Good Smile Company has scheduled a pair of figures Fate/stay night figures for spring 2015 release. Their chibi Nendoroid take on Unlimited Blade Works version of Rider will be joined by their distribution of WING's Saber ~Last Episode~, the ever-popular servant as she was illustrated for the Realta Nua PS Vita port of the original visual novel.  

Saber ~Last Episode~

"In a grassy field, where the wind blows..."

From the PSVita version of 'Fate/stay night [Realta Nua]' comes a figure of Saber based on an illustration used on the soundtrack jacket cover! The memorable scene from the series has been faithfully captured for both Fate fans and Saber fans to enjoy by their side forevermore.

Saber is posed with a gentle smile on her face, wearing an outfit very different to her normal armored appearance. Her hair is blowing around in the wind, and her long, white one-piece dress is twirling around her - 200mm long and 250mm wide, a size that makes it hard to see her as a 1/8th scale figure! The details of the sculpt are also a delight to the eyes!

Product Details

Product Name

   Saber ~Last Episode~ (せいばー ～らすと えぴそーど～)

Series

   Fate/stay night

Manufacturer

   WING

Category

   1/8th Scale

Price

   ¥12,778 (Before Tax)

Release Date

   2015/04

Specifications

   Painted 1/8th scale ABS&PVC figure with stand included. Approximately 210mm in height.

Sculptor

   sai(knead)

Released by

   WING

Distributed by

   Good Smile Company

Nendoroid Rider

"I shall kill you with grace..."

From the popular anime series 'Fate/stay night [Unlimited Blade Works]' comes a Nendoroid of the Rider-class servant from the 5th Holy Grail War, Rider! She comes with two expressions including both her standard expression as well as a shouting expression ideal for combat scenes.

Nendoroid Rider can be displayed with or without the visor that covers her eyes, and she also comes with her 'Nameless Dagger' which even includes a chain allowing for all sorts of poses from the series! A magic circle to recreate the Noble Phantasm 'Bellerophon' is also included. Enjoy Rider in Nendoroid size for a cuter experience than ever before!

Product Details

Product Name

   Nendoroid Rider (ねんどろいど らいだー)

Series

   Fate/stay night [Unlimited Blade Works]

Manufacturer

   Good Smile Company

Category

   Nendoroid

Price

   ¥3,704 (Before Tax)

Release Date

   2015/05

Specifications

   Painted ABS & ATBC-PVC non-scale articulated figure with stand included. Approximately 100mm in height.

Sculptor

   Ito Ryou-ichi

Cooperation

   Nendoron

GSC Online Preorder Bonus

Preorders of Nendoroid Rider from the GOOD SMILE ONLINE SHOP will include a Servant Summoning Circle Sheet as a bonus

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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.

There are burial sites for dogs all over the Americas. Scientists doing a study of mitochondrial DNA found ways that ancient dogs are, in many ways, just like our own pets. But they also found something surprising!

Read more...

It's a combination of Super Smash Bros. Melee and Project M with the added aerial combat of the Touhou maidens.

Read Touhou Super Smash Battles Combines Touhou Project And Super Smash Bros. on Siliconera!

The official website for the Ghost in the Shell anime franchise today revealed the official title for the upcoming feature film "Koukaku Kidoutai: Shin Gekijyou-ban" (Ghost in the Shell: New Movie Edition), main staff, early summer 2015 release date, and posted a 30-second teaser featuring the main visual. According to the newly-posted introduction, the film will be the origin story of Motoko Kusanagi and Public Security Section 9. Including Maaya Sakamoto as Motoko, the main voice cast of the four-episode OVA series Ghost in the Shell Arise are listed for the film as well.

It is also announced that the TV series of Ghost in the Shell Arise will be aired in Japan from this April. The details will be announced later.

Teaser

Main visual

Main staff:

Original story: Masamune Shirow

Chief director/character design: Kazuchika Kise (Ghost in the Shell Arise)

Screenplay: Tow Ubukata (Fafner in the Azure, Ghost in the Shell Arise)

Music: Cornelius

Director: Kazuya Nomura (Sengoku Basara, ROBOTICS;NOTES)

Chief animation director: Toru Ohkubo (Sengoku Basara)

Anime production: Production I.G

Production: "Koukaku Kidoutai: Shin Gekijyou-ban" Production Committee

Distributor: Toho

Source: "Ghost in the Shell" anime franchise official website

© Masamune Shirow, Production I.G/Kodansha, "Koukaku Kidoutai: Shin Gekijyou-ban" Production Committee

Back in 2008, Hot Toys decided to put together a 1/6-scale figure for their Hot Angel line, the She-Predator Machiko. Based on a character from the Alien vs. Predator comics, it turned out to be surprisingly popular ... enough so that seven years later, Hot Toys have decided to go back to the same AvP well and are pulling out an original female character inspired by the xenomorph. Take that, Kotobukiya!

Hot Toys sent along this image, with the news that they're collaborating with a known Hong King designer for some time on the new character. You can see the sketch off on the left side of the image, but I'm not sure yet who the artist is. The prototype makes it appear as if she'll have some sort of xenomorph-styled hemlet and armor, though what her backstory actually is is a mystery. Any thoughts on the design so far, Tomopop readers?

Broadly speaking, Wonder Festival is to figures what Comiket is to doujinshi. Historically, its mascots, Wanda-chan and Reset-chan, were illustrated by Keinojou Mizutama (original character designer on MAOYU and Brigadoon), who sadly passed away last month. During her illness, Kiyohiko Azuma, author of manga Yotsuba&! and Azumanga Daioh, was invited to illustrate the pair for last's summer event. This winter, he's back, updating the duo for the year of the sheep.

The figures event takes place February 8th at Makuhari Messe, in Chiba, Japan.

Azuma's summer designs

Past work featuring Mizutama's designs

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.

As a year ends and another begins, Japanese media site Goo asked fans to name the manga whose ending they can't wait to read. Curiosity seems to be battling impatience as some might end in 2015, and others are probably just going to run and run with no end in sight, while some would thrill fans if they would just return from hiatus.

The top 25 included 

25) Haguregumo

24) Bio Booster Armor Guyver

23) Ginga: Nagareboshi Gin

22) From Eroica with Love

21) Minami no Teiou

20) Shura no Mon

19) Crest of the Royal Family

18) Akuma no Hanayome

17/16) Bastard!!

17/16) Akagi

15) BLEACH

14) Berserk

13/12) Kachou Kousaku Shima

13/12) Kinnikuman

11) Vagabond

10/9) Nana

10/9) Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure

8) Hajime no Ippo

7/6) Oishinbo

7/6) Golgo 13

5) Hunter X Hunter

4) Glass Mask

3) One Piece

2 /1) Detective Conan/ Case Closed!

2 / 1) Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Kouen-mae Hashutsujo (Kochikame)

via SGCafe

シングル「幸せについて私が知っている5つの方法／色彩」スペシャル特典製作中！！

「幸腹グラフィティ」川井マコト描きおろし＆「Fate / Grand Order」武内 崇描きおろし両面イラスト・スリーブケース

http://www.jvcmusic.co.jp/-/News/A008957/528.html

Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma talks about what elements of Hyrule Warriors he would like to adopt for The Legend of Zelda on Wii U.

Read The Legend of Zelda For Wii U Is Picking Ideas Up From Hyrule Warriors on Siliconera!

37 videos later, Gackt has finally beaten Mega Man 2.

Read J-Rock Star Gackt Finally Beats Mega Man 2, Moves On To Mega Man 3 on Siliconera!

The evidence that the people playing characters at theme parks are completely awesome and hilarious continues to mount. Today's proof comes courtesy of Disney's Gaston who does not suffer fools lightly.

Read more...

With a Kickstarter campaign looming, TruForce Collectibles recently hopped on Facebook to show off the colored version of a proposed Mega Man X figure. The action figure was designed by Capcom artist Keisuke Mizuno, and you can see the original concept art followed by the colored figure below. 

Mizuno's concept art:

TruForce's colored prototype, along with their commentary: "Here's a late Christmas present for you. An excellent look at what the proposed final figure will look like. We're quite pleased with the color template! Are you?"

Via Rockman Corner

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Joseph Luster is the Games and Web editor at Otaku USA Magazine. He also likes to draw comics. His blog can be found at subhumanzoids. Follow him on Twitter @Moldilox.

You'd think with all the war, assassinations, turmoil, political backstabbing, invasions from beyond the Wall, and everything else, that the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros wouldn't have had the time or the resources to craft quality public transportation for its people. But as this shockingly cool map proves, not so!

Read more...

If you've been waiting for a special life-size version of Sakura's Sealing Wand, the wait is over! Popular anime merchandise store Animate is now taking preorders for a special 1/1-scale Sealing Wand replica just like Sakura herself uses.

It's a little pricey, running about $100 (12,000 yen) but the fact that you'll be able to run around acting as though you're actually sealing the Clow Cards back into their original forms is priceless.

The wand isn't set to hit until June, but you'll probably want to go ahead and get your pre-orders in now just in case.

[via Nijimen]

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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.

Bayonetta 2 released not too long ago, but the developers of our favorite sadistic witch are already hard at work on their next project.

Read Bayonetta 2 Makers Are Working On A New Project on Siliconera!

After perennial fan work favorite Touhou, and 2013's challenger, turned champion, KanColle, the most parodied works for doujinshi at the December 28-30 Comiket 87 were Kuroko's Basketball, and Love Live! (technically iMas was sandwiched by the two). So, it should be little surprise that they were two the first cosplay groups that caught the attention of maidigitv in their video tour of the event.

A tour of some booths and a look at the arrival from oricon

Love Live

KuroBas

NHK's booth

Unlimited Fafnir co-promotes with lolita fashion

Some more hightlights from Netageo

The top tagged subjects for doujinshi at the event were

(in number of circles parodying)

1 - KanColle: 1,847, plus Kantai Collection: 609
2 - Touhou: 1,442, plus Touhou Project: 553
3 - Kuroko's Basketball 435, plus Kurobas: 242
4 - The IdolM@ster 435, plus iMas: 231
5 - Love Live!: 614
6 - Yowamushi Pedal: 362, plus Yowapeda: 61
7 - Haikyu!!: 415
8 - Attack on Titan: 390
9 - Vocaloid: 172, plus Vocalo: 109, plus Hatsune Miku: 94
10 - Free!: 357
11 - Tiger & Bunny: 203, plus TiBunny: 115
12 - Precure: 240
13 - Sengoku Basara: 233
14 - Fate: 221
15 - Utapri: 144, plus Uta no Prince Sama: 59
16 - Nanoha: 202
17 - Hetalia: 201
18 - Prince of Tennis: 117, plus TenniPri: 32
19 - JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: 142
20 - Gintama: 134

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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 top tagged subjects for doujinshi at the event were

(in number of circles parodying)

1 - KanColle: 1,847, plus Kantai Collection: 609
2 - Touhou: 1,442, plus Touhou Project: 553
3 - Kuroko's Basketball 435, plus Kurobas: 242
4 - The IdolM@ster 435, plus iMas: 231
5 - Love Live!: 614
6 - Yowamushi Pedal: 362, plus Yowapeda: 61
7 - Haikyu!!: 415
8 - Attack on Titan: 390
9 - Vocaloid: 172, plus Vocalo: 109, plus Hatsune Miku: 94
10 - Free!: 357
11 - Tiger & Bunny: 203, plus TiBunny: 115
12 - Precure: 240
13 - Sengoku Basara: 233
14 - Fate: 221
15 - Utapri: 144, plus Uta no Prince Sama: 59
16 - Nanoha: 202
17 - Hetalia: 201
18 - Prince of Tennis: 117, plus TenniPri: 32
19 - JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: 142
20 - Gintama: 134

It was announced at Comiket 87 today on December 30 that a TV anime adaptation of Sore ga Seiyuu! (literally means That is Voice Actors), a collaborative four-panel doujin manga work by anime voice actress Masumi Asano and author of Hayate no Gotoku/Hayate the combat butler, Kenjiro Hata, is in the works. The manga has been published as printed doujinshi and weekly web series by their doujin circle Hajimemashite. since December 2011. The story centers on three young anime voice actresses: Futaba Ichinose, Ichigo Moesaki, Rin Kohana, telling their everyday struggle in the anime voice acting industry.

According to the latest interview with Asano and Hata on Excite Review, the anime project launched about one year ago, and since it is a doujin work, they have received no support from any publishers. So they can/have to make every decision on the project by themselves. More details of the project including

the staff, production company and premiere schedule will be announced shortly.

The announcement illustration

Ver.001 (December 2011) and Ver. 002 (August 2012)

Soushuhen (Compilation) vol.1 (August 2014) and vol.2 (December 2014)

via: Otakuma Keizai Shimbun, Excite Review

At this weekend's Comiket, TYPE-MOON treated fans to an early look at the prototype of the upcoming Saber 10th Anniversary ~ Royal Dress Version figure. The 1/7th scale statue features the visual novel creator's most popular character in the dress featured in Hirokazu Koyama's art for their 2012 anniversary celebrations (though the 10th anniversary moniker can also be applied to the anniversary of Fate/stay night's 2004 PC debut).

コミケ87の追加情報です!TYPE-MOONブースにて、新たなセイバーのフィギュア原型が展示予定です！ この衣装は…TYPE-MOON Fes.の…？ 展示に関しましては販売終了後からになりますのでご注意ください! pic.twitter.com/RI8R0YTeZ6

— TYPE-MOON (@TMitterOfficial) December 27, 2014

セイバー ～10thロイヤルドレスver～ の展示を開始しました！ pic.twitter.com/CxVnMWlZmh

— TYPE-MOON (@TMitterOfficial) December 28, 2014

本日展示解禁しました「セイバー～10thロイヤルドレスver～」の見やすい画像がこちらになります。会場では照明の関係で顔が見辛かったかと思います。 明日も販売終了後に展示予定です。 pic.twitter.com/NsbmpKOVyQ

— TYPE-MOON (@TMitterOfficial) December 28, 2014

TYPE-MOONブース、ただいま販売途中ではありますが、セイバー～10thロイヤルドレスver～の展示を開始しました。 pic.twitter.com/GGQ2jYEXMU

— TYPE-MOON (@TMitterOfficial) December 29, 2014

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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.

Produced and Directed by Zach King and Jadon Gauthier, the five-minute remake is called Raiders of the Lost Bark (naturally), stars a Boxer puppy named Indiana Bones (of course), and the villains are kittens (OBVIOUSLY).

Read more...

Acquire and GungHo Online Entertainment's smartphone puzzle-RPG Divine Gate is getting another crossover in Japan this week, with the characters of Fate/stay night joining in on the action starting December 26. 

Players will be able to add the likes of Saber, Archer, Lancer, Berserker, Shirou Emiya, and Rin Tohsaka to their party, with more details to come. For now, enjoy some of the collaboration's character art.  

Via Siliconera

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Joseph Luster is the Games and Web editor at Otaku USA Magazine. He also likes to draw comics. His blog can be found at subhumanzoids. Follow him on Twitter @Moldilox.

 FUNimation has announced a pair of anime licenses today. With new rights, Inari Kon Kon (full Japanese title: Inari, Konkon, Koi Iroha) will be coming to home video in 2015. Along with this, Wit Studio (Attack on Titan) original anime Rolling Girls is joining their winter streaming simulcast line-up. Scheduling details are TBD on that one.

Here's a HINT as to what our next simulcast announcement will be! Any guesses? pic.twitter.com/YXUzUUJVcq

— FUNimation (@FUNimation) December 22, 2014

We've acquired the rights to #RollingGirls! Click here for info: http://t.co/ZpN5FvkKV6 Streaming this Winter! pic.twitter.com/1BAgVwT7Tb

— FUNimation (@FUNimation) December 22, 2014

We've picked up the home video rights for #InariKonKon & we're giving you a free calendar! http://t.co/e5EDZ4Ho5E pic.twitter.com/2HtQUeXIGN

— FUNimation (@FUNimation) December 22, 2014

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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.

Following the ED song "GLITTER DAYS" by Fo'xTails, Lantis has also posted a short version promotional video for "Punky Funky Love," the OP song for the upcoming 3rd season of the Kuroko's Basketball TV anime, performed by GRANRODEO.

This is their 5th OP theme song for the anime franchise. They have provided their 16th single "Can Do" (1st OP for the 1st season), 17th single "RIMFIRE" (2nd OP), 20th single "The Other self" (1st OP for the 2nd season), and 21st single "Hengenjizai no Magical Star" (2nd OP). All of the songs were written by KISHOW (Kisho Taniyama) and composed/arranged by e-ZUKA (Masaaki Iizuka). "Punky Funky Love" also made by the two will be released as their 22nd single on January 28, 2015.

"Punky Funky Love" short PV

Limited edion CD jacket

Regular edition

The third season of the Kuroko's Basketball TV anime series produced by Production I.G. will premiere

on its key station MBS (Mainichi Broadcasting System) at 26:58 on January 10, 2015, then on Tokyo

MX at 23:00 on January 13 with BS 11 one hour later.

Latest TV CM for the third season

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

Since October, anime distributor Discotek has been teasing big news on a sports license. This weekend, that news dropped. Yowamushi Pedal series 1 and series 2 Grande Road will be released on home video English subtitles.

Along with this, they announced plans to released Lupin the 3rd Jigen's Gravestone on DVD and Blu-ray. This will be their first title to have a brand new English dub, included along with Japanese with English subtitles.

Takeshi Koike (Redline, Animatrix - World Record, Lupin III: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine character design) helmed the movie released in Japan this year.

Older titles also licensed this year include:

1994 six episode OVA Iria: Zeiram the Animation

This will have improved video quality. It will have the English dub and Japanese with English subs.

Toei 's 1975 Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid

It will include the Japanese with English subtitles and the English dub

Go Nagai World.

First release in the US! It will have Japanese language with English subtitles.

In addition to these 2015 plans, Discotek adds

We still have 5 big titles to announce at a later date. Probably in January. We will be very busy in 2015. Thanks to all of the Discotek fans for all your support this year and happy holidays and happy new year!

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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 Fate/Stay Night merchandizing machine rolls on with the Good Smile Company’s latest Nendoroid figurine reveal.

Read Fate/Stay Night’s Archer Gets A Super Poseable Nendoroid on Siliconera!

Eiichiro Oda's internationally popular manga One Piece will collaborate with one of Japan's traditional performing arts, Kabuki, which originated in the 17th century. 39-year-old Ennosuke Ichikawa IV will star in a kabuki adaptation of the pirate-featured action manga next fall. The news was announced at the last stage program in the Jump Festa 2015 event.

The One Piece kabuki will be one program of the Super Kabuki II show, which has adapted various modern story elements to the traditional art. It will be performed at Shinbashi Enbujo in Tokyo in October and November 2015.

Ennosuke Ichikawa IV

Ennosuke in "Sora wo Kizamu Mono" from the previous Super Kabuki II

Shinbashi Enbujo

Trailer for "Super Kabuki Yamato Takeru" film starring Ennosuke released in 2013

Source: Comic Natalie Photos © Shochiku

 Along with a color front page , next week's Shonen Jump features the results of One Piece's 5th character popularity poll.  In it, Nico Robin drops out of the top 10 after enjoying positions in the upper ranks for the last two polls. Law makes a big jump from his debut at #10, while Bartolomeo and especially Sabo make impressive debuts.

1. Monkey D. Luffy (including Lucy) - 9183 votes
2. Trafalgar Law - 8794 votes
3. Roronoa Zoro - 7997 votes
4. Sanji - 7154 votes
5. Sabo 5134 votes
6. Portgas D. Ace - 5121 votes
7. Tony Tony Chopper - 3336 votes
8. Nami - 2173 votes
9. Bartolomeo - 1754 votes
10. Boa Hancock - 1422 votes
11. Nico Robin
12. Marco
13. Usopp
14. Shanks
15. Crocodile
16. Franky
17. Donquixote Doflamingo
18. Eustass Kid
19. Brook
20. Mr 3
21. Perona
22. Kuzan (Aokiji)
23. Dracule Mihawk
24. Smoker (tie)
24. Nefertari Vivi
26. Edward Newgate (Whitebeard)
27. Cavendish
28. Shirahoshi
29. Rebecca
30. Koala
31. Kyros
32. Silvers Rayleigh
33. Bepo
34. Buggy
35. Jinbe
36. Fujitora (tie)
36. Caesar Clown
37. Coby
39. Sugar (tie)
39. Benn Beckman
41. Rob Lucci
42. Senor Pink
43. Pell
44. Borsalino (Kizaru)
45. Viola (tie)
45. Kaku
47. Sakazuki (Akainu)
48. Enel (tie)
48. Urouge
50. Marguerite (tie)
50. Eiichiro Oda
52. Donquixote Rosinante (tie)
52. Penguin
54. Basil Hawkins
55. Bellamy (tie)
55. Baby 5
57. Monet
58. X Drake
59. Paulie (tie)
59. Vergo
61. Killer
62. Thatch
63. Karoo
64. Emporio Ivanko (tie)
64. Tashigi
66. Helmeppo
67. Jewelry Bonney (tie)
67. Marshall D. Teach (Blackbeard)
69. Hannyabal (tie)
69. Izo
71. Zephyr (Z)
72. Gecko Moriah
73. Dr. Hiluluk
74. Monkey D. Garp
75. Scratchmen Apoo
76. Makino (tie)
76. Ms. Valentine
76. Dellinger
76. Gladius
76. Spandam
81. Tonjit
81. Bell-mère
81. Wiper
81. Monkey D. Dragon
85. Bartholomew Kuma
86. Kanjuro (tie)
86. Wicca
88. Kaya (tie)
88. Shachi
88. Farafra
88. Arlong
93. Going Merry (tie)
93. Captain Kuro
95. Kumashi (tie)
95. Kohza
97. Camel
98. Diamante(tie)
98. Curly Dadan
98. Shyarly
101. Tyrannosaurus
101. Gin
101. Leo
101. Pica

via seiyufan

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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.