St. Young Men Tops Weekly Manga Chart for 5th Straight Volume

Story of Jesus & Buddha in Tokyo apartment is on hiatus while Hikaru Nakamura is expecting a child

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The seventh volume of Hikaru Nakamura's Saint Young Men (Saint O-nii-san) manga sold 360,596 copies to top Oricon's manga sales chart for the October 17-23 week. This is the fifth volume in a row to accomplish this feat, going back to volume 3.
The comedy manga imagines if Buddha and Jesus shared a low-rent apartment in Tokyo. Nakamura has been drawing Saint Young Men in Kodansha's Morning 2 magazine since 2006, and she also has been serializing her Arakawa under the bridge manga in Square Enix's Young Gangan magazine since 2004. Saint Young Men won the Short Work Prize in the 13th Annual Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prizes in 2009.
Saint Young Men has been on hiatus since September 22 due to Nakamura's pregnancy.

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Zetman Cast Led by Daisuke Namikawa, Mamoru Miyano

Voices of Jin, Kouga in TV anime of Masakazu Katsura's superhero manga

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The official website for the Zetman television anime series and this year's 48th issue of Shueisha's Weekly Young Jump magazine announced the anime's main voice cast on Thursday. Daisuke Namikawa (Kimi ni Todoke, Hunter X Hunter) will play Jin Kanzaki:

Mamoru Miyano (Death Note, Chihayafuru) will play Kouga Amagi:

Masakazu Katsura is known for romance and comedy stories such as Video Girl Ai, DNA², and I''s, but he also created the decade-long Zetman hero action manga series in 2002. The story centers around Jin, a homeless boy whose true form is the new superhuman lifeform "ZET," and an industrial magnate's heir named Kouga with his own secret.
Osamu Nabeshima (D.Gray-man, Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas) is directing the project at TMS Entertainment. Atsuhiro Tomioka (Inazuma Eleven, Samurai 7, Pokémon) is writing the scripts, and Hirotoshi Takaya (Eyeshield 21, Puppet Princess/Karakuri no Kimi, Project ARMS) is designing the characters. Italian composer Gabriele Roberto (SPEC, Paco and the Magical Book) is in charge of the music.
The anime will premiere next April.

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The Idolm@ster's 9th BD/DVD to Add Unaired Episode

9th volume listed for June 2012 release

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The Nico Nico Live program "iM@Studio Satellite Station #03" revealed on Wednesday that the ninth home video volume of The IDOLM@STER television anime series will include an unaired special edition episode. The ninth Blu-ray/DVD volume is listed by retailers for a June 2012 release.
[Via Moe Ota-News Sokuhō]

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Evangelion Remake Film Inspires Karaoke Club Remodel

Rebuild of Evangelion decorations, merchandise, uniforms, menu incorporated at Chiba club

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To promote the fall 2012 release of the Evangelion Shin Gekijō-ban Q Quickening film, the Japanese advertising company Zenrin Promo, and the karaoke companies Standard and Xing are collaborating to re-open the U-STYLE Tsudanuma karoke club in Narashino City, Chiba Prefecture with an Evangelion theme on November 1.
The seven rooms on the first floor of the karoke club will be redesigned as "Nerv Tsudanuma Branch". The renovated club will also sell Evangelion merchandise and display props and decorations inspired by the third Rebuild of Evangelion film project. The staff will wear special uniforms to reflect the mecha franchise theme, and U-STYLE Tsudanuma's food and drink menu will include Evangelion items.

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Gurren Lagann's Imaishi Draws to Support Idolm@ster's Nishigori (Updated)

Pair worked on Gurren Lagann, Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt, other Gainax titles together

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Key animator and director Hiroyuki Imaishi recently drew an illustration to support The IDOLM@STER director Atsushi Nishigori in his work on the anime. The image, which includes characters from anime the pair worked on together, was posted on The IDOLM@STER anime's official website. As a possible reference to the drama anime's production nearing completion, the image reads, "Nishigori, do your best! "Keep running and running to the very end!"
Imaishi drew part of the storyboard for The IDOLM@STER television anime under Nishigori before leaving the anime studio GAINAX to establish Studio Trigger with Masahiko Otsuka and Kazuya Matsumoto earlier this month. Imaishi directed Gurren Lagann and Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt while Nishigori served as character designer for the anime projects. The duo also worked on several other GAINAX anime together before Imaishi's departure from the studio.
Yesterday, Studio Trigger announced that it was subcontracted to produce the upcoming 17th episode of the The IDOLM@STER television anime. The episode will air on October 28 with the anime's 25th and final episode slated to air on December 22.
[Via Moe Otanews Sokuhō]
The preview video for the 17th episode of The IDOLM@STER is now online:

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Denny's Restaurants to Offer K-ON! Items in Japan

"Shrimp and Oyster Crispy-Fried Doria," "Creamy Home-Made Fruit Trifle" orders receive K-ON! prizes

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In honor of the K-ON! film, which opens December 3 in Japan, the Denny's chain of family restaurants in Japan will sell dishes celebrating the anime in November and December. Denny's November menu will offer "Shrimp and Oyster Crispy-Fried Doria" (a baked rice-based dish with white sauce) for 890 yen (about US$12). The food's Japanese name kaki fry or "fried oyster" plays on kakifly, the pen name of the K-ON! high school slice-of-life manga's creator.
Customers who order the doria will receive one of two exclusive K-ON! film coasters in limited quantities. From November 1 to 15, the Denny's restaurants will give out a Christmas-themed coaster with the main K-ON! characters in Santa Claus outfits. Customers will receive a K-ON! coaster with a snowy winter backdrop from November 16 to 30.
From December 1 to 25, Denny's menus in Japan will include the "Creamy Home-Made Fruit Trifle", and customers who order the dish will receive a special K-ON! glass tag. Those who order the item will also be able to enter the "Denny's Original Goods Prize Campaign". Denny's will post the campaign's details on its homepage in mid-November.
Last year, Japan's Denny's website featured a picture of four girls with striking similarities to the K-ON! anime and manga franchise's Hōkago Teatime ("Afterschool Teatime") band.
kakifly's comedy manga received television anime series in 2009 and 2010 before the film adaptation was green-lit last year.

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High Score Anime's Cast, Staff Revealed

TV anime adaptation of Chinami Tsuyama's gag manga to premiere on November 28

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The official website for the television anime adaptation of Chinami Tsuyama's High Score shōjo manga revealed some of the show's cast and staff on Tuesday. The anime is scheduled to premiere on November 28.
The anime will feature the following voice actors and actresses:

• Eri Kitamura as Megumi Fujiwara
• Ikumi Hayama as Kaori Tachibana
• Yu Kobayashi as Emika Matsumoto
• Katsuyuki Konishi as Masamune Matsumoto
• Takahiro Sakurai as Kyosuke Masuda

In addition, Hajime Kurihara (Pugyuru, Digi-girl Pop!) will direct the series and DLE Inc. will animate the series. Azuma Tani (Double-J, Haiyoru! Nyaruani: Remember My Mr. Lovecraft) will serve as the creative adviser and will handle the series composition.
High Score will premiere on KIDS STATION on November 28 at 8:56 p.m. in Japan.
The "high-speed" four-panel gag comedy manga follows the misadventures of the students at a high school. Tsuyama began the manga in Shueisha's Ribon in 1995. Shueisha published Tsuyama's 10th compiled book volume in July.

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Cobs Poll: Manga That Young Japanese Women Think Are Moe

K-ON!, Honey and Clover, Lucky Star top poll

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The Japanese portal site Cobs Online posted the results of a survey on Tuesday asking women in their 20s what they think is a moe manga.

Among 484 female respondents in their 20s, these were the top choices. Voters could vote for more than one title:

Rank	Manga	Author	% of Votes
1	K-ON!	kakifly	32.4%
2	Honey and Clover	Chika Umino	26.4%
3	Lucky Star	Kagami Yoshimizu	19.8%
4	Negima! Magister Negi Magi	Ken Akamatsu	6.6%
5	Strawberry Marshmallow	Barasui	6.4%

Other manga female respondents answered as being moe manga included Maria-sama ga Miteru, Yotsuba&!, Toradora!, Revolutionary Girl Utena, and Rozen Maiden.

Cobs Online similarly asked men in their 20s what manga they think is moe, and the top five results in that poll out of 236 respondents were: K-ON!, Lucky Star, Strawberry Marshmallow, Hayate the Combat Butler, and Azumanga Daioh. Other manga male respondents answered as being moe included Rozen Maiden, Aria, Minami-ke and Negima! Magister Negi Magi.

Both surveys were conducted online between August 2 and August 16.

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Sazae-san Voice Midori Kato Honored by Japanese Government

Voice actress has been working on long-running TV anime series for 42 years

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The Agency for Cultural Affairs of the Japanese government awarded voice actress Midori Kato with its 2011 Secretarial Public Recognition award on Monday. The awards recognize those who have contributed to the promotion of Japanese culture. A total of 40 people were chosen for this year's award.
Kato has been portraying Sazae Fuguta in the Sazae-san television anime series since the series' premiere 42 years ago. She received the award because of her work on Sazae-san and because of her "significant contributions to the arts and culture" of Japan. Kato had also won a merit award at the Tokyo Anime Awards in January.
The agency will host an awards ceremony for Kato and the other recipients on December 5 at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.

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Moe Vitamins Offered in Japan in November

Trading cards featuring anthropomorphized moe vitamin characters bundled with each vitamin pack

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The Japanese company Ateam has launched a brand of vitamins called "Moe Supli" (Moe Supplement), which features different vitamins anthropomorphized as moe characters. The characters are named after the vitamins they represent, such as "Sister Milk" for calcium, "Karotte-chan" for beta-carotene (pictured at right), and "VB Sisters" for vitamins B1, B2, B6, and B12.
Artists such as Yuki Azuma, Nankotsu Misakura, Yōsai Kūchū, and MAKI worked on the character designs for the brand.
Currently, three vitamin supplement packages are being offered:

• Men's Supplement pack that comes with zinc and vitamin E
• Multi Mineral pack that comes with magnesium, iron, and copper
• Eye Care pack that comes with bilberry extract

The Men's Supplement and Milti Mineral packs are being sold for 1,280 yen (about US$17), and the Eye Care pack is being sold for 1,480 yen (about US$19.50). Each pack come with 60 tablets and bundles two trading cards featuring the moe vitamin characters, with some cards being autographed by the character designers. The website is currently taking pre-orders for the packs, which will be shipped on November 11.
The website is also featuring the characters in a manga, drawn by Kotora Suzune.

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Toei Anime Revises Projected Revenues to Historic High

One Piece, Suite Precure credited for predicted 29-billion-yen revenue in current year

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The Japanese anime studio Toei Animation announced on Tuesday that it is revising its earnings forecast higher for the current fiscal year ending in March of 2012. Specifically, it is revising its estimated revenues for the second half of the year higher — and as a result, it projects that it will have the highest annual revenues in the company's history.
Toei is raising its predicted revenues for the second half from 14 billion yen (about US$184 million) to 16.2 billion yen (US$213 million). Therefore, its predicted operating profits will also rise 30% from 2 billion yen (US$26 million) to 2.6 billion yen (US$34 million), and its predicted ordinary profits will rise 27.3% from 2.2 billion yen (US$29 million) to 2.8 billion yen (US$37 million).
For the entire fiscal year, the predicted revenues will rise from 24.2 billion yen (US$318 million) to 29 billion yen (US$381 million) — a historic high for the company. The resulting annual operating profits forecasted will rise from 3.1 billion yen (US$41 million) to 4 billion yen (US$53 million), and the resulting annual ordinary profits will also rise from 3.4 billion yen (US$45 million) to 4.2 billion yen (US$55 million).
The company specifically credited the strong performance of the anime franchises One Piece and Suite Precure. Projected revenues from One Piece character goods, events, and DVDs have increased for the second half.
Toei Animation had already announced a revision to its earnings forecast on July 25. Between the two revisions, Toei has raised its projected revenues for the current fiscal year over 37% from the initial 21.1 billion yen (US$277 million) estimate. Last fiscal year, the studio reported annual revenues of 26.622 billion yen (US$349.6 million).
Source: animeanime.biz
Images © 1999 Toei Animation © 2009 Shueisha, Fuji TV, Toei Animation © Eiichiro Oda/Shueisha, Toei Animation
© ABC, Toei Animation

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Vampire Miyu's Kakinouchi to Launch Fairy Jewel Manga

Narumi Kakinouchi's romantic fantasy of fairy who loves a human, strives to become human

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Manga creator Narumi Kakinouchi (Vampire Miyu, Ryoko's Case File) will launch a new series called Fairy Jewel (lefthand side in image) in the January issue of ASCII Media Works' digital magazine Dengeki Comic Japan on November 25. The romantic fantasy revolves around a fairy named Matama who loves a human. So, Matama aims to earn 100 points in the Fairy Exam to assume the human form.
Toshiki Hirano and Kakinouchi have been serializing a Vampire Miyu spinoff called Vampire Princess in another web manga site, Flex Comix, but that manga will end in the next installment. The anime studio AIC released four episodes of the Vampire Princess Miyu original animation video (OAV) from 1988 to 1989, and AnimEigo began releasing the anime in North America in 1995. Akita Shoten published five volumes of the New Vampire Miyu manga from 1992 to 1994 and released ten volumes of the separate Vampire Princess Miyu manga beginning in 1999. A Vampire Princess Miyu television remake of the OAV, directed by Hirano, aired in Japan from 1997 to 1998 and Tokyopop distributed the series in North America from 2001 to 2002.
Kakinouchi also illustrated Yoshiki Tanaka's Yakushiji Ryōko no Kaiki Jikenbo (Ryoko's Case File) novel series and manga adaptation, and the story inspired a television anime series in 2008.
The next issue of Dengeki Comic Japan will have a new manga series called Shibuya Hachikō-Mae -another side- by Tohru Fujisawa (GTO). ASCII Media Works launched the magazine last December, and it is viewable on smartphones, the Apple iPad and iPhone, and personal computers.

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Japan's Animation Blu-ray Disc Ranking: October 17-23

Hana-Saku Iroha, Yuruyuri, Gantz, Kamen Rider, Gokaiger, Astarotte's Toy in top 20

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Gantz: Perfect Answer, the second live-action film based on Hiroya Oku's Gantz manga, dropped from #1 to #5 in its second week. It sold 4,585 more copies for a total of 25,446 copies.
The OOO Den-O All-Rider Let's Go Kamen Rider Collectors Pack debuted at #6 with 4,039 copies. The standard edition sold 1,492 copies to land at #11.
The fourth volume of the live-action special-effects series Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger also debuted at #12 with 1,271 copies sold. The ninth volume of the Kamen Rider OOO television series sold 1,135 copies to appear at #14.

Rank	Last Week	Title	Weekly Copies	Total Copies	Release Date	Maker	Cover
2	-	Hana-Saku Iroha #3	7,043	7,043	October 19	Pony Canyon
3	-	Yuruyuri Vol. 2	6,255	6,255	October 19	Pony Canyon
7	-	Star Wars: The Clone Wars Third Season Complete Box	3,662	3,662	October 19	Warner Home Video
16	-	Astarotte's Toy! 5	1,034	1,034	October 19	Pony Canyon
18	6	Rapunzel DVD+Blu-ray Set	1,013	113,480	July 20	Walt Disney Studio Home Entertainment
-	-	The Irresponsible Captain Tylor BD-Box	719	719	October 19	VAP
-	-	Nightmare Before Christmas 3D Set	640	640	October 19	Walt Disney Studio Home Entertainment
-	7	Lion King Diamond Collection	547	3,834	October 8	Walt Disney Studio Home Entertainment
-	-	Rio - Rainbow Gate! #7	515	515	October 19	Pony Canyon
-	8	Lion King Blu-ray Trilogy Set	343	3,727	October 8	Walt Disney Studio Home Entertainment

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Super Dash & Go! Light Novel/Manga Mag Posted Online

Free online version available until November 18; print version debuts October 25

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The Japanese publisher Shueisha posted the first issue of the Super Dash & Go! light novel and manga magazine on the Nico Nico Seiga website on Friday. The magazine featuring light novel-based manga, manga-based light novels, and projects with anime and other media tie-ins is launching in print form on Tuesday. The free online version will be available until November 18.
Shueisha revealed in August that the editors of its Super Dash Bunko light novel imprint were launching a manga magazine this fall. The first issue includes Kaito Shibano's Ben-To another Ripper's night; Tatsuma Ejiri's Papa no Iu Koto o Kikinasai! -Sora-Iro no Hibiki- (Listen to Me, Girls. I Am Your Father! -Sky-Blue Echo-); Manga adaptations of the light novels Campione!, Nina to Usagi to Mahō no Sensha (Nina, the Rabbit, and the Magical Tank), Owa Rande!, and Rokka no Yūsha; and the original works Latin by Enaga Takasato and 1-gatsu no Pluviôse (Pluviôse in January) by Hoshikuzu 7-gō.
The main target audience of the new magazine are male readers from middle school to college. Some of the existing titles in the Super Dash imprint are Kurenai, Mayoi Neko Overrun!, Tatakau Shisho - The Book of Bantorra Tatakau Shisho - The Book of Bantorra, Dragon Crisis!, Ben-To, Yoku Wakaru Gendai Mahō, and Akikan! — all of which have been adaped into anime.

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Distant Star Manga's Sahara to Launch Itsuya-san Manga

My Girl creator also draws boys-love works as Sumomo Yumeka

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The December issue of Tokuma Shoten's Monthly Comic Zenon magazine is announcing on Tuesday that Mizu Sahara (The Voices of a Distant Star, The Place Promised in Our Early Days) will launch a new manga titled Itsuya-san in the next issue on November 25.
Sahara launched the Tetsugaku Letra manga in Shogakukan's Monthly Sunday magazine in April, her first series in a shōnen magazine. She is also publishing the second chapter in a three-part manga called Bus Hashiru -Sakuramachi Teiryūjo- in the next Monthly Comic Zenon issue.
Besides adapting the The Voices of a Distant Star anime into manga, Sahara also drew the Same Cell Organism and The Day I Become a Butterfly boys-love manga (both released by North America's Digital Manga Publishing) under the name Sumomo Yumeka. She drew My Girl, a manga about a man raising his former girlfriend's daughter, in Shinchosha's Weekly Comic Bunch magazine from 2006 to 2010. This manga inspired a live-action television series in 2009.

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Moyashimon Manga Holds Beauty Contest by Reader Vote

Winning character to be crowned Miss Agricultural University in story

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The 22nd issue of Kodansha's Evening magazine is announcing on Tuesday that Masayuki Ishikawa's Moyashimon manga is running a contest for readers to choose the next Miss Agricultural University in the manga. Readers will select one of six characters for the title by voting with a paper ballot included with the current issue of Evening. The seinen manga's website is also conducting a poll to determine which character readers believe will win the contest for the story.
The candidates are Aoi Mutō, Chisa Nakayama, Kosaka, Hazuki Oikawa, Kei Yūki, and Nishino. Evening readers can vote for one of these Moyashimon characters until November 8.
Moyashimon follows the story of Tadayasu Sawaki, an agricultural university student, who has the ability to see and communicate with micro-organisms. The comedy manga began serializing in Evening in 2004 and received an anime adaptation in 2007. Ishikawa's manga also inspired a live-action television drama in 2010.
The tenth compiled volume of Moyashimon was one of the top-selling manga in Japan in the first half of 2011.

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Neo Angelique's Kajiyama Starts New Manga in Asuka Mag

Romantic comedy manga about older sister and younger brother who switch places

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The December issue of Kadokawa Shoten's Monthly Asuka magazine began serialization on a new manga from Neo Angelique's Mika Kajiyama on Monday. The new romantic comedy manga, titled Ore to Atashi no Kareshi-sama, is about an older sister and a younger brother who suddenly switch places.
Mika Kajiyama and Kairi Yura drew the Neo Angelique manga (pictured at right) from 2006 to 2008. That manga adapted one of the newest titles from KOEI's Neo Romance line of romance simulation games for female players. Shin Katagai and Yumeta Company animated two seasons of the story on television under the title Neo Angelique Abyss and Neo Angelique Abyss -Second Age- in 2008. JManga released the first volume of the Neo Angelique manga series digitally in English in August.
Kajiyama also drew the four-volume series Ayahatori Shōkanjō between 2009-2011.
The same issue of Monthly Asuka is bundling an Ore to Atashi no Kareshi-sama postcard. It is also bundling an illustration card set for Hotaru Odagiri's The Betrayal Knows My Name manga, and a drama CD for Shiori Murata and Majiko!'s Tōhō Yōyūki manga.

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Sentai Filmworks Licenses Mashiro-Iro Symphony Anime

Anime of Palette's romance adventure game to be released on subtitled DVD in 2012

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Sentai Filmworks confirmed on Monday that it has licensed the Mashiro-Iro Symphony - The color of lovers television anime series. Sentai Filmworks noted the series will be available digitally "soon," and it will release the series on subtitled DVD in 2012.

The story of the original Mashiro-Iro Symphony romance adventure game centers around a boy named Shingo Uryū who goes to an academy — that is merging with a prestigious girl's school in the same town. Shingo is among the boys selected to attend the girl's school in a temporary integration trial before the schools' actual merger.

Eiji Suganuma (Kodomo no Jikan, Sasameki Koto) is directing the series at the studio Manglobe. Toshie Kawamura (The World God Only Knows, Futari wa Pretty Cure Max Heart) is handling the character design and is the series' chief animation director. The anime premiered in Japan on October 4.

Palette and character designer Tsubasu Izumi (Akane-Iro ni Somaru Saka) released the original game for Microsoft Windows in 2009, and Comfort ported it to the Sony PSP portable console under the name Mashiro-Iro Symphony *mutsu-no-hana in June.

Crunchyroll is currently simulcasting the series in the United States and Canada. Crunchyroll had listed the series on its page for Sentai Filmworks when it announced the simulcast on Friday.

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Ookiku Furikabutte/Big Windup Manga Returns After 11-Month Hiatus

Baseball manga creator Asa Higuchi had taken hiatus to "recharge" for her health

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The December issue of Kodansha's Monthly Afternoon magazine revealed on Tuesday that it will resume Asa Higuchi's Ookiku Furikabutte (Big Windup!) baseball manga in the magazine's January issue, which will go on sale on November 25. The magazine also revealed that the manga's 18th volume will go on sale on November 22.
The magazine revealed that Higuchi would take a long hiatus last December. At that time the magazine's editors said that Higuchi was taking a break "for her health and to recharge." Higuchi also noted then that the manga would resume its serialization around November.
The manga has been running in Monthly Afternoon since September of 2003, and the 17th volume (pictured at right) shipped in September. The manga has 10 million copies in print. The story inspired two television anime seasons, and Funimation released part of the anime in North America.

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Trigger, Gurren Lagann's Shibata, Sushio Make Idolm@ster #17

1st episode subcontracting gig of Hiroyuki Imaishi's new anime studio Trigger

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Trigger, the anime studio co-founded by Hiroyuki Imaishi (Dead Leaves, Gurren Lagann, Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt), announced on Monday that it was subcontracted to produce episode 17 of The IDOLM@STER television anime series. Yuka Shibata (Kimi ni Todoke, Gurren Lagann) is storyboarding and directing the episode, while Sushio (Gurren Lagann, Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt) is overseeing the animation process.
Trigger had already worked on the in-episode preview part of The IDOLM@STER episode 15, but episode 17 will be the first subcontracting gig on a full episode for the new studio. Episode 17 will air on Thursday, and Trigger's website notes that Shibata and Sushio have been foregoing sleep and food as they strive hard on this episode.
Imaishi, animator Masahiko Ohtsuka (FLCL, Gurren Lagann, Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt), and Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt producer Kazuya Masumoto had just revealed this month that they founded Trigger.

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