Shounen giants, Dragon Ball Super and One Piece each get brand new anime specials this August. Now, each of their protagonists come together for a joint visual for both series’ own TV specials. It features Son Goku and Monkey D Luffy looking into a mountain side together:
Toei Animation is animating both series, and now, they’ve also released a joint PV for both specials.
Each special will run for an hour, with One Piece’s airing first on 1 August 2017. Dragon Ball Super’s special will then air the next week, on 8 August 2017. Both specials will have the 9:00am JST broadcast timeslot in Japan.
One Piece and Dragon Ball previously teamed up in a three-way collaboration anime with Toriko. Weekly Shonen Jump magazine serializes all three manga. Goku and Luffy also met each other in the Bandai Namco crossover game, J-Stars Victory VS, alongside other Jump superstars like Naruto, Kenshin Himura, and Ichigo Kurosaki.
Saying that One Piece is really popular in Japan is an understatement. In fact, it’s so popular that it even has its own kabuki play, which is also quite popular itself. And much like previousOne Piece Kabuki performances, legendary Kabuki actor, Ichikawa Ennosuke IV, will once again reprise his role as Luffy. And now, the staff has also released a brand new PV via YouTube:
The original One Piece Kabuki play started its run from October until November 2015. It was so successful that all 100,000 tickets for the Tokyo run sold out in a matter of days. It then ran shows in Osaka and Fukuoka last year, and they also held theatrical screenings last October.
As for this new Kabuki run, it will happen from 5th October until 26th November, at the Shinbashi Enbujou theater in Ginza, Tokyo.
The lead actor, who plays Luffy, Hancock, and Shanks, Ichikawa Ennosuke IV, is also a seiyuu. In the One Piece anime, he previously voiced the character of Komei in the One Piece TV special, Adventure of Nevlandia.
Indonesian anime, cosplay, and anisong fans — are you ready for C3 AFA Jakarta 2017?! See you on the 18th to the 20th of August 2017 at the JIEXPO for the biggest ACG event in Indonesia! Get ready to “Break your Fate” as Shiena Nishizawa joins the line up of I Love Anisong 2017!
Shiena Nishizawa first came on the anisong scene as the Grand Prix winner of the first FlyingDog Audition. She has since gone on to release her first full-length album this year, as well as launched her first nationwide tour. She takes a break from her hectic schedule to answer a few questions from WOW Japan.
Will this be your first time in Indonesia? What is your image of the country?
It’s my first time! I received a lot of photos from Indonesian fans, and I also received a book about Indonesia. I read it and saw that the beaches are very beatiful. They have a lot of islands, and they have so many cultures in Indonesia, which I find very deep and meaningful. I heard that Jakarta is the capital, and I am looking forward to learning about the culture there.
Your father first taught you to play guitar. What was that experience like?
When I was a junior high school student, I was watching a music show on TV, and thought that playing the guitar was really cool — so I told my dad, “I want to play the guitar!”. My dad replied happily, “My old guitar is at your grandpa’s place.” — and that was how I started playing guitar. Even though it seemed so trivial at the time, I still remember it quite fondly.
Who is your biggest musical inspiration and why?
I don’t really think of him as an influence, but I really admire Foo Fighters’ frontman Dave Grohl. I am a huge fan of his powerful vocals and his guitar performance, as well as his looks and his personality. I am female, as well as short in stature, so I am his complete opposite — so I cannot achieve the same level of power. But I like to think “I can be as powerful as the Wildman of America.” (laughs)
Tell us something interesting about yourself – for example, what do you think is harder: singing or playing guitar?
Regarding which is more difficult: singing or playing the guitar, I would say playing the guitar is more difficult. Since I started playing the guitar, I would be singing as well, so I thought that “a guitar is an accompaniment to songs”. If you don’t do both as a set, it’s really very difficult. At first it was hard to sing on the microphone, and I would get really impatient and say “I just want to play the guitar solo!”. I really need to practice some more, don’t you think?!
Please give a message to your fans in Indonesia.
First of all, thanks for reading my interview ♪ I think a lot of people will be seeing me perform for the first time, so I will do my best from the bottom of my heart — please wait for me! See you all at the concert!
Are you looking for even more reasons to come to C3 AFA Jakarta?! Check out the official website for more information at c3afa.com/jakarta17! Want to make sure you get the best seats in the house?! You can also get early bird 2-day VIP tickets via Loket!
● Event Information C3 AFA JAKARTA 2017 18 – 20 Aug 2017 JIEXPO Jakarta, Indonesia
In celebration of the 1st Anniversary of Premium Bandai Singapore, a second Preview Show featuring the all-new PG Unicorn Gundam [Final Battle Ver.] was held in Suntec City last 4th August 2017! This show follows the success of the PG Trans Arm Raiser Preview Show held in April of this year, which we’ve also covered here at WOW Japan.
The PG Unicorn Gundam [Final Battle Ver.] was modeled after the Unicorn Gundam from the theatrical OVA series released in 2014. The aptly named Perfect Grade kit features the impressive green Psycho Frame, as seen in the final battle scenes from the animation. Even the complicated Shield Funnel expansion can be reproduced with the LED Unit (sold separately) — in a vivid green color that’s different from the red version sold in stores.
One surprise of the evening was an unannounced display of the PG 1/72 Millennium Falcon from Star Wars, which was slated for formal launch in early September. This marvel of modelling is a perfect 1/72 copy of the ship that did the Kessel Run in 14 parsecs (or 12, if you believe Han Solo), and was based off the 1.7 metre model used in filming the Star Wars movies.
If you missed the show, fret not — check out the complete gallery and spec sheet below from our friends at Bandai! Kindly note that all items are on a limited run, and once the production quota has been reached, reservations will no longer be accepted. Fans are also reminded to take advantage of the 1st Anniversary promo of Premium Bandai Singapore, where you can get a free shipping coupon just by signing up!
Green Psycho Frame – The impressive green frame is reproduced with green clear molding that concentrates the light. – Load the LED Unit (sold separately) to enjoy appealing light emissions that differ from the red Psycho Frame of the Unicorn Gundam as sold in stores.
Reproduce triple combination Shield Funnel scenes! – Includes three Shields and six Beam Gatling Guns to reproduce the funnel expansion scenes, with an independently maneuverable shield from the animation.
Beam Gatling Gun is laminated into two, and can be equipped to the back of the shield. – The Shield is equipped with Beam Gatling Gun, and can be displayed in a triple combination with the special included joint parts, and clear metallic action base 1.
Includes water slide decals! – Includes water slide decals produced by Katoki Hajime, with a design that differs from the red frame of the Unicorn Gundam sold in stores. – Marking designs are the same as PG 1/60 FA Expansion Effect Unit for Unicorn Gundam (*sold separately / top-selling item from PREMIUM BANDAI）.
This kit is loaded with mechanisms to transform to Destroy Mode and Unicorn Mode. – Possible to reproduce Destroy Unchained mode. – Possible to reproduce Psycho Frame light emissions by equipping with LED Unit (sold separately).
Reproducing the Finest Details – Creating even inner details that will be concealed in the end.
Cockpit -The shapes of the seats, console panels, and the instruments on the wall are all accurately recreated. – By constructing this kit, fans can improve their structural understanding of how the Millennium Falcon is piloted.
Quad Laser Cannons – The precisely recreated quad laser cannons are mounted onto the detailed turret seats and triggers. – Experience the distance between the gunner and the cannon during battles.
Ship – Holes in the walls – Not only on the structures inside the holes, but also the various configurations covering the cylindrical walls are thoroughly reproduced.
Sides of the Ship – Separate pieces for each detail were created to recreate the deeply-detailed sides of the ship in a three-dimensional fashion. – The free-running pipes are represented in combination with individual pieces for a closer resemblance to the studio model.
Between the Mandibles – The center of the ship is complex, but it was accurately perceived by investigating and studying the “1.7-meter studio model” that was used in the movie. Its complicated structure has been faithfully recreated.
Around the Exhaust Ports – The complex details on the top of the Millennium Falcon are precisely crafted. – The kit offers a choice between plastic and etched pieces to create the mesh vent grills, allowing for a more in-depth recreation.
LED Light-Up Feature – The shining lights make the kit appear as if it is about to take off.
Sublight Engines – For the PG 1/72 Scale Millennium Falcon, white lights were chosen as a sign of respect toward the first movie. – The unique curved engine consists of light guiding parts that recreate the way the engine would light up in the movie.
Landing Gear/Boarding Ramp – The three iconic landing gear legs are illuminated with LEDs and sturdily support the ship they did in the movie. – The lights also help to recreate the image of the ship when it is parked. – The boarding ramp is sculpted with such detail that it almost would not be surprising if Han Solo made his way down the ramp at any moment.
Cockpit – The characteristic panels on the back of the cockpit light up as seen in the movie, evoking memories of memorable scenes.
Sometimes, when studying, it’s better to associate what you’re studying into what you like to make it more interesting. This is what twitter user @10_foOo_wim did to some philosophers for an entrance exam. The student was having trouble with philosophy and ethics, so what did the student do? Visualise the philosophers into cute super-deformed anime-style characters of course!
Using a 100 yen craft notebook, the student re-imagined then famous philosophers. In total, @10_foOo_wim drew 126 famous philosophers for the notebook. And yes, this is all to study for an upcoming entrance exam!
And it looks like these anime-style visual aids helped a lot for the exam. This is because @10_foOo_wim’s practice exam scores went from 50 to 80 after doing the illustrations. Now that’s effective studying! He then said that “They made studying fun, and I really recommend this for people who like to draw.”
Daisuke Namikawa married his wife back in 2001. However, according to a report by the Weekly Bunshun, the seiyuu has been cheating on her since 2004. The report stated that he’s been on an affair with a female employee from his former agency. This then prompted the seiyuu to issue an apology on the same day the news hit.
The Weekly Bunshun report claimed that Namikawa started his affair with the agency employee in 2004 despite being married already. They also reported that the woman was still in her teens at the start of the affair. The report also claimed that the two would meet at a cabaret club for three years before separating. After Namikawa left his former agency, Weekly Bunshun also alleged that they went back together. The publication then claimed that they talked with the woman in a phone interview. She admitted the affair with the married Namikawa, but only “until recently”.
In his apology, Namikawa stated the situation actually surprised him. However, he also added that he will go forward and become more devoted to gain everyone’s trust. His agency spoke to several media outlets about this, including Oricon. However, they said that they cannot speak about this situation further.
There’s no denying that our of all the girls in the TV anime RE:Zero Starting Life in Another World, the girls with the two biggest followings are Emilia and Rem — which is why they are both getting new official COSPA goods to slake the thirst of their fans. All goods are available online via COSPA, as well as at the COSPAY store at COMIKET 92!
Emilia is getting a two-sided cushion featuring all-new illustrations, a decorative desk clock, and an iPhone case for the 6, 6s, and 7 models. Meanwhile, her rival is getting a super spiffy embroidered shirt (the entire graphic is basically stitches!), a tote bag, a decorative desk clock, iPhone cases for the 6, 6s, and 7 models, a coffeee mug, and a folding fan! As for Rem — sorry, you get nothing ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Hirmomu Arakawa’s Fullmetal Alchemist manga may have ended a long time ago, but the Elric brothers are back! As a tie-in for the new live-action film, Arakawa will be releasing a special chapter for the manga. Theaters will then distribute that special chapter during screenings of the live-action film.
However, the staff didn’t exactly say anything specific on how to get these special manga chapters. Fans have asked questions like are these only for advance tickets, special screening events, or regular screenings. It’s still ways away until the film premieres on 1st December, so expect them to reveal the details soon enough.
Manga tie-ins aren’t uncommon for manga-based films. In fact, Yoshihiro Togashi released a special Hunter x Hunter chapter WHILE STILL IN HIATUS BECAUSE OF HIS “HEALTH” when they screened the last Hunter x Hunter film.
As for the film itself, it recently revealed a new trailer, as well as new character visuals. The film stars Ryosuke Yamada as the one and only Fullmetal Alchemist himself, Edward Elric. It will premiere on 1st December, and will also star:
Tsubasa Honda as Winry Rockbell
Dean Fujioka as Roy Mustang
Ryuuta Satou as Captain Maes Hughes
Yo Oizumi as Major Shou Tucker
Yasuko Matsuyuki as Lust
Kanata Hongou as Envy
Shinji Uchiyama as Gluttony
Misako Renbutsu as Riza Hawkeye
Natsuki Harada as Gracia Hughes
Jun Kunimura as Doctor Marco
Fumiyo Kohinata as General Hakuro
Natsuna as Maria Ross
Kenjiro Ishimaru as Father Cornello
In an earlier interview, Director Fumihiko Sori revealed that unlike live-action film adaptations of popular manga titles like Rurouni Kenshin, Attack on Titan, and Chihayafuru, they will be telling the story of the Elric brothers in only one stand-alone film. This movie also promises to stay loyal to the source, so one might wonder how they will fit all of that story material in one feature-length film.
Youtube is a place where everyone can express themselves. From gamers, to vloggers, and even some animals almost everyone can achieve Youtube fame, so perhaps it was not so surprising that the new kid on the block, Kizuna Ai has become a viral hit since she started uploading videos on the network.
Kizuna Ai is Japan’s first Virtual Youtuber, supposedly an Artificial Intelligence or AI, many have speculated that she might be anything from a person behind a webcam with face rigging technology, to a meticulously animated Miku Miku Dance(MMD) model. The most likely explanation seems to be a combination of motion capture technology and the MMD model, as her reactions often have her arms flailing around. She even played a Virtual Reality (VR) enabled version of SuperHot recently.
Ai regularly uploads videos on her channel, A.I.Channel, in Japanese focusing on vlogs, and let’s play videos. She was also temporarily banned for a short period of time when she joked that because she was a hologram, she was technically naked. Even if you do not understand Japanese, there is a certain allure to watching a virtual character chat about hot button topics, and playing video games.
While Ai has garnered a large following of over 600,000 subscribers through her antics online, her creator(s) has remained rather elusive. Her character design, however, has been credited to Tomitake. We still have much to learn about Kizuna Ai, but for now, let’s just enjoy the quirky virtual character and her shenanigans.
Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure has gained a reputation not only for its great story and action, but also its fabulous poses. Now, the Wake Up, Girls are also doing these signature Jojo poses for a very special collaboration. This is all for the 30th anniversary JojoFest in S City promotional event in Sendai, WUG’s hometown.
The Wake Up Girls seiyuu also do those same poses. They all copied the poses of Jonathan Joestar, Joseph Joestar, Jotaro Kujo, Josuke Higashikata, Giorno Giovanna, Joylne Cujoh.
And while it may seem inconceivable, both franchises actually have plenty of similarities. The first one being Part IV’s setting, S City, M Prefecture, is actually WUG’s setting of Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. What’s more is that both Part IV (Diamond is Unbreakable) and Wake Up, Girls’ settings happen after the great 2011 earthquake.
They will be selling goods featuring the Wake Up, Girls members in Jojo poses throughout Sendai to promote JojoFes. This will begin from 12th August until 12th September.
