Minoru KAWAKAMI

Funico - What Does it Mean?
ANN's Christopher Macdonald was the first member of the press to learn about the Funimation - NicoNico deal, and here he spells out what it means for everyone. Who this deal is good for, and who it's bad for. 2011-10-14

New York Comic-Con 2011
New York Comic-Con has begun! Available Now:
Viz Media Press-Only Panel + Interview - Vertical Inc. Panel - Funimation Panel - Anime Network Panel - Kodansha Comics Panel with Hiro Mashima - Naruto Shippuden Panel - Aniplex of America Panel - Crunchyroll Industry Panel - Yen Press Panel - Preview Day Gallery - 2011-10-13

The Fall 2011 Anime Preview Guide
The Fall 2011 Anime Preview Guide has begun! Check back daily for updates.
Previews Available Now: Guilty Crown - Un-Go - Chihayafuru episode 2, Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere episode 2 - Kimi to Boku episode 2 - Gundam Age - Mirai Nikki - Hunter x Hunter episode 2 - Ben-to - Fate/Zero episode 2 - Majikoi - Oh! Samurai Girls! - Shakugan no Shana III (Final) - and more! 2011-10-01

List of 2011 Fall Season TV Anime in Japan
Our Spotlight shows are up, but there's much more anime coming out this season. Here's the big list, with the important points on each. 2011-09-21

ANNCast - Omega Men at Work
Everyone's at New York Comic-Con - except Zac and Justin, who hang back to talk about movies and anime and take your questions! Also: Deb Aoki drops by to talk about the rattling noises coming out of Tokyopop. FUN! 2011-10-14

Hey, Answerman! - Occupy Anime Street
This time on Answerman! Brian deals with the economic trials and travails of being a true-blue Otaku in Japan, the tricky notion of publishing series-specific Encyclopedias in English, and closes out with a question about the dreaded "R" word! No, not "rutabaga," but that's a good guess. 2011-10-14

New York Comic Con / Anime Festival Photo Shoot
Take a picture, put it on Facebook, win $50 Anime Shopping Spree 2011-10-13

Jason Thompson's House of 1000 Manga - Manga and Mega Comics
Jason reaches back through time and dusts off two extremely early English-language Manga publications, courtesy of Carl Gustav Horn! 2011-10-13

Anime News Nina! - 2011-10-12
Kevin returns to the Lifestream. 2011-10-12

The X Button - Animal Collective
This week: the dogs, cats, and mass hysteria of Solatorobo. Plus Yakuza: Dead Souls, Professor Layton, Guild 01, Sdatcher, and penguin pirates! 2011-10-12

Bad Teacher's Equation GN 1
Bad Teacher's Equation is a confused, confusing tangle of a story that drags when it isn't uncomfortable. Chalk it up as evidence that even the most accomplished storyteller needs time to hit her stride and read one of her later works instead.

Legend of the Millennium Dragon Blu-ray/DVD Combo Blu-Ray
Though it sometimes looks great and should have a broader appeal than just anime fandom, this production's inconsistent visual and musical merits and formulaic storytelling prevent it from being considered a top-tier title.

Blue Exorcist DVD 1
Although Blue Exorcist may have the look and feel of a typical shonen action series, it makes the tried-and-true formula of a misfit learning to develop his powers and play nice with others work better than most.

Monster Episodes 61-74 Streaming
The simple truth is that no conclusion could ever live up to Monster's build-up. That said, the battle for Ruhenheim comes pretty close.

The Art of Vampire Knight Artbook
Overall, this book is stunning. Interesting compositions, breathtaking color, and good use of line, shape, and space make this volume a very satisfactory experience. While the similarities of character design can be off putting, the fact that this book is in full color makes it easier to appreciate Hino's artwork than in the manga itself.

The Story of Saiunkoku GN 4
All in all, this is the first real stand-out volume of the series. It has humor, romance, and intrigue, both political and otherwise, and with some interesting character development and blossoming plot, the stage is set for it to continue on in this vein.

Kamisama Kiss GN 5
This is a charming entry into an already fun series. The seeds for two major plot developments are sown, showing that Suzuki still has plenty of places left to visit in the spirit world. With humor, grace, and the only partially-familiar world of Japanese mythology, Kamisama Kiss continues to be an entertaining tale of one girl's journey into godhood.

Book Girl and the Captive Fool Novel 3
Up until this point the Book Girl series has been a vaguely forgettable experience, but this installment promises more development of Konoha and some of the recurring side characters. It isn't terrific, but Book Girl and the Captive Fool is an enjoyable, slightly atmospheric read.

Cage of Eden GN 1
Despite its slow start, Cage of Eden becomes deeply engrossing, so that once a certain point is reached, it is nearly impossible to put down. The central mystery may be something we've seen before, but in this case that doesn't matter. As Akira and his fellow survivors set out to solve it, we are filled with a foreboding that the most dangerous animals that they will face on the mysterious island are the humans.

Bleach GN 36
The break in continuity may be just what flagging readers need to regain interest in a series that drags at times, and the slight melancholy of the past may recharge waning emotions. Bleach is by no means perfect, but for the time being, it is still a series worth reading.

Kitchen Princess GN 5
Yakitate Japan for girls? All right, so Kitchen Princess doesn't quite have the insane humor, but Volume 5 shows that it contains all the other essential ingredients for a great cooking series.