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A new preview video and new broadcast information have been revealed for BEASTARS, an upcoming TV anime based on the critically-acclaimed manga by Paru Itagaki about an elite academy of animal people that is rocked by a gruesome murder.

The original BEASTARS manga is serialized in Akita Shoten's Weekly Shōnen Champion magazine, and the BEASTARS TV anime features animation production by Orange. The series will broadcast as part of Fuji TV's "+Ultra" programming block beginning in October of 2019, and it will also stream exclusively on Netflix.

Viz Media is developing an English language release for BEASTARS, and they describe the story of the series as follows:

At a high school where the students are literally divided into predators and prey, it’s personal relationships that maintain the fragile peace. Who among them is a Beastar—an academic and social role model destined to become a leader in a society naturally rife with mistrust?

Last night at Cherryton Academy, an herbivore student was killed and eaten. Among the members of the drama club, the herbivores’ suspicions naturally turn to their carnivore classmates… The prime suspect? Legosi, a large wolf. But he wouldn’t hurt a fly—or would he? And will dwarf rabbit Haru bring out the beast in him? Or are his feelings for her…something else?

Source: MoCa

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

Kizuna AI, the virtual YouTuber who has the most subscribers on YouTube, will digitally release her

collaboration song with renowned composer/producer Yasutaka Nakata, "AIAIAI (feat. Yasutaka Nakata)"

on March 22, 2019. Nakata is widely known for his producing works for Perfume and Kyary Pamyu Pamyu.

The song written/composed/arranged by Nakata was used as the OP theme for the first six episodes

of VIRTUALSAN - LOOKING, the ongoing 3DCG TV anime featuring various virtual YouTuber characters. 

And before the TV premiere, the song's full version was already performed at her two-day concert "Kizuna

AI 1st Live 'hello, world'" held at Zepp DiverCity in Tokyo on December 29, 2019, and at Zepp Osaka on

the following day.

"AIAIAI (feat. Yasutaka Nakata)" digital single jacket

Teaser movie

Yasutaka Nakata

In addition, Kizuna AI's first full album "hello, world" is also set to be released on May 15, 2019. The album

contains all of her single songs from her first original song "Hello, Morning" in July 2018 to newest song

"AIAIAI (feat. Yasutaka Nakata)." The album's 13,000-yen deluxe edition and 7,000-yen live DVD edition

comes with a DVD that contains her performance at "Kizuna AI 1st Live 'hello, world'."

See how the audience enjoyed her first solo concert.

"Hello, Morning" MV

Source: Active8 press release

Fire Emblem: Three Houses is getting a sweet limited “Fódlan Collection” edition when it releases in Japan, and Nintendo provided a closer look at what’s included in the special version.

The post Fire Emblem: Three Houses Shows What Japanese Fans Are Getting In “Fódlan Collection” Edition appeared first on Siliconera.

Sega has revealed the Sakura Wars and Atlus games are taking center stage in this year’s Sega Fes, and new game reveals are set to appear at the event as well.

The post Sega To Feature Sakura Wars And Atlus Games At Sega Fes 2019 appeared first on Siliconera.

Mobile Suit Gundam and Pacific League Baseball are preparing to cross paths again at the Lions vs. Eagles game this May.

The Saitama Seibu Lions will be hosting "Gundam Day" in honor of the show's 40th anniversary this year. Tickets to the game will come with a special Lions-version Zaku II (limited to 3,000 units):

There will also be guest appearances from comedians Numacchi and Osamu Wakai, known for their impressions and cosplays of Char Aznable and Amuro Ray respectively:

This isn't the first time Gundam and the Pacific League have teamed up this year. An ongoing UNIQLO collaboration features repaints of the RX-78 with each team's colors and logos.

Gundam Day will take place May 4 at MetLife Dome, the Saitama Seibu Lions' stadium.

>> Gundam 40th Anniversary Website

Source: Anime! Anime!

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Kara Dennison is a writer, editor, and interviewer with bylines at VRV, We Are Cult, and many more. She is also the co-founder of Altrix Books and co-creator of the OEL light novel series Owl's Flower. Kara blogs at karadennison.com and tweets @RubyCosmos.

Deculture! Musical greats from the history of Macross are teaming up for a massive concert this summer, and a new key visual gives us an idea of just how all-encompassing the event is.

Drawn by Macross Delta character designer Chisato Mita (CAPCOM), the piece depicts all five members of Walküre, Sheryl Nome and Ranka Lee of Macross Frontier, Nekki Basara and Mylene F. Jenius of Macross 7, and Lynn Minmay of the original series. The performers for all ten characters will be in attendance at the concert.

Pre-orders are now open for concert merchandise, including shirts, towels, keyrings, and more featuring the new art.

The Macross Crossover Live Concert takes place June 1-2 at Makuhari Messe. Ticket sales are now open to fans who entered last month's pre-order lottery.

>> Macross Crossover Live 2019 Website

Source: Anime! Anime!

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With his new anime Sarazanmai just around the corner, anime director Kunihiko Ikuhara is back on everyone's minds. To celebrate the upcoming series, an exhibition is set to take place celebrating his past and present works.

Subtitled "The Survival Strategy of Desire and Revolution That Connects Us," the exhibition will be held at Tokyo Solamachi Space 634. Visitors can see materials from the makings of his various works, including Revolutionary Girl Utena, Mawaru Penguindrum, Yurikuma Arashi, and the upcoming Sarazanmai. 

In addition, Nico Nico is helping fans pregame the Sarazanmai release with three anime marathons. Viewers can catch all of Utena, Penguindrum, and Yurikuma throughout the month of March.

The Kunihiko Ikuhara exhition runs from April 27 to May 6. Sarazanmai is set to play in Fuji TV's NoitaminA block starting this April.

>> Kunihiko Ikuhara Exhibition Website

Source: Anime! Anime!, Moshi Moshi Nippon

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Kara Dennison is a writer, editor, and interviewer with bylines at VRV, We Are Cult, and many more. She is also the co-founder of Altrix Books and co-creator of the OEL light novel series Owl's Flower. Kara blogs at karadennison.com and tweets @RubyCosmos.

The official Japanese website for the TV anime The Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These

has started streaming a 30-second teaser trailer for its upcoming second season "Seiran" (Stellar War)

introducing its main characters' newly animated footage. 

The second season of the new anime adaptation of Yoshiki Tanaka's sci-fi novel series will be screened

in select Japanese theaters in three chapters with four episodes each in 2019.

Shunsuke Tada (Kuroko's Basketball) is confirmed to serve as director again at Production I.G, alongside

his Kuroko's Basketball partners: series composition writer Noboru Takagi, character designer Yoko Kikuchi,

and chief animation director Takayuki Goto.

【新規場面写真】『銀河英雄伝説 Die Neue These 星乱』の特報映像より、新規場面カットも到着！是非、併せてチェックしてください！ #ノイエ銀英伝 pic.twitter.com/U06A7eNMYy

— 銀河英雄伝説DieNeueThese (@gineidenanime) 2019年2月28日

The first season "Kaikou (Encounter)" based on the novel's first volume "Reimei-hen/Dawn" was aired

for 12 episodes from April to June 2018, and has been also available on Crunchyroll for its members in

USA, Canada, South Africa, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, The Netherlands, Norway, Denmark,

Sweden, Finland, Iceland, and Central and South America. 

Source: "The Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These" official website / Twitter 

© YOSHIKI TANAKA/SHOCHIKU, Production I.G

On the release day of the novel series' latest 21st volume in Japan, it was announced on the author Aneko Yusagi's official blog that The Rising of the Shield Hero fantasy series has printed an impressive four million copies (including one million by its manga adaptations) in Japan since its launch in August 2013.

The fantasy novel was first posted on Japanese user-generated novel publishing website "Shosetsuka ni Narou" in October 2012, then KADOKAWA's MF Books started publishing its print edition in August 2013. Its spin-off novel series The Reprise of the Spear Hero written by Aneko has released three volumes.

Meanwhile, its manga adaptation illustrated by Aiya Kyu has been serialized in KADOKAWA's Monthly Comic Flapper since March 2014, and 12 tankobon volumes are available so far. The Reprise

of the Spear Hero also has its manga adaptation illustrated by Neet with three tankobon volumes.

"The Rising of the Shield Hero" novel 1st and 21st volume covers

"The Rising of the Shield Hero" manga 1st and 12th volume covers

"The Reprise of the Spear Hero" novel and manga 1st volume covers

The TV anime adaptation of The Rising of the Shield Hero is animated by Kinema Citrus (Scorching Ping

Pong Girls, Made in Abyss) with Takao Abo (Norn9) directing. It premiered in Japan on January 9, 2019,

and has been available to Crunchyroll members worldwide except Asia.

Trailer

Key visual

Source: Yusagi Aneko official blog

©2019 Aneko Yusagi, KADOKAWA/Shield Hero production committee

Japanese department store chain PARCO will hold an original art exhibition to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Kiyohiko Azuma's Yotsuba&! manga series at its PARCO Museum (Ikebukuro PARCO main store 7F) between April 5 and 22, 2019.

The exhibition's main display items are the author's original drawings from the manga's latest 13th (November 2015 release) and 14th (April 2018 release) volumes. And various valuable materials, such as storyboards, drawing data, and videos to show the manga's production process, will be also available. Visitors will be able to learn how the manga is produced from the beginning to its end. In addition, "Yotsuba&! & Danboard Store" to offer limited merchandise will be opened at the venue. More details including its entrance fee will be announced at a later date.

The slice-of-life comedy manga has been serialized in Ascii Media Works' Monthly Comic Dengeki

Daioh since its March 2003 issue, and has been also released in 24 countries/regions in the world

with 13 different languages. It has printed 13.7 million copies in Japan, and three million copies

outside of Japan.

Event poster visual

Manga's latest 13th and 14th tankobon covers

Source: PARCO press release

©️KIYOHIKO AZUMA YOTUBA SUTAZIO

Google Play Store has accidentally leaked the Legendary Hero set to join Fire Emblem Heroes this month for the Legendary Hero Summoning focus banner.

The post Next Legendary Hero For Fire Emblem Heroes Leaked Via Google Play Store appeared first on Siliconera.

The end of PS Vita's life has been much slower in Japan than it was elsewhere. There are still games coming out for it, but that's about to change as Sony begins to wind down production on the portable itself.

The official Japanese PlayStation site updated with some new information, adding that "shipments are scheduled to end soon" for the final two PS Vita models in production. The models in question are the PCH-2000 ZA11 (black) and PCH-2000 ZA23 (aqua blue). There's currently no exact end date for production, but it sounds like there isn't too much life left in what has been a relatively solid platform since it launched in 2011. 

It's a shame Sony didn't continue to support it with new software all around the world. Do you have fond memories of your time with PS Vita? What are some of your favorite games? Let's wax poetic about it in the comments! 

Source: Sokuho@Hokanko via Gematsu

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

Art Collection House did a special Sakura Taisen Art Festival 2018 last December, and they’ll be doing more for those who missed out with “Sakura Taisen Art Festival 2018 Plus” Osaka, Nagoya, and Tokyo.

The post Sakura Wars Art Exhibit Set For March And May 2019 In Japan appeared first on Siliconera.

During the February 2019 Nintendo Direct, we got a peek at the upcoming guest fighter Joker from Persona 5, who will join “before the end of April” and Version 3.00 will arrive in Spring 2019.

The post Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Adds Persona 5’s Joker In Late April; Ver. 3.00 Arrives In Spring appeared first on Siliconera.

It's official! Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid, the TV anime based on the manga fantasy / romantic comedy manga by Coolkyoushinja about an ordinary office lady who ends up with a family of adopted dragons, is coming back for another round of modern living vs. draconic shenanigans in a second season.

So far, no further details about the new season (such as the cast, staff, and release date) have yet been revealed.

The original Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid manga is serialized in Futabasha's Monthly Action seinen manga magazine, and an English language version is available from Seven Seas Entertainment. The 2017 TV anime is directed by Yasuhiro Takemoto and features animation production by Kyoto Animation. Crunchyroll describes the story of Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid as follows:

Miss Kobayashi is your average office worker who lives a boring life, alone in her small apartment–until she saves the life of a female dragon in distress. The dragon, named Tohru, has the ability to magically transform into an adorable human girl (albeit with horns and a long tail!), who will do anything to pay off her debt of gratitude, whether Miss Kobayashi likes it or not. With a very persistent and amorous dragon as a roommate, nothing comes easy, and Miss Kobayashi’s normal life is about to go off the deep end!

Source: Comic Natalie

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

HIDIVE is about to add a very delusional anime film. Love, Chunibyo and Other Delusions - Take on Me! is coming to the streaming service on February 18 at 10:00am Pacific Time, and both the subtitled and English-dubbed versions will be available. 

Synopsis:

Graduation is getting closer and things take an unexpected turn when Toka announces she’s moving to Italy and Rikka’s going with her! Yuta hears about the possible move and starts wondering about the future of his relationship. His friends suggest a drastic idea: the couple should elope! It sets the stage for one of the wildest trips through Japan as this chunibyo couple carries out their escape plan.

Check HIDIVE's original blog post for the full list of territories. 

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

Restaurants across Japan are preparing for a Case Closed makeover!

This year's iteration of the Detective Conan Café takes its cue from The Fist of Blue Sapphire, this spring's new film featuring Kaito Kid. An exclusive menu will feature dishes inspired by the gentleman thief, as well as a party theme and the movie's setting of Singapore.

Check out a few of the café's special menu items:

Kaito Kid Illusion Pasta:

Kaito Kid Illusion Parfait:

Poirot Café Ham Sandwiches:

Kaito Kid's Jewel Lemonade:

Detective Conan Necktie Cream Soda:

Participating restaurants will also have special merchandise tying in to the new film release:

The café will be open from late March to early June at locations across Japan.

>> Detective Conan Café Website

>> Watch Case Closed on Crunchyroll

Source: Comic Natalie

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Kara Dennison is a writer, editor, and interviewer with bylines at VRV, We Are Cult, and many more. She is also the co-founder of Altrix Books and co-creator of the OEL light novel series Owl's Flower. Kara blogs at karadennison.com and tweets @RubyCosmos.

The zombie hunters of Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress are teaming up to solve a murder mystery!

The official site for the series has announced that a new audio drama will be coming out soon. The story will connect up the events of the smartphone game and the upcoming second movie, and will feature appearances from the game's three new protagonists. Suzuki, the train's mechanic, will apparently play a major role.

Pre-orders from participating stores will also include a limited-edition clear file.

The new audio drama comes out April 26.

Source: Kabaneri.com

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Kara Dennison is a writer, editor, and interviewer with bylines at VRV, We Are Cult, and many more. She is also the co-founder of Altrix Books and co-creator of the OEL light novel series Owl's Flower. Kara blogs at karadennison.com and tweets @RubyCosmos.

Got burning questions about the making of The Rising of the Shield Hero? Clear a space this Saturday for a chat with the producer!

Crunchyroll and the r/anime subreddit are teaming up to host an AMA with Junichiro Tamura, the producer of the new light novel adaptation. Tamura is a business producer at KADOKAWA, and has also worked on Chio's School Road and Bungo Stray Dogs.

The AMA starts Saturday night, February 9, at 7pm Pacific time (Sunday, February 10 at 3am UTC), and will last for two hours.

Save this link, then come back Saturday night to participate!

>> Watch The Rising of the Shield Hero on Crunchyroll

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Kara Dennison is a writer, editor, and interviewer with bylines at VRV, We Are Cult, and many more. She is also the co-founder of Altrix Books and co-creator of the OEL light novel series Owl's Flower. Kara blogs at karadennison.com and tweets @RubyCosmos.

GKIDS and Fathom Events are teaming up once again for two days of screenings of the 2018 theatrical anime film, Okko's Inn (known as Wakaokami wa Shogakusei! in Japan), at some 500 select U.S. cinemas on April 22 & 23, 2019.

The film will screen in an English dubbed format on Monday, April 22 at 7:00PM local time, and in the original Japanese language with English subtitles on Tuesday, April 23 at 7:00PM local time.

GKIDS describes the story of Okko's Inn as follows:

After losing her parents in a car accident, Okko goes to live in the countryside with her grandmother, who runs a traditional Japanese inn built on top of an ancient spring said to have healing waters. While she goes about her chores and prepares to become the inn's next caretaker, Okko discovers there are spirits who live there that only she can see - not scary ones, but welcoming ghosts who keep her company, play games and help her navigate her new environment. The inn's motto is that it welcomes all and will reject none, and this is soon put to the test as a string of new guests challenge Okko's ability to be a gracious host. But ultimately Okko discovers that dedicating herself to others becomes the key to taking care of herself.

Based on the series of children's books written by Hiroko Reijo and illustrated by Asami, Okko's Inn is directed by Kitarō Kōsaka and features animation production by MADHOUSE. For more information about the film, including theaters and ticket sales, please visit the official Okko's Inn event pages at GKIDS here or at Fathom Events here.

Source: Official press release

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

Fate/Grand Order just got a new servant in the Japanese version, with the the Caster class Servant Murasaki Shikibu, based on the Japanese novelist and poet best known as the author of The Tale of Genji.

The post Fate/Grand Order’s Japanese Version Introduces New Servant Murasaki Shikibu By Raita appeared first on Siliconera.

If you had to name 2018's most talked about game, what would it be? If you said Fortnite... well, you come in second.

According to the big blue bird themselves, mobile game Fate/Grand Order took the top spot on their platform, with Fortnite coming in at #2. Close behind were Monster Strike, Splatoon, and PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds. Also sneaking their way into the Top 10 were Granblue Fantasy, Super Smash Bros., and perennial favorite Final Fantasy.

It doesn't hurt that Japan was ranked as the most talkative country when it came to gaming, with the US and UK coming in at #2 and #3, respectively. France and Korea rounded out the Top 5.

One place the West took the lead in gaming, though, was in most talked about gaming events—E3 took the top spot, with Tokyo Game Show coming in second.

>> Watch Fate/Grand Order -First Order- on Crunchyroll

Source: Twitter Blog

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Kara Dennison is a writer, editor, and interviewer with bylines at VRV, We Are Cult, and many more. She is also the co-founder of Altrix Books and co-creator of the OEL light novel series Owl's Flower. Kara blogs at karadennison.com and tweets @RubyCosmos.

According to Aniplex, Fate/stay night: Heaven's Feel II. lost butterfly had earned 1,015,675,321 yen

on 648,077 admission in 12 days since its release in Japan. The second chapter of the trilogy anime

film project based on the third route of Type-Moon's visual novel Fate/stay night crossed the one billion

yen mark on January 23, six days faster than the first chapter presage flower released in October 2017.

The second chapter's revenue and tickets sales in its first 12 days were 123% and 121% of those of the

first chapter.  

Following the first chapter that earned 1.5 billion yen from its domestic run, the second chapter was 

released in 131 theaters across Japan on January 12, 2019. Its excellent start is good enough to 

believe that it will surpass its predecessor's box office record in Japan sometime soon. 

Moviegores in the third week (January 26 - February 1) will receive one of the three clear poster files

featuring newly-drawn illustrations by ufotable randomly as a bonus. See the sample images below.

1. "Distant Dusk"

2. "Nightmare"

3. "Last Piece"

The third and final chapter, titled Fate/stay night [Heaven‘s Feel]Ⅲ.spring song, is confirmed to be released

in Japan in the spring of 2020.

Source: Aniplex press release

(C)TYPE-MOON・ufotable・FSNPC

Last week we posted about legendary mangaka Rumiko Takahashi—creator of classics ranging from Maison Ikkoku, Ranma 1/2, and Urusei Yatsura to InuYasha and RIN-NE—being one of the three finalists for the 46th Angoulême International Comics Festival's prestigious Grand Prix d’Angoulême, which honors the recipient's complete lifetime body of work. Now for the update we've all been waiting for: She won! 

Takahashi was up against two other comics greats, Chris Ware and Emmanuel Guibert, so the victory is no small feat. This lifetime achievement award also means she gets to be the marshal of the 2020 event, so look forward to a Rumiko Takahashi exhibit next year. 

The last manga author to win the Grand Prix was Akira creator Katsuhiro Otomo in 2015. 

Source: @bdangouleme via Comics Beat

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