The Harry Potter news site HPANA (Harry Potter Automatic News Aggregator), though it’s not so automatic anymore has posted its own little April Fools prank courtesy of Peeves (the mischievous poltergeist from the books, if you didn’t know).

Interesting choice: they’re suggesting that a Harry Potter anime featuring designs by Akira Toriyama will be made and aired on ABC Family to start in 2012.

Now, there are things I would change. First off, why Akira Toriyama when mangaka Koge Donbo (of Di Gi Charat/Pita Ten fame) has actual Harry Potter fanart on a website, including character illustrations? (Yes, it’s legit; I assume some non-anime-fans who like HP haven’t seen them yet.) Also…to air in 2012? Who would announce an anime not due to hit TVs for FOUR YEARS?

That said, I can kinda imagine Toriyama doing art for Harry Potter and it makes me gag.

About goddamn time! MangaCast spotted some new VIZ licenses on Amazon.com, including the fantastically badass smuggler dramedy Black Lagoon, as well as another work by Vampire Knight’s Matsuri Hino called WANTED, two Arina Tanemura manga– Time Stranger Kyoko and one called Kanshaku Tamano Yuuutsu (no relation to Haruhi; “Short-Tempered Melancholy”) and the manga of Rosario to Vampire. Oh, and another Akira Toriyama work: Cowa!

Also licensed: Ayumi Komura’s Mixed Vegetables, Hisaya Nakajo’s Sugar Princess, and Youzabara Kanari and Kuroko Yabuguchi’s Gimmick!. MangaCast also has covers for previously-announced (I think) titles Cat Eyed Boy, One Pound Gospel, and of course, Slam Dunk.