Checkpoint: Gurren Lagann, Major, Higurashi

- The entire TV anime series Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann is being streamed for free on Manga Entertainment's YouTube channel. All 27 episodes are dubbed in English, but as is often the case with such freebies, the streams are only available in the United States and Canada. Nothing a little proxy can't bypass, of course.

- The 6th season of Major will start airing in Japan from April 3, 2010 - as was announced in the latest issue of the Weekly Shonen Sunday magazine. "The anime is based on Takuya Mitsuda's long-running manga about a young pitcher who aspires to follow in his father's footsteps into the major leagues." Fascinating.

- Higurashi no Naku Koro ni, 07th Expansion's original game from which the insanely awesome anime series was later born, is being released in English by MangaGamer.com this December 15. These will be the first 4 chapters in the story, as the remaining 4 make up the second game (~ Kai) - also planned for an English release, in 2010. Tempting as it may be, do mind the atrocious character art in the original game!

- Planzet was announced (via ANN) as the next CG film directed by Jun Awazu (Negadon), to be published in 2010 by CoMix Wave - better known for their portfolio of anime films bearing the signature of Makoto Shinkai (Beyond the Clouds, 5cm per Second). Planzet's story will be set in 2053, when mankind faces a still-ambiguous crisis. Stick around for the first teaser trailer...

- Suki Desu Suzuki-kun!!, a girly school / comedy / romance manga by Gou Ikeyamada, is getting some sort of anime DVD this December 18, bundled with the next issue of the Sho-Comi magazine - where the manga is currently being serialized. This first anime adaptation will recreate the story from the first installment of the manga.

- Skull Man and Maria Holic have both been licensed for a North American release by Sentai Filmworks. The two anime series will be distributed by Section23 Films as complete DVD box sets on February 2 (Skull Man) and February 23 (Maria Holic).