GACKT : New Single "Until The last Day"

Single release from GACKT featuring main theme of the theatrical anime "Dragon Age - Blood Mage no Seisen -." GACKT and more artists will do character voices in this movie. 

Release Date: 2012/02/22

SOURCE: CDJAPAN

Cast of 9 members announced for AKB48’s anime, ‘AKB0048′

Last week, we reported that 30 members from the AKB48 family passed the initial round of auditions for the upcoming anime, ‘AKB0048‘. Out of those 30, nine would go on to become the show’s voice actresses through a public final audition.

On December 13th, the 30 girls gave their all in front of a judging panel comprised of Akimoto Yasushi, Kawamori Shoji, Otsuki Toshimichi, and sound director Aketagawa Jin. Kawamori Shoji, who’s famous for his work in ‘Macross‘ series, is the chief director behind this project, and Otsuki Toshimichi is the executive producer.

After much deliberation, it was decided that the following girls would lend their voices for the anime:

09. Watanabe Mayu (AKB48, Team B)

08. Mita Mao (NMB48, Research student)

07. Ishida Haruka (AKB48, Team B)

06. Sato Sumire (AKB48, Team B)

05. Hata Sawako (SKE48, Team KII)

04. Nakaya Sayaka (AKB48, Team A)

03. Yagami Kumi (SKE48, Team S)

02. Iwata Karen (AKB48, Research student)

01. Sato Amina (AKB48, Team B)

Honorable mentions went to four other girls for their performances: Takeuchi Miyu (AKB48, Team 4),  Murashige Anna (HKT48, First class), Kinoshita Momoka (NMB48, Research student), and Furukawa Airi (SKE48, Team KII).

Congratulations, ladies!

–

Source: AKB0048 official website

30 members pass first round of judging for AKB48’s upcoming anime

On December 8th, AKB48 announced the names of the 30 members who passed the first round of judging for their upcoming anime, “AKB0048“.

The storyline focuses on 9 idol cadets who aim to become legendary superstars. Out of 200 girls from AKB48, SKE48, NMB48, and HKT48, 30 passed the first round for a chance to be one of 9 voice actors. These members include 17 from AKB48, 8 from SKE, 4 from NMB, and 1 from HKT. The 30 members will advance into the final public audition, which will be held on December 13th.

In the final round, the members will introduce themselves and read lines in front of 100 lucky fans. The 9 girls who deliver the best performances and possess an eagerness to voice act in the future will be announced as the winners  that day.

Take a look at the members who passed the first round of judging below!

—

AKB48: Ishida Haruka, Ichikawa Miori, Iwata Karen (research student), Oota Aika, Katayama Haruka, Kobayashi Marina (research student), Sato Amina, Sato Sumire, Suzuki Shihori, Suzuki Rika (research student), Takeuchi Miyu, Chikano Rina, Nakagawa Haruka, Nakaya Sayaka, Nito Moeno, Fujie Reina, Watanabe Mayu

SKE48: Sakai Mei, Sato Mieko, Nakanishi Yuka, Hata Sawako, Hara Minami, Furukawa Airi, Yakata Miki, Yagami Kumi

NMB48: Ogasawara Mayu, Kinoshita Momoka (research student), Nakagawa Hiromi (research student), Mita Mao (research student)

HKT48: Murashige Anna

Source: Oricon

Hemenway to release new theme song for “NARUTO”

Rock band Hemenway will be releasing the new ending theme song to popular anime “NARUTO Shippuuden“. Titled, “By My Side” will be the band’s second single and release on January 25, 2012. The song will be on air starting January 5th.

Vocalist, Issac said that he is very happy that they are doing the theme song to “NARUTO” as he grew up reading manga and watching anime, and Japanese music played a huge part in his childhood.

Hemenway is also having a one-man live in Tokyo and Osaka. they will be at LIVE SQUARE 2nd LINE on March 16th in Osaka, and Shibuya O-Crest on March 30th in Tokyo.

Source: natalie

Movie “K-ON!” to release single tracks and OST

Animated movie ‘K-ON‘ will release an an album with various songs from the movie titled, “HO-KAGO TEA TIME in MOVIE” on January 18th.

The movie has already been released nation-wide in Japan on December 3rd and the original movie soundtrack, “K-ON! MOVIE ORIGINAL SOUND TRACK” will be released on December 21st. The main theme song “Unmei♪wa♪Endless!” and ending theme song “Singing!” will both be released as singles on December 7th.

Source: natalie

Anime “Gintama” to reveal new OP & ED theme songs in January

Popular anime “Gintama” will get new theme songs starting in January 2012. Rock band FLiP will provide the opening song and Good Coming will provide the ending song.

FLiP’s song “Wonderland” is described as a positive rock tune, while Good Coming is said to contain a strong message of friendship. Both songs are considered to have slick themes fit for the anime and will air from January to March.

Although Good Coming’s song is currently untitled, it will be the band’s major debut single.

Source: natalie

“ONE PIECE” breaks publishing records with the release of its 64th volume

Popular manga series “ONE PIECE” has released its 64^th volume; publishing company Shueisharevealed on November 4th that 4,000,000 copies of the newest addition to the series had been issued.  This is a first for both the publishing company and Japanese publishing.

Since 1997, Oda Eiichiro’s series has been serialized in “Weekly Shonen Jump.”  Since the release of the first volume in the series, there have been a total of 250,000,000 prints and reprints of the series.  In 2010, 3,000,000 copies of the 57^th volume in the series were initially issued; in contrast, only 2,900,000 sets of “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” were initially issued in 2004. (Sayzansha, 2004.)  Since then, the number of volumes issued upon release has increased with each new addition to the series.

Source: Sanspo

Last Exile - Fam. The Silver Wing -

Last Exile - Fam, The Silver Wing Same Day As Japan on Animax.

Starting Oct 15, Every Sat, 8pm!

The story revolves around fifteen-year-old pilot Claus Valca and navigator Lavie Head, who fly their vanship as sky couriers in the nation of Anatoray. Although they usually take up missions of relatively low difficulty, they are one day asked to complete the mission of a dying courier. The mission, rated seven stars out of ten, is to deliver a young girl named Alvis Hamilton to the mysterious battleship Silvana. Despite their fears, Claus and Lavie deliver Alvis to the battleship but decide to remain aboard to keep her safe.

Claus and Lavie are initially treated as intruders but eventually befriend the crew of the Silvana. They learn that the Guild intends to capture Alvis for reasons unknown to them. In the first battle between the Silvana and Guild forces, Guild member Dio Eraclea takes an interest in Claus's flying skills and his signature move, the Immelmann turn. Wanting to learn more about Claus, Dio willingly allows himself to be captured by the Silvana. He reveals to Alex Row, the battleship's captain, the existence of one of four Mysteria which act as a key to something known as Exile.

When the Silvana's executive officer, Sophia Forrester, is revealed to be the Emperor's daughter and heir, she returns to Anatoray at the request of the prime minister. Sophia assumes the throne after the Emperor is killed during a surprise attack at the capital by the Disith nation and pleads for an alliance with Disith in order to capture Exile and end the Guild's control. Sophia reveals to Claus that Alvis is linked to the Mysteria, but as preparations for the assault are made, Alvis is captured by the Guild.

Delphine Eraclea, the Maestro of the Guild, reveals that Exile is a colony ship used by those who first settled their world, and she intends to use Alvis and the Mysteria to take control of it. However, Claus and Alvis escape the Guild stronghold and are reunited with Lavie when the alliance fleet attacks. As the fleet follows Exile past the Grand Stream and enters Disith, it is able to destroy Delphine's forces. After Claus and Alvis recite the four Mysteria, Exile reveals itself as a starship that will carry people to a new world free of conflict.

"May the wind guide your wings."

Piko : "Dance Floor" Vocaloid

Manga “Saki – Achiga-hen episode of side – A” to get anime adaptation in spring 2012

On the latest issue of manga magazine, “Young Gangan“, it was revealed that Igarashi Aguri’s spin-off manga, “Saki – Achiga-hen episode of side – A“, would be getting an anime adaptation in the spring of 2012.

“Achiga-hen”, which started its serialization in the September issue of “Monthly Shonen Gangan“, portrays a completely different story from the original “Saki“. ”Saki” revolves around high school girls who train hard to win the national high school mahjong competition. In 2009, it gained popularity as it was adapted into a tv anime. “Achiga-hen” will focus on ‘Haramura Nodoka’, one of the main characters from “Saki”, and her childhood friends ‘Ako’ and ‘Shizuno’.

More details are scheduled to be announced in the December issue of “Monthly Shonen Gangan”.

Meanwhile, TV Tokyo has started broadcasting reruns of “Saki” every late Thursday nights at 2:15am. Additionally, “Saki” will be released as a Blu-Ray box-set on March 7th, 2012.

Source: Mantan Web

Anime Festival Asia announces musical guests

This year’s Anime Festival Asia is bringing out some of the top names in music this year. The three day convention will be held at the SUNTEC Convention & Exhibition Hall in Singapore from November 11th to 13th.

For three days fans will be able to watch their favorite nine Japanese artists perform popular anime songs. The “Rock Your Soul ‘Super Anisong Concert’” opening night will be 3D idol sensation Hatsune Miku. Day 2 acts are FLOW, Ichirou Mizuki, LiSA, and Singapore native idol group Sea☆A. The last day will showcase Kalafina, Kanako Itou + Shikura Chiyomaru, May’n, and Milky Holmes.

The convention will also have special guests Producer Nakanishi Go, celebrity cosplayer KANAME, and Danny Choo as it’s stage host.

They will also have four featured animes. On the main stage is “GUNDAM UNICORN EPISODE 4“; others are “Puella Magi Madoka Magica“, “Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae wo Bokutachi ha mada shiranai“, and “Fate/Zero“.

Source: Anime Festival Asia

Galileo Galilei to provide opening theme for new Gundam series

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Rock band Galileo Galilei’s new single, “Asu e“, has been chosen as the opening theme song for the new Gundam series, ‘Mobile Suit Gundam AGE‘, starting October 9th.

‘Mobile Suit Gundam AGE’ will be the 14th in the Gundam series, and will be the first in two and a half years since “Mobile Suit Gundam 00“. Yamaguchi Susumu will direct, Hino Akihiro will be in charge of the storyline, Nagano Takuzo will work on the original character designs, while Chiba Michinari will support with his character designs, and the mechanic designs will be done by Ebikawa Kanetake, Ishigaki Junya, and Teraoka Kenji. Also, console game maker Level-5 has joined in to cooperate with the planning.

“Asu e” is said to be different from their usual guitar rock tune, instead of rock, the song will be a dance tune with electro sounds and evolving lyrics. The single is slated for release on December 7th.

Prior to the single’s release, “Asu e” will be available in Chaku-Uta form on November 2nd.

Credits : tokyohive

Source: Excite Music

Anime AUTUMN/WINTER 2011

click here for large version

Couple of anime/films I'll probably have a go at. loads of them don't even have trailers out yet :|

Last exile 2011 trailer

UN-GO PV

Hunter x Hunter (2011) new anime commercial trailer

FILMS:

Shinkai's Hoshi wo Ou Kodomo. Trailer

hotarubi no mori e -trailer

 

 Source / Credits : edohsama

The fourth season of anime “Natsume Yuujinchou” to air in January 2012

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On September 24th, it was announced through the November issue of “Monthly LaLa” that Midorikawa Yuki’s popular manga “Natsume Yuujinchou” will air the fourth season of the anime beginning on January 2012. The new title has been revealed as “Natsume Yuujinchou Shi (Natsume Yuujinchou Four)” and will broadcast through TV Tokyo.

This manga, which is serialized on manga magazine “LaLaDX”, is about a teenage boy (Natsume Takashi) who can see spirits and interacts with the spirits through his grandmother’s notebook. With his bodyguard (Nyanko-sensei), Natsume works with him to “return” various spirits’ names from the notebook. As for now, “Natsume Yuujinchou” has sold up to four million copies in total.

Currently, the third season of this anime is ongoing.

Source & Image: Mantan Web

SCANDAL to provide opening theme for “BLEACH”

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For the second time, SCANDAL will be singing the opening theme song for the popular anime, “BLEACH“. This will be SCANDAL’s second time to provide a song for the anime, as their third single, “Shojo S“, served as its opening theme song back in 2009.

The new song that will be used as BLEACH’s opening theme song starting October 11th is titled “HARUKAZE“. It’s said to be a rock number that shows a different side of the girls.

Vocalist HARUNA commented, “We are very happy to sing the opening number for ‘BLEACH’ again!! We will do our best to liven up the anime with ‘HARUKAZE’!”

Stay tuned for more info on SCANDAL’s new song!

Source: Excite Music

GALNERYUS & Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas : HUNTERxHUNTER 2011 OP and ED

It’s been announced that Ono Masatoshi, the vocalist of heavy metal band, GALNERYUS, will be singing the opening theme song for upcoming anime, “HUNTERxHUNTER“!

Ono joined GALNERYUS in 2009, and they released the first album “RESURRECTION” in June 2o1o. Titled “departure“, Ono’s song for ‘HUNTER X HUNTER’ will be the first time in a while that he’ll be able to show his solo work. As for the band, they plan to release a new album called “PHOENIX RISING” on October 5th.

Meanwhile, it was also revealed that Fear, and Loathing in Las Vegas‘ new song, “Just Awake“, has been chosen as the ending theme song for the series. Currently, there’s no decision yet on whether these two songs would be released as CDs.

“HUNTERxHUNTER” will start airing on October 2nd on Nihon TV.

Kitadani Hiroshi’s “We go!” chosen as the theme song for new ONE PIECE anime

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Kitadani Hiroshi’s new song “We go!” has been chosen as the theme song for the upcoming chapter of anime series, ONE PIECE.

The anime’s new chapter ‘Saigo no Umi ‘Shinsekai’ hen‘ will begin airing on October 2nd and will show Luffy and his friends, who were separated in the previous series, reunite after 2 years of training.  The newly reunited group will go on an adventure in the new world.

The theme song for this chapter, “We go!”, is made as an answer song for “We are!“.  ”We are!” was ONE PIECE’s very first opening theme song.  Aside from Kitadani on vocals, the lyric writer, Fujibayashi Shoko and composer, Tanaka Kohei, teamed up once again for the new song, despite the lapse of 12 years.

“We go!” is scheduled for release on November 16th.

Source & Image: natalie

“Kimi ni Todoke” to be released as a Blu-ray/DVD combo pack!

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Anime fans will be happy to know that NIS America will be releasing the popular anime, “Kimi ni Todoke” in a Blu-ray and DVD combo pack in January 2012.

The series was supposed to be originally released this October, but according to NIS America, “in order to maximize our fans’ viewing experience and offer the highest quality product for fans of Kimi ni Todoke,” they changed the date and release format.

The first volume is a ‘Premium Edition’ that comes in a collectible slip-case and a hardcover art book “My Memories” that revolves around “Kuronuma Sawako“’s emotional rollar-coaster. It will come with 12 episodes available in Japanese with English subtitles.

The Blu-ray/DVD combo pack is retailed at $69.99.

Do As Infinity to provide new theme song for “Sengoku BASARA”

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Do As Infinity will be providing the ending theme song for “Sengoku BASARA“, the latest game in the popular series!

The duo’s latest song is titled “Tasogare“, and will be released on November 16th as a single. Fans will get to hear the song in “Sengoku BASARA 3″, which officially hits stores for both the PS3 and Wii on November 10th. The song is Do As Infinity’s second tie-up with the series this year, after lending their song “Chikai” to the soundtrack of “Sengoku BASARA CHRONICLE HEROES” this July.

When asked about their latest tie-up, the duo responded, “It suits the game, and it has a nice ending! We’d love for everybody to hear it soon!”

“I sing about the feelings of wanting to live strongly through those times in one’s daily existence when one suddenly feels pain and solitude, without losing sight of one’s faint, dim hopes,” said vocalist Van Tomiko about the slightly melancholy track.

Stay tuned for more on Do As Infinity’s new single!

Source + Photo: Oricon

CLAMP X GACKT collaborate for theater play, “MOON SAGA: Yoshitsune Hiden”!

Two colossal giants in the spheres of anime and music have come together for a wild collaboration!

Manga-ka CLAMP and musician GACKT have teamed up to bring an original work to life next year. In July 2012, GACKT will star in a theatre play called ‘MOON SAGA Yoshitsune Hiden’ (‘MOON SAGA: The Secret of Yoshitsune’). It’s scheduled to run for one and a half months from July 15th to August 26th, 2012.

GACKT will play the lead role of “Minamoto no Yoshitsune”, a character based off the general of the Minamoto clan during the Heien and Kamakura eras. Although details about the story have yet to be revealed, it’s said that the play’s interpretation of Yoshitsune will have an unusual power.

Aside from a theater production, a manga series is also being planned by Kondansha. They’re also preparing to release an anime, game, film, and other other projects revolving around “MOON SAGA”.

———

< MOON SAGA -Schedule- >

Tokyo
Where: Akasaka ACT Theater
When: July 15 – July 29th

Nagoya
Where: Misonoza Theater
When: August 3rd – August 11

Fukuoka
Where: Fukuoka Assembly Hall
When: August 14 – August 16

Osaka
Where: Umeda Fine Arts Theater
When: August 19 – August 26

< Ticket Prices >
Range: ¥8,000 ~ ¥18,000

Source: Cinema Today, natalie comic, MOON SAGA Official Website