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Creators of Inuyasha, Evangelion, Video Girl Ai, & More Draw Onmyōji 0 Tribute Art
Each added their own little touch to their illustrations of lead character
― It's not uncommon for novels to be adapted into films. The Japanese film industry is no different with one such movie series launching with 2001's Onmyoji. Now, nearly a quarter-century later, the newest film in the series, Onmyōji 0, is coming out. To celebrate the movie's release, eight artists from the manga and anime wor...
Nichijou - My Ordinary Life's Keiichi Arawi Illustrates Music Textbooks for Kids
Japanese parents used to say reading manga makes you stupid — now Japanese kids will enjoy manga art in music class
― Textbooks, the bane of every student in the world. But if there's one saving grace, it's the illustrations. Starting in April, students in Japanese elementary schools will find some new artwork in their music textbooks — drawn by the creator of Nichijou-My Ordinary Life, Keiichi Arawi...
Official Naruto Post: Creator Masashi Kishimoto Doesn't Post on Social Media
Hard to believe it, but it's true
― Social media has changed how we interact with people, by allowing us unparalleled access to celebrities, politicians, and many others. But not every famous person posts on their social media accounts. Sometimes they leave it to a team, or the posts go through a publicist. While it's true many manga creators write their own social media posts, some do not. Among tho...
Detective Conan x McDonald's Collab in 2 New Commercials
The culprit is you!
― McDonald's Japan is well known for its collaborations with long-lived and popular anime properties such as Pokémon. This spring, Detective Conan has partnered for a set of new commercials featuring two limited-time menu items. Revealed on McDonald's Japanese X (formerly Twitter) account on Thursday, the commercials feature speaking parts by the characters Conan Edogawa, Ai Haiba...
Real-Life K-ON School Emerges From Major Renovations
Get your castanets out & go 'Un-ta, un-ta … un-ta'
― It's not uncommon for anime series to use real-life locations as backgrounds or settings. And it's become a niche pastime for some anime fans to find and visit those locations. But sometimes those locations aren't accessible to the public or, even worse, no longer exist. Thankfully for K-on! fans, renovations of the real-life school that appeared i...
Code Geass April Fool's Orange Juice Really Goes on Sale
Fction becomes reality — but only for a week
― April Fool's Day. It's the day everyone has to be careful if a product is real or not. Sometimes it's relatively obvious, like Coamix's manga training machine from April Fool's Day 2017. Sometimes it's a little harder to discern, as was the case with the Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion orange juice. And some of those April Fool's Day products do bec...
Happy April Fool's Day from the Anime World Part III
April Fool's Day may be a time for joking, but,it's no joke when it's someone's birthday.
― Everyone loves a good practical joke on April 1, so long as it's harmless. But what do you do when it's also someone's birthday? You celebrate just as hard. The anime and manga world is full of April Fool's Day birthdays. Let's check out who's celebrating the jokers and the birthday boys and girls from the ani...
Happy April Fool's Day From the Anime World Part II
Are you smart enough to stay one step ahead of the fooler this April Fool's Day?
― It's April Fool's Day, and that means you're either the fooler or the fooled. And the anime industry is trying to fool you. But, can you see through their jokes this year? Chitose Yagami
こんにちはっESアイドル君達が出演する映画『恋する♡すくらんぶる」の原作者・八神千歳です♪この度は夢のような企画をありがとうございましたー！いつも楽しみにしている『あんスタ』さんのエイプリルフール！今年はまさかまさか…でした！！（「恋すく」は今回の企画のための作品だ...
Happy April Fool's Day from the Anime World Part I
To quote former U.S. President George W. Bush, “Fool me once, shame on…shame on you. You fool me, you can't get fooled again.”
― It's April Fool's, which means everyone wants to make a fool of everyone else. And so does the anime and manga industry. So, what sort of tricks do they have up their sleeves this year? Dead Dead Demon's Dededede Destruction
#映画デデデデ スピンオフ映画公開決定⚡️ ＼ \ / ／『テットテットテーモンズ テテテテ...
'Isekai' Transported Into the Oxford English Dictionary
Ain't ain't a word, but isekai is? What's the world coming to?
― The dictionary. It's the tool we use when we want to prove a word isn't real and when someone uses a word wrong. Literally. And I mean “literally” as literally and not hyperbolically. And now anime fans in the English-speaking world can argue isekai is now a word. But, it's a little more complicated than that. As announced on the Oxford...
Happy Hinamatsuri From the Anime World! Part II
Put your dolls out for display 'cause it's hinamatsuri in Japan!
― March 3 is a time of celebration in Japan. The day, commonly known as Hinamatsuri (Dolls' Day or Girls' Day), is a day for families to break out a set of dolls representing the Emperor, Empress, attendants, and musicians and enjoy them while eating snacks. However, the holiday goes by a second name: Momo no Sekku or Peach Festival. Wh...
Happy Hinamatsuri From the Anime World! Part I
It's time to break out the Emperor and Empress dolls for Girls' Day in Japan!
― It was a warm and sunny day on March 3 in Tokyo — a perfect day to enjoy the Tokyo Marathon. But for those who celebrate in a more traditional way, it was also Hinamatsuri (a.k.a. Dolls' Day or Girls' Day). So, what do people do on this holiday? They put dolls of the Emperor, Empress, attendants, and musicians on display ...
Happy Cat Day from the Anime World!
Cat lovers around the world unite for Cat Day in Japan!
― The eternal question of are you a cat person or dog person rages on. While there is an International Cat Day and International Dog Day, cats have dogs beaten in Japan with "Cat Day" on February 22. Why February 22? It's because in Japanese the number two is pronounced "Ni," and that "Ni" is the first letter in the sound cats make in Japanese (...
Japanese YouTube Church Offers ASMR Bible Readings, Complete with Female Mascots
ASMR Church offers Japanese ASMR Bible readings, complete with its own mascots
― Disclaimer: This article is not an endorsement of Christianity, but, rather, an article about the YouTube channel ASMR Church. As Europe slowly expanded its influence throughout the world in the 1500s, Christianity, predominantly Catholicism followed in its wake. But one of the holdouts was Japan due to a few factors: th...
Happy Valentine's Day from the Anime World! Part IV
More Valentines from the world of anime, manga, and games!
― Valentine's Day may be nearing its end, but the night is still young! More artists from the anime, manga, and game world deliver their art pieces of love this Valentine's Day! Ghost Trick Hiro Mashima (Fairy Tail) Mizuho Kusanagi (Yona of the Dawn) My Happy Marriage Ron Kamonohashi's Forbidden Deductions She Loves to Cook, and She Loves to ...
Happy Valentine's Day from the Anime World!
Our favorite anime series, games, and manga artists are spreading the love!
― Happy Hearts Day! The anime, manga, and gaming world are sending lots of love on this special day! Aya Shouoto (The Demon Prince of Momochi House) Shouoto shared again a Valentine's Day illustration of Aoi back in the early days of the series. BlazBlue It's also Jin Kisaragi's birthday today! Bottom-Tier Character Tomozaki ...
Happy Valentine's Day from the Anime World! Part III
The anime and manga world gives "chocolates" to fans
― Valentine's Day in Japan has traditionally been a day for, generally, women to give chocolates to the boys and men in their lives. Some have romantic intent, some give out of friendship, and others give due to obligation to those important in their lives. As the years have gone on, the tradition is shifting to allow all people to give some sort o...
Happy Valentine's Day from the Anime World! Part II
Artists from the anime and manga world celebrate Valentine's Day
― As Dean Martin sang in his song That's Amore: “When the moon hits your eye/Like a big pizza pie, that's amore.” With Valentine's season in full swing, many in the anime and manga world are sending out their proverbial moons for that little hint of amore. Here are illustrations, short comics, and videos with a whole lot of love. Ao no ...
Minato City, Tokyo Gets 5 New Sailor Moon Manhole Covers
Sailor Moon arrives in Minato City with specially designed manhole covers
― Japanese cities love to create designer manhole covers. From designs that represent the city to just lovely pieces of art, there are an assortment of specially designed manhole covers all over the island nation. Japanese government bodies also love representing anime series that take place in their cities through manhole cove...
Oshi no Ko Shows How to Make Valentine's Chocolates for that Special Someone
Enjoy this year's Valentine's Day with some handmade Oshi no Ko chocolate
― Valentine's Day — it's that time of the year when love is in the air, and people in Japan want to give chocolate to their beloved, friends, and colleagues. The ultimate show of love is the gift of homemade chocolate. But sometimes, it can be difficult to decide what kind of chocolate to make for the holiday. Thankfully, one o...
All the Hollywood Stars Want a Picture With the Biggest Star of All: Godzilla
Godzilla Minus One's director made the rounds at the Critics' Choice Awards with Godzilla figure in hand
― It's awards season in Hollywood, and one film in particular has surprised many in both its popularity and its prominence in the awards circuit: Godzilla Minus One. The film has been nominated for the Visual Effects Society's VES Awards and the 71st Golden Reel Awards. And of course, the recent n...
Happy New Year From the Anime World: Enter the Dragon Part XII
Ninja, animals, and some yakuza give their New Year's greetings!
― From NHK children's shows to games about organized crime, here's the final(?) batch of New Year greetings from anime series, manga creators, and game producers! Atsushi Saito (Character designer for Love Live Superstar and Hirogaru Sky Precure) Chibi Maruko-chan Golden Kamuy Haikyu!! Final High Card Irregular at Magic High School Kazu...
Happy New Year From the Anime World: Enter the Dragon Part XI
Artists aren't the only ones giving their New Year greetings!
― Voice actors and others from across the anime industry give their greetings for the Year of the Dragon! 81 Produce Kazuhiro Fukuchi (Character Designer for A Salad Bowl of Eccentrics anime) Kosuke Ono Kotaro Nishiyama Makoto Morishita Natsuki Hanae (with Kotaro Nishiyama, Kensho Ono, and Takuya Eguchi)
明けましておめでとうございます🎍🌅今年も宜しくお願いしますー！！先日行...
Happy New Year From the Anime World: Enter the Dragon Part X
From the cute to the robotic, ring in the New Year with some of your favorite series!
― Dragon Quest and GUND-ARM Inc. send their New Year's greetings! Dragon Quest Elck Itsumo Hitsuji Gondaira Mirage Queen Vacances Élégantes Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury Natsume's Book of Friends
❯❯ #新春 #ニャンコ先生 おみくじ 1/2 ˊ˗⋰新年あけましておめでとうございます🎍🌅#2024年 もアニメ #夏目友人帳 をよろしくお願いします🙇✨⋱タップ＆スクショでお正月のおすすめの過ごし方を占いましょう...
Happy New Year From the Anime World: Enter the Dragon
From robots to fantasy, more New Year greetings from across the anime world!
― The late, great Osamu Tezuka's production company and Go Nagai's Dynamic Production, among many others, send their New Year greetings! Classroom of the Elite Dynamic Productions (Go Nagai) Kai Ikada (Hokkaido Gals are Super Adorable!) Mizuho Kusanagi Mononoke Ryo Minenami SHAFT (Madoka Magica)
IIlustration by Hiroto Nagata...
Happy New Year From the Anime World: Enter the Dragon Part IX
From robots to fantasy, more New Year greetings from across the anime world!
― The late, great Osamu Tezuka's production company and Go Nagai's Dynamic Production, among many others, send their New Year greetings! Classroom of the Elite Dynamic Productions (Go Nagai) Kai Ikada (Hokkaido Gals are Super Adorable!) Mizuho Kusanagi Mononoke Ryo Minenami SHAFT (Madoka Magica)
IIlustration by Hiroto Nagata...
Happy New Year From the Anime World: Enter the Dragon
Featuring Demon Slayer, MHA, FFVII & XVI, F/GO, Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid, Uma Musume
― The Year of the Dragon deserves some dragon maids from Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid and even some dragon police officers in the form of Ch'en from Arknights! See the rest of the New Year's greetings below! Arknights Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Fate/Grand Order Final Fantasy VII Remake Final Fantasy XVI JoJo'...
Happy New Year From the Anime World: Enter the Dragon
From Oshi no Ko, Gundam SEED FREEDOM, Urusei Yatsura, Yusuke Nakamura, and more!
― More anime, games, and creators celebrate the New Year with these illustrations! Mobile Suit Gundam SEED FREEDOM Oshi no Ko Project Sekai Sasaki and Peeps Takt Op. Tomica Kizuna Gattai Earth Granner Urusei Yatsura The Vexations of a Shut-In Vampire Princess Wind Breaker Yusuke Nakamura Many more anime, manga, and game ...
Happy New Year From the Anime World: Enter the Dragon Part VIII
Greetings from Jujutsu Kaisen, Hiro Mashima, Fushigi Yugi, and more!
― Everyone's bringing in the Year of the Dragon, so it's appropriate the manga creator known for dragons goes all out. And there's more! Hiro Mashima Akebi's Sailor Uniform The Apothecary Diaries Fushigi Yugi Grendizer U Heavenly Delusion Jujutsu Kaisen Junichirō Taniguchi (Puella Magi Madoka Magica chief animation director/characte...
Happy New Year From the Anime World: Enter the Dragon Part VII
Many legendary manga creators send their New Year greetings as well
― From legends like Tetsuo Hara and Rumiko Kentaro Yabuki to up-and-comers like Kyuryu Z and Penguin Box, several manga creators sent readers their New Year's greetings! Black Clover Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Kentaro Yabuki Kyuryu Z Miki Yoshikawa Penguin Box Tetsuo Hara Translation:Happy New Year!Last year marked the 40th annive...
Happy New Year From the Anime World: Enter the Dragon Part VI
Bleach & Burn the Witch, Hello Kitty, Nintendo, Gudetama, and more welcome the new year!
― More colorful and dragon-themed 2024 New Year's greetings from anime, manga and game creators! Aggretsuko Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War and Burn the Witch Jun Fukuyama Gudetama Hello Kitty Nights with a Cat Nintendo of America Odekake Kozame Sanrio Toei Animation Europe Many more anime, manga, and game New Ye...
Happy New Year From the Anime World: Enter the Dragon Part V
Featuring Demon Slayer, MHA, FFVII & XVI, F/GO, Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid, Uma Musume
― The Year of the Dragon deserves some dragon maids from Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid and even some dragon police officers in the form of Ch'en from Arknights! See the rest of the New Year's greetings below! Arknights Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Fate/Grand Order Final Fantasy VII Remake Final Fantasy XVI JoJo'...
Happy New Year From the Anime World: Enter the Dragon Part IV
From Oshi no Ko, Gundam SEED FREEDOM, Urusei Yatsura, Yusuke Nakamura, and more!
― More anime, games, and creators celebrate the New Year with these illustrations! Mobile Suit Gundam SEED FREEDOM Oshi no Ko Project Sekai Sasaki and Peeps Takt Op. Tomica Kizuna Gattai Earth Granner Urusei Yatsura The Vexations of a Shut-In Vampire Princess Wind Breaker Yusuke Nakamura Many more anime, manga, and game ...
Happy New Year 2024 From the Anime World: Enter the Dragon Part III
Start 2024 with KyoAni, Overlord, Spice & Wolf, Studio Orange, and more!
― Three cheers for the new year! The anime world celebrates 2024 in the third part of ANN's annual roundup of New Year's greetings from anime, manga, and game creators! 2024 is the Year of the Dragon according to the Chinese zodiac. Kenichi Kondō (Dark Gathering) Kyoto Animation My Love Story With Yamada-kun at Lv999 Norio Sakur...
Happy New Year 2024 From the Anime World: Enter the Dragon Part II
From Love Live! Nijigasaki, Macross, Nier Reincarnation, Reincarnated as a Sword, Pierrot, and more!
― More colorful and dragon-themed 2024 New Year's greetings from anime, manga and game creators! Kamen Rider Geats Love Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol Club Macross The Macross franchise will celebrate triple anniversaries in 2024! Magia Record: Puella Magi Madoka Magica Side Story The game's new sp...
Make More Dishes (& Memories) in New Pokémon Camping CG/Live-Action Shorts
Experience cooking for your favorite Pokémon in 3 new episodes on YouTube
―
Experience what it would be like to make food for your favorite Pokémon in a new three-episode series! In 2022 the official Japanese Pokémon YouTube channel released a three-episode “Sweet Winter with Pokémon” (roughly translated) series. In these short videos, we see a man making and enjoying an assortment of sweet baked go...
Gundam: Witch From Mercury Voices Reunite to Record New York City Selfie
Suletta vows to honor Miorine in chat before taking two-shot
― A Mercurian and a Spacian from Gundam: The Witch from Mercury will be attending Anime NYC! And just before the con, they took a selfie (with audio commentary!) in front of the Statue of Liberty. ◆◆AnimeNYC◆◆11/17(金)～19(日)アメリカ・ニューヨークで開催のアニメコンベンション #AnimeNYC 内で、#水星の魔女 のステージを実施！これを記念して、#水星の魔女日本周遊ツアー へ行ったスレッタとミオリネの2人が、今度は何とニューヨークに到着しました！#G_W...
Happy Halloween From the Anime World! Part IV
More Halloween-themed illustrations from creators and companies in this fourth roundup! Arranged alphabetically by the title or artist's name. Atelier Ryza Series 🎃Happy Halloween👻お菓子をくれなきゃ、いたずらしちゃうぞ🧙♀️🍭#ライザ #HappyHalloween #ハロウィン pic.twitter.com/50dscsJNn7— 「アトリエ」シリーズ公式@マリーリメイク発売中&レスレリサービス中！ (@GustAtelierPR) October 31, 2023 Classroom of the Elite ━━━━━━━━━━━━━Calendar Illustration Project🎃10月 #...
Happy Halloween From the Anime World!
Check out how creators and artists celebrated All Hallows' Eve this year!
― Happy All Hallows' Eve! Check out how creators and artists celebrated this year, arranged alphabetically by title or the artist's last name: Akira Amano (Ron Kamonohashi's Forbidden Deductions) Kamio Fukuchi (Yowayowa Sensei) Imigimuru (This Art Club Has a Problem!) Caption: "Show me the candy." Sato Kanae (Saving Sweets for ...
Happy Halloween From the Anime World! Part III
Japanese voice actors also posted their unique Halloween celebrations! Arranged alphabetically by voice actor's last name: Fairouz Ai Fairouz Ai also announced a Halloween Special live on her Instagram account on October 31 at 9:13 p.m. JST (8:30 a.m. EDT).
お家でジャック・オ・ランタンを作ったよ〜🎃めちゃくちゃ力のいる作業だったからしかめっつらしてるけど本当に楽しかった！！いよいよ明日はハロウィンインスタライブ！！みんなで素敵な悪夢を見ようね〜💜 https://t.co/6cNcJHnOg8 pic.twitter.com/FE88V...
Happy Halloween From the Anime World! Part II
More treats from creators and artists in this second part of Halloween illustration celebrations! Still arranged alphabetically by title or the artist's last name: Sakuya Amano (Konohana Kitan) Gushing Over Magical Girls Tomoki Izumi (Mieruko-chan) Reiji Miyajima (Rent-A-Girlfriend) Chuck Mori (for Sengoku Youko) Odekake Kozame Oshi no Ko Pokémon Peaceful Place Pokémon Sleep Pokémon Sleep is holdi...
Master Japanese Otaku Lingo With New 1,600-Word Dictionary
Never get lost for (otaku) words anymore
― Whether you're a newbie or a veteran otaku, it's not easy to keep up with the otaku world's ever-changing language. Well, not anymore! Japanese publishing company Sanseido will release an otaku dictionary titled Otaku Yōgo Jiten Dai Genkai (Otaku Terms Dictionary: The Great Limit) on November 21. The 288-page dictionary has about 1,600 otaku terms covering e...
Sora Amamiya Gives Stunning Performance Playing Herself Enjoying Cheetos
Voice actress stars in 3rd ad as she crunches on snack during recording take
― Does "crunching sound made from eating Cheetos" count as acting? If it is, then Sora Amamiya gives an A-plus performance in this Cheetos commercial. In this third and final Cheetos web ad starring Amamiya, she plays herself, about to record narration for a Cheetos commercial. She wonders about the script's claim that Cheet...
Sora Amamiya Edits Anime While Eating Cheetos (But She Shouldn't)
Amamiya stars in 2nd ad as anime studio editor who adds unexpected surprise in animation scene
― Voice actress Sora Amamiya's Cheetos adventures continue, this time in a position very familiar to many keyboard warriors: having to type on a keyboard and not stain it with your Cheetos-powdered fingers. In the second of three Cheetos ads featuring Amamiya, she plays an editor at the fictional "Chester S...
Sora Amamiya Proves Cheetos Are Dangerously Cheesy for Anime
Amamiya plays animator who sparks creativity via corn puffs in 1st of 3 ads
― We all know about looking at pizza box grease and seeing it as a world map, but have you ever had a unexpected spark of creativity from looking at Cheetos dust? In this new commercial, real-life voice actress Sora Amamiya plays an animator who does exactly that. An anime studio's animation director wonders where the smoke e...
Pilotable Transforming Robot Could Be Yours for 400 Million Yen
Macross co-creator Shoji Kawamori plans to work with robot manufacturer
― Five 4.5-meter tall (14.7ft) transforming, pilotable robots are now available to purchase for wealthy would-be mecha pilots. Tsubame Industries revealed the ARCHAX robots, and reservations opened to prospective buyers for 400 million yen (about US$2.7 million USD) on August 19. Tsubame Industries unveiled the robot at a Yokoham...
Porco Rosso Line Became Catchphrase Urging Spaniards to Vote
"Better a pig than a fascist" prompts artists to draw Ghibli protagonist
― When Porco Rosso protagonist Marco Rossellini meets with his old friend Rory, the two head to a movie theater and start an impromptu conversation about the ongoing war. Rory warns Marco that the Italians plan to recruit the pig-headed pilot against his will. He tries to convince Marco to come back to the airforce, and he respo...
IKEA U.S. Launches 'Slice of Life' Campaign with Comic and Anime-Like Shorts
These animated videos were developed in collaboration between IKEA U.S. and Clubcamping, an award-winning Argentinean animation studio.
― IKEA U.S. puts a spin on "slice of life" with the introduction of its first-ever manga-inspired comic and accompanying anime-like shorts in its latest campaign for college essentials. The campaign, which launched on Monday, features three animated shorts that each...
My Hero Academia and NBA Fashion Collaboration Announced
Love My Hero Academia? How about professional basketball? My Hero Academia/NBA apparel is on its way!
― Love My Hero Academia? How about professional basketball? Then I have got news for you. My Hero Academia, TOHO animation, Crunchyroll, the NBA, NBALAB, and HYPERFLY are coming together to produce a series of NBA/My Hero Academia apparel items. This collaboration will see the characters from My Her...
Pokémon Summer Festival Coming in August
Experience the fusion of a traditional Japanese festival and Pokémon.
― Pokémon is getting its own Japanese festival! Taking place over the Obon holidays, “Pokémon Summer Festival Park” will feature many familiar Obon festival sights and activities, but with a Pokémon twist. At the center of the festival grounds will have a tower that holds a giant Pokéball and taiko drummers. Encircling the tower w...
Lycoris Recoil and Pizza Hut Collaboration Puts Chisato and Takina in Polka Dot Skirts
Pizza Hut in Japan runs a collaboration with the summer 2022 anime Lycoris Recoil. Moreover, they have a pizza they'd like you to try.
― Pizza Hut in Japan is currently running a collaboration with the summer 2022 anime Lycoris Recoil. As part of this collaboration, fans and customers can get their hands on various items that feature Lycoris Recoil protagonists Chisato and Takina in Pizza Hut polo s...
Mysterious Doorways to Nowhere Appear in Suzume's Real-Life Locales
Tourism continues strong in Iwate Prefecture's Miyako, Yamada towns after doorways were erected in February
― Suzume is a film that seems tailor-made for anime pilgrimage lovers. The action is sprawled all the way across Japan, from the Miyazaki Prefecture on the Kyushu island to the Iwate Prefecture in the Tо̄hoku region. Some of the locations depicted in the film are notably very remote, but fans h...
Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear Anime Promotes Real-Life Bear Park
Okuhida Bear's Park keeps over 100 non-hibernating bears
― In what has to be the most unsurprising collaboration ever, the Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear Punch! anime announced a promotional campaign with Okuhida Bear's Park, a zoo which keeps over 100 non-hibernating black and brown bears for tourists to feed and take photos with. From June 16 to July 31, visitors can receive a paper mat, guiding them to vario...
Transformers Toys Contribute to JAXA's Space Program
JAXA, Takara Tomy team up to develop small-scale transforming robot for precision landing on the moon
― How's this for a cutting-edge toy idea? Takara Tomy is partnering with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and other organizations to develop a miniscule transforming robot inspired by the Transformers series. This robot, called SORA-Q, will be equipped to JAXA's Smart Lander for Investig...
Bay Area Rapid Transit Unveils Anime Mascots for FanimeCon Weekend
Meet Baylee, Nimbus, Jasmine, Mira, and Barty
― The San Francisco bay area's Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system unveiled five anime mascots, debuting at Northern California's FanimeCon convention this weekend. BART staff will physically attend the event to unveil the new mascots and distribute merchandise, promotional tickets, collectible postcards, and other miscellany. BART is also previewing pos...
MyAnimeList, Honeyfeed Announce 3rd Web Novel Contest
Entries accepted from June 1 to August 31
― Anime database website MyAnimeList and web novel platform Honeyfeed announced the details of their third web novel contest on Tuesday. In addition to US$3,000 cash prizes for the top three submissions, the stories will be sent to manga publisher Kodansha to review for possible publication and/or manga adaptation. The prompt is "Wholesome Romance novel from ...
Top-Tier Voice Actors Star in LINE GAME 10th Anniversary Anime Short
Akari Kitō, Yūsuke Kobayashi, Aoi Yūki, Hiro Shimono, Takuya Eguchi, Noriko Hidaka join cast
― The LINE GAME brand began streaming the long version of its 10th anniversary anime short on Friday. The story is cute, depicting the friendship between a group of high school friends over the course of 10 years. The LINE GAME service is their common interest, and it even plays a part in helping a boy and gi...
Crunchyroll, Duolingo Team Up For Anime-Inspired Japanese Language Learning
Japanese language course adds nearly 50 phrases from popular anime
― If you're an anime fan learning Japanese, then you may be interested in Crunchyroll and Duolingo's new tie-in promotional campaign. The anime streaming service partnered with the language learning platform on Tuesday to add nearly 50 phrases inspired by popular anime to its Japanese language course. In addition, premium Crunchyroll ...
Cinnamoroll on Track to Topping Sanrio Character Ranking For 4th Consecutive Year
Badtz-maru sneaks into top 10 for 1st time in 12 years
― Sanrio released the interim results of its annual character popularity poll last Thursday, and the numbers show that Cinnamoroll is the favorite to win yet again. The adorable dog mascot character topped the poll for the past three consecutive years. The top 10 mascots (so far) are as follows: Cinnamoroll
Pom Pom Purin
Pochacco
Kuromi
Hello Kit...
Los Angeles Chargers NFL Team Releases Yet Another Anime Schedule
Here's a comprehensive guide to another edition of anime and NFL memes
― The Los Angeles Chargers has done it again. The popular NFL team posted its upcoming schedule as an anime video; just like last year's schedule, it is chock-full of anime references and NFL in-jokes. The highlights this time include Chainsaw Man, Hunter x Hunter, Kaiji, and My Hero Academia. should we REALLY make our schedule re...
Lasengle President Yoshinori Ono Gifts Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Copies to Employees
The Fate/Grand Order devs are enjoying the new Zelda game as we speak
― Best known for his long tenure as a CAPCOM producer, where he worked on the Street Fighter games up to Street Fighter V, Yoshinori Ono is currently the president of Lasengle. The game development company sprang off from Delight Works, and it works on the mobile game megahit Fate/Grand Order. Judging by Ono's recent tweets, the te...
Trigun Fan's Book Recommendation Tweet Escalates Fast
Even Trigun Stampede's producer bought This Is How You Lose the Time War after bigolas dickolas woIfwood's tweet went viral
― A humble Trigun fan's book recommendation spread much further than anyone was expecting. Last Sunday, an account by the name of "bigolas dickolas woIfwood" tweeted an effusive recommendation of Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone's This is How You Lose the Time War sci-fi novel. ...
Live-Size Moving Gundam Learns Rock Paper Scissors
Rock paper scissors tournament scheduled at Gundam Factory Yokohama on May 5
― The life-size, moving RX-78-2 Gundam statue at Gundam Factory Yokohama has picked up some new tricks. The Gundam is now capable of performing all the movements required to play rock paper scissors. To demonstrate its powers, the Gundam Factory Yokohama will hold a rock paper scissors tournament on May 5. How will the tourn...
hololive's Houshou Marine's RPG Maker Game From High School Inspires Professional Trailer
Marina Inoue, Ayane Sakura, Ryoko Shiraishi, Mie Sonozaki more voice actors participate
― The popular hololive Virtual YouTuber Houshou Marine has a self-described "cringe" history to share: When she was in high school, she made an RPG Maker game by herself. The Second World, as it was called, was a mashup of early '00s anime and video game tropes, with inspirations ranging from Higurashi: When They ...
Detective Conan Films Get Ranked By Onscreen Property Damage
The Fist of Blue Sapphire takes top spot with destruction of Singapore's Marina Bay Sands
― For many years, Detective Conan movies have been an annual opportunity for the series to indulge in high-stakes, adrenaline-filled action set pieces. On one hand, they're satisfying films that offer a different experience from the TV series, but on the flip side, some of the more extravagant scenes depict a le...
Demon Slayer Invades Shinjuku Station to Promote Milk
A massive 80-meter poster featuring chibi-fied characters from Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba drinking milk has appeared in Shinjuku Station.
― From April 17 to April 23, a massive 80-meter (approx. 87-yard) poster and numerous monitors featuring chibi-fied characters from Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba drinking milk can be found in the underground section of Tokyo's Shinjuku Station. Japanese fans h...
Turns Out the 'One Piece' Was a McDonald's Fried Chicken Burger
New campaign sees the Straw Hat crew raise their burger flag high
― McDonald's Japan and the Straw Hat crew discovered that the 'One Piece' was really a delicious burger. The fast-food restaurants are bringing back the Chicken Tatsuta Burger, and Luffy is ready to scarf one up. The Chicken Tatsuta Burger utilizes Japanese-style deep-fried chicken (tatsuta-age) for a unique sandwich. The new campaign ...
Lost '90s American Animated Saint Seiya Pilot Episode Goes Public
Lost media documentary YouTuber Ray Mona unveils the story behind Guardians of the Cosmos
― Lost media documentary YouTuber Ray Mona has shared the full pilot episode for an American animated Saint Seiya adaptation on Tuesday. The proposed cartoon, titled Guardians of the Cosmos, was conceived and scrapped during the 1990s. The documentary maker obtained the footage from the Library of Congress. She ...
Oshi no Ko Announces Tie-In With Actual Baking Soda
Kana Arima, a.k.a. "Baking Soda"-chan, was announced baking soda ambassador on April Fool's Day
― The joke has transcended April Fool's Day! Exactly one day after declaring Kana Arima (a.k.a. "Baking Soda"-chan) the baking soda ambassador, Kadokawa revealed that the Oshi no Ko anime is inspiring an actual baking soda tie-in item with the Kaneyo-Soap cleaning product brand. Japanese Oshi no Ko fans ha...
Fake Date a Live Live-Action Film Teased for April Fool's Day
Look out for more legit news at the April 5 livestream
― Kadokawa is teasing a fake Date a Live live-action film for April Fool's Day, complete with photos of the fan-favorite girl Kurumi in a chapel. Although it's just a joke announcement, the cosplay photos are well worth taking a look at in their own right: IMG 1.jpg
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IMG 3.jpg The up-and-coming talent Hinano Nitō modeled for the photos. ...
Oshi no Ko's Kana Arima Becomes Baking Soda Ambassador for April Fool's Day
Ruby has been calling Kana "the genius child actor who licks baking soda" since childhood
― Japanese Oshi no Ko fans have been calling Kana Arima "Baking Soda"-chan as a reference to a running gag from the manga: In their childhood years, Ruby mistook Kana's title of "the genius child actor who can cry on the spot" (jū-byō de nakeru tensai koyaku) as "the genius child actor who licks baking soda" (jū...
Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear Anime Turns to Rabbits for April Fool's Day
Now it's called "Usa Usa Usa Bunny!"
― Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear! How could you betray your core concept?! Exclusively for April Fool's Day, Kadokawa has released an adorable Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear visual swapping out the bear motif for a rabbit one. Accordingly, the title has been rebranded to "Usa Usa Usa Bunny!" This visual not only references the fact that it's currently the Lunar Year of the Rabbit, it a...
SEGA Releases The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog April Fool's Game on Steam
Solve the mystery of Sonic's murder in the free-to-play game
― A quirky Sonic murder mystery game is now available free to play on PC via Steam. Published by Sega and developed by the Sonic the Hedgehog social media team, The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog was released on April Fool's Day, but is a legitimate game with puzzles and visual novel-style presentation. The game even has an official launch tr...
Fake Overlord, Eminence in Shadow SD Crossover Anime Teased as April Fool's Joke
Hypothetical story slated for April 2138 would have revolved around Ainz and Cid swapping places
― Kadokawa announced a fake Ple Ple Pleiades x Kage-jitsu! crossover anime between Overlord and The Eminence in Shadow as an April Fool's joke. The teaser visual, which announces a TV debut date of "April 2138," depicts the characters in super-deformed form, much like Kadokawa's previously successful Isek...
Akihabara Card Shop Demands Customers Use Deodorant or Leave
Card Shop: Trading Card Verse Akihabara store says it has been receiving complaints about body odor
― A card shop in Akihabara went viral on Twitter over the weekend for being blunt about hygiene to an almost confrontational degree. The Twitter account for the Card Shop: Trading Card Verse Akihabara store announced on Saturday that employees will be stopping people whom they subjectively deem smelly....
Chainsaw Man's Tatsuki Fujimoto Plugs Assistant's Gay Porn Manga
"It's R-18, but it's very good, so you should give it a read," Fujimoto commented.
― Chainsaw Man manga creator Tatsuki Fujimoto frequently talks about his favorite manga and films on Twitter, but he made a very specific recommendation last Friday in a genre he does not normally cover: a boys-love one-shot created by an assistant who works on the background art in Chainsaw Man. "It's R-18, but it's v...
Resident Evil 4 Remake Game Anime Ad Parodies World Masterpiece Theater (Updated)
Nippon Animation animates 1-minute ad for game releasing on March 24
― The marketing for the remake of Capcom's Resident Evil 4 game is leaning heavily into nostalgia with a new anime ad produced by Nippon Animation, creators of the iconic World Masterpiece Theater. The minute-long ad evokes the animation style and titling sense ("Resident Evil 4 Anime PV Resident Evil Masterpiece Theater - 'Leon and...
Lipton Milk Tea Celebrates Return to Japan With Cheesy Romance Anime Ad
A boy and girl write pining love letters...except every line of dialogue actually comes from letters written by the public
― The Lipton Royal Milk Tea paper cartons stopped selling in Japan in March 2022. Fortunately for fans of the beverage, the cartons are making a triumphant return to stores across Japan (excepting Okinawa) on Tuesday. To celebrate the occasion, Morinaga Milk Industry, the company...
Actress Jennifer Coolidge Teams With Everything Everywhere All at Once Directors for Tokusatsu-Inspired Shoot
Daniel Kwan: "There's something very charming about [Tokusatsu], especially nowadays, when you can create anything digitally and nothing impresses you anymore."
― Directors Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert wowed the world last year with the epic science fiction comedy Everything Everywhere All at Once, a love letter to campy genre films of all description. It's no surprise to find out that among the ...
Pop Team Epic Namesake Racehorse Sprints to 1st Place
The horse's name is Hell Shake and the jockey's name is Yano!
― A racehorse with the distinctive name "Hell Shake" has attracted buzz in the Japanese racing world. Hell Shake and his jockey Takayuki Yano blazed to victory at a race at the Kawasaki Racecourse on Monday. The name is, of course, a reference to the "Hellshake Yano" meme from Pop Team Epic. The Kawasaki Racecourse's official Twitter accou...
Blacksmith YouTuber Forges Tengen Uzui's Swords from Demon Slayer
It turns out they're very similar to a traditional Japanese kitchen knife
― It's possible to forge Tenten Uzui's swords from Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Entertainment District Arc in real life. To prove it, the blacksmith YouTube channel That Works posted a documentary on February 5 showing bladesmith Ilya Alekseyev's entire process. Although the swords are fantastical in nature—with two large bla...
Michael B. Jordan Turns to Anime Inspirations for Creed III Fight Scenes
Jordan's feature directorial debut takes cues from Hajime no Ippo, Megalobox, Naruto, My Hero Academia, Dragon Ball Z
― Actor Michael B. Jordan (Black Panther, gen:LOCK) has made no secret of his love for anime over the years, and a new interview with IGN shows his appreciation for the classics. When asked about his anime influences for the upcoming Creed III film, which will be his feature directori...
Luffy's Long Arms Reach UEFA Champions League
Paris Saint-Germain F.C. fans set up an elaborate One Piece display at Wednesday's match
― One Piece love appears alive and well among European soccer fans. Paris Saint-Germain F.C. fans set up an elaborate One Piece display at Wednesday's UEFA Champions League match. Amusingly, the display even involves Luffy's rubber arm stretching halfway across the stadium, as shown in a video shared by Livedoor ...
Toei Animation, Sony Recreate 1999 Otaku Room in VR
Now that's a blast from the past!
― What did the typical Japanese otaku's room look like back in 1999? A recent corporate initiative has recreated a stereotypical room in Virtual Reality, although the result may be slightly biased toward Sony tech and Toei Animation properties. Onn'on Studios, a Toei Animation subdivision, launched a virtual space called "Nostalgia 1999" on VRChat last Thursday in co...
If Magical Girls Existed 700 Years Ago, Their Wands Might Look Like This
In truth, however, this magical girl wand is a lacquer artwork created by student Karin Okumura.
― Earlier this week, magical girl fans across Japanese Twitter began sharing pictures of an ancient-looking magical girl wand—and it's easy to see why. With motifs of crescent moons, clouds, hearts, and feathers in Buddhist-inspired patterns, it looks like an authentic relic passed down through the ages. ...
Urusei Yatsura's Lum Crashes Live-Action Coffee Ad
If you don't drink Lum's preferred coffee brand, you'll get zapped!
― The Georgia coffee brand released a live-action/anime hybrid television ad on January 23 featuring the iconic Urusei Yatsura heroine Lum. The story follows a hapless businessman in a convenience store trying to decide which coffee to buy. All of a sudden, Lum appears and tells him to pick the Georgia coffee; if he doesn't pick it h...
Hayao Miyazaki's Fried Egg Topping Opinions Spark Friendly Twitter Debate
The acclaimed Ghibli director thinks fried eggs go best with Worcestershire sauce
― Fried egg toppings are serious business in Japan. The style of frying eggs with an unbroken yolk might be a western import, but that hasn't stopped many Japanese households from spicing it up in their own way, with soy sauce being a prevalent condiment choice. Others follow the traditional western method of seasoning ...
Pokémon YouTuber's Pet Fish Accidentally Reveals Owner's Credit Card Information
An unexpected error caused the fish to leave the game and enter the Nintendo eShop
― YouTuber Mutekimaru, known for having his pet fish play Pokémon in livestreams, went viral again earlier this week for an even wilder feat than beating a Pokémon game without any opposable thumbs: during a stream of Pokémon Violet, an unexpected error caused the fish to leave the game and enter the Nintendo eShop, wh...
Iconic Initial D Car Gets Eco-Friendly Overhaul
Tokyo Auto Salon 2023 event showed off electric, hydrogen-powered models for the Toyota AE86
― Initial D's iconic Toyota AE86 is a cultural mainstay in Japan, although the popular 1980s car model has a retro look and feel today. Takumi Fujiwara's beloved car has gotten technical upgrades before, but in keeping with the goal for a carbon neutral society, the Tokyo Auto Salon 2023 event last weekend sh...
Spy Classroom's Next Mission: Solicit Blood Donations
Kanagawa Red Cross Blood Center to distribute clear files showing Lily, Grete, Annette, Monika
― In the story of Spy Classroom, the characters are tasked with an "impossible mission," but hopefully their newest goal is well within reach. The anime is collaborating with Kanagawa Red Cross Blood Center for a blood donation campaign. Kadokawa unveiled a visual showing Lily, Grete, Annette, and Monika in...
Love Live!'s Rin Gets Surprise Role as Baby Jesus in Local Nativity Play
Away in a manger
No crib for a bed
The little μ's Rin
Laid down her sweet head ― As it turns out, Love Live! merch has a wide variety of uses. Reddit user Ooze999 demonstrated one obscure application on Monday, posting photos of Love Live!'s Rin Hoshizora standing in as Baby Jesus in a local nativity play. Ooze999 elaborated that their mother suggested using the nesoberi plush for the play. They thou...
No crib for a bed
The little μ's Rin
Laid down her sweet head ― As it turns out, Love Live! merch has a wide variety of uses. Reddit user Ooze999 demonstrated one obscure application on Monday, posting photos of Love Live!'s Rin Hoshizora standing in as Baby Jesus in a local nativity play. Ooze999 elaborated that their mother suggested using the nesoberi plush for the play. They thou...
Detroit Lions' Jamaal Williams References Naruto on Sunday Night Football
Williams introduces himself as the "Swagg Kazekage, leader of the Hidden Village of the Den."
― Anime references abound in the National Football League (NFL) in recent days. The NFL posted on Sunday a viral clip of a moment from the "Sunday Night Football" TV program showing Detroit Lions player Jamaal Williams referencing the Naruto anime series. Williams introduces himself as the "Swagg Kazekage, l...
US Football's Jacksonville Jaguars Tweet Attack on Titan-Inspired Poster
Jaguars clinch AFC South division title against Tennessee Titans
― The American football team Jacksonville Jaguars tweeted an Attack on Titan anime-inspired poster for their game against the Tennessee Titans on Saturday. The Jacksonville Jaguars won the game with a final score of 20-16 — thus clinching the 2022 American Football Conference South division title and advancing to the National Football L...
Thundercat Won't Let You Stop Thinking About Hellshake Yano
AC-bu also shows off replica of Hellshake Yano's guitar to commemorate skit's return in Pop Team Epic Season 2
― With the return of the Pop Team Epic anime last year, the "Hellshake Yano" meme is now back at the forefront of everyone's mind. AC-bu, creators of the original sketch, returned for the second season to present a new Hellshake Yano story. And in a new surreal twist, the official Hellshake ...
Hideo Kojima Wants to Stick Around As an AI After Death
"You need to be stimulated in lots of different ways if you want to keep creating new things, so I imagine I'll keep collaborating with others and taking in new things even if I'm an AI."
― IGN posted an in-depth interview with game developer Hideo Kojima (Metal Gear, Death Stranding) on December 22. In it, Kojima makes an amusing comment: In 50 or 100 years' time, he can see himself sticking around ...
Fist of the North Star's Tetsuo Hara Designs Characters for McDonald's Ad
Hara's characters will literally jump from a cliff to get their hands on a burger
― Fist of the North Star manga illustrator Tetsuo Hara designed the characters for McDonald's Japan's new Samurai Mac burger. McDonald's Japan streamed 15 and 60-second versions of the ad on Wednesday. 60-second version: 15-second version: The ad complements an earlier live-action ad from December 20, which tells a brie...
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