From the 24th of December to 26th of December, Christmas returned to the Japanese free-to-play online card game Kantai Collection which is developed by Kadokawa Games and four ship daughters got special treatment with CG art. In addition, 30 ship daughters had special holiday message dialogue, Christmas furniture was added to the shop and present boxes dropped from Northern Princess during the event.
Now that the event is over, the limited time voices and Christmas ship daughters will revert to normal mode. Like last year, the Christmas CGs can be viewed in your album.
The four ship daughters that received special treatment with Christmas themed CG art are:
Naka:
Shigure:
Sazanami:
Ryuujou:
Northern Princess, who dropped a present box during the event:
Meanwhile the second promotional video and a new visual for the 2015 Kantai Collection TV anime adaptation was revealed earlier:
On January 6, 2015, Kodansha’s Monthly Shonen Magazine will announce on their February Issue that Naoshi Arakawa’s (Sayonara Football, Tsumetai Kousha no Toki wa Todomaru) manga, Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso will end in the March Issue of the magazine which will be released on February 6, 2015.
Translation: Next Issue will be the final chapter of Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso.
The music / romantic series, Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso, was published on May 2011 in Kodansha’s Monthly Shounen Magazine. There are currently 10 compiled manga volumes for the series. The tenth volume was released on October 17, 2014. The official guidebook for the series titled as Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso Prelude Official Guidebook which includes commentaries and author interviews was released on November 17, 2014. The manga was licensed by Kodansha and the first volume will be released on Spring 2015.
Volume 1 Manga Cover
The manga received an anime adaptation that was produced by A-1 Pictures (Fairy Tail (2014), Nanatsu no Taizai). It began airing on October 9, 2014 under the Fall 2014 season. It was announced to have 22 total episodes. The anime was directed by Kyohei Ishiguro (Episode 9 Director for Psycho-Pass, Episode 7 Director for Hourou Musuko).
Synopsis of Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso from Haruhichan:
Piano prodigy Arima Kosei dominated the competition and all child musicians knew his name. But after his mother, who was also his instructor, passed away, he had a mental breakdown while performing at a recital that resulted in him no longer being able to hear the sound of his piano even though his hearing was perfectly fine. Even two years later, Kosei hasn’t touched the piano and views the world in monotone, and without any flair or color. He was content at living out his life with his good friends Tsubaki and Watari until, one day, a girl changed everything. Miyazono Kaori is a pretty, free spirited violinist whose playing style reflects her personality. Kaori helps Kosei return to the music world and show that it should be free and mold breaking unlike the structured and rigid style Kosei was used to.
The official anime website of Wooser no Sono Higurashi has announced that the short TV anime series’ third season titled Wooser no Sono Higurashi: Hoshi ni Negai wo (Wooser’s Hand-to-Mouth Life: Wish Upon The Stars) is now in production. The sequel is slated to air on 2015. More details will be announced soon.
Teaser:
Wooser no Sono Higurashi is a 4-minute Japanese computer-generated (CG) fantasy, comedy and slice-of-life anime produced by Sanzigen (Black Rock Shooter, Aoki Hagane no Arpeggio: Ars Nova). The series is based from the band Supercell’s member Yoshiki Usa and illustrator Tomoko Fujinoki’s short journal column. The anime was directed by Toyonori Yamada (photography director for Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann), written by Kazuyuki Fudeyasu (Yama no Susume 2nd Season, Denki-gai no Honya-san) and Sayo Yamamoto (Death Note, Samurai Champloo) serves as the storyboard artist and episode director for the openings and endings. The series parodies and cameos some characters from other anime shows such as Miss Monochrome, Karneval and Steins;Gate.
The first season for the series aired on October 3, 2012 to December 19, 2012 with 12 episodes. An unaired 13th episode served as an anime special titled as Wooser no Sono Higurashi: Ken to Pantsu to Wooser to was released along with the Blu-ray of the series on March 22, 2013. The second season, titled as Wooser no Sono Higurashi: Kakusei-hen (Wooser’s Hand-to-Mouth Life: Awakening Arc), followed on January 8, 2014 to March 26, 2014 with 12 episodes.
Anime Cast:
Mamoru Miyano (Death Note‘s Light Yagami, Tokyo Ghoul‘s Shuu Tsukiyama) as Wooser
Minori Ozawa as Rin
Haruka Nagamune as Len
Tia as Yuu
Yuri Sato as Miho
Kamiya Hiroshi (Bakemonogatari‘s Koyomi Araragi, Kuroko no Basuke‘s Seijuro Akashi) as Darth Wooser
Yukari Tamura (Higurashi no Naku Koro ni‘s Rika Furude, No Game No Life‘s Jibril) as Oshirase Wooser
Synopsis of Wooser no Sono Higurashi from Haruhichan:
3D shorts centered around Wooser, a mysterious mascot character whose charming appearance belies a corrupt heart.
With Kunihiko Ikuhara’s 2015 original Yuri Kuma Arashi (Yuri Bear Storm) TV anime project making its way to Tokyo MX this winter, character designer Akiko Morishima has tweeted an image which features Lulu Yurigasaki in a cute yet seductive Christmas-themed outfit.
In addition to this, the third and second promotional video was revealed on Christmas Eve:
While the first promotional video was released last month:
Anime visuals:
Yuri Kuma Arashi is a Japanese anime television series produced by Silver Link and directed by Kunihiko Ikuhara. The series was first announced via a website in August 2012, where it was referred to as the “Kunihiko Ikuhara/Penguinbear Project”. The series will begin airing on MBS’ Animeism programming block in January 2015. A manga adaptation with art by Akiko Morishima began serialization from February 2014 in Gentosha’s seinen manga magazine Comic Birz.
The official website for the anime adaptation of Sui Ishida’s Tokyo Ghoul manga has revealed the new character design for series protagonist Ken Kaneki in the upcoming second season of the anime, Tokyo Ghoul √A. Additionally, the site reveals some new cast members that will debut in the anime and the synopsis for the first episode.
This is the new design for Ken Kaneki in the upcoming series. He will be voiced by Natsuki Hanae (Inaho Kaizuka in Aldnoah.Zero) who also voices him in the first anime season. The site also revealed some new cast members for characters that will debut in the upcoming anime.
Hiro Shimono (Keima Katsuragi in The World God Only Knows) will voice Naki
Aoi Yuuki (Madoka Kaname in Mahou Shoujo Madoka★Magica) as Kurona Yasuhisa
Haruka Tomatsu (Asuna Yuuki from Sword Art Online) voicing Nashiro Yasuhisa
The site also reveals the following support characters will return:
Kouji Yusa (Kyousuke Hyoubu from Zettai Karen Children) will return as Tatara
Maaya Sakamoto (Motoko Kusanagi in Ghost in the Shell) is voicing Eto
Kazuhiko Inoue (Kakashi Hatake from Naruto) voices Donato Porpora
Asami Seto (Chihaya Ayase in Chihayafuru) is voicing as Akira Mado
Takayuki Kondou (Shuichiro Oishi from Prince of Tennis) will voice the role of Take Hirano
The synopsis for the first episode of Tokyo Ghoul √A was also released. There will also be an advanced screening session of the first episode on January 4 at the Toho Cinemas in Nihonbashi.
Ghouls, mysterious beings that eat humans, lie hidden in Tokyo.
In the secret base of the belligerent group “Aogiri Tree,” a fierce battle between the Aogiri, CCG (The Commission of Counter Ghoul), and Anteiku unfolds. The CCG’s Yukinori Shinohara, Iwao Kuroiwa and their followers fight against SSS-rate ghoul “Fukurō.” Meanwhile, the Anteiku’s Uta, Renji Yomo, and Shū Tsukiyama battle Noro, one of the Aogiri Tree’s leaders.
In one part of the battle, Touka Kirishima faces her own brother Ayato and is cornered by his overwhelming strength.
And, when he tries to attack Touka with a final blow…
The upcoming second season will be based on a new original story written by Ishida, rather than adapting the remainder of his original manga. The series will once again be animated by Studio Pierrot (Naruto Shippuden, Bleach) and the majority of the cast and staff will return to reprise their roles. The second season itself will be airing from January 8 next year on Tokyo MX, before airing on TV Osaka, TV Aichi, TVQ, Dlife and ATX-1 in the subsequent days. Ishida has reported on Twitter that the anime will be 12 episodes long.
Additionally, the first promotional video for the upcoming series was earlier released:
Tokyo Ghoul is a manga series by Sui Ishida. It was serialized in Shueisha’s seinen manga magazine Weekly Young Jump between September 2011 and September 2014 and has been collected in thirteen tankobon volumes as of August 2014. A prequel titled Tokyo Ghoul: JACK is running online on Jump Live and a 12-episode anime television series adaptation by studio Pierrot aired on Tokyo MX between July and September 2014. A second season has been announced.
Tokyo Ghoul synopsis from Haruhichan:
The suspense horror/dark fantasy story is set in Tokyo, which is haunted by mysterious “ghouls” who are devouring humans. People are gripped by the fear of these ghouls whose identities are masked in mystery. An ordinary college student named Kaneki encounters Rize, a girl who is an avid reader like him, at the café he frequents. Little does he realize that his fate will change overnight.
Tokyo Ghoul √A will be airing from January 8 next year during the Winter 2014/2015 anime season on Tokyo MX for a total of 12 episodes. An advanced screening of the first episode will be held at the Toho Cinemas in Nihonbashi on January 4. More information will follow soon.
A new wallpaper illustration has been posted for Nitroplus’s mascot, Super Sonico. She is displayed in a naughty Santa Clause outfit while sitting on top of a snowman.
Previous Christmas illustrations include:
Super Sonico is a fictional female character created for the Japanese computer and video game software company Nitroplus, first appearing as a mascot for a Nitroplus-sponsored music festival in 2006. Nitroplus has since developed the character into a media franchise that includes music products, manga series, computer and video games, toy figurines and other merchandise. An anime television series by White Fox based on the character aired in Japan between January and March 2014.
A new commercial has been streamed online for the upcoming 2015 TV anime adaptation of Makoto Kawai’s Koufuku Graffiti (Happy Cooking Graffiti) manga. This new video reveals what the anime will be about with main character Ryou Machiko narrating and also previews the anime’s Opening theme, Shiawase ni Tsuite Watashi ga Shitteiru Itsutsu no Houhou performed by Maaya Sakamoto. The anime will be produced by Shaft (Mahou Shoujo Madoka★Magica, Nisekoi) and directed by Naoyuki Tatsuwa (Nisekoi, Katte ni Kaizou). The series will star Rina Satou (Ritsu Tainaka in K-ON!) as Ryou Machiko, Asuka Oogame (Erio Touwa from Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko) as Kirin Morino and Mikako Komatsu (Neko from K) as Shiina.
The Koufuku Graffiti anime will be airing from January 8 on TBS at 23:46am (effectively January 9th 1:46am) during the Winter 2014/2015 anime season.
The end of the final episode of the anime adaptation of Cool Kyoushinsha’s I Can’t Understand What My Husband Is Saying (Danna ga Nani o Itteiru ka Wakaranai Ken) 4 koma has announced that a second season of the anime is currently in production and that it will be airing in April next year.
The official website of the anime has also revealed a brand new visual for the upcoming second season:
The cast of the original anime, which will return for the upcoming second season, includes:
Yukari Tamura (Nui from Kill la Kill) as Kaoru, the working wife.
Kenichi Suzumura (FoiFoi from Senyuu) as Hajime, the otaku husband.
Rie Kugumiya (Alphonse Elric from Fullmetal Alchemist) as Rino Juse, the highschool friend.
Toshifumi Sakai (Assassin A from Strange+) as Nozomu Juse, the highschool friend’s husband.
Ryoko Shintani (Sae from Hidamari Sketch) as Tanaka-san, another highschool friend.
Daisuke Tonosaki (Delinquent A from Strange+) as Yamada, another highschool friend’s husband.
Sayaka Horino (Mikine Nezu from Inugami-san to Nekoyama-san) as Mayotama, the trap younger brother.
Kaori Shimizu (Hiyori Tamura from Lucky Star) as Miki-san, the mysterious detective.
There has been no information about whether the staff will return to produce the second season. The staff of the anime’s first season includes:
Director and Screenplay Writer: Shinpei Nagai (Inugami-san to Nekoyama-san)
Character Designer and Animation Director: Ryuichi Baba (Bakugan Battle Brawlers: Gundalian Invaders)
Sound Director: Masakatsu Oomuro (Inugami-san to Nekoyama-san, Sparrow’s Hotel)
Music Composer: G-angle (Debut role)
Animation Studio: Seven (Inugami-san to Nekoyama-san, Recorder to Randoseru Do♪)
I Can’t Understand What My Husband Is Saying (Danna ga Nani o Itteiru ka Wakaranai Ken) is a 4-koma web manga series by Cool Kyoushinsha. The series is released on Kyoushinsha’s website where it gained enough popularity for publisher Ichijinsha to compile and publish the manga into 4 volumes to date, the last of which released in June this year. An anime adaptation of the series was announced and aired during the Fall/Autumn 2014 anime season, produced by studio Seven (Inugami-san to Nekoyama-san, Recorder to Randoseru Do♪) and directed by Shinpei Nagai (Inugami-san to Nekoyama-san).
Here is a synopsis of the series from Haruhichan:
The anime follows the daily life of an earnest, hardworking office lady named Kaoru and her otaku husband, Hajime, who is totally immersed in a certain huge net bulletin board system.
The second season of the Danna ga Nani o Itteiru ka Wakaranai Ken anime will be airing from April next year during the Spring 2015 anime season. Further information about the anime will be revealed in the leading months to the anime’s broadcast.
Today, we’ll be taking a look at the Lucky Anime Toy Set Fukubukuro from JList!
Fukubukuro also known as lucky bag or mystery bag is a Japanese New Year custom in which merchants make grab bags filled with unknown random contents and sell them for a substantial discount, usually 50% or more off the list price of the items contained within. JList have also been following this tradition for a few years now and have different types of fukubukuro which can be viewed here.
The Japanese cardboard robot known as Danbo will be helping me out throughout this post. Here’s a look at the bag that the contents came in then each product individually:
Sailor Moon figure, 3 capsule toys (The Secret of Blue Water, Danganronpaand Neon Genesis Evangelion) and a Shinryaku! Ika Musume figure key-ring.
Well, that wraps up the Fukubukuro Lucky Anime Toy Set from JList. If you were able to try out a fukubukuro from JList this year, which one did you get? Let us know in the comments below!
In the February issue of ASCII Media Works’ Dengeki G’s Magazine the first details for the recently announcedCharlotte anime was revealed. The magazine has revealed a small snippet of information about the upcoming original series and a first look at the two main characters.
The latest Dengeki G’s Magazine issue has revealed the name of the anime’s two main characters: Nao Tomori and Yu Otosaka. Nao Tomori (left), the previously revealed character, is the president of the school’s student council. She is a stoic person. She studies very hard and has issues with problematic students. Yu Otosaka (right) is the leading character and hero of the Charlotte anime. He is an honors student that is quite stupid and does not study at all, often using mysterious techniques to cheat.
Some further details of the anime were also revealed in an interview with Jun Maeda.
He describes the plot of the anime as a typical Key story. He further compares the series to Angel Beats! where that series was unable to flesh out all the characters. This series will be different as their main focus will be on the characters.
The main characters of the series will revolve around the student council, where one of them are in a band. There will be two performances on stage by the band.
The anime’s Opening and Ending themes, and the insert songs, will be written and composed by Jun Maeda (Angel Beats! Music & Creator, Clannad Music and Writer).
The genre of the songs will be rock focusing on women vocals where the voice actresses will be singing.
The first half of the anime will be more slow paced than Angel Beats! before picking up speed for the second half
Jun Maeda will also write the original screenplay for the anime, which will be produced by P.A. Works (Angel Beats!, Nagi no Asukara) . It will also feature character designs from Na-Ga, a popular artist who works with Key on many of their famous visual novels and also the character designs of the Angel Beats! light novel, anime and visual novel.
Here is the website’s visual with the date:
Here is the announcement video for Charlotte:
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2d49by
Still, not a lot of information about Charlotte has been revealed. More information will be revealed in the upcoming months in Dengeki G’s Magazine and the anime’s website.
It has been revealed in the February issue of Media Factory’s Monthly Comic Alive magazine that the second season of the anime adaptation of Atto’s Non Non Biyori manga will be called Non Non Biyori Repeat. The magazine also unveiled the first visual for the upcoming series.
The manga has also reached a new milestone selling over one million copies. A special community poll will be held at an event in 2015 where a special screening of the first episode of the anime’s second season will also be held. And a photo contest, similar to the one for the first season, will also be held. Additional information about the event will be revealed in upcoming issues of Monthly Comic Alive.
The official website for the Non Non Biyori anime is celebrating christmas with a special cute snowy image of the main characters from the series:
Non Non Biyori is a comedy slice of life manga written and illustrated by Atto. The manga began in 2009 published in Media Factory’s Monthly Comic Alive magazine. To date there a total of 7 volumes have been produced, with the 8th volume scheduled to release on March 23rd next year. An anime adaptation of the series was made in October 2013. An anime adaptation of the series was produced in 2003 by Silver Link (Strike the Blood, Kokoro Connect) with Shinya Kawatsura (Kokoro Connect, .hack//Gift) directing. To date the manga has sold over 1 million copies in Japan.
Here is a synopsis of the anime from Haruhichan:
Elementary school student Hotaru Ichijou has moved with her parents from Tokyo to the middle of the country. Now she must adapt to her new school, where there are a total of 5 students in the same class who range through elementary and middle school ages. Join their everyday adventures in the countryside.
Non Non Biyori Repeat will be airing in 2015. Further information about the anime will be revealed in the upcoming months in Monthly Comic Alive.
For the majority of the world, it’s already Christmas. But the holiday is not yet over until the break is done, for students and for the few workers out there! Given the short time, here is a short list of shoujo manga recommendations that are Christmas-themed and one-shots (only one chapter). We have a few bonus manga in the end, which is more than one chapter if you want a longer read. So, let’s get started.
Merry Unbalance Christmas
Genres: Drama, Romance, Shoujo
Author: Tomofuji, Yuu
Published: 2011
Pages: 43 (excluding credit page)
Saving up for an extravagant dessert treat is not a sin, well, neither is getting into an argument with some EXTREMELY RICH GUY just because he snatched your long awaited dessert a sin either… However, things are about to go into a spiralling twist of events when that guy popped up the next day saying “Become my woman!”
Christmas ni Omoi wo Nosete
Genres: Romance, School, Shoujo
Author: Hosobori, Yukari
Published: December 5, 2013
Pages: 16
What guy wouldn’t want cookies for free, right?
Daydream World
Genres: Drama, Romance, Shoujo
Author: Yasuko
Published: Sep 26, 2008
Pages: 35
“My dream is to ride on the Ferris Wheel with my destined lover” says Kubo, a girl who has never had a boyfriend for 17 years. But the guy she likes suddenly starts working at the same place as her. When Christmas arrives, what will happen? (This is an included one-shot with the manga Holiday)
Marii to Santa
Genres: Drama, Comedy, Shoujo
Author: Nigushi, Keiko
Published: 2009
Pages: 16
Santa crashes into a tree and spends an evening with a practical but sweet little girl.
Santa Claus Panic
Genres: Comedy, Romance, Shoujo
Author: Shiiba, Nana
Published: Aug 26, 2010
Pages: 31
It’s the season of Christmas and companies are advertising their services more determinedly during these times. Yayuka accidentally picked up a flier saying a Santa will give her a wonderful gift on Christmas if she calls that number. Not wanting to be alone of Christmas, she calls the number and prepares a Christmas feast for Santa but when the doorbell rang, there stood a very young and handsome Santa who happens to be a debonair host! (This is an included one-shot with the manga Sensei wa Sadistic)
Christmas Shimasho♡
Genres: Romance, Shoujo
Author: Odagiri, Nagisa
Published: 2011-2012
Pages: 31
Kyouko got a boyfriend (Takuto) and she is looking forward to spending Christmas together with him. (This is an included one-shot with Ichigo Switch!)
Christmas Romance
Genres: Romance, Shoujo
Author: Harada, Saa
Pages: 40
Ito’s favorite author has been right around her corner all this time. But, he wasn’t quite how she imagined he’d be. So, will romance still ultimately bloom between these two?
130cm Kara Merry Christmas
Genres: Romance, Shoujo
Author: Mochida, Aki
Published: 2007-2008
Pages: 32
Kei has always been an unlucky girl. On the other hand, her classmate Madoka claims that he is a lucky boy. What would happen to these two as they were invited to join their class Christmas party? (This is an included one-shot with the manga Mayonaka ni Kiss)
Otona to Kodomo no Merry Christmas
Genres: Slice-of-life, Shoujo
Author: Irohara, Mitabi
Pages: 19
One-shot webcomic with the existence of Santa as its theme.
Christmas ni Kagayaku
Genres: Romance, School, Shoujo
Author: Miyagi, Anna
Published: November 14, 2009
Pages: 31
Runa has always had a fear of boys. When she’s confronted by a confession from the school’s most popular guy, Kizuna, she just burst out in tears. However, she calms down when Kizuna says he wants to start out as being friends.
As an additional Christmas gift, I present to you one seinen, two shounen and three more shoujo manga that fits with the season:
Chokotto Sister
Volumes: 8
Chapters: 71
Status: Completed
Genres: Comedy, Ecchi, Romance, Slice of Life, Seinen
Haruma Kawagoe is an only child. A long time ago, at Christmastime, his mother miscarried the child that was to have been his baby sister. That night, young Haruma knelt down and offered up an earnest prayer: “Please make my mother well again, and please give me a little sister.” Years have passed, and Haruma has nearly forgotten his prayer. But Santa hasn’t…. one Christmas, when Haruma is least expecting it, he gets an unusual present – his sister. (Has a 24-episode anime adaptation)
Chocolate Christmas
Volumes: 1
Chapters: 5
Status: Completed
Genres: Comedy, Romance, Shoujo, Slice of Life
Author: Takeuchi, Naoko
Published: Dec 1987 to Jan 1988
Chocolate Christmas is about a DJ named Choco, a girl named Ryouko, her friend Makiko, and an annoying boy named Keiki. Ever nolstalgic, beautifully crafted, and sweet; it’s funny story with a few quirks here and there.
Also includes the one shot “Wink Rain.”
Will it Snow for Christmas
Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance, Shoujo
Published: 2010
Status: Publishing
This is an SBS Drama Special. Kang Jin’s Family moves to Sancheong with a past lingering over their shoulders. As they arrive in town, banners hanging over the streets are forbidding them from passing through the streets because of their luggage in the back of the trunk. Something about the banner really ticks off Kang Jin’s Mom. As crazy as she is, what does she do? And what lies ahead in Sancheong? This is a tragic love story of sweet descendants.
Yoroshiku Master/Sweet Rein
Volumes: 3
Chapters: 12
Status: Completed
Genres: Comedy, Fantasy, Romance, Shoujo
Author: Tsukuba, Sakura
Published: Dec 10, 2003 to Dec 10, 2008
One day when 17-year-old Sagara Kurumi accidently bumps into a guy on the streets, reins suddenly appear and binds them both! What is this?! Things get even more confusing when the boy, Kaito, clasps her hands and calls her his master! When Kaito transforms into a reindeer it just becomes too much for poor Kurumi who’s out as a light. But it does indeed seem like Kurumi’s a santa and Kaito’s her reindeer and that they’ve got an important job to do on Christmas Eve~
Holy Glory
Volumes: 1
Chapters: 4
Status: Completed
Genres: Fantasy, Shounen
Author: Sichol=bell
Published: Feb 2009 to May 2009
19th century England. Christmas Day.
A young thief, Salt, and his partner-in-crime Pierre come across a strange-looking traveller with a penchant for sweets. The only thing of value Salt finds in the traveller’s bag is an odd compass, so he steals it – only for monsters to come after him a few hours later! Why are they after Salt? And what does the traveller want with him?? It’s a fantastic winter tale of magic!
Noel la Neige
Genres: Fantasy, Shounen
Author: Sichol=bell
Published: Aug 18, 2008
Pages: 42
One-shot. Noel Christonbel is Santa Claus no. 29. He and his reindeer, Rudolf (in human form) visit children on Christmas day and give them presents – whatever they ask for. However, what happens when one of the children they meet doesn’t want anything… and instead feels he should die?
Sequel for Holy Glory.
There you go! I personally recommend Christmas ni Omoi wo Nosete because it’s cute and that it gives you a bit of a squee this Christmas. I hope you’ll read and enjoy them! Happy Holidays!
Are there any more Christmas-themed manga you would like to recommend?
The second and third promotional videos have been released for Kunihiko Ikuhara’s 2015 original Yuri Kuma Arashi (Yuri Bear Storm) TV anime project. Both videos introduce the main characters of the series, their relationship with each other and a glimpse into their transformation scenes. This yuri anime will be directed by Kunihiko Ikuhara (Mawaru Penguindrum, Sailor Moon SuperS) himself and will be produced by Silver Link (Kokoro Connect, Non Non Biyori). The series will star Miho Arakawa (Sumireko Hanabusa in Akuma no Riddle) as Ginko Yurishiro, Yoshiko Ikuta (Yukina Sonogi in Senkou no Night Raid) as Lulu Yurigasaki, and Nozomi Yamane (First major role) as Kureha Tsubaki.
Yuri Kuma Arashi will be airing in Japan on January 6th on Tokyo MX, during the Winter 2014/2015 anime season.
The third promotional video:
And here is the first PV that released last month:
The official website of the Yoru No Yatterman (Yatterman of the Night) TV anime has revealed a brand new visual for the upcoming series. The site has also revealed the main cast of the anime with a new set of character designs, the first promotional video and that the anime will be airing from January 11th next year.
The anime’s main cast and designs were revealed for their respective characters. The series itself is created to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the original Time Bokan anime. The main cast and characters of Yoru no Yatterman are descendant from the original 1977 Yatterman anime, which includes:
Eri Kitamura (Yui from Angel Beats!) will voice Doronjo, real name Leopard, a young 9 year old girl that is a descendent of the original Doronjo who is very resilient and prideful of her lineage. She also tries to act aggressive, but it doesn’t get her far.
Hiroaki Hirata (Sanji from One Piece) will voice the role of Boyacky, real name Voltkatze, a genius 25 year old that is a descendent of the original Boyacky who serves the Doronjo family in each generation.
Kenta Miyake (Tsume in Wolf’s Rain) as Tonzra, real name Elephantus, a strong 29 year old who is a descendent of the original Elephantus and also serves the Doronjo family.
Shizuka Itou (Luviagelita Edelfelt in Fate/kaleid liner Prisma☆Illya) is voicing as Dorothy, a descendent of the Dorombo family. She was banished by Yattermen and lives in a remote location who has suddenly become ill. She is the mother of Leopard and lives with Boyacky and Elephantus.
Shizuka Itou will also voice Alouette, a 17-year old girl and childhood friend of Galina. Her parents and dog were captured and taken away for forced labor by Yattermen, where the shock of the incident left her blind.
Chiaki Takahashi (Azusa Miura in The iDOLM@STER) plays the role of Oda-sama, Dorothy’s pet talking pig who is treated very highly in her family, but also very spoiled leading to her heavy weight.
Hiroyuki Yoshino (Firo Prochainezo in Baccano!) will be voicing Galina, a 17 year old boy who wishes to become strong and protect the weak and his childhood friend, Alouette. His parents were captured by Yattermen and eventually died after forced labor. He meets with Doronjo and joins their adventures.
The staff of the anime was also revealed and includes:
Director: Tatsuya Yoshihara (Muromi-san, Arve Rezzle: Kikaijikake no Yousei-tachi)
Series Composer: Kazuyuki Fudeyasu (Denkigai no Honya-san, Gochuumon wa Usagi Desu ka?)
Anime Character Designer: Keisuke Goto (Minami-ke Tadaima and Wake Up, Girls! Animation Director)
Art Director: Toshiko Kaizu (Dog Days’, Asura Cryin’)
Music Composer: Tatsuya Katou (Medaka Box, Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya)
Animation Studio: Tatsunoko Production (Psycho Pass Season 2, Ping Pong The Animation)
The first promotional video of the anime was released, which previews the anime’s Opening theme. The OP will be Kyokugen Dreamer by SCREEN mode and the Ending theme will be Jounetsu Continue by the voice actress singing group Sphere.
Yoru no Yatterman (Yatterman of the Night) is a new upcoming anime series produced by Tatsunoko Production for the 40th anniversary of the Time Bokan anime. Time Bokan itself first aired in 1975 that was also produced by Tatsunoko. One of the spin-off series was Yatterman that aired in 1977, which was also followed by an anime film that very year. A remake of the series aired in 2008 and was also followed by a film in the following year.
Here is a synopsis of Yoru no Yatterman:
In a remote land, there was a girl who gazed beyond the ocean. The land was Yatterman Kingdom. It is said that it is a heavenly land controlled by the Yattermen, the allies of justice. In order to save her sick mother, the girl attempted to land in Yatterman Kingdom to ask for help. However, she was turned away, and her mother passed away without anyone to give her charity.
Doronbo: One of the bands of great thieves. There was a beautiful girl named Doronjo working under a boss named Dokurobeh. Her lackies were two men named Boyacky and Tonzuraa. The Doronbo fight with Yattermen, and within the fray, the team is banished to a remote land.
This is the story of a new generation of Doronbos. Doronjo, Boyacky, and Tonzura, as well as the story of the birth of Gan-chan and Ai-chan as Yattermen.
The next web broadcast to help promote the Yuru Yuri OVA (Yuru Yuri Nachuyachumi!) is slated to take place on December 25 at 21:00 (JST). To get everyone hyped for the “Merry Christmas!” online event, author Namori has sketched a special holiday illustration which features the main cast of Yuru Yuri.
Meanwhile Akari Akaza’s voice actress, Shiori Mikami, is also getting ready for the event!
Here are the updated designs of the series’ main characters for Yuru Yuri Nachuyachumi! that were revealed earlier. They are illustrated by Motohiro Taniguchi (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Strike Witches) who is also the key animator. A comparison image of the new OVA designs and the character designs from the two anime series was also released. The designs on the left are from the 2011 and 2012 anime, designed by Chiaki Nakajima (Love Lab), and the ones on the right are from Taniguchi.
The cast will remain the same from the anime but the staff will change. Hiroyuki Hata (Saikin, Imouto no Yousu ga Chotto Okashiinda ga.) will replace Masahiko Ohta as director. Michiko Yokote (Gintama, Shinryaku! Ika Musume) will handle the scripts, and Motohiro Taniguchi (To Love-Ru -Trouble- Darkness, Saikin, Imouto no Yousu ga Chotto Okashiinda ga. animation director) will replace character designer Chiaki Nakajima and serve as chief animation director. The series will be animated at TYO Animation (Tamayura ~hitotose~) instead of Dogakobo.
Yuru Yuri, is a manga series created by Namori that released in June 2008 and is still running. The manga has a total of 11 volumes thus far and has sold over 1 million copies as of December 2011. Namori has also created two more manga series alongside the original: Yuru Yuri Reset!, which is currently on hiatus, and Yuru Yuri Ohmuroke a web manga that started in July 2012. The series also received an anime adaptation in July 2011 by animation studio Dogakobo. The second season of the anime titled Yuru Yuri♪♪ aired in 2012, also in July.
Right after starting middle school, Akari Akaza joins the Amusement Club which is composed solely by her two childhood friends, Kyouko Toshinou and Yui Funami. Chinatsu Yoshikawa, Akaza’s classmate, becomes a member after finding out about the dissolution of the Tea Club.
The Amusement Club, situated at the tea room facility since the Tea Club disbanded, has no clear purpose, being free for the girls to do whatever they want.
Fairy Tail‘s author Hiro Mashima is back once again but this time with a Christmas illustration of Lucy Heartfilia in a Santa Clause costume wishing you all a Merry Christmas.
Also a Christmas event is currently running on the Fairy Tail: Brave Saga Puzzle-RPG Smartphone game:
Meanwhile Hiro Mashima‘s past tweets include more sketches:
An English subtitled promotional video for the upcoming IDOLM@STER: Cinderella Girls anime has been produced by fansubbing group UTW. The video introduces the anime’s main cast and characters and the Opening theme song, Star!!, for the upcoming series. It is an adaptation of the mobile social game developed by Mobage and published by Bandai Namco Games. The anime will be directed by Noriko Takao (The iDOLM@STER, The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya) and produced by A-1 Pictures (Sword Art Online, Aldnoah.Zero). The main cast of the series will be the same as the game.
The iDOLM@STER: Cinderella Girls anime will be airing in Japan from January 9th at 24:00 (effectively January 10th) during the Winter 2014/2015 anime season.
Here is the first promotional video for The iDOLM@STER: Cinderella Girls anime:
Bandai Namco Asia has released the second English subtitled promotional video for their upcoming PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita video game, Sword Art Online: Lost Song, the third handheld game based on Reki Kawahara’s Sword Art Online light novel and anime series. This lengthy video gives a nice overview on the new gameplay mechanics and playable characters.
Kadokawa’s Dengeki PlayStation magazine also confirmed last month during November that Sword Art Online: Hollow Fragment‘s Philia (voiced by Yui Ishikawa) will appear in the game. Philia first appeared in the Hollow Area of the earlier Sword Art Online: Hollow Fragment game that shipped earlier this year.
Bandai Namco Games is localizing the game in English and Chinese for Asian markets. Bandai Namco Games’ Yosuke Futami stated that Sword Art Online: Lost Song‘s English translation will be better than Sword Art Online: Hollow Fragment.
The first commercial was released early November:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQulOjHK_Jo
The second commercial that released two weeks ago:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g90V8yPPwuw
The first promotional video was released in October and previews the flying and combat system:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYtJ7qAnOH0
Bandai Namco also revealed a limited edition for the PS Vita version of the game. For 9,980 yen ($92), it will include a special box, special Blu-ray disc, soundtrack CD, special booklet, and 12 clear posters. The standard edition of the game will cost 7,120 yen ($58.5) on PlayStation 3 and 6,170 yen ($50.7) on PS Vita.
The P’Parco (P Dash Parco) mall annex in Ikebukuro, recently began running an event which featured Sailor Moon‘s Usagi Tsukino in a Santa Clause costume for this year’s Christmas Season. Various posters have been put up in streets, stations and even inside stores. They’re also currently running an event which is giving out IC card stickers to the first 300 customers who purchase over 1,000 yen worth of merchandise everyday from December 12 to 25.
The official website for the upcoming 2015 Naruto exhibition has revealed details about the event to commemorate the 15th anniversary of Masashi Kishimoto’s Naruto franchise. The exhibition itself will be held in Tokyo and Osaka next year, and will be titled Kishimoto Masashi Naruto Ten.
The Kishimoto Masashi Naruto Ten will actually open in Spring 2015 in Tokyo whilst in Summer the same year in Osaka. The Tokyo exhibition will be held at the Mori Arts Center Gallery, Roppongi Hills from April 25 till June 28, which will then move to Osaka being held at the Osaka Culturarium, Tempozan between July 18 and September 27. The exhibition will have many detailed three dimensional models and dioramas from the franchise. One such attraction that could be in the exhibition is the full model of the Hokage faces with Naruto painting over them, from the early chapters of the Naruto manga.
Here is the concept art for the model:
There will also be showcases of the original art from that Masashi Kishimoto had drawn for the manga, in addition to covers of the manga’s volumes. It won’t be all of his art, but select images from some of the vital moments from the series.
There will also be a special video 10 minute theatre production at the exhibition:
And the last concept art is for a small library that contains all related material and concepts that helped Kishimoto develop the story and world of Naruto.
The exhibition will not be free and require tickets to enter the exhibition. All ticket holders for the event will get a free 19 page manga chapter titled Shinden: Kaze no Sho (New Legend: The Book of Wind).
People who purchase advance copies of the tickets will receive an additional 19 page manga chapter titled Shinden: Ikazuchi no Sho (New Legend: The Book of Thunder). Advance tickets will go on sale from February next year.
There has been no confirmation whether Kishimoto will be writing or illustrating the miniseries, tentatively called Naruto. Additionally, a series of light novels from Akira Higashiyama, the scriptwriter of Naruto Shippuuden: Blood Prison, will be produced next year as well. The first light novel will be focusing on Kakashi Hatake. The novels will be published by Shueisha’s Jump J Books imprint. The new projects are part of the Naruto Shin Jidai Kaimaku Project (Naruto’s New Era Opening Project) and includes The Last -Naruto the Movie-, which just launched in Japan, this Exhibition, and the recently announced Naruto Shippuuden Movie 8 – Boruto.
Naruto is an original manga series created by Masashi Kishimoto. The manga began in 1999 in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine, where to date a total of 69 volumes have released. Since its debut the manga has sold over 130 million copies in Japan alone. The series has also received two TV anime series adaptation, covering the manga’s two parts: Naruto and Naruto Shippuden in 2002 and 2007 respectively. Both series were produced by Studio Pierrot. Additionally, a total of 9 anime films have released to date and numerous OVAs and specials. A light novel spin-off was produced by Masatoshi Kusakabe and released in 2002, and a manga spinoff, titled Rock Lee no Seishun Full-Power Ninden, began publishing in 2010 from Kenji Taira and was adapted into an anime in 2012. Today, the franchise is one of Japan’s most renowned and one of the most popular anime/manga series outside of Japan.
Here is a synopsis of the original series:
Naruto Uzumaki, a hyperactive and knuckle-headed ninja, lives in Konohagakure, the Hidden Leaf village. Moments prior to his birth, a huge demon known as the Kyuubi, the Nine-tailed Fox, attacked Konohagakure and wreaked havoc. In order to put an end to the Kyuubi’s rampage, the leader of the village, the 4th Hokage, sacrificed his life and sealed the monstrous beast inside the newborn Naruto.
Shunned because of the presence of the Kyuubi inside him, Naruto struggles to find his place in the village. He strives to become the Hokage of Konohagakure, and he meets many friends and foes along the way.
The Kishimoto Masashi Naruto Ten will open in Tokyo on April 25 and ending on June 28, before moving to Osaka and reopening on July 18 through till September 27.
You can visit the exhibition’s website here (and check out the footer image): http://naruto-ten.com/
And follow the anime’s Twitter: @naruto_movie
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