Sequel to Spice and Wolf / 狼と香辛料

Due to successful DVD sales (vol 1 reached 9133 units), Spice and Wolf sequel is announced with pretty much the same crew who did the 1st last year except for character designer (Kazuya Kuroda is replaced by Toshimitsu Kobayashi). Studio Brain Base will be doing this instead of IMAGIN.

I consider this series as delightful, under the radar hit, kindling hopes that there is still something anime can offer. Slated for summer 2009 release, perhaps same time with famous moe anime, Nogizaka no Himitsu (also another DVD success, 7556 unit for vol 1).

Certainly good news for me.

Official News

Mamoru Oshii's Production I.G Musashi Teaser is out.

Oh! Beautiful! I am so looking forward to this. I wonder if they using the novel's template to tell the famous sword saint or not.

Production staff includes director Mizuho Nishikubo (also known by his alias Toshihiko Nishikubo) who has worked on numerous Oshii films including Ghost in the Shell (1995), Innocence (2004) and The Sky Crawlers (2008). He also directed the TV series Otogi Zoshi and Legend of Heavenly Sphere Shurato. Kazuto Nakazawa, director of the mind-blowing animation segment in Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill Vol. 1 (2003) and creator of innovative characters as seen in Samurai Champloo (2004), will design the characters for Musashi. The animation is supervised by Kazuchika Kise, the chief animator in Ghost in the Shell, Innocence and Blood: The Last Vampire.

Previous entry

Bakuman, from people who gave the world Death Note.

Takeshi Obata and Tsugumi Oba, the team that responsible for famous/infamous Death Note now writing and drawing a lighter and cheerful Bakuman. The story is about trials and tribulations of 2 idealistic boys wanting to be mangakas of world renown.

ANN

An editorial review of the work is here. Usually the editorial will be on for 1 week before it is taken off from the website.

I will check it out despite the rather true and tested storyline of youthful innocence in tough world of manga.

Gobsmacked by Good Smile Lily Saber

The facial expression of steely Saber caught well here.

Wooo... just look at the amazing sculpt on coming soon figure of Lily Saber by Good Smile. One word: EXQUISITE.

Source and Pre-Order
Japanese preview

Comp Ace Saber Lily Calendar Poster

Enjoy folks. It is truly a sight to behold. Click for bigger res.

Thanks Steno!

More on Hetalia Axis Powers - Korean Saga

The madness continues when some Korean netizens actually advocating cyberwar on Japanese sites that is promoting Hetalia-Axis Powers. Not content with successful attempt to stop broadcast of the anime series, the zealous patriots now targetting Internet streams and channels to distrupt the anime. It is unprecendented that an act of war is mulled in response to an anime backlash, this has to be first example of serious byproduct in negative light from soft war ever. Frankly speaking, I don't know if I should cry or laugh about this.

Even famous Sankaku Complex which is very critical of Koreans in this affair did not escape the wrath of Korean netizens.

It once said that Korea is like a dagger pointing straight at Japan's heart.

Source.

A poster asked me to post this one too. I guess the street did not go one way here. Personally, I find the marketing distasteful and it is ironic if the real Nazis were there, these people would be put straight into gas chamber(s). Heh.