Jump Combo Movies One Piece & Toriko 3D!

Special set of "Jump HEROES film" including 3D blu-ray movie set! Contains a special adventure of the number one manga/anime One Piece!

Plot: Luffy lost his hat and on the way of seeking it, Luffy and his clan get involved with pirates's conspiracy...

The second movie is from the popular manga Toriko created by Mitsutoshi Shimabukuro and published in Jump!

Plot: In a world where the taste and texture of food is extremely important, there exist individuals known as Gourmet Hunters who specialize in the acquisition of rare ingredients and animals. Toriko is one of these hunters and it is his dream to find the most precious foods in the world and create the ultimate dinner course. A great adventure and battle will start now...

Box includes data cards (2 sheets) and B2-size poster!

=>Toriko Kaimaku! Gourmet Adventure & ONE PIECE 3D Mugiwara Chase 3D BR Pack [Limited Release]

=>Toriko Kaimaku! Gourmet Adventure & ONE PIECE 3D Mugiwara Chase 3D DVD Pack

=>Torico gourmet survival [PSP]

Source: CDJapan Anime

Anime Tourism of Hanasaku Iroha Revives the Model Spa

According to Hokkoku Newspaper, Yuwaku Hot Spring , the model town of Hanasaku Iroha, has been humming with business since the start of the anime. After the earthquake in March, nearly 1,500 guests have canceled the hotel reservations in Yuwaku but the rooms of all the nine hotels were fully booked by the anime fans just before the holidays in May. The bottles of Yuwaku Cider have been flying off the shelves because the cider was shown in the ED.

Iroha fans taking pictures of the sign of the model train station

Comparisons between the real sceneries in Yuwaku and the scenes in the anime

Entrance of the hotel area

Yuwaku - Anime

Main street

Yuwaku - Anime

Bridge Ohana walks on

Yuwaku - Anime

Bench Yuina sits with a Yuwaku Cider

Yuwaku - Anime

The rival hotel

Yuwaku - Anime

Yuwaku Spa Tourist Association said they expect the anime fans to visit the town repeatedly.

Source: Hokkoku Shinbun

Naruto Fight Highlights and More... Some Sakuga For Your Saturday

Every month, the best bits of sakuga, full motion in anime, are put together into compilation videos. Some of you might have already seen one, but here's a second, annotated look at what's been eyed to be the cream of crop for May, 2011.

Also, here's a video compilation of the work of Gorou Sessha, who did work of Kannagi, Sengoku Basara, Precure and Toradora, but who perhaps made his biggest mark on Naruto Shippūden, particularly its Sasuke fights.

Kyoto Animation Makes New TV Commercial

The animation studio Kyoto Animation announced earlier this week that it animated a 30-second "Ajisai-hen" (Hydrangea Ad) commercial. Shoko Ikeda (The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, K-ON!!) was the storyboarder, character designer, director, and animation director for the commercial, and it stars 12-year-old actress Akari Kudou (Pénélope tête en l'air).

The commercial is about four sisters, and Ikeda noted that she created the commercial with the themes of "fun," "dreams" and "energetic" in mind. According to Ikeda, the protagonist in the commercial has the power to create anything she dreams.

The studio previously aired two other commercials last June and July. The "Ajisai-hen" commercial is now airing in Japan.

Source: Yaraon!

Nothing Says Love (Plus) Like a Throat Lozenge

With the new Love Plus coming out for Nintendo DS, Konami has lent out the dating sim's Nene Anegasaki out to Halls for cross marketing campaign with their throat lozenges. Nene branded pink grapefruit Halls are now available in Japanese convenience stores for 100 yen. If you're curious for more, Gigazine has posted an unboxing.

Blue Exorcist Anime Gets PSP Game This Fall

The official website of the Blue Exorcist anime announced on Saturday that Bandai Namco Games will sell a Blue Exorcist videogame for the Sony PSP console in Japan this fall. The site promises to offer more information on the "exorcist x kizuna (bonds) adventure" game.

The first DVD/Blu-ray Disc volume (pictured below) and original soundtrack for the anime will ship on June 22. The limited complete pressing of the Blu-ray/DVD volume will include a box to store the first five volumes. Kazue Katō, the creator of the original manga, illustrated the box. The volume will also include an original drama CD, an illustrated postcard, two exclusive tarot cards, and a mail-away form for an event that is limited only to Blu-ray/DVD buyers. Subsequent volumes will ship every month thereafter.

The soundtrack will feature 18 songs from composer Hiroyuki Sawano (Iryū, Mobile Suit Gundam UC, Sengoku Basara), and the limited first edition will also include an exclusive tarot card.

Aniplex of America has been streaming the anime on Hulu, ANN, Crunchyroll, and Viz Anime since it premiered in Japan in April. (Viz also publishes the manga.) The story focuses on Rin Okumura, a boy raised by a famous exorcist named Father Fujimoto. After an argument between the two, Rin discovers he is the son of Satan. Rin decides to fight his fate by joining the True Cross Academy to become an exorcist and defeat demons.

Source: Comic Natalie

Image © 2011 NGBI

Anime Voice Wake-up Call

Have you ever wished that you are woken up by your favorite anime character? JIHOU-CHAN is exactly the service for you. IDEA JAPAN has started JIHOU-CHAN, a wake-up call service for cell-phone by popular anime voice actress/actor for the first time in Japan on May 25. Jihou means "time signal" in Japanese.

You can receive time signal voices and various messages (wake-up call, birthday, encouraging words, love confession and such). The basic charge is 100 points/yen (roughly US$1.24) for one message.

You can also choose the type of character from:

・School Idol

・Sport girl

・Tsundere older lady

・Dojikko little sister

・Cool class president

・Maid

・Childhood friend

・Cheerful older sister ...and more.

The three anime voice actresses available now are:

(you can hear their sample voices in the linked profile pages)

Yui Horie

Naru Narusegawa (Love Hina)

Tohru Honda(Fruits Basket)

Ayu Tsukimiya (Kanon)

Satomi Satoh

Ritsu Tainaka (K-On!)

Wendy Marvell (FAIRY TAIL)

Kanae Itoh

Amu Hinamori (Shugo Chara!)

Elucia de Lut Ima "Elsie" (The World God Only Knows)

Ruiko Saten (Toaru Kagaku no Railgun)

Source: Netolabo

© IDEA JAPAN

© Crypton Future Media

Newest Figma Madoka Kaname!

The official blog of the figma action figure line has announced their newest product "Madoka Kaname" from the popular anime series Puella Magi Madoka Magica on June 1. The Madoka figma is scheduled to be released in September, 2011. The retail price is 3,200 yen (roughly US$39.45).

Figma is an action figure line produced by Max Factory and distributed by Good Smile Company.

[Figma official site]

Source: figma blog via Hatena Bookmark News

© Magica Quartet／Aniplex・Madoka Partners・MBS

Hatsune Miku's Snow Costume Wanted

Good Smile Company is now inviting the public to join the design contest for their Nendoroid Snow Hatsune Miku 2012 version at PIAPRO, a community site for creators of variety categories. The company is well-known for their Nendoroid and figma product lines. Hatsune Miku is one of the most popular characters in the lines.

The contest requires to design the Miku's costume using the jewels of snow or ice theme. The winner's design will be used for the actual Nendroid Snow Miku 2012 product in this winter. You have to register the PIAPRO website to join the contest. The contest is running from May 31 to June 20.

Nendoroid Snow Miku 2010

Nendoroid Snow Miku 2011: Snow Playtime Edition

Source: Netolabo

© Crypton Future Media, Inc.

New Haruhi Novel Sells 341,000 to Top Weekly Chart

The limited first-edition set of Suzumiya Haruhi no Kyōgaku (The Surprise of Haruhi Suzumiya), Nagaru Tanigawa's first new Haruhi Suzumiya light novel in four years, sold 341,000 units (rounded to the nearest thousand) to top Oricon's bunko (trade paperback book) sales chart for the May 23-29 week. The light novel also set a record for the most sales in one week in the bunko category since Oricon began publishing its book sales charts in 2008. Suzumiya Haruhi no Kyōgaku actually shipped in two volumes due to its 600-page length. It received a 513,000-set print run — a record for light novels. A number of stores in Japan and Taiwan sold the book at midnight on May 25, although some readers reported receiving their copies early.

Source: Oricon, Mantan-Web

Related: New Haruhi Novel Ships in Several Countries Tonight

Haruhi-Ville Coming to Japanese Mobile Phones

GREE, Japan's largest social networking service, will be offering Nexon Mobile developed The Union of Haruhi Suzumiya starting June 15th. Play involves quests, mini-games and interaction with the otaku media icon Haruhi Suzumiya and her SOS Brigade cohorts. The game is free to play, with revenue being generated through microtransactions.

Gurren Lagann × galaxxxy Collaboration Items Revealed

In the wake of recent Panty and Stocky events, Gainax is presenting a P&S style Gurren Lagann exhibit at galaxxxy in Hi-Fi Boxxx in Shibuya May 22, 2011 - June 19.

New galaxxxy collaboration items will be released in conjuction with an exhibition of anime storyboards and scripts. Super Robot Wars Z 2, the new iteration of the strategy RPG featuring Gurren Lagann among other mecha series, will also be showcased.

Apparel being offering as part of collaboration include:

■ T-Shirt Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann

Price: 3,675 yen (tax excluded)

Color: White, Red

Size: M, L

■ T-Shirt King Kittan

Price: 3,675 yen (tax excluded)

Color: white, Black

Size: M, L

Manufacturers Lagann

Price: 11,340 yen (tax excluded)
Color: Mix
Size: M, L

■ T-Shirt Enkidurga

Price: 6,090 yen (tax excluded)

Color: White

Size: FREE

New Haruhi Novel Ships in Several Countries Tonight

513,000 limited first-edition sets of Nagaru Tanigawa's next Haruhi Suzumiya light novel, Suzumiya Haruhi no Kyōgaku (The Surprise of Haruhi Suzumiya), will officially go on sale at midnight on Wednesday in Japan (11:00 a.m. on Tuesday EDT). The two-volume novel will also go on sale in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and South Korea. However, since some retailers shipped earlier than others, some readers have reported receiving their copies already.

Five Animate stores and three Gamers stores will open at midnight in Japan to sell the novel as early as possible. Staff members in some Animate stores will be cosplaying in the light novels' high school uniforms, complete with SOS Brigade armband, and customers will receive one of five random SOS Brigade Supporters Cards with every 1,000 yen (about US$12) they spend on Haruhi Suzumiya items. The Animate and Wawabooks stores in Taipei, as well as two more stores in Taichung and Kaohsiung, will also open at midnight in Taiwan.

Source: Niji ni Kubittake!, Comic Natalie