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Crunchyroll streams Haruhi

Date: 2010 April 09 19:44 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

The good folks at Crunchyroll have sent us details of their latest streaming deal. They've started to show The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. Fans looking for aliens, time travelers, and ESPers will be most pleased to hear that they intend to stream the second series later this year too. Crunchyroll's licence covers the Americas, the British Isles, Scandinavia, the Middle East and Africa.

Preview the first 7 minutes of Gundam Unicorn

Date: 2010 March 02 15:20 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime > DVD

The good folks from Beez have sent us details about the upcoming release of Gundam Unicorn on Friday 12th 2010 on Blu-ray disc. The release will be worldwide simultaneously in the 7 territorial areas of Japan, US, Canada, UK, France, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.

You can view the first 7 minutes of the OAV on the Beez Website.

Bandai Entertainment launches new manga website

Date: 2010 February 16 21:31 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Manga

The good folks at Bandai Entertainment have sent us details about their new manga website.

NHK World TV in the UK

Date: 2009 September 20 16:11 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime > TV

UK based readers who are keen to watch Japanese TV in English, will be pleased to hear that NHK World broadcasts on Satellite. Viewers should tune into Sky Channel 516 or Freesat Channel 209. The channel is included in all Sky Packages.

The channel includes Japanese News, TV shows about Japanese Culture, Business Shows, Tokyo Fashion and lots of other arts.

The full schedule can be found on the NHK World TV Website.

New dating site for anime fans launches

Date: 2009 September 08 16:33 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Fandom

There are tons of dating sites on the internet. Lots are even specialist dating sites by interest. So it should come as no surprise that the clever folks at Fan Crush have set up a dating site for otaku - Otaku Crush.

Anime Network Launches Video-on-Demand in UK

Date: 2009 August 06 12:57 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime > TV

We've got some exciting news from the folks behind The Anime Network. They've just launched a UK beta version of their site. So now anime fans in the UK can watch anime streamed to their PC. For less than a fiver a month you can watch a great selection of ADV titles.

They also offer a yearly subscription too.

Helen McCarthy on RightStuf's Anime Today Podcast

Date: 2009 January 20 16:12 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

Anime fans will want to check out RightStuf's latest podcast. It features an interview with anime expert Helen McCarthy who promotes her book 500 Essential Anime Movies. In the podcast she explains how she narrowed down her choices in the book to just 500 shows. Along with how anime production and writing about anime has changed over the years.

Souce: RightStuf Anime Today Podcast

Naruto Shippuden on-line an hour after Japanese Broadcast

Date: 2009 January 02 06:35 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

We've just recived an exciting press release from Crunchyroll, who will be streaming Naruto Shippuden on-line an hour after Japanese broadcast. This sort of distribution model has been talked about for ages in the anime press, but until now it's never actually officially happened.

New EGL Miyuki Otaku News wallpaper

Date: 2008 October 29 19:03 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Websites

We've got a nice treat for our readers. So please take a look at the new lovely Otaku News Wallpaper with our mascot Miyuki. We hope it brightens up your desktop.

The artwork is drawn by the talented Wing Yun Man and features Miyuki dressed in Elegant Gothic Lolita clothes enjoying a picnic.

The artwork was first seen at AmeCon 2008 on postcards distributed in all the conpacks.

Souce: Otaku News Wallpaper

The Pirate Anime FAQ Returns

Date: 2008 August 03 16:31 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

8 years ago, I wrote an FAQ about piracy in anime, and how to avoid buying pirate goods. It started off as a simple guide as part of a site called Anime Digital, but evolved and improved over the years. It's generally regarded as the most comprehensive guide to pirate goods in anime fandom. A mini version has been printed at many anime conventions and distributed among convention staff to quickly spot pirate goods. The anime industry also use it to make anime fans aware of bootleg goods.

For the last 8 years the Pirate Anime FAQ was hosted on the London Anime Club's web server. Unfortunately it's been unavailable since April because of server problems so we have decided to host the guide on Otaku News instead. We'd like to thank the London Anime Club for hosting the Pirate Anime FAQ for the last 8 years.

The Pirate Anime FAQ has been translated into French and German, thanks to the kind help of anime fans. I'll put the French and German translations up soon. However I've made a few small changes to the FAQ to make sure it will fit with the formatting of Otaku News. As a result the translations will need to be updated too.

The old content from Anime Digital is not lost and we're currently deciding if we should integrate the articles into Otaku News, or archive them as a separate site.

So please update your bookmarks, the new URL for the Pirate Anime FAQ is http://www.otakunews.com/piratefaq.php.

Souce: The Pirate Anime FAQ

Celebrity Japanese bloggers

Date: 2008 July 07 03:31 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Websites

Wired are currently running an interesting story about celebrity Japanese bloggers. The article states "They're good-looking, they're geeky and they love to blog". It then has a profile of each blogger along with a photo.

Souce: Wired

Wired on the Japanese Web

Date: 2008 May 21 08:40 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Fandom

Wired have published an interesting set of articles about the internet in Japan, including one on Hiroyuki Nishimura, founder of 2chan and his new video site. The Japanese ASCII Art article sets out to explain common Japanese ASCII art, while closer to home they've also got a feature on US Fans of the Japanese Web.

Souce: Wired

Otaku News Christmas Wallpaper

Date: 2007 December 07 17:21 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Websites

It's the holiday season again, and to celebrate we've got some great Christmas Otaku News wallpaper for you, done by Wing Yun Man.

Seasons Greetings to all our readers. ^___^

Souce: Otaku News Wallpaper

Japanese civil servants in trouble over Wikipedia edits

Date: 2007 October 05 08:52 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Freaky Things

BBC News are reporting a story about some Japanese civil servants who got into trouble at work for making lots of Wikipedia edits. One particular man was found to have made 260 entries to Gundam articles. The article features a classic quote from a ministry official, in case you didn't already know "The Agriculture Ministry is not in charge of Gundam".

We wonder if the agriculture ministry could do with some robotic help, as lots of labour intensive tasks in agricultural circles could surely be made easier. We're wondering if they're not so keen on Gundam, what robot would be better? ^_-

Souce: BBC News

New matsuri Otaku News wallpaper

Date: 2007 August 20 17:55 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Websites

We like treating our readers every now and again, so please enjoy our newest addition to the Otaku News wallpaper page featuring our mascot Miyuki.

This fantastic artwork is made by the talented Wing Yun-Man, it features Otaku News mascot Miyuki enjoying a matsuri, a traditional Japanese festival. Miyuki is wearing a yukata - a kimono commonly worn in the summer at festivals.

The artwork was first seen at AmeCon 2007 on postcards distributed in all the conpacks.

Souce: Otaku News Wallpaper Page

Win a Beck Inspired Gibson!

Date: 2007 July 12 22:38 | Posted By: Jeremy

Category > Anime

Fans can sign up for a chance to win a Gibson Les Paul guitar by anime series, Beck!

Invent your own ending to Guyver

Date: 2007 June 03 16:09 | Posted By: Voxie

Category > Anime

For anime fans with the animator in them, the online community site Bebo are inviting users to invent the ending to a volume of Guyver, the clip can be seen on thewir website.

Souce: Bebo \'U DIRECT\' Guyver Competition

New Transformers Trailer

Date: 2007 May 24 17:39 | Posted By: Jeremy

Category > Fandom

New trailer features better at the robots and plenty of action!

Helen McCarthy interview on Resonance 104.4 fm

Date: 2007 May 09 17:24 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

Our readers who like podcasts or can tune into Resonance 104.4 fm, a radio art station in London will want to listen in Thursday evening at 10.30 PM BST (9th May 2007), to catch an interview with anime expert Helen McCarthy. She'll be talking on Alex Fitch's show "I'm ready for my close-up", where they'll be covering anime in general, Helen's current anime season at the Barbican and hopefully the Anime Encyclopedia too. The podcast will be put on-line on Friday 10th May.

Souce: Resonance 104.4 fm

2-Chan the voice of a nation

Date: 2007 April 19 15:57 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Culture

Wired have a very good article about the popular Japanese bulletin board 2-chan. The article focuses on the impact 2-channel has had in Japan, from cancelling advertising campaigns, to producing 830,000 replacement folded paper cranes, mass suicides, solving crime and even helping Train Man become a national phenomenon.

Souce: Wired

AmeCon 2007 open for registration

Date: 2007 February 26 10:18 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Events

Anime fans will be pleased to know that Leicester based UK anime convention AmeCon 2007 is now open for registration. So book now to avoid disappointment. The convention is scheduled for 10th-12th August 2007 and is the third convention held by the AmeCon crew.

Souce: AmeCon

Geneon Spot audio podcast

Date: 2007 February 24 18:58 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

We've just got an e-mail from the pioneering folks at Genoen who'd like to let us know that they've posted up the latest Geneon Spot audio podcast, featuring an interview with Taliesin Jaffe (the ADR director of R.O.D -The TV-, Hellsing, Hellsing Ultimate, BECK: Mongolian Chop Squad, etc.), who talks about script adaptation work and the realities of being an anime voice actor.

Souce: Geneon Spot audio podcast

New Transformers Trailer Online

Date: 2006 December 22 11:16 | Posted By: Jeremy

Category > Websites

New full length trailer for the new Transformers film available online!

Watch Coyote Ragtime Show on-line

Date: 2006 December 13 17:28 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime > DVD

The kind folks from ADV Films US have sent us details about the Coyote Ragtime Show. US readers can watch the full first episode officially here, while UK readers can watch it here. It's released in the US on January 16th 2007, while ADV Films UK inform us that they're planning a 16th April 2007 release.

Souce: ADV Films

Hellsing Ultimate website launches

Date: 2006 December 05 15:18 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Websites

The nice folks at Geneon Entertainment have sent us news that they've launched a website for Hellsing Ultimate, the OAV incarnation of the fan favourite anime series. The website contains some details about the series, it's creator, DVD release dates, along with a host of downloads like desktop wallpaper and chat icons.

PvP: The Series

Date: 2006 November 30 23:54 | Posted By: Jeremy

Category > Webcomics

PvP animated series is in the works for February launch!

Learn Japanese on-line with Urban Japanese

Date: 2006 November 28 16:53 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Press Releases

We've been sent a press release from Japanese video game and toy concept development company Gamewax, who have developed a interesting concept in learning Japanese remotely. They claim to be the UK's first fully interactive recordable on-line Japanese language school, Urban Japanese. Distance learning is nothing new, as universities and other education institutions have been tinkering with the concepts for years now, but this is certainly the first private company in the UK we're aware of that offer Japanese lessons.

Halloween desktop wallpaper

Date: 2006 October 26 16:57 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Websites

With Halloween kicking in, it's the season for ghouls and ghosts with anime fans in London celebrating at J-Pop Go. Andes Sudo, one of our talented Otaku News artists has also been busy, making some great wallpaper of Tima one of the Otaku News Mascots. So go on and check out our wallpaper section and download it today! ^_^

Souce: Otaku News Wallpaper

YouTube take down nearly 30,000 Japanese Clips

Date: 2006 October 20 12:36 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Websites

BBC News and many other news sources are currently reporting that 29,549 clips have been removed from YouTube after the Japanese media companies complained of copyright infringement. The popular video hosting site (recently bought by Google for $1.65bn USD) frequently had clips from Japanese TV shows along with some anime as well.

It is not clear from the article what content has been removed, if it's Japanese TV programmes, more extreme quiz shows, comedy sketches and skits such as Matrix Pong, users of YouTube will have to discover that for themselves. What will be interesting to find out is if YouTube will automatically take down any future content or if the Japan Society for Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers (JASRAC) will have to file more requests.

Souce: BBC News

Defending Anime Fans

Date: 2006 October 06 03:46 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Fandom

The trouble with being an anime fan is that people often get the wrong idea, and then start talking about stereotypical stuff about how crazy people are in Japan. Dragon who is the president of the London Anime Club and has also written a shopping guide to anime and electronics in Tokyo has posted a good defence to being called an otaku:

I got into an "arguement" with somebody at work over the term Otaku. They accused me of dressing up in costume and being obssively knowledgeable about the subject. "Fine," I said. "Just like the rest of the perverts who you see dressed up in strange costumes and hanging round in parks on Sundays, or that gather in huge crowds dressed in outlandish gear singing stupid songs and generally idolising over their obessions. Who spend huge amounts of money buying all the latest things. They have pictures on their bedroom walls. They follow the latest news and interviews very great glee. They seek out fellow fanatics and discuss the latest events. Such obsessives like you. Only in this country they are known as football fans."

So note down the otaku are just the same as football fan strategy and use it next time people call you weird for liking those strange Japanese cartoons! ^_-

Souce: London Anime Club

ADV Launches Download Site

Date: 2006 September 29 12:18 | Posted By: Jeremy

Category > Anime

ADV Films has joined the anime downloading craze with the opening of their new digital download store, ADV Universe. Anime fans can now, after signing at the official website, browse and shop for episodes of their favorite ADV releases, including Gilgamesh, Godannar, and Comic Party to watch on their computer through Windows Media Player.

While the price for episode downloading has not been disclosed, signing up for service at ADV Universe is free! And as an added incentive, fans will receive the first episode of Guyver: The Bio-Booster Armor, soon to be released by ADV, for free after signing up. It’s just one more way at how much anime fandom is progressing in this high-tech, digital age.

Souce: ADV Films

Toonami Jetstream a Big Success

Date: 2006 August 23 10:37 | Posted By: Jeremy

Category > Anime

Toonami Jetstream reports millions of hits in just first four weeks!

Otaku News E-mail Woe

Date: 2006 August 22 03:50 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Websites

Due to some unexplained difficulties with our webhost that were not easy to resolve, it appears that all e-mails sent to the webmaster [at] otakunews [dot] com e-mail address in the last two weeks have been lost. Luckily the other Otaku News e-mail accounts were unaffected, however if you did try to e-mail in the last two weeks, you may want to resend it! I'm sorry for any inconvenience caused, up until now we've only had minor issues with our web hosting company.

Souce: Otaku News

Geisha Advertise On-line

Date: 2006 August 21 17:22 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Culture

In a really good of example of the traditional world colliding with the high-tech world, the Mainichi Daily News are running an interesting article about adverts for apprentice geisha Kyoto. Recently the number of applicants had steadily started to drop, until an enterprising teahouse started blogging about the experience of being an apprentice geisha and started posting adverts for applications.

Souce: Mainichi Daily News

Bandai UK and Eire Online Shop: Now Testing

Date: 2006 July 25 11:24 | Posted By: Voxie

Category > Websites

Looks like Bandai have acknowledged the online fanscene and are having a go at running an online shop.

The shop features your usual host of DVDs, manga and toys under the Bandai/Beez licence. The popular titles include My-Hime, classic Gundam, SCRYed, Witch Hunter Robin, Wolf's Rain and Cowboy Bebop. There's pretty much a category for everything under the Bandai licence, including Tamagotchi and of course, the immortal Power Rangers brand.

Our source says the website is on trial for now, and if it goes well, Bandai will surely be adding more. Check out the trial website and tell your friends!

Souce: AnimeBoredom

Mainichi Daily News Release Manglish - Manga in English

Date: 2006 July 03 08:14 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Manga

The Mainichi Daily News have started to release Manga in English on their website. They've called it Manglish (manga in English), taking talents from their MangaTown site, and providing an English translation of the original text by rolling your mouse over the Japanese text.

The debut story is called Six Feet Girl, about a 16 year old girl who is 180cm tall (which actually makes her 5"9'). Apparently she gets depressed every time she starts a new school when the other students laugh at her height. The manga is by Gyugo (or Jugo) Hazuki. Looking at the site it's not clear how good the translation will be, especially if English speaking readers are used to a certain standard, it appears to by translated by a Japanese speaker into English. Currently MDN have posted two pages, and will add a new page each weekday.

Billingual Manga for Japanese people wishing to learn English isn't that uncommon and is frequently sought after by English speaking collectors outside of Japan. However this marks an interesting start - a Japanese publisher releasing free daily manga direct from Japan, some industry analysts predicted this a few years ago and it's good to see that MDN are now publishing manga in English, hopefully more Japanese firms will start soon too.

Souce: Mainichi Daily News

ADV Cleans Up Hacker Mess

Date: 2006 May 16 11:31 | Posted By: Jeremy

Category > Anime

ADV Films fixes up an attack by Turkish hackers.

VIZ and Cartoon Network Go Broadband

Date: 2006 April 27 11:01 | Posted By: Jeremy

Category > Anime

VIZ and Cartoon Network to launch new broadband site, Toonami Jetstream, to feature recent television hits and new shows not yet available.

Anime Forest.com Closing Down

Date: 2006 April 18 11:31 | Posted By: Jeremy

Category > Anime

Bad news for American anime fans. Anime News Network has reported that Anime Forest.com, the popular on-line rental site, will be shutting down after three years of service. An e-mail was sent out to customers of the site informing them of the closing, though reasons as to why were not given. Per-rental services ceased on April 7th, while subscription services will end on April 30. Anime Forest thanks their customers for their support in the e-mail. They will be missed.

Souce: Anime News Network

Lucky Eureka SeveN

Date: 2006 April 07 15:15 | Posted By: Jeremy

Category > Anime

Bandai Entertainment announces major plans for TV and online release of Eureka SeveN in America.

Honey and Clover News

Date: 2006 March 29 13:13 | Posted By: Davie

Category > Anime

Good News for Honey and Clover fans as Anime News Network state that the 2nd series of the anime will premiere in Japan this Summer. Also the Website of the Honey & Clover Live-Action is now online!

Souce: Anime News Network

Otaku News Launch T-Shirt Shop

Date: 2006 March 19 15:12 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Retail

When we go to conventions and other anime relelated events, we always tend to wear Otaku News T-shirts, they've generated a lot of interest with people asking where can they buy them, we always felt bad telling people that they can't. So after a lot of hunting around we've found a good on-line t-shirt seller to team up with to sell t-shirts for both guys and gals, along with other items.

We've set up two seperate shops, one for our US Readers, and another for our readers in the UK and Europe, so if you're interested select and shop and have a good, look. We've also produced some t-shirts with witty slogans on, which are ideal for anime conventions!

Otaku News US Shop

Otaku News UK / Europe Shop

Souce: Otaku News Shop

Multilingual Online TV Broadcasting to Start

Date: 2006 February 28 16:29 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Websites

According to Crisscross, Japan Information Network Inc will start Japan's first multilingual online television broadcasting this Friday. It aims to help foreigners learn more about Japan! ^_^

With their Roppongi based studio they will cover Japanese politics, economy, society and culture in Japanese, English and Chinese for several hours a day. JIN intend to expand in the near future with a 24 hour broadcasting system with 12 languages.

Souce: Crisscross

Adult Swim Fix

Date: 2006 February 20 10:33 | Posted By: Jeremy

Category > Anime

Adult Swim to start featuring classic and new shows on website, seven days a week.

Otaku News Launch PSP Edition

Date: 2006 January 17 16:31 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Websites

We've been listening to what our readers want, and we know that many anime fans are also keen PSP owners. Which is why we've made a PSP version of Otaku News, designed especially for Sony's box of tricks. It has less content than the full versions of this site, but is designed for quick loading times and navigation, which is ideal when you're out and about with wireless access. To access it all you have to do is visit http://www.otakunews.com/psp/ (go on, bookmark it on your PSP you know you want to). The main article content and DVD reviews are identical to the other editions of Otaku News.

Souce: Otaku News - PSP Edition

IGN Seek Otaku Writers

Date: 2006 January 03 15:20 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

Unfortunately for us hugely popular gaming site IGN aren't seeking the Otaku News Crew, but they are seeking freelancers who love anime and manga! So if you live in the US, are over 18 and fancy being a freelance writer, why not drop them a line, they'll even pay you! If on the other hand you want to work for free and support grassroots anime fandom then why not contact us! We can't pay you, but we can always give you a sense of satisfaction that is better than money, (honest) and since we're also a lot slacker about deadlines too! ^_-

Souce: IGN

Howl's Moving Castle Set For March 2006 DVD Release

Date: 2005 December 05 16:54 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime > DVD

UK on-line retailer's Play.com and Amazon.co.uk have started to take pre-orders for Howl's Moving Castle, they both listing the release date as 13th March 2006. Otaku News had heard rumours about Optimum wanting to release Howl earlier, however in order to qualify for an Academy Award, they had to delay the release. What's interesting to note that the boxshots from Amazon and Play are different, which leads us to believe that both sites have produced mock-ups as they are missing vital details on the packaging such as the BBFC rating logo.

A quick check on Amazon.com reveals that they're taking pre-orders for two different versions of Howl's Moving Castle, which are priced the same, we suspect that Amazon will remove one edition nearer the launch date.

If Optimum and Buena Vista can release Howl's Moving Castle in March, they should be highly commended, since the Japanese DVD has just been released this November and Ghibli titles have been traditonally very slow to get US and UK DVD releases.

Souce: Play.com

Executive Impact: English OK

Date: 2005 November 14 18:33 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Websites

Japan Today have a good feature on English OK, a website dedicated to enabling Japanese companies to sell their products and services to English speaking customers based in Japan. It's an interesting concept, since everyone loves Japan and wants to visit (well at least we do ^_-), but the language barrier can prove tricky, since Japanese isn't always the easiest language to pick up.

The article makes a good read not only from a cultural perspective but also a business one. It's nice to know that some companies are keen to sell to gaijin.

Souce: Japan Today

Photo Blogging For Otaku

Date: 2005 October 17 16:01 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Websites

Blogging is all the rage at the moment, with everyone and their dog putting up content about this that and everything. Many blogs are just angst fests. However hunting around can be interesting and rewarding with many different takes on anime fandom and Japanese Culture in general. Photo Blog site Flickr offers a wealth of photos for otaku, featuring Gundam, some nice Catbus, the cast of Naruto and Evangelion! One enterprising otaku even has his own Calcifer to keep his car warm. There are tons of cool images for you too look at on Flickr, so why not add your own! ^_^

Souce: Flickr

Kakurenbo Official Site Online

Date: 2005 September 27 15:16 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime > DVD

Central Park Media have just sent us details about their Kakurenbo: Hide & Seek website. In addition to information about the CG animation's awards, creators, and English and Japanese voice actors (including Junko Takeuchi - the voice of Naruto), there's a special video recorded at this year's San Diego Comic-Con.

The DVD is due for release on October 11.

Souce: Central Park Media

Otaku News Wallpaper

Date: 2005 September 04 19:01 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Websites

Here at Otaku News we like to give something back to our readers as a way of saying thank you for reading this site. That's why we've commissioned the talented WingYun-Man and Rik Nicol to come up with some nice desktop wallpaper for you to download. The design in question is the new Shinsengumi Miyuki wallpaper, which features Otaku News mascot Miyuki as a member of the Shinsengumi. The wallpaper is based on the successful postcard campaign from AyaCon 2005.

Souce: Otaku News Wallpaper Page

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