Trigger, Meet Swords
Studio Trigger has debuted a trailer for its first anime series, Kill la Kill, which is about a vicious struggle between a high school council president and a lowly transfer student. Studio Trigger was founded by the creator of Gurren Lagann.
Shinkai Previews Newest Film
Director Makoto Shinkai debuted the first five minuted of his newest work, The Garden of Words, on TVTokyo late Saturday Night. The films premieres May 31.
Anime Legend Makes VA Debut
Hideaki Anno, the man behind Studio GAINAX and Neon Genesis Evangelion, will make his voice-acting debut in Hayao Miyazaki’s upcoming film, Kaze Tanichu. He will play the role of protagonist. The film opens July 20. Link
42nd Japan Cartoonist Award Winners Announced
The Japan Cartoonist Awards honor Japanese artists who create works that stretch and redefine the definition of manga. The winners are:
- Grand Prize: Tatsuo Nitta – Shizukanaru Don
- Merit Award: Hiroko Matsuda – Mamagoto
- Merit Award: Yūichi Okano – Pekorosu no Haha ni Ai ni Iku
- Special Manga Award: Osamu Yamamoto – Kyou mo Ii Tenki
- Special Video Award: Tekken, in association with Muse – Pendulum
- Ministry of Education Award: Hiroshi Harata
Pokemon Gets Personal
Nintendo has revealed that its upcoming Pokemon games, Pokémon X and Pokémon Y, will allow you to change the appearance of your character. This is a first in the Pokemon universe. Link
Film Star On The Case
Actor Daniel Radcliffe, best known for his role as Harry Potter, has announced that he will star in the film Tokyo Vice, which is based on the life of American journalist Jake Adelstein. Adelstein was the first Western reporter in the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Press Club and chronicled the exploits of yakuza boss Tadamasa Goto. Link
Mononoke Goes Whole Hog
Hayao Miyazaki’s Princess Mononoke has gained popularity in London through an adaptive play by Whole Hog Theatre. This Monday, the show will end its original run with an added livestream through Nico Nico Douga. A second sold-out run begins June 18. Link
Weinstein Flies A Kite
Weinstein Co. acquired the rights to the live-action remake of Yasuomi Umetsu’s anime film Kite at the Cannes Film Festival last week. The film stars India Eisley and Samuel L. Jackson and tells the story of an orphan who seeks revenge for the murder of her father. Link
Coffee: The Next Dimension
Japanese barista Kazuki Yamamoto is like many others in his profession. He layers the milk in his customers' coffee cups to form little pictures. Recently he developed a new trick that sets him apart. See his work on Twitter. Link
JPN Economy Reaches Worrying Low
The yen was feared to be in freefall as the conversion rate hit 100 to the U.S. dollar on Friday. This came after a 3% degrade in one day. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe assured the world that this is a side effect from his radical economic restructuring and was anticipated. Experts agree that the yen will fall to 104-5 in coming months. Link
Anime Premieres
- Inazuma Eleven GO Galaxy
- Odoriko Clinoppe
Anime Releases
- Kids on the Slop Complete Collection DVD/Blu-Ray (English)
- Penguindrum - Box 1 DVD
- Sekirei - Complete Series Blu-Ray (English)
- Toriko Part 4 DVD (English)
- Black Rock Shooter - Complete Collection DVD (Japanese)
- Natsuyuki Rendezvous - Complete Collection DVD (Japanese)
- Sound of the Sky - Litebox DVD (Japanese)
- The Rose of Versailles Part 1 - Limited Edition DVD (Japanese)
Manga Release
- Bakuman Volume 19
- Black Bird Volume 16
- Bleach [3 in 1 Edition] Volume 5
- Claymore Volume 22
- Dengeki Daisy Volume 22
- Fairy Tail Volume 25
- Hunter X Hunter Volume 30
- La Cordo d'Oro Volume 17
- Naruto Volume 61
- Naruto [3 in 1 Edition] Volume 5
- Oh My Goddess! Volume 44
- Otomen Volume 15
- Pokémon Adventures - Ruby/Sapphire Volume 16
- Psyren Volume 10
- Sailor Moon Volume 11
- Strobe Edge Volume 4
- Tegami Bachi: Letter Bee Volume 13
- Utsubora - The Story of a Novelist
- Vampire Hunter D Volume 7
- We Were There Volume 16
- Zero's Familiar [Omnibus] Volume 1