Alainmendez

There's a little joke in the scheduling of Durarara!! schemer Izaya Orihara's birthday. It's on May 4th, while his voice actor Hiroshi Kamiya's birthday is on January 28th. Izaya's nemesis Shizuo Heiwajima's birthday is January 28th while his voice actor Ono Daisuke's birthday is May 4th.

Calebrating Izaya's big day online, a special limited wallpaper was posted on the new anime's site at http://www.durarara.com/special/birthday.html

There's also a Twitter campaign to win a birthday card signed by director Takahiro Omori http://www.durarara.com/special/present01.html

And, a special birthday event/exhibition was held at Animate Ikebukuro this weekend. 

A gift set with post cards, mini-plate, butter knife and bromides sold for 3,000yen

5/4にアニメイト池袋本店で開催される臨也の生誕祭まであと2日！お待ちしております！是非お越しくださいませ！配布するカードが完成しました！数に限りがありますので、無くなり次第終了となります。（ANX） #drrr_anime pic.twitter.com/fmtT8xEU9l

— TVアニメ「デュラララ!!」 (@drrr_anime) May 2, 2014

明日、お待ちしております。スタッフ一同、気合いっぱいで準備中！是非お越し下さいね！（ANX） #drrr_anime pic.twitter.com/BWKODoxuBF

— TVアニメ「デュラララ!!」 (@drrr_anime) May 3, 2014

臨也さんから会場にお花が届きました！（ANX） #drrr_anime pic.twitter.com/C6I3VrhDf7

— TVアニメ「デュラララ!!」 (@drrr_anime) May 4, 2014

祭壇？です！（ANX） #drrr_anime pic.twitter.com/DOoUFZrU1k

— TVアニメ「デュラララ!!」 (@drrr_anime) May 4, 2014

メッセージコーナー！（ANX） #drrr_anime pic.twitter.com/GBGNHpRLf2

— TVアニメ「デュラララ!!」 (@drrr_anime) May 4, 2014

そして！臨也役、神谷浩史さんのサイン＆メッセージ！（ANX） #drrr_anime pic.twitter.com/8qs4ppeHP0

— TVアニメ「デュラララ!!」 (@drrr_anime) May 4, 2014

皆様からこんなにたくさんのメッセージをいただきました！臨也さん、幸せものです！どうもありがとうございます！（P横山） #drrr_anime pic.twitter.com/v2U0QYICBX

— TVアニメ「デュラララ!!」 (@drrr_anime) May 4, 2014

イベント終了です！たくさんの方々にお越しいただき、誠にありがとうございました！今後とも応援をよろしくお願い致します！こんなにたくさんのメッセージを書いていただきました！感動です！（ANX） #drrr_anime pic.twitter.com/4XdDMjQIcO

— TVアニメ「デュラララ!!」 (@drrr_anime) May 4, 2014

折原臨也生誕祭inアニメイト まとめ1 pic.twitter.com/e5ZimU8AoV

— はっしー@デュラ2期おめでとう！！ (@hasshi_1106) May 4, 2014

『デュラララ！！』 折原臨也の生誕祭が池袋で開催！ → 人集まりすぎ行列ってレベルじゃねーぞｗｗｗｗｗ : http://t.co/zBzhIgv5V9 pic.twitter.com/K8P2ZdGCIK

— たると (@tarte2525) May 4, 2014

-----

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.

NEさんｗｗｗｗｗ pic.twitter.com/sUshuXjRAt

— からすま (@kug_fate) 2014, 5月 2

With the recent news that Lego will be accepting Doctor Who Cuusoo designs, and Character Options showing no indication of ever giving us a classic console room set to accompany the 11th Doctor version they gave us a few years back. I decided to take a stab at designing one myself.
I'm not even going to say how much this ended up costing me buying bits and pieces off of eBay (a lot more than it would have if I knew exactly what I was building from the start) but with a few modifications, it wouldn't be too difficult to come up with a budget model. I'll probably end up putting some version of the design up on Cuusoo once I've finally finished tinkering with it.

Read more...

Got plans this Saturday? You do now. It's the 2014 Free Comic Book Day, when publishers give out their wares to the masses, and we can assure you their offerings are going to be worth far more than what you (didn't) pay for them. Here are the 16 comics you need to be looking out for when you arrive at your local comic shop!

Read more...

The fourth full trailer for Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth is here, offering another extensive look at the upcoming dungeon-crawler. Kick things off with Elizabeth, followed by a bunch of footage and details on the RPG, in the clip below.

Persona Q hits Nintendo 3DS in Japan on June 5, followed by a fall release in North America.

-------

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

Plenty of sites cover all the costume changes various Spider-Men have gone through over time (i.e., Peter Parker, Ben Reilly, Miles Morales), but none have ever quite looked so good or been as informative as this one from Mashable. It even has his ridiculous 1602 outfit!

Read more...

Shin Megami Tensei IV is going on discount sale once more.

Read Shin Megami Tensei IV Going On Discount Sale Once More on Siliconera!

It’s May 1st, and that means it’s time for one of Capcom’s Game Boy Mega Man titles to be released for the Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console.

Read Mega Man Xtreme Hits Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console Today on Siliconera!

NIS America has announced that a complete collection of classic magic girl anime Cardcaptor Sakura will be released across North America in Premium and Standard Edition versions on August 5th. 

All versions will be available simultaneously at online retailers, and will offer a bonus English dub. The Premium Edition version will include 70 episodes on a 9 metallic gloss Blu-ray disc set, with a fully illustrated 76-page hardcover art book packed with new content/illustrations and a collectible slipcase. 

All versions will be available at the following select online retailers: Right Stuf, The Anime Corner Store, Anime Pavilion, and NIS America Online Store.

About the show:

Ten-year-old Sakura lives a pretty normal life with her older brother, Toya, and widowed father, Fujitaka. At least she did, until the day she returned home from school to discover a glowing book in her father's study. After opening the book and releasing the cards within, Sakura is tasked with collecting each of these magical cards, while trying to live the life of a normal fourth grader. In the monumental task of collecting all the cards, Sakura must rely on her friends and family, and decide what she finds most important in life.

Complete Series Premium Bonus Set Includes:
• Premium hardcover slipcase
• 9 metallic gloss Blu-ray disc set
  - Total of 70 episodes
  - Runtime: 1,750 mins
• Bonus features: English voiceovers (monaural) & clean   openings and endings 
• A full-color, 76-page hardcover art book 
  (approx. 5.75" x 7.5") with Tomoyo's diary of Sakura's   adventure and full color character illustrations. 

• Exclusive Bonus Item (while supplies last!)
  - CARDCAPTOR SAKURA Tear-resistant Poster   (17"x11")

SRP is on the premium edition is $249.99 with shops selling it for $199.99. Three standard edition sets are $47.99 each

----

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 folks at Famitsu shared some of their impressions from a recent hands-on with Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth.

Read Persona Q: Shadow Of The Labyrinth Looks Cheerful But Has A More Serious Tone on Siliconera!

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle is out now on PlayStation 3 in the Americas, so Bandai Namco Games' latest trailer is just in time. Be aware that this one includes some spoilers, since it runs through more of the series' arcs, starting with Part IV: Diamond is Unbreakable.

-------

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

If you're looking to add a dose of humor to your weekly Game of Thrones reflections, check out Comics of Ice and Fire, which provides a goofy comic reaction to each episode.

Read more...

NIS America have licensed the Cardcaptor Sakura anime series, the publisher announced this afternoon.

Read NIS America Licenses Cardcaptor Sakura Anime For August Release on Siliconera!

@LEGOdouMoko spent the last couple of months wowing the internet with their Lego recreations of Kill La Kill's cast. With that series now over, the Lego customizer and sculptor has stayed busy and on top of the current anime crazes with photos of their designs based on series like JoJo's Bizarre Adventure and Sailor Moon.  

 The heroes of Stardust Crusaders

From JoJo Part VIII, JoJo Lion

Robert E. O. Speedwagon and Will A. Zeppeli from Part I: Phantom Blood

New KanColle fleet girl Amatsukaze

Fate's Saber showing off a recently constructed blast crater

and Goku

Inspired by tokusatsu Spider-Man

In time for April 30th's Walpurgis Night

And finally, a bit of Space Dandy

----

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.

Next in line to show off his combos in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle is Joseph Joestar.

Read Joseph Joestar’s Bizarre Combos In JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle on Siliconera!

As suggested by a promo for the July release of Nintendo 3DS game Hamatora: Look at Smoking World, the Hamatora anime will be returning this summer. Re:_ Hamatora is now confirmed for a July broadcast with some staff rotation.

Seiji Kishi is now credited as director, as opposed to their first season chief director role. First season director Hiroshi Kimura is no longer listed on the project. 

Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse's Masaomi Ando is now assistant director on the anime.

Chief animation director Keiko Kurosawa joins Yuu Wazu on character design.

 Lerche takes over the production.

トランカー君からも、お知らせです…！ #ハマトラ pic.twitter.com/7Pu5BDYrdd

— 「Re：␣ ハマトラ」公式アカウント (@hamatora_PR) April 30, 2014

【情報解禁】「ハマトラ」新シリーズのタイトルが「Re:␣ ハマトラ」に決定！ロゴも新しくなりました！7月より、テレビ東京ほかにて放送開始です！ #ハマトラ pic.twitter.com/CP7LTNScvs

— 「Re：␣ ハマトラ」公式アカウント (@hamatora_PR) April 30, 2014

TVアニメ「Re：␣ ハマトラ」公式サイトも、是非チェックしてみてください～！ http://t.co/cnTMfIDgIb #ハマトラ

— 「Re：␣ ハマトラ」公式アカウント (@hamatora_PR) April 30, 2014

via Animate.tv

----

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.

When you think of Atlantic cod, you probably think of a strip of fish, battered and fried. But new research suggests that the fish might be able to use tools, and that might cause us to rethink how we evaluate tool use in other animals.

Read more...

The megadungeon is a cornerstone of fantasy role-playing games. Level upon level of twisting corridors and nefarious rooms filled with monsters, traps, puzzles, and magical treasures. These are the best megadungeons of all time, from D&D and beyond.

Read more...

Looks like Warner Bros. is getting its act together. The Wall Street Journal reports WB has nine DC comics movies planned, including the already announced Batman Vs. Superman and Justice League films, and now confirmed movie adaptations o Sandman and Fables.

Read more...

Souken, who has just transferred to a school in Kobe, meets the “Troublebusters,” a group of people with special powers called “Minimum”. This is where Hamatora begins.

Read Hamatora: Look at Smoking World Shows How You’ll Be Solving Cases on Siliconera!

We've been getting plenty of good Persona news over the past year or so, but Atlus has something else cooking for its popular franchise. The latest information on the series is set to be announced during the second half of a "Shadow Hour TV Persona Hour" Niconico live broadcast on May 2 at 11:30pm in Japan.

It's anyone's guess as to which facet of the franchise the news will pertain to, but guests will be in attendance and a "significant" announcement is scheduled for the second half of the broadcast. The first half will consist of a preview of Persona 3 The Movie #2: Midsummer Knight's Dream and a digest of the first film, Spring of Birth. 

The live-stream will be on this page.

Via Gematsu

-------

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

There was nothing particularly special about the first generation Ford Explorer, 'til it rolled with mother flippin' dinosaurs in one of the cinematic masterpieces of my generation. Christopher Orgeron agrees; he's two years into building the ultimate Jurassic Park Explorer replica complete with big-brick TVs inside.

Read more...

Certain anime and manga meet with the displeasure of Japanese parents. For example, Crayon Shin-chan was blamed for a generation of rude children and served as a long time bête noire for the national PTA. However, other series are viewed far more positively, and to find out which ones are most highly favored, digital manga distributor eBookJapan recently asked its users to name "which manga do you want your kids to read?” 

Top 10 responses included

10. Chihayafuru

9. Naruto

8. Slam Dunk

7. Space Brothers

6. Barefoot Gen

5. Osamu Tezuka's Phoenix

A representative woman in her 30's who read the whole cycle as a child praised Osamu Tezuka's self-described life's works for the freedom of thought and expression it conveyed, as well as its value for life. She also noted that masterpiece of manga is one to be left for future generations. A woman in her 40's said that it is a manga that she has read many times when looking for answers in her own life and valued its expression of hope in the face of despair and unfairness.

4. Dragon Ball

“I want my kid to be able to feel the same excitement from the adventures and fights that I did when I was his age,” explained one 30-something father 

3. Silver Spoon

A man in his 30s commented the he feels that it is important for children to appreciate where food comes from and the hard work that provides it to the consumer. 

2. Doraemon

A man in his 30s commented “Reading this series makes you feel like the future is just around the corner, and I hope it boosts my kids’ imagination and creativity.”

1.  One Piece

Representative men in their 20s and 30s and a woman in her 40s commented that the manga not only offered adventure, but also important lessons about compassion and comradeship.

via RocketNews24 and HuffingtonPost Japan

-----

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.

Director Munehisa Sakai and original editor Fumio Osano were on hand at this weekend's Nico Nico Choukaigi for the introduction of the main voice actresses in the upcoming Sailor Moon Crystal anime. 

Kotono Mitsuishi (also known as Evangelion's Misato, One Piece's Bao Hancock and recently Gundam Build Fighter's Rinko Iori) reprises the role of Usagi Tsukino/Sailor Moon. She's joined by a renewed group of Inner Senshi that includes Hisako Kanemoto (Squid Girl, Gargantia's Amy) as Ami Mizuno/Sailor Mercury, Rina Satou (A Certain Scientific Railgun's Mikoto Misaka) as Rei Hino/Sailor Mars, Ami Koshimizu (Kill La Kill's Ryuko Matoi, Code Geass' Kallen) as Makoto Kino/Sailor Jupiter and Shizuka Itou (Hayate the Combat Butler's Hinagiku Katsura, Gurren Lagann's Boota and Darry, Jormungand's Koko Hekmatyar) as Minako Aino/Sailor Venus.

New details about the anime's scheduling were also announced. The first episode debuts July 5th at 7:00pm, then the anime will run on the first and third Saturday of the month going forward. a World-wide simultaneous will stream on Niconico Douga.

via Natalie

-----

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 well-reviewed and rarely discounted A Game of Thrones: The Board Game Second Edition can be on your tabletop for $40 today. Board game deal prices are always volatile, so don't hesitate if you're interested. [Amazon]

Read more...