Alainmendez

Take a look at some of the hazards you'll encounter.

Read Take A Look At The Mighty No. 4 Stage From Mighty No. 9 on Siliconera!

You probably haven’t heard of Cygames, but it might be time to read up on them.

Read Rage of Bahamut Developer Opens Anime Production Department on Siliconera!

ICV2, the retailer-focused hobby game and comics/graphic novel markets news site associated with distributor Diamond, has present a case for the North American manga industry growing for a second year in 2014, credited in no small part to the success of Attack on Titan.

ICV2 has estimated the market for manga in the U.S. and Canada since 2002, and says that after reaching a $200 million peak in 2007, it rapidly declined a cumulative 2/3rds until 2013's rebound, in which it grew 8% to around $70 million retail in the U.S. and Canada, an improvement over the $65 million in 2012.

While ICV2 has not completed a cross-channel analysis of manga sales in 2014, early indications are positive in both the comic store and book channels. Attack on Titan was both a standalone winner and helped raise the field, while other genres also performed well. Viz called out their shoujo successes, including direct market (comic book shop) sales, where it saw a 20% increase.

Check out more on ICV2

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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.

PlayStation has premiered the first episode of its original series Powers online, free to watch. Based on Brian Michael Bendis’ comic book series, Powers follows Christian Walker (Sharlto Copley), a former superhero who now works for the LAPD apprehending people who didn’t get the memo about great power(s) coming with great responsibility.

[Click through to watch the pilot]

A new trailer posted yesterday gives an idea of the season-long arc: People are creating, trading, and taking drugs that allow them to alternately become “powers”—that is, gain superhuman abilities that they’ll invariably use for the wrong reasons—or take away other people’s powers.

But just like energy, power can’t just disappear—it has to go somewhere else. Christian and his new partner Deena Pilgrim (Susan Heyward) will figure out where the f—- (because PlayStation has the freedom to include R-rated language and other material) it is. Oh, and Eddie Izzard seems to be lurking in Christian’s head via a Harry Potter-esque lightning scar on his back.

Watch the pilot below:

Keep up with Powers here.

ufotableアニメジャパン①： グッズ）今年の干支である羊をキャラクターにあしらった可愛いミニシールをBOXに収納したグッズです。５００円。 http://t.co/JMbqJ7kzgW pic.twitter.com/FQ9aeGhTp6

— 近藤光（ufotable） (@hikaruufo) 2015, 3月 9

April 7th marks the 20th anniversary of Mobile Suit Gundam Wing's launch. An OVA ran into 1996, but YuYu Hakusho was pretty much done by '95. Slam Dunk was also wrapping up in '96. After the series started in '94, Rurouni Kenshin launched its "Kyoto Arc" in '95. If you fondly remember these, you're probably old, and there's a special doujinshi event for you this spring.

The Ing Pick Up Event is looking to fill 400 spaces with 160 doujinshi circles presenting tributes to Slam Dunk, Hoshin Engi, YuYu Hakusho and Hunter x Hunter, Kenshin Saiyuki, Fullmetal Alchemist, Gundam W, and Bakusō Kyōdai Let's & Go!! at the Tokyo Metropolitan Industrial Trade Center May 6th. 

via nijimen

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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.

Four days before its grand opening this Friday, the staff uniforms for the Tokyo One Piece Tower theme park are revealed to Japanese media today. Based on the ideas by the original manga author Eiichiro Oda, the three-type uniforms for males and females (six in total) were designed with a motif of pirates and islanders. 

Tokyo One Piece Tower is set in Tokyo Tower, the second tallest tower in Japan, and has live character shows, various attractions featuring each main characters, restaurants, and shops for original merchandise. The advance tickets are now available at the 7-11 convenience stores across Japan. The ticket price for adult is 3,000 yen (3,200 yen for the day ticket), and 1,500 yen (1,600 yen) for kids in the age 4-12.

via: Comic Natalie

It has been confirmed that the Hamatora anime series gets a feature film and a SD (super deformed) series, following the two 12-episode TV anime series in 2014. The news was announced at the "Re:␣Hamatora Fes.2015 Spring" event held at Maihama Amphi Theater yesterday, March 8. More details including their release schedule will be announced later. It was also announced that a DVD of the event will be released in Japan on June 26. The disc will include a special drama performed by the voice cast in the event.

Main visual for the event

TV anime 2nd season "Re:␣Hamatora" Blu-ray 1st and 2nd volume jackets

Source: "Hamatora" anime project official website

© Cafe nowhere/Hamatora Production Committee

A crowdfunding for an anime feature film project based on Fumiyo Kouno's award-winning manga Kono Sekai no Katasumi ni (In This Corner of the World) officially launched today, March 9. Though the project itself was announced back in August 2012, it hasn't been able to start production yet due to lack of funds. The goal is 20 million yen (about 165,600 US dollars),

The World War II manga was serialized in Futabasha's Weekly Manga Action from 2007 to 2009. It tells a story of a family who lived in Kure-city, Hiroshima Prefecture, where was one of the areas destroyed by the atomic bomb dropped by U.S. forces. It won the Excellence Prize in the 2009 Japan Media Arts Festival. A live-action TV drama starring Keiko Kitagawa as the protagonist Suzu Hojo was aired on August 5, 2011. Kouno is also well known for her another Hiroshima-themed manga Yunagi no Machi, Sakura no Kuni (Town of Evening Calm, Country of Cherry Blossoms) in 2003.

The anime feature film is written/directed by Sunao Katabuchi (Black Lagoon, Mai Mai Miracle). MAPPA

(Terror in Resonance, Punchline) works on anime production, while GENCO (Nodame Cantabile, Sword Art

Online) produce the whole project. It is scheduled to be released in 2016.

The covers of the orginal manga volumes published by Futabasha

Anime visual

via: Netlabo

© Fumiyo Kouno, Futabasha/"Kono Sekai no Katasumi ni" Production Committee

In 2013, TYPE-MOON and Kenchi Kei's Koha Ace joking introduced a Takashi Takeuchi designed, samurai dressed Sakura Saber, who took off in her own right, even becoming a figure last year. Now history appears to be preparing to repeat itself as the Monday release of the April issue of Comptiq will be introducing Majin/Demon Saber to the Fate-verse!

Girls in the peanut gallery are taking pot shot with comments like "Takeuchiiiiiiii!!" and This didn't really need to be Saber, did it?"

 Well, as Carnival Phantasm said...

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 World Uniform Operation line of premium Sailor Moon PVC figurines continues with the upcoming release of a 1/10 Ami Mizuno, aka Sailor Mercury.

This line of figures depicts the Sailor Senshi in their pre-transformed state, wearing their school uniforms. The first figure released features Usagi Tsukino, aka Sailor Moon.

Megahouse's World Uniform Operation Ami Mizuno figure retails for 5800 yen ($ US). It is approximately 160mm (6.3 inches) tall. Pre-orders are available now from Japanese websites such as HobbyLink Japan and Hobby Search. The figures will ship beginning in July, 2015.

Source: TOMOPOP

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

Looking to preorder Shin Megami Tensei Devil Survivor 2: Record Breaker? The deal just got a little sweeter. Anyone who preorders a copy will immediately be upgraded to the launch edition, which comes with extra goodies and fun stuff for MegaTen fans.

The extras include a CD soundtrack and some decals, as well as the game of course. The characters below are actually the decals you'll receive, though this isn't the final version of anything you might get wit the game itself.

If you're looking to actually pick up the game, preorder before May rolls around -- it'll be headed to retail shelves on the 5th. Get hyped!

[via VG247]

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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.

Ninja Slayer From Animation, Studio Trigger’s anime series based on the Ninja Slayer novels, will premiere via online streaming instead of on television.

Read Ninja Slayer Anime To Premiere Via Online Streaming on Siliconera!

Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders' Boston Terrier Iggy checks his outsized ego to cosplay as his traveling companions and archenemy Dio in a set of rubber mascots. This assortment of six 65 x 60mm charms ship in June from MegaHouse.

Di molto bene also has a set of 4cm Iggy charms shipping in April for 864yen each

Sold-out at most stores, but still cool, Bandai has sweatshirts (7,344yen) and knit caps (4,536 yen)out this month

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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.

Yesterday publisher Seven Seas Entertainment announced plans to enter the world of tabletop gaming via its newly-formed Seven Seas Games imprint. The division's first anime license was promised today, and the result is a dandy guy in space! Seven Seas Games announced the launch of a Kickstarter for Space Dandy: Galactic Deck-Building Game, which hopes to rope in a cool $12,000 in the next 35 days.

That's right! Seven Seas Games inaugural license is: SPACE DANDY: GALACTIC DECK-BUILDING GAME! http://t.co/L98RI8GUPj pic.twitter.com/FnEHEzuovA

— Seven Seas (@gomanga) March 4, 2015

Here's the pitch:

Considering the fact that it's already over $3k at the time of this writing, it's safe to say the Space Dandy card game will become a reality. Backer rewards include digital wallpapers ($1 tier) copies of the game ($50), a HONEY limited edition ($90), and more. So far the main stretch goal sits at the $20,000 mark, and once reached will upgrade the game with better cardstock, pieces, and more.

For further details, head on over to the Kickstarter campaign.

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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.

The official website for the upcoming 19th Detective Conan feature film "Gouka no Himawari" (Sunflowers of Inferno) today announced two-member Japanese rock band Porno Graffitti's newly written "Oh! Rival" will be featured as the theme song for it.

The band has provided many theme songs for various anime series, such as GTO, Fullmetal Alchemist, Ghost Slayers Ayashi, Bleach and Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic. This is the first time for them to collaborate with the Detective Conan anime franchise. The CD single is scheuled to be released as their 42nd single on April 15.

The film also featuring Kaito Kid, the protagonist of the Conan creator Gosho Aoyama's another popular series Magic Kaito, as the main suspect of the story, will open in Japan on April 18.

Conan, the two members of Porno Graffitti, Kaito Kid

遂に解禁！主題歌アーティストはポルノグラフィティさんに決定です！！といっても皆様おわかりだったようで…コナンくんのようなその洞察力に感服いたします！映画と楽曲のシンクロ率が非常に高いです！！コナン×ポルノのコラボをお見逃しなく！ pic.twitter.com/EAe8FBi1e9

— 劇場版名探偵コナン【公式】 (@conan_movie) March 3, 2015

1st trailer

1st poster visual

via: "Detective Conan" anime film official website

© 2015 Gosho Aoyama/Detective Conan Production Committee

Finally, there's a Saber figure ready for your collection! This one is Saber of "Red" from Yuuichirou Higashide and Ototsugu Konoe's Fate/Apocrypha parallel world light novels, not to be confused with the Saber from the game Fate/Extra, often referred to as Red Saber.

The 1/8th scale, 24cm figure of Snarling Seiba from Aquamarine is selling for 11,880 yen with tax ahead of a May release.

via Dengeki Hobby

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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.

Anime Mirai was launched in 2010 by the Japanese Animation Creators Association (JAniCA) with 214.5 million yen (about US$2.27 million) from the Japanese government's Agency for Cultural Affairs to foster the talent of young animators through on-the-job training by annually funding the production of shorts such as Trigger's 2013 Little Witch Academia and Death Parade predecessor Death Billiard

Last April, JAniCA announced that they will no longer be running the initiative.

Now run by the Association of Japanese Animations industry group, proposal for Anime Mirai 2015 projects were accepted through June 27, 2014. The four shorts selected to be funded were announced last July, with a screening planned for March 2015 at the Tokyo Anime Award Festival 2015.

New previews of the shorts have now been posted

Aki no Kanade

By J.C. Staff:

Director: Youhei Suzuki (HENNEKO)
Producer: Yuji Matsukura

Animation Director/Character Design: Yaegashi Yohei 
Assistant Animation Director : Kajiya Mitsuharu

Production Producer: Yuji Matsukura

Happy ComeCome (formerly Robot Kaa-san)

By Synergy SP:

Director: Yumiko Suda 
Producer: Kenichiro Hayafune

Animation Director/Character Design: Sonomi Aramaki

Assistant Animation Director: Tomomi Shimazaki

Ongaku Shojo

By Studio Deen:

Director: Ken’ichi Ishikura (D.C.III ~Da Capo III~ )
Producer: Norimitsu Urasaki

Animation Director/Character Design: Majiro

Original Character Design: QP:flapper

Screenplay: Kana Yamada.

Kumi to Tulip

By Tezuka Productions:

Director: Makoto Tezuka (Black Jack)
Producer: Yoshihiro Shimizu
Production Producer: Mitsuaki Oiishi
Character designs: Akio Sugino

Animator Director: Michinosuke Nakamura 

Art Director: Jirou Kouno

Assist. Animation Director: Shinji Seya

via yuyucow

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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.

Iwata explains that when Nintendo first pitched Amiibo to Japanese retailers, they were told that the figurines were too large and expensive.

Read Amiibo Sales Could Be Stronger In Japan Says Nintendo President on Siliconera!

Finally, Gundam Reconguista in G has joined Gundam Build Fighters Try streaming on Bandai's GundamInfo YouTube channel. The anime from series creator Yoshiyuki Tomino debuted for its Japanese broadcast as part of the Gundam 35 anniversary celebration in fall 2014. 

Set in the next century of the Universal calendar, the anime features Kenichi Yoshida on character design, joined by a team that includes Akira Yasuda, Ippei Gyoubu, and Kimitoshi Yamane on mecha and Yuugo Kanno.

An English-subtitled version is available: 

Speaking of the series, www.g-reco.net was recently updated with a new visual and mecha...

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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.

Bandai Namco has posted a second preview of Super Robot Taisen Z3 Tengoku Hen to hype the crossover mecha strategy RPG's April 2nd PS3/Vita release. The first run of this conclusion to the Z series will have DLC codes for Rengoku Hen, a new bridge chapter between 3rd Super Robot Wars Z Jigoku Hen and Tengoku Hen.

The game features characters and mecha from: 

Trider G7
Zambot 3
Daitarn 3
Tetsujin-28 Go
Godmars
Aquarion
Aquarion EVOL
Gunbuster
Diebuster
Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam: A New Translation
Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack
Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn
Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Destiny
Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz
Mobile Suit Gundam 00 the Movie: Awakening of the Trailblazer
Turn A Gundam
Gundam X
Rebuild of Evangelion 1.0, 2.0 & 3.0
Full Metal Panic!
Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu
Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid
Full Metal Panic! Novels
Armored Trooper VOTOMS
Armored Trooper VOTOMS: Battle Of The Heterogeneous Species
Armored Trooper VOTOMS: Shining Heresy
Armored Trooper VOTOMS: Alone Again
Armored Trooper VOTOMS: Phantom Chapter
The Super Dimension Century Orguss
Change!! Shin Getter Robo: The World's Last Day
Shin Mazinger Shougeki! Z Hen
Earth Defence Enterprise: Dai-Guard
Beast Machine Attack Dancouga Nova
The Big O Season 1 & 2
Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R2
Tenga Toppa Gurren Lagann
Tenga Toppa Gurren Lagann The Movie: Lagann-Hen
Macross 7
Macross Dynamite 7
Macross Frontier
Macross Frontier the Movie: The Wings Of Goodbye
Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet 
Banpresto Originals

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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.

We needed some good news today, and it's not going to get much better than this: Noelle Stevenson, writer and artist of the phenomenally wonderful Lumberjanes, is helming a new Runaways comic for Marvel, due out in May.

Read more...

Broccoli Co., Ltd. is set to release a line of “mascot reflector” toys featuring the heroes of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders.

Here's a closer look at a few of them:

Jotaro Kujo.

Star Platinum.

Joseph Joestar.

Iggy.

The mascot reflector toys can be attached to a cell phone or a key chain in order to make their wearers more visible at night. The JoJo's line goes on sale in May, 2015. Each toy retails for approximately 650 yen.

Source: AniGami.info

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

The official website for Bushiroad's Detective Opera Milky Holmes franchise confirmed today that a project for a possible anime film has been launched. It was officially revealed in a special edition of "Miru Miru Milky," the live-broadcasting program on Nico Nico Live streamed last night.

But it also announced that they need support from the fans to realize its production. It means that the film hasn't gotten greenlit for production yet. More details about the content of the support will be revealed on the official website soon.

The Detective Opera Milky Holmes franchise now has four TV anime series: 1st season Detective Opera Milky Holmes (October-December 2010), 2nd season Detective Opera Milky Holmes: Act 2 (January-March 2012), 3rd season Futari wa Milky Holmes (July-September 2013), and the latest 4th

season Detective Opera Milky Holmes TD has been aired in Japan since January 2015. 

The ongoing "Detective Opera Milky Holmes" key visual

Source: "Detective Opera Milky Holmes" franchise official website

© Milky TD Production Committee

Lantis has posted two preview videos for the latest character duet song series from the ongoing TV anime Kuroko's Basketball, featuring Kensho Ono (Tetsuya Kuroko) and Kenichi Suzumura (Atsushi Murasakibara), Yuuki Ono (Taiga Kagami) and Kisho Taniyama (Tatsuya Himuro).

The CD singles were just released yesterday, February 25, and the Kagami/Himuro songs ranked 24th in the Oricon daily single chart, while the Kuroko/Murasakibara songs ranked 27th. The next 11th single will feature Ryohei Kimura (Ryota Kise) and Souichiro Hoshi (Yukio Kasamatsu), and is scheduled to be released on March 25.

"Kuroko's Basketball Character Song Duet Series Vol.9"

  -Kensho Ono (Tetsuya Kuroko) and Kenichi Suzumura (Atsushi Murasakibara)

"Kuroko's Basketball Character Song Duet Series Vol.10"

 -Yuuki Ono (Taiga Kagami) and Kisho Taniyama (Tatsuya Himuro)

CM for the thrid season DVD/Blu-ray vol.1 version A

CM version B

Main visual

Source: Kuroko's Basketball TV anime official website

© Tadatoshi Fujimaki/Shueisha, Kuroko's Basketball Production Committee