With such a large and respected fanbase, Evangelion has no other option than to premier soon, exposing the first of the four new Neon Genesis Evangelion movies on 1st September, in random Japanese theaters. Not to mention that some teaser trailer will obviously hit the internet like a nazi propaganda booklet in the days/weeks to come. Make that a mecha nazi propaganda booklet, with freulein Adolf wearing a pink steampack and ecstatically converting all little girls to the almighty Hitler Jugent.

Suddenly awakened from a deep and traditional slumber, the Japanese Government realized it’s not all about tempels temples, sushi, The Meiji Era or samurai that perform self-sustained injuries whenever they drink too much sake. Their agenda for promoting the Japanese Culture in other nations has somehow widened, with the should-have-been-done-long-ago introduction of anime, manga and Japanese music to the portofolio. Probably enlightened by the fact that their own traditional culture is not enough anymore to shed tears and ovations from the outside world, the said government is adopting a strange policy of infusing other countries with the “Japan Cool” factor. This, of course, means that kimonos will be replaced by pink yukatas, geishas will step down in favor of innocent-looking imoutos, and Toshiro Mifune will surrender his bloody swords to some retarded main character, blessed, in a twist of evil-inflicted events, with a lolita-filled harem. And speaking about lolis, doing sono-kono-ano to them will probably become legal. Thanks to ANN, here are the three main points in the Japanese Government’s agenda, regarding the promotion of their own Pop Culture to the world:

1) Partner with Universities and Museums with a strong background in the arts to promote Japanese Culture overseas
2) Support the training of people involved with Arts and Entertainment. Work with Universities and young talent to develop projects that can be co-produced with similar talent in other countries
3) Develop existing training programs and film development at the Tokyo National Modern Art Museum’s Film Center

Mmmmm…. Lovu-lovu Bentos, cool.

If we can skip the obvious paradox in the news’ title, then let’s get down to business. The finalists have been announced, bribes have been given, hypes have crawling out of a black hole like lolicons at the sight of some pictures with naked Miu-chan, and, last, but not least, the Americans are proud to consider themselves (au contraire to popular belief), actual experts in the anime phenomenon. Here are the nominees:

Best Actor
Johnny Yong Bosch (Akira, Bleach, Eureka 7)
Crispin Freeman (Hellsing Ultimate, Noein, Revolutionary Girl Utena)
Richard Hayworth (Rurouni Kenshin)
Yuri Lowenthal (Naruto)
Vic Mignogna (Fullmetal Alchemist, Macross)

Best Actress
Luci Christian (Princess Tutu)
Susan Dalian (Naruto)
Mary Elizabeth (Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd GIG)
Maile Flanagan (Naruto)
Michelle Ruff (Bleach, Lupin the 3rd)

Best Actor in a Comedy
Greg Ayres (Negima, Nerima Daikon Brothers)
Johnny Yong Bosch (Akira)
Liam O’Brien (Comic Party, DNA Squared, Girls Bravo)
Tony Oliver (Lupin III)
Dave Wittenberg (Zatch Bell)

Best Actress in a Comedy
Laura Bailey (Kodocha)
Luci Christian (Desert Punk, Negima, Nerima Daikon Brothers)
Debi Derryberry (Zatch Bell)
Hillary Haag (Paniponi Dash)
Michelle Ruff (Lupin the 3rd)

Best Cast
FLCL
Fullmetal Alchemist
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd GIG
Inuyasha
Naruto

Best DVD Package Design
Bleach Vol. 1
Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children
Fullmetal Alchemist
Hellsing Ultimate 1–Limited Edition Steelcase
Naruto Uncut Box Set Vol. 1

Best Anime Theme Song
Asterisk (Bleach)
Heart of Sword–Yoake Mae (Rurouni Kenshin)
Rewrite (Fullmetal Alchemist)
Ride on Shooting Star (FLCL)
Rise (Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd Gig)

Best Comedy Anime
Ah! My Goddess TV
FLCL
Kodocha
Ranma 1/2
Tenchi Muyo OVA

Best Anime Feature
Akira
Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children
Fullmetal Alchemist–The Movie
Inuyasha Movie 4: Fire on Mystic Island
Pokemon Movie 8: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew

Best Short Series
Elfen Lied
FLCL
Gravitation TV
Hellsing Ultimate
Ranma 1/2 OAV

Best Long Series
Fullmetal Alchemist
Inuyasha
Naruto
Rurouni Kenshin
Samurai Champloo

Best Manga
Bleach
Death Note
Fruits Basket
Naruto
Neon Genesis Evangelion: Angelic Days

If FLCL will win the Best Comedy Award, then the Americans have a very, very twisted sense of humor.

If you are an avid dub fan, or if you cannot possibly stand the original Japanese voices that (usually) accompany an anime, then this piece of news is for you. The English dub cast and the ADR director for the upcoming release of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya by Bandai have been announced – and they are ready to take over the English-speaking world. And bake cookies.

ADR Director - Eric P. Sherman Haruhi Suzumiya - Wendee Lee Mikuru Asahina - Stephanie Sheh Yuki Nagato - Michelle Ruff Kyon - Crispin Freeman Itsuki Koizumi - Johnny Yong Bosch Ryouko Asakura - Bridget Hoffman Tsuruya-san - Kari Wahlgren

I shiver in fear at what Mikuru’s voice will sound like. Here goes down the drain the only moe feature making this show worthy of wanking watching. May I remind you that the first Volume of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya will be released by Bandai on May 29.

These are probably the only annual anime awards that actually matter. I’ve seen others and, mind you, I would rather eat the other end of Miharu’s banana before I would agree with them - but ARC has always been fair, square and, most of all, to the point. With exceptions, of course, because we can’t all like the same shows. But you get my point. I have a special place in my pedo heart for ARC, since it has provided me with tons of suggestions when I was munching on my first animes – and due to those suggestions, I am still asking my mom to make me a little sister. If not, I’ll just ask Santa to give me a Choco, that should do just fine, hehe. Anyway, go there and vote, people, vote for NHK ni Youkoso! your favorite anime! I know I did.

According to the third volume of the Kaworu Watashiya’s Kodomo no Jikan manga, this popular surprise sex comedy, featuring a great Lolita complex spin-off, will be adapted into a (hopefully, even more pedolicious) anime. Very good. We are allways glad to hear such great news. I wasn’t so excited seing those kind of striped socks since I got my first boner watching Hazuki-chan’s panties in Tsukuyomi Moon Phase. And the second one, minutes afterwards. In other news, the Kodomo no Jikan manga will also premier in English somewere in April. Nice, maybe I can get my hands on it.

While we obviously await with hankies at hand the sequel to Kiddy Grade, Gonzo wants to give us a little teaser to hungrily munch on. Their plans include the realease of a Kiddy Grade trilogy, more exactly motion pictures featuring re-edited scenes from the 2002 show, plus some new animation. Is this some sort of Kanon 2006? Heck knows, and actually, we don’t care. If this trilogy will include more naked Lumiere-chan, some of us will have no complains. Moe to it’s full perfection. Here it goes, the movies schedule:

Kiddy Grade: Ignition will screen from April 7-20.
Kiddy Grade: Maelstrom will screen from June 23-July 6.
Kiddy Grade: Truth Dawn will screen from September 1-14.

All three films will be screened 9:20 PM daily at the Theater Shinjuku.

... Or when mind and stomach work together for the benefit of mankind. Sunrise, the animation studio behind the loli hit Mai Otome, and Cure Maid Café, based where else but in the Akihabara district, the holy shrine of otakus all over the world, made a deal to promote special bentos and other delicious (and pedolicious) products, based on some specific anime intellectual proprieties. This glorious collaboration will take place in February, being split in two phases. First, between the 9th and the 18th, the said café will offer a wide variety of Mai Hime/Mai Otome panties and free porn food and drinks – who wouldn’t want to get his trembling hands on some of Mai’s Handmade Ramen (after thoroughly checking the size of her cups), or get completely wasted pouring down his stomach large quantities of Commodore Armitage’s Spirit Drink? The second phase will take place between February 23rd and March 4th and will include Ryosuke Takahashi’s Votoms, plus some related weird items. Sounds pretty good. I would certainly want to try some of them naturist and freshly baked Natsuki-chan products. Hell yea.

While this is trying to be a promotional campaign that supports safe sex (although I would pretty much require one that emphasizes on surprise sex), I am guessing it’s going to turn bad. Why? Because Okomoto Industries plans to launch a series of condoms (yes, that thing you usually lie about putting on), based on Aki Kondou’s famous bear character, Rilakkuma. Yes, you’ve heard me right. Men will now be able to prove their godly sexual potency, proudly wearing a bear on their Kami-sama. Women, on the other hand, have a thing for this happy hippy, especially those in their 10’s – 40’s. Or so they say, I actually never tend to ask a woman about how, where or how much she fantasizes with wild animals. Beginning this Wednesday, you can start searching the stores for your pink rubbers, at the low price of 1050 Yen per box. Okomoto actually hopes to make 100 milion Yen worth of sales in the first year.


I bet you’d hit that.

Never expected licensing anime would be so pricey – but it seems it actually is. According to some info gathered at INikkei BP Anime Business Forum (Japan), to localize, and furthermore, distribute a TV series in the US of A in the current fiscal year would require you to spend around 20.000 USD per episode. On average. These numbers have been growing over the past few years, even more than a little sister would grow while exposed to alien, mass onee-chans-producing, radiations. At first, when the anime phenomenon stroke the valiant American distributors, the price ranged for about a couple of thousands bucks per episode. Somewere in the mid 1990, the price went up like a healthy erection caused by the loli Ichijo sisters, especially when Evangelion stroke. Later, Cimpokomon would receive no less than 40000 USD per episode, and now, some of the most hyped and shitty appreciated shows are having a nice income of $80K or more, depending on the contract and on the jewishness of the guys who barter for it. And they whine that anime is not profitable.

Now it would be a good time to say that IT’S OVER NINE THOUSAND!!