Alainmendez

The 7th and final volume of Matcha Hazuki's manga tear-jerker One Week Friends hits Japan on April 22, presented in a limited edition that comes with two rubber straps of the protagonists Yuuki Hase and Kaori Fujimiya. Also on the 22nd, a special 39th episode will be published in the May 2015 issue of Square Enix's Monthly Gangan Joker, and that features the news that Hazuki has a new manga in the works. 

The new Boku ga boku de aru tame ni. (I'm Being Me for My Sake) will debut this year.

via Otakomu

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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 winner of the Smash Bros. tournament held during the Wizard World Comic Con will win a Metallic Mega Man amiibo.

Read Grand Prize At Upcoming Smash Bros. Tournament Is A Custom “Evilos” Metallic Mega Man Amiibo on Siliconera!

It is confirmed today that the first DVD/Blu-ray box set of the TV anime adaptation of Miki Yoshikawa's supernatural romantic comedy manga Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches will come with newly produced collaboration manga and anime with the author's another popular series Yankee-kun to Megane-chan.

It was her first serialization series on Kodansha's Weekly Shonen Magazine, ran from October 2006 to May 2011, then compiled in 23 tankobon volumes. While no anime adaptation was made, a live-action TV drama adaptation was aired for 10 episodes from April to June 2010. The collaboration manga is, of course, drawn by Yoshikawa herself. 

The first three-disc set containing the first six episodes will be released on August 26, then the second

set with the 7th to 12th episodes will follow on November 25.

CM for the first box set

The first box set jacket image

"Yankee-kun to Megane-chan" 1st and 23rd volume covers

via: Comic Natalie

© Miki Yoshikawa, Kodansha/2014 "Yamajo" Production committee

© Miki Yoshikawa/Kodansha

Tomonori Inoue's saga of three young women who can withstand the effects of radioactive contamination, Coppelion, is moving into its final arc. Announced in the May issue of Kodansha's Monthly Young Magazine, said arc will begin in the next issue on May 20. It's been a long-running series, beginning in Weekly Young Magazine in 2008 and moving over to Monthly Young Magazine in 2012.

You can catch up and read all about the adventures of the Coppelion unit here at Crunchyroll, following the three young women tasked with finding survivors and investigating those caught in the heart of Tokyo after a terrible nuclear accident. The year 2036 finds a good portion of the old Tokyo irradiated, and there's a pretty bleak landscape to explore.

The compelling story will finally be coming to an end soon. Have you been following from the beginning?

[via Anime News Network]

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Fueled by horror, rainbow-sugar-pixel-rushes, and video games, Brittany is a freelancer who thrives on surrealism and ultraviolence. Follow her on Twitter @MolotovCupcake and check out her portfolio for more.

Fate/zero antagonist Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald is receiving a lot of love this April. Ahead of his April 11th Birthday, fans have been sending series animators ufotable cards and flowers, which their cafes displayed at a special ufotableDINING night on Saturday. That theme event took so many reservations that a lottery was needed for seating. The studio also presented a special sketch of Lancer and Mercury-chan offering their well wishes, while the Fate franchise' Type-Moon chimed in with an irreverent illustration for the occasion.

皆さんケイネス先生の誕生日プレゼントありがとうございます。お菓子に花束、そしてなんとソラウBOTまで！ 闇のカプさばおじさん愛されすぎや…… pic.twitter.com/HdcRFz6Yax

— 虚淵玄 (@Butch_Gen) April 13, 2015

ケイネス先生の誕生日にたくさんのお祝いをいただきましたささやかなお礼といたしまして、ご要望もありました「ミスターK」のイラスト(バストアップ全体)を公開いたします! pic.twitter.com/nRXyUwijKm

— TYPE-MOON (@TMitterOfficial) April 14, 2015

「ケイネス先生 あなたが生まれた日に感謝」 ケイネスさん宛てに本当に多くのお花が届きました。 ご紹介させてください。 #ufotable pic.twitter.com/tyCtRhggWB

— 近藤光（ufotable） (@hikaruufo) April 13, 2015

ケイネス・エルメロイ・アーチボルトのお誕生日のメッセ―ジはこんな感じです。 キットカットもケイネスさん＆ソラウさん仕様。 #ufotable pic.twitter.com/usSzpE6uHO

— 近藤光（ufotable） (@hikaruufo) April 11, 2015

『Fate/Zero』よりケイネス・エルメロイ・アーチボルトのお誕生日。 プレゼントをたくさん頂戴しました。 ありがとうございます。 http://t.co/168WeAP0HA ⇒おおお、ZeroのＨＰ継続中！ #ufotable pic.twitter.com/qQKZuyz54x

— 近藤光（ufotable） (@hikaruufo) April 11, 2015

おはようございます！！ お客様から、ケイネス先生に誕生日の花束をいただきました！！ ありがとうございます！！ 本日も皆様のご来店、お待ちしております。 pic.twitter.com/p2PYPnX108

— ufotablecafe toku (@ufotablecafe_t) April 11, 2015

こちら昨日までにケイネスさんに届いたプレゼント。 なぜか桜パイ。 #ufotable pic.twitter.com/mBw38xnhjK

— 近藤光（ufotable） (@hikaruufo) April 11, 2015

本日はケイネス・エルメロイ・アーチボルトのお誕生日です。お客様よりお花をいただきました！ケイネス先生お誕生日おめでとうございます！ 本日もマチアソビカフェは元気に営業中です。皆様のご来店をお待ちしております♪ #マチアソビカフェ pic.twitter.com/W1j44wM46d

— マチアソビCAFE（マチアソビカフェ） (@machiasobi_cafe) April 11, 2015

【ケイネス・エルメロイ・アーチボルト バースデーイベント】 いよいよ本日開催です！皆様からも続々とプレゼントが！ ご来店予定のお客様へ。ご来店時に本人確認ができる身分証明書をご提示いただきますので忘れずにお持ちくださいね！ pic.twitter.com/jJLe7QM7BH

— ufotable DINING (@ufotable_dining) April 11, 2015

【ケイネスバースデー】明日4/11はケイネス先生の誕生日！今日もお客様よりお花を頂いておりますので、ご紹介を！ #ufotable pic.twitter.com/ZyuA2YJnoX

— ufotable Cafe NAGOYA (@ufotablecafe_n) April 10, 2015

ケイネス・エルメロイ・アーチボルト誕生日に素敵な花が届きました。 ランサーさん、ソラウさんの絵柄もついて愛情感じます。 http://t.co/rdNgJK55Ob pic.twitter.com/pfEzFuzwrN

— 近藤光（ufotable） (@hikaruufo) April 10, 2015

また本日は『Fate/Zero』より第四次聖杯戦争に参加したマスターの一人、ケイネス・エルメロイ・アーチボルトのお誕生日です。おめでとう、ケイネス:)ランサー＆水銀ちゃんからも▶ pic.twitter.com/E9w81PajKP

— ufotable (@ufotable) April 10, 2015

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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.

Back in February we got our first look at a bunch of new figma from Max Factory, Phat!, and FREEing. Since then we really haven't heard a whole lot outside of an occasional appearance here and there. While there's nothing here we haven't seen before it is a good reminder that there's still a lot of stuff on the way that we haven't yet been able to pre-order. Come on Max Factory, I want to order that Rin Tousaka figma already!

More recent pics can be found in the gallery.

[via Tag Hobby]

The site for the summer 2015  GONZO adaptation of Masumi Asano Hayate no Gotoku/Hayate the Combat Butler author Kenjiro Hata's Sore ga Seiyuu! has been updated with a first trailer and staff listing. 

Previously, tags on the site revealed the casting of Marika Kono as Rin Kohana, Rie Takahashi as Futaba Ichinose and Yuki Nagaku as Ichigo Moesaki. The original four-panel manga followed the daily lives of three young anime voice actress characters.

Staff includes

Director: Hiroshi Ikehata (Robot Girls Z)
Series Composition: Michiko Yokote (Shirobako, Genshiken)
Character Design: Masakatsu Sasaki (Saki)
Prop Design: Sayaka Takase
Art and Design: Inoseyukie
Art Director: Tomohiro Ono
Color design: Ritsuko Utagawa 
Director of Photography: Hayashi Kojiro
Editor: Hirose Kiyoshi 
Music: Yukari Hashimoto
Sound Director: Satoshi Motoyama
Animation Production: GONZO
Music Production: EVIL LINE RECORDS

Previously...

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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.

Fire Emblem If is getting a card game called TCG Fire Emblem 0 (Cipher) which will release simultaneously alongside the game in Japan. Starter decks include a DLC code for Marth or Lucina, depending on the deck you purchase.

Read Marth And Lucina Are Fire Emblem If DLC Characters on Siliconera!

Bandai Namco provides shipment figures.

Read Project X Zone Is Getting A Sequel Because The First One Actually Did Pretty Well on Siliconera!

While Fate/stay night's Rin will (relatively) soon be joining Medicom Toy's 30cm Real Action Heroes premium figure line, more esoteric bits of the Nasu-verse continue to find their way into their newer, shorter PPP (Perfect Posing Products) line. A previously scheduled August release of Saber Bride from the Fate/Extra CCC RPG is now scheduled to be followed by Ruler, Jeanne d'Arc from the Fate/Apocrypha light novels in January 2016.

This 1/8th 20cm (34 cm with banner) figure sells for 13,932yen.

Also recently scheduled, The Seven Deadly Sins' Meliodas joins the Real Action Heroes line in November 2015 for 26,784yen.

No.709 RAH The Seven Deadly Sins - Meliodas

Size: Approx. 250 mm Tall

[Set Contents]
-Main figure
-Face parts x3 types (normal, glare, demon blood rampage)
-Front hair parts x2 types
-Broken sword ("Coffin of Eternal Darkness" fragment)
-Sword from Elizabeth
-Damaged ver. shirt
-Hand parts
-Posable figure stand

Sculptor: PERFECT-STUDIO
Costume: Mieko Akimoto

Fate/Apocrypha: Ruler, Jeanne d'Arc

Size: Approx. 340 mm Tall (Figure itself is approx. 200mm tall)

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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.

New York's Japan Day @ Central Park celebration of Japanese culture is set to welcome AKB48 members Saho Iwatate, Ryoka Oshima, Tomu Muto, Haruna Kojima, Rina Hirata, and Rena Nozawa for a 20-minute dance and vocal performance at the Sunday, May 10th, 2015 event. 

AKB48 from Japan Day Inc on Vimeo.

Japan Day introduces itself:

Japan Day @ Central Park is a highly anticipated annual event in spring that celebrates Japanese culture with New Yorkers. Japan Day kicks off with the Japan Run, followed by the Kids' Race. Like traditional Japanese summer festivals, it provides food and activity tents as well as a stage program displaying a wide range of Japanese culture, including both traditional and contemporary performances.

Japan Day is officially supported by Mayor Bill de Blasio, The New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, the Central Park Conservancy, the Consulate-General of Japan in New York, the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of New York, The Nippon Club and many Japanese and American corporations. Since its establishment in 2007, this family-friendly event has captured the interest of New Yorkers with over 50,000 people attending each year, and we have been thrilled to watch Japan Day garner the praise of the public.

OUR MISSION:

1. Build bridges of cultural understanding between the people of Japan and the U.S.

2. Show the local Japanese community's appreciation towards their home city, New York

3. Facilitate stronger grassroots connections within the local Japanese community.

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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.

Tokyo Regional Taxation Bureau has charged 41-year-old light novel author Mamare Touno, best known for his Maoyu Maou Yuusha and Log Horizon series, and his copyright management company m2lade JAM on suspicion of the violation of the Corporate Tax Law. The Bureau has filed the charge against them with the Tokyo Public Prosecutors' Office. 

According the report, Touno established the company in April 2011. Though it earned about 120 million yen (about 996,000 US dollars) income from the royalty of his books and lecture's fee under the contracts with major publishers in three years by March 2014, it didn't report that income to the taxation office and avoided paying 30 million yen corporation tax. 100 million yen of the income was found in an account using the name of the company.

Mamare Touno/Daisuke Umezu answered to NHK, "We've already paid the tax, but we can give you

no comments."

"Maoyu Maou Yuusha" "Log Horizon" 1st volume covers

Source: Asahi Shimbun, NHK

“The Art of Gundam” exhibition is coming in the summer of 2015 to the Mori Arts Center Gallery in Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan. The exhibit includes 1000 pieces of production materials – such as storyboards, notes, and layouts - from the original 1979 Mobile Suit Gundam anime, including artwork by Yasuhiko Yoshikazu and Kunio Okawara.

In addition, there will be 1000 Gunpla models on display. There will also be a projection mapping presentation entitled “All G Tribute Chronicle Ver. 2”, which celebrates 36 years of Mobile Suit Gundam properties.

As icing on the cake for all the true Gundam otaku out there, advance ticket purchases to the exhibit come packaged with a special edition “RG RX-78-2 Gundam Clear Color Ver.” Gunpla kit. The advance ticket / kit combo costs 4500 yen ($37.45 US) and is available while supplies last.

The “Art of Gundam” runs from July 18 to September 27, 2015. For more information, please check out the official "Art of Gundam" exhibit page here.

Sources:

Tokyo Otaku Mode

Animeanime.jp

Official “Art of Gundam” home page

Fanart Friday returns and, as Nate just told me to my face, "IT'S EASIER THAN YOU THINK!" Danika here ~ I'm taking over Fanart Friday this week! Last week, Nate re-visited the beginning of the year with the SPRING RECAP! This week, I'll be taking you straight to the top of the deuling arena as we cover one of my all-time favorite series, REVOLUTIONARY GIRL UTENA!

First and foremost, I just want to shout out Baker for loaning me his Utena box-sets. If it weren't for him I might've never watched the show. THANK YOU BAKER for introducing me to one of my top 5 favorite anime series, EVER. Now, let's get right into highlighting some beautiful artwork of my favorite anime babes. Spoiler warning - I will be talking about characters and things that happened in the show and movie!

DISCLAIMER:  None of the art presented is the property of myself or Crunchyroll.  All characters and series are ^tm and © their respective creators and corporate owners.  All art is the creative property of their respective artists.  Any artists who wish to have their work removed from this article may contact me, and appropriate action will be immediately taken.

by 泉

Okay, I have to admit, when I first saw Utena in this gown I was completely uncomfortable. Afterall, we all knew how much more comfortable she was in her androgynous uniform, AND she wanted to be a prince! BUT, I really loved seeing the girls in gowns while their partners were dueling against Utena. They looked like queens waiting to take the throne... (sorry ladies).

 by hato

Seeing all of the student council members + Nanami, Anthy, and Utena not only makes me happy, it makes me tear up a bit. Sheesh. 

by ナノ助

ADOLESCENCE OF UTENA... Ok, so, I absolutely LOVED the movie. I watched it AS SOON as I finished the anime, which might've been a mistake because it was ~so different~. The animation was a dream but the story was pretty confusing, having just finished the anime. Touga and Utena's relationship was interesting but I kept wondering why Shiori was such a relevent character in the movie.. 

by モヂジラミミヂ

Speaking of Shiori, I absolutely love this artwork. Juri is my fav duelist, and her story was my personal favorite for a multitude of reasons. I felt genuinely bad for her, because she was hurting so much on the inside but putting up such a strong front. Shiori is probably my favorite "bad guy".

by たらのこ

THE FINAL COFFIN SCENE. I was a mess during the last two episodes of Utena, and watching her sit there while Anthy was getting pierced by endless swords was terrifying and heartbreaking. Hearing Utena scream for Anthy while Anthy was telling her to GO was very emotional.

by 27

This is my favorite picture in this entire Fanart Friday. The car scenes in Utena were some of the best. Saionji and Touga are already so funny together, once Akio was in the picture it was basically the perfect storm.

by 利行

OK ONE MORE. After the halfway point in Utena, the show CLEARLY got sexier. The little image black-outs that opened to Saionji and Touga with their shirts undone, posing super seductively... The bed-time shots of Anthy and Utena... I loved it all!

by すいいき

CLICK THAT LINK ^^^ This picture needs to be seen at full-res ~ It is *BEAUTIFUL*! Anthy & Utena, I don't think I need to say anything more.

by ultmte on DeviantArt ~ READER SUBMISSION!

I love how much this image shows off Utena's beautiful blue eyes! <3

by hato

One of my favorite arcs in Utena was the Black Rose Duelists. The story of Soji and Mamiya is (imo) the saddest in the series (besides Anthy's). P.S. this piece is amazing at full-res!

by 笹木なこな

She's beauty and she's grace... She's m-mooooooooooooss... 

by ハムレットマシーン

My favorite background music in all of Utena is the music that plays while Utena is pulling the sword from Anthy!

by スイマ

My official OT3. Honestly, as awful and manipulative as he was, Akio was my favorite guy in Utena. He's just so... HOT. Help.

by エビとシラス@PC臨終orz

This artwork is beautiful, and I love seeing Wakaba portrayed this way ~ !

by ちゃらりらぁん

I loved Miki's character. A lot of people refer to him as the only "likeable" guy in Utena.. There was also that kid that Nanami had do everything for her, what was his name again? He was likeable!

by アテカ

I am going to finish off this Fanart Friday with pictures of happy Anthy and Utena. I love them so much. I love this series so much!

by ゆみ

OK everyone! If I keep diving into the depths of the internet searching for Utena fanart, I might get lost and never return. I hope everyone loved these artworks as much as I did, and if you've never seen Revolutionary Girl Utena, I hope you check it out, I PROMISE it's worth it! Thanks for checking out my FANART FRIDAY and make sure you keep coming back every week to see more and more great pieces of fanart! <3

A lot of you are catching on to this--your art is welcome here every week, regardless of your skill level or experience. Want your work to be included on Fanart Friday? Just PM NATE a link to your work (full URL, please, and try and send 'em by Thursday), and we'll make sure to include it in a future installment! We'd like to ask everybody who submits to Fanart Friday to have their work hosted on Deviantart, Pixiv, or any other official art hosting site. This makes sourcing you guys much easier, and protects your work and ensures that it's yours. Now, here are the next three themes for Fanart Friday!

- Next week, on APRIL 17TH, Nate's out with the gang at Anime St. Louis, so Humberto, one of our VERY OWN NEWS CONTRIBUTORS, is taking you for a spin and I have no idea what he's doing yet! 

- On April 24th, NATE is back and he's better than ever because he's COMING IN STRONG with a full-blown GINTAMA themed installment!

- MAY 1ST, IT'S SUPER-BABE DAY featuring an AVENGERS installment!

- May 8TH, HOT ANIME MOM DAY. No but really, it's our first-ever Mother's Day installment!

Thanks again for hanging out with me on my FIRST Fanart Friday and make sure you keep coming back. I <3 YOU.

Yuri Lowenthal, Jan Johns, and more lend their voices to the game.

Read Listen To Some Of The English Voices In Mighty No. 9 on Siliconera!

This time, we get to see Yukiko Amagi show off some of her graceful moves in Atlus’ latest video for Persona 4: Dancing All Night.

Read Yukiko Shows Some Graceful Moves In Her Persona 4 Dancing Spotlight Video on Siliconera!

乳袋じゃないセーラー服が描きたくてなんとなく。 http://t.co/VXE7a0XgN6

— こやまひろかず (@k_hiroriro) 2015, 4月 10

Square Enix introduces two new Bravely Second jobs in this week’s issue of Jump magazine.

Read Bravely Second Introduces The Fencer And Bishop Jobs on Siliconera!

Today Crunchyroll announced the addition of Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches to its spring 2015 anime lineup. The series will broadcast every Sunday starting on April 12 at 9:30am Pacific Time for premium members, with free members able to watch one week later. 

Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches is produced by Liden Films (Miss Monochrome, TERRAFORMARS), and will be available to audiences in the following territories: USA, Canada, Central and South America (including the Caribbean), South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.

Crunchyroll's synopsis: 

Suzaku High School student and problem kid Ryu Yamada is in a bad mood after being chewed out again by the teacher today. As if his day couldn’t get any worse, he falls down the top of the stairs with honor student, Urara Shiraishi! When he comes to, he’s switched bodies with her! Two people who couldn’t be more opposite from each other find themselves running around the school in each other’s bodies! All from a kiss! The problems don’t stop there in this school romantic comedy that starts with a kiss! The non-stop fun has only begun!

You can also read new installments of the simulpubbed manga by Miki Yoshikawa every Tuesday at 5:00pm Pacific Time. 

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Joseph Luster is the Games and Web editor at Otaku USA Magazine. His first mini-comic, SLIME, is now available. His blog can be found at subhumanzoids. Follow him on Twitter @Moldilox.

Just days after director and Twin Peaks showrunner David Lynch revealed that he would NOT be participating in Showtime's revived Twin Peaks series, the Log Lady and much of the show's original cast has sent out a video rally call: Don't make this series without Lynch.

Read more...

How much more water does it take to produce an ounce of bread, than a ounce of juice? The answer is not quite what you might expect.

Read more...

Level 5 CEO Akihiro Hino announced that the next Professor Layton game, called Layton 7 in Japan, will be for smartphones.

Read Professor Layton 7 Revealed For Smartphones on Siliconera!

Now that the Yo-kai Watch series has found its success in Japan, Level-5 will aim to follow up with a similar level of success in the West.

Read Nintendo To Publish Yo-kai Watch In The West [Update] on Siliconera!

Just a few weeks back, Showtime denied rumors that the Twin Peaks revival might not happen. But now, it turns out the truth may hurt fans even more: David Lynch just announced via Twitter that he's exiting the project, and he made no bones about why.

Read more...