Soul Eater Coming Feb 9, 2010 with Extras

FUNimation® Entertainment will release the first 13 episodes of the soul-hunting action series Soul Eater on February 9, 2010. This will be the first of four half-season sets.

Extras will include an episode commentary, a Soul Eater manga preview presented by Yen Press, and textless songs.

About Soul Eater

Unapologetically surreal and action-packed, Soul Eater is the tale of living weapons who team with human masters to hunt evil souls. Only after these dark forces are consumed can these partners hope to join the ranks of the famed Death Scythes.

Maka and her weapon, Soul, are among the new students at a university run by Death himself. As they learn the ways of collecting souls, this fresh class of reapers must work together to keep witches, werewolves, and zombies from unleashing evil upon the world.

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FUNimation Entertainment Press Release

EVANGELION 1.0: You Are (Not) Alone on 11-17-2009

EVANGELION 1.0: You Are (Not) Alone is coming 11/17!

Until then, you can see the first nine minutes of this animated sci-fi action-thriller by Hideaki Anno here: http://www.funimation.com/evangelion/.

OR here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YFIAVsMNws - in HD!

Created by the same production team behind the hugely successful Neon Genesis Evangelion series, EVANGELION 1.0: YOU ARE (NOT) ALONE is a futuristic tale which tells the story of schoolboy Shinji Ikari as he is summoned by his estranged father to the vast city of Tokyo-3. The tearful reunion he was hoping for does not materialize as his father has a far more nefarious reason for wanting his son by his side again. Led down into the underground labyrinth of NERV headquarters, he learns that he is one of only a few children that can pilot one of the enormous Evangelion robots against a terrifying enemy. Tokyo-3 is under attack from the terrifying Angels, creatures of an unknown origin bent on laying waste to anything they find. However, there are greater forces at work behind the scenes, and is the true enemy the angels, NERV, the mysterious SEELE, or the demons held within the hearts of the people involved?

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FUNimation Entertainment Press Release

Soul Eater episodes 1-4 go live on 11-13-2009

Tomorrow at 11:00 am Central Standard Time, FUNimation will stream the first four English track episodes of the anime series Soul Eater at http://www.funimation.com/video.

Here are the episode summaries for 1-4:

Episode 01 – Resonance of the Soul – Will Soul Eater Become a Death Scythe?

With 99 evil souls consumed, Soul just needs to defeat a witch to become a Death Scythe. He and Maka make their move against Blair – but a pointy hat doesn’t always mean witch!

Episode 02 – I Am the Star! The Big Man is Showing Up Here?

A mobster and his goons are gunning for a witch, and Black☆Star and Tsubaki want the souls of all involved. Their plan runs into trouble when the witch’s bodyguard draws his sword.

Episode 03 – The Perfect Boy – Death the Kid’s Magnificent Mission?

Death the Kid, Patty, and Liz travel to the desert to battle a witch who’s raising the dead. If a horde of mummies doesn’t stop them, Kid’s freaky symmetry obsession might.

Episode 04 – Engage the Witch Hunter! A Remedial Lesson in the Graveyard?

It’s a graveyard rumble when Maka, Soul, Black☆Star, and Tsubaki take on Sid. He used to be a respected teacher at the Academy, but now he’s a zombie – and he’s actively recruiting for the undead!

About Soul Eater

Unapologetically surreal and action-packed, Soul Eater is the tale of living weapons who team with human masters to hunt evil souls. Only after these dark forces are consumed can these partners hope to join the ranks of the famed Death Scythes.

Maka and her weapon, Soul, are among the new students at a university run by Death himself. As they learn the ways of collecting souls, this fresh class of reapers must work together to keep witches, werewolves, and zombies from unleashing evil upon the world.

FUNimation Entertainment will release the series in four half-season sets beginning in early 2010.

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FUNimation Entertainment Press Release

Spellcaster’s Command: An Inside Look

Review By Justin Moravian

Dark Magic Attack!! If you're familiar with the Yu-Gi-Oh! series, you probably remember when the protagonist Yugi would say this while delivering the final blow to his adversaries with his favorite card the Dark Magician. Since then, spellcaster types like the Dark Magician have gained a few new abilities allowing them to "focus" their magical abilities so to speak. The structure deck Spellcaster's Command gives players a whole new experience to spellcaster type monsters. If you've never heard of the term spell counters, this deck will provide you with a crash course on the ways of gathering and utilizing them to the fullest in order to make you victorious. So, if you've always been a fan of the spellcaster type or you're just curious and would like to try something new, then this deck is a must buy. Wondering what's inside? No problem, let's take a look at the deck list shall we?

MONSTERS:
Endymion, The Master Magician x1
Disenchanter x1
Defender, The Magical Knight x1
Hannibal Necromancer x1
Summoner Monk x1
Dark Red Enchanter x1
Skilled Dark Magician x1
Apprentice Magician x2
Old Vindictive Magician x1
Magical Marionette x1
Breaker the Magical Warrior x1
Magical Plant Mandrogola x1
Royal magical Library x1
Blast Magician x1
Mythical Beast Cerberus x1
Mei-Kou, Master of Barriers x1
Crystal Seer x1
Magical Exemplar x1

SPELL CARDS:
Magical Citadel of Endymion x1
Spell Power Grasp x1
Magicians Unite x1
Mist Body x1
Malevolent Nuzzler x1
Giant Trunade x1
Fissure x1
Swords of Revealing Light x1
Mage Power x1
Terraforming x1
Enemy Controller x1
Book of Moon x1
Magical Dimension x1
Twister x1 Field Barrier x1

TRAPS:
Magician's Circle x1
Pitch Black Powerstone x2
Tower of Babel x1
Magic Cylinder x1

This deck is made ready to play, but in order to play it properly some practice with the spell counters will be needed. For starters, let's use the trap Pitch Black Powerstone for example. When this card is activated it automatically receives three spell counters. Once per turn you can take one off and place it on another target that can hold spell counters. The card Spell Power Grasp is another card that allows you to place a spell counter on a creature and it even allows you to search for another copy of the card from your deck and add it to your hand. The card Magical Plant Mandrogola allows you to place a spell counter on every card that can hold a spell counter on the field once it is flipped face up. These three card are very useful for any spellcaster deck that utilizes spell counters.

For some of the cards in this deck, just by simply using a spell card they will receive a spell counter. One of the most notable ones would be Magical Marionette. His attack is at a base of 2000 and each time a spell is used, by either player, he will receive a spell counter. To add onto that effect, for every spell counter it receives a spell counter it gains 200 more attack points. He also has a very useful ability to destroy any one monster on the field by simply removing two spell counters. Now if you'd like to use a monster that destroy just any card period, then there is Endymion, The Master Magician. Endymion can be special summoned by removing six spell counters from the field spell Magical Citadel of Endymion. When he is special summoned, you can add one field spell from your deck to your hand which is quite useful. By discarding a spell card from your hand to the grave, you can destroy any one card on the field. This effect can be exploited by using Endymion in conjuction with the card Magical Blast which can be found in the previous Spellcaster structure deck Spellcaster's Judgement. Magical Blast allows you to skip your draw phase and add it from your grave to your hand. When it is used, it will deal 200 damage to your opponent for every spellcaster on your side of the field. In other words, this card has more than one use.

There are many cards that have been released and that will be released that support spellcasters. This article just talks about a few of them, but that is because there are so many strategies the spellcaster's can use. There is even a lock-down strategy using the card Secret Village of the Spellcasters and Royal Decree. Secret Village of the Spellcasters prevents the activation of spell cards for the player who does not control a spellcaster on the field while Royal Decree prevents all players from activating trap cards. A strategy like this will cripple your opponents and limit the amount of actions they can perform. Since the spellcasters usually rely on spells, you will not be affected greatly by Royal Decree. Spellcaster's Command introduces many new cards and a lot of new straregies. With this structure deck the spellcaster's will be at your command.
© 2009 Linda Thai

YuGiOh TCG Warriors’ Strike Structure Deck

STRIKE HARD, STRIKE FIRST,
SHOW NO MERCY WITH
KONAMI DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT, INC.’S
WARRIORS’ STRIKE STRUCTURE DECK

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. – (October 27, 2009) – Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc., the global publisher of the Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s TRADING CARD GAME is calling all Duelists with its new Structure Deck, Warriors’ Strike. The Warriors’ Strike Structure Deck is a ready‐to‐play Deck that combine three themes: Warriors; Equip Cards; and Gemini monsters, which were first introduced in Tactical Evolution. The Warriors’ Strike Structure Deck (MSRP $9.99) is available now at hobby and retail locations nationwide.

The Warriors’ Strike Structure Deck has everything a Duelist needs including a 40‐card theme Deck (including one Ultra Rare and two Super Rare cards), rulebook, deluxe game mat, and Dueling Guide with instructions on how to enhance each Duelist’s chances. The Warriors’ Strike Structure Deck is intended for players who know the basic rules, and are looking to build a competitive Deck for tournament use.

“Seasoned Duelists will be scrambling to get the Deck’s six brand new cards, while casual Duelists will find cards to boost their gaming experience,” noted Yumi Hoashi, vice president of Card Business for Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. “Warriors’ Strike will be supported by a national television campaign with commercials airing in the U.S. and Canada on Cartoon Network, TheCW4Kids and YTV. Warriors’’ Strike also includes the highly-anticipated “Hidden Armory” Spell Card, plus reprints of the “Dark Bribe” and “Burden of the Mighty” promo cards!”

The Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s animated series can be seen in the United States Monday through Saturday on Cartoon Network. The original Yu-Gi-Oh! animated series can be seen Saturday mornings on TheCW4Kids block. For more information on Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc., the Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME or the Warriors’ Strike Structure Deck, please visit www.yugioh-card.com.

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Konami Press Release

'Manga' Library "an Archive for Serious Study"

Yes, Library and Archival Students and Professionals, and to all those who are fond of manga. There is a plan to have a Manga Library in Japan at Meiji University. The opening is suppose to be early 2015 and will "be available to researchers and fans from Japan and abroad." Of course, as an archival and preservation student, I have a few questions. However, it is too early to ask, more like 6 years too early. I will wait to see what the University will present in regards to their protocols, research, conservation and preservation standards, and all the good stuff related to the world of library and archives. (^_^) Til then, enjoy the articles and their coverage. Thank you Professors for letting me know :)

Japanese university plans huge 'manga' library AFP, ‎Oct 22, 2009‎

Image AFP

Meiji University plans huge 'manga' library (Japan) Peter Scott's Library Blog, Friday, October 23, 2009

Manga library in Tokyo on the drawing board 'Solid archive for serious study' CBC News, October 23, 2009

Manga library planned for Japan BBC News, October 23, 2009

Japanese university to open 'manga library' InsideJapan, October 23, 2009

Updated with other articles on November 1, 2009

Japan to create huge 'manga' library By Danielle Demetriou, Telegraph.co.uk, October 27, 2009