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    South Korea-based confectionery manufacturer Lotte announced the broadcast of the original new anime Bikkurimen during the "Bikkuriman Day Fan Appreciation Day" held to commemorate "Bikkuriman Day" today on April 1.   Bikkuriman is a chocolate and peanut wafer snack brand made by Lotte, which is known for bonus stickers featuring demon and angel characters. Linked to the concept of Bikkuriman chocolates, "surprising and astonishing people," April 1 has been officially registered as "Bikkuriman Day" with the Japan Anniversary Association since 2015.   Manga artist Hiroyuki Takei  of Shaman King fame serves as the original character designer, and a teaser visual and a teaser PV featuring the four main characters designed by Takei - Yamato, Ushiwaka, Jack, and Phoenix - are now available on the anime project's official Twitter.     ◤￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣ 　これが、令和のビックリマン ＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿◢ #4月1日はビックリマンの日 #ビックリマンの日ファン感謝DAY #ビックリマンの日 #ビック...

    pixiv, an online communication service for the submission of illustrations, manga, and novels, holds the "Hatsune Miku 16th Anniversary Illustration Contest" from March 31, 2023, in collaboration with Crypton Future Media's "Hatsune Miku Happy 16th Birthday -Dear Creators-" project.   RELATED : Hatsune Miku Unveils Beautiful Visuals for Her 16th Anniversary Project     The virtual singer Hatsune Miku was born on August 31, 2007 as a singing voice synthesizer software. Her official age, as written on the software package, is 16 years old, so this year will be a memorable "16th birthday" for her. To celebrate this occasion, pixiv, which also celebrates its 16th anniversary this year, has decided to hold an illustration contest.   Newly drawn illustrations as well as illustrations submitted in the past will be eligible for entry. The 390 winning works will be exhibited at various events celebrating the 16th anniversary and published in a ...

  The official website for the six-part OVA series GIRLS und PANZER Das Finale announced today that its much-awaited fourth part is scheduled to release in theaters across Japan starting October 6, 2023.   RELATED : GIRLS und PANZER Das Finale Part 4 Hits Japanese Theaters in 2023     Following the huge success of the TV series in 2012 and the feature film GIRLS und PANZER der Film in 2015, the sequel series released in Japanese theaters prior to their DVD/Blu-ray release on the following schedule:   GIRLS und PANZER das Finale: Part 1 (December 9, 2017 / 603 million yen box office gross) GIRLS und PANZER das Finale: Part 2 (June 15, 2019 / 553 million yen) GIRLS und PANZER das Finale: Part 3 (March 26, 2021 / 600 million yen)   Two-type advance tickets with bonus clear files featuring the teaser visuals will go on sale at Japanese theaters starting April 7.   ／ 『ガールズ＆パンツァー 最終章』第4話 2023年10月6日(金) 劇場上映?...

  They captured our hearts with three seasons of romantic comedy in the student council room, and they’re not done yet! We’re excited to announce that Kaguya Shinomiya and Miyuki Shirogane are making the moment last with the arrival of Kaguya-sama: Love is War -The First Kiss That Never Ends- on Crunchyroll!   This next chapter will arrive in two parts on Crunchyroll with English subtitles, with the first dropping today ( you can watch it right here! ) and the second coming on Sunday, April 2. Check out the full details below.   Kaguya-sama: Love is War -The First Kiss That Never Ends- Airdate: March 31, 2023 (Episodes 1-2) and April 2, 2023 (Episode 3-4) Territories: United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand     The latest entry in the Kaguya-sama: Love is War series follows Kaguya, Shirogane, Chika, Ishigami and the rest of the series cast in the immediate aftermath of that heart-pounding Season 3 finale. There’s really...

  Ever since PokéMania swept the world in the late 90s, Pokémon has been taking to the skies representing its home country on planes departing Japan. Now with the start of the Pokémon Air Adventures project, many more companies and countries around Asia will be joining the PokéFun.    With China Airlines and Skymark already flying high with their new planes, over the last week All Nippon Airways unveiled what their new plane will look like as well as the routes it will take.       The ANA Pokémon plane features all flying Pokémon as well Pikachu with balloons, including a Rayquaza that wraps around the entire aircraft and a Latios and Latias on the other side. The plane will be entering service on June 4 and is scheduled to run for five years.    Some routes from Haneda in Tokyo (and back) include Bangkok, Manila, Sydney, Vancouver and Honolulu. All the flight numbers are on ANA’s website to make sure you know which one will be the Po...

    Japanese voice actor agency Digital Double announced today that Riku Masuda , best known as the protagonist character Manaka Mizusawa in the PuraOre! ~Pride of Orange~ anime series, will take a hiatus from her voice acting activities. No explanation has been given as to why.   At the same time, the official Twitter for the anime's seven-member VA unit SMILE PRINCESS announced that as of March 31, she had also left the role of Manaka Mizusawa and the unit. Until her replacement is found, the unit will continue to perform as a six-member unit.   【重要なお知らせ】 いつも応援誠にありがとうございます。 水沢愛佳役・増田里紅さんが声優活動を休業することが所属事務所より発表となりました。 https://t.co/xuv9K9iqLu 今後とも「プラオレ！」、「SMILE PRINCESS」の応援を何卒よろしくお願いいたします。 pic.twitter.com/XTpxtwbNKN — SMILE PRINCESS（スマイルプリンセス）公式 (@smileprincessPR) March 31, 2023     The TV anime PuraOre! ~Pride of Orange~ was aired for 12 episodes from October to December 2021. SMILE PRINCESS was formed by Riku Masuda (Manaka Mizus...

  This October marks 35 years since Evangelion creator Hideaki Anno released his first commercial anime work –  Gunbuster , also known as Aim for the Top! Now at the top of his career, his work will be heading back to theaters in Japan alongside the 20th anniversary OVA series Diebuster for the very first time.   A 35th-anniversary logo for the 35th-anniversary activities was revealed:     RELATED:   Shin Kamen Rider Shows Double Tokusatsu Fun in Spoiler-Filled Trailer   Gunbuster was released as a six-episode OVA series from October 7, 1988, to July 7, 1989, with Hideaki Anno in the director's chair at Gainax. Diebuster was also a six-episode OVA series released as part of Gunbuster’s 20th-anniversary celebrations from November 26, 2004, to August 25, 2006, with Kazuya Tsurumaki (one of the many directors on the Rebuild of Evangelion film series) directing at Gainax. Both are licensed by Discotek in North America.   Details on th...

Live A Live became one of our favorite RPGs when it launched on Switch last year, and the celebrated remake is making the jump to PlayStation consoles and Steam on April 27.  Additionally, there’s a free demo on PlayStation available today that lets you play three of the game’s eight stories. Live A Live was originally released in 1994 for the Super Famicom in Japan, but it hadn’t been localized for the West for decades. Directed by Takashi Tokita, one of the lead creative minds behind Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy IV, the game consists of eight very different short stories, each starring its own protagonist and featuring distinct gameplay mechanics and presentations. While the battle system is turn-based strategy, sometimes the game flips that on its head in unique ways. Last year, Square Enix resurrected the title by giving it an Octopath Traveler-style HD-2D facelift, a rearranged soundtrack, and full voice-acting. You can pre-order the game on PlayStation and St...

  The start of the new Japanese school year is upon us and with it brings fresh new students to join the school’s brass band club. To help encourage students Yamada has once again teamed up with Kyoto Animation’s Sound! Euphonium anime franchise for the New Member Recruitment Festival 2023 .   A poster featuring the floof herself was released which can be downloaded off of Yamaha’s website to put up around schools.     The New Member Recruitment Festival 2023 is a promotion by Yamaha to support club activities in schools across Japan. By using the flyers and signing up, the clubs that sign up and use either the Sound! Euphonium  poster or the other poster on the website will go in running to win new equipment straight from Yamaha itself.    RELATED:   Sound! Euphonium Anime’s Melody Continues With Theatrical OVA in Summer 2023   Of course, clubs can use the posters without signing up as well as they’re free to download off of Ya...

  Aina Suzuki's ( DON'T TOY WITH ME, MISS NAGATORO ED) opening theme "Dash and Go!" is officially the first of a brand-new anime season to receive the routine creditless video treatment, preceding the premiere of upcoming mecha series Alice Gear Aegis Expansion by several days. Check it out below!   Opening Theme Video   blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> ＼ノンクレジットOP映像解禁!!／ TVアニメ放送に先駆けて、アニメオープニング ノンクレジット映像を解禁!! #鈴木愛奈 さん「Dash and Go!」の疾走感ある楽曲に合わせたアクトレス達の映像、どうぞご覧ください♪ https://t.co/VY7eIANj95 #アリスギアEX pic.twitter.com/hGBfY2CD8l — 【公式】TVアニメ『アリス・ギア・アイギス Expansion』2023年4月3日 放送開始！ (@alice_anime_nzm) March 30, 2023   RELATED: In/Spectre Season 2 Frights and Delights with Creditless Theme Song Video s   The story of  Alice Gear Aegis Expansion  takes place in the far future, when humanity is forced to flee Earth after an attack from mechanical lifeforms known as Weiss. These beings can be combated by Actresses: young women adept at using hig...

  CloverWorks, best known for co-producing SPY x FAMILY and DARLING in the FRANXX , are the first to make a big splash (of green) in a post-AnimeJapan world, today revealing that the studio is adapting Satoru Nii's WIND BREAKER action manga into a TV anime series.   A teaser visual was unveiled; additional details, such as staff, cast and release date, are yet to be announced:   Teaser Visual   RELATED: Kyu Sumiyoshi’s Hyperinflation Named No.1 Manga People Want to See Made Into an Anime in 2023   Kodansha USA, which publishes the manga's official English version, describes the series as such:   Haruka Sakura wants nothing to do with weaklings—he's only interested in the strongest of the strong. He’s just started at Furin High School, a school of degenerates known only for their brawling strength—strength they use to protect their town from anyone who wishes it ill. But Haruka’s not interested in being a hero or being part of any sort of tea...

    The official YouTube channel for Japanese singer Chiai Fujikawa has released a music video for her new song "Ai no Uta"  ( The Song of Love ), which will be featured as the opening theme for the spring 2023 TV anime My Home Hero .   Fujikawa was an ex-member of Japanese idol group Maneki Kecak. After leaving the group in September 2018, she made her solo singer debut in November of the same year. Since then, she has performed theme songs for The Rising of the Shield Hero (2019, 2022), Digimon Adventure: (2020), and Talentless Nana (2020).   "Ai no Uta" was released digitally first on March 29, and will also be included in her second mini-album "Ureshii Koe wo Hon no Chotto" ( Just a few of the happy voices ) to be released on April 12. The music video was filmed in one-shot with Fujikawa and 10 dancers working together after dozens of takes, including rehearsals held on different days.     "Ai no Uta" music video: ...

    World Cosplay Summit Executive Committee has announced that World Cosplay Summit 2023 , one of the world's largest cosplay festivals, is officially set to be held from August 4 to 6, 2023, in Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture.     "World Cosplay Summit" official movie:     World Cosplay Summit began its history in 2003 as an annual event where cosplayers who love Japanese anime, manga, games and other pop culture gather to create a new form of international and cultural exchange. More than 200,000 people visit the event every year, and cosplayers from all over the world gather in Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture, to deepen exchanges. The number of participating countries and regions has increased with each event. In 2019 (before the COVID-19 pandemic began), 40 countries and regions participated.   The main event, the World Cosplay Championship, is a cosplay performance competition to determine the world's No. 1 cosplayers. Teams that win t...

  The first trailer for  EVANGELION Beyond , the forthcoming stage play inspired by the Evangelion anime franchise, was released today, alongside a key visual introducing its main cast memebrs. As the opening performance of THEATER MILANO-Za in Tokyu Kabukicho Tower , the play will be performed from May 6-28, 2023. General sales of the tickets begin on April 2. EVANGELION Beyond tells an original new story with new characters, not featuring the ones from the original anime.   Trailer:   Key visual:   As previously reported ,  Masataka Kubota (Light Yagami in the Death Note TV drama series, Ken Kaneki in the Tokyo Ghoul  live-action film series) is cast as the protagonist Soushi Watamori. Nijiro Murakami , who was initially cast as Tan Hasumi, has been replaced by Mizuki Itagaki due to his health issue. Other main cast members include Shizuka Ishibashi , Testuji Tanaka , Takahito Nagata , Akane Sakanoue , Kanna...