but it no longer possesses the pugnacious power to blow its audience away with the force of Saitama's fist."
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Voice Actors Look Back on Favorite Anime Moments
The voice actors of That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime attended a screening of the television anime's 24th episode “Black and the Mask” on March 17. The event was attended by Rimuru's voice actress Miho Okasaki, Shizu's actress Yumiri Hanamori, Shuna's actress Sayaka Senbongi, and Milim's actress Rina Hidaka. Episode 24 tells an anime-original story about Shizu's exploits before she met Rimur...
Rilakkuma and Kaoru Stop-Motion Anime's Golden Week Video Streamed
Video highlights holiday week activities
― Netflix began streaming a "Golden Week" promotional video for Rilakkuma and Kaoru (Rilakkuma to Kaoru-san), the anime series of San-X's "Rilakkuma" character, on Tuesday. The video highlights activities for Japan's Golden Week holidays, which take place from late April to early May. The character's story begins when the titular Rilakkuma suddenly appears in ...
Crunchyroll Adds YU-NO: A girl who chants love at the bound of this world., Million Arthur 2nd Season, Mix Anime
YU-NO, Million Arthur stream this week
― Crunchyroll announced on Wednesday that it has added the YU-NO: A girl who chants love at the bound of this world., Million Arthur Season 2, and Mix anime to its spring streaming lineup. Funimation previously announced that it is also streaming all three series. Crunchyroll will debut new episodes of the television anime of Hiroyuki Kanno's Kono Yo no Hate de ...
Viz Media Licenses Persona 5 Manga
Hisato Murasaki's manga debuts in English in winter 2020
― Viz Media announced on Wednesday that it has licensed Hisato Murasaki's Persona 5 manga and will release the first volume in winter 2020. The manga adapts Atlus' Persona 5 game. Murasaki launched the manga on Shogakukan's Manga ONE app and Ura Sunday website in September 2016. Shogakukan published the manga's fourth compiled book volume on Se...
Collegues, Creatives, Fans Remember Lupin the Third Creator Monkey Punch
One of manga's most iconic creators, Monkey Punch (real name: Kazuhiko Katō) , passed away on April 11 due to pneumonia at the age of 81. The Lupin the Third creator's death was formally announced yesterday, and colleagues, voice actors, and fans across the world remembered how Katō and Lupin the Third touched their life. The official Twitter account for the Lupin the Third anime franchise express...
Ys VIII: Lacrimosa Of Dana Game Gets iOS, Android Release Worldwide
Beijing-based Linekong Entertainment Technology to release new version of RPG
― Nihon Falcom announced on Wednesday that the Beijing-based company Linekong Entertainment Technology Co., Ltd. will release its Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA action role-playing game as an app for iOS and Android smartphones worldwide. NIS America describes the story for the previous release: Ys returns with a brand new adve...
Series Premiere: Isekai Quartet—Episodes 1-2
"This show is clearly targeted at genre superfans who are fully familiar with all four contributing anime series: Saga of Tanya the Evil, Konosuba, Re: Zero, and Overlord."
TV Tokyo Issues Formal Apology For Kemono Friends 2 Producer's 'Unprofessional Conduct'
Nobuyuki Hosoya is believed to have created a Tatsuki bashing Twitter account.
― TV Tokyo issued an apology on Monday for a Kemono Friends 2 producer's unprofessional conduct. On TV Tokyo's Kemono Friends 2 website, the notice states: "An employee of TV Tokyo has made statements on social media regarding the broadcast of Kemono Friends 2. Some of these statements have included unpleasant and unprofes...
Comixology, Kodansha Comics Release Complete Initial D Manga in English
April 17 digital release marks 1st time volumes 34-38 are available in English
― Comixology and Kodansha Comics announced on Wednesday that they have released volume 1 to 38 of Shuuichi Shigeno's Initial D manga digitally in English. The release marks the first time that volumes 34 to 38 have been released in English. The volumes are available for purchase through Comixology and Kindle, and Amazon Pr...
Dororo ‒ Episode 14
"This episode introduces a strange new family structure made up of humans and monsters alike."
Answerman - Why Do Funimation's Dragon Ball Z Re-Releases Look Like That?
Funimation announced a new 30th anniversary bluray box for Dragon Ball Z and the internet exploded over the picture quality - Justin explains why it looks the way it does.
― Several people asked: I've seen promo material for Funimation's upcoming Dragon Ball Z 30th Anniversary Collector's Edition Blu-ray boxed set, and it looks terrible! All of the film grain (and some detail) has been smeared away,...
Bungo Stray Dogs Anime's 3rd Season Casts Masaaki Mizunaka, Yuuna Mimura
Characters Shirase, Yuan debut in episode 27 on April 19
― The official Twitter account for the anime adaptations of Kafka Asagiri and Sango Harukawa's Bungō Stray Dogs manga revealed two more cast members for the Sheep group for the television anime's third season on Wednesday. Masaaki Mizunaka will play Shirase, and Yuuna Mimura will play Yuan. The characters will debut in episode 27 on April 19. M...
Judgment Game's Trailer Reveals New Character Model for Kyohei Hamura
New model replaces previous model based on Pierre Taki
― Ryu ga Gotoku Studio began streaming a new trailer for it and Sega's Judgment (Judge Eyes: Shinigami no Yuigon) PlayStation 4 game on Tuesday. The trailer shows the new character model for Kyohei Hamura. The character was previously based on the appearance of Denki Groove member and actor Pierre Taki (real name Masanori Taki), who also voiced t...
Attack on Titan 2: Final Battle Game's Videos Highlights Thunder Spears
Game launches in Japan for PS4, Switch on July 4; in West for PS4, Switch, Xbox One, PC on July 5
― Koei Tecmo Games began streaming the third action introduction video for Omega Force's Attack on Titan 2: Final Battle game on Wednesday. The video highlights the Thunder Spears weapons. The game will launch for PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch in Japan on July 4. It will then launch for PS4, Switch, ...
Midori Days' Kazurou Inoue Launches New Manga in May
Aho Genome manga centers on girl who has power of god
― Manga creator Kazurou Inoue announced on his Twitter account on Tuesday that he will launch a new manga titled Aho Genome ~Samuzaka Satanic Hair~ (seen right in image below) in the July issue of Shonegahosha's Young King Ours magazine on May 16. The magazine teases the manga's story: The demons in the sky are Apsaras. Axis falls from the sky. Th...
Shaman King The Super Star Manga Delays Return by 2 More Months to June
Hiroyuki Takei's health cited as Red Crimson spinoff's return is also delayed
― The May issue of Kodansha's Shonen Magazine Edge revealed on Wednesday that Shaman King: The Super Star, Hiroyuki Takei's new arc for his Shaman King manga, did not return from its hiatus as planned. It will instead extend the hiatus by two more months, with a planned return on June 17. The magazine noted that Takei is st...
Spice & Wolf VR Anime Slated for June 3 on Oculus Rift & Go, HTC VIVE
The official Twitter account for the virtual reality anime based on Isuna Hasekura's Spice & Wolf novels announced on Tuesday that the anime will debut on June 3 for Oculus Rift, HTC VIVE, and Oculus Go Edition. The announcement did not specify when the project will be available for PlayStation VR and Oculus Quest. The independent development circle Spicy Tails had previously planned to release th...
Microsoft to Launch Xbox One S 'All-Digital Edition' in May
Version without optical disc drive retails for US$249.99
― Microsoft announced a new "All-Digital Edition" for its Xbox One S console that will launch on May 7 for US$249.99 (US$50 cheaper than the regular Xbox One S). The game will have no optical disc drive, but will have a one-terabyte hard drive, and will ship with the Minecraft, Forza Horizon 3 and Sea of Thieves games. Microsoft reports that th...
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Video Reveals Debut of Persona 5's Joker Tomorrow
Joker debuts with new stage, music, accessories in game update
― Nintendo began streaming a new video for its Super Smash Bros. Ultimate crossover fighting game on Tuesday. The video previews the gameplay and new content for Joker, the protagonist character from Persona 5. The character and new content will be available on Wednesday in North America, and Thursday in Japan. English Version Japanese Ve...
Seven Seas Licenses Dirty Pair Manga, My Room Is a Dungeon Rest Stop Manga
Dirty Pair slated for December 17, My Room Is a Dungeon Rest Stop in January 2020
― Seven Seas Entertainment announced on Tuesday that it has licensed Haruka Takachiho and Hisao Tamaki's science-fiction comedy manga Dirty Pair (Dirty Pair no Daibōken) , as well as Tōgoku Hudō and Takoyakiyoshi's alternate-world fantasy manga My Room Is a Dungeon Rest Stop (Boku no Heya ga Dungeon no Kyūkeijo ni Natte...
Daisuke Higuchi's Whistle! W Soccer Manga Goes on Hiatus
Manga launched in 2016 as "new story" in Whistle! series
― Manga creator Daisuke Higuchi announced in Shogakukan's Ura Sunday magazine and MangaONE app on Monday that she is putting her Whistle! W (pronounced "Whistle Double") manga on hiatus due to health issues. She noted that she is taking some time off to recover and "recharge." The manga centers on two boys. Kōga Tenjō is blessed with an affluen...
Liquor & Cigarette, Blue Morning, Banana Fish Top 2019 BL Awards
The boys-love website Chil Chil announced the winners of its 10th annual BL Awards on April 12. The awards honor manga, novels, drama CDs, voice actors, characters, cover design, and anime in the boys-love genre. The winning works are decided via popular vote on the website. Several of the best series winners are available in English. Shoko Hidaka's Blue Morning, Ranmaru Zariya's Coyote, Ogeretsu ...
Bakutsuri Bar Hunter Anime Adds 3 More Cast Members
Rie Kugimiya, Hideyuki Tanaka, Masuo Amada join cast
― The official website for the Bakutsuri Bar Hunter television anime series revealed three additional cast members on Monday. The new cast members are: (Note: character name romanizations not official) Rie Kugimiya as Ugo Geri Hideyuki Tanaka as Umberto Geri Masuo Amada as Shinkaigyo Poseidon Kenji Seto (The Asterisk War: The Academy City on the Wa...
Date a Live: Rio Reincarnation Game's Trailer Highlights Heroines
Game launches for PS4, PC via Steam in June
― Idea Factory International began streaming a trailer for Compile Heart's Date A Live Rio Reincarnation game on Monday. The trailer highlights some of the game's heroines. Idea Factory International will release the game in June in North America and Europe for the PlayStation 4 and PC via Steam. The PS4 release in the West will be available in both physica...
2019 Crayon Shin-chan Film's Video Previews Aimyon Song
Aimyon also makes guest appearance as herself in April 19 film
― The official website for the Crayon Shin-chan anime films began streaming a special promotional video on Tuesday for Eiga Crayon Shin-chan Shinkon Ryokō Hurricane ~Ushinawareta Hiroshi~ (Crayon Shin-chan the Movie: Honeymoon Hurricane, Lost Hiroshi), the series' 27th film. The video previews Aimyon's theme song "Haru no Hi" (Spring Day)...
Kyoto Animation & Animation Do's Fan Event Returns with 2 Events in Fall
After a one-year break, the KyoAni & Do Fan Days event returns for its fourth year with the subtitle "We're Here Now!!: It's the First Festival in Two Years." The last Kyoto Animation and Animation Do fan event was held in 2017. This time the event will be split into two weekends. The first event is titled "Presenting! Various Aspects of KyoAni & Do" and is set for November 3-4 at Miyakomesse in K...
Seven Seas Entertainment Licenses Scarlet Yuri Manga
Series about vampire girl, wolf-like Red Riding Hood launches in English in February 2020
― Seven Seas Entertainment announced on Tuesday that it has licensed Chiri Yuino's Scarlet yuri manga. The company will release the series physically and digitally, and the first compiled book volume will ship on February 11, 2020. Seven Seas Entertainment describes the manga: After ingesting an illegal drug tha...
Capcom Unveils Capcom Home Arcade Device for October Release
Plug-and-play system's 16 game's include cite>Super Puzzle Fighter II: Turbo, Ghouls 'n Ghosts, Progear
― Capcom opened an official website on Tuesday to announce that it will release the Capcom Home Arcade system on October 25. Capcom UK began streaming a trailer for the "uniquely designed plug and play home arcade machine." The device is available to pre-order in Europe for 229.99 euros (about US$2...
Ranma ½ Fans Celebrate Anime's 30th Anniversary
The anime adaptation of Rumiko Takahashi's classic martial arts comedy manga Ranma ½'s first aired in Japan on April 15, 1989. To celebrate the anime's 30th anniversary, fans on Twitter posted fanart, cosplay, and heartfelt messages. #らんま½ debuted on Fuji TV on April 15, 1989. Happy 30th Anniversary! ❤️Ranma & Akane Wedding Illustration~by SAOTOME NANDA Based on Manga Cover Nº38 #らんまアニメ化30周年https:...
This Week in Anime - Demon Slayer is the Breakout Spectacle of the Season
Kimetsu no Yaiba offers a gory take on the Shonen Jump formula with a gorgeous production effort from famed studio ufotable. Andy and Steve discuss their favorite parts of the premiere and their hopes for the story's future.
― Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba offers a gory take on the Shonen Jump formula with a gorgeous production effort from famed studio ufotable. This week, Andy and Steve discuss th...
Lupin III Creator Monkey Punch Passes Away
81-year-old manga creator passed away on April 11 due to pneumonia
― Lupin III manga creator Monkey Punch (real name: Kazuhiko Katō) passed away on April 11 due to pneumonia. He was 81. Monkey Punch was born in Hamanaka, Hokkaido in 1937. He made his major debut with Playboy Nyūmon in Futabasha's Manga Story magazine in 1965. Lupin III then launched in Futabasha's Manga Action magazine in 1967. Due t...
Anime Boston Attendees Remember to BYOB: Bring Your Own Bags (UPDATE)
If you're heading out to the Anime Boston convention this weekend with the intention of picking up merchandise and art prints from the Dealer's Hall and Artist Alley, you could run into some trouble if you don't have reusable bags handy. Artist Alley and Dealer's Hall merchants were caught off guard on Monday after convention staff alerted them that the only permissible types of bags must be reusa...
Anime Central Hosts U.S. Premiere of 2nd Made in Abyss Compilation Film
Director Masayuki Kojima, music producer Hiromitsu Iijina, composer Kevin Penkin attend Q&A session
― Sentai Filmworks announced on Tuesday that its release of Made in Abyss: Wandering Twilight (Made in Abyss: Hōrō Suru Tasogare), the second Made in Abyss compilation anime film, will premiere at this year's Anime Central event on May 17 at 8:30 p.m. The premiere will include a red-carpet event, and d...
Space Battleship Yamato: The Classic Collection GN
Leiji Matsumoto's classic manga that eventually reached the English-speaking world as "Star Blazers" is now available in this hardcover collector's edition. Rebecca Silverman has the details.
― Three years before Captain Harlock set sail, manga master Leiji Matsumoto chronicled the adventures of a different space-faring band, the crew of the Yamato. Drawing from Japan's military history, the story is...
LINE Novel Service Gets Lavishly Animated Ads By loundraw, CloverWorks
LINE Bunko Edge light novel imprint also launched, featuring new series by A Certain Magical Index's Kazuma Kamachi.
― The LINE Novel online service where users can publish novels online through the LINE app launched on Tuesday. Two animated ads were released simultaneously with the launch. loundraw (Tsukigakirei, I want to eat your pancreas character designer) served as supervisor, director, script ...
Sony Details Next-Generation PlayStation Console
SIE's Mark Cerny confirms console will not launch in 2019
― Sony Interactive Entertainment's Mark Cerny, PlayStation 4 lead system architect and game designer, spoke with Wired magazine about the "next-gen console" that will be the successor to the PS4. The unnamed console has been in development for four years, and Cerny is again serving as the lead system architect. Cerny stated that the console wi...
Rumiko Takahashi Launches MAO Manga Series in May
Story centers on boy, girl at intersection of two worlds
― This year's 20th issue of Shogakukan's Weekly Shonen Sunday magazine revealed on Wednesday that Rumiko Takahashi (Urusei Yatsura, Maison Ikkoku, Ranma 1/2, Inuyasha, RIN-NE) will launch the tentatively titled MAO manga series in the 23rd issue on May 8. The story is set in a "land where two worlds intersect," and it centers on "a strange roma...
Octopath Traveler Game Gets PC Release in June
Game debuted worldwide on Nintendo Switch in July 2018
― Square Enix announced on Monday that it will release its Octopath Traveler game on the PC via Steam on June 7. The company also began streaming a trailer for the release. The game shipped worldwide in July 2018 for the Nintendo Switch. At the beginning of the game, players choose one of the characters to follow, but can meet the others along th...
Fire Force TV Anime Casts Kengo Kawanishi as Tōru Kishiri
1st title in "Super Animeism" block premieres on July 5
― The official website for the television anime of Atsushi Ohkubo's Fire Force (En En no Shōbōtai) manga revealed on Tuesday that Kengo Kawanishi will play Tōru Kishiri. He is a thoughtless and rude new member of Company 5. He has the powerful ability to create explosions with the bubblegum he always chews. The previously revealed cast includes:...
Japan's Animation DVD Ranking, April 8-14
Live-action Bukatsu, Suki Janakya Dame Desu ka? show sells 4,426, followed by Kemono Friends stage play, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind, Yu-Gi-Oh!, live-action Perfect World film
― The live-action television series of Katsuki Izumi's Bukatsu, Suki Janakya Dame Desu ka? (Club Activities, Is It No Good If You Don't Like Them?) manga sold 4,426 copies to rank #2 on the overall DVD chart. The stag...
Japan's Animation Blu-ray Disc Ranking, April 8-14
Live-action Bukatsu, Suki Janakya Dame Desu ka? show sells 5,634, followed by JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind, Kemurikusa, I want to eat your pancreas, Zoku Owarimonogatari
― The live-action television series of Katsuki Izumi's Bukatsu, Suki Janakya Dame Desu ka? (Club Activities, Is It No Good If You Don't Like Them?) manga sold 5,634 copies to rank #2 on the overall Blu-ray Disc chart. The li...
Rilakkuma and Kaoru Stop-Motion Anime's Special Video Reveals 'Costume'
Clip shows Rilakkuma getting out of costume
― Netflix began streaming a "special video" for Rilakkuma and Kaoru (Rilakkuma to Kaoru-san), the anime series of San-X's "Rilakkuma" character, on Tuesday. The video shows the titular character Rilakkuma as actually being a kigurumi costume that can be taken off, even if what is actually inside remains mysterious and unseen. The character's story begins wh...
Ride Your Wave, Relative Worlds, Wonderland, Children of the Sea Films Compete at Annecy
Weathering with You, Eden also screen as works in progress
― The Annecy International Animation Film Festival announced on Monday the official selection of films that will be screened in competition during the event. In addition to the traditional Features category, this year's event will have a new Contrechamp category, which replaces the Out-of-Competition section. Films in the Contrechamp category...
Take That! - Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy Giveaway
We're giving away 5 copies of Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy. Play the first 14 episodes on Nintendo Switch, Playstation 4, XBOX ONE or Steam!
― Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy released this week and our friends at Capcom want to celebrate by giving away game codes to some lucky Anime News Network readers! You've seen the anime, now play the classic games that started it all. Become Phoen...
Kyoto Animation Makes New Anime Based on Baja Mascot Character
New anime offered in BD with tickets to November KyoAni, Animation Do event
― Kyoto Animation announced on Saturday that it is making a new anime project based on its mascot character Baja. The new animation will be included in a Blu-ray Disc that the studio is offering to those who pre-order tickets for its upcoming "We're Here Now!!: It's the First Festival in Two Years" fan event with Animation Do...
Children of the Sea Film Recasts Sora, Adds 2 More Cast Members
Seishū Uragami replaces Airu Kubozuka due to puberty voice change; Min Tanaka, Win Morisaki join cast
― The official website for Studio 4°C's anime film of Daisuke Igarashi's Children of the Sea (Kaijū no Kodomo) manga revealed three additional cast members for the film on Tuesday. The new cast members include (left to right in image above): Min Tanaka as Jim, a former friend of Anglade and a marine ...
Fairy Tail Characters Merge With Mameshiba In Anime Short
I've seen all kinds of initiatives to try convince veggie-adverse folk to eat more greens, but Mameshiba might be the cutest. Dentsu's Mameshiba brand characters (literally, "bean-shiba") are mysterious creatures that are not quite beans nor Shiba dogs, but something in between. The veggie dogs got brand-new powers on Friday when the characters collaborated with the ongoing anime series Fairy Tail...
Series Premiere: Fairy gone—Episodes 1-2
"In order to realize its potential fully, the story will need to dial back on its exposition and perfunctory plotting, and instead take the necessary time to ensure that its world and characters have emotional stakes worth getting invested in."
Series Premiere: Kono Oto Tomare! Sounds of Life—Episodes 1-2
"Even though this anime is about one of Japan's oldest traditional instruments, its distinctly modern characters keep it fresh and vibrant, never stuffy or dry."
Gley Lancer Scrolling Shooter Game Gets Reprint for Sega Mega Drive Console After 27 Years
Reprint scheduled for June 6 release in Japan.
― Retro game console and novelty goods seller Colombus Circle announced on April 10 that the 1992 scrolling shooter game Gley Lancer (also known as Advanced Busterhawk Gley Lancer, will get a reprint for the Sega Mega Drive on June 6, 2019. It has been 27 years since the game was first released in Japan. Colombus Circle posted a trailer for the re-releas...
One Piece ‒ Episode 880
"We're introduced to four new captains of the Revolutionaries this week as they show up in a port town being ransacked by pirates."
Girls und Panzer: Senshadō no Susume Manga Reaches 'Climax'
Spinoff comedy series launched in 2016
― The May issue of Kadokawa's Monthly Comic Flapper magazine revealed on April 5 that Midori Hagi's Girls und Panzer: Senshadō no Susume manga is reaching its climax in the next issue on May 2. Hagi launched the series in 2016, and the fourth compiled book volume shipped in November. The comedy spinoff explains the history, development, and technical details of ...
Take a Guided Tour of Karakuri Circus French Locales With Anime Voice Cast
Karakuri Circus is getting a guided tour with the anime's voice acting cast in August. Kazuhiro Fujita's high-octane manga series about circus tricks and alchemy gone wrong is partly set in France, which is where the five-day tour will take place. The journey will start in Paris and take participants to Mont St. Michel in Normandy. Fans will be guided around the area and participate in "special fa...
Series Premiere: We Never Learn - BOKUBEN—Episodes 1-2
"The biggest detraction to this cozy harem romcom thus far is how lightly it treads in both its romance and comedy."
100% Pascal-sensei's Yūji Nagai Launches New Manga
A Penguin's Troubles creator's new series centers on alien who crash lands in peaceful town
― Yūji Nagai (A Penguin's Troubles, 100% Pascal-sensei) launched the Armageddon ni Damasareru!! (Tricked by Armageddon!!) manga in the May issue of Shogakukan's Monthly Coro Coro Comic magazine on Monday. A spaceship suddenly makes an emergency landing in the manga protagonist's peaceful town. A slapstick ever...
GeGeGe no Kitarō ‒ Episodes 50-51
Our coverage of this delightfully ooky-spooky family show ends as a new arc begins. Rebecca Silverman sums up her thoughts on this underrated series.
Jouji Nakata's Seiyū Red and White Contest Crowns 1st Winners
Jouji Nakata's inaugural Seiyū Red and White Singing Contest crowned its first ever winners on April 14. The White (Men's) Team landed a victory. The program drew enough interest that it will return next year. The White Team included Natsume's Book of Friends' Kazuhiko Inoue, Yo-kai Watch: Shadowside's Takaya Kuroda Free's Daisuke Hirakawa, Death Note's Naoya Uchida, Black Jack himself Akio Ohtsuk...
Boruto: Naruto Next Generations ‒ Episode 102
"This episode ratchets up the tension in what's been a relatively relaxed arc."
Voice Actress Suzuko Mimori, Wrestler Kazuchika Okada Get Married
Voice actress Suzuko Mimori and professional wrestler Kazuchika Okada announced on their social media accounts on Friday that they have gotten married. Mimori had confirmed that they were in a relationship last year and thanked fans for the support. 私事ですが以前よりお付き合いさせて頂いていた三森すずこさんと入籍したことをご報告させて頂きます。レインメーカーとして”幸せの雨”を家庭に降らせることができるようお互いに協力し合いながら、プロレス界にも変わらずに”カネの雨”を降らせ続けていきますので、今後とも宜しくお願い致します。— オカダ・カズチカ...
Shelf Life - Dagashi Kashi
James takes a bite out of this sugary slice-of-life comedy about junk food, while Paul breaks down all this week's new blu-ray releases!
― Thing I learned this week: if you're going to pick up a late-night shift at your job, you probably shouldn't also pick up the morning shift for the next day. There is not enough caffeine in the world to overcome the crushing realization of "I was just here a few ...
Series Premiere: Demon Slayer Kimetsu no Yaiba—Episodes 1-2
"Beyond its entertaining injections of humor and pathos, I really appreciate Demon Slayer's economy of storytelling."
Fairy Tail: Final Season ‒ Episode 304
"I don't normally advocate for making characters sad, but at this point, Zeref could certainly use a jolt of regret, even if he can't truly stop what he started."
Mysteria Friends
This relaxing slice-of-life yuri anime is worlds apart from its Rage of Bahamut franchise cousins, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Theron Martin digs into this surprisingly satisfying short series.
― This offering from the winter 2019 season has a more convoluted production history than most. Originally titled Rage of Bahamut: Manaria Friends, it was announced in 2015 and scheduled for broadc...
Yasuyuki Kosaka's Hōkago Teibō Nisshi Fishing Manga Gets TV Anime
The Dragon Dentist character designer's story centers on high school girls who fish in the sea
― This year's fifth issue of Akita Shoten's Young Champion Retsu magazine revealed on Tuesday that Yasuyuki Kosaka's Hōkago Teibō Nisshi (Afterschool Embankment Journal) manga is getting a television anime adaptation. A teaser website that features an anime visual and illustration with message from Kosaka a...
29-Year-Old Mie Man Arrested for Distributing World Trigger, More Anime via BitTorrent
Suspect allegedly used BDs to upload, release World Trigger in September
― Police arrested a 29-year-old man under suspicion of violating Japan's copyright laws by using file-sharing software to illegally distribute anime. Osaka Prefectural Police arrested the company employee and Korean national living in Yokkaichi, Mie. According to police, the suspect allegedly used BitTorrent to illegally distrib...
Himote House Anime Gets Unaired OVA Episode Through Crowdfunding
3-Part "Episode 10.5" planned for DVD/BD
― The staff of the Himote House anime launched a crowdfunding campaign for an unaired original video anime (OVA) episode on Saturday, and the campaign already met its goal on Sunday. As of Monday, the campaign surpassed the 3,500,000-yen (about US$31,000) goal for "episode 10.5 at the same level of quality as the previous ones" on DVD, plus the 5,250,000-yen (...
My Hero Academia Takes 9 of Top 20 Spots on U.S. Monthly Bookscan March List
Berserk, Tokyo Ghoul, Boruto, The Life-Changing Manga of Tidying Up also on list
― Kōhei Horikoshi's My Hero Academia manga volume 18 ranked at #2 on NPD BookScan's Top 20 adult graphic novels list for March. This month's list featured 13 manga volumes, including: #2 — Kōhei Horikoshi's My Hero Academia volume 18 #4 — Kōhei Horikoshi's My Hero Academia volume 1 #6 — Kōhei Horikoshi's My Hero Academia...
City Hunter: Shinjuku Private Eyes Anime Film Earns 1.5 Billion Yen
Film sells more than 1 million tickets
― The official website for City Hunter: Shinjuku Private Eyes, the new anime film adaptation of Tsukasa Hojo's City Hunter manga, revealed on Monday that the film has sold 1,058,102 tickets to earn 1,502,665,440 yen (about US$13.4 million) as of Sunday. The film opened in Japan on February 8 in 251 theaters. The film sold 180,000 tickets to earn 257 million yen ...
Tokunana Original Anime Gets Manga by Magia the Ninth's Misa Sazanami
2nd manga to also launch in Monthly Comic Garden magazine
― Kadokawa's Monthly Comic Gene magazine revealed on Monday that Misa Sazanami (Black Bard, Magia the Ninth) will pen a manga adaptation of the original television anime project Keishichō Tokumu-bu Tokushu Kyōaku-han Taisaku-Shitsu Dai-Nana-ka -Tokunana- (Special Crime Investigation Unit Special 7). Nanae Chrono (Peace Maker, Peace Maker Kurog...
Detective Conan: Fist of Blue Sapphire Anime Film Earns Nearly 1.9 Billion Yen in 1st 3 Days
1st 3 days earnings surpass last year's film
― Meitantei Conan: Konjō no Fist (Detective Conan: Fist of Blue Sapphire), the 23rd Detective Conan anime film, sold 1,458,263 tickets to earn 1,886,292,700 yen (about US$16.85 million) in its first three days from Friday through Sunday. The film also debuted at #1 at the Japanese box office for the weekend of April 13-14. The opening weekend earnings surp...
IG Port Revises Earnings Forecast Downward, Reports Earnings
Earnings generally down year-on-year
― IG Port — the parent company of animation studios Production I.G, Wit Studio, XEBEC, Signal.MD, and publisher Mag Garden — revealed on Friday both its new earnings forecasts through the end of its current fiscal year (which ends on May 31, 2019), and its earnings report through the third quarter of the fiscal year (which ended on February 28, 2019). The company ...
Bunshun Magazine: ufotable Owes 400 Million Yen in Taxes
Studio also allegedly misappropriated funds from charity auction for 2011 earthquake
― Bungeishunju's Weekly Bunshun Digital magazine reported last Friday that animation studio ufotable allegedly owes 400 million yen (about US$3.57 million) in taxes, citing a source from the Tokyo Regional Taxation Bureau. The report also noted that ufotable is suspected of supposedly misappropriating funds raised fr...
Wolf & Parchment: New Theory Spice & Wolf Light Novels Get Manga
Hidori draws manga adaptation Spice & Wolf sequel novels for spring debut
― Manga creator Hidori announced on March 14 that they will draw a manga adaptation of Isuna Hasekura's Wolf & Parchment: New Theory Spice & Wolf light novels that will launch in Kadokawa's Dengeki Maoh magazine this spring. Hidori posted an illustration to announce the manga on their Twitter account. Yen Press is releasing the...
Fairy gone Anime Listed With 24 Episodes
― The official website for P.A. Works' original television anime Fairy gone revealed on Sunday that the anime will have eight Blu-ray Disc and DVD home video releases in Japan, for a total of 24 episodes. Each volume will also have "special video content." The volumes are slated to ship in Japan on July 17, August 21, September 18, October 16, December 18, January 22, February 19, and March 18. The ...
Minori Suzuki Performs Ending Theme for Magical Sempai TV Anime
Series premieres in July
― The official website for the television anime adaptation of AZU's Magical Sempai (Tejina Senpai) manga revealed on Monday that Minori Suzuki will perform the show's ending theme song. The anime stars: Kaede Hondo as Senpai Aoi Ichikawa as Assistant Eri Kitamura as Saki-chan Rie Takahashi as Madara-san Daisuke Namikawa as Ma-kun Himika Akaneya as Sister The anime will premi...
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind ‒ Episode 26
"I'm torn between wanting to admire the audacity of this episode and feeling frustrated that I've completely lost sight of the tracks."
Netflix Produces Eden Anime by FMA: Brotherhood Director Yasuhiro Irie
4-episode 2020 anime by Qubic Pictures, CGCG, Cowboy Bebop designer Toshihiro Kawamoto
― Netflix announced on Sunday that it is producing a new four-episode original anime titled Eden. The anime will premiere in 2020. Netflix describes the anime: The upcoming sci-fi fantasy series Eden is set thousands of years in the future, where a city known as “Eden 3” is inhabited solely by robots whose former m...
J.C. Staff Producer Yuji Matsukura Says Hi Score Girl Was Not Originally Intended to be 3D Anime
Game visuals were recorded from real software.
― In an interview with OTAQUEST published on April 5, J.C. Staff producer Yuji Matsukura said that the Hi Score Girl anime was not originally intended to be a 3D anime. The producers convinced the director Yoshiki Yamakawa and original manga creator Rensuke Oshikiri that 3D would be "best for the characters." In particular, Matsukura argued that only 3D ...
TV Anime Short Mayonaka no Boitore Danshi Enters 2nd Season
Anime about male voice actors in training first premiered in January
― The official website for AMG Music's Mayonaka no Boitore Danshi (Midnight Voice Training Boys) television and net anime short series announced on Tuesday that the anime is commencing its second season. The first episode of the second season, or episode 14, aired on TV Kanagawa on April 5, 24:55 (effectively April 6, 12:55 am). The...
Yoyogi Animation School Offers YouTuber Course in 2020
The Yoyogi Animation Academy, which has branches around Japan, will be starting 13 new courses from April 2020. One of those courses is the "YouTube Course," which will introduce students to the current state of YouTube and Virtual YouTubing. In the first year, students will learn how to film and edit programs, organize streams, and how to pitch ideas. In the second year, students will learn dance...
Candy Color Paradox GN 1
If you're a fan of the lighter side of BL, this newest series from Isaku Natsume makes for a sweet treat. Rebecca Silverman has the details.
― Candy Color Paradox is far from Isaku Natsume's first series from Viz's SuBLime imprint – previous works include Ginger Honey, Devil's Honey, and False Memories. That means that for some readers, this is already an anticipated release, especially since her sto...
Super Robot Wars X-Ω Smartphone Game Adds Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet, Shōnen Ashibe GO! GO! Goma-chan Characters
Smartphone game launched in October 2015
― Bandai Namco Entertainment revealed on April 9 that characters from the Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet and Shōnen Ashibe GO! GO! Goma-chan anime will appear in the Super Robot Wars X-Ω smartphone game for a limited-time event. Bandai Namco Entertainment released the smartphone game on iOS and Android devices in October 2015. The robot action RPG features ...
Houston's Anime Matsuri Hosts Voice Actor Nobuhiko Okamoto, Voice Actress Aina Kusuda
Event to be held from June 13-16
― The Anime Matsuri event in Houston announced on Friday that it will host voice actress Aina Kusuda at this year's event. The staff also revealed on April 8 that the event will host voice actor Nobuhiko Okamoto. Kusuda is best known as the character Nozomi Tōjō in the Love Live! School idol project anime and game franchise. She has also voiced Rose in the Rilu Rilu F...
North Carolina's Animazement to Host Producer Masao Maruyama, A-1 Pictures President Masuo Ueda
Voice actors Katsuji Mori, Kotono Mitsuishi, Ryusei Nakao, Keiko Han, more attend May event
― The Animazement event announced on Friday that it will host producer Masao Maruyama and A-1 Pictures president Masuo Ueda at this year's event in North Carolina. Maruyama was involved in the establishment of MADHOUSE in 1972. Since then, he has nurtured talents such as Tetsuro Araki, Atsuko Ishizuka and the ...
High School Fleet Anime Film's Teaser Unveils Cast, Staff, Early Spring 2020 Debut
TV anime's main cast, director Yuu Nobuta return at A-1 Pictures
― The High School Fleet Broadcast's 3rd Anniversary Event debuted a new teaser trailer for the upcoming new High School Fleet anime film on Sunday. The teaser and the anime's website reveals the film's cast, staff, and premiere in early spring 2020. 【特報】劇場版「ハイスクール・フリート」2020年初春全国ロードショー!!✨ティザーPVも公開👏https://t.co/IoWTUTS6FB#はいふり pic.twitter...
I★CHU Idol Smartphone Game Gets TV Anime
Game featuring male idols in school setting launched in summer 2015
― Twin Engine announced on Sunday that Liber Entertainment Inc.'s I★CHU smartphone game is getting a television anime adaptation titled I★CHU Étoile Stage. Liber Entertainment Inc. is credited with the original work, Ailedore Public Relations Department is credited as manufacturer, and Twin Engine is producing the series. Liber Enter...
Touhou Project Tower Defense Game Gensokyō Defenders Gets Release on Steam
Neetpia released game on PS4, Switch in English on November 29
― Steam is currently listing that developer Neetpia and publisher Sony Music Entertainment will release the Gensokyo Defenders game and the Gensokyo Defenders Plus DLC on the platform on April 24. The DLC will include three new characters and harder traps. The dōjin tower defense game based on Touhou Project features more than 20 playable...
Disgaea RPG Smartphone App Will Not Return for At Least 3 Months, Will Reset Game Data
Smartphone game launched on March 19 with bugs hindering accessibility
― Nippon Ichi Software and ForwardWorks apologized in a post on Friday for the continued unplayability of their Makai Senki Disgaea RPG smartphone game. The two companies stated that the game needs major repairs and estimate that the repairs and testing will take more than three months. The companies explained that after they laun...
Io Sakisaka's 'Omoi, Omoware, Furi, Furare' Manga Ends on May 13
Manga to also have "big news" on same day
― The May issue of Shueisha's Bessatsu Margaret magazine revealed on Friday that Io Sakisaka's Omoi, Omoware, Furi, Furare manga will end in the magazine's June issue on May 13. The June issue will also feature "big news" for the manga. The manga will feature on the June issue's cover, and the final chapter will be 46 pages long with an opening color page. T...
Konami Reveals Tokimeki Memorial Girl's Side 4 Game
New game in dating-sim series stars Yuuki Kaji, Jun Fukuyama, Takuya Satō, more
― The "Tokimeki Memorial Girl's Side Days 2019 Habataki Watcher Zōkangō" event on Saturday revealed that Konami is developing the Tokimeki Memorial Girl's Side 4 game. The event did not reveal the game's platform(s). Komatsubara is designing the characters. Cast members include: Yuuki Kaji as Ryōta Kazama Takuya Satō as N...
Kadokawa's Dengeki Bunko Magazine Moves From Bimonthly to Seasonal Release
― The official website for Kadokawa's Dengeki Bunko Magazine revealed on Wednesday that the magazine is switching from a bimonthly (every other month) release format to a seasonal release (every three months) format. The next issue, the magazine's August issue, will ship on July 10. The light novel magazine launched in December 2007 as a successor to the Dengeki hp magazine. Aside from light novels,...
Toho Invests in International Subsidiary in America
Investment part of management plan involving foreign co-productions, other foreign plans
― Toho announced on Wednesday that it invested a substantial amount of funds to its Los Angeles-based Toho International subsidiary on March 5, with the company's 1.383 million shares now amounting to a 15.446 billion yen (about US$138 million) worth, a massive increase from the company's previous 3,000 shares. T...
Japan's Video Game Rankings, April 1-7
Super Dragon Ball Heroes: World Mission debuts at #1
― Editor's Note: 4Gamer stopped providing a top 20 weekly games sales list starting with the week of March 25-31. ANN will be using Famitsu's weekly games sales list going forward. Famitsu's list is not based on Media Create's data, and therefore may contain different numbers. Japan's Game Ranking: April 1-7 Rank System Title Maker Release Date Wee...
Japan's Video Game Rankings, March 25-31
Yoshi's Crafted World debuts at #1
― Editor's Note: 4Gamer stopped providing a top 20 weekly games sales list starting with the week of March 25-31. ANN will be using Famitsu's weekly game sales list going forward. Famitsu's list is not based on Media Create's data, and therefore may contain different numbers. Japan's Game Ranking: March 25-31 Rank System Title Maker Release Date Weekly Copies Total ...
Ghibli Co-Founder Toshio Suzuki Discusses Why Studio Did Not Seek Growth
"With regards to merchandise, we resolved not to make more than 10 billion yen."
― In an interview with Yahoo! News posted on April 5, former Ghibli producer and studio co-founder Toshio Suzuki discussed his attitude towards merchandising and current industry trends, and explains why Ghibli has not sought perpetual growth. "I don't know if Ghibli's financial accounts are open to the public, but when ...
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Game Sells 2 Million Copies Worldwide in Less Than 10 Days
― Activision announced on Thursday that FromSoftware's Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice game has sold more than 2 million copies worldwide in less than 10 days. The game launched for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC via Steam on March 22. Activision is publishing the game, and it describes the game: Directed by Hidetaka Miyazaki, and published by Activision, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is a third-person, acti...
Man's Pokémon Card Collection Appraised at 7.6 Million Yen
A man's collection of 31 Pokémon cards was assessed by professional appraisers on the Kaiun! Nandemo Kanteidan (Good Fortune! The Group That Appraises Everything) program that first aired on TV Tokyo on April 9. The collector, whose name is Yoshiharu Takahashi, estimated his collection to be worth 1.2 million yen (US$10,730), but according to professional appraiser Yūya Satō, it was actually worth...
One Punch Man Voice Actors Get Quizzed On Series Trivia
One Punch Man voice actors Makoto Furukawa (who plays Saitama), Kaito Ishikawa (Genos), Hiroki Yasumoto (King) and Toshiki Masuda (Charanko) appeared as guests to the “pre-broadcast special stage” for One-Punch Man season 2 at AnimeJapan 2019. To prepare themselves for the upcoming anime, which premiered this week, the voice actors participated in a quiz game about trivia from the first season. Th...
Japan's Animation TV Ranking, April 1-7
Natsuzora series ranked with 2 episodes
― The premiere episode of the Natsuzora live-action series about the early Japanese animation industry aired on NHK on Monday, April 1 at 12:45 p.m. and earned a 10.9% rating, while the third episode aired on Wednesday, April 3 at 8:00 a.m. and earned a 23% rating. Michael Dudok de Wit and Studio Ghibli's The Red Turtle film aired alongside Hideaki Anno and Stu...
Japan's Animation TV Ranking, March 25-31
2nd, 3rd Chihayafuru films air
― NTV aired Chihayafuru: Shimo no Ku, the second live-action Chihayafuru film, on Monday, March 25 at 1:59 a.m. and it earned a 2.0% rating. The channel aired the third film, Chihayafuru: Musubi, on Friday, March 29 at 9:15 p.m., and it earned a 6.3% rating. Title Station Date Time Length Average Household Rating Sazae-san Fuji TV March 31 (Sun) 18:30 30 min. 13.0 Chibi...
Okko's Inn, Code Geass: Lelouch of the Re;surrection Anime Films to Also Screen in Canada in May
Okko's Inn to screen May 4, 6; Code Geass: Lelouch of the Re;surrection to screen May 5, 9, 10
― Canadian theater chain Cineplex and Landmark Cinemas are listing that they will screen the Okko's Inn (Waka Okami wa Shōgakusei!) anime film in Canada in May. Screenings on May 4 will be English dubbed, while screenings on May 6 will be in Japanese with English subtitles. Locations and showtimes are avail...
Square Enix's Last Idea Smartphone Game Launches on April 18
― Square Enix announced on Friday that it will launch official service for its Last Idea smartphone treasure-hunting role-playing game on April 18 for iOS and Android. The game follows a novice treasure hunter, the protagonist, and a mysterious amnesiac girl named Lucrecia. In the beginning, the protagonist goes to an abandoned castle on an island to follow a lead given to them by a fortune teller f...
Love is Like a Cocktail Manga Ends in 12th Volume
Manga inspired series of anime shorts in October 2017
― The 11th volume of Crystal na Yōsuke's Osake wa Fūfu ni Natte kara manga revealed on Friday that the manga will end with the 12th volume, which will ship on September 12. The manga inspired a 13-episode series of anime shorts that premiered in October 2017. Crunchyroll streamed the anime under the title Love is Like a Cocktail, and it describes ...
Sentai Filmworks' A-Channel Anime Release Goes Out of Print This Month
― Sentai Filmworks is listing that its home video release of the A-Channel anime series will go out of print as of April 30, or as long as supplies last. The company's site is currently selling the Blu-ray Disc for US$11.99 and the DVD for US$9.99. The company released the series on DVD in 2012, and then on Blu-ray Disc in 2015. Sentai Filmworks describes the story: Toru and Run have been best frien...
'FictionJunction feat. LiSA' Performs Ending Theme for Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Anime
Series premiered on April 6
― The official website for the television anime of Koyoharu Gotouge's Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba manga revealed on Saturday that "FictionJunction feat. LiSA" is performing the ending theme song "from the edge" for the anime. "FictionJunction feat." is the wording composer Yuki Kajiura uses when collaborating with a solo singer. Kajiura — who is also composing the music...
Detective Conan: Fist of Blue Sapphire Anime Film Earns 422 Million Yen on Opening Day
Opening day earnings surpass last year's film
― Meitantei Conan: Konjō no Fist (Detective Conan: Fist of Blue Sapphire), the 23rd Detective Conan anime film, sold 313,724 tickets to earn 422,465,000 yen (about US$3.77 million) on its opening day on Friday. The opening day earnings surpassed last year's film. Tomoka Nagaoka (assistant director on Detective Conan: The Crimson Love Letter) directed the ...
Berserk Manga Resumes After 8-Month Hiatus
Kentarou Miura last published new chapter in August
― This year's eighth issue of Hakusensha's Young Animal magazine revealed on Friday that Kentarou Miura's Berserk manga will return from hiatus in the combined ninth and 10th issues on April 26. The new chapter will have a color opening page. Miura last published a new chapter for the manga in August. Miura launched the manga in 1989, and Hakusensha...
Crunchyroll Adds King of Prism -SSS-, Ao-chan Can't Study, Namuamidabutsu! -Utena-, Senryu Girl, 'Why the hell are you here, Teacher!?' Anime
King of Prism -SSS- streams on Monday, others stream on Friday
― Crunchyroll announced on Friday that it is streaming KING OF PRISM -Shiny Seven Stars-, Ao-chan Can't Study, NAMUAMIDABUTSU! -UTENA-, Senryu Girl, and Why the hell are you here, Teacher!? anime titles this spring. KING OF PRISM -Shiny Seven Stars- will debut on Monday, while the other four titles, all of which Sentai Filmworks has licen...
Huwie Ishizaki Performs For Whom The Alchemist Exists Film's Theme Songs
Film based on smartphone game opens on June 14
― The website for For Whom The Alchemist Exists, the theatrical film adaptation of the The Alchemist Code (Ta ga Tame no Alchemist or For Whom the Alchemist) smartphone game, announced on Friday that singer-songwriter Huwie Ishizaki will perform the film's theme song and ending song. The film's theme song is "Namida" (Tears), and the ending song is "Ano ...
Gundam 40th Anniversary Adds Cinema Concerts
Mobile Suit Gundam's 40th anniversary has included exciting new anime projects and an epic face-off against Hello Kitty but the franchise is just getting started. The staff have multiple live events, including concerts and theater screenings, in the works. The first cinema concert of the "Gundam" series will be held at Tokyo Opera City on August 16 and 17. The Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra will per...
Sorcerous Stabber Orphen Gets 2 Stage Plays in August, November
Plays, anime mark 25th anniversary of Yoshinobu Akita's novels
― A new Twitter account opened on Friday to reveal that Yoshinobu Akita's Sorcerous Stabber Orphen (Majutsushi Orphen Haguretabi) light novel series is inspiring two stage plays. The first play will run at Shinjukumura LIVE in Tokyo from August 15-18, and the second play will run at Rikkōkai Hall in Tokyo from November 7-12. The first pla...
Funimation Streams Midnight Occult Civil Servants, Million Arthur Anime
FunimationNow's Million Arthur stream debuts on April 25, Midnight Occult Civil Servants on April 28
― Funimation announced on Friday that it will begin streaming Midnight Occult Civil Servants and the first and second seasons of Million Arthur on its FunimationNow streaming service this month. Funimation will begin streaming the English simuldub of the television anime of Yōko Tamotsu's Mayonaka no ...
Anime Midstream Licenses B't X Neo OVA Series, Reveals English Dub Trailer
DVD release listed for April 26
― Sound Cadence Studios revealed on Thursday that Dallas-based anime licensing company Anime Midstream, Inc. has licensed B't X Neo, the original video animation sequel to the B't X television anime of Masami Kurumada's (Saint Seiya) manga of the same name. Anime Midstream will release the series on DVD in Japanese with English subtitles and with an English dub. Sound ...
Osamu Tezuka's Former Assistant Pens Book About Life Around Office Dining Table
What was it like to eat dinner with one of the most important figures in manga history? Osamu Tezuka's former assistant Akio Hotta released his book discussing that formative period on April 10. Tezuka Osamu Assistant no Shokutaku (Osamu Tezuka Assistant's Table) looks back at what Tezuka's team of assistants were eating and their work habits alongside other adventures like the treasures they disc...
Otakon to Host BRADIO as Musical Guest
Convention takes place on July 26-28
― The official Twitter account for Otakon announced on Thursday that this year's event will host the rock band BRADIO as a musical guest. The group has performed theme songs for the Death Parade, Peeping Life TV Season 1??, and Duel Masters! anime. The band attended Texas' A-Kon convention last year. The band consists of vocalist Takaaki Shingyōji, guitarist Sōich...
Yamanashi Prefecture's Kuon-ji Temple Screens Laid-Back Camp Info Video
The characters of Afro's Laid-Back Camp anime are the new video ambassadors for Kuon-ji, a large temple in in Yamanashi prefecture. The over half-millennia old temple (also called Minobu-san Temple due to its location on Mt. Minobu) has an electronic bulletin board located in its reception hall. Characters Nadeshiko Kagamihara (Yumiri Hanamori) and Rin Shima (Nao Tōyama) will appear in a video tit...
Gourmet Girl Graffiti's Makoto Kawai Ends Amaetai Hi wa Soba ni Ite Manga
3rd compiled book volume ships on May 27
― This year's May issue of Houbunsha's Manga Time Kirara magazine published the final chapter of Happy Cooking Graffiti manga creator Makoto Kawai's Amaetai Hi wa Soba ni Ite four-panel manga on Tuesday. Houbunsha will publish the manga's third and final compiled book volume on May 27. Kawai launched the manga in Manga Time Kirara in March 2017. The "android l...
Real-life K-ON Musical Instrument Store Relocates in Fukushima
The Akitaya Music Store, which is the inspiration for the music store depicted in the K-ON! television anime series, temporarily closed its doors on March 31 in order to relocate to Satsuki-cho, Fukushima. On Tuesday, the store's site posted an announcement saying that business will resume in May. The store was formally located in Paseo-Dori, Fukushima. K-ON! pilgrimage goers won't have to worry a...
Crunchyroll Expo to Host Wit Studio President, CEO George Wada
Convention to be held on August 30-September 1
― Crunchyroll announced on Friday that it will host Wit Studio president and CEO George Wada at the Crunchyroll Expo event this year. He will participate in panels, autograph sessions, and other events. Wada worked for Production I.G before establishing Wit Studio in 2012. Wit Studio has animated series such as Attack on Titan, Kabaneri of the Iron Fortr...
Crunchyroll Confirms Saga of Tanya the Evil Anime Film's U.S. Screening in May
Trailer previews May 16 screening in more than 500 theaters
― Crunchyroll confirmed on Friday that it will screen the Saga of Tanya the Evil (Yōjo Senki) anime film in more than 500 theaters in the United States on May 16 at 7:30 p.m. local time. The company also began streaming a promotional video for the event. Crunchyroll also revealed a visual for the screening. The English-subtitled screening th...
The Quintessential Quintuplets Animator Eiichi Kuboyama Criticizes Anime's Layouts
Eiichi Kuboyama, who served as an key animator on The Quintessential Quintuplets, posted a series of tweets on Wednesday criticizing one of the layouts shown in the anime. He posted a screenshot from episode 12 and wrote: "An unfortunate layout that's common in anime these days. It reeks of a copypasted storyboard. There are a lot of storyboards that give the impression that the characters are bur...
Freezing Creators Put Manga on Hiatus, Launch New Series in April
New manga centers on "has-been goddess" who creates alternate world
― The official Twitter account for Kill Time Communication's Comic Web Valkyrie manga website revealed on Friday that writer Dall-Young Lim and artist Kwang-Hyun Kim will launch a new manga series this month. The announcement teases that the manga will center on a "has-been goddess" who creates an alternate world. In addition, the an...
Our World is Ended Game's English Trailer Previews Judgement 7 Characters
Game launches in West for PS4/Switch/PC this year on April 18
― PQube began streaming on Thursday a character trailer for its release of Our World is Ended (Judgement 7: Ore-tachi no Sekai wa Owatteiru.), the PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch version of Red Entertainment's Our World is Ended (Ore-tachi no Sekai wa Owatteiru.) game. The video previews the Judgement 7developer team characters Sekai Owa...
Final Fantasy XV's Tabata Develops Sports RPG for Tokyo Paralympic Games
Tabata's new JP Games studio develops International Paralympic Committee's 1st game
― The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) announced on Friday that Final Fantasy XV game director Hajime Tabata and his new studio JP Games are developing The Pegasus Dream Tour game in the lead-up to the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. The game will be IPC's first official video game, and the goal of the project is...
Cheer Boys!! Anime Cast Member Appears in Live-Action Film Version
Haruki actors Yūki Yonai, Ryūsei Yokohama appear together in bathhouse scene
― The official website for the television anime of Ryō Asai's Cheer Danshi!! (Cheer Boys!!) novel revealed on Friday that Yūki Yonai, who voices Haruki Bandō in the anime, will appear in the live-action film adaptation of the novel. Yonai will appear in a with the film's Haruki actor Ryūsei Yokohama in a bathhouse scene, whi...
Tokunana TV Anime Casts Kenji Nomura
Fate/Apocrypha's Yuichiro Higashide writes about misfit unit battling dragon worshippers
― The official website for the original television anime Keishichō Tokumu-bu Tokushu Kyōaku-han Taisaku-Shitsu Dai-Nana-ka -Tokunana- (Special Crime Investigation Unit Special 7 or literally, Metropolitan Police Department Special Division Heinous Crime Investigation Unit Special 7: Tokunana) announced on Friday ...
Taiyo Matsumoto Launches Manga About Manga Editor's Life After Early Retirement
Tekkonkinkreet, Ping Pong author launches Tokyo Higoro manga in June
― The May issue of Shogakukan's Big Comic Original Zōkan magazine revealed on Friday that manga creator Taiyo Matsumoto will launch a new manga titled Tokyo Higoro (Tokyo Everyday) in the magazine's July issue on June 12. The magazine describes the manga as a "requiem for the anguished, lost, and wandering in life over 50." With Jap...
Yahoo! Japan Worker Charged With Altering Shogakukan's Manga App to Extend Reading Hours
Police: suspect altered system to increase free reading time
― Police in Shibuya, Tokyo filed charges against a 25-year-old male employee of Yahoo! Japan for allegedly modifying the system of Shogakukan's Manga ONE app without permission to extend his reading time to 160,000 hours. According to authorities, the man has admitted to the charges. The authorities allege that around March 10, 2016, the su...
Gou Tanabe Launches Manga of H.P. Lovecraft's The Call of Cthulhu Story
Tanabe's latest adaptation of Lovecraft's works
― The May issue of Kadokawa's Monthly Comic Beam magazine revealed on Friday that Gou Tanabe will launch a manga adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft's The Call of Cthulhu story. The official Twitter account for Monthly Comic Beam retweeted manga creator Jun Hanyūnyū's post with a photograph of the announcement. The original short story features the first appea...
Kei Toume's Sing 'Yesterday' for Me Manga Listed With TV Anime
Manga ran from from 1997-2015, centers on unemployed college graduate
― Amazon is listing the digital version of this year's 10th issue of Shueisha's Grand Jump magazine with the cover, which reveals that Kei Toume's Sing "Yesterday" for Me (Yesterday o Utatte) manga is inspiring a television anime adaptation. Both the physical and digital versions of the magazine are slated for April 17. The coming-...
Original One-Punch Man Web Manga Gets New Chapter After 2-Year Hiatus
Manga creator ONE posted 109th chapter back in January 2017
― Manga creator ONE posted the 110th chapter of his original One-Punch Man web manga on Monday, more than two years after he released the 109th chapter in January 2017. Yuusuke Murata and ONE launched the separate, ongoing One-Punch Man manga on Shueisha's free "Tonari no Young Jump" website in 2012. The series is a remake of ONE's original ...
Carole & Tuesday Anime Streams 3rd Behind-the-Scenes Video
Anime by Shinichiro Watanabe, BONES premiered on Wednesday
― The official YouTube channel for Carole & Tuesday, the new original anime by supervising director Shinichiro Watanabe (Cowboy Bebop, Kids on the Slope, Terror in Resonance) and anime studio BONES, began streaming the anime's third and final behind-the-scenes "Story of a Miracle" video on Wednesday. The video shows the history of the anime p...
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