More weird game from Japan! Maybe become a cultural icon like Para Para Sakura!

This just looks weird but hey it is Japan!

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Mangaka having PTSD.

Sometimes mangaka is a human being too. The story of a mangaka, Jiro Taniguchi who is deeply affected by Tohoku Earthquake March 11th 2011. His works can be found here.

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New Toyota Doraemon themed ad, starring Jean Reno

I found this hilarious and just plain wrong. Ah well.

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Anime for March/Apr 2012.

The list is somewhat incomplete, more updated will be posted up soon. Definitely will watch Fate Zero Season 2, some passing interest on Accel World, Uchuu Kyodai and TasogareX Amnesia. And plus the new jazz anime series from Watanabe and Kanno.

Looks like 2012 is picking up.

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New Jazz Anime Series that caught my interest...

Sakamichi no Apollon?

Wow. Just check out these 2 names for this upcoming series.

Director: Shinchiro Watanabe (Bebop, Champloo)
Music Composer: Yoko Kanno.(Macross, Bebop)

The series is about 3 students in school and their passion for jazz despite came from very different background. What else I need to say? Only question mark for me is the quality of the writing. Animated by New Madhouse and Tezuka Productions.

Scheduled for April 2012 release. Something worthwhile to watch for 2012 for me at least after the end of Fate Zero Season 1.

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Updates on Madoka movie project

Looks like new Madoka project will have 3 segments. 2 will TV series compilations and final one will be completely new story. Sequel, prequel or whatever for new story, I do not know. Personally I think this is a rather crass attempt to milk the franchise for its worth but I got hand it to them, it is the most successful anime in commercial sense this year. Let's just hope they do not overstay their welcome here. 

Source

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Official Manga Portal opened in USA

Nice initiative by Japanese publishers to reach North America audience, charging minimal fee for content. I do hope they will expand the effort to my part of world too, soon.

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Madoka movie? Really?

Perhaps one of the biggest news of the year, the award winning series Magica Puella Magi Madoka (recently won like 12 out of 21 categories at New Type Anime Awards 2011 in Oct ) might have a movie coming up. I do not know if the movie is going to be a glorified recap of the series or a completely new story. I do remember Urobochi hinted that the series has yet to run its full course yet in Vol 6 commentary track, much to surprise to the voice actress cast of the series.

I awaiting for more details, should be coming up soon in the Newtype Magazine.

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How much an anime episode cost (2010)?

A typical 20-30 min anime episode in Japan cost breakdown:

Original work - 50,000 yen ($660)
Script - 200,000 yen ($2,640)
Episode Direction - 500,000 yen ($6,600)
Production - 2 million yen ($26,402)
Key Animation Supervision - 250,000 yen ($3,300)
Key Animation - 1.5 million yen ($19,801)
In-betweening - 1.1 million yen ($14,521)
Finishing - 1.2 million yen ($15,841)
Art (backgrounds) - 1.2 million yen ($15,841)
Photography - 700,000 yen ($9,240)
Sound - 1.2 million yen ($15,841)
Materials - 400,000 yen ($5,280)
Editing - 200,000 yen ($2,640)
Printing - 500,000 yen ($6,600)

Source: Media Development Research Institute Inc.

Values were adjusted to 2010 USD inflation so the total is around USD 145,000 per episode. I wonder if there is any difference between pre and post March 11th tsunami in costing. AFAIK, any sales of Bluray/DVD that passes 4000 unit tends to get sequel. Best indicator is sales of 1st volume in first week itself since it will establish general trend onwards for particular series.

In Amazon Japan for example, Magica Puella Magi Madoka vol 1 Bluray is selling at 5,826 yen now (76 USD).

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Pocky game, anyone?

This is so hilarious. HAHAHAHAHA!

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Black Swan (2010) and Perfect Blue (1998)

Now I know why I keep having deja vu while watching Black Swan (2010) few months ago. I also found this interesting link.

The scene resemblance is uncanny. Very uncanny.

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Fate Zero is going to be split into 2 Seasons?

Fate Zero is going to have 2 seasons? What the fuck?

Leaving people hanging halfway is not a very smart move, UFOTABLE. Judging from the news, it would seem that the anime series will split 12-13 eps for 2 volumes of novel each, I was made to understand there are 25 eps.

I really don't get this decision, to be honest.

And yes, the anime have lavish production and a lot of expectation was pumped into the series. It remains to be seen if the series will not end up like ill-fated Fractale. So far, it looks good. No one wants to remember Tsukihime anime or bland JC STAFF Fate/Stay Night.

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