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The List - 6 Bizarre Magical Transformations
Sentai heroes look cool when they power up and magical girls transform with grace and beauty, but some magical metamorphoses are less comfortable to watch. These six examples are just plain weird.
― Let's talk about magical girl transformations for a minute. The first things that come to mind are sparkles, ribbons, cheery music, and maybe a few poses that only the most experienced gymnast could pull...
Kase-san and an Apron GN
This sweet yet relatable yuri series continues as the girls' relationships deepen and come into greater conflict. Rebecca Silverman gets into the good stuff.
― Time marches on, and with it comes new worries. The previous volume of Hiromi Takashima's Kase-san and… yuri series had the girls coping with the idea of being separated after they graduate from high school – Yamada had always planned to follo...
Hunter × Hunter: Phantom Rouge BD/DVD
This movie offers a pleasant but nonessential side quest for anyone who misses spending time with the Hunter x Hunter gang. Nick Creamer has the details.
― With the Hunter x Hunter manga on consistent hiatus and the future of its anime adaptation even less certain, an anime-original tie-in film like Phantom Rouge can feel almost like a kind of narrative life support. I love Gon and Killua and their f...
Interview: One Piece Animation Director Shigefumi Shingaki
A few fun questions for Shigefumi Shingaki, long-tenured animation director for Luffy and the straw hats and the man behind that incredible Strong World OVA!
― Toei Animation director Shigefumi Shingaki's resume of animation work might appear a bit short at first glance. He cut his teeth on Doraemon and picked up key animation work on series ranging from Dragon Ball GT to Air Master. Don't let the sh...
Keijo!!!!!!!! Limited Edition BD/DVD
This absurd action comedy about the most fanservice-fueled sport in the world is finally available in a limited edition stuffed with goodies. James Beckett dives into the curvaceous world of Keijo!!!!!!!!
― To determine whether or not to invest time and money in Keijo!!!!!!, you need only to ask yourself if you like: Exceedingly silly and completely over-the-top sports showdowns Animated boobs Animat...
Answerman - Why Do Some Series Have Long Gaps Between Seasons?
One Piece shows up every week without fail, but there are gaps between seasons in My Hero Academia. What gives? Justin explains it all.
― Emily asked: I've been wondering why some anime have gaps of a year or more between seasons and others have gaps of a few months or just continue for long periods of time. I've also noticed that the number of long running series (especially those with lots of fill...
My-Otome Complete Series BD/DVD
This sequel to My-HiME isn't as beloved as its predecessor, but it still has plenty of its own charm to offer. Theron Martin has the details.
― My-Otome is the 2005 follow-up to 2004's My-HiME. For most of its run, it appears to be an alternate-world version of My-HiME, where the original cast is transplanted into a new setting but with different lesser roles, but details later in the series' run sug...
Digimon Adventure tri.: Loss Blu-ray/DVD Giveaway!
The fourth Digimon Adventure tri. film can be yours. Shout! Factory is giving away 3 Blu-ray/DVD copies of Digimon tri.: Loss each to three lucky winners!
― The fourth Digimon Adventure tri. film can be yours. Shout! Factory is giving away 3 Blu-ray/DVD copies of Digimon Adventure tri.: Loss to three lucky winners! Synopsis Loss picks up where Confession left off! The DigiDestined must try to reconn...
The Cat Returns Ticket Giveaway!
GKIDS is giving a way a pair of tickets to three lucky winners each to the screening of The Cat Returns!
― GKIDS is back with the second of the nine Ghibli Fest 2018 films. Journey through the Cat Kingdom with THE CAT RETURNS. As a special treat, we are giving away a pair of tickets each to our 3 lucky winners! Synopsis From the legendary Studio Ghibli, creators of My Neighbor Totoro and the Academy...
Saturday, April 21
Shonen Jump Reveals 2nd Annual App Development Contest
Despite publishers' steadfast reliance on print publication, a new wave of digital media is taking hold. Hiroyuki Nakano, the new editor-in-chief of Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine, confirmed in July that rising digital demand is making up for shrinking print runs. Reports then revealed this past February that digital manga volume sales overtook sales of physical manga volumes for the first...
Series Premiere: Hinamatsuri—Episodes 1-3
"Hinamatsuri is a willfully and unapologetically weird show, but there's something charming about its willingness to throw logic out the window."
Record of Grancrest War ‒ Episode 15
"It's no surprise that everything's coming up Theo, but this episode hints that the real surprises are coming next week."
ToraCon Otaku Marriage Consultation Service Adds Wine Tasting, Lolita Tea Party, Anime Pilgrimage
The otaku marriage consultation service ToraCon has been expanding with events geared toward both men and women since its launch in February 2017. The company recently revealed three new "party" events to help bring potential couples together. First, ToraCon will hold a tasting event for anime collaboration wine and sake in the kitchen space at the Tora building in Tokyo on May 12. The event will ...
Series Premiere: Megalobox—Episodes 1-3
"This show is so cool and confident that it ought to be criminal."
Series Premiere: Wotakoi - Love is Hard for Otaku—Episodes 1-2
"Relationships are beautiful, but they're also tricky, and Wotakoi really feels like it's written from a place of experience with both the wonders and the warts of nerd love."
Intersex Manga Creator Stars in Documentary About Personal Experiences
Manga creator Shō Arai is starring in the Seibetsu ga, Nai! Intersex Mangaka no Queer na Hibi (I Have No Sex!: An Intersex Manga Creator's Daily Life) documentary film. The project's Motion Gallery crowdfunding campaign has six days left. The documentary focuses on Arai's life, explores the question "How is love possible as a sexual minority?," and aims to fund screenings and distribution publicit...
Series Premiere: Comic Girls—Episodes 1-3
"Familiarity isn't always a bad thing, and while Comic Girls doesn't cover a lot of new ground, it seldom feels redundant."
Hozuki's Coolheadedness' Ichiko, Niko Haunt Tatami Room in VR Video
A new 360-degree VR video for the Hozuki's Coolheadedness anime debuted on Friday. In the video, the Zashiki-warashi girls Ichiko and Niko creepily wander around a tatami room. The anime's staff are encouraging people to watch the video on their smartphones and upload screenshots with specific hashtags on social media. The second cour (quarter-year) of the second season of the anime premiered on A...
Series Premiere: Tada Never Falls in Love—Episodes 1-3
"With its soft pastel art style and bouncy music, Tada Never Falls in Love has all the makings of a hit anime comedy, but it also has so many places where it could go wrong."
Re:Zero Prize Lottery Line Offers Figures, Towels, Bath Sets, More
Banpresto's newest Ichiban Kuji prize lottery line will feature Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World-. The top prize is Rem and Ram figures in cat-eared hoodies, and the line will debut at convenience stores, bookstores, and other retailers in Japan on May 12. A Prize"Nyanko mode" Rem and Ram figures B PrizeMicrofiber long towels (three varieties) C PrizeBath set of clear poster and bath powde...
The List - 6 Bizarre Magical Transformations
Sentai heroes look cool when they power up and magical girls transform with grace and beauty, but some magical metamorphoses are less comfortable to watch. These six examples are just plain weird.
― Let's talk about magical girl transformations for a minute. The first things that come to mind are sparkles, ribbons, cheery music, and maybe a few poses that only the most experienced gymnast could pull...
Summer Lesson: Allison & Chisato VR Game's English Trailer Reveals Summer Debut in Southeast Asia
Both installments to get English release in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia
― Bandai Namco Entertainment Asia began streaming the first English trailer on Friday for its release of the Summer Lesson: Allison Snow and Summer Lesson Shinjo Chisato: Shichiyō no Etude installments of the Summer Lesson PlayStation VR game. The English version will be available this summer in Sout...
Kase-san and an Apron GN
This sweet yet relatable yuri series continues as the girls' relationships deepen and come into greater conflict. Rebecca Silverman gets into the good stuff.
― Time marches on, and with it comes new worries. The previous volume of Hiromi Takashima's Kase-san and… yuri series had the girls coping with the idea of being separated after they graduate from high school – Yamada had always planned to follo...
Märchen Mädchen Light Novel Series, Manga Approach Climax
4th novel volume to cover story of anime's as-yet unaired 11th, 12th episodes
― StoryWorks writer Yūichi Kadota posted on Twitter on Thursday that the fourth novel volume of late author Tomohiro Matsu and artist Kantoku's Märchen Mädchen light novel series will be the series' climax. Kadota said the contents of the novel correspond to episodes 11 and 12 of the anime. The novel will ship on April 25. ...
Comic LO Manga Magazine to Have 'Important Announcement' on May 21
This year's June issue of Akaneshinsha's Comic LO magazine announced on Saturday that the magazine will have an "important announcement" in its next issue on May 21. The issue added, "as expected, this year seems to be the year of victory or defeat." Akaneshinsha launched the Comic LO (LO meaning "Lolita Only") adult manga magazine in September 2002. The company published the magazine irregularly ...
Vancouver's Anirevo Hosts Voice Actor Kappei Yamaguchi
One Piece, Inuyasha, Persona 4 voice actor to host panels, photo booth sessions at August 3-5 event
― The Anirevo convention in Vancouver announced on Friday that it will host voice actor Kappei Yamaguchi. The appearance will mark Yamaguchi's second appearance at Anirevo. He will host autograph sessions, photo booth sessions, a live recording panel, and a Q&A panel. Yamaguchi has voiced roles in such...
Dragon Ball FighterZ Game Unveils Next DLC Character
Character appears in episodes that have not yet aired on Toonami
― (Note: This article contains spoilers for Dragon Ball Super episodes that have not yet aired on Toonami.) This year's June issue of Shueisha's V-Jump magazine announced on Saturday that Fusion Zamasu, the fusion of Goku Black and Zamasu from Dragon Ball Super, will be the next playable DLC character for the Dragon Ball FighterZ game. ...
Baltimore's Universal FanCon Postponed Indefinitely 1 Week Before Opening
Convention had announced Japanese guests
― The official Twitter account for Universal Fancon announced on Friday that the event has been postponed until further notice. According the the announcement, the staff are "taking steps to reschedule the convention." The convention was scheduled to have its inaugural event in Baltimore at the Baltimore Convention Center from April 27-29. The convention's web...
Capcom's Puzzle Fighter Smartphone Game Shuts Down on July 31
Game launched for iOS, Android last November
― Capcom announced on Friday that it will remove its Puzzle Fighter smartphone game from app stores on July 1. Capcom will then shut down the game's servers on July 31. Capcom stated that it gifted 10,000 in-game gems to users in the game on Friday. The company is also making characters Regina, Dr. Wily, and Ada Wong available for free for all players, as ...
Friday, April 20
Liz and the Blue Bird Film's Long Promo Video, 2nd Making-of Video Streamed
Composer Akito Matsuda conducts piece for film that opened on Saturday
― The official website for Liz to Aoitori (Liz und ein Blauer Vogel or Liz and the Blue Bird), the first of two planned all-new anime films in the Sound! Euphonium franchise, began streaming a long promotional video on Saturday. The site also began streaming a second behind-the-scenes video for the anime on Friday. The video shows...
La Corda D'Oro 3 Games Launch for PS Vita on September 19
Koei Tecmo Games announced that its PlayStation Vita ports of Kin-iro no Corda 3 Full Voice Special (La Corda D'Oro 3 Full Voice Special) and all three Kin-iro no Corda 3 Another Sky (La Corda D'Oro 3 Another Sky) games will ship in Japan on September 19. Kin-iro no Corda 3 Full Voice Special will get a "treasure box" release and the three Kin-iro no Corda 3 Another Sky games will get a three-in-o...
Grimgar, Ashes and Illusions Director Writes Story for Disney Learning Software
Ryosuke Nakamura is making the jump for anime writing and directing to the world of Disney. The Grimgar, Ashes, and Illusions director and screenwriter wrote the main scenario for the beloved animation studio's "Technologia Mahō Gakkō" (Technologia School of Magic) software, part of the Disney's Online Programming Learning Material line. Set for release on Saturday, the software teaches programmin...
Live-Action Dol:Men X Idol Comedy Film's Trailer Streamed
Film about aliens attempting world domination through idol industry opens on June 15
― The staff for the live-action film adaptation of Yuuna Takagi's Dol:Men X manga unveiled the film's trailer on Saturday. The film will open in Japan on June 15. The staff also revealed a still of AKB48's Yui Yokoyama as a reporter. The manga already inspired a four-episode mini-series that premiered in March. The f...
Devils' Line English Dub Cast Revealed Ahead of Saturday Premiere
Luci Christian, Adam Gibbs star
― HIDIVE announced the English dub cast for Devils' Line on Friday. The cast includes: Luci Christian as Tsukasa Taira Adam Gibbs as Yuuki Anzai Scott Searles as Shouta Akimura Juliet Simmons as Miwako Toda Justin Doran as Takashi Sawazaki Carli Mosier as Juliana Lloyd John Ramirez as Ryuusei Yanagi Nathan Wilson as Keiji Ochiai Kyle Colby Jones is directing the dub an...
Check Out Kingdom Hearts Singer Hikaru Utada Latest Single "Play A Love Song"
Hikaru Utada isn't slowing down. The "Simple and Clean" singer has a new digital single "Play A Love Song" and fans can own the new track starting on April 25. If you can't wait that long, you can get an early listen in a new television commercial for "Suntory Minami Alps Sparkling" water. In the commercial, Utada plays around in the snowy wilderness before opening a bottle of Suntory Minami Alps ...
Japan's Animation TV Ranking, April 9-15
Isao Takahata's Grave of the Fireflies film airs
― Director Isao Takahata's Grave of the Fireflies film aired on NTV on Friday, April 13 at 9:00 p.m. and earned a 6.7% rating. Takahata passed away on April 5. Title Station Date Time Length Average Household Rating Sazae-san Fuji TV April 15 (Sun) 18:30 30 min. 12.4 Chibi Maruko-chan Fuji TV April 15 (Sun) 18:00 30 min. 9.1 Crayon Shin-chan TV Asahi A...
Fans Vote for Their Favorite Male Voice Actors
Earlier this month we published a tally of which male voice actors are topping this season with the most roles. Yūichi Nakamura and Yuuki Kaji tied for first with eight roles apiece. It seemed like cast line-ups are favoring a handful of voice actors, but could that be because they're also the audience's favorites? Charapedia held a poll to see which male voice actors are readers' favorites. You m...
Sega's Border Break PS4 Edition Teases New Project
The official website for Sega's PlayStation 4 version of its Border Break arcade game posted a teaser video for a related "new project." The video teases, "We began running toward that dream. Real is here." The mecha action game Border Break will launch for PlayStation 4 as a free-to-play game with in-game purchases on August 2. It will also have a physical release and special download edition bon...
Himouto! Umaru-chan Gets 2nd Novel
1st novel shipped in 2015
― The official Twitter account for Shueisha's Jump J Books novel label announced on Friday that Sankaku Head's Himouto! Umaru-chan manga is inspiring a second novel titled Himouto! Umaru-chan N2. The novel will ship on June 19, the same day as the compiled volume for the Himouto! Umaru-chan G sequel manga. Shueisha published the first novel, Himouto! Umaru-chan N (pictured r...
Rock Out on Universal Studio Japan's Rollercoaster With FFXIV Music
If you're looking to get your blood pumping at Universal Studios Japan, why not jump on Hollywood Dream The Ride coaster for some twists, turns, and sudden drops? Riders can make the experience even better by picking one of a few song choices to blast in their ears, including tracks from Final Fantasy XIV. The coaster is being renamed "Hollywood Dream The Ride ~Final Fantasy XIV: UNDER THE WEIGHT~...
Persona 3, Persona 5 Dancing Game Videos Preview Protagonists
Games ship in Japan on May 24
― Atlus began streaming promotional videos for its upcoming Persona 3 Dancing Moon Night and Persona 5 Dancing Star Night games on Friday. The video shows the protagonists of Persona 3 and Persona 5. Both games will launch on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita in Japan on May 24. Atlus will release both games separately but will also offer combo releases. The "Persona Da...
Love Pistols Manga Creator Draws Call Me By Your Name Novel Cover
The novel that inspired last year's Academy Award-winning romance film Call Me By Your Name by director Luca Guadagnino is getting a Japanese-language release with artwork by Love Pistols manga creator Tarako Kotobuki. The original novel was written by André Aciman and follows 17-year-old Elio (Timothée Chalamet) and his whirlwind love affair with 24-year-old Oliver (Armie Hammer) in Italy in 1983...
ISLAND Anime's New Key Visual Shows Main Characters
The official website for the television anime of Frontwing and Prototype's ISLAND visual novel updated on Friday with a new key visual. The visual shows Rinne, Karen, and Sora. The anime will premiere this summer. Studio feel. (Tsuki ga Kirei, Outbreak Company) is producing the animation. The game shipped for PC in Japan in April 2016 and for PlayStation Vita in February 2017. An English localizat...
5th Space Battleship Yamato 2202 Anime Film's Promo Video Previews Ending Theme
Isao Sasaki, Ayahi Takagaki, Tomoyo Kurosawa join cast
― The official website for Star Blazers: Space Battleship Yamato 2202 (Uchū Senkan Yamato 2202: Ai no Senshi-tachi or Space Battleship Yamato 2202: Warriors of Love) anime sequel project began streaming a one-minute and a 30-second promotional video for the fifth film subtitled "Rengoku-hen" (Purgatory Chapter) on Friday. The 30-second video unve...
Exclusive: Batman Ninja Anime's Clip Shows Batman Fighting Samurai
Warner Bros. to release film digitally on April 24, with home video release on May 8
― Warner Bros. shared an exclusive English-dubbed clip of the Batman Ninja anime with ANN on Friday. The clip shows Batman fending off samurai attackers. The official PlayStation Youtube channel also began streaming a clip from the anime on Thursday. The clip shows Batman being transported to medieval Japan. Warner B...
Answerman - Who Are The Ainu People?
After a high-profile spotlight in the new spring anime Golden Kamuy, some readers are curious to know more about Japan's Ainu population. Justin is happy to oblige!
― Eric asked: I'd watched the first episode of Golden Kamuy, and that anime and even its original manga had mentioned about the people of Ainu in Japan in which I know they're somewhat similar to the Native American Indians in the Americ...
Master of Horror Manga Junji Ito Shares His Thoughts on the 'Junji Ito' Collection Anime
Esteemed horror manga artist Junji Ito appeared at an autograph signing event to celebrate the release of the first part of the complete DVD collection of the Junji Ito Collection anime. This event was held at the Shibuya Tower Records on April 14. Before the signing, Ito shared his thoughts on the anime. He said that he was more eager than anyone to see an anime adaptation of his work, but that h...
Happy Sugar Life Anime Casts Natsuki Hanae, Aya Suzaki, Yuichiro Umehara
TV series about girl's obsessive love for younger girl debuts in July
― The official website for the television anime adaptation of Tomiyaki Kagisora's Happy Sugar Life manga revealed three more cast members and character visuals on Saturday. Natsuki Hanae as Taiyō Mitsuboshi Aya Suzaki as Shōko Hida Yuichiro Umehara as Daichi Kitaumekawa The previously announced cast members are: Kana Hanazawa as Sa...
Back Street Girls TV Anime Reveals Visuals, Staff
When They Cry - Higurashi's Chiaki Kon directs series at J.C. Staff
― the television anime of Jasmine Gyuh's Back Street Girls comedy manga revealed a key visual, character visuals, and staff on Friday. Jasmine Gyuh drew the visuals. Yakuza boss/producer Inugane Airi Yamamoto Mari Tachibana Chika Sugihara Chiaki Kon (Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Crystal: Season III, When They Cry - Higurashi, Junjō Ro...
Masahiro Totsuka Launches New Material Puzzle Manga After 9 Years
Totsuka's original fantasy manga ran in 2002-2008, spawned prequel manga
― The June issue of Kodansha's Morning Two magazine revealed on Saturday that Masahiro Totsuka will launch a new serialized manga for his Material Puzzle fantasy manga in the magazine in May. The new manga will be the first serialization for the series in nine years. The original manga's story begins when Mikaze, a boy who lives...
Studio DEEN Confirms Aguu -Tensai Ningyō- TV Anime Adaptation of Chinese Comic
Anime is studio's 2nd collaboration with Tencent after Reikenzan
― An official teaser website and Twitter account opened on Friday to confirm that Studio Deen (Junji Ito "Collection", Hozuki's Coolheadedness) is producing a television anime adaptation of Yichun Jun's Chinese comic Aguu (Devil Dolls). The anime, titled Aguu -Tensai Ningyō- (Aguu: Genius Dolls), will be the studio's second collaboratio...
Hunter × Hunter: Phantom Rouge BD/DVD
This movie offers a pleasant but nonessential side quest for anyone who misses spending time with the Hunter x Hunter gang. Nick Creamer has the details.
― With the Hunter x Hunter manga on consistent hiatus and the future of its anime adaptation even less certain, an anime-original tie-in film like Phantom Rouge can feel almost like a kind of narrative life support. I love Gon and Killua and their f...
Hitori No Shita The Outcast 2's 2nd Part Premieres on May 1
2nd part of anime adds Masafumi Kobatake, Taiten Kusunoki, Tomoyuki Maruyama to cast
― Haoliners announced on Friday that the second part of the Hitori no Shita The Outcast 2 anime will air in Japan in May with the title Hitori no Shita The Outcast 2 (Zensei Chapter). Haoliners describes the new chapter: After an intense tournament, Chou Soran is finally the winner of the Raten Tournament. Gaining th...
Netflix Streams New Aggretsuko Anime Trailer to Mark Worldwide Debut
Series of 10 15-minute episodes premiered on Friday
― Netflix began streaming an new trailer for Sanrio and Fanworks' Aggressive Retsuko (Aggretsuko) anime on Friday. The anime premiered worldwide on Netflix on Friday. The series has 10 15-minute episodes. Rareko, the director of the first Agressive Retsuko anime and Yawaraka Sensha, again directed the new anime at Fanworks, and also penned the scrip...
Gundam: Hathaway Film Trilogy, Overseas Gundam UC2 Drama Teased
Briefly shown in timeline during event that announced Gundam NT anime
― The "Gundam Franchise's New Work Unveiling" event on Friday briefly showed a visual for the works in the Universal Century timeline. In the section for "new screen projects" were the following listings: Universal Calendar 0097: Mobile Suit Gundam Narrative (Kidō Senshi Gundam NT) Film project — Fall/Winter 2018 Universal Calendar...
Gundam NT Unveiled as New UC Anime Set After Unicorn
November screenings, tactical game app, manga, novel, more in "UC NexT 0100 Project"
― Sunrise announced during a live stream on Friday that it is producing a new anime project in the Gundam franchise titled Mobile Suit Gundam Narrative (Kidō Senshi Gundam NT). The new project is set in U.C. 0097 of the Universal Century (U.C.) timeline of the original Mobile Suit Gundam series and Mobile Suit Gundam...
Ore ga Suki nano wa Imōto dakedo Imōto ja nai TV Anime Premieres in October
The Twitter account for the Animate Minami-Koshigaya store posted an image on Friday, revealing the wraparound jacket band on the sixth volume of Seiji Ebisu's Ore ga Suki nano wa Imōto dakedo Imōto ja nai (The One I Love is My Little Sister But She's Not a Little Sister) light novel series, which shows that the novels' anime adaptation will be a television anime that will premiere in October. The...
One Room VR App Debuts This Summer
Event with playable demo of game to take place on May 3-4
― SMIRAL Animation announced on Friday that the VR app based on the One Room anime will debut in early summer, and will retail for 960 yen (about US$9). An event that will feature a playable demo of the game will take place on May 3 and 4 at the Akihabara UDX Gallery Next 2. The crowdfunding campaign to fund the VR project launched in December...
Amazon Makes Kamen Rider Amazons, Happy Marriage!? Shows Available in 200 Countries
6 other Japanese shows now available
― Amazon made Kamen Rider Amazons, Happy Marriage!?, and six other Japanese Amazon Prime Video exclusive titles, available in over 200 countries on Thursday. Kamen Rider Amazons is available with the title Amazon Riders, and only the first season is currently available outside of Japan. The other titles available include Businessmen vs. Aliens, Fukuyadou Honpo -Ky...
How NOT to Summon A Demon Lord Anime's Main Cast, July Premiere Revealed
Masaaki Mizunaka, Yū Serizawa, Azumi Waki play main cast
― The official website for the television anime of Yukiya Murasaki's How NOT to Summon a Demon Lord light novel series revealed the anime's main cast and July premiere on Friday. The site also unveiled a new visual for the anime. The main cast includes (from left to right in above image): Azumi Waki as Rem Galleu Yū Serizawa as Shera L. Greenwo...
Absolute Duo Manga's Shinichirou Nariie Draws Character Designs, Manga for New Project
Altplus, Shueisha's new Sin-en Resist project also gets game
― Shueisha, game developer Altplus (The [email protected] SideM, Sora to Umi no Aida), and manga creator Shinichirou Nariie revealed on Monday that they are launching a collaboration project titled Sin-en Resist. The project's website is streaming a "concept video" for the project. The project will launch this summer. Altplus is credited for overa...
Fate/Grand Order Game Expands to Southeast Asia, Australia (Update 2)
Game's 1st 5 chapters available immediately
― The official United States Twitter account for Aniplex and Type-Moon's Fate/Grand Order game announced on Friday that the game is now available in Australia, Singapore, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Thailand. The game is the same version as the United States version of the game, and is available immediately with the first five chapters. Aniplex released t...
P.A. Works Launches P.A. Books eBook Label With True Tears Novelization
eBooks based on Kuromukuro, Tari Tari also announced
― Animation studio P.A. Works announced on Friday that it has launched a new eBook label named P.A. Books. The new label's debut work will be a novelization of P.A. Works' True Tears anime (seen right) by writer Tōru Fujimoto, with illustrations by Yumehito Ueda, the anime's character designer. The eBook is slated for release in May. The 13-episode...
Dragon Head's Minetarō Mochizuki Draws Isle of Dogs Manga
Manga based on Wes Anderson film debuts on May 24 with 3-chapter run
― Kodansha's Morning magazine revealed on Friday that manga creator Minetarō Mochizuki will launch a manga based on Wes Anderson's Isle of Dogs film in the magazine's 25th issue on May 24. The manga will be "another story" for the film, and will run for three chapters. In the film's story, a dog flu epidemic breaks out in Japan. May...
Thursday, April 19
Kamen Rider Amazons The Movie Gets 4D Screenings in Japan
Film will have 1st 4D screenings for Kamen Rider franchise
― Toei announced on Friday that the Kamen Rider Amazons The Movie: Saigo no Shinpan film will get 4D screenings in Japan. It will be the first installment of the the Kamen Rider franchise to get 4D screenings. The staff streamed a video previewing the film's effects. Kamen Rider Amazons The Movie: Saigo no Shinpan will open in Japan on May 19...
'AgUu-Anime' Domain Name Registered Under Studio DEEN
The domain name "AgUu-Anime.com" was registered under Studio DEEN on April 16. Studio DEEN has led animation production on anime such as Fate/stay night, Hetalia, Fruits Basket, Getbackers, Hakkenden: Eight Dogs of the East, Log Horizon 2, Kabukibu!, and Junji Ito "Collection." This season, the studio is handling Gurazeni: Money Pitch and Hozuki's Coolheadedness. Thanks to Liam for the news tip.
See Ready Player One's Gundam Jump Into Battle
Fans new ahead of time that the Swordfish II, the ship piloted by Cowboy Bebop's Spike Spiegel, was making an appearance in Stephen Spielberg's Ready Player One film and earlier trailers teased a cameo of the original RX-78-2 Gundam. Now you can check out the giant mecha up close and personal in a limited clip that began streaming in Japan on April 17, three days ahead of its Japan premiere. The c...
Jigokudō Reikai Tsūshin Manga by Elegant Yokai Apartment Life's Kōzuki, Higurashi's Mimori Enters Final Arc of 1st Season
Kōzuki's original novels inspired anime, live-action film in 1996
― This year's May issue of Kodansha's good! Afternoon magazine announced on April 7 that Hinowa Kōzuki and Mimori's Jigokudō Reikai Tsūshin (Hell Shrine Spiritual World Communication) manga will enter the final arc of its first season in the next issue on May 7. Mimori launched the manga based on Kōzuki's novel series in the inaugural ...
Learn to Make the Cutest Sailor Moon Bento with How-To Video
Bonus: watch Gesshoku Kaigi perform "La Soldier" for tribute album
― Why settle for a basic lunch when it could be magical? A promotional video for the new Sailor Moon 25th Anniversary tribute album will show you how to do it step-by-step. You're going to need more than just intermediate cooking skills for this one, because the final result is a work of art. I have to admit, this is one of the more c...
Cool Japan Fund Appoints Sony Music Entertainment's Naoki Kitagawa as New CEO
Yūji Katō also steps up as senior managing director, chief information officer
― Cool Japan Fund Inc., the public-private company that the Japanese government employs to fund projects as part of its "Cool Japan" program, plans to hold a board meeting on June 29 to appoint Naoki Kitagawa as the company's new CEO. In addition, Yūji Katō is expected to assume the roles of senior managing director and ch...
Live-Action Bleach Trailer Reveals Theme Song by Alexandros
Band also performs featured song for July film
― The official website for the live-action film of Tite Kubo's Bleach manga began streaming a trailer on Friday. The website also revealed that [ALEXANDROS] is performing the film's theme song "Mosquito Bite," previewed in the video, as well as the featured song "MILK." The official Twitter account also posted additional teaser visuals counting down to t...
Sakura Quest Town Turns to Fans to Help Revitalize Local Pond
PA Works' Sakura Quest follows Yoshino Koharu as she finds herself whisked away to the rural town of Manoyama to drum up tourism as its "queen" and protector from the dreaded Chupakabura. The village of Manoyama isn't real, but it does take inspiration from real life locations within Japan. Manoyama is a conglomeration of Inami, Fukumitsu, and Johana, three rural towns that were later merged to fo...
Uirabu. -Uiuishii Koi no Ohanashi- Live-Action Film's Teaser Reveals November Opening
Sho Hirano, Hinako Sakurai, Tina Tamashiro, Hayato Isomura, Kentarō sta
― The official website for the live-action film adaptation of Yukimo Hoshimori's Uirabu. -Uiuishii Koi no Ohanashi- (Uirabu.: Story of Innocent Love) manga began streaming a teaser video for the film on Wednesday. The film reveals the film's November opening date. The site also revealed a new visual for the film. The cast include...
Yokohama's Summer Nights Are Filled with Parading Pikachu
Event ditches Pokémon GO collaboration this year after previous congestion problems
― This year's annual Pikachu Outbreak event in Yokohama is ready to launch this summer with a few tweaks. Last year's event was huge, to say the least. A city official reported that 2.3 million people attended, compared to the previous year's 1.79 million. The estimated number of visitors is now said to be closer to 3...
Crunchyroll Launches Brazilian Linear TV Anime Block
Hour-long block features subtitled Black Clover, Re:Zero
― Crunchyroll announced on Thursday that it is launching an anime block on Brazilian television on April 21. The hour-long block will play subtitled episodes of Black Clover and Re:Zero from 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Saturdays, and rerun on Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The block will also feature eight minutes of local programming with...
Disgaea 1 Complete HD Remake Heads West
PS4/Switch game slated for this fall
― NIS America announced on Thursday that it will release Makai Senki Refine, the HD remake of Disgaea: Hour of Darkness for PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch, under the title Disgaea 1 Complete. The game is slated for this fall. The game will ship in Japan on July 26. This year marks the original game's 15th anniversary; the original game shipped for PlayStation 2...
New Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card Café Opens in Tokyo in April
A new Kerochan Cafe for Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card will run at Tokyo Solamachi in Tokyo Skytree Town from April 27 to July 8. The café's offerings will be full of Kero's favorite foods in dishes such as "Kero's Feast Plate," "Onsen Tamago Thick Modan-yaki-Style Tantanmen," and "Kero's Pancake Pudding a la Mode." The café will also feature a variety of Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card decorations. ...
FanimeCon to Host Musician Yuyoyuppe, FLCL Progressive Character Designer Chikashi Kubota
California convention to be held May 25-28
― Northern California anime convention FanimeCon announced on Tuesday that musician and producer Yuyoyuppe will attend this year's event. The convention also announced last Friday that animation director and character designer Chikashi Kubota will attend. Yuyoyuppe formed a band in his native Ibaraki and later debuted as a Vocaloid producer. He then debuted ...
This Week in Anime - Uma Musume Means Horse Girls
This series galloped into the new season with a truly bizarre premise that hasn't yet drawn much attention. We make hay about this uniquely equine sports/idol show while it's still sitting pretty in the spotlight.
― Uma Musume Pretty Derby galloped into the new season with a truly bizarre premise that hasn't yet drawn much attention. This week, Nick and Micchy make hay about this uniquely equine spor...
Interview: One Piece Animation Director Shigefumi Shingaki
A few fun questions for Shigefumi Shingaki, long-tenured animation director for Luffy and the straw hats and the man behind that incredible Strong World OVA!
― Toei Animation director Shigefumi Shingaki's resume of animation work might appear a bit short at first glance. He cut his teeth on Doraemon and picked up key animation work on series ranging from Dragon Ball GT to Air Master. Don't let the sh...
Kanako Itou Previews Full Version of Steins;Gate 0 OP at AnimeJapan 2018
Kanako Itou performed the full version of the Steins;Gate 0 OP theme “Fatima” for the first time at a stage event last month at AnimeJapan2018. A preview of the music video was also screened at the stage event; the single will be released on April 25. You can hear a part of the song in the second PV, which was also unveiled at the stage event. Kadokawa has since posted the video on their Youtube c...
My Hero Academia to Air on Toonami
1st episode premieres on May 5
― The official Facebook page for Adult Swim's Toonami block announced on Thursday that it will air all three seasons of My Hero Academia. The block will premiere the first episode on May 5 at 11:30 p.m. The new schedule, which will feature FLCL season one at a new time, is as follows: 10:30 p.m. – Dragon Ball Super 11:00 p.m. – Dragon Ball Z Kai 11:30 p.m. – My Hero Aca...
Switch Girl!!'s Natsumi Aida Ends Analog Drop Manga
Romance manga follows modern girl who time travels to 1983
― This year's 10th issue of Shueisha's Margaret magazine published the final chapter of Natsumi Aida's Analog Drop manga on Friday. Aida launched the manga in September. The second and final compiled volume will ship on May 25. The story follows modern high school girl Aku Hayakawa, who loves money and herself. One night someone stabs her, an...
Season Premiere: Steins;Gate 0—Episodes 1-2
"This series seeks to sidestep the pitfalls that stymie other prequels and AU spinoffs by establishing a story that feels fresh and exciting."
Nana Shiiba's Kakugo wa Ii ka Soko no Joshi. Manga Gets Live-Action Film
Film based on manga about handsome guy with no girlfriend stars Taishi Nakagawa
― This year's 10th issue of Shueisha's Margaret magazine revealed on Friday that Nana Shiiba's Kakugo wa Ii ka Soko no Joshi. (Are you ready? Hey you girl!) romantic comedy manga will get a live-action film adaptation that will open on October 12. Taishi Nakagawa will star in the film as protagonist Towa Furuya. The magaz...
BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle's 8th Character Video Reveals 3 DLC Characters
Game adds Naoto Shirogane, Vatista, Hakumen
― Arc System Works began streaming an eighth character introduction video on Thursday for the BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle crossover fighting game for PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and PC. The video reveals the following new DLC characters: Naoto Shirogane from Persona 4 Arena, Vatista from Under Night In-Birth, and Hakumen from BlazBlue CentralFiction. The ...
Boruto: Naruto Next Generations ‒ Episode 54
"Sasuke reveals danger on the horizon and Boruto begins learning his father's signature technique."
Keijo!!!!!!!! Limited Edition BD/DVD
This absurd action comedy about the most fanservice-fueled sport in the world is finally available in a limited edition stuffed with goodies. James Beckett dives into the curvaceous world of Keijo!!!!!!!!
― To determine whether or not to invest time and money in Keijo!!!!!!, you need only to ask yourself if you like: Exceedingly silly and completely over-the-top sports showdowns Animated boobs Animat...
Twin Signal Author Starts Crowdfunding Campaign for Sequel
Proposed sequel is set 2 years after end of original manga, centers on new characters
― Manga creator Sachi Oshimizu launched a crowdfunding campaign on Campfire on Thursday to fund a sequel project for the Twin Signal manga. The project seeks to raise 4 million yen (about US$37,200) by May 30. Oshimizu noted on the campaign page that if funded, the sequel would pick up the plot two years after the e...
Nippon Ichi Software Streams Closed Nightmare Horror Game's Trailer
Game ships for PS4, Switch in Japan on July 19
― Nippon Ichi Software opened a full website for its Closed Nightmare game and began streaming a "trailer movie" on Thursday. The promotional video previews the story and reveals that the game will ship for PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch on July 19. In the "cinematic horror adventure" game's story, the protagonist is a young woman who wakes up in a da...
Korg Gadget Music Production Studio for Switch Launches on April 26
Japanese music instrument and software companies KORG and Detune announced on Thursday that their KORG Gadget music production studio software for the Nintendo Switch will launch in both English and Japanese on April 26. The English version retails for US$48. Detune streamed an English-subtitled video for the game on April 10. The video features the sound team from CyberConnect 2 playing the game....
Popolocrois Monogatari Smartphone Game Launches on May 8
Sega Games announced on Thursday that it will release its Popolocrois Monogatari ~ Narcia no Namida to Yōsei no Fue (Popolocrois Story: Narcia's Tears and the Fairy's Flute) smartphone game for iOS and Android on May 8. The new game's story will take place eight years after the original story. Pietro and Narcia are older and begin a quest at the behest of the fairy king. The characters will be ren...
SNK to Release Game Hardware with Popular Neo Geo Titles for Company's 40th Anniversary
Company will reveal titles included, release period at later time
― Game software and hardware development company SNK announced on Thursday that as part of its 40th anniversary celebrations, it plans to release new game hardware that will feature popular Neo Geo titles. The company said it will reveal the titles included and the hardware's release period at a later date. SNK stated it is producing t...
Granrodeo, Azusa Tadokoro Perform Theme Songs for New Baki Anime
Anime premieres this summer on Netflix in Japan
― The official website for the anime adaptation of Keisuke Itagaki's Baki (New Grappler Baki: In Search of Our Strongest Hero) manga revealed on Thursday that Granrodeo will perform the show's opening theme song "Beastful," and Azusa Tadokoro will perform the ending theme song "Resolve." Granrodeo's single with the opening theme will ship on July 11, an...
Sega Head: Yakuza Studio is Working on Unannounced Title
Sega Holdings President and CEO Haruki Satomi stated in an interview from this week's issue of Kadokawa's Weekly Famitsu magazine on Thursday that Yakuza Studio (Ryū ga Gotoku Studio) is currently working on an as-yet unannounced title for home consoles. Satomi asked fans to look forward to the official announcement. Yakuza Studio develops Sega's Yakuza (Ryū ga Gotoku) video games. Most recently, ...
Godzilla: City on the Edge of Battle Anime Film's Trailer Previews XAI's Theme Song
2nd film in trilogy opens on May 18
― The official website for the Godzilla anime film trilogy began streaming a trailer on Thursday for the second film in the trilogy, Godzilla: Kessen Kidō Zōshoku Toshi (Godzilla: City on the Edge of Battle). The video preview's XAI's theme song "The Sky Falls." The film will open on May 18 in Japan, and will feature a "Godzilla Earth vs. Mechagodzilla" battle. The...
Puchiguru Love Live! Smartphone Game Debuts on April 24
The official Twitter account for Pokelab's Puchiguru Love Live! (Mini-Stuffed Dolls Love Live!) smartphone game revealed on Thursday that the game will launch on April 24. The game is described as a "tap puzzle game," and it will feature the µ's characters from Love Live! School idol project, and the Aqours characters from Love Live! Sunshine!!. Songs by both music groups will also feature in the ...
Mirai of the Future Film Gets Novelization by Hosoda
Novel gets 3 different versions in June, July
― The official website of Mamoru Hosoda and Studio Chizu's new Mirai no Mirai (Mirai of the Future) anime film revealed on Thursday that Hosoda will pen a novelization of the film. Kadokawa will ship the novel in three different versions. The company's Kadokawa Bunko literature label will ship first on June 15, followed by the version from the Kadokawa Ts...
Sega Head: New Sakura Wars 'Will Not End With Just a Game'
All-new work to take place in Taisho year 29 in Tokyo
― Sega Holdings President and CEO Haruki Satomi stated in an interview from this week's issue of Kadokawa's Weekly Famitsu magazine on Thursday that Sega's newly-announced game in the Sakura Taisen (Sakura Wars) franchise will "not end with just a game." He also acknowledged that fans of the series have expressed a desire for a new game in the ser...
Live-Action Kyō Kara Ore wa!! Show Casts Nana Seino, Kanna Hashimoto
Seino, Hashimoto play Riko Akasaki, Kyōko Hayakawa in October series
― The official website for the live-action television series of Hiroyuki Nishimori's Kyou Kara Ore Wa!! gag comedy manga revealed additional cast members for the series on Thursday. The additional cast includes: Nana Seino as Riko Akasaki, a girl who has feelings for Mitsuhashi, and is the only daughter of a martial artist Kanna Has...
Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan Anime Theme Song, Music CD Ships on July 19
CD contains Yuugo Kanno's opening music, Coda's ending song "FINDING THE TRUTH"
― The official website of the television anime adaptations of Hirohiko Araki's JoJo's Bizarre Adventure manga revealed on Thursday that the CD single for the theme songs and music of the anime DVDs based on Araki's Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan (Kishibe Rohan wa Ugokanai) manga will ship on July 19. The theme songs and music r...
Platinum Games, DeNA Reveal World of Demons Smartphone Game for Summer
Action game allows single-player, competitive play
― Platinum Games and DeNA revealed a new smartphone game on Wednesday titled World of Demons that is slated for iOS and Android this summer. Platinum Games opened an official English website for the game, which is streaming the game's announcement trailer. The site describes the game's story: World of Demons takes place in a fantastic interpretation ...
Nogizaka46 Idols' Sailor Moon Musical Casts Mai Shiraishi as Queen Serenity
Musical runs in June, September with 2 alternating cast lineups
― The official website for the Sailor Moon franchise revealed on Thursday that Nogizaka46 member Mai Shiraishi will play the character Queen Serenity in the new stage musical from the Nogizaka46 idol group. Shiraishi will appear in her role in a video that will play during the performance. The musical will run at The Tennōzu Galaxy Theat...
Wednesday, April 18
Watch Out for Fakes: How to Spot a Saekano Utaha Kasumigaoka Bootleg Figure
Good Smile Company is fighting off bootleg figures again, this time with a handy guide on how to spot a knock-off Utaha Kasumigaoka figure from the anime series Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend. Good Smile Company created the guide after an influx of the bootleg figures began showing up on auction sites. Good Smile's official figure shows Utaha pulling up her nylons as she gets ready for ...
Season Premiere: High School DxD Hero—Episode 1
"Take fan service-laden harem shenanigans and mix them with action sequences and a wonky interpretation of metaphysics, and you have the High School DxD experience."
Series Premiere: Real Girl—Episodes 1-3
"Real Girl currently occupies an interesting middle ground between the blind optimism of sugary sweet romance and the deliberate dysfunction of a more dramatic story."
Florida Supercon to Host Ultraman's Bin Furuya, Godzilla's Tsutomu Kitagawa
Suit actors to attend July convention
― The organizers of the Florida Supercon convention announced in March that Satoshi "Bin" Furuya and Tsutomu Kitagawa will be guests at this year's event. Furuya made his television debut as a monster suit actor with Ultra Q in 1966 before debuting in his most famous role, the title character in the first Ultraman tokusatsu television series, later the same year....
The Queen of England's Tailors Make Ultimate Char Cosplay
Impeccable British tailors Dege & Skinner, the appointed tailors for The Queen of England and part of the Savile Row Bespoke Association used their eye for design and detail to create the ultimate Char costume. The recreated suit jacket and trousers was created from the same fabric used in British guard's uniforms, and are limited to only three suits. Each suit costs a whopping 864,000 yen (US$8,0...
Live-Action Shino-chan wa Jibun no Namae ga Ienai Film's Trailer Streamed
Film based on Shūzō Oshimi's manga to open on July 14
― The staff for the live-action film adaptation of Shūzō Oshimi's Shino-chan wa Jibun no Namae ga Ienai (Shino Can't Say Her Own Name) manga shared a trailer on Thursday. The film will open in Japan on July 14. Sara Minami will play Shino, while Aju Makita will play Kayo. Both actresses are 15 years old, and the movie will mark their first main ch...
Season Premiere: Lupin the Third Part 5—Episodes 1-3
"If it can keep juggling its tone well—taking the serious stuff seriously without sacrificing its lighter heart—I'd feel great recommending this Lupin III to just about anyone."
Sexual Expression Research Books' 'Harmful' Designations Draw Criticism
Local governments in Japan recently designated books that trace the history of sexual expression as "harmful publications." Some people believe that this labeling, which even extends to research books, is inappropriate and excessive. Shiga Prefecture designated the Zenkoku-han Ano Hi no Erohon Jihanki Tanbō-ki (Chronicle of Searching for Erotic Book Vending Machines That Day National Edition) book...
Japanese Comic Ranking, April 9-15
Attack on Titan, Delicious in Dungeon, One-Punch Man, Haikyu!!, My Hero Academia in top 5
― Rank Title Est. Weekly Copies Est. Total Copies Release Date Publisher Author Highest Rank Weeks on List 1 Attack on Titan 25 688,727 701,722 2018/04 Kodansha Hajime Isayama 1 2 2 Delicious in Dungeon 6 211,986 211,986 2018/04 Kadokawa Ryōko Kui 2 1 3 One-Punch Man 16 141,480 437,634 2018/04 Shueisha Story: O...
Series Premiere: Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These—Episodes 1-3
"Die Neue These is looking to be the big-budget Hollywood adaptation to the original show's History Channel documentary."
Terra Formars Manga Resumes on April 26 After Year-Long Hiatus
Yū Sasuga and Kenichi Tachibana's Terraformars manga will resume in the combined 21st and 22nd issue of Shueisha's Weekly Young Jump magazine on April 26. The manga has been in on hiatus since March 2017 while story creator Sasuga recuperated from unspecified health issues. The Weekly Young Jump Twitter account reported in December that Sasuga was back in good health and the manga would return in ...
Milktub Vocalist bamboo Ties the Knot at Eccentric Family Shrine
The lead vocalist of musical duo milktub, bamboo, announced on his blog that he and his bride held a wedding ceremony at Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto on April 13. The happy couple were wed in traditional Japanese attire in a location that holds special meaning for bamboo. The Shimogamo Shrine is also the setting of the Eccentric Family anime series. milktub performed theme songs for both seasons of t...
Yo-Kai Watch Wibble Wobble Mobile Game Ends Service Outside Japan
Twitter account teases "another adventure" coming soon
― The Yo-Kai Watch Wibble Wobble smartphone game announced that it will end service outside of Japan. The app disabled purchases of in-game currency on April 2, though currency that has already been purchased may still be used until service ends on May 31. The official U.S. Yo-Kai Watch Twitter account teased in its announcement post, "Where one ...
Sgt. Frog Gets Ribbit-ing 20th Anniversary Merchandise
Before Mine Yoshizaki designed a whole world of animal friends, he created the popular comedy anime series Sgt. Frog. The sci-fi series stars an alien frog Keroro who is sent to Earth as part of a preliminary invasion force. Things don't go nearly as smoothly as Keroro thought and he ends up living with the Hinata family. The manga series inspired two television anime series and five feature film...
Japan's Video Game Rankings, April 9-15
Steins;Gate 0 ranks; Snack World, Death end re;Quest games debut
― Japan's Game Ranking: April 9-15 Rank System Title Maker Release Date Weekly Copies Total Copies 4Gamer Reader Review 1NSwThe Snack World Trejarers Gold Level-5 April 12 35,655 35,655 2NSwKirby Star Allies Nintendo March 16 23,695 416,108 87 3NSwSplatoon 2 (Including Bundled Editions) Nintendo November 21, 2017 18,729 2,232,305 73 4PS...
Neko Atsume VR PS4 Game Launches in Japan on May 31
PlayStation VR feature lets players use toys to play with cats
― The official Japanese PlayStation website revealed on Wednesday that Hit-Point's Neko Atsume VR game will launch for PlayStation 4 with PlayStation VR support via the PlayStation Store in Japan on May 31. IMG neko2.png IMG neko3.png IMG neko4.png IMG neko5.png IMG neko6.png The website also revealed screenshots for the game. The game wi...
Design Festa Gallery: A Simple Yet Complicated Story
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 pair of artists who use their illustrations to tel...
Geobreeders' Akihiro Itou Launches New Manga in Summer
Itou launched ABLE manga in 2013
― The May issue of Shogakukan's Monthly Sunday GX magazine revealed on Thursday that Akihiro Itou (Geobreeders, Belle Starr) will launch a new manga in the magazine this summer. The defunct publisher CPM Manga previously published five volumes of the Geobreeders manga in North America. The manga inspired two original video anime series in 1998 and 2000, and Central Pa...
Answerman - Why Do Some Series Have Long Gaps Between Seasons?
One Piece shows up every week without fail, but there are gaps between seasons in My Hero Academia. What gives? Justin explains it all.
― Emily asked: I've been wondering why some anime have gaps of a year or more between seasons and others have gaps of a few months or just continue for long periods of time. I've also noticed that the number of long running series (especially those with lots of fill...
Himouto! Umaru-chan's Sankaku Head Plans New Manga Series
Himouto! Umaru-chan G sequel manga ended on Thursday
― This year's 20th issue of Shueisha's Weekly Young Jump magazine revealed on Thursday that manga creator Sankaku Head is preparing a new manga, and will reveal more information at a later date. Sankaku Head ended the Himouto! Umaru-chan G manga in the same issue. The manga's one compiled book volume is slated to ship on June 19. The series launch...
My-Otome Complete Series BD/DVD
This sequel to My-HiME isn't as beloved as its predecessor, but it still has plenty of its own charm to offer. Theron Martin has the details.
― My-Otome is the 2005 follow-up to 2004's My-HiME. For most of its run, it appears to be an alternate-world version of My-HiME, where the original cast is transplanted into a new setting but with different lesser roles, but details later in the series' run sug...
Live-Action School-Live! Film Reveals 'Last Idol' Group's Cast Members
Nanami Abe, Midori Nagatsuki, Wakana Majima, Rio Kiyohara join cast
― The staff of the live-action film adaptation of Norimitsu Kaihō and Sadoru Chiba's School-Live! (Gakkō Gurashi!) manga announced the film's main cast members at a Last Idol concert, which was held at Zepp DiverCity in Tokyo on Wednesday. As previously announced, the cast members are all members of subgroups of the idol group Last I...
Fate/Extella Link Game's Video Previews Charlemagne Servant
Game ships in Japan on June 7, in N. America this winter
― The official website for Marvelous and Type-Moon's Fate/Extella Link PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita game began streaming began streaming a new gameplay video on Wednesday. The video previews the new Saber-class Servant Charlemagne. New Servants in the game include: Karl der Große of the Ruler class, Charlemagne of the Saber class, Francis...
AKB48 Producer Yasushi Akimoto Reveals Kimi dake ni Motetainda Original Anime
Collaboration project with NTV launches auditions for male voice actors
― Talent agency Twin Planet announced on Wednesday that NTV and AKB48 producer Yasushi Akimoto are producing an original anime project titled Kimi dake ni Motetainda (I Want to be Popular Just to You). The project will also hold auditions for male voice actors and performers this summer, with more details on both the anime and th...
Mangamura Pirate Manga Site Becomes Inaccessible
Japanese government had asked ISPs to block Mangamura & 2 other sites
― As of Tuesday, 3:32 p.m. JST, the Mangamura pirated manga website became inaccessible, after the Japanese government named it among three sites that should be blocked for providing pirated manga, digital magazines, and other copyrighted content. However, the Asahi Shimbun newspaper reported on the same day that the site did not s...
J-Novel Club Hosts Grimgar Author Ao Jūmonji at Anime Expo
L.A. Convention Center hosts July 5-8 event
― J-Novel Club announced on Tuesday that it will host Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash author Ao Jūmonji as a guest for this year's Anime Expo. Ao Jūmonji launched the Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash light novel series with illustrations by Eiri Shirai in 2013, and Overlap Bunko published the 12th novel on March 21. J-Novel Club licensed the novels and is releasing th...
Kenichi the Mightiest Disciple's Shun Matsuena Ends Alvadring Manga
Matsuena, Shu Matsuda launched manga about gamer who fights in space war in 2016
― Manga creator Shun Matsuena announced on Monday that he and Shu Matsuda will end their Tensō Kidō Alvadring manga in the 25th chapter on April 30. The manga's story begins when Ayato Amano, a constantly-anxious man currently looking for a new job, is suddenly transported to space. Recognized for his skills in the onlin...
AnimEigo Offers Bubblegum Crisis Video Series in Standard Edition BD in Fall
AnimEigo CEO Robert J. Woodhead revealed on Tuesday that AnimEigo will re-release the Bubblegum Crisis original video anime (OVA) series in a standard edition Blu-ray Disc release this fall. AnimEigo previously released the anime in an "Ultimate Edition Blu-ray Set" as part of a Kickstarter campaign in 2014, and later made it available for non-backers. AnimEigo released Bubblegum Crisis in a DVD b...
Kamen Rider Amazons Series Gets 2 Compilation Films in May
Films open on May 5 & 12, before all-new Saigo no Shinpan film opens on May 19
― Toei announced in March that its Kamen Rider Amazons series will get two compilation films that will compile the events of the show's first and second season respectively. The first film, Kamen Rider Amazons Season 1: Kakusei (Awakening), opens in Japan on May 5. The second film, Kamen Rider Amazons Season 2: Rinne (Rein...
Tuesday, April 17
Anime Classifieds: Get Voice Acting Experience on the Set of Layton Mystery Tanteisha
If you were inspired by shogi player Hifumi Katō's voice acting debut in Layton Mystery Tanteisha: Katori no Nazotoki File, the staff are looking for more voice acting novices. A classified ad on the Town Work website is seeking out a voice actor to appear in the series in late May. The chosen actor will get hands-on guidance from the series' sound director Ryō Tanaka and get the opportunity to in...
Seven Senses of the Re'Union TV Anime Reveals Staff, Visuals, July Debut
Koro Teacher Quest!'s Yoshito Nishōji directs anime at Lerche
― The official website for the television anime of Noritake Tao and Booota's Shichisei no Subaru (Seven Senses of the Re'Union) novels revealed the anime's staff, visuals, and July 5 premiere. The anime will premiere on TBS on July 5 at 25:58 (effectively July 6 morning at 1:58 a.m.), and will also air on BS-TBS on July 7 at 25:30 a.m. (ef...
Miss caretaker of Sunohara-sou Anime Adds 3 Cast Members
Natsumi Takamori, Asami Seto, Yume Miyamoto play student council officers at dorm
― 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) revealed three more cast members for the anime on Wednesday. The additional cast members include: Natsumi Takamori as Yuzu Yukimoto, a resident of Sunohara dormitory,...
Anime Producer Yuichi Fukushima Endures Harassment Over DARLING in the FRANKXX Episode
Former A-1 Pictures and current CloverWorks animation producer Yuichi Fukushima's Twitter account is being inundated with angry and harassing messages since the airing of DARLING in the FRANKXX's 14th episode this week. The episode re-established the ongoing love triangle between Hiro, Zero Two, and Ichigo with many fans reacting negatively to Ichigo's actions within the episode. Fukushima wrote t...
Shaman King Manga's New Arc Gets 3 Prologue Chapters Before May Debut
New arc is titled Shaman King The Super Star
― The May issue of Kodansha's Shonen Magazine Edge magazine published a prologue for the new arc of Hiroyuki Takei's Shaman King manga on Tuesday. It also revealed the new arc's title as Shaman King The Super Star, as well as its launch in the magazine's June issue on May 17. The prologue's first chapter is titled "Sandaime Itako no Anna" (Anna, the Third ...
Series Premiere: Magical Girl Ore—Episodes 1-3
"My hope is that the show doubles down on its commitment to meta humor and shows us something entirely new, stretching the boundaries of magical girl parody."
Schoolgirl Strikers Game Updates to Schoolgirl Strikers 2 Sequel in May
New game introduces new story, with existing users' data carrying over
― Square Enix announced on April 9 that its Schoolgirl Strikers smartphone game will update on May 8 with the new title Schoolgirl Strikers 2. The game will feature a new story. The game will add new series of EXR Memory Cards. The user's current level and relationship level with different characters will carry on to the new game....
Season Premiere: Tokyo Ghoul:re—Episodes 1-3
"Despite my apprehensions after a long wait following a rocky journey, I got sucked back into the world of Tokyo Ghoul almost immediately."
Dark Souls: Remastered Delayed on Nintendo Switch
Bandai Namco Entertainment announced on Tuesday that it is delaying the Nintendo Switch release of Dark Souls: Remastered from May 25 to an unspecified time later this summer. The Solaire amiibo figure will also be pushed back. The company explained, "The new release timing gives the development team the time needed to make sure Nintendo Switch players can fully appreciate the true Dark Souls expe...
Latest DARLING in the FRANKXX Episode Inspires Angry Hashtag
Beware, here be spoilers for DARLING in the FRANKXX!
― A-1 Pictures and Trigger's DARLING in the FRANKXX anime series has plenty of subplots going on behind its dystopian setting and child soldier conditioning. One of these is a central love quadrangle between monster girl Zero Two, protagonist and all around good guy Hiro, the studious Ichigo, and eternally understanding Goro. Zero Two loves her dar...
It's a Musical Match! Superfly's Shiho Ochi, Fujifabric's Daisuke Kanazawa Marry
It's perfect musical harmony! The official website for band Superfly announced that singer Shiho Ochi (34) married band Fujifabric's keyboardist Daisuke Kanazawa (38) on Tuesday. Ochi added her own comments on the website's post, characterizing her husband as "calm, caring, and very unique." The pair met about a year ago but Ochi said she feels that she will be able to have fun and laugh with Kana...
Kurozuka, Ultraviolet: Code 044, Viper's Creed DVD Set Listed From Mill Creek
Amazon is listing an "Anime 3 Series Collection" DVD with Kurozuka, Ultraviolet: Code 044, and Viper's Creed from Mill Creek Entertainment. The listing shows a June 5 release date. Sony Pictures previously released all three on DVD in 2012. Mill Creek Entertainment has signed multiple distribution deals with Sony Pictures Home Entertainment to distribute its titles on home video. In 2008, director...
Sword Art Online's Asuna is This Year's Anime June Bride
Are you familiar with the term "June Bride?" It's a long-standing tradition to get married in the month of June as it was at one time thought it was especially auspicious for the couple's future happiness. A lot of it had to do with when people bathed in medieval times. Despite the advent of household plumbing, the tradition stays and Asuna and Kirito are just the latest couple to tie the knot fo...
Deadline: Detective Pikachu Live-Action Film Casts Omar Chaparro
Cast already includes Ryan Reynolds, Justice Smith, Kathryn Newton, more
― Deadline Hollywood reported on Tuesday that Omar Chaparro (Stuck, Overboard 2018) is joining the cast of Legendary Entertainment's live-action Pokemon movie Detective Pikachu. Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool) will play Detective Pikachu. Justice Smith (The Get Down) will star as the main character, a teen who teams with Pikachu in ord...
Metropolis Blu-Ray Release by Mill Creek Listed
Amazon is listing a Blu-ray Disc release of the Metropolis anime film by home video distribution company Mill Creek Entertainment. The Blu-ray Disc is listed with a June 5 release date. Rintaro directed the 2001 film, with a script by Katsuhiro Otomo. It is adapted from a manga by Osamu Tezuka. In the film, young boy Kenichi and his detective uncle, Shunsaku Ban, leave Japan to visit the giant cit...
Life-Size Gundam Unicorn's 1st Projection Mapping Set for April 21
The life-size statue of the Unicorn Gundam mobile suit from the Mobile Suit Gundam UC anime formally debuted on Tokyo's Odaiba island last year. The statue has the unique ability to transform from "Unicorn mode" to "Destroy mode," and luminesce from 50 different areas. The 1/1-scale statue is going to get even flashier starting on April 21 when Odaiba will hold the statue's first projection mappin...
North American Anime, Manga Releases, April 15-21
Interviews With Monster Girls, Urara Meirochou anime; Dead Dead Demon's Dededededestruction, World's End Harem, Wotakoi Love Is Hard for Otaku manga ship
― Anime Releases Title Publisher Suggested Retail Price Date Interviews With Monster Girls BD/DVDPlease Funimation Entertainment US$64.98 April 17 Haikyu!! Second Season BDCite Sentai Filmworks US$99.98 April 17 Haikyu!! Second Season DVDAnimeNewsNe...
Passione Works on Kenichi Sonoda's 'Project [B.B]' Anime
Project is crossover for Sonoda's Riding Bean, Gunsmith Cats
― The official Twitter account for Kenichi Sonoda's "Project [B.B]" anime posted key frames that show the logo for animation studio Passione (Rokka: Braves of the Six Flowers, Citrus) last week. The Twitter account also announced last week that the project is a crossover between Sonoda's action works, such as Gunsmith Cats and Riding Bean. ...
Live-Action Saint Young Men Show Debuts This Summer
Show to stream on new Piccoma TV service
― The "Piccoma Monogatari 2018" event announced on Tuesday that the live-action adaptation for Hikaru Nakamura's Saint Young Men (Saint Onii-san) manga will premiere on Kakao Japan's new Piccoma TV streaming service this summer. Kakao Japan is the Japanese subsidiary of Korean company that operates the messager app KakaoTalk. The company launched the comics pl...
Cardcaptor Sakura Celebrates Easter & Sakura's Birthday with Musical Performances, Original Skit
The Cardcaptor Sakura cast took the stage for a special concert & celebration
― Easter Sunday fell on April 1 this year, which also happens to be the date of Sakura Kinomoto's birthday. To celebrate this fortunate coincidence, the voice actors and theme song performers of Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card Arc held a special event for fans on April 1, called “Sakura Fes 2018 ~Sakura and Everyone's Happy E...
Live-Action Inuyashiki Film Wins Award at Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival
Film wins Golden Raven before opening in Japan on April 20
― The live-action film of Hiroya Oku's Inuyashiki manga won the Golden Raven award in the International Competition at this year's Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival. The film screened at the festival on April 10. The festival was held in Brussels, Belgium from April 3-15. The film will open in theaters in Japan on April 20. The f...
My Hero Academia Escape Room Event Returns to Tokyo in June
The My Hero Academia "Heroes Deadend Program" puzzle-solving event is returning to Tokyo at Osaki Bright Core Hall on June 2-3. The event toured Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya last year, but many fans missed out because advance tickets sold out. In the event, participants become students at U.A. High School to solve puzzles and ciphers. Participants utilize Quirks to take on Villain attacks and escape f...
Cannes Hosts World Premiere of Mamoru Hosoda's Mirai of the Future Film
Anime's overseas poster visual also revealed
― The French Directors' Guild announced on Tuesday that the world premiere of Mamoru Hosoda's new Mirai no Mirai (Mirai of the Future) anime film will screen at this year's Directors' Fortnight, an independent section held in parallel to the Cannes Film Festival. The film's staff also revealed an overseas poster visual for the film. The Directors' Fortnigh...
Konami Reveals Castlevania Game App for iOS
Game centering on Genya Arikado allows up to 4-player co-op
― Konami revealed on Tuesday that it is developing a new smartphone game in the Castlevania series titled Akumajō Dracula Grimoire of Souls (Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls). The game's official website is taking applications for a closed beta test for iOS device users, and applicants will be contacted in mid-May. Konami has not announced a r...
Kyoko Okazaki's Chiwawa-chan Manga Gets Live-Action Film in 2019
Film focusing on friends after friend's death stars Mugi Kadowaki, Shiori Yoshida, more
― A live-action film adaptation of Kyoko Okazaki's Chiwawa-chan manga has been green-lit. Ken Ninomiya is directing the film and penning the script, and it began shooting on March 23. The film is slated for 2019. The cast includes (clockwise from upper left in image above): Mugi Kadowaki as Miki, the protagonist R...
Japan's Animation DVD Ranking, April 9-15
Kamen Rider Ex-Aid box sells 5,261 + 2,135 + 703, followed by Lyrical Nanoha Reflection, Idolish7, Mary and The Witch's Flower, live-action Ghost in the Shell
― Kamen Rider Ex-Aid Trilogy Another Ending Complete Box + God Maximum Mighty X Gashat sold 5,261 copies to land at #2 on the overall DVD chart. Kamen Rider Ex-Aid Trilogy Another Ending Kamen Rider Paradox with Poppy God Maximum Mighty X Gasha...
Japan's Animation Blu-ray Disc Ranking, April 9-15
Lyrical Nanoha Reflection sells 25,991 + 3,117 + 1,896, followed by Kamen Rider Ex-Aid box, Inori Minase, Persona 4, Kamen Rider V3
― Kamen Rider Ex-Aid Trilogy Another Ending Complete Box + God Maximum Mighty X Gashat sold 12,860 copies to land at #3 on the overall Blu-ray Disc chart. Kamen Rider Ex-Aid Trilogy Another Ending Kamen Rider Paradox with Poppy God Maximum Mighty X Gashat Edition sold 81...
Bakuon!! Motorcycle Manga Gets 2 Spinoff Manga
Spinoffs focus on characters Onsa Amano, Rin Suzunoki
― The May issue of Akita Shoten's Young Champion Retsu magazine revealed on Tuesday that Mimana Orimoto's Bakuon!! manga will get two spinoff manga. The first spinoff manga is titled Bakuon!! - Amano Onsa no Nikoichi Hanjōki (Bakuon!! - A Record of Onsa Amano's Thriving Jury Rigging) by Yasuhiro Makino. It centers on the character Onsa Amano. It a...
Punch Line Game Listed in Ireland From PQube
GameStop Ireland is listing an English-language release of 5pb. Games.' Punch Line game from localization company PQube. The game is listed with a physical release on both PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita. The release date, December 31, is most likely a placeholder. The game shipped for both consoles in Japan in April 2016, The anime's character designer Shōta Iwasaki, writer Kōtarō Uchikoshi, a...
Bandai Namco Trademarks 'Also Sprach Zarathustra' in U.S.
Bandai Namco Entertainment filed a trademark for the title "Also Sprach Zarathustra" in the United States. "Also Sprach Zarathustra" is the subtitle of Xenosaga Episode III: Also Sprach Zarathustra, the third game in Monolith Soft's Xenosaga role-playing game trilogy. Namco (and later Namco Bandai Games) released the Xenosaga trilogy on the PlayStation 2 from 2002 to 2006. Tetsuya Takahashi, the d...
One Piece Oto Utage Stage Production's Visuals Show Luffy in Costume
Production adapts East Blue arc with brass band music
― The official website for One Piece Oto Utage - Episode of East Blue, the stage production for Eiichiro Oda's One Piece manga and anime franchise, unveiled two new visuals for the production on Monday. Both visuals show Tsukasa Matsuura in costume as Luffy. The site previously streamed a preview of the production's brass rendition of Hiroshi Kita...
Detective Conan Debuts at #1, Shin-chan at #2 at Japanese Box Office
Doraemon stays in top 10; Servamp stays at #1 in mini-theater ranking
― Meitantei Conan Zero no Shikkōnin (Detective Conan: Zero's Executioner), the 22nd film in the Detective Conan series, opened on 384 screens on Friday and sold 1,012,000 tickets on Saturday and Sunday to rank at #1 at the Japanese box office for the weekend. The film earned 1.296 billion yen (about US$12.1 million) at the box offi...
Digimon Adventure tri.: Loss Blu-ray/DVD Giveaway!
The fourth Digimon Adventure tri. film can be yours. Shout! Factory is giving away 3 Blu-ray/DVD copies of Digimon tri.: Loss each to three lucky winners!
― The fourth Digimon Adventure tri. film can be yours. Shout! Factory is giving away 3 Blu-ray/DVD copies of Digimon Adventure tri.: Loss to three lucky winners! Synopsis Loss picks up where Confession left off! The DigiDestined must try to reconn...
Monday, April 16
Dive!! Stage Play Adds More Cast
Hikaru Makishima plays Yōichi Fujitani, Takuma Zaiki plays Shibuki Okitsu
― The official website for the stage play adaptation of Eto Mori's youth novel series DIVE!! announced two more cast members on Monday. Hikaru Makishima as Yōichi Fujitani Takuma Zaiki as Shibuki Okitsu As previously announced, Takeru Naya will star in the play as Tomoki Sakai. The play will run from September 20-30 at Tokyo's ...
Series Premiere: Golden Kamuy—Episodes 1-2
"The story is incredibly suspenseful, constantly building on its central mystery, but the show's animation struggles threaten to bring the whole ship down."
Live-Action Rainbow Days Visual Shows 4 Main Characters
The official website for the live-action film of Minami Mizuno's Rainbow Days (Nijiiro Days) manga posted a new visual for the four main characters on Monday. The visual shows, clockwise from top left, Reo Sano (of the band GENERATIONS from EXILE TRIBE) as Natsuki Hashiba, Taishi Nakagawa as Tomoya Matsunaga, Ryūsei Yokohama as Keiichi Katakura, and Mahiro Takasugi as Tsuyoshi Naoe. Ken Iizuka (li...
Food Wars! The Third Plate ‒ Episode 14
"Food Wars! manages to be frustrating and triumphant before swinging back to frustrating again, and if it can fit that much emotion into under half an hour, I'd say it's holding up well."
BEATLESS ‒ Episode 14
Our weekly coverage of BEATLESS ends with an episode that opens up all sorts of complicated implications for the story going forward.
Director Alexandre Aja Is No Longer Working on Live-Action Cobra Film
Director implies regime change, similarity to Guardians of the Galaxy halted production
― Director Alexandre Aja (Horns, The Hills Have Eyes, Piranha 3D) said on the "Post Mortem with Mick Garris" podcast last month that he is no longer working on the planned live-action adaptation of Buichi Terasawa's manga series Space Adventure Cobra. When Garris asked if Space Adventure Cobra would be his next fi...
Series Premiere: Caligula—Episodes 1-2
"While its distinct Persona influences might rub some of that franchise's fans the wrong way, there is potential to be had in Caligula's familiar setup. "
Fist of the North Star Body Wash Keeps Japan's Men Clean
Pharmaceutical company Rohto's De Ou brand of men's body wash is collaborating with Fist of the North Star to keep real-world manly men clean and fresh. Special packages of De Ou's "medicinal cleansing wash" and "refresh sheets" went on sale at pharmacies and drug stores in Japan on Sunday. The limited-edition body wash packages feature four different Fist of the North Star characters with quotes...
One Piece ‒ Episode 832
"The conversation around this episode begins and ends with one main scene; the moment of truth during Sanji and Pudding's wedding."
Funimation Lists Live-Action I Am a Hero Film for Home Video
2016 film adapts Kengo Hanazawa's zombie manga
― Funimation Entertainment is listing a Blu-ray Disc and DVD combo pack release for the live-action film based on live-action film of Kengo Hanazawa's zombie manga I Am a Hero. The subtitle-only release is slated for July 24. The film premiered at the 48th Sitges Film Festival in Catalonia, Spain in October 2015, and it won the Grand Audience Award and A...
Series Premiere: Cutie Honey Universe—Episodes 1-2
"For now, the show's inability to focus makes it seem more dated than any of its character designs or fanservice style."
Notorious Doodler Takuya Eguchi Narrates for Museum Exhibit
Voice actor Takuya Eguchi has a reputation for his "art," confusing official accounts with his Eevee fanart and even crossing over into his own anime series. The art has appeared as "bonus" material for his peers' CD releases. Someone over at Hokkaido's Museum of Modern Art must have decided to have a little fun with Eguchi's art-related popularity, because he's working at a voice guide for the mu...
Re:Zero Anime's English-Dubbed Trailer Streamed
Funimation to release 1st part this summer
― Funimation Entertainment began streaming an English-dubbed trailer for Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- on Sunday. The cast is as follows: Sean Chiplock as Subaru Kayli Mills as Emilia Erica Mendez as Puck Ryan Bartley as Ram Brianna Knickerbocker as Rem Kira Buckland as Beatrice Ray Chase as Roswaal Christine Marie Cabanos as Felt Robbie Daymond ...
Laid-Back Camp Chills Out at Fuji-Q Highland
The Fuji-Q Highland amusement park is getting a dose of chill courtesy of the hit anime Laid-Back Camp. The series is inspiring its own attractions and even a staff talk event starting on April 28. The event is titled "Laid-Back Camp in Fuji-Q Highland Episode 229: Mt Fuji, the Shouting, and the Superb View." The theme park will set visitors out to locate five staff members as part of a stamp rall...
Series Premiere: GeGeGe no Kitarō—Episodes 1-3
"There's plenty of precedent for this children's horror serial to be delightfully creepy, and thus far it is living up to its potential."
Twin Star Exorcists Spinoff Manga Ends in 1st Issue of New Jump SQ. Rise Magazine
Series about Benio launched in Jump SQ. Crown in July 2017
― Yoshiaki Sukeno ended his Sōsei no Onmyōji Adashino Benio-hen (Twin Star Exorcists: Benio Adashino Arc) spinoff manga in the first issue of Shueisha's new Jump SQ. RISE magazine on Monday. The story centers on Benio after she loses her powers and travels with her bitter enemy Kamui on a quest to get them back. Sukeno launched the series in ...
Street Fighter V's Falke Previewed in Introduction Video
Character will be available on April 24
― The official YouTube channel for the Street Fighter series began streaming a character introduction video for Falke on Monday. The character will be available for download on April 24. The Street Fighter V: Arcade Edition includes Arcade Mode, Extra Battle Mode, more V-Trigger moves, Gallery, and a UI design overhaul. In addition to the Season 3 characters, t...
Women Find Holy Matrimony in the Virtual World
The world of virtual reality is opening up all kinds of experiences. Fans can watch their favorite voice actors practice their lines, go on dates with anime characters, and test their mettle while balancing on beam many stories up. Players can also find love with a beautiful bride or handsome groom. The Sega VR Akihabara arcade is bringing "Wedding VR" to the facility for a limited time only. The ...
Golden Kamuy Anime's Spinoff Short Streamed
Shorts to stream on Mondays, adapt manga bonuses
― The official website for the anime adaptation of Satoru Noda's Golden Kamuy manga posted the first video in a series of anime shorts titled "Golden Dōga Gekijō" on Monday. The 25-second episode, titled "Risu-hen" (Squirrel Episode), will be available for one week. The series will adapt extras that have appeared with the manga in its compiled volumes ...
Pop Team Epic Booth Heads to Nico Nico Chōkaigi Event
Popuko and Pipimi are heading to this year's Nico Nico Chōkaigi event where the "crappy" anime stars will host a booth and sell more questionable merchandise. It's predicted that the booth will not only sell pieces of the Takeshobo building but also King Record's building too. Organizers also revealed some of the other merch available, including stickers of Pipimi as a kiwi bird. Last year, the an...
Viz's Shonen Jump to Publish Toriko Author Shimabukuro's New 1-Shot
"Build King" debuts next week
― Viz Media's English digital edition of the Weekly Shonen Jump magazine revealed on Monday that it will publish a new one-shot by Toriko's Mitsutoshi Shimabukuro in the next issue on April 23. Shimabukuro will launch a one-shot titled "Build King" (pictured right) in Shueisha's Japanese edition of Weekly Shonen Jump on the same day. Weekly Shonen Jump is publishing a se...
Sentai Filmworks License Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions! Take on Me Film
Sequel film premiered in Japan in January
― Sentai Filmworks announced on Monday that it has licensed the Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions! Take on Me (Eiga Chūnibyō demo Koi ga Shitai! Take On Me) anime film. The company has not yet announced how or when it plans to release the film. The film opened in Japan on January 6 and earned 70,422,300 yen (about US$634,500) in its opening weekend to rank #6 ...
Live-Action Marmalade Boy Film's 2 TV Ads Streamed
Film opens in Japan on April 27
― Warner Bros. Japan began streaming two television commercials for the live-action film of Wataru Yoshizumi's Marmalade Boy manga on Monday. The videos preview GReeeeN's theme song "Koi" (Love). The film will open in Japan on April 27. Previously announced cast members include: Ryō Yoshizawa as Yū Matsura Hinako Sakurai as Miki Koishikawa Shosuke Tanihara as Yōji Mats...
DeNA, Spike Chunsoft Develop Seikimatsu Days Rogue-Like Smartphone Game
Dungeon-crawling game set in Tokyo slated for summer, beta test launches on Thursday
― DeNA and Spike Chunsoft announced a new smartphone rogue-like game titled Seikimatsu Days: Our Era's End for this summer. The Android version of the game will have a beta test that will launch on Thursday. Spike Chunsoft is developing the game with the team that makes the company's Mystery Dungeon (Fushigi no Dunge...
Liz and the Blue Bird Film's Video Shows Music Recording
Senzoku Gakuen College of Music records film's titular piece
― The official website for Liz to Aoitori (Liz und ein Blauer Vogel or Liz and the Bluebird), the first of two planned all-new anime films in the Sound! Euphonium franchise, began streaming a behind-the-scenes video for the anime last Friday. The video shows the recording of the film's music, along with comments by director Naoko Yamada. Th...
Sina Weibo Reverses Decision Regarding Gay-Content Ban
Social media platform reversed decision after outcry
― The Chinese social media platform Sina Weibo reversed a decision on Monday to ban gay-themed content from the service, after outcry and protest from the Chinese gay community and LGBTQ advocates. Advocates said the company tried to smear homosexuality by equating it to pornography. Advocates and protestors used hashtags, wrote open letters, and c...
Naruto Kabuki Play Previews Madara Actors in Costume
Play premieres in August in Tokyo
― This year's 20th issue of Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine revealed two more costumed images on Monday for the kabuki play adaptation of Masashi Kishimoto's Naruto manga. Ichikawa Ennosuke IV (Luffy, Hancock, Shanks in One Piece's kabuki adaption) as Madara Uchiha Ainosuke Kataoka (Eiga Yo-kai Watch: Tanjō no Himitsu da Nyan! film guest voice actor) as Madara...
Rainy Cocoa Anime Gets 5th Season in 2019
Show's 4th season premiered in October
― The official YouTube channel for the Rainy Cocoa anime series began streaming a video on Sunday that reveals that the anime is getting a fifth season that will premiere in 2019. Ryo Horikawa narrates the video as Kōji Amami. The first Rainy Cocoa anime premiered in April 2015 and the sequel, Rainy Cocoa, Welcome to Rainy Color (Ameiro Cocoa Rainy color e Yōkos...
B: The Beginning, PIG: The Dam Keeper Poems to Compete at Annecy
Ryoji Yamada's "Hunter" short, Yosuke Tani's "Kaiju Shinwa" short to also compete
― The 2018 Annecy International Animated Film Festival and Market revealed its short films selection on March 14 and its TV Films and Commissioned Films selection on March 27. The first episode of Production I.G and Kazuto Nakazawa's B: The Beginning anime will compete in the TV Films category. In addition, Erick Oh and...
[email protected] SideM Anime's Unaired Episode Reveals Visual
The official Twitter account for The [email protected] SideM television anime series revealed a key visual on Monday for the unaired "special edition" episode that will ship with the seventh and final Blu-ray Disc and DVD release on June 27. The episode's title will be "PASSION of the PASSION." The tagline on the image below reads, "As long as we hold our burning passion in our chests." The [email protected] Si...
Full Metal Panic! Fight! Who Dares Wins Game's English Trailer Reveals May 31 Release in Southeast Asia
Game will get English-subtitled release on same day as Japan
― Bandai Namco Entertainment Southeast Asia began streaming an English-subtitled trailer for the Full Metal Panic! Fight! Who Dares Wins (Full Metal Panic! Tatakau Who Dares Wins) PlayStation 4 game on Monday. The video reveals that the game will ship in Southeast Asia on May 31, on the same day as the Japanese release. Note: The below vide...
Kuroko's Basketball: Cross Colors App Ends Service on June 14
1st smartphone game in franchise launched in July 2016
― The official Twitter account for the Kuroko no Basuke: Cross Colors iOS and Android app announced on Monday that the game will end service on June 14. The game will stop selling its in-game currency "Kuro Coins" as of May 15. Bandai Namco Entertainment launched the game in July 2016. The adventure game features an original story based on Tadato...
Hagane Orchestra Smartphone Game Shuts Down in May
Game debuted in 2016 alongside TV anime series
― The official website for Hanbit Ubiquitous Entertainment's Hagane Orchestra (Steel Orchestra) smartphone game announced on Saturday that the game will shut down on May 31. The game can no longer be downloaded as of Saturday, and purchase of its in-game currency has been disabled. The game will offer refunds on June 1, and information on applying for re...
Futari H Author Plans to Launch New Manga This Summer
Manga creator Aki Katsu revealed on Saturday that he is planning a new manga serialization that is slated for this summer. Katsu (Psychic Academy, The Vision of Escaflowne) has been drawing Manga Sutra, which describes itself as a "love bible" or a "user's manual" for people in love, in Young Animal and Young Animal Arashi since 1997. The manga inspired two original video anime (OVA) series in 200...
Kyuranger vs. Space Squad Film's Trailer Reveals Addition of Shaider, Jiraiya Characters
Crossover between Kyuranger, Metal Hero franchises debuts June 30
― The official website of the Uchū Sentai Kyuranger vs. Space Squad film began streaming a trailer for the film on Saturday. The video reveals that Space Sheriff Shaider and Sekai Ninja Sen Jiraiya will join the characters from the Metal Hero series that will appear in the film. The film is a crossover between Toei's Uchū Sentai Kyuran...
Capcom Registers Trademarks for Onimusha in Several Countries Outside Japan
Capcom filed a trademark for "Onimusha" in multiple territories outside of Japan earlier this month, including in Mexico, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, the Philippines, Singapore, and with the European Union Intellectual Property Office. Capcom last released Onimusha Soul, a port of the 2012 browser game, in 2014 on the PlayStation 3. AnimeWorks released Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams, a CG fi...
Kingdom Hearts III Game's 'Classic Kingdom' Trailer Previews Mini-Games
User names of 300 players of Kingdom Hearts Union χ game will also feature in final game
― Square Enix began streaming a "Classic Kingdom" trailer for its Kingdom Hearts III game on Monday. The video shows a segment of the game inspired by classic Disney cartoons as well as Game & Watch titles. Kingdom Hearts III will include more than 20 of these mini-games. In addition, Square Enix revealed during ...
New Afro Tanaka Manga Reveals Title, Visual
Shogakukan revealed the title and a visual for the upcoming new series in Masaharu Noritsuke's Afro Tanaka manga franchise on Monday. The new manga is titled Kekkon Afro Tanaka (Marriage Afro Tanaka). The manga will debut in the combined 21st and 22nd issue of Shogakukan's Big Comic Spirits magazine on April 23. The manga series centers around the quirky life of an Afro-haired young man named Hiro...
Sunday, April 15
Hibiki: Shōsetsuka ni Naru Hōhō Live-Action Film's Cast, September Opening Revealed
Yurina Hirate, Keiko Kitagawa, Ayaka Wilson, more join film's cast
― Toho announced the cast and September 14 opening for the live-action film adaptation of Mitsuharu Yanamoto's Hibiki: Shōsetsuka ni Naru Hōhō (Hibiki ~How to Become a Novelist~) manga on Monday. The cast includes: (Top row, left to right in picture above) Keiko Kitagawa as Fumi Hanai, a young editor who discovers Hibiki's talent Keya...
Tensai Bakabon 3rd Live-Action TV Special Reveals More Cast
Ken Horiuchi, Hideo Ishiguro, Toshiyuki Nishida, Nene Ōtsuka join cast
― The staff of the third television special based on Fujio Akatsuka's classic comedy manga Tensai Bakabon revealed more cast members for the special on Monday. The new cast members include (left to right in picture above, excluding Yoshiyuki Nishida at center and Shinya Ueda at far right): Ken Horiuchi as Mei, a friend of Bakabon'...
Isekai Cheat Magician Light Novels Get Anime
Novels about 2 friends who receive high physical, magical power in fantasy world also has manga
― The official Twitter account for Kadokawa's Shonen Ace magazine revealed on Monday that Takeru Uchida's Isekai Cheat Magician (Fantasy World Cheat Magician) novel series will get an anime adaptation. The story centers on Taichi Nishimura and his friend Rin, who both get transported into a fantasy world. ...
New Manga Book Tells Author's Personal Story of Schizophrenia
Bunkasha released Kikori Kimura's Tōgō Shicchō-shō Nikki (Schizophrenia Diary) manga book on Tuesday. Kimura began having symptoms of schizophrenia in high school. The book's "comic essays" tell her personal experiences. The book discusses the story of Kimura's situation when she began having symptoms, as well as her daily life with auditory and visual hallucinations, from her own perspective. Acc...
Virtual YouTuber Trend Expands With Talent Agencies, TV Appearances
The trend of virtual YouTubers, who are typically 3D moe girl characters with hidden true identities, is taking off in Japan. As of March, more than 1,000 registered accounts were reported. It doesn't look like the craze will be slowing down any time soon, and various companies, including game developers, are trying to climb onto the bandwagon. Japanese Internet media company GREE, known for its s...
Live-Action Gintama Film Sequel Brings Back Shun Oguri, Masaki Suda, Kanna Hashimoto
Cast reprises Gintoki, Shinpachi, Kagura in August 17 film
― The official website for the live-action films of Hideaki Sorachi's Gintama manga announced on Monday that Shun Oguri, Masaki Suda, and Kanna Hashimoto are returning from the first film to reprise their roles as Gintoki Sakata, Shinpachi Shimura, and Kagura, respectively, in the upcoming sequel film. The sequel is titled Gintama 2 (Kari) or...
Granblue Fantasy Game Launches Detective Conan Collaboration
Cygames revealed details and launched the Granblue Fantasy smartphone game's collaboration with the Detective Conan franchise on Sunday. The company also began streaming a teaser video and an "anime trailer ver." video for the promotion. The teaser video includes clips from Meitantei Conan Zero no Shikkōnin (Detective Conan: Zero's Executioner), the 22nd film in the Detective Conan series, and hig...
Shonen Jump's 50th Anniversary Music Fest Hosts KANA-BOON, Kishidan, BiSH, Little Glee Monster
As part of the ongoing celebration for Weekly Shonen Jump's 50th anniversary, Shueisha will hold the "Jump Music Festa" event at Yokohama Arena in Kanagawa on July 7-8. The event's official website revealed the first wave of performing artists on Tuesday. KANA-BOON (Naruto Shippūden, Boruto: Naruto Next Generations), Kishidan (Naruto Shippūden, One Piece: Baron Omatsuri and the Secret Island), BiS...
Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card ‒ Episodes 13-14
"Thank god for Meiling's return, right?"
Wandering Son's Takako Shimura Draws Kukikodan Musical Group
The official website for musical group Kukikodan revealed on Friday that manga creator Takako Shimura is providing an illustration of members for the jacket of their Boku no Kokoro ni Machi ga Dekite album. The album will ship in Japan on May 23. The illustration features Yukari Yamazaki (vocals), Yoshiyuki Togawa (bass, guitar), and Wataru Kubota (keyboard). Space Shower Music also began streamin...
DARLING in the FRANXX ‒ Episode 14
"This episode's script serves characters well in individual moments but falls down when it comes to stitching those beats together."
My Hero Academia ‒ Episode 40
"Everything from the animation to the story is as promising as My Hero Academia has ever been."
Record of Grancrest War ‒ Episode 14
"This episode sidestepped dull blanket portrayals of character types to instead show how its characters are developing in complicated ways, and not always for the better."
Dragon Quest Builders 2 Game Takes Place After Original Dragon Quest II Game
Story centers on religious organization that rises after Hargon's death
― This year's 20th issue of Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine revealed more information on Monday about the story of Square Enix's Dragon Quest Builders 2: Hakaigami Shidō to Karappo no Shima (Dragon Quest Builders 2: God of Destruction Malroth and the Empty Island) game. The game will take place in the world of Dragon Quest...
Katsuyuki Konishi Joins Food Wars! The Third Plate Anime as Sōmei Saitō
Character appearing in 15th episode is 4th seat on Elite Ten Council
― This year's 20th issue of Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine revealed on Monday that Katsuyuki Konishi (Gurren Lagann's Kamina, The Seven Deadly Sins' Dreyfus) is joining the Food Wars! The Third Plate anime as character Sōmei Saitō. Sōmei is the Elite Ten Council's fourth seat. The character will appear in the 15th episode ai...
Boruto Anime Switches Timeslots
This year's 20th issue of Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine revealed on Monday that the Boruto: Naruto Next Generations television anime series will switch timeslots. The anime has been airing on Wednesdays at 5:55 p.m., but will switch to Thursdays at 7:25 p.m. The show's 54th and 55th episodes will air as normal on Wednesdays, and then the 56th episode will air the next Thursday. A new arc ...
Gundam 00's 10th Anniversary Stage Reading Introduces New Character, Mecha
Story set after Gundam 00 film's final battle
― The "Gundam 00 Festival 10 Re:vision" event debuted a stage reading production with a live orchestra in Tokyo on Saturday. The story of the six-chapter stage reading was based on and set after the final battle from Mobile Suit Gundam 00 the Movie: A Wakening of the Trailblazer, the 2010 anime film sequel to the previous Mobile Suit Gundam 00 television ...
Bozebeats Manga Ends in Shonen Jump
Ryoji Hirano launched series on January 15
― This year's 20th issue of Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine published the final chapter of Ryoji Hirano's Bozebeats manga on Monday. The manga's first volume will ship on May 2, and the second volume will ship on July 4. Hirano launched the series on January 15. Viz Media published the manga's first three chapters in English digitally as part of the c...
Nisekoi Romantic Comedy Manga Gets Live-Action Film in December
Naoshi Komi's manga ran in 2011-2016 in Weekly Shonen Jump
― This year's 20th issue of Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine revealed on Monday that Naoshi Komi's Nisekoi - False Love manga will get a live-action film adaptation that will open in Japan in December. Viz Media publishes the manga in North America, and serialized chapters of the manga in its English version of Weekly Shonen Jump. The p...
Manga Briefs Roundup: March 2018
My Little Monster gets spin-off chapter, Btooom! U-18 reveals artist, more
― Editor's Note: While our news staff strive to bring as much of the most important manga, anime, and video game news to our readers as possible, we sometimes find that we have news items that we aren't able to publish in a timely manner, and in the end discard them. Most of these news items are ones found in various manga mag...
Gundam 00 Anime Gets Sequel Project
New work with Seiji Mizushima announced at 10th anniversary event on Saturday
― The "Gundam 00 Festival 10 Re:vision" event in Tokyo on Saturday announced that the Mobile Suit Gundam 00 anime is getting a new project. Seiji Mizushima, the director of the previous Gundam 00 anime, reported that he is working on it, and the main Ikebukuro branch of the Animate store chain reported that it will be a seq...
Texas' A-Kon to Host GARNiDELiA, Bradio as Musical Guests
Singer Mika Kobayashi to also attend June 7-10 event in Forth Worth
― The A-Kon event in Fort Worth, Texas announced on Friday that it will host musical duo GARNiDELiA as a musical guest at the convention. The event also announced on Wednesday that it will host the rock band BRADIO. GARNiDELiA consists of composer Yoshinori Abe (toku) and vocalist Mai Mizuhashi (MARiA). The duo first worked together ...
AFP: Chinese Social Media Platform Sina Weibo Bans Gay-Themed Content
News outlets report main targets include gay-themed manga
― The AFP reported on Saturday that the Chinese social media platform Sina Weibo has banned gay-themed content from the service as of Friday. In a statement on Friday, Sina Weibo said it would remove "illegal" content including "manga and videos with pornographic implications, promoting violence or (related to) homosexuality." According to The...
Valkyria Chronicles 4 Game's Nintendo Switch Release Delayed to Fall in Japan
Sega announced at the "Sega Fes" event in Tokyo on Sunday that it has delayed the Nintendo Switch release of the Valkyria Chronicles 4 game in Japan from this summer to this fall. The game launched for the PlayStation 4 on March 21 in Japan. Those who purchase the first printing edition of Valkyria Chronicles 4 for Switch will also be able to purchase a download version of Valkyria Chronicles for ...
Valkyria Chronicles Game Gets Nintendo Switch Release this Fall
Switch version will include all extra content
― Sega announced at the "Sega Fes" event in Tokyo on Sunday that it will release the Valkyria Chronicles game for the Nintendo Switch this fall. The game will include all the extra content. Those who purchase the first printing edition of Valkyria Chronicles 4 for Switch will also be able to purchase a download version of Valkyria Chronicles for Switch at...
Final Fantasy XIV Game Gets Companion App
Game's patch 4.3 also detailed
― Square Enix announced on Saturday during its "Final Fantasy XIV Letter from the Producer" livestream event that it will release a companion app for the Final Fantasy XIV game. The app will be available for iOS and Android. After launching the app, players enter their Square Enix account information, and designate a character to use for the app. Those who use the app w...
Gain Ground, Alex Kidd in Miracle World Games Added to Sega Ages Game Project
Sega plans to release 15+ classic titles for Switch starting this summer
― Sega announced at the "Sega Fes" event in Tokyo on Sunday that its Sega Ages project for the Nintendo Switch will also include the classic games Gain Ground and Alex Kidd in Miracle World. With the project, Sega will release more than 15 of its classic games for the Switch starting this summer. M2 is developing the games. Sega...
Lost Song Anime to Premiere Outside Japan on September 30
Original series starring Konomi Suzuki, Yukari Tamura premiered on Netflix in Japan on March 31
― Netflix confirmed with ANN on Sunday that it will debut the Lost Song original anime project outside Japan on September 30. Netflix is currently listing the September 30 release date on its Media Center website. Netflix Japan began streaming the project on March 31, and new episodes stream weekly on Satu...
The Cat Returns Ticket Giveaway!
GKIDS is giving a way a pair of tickets to three lucky winners each to the screening of The Cat Returns!
― GKIDS is back with the second of the nine Ghibli Fest 2018 films. Journey through the Cat Kingdom with THE CAT RETURNS. As a special treat, we are giving away a pair of tickets each to our 3 lucky winners! Synopsis From the legendary Studio Ghibli, creators of My Neighbor Totoro and the Academy...
Saturday, April 14
2nd Godzilla Anime Film Collaborates With Spa Resort in Fukushima
Godzilla: Kessen Kidō Zōshoku Toshi (Godzilla: City on the Edge of Battle), the second film in the Godzilla anime film trilogy, is collaborating with Spa Resort Hawaiians in Iwaki, Fukushima. A collaboration event will run at the resort from May 3-6, during Japan's Golden Week holidays. The event will feature Japan's first Godzilla head model that will be more than four meters (about 13 feet) tall...
Eromanga Sensei Anime's New Sagiri Figure Does Laundry
Chara-Ani's Toy's works brand recently unveiled a new figure of Eromanga Sensei's main character Sagiri Izumi. The "Ending Ver." figure shows Sagiri with a laundry basket as she appears in the anime's ending animation. The figure stands about 21 centimeters (about 8 inches) tall and costs 12,960 yen (about US$121). Sagiri appears in her typical loose T-shirt, and her laundry basket is removable. ...
FTC Warns Video Game Companies for Text Regarding Warranty Violations
Agency gives companies 30 days to revise company practices
― The Federal Trade Commission announced on Tuesday that it issued a warning to six automobile, mobile phone, and video game system companies, with two warnings in particular appearing to point to Sony and Nintendo. The warning pointed to questionable language in the companies' statements regarding consumers voiding warranties when breaking s...
Akira Creator Katsuhiro Otomo Draws Illustration for Isle of Dogs Film
Manga creator and anime director Katsuhiro Otomo (Akira, Steamboy, Memories) drew a special illustration for the Japanese release of Wes Anderson's Isle of Dogs film. The main characters of the stop-motion animated film appear on the back of a dog in the image. The film's Japanese title, Inugashima, also features in the illustration. The film is set in Japan, and it heavily references Japanese cul...
Saenai Heroine no Sodate-kata: Koi-suru Metronome Manga Ends on April 25
Spinoff manga about Utaha Kasumigaoka launched in 2013
― This year's fourth volume of Square Enix's Monthly Big Gangan magazine revealed on March 24 that Musyasabu's Saenai Heroine no Sodate-kata: Koi-suru Metronome manga will end in the magazine's next issue on April 25. The manga is an original story set in the world of Fumiaki Maruto's Saenai Heroine no Sodate-kata light novel series that centers ...
Yakuza 6's Live-Action Shorts Show Characters Years After Meeting Kiryu
Sega of America began streaming three live-action shorts for the Yakuza 6: The Song of Life PlayStation 4 game on Thursday. Each video focuses on one character whose life changed thanks to Kazuma Kiryu, the Dragon of Dojima. Substories from the Yakuza series inspired the shorts, with "The Bouncer" and "Prodigal Son" from Yakuza Kiwami and "Another Haruka" from Yakuza 5. The videos show the charact...
OLM, Other Firms Establish Venture Capital Fund for Media Content
1.2-billion-yen fund eyes investments in media start-ups
― Anime studio Oriental Light and Magic (OLM), its parent company Imagica Group, advertising agency Adways, Shogakukan, Takara Tomy, Mixi, and SMBC Venture Capital launched a 1.2-billion-yen (about US$11 million) venture capital fund on for media content on March 28 called "OLM-1 Investment Limited Partnership." OLM Ventures, a subsidiary compa...
Udon Entertainment Previews Otherwordly Izakaya 'Nobu' Manga's English Release
Volume 1 to ship in September
― Udon Entertainment announced on March 29 that it will release the first volume of Virginia Nitōhei's Otherwordly Izakaya "Nobu" (Isekai Izakaya "Nobu") manga in September. The company posted a six-page preview of the release on its official website on March 29. IMG nobu1.jpg IMG nobu2.jpg IMG nobu3.jpg IMG nobu4.jpg IMG nobu5.jpg IMG nobu6.jpg The manga adapts Natsuya ...
Memory-Tech Acquires Pony Canyon Enterprise Video Production, Authoring Company
Memory-Tech purchased 100% of capital stock of PCE post-production company
― Memory-Tech Holdings fully acquired Pony Canyon subsidiary Pony Canyon Enterprise on March 20 after purchasing 100% of its capital stock. Memory-Tech Holdings did not disclose the cost of the acquisition. Pony Canyon Enterprise is a video editing, post-production, and DVD and Blu-ray Disc authoring company, and has also been...
Vancouver's Anirevo Hosts Voice Actress Hitomi Nabatame
Bleach, Oreimo voice actress to host live-recording panel at August 3-5 event
― The Anirevo convention in Vancouver announced on Friday that it will host voice actress Hitomi Nabatame. The event will mark the Nabatame's second time in Canada. Nabatame will host a live-recording panel at the event. Nabatame has voiced roles in such anime as Bleach (Nanao Ise), Oreimo (Saori Makishima), Hayate the Comb...
Gundam 00 Anime Gets Stage Play in February 2019
Play announced at 10th anniversary event on Saturday
― The "Gundam 00 Festival 10 Re:vision" event in Tokyo on Saturday announced that the Mobile Suit Gundam 00 anime is getting a stage play adaptation that will debut in February 2019. The official website for the anime will reveal more information about the play this summer. Mobile Suit Gundam 00 is the first Gundam series to be produced and broadca...
Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku Anime Listed With 11 Episodes
The official website for the television anime of Fujita's Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku (Otaku ni Koi wa Muzukashii) manga is listing that the series will have four home video releases and 11 episodes. The home video releases will ship once a month between July through October. The anime premiered on Thursday, April 12 at 25:55 (effectively Friday, April 13 at 1:55 a.m.) in the Noitamina timeslo...
Drive Head Anime Film's Teaser Video Reveals Shinkalion Appearance
Film opens in Japan on August 24
― Takara Tomy began streaming a teaser video on Saturday for Eiga Drive Head: Tomika Hyper Rescue Kidō Kyūkyū Keisatsu (Drive Head the Movie: Tomika Hyper Rescue Mobile Emergency Police), the anime film in the Tomica Hyper Rescue Drive Head Kidō Kyūkyū Keisatsu (Tomica Hyper Rescue Drive Head Mobile Emergency Police) anime series. The video reveals that one of the tra...
Sega Ages Project Announced for Nintendo Switch
15+ classic Sega games get ports for Switch simultaneously in Japan, N. America, Europe
― Sega announced at the "Sega Fes" event in Tokyo on Saturday that it will release a Sega Ages project for Nintendo Switch. With the project, Sega will release more than 15 of its classic games for the Switch starting this summer. M2 is developing the games. Sega announced that Phantasy Star, Sonic the Hedgehog, a...
Sega Releases Border Break Mecha Game in Japan on August 2
Game also gets special themed PS4 console
― Sega announced at the "Sega Fes" event in Tokyo on Saturday that it will release the PlayStation 4 version of its Border Break mecha action arcade game in Japan on August 2. Pre-orders begin on April 16. The game is also getting a special themed PS4 console. The game will be a free-to-play game with in-game purchases, but it will also have a physical releas...
Sega Announces Temporarily Titled 'Mega Drive Mini' Console for Release in Japan this Year (Updated)
Console to be different from "overseas version" currently on sale
― Sega announced at the "Sega Fes" event in Tokyo on Saturday that it will release a temporarily titled "Mega Drive Mini" console this year in Japan to commemorate the 30th anniversary of its Mega Drive console. The console will feature "memorable famous games" that Sega originally released on the Mega Drive. Sega-Sammy Holdings Inc.'s...
Friday, April 13
Sega Reveals New Sakura Wars Game
All-new work to take place in Taisho year 29 in Tokyo
― Sega announced at the "Sega Fes" event in Tokyo on Saturday that it is developing a new game in the Sakura Taisen (Sakura Wars) franchise. The new game is temporarily titled Shin Sakura Taisen (New Sakura Wars). The game will be an all-new work that "inherits the DNA of the series." The game will take place in the 29th year of the fictionalized ...
Sega Reveals Shenmue I & II Game Collection for PS4, Xbox One, PC
Western release to include Japanese & English audio, modern & classic controls
― Sega announced at the Sega Fes event in Tokyo on Saturday that it will release a Shenmue I & II game collection for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. The game will launch in Japan on the PS4 only. The game will launch in Japan, Europe, and North America this year. Sega added that the games will feature both Japanese a...
Toho's Anime Business Tops 10 Billion Yen in 2017
Company's overall operating profit sees 5% dip
― Film distributor Toho published on Friday its earnings report for the fiscal year ending in February 2018. The company reported that its anime production business earned 10.282 billion yen (about US$95.6 million) during that period, a 27.1% increase from the previous year. The earnings marks the first time that the company has earned more than 10 billi...
Font Boys Reimagines Japanese Typefaces as Bishōnen
What's the next inanimate object or concept to join the personification craze in Japan? Fonts. Yes, various Japanese typographical fonts are transforming into attractive young men to appear in a new Font Danshi! (Font Boys) project. In the story, second-year high school student Antique AN returns to a town he previously lived in for the first time in several years. He transfers into Morisawa Acade...
Guiness World Records Drops Pac-Man, Donkey Kong High-Scorer Billy Mitchell's Records (Update)
Twin Galaxies confirms Mitchell's Donkey Kong scores were not achieved on official hardware
― Video game records tracking organization Twin Galaxies announced on Thursday that it will no longer recognize Billy Mitchell's high scores after verifying a claim that his Donkey Kong high scores were not achieved on arcade hardware. Mitchell previously held the record for being the first to score one millio...
DanMachi: Memoria Freese Smartphone Game's English Version Removes 'Touching' Feature
Feature was initially included in game's U.S. advertising
― Crunchyroll, Sumitomo Corporation, and GREE's English localization of the Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? -- MEMORIA FREESE -- (Memoria Freese or Dan-Memo) smartphone game has removed the "touching" feature that is in the Japanese version of the game. In the Japanese version, characters the player sees in the "interact" are...
Wake Up, Girls! Gets 2nd Stage Play in June
An official website for a new Wake Up, Girls! stage play opened on Friday. The play will run at Sogetsu Hall in Tokyo from June 6-10. The anime's screenwriter Touko Machida is returning to write the play's original story, which will continue from the Wake Up, Girls! Aoba no Kioku (Wake Up, Girls! Record of Green Leaves) stage play, which ran in January 2017. Like the previous stage play, the new p...
Curry Restaurant's New Gundam Collaboration Focuses on Char's Rise as 'Red Comet'
The Curry House CoCo Ichibanya (CoCoICHI) restaurant chain held a collaborative campaign with the Mobile Suit Gundam franchise, offering exclusive merchandise last summer. Now, the chain is suiting up for a collaboration with "Tanjō Akai Suisei" (Rise of the Red Comet), the sixth episode of the Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin anime and the last in the anime's "Loum Arc." The campaign will run from ...
Anime Central to Host Music Group fhána
Eccentric Family, Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid performers to appear at May convention
― Anime Central announced on Friday that it will host music group fhána at this year's event for autograph sessions, panels, and a live concert. The group's appearance at Anime Central is part of its "World Atlas Tour." fhána consists of female vocalist towana and male sound producers Junichi Sato, yuxuki waga, and ...
Locke the Superman Tops List of Longest-Running Manga
The April issue of Nikkei Business Publications' Nikkei Entertainment! magazine, which shipped on March 2, published an article that listed the top 30 longest-running manga. The Nikkei Style website posted the list online on Tuesday. The listed manga have been running for a minimum of 20 years, and seinen manga published by Shogakukan dominate the list. Locke the Superman and Golgo 13, both series...
Devilman Crybaby Staff Teases 'Important Announcement'
The official Twitter account for Devilman crybaby teased that an "important announcement" will be unveiled during a a live stream presentation to commemorate the show's Blu-ray Disc box set. The Blu-ray Disc box set will ship in Japan on May 30. The stream will feature the anime's cast, but the staff have not yet announced which cast or a stream date. The 10-episode DEVILMAN crybaby anime premiere...
Godzilla, Pacific Rim Uprising Mechas Roar Into Battle in Official Promotional Art
Godzilla: Kessen Kidō Zōshoku Toshi (Godzilla: City on the Edge of Battle), the second film in the Godzilla anime film trilogy, and the Pacific Rim Uprising film are collaborating to promote both their spring releases in Japan. Illustrator Hidetaka Tenjin (mechanical art for Macross Frontier, Aquarion Evol) drew a collaboration visual for both films. The visual features Godzilla Earth from the upc...
Record of Lodoss War Gets New Work, Side-Scrolling Game
Ryo Mizuno writes for new project with illustrator Hidari
― Sneaker Bunko announced on Friday that Record of Lodoss War will get a "completely new work" for its 30th anniversary this fall. Original writer Ryo Mizuno is writing and Hidari ([email protected], Atelier series) is illustrating the work. The website posted a visual with Hidari's illustration of the character Deedlit, and text that read...
Japan's Oldest Pro Shogi Player's Seiyū Dream Comes True in Layton Anime
Japan's oldest pro shogi player Hifumi Katō is making his voice acting debut at the ripe age of 78. Katō, known affectionately as Hifumin by his fans, debuted in the shogi world at 14, holding the record for the youngest pro shogi debut until Sōta Fuji took the title in 2016. Katō has since retired from the professional shogi world and seems to have set is sites on being a part-time voice actor. K...
Aura Battler Dunbine Streams on HIDIVE in English, Japanese
Series has been restored/remastered
― HIDIVE confirmed on Friday that it stream the Aura Battler Dunbine anime in restored and remastered HD. New episodes will launch with both English and Japanese audio on Mondays beginning on April 23. Sentai Filmworks announced on Wednesday that it has the license and plans to release it on home video. Sentai Filmworks describes the 49-episode series: Transported ...
Answerman - What "Editing" Needs To Be Done To Anime For US Release?
Justin digs in to what "video post-production" means when it comes to anime - how we handle the masters Japan sends for home video production.
― Craig asked: Just finished watching the third Berserk film, The Advent and in the credits I saw your name for Video post production. What exactly do you do in terms of post production(clean up, video/audio compression, restoration?)? Do all companies who re...
Hatsu Kiss Manga Magazine Goes Digital-Only on Monthly Schedule
1st digital issue debuts on June 25
― The May issue of Kodansha's Hatsu Kiss magazine announced on Friday that it is the final print issue. The magazine will switch to digital-only publication, and it will shift from bimonthly to monthly publication. The first digital issue will debut on June 25. The magazine launched in June 2014 as the successor to Kodansha's Kiss Plus magazine, which ceased public...
My Hero Academia: One's Justice Game Ships in Americas in 2018
English video previews PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC release
― Bandai Namco Entertainment America announced on Friday that it will release the My Hero Academia: One's Justice game for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam in the Americas in 2018. The company also began streaming an English version of the game's first promotional video. Confirmed playable characters in the game includ...
Tada Never Falls in Love Anime Casts Takahiro Sakurai
Series premiered on April 5
― The official website for the Tada Never Falls In Love (Tada-kun wa Koi o Shinai) anime revealed on Friday that Takahiro Sakurai (Sagrada Reset's Masamune Urachi, Code Geass' Suzaku Kururugi, Infini-T Force's Jōji Minami) will play Charles de Loire. Takahiro Sakurai as Charles de Loire, an attractive and tall second-year college student. He comes from a noble family in Fr...
Future Card Buddyfight Anime Gets New Series Premiering on June 2
Series to feature son of Gao as new protagonist
― Bushiroad revealed on Friday that a new anime series in the Future Card Buddyfight franchise titled Future Card Buddyfight Ace will premiere on June 2. The anime will feature a new protagonist Yuga Mikado, who is the son of Gao. Yuga's Buddy is Gargantua Dragon, a.k.a. Garga. The most recent series in the franchise, Future Card Buddyfight X: All-Star ...
Record of Grancrest War Game Previewed in 1st Gameplay Video
PS4 game launches in Japan on June 14
― Bandai Namco Entertainment began streaming a first gameplay video on Friday for the Record of Grancrest War role-playing game for PlayStation 4. The video shows the player commanding forces to liberate a fortress. The single-player tactical role-playing game based on the ongoing anime will debut in Japan on June 14. The group Aqua Timez performs the game's them...
Atlus Streams Opening Movies for Persona 3, Persona 5 Dancing Games
PS4, PS Vita games launch in Japan on May 24
― Atlus began streaming opening movies on Friday for its upcoming Persona 3 Dancing Moon Night and Persona 5 Dancing Star Night games. Persona 3 Dancing Moon Night Opening Movie Persona 5 Dancing Star Night Opening Movie Both games will launch on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita in Japan on May 24. Atlus will release both games separately but will also o...
My Hero Academia: One's Justice Game Previewed in 1st Promo Video
Battle action game launches for PS4, Switch, Xbox One, PC this year
― Bandai Namco Entertainment began streaming the first promotional video on Friday for the My Hero Academia: One's Justice game. The video introduces the game's playable characters, and previews the "Sidekick System" that allows players to call in another character to assist. Confirmed playable characters in the game include Izuku Mi...
Japanese Government Officially Asks Internet Providers to Block Manga Piracy Sites
Government names 3 targeted websites, plans legislation to block sites in 2019
― The Mainichi Shimbun newspaper reported on Friday that the Japanese government has officially asked Internet service providers in Japan to block access to websites that host pirated manga, digital magazines, and other copyrighted content. The request asks the providers to voluntarily block access, but the government plan...
Seven Deadly Sins: Prisoners of the Sky Anime Film Reveals Trailer, Visual, More Cast
Tsubasa Yonaga, Haruka Tomatsu, Toshiyuki Morikawa join cast for film debuting on August 18
― The official website for The Seven Deadly Sins anime began streaming a full trailer and commercial on Friday for the Gekijōban Nanatsu no Taizai Tenkū no Torawarebito (The Seven Deadly Sins the Movie: Prisoners of the Sky) anime film. (Note: The videos on the official website are region-locked to Japan, a re...
Future Card Buddyfight Manga Ends, But New Series Launches in May (Updated)
Mitsuhisa Tamura's manga based on Bushiroad card game launched in 2013
― The May issue of Shogakukan's Coro Coro Comics magazine published the last chapter of Mitsuhisa Tamura's Future Card Buddyfight manga on Friday. The same issue also revealed that a new manga titled Future Card Shin Buddyfight will launch in the magazine's next issue on May 15. Tamura began the manga inspired by Bushiroad's tradi...
Wolf Girl & Black Prince's Ayuko Hatta Starts New Manga
Haibara-kun wa Gokigen Naname manga centers on boy, girl who can't get along
― The May issue of Shueisha's Bessatsu Margaret magazine revealed on Friday that Ayuko Hatta will launch a new manga titled Haibara-kun wa Gokigen Naname (Haibara's in a Bad Mood) in the magazine's next issue on May 11. The magazine teased the manga's story as centering on Mio, a girl who is treated as her class' mascot, who...
Motoki Koide's Irium Science-Fiction Manga Gets Live-Action Special
Story about drug that allows people to experience a day without remembering it airs on May 12
― Fuji TV announced on Friday that its semiannual Yo nimo Kimyō na Monogatari (Tales of the Unusual) television program will adapt Motoki Koide's Irium manga into a live-action special that will air on May 12 at 9:00 p.m. The special is titled "Ashita e no Warp" (Warp Toward Tomorrow). Haruma Miura (left in ...
Isekai Izakaya Anime Streaming's Languages, Regions Confirmed
Bilibili now offers Chinese-only subs in Asia; Crunchyroll offers multiple languages elsewhere
― Bandai Namco confirmed with ANN on Friday the languages and regions where Crunchyroll and Chinese streaming site bilibili will stream Isekai Izakaya: Japanese Food From Another World (Isekai Izakaya ~Koto Aitheria no Izakaya Nobu~), the anime of Natsuya Semikawa's Otherworldly Izakaya "Nobu" (Isekai Izaka...
Gonzo Reveals Calamity of the Zombie Girl Net Anime With July Premiere
Anime originally announced in 2012
― GONZO opened a website on Friday for Calamity of the Zombie Girl, the anime adaptation of Ryō Ikehata's Aru Zombie Shōjo no Sainan light novel series. The site is streaming a promotional video in English and Japanese, and also revealed the anime's cast, staff, and visual. The net anime will debut streaming on July 4. The anime's cast includes: Saori Hayami as Euph...
How NOT to Summon A Demon Lord Anime's English Promo Video Streamed
Series premieres this summer
― Avex Pictures began streaming an English promotional video on Friday for the television anime of Yukiya Murasaki's How NOT to Summon a Demon Lord light novel series. The video is the same as a Japanese video Avex Pictures streamed last month. Yūta Murano (Brave Beats, Dream Festival!) is directing the anime at Ajiado. Kazuyuki Fudeyasu is in charge of the series scripts...
1st Peace Maker Kurogane Anime Film's Video Reveals, Previews Theme Song
Jetzejohnson perform theme song "Rust" for June 2 film
― The official website for the two-part anime film series based on Nanae Chrono's Peace Maker Kurogane manga began streaming a promotional video for Peacemaker Kurogane: Belief (Peacemaker Kurogane: Omou-michi), the first film, on Friday. The video reveals and previews the film's theme song "Rust" by Jetzejohnson. Shigeru Kimiya (Hand Maid Mai OV...
Singer Keiko Kubota Leaves Kalafina Singing Unit
Wakana Ootaki, Hikaru Masai to continue musical activities
― Singer Keiko Kubota (center in image at right) announced on the official website of the three-member female singing unit Kalafina on Friday that she left the group effective on April 1. In addition, the site revealed that Wakana Ootaki and Hikaru Masai will continue to work on musical activities. Keiko often provided the lower vocal parts i...
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