For years fans of anime and JRPGs have been wondering when the leap to 3D will be made. Some welcome it while others are more sceptical, but it is certain that all are curious as to how it will turn out. Japanese software developing company Live2D has recently released a video in which they show off their latest project titled “Euclid”.
While it is still in its prototype stage, Euclid looks impressive. But what exactly does it do? The video below should shed some light on the subject.
The narrator does a fair job of explaining it, but in short, it will be able to render 2D animated bodies in a 3D environment. What Euclid specifically can do that previous projects couldn’t is that the model will be rendered from an entire 360 degree viewpoint, meaning it can be seen (and its visual integrity preserved) from any angle. The applications for this technology can be used in games, movies, possibly anime and even to see characters in full 3D through Oculus Rift as well.
What is most exciting (as well as most applicable for us in the present) is that its application in the Japanese gaming industry would make for some sweet looking visuals in games. Imagine playing a Tales or Atelier game with slicker looking characters! Of course for those of us who will wait, the “waifu age” will soon dawn as well, as one will be able to see (and perhaps even interact, fingers crossed) with our anime waifus in 3D. One can dream, right?
What do you think about bringing 2D models to 3D? Think it’s just a gimmick or is it the future of the industry? Let us know in the comments section below!
Two brand new commercials have been streamed online for the upcoming Attack on Titan exhibition at Universal Studios Japan, titled Attack on Titan The Real. The exhibition will be similar to the Monster Hunterexhibition featuring various giant model titans from Hajime Isayama’s manga and anime, as well as various cosplayers dressing up as the main characters from the series. There will also be various themed food from the series. There will also be various products being sold at USJ such as the cloaks from the Survey Corps.
Attack on Titan The Real launches at Universal Studios Japan from the 23rd of January till May 10th alongside the Monster Hunter The Real exhibition.
The official website of the Kekkai Sensen (Blood Blockade Battlefront) anime has revealed that the anime adaptation of Yasuhiro Nightow’s manga has revealed that the upcoming series will be airing from this April during the Spring 2015 anime season. The site also revealed a brand new visual, an updated cast of the anime, the first set of character designs and the second promotional video for Kekkai Sensen.
The anime’s site has revealed the main cast of the upcoming series and what characters they will voice. The first set of character designs have also been released
Rikiya Koyama (Kiritsugu Emiya in Fate/Zero and Fate/stay night) is voicing the role of Klaus von Reinhertz
Daisuke Sakaguchi (Shinpachi Shimura in Gintama) as Leonard Watch
Kazuya Nakai (Roronoa Zoro from One Piece) will voice Zapp Renfro
Yuu Kobayashi (Sasha Blouse from Attack on Titan) is voicing Chain Sumeragi
Mitsuru Miyamoto (Maiza Avaro in Baccano!) voices Stephen A. Starphase
Ai Orikasa (Ryouko Hakubi in Shin Tenchi Muyo!) voicing as K. K.
Shinji Ogawa (Franz von Stresemann from Nodame Cantabile) as Gilbert F. Altstein
Yuuma Uchida (Yuuma Kousaka in Gundam Build Fighters Try) will voice Sonic Speed Monkey
Akira Ishida (Kotaro Katsura in Gintama) as Femt
There has been additional cast members revealed whose characters they will voice haven’t been revealed yet. They include:
Unshou Ishizuka (Joseph Joestar from JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders)
Akio Ohtsuka (Batou in Ghost in the Shell)
Rie Kugimiya (Alphonse Elric from Fullmetal Alchemist and Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood)
Keiji Fujiwara (Tatsuya Kimura from Hajime no Ippo)
Hikaru Midorikawa (Lancer in Fate/zero)
Mamoru Miyano (Rintarou Okabe from Steins;Gate)
The main staff of the anime were earlier revealed and includes:
Director: Rie Matsumoto (Kyousogiga)
Script Writer: Kazunao Furuya (Debut role)
Anime Character Designer: Toshihiro Kawamoto (Cowboy Bebop, Gosick)
Art Director: Shinji Kimura (Ao no Exorcist Movie, Steamboy)
Animation Studio: BONES (Hitsugi no Chaika, Captain Earth)
The second promotional video of the anime was revealed earlier at Jump Festa 2015:
And here is the first promotional video of the anime:
Kekkai Sensen (Blood Blockade Battlefront) is a manga from Yasuhiro Nightow that began in 2008 as a one shot series. Nightow is most known for this other manga Trigun, which ended that year with Trigun Maximum, the series also had an anime adaptation in 1998. Kekkai Sensen was published in Shueisha’s Jump Square magazine, with a 3 part special releasing in 2009. Since then the manga became a regular series in 2010 instead being published in Shueisha’s Jump SQ.19 magazine. To date the series has a total of 9 compiled volumes.
Here is a synopsis of the series from MAL:
A breach between Earth and the netherworlds has opened up over the city of New York, trapping New Yorkers and creatures from other dimensions in an impenetrable bubble. They’ve lived together for years, in a world of crazy crime sci-fi sensibilities. Now someone is threatening to sever the bubble, and a group of stylish superhumans is working to keep it from happening.
The Kekkai Sensen anime will be airing from April this year from the Spring 2015 anime season. Further information on the adaptation will be released at a later date.
The first promotional video of the Houkago no Pleiades (Wish Upon the Pleiades) TV anime has been streamed online. This video introduces the main characters and magical girls of the upcoming series and the first transformation sequence. The anime itself will be a continuation of the collaboration between Japanese car manufacturer Subaru and animation studio Gainax (Neon Genesis Evangelion, Medaka Box). It will feature the return of the cast from the Houkago no Pleiades web anime: Natsumi Takamori (Mei Misaki from Another) as Subaru, Ayuru Ohashi (Eila Ilmatar Juutilainen in Strike Witches) as Aoi, Kanako Tateno (Shirayuki-hime in Otogi-jushi Akazukin) as Itsuki, Yui Makino (Misaki Nakahara from Welcome to the NHK) as Hikaru, and Saki Fujita (Ao Nanami from Yozakura Quartet) as Nanako.
The Houkago no Pleiades anime will be airing this April during the Spring 2015 anime season.
Japanese cinema Shochiku have updated their listings for the upcoming films in 2015-2016, they’re also celebrating their 120th anniversary. The upcoming Love Live! School Idol Project Movie has been listed and scheduled for a early summer 2015 release with the tagline “Please! Fulfill our dream….”
Love Live! School Idol Project is an original anime produced by Sunrise studios that aired in January 2013. The conception of the anime project started in 2010 by Dengeki G’s Magazine. The editors wanted the project to be heavily influenced by fans, such as the costumes, hairstyles and names. Throughout this process, a manga of the project simply called Love Live! began in early 2012 by Sakurako Kimino and Arumi Tokita. The next part in the project was the anime series, followed by an app and an OVA. The second season titled Love Live! School Idol Project 2nd Season started began airing from April 6, 2014 to June 29, 2014 with a total of 13 episodes.
Otonokizaka High School stands on the border of three cities: Akihabara—a pop culture mecca that’s evolving by the minute; Kanda—a conservative, cultured city where history and tradition reign supreme; and Jinbo—a quiet area reserved for a more mature, sophisticated population. Amidst this culture clash, the school now faces closure due to the enrollment of fewer and fewer students.
With the school planning to close within three years, nine female students come together with one thing in mind—form a pop idol group to revive the school’s popularity and keep it from shutting down. “In order to protect our beloved school, there’s only one thing we can do… become pop stars!”
7. GIRIGIRI by Sonar Pocket (World Trigger) – 3,347 votes
6. Liar Mask by Rika Mayama (Akame ga Kill!) – 3,500 votes
5. Extra Magic Hour by AKINO with bless4 (Amagi Brilliant Park) – 3,845 votes
4. Seven Doors by ZAQ (Trinity Seven) – 3,907 votes
3. Courage by Haruka Tomatsu (Sword Art Online II) – 3,921 votes
2. Let Me Hear by Fear, and Loathing in Las Vegas (Kiseijuu: Sei no Kakuritsu) – 4,412 votes
1. Hikaru Nara by Goosehouse (Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso) – 4,696 votes
Top 10 Ending (ED) songs
10. 7 -seven- by FLOW x GRANRODEO (Nanatsu no Taizai) – 2,240 votes
9. Realize by ROOKiEZ is PUNK’D (Yowamushi Pedal: Grande Road) – 2,374 votes
8. believe by Kalafina (Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works (TV)) – 2,511 votes
7. It’s the Right Time by Daichi Miura (Kiseijuu: Sei no Kakuritsu) – 2,680 votes
6. Tsukiakari by Sora Amamiya (Akame ga Kill!) – 3,183 votes
5. No More Time Machine by LiSA (Sword Art Online II) – 3,612 votes
4. Kirameki by wacci (Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso) – 3,805 votes
3. Fallen by EGOIST (Psycho-Pass 2) – 4,150 votes
2. Shirushi by LiSA (Sword Art Online II) – 4,197 votes
1. Hoshikuzu no Interlude by fhana (Sora no Method) – 4,211 votes
Do you have a favourite opening / ending theme from the fall 2014 anime season that didn’t appear on the list? Let us know what you would have added to the list in the comments below.
With just 5 days away from launch, original character designer Takako Shimura (Aldnoah.Zero) is building up the hype for the Aldnoah.Zero 2nd Season by sketching countdown pictures each day until debut.
Two sketches were done for the fifth day:
Here are the previous countdown sketches:
If this doesn’t get you hyped for the second season, here’s one of the trailers that was streamed earlier:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fc8LYlX0Pc4
Aldnoah.Zero is a brand new original series created by Gen Urobuchi, the writer of the Fate/Zero light novels and anime, and Mahou Shoujo Madoka★Magica. The anime is directed by Ei Aoki who directed the Fate/Zero anime – teaming up with Urobuchi once again. The series is written by the “Olympus Knights”, a group of writers from Nitro+ (known for their science adventure visual novels) that is helmed by Urobuchi. Katsuhiko Takayama (Mirai Nikki) is the series composer, managing the flow and story of the series.
The character concepts are done by Masako Matsumoto (Naruto Shippuden) and the final character designs from Takako Shimura (Aoi Hana). The series features mechs designed by I-IV and Kenji Teraoka (Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex), and the music is composed by Hiroyuki Sawano (Attack on Titan). The series is produced by A-1 Pictures (Sword Art Online, Fairy Tail) and studio TROYCA (new studio opened by Aoki). The first series had a total of 12 episodes and was earlier confirmed to be a split cour.
In 1972, the Apollo 17 mission found a hypergate to Mars on the surface of the moon. Upon landing, astronauts discovered a enchanted utility later referred to as ‘Aldnoah’, giving the astronauts a status of superiority. Soon, many humans have relocated to Mars, and have adapted to the name ‘Martians’. After Princess Asseylum, a royal Martian princess, descends onto Earth in an attempt to create a treaty between both planets, a war breaks out between Earth and Mars, and Martian soldiers begin to descend from the sky, riding steel giants, intent on exterminating humanity.
More of Anime Trending’s Fall 2014 Awards are underway! This time we’ll be taking a look over their top 10 favourite characters and couples/ships over the past season.
A total of 34,037 votes were collected in the following polls; 12,081 for male characters, 12,365 for female characters and 9,561 for couples/ships.
Top 10 Characters (Male)
10. Ban (Nanatsu no Taizai) – 3,246 votes
9. Shiroe (Log Horizon 2nd Season) – 3,451 votes
8. Jurai Andou (Inou-Battle wa Nichijou-kei no Naka de) – 3,519 votes
7. Meliodas (Nanatsu no Taizai) – 3685 votes
6. Arata Kasuga (Trinity Seven) – 4116 votes
5. Hak Son (Akatsuki no Yona) – 4,135 votes
4. Shinichi Izumi (Kiseijuu: Sei no Kakuritsu) – 4,570 votes
With Fall 2014 finally over and Winter 2015 finally approaching, why don’t we take a look back through the highlights of our last season? Anime Trending is Facebook community built-up over a series of short surveys of each anime the modern lineup is presenting by the season. With the help of Polldaddy, Anime Trending has become an interesting and popular experience for everyone wishing to know what is the hottest and latest anime out there.
53, 120 votes were counted into Anime Trending’s survey. Their fanbase consists of 68% of male respondents, while the other 32% are female.
With just 6 days away from launch, original character designer Takako Shimura (Aldnoah.Zero) is building up the hype for the Aldnoah.Zero 2nd Season by sketching countdown pictures each day until debut.
Two sketches were done for the sixth day:
Here are the previous countdown sketches:
If this doesn’t get you hyped for the second season, here’s one of the trailers that was streamed earlier:
Aldnoah.Zero is a brand new original series created by Gen Urobuchi, the writer of the Fate/Zero light novels and anime, and Mahou Shoujo Madoka★Magica. The anime is directed by Ei Aoki who directed the Fate/Zero anime – teaming up with Urobuchi once again. The series is written by the “Olympus Knights”, a group of writers from Nitro+ (known for their science adventure visual novels) that is helmed by Urobuchi. Katsuhiko Takayama (Mirai Nikki) is the series composer, managing the flow and story of the series.
The character concepts are done by Masako Matsumoto (Naruto Shippuden) and the final character designs from Takako Shimura (Aoi Hana). The series features mechs designed by I-IV and Kenji Teraoka (Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex), and the music is composed by Hiroyuki Sawano (Attack on Titan). The series is produced by A-1 Pictures (Sword Art Online, Fairy Tail) and studio TROYCA (new studio opened by Aoki). The first series had a total of 12 episodes and was earlier confirmed to be a split cour.
In 1972, the Apollo 17 mission found a hypergate to Mars on the surface of the moon. Upon landing, astronauts discovered a enchanted utility later referred to as ‘Aldnoah’, giving the astronauts a status of superiority. Soon, many humans have relocated to Mars, and have adapted to the name ‘Martians’. After Princess Asseylum, a royal Martian princess, descends onto Earth in an attempt to create a treaty between both planets, a war breaks out between Earth and Mars, and Martian soldiers begin to descend from the sky, riding steel giants, intent on exterminating humanity.
On January 8, Shueisha’s Young Jump magazine will release its combined sixth and seventh issue of the year with an announcement that Shinobu Kaitani’s (One Outs, Winner’s Circle e Youkoso) Liar Game manga will end in the eighth issue on January 22, 2015.
The magazine had announced last February 2014 that the manga author will be on a short hiatus while preparing for the final arc. A month after, the magazine revealed that the manga will be entering the final arc of the story.
The drama, game, psychological and thriller manga, Liar Game (or Liar of the Game/LG), was first serialized on Spetember 16, 2005 under the publisher Shueisha and the label YJ comics. The manga has currently 18 compiled manga volumes. The 18th volume’s first printing was issued on December 24, 2014, the release was on December 19, 2014.
Volume 1 Cover
Volume 2 Cover
Volume 3 Cover
Volume 4 Cover
Volume 5 Cover
Volume 6 Cover
Volume 7 Cover
Volume 8 Cover
Volume 9 Cover
Volume 10 Cover
Volume 11 Cover
Volume 12 Cover
Volume 13 Cover
Volume 14 Cover
Volume 15 Cover
Volume 16 Cover
Volume 17 Cover
Volume 18 Cover
Liar Game has two prequel manga titled Liar Game: Roots of A and Liar Game: Roots of A #2 respectively. The first prequel manga was published on September 1999 to January 24, 2008 with one compiled manga volume containing six one-shot chapters (one of them has 2 chapters):
1. Liar Game: Roots of A (LIAR GAME roots of A)
2. Nine Darts
3-4. Sansou: Kindan no Senjutsu (Three Phase: The Forbidden Divination)
5. Kaitani Shinobu no Aiken Monogatari (The Tale of Shinobu Kaitani’s Dog)
6. @Lovers
The second prequel manga was published on February 16, 2010 with only one chapter.
The series has received a Japanese television series adaptation and it aired on April 14, 2007 to June 23, 2007 on Fuji TV. It was directed by Hiroaki Matsuyama and Ayako Taiboku. The first season has 11 episodes. Succeeding the first season was the second season titled Liar Game: Season 2 with 9 episodes. It aired on November 10, 2009 to January 19, 2010. Two months after, on March 6, 2010, a 133-minute live-action film was released: Liar Game: The Final Stage. A sequel to the movie titled as Liar Game: Reborn was released on March 3, 2012.
Last year, a Koren television series adaptation of the manga was released with the same title as the series, Liar Game. It was directed by Kim Hing-sun and was written Ryu Yong-jae. It has 12 episodes. It aired on October 20, 2014 to November 25, 2014.
Synopsis of Liar Game manga from MAL:
Wishing she would live up to the ideal, Kanzaki Nao’s father named her thusly for “honesty.” Nao has more than lived up to her father’s wishes—even exceeding them and earning the label of “a foolishly honest girl.” This makes Nao the least qualified candidate for the high stakes “Liar Game,” where winning requires deceiving the opponent out of their money and losing means receiving massive debt; however, that doesn’t stop a box containing a hundred million yen in cash and a card informing her of her participation in the game from arriving at her doorstep, nor does it stop her from being promptly tricked out of the entire sum of money. Upon hearing that a genius swindler, responsible for the bankruptcy of a major corporation, is being released from jail, Nao goes to the swindler, Shinichi Akiyama, to enlist his help. With that, the two are drawn into the dark, greed-filled, and deceptive world of the Liar Game.
Visit Young Jump magazine’s official page for the Liar Game manga here.
According to the ninth compiled manga volume of Morohe Yoshida’s (Iro wa Niohedo, Robot no Momo-chan) manga, Inari, Konkon, Koi Iroha., the tenth compiled manga volume will be the final volume for the series, which will is scheduled for release in spring.
Yoshida published the supernatural, romantic-comedy manga on July 3, 2010 under the licensure of Kadokawa Shoten, which is the same publisher of Neon Genesis Evangelion and Nagato Yuki-chan no Shoushitsu. The first compiled manga volume was shipped on April 4, 2011 while the latest volume, the ninth volume, was released on December 29, 2014.
Volume 1 Cover
Volume 2 Cover
Volume 3 Cover
Volume 4 Cover
Volume 5 Cover
Volume 6 Cover
Volume 7 Cover
Volume 8 Cover
Volume 9 Cover
The manga has received a 10-episode anime adaptation produced by Production IMS (Date A Live II, Shinmai Maou no Testament) and DAX Production (Fairy Tail, Sakamichi no Apollon). It was directed by Tooru Takahashi (key animator for Slayers Return and Shoujo Kakumei Utena) and written by Touko Machida (Akiba-chan, Katanagatari). The anime premiered on January 15, 2014 and ended on March 19, 2014. It has also received an unaired original anime adaptation on June 26, 2014 titled as Inari, Konkon, Koi Iroha.: Inari, Konkon, Semishigure..
Anime Cast:
Naomi Oozora (Genshiken Nidaime‘s Susanna Hopkins) as Inari Fushimi
Houko Kuwashima (Claymore‘s Clare) as Uka-no-Mitama-no-kami
Sayuri Hara (Sengoku Collection‘s Bokuden Tsukahara) as Kon
Youji Ueda (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure (2012)‘s Robert E.O. Speedwagon) as Touka Fushimi
Hiroshi Okamoto (Cross Fight B-Daman‘s Yukihide Washimura) as Kouji Tanbabashi
Anime PV:
Anime Visual:
Synopsis of Inari, Konkon, Koi Iroha. from Haruhichan:
Fushimi Inari is a shy, not-so-bright middle school girl living in Kyoto’s Fushimi ward. She has a crush on her classmate Tanbabashi, but cannot express her feelings. One day, as thanks for helping a fox pup, the deity Ukanomitama-no-kami grants her the ability to change her form.
Visit the anime’s official website here and Kadokawa’s official page for the manga here.
After selecting the best out of 160 contestants, Tokyo Otaku Mode have announced on their official page the 12 finalists for the annual Manga Translation Battle. The deadline for voting the best translated piece will end on January 25, 2015 (Japan Time).
The deadline for the translated entry was on November 7, 2014. After the application process, it goes to initial screening in which the translated entries will be reviewed by professional translators. The selected finalists then go to the final reviewing process (which is currently ongoing) where viewers and the judging committee will vote for the best translation.
It’s time to vote! the 12 finalists for the Manga Translation Battle are posted & waiting for your votes https://t.co/I2FOsVKzIy
The finalists will be judged by the four members of the Judging Committee:
Deb Aoki
William Flanagan
Matt Alt
Matt Thorn
In late January, the winners for the contest will be announced on the website. The prize for the winners will be as follows:
Runner-ups: They will get tablet computers.
First Prize winner: They will get a job offer to translate the manga that they have translated.
Grand Prize winner: They will get a trip to Japan and a job offer to translate the manga that they have translated.
Last year, the featured manga were Koi towa Yobenai, Fuan no Tane Plus, Acchi Kocchi and Saya Saya to. Sarah Kim Perry from Japan won the Grand Prize by translating Yuuri Eda and Hatoko Machiya’s yaoi manga, Koi towa Yobenai.
To view more details about the winners, click here.
The Manga Translation Battle was established on 2012. Powered by an online retailer, Tokyo Otaku Mode, the contest is under the management of MANGAPOLO, a Japanese motion manga publisher, with the full support of Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs and is presented by the Digital Comic Association.
Kadokawa Shoten’s Young Ace magazine’s February 2015 issue announced last Monday that Kazuki Nakashima (Yamikagishi, Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann) and Ryou Akizuki’s (Asura Cryin’, Uchuu no Stellvia) Kill la Kill manga will end on its 17th chapter on February 4, 2015.
Nakashima wrote the story for the manga and is the original creator, scriptwriter and series composer for the anime series while Akizuki serves as the illustrator. The manga began publishing on October 4, 2013 and has complied two manga volumes. The first compiled manga volume was released on December 4, 2013 while the second volume was released on March 10, 2014.
Volume 1 Cover
Volume 2 Cover
The series has an anime adaptation that was aired on October 3, 2013 to March 27, 2014 with 24 episodes. It has also received an unaired 25th episode special titled Kill la Kill Special. The anime was produced by Studio Trigger (Little Witch Academia, Inou-Battle wa Nichijou-kei no Naka de).
Anime Staff:
Original Creation: TRIGGER (Inferno Cop, Little Witch Academia), Nakashima Kazuki (Oh! Edo Rocket)
Production – Aniplex, ULTRA SUPER PICTURES, Dentsu, Kadokawa, Movic, Lucent Pictures Entertainment, MBS
Anime Cast:
Ami Koshimizu (Kallen Stadtfeld from Code Geass) as Ryuuko Matoi
Ryoka Yuzuki (Mari Katsuragi from Kami nomi zo Shiru Sekai) as Satsuki Kiryuuin
Aya Suzaki (Kana Tachibana from Gokukoku no Brynhildr) as Mako Mankanshoku
Hiroyuki Yoshino (Allelujah Haptism from Mobile Suit Gundam 00) as Houka Inumuta
Katsuyuki Konishi (Haji from Blood+) as Tsumugu Kinagase
Mayumi Shintani (Haruko Haruhara from FLCL) as Nonon Jakuzure
Nobuyuki Hiyama (Hiei from Yu Yu Hakusho) as Uzu Sanageyama
Romi Park (Hange Zoë from Shingeki no Kyojin) as Ragyo Kiryuuin
Shinichiro Miki (Toshizou Hijikata from Hakuouki) as Aikurou Mikisugi
Tetsu Inada (Ioryogi from Kobato.) as Ira Gamagoori
Toshihiko Seki (Kousaku Matsuda from Yawara!) as Senketsu
Yukari Tamura (Remon Yamano from Ano Natsu de Matteru) as Nui Harime
Anime CM:
Anime Visual:
Synopsis of Kill la Kill from Haruhichan:
Ryuuko Matoi is a vagrant school girl traveling from place to place searching for clues to the truth behind her father’s death—the “woman with the scissor blade.” The journey has led Ryuuko to Honnouji Academy.
Honnouji Academy—where an elite group of students is granted superhuman power by their special uniforms called the “Goku uniform.” With the power of the uniform, the student body president, Satsuki Kiryuin rules the students with unquestioned power and fear.
Satsuki holds the secret to the “scissor blade” and Ryuuko confronts Satsuki to gain information but… Was their encounter a mere coincidence or fate? The clash between the two will soon consume the whole academy!
Visit Kill la Kill‘s official Japanese anime website here or Aniplex’s English anime website here.
Some of you guys might be thinking: ‘”Big Sister” Rii is doing Amagi Brilliant Park again?’ Yep I’m doing it again, this one last review of it. If any of you have seen my previous articles where I talk about Amagi Brilliant Park, there’s no real need to dive into reasons why I watched it anymore. If you’re wondering my thoughts on it up until this point, you can look at my previous thoughts on it here (First Impressions), and here (Fall 2014 Impressions).
Story and Characters:
First things first: Yes, the main characters names do sound familiar. Kanie, Sento, and Latifa are their names. Yes, they are a reference to Kanye West, 50 Cent, and Queen Latifah. Go figure. Seiya Kanie is an ace student, excelling at everything he does. He knows how perfect he is and flaunts it. This catches the attention of Isuzu Sento and she asks him, at gunpoint, to go out on a date with her to Amagi Brillaint Park. Amagi Brilliant Park is a run-down amusement park that is struggling to stay afloat. Its rides are breaking down, part of the staff are not even at their stations, and the cast members are in disarray, giving poor performances. After having a miserable time at the park, Sento brings Kanie with her to meet the park’s manager, a young girl named Latifa Fleuranza. Upon meeting with him, Latifa tells Kanie that Amagi Brilliant Park is actually run by residents of a magical realm called Maple Land. She asks that he run Amagi Brilliant Park, as it is on the verge of shutting down. If the park is shut down, the residents of Maple Land will have no home, as they had lost their previous home in the past. The goal is to reach 250,000 guests in 3 months as the minimum for keeping the park open. To help him believe her story, Latifa grants him the power to read minds, although he can only use it once per person. The story follows Kanie as he attempts to fix Amagi Brilliant Park‘s problems as the general manager.
The story of Amagi Brilliant Park starts off a little slow and it does get sidetracked a little bit, but overall it was well-paced. There was steady progress throughout the story, whether it was from a plot perspective or character development perspective. Every episode, with the exception of a couple, felt purposeful. The story doesn’t really kick in until the second half of the anime, so they spend the first half setting up the characters, and they do it very well. There’s a big cast of characters, and they managed to find a way to make almost everyone seem important in one way or another. Keeping up a good amusement park is a team effort after all.
Amagi Brilliant Park has 13 episodes, but it basically finishes in 12. The 13th episode is almost like an OVA in the way it is presented, and the 12th episode finished strong. If you look over episode 13 as an extra episode, Amagi Brilliant Park had a good resolution to its story, unlike other KyoAni anime of late. The only real unresolved part is Sento and Kanie’s relationship which never was really brought out that much at all in the anime. I’m almost tempted to drop the romance genre from the list, given how little focus actually went towards developing their relationship. Depending on how you look at it, you could even ship Kanie with the other female protagonist, Latifa, because of how much they focus on Latifa in the final episodes. I’m keeping it only because it is obvious that Sento likes Kanie, especially around the halfway mark. It’s a shame, because having a 13th episode would have given them plenty of time to wrap up the romance story, but they chose to do another regular episode instead. Maybe we can hope for an Amagi Brilliant Park movie. It seems that’s where KyoAni’s romance writers do their best work (The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya, Tamako Love Story, upcoming Kyoukai no Kanata movie).
This is as close as you’re going to get folks.
Visuals and Animation:
Being a Kyoto Animation anime, this has high production values when it comes to its art and animation. It looks similar to other anime they have made. Think back to anime like Hyouka or Kyoukai no Kanata, and you have the general idea. Amagi Brilliant Park is drawn very well, with nice bright colours to bring out the light-hearted nature of the show. The whole fairy tale feel of the anime can also be seen through its art style. The animation also isn’t too bad either. Overall, and as expected, another good looking anime from KyoAni.
Sound and Music:
Kyoto Animation, I’ve noticed anyway, has a tendency to hire voice actors, particularly females, that haven’t had a big break yet for their main characters, supported by one or two veteran voice actors for another one of their mains. For example, all of K-On!‘s voice actresses (Aki Toyosaki, Yoko Hikasa, Minako Kotobuki, Satomi Sato, and Ayana Taketatsu) were rookies when they were hired. Aya Hirano had yet to hit it really big until she voiced Haruhi Suzumiya. Risa Taneda has been on the rise since she voiced Mirai Kuriyama in Kyoukai no Kanata last year. Amagi Brilliant Park continues this trend by bringing in voice actresses Ai Kakuma (Ruuko Kominato from Selector WIXOSS) and Yukiyo Fuiji (Tetora in Log Horizon Season 2). The characters I listed are their biggest roles that I could find. They voice Sento and Latifa respectively. They are supported by Kouki Uchiyama (Raku Ichijo from Nisekoi, Yoshino Takigawa from Zatsuen no Tempest) as Kanie, providing the veteran talent.
I am happy to report that Amagi Brilliant Park keeps up KyoAni’s tradition of having great OPs and EDs, in my opinion anyway. Both the OP, エクストラ・マジック・アワー (Extra Magic Hour), and the ED, エレメンタリオで会いましょう！ (Elementario de Aimashou!) help capture the light-hearted tone of the show as well as its fantastical side. The rest of the soundtrack doesn’t stand out as well, but there are a couple of that do hold up pretty well.
Final Verdict:
I am happy that Kyoto Animation has managed to successfully find its footing in the storytelling department once again. The last couple of times it has attempted to tell a story has ended in rushed endings that could have been avoided if they focused less on slice of life and more on the plot or its characters. While it’s nothing groundbreaking or anything that will amaze you it’s an enjoyable watch, particularly if you’re looking for an an anime to easily get into. It has a nice light-hearted story mixed with some solid voice acting, visuals, and characters. So what are you waiting for? Head on over to Amagi Brilliant Park!
+ Great visuals
+ Well-developed characters
+ Good ending (to the regular story)
– Romance story falls short
– Episode 13 (not being the concluding episode)
So, what did you guys think of Amagi Brilliant Park? Let me know in the comments!
According to the official page for Shinshokan’s Wings magazine’s Issue Preview, Chigusa Kawai’s (Kamitsukitai, La Esperança) manga, 101 Hitomi no Alice (Alice the 101st), will end in the April 2015 issue of the magazine which will be released on February 28, 2015.
101 Hitomi no Alice is a dramatic-music shoujo manga that began publishing on June 2007 under Shinshokan. The manga has currently eight compiled manga volumes. The first volume was published on November 10, 2007 while the latest volume was published on June 25, 2014. The manga was licensed in North America by Digital Manga Publishing and currently has four compiled English manga volumes. The latest volume of the English version of the manga was released on June 25, 2014.
Volume 1 Manga Cover
Volume 2 Manga Cover
Volume 3 Manga Cover
Volume 4 Manga Cover
Volume 5 Manga Cover
Volume 6 Manga Cover
Volume 7 Manga Cover
Volume 8 Manga Cover
English Volume 1 Cover
English Volume 2 Cover
English Volume 3 Cover
English Volume 4 Cover
Character Profiles:
Synopsis of 101 Hitomi no Alice from Digital Manga Magazine:
Mondonville Music Academy attracts thousands of elite musician applicants from around the world, but only 100 students are accepted into the program each year. But this year, Alistair Lang-who has no formal music training and is unable to even read a music score-is somehow accepted into the program as the 101st student! His classmates wonder how he even made it into the program, and proceed to treat him like an outcast, calling him, “the 101st”. One day, during a violin lesson, Alistair steps up and begins to play his violin…
With just 6 days away from launch, original character designer Takako Shimura (Aldnoah.Zero) is building up the hype for the Aldnoah.Zero 2nd Season by sketching countdown pictures each day until debut.
Today’s sketch is for day 6 of the countdown:
If this doesn’t get you hyped for the second season, here’s the most recent promotional video:
Aldnoah.Zero is a brand new original series created by Gen Urobuchi, the writer of the Fate/Zero light novels and anime, and Mahou Shoujo Madoka★Magica. The anime is directed by Ei Aoki who directed the Fate/Zero anime – teaming up with Urobuchi once again. The series is written by the “Olympus Knights”, a group of writers from Nitro+ (known for their science adventure visual novels) that is helmed by Urobuchi. Katsuhiko Takayama (Mirai Nikki) is the series composer, managing the flow and story of the series.
The character concepts are done by Masako Matsumoto (Naruto Shippuden) and the final character designs from Takako Shimura (Aoi Hana). The series features mechs designed by I-IV and Kenji Teraoka (Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex), and the music is composed by Hiroyuki Sawano (Attack on Titan). The series is produced by A-1 Pictures (Sword Art Online, Fairy Tail) and studio TROYCA (new studio opened by Aoki). The first series had a total of 12 episodes and was earlier confirmed to be a split cour.
In 1972, the Apollo 17 mission found a hypergate to Mars on the surface of the moon. Upon landing, astronauts discovered a enchanted utility later referred to as ‘Aldnoah’, giving the astronauts a status of superiority. Soon, many humans have relocated to Mars, and have adapted to the name ‘Martians’. After Princess Asseylum, a royal Martian princess, descends onto Earth in an attempt to create a treaty between both planets, a war breaks out between Earth and Mars, and Martian soldiers begin to descend from the sky, riding steel giants, intent on exterminating humanity.
The New Year is here and so is the winter 2014/2015 anime season which is literally around the corner. Below is a compilation video containing a promotional video of each new anime series that will air during the winter 2014/2015 anime season.
Here’s the titles, visuals and a brief synopsis of the upcoming anime series in order as shown in the video above, hopefully you can find something to watch this season:
Death Parade
“Welcome to Queen Dekim.” What greets two unsuspecting guests is a strange bar, Queen Dekim, and the white-haired bartender, Dekim. “From here you two shall begin a battle where your lives hang in the balance,” he says to introduce the Death Game. Before long the guests’ true natures become apparent. As a matter of course, at the game’s end Dekim is revealed to be the “arbiter.” Dekim’s judgement on the two guests is…
The Rolling Girls
Ten years after the Great Tokyo War, each prefecture in Japan has split up into independent nations. Each nation is ruled by a prophet called “Mosa” and an army called “Mob” as they start to compete to take over other countries. Four “Mob” girls from the Saitama clan, Nozomi, Yukina, Ai, and Chiaya, are ordered by their “Mosa” to travel around Japan riding their motorcycles to mediate multiple battles between nations and clans as they emerge.
Yuri Kuma Arashi
Some time ago, the asteroid Kumaria exploded in the depths of space.
The resulting fragments became a meteor shower that rained down on Earth, and for some reason, bears all over the world rose up and attacked humanity! In “Man vs. Bear,” the bears ate the humans and the humans shot the bears, resulting in a seemingly unending battle and a cycle of hatred. In the end, a giant “Wall of Extinction” was erected between the humans and bears and a state of mutual nonaggression came to pass…
The human world.
One morning, Arashigaoka Academy students Kureha Tsubaki and Sumika Izumino were by themselves and saw the “Yuri Flower” that bloomed in a flower bed. The two are friends as well as lovers. The flower bed is an important place to the two. At that moment, the Bear Alarms ring out! The bears are invading the human world, and humans are being attacked! Are they really those bears? One mystery invokes yet another mystery, one after another. The curtain rises magnificently on Yuri Kuma Arashi!
Junketsu no Maria
The story follows Maria, the most powerful witch who lives during the Hundred Years’ War in France. She despises war, so she obstructs battles with her strong magical powers. Her meddling with her succubus Artemis and incubus Priapos has caught the attention of the heavens, and so the Archangel Michael issues an edict. When Maria loses her virginity, she will also lose her magical powers. A beautiful angel named Ezekiel is supposed to watch Maria and make sure the witch does not use magic in front of people, but Maria continues to use magic anyways.
Kantai Collection: KanColle
TV adaptation of the online browser card battle game.
Ansatsu Kyoushitsu
A humorous and action-packed story about a class of misfits who are trying to kill their new teacher – an alien octopus with bizarre powers and super strength! The teacher has just destroyed the moon and is threatening to destroy the earth – unless his students can destroy him first. What makes things more complicated is that he’s the best teacher they’ve ever had!
Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata
The life of Tomoyo Aki, a highschool otaku working part time to support his BD hoarding. With remarkable luck, he bumps head-first into, Megumi Kato, the most beautiful girl he has ever seen. Naturally, the meeting twists his life into a complicated torrent of relationships. Eriri Spencer Sawamura, his half-foreigner childhood friend who’s always valued her relationship with MC. Kasumigaoka Utaha, a cold, composed renowned literary genius who shoves everyone aside from our protagonist. What is this? An eroge introduction?
Koufuku Graffiti
The story follows Ryou, a middle school girl who lives by herself. She has a knack for cooking and makes friendships with everyone through her food. The cooking manga is “full of detailed cuisine art to whet the appetite and slightly erotic meal scenes.” The “koufuku” in the title is a wordplay on two Japanese homonyms—one which means “happiness,” and another that means “appetite.”
The iDOLM@STER: Cinderella Girls
Based on the iDOLM@STER mobile game Cinderella Girls.
Absolute Duo
After losing a loved one, Tooru Kokonoe enrolls at Kouryou Academy so as to gain a “Blaze,” a weapon that is his soul manifestation, for the sake of revenge. He was expecting a weapon… What he got was a shield… How is he to seek revenge with something that isn’t even a weapon?!
Shinmai Maou no Testament
“Hey, you said you wanted a little sister, right?” First year highschool student, Toujo Basara, was suddenly asked by his father and fell into a state of panic. On top of that, the eccentric father told him he will be getting remarried.
He then departed overseas after bringing Basara two beautiful step-sisters. But Mio and Maria’s true forms are actually the newbie Demon Lord and a succubus!? Basara was almost entered into a master and servant contract with Mio, but a “reversed” contract was formed by mistake, and Basara is now the master!? Moreover, Basara is being hit by one ecchi situation after another due to the contract, but Mio’s life is being pursued by other demon tribes and hero tribes! The most powerful contractor’s desire action drama begins!
Seiken Tsukai no World Break
“Hey, you said you wanted a little sister, right?” First year highschool student, Toujo Basara, was suddenly asked by his father and fell into a state of panic. On top of that, the eccentric father told him he will be getting remarried.
He then departed overseas after bringing Basara two beautiful step-sisters. But Mio and Maria’s true forms are actually the newbie Demon Lord and a succubus!? Basara was almost entered into a master and servant contract with Mio, but a “reversed” contract was formed by mistake, and Basara is now the master!? Moreover, Basara is being hit by one ecchi situation after another due to the contract, but Mio’s life is being pursued by other demon tribes and hero tribes! The most powerful contractor’s desire action drama begins!
Binan Koukou Chikyuu Bouei-bu Love!
This is the story of how five high school boys affiliated with the “Binan High School Earth Defense Club” aka the “Do Nothing Club” are charged by a weird pink wombat creature with protecting the world.
Military!
The story takes place during a conflict between the Krakozhia Dukedom and the Grania Republic. In the midst of the fighting, a savior appears to the Krakozhia Dukedom, and it is a high school student named Yano Souhei. Two female soldiers, First Lieutenant Ruto and Second Lieutenant Haruka, appear in tanks to intrude on Souhei’s everyday life, followed by the enemy soldier Shachirofu, all of whom use firearms without hesitation at his house.
Anime de Wakaru Shinryounaika
The psychologist Ryou and his cheerful nurse Asuna explain many aspects of mental illness to the reader. They cover topics such as the validity, prevalence, and origins of mental disorders, in addition to addressing specific disorders. The information is imparted in a cheerful and comic manner, with various jokes, puns, and pop culture references.
Doamaiger D
Kyougoku Daijirou is the 15th generation owner of the Kyoto sweets shop Amashoudou. One day, Daijirou discovers a giant robot named Doamaiger D in his store’s basement. At the same time, enemies called “Mekaijuu” appear in Kyoto and begin wreaking havoc.
Soukyuu no Fafner: Dead Aggressor – Exodus
Sequel to Soukyuu no Fafner: Dead Aggressor, set two years after Heaven and Earth.
Durarara!!x2 Shou
First cour of Durarara!!’s second season.
Kamisama Hajimemashita 2nd Season
Second season of Kamisama Hajimemashita series.
Dog Days 3
The third season of Dog Days.
Kuroko no Basket 3rd Season
The third season of Kuroko no Basket.
Aldnoah.Zero 2nd Season
Second season of Aldnoah.Zero, announced at the end of the first season.
The second season of Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders.
Tantei Kageki Milky Holmes TD
There have been many cases of stolen songs happening among the idols in Yokohama District recently. Even super idol Marine Amagi’s hit song “Kiseki no Uta” was taken away. At the request of Marine, the Milky Holmes team starts investigating the case.
Juuou Mujin no Fafnir
With the sudden appearance of the monsters that came to be called Dragons, the world had completely changed. Before long, within the human race supernatural girls with the power of the dragons, called “D,” were born. The secret existence of the only male “D,” the boy Mononobe Yuu, was forcefully thrown into the school where the girls of “D” gathered—Midgar, where he saw the naked body of one of the students, Iris. Furthermore, meeting his long-lost sister Mitsuki, Yuu seems to have been enrolled into this school…?! “When there’s really no other choice, Iris, I will—kill you.” “Can I really… believe you?” The curtains open as the “one and only story” about the boy who was supposed to become the strongest assassin and the incompetent girl unfolds—! Unlimited School Battle Action!
Isuca
Shinichirou decides to look for a job in order to pay his rent, and his teacher suggests that he work for someone at their house doing housekeeping; however, the person who hired him was Sakuya, a girl who is the 37th head of the Shimazu family, and her job is to exorcise and eliminate unwanted creatures. Shinichirou accidentally releases one of the creatures that Sakuya captures and they cooperate to catch it. A story of comedic creature hunting begins!
Sengoku Musou
Toyotomi Hideyoshi is on the verge of unifying the realm, and all that remains is the Odawara Castle protected by the “Lion of Sagami” Ujiyasu Houjou. Hideyoshi’s personally trained generals—Ishida Mitsunari, Katou Kiyomasa, and Fukushima Masanori—as well as Ootani Yoshitsugu, Shima Sakon, and Naoe Kanetsugu are all on the frontline of the battle. Amidst the battle formation are the two young warriors of the Sanada household: older brother Nobuyuki and younger brother Yukimura. As the stalemate begins to break down, Sanada Yukimura rides on a lone horse into the fray. His brother follows him right after.
Shounen Hollywood: Holly Stage for 50
Second Season of Shounen Hollywood: Holly Stage for 49.
Yoru no Yatterman
New Yatterman series to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Tatsunoko’s Time Bokan series.
A girl is looking at a remote island on the ocean named The Yatter Kingdom, a country that is said to be ruled by the hero Yatterman. The girl wants to ask the Yattermans for some help to cure her sick mother and decides to venture to the kingdom. She gets kicked out from the kingdom though and her mother dies without receiving any help.
Under Dokurobei, the boss of the Dorombo thieves that existed, lies a beauty named Doronjo. The two men, Boyacky and Tonzura, worked under Doronjo but got kicked out from the Yatter Kingdom along with the Doronbo thieves as they lost a fight against the Yatterman. This is the new generation of Dorombo—Doronjo, Boyacky, Tonzura, and new Yatterman—a story of the birth of Gan-chan and Ai-chan.
Go! Princess Precure
Go! Princess PreCure is set in a boarding junior high school, named Noble Gakuen (Noble Academy). The protagonist Haruka Haruno is a 13-year-old first year student. Her big dream is to be a princess someday, because she has admired a princess in the picture book she has kept since her childhood. One day she transforms into Cure Flora with “Dress Up Key” which Prince Kanata of Hope Kingdom gave her as a good luck charm when she was little. Then she also finds other PreCure girls in her school, 14-year-old Minami Kaidou as Cure Mermaid and 13-year-old Kirara Amanogawa as Cure Twinkle. As the Princess PreCure team, with two fairies Pafu and Aroma, they decide to fight against
dark witch Disupia (or Despair) who hates all the dreams in the world and wants to turn them to despair.
Pankis! 2-jigen
St. Muse Academy: the place for the “sound of the spirits.” In order for people to live pleasantly among the sound, there is an academy where people learn to balance and control sound. Now, the five failing students receive a special mission…
Q Transformers: Kaette Kita Convoy no Nazo
Ketsuekigata-kun! 2
Second season of Ketsuekigata-kun! series.
Minna Atsumare! Falcom Gakuen 2nd Season
The warriors who have been warped by the rampaging power of Justice have been summoned into the world of Xanadu. It is up to Dark Fact, a former villain, and principal Lappi to re-educate these students.
So which new anime series will you be picking up to start of the new year? Let us know in the comments below.
Have you ever wondered what type of Pokemon celebrities would be? Well American music video channel MTV have. They’ve compiled a list of celebrities who have Pokemon attributes.
Here are their picks:
9. Sam Smith as Gloom
8. Zooey Deschanel as Squirtle
7. Kate Perry as Meowth
6. Kanye West as Mewtwo
5. Kim Kardashian as Dragonair
4. Cara Delevingne as Hoot Hoot
3. Ariana Grande as Eevee
2. Miley Cyrus as Lickitung
1. Beyoncé as Rapidash
What celebrities and Pokemon would you have paired up together? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
With the upcoming second season of Durarara!! titled Durarara!!x2 Shou debuting this January 10, 2015. Japanese telecommunications operator KDDI have recreated the anime’s first ending theme song, Trust Me by Yuya Matsushita, in live-action.
Not only was it done to show their appreciation for the series, it was to help advertise their anime pass service which lets subscribers watch over 500 anime titles on their smartphones and tablets for 400 yen a month.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNDsaUg5zf4
The video featured 15 KDDI employees cosplaying as some of the Durarara!! characters such as Shizuo Heiwajima, Izaya Orihara, and Celty. After the ending sequence finishes we get to look behind the scenes which shows us how the video was made. Here’s the original ending theme:
A official comparison video was also made so you can compare the live action and original in real time:
Swaps4 Productions and Big Bang Studio are excited to unveil the highly anticipated launch of Melody's Melon Mania, featuring Projekt Melody! This captivating, free-to-play...
![1402d9307b5ed406209f369b4f6dbd4d1372742686_full[1]](https://haruhichan.com/wp-content/uploads/1402d9307b5ed406209f369b4f6dbd4d1372742686_full1.png)
