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Aug 12 – Site Update - Posted By Hisaishi
Anime News of the Week (8/5 - 8/11)
The Mega News
Seventeen years is a long time for a tried and true formula of core gameplay to last. With Pokémon X and Pokémon Y, the repetition is broken. For the first time ever, the new concept of Mega Evolutions make the fourth evolution stage a reality. Confirmed creatures for mega include Mewtwo, Blaziken, Absol, Mawile, Lucario, and Ampharos. Link
Investigator vs. Investigator
For three years, Western audiences have waited with anticipation growing and 3DS’s at the ready. Now, thanks to the hard work at Level 5 and Nintendo, the dream has become reality. Professor Layton vs. Ace Attorney, released in Japan last year, will arrive in America and Europe next year.
Vittoria In Cosplay Summit
At the 2013 World Cosplay Summit, twenty teams from around the world competed for monetary prizes by donning costume. The winners were Andrea Vesnaver and Massimo Barbera of Team Italy, who arrived as mecha from the anime Mazinkaiser. The United States took second place and third place went to Hong Kong. Link
Welcome Back, Space Cowboy
Considered by many as the greatest anime of all time, Cowboy Bebop officially did not have a licenser following the closure of Bandai Visual this year. No longer. It has been announced that, through a joint deal, the streaming service Daisuki and FUNimation Entertainment will be offering Cowboy Bebop digitally and on Blu-Ray for the first time. Expect the Blu-Ray in 2014. Link
Miku Strikes Both Coasts
In honor of the sixth birthday of Hatsune Miku, the planned Magical Mirai Concert 2013 will delay stream around the world. For America, theatres in Los Angeles and New York City will be hosting events throughout August 30-31 along with the concert. Additional countries for worldwide stream include France, Mexico, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. Link
Watanabe Takes To Space Once More
At a Q&A panel at Otakon, legendary director Shinichiro Watanabe (Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo, Macross Plus) revealed his newest project. Space Dandy is the director’s first foray into a strictly comedy series and follows a trio of alien hunters as they trek through outer space for the unknown. The series premieres January 2014. Link
Anime Wins Big In Canada
At the Montreal Fantasia Film Festival, three anime films took top honor in their categories. Makoto Shinkai’s The Garden of Words and Toshiyuki Kubooka’s Berserk Golden Age III: The Advent took home the Satoshi Kon award for Achievement in Animation, while Masaaki Yuasa’s Kick-Heart took home the Best Animated Short Film Award. Link
The Fight Takes To The Internet
Based on the popular series Attack on Titan, the online browser game Wings of the Counterattack allows players to step up and hack some titans. The game is based on a “craft feature” that allows player to fight the titans using a variety of weaponry and classes. The game is currently in beta test and accepting applicants. Link
Abstract Director Now Hiring Illustrators
According to a Twitter post, anime director Masaaki Yuasa (The Tatami Galaxy, Kickheart) is looking for animators and illustrators to animate one episode for a “silly science-fiction series”. For those interested, send your name, profile, and work samples to [email protected]. Link
Japan Unveils Newest Warship
In a move that has many seriously believing in Japan’s future role in war, the Maritime Self-Defense Force has unveiled their largest warship currently in action. The Izumo is a helicopter destroyer, a new class that bears strong resemblance to an aircraft carrier but is meant to hold only helicopters. The reveal comes on the heels of rising tensions between China and Japan in a dispute regarding island territories. Link
YouTube Geeks Out
In case you somehow missed YouTube’s Geek Week, anime was one of the many topics focused upon. Thought provokers PBS Idea Channel analyzed the reality and lack of meaning behind the mind of Hideaki Anno and the anime Neon Genesis Evangelion, makeup artist Michelle Phan showed you how to get the Miku look, and YouTube sensation Nigahiga delivered in an oft-voiced request to create a Naruto video.
Anime Releases
- Berserk: The Golden Age Arc II - The Battle for Doldrey DVD/Blu-Ray (English)
- Daily Lives of High School Boys - Complete Series Premuim Edition Blu-Ray (English)
- The Garden of Words DVD/Blu-Ray (English)
- Dirty Pair - Part Two Litebox DVD (Japanese)
Manga Releases
- A Certain Scientific Railgun Volume 8
- A Devil and Her Love Song Volume 10
- Alice in the Country of Hearts: The Clockmaker's Story
- Bakuman Volume 20
- Crimson Empire: Circumstances to Serve a Noble Volume 2
- Dance in the Vampire Bund [Omnibus] Volume 3
- Happy Marriage? Volume 1
- Jack the Ripper: Hell Blade Volume 4
- Kamisama Kiss Volume 13
- Kaze Hikaru Volume 21
- Kimi no Todoke Volume 17
- Knights of Sidonia Volume 4
- Library Wars: Love and War Volume 10
- Naruto Volume 62
- Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan Volume 16
- Otomen Volume 16
- Pokémon Adventures: HeartGold and SoulSilver Volume 1
- Pokémon: Black and White Volume 11
- Rosario + Vampire Season II Volume 12
- Slam Dunk Volume 29
- Tegami Bachi: Letter Bee Volume 14
- The Sacred Blacksmith Volume 2
- The Wallflower Volume 31
- Toriko Volume 17
- World War Blue Volume 2
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
In honor of the massive success that was YouTube's Geek Week 2013, we at theOtaku.com present a new release schedule:
Video Game Releases!
- Dragon's Crown (PS3)
- Tales of Xillia (PS3)
- Mario and Luigi: Dream Team (3DS)
