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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?


  1 comments Latest by HoodedMiracle
"Without Yotsuba&!, it is doomed for failure. Also, iPhone support would be nice. Zoom and all that."...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]


  11 comments Latest by subby187
"i thought he died last february and his death was only announced today on his burial"...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!]


  1 comments Latest by undyingstorm
"The patches are badass, but the jacket itself not so much. It would be cooler if it was leather."...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. 


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  2 comments Latest by Rank57
"Yeah, like a Mario game needed Arashi's help to sell. Now, all girls in Japan will buy this, even the ones that already have it. ... Well, they ARE funny. Aiba and Sakurai could make a Sin & Pu..."...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!


  21 comments Latest by Puddle Boots
"What are your thoughts on anime that end the series with a cliffhanger ending? This seems to be an issue primarily with anime adaptions of long running seinen manga such as: Berserk, Death Frenzy..."...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

  22 comments Latest by kindaaloser
"@ Reibooi If your preferred definition of fanservice were what anime fans today are most associated with, then I'd happily be on my way through life not writing this blog. However, the main ide..."...read more

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Yotsuba & PANCAKES!
by Ben Huber, 03/17/2010
Yotsuba & PANCAKES! photo


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  24 comments Latest by HoodedMiracle
"Are you getting scans or something? I haven't seen this in Yotsuba&! before. _"...read more

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Right Stuf licenses Dirty Pair
by Jon Snyder, 03/17/2010
Right Stuf licenses Dirty Pair photo

HELL YES!

Nozomi Entertainment, the anime licensing and production branch of Right Stuf, has just made a huge announcement. They have licensed the greatest anime series of all time: Dirty Pair. That's the ORIGINAL Dirty Pair that aired on Japanese TV back in 1985, not the half-assed OVAs or the unmentionable 90's knockoff Dirty Pair Flash. Yup, we're getting the misadventures of Kei and Yuri in all their original beating-disco glory. Right Stuf, I freaking love you.

Dirty Pair will be released this in two "DVD collections" which are each currently priced at $37.49 on Right Stuf's website. They will include all 24 episodes of the series as well as two TV specials. No concrete release date other than "coming soon" has been given, but ANN is saying late Fall 2010. In the meantime, if you need a Dirty Pair primer, I suggest listening to the Bakacast episode where we reviewed the series, and checking out the clean OP embedded below the break.

Oh, and dibs on Kei.


view full story & comments

  18 comments Latest by HoodedMiracle
"Does this have shoujo-ai (it has yuri, hurr durr)?"...read more



 Get some MangaGamer eroge goodness for less this spring
by Josh Tolentino, 03/17/2010
Get some MangaGamer eroge goodness for less this spring photo

You should be supporting the growing visual novel/eroge scene. Unfortunately, a lot of folks are cagey about buying adult games, and others are cagey about pricing, which, while still much lower than the average prices in Japan, are somewhat high for titles that some struggle to even categorize as "games."

Still, there are stories to be told, and you might enjoy playing them sometime. MangaGamer knows this, and is giving you (yes you!) the chance to get some hotness for less over the first week of April during their big spring sale!

From April 1st through April 7th, prices for MangaGamer's most popular titles, including Da Capo, Shuffle!, and KiraKira will be dropped significantly. Better still for those who shy away from adult content, the same price drop applies to KiraKira's all-ages version.

And if you've some euros to spend on March 20th, MangaGamer will also be releasing an Edelweiss bundle that contains both Edelweiss and its spinoff Edelweiss Eiden Fantasia.

Are you ready for some easter eroge action? Hit up the site to check out their selection, or their staff blog for hints at potential new releases.


  5 comments Latest by matty
"Excellent deal, although I'm mostly excited about trying out Edelweiss. Well, the second part, at least."...read more



 JapanaTen: 10 Reasons why J-drama is better than plain TV
by Dale North, 03/17/2010
JapanaTen: 10 Reasons why J-drama is better than plain TV photo

J-drama is its own thing. Some may think that it's just the Japanese version of primetime television, and...well, they're right. But it's totally different on so many other levels. I really think that the J-drama way is the better way. In comparison, "regular" television seems bland, long-winded, and silly.

I'm sure that I'm the only one that thinks this way, so I'm here to force my opinions on you in this JapanaTen list of The Top Ten Reasons Why J-drama is Better Than Regular Television.


view full story & comments

  28 comments Latest by Rank57
""It's the same characters, just with more realistic proportions." That's why j-drama anime and manga. No drawn character can possibly look better than Fukada Kyoko."...read more

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