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Akio Ōtsuka, Kenjirō Tsuda, Miku Itō Star as Energy Drinks in CalorieMate Game
And the game looks surprisingly fun
― In the realm of video games, there are several games based solely on product placement, such as Pepsiman from 1999 or the Burger King games from 2006. Regardless of their quality, they're a fascinating part of video game history. Adding to that history is a game featuring the Japanese energy bar and drink brand CalorieMate. The CalorieMate X (formerly Twitter) ac...
Gear Up & Pilot a Life-Size Ingram Mecha From Patlabor the Mobile Police
Well, more like the torso of the Ingram
― What's better than seeing a life-size anime robot? Piloting a life-size anime robot. While the technology isn't quite entirely there yet, there are a handful of companies building pilotable robotic mecha. One of those companies is MOVeLOT, and we got a chance to look at and even sit in their AV-X30 Ingram from Patlabor the Mobile Police. Nestled under the sil...
McDonald's x Genshin Impact Collaboration That Fans Will Be Lovin'
Almost like a Happy Meal for adults
― McDonald's is well-known for collaborations with children's properties for their Happy Meal sets. Rare are those collaborations geared for adults, but now the fast-food chain is planning one with the massively popular video game Genshin Impact. The McDonald's X (formerly Twitter) account announced the collaboration with Genshin Impact on September 11. The company...
Anime World Offers Condolences After Voice Actor Emi Shinohara's Passing, Part II
Creators, artists, & fans came together for their farewells
― The anime world was stunned once again with the news of voice actor Emi Shinohara's passing on September 8. Known for her roles as Makoto Kino (Sailor Jupiter) in Sailor Moon, Kushina Uzumaki in the Naruto franchise, and Presea from Magic Knight Rayearth, Shinohara had a distinguished career in many anime series over several decades. Her w...
The Highly Anticipated Transformers and Trigger Collab Video is Availalble Worldwide Finally (Updated)
SSSS.Gridman's Akira Amemiya directed and storyboarded the nearly 4 minute video
― Update: The official X/Twitter account for the Transformers franchise has posted the video, and it is available worldwide! Transformers 40th Anniversary Special Movie 大絶賛公開中 ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ BUMP OF CHICKEN × TRIGGER × Transformers… pic.twitter.com/18vmfw1pYA— 【公式】トランスフォーマー情報局 (@TF_pr) September 13, 2024 (The YouT...
Anime World Offers Condolences After Voice Actor Emi Shinohara's Passing, Part I
Colleagues pay respects to celebrated voice actor
― 2024 has not been kind to anime and manga fans. We were first hit with the passing of beloved manga creator Akira Toriyama. Then came summer with passing after passing of legendary voice actors. Now as we head into autumn, anime fans were struck with the news of Emi Shinohara's passing. Known for roles such as Makoto Kino (Sailor Jupiter) in Sailor ...
Shonen Jump Celebrates Hunter x Hunter Volume 38 With Promotional Video
See what the Phantom Troupe was up to since volume 37
― Hunter x Hunter is an anomaly in Weekly Shonen Jump magazine. It's one of those series that maintains its popularity despite its creator Yoshihiro Togashi putting the series on frequent hiatuses. But when the series returns to the magazine, it's often met with resounding praise. And what better way to celebrate the latest volume of Hunter x Hunt...
Exploring The Tokiwaso Manga Museum x Capcom Exhibition
There are some fun exhibits for you to explore.
― On July 20 the Toshima City Tokiwaso Manga Museum began the "TezuCap Fighting Universe 2" exhibition. A collaboration between Capcom and Tezuka Productions, the exhibition features original works from Capcom and Tezuka Productions, a history of Capcom fighting games, some delightful crossover artwork, and a few fun little gems at the Tokiwaso Manga Mu...
Toby Fox x Zun Collab on New Song in Touhou Touhou: Danmaku Kagura Phantasia
And we got a surprisingly short 0.1-second clip of the song
― One of the most successful bullet hell shoot 'em up video games is undoubtedly the Touhou Project series of games. Started in 1997 as an independent work, it has gone from a niche PC game to being supported on several game consoles and Steam. After nearly 30 years, the franchise has produced 19 mainline games and 13 spinoff games. And the ...
New Cup Noodle Ad Riffs on El Shaddai
Cup Noodle continues its tradition of parodying famous works
― Nisshin Cup Noodle commercials are an interesting bunch. Often bordering on the absurd, they are nothing if not memorable, such as in 2010 when the instant noodle brand aired a whole series of commercials parodying famous songs such as “I was Born to Love You” by Freddie Mercury and “You Give Love a Bad Name” by Bon Jovi. Continuing in th...
Koichi Yamadera, Maaya Sakamoto Went Full Costume for Their Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Dub
They fully experienced the world of Tim Burton
― When we think of voice acting, the last thing that comes to mind is how the actors dress for a recording session. While they likely choose clothes that's comfortable and will not be picked up on the microphone, the one thing they don't have to wear is the outfit of their character. But this wasn't the case for the Japanese dub's voice cast members for ...
Grammy-Winning Music Producer Zedd Speaks About Working on Dragon Ball Daima
Announcement came just one day after his birthday
― On September 4, a new trailer dropped for the upcoming, much anticipated anime series Dragon Ball Daima. Along with new cast members, the trailer revealed that Grammy Award-winning artist Zedd, Yukinojo Mori, and C&K collaborated for the series' opening theme song “Jaka Jaan.” Following the announcement, Zedd expressed his feelings about working on ...
Bocchi the Rock x Chibi Godzilla Unite For Cute Collab
Bocchizilla & Godzilla aren't just invading Toho Shinjuku anymore
― Most anime films released in Japan come with a little extra for all ticket holders — sometimes reprint of key frames, other times a legendary Pokémon, most of the time a mini-autograph board or illustration card. But it is rare when the mini-autograph board or illustration card is a collaboration for the ages. This was the case for t...
Manga Creator Kazuhiko Shimamoto Plays Himself in Super Sentai Cameo
Aoi Honō creator also designs the enemies in latest show, Bakuage Sentai Boonboomger
― Starting in 1974 with Himitsu Sentai Gorenger, the Super Sentai franchise has become an institution in Japan with 49 different teams with various themes. When a beloved figure in the entertainment industry appears in an episode, it's often fun and puts them in some sort of danger. This was the case for manga creato...
Laputa: Castle in the Sky's Climax Fails to Trend #1 on X/Twitter in 19th Airing
Other hashtags about the movie did rank in Japan earlier in the day
― Almost without a doubt an airing of Laputa: Castle in the Sky generates a lot of buzz on Japanese social media. Having broken X's (formerly Twitter's) worldwide posts-per-second record in 2013 and reaching roughly half that number in 2016, Japanese people love taking to the platform just to post “Balse” as the film's protagonists, ...
Starforge Systems Reveals Limited Edition Frieren: Beyond Journey's End PC Collection
Take your computer hardware & wrap it in Frieren and company
― Computers have become an integral part of many of our lives. But sometimes they're not the best-looking item we own. However, anime fans now have a chance to own a computer wrapped in our favorite characters from Frieren: Beyond Journey's End from Starforge Systems. Starforge Systems announced the Frieren: Beyond Journey's End collaborati...
Leading Manga Creators Partner for Noto & Taiwan Quake Charity Auction
Auction pieces currently on display at Tokyo's Former Residence of Theodora Ozaki
― On New Years Day and April 3, the Noto Peninsula, Japan and Hualien City, Taiwan were devastated by powerful earthquakes. While life is slowly returning to some semblance of normalcy, help is still needed in both locations. Many people and companies have pitched in for relief, and from August 23 to September 30, the F...
Naomi Osaka Wears Magical Girl-Inspired Outfits at U.S. Open
Tennis phenom 'transforms' when she walks onto court
― One of the greatest innovations in manga and anime storytelling was the introduction of the magical girl series. First developed by Fujio Akatsuka's Himitsu no Akko-chan in 1962, the genre has seen radical shifts over the years: the battling magical schoolgirls of Naoko Takeuchi's Sailor Moon in 1992 and more adult-themed stories with Puella Magi...
Uma Musume's Finger Lickin' Good KFC Ad Is Almost as Weird as We Hoped
You won't know what you just watched after seeing the commercial
― As one of the largest fast-food chicken chains in Japan since 1970, Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) popularized eating chicken on Christmas in the island nation. There's a perception that it otherwise eschews major collaborations, but when it does, it brings some wild promotional material. This is the case with the recent collaboration w...
Gintama Manga Creator Hideaki Sorachi Remakes Gintoki's 1st Appearance
Remake shows the evolution of Sorachi's art style
― In early December 2003, a cheeky mix of science fiction, historical fiction, and comedy graced the pages of Weekly Shonen Jump in Hideaki Sorachi's manga Gintama. The misadventures of Gintoki Sakata take place in a reimagined Meiji Restoration Japan, after aliens arrived in their “black ships” and the island nation opened to the rest of the world. N...
Japanese Government, Anime Studios Team Up to Develop Next Generation of Animators
Global Anime Challenge allows 6 young talents from Japan to intern at studios overseas
― On July 31, the Global Anime Challenge (GAC) project took its first steps to develop the next generation of Japanese animators. The GAC is now taking applications for six talented young animators, producers, and directors to “experience internships at world-class studios outside of Japan for three months.” A pres...
Boston Red Sox, Seattle Mariners Give Away One Piece Bobblehead, Naruto-Inspired Headband
Mariners outfielder/Naruto super fan Julio Rodríguez homers for the win on Wednesday
― At one point, it was difficult thinking anime and American professional sports would ever cross paths. However, over the past decade or so, more and more athletes and their organizations outside of Japan are opening up about their love of anime. Major League Baseball (MLB) hosted not one, but two anime-themed givea...
Kagurabachi Tops Print Category, Girl Meets Rock! Wins in Web Category of Next Manga Awards 2024
Kamome Maruyono's I Love Dokagui! Mochizuki-san is the inaugural winner of the new Nichirei Prize
― Takeru Hokazono's Kagurabachi manga took first place in the Print Manga category, and Kuwahali and Tetsuo Ideuchi's Girl Meets Rock! manga won the top prize in the Web Manga category of the Next Manga Awards 2024 (Tsugi ni Kuru Manga Taishō). Kagurabachi runs in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine....
One-Punch Man Artist's Son Places 2nd in National High School Bodybuilding Championship
He's blown past One Punch Man & achieved All Might
― It's bodybuilding season, and that means muscular man-men in skimpy shorts showing off their muscular man-meat in the culmination of their hard work and dieting. The bodybuilding season generally starts in late February or early March with the Arnold Classic and concludes in early October with the crowning of Mr. Olympia at the Mr. Olympia competit...
Anime Industry Veteran Jan Scott-Frazier Launches Crowdfunding for Help Moving Into Assisted Living
Frazier was the first foreigner to work in the production department of a Japanese animation studio
― Anime industry veteran Jan Scott Frazier launched a GoFundMe crowdfunding campaign on Friday to help her move into assisted living. Frazier wrote that she had been in the hospital for the entire summer. As she can no longer live in her townhome, she has to move into assisted living and needs help mov...
Transformers Collide With Godzilla, Macross, Monster Hunter, Zoids for Crossover Toys
Plus Zoids collaborate with Spider-Man, Monster Hunter, Patlabor, Diaclone
― If there's one thing that sparks the inner child of people around the world, it's a toy robot. From buildable models such as Gunpla or Zoids to transformable toys like Transformers or Shinkalion, people love them all. But Japanese toy maker Takara Tomy takes one bold step further by combining three of their major robot toy l...
Mashle: Magic and Muscles Finally Gets a Collaboration with Beard Papa's in the U.S.
Munch like Mash on themed cream puffs in all 42 Beard Papa's stores in December
― Mashle: Magic and Muscles fans in the U.S., your time has come! Aniplex of America announced at Anime NYC on Saturday that the anime is getting a collaboration with the famed Beard Papa's cream puff chain this December. The collaboration will take place at all 42 stores in the U.S. with Mashle-themed flavors and mercha...
The Anime/Manga World Offers Condolences on Voice Actor Atsuko Tanaka's Passing, Part III
Figures from all over the Japanese entertainment industry pay their respects to the beloved voice actor
― News of distinguished voice actor Atsuko Tanaka's passing sent waves throughout the Japanese entertainment industry. Directors, illustrators, manga creators, musicians, and many others have been influenced by Tanaka, thanks to her illustrious career voicing Ghost in the Shell's Major Motoko Kusan...
The Anime/Manga World Offers Condolences After Voice Actor Atsuko Tanaka's Passing, Part II
Voice actors all around the anime industry pay their respects to the legendary voice actor.
― Summer 2024 has been a heartbreaking season for anime fans. After the passing of Noriko Ohara on July 23 and the announcement of Keiko Yamamoto's passing on July 29, the anime world was once again struck with the tragic news of renowned voice actor Atsuko Tanaka's passing. With a distinguished career voicing...
#DRCL midnight children, Delicious in Dungeon Win 1st American Manga Awards
Neighborhood Story, Stephen Kohler, Lys Blakeslee, Adam Grano also awarded
― Japan Society and Anime NYC announced the winners for the first American Manga Awards at a ceremony at Japan Society's Lila Acheson Wallace Auditorium in Midtown Manhattan, New York City on Thursday (the night before this year's Anime NYC event begins). The American Manga Awards celebrate manga creators and publishers who ha...
Akira Amano Draws New Key Art For Suicide Squad Isekai Anime
Manga creator/character designer presents second piece for series
― This summer, the American comic publisher DC Comics brought a classic team to the realm of anime: the villainous, although sometimes antiheroic, Suicide Squad. What better way to celebrate the Suicide Squad Isekai series than with a new key visual by manga creator Akira Amano. The official X (formerly Twitter) account for DC Japan un...
The Anime/Manga World Offers Condolences After Voice Actor Atsuko Tanaka's Death Part I
Anime and video game production teams pay their respects to renowned voice actor
― On August 20, the anime world was shocked to its core with the announcement of Atsuko Tanaka's death. Known as the voice of Major Motoko Kusanagi from the long running and seminal cyberpunk series Ghost in the Shell, the voice actor appeared in many anime series integral to the medium. With such a distinguished career,...
Fushigi Yûgi Celebrates 35th Anniversary With Exhibition
Over 250 pieces on display
― While there were many great manga series from the 1990s, shōjo manga entered a sort of renaissance. Shōjo manga series found their way into the hearts and minds of readers of all ages and genders. Naoko Takeuchi's Sailor Moon is one of the first that comes to mind, but prior to Sailor Moon was Yuu Watase's Fushigi Yûgi. Fushigi Yûgi is still beloved by fans around the wor...
Oops, AI Named This Girl 'Latina' in Kiraku Kishima's New Novel
The Ossan Newbie Adventurer author asked AI for common names of women from South America
― One difficult aspect of creating a story is naming the characters, especially fantasy and science fiction names or names from cultures the author isn't familiar with. Such was the case for light novel author Kiraku Kishima (The Ossan Newbie Adventurer, Back to the Battlefield: The Veteran Heroes Return to the F...
Macross 7's FIRE BOMBER Band to Release 1st New Song in 12 Years
Deculture.
― One of anime's greatest fictional bands is undoubtedly Fire Bomber from Macross 7. With the power of the Sound Force, the four members of the band — Basara Nekki, Mylene Flare Jenius, Ray Lovelock, and Veffidas Feaze — fend off the series' antagonists. But unlike the pop idol music from the first Macross story, Fire Bomber is a hot-blooded rock band. To this day, the band's songs are bel...
Capcom x Tokiwaso Collide For Unique Exhibition
The progenitor for modern manga and modern fighting games come together.
― One of the most iconic locations in manga history is the Tokiwaso apartment. Built in 1952, the apartment was home to the godfather of modern manga, Osamu Tezuka, and some of his contemporaries. Almost like a dormitory, these trailblazers of modern manga pushed the boundaries of what manga could accomplish both narratively and...
Generative AI Used for Background Coloring in Anime
The backgrounds are still originally sketched by humans
― The discussion over generative AI has been raging for the past few years. Many of the issues surrounding the technology revolve around how it can be used to disrupt traditionally creative endeavors such as acting, art, and writing, among others. The Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) paper reported on Thursday on how some anime studios (and manga s...
Man Accused of Swapping Gundam Model Kit Box Covers in Akihabara Shop
And he threw out the model out of guilt
― With a model for nearly every mobile suit featured in the franchise at different build levels, there's a Gundam plastic model or gunpla for almost everyone. However, some stores that carry gunpla models do not seal the boxes, making it possible for buyers to swap box covers and illicitly buy a model at a lower price point. And that very thing allegedly happen...
Pokémon Franchise Gets In-Flight Safety, Disembarkation Videos for All Nippon Airways
Flights play on special Pikachu/Eevee planes
― Gotta fly 'em all! All Nippon Airways (ANA) began streaming Pokémon themed in-flight safety and disembarkation videos for its airlines on Thursday. The safety video has voiced instructions in Japanese and English for passengers. Different CG-animated Pokémon appear to help illustrate the instructions, including a Buizel wearing a life vest, a Jigglypuff ...
Yuruyuri Creator Namori Designs New VTuber Unit Member
Namori can't wait for character's 1st stream
― VTubers have exploded in popularity In the last decade — using virtual avatars, these online streamers take on the personalities of their characters and provide entertainment to millions of fans. Agencies have popped up to help create and manage existing VTubers, including Japan's Nijisanji. On August 13, the agency debuted a new five-VTuber unit called ...
The Big O Series Creator Keiichi Sato Draws New Art for 25th Anniversary
Giant robot anime series premiered in July 1999
― In July 1999, The Big O, a unique giant robot anime series with a film noir aesthetic, premiered in Japan. Although the series didn't garner much popularity domestically, the series was a hit outside of Japan, particularly in the United States. Unfortunately, very little has been done for the series' 25th anniversary. Thankfully, co-creator Keiichi Sa...
EVANGELION × Nikke Crossover Could Prove Best Anti-Angel Defense Are Chest-High Walls
You can (not) evade or you can (not) run away?
― In 1995, Hideaki Anno introduced anime fans to an influential giant robot anime with Neon Genesis Evangelion. Although the story's ending has gone through a few changes over the years, fans are still enamored with its narrative core to this day. This has led to Evangelion crossing over with many other anime and video game franchises, especially in the ...
New Species Of Crustacean Named After Rumiko Takahashi's Ranma
This one doesn't require cold or hot water either
― A new species discovery is a testament to the ever-evolving biome that is our planet and the tenacity for species to adapt to their surroundings. A great part of these discoveries is how the names are chosen. Often chosen by the person or persons who discovered the creature, the names regularly reflect some aspect of the new species. Sometimes the b...
Hello Kitty to Celebrate 50th Birthday Early at Dodger Stadium
The night will be filled with Sanrio activities
― In 1974, character designer Yuko Shimizu created one of the most iconic and enduring Sanrio characters, Hello Kitty. Celebrated the world over, Hello Kitty is marking her 50th anniversary year on one of the biggest stages: a Los Angeles Dodgers baseball game on August 19. And the baseball team is putting on a big show for the kitty. The Los Angeles Do...
My Hero Academia Cast Congratulates Kо̄hei Horikoshi on Manga's Completion
My Hero Academia anime & stage show's cast members give thanks to now legendary creator
― The final chapter of the massively popular manga series My Hero Academia came just three days after the release of the anime adaptation's latest film, My Hero Academia: You're Next. With feelings of both excitement and sadness, the cast of the anime series released statements on the franchise's website and on so...
Kо̄hei Horikoshi Releases Comments Following Conclusion of My Hero Academia Manga
Horikoshi expresses his thanks to all who keep My Hero Academia going
― August 5, 2024 was a bittersweet day for many manga fans as the massively popular series My Hero Academia ended after just over a decade of publication. The series propelled manga and anime to new heights and will likely be the inspiration for many young readers to pursue a career in the manga industry. The author Kohei Horikoshi...
Marvel's What If…? Season 3 to Assemble Avengers' Robot Mecha, Voltron-Style
Pilots include Captain America, Black Widow, Xu Shang-Chi, Monica Rambeau, Moon Knight
― The "Marvel Animation Sneak Peek" panel at the D23 event screened footage from the third and final season of Marvel's What If…? animation series on Saturday. The footage teased that at least one episode will feature five giant robotic mecha that combine into an even bigger robotic mecha. The footage showed a 2D l...
CoMix Wave Films Partners With Valve Maker Motoyama For New Commercials
See the cutest valves ever made
― One of the prominent anime film studios is arguably CoMix Wave Films (CWF). Primarily known for its works with director Makoto Shinkai, the studio has a whimsical yet grounded style, which makes it great for animation with a modern setting. It's no wonder valve manufacturer Motoyama Eng. Work, LTD. (Motoyama) partnered with CWF for a set of new commercials celebratin...
Madoka Magica Reborn as Ukiyo-e Woodblock Prints
Traditional and modern art come together for a classical take on a magical girl
― The first examples that come to mind for the traditional Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock print (often referred to as ukiyo-e) are Katsushika Hokusai's The Great Wave of Kanagawa or The Dream of the Fisherman's Wife. The art pieces are evocative of the century they were made in, and capture Japan's history and culture when th...
Bandai Namco To Send Gundam Fans' Messages To The Moon
Hopefully, the messages will be brought back to Earth by the Moon Race and its princess
― One of the narrative points in the Universal Century stories in the Mobile Suit Gundam franchise is the emergence of the next evolution of humans. Called Newtypes, these humans exhibit heightened awareness or even psychic powers. However, the 2010 series Mobile Suit Gundam UC changed the dynamic between Newtypes...
New Toei Animation Partnership Allows Upcoming Hypergalactic Film To Appear in Fortnite, Roblox
The new IP could join the multiverse of games.
― One of the popular ideas in entertainment today is the multiverse. While the concept has been around much longer in mediums such as comics, in the past few years the concept has really taken off, thanks to films such as those in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and games such as Fortnite. However, anime and manga have generally shied away from the concept...
Voice Actor Kensho Ono Shares Bowling Date Video
Fans speculate that Ono went on bowling date night with wife Kana Hanazawa
― It's a rare occurrence when fans of anime voice actors get to peek into the intimate parts of beloved voice actor's lives. When we do get those opportunities, though, they're often touching. But rare is it when we catch a glimpse of two voice actors, let alone married voice actors, on a date. And voice actor Kensho Ono gave ...
My Hero Academia's Kōhei Horikoshi Receives Congratulations From Anime/Manga World
Weekly Shonen Jump authors and editors gave their thanks to legendary author and hero
― Just over a decade ago, Weekly Shonen Jump took a chance on an untested author and his series that combined Western and Japanese comic philosophies: Kohei Horikoshi's My Hero Academia. That very series has spawned several seasons for an anime adaptation, four feature length films, a stage show, and numerous video ...
KATACOTO*BANK Member Momoka Tojo Required to Post Solo Goodnight Photo For One Year
It's apparently punishment for posting photos of herself with her boyfriend.
― One of the oddest “rules” for female Japanese idols is they cannot be in a romantic relationship. Although it's questionable if this rule is actually written into an idols contract, it remains a vestige of the early idol industry. While this “rule” doesn't rear its head that often, the repercussions to the woman are absurd...
Ribon x Jump Elementary School Student Manga Prize Announces Winners
The future of the manga industry looks to be in good hands
― Every year, manga publishers and other organizations run a plethora of manga awards. While most target aspiring domestic manga authors are in the mid-teens and older, there are a few awards that cast a wider net. In 2023, in what appears to be a company first, Shueisha's Ribon, Weekly Shonen Jump, Shonen Jump+, and Saikyo Jump imprints team...
World Cosplay Championship Winners Break 12-Year Dry Spell
The Grand Prix winners went with a modern classic.
― Some of the more intriguing things to see at any anime convention is cosplay. It's a great way to gauge what series are currently popular and what series have maintained their popularity. Plus, it's always fun seeing anime fans' favorite characters come to life. Like any good hobby, though, cosplayers sometimes make a competition of their outfits. ...
My Hero Academia Gets 1st Worldwide Character Popularity Poll, Ad in New York Times
Winner of popularity poll to get statue designed by manga creator Kōhei Horikoshi
― Kōhei Horikoshi's My Hero Academia ended its 10-year run on Monday, and to commemorate, Shueisha is taking out an ad in the morning edition of The New York Times on Monday featuring an English comment from Horikoshi: Click the below image to see a larger version: IMG 240730_mha-world_gr_nytimes_us-.jpg
©Kohei Horikosh...
Kyoto Animation Introduces Wonders of Uji City in New Promotional Video
Step into the Heian Period in this whimsical video
― Kyoto City and nearby locales are undoubtedly some of the most popular tourist destinations in Japan, with numerous Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It feels as if you've been transported to the Heian Period (between 794 to 1185) of Japan at any turn of a corner. While many of the sites are located north of...
Fist of the North Star's Tetsuo Hara Draws Gundam's Amuro at Yoshikazu Yasuhiko's Exhibition
Mobile Suit Gundam meets the post-apocalypse
― Yoshikazu Yasuhiko, the animator and manga creator celebrated among anime/manga fans and creators alike, is currently hosting an exhibition of his works at the Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art. Titled "Yasuhiko Yoshikazu: Divine Animator and Draftsman," the exhibition features original artworks from several projects he has worked on. However, there is one...
Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind Manga Inspires New Perfume Line
Surround yourself with the aroma of Giorno “GioGio” Giovanna & company
― When we think of anime or manga, we tend to focus on the aspects we can interact with, such as the visual, aural, or narrative elements. However, there are some moments in both mediums where we smell what's going on. Food may be the first thing that comes to mind, but what about how a character smells? We can do this with Noz Co...
Pop Team Epic Goes Hardboiled With New Liquor Collaboration Ads
You're going to have to guess the voice actors, though
― One of the most innovative comedy anime series in the last decade is certainly Pop Team Epic — not necessarily in the humor, but rather in taking the two main characters Popuko and Pipimi and having roughly 48 voice actors combined portraying them over the course of the series. This unique concept propelled the series into the zeitgeist, and it...
Sakamoto Days Gets Live-Action Short Film on YouTube
"SAKAMOTO DAYS ONE DAY" shows deadly battle between store clerk, hitman
― Yuuto Suzuki's Sakamoto Days manga inspired a short live-action video on the official YouTube channel for Shueisha's Shonen Jump magazine on Friday. The short film, titled "SAKAMOTO DAYS ONE DAY," commemorates the release of the manga's 18th compiled book volume. The setting is Sakamoto's store, but in a world different from th...
The Anime/Manga World Offers Condolences After Voice Actor Keiko Yamamoto's Death (Part II)
The anime world came together for their goodbyes to the renowned voice actor
― The anime world was shocked once again with the news on July 29 of prolific voice actor Keiko Yamamoto's passing. Primarily known for her roles as Shota Yamada in Chibi Maruko-chan, Bakabon in Tensai Bakabon, and Robocon in Ganbare!! Robocon, Yamamoto had a distinguished career portraying characters in several anime series...
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Song Plays for Shohei Ohtani Walk-Up
Or maybe Ohtani's just developed stand powers
― One way sports organizations and teams bring excitement to their games is through music. Players and athletes have their favorite songs that they like to enter to. Sometimes those walk-up songs are from popular anime series. This was the case with legendary baseball player Shohei Ohtani during the July 23 Los Angeles Dodgers vs. San Francisco Giants gam...
The Anime/Manga World Offers Condolences After Voice Actor Keiko Yamamoto's Death (Part I)
Voice actors sang praises for one of their own
― After the shocking news of voice actor Noriko Ohara's passing on July 23, the anime world was shocked once again with the news one week later of renowned voice actor Keiko Yamamoto's passing. Although Yamamoto had died on April 18, the public announcement was delayed due to the wishes of her immediate family. Known for her roles as Shōta Yamada in Chib...
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure's Hirohiko Araki Unveils New Osaka Art Mural
Osaka Station's "Fountain Boy" takes on a new form
― On May 16, the West Japan Railway Company announced that it had partnered with JoJo's Bizarre Adventure author Hirohiko Araki to bring a new look to the station's iconic "Funsui Kozo" ("Fountain Boy") statue. While the company and Araki kept many of the details confidential, they revealed that Araki's' piece would go on display at Osaka Station's W...
The Anime/Manga World Offers Condolences After Voice Actor Noriko Ohara's Death II
There is nothing but love, respect, and fond memories for the late voice actor
― Sadness hit the anime fandom with the news of Noriko Ohara's passing. Her voice was one many Japanese children grew up listening to. Through her work, many people were inspired to enter the anime or manga worlds. While this is a small sample, those involved in both industries have shared their eulogies of Ohara. The firs...
Former AKB48 Member Haruka Ishida Announces Marriage
The former idol announced her marriage with a beautiful photo of herself in a wedding dress.
― Haruka Ishida, former member of the idol group AKB48, announced her marriage on July 29 on her X (formerly Twitter) account. In the tweet, Ishida posted a heartfelt message to her fans along with a lovely photo of herself in a wedding dress. ご報告があります。 pic.twitter.com/kwwBGnDJj4— 石田晴香@はるきゃん (@can2525can) Ju...
Voice Actor Yuka Ozaki Announces Marriage
The voice actor of Serval from the Kemono Friends franchise announced her marriage with a heartfelt message.
― Yuka Ozaki, voice of Serval from the Kemono Friends franchise, announced her marriage on July 29 on her X (formerly Twitter) account. In the tweet, Ozaki posted a heartfelt message to her fans. 尾崎由香よりみなさまにご報告があります。 pic.twitter.com/dOXjkleLEr— 尾崎由香 (@ozaki_yuka515) July 29, 2024 From Yuka Oz...
The Anime/Manga World Offers Condolences After Voice Actor Noriko Ohara's Death
Voice actors all around the anime industry pay their respects to the celebrated voice actor
― On Tuesday, the anime world was shocked by the announcement of Noriko Ohara's death. She had died on July 12 after an unsuccessful treatment for an illness. Known as the voice of Nobita Nobi from the long running Doraemon anime series, the voice actor appeared in many anime series integral to the medium. The...
Akari Kito Voices Maine Coon Cat Girl In New ASMR Recordings
May the voice of Demon Slayer's Nezuko Kamado soothe your soul
― Autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) videos have been a trend in video content. Using quality microphones to remove ambient sounds and focusing on a soft-spoken voice or other sounds, ASMR is intended to be rather stimulating. Of course, this varies from person to person. While there are many professional ASMR video creators on Y...
Become A Keyboard Master With Jujutsu Kaisen Typing Software
Banish cursed spirits with your cursed technique of typing
― One of the modern skills many need is typing. Luckily, there are programs to help speed up the process. One company Rio even tries to make it fun with its Jujutsu Kaisen typing software. The official (formerly Twitter) account for the Jujutsu Kaisen series announced the typing software in November. The software allows people to enjoy the st...
Toyotaro Details How Involved Akira Toriyama Was in Dragon Ball Super Manga
Legendary manga creator helped flesh out character personalities & designs
― One of the greatest anime and manga franchises is undoubtedly Dragon Ball created by Akira Toriyama in 1984. Since stepping away from the manga after an 11-year run, Toriyama has contributed to numerous Dragon Ball projects, including the manga adaptation of the anime sequel Dragon Ball Super. But how involved was Toriyama i...
'Stop! Manga Piracy' Campaign Prints Thank You Ads in Newspapers in 4 Countries
However, the fight to eliminate manga piracy still goes on
― Since the widespread adoption of high-speed Internet, Japanese publishers have been working to prevent their manga from being distributed on piracy websites. The efforts have yielded mixed results, including when those publishers banded together for the “Stop! Manga Piracy” campaign in 2019. Still, the publishers do acknowledge readers who ...
Sanrio Collabs With Horror Manga Maestro Junji Ito
The icons of cute & horror meet for a horrifically cute collaboration
― When it comes to modern horror manga, Junji Ito is legendary for his blending of body horror, psychological horror, and traditional Japanese horror. On top of this, he embeds an element of cute into some of his character designs – as the Japanese would say, kimokawaii (a portmanteau of the Japanese words for creepy and cute). Wha...
Final Fantasy XIV Game Launches Collaboration with Gong cha for Exclusive Bubble Tea Keychains, Porxie King Mount
Bubble tea collaboration runs from July 17-August 28
― The Final Fantasy XIV MMORPG recently launched its latest expansion "Dawntrail." With its release, Square Enix has also been working with other companies to craft collaborations for Warriors of Light to obtain exclusive physical and digital items. The series is no stranger to collaborations, having partnered with Grubhub for the Eat Pizza emote, ...
1st American Manga Awards Announces Nominees
Ceremony celebrating manga creators, publishers slated in NYC on August 22
― Japan Society and Anime NYC announced the nominees for the first American Manga Awards on Tuesday. The award categories and their respective nominees are as follows: Best New Manga The Darwin Incident by Shun Umezawa #DRCL midnight children by Shin'ichi Sakamoto
Just Like Mona Lisa by Tsumuji Yoshimura
Mothers by Umi Kusahar...
Power Rangers Gets Crossover Comic With Usagi Yojimbo
No turtles of the teenage variety in this crossover
― Among American comics fans, a fan favorite character is Stan Sakai's Usagi Yojimbo. Based on the historical figure Miyamoto Musashi, the anthropomorphized rabbit has captured the imaginations of comic readers. However, one of the character's breakout appearances was in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987) episodes "Usagi Yojimbo" and "Usagi Com...
Physicist Speculates Dragon Ball's Room of Spirit and Time Could Exist
You just need a black hole
― One of the more interesting narrative elements introduced in the Dragon Ball franchise is the Room of Spirit and Time. After debuting in the Android Arc, the Room has appeared when the characters need to train for a long period in a short time span. This is only possible because one day spent in the Room is equivalent to one year. While it's a fantastical concept, in a re...
Ring's Sadako Gets a Bishoujo Figure From Kotobukiya
The cute Sadako will always be watching you
― In 1991, the Japanese novel world was graced with the horror story Ring by Koji Suzuki. After spawning films for the Japanese and later U.S. markets, the franchise has garnered fans across the world. One factor in its popularity is likely the enigmatic and tragic villain Sadako. The image of her crawling out of a television to end her victims has been sea...
Seitokai ni mo Ana wa Aru! Manga About Student Council Antics Gets Animated Ad
It's a wild party in the student council room
― In 2007, Kodansha began publishing Tozen Ujiie's popular four-panel student council manga series Seitokai Yakuindomo. The series had a long run before ending in 2021, and it spawned a few anime series. And, as if it were fated, what could be called Seitokai Yakuindomo's spiritual successor began publication a year later in 2022. This new series, Muchima...
Shin Megami Tensei x Madoka Magica Collaborate For Summer Event
It's your turn to become a magical girl & fight witches
― While the Shin Megami Tensei RPG video games started off with more of a cult following, the franchise has gained massive popularity since about the turn of the millennium. And the popularity has continued with the 2017 mobile game Shin Megami Tensei: Liberation Dx2. The game's latest event is no ordinary event, as you will take on monsters wit...
Kyoto Animation Draws Minori Chihara for Her 20th Anniversary Concert
Her animated form comes on the 20th anniversary of one of her first long-lasting roles
― Twenty years ago on April 1, the world was graced with one of the more interesting martial arts series: Tenjo Tenge. Voicing the heroine was none other than a debuting Minori Chihara. Today, she is likely more fondly remembered for playing the Haruhi Suzumiya franchise's Yuki Nagato or Sound! Euphonium's Kaori Na...
Singer Kaori Oda Announces Pregnancy
Singer will miss final concert in Yuki Kajiura's latest tour
― Japanese singer Kaori Oda announced that she is pregnant on her X (formerly Twitter) account on July 8. Oda posted a short message to her fans and an update about her planned appearance at the final "Yuki Kajiura LIVE vol. #20~Japanese Language Restricted 20th Special~" concert.
いつも応援してくださる皆様、関係者の皆様へ#織田かおり#かおりホールディングス#YKL20 pic.twitter.c...
Happy Tanabata From the Anime World! Part IV
Take Haruhi's advice & make a wish that will come true in 16.7 & 25 years
― It's wish time in Japan with the Tanabata celebrations. But, what about all the birthday boys and girls? Do they not get birthday wishes or do they get double the wishes? Hopefully so because there are some anime and manga Tanabata birthdays. So, here's to all the wishes made for this year's Tanabata. At 25:00 in Akasaka 本日7月...
Happy Tanabata From the Anime World! Part III
Break out some bamboo & decorate it with your wishes
― The days leading up to July 7 in Japan are a sight to behold — kinda like, but slightly different from, Christmas decorations. Communities will often set up bamboo shoots and decorate them with children's wishes. It's a colorful display and gives us a look into the dreams and aspirations of many different people. And even the anime and manga worl...
Happy Tanabata From the Anime World! Part II
Dragon balls aren't the only way to get your wish granted
― Japan is celebrating Tanabata, also known as the Star Festival. One of the common ways to celebrate the Festival is by making a wish to the stars Vega and Altair. And with an election in the Tokyo Metropolitan area, the wishes of politicians are likely to get elected or re-elected. But, what about the wishes from the anime and manga world? H...
Happy Tanabata From the Anime World! Part I
It's that time of year when star-crossed lovers get to meet each other (weather permitting)
― July 7, Tanabata, marks one day a year when the fabled weaver Orihime and farmer Hikoboshi meet. While the figures are enshrined in Japanese (and more broadly in East Asian) culture, they are represented by the stars known as Vega and Altair, respectively. In Japan, people celebrate the meeting of the lovers...
How Can Singer Ado's Fans Shake Her Hand Without Ever Seeing Her Face?
With an ingenious solution
― Japanese singer Ado recently announced a meet and greet handshake event with her fans. The only problem is the performer does not publicly show her face. Although this appears to be a big hurdle for the performer, she and her staff have come up with an ingenious way to keep her identity private: keeping her in a separate room. Ado announced the meet and greet handshake ev...
Camp Like It's the Apocalypse With Fist of the North Star Gear
Thankfully, you won't have to worry about wasteland raiders
― If there's an anime and manga series that encapsulates the 1980s it's Fist of the North Star. The manga, celebrating its 40th anniversary, maintains a strong fanbase. Trying to vicariously live in the series is not the easiest thing considering the real world isn't a post-apocalypse. However, Fist of the North Star is partnering with the A...
Megan Thee Stallion's New Song 'Otaku Hot Girl' is Full of Anime References
Anime is now and always has been firmly embedded in the rap world
― American Black culture has influenced music from jazz, rock, and Motown to rap. The culture around them also found its way into the music, and one of the largest mediums to leave an impact on world culture is anime and manga. While there have been references to the medium in songs by black artists, rapper Megan Thee Stallion brings i...
Pilotable Patlabor Robot Mecha to Be Unveiled in August
We're getting one step closer to mechs we can pilot
― One dream that sci-fi anime fans may have is piloting a mech from an anime. A popular mech, aside from the RX-78-2 Gundam from Mobile Suit Gundam, is the AV-98 Ingram from the Patlabor the Mobile Police franchise. Much like the Gundam, a life size version of the Ingram has been made and exhibited throughout Japan. Unlike the Gundam, fans of Patlab...
Sound! Euphonium Author Ayano Takeda Reacts to Anime's Surprise Twist
Her remarks are well thought out
― We all know an anime adaptation of a manga or light novel can differ from their source — sometimes due to catching up to the source material, and needing either filler, a new ending, or both. On rare occasions, the anime does have a full story to work from, but the staff decides to go in a different direction, and whether that decision pays off or ends up being misg...
Voting Opens for Next Manga Awards 2024
Satoru Noda's DOGSRED, Ken Wakui's Astro Royale, more nominated
― Voting opened for the ninth "Next Manga Awards" (Tsugi ni Kuru Manga Taishō) on Friday, with 40 titles nominated in the print category and 69 titles nominated in the web manga category. Readers can vote on the official website for their favorite choice until July 8. The nominees are listed below: The manga nominees were chosen from 8,...
Date a Live V Anime Releases New Sand Art Video Before Final Episode
Latest season gets wonderful send off
― The Date a Live series has managed to retain a dedicated following since 2013. With the latest season of the television anime ending on Wednesday, Kadokawa anime's YouTube channel left a beautiful parting gift for fans on Monday: a new promotional video featuring sand art of the Date a Live characters set to the fifth season's ending theme song, “Hitohira” by s...
Demon Slayer Stars Take the Real-Life Waterfall Training Challenge
Hiro Shimono & Yoshitsugu Matsuoka are on their way to becoming the Hashira of the voice acting industry
― Waterfall training is a classical method in Japan — a sort of meditative training to clear one's mind as well as purify the soul and strengthen the body. Some martial artists and religious monks (commonly Shugendō practitioners) incorporate waterfall training at some point. So, seeing the practi...
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