Wednesday 31 December 2014

The SGCafe New Year Special: The Top 10 anime of 2014

2014 is now over, and the year has brought us plenty of unforgettable anime series which have made us laugh until are stomachs hurt or cry our hearts out. But which 2014 anime are really the best of the best?


After two weeks of deliberation and arguing at which anime should be included in our Top 10 for 2014, we have finally decided which ones should be included and how they are placed. We have sadly been forced to exclude some very very very good anime in our list as we can only name 10. Here are the SGCafe Top 10 anime of 2014:


10) No Game, No Life


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Spring always has no shortage of great anime, and No Game, No Life is one of them. The anime is full of nifty twists and turns which leave audiences at the edge of their seats. Shiro and Sora’s gaming abilities, as well as their unique personality quirks have truly made them one of 2014’s most unforgettable duos, and with a story that is engaging and exciting, NGNL is the one chosen to kick-off our list at #10.


9) Barakamon


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This slice-of-life anime about a big-time Tokyo calligrapher being forced to live in a remote Japanese island on exile is genuinely hilarious and downright heartwarming. Barakamon is one of those no-brainers when it comes to making our list as the anime has certainly brightened up the mood and has tickled many funny bones around the world. For one thing, this anime was certainly a breath of fresh air and is relaxing and fun to watch.


8) Nagi no Asukara


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Unlike the bright, sunny, and relaxing Barakamon, Nagi no Asukara is filled with angst, lost love, and lots and lots of Spongebob logic. The anime is certainly painful to watch as you really would feel the pain the characters are feeling. The anime is a tearjerker, and with its complex and lovable characters, excellent animation, and P.A. Works’ beautiful scenery, Nagi no Asu is certainly one of 2014’s best, and it would have ranked higher had its first half been shown in 2014.


7) Sword Art Online II


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Ah, good’ol SAO, we had a hard time trying to figure how we would rank it’s highly-hyped season, which certainly did not disappoint. The first half, which featured Phantom Bullet was filled with a dark, murder-mystery sort of vibe and it pulled it off quite well, complete with a hilarious ending to the Bullet-of-Bullets tournament. The second half then started off with a break from all the GGO tension with Caliber, which for us was the low point of the season, but then ended in a grand way with Mother’s Rosario. Yeah, we were crying at the end of SAO, and the anime brought out the tears quite naturally.


6) Kill la Kill


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Now, before anything else, we would like to say that Kill la Kill would have ranked higher… waaaaaaaaaay higher, had its first half been aired in 2014, however, we are ranking the best anime which were aired in the past year, which means, we could not rank the anime’s roller coaster of a first half which would certainly put Kill la Kill in the Top 3. The anime has been one helluva ride, and it shows, as people are still talking about Kill la Kill ever since the anime premiered back in October 2013.


5) Log Horizon


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With it’s interesting characters, great chemistry, beautiful story, and awesome fight scenes, Log Horizon makes it to our list at #5. Like Kill la Kill and Nagi no Asu, Log Horizon would have ranked a lot higher had the first half of its first season been aired in 2014. Now currently in its second season, the new-look Log Horizon has proven that even though there is a drop in the anime’s animation quality, the series still remains one of the best ones this year.


4) Riddle Story of Devil


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This yuri anime was certainly one of the biggest surprises of the year as its lovable cast of assassins go on and try to kill main character Haru Ichinose, however, they did not count on her roommate to fall for her and protect her… The anime is filled with plenty of thrills, twists and turns, and its fight scenes and beautiful animation was just simply marvelous to watch.


3) Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun


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Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun is unapologetic about how it pokes fun at the Shoujo manga genre, and it is funny, really really funny. The anime is one of the biggest surprises of 2014 and it certainly deserves its place in the Top 5 with its parody of the many Shoujo manga tropes and lovable characters.


2) One Week Friends


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Perhaps the biggest surprise of 2014 is this little gem known as One Week Friends. The anime just tugs at your heart and would certainly make you want to watch more. The anime’s story may have sounded like a rip-off of Adam Sandler’s 50 First Dates, however, it just proves people wrong and surprises them with its beautiful animation and relate-able characters.


1) Aldnoah.Zero


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When this anime ended, people were shaking their fists and screamed “Geeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeen!”… even though he did not write that episode. The anime we have ranked #1 in our list has certainly been one of the most talked about this season, and its twists and turns have left fans at the edge of their seats.


We’ve also considered many other series, however, since we can only rank 10 of them, they were left out. Here are our honorable mentions:


Fate/ Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works


Your Lie in April


Selector Infected/ Spread Wixoss


Hoozuki no Reitetsu


Yowamushi Pedal


Akame ga Kill


Nisekoi


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The SGCafe New Year Special: The Top 10 anime of 2014

[Video] ufotable"s God Eater 2: Rage Burst opening animation is streamed

Did you know that ufotable, the anime studio best known for their work on Fate/ Zero and Fate/ Stay night: Unlimited Blade Works, was also tasked to animate the OP for God Eater 2: Rage Burst? And to promote the game’s release, Bandai Namco has streamed this very opening.



ufotable will also be animating the upcoming God Eater anime, which was announced during the Tokyo Game Show last September 2014.


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The game is considered to be the “final chapter” to the previously-released God Eater 2 game and will include new scenarios and the new “Blood Rain” action system. It will be released for the PS4 and the PS Vita this February 19.


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[Video] ufotable"s God Eater 2: Rage Burst opening animation is streamed

Illya returns for Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya 2wei Herz! this Summer 2015

Fate/ Stay Night‘s magical girl spin-off featuring Illyasviel Von Einzbern is getting a new season, with Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya 2wei Herz!, and the anime’s official website has just posted the new season’s very first key visual, which features Illyasviel, Kuro, and Miyu on a beach.


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The website also announced that Illya and the rest of the gang will be returning on Summer 2015. This new season will be continuing where Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya 2wei left off.


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Source: Moe Otanews



Illya returns for Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya 2wei Herz! this Summer 2015

Love Live! to participate in one of Japan"s most important festivals, the Kanda Matsuri

During the Love Live! Year End Special show hosted by the nine Love Live! voice actresses, it was announced that μ’s will be participating in one of the three most important Shinto festivals in Tokyo, which is the Kanda Matsuri.


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The Kanda Myoujin shrine is best known for being a “Holy Land” for fans of the idol anime, and the new collaboration is just the latest one between the series and the shrine.


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A collaboration poster featuring all nine members of μ’s wearing shrine maiden outfits was unveiled and they announced that it will be seen in the shrine and will be greeting those participating in the shrine’s annual Kanda Festival, which will be from May 9 – 10, 2015.


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The shrine, which is located near Akihabara, has been frequented by Love Live! fans because this is where 3rd year member, Nozomi, works part-time as a shrine maiden. The shrine has also sold Love Live! charms and special prayer emas featuring Nozomi.


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Source: Moe Otanews



Love Live! to participate in one of Japan"s most important festivals, the Kanda Matsuri

Tuesday 30 December 2014

Wake up to the voices of Yui Ogura, Yuka Iguchi, Kana Asami, and Yoko Hikasa with the Encouragement of Climb voice alarm clock

Looks like Nana Mizuki ain’t the only one lending her voice to wake people up with alarm clocks, because a new alarm clock inspired by the moe anime, Encouragement of Climb, will let you wake up to the voices of not just one, not just two, but four renowned voice actresses.


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Yui Ogura, Yuka Iguchi, Kana Asami, and Yoko Hikasa will all be lending their beautiful voices to the alarm clock. Kana Asumi, best known for voicing Haiyore! Nyaruko-san’s Nyaruko and Popura Taneshima from Working!! voices Hinata in the anime, while Kokona is voiced by Yui Ogura, best known for voicing Hentai Prince’s Tsukiko and Ro-Kyu-Bu!’s Hinata Hakamada. Kaede Saitou meanwhile is voiced by Yoko Hikasa, best known for her role as High School DXD’s Rias Gremory and K-On!’s Mio Akiyama. Finally, Aoi Yukimura is voiced by Yuka Iguchi, best known for her roles as A Certain series’ Index and Monogatari’s Tsukihi Araragi. Here is how the alarm clock will sound like:



The clock is scheduled for release in Japan by late January and will cost 7,560 yen, tax included.


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Source: Comic Natalie



Wake up to the voices of Yui Ogura, Yuka Iguchi, Kana Asami, and Yoko Hikasa with the Encouragement of Climb voice alarm clock

Monday 29 December 2014

You can now make Miku dance yourself easier as MikuMiku Dance gets greenlit on Steam

Sekai Project’s 3D animation software for “making Hatsune Miku dance” will finally be heading to Steam, as their official twitter page has announced that MikuMiku Dance has already been greenlit on the Steam digital distribution service.


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MikuMiku Dance allows users to create and edit 3D models of Vocaloid characters and choreograph their dance steps themselves. The program also allows users to upload and share their own Vocaloid music videos.


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The program will be available in both English and Japanese languages. MikuMiku Dance not only lets users make Vocaloid models, but they can even create their own original characters. They can also make their own models for other series such as iDOLM@STER, Love Live!, and many more.



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Source: Crunchyroll




You can now make Miku dance yourself easier as MikuMiku Dance gets greenlit on Steam

Sunday 28 December 2014

Sailor Moon inspires a romantic anime-themed wedding in the United States

There are Marvel-themed weddings, Star Wars-themed weddings, a Final Fantasy-themed wedding, and now, there is finally a Sailor Moon-themed wedding as a couple in the United States tied the knot “in the name of the moon” in a wedding inspired by the iconic magical girl anime.


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Professional event-planner and cosplayer, Michelle Nguyen, is one big anime fan, and for her own wedding, she just had one thing in mind for the theme, and it is Sailor Moon. She is such a big fan that she even has Usagi’s Crescent Moon Wand in the lace pattern of her wedding gown! She is even carrying around her own moon rod. Now that is what you call Moon Pride!


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And what is a bride without her bridesmaids? What is Sailor Moon without her Sailor Senshii? Her bridesmaids even have their own wands and are inspired by the Sailor Senshii themselves.


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The newly-married couple’s wedding rings even have a Sailor moon feel to them. According to Nguyen herself, her ring is shaped like the Moon Tiara with the moon etched in the center.


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and then there’s the cake…


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Heck, even the photobooth props and the altar are also Sailor Moon-themed


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And when the ceremony finally took place, the flower girls were wearing Princess Serenity-inspired gowns while the ring bearer himself was dressed up as Tuxedo Mask. Mamoru, is that you?


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Michelle and her husband, Will, look like quite the happy couple during their wedding night. To the new couple, congratulations!


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You can check out more images from the wedding from the bride’s blog


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Source: Rocket news 24



Sailor Moon inspires a romantic anime-themed wedding in the United States