Review - The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya DVD

It's very easy to get despondent. It's happened to us all, even if we're in the middle of something we know we always wanted to be a part of. Sometimes we held our expectations too high, and sometimes we were never really sure what we wanted in the first place, and the despondency is purely a result of our coalescing feelings. Either way, you can be stuck wondering how you got to this point when all you've tried to do is the right thing.

It's kind of an odd statement to start an anime review with; probably something you're more akin to seeing on a personal blog, but for me it was a really important part of the Suzumiya movie, released today in the UK by Manga Entertainment. And, if you're aware of my ambivalence towards the Haruhi series as I reviewed it however many episodes ago on our podcast, you might think I'm about to give a duff review. I'm actually happy to report that this is the sort of experience I was looking for with earlier Haruhi episodes, and I think this is so far the highest point the franchise has offered to its (somewhat) polarised viewers.

A history: Haruhi Suzumiya is a girl who has the weird and not really specified but hugely immense power to alter the universe, and as such she has several clandestine and intergalactic agencies interested in her, the powers and presence of whom are so great they can't accurately be described, but even the largest demonstrations of their abilities we see suggests whole other awesome planes of existence that we're not party to. The only person who is completely unaware of any of this is Haruhi herself, who can never find out that she has this ability, or else the universe would be put into severe jeopardy. As if it wasn't already- when she sinks into 'melancholy' (hence the name of the first anime series) she creates 'closed spaces' which change reality around her and cause strange and sometimes dangerous events. As if that wasn't enough, she's boisterous, can't keep her erratic personality in check by herself and has mood swings so wide that the oldest of pendulums goes green with envy. The key to solving her melancholies is Kyon, a boy who, despite meeting Haruhi for the first time in High school, has a history far more entwined with hers than you can begin to imagine (and very reluctantly so) - it's worth watching the series for that backstory, to be honest.

It's also based on a series of light novels, by the way.

Before you start having fantasies about high-level action and explosions, this isn't that kind of anime. As you can understand from its literary origins, Haruhi works on a much more internal level, and damn, it really NEEDS to be written down before you can understand the circuitous storytelling, sometimes. It's essentially a story of how a girl comes to understand a world while indulging in a fantasy that she wishes is real, and ultimately she could see for herself, were she not who she is. Despite Haruhi's loudness and occasional delves into the obnoxious, you can't help but feel sorry for her sometimes. But that's in the story as a whole. The odd thing is, Kyon is generally the central character, and despite Haruhi being the catalyst for these major events, The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya doesn't centre around her particularly. And it works very well - it's a very clever movie. Cleverer, admittedly, than I expected.

The plot is as follows: it begins in much the same way as any Haruhi story we've seen before, with the titular character pre-emptively volunteering everyone in to help with preparing for a Christmas charity event. For the first twenty minutes or so everything proceeds as we've seen before, until, as you can guess from the title, Haruhi disappears, and the world changes completely. The colours are muted, greyer, everyone seems to be sick, and the only one who even seems to remember Haruhi even existed is Kyon. Desperate to restore the world to it was, Kyon has to find out what happened, find Haruhi again and convince his friends he's not mad.

If you're a Haruhi fan, the first thing you'll notice is that the animation is markedly better than the series'. It's brilliant. It's also in widescreen and makes full use of this subtle but very artistic change. This is also no typical anime spin-off movie- it's two and a half hours long, so you get a lot of story, and boy, does it flow. Kyon's journey from world to world and his conflicted feelings towards the way the world's changed are really fascinating. I have to admit to his same feelings of cynicism sometimes, although ironically for watching the series rather than, for his part, being IN the series. As he battles with himself to discover whether Haruhi and his friends actually deserve the exposure to her powers or are better off without them in a calmer, peaceful world, we come to some really touching revelations about some of the other characters. I won't say who for fear of spoiling it. But even for seeing how Haruhi herself could have been (or, indeed, wasn't) changed by a world she unwittingly tries to change herself adds a new dimension to an already complex series.

The standout moments for me came within the final third of the movie, for me, when Kyon discovers the origin of the movie's events. It gets incredibly exciting, and we discover some incredibly moving facets of the characters, and an inspiring promise for further developments. It's almost like... the series is more closed, and almost claustrophobic sometimes, like you're not really seeing everything, which is very true- some of the characters remain frustratingly enigmatic for the entirety. This feels like it all gets opened up, both informationally and emotionally. I'd love to talk more about it, but I don't want to spoil anything - seriously, if you're a Haruhi fan, or have even just been on the fence about the series, this is what you want to see. I definitely felt like I'd taken this journey with Kyon too, hence the statement at the beginning of the review. And, in the best of worlds, we discover that we wanted what we had in the first place. To twist a well-known cynical idiom: "The pessimists fear this is the best world we're going to get; the optimists know this is true".

I would probably recommend at least knowing some of the backstory to the series before taking this by the horns. If you know the gist, the rest isn't technically essential, but there are some key moments that might leave you confused if you don't know about some of the story elements established in the series.

As far as the production itself, the animation is excellent - a clear demonstration that traditional art (well, mostly) isn't lost to CGI yet. If only someone could tell Hollywood that. The orchestral score took me completely by surprise, too. It's brilliantly composed, and really evocative. As for the DVD package itself, it comes crammed with making-of extras and footage from the premiere, as well as some trailers, both for this movie and other Manga releases.

This is Haruhi you need to see, definitely. I hope future productions, should there be any, can follow this up with not only a continuation of the story but of its artistry and quality. An intelligent, touching movie well worth your time.

Hugo Jackson

The Disappearance Of Haruhi Suzumiya is available on DVD now and will be released on Blu-Ray in February 2011.
Buy the DVD HERE and pre-order the Blu-Ray HERE.

Crunchyroll to simulcast 'Digimon Xros Wars'

Another UK addition to this seasons simulcast lineup has been announced as Crunchyroll will be streaming Digimon Xros War: The Young Hunters Who Leapt Through Time. This is a sequel to previous Xros Wars series that aired in Japan from the summer of 2010 through to September of this year and is the seventh series in the Digimon franchise.

The plot follows from a year on from where the previous season left of. Team Xros (the lead groups of protagonists) have now formed a basketball team. One of the members of the team finds a place between the human and digital worlds known as DigiQuartz. It is here that Digimon hunters appear. They are trying to capture Digimon that are corrupted thanks to their presence being compromised by the human and digital worlds. A hunter has the potential to make these corrupted Digimon stronger by using them in conjunction with their current Digimon. Team Xros decide to get involved in the hunt and the adventure begins with the main goal being to protect their world from these corrupted Digimon and the other groups of hunters present in DigiQuartz.

Although the series has not yet begun simulcasting on Crunchyroll, the series began airing in October. You can watch the opening credits to sample some of this series below -


Once the series begins on Crunchyroll you can watch each episode HERE.

An Introduction To 'Animetal USA'

When it comes to Anime one aspect of a series that cannot be ignored is that of the opening and closing title sequences. They utilise songs from readily established artists and relative unknowns. It could well be that having a song used in an anime series propels an artist to new heights from the wide exposure a series can bring.

But there was a group by the name of Animetal that went down a different route. The group used their power metal influences to create their own take on various anime songs. (Power metal is best described as very fast metal that can be combined with a symphonic instrument such as a keyboard. A popular example of a power metal band is Dragonforce who emanate from the UK.) From the opening theme to Sailor Moon 'Miracle Romance' to the Dragon Ball Z song 'Cha La Head Cha La' they went on to record over ten studio albums between 1996 and 2006. Some of these albums included Mie from the popular group Pink Lady. In fact these albums featuring Mie were released under the name of Animetal Lady, pictured right, making a clear reference to the fact she was on the record. Despite the name change they are still included as part of the discography of Animetal.

The group is primarily known for covering songs but they do have original material too including their song Eternal Future that was in the soundtrack to the Rurouni Kenshin film. In 2006 the group announced an indefinite hiatus. While their songs have caught the eyes of many people, just search Animetal on Youtube and notice how many hits you get, there was an announcement recently which has made many a Animetal fan happy. The creation of Animetal USA.

Animetal USA, pictured left, featuring singer Mike Vescera (OBSESSION/ex-LOUDNESS), bassist Rudy Sarzo (BLUE ÖYSTER CULT, ex-OZZY OSBOURNE, QUIET RIOT, WHITESNAKE, DIO), drummer Scott Travis (JUDAS PRIEST) and guitarist Chris Impellitteri (IMPELLITTERI) follows in the footsteps of original Animetal with their official website stating they will be "combining famous classic anime music with some original metal riffs, solos, vocals, bass and drums, as well as some very cool surprises. In fact, you will definitely hear a few familiar legendary metal riffs from some of your favorite legendary metal bands that gave their blessing, mixed with some new originals. Although this music is based on Anime, it has lots of original screaming vocals, shredding guitar solos, and a mean bad ass rhythm section."

Their first album has been available in Japan for a few weeks and soared to the top of the Amazon Hard Rock Heavy Metal chart and to number two on the Amazon Anime chart within twenty four hours of release! The Album is an anime covers album that includes english language versions of themes from "Space Battleship Yamato," "Hokuto no Ken (Fist of the North Star)," "Evangelion," and more in the power metal style.

Below you can see them perform 'Thesis Of A Cruel Angel' from Neon Genesis Evagelion in Japan recently. Animetal USA's first album is available to import via CD JAPAN now. There is currently no release date for the UK scheduled. But if you're a fan of Anime songs and are looking for something a bit different then perhaps Animetal USA and the predecessor Animetal are worth checking out. It should be noted this video below was shot by a fan of the group at the recent Album launch event in Tokyo.



For those of you who may be unfamilar with the original version of the Evangelion opening song. You can view it below


Chris Impellitteri of Animetal USA recent commented about the group and their intentions saying "I should clarify what ANIMETAL USA are doing musically for those of you that are saying 'WTF??'

"ANIMETAL USA is taking this music very seriously by mixing dark thematic and classic anime songs with our own original metal riffs, screaming vocals, shredding guitar solos, and intense drum and bass section. On a few songs, we even used some short but iconic metal riffs written by some of our own favorite legends of metal in order to further excite the listener. It is definitely interesting to bring all of these forms of metal to the anime world, which is an amazing and intense culture in itself!

"And no, this band is not a comedy band like STEEL PANTHER. We are taking this very seriously and putting in a lot of time and effort with Sony to create a mix of intense metal music, anime, and theatrics! Plus we are working very hard to build an international fan base!

"Currently ANIMETAL USA is reaching a mass audience and exposing a brand new generation to metal that would not have been possible if we would have taken the traditional route. I think we have been exposed to over 25,000,000 people by playing live shows and TV specials during the month of October alone. So we are definitely bringing metal to a very wide audience that may not have embraced it otherwise.

"Lastly, since we had to create so much original music for ANIMETAL, we are considering releasing an extension of this band called DEATH STAR which musically will be 100% original. Either way, there will probably be two forms of music released by the four of us in the future! ANIMETAL and DEATH STAR!"

For more information on Animetal USA you can visit their website at AnimetalUSA.com. The site includes samples of all the tracks from their album!

To conclude here is a quick Japanese TV spot promoting their album -

Welcome To The Space Show release pushed back to July 2012 by Manga UK

Manga Entertainment UK informed the world via twitter this week that the release of Welcome To The Space Show, the feature film directed by Koji Masunari and produced by Tomonori Ochikoshi who were part of the team behind anime adaptations of the popular R.O.D. franchise, has been pushed back from it's intended release date of December this year to July 2nd 2012.

This is due to work for the English dub of the movie that is being created specifically for the UK release by Manga Entertainment. They said the release "has been bumped back to 2nd July so we can spend more time on the dub. It's going to be epic."

The film is set to be released on both DVD and Blu-ray.

L'arc en ciel London Concert date confirmed + Cinema screening of concert in Japan set for London in December

L'arc en ciel have just announced that they will be playing their first ever concert in England at the IndigO2 venue located inside the O2 Arena complex in London on Wednesday 12th April 2012!


The venue has a capacity of 2,400. Tickets are not currently on sale but as soon as they are, we'll be sure to report on it!

Also announced is a "special 2-hour version" of the "20th L'Anniversary LIVE" held on May 28 and 29 in Tokyo earlier this year will be screened at the Apollo Piccadilly Cinema in London on December 6th. This concert chronicled the 20 year history of the band and saw 100,000 people congregate over two nights at the Tokyo Ajinomoto Stadium. The concerts also saw the new single 'XXX' premiered. This single that topped the Japanese music charts is now available digitally here in the UK.

This is a great opportunity to get hyped up for the London concert in April. Tickets are not currently available, but again we will keep you updated with any information regarding this screening and the London concert.

Article - Fullmetal Alchemist vs Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood: Which is the Definitive Series?

One of my fondest and strongest anime memories was attending the London Expo back in 2003 (or 2004, I can’t remember) when Fullmetal Alchemist was first being released in the UK. I sat in the ExCeL Centre’s little screening booth and watched the first episode and instantly saw a whole new world of potential opened before me. I’d never seen anything like it before, and nothing’s ever struck me that hard or deeply since. The whole experience was just thrilling. I knew it didn’t follow the manga all the way through, but seeing as I didn’t own any of that, it wasn’t my concern, and I (rather callously, considering I’m a writer myself) dismissed the original author’s work, considering the anime I saw to be all I needed. Admittedly, I slightly preferred the anime’s artwork too, but anyway.

So when I heard they were essentially making the same series again, I was a little puzzled, a little annoyed, and all but dismissed it, thinking I knew the story already and didn’t need to bother watching it all over again for a few minor changes. That is, until I was bought Volumes 1 and 2 for Christmas last year...

Round 1: The Plot

The setting is the same – in a pre World War I-era fantasy world, a power exists that grants its users great and dangerous abilities – Alchemy. Two brothers, Edward and Alphonse Elric, mastered that power and sought to resurrect their dead mother, at a deadly cost. With Edward losing his arm and leg and Alphonse left as nothing but a soul trapped within a suit of armour, a result of a transmutation gone horribly wrong, they strive to find the secrets of the Philosopher’s Stone and undo their transgressions into sin...

So the original anime didn’t mess with the fundamentals laid out in Hiromu Arakawa’s manga- they’re the same universe, same characters, same visual and literal elements. But start walking into the worlds of each and you begin to realise how different they really are, on so many levels.

FMA, then, is definitely the quieter of the two. If we’re putting it into its own terms, this is probably the Alphonse series. There’s a great deal of action and a heck of a lot of soul, but there’s always a sense that you’re watching it like a memory, if that makes sense. There’s a great wistfulness to it all the way through, and it’s a great credit to the production team to carry a theme through, not only in script but in style, as well. All the way through FMA each of the characters is searching for something, and it never lets you forget how painful that longing can be.

FMA:B, however, is the Edward series. It comes in fighting and doesn’t let go. Given that this is the series the manga was always meant to be, there’s a much greater strength in the events and, although the overall structure is largely the same (at least until halfway through, anyway), FMA:B’s cohesion is tighter, and it has a better hold of the characters and where each plays their part. If you compare the stories side-by-side, you notice a wide divergence beginning quite early on, and FMA:B doesn’t do subtlety. What FMA wishes for, FMA:B fights for, and, for me, FMA:B had far more edge-of-your-seat moments than the original anime.

I won’t type out any spoilers, but as you can probably gather the endings are substantially different as a result. I have a favourite, but it would spoil both stories to go into why.

Round 2: The Characters

Both series are nothing without the iconic characters who play out its story, and the portrayals of two same characters in each series couldn’t be more different. Some for the better, others not so much.

The brothers are ostensibly the same, but as with the FMA:B story having more fight in it, so too do the Elric brothers. Alphonse particularly (if you’ll pardon the pun) comes right out of his shell in Brotherhood and feels like a far more proactive character than in FMA, where he seems a lot younger and a lot shyer. The Homunculus as well have a lot more fire in them, and here’s where we see some of the literal character changes between the two. Three of the ‘new’ (or original, depending on your take) Homunculi in Brotherhood are completely different, which will take some getting used to if you’re an FMA obsessee (but then, if you are, you’ve likely seen FMA:B and read the manga anyway, so meh), but they’re not an unwelcome change.

There are some completely new characters in Brotherhood, and for the sake of foregoing spoilers (particularly on Jeremy’s behalf) I won’t mention them, but they’re a great addition to the cast and provide a great deal of fun, action and one of the many sub-stories that help drive the overall plot forward. Conversely, there are some emissions from the first series too; but with the exception of one major antagonist in FMA who only appears in the series and not the manga, they’re mostly secondary characters.

Ironically, and probably appropriately enough, a few of the Homunculi lose a touch of their humanity in Brotherhood that they had greater inklings of in the first series, and I felt a little saddened by this at times, as I enjoyed the depth FMA brought to them, particularly Lust. There is one more big character issue, but it’s probably better suited to the Production section below.

By the way, if you loved Mustang in the original series, you’ll LOVE him in this. Seriously, he kicks ass, and I rarely, if ever, say that.

Round 3: The Music

Here’s one place where I think FMA had a big advantage – Michiru Oshima created such iconic and beautiful pieces of the alchemist world that it would be really hard to provide the same sense of grandeur and atmosphere without basically reusing the same tracks. I think Oshima had some amazing melodies, and somehow I find many of the tracks stay in my mind for longer then Brotherhood’s. That’s not to say Akira Senju’s Brotherhood music can’t hold its own, mind you- there’s some excellent stuff here. Particular favourites are ‘Clash of the Alchemists’ and ‘Fanfare for the Brave’, but a lot of it is more ambient grandness, as opposed to Oshima’s soaring epics that carve a more vivid mental image, both in and out of the animation.

I can’t actually tell you how many soundtracks I own, there are that many. Generally I’ll buy either from artists I already know or animes that I’ve already seen, but sometimes I’ll take a chance. I bought FMA’s soundtrack after seeing the first few episodes and loved it instantly. Brotherhood’s CD I bought in advance of seeing the series, and it was much harder for me to warm to it, despite being so open to soundtrack material. It took watching the series to make me appreciate it more. And while I definitely love it, it’s always struck me how different the experiences were.

Round 4: The Production

Despite being the original story, following in FMA’s shadow obviously affected Brotherhood’s ability to develop characters and events in its first few episodes. I had a hard time settling into the first ten or so episodes because I was acutely aware of FMA’s story already, and while I was itching to get to the different bits, I couldn’t help but shake the feeling that the first few episodes were trying to do the same. The problem is, some of the defining moments of the Elrics’ journey happen in the first quarter of the story, and these shouldn’t just be brushed over. I almost got the sense that the episodes were trying to apologise to me, saying ‘Yes, I know you know this already, but just bear with me’.

Two particular things really suffered as a result. The first of these is the character Hughes. He had a really vital role in FMA and had the chance to be shown in a much stronger light, which made various events far more gripping when they happened. I don’t want to say it was intentional, but because there’s little to no change between the first series and Brotherhood, I felt his time and the depth of his story was really sacrificed to quicken the rest of the episodes along.

The second was to do with a young girl whom the Elrics meet when they reach Central City – Nina. That was one part of the original series that I was truly in awe at, and it just wasn’t the same. Call me picky, but I don’t think it was just for knowing what was going to happen already. It just didn’t feel as dramatic.

Being newer, though, Brotherhood definitely has budget and experience on its side. Once past the rather bustling first arc, it builds like a rocket launch, and has gripped you before you even knew it was coming.

Each series has a movie too, but while FMA’s Conqueror of Shamballa actually continues after where the final episode left off, Brotherhood’s Sacred Star of Milos is kind of standard fare for anime movies, in that it takes place in a vacuous period somewhere within the main arc but you don’t know where and doesn’t really have any bearing on anything else so is almost inconsequential, were it not for starring your favourite characters. Having said that, I’ve not seen Sacred Star, so I’ll reserve judgement.

VERDICT

I guess it’s unfair to call this a ‘fight’ as such, because that would define one as being a victor over the other. They’re two adaptations of the same story, going in different directions with rather different ultimate goals. And it’s not often you get two different adaptations both being of such high quality. Definitely if you enjoyed the first anime, you’ll love Brotherhood to bits. I wasn’t convince that I would, but boy, was I wrong.

I guess I really like having both to draw from – they both have some amazing, definitive moments, but you’d have to experience both to truly know the series inside and out. Whether it’s canon or not, having the differences to explore can only make its world a richer place, whether Hiromu Arakawa intended it that way or not.

Writer: Hugo Jackson

The complete series of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is available now on DVD in the UK thanks to Manga Entertainment UK.

Vig Migongna, the voice of Edward Elric will be a guest at the London MCM Expo at the end of October. Head over to LondonExpo.com for all of the information.

L'arc en ciel 'XXX' Digital EP now available on Amazon UK!

Japanese rockers L'arc en ciel have released their latest single entitled 'XXX' as a four track digital EP on Amazon UK. The EP includes the single itself as well as an acoustic version of 'I'm So Happy' and Hydeless versions (this means with all of Hyde's vocals removed) of both 'XXX' & 'I'm So Happy'.

The EP can be purchased on Amazon UK HERE for £2.79.

L'Arc en ciel are set to announce a concert date in London as part of an upcoming world tour celebrating their 20th anniversary next year in the coming months. We'll be sure to keep you up to date with any developments regarding that as soon as the information becomes available.

kanon x kanon x kanon release amusing video to promote European tour and new singles

Kanon x kanon x kanon have released a video on Youtube to promote their upcoming digital singles "Koi no Dutei" and "Calendula Requiem" on the 19th of October as well as the european tour in November.



The features Kanon Wakeshima being a news anchor and linking to a live report from fellow band member kanon (AN CAFE) at Sony Music Artists HQ to inform us where they will be travelling to on the tour. It's an amusing video complete with subtitles and is well worth a watch if have a few minutes spare.

Expect more video content from kanon x kanon in the coming weeks!
Below you can find the videos for the two digital singles being released on October 19th.





A reminder that the tour will stop off in London at the O2 Islington Academy on November 18th. Tickets are available now.
The complete touring touring cycle is
04.11.11 - Russia/Moscow, Moscow Concert Hall
05.11.11 - Russia/St.Petersburg, Zal Ozhidania Club
07.11.11 - Finland/Helsinki, Tavastia
09.11.11 - Hungary/Budapest, Club 202
11.11.11 - Germany/Berlin, Columbia Club
12.11.11 - Germany/Bochum, Zeche
14.11.11 - Netherlands/Utrecht, De Helling
15.11.11 - France/Lyon, Le Marche Gare
16.11.11 - France/Paris, Divan du Monde
18.11.11 - Great Britain/London, O2 Academy Islington

The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya Blu-Ray released delayed until February 2012

After the announcement of the inclusion of a bonus DVD packed with extra content to both the UK DVD and Blu-Ray release back in August Manga Entertainment UK have had to reveal the unfortunate news that the Blu-Ray release of The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya has been delayed due to production issues.

In a statement on their official Facebook page, Manga UK stated "The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzimiya will be released on DVD on 7th November. However, our sincerest apologies as the Blu-ray will now be released on the 20th February 2012 due to major problems with the production".

You can pre-order the DVD version of this release from Amazon UK HERE and Blu-Ray version HERE.
[It should be noted that at the time of posting this news, the Amazon UK Blu-Ray listing has not been updated with the pushed back release date.]

Anime On Demand & Crunchyroll updates, plus Manga UK license Angel Beats

Following on from our "Big streaming Anime update as Crunchyroll & Anime On Demand reveal lots of new titles!" post, Crunchyroll have added another title to their already staked lineup.

* Sekai-Ichi Hatsukoi - Season 2, streaming at Crunchyroll, air date: Every Friday from 5.35pm GMT
The series translate into English as World's Greatest First Love'.

"Ritsu Onodera quit working for his father’s company and transferred to work at the publishing company, Marukawa Shoten. To his dismay, he's assigned to edit shojo manga in which he has no interest or experience. He works with a strict boss, Takano, that he has trouble getting along with from the beginning. But, Onodera later discovers that he knows Takano from his past..."
The series started yesterday (October 7th) at Crunchyroll.

*From the Anime On Demand camp, the first episode of Persona 4: The Animation is available to view now HERE.

*Manga Entertainment UK confirmed late this week they have acquired the licensing rights or 'Angel Beats'. ANN describe the plot as being set "In a world after death, angels fight for their fate and their future. Yuri, the leader of the Shinda Sekai Sensen, rebels against the god who destined her to have an unreasonable life. On the otherhand, Tenshi, the chairperson of the student council for the world after death, battles against the SSS members. SSS members utilize armed weaponry to battle it out against the angels harnessing supernatural powers."

Expect more information regarding this release to be made available soon. Perhaps at London Expo later this month!

Kanon x Kanon x Kanon to perform anime cover songs at London concert!

As previously reported, Kanon Wakeshima will be partaking in a European tour in November, including one stop in London as part of 'kanon x kanon'.

Anime fans out there, you might want to take note this rather unique and special update on their facebook page relating to the tour -

"At the kanon x kanon stage, kanon♀ will be performing covers of anime songs. Comment on this post to vote on which songs she should play- please vote only once and for one song!

We'll take requests until 10/7. Thanks for voting! Let's all have fun at the kanon×kanon×kanon Euro Tour!"

Yes everyone, they are taking requests for anime songs that they will cover during this tour! Be sure to head over to the official facebook page of kanon x kanon HERE and put your vote in!

Tickets for this show at the London Islington Academy on November 18th are on sale now. You can refer to our previous post with all the ticket information, including a link to buying them HERE.

Namco Bandai Games to demo upcoming Naruto & Dragon Ball games at London Expo!

You will recall that last week we posted some previews of the upcoming Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations and Dragon Ball Z Ultimate Tenkaichi. Well we've just received word that (as we had hoped) Namco Bandai games will indeed by present at the London MCM Expo from October 28th through 30th at the Excel Centre and will be showcasing these games and more (including another anime based title.)

The list of games they will be showcasing are -

*Dragon Ball Z Ultimate Tenkaichi
Iconic anime Dragon Ball is also getting a new game, with DRAGON BALL Z: ULTIMATE TENKAICHI featuring a new character creator mode that adds customised fighters to the game’s huge roster of DB heroes and villains.
[See the video below for a preview of the character creator in action]



*Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations
Anime beat-em-up NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: ULTIMATE NINJA STORM GENERATIONS offers a vast selection of playable characters spanning every generation of the Naruto saga alongside expanded online functionality.



*Saint Seiya: Sanctuary Battle
Anime fans will also want to get their hands on SAINT SEIYA: SANCTUARY BATTLE, a gripping new fighting game that sees Seiya and his companions battle side by side over 12 levels to defeat the gold saints and protect Athena.

This game "will immerse players in the most popular drama from Saint Seiya: the Sanctuary, as Seiya and his companions fight side by side to defeat the gold saints of the twelve palaces and protect Athena. As players complete quests and progress through the twelve levels, they can inflict tremendous damage on their foes with fast-paced Cosmo power-up attacks."



Saint Seiya - Sanctuary Battle will be available in 2012 exclusively for PlayStation 3.

Other titles on show will include the "latest addition to the acclaimed weapons-based fighting game series, SOULCALIBUR V sees new warriors and returning legends clash in an epic struggle between good and evil set 17 years after the events of Soulcalibur IV."


Other titles that Namco Bandai will be demoing at London Comic Con include Dark Souls, RIDGE RACER UNBOUNDED and BEN 10 GALACTIC RACING.
Other top games publishers attending the show include 2K Games; Capcom; Nintendo; PQube; Rising Star; Tecmo Koei; THQ; Ubisoft and WB Games.

For London MCM Expo tickets please visit: www.mcmexpogroup.com/store

Big streaming Anime update as Crunchyroll & Anime On Demand reveal lots of new titles!

Since our last post about Anime on Demand (AOD for short) announcing they would be streaming 'Mirai Nikki - Future Diary' on their site a whole host of titles from not only AOD but Crunchyroll have been revealed. This post will bring you up to speed on what is set to be available to the UK stemming from these announcements. It's going to be a very busy season of simulcasts as you'll see from the listings below.

Before we go any further we have a brief update to our previous news item on 'Miriai Nikki - Future Diary'.
AOD revealed that this series will begin streaming from Sunday 9th October and will run across both the Autumn and Winter seasons.

Here are the titles available to the UK as part of this new streaming season from both Anime On Demand and Crunchroll -


-Mirai Nikki - Future Diary, Streaming from Anime On Demand, start date: Sunday 9th October
"Mirai Nikki sees high school 2nd year, Amano Yukiteru, is a boy who has problem making friends. He thinks of himself as a bystander and will always write down everything he sees in a cell phone diary. Tormented by solitude, Yukiteru began to imagine things like a friend called Deus Ex Machina who is apparently the Lord of Time & Space. Seeing Yukiteru's miserable state, Deus gives him a new ability. His diary will now record events that will happen in the near future. Yukiteru is then forced to participate in a game which the winner will become Deus' successor."

- Un-Go, streaming from Anime On Demand, start date TBC
"Un-Go Private detectives have been out of fashion for many years, but that's how Shinjurou Yuuki identifies himself. With his superior deductive powers, Shinjurou solves various challenging cases. Meanwhile, Inga, an attractive young lad, serves as Shinjurou's “buddy”. But contrary to his cute appearance, he's a sharp, arrogant rogue. Why Inga sticks with Shinjurou is not immediately appparent.

The setting of the story is a post-war Tokyo of the future, one that still bears the scars of war. Ruling the land is Media King Rinroku Kaishou, who has the communications infrastructure under his thumb, giving him great power over both politics and industry. Kaishou is renowned for his use of logic and the massive amount of information at his fingertips to solve a great number of mysteries. But unbeknownst to the public at large, most of those discoveries have been the work of Shinjurou Yuuki, "the Last Great Detective." (The public, in fact, regards Shinjurou as a loser, and gives him the nickname, "Defeated Detective".) Still, Shinjurou, together with Inga, can't help but search for the truth."

-Persona 4: The Animation, streaming from Anime On Demand, air date: TBC (but will air every Friday once started)
Director Seiji Kishi (Angel Beats!, My Bride is a Mermaid) and the anime studio AIC ASTA adapted the Persona 4 PlayStation 2 role-playing game from Atlus. The story begins in the rural country town of Inaba, where mysterious murders and kidnappings sweep the countryside. A group of teenagers try to solve the mystery, which is connected to the local weather patterns and a strange video game world which the teenagers and the killer can all enter.

Persona concept designer Kazuma Kaneko, original character designer Shigenori Soejima, and musical composer Shoji Meguro are reprising their respective roles from the game for the anime. Cast members Daisuke Namikawa (Yu Narukami), Showtaro Morikubo (Yōsuke Hanamura), Yui Horie (Chie Satonaka), and Ami Koshimizu (Yukiko Amagi), Tomokazu Seki (Kanji Tatsumi), Kappei Yamaguchi (Kuma), Unshou Ishizuka (Ryōtarō Dōjima), Akemi Kanda (Nanako Dōjima), Mitsuaki Madono (Tōru Adachi), and Romi Park (Naoto Shirogane) are all returning from the game to play their respective characters.

Shihoko Hirata, the original Persona 4 game's theme song singer, will sing the anime's opening theme, "sky's the limit."


-Hunter X Hunter, streaming at Crunchyroll, new episode every Sunday at 4.30am GMT
A reboot of the popular Anime series from the late 90's tells the story of "Gon, a young boy who lives on Whale Island, dreams of becoming a Hunter like his father, who left when Gon was still young. Abundant riches, hidden treasures, fearsome monsters, and exotic creatures are scattered around the world... Gon departs on a journey to become a Pro Hunter who risks his life in search of the unknown. Along the way, he meets other applicants for the Hunter exam: Kurapika, Leorio, and Killua. Can Gon pass the rigorous challenges of the Hunter exam and become the best Hunter in the world!? His wild and epic journey is about to begin!! "
Episode 1 is available now.

-You and Me., streaming from Crunchyroll, air date: every Monday from 6pm GMT
"Friends since kindergarten and seemingly like blood brothers, You and Me follows the lives of Yuta and Yuki Asaba, Shun Matsuokan and Kaname Tsukahara; as well as transfer student Chizuru Tachibana who joins the circle of friends. Together we will watch as they laugh, dance, cry and share the memories of growing up together in everyday life.”

-Chihayafaru, streaming from Crunchyroll, every Tuesday from 6.30pm GMT
"Ayase Chihaya is a sixth grader whose dream is for her older sister to become the top model in Japan. But one day, a transfer student, Wataya Arata, tells her that her dream should be about herself. Arata's dream is to become a famous competitive Karuta player. Chihaya is somewhat shocked when she sees how intense the normally reserved Arata gets about the card game. Eventually, she and her childhood friend Mashima Taichi find themselves being captivated by Karuta. Arata is thrilled by Chihaya's talent and extraordinary hearing, as well as the fact that he has friends to play Karuta with now, but they are forced to go their separate ways after graduating from grade school.

Four years later, Chihaya enters high school and discovers that Arata, who returned to Fukui, no longer plays Karuta. However, she believes that if she continues to play, they will one day be reunited. And so, she and Taichi start a Karuta club at Mizusawa High School."

-Waganari!! season 2, streaming from Crunchyroll, air date: every Saturday (starting October 8th) at 5pm GMT
“The family restaurant WAGNARIA stands by itself in Hokkaido. One day Sota Takanashi, who loves all things small, meets tiny little Popura, who offers him a job working part time at the restaurant. Attracted to her petite stature, Sota accepts her offer. To his surprise, the restaurant is filled with eccentric characters. Get ready to dish up some wacky comedy together with Sota and his coworkers!”

-Fate/Zero, streaming from Crunchyroll, air date: every Saturday (starting from 8th October) at 5pm GMT.
[This is the new prequel series to the popular 'Fate/Stay Night' anime.]
“Ten years prior to the events of FATE/STAY NIGHT, the War of the Holy Grail is a contest in which seven magi summon seven Heroic Spirits to compete to obtain the power of the “Holy Grail,” which grants a miracle. After three inconclusive wars for the elusive Holy Grail, the Fourth War commences.

Kiritsugu finds himself deeply torn between family and duty – obtaining the Holy Grail. However, his greatest opponent appears in the form of Kirei Kotomine, a priest who cannot find any sense of fulfillment in his life and sets his sights on Kiritsugu as the possible answer to the emptiness he feels.”

Expect more announcements to be revealed in the coming days.

Anime On Demand announce new streaming title 'Mirai Nikki - Future Diary'

The good folks at Anime On Demand have announced their first new title to be streamed on their site as part of the forthcoming simulcast season. The series is 'Mirai Nikki - Future Diary' a series described by AOD themselves (via twitter) as "a beautiful mix of Death Note meets Battle Royale".

Here is more information on the series courtesy of the AOD's partner Anime News Network -

Yukiteru Amano (Yuki) is a loner who never really interact with people and prefers writing a diary on his cell phone with his only companion being an imaginary friend named Deus Ex Machina, the God of Time and Space. However, Yuki soon learns that Deus is not a figment of his imagination but real when Deus makes him a participant in a battle royale with eleven others. Within this "Diary Game", the contestants are given special diaries that can predict the future with each diary having unique features that gives them both advantages and disadvantages.

As is the case with each series licensed by AOD, each episode will be available to stream from their website! Expect more news regarding new additions to the lineup soon!

Review - Birdy The Mighty Decode - Part 2

'Birdy The Mighty Decode' Part 2 picks up from where the first left off. Following the phenomenon that occurred at the end of the previous season, a month on it has been established that the general public has been unable to determine what exactly happened that night, (of course we the viewer of the series are fully aware) but we can certainty see the devastation this disaster has left.

It is also made clear within the first episode what the overlaying plot of this season is. We begin with travelling prisoner ship being overrun by prisoners. This opening scene in many ways harping back to the opening scene from season one when Birdy was chasing a criminal through space except this time the narrative makes you aware that certain plot devices hinted at previously will likely be explored in the coming episodes. Knowing what the general story was going revolve around so early on together with being introduced to the main antagonists gave me an indication this second season was going to be quite the departure from the first. An example of this is the darker overtone that was brought to the forefront with a cold heartless killing within the opening few minutes of first the episode.

Another example is comedic elements being less prevalent. Now this is by no means a detriment (and this also not to say it is prevalent at all), but when they occur can be described as moments of relief for the characters and remind you of the human side of them.

The viewer also gets to delve into the psyche of the main protagonist Birdy during one of many points of exploration into the past in perhaps some of the best storytelling in this collection. We find out about the upbringing of Birdy and how it has effected her as a person. This combined with other scenarios that genuinely shocked me because of how dark and (to put it bluntly) violent they were made for great viewing and overall a fantastic series to really get connected to.

I should note regarding the shocking and violent scenes that while there were dark elements present in the first season, most of those pale in comparison to what you see within the first two episodes of this release alone! It takes a lot to get me to be as shocked as I was at times, but it needs to be known that this does not alienate you because it all fits so well within the context of the story. (I'm not complaining about them in the slightest but thought for the purposes of this review it should be mentioned.)

The fact this season has such a serious overtone throughout it made it all the more enjoyable. Perhaps me not being aware of this before I watched helped a lot. But given my memories of the first season are so strong and I was almost craving for darker themes to be introduced back then, by the time I had finished watching episode 2 of this collection in some ways I felt as though I was watching an entirely different series let alone season. This is by far one of my favourite series of anime to watch this year. The story telling combined with the explanations of copius amounts of details teased in season one made it for such an enjoyable viewing experience that I'd happily watch it again anytime.

For those wanting a bit extra too there is a fun OVA set after the events of season two exploring yet more elements of the plot stemming from season one that also leaves a possibility for there to be yet more of this franchise in the future.

I whole heartedly reccommend that if you enjoyed season one you must check out season two. If you're someone reading this who has yet to indulge in the franchise it is well worth investing your time in.

'Birdy The Mighty Decode' - Part 2 is available now in retailers thanks to Manga Entertainment UK.
Amazon UK / Play.com / HMV

Trailer -

Japan Underground event in London on October 15th to feature 3 live bands!

Japan Underground have announced that Saturday 15th October will be the date of their next big music evening featuring three bands amongst the music that will be played! Full details (courtesy of the website for Japan Underground) can be found below.

Where: Bloomsbury Lanes, Bedford Way, London, WC1H 9EU. [map]
When: Saturday 15th October
Tickets: Adv. £10 [Buy Online]
Facebook Event Page: [Click here]
Last.fm Event Page: [Click here]

Japan Underground is back, bringing with it the energy and sparkle of Tokyo’s alternative night life – and this time three electronically charged bands from the Tokyo indie scene too! Plus tracks from J-rock, visual kei, metal and quirky pop scenes until 3am! (And that’s not forgetting the karaoke room, bowling, pool and ping pong fun available too!)

The bands performing live are;

TOKYO PINSALOCKS:
Tokyo Pinsalocks are a psychedelicious three-girl groove-pop outfit who have toured the UK and US several times. In step with the Tokyo music scene, their latest album, ‘KURUKURU TO GURUGURU’, takes on a more electronic sound, and the trio’s fun live show pits bass and drum grooves against Naoko’s ice-cool modulated vocals.
www.pinsalocks.com / http://www.myspace.com/tokyopinsalocks


GALAPAGOSS:
GalapagosS is the brand-new project of Sharaku Kobayashi (vocals/guitar/sequencer), from the internationally successful chiptune unit FLOPPY. The new group’s name reflects the insular evolution of Japan’s society in isolation from the rest of the world, tapping the zeitgeist to inform their 8bit-soaked fusion of techno pop, new wave and punk. They perform as a full band, giving blisteringly aggressive live shows, and borrow as much from anime, manga and videogames as they do from music.
http://galapagoss.syncl.jp/

HONDALADY:
Techno-rock unit HONDALADY have history stretching back to 1996 but have performed as a two-man outift since 2002. Their 8th album, ‘Sneaker mon amour’, has been an underground hit in Japan, and the duo have also written music for videogames on Nintendo Wii, growing them a fanbase among gameheads in Europe and the US. Gamers may recognise member Yusuke Kozaki, he designed the characters of the super insane video game ‘No More Heroes’.
www.hondalady.net / www.myspace.com/hondaladyjapan

Tickets are on sale now!

Manga Entertainment UK have a "massive release day" in December and 'Darker Than Black: Gemini Of The Black Meteor' is part of it!

Manga Entertainment have made it known via their facbook page that this December is going to be a big month for them and that London Expo will be the place they make an announcement!

"December 26th is going to be a massive new release day for us. I can't say anymore or THEY will shoot me! Big news on the way at London Expo!!"

The London Expo takes place from October 28th - 30th at the Excel Centre in London. For more information on the convention head over to LondonExpo.com

On a related note, a new release has also been confirmed by Manga for the same day as the teased title above as 'Darker Than Black: Gemini Of The Meteor' will be available to buy on DVD and Blu-Ray from December 26th. This is the highly anticipated second season of original series 'Darker Than Black' that was previously released on DVD in the UK by Manga Entertainment.

Update on lineup and guests at Scotland Loves Anime in October

The official website of the Scotland Loves Anime weekenders LovesAnimation.com has been updated with more titles and guest announcements! Read the latest updates below:

We’re pleased to announce we will be hosting the UK Premiere of Sunrise’s theatrical feature ”Armored Troop Votoms: Pailsen Files“.

The plot to this feature is as follows. "Chirico Cuvie is a VOTOMS pilot who has an extraordinarily high survival rate. Chrico is assigned to the new Barcoff Squad which is comprised soldiers with similarily high survival rates. The new team is an experiment by the head of the Melkian Department of Intelligence and sent on seemingly impossible missions. Which are meant to test the findings of the infamous Yoran Pailsen."

This will screen in Edinburgh at the Filmhouse only – with the full line-up along with ticket sales to be launched on Friday!

Also announced for Glasgow is the UK premiere of “Letter to Momo” during both weekends of Scotland Loves Anime.

Seven years in the making, A Letter to Momo is a triumph of traditional hand-drawn animation. Clinging to an unfinished letter written by her recently deceased father, Momo learns that the strange and supernatural things happening on Shio Island are connected in some way to her father’s mysterious letter. A sensitive coming-of-age story that deals with loss and imagination.

This also concludes the line-up for our Judges Category (comprising of Letter to Momo, Colourful, Hotarubi no Mori E and Mardock Scramble at least) – which we’ll talk about in more detail shortly.
[Image is © 2012 “A Letter to Momo” Film Partners]

As if that wasn't enough there are also two guests confirmed for Edinburgh.
Ryosuke Takahashi
We are honoured to announce the attendance of one of Sunrise’s most prominent directors too, Ryosuke Takahashi, the director plus original creator of the Votoms universe. Together with character designer Norio Shioyama his work epitomizes much of Sunrise’s work in the 1980s, pioneering the real robot genre, with such noted works as Armored Troop Votoms, Fang of the Sun Dougram and many others. Among his more recent works are Gasaraki, Bakumatsu Kikansetsu Irohanihoheto and FLAG.

He will be taking part in a Q+A after his film screening as well as a separate session, for free, on the Sunday morning to discuss his in-depth knowledge of Japanese animation.

Shunsuke Oiji
We are also pleased to welcome one of Sunrise’s planning producers, Shunsuke Oiji, who produced for both Armored Troop Votoms: Pailsen Files and for Colorful as well – who will also contribute to the Q+A after the Votoms film. The rest of his schedule will be confirmed in due course.

Stay tuned for our Glasgow weekend guests shortly!

It should also be noted that one title has had to be removed from the lineup according to the '@LovesAnimation' Twitter stream: "We're sorry to announce that Toaru Hikushi will be out of line-up due to circumstances outside of TMS or our control. In good news - we do however have another UK premiere already prepared to take it's place - more on this later in a full post!"

For general information and ticket purchases for Scotland Loves Anime, visit LovesAnimation.com

Beckii Cruel to perform at London Expo!

We've just got word that following an appearance this past May, internet sensation Beckii Cruel is set to appear at the London expo in October performing her new single 'You Can't Kiss Me'!

Read below for all the info!


J-Pop Star Beckii Cruel to Perform New Single at London Comic Con, 28-30 OCTOBER – EXCEL LONDON – ROYAL VICTORIA DOCK

Teen sensation Beckii Cruel will be performing her new single ‘You Can't Kiss Me’ at next month’s MCM Expo London Comic Con, organisers have announced. The Isle of Man schoolgirl, who shot to superstar status in Japan after the nation fell in love with YouTube videos of her dancing to anime songs, will be appearing on-stage on both Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th October.

Beckii was brought to a mainstream UK audience last year, when the story of her incredible rise to fame was told in a BBC Three documentary, Beckii: Schoolgirl Superstar. So far, Beckii’s YouTube channel has received nearly 19 million views, and she has also released music CDs, DVDs and even two best-selling English language learning books for her Japanese fans.

As well as singing ‘You Can't Kiss Me’ – released on 24 October – Beckii will be performing a medley of her YouTube dances and getting the crowd on stage to dance along to the popular Japanese Internet meme Danjo. Beckii was a huge hit with London Comic Con visitors when she came along in May, and we’re delighted to welcome her back for the October show.

For London MCM Expo tickets please visit: www.mcmexpogroup.com/store

You can watch a clip of her performance (taken from her official YouTube channel) below -



For more information on Beckii Cruel visit here website HERE.
For all the information regarding London MCM Expo click HERE.
Photo Credit: Beckii Cruel official website

Sci-Fi London announce Anime All Nighter!

Sci-Fi London have announced that in conjunction with Scotland Loves Anime and Kaze they will be holding an Anime All Nighter on evening of October 8th! Movies to be screened include Trigun: Badlands Rumble, Welcome To The Space Show, Eden Of The East: Paradise Lost and more!

If you can't get to Scotland for the Scotland Loves Anime weekender, this is a great alternative!

Get the whole lowdown on this event, with some previews of titles to below -

"In association with MANGA ENTERTAINMENT, KAZE and SCOTLAND LOVES ANIMATON we are excited about the notorious ANIME-ALLNIGHT screening which starts at 11.30pm on Sat 8th and ends around 8am on Sunday...

This time we are in the lovely 350 seater auditorium at Odeon Camden Town... book early and come see this fantastic films!"

We are showing:
TRIGUN: BADLANDS RUMBLE


EDEN OF THE EAST: PARADISE LOST
[Trailer below is in Japanese + *SPOILER WARNING* for those who have not seen series or 'King Of Eden' Movie]


WELCOME TO THE SPACE SHOW


JIN ROH: THE WOLF BRIGADE
This is one of the first Anime movies we screened at the festival and we thank Optimum for letting us have it for our 10th anniversary. If you have only seen this on a TV you have missed out, this is an awesome and classic animated film.


TEKKEN BLOOD VENGENCE
We are delighted to present one of the few 2D screenings of the amazing CGI.


For more information and ticket purchases, click HERE. You might want to act quickly as this will event will be very popular!

Vic Mignoga to appear at London MCM Expo in October!

Yes everyone it's getting to that time of the year again where we begin build up to the October edition of the London MCM Expo taking place at the Excel Centre in London from Friday 28th - Sunday 30th October. (It should be noted that entry on Friday is only granted if you have a weekend ticket.)

Two voice acting guest announcement have been made in the form of Vic Mignogna and Ali Hallis.

Vic Mignogna, one of the most recognisable names in Anime voice acting is known for his portrayals of lead protagonist Edward Elric in both Fullmetal Alchemist and the new incarnation Fullmetal Alchemist: Bortherhood along with roles in various forms of the Dragon Ball franchise and Bleach to name a few.

Another talent if his is that he also has sung the English language versions of anime songs including some for One Piece! See his version of the first television opening for One Piece below!



Vic will be appearing on the Saturday and Sunday of the convention.

The other voice artist announced is perhaps one that Anime fans won't be as familiar with, but nonetheless will still be a pleasure to meet in person, as Ali Hallis will grace the London Expo on both Saturday and Sunday. Ali is known for her work in the video game voice over industry. Her credits include the lead character 'Lightning' from Final Fantasy XIII and 'Dr. Liara T'Soni' from the Mass Effect franchise.

For more information on the London Expo, visit the official website of the convention HERE.
Early entry tickets (which can get you inside the convention up to two hours before general doors open) are on sale now and are priced at £16 per day or £28 for a weekend ticket. If previous conventions are anything to go by you might want to think about getting tickets sooner rather than later!

We'll be sure to keep you up to date with all the big news in the coming weeks!