Rozen Maiden rises from the grave
Recall how various issues led to Rozen Maiden being abruptly wrapped up after eight volumes with the worst concluding chapter ever? Well, for those who kept the torch burning, their patience has been rewarded- come April 17^th, the manga will be resuming in Young Jump.
Entertainment correspondent Aria: Punyu. [Over here at Azure Flame, we once cared a lot about Rozen Maiden, but we steadily became disillusioned with it. Even so, enough vestiges of curiosity remain for us to want to pursue the manga continuation- once we read volumes five to eight.]

New Someday’s Dreamers
This summer, a new Someday’s Dreamers anime will be hitting our screens- Someday’s Dreamers ~Natsu no Sora~. Based on a new manga series that began serialisation in February, Natsu no Sora takes place in the same universe as the original series and its manga spin-off Spellbound, but this time around it focuses on new character Sora as she heads off to complete her mage internship.
Entertainment correspondent Aria: Punyu! [I was hoping Spellbound would get animated, but the first chapter of this manga was very good, so the anime is a must-see.]

Noramimi, Kodomo no Jikan get second seasons
Well, the title says it all, really- both Noramimi and Kodomo no Jikan have had second seasons greenlit for production. In the case of KnJ, a limited edition version of the fifth manga volume will include a preview DVD of the new season.
Entertainment correspondent Aria: Punyu. [Nothing much to say; I didn’t watch either of these series.]

Rocket Girls, Kiba licensed
Whilst Bandai have picked up Stratos 4’s spiritual successor Rocket Girls, ADV has chosen to license all 51 episodes of Kiba. So far, there has been no release date information for either series, whilst ADV has also failed to comment on the status of one of their other recently licensed series- Guren Lagann.
Licensing correspondent The Admiral: Kiba might appeal to some, but we only lasted six episodes before putting it aside. Rocket Girls is unlikely to command a huge fanbase, but there’s bound to be a small but dedicated group of people who want to get their hands on it. Of course, unless it has a fat cat it can’t be as worthy as my series.

Delays from Bandai Visual
Having promised to release them at an unprecedented rate, Bandai Visual has now announced that the release of Shigofumi and true tears (along with sola from last year) is to be delayed until after the summer. The company has also announced that they are planning to concentrate on expanding their Blu-ray catalogue.
Licensing correspondent The Admiral: It’s quite ironic that a company who plans to release 1-2 episodes per disc wants to use a high storage capacity format like Blu-ray.

Just so I can laugh some more…4Kids gets Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D
English-speaking viewers, do not despair- for Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D will be coming to you by way of 4Kids this autumn! Personally, of course, I don’t much care, but I just wanted an excuse to laugh a bit more- duelling motorcycles? Going out for a ride and then playing cards on the highway? Does it get any more ridiculous than this?
Licensing correspondent The Admiral: No comment.

Maria-sama ga Miteru licensed (no question mark this time)
Following speculation here and there, Maria-sama ga Miteru’s three seasons (two TV series and one OVA) have been licensed by Right Stuf. Each season will be released in a boxset complete with its corresponding DVD specials, with the first season due out in July for $49.99.
Entertainment correspondent Aria: Punyu. [This will please the devout fans of the series, but even though we liked the two TV series, we were turned off the whole franchise by the dull OVA. Even so, we will be watching season four.]

Clannad 24 to be DVD only
Clannad fans, your waiting time has been extended, for episode 24 is to be the latest of many DVD-only instalments, and won’t be hitting shelves until this July. In the meantime, episode 22 will be the official series ending, with episode 23 being billed as a summer special. Clear as mud, eh?
Financial correspondent Mr Tibbs: These sorts of DVD-only episodes may frustrate the fanbase, but it also makes them keen to lap up the new content when it comes. Then again, those who are less enthused about the series tend to just forget about it and not bother seeing the series through.

Slayers gets a new TV series
Slayers fans, rejoice- a fourth season has finally been confirmed. With an anime-original storyline, this new series will be aired across two separate thirteen-episode seasons, although no further details are known at this time.
Entertainment correspondent Aria: Punyu! [At last, something everyone here is looking forward to- bring it on!]

ADV titles back on track?
As you may or may not recall, a couple of months ago, ADV removed various titles from its website, leading to speculation that it was either dropping them or going under completely a la Geneon. As it turns out, the problem seems to arise from one of their investors and licensing partners, and fortunately, many of the series in question are back on track for release. The hope is that all titles can eventually be restored.
Licensing correspondent The Admiral: Hiccups this these can occur between any two companies, but hopefully here the consumers won’t miss out on their DVDs.

Macross Frontier cream puffs
In our continuing coverage of anime-related food, we could not resist reporting that Japan’s am/pm stores are to start selling Macross Frontier themed cream puffs at the end of March. The cream puffs will come in both “Lanka” (green tea) and “Sheryl” (custard) flavours.
Social correspondent The Cardinal: Mmm…tasty.

Nippon Ichi opts for DS remakes
As reported over at moetron, Nippon Ichi will be remaking three of their titles for DS- the first Disgaea game (already remade for PSP), puzzler Jigsaw World and early SRPG title Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure. The playing experience in Disgaea will once again be updated to incorporate the stylus and dual screen, whilst Jigsaw World will be gaining battle elements. Further details will be revealed as they become available.
Gaming correspondent Mikoto: I’m interested to see if NIS can improve on Rhapsody as the original was a bit lacking after a few hours’ play, but I wish they weren’t so hung up on repackaging Disgaea again and again.

More editing for Shigofumi
Shigofumi fans will recall that a few weeks ago, episode three suffered from rather abrupt editing “in light of recent events in Japan”; now, episode eight is also to be edited for the same reasons.
Social correspondent The Cardinal: An edited episode is better than a Nice Boat, but if this goes the same way as episode three, last minute excision of footage could really hurt the story. I suggest a Nice Cat episode instead.

Viz picks up Solanin
Regular readers will recall that I recently reviewed the Solanin manga, and if that made you want to own it for yourself, then you’ll be pleased to learn that Viz will be releasing it this autumn. Also set to hit shelves later in the year are Bokura ga Ita (to be released under the translated name We Were There), Captive Hearts, Blank Slate and NORA.
Licensing correspondent The Admiral: As the only one we’ve read here at Azure Flame, Solanin is the title we’re looking at, and it will certainly be a perfect choice for anyone who’s already planning to pick up Honey and Clover from Viz. Also, at only two volumes, it’s not going to break the bank.

Absolute Boyfriend live-action
Only two of Yuu Watase’s works received an anime adaptation, but if you’re desperate for more shoujo escapism then look no further than the upcoming live-action adaptation of Absolute Boyfriend. Starting in April, the series tells the tale of a young office lady who ends up receiving the ultimate boyfriend in the form of a “lover robot”.
Entertainment correspondent Aria: Punyu? [Who needs the perfect man when you can have me?]

Go 5D with Yu-Gi-Oh!
You might think that even those whose every waking hour is preoccupied with card games would have had their fill of Yu-Gi-Oh by now, but it seems that Konami have come to believe otherwise. To that end, a new anime series entitled Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D will be starting this April, featuring a brand new hero and his red motorcycle as they participate in a new stadium battle game that all the kids will love. Tune in this spring to see just how hilariously awful it can get.
Entertainment correspondent Aria: Punyu. [It seems that the real life Yu-Gi-Oh is actually getting more ridiculous than its parody rip-off Dicemasters.]

Goodbye, HD-DVD
With the news that Toshiba, the main backer of HD-DVD, is no longer going to be manufacturing players and recorders of the new format, the next-generation format war has come to an abrupt end. Blu-ray now emerges as the victor, but with DVD still going strong and legal online downloads coming into their own, it can hardly be said to be a decisive blow for the future.
Financial correspondent Mr Tibbs: I always had a feeling that Blu-ray would win out, but that doesn’t mean I support it- as we’ve said here before, trying to cram a new format into a marketplace that isn’t ready or willing to adopt it just yet is hardly going to lead to massive sales.

Ikkitousen season three
In some quarters, one season seemed like more than enough, but for those of you out there who need more scantily clad girls stripping each other in the heat of battle, a third season of Ikkitousen will be coming your way. This time around, the series will throw the manga out of the window entirely to focus on an original story.
Entertainment correspondent Aria: Punyu. [Story is a relative term when referring to Ikkitousen, since we all know it doesn’t really have any.]

FUNimation snags Claymore
In case you couldn’t guess from the article title, FUNimation has licensed Claymore, Madhouse’s 26 episode adaptation of Norihiro Yagi’s manga. A trailer has been posted on their website, but no release details are available as yet.
Licensing correspondent The Admiral: The Claymore anime wasn’t good enough for me to roll over and watch past episode eleven, but since a lot of people like it, it should be a sound enough license.

Media Blasters takes Night Head Genesis
Over at AnimeonDVD, Media Blasters have indicated that they hold the license for Night Head Genesis, the 2006 24-episode series about a pair of brothers with psychic abilities. No further details are known as yet.
Licensing correspondent The Admiral: Again, I couldn’t get very far with this series, and I see it falling under the radar of most people- then again, Media Blasters will probably give it a sub-only budget release that will keep the hardcore fans happy.

Hello Kitty: the MMORPG?
In the competitive world of online gaming experiences most turn to the likes of World of Warcraft but now a new option is on the horizon- a Hello Kitty MMORPG. With participants having been selected for a closed beta test this week, it seems likely that the chance to step into Kitty’s world and enjoy the pink cuteness overload will not be too far off.
Computing correspondent Mikoto: We did try to sign up for the beta, but by the time we got the news they already had enough participants. Ultimately, though, we decided it was for the best, as the cloying cuteness could have well had an adverse effect on our internet connection, plus the embarrassment of playing such a game would be too intense even for cats of our bulk.

Shaman King: the real ending
Come 2009, the Shaman King manga is to be reprinted, and this time around, it will have the ‘proper ending’. On its original run, the Shaman King manga was cancelled rather abruptly mere chapters before its planned end, leaving fans to bemoan its lack of a proper conclusion. Those who have been patient are to be rewarded, however, with the 30+ volumes now to be re-released in two-volume omnibus editions until the improved conclusion is reached.
Entertainment correspondent Aria: Punyu! [I gave up on Shaman King a while ago, but at least the series is going to get a proper ending, unlike so many others.]

FUNimation to rescue Geneon’s catalogue?
According to reports from parent company Navarre, FUNimation are negotiating for the rights to some of Geneon’s catalogue of DVD licenses, which could result in certain series being rescued from limbo. It must be stressed, however, that such negotiations are in an early stage, and it is by no means clear what titles FUNimation will be picking up, if indeed they manage to get any.
Financial correspondent Mr Tibbs: I believe there is much profit to be had from gaining Geneon’s library, not just because fans are chomping at the bit for incomplete series, but because FUNimation can put out cheap boxsets for series that only had a more costly release by Geneon. Even so, the fact that they are only looking at part of the library doesn’t give me much hope for the future of obscure classics like Master Keaton.

New distributor for ADV Europe
Instead of running things from its own offices, ADV will now be distributing its UK and European releases via third party Lace Digital Media Sales (the catalogue of upcoming releases can be seen here).
Financial correspondent Mr Tibbs: This will keep the flow of DVDs to the fans uninterrupted, but the people who actually worked for ADV UK are still going to find themselves out of a job.

ADV turning Blu?
With the death of Geneon leaving everyone paranoid, further unwelcome news has come with the news that ADV are working through some “short term challenges” which led to certain titles being removed from their site. In the aftermath of these events, ADV seem to have deflected queries by claiming that they are preparing to embrace Blu-ray for their anime releases, but exactly what we’ll be getting from them in the future and in what format remains unclear.
Financial correspondent Mr Tibbs: Anime licensing companies are going to have tread carefully in the near future, because as we saw with Geneon, the wrong business decisions can be costly. Fansubs will always be cited as a problem, but equally damaging is the fact that fans are no longer willing to fork out on single DVDs when they can save cash and shelf space with boxsets- watching four episodes every two months or so not only damages the momentum of a series, but is hardly preferable if you’ve already seen that series via fansub.

As for the move to Blu-ray, once again care must be taken- the gap between DVD and hi-def formats isn’t as great as the DVD/VHS divide and so far only those with plenty of disposable income are going to want to invest in the newest toys. PS3 owners will make an attractive market, but most people are still content with DVD.
Claude says: In my time, we can fit hundreds of episodes on a single mini data drive.

Shigofumi, true tears licensed
Bandai Visual have so far made a name for themselves with their highly priced and content-poor releases and now two more titles have been picked up by them just weeks after they started airing in Japan- Shigofumi and true tears. Unfortunately, the plan is to spread these short 12-13 episode series across seven DVDs in a mirror of the Japanese releases, with each DVD retailing at either $29.99 (1 episode discs) or $39.99 (2 episode discs). The DVDs are to start being released in May, and will not contain an English dub.
Claude says: Hmm, I’d have to fight a lot of monsters to save up for those discs- I think I’ll spend my money on health-restoring items instead.

Hunter X Hunter to resume serialisation…again
The March 3^rd issue of Shounen Jump will apparently see the Hunter X Hunter manga resume serialisation once again, with the 25^th collected volume of the manga set to be released on the next day. There is no news on how long the manga will run before another hiatus.
Claude says: In my time, the HxH manga still hasn’t ended…

Manga ending serialisation
Several manga have recently ended or are coming to an end over the coming weeks; the titles in question include Blue Drop ~Tenshi no Bokura~, Wild Life, Sola, Towards the Terra ~Aoki Kōbō no Kiss~ and Ai Kora. For more information, see here.
Claude says: I don’t really have time for reading manga, busy as I am saving the world.

Star Ocean: First Departure
For those keeping abreast of the RPG world, the chance to watch some recently uploaded videos of the PSP remake of the original Star Ocean should not pass unnoticed. Although it’s difficult to really gauge game play from these short videos, the game has certainly had a graphical overhaul, with the addition of voice acting and animated cut scenes polishing it up further.
Claude says: Just wait until the remake of my game is ready!

D.N.Angel finally continuing
After over two years of hiatus, D.N.Angel is finally set to return in the next issue of Asuka magazine. The original run of the manga started in 1997, but after eleven volumes were released, it went on hiatus in 2005 whilst the mangaka concentrated on her other series Lagoon Engine and Lagoon Engine Einsatz. Finally, however, fans of the series can prepare to see what happens next.
Dark says: Yes- this is my time to shine once again!

Cats prepare to take over anime
Cats have already taken a firm grip on the world of anime and manga, but they are about to move to the next level with the upcoming anime adaptation of Chi’s Sweet Home, a manga about the life of kitten Chi. The anime, which promises to be saturated with cuteness not seen since the days of Hello Kitty, is set to premier this spring, whilst a 1/1 scale plushie of Chi can be seen here.
Dark says: If you want that plushie, I’ll steal it for you.

High-tech crime force takes action
Thanks to the effort of Kyoto’s “High-tech crime force”, three Japanese men have been arrested for uploading anime to Winny. Whilst the first two stand accused of uploading episodes of Xenoglossia and Gundam 00, the third man has confessed to creating a virus which was uploaded with still images from Clannad.
Dark says: Hah, I wouldn’t be foolish enough to get caught- but then I’m more into the artefact-stealing scene.

Manga Taisho
Twelve titles have been nominated for the first ever Manga Taisho awards- Umimachi Diary, Ohoku, Gaku, Kino Nani Tabeta, Kimi ni Todoke, Imperial Guards, Tomehane! Suzuri Kōkō Shodōbu, Natsume Yūjin-Chō, Himawari (not to be confused with the anime series of the same name), Flower of Life, Moyashimon and Yotsuba&. Of these titles, only three can walk away with an award in a ceremony to be held at the end of March- stay tuned for details on the results.
Dark says: Unfortunately my manga was too long to be eligible and didn’t have any volumes published last year, or we would have surely scooped the awards.

He’s a Bug Master…
The Mushishi live-action film (also known as Bug Master in some countries) is finally set to come to the UK on DVD. Set for release on March 3^rd, the DVD will retail at £15.99
Dark says: Bug Master? That’s almost as stupid a name as Krad.

Viz announcements
Release dates for various new manga from Viz have started appearing on retailers’ websites, with Honey and Clover, Black Lagoon, Harukanaru Toki no Naka De, Rosario+Vampire the Death note novel being just some of the titles set to appear (a more complete list can be found here).

Meanwhile, on the anime front, it appears that the company have the DVD rights for both the Monster and Hunter X Hunter anime series, both of which will be presented alongside other Viz titles for TV broadcasters to potentially pick up and air.
Dark says: Who needs those other series when you have me?

Black Blood Brothers can be yours
FUNimation are offering the entirety of Black Blood Brothers for digital download on their website at a cost of $1.99 per episode; each episode contains the original Japanese audio with English subtitles, and can only be downloaded by those with an American IP address. This marks only the second time a complete anime series has been legally available to download prior to its DVD release (the first, of course, being Death Note).
Dark says: Those vampires shall never be as good-looking as me!

The end of a manga era
After seven volumes of the main story and two further collected volumes of side stories, the Emma manga is finally coming to an end. Also concluding in the near future is the Karin manga, better known as Chibi Vampire to Tokyopop readers.
Najimi says: How much money did those mangaka make? I wonder if I should read them to get some tips for my next doujin.

Nice Boat Legacy Part 500
Ever since the whole ‘nice boat’ fiasco, we at Azure Flame have been keeping an eye on broadcast changes and the like, and must therefore report that the recently aired Shigofumi episode 3 was changed on short notice due to unspecific recent circumstances. The exact details of what was altered seem unclear, and it remains to be seen what the DVD version of the episode will offer.
Najimi says: In some ways, censorship is good, because I can just scribbles instead of actual details in some of my more…adult…work.

Harukanaru Toki no Naka De: Akane and the Hachiyou get a disc each
Although it can hardly be said to be the best of anime series, Neoromance game adaptation Harukanaru Toki no Naka De: ~Hachiyou Shou~ has been licensed by Bandai Visual, who plan to release the 26 episodes across a record-breaking nine DVDs. With each disc retailing at $29.99, it seems unlikely that anyone other than dedicated fans will be picking this one up.
Najimi says: How come that girl Akane gets so many guys?

Forget Doujin Work, it’s time for the pros
With Doujin Work coming to an end in February, creator Hiroyuki is planning to move onto his next work- Mangaka-san to Assistant-san to. This time around, the 4-koma series will focus on a professional manga artist and her assistant.
Najimi says: Who is this usurper? I’m not ready to bow out yet, damn it!

Aria-sama ga Miteru

Sadly, much as I would like the above picture to be true, the fourth season of Maria-sama ga Miteru will not be about Akari et al; however, it has been confirmed for a television broadcast. In the meantime, a virtual Rose Mansion is to be made available in Second Life, whilst the ubiquitous Pizza Hut have started to use special MariMite pizza boxes. Is there no end to their bid for anime domination?
Najimi says: Maybe I should switch to drawing HARD YURI.

Anyway, joining us in the newsroom this week is the tiny artist Issun, as seen in Okami.

Take your PiQ
ADV’s Newtype was reported to have ceased publication this week, but just as read cried into their peach juice about the loss of its shininess, it was announced that the magazine would be replaced with a new one entitled PiQ, with subscribers set to receive two free copies for each copy of Newtype their current subscription entitled them to. Or, to put in short, one magazine is being replaced with another, whose content and quality won’t be known until release.
Issun says: My art is far better quality than these magazines!

Bandai product recall
Bandai have always been infamous for having temperamental DVDs creep up with alarming regularity, but this time around errors on copies of new releases Gundam Seed Destiny #12, Eureka 7 #1, Flag #2 and Mai-Otome #4 have forced a product recall. Replacement stock is to be sent out to all stores, but for those who have already purchased the discs, and exchange program will be made available on Bandai’s website.
Issun says: This new-fangled technology sounds problematic- when paintings have errors, we call them ‘special features’.

Code Geass R2
It seems fashionable these days to append an ‘R2’ to the end of anything that’s entering its second iteration, and indeed, this April Code Geass will be entering its second season. For those who cannot wait, however, the show website has been updated with new character and mech info for the second season, whilst some 3800 lucky people in Japan will get to see a preview screening of the second season around a month before it airs. A whole month- oh my!
Issun says: If I could just master those celestial brush techniques, I’d be a match for any mech.

New manga licenses
A couple of new manga licenses to report this week- Seven Seas will be releasing Inukami, whilst Del Rey have decided to complement Genshiken with some Kujibiki Unbalance.
Issun says: That dog-girl looks hot!

Emma DVD release
Having been brought forward from December 2012, the first season of the Victorian Romance Emma anime has now been given a release date of June 2008- series fans, get your orders in now.
Issun says: That maid girl can’t hide it- she’s one tasty babe!

Viz halts releases
The single DVD releases of MÄR and Hikaru no Go have both been interrupted mid-run, with indications that Viz are planning to switch to box set releases for both series. Whilst this won’t sit well with people who have gone ahead and bought the singles, box sets do seem the natural choice for series of their length.
Issun: I wonder if I can get a job painting cover artwork…

Go Retro with Lone Wolf and Cub
If you’re feeling the ache for the old days, you’ll soon be able to satiate those urges with Media Blasters latest license- the 79 episode live action Lone Wolf and Cub TV series from 1973-6. Based on the long-running manga of the same name, the series follows the adventures of a samurai who travels Japan with his son seeking vengeance for the murder of his wife- and given the amount of times it has been referenced in other series, there can be few people who haven’t heard of it.Saber: An honourable quest indeed, and one I must study.
Rin: Are you kidding? Is there a market for 79 whole episodes of this?

Are you struggling with unwanted debts? Then Manga Thieves Inc. can help you!
People are well known for getting desperate when their debts start piling up, but one unemployed 23 year old man in Japan took a rather unique approach when he decided to raise cash by stealing manga and reselling it to used bookstores. After managing to take 50 manga volumes from a store, the suspect returned to pick up 51 more, bringing his total to 60,000 yen worth of stolen goods- but unfortunately the return trip brought him to the attention of one of the employees at the local bicycle store, and his grand plans were brought to an end.
Saber: How dishonourable- one must work for a living.
Rin: Not that I agree with theft, but couldn’t he thought of something more valuable to steal? Anyway, my local second-hand bookstore would only give credit for those books, so you wouldn’t even get cash.

L change the world- how’s that for Engrish?
The Death Note franchise continues to grind onwards with the release of a trailer for the new L spin-off movie (trailer can be found on the official site). Whilst the movie itself is set to open in Japan on February 9^th, this trailer marks the first actual footage from it to be made available to the public.
Rin: Let’s see who can get more spin-offs- Death Note or Fate/Stay Night.

FateWarriors? No, it’s Fate/Unlimited Codes!
Ever wanted unlimited cheat codes for your favourite games? Sadly, we can’t provide that, but we can point to a new arcade fighter based on Fate/Stay Night, set to debut in the New Year. Produced by Capcom and developed by 8ing (who are no stranger to creating beat-‘em-ups based on popular anime franchises), the game will hopefully let you beat up Shirou in all manner of ways, just as he has always deserved. More information can be found here.
Saber: I shall use my sword to protect Shirou from your evil plans.
Rin: The gem is mightier than the sword.

Doujin Work to hit the US?
Alongside the second season of flagship franchise Genshiken and its spin-off Kujibiki Unbalance, Media Blasters has claimed that it will be dubbing “Doujin Works”, although they refuse to confirm or deny whether this means they have the license to the 2007 Doujin Work anime. That being said, it seems hard to imagine what else they could be referring to, and so it seems that this series may well be hitting the US at some point in the future.
Nobue: Well, duh, what other series could they mean?
Matsuri: You know, we shouldn’t assume anything until they confirm it.
Chika: Meh, they’re just building up anticipation.
Miu: FUNGYAAH!!!

Lucky Star licensed- what a surprise
Kadokawa and Bandai have allied once again to bring fanboys what they want- a dose of KyoAni’s twenty-four episode comedy series, Lucky Star. A series that divided anime viewers between the factions who found it either dull or hilarious, Lucky Star managed to inspire discussions that were at least more exciting than the rather inoffensive series itself, and now you can own it for yourself- that is, if you want to.
Nobue: We already did the girls do random stuff comedy so much better.
Matsuri: Shouldn’t we give this a chance?
Nobue: No way- besides those girls aren’t as cute as you.
Miu: They’re not meant to be- they’re older than you, Nobue.
Nobue: Shut up- they look underage.

Persona 3 anime
As if there weren’t enough inferior RPG adaptations flooding the market, Persona 3 will become the latest game to get its own anime come January 2008. Whilst I am planning to get the game at some point on manga’s recommendation, I can’t say I’m particularly enthused about this series, although apparently it will be a sequel rather than a retelling of the game story.
Nobue: Hey Miu, let’s play some Persona 3.
Miu: Yay, is it a beat-‘em-up?
Nobue: You are hopeless.

Honey and Clover gets dramatic
It’s had an anime and a live-action movie, but now Honey and Clover will also be receiving a drama series. Starring 15 year old Riko Narumi as Hagu and 23 year old Toma Ikuta as Takemoto, the series will begin in January.
Ana: I don’t really understand the point of live action adaptations.
Chika: Actually, they can be good.
Nobue: But real girls will never be as cute as you!
Miu: You’re including me in that, right?
Nobue: No.

More live action from Viz
Viz continues its live-action licensing with a few more movies- Honey and Clover, Lovely Complex and both Nana movies. All movies will have limited screenings either theatrically or at the New York Anime Festival before being released on DVD in early 2008.
Nobue: Yawn- next item please.

Mai-Otome S.ifr website
I know what big Otome fans readers of this blog tend to be, and so I’m sure you’ll all be delighted to learn that the website for the latest OVA is open for business, complete with story and character information.
Nobue: Do you want to pretend to be an Otome, Matsuri, and I’ll kiss you to confirm the contract?
Matsuri: Um, er…
Miu: Kiss me! Kiss me!