No, seriously, look: first, there were those Mangaka Association awards I posted about before. Then…

- The 32nd Kodansha Manga Awards, with Moyashimon taking the top prize (best general manga), among other familiar names (Shugo Chara! Woot!)

- The 12th Annual Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize, with ¥2 million going to…Moyashimon! Hmm. I’m detecting a pattern here.

Right then, moving on to the rest of the news…

Anime:
- The sequel to MS Gundam IGLOO will be an OVA, says Moon Phase. Shown above.

- This is only barely anime-related anymore, but 4kids isn’t doing too well and I thought you should know. And yeah, I know a couple of you are snickering in the back row there.

- Anime on DVD thinks it knows FUNimation’s next licensing announcement. I’m convinced!

Movies:
- TokyoGraph is on a roll; they’ve confirmed a sequel film to the manga-to-live-action-movie Crows Zero. The sequel will be directed by the original’s helmer Takashi Miike, and Shun Oguri returns as the lead, Genji Takaya.

- TG also reports that Jin Akanishi, a member of the popular boy band KAT-TUN, is taking on his first voice acting role…as Speed in the Japanese dub of the new Speed Racer flick. Hmm.

Conventions:
- Girls rule, boys drool! Alafista reports that women outnumber men at the enormous Comiket doujinshi events, 57% to 43%. There are a lot of other interesting tidbits of info in the article, such as the fact that 71% of the doujinshika are women, and the average attendee is 2-3 years younger than the average circle member.

- FanimeCon is not only running a charity auction this year, they’ll also match all donations. Sweet!

So, Anime Central is this coming weekend, and the live programming schedule is up, so I now have a list of companies whose panels I’ll be attending (I’m so excited! They’re all on Saturday and they’re all in the same room. And there’s even a lunch break between them! Go ACEN schedulers!):

- Yaoi Press
- Bandai Entertainment
- FUNimation (coincidentally, Host Club panel– I assume fan panel –at the same time?)
- ADV (!)
- VIZ Media

Yes, ADV will actually be running a panel, if this schedule is correct. That should be interesting to sit in on. And no, don’t tell me to ask questions like, “how the hell did you f!@# up Gurren Lagann?” I don’t want to bully them, and if they’re willing and able to tell us they probably will. And someone else will probably ask it anyway.

FUNimation is continuing their week-long license announcement spree: I just got a press release announcing that they’ve picked up the action comedy KenIchi: The Mightiest Disciple (known to fansub fans as History’s Strongest Disciple Kenichi). Here’s their blurb:

Not every wimp gets a chance to change his fortunes. But Kenichi just might. The guy is a walking “kick me” sign. He’s weakest among the weak and the bullies stalking his school remind him every chance they get.

With nobody on his side and zero self-confidence, Kenichi looks destined to bounce from fist to fist until graduation. Until he meets her.

There’s something about Miu. She’s kind, she’s pretty… and she’s an incredible fighter who lives in a dojo with six powerful masters of the Martial Arts – a group of experts skilled in the ancient disciplines of hand to hand combat.

These elite warriors have dedicated their bodies and minds to the endless pursuit of perfect technique.

Now, Kenichi will be their student.

He will have to do more than just toughen up. Kenichi must become the mightiest disciple and learn to stand strong for the powerless… if the training of his six new masters doesn’t kill him first.

The series is due out in 2009. Hey, FUNi? Where’s my Host Club?

Remember how we were talking about how FUNimation was going to announce some new licenses before Anime Central this year? Well, it looks like it may be true; Active Anime has the press release for a new FUNi license: Save Me! Lollipop (Japanese name Mamotte! Lollipop). I never watched it, so here’s their provided plot summary:

Nina was just another girl who dreamed of finding a prince to defend her honor and protect her from harm. Little did she know, two such boys would fall from the sky! Zero and Ichii are sorcerers from another world taking part in a test. The only way to pass the curious quiz? Find the coveted Crystal Pearl.

It’s going to be tough - other examiness[sic] seek the jewel as well, and some will stop at nothing to capture the prize. Oh, and Nina ate the Crystal Pearl after mistaking it for a piece of candy! Ichii and Zero vow to protect her until the coveted bauble can be reclaimned[sic].

Apparently they sent out this press release with a Whirly Pop lollipop via UPS (ooh, will have to check my UPS box). The typos in the above description may have appeared as some journalist hurriedly typed up the release that came in the mail, I suspect.

The Anime District has word that FUNimation is going to be rolling out some new licenses– one a day up until Anime Central. Which is a little funny since that seems like they may not be announcing any *at* Anime Central, or maybe just one. But on the other hand, *most* of their fans won’t be attending ACen, and this way the ones who do attend have time to come up with all their questions and whatnot, so maybe it’s a more fan-oriented (and slightly less press-oriented) announcement plan?

I should say that I’m not too familiar with Anime District, haven’t heard this anywhere else, and haven’t received any press releases myself. And I can’t find anything on FUNimation’s website…although it’s so infected with Flash that it can be hard to look for long.

But yeah, so…speculate on whether this is true, or speculate on what licenses FUNi may have up its sleeve. Whatever makes you happy!

Yes, yes, roundup-tastic– I’m back working on more database stuff for the new site, so a bit less time for the lengthy posts (though there’s always time for more CPM/Libre speculation!).

Anime:
- Man, we do a Spoiler-san for Haruhi on Japanator, and suddenly the Haruhi news just keeps popping up. First the Wii game, and now Canned Dogs reports that details on The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya, aka Haruhi Second Season, are due in the July issue of Newtype. Huzzah!

- A video for the Mashura remake is up.

- This one’s a day or two old now, but I sucked at getting it up (Golden Week makes me lazy!): Zune is going to carry some FUNimation titles, including Afro Samurai and Witchblade.

- Meanwhile, Bandai Visual USA plans to stream Super Robot Wars and Galaxy Angel Rune– just the first episodes –within the next few weeks.

- The Higurashi no Naku Koro ni third season OVA has been confirmed and will start being released this winter. (Via Moon Phase.)

Movies:
- ICv2 has details on the DVD release of Naruto the Movie 2.

- Ain’t It Cool News has a few reader reviews of the Speed Racer film. Here’s another and another and more and more and more…

Games:
- The Wii Fit is a bad, bad person machine. Seriously.

- Meanwhile, Japanator reports on a board game featuring characters from anime romcoms– and Project A-Kon and Dominion Tank Police. Sounds like someone got a little too wacky with their copy of BESM one night…

Misc:
- Various website updates: apparently ADV is now outsourcing its online shop to Right Stuf in yet another cost-cutting move (though FUNimation did it first). Meanwhile, Bandai Entertainment’s temporary site promises a new website at 5pm PST tomorrow, or else a firing.
- And in a final bit of “awww!” news, FUNimation has been visited by a very special VIP: Jay Dunn, a 15-year-old who visited FUNimation with assistance from the Make-a-Wish Foundation. The image above is some of Jay’s art. How’s that for a warm-and-fuzzy way to sign off?

Since I’m actually trying to leave the house this weekend (zomg! Hey, it’s for the Degas/Toulouse-Lautrec exhibit at the art museum and the Cinco de Mayo fair at the waterfront), I figure I’d better knock this sucker out so I don’t forget anything.

Anime:
- USA Today has finally picked up on that whole anime being made into movies thing. Now with 100% more Answerman! (ANN’s Zac Bertschy gets a quote in the article.)
- Speaking of ANN, they have word that CoLours, the “multicultural network,” isn’t running their FUNimation channel block anymore. They originally ran a four-hour block, then two hours, and then there was none.

Manga
- Hey, did you know that Naruto sells well? Yeah, so did I.
- The Yomiuri has a special on Astro Boy, specifically the expansion of his franchise with the “fat Astro Boy” designs of Lily Franky.
- Aaand over at Comics Worth Reading, we have a nice State of Josei Manga address from Johanna, who talks about what titles out in the US might fit the bill; commenters have a handful more.
- P.S. FREE MANGA! (And other comics.)

Movies/OVAs:
- Variety tells us about the visualsof Speed Racer, which, as we all know, are sexy. (The question is whether the other aspects of the flick will match up.) Oh, and IGN has three minutes of the film online.

Music:
- Hashihime updates us on the chart status of seiyuu/songstresses Maaya Sakamoto and Aya Hirano (known to me for their roles as two different Haruhis: Sakamoto is Host Club’s tomboyish Haruhi, and Hirano, of course, voices Suzumiya Haruhi herself). But Sakamoto wins out on the sales charts, taking the #3 spot while Hirano is at #20.

Cons:
- Viva l’Obata! Takeshi Obata is hitting up Paris’ Japan Expo, according to anime!anime!.

In Japan:
- Ooh, new category! But Gunota Headlines has word that the Bandai Hobby Center is having a public viewing on May 17-18th, with a Keroro Gunsou stage show and a Gundam 00 seiyuu talk show, among other events.

Misc:
- Given the popularity of 2ch, I can’t imagine how anyone would be surprised that Japanese people favor anonymity when commenting online, but here’s the poll to prove it, from WhatJapanThinks. There’s information on a number of other aspects of Internet use, especially with mobile phone surfing.

…It just wasn’t actually announced at the con! FUNi as announced that they’ll be releasing Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles on Blu-Ray on September 2nd. But wait, there’s more!

Featuring the definitive catalog of extras to date, FUNimation and Harmony Gold have held nothing back as the Blu-Ray release will contain 20 minutes of new extra features along with all the extras previously released on the standard and collector’s editions, including a featurette about the award-winning film’s creation called “Birth of a Sequel: The Making of The Shadow Chronicles.” New features include additional never-before-seen deleted scenes with directors commentary, outtakes, animatics and more.

Question, folks: now that Blu-Ray has more or less won the HD war, do you think it’s worth posting about things that get brought to the format? The announcements don’t come quite often enough for me to just round them up into one post regularly, I don’t think, but I am planning to start end-of-the-day round-ups again. Would you rather see these announcements there?

My favorite thing I bought at the con: a Gurren Lagann jacket. (My favorite free swag? Tie between Del Rey’s Fairy Tail slap bracelet and Vertical’s Blackjack syringe/pen.)

Okay folks, here it is– all of the new manga/anime licenses and announcements that were made at New York Comic Con (that I picked up, and I may even have some things listed as new that aren’t, so feel free to correct me if so).

801 Media
- Licensed Ze by Yuki Shimizu.
- Licensed Koi wa Aserazu by Mio Tennohji.

Bandai Entertainment:
- Licensed Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann.
- Licensed Gundam 00.
- Licensed Ghost Slayers Ayakashi manga by Yaeko Ninagawa.

CMX:
- Licensed Classical Medley by Sanae Kana.
- Licensed Astral Project by Marginal.
- Licensed Suihelibe! by Naomi Azuma.
- Licensed Fire Investigator Nanase by author Izo Hashimoto and illustrator Tomoshiya Ishikawa (thanks to Nebs for the creator names).
- Licensed Jihai by Toshimi Nigoshi.
- Licensed Venus Capriccio by Mai Nishikata.

Del Rey Manga:
- Licensed Gakuen Prince by Jun Yuzuki.
- Licensed Samurai 7 by Mizutaka Zuhou, inspired by Akira Kurosawa’s movie.
- Licensed Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei by Kouji Kumeta (!)
- Licensed The Case of the Dragon Slayer novel by Kadano Kouhei.

Digital Manga Publishing:
- Licensed Swallowing the Earth by Osamu Tezuka.

FUNimation:
- No new announcements.

TOKYOPOP
- Licensed the Kyo Kara Maoh! light novels by author Tomo Takabayashi and artist Temari Matsumoto.

VIZ Media:
- Will publish Stan Lee and Hiroyuki Takei’s lovechild ULTIMO, presumably in Shonen Jump; details not released.
- Releasing the Hunter x Hunter anime in season box sets.
- Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z are both going to be released in VIZBIG format.
- They’re releasing a new Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo series.
- Black Lagoon is confirmed; first volume due in August.

Yen Press:
- Licensed The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya manga; will also release the novels jointly with Little, Brown Young Adults.
- Licensed Soul Eater by Atsuki Ohkubo; will run in Yen+.
- Licensed Nabari no Ou by Yuki Kamatan; will run in Yen+.
- Licensed Higurashi no Naku Koro ni by Karin Suzuragi and 07th Expansion; will run in Yen+.
- Licensed Bamboo Blade by Masahiro Tohtsuka; will run in Yen+.
- Licensed Sumomomo Momomo by Shinobu Ohtaka; will run in Yen+.
- Licensed man hua Wild Animals by (?); will run in Yen+.
- Yen+’s first issue is coming out July 29th and will be 460 pages; cover price is $8.99 and a 12-issue (1-year) subscription will be $49.97.

Once again, if I missed anything/got something wrong, please feel free to correct in the comments or via e-mail :)

Okay folks, I can’t take any more questions except for TOKYOPOP now, because I’ve left the dealer room and I’m leaving the con after Tpop (trying to make a pilgrimage to Kinokuniya).

That said, I did do my best to get answers to all of your questions:

1. 1. When is Flower of Life 4 coming out? - It just came out in Japan a little while ago, so we’re looking at spring ‘09 for a US release. DMP has caught up with Yoshinaga’s releases in Japan so expect there to be a significant delay between releases from here on out.
2. 2. Swallowing the Earth is the only Tezuka title DMP is planning to release this year.
3. 3. DMP would love to license more Yoshinaga works, but they’re all pretty much taken– except Oooku, which is still a bit young to get a license out here.
4. 4. FUNimation does not yet have release dates for Darker than Black.
5. 5. Cast list and release dates for Ouran High School Host Club are still pending but we may have hope for them this summer. MAYBE. No promises! (Yeah, I don’t know what’s taking so long either…)
6. 6. Bandai Entertainment does not yet have release dates for Clamp School Detectives.

The last question was pretty open (someone requested that I poke around and see if anyone wants to license Otomen, by Soul Rescue’s Aya Kanno. Unfortunately I got it after I left the dealer room, so even if I had time to try and hobnob and hint I couldn’t have gotten anything, sorry! I will ask Tpop if they plan to do any more Kanno works.

Feel free to drop TOKYOPOP questions if you have them; their panel starts in 10.