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$19.99? Angelic Layer is too awesome to cost only $19.99!
by Dale North, 03/19/2010
$19.99? Angelic Layer is too awesome to cost only $19.99! photo

One anime that will always stand in my top ten will be Angelic Layer. I can't even really explain why, but I love this anime. Bones adapted it from the Clamp manga, but the details don't matter. Something about it is just magical to me.  I love the whole human and robot co-existence thing, and AL did it before Chobits did. Plus, who doesn't love tiny robots?

I don't need Angelic Layer on DVD, but you might. I was really surprised to run across the entire 26-episode boxset at Best Buy priced at only $19.99. This show is way better than the price they stuck on it. I don't even want to know why it is priced so low. 

I'm mostly here to tell you that you need to go to Best Buy today and get one hell of a bargain on a great anime. 


  3 comments Latest by matty
""I don't even want to know why it is priced so low." Maybe it's the ADV logo :P Actually, I'm still surprised there are a still a handful of Geneon titles still out there. btw, even though the ..."...read more



 Want to know what the top Johnny's boys make?
by Colette Bennett, 03/19/2010
Want to know what the top Johnny's boys make? photo

Sure, there are some famous dudes employed by Johnny's Entertainment, and I admit I am a fan of several of them. I haven't spent too much time wondering how much money they make, but thanks to a recent broadcast on the Shukan Emi Show, the top 5 highest grossing performers have been made public. And they are...

1. Nakai Masahiro (SMAP)
2. Kimura Takuya (SMAP)
3. Kusanagi Tsuyoshi (SMAP)
4. Kokubun Taichi (TOKIO)
5. Sakurai Sho (Arashi)

I assume three SMAP members made it into this list because of their longevity and also their talent (and because Kimura Takuya makes CMs like this), but I'm wondering if Sakurai Sho made it in here since he decided to get all naked for the last issue of AnAn. According to Unleash the Geek, Masahiro tops the list as 3 million - 4 million yen (US$33,171 - US$44,228) for every program he hosts and is currently hosting 6 regular programs. Busy guy!

I have an offer I'd like to publically put out there for Yamashita Tomahisa: I'll pay you a million yen to come to America and cook me breakfast. Wearing only an apron. Call me.


  4 comments Latest by Colette Bennett
"@peterinjapan -- That's an excellent point. Still, I can't imagine they are doing too badly..."...read more



 What Manga's Been Up To: Nazi yaoi is amazing
by Colette Bennett, 03/18/2010
What Manga's Been Up To: Nazi yaoi is amazing photo

It really is. And the fact that it exists is just absolutely astonishing.

Anyway, I'm dozens of hours late posting this thing so I am going to just let you enjoy that and all the other goodness in the gallery. Remember, if you have some for next week, shoot them to me at colette@japanator.com. The dirtier, the better -- we love this type of stuff! It's the reason why Nazi yaoi exists, after all.


  15 comments Latest by Zepwich
"Resident Evil?"...read more

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Roberta returns in Black Lagoon's new OVA series
by Josh Tolentino, 03/18/2010
Roberta returns in Black Lagoon's new OVA series photo

I think I missed the boat on the whole Black Lagoon craze, but I know enough to recognize that it stars a bunch of bad-ass motherf'ers living on and around some island in Southeast Asia, and that Roberta is a battle maid who has beef with the girl in short-shorts Daisy Dukes (says Jon).

Well, fans of that and everything else Black Lagoon-related can rejoice, for Shogakukan has announced a new installment of the franchise, this time a five-episode OVA titled "Roberta's Blood Trail". It'll debut on DVD and Blu-ray in Japan July 17th.

Given that the show seemed to do well enough in North America, I'd think the chances for release are decent. Maybe I should rent it or something and see what the fuss is all about.


  12 comments Latest by Kougeru
"Was pretty sure season 3 was announced like a year ago...what the hell hapened to it"...read more



 Surprise surprise: iPad bookstore getting manga section
by Josh Tolentino, 03/18/2010
Surprise surprise: iPad bookstore getting manga section photo

While I'm hardly the type of person who could justify owning an iPad (hell, I can't even justify owning an iPhone), the largely unsurprising news that the iPad's ebook store will have a big ol' section devoted to hot Japanese MAGMA manga. 

This isn't exactly news, since competing eBook reader stores like Amazon's Kindle and the Sony store (which also supports the PlayStation Portable) also offer mango manga for sale, but if this quadruple iPod Touch iPad thing super-duper takes off, it might lead to a more dramatic expansion in the digital manga market, especially concerning that general sales are down across the board, here and in Glorious Nippon.

Plus, if you're going to read your magma manga in digital format, you may as well do it on a larger, more book-like screen, right?


  7 comments Latest by Hen na Otoko
"I'm waiting for an iPad that supports backgrounding and Flash at the very least."...read more



 Samurai Champloo composer Jun 'Nujabes' Seba dies
by Brad Rice, 03/18/2010
Samurai Champloo composer Jun 'Nujabes' Seba dies photo

It's with a heavy heart that I have to report that the brilliant and talented composer, Jun Seba, died earlier today after complications related to an auto accident he suffered back on February 26th. Most of us know him for his work on the Samurai Champloo soundtrack, creating something that was truly memorable.

Beyond his own work, he was a great producer, helping to bring out some greatly innovative music in those he worked with. If you're looking to hear some of his other music, check out his label Hydeout Productions, where he oversaw the albums they put out.

He'll certainly be missed, especially since he passed away at a pretty young age -- only 36.

[via AnimeNews.biz and Diverse]


  30 comments Latest by thedarkone17
"....MAN! -slams his fist on the table- This SUCKS!...sigh he will definably be missed...RIP"...read more



 Ultra-hip Strike Witches jackets sell out in 13 minutes
by Brad Rice, 03/18/2010
Ultra-hip Strike Witches jackets sell out in 13 minutes photo

50 people are now the coolest kids in their respective schools, guaranteed. After just 13 minutes, all 50 of K-Supply's customizable Strike Witches jackets were sold out. Costing 30,400 yen (after shipping), the jacket could be customized with any name you wished, and any rank from Airman to First Lieutenant -- Major and General were reserved for show staffers.

And, as a side note: all the patches were made by the same company that makes the patches for the US military. Y'know, for the sake of all those hardcore military nuts/moe fans over in Japan. I have a feeling those two groups have an unusually large crossover.

Now, what about all you Strike Witches fans? Would you shell out your serious bucks -- around $300 -- for this piece of rare and hand-crafted material? You'd still be supporting FUNimation's war on pants, because this wouldn't cover any of your backside. I've yet to partake in the show, but FUNi just sent me a review copy, so expect to hear from us about it soon!

[Thanks, Ko!]


  2 comments Latest by Jon Snyder
"They sent you a review copy of the show, but no review copy of the jacket? For shame, FUNimation!"...read more



 Arashi boys play New Super Mario Bros Wii in new CM
by Dale North, 03/18/2010

These guys are having fun with New Super Mario Bros Wii.

Arashi band members Satoshi Ohno and Kazunari Ninomiya are making their own game within the game, and they're having too much fun. I like how they're chanting Mario and Luigi's names to get the jump timing down.

Come to think of it, Ohno and Nino are kind of like Mario and Luigi. Hell, they're almost as popular. They get all the princesses, and they never have to go around picking up coins, though. 


view full story & comments

  5 comments Latest by beach_bum1303
"I love how Riida can't lose his spaced out look for anything. But Ohmiya. Such a good combination. "...read more



 Japanator AM records tonight: ASK US STUFF!!!!
by Karen Gellender, 03/18/2010
Japanator AM records tonight: ASK US STUFF!!!! photo

That's right, it's time for another wild and crazy listener questions episode! Or at least, it might be wild and crazy- I guess that depends on you guys, and what kinds of awesome questions you come up with. See, it's time for you guys to take RESPONSIBILITY for QUALITY PODCASTING.

Now you may be thinking, "Wait a minute- Japanator AM records episode 10? Where the hell did Episode 9 go?" Sorry, sick Karen makes for late podcast, at least this week. Ask us stuff to your heart's content, and Episode 9, "Special OPs", will be up later today.

I think there should be a moratorium on people getting sick from now on- it kind of sucks. Let's consider banning getting sick instead of loli for a bit, I say!


  29 comments Latest by Shamisen
"@ Serte Jon's not from the future, however he's got this really neat crystal ball, A gift from a funny looking guy in a used Neputian flying saucer he met in the desert a few years back... It ..."...read more



 Fanservice: Exactly what the hell is it?
by kindaaloser, 03/18/2010
Fanservice: Exactly what the hell is it? photo

[Editors Note: Let's take a breather from debating about moe, shall we? This is a promoted Community Blog, written by one of our readers. If you would like to see your own Cblog on the front page, warm up your keyboard and write something awesome! ~Jon Snyder] 

This may be a poor analogy, but this is what I figure a hefty majority of people who watch anime think of when it comes to fanservice.

"Fanservice is kind of like candy - it's fun and sweet in moderation, but too much and you simply get sick. A little bit can add some humor, awkwardness, or the lovely "eye-candy" appeal for the sake of entertainment. And also, I believe one of the reasons that writers, directors, and artists incorporate it is because, on paper, this is the chance to create a purely unrealistic person, especially in the culture of Japan."

I remember listening to the fanservice episode of the The Anime Counterpoint podcast with hbi2k and kaiserneko last year. Very few girls in the real world actually look like that, but in a fictitious world, it's completely possible for every girl to be perfect. It's a visual take on something that otherwise could only exist in imagination. And, I believe, that is why it becomes so entertaining - we get to physically see something interact in front of us that we will rarely come across in real life.

But of course, it can easily be overdone. However, this isn't about the current status of fanservice in anime today. This is about the current status of the anime fans who perceive fanservice today.


view full story & comments

  27 comments Latest by TJF588
"Fanservice that has no sensible place in the narrative -- or even with the characters -- is less "whoo-hoo" and more "stop it, I'm trying to enjoy this thing why are you doing that quit the big-l..."...read more

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