Winter 2011/12 Anime Season (UPDATED)

Full chart is here, and this is v2. The chart will be updated if there's new information about anime releases until we considered it as complete, well, every few weeks.

Click here to download this chart.

Click here to download this chart.

Yuru Yuri School Comedy Manga Gets 2nd Anime Season

Image source: Moetron.

The official website for the Yuru Yuri television anime series and original manga creator Namori confirmed on Saturday that production on a second television anime season has been green-lit. The announcement was first made at the Yuru Yuri event that was streamed on the Nico Nico Live service on Saturday.
According to the official Twitter acount for the anime, the first key visual art for the second season, titled Yuru Yuri♪♪, will be published in the March issue of Ichijinsha's Comic Yuri Hime magazine (the home of the manga) on January 18.
In both the manga and the first television anime season that it inspired, four fun-loving schoolgirls take over the former room of a tea ceremony club for their own "Gorakubu" (amusement club). The first 12-episode anime season ran from July to September, and Crunchyroll streamed the season outside Japan as it aired.

Source: ANN.

Dead...?

Nope, just overwhelmingly busy with real life stuff.

Winter 2011/12 Anime Season

Full chart is here, and this is v1. The chart will be updated if there's new information about anime releases until we considered it as complete, well, every few weeks.

Click here to download this chart.

Click here to download this chart.

Picture of the Week

Here's our picture of the week. (Week 44, 2011)

Picture of the Week

Here's our picture of the week. (Week 43, 2011)

Manga Creator Kei Aoyama Passes Away at 32

The television station TBS is reporting that manga creator Kei Aoyama was found dead, hung from his neck, in the bathroom of his Tokyo apartment on October 9. He was 32.

There were no visible signs of wounds or a struggle in the bathroom, and the last posts on Aoyama's Twitter account, dated October 6, discussed mortality, including a final post that said:

"Well, I have much left to do and much I dreamed of doing, but I hardly have any "regrets." I am content with the 32 years I have lived."

The police are investigating Aoyama's death as a possible suicide. The police had received an emergency call around 9:00 p.m. on October 9 from a person at the Japanese publisher Kodansha, who said, "We haven't been able to contact Mr. Aoyama." The police rushed to Aoyama's apartment, where they discovered him in the bathroom.

Aoyama was serializing the manga Yoiko no Mokushiroku in Kodansha's Evening magazine from last year to the time of his passing. He also created or drew the manga SWWEEET in Shogakukan's Monthly Ikki magazine, China Girl, and Strobe Light. According to the police investigation, Kodansha was not able to contact Aoyama since October 6.

source: TBS News via Yaraon!, Sankei from ANN.

History of Hanamichi Sakuragi

Did you know : Hanamichi Sakuragi is true?

Hanamichi Sakuragi was born in 1968 in a family of the common working class. His mother passed away when he was very young, without the love of his mother he use the violence (out-on-the-street fights) to resolve his problems. As a young boy he was very tall at the age of 12 average 1.7…5 mts, and his body began to acquire force and a lot of resistance through his fights. Once he had a fight with the students in the sports zone of the University of Tokyo ; his abilities to fight, velocity and to and phycality they attracted the coach of the basketball team, and offered him to join the team.

In a party of practice, at the age of 17, against the National Team of Japan, Hanamichi of 1.89 mts, was the unique one that was not frightened by the professionals and noted 33 points alone: 10 shots, 3 nailed, 1 triple, 1 shot that did not find the terminology to explain, and 2 free shots.

Although its team lost with only 59 points (59 – 115), had been an excellent first game for Hanamichi. Basketball was in chaos, and he was named “The Hope of the Japanese Basketball”. Nevertheless, its father fell sick a year later. Hanamichi went of return to Tokyo , and this trip would cost him all. He descended of the bus in Tokyo and he was on the verge of crossing the street across the hospital when a car that went very fast hit him . Although he had the “body of steel”, the impact simply was too strong. He collapsed, they carried him to the hospital. Unfortunately it was too late… before they sent him to the operating room, he died from internal hemorrhage, only with 18 years of age.

The World of the Japanese Basketball was completely destroyed, they called this loss “Colossal”. The mangaka Takehiko Inoue created its series "Slam Dunk” based on the history of his youth. :’(

> Just sharing this information. Credits goes to whoever providing this information. :)

Playing 10-bit files on Linux OS

If you're using Linux, some says VLC is the only media player that can play 10-bit files, but I don't think so. I've tried 10-bit files using VLC but there's one problem: it can play, there's a sound, and a picture, but no subtitle, even though the subtitle options is turned on. I've Fate/Zero & C³ (Cube x Cursed x Curious), both are 10-bit file. Tried both & the result are the same, no subtitle.

Therefore, the only player (so far) that can play 10-bit files without any problem: GNOME MPlayer. I've tried it & yes, no problem at all. The video, and subtitles are fine.

Anime C³ (Cube x Cursed x Curious) in 10-bit, played using GNOME MPlayer.

GNOME MPlayer may be available from your software channel. You can install it using Synaptic Package Manager or Software Center. Check your distribution for details.

Any problem, leave a comment below.

Tips for playing 10-bit files using K-Lite Codec Pack 7.8.0 with Haali Media Splitter enabled on Windows 7 using Windows Media Player

If you're using K-Lite Codec Pack 7.8.0 with Haali Media Splitter enabled but can't play 10-bit files using Windows Media Player 12, do the following:

1. Press "Start" then go to K-Lite Codec Pack > Tools > Win7DSFilterTweaker.

2. Click on "Preferred decoders".

3. On 32-bit decoders: H.264, select "ffdshow" (as shown below), then click "Apply & Close".

4. Close the Win7DSFilterTweaker, then try to play any 10-bit file using Windows Media Player. You should now can play 10-bit files as shown below.

Anime C³ (Cube x Cursed x Curious) in 10-bit, played using WMP 12.

There's LAV Splitter inside K-Lite Codec Pack but I haven't tested it yet. Any problem, leave a comment below.

Fall 2011 Anime Season

Full chart is here. Click here to download this chart.

Click here to download this chart.

Yuru Yuri anime "Meet the characters"

Yuru Yuri anime "Meet the characters" picture.

If you go to this page, you'll see this (on Welcome tab).

This picture is subject to change & will be updated in the future.

Yuru Yuri's Sakurako & Himawari's Marriage Registration Offered

As a joke, Ichijinsha's Comic Yuri Hime magazine editor-in-chief Naritarō Nakamura posted on his Twitter account on Sunday that the magazine's November issue would bundle a filled-out marriage registration form for the characters Sakurako and Himawari from Namori's Yuru Yuri manga. Sakurako and Himawari are a popular yuri couple from this manga, which follows several fun-loving schoolgirls who take over the former room of a tea ceremony club for their own "Gorakubu" (amusement club).
Nakamura later wrote that he was considering whether the magazine really should bundle the form. He then posted that if his Twitter account received more than 2,000 followers, that the magazine would include the "proper government form."
Nakamura's Twitter account now has over 2,400 followers.
Nakamura confirmed on Sunday that the November issue of Comic Yuri Hime would bundle Sakurako and Himawari's marriage registration form. Nakamura cautioned that Sakurako is not so smart, so she probably "filled" out the form improperly. As a result, the editor noted (tongue-in-cheek) that the government would probably reject the form.
The November issue will go on sale on September 17.
Comic Yuri Hime has been publishing Yuru Yuri since Ichijinsha's Comic Yuri Hime S magazine ended publication in 2010. Ichijinsha released the seventh volume of the manga in Japan on July 28.
An anime adaptation of Yuru Yuri began airing in Japan in July, and Crunchyroll is currently simulcasting the anime outside of Japan


source: ANN

Aya Hirano's Agency Confirms She Is Leaving Firm

Space Craft Entertainment, the agency that has managed the career of voice actress Aya Hirano, confirmed with the music news source Natalie that she is leaving the agency as of August 20. There is no word on Hirano's activities after her departure from Space Craft Entertainment.

The official Aya Hirano fan club, Aya Dama, will cease its operations on August 20. The club already stopped processing new applications and membership renewals on July 31.

source: Natalie via ANN.

 

Official Yuru Yuri Underpants Ice Pack Cover Offered

The Japanese publisher Ichijinsha revealed on Monday that it will sell "Akari's Underpants ice pack cover" from the Yuru Yuri school comedy manga at its Comic Market booth in Tokyo from August 12 to August 14.

Ichijinsha will also sell a hand muffler shaped like the socks from the manga's middle school uniform, an "Akkariiin!" mobile strap, and a large eyeglass cleaning cloth illustrated by the manga's creator Namori. Items from other franchises will include four Starmine hand towels, Yasashii Kyōshi no Shitsukeru-kata "Breasts Eye Mask," and plastic-bottle holders shaped like school swimsuits.

The Yuru Yuri television anime premiered last month, and Crunchyroll has been streaming it outside Japan as it airs.

source: ANN [Via Akiba Blog, Moe Ota-News Sokuhō]

Yuru Yuri anime fan page

Feel free to like it, and don't forget to support this page.

Yuru Yuri anime fan page presented by NSA.
http://www.facebook.com/nsa.yuruyuri

Yuru Yuri: Selected screenshots

Here's Yuru Yuri anime: Selected screenshots from various episodes.

There's more to view at http://www.facebook.com/nsa.yuruyuri

List of Fall 2011 Anime Season

Here's the list of Fall 2011 Anime Season (date to be announced).

> C³ (C Cube/Cube x Cursed x Curious)
> Maji de Watashi ni Koi Shinasai 
> Shakugan no Shana III (The Final)
> Coppelion
> Chihayafuru
> Fujilog 2nd Season
> Bakuman 2nd Season
> Un-Go
> Kyoukai Senjou no Horizon
> Tamayura ~Hitotose~
> Guilty Crown
> Fate / Zero
> Mirai Nikki
> Persona 4 The Animation
> Phi Brain: Kami no Puzzle
> Lupin III
> Kimi to Boku
> Busou Shiki
> Mashiro-Iro Symphony
> Shinryaku!? Ika Musume
> Working'!!
> Mobile Suit Gundam AGE
> Last Exile: Fam, the Silver Wing
> Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai

Full chart will be release later, just like Summer 2011 Anime Chart.

Last update: 18/7/2011.

New Summer 2011 Anime: Double-J

Presenting Double-J. In a school where after school activities are mandatory among all students, Hajime and her friend Sayo come across a new club that they have never seen before. The club is called "The Cultural Activity Preservation Club." The two enter the room to find all kinds of analog jobs and activities, such as handcrafting mats and toothpicks. (Source: ANN)

Vintage: 28 June 2011
Number of episodes: N/A

Facebook fan page: http://www.facebook.com/nsa.doublej   
Download link: http://www.animefansftw.com/double-j/

The iDOLM@STER Character Profiles

Click here to view The iDOLM@STER Character Profiles

New Summer 2011 Anime: Yuru Yuri

Presenting Yuru Yuri. Right after starting middle school, Akaza Akari joins the Amusement Club which is composed solely by her two childhood friends, Toshinou Kyoko and  Funami Yui. Yoshikawa Chinatsu, Akaza's classmate, becomes a member after finding out about the dissolution of the Tea Club. The Amusement Club, situated at the tea room facility since the Tea Club disbanded, has no clear purpose, being free for the girls to do whatever they want. (Source: ANN)

Vintage: 4 July 2011
Number of episodes: 12

Facebook fan page: http://www.facebook.com/nsa.yu​ruyuri
Download link: http://www.animefansftw.com/yu​ru-yuri/

Yuru Yuri screenshots is now available

Yuru Yuri anime screenshots is now available for you to view. Click here to view it.

Azumi Actor Yoshio Harada Passes Away

The actor Yoshio Harada passed away from pneumonia on Tuesday, July 19 in Tokyo. He was 71. In the 2003 live-action film of Azumi, he played the character of Gessai. He also had roles in the live-action manga adaptations of Say Hello to Black Jack, Lady Snowblood: Love Song of Vengeance, Oishinbo, and Dororo.

On screen, Harada was known for his appearances in television dramas such as the historical Juichibanme no Shishi in 1968 and Koukousei Restaurant, which ended this month in Japan. He also appeared in films such as Hangyaku no Melody, Ryouma Ansatsu, Zigeunerweisen, and Utsukushii Natsu Kirishima. His final film was Oshika-mura Sōdōki which opened on Saturday, three days before his death.

source: Sankei Sports via Tokyo Graph on ANN

Sukeban Deka Director Hideo Tanaka Passes Away

Movie and television director Hideo Tanaka passed away on Saturday, June 9 at 1:30 p.m. at a Sayama City hospital due to stomach cancer. He was 78.

Tanaka was born in Gifu Prefecture, and along with Akira Kurosawa, he became a disciple of the late director Kajirō Yamamoto. Tanaka directed episodes from many live-action televsion series such as those in the Sukeban Deka and Uchū Keiji franchise. He would end up helming the two Uchū Keiji Shaider films and the two Sukeban Deka films. He is survived by his wife Wakako.

The manga creator of Sukeban Deka, Shinji Wada, just passed away on July 5. 

source: Sports Nippon via Tokyograph, ANN

The iDOLM@STER Video Collections: Part 12 released!

Here's The iDOLM@STER Video Collections: Part 12. A continuation from Part 11. Enjoy watching!

Sukeban Deka Manga Creator Shinji Wada Passes Away

Manga creator Miyuki Noma reports that Hakusensha and Akita Shoten staff members notified her that Sukeban Deka creator Shinji Wada passed away. He was 61. Wada is best known for creating the Sukeban Deka manga series about a high school girl who works as an undercover crime fighter. The manga inspired a video anime project and several popular live-action series and films. His other works include Pygmalio and CROWN (with artist You Higuri). He launched his most recent manga, Kugutsushi Rin, in Akita Shoten's Mystery Bonita magazine in 2006.

source: Miyuki Noma via Dan Kanemitsu, ANN

Anime Expo's Central Hallway Closed Due to Unknown 'Object'

The staff members of Anime Expo and the Los Angeles Convention Center cordoned off the central hallway between the South and West Halls of the center just before noon due to a "threat from a hazardous object," according to security. The public announcement system made requests for anyone who left a package in the area to claim it. The exhibit area and panel rooms remain open, but the central food court area, several administrative rooms, and all interior passageways between the two main halls are closed to everyone except convention staff.

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) are ushering people around the hallway leading to the concourse between the two main halls of the center. Staff members on the side of the cordoned-off section facing West Hall are telling attendees that there is a "electrical maintenance problem."

Update: Anime Expo reported after 1:00 p.m. that the object was an unmarked basket, and that the LAPD found it was nothing serious. The hallway and the other previously cordoned areas are now fully open.

source: ANN 

The iDOLM@STER Video Collections: Part 11 released!

Here's The iDOLM@STER Video Collections: Part 11. A continuation from Part 10. Enjoy watching!

The iDOLM@STER Video Collections: Part 10 released!

Here's The iDOLM@STER Video Collections: Part 10. A continuation from Part 9. There's a PV 3 on it. More information about this video at NSA HD.

Fractale Manga Continues Despite Director's Request

The Japanese publisher Square Enix posted the 10th chapter of the Fractale manga adaptation on its Gangan Online website on Thursday, even though Yutaka Yamamoto, the director of the original Fractale anime, had asked for the manga to be discontinued.

Yamamoto reported on his Twitter account last week that he asked the franchise's production committee to discontinue the manga series. The manga's artist, Mutsumi Akazaki, had written on her blog earlier that week that she found the work "uninteresting" and added that she wanted to work on a manga that she enjoyed. After making his request, Yamamoto noted that the final decision lies with the production committee.

The Gangan Online website also lists July 28 as the release date for the next chapter of the manga. Next month is when the second compiled book volume of the manga has been slated to ship since before the controversy arose.

[Via Yaraon!]

 

source: ANN

The iDOLM@STER Anime PV 1-3

Here's The iDOLM@STER New Anime PV 1-3, in one single file. The anime starts on 07/7/2011.

The iDOLM@STER Video Collections: Part 9 released!

Here's The iDOLM@STER Video Collections: Part 9. A continuation from Part 8. Enjoy watching!

The iDOLM@STER Video Collections: Part 8 released!

Here's The iDOLM@STER Video Collections: Part 8. A continuation from Part 7. Enjoy watching!

The iDOLM@STER Video Collections: Part 7 released!

Here's The iDOLM@STER Video Collections: Part 7. A continuation from Part 6. Enjoy watching!

The iDOLM@STER Video Collections: Part 6 released!

Here's The iDOLM@STER Video Collections: Part 6. There's a PV about the latest anime in this release. More information about this video at NSA HD.

The iDOLM@STER Video Collections: Part 5 released!

Here's The iDOLM@STER Video Collections: Part 5. In this release I've inserted the CM of the latest The iDOLM@STER anime at the end of this video. Enjoy watching!

Hanasaku Iroha 11-12 pictures.

Here's Hanasaku Iroha 11-12 pictures. You can view it by clicking here.

IS: Infinite Stratos OVA Announced!

According to the official Twitter for the anime series, a new 「IS: Infinite Stratos」 OVA, entitled IS Encore: Koi ni Kogareru Rokujuusou, will be released on November 25th. The announcement was originally made at this weekend’s 「IS: One Off Festival!」 event.

source: Moetron

The iDOLM@STER Video Collections: Part 4 released!

Here's The iDOLM@STER Video Collections: Part 4. A continuation from Part 3. Enjoy watching!

Summer 2011 Anime Season Chart released!

Here's the full chart of Summer 2011 Anime Season.

Alternatively, you can download this chart & keep it for your reference. Click here to download.

EDIT: This is v3, fixed some minor mistakes. Click here to download.

If you find any errors, please inform me. 

Filesharing websites has now blocked. (updated)

For those who live in Malaysia, and always watch or download anime from filesharing websites, here's something that you should know.

In a bid to combat piracy, the Government has declared war on filesharing websites with 10 such websites now blocked by the telecommunications industry watchdog.

The websites were among the most visited sites by Malaysians to illegally download movies.

On May 30, Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) had written a letter to all Internet Service Providers (ISPs) ordering the block.

The letter was signed by Digital Security Services division acting senior director Eneng Faridah Iskandar.

The letter, which was leaked online, also stated that the websites were being blocked for breaching Section 41 of the Copyright Act 1987, which deals with pirated content.

An MCMC spokesperson confirmed the ban and said it was done on the request of the Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Ministry.

The ministry's enforcement division director-general Mohd Roslan Mahayudin confirmed that the request was made.

“It is standard procedure for the ministry to request MCMC to block sites that violate the Copyright Act 1987,” he told The Star.

Roslan said the ministry had requested that 19 websites, including the 10 listed in the letter, be blocked for violating the Act but added that it was up to MCMC to decide on which ones to block.

List of 10 blocked filesharing websites: 
1. Megaupload 
2. Megavideo
3. Filestube
4. Fileserve
5. The Piratebay
6. PutLocker
7. Deposit Files
8. Movie2k
9. DuckLoad
10. Warez-BB


...and many more. 

When asked about the fate of surfers who legally use the websites such as for storing non-pirated content, Mohd Roslan said they could always write to the ministry. 

“Anyone who feels the ban is wrong can write to us and we will look into it,” he said.

Film maker Norman Abd Halim of KRU Studios said the move was long overdue.

“The unauthorised use of copyright work is destroying the industry. If everyone feels that works should be shared, then there is no value in these works,” he said.

Norman equated the move to South Korea's three-strikes law, where a person guilty of copyright infringement can have their Internet access suspended for six months.

However, irate users have vented their frustration by creating a Facebook page to protest.

By 8.30pm yesterday, there were 410 supporters who “liked” the page that was named “1M Malaysians Don't Want Block File Sharing Websites.”

FilesTube Media Search Engine, one of the sites ordered blocked, also commented on the page.

“We have posted information about this on our wall. We are with you.”

Before the page was put up, some Malaysians were already protesting via Twitter.

“You can't create a walled-up Internet garden,” read one tweet.

Some also made reference to the MSC Malaysia Bill of Guarantees which states that the Government will not censor the Internet.

MSC Malaysia is a national initiative that kicked off in 1996 and is aimed at transforming the nation into a knowledge-based economy.

source: The Star 

If you're wandering why the websites can't be opened, this is the reason.

Update: 13/6/2011 5:55 pm UTC+8
Facebook page "1M Malaysians Don't Want SKMM Block File Sharing Website" has now hit "11,740 likes".

Utena Voice Actress Tomoko Kawakami Passes Away

The agency Production baobab announced on Friday that voice actress Tomoko Kawakami passed away on Thursday, June 9 at 4:45 p.m. after a long bout with illness. She was the lead voice actress in La fillette révolutionaire Utena (Revolutionary Girl Utena), Hikaru no Go, Sugar: A Little Snow Fairy, Air, and many other anime titles.

Kawakami had been hospitalized since August of 2008 for an unspecified illness and underwent surgery at the time. As a result of her illness, she had to relinquish roles such as Kaoru in the video adaptation of Yamane's Ikoku Irokoi Romantan boys-love comedy manga.

source: ANN