This week, little girls who save the world from dragons, hitmen who save the world from bad guys, and heroes who save... breasts, or something.
- Aesthetica of a Rogue Hero
- Golgo 13 TV
- Little Witch Academia
This basic, bloody story about two friends who take different paths to becoming super-heroes promises some dynamic character interactions but suffers too much from predictability to be sufficiently compelling.
This series has it all: gorgeous visuals, a powerful music score, and all of it wrapped around a story that uses fantasy-world ideas to express real-world truths.
Our pals at Funimation stop by before the holidays to recap 2013, let us know what's selling and what ain't, hype up 2014 and all that stuff! Plus: a coupon code! Ho ho ho!
Throughout all of the messiness, through repetitive missions, tortured sci-fi explanations, and fleeting moments of bittersweet affect, BONES makes damned sure that AO looks consistently great.
Madoka Magica: Rebellion blasts the franchise sky high, which results in an experience about as satisfying and horrifying as that sounds. It demands to be seen by fans of the series, although not necessarily enjoyed.
Mobile Suit Gundam the Origin is an engaging, intense read that speaks to the reason why the franchise has been able to exist for so long – it has a solid base. These first three books deliver that along with solid science fiction storytelling, making them seriously good literary entertainment.
This week, little girls who save the world from dragons, hitmen who save the world from bad guys, and heroes who save... breasts, or something.
- Aesthetica of a Rogue Hero
- Golgo 13 TV
- Little Witch Academia
Sunrise's robot anime series starring Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, Kouki Uchiyama premieres on January 5―
Bandai began streaming a 30-second web commercial for Sunrise's robot television anime series Buddy Complex on Monday. The "traditional robot action" series will premiere on January 5 on the Tokyo MX TV station, and it will also stream on the Bandai Channel. The story will revolve around the friendship and coming-of-age of two boys. It begins with Aoba Watase, a boy who goes to high school in Tokyo and lives a carefree daily life. On the morning of his school's opening ceremony after summer vacation, he goes to campus as usual, but he has a chance encounter with another boy.
36-year-old suspect reportedly not acquainted with original creator Tadatoshi Fujimaki―
The Mainichi Shimbun newspaper reported on Monday that 36-year-old Hirofumi Watanabe, the suspect arrested in the Kuroko's Basketball threat letter case, told police, "I was jealous about [Tadatoshi Fujimaki's] success." Mainichi said that a threat letter sent to the newspaper in October contained sentences such as "Fujimaki, who leads a blessed life, versus me, who has never been loved by anyone," and "A rebel against the most valuable life in Japan today by the least valuable one." Fujimaki himself had said he had no idea about the suspect's motive in the case. According to
Story of girl with supernatural sight & mysterious pink creature Pō-chan―
On Monday, anime studio AIC began streaming a promotional video to promote the Friday premiere of the horror comedy television anime Pupipō! In the video, the schoolgirl Wakaba Himeji trains the pink creature Pō-chan to recite the weekly anime shorts' premiere date: Friday, December 20 at 25:53 (effectively Saturday, December 21 at 1:53 a.m.) on TV Tokyo. The original manga by Rensuke Oshikiri (Hi-Score Girl) centers around Wakaba Himeji, a fifth-grade girl who can see things others cannot. As a result, she is scared by her surroundings, keeps her distance from others, and lives a lonely life. One day, she meet a mysterious soft, pink creature that cries "Pup
Lupin III vs. Detective Conan The Movie debuts at #1―
Lupin III vs. Detective Conan The Movie debuted at #1 during the December 7-8 weekend. In the film, the "Cherry Sapphire," an illusive secret treasure that holds the key to the entire world, will bring the two titular characters in a "head-to-head confrontation." Lupin is suspected of stealing the gem, and "when the truth is revealed, the curtain will open on the greatest battle in the world." Box Office Mojo did not list the film on its chart, but the film
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Gosho Aoyama, the creator of the Detective Conan series, received a delightful honor on December 15. He was present at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Conan Station, formerly Yura Station, complete with a new sign bearing the manga hero's likeness. The newly renovated station building is located in Hokuei, Tottori Prefecture, the birthplace of Aoyama. The station will provide tourism information, as well as a gift shop with Detective Conan books and goods.
This basic, bloody story about two friends who take different paths to becoming super-heroes promises some dynamic character interactions but suffers too much from predictability to be sufficiently compelling.
Mikako Takahashi joins cast for modern magic action story premiering on January 9―
The official website for the television anime adaptation of Hisashi Suzuki's Magical Warfare (Mahō Sensō) light novel series began streaming the show's first promotional video on Monday. The video previews voice actress and singer Yuuka Nanri's opening theme song "Senkō no Prisoner." The website also revealed on Monday that Mikako Takahashi will play Momoka Shijō. The show starsMamoru Miyano as Takeshi Nanase, Nao Tōyama as Mui Aiba, Asami Seto as Kurumi Isoshima,
PS Vita version of both games to ship on March 18 in N. America, March 21 in Europe―
Sony's US PlayStation Blog revealed on Monday that Square Enix will release a collector's edition of its Final Fantasy X | X-2 HD Remaster PlayStation 3 game in North America. The collector's edition will include a 40-page hardcover artbook that includes concept sketches, environment art, and the characters in the world of Spira. Additionally, the art from Final Fantasy X-2 will include images of the three main characters in all of their Dresspheres. The edition will also include a Blu-ray music disc that includes more than six hours of music set to images from the game. The collection will include five lithographs.
Rin (Yui Itsuki), Dorothy (Hitomi Nabatame) introduce Meru, Noel, Claude for simulation RPG shipping February 6―
Bandai Namco Games began streaming an original character introduction video for Super Heroine Chronicle, its upcoming "heroine melee simulation RPG," on Monday featuring the game's characters Dorothy (voiced by Yui Itsuki) and Rin (Hitomi Nabatame). The video introduces the following characters: Meru Ransheru (Hisako Kanemoto), a magical yo-yo user designed by Toru Minazuki (To Heart) Noel Kazamatsuri (Rina Satou), a "magical magician" designed by
Girls transform into idols to give verdict to Hiroomi on the charge of being "obscene" and "existing"―
Kyoto Animation began streaming the third anime short for the Beyond the Boundary television anime on Monday. At the beginning of the short, a naked Hiroomi (voiced by Tatsuhisa Suzuki) stands before the jury, and is immediately accused of his obscenity and is called a pervert by his own sister. He says that he is not obscene or a pervert, but merely has a sister complex, to which his sister orders an assault on him with various artillery. Gracefully, he dodges all of her attacks, but a horrified Mirai exclaims that for a second, she saw a mosaic covering a part of his body.
Game inspired by Sunrise anime debuts this month―
The official website for the Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion pachinko game is promoting the nationwide launch with almost 80 minutes of videos: Promotional Video Promotional Video (Long Version) Special Advance Presentation Detailed Breakdown
The weekly update of anime available in Australia through free to air and online streaming.―
There are many ways to get your anime fix when digital TV and the internet allow for content to be released at a much greater rate. So, we have decided to start listing what's on week by week, to give you an idea of what you can watch and where. Free to Air B-Daman CrossFire Monday: All states from 6:30am Channel Eleven. Deltora Quest Saturday: All states from 7:50pm ABC3. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood Wednesday: Adelaide 10:30pm Channel 44.
Sensual Phrase creator depicts 5 boys in 1st Gundam's One Year War―
Manga author Mayu Shinjotweeted on Sunday that, after much consideration, she will end her Kidō Senshi Gundam: Zeon Kōkoku Yōnen Gakkō (Mobile Suit Gundam: Principality of Zeon Military Preparatory School) manga in the July issue of Kadokawa's Gundam Ace magazine in May. The manga was announced in 2009 and debuted in the March 2010 issue in January 2010. The manga is set in the seceding space colonies during the year Universal Century 0079 — the timeframe of the One Year War from the first
Linked Horizon, T.M. Revolution, Nana Mizuki rank in annual singles chart―
Oricon announced its top rankings lists for 2013 on Sunday, including singles, albums, artist total sales, DVDs, music DVDs, Blu-Rays, and music Blu-rays. Among the top 100 sold singles this year was Linked Horizon's Attack on Titan opening single, titled "Jiyū e no Shingeki" at #30 with 230,810 copies sold. It featured bothopenings, "Guren no Yumiya" and "Jiyū no Tsubasa." T.M. Revolution and Nana Mizuki also ranked on the chart with their
Diago, Aichi, Kai star in hybrid live-action/anime film next fall; 2nd 3DS game outlined―
The "Cardfight!! Vanguard Special Conference" event announced on Monday that Bushiroad's mixed-media franchise is inspiring a hybrid live-action/anime film next fall, as well as a new fourth television anime series, Legion Mate-Hen, next spring. Musician DAIGO will return to the franchise for the live-action portion of the film, along with Suzuko Mimori, Taizō Shiina, Takuma Sueno, and other cast members. In the live-action portion directed by Takashi Motoki at Ace Crew Entertainment,
Madman has announced the Australian theatrical release date for Hayao Miyazaki's The Wind Rises alongside a new trailer and poster;―
The announcement was made on Madman's facebook page will have a Australian theatrical release from the 27th of February 2014; The Wind Rises (Kaze Tachinu) A semi-biographical film following the (fictional) life of Jiro Horikoshi, The Wind Rises follows Jiro as he dreams of flying beautiful aeroplanes. However due to his eyesight Jiro cannot fly, so after inspirational dreams of famous Italian aeronautical designer Caproni he turns to designing and creating airplanes. The film covers Jiro's childhood through to his creation of the Mitsubishi A5M (the predecessor to the A6M Zero fighter plane for WWII) and the historical events in-between including the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, The Great Depression and Japan's decent into war.
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Retailer Rakuten is selling special bottles of Evangelion champagne, perfect for New Years. Made by family-owned Cattier, these bottles of cuvée Brut Champagne herald from the Champagne region of France. Each bottle is etched with an illustration of either Rei, Kaworu, or Asuka, and embedded with a Swarovski crystal. And if that's not enough, each bottle also comes with a special Evangelion charm, and a double-door display case. The 750 mL bottles of champagne are being sold for ¥31,500 ($305) each, and are bottled in France.
Kannagi director Yamakan, Idolm@ster writer Machida create January show & film―
The live-streamed program Yutaka Yamamoto Hour debuted a promotional video for the Wake Up, Girls! anime on Sunday. The video features the anime film's theme song "Tachiagare!" (Stand Up!) by the real-life Wake Up! Girls idols. In the video, the main character Mayu Shimada vows to never give up in her idol aspirations. The other girls vow to do their best. In the story, Green Leaves Entertainment is a tiny production company on the verge of going out of business in Sendai, the biggest city in Japan's northeastern Tohoku region. The agency once managed the careers of magicians, photo idols, fortune-tellers, and other entertainers, but its last remaining client finally quit. In danger of having zero talent (literally), the president Tange hatches an idea of producing an idol group. On the brash president's orders, the dissatisfied manager Matsuda heads out to scout raw talent. Matsuda makes a fateful encounter with a certain girl….
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Voice actorMamoru Miyano (Steins;Gate, Free!) held a fan club event on December 15 at Makuhari Messe. On the way out, fans got an interesting holiday greeting: The postcard reads, "Merry Christmas and happy new pineapple." The photo was taken and tweeted by @ppppeeei.
Band with vocalist Maon Kurosaki performed Shakugan no Shana III, Accel World's themes―
The staff of the Strike the Blood anime announced on Wednesday that ALTIMA (
Shakugan no Shana III (Final), Accel World) and Kanon Wakeshima (Vampire Knight, To Love-Ru -Trouble- Darkness) will perform the new opening and ending theme songs, respectively, for the anime as it enters it second cours (quarter of the year). The second opening theme titled “Fight 4 Real” will be performed by Altima, a band with singer Maon Kurosaki as main vocalist, and the single will be released in Japan on January 29. The regular edition of the CD will cost 1,260 yen (about US$13) and a limited edition, which comes with a DVD including a music video, commercials for the CD, and the making of the music video, will cost 1,890 yen (US$19).
Registered sex offender found guilty for parole violation―
The Georgia Department of Corrections reports that Crimson Star Media head Corey Maddox was found guilty and sentenced on October 21 on charges of violating probation. Maddox is serving time in the Coffee Correctional Facility in Nicholls, Georgia with a release date scheduled at the latest for January 22, 2015. According to the local Atlanta television station WSB-TV, Maddox was arrested in 2008 on nine counts of sexual exploitation of children. Police at that time said they found photographs of children between the ages of 5 to 10 years old "that appeared to be sexual in nature." Maddox is
George Asakura's short stories published by Del Rey, already adapted into 2004 film―
The January issue of Kodansha's Bessatsu Friend magazine announced on Friday that a live-action television adaptation of George Asakura's A Perfect Day for Love Letters (Koibumi Biyori) manga will premiere on the NTV channel in January. The omnibus of one-shot manga tells the stories of various couples who experience romance through love letters. Asakura began the manga in 1998, and completed the series with three compiled volumes. The manga was previously adapted into a live-action film in 2004 (key visual pictured below). It
36-year old man arrested for obstructing business, says "I'm sorry. I've lost"―
The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department's 1st Investigation Section arrested a 36-year old man, suspected to be the culprit in the threatening letters sent to convenience store chains and other establishments linked to Tadatoshi Fujimaki's Kuroko's Basketball manga, in Osaka City's Higashinari ward on Sunday. The suspect, Hirofumi Watanabe of unknown occupation, is being formally investigated for the charge of "obstruction of business." According to the police, he admitted to his crime, saying, "I'm sorry. I've lost."
Tomokazu Seki, Jun Fukuyama star in story by Maka Maka's Verno Mikawa―
The first promotional video for the television anime of Verno Mikawa's Strange+ slapstick gag manga debuted on the Niconico and Bandai Channel services on Sunday. Voice actorTomokazu Seki introduces the premise of this comedy as his character, a teenaged boy named Kō. He came to the slums to search for Takumi, his missing big brother who ran away six years ago. The brothers reunite, and it turns out that Takumi now heads the Mikuni Detective Agency. Kō wants to bring Takumi back, but he doesn't want go back home himself. So, he starts working at the agency, doing odds and ends.
Composer Joe Hisaishi previously scored Academy Award-winning Spirited Away―
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the 114 works on its short list for Best Original Score on Thursday. Composer Joe Hisaishi is on the list for his work on Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli's The Wind Rises. Hisaishi composed the score for two Academy Award-winning films — Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli's Spirited Away (Best Animated Film in 2003) and Yojiro Takita's live-action film Departures (Best Foreign Language Film in
Madman Entertainment's has revealed it's fourth announcement, Samurai Bride coming to home video in Australia and New Zealand in 2014;―
The announcement was made on Madman's facebook page and be released on home video at some stage in 2014; Samurai Bride Hyakka Ryōran: Samurai Girls is set in an alternate reality where the Tokugawa shogunate remained in control and secluded Japan from the rest of the world. Buou Academic School is a school at the base of Mount Fuji where the children of military families are train to become samurai. In this world where Japan still lost World War II, the Americans occupy southern Japan and the school's student councils control the students with an iron fist. When Muneakira Yagyu, the owner of the Yagyu Dojo is dragged in the middle of the conflict, Muneakira is forced to rely on the mysterious Jubei Yagyu and other girls who have the names of famous samurai.
Frank Wildhorn (Jekyll & Hyde, "Where Do Broken Hearts Go?") scores 2015 production― Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata's hit manga Death Note is being adapted into a stage musical that will run in Japan and South Korea in 2015. The musical will play in Tokyo's Nissay Theatre in April of 2015, before heading over to Seoul's LG Art Center in July and August. Frank Wildhorn, an American composer known for songs sung by Whitney Houston ("Where Do Broken Hearts Go?") and Natalie Cole, is scoring the Death Note musical. He previously wrote the music for the
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Finally, music to read your manga by. Created by Japanese design group Mieru Record, the Otowa is a charming little device that combines manga with a traditional hand-cranked music box. Readers feed a strip of perforated illustrations into the device and crank a small handle either fast or slow, in accordance with instructions printed in the "manga." The Otowa was sponsored by Japanese papermaker Tokyo Shiki, and won a jury's prize at the 17th Annual Japan Media Arts Festival.
Fighting games' mainstay to be a boss character in Spring crossover arcade game―
Akira of the Virtua Fighter fighting game franchise will be a boss character in Sega and ASCII Media Works' crossover fighting game Dengeki Bunko Fighting Climax. The announcement was made at the 20th Anniversary Virtua Fighter Festival at Tokyo Joypolis on Saturday. The game alreadyincludes Asuna and Leafa (Sword Art Online), Shana and Wilhelmina (Shakugan no Shana), Mikoto Misaka and Tōma Kamijō (A Certain Magical Index), Kirino Kōsaka and Kuroneko(
Toei to open crossover film on March 29― Toei opened its website for next year's Heisei Rider vs. Showa Rider: Kamen Rider War feat. Super Sentai film on Saturday. The film is slated to open on March 29 and will feature Kamen Rider stars from the Heisei (1989-current) and Showa (1926-1989) eras. The Kamen Rider × Kamen Rider Gaim & Wizard: Tenkawakeme no Sengoku Movie Daigassen (Kamen Rider Gaim & Wizard: The Fateful Sengoku Movie Battle) crossover tokusatsu (special effects) film opened on Saturday. The last
This series has it all: gorgeous visuals, a powerful music score, and all of it wrapped around a story that uses fantasy-world ideas to express real-world truths.
Funimation previously streamed these series on its site―
North American anime distributor Funimationconfirmed on Saturday that it will release the Hetalia The Beautiful World, Senran Kagura, and The Devil is a Part-Timer! anime series on home video next summer. All three will be available on DVD, while Senran Kagura and The Devil is a Part-Timer! will also be available on Blu-ray Disc. Hetalia The Beautiful World is the fifth anime series inspired by Hidekaz Himaruya's Hetalia manga. This anime series
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The Evangelion flagship store in Harajuku has been selling a new and very philosophical line of products inspired by Auguste Rodin's famous sculpture, The Thinker. Only instead of a nude male brooding at the Gates of Hell, it's a chubby and strangely adorable rendition of Sachiel, the Third Angel. Headlining this new collection by Yuruart is a paperweight, which is available for ¥1,800. Other items featuring this cute little guy include a clear file, a spiral notebook, a tote bag, and a plush strap of Sachiel wearing what looks to be a beret, perhaps a nod to Rodin's French heritage.
Maaya Sakamoto sings opening for January anime about secret society bent on world conquest―
The official website for the Sekai Seifuku ~ Bōryaku no Zvezda (World Conquest - Zvezda Plot) television anime began streaming the fourth commercial, this time with animated footage, on Sunday. The ad also previews the opening theme song "Be mine!" by Maaya Sakamoto with the popular rock group "the band apart." The character Kate introduces herself and proudly proclaims Zvezda, a secret society bent on glorious world conquest — that she happens to lead. (Zvezda is Russian for "star.") The character Asuta expresses his frustration.
Pixellated photos on Hirano's blog leave little room for doubt―
Famed voice actress and singer Aya Hirano (The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Gatchaman Crowds) is scheduled to appear in concert at Tokyo's Akasaka BLITZ on December 14. On December 12, she posted these pixellated photos on her blog and asked readers what they could see. They bear an uncanny resemblance to a certain Japanese musical icon. She went on to write: "Maybe you already know?! I desperately practiced the choreography the other day until I got it down~. I was too scared from the tight deadline to study in my sleep like I usually do. But I'm sure it'll turn out all right!! Look forward to it!!"
Sexy Zone band member Kento Nakajima stars as farming high school student in 2014 film―
The official website for the live-action film adaptation of Hiromu Arakawa's Silver Spoon farming manga beganstreaming the first full trailer and the second teaser trailer on Saturday. The trailers feature the Japanese musical duo Yuzu's theme song "Hidamari." The full trailer opens in English with the narrator labeling the main character Yūgo Hachiken as the world's "true savior." When Hachiken meets a pig he will raise, he thanks the pig in advance for its service that he assumes will last for his three years at an agricultural high school in Hokkaido. The teacher responds, "What are you saying? We're shipping it in the fall." Many of Hachiken's classmates are from farming families, but Hachiken is from the city and is not used to farm life. The video ends with Hachiken apologizing for splashing someone in the face with an sprayer.
Captain Tsubasa: Rising Sun to begin later this month―
The second issue of 2014 of Shueisha's Grand Jump magazine is announcing on Wednesday that Yōichi Takahashi will begin a new Captain Tsubasa manga titled Captain Tsubasa: Rising Sun in the magazine's third issue, which is scheduled to ship in Japan on December 28. The manga will be featured on the cover of the magazine, and also have color introduction pages. Rising Sun will revolve around Tsubasa as he aims to participate in the Olympics as a representative from Japan.
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