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Human Versus Machine Japanese Translation Mini Battle

Date: 2024 May 09 20:06 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Manga

The manga tech start up Orange Inc recently raised over 19 million USD in funding for machine translated manga. We were quite intrigued because machine translation hasn't always worked out in the past for manga titles. One recent example was the Ranking of Kings Manga that had to be pulled because the quality of the translations were so poor. What's worse was the lack of quality control from everyone involved in the publishing of the title.

As we were curious, we reached out to some professional translators to ask their opinions on the current state of translation.

Read More... | Souce: Otaku News

Crunchyroll and Bershka launch a Junji Ito Clothing Collection for Halloween

Date: 2023 October 26 20:04 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Retail

The good folks from anime streaming giants Crunchyroll have just got in touch to tell us about their latest collaboration with Bershka to launch a Junji Ito Collection Capsule just in time for Halloween. The renowned manga artist is famed for his monochrome horror, especially around spirals, seemingly beautiful ladies and odd balls school boys who are obsessed with metal nails.

The macabre range is available online and in select Bershka stores from 28th October 2023. They've got an horrific range of shirts, jumpers, a hoody and other street fashion. There's some fun accessories too including a great crossbody bag, and a beanie hat. However the press release doesn't state the greatest bit of official merchandise yet. Junji Ito branded socks. You heard it. This isn't a typo, licensed socks from the master of manga horror. So you can wear them to work and go unnoticed or even better, gift them to someone as socks are always an excellent gift.

One Piece Film: Red Takes Over New York's Times Square

Date: 2022 October 04 19:59 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

The new One Piece Film Red is about to hit the big screens this November 2022. To celebrate in New York, they're going to take over Times Square!

The One Piece production committee have announced that a large-scale takeover ad campaign in New York's Times Square will run exclusively on Saturday, October 8 2022 between 7:00 p.m. -8:00 p.m. (EST). Set to launch during New York Comic Con, this isn't one bill board. This is going to be the whole of Times Square.

Visit onepiecefilm.red to find a screening near you.

Read More... | Souce: One Piece Production Committee

Voidol2 Anime Style Voice Changing Software Review

Date: 2022 February 08 21:06 | Posted By: Voxie

Category > Features

After we heard about Crimson Technology's voice changing Voidol2 software we were curious to know more about it. It's aimed at those who want to change their voices to that of a Japanese school girl, robot or something else for whatever reason. It's mainly aimed at streamers, VTubers and other content creators.

Thanks to the good folks at Crimson Technology we were able to get our hands on a review copy to give it a go.

Read More... | Souce: Otaku News

Voidol2 Anime Style Voice Changing Software Release Details

Date: 2021 November 25 21:59 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

The good folks from Japanese software firm Crimson Technology have sent us details about their English language launch of Voidol2. This is real time voice conversion software primarily aimed at streamers, v-tubers and people who have the need to change their voice in real time.

The software has many voice modes and can make you sound like an anime character or even a robot and everything else in between. It retails for 13,200 JPY (about $114 USD / £86 GBP), but is currently on offer for 8,800 JPY (about $76 USD / £57 GBP). It's available to download on Windows or Mac via Sendowl.

McDonalds UK are selling Katsu Curry Chicken McNuggets

Date: 2020 December 31 19:44 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Cuisine

We've just discovered as of 30th December 2020, McDonalds UK are selling Katsu Curry Chicken McNuggets.

The fast food outlet describes them as "100% chicken breast meat in a bold Katsu Curry crispy breadcrumb coating served with a sweet curry dip, ready to dive in!"

The Japanese inspired nuggets are being marketed on social media with the hashtag #KatsuAtMcDonalds.

They're available in packs of 6, 9 or 20 and prices seem to vary depending on location and delivery app used. We've seen them priced around £3.89 for 6, £4.39 for 9 and £5.89 for 20.

Souce: McDonalds UK

Crunchyroll Reveals UK Anime Fans Shun Cosplay in Favour of Books and Boardgames

Date: 2019 December 11 21:01 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

Anime streaming service Crunchyroll have sent us an interesting press release. They highlight that most UK anime fans would rather read a good book than cosplay. Surveying their premium UK members (who pay for the service to remove ads and get earlier access to titles) they discovered that less 7% are into cosplaying. In comparison 10% write or read fan fiction!

We could speculate as to why this is. Could it be that cosplayers would rather spend their disposable income on cosplaying? Instead using the free access areas of Crunchyroll? Does it reflect fandom in general, are less than 7% of anime fans involved in creating cosplay?

Imaginary Solutions - Performance in London This November

Date: 2019 September 15 19:03 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

London based culture vultures will be interested to hear about Imaginary Solutions. It's an upcoming collaboration between the Tokyo-based Butoh dancer/martial artist Takahiro Tomatsu, and the acclaimed London-based experimental music ensemble ARCO, led by composer performer Neil Luck. The performance is set to run on Friday 15th November 2019 at The Horse Hospital in Bloomsbury. Tickets are £8 or 6 for concessions.

The performance is an official event of the Japan-UK Season of Culture 2019-2020.

The Benza - A Comedy about a Quest for a Toilet Seat

Date: 2019 August 15 19:06 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

Not all quests are epic. Which is why we've been sent details about Chris and Kyle, two Americans who share an apartment in Tokyo. One day their toilet seat broke, which leads onto their adventures to find a suitable replacement. The trouble starts when they realise they don't know the Japanese word for toilet seat! Want to know more? Then you can find out by watching The Benza a 6 series comedy on Amazon Prime currently streaming in the US, UK, Germany and Japan.

Made on a budget of 2,000,000 yen (about 18,840 USD) the show explores what it's like to go hunting for a toilet seat in Japan.

Manga Exhibition at The British Museum a Review

Date: 2019 June 03 21:27 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

The British Museum have just opened the largest Manga Exhibition outside of Japan. Naturally being keen manga fans we were curious. What was it all about? Was it any good? We were invited by The British Museum to check out the new exhibition and find out for ourselves.

Read More... | Souce: Otaku News

The Ring Returns to Cinemas and Home Video in the UK for it's 20th Anniversary

Date: 2019 February 11 22:51 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime > Film

Arrow Films are keen to tell us about some classic nightmare fuel they're releasing. To celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Ring a special restoration of the film will be showing across the UK from Friday 1st March 2019. They've also got a showing at London's Prince Charles Cinema 21st February 2019.

The iconic horror movie has so many classic elements, urban myths and a more modern take on the chain letter. The iconic image of Sadako crawling out of a TV is burnt into Japanese pop culture on it's release.

You can find a screening near you by visiting the official UK Ring website.

If you want to watch it at home Ring will also be released on Monday 18th March 2019 on Digital, DVD, Blu-ray, Limited Edition Steelbook, and Limited Edition Collection featuring Ring, Ring 2, Ring 0 and Spiral.

You can pre-order the Limited Edition Collection Blu-ray now from Amazon.co.uk, which features a ton of content featuring Ring, Ring 2, Ring 0 and Spiral, plus a limited edition 60-page booklet containing new writing by Violet Lucca, Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, Jasper Sharp, Kieran Fisher and Kat Ellinger. They're also got Limited Edition Blu-ray Steel Book of Ring.

If you don't like Blu-rays in Steelbooks they've also got the regular blu-ray (that's currently priced the same as the steel book) or the film on DVD.

One Cut of the Dead UK Cinema, DVD and Blu-ray Release Details

Date: 2018 December 11 21:40 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime > Film

The good folks from Third Window Films have something special lined up for UK fans of clever Japanese horror movies. For those wanting to start the new year with a scream they'll be showing One Cut of the Dead in select cinemas around the UK from 4th January 2019.

The live action comedy horror movie tells the ghoulish story of a film crew who happen to encounter some zombies while filming, blood ensues. The film starts off with a non-stop one-take 37 minute shot, making it a bit clever to say the least.

The movie also hits Limited Edition Blu-ray and DVD on Monday 28th January 2019.

Neon Genesis Evangelion to stream on Netflix Worldwide from Spring 2019

Date: 2018 November 27 21:58 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

Streaming Service Netflix have just revealed that they will be showing anime Neon Genesis Evangelion worldwide starting from Spring 2019. Announced on their NXOnNetflix Twitter feed as a teaser trailer of the show.

The original Neon Genesis Evangelion TV Series is generally regarded as one of the greatest anime TV shows of it's era. In the mid 1990's it lit the flames for a new wave of anime that still carries on to this day. Without the anime boom it caused the anime industry itself would be very different. Australian Anime Distributors Madman Entertainment owed their early success to Neon Genesis Evangelion. For many it was the watershed title that helped them discover anime.

Written and directed by the otaku's otaku Hideaki Anno the multi-layered story blends a bleak future mixed with giant robots, nostalgia for 1960's adventure, along with Christian symbolism and nods to Tokusatsu, Thunderbirds, along with a special blend of whiny teenage angst and reasons to hate your father. You'll never listen to Ode to Joy the same way again.

The hugely influential show, spawned some movies, plus the rebuild series of new movies retelling the story with a different take, various manga spin offs, plus an endless stream of merchandise.

Souce: Offical NXOnNetflix Twitter

Cyber City Oedo 808 UK Blu-ray Release Announcement

Date: 2018 October 13 16:05 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

UK based anime distributor Anime Limited have just teased on Twitter that they will be releasing Cyber City Oedo 808 on remastered Blu-ray sometime in 2019. The anime series from renowned studio Madhouse was shown in the mid 90's on Channel 4 in the UK on a very late slot but for many it the screening that lead them discovering anime. It was directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri (Ninja Scroll, Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust and the Program segment in The Animatrix to name a few).

Kaiji Live Action Movie - Animal World

Date: 2018 July 05 20:11 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime > Film

Fans of Chinese Cinema based off Japanese Manga will be interested to hear about Animal World.

The high-profile Chinese live-action cinema feature produced based on Nobuyuki Fukumoto's manga Tobaku mokushiroku Kaiji ("Gambling apocalypse Kaiji") about no-good lowlife Kaiji Ito, whose involvement with gambling and loan sharks land him in seemingly hopeless situations but who, under pressure, displays a remarkable insight into how to manipulate his way out of them - only for his gambling to inevitably lead him to fall into yet another one.

This latest, rather loose adaptation stars Li Yifeng as the protagonist, renamed Zheng Kaisi, with Zhou Dongyu and a special appearance by Michael Douglas, is written for the screen and directed by Han Yan Animal World (动物世界 Dòngwù Shìjiè). Trailers and other promotional videos, some with English subtitles, are available at UK-based distributor Cine Asia's YouTube channel.

Special thanks goes to Jordan Scott for bringing this to our attention and send us all the details

Animerama: A Thousand and One Nights / Cleopatra UK Blu-ray and DVD Release Details

Date: 2018 May 12 20:15 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

UK fans of Osamu Tezuka's less mainstream work will be interested to hear about Third Window Film's upcoming release of Animerama: A Thousand and One Nights / Cleopatra. This forms the world's first blu-ray and remastered release of Tezuka's more erotic movies from the late 60's and early 70's. The double disc set is due out on Monday 18th June 2018 and is rated BBFC 15.

The extras bundled with the film make it even more temping including Audio commentaries for both films by Helen McCarthy (anime expert and author of The Art of Osamu Tezuka: God of Manga), plus a new hour long interview with director Eiichi Yamamoto.

You can pre-order the collectors edition on blu-ray and DVD from Amazon.co.uk

World's Largest Collection of CardCaptor Sakura Merchandise

Date: 2018 January 04 15:42 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Fandom

If you think your collection of anime merchandise is big then you might want to think again. Is it big enough to get a Guinness World Record? We've just heard from Sofia Pichihua a keen CardCaptor Sakura fan from Peru, who has the world's largest collection of CardCaptor Sakura merchandise with 1,086 items. Sofia writes for the Otaku Press blog (that's a name we like).

There are other collectors out there. Masao Gunji in Yotsukaido, Japan has the world's largest collection of Hello Kitty memorabilia with 5,169 items.

Can anyone else out there beat this? Do you have a large collection of anime merchandise that's worthy of a Guinness World Record?

Evangelion Ring Watch Details

Date: 2017 December 23 08:28 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Retail

The good folks from on-line anime shop Tokyo Otaku Mode have sent us details of a new Evangelion product available for pre-order that will be of interest to the fan who has everything.

We've covered the world of Evangelion merchandise before with the Transformers Mode Eva (which promptly sold out), along with an article covering all the stuff available, plus a follow up article (our favourite bit of merchandise is still an AT Field Umbrella).

With such a wide variety of Eva themed goods, the merchandise department khara must be looking for something a bit different to sell. So a tie in with character-based jewellery firm U-TREASURE seems like a good choice. They'll be releasing a "ring watch". It's a ring with a watch face on the setting. There's lot of interesting details such as the bezel featuring the Eva Pilot's synchro rates, and the jewel matching the patterns of the AT Field. What strikes us is the choice for the base of the ring. They've decided to use the pilots torso as the base, yes, you've read that right. Not their face, or some sort of montage, or some other Eva iconography like the Lance of Longinus or some nifty design featuring the angels or something along those lines, but a ring with the torsos of the pilots in their plug suits.

You can chose between two designs one with a red jewel, with Rei's torso in her 00 suit and 09 suit, or another design with a blue jewel featuring Shinji and Kaworu.

The ring watch will retail for ¥53,000 JPY which is about $468 USD / €394 EUR / £350 GBP (at the time of publishing). Both designs will be limited to 100 units each with serial numbers.

Pre-orders open from 10:00 am (JST) on December 22, 2017
Pre-orders period ends at 11:59 pm (JST) on January 31, 2018

Perfect Blue UK Halloween Cinema Screening Review

Date: 2017 October 24 16:40 | Posted By: Guest Contributor

Category > Features

UK Anime fans can catch the Satoshi Kon Classic Perfect Blue at UK Cinemas Nationally on 31st October 2017. Visit perfectbluemovie.co.uk to find a screening near you.

We sent James and Lee to review the movie. Our editor found them after the screening rocking back and forth in the corner of the room, muttering about perception of reality and something about an unreliable narrator, he didn't care that this movie freaked them both out, he just wanted his 500 word review. So after some special counselling involving a unicorn chaser of both seasons of K-On (plus the movie) we managed to get a coherent review. Although they are still on edge a bit when they see J-Pop Idols for some reason...

Read More... | Souce: Otaku News

An Interview with Masaaki Yuasa

Date: 2017 September 29 16:51 | Posted By: Guest Contributor

Category > Features

Cult anime director Masaaki Yuasa was in the UK recently, being eager to quiz him about his two upcoming films Night is Short, Walk On Girl which hits cinemas on 4th October 2017 (visit the official website to find a screening near you) and Lu Over the Wall on 6th December 2017.

Rather than just send anyone to interview this great director, we wanted to send someone we knew who is one of Masaaki Yuasa biggest fans. So we sent Katy.

Read More... | Souce: Otaku News

An Interview with Danny Choo

Date: 2017 July 26 15:27 | Posted By: Lee

Category > Features

One of the great things about writing for Otaku News is that you get to meet interesting people. At Hyper Japan we caught up with Danny Choo a professional otaku, entrepreneur, Japanese Cultural ambassador and inventor of the Smart Doll Fashion Doll.

Danny was born and raised in the UK and has been living in Tokyo since 1999. We managed to get an exclusive with interview him at his Smart Doll Booth and he revealed some interesting up products. Read on to find out more.

Read More... | Souce: Otaku News

Kanpai London Craft Sake Brewery Crowd Sourcing

Date: 2017 June 21 15:53 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Cuisine

We've just discovered a crowd sourcing attempt to get a London Sake Brewery going! The catchy named Kanapi London aim to raise £12,500 by Thursday 29th June 2017. They've already hit their original target of £10,000 with 129 supporters.

The sake microbrewery in Peckham intend to make clear and cloudy sake in 330ml bottles.

They're crowd funding to get the first batch to market, scale up and produce more varieties of sake in the future. Pledge tiers include more than booze, you can t-shirts and hot sauce made with the sake.

For the £1,000 top pledge the brewery will visit your house (if it's in London) and host a sake-paired 3-course sake themed meal for 8 people including an award winning sake bomb dessert! If you break it down to a luxury top notch meal for £125 a head that they'll make at your house, that's good value for money. Plus you get to to start up a London sake brewery.

Souce: Kanpai London Craft Sake Brewery Crowdfunder

Talking to toco toco tv

Date: 2017 January 25 16:12 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Features

We've interviewed a lot of interesting people in the anime industry over the years and were delighted when we discovered the mini-documentary show toco toco tv. The series available on YouTube has a simple and effective format they talk to various Japanese creators and introduce places they like in Japan while telling the viewer about their work.

The show is aired on the French TV channel Nolife since 2011 and YouTube (with English and French subtitles) since 2015.

Being intrigued about the show we wanted to know more, so decided to interview Anne Ferrero the show's director.

Read More... | Souce: Otaku News

Seven Seas License Dragon Half Manga

Date: 2017 January 13 18:04 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Manga

It seems that Christmas has come early for some manga fans as publisher Seven Seas Entertainment have just announced that they'll be releasing Dragon Half as a manga omnibus from December 2017.

Certain anime fans will be aware of the much loved crazy title that follows the adventures of half human half dragon Mink, who has fallen for male idol and dragon slayer Dick Saucer (yes, that is his name). The 1993 two episode OVA was mad cap to say the least for many it was an early introduction into how crazy anime can be. That and how you can reinterpret Beethoven's Symohony Number 7 and the joy of omelettes (you really need to watch the anime to appreciate this). Yum! Tamago! *ahem*

Even if you haven't seen the anime If you love Japanese RPGs, you'll want to get a hold of this title.

Takarabune Art Show by Junko Mizuno December 2016

Date: 2016 December 08 15:45 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Events

Readers in LA who are fans of renowned creepy-kawaii manga artist Junko Mizuno will want to head over to Gallery Nucleus on Saturday December 17th, 2016 for the opening reception of her new exhibition. Junko Mizuno's second Japan-themed art show will run from December 17th, 2016 to January 8, 2017.

Admission to the opening reception is free, booking is required. As always with popular events, we advise booking early to avoid disappointment.

For those looking to find out more we interviewed Junko Mizuno last time she was in London.

Full Metal Alchemist Ultimate Boxset UK Release Details

Date: 2016 October 31 16:50 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

We've survived the madness that was MCM London Comic Con October 2016. There's lots of anime news for us to go through and share with you. Lots of release details and so on. One thing that really caught our eye was Anime Limited's release of Full Metal Alchemist. They've bundled the original series in an ultimate box set. Now they've been drumming up interest in this release for a while and having actually seen in at the Anime Limited Booth we can confirm it really is the Ultimate Edition.

The real insane part of the set is "The Gate" made of resign it weighs in at 5kg (that's not a typo, it's five kilograms). The set in total weighs 8 Kg!

It'll ship mid November 2016. Anime Limited's shop has it for £209. That's a £90 saving. Anime Limited are also very clear that once this is out of print that's it.

Kitacon 2017 Details

Date: 2016 August 05 15:24 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Events

UK based anime fans looking ahead for the 2017 anime convention season will be pleased to hear that Kitacon have announced their 2017 event. During the closing ceremony of AmeCon 2016 the KitaCon Team revealed that their next event is called Kita Quest and will be at the Warwick Arts Centre from Friday 18th to Sunday 20th August 2017.

The Warwick Arts Centre was used this year for AmeCon 2016, and has been used many times before by AyaCon. It's a favoured location for anime conventions.

Registration for the anime/geek convention opens on Tuesday 3rd January 2017 at 19:00.

Souce: Kitacon

An Interview Hirokatsu Kihara - Horror Writer and Studio Ghibli Production Manager

Date: 2016 July 27 16:53 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Features

One of the fun parts about running Otaku News is that you get to meet interesting people. In July 2016 we went to Japanese Cultural Festival Hyper Japan and met Hirokatsu Kihara. The former Studio Ghibli Production Manager is now a horror story writer and yokai expert. Hirokatsu Kihara sounded just like the kind of person you'd be interested in hearing from. So we caught up with him for an interview.

Read More... | Souce: Otaku News

Band-Maid Announce First European Tour

Date: 2016 July 27 15:20 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Events

Fans of hard core rock music played by Japanese Maids will be pleased to hear the news from JPU Records, who have sent us details of Band-Maid's first European tour.

Tour dates are as follows:
12 October 2016: The Underworld – London, UK
13 October 2016: MTC – Cologne, Germany
15 October 2016: Headcrash – Hamburg, Germany
16 October 2016: La Boule Noire – Paris, France
19 October 2016: Hydrozagadka – Warsaw, Poland

Ticket sales begin on Friday 29 July 2016.

Fakku Publishing and Toshio Maeda Running Kickstarter to publish Legend of the Overfiend in English

Date: 2016 June 22 16:02 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Freaky Things

Sitting on a train travelling home, a man wearing a trench coat walked past me, I couldn't see his face, it was covered by the brim of his hat, I could see he had a moustache. I thought this was strange attire for the middle of June. I didn't know who he was, but he clearly knew me. Just as the train pulled into the next station he passed me a plain brown envelope and left the train before I could process what happened.

I waited until I got home until opening the envelope, just in case, as it's not everyday mustachioed stranger delivers a letter on public transport. The letter was from on-line retailer United Publications, they wanted to tell us that they've started stocking books for *ahem* mature readers from publisher Fakku. The letter said Fakku are company driven by fans, something United Publications are keen to support.

Not wanting to stop, the letter carried on.

"We know you've met renowned hentai master Toshio Maeda, but are you aware of the Kickstarter to get his most famous work Legend of the Overfiend published in English?"

We weren't aware of this Kickstarter, but now we are. Thank you, kind trenchcoated stranger.

The Kickstarter is due to end on Wednesday 20th July 2016. As of the time of writing $32,919 has been pledged towards the $47,000 (USD) target.

Souce: Fakku Kickstarter

Finnish iOS Users are Discovering a Whole New World of Anime with Autocorrect

Date: 2016 April 26 14:57 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Freaky Things

We're not certain if all our readers keep up to date with Finnish tech current affairs, so read on if you haven't heard about this already. In order to explain this we need to teach you some basic Finnish.

Lone Wolf and Cub Motion Comic Project Kickstarter Details

Date: 2016 February 25 16:03 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Manga

We've just been sent details of a new Kickstarter called Samurai Lone Wolf. It aims to turn the classic manga Lone Wolf Cub into a motion comic.

What's a motion comic? According to the Kick stater it's "...a term for a next generation of comics that takes realism of the medium to a new level, using digital processing techniques to enrich the original artwork by adding movement to the drawings that were inked by the hand of the artists themselves."

Basically it's moving manga. They intend to take the original artwork and animate it slightly. So characters lips will move. Characters arm movements will animated in key panels and so on.

Lone Wolf and Cub has won plenty of awards including an Eisner Award (Best U.S. Edition of Foreign Material / Best Archival Collection/Project). It's been adapted into movies and a TV show in Japan. It's also known as Shogun Assassin in some places. The manga itself is hugely influential and held in high regard. We just wonder is there any demand for a motion comic? Part of the joy of reading manga is letting your imagination fill in the gaps. You can read it at your own speed, you can spend ages admiring the line work or speed through pages as you please. The goal has been set to $300,000 USD. We think this crowdfunding attempt is ambitious. So far $1,140 has been pledged with 29 days left, so there's plenty of time for it to reach it's goal.

Hatsune Miku by iDoll x Nendoroid at Wonder Festival

Date: 2016 February 09 16:50 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Technology

Fans of collectable anime figures will already be aware of winter Wonder Festival 2016. It's always interesting to see what figures have been launched and how stressful it will be on your wallet. The good folks from Yukai Engineering Inc have sent us details of their latest concept project. A collaboration with figure firm Good Smile The iDoll x Nendoroid combines the Yukai Engineering iDoll with Good Smile's popular Nendoroid figure. They've created a singing dancing Hatsune Miku figure that interacts with a smart phone app.

Yukai Engineering Inc are not new to making otaku products they were also involved in the necomimi, those brainwave reading cat ears.

KISS x Ukiyo-e Project

Date: 2016 February 09 15:32 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Culture

With the release of Miss Hokusai Ukiyo-e prints are in the spotlight. Iconic band KISS have launched the KISS x Ukiyo-e Project which involves a collaboration with Japanese traditional Ukiyo-e art creators the Ukiyo-e Project. It features the KISS iconic style thrown into the world of traditional Japanese woodblook prints.

The Sunset Marquis/Morrison Gallery Hotel in Los Angeles will be hosting a KISS retrospective exhibition which will showcase the debut of the collaborative Ukiyo-e art pieces from Saturday 13th February 2016.

This is not the first time KISS have collaborated with Japanese culture icons, they've collaborated with Japanese super star Hello Kitty for KISS x Hello Kitty, which had a line of clothes and cool vinyl figures (this was one of our favourite collaborations with Hello Kitty since she teamed up with Gloomy Bear). KISS also teamed up with Japanese idol group Momoiro Clover Z.

Seven Seas Entertainment Licenses My Girlfriend is a T-Rex

Date: 2015 December 04 17:59 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Manga

We've just heard from the good folks at Seven Seas Entertainment about a new manga they've licensed. It's called My Girlfriend is a T-Rex. No, it's not a typo. It's an actual manga. According to the press release:

"My Girlfriend is a T-Rex-like Monster Musume but with a very prehistoric twist!". So that explains the influence and the target audience.

If you like your anime girls carnivorous and cold blooded then this title is clearly for you. You might have to wait a while to get your hands on it as Seven Seas have states that it will be released on 1st November 2016.

We're thinking this is a must to add to your manga / graphic novel collection.

Hyper Japan Christmas Market 2015 Details

Date: 2015 November 07 17:13 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Events

Fans of Japanese culture looking for something fun to do near Christmas will be interested in Hyper Japan Christmas Market. It's set to run from Friday 27th to Sunday 29th November 2015 at Tobacco Dock in London.

There's a ton of things to do at this event. They'll be lots of Japanese food, plenty of stalls with things to buy. Along with a whole host of musical performances from the virtual artist IA to the the cute and rather strange Lady Baby.

Cosplayers and fashion fans will be well represented too.

Anime fans will be pleased to hear that anime studio Production I.G will be represented too with anime director Naoyoshi Shiotani (who directed the Psycho-Pass TV series and movie) and producer Rui Kuroki, who will be giving talks throughout the event.

Gundam Zeonic Toyota Auris

Date: 2015 October 02 17:00 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Freaky Things

Gundam fans who have got it all will be interested in this latest cross over. Bandai Namco have teamed up with Toyota to produce a special Zeonic Toyota Auris. The car is available in forms the racy red MS-185H-CA02, which matches Char Aznable's own mech paint scheme, they also have a "PROCUCTION MODEL" that matches the classic Zaku green colour scheme.

This is a simple colour and transfer release, the cars actually have custom detailing including mech like fins on the rear, special front and rear bumpers, new mech-like wheel arches and air intakes too. It even includes red alloy wheels, along with Zeonic Toyota branded sport seats, gear stick. There's a ton of extras included too, such as the sat-nav using the Gundam voice actors Shuuichi Ikeda and Keiko Han.

The car retails around 2,900,000 to 3,700,000 JPY (which is about 15,900 to 20,300 GBP or 24,150 to 30,800 USD), depending on which options you get for it. You can read more details about this Auris on the Toyota Japan website.

You can also watch various promotional videos on YouTube.

As cars sold in Japan are right hand drive, we're wondering if any British Gundam fans would import this car?

Shinya Tsukamoto: Filmmaker Talk in London

Date: 2015 September 04 16:20 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime > Film

Fans of Japanese cinema in London will be keen to go to the Shinya Tsukamoto: Filmmaker Talk on Saturday 26th September 2015 at 2:30pm at the Impact Hub Westminster. The talk is hosted by the Japan Foundation London and is free to attend, but booking is essential to avoid disappointment.

Hatsune Miku at the Photographers' Gallery in London

Date: 2015 August 22 14:24 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Events

London based fans of everyone's favourite Vocaloid will want to head down to The Photographers' Gallery in Central London. Their media wall is currently showing Hatsune Miku as part of the d(^_^)b Exhibit, which runs up until Tuesday 15th September 2015.

Fans will also want to attend the Vocaloids and Alternative Universes talk which is set to run at the gallery at 6pm on Tuesday 8th September 2015. It's set to explore the theme of "How are new forums are being created online through fan and user generated music and images?" It should be an interesting discussion, but we wonder why no-one who is a Japanese Culture expert is on the panel? The talk costs £8 to attend or £5 for TPG members and concessions. It certainly does look interesting and worth attending.

Love Hotel Documentary on BBC 4 - Monday 16th February 2015

Date: 2015 February 15 12:34 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime > TV

UK readers looking for something a bit different will be interested to hear about BBC 4's Storyville Documentary on Love Hotels. This documentary explores daily life inside a Japanese 'love hotel' and the people that frequent . The feature will be broadcast at 10pm on Monday 16th February 2015. It'll also be available on BBC iPlayer shortly after broadcast.

BBC 4 can be viewed on:
Freeview Channel 9
Freeview HD 106
Freesat Channel 107
Sky Channel 116
Virgin Channel 107
Virgin HD 164

The Giant Ghibli Clock - Nittele Big Clock

Date: 2015 January 01 15:42 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Features

For a Ghibli fan heading to Japan, Mitaka is a the natural place to go for a pilgrimage to the Ghibli Museum. However the modern Tokyo district of Shiodome should not be overlooked for something something interesting and entertaining: the Nittele Big Clock (Nippon TV Really Big Clock).

Read More... | Souce: Otaku News

An Interview With Manga Artist Junko Mizuno

Date: 2014 October 16 16:03 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Features

Renowned manga artist Junko Mizuno is jetting over to the UK. She'll be here to attend Comica Festival and Lakes International Comic Art Festival. She'll also be visiting London to give an exclusive talk. Art gallery Atomica will be exhibiting and selling her original works in London.

Just before jetting off from the United States to the UK we were lucky enough to catch up with her for an exclusive interview.

Read More... | Souce: Otaku News

Toyota to launch Manga Inspired Adventures at the MCM London Comic Con

Date: 2014 October 14 16:12 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Retail

The MCM London Comic Con is almost here! We've just been sent details of an interesting product launch. Toyota will be revealing a manga styled adventure story to promote their new Aygo.

They've commissioned British based professional comic artist and illustrator Sonia Leong to create the artwork along with an original story. Sonia is no stranger to the UK anime and manga scene she is a member of popular UK artist collective and publishers Sweatdrop.

More details about the Aygo and it's manga inspired story will be revealed at the MCM London Comic on on Friday 24th October 2014 at the Toyota booth.

The MCM Expo is set to run from Friday 24th to Sunday 26th October 2014 at the ExCel Centre in London.

Junko Mizuno at the London Comica Festival 2014

Date: 2014 October 08 15:50 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Art

London based manga fans will be very excited to hear about a talk hosted manga artist Junko Mizuno. She'll be in London giving an exclusive talk for Comica Festival at popular bookshop Foyles at Charing Cross Road on Wednesday 22nd October 2014. Arrive at 6.30pm for 7.00-8.30pm. Tickets cost £8. As always we suggest booking as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

There will also be the first ever selling exhibition of her originals, prints and other items in London. Which will run at Atomica Gallery, 29 Shorts Gardens, London WC2H 9AP from October 20th to 28th as part of Comica Festival. With thanks to GB Sasakawa Foundation, Brewery Arts Centre Kendal, and Lakes International Comic Art Festival from Friday 17th to Sunday 19th October 2014.

Hello Kitty Is Not A Cat

Date: 2014 August 28 17:36 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Freaky Things

Every so often in the news you hear something that takes you by surprise. This week The LA Times found out that Hello Kitty is not a cat.

While researching Sanrio's super star character for a museum retrospective at the Japanese American National Museum in LA Christine R. Yano an anthropologist from the University of Hawaii (and currently a visiting professor at Harvard, as well as a Hello Kitty expert) discovered that Hello Kitty is not a cat.

Ambassadors of Cute

Date: 2014 July 06 04:43 | Posted By: Lucy

Category > Culture

What are these strange cute mascots, who are they, and what do they do?

Read More... | Souce: Otaku News

Transformers x Evangelion - Optimus Prime with Eva Unit 01 Colours

Date: 2014 June 09 14:53 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Retail

Fans of giant robots will be pleased to hear the news from the Big Bad Toy Store. Takara Tomy Toys the folks behind Transformers in Japan have teamed up with Gainax to produce an Evangelion Unit-01 coloured Optimus Prime. This forms part of the Transformers x Evangelion project.
Optimus' trailer comes with NERV branding too. Optimus himself sports the distinct purple and green colour scheme. While the Autobot Matrix of Leadership has been made to look like an S2 Engine.

Only 1,000 will be sold in Japan.

Fans of transformers merchandise will know that this is essentially a repaint of the MP-10 Masterpiece Optimus Prime figure. Big Bad Toy Store are taking pre-orders at $314.99 (USD).

Create your own Kaburimono headgear at the Japan Foundation in London

Date: 2014 May 06 16:05 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Events

The good folks from the Japan Foundation in London have sent us details of an upcoming event set to run at the end of May 2014.

Details as follows:

At the end of this month, The Japan Foundation will be hosting three workshops with Japanese artist Norio Nishihara, renowned for making bizarre and outlandish headgear known as "kaburimono". In the workshops, participants can make their very own Kaburimono similar to Nishihara's creations, using newspaper and coloured tape. They can also take their inspiration from almost anything - even their favourite anime or manga characters. The workshops will be held at the Japan Foundation in Russell Square, on the 30th May (3:00pm) and the 31st May (11:00am and 3:00pm).

This event is free, but booking in advance is essential to avoid disappointment as there are a limited number of places.

Miss Manga Mascara a new manga style mascara from L'Oreal Paris.

Date: 2014 January 22 15:16 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Retail

We've just seen an interesting advert on TV for a new brand of mega volume mascara Miss Manga. It's designed to give you the manga look. L'Oreal want people to embrace the Japanese Kawaii attitude.

Beckkii Cruel has reviewed the product.

Manga wallpaper is now available at B&Q

Date: 2014 January 13 19:16 | Posted By: Voxie

Category > Freaky Things

On the off-chance of a friend sending me a photo of her shiny new computer, I notice her room is emblazoned in manga comic art. I find out she bought it from B&Q a while a go.

The art in question is not an excerpt from an existing manga publication, but seems to be a one-off by artist and fashion designer Jean-Charles De Castelbajac

The wallpaper can be purchased online. It's available for £19.98 for a roll that spans 53cm in width and 10 metres.

Souce: B&Q

The latest craze in Japan - eyeball licking?

Date: 2013 August 02 14:46 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Freaky Things

We know readers of Otaku News are up to date with all the latest crazes in Japan, but have you heard about eyeball licking? If you read some news websites they state that it's the latest craze in Japan. They all give the impression that it's sweeping the country. They also interview various doctors who confirm that eyeball licking isn't a healthy thing to do. What they don't do is actually double check with anyone in Japan about this strange craze, because if they did, they'd find out that it isn't really happening. It's another one of those weird Japan stories that people just assume is true.

The Number 1 Shimbun has an excellent article by Mark Schreiber who analyses the origin of the story and how lack of any fact checking caused the article to be picked up by more prestigious news outlets.

Thanks to Matt Alt for making us aware of this story.

Souce: Number 1 Shimbun

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