It’s April Fool’s Day, which means that plenty of anime companies are having a good chuckle with fake announcements, quirky crossovers, and more. Here’s Part 1 of our round-up; check back later in the day for more!
5pb.
5pb. announces their latest science adventure game, Specium Boys. The tagline: “UFO. Alien. Kidnapping. Sightings record. Memory lost. Mothers of the disappeared. The town disappeared. A giant ring. Strange things happens to me the culprit who? This is April Fool’s day. But, I believe, disbelieve is up to you…..” [Link]
Diabolik Lovers
The boys of Diabolik Lovers are tiny and adorable now, in the new series, Petite Lovers. [Link]
Good Smile Company
Good Smile Company previews their 1/1 scale Bath Time Collection figure. [Link]
Hamatora
Hamatora goes live-action with new key visuals. [Link]
J-List
Kill la Kill
Kill la Kill‘s website posted this faux-press release, drumming up excitement for a new konnyaku product… complete with Life Fibers. Not only does it taste good, it serves as a smart phone. It was developed jointly with Honnoji Academy and the Sanageyama Konnyaku company. [Link]
Kodansha
Kodansha and Shaft are collaborating to produce the anime Usomonogatari, complete with a PV. The website contains a plethora of gags, including fake merchandise and new spin-offs. [Link]
Madhouse (Slaughter Angel Jibril)
In addition to the upcoming anime version of Yuu Kamiya‘s No Game, No Life, Madhouse will air an anime about one of its characters, Jibril. As the title suggests, it looks like she’ll be a terrifying agent of despair and desolation. [Link]
Nitro+
Nitro+’s newest game is PochaComi (Communication with Pochaco), starring the very well-endowed Super Pochaco. While the game is a prank, the character is not. She’s one of Sonico’s friends, and she even has her own figure, made by Taito. PochaComi will be released November 29, 2106. Here are some downloadable wallpapers if you need them. [Link]
Noragami
The characters get a Noraneko makeover. [Watch the trailer here]
Ping Pong
The upcoming noitamina anime Ping Pong will apparently involve Dragon Balls in addition to the familiar small white kind. [Link]
Puella Magi Madoka Magica
A new addition to the Madoka Magica saga, Shin Gekijou-ban: Puella Magi Madoka Magica (Kari)(“Kari” can mean “temporary” or “fake”) will premiere in 2015. [Link]
Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Taika-hen
Takeru Satoh, who plays Kenshin in the forthcoming live-action adaptation of Nobuhiro Watsuki‘s manga, will be replaced by Kumamon, the popular mascot of Kyushu’s Kumamoto Prefecture. Satoh commented: “I definitely thought Kumamon was built when we met on location shooting in Kumamoto. But to think that this would happen…” [Link]
Sentai Filmworks
[Link]
Shonen Jump has turned into Jumpteen, featuring gals from Seventeen magazine. [Link]
Sora Tokui (VA: Tantei Opera Milky Holmes, Little Busters!)
Sora Tokui revealed on Twitter that she’s become an Eva pilot. [Link]
Studio Nekokoya (5-sai Ko Dakedo Kane-sae Areba Kankei Nai-Yone!)
Based on the hit light novel by Shuukinsha Super Dasshu Bunko (“Money Collection Company Super Seizure Library”), this anime (its title translates to “I May Be 5, But If I Have Money It Doesn’t Matter!”) centers on a cute five-year-old girl named Yukichi determined to wring her family out of its cash. Her gestures seem to be drastically misunderstood. It will air on “TV Toukyou” (Toukyou translates to “steal crazy”). [Link]
World Conquest Zvezda Plot
Website posts an opening for a third member. [Link]
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The top 10 annoying foreign tourist behaviors on trains, as chosen by Japanese people【Survey】
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Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
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