Alainmendez

In the first week of January, Nobunaga Shimazaki (the new Arjuna Archer), Risa Taneda (Shielder Mashu Kyrielite, Rider Marie Antoinette, Berserker Kiyohime, and Assassin Mata Hari) and commentator/personality Ryuuki "Mafia" Kajita hosted a promo webcast for smartphone game Fate/Grand Order that announced that the RPG is preparing its first collaboration, which was unnamed, but scheduled for February.

 

Well, "February" is now, specifically the 19th, with a commercial revealing the crossover set to air during the re-broadcast of Fate/zero, running on stations such as Tokyo MX.

 

【カルデア広報局より】
2月19日(金)24:00より放送の「Fate/Zero」番組内CMにてイベントでコラボレーションするタイトルを発表いたします！詳しくは→https://t.co/LMkOqYG80i #FateGO pic.twitter.com/rvW1EanuE7

— 【公式】Fate/Grand Order (@fgoproject) February 17, 2016

 

Speaking of Fate/, Zero, stay night[Unlimited Bladeworks] and Heaven's Feel animators ufotable posted a look at their Valentine's haul

ufotable バレンタイン情報⑦
追加が届き、さらに凄いことになりました。
本当に本当にありがとうございます。
圧巻のチョコ＆贈り物画像です。
この後、ゆっくりディテールを皆さんにお知らせさせてもらいたいと思います。 pic.twitter.com/TQLfa6NEnZ

— 近藤光（ufotable） (@hikaruufo) February 17, 2016

ufotable バレンタイン情報⑧
集計結果発表です！
第１０位：「Fate/Zero」 衛宮切嗣
大本命！
多数頂戴しましたがさすがに全部はご紹介できないので、本当にごめんなさい。この後も続々です。 pic.twitter.com/y4qTMSW5k9

— 近藤光（ufotable） (@hikaruufo) February 17, 2016

ufotable バレンタイン情報⑨
集計結果発表です！
同表第１０位：「テイルズ オブ ゼスティリア」スレイ
ド直球来ました。「スレイさん 結婚して」
１０位で二桁個は届いています。凄い！ pic.twitter.com/SWwDEk3Eg3

— 近藤光（ufotable） (@hikaruufo) February 17, 2016

ufotable バレンタイン情報⑩
集計結果発表中！
第９位：「Fate/Zero」「Fate/Staynight」言峰綺礼
さすがの人気です。 pic.twitter.com/PjIMquaBqH

— 近藤光（ufotable） (@hikaruufo) February 17, 2016

ufotable バレンタイン情報⑪
集計結果発表中！
第８位：「Fate/Zero」間桐雁夜
体に気を使った贈り物が素敵！ pic.twitter.com/0MUqgn22mY

— 近藤光（ufotable） (@hikaruufo) February 17, 2016

ufotable バレンタイン情報⑫
雁夜さんの画像をさらにお知らせ。
こんなイラストも頂戴しました。 pic.twitter.com/TebmHgVQBt

— 近藤光（ufotable） (@hikaruufo) February 17, 2016

ufotable バレンタイン情報⑮
集計結果発表中！ 第６位：「Fate/Zero」ライダー
画像をさらに２点ご紹介。
やっぱりウェイバーも一緒の方も多くいらっしゃいました。 pic.twitter.com/WEV0YbikYL

— 近藤光（ufotable） (@hikaruufo) February 17, 2016

ufotable バレンタイン情報⑯
集計結果発表中！
第５位：「Fate/Zero」ウェイバー
ライダーに続き、ウェイバー君がさらに上に登場！エルメロイ名義も多かったです。 pic.twitter.com/Gk1DUfQABY

— 近藤光（ufotable） (@hikaruufo) February 17, 2016

ufotable バレンタイン情報⑰
集計結果発表中！
ＴＯＰ４に入る前に、圏外からピックアップ。
「テイルズ オブ エクシリア２」ルル
に猫缶が届きました。 pic.twitter.com/NFoi3fd0t6

— 近藤光（ufotable） (@hikaruufo) February 17, 2016

ufotable バレンタイン情報⑭
集計結果発表中！ 第６位：「Fate/Zero」ライダー
自らのイラストをチロルチョコにしたり、しおりにしたり、（続く pic.twitter.com/KvoXgbIJVW

— 近藤光（ufotable） (@hikaruufo) February 17, 2016

ufotable バレンタイン情報⑬
集計結果発表中！
第７位：「Fate/Staynight」ランサー
根強いです！ pic.twitter.com/TPqfBOq5k7

— 近藤光（ufotable） (@hikaruufo) February 17, 2016

【両儀式・お誕生日】日付は変わってしまいましたが、両儀式さまお誕生日おめでとうございます！
名古屋店でも お客様より沢山のお祝いを飾らせて頂きました。 #ufotable pic.twitter.com/d7qZmuU23t

— ufotable Cafe NAGOYA (@ufotablecafe_n) February 17, 2016

ufotable バレンタイン情報⑱
集計結果発表・圏外からピックアップ中。
「ゴッドイーター」レンカ、ユウ、ヒロ pic.twitter.com/9UW2SY5iXS

— 近藤光（ufotable） (@hikaruufo) February 17, 2016

ufotable バレンタイン情報⑲
集計結果発表・圏外からピックアップ中。
・ソラウ
・グラニア
・イリヤ
・セイバー
次々行きます！ pic.twitter.com/Huqmsldc82

— 近藤光（ufotable） (@hikaruufo) February 17, 2016

ufotable バレンタイン情報㉖
集計結果発表中
さぁ、いよいよ第2位です。
の前に、小次郎さんもご紹介しておきますね。
ＵＢＷでは、ラストバトル前、盛り上げてくれました。 pic.twitter.com/tkJpPA5VvM

— 近藤光（ufotable） (@hikaruufo) February 17, 2016

ufotable バレンタイン情報㉗
集計結果発表中
第2位：「Fate/Zero」遠坂時臣
超惜しかったです……
しかしこんなことで一喜一憂しない。優雅たれです。 pic.twitter.com/msnx7YPTgK

— 近藤光（ufotable） (@hikaruufo) February 17, 2016

ufotable バレンタイン情報㉘
時臣さんもさらに画像を追加でお知らせ。 pic.twitter.com/u9dtWYUJjQ

— 近藤光（ufotable） (@hikaruufo) February 17, 2016

ufotable バレンタイン情報㉚
集計発表第一位は
ギルガメッシュ
初の栄冠です！
もちろん三桁個届いております。腕を組んで「当然」な表情が自然と浮かび上がってきます。が、あえて申し上げたい。おめでとうございます！ pic.twitter.com/xHLFKnK88v

— 近藤光（ufotable） (@hikaruufo) February 17, 2016

ufotable バレンタイン情報㉛
ギルガメッシュ
宛に届いた贈り物を紹介していきますね。 pic.twitter.com/8rzX9PAdgy

— 近藤光（ufotable） (@hikaruufo) February 17, 2016

ufotable バレンタイン情報㉞
ギルガメッシュ
宛に届いた贈り物を紹介していきますね。さらに５つ目のツイート。 pic.twitter.com/KbSMNvALZ0

— 近藤光（ufotable） (@hikaruufo) February 17, 2016

ufotable バレンタイン情報㉝
ギルガメッシュ
宛に届いた贈り物を紹介していきますね。さらに４つ目のツイート。 pic.twitter.com/mAT9JFgE4b

— 近藤光（ufotable） (@hikaruufo) February 17, 2016

ufotable バレンタイン情報㉜
ギルガメッシュ
宛に届いた贈り物を紹介していきますね。さらに3つ目のツイート。
「あなたの60人の雑種より愛をこめて」 pic.twitter.com/0H2ux8G4BX

— 近藤光（ufotable） (@hikaruufo) February 17, 2016

ufotable バレンタイン情報㉟
ギルガメッシュ
宛に届いた贈り物を紹介していきますね。さらに６つ目のツイート。

黄金色のお酒も到着！ pic.twitter.com/lsthTwjuEw

— 近藤光（ufotable） (@hikaruufo) February 17, 2016

ufotable バレンタイン情報㊱
長い間お知らせありがとうございました。
写真にツイートと違うキャラクターのものが入ったり、していますが、集計自体は撮影とは別にしっかり行いましたので間違いありません。
ミスあり申し訳ないです。 pic.twitter.com/fmxJLQMDq2

— 近藤光（ufotable） (@hikaruufo) February 17, 2016

ufotable バレンタイン情報㊲
今回の集計の結果、何かしらに反映するべく社内等で打合わせすることにします。あらためてお知らせさせて下さい。
スタッフ宛にも多く頂戴しました。重ね重ねありがとうございます。大きなパワーとなります。 pic.twitter.com/cuOH6Ke3KB

— 近藤光（ufotable） (@hikaruufo) February 17, 2016

 

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Scott Green is editor and reporter for anime and manga at geek entertainment site Ain't It Cool News. Follow him on Twitter at @aicnanime.

Time travel, murder mystery, and yaoi romance meet in Break Chance Memento's Steam release.

Read Murder Mystery Visual Novel Break Chance Memento Now On Steam on Siliconera!

Get your Extra Credits gear at the store! http://bit.ly/ExtraStore
Subscribe for new episodes every Wednesday! http://bit.ly/SubToEC
Play games with us on Extra Play! http://bit.ly/WatchEXP ---- (Episode details below...)

Watch more episodes from this season of Extra Credits! http://bit.ly/1GwiJWQ

Talk to us on Twitter (@ExtraCreditz): http://bit.ly/ECTweet
Follow us on Facebook: http://bit.ly/ECFBPage
Get our list of recommended games on Steam: http://bit.ly/ECCurator
___________

There's a difference between Science Fiction and Science Fantasy. Broadly, sci-fi (like Star Trek) makes us believe that it could happen in our universe as technology advanced. Science fantasy (like Star Wars) wants us to embrace fantastic elements like knights and magic laid over a hi-tech backdrop with space ships and laser guns. Games have a ton of great science fantasy games, but even the common trope of the gritty space marine tends to be just a knight in different armor. Games like Mass Effect, Fallout, and System Shock come close because they're built on scientific foundations (humanoid enemies, the apocalypse, and so on) but they still give you magical powers or indulge in scientific hand-waves. Meanwhile, if the goal of science fiction is - as John W. Campbell once said - to "make the marvelous seem mundane, and then the mundane will seem marvelous" then many games let us down by forcing us to experience the same overblown things repeatedly until we get tired of them. (Looking at you, Final Fantasy summons!) But good mundanity gets us to imagine what technology would look like (and do for us) in our regular lives. That's called mechanical transference, and it's something hard sci-fi is really good at creating.
___________

♫ Get the intro music here!
http://bit.ly/1eIHTDS

♫ Get the outro music here!
http://bit.ly/1XwHr34

In a recent interview with GamesMaster, Splatoon producer Hisashi Nogami spoke about the concerns preceding the game's launch, as well as the possibilty of a sequel.

Read Splatoon Producer Reflects On Pre-Launch Concerns, Hints At Sequel on Siliconera!

The "I Choose You!" Event Course lets players unlock Bulbasaur, Chamander, and Squirtle costumes once they beat the stage three times.

Read Newest Super Mario Maker Event Course Brings Pokémon Into The Game on Siliconera!

Activision announced today that Bungie’s sci-fi shooter, Destiny, is getting a full-fledged sequel sometime in 2017.

Read Destiny Sequel Is Coming In 2017, Next Expansion Sometime This Year on Siliconera!

Atlus’ recently released Wii U RPG Shin Megami Tensei X Fire Emblem (Genei Ibun Roku #FE) is getting an art book featuring work by character designer toi8, and more.

Read Shin Megami Tensei X Fire Emblem Is Getting An Art Book In Japan On February 26 on Siliconera!

 

 

I Love Meat! Zeushi-kun has returned for a special, web-exclusive episode celebrating the art of the Japanese hamburger, and the new episode includes a revised, hamburger-centirc version of the "Niku Niku Japonesuku♪" song performed by Kana Hanazawa.

 

 

In this special short episode (clocking in at just under 5 minutes), Zeushi-kun is jealous of the hamburger bento box that Mika-chan's mother prepared for Mika-chan's date with German exchange student Hans. Things get a bit strange when Mika-chan and Zeushi-kun discover that Hans is a slightly 2-dimensional character with a flat personality.

 

 

I Love Meat! Zeushi-kun is sponsored by Japan Agriculture and features the voices of Kana Hanazawa as Zeushi-kun, Maaya Uchida as Mika-chan, and Nobuyo Ōyama as Minota. The series began in 2014 as a series of short, animated commercials promoting the Japanese domestic meat industry.

 

Source: Ota-suke

 

Paul Chapman is the host of The Greatest Movie EVER! Podcast and GME! Anime Fun Time.

A new preview offers an early look at the Bones' (Blood Blockade Battlefront, Space Dandy) TV anime adaptation of Mob Psycho 100 by ONE, best known as the author of the original, self-published One-Punch Man. Setsuo Ito stars as Kageyama "Mob" Shigeo, a psychic 8th-grader who tries to stay unnoticed and unexcited to avoid causing problems with his powers. Takahiro Sakurai is Mob's fraud psychic mentor, Reigen Arataka.

 

Death Parade's Yuzuru Tachikawa directs with Seraph of the End's Hiroshi Seko writing and One-Punch Man animator Yoshimichi Kameda on character designs. Ghost in the Shell composer Kenji Kawai is on music.

 

「モブサイコ100」アニメPV公開100%!!!!!!https://t.co/XrmI7jaYmD#モブサイコ100

— MobPsycho100 (@mobpsycho_anime) February 9, 2016

 

 ------
Scott Green is editor and reporter for anime and manga at geek entertainment site Ain't It Cool News. Follow him on Twitter at @aicnanime.

"Neo-classical" Free-to-play Record of Lodoss War Online MMORPG has been in its latest bug fix premium closed beta since January 29th and opens on February 16th. In anticipation of this, the new designs and voices for the NPC heroes and villains of Ryo Mizuno's fantasy novel series have been introduced. 

 

The game, developed by Red Stone's L&K Logic Korea and published by GameOn, was first announced in 2013, but was later delayed after alpha testing. 

 

 

 

Parn - Takuma Terashima

Deedlit - Aya Endo

 

Etoh - Daisuke Sakaguchi

 

Ghim - Minoru Inaba

 

Woodchuck - Hiroaki Hirata

 

Slayn - Tomokazu Sugita

 

Karla - Kikuko Inoue

 

Ashram - Hiroki Takahashi

 

The game, which has a classic, top down look meant to appeal to fans in their late 30s/early 40s, will offer players the chance to play as Esquires (knights), Oracles (priests) or Magic Users, with the races featured in the fantasy adventure, and start with a story based on Lodoss' "Gray Witch" before progressing further into the series' plot. Familiar heroes such as Parn and Deedlit will also be making appearances.

The launch raises the level cap from the Beta's 20 to 30 and adds a Rogue class.

via Dengeki Online

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Scott Green is editor and reporter for anime and manga at geek entertainment site Ain't It Cool News. Follow him on Twitter at @aicnanime.

During last weekend's Wonder Festival Winter figures event, maker/distributor Kotobukiya advertised an upcoming scale figure of Cowboy Bebop's Spike Spiegel from their ARTFX J statue line. No preview sketch or prototype was previewed, and the release plans for the figure are listed as to be determined.

 

コトブキヤ カウボーイビバップ pic.twitter.com/ZMjnOqpxiO

— fig速 フィギュア・プラモ情報 (@figsoku) February 7, 2016

【あみあみWF速報】 コトブキヤ「カウボーイビバップ スパイク・スピーゲル」 #wf2016w pic.twitter.com/o3Sjhgb9aC

— aminews (@amiamihobbynews) February 7, 2016

【ワンダーフェスティバル】『カウボーイビバップ』ARTFX Jシリーズでスケールフィギュア化！「ARTFX J　スパイク」（発売日未定） #wf2016w pic.twitter.com/4wekLESjvF

— コトブキヤ宣伝 (@kotobukiyas) February 7, 2016

 

 ------
Scott Green is editor and reporter for anime and manga at geek entertainment site Ain't It Cool News. Follow him on Twitter at @aicnanime.

A recent video from GameXplain shows what happens when they challenge the Lucina amiibo to a fight.

Read Fire Emblem Fates Footage Shows Off Lucina’s amiibo Battle on Siliconera!

Last October, Dengeki Bunko Autumn Festival presented news that Reki Kawahara, author of the 2009 gaming inspired light novel series Accel World (as well as Sword Art Online), will be writing a new story for upcoming anime production Accel World: Infinite Burst anime, set to feature the principal staff and cast from the 2012 TV anime adaptation. An early listing runnning on Japanese anime blogs now has the production screening in 24 Japanese theaters on July 23, with advance ticket sales featuring bonus clearfile reportedly launching February 27th.

 

 

In November, the project was updated with news that new unit KOTOKO x ALTIMA will be providing theme song  "PLASMIC FIRE."

ALTIMA originally consisted of rapper motsu (former m.o.v.e), singer Maon Kurosaki, and producer sat (flipSide). The unit provided the 2nd OP song for the 1st Accel World TV anime in 2014, "Burst The Gravity," while KOTOKO sang the 1st ED "→unfinished→." The new lineup adding KOTOKO was revealed at the Animax Music 2015 event held at Yokohama Arena on November 21, and the new theme song was also performed at the event for the first time.

  

 

The project is described

[STORY]

In many aspects of life are carried out on a virtual network.
No matter how advanced the time becomes,however,bullying never disappears.
Haruyuki is one of the bullied students.
However, one day he is contacted by Kuroyukihime,the most famous person in the school.
"Wouldn't you like to 'accelerate' and go further ahead,boy?"
Haruyuki is introduced to the "Accel World",and decides to fight as Kuroyukihime's knight.

[STAFF]

Original: Reki Kawahara
Original Illustration: HIMA

Director/Masakazu Ohara
Series Composition/Hiroyuki Yoshino

Character Design/Animation Director: Yukiko Aikei 
Duel Avatar Design/Action Director: Yousuke Kabashima

Animation Production/SUNRISE

[CAST]
KUROYUKIHIME/Sachika Misawa
Haruyuki/Yuki Kaji
Chiyuri/Aki Toyosaki
Takumu/Shintaro Asanuma

 

via Yaraon 

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Scott Green is editor and reporter for anime and manga at geek entertainment site Ain't It Cool News. Follow him on Twitter at @aicnanime.

Manga magazine Shonen Jump is going through its latest round of churn. Cross Manage author Kaito's baseball manga Buddy Strike wraps up in this week's Japanese edition of the magazine. Taking its place is new supernatural series Kimetsu no Yaiba, which Viz will be sampling with a three chapter "Jump Start" run in the English, digital edition of the magazine.

 

 

 

Buddy Strike got a similar trial run back in November:

まぁ良し悪しは置いといてバディストライクの最終回はこれ思い出したよね pic.twitter.com/ho2IyaWPFm

— しまふぐ( •́ㅿ•̀ ) (@Simahugu284) February 8, 2016

 

 ------
Scott Green is editor and reporter for anime and manga at geek entertainment site Ain't It Cool News. Follow him on Twitter at @aicnanime.

Hiroaki Samura, who wrapped up his acclaimed Blade of the Immortal in 2012, has returned to the subject of samurai for Young Magazine's 35th anniversary Bullet series of one-shots. Shipping with the seinen weekly's 2016 issue 10 on February 8th, "Ikusa Tsutae" explores the life of a genius swordsman at war.

 

 

The issue also features the debut of Ryou Nagata and up-and-comer Shinji Kawakami's prison manga Delete.

via Natalie

 

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Scott Green is editor and reporter for anime and manga at geek entertainment site Ain't It Cool News. Follow him on Twitter at @aicnanime.

The latest Twilight Princess HD tweets on the official Japanese Legend of Zelda Twitter account include more Malo messages about the Wii U game's new features.

Read Twilight Princess HD Messages Highlight Wolf Link Amiibo, GamePad Functionality, And More on Siliconera!

The latest press release reveals the cover art for "Futago Kamikita x All PreCure Illustration Collection" to be released on March 17. It is the first PreCure art collection book for the highly acclaimed twin sister manga artists. They have worked on the manga adaptations of all of Toei Animation's PreCure series since 2004, which have been serialized in Kodansha's Nakayoshi monthly shoujo magazine.

 

The 2,480-yen book includes their 78 color illustrations from the 1st TV series Furari wa PreCure (2004-2005) to the latest 13th series Mahou Tsukai PreCure!/Maho Girls PreCure! (2016-) including newly-drawn ones, rough sketches for all of the illustrations, their commentary with over 8,000 letters, and a newly-drawn poster featuring all of the PreCure girls.

 

 

"Futago Kamikita x All PreCure Illustration Collection" cover art

 

Web ad

 

 

From "Futari wa PreCure"

 

"Mahou Tsukai PreCure!/Maho Girls PreCure!"

 

 

The second volume of their manga version "Go! Princess PreCure" is just released in Japan today on February 5.

 

 

Source: press release

 

(C) Futago Kamikita, Izumi Todo 2016

(C) ABC, Toei Animation

 

The official website for Macross Δ (Delta), the upcoming newest Macross TV anime series, today updated with a new main visual featuring its three main characters: Hayate Immelman, Freyja Wion and Mirage Farina Jenius. It is newly drawn by the anime's original character designer Chisato Mita (CAPCOM). And it is confirmed that the 4th Macross TV anime series will premiere on Tokyo MX, BS11 and other stations this April.

 

In addition, the anime's manga adaptations will be simultaneously serialized in four Japanese magazine: Kodansha's Magazine SPECIAL (illustrated by Kei Ichimonji from May) and Montly Shonen Sirius (by Tatsuo from April), Ichijinsha's Monthly Comic REX (by Shion Miduki from April) and Monthly Comic ZERO-SUM (by Azuki Fuji from April). They will respectively cover the anime's main story, prequel story, and the point of views of the two sides in the Macross Delta world, Walküre and the Kingdom of Wind.

 

The main voice cast and the supervising director Shouji Kawamori will join the stage event for the anime

at Anime Japan 2016's Red Stage at 13:35 on March 26. The cast from the past Macross series, including

The Super Dimension Fortress Macross (1982-1983), Macross 7 (1994-1995) and Macross Frontier (2008),

are also scheduled to appear.

 

 

3rd main visual

最新作『マクロスΔ（デルタ）』がTOKYO MX、BS11他にて4月よりテレビ放送されることが決定！さらに、本日より『マクロスΔ』キービジュアル第3弾が公開に！！https://t.co/IdUCZiDWqv　#macross pic.twitter.com/DPmCwoWGqw

— 「マクロス」公式アカウント (@macrossD) February 5, 2016

 

 

1st main visual 

放送まであと30分！特番「マクロスΔ　先取りスペシャル」WEB同時配信はスマホでもご覧いただけます！マクロスポータルhttps://t.co/xEEWv5B6cp、バンダイチャンネルhttps://t.co/rJz5RVjkYs pic.twitter.com/eHxWqrNMVv

— 「マクロス」公式アカウント (@macrossD) December 31, 2015

 

 

2nd main visual

放送まであと20分！特番「マクロスΔ　先取りスペシャル」のアニメパートは、最新作「マクロスΔ」のほぼ第１話を先取りエディションとして「約25分」の最新アニメ映像にていち早く放映しちゃうんです！#macross pic.twitter.com/4qWOzpuslu

— 「マクロス」公式アカウント (@macrossD) December 31, 2015

 

  

Main Staff:

 

 Supervising Director: Shouji Kawamori

 Director: Kenji Yasuda (Shugo Chara!, Croisée in a Foreign Labyrinth) 

 Series Composition/Scenarios: Toshizo Nemoto (Dog & Scissors, Inu x Boku SS)

 Original Character Design: Chisato Mita (CAPCOM)

 Anime Character Design: Majiro (Barakamon)/Yu Shindo (Persona4 the Golden ANIMATION)

 Macross Visual Artist: Hidetaka Enjin (Aquarion EVOL mechanical art)

 

 Valkyrie Design: Shouji Kawamori

 Mechanic Design: Brunet Stanislas

 Director of Photography: Atsushi Iwasaki (T2 Studio)

 CG Director: Hironori Morino

 CG Supervisor: Hiroyuki Kashima (unknownCASE)

 CG Animation Director: Atsushi Sakiyama (unknownCASE)

 Music Production: Flying Dog

 Sound Director: Masafumi Mima

 Anime Production: Satelight

 

Source: "Macross Delta" official website, Twitter

 

©2015 BigWest/Macross delta production Committee

 

Comic-Con International has announced that Rumiko Takahashi (InuYasha, Ranma 1/2) has been named among the nominees to be inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Awards Hall of Fame for 2016. Takahashi was previosly nominated in 2014 along with Hayao Miyazaki, who was ultimately selected by voters. 

The Eisner Awards describe Takahashi

Rumiko Takahashi (1957­– )

Popular manga creator Rumiko Takahashi is said to be the bestselling female comics artist in history, with hundreds of millions of her books sold around the world. Takahashi's first published work was the one-shot Katte na Yatsura in 1978. Later that year her first major work began being serialized, Urusei Yatsura. She went on to create such classic works as Maison Ikkoku, Ranma ½, InuYasha, One Pound Gospel, Mermaid Saga, and Rumic Theater. Several of her works have been animated.

 

Voters will four induct from a list that also includes Lynda Barry, Kim Deitch, Rube Goldberg, Edward Gorey, Bill Griffith, Matt Groening, Jack Kamen, Francoise Mouly, George Pérez, Antonio Prohías, P. Craig Russell, Jacques Tardi and Herb Trimpe.

 

The judges choices for automatic inductees included Carl Burgos (Marvel Comics) and Tove Jansson (creator of the beloved Moomin).

 

via @Comic_Con

 

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Scott Green is editor and reporter for anime and manga at geek entertainment site Ain't It Cool News. Follow him on Twitter at @aicnanime. 

It may be hard to believe, but PlatinumGames is celebrating the 10th anniversary since its founding this year. The developer of games like MadWorld, Vanquish, Bayonetta, Metal Gear Rising, The Wonderful 101, and much more is in its most productive period yet, and the anniversary fun is at full boil over on the official website. 

 

While they cook up some more games, including Star Fox Zero, NieR: Automata, and the finally-confirmed Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants in Manhattan, you can join in on the celebration with a wallpaper commemorating a bunch of their past titles.

 

 

Download the full version from the blog post. 

 

In addition to thanking fans for their support, Platinum briefly addressed the current state of the Japanese games industry and the role the team plays within it: 

 

In recent years, perhaps slightly presumptuously, we’ve adopted the slogan “Taking on the World as the Representative of Japan.” Japan used to lead the worldwide video game industry, but we can’t help but feel that it has lost some of its vitality in recent years. Yet we are using this state of affairs to motivate and inspire ourselves. If there is any conclusion that can be gleaned from this statement, it’s that we are dependent on the continued support of our fans. We will keep up our fighting stance. We will keep working hard to bring even more high-quality entertainment to all our fans all over the globe.

 

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Joseph Luster is the Games and Web editor at Otaku USA Magazine. You can read his new webcomic, BIG DUMB FIGHTING IDIOTS, every Thursday at subhumanzoids. Follow him on Twitter @Moldilox.

At November's MegaHobby Expo 2015 Autumn, figure maker Alter's MegaHouse collaboration label Alpha x Omega previewed their Halloween version Love Live! Eri. It grabbed plenty of attention, especially given that the Primal Heart garage kit that this was based on sold for 269,500yen ($2,200) in an online auction earlier in the year. 

 

She's now ready to go on sale! This 1/7 scale, 3D version of the cover from the fourth volume of the anime's second season measures 24cm sells for 15,552 yen ahead of a late September, 2016 release.

 

【商品情報】アルファオメガより新商品のお知らせです→ https://t.co/9upC6ySqKy #lovelive pic.twitter.com/PvpHsHbrBR

— ラブライブ！公式 (@LoveLive_staff) February 1, 2016

 

 

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Scott Green is editor and reporter for anime and manga at geek entertainment site Ain't It Cool News. Follow him on Twitter at @aicnanime. 

Japan got their first new collection of Kiyohiko Azuma's beloved Yotsuba&! manga since March, 2013 back in November. Soon, it'll be English readers' turn with Yen Press announcing that volume 13 will be out on May 23.

 

While their listing says an eBook will be available, they've clarified that a print version will also be offered at the same date.

 

In case you hadn't heard, the green-haired girl is coming back! Look for Yotsuba&! 13 in May:https://t.co/Q7TO8w2icl

— yenpress (@yenpress) January 31, 2016

 

Yotsuba&!, Vol. 13

By Kiyohiko Azuma (Electronic Book, 2016)

Fresh off the excitement of her camping trip, Yotsuba initiates a very productive session of sandbox play in which she instructs Fuuka how to properly run a bakery. But even more exciting is a vi

sit from Grandma! Yotsuba learns how to value and enjoy cleaning, how not to be rude when hoping for souvenirs, and most important, how to cope when Grandma leaves. But don't worry, she'll be back someday!

Product Details

• Format: Electronic Book
• Price: $6.99 US
• ISBN-13: 9780316319225
• On Sale Date: 05/24/2016

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Scott Green is editor and reporter for anime and manga at geek entertainment site Ain't It Cool News. Follow him on Twitter at @aicnanime. 

Square Enix's Gangan Online has announced that Satsuki Yoshino's Barakamon prequel Handa-Kun is set to follow its parent manga in getting a TV anime adaptation. While the series runs in Shounen Gangan, chapters are available for a limited time on the digital manga site, with the fifth posted along with the news. 

 

Yen Press, who is releasing in the series in North America, with ebooks out now and print starting February 23rd, describes it: 

Handsome teenage calligrapher Sei Handa is worshipped by all his classmates as an aloof superstar--too bad Sei's inherent negativity makes him believe that everyone actually hates him...?! A youthful comedy of misunderstanding and melancholy unfolds in the first volume of this hilarious prequel to Barakamon!

Volume 5 hits Japan on February 12th.

【情報解禁】嬉しいお知らせ発表です！皆様の応援のおかげをもちまして「はんだくん」遂にＴＶアニメ化決定です！https://t.co/icjqRjNR9f pic.twitter.com/WMJn7c6RVy

— ばらかもん・はんだくん公式アカウント (@go_barakamon) February 1, 2016

 

 

 

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Scott Green is editor and reporter for anime and manga at geek entertainment site Ain't It Cool News. Follow him on Twitter at @aicnanime. 

Macross is back this year with Delta, so it's time to celebrate the series. Cospa notes the Shōji Kawamori/Shinichiro Watanab's 1994 effort Macross Plus is regarded as a masterpiece both in Japan and abroad, and this highly regarded OVA will be object of a set to t-shorts that they'll be bringing to next month's Wonder Festival figures event. 

General availability follows in March.

Macross Plus in black and Sharon Apple in plum and black sell for 3,132yen each.

 

 

There's a Blu-ray of the movie edit with new cover by master animator Koji Moritomo out January 29th

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Scott Green is editor and reporter for anime and manga at geek entertainment site Ain't It Cool News. Follow him on Twitter at @aicnanime.

A post on reddit has officially confirmed that the Tomahawk class from the Japanese version of the game has been changed to the Hawkeye class for the western release.

Read Bravely Second Officially Changes Tomahawk Class To Hawkeye Class on Siliconera!

After the moving and satisfying final 50th episode of Go! Princess PreCure today, as expected, a 30-second "baton touch/baton pass" message video from Princess' Cure Flora to the next Mahou Tsukai PreCure!/Maho Girls PreCure!'s Cure Miracle, voiced by 21-year-old Rie Takahashi (Miki Naoki in School-Live!), was aired along with the preview for the first episode to be aired on February 7. Toei Animation's official YouTube channel has also posted the video on the web.

 

 

 

 

"Mahou Tsukai PreCure!" latest CM

 

  

Main Visual

  

© ABC, Toei Animation

 

This season's hottest idols are the subject of a set of trading figures. St. George, Medici, Hermes and Mars from Sekko Boys are being featured in a set of 4.5cm figures in marble and gold variants.  The assortment of eight ships in May. 

 

 

 

 

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Scott Green is editor and reporter for anime and manga at geek entertainment site Ain't It Cool News. Follow him on Twitter at @aicnanime.

You know how you buy fashion a season or so ahead? Well, now snack food is following suit. Coming February 1st, Nestle Japan is looking forward to spring's cherry blossom season with their latest unusual flavor Kit Kat bar for the market (and its tourists, the press release mentions how visitors love green tea flavorited).  Sake flavor boasts a sweet, white chocolate over wafers kneaded with sake powder that provides a mellow aftertaste. 

 

An Isshobin bottle is featured on the packaging along with the national symbol of the cherry blossom, with the unique souvenir going for 50 yen plus tax. It's all implicitly very Cool Japan.

 

The candy will also be showcased at Craft Sake Week at Roppongi Hills Food Village February 5-14.

 

 

One of the largest Japanese toy companies, Bandai has its headquarters in Asakusa, Tokyo. The current featured anime title on the front display section of the building is Mahou Tsukai PreCure!/Maho Girls PreCure!, the highly anticipated upcoming 13th PreCure TV series. You can check the newest PreCure merchandise items before its TV premiere in Japan on February 7. Check the photo report below.

 

*all of the photos were taken by Mikikazu Komatsu with the permission from Bandai on Janaury 29, 2016 

 

 

Bandai headquarters in Asakusa

 

 

Cure Miracle and Cure Magical in their three forms: ruby, sapphire, topaz

 

 

Front display section

 

 

Osyaberi Henshin Mofurun

 

 

Henshin Wrinkle Stone Set

 

 

Baton Touch Wrinkle Stone Set featuring Cure Miracle and Cure Flora

 

 

Colorful Wrinkle Stick DX

 

 

Mahou no Houki/Magic Bloom

 

 

 

 

 

Wrinkle Stone Charm Necklaces and Cure Up RaPaPa Swings

 

 

Kirakira Card Gummi and CharaDeco Special Day Cake

 

 

 

 

Cure Friends Stuffed Dolls and Mofurun Face Pouch

 

 

Precode Dolls

 

 

Precode House PreCure Mahou no Ouchi

 

 

Henshin Pretumes (cosplay costumes for kids)

 

 

New Carddass game "PreCure Mahou no Party"

 

 

 

"Mahou Tsukai PreCure!" latest CM

 

  

Main Visual

  

© ABC, Toei Animation

 

 

Singer / voice actress Nana Mizuki and Japanese snack maker Calbee are pairing up to produce an unusual, limited edition snack: Potericchi, a brand of potato chip that promises to deliver a "rich, hand-made curry flavor".

 

 

The snacks will be available for a limited time (beginning from February 01 and running until about mid-March of 2016) at participating convenience stores in Japan. The packaging of the Potericchi chips features pictures of Mizuki dressed for cooking and snacking. Pricing is set by the stores individually, although sources estimate that the chips will probably sell for around 150 yen ($1.24 US) per bag.

 

Sources:

Narinari.com

My Game News Flash

Official Calbee home page

 

Paul Chapman is the host of The Greatest Movie EVER! Podcast and GME! Anime Fun Time.