Kurogane’s Anime Blog

Spotted over at Canned Dogs, it seems that Lucky Star OVA will be made by KyoAni (thank god the naysayers saying that Toei was gonna do it are wrong) and it will be airing this summer.

As for Haruhi S2, June’s Newtype has a teaser for it, with further information forthcoming in the July issue next month. Gotta hate it when they do that.

Manga creator Arina Tanemura (Full Moon wo Sagashite) will end The Gentlemen’s Alliance Cross manga in the July issue (on sale on June 3) of Shueisha’s Ribon magazine — and start a new manga called Mistress Fortune in the same issue. The announcement was made in the current monthly issue, which was released on May 1. The magazine says this is the first time that an artist has ended a series and started a new one in the same issue. Mistress Fortune will launch with a 52-page installment, including a color insert at the beginning. There will need to be at least 10 volumes to finish The Gentlemen’s Alliance Cross in Japanese, and Viz Media will publish the sixth volume in English next month. Viz Media has also published or licensed Tanemura’s I.O.N., Full Moon wo Sagashite, Short-Tempered Melancholy, and Time Stranger Kyoko, while CMX published Kamikaze Kaitō Jeanne.

Source: Anime News Network

So it’s finally ending. To be honest, I’ve been a big fan of the series ever since I tried reading the first chapter on a whim quite a while back. The combination of awesome art, likable cast of characters and insanely dramatic turns of story have kept me hooked all this while, and the series is one of the rare ones that I actually buy the English releases of.

Honestly speaking, though, reading till the latest chapters, I do feel the ending is gonna be quite the cop-out, being already clear as day as to how it will end. Yet still, it’s been an awesome read, and I hope it will end satisfactorily.

I eagerly await Arina-sensei’s new series, and it seems like she’s going back to her fantasy roots again, with Mistress Fortune.

In the meantime, I still need to collect the rest of Full Moon wo Sagashite… orz.

Moetron reports a Lucky Star OVA in the making, courtesy of this month’s Comptiq magazine.

Mmm~~ more Kagamin~~~~ *drool*.

From Anime News Network:

The Japanese technology news source ITmedia reports that five companies will launch ai space, a 3D virtual world where users can interact with bishōjo game heroines from Clannad, Shuffle!, and D.C. II: Da Capo II, this summer. Headlock (Detective Evangelion, Neon Genesis Evangelion Battle Orchestra) is developing the world which will have characters from the game developers Visual Art’s (Clannad), Omegavision (Shuffle!), and CIRCUS (D.C. II: Da Capo II). The Dwango online service provider will support the service’s infrastructure. Each game franchise will be recreated on its own virtual island.

Each users will be able to create his (or her) own avatar as well as select one bishōjo character as a personal character doll (”chara-doll”). The avatar and the chara-doll can then live together on one of the islands — complete with a house and furniture that they can buy. The chara-doll will be able to wear different costumes (based on in-game items), memorize various motions to act out, and dance. The developers claim that each chara-doll can develop a unique personality for each user.

The different islands will be connected by a tentatively titled “Akihabara Island,” where the different avatar/chara-doll pairs can gather for chatting and events. Dwango’s Niwango subsidiary plans to incorporate the Nico Nico Anime Channel from the Nico Nico Douga online video service (which boasts over 6 million users) into the virtual world. On the real-world Nico Nico Douga site, the companies have posted a teaser video that was presented at the last Winter Comic Market convention. The singer KOTOKO (Shakugan no Shana, Please Teacher!) will perform the first theme song.

Source: Canned Dogs

It’s like Second Life, only with Kyou, Kaede and Nanaka. Oh god… I am “tempted” to join in. But something in me tells me that I will be really, really sad person if I do so.

[アニメ]TVA「CLANNAD AFTER STORY」製作決定！ このエントリーを含むブックマーク

スタッフ、キャストは変わらず。電撃G’sマガジン2008年5月号に監督とシリーズ構成のインタビューが掲載。初は1期だけ、渚ルートだけにしようかって話もあったけど、色々と議論した結果、この形になった。

Moonphase reports that CLANNAD AFTER STORY will be made, with no staff changes. The news was reported in Dengeki G’s Magazine 2008/05, in an interview with the director.

No further information at the moment.

UPDATE 1: Added a line (presumably from the interview article). “At first, we only decided to take Nagisa’s route, however after many discussions this was decided instead.”

UPDATE 2: So yes, the announcement at the end of this week’s CLANNAD is the preview of CLANNAD AFTER STORY. Here’s a nice upload on Youtube of the 15 sec clip.

First thing I thought when I saw Ushio… “Ijimeko?!” Shit, so cuteeeeeeee~~~~~~~~~

From Anime News Network:

The Japanese media company GDH has announced that the YouTube, CrunchyRoll, and BOST online video services will be streaming new titles from GDH’s Gonzo animation studio — worldwide and on the same day as their Japanese broadcast. The video streams, which will be in Japanese with English subtitles, will start with The Tower of Druaga: the Aegis of Uruk (pictured at right) and Blassreiter anime series. Druaga premieres on April 4, and Blassreiter premieres on April 5.

All three video services offer their content via streaming, although GDH also mentioned “fee-based download of high-resolution movie files” in its press release. America’s Viz Media offered NTV’s Death Note episodes for download within half a year of their Japanese broadcast, but GDH’s new initiative is the first global, simultaneous streaming of multiple series from a major anime studio. GDH added that its “decision to provide its content globally in parallel with Japanese broadcast is an effort to offer equal accessibility and new viewing opportunities to fans around the world, while at the same time showcasing a legal online alternative to illegal file-sharing and downloading.” GDH also emphasized that these services are for foreign viewers only; the company already has deals in place to stream its content through services within Japan.

Well, this is an interesting development. Legalized anime watching on Youtube makes me happy. Plus, if the price is right, I don’t mind paying for their fee-based downloads, especially if it comes with subtitles as well.

While I can’t say the shows that Gonzo’s pushing out with this initiative catches my attention, but this is a good step forward for all of us, especially if it incites other companies to follow suit.

AnimeBlogger.net has always been supportive of new writers all over the world to establish their blog for free. As we continue to expand and include new bloggers to the anime blogosphere, we have reached a point where advertising dollars are not enough to pay for the hosting services.

Hence, we have decided to appeal for donations to cover the taxes and hosting fees of AnimeBlogger.net. The first goal is to raise US$1600 to cover three months of hosting and the taxes applicable to AnimeBlogger.net. When we have secured that amount, we are looking into adding another server in order to accommodate more writers, which is where the second goal comes in. If we reach our second goal of US$2200, we’ll be able to add another server.

If you are wondering how you can donate to us, there are various ways. First, you can directly donate to the site via Amazon or Paypal from our donations page. Second, you can buy AnimeBlogger.net merchandise. As an incentive to those who donate, everyone who donates more than $5 will be entered to win a prize. Currently we have a sponsor that’s paying for two AnimeBlogger.net shirts for winners. You can also contribute any anime-related items as prizes for the lucky draw.

AnimeBlogger.net needs your help. Everyone is integral to the support of AnimeBlogger.net. Every little bit counts to hit our target, be it $1 or $100. You will make a difference. Thank you and please continue to explore our anime blogging community!

And there you have it guys. It’s been a fun 2 and a half years with Animeblogger.net, but it seems the site has grown so well that our dearest webmaster, Maestro isn’t able to support everything by himself.

So, with him, I’d like to appeal to all my readers, whether casual, loyal or currently-stalking-me-somewhere to help out as well, and donate to keep the whole domain up. No amount is too small or too large. Be it $0.01, $1.00 or $100, any amount will definitely help us up.

I’ve installed the donation drive plugin on the sidebar as well so you guys can track the progress easily and the donation link is located there as well. On behalf of myself, Maestro and the other bloggers on Animeblogger.net, I thank you all in advance for your help :).

P.S. If you donate over $250, I’ll send you a personal picture of myself, uncensored. XD.

Yes, they’ve did it again. Last year, it was legendary veteran Tohru Furuya, this year, it’s Masakazu Morita, known mainly for his roles as Kurosaki Ichigo and Tidus. I’m so proud of those guys and somewhat regret at the same time I’m not directly involved with them anymore.

I sure hope they’ll finally manage to invite one of my favourites the next GACC :D.

More info at the official site: http://whatisgacc.com/

Coming from Moetron, it seems an April’s Fool joke by 0verflow seems to have materialized in a real show. As the title implies, Kokoro is the main character. Oh man… I hope this doesn’t turn in to another Nanoha-style show.

This is so gonna be full LULZ. Still, having Kotonoha swinging swords around killing baddies is definitely worth a watch.

Uh, apparently due to the recent murder cases, HiguKai has been banned from TV.

Did I mention this is just not my day?