SGCafe Anime, Manga, Cosplay, J-Pop News: February 2015

Saturday, 28 February 2015

Rurouni Kenshin sequels and Stand By Me Doraemon win big during the 37th Annual Japan Academy Prizes

Considered the Japanese equivalent of the Academy Awards, the Annual Japan Academy Prizes is Japan’s most prestigious film award, and its 37th awards ceremony has just announced the winners.

The awards are given to Japanese and Foreign films which showed excellence in film making, and this year’s crop of Animation Category nominees were some of the very best, and they included Studio Ghibli’s When Marnie Was There, Giovanni’s Island, Detective Conan: Dimensional Sniper, and Buddha 2: Tezuka Osamu no Buddha – Owarinaki Tabi. However, only one anime movie was awarded the highest honor for animation, and it was none other than Stand By Me Doraemon which captured the hearts of audiences not only in Japan, but worldwide.

A special award was also given and it is called the All Night Nippon Wadai-Sho prize. This is an audience award and it is won through fan voting, with listeners to the All Night Nippon radio program voting for the winner. The winner of this award is none other than the Rurouni Kenshin sequel movies, The Great Kyoto Inferno and The Legend Ends.

The awards’ highest honor, the Best Picture of the Year, meanwhile went to the World War II movie, The Eternal Zero (Eien no 0) starring Junichi Okada and Haruma Miura.

Though anime movies are a huge part of Japan’s animation industry, the Animation Category for the Annual Japan Academy Prize is a relatively new award and was just introduced eight years ago. Last year’s winner was Hayao Miyazaki’s final movie, The Wind Rises.

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Source: Japan Academy Prize official via ANN

Rurouni Kenshin sequels and Stand By Me Doraemon win big during the 37th Annual Japan Academy Prizes

Unaired Amagi Brilliant Park episode to come bundled with anime"s 7th Blu-ray/ DVD volume

The seventh and final Blu-ray/ DVD volume for Amagi Brilliant Park will not only come with the series final episode or Episode 13, but it will also come bundled with a special episode which was not previously aired on television.

The release will also come bundled with a special video known as “Waku Waku Mini Theater Rakugaki Backstage Sono 7” and it will be released in Japan this June 26 along with some special stickers, guides and some commentaries from the cast and staff.

The Limited Edition release will cost 6,975 yen plus tax while the Regular Edition release will have the price tag of 5,975 yen plus tax. The disc will come with both Episode 13 and the unaired episode.

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Source: Moca News

Unaired Amagi Brilliant Park episode to come bundled with anime"s 7th Blu-ray/ DVD volume

Mobile Suit Gundam the Origin 2 to focus on Sayla Mass with "Sorrowful Artesia"

When Mobile Suit Gundam the Origin I: Blue-eyed Casval premiered yesterday, February 29, a teaser for the second volume was shown right at the ending, and it seems that it will now be focusing on Char/ Casval’s sister, Sayla/ Artesia.

The second part of this Gundam the Origin series will be titled “Sorrowful Artesia”, and the teaser noted that it will be set three years after the escape of Casval and Artesia from the Zabis. The story is noted to follow how the two siblings will be forced apart and then assuming the identities of Char Aznable and Sayla Mass. It is scheduled to be released in Japanese theaters this Fall 2015.

Meanwhile, Part 1, Blue-eyed Casval was also shown in selected cinemas in South East Asia yesterday, the same day as it premiered in Japan.

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Source: Gundam.info

Mobile Suit Gundam the Origin 2 to focus on Sayla Mass with "Sorrowful Artesia"

Friday, 27 February 2015

Kantai Collection dominates Musume Type Magazine"s Top 10 characters of Winter 2015 rankings

With Winter 2015 now already in its halfway point, Japanese anime magazine, Musume Type, has ranked the Top 10 characters for this season and published the results of their ranking in their April 2015 issue, which featured Dog Days” in the cover.

According to a leak from the magazine provided by Japanese anime blog, Yaraon!, here are the magazine’s “10 Best”

10) Akagi (Kantai Collection)

9) Yuudachi (Kantai Collection)

8) Aoi Miyamori (Shirobako)

7) Shimakaze (Kantai Collection)

6) Angelise Ikaruga Misurugi/ Ange (Cross Ange)

5) Utaha Kasumigaoka (Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend)

4) Megumi Kato (Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend)

[2015.01.16_04.30.03]

3) Rin Shibuya (The iDOLM@STER: Cinderella Girls)

2) Ema Yasuhara (Shirobako)

1) Kongou (Kantai Collection)

With some “Burning Love” and plenty of noise, the lead ship of the Kongou class takes the #1 spot in Musume Type Magazine’s 10 Best rankings, and it seems that this battleship has settled in a bit in the hearts of the fans when she ultimately broke their expectations of her in episode 4 of the anime. Her win is no surprise as many found her “annoyingness” to be pretty charming… Buuuuuuuuurniiiiiiiiiiiiing Loooooooooooove!

It also seems to be a Kancolle-filled ranking as three other fleet girls, besides #1 ranked Kongou, have made it to the list, and the biggest surprise of them is Shimakaze who only had a few scenes in the anime. This just proves that Shimakaze is still one of the series’ most popular ships, even if anime characters like Yuudachi are “Poi”ing their way to the hearts of fans.

Another unexpected upset is Emi Yasuhara, who takes in the #2 spot, beating out favorite Rin Shibuya. Looks like this hardworking (and stressed out) animator from Shirobako has charmed many viewers, enough for the people at Musume Type to pick her over Shiburin.

However, #3 ranked Shiburin ain’t a push-over as many fans have admitted that she is one of the biggest reasons they are watching Cinderella Girls. The flower shop attendant-turned idol has already won over the fans even before the anime even premiered, and it is clear that she will only get even more popular as the series will go on.

So what do you guys think of the magazine’s picks?

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Source: Yaraon!

Kantai Collection dominates Musume Type Magazine"s Top 10 characters of Winter 2015 rankings

[Video] Gundam Reconguista in G finally streamed legally and for free via youtube

Gundam.info has some very good news for Gundam fans as they have finally started streaming Gundam creator Yoshiyuki Tomino’s Gundam Reconguista in G or G-Reco in their official youtube channel and it’s free. just like Gundam Build Fighters Try. Here is G-Reco’s very first episode which is now streamed in youtube

And best of all, since it’s Gundam.info streaming it, it is all legal so if you are watching the show via their channel, you are really showing support for the anime industry and the Gundam franchise.

And as the Gundam Reconguista in G anime is now approaching its final episodes, Gundam.info has also updated its key visual and it features the lead Gundam, the G-Self, taking on the Jirahha (ジーラッハ). The new visual also teases what seems to be the series’ final boss right in the background.

Another Gundam series currently being streamed for free by Gundam.info is Gundam Build Fighters Try, which just aired its 20th episode, Unbreakable Heart, last Wednesday. Here it is, enjoy

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[Video] Gundam Reconguista in G finally streamed legally and for free via youtube

Thursday, 26 February 2015

Saber only 4th?! Charapedia ranks the Top 30 coolest female anime characters

Anime is known for all its cool female characters who are not only cute or beautiful, but they also kick a lot of butts. For this week’s Charapedia poll, the Japanese anime character database has asked 10,000 anime fans which female anime character is the one which they think is the coolest of them all.

Of the 10,000 people who participated in the vote, it is surprising that the female voters actually outnumbered the male voters in this one as this poll focuses on female characters. Only 49% were male while 51% were female. Here is what they had to say:

30) Chifuyu Orimura (IS: Infinite Stratos)

29) Hitagi Senjougahara (Monogatari Series)

28) Tsubomi Kido (Mekaku City Actors)

27) Kyuubey Yagyuu (Gintama)

26) Kanzaki Kaori (A Certain Series)

25) Olivier Mira Armstrong (Full Metal Alchemist)

24) Makoto Kikuchi (The iDOLM@STER)

23) Tae Shimura (Gintama)

22) Balalaika (Black Lagoon)

21) Riza Hawkeye (Full Metal Alchemist)

20) Yukino Yukinoshita (My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU)

19) Kagura (Gintama)

18) Riko Aida (Kuroko’s Basketball)

17) Fujiko Mine (Lupin III)

16) Shiki Ryougi (Kara no Kyoukai)

15) Morgianna (Magi)

14) Haman Karn (Gundam ZZ)

13) Shino Asada/ Sinon (Sword Art Online)

12) Yuu Kashima (Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun)

11) Touka Kirishima (Tokyo Ghoul)

10) Akane Tsunemori (Psycho-Pass)

9) Revy (Black Lagoon)

8) Tsukuyomi (Gintama)

7) Mikoto Misaka (A Certain series)

6) Erza Scarlet (Fairy Tail)

5) Motoko Kusanagi (Ghost in the Shell)

4) Saber (Fate Series)

3) Celty Sturluson (Durarara!!)

2) Asuna (Sword Art Online)

1) Mikasa Ackerman (Attack on Titan)

Mikasa is the coolest anime character?! Yep, that really isn’t all that surprising as this calm, cool, and collected member of the Survey Corps, who has been known to kick some butt, takes first place in this ranking as she is shown to be very popular not only among the guys who seem to not mind the fact that her rock-hard abs put their bellies to shame, but she also has legions of female fans as well.

#2 ranked Asuna may have just been a “Damsel in Distress” in SAO’s 2nd part and an observer in the GGO arc, but she has proven to be pretty cool none the less and her taking the second spot is not very surprising. Durarara!!’s resident headless rider meanwhile is sort of like Mikasa as she also has scores of female fans, not to mention a lot of male fans. She takes the #3 spot in an upset of sorts over one of the most popular characters in the list, Saber.

So do you agree with Charapedia’s results? Who do you think is the coolest anime girl out there?

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Saber only 4th?! Charapedia ranks the Top 30 coolest female anime characters

IS: Infinite Stratos Love and Purge gets steamy with new "massage scene" screenshots

5pb. has released new screenshots and character information for their upcoming IS: Infinite Stratos Love and Purge game for the PlayStation 3 and the PlayStation Vita, and it includes some pretty revealing ones.

The story takes place right after the World Purge OVA and will center around Ichika Orimura and his relationships with his fellow IS pilotsm Houki, Charlotte, Rin, Cecilia, Laura, and the Sarashiki sisters, Tatenashi and Kanzashi. Houki’s sister, the inventor of the IS, Tabane Shinonono is revealed to also be part of the game.

New screenshots from the game’s “Reward” and “Punishment” system have also been released. This “Reward” and “Punishment” system uses “Brave Heart Points” which Ichika must acquire through his actions and conversations with the game’s various heroines.

Ichika must deepen his relationships with the girls with these “Brave Heart Points”, and to do that, he must talk with them and be careful with what he says, because the Brave Heart Points he acquires depends on how he treats the girls. He could also rack up the Brave Points by massaging the girls, however, if he messes up, he loses points instead.

And then there are the new event CGs…

IS: Infinite Stratos Love and Purge is scheduled for release in Japan on July 30, 2015 for the PlayStation 3 and the PlayStation Vita. Sounds like a typical visual novel game, huh? Well, this really sounds a lot different from their previous IS game, which is a fighting game called Versus Colors. Now, if only Ichika was not dense…

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Source: Dengeki Online

IS: Infinite Stratos Love and Purge gets steamy with new "massage scene" screenshots

New Love Live! Sunshine! project announced by Dengeki G"s Magazine, inspires memes

The official website of Dengeki G’s Magazine has teased fans with a mysterious image set on a beach with a girl waving and is presented with the caption “Help, Love Live!”

Now, whatever could this teaser be about? It is actually for the follow-up project to Love Live! School Idol Project and it is called Love Live! Sunshine! Nothing much has been revealed yet but it seems that when Dengeki G’s released this teaser, the internet back in Japan went crazy.

Within a few minutes of its release, the wonderful place called the internet went to work and formulated new photoshop memes featuring either the mystery girl or her background.

@Yuyucow compared the announcement to the original Love Live! anime announcement poster and said “How to launch new Love Live projects: put orange girl in the middle of nowhere, alone”

While @takebig_sugar had good’ol Takeuchi-P from the iDOLM@STER spin-off, Cinderella Girls, present our mystery girl with his card. I wonder if Sunshine will be taking on Cinderella Girls in the future, just as im@s and Love Live! are now?