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TV Tokyo Wins U.S. Lawsuits Against Sellers of Counterfeit Naruto Merchandise

Company filed "Schedule A" trademark infringement lawsuits in Illinois against online merchants that sell to U.S. customers ― The United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois announced its judgement in favor of TV Tokyo Corporation in its trademark infringement lawsuit on December 18. The company had filed a “Schedule A” trademark infringement lawsuit against multiple online mer...
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Toho International to Launch 2 e-Commerce Platforms in N. America for Godzilla Franchise, Anime

iiZO website to stock anime merchandise from Toho Animation portfolio, 3rd-party merchandise ― Entertainment news website Variety reported on Friday that Toho International will launch two new e-commerce websites in North America. One of the websites will focus on the Godzilla franchise and the other named iiZO will stock original Japanese merchandise for anime fans. The sites will go live this summ...
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Animate USA to Open Store in Torrance, California This Summer

Store to open in Del Amo Fashion Center ― Animate International announced at its panel at Anime Expo on Saturday that Animate USA will open a retail store in the Del Amo Fashion Center in Torrance, California this summer. The location will be close to Animate USA's warehouse. The location is in the fifth largest mall in the United States. The retail center already has Japanese stores such as Uniqlo,...
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Takara Tomy Reveals Beyblade X Project (Updated)

Beyblade franchise's '4th generation' debuts this summer ― Takara Tomy announced on Tuesday that its Beyblade toy and media franchise will have a new entry titled Beyblade X, which will debut this summer. The project has not specifically revealed an anime, but the project's announcement video below looks back on the history of past Beyblade anime. The video also describes the project as the "4th gene...
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Digimon Seekers Project Revealed With Novel, Trailers, Merchandise

Novel to serialize in English, Chinese, Japanese starting on April 3 ― Bandai revealed at its Digmon Con livestream event on Sunday that it will launch the Digimon Seekers project, which will include a novel, trailers, and merchandise. The project is the final project to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the franchise. The staff decided on the name "Seekers" for the new project since each character i...
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Tokyo Blocks Several Mandarake Stores From Selling Erotic Books for 180 Days

Nakano, Shibuya branches blocked from selling erotic photo books from November 18 to May 16 ― The Tokyo Metropolitan Public Safety Commission issued an administrative disposition on Tuesday blocking the Nakano and Shibuya branches of the secondhand otaku retail chain Mandarake from selling books containing erotic photographs for 180 days, beginning on Friday, November 18 until May 16, 2023. Police fi...
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Plantopia Figure Project Launches Kickstarter Campaign

Campaign reaches goal to support production of figures, future anime production ― Twin Engine, Good Smile Company, and Max Factory's new figure project Plantopia launched its planned Kickstarter campaign on August 26. The campaign has already met its goal of 5,000,000 yen (US$35,660) and has raised 8,145,235 yen (US$$58,092) as of press time. The stretch goal for the campaign includes an additional f...
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Previously Teased 'Live-Action Project' for Shūhei Miyazaki's Me & Roboco Manga is Cosplay, Figure (Updated)

SEN-TI-NEL Co., Ltd produces figure, Enako cosplays as Roboco ― This year's 32nd issue of Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine revealed on Monday that the previously teased "live-action" project for Shūhei Miyazaki's Me & Roboco (Boku to Roboko) manga is both a special collaboration with professional cosplayer Enako and a Roboco figure from SEN-TI-NEL Co., Ltd. The magazine announced in May that th...
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Twin Engine, Good Smile, Max Factory Unveil Teaser Trailer for Plantopia Project

Project involving LAM, Kukka, Nozomu Kuoka will have music videos, figures, with plans for manga, anime, more ― Twin Engine, Good Smile Company, and Max Factory announced more details and revealed a new teaser trailer for their new project Plantopia at the Good Smile Company panel at Anime Expo on Saturday. The project will first have a short music video that will debut at Good Smile Company's Smile ...
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Hyperdimension Neptunia Anime's 3rd New OVA Releases in April 2023

3rd OVA releases with 1/7-scale Neptune Little Purple figure ― The official website for the Hyperdimension Neptunia anime revealed on Friday the third new OVA in the franchise will release in April 2023. The OVA is titled Chō Jigen Game Neptune: Hidamari no Little Purple. The OVA will release as either as a serial code or as a Blu-ray Disc bundled with a new 1/7-scale Neptune Little Purple ver. figur...
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Takara Tomy's Tomica Heroes Toy Cars Get Tomica Heroes Jobraver Web Anime Starting on April 22

Shotaro Uzawa, Yūki Shin, Shun Horie star in anime about robots that combine with job-related automobiles ― Takara Tomy's Tomica toy car brand announced on Friday that its Tomica Heroes toy car line featuring automobiles related to work activities will get a web anime series titled Tomica Heroes Jobraver: Tokusō Gattai Robo (Customized Combining Robots) that will premiere on YouTube on April 22. Taka...
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Bandai Hobby Site Stops Posting Model Shipping Schedules Due to Scalping Concerns

― The Bandai Hobby Site announced last Friday that it will stop posting the shipping and arrival schedules of its model kit products on the site in an effort to curtail scalping or resale efforts of individuals. The site explained that while it posts the arrival dates of kits for retail stores on the site, the date is not a guarantee, and may represent a different shipping status with every retailer...
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Tamashii Nations Tokyo Store Moves Into Gundam Café Tokyo's Former Site

New store to be renamed as Tamashii Nations Store Tokyo ― Bandai Spirits' Tamashii Nations figure brand announced on Thursday that its physical Tamashii Nations Tokyo store will move locations on June 23. The retail store will move from its previous location at the Hulic & New Akihabara building in Tokyo's Akihabara district to the former site of the now-closed Gundam Tokyo Cafe Brand Core, right nex...
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Kyoto Animation Closes Physical Store Permanently

Studio had closed store after deadly arson in 2019, continued closure due to COVID-19 ― Kyoto Animation announced on Monday that the studio has decided to permanently close its Kyoani & Do Shop! physical merchandise store in Uji, Kyoto. The company commented on the closure: It was a tough decision for us to close the space where many fans and friends had given us sincere, warm thoughts and sympathy. ...
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Jujutsu Kaisen Online Puzzle Game - Escape from the Cursed Spirit of the Abandoned School Gets English Release

English version of game will be available in U.S., Canada, U.K., Australia, Singapore ― SCRAP announced on Tuesday that it has launched an English version of the cross-platform online puzzle game based on Gege Akutami's Jujutsu Kaisen manga titled Jujutsu Kaisen Online Puzzle Game - Escape from the Cursed Spirit of the Abandoned School. The English version of the game is available in the United State...

Attack on Titan Franchise Halts Sales of Eldian Armbands

Anime's production committee states in apology that armband "evokes images of discrimination" ― The official website for the Attack on Titan The Final Season anime announced on Monday that the anime's production committee has decided not to offer the Eldian armband as commercial merchandise for the anime, after acknowledging that the armband evokes images of discrimination. The site initially announc...

Mandarake's 'Banned Publications' Store Closes Temporarily Due to Police

Adult store opened on August 28, faced criticism from nearby fashion shop for teenagers ― Police undertook a search of Mandarake's "Banned Publications" adult store at the Nakano Broadway complex in Tokyo on September 15, prompting the store's temporary closure. The store's official website noted that it will reopen at a later date with a "powered up" lineup of products. The store opened on August 28...
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Academy Museum Publishes Catalog of Hayao Miyazaki's Works

Catalog featuring never-before-seen production materials available on September 7 through Museum store ― The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures announced on Tuesday that it is publishing a catalog of anime director Hayao Miyazaki's works. The catalog will be available on September 7 through the Academy Museum Store. DelMonico Books is co-publishing the book, and D.A.P. Artbook is distributing the book...
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Gundam Breaker Battlogue Project Announced With Planned Game, Anime

Masami Obari directs 6-episode short series ― Sunrise revealed on Tuesday that it will launch the Gundam Breaker Battlogue project this summer, with a planned anime, game, and Gunpla merchandise. The new project will include project-original mechs. The anime portion of the project will be a six-episode short anime series. The project will stream this fall on the Gundam YouTube channel in Japan and on...
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Toys R Us Plans Another Return in United States

WHP Global acquires controlling interest in TOYS R US parent company Tru Kids Inc. ― New York-based brand management company WHP Global announced on Monday that it has acquired a controlling interest in American retailer Tru Kids Inc., the parent company of the Toys R Us brand. The company plans to open flagships, pop-ups, airport shops, or mini-stores within other retailers, across North America ahe...
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MegaHouse Holds MegaHobby Expo Online Event

Virtual con to showcase figures for Demon Slayer, Digimon, Gundam, One Piece, more ― Bandai's MegaHouse Corporation will hold the MegaHobby Expo Online from October 30 to November 1 in place of its annual physical MegaHobby Expo event. The virtual convention will feature figure and product reveals, interactive events, and booths from toy and figure companies including Alter, Hobby Japan, Kotobukiya, ...
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Alice Gear Aegis Game Gets Original Video Anime in Summer 2021

Smartphone 3D shooter launched in January 2018 ― An official website opened on Monday to announce that COLOPL's Alice Gear Aegis smartphone game is getting an original video anime (OVA) adaptation. The OVA is slated to debut around summer 2021. People who purchase MegaHouse's Sitara Kaneshiya Desktop Army figure, Kotobukiya's Sugumi Kanagata Megami Device figure, or Max Factory's Yumi Yotsuya figma f...
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8 People Arrested on Suspicion of Selling Fake Demon Slayer Figures in Japan

5 of accused allegedly sold 44 figures for 57,980 yen The Mainichi Shimbun newspaper reported on Friday that Kyoto, Hyogo and Akita prefectural police forces have arrested eight residents from six prefectures on suspicion of selling bootleg Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba merchandise and infringing the Copyright Act. Kyoto Prefectural Police arrested five suspects. According to the police, the suspe...
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Genesis Climber Mospeada Gets New Genesis Breaker Project

Shinji Aramaki, Hideki Kakinuma reunite for new project ― Tatsunoko Production announced on Thursday that it is producing a new project based on its Genesis Climber Mospeada franchise titled Genesis Climber Mospeada Genesis Breaker. Shinji Aramaki and Hideki Kakinuma are returning as mechanical designers for the project, with the announcement showing a new ride armor (seen below). Sentinel plans to r...
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U.K. Publishing Platform Funds Release of Hardcover Book About Anime Architecture

Book to include art material from Akira, Ghost in the Shell, Patlabor, Evangelion, Tekkonkinkreet ― Volume, a U.K. publishing platform that hosts campaigns to fund and produce printed works, is currently taking pre-orders for a Collector's Edition of the art book Anime Architecture. The book is £75 and is slated to ship in the fourth quarter of 2020. The book will have a general release this fall, bu...
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Kodansha USA Delays Spring, Summer Print Manga Releases

Seven Seas' May paperbacks delayed but digital still on time; more events in Japan cancelled ― Kodansha USA Publishing, which handles the Kodansha Comics and Vertical imprints, announced on Friday that it is delaying many of its print releases scheduled for spring and summer 2020 to later in the year due to the impact of the current "global health crisis." All previously scheduled Kodansha Comics and...
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Kadokawa Launches Official Goods Store for Overseas Fans

― Kadokawa opened EJ ANiME STORE — a new online store for anime, manga, light novels, games, and merchandise — on January 30. The store is targeted toward fans outside of Japan, and is available in 17 countries and regions on launch, including the United States, Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Kadokawa plans to expand the store in the future to 80 countries, including...
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Los Angeles Toy Importer Arrested for Counterfeit Pokémon, Hello Kitty, Mario Goods

Counterfeiter manufactured more than US$1.4 million in counterfeit goods ― The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced on November 26 that Wan Piao, owner of a toy import store in El Monte, California, has been arrested and charged with manufacturing and possessing more than US$1.4 million in counterfeit goods. According to Deputy District Attorney Duke Cha, Piao had more than 500,000...
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Crunchyroll Launches Gundam Merchandise Partnership

― Crunchyroll announced on Tuesday that it has launched a partnership with anime studio Sunrise and advertising agency Sotsu Co., Ltd. to manage the merchandise rights for five Gundam franchise series in North America, South America, the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. The series include Mobile Suit Gundam, Mobile Suit Gundam Wing, Mobile Suit Gundam Seed, Mobile Suit Gundam 00, ...
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Takara Tomy Arts Reveals New 'Japanda' Character With Animated Short by Fanworks

Olympic mascot designer Ryō Taniguchi designs new character ― Takara Tomy Arts announced on September 3 that it is developing merchandise and media around a new character named "Japanda." Ryō Taniguchi (designer for Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games' official mascots) designed the character. Fanworks (Aggressive Retsuko) produced an animated short for the character's debut. The target audience ...
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Bandai Namco, Shueisha Establish Shanghai Company for Manga Merchandise

New Shueisha Bandai Namco (Shanghai) company will offer goods based on Shueisha manga properties ― Bandai Namco Holdings and Shueisha announced on Tuesday that they will jointly establish a new Shanghai-based company tentatively named "Shueisha Bandai Namco (Shanghai) Co., Ltd." in October. Bandai Namco Holdings will maintain a 51% controlling stake in the company, while Shueisha will hold a 49% mino...

Toy Company Banpresto Dissolves, Combines With Bandai Spirits

Bandai Spirits took over company's convenience store business last February ― The February 22 issue of the National Printing Bureau's Kanpō publication revealed that toy company Banpresto has been dissolved and combined with Bandai Namco Holdings' toy and hobby subsidiary Bandai Spirits. Bandai Spirits has taken over all rights and duties from the former company. Bandai Spirits was established on Feb...
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Nelvana, Sumitomo Reveal Geki Drive Animated Series Based on Bandai's Car Toy Line

Shigeki Fujiwara works on hybrid 2D/3D series with 52 planned episodes ― Corus Entertainment announced on February 7 that its Nelvana subsidiary and Sumitomo Corporation will produce the Geki Drive animated series as their first collaborative project. The 2D/3D hybrid animated series will have 52 11-minute episodes and will target boys aged six to eight. The show is based on Bandai Spirits' customiza...
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Yo-kai Watch Franchise's Last Retail Store Closes on February 24

Chain began closing stores in April 2018 ― The official website for the Yo-kai Watch franchise's retail store chain Yorozu Mart announced on February 1 that the lead store in Fukuoka, the chain's last remaining location, will close on February 24. The chain once had more than 10 stores in locations such as Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, and Sapporo. However, a wave of store closures began in April 2018. The J...
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Bakugan's Spin Master Reaches Settlement in Lawsuit Against Screechers Wild!

Alpha Group no longer sells Screechers Wild! toys in U.S., U.K., Canada ― Canadian toy and media company Spin Master announced on January 14 that it has reached a settlement in its lawsuit against Alpha Group US, LLC, Alpha Animation, and Toys Limited. Alpha Group agreed not to sell its Screechers Wild! products in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States (the three countries where Spin Mast...
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Bandai's Plex Subsidiary to Absorb Tamagotchi Developer Wiz

Wiz founded in 1986, developed Tamagotchi, Digimon toy lines ― Bandai Namco Holdings announced on Wednesday that it is merging its subsidiary toy company and Tamagotchi maker Wiz with the Plex toy company of its Bandai subsidiary, dissolving Wiz as a company effective April 1. Akihiro Yokoi, previously employed at Bandai, founded Wiz in 1986. The company was best known for developing the Tamagotchi a...
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Police Arrest 2 Men for Selling Fake Love Live! Sunshine!! Goods

Both suspects are managers of Akihabara shop allegedly selling Aqours-inspired hoodies ― Police from Numazu City and Shizuoka Prefecture arrested two shop managers on Wednesday for their involvement in a shop that was allegedly selling fake Love Live! Sunshine!! merchandise in Akihabara, Tokyo. The suspects allegedly offered hoodies bearing a logo similar to that of Aqours — the name of both the fran...
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Bandai Namco Acquires Bluefin, Establishes U.S. Toy Company

New company to continue operations under Bluefin name, Steve Fujimura remains CEO ― Bandai Namco Holdings announced on Wednesday that it has acquired an 80% controlling stake in Nippon Imports, LLC, the collectible toy sales company that owns and operates under the brand and trade name Bluefin. The company will establish a new subsidiary named Bandai Namco Collectibles in October that will continue t...

One-Punch Man Ranks #2 on U.S. Monthly Bookscan July List

Dragon Ball Super, My Hero Academia: Vigilantes, My Hero Academia, Attack on Titan, Berserk, Tokyo Ghoul:re, Tokyo Ghoul also rank ― ONE and Yuusuke Murata's One Punch Man manga volume 14 ranked at #2 on NPD BookScan's Top 20 adult graphic novels list for July. This month's list featured 14 manga volumes including: #3 — Toyotarō and Akira Toriyama's Dragon Ball Super volume 3 #5 —Hideyuki Furuhashi a...

Girls und Panzer Restricts Production, Sales of Unofficial Goods

Franchise restricts duplicates of official merchandise, derivative works, self-produced merchandise ― The official Twitter account of the Girls und Panzer franchise announced on June 7 that it is restricting sales of unofficial goods, and will consider the production and sale of duplicates of official merchandise, derivative works (including dōjinshi), and self-produced merchandise as copyright infri...
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Bakugan's Spin Master Files U.S. Patent Lawsuit Against Mattel for 'Mecard' Toys

Company alleges S. Korean toys violate patent on transforming mechanism ― Canadian toy and media company Spin Master announced last Wednesday that it has filed suit in the Central District of California against Mattel for Mattel's sale of "Mecard" toys, which Spin Master alleges violate at least two of its patents. Mecard Spin Master is claiming Mecard ("Turning Mecard" in Asia) infringes on its worl...
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King Blade Penlight Maker Sues to Stop Rival's Sales Over Design

Ruifan Japan claims Happyjoint's "Colorful Fantastic" pen lights violate design rights, damage King Blade brand ― Ruifan Japan, the maker of the King Blade brand of pen lights often used in live concerts in Japan, filed a lawsuit on March 16 against the company Happyjoint, claiming that the latter's Colorful Fantastic brand of pen lights infringed on Ruifan's King Blade design rights. Ruifan is also ...
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Good Smile Company Establishes Shanghai Firm for Original Chinese Products

New company will develop figures, character goods through licenses ― Japanese figure, toy, and accessory manufacturer Good Smile Company announced on Monday that it has opened a new Shanghai-based subsidiary named Good Smile Arts Shanghai. The company will develop and produce original Chinese products through character licenses. These original products will include figures and character goods. Good S...
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Hasbro to Take Over Has Toy Licensee for Power Rangers Franchise

Agreement provides opportunity for Hasbro's purchase of Power Rangers property ― Hasbro and Saban Brands announced on Friday that Hasbro will be the global master toy licensee for Saban's Power Rangers franchise, outside of Japan and other Asian markets, beginning on April 1, 2019. The first products are slated for spring 2019. According to the press release, the agreement also provides both parties ...
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Saban Brands, Bandai Discontinue Power Rangers Toy License Agreement

Saban Brands announced on Thursday that it and Bandai have mutually agreed to not renew Bandai America's master toy license agreement for Power Rangers, effective April 2019. Bandai will still support the Power Rangers franchise up to its 25th anniversary, and will also support the currently-airing Power Rangers Super Ninja Steel show. Bandai still maintains toy rights to Toei's Super Sentai serie...
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Bakugan's Spin Master Files Patent Infringement Lawsuit Against Screechers Wild

Alpha Group responds that it "will not be deterred" by allegations ― Canadian toy and media company Spin Master announced on Monday that it has filed suit against Alpha Group US, LLC, Alpha Animation, and Toys Limited, alleging their toy product "Screechers Wild!" infringes on Spin Master's patent for Bakugan toys. The company has filed the proceedings in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United St...
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Bandai Visual Pulls IDOLiSH7 Character Fragrance Line After Alleged Breach of Contract

Masayama claims Bandai Visual offers fragrances against terms of contract ― The Masameya company announced on Thursday that it had filed a request for arbitration with Bandai Visual to the Tokyo Summary Court on January 17 with the intent of addressing an alleged breach of contract by Bandai Visual regarding Masameya's "primaniacs" character fragrance brand. According to Masameya, Bandai Visual had a...
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Bandai, Shogakukan, Toei Animation Announce Bakutsuri Bar Hunter Franchise with Anime, Manga, Game, Toys

Children's franchise focuses on barcodes, fishing ― Bandai, Shogakukan, and Toei Animation opened a website on Monday to announce a new multimedia franchise titled Bakutsuri Bar Hunter. The concept of the franchise is that the barcodes on our personal belongings all have a "bar soul." These unknown "bar soul" lifeforms live in the "barcode ocean." And in this world, people can use a "Bakutsuri Bar Ro...
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Man Arrested for Selling Girls & Panzer School Crest Stickers

Kurashiki city police and the cybercrime prevention unit of the Okayama prefectural police arrested an individual for allegedly making and selling stickers bearing the school crests from the Girls & Panzer anime without the copyright holder's permission. The suspect, 33-year-old company employee Kazuki Mori from Komatsu in Ishikawa prefecture, admitted to the charge. According to police, Kazuki ha...
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Pikachin-Kit Children's Multimedia Project Unveiled With Anime, Manga

OLM, Shinei Animation produce anime centering on student inventor for January 6 premiere ― Shogakukan opened a website on Tuesday to reveal the launch of a new multimedia project titled Pochitto Hatsumei: Pikachin-Kit (Pochi and Invention: Pikachin-Kit). The franchise includes toys, planned anime and manga projects, a YouTube video series, and a variety program. The November issue of Shogakukan's Cor...
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Takara Tomy's Shinkalion Franchise Gets TV Anime in 2018

Toy franchise features transforming bullet trains who fight to protect Japan ― Takara Tomy announced on Saturday that its Shinkalion toy franchise is getting a television anime adaptation that will premiere in 2018. The anime, titled Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion the Animation, will air on TBS and its affiliates. The Shinkalion robots are various models of real-life Japanese bullet trains (shinka...
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Sailor Moon Crystal Gets 2 Board Games This Year

Dyskami Publishing Company will release more board games in 2018 ― Board game company Dyskami Publishing Company announced on Wednesday that it is developing a line of official board games based on the Sailor Moon Crystal anime. The first two games are titled Sailor Moon Crystal Dice Challenge and Sailor Moon Crystal Truth or Bluff. Sailor Moon Crystal Dice Challenge is a dice battle game where playe...
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Takara Tomy's Transformers Designer Hideaki Yoke Retires

Designer helped create Optimas Prime, Perceptor, Scourge, more toys ― Former Hasbro Transformers team leader Aaron Archer (pictured left in image at right) revealed on Thursday that Transformers designer Hideaki Yoke (pictured right) has retired from Takara Tomy. Yoke was a lead designer for the Transformers toy line. Yoke worked for Takara to design products in the Diaclone and Micorman lines in the...
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Gundam Theme Park to Be Replaced by Japan's Biggest Gundam Model Center

Gundam Base Tokyo opens this summer, before life-size Unicorn Gundam's fall debut ― Bandai announced on Sunday that after the Gundam Front Tokyo amusement park closes at the DiverCity Tokyo mall on April 5, The Gundam Base Tokyo complex will take its place this summer. The complex on the mall's seventh floor will be Japan's largest one devoted to Gundam plastic models (Gunpla), as well as a "base" fo...
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Live-Action Ghost in the Shell Film Gets Art Book on March 14

David S. Cohen writes book with foreword by WETA Workshop co-founder Richard Taylor ― The io9 website announced on Tuesday that Insight Editions will release an art book for the live-action Ghost in the Shell film on March 14. David S. Cohen is writing the book, titled The Art of Ghost in the Shell. The book will include a foreword from WETA Workshop co-founder Richard Taylor. Preview images from the...
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Kotobukiya's Frame Arms Girl Model Kit Line Gets TV Anime in 2017

Strike Witches' Humikane Shimada designs characters based on Takayuki Yanase robot designs ― The January 2017 issue of Kadokawa's Comp Ace magazine is revealing on Saturday that Kotobukiya's Frame Arms Girl model kit line is getting a television anime in 2017. Kotobukiya has launched a website for the anime, which features an announcement video. Kotobukiya originally announced the anime at the Anime ...
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Tomy International to Release Interactive Z-Ring Toy for Pokémon Sun/Moon

Z-Ring toy to coincide with Pokémon Sun/Moon's launch ― The Pokémon Company announced on Monday that Tomy International will release a "Z-Ring" toy bracelet to coincide with the November 18 launch of its Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon games. The Japanese Pokemon website announced that the company will also release separate "Z-Crystals" that are compatible with the bracelet. In the game, the trainer use...
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2 Mr. Osomatsu Character Books Rank #1, #2 on Weekly Book Chart

Karamatsu book ranks #1 with 36,000 copies, Osomatsu book at #2 with 35,000 ― Two character books for the Mr. Osomatsu anime ranked #1 and #2 on Oricon's overall weekly book chart for the week of May 23-29. The Karamatsu character book topped the ranking with 36,000 copies sold, while the Osomatsu character book ranked second with 35,000 copies sold. The books each focus on one of the six Matsuno bro...
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'Jump CS' Project Revealed as Online 'Characters Store'

This year's 20th issue of Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine revealed on Monday that the "Jump CS" project announced last month will be an online "characters store" with a variety of new merchandise. The store will open on Monday at noon JST (Sunday at 11:00 p.m. EDT) and will have an opening fair that will last until May 15. The 17th issue of Weekly Shonen Jump had teased the project in March...
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Hasbro, Sunrights Plan International Launch of Beyblade Burst Toys, Anime

Toys slated for 2016 in N. America; anime shopped to broadcasters ― Toy company Hasbro and production company d-rights' US subsidiary Sunrights announced plans on Monday to launch the Beyblade Burst toys and anime outside of Japan. Hasbro will distribute the toys in North America this year, and expand to "most major international markets" in 2017. Like Takara Tomy's Beyblade Burst toys, which launche...

Japan Crate's 'Doki Doki Crate' Ships With Bootleg Items; Company Responds

Bootleg Sailor Moon, Cardcaptor Sakura figures, others ship with subscription boxes ― Subscription box service Japan Crate shipped the first three installments of its "Doki Doki Crate" in December, January, and February. The company received complaints about bootleg items in all three boxes, including a bootleg Petit Chara Sailor Moon figure in the January box and a bootleg Good Smile Company Cardcap...
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KAT-TUN, Rin Akatsuki Perform The File of Young Kindaichi Returns' New Theme Songs

"Legend of Snow Demon Murder Case" story arc begins on January 23 ― This year's eighth issue of Kodansha's Weekly Shonen Magazine revealed on Wednesday that KAT-TUN and Rin Akatsuki are performing the theme songs for the second season of The File of Young Kindaichi Returns television anime. KAT-TUN is performing the anime's opening theme, "Tragedy." KAT-TUN member Kazuya Kamenashi previously played t...

Sanrio, Sega Toys Collaborate on Rilu Rilu Fairilu TV Anime

2nd collaboration project after Jewelpet franchise also includes goods, game, event ― Sega Toys revealed on Friday that it is collaborating with Sanrio on a new multimedia character project titled Rilu Rilu Fairilu that will include a TV anime, merchandise, books, a game, and events. The project is the second multimedia character collaborative project for the two companies after they launched the Jew...
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Bandai's Geki Drive Customizable Car Toys Get Manga

Series began in Corocoro this month ― This year's December issue of Shogakukan's Corocoro Comics magazine announced on November 15 that Atsushi Ōba will launch a manga adaptation of Bandai's Geki Drive customizable car toy series in the January issue on December 15. The December issue published a nine-page preview for the manga. The toy series is slated for release in January. The cars utilize the "L...
daily briefs

Studio Chizu Files The Boy and the Beast, Wolf Children Trademarks in Japan

Studio Chizu, the animation studio founded by producer Yuichiro Saito and director Mamoru Hosoda, filed trademarks for "Ookami Kodomo no Ame to Yuki" (the Japanese title of the Wolf Children film) and "Bakemono no Ko" (the Japanese title of The Boy and the Beast film) in Japan. Studio Chizu animated both films. The trademark listing includes its use for "business use television games, software, t...
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Gangsta.'s 6th, 7th Drama CDs Delayed

Frontier Works announced on its official website on Friday that it is postponing the releases of the sixth and seventh drama CDs for the Gangsta. anime. The sixth CD was originally meant to ship on November 25, with the seventh slated for January 27. The company stated that the new release dates are currently unknown, and it will inform fans when it decides on new dates. The company apologized to ...
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Bandai Namco Files 'Tales of the Best' Trademark in Japan, Square Enix Files 'Dimension W'

Bandai Namco Entertainment filed a trademark on October 14 for "Tales of the Best" in Japan. The company also filed a trademark on October 13 for "Balloon Bash" and "Brave Scramble," and on October 14 for "Mitsukete!" The company previously filed similarly titled trademarks earlier this year for "Tales of Berseria," "Tales of Orfellia," and "Tales of Alestia." Bandai Namco Entertainment eventually...
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Digital Manga's Wonder 3 Kickstarted Adds Kimba, Goast Man Manga

Black Jack, Astro Boy-themed merchandise also added as rewards ― North American publisher Digital Manga Inc.'s Wonder 3 (Wonder Three) Kickstarter campaign added the dual language "Leo Edition" of Osamu Tezuka's Jungle Taitei (Kimba the White Lion) manga, as well as the Japanese hardcover version of Tezuka's Goast Man manga as backer rewards on Wednesday. The campaign also added new reward tiers for ...
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Viewster to Stream Meine Liebe, Saint Beast Anime

Company provides more details on its Omakase premium subscription service ― Viewster Inc., the new Los Angeles-based subsidiary of worldwide video streaming service Viewster, announced at its panel at New York Comic Con on Saturday that it will stream the Meine Liebe and Saint Beast television anime series. Both series will be available worldwide outside of Japan and Chinese- and French-speaking terr...

Sanrio's Salmon Fillet Mascot Transformed Into a Girl With Possible Anime Plans

Free's Tsubasa Yonaga voices Kirimi-chan with Takuma Terashima, Daiki Yamashita, Takuya Satō, Nobunaga Shimazaki, Kenjiro Tsuda ― The Sanrio Expo 2015 exhibition announced last week that the brand licensing company is transforming its salmon fillet mascot "Kirimi-chan." into a girl character. Sanrio is launching the promotion this fall, and it is already exploring plans to adapt the project into an a...
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Fairy Tail Gets New Monthly Magazine in September

Earlier magazine serialized manga spinoffs, ended in July ― The official website for Kodansha's Monthly Fairy Tail Magazine announced that a new monthly magazine dedicated to Hiro Mashima's Fairy Tail manga will launch digitally on September 1 and in print on September 17. The new magazine will be titled Monthly Fairy Tail Collection. In addition to Fairy Tail news, each issue of the magazine will bu...

Bikini Warriors Fantasy Figure Series Gets TV Anime Project in July

Rei Hiroe, Hisasi, Tony, more contribute character designs for Hobby Japan/Megahouse figure line ― Hobby Japan and Megahouse's "Bikini Warriors" series of figures is getting a television anime project that will premiere in July. The characters in the line include: Fighter (designed by Cute Devil Girlfriend manga artist Hisasi), a professional in hand-to-hand combat who is especially skilled at using ...

Spear of Longinus Crowdfunding Project Now Accepting International Backers

The "Project to Pierce the Moon With the Spear of Longinus" crowdfunding campaign opened an English page for international backers. Backers not residing in Japan can select rewards in the 5,000 and 50,000 yen tiers, including having your name inscribed on the spear, an Evangelion Unit 01 Set (poster by Ikuto Yamashita, sticker, and blueprint of the lunar payload releasing machine), a Rei Ayanami S...
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Weekly Evangelion Chronicle Magazine Returns for 3rd Time

20th anniversary edition will expand to 60 issues ― The publisher DeAgostini is relaunching the Weekly Evangelion Chronicle Magazine on Tuesday, this time for a 20th anniversary edition. The magazine initially premiered in 2006 and ran for 30 issues, and it was revived as a "new and revised edition" in 2010 with a planned 40 issues, but ultimately went on to publish 50 issues. With this new revival, ...
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Hasbro to Launch Level-5's Yo-kai Watch Toy Line in 2016

More TV, game, merchandise partners to be announced in 2015 Dentsu Entertainment USA and TV Tokyo announced on Friday that they are partnering with Hasbro to launch a toy line based on the Yo-kai Watch game and anime franchise next year. They added, "The Yo-kai Watch cross-platform experience will also include additional broadcasting, video game and merchandising relationships to be announced late...
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Yo-kai Watch, Frozen Helped Raise 2014 Toy Sales in Japan by 7%

Plush toys, strong Christmas season also credited ― GfK Marketing Services Japan reported that toy sales in Japan rose 7% in 2014, compared to the previous year. GfK noted that Christmas season sales were particularly active in 2014 compared to 2013. Strong market segments include boys' toys, which rose 23%, and plush toys, which rose 13%. By contrast, girls' toys dipped 6%, and games dipped 9%. Yo-k...

Cardcaptor Sakura Book of Revised Key Frames to be Sold at Comiket 87

Anime Style also releases Animated Artworks (Special Edition), Animated Character Designs (Full-Scale Drawings) ― Magazine Anime Style will release three art books for the anime adaptation of Clamp's Cardcaptor Sakura manga at the Comic Market 87 event that will be held at the Tokyo Big Sight venue from December 28 to 30. The Cardcaptor Sakura: Revised Key Frames by the Animation Director book will c...

Attack on Titan Gets Its Own Monthly Magazine With Figures

12 issues with figures & parts that form a wall diorama, starting in April ― The 15th volume of Hajime Isayama's Attack on Titan manga is announcing on Tuesday that Kodansha will launch a Monthly Attack on Titan Official Figure Collection magazine next April. Each of the 12 monthly 1,800-yen (about US$15) sets will come with a magazine issue and a newly sculpted figure. The first three figures will b...
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Luigi Explores Tabletop Level in Bandai's New Stop-Motion Figure Short

Super Mario's Luigi joins S.H. Figuarts action figure line, with Yoshi coming next ― Bandai is promoting Luigi, the latest Super Mario addition to its S.H. Figuarts line of action figures, with a new stop-motion animated short: The Luigi figure goes on sale this month for 3,564 yen (about US$30, tax included) in Japan. The "Asoberu! Playset C" also goes on sale this month for 2,808 yen (US$24). The a...

Yo-kai Watch Projected to Top Gundam in Bandai's Toy/Hobby Sales

Yo-kai Watch projected for 40 billion yen (about US$348 million) in sales for April 2014-March 2015 ― Bandai Namco announced in an earnings report on Thursday the projected best-selling toy and hobby brands for the company for the fiscal year ending in March 2015. Yo-kai Watch tops the list with 40 billion yen (about US$350 million) in projected sales with Gundam in second place with 22 billion yen ...

Frozen, Yo-kai Watch Are Japan's Top Products

Manga Box also ranks in Nikkei's "Best 30 Hit Products in 2014" list ― Nikkei Business Publications' Nikkei Trendy magazine announced the results of the "Best 30 Hit Products in 2014" annual column on Monday. The column lists the top 30 products and services and their popularity in Japan. Disney's film Frozen took first place, with its Blu-ray release alone selling over one million copies in its firs...

AnimeNation Retailer Closes Shop After 20 Years

Company's AN Entertainment branch released Omishi Magical Theater: Risky Safety, Miami Guns, Haré+Guu in North America ― AnimeNation.net's Gene Field announced on Saturday that the online retail company is closing shop after 20 years. Field offered the following statement: After 20 years, we've decided to get out of the retail game. A heartfelt thanks to all our great customers over the years, and al...

Merchandising Company Great Eastern Files Suit Against 'Maryland Anime' Store

Vendor accused of selling counterfeit anime goods ― The merchandising company Great Eastern Entertainment filed a lawsuit in Illinois against Amanda Naeemi, her Maryland Anime store, VK338 LLC, and 10 unnamed defendants on June 23. Great Eastern alleges the defendants engaged in inter alia, passing off, trademark infringement, false advertising, unfair competition, deceptive trade practices, and cons...
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One Piece's Luffy, Ace Star in 2nd Stop-Motion "Cry heart" Short

New short recreates "Oath of Brothers" scene from Eiichiro Oda's manga ― Banpresto began streaming a stop-motion animated video for its "One Piece Cry heart ~children's dream~” line of crane game prize figures on Monday. The short recreates the famous "Oath of Brothers" scene from Eiichiro Oda's manga and anime: Unlike most figures, Banpresto's "Cry heart" figures is deliberately designed to encourag...

2014 Super Sentai Show Tokkyūger Unveiled

Train-themed show featuring Tokkyū-Oh mech to premiere on February 16 ― Bandai's toy catalog for retailers has unveiled the 2014 Super Sentai special-effects series Ressha Sentai Tokkyūger. The television series will premiere on TV Asahi on February 16, 2014 at 7:30 a.m. The theme of the new show is trains, and the staff plan to target train enthusiasts alongside Super Sentai fans. The members of the...

Kuroko's Basketball Ichiban Kuji Line Pulled Due to Poison Threat

Family Mart pulls merchandise, Circle K Sunkus considers doing the same ― The Sankei Sports newspaper is reporting that the convenience store chain Family Mart stopped selling the "Ichiban Kuji Kuroko no Basuke ~Seirin & Kaijō~" lottery merchandise line on Friday due to a poison threat. The Circle K Sunkus store chain is also considering suspending sales of the merchandise. On Tuesday, Sankei Shimbun...

Harmony Gold USA v. Hasbro Case Dismissed

Both parties agreed to drop the case last month ― Harmony Gold U.S.A. Inc.'s lawsuit against Hasbro, Inc. for copyright infringement was dismissed on September 23. The Stipulation for Dismissal of Action is representative of both parties agreeing to dismiss the lawsuit, which is opposed to a judge or court order dismissing the case due to lack of evidence. The documents also state the lawsuit is dism...
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Good Smile Company Unveils Mascot Girl in Anime Video

New company character wields portable airbrush in Wonder Festival video ― The hobby character figure manufacturer Good Smile Company unveiled the image promotional video for its new company character at Wonder Festival 2013 [Summer] on Sunday. The character's name has yet to be announced. In the video, she wields an themed portable airbrush. Good Smile Company revealed its upcoming lineup, including ...

Harmony Gold Sues Hasbro for Copyright Infringement Over Toy

Company alleges Hasbro's G.I. Joe & Transformers crossover toy infringes on Robotech ― Licensing company Harmony Gold USA, Inc. filed a lawsuit against Hasbro, Inc. for copyright infringement on Monday in the United States District Court in the Central District of California — Western Division. According to court documents, Harmony Gold is alleging that Hasbro violated its copyright on the Macross, M...

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