Mai Prepares for Musaigen no Phantom World Debut in New Visual

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December 29, 2015

Mai Kawakami from the upcoming anime adaptation of Souichirou Shinno and Shirabi’s Musaigen no Phantom World (Myriad Colors Phantom World) novel 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 addition, Kyoto Animation (Hibike! Euphonium, Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai!) has released the second promotional video for the series. The new video introduces to us the main characters of the new anime and their powers. The video also previews the anime’s Opening theme song: “Naked Dive” performed by the duo SCREEN mode.

The Musaigen no Phantom World anime will start its broadcast on the midnight of Wednesday, January 6/Thursday January 7, on Tokyo MX, during the Winter 2015/2016 anime season.

The website also unveiled a new key visual:

The first commercial video for the upcoming series was also revealed:

A new visual for the has also been revealed as a double page spread in the December 2015 issue of Animage. You can purchase this issue of Animage here.

In addition to this the first promotional video was recently revealed. The new video introduces the main characters of the upcoming anime and previews the quality of its animation.

The main cast of the anime includes:

Hiro Shimono (Keima Katsuragi in The World God Only Knows) leading the cast to voice Ichijo Haruhiko

Sumire Uesaka (Sanae Dekomori in Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai!) voicing main character Mai Kawakami

Saori Hayami (Miyuki Shiba in Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei) will voice Reina Izumi

Maaya Uchida (Rikka Takanashi from Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai!) is voicing Koito Minase

Azusa Tadokoro (Fino Bloodstone in Yuushibu) as Ruru

Misaki Kuno (Kate Hoshimiya from Sekai Seifuku: Bouryaku no Zvezda) joins to voice Kurumi Kumamakura

Kikuko Inoue (Sanae Furukawa in Clannad) as Arisu Himeno

Shosuke Morohashi, whose voice cast has not been revealed yet

The production staff of the series are as follows:

Director: Tatsuya Ishihara (Clannad, Hibike! Euphonium)
Series Composer: Fumihiko Shimo (Clannad, Kokoro Connect)
Anime Character Designer & Chief Animation Director: Kazumi Ikeda (Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai!, Clannad)
Art Director: Mikiko Watanabe (Amagi Brilliant Park, Kyoukai no Kanata)
Sound Director: Yota Tsuruoka (Clannad, Hibike! Euphonium)
Music Composer: EFFY/Moribe Kosuke (Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha the Movie 2nd A Theme Song)
Animation Studio: Kyoto Animation (Hibike! Euphonium, Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai!)

Musaigen no Phantom World (Myriad Colors Phantom World) is a supernatural and fantasy novel written by Souichirou Shinno with illustrations from Shirabi. The novel was published in December 2013 under Kyoto Animation’s imprint where it earned the award of Honourable Mention at the 2013 Kyoto Animation Awards.

Here is the series synopsis from Haruhichan:

The story takes place in the near future, in a world born of human imagination. What humans would call ghosts or monsters appear, and they come to be called “phantoms.” The main character, Haruhiko Ichijou, is a first year at Hosea Academy along with his upperclassman Mai Kawakami, who fights phantoms with the ability “Spirit of Five Elements,” Reina Izumi, who has the ability “Phantom Eater,” and Koito Minase, who fights phantoms in solitude. They experience the ups and downs of high school life before a certain incident leads them to the truth of this world.

You can visit the anime’s website here: http://phantom-world.com/
And follow their Twitter: @anime_PW

Megami – February 2016 Posters [Contains NSFW Images]

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December 29, 2015

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Today we’ll be taking a look at Megami’s February 2016 issue from JList which features a lot of new anime series that recently started airing from the upcoming winter 2016 anime lineup! This issue contains a total of 18 great posters along with previews, character profiles, articles, manga, and other great content.

This issue can be purchased here (get 5% off with coupon code MOE-N3Y-4YW0QK), more info on where to purchase the magazine will be at the bottom of this post.

Don’t forget to view our NyanType – February 2016 issue post! View our posts of older issues here.

Gakusen Toshi Asterisk

GATE

Girls und Panzer

Gochuumon wa Usagi Desu ka?

Heavy Object

Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku wo!

Musaigen no Phantom World

Nurse Witch Komugi-chan R

Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut

Sekkou Boys

Shinmai Maou no Testament

Shoujo-tachi wa Kouya wo Mezasu

Tantei Opera Milky Holmes

Utawarerumono: Itsuwari no Kamen

Valkyrie Drive: Mermaid

Yuru Yuri

Strike the Blood

Gochuumon wa Usagi Desu ka?

If you are currently learning or plan to learn Japanese, I highly recommend you to try a copy of this magazine to study with. It is not only packed with posters, it’s also packed with previews, character profiles, articles, manga, and other great content which is great for studying and practicing with and can be viewed HERE.

My favorite posters from this months issue would have to be GATE, Heavy Object and Musaigen no Phantom World.

You can purchase the issue I covered in this post here (get 5% off with coupon code MOE-N3Y-4YW0QK). All sales made through JList help us continue to bring unique content to the site as well as supporting us!

If you want to see a different type of magazine each month, let us know in the comments below!

Get Your Physical with Nurse Kogumi

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December 28, 2015

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With the upcoming TV anime Nurse Witch Komugi-chan R premiering on January 10, 2016, Komugi Yoshida 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 addition, it has also been revealed the OP song “Ready Go!!” is performed by a newly formed unit named “Magical☆R” consisting of the three main voice actresses of the show: Kei Tomoe (Komugi Yoshida), Erii Yamazaki (Kokona Saionji) and Makoto Koichi (Tsukasa Kisaragi). The three junior high school girls are also working as idols in the story. The CD single will be released in Japan on January 27, 2016.

The main staff for the new series were also announced earlier, including:

Director: Keiichiro Kawakami
Series Composition: Momoko Murakami
Screenplay: Momoko Murakami, Kazuyuki Fudeyasu (Hells, Penguin no Mondai Movie)
Original Character Design: Akio Watanabe (Bakemonogatari, Grisaia no Kajitsu, Tsukimonogatari)
Character Design: Takao Sano (Shomin Sample)
Chief Animation Director: Mina Ozawa, Keisuke Goto
Sound Director: Yuichi Imaizumi
Music: Kousuke Yamashita (Chihayafuru, Digimon Xros Wars, Xenosaga The Animation)
Animation Production: Tatsunoko Production (Gatchaman Crowds, Psycho-Pass 2, SKET Dance)

The main cast includes:

Kei Tomoe as Komugi Yoshida
Erii Yamazaki (Makoto Ogawa from Re-Kan!) as Kokona Saionji
Makoto Koichi as Tsubasa Kisaragi

The supporting cast consists of:

Hiroyuki Yoshino (Favaro Leone from Shingeki no Bahamut: Genesis) will voice Usa-P
Daisuke Namikawa (Rokuro Okajima from Black Lagoon) as Tanu-P
Ryouta Takeuchi (Shrio from Ansatsu Kyoushitsu (TV)) as Neko-P
Yasuaki Takumi (Tsukasa Mizugaki from Plastic Memories) as Yuuto Tachibana
Shizuka Itou (Frolaytia Capistrano from Heavy Object) as Ai Mitaka
Kenta Miyake (Elephantus from Yoru no Yatterman) as Toranosuke Matsukawa
Kenji Nojima (Yuuto Kiba from High School DxD) as Tomoya Yoshida
Minami Kabayama as Kotarou Yoshida
Rena Maeda (Soredemo Sekai wa Utsukushii) as Misuzu-sensei
Ryuusei Nakao (Nike Remercier from Sore Ike! Anpanman) as Camera Man
Akane Kohinata (Matsuri Souma from Isuca) as Tamako
Eriko Matsui (Benio Yonomori from Mikakunin de Shinkoukei) as Rei
Meemu Tachibana as Miki
Madoka Asahina as Maki

Anime visual:

Nurse Witch Komugi is an original video animation (OVA) anime series co-produced by Tatsunoko Production and Kyoto Animation. The series lasted for five episodes (six if episode 2.5 that appeared in the middle of the series is included), all of which were released on DVD in North America by ADV Films. A two episode long sequel OVA series was created, Nurse Witch Komugi-chan Magicarte Z.

The story of the anime itself is basically a parody of both the The SoulTaker anime series and the magical girl anime genre. It revolves around Komugi Nakahara, a cosplay idol who turns into Magical Nurse Witch Komugi when trouble is around.

While the English dub of the show was adapted by ADV, the original The SoulTaker dub was not. In a rare move, ADV recalled many of the voice actors from The Ocean Group dub of The SoulTaker to reprise their roles in Nurse Witch Komugi to keep consistency between the two dubs.

An anime TV series has been announced.

Nurse Witch Komugi-chan R synopsis from Haruhichan:

The new “slapstick” story will depict Komugi-chan and her rivals as they juggle their daily lives as students, idols, and magical girls “with laughter and tears.”

Komugi Yoshida is a somewhat clumsy second-year middle-school student whose strong point is her spiritedness. She performs as an idol like Kokona Saionji (her classmate and close friend) and Tsubasa Kisaragi (an idol who dresses in male clothing). However, unlike Kokona whose popularity is skyrocketing and Tsubasa with her charisma in male attire, Komugi’s only gigs are low-end ones like those at the local shopping district. Still, Komugi has her “dream” as she lives her dual lives as a idol and a middle school girl.

One day, a mysterious injured creature named Usa-P appears before Komugi. Komugi gives Usa-P medical treatment, and Usa-P, in consideration of Komugi’s kindness, asks if she wants to be a Legendary Girl who can use magical powers.

Having become a reluctant Legendary Girl, Komugi battles strange masked figures who suddenly appear! As a newly deemed Magical Nurse, she fights still more waves of masked figures. Meanwhile, a Magical Maid, a Magical Sister, and more also appear to make it a three-way battle!? Can Komugi handle the three roles of middle school girl, idol, and Magical Nurse? And, what lies ahead in these battles and her “dream”…?!

Top 10 Attractive Anime Characters of 2015 According to Female Fans

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December 28, 2015

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Charapedia asked female anime fans the question: Which anime character from 2015 was the most attractive? You can view the full results of this poll here and the male results here.

Here are the female results:

10) Shirayuki (Akagami no Shirayuki-hime)
9) Umaru Doma (Himouto! Umaru-chan)
8) Yato (Noragami Aragoto)
7) Izaya Orihara (Durarara!!)
6) Sougo Okita (Gintama)
5) Ichimatsu Matsuno (Osomatsu-san)
4) Seijuurou Akashi (Kuroko no Basket)
3) Karamatsu Matsuno (Osomatsu-san)
2) Gintoki Sakata (Gintama)
1) Juushimatsu Matsuno (Osomatsu-san)

Top 10 Attractive Anime Characters of 2015 According to Male Fans

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December 28, 2015

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Charapedia asked male anime fans the question: Which anime character from 2015 was the most attractive? You can view the full results of this poll here.

Here are the male results:

10) Shirou Emiya (Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works)
9) Yukino Yukinoshita (Oregairu)
8) Uzuki Shimamura (The iDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls)
7) Shirayuki (Akagami no Shirayuki-hime)
6) Hachiman Hikigaya (Oregairu)
5) Nao Tomori (Charlotte)
4) Saitama (One Punch Man)
3) Chino Kafuu (Gochuumon wa Usagi Desu ka?)
2) Umaru Doma (Himouto! Umaru-chan)
1) Jotaro Kujo (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders)

Mio Actually Reveals Less in This Visual than the Actual Show

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December 28, 2015

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Mio Naruse from the anime adaptation of Tesuto Uesu and Nekosuke Ookuma’s light novel series Shinmai Maou no Testament (The Testament of Sister New Devil) 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.

Mio Naruse and Yuki Nonaka have also been featured as a festive Christmas poster. This issue of NyanType can be purchased here and you can view the posters that came in this issue here.

Kurumi Nonaka and Maria Naruse have also been featured in the December 2015 issue of the Japanese anime magazine NyanType. You can purchase this issue of NyanType magazine here.

Mio Naruse from the series has also been featured as a poster in the December 2015 issue of Megami. You can purchase this issue of Megami magazine here and view the other posters that came in this issue here.

Recent anime visual:

Past visual:

Shinmai Maou no Testament is a Japanese light novel series by Tetsuto Uesu with illustrations by Nekosuke Ookuma. Seven volumes have been published by Kadokawa Shoten since 2012 under their Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko imprint. A manga adaptation has been serialized in Kadokawa Shoten’s Shonen Ace magazine since May 2013. A second manga adaptation has been serialized in Hakusensha’s Young Animal Arashi magazine since February 2014. An anime adaptation started airing in January 2015.

Shinmai Maou no Testament synopsis from Haruhichan:

“Hey, you said you wanted a little sister, right?” First year highschool student, Toujo Basara, was suddenly asked by his father and fell into a state of panic. On top of that, the eccentric father told him he will be getting remarried.

He then departed overseas after bringing Basara two beautiful step-sisters. But Mio and Maria’s true forms are actually the newbie Demon Lord and a succubus!? Basara was almost entered into a master and servant contract with Mio, but a “reversed” contract was formed by mistake, and Basara is now the master!? Moreover, Basara is being hit by one ecchi situation after another due to the contract, but Mio’s life is being pursued by other demon tribes and hero tribes! The most powerful contractor’s desire action drama begins!

Visit the anime’s official website: http://anime-shinmaimaou.com/
And follow their Twitter: @shinmaimaou

Lisha and Krulcifer Get Suited up in This Visual

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December 28, 2015

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Lisesharte Atismata and Krulcifer Einfolk from the upcoming anime adaptation of Senri Akatsuki and Ayumu Kasuga’s Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut (Undefeated Bahamut Chronicle) light novel 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 addition to this, the official website has revealed the second promotional video. The new minute long video sets up the background and atmosphere of the anime, as well as previewing the Opening theme song: Hiryuu no Kishi by TRUE.

The website also recently revealed that the series will debut on January 11th next year.

Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut will start airing on Mondays on AT-X at 10:30pm JST from January 11th. The show will also air on the 12th on Tokyo MX at 12:30am JST, on Sun TV at 1:00am JST alongside a broadcast on KBS Kyoto, and on TV Aichi at 2:35am JST.

The first character designs of the anime’s main cast have been revealed, which includes:

Mutsumi Tamura (Sonya from Kill Me Baby) voicing as Lux Arcadia
Lynn (Saki Tsurugi from Hero Company) will voice Lisesharte Atismata
Yukiyo Fujii (Latifah Fleuranza in Amagi Brilliant Park) voices Krulcifer Einfolk
Yurika Kubo (Hanayo Koizumi from Love Live! School Idol Project) voicing Philuffy Aingram
Risa Taneda (Mirai Kuriyama in Kyoukai no Kanata) as Celistia Ralgris
Ari Ozawa (Chiyo Sakura in Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun) will voice the role of Airi Arcadia

The anime’s production staff were revealed earlier and includes:

Director: Masaomi Ando (White Album 2, Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse)
Series Composer: Yuuko Kakihara (Chihayafuru 2, Persona 4: The Animation)
Anime Character Designer: Keiko Kurosawa (Re:␣Hamatora, Assassination Classroom Sub Designer)
3D CGI: Orange (Ghost in the Shell: Arise, Tiger & Bunny)
Animation Studio: Studio Lerche (Assassination Classroom, Re:␣Hamatora)

The anime’s Opening theme will be the song “Hiryuu no Kishi” by TRUE, and the Ending theme will be “Lime Tree” performed by nano.RIPE.

Here is the first promotional video for the anime:

Anime visual:

Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut (Undefeated Bahamut Chronicle) is a fantasy action light novel series written by Senri Akatsuki with illustrations by Ayumu Kasuga, who created the Joukamachi no Dandelion manga. The series began in 2013 under SB Creative’s GA Bunko light novel imprint and has published a total of 6 volumes to date. A manga adaptation of the series was produced by Fumi Tadauri that began last year in Square Enix and GA Bunko’s Gangan GA online magazine, where the second volume will be released on June 12th this year.

Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut synopsis from Haruhichan:

Lux, a former prince of an empire named Arcadia that was overthrown via a rebellion five years earlier. Lux accidentally trespasses in a female dormitory’s bathing area, sees the kingdom’s new princess Lisesharte naked, and incurs her wrath. Lisesharte then challenges Lux to a Drag-Ride duel. Drag-Rides are ancient armored mechanical weapons that have been excavated from ruins all around the world. Lux used to be called the strongest Drag-Knight, but now he’s known as the “undefeated weakest” Drag-Knight because he will absolutely not attack in battle. After his duel with Lisesharte, Lux ends up attending the female-only academy that trains royals to be Drag-Knights.

You can visit the anime’s website here: http://saijaku.jp/
And follow the anime on Twitter: @saijaku_anime

Koe no Katachi Anime Film Slated for Fall 2016

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December 28, 2015

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The Japanese film distributor Shochiku has updated its listing for films and has revealed that the upcoming anime adaptation of Yoshitoki Ooima’s Koe no Katachi (A Silent Voice) manga will release in 2016 during Fall.

A recent issue of Kodansha’s Weekly Shonen magazine has revealed that the Koe no Katachi anime film will be produced by Kyoto Animation (Hyouka, Hibike! Euphonium) and directed by Naoko Yamada (K-ON!, Tamako Market).

Koe no Katachi (A Silent Voice, The Shape of Voice) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yoshitoki Ooima.Koe no Katachi (A Silent Voice, The Shape of Voice) was originally published as a one-shot in the February 2011 issue of Bessatsu Shounen Magazine. A remake of the story began serialization in August 2013 in Weekly Shounen Magazine. The series itself ended on the 12th this month for a total of 61 chapters compiled into 7 volumes, with the last volume releasing on December 17th. Since its publication, the series has sold over 700,000 copies as of May this year.

Koe no Katachi one-shot synopsis from MAL:

A one-shot about a grade school class that accepts a girl with impaired hearing. Although this one-shot won the 80th Weekly Shounen Magazine Newbie Best Mangaka Award, the vector of the content made it difficult for publication on any manga magazine, until it was picked up, after months of legal dispute, by the February edition of Bessatsu Shounen Magazine, where it got first place despite its being a one-shot. This one-shot was recently re-published in 12th issue of the 2013 Weekly Shounen Magazine.

Koe no Katachi synopsis from Haruhichan:

Ishida Shouya bullies a deaf girl, Nishimiya Shouko, to the point that she drops out of school. As a result, he is ostracized and bullied himself with no friends to speak of and no plans for the future.

This is the story of his path to redemption.

Kyoto Animation will be producing the Koe no Katachi anime movie that is currently slated for a Fall/Autumn 2016 release. Additional information about the anime will be revealed at a later date.

You can visit the manga’s website here: http://www.shonenmagazine.com/smaga/koenokatachi

Source: Anime News Network, Cinema Japan

Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann: Restart Project Reveals Rebroadcast of the Original TV Series

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December 28, 2015

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The official website of the Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann: Restart project has revealed that all 27 episodes of the Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann anime will be broadcasted on Japanese video service Niconico. The first 15 episodes of the anime’s TV broadcast are currently available now on the anime’s channel on Niconico and will be free to registered users until April 1st, where episodes 17-27 will be available instead until October 1st.

In addition to this, the site has also revealed that the series will be partnering with Japanese mobile application ComiComi where users have access to custom images from the anime that can be sent over social media networks.

ComiComi are also having a competition, running from today till January 8th at 11:59pm JST, where fans posting on Twitter through the application with #叫べグレンラガン are placed into a lottery to win a special Onkyo home theatre set with 10 runner ups getting ¥10,000 ($80.00 USD) Google Play Gift Cards.

The site also mentions that more news about the project will be revealed soon.

Anime visual:

Gurren Lagann, known in Japan as Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, is a Japanese mecha anime television series animated by Gainax and co-produced by Aniplex and Konami. It ran for 27 episodes on Japan’s TV Tokyo between April 1, 2007, and September 30, 2007. It was directed by Hiroyuki Imaishi, written by veteran playwright Kazuki Nakashima, and had been in development since the participation of the famed animator in the Abenobashi mecha-themed episodes by the same studio. Gurren Lagann takes place in a fictional future where Earth is ruled by the Spiral King, Lordgenome, who forces mankind to live in isolated subterranean villages. The plot focuses on two teenagers living in a subterranean village, Simon and Kamina, who wish to go to the surface. Using a mecha known as Lagann, Simon and Kamina reach the surface and start fighting alongside other humans against Lordgenome’s forces.

In North America, although initially announced to be licensed by ADV Films in 2007, the license was transferred to Bandai Entertainment in 2008 and then transferred to Aniplex of America in 2013. In the United Kingdom, it was licensed by Manga Entertainment in 2007, then transferred to Beez Entertainment in 2008, and then transferred to Anime Limited in 2013. The Sci Fi Channel acquired the broadcasting rights of Gurren Lagann and began airing the anime on July 28, 2008, as part of Sci Fi’s Ani-Monday anime block. The anime won several awards at the Tokyo International Anime Fair and the Animation Kobe and Japan Media Arts Festivals.

A manga adaptation was published by ASCII Media Works between 2007 and 2013. Bandai Entertainment licensed the manga and released it in English in North America. A series of four light novels was published by Shogakukan between 2007 and 2008. A Nintendo DS video game was released in October 2007, bundled with a special episode of the anime series. Two animated film versions were produced; the first premiered in Japanese theaters on September 6, 2008, and the second premiered on April 25, 2009.

Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann synopsis from MAL:

In a faraway future, mankind lives underground in huge caves, unknowing of a world above with a sky and stars.

In the small village of Jiha, Simon, a shy boy who works as a digger discovers a strange glowing object during excavation. The enterprising Kamina, a young man with a pair of rakish sunglasses and the passion of a fiery sun, befriends Simon and forms a small band of brothers, the Gurren Brigade, to escape the village and break through the ceiling of the cave to reach the surface, which few believe exist.

The village elder won’t hear of such foolishness and punishes the Brigade. However, when disaster strikes from the world above and the entire village is in jeopardy, it’s up to Simon, Kamina, a girl with a big gun named Yoko, and the small yet sturdy robot, Lagann, to save the day.

The new friends journey to the world above and find that the surface is a harsh battlefield, and it’s up to them to fight back against the rampaging Beastmen to turn the tide in the humans’ favor! Pierce the heavens, Gurren Lagann!

Source: Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann Restart official website

GATE Second Season Promotional Video Previews OP Theme Song

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December 28, 2015

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The official website for the upcoming second season TV anime adaptation of Yanai Tagami’s light novel series Gate: Jieitai Kanochi nite, Kaku Tatakaeri (Gate: The Self-Defense Forces Fight Like This in Another Land) began streaming the first promotional video on Saturday. The new video also features the opening song “GATE II ~Sekai o Koete~” (GATE II ~Surpass the World~) by Kishida Kyoudan & The Akeboshi Rockets (Highschool of the Dead, Strike the Blood), who also performed the first season’s opening theme.

The second season will premiere on January 9 at 1:05 a.m. on Tokyo MX TV, and it will also air on MBS, TV Aichi, BS11, and AT-X.

Here’s the previous commercial which was streamed earlier this month:

In addition to this, a new visual for the second season was recently revealed:

Here’s the promotional video for upcoming second season.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPfeTTcZGhs

It was recently revealed that the theme song performers from the first season will return to perform the theme songs for the second season. Kishida Kyoudan & The Akeboshi Rockets (Highschool of the Dead, Strike the Blood) is performing the opening theme “GATE II ~Sekai o Koete~” and the three main female cast members – Nao Touyama (Lelei la Lelena), Hisako Kanemoto (Tuka Luna Marceau), and Risa Taneda (Rory Mercury), will perform the ending theme.

Both songs will ship on CD on January 27, 2016.

The main cast of the anime includes:

Junichi Suwabe (Archer in Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works) will voice Youji Itami, an Otaku human who is also the leader of the Self-Defense Force troops

Hisako Kanemoto (Ami Mizuno/Sailor Mercury in Sailor Moon Crystal) as Tuka Luna Marso, a female Elf

Nao Touyama (Chitoge Kirisaki from Nisekoi) as Lelei la Lelena, a human mage

Risa Taneda (Mirai Kuriyama from Kyoukai no Kanata) as Rory Mercury, a demigod serving Emroy

The first members of the anime’s staff were also revealed and consists of:

Director: Takahiko Kyougoku (Love Live! School Idol Project Season 1 and Season 2)
Series Composer: Tatsuhiko Urahata (Kyoukaisenjou no Horizon, Black Bullet)
Anime Character Designer: Jun Nakai (Silver Spoon, Tokyo Majin Gakuen Kenpucho: Tou)
Sound Director: Yukio Nagasaki (Love Live! School Idol Project, Ao Haru Ride)
Music Composer: Yoshiaki Fujisawa (Love Live! School Idol Project, Akuma no Riddle)
Animation Studio: A-1 Pictures (Sword Art Online, Aldnoah.Zero)

Visual:

Gate: Jieitai Kanochi nite, Kaku Tatakaeri (Gate: The Self-Defense Forces Fight Like This in Another Land) is a Japanese light novel series written by Takumi Yanai and originally illustrated by Daisuke Izuka. AlphaPolis published five volumes and three side-story collections from April 2010 to April 2014. AlphaPolis began publishing an expanded edition of the main series with illustrations by Kuroshishi in December 2012. A manga adaptation illustrated by Satoru Sao began in July 2011. An anime television series has been announced.

Gate: Jieitai Kanochi nite, Kaku Tatakaeri synopsis from Haruhichan:

In August of 20XX, a portal to a parallel world, known as the “Gate,” suddenly appeared in Ginza, Tokyo. Monsters and troops poured out of the portal, turning the shopping district into a bloody inferno.

The Japan Ground-Self Defence Force immediately took action and pushed the fantasy creatures back to the “Gate.” To facilitate negotiations and prepare for future fights, the JGSDF dispatched the Third Reconnaissance Team to the “Special Region” at the other side of the Gate.

Youji Itami, a JSDF officer as well as a 33-year-old otaku, was appointed as the leader of the Team. Amid attacks from enemy troops the team visited a variety of places and learnt a lot about the local culture and geography.

Thanks to their efforts in humanitarian relief, although with some difficulties they were gradually able to reach out to the locals. They even had a cute elf, a sorceress and a demigoddess in their circle of new friends. On the other hand, the major powers outside the Gate such as the United States,China and Russia were extremely interested in the abundant resources available in the Special Region. They began to exert diplomatic pressure over Japan.

A suddenly appearing portal to an unknown world—to the major powers it may be no more than a mere asset for toppling the international order. But to our protagonists it is an invaluable opportunity to broaden knowledge, friendship, and ultimately their perspective towards the world.

Source: GATE official website

Haikyuu!! Second Season Promotional Video for Second Cour Previews OP Song

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December 28, 2015

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The official website for the second anime adaptation of Haruichi Furudate’s Haikyuu!! has revealed a new promotional video for the second cour which previews the new opening theme. Osaka-based rock band Burnout Syndromes will perform the new opening theme “Fly High!!” while rock band tacica will perform the new ending theme song “Hatsunetsu” (Fever).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9qXOEwiTGQ

In addition to this, the website recently unveiled a new visual for the second cour.

It was also recently revealed that the second season will have a total of 25 episodes across nine Blu-ray/DVD volumes. Amazon Japan is also listing the nine volumes for pre-order.

Haikyuu!! is a volleyball sports manga written and illustrated by Haruichi Furudate. The Haikyuu!! debuted as a one shot manga that was released in Winter 2011 in Shueisha’s Shonen Jump Next! magazine and another one shot in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine. After that the manga became a weekly series in the same magazine where to date a total of 13 compiled volumes have been released, with the 14th volume releasing on the 27th. A crossover chapter with Naoshi Komi’s Nisekoi manga was produced in July last year. An anime adaptation of Haikyuu!! was produced this August in theSummer 2014 anime season that ran for a total of 26 episodes. The series was directed by Susumu Mitsunaka (Cuticle Tantei Inaba) and produced by Production I.G (Ghost in the Shell, Kuroko’s Basketball).

Here is a synopsis from Haruhichan:

A chance event triggered Shouyou Hinata’s love for volleyball. His club had no members, but somehow persevered and finally made it into its very first and final regular match of middle school, where it was steamrolled by Tobio Kageyama, a superstar player known as “King of the Court.” Vowing revenge, Hinata applied to the Karasuno High School volleyball club… only to come face-to-face with his hated rival, Kageyama!

A tale of hot-blooded youth and volleyball from the pen of Haruichi Furudate!!

You can visit the anime’s website here: http://www.j-haikyu.com/anime/
And follow their Twitter: @animehaikyu_com

Kantai Collection 2016 Anime Film Visual Spotted

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December 28, 2015

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A new visual for the upcoming anime film based on the Kantai Collection franchise has been spotted at the Kokusai-Tenjijo Station railway station ahead of December 29-31’s Comiket 89.

At the recent Summer Kan Colle Naval event, it was announced that an anime film based on the Kantai Collection franchise is currently in production and is scheduled to release in 2016. The first main image of the film was also released. The event screened footage that features the Kan-musume characters Fubuki, Mutsuki, Yuudachi, Akagi and Kaga, Hiryuu Kaini and Souryuu Kaini, the four Kongou sisters (Kaini), Kitakami and Ooi, Chokai Kaini, Yubari, Mutsu and Nagato, Kako Kaini and Furutaka Kaini, Zuikaku and Shoukaku, Shimakaze, Kuma, and Ooyodo.

Last March it was revealed at the ending scene of the final episode of the TV anime Kantai Collection that the series will get a sequel. The announcement was made at the end of episode 12 on Tokyo MX with the text indicating “Sequel production confirmed!!”.

The Twitter account of Kantai Collection: Kan Colle has revealed that the 2016 anime film is not the previously announced second season, so there will be both a film and second season out next year.

Anime visual:

Kantai Collection is an online, card battle, browser game that is developed by Dmm.com that launched in April last year. The game currently has more than 2 million registered players and was 2013’s top Twitter trend in Japan. The game centers around naval card battles, where naval ships are represented by “Fleet Girls”. Players battle against other online in an attempt to gain more cards and levels. The game has been increasing with popularity since its release, with a slew of merchandising being released after the game’s release; from tabletop games to manga, and light novels to this anime and the PlayStation Vita game Kan Colle Kai. An anime adaptation of the series was produced for the Winter 2014/2015 anime season, directed by Keizo Kusakawa (Akuma no Riddle, Dog Days) and animated by Diomedea (Shinryaku! Ika Musume, Akuma no Riddle).

Kantai Collection anime synopsis from Haruhichan:

Set in a world where humanity has lost control of the oceans to the “deep sea fleet,” the only hope to counter this threat are the Kanmusu, a group of girls who possess the spirit of Japanese warships. The story revolves around Fubuki, a destroyer who comes to the Chinjufu base to train with other Kanmusu. Watch as their stories unfold!

Visit anime’s website: http://kancolle-anime.jp/
And on follow their official Twitter: @anime_KanColle

Source: Hosimaki

Top 10 Most Outstanding TV Anime of 2015

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Swaps4

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December 28, 2015

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Japanese website animeanime asked their readers: Which TV anime series from 2015 was the most outstanding? With 1,500 total votes, 61.6% of the voters were aged 20 – 25, while 38.2% were 19 or younger, and the 60.2% of the voters were men, while 39.8% were women.

The poll ran from December 16 to December 23, 2015, and the respondents were allowed to pick up to 3 choices from the pool of shows that were on the air during the year of 2015.

Here are the results:

10) Prison School
9) Gintama
8) Gochuumon wa Usagi Desu ka?
7) Haikyuu!! Second Season
6) Kekkai Sensen
5) One-Punch Man
4) Mr. Osomatsu
3) Hibike! Euphonium
2) Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works
1) Charlotte

Top 10 Most Pessimistic Anime Characters According to Female Fans

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Swaps4

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December 27, 2015

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Charapedia asked female anime fans the question: Which anime character is the most negative? You can view the full results of this poll here and the male results here.

Here are the male results:

10) Taizou Hasegawa (Gintama)
9) Hachiman Hikigaya (Oregairu)
8) Shigeru Fujiki (Chibi Maruko-chan)
7) Hitoka Yachi (Haikyuu!!)
6) Tomoko Kuroki (Watamote)
5) Ryou Sakurai (Kuroko no Basket)
4) Usopp (One Piece)
3) Shinji Ikari (Neon Genesis Evangelion)
2) Nozomu Itoshiki (Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei)
1) Ichimatsu Matsuno (Osomatsu-san)

Top 10 Most Pessimistic Anime Characters According to Male Fans

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Swaps4

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December 27, 2015

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Charapedia asked male anime fans the question: Which anime character is the most negative? You can view the full results of this poll here.

Here are the male results:

10) Ichimatsu Matsuno (Osomatsu-san)
9) Omoi (Naruto)
8) Seishuu Handa (Barakamon)
7) Kamijou Touma (Toaru Majutsu no Index / Toaru Kagaku no Railgun)
6) Tomoko Kuroki (Watamote)
5) Nobita Nobi (Doraemon)
4) Nozomu Itoshiki (Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei)
3) Usopp (One Piece)
2) Shinji Ikari (Neon Genesis Evangelion)
1) Hachiman Hikigaya (Oregairu)

Noragami Aragoto LINE Stickers Released

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Swaps4

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December 27, 2015

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Japanese and South Korean social media app LINE has released a new series of stickers, based on the anime of Adachitoka’s Noragami manga.

LINE users can purchase this sticker collection of Norgami Aragoto where they’ll be able to attach them to messages and send to friends who also use the app. The sticker set retails for $1.99 and can be purchased here. LINE itself is one of East Asia’s most popular social media apps, with over 400 million users.

Phantasy Star Online 2 Anime CM Streamed

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Olivia Lynn

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December 27, 2015

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Japanese television network CBC aired a commercial for the new Phantasy Star Online 2: The Animation the television anime of Sega’s Phantasy Star Online 2 (PSO2) role-playing MMO game. The video features Shouta Aoi’s theme song “Zessei Stargate” (Unrivaled Stargate).

The most recent promotion video has revealed the series will premiere on January 7th on TBS with Shouta Aoi singing the theme song, now titled “Peerless Stargate.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ft3d3tsHDTk

The series will premiere on the TBS station on Thursday, January 7 at 1:46 a.m., and then run on the CBC, MBS, and BS-TBS channels. A special pre-broadcast talk show with Aoi, the director, and the producers will screen the first episode at Tokyo’s Theatre Shinjuku on December 29. The “Zessei Stargate” CD single will go on sale on February 3.

The Phantasy Star Online 2: The Animation series will have a completely original story separate from that of the MMORPG, and the story will follow PSO2 players “who may be near you” on Earth in the near future.

The cast includes:

Shouta Aoi (Daiki Tomii from Shounen Hollywood: Holly Stage for 49) voices Itsuki Tachibana

Ayaka Suwa (Tokaku Azuma in Akuma no Riddle) is voicing Rina Izumi

Mao Ichimichi (Kazumi Schlierenzauer in Gokukoku no Brynhildr) as Aika Suzuki

Nobunaga Shimazaki (Haruka Nanase in Free!) will voice Kouta Kayano

Takuya Satou (Toshiki Kai from Cardfight!! Vanguard) as Masaya Kudou

Rie Murakawa (Hotaru Ichijou in Non Non Biyori) voices Mika Konoe

Aki Kanada (Ginga Hagane in Metal Fight Beyblade) is voicing Yutaka Sasaki

Shun Horie (First Major Role) will be voicing Seiya Urisaka

Minami Kabayama (First Major Role) as Mayu Urisaka

Tessyo Genda (Kyuubi from Naruto) will voice SORO

Kikuko Inoue (Sanae Furukawa in Clannad) is voicing Yumiko

Katsuyuki Konishi (Luxus Dreher in Fairy Tail) is casted to voice Last Samurai

Emi Nitta (Honoka Kousaka in Love Live! School Idol Project) will voice Silva

Kazuhiko Inoue (Kakashi Hatake from Naruto) as Kid
Hiroki Takahashi (Eiji Kikumaru from Prince of Tennis) voices Mamoru Monzen

Marika Kouno (Rin Kohana in Sore ga Seiyuu!) will be voicing as Marika, Riko Kohara (First Major Role) as Riko, Yurika Takagi (First Major Role) will voice Yurika

The first visual:

The announcement of the anime, titled Phantasy Star Online 2: The Animation, was made at the offline ARKS Caravan event in Okinawa. The anime will have a brand new original story set in a near future Earth setting, within the universe of Phantasy Star Online 2. It will featuring stories from the players of the game, which is out on the PC, PlayStation Vita and mobile devices.

Phantasy Star is one of the longest running JRPG franchises in the industry. Developed and published by Sega, the first game in the series released in Japan on the Sega Master System in late December, 1987. Since the first game’s release, over 10 games have been produced. The series eventually grew internationally with the release of Phantasy Star Online in 2000, a MMORPG that released on the Dreamcast, Xbox and PC. Since its release, the Online games became its own series. All of the games are set in the near future in various solar systems and clusters. The latest game in the series is Phantasy Star Nova, a single player RPG based on PSO2 for the PlayStation Vita.

Phantasy Star Online 2 is a video game in the Phantasy Star series published by Sega. It was released for Microsoft Windows on July 4, 2012, and for PlayStation Vita on February 28, 2013. A spin-off game, Phantasy Star Online 2es, was released for Android on April 7, 2014 and for iOS on May 14, 2014. The game is currently only available commercially in Japan and the Pacific Southwest, but an English-language patch was released.

Phantasy Star Online 2: The Animation will air from January next year during the Winter 2015/2016 anime season, on TBS and BS-TBS. Further information about the series will be revealed in the near future.

You can visit the website here: http://phantasystar.sega.jp/psportal/pso15anniversary/animation/
And follow the game on Twitter: @sega_pso2

Source: Anime News Network

Danganronpa: Another Episode Manga from Toko’s Perspective Concludes

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Olivia Lynn

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December 27, 2015

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The final chapter of Kaoru Minamimachi’s Zettai Zetsubo Shojo: Danganronpa AE – Genovider Mode manga was released in the February 2016 issue of Kadokawa’s Dengeki Maoh magazine on Saturday. The second compiled volume is set to release January 27, 2016.

The manga adaptation of the story of the Danganronpa Another Episode: Despair Girls spinoff game from the perspective of the ever so perplexing serial killer, Toko, who only kills attractive young men. Minamimachi began the series in January.

This attractive, seemingly helpless girl seems normal enough, but there are two sides to her. One side is awkward, clumsy, and a little too honest, the other…well…is a serial killer, eager, and ready to pounce. Can you trust her? What happens when you put a girl with split personalities, a thirst for killing, in a killing game? What decisions will she make? How will she protect herself?

There has been another manga adaptation of the game that has been running on Kadokawa’s web manga site Famitsu Comic Clear since January. Kadokawa shipped the first compiled volume in October.

Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls is available now!

Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls takes place a half a year after the events of the first game, prior to the events of the second game. The younger sister of our former protagonist, Komaru Naegi, will embark on her own journey through Monokuma’s hell he’s created in the outside world. She is suddenly forced to flee when she attacked by deadly Monokuma robots and comes across Future Foundation member Byakuya Togami, who gives Komaru a special Hacking Gun that can fight against the robot and orders her to escape the city. However, Komaru’s escape fails and she is captured by a group of elementary-school children known as the Warriors of Hope, who seek to create a utopia for children by murdering all the adults with their robots. They force Komaru to join their “Demon Hunting” game and drop her into the city, where she meets Toko Fukawa, a survivor of Hope’s Peak Academy who now uses a stun-gun to control her murderous split personality, Genocide Syo. Learning that Byakuya may have been kidnapped by the Warriors of Hope, Toko agrees to team up with Komaru to find Byakuya and escape the city.

Source: Anime News Network

New D.Gray-Man TV Anime Will Be a Continuation

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Frontalspy

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December 27, 2015

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D.Gray-Man creator Katsura Hoshino went on her Instagram to thank fans about the recent announcement for the upcoming 2016 anime adaptation of the series. She mentions that the new series will be a continuation of the story.

Despite Hoshino’s comment about the new series being a continuation, the anime’s official website and Twitter have yet to make any confirmations about the news. Here is Hoshino’s full comment on Instagram:

Thanks to everyone who went to the D.Gray-man stage today. As was said in the announcement, a new series has been green-lit. Because the staff will be completely different, the story will be a continuation, but I think it will become a completely new D.Gray-man anime. Thank you for everyone who’s supported me until now.

Here is the anime’s first PV:

The website and event has revealed that the upcoming anime will have an entirely new cast than the previous 2005 anime. The two cast members that have been revealed are:

Ayumu Murase (Shouyou Hinata from Haikyuu!!) will voice Allen
Shinnosuke Tachibana (Tomoe from Kamisama Hajimemashita) as Howard Link

The anime’s website has also revealed that TMS Entertainment (Yowamushi Pedal, Detective Conan) will return to animate the series.

D.Gray-man is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Katsura Hoshino. The series tells the story of a boy named Allen Walker, a member of an organization of Exorcists who make use of an ancient substance called Innocence to combat the Millennium Earl and his demonic army of Akuma. Many characters and their designs were adapted from some of Katsura Hoshino’s previous works and drafts, such as Zone.

The manga began serialization in 2004 in the Weekly Shonen Jump magazine, published by Shueisha. It made the transition from a weekly to a monthly series in November 2009, when it began serialization in Jump SQ until December 29, 2012, where the series went on an indefinite hiatus. The series began serialization again on July 17, 2015 in a spin-off magazine of Jump Square, Jump SQ.Crown. There is also a spin-off novel series titled D.Gray-man Reverse, authored by Kaya Kizaki, that explores the history of various characters. As of August 5, 2014, Viz Media has released 24 volumes in the United States. The manga has also been adapted into a 103-episode anime series that aired from October 3, 2006 to September 30, 2008 in Japan. The anime is licensed by Funimation Entertainment in North America. Several related items of merchandise have also been produced.

D.Gray-man synopsis from MAL:

Toward the end of the 19th century, Allen Walker officially joins the organization of Exorcists that destroy the beings known as Akuma; mechanic weapons made by the Millennium Earl with the suffering souls of the dead. Allen has both a cursed eye and an anti-Akuma weapon as an arm, bearing the power of “Innocence,” a gift given to him as an apostle of God. Allen, along with his fellow Exorcists must put a stop to the Millennium Earl’s ultimate plot that could lead to the destruction of the world and all who live on it.

Source: Katsura Hoshino’s Instagram

Kill la Kill Character Designer Sushio Shares Christmas Sketches

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December 27, 2015

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Kill la Kill‘s character designer Sushio has been spreading Christmas cheer over the past few days by sharing his Christmas themed sketches of Trigger’s Kill la Kill on Twitter.