Bakemono no Ko English Subtitled Trailer

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April 23, 2015

Madman Entertainment began streaming the English subtitled trailer for the upcoming movie by director Mamoru Hosoda (Wolf Children, Summer Wars), Bakemono no Ko (The Boy and the Beast) on Tuesday. The film itself is scheduled to release in Japan on June 11, 2015 and the movie’s official website is now online and released the first key visual of the anime movie.

Hosoda will be directing and writing the script of his upcoming film. There are already plans for a French release of Bakemono no Ko with French movie studio Gaumont handling the distribution of the film outside of Asia. The film’s production staff were also revealed at the conference:

Director and Scriptwriter: Mamoru Hosoda (Wolf Children, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time)
Animation Directors: Takaaki Yamashita (Digimon: The Movie, Wolf Children) and Tatsuzou Nishida (Summer Wars,Fullmetal Alchemist: The Movie – Conqueror of Shamballa)
Art Directors: Takashi Omori (From Up On Poppy Hill, Ponyo), Youhei Takamatsu (Hoshi wo Katta Hi), Youichi Nishikawa (Debut Role)
Music: Masakatsu Takagi (Wolf Children)
Animation Studio: Studio Chizu (Wolf Children)

At the conference, Hosoda discusses more about the premise of Bakemono no Ko:

The movie is a training story about a boy who was separated from his parents and becomes a disciple of a bakemono (supernatural creature). It’s going to be a traditional yet novel story. [I think] that there are thrilling things hidden in this town [Shibuya] of adventure. There are surprisingly few animated works set in Shibuya. Even though it’s a famous place, it’ll be novel as a movie setting.

Visual:

Mamoru Hosoda is a well known anime director who have directed many well known anime films. His first major work was with Toei Animation (Dragon Ball Z, One Piece) for the production of the Digimon series, where he directed the twoDigimon films: Our War Game and Hurricane Touchdown. He also directed the 2005 One Piece film Omatsuri Danshaku to Himitsu no Shima. He later left the studio to work with Madhouse (Hunter x Hunter, No Game No Life) where he created and directed his first original film in 2006, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time. He also directed the 2009 film Summer Warsbefore leaving Madhouse to form his own studio, Studio Chizu. Their first production is Hosoda’s 2012 original film Wolf Children, which won the 2013 Japan Academy Prize for Animation of the Year.

Here is a synopsis of the film:

The story is set in the human realm (Tokyo’s Shibuya ward) and the bakemono realm (“Shibutenmachi”). In these two worlds which must not intersect, there lives a lonely boy and a lonely bakemono. One day, the boy gets lost in the bakemono world, becomes the disciple of the bakemono Kumatetsu, and is renamed Kyūta.

Bakemono no Ko (The Boy and the Beast) will be releasing in Japanese theatres on June 11 next year. Further information about the film will release in the upcoming months.

You can visit the anime’s website here: http://www.bakemono-no-ko.jp/

Shirobako’s Ema Yasuhara Receives Her Own Hug Pillow

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Swaps4

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April 22, 2015

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Japanese website infinitedayo have updated their website with a hug pillow of Ema Yasuhara from P.A. Works’ original anime Shirobako. Each pillow cover will sell for 12,960 yen (about $108) each, tax included. Only a 100 covers will be printed of each character.

Previously announced hug pillows include Aoi Miyamori, Erika Yano and Rinko Ogasawara:

Anime visual:

Shirobako is an anime television series produced by P.A. Works and directed by Tsutomu Mizushima. The series aired in Japan between October 9, 2014 and March 26, 2015. A manga adaptation began serialization in ASCII Media Works’s Dengeki Daioh magazine in September 2014, and a novel was published by Shueisha in January 2015.

The title Shirobako refers to videos that are distributed to the production staff members prior to its release. These videos were at a time distributed as VHS tapes enclosed in white boxes and are still referred to as “white boxes” (thus the meaning of shirobako) despite the fact that the white enclosures are no longer in use.

Shirobako sysnopsis from Haruhichan:

Aoi will never forget how she felt the day her high school animation club’s labor of love was shown at the cultural festival. The sense of awe and the feeling of accomplishment that came with completing their very first project are exactly what encouraged Aoi and her club mates to enter the animation industry in the first place. But two years later Aoi has graduated, and now that she works as a production assistant for a big-name animation studio, the daunting reality of her job has somewhat diminished her enthusiasm. Despite the long hours and the punishing schedule, Aoi still hopes to fulfill the promise she and her club friends Ema, Shizuka, Misa, and Midori made: to one day reunite and make a real animated feature of their own as professionals!

Source: infinitedayo

Top 30 Anime of Winter 2015

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Swaps4

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April 22, 2015

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Japanese website Goo has recently asked their users: Which anime series from the winter 2015 anime lineup is your favorite? A total of 500 people responded, 250 male and 250 female.

Here are the results:

30. Minna Atsumare! Falcom Gakuen
29. Shounen Hollywood: Holly Stage for 50
28. Doamaiger D
27. Dog Days 3
26. Tantei Kageki Milky Holmes TD
25. Seiken Tsukai no World Break
24. The Rolling Girls
23. Shinmai Maou no Testament
22. Maria the Virgin Witch
21. Yuri Kuma Arashi
20. Ketsuekigata-kun!
19. Binan Koukou Chikyuu Bouei-bu Love!
18. Absolute Duo
17. Sengoku Musou
16. Death Parade
15. Juuou Mujin no Fafnir
14. Soukyuu no Fafner: Dead Aggressor – Exodus
13. Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata
12. Aldnoah.Zero 2nd Season
11. Kamisama Hajimemashita 2nd Season
10. The iDOLM@STER: Cinderella Girls
9. Durarara!!x2 Shou
8. Koufuku Graffiti
7. Kantai Collection
6. Yoru no Yatterman
5. Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon: Crystal
4. Tokyo Ghoul √A
3. JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders
2. Kuroko no Basket 3rd Season
1. Assassination Classroom

Top 10 Male and Female Anime Characters from Newtype’s April 2015 Issue

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Swaps4

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April 20, 2015

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Today’s male and female popularity rankings come from the April 2015 issue of the popular Japanese magazine, NewType. You can view the posters that came with this issue here.

Here are the top 10 male characters:

10. Bellri Zenam (Gundam: G no Reconguista)
9. Meliodas (Nanatsu no Taizai)
8. Kaizuka Inaho (Aldnoah.Zero)
7. Producer (The iDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls)
6. Araragi Koyomi (Monogatari series)
5. Ginoza Nobuchika (Psycho-Pass Movie)
4. Emiya Shiro (Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works (TV))
3. Kirito (Sword Art Online)
2. Archer (Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works (TV))
1. Kogami Shinya (Psycho-Pass Movie)

and the top 10 female characters:

10. Azuma Tokaku (Akuma no Riddle)
9. Sento Isuzu (Amagi Brilliant Park)
8. Oshino Shinobu (Monogatari Series)
7. Shibuya Rin (The iDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls)
6. Ayanami Rei (Neon Genesis Evangelion)
5. Ange (Cross Ange)
4. Asuna (Sword Art Online)
3. Tosaka Rin (Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works (TV))
2. Saber (Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works (TV))
1. Tsunemori Akane (Psycho-Pass Movie)

New Live-Action Attack on Titan Trailer Streamed

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Swaps4

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April 20, 2015

8

The official website of the two live-action Attack on Titan movies has revealed new material for the upcoming August and September films. Two brand new images were revealed and the second trailer was streamed. The new visual is showcasing the main characters of the upcoming film in front of the titans.

Another new image showcases and labels the cast and characters:

The second official trailer has also been released, which previews the film’s characters in action and gives us the first look of the tremendous titans in action:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2X0i4gnbBOA

Here’s the first trailer:

The second film will have its own unique subtitle and will be called Attack on Titan: End of the World. It will be released in Japanese theaters on September 19. The first film, simply titled Attack on Titan, will open on August 1st.

Here is the first main visual of the films:

The cast of the film were earlier announced and the first set of images were released a few weeks earlier. The main cast will have:

Haruma Miura as Eren Yeager

Kiko Mizuhara as Mikasa Ackerman

Kanata Hongo as Armin Arlet

In regards to the cast, producer Yoshihiro Sato had discussions with creator Hajime Isayama and decided to cast actors and actresses that could act and flesh out the characters rather than just looking like them. One of the new original characters for the film, Shikishima, will be a key character to the film being titled “humanity’s strongest man”. Isayama will be overseeing the story of the upcoming film. Higuchi has confirmed that the two films will be set in the same world and feature the same characters, though the film will also incorporate new characters and enemies. The films were filmed at Hashima Island in the Nagasaki Prefecture, in Kumamoto Prefecture, Ibaraki Prefecture and Toho studio.

The film’s staff includes:

Director: Shinji Higuchi (Nadia – The Secret of Blue Water)
Scriptwriters: Hajime Isayama (Attack on Titan Manga Creator), Yuusuke Watanabe (Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods), Tomohiro Machiyama (Japanese Film Critic)
Character Designers: Yoshiyuki Sadamoto (Neon Genesis Evangelion, Wolf Children) and Takayuki Takeya (Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Costume Designer)
Special Effects Director: Katsuro Onoue (Onmyoji, Uchuu Kyoudai Live Action Film)
Special Effects Modeller: Yoshihiro Nishimura (Suicide Club and Tokyo Gore Police Director)
Art Director: Tsuyoshi Shimizu (Killer Bride’s Perfect Crime, The Backwater)
Costumer Designer: Shinichi Miter (Wool 100%, 69)
Film Studio: TOHO (Ao Haru Ride Live Action Film, Pokémon Films)

The Shingeki no Kyojin (Attack on Titan) series was created by Hajime Isayama. It started off as a manga in 2009 and is published in Kodansha’s monthly Bessatsu Shounen Magazine. To date there has been 14 compiled volumes of the manga. A prequel light novel adaptation started in 2011, and two spin-off manga started serialization in 2012: Shingeki no Kyojin: Before the Fall and Shingeki! Kyojin Chuugakkou. In April 2013 the series was picked up for an anime adaptation. The anime series was produced by the newly formed Wit Studios. The series has grown in popularity since the anime’s debut, with the manga selling over 36 million copies as of April this year. Two live action film adaptations will be releasing in Japan next year. The second season of the anime was earlier announced to air in 2016.

Attack on Titan live-action synopsis from asianwiki

100 years ago, titans suddenly appeared on Earth. Soon, human civilization veered on collapse due to the titans. Humans then built a giant wall to defend themselves. Within the giant walls, humans lived in peace, but, 100 years later, the giant wall is broken.

The two live action Attack on Titan films will be releasing in Japan next Summer. The first film will release in August and the second film will release in the following month in September.

You can visit the film’s website here: http://www.shingeki-seyo.com/

Source: Otaku Tale

Anime Trending Rankings of Spring 2015 – Week 1

By

Misaka The Railgun

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April 20, 2015

24

Anime Trending’s seasonal charts are back again this Spring 2015! For those that aren’t familiar to their ranking system, Anime Trending is a Facebook community that collects votes from fans week by week with the help of PollDaddy (with a privatized website currently TBA), they’ve become a fun and engaging experience for everyone wishing to know what is the hottest and latest anime out there. I will continue sharing the latest of Anime Trending’s rankings each week so stay tuned for more updates to come!

You can click here if you wish to participate in their survey.

37. Teekyuu 4
36. Takamiya Nasuno Desu!
35. Urawa no Usagi-chan
34. Ghost in the Shell: Arise – Alternative Architecture
33. Vampire Holmes
32. Ame-iro Cocoa
31. Etotama
30. Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha ViVid
29. Show by Rock!!
28. Sidonia no Kishi: Daikyuu Wakusei Seneki
27. Triage X
26. Uta no Prince-sama Maji Love 3
25. Houkago no Pleiades
24. Punchline
23. Hello!! Kiniro Mosaic
22. Baby Steps 2nd Season
21. Gunslinger Stratos: The Animation
20. Danna ga Nani wo Itteiru ka Wakaranai Ken 2 Sure-me
19. Nagato Yuki-chan no Shoushitsu
18. Re-kan!
17. Denpa Kyoushi (TV)
16. Kyoukai no Rinne
15. High School DxD BorN
14. Grisaia no Meikyuu
13. Mikagura Gakuen Kumikyoku
12. Hibike! Euphonium
11. Ore Monogatari!!

10. Yamada-kun to 7-nin no Majo (TV)

9. Arslan Senki

8. Shokugeki no Souma

7. Nisekoi 2nd Season

6. Kekkai Sensen

5. Dungeon ni Deai wo Motomeru no wa Machigatteiru no Darou ka

4. Plastic Memories

3. Owari no Seraph

2. Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works (TV) 2nd Season

1. Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Comedy wa Machigatteiru. Zoku

What are your thoughts on Anime Trending‘s Spring 2015 anime rankings for this week? Let us know in the comments below!

Top 20 Most Charming Anime Cinderella Bust

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Swaps4

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April 20, 2015

22

Charapedia asked 10,000 anime fans the question: Which female anime characters have the most charming cinderella bust (cup sizes AAA to A)? And from thousands of fans, most of the responses are from the male fans (58.7%), female fans (41.3%) and teens to adults in their 20s (72.7%) while the other 27.3% are 30 and over.

Here are the results:

20. Nana Deviluke (To Love-Ru)
19. Hitoka Yachi (Haikyuu!!)
18. Umi Sonoda (Love Live! School Idol Project)
17. Yuki Nagato (The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya)
16. Minami Shimada (Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu)
15. Hinagiku Katsura (Hayate the Combat Butler!)
14. Ririchiyo Shirakiin (Inu x Boku SS)
13. Konata Izumi (Lucky Star)
12. Homura Akemi (Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica)
11. Azusa Nakano (K-On!)
10. Silica (Sword Art Online)
9. Tae Shimura (Gintama)
8. Rin Hoshizora (Love Live! School Idol Project)
7. Kaede Kayano (Assassination Classroom)
6. Kagura (Gintama)
5. Yukino Yukinoshita (Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Come wa Machigatteiru.)
4. Mikoto Misaka (Toaru Majutsu no Index / Toaru Kagaku no Railgun)
3. Nico Yazawa (Love Live! School Idol Project)
2. Riko Aida (Kuroko’s Basketball)
1. Chihaya Kisaragi (The iDOLM@STER)

Japan’s Weekly Anime Blu-ray & CD Rankings for April 6th – 12th

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Swaps4

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April 20, 2015

1

Oricon have released the weekly anime Blu-ray and CD rankings for April 6th – 12th. Here are the sales results:

Rank / This week’s sales by copies / Cumulative sales / Titles

Blu-ray
*1.　5,818　*5,818　Soukyuu no Fafner: Dead Aggressor – Exodus Vol.3
*2.　2,056　*2,056　Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon: Crystal Vol.7 Limited Edition
*3.　1,089　*1,089　Absolute Duo Vol.1
*4.　*,854　**,854　World Trigger Vol.2
*5.　*,743　*7,368　Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata Vol.2 Limited Edition
*6.　*,602　36,094　Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works (TV) Blu-ray BOX Vol.1 Limited Edition
*7.　*,454　23,226　Persona 3 the Movie 2: Midsummer Knight’s Dream Limited Edition
*8.　*,443　11,797　Omoide no Marnie
*9.　*,375　19,273　Kantai Collection: KanColle Vol.1 Limited Edition
10.　*,365　14,827　Sword Art Online II Vol.6 Limited Edition
11.　*,353　*3,292　Sidonia no Kishi Movie
12.　*,348　10,834　Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata Vol.1 Limited Edition
13.　*,338　*8,019　Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso Vol.2 Limited Edition
14.　*,322　14,908　Stand By Me Doraemon Regular Edition
15.　*,276　**,276　Majin Bone Blu-ray Collection Vol.2
16.　*,270　13,873　Shirobako Vol.3 Limited Edition
(cut-off 270)

DVD
*1.　1,886　70,613　Stand By Me Doraemon Limited Edition
*2.　1,090　18,291　Omoide no Marnie
*3.　1,021　15,067　Youkai Watch DVD-BOX Vol.2
*4.　*,779　**,779　Soukyuu no Fafner: Dead Aggressor – Exodus Vol.3
*5.　*,551　30,523　Tonari no Totoro
*6.　*,414　**,414　World Trigger Vol.2
*7.　*,377　**,377　Absolute Duo Vol.1
*8.　*,364　*5,007　Binan Koukou Chikyuu Bouei-bu LOVE! Vol.1
*9.　*,324　**,324　Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon: Crystal Vol.6 Regular Edition
10.　*,316　15,428　Majo no Takkyuubin
11.　*,315　*4,379　Gudetama Anime
12.　*,302　**,302　Chou Denji Machine Voltes V Vol.4
13.　*,252　23,496　Kaguya-hime no Monogatari
14.　*,245　*4,129　Kamiusagi Rope: Warau Asa ni wa Fuku Kitaru tte Maji ssuka!? Vol.6
15.　*,241　*4,067　Kamiusagi Rope: Warau Asa ni wa Fuku Kitaru tte Maji ssuka!? Vol.7
16.　*,238　**,238　Chou Denji Robo Com Battler V Vol.5
17.　*,221　54,921　Youkai Watch DVD-BOX Vol.1
18.　*,217　*2,549　Ansatsu Kyoushitsu (TV) Vol.1 Limited Edition
19.　*,178　*4,049　Kantai Collection: KanColle Vol.1 Limited Edition
20.　*,174　*9,038　Tenkuu no Shiro Laputa
(cut-off 174)

CD Single
*3.　32,405　32,405　Uta no☆ Prince-sama♪Maji Love Revolutions ED “Maji Love Revolutions” by ST☆RISH
*5.　18,152　18,152　The Idolm@ster Cinderella Girls Animation Project 05 LET’s GO HAPPY!! by 凸-lation [Rika Jougasaki (CV: Nozomi Yamamoto) x Kirari Moroboshi (CV: Rei Matsuzaki) x Miria Akagi (CV: Tomoyo Kurosawa)]
16.　*4,253　22,319　The Idolm@ster Cinderella Girls Animation Project 04 Happyx2 Days by CANDY ISLAND [Anzu Futaba (CV: Hiromi Igarashi) x Kanako Mimura (CV: Yuka Ootsubo) x Chieri Ogata (CV: Naomi Oozora)]
18.　*3,538　*3,538　Kuroko no Basket 3rd Season OP “ZERO” by Kensho Ono
21.　*2,478　*2,478　Shounen Hollywood ED “Air Boys/CLEAR SODA CHOICE” by ZEN THE HOLLYWOOD
23.　*2,199　13,794　Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha ViVid ED “Pleasure treasure” by Yukari Tamura (incl. in “Sukidatte Ienakute”)
29.　*1,670　28,398　The Idolm@ster Cinderella Girls Animation Project 03 -LEGNE- Adanasu Tsurugi Hikari no Senritsu by Rosenburg Engel [Ranko Kanzaki (CV: Maaya Uchida)]
33.　*1,495　*1,495　Kuroko no Basket 3rd Season ED “Ambivalence” by SCREEN mode
39.　*1,241　*1,241　Shounen Hollywood: Holly Stage for 50 Character Song “Jingi GREEN” by Ikuma Amaki (CV: Tetsuya Kakihara)
42.　*1,151　27,394　The Idolm@ster Cinderella Girls Animation Project 02 Memories by LOVE LAIKA [Minami Nitta (CV: Aya Suzaki) x Anastasia (CV: Sumire Uesaka)]
43.　*1,123　*8,990　Anime de Wakaru Shinryounaika ED “Karappo Capsule” by Maaya Uchida
47.　*1,038　28,960　Doraemon: Nobita’s Space Heroes ED “360°” by miwa
53.　**,828　52,969　Kantai Collection: KanColle ED “Fubuki” by Shiena Nishizawa
58.　**,740　55,974　Kantai Collection: KanColle OP “Mi-iro” by AKINO from bless4
59.　**,734　61,399　The Idolm@ster Cinderella Girls Animation Project 01 “Star!!” by Cinderella Project
75.　**,542　*2,914　Hello!! Kiniro Mosaic Character CD Music Palette 3 Karen x Honoka (Watashi-iro Daria / Kohakuiro Pumpkin) by Karen Kujou (CV: Nao Touyama) / Honoka Matsuhara (CV: Ayaka Suwa)
93.　**,443　19,965　Tokyo Ghoul √A ED “Kisetsu wa Tsugitsugi Shindeiku” by Amazarashi
100.　**,411　*3,429　Nanatsu no Taizai Vocal Collection Ban vs. King (Never-ending / Tonde Peace) by Ban (CV: Tatsuhisa Suzuki) / King (CV: Jun Fukuyama)
(cut-off 411)

CD Album
*3.　50,255　*50,255　miwa “ONENESS” (incl. Doraemon: Nobita’s Space Heroes ED “360°”)
*5.　18,051　*18,051　Suzuko Mimori “Fantasic Funfair”
12.　*5,217　**5,217　Nisekoi BEST SONGS by Various Artists
13.　*4,205　**4,205　i☆Ris “We are i☆Ris!!!”
19.　*3,427　446,260　Sekai no Owari “Tree” (incl. Crayon Shin-chan Movie 21: Bakauma! B-Kyuu Gourmet Survival Battle!! ED “RPG”)
31.　*1,809　*15,020　OLDCODEX “pledge” (incl. Q Transformers: Kaette Kita Convoy no Nazo OP “physical”)
48.　*1,327　*20,743　Kantai Collection: KanColle Character Song “KanMusu no Uta” Vol.1 by Various Artists
55.　*1,160　*10,737　”J-Anisong Kamikyoku Matsuri ~Happiness~” by DJ Wa
64.　*1,084　**6,278　”J-Anisong Kamikyoku Matsuri ~Matome~” by DJ Wa
67.　*1,042　**6,247　Mekakucity Actors M’s COMPLETE BOX ~ Mekakucity Actors Vocal & Sound Collection (Limited Edition) by Jin
71.　**,969　**4,475　Rolling☆Girls Song-Shuu “Eiyuu ni Akogarete” THE ROLLING GIRLS by THE ROLLING GIRLS
72.　**,949　*13,948　”The iDOLM@STER Million Live!” THE IDOLM@STER LIVE THE@TER HARMONY 09 by Milky Way
77.　**,904　*13,750　”The iDOLM@STER Million Live!” THE IDOLM@STER LIVE THE@TER HARMONY 10 by ARRIVE
85.　**,830　***,830　Nanatsu no Taizai OST by Hiroyuki Sawano, Takafumi Wada
93.　**,759　*32,035　Leo Ieiri “20” (incl. Dragon Ball Kai (2014) ED “Junjou”)
94.　**,755　*17,936　Yui Ogura “Strawberry JAM”
100.　*,701　*12,062　Kantai Collection: KanColle OST “Kan Hibiki” Vol.1 by Natsumi Kamioka
(cut-off 701)

View the previous week here.

Source: Oricon Youtaiju, MAL

Noragami Manga to Include Two New OVAs

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Swaps4

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April 19, 2015

5

It has been revealed that Noragami will receive two new OVAs which will be bundled with the 15th and 16th manga volumes on November 17, 2015 and March 17, 2016. The first will feature the chapter, Nijikan no Teikei ni So Koto (Following A Stereotypical Two Hours), from the spin-off series Noragami: Shuuishuu. The second will be based on the 41st chapter of the manga, where the main characters pay a visit to Capyper Land. Previously, a 2-episode OVA was released in 2014. The first episode adapted the 25th chapter of the manga, and the second episode adapted the cherry blossom-viewing arc.

In addition to this, the official website revealed that a second TV anime season of Adachitoka’s Noragami manga has been green-lit. It was also announced that the first season will be re-broadcasted on BS Fuji starting April 5th, along with screening events in Tokyo and Osaka and an exhibition at Animate Ikebukuro.

The second season was confirmed in the May issue of Kodansha’s Monthly Shonen Magazine.

It was also revealed that the new season will reunite the staff and cast from the first season:

Director: Kotaro Tamura
Series Composition: Deko Akao
Character Design: Toshihiro Kawamoto
Animation Production: BONES

The old cast includes:

Hiroshi Kamiya (Koyomi Araragi from Bakemonogatari) as Yato
Maaya Uchida (Rikka Takanashi from Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai!) as Hiyori Hiki
Yuuki Kaji (Rentarou Satomi from Black Bullet) as Yukine
Miyuki Sawashiro (Suruga Kanbaru from Bakemonogatari) as Bishamon
Jun Fukuyama (Yukio Okumura from Ao no Exorcist) as Kazuma
Aki Toyosaki (Yui Hirasawa from K-ON!) as Kofuku
Daisuke Ono (Subaru Asahina from Brothers Conflict) as Daikoku
Toru Ohkawa (Toshio Ozaki from Shiki) as Tenjin
Asami Imai (Kurisu Makise from Steins;Gate) as Mayu
Rie Kugiyama (Kagura from Gintama) as Nora

Anime visual:

Noragami is a fantasy manga series by Adachitoka that began serialization in Kodansha’s Monthly Shounen Magazine in January 2011’s issue. It has been collected in twelve tankōbon volumes as of November 2014. An anime television series adaptation by Bones aired in Japan between January 5 and March 23, 2014.

Noragami synopsis from Haruhichan:

Yato is a minor deity who lacks even a single shrine. In order to build his own shrine and gain recognition as a god, he scrawls his cell number on the wall of a downtown bathroom telling people he will help them in exchange for a 5-yen offering, becoming a self-styled “delivery god.” Hiyori, the daughter of a respectable family, is almost killed in a traffic accident, but is rescued by Yato. This causes her to become a “hanyou,” a person who can exit her body in soul form. She chases Yato down, and they begin to work together to help Yato be recognized. Yato also finds a boy named Yukine who becomes a Regalia, a “sacred treasure” that can be used by a god as a weapon to fight. The three of them battle phantoms who bring harm to humans as Yato’s dark hidden history is gradually revealed.

Source: HMV Official tweet, HMV, MAL

Erwin Smith’s 1/8 Scale Figure Is Badass

By

Swaps4

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April 19, 2015

1

While Attack on Titan fans are eagerly waiting for the second season which is slated for 2016, figurine company Sentinel have added a 1/8th scale of Erwin Smith to their lineup. He is dressed in his classic Survey Corps uniform and can be equipped with his 3D Maneuver Gear and dual blades. He is posed standing confidently and ready for battle. He also comes with a optional head part to display him with his shouting face.

Attack on Titan – Erwin Smith 1/8 BRAVE-ACT Figure – Pre-orders are available on JList and is scheduled to be released in September 2015.

Erwin Smith can be pre-ordered here.

Ena Hoshijiro Tentacle Suit Figure

By

Swaps4

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April 19, 2015

5

From the hit anime adaptation of Tsutomu Nihei’s mecha Sidonia no Kishi (Knights of Sidonia) manga, comes this new figure of Ena Hoshijiro. She’s covered in a thin suit of placenta while floating in the air. This figure is by ACG.

Knights of Sidonia – Hoshijiro Ena 1/8 Complete Figure – Pre-orders are available on JList and is scheduled to be released in August 2015.

Hoshijiro Ena can be pre-ordered here.

Shirobako’s Christmas Card Illustrations Are Very Seductive

By

Swaps4

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April 18, 2015

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Precious Memories, a Trading Card Game company will be releasing the booster box and trail deck of P.A. Works’ original anime Shirobako on April 24 and have given us a small teaser preview of the upcoming Christmas cards illustrations. Aoi Miyamori, Shizuka Sakaki, Ema Yasuhara and many other characters can be seen in a cute yet seductive Christmas outfit.

Source: Akiba Blog

Takeshi Obata Reveals Live Action Death Note Drama in Development

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Seiba

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April 18, 2015

2

Almost nine years after the initial release of Death Note that ended in 2006, manga artist Takeshi Obata has revealed in his newest work, Gakkyu Hotei, that another live action Death Note is currently in the works – this time to be a TV drama. The show’s release date is set to air this summer in July, however there has not been any information released about a returning cast from the anime’s original live action movies.

The information was originally released in the panels of Gakkyu Hotei below.

Source – Otakumo, Crunchyroll

Top 20 Anime of Spring 2015 According to Sony’s Torne Device

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April 18, 2015

72

These rankings are based on the results gathered from people recording anime using the Sony Torne devices on their PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, PC, and PSVita. Here are Sony’s Top 20 anime from the Spring 2015 anime season:

20. Nisekoi 2nd Season
19. Show By Rock!!
18. Ore Monogatari!!
17. Triage X
16. Houkago no Pleiades
15. Sidonia no Kishi: Daikyuu Wakusei Seneki
14. Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Comedy wa Machigatteiru. Zoku
13. The Disappearance of Nagato Yuki-chan
12. Plastic Memories
11. Hibike! Euphonium
10. Gunslinger Stratos: The Animation
9. Re-Kan!
8. Dungeon ni Deai wo Motomeru no wa Machigatteiru no Darou ka
7. Kekkai Sensen
6. Owari no Seraph
5. Shokugeki no Souma
4. Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works (TV) 2nd Season
3. Punchline
2. Ghost in the Shell: Arise – Alternative Architecture
1. Arslan Senki (TV)

Monster Musume Anime Staff and Cast Revealed

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April 16, 2015

27

The staff and cast for the upcoming TV anime adaptation of Takemaru Inui’s manga series Monster Musume no Iru Nichijou (Everyday That There Is a Monster Girl) has been revealed.

The main staff is as follows:

Direction: Tatsuya Yoshihara (Namiuchigiwa no Muromi-san, Yoru no Yatterman)
Series Composition & Screenplay: Kazuyuki Fudeyasu (Ben-To, Yoru no Yatterman)
Animation Direction: Tatsuya Sunagawa (Namiuchigiwa no Muromi-san) and Shunji Akasaka
Character Design: Tatsuya Sunagawa
Assistant Character Design: Shunji Akasaka
Sound Direction: Hiroto Morishita
Music: manzo and Hiroaki Tsutsumi (Ao Haru Ride, Joshiraku)
Animation: Lerche (Assassination Classroom) and Seva

In addition, the voice actors for three of the main monster girls have been announced:

Sora Amamiya (Akame ga Kill!‘s Akame) as Miia
Ari Ozawa (Chiyo Sakura from Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun) as Papi
Natsuki Aikawa (Petra Ral from Shingeki no Kyojin) as Centorea Shianus

A new visual for the anime was also revealed in the most recent issue of Animage:

The anime adaptation was revealed on the 7th manga volume of Takemaru Inui’s manga series Monster Musume no Iru Nichijou (Everyday That There Is a Monster Girl), there was wraparound jacket band announcement revealing that the TV anime adaptation of the manga will premiere this July, during the summer 2015 anime season.

Anime visual:

Monster Musume no Iru Nichijou, usually translated as “Everyday Life with Monster Girls” but also as “Daily Life with a Monster Girl” or “Everyday Monster Girls“, is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Okayado. The manga first began as a series of hentai one-shots. An anime adaption has been announced to Air in July 2015.

Monster Musume is currently published in Japan by Tokuma Shoten in their Monthly Comic Ryu magazine and by Seven Seas Entertainment in the United States, with the chapters collected and reprinted into—so far—6 tankobon volumes. The story revolves around Kimihito Kurusu, often referred to as “Darling” among various other things, a Japanese student whose life is totally thrown into turmoil after becoming involved with the “Interspecies Cultural Exchange” program by mistake.

Monster Musume synopsis from MAL:

Monsters—they’re real, and they want to date us! Three years ago, the world learned that harpies, centaurs, catgirls, and all manners of fabulous creatures are not merely fiction; they are flesh and blood—not to mention scale, feather, horn, and fang. Thanks to the “Cultural Exchange Between Species Act,” these once-mythical creatures have assimilated into society, or at least, they’re trying.

When a hapless human named Kurusu Kimihito is inducted as a “volunteer” into the government exchange program, his world is turned upside down. A snake-like lamia named Miia comes to live with him, and it is Kurusu’s job to take care of her and make sure she integrates into his everyday life. Unfortunately for Kurusu, Miia is undeniably sexy, and the law against interspecies breeding is very strict. Even worse, when a ravishing centaur girl and a flirtatious harpy move in, what’s a full-blooded young man with raging hormones to do?!

Source: otakomu, Monster Musume official website

Top 20 Curvy Girls of Anime

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April 16, 2015

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Japanese website Goo has recently asked their users: Which female anime character has the most curves? A total of 500 people responded, 250 male and 250 female.

Here are the results:

20. Saaya (Suisei no Gargantia)
18/19. Minori Nakazawa (Nourin) and Kanako Mimura (The iDOLM@STER: Cinderella Girls)
16/17. Shinka Nibutani (Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai!) and Takao (Kantai Collection)
14/15. Lucy Heartfilia (Fairy Tail) and Yuno (Hidamari Sketch)
12/13. Hiro (Hidamari Sketch) and Kumin Tsuyuri (Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai!)
11. Maou (Maoyuu Maou Yuusha)
9/10. Suguha Kirigaya/Leafa (Sword Art Online)
9/10. Sena Kashiwazaki (Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai)
8. Atago (Kantai Collection)
6/7. Rihoko Sakurai (Amagami SS)
6/7. Natsumi Asaoka (The Kabocha Wine)
4/5. Mio Akiyama (K-On!)
4/5. Nozomi Toujou (Love Live! School Idol Project)
3. Ui Hirasawa (K-On!)
2. Tsumugi Kotobuki (K-On!)
1. Mami Tomoe (Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica)

Studio Ghibli’s When Marnie Was There First English Dub Trailer

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Seiba

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April 16, 2015

1

Studio Ghibli’s 2014 animated film, When Marnie Was There, finally released their preview of the movie’s English dub this week. The movie is being distributed by the company GKids, which streamed the trailer on Youtube.

The English Dub cast:

Anna Sasaki – Hailee Steinfeld
Marnie – Kiernan Shipka
Setsu Oiwa – Grey Griffin
Kiyomasa Oiwa – John C. Reilly
Hisako – Vanessa Williams
Yoriko – Geena Davis
Sayaka – Ava Acres
Nobuko – Raini Rodriguez
Mrs. Kadoya – Kathy Bates
Nan – Ellen Burstyn
Older Woman – Catherine O’Hara

When Marnie Was There is based off the book by Joan G. Robinson, and is directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi, who also directed The Secret World Of Arrietty. The movie’s original setting took place in England, however, Studio Ghibli shifts the setting to the beautiful scenery of Hokkaido. US theaters are set to show the movie starting May 22nd, initially in New York and California. Fortunately, the available shows have been elongated by a few weeks.

Source – Youtube, Anime News Network

New Kill la Kill Figure Featuring Ryuko’s Senketsu Kisaragi

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Seiba

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April 15, 2015

7

After two months since last winter’s Wonder Festival, Good Smile Company is revealing new pictures for the upcoming figures due for release in summer and fall. One of these is their newest Kill la Kill figure, featuring Ryuko in her strongest and final form, Senketsu Kisaragi. The figure is a 1/8 scale and is set to release in October of this year.

Kill la Kill – Ryuko Matoi 1/8 Figure Senketsu Kisaragi Ver. – Pre-orders are available on JList and is scheduled to be released in October 2015.

Ryuko Senketsu Kisaragi figure can be pre-ordered here.

Digimon Adventure Tri. PV to Debut on May 6

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April 15, 2015

33

The official website of the 2015 Digimon Adventure sequel anime has revealed that the first promotional video for Digimon Adventure Tri. will debut on May 6. In addition to this, the preview of the 1st episode and the airing schedule will be revealed along with it.

Recently the official website also revealed a new key visual for the series. In addition to this, it has also been revealed that the Kouji Wada will return to do the opening theme song “Butter-Fly” while Miyazaki Ayumi will return to perform “Brave Heart” for the insert song. The Digimon cast will remain the same.

Last January Shueisha’s V Jump magazine revealed a new article about the upcoming Digimon Adventure Tri., which has revealed the first new image of Agumon in the upcoming series, showcasing his new design.

The article in the V Jump magazine showcases a new angle of series’ main protagonist Taichi ‘Tai’ Yagami, where the first designs were revealed in the anime’s first visual. This is also the first design for Agumon and any Digimon in the upcoming anime, which has a new character designer from the original anime series by Atsuya Uki. The main staff members of Digimon Adventure Tri. includes:

Director: Keitaro Motonaga (Date A Live, Katanagatari)
Anime Character Designer: Atsuya Uki (tsuritama, Cencoroll)
Series Composer: Yuko Kakihara (Sora no Otoshimono, Persona 4: The Animation)
Animation Studio: Toei Animation (Sailor Moon Crystal, One Piece)

The Spring 2015 anime will be set 6 years after the end of the original series, and 3 years after Digimon Adventure 02. The newly announced anime will be produced by Toei Animation (Sailor Moon Crystal, One Piece) and follow 17 year old Tai who is currently in high school with Agumon. Toei Animation released the first teaser video about the new series:

Digimon (Digital Monsters in Japan) is a large multimedia franchise that was based on Bandai’s Digivice products, which first released in 1997. The toys were based on Tamagotchis, which were also produced by Bandai. The toys were seen as more female orientated products, so Bandai created a new line of products for a male equivalent. The first anime adaptation, Digimon Adventure, was produced in 1999 by Toei Animation. A film and TV anime were released alongside each other in 1999, the movie being a 20 minute anime produced by Mamoru Hosoda (Wolf Children, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time). Since then there has been numerous anime series, toys, figures, manga, video games and trading card games in the franchise. And this year, will mark the 15th anniversary of Digimon Adventure.

The Digimon Adventure Tri. anime will be airing from April during the Spring 2015 anime season. Further information about the series will be released soon.

You can also visit the 15th Anniversary website here: http://digimon-adventure.net/
And follow the campaign on Twitter: @Digi_advntr15th

Hiro Mashima’s Ideas Are Too Ecchi for Fairy Tail

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April 13, 2015

106

With Hiro Mashima‘s Fairy Tail (2014) anime entering the second week with the new 19th ending theme song “Never ever” by TOKYO GIRLS’ STYLE, he has posted some ideas he wanted to try out, which he admits they might have been too ecchi for the anime series.