In the latest entry of “The Art of Figure Making”, an interview series that brings you stories behind the creation of your favorite figures, we hear from Shutarou Hirase of Good Smile Company. From coloring to posing and the creation of the base figure itself, Mr Hirase’s latest figure of Saber/Altria Pendragon (Alter) & Cuirassier
Starring six major toy and prize manufacturers, Prize Fair returned once again for its 53rd event on Sept. 5 at TOC Ariake! The Banpresto booth at its Tokyo edition was packed with tons of tempting items that will be up for grabs at arcades as prizes. With introductions out of the way, let’s move onto
With a huge variety of stunning characters to dress up as, smartphone game Fate/Grand Order has become massively popular with cosplayers at major otaku events like Comiket and Wonder Festival. There are bound to be favorites, though, so Anime!Anime! surveyed fans about which Servant they’d like to try cosplaying. Did your preferred Servant make it
The release of the Uma Musume: Pretty Derby game is right around the corner, but that’s not all fans of the multimedia franchise have to look forward to – an extra cute Nendoroid of young Hokkaido-born Special Week is now up for preorder! Special Week’s ears and tail are looking even more adorable than usual
The Nendoroid collection is welcoming yet another Racing Miku in the form of her 2013 Sepang Circuit version, based on an illustration by illustrator saitom and costume designer Mari Shimazaki! An huge amount of adorable features are packed into the small and wonderfully posable design, including her tanned design, heart-shaped bun hairstyle, and tattoos. Be
First up are Special Techniques, abilities that many will recognize as similar to the classic HM moves. By chopping down trees, gliding along water streams, surfing, or even sailing up into the sky with a handful of balloons, players will be able to open up new pathways while exploring Kanto. Meanwhile, becoming good friends with
Rap project Hypnosis Mic: Division Rap Battle will be getting a smartphone rhythm game adaptation! A recently released trailer features voice actor Kimura Subaru rapping in his role of Yamada Ichirou. First launched in Sept. 2017 with a music video titled Hypnosis Mic: Division Rap Battle, the project revolves around the premise of words replacing
Irozuku Sekai no Ashita kara, an original anime produced by P.A.Works ( Angel Beats!, Shirobako, Nagi-Asu: A Lull in the Sea ), has confirmed its premiere for Oct. 5. Set in Nagasaki, the story follows 17-year-old Tsukishiro Hitomi in a world where some magic remains. Although she is descended from a long line of witches,
Thanks to a newly announced Ultra Bonus Event, Trainers playing Pokémon GO will have plenty to look forward to later this month and beyond! Announced on the game’s official Twitter, the Ultra Bonus Event is a celebratory event to top off Professor Willow’s Global Research Challenge. Several parts are lined up, with the first involving
A new key visual has been unveiled for compilation film Made in Abyss: Hourou Suru Tasogare! The visual showcases Riko and Reg in dynamic poses with Nanachi and Mitty looking adorable in the foreground, while Bondrewd looms in the background. Slated for release on Jan. 18, 2019, the film is the sequel to the first
Hit sports manga Kuroko’s Basketball has a new stage play in the works set to begin sometime in Spring 2019! Kuroko’s Basketball ULTIMATE-BLAZE will once again be directed by Nakayashiki Norihito with a script by Ryuzaki Daichi. The plot will revolve around the climax of the Winter Cup, one of the three biggest basketball tournaments
Tokyo Ghoul:re will be returning for Season 2 on Oct. 9! Alongside the broadcast date, the show has released a new visual with protagonist Haise Sasaki back to his former self, Kaneki Ken. It has also been confirmed that vocalist and guitarist TK of rock band Ling Tosite Sigure will perform the series’ opening theme
Sword Art Online: Alicization has released its second trailer ahead of broadcasts beginning this October. [embedded content] The PV features both the series’ opening theme, “ADAMAS” by LiSA, and the ending, “Iris” by Aoi Eir. It has been confirmed that the season will span four cours, adapting the Alicization Arc of the light novel series
Preorders have opened for a Natsume’s Book of Friends figure of Natsume and Nyanko-sensei in 1/8 scale commemorating the TV anime’s 10th anniversary plus upcoming release of its movie! Based on an illustration drawn just for the figure’s creation, it depicts Natsume and Nyanko-sensei looking sweetly at each other. A diorama base also brings Natsume
Iconic magical girl franchise Cardcaptor Sakura is set to receive its own exhibition this October, and its key visual has been revealed to be a brand new illustration by original authors Clamp! The exhibition will bring together a collection of exclusive original artwork and give fans the chance to fully experience the world of the
The second live action film adapted from Sorachi Hideaki’s hit Weekly Shonen Jump manga, Gintama 2 premiered on Aug. 17, roughly a year after the first movie proved to be a hit among fans and at the box office. Audience numbers for both movies now stand at 4.85 million. Fans will also have the opportunity
With its fun beat and captivating lyrics, the Kasane Teto song “Yoshiwara Lament”, composed by Asa, has racked up almost 2 million views on Niconico since its 2012 release. Starring Teto in a brightly colored courtesan outfit based on the original cover illustration by fuzichoco, you can now experience the song in a new way
Pokémon fans will be able to make rings, necklaces, and bangles featuring their favorite Pokémon at an amazing DIY event from Sept. 15 to Oct. 14 at U-TREASURE Shinjuku and Nagoya! U-TREASURE produces high quality jewelry inspired by popular works like Neon Genesis Evangelion, One Piece, Touken Ranbu and more. This time, however, fans will
A gorgeous limited edition Sailor Moon compact is now available for preorder on Premium Bandai! The newest addition to its cosmetics brand Miracle Romance, Miracle Romance: Shining Moon Powder 2019 Limited Edition is based on the design of Tsukino Usagi’s Crystal Star Compact. Crafted to appear as though it came straight from a powder room
österreich, a solo project by guitarist Takahashi Kunimitsu, will be performing the ending theme song for Season 2 of Tokyo Ghoul:re! Titled “Rakuen no Kimi”, this song marks the third time that Takahashi has collaborated with the franchise after “Muno”, the opening theme for Tokyo Ghoul √A, and “Zeitaku na Hone”, the main title theme
The third season for the anime adaptation of The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. has officially been announced! The decision is not a complete surprise, as the possibility of a sequel was initially teased in June 2018 with the final episode of Season 2. No other details have been revealed, though fans should expect more
Popular gourmet series Isekai Izakaya “Nobu” will receive a TV anime adaptation set to premiere on Oct. 2! Isekai Izakaya “Nobu” follows the working lives of owner Yazawa “Nobu” Nobuyuki and server Senke Shinobu, who run a small artisan tavern called “Izakaya Nobu”. Though part of the intrigue certainly comes from their special alcohols and
Armed with his stone tablet and ax, the Caster class Servant Gilgamesh of smartphone game Fate/Grand Order is joining the Nendoroid series with all of his unmistakable charisma intact! As expected of a Nendoroid, so many details of his costume have been packed into the chibi design. You can pose him however you want thanks
Hunter x Hunter is written and illustrated by Togashi Yoshihiro, who also created hit manga Yu Yu Hakusho. The series centers around Gon Freecss, a boy aspiring to become a Hunter (elite beings who can track anything) just like his father while facing various obstacles alongside friends Leorio, Kurapika, and Killua. During its serialization, Hunter
Crypton Future Media has teamed up with Tokyo Otaku Mode for a series of shoulder bags inspired by hit Vocaloid characters Hatsune Miku and Kagamine Rin/Len! Made from a durable nylon, the Miku bag is inspired by the design of her arm covers and skirt. The bag has the 01 logo on the front with
In Japan, with a new emperor comes a new era. The current one, which began on Jan. 8, 1989, is named the Heisei period with Emperor Akihito on the throne. This era will end on Apr. 30, 2019, to be followed on Mar. 1 with the Era of Naruhito, the official name of which will
Nothing is going to stop Kurosaki Ichigo of hit anime Bleach from fulfilling his duties as a Substitute Shinigami, not even the miniature body he now has as a Nendoroid from Good Smile Company! Forget high school – Ichigo has nothing but battle on his mind. Dressed in the white and black robes standard for
One Piece fans can once again celebrate the New Year with a pirate feast, thanks to this year’s special “osechi” (traditional food for the New Year) sets! Packaged inside a beautifully illustrated box that features a new illustration of Luffy and co. looking their best for the new year, the two layer set includes a
Fans of Hatsune Miku can now be a part of the happiest day of her life with a FREEing figure of the songstress in a beautiful wedding dress! Based on an illustration by artist KEI, Miku looks positively radiant in her snow white dress, an elegant cascade of flowing layers. Roses are a core element
Vocaloid diva Hatsune Miku is embracing traditional culture with a fantastically detailed figure from Good Smile Company! The figure features Miku in the role of courtesan Keisei Hatsune Dayu in the kabuki play Kuruwa Kotoba Awase Kagami, which she performed at the 2017 Niconico Chokaigi. Perched on distinctive wedge shoes, the 1/7 scale figure includes