Top 20 Most Charming Siblings in Anime

Kantai Collection is now preparing to get ready for it’s upcoming Winter Event, which while the event’s title is not known, it is clear that the event will be inspired off of Operation Rei-Go. Which according to Japanese, was the last known victory they had during World War II.

In relation to the upcoming event, the ship girl who served as the flagship during that operation, Kasumi just received her Kai Ni upgrade not too long ago. Unlike most ship girls, Kasumi’s upgrade is rather unique as she comes with 2 upgrades.

Her regular Kai Ni, which gives her good overall stats which she can get upon reaching Level 75.

While her Kai Ni Type B gives her more Anti-Air Strength giving her the ability to function as an Air Defense Destroyer once she hits Level 88.

Both upgrades can be swapped out at will at any time though you’ll need to rebuild her stats when your switch between her forms. In addition, she has the ability to equip special equipment such as Fleet Command Facilities and Daihatsus in her regular Kai Ni and in her Type B form she can wield these items and the Large Radars which were previously reserved for only Battleships and Heavy Cruisers.

In addition to that, the staff have started preparing for the Setsubun holiday by releasing special furniture, gave 90+ lines to kanmusus talking about Setsubun and Kiyoshimo and Mizuho were also given new sprites to tie to the upcoming festival holiday.

Finally, as of last night, rank rewards were given out to the top 500 players on each server and many were given a surprise they didn’t see coming as it served as a hint of what is to come into the game over the course of this year.

Rank Reward Item- 16-Inch 50 Caliber US Navy Gun

The 16-inch/50 Caliber Mk. 7 Naval Gun, a gun that was used by the Iowa-Class Battleships during World War II.

DMM revealed in thier ranking page that the ship girl that uses this gun will be eventually making her appearance in game somewhere following the Spring or later within this year.

With this information known, it’s now clear that the US Navy will be soon begin to appear in Kantai Collection sometime over the course of this year.

Upskirt Umbrellas Are Now the New Craze in Japan

By

Erik Hrothgar

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January 22, 2016

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Japan is renowned for their reputation of wacky merchandise and haphazard advertising, especially targeted towards the otaku demographic. From figures with silicon thighs to a stress ball modeled after a breast, there comes a point where we must’ve said to ourselves, “I’ve seen it all!” Prepare to rethink that statement because designer group Million Girls Project sells a unique brand of umbrellas, brandishing a tantalizing up-skirt view.

Those ingrained into otaku culture will come to appreciate the attention to detail, showing off two of the most popular pantsu trends in anime and manga. These bizarre “un-burera” – a clever double entendre, combining the word “umbrella” and “undergarments” – features two different high-school girls, both flaunting their cloth-clad waist to shield you from the impending storm.

Look up and you’ll either be blessed with the happy-go-lucky visage of a striped panty-line, or perhaps the shy, withheld view of a school swimsuit. Either way, this makes for an abnormal, though perhaps relaxing, appliance in your everyday commute. The individuals who designed these umbrellas even understand how shameful it might be to parade around town with your new panties-themed parasol. Each item includes a warning that the user will experience “extreme embarrassment” and can use the umbrella in public “at their own risk!”

Don’t care of society thinks of you and you’re feeling daring? Or perhaps you want to have a niche collector’s item? Lucky for you because J-List has got you covered with both umbrellas currently in stock! You can choose between the School Swimsuit Umbrella or the Shimapan Umbrella for $69.50 each!

Top 10 Most Pure and Innocent Anime Characters According to Female Fans

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January 22, 2016

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Charapedia recently asked female anime fans the question: Which anime characters are the most pure and innocent? You can view the male results here and the full results for this poll here.

Here are the female results:

10) Chiyo Sakura (Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun)
9) Kotarou Katsura (Gintama)
8) Chopper (One Piece)
7) Haruka Nanami (UtaPri)
6) Juushimatsu Matsuno (Osomatsu-san)
5) Torhu Honda (Fruits Basket)
4) Monkey D. Luffy (One Piece)
3) Sakura Kinomoto (Cardcaptor Sakura)
2) Shoyo Hinata (Haikyuu!!)
1) Sawako Kuronuma (Kimi ni Todoke)

Kekkai Sensen OVA Announced and Slated June 3

By

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January 22, 2016

The latest issue of Jump SQ.Crown magazine has announced that an OVA based on Yasuhiro Nightow’s Kekkai Sensen (Blood Blockade Battlefront) manga will be produced for June 3rd this year, bundled with the release of the Kekkai Sensen Binge Bible guide book.

The OVA, with an estimated runtime of 25 minutes, will be titled “Ousama no Restaurant no Ousama” and will adapt a story from the manga’s 8th volume. The director of the anime, Rie Matsumoto (Kyousogiga), will return to direct the OVA with Studio BONES (Hitsugi no Chaika, Captain Earth) returning.

The main cast of the Kekkai Sensen anime includes:

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

The main staff of the anime 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: Studio BONES (Hitsugi no Chaika, Captain Earth)

Here’s the third promotional video of the TV anime:

Anime visual:

Kekkai Sensen is a Japanese shounen manga by Yasuhiro Nightow. It has published bimonthly in the magazine Jump SQ.19 ever since 2009 and moved to Jump Square upon the former’s ending. It follows a young photographer named Leonardo Watch who obtained the All Seeing Eyes at the cost of his sister’s eyesight. He moves to the city of Hellsalem’s Lot to join an organization known as Libra to fight several monsters as well as terrorists. The manga has been published in the United States by Dark Horse Comics.

Kekkai Sensen synopsis from Haruhichan:

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.

You can visit the anime’s website here: http://kekkaisensen.com/
And follow their Twitter here: @kekkaisensen

Source: YusaAni

Top 10 Most Pure and Innocent Anime Characters According to Male Fans

By

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January 22, 2016

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Charapedia recently asked male anime fans the question: Which anime characters are the most pure and innocent? You can view the full results for this poll here.

Here are the male results:

10) Rito Yuuki (To LOVE-Ru)
9) Index Librorum Prohibitorum (A Certain series)
8) Yuki Takeya (Gakkou Gurashi!)
7) Cocoa Hoto (Is the Order a Rabbit?)
6) Chino Kafuu (Gochuumon wa Usagi Desu ka?)
5) Saika Totsuka (My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU)
4) Yui Hirasawa (K-On!)
3) Kosaki Onodera (Nisekoi)
2) Akari Akaza (Yuru Yuri)
1) Eru Chitanda (Hyouka)

Toei Animation’s Original Anime Movie File(N):Project PQ Cast Revealed

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January 22, 2016

The stage event schedule of AnimeJapan 2016 has revealed the voice cast members of Toei Animation’s dance-themed original anime movie project File(N):Project PQ.

Toei first revealed File(N):Project PQ in January 2015 in a collaboration with Tokyo-based idol unit P.IDL (Performance IDol League) for their “Teenage Blues” CD single. The anime follows five girls who build a bond through dancing. On the day before their high school graduation ceremony, they are transported to another world. Learning that their own world is in danger, the girls must dance to save it. The movie is scheduled to premiere in 2016.

The cast consist of:

Shiori Izawa (Saya Sasamiya from Gakusen Toshi Asterisk)
Tomoyo Kurosawa (Kumiko Oumae from Hibike! Euphonium)
Ari Ozawa (Asami Kazari from Active Raid)
Asami Seto (Kurokami no Onna from Death Parade)
Atsumi Tanezaki (Moe Nishinosono from Subete ga F ni Naru: The Perfect Insider)

The staff include:

Director: Naoki Miyahara (Precure All Stars DX the Dance Live: Miracle Dance Stage e Youkoso)
Original Character Design: Kohaku Kuroboshi (Sekai Seifuku: Bouryaku no Zvezda)
Character Design, Chief Animation Director: Takayuki Urakami (Colorful Movie)

Anime visual:

Toei Animation also began streaming the first promotional video and video dance lesson for File(N):Project PQ, its dance-themed original anime movie project recently:

File(N):Project PQ synopsis from MAL:

The story begins the day before the graduation ceremony. Five middle school girls each are preoccupied with their real everyday lives. These girls meet each other in a fantasy world after being sent there through a sudden occurrence. There, they learn about the impending crisis that this world is facing. The way to avert this crisis is for the five to collaborate and bring their five hearts together as one through dance.

However, the five cannot come to love the world, and cannot tell their true feelings to one another, so their hearts are unable to unite. The time limit is fast approaching. Can the dance of the five girls save the world? And will they be able to graduate?

Source: AnimeJapan, Oricon Style

Bravely Second: End Layer Coming to North America April 15 with Collector’s Edition

By

Olivia Lynn

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January 22, 2016

On Tuesday Nintendo announced that Square Enix will release their Bravely Second: End Layer, the role-playing game for the Nintendo 3DS console, in North America on April 15, and also revealed details on the Collector’s Edition.

The Collector’s Edition will include the game, the original soundtrack, and a 250-page art book, and will be available for the generous price of 69.99 USD.

Europe will also receive this Collector’s Edition, however, it will also include a figure of the main heroine of the first game, Bravely Default, Agnes.

Bravely Second: End Layer – The Ballad of the Three Cavaliers, a demo of the game, will be available in the Nintendo eShop before the game’s release. The demo is estimated around 10 hours of gameplay and will give you a taste of the journey to come. The bonuses you receive in the demo will be carried over into the full game, so no effort is wasted.

This game is a sequel to the Nintedo 3DS’ Bravely Default, but features a brand new protagonist as well as returning characters. The game shipped in Japan last April, and will ship in Europe on February 26.

Bravely Second: End Layer will release for the Nintendo 3DS in Europe on February 26th and in North America on April 15th.

Bravely Default‘s trailer

Source: Anime News Network

Sword Art Online Illustrator BUNBUN to Bless Fate/Grand Order Event

By

Kou

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January 22, 2016

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Fate/Grand Order is a popular mobile game where you can play events for rewards and collect special characters. One can even do a random draw for the more rare characters. In the new event starting January 20th, Sword Art Online‘s illustrator BUNBUN will be making an appearance by having drawn the event limited SSR card.

This event is called Saber Wars, and takes on a bit of a star wars theme. Featured servants include the game’s previously introduced Sabers, Altera, Artoria Pendragon, Artoria Pendragon [Alter] (Saber), Artoria Pendragon [Lily], Okita Souji, Gaius Julius Caesar, Siegfried, Gilles de Rais (Saber), Chevalier D’Eon, Mysterious Heroine X, Nero Claudius, Fergus Mac Roich, & Mordred.

Here is the promo image for the event:

Here is a promotional video for the event:

Here is a promotional video for the new SSR cards noble phantasm:

The character Mysterious Heroine X is the SSR card for this events limited draw. Art for this character is provided by BUNBUN, the Sword Art Online illustrator along with ABEC. Both claim that they are just neighbors, but according to Kadokawa’s Taiwan branch, they are both the same person despite their accusations.

During the limited summoning period, a new servant will be available for the first time. The new servant 5★ (SSR) Mysterious Heroine X art:

Here are some additional works that BUNBUN has done for Type-moon.

illustration of their light novel Fire Girl
Saber Alter from Fate/unlimited codes PORTABLE in TYPE-MOON 10th Anniversary Phantasm
Fate/kaleid liner PRISMA☆ILLYA Episode 2 end card
Gilgamesh in Fate/Extra CCC Extra Garden
Character illustrator for Alexander in Fate/Grand Order

That Fate/Grand Order Rider is Alexander as a young Macedonia prince, voiced by Maaya Sakamoto (Motoko Kusanagi from Ghost in the Shell):

Sources: Crunchyroll, Type-Moon Wikia, and Fate/Grand Order Cirnopedia.

Learn How to Draw Manga!

By

Olivia Lynn

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January 21, 2016

Learn how to draw manga from Mina Petrovic, author of Manga Crash Course.

Learning how to draw manga is not easy! But we’re here to help. Manga has a very distinct style and uniqueness to it that’s hard to master without some helpful tips. Here are some ways to start developing your very own manga style.

Artist Mina Petrovic, known on YouTube as Mistiqarts, has made it simple for you, with her clear concise tips on how to start sketching a manga character. Petrovic’s tutorial channel boasts over 80,000 subscribers, and she also authored the manga drawing book, Manga Crash Course!

The Eyes

“Distance between the eyes is the most important part-always make enough room as to fit a third eye between them,” says Petrovic. “For this style, in both genders, nostril size is best to be as minimal as possible.”

Sleek Lines

“Lineart represents half the style – with thin, smooth lines as the main visual trait,” Petrovic comments. “It is always a plus if the clothing details are as frequent and as suitable for the character.” Mina uses a lightbox to trace her initial sketches and create bold sleek lines.

“Shading is also a part of the linear, and consists out of smaller black shades, and big black surfaces, usually behind the character,” she continues.

“Textures are simplified, in a form of parallel lines, also a part of the line work.”

Coloring

“As for colouring, some areas are covered in colour only at the shaded parts, for example, light skin,” Petrovic adds. “Areas with or without full colour need to have at least two shades for each colour, to mimic ‘cell shaded’ look from anime.”

“Leaving out white edges up front, for leather objects and clothes is a trick to save up on colour, and get a cool effect.”

“By leaving out white areas in the middle of a bent fabric shape, you get a smooth, satin like feel to it,” says Petrovic.

Final Touches

“Even the smallest details are in need of careful decorating,” Petrovic advises. “When doing a pattern on the clothing, make sure the pattern is following the shape of the characters body.”

“And lastly, white outlines can make all the difference, by marking all the objects and parts of the character which are closest to the observer.”

Source: Creative Bloq

Top 10 Most Anticipated Anime of Winter 2016 According to Female Fans

By

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January 21, 2016

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Charapedia recently asked female anime fans the question: Which anime series is the most promising from the winter 2016 anime lineup? You can view the male results here and the full results for this poll here.

Here are the female results:

10) Boku dake ga Inai Machi
9) Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu
8) Fairy Tail Zero
7) Norn9: Norn+Nonet
6) Prince of Stride: Alternative
5) Nijiiro Days
4) Akagami no Shirayuki-hime 2nd Season
3) Ajin
2) Durarara!!x2 Ketsu
1) Assassination Classroom 2nd Season

Top 10 Most Anticipated Anime of Winter 2016 According to Male Fans

By

-

January 21, 2016

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Charapedia recently asked male anime fans the question: Which anime series is the most promising from the winter 2016 anime lineup? You can view the full results for this poll here.

Here are the male results:

10) Assassination Classroom 2nd Season
9) Divine Gate
8) Haruchika: Haruta to Chika wa Seishun Suru
7) Akagami no Shirayuki-hime 2nd Season
6) Musaigen no Phantom World
5) Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku wo!
4) Boku dake ga Inai Machi
3) Ooyasan wa Shishunki!
2) Dagashi Kashi
1) Gate: Jieitai Kanochi nite, Kaku Tatakaeri 2nd Season

Two Cast Members for Original TV Anime Qualidea Code Announced

By

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January 21, 2016

A partial list of the main voice cast for the original upcoming anime Qualidea Code has been revealed. The series follows children of Tokyo, Kanagawa, and Chiba as they fight to defend their cities from unknown invaders. Cast members were announced for the two characters who lead the Kanagawa Prefecture faction.

Aoi Yuuki (Madoka Kaname from Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica) will voice Maihime Tenkawa
Ayaka Fukuhara (Rin Shibuya from The iDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls) as Hotaru Rindou

It has also been revealed that the cast members of Qualidea Code anime will make a stage appearance at AnimeJapan 2016, which will be held March 25–27 at Tokyo Big Sight.

In addition to this, the character designs for the upcoming anime has been revealed in the February 2016 issue of NewType. You can purchase this issue here (get 5% off with coupon code MOE-N3Y-4YW0QK).

Qualidea Code is part of an overall multimedia project by five publishers: Shueisha’s Dash X Bunko imprint, Kadokawa’s Fujimi Fantasia Bunko imprint, Kadokawa’s MF Bunko J imprint, Shogakukan’s Gagaga Bunko imprint, and Shueisha’s Jump SQ. magazine.

The staff include:

Original: Speakeasy/Marvelous
Director: Kenichi Kawamura (Hajime no Ippo)
Script: Speakeasy
Character Original Plan: Ryuu Matsu
Character Designs: Hisayuki Tabata (Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works)
Music: Taku Iwasaki (Noragami Aragato)
Studio: A-1 Pictures (Ao no Exorcist, Sword Art Online, Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso)
Production: Qualidea Code Production Committee

Here’s the first promotional video:

Anime visual:

Qualidea Code is a Japanese multimedia project co-published by Shueisha’s Dash X Bunko imprint, Fujimi Shobo’s Fujimi Fantasia Bunko imprint, Media Factory’s MF Bunko J imprint, Shogakukan’s Gagaga Bunko imprint, and Shueisha’s Jump Square magazine. The original concept was developed by Marvelous and a three-person unit of writers known as Speakeasy made up of Koushi Tachibana, Sou Sagara and Wataru Watari. It launched in 2015 with several light novels, and a manga will be serialized in Jump Square in 2016. An anime television series will be produced by A-1 Pictures and directed by Kenichi Kawamura.

Qualidea Code synopsis from MAL:

The story takes place in a world where people continue their war against the “unknown”—the enemy of humanity. Children who have been evacuated to a cold sleep facility during the invasion by the “unknown” several decades ago wake up from their slumber and learn that their bodies developed some supernatural forces. In order to protect the country from the “unknown” emerging from the Tokyo bay gate, the boys and girls wage battles in the defense the cities of Tokyo, Kanagawa, and Chiba.

Source: Yaraon

Genin Obito, Kakashi, and Rin Added as Playable Characters in Naruto Shippuden Ultimate Ninja Storm 4

By

Seiba

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January 21, 2016

With just two weeks to go until the release of the biggest game yet in the Naruto franchise, Hiroshi Matsuyama, CEO of CyberConnect2, released information in Bandai Namco’s newest video that Rin Nohara and Obito (genin) would be available as playable characters in Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 along with Studio Pierrot giving them special permission to use real-time animation cuts for the game. Not only are the Storm games regarded as fantastic fighting games, they also walk you through the Naruto story chapter by chapter, featuring the voice talents in the anime and detailed 3D models.

In the most recent video of game footage, the video featured fight scenes between Genin Obito and Rin alongside Hanabi Hyuga and Genin Kakashi. The game plays through the very end of the Naruto storyline, including the emotional chapter of Obito and Kakashi’s time as genins in Minato’s squad. While the game has the largest composition of Naruto characters out of any in the Storm franchise, there are also characters featured from Naruto the Last and Boruto, such as Hinata, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura from The Last and Sarada, Boruto, Hokage Naruto, and Sasuke from Boruto. While Namco has not released the date Hokage Naruto and Sasuke DLC will become available, there are still many characters to chose from.

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 releases on Febuary 4th and is available for PS4, XBox One, and PC.

Source – Crossmap, Bandai Namco

Blade & Soul Launch Trailer Streamed

By

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January 21, 2016

The highly anticipated Korean fantasy martial-arts massively multiplayer online role-playing game Blade & Soul developed by NCSOFT has officially launched in Western territories, which happened on January 19, 2016.

Blade & Soul features a combination of martial arts inspired combat and qinggong in an open-world environment. Players create playable characters that explore around the world by completing quests assigned by various NPCs. The game uses a real-time battle system in the third person camera view and requires players to “combo” a series of attacks, much like that of fighting games. According to NCSOFT, the game also features an innovative “Downed” mechanic, allowing players to recover from the brink of death. Players begin with “player-versus environment” (PvE) but may participate in “player-versus-player” (PvP) combat later in the game.

Here’s a trailer showing some of the gameplay mechanics:

One Punch Man Third OVA Teased

By

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January 21, 2016

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The official website for the anime adaptation of ONE and Yuusuke Murata’s One Punch-Man manga has revealed that the third volume will ship on February 24th with episodes 5 and 6, commentary by Saitama’s Makoto Furukawa, Genos’ Kaito Ishikawa, and Sonic’s Yuki Kaji, a CD featuring the three in “Fastest, Strong Ninja Emakimono Gaiden” and Yuki Kaji singing a traditional Ondo song as Sonic, plus a Kojire-sugiru Ninja (The Ninja Who is Too Complicated) OVA in which Sonic escapes into the mountains for training to forget the nightmare of his defeat (and the strike to his groin).

In addition to this, here’s the first two minutes from the project’s first OVA episode, as well as the first minute from the second OVA episode.

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3iruly

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3iruma

The first 12-minute OVA, titled “Shinobiyori Sugiru Kage” (A Shadow That Snuck Up Too Close), features a completely original story written by the manga’s original author ONE. The OVA takes place after Saitama’s fight with Mosquito Girl, and it follows Genos as he is persistently and suspiciously prowling after Saitama trying to find out the secret of his strength. Additionally, a mysterious person appears who has a “certain reason” to hold a grudge against Saitama. The OVA will be included on the television anime’s first Blu-ray Disc/DVD volume on December 24.

The second 11-minute OVA, titled “Hanashibeta-sugiru Deshi” (The Pupil Who Is an Extremely Poor Talker), also features a completely original story written by the manga’s original author ONE. In this episode, Genos deals with Don Pacino’s Mafia gang, even as he goes bargain-shopping for Saitama. This episode will be included on the television anime’s second Blu-ray Disc/DVD volume on January 29.

There will be a total of 6 OVAs for the One Punch-Man anime that will be bundled with each volume, each lasting approximately 10 minutes. All the OVAs feature original stories written by ONE himself. The 6 OVAs are:

Shinobiyori Sugiru Kage (A Shadow That Snuck Up Too Close)
Hanashibeta-sugiru Deishi (The Pupil Who Is an Extremely Poor Talker)
Kojire-sugiru Ninja (The Ninja Who is Too Complicated)
Gouin-sugiru Bang (Bang, Who is Too Overbearing)
Iroiro Ari-sugiru Kyoudai (The Sisters Who Have Too Many Things Happening)
Fukanou-sugiru Satsujin Jiken (The Murder Case that is Too Impossible)

The anime’s website has revealed that the volumes will contain English subtitles alongside Japanese audio. The first volume released on December 24, and the second volume will release on January 26 with:

Episodes 3 and 4
The second OVA
Two episodes of the spin-off anime One-Punch Man Hamidashi Gekijou (One-Punch Man Forced Out Theater)
A Character Song CD
Commentary for episode 3

The third volume will release on February 24 with:

Episodes 5 and 6
The third OVA
Two episodes of the spin-off anime One-Punch Man Hamidashi Gekijou (One-Punch Man Forced Out Theater)
A Character Song CD
Commentary by Saitama’s Makoto Furukawa, Genos’ Kaito Ishikawa, and Sonic’s Yuki Kaji

In addition to this, Saitama and Tatsumaki from the anime adaptation of ONE and Yuusuke Murata’s One Punch-Manmanga has been featured as a poster illustrated by Hiromi Taniguchi in the January 2015 issue of Animage. You can purchase issue here (get 5% off with coupon code MOE-N3Y-4YW0QK).

Saitama and Genos have been featured in the December 2015 issue of Animedia as a poster. This issue of Animedia can be purchased here and you can view the other posters that came in this issue here.

In addition to this, two new visuals have been revealed for the anime adaptation of ONE and Yuusuke Murata’s One Punch-Man manga in the November 2015 issue of Animedia and NewType. The first new visual features both Saitama and Genos:

While the other visual in the Animedia November 2015 issue features only Saitama:

One Punch-Man is an action, comedy, parody manga written by ONE and illustrated by Yuusuke Murata. The series began in 2009 as a free online web comic written by ONE, before being picked up by Shueisha and being featured in their Young Jump magazine publication in mid 2012, with Murata illustrating. To date, a total of 7 compiled volumes have been released with the 8th volume releasing on April 3rd. The series has become a phenomenon in Japan, selling over 4.5 million copies as of November last year, doubling its sales in one year.

One Punch Man synopsis from Haruhichan:

In this new action-comedy, everything about a young man named Saitama screams “AVERAGE,” from his lifeless expression, to his bald head, to his unimpressive physique. However, this average-looking fellow doesn’t have your average problem… He’s actually a superhero that’s looking for tough opponents! The problem is, every time he finds a promising candidate he beats the snot out of them in one punch. Can Saitama finally find an evil villain strong enough to challenge him? Follow Saitama through his hilarious romps as he searches for new bad guys to challenge!

Source: One Punch Man official website

Lady Venera Becomes Umaru in New Figure

By

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January 21, 2016

Lady Venera Figure can be pre-ordered here.

The pint sized world conqueror from Sekai Seifuku: Bouryaku no Zvezda is here! Introducing Lady Venera in a Umaru-like pose. She is sculpted to utter perfection capturing her look and feel in the anime. This figure also comes with three Kurkuru, cloth type rug, and candy/snacks for more display options.

Sekai Seifuku: Bouryaku no Zvezda – Lady Venera Figure – Pre-orders available on JList here (get 5% off with coupon code MOE-N3Y-4YW0QK).

Rumor: Producer Hints at next Work – Girls und Panzer Sequel?

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January 21, 2016

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Kentaro Seki of Norimoto News, recently wrote an article regarding the popularity of the series, Girls und Panzer, which had gotten the attention of the show’s producer. The producer, Kiyoshi Sugiyama, left a comment that may persuade the fans that a sequel may be in the works.

The comment comes near the conclusion of the article, where Sugiyama states:

Although we have completed the theatrical version, and everyone is currently able to enjoy this most recent entry, at this stage it is not possible to talk about the next work. Now I hope that everyone will enjoy our work on the world of Girls und Panzer and the Girls und Panzer movie.

Japanese fans have latched onto the words “next work”, suggesting that this phrase implies another Girls und Panzer animation may be being planned. As with many rumors, there’s not a lot of solid information to go on yet, but more Girls und Panzer would certainly be a good thing.

In related news – Miho Nishizumi and Shimada Arisu from the Girls und Panzer series has been featured as a poster in the February 2016 issue of Megami. This issue can be purchased here (get 5% off with coupon code MOE-N3Y-4YW0QK) and you can view the other posters that came in this issue here.

In celebration of the movie premiere last year on November 21, various girls from the Girls und Panzer series have been featured in the December 2015 issue of Animedia. This issue of Animedia can be purchased here and you can view the other posters that came in this issue here.

Various girls from the Girls und Panzer series have also been featured in the December 2015 issue of Megami as a poster. You can purchase this issue of Megami magazine here and view the other posters that came in this issue here.

In addition to this, another poster of the series has been featured in the November 2015 issue of the Japanese anime magazine Megami. You can purchase this issue of Megami magazine here and view the other posters that came in this issue here.

Various girls from the series were also featured as a poster in the September issue of Megami. You can view the other posters that come in this issue here.

Girls und Panzer is a 2012 Japanese anime television series created by Actas. It depicts a competition between girls’ high schools practicing tank warfare as a sport. The series was directed by Tsutomu Mizushima and produced by Kiyoshi Sugiyama. Takaaki Suzuki, who has earlier acted as a military history advisor for Strike Witches and Upotte!!, was involved in the production of the anime. The series initially aired in Japan between October and December 2012, with two additional episodes airing in March 2013 and an original video animation released in July 2014. Five manga series and a light novel adaptation have been published by Media Factory. An animated film had been announced for release in 2014, however was pushed back to Q2 2015.

Here is a synopsis of the series from Haruhichan:

You may have heard of kung fu, but the girls at Oarai High School practice gun-fu—really, really BIG 75mm gun-fu, in fact. It’s called Sensha-do, and it’s the martial art of operating armored tanks! They take it seriously too, and since winning the national Sensha-do championship is such a huge deal at Oarai, they sometimes go to extreme ends in order to get the best students from Panzer class to sign up. Which is how Miho Nishizumi, who HATES operating tanks, gets drafted to join doomsday-driven driver Mako, even-triggered gunner Hana, highly receptive radio operator Saori and combustible tank-fangirl and loader Yukari as the incomparable Anko Team. They may not be on the half-track to fame and fortune, and maybe a few of them would rather shop for tank tops than become tops in tanks, but once their focus is locked and loaded, they’re absolutely driven.

You can visit the anime’s website here: http://girls-und-panzer.jp/
And follow their Twitter: @garupan

Source: Yahoo! News Japan, Norimono News

Yato, Yukine, and Ebisu Look Ready for a Family Portrait in New Poster

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January 21, 2016

A new visual for Noragami Aragoto, the second TV anime season of Adachitoka’s Noragami manga, has been featured as a poster in the February 2016 issue of PASH! Magazine.

In addition to this, another visual of the series has been featured as a poster visual in the November 2015 issue of the Japanese anime magazine Animedia.

The new cast members to play the 8 shinki (“sacred treasures”) consecrated to the war god Bishamonten include:

Koutarou Nishiyama (Atsushi Kinugawa from Binan Koukou Chikyuu Bouei-bu LOVE!) as Suzuha
Ari Ozawa (Chiyo Sakura from Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun) as Tsuguha
Yuki Takao (Alka from Blade & Soul) as Mineha
Kanami Satou (Aya Chousokabe from Double-J) as Kinuha
Satomi Akesaka (Taeko Nomura from Coppelion) as Kazuha and Karuha
Mariko Higashiuchi (Sonoko from Harmonie) as Yugiha
Shinya Takahashi (Katsuma from Aku no Onna Kanbu) as Akiha

Various visuals for the second TV anime season of Adachitoka’s Noragami manga have been revealed in Japanese magazines. The latest visual was double page spread in the September issue of Animage. This issue of Animage can be purchased here.

Noragami has also been featured as a double page spread in the September issue of NewType. You can purchase this NewType magazine issue here.

The series was also recently featured in the September issue of Animedia as a double page spread.

In addition to this, the official website for Noragami Aragoto, the second TV anime season of Adachitoka’s Noragami manga, revealed a new key visual for the series.

In addition to this, the website revealed that Hisako Tojo (Albertina II from Himegoto) and Takanori Hoshino (Van fromGun x Sword) will join the cast as Aiha and Kugaha, respectively. The website also revealed designs for the two characters.

A new visual that features Yato and Bishamon was recently revealed:

Here’s the key visual in parts:

Previous visual:

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

It was also revealed earlier 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.

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: artbooksnat

One Piece: Burning Blood Offers Swimsuit Costumes with First-Print Bonus

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January 20, 2016