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Answerman - Why Are Some Fan Works OK, But Some Get Shut Down?
When it comes to fan works - cosplay, fanart, fan films and games - copyright seems to be only enforced arbitrarily. Why is that - and which fan works are less likely to get the hook? Justin gets into it.
― James asked: I have noticed that most companies tolerate fanart, fanfiction, and cosplay of their works, but not fan-films or fan-made video games, which seems very arbitrary and random, to me. W...
Shelf Life - Kado: The Right Answer
James delves into a divisive CG sci fi thriller from last spring while Paul breaks down all this week's new anime releases!
― I've officially hit the point in every anime season where I look at my streaming queue and think, "Aw, crap." Apart from the two shows I'm covering for streaming reviews, I'm weeks and weeks behind on everything. I sense a late-night marathon in my immediate future. Welcome t...
Survey: Tell us about your favorite anime
Tell us what anime you want to see remade and you might win a $100 Amazon gift certificate.
― One of ANN's customers is looking for some opinions and put this survey together. E-mail addresses are requested in order to contact the winners of the gift certificates. They will not be used for any other purpose. If you are interested in providing your opinions on the survey, but not interested in winning...
Juana and the Dragonewt's Seven Kingdoms GNs 1-2
The first two thirds of this fantasy road trip are humble yet satisfying. Rebecca Silverman explores the attractive art and charming idiosyncrasies of the dragonewt kingdoms.
― Everything eventually cycles back around. That's part of the philosophy behind the world building of Kiyohisa Tanaka's debut manga series, Juana and the Dragonewt's Seven Kingdoms: first there were dinosaurs, then there were h...
This Week in Games - E3 Part 2: Game Announcements Ahoy!
This special sunday edition of This Week in Games collects E3's most exciting game announcements, plus the rest of this week's gaming news. If you feel like you missed anything at E3, catch up here!
― And we're back with the second part of our E3 news extravaganza! Except that, as I write this, the internet is losing its mind over something totally unrelated to E3: a tease by Studio Trigger that it's...
Mia and the Forbidden Medicine Report
This steampunk adventure novel explores the stigmatization of illness in refreshing and engaging ways. Rebecca Silverman explores how.
― Despite having some of the trappings of a standard reverse harem school story, Mia and the Forbidden Medicine Report is much more of a science drama than a romance. The story takes place in a vaguely early 20th century steampunk setting, where country girl Mia Bauma...
The List - 6 Anime to Watch With Your Dad
Introducing anime to newbies can be a weird experience, especially if that newbie is your own dad! Here are some pops-friendly anime options just in time for Father's Day!
― I just got back from camping out in the woods (okay it was a state park) and roughing it old school (in a cabin) but while much of America is barbecuing with their folks, it's the perfect opportunity to turn on one of these show...
A Kiss, For Real GN 1
This relatable romance story focuses on personal transformation as much as first love. Rebecca Silverman has the details.
― If there's a time in your life tailor-made for trying to hide in plain sight, it's middle and high school. Chitose learned that lesson a little earlier than most of her classmates, however: her parents run a fusion restaurant with Indian themes, and Chitose was picked on for com...
Nameless Asterism GNs 1-2
This romance story's potentially melodramatic love geometry is grounded by realistic depictions of middle schoolers trying to navigate relationships with maturity. Rebecca Silverman has the details.
― Nameless Asterism's synopsis might make you think that it's a melodrama of the highest order. And maybe it is, on paper – after all, it has more love geometry than titles that wear that as a badge of pr...
The Best and Worst of Spring 2018, Jun 3-9
A new challenger pushes MEGALOBOX out of the top spot as the spring rankings begin to wind down. Find out where your favorite shows ranked as the summer approaches!
― Our team of reviewers are following 27 anime series of the Spring 2018 season and readers are rating each episode as the reviews go up. So let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season. Keep in mind ...
Monday, June 18
Yui Horie, Kenji Nojima, Ryota Takeuchi Join Food Wars! The Third Plate Anime's Cast
3 new characters to debuted as judges in episode 23 on Monday
― The Twitter account for the Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma anime revealed cast members for the Régiment de Cuisine judges in Food Wars! The Third Plate on Monday. Yui Horie plays Anne (right in image below), Kenji Nojima plays Charme (center in image below), and Ryota Takeuchi plays Histoire (left in image below). The characters debuted in...
Answerman - Why Are Some Fan Works OK, But Some Get Shut Down?
When it comes to fan works - cosplay, fanart, fan films and games - copyright seems to be only enforced arbitrarily. Why is that - and which fan works are less likely to get the hook? Justin gets into it.
― James asked: I have noticed that most companies tolerate fanart, fanfiction, and cosplay of their works, but not fan-films or fan-made video games, which seems very arbitrary and random, to me. W...
Homura Yūki's Infinite Stratos Manga Goes on Hiatus Until Next Year
Manga based on light novel series launched in 2013
― The July issue of Shogakukan's Monthly Sunday GX magazine revealed on Tuesday that Homura Yuki's Infinite Stratos manga adaptation is going on hiatus and will return next year. Shogakukan plans to publish the seventh manga volume around the same time that the manga will return, and will announce the return date in the magazine and on the magazine's...
Pokémon GO Game Offers Friends, Gifting, Trading Features
Friends feature debuts this week
― Niantic announced on Monday that its Pokémon GO game will add friends, gifting, and trading features. The friends feature will launch this week, and the other features will launch soon. Niantic software engineer Kirsten Koa confirmed additional details about the new features at a press event at E3. Players will be able to become friends to use the new features via T...
Caligula ‒ Episode 11
"Caligula's penultimate episode isn't what I would call “good”, but it does offer glimpses into what a successful version of this show might have been."
Shelf Life - Kado: The Right Answer
James delves into a divisive CG sci fi thriller from last spring while Paul breaks down all this week's new anime releases!
― I've officially hit the point in every anime season where I look at my streaming queue and think, "Aw, crap." Apart from the two shows I'm covering for streaming reviews, I'm weeks and weeks behind on everything. I sense a late-night marathon in my immediate future. Welcome t...
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Franchise Has 'Big News' This Summer
The wraparound jacket band on the Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan short story collection novel (pictured at right) announced on Tuesday that there will be "big news" for Hirohiko Araki's JoJo's Bizarre Adventure franchise this summer. Araki's Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan (Kishibe Rohan wa Ugokanai) spinoff manga is getting a second anime DVD will ship with the manga's second volume on July 19. The anime will...
Survey: Tell us about your favorite anime
Tell us what anime you want to see remade and you might win a $100 Amazon gift certificate.
― One of ANN's customers is looking for some opinions and put this survey together. E-mail addresses are requested in order to contact the winners of the gift certificates. They will not be used for any other purpose. If you are interested in providing your opinions on the survey, but not interested in winning...
Cutie Honey Universe ‒ Episode 11
"There are times in this episode where it feels like the consistently troubled Cutie Honey Universe is truly in free-fall."
Juana and the Dragonewt's Seven Kingdoms GNs 1-2
The first two thirds of this fantasy road trip are humble yet satisfying. Rebecca Silverman explores the attractive art and charming idiosyncrasies of the dragonewt kingdoms.
― Everything eventually cycles back around. That's part of the philosophy behind the world building of Kiyohisa Tanaka's debut manga series, Juana and the Dragonewt's Seven Kingdoms: first there were dinosaurs, then there were h...
Steins;Gate Elite Game Reveals Opening Movie, September 20 Release
Game with new anime scenes ships for PS4, PS Vita, Switch in Japan
― The official website for 5pb. Games' Steins;Gate Elite game revealed on Monday that the game will launch for PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, and Nintendo Switch in Japan on September 20. 5pb. Games also began streaming the opening movie for the game. White Fox (Steins;Gate, Steins;Gate 0, Steins;Gate: The Movie - Load Region of Déj...
My Hero Academia: Two Heroes Film's 2nd Teaser Promotes Manga Bonus
"Volume 0" bonus offered with manga, character intros, "secret dialogue" between Kohei Horikoshi & Eiichiro Oda
― The official website for the My Hero Academia: Two Heroes (My Hero Academia THE MOVIE: Futari no Hero) film began streaming the film's second teaser on Monday. The teaser promotes the one million "volume 0" (volume Origin) books that participating theaters in Japan will give to moviegoers...
K: Seven Stories Film Series' 1st 3 Films Previewed in Videos
angela perform opening, ending themes for 6-part film series premiering on July 7
― The official website for GoRA and GoHands' K franchise began streaming previews on Monday for the first three installments of the six-part K: Seven Stories theatrical anime project. The videos preview angela's ending theme song for each film. The first film in the six-part project, R:B ~Blaze~, will open in theaters i...
Sukima Switch, ENDRECHERI Cancel Monday Performances Due to Osaka Earthquake
Sukima Switch to announce rescheduling details at later date
― Music duo Sukima Switch announced on Monday that they have cancelled their scheduled Monday performance in Kyoto's ROHM Theater due to the earthquake that struck Osaka and the surrounding areas earlier that morning. The performance was part of the duo's "ALGOrhythm" tour. The group's official website will announce further details for resc...
MAGES President Reveals Existence of Switch Versions of Robotics;Notes Elite, Memories Off Games
Robotics;Notes Elite debuted for PS Vita in 2014, Memories Off -Innocent Fille- on March 29
― MAGES. president Chiyomaru Shikura revealed the existence of a Switch version of both the Robotics;Notes Elite and Memories Off -Innocent Fille- games during a live stream on Sunday. Shikura did not say if the versions were slated for release. The original Robotics;Notes PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 visual nov...
Fighting EX Layer PS4 Game's 2 Videos Show Matches
PS4 game to launch in 68 countries & regions on June 28
― ARIKA began streaming a gameplay video for its Fighting EX Layer PlayStation 4 fighting game on Sunday. The video shows various characters in the game in matches. The company also began streaming a four-minute video previewing the game's "expert mode." The game will launch in 68 countries and regions beginning on June 28. The game will be the ...
Live-Action Rainbow Days Film's Video Previews Kenji Furuya Theme Song
Film opens on July 6
― The official YouTube channel of Japanese film news website Cinema Today began streaming a "special video" for the live-action film of Minami Mizuno's Rainbow Days (Nijiiro Days) manga on Sunday. The video highlights the film's main characters, and previews the film's theme song "Wanderlust," which Dragon Ash vocalist Kenji Furuya created specifically for the film. The film open...
FLOW Performs Theme Song for Live-Action Sachiiro no One Room Series
Limited edition of "Neiro" single will have jacket art by Hakuri
― The staff of the live-action drama adaptation of Hakuri's Sachiiro no One Room manga revealed on Monday that rock band FLOW will perform the drama's theme song "Neiro" (Timbre). The CD single's limited edition will get a jacket with art drawn by Hakuri (seen below). The drama stars Anna Yamada (right in images below) as Sachi and Shūh...
Funimation's License for Shiki Anime Expires on June 30
Funimation announced on Sunday that it will remove the Shiki anime from its catalog on June 30. Funimation describes Shiki: As citizens of a secluded village die off in alarming numbers, the head doctor tries desperately to save them—but his efforts are in vain. Panic and disillusionment run rampant as loved ones' corpses rise from the grave with an insatiable thirst for human blood. Haunting and ...
Phantom in the Twilight Anime's 5th Character Video, Additional Cast Unveiled
5th character video highlights Baileu Ton; 7 cast members added for July 9 anime
― The official website for smartphone game company Happy Elements' first original anime Phantom in the Twilight began streaming the show's fifth character video on Sunday. The video highlights the character Baileu Ton (voiced by Kana Hanazawa). The anime's official Twitter account also revealed new cast members and chara...
Sunday, June 17
Muhyo & Roji Anime Reveals 6 More Cast Members
Tetsuharu Ohta, Kōhei Amasaki, Yōji Ueda, Ami Koshimizu, Kazumasa Fukagawa, Kyousuke Ikeda join anime
― The official website for the television anime adaptation of Yoshiyuki Nishi's Muhyo to Roji no Mahōritsu Sōdan Jimusho (Muhyo & Roji's Bureau of Supernatural Investigation) manga revealed additional cast members for the anime on Monday. The additional cast includes: Tetsuharu Ohta as Tiki Kōhei Ama...
Shonen Jump Magazine Launches 2 New Manga
Keiji Amatsuka, Takahide Totsuno launch new manga in June, July
― This year's 29th issue of Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine revealed on Monday that the magazine will launch two new manga. Keiji Amatsuka will launch the Sōgō Jikan Jigyō Kaisha Daihyō Torijimariyaku Kaichō Senzoku Hisho Tanaka Seiji (General Temporal Enterprise Representative Director/President's Private Secretary Seiji Tanaka) ...
Natsuki Hanae, Tomokazu Sugita Join Cast of Black Clover Anime
Both voice actors to play Magic Knights captains
― This year's 29th issue of Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine revealed two more cast members on Monday for the television anime adaptation of Yūki Tabata's Black Clover manga. The two cast members will appear in the show's 38th episode. Natsuki Hanae as Rill Boismortier, captain of the Azure Deer squad of Magic Knights Tomokazu Sugita as Gueldre P...
Cells at Work Anime's Video Reveals More Cast Members
Shōya Chiba, Mamiko Noto join cast; new visual unveiled
― The official website for the television anime of Akane Shimizu's Cells at Work! (Hataraku Saibō) manga posted a new promotional video, visual, and new cast members for the anime on Monday. Shōya Chiba will join the cast as B cell (seen below). In addition, Mamiko Noto will narrate the show. The site also revealed additional airing dates for th...
GeGeGe no Kitarō ‒ Episode 12
"Like most episodes of this series, there's a point to its darkest moments."
Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online ‒ Episode 10
"This phase of the battle was dramatically satisfying and featured a couple of nice twists along the way."
Studio Ponoc's Modest Heroes Anime Anthology Unveils Cast, Composers
Joe Odagiri, Machiko Ono, Fumino Kimura star with Marnie, .hack//Legend of the Twilight composers
― The official website for Studio Ponoc's three-part anime anthology film Modest Heroes (Chiisana Eiyū: Kani to Tamago to Tōmei Ningen) announced its cast and musical composers on Monday. Hiromasa Yonebayashi is directing the 15-minute fantasy adventure story "Kanini & Kanino" ("Kani no Kanino") about tw...
Nestlé Promotes Coffee Drinks With The Rose of Versailles Portrait Maker
Nestlé Japan is teaming up with Riyoko Ikeda's The Rose of Versailles manga for the "Ice Crema de Nigaoe Maker" project. The online self portrait-making tool lets users recreate their likenesses in images with the manga's style. The project promotes the Nescafé Gold Blend Handy Ice Crema Server item that can create foam on a cold cup of Nescafé Gold Blend coffee drinks. The online portrait-making ...
Mother Collects Shonen Jump for 7 Years to Honor Son Who Died in Quake
About 350 volumes of Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine cover a wall in a home in Natori, Miyagi. Yūko Tanno (name romanization not confirmed) is not necessarily a fan of shōnen manga herself, but her son Kōta was. Tanno lost her 13-year-old son in the Great East Japan Earthquake disaster, which occurred on March 11, 2011. Every week for the seven years and three months since then, the 49-year...
Black Clover: Quartet Knights Game Adds Charmy as Playable Character
Game for PS4, PC launches in Americas, Europe on September 14
― This year's 29th issue of Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine revealed on Monday that Charmy Pappitson is joining the Black Clover: Quartet Knights game for PlayStation 4 and PC via Steam as a playable character. The game will launch in the Americas and Europe for PlayStation 4 and PC via Steam on September 14. The game will launch in...
PERSONA 5 the Animation ‒ Episode 11
"When everything comes to a head in this episode, it feels like a well-earned climax."
This Week in Games - E3 Part 2: Game Announcements Ahoy!
This special sunday edition of This Week in Games collects E3's most exciting game announcements, plus the rest of this week's gaming news. If you feel like you missed anything at E3, catch up here!
― And we're back with the second part of our E3 news extravaganza! Except that, as I write this, the internet is losing its mind over something totally unrelated to E3: a tease by Studio Trigger that it's...
One Piece Spinoff Manga Koisuru One Piece Launches on Jump+ App
Gag manga launches on June 18
― Shueisha's Shonen Jump+ website has announced that the website and app will launch another spinoff manga of Eiichiro Oda's One Piece manga on June 18. The new spinoff is titled Koisuru One Piece (Loving One Piece), and Daiki Ihara is drawing the manga. Similar to the other spinoff manga that will run on Shonen Jump+, Koisuru One Piece is a gag manga that Oda himself ha...
My Hero Academia: Two Heroes Film Offers 'Volume 0' Book to 1st Million Moviegoers in Japan (Updated)
Book to contain manga, character descriptions, "secret dialogue" between Kohei Horikoshi & Eiichiro Oda
― This year's 29th issue of Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine revealed on Monday that the first million moviegoers in Japan to see the My Hero Academia: Two Heroes (My Hero Academia THE MOVIE: Futari no Hero) film will receive a "volume 0" (volume Origin) book. The book will feature a cover an...
DARLING in the FRANXX ‒ Episode 21
"I think it speaks to both this episode's success and its failure that I can spend so much time complaining about what didn't work and still maintain some interest in how things are going to shake out in these final weeks."
Muhyo & Roji Anime Premieres on August 3
This year's 29th issue of Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine revealed on Monday that the television anime adaptation of Yoshiyuki Nishi's Muhyo to Roji no Mahōritsu Sōdan Jimusho (Muhyo & Roji's Bureau of Supernatural Investigation) manga will premiere on SkyPerfecTV on August 3 at 9:30 p.m., and will later premiere on Animax on September 3 at 7:00 p.m. The anime will have an advanced screenin...
FLCL Progressive ‒ Episode 3
"This one felt a little more scattershot than the previous two, and they're still repeating themes that have been fully clarified at this point, but I'm still dying to know where all this is going."
Bandai Namco's Next Brand-New Tales of RPG Being Developed for Consoles
Vesperia 10th anniversary event, Sanrio theme park's 2018 collaboration also announced
― The Tales of Festival 2018 event (pictured below) announced on Sunday that the latest brand-new entry in Bandai Namco Entertainment's Tales of role-playing game franchise is being developed for home or portable game consoles. The new entry is not a remake or spinoff of a previous entry. It has been two years sinc...
My Hero Academia ‒ Episode 49
"This is My Hero Academia's proudest moment in the spotlight."
Mia and the Forbidden Medicine Report
This steampunk adventure novel explores the stigmatization of illness in refreshing and engaging ways. Rebecca Silverman explores how.
― Despite having some of the trappings of a standard reverse harem school story, Mia and the Forbidden Medicine Report is much more of a science drama than a romance. The story takes place in a vaguely early 20th century steampunk setting, where country girl Mia Bauma...
PIG: The Dam Keeper Wins Cristal Award at Annecy
No other Japanese works win awards this year, Funan wins top film award
― Erick Oh and Tonko House's PIG: The Dam Keeper Poems "Yellow Flower", "Hello Nice to Meet You" United States and Japan collaboration won the "Cristal for a TV Production" award in the TV Films category at the 2018 Annecy International Animated Film Festival on Saturday. No other Japanese works won awards this year. Mamoru Hosod...
Masaaki Yuasa Teases New 'Straightforward Love Story' Film at Annecy
Masaaki Yuasa and his Science Saru studio teased their new film during a masterclass panel at the 2018 Annecy International Animated Film Festival on Thursday. Yuasa said that his new work will be a "simple and straightforward love story," and also said the new film will center on water. Yuasa added that he will formally announce the film in Japan a little later, and asked fans to look forward to ...
Eiga Hugtto! Precure ♡ Futari wa Precure Crossover Film's Poster Visual, Full Title Revealed
Film opening on October 27 brings back "All Stars" subtitle, will feature 55 Precures
― The staff for the Eiga Hugtto! Precure ♡ Futari wa Precure crossover anime film revealed a poster visual for the film on Saturday. The staff also revealed the film's full title as Eiga Hugtto! Precure ♡ Futari wa Precure All Stars Memories, marking the revival of the "All Stars" film series. The previous film in t...
petite milady Perform Opening Theme for Seven Senses of the Re'Union Anime
Anime premieres on July 5
― The official Twitter account for the television anime of Noritake Tao and Booota's Shichisei no Subaru (Seven Senses of the Re'Union) novels revealed on Saturday that voice actress unit petit milady will perform the show's opening theme song "360° Hoshi no Orchestra" (360° Star Orchestra). petit milady is made up of voice actresses Ayana Taketatsu and Aoi Yūki. The duo hav...
Saturday, June 16
Anime Expo to Host World Premiere of Kengan Ashura Anime
Director Seiji Kishi as well as anime's story editor, composer, producer to attend event
― Anime Expo revealed on Saturday that it will host the world premiere of the anime adaptation of Yabako Sandrovich's Kengan Ashura manga on July 7. The event will also host director Seiji Kishi, producer Yuji Higa, story editor Makoto Uezu, and composer Yasuharu Takanashi. The creators will also host autograph s...
Capcom Unveils Final Fantasy XIV, Monster Hunter: World Dual Collab
Two worlds are colliding in a joint collaboration between Final Fantasy XIV and Monster Hunter: World. Capcom announced both games are trading monsters this summer. Behemoth from Final Fantasy XIV Online will show its fury within Monster Hunter: World, a first for the Monster Hunter franchise. The game series has not previously featured a monster from any other title. You can catch a glimpse of Be...
'Even Boys Can Become Princesses!': Hugtto! Precure Anime Stands Up to Traditional Gender Roles
The most recent episode of the Hugtto! Precure television anime series is causing a stir among Japanese fans for discussing gender issues with its characters. The anime's episode 19, titled "Waku Waku! Akogare no Runway Debut!?," premiered on Sunday. The theme of the episode is that anyone can do or be anything they want, and key dialogue in the episode said, "Even boys can become princesses!" The...
2nd Starmyu Musical Reveals Main Visual Featuring 15 Cast Members
Cast reprise roles for new musical running in Tokyo, Osaka in July
― The official website for the planned second Starmyu musical revealed the main visual for the musical on Friday. The new musical is titled Musical Starmyu -2nd Season-. The musical will run at the Nippon Seinenkan Hall in Tokyo from July 4-11 and then at the Morinomiya Piloti Hall in Osaka from July 20-22. Sayaka Harada is writing th...
Chief Godzilla Officer Keiji Ota Talks Big Dreams of Kaiju Park in L.A.
It looks like that Sally Forth comic strip arc last summer was more realistic than expected. The world of Godzilla and his monstrous foes will expand into the next decade with solo spin-off films, and if the stars align, a potential theme park in Los Angeles. Chief Godzilla officer Keiji Ota revealed in an interview with Nikkei Style that Toho's big dream is to establish a Godzilla Theme Park, but...
Asia Animation Partners Declares Bankruptcy After Executive's Passing
Studio Kuma established subsidiary studio for photography, effects work
― Credit research company Tokyo Shoko Research (TSR) reported on Tuesday that anime production studio Asia Animation Partners filed for bankruptcy in a Tokyo district court on June 8. The studio has 16.5 million yen (about US$149,100) in liabilities to 11 creditors. Studio Kuma (Bizarre Cage, Timing, Izumo: Flash of a Brave Sword...
Hinamatsuri ‒ Episode 11
"After spending most of last week in the background, Nitta makes a big return to center stage in this episode."
Mrs. Green Apple Performs Songs for Ao-Natsu Live-Action Film
Rock band provides theme song, insert song for August 1 film
― The official website for Ao-Natsu: Kimi ni Koi Shita 30-Nichi (Ao-Natsu: The 30 Days I Loved You), the upcoming live-action film adaptation of Atsuko Nanba's Ao-Natsu romance manga, began streaming a trailer for the film on Tuesday. The video reveals and previews the film's theme song "Ao to Natsu" (The Blue and Summer) and the insert son...
Record of Grancrest War ‒ Episode 23
"The art, animation, and pacing were all lacking this week, but perhaps this was never the right format to fully enjoy this material."
Tales of the Rays Gekijō Short Anime Reveals Cast, July 20 Premiere
Natsuki Hanae, Haruka Terui, Jun Fukuyama star in half-hour gag spinoff looping on Niconico
― The Tales of Festival 2018 event announced more information on Tales of the Rays Gekijō (Tales of the Rays Theater), the short web gag anime spinoff of the Tales of the Rays smartphone game, on Saturday. The event (and the official website for Bandai Namco's Tales of game franchise) revealed the anime's voic...
Kill la Kill Anime Gets 2019 Action Game From Arc System Works, APLUS
Anime Expo to host anime's designer Sushio, creative officer Hiromi Wakabayashi
― A teaser commercial during the broadcast of the Darling in the Franxx anime announced on Saturday that the anime studio Trigger and the game publisher Arc System Works are collaborating on the Kill la Kill anime's first game, Kill la Kill the Game -If- (Ifu). Arc System Works is publishing the game in the "Kill la Kill ...
The List - 6 Anime to Watch With Your Dad
Introducing anime to newbies can be a weird experience, especially if that newbie is your own dad! Here are some pops-friendly anime options just in time for Father's Day!
― I just got back from camping out in the woods (okay it was a state park) and roughing it old school (in a cabin) but while much of America is barbecuing with their folks, it's the perfect opportunity to turn on one of these show...
A Kiss, For Real GN 1
This relatable romance story focuses on personal transformation as much as first love. Rebecca Silverman has the details.
― If there's a time in your life tailor-made for trying to hide in plain sight, it's middle and high school. Chitose learned that lesson a little earlier than most of her classmates, however: her parents run a fusion restaurant with Indian themes, and Chitose was picked on for com...
Nintendo Delays Yoshi Game for Switch to 2019
The Gameinformer news website reported on Tuesday that Nintendo confirmed with the website that it has delayed its Yoshi for Nintendo Switch (working title) game to 2019. Nintendo's official website for the game also now lists a 2019 release. Nintendo announced the game for Nintendo Switch at the E3 event last year and the game was originally slated to launch this year. Nintendo describes the game...
Nekopara Illustrator Sayori, Spice & Wolf Manga Artist Keito Koume to Attend Anime Expo
Sayori attends as guest of Sekai Project, Koume attends as guest of FAKKU
― Anime Expo announced on Tuesday that it will host Nekopara illustrator and creator Sayori at this year's event. Publisher FAKKU additionally announced on Thursday that it will host Spice & Wolf manga artist Keito Koume. Sayori is attending the event in collaboration with Sekai Project, and will have an autograph session. Seka...
Crunchyroll Expo to Host Legend of Zelda Manga Authors Akira Himekawa, 'No Game, No Life' Director Atsuko Ishizuka
Darling in the Franxx staff to also attend
― Crunchyroll announced the first round of guest announcements on Saturday for this year's Crunchyroll Expo event. Guests include The Legend of Zelda manga author duo Akira Himekawa, and No Game No Life anime director Atsuko Ishizuka. In addition, the event will host director Atsushi Nishigori, character designer Masayoshi Tanaka, and producer Yūichi Fukushi...
Chako Abeno's Trinity Seven: Liese Chronicle Spinoff Manga Ends
Abeno launched series centering on Lieselotte Sherlock in February 2017
― Manga artist Chako Abeno announced on Twitter on Friday that the July issue of Kadokawa's Monthly Dragon Age magazine published the 16th and final chapter of Abeno's Trinity Seven: Liese Chronicle spinoff manga on June 9. The spinoff story centers on Lieselotte Sherlock, an evil mage from the original manga. Abeno launched the ...
Rekishi Performs New Ending Theme for GeGeGe no Kitaro Anime
New theme debuts in show on July 1
― The official website for the new GeGeGe no Kitaro anime revealed on Saturday that Rekishi, musician Takafumi Ikeda's "solo unit," will perform the new ending theme song "Get A Note" (pronounced "Geta no Oto," which translates to "The Sound of Geta Footwear") for the show. The new theme song will debut in the show on July 1. The song will be Rekishi's first anime t...
Shigeru Chiba Joins Hozuki's Coolheadedness Anime's Cast
Character debuts in 24th episode on Saturday
― The official website for the anime adaptation of Natsumi Eguchi's Hozuki's Coolheadedness (Hōzuki no Reitetsu) manga revealed on Saturday that voice actor Shigeru Chiba (One Piece's Buggy, Overlord's Sebas Tian, March comes in like a lion's Sōmeiji Kawamoto) is joining the second season anime as the character Keneō. The "moody looking" character will deb...
Fireworks Anime Film's English-Subtitled Ad Streamed
Fathom Events, GKIDS screen film in U.S. on July 3, 5, 7
― Fathom Events began streaming a 30-second ad for the anime film Fireworks (Fireworks, Should We See it from the Side or the Bottom?) on Friday. The video has English subtitles. The film will screen in the United States on July 3, 5, and 7 in collaboration with Fathom Events. The film will also get a separate theatrical release starting on Jul...
Happy Sugar Life TV Anime's 'Painful Version' Ad Streamed
Series premieres on TV in Japan on July 13, streams online only on Amazon Prime Video
― The official website for the television anime adaptation of Tomiyaki Kagisora's Happy Sugar Life manga began streaming the show's "Painful Version" commercial on Saturday. The series will air on TBS and MBS on July 13 at 25:55 (effectively July 14 at 1:55 a.m.), and will later air on BS-TBS and AT-X. The show is a...
Friday, June 15
Hi Score Girl Anime's TV Ad Previews Opening Theme Song
Series premieres on July 13
― The official website for the television anime adaptation of Rensuke Oshikiri's Hi Score Girl manga began streaming a commercial for the series on Saturday. The video previews sora tob sakana's opening theme song "New Stranger." The show will premiere on Tokyo MX and BS11 on July 13 at 24:30 (effectively on July 14 at 12:30 a.m.), before airing later that evening on MBS. ...
Mario Tennis Aces Videos Preview Koopa Troopa, Blooper
2 characters to be free DLC for game launching June 22
― Nintendo UK began streaming trailers introducing Koopa Troopa and Blooper as playable characters for its Mario Tennis Aces Switch game on Friday. Both characters will appear in the game as free DLC: Koopa Troopa will be available in July and Blooper will be available in August. The game will launch on June 22. The game will feature missions and...
Zanki Zero Game's Introduction Video Streamed
Game ships on July 5 in Japan, this year in the West
― Spike Chunsoft began streaming a game introduction video for its Zanki Zero: Last Beginning game on Friday. The video is narrated by "herbivore mascot" Mirai and Mirai's assistant Shō Terashima, as the MCs of "Extend TV," an in-universe channel that is meant to be a guide for the remaining humans. The game ships in Japan on July 5 for PlayStation...
One Piece Creator Donates US$8 Million for Kumamoto Earthquake Relief
Prefecture plans multiple bronze One Piece statues
― Kumamoto native Eiichiro Oda is a long-time supporter of the earthquake-stricken area, writing supportive messages, contributing art for local products, and participating in the ONE PIECE Kumamoto Reconstruction Project. The hit manga creator recently opened his wallet to gift the area 800 million yen (US$8 million). Kumamoto governor Ikuo Kabashim...
King of Fighters Allstar Smartphone Game Announced
Preview videos streamed for 7 series characters
― South Korean game company Netmarble announced a iOS and Android action RPG titled The King of Fighters Allstar on Friday. The free-to-play game with in-app purchases is slated to launch this year. Netmarble began streaming a teaser trailer and seven character introduction videos for the game: Teaser: Kyo Kusanagi Chizuru Kagura Terry Bogard Ryo Sakaza...
J-Novel Club to Suspend [New Life+] Novel Sales After July 1
Cancellation follows controversy over author's alleged discriminatory remarks
― J-Novel Club posted a statement on Friday saying that it will suspend publication and sales of its English version of MINE's [New Life+] Young Again in Another World novel series after the third volume on July 1. The decision comes after the Japanese publisher Hobby Japan halted shipments of the novel due to controversy o...
Toonami to Air Pop Team Epic Anime
Series premieres on June 30
― The official Facebook page for Adult Swim's Toonami block announced on Friday that the block will air Pop Team Epic beginning the night of June 30 at 12:00 a.m. (effectively the morning of July 1). The new schedule, which no longer includes Dragon Ball Z Kai, is as follows: 10:30 p.m. – Dragon Ball Super 11:00 p.m. – My Hero Academia 11:30 p.m. – FLCL: Progressive 12:00 ...
Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku ‒ Episode 10
"Not everyone finds it so easy to be as outgoing as Wotakoi's main cast, and this is where Kou comes in."
Conan O'Brien Tries Super Saiyan Hair on for Size
Late night talk show host Conan O'Brien has an impressive coiffure, but its height is nothing compared to the dramatic style of Goku. O'Brien did his best Super Saiyan impression along with guest and comedian Ron Funches (Powerless, Trolls) as part of the reoccurring segment "Clueless Gamer." The pair try out the mobile game Dragon Ball Legends, but not before quizzing seasoned player Funches on D...
Bullet Girls Phantasia Game's Promo Video Previews Theme Song
M.A.O, Haruka Yamazaki perform song for PS4/Vita game
― D3 Publisher began streaming a promotional video for its Bullet Girls Phantasia PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita game on Thursday. The video previews the theme song "Piercing Bullet" by cast members M.A.O and Haruka Yamazaki. The game is the newest installment in the Bullet Girls game franchise and it will ship in Japan on August 9. H2 Interac...
Megalobox ‒ Episode 11
"In typical MEGALOBOX fashion, this episode is both incredibly on the nose yet appropriate and effective all at once."
NHK Denies Voice Actress Hiroko Konishi's Prince Mackaroo Anime Role Claims
Voice actress Hiroko Konishi revealed the details on June 1 of why she claims NHK forced her out of her lead role in the long-running children's anime Prince Mackaroo (Ojarumaru) 18 years ago. Konishi voiced Ojarumaru for the anime's first 270 episodes before Chinami Nishimura took over the role. Fans have long speculated about the reasons for the character's unexpected recasting. The website J-Ca...
Is it Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in the Dungeon? Infinite Combate Game Delayed to 2019
Game developer 5pb. announced on Monday that its Is it Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in the Dungeon? Infinite Combate PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita game has been delayed to 2019 in Japan. The game was previously slated for March 29, but the company announced in December that it was delayed to this summer due to "various circumstances." The game is based on the Is it Wrong to Try to Pick Up Gi...
Comic Girls ‒ Episode 11
"While often comically inflated and routinely over-the-top, Comic Girls is always grounded in a dash of realism and anchored by relatable character emotions."
My Hero Academia Ranks #4 on U.S. Monthly Bookscan May List
RWBY, The Legend of Zelda, Tokyo Ghoul manga also rank
― Kohei Horikoshi's My Hero Academia volume 12 ranked at #4 on NPD BookScan's Top 20 adult graphic novels list for April. The volume debuted at #1 the month before. This month's list featured ten manga volumes including: #5 — Kohei Horikoshi's My Hero Academia volume 1 #6 — RWBY: Official Manga Anthology #8 — Akira Himekawa's The Legend of Zelda:...
Manga Answerman - Do's and Don'ts of Meeting Convention Guests from Japan
Now that the 2018 summer convention season is in full swing, fans will soon have the chance to meet manga and light novel authors and artists from Japan! Here are some friendly tips for how to interact with your favorite creator.
― Now that the 2018 summer anime and comic convention season is in full swing, North American fans are in for a treat – the chance to meet some manga and light novel author...
1st Foreign Female Pro Shogi Player Inspires Anime Short by Colorido
Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. debuted the "Susume, Karolina" (Go, Karolina) animated short on Friday about Polish professional shogi player Karolina Styczyńska, the first non-Japanese person to receive full professional status from Japan Shogi Association. The video promotes the company's CalorieMate nutritional energy snack and is available in 15- and 30-second versions in addition to the full short....
Tada Never Falls in Love ‒ Episode 11
"Pacing issues left me feeling a little sour about an installment I really wanted to like, which also sums up my feelings on Tada Never Falls in Love in general."
Mob Psycho 100 Stage Play Gets Sequel in September
1st play's cast, director return for new play in Tokyo, Hyōgo
― The official website for the stage play based on ONE's Mob Psycho 100 manga revealed on Friday that the play is getting a sequel. The new play will run at The Galaxy Theatre in Tokyo from September 13-17 and at Shinkobe Oriental Theater in Hyōgo from September 20-23. Marvelous began streaming an announcement video with Setsuo Ito, who pl...
Boruto: Naruto Next Generations ‒ Episode 62
"This week's Boruto begins the battle against the Otsutsukis in earnest, and the good guys are already at a clear disadvantage."
'Planet With' Anime Reveals Promo Video, Satoshi Mizukami Manga Video
Bandai Channel offers web advance screening of 1st episode on July 1
― The official website for J.C. Staff and manga creator Satoshi Mizukami's original mecha anime Planet With began streaming a promotional video for the anime and a promotional video for Mizukami's manga on Friday. The manga video introduces Mizukami's Lucifer and the Biscuit Hammer, Sengoku Yōko, Spirit Circle, and Kyomu o Yuku mang...
Black Clover ‒ Episode 36
"For as bad as it started out, this Midnight Sun arc has been working for me best out of all the arcs so far."
Nameless Asterism GNs 1-2
This romance story's potentially melodramatic love geometry is grounded by realistic depictions of middle schoolers trying to navigate relationships with maturity. Rebecca Silverman has the details.
― Nameless Asterism's synopsis might make you think that it's a melodrama of the highest order. And maybe it is, on paper – after all, it has more love geometry than titles that wear that as a badge of pr...
Final Fantasy XIV Game's Companion App Launches in Late July
Free, premium plans to launch for iOS, Android
― The official website for the Final Fantasy XIV game revealed on Friday that the game's Companion app will launch for iOS and Android in late July. The free plan will be available to all players, and the premium plan will include more features and cost 500 yen (about US$5). After launching the app, players enter their Square Enix account information, an...
Iya na Kao Sare Nagara Opantsu Misete Moraitai Video Anime's 2 Promo Videos Streamed
(Note: the videos and the visuals in this article may be not safe for work.) The Tora no Ana retailer began streaming two promotional videos on Friday for the video anime adaptation of Shimahara's doujin project Iya na Kao Sare Nagara Opantsu Misete Moraitai (I Want You To Make a Disgusted Face and Show Me Your Underwear). The videos feature a "Chitose version" (first video below) and a "Maria ver...
Asobi Asobase Anime's 1st Promo Video Previews 3 Main Characters
Comedy anime premieres on July 8
― The official website of the television anime of Rin Suzukawa's Asobi Asobase (Play and Let Play) manga began streaming the show's first promotional video on Friday. The staff also revealed a new key visual. The anime will premiere on AT-X, Tokyo MX, KBS Kyoto, and BS11 on July 8, followed by Sun TV and TV Aichi on July 10. The cast includes: Hina Kino as Hanako Hond...
Sirius the Jaeger Anime's New Subtitled Promo Video, Visual, July 12 Premiere Revealed (Updated)
Sajou no Hana performs ending theme song
― The official website for P.A. Works' original television anime project Sirius the Jaeger began streaming a new English-subtitled promotional video on Friday. The video previews Kishida Kyōdan & THE AKEBOSHI ROCKETS' opening theme song "Sirius." Sajou no Hana will perform the show's ending theme song "Hoshie" (Star Drawing). The anime will premiere on AT-X on...
Gakuen Basara TV Anime Reveals 3 More Cast Members
Toshiki Masuda replaces Toru Ohkawa as Tokugawa Ieyasu
― The official website for the television anime adaptation of Gakuen Basara, a high school spinoff project based on Capcom's Sengoku Basara game franchise, revealed three more cast members for the series on Friday. Toshiki Masuda is replacing Toru Ohkawa from the Sengoku Basara anime series as Tokugawa Ieyasu (Masuda previously played Ieyasu in t...
Nekopara Game's PS4, Switch Versions Launch on July 4
Neko Works announced on Friday that CFK's PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch version of Neko Works' Nekopara Vol. 1 game will launch on July 4. The game will be available in Japanese, English, Traditional Chinese, and Simplified Chinese. The new versions will have a new theme song, additional CG, and a new episode. Sekai Project released the Nekopara Vol. 1 visual novel on PC via Steam in December ...
D3 Publisher Reveals Disease: Hidden Object Switch Game with Planned English Release
Horror adventure game launches in Japan on July 5
― Japanese game developer D3 Publisher revealed a new Nintendo Switch game titled Disease: Hidden Object on Friday. The company will release the game digital only in English and Japanese. The company had opened a countdown site for a new Switch game on Tuesday. D3 Publisher describes the game: Is what you see real or just a hallucination? A former doc...
Holmes at Kyoto Teramachi Sanjō TV Anime Reveals 4 More Cast Members
Visual also revealed for collaboration with Keihan railway
― The official website for the television anime of Mai Mochizuki's Holmes at Kyoto Teramachi Sanjō (Kyōto Teramachi Sanjō no Holmes) mystery novel series revealed a new visual and four more cast members on Friday. The new visual features the two main cast members at the Keihan Sanjō subway station in Kyoto. The visual is for a collaboration t...
Wake Up, Girls! Voice Actress, Singing Unit to Disband in March 2019
7 group members will continue activities as voice actresses
― The official website for the Wake Up, Girls! voice actress and singing unit announced on Friday that the group will disband in March 2019. The group will host a final tour, and the post assured fans that the members will continue their activities as voice actresses. The post stated the group will disband so that the members can each pursue...
Tokimeki Restaurant App Ends Service on August 31
Spinoff game inspired anime film that premiered on February 10
― The official website for the Tokimeki Restaurant☆☆☆ smartphone game revealed on Friday that the game will end service on August 31 at 2:00 p.m. Koei Tecmo Games assured fans that even though the game is ending service, there will still be live events, collaborations, and idol activities for the franchise. The game will halt the sale of ...
Waka Kakitsubata's My Sweet Tyrant/Akkun to Kanojo Manga Ends
Ongoing TV anime adaptation of series premiered on April 6
― The July issue of Kadokawa's Monthly Comic Gene magazine published the final chapter on Saturday of Waka Kakitsubata's Akkun to Kanojo (Akkun and His Girlfriend) manga. The manga inspired an ongoing anime series of five-minute shorts that premiered on April 6. Crunchyroll is streaming the series as it airs under the title My Sweet Tyrant, a...
BRADIO Performs New Ending Theme for Duel Masters! Anime
New ending premieres in show on July 1
― The official website for the BRADIO group announced on Friday that they will perform the new ending theme song "INAZUMA Jacket" for the latest Duel Masters! television anime series. The new ending theme song will debut with the episode that will air on July 1. The song will appear on BRADIO's major debut album YES, which ships on July 4. Duel Masters! premiere...
Live-Action Bleach Film's 3 TV Ads Streamed
Film opens in Japan on July 20 with N. American premiere in New York on July 28
― Warner Bros. began streaming three commercials on Friday for the live-action film of Tite Kubo's Bleach manga. The second and third videos preview the theme song "Mosquito Bite" by [ALEXANDROS]. Warrior Version Ichigo Version Substitute Shinigami Version The film will open in Japan on July 20, and will have its North Am...
Dies Irae Anime's 2nd Promo Video Previews Final 6 Episodes
6 episodes to stream in Japan starting on July 1
― The official website for the Dies irae anime project began steaming a second promotional video on Friday to preview the anime's last six episodes (episodes 12-17), collectively titled "To the Ring Reincarnation." The episodes will debut on the AbemaTV streaming service on July 1 at 5:30 p.m. All six episodes will debut simultaneously, alongside the c...
Bakutsuri Bar Hunter TV Anime's Character Designs Revealed
The staff of the Bakutsuri Bar Hunter television anime series revealed the character designs for the four main characters on Friday. The anime stars: (Note: name spellings aren't confirmed) Ryou Hirohashi as protagonist Totta Tachitsute Yumi Uchiyama as Totta's bar soul partner Potepen Mitsuki Saiga as Totta's rival Kiba Samejima Kouta Nemoto as the bar soul Shuwajirō Kenji Seto (The Asterisk War:...
Level-5 to Reveal 'Yo-kai Watch 5th Anniversary Title' on June 27
Level 5 opened a website on Friday to announce that it will reveal its "Yo-kai Watch 5th Anniversary Commemorative Title" during a livestream event on YouTube on June 27. Although Level 5 hasn't revealed the medium of the new announcement, the visual features two Yo-kai holding smartphones. Level 5 announced the Yo-kai Watch franchise in 2011 with a game, manga, and anime already planned. The firs...
New Yo-Kai Watch Anime Film Reveals Title, 1960s Setting, December 14 Debut
New film follows story of boy who loses family, gains new family with yo-kai
― The official website for the Yo-Kai Watch anime film series revealed on Friday that the next film in the series is titled Eiga Yo-kai Watch: Forever Friends. The film will open in Japan on December 14. The tagline on the visual below reads, "I thought we'd always be together." The film tells the story of interweaving frien...
Thursday, June 14
Tsukumogami Kashimasu Anime Reveals More Cast, Visuals, Theme Song Artists, July 22 Premiere
Daisuke Hirakawa, Yuka Iguchi, more join cast
― The official website for the television anime adaptation of Megumi Hatakenaka's Tsukumogami Kashimasu (We Rent Tsukumogami) novel revealed a new visual, more cast members, the opening and ending theme song artists, and July 22 premiere date on Friday. The new cast includes: Tooru Nara as Notetsu Yutaka Nakano as Tsukuyomi Daisuke Hirakawa as Goi Satomi ...
Tsukipro Suspends SolidS CD Releases Due to Yuichiro Umehara's Illness
The official website for "2.5 dimensional" agency Tsukino Talent Production announced on Thursday that all CD releases for the group SolidS are "undecided" while cast member Yuichiro Umehara (the voice of the character Dai Murase) recovers from his illness. Umehara was hospitalized in May after being diagnosed with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, an autoimmune disease that affects the nervou...
My Sweet Tyrant Anime Reveals Visual for Show's 2nd Cours
The staff for the anime of Waka Kakitsubata's Akkun to Kanojo (Akkun and His Girlfriend) manga revealed on Friday that the anime is getting a second cours that will premiere on June 29 at 10:30 p.m. on AT-X. The staff also revealed a new key visual for the second cours. Crunchyroll is streaming the series as it airs under the title My Sweet Tyrant, and describes the story: The childhood friends Ak...
Japan's Animation TV Ranking, June 4-10
Our Little Sister film airs
― The live-action film of Akimi Yoshida's Umimachi Diary (Our Little Sister) manga aired on Fuji TV at 9:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 9 and earned a 10.8% rating. The live-action series adaptation of Yoko Kamio's Boys Over Flowers Season 2 (Hana Nochi Hare ~HanaDan~ Next Season) manga aired on Tuesday, June 5 at 10:00 p.m. and earned a 9.5% rating. Title Station Date Time Len...
Lead Your Own Rebellion With Code Geass' Life-Size Zero Mask
Leading up to Lelouch's "resurrection" in the Code Geass: Fukkatsu no Lelouch sequel project, Premium Bandai is offering Zero's life-size mask. Megahouse is releasing the "Full Scale Works Code Geass: Hagyaku no Lelouch 1/1 scale Zero no Kamen" mask for 33,156 yen (about US$300). The anime's character designer Takahiro Kimura supervised the development of the 35-centimeter (about 14-inch) mask. T...
Sakanoue Animal Clinic Story Manga Gets Live Action Series
Arashi's Masaki Aiba stars as veterinarian
― Michi Narasawa's Boku to Shippo to Kagurazaka (Me and Tails and Kagurazaka, or Sakanoue Animal Clinic Story) manga is inspiring a live-action television series. The show will premiere on TV Asahi in December and air on Fridays at 11:15 p.m. Arashi's Masaki Aiba will star in the series as veterinarian Tatsuya Kōenji. Yoshihiro Akagawa is directing and Junni...
Chica Umino's Exhibit to Offer Exclusive Bonus March comes in like a lion Manga
The staff of the "Chika Umino's World" exhibit announced on Thursday that those who visit the exhibit when it opens again in Tokyo will receive a special March comes in like a lion "volume 13.1" manga. Each guest will receive one copy while supplies last. The exhibit began in Tokyo in August 2016 and has toured Japan. It will return to Tokyo, at Matsuya Ginza, for the first time in two years on Ju...
Fan-Made Gundam CG Film Shows Early RX-78 Development
Italian creator Antonio Vallorani's CG Gundam fan-film looks at the beginnings of the franchise and more or less slides into canon perfectly. His take on the original series from the 1970s is definitely awe-inspiring for fan-film makers. The "Mobile Suit Gundam RX-78 Prototype 01 -Side Story- First Part" film recounts the development of the RX-78, Amuro Ray's future mobile unit. Vallorani is worki...
Kamen Rider Crew Actor Daichi Nobe Passes Away After Jumping Accident
Nobe jumped from hotel's fifth floor onto air mattress
― 21-year-old Kamen Rider action crew actor Daichi Nobe passed away on Thursday morning. He was brought to the hospital when he lost consciousness after jumping practice the morning before. According to police, Nobe was jumping from a hotel's 15 meter-high fifth story (about 49 feet) onto a 2.5 meter-thick air mattress (about 8 feet). Nobe was pa...
Long-Awaited Kingdom Hearts III Gets Themed PS4 Pro
Square Enix revealed new details for its Kingdom Hearts III game during Sony's E3 2018 press conference including an actual release date. Fans can pick up the long-awaited sequel on January 25 in Japan and on January 29 in North America, but if you're wanting a really complete package, Sony is also planning a limited edition console to complete the package. A limited edition PlayStation 4 Pro mode...
Saint Seiya: Next Dimension Manga Has 1 Chapter Left in Current Season
Manga returned for new season in May
― This year's 29th issue of Akita Shoten's Weekly Shonen Champion announced on Thursday that Masami Kurumada's Saint Seiya: Next Dimension - The Myth of Hades manga will end its current season after next week's chapter. While the magazine did not say when the manga will return, it did specify that it is "this season" that has one chapter remaining. The manga retur...
Anime Expo to Host Ingress Anime Director, Producers
Other guests announced for Fuji TV's new +Ultra programming block
― Anime Expo announced that it will host guests for a panel on Fuji TV's upcoming +Ultra anime programming block and its first two anime titles Ingress and revisions on July 7. For Ingress, guests include director Yūhei Sakuragi and producers Tomohiko Ishii of CRAFTER and Akitoshi Mori of Fuji TV. Niantic CEO John Hanke will also atten...
Nagoya Store's Giant Mannequin Gets Wookie Makeover
The Meitetsu Department Store in Nagoya, Japan has a distinctive mannequin outside its men's department. The mannequin is known locally as Nana-chan, and she's a popular landmark for meet ups because she's easy to spot in the shopping district —she's 20 feet tall. The staff change her outfits biweekly but her latest attire is far more furry than usual. On June 13, Nana "transformed" into the Star ...
My Hero Academia: Two Heroes Film's Trailer Previews New Characters, Theme Song
Masaki Suda performs theme song, amazarashi's Hiromu Akita composes
― Toho began streaming a new trailer for the My Hero Academia: Two Heroes (My Hero Academia THE MOVIE: Futari no Hero) film on Friday. The video previews the new film-original characters, and reveals the film's theme song "Long Hope Philia." Masaki Suda performed the song and amazarashi's Hiromu Akita wrote and composed the piece. Fu...
Actor Yūdai Natsume Posts Apology After Agency Cancels Contract Due to Past Tweets
Actor Yūdai Natsume posted an apology and messages from himself and his lawyer on Twitter on Monday. The post was a response to the recent buzz surrounding Natsume's "inappropriate posts" in the past. In the apology post, Natsume noted that because he is no longer with his agency Omnia he did not have an appropriate venue to release a response, so he decided to post the messages on Twitter. Natsum...
Discotek Licenses Beast Fighter - The Apocalypse, Eternal Alice Anime
Subtitle-only DVD sets slated for August 28
― Discotek Media announced on Thursday that it has licensed the Beast Fighter - The Apocalypse (Majū Sensen The Apocalypse) and Eternal Alice (Kagihime Monogatari - Eikyuu Alice Rondo) television anime. Both will get English-subtitled DVD releases on August 28, 2018. Discotek describes Beast Fighter - The Apocalypse: In post-apocalyptic Tokyo, Shinichi is o...
AAA Performs Theme Song for Live-Action Kenkō de Bunkateki na Saitei Gendo no Seikatsu Series
Drama about welfare office worker premieres in July
― The official website for the live-action television series adaptation of Haruko Kashiwagi's Kenkō de Bunkateki na Saitei Gendo no Seikatsu (A Minimum Healthy and Cultural Life) manga announced on Thursday that AAA is performing the show's theme song "Tomorrow." The song was written for the show, and it conveys a message of stepping forward to tomo...
The Best and Worst of Spring 2018, Jun 3-9
A new challenger pushes MEGALOBOX out of the top spot as the spring rankings begin to wind down. Find out where your favorite shows ranked as the summer approaches!
― Our team of reviewers are following 27 anime series of the Spring 2018 season and readers are rating each episode as the reviews go up. So let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season. Keep in mind ...
Steins;Gate 0 ‒ Episode 10
"While I'm fine with fluffy filler every now and again, I think S;G 0 has officially hit its quota for the foreseeable future."
Watashi ni Tenshi ga Maiorita! Manga Gets TV Anime at Doga Kobo
New Game! staff reunites to adapt four-panel comedy about college student, young sister's friend
― The third compiled book volume of Nanatsu Mukunoki's Watashi ni Tenshi ga Maiorita! (An Angel Flew Down to Me!) manga revealed on Friday that the series is getting a television anime adaptation. An official website for the adaptation also opened to reveal a teaser visual and the anime's main staff. The ...
Live-Action Garo Series Kaminokiba -JINGA- Reveals Teaser Visual, 2018 Premiere
Spinoff series centers on Masahiro Inoue's character Jinga
― The official website of the Garo franchise revealed on Thursday that the new live-action television series Kaminokiba -JINGA- will air this year. The website also revealed a teaser visual for the series. The show is a spinoff of the series focusing on Ryūga Dōgai, and centers around the character Jinga (played by Masahiro Inoue). The Garo: ...
Tokyo Ghoul:re ‒ Episode 11
"In true Tokyo Ghoul fashion, it's the “villainous” side that gets the most heroic moments this week."
Lupin the Third: Part 5 ‒ Episode 11
"This red-jacket throwback episode really shows how the series has changed over the decades."
JRA's Pop Team Epic Collaboration Streams New Net Anime Short
TV anime's cast, staff reprised roles in short
― The official website for the "Pop Team Epic Kinen" collaboration between the Pop Team Epic anime and Japan Racing Association (JRA) began streaming a completely new original net anime on Thursday. Similar to the television anime, the short includes various segments in the first half, and the voice cast changes for the second half with the same segments...
Bakutsuri Bar Hunter Anime's Short Video Previews Protagonist Totta
Toei Animation's children series premieres this fall
― Shogakukan's Coro Coro Comics magazine began streaming a special short anime on Thursday for the Bakutsuri Bar Hunter television anime series. The anime stars: (Note: name spellings aren't confirmed) Ryou Hirohashi as protagonist Totta Tachitsute Yumi Uchiyama as Totta's bar soul partner Potepen Mitsuki Saiga as Totta's rival Kiba Samejima Kouta ...
Erii Yamazaki Performs Ending Theme for Seven Senses of the Re'Union Anime
New trailer previews song for series premiering on July 5
― The official website for the television anime of Noritake Tao and Booota's Shichisei no Subaru (Seven Senses of the Re'Union) novels revealed on Thursday that Erii Yamazaki will perform the show's ending theme song "Starlight." The show's official Twitter account also began streaming a 30-second trailer on Thursday that previews the song. #山...
Gaikotsu Shotenin Honda-san TV Anime's 1st Promo Video Reveals Staff, Cast
Visual also revealed for DLE series premiering this fall
― The official website for the television anime adaptation of Honda's Gaikotsu Shotenin Honda-san (Skeleton Bookstore Employee Honda) manga began streaming the anime's first promotional video on Thursday. The video reveals the show's staff, and also reveals that Sōma Saitō will play the titular character Honda. The site also revealed a new visu...
Level-5 Delays Inazuma Eleven: Ares no Tenbin Game to this Fall
Level 5 announced on Thursday that it is delaying its Inazuma Eleven: Ares no Tenbin game for the PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android from this summer to this fall in order to improve the game's quality. The game's accompanying anime series premiered on April 6 with a one-hour special. In the story of both the anime and the game, protagonist Asuto Inamori's soccer club is disbanded af...
The Thousand Noble Musketeers Anime Replaces Yuichiro Umehara With Tomoaki Maeno
New visual, July 3 premiere also revealed
― The official website for the television anime adaptation of Marvelous' The Thousand Musketeers (Senjūshi: The Thousand Noble Musketeers) smartphone game revealed on Thursday that Tomoaki Maeno is replacing Yuichiro Umehara in the role of Ieyasu (pictured below). Maeno is also replacing Umehara in the Caligula anime. Umehara was hospitalized in May after bei...
Future Card Buddyfight Ace Anime Reveals Additional Cast Members
Anime premiered on June 2 with English subtitles
― The official website for Bushiroad's Future Card Buddyfight franchise revealed new cast members on June 8 for the Future Card Buddyfight Ace (Future Card Shin Buddyfight) anime. The new cast includes: Ayasa Itō as Miko Mikono and Aimi as her buddy Amaterasu Saori Hayami as Meru Yumegatari and Natsumi Yamada as her buddy Akazukin Ema Natsuki Hanae as ...
Compile Heart Reveals Ryūsei no Varnir PS4 RPG for October
Moero Chronicle's Makoto Kitano directs game with 5 character designers
― Compile Heart revealed a new role-playing game titled Ryūsei no Varnir: Ecdysis of the dragon (Varnir of the Dragon Star: Ecdysis of the dragon) on Wednesday, and opened a website for the game on Thursday. The site is streaming a teaser video for the game, showing the game's staff and cast, and teasing the game's story. Compile...
Kiss Him, Not Me's Junko Prepares to Launch New Manga
The July issue of Kodansha's Bessatsu Friend magazine revealed on Wednesday that manga creator Junko is preparing to launch a new manga. The same issue published a 37-page side story chapter for Junko's Kiss Him, Not Me (Watashi ga Motete Dōsunda) manga. Junko launched Kiss Him, Not Me in Bessatsu Friend in 2013, and ended it on February 13. Kodansha published the manga's 14th and final compiled v...
Ao-Natsu's Atsuko Nanba Launches New Manga in September
The July issue of Kodansha's Bessatsu Friend magazine revealed on Wednesday that manga creator Atsuko Nanba's new manga series will launch in September. The magazine did not reveal the new series' title. The original announcement last month hinted that the manga will deal with an age-gap romance between a 16- or 17-year-old high school girl and a 24-year-old man. The magazine hints that the girl h...
Dengeki PlayStation Magazine Switches to Monthly Schedule
Magazine centering on PlayStation news, games was previously published every 2nd, 4th Thursday
― Kadokawa's Dengeki Online website revealed on Tuesday that the Dengeki PlayStation magazine will switch to a monthly publishing schedule beginning in July. Kadokawa will ship a new issue on the 28th of every month, although the issue in July will ship on the 27th. Kadokawa previously published a new issue...
Sora wo Kakeru Yodaka Live-Action Series' Trailer, Visual Unveiled
Series premieres on Netflix on August 1; adds Megumi Seki, Shōko Nakajima to cast
― The official website for the live-action series adaptation of Shiki Kawabata's Sora wo Kakeru Yodaka manga unveiled a trailer and a poster visual for the series on Thursday. The trailer reveals and previews the series' theme song "Akatsuki" by Johnny's WEST, and also reveals the series' August 1 debut date on Netflix....
Angels of Death Game's Switch Trailer Reveals June 28 Release in the West
Game's Japanese version for Switch also debuts on June 28
― Playism began streaming Japanese and English trailers on Wednesday for its Switch release of Hoshikuzu KRNKRN's (Makoto Sanada) Angels of Death game. The videos reveal that the game will release on June 28 in North America, Europe, and Japan. The Angels of Death (Satsuriku no Tenshi) franchise started out as Hoshikuzu KRNKRN's (Makoto Sanada...
Trinity Seven Has 'Super Important Announcement' on July 9
The July issue of Kadokawa's Monthly Dragon Age magazine revealed on June 9 that Kenji Saito and Akinari Nao's Trinity Seven manga will have a "super important announcement" in the magazine's next issue on July 9. The manga will also have a color opening page in the issue, and will feature on the front cover. Saito and Nao launched the manga in Monthly Dragon Age magazine in 2011. Kadokawa publish...
Master of Ragnarok & Blesser of Einherjar Anime's Promo Video Previews Opening Song
Anime premieres on July 7 with Crunchyroll stream
― Hobby Japan began streaming a new promotional video on Thursday for the television anime adaptation of Seiichi Takayama and Yukisan's The Master of Ragnarok & Blesser of Einherjar (Hyakuren no Haō to Seiyaku no Valkyria) light novel series. The video previews the anime's opening theme song "Bright way" by Aya Uchida. The anime will premiere on July ...
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle's Donkey Kong Expansion Slated for June 26
Switch game launched last August
― Nintendo began streaming a trailer for the Donkey Kong Adventure expansion for Ubisoft's Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle Switch game on Tuesday. The video reveals the expansion's June 26 release date. The DLC expansion will feature four new zones, and will highlight Nintendo's Donkey Kong character. The game launched for the Nintendo Switch last August. Ubisoft descr...
Tokyo Ghoul:re Anime's 2nd Season Unveils Visual
The official website for the television anime of Sui Ishida's Tokyo Ghoul:re manga revealed a new visual for the anime's upcoming second season on Thursday. The second season will premiere in October. The first season premiered on April 3, and the first season is listed with 12 episodes. Funimation is streaming the series with English subtitles. The company also released the anime's first eight ep...
Bomberman, Beyblade Designer Shoji Mizuno Passes Away at 58
Mizuno designed Bomberman games & anime, worked on Beyblade designs
― The official Twitter account for Konami's Bomberman franchise announced on Tuesday that artist Shoji Mizuno recently passed away. The account did not reveal the date of his passing. He was 58. Mizuno is perhaps most famous for re-designing the titular character of Hudson Soft's Bomberman series when the game was released for the NE...
Yumiko Kobayashi Is New Voice Actress for Crayon Shin-chan's Title Role
Kobayashi will debut in anime in July 6 episode
― The official website for the Crayon Shin-chan anime announced on Friday that voice actress Yumiko Kobayashi (Shakugan no Shana's Matake Ogata, Hozuki's Coolheadedness' Shiro) will be the new voice of the show's protagonist Shinnosuke Nohara, after previous voice actress Akiko Yajima announced her departure from the role. The last episode featuring Yaj...
Wednesday, June 13
Pro Soccer Player Yūto Nagatomo Goes Super Saiyan to Support Team
Soccer player Yūto Nagatomo, a member of Japan's national team, is gearing up for the World Cup, which will kick off on Thursday. To lighten the mood, Nagatomo decided to become a Dragon Ball Super Saiyan. スーパーサイヤ人になってチーム救いたい。。髪だけは明るく。。みんな笑ってくれよ。笑どんな時も前を向いて進む。super saiyanpic.twitter.com/tCB0FVu7t2— Yuto Nagatomo | 長友佑都 (@YutoNagatomo5) June 11, 2018 Well, he decided to get Super Saiyan hair anyway...
SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy Game Adds Luong, Mian From King of Fighters XIV
New characters previewed in reveal trailer
― NIS America began streaming a video revealing Luong and Mian two more playable characters for the SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy fighting game on Tuesday. Both characters are originally from The King of Fighters XIV. The game will ship for PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch in Japan on September 6. The limited edition will include one of 27 acrylic character...
2nd Live-Action Gintama Film's Title, Story Details Revealed
Film to adapt "Shinsengumi Crisis" and "Shogun Reception" arcs
― The official Twitter account for the live-action Gintama films announced the title and story arcs for the upcoming sequel film on Thursday. The film is titled Gintama 2: Okite wa Yaburu Tame ni Koso Aru (The Law is Surely There to be Broken), and it will cover both the "Shinsengumi Crisis" and the "Shogun Reception" arcs, the latter of ...
Twitter User Reimagines Trump, Kim as Pop Team Epic's Leading Duo
A highly anticipated and historic meeting between Donald Trump, president of the United States, and Kim Jong-un, leader of North Korea, took place on Tuesday in Singapore. People around the world hope that the summit will encourage North Korea's reportedly planned denuclearization and lead to peaceful relations between the nations. As such, the Internet sought to memify the situation. Twitter user...
Japanese Comic Ranking, June 4-10
One Piece, The Promised Neverland, Dragon Ball Super, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, Gintama in top 5
― Rank Title Est. Weekly Copies Est. Total Copies Release Date Publisher Author Highest Rank Weeks on List 1 One Piece 89 1,236,460 1,502,120 2018/06 Shueisha Eiichiro Oda 1 2 2 The Promised Neverland 9 248,977 250,681 2018/06 Shueisha Story: Kaiu Shirai / Art: Posuka Demizu 2 1 3 Dragon B...
Japan's Video Game Rankings, June 4-10
Fate/Extella Link, Sushi Striker games debut
― Japan's Game Ranking: June 4-10 Rank System Title Maker Release Date Weekly Copies Total Copies 4Gamer Reader Review 1PS4Fate/Extella Link (Including Limited Editions) Marvelous June 7 78,647 78,647 2PSVFate/Extella Link (Including Limited Editions) Marvelous June 7 38,156 38,156 3NSwSplatoon 2 (Including Bundled Editions) Nintendo July 21 13,423 2,364,2...
Book Teaches Logical Thinking Through Detective Conan
Readers of Japanese who want to improve their logic techniques can now do so with the help of a famous detective: Conan Edogawa. Kanki Publishing will release the Meitantei Conan ni Manabu Logical Thinking no Chōkihon (Learning Through Detective Conan: Super Foundation of Logical Thinking) book on June 18. The book will use Detective Conan to teach readers logical thinking. Drone Pilot Agency repr...
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Game's Prequel Expansion Previewed in Video
Story expansion gets physical release on September 21
― Nintendo began streaming a new trailer for the new story expansion for Monolith Soft's Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Switch game on Tuesday. The new expansion is titled Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Torna ~ The Golden Country. It will debut on September 14 for expansion pass holders, and will get a physical edition on September 21. Nintendo describes the new...
Jojo's Bizarre Adventure Director Naokatsu Tsuda to Attend Anime Expo
Other new Anime Expo guests include Yasutaka Nakata, Hachioji-P, Teddyloid
― Viz Media announced on Wednesday that Naokatsu Tsuda, the director of all the Jojo's Bizarre Adventure television anime, will be a guest at Anime Expo. Viz will host a Jojo's Bizarre Adventure panel with news and "some surprises." Other guests will include Jojo's Bizarre Adventure voice actors Patrick Seitz (Dio) and Christo...
Voice Actress Mayumi Tanaka Plays 3 Anime Characters in 1 TV Block
Mayumi Tanaka is a busy voice actress. She's so busy that she will have roles in three different anime all during the same programming block. Tanaka will appear in Layton Mystery Tanteisha: Katori no Nazotoki File, GeGeGe no Kitarō, and One Piece in Fuji TV's "Adventure Sunday" block on June 17. Tanaka will play Purisuke, a talking hill myna bird who is the key to a case, in the upcoming episode o...
Investor Z Live-Action Series' Cast Revealed
Hiroya Shimizu, Akari Hayami, Reiya Masaki, Miki Yanagi, more star in July 13 series
― TV Tokyo announced the cast of the live-action television series adaptation of Norifusa Mita's Investor Z manga on Wednesday. The cast, including the previously announced Hiroya Shimizu, includes (from left to right in image above): Ayano Kudō as Rin Kōmei, a first-year exchange student from China Kenshirō Iwai as ...
Disgaea 1 Launches in the West in October
New trailer streamed
― NIS America announced on Wednesday that Disgaea 1 Complete (Makai Senki Disgaea Refine), the HD remake of the first game in the Disgaea series, will debut for the PlayStation 4 and Switch in North America on October 9 and Europe on October 12. The company began streaming a trailer to accompany the announcement. The game will have standard physical editions and limited editions ...
Monster Strike's Collaboration With The Drifting Classroom Manga Offers Trip to Hawaii
The official website for XFlag's Monster Strike franchise revealed a collaboration with Kazuo Umezu's The Drifting Classroom manga on Monday. In the collaboration's story, the students find themselves transported to Hawaii instead of a barren wasteland. In the first commercial in the video above, the elementary school students discover that the world outside their school suddenly looks like Hawaii...
Anime Expo to Host World Premiere of Trigger's SSSS.Gridman Anime
Guests include Masaru Sakamoto, Masato Takeuchi, Shigeto Koyama, Hiromi Wakabayashi
― Los Angeles convention Anime Expo announced that it will host the world premiere of Trigger and Tsuburaya Productions' SSSS.Gridman anime series on Friday, July 6. Character designer Masaru Sakamoto, animation producer Masato Takeuchi, and Trigger's Shigeto Koyama and Hiromi Wakabayashi will appear at the event for ...
High School DxD Hero ‒ Episode 9
"This episode's feature fanservice scene actually packs in an impressive amount of sincerity before ultimately collapsing into full-blown harem hijinks."
Bee and PuppyCat Gets 2nd Season Co-Produced by Pokémon's OLM
Bee and PuppyCat: Lazy in Space debuts on VRV in 2019
― Frederator Studios revealed on Tuesday that it will co-produce the Bee and PuppyCat: Lazy in Space animated web series with anime studio Oriental Light and Magic (OLM). The series will be a sequel to the original American animated web series Bee and PuppyCat, and it will debut in 2019. Frederator Studios' Cartoon Hangover YouTube channel began s...
Real Girl ‒ Episode 11
"If this is the last gasp for Ito's crush on Ayado, then it's a pretty underwhelming way to wrap up that storyline."
Tokyo Ghoul:re Manga Ends in 3 Chapters
Series entered final arc in February
― This year's 28th issue of Shueisha's Young Jump magazine revealed on Thursday that Sui Ishida's Tokyo Ghoul:re manga will end in three chapters. If there are no delays, the manga will end on July 5. The same issue revealed that the series' anime adaptation will get a second season in October. The magazine's previous issue hinted last week that the next issue wil...
Tokyo Ghoul:re Anime Gets 2nd Season in October
1st 12-episode season premiered on April 3
― This year's 28th issue of Shueisha's Young Jump magazine revealed on Thursday that the television anime adaptation of Sui Ishida's Tokyo Ghoul:re manga will get a second season in October. The magazine's previous issue hinted last week that the next issue will feature a "big announcement" for the manga. The anime premiered on April 3, and the first season ...
Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These ‒ Episode 10
"Unfortunately, most of this episode lives up to its title of 'Interlude' too well."
Hanebad! Badminton Anime's 2nd Promo Video Previews Theme Songs
Yurika, Yuiko Ōhara perform songs for anime debuting on July 1
― The official website for the television anime of Kosuke Hamada's Hanebad! (The Badminton play of Ayano Hanesaki!) manga revealed the second promotional video and the titles of the anime's theme songs on Wednesday. Yurika will perform the opening theme song "Futari no Hane," and Yuiko Ōhara will perform the ending song "High Stepper." Th...
How NOT to Summon A Demon Lord Anime Reveals Promo Video, Visual
Series premieres on July 5
― The official website for the television anime of Yukiya Murasaki's How NOT to Summon a Demon Lord light novel series revealed a new promotional video and key visual on Wednesday. The video the opening theme song "DeCIDE" performed by the SUMMONARS 2+ unit and the ending theme song "Saiaku no Hi demo Anata ga Suki." (I Like You Even on the Worst Day.) performed by Yū Seriz...
Studio Trigger Launches Countdown With Tease for Arc System Works Collaboration
The official website of the Studio Trigger animation studio opened a countdown site on Wednesday. The countdown will end on Saturday at 12:00 p.m. JST. An image hosted on the site shows that it will reveal a new collaboration between Studio Trigger and game developer Arc System Works. Studio Trigger's latest projects include a collaboration with A-1 Pictures on the Darling in the FranXX television...
Etsuko Yakushimaru Performs Hi Score Girl TV Anime's Ending Theme Song
Sōtaisei Riron band's Seiichi Nagai, Matoki Yamaguchi also on "Hōkago Distraction" song
― Singer Etsuko Yakushimaru is contributing her song "Hōkago Distraction" (Afterschool Distraction) as the ending theme song for the television anime of Rensuke Oshikiri's Hi Score Girl manga. The song also features Yakushimaru's close friend Seiichi Nagai from the band Sōtaisei Riron, and Matoki Yamaguchi. The so...
Free! Dive to the Future TV Anime Reveals More Cast, Ending Song Artists
New characters, visual, goods also unveiled with 2 more hidden characters teased
― The official website for the Free! Dive to the Future television anime updated on Wednesday with new cast members, new characters, information about the ending theme song, details about the goods offered at the June 23 advance screening, and a new visual: The tagline on the new visual reads, "Dive, into the future!" Th...
Labyrinth of Refrain: Coven of Dusk Game's Trailer Reveals September Release
PS4, Switch, PC game launches in N. America on September 18, in Europe on September 21
― NIS America began streaming a new video on Friday for its upcoming release of Nippon Ichi Software's Labyrinth of Refrain: Coven of Dusk game. The video reveals the game's September 18 release in North America, and September 21 release in Europe. NIS America will release the game for the PlayStation 4, Nintendo S...
Dengeki Girl's Style Magazine Ends Regular Publication
Magazine focused on games for female audiences, launched in 2003
― The official Twitter account for Kadokawa's Dengeki Girl's Style magazine announced on June 9 that the magazine's regular print publication will end as of the magazine's July issue (seen right), which shipped on the same day. The magazine will continue to post news and announcements through the magazine's official website. The announc...
Gust Reveals New Arata na Daichi no Atelier Game
Game stars non-alchemist protagonist with 7 alchemists from previous titles
― Kadokawa's Famitsu.com and Dengeki Online websites both revealed on Tuesday that KOEI Tecmo Games and Gust are developing a new game for its Atelier role-playing game series titled Nelke to Densetsu no Renkinjutsushi-tachi: Arata na Daichi no Atelier (Nelke and the Legendary Alchemists: Atelier of a New Land). Unlike previo...
2018 Detective Conan Film Drops to #5 But Tops 8 Billion Yen
After the Rain falls to #10, Kase-san and Morning Glories tops mini-theater rankings
― Meitantei Conan Zero no Shikkōnin (Detective Conan: Zero the Enforcer), the 22nd film in the Detective Conan series, dropped from #3 to #5 at the box office in Japan in its ninth weekend. It earned 102,179,600 yen (about US$923,400) from Friday to Sunday. The film has now earned 8,073,552,600 yen (about US$72.9 mil...
Tuesday, June 12
Soul Calibur VI Trailer Reveals October 19 Release
Collector's edition contents revealed
― Bandai Namco Entertainment America began streaming a new trailer for its Soul Calibur VI fighting game for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC on Tuesday. The video reveals that the game is slated to launch on October 19 in the Americas and Europe. Bandai Namco Entertainment is also streaming the same video in Japanese, revealing an October 18 release in Japan. The...
Voice Actress Ayuru Ōhashi Marries, Gives Birth
Love Live! voice actress confirmed she'll continue acting and singing
― Voice actress Ayuru Ōhashi's official website announced on Sunday that Ōhashi has married and given birth to a child. She will continue her work as a voice actor and musical performer, and her staff asked for fans' continued support. Ōhashi also provided a handwritten message for the announcement. In the message, she said that he...
Live-Action Bleach Trailer Shows Urahara, Orihime, Chad
New poster visual revealed
― The staff for the live-action film of Tite Kubo's Bleach manga revealed a new trailer and poster visual on Wednesday. The trailer, which has both a full version and a 60-second version, is the first to show the characters Kisuke Urahara, Orihime Inoue, Yasutora "Chad" Sado, and Ichigo's parents Masaki Kurosaki and Isshin Kurosaki. The video also previews the theme song "M...
GungHo Online Reveals Ninjala Game for Switch
Multiplayer action game slated for next spring
― GungHo Online Entertainment (GOE) announced a Nintendo Switch game titled Ninjala on Tuesday. The game is slated for spring 2019. GOE describes the story: Ninjala is a morphing ninja gum action game that allows players to blow bubble gum to craft weapons and use the unconventional fighting method ninjutsu. Adapting to different landscapes, players must...
Golden Kamuy ‒ Episode 10
"This episode introduces a new character, develops its existing ones more, and drops a pretty big bombshell of a revelation for Asirpa."
Tokyo One Piece Tower Theme Park's Summer Festival Returns
The official One Piece portal site revealed details of this year's "Tokyo Pirates Festival" and posted a visual on Monday. The event will run at the Tokyo One Piece Tower theme park from July 14 to September 14. The theme of the event is traditional Japanese summer festivals, and the visual features One Piece characters in yukata, which many people wear to festivals. Special merchandise featuring ...
The World Ends With You -Final Remix- Launches for Switch This Fall
Nintendo announced during its Nintendo Direct presentation for E3 on Tuesday that the The World Ends With You -Final Remix- game for Nintendo Switch is slated for this fall. The action role-playing game will feature HD visuals and a new scenario. Players will be able to join rhythmic battles with their Joy-Con controllers or on the Nintendo Switch touch screen. Jupiter and Square Enix developed th...
Magical Girl Ore ‒ Episode 11
"This episode was low on quality, but for once it was high on quantity, and that was enough to make me curious about everything it'll need to tie up in the final episode."
Cup Noodle's Attack on Titan Collaboration Fights Back Against Mystery Meat Oppression
Nissin Foods' Cup Noodle brand of instant noodles revealed a new collaboration with the Attack on Titan anime on Tuesday. The collaboration promotes the brand's new "Cup Noodle Smoky Chili Soy Sauce Flavor" noodles with the new chili variety of "mystery meat" cubes. In the collaboration's story, humans live in a world controlled by Cup Noodle mystery meat (Titans), and they decide to fight back ag...
North American Anime, Manga Releases, June 10-16
Eromanga Sensei, Akashic Records of Bastard Magical Instructor anime; Sleepy Princess In The Demon Castle, Captain Harlock, High Rise Invasion manga ship
― Anime Releases Title Publisher Suggested Retail Price Date Akashic Records of Bastard Magical Instructor BD/DVDPlease Funimation Entertainment US$64.98 June 12 Berserk Season 2 BD/DVDCite Funimation Entertainment US$64.98 June 12 D. Gray-Man Seaso...
Pokémon Dating Goes Wrong in WuMo Newspaper Comic
The June 10 comic strip of Wulff & Morgenthaler's WuMo had a laugh at the popular mobile game Pokémon GO. The comic shows a bewildered woman show up for what she thought was a Tinder date only discover she accidentally 'caught' Bulbasaur by mistake. For all of you without a subscription to your local newspaper, here's the kind of Sunday morning comic content you're missing out on. pic.twitter.com/...
Anime Expo to Host World Premiere of Attack on Titan Season 3
Voice actors Yuuki Kaji, Bryce Papenbrook to attend event
― Anime Expo announced on Tuesday that it will host the world premiere of Attack on Titan season 3 on July 8. Voice actors Yuuki Kaji and Bryce Papenbrook, the Japanese and English voices of Eren, respectively, will attend the event to discuss their experiences. The third season of Attack on Titan will premiere in Japan on July 22 at 24:35 (ef...
Tokyo Toy Show 2018 Highlights: Pokémon Nanoblocks, Gundam A.I.s, and More
This year's Tokyo Toy Show went high-tech, featuring some premium toys for even adults to enjoy. Every year, it's typical for the Toy Show to showcase some unbelievably fancy and expensive toys (gadgets?), but it feels as if the biggest anime-related toy makers in Japan went the extra mile this year. For anime fans, the most notable toy this year will probably be the talking A.I. robot of the ador...
Dragon Ball FighterZ Gets Switch Release This Year
Game playable at E3 this week
― Bandai Namco Entertainment and Nintendo announced on Tuesday that Arc System Works' Dragon Ball FighterZ game will get a release on Nintendo Switch. The game will launch this year in the Americas, Europe, and Japan. The Switch version is playable at E3 in Los Angeles this week. The game launched for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC via Steam in the Americas and Europe o...
B: The Beginning Anime Gets 2nd Season
1st season debuted on Netflix in March
― Netflix announced at the Annecy International Festival of Animated Film on Tuesday that its B: The Beginning anime will get a second season "soon." Netflix began streaming the 12-episode first season worldwide simultaneously on March 2. The series is competing in the TV films category at Annecy. Netflix describes the story: In a world powered by advanced techn...
Super Mario Party Switch Game Announced for October 5 Release
Party game offers new mode that uses two Switch screens
― Nintendo announced Super Mario Party for its Nintendo Switch console during its E3 presentation on Tuesday. The game is slated for October 5. The game will have a new "Toad's Rec Room" mode that will allow players to pair two Nintendo Switch screens for gameplay. Mario Party is a game series, originally developed by Hudson Soft and published b...
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Switch Game Has All Previous Playable Characters
Ridley, Daisy, Inkling join roster of fighting game slated for December 7
― Nintendo announced details on its upcoming Super Smash Bros. crossover fighting game for Nintendo Switch during its Nintendo Direct E3 presentation on Tuesday. The game is titled Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and it is slated for December 7, 2018. It will include all playable fighters that have appeared in all previous games, in...
Nintendo Unveils Fire Emblem Three Houses Switch Game
Spring 2019 release planned in N. America, Japan, Europe
― Nintendo unveiled its new Fire Emblem Three Houses game for Nintendo Switch during its E3 Nintendo Direct presentation on Tuesday. The North American, Japanese, and European trailers all reveal a spring 2019 release window English version: Japanese version: Nintendo first announced in January 2017 that it was working on a Fire Emblem game for...
Nintendo Announces Daemon X Machina Game With Designers Shoji Kawamori, Yūsuke Kozaki
Switch game slated for 2019
― Nintendo announced a game titled Daemon X Machina for Nintendo Switch at E3 on Tuesday. The game is slated for 2019 Shoji Kawamori (Macross) is the mechanical designer and Yūsuke Kozaki (Fire Emblem) is designing the characters. Junichi Nakatsuru and Rio Hamamoto are composing the music. Ken Awata and Ken Karube are directing the game. Kenichiro Tsukuda is producing the ...
Catherine: Full Body Game Heads West in 2019
Action-adventure puzzle game gets PS4, PS Vita release in Japan
― Atlus USA announced on Tuesday that the Catherine: Full Body game will launch in the Americas and Europe in 2019. The company also began streaming an E3 trailer that highlights Vincent's relationships with Catherine, Katherine, and new "third Catherine" character Rin. The video has mostly the same content as the game's Japanese promoti...
My Hero One's Justice Game's Trailer Previews October Release in West
Game launches for PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC via Steam in Americas, Europe
― Bandai Namco Entertainment America and Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe announced on Tuesday that the My Hero Academia: One's Justice game will ship for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam in the Americas and Europe in October. The game's title for the English release is My Hero One's Justice. The comp...
Silver Spoon Manga Goes Back on Hiatus After 4 Chapters
Manga returned on May 23
― This year's 29th issue of Shogakukan's Weekly Shonen Sunday magazine revealed on Wednesday that Hiromu Arakawa's Silver Spoon manga will go back on hiatus in the next issue. The manga had just returned from its last hiatus with a new chapter in the 26th issue on May 23. The manga also received new chapters in the 27th issue on May 30, the 28th issue on June 6, and the newes...
Tobaku Haōden Zero Live-Action Series Reveals Cast, July 15 Premiere
Shigeaki Katō, Shōtarō Mamiya, Eiko Koike star in show
― The official website for Zero Ikkakusenkin Game (Zero: Get Rich Quick Game), the live-action television series based on Nobuyuki Fukumoto's Tobaku Haōden Zero gambling manga, revealed the show's cast and premiere date on Tuesday. The cast includes: (Front row, left to right) Shōtarō Mamiya as Seigi Suezaki Shigeaki Katō as "Zero" Ukai Eiko Koik...
Reol Performs Major 2nd Anime's New Ending Song
"SAIREN" debuts in anime on July 7
― The official website for the anime of Takuya Mitsuda's Major 2nd baseball manga revealed on Tuesday that female vocalist Reol will perform the series' new ending song "SAIREN." Reol wrote the lyrics, composed the music, and produced the song herself specifically for the anime. The song will debut in the show on July 7. The website revealed last week that vocal uni...
100 Sleeping Princes and the Kingdom of Dreams TV Anime Posts More Returning Cast Members, July 5 Debut
Junichi Suwabe, Masakazu Morita, Takahiro Sakurai's characters previewed in visual, designs
― The official website for the television anime of GCREST's 100 Sleeping Princes and the Kingdom of Dreams: The Animation (Yume Ōkoku to Nemureru 100-Nin no Ōji-sama) smartphone puzzle role-playing game revealed a new key visual and three more character designs, as well as the anime's July 5 premiere. It also ...
Tada Never Falls in Love Anime Replaces Yuichiro Umehara With Tomokazu Sugita
Umehara was hospitalized in May after being diagnosed with autoimmune disease
― The official website for the Tada Never Falls In Love (Tada-kun wa Koi o Shinai) anime announced on Tuesday that the staff is replacing the voice cast member for the character Hajime Sugimoto (pictured below). Tomokazu Sugita is now playing the character, replacing Yuichiro Umehara, as of the 11th episode which will air o...
Japan's Animation DVD Ranking, June 4-10
Destiny: Kamakura Monogatari sells 4,130 + 1,581, followed by Jūyō Sankōnin Tantei, Tetsuya Kakihara, Today's Menu for Emiya Family, 2nd Code Geass film
― The standard edition of Destiny: Kamakura Monogatari, the live-action film adaptation of Ryohei Saigan's Kamakura Monogatari manga, sold 4,130 copies to rank #1 on the overall DVD chart. The deluxe edition was #9 with 1,581 copies. The DVD box for ...
Japan's Animation Blu-ray Disc Ranking, June 4-10
2nd Code Geass film sells 10,285, followed by Today's Menu for Emiya Family, Destiny: Kamakura Monogatari, Violet Evergarden, Love Live! Sunshine!!
― The deluxe edition of Destiny: Kamakura Monogatari, the live-action film adaptation of Ryohei Saigan's Kamakura Monogatari manga, sold 3,271 copies to rank #7 on the overall Blu-ray Disc chart. The standard edition was #9 with 2,750 copies. The Blu-ray ...
Compile Heart Developing New 'Witches x Dragons' RPG
New game's title, promotional video to be unveiled on June 28
― Compile Heart's "Urgent Press Conference" site ended a countdown on Tuesday with a video showing Compile Heart president Norihisa Kochiwa. Kochiwa reported that the company's new title will be a role-playing game with a "Witches x Dragons" theme. Kadokawa's Weekly Famitsu magazine will provide more information on the game on June 28, and...
Yakuza 0, Kiwami, Valkyria Chronicles 4 Get PC Releases
Yakuza 0 slated for August 1, Valkyria Chronicles 4 this year
― Sega announced on Monday that it will port its Yakuza 0, Yakuza: Kiwami, and Valkyria Chronicles 4 games to the PC. Yakuza 0 is slated for August 1, with Yakuza: Kiwami and Valkyria Chronicles 4 slated for "later dates." All three games already have pages on Steam, and Valkyria Chronicles 4 is listed with a 2018 release date. Yakuza 0 (R...
Barakamon Manga Ends With 18th Volume in December
Manga about calligrapher launched in 2009, inspired TV anime, prequel spinoff
― The 17th compiled book volume of Satsuki Yoshino's Barakamon revealed on Tuesday that the manga's 18th compiled book volume will be the last. The final volume will ship on December 12. Yen Press publishes the manga in North America, and it describes the story: For a certain reason, a handsome young calligrapher by the nam...
The [email protected] Cinderella Girls Gekijō 3rd Season Listed With 13 Episodes Plus 3 Bonus Anime
Anime premieres July 3
― The official website for the television anime of Bandai Namco Entertainment and Kuma-Jet's The [email protected] Cinderella Girls Gekijō (The [email protected] Cinderella Girls Theater) manga revealed on Tuesday that the anime's three-volume Blu-ray Disc and DVD home video volumes will contain 13 television episodes, as well as special editions of the first seven episodes and three new bon...
As Miss Beelzebub Likes Anime Unveils 1st Promo Video, Visual
Rikuya Yasuda, Saori Ōnishi star in October series at LIDEN FILMS
― The official website for the television anime of matoba's As Miss Beelzebub Likes (Beelzebub-jō no Okinimesu Mama.) manga revealed a promotional video and visual for the anime on Tuesday. Rikuya Yasuda (Cute High Earth Defense Club HAPPY KISS!' Taishi Manza) stars in the series as Murin, and Saori Ōnishi (Is It Wrong to Try to Pick U...
Chio's School Road Reveals 4 More Cast Members, Theme Song Titles
Minami Shinoda, Yuko Minaguchi, Junji Majima, Nobuo Tobita join cast of July 6 anime
― The official website for the television anime of Tadataka Kawasaki's Chio's School Road (Chio-chan no Tsūgakuro) manga revealed four more cast members and the titles of the opening and ending theme songs for the anime on Tuesday. The new cast members include: Minami Shinoda as Takkun Yuko Minaguchi as Takkun's Mama...
Monday, June 11
FromSoftware Unveils Déraciné PlayStation VR Game
Dark Souls developer makes new adventure game slated for this year
― FromSoftware revealed a trailer for its new game titled Déraciné during Sony's E3 2018 press conference on Monday. The game will be available exclusively for the PlayStation VR this year. The video's description outlines the game: As a spirit summoned by a young girl in a secluded boarding school, the player must prove its existence...
Koei Tecmo Announces Nioh 2 Game Sequel
Sequel to 2017 PS4/PC action game
― Koei Tecmo Games revealed during Sony's E3 2018 press conference on Mondayu that it is developing Nioh 2, a sequel to its Nioh action game. The trailer did not reveal the game's release date or its supported platforms. The first game launched for the PlayStation 4 in North America, Europe, and Japan in February 2017. Koei Tecmo America released the game on the PC w...
Death Stranding Game's E3 Trailer Unveils Léa Seydoux, Lindsay Wagner in Cast
Metal Gear Solid's Hideo Kojima directs new game starring Norman Reedus
― Kojima Productions revealed a new trailer for Hideo Kojima's Death Stranding PlayStation 4 game during Sony's E3 2018 press conference on Monday. The trailer unveiled the full name of Norman Reedus' character as Sam Bridges, and also revealed Léa Seydoux and Lindsay Wagner as part of the game's cast. Kojima revealed three new p...
Kingdom Hearts III Game's New Trailer Previews Pirates of the Caribbean World
Square Enix's PS4/Xbox One game slated for January
― Square Enix revealed a new trailer for its Kingdom Hearts III game during Sony's E3 2018 press conference on Monday. The video reveals the return of the world based on Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. English Version Japanese Version Square Enix will release the game on January 25 in Japan for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, and on Janu...
Resident Evil 2 Remake's Trailer Reveals January Launch
Trailer reveals remake's new third-person perspective gameplay
― Capcom revealed a trailer for its remake of its Resident Evil 2 survival horror game during Sony's E3 2018 press conference on Monday. The remake is slated for January 25, 2019. The video does not specify the game's platforms. The video shows the remake's new third-person perspective gameplay (changed from the fixed camera angles of the...
Production IMS Consolidates Debt, Considers Filing for Bankruptcy
Date A Live II, Inari Kon Kon, High School Fleet, Takunomi. studio was founded in 2013
― Credit research company Tokyo Shoko Research (TSR) reported on Monday that anime studio Production IMS has begun consolidating its debt as of June 7. TSR cited an unnamed source who said that the staff are entering the legal proceedings with a mind to file for bankruptcy. The studio has not yet made a public stat...
Lupin the Third: Part 5 Anime Casts Takaya Kamikawa
Kamikawa plays Shake Hanz founder that appeared in episode 1
― The official website for Lupin the Third: Part 5, the fifth Lupin III anime series, announced on Tuesday that Takaya Kamikawa (Gurren Lagann's Anti-Spiral, Naruto Shippūden: Blood Prison's Maroi) is voicing the character Enzo Bron, founder of the global IT company Shake Hanz. Enzo already appeared in the opening scene of the anime's first...
Average Age of Hikikomori on the Rise in Japan
Anime paints a particular picture Japan's hikikomori population. They're often the stars of isekai series, leaving behind a solitary life of junk food consumption and video games to go on a grand adventure. Alternatively, sometimes they're featured in rom-coms like Eromanga Sensei as hermit-like artist types. In either case, hikikomori are high school or college dropouts, young adults shown to be ...
Anime Expo to Host Manga Artist Santa Inoue, Character Designers Takehito Harada & Eisuke Ogura, More
Series of guests also announced for Sword Art Online, Fate/Grand Order, Cells at Work!, Persona 5,
― Anime Expo announced on Friday that it will host Nippon Ichi Software character designer Takehito Harada (Disgaea, Witch and the Hundred Knight, Labyrinth of Refrain) and SNK character designer Eisuke Ogura (King of Fighters XIV, SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy) at this year's event. Both will participa...
Bean Bandit Kickstarter Campaign Celebration Illustrations
Kenichi Sonoda's Kickstarter campaign for his Bean Bandit anime met its goal on June 2. Supporters within the industry shared fan-art of the Gunsmith Cats and Bean Bandit characters to celebrate the news. The official Twitter account for the project shared artwork from art director Hiroshi Kato (Barakamon, Space Brothers, Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance), Full Metal Panic! artist Shikidouji,...
Fate/Grand Order VR feat. Mash Kyrielight Game's English Dub Trailer Streamed
Dub debuts at Anime Expo on July 4
― Aniplex of America began streaming a trailer on Friday for the Fate/Grand Order VR feat. Mash Kyrielight PlayStation VR game on Friday. The video is the English version of the game's third Japanese promotional video, and it introduces another story provided by the project in the form of an "Altria Pendragon VR Drama." Aniplex of America announced at its panel at A...
One Piece ‒ Episode 840
"This is possibly the most important episode in terms of Sanji's arc in WCI, but it sure isn't much else."
Food Wars! The Third Plate ‒ Episode 22
"It's a disappointment to see so much just tossed aside in the name of cramming the full story arc into too few episodes."
House in Fata Morgana Gets PS4/Vita Release in the West
Release slated for early 2019
― Limited Run Games announced during its E3 press conference on Monday that it will release Novectacle's The House in Fata Morgana visual novel in the West for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita. The game is slated to get physical and digital releases on both consoles in the first quarter of 2019. MangaGamer licensed the PC version and released it in May 2016. Sekai Proj...
Dead or Alive 6 Tones Down Characters' Sexuality
Dead or Alive 6 producer and director Yohei Shimbori revealed in an interview with IGN's Esra Krabbe that the sexy fighting game franchise is toning down some of its fanservice elements in the latest installment. The choice is a big move for a game brand that already includes spin-offs like Dead or Alive Xtreme series featuring its female cast playing sports in a variety of bathing suits, pole-dan...
Japan Cuts Festival to Host U.S. Premiere of Live-Action Bleach Film With Director Q&A
Also: East Coast premiere of Night is Short, Walk On Girl
― The Japan Society revealed on Monday that it will host the United States premiere of the live-action Bleach film on July 28 as part of JAPAN CUTS: Festival of New Japanese Film. Director Shinsuke Sato will appear at the screening to introduce the film and participate in a Q&A. The event will also host the East Coast premiere of Masaaki Yuasa...
Viz Media No Longer Has Rights to Shaman King Manga
Viz Media confirmed with ANN that it no longer has the rights to Hiroyuki Takei's Shaman King manga. Japanese publisher Kodansha has been listed as the trademark owner for "Shaman King" in Japan, Europe, and the United States since at least December. Viz Media told ANN last August that its license was still active at the time. Shaman King's original Japanese publisher was Shueisha, though Takei la...
Caligula ‒ Episode 10
"Caligula gives me exactly what I wanted all along by revealing the tragic backstory of every main character except for Ritsu, but in the worst way I could have possibly imagined."
Square Enix, Platinum Games Announce Babylon's Fall Game for PS4, PC
Teaser trailer streamed
― Square Enix announced with a teaser video on Monday that it is working with Platinum Games on a new game titled Babylon's Fall. The game is slated to launch for PlayStation 4 and PC via Steam in 2019. Platinum Games has developed such games as Bayonetta, Vanquish, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, The Wonderful 101, and most recently, Nier: Automata. Source: Square Enix's YouT...
Dragon Quest XI Game's English E3 Trailer Streamed
PS4 special editions revealed
― Square Enix began streaming its English-dubbed E3 trailer for Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age (Dragon Quest XI: Sugisarishi Toki o Motomete) on Monday. The video reveals the "Edition of Light," which includes the game on PlayStation 4, reversible cover art, and bonus DLC. In addition, there will be a Square Enix Store-exclusive "Edition of Lost Time," which w...
Pop Team Epic Manga Creator's Twitter Account is Back
Pop Team Epic manga creator Bkub Okawa is back to rule social media once again after a temporary Twitter suspension. Okawa apologized for the 'fuss' his suspension caused, saying that the suspension was due to copyright concerns over an image he shared. The image included the Gun Cannon weapon seen in the Gundam franchise. Okawa wrote that he was told the image infringed on the copyright for 'Dom....
Cal Poly Graduate Takes Waifu Nico to Accept Diploma
A graduate of California State Polytechnic University's Business Administration School brought his biggest supporter on stage with him to accept his Bachelor's degree. Graduate Ryan-Nghi Thai was given his degree with Love Live! idol Nico Yazawa in tow on Saturday morning. The commencement ceremony was live streamed and caught the attention of viewer @honkposter on Twitter. The pictures of Thai wi...
Cutie Honey Universe ‒ Episode 10
"The serious looks at Honey's deteriorating psyche and how others step in to support her are about all that Cutie Honey Universe does well this week."
Yakuza Studio's Fist of the North Star Game Heads West in October
Game to have dual audio, 'extra carnage'
― Sega of America announced on Monday that it will release Yakuza Studios' Fist of the North Star (Hokuto no Ken) PlayStation 4 game, Hokuto ga Gotoku, in North America and Europe under the title Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise. The game is slated for physical and digital release on October 2, and it will have both English and Japanese audio options. Seg...
Design Festa Gallery: Freedom in Watercolors
The Design Festa gallery is a permanent exhibition space in Harajuku that is dedicated to showing off the talents of young and upcoming artists in Japan. Although a wide variety of art is showcased at the Design Festa gallery, some artists work in the anime and manga industries or are strongly influenced by anime-style art. Today, let's focus on a particularly young artist who uses watercolor art ...
GeGeGe no Kitarō ‒ Episode 11
"If humans had known more about yokai matters, they wouldn't have become the authors of their own displacement as the dominant species in Japan in this tanuki-driven episode."
Live-Action Kakugo wa Ii ka Soko no Joshi. TV Series Reveals Heroine Cast Member
Kosame Asakura, Tōma Naito join cast
― The official Twitter account for the live-action film and television series adaptations of Nana Shiiba's Kakugo wa Ii ka Soko no Joshi. (Are you ready? Hey you girl!) romantic comedy manga revealed on Monday that Yuri Tsunematsu will play the heroine Kosame Asakura in the series. Additionally, Yōsuke Sugino will have the guest role of Tōma Naito in the series' f...
Season Finale: Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card ‒ Episode 22
"This final episode feels very symptomatic of the entire season; it's still entertaining and enjoyable, but a little sparse on the plot."
Gundam Build Divers Anime Reveals 2nd Cour's Theme Songs
Gundam Build Divers anime premiered on April 3
― The official website for Gundam Build Divers, the new television anime series in the Gundam Build Fighters franchise, revealed the new opening and ending theme song performers for the series' second cour on Monday. Swanky Dank (Black Clover ending theme) will perform the new opening theme song "Infinity," and Spira Spica will perform the new ending son...
As Miss Beelzebub Likes Anime Reveals October Premiere, Cast, Staff
Rikuya Yasuda, Saori Ōnishi star in series at LIDEN FILMS
― The July issue of Square Enix's Monthly Shonen Gangan magazine revealed on Tuesday that the television anime adaptation of matoba's As Miss Beelzebub Likes (Beelzebub-jō no Okinimesu Mama.) manga will premiere in October. The magazine also revealed the show's main cast and staff. Rikuya Yasuda (Cute High Earth Defense Club HAPPY KISS!' Taish...
PERSONA 5 the Animation ‒ Episode 10
"I appreciate how these episodes that exist to transition the team from one target to the next use their time to explore some of the meatier ideas behind their actions."
Warriors Orochi 4 Launches on Steam on October 16
A trailer for the Warriors Orochi 4 (Musou Orochi 3) game revealed on Friday that the game will launch for PC via Steam in Japan on October 16. The game will ship in Japan for the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 on September 27. First-edition bonuses include special costumes for Xu Shu, Ishida Mitsunari, and Da Ji. The game's digital deluxe edition includes a digital version of the game, a seaso...
Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online ‒ Episode 9
"Despite its handful of problems, the story is still chugging along exactly on schedule, with the competition pared down dramatically and the first conflict between major players ready to get underway."
Back Street Girls TV Anime Reveals New Visual
The official Twitter account for the television anime of Jasmine Gyuh's Back Street Girls comedy manga revealed a new visual for the anime on Monday. The anime will premiere on BS11 on July 3 at 25:00 (effectively July 4 at 1:00 a.m.), followed by Tokyo MX at 25:40 and MBS at 27:00. Chiaki Kon (Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Crystal: Season III, When They Cry - Higurashi, Junjō Romantica) is directin...
DARLING in the FRANXX ‒ Episode 20
"I have a hard time believing that DARLING will be able to make this dramatic shift in focus feel earned."
My Hero Academia ‒ Episode 48
"Season three so far has been pitch perfect, getting through its material swiftly but deliberately."
Usuzumizakura -Garo- Anime Film Reveals Cast, Character Designs, October Premiere
More staff also revealed for latest entry in Garo franchise
― The official website for the Usuzumizakura -Garo- (Gray Cherry Blossoms: Garo) anime film project revealed the film's main cast, more staff, and October premiere on Saturday. The film will star: Masei Nakayama as Raikou Romi Park as Seimei Akiko Yajima as Kintoki Kenyuu Horiuchi as Fujiwarano Michinaga Daisuke Namikawa as Fujiwarano Yasusu...
Ikaruga Shooter Game Launches for PS4 on June 29
Game developer Treasure announced on Monday that it will release its Ikaruga game digitally for PlayStation 4 on June 29 for 980 yen (about US$9). The game will have 4K support on PlayStation Pro and 4K monitors. The game is a port of the PC version of the game released on Steam. Hiroshi Iuchi directed the game at Treasure, and the game debuted in Japanese arcades in 2001, followed by its first co...
Impossibility Defense's Kōji Shiraishi Directs Live-Action Gedō no Uta Film
The wraparound jacket band on the sixth volume of Daisuke Watanabe's Gedō no Uta (The Villain's Song) manga revealed on Monday that Kōji Shiraishi (live-action Impossibility Defense, Sadako vs. Kayako films) is directing the live-action film adaptation of the manga. The manga centers on Kamo and his partner Tora, who work in the underworld as "avengers for hire," taking on jobs from the victims of...
Happy Sugar Life TV Anime Replaces Yuichiro Umehara With Kaito Ishikawa
Umehara was hospitalized in May after being diagnosed with autoimmune disease
― The official website for the television anime adaptation of Tomiyaki Kagisora's Happy Sugar Life manga revealed on Monday that the staff is replacing the voice cast member for the character Daichi Kitaumekawa (pictured below). Kaito Ishikawa (My Hero Academia's Tenya Iida, One Punch Man's Genos) is now playing the charact...
Reborn! Stage Play's Visual Reveals 2 More Cast Members in Costume
Masanari Wada, Yūta Kishimoto join cast of play running in September-October
― The official Twitter account for the stage play adaptation of Akira Amano's Reborn! manga revealed a visual for the play on Monday. The Twitter account also revealed two more cast members on Friday and Saturday, including Masanari Wada as Mukuro Rokudō (left in visual above), and Yūta Kishimoto as Kyōya Hibari (right). Pre...
Jump Force Game's Gameplay Videos Confirm Zoro, Sasuke as Playable Characters (Updated)
Game's producer confirmed that game will have characters in video game debut
― Bandai Namco Entertainment Asia began streaming two gameplay videos for its Jump Force crossover game on Monday. The videos show Naruto, Goku, and Luffy fighting Frieza. In addition, Frieza is teamed with Roronoa Zoro (One Piece) and Sasuke Uchiha (Naruto), confirming them as playable characters. In addition, media news we...
Code Vein Game's 4th Blood Veil Trailer Previews Ivy
Game launches for PS4, Xbox One, PC in West on September 28
― Bandai Namco Entertainment America began streaming the fourth "Blood Veil Trailer" for the Code Vein post-apocalyptic role-playing game on Sunday. The new video previews the action Ivy, which features spikes that attack the enemy from underneath. The first video previewed the action Ogre, which uses a claw-like weapon to attack. The second...
D3 Publisher Opens Countdown Site for New Switch Game
D3 Publisher opened a teaser website on Tuesday that has a countdown for a new game for the Nintendo Switch. The site also features an "item search" game. The site features a "Sagashi Neko" (Search Cat) character that asks visitors to search for an item and click on it, which provides hints to the game. The site also hints that the image might change as the countdown progresses. The first item is ...
Kamen Rider Build, Kaitō Sentai Lupinranger VS Keisatsu Sentai Patranger Films' Trailer Posted
Poster visuals for August 4 films also unveiled
― Toei revealed a new trailer and poster visuals for the upcoming Kamen Rider Build: Be the One and Kaitō Sentai Lupinranger VS Keisatsu Sentai Patranger en film films on Monday. The films will open together on August 4. Those who pre-order tickets to the film starting on June 16 will receive either a "Kamen Rider Build & Crows" figurine or a "Lupin Red...
The Prince of Tennis OVA's Video Previews Violin Theme by Ayasa
Ayasa performs "BEST GAMES!!" violin theme for August OVA
― The official website for The Prince of Tennis anime franchise began streaming a promotional video for the Tennis no Ōjisama BEST GAMES!! Tezuka vs Atobe, the first new original video anime (OVA) in the planned Tennis no Ōjisama BEST GAMES!! project, on Sunday. The video previews the OVA's theme piece "BEST GAMES!!" by violinist Ayasa. (Click...
Compile Heart Launches 24-Hour 'Urgent Press Conference' Countdown Site
Compile Heart launched a "Compile Heart Urgent Press Conference" countdown site on Monday. The site counts down to Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. JST (Monday at 10:00 p.m. EDT). Compile Heart released Death end re:Quest on PlayStation 4 on April 12, and will release Kangokutō Mary Skelter 2 for PS4 on July 12. The company teased in February that it was working on eight new games in addition to Death end re...
Zanki Zero PS4, PS Vita Game's Video Shows 1st 10 Minutes of Story
Game about human clones as last 8 humans left alive on Earth launches on July 5
― Spike Chunsoft began streaming the first 10 minutes of gameplay from its Zanki Zero: Last Beginning game on Monday. The video shows protagonist Haruto Higurashi seemingly dying, but waking up at a beach on an island, and meeting a girl named Sachika Hirasaka. The game ships in Japan on July 5 for PlayStation 4 and PlayS...
Sunday, June 10
Devolver Digital to Release Metal Wolf Chaos Game on Xbox One, PS4, PC
FromSoftware's mecha action game launches this year
― American video game publisher Devolver Digital announced during its press conference on Sunday that it will release FromSoftware's Metal Wolf Chaos game for the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC this year. The game, titled Metal Wolf Chaos XD, will feature upgraded visuals, and will support widescreen formats. The updated game will also contain the ...
Yuuna and the Haunted Hot Springs Anime Reveals New Visual
This year's 28th issue of Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine revealed a new visual on Monday for the television anime of Tadahiro Miura's Yuuna and the Haunted Hot Springs (Yuragi-sō no Yūna-san) manga. The anime will premiere on July 14 at 11:30 p.m. and will air on BS11 and Tokyo MX. The anime will also air on Sun TV, KBS Kyoto, Gifu Broadcasting, Mie TV, and AT-X. The anime stars: Yuuki Ono...
Rikiya Koyama to Play Original Villain Character in My Hero Academia: Two Heroes Anime Film
Film has world premiere at AX on July 5 before opening in Japan on August 3
― This year's 28th issue of Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine revealed on Monday that Rikiya Koyama (Blood Blockade Battlefront's Klaus, Fate/Zero's Kiritsugu Emiya) will pay an original villain character named Wolfram in the My Hero Academia: Two Heroes (My Hero Academia THE MOVIE: Futari no Hero) film. He is a leader o...
NieR: Automata Game Gets Xbox One Release on June 26
Game includes DLC content
― Square Enix announced on Sunday that it will release its NieR: Automata game in a new version for the Xbox One titled NieR: Automata Become as Gods Edition on June 26. The new version will include the DLC for the game, including: The 3C3C1D119440927 expansion DLC Grimoire Weiss Pod Retro Red Pod Skin Retro Grey Pod Skin Cardboard Pod Skin The Machine Lifeform Mask Accessor...
Kingdom Hearts III Game's Trailer Previews World Based on Frozen (Updated)
Square Enix's PS4, Xbox One game slated for January release
― Square Enix unveiled a new trailer for its Kingdom Hearts III game during Microsoft's E3 2018 press conference on Sunday. The trailer reveals that the game will have a world based on Disney's Frozen film. English Version Japanese Version Square Enix will release the game on January 25 in Japan for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, and on Jan...
Dark Souls' FromSoftware Reveals Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Game
Stealth action game set in Japan's Sengoku era ships for PS4, Xbox One, PC in 2019
― FromSoftware revealed its new game, titled Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, during Microsoft's E3 2018 press conference on Sunday. The game will ship for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC via Steam in 2019. Activision is publishing the game. FromSoftware teased the new game last December. Activision describes the game: D...
Capcom Reveals Devil May Cry 5 for PS4, Xbox One, PC
New game with 3 playable characters, including Nero, slated for spring 2019
― Capcom revealed Devil May Cry 5, the newest installment in its Devil May Cry action game series, during Microsoft's E3 2018 press conference on Sunday. The game is slated for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC in spring 2019. Capcom describes the game: Years have passed since the events of Devil May Cry 4, and a lot has happen...
Tales of Vesperia Gets 'Definitive Edition' Release This Winter
PS4/Xbox One/Switch/PC game has content from Japanese PS3 version
― Bandai Namco Entertainment announced during Microsoft's E3 2018 press conference on Sunday that it is releasing Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition, a remastered version of its Tales of Vesperia role-playing game, on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC via Steam this winter. The game will include both English and Japanese v...
Jump Force PS4/Xbox One/PC Game Unites Shonen Jump Characters
Spike Chunsoft develops game for 2019 release
― Bandai Namco Entertainment revealed Jump Force, a new crossover game for Weekly Shonen Jump manga characters, during Microsoft's E3 2018 press conference on Sunday. The trailer shows characters such as Goku and Frieza from Dragon Ball, the titular protagonist of Naruto, Luffy from One Piece, and Light and Ryuk from Death Note. Bandai Namco Entertainment...
Tsuyoshi Dōmoto Returns as Shinsuke Takasugi in 2nd Live-Action Gintama Film
Film opens in Japan on August 17, also has live-action show premiering in August
― This year's 28th issue of Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine revealed on Monday that Tsuyoshi Dōmoto is returning to play Shinsuke Takasugi in the live-action Gintama 2 (Kari) (Gintama 2 (Working Title)) sequel film. The film stars (from left to right in top row in picture below): Shun Oguri as Gintoki Sakata, Masa...
Shonen Jump's 50th Anniversary Celebrations Continue With 3rd Mix CD
Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine is marking its 50th anniversary with a number of promotions and projects. The third part of a commemorative CD project, Weekly Shonen Jump 50th Anniversary BEST ANIME MIX vol.3, will ship in Japan on July 4. Here are the songs on the new 50-track CD: 01. "1/3 no Junjō na Kanjō" / Siam Shade (Rurouni Kenshin) 02. "Romance" / Penicillin (Sexy Commando Gaiden: S...
Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card Nendoroid Figure Shows Sakura in Uniform
The Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card anime's title character is getting her own Nendoroid figure. The figure will feature Sakura in her Tomoeda Junior High School uniform, and it is slated for release in October. The figure will come with three expressions: normal face, smiling face, and yelling face. The set will also include Sakura's Dream Wand, teddy bear, and bag. The figure costs 4,800 yen (abo...
Art Exhibition Honors Creamy Mami Character Designer Akemi Takada
Akemi Takada has provided character designs for anime such as Magical Angel Creamy Mami, Urusei Yatsura, Patlabor The Mobile Police, and Kimagure Orange Road. In honor of the 40th anniversary of her career, a special art exhibition held at Tokyu Department Store Kichijōji in Tokyo will honor Takada's work. The exhibit, titled "Takada Akemi Exhibition: Angelic Moment -anniversary-," will focus on M...
Saitsuyo Densetsu Nakane Manga Collaborates With Mizuho Bank
The Saitsuyo Densetsu Nakane (Strongest Legend Nakane) manga is collaborating with Mizuho Bank for the "Saitsuyo: Nakane no Maemuki Ryman Web" (Strongest: Nakane's Forward-Looking Salaryman Web) online promotion. The bank's new promotional web page posted a video that features the manga's storyboards and introduces its story on Friday. The website showcases the story and art from the manga while p...
Teen Arrested for Bomb Threats Against Love Live! Sunshine!! Concerts
Allegedly posted threats on Saitama concerts on June 9, 10
― Police from Tokorozawa City in Saitama Prefecture announced on Saturday that they arrested a 17-year-old male third-year student from a private Setouchi City high school in Okayama Prefecture on the charge of obstructing business. The suspect allegedly posted bomb threats against Love Live! Sunshine!! concerts in Tokorozawa on a social netw...
Manga Time Kirara Magazine Marks 15th Anniversary With Exhibition
Houbunsha's Manga Time Kirara magazine launched in November 2003, and the publication is marking its 15th anniversary this year. To celebrate, the "Manga Time Kirara-ten" (Manga Time Kirara Exhibition) will run at 3331 Arts Chiyoda in Tokyo from November 17-25. The exhibit will honor the main Manga Time Kirara magazine, plus its sister magazines Manga Time Kirara Carat, Manga Time Kirara Max, Mang...
SCREEN mode, Oresama Perform Theme Songs for Muhyo & Roji Anime
Anime to have advanced screening event on July 29
― This year's 28th issue of Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine revealed the opening and ending theme song artists on Monday for the television anime adaptation of Yoshiyuki Nishi's Muhyo to Roji no Mahōritsu Sōdan Jimusho (Muhyo & Roji's Bureau of Supernatural Investigation) manga. SCREEN mode (Bungo Stray Dogs 2, Food Wars! The Second Plate, Myri...
Yuuna and the Haunted Hot Springs Anime Premieres on July 14
This year's 28th issue of Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine revealed on Monday that the television anime of Tadahiro Miura's Yuuna and the Haunted Hot Springs (Yuragi-sō no Yūna-san) manga will premiere on July 14 at 11:30 p.m. and will air on BS11 and Tokyo MX. The anime stars: Yuuki Ono as male protagonist Kogarashi Fuyuzora Miyuri Shimabukuro as Yuuna Yunohana Eri Suzuki as Chisaki Miyazak...
The Lost Child Game's Video Previews Dungeon Scene
Game debuts in N. America on June 19, in Europe on June 22
― NIS America began streaming a new video for its The Lost Child game on Saturday. The video shows a dialogue scene in which protagonist Hayato and his ally Lua are in a dungeon, and encounter a demon. The game will ship in North America on June 19 and in Europe on June 22. The game will be available physically and digitally for the Nintendo ...
Code Vein Game's 3rd Blood Veil Trailer Previews Hounds
Game launches for PS4, Xbox One, PC in West on September 28
― Bandai Namco Entertainment America began streaming the third "Blood Veil Trailer" for the Code Vein post-apocalyptic role-playing game on Saturday. The new video previews the action Hounds, which features two dog-like weapons that bite enemies. The first video previewed the action Ogre, which uses a claw-like weapon to attack, and Stinger,...
HIDIVE Adds My Girlfriend is Shobitch Anime in U.S., Canada
HIDIVE announced on Saturday that it will stream the My Girlfriend is Shobitch anime on the service in the United States and Canada starting on June 22, with new episodes released every Friday. HIDIVE describes the anime: Haruka Shinozaki manages to pluck up the courage to ask his long-time crush, Akiho Kosaka, to be his girlfriend. Much to Haruka's surprise, she agrees; however, her nervous yet b...
Phantom in the Twilight Anime's 4th Character Video Highlights Wayne
Daiki Yamashita voices character in series premiering on July 9
― The official website for smartphone game company Happy Elements' first original anime Phantom in the Twilight began streaming the show's fourth character video on Sunday. The video highlights the character Wayne King (voiced by Daiki Yamashita). The site previously streamed character videos for Vlad Garfunkel, Luke Bowen, and Tauryu. T...
Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere Anime's BD Box Set In Japan Includes Bonus Animation, New Novel
Set releasing on December 21 with English subtitles to include both seasons, bonus new music
― The official Twitter account for the Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere anime series revealed on Saturday that the anime series is getting a Blu-ray Disc box set on December 21. The box set will include both seasons of the anime. Special bonuses include a new novel written by original light novel creator Mino...
King of Prism: Shiny Seven Stars Theatrical Anime, TV Series Revealed for Spring 2019
TV anime to have 12 episodes, theatrical version to have 4 screenings
― The "King of Prism Rose Party 2018" event on Sunday for the King of Prism franchise revealed a new project titled King of Prism: Shiny Seven Stars. The project is both a theatrical anime and television anime series. The edited theatrical version and the television anime series will both premiere in spring 2019. The anime will sta...
Angels of Death Anime's 2nd Promo Video Reveals July 6 Premiere
Houchu Ohtsuka joins cast as Gray
― The official website for J.C. Staff's anime of the Angels of Death (Satsuriku no Tenshi) game revealed a second promotional video, one more cast member, and the show's July 6 premiere date on Sunday. The below video previews Haruka Chisuga's ending song "Pray" as her character Rachel. The anime will premiere on AT-X on July 6 at 8:30 p.m., before airing later that ...
Kingdom Hearts III Game Launches in Japan on January 25, Worldwide on January 29 (Updated)
Square Enix's PS4, Xbox One game was previously slated for this year
― Game director Tetsuya Nomura announced at a Kingdom Hearts orchestra concert in Los Angeles on Saturday that Square Enix will release Kingdom Hearts III on January 29, 2019 on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The game will launch in Japan on January 25. The game was previously planned for a release this year. KINGDOM HEARTS III will be...
Lord of Vermilion Anime Reveals New Visual, July 13 Premiere
Visuals for 2 main characters also revealed
― The official website for Lord of Vermilion: Guren no Ō (Crimson King), the television anime of Square Enix's Lord of Vermilion arcade trading card game series, revealed a new visual and the show's July 13 premiere on Sunday. The anime will premier on Tokyo MX on July 13 at 25:05 (effectively July 14 at 1:05 a.m.), before later airing on Sun TV, KBS Kyoto,...
SNK Reveals Title Lineup for 2 Neo Geo Mini Systems
Japanese Version launches this summer, International Version launches later; each system has 40 titles
― SNK began streaming a 12-minute online presentation video on Saturday for the Neo Geo Mini system. The system will have a 3.5-inch liquid crystal display, and is powered by USB. The system can also connect to an external display with HDMI, as well as to headphones and two controllers. The system w...
Shout! Factory to Release Chojin Sentai Jetman Series on DVD
Complete series set ships on September 25
― Shout! Factory announced on Saturday that it will release the Chōjin Sentai Jetman live-action series on DVD in a complete set on September 25. The release will feature Japanese language with English subtitles on eight discs with all 51 episodes. Chōjin Sentai Jetman is the 15th Super Sentai series from Toei, and it aired from 1991-1992. The series is the f...
Saturday, June 9
Warriors Orochi 4 Game's 1st Promo Video Reveals September 27 Launch in Japan
Franchise's 1st entry in 5 years has 170 playable characters, release in West set for this fall
― Koei Tecmo Games began streaming a trailer on Saturday for its Warriors Orochi 4 (Musou Orochi 3) game, which revealed that the game will ship in Japan for the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 on September 27. First-edition bonuses include special costumes for Xu Shu, Ishida Mitsunari, and Da Ji. The ga...
Roundup of Newly Revealed Print Counts for Manga, Light Novel Series (May-June 2018)
Grand Blue Dreaming, One Piece, My Hero Academia, The Promised Neverland, Arslan, Tokyo Ghoul, more
― Publishers will often reveal how many copies of a manga or light novel series volumes are in print. The following are print counts ANN has found recently, listed in order of how many volumes are available. The numbers are for Japan totals only unless otherwise specified. Manga Manga# of Copies in Pri...
Sailor Moon The Super Live Show Gets Tokyo Preview Before Paris Run
Tokyo preview runs in August-September, Paris performance follows in November
― The official website for the Sailor Moon franchise revealed on May 31 that Sailor Moon The Super Live, the new performance show based on Naoko Takeuchi's Sailor Moon manga, will get a preview run at AiiA 2.5 Theater Tokyo from August 31 to September 9, before having performances at the Palais des congrès de Paris on Novem...
HoneyWorks Teams Up With Sanrio Characters for Theme Park Event, Performance
"Monster creator unit" HoneyWorks is teaming up with Sanrio characters My Melody and Kuromi for a special collaboration this summer. The "HoneyWords x My Melody in Sanrio Puroland" event will run at the Sanrio Puroland theme park in Tokyo from June 30 to July 20. LIP×LIP, a HoneyWorks-produced group made up of Kouki Uchiyama and Nobunaga Shimazaki, appears with My Melody and Kuromi in the collabor...
Pop Team Epic Goes Full Circle in Latest Pokémon Episode
Pop Team Epic got a shout out in the latest episode of Pokémon Sun & Moon on Thursday. Both Satoshi (Ash) and Kaki (Kiawe) show a very Popuko and Pipimi expression in the episode "Gekitotsu Ultra Beast! Dondonbachibachi Daisakusen!!" Both sport wide yellow eyes and faces covered in characteristic veins. The reference might be an acknowledgment of the gag anime's own Pokemon clip from Pop Team Epic...
21st Detective Conan Film Producers Win Fujimoto Award
Live-action Gintama, Kimi no Suizō o Tabetai film producers also honored
― Japan's Eiga Engeki Bunka Kyōkai (Film Theater Culture Association) announced the winners of its 37th annual Fujimoto Awards on April 25. The staff of the Detective Conan: The Crimson Love Letter anime film, including original manga creator Gosho Aoyama, and producers Shūhō Kondō, Isato Yonekura, and Keiichi Ishiyama, received...
Laid-Back Camp Anime Gets Even More Merch, Events
The Laid-Back Camp anime has already inspired a variety of events, promotions, and merchandise. Now, the show is getting even more goods, plus another event and promotion. Akros Ltd. is offering a real-world version of Nadeshiko's backpack. The backpack is made of cotton with a water-repelling treatment, and the flap is made of real leather. The sides have pockets for 500-milliliter (about 17-oun...
Bandai Namco Considers Releasing Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet Game on Switch
Game launched for PS4, Xbox One, Steam in February
― Bandai Namco Entertainment producer Keishi Minami said in a Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet competition live-stream on May 28 that the staff is "considering" releasing Sword Art Online games for Nintendo Switch. Minami explained that he thinks the same way as someone who loves games. He said that he and his superiors are discussing the possibility o...
Etten no Sora Manga Artist Blames Hobby Japan, 'Human Rights' for [New Life+] Cancellation
Takano said they've never insulted minorities on Twitter or engaged in hate speech but also said 'I don't know the definition of hate speech.'
― The cancellation of the [New Life+] Young Again in Another World anime has caused ripples throughout the anime industry. Outspoken anime director Yutaka Yamamoto (Wake Up, Girls!, Kannagi) weighed in earlier this week blaming both Japanese neo-nationalists a...
Hinamatsuri ‒ Episode 10
“This week's episode features Hitomi and Anzu dealing with typical middle school problems like renting a high-rise apartment, juggling multiple jobs, and picking up the pieces after an ill-fated gambling spree.”
Feast on Kero's Favorite Dishes at the Cardcaptor Sakura Café
Kero spends an awful lot of time eating. He regularly scoffs down takoyaki and pudding, sometimes even while Sakura is out capturing cards. The huge presence of food in the anime has made Cardcaptor Sakura-themed cafes very popular; a separate café opened in three Animate Cafe's in Japan between March 23 - May 15. Now, the beloved mascot of Cardcaptor Sakura got his own themed café at Tokyo Solama...
Full Metal Panic! Invisible Victory ‒ Episode 8
“The shocking conclusion to this arc packs in plenty of thrills.”
Space Battleship Tiramisu Stage Play's Cast Revealed
Play runs in Tokyo, Osaka in late July, early August
― The official website for the stage play adaptation of Satoshi Miyakawa and artist Kei Itō's Uchū Senkan Tiramisu (Space Battleship Tiramisu) manga revealed the stage play's cast on Tuesday. The cast includes: Kentarō Menjō as Subaru Ichinose Gaku Takamoto as Isuzu Ichinose Yūsuke Ueda as Vulgar Hummer Kotarō Itō as Subaru-B Ryūko Isogai as Ventur...
Record of Grancrest War ‒ Episode 22
“Even after 22 episodes in this show's universe, there's a lot I still don't get about crests.”
Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku ‒ Episode 9
“Narumi and Hirotaka finally face their toughest challenge yet as a couple: going on a normal date.“
New Baki Anime's Promo Video Reveals More Cast, Japanese TV Airing, MX4D Screening
Mugihito, Yoshihisa Kawahara, Sora Amamiya, Tohru Furuya cast in Netflix anime
― A Niconico Live stream for the new anime of Keisuke Itagaki's Baki (New Grappler Baki: In Search of Our Strongest Hero) manga debuted a new full promotional video on Saturday. Both the steam and the promotional video reveal additional cast members, and they also announced the anime will get both television broadcasts in ...
Comic Girls ‒ Episode 10
“Tied together by a holiday theme, all three of this week's stories start strong but end on an inconclusive note.”
Alice on Border Road's Takayoshi Kuroda Launches New Manga on June 25
Kuroda draws art, Michihiko Tōei pens story for manga about terrorist attack in Japan
― The July issue of Tokuma Shoten's Comic Zenon magazine revealed on May 25 that Takayoshi Kuroda will launch a new manga with Michihiko Tōei titled Antagonist: Sengo Nihonshi-jō Saiaku no Tero Jiken no Shinjitsu (Antagonist - The Truth Behind the Worst Post-War Terrorist Attack in Japan). The manga will launch in t...
Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? Film's Teaser Reveals Additional Cast, Staff, 2019 Opening
Flying Witch's Katsushi Sakurabi directs film with returning cast
― The official website for the Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?: Arrow of the Orion (Dungeon ni Deai o Motomeru no wa Machigatteiru Darō ka: Arrow of the Orion) anime film began streaming a teaser promotional video on Saturday. Both the website and the teaser announced the film's additional cast and staff members, as w...
Boruto: Naruto Next Generations ‒ Episode 61
“The Chunin exams conclude on a somber note as the story heads into its climax.”
Happy Sugar Life TV Anime's 2 'Sweet Version' Ads Streamed
Series premieres on TV in Japan on July 13, streams online only on Amazon Prime Video
― The official website for the television anime adaptation of Tomiyaki Kagisora's Happy Sugar Life manga began streaming the show's second "Sweet Version" commercial on Saturday. The site streamed the first "Sweet Version" commercial on June 2. The series will air on TBS and MBS on July 13 at 25:55 (effectively July...
Love Live! Sunshine!! Film's Title, January 4, 2019 Opening Revealed
4th concert run slated for Tokyo Dome on November 17-18 with August 1 theme song CD
― The Saturday concert of "Love Live! Sunshine!! Aqours 3rd Love Live! Tour ~Wonderful Stories~" announced at Saitama the title and opening date of the Love Live! Sunshine!! film. Love Live! Sunshine!! The School Idol Movie Over the Rainbow will open on January 4, 2019. (The visual for the third concert tour appears a...
Yūichi Nakamura, Hiroki Yasumoto Join Cast of Hi Score Girl Anime
Series premieres on July 13
― The official website for the television anime adaptation of Rensuke Oshikiri's Hi Score Girl manga revealed two more cast members on Saturday. Yūichi Nakamura will play Numata-sensei, and Hiroki Yasumoto will play Guile-san. The show will premiere on Tokyo MX and BS11 on July 13 at 24:30 (effectively on July 14 at 12:30 a.m.), before airing later that evening on MBS. The...
Splatoon Game's 'Shocking Announcement' is Collaborative Gear
The official website for Shogakukan's Coro Coro Comics magazine revealed on Saturday that the magazine is collaborating with the Splatoon 2 Switch game. Following last year's "Emperor Gear" collaboration with the magazine, this new collaboration will be for "Spy Gear." Coro Coro Comics will reveal how to get the gear in the magazine's July issue on June 15. The July issue will also start a new arc...
Code Vein Game's 2nd Blood Veil Trailer Previews Stinger
Game launches for PS4, Xbox One, PC in West on September 28
― Bandai Namco Entertainment America began streaming the second "Blood Veil Trailer" for the Code Vein post-apocalyptic role-playing game on Friday. The new video previews the action Stinger, which uses a scorpion tail-like weapon to attack The first video previewed the action Ogre, which uses a claw-like weapon to attack. The game will laun...
Zoids Wild Anime's 3rd Promo Video Streamed
Series premieres on July 7
― Takara Tomy began streaming the third promotional video on Friday for the Zoids Wild anime. The anime will premiere on July 7 and will air on MBS and TBS on Saturdays at 6:30 a.m. The show stars: Kensho Ono as Arashi, a member of the Freedom group. Arashi's Zoid is the Wild Liger, a Lion type. Takahiro Sakurai as Bacon, a member of the Supreme group. Bacon's Zoid is a Sab...
Devolver Digital Teases Announcement Related to Metal Wolf Chaos Game
American video game publisher Devolver Digital posted an image on Twitter on Friday with no accompanying text. The image (below) features a modified seal of the president of the United States, and looks similar to the seal used on the logo for the game title (second image below) of FromSoftware's Metal Wolf Chaos video game. FromSoftware released the Metal Wolf Chaos third-person shooter game in J...
Bakutsuri Bar Hunter TV Anime Reveals Cast, Staff, Story
Ryou Hirohashi, Yumi Uchiyama stars in series premiering this fall
― Bandai revealed the main cast for the Bakutsuri Bar Hunter television anime series at a stage presentation at the International Tokyo Toy Show 2018 event on Saturday. The anime stars: (Note: name spellings aren't confirmed) Ryou Hirohashi as protagonist Totta Tachitsute Yumi Uchiyama as Totta's bar soul partner Potepen Mitsuki Saiga...
Okko's Inn Anime Film Opens in Japan on September 21
The staff of the anime film adaptation of writer Hiroko Reijō and artist Asami's juvenile literature series Waka Okami wa Shōgakusei! (The Young Innkeeper Is a Grade Schooler!) revealed on Saturday that the film will open in Japan on September 21. The film will screen in competition at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in June under the title Okko's Inn. The books are also inspiring...
NEWS Idol Group Member Keiichiro Koyama Takes Hiatus for Drinking with Underage Girl
Johnny & Associates agency also reprimands group member Shigeaki Kato
― The Johnny & Associates agency announced on Thursday that it has told Keiichiro Koyama from the four-member NEWS idol group to take a hiatus from all his professional activities, after the agency learned that he drank alcohol with an underage girl, and also "pressured others at the party to drink by cheering them on." The agency ...
Free! Dive to the Future Anime Premieres on July 11
More returning cast, character designs revealed for latest series in Free! franchise
― The July issue of Gakken Plus' Animedia magazine revealed on Saturday that the Free! Dive to the Future television anime series will premiere on ABC TV on July 11 late at night at 2:15 a.m. (effectively July 12). The series will also air on Tokyo MX 1, TV Aichi, and BS11. The site previously revealed more character...
Harukana Receive Anime's Cast Perform Opening, Ending Theme Songs
Kana Yūki, Saki Miyashita perform opening song for anime premiering on July 6
― The staff of the television anime of Nyoijizai's Harukana Receive manga revealed the show's opening and ending theme song artists and song titles on Saturday. Kana Yūki and Saki Miyashita are performing the opening theme song "FLY two BLUE" as their characters Haruka Ōzora and Kanata Higa, respectively. The staff began st...
Revue Starlight TV Anime Reveals New Visual
The official website for Bushiroad and Nelke Planning's Shōjo Kageki Revue Starlight franchise revealed a new key visual for the upcoming television anime project on Friday. The series will premiere on TBS on July 12 at 25:28 (effectively, July 13 at 1:28 a.m.), and then will run on the CBC, BS-TBS, MBS, and RKB channels. Tomohiro Furukawa (unit director for Yurikuma Arashi, Brothers Conflict) is ...
Friday, June 8
A Certain Magical Index Anime's 3rd Season Reveals Visual
The official website for the third television anime season based on Kazuma Kamachi's A Certain Magical Index light novel series revealed the show's first visual on Saturday. The Animedia magazine had revealed earlier on Saturday that the show will premiere in October on Tokyo MX and other channels. Hiroshi Nishikiori, the director of the first two seasons, is returning to direct the third season a...
Fighting EX Layer PS4 Game's English Trailer Reveals June 28 Release Date
PS4 game to launch in 68 countries & regions
― ARIKA began streaming an English trailer for its Fighting EX Layer PlayStation 4 fighting game on Friday. The video announces that the game will launch in 68 countries and regions beginning on June 28. The game will be the newest installment in ARIKA's EX series, which previously included the Street Fighter EX games. Playable characters include Kairi, Sh...
Sushi Striker: The Way of Sushido Game's Launch Trailers Streamed
Switch game debuted Friday in Europe, Japan, N. America
― Nintendo of America and Nintendo UK began streaming launch trailers for indieszero's Sushi Striker: The Way of Sushido game for Nintendo Switch and 3DS on Friday. The U.S trailer is a short teaser while the U.K. features a full explanation of the story and gameplay. U.K. Trailer: U.S. Trailer: The game launched in North America, Europe, and Ja...
Muv-Luv, Muv-Luv Alternative Games' PS Vita Launch Trailer Streamed
PQube Games began streaming a launch trailer for the Muv-Luv and Muv-Luv Alternative visual novels on Friday. The game launched for PlayStation Vita on June 8 in Europe and will debut on June 12 in North America. Muv-Luv contains the Muv-Luv Extra and Muv-Luv Unlimited storylines. Publisher Degica and developer Ixtl describe the stories of Muv-Luv and Muv-Luv Alternative: Muv-Luv Extra Shirogane T...
I Want to Eat Your Pancreas Film Reveals New Visual, Additional Cast
Yukiyo Fujii, Yūma Uchida, more join cast
― The official website for the anime film of Yoru Sumino's I Want to Eat Your Pancreas novel unveiled a new visual and five additional cast members on Saturday. The visual shows the protagonist, lead female character Sakura, and Kyōko. The newly announced cast includes: Yukiyo Fujii as Kyōko Yūma Uchida as Takahiro Jun Fukushima as Gum-kun Atsuko Tanaka as th...
Don't Want to Talk? Pop Team Epic Headphones Tell Others to F*** Off
If you're like a lot of people who use public transportation for work, there's one trick that'll usually keep busybodies from seeing you as a potential conversation partner. Pop in a pair of headphones. It's a universal sign for "I can't hear you," "I'm listening to something," and "leave me alone." Usually. If your regular headphones still aren't getting the message across, Popuko and Pipimi wil...
John Lasseter to Leave Disney at the End of the Year
The Hollywood Reporter reported on Friday that John Lasseter, chief creative officer of Pixar Animation Studios and Walt Disney Animation Studios, is leaving the company at the end of this year, until which time he will serve a new consulting role with the company. In a statement, Lasseter said that he has "decided the end of this year is the right time to begin focusing on new creative challenges...
Pop Team Epic Manga Creator's Twitter Account Suspended
Pop Team Epic manga creator Bkub Okawa's Twitter account has recently been suspended. It appears Okawa has yet to publicly acknowledge the suspension, and there is no confirmation of the reason for the suspension. However, online commenters are speculating about what might have caused Twitter to suspend the creator's account. Some commenters believe reports by Okawa's "haters" led to the suspensio...
Anime Beans App Launches 2 More 'Vertical' Anime
Rebranded app also launches with Meshi Numa, 'Moshi Moshi, Terumi desu'
― Production I.G's "Tate Anime" (Vertical Anime) app relaunched on Friday under the new title Anime Beans. It launched four new series, including anime adaptations of Aco Momota's 15-sai, Kyō Kara Dōsei Hajimemasu. (15 Years Old, Living Together Starting Today) and Takuhei's Caramel Honey manga. A visual for the 15-sai, Kyō Kara ...
Virtual YouTuber Siro Gets Animated in Magatsu Warheit Game Commercial
An animated commercial for KLab's Magatsu Warheit battle RPG smartphone game debuted on Thursday and features a cameo by virtual YouTuber Dennō Shōjo Siro, but animated. She's wearing a costume from the game in her brief appearance. The game is slated to launch at the end of July and is currently accepting pre-register applications. An anime adaptation is also in the works. KLab announced that it ...
Cells at Work Anime's English-Subtitled Trailer Streamed
Also: voice actor Tomoaki Maeno to attend Anime Expo for Cells at Work panel
― Aniplex of America began streaming an English-subtitled trailer for Cells at Work on Friday. In addition, the company announced that it will host a Cells at Work panel with guest voice actor Tomoaki Maeno (White Blood Cell) at Anime Expo in Los Angeles on July 6. The anime will premiere on Tokyo MX, BS11, Tochigi TV, and G...
Manga, Light Novel Creators Claim Sales Increase After Piracy Site's Closure
"Really, my royalties have increased 4-5 times! Even when it isn't free, you all are reading it! I'm crying right now!"—Hika Mayama
― The pirate manga site Mangamura was shut down in April and multiple police began investigating the site for criminal activity after Japanese publishers filed charges last year. Since the site went down, manga artists are stating an increase in sales of their respective...
Haoliners Comments on Cuts Made to Japanese Version of To Be Heroine, Other Shows
Series are edited to fit Japanese TV timeslots
― The Japanese and international versions of To Be Heroine feature a reduced runtime compared to its Chinese version, To Be Hero LEAF. Haoliners confirmed with ANN that, as was the case for Fox Spirit Matchmaker and Hitori No Shita The Outcast, the changes were made so the show will fit into the Japanese television timeslot. Haoliners' Widad Noureddine e...
Funimation's Black Butler II License Expires
Funimation Entertainment announced on Friday that Black Butler II is going out of print at the end of June. Black Butler II is the second television anime based on Yana Toboso's manga. Funimation has released all three television anime, the Black Butler II OVA project, the Black Butler: Book of Murder OVA, and the Black Butler: Book Of The Atlantic anime film on home video. Funimation's license fo...
Taekwondoer Park Creator's Twitter Suspended After Racist Remark
Masao Shiro used derogatory Japanese slur; suggested staff should adapt his manga instead
― With the news that the [New Life+] Young Again in Another World anime is off the table, one manga creator saw an opening for an adaptation of their own work. Taekwondoer Park original creator Masao Shiro wrote on Twitter on Wednesday that if the anime is cancelled, staff could instead use the remaining budget ...
Code Vein Game's Trailer Previews Ogre
Game launches for PS4, Xbox One, PC in West on September 28
― Bandai Namco Entertainment America began streaming the first "Blood Veil Trailer" for the Code Vein post-apocalyptic role-playing game on Thursday. The video previews the action Ogre, which uses a claw-like weapon to attack. The game will launch in Japan for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on September 27, and for PC via Steam on September 28. ...
Voice Actress Hiroko Konishi Reveals Industry Disagreements About Ojarumaru Role
Also alleges manager attempted to lure into a mixed bathing trip with director Akitarō Daichi
― Voice actress Hiroko Konishi took to Twitter on June 1 to discuss why she left her starring role as Ojarumaru in the long-running children's anime Prince Mackaroo. Konishi voiced the character for the series' first 270 episodes before the role was taken over by Chinami Nishimura. According to Konishi, she ...
Anime Expo to Host Manga Artist Go Nagai
Cutie Honey, Devilman, Mazinger Z creator to attend July event
― Anime Expo announced on Friday that it will host manga artist and author Go Nagai at this year's event. He will appear at a panel on Saturday, July 7 to discuss Cutie Honey Universe. Nagai debuted as a manga artist in 1967 with Meakashi Polikichi and went on to create many classic and genre-defining works, including Cutie Honey, Devilma...
New K-ON! Manga Launches in July (Updated)
kakifly is writing K-ON! Shuffle
― This year's July issue of Houbunsha's Manga Time Kirara magazine announced on Saturday that kakifly will launch a new K-ON! manga titled K-ON! Shuffle in the August issue on July 9. The preview features the taglines "A new musical movement, the performance begins" and "The lead this time plays drums!?" kakifly's original four-panel comedy manga follows a group of hi...
Harukana Receive Anime's Video Previews July 6 Premiere
Kana Yūki, Saki Miyashita perform "FLY two BLUE" song
― The staff of the television anime of Nyoijizai's Harukana Receive manga revealed a promotional video and the July 6 premiere date on Saturday. The video previews the song "FLY two BLUE," performed by Kana Yūki and Saki Miyashita as their characters Haruka Ōzora and Kanata Higa, respectively. The anime will premiere on July 6 on AT-X at 9:00 p.m....
Dead or Alive 6 Game Announced for PS4, Xbox One, PC in Early 2019
Trailer previews fighting game series' new installment
― Koei Tecmo and Team Ninja announced the Dead or Alive 6 game on Friday for release for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC via Steam in early 2019. The website IGN previewed the game and began streaming a reveal trailer. The game's official website, which also launched on Friday, states that more information will be revealed on June 11. The fightin...
Tada Never Falls in Love ‒ Episode 10
"While there are still some cartoonish flourishes (because where would an anime comedy be without them), Tada and Teresa act much more like real people this week."
Etrian Odyssey X 3DS Game's Video Previews High Lagaard Job Classes
Nintendo 3DS game ships in Japan on August 2
― Atlus began streaming streaming a new promotional video on Thursday for Etrian Odyssey X (pronounced "cross"), the latest game in the Etrian Odyssey franchise. The video introduces the job classes for the "High Lagaard Adventurers": Gunner, Doctor Magus, and Highlander. The game will ship for the Nintendo 3DS in Japan on August 2, and will be the last ga...
A Certain Magical Index Season 3's Cast, Staff, October Premiere Revealed
Rina Satou, Nobuhiko Okamoto, Satoshi Hino return as cast; J.C. Staff animates with returning staff
― The July issue of Gakken Plus' Animedia magazine revealed the staff, additional cast, and October premiere for the third television anime season based on Kazuma Kamachi's A Certain Magical Index light novel series on Saturday. Rina Satou, Nobuhiko Okamoto, and Satoshi Hino are all reprising their rol...
Aguu: Tensai Ningyō Anime Reveals More Cast, Theme Songs, July 9 Premiere
Hiroki Yasumoto, Kikuko Inoue, MAO, Risa Mizuno, Aya Uchida join cast
― The official website for Aguu: Tensai Ningyō (Aguu: Genius Dolls), the television anime adaptation of Yichun Jun's Chinese comic Aguu (Devil Dolls), revealed additional cast and characters, theme songs, and the July 9 premiere date on Friday. The new cast members are: (Note: Character name spellings are not confirmed.) Hiroki Yas...
Penguin Research Performs Theme, Insert Song for Zoids Wild Anime
Series premieres on July 7
― The official Twitter account for the Penguin Research rock band (Durarara!!×2 Ketsu, Magi: Adventure of Sinbad, ReLIFE) announced on Friday that the group will perform the insert song "Wild Blue" and the ending theme song "Shōnen no Boku e" for the Zoids Wild anime. The anime will premiere on July 7 and will air on MBS and TBS on Saturdays at 6:30 a.m. The show stars: Ken...
Seven Senses of the Re'Union Anime Reveals 3 More Cast Members
Takuma Terashima, Yumiri Hanamori, Chika Anzai join series premiering on July 5
― The official website for the television anime of Noritake Tao and Booota's Shichisei no Subaru (Seven Senses of the Re'Union) novels revealed three more cast members on Friday. The site also revealed the character designs for the seven main cast members. The anime stars: Kengo Takanashi as Haruto Amō, the optimistic fro...
Angolmois Anime Reveals July 10 Premiere, Visual, 9 More Cast Members
Shinnosuke Tachibana, Kensho Ono, Mikako Komatsu, more join cast
― The official website for the television anime of Nanahiko Takagi's Angolmois: Genkō Kassen-ki manga revealed more cast members, a visual, and the show's July 10 premiere on Friday. The anime will premiere on Sun TV on July 10 at 24:30 (effectively July 11 at 12:30 a.m.), before later airing on Tokyo MX, KBS Kyoto, TV Aichi, TVQ Broadc...
Boarding School Juliet Anime Reveals Visual, Cast Member for Chartreux
Yu Shimamura voices character for series premiering in October
― The official website for the television anime adaptation of Yōsuke Kaneda's school romantic comedy manga series Kishuku Gakkō no Juliet (Boarding School Juliet) revealed on Friday that Yu Shimamura will play Chartreux Westia (nickname: Char), a first-year student in the "White Cats House" dormitory, and the princess of the Principality ...
New Gundam Breaker Game's PC Version Delayed to Summer
The Bandai Namco Entertainment UK Twitter account announced on Friday that the worldwide release of the PC version of the New Gundam Breaker game is delayed to "a later date during summer 2018." The game was originally slated to release worldwide on the PC via Steam on June 22. The company cited a need for "extra development time" to "achieve the best possible quality" for the game as the reason f...
A.I.C.O., Gargantia Director Kazuya Murata Directs Yakusoku no Nanaya Matsuri Original Net Anime (Updated)
XFLAG debuts anime on July 7 on YouTube; Sōma Saitō, Nozomi Yamamoto star
― XFLAG announced a new original one-hour anime on Friday titled Yakusoku no Nanaya Matsuri (The Promised Seventh Night Matsuri), which will premiere on July 7 (the Tanabata holiday in Japan) at 7:00 p.m. (6:00 a.m. EDT) on YouTube. The tagline on the above visual reads, "Everyone has someone they want to meet." The anime cente...
Taiko no Tatsujin Switch Game Gets English Release in Southeast Asia in August
Game ships in Japan on July 19
― Bandai Namco Entertainment Southeast Asia began streaming a video for the Taiko no Tatsujin: Nintendo Switch Version! game on Friday, revealing that the game will get an English release in Southeast Asia on August 9. The game will ship with Japanese voice-over and Japanese, Chinese, and Korean text, with the English text available through a free patch at the same time...
The [email protected] Cinderella Girls Gekijō Anime's 3rd Season Premieres on July 3
The official website for the television anime adaptation of Bandai Namco Entertainment and Kuma-Jet's The [email protected] Cinderella Girls Gekijō (The [email protected] Cinderella Girls Theater) manga revealed on Friday that the anime's third season will premiere on July 3. The anime will air on Tokyo MX and BS11 on July 3 at 9:54 p.m., before airing later that evening on Saga TV. AT-X will also air the show ...
Reborn! Stage Play Adds 4 Cast Members
Play to run in Tokyo, Osaka in September-October
― The official Twitter account for the stage play adaptation of Akira Amano's Reborn! manga revealed cast members for the play every day from Monday to Thursday. The new cast members include: Kōsuke Kuwano as Hayato Gokudera Ryōsuke Yamamoto as Takeshi Yamamoto Teru Uesugi as Ryōhei Sasagawa KIMERU as Lambo Previously announced cast members include: Ne...
Future Card Buddyfight Ace Anime Gets English Dub
Anime premiered on June 2 with English subtitles
― The official Facebook page of Bushiroad's Future Card Buddyfight franchise revealed on June 4 that the Future Card Buddyfight Ace (Future Card Shin Buddyfight) anime will get English-dubbed episodes that will debut on the franchise's official YouTube channel. The announcement did not reveal when the dubbed episodes will debut. The channel already beg...
Tonegawa Anime Reveals New Visual, Ending Theme Song Artist
Pistol Takehara performs ending theme song for July 3 anime
― The official website for the anime of the Kaiji spinoff manga Chūkan Kanriroku Tonegawa (Middle Management Chronicle Tonegawa) revealed a new visual and the anime's ending theme song artist on Friday. Pistol Takehara will perform the anime's ending theme song "Okitegami." The show will air for two cours, and will premiere on NTV's "AnichU"...
Asobi Asobase Anime's Theme Song Artists, Original Anime DVD Revealed
Main trio performs opening, ending songs; original anime DVD bundled with manga's 7th volume
― The official website of the television anime of Rin Suzukawa's Asobi Asobase (Play and Let Play) manga revealed the anime's theme song artists on Friday. Hina Kino, Rika Nagae, and Konomi Kohara will perform the opening and ending theme songs as their respective characters. The opening theme song is titled ...
Netflix's Castlevania Animated Series Gets 3rd Season
8-episode 2nd season premieres this summer
― Media news website Digital Spy reported on Thursday that Adi Shankar's Castlevania animated series is getting a third season. Voice actor Richard Armitage, who voices Trevor Belmont in the series, revealed that the cast was about to begin recording for the show's third season. The show's eight-episode second season will stars: Graham McTavish as Dracula Ri...
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Anime's Video Reveals Cast, Half-Year Run
Miho Okazaki, Megumi Toyoguchi, Tomoaki Maeno, Yumiri Hanamori, Makoto Furukawa star in fall anime
― The official website for the television anime of author Fuse and artist Mitz Vah's That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime (Tensei Shitara Slime Datta Ken or Regarding Reincarnated to Slime) light novel series began streaming a promotional video for the anime. The video reveals the cast members for th...
Thursday, June 7
Space Bug 3DCG Anime Reveals Visual, English Dub Plans
Series to premiere on Japanese TV in July
― The official website for TMS Entertainment's original 3DCG television anime series Space Bug revealed a key visual on May 28. The website also revealed that an English dub is in production alongside the Japanese version, as there are plans to release the series overseas. The show has a collaboration with the Kids Duo after-school English-language immersion ...
Black Clover ‒ Episode 35
"For the time being, Black Clover is exciting, funny, and beautiful to look at."
New Material Puzzle Manga is Series' Last Arc
This year's July issue of Kodansha's Morning Two magazine published the first two chapters of Masahiro Totsuka's new Material Puzzle ~Kaminuki Sekai no Mahōtsukai~ (Magic User of a Godless World) manga on May 22, and Totsuka revealed on Twitter that the manga is the "last arc" for Material Puzzle. The original manga's story begins when Mikaze, a boy who lives in a village in the frontier, undertak...
Megalobox ‒ Episode 10
"This late into the season's run, it would be more surprising to me if MEGALOBOX turned out an episode that wasn't excellent."
Steins;Gate 0 ‒ Episode 9
"Though it wasn't without its moments, I can't help but feel that the show has spent enough time getting into Sad Okabe's head and could stand to get things moving at a more propulsive pace."
Today's Menu for the Emiya Family ‒ Episode 6
"Visually, this episode of Today's Menu for the Emiya Family was especially effective."
Japan's Animation TV Ranking, May 28-June 3
My Hero Academia, Pokémon Sun & Moon, Hugtto! Precure in top 10
― Title Station Date Time Length Average Household Rating Sazae-san Fuji TV June 3 (Sun) 18:30 30 min. 11.5 Chibi Maruko-chan Fuji TV June 3 (Sun) 18:00 30 min. 8.0 Crayon Shin-chan TV Asahi June 1 (Fri) 19:30 24 min. 7.4 Doraemon TV Asahi June 1 (Fri) 19:00 30 min. 7.2 Detective Conan NTV June 2 (Sat) 18:00 30 min. 6.8 One Piece Fuji T...
Shōnen Jump Characters Strike Up the Band for Jump Music Festa
July's Jump Music Festa is bringing musical artists from the the magazine's anime adaptations all into one place. Toriko, Dragon Ball Z Kai, Naruto Shippūden, Kuroko's Basketball, Gintama, Haikyu!!, One Piece, Beelzebub, and Bleach artists all in one place. It's no surprise that the manga characters themselves are celebrating the event. Series creators drew their characters, each holding an instru...
Boogiepop Returns: VS Imaginator Manga Launches on June 27
This year's July issue of Kadokawa's Monthly Comic Dengeki Daioh announced on May 26 that its new Boogiepop Returns: VS Imaginator manga will launch in the next issue on June 27. Naoki Koshimizu (The Isolator - Realization of Absolute Solitude) is drawing the series based on author Kouhei Kadono and illustrator Kouji Ogata's Boogiepop light novels. Seven Seas published the novel series' first thre...
Japan's "No.1 Cosplayer's" Salary Revealed on Abema TV
Abema TV aired a segment titled "Kyūyo Meisai" (Salary Statement) on June 3 revealing what Japan's "No.1 young cosplayer" Uramaru earns for her photo shoots. According to the program, Uramaru earns 10,000 yen per minute (US$100) for photo sessions plus an additional 1,000 yen (US$10) for a two-shot check. Even though the price is high, participants say a photo with Uramaru is worth even more than ...
Anime Expo to Host Steins;Gate Producer Tatsuya Matsubara
Spike Chunsoft to host Steins;Gate panel
― Anime Expo and Spike Chunsoft announced on Thursday that it will host MAGES. producer Tatsuya Matsubara at Anime Expo. He will appear at Spike Chunsoft's Steins;Gate panel on Thursday, July 5. Matsubara is the director and producer for MAGES.' Science Adventure Series games, including Steins;Gate and Chaos;Child. He also creates assets such as logo design, u...
Salaryman Kintaro's Motomiya, Usogui's Sako Both Launch New Manga
Motomiya's new manga based on Hiroshi Takano's story is omnibus series about jobs
― This year's 27th issue of Shueisha's Young Jump magazine announced on Thursday that Hiroshi Motomiya (The Country Burns, Salaryman Kintaro) will launch a new series titled Good Job in the 29th issue on June 21. Hiroshi Takano (Kokou no Hito, Dr. DMAT - Gareki no Shita no Hippocrates) is writing the story. The magazine...
Pokémon Red/Green Game Developers Discuss Creation of Pikachu, Rejected 'Gorochu' Design
Dedicated Pokémon fans recently discovered the surprising prototypes for many popular monsters hidden in an old Pokémon Gold demo. Fans have been looking at Pikachu in a new light since the revelation spread in May that the franchise's mascot character once had a second evolution known as "Gorochu." The franchise's official website gave a nod to the news with a feature posted on May 30 that deals ...
Hoshin Engi Gaiden Manga Ends on June 14
Side story series launched in April
― This year's 27th issue of Shueisha's Young Jump magazine announced on Thursday that Ryu Fujisaki's Hoshin Engi Gaiden (Hoshin Engi Side Story) manga will end in the next issue on June 14. The short series launched in the magazine on April 26. The manga will have a total of seven chapters. Fujisaki's first 23-volume Hoshin Engi manga originally ran in Shueisha's W...
Fate/Grand Order Game's New Event Set in 1945 Stirs Controversy
The official website for the Fate/Grand Order smartphone game announced the "Gudaguda Teito Seihai Kitan" (Gudaguda Imperial Capital Holy Grail Strange Story) in-game event on Wednesday. While some fans are excited, others believe the content on the event is inappropriate and inconsiderate due to its story set in 1945, the year that marked the end of World War II. The event scenario set in 1945 de...
I am a Hero's Kengo Hanazawa to Launch Another New Manga in July
Also: new 1-shot manga for Inio Asano
― This year's 13th issue of Shogakukan's Big Comic Superior magazine announced on Friday that Kengo Hanazawa's new series is launching in the 16th issue on July 27. The series (pictured bottom right in image below) still does not yet have a title but the magazine describes it as a "'girl's' story," and the tagline reads, "I don't yet know 'men.'" The magazine als...
Black Clover: Quartet Knights Game's Character Trailer Previews Noelle
Game launches in Japan on September 13, in West on September 14
― Bandai Namco Entertainment America began streaming a new character for the Black Clover: Quartet Knights game for PlayStation 4 and PC via Steam on Wednesday. The English-subtitled video previews Noelle. The game will launch in the Americas and Europe for PlayStation 4 and PC via Steam on September 14. The game will launch in Japan for...
Yamakan Angrily Blames Otaku, China for [New Life]+ Anime Cancellation
Outspoken anime director Yutaka Yamamoto (Wake Up, Girls!, Kannagi) took to Twitter again with a tirade against a new target: the cancellation of the [New Life+] Young Again in Another World anime following the original author's discriminatory remarks against China and Korea. "I'm mad at the cancellation," he said, and added, "Now all it would take is one blow to destroy anime." Yamakan said sever...
Mario Tennis Aces Switch Game's Trailer, TV Ads Streamed
Game ships on June 22
― Nintendo began streaming a live-action trailer and two television commercials for the Mario Tennis Aces (Mario Tennis Ace) game for Nintendo Switch on Thursday. The live-action trailer features Spanish professional tennis player Rafael Nadal. The game will launch on June 22. The game will feature missions and boss battles in the series' first story mode since the Mario Tennis:...
Border Break PS4 Game's Special Movie Streamed
Game, special PS4 console ship in Japan on August 2
― The official website for Sega's PlayStation 4 version of its Border Break arcade game began streaming a special movie for the release on Thursday. The game is also getting a special themed PS4 console that will ship on the same day as the game. The mecha action game Border Break will launch for PlayStation 4 as a free-to-play game with in-game pur...
Persona 3, Persona 5 Dancing Games Head West in Early 2019
Releases include English dubs, subs in 5 languages
― Atlus announced on Thursday that its Persona 3 Dancing Moon Night and Persona 5 Dancing Star Night games will launch under the titles Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight and Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight in the Americas and Europe in early 2019. An English website for the releases also opened, and the official PlayStation YouTube channel began stream...
Nier:Automata Game's Worldwide Digital Sales, Shipments Exceed 3 Million
The official Twitter account for Square Enix's NieR: Automata game revealed on Thursday that the game has sold and shipped a combined total of more than 3 million copies worldwide. The number includes both physical shipments and digital sales. As of September 21, the game had sold and shipped a total of more than 2 million copies. As of May 29, 2017, the game had sold more than 1.5 million physica...
Angel Sanctuary's Yuki Kaori Ends Alice in Murderland Manga in 11th Volume
Series launched in 2014
― Kaori Yuki (Angel Sanctuary, Godchild) revealed on Twitter on Thursday that her Alice in Murderland manga will end in the 11th compiled book volume. The 10th volume shipped on Thursday. Yen Press is publishing the series in North America, and it released the eighth volume on April 10. The company describes the story: The Mad Tea Party...To members of the elite house of Kuonj...
FuRyu Reveals Work x Work RPG for Nintendo Switch
Game launches on September 27 in Japan
― Japanese game developer FuRyu Corporation launched a website on Thursday to reveal that it is developing the Work x Work role-playing game for the Nintendo Switch. FuRyu will launch the game in Japan on September 27. The game will retail for 4,980 yen (about US$45). FuRyu had launched a teaser website on Friday featuring a text conversation between four game c...
Funimation, TOHO Host World Premiere of My Hero Academia: Two Heroes Film at Anime Expo
Voice actors attend screening; Funimation to later screen film in U.S., Canada this fall
― Funimation and TOHO announced on Thursday that they will host the world premiere of the My Hero Academia: Two Heroes (My Hero Academia THE MOVIE: Futari no Hero) film at the Anime Expo event. Funimation Films has also licensed the film from TOHO, with plans to release the film in the U.S. and Canada this fall. ...
ISLAND Anime Premieres on July 1
The official website for the television anime of Frontwing and Prototype's ISLAND visual novel revealed on Thursday that the series will premiere on July 1. The anime will air on Tokyo MX on July 1 at 10:00 p.m. before airing later that evening on Sun TV. The series will air later on AT-X and BS-Fuji. The series will stream online in Japan on Netflix, Bandai Channel, au Video Pass, J:COM on Demand...
Tokyo Ghoul:re Manga Has 'Big Announcement' on June 14
This year's 27th issue of Shueisha's Weekly Young Jump magazine revealed on Thursday that the next issue on June 14 will feature a "big announcement" for Sui Ishida's Tokyo Ghoul:re manga. The manga will also adorn the magazine issue's cover, and the latest chapter will feature an opening color page. Ishida serialized Tokyo Ghoul in Shueisha's Weekly Young Jump from 2011 to 2014, and is now serial...
Disgaea 1 Complete Game's Promo Video Features Story
PS4/Switch remake of 1st game slated for July 26 in Japan, in the West this fall
― Nippon Ichi Software began streaming a promotional video on Wednesday for Disgaea 1 Complete (Makai Senki Disgaea Refine), the HD remake of the first game in the series. The video highlights the game's story. Kaori Mizuhashi narrates the video as her character Laharl. The game will ship for the PlayStation 4 and Switch...
New Tensai Bakabon Anime Premieres on July 10
New visual, browser game also revealed
― The official website for Shinya! Tensai Bakabon (Late Night! Genius Bakabon), a new television anime adaptation of Fujio Akatsuka's classic comedy manga Tensai Bakabon, revealed on Thursday that the anime will premiere on July 10. The show will air on TV Tokyo and TV Osaka on July 10 late at night at 1:35 a.m. (effectively July 11), before airing later that ev...
Live-Action Sensei Kunshu Film's Theme Song is TWICE's Cover of The Jackson 5 Song
Cover of "I Want You Back" previewed in new trailer, teaser videos for August 1 film
― The official website for the live-action film adaptation of Momoko Kōda's Sensei Kunshu (Teacher Monarch) manga began streaming a new trailer and teaser video for the film on May 30. The videos reveal and preview the film's theme song "I Want You Back," a cover of The Jackson 5 song of the same name, by Korean pop ...
New Miss Machiko Film Slated for Limited September 8-14 Run
The staff of Hatsukoi Sketch ~Maicching Machiko-sensei~ (First Love Sketch ~Maicching Machiko-sensei~), the new live-action film adaptation of Takeshi Ebihara's Maicching Machiko-sensei manga, revealed on Tuesday that the film will open in Japan at the Shibuya HUMAX Cinema in Tokyo on September 8, and will run until September 14. Tomoyuki Kamimura is directing the film. The film launched a Campfir...
Muv-Luv Alternative: Strike Frontier Browser Game Shuts Down in July
Game based on Age's Muv-Luv franchise launched in 2016
― Age announced on Monday that DMM Games' Muv-Luv Alternative: Strike Frontier browser game will shut down on July 5. Age noted that it was preparing to move to the game's "second part," but DMM and Age met and decided that continued service of the game would be difficult. The game launched in 2016 and received iOS and Android versions in January...
Hakyu Hoshin Engi Anime Inspires Smartphone Game
Game will have 2D illustrations, 3D battles
― The official website of the Hakyū Hoshin Engi television anime series revealed on May 25 that the anime is inspiring a smartphone game titled Hakyū Hoshin Engi: Senkai Chronicle. GMO opened a website for the game, which is streaming a commercial. The site is also accepting pre-registrations for the game. The game will have 2D illustrations for the adventu...
Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Game Tops 1 Million Physical Copies Sold in Japan
Japanese video game news website 4Gamer revealed the top 20 highest-selling games for the May 28 to June 3 week in Japan on Wednesday. The ranking revealed that Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Switch game has sold 1,004,689 copies in Japan, with 6,722 of those copies sold that week. The number does not include digital download purchases of the game. The Legend of Zelda: Breath O...
Zoids Wild Anime's Promo Video Highlights Arashi, Wild Liger
Commercial for series toys also posted
― Takara Tomy began streaming a new promotional video for the Zoids Wild anime on Thursday. The video highlights protagonist Arashi and his partner Zoid, the Wild Liger. Takara Tomy is also streaming a commercial for the Zoids Wild series toys. The anime will premiere on July 7 and will air on MBS and TBS on Saturdays at 6:30 a.m. The previously revealed cast in...
Crows Manga's 'Crows Respect' Tribute Project Reveals Manga Creators
Dai Suzuki, Masayuki Saiwaki, Shinsuke Takahashi, Yūshi Kawata, Yukito Imōto, Yukai Asada, more join project
― The July issue of Akita Shoten's Monthly Shōnen Champion magazine revealed on Wednesday the other manga creators who will participate in the "Crows Respect" tribute project for Hiroshi Takahashi's Crows manga. The issue also published Tetsuhiro Hirakawa and Shingo Honda's "Sono Otoko, SAiKO ...
Dropkick on My Devil! Anime Casts M.A.O, Reveals New Visual
M.A.O plays Beast of Gévaudan in July 9 anime
― The official Twitter account for the television anime adaptation of Yukiwo's Jashin-chan Dropkick (Dropkick on My Devil!) manga revealed a new visual and cast member for the anime on Thursday. M.A.O will voice the character Bête, the Beast of Gévaudan. The anime will premiere on July 9 and will air on BS-Fuji on July 9 at midnight (effectively July 10),...
Rejet Reveals Release of Diabolik Lovers, Dear Vocalist Music CDs
Music CD releases are part of Rejet's 10th anniversary project
― Rejet's countdown teaser website opened on Tuesday, revealing that it plans to release music CDs for both its Diabolik Lovers Zero project and its Dear Vocalist franchise as part of its 10th anniversary. Rejet had launched a countdown to the website last week. Rejet announced the Diabolik Lovers Zero project in January earlier this year...
Touhou Genso Wanderer Reloaded Game's Trailer Highlights Playable Characters
Game lauches in N. America, Europe on PS4, Switch this July
― NIS America began streaming a character trailer on Wednesday for its release of Aqua Style's Touhou Genso Wanderer Reloaded (Fushigi no Gensokyo 3 -The Tower of Desire- Reloaded) Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 game. The video shows the game's playable characters. The game will launch digitally in North America on July 17 and in Europe o...
Cocotama Gets New TV Anime With New Protagonist in September
Minami Takahashi, Inori Minase, Mariya Ise, Yu Shimamura, Aki Toyosaki star in new story
― The staff of the Kami-sama Minarai: Himitsu no Cocotama (God Apprentices: Secretive Cocotama) anime series announced on Thursday that the franchise will get a new television anime series titled Kira Kira Happy ★ Hirake! Cocotama (Sparkling Happy ★ Open! Cocotama) that will premiere on September 6 at 5:55 p.m. T...
Kaguya-sama: Love is War Manga Gets 2 Spinoff Manga
Spinoff manga about erotic stories, student council admirers launch on June 14, July 26
― The official website for Shueisha's Young Jump magazine is hosting a preview image for the magazine's 27th issue, which reveals that Aka Akasaka's Kaguya-sama: Love is War (Kaguya-sama wa Kokurasetai - Tensai-tachi no Renai Zunōsen) manga will get two spinoff manga. The same issue, which shipped on Thursday, als...
Bushiroad Hosts Voice Actress Aina Aiba at Anime Expo
Voice actress voices Yukina Minato in BanG Dream! franchise
― Bushiroad announced on Wednesday that it will host voice actress Aina Aiba as a guest for the Anime Expo convention. Bushiroad will also showcase the BanG Dream! Girls Band Party! game and the Love Live! franchise at its booth in the convention. Aina Aiba voices the character Yukina Minato in the BanG Dream! franchise, including in the ani...
The Pillows Concert Changes to Larger Venues in Los Angeles, Portland (Updated)
Tickets for 6-city tour sold out in less than 30 minutes; update on Seattle venue coming soon
― The official U.S. Twitter account for the FLCL Progressive and FLCL Alternative anime announced on Wednesday that the Los Angeles venue for The Pillows band's six-city concert tour will move from The Regent to The Mayan. Tickets for the performance are already sold out. The Twitter account also revealed on...
Bakutsuri Bar Hunter Anime Premieres This Fall
More information on anime on Saturday
― Bandai's official website for the Bakutsuri Bar Hunter multimedia franchise revealed on Thursday that the franchise's television anime will premiere this fall on TV Tokyo and its affiliates. Bandai also revealed a new visual for the anime. The tagline on the visual reads, "All bar codes are fishing spots!" The anime's staff will reveal more details on the anime...
Itan Manga Magazine's Print Edition Goes on Hiatus
Some serialized manga moves to Kodansha's Comic Days website
― The 44th issue of Kodansha's Itan manga magazine (seen right) announced on Thursday that the magazine's print edition will go on hiatus, with some of the currently serialized manga moving to Kodansha's Comic Days website. The magazine does not specify if or when the print version will return. The issue also published the final chapters of...
Mirai of the Future Film's 3rd Trailer Reveals Ending Song
Tatsuro Yamashita performs ending song "Uta no Kisha" for July 20 film
― The official website for Mamoru Hosoda and Studio Chizu's new Mirai no Mirai (Mirai of the Future) anime film began streaming the third trailer for the film on Thursday. The trailer reveals previews the film's ending theme song "Uta no Kisha" (Train of Song) by Tatsuro Yamashita. The film had its world premiere in May at this ye...
Wednesday, June 6
Tokyo Ghoul:re ‒ Episode 10
"With this episode, Tokyo Ghoul:re has done another commendable job weaving its seemingly endless stream of characters and plot threads into one big confrontation."
Lupin the Third: Part 5 ‒ Episode 10
"On the one hand, this arc seemed to fly by too fast, but at the same time, this final installment felt paced just right."
High School DxD Hero ‒ Episode 8
"It was nice to see Rias finally recapture at least some of her former assertiveness, but the series still has a ways to go on that front."
Pikachu, Gundam's Haro A.I. Toys Head to Stores
Pokemon's iconic Pikachu and popular Gundam mascot Haro are getting smarter, and ready to play with you. The Pikachu robot "HelloPika" was is heading to store shelves in Japan on August 4 as an interactive desk companion. The robot is pocket-sized that responds to conversations with "Pika!" and "Pikapi!" and also can display a variety of gestures. Pikachu can sing, nod, laugh, and even attack wit...
Japanese Comic Ranking, May 28-June 3
New Slam Dunk edition takes 6 spots in top 10
― Rank Title Est. Weekly Copies Est. Total Copies Release Date Publisher Author Highest Rank Weeks on List 1 One Piece 89 265,660 265,660 2018/06 Shueisha Eiichiro Oda 1 1 2 Slam Dunk Refurbished Edition 1 92,333 92,333 2018/06 Shueisha Takehiko Inoue 2 1 3 Horimiya 12 84,023 128,278 2018/05 Square Enix Art: Daisuke Hagiwara / Original creator: HERO 3 2 ...
Porno Graffiti Performs Theme Song for 2018 Pokémon Film
New trailer previews song ahead of July 13 debut in Japan
― The staff of Gekijōban Pocket Monster: Minna no Monogatari (Pokémon the Movie: Everyone's Story), the 21st film in the Pokémon franchise, announced on Thursday that rock band Porno Graffiti is performing the film's theme song "Breath." A new promotional video previews the song: The film will open in theaters in Japan on July 13. Lugia and a ...
Real Girl ‒ Episode 10
"After weeks of buildup, the time has come to sort out Real Girl's love triangle."
Exclusive: Haikara-San: Here Comes Miss Modern Film's English Dub Clip Shows Benio Struggling With Utensils
Eleven Arts to open film in U.S., Canada with English dub on Friday
― Eleven Arts shared an English-dubbed clip for the Haikara-San: Here Comes Miss Modern Part 1 (Gekijōban Haikara-san ga Tōru Zenpen - Benio, Hana no 17-sai) anime film with ANN. The clip shows protagonist Benio struggling to use Western eating utensils. Haikara-San: Here Comes Miss Modern Part 1 is the first of two films based on Wa...
Manga Creator Starts Essay Series About Living with Bipolar Disorder
Manga creator Hamu Morishima launched her manga series on ComicWalker discussing her struggles with mental illness on Wednesday. Tokaku Konoyo wa Iki Nikui: 'Utsu' de 'Mu' ni natta Watashi (Anyway, It's Hard to Live in This World: I Became 'Nothing' with 'Depression') discusses her hurdles living with Bipolar II, developmental disorders, and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS). The first episode s...
Valve Comments on Steam's Content Policies, Promises to Allow Everything That is Not Illegal or 'Trolling'
Company plans to allow uses to filter their own store content
― Valve's Erik Johnson posted a statement from Valve on the official Steam Blog Wednesday regarding content allowed on its PC game platform Steam. The company confirmed in the statement that, going forward, it plans to allow everything on the Steam Store except submissions that are illegal or "straight up trolling." Johnson added that Valv...
Ikaruga Shooter Game Gets PS4 Version
Polarity-based shooter game debuted in arcades in 2001
― Game developer Treasure announced on Wednesday that it is preparing to release its Ikaruga game for PlayStation 4 and will make an official announcement next week. Unlike some of the other ports of the game, the PlayStation 4 version will not be released by a third party. Hiroshi Iuchi directed the game at Treasure, and the game debuted in Japa...
NHK Hosts Historical Mystery-Solving Event in Ashikaga
Broadcaster NHK's Utsunomiya station is hosting a history-themed mystery-solving event in Ashikaga, Tochigi on June 10 starring original character Maru Taiga. Participants will attempt to retrieve stolen treasure with guidance from the character, voiced by Kosuke Toriumi. The event will take place around the historical Ashikaga Gakkō, Japan's oldest academic institution. The building is believed t...
Japan's Video Game Rankings, May 28-June 3
Blazblue Cross Tag Battle, Full Metal Panic! Fight! Who Dares Wins, Usotsuki Hime to Mōroku Ōji games debut
― Japan's Game Ranking: May 28-June 3 Rank System Title Maker Release Date Weekly Copies Total Copies 4Gamer Reader Review 1PS4Dark Souls Remastered From Software May 24 19,870 91,608 2PS4Detroit: Become Human (Including Limited Editions) Sony Interactive Entertainment May 25 16,932 56,480 3NSw...
Clannad Gets Digital PS4 Release in U.S.
Prototype also plans European release
― Game company Prototype announced on Wednesday that it will release the Clannad visual novel for PlayStation 4 via the U.S. PlayStation Store in late June. The company also noted that it is preparing distribution for other regions, including Europe. The U.S. release will be digital-only, but the PlayStation 4 physical version that ships in Japan on June 14 will ...
Numazu City Pulls Love Live! Sunshine Manhole Covers After Repeated Vandalism
Early this year, the city of Numazu, Shizuoka launched a crowdfund campaign to install nine manhole covers featuring the faces of the Aquors idols from Love Live! Sunshine. Numazu is the anime's real-world setting and has routinely collaborated with the show to increase tourism efforts. The manhole cover campaign was a success and the covers were installed just two weeks ago. The hard-earned proje...
'Tales of' Games' Web Domain Hosts Password-Protected 'tov10th' Site
Tales of Vesperia RPG debuted for Xbox 360 in 2008
― The website Gematsu discovered the password-protected website "tov10th.tales-ch.jp" and reported on it on Thursday. Gematsu reported that "multiple sources" indicated that Bandai Namco Entertainment will announce a remaster of the Tales of Vesperia game at E3, which will be held at Los Angeles Convention Center on June 12-14. The original Tales of ...
Nozomi Entertainment's Rose of Versailles Anime License Expires
Nozomi Entertainment announced on Wednesday that its license for The Rose of Versailles anime is expiring. The series is streaming on Nozomi's YouTube channel until June 15, and it will also stop streaming on Crunchyroll "soon." The DVDs will no longer be printed. The company announced its license for the 40-episode classic anime in 2012, and released two limited edition DVD sets in 2013. It later...
pixiv Representative Director Resigns From Company Amidst Lawsuits
Former idol filed sexual harassment suit against Hiroaki Nagata
― The pixiv website announced on June 6 that Pixiv representative director Hiroaki Nagata (pictured right) has resigned from his position in the company, as well as his from his positions in pixiv subsidiary companies. pixiv board member and Movic representative director Shingo Kunieda is the company's new representative director. pixiv ...
[New Life+] Young Again in Another World Light Novel Shipments Halted
Anime also cancelled after furor over author's "inappropriate remarks" on China, S. Korea
― The Asahi Shimbun newspaper reported on Wednesday that the publisher Hobby Japan decided that day to cancel shipments of MINE's [New Life+] Young Again in Another World (Nidome no Jinsei o Isekai de) light novel series. MINE has recently been involved in a controversy over his alleged insults and discriminator...
Fate/Extra Last Encore Anime's 'Illustrias Geocentrism' Special Reveals Visual, July 29 Premiere
Anime special also screens at event on July 28
― The official website for Fate/Extra Last Encore, the television anime of the Fate/Extra game, revealed a visual and the July 29 premiere for the "Illustrias Tendōsetsu" (Illustrias Geocentrism) special on Wednesday. The anime will premiere on Tokyo MX, Gunma TV, Tochigi TV, and BS11 on July 29 at 7:00 p.m. The two-hour special will then air on MBS in t...
Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These ‒ Episode 9
"The policies and points being made this week come across as dry even by this show's standards."
[New Life+] Young Again in Another World Anime Cancelled
Voice actors resigned on Wednesday with novel creator in controversy
― The official website for the anime adaptation of MINE's [New Life+] Young Again in Another World (Nidome no Jinsei o Isekai de) light novels announced on Wednesday that the production and broadcast of the anime has been cancelled. The production committee's announcement cites many concerns raised after the anime was revealed, and ...
Devil's Line Manga Gets Original Anime DVD
OAD ships with series' 12th volume on August 23
― The official website for Kodansha's Morning magazine announced on Wednesday that Ryo Hanada's Devils' Line manga will get an original anime DVD (OAD) in the limited edition of the series' 12th compiled book volume. The volume will ship on August 23. The OAD's story will follow the anime's 12th and final episode. It will feature Anzai and Tsukasa and d...
Sora to Umi no Aida Anime Reveals 1st Promo Video, Visual
Anime about 6 space fishermen premieres in October
― TMS Entertainment opened a website for the television anime of ForwardWorks' Sora to Umi no Aida (The Space Between the Sky and the Sea) smartphone game on Wednesday. The site revealed a new promotional video and teaser visual for the anime. The anime will premiere this October. The game's voice actresses are reprising their roles for the anime. Ka...
Gibo to Musume no Blues Live-Action Series Reveals Additional Cast
Takeru Satoh, Naho Yokomizo, Yosuka Asari, Kazuyuki Asano, more cast in July series
― The official website for the live-action television series adaptation of Rin Sakurazawa's Gibo to Musume no Blues (A Stepmother and Daughter's Blues) manga revealed additional cast members on May 30. Takeru Satoh (seen right) as Akira Mugita, a role described as the show's "eye of the storm" that influences Akiko an...
Megumi Nakajima Performs 2nd Ending Song for Kakuriyo -Bed & Breakfast for Spirits- Anime
26-episode anime premiered on April 2
― The official website for Kakuriyo -Bed & Breakfast for Spirits-, the television anime of writer Midori Yūma and illustrator Laruha's Kakuriyo Yadomeshi (Afterlife Inn Cooking) light novel series, revealed on Wednesday that Megumi Nakajima will perform the anime's second ending theme song "Shiranai Kimochi" (Unknown Feelings). The song will be included in the re...
Miss caretaker of Sunohara-sou Anime's Video Reveals More of Cast, Opening Song, July 5 Debut
Megumi Nakajima performs opening song, joins cast alongside Juri Nagatsuma
― The official website for the television anime of Nekoume's four-panel romantic comedy manga Miss caretaker of Sunohara-sou (Sunohara-Sō no Kanrinin-san) began streaming a promotional video for the anime on Wednesday. The video previews the anime's opening theme song "Bitter Sweet Harmony" by Megumi Nakajima, and also reveals...
Tuesday, June 5
[New Life+] Young Again in Another World Anime Cast Resigns After Creator's Apology for Controversial Comments
Novelist MINE apologizes for "inappropriate remarks" on China, South Korea
― The official Twitter accounts of voice actors and actresses Toshiki Masuda, Megumi Nakajima, and Kiyono Yasuno all announced their resignations from their respective roles in the television anime of MINE's [New Life+] Young Again in Another World (Nidome no Jinsei o Isekai de) light novel series on Wednesday. The talent mana...
HIDIVE to Stream Grimoire of Zero English Dub
Episodes to debut on Tuesdays
― HIDIVE announced on Tuesday that it will stream the English dub for Grimoire of Zero beginning on June 12. New episodes will launch on Tuesdays at 1:00 p.m. EDT. The stream will be available in the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, United Kingdom, and "other territories." The cast, under director Kyle Jones, includes: Jason Douglas as Mercenary Amanda Lee ...
Sword Art Online: Alternative GGO Gets Cheesy with Pizza Hut
Pizza Hut is baking up a new anime collaboration, this time with the pink gun toting Llenn from Sword Art Online: Alternative Gun Gale Online. The "Pizza Hut Squad Jam" campaign is giving away prizes via social media and through pizza orders. The first "Squad Jam" is running from June 5 to July 8. Take a picture of pizza order with the hashtag "#ピザハット・スクワッド・ジャム" (Pizza Hut Squad Jam) to enter to w...
Digital Manga: Kimagure Orange Road Kickstarter Rewards Will Begin Shipping Next Week
Company plans to begin with lower tier rewards
― Digital Manga Publishing's Kickstarter campaign for a re-localization of Izumi Matsumoto's Kimagure Orange Road manga updated on Monday to say that Digital Manga will begin shipping out rewards next week between Wednesday and Friday. The company acknowledged that the shipping will be a slow process due to a limited staff and the company's financial sit...
[New Life+] Young Again in Another World Creator Apologizes for Controversial Tweets, Novel Content
Author plans to delete Twitter account, possibly edit future print editions
― In light of the upcoming anime adaptation of MINE's [New Life+] Young Again in Another World (Nidome no Jinsei o Isekai de) light novels, some depictions in the series and some of MINE's comments on Twitter created a controversy. Certain net commenters believe that the original work and MINE's posts contain inappropriate co...
ISLAND Anime's Trailer Streamed With English Subtitles
Series premieres in July
― Crunchyroll began streaming an English-subtitled version of the latest promotional video for the television anime of Frontwing and Prototype's ISLAND visual novel on Tuesday. The video previews the show's opening theme song "Eien no Hitotsu" (Eternal One) by Yukari Tamura. The anime will premiere in July, and Crunchyroll will stream the series as it airs. The show stars: Ta...
Anime Expo to Host Story of Seasons' Yasuhiro Wada, Danganronpa's Yoshinori Terasawa & Takayuki Sugawara
Also: Crystal Kay, YUC'e, Masayoshi Iimori
― Anime Expo announced last Wednesday that it will host Harvest Moon/Story of Seasons creator Yasuhiro Wada as a guest. The convention also announced last Thursday that it will host Spike Chunsoft's Yoshinori Terasawa and Takayuki Sugawara. In addition, OTAQUEST announced that its "OTAQUEST LIVE" event at Anime Expo will host musicians Crystal Kay, YUC'e, an...
Golden Kamuy ‒ Episode 9
"This isn't the most momentous episode of Golden Kamuy, but it does a great job putting the pieces in place for a big play later."
23 Shogakukan Manga Magazines Launch Anti-Piracy Campaign
Publishers are taking a proactive approach towards manga pirating, some filing lawsuits on behalf of their publishers to take down piracy websites. Over the years, creators from Ashita no Joe's Tetsuya Chiba to hentai manga artist Gujira have asked readers not to support piracy. Publisher Shogakukan rolled out its newest initiative on June 4. The "NO! Piracy & Illegal Website" campaign seeks to er...
One Piece ‒ Episode 839
"This is a rare episode that's both busy and extremely well-directed, offering some of the most fun spectacle in a long while, but it's hard not to be enthusiastic with a few caveats."
Seven Seas Replaces Magical Girl Special Ops Asuka Volume 2 Due to Misprint
Seven Seas Entertainment confirmed with ANN on Tuesday that it is replacing copies of Magical Girl Special Ops Asuka volume 2 due to a misprint. The company explained that the error was a missing color page with two pin-up illustrations, and emphasized that it did not affect the story. The first printing had a pink logo while the corrected printings will have a green logo. The company said it will...
Your Wallet's Already Dead! Pure Gold Ken-Oh Helmet Goes for US$24,600
Buronson and Tetsuo Hara's Fist of the North Star packs a post-apocalyptic punch even after 35 years, but little could prepare fans for the beating their wallets are about to take. Mail order site Housaidow is offering three versions of Ken-oh's helmet--gold, sterling silver, and polystone versions. The gold version is about 1/4-scale and only five will be made. The limited production number and ...
North American Anime, Manga Releases, June 3-9
Anonymous Noise, Kabukibu! anime; Eclair, Satan's Secretary, Stupid Love Comedy manga ship
― Anime Releases Title Publisher Suggested Retail Price Date Anonymous Noise BDPlease Sentai Filmworks US$69.98 June 5 Black Butler Book of the Atlantic BD/DVDCite Funimation Entertainment US$34.98 June 5 Black Butler Book of the Atlantic DVDAnimeNewsNetwork Funimation Entertainment US$29.98 June 5 Kabukibu! BD...
Voltron: Legendary Defender Season 6 Trailer Streamed Ahead of June 15 Premiere
New season to debut on Netflix
― DreamWorks began streaming a trailer for the sixth season of its Voltron: Legendary Defender animated series on Tuesday. The season will premiere on Netflix on June 15. Dreamworks describes the sixth season: Suspicious of Lotor's alliance with Voltron, Galra oppressors continue to invade and conquer vulnerable planets throughout the universe. A hyper-focused Team Volt...
It's a Death Metal Take Over! Devilman crybaby's Most Influential Albums Revealed
The Tower Records Shibuya store got a Devilman crybaby make over last week that included limited edition goods and the DEVILMAN crybaby BOOTLEG booklet. A pamphlet distributed at the event included all kinds of interesting tidbits about the show including the ultimate Devilman crybaby playlist. Click to enlarge The pamphlet lays out the top 10 albums and bands that represent the show, so pull up y...
Master of Ragnarok & Blesser of Einherjar Anime's English-Subtitled Teaser Streamed
Anime premieres on July 7, will stream on Crunchyroll
― Crunchyroll began streaming an English-subtitled teaser for The Master of Ragnarok & Blesser of Einherjar, the anime adaptation of Seiichi Takayama and Yukisan's Hyakuren no Haō to Seiyaku no Valkyria light novel series, on Tuesday. THE MASTER OF RAGNAROK JOINS THE CRUNCHYROLL FAMILY THIS SUMMER 💥 pic.twitter.com/Wqgi2tt1JE— Crunchyroll (@Crunch...
Student Group Crowdfunds 'Kūchū Gunkan Atlantis' Independent Anime for Theatrical Release
The next Gainax may be a group of college students in Kyoto known as Gekigadan. The group is made up of volunteers independently producing the "Kūchū Gunkan Atlantis" (Aerial Battleship Atlantis) anime project. Gekigadan's official YouTube and Twitter accounts began streaming a trailer for the project on Saturday. The anime's first video, labeled as "pilot film 1," debuted last November. The anime...
Back Street Girls Anime Trailer Previews Male & Female Cast
Masayoshi Ōishi composes opening song performed by female cast
― The official website for the television anime of Jasmine Gyuh's Back Street Girls comedy manga began streaming two promotional videos for the anime on Wednesday. The website also announced that Masayoshi Ōishi is composing the opening theme song "Gokudolls Music," performed by the lead female cast under the group name Gokudolls Nijigumi...
This Week in Anime - FLCL Returns in Two New Flavors
FLCL Progressive and FLCL Alternative have rocked their way onto Toonami to put a new spin on the classic series. Nick and Steve discuss what we know so far about these two very different approaches to the material.
― FLCL Progressive and FLCL Alternative have rocked their way onto Toonami to put a new spin on the classic series. This week, Nick and Steve discuss what we know so far about these two v...
Berry Goodman Performs Major 2nd Anime's New Opening Song
"Dreamcatcher" debuts in anime on July 7
― The official website for the anime of Takuya Mitsuda's Major 2nd baseball manga revealed on Tuesday that Osaka-native three-member vocal unit Berry Goodman (Fox Spirit Matchmaker ending song) will perform the series' new opening theme song "Dreamcatcher." The song will debut in the show on July 7, and its single will ship on August 15. This year's 28th issue...
Dear Boys' Hiroki Yagami Ends Tokiwa Bowl no Megami-sama Bowling Manga on July 6
Manga launched in May 2017
― The July issue of Kodansha's Monthly Shonen Magazine revealed on Wednesday that Hiroki Yagami will end the Tokiwa Bowl no Megami-sama (The Goddess in Tokiwa Bowl) bowling manga in the August issue on July 6. The manga focuses on a bowling alley on the brink of failure. Kaede Tokiwa is struggling to revive the place when she meets Tokio Asahina, a boy with a mysterious air...
Magical Girl Ore ‒ Episode 10
"This episode had a depth to it that so many previous episodes were lacking. For once, I'm excited to see where it takes this new direction."
Live-Action Kenkō de Bunkateki na Saitei Gendo no Seikatsu Series Casts Rina Kawaei, Yūki Yamada
Series about government welfare case workers premieres on July 17
― The staff for the live-action television series adaptation of Haruko Kashiwagi's Kenkō de Bunkateki na Saitei Gendo no Seikatsu (A Minimum Healthy and Cultural Life) manga revealed on Tuesday that Rina Kawaei (left in photographs below) and Yūki Yamada (right) will star in the film. The staff also revealed the series' July 17 premier...
Encouragement of the Climb Third Season Anime Premieres on July 2
The staff of the Encouragement of Climb anime franchise announced on Tuesday that the third season will premiere on Tokyo MX and other networks on July 2 at 25:40 (effectively July 3 at 1:40 a.m.). The anime will also stream on 15 services in Japan. The series will have 13 15-minute episodes. The recent Yama no Susume: Omoide Present OVA and the third season have the same staff, and the main cast ...
Japan's Animation DVD Ranking, May 28-June 3
Touken Ranbu sell 11,011 + 567, followed by Is The Order a Rabbit??, live-action Ashi-Girl, [email protected] SideM, Digimon tri.
― The musical Touken Ranbu ~Shinken Ranbu Sai 2017~ sold 11,011 copies to land at #2 on the overall DVD chart. The DVD Box for the live-action television series based on Kozueko Morimoto's Ashi-Girl manga was #9 with 2,958 copies. The complete limited pressing of the Sound Theatr...
Japan's Animation Blu-ray Disc Ranking, May 28-June 3
Touken Ranbu musical sells 16,166, followed by Is The Order a Rabbit??, [email protected] Cinderella Girls concert & SideM, Yuki Yuna is A Hero
― The musical Touken Ranbu ~Shinken Ranbu Sai 2017~ sold 16,166 copies to land at #3 on the overall Blu-ray Disc chart. "The [email protected] Cinderella Girls 5th Live Tour Serendipity [email protected]" concert sold 12,254 copies to rank #5. The Blu-ray Box for the live-a...
Code Vein Game's Trailer Reveals September Release Date
Game's limited edition, pre-order bonuses also revealed
― Bandai Namco Entertainment began streaming a new trailer for its Code Vein post-apocalyptic role-playing game on Tuesday. The video reveals the game's September 27 release date for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, and September 28 release on PC via Steam. It also reveals the game's limited edition and pre-order bonuses. Those who pre-order the ...
Drive Head Anime Film Casts Maaya Uchida, Kentarō
Uchida plays android Tera, Kentarō makes voice-acting debut in August 24 film
― Takara Tomy revealed the cast for Eiga Drive Head: Tomika Hyper Rescue Kidō Kyūkyū Keisatsu (Drive Head the Movie: Tomika Hyper Rescue Mobile Emergency Police), the upcoming film in the Tomica Hyper Rescue Drive Head Kidō Kyūkyū Keisatsu (Tomica Hyper Rescue Drive Head Mobile Emergency Police) anime franchise, on Tuesday....
Live-Action Hibiki: Shōsetsuka ni Naru Hōhō Film Casts Shun Oguri
Oguri plays struggling novelist in September 14 film
― The staff for the live-action film of Mitsuharu Yanamoto's Hibiki: Shōsetsuka ni Naru Hōhō (Hibiki ~How to Become a Novelist~) manga revealed on Tuesday that Shun Oguri (live-action Gintama's Gintoki) will play the character Shunpei Yamamoto, a novelist forced to live a bitterly frugal life even as he aims to win the prestigious Akutagawa Prize f...
22nd Detective Conan Film Drops to #3 After 7 Weeks at #1
After the Rain drops to #7, Peacemaker Kurogane opens at #2 in mini-theaters
― Meitantei Conan Zero no Shikkōnin (Detective Conan: Zero the Enforcer), the 22nd film in the Detective Conan series, dropped from #1 to #3 at the box office in Japan in its eighth weekend, after seven consecutive weekends at #1. Deadpool 2 and 50-kai Me no First Kiss (a remake of Adam Sandler's 50 First Dates film) opened ...
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