Spring 2013 Anime Trailer Compilation

With about a fortnight to go until the Winter 2012/2013 anime season to end, it's time to get excited about new series coming in the Spring 2013 anime season!
Check out a compilation of the anime trailers in the coming season here:

Or if you prefer the picture chart go here.

My list of animes that I'm looking forward to include:

• Aku no Hana
• Devil Survivor 2 The Animation
• Hentai Ouji to Warawanai Neko.
• Kakumeiki Valvrave
• Karneval
• Ketsukekigata-kun!
• RDG: Red Data Girl
• Shingeki no Kyojin
• Suisei no Gargantia
• Uta no Prince-sama Maji Love 1000% 2 (Sorry I had to put this in sparkles because I've been waiting for this for a very very long time!! *cue fangirl scream*)
• Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Come wa Machigatteiru.

[Tutorial] How To Download YouTube Videos with VLC Player

You come across this amazing Youtube video but how can you get it and watch it even when you're offline? We list a few simple steps for "downloading" Youtube videos. Credits from this youtube tutorial.

1. Copy the URL of the Youtube video.
2. Open VLC player, click on Media tab and click on Open Network Stream.
3. Select the Network tab and in the box paste the URL, then click Play.
4. Once the video starts loading, click on Tools tab and then Codec Information. 
5. At the bottom of the window should be a box labelled Location. Highlight and copy all the text inside the box (ctrl-a + ctrl-c).
6. Open a new tab in your web browser and paste all the text you copied into the URL bar and press enter.
7. Go to Options button of your web browser and select Save Page As.  Save the file as a .FLV file.
8. Enjoy your video again and again even when you're offline!

Hatsune Miku's 'Tell Your World' Song Gets English Release on iTunes

Apple's iTunes store is listing that an English version of Hatsune Miku's song "Tell Your World" will be released March 20. The listing currently features a 90-second preview of the song. The Japanese version of the song is already available on the U.S. iTunes store.

Composer kz wrote, scored, and arranged the original song — which was featured in a multi-award-winning Google Chrome commercial — under the unit name livetune.

The English version of "Tell Your World" will also be included on livetune's new Hatsune Miku album Re:Dial, which is also slated for release on March 20 in Japan. Re:Dial will include the song "Redial," which will feature a music video from contemporary artist Takashi Murakami.

Source: ANN

New PV from Kyary Pamyu Pamyu: Ninja ri Bang Bang

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu has a brand new song and music video in the form of “Ninja ri ban ban” a colorful eye candy love letter to Japanese culture complete with ninja dance moves, laser battles, and catchy techno hooks composed by Yasutaka Nakata of capsule and Perfume. Enjoy it below!

Source: CR

English Version of Hatsune Miku VOCALOID Software Set for Summer Launch

Without much fanfare, the corporate entity behind the Hatsune Miku VOCALOID software has confirmed a Summer release timeframe for the long-awaited English version of the voice synthesis software that gave rise to an entire subculture around Hatsune Miku and the varied spinoffs. The software itself is a variant of the much more extensive VOCALOID2 software suite developed by Yamaha for use in the recording industry as a replacement for human vocalists.

The English version of the Hatsune Miku Vocaloid software has been in development since the US concert debut of Hatsune Miku in 2011 and was originally meant to be released shortly after, though the software was quietly delayed while Crypton continued to gauge the popularity of Vocaloid in the US.

Crypton Future Media will be hosting a panel during this week's South by Southwest Interactive conference where they will introduce Hatsune Miku to the tech-oriented crowd and press on Monday morning.

Source: CR

Hatsune Miku is now designed on Android tablets

If you’re a Hatsune Miku fan currently on a vacation in Japan, I’d bet you ordered Domino’s Pizza via the newly released iTunes app. Want more of the popular virtual diva from this era’s cutting-edge technology? Then you might want to stay in Japan a bit longer for RWC’s soon-to-be-released gadget: the “Hatsune Miku Tablet Navi starring Saki Fujita”.

This Hatsune Miku-themed Android tablet will go on sale starting April 15. The illustrations featured on the case as well the 50 pre-installed wallpapers (all are original illustrations) were drawn by Takumi Torigoe and other artists. A navigation app featuring the voice of Saki Fujita is also included.

Specs and other features of the Hatsune Miku Android Tablet:

• 7-inch touchscreen tablet – 800 x 480 liquid crystal screen
• OS: Android 4.0
• Memory: 512 MB
• Storage: 8 GB (up to 32 GB of expandable memory)
• Wireless connectivity
• Camera: 2 MP
• Slots: microSD card, Mini HDMI and USB
• FM transmitter
• Earphone jack
• FM transmitter

This tablet package includes an AC adapter, USB cable, SAGA cable, a stand and a pedestal. It has approximately 4.5 hours of battery life.

The Hatsune Miku Tablet Navi starring Saki Fujita is priced at 39,800 JPY (Approx. 405.83 AUD). Pre-orders for this gadget has commenced.

Sources: SGcafe, mon0r and RWC site

Wait!! What if... we make an anime about blood types!

Ketsuekigata-kun!, the manga about anthropomorphized blood types, is inspiring a television anime that will premiere on April 7. In Japan, some people believe that blood types are linked to personalities; to them, people with Type A blood are reliable, Type B blood signifies passionate people, Type O blood indicates those with an independent streak, and Type AB people are capricious.

A creator who goes by the pen name "Real Crazy Man" has been drawing manga that takes these blood-type personalities and turn them into characters. Popular voice actors Jun Fukuyama, Yūichi Nakamura, Akira Ishida, and Tetsuya Kakihara will play Types A, B, O, and AB, respectively, in the anime.

Yoshihisa Oyama (director of photography on Aku no Hana, Say "I love you".) is helming the anime at the studios Assez Finaud Fabric. and feel. Kenichi Yamashita (Ishida and Asakura, Yumeiro Pâtissière) is writing the scripts, and Dax Production is charge of sound. Earth Star Entertainment published three manga volumes by "Real Crazy Man" since last July.

Source: ANN

What if...we make an anime about swimming!

The current buzz of (female otakus in) anime forums is "What's that new swimming anime by KyoAni about?" - Who cares, there's 4 hot, half-naked guys splashing themselves with water, what more could fangirls ask for?

During the latest episode of Tamako Market, a short ad by KyoAni subsidiary Animation Do presented short promo ad featuring a bit of eye candy for the female viewers.

No doubt this will be another huge hit when it finally gets released. Also see here for how terrible wonderful the fandom has already been.

Pumpkin's Palette: Happy 1000 Posts!

I got a new white board, and it's time to celebrate another milestone.

PSotD - Try

It's been a while since I last posted a song and today I'm recommending not a Japanese song (!wow) but an English rock song. I find the lyrics of this song very inspirational and I respect the artist for all that's she's done in her career.

Title: Try

Artist: P!nk
Year: 2012

Notes: The interpretive dance is also amazing!
Favourite part of the lyrics:

Where there is desire
There is gonna be a flame,
Where there is a flame
Someone's bound to get burned,
But just because it burns
Doesn't mean you're gonna die.
You've gotta get up and try, and try, and try.

DDL: 

Lucky Star Spinoff Miyakawa-ke no Kūfuku's Staff, Singers Partly Revealed

The official website for the anime adaptation of Kagami Yoshimizu's Lucky Star spinoff manga Miyakawa-ke no Kuufuku (The Miyakawa Family's Hunger) announced the staff and theme song performers on Friday.

Yutaka Yamamoto or "Yamakan" (Kannagi: Crazy Shrine Maidens, episodes of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya and Lucky Star) is directing the anime at his studio Ordet and Encourage Films. Takeshi Yasuda and Hiroaki Takeuchi planned and developed the project in collaboration with Touyou Ikeda. Touko Machida (Lucky Star, The IDOLM@STER) is overseeing the series scripts, and Mamoru Ikeya designed the characters.

Ken'ichi Maeyamada (songs in Baka and Test - Summon the Beasts , Nichijou - My Ordinary Life, Bodacious Space Pirates) is composing the music. While the cast has not been announced, the opening theme song "Kachigumi" is credited to the characters Konata Izumi and Kagami Hiiragi. Similarly, the ending theme song "Makegumi" is credited to Hinata and Hikage Miyakawa.

The original manga is based on the Lucky Star Moe Drill game series. It centers around big sister Hinata Miyakawa and little sister Hikage Miyakawa's impoverished daily life at home (due to Hinata's wasteful habits) and Hikage's life at elementary school.

The anime will stream on the Ustream service this spring. The anime's website previews the designs and the two sisters' profiles. It also presented the wooden ema prayer plaque, hung in offering at Washinomiya Shrine, that revealed the anime on New Year's Eve last year. The ema already listed Yamamoto next to Yoshimizu's sketch.

Source: ANN

ORANGE RANGE Announces First New Single In 4 Years

ORANGE RANGE has announced that they will releasing a new single, "Oboro na Ageha / Moshimo", on April 17th.

The band's upcoming single will be its first new single in nearly 4 years. Their last single, "Hitomi no Saki ni", was released on July 8th, 2009.

The single release announcement was made during the band's Tokyo performance of their nationwide tour in front of an audience of 2,700 people who immediately began screaming in excitement at their announcement.

"Oboro na Ageha" will be an upbeat song with quick, deep beats. The song was composed by the band's bassist, YOH. "Moshimo" will be a slower-paced love song composed by the band's guitarist, NAOTO.

The double A-side single will come in a regular edition and a limited edition. The limited edition version will include 3 extra tracks, all of which are live recordings from their tour "ORANGE RANGE LIVE TOUR 012 ~NEO POP STANDARD~".

Check out the single's track list and covers below:

Regular Edition

1. Oboro na Ageha

2. Moshimo

3. Tonari no Josephine

Limited Edition

1. Oboro na Ageha

2. Moshimo

3. Tonari no Josephine

4. Restart

5. Hello Sunshine Hello Future

6. Baby Baby

Source: jpopasia

ONE OK ROCK releases PV for “Clock Strikes”

ONE OK ROCK has released the PV for their new song, “Clock Strikes“, through their official YouTube channel.

“Clock Strikes” is one of the tracks off of ONE OK ROCK’s upcoming album, “Jinsei Kakete Boku wa“, that’s slated for release on March 6th. Check out the PV below!

Source: Tokyohive

Nurse Miku Entices Fans to Donate Blood to Red Cross

The Red Cross Blood Center in Nara Prefecture joined forces with virtual idol Hatsune Miku in a campaign to encourage young people to donate blood last week. As part of the campaign at the Aeon Mall Kashihara, donors received an original Hatsune Miku poster ("Your courage means another life") and a postcard:

This is not the first time Hatsune Miku did her part for blood donations. For years, a blood donor center called akiba:F in Tokyo's Akihabara shopping district has recruited potential donors through stickers and other tie-ins to Hatsune Miku, Evangelion, and similar popular franchises.

Source: ANN

Pumpkin's Update

You may or may not have noticed my absence from this blog for the past two months. There were two main reasons: 1) I went to Melbourne for a Summer school/holiday, and 2) After I returned I had to complete my PhD confirmation. Anyhow, I am back now and hopefully along with my usual J-related news updates.

Unfortunately, halfway through my Melbourne trip my phone SD card suddenly died/wiped itself, so I lost all the photos and data I had on my phone; I tried recovery programs but it was no use.

Brunetti's - An expensive but awesome coffee/desert shop in Melbourne.

I pretty much completed my confirmation on Friday (22nd Feb), and in celebration I had a little splurge on myself. I visited the anime/manga shop Zombster and happily wasted $50. Here were my spoils:

Tiger, Bunny and Karina figurines (from Tiger and Bunny), Himari keychain (from Mawaru Penguindrum), and Zero, Suzaku and Lelouch keychains (from Code Geass). 

Today I saw this really cute bag and couldn't resist buying:

Yes okay, it's a fake angry bird but isn't it adorable?

Yesterday I also completed a few bookmarks to stick on my wall.

Kuro and Poyo from Poyopoyo Kansatsu nikki.

The princess from Mawaru Penguindrum.

So what are my latest plans/projects? None. I'm happy to receive ideas and feedback or even requests!

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu and flumpool to interact with fans via Google+

A new channel featuring music content from Asia (A-Pop) has been launched on YouTube. In accordance with this, a Google+ page has also been launched to share music from Japan, Korea, and China. As the opening project, there will be a special event between artists and fans from March 8 to the 14.

Participants of this project include Kyary Pamyu Pamyu and flumpool from Japan, 2PM,SUPER JUNIOR, and SHINee from Korea, and MAYDAY and LeeHom Wang from China. The artists will take turns interacting with their fans via Google+ hangout.

Currently, Google+ is looking for questions and messages of support to artists. The due date for these submissions is set to February 25.

===

<A-Pop Channel Opening Project Schedule & Artists>

Friday, March 8th – SHINee

Saturday, March 9th – LeeHom Wang

Sunday, March 10th – SUPER JUNIOR

Monday, March 11th – Kyary Pamyu Pamyu

Tuesday, March 12th – flumpool

Wednesday, March 13th – 2PM

Thursday, March 14th – Mayday

Source: Tokyohive

Watch Hatsune Miku Designer KEI Draw the Virtual Idol in Video

The official Hatsune Miku channel on YouTube posted a video of KEI, the original character designer of Hatsune Miku, drawing the virtual idol in a time-lapse video:

The video ends with KEI answering a few questions about life as an illustrator — and how Miku got her signature twin tail hairstyle.

Source: ANN

Sakura Miku Bean Jam Buns Celebrate the Coming of Spring

The FamilyMart chain of convenience stores will begin selling Sakura Miku Man (Koshian) — sweet bean jam buns inspired by the springtime variant of virtual idol Hatsune Miku — about when the cherry blossoms bloom on March 19. This is FamilyMart's second steamed bun inspired by Hatsune Miku, after last summer's Hachune Miku Man.

The new buns will cost 160 yen (about US$1.70) in about 9,300 FamilyMart locations nationwide. It is just part of a larger "Hatsune Miku de Sakura no Ua no Campaign" of 16 different Hatsune Miku items, including Ume (dried plum) & Jako (dried sardine) Ricebentō (boxed meal), bread, and desserts, that will start rolling out on March 5. Most of them will have seasonal themes such as Sakura Miku and the popular songs "Senbonzakura" (One Thousand Cherry Blossoms) and "Sakura no Ame" ("Rain of Cherry Blossom").

The "Po Pi Po" (Poppippo) vegetable juice is back with six designs. FamilyMart has priced the drink at 200 yen (US$2.15) — to match the lyrics in the original "Po Pi Po" song.

People who buy 500 yen or more of these items will have a chance to win prizes such as 39 satin varsity-style "Hatsune Senbonzakura" jackets, 39 premium Sakura Miku Nendoroid sets, 100 "Hatsune Senbonzakura" premium sets, and 10 Kaito V3 software sets.

In addition, people who buy two of the sweets will receive a Hatsune Miku Crystal Card, starting on March 15 and while supplies last.

Source: ANN

2nd Snow Miku Festival Report Video Features Event Tour

The official Hatsune Miku channel on YouTube presented the second part of the Snow Miku Report 2013 on Friday. The video features various Vocaloid exhibits from the 64th annual Sapporo Snow Festival, including an art and merchandise gallery, a Hatsune Miku playground, workshops, game demos and a graffiti wall. The video also features an interview with the artist Chiho, who was featured in the art gallery.

Source: ANN

Vampire Knight Manga to End in May

The April issue of Hakusensha's LaLa magazine announced on Saturday that Matsuri Hino will end her Vampire Knight manga in the July issue on May 24. The series revolves around Yuki, a high school girl whose unique school features a "day class" of normal kids and a "night class" of vampires. She works with her adopted father and headmaster to prove that vampires can coexist with humans peacefully, but the school — and the vampires — hide many secrets.

Hino launched the manga in LaLa in 2004, and the manga entered its final arc last month. Hakusensha published the 17th compiled book volume in December.

Source: ANN