Mr. Bean makes an appearance at the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics

Much loved family classic British comedian "Mr. Bean" (Rowan Atkinson) appeared during last night's opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics. His short 4 minute skit involved accompanying the orchestra on keyboard, playing the song Chariots of Fire.

Rewatch this hilarious act here!

Voice actress Taketatsu Ayana to release her 2nd single in September

On July 21st, it was announced that voice actress Taketatsu Ayana, who is known for the voice of “Nakano Azusa” from popular anime "K-ON!", will be releasing her 2nd single titled “♪ (pronounced as ‘Onpu’) no Kuni no Alice“, on September 12th.

It will be a piano-rock song written by Suemitsu Atsushi, who also composed/arranged Kimura Kaela’s “Butterfly“. Also, Suzuki Shunsuke, who has participated in many artists’ live concerts, will be taking charge as the guitarist.

Reportedly, Taketatsu did not have confidence in her activities as a singer after she released her debut single, “Sinfonia! Sinfonia!!!” back in April. However, she was encouraged by the positive lyrics of the new song, as she commented, “Since many great people are participating (in this upcoming single), I sang this song thinking ‘I would not lose to myself’. This song includes my growth in it.”

Source: Tokyohive

Studio Ghibli’s “Princess Mononoke” to get stage play adaptation in London

It was announced that anime film “Princess Mononoke“, which Studio Ghibli released in 1997, will be getting a stage play adaptation in London.

“Princess Mononoke” was written and directed by Miyazaki Hayao, and it was the first animation film to receive the Best Picture of the Japan Academy Awards.

This adaptation is the collaboration between Studio Ghibli and theater company, Whole Hog Theatre. Reportedly, the plan was already made a couple of years ago, but it took over a year to make a theatrical adaptation. Though the details on the play have not been revealed yet, the music for the play will be newly written. Moreover, as the story tells the disharmony between civilization and nature that raises an environmental issue, giant puppets made from recycled materials will make appearances in the play.

This play will be presented at New Diorama Theatre in London during April 2nd ~ 6th 2013, and there is no plan on bringing it to Japan at this moment. Also, all the tickets for the play have already been sold out.

More information can be found here.

Source: Tokyohive

2013 Doraemon Anime Film Revealed in 1st Trailer

The official website for the Doraemon anime films began streaming the first 92-second trailer for next year's film entry, Eiga Doraemon: Nobita no Himitsu Dōgu Museum (Doraemon the Movie: Nobita's Secret Gadget Museum), on Friday.

In the film, a mysterious entity steals the bell that Doraemon, the robot cat from the future, wears around his neck. Doraemon, his hapless owner Nobita, and their friends track down the thief and arrive at a magnificent secret gadget museum.

This latest film inspired by Hiroshi Fujimoto and Motoo Abiko's manga will open during Japan's annual spring vacation next March.

Source: ANN

New Costumes from Hatsune Miku Project Diva F Previewed

Recent magazine scans have revealed new modules (costumes) that will be featured in the upcoming Hatsune Miku -Project Diva- F PlayStation Vita rhythm game. "Agitation," "General," and "Bad Boy" modules designed by Nagimiso, "Guilty," "Innocent," and "Amour" modules designed by Ichiyou Moka, as well as swimwear modules were previewed in the pages. The swimwear modules were also shown in a recent preview video for the song "Summer Idol" by Oster Project.

A video previewing eight new songs was posted last month. The game will feature an AR mode that uses the PS Vita's camera to superimpose Hatsune Miku in the real world.

Sony will release a PlayStation Vita Hatsune Miku Limited Edition in Crystal White as a bundle with the game on August 30. Regular editions of the game will also ship on the same day. 

The PS Vita Card version will cost 7,329 yen (about US$92), and the downloadable version will cost 6,600 yen (US$83).

Source: ANN

5pb.'s Robotics;Notes TV Anime Promo Streamed

The official website for the Robotics;Notes television anime opened on Saturday with a new promotional video as well as the anime's staff and cast lists. Chiyomaru Shikura, the head of the original game's developer 5pb. (MAGES), also confirmed on Saturday that the anime is slated for two quarters of a year (kūru/cours).

The third "science adventure game" (after Chaos;HEAd and Steins;Gate) is set in an alternate future world after Tokyo's Shibuya district was destroyed in 2009, followed by the destruction of the Radio Kaikan building in Tokyo's Akihabara a year later. The world is immersed in realistic augmented reality technology in 2019, but a high school robotics club in danger of being disbanded after shrinking to just two members. The club's revival is tied to the robot it is building.

The game and anime's shared cast includes Ryohei Kimura (Kaito Yashio), Yoshino Nanjou (Akiho Senomiya), Rie Kugimiya (Airi), Kaori Nazuka (Frau Koujiro), Yoshimasa Hosoya (Subaru Hidaka), Sora Tokui (Junna Daitoku). Kazuya Nomura (Sengoku Basara 2) is directing the anime at Production I.G. Jukki Hanada (My Ordinary Life, sola, Steins;Gate) is in charge of the series scripts under the supervision of the game's Tatsuya Matsubara and Naotaka Hayashi. Chikashi Kubota (Shikabane Hime: Aka, From the New World) is adapting Tomonori Fukuda's original game character designs for the anime. The original game's Takeshi Abo is scoring the music with television composer Yūki Hayashi.

The series will premiere in Fuji TV's late-night Noitamina programming block this October. The game already shipped in Japan last month.

Source: ANN

PSotD - Immoral

Title: Immoral

Artist: Piko
Year: 2011

Notes: ♪ ☆ ★ ♪ ♥ ♡♡♡ ♥ ♪ ☆ ★ ♪

DDL: 

PSotD - Corruption Garden

Title: Corruption Garden

Artist/Composer: Megurine Luka feat. CAZ

Year: 2011

Notes: One of the best Vocaloid music videos I have seen. The animation is very detailed and of the futuristic style. It reminds me of Final Fantasy animation.

DDL: MikuDB

PSotD - Dancer in the Dark

Title: Dancer in the Dark

Artist/Composer: Megurine Luka feat. - fatman-P

Year: 2010

Notes: Catchy song!

DDL: Here

PSotD - Magnet (ver. GakupoxLuka)

Title: Magnet

Artist/Composer: GakupoXLuka/ minato (ryuuseiP)
Year: 2009

Notes: At first I had doubts about this pairing, but it turns out the harmonies are pretty good. Luka's alto voice goes well with Gakupo's wide range.

DDL:

Hatsune Miku Meat Buns to Be Unveiled in Japan

The official website for the collaboration between Hatsune Miku and FamilyMart convenience stores announced on Monday that "Mikuman" meat buns will be unveiled. The website noted that samples were offered at a recent presentation event in Tokyo.

Traditional nikuman are steamed buns made from flour dough and pork or other fillings. The collaboration website will add more details about the Hatsune Miku buns in the future.

The Vocaloid idol "hijacked" four stores as part of her "Many 39s Giving Day" (Miku no Hi Dai-Kanshasai) concert event in March and began offering limited edition "Sakura Miku" and "Snow Miku" goods. FamilyMart also launched its crowdsourced Hatsune Miku promotional campaign in March.

Source: ANN

PSotD - Capsule

Title: Capsule

Artist: Mix Speaker's Inc.
Year: 2012

Notes: An insert song for the anime Daily Lives of High School Boys. 
I really like how the voices of the band's two vocalists harmonize and mix well together.

DDL: From AnimeMp3.

PSotD - My Pace

Title: My Pace

Artist: Sunset Swish
Year: 2005

Notes: Sixth ending song for the anime Bleach.

I was playing all my anime songs on shuffle and this song came up. It brings back good memories of Bleach. This was one of the ending songs during the Bount Arc, which in my opinion was a terrible filler season. It kind of ruined the original Bleach. 残念だったね？

DDL: From Gendou music (Requires account - it's easy to make one!)

PSotD - Continued Story

Title: Continued Story

Artist: Hitomi Kuroishi
Year: 2008

Notes: Insert song for the anime Code Geass. This song was played at the end of season 2. The song is so light, sweet and gentle, it brings tears to my eyes.

DDL: From Gendou music (Requires account - it's easy to make one!)

And the live version

Mamoru Miyano, Chiwa Saito Lead 009 Re:Cyborg Cast

The official website for Kenji Kamiyama's 009 Re:Cyborg film revealed the film's main cast on Wednesday:

Sakiko Tamagawa as Cyborg 001: Ivan Whisky 

Daisuke Ono as Cyborg 002: Jet Link 

Chiwa Saito as Cyborg 003: Françoise Arnoul 

Toru Ohkawa as Cyborg 004: Albert Heinrich 

Teruyuki Tanzawa as Cyborg 005: Geronimo Jr. 

Tarou Masuoka as Cyborg 006: Chang Changku 

Hiroyuki Yoshino as Cyborg 007: Great Britain 

Noriaki Sugiyama as Cyborg 008: Pyunma 

Mamoru Miyano as Cyborg 009: Joe Shimamura 

009 Re:Cyborg, which is Kamiyama's first in full-3D animation, re-imagines Shotaro Ishinomori's classic science fiction manga Cyborg 009. Kamiyama's previous credits include Eden of the East, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, and Moribito - Guardian of the Spirit.

In the original manga, the secret Black Ghost organization transforms nine unsuspecting humans into cyborgs. However, the nine cyborgs turn on their masters and protect the rest of humanity from Black Ghost's plans for world war.

The film will open in Japan on October 27, and it will also open simultaneously in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, and South Korea.

Kamiyama auditioned the voices by blindly listening to the tapes of over 200 candidates. 

Source: ANN

Pokémon Black 2/White 2 Games Sell 1.619 Million

Enterbrain's Famitsu.com website reported that 1,618,621 units of Nintendo's Pokemon Black 2 and Pokemon White 2 games were purchased in their first weekend in Japan. Famitsu.com also reported that since release, 32,855,241 Nintendo DS units have sold (including DS Lite, DSi, DSi LL/XL) and 6,288,334 Nintendo 3DS units within Japan alone, as of June 17.

The companion games are set for a 3rd quarter release in North America and Europe under the titles Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2.

Nintendo streamed its second English trailer for the games on Thursday.

Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2 are set two years after the first Pokémon Black & White games. They will introduce two new forms of legendary Pokémon (Black Kyurem and White Kyurem) and new characters. New locations have also been added to the land of Isshu (known as Unova in North America).

Source: ANN

PSotD - Like a Bird

Title: Like a Bird (Boku wa, Tori ni Naru)

Artist: Hitomi Kuroishi
Year: 2008

Notes: Insert song for the anime Code Geass.

"I wanted to reach out to you, but time did not allow it."

DDL: From Gendou music (Requires account - it's easy to make one!)

Google Chrome's Hatsune Miku Ad Also Wins Silver in Cannes Lions

Google Chrome Japan's commercial with the Vocaloid idol Hatsune Miku won another prize — the Silver Lion Award in the Branded Content & Entertainment Lions Shortlist for "best use or integration of user-generated content" — at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. The awards honor "excellence in creative communications" in the advertising industry. The festival, the world's largest dedicated to advertising, ran in the French city of Cannes from June 17 to June 23 (roughly one month after the more famous Cannes Film Festival).

The ad also won the Bronze Lion in the Direct Lions Short List for Corporate Image & Information.

Source: ANN

PSotD - Shiawase Neiro

Title: Shiawase Neiro

Artist: ORANGE RANGE
Year: 2008

Notes: The first ending song for the second season of the anime Code Geass.
I'm continuing rewatching Code Geass. I really do have the hots for blonde guys like Gino and Schnizer. I totally forgot that Rolo had Geass power. キャアアー Rolo is so cute and loyal. I really like Lelouch's evil laughter.

I actually ship this paring. ;)

DDL: From keiichianimeforever.com 

PSotD - Mosaic Kakera

Title: Mosaic Kakera

Artist: SunSet Swish
Year: 2007

Notes: The second ending song for the first season of the anime Code Geass.
I've been rewatching Code Geass and Suzaku's character has been growing on me. Initially, I didn't like Suzaku because of his arrogant personality but I've recently realised how cute he is.
I've also noticed that in addition to my big addiction to characters with (long) white hair, I have a huge fetish for meganes (characters that wears glasses). I was smiling when Guilford came onto the scene.
I really like the main melody of this song, it's very simple and catchy.

DDL: From keiichianimeforever.com