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
Read More... | Souce: Tokyo Otaku Mode
Category > Anime
UK anime fans keen to get their own copy of the smash hit anime Your Name will want to set the date of Monday 6th November 2017 for the DVD, Blu-ray and Blu-ray Steelbook and Thursday 23rd November 2017 for the Deluxe Edition exclusively to Anime Ltd and Zavvi.
We've teamed up with the good folks from Anime Limited to give one lucky reader a copy of the film on DVD.
Read More... | Souce: Otaku News
Fans of killer note books will want to write down the date Friday 25th August 2017, as that's when Netflix will release their live action adaptation of the cult manga title Death Note.
Light Yagami becomes Light Turner (Nat Wolff), L is still L (Lakeith Stanfield), Misa Amane "Misa-Misa" becomes Mia Sutton (Margaret Qualley), Ryuk is still called Ryuk and will be voiced by Willem Dafoe. We want to know, will Mia Sutton dress like Misa Misa? Will this version's L walk around barefoot and drink tea? The teaser trailer hints that it's big budget and the action has moved from Tokyo to Seattle in this adaptation. We also get a tease of Ryuk only seeing his eyes shortly after spying a bright red apple. It ends with the tag line - Shall we begin?
The show is a Netflix Original, so we expect it'll be made available to all Netflix subscribers in any territory.
Some fans are quick to point out that it's not Japanese! Why isn't it Japanese? Well there is already a Japanese Drama Series along with 3 live action Death Note Movies, you can buy them all at bargain prices from Amazon.co.uk (less than £20 for all 3 on DVD) -
- Death Note Live Action Movie
- Death Note 2: The Last Name
- Death Note: L Change The World
Netflix subscribers can watch the whole anime series on the service.
You can also get the complete original manga in a jumbo box set from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com. Alternately they're available to buy separately, or the even more gothic Black Edition from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com.
Read More... | Souce: Netflix
Category > Anime
The good folks from Anime Limited have just announced that they're partnering with anime streaming service Crunchyroll to bring Studio Khara’s new title Dragon Dentist to the UK, Ireland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark.
The first part of the two part Dragon Dentist will be available on Crunchyroll on Saturday 18th February at 21:45 UTC / GMT.
It was originally part of the Japan Animator Expo.
The title is by Hideaki Anno's Studio Khara, it's best know for doing Rebuild of Evangelion movies. Just so you know, this story focuses on a dentist for dragons, rather than a dragon that is a dentist.
Read More... | Souce: Anime Limited
Category > Anime
Ghibli fans looking to enjoy something for the family at home, will want to tune into Ronia the Robber’s Daughter. It's a 26 part CGI cel-shaded anime is directed by Goro Miyazaki (Hayao Miyazaki's son) it's adapted from the story by Astrid Lindgren, who also wrote Pippi Longstocking, a title Hayao Miyazaki was considering adapting in the past. The show will be dubbed into English and features the narration by Gillian Anderson.
The Guardian has a nice write up of the series.
It's available to watch on Amazon Prime Video from Friday 27th January 2017. If you haven't got it already, you can always try a free trial via Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com.
Read More... | Souce: Amazon.com
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
Category > Features
Lindsay Jones and Barbara Dunkelman voice Ruby Rose and Yang Xiao Long in the popular anime RWBY. The fourth season of the show has just been launched and we were lucky enough to catch up with them at the MCM London Comic Con for an exclusive interview and the chance to chat to them about the show, what we can expect from Volume 4 and the life of a voice actor and all round community figure at Rooster Teeth. RWBY Volume 4 can be seen on Rooster Teeth with new episodes being released every Saturday.
Read More... | Souce: Otaku News
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
UK anime fans will want to check cinema listings for the latest (and sadly last) Studio Ghibli Film to hit the big screen. When Marnie Was There is due for a cinema release from Friday 10th June 2016. Some cinemas will show it on a day early on Thursday 9th June 2016. Cinemas have already declared that they'll be showing both the subtitled version and the English dubbed version, so check the screening, to make sure it's the one you want.
The anime is based on Joan G. Robinson's novel, but the location has been changed from Norfolk (in the UK), to Sapporo. It's directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi, who also directed Arrietty.
For details of a screening near you, check out the Studio Ghibli Forever Website.
As always with events like this, we can't stress enough, book early to avoid disappointment.
Souce: Studio Ghibli Forever
Category > Manga
We've already mentioned the Sotheby's auction that contained artwork from Osamu Tezuka and Akira Toriyama. What we haven't covered is how much each item went for.
The prices listed below are the hammer price with the buyer's premium.
The Tezuka artwork went mostly within the estimated prices.
Lot 231 was estimated to sell for 8,000 to 10,000 EUR. It went for 8,750.
Lot 232 was estimated to sell for 3,000 to 4,000 EUR. It went for 3,625.
Lot 233 was estimated to sell for 2,000 to 3,000 EUR. It went for 1,750.
Lot 234 was estimated to sell for 2,500 to 3,000 EUR. It went for 2,750.1
Akira Toriyama's drawing was Lot 235 with an estimated sale price of 2,000 to 3,000 EUR. It sold for 15,000. That's 5 times the original estimated price.
Souce: Sotheby\'s
Category > Manga
Manga fans with cash to splash will want to head over to famous auctioneers Sotheby's for their bandes dessinées auction (drawn strips). The collection of sequential art is mainly European and American artists. However manga fans are in for a treat with manga master Osamu Tezuka artwork for sale with prices ranging from 2,000 to 10,000 EUR. They've also got an original Akira Toriyama drawing too, which is estimated to sell from 2,000 to 3,000 EUR.
The auction will take place on Saturday 14th May 2016 at 2pm in Paris. You can bid on-line, but note that first-time bidders must pre-register 24 hours in advance of the sale in order to be approved by Sotheby's.
Thanks to Deb Aoki for the tip off on this story.
Read More... | Souce: Sotheby\'s
Category > Retail
The good folks at United Publications have just sent us details of their latest special sale.
Their May madness sale has up to 60% off on selected books, DVD and figures, so it's the perfect chance for you to fill in the gaps in your collection. The sale will end on Tuesday 31st May 2016, while stocks last.
Souce: United Publications
Category > Retail
We've covered on-line streaming service Viewster and their Omakase Subscription merchandise box service before.
Last week Viewster announced that the Hatsune Miku Box will be the last. Viewster will continue to offer streaming anime, and it seems that this decision has not impacted their streaming service. Any subscribers to the service will get 2 months hi-definiton streaming, then the service will not renew the regular credit card charge. Viewster will still be offering anime streaming services, but will no longer be offering a premium merchandise box.
Read More... | Souce: Omakase
Category > Websites
I'm taking a long overdue holiday in Japan! I'll be posting my adventures between March 21st - April 16th 2016. You can read my itinerary and how to follow my journey here.
Read More... | Souce: Ozarin
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.
Read More... | Souce: Lone Wolf and Cub Motion Comic Project Kickstarter
Category > Anime
US anime label FUNimation announces delay to UK launch date and adds Republic of Ireland to its territories list.
Read More... | Souce: FUNimation Now (Twitter)
Category > Retail
We've just got news from the good folks at Viewster about their latest Omakase goody box. The concept is simple, every two months they release a new themed box with merchandise from that series / theme. Along with a box of stuff, you also get access to Viewster's high definition ad-free streaming service. They'll ship to the United States, Canada and the UK.
The next box which is due out in March will feature Vocaloid Hatsune Miku and include exclusive Piapro Character Items. The box will retail for $29 USD (plus shipping and handling, which does vary where it's sent).
Previous themes have included Naruto and Kill La Kill.
Read More... | Souce: Omakase
Category > Events
As 2016 has just started it's time to plan ahead for those geek events. We've got a list of the MCM Comic Cons for 2016.
The MCM Event Calendar kicks off on 13th February with the MCM Midlands Comic Con. There's plenty more to follow throughout the year. The events always have something good to offer for anime fans too and often feature a guest or two from the anime and manga industry. The schedule is as follows:
13 February: MCM Midlands Comic Con
12-13 March: MCM Liverpool Comic Con
19-20 March: MCM Birmingham Comic Con
27-29 May: MCM London Comic Con
25-26 June: MCM Belfast Comic Con
2-3 July: MCM Ireland Comic Con (Dublin)
30-31 July: MCM Manchester Comic Con
23-24 September: MCM Scotland Comic Con (Glasgow)
28-30 October: MCM London Comic Con
19-20 November: MCM Birmingham Comic Con
The folks at MCM have also sent us details of two new events in Germany and Brussels. MCM Hannover Comic Con coming to Hannover Messe on 4-5 June 2016 and MCM Belgium Comic Con taking place at Brussels Expo on 11-12 June.
Also don't forget Comic Con Copenhagen 24-25 September 2016 and Comic Con Stockholm on 4-6 November 2016,
As always we've also updated the Otaku Calendar with details of these events.
Read More... | Souce: MCM Comic Con
Category > Gaming
The nice people over at Rice Digital have sent details of a 10% discount they're offering on Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 and Earth Defense Force 4.1 – The Shadow of New Despair.
Use the discount code STORM10 for Naruto and EDF10 for Earth Defense Force. The offer ends Monday 25th January 2016.
The company offer free UK shipping and will also ship worldwide. Personally, we're interested in the Steins;Gate stuff they've got on sale.
Read More... | Souce: Rice Digital
Category > Gaming
Do you like visual novels? Do you want one translated into English? Well the good folks from MiKandi Japan have sent us details of their latest Kickstarter to bring and English language adaptation of visual novel game Libra of the Vampire Princess. They've already hit their Kickstarter goal, but are keen to add some stretch goals too. It looks very moe. We're told a few or our readers like this sort of thing.
At the time of writing they have just over a day left to meet this goals. So go take a look if you're interested.
Read More... | Souce: Libra of the Vampire Princess: Visual Novel English Release Kickstarter
Category > Features
The good folks from streaming anime company Viewster have just sent us a complementary Omakase box to review. The service itself is an interesting one. You pay $29 USD (plus shipping and handling, which we're told is $19 USD to the UK, brining it up to $48 USD) for a 2 months on-line access to Viewsters HD ad-free anime streaming service, plus they'll send you a box full of goodies. Currently the service is available in the US, Canada and the UK. For UK based readers the customs charges are already factored into the shipping and handling costs, so the price you pay to ship is the price you'll pay to receive the anime goodies.
Read More... | Souce: Otaku News
Category > Anime
Streaming Service Viewster have just launched a new package aimed at anime fans. Omakase includes a subscription to their HD Ad-free service, plus a bimonthly box of goodies, including merchandise, music and comics. The boxes will feature limited edition and exclusive stuff. Their launch box will feature exclusive Kill la Kill merchandise.
The Omakase service will be available in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.
A subscription currently costs $29 (USD) for 2 months, plus shipping and handling.
Read More... | Souce: Viewster
Category > Anime
The good folks from UK Anime streaming service Animax have sent us details of their weekly highlights.
The company have just launched iOS and Android Apps too.
Every Friday evening of the month the site will also launch a new movie, this Friday HAL will join the Animax site.
Other highlights include Tiger & Bunny The Movie: The Beginning, Tiger & Bunny The Movie: The Rising. Bleach: Memories of Nobody, Mardock Scramble: The First Compression. Plus Simulcasts Rampo Kitan and Overlord.
Read More... | Souce: Animax
Category > Fandom
We've already mentioned earlier that AmeCon registration went live today. The fan run anime convention's registration was filled in under 40 minutes, with all 1,000 spaces booked by 19:38.
Anyone wanting to attend the 2016 event now will have to be added to the wait list and hope that someone else gives up their space for the ever popular event.
Souce: AmeCon
Category > Events
UK Anime fans planning ahead for the big fan run summer convention in 2016 will already be aware of AmeCon. The event is set to return from Friday 29th to Sunday 31st July 2016. AmeCon will be running for the first time at the Warwick Arts Centre, the venue favoured by AyaCon.
Registrations for Amecon 2016 will be opening on Bank Holiday Monday 31st August at 7pm. This year the convention are introducing two tiers of membership. Standard that costs £48, and premium that costs £85, this gives you many bonus items in your conpack, plus earlier access to the dealers, plus reserved seating at keynote events (along with other privileges).
Generally with fan run events like this, once they're booked out, that's it. They don't sell tickets on the door. So make some time on Monday evening to register.
Read More... | Souce: AmeCon
Category > Websites
International Japanese TV Station NHK World has just launched a new Video on Demand Service. The on-line streaming service is free to use and is perfect for those viewers who missed something on the station or are unable to receive the free to air satellite station.
The service shows content about Japan (and how awesome the country is) in English. Content is either shown with subtitles or dubbed into English. A lot of the shows have English speaking hosts too. They've got all sorts of content for every kind of fan of Japan. They've got Kawaii International for those interested in the latest cute fashion trends. Core Kyoto focuses on ancient capital, while Tokyo Eye 2020 helps you discover what's happing in Tokyo in time for the Olympics. For the anime, manga and gaming fan imagine-nation is a must.
Souce: NHK World Video On Demand
Category > Retail
Fans of anime and manga who like to declare their fandom on t-shirts will be pleased to hear about Uniqlo UK's latest range of Manga T-shirt Collections.
The global Japanese fashion retailer have designs from Ghost In the Shell Arise, Taiyou Matsumoto + Nicolas de Crécy and Osamu Tezuka.
Read More... | Souce: Uniqlo UK
Category > Anime
Streaming Service Viewster are currently running a competition for users to win a trip to Tokyo. They're offering the chance for the ultimate fan (and one of their friends) an all expenses paid trip to Tokyo. For a chance to win you have to show them you're the ultimate fan of Japan. The competition closes on Sunday 31st May 2015, so get thinking and get posting on social media!
Souce: Viewster
Category > Technology
John Resig is not normally a name you'd expect to see on Otaku News. He's a JavaScript Guru and the creator of the hugely popular jQuery JavaScript library. While he's not being awesome with JavaScript he is also busy working on a Database of Japanese Prints.
In a recent blog post he explains how he's been tinkering with a tool called Waifu2x to enlarge low res images of wood block prints. Waifu2x was originally designed to enlarge anime and fan art, but as John explains it can be used with Japanese Prints (with some trade offs).
Souce: John Resig\'s Blog
Category > Anime
The good folks at Streaming Website Viewster have sent us details of their new mobile app for iOS and Android. They've got a great selection of anime so you can now watch it on the move.
You might want to watch The Heroic Legend of Arslan or The Rolling Girls, both shows we've mentioned here before.
Read More... | Souce: Viewster
Category > Retail
With convention season kicking off it's time for us to issue our regular reminder to everyone to keep an eye out for pirate goods. Do you know if the event you are going to has a pirate goods policy? Do you know how to spot and avoid pirate goods? We find that pirate goods are still present at some events. If you haven't already, please read the Pirate Anime FAQ and learn how to avoid dodgy merchandise.
Souce: The Pirate Anime FAQ
Category > Anime
The Second Season of Kinmoza is now airing. No sooner than the first episode of season 2 was simulcast on Crunchyroll, US anime firm Sentai Filmworks announced that they have the US rights to the second season.
The second season is called Hello!! Kinmoza, and appears to more of the same moe anime as the first season. The show follows the gentle everyday adventures of Alice a British schoolgirl living in Japan with her best friend Shino. They go to school and talk about how blonde Alice's hair is. The show is based of a 4 panel manga.
We must admit that the Otaku News Team have a soft spot for the show. While it's light and fluffy content wise, the animation studio did it's research in the UK and found a location suitable for Alice's house. Otaku News had the world exclusive revealing the British location for Kinmoza as B&B Fosse Farm.
Kinmoza Season 1 is available to buy from Amazon.com on DVD and Blu-ray.
Readers (include those in the UK) can watch Kinmoza season 1 and 2 on Crunchyroll.
Read More... | Souce: Sentai Filmworks
Category > Anime
The good folks at Anime Limited have sent us details of their latest streaming partnership. They've teamed up with Viewster to simulcast 3 anime titles - The Heroic Legend of Arslan, Plastic Memories and Seraph of the End.
All 3 titles will be available in the UK and Ireland, while The Heroic Legend of Arslan and Seraph of the End will be Viewster exclusives and have a wider reach simulcasting in United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Liechtenstein, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg
Read More... | Souce: Anime Limited
Category > Anime
Crowd soucing is all the rage now, so it makes sense that more and more anime could be supported by backers paying up front. Kenji Itoso the director behind Santa Company will launch a new Kickstarter to fund his latest production Coluboccoro. The Kickstater will go live on Wednesday 1st April 2015.
Read More... | Souce: Coluboccoro Kickstarter
Category > Anime
The good folks from UK Anime company Anime Limited have sent us details of their latest acquisition. They'll be simulcasting Seraph of the End. They have the rights for the UK, Republic of Ireland, Isle of Man, France, Benelux, Monaco, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland and Norway.
The show is from WIT Studio, the studio behind Attack on Titan and HAL. The show will be directed by Daisuke Toku (who also directed Attack on Titan).
It'll be available for simulcast from April 2015. More details will be revealed by Anime Limited Next week. You can find the English subtitled trailer here.
Otaku News caught up with WIT Studio at the MCM London Comic Con a few years ago.
Read More... | Souce: Anime Limited
Category > Anime
UK anime fans wanting to catch some decent anime will be pleased to hear about Anime Limited's latest tweet that reveals Space Dandy Season 2, Tokyo Ghoul and Terror In Resonance are now on Netflix UK.
We interviewed Shinichiro Watanabe the director of Space Dandy and Terror In Resonance at the MCM London Comic Con in October 2014. We were able to ask him about both shows.
Souce: Anime Limited
Category > Retail
The good folks from Genki Gear have got in touch with us to tell us about their January clearance sale. The UK based t-shirt company will also be selling their 2014 MCM Tour t-shirt. You can get a further 15% off the price of this MCM t-shirt by using discount code MCMTOUR14 on the Genki Gear Website.
Prices start at just £3.99 and the sale covers a whole range of Men's, Women's and Kid's t-shirts plus Women's vest tops and hoodies.
Souce: Genki Gear
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.
Read More... | Souce: LA Times
Category > Events
UK anime fans will not be surprised to hear that Mini Anime Convention AmeChibi 2015 has hit it's registration limit of 500 people in 6 hours of opening their website for registration. The website enabled registration at midday on 25th August 2014, and by 6pm on the same day the limit had been reached.
We did say to book early to avoid disappointment. Those who have not yet registered can be added to the wait list, and put in the queue for any cancelled registrations.
The convention is going to be a smaller less crowded affair, with the event highlighting "the smaller size means a cosier venue, with less of that pesky walking around".
Souce: AmeCon Website
Category > Anime
Fans of Ghibli will be pleased to note that today's Google Doodle in the UK is Diana Wynne Jones, the author of Howl's Moving Castle. The doodle celebrates what would be her 80th birthday. The doodle features Micheal, Calcifer and Sophie sitting around the fireplace. As square on the door rotates, and the door opens and closes changing location.
Souce: Google UK
Category > Events
UK based anime fans will be pleased to hear the news sent to us from the good folks from AmeCon. They've already announced that AmeChibi will be running from Friday 10th to Sunday 12th April 2015 in Nottingham. Now they've just revealed when registration will be open/
On Monday 25th of August 2014 at midday, they'll accept registrations. So get ready, as with events like this once they've sold out, that's it. We advise on booking early to avoid disappointment.
Update: AmeCon have confirmed the mini con will be limited to 500 places. So do book early.
Read More... | Souce: AmeCon
Category > Culture
UK readers will be very interested in a scholarship offered by the Daiwa Anglo Japanese Foundation.
"The Daiwa Scholarship is a unique 19-month programme of language study, work placement and homestay in Japan. Daiwa Scholarships offer young and talented UK citizens with strong leadership potential the opportunity to acquire Japanese language skills and to access expertise and knowledge relevant to their career goals. No previous experience of Japan or Japanese is necessary."
So if you're a British Citizen about to graduate, or have graduated and are aged between 21 and 35 years of age as of 1 September 2015 you should investigate further!
Souce: The Daiwa Scholarship
Category > Events
Fans of Japan looking for something to do this weekend will want to head over to Earl's Court for Hyper Japan. The Japanese Culture event is set to run in London from Friday 25th to Sunday 27th July 2014. As we've mentioned before, there's lots to see and do this weekend.
Souce: Hyper Japan
Category > Features
Normally on Otaku News, when we talk about otaku we mean fans of anime and manga. There are plenty of other areas worth exploring. Today, we'll introduce you to someone who loves cameras.
With the world going increasingly more digital, the photography scene around the world is seeing a resurgence of film and there is a demand among amateur and professional photographers alike for good film cameras. Film photographers enjoy the tangible nature of the photos and the fact that film slows the whole process down. Developing the picture is something to look forward to, it doesn't give instant gratification like a digital camera.
Certain cameras are now regarded as classics of their era. Japan is the natural place to go if you want a nice film camera because the country is ubiquitous for photography and cameras with so many camera brands being Japanese. While in other countries things are going on-line, physical camera shops both for new and second hand goods are a thriving business.
Bellamy Hunt lives in Tokyo. He runs a website called Japan Camera Hunter. He's passionate about photography and film. If you want a decent camera sourced from Japan, he's your man.
Our editor Joe caught up with him over a coffee in Shinjuku.
Read More... | Souce: Otaku News
Category > Anime
North American based readers who are fans of classic anime Sailor Moon will be pleased to hear that you can now watch it streaming on Hulu and Hulu Plus. VIZ Media will premiere SAILOR MOON Episodes 1-4 (subbed) today on its free NeonAlley.com.
Those readers outside North America will note that the streams are geo-locked. So you'll have to find your own local legal rights holder to watch Sailor Moon.
Read More... | Souce: Viz Media
Category > Art
Tokyo is an iconic city, and many amazing photos of have been taken there. Tokyo based photographer and blogger Dave Powell runs the website ShootTokyo. He captures moments in the city and does lots of street photography. He's well known in the photographic blog scene and his site regularly attracts thousands of visitors daily. A photo speaks a thousand words and his photos speak for themselves.
Read More... | Souce: ShootTokyo Kickstarter Campaign
Category > Anime
The good folks from Anime Limited have sent us details of their soon to run Kickstarter. This is to enable the company to produce a definitive edition of the movie for UK home release.
The film will be hitting select UK cinemas from Friday 2nd May 2014.
Producing an ultimate edition like this with so many awesome extras can be risky, as it can be hard to gauge the demand for this kind of release. Launching a Kickstarter is a sensible way to figure out the demand. Anime Limited are not new to Kickstarter. They recently ran a hugely successful campaign for Mai Mai Miracle, that smashed stretch goal after stretch goal.
Read More... | Souce: Patema Inverted Kickstarter
Category > Manga
The good people from Project 6060 have sent us news of their Kickstarter Campaign for Stories of Modern Manga (1952-2012). The title of the book is self explanatory, with each double page spread tackling a year in the history of manga.
They aim to make the book as accessible as possible, it sounds like a great coffee table book, something you can just pick up and dip into.
The campaign aims to to raise $18K (USD) to publish the book. At the time of writing they've currently raised $3,693. However it's still early days and we know it's the last few hours that really count for a Kickstarter campaign.
Read More... | Souce: 1952-2012 : Stories of Modern Manga Kickstarter Campaign
Category > Websites
The Pirate Anime FAQ is regarded as essential reading. We've just done a minor update adding a section about Anime Conventions and similar events to it. Geeky events like this are a great place to buy stuff from, but we urge caution as some will have excellent policies in place to stop dealers from selling pirate goods. Other events we are aware of however will not have any policy or if they do not enforce it. Often their concern is if they've sold enough tables to make a good profit. This does not just apply to small events. Bigger events also have this problem too.
Souce: Pirate Anime FAQ
Category > Anime
The good folks from anime company Anime Limited have just announced that the second season of Space Dandy will be broadcast from July 2014. Details of the series including episode count are yet to be confirmed. What is confirmed that it will be streamed, dubbed and subbed in in July via Wakanim.co.uk.
Read More... | Souce: Anime Limited
Category > Anime
The big news in anime circles this week has been from Anime Limited and their Kickstarter campaign to bring Mai Mai Miracle to home video.
Within the first 18 hours the Kickstarter hit it's $30K (USD) funding goal. So now they're going for a stretch goal. If they hit the goal of $60K, they'll be able to fund a dub. At the time of writing (with 26 days left on the Kickstarter), they have reached just over $54K. You can keep up to date with news about the Kickstarter here or check out Anime Limited's own website.
Souce: Mai Mai Miracle Kickstarter