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?

So the Higurashi no Naku Koro ni live-action film is coming out on May 10th, and a sequel has already been announced. So what are they going to do with Higurashi next? Are they going to let it lay low for a bit, or maybe even put the series to rest to work on something new?

HELL NO! They’re (tentatively) going to make a third season OVA-style, according to Moon Phase. It looks like more details are going to be available in the June issue of Megami, but it’s going to be called Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Rei.

In unrelated news: happy birthday to Japanator’s John Martone! Aaaand I’ll be back later today. I have to go to the DMV and update my driver’s license ’cause I moved. God only knows how long it’ll take. @_@ But I have a giant round-up coming after that, so stick around. ♥

Yeees, Moon Phase reports that a sequel to the live-action Higurashi no Naku Koro ni film is being made.

More will be announced at the Higurashi road show event on May 10th, and the announcement talks about whether the film’s mystery will be made public and to carefully enjoy the new movie.

No, no, not the Fullmetal Alchemist ED theme– visual novel developer Key’s newest game is, according to Canned Dogs, going to be titled Rewrite– assuming that this isn’t a prank. (CD isn’t quite sure, because the scenario writing staff is phenomenal (plus it’s April Fool’s Day in Japan): Higurashi writer Ryuukishi07 in particular is noteworthy). It’s unclear if the game will be ero or not.

I’m mostly letting you know because odds are good KyoAni will develop it into an anime eventually, and then I’ll sit here complaining about how everyone looks and sounds like a ten-year-old. You know, the usual.

First off, I guest-starred on Japanator’s podcast again this week, mostly talking about San Diego Comic-Con announcements, cowbells, and other goofiness. You can check it out here. I really need to learn to speak a little slower.

I actually spent most of the day cleaning (!), but there was a bit of news here and there: