FUNimation Entertainment Acquires Additional Rights to HAGANAI

Flower Mound, TX – January 28, 2012 - FUNimation Entertainment announced today at Ohayocon that it has acquired the broadcast, home entertainment, merchandising, mobile and streaming rights to the anime series, HAGANAI (Boku wa Tomodachi Ga Sukunai). FUNimation plans to release the HAGANAI series on DVD and Blu-ray. Watch full episodes on www.funimation.com.

John Romita’s The Amazing Spider-Man: Artist’s Edition in Stores February 1st!

John Romita’s
The Amazing Spider-Man: Artist’s Edition
in Stores February 1st!

IDW and Marvel present
classic stories, all scanned from original art

San Diego, CA (January 27, 2012)— JOHN ROMITA’S THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN: ARTIST’S EDITION is the next book in the ongoing Artist’s Edition series from IDW Publishing. Collecting six classic issues from Romita’s stellar run on The Amazing Spider-Man, each and every page scanned from the original art and presented at full size, the same as it looked on Romita’s drawing table.

Aniplex of America 2012 Madoka Magica Meet and Greet Event

© Magica Quartet ／Aniplex, Madoka Partners, MBS

Aniplex to Host Puella Magi Madoka Magica Special Meet and Greet Event at Anime Jungle in Los Angeles

SANTA MONICA, CA (January 26, 2012)– Celebrating the Release of Puella Magi Madoka Magica Vol. 1 in North America, Aniplex of America is having a special Meet and Greet Event with the English Voice Cast of the series. Fans will get to share the excitement of Madoka Magica with the English Cast just days after the release of the First Volume (February 14th). This Meet and Greet event will be held on Friday February 17th at 8:30 PM at Anime Jungle #1 in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo.

The Secret World of Arrietty: Beloved Story Reimangined Studio Ghibli Style!

VIZ MEDIA BRINGS THE WONDROUS
MINIATURE ADVENTURES OF STUDIO GHIBLI’S
THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY
TO READERS IN A NEW SERIES OF BOOKS

Releases Based On The New The Film By
Hayao Miyazaki’s Famed Animation Studio
Include Film Comics, Art And Picture Books

San Francisco, CA, January 26, 2012– VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, brings the miniaturized adventure of famed Studio Ghibli’s newest animated creation – THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY – to readers everywhere with a collection of ARRIETTY film comics, art and picture books set to debut on February 7th, 2012. THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY is scheduled for North American theatrical release on February 17th, 2012.

Rocketeer Adventures Vol 2 Into Stores in March

ROCKETEER ADVENTURES Vol. 2 #1 Coming in March!

San Diego, CA (January 24, 2012)– The second all-new, all-fantastic Rocketeer Adventures series launches into stores in March! Each extra-long issue—boasting 25 pages of story and art— will feature covers by Darwyn Cooke and Dave Stevens. The first issue’s line-up includes Peter David, Marc Guggenheim, Sandy Plunkett, Stan Sakai, and Bill Sienkiewicz, with Arthur Adams supplying a pin-up.

Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series - Guadalajara, Mexico

DUELISTS TO CONVERGE IN GUADALAJARA,
MEXICO FOR PRESTIGIOUS
Yu-Gi-Oh! CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
FEBRUARY 4th – 5th

Younger Players Can Compete in Dragon Duel

El Segundo, CA (January 24, 2012)– Duelists from Mexico and surrounding Latin American countries have been preparing their Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME (TCG) Decks for weeks as the countdown to the first 2012 Yu-Gi-Oh! CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES (YCS) begins. Hundreds of players are expected to compete at the YCS Guadalajara, Mexico February 4th – 5th, the first premier-level Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG event of the year from Konami Digital Entertainment (Konami).

John Layman, John McCrea to Reimagine Mars Attack

EISNER-WINNING CREATORS TAPPED FOR
MARS ATTACKS ONGOING SERIES

John Layman, John McCrea to reimagine cult sci-fi classic in June

San Diego, CA (January 23, 2012)— IDW Publishing and Topps are pleased to announce the multiple Eisner Award-winning creative team for MARS ATTACKS, an all-new ongoing comic series based on the fan-favorite Mars Attacks franchise.

B.P.R.D. Training Camp

TRACKERS PIONEERS B.P.R.D. TRAINING CAMP!
GOING OUTSIDE JUST GOT FUN AGAIN!

January 23, MILWAUKIE, OR—Do you or someone you know have a penchant for the supernatural? Do you like spending time in the great outdoors? Are you between the ages of 9 and 17? Will you be in Portland, Oregon, from July 16 to July 20? If so, Trackers Earth has the ultimate summer-camp experience for you!

Steve Niles and Menton3 Debut Nosferatu Wars in Dark Horse Presents!

STEVE NILES AND MENTON3 DEBUT
THE MUCH-ANTICIPATED NOSFERATU WARS
IN DARK HORSE PRESENTS!

JANUARY 23, MILWAUKIE, OR­—When Steve Niles (Criminal Macabre, 30 Days of Night) premiered artwork from his upcoming collaboration with artist Menton3 (Monocyte, Proof: Endangered, Crawl to Me) via his Twitter feed, speculation and anticipation spread like wildfire across the Internet. Today, Dark Horse is proud to announce that this new vampiric tale will premiere in Dark Horse Presents!

Forgotten Realms Creator to Script New Ongoing Dungeons & Dragons: Forgotten Realms Comic Book Series

Forgotten Realms Creator to Script New Ongoing
Dungeons & Dragons®: Forgotten Realms® Comic Book Series

Ed Greenwood will be joined by artist Lee Ferguson and
comic legend Sal Buscema on new series

San Diego, CA (January 17, 2012) – IDW Publishing, in cooperation with Wizards of the Coast, a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc., is pleased to announce the all-new DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: FORGOTTEN REALMS ongoing comic book series, hitting shelves in April. Legendary writer Ed Greenwood, creator of the Forgotten Realms RPG campaign setting, will be scripting the comic―his first-ever ongoing Dungeons & Dragons comic series―and offering one lucky reader a once-in-a-lifetime chance to have his or her own character appear in the series!

Radical Entertainment and Dark Horse Comics Partnership

RADICAL ENTERTAINMENT® AND DARK HORSE JOIN FORCES
TO UNLEASH THE ULTIMATE SHAPE-SHIFTING COMIC SERIES

All-New Comic Series Bridges the Enigmatic Conclusion of the Original PROTOTYPE® and the Action-Packed Beginning of PROTOTYPE®2

Santa Monica, CA – January 17, 2012– Radical Entertainment, the creators behind one of 2012’s most anticipated open-world/action games – PROTOTYPE 2 – and Dark Horse Comics, the leading publisher of gaming comics and graphic novels, have joined forces to create an all-new comic series set in the PROTOTYPE universe. With the game due out April 24, 2012 from Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI), fans looking for a jumpstart at getting a deeper look into the world of PROTOTYPE 2 should keep an eye out for this exciting collaboration launching February 15, 2012.

Naruto Shippuden Simulcast Now Available for Hulu Plus Subscribers!

VIZ MEDIA BRINGS NARUTO SHIPPUDEN ANIME TO HULU PLUS SUBSCRIBERS THE SAME DAY AFTER BROADCAST DEBUT IN JAPAN

Latest Action-Packed Ninja Adventures Straight From Japan To Stream For Fans Beginning With Episode 245

January 19, 2012-VIZ Media has announced the simulcast of the latest episodes of the anime series NARUTO SHIPPUDEN on the Hulu Plus subscription service (www.hulu.com/plus). Beginning January 19th, Hulu Plus subscribers will be able to simulcast the latest episode of NARUTO SHIPPUDEN in high-definition just an hour after broadcast debut in Japan. NARUTO SHIPPUDEN Episode 245 (rated TV-14, subtitled) and new episodes will be broadcast weekly.

FUNimation Entertainment Acquires High School DxD

FUNimation Entertainment Acquires High School DxD

Flower Mound, TX – January 13, 2012 – FUNimation Entertainment announced today that it has acquired the broadcast, home video, merchandising, mobile and streaming rights to the anime series, High School DxD. The anime is based on the Japanese light novel series by Ichiei Ishibumi. FUNimation plans to release the series on DVD and Blu-ray. Simulcast will be Mondays at 4pm CST, beginning January 23, 2012.

All-New Popeye Comics Debut in April 2012

All-New Popeye Comics Debut in April

Acclaimed creator Roger Langridge to write series

San Diego, CA (January 18, 2012)IDW Publishing today announced that comic industry star Roger Langridge will write the company’s all-new POPEYE comic series, which will debut in April 2012. Expanding their partnership with King Features to include new material, IDW’s POPEYE comics will offer all-new adventures with the famous “Sailor Man” and his friends, including Olive Oyl, Bluto, Wimpy and Swee’ Pea. Joining Langridge to bring Popeye back to comics is rising-star artist Bruce Ozella. The monthly POPEYE series will be co-edited by IDW’s co-founder and chief executive officer, Ted Adams and renowned comics expert Craig Yoe.

First-Ever Digital-Only TRANSFORMERS Comic Series, AUTOCRACY

IDW Publishing Launches First-Ever Digital-Only
TRANSFORMERS Comic Series, AUTOCRACY

12-Issue digital-exclusive series comes to
iPad, iPhone, Android and the Web
courtesy of writers Chris Metzen & Flint Dille

San Diego, CA (January 18, 2012)– IDW Publishing proudly announces a new digital comics event five million years in the making: TRANSFORMERS: Autocracy. Released exclusively on digital platforms, this 12-part series will be released on multiple digital platforms as 8-page chapters every two weeks starting January 18th and running through June. Each episode will be priced at 99¢.

FUNimation Suspends Production of Dragon Ball Z Blu-rays

Flower Mound, TX – January 26, 2012- FUNimation Entertainment, has officially confirmed they have suspended production of all future planned Blu-ray releases of Dragon Ball Z including Level 2.1 scheduled to be released on March 27, 2012.

Limited Time VIZ Manga App Promo Until January 30th

VIZ MEDIA INVITES FANS TO EXPLORE VIZ MANGA PLATFORM WITH SPECIAL APP PROMOTION

For A Limited Time Only, New Users Can
Download VIZ Manga App And Receive Free Volume 1

NYCC/NYAF 2011 – Signings

October 13

Robert Kirkman, writer of The Walking Dead and many others, at the Image Comics, Inc. booth.

Saving Money - Comics, Anime, Graphic Novel & Manga

Hello Readers,

I created a new page for the site, How To Save Money, which includes tips and my personal strategies on purchases and bargain hunts.

Remember to save the industry by buying the official merchandise. ^_^

Below are examples of current sales that are happening in New York City.

Book Off

NYCC/NYAF 2011 – Official Cosplayers

Hasbro booth - Jem from Jem and The Holograms

FUNimation Entertainment Acquires High School DxD

FUNimation Entertainment Acquires High School DxD

Flower Mound, TX – January 13, 2012 – FUNimation Entertainment announced today that it has acquired the broadcast, home video, merchandising, mobile and streaming rights to the anime series, High School DxD. The anime is based on the Japanese light novel series by Ichiei Ishibumi. FUNimation plans to release the series on DVD and Blu-ray. More information about the launch of the simulcast will be forthcoming.

Naruto: The Official Character Data Book

IZ MEDIA KICKS OFF 2012 NINJA STYLE WITH
NARUTO: THE OFFICIAL CHARACTER DATA BOOK

New Guide Offers Fans Essential NARUTO Character Info
As Well As Never-Before-Revealed Data And Secrets

San Francisco, CA, January 12, 2012 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, opens the new year with the latest addition to its extensive library of NARUTO titles. NARUTO: THE OFFICIAL CHARACTER DATA BOOK is available now, offers essential information on key characters from the smash-hit action series, and includes 8 full-color pages. NARUTO: THE OFFICIAL CHARACTER BOOK is rated ‘T’ for Teens and will carry an MSRP of $14.99 U.S. / $16.99 CAN.

New Viz Manga for Kids: Fluffy Fluffy Cinnamoroll

VIZ MEDIA LAUNCHES FUN, ADORABLE KIDS’ MANGA
FLUFFY, FLUFFY CINNAMOROLL

Cute Flying Long-Eared Pup
With A Penchant For Cinnamon Rolls Takes Off
For Colorful Adventures In New VIZ Kids Manga Release

San Francisco, CA, January 12, 2012 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, delivers some sweet high-flying fun with the debut of the VIZ Kids manga (graphic novel) property, FLUFFY, FLUFFY Cinnamoroll, available now. The colorful new adventure, with story and art by Yumi Tsukirino, is rated ‘A’ for All Ages, and will carry an MSRP of $7.99 U.S. / $9.99 CAN.

Special WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP ALPHA Launch Event, Jan 28th, in Los Angeles!

VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES A SPECIAL LAUNCH EVENT
FOR NEW WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP ALPHA
DIGITAL MANGA MAGAZINE IN WEST HOLLYWOOD

Free Event In Los Angeles Gives Fans
A Sneak Peek Of Upcoming Debut Of
North America’s First Digital Weekly Manga Anthology

San Francisco, CA, January 11, 2012 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, invites Southern California manga/anime fans and pop culture enthusiasts to a very special launch event for the new WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP ALPHA (WEEKLY SJ ALPHA) on Saturday, January 28th at the West Hollywood Library in Los Angeles, CA.

Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG - Order of Chaos Booster Set

ORDER AND CHAOS ARE ON TRACK TO
COLLIDE IN 2012 WITH EXPLOSIVE RESULTS

IN THE NEWEST Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME RELEASE

El Segundo, CA (January 11, 2012) – The immortal battle between light and darkness continues its devastating swath of destruction in the Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME (TCG) Order of Chaos booster set from Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. (Konami). This leadoff release for 2012 is the stunning sequel to 2004’s Invasion of Chaos, the legendary, best-selling booster set. Duelists who have been pining for this follow-up set won’t be disappointed as Order of Chaos is rich with incredible monsters, spells, and traps!

Viz Media Digital Update for 2012

VIZ MEDIA OPENS 2012 WITH
A BRAND NEW DIGITAL MANGA UPDATE FOR JANUARY

Updates Include WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP ALPHA “Issue Zero” & “Issue Origins” Debut and Launch of Preorder Promotion; SHONEN JUMP DIGITAL WARP Continues For BLEACH And ONE PIECE

VIZ Media begins 2012 with a brand new update of manga (graphic novels) titles available on VIZManga.com and for digital download on the VIZ MANGA App for the Apple iPad®, iPhone® and iPod® touch.

New Year, New Simulcast - LaGrange - The Flower Of Rin-Ne!

VIZ MEDIA SIMULCASTS THE NEW SCI-FI ANIME SERIES LAGRANGE – THE FLOWER OF RIN-NE ON VIZANIME.COM

Kinetic Action Comedy Series Created By Production I.G. Features An Arsenal Of Robots Designed By Nissan;
First Episode Available To Stream Now!

San Francisco, CA, January 9, 2012 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, excites anime fans with the announcement of the U.S. online simulcast premiere of the brand new series, LAGRANGE – THE FLOWER OF RIN-NE, on VIZAnime.com, the company’s own website for free anime, as well as on the free, ad-supported Hulu service and in high-definition on the Hulu Plus subscription service (www.Hulu.com). The first episode (subtitled) is available now with new installments scheduled to debut each Sunday!

VIZ Media Manga Titles Now Available on Barnes & Noble NOOK Tablet & NOOK Color!

BARNES & NOBLE AND VIZ MEDIA
BRING THE DIGITAL MANGA EXPERIENCE TO
NOOK TABLET™ AND NOOK COLOR™

Titles From Leading Manga Publisher Debut Today Exclusively On Barnes & Noble’s 7-Inch NOOK© Devices

Presented In The Original Japanese Right-To-Left Reading Format

New York, New York – December 20, 2011 – Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS), the leading retailer of digital media and educational products, today announced that it has teamed up with VIZ Media, LLC, the largest distributor and publisher of anime and manga in North America, to bring the digital manga (graphic novel) experience to NOOK Tablet and NOOK Color customers. Debuting in the NOOK Store™ today, VIZ Media’s collection includes 18 series, featuring 107 volumes, from its popular Shojo Beat, Shonen Sunday and VIZ Signature imprints. Volumes are available for purchase and fast download in the U.S. and Canada for $4.99 - $9.99 (U.S. / CAN) each. New digital manga volumes, including previews, will be available weekly.

Chinese Lolita

I been doing research on Lolitas of China and Hong Kong but all I can do is provide you with resources and one day translate the Cantonese into English. I would have to go to Hong Kong and China to do the full blown research. I will be digging up stuff related to Lolitas in Taiwan. So use this post as a resource of information about Chinese Lolitas and anything related to Lolita in the respective countries. BTW it is a WHOLE lot of digging.

Who’s To Blame For Bandai’s “Shutdown?”

Well, they are not completely shutting down. Bandai Entertainment will not be releasing anymore new manga, DVD and Blu-rays. Instead, it will be licensing and sub-licensing its shows to the Internet, television broadcasters and merchandising. The decision was made in Japan by the contents Strategic Business Unit (SBU). As a result, people at Bandai Entertainment are going to lose their jobs due to the restructuring of the company. Now who is to blame for this event?

Studio Ghibli Festival - All 15 Films at IFC Center!!!

To purchase tickets, click on this link

~~~

GKIDS Press Release

What Do These Words Mean?

What is anime and manga? What defines a comic or graphic novel? It is one thing to be able to physically identify it, but it is another to define or explain what it is. I have my own interpretations of the terminologies, but I decided to do research on how it has been defined and used by others.