Otaku News

Crunchyroll Announces Spring Anime Streaming Season 2023

Date: 2023 March 23 17:30 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

The good folks from anime streaming giants Crunchyroll have sent us details of their Spring 2023 streaming line up. This season has so much good stuff available this spring.

We're excited about the Skip and Loafer anime due for release on 4th April 2023, based on the popular and much loved manga it follows the of a rural girl getting used to life in the big city of Tokyo, amongst other things.

Ranking of Kings returns with Ranks of King : The Treasure Chest of Courage. This is due for release on 13th April 2023.

We're really looking forward to The Ancient Magus' Bride Season 2, as the first season and specials were so good. That and it's great to see some anime set in the English countryside. After all not much anime is set in the Cotswalds.

Mobile Suit Gundam The Witch from Mercury returns for a second season. We're also curious about A Galaxy Next Door as we've read the first volume of the manga and it shows promise.

We've already covered Doctor Stone, which returns for a third season and are looking forward to more silly science adventures.

There's also more Vinland Saga Season 2 and One Piece.

There's something for everyone and we're sure you'll find something to enjoy this Spring 2023 anime season.

Read More... | Souce: Crunchyroll

Kodansha Announces New US Digital Manga Service

Date: 2023 March 21 19:56 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Manga

The good folks from publishing giant Kodansha have sent us details of their new US digital manga service. Called K Manga the service promises to deliver about 400 titles including 70 on going titles.

Kodansha are known for publish manga mega hits Attack on Titan, Ghost in The Shell, Tokyo Revengers and Fairy Tail, amongst other titles including Blue Lock and Rent-A-Girlfriend.

The service has a teaser version up now. The official is app scheduled for launch on Wednesday 10th May 2023. The service will be US only. Full website launch is to be announced.

Details of the pricing and exact model their using is yet to be revealed. So it's not clear if they'll go for a set monthly / yearly subscription charge or if you'll have to pay per title or buy some kind of token, or even how much K Manga will cost.

We're excited about this service even though it is US only, as it's always good to have more official digital manga options.
However the first thing we're drawn to is the name. K Manga. We know they've called it called K Manga for Kodansha Manga. Nevertheless in English speaking circles, when you prefix something with K you think of Korean things. We have K Pop, K Drama, K Rock, K Horror all parts of the K Wave. K Manga inspires thoughts of Korean Manga which is frequently called Manhwa. So already the brand is fighting an up hill battle to explain to consumers that no, this isn't a Korean service, it's all about Japanese Manga! We feel that they've not got any branding consultant involved or considered the impact this could have on the service. We've causally spoken to a few people about this and they all think K Manga sounds like a great Korean manga brand rather that a new digital manga platform.

Check out teaser.kmanga.kodansha.com to see what K Manga will have to offer!

BlackMilk Clothing to Release Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Collection

Date: 2023 March 19 16:41 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

The good folks from Aussie based clothing company BlackMilk Clothing have just sent us details of their up coming Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Collection. This official collaboration with Toei Animation has a range of various different designs from bright and bold to darker designs.

We really like the Ribbon Transformation Longline Evil Tee Dress with it's bright bold pink ribbons over the blue transformation background. While if you fancy something a bit darker the Sailor Guardians Stars Sheer Midaxi Dress is likely to appeal.

Fans can preview the collection in full and wishlist items ahead of the release. The collection is due to go live on 7am (AEST) 21 March / 2pm (PT) 20th March 2023.

BlackMilk Clothing have a great range of other collections including The Legend of Zelda, Pokemon and Sanrio.

The Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme 2023 Online Talk Series

Date: 2023 March 15 19:40 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime > Film

The good folks from the Japan Foundation London have sent us details of some up coming online events they'll be hosting. As part of their touring film programme, they'll be hosting a series of online talks with various directors from the movies shown.

Talks include in conversation with director Nishikawa Miwa, who directed Under the Open Sky. This is set to run on Thursday 23rd March 2023 at 13:00 (GMT).

There's also talks with Tanada Yuki who directed My Broken Mariko. This talk is set to run on Monday 27th March 2023 at 13:00 (BST).

They have plenty of interesting talks lined up, The events are free to attend online and registration is required.

Dr. Stone Returns to Crunchyroll for a Third Season

Date: 2023 March 13 21:02 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

The good folks from streaming giant Crunchyroll have just sent us details that Dr. Stone will return from 6th April 2023 with Dr. Stone New World. The hilarious action show rocks back for a 3rd season with Senku getting up to more science as he brings more advances to the stone world. This series our team of science users build a ship to go off on a naval voyage to find the mystery of the global petrification event.

It's based on the manga by the same written by Riichiro Inagaki and illustrated by Boichi. We've really enjoyed the first two season and the special episode which leads up to this season. The show is silly, fun and action packed, while watching it you'll feel like a science genius as you'll watch Senku use science to extract various raw materials to build components and then use them to make modern technology in post apocalyptic stone age.

You can catch previous season of Dr. Stone now on Crunchyroll or if you're already up to date, wait until Thursday 6th April 2023 for the new season.

Read More... | Souce: Crunchyroll

Azuki to Publish Manga Titles as eBooks

Date: 2023 March 11 12:00 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Manga

The good folks from digital manga subscription service Azuki have sent news that two of their exclusive manga series will be published as eBooks on BookWalker, Amazon, Apple Books, and Google Play Books. They're going to start with My Dear Detective: Mitsuko's Case Files and Turning the Tables on the Seatmate Killer!. Both titles will are available for pre-order and will be released on March 23, 2023.

It's great to see Azuki branch out to digital publishing like this.

Sony Adds Crunchyroll Button to 2023 Sony Bravia TV Remotes

Date: 2023 March 02 20:38 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

The good folks from anime giant Crunchyroll have sent us news that Sony will be adding a Crunchyroll button onto their 2023 Sony Bravia TV line up. Smart TVs have long had Netflix Buttons, and new Sony Bravia line has other streaming services on it's remote including Disney+, YouTube and Amazon Prime Video.

The fact Sony are willing to add a Crunchyroll button to their TV remotes shows how willing they are to invest in their anime acquisition and that they know there is enough demand for an anime stream service button! We believe it shows you how mainstream anime has become. Keen readers will note that Sony own Crunchyroll. It's fascinating to see that Sony are willing to do this. As getting an actual button on a remote can take a lot of corporate wrangling, even if Sony do own the company in question. They have to justify the existence of adding a button to a remote and there can be other services that are also up for consideration.

Read More... | Souce: Crunchyroll

Leiji Matsumoto 1938-2023

Date: 2023 February 26 11:05 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Current Affairs

This week it was announced that renowned manga artist Leiji Matsumoto had died on 13th February 2023 of acute heart failure in a Tokyo hospital, at the age of 85.

You may have encountered his highly influential works such as Galaxy Express 999, Queen Emeraldas, Space Pirate Captain Harlock or even Interstella 5555 his collaboration with Daft Punk.

You could read the BBC Obituary or equally well written Financial Times Obituary , but the best write up we've found is on Anime Limited's Blog it's written by anime expert Helen McCarthy, who has written numerous books on anime including a collection of Essays on Leiji Matsumoto.

Souce: Anime Limited

Marugame Udon Arrives in the UK

Date: 2023 February 23 20:29 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Cuisine

London based readers might have noticed a new arrival in town. Marugame Udon is the world's largest world's largest udon and tempura restaurant with over 1,250 sites globally. The chain prides itself on it's speed of service, quality and value for money with udon bowls ranging from £3.45 to £11.95.

They offer a great range of rice bowls and tempura along with plenty of vegan options. They also serve Ramune. The experience is straight forward. You grab a tray and go along and say what you want, with the meal made in front of you and served rapidly. You then find a table and sit and enjoy.

You can find Marugame Udon at multiple places around London including Spitalfields (Middlesex Street), Bond Street, Oxford Circus, Canary Wharf, Waterloo, Kensington Arcade, The O2, Brent Cross. There'll be new ones opening soon at Liverpool Street Station, The Strand and further afield at Reading.

If you're looking for some quick authentic Japanese food in London you really should give Marugame Udon a try.

Junk Head UK and Ireland Cinema Release Details

Date: 2023 February 23 16:59 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime > Film

The good folks from Anime Limited have just sent us the details of their latest cinematic release. Junk Head is an stop-motion sci-fi action thriller set in a dystopian future. The film took Takahide Hori seven years to make. He crafted everything, sets, puppets, sound, music and special effects then animated it all!

The film is set to hits selected cinemas across the United Kingdom and Ireland from Monday 24th April 2023.

Ballmastrz: Rubicon The Anime An Interview with Christy Karacas

Date: 2023 February 16 19:08 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

Fans of Adult Swim will be aware of Ballmastrz: 9009 an anime inspired animation about THE GAME. The next logical step for the series was to get an anime studio to actually animated it. The result was the special Ballmastrz: Rubicon, animated by Studio 4℃ in Japan (Mind Game, Tekkonkinkreet, Detroit Metal City) with Takashi Nakamura (Robot Carnival, AKIRA, Yatterman, Catnapped!) serving as animation director. Keen to find out more we got in touch with Ballmastrz creator Christy Karacas to talk about this anime space opera.

Ballmastrz: Rubicon arrives Monday, February 20 2023. It premiere at Midnight on Adult Swim and the next day on HBO Max and digital retailers. All episodes of Ballmastrz: 9009 are now available on the Adult Swim hub on HBO Max.

Makoto Shinkai's Suzume Special UK Film Screening and Director Q and A

Date: 2023 February 15 17:38 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime > Film

The good folks from anime giants Crunchyroll have sent us details of a special UK anime screening of Makato Shinkai's latest movie Suzume.

The screening will take place on Wednesday 1st March 2023 at 18:00 the BFI Southbank in London. Not only will this be a chance to catch the movie more than a month ahead of it's national release, but the director himself will be there for a special Questions and Answers session. This is a rare opportunity to be able to get a chance to pitch questions at the director! Makoto Shinkai is best know for his two major films Your Name and Weathering With You. Tickets are on sale now and we expect them to sell out quickly. So book early to avoid disappointment.

The movie will be released across the UK and Ireland from 14th April 2023.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba- To The Swordsmith Village- UK and Ireland Cinema Details

Date: 2023 February 13 20:45 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime > Film

Fancy watching some Demon Slayer in the cinema? Well the good folks from Crunchyroll have sent us details of the upcoming Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba- To The Swordsmith Village- movie. It's due to hit cinemas in the UK and Ireland from Wednesday 1st March 2023. Tickets will go on sale from Friday 17th February 2023.

The movie consists of episodes 10 and 11 of the series' Entertainment District Arc as well as the extended Episode 1 of the Swordsmith Village Arc all remastered into a feature length adventure in 4K.

If you haven't seen Demon Slayer yet, you can catch it on Crunchyroll. You can also get the whole manga in a nice boxset.

Birdie Wing 1-13 (Streaming)

Date: 2023 February 10 20:57 | Posted By: Eeeper

A youth story centring on two young women golfers named Eve and Aoi Amawashi. The two come from completely different backgrounds, with completely opposite play styles, and together they will shake the world of golf.

Discotek Media Announce 2023 Licences

Date: 2023 February 05 12:56 | Posted By: Eeeper

Category > Anime

US anime boutique label Discotek Media announced their upcoming titles for 2023 in their usual Twitch live stream channel on Monday night, the 30th of January 2023. It included some long-anticipated releases, some surprises, and clarifications on existing titles.

Anime Limited To Distribute Suzume Movie Soundtrack

Date: 2023 February 01 20:31 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

The good folks from Anime Limited have just sent us some news that they have the rights to distribute the Suzume soundtrack. Makoto Shinkai's latest movie is due to hit cinemas in the UK and Ireland this April 2023. The director joins forces again with RADWIMPS to create the soundtrack for this film and also brings in Kazuma Jinnouchi.

Anime Limited are currently taking pre-orders for the Japanese Import edition on vinyl. It's currently priced at £59.99 (on offer from £69.99). An official western version is due for release sometime early Q3 2023.

You can also stream/download the soundtrack from many popular official streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music.

Although an primarily an anime company, Anime Limited are also a record label with an excellent catalogue of anime soundtracks.

What's on NHK World?

Date: 2023 January 29 13:05 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime > TV

Being a fan of anime, manga and Japanese stuff in general it's always good to find a great source of content. Most fans will hunt on DVDs and blu-rays for those extra features, read magazines and articles and various bonus features included in books and so on. They'll even read websites like this one, but one resource that we find that is frequently overlooked is NHK World.

NHK is the national state broadcaster for Japan. NHK World is it's international arm. It's content is available in a selection of languages including either dubbed into English or in Japanese with English Subtitles. The service is free to access and is available on a wide range of satellite and cable providers in the US, UK and further afield. You can also watch it free and legally on the website or app that's offered on many platforms including iOS (iPhone and iPad), Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android, Roku and more. You can watch the live broadcast or the video on demand service.

A lot of the content there is excellent for anime and manga fans.

Crunchyroll UK Blu-ray and DVD Releases for April 2023

Date: 2023 January 23 21:01 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime > DVD

The good folks from anime giant Crunchyroll have just sent us their UK DVD and Blu-ray release line up for April 2023.

Attack on Titan: The Final Season Part 2 gets a limited edition box set release, which includes a 24-page Digibook, 3 acrylic pins, 4 art cards, and 4 discs retailing for £99.99. With the regular editions retailing for £29.99 for the Blu-ray or DVD.

Also scheduled for release is Arifureta: From Commonplace to World's Strongest - Season 2 on Blu-ray for £34.99 or DVD for £24.99.

All these titles are due for UK release on Monday 24th April 2023.

Read More... | Souce: Crunchyroll

Azuki to Release New Shojo Comedy Manga I Fell for a Fujoshi

Date: 2023 January 21 13:20 | Posted By: Guest Contributor

Category > Anime

For those of you who read Shojo manga, a new title is on the horizon. Digital manga subscription service Azuki announced today that the romantic comedy manga I Fell For A Fujoshi by Toako has been exclusively licensed for worldwide release in English.

The first two chapters will be available on the Azuki app on Feb 7th 2023 but a free preview is now available.

The manga was originally published in Comic Elmo, which previously published The Yakuza's Guide to Babysitting and Natsume & Natsume. The series is about a high school boy who confesses to his childhood crush. But after a misunderstanding foils his plan, he must pretend to be a fan of Boys Love manga in order to win her over.

The series will be available to read for free with advertisements but a $4.99 per month premium subscription that unlocks Azuki's entire catalog of more than 200 series is also available. If you're unsure of the price or content, readers the the option of trying out Azuki with a 14-day free trial.

If you're a fan of romance shenanigans, then it will be hard to pass on I Fell For A Fujoshi.

Reported by zanderlex

Trigun Stampede Anime Review

Date: 2023 January 06 18:24 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

Highly anticipated new anime series Trigun Stampede hits streaming service Cruchyroll from Saturday 7th January 2023. We were lucky to get a sneak peak of the series and watch the first episode before it's released. So is Vash the same? Is the CGI animation any good? Well read our spoiler free review to find out!

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