TV Tokyo’s Overseas Plans

Via ANN.

So TV Tokyo is going to try and focus on overseas marketing in order to increase its revenue.  One of their executives cites this as the only way to preserve the industry in the long run.  Now the question is, is this a good idea?

Maria Holic episode 6

HOLY CRAP I DID NOT SEE THAT COMING!

Shamless Shipping ‘09 #7 Rue and Mytho

If there was a couple I’d have to place as one of those most beautiful couples I’ve ever seen, it would go to Rue and Mytho from Princess Tutu. Although this is helped by their numerous number of outfits.

D.Gray-man Manga and Anime Dub News! SQUEE– or not. (Updated)

First (and most importantly) – Hoshino Katsura’s publication of the D.Gray-man manga will resume in Weekly Shounen Jump on March 9, not in April as originally rumored. She had been allegedly suffering from a wrist injury. The hiatus in question began in November (If I remember correctly) with no word on when she would return. Good to hear you’re doing better, Hoshino-sensei~ ^_^

Secondly, the Funimation website for D.Gray-man has been updated hardcore. It now lists release dates for the first 4 box sets of the series (running through January of next year), and contains a spiffy wallpaper for download as well as screencaps. It does not, however, seem to list a dub cast.

But thanks to various announcements made at various cons (allegedly including Ohayocon?!) we have a partial-unconfirmed (see here) dub cast list in Anime News Network’s encyclopedia. Some highlights:

Shameless Shipping ‘09 #6 – Yukino/Kanade

Lesser known ONA Candy Boy has a lot of sweetness and romance for those who aren’t prejudiced against its main characters. The Sakurai (fraternal, though both girls) twins, Kanade and Yukino, have been together their whole lives. They haven’t really needed anybody else, because they’ve always had each other. Kanade is the younger of the two but yet has grown up to be the more mature one. Though sometimes the aloof Yukino is a bit better at studying.

Shameless Shipping ‘09 #5 – Simon and Nia

We all knew this was coming. In reality, it’s not shameless shipping, as the couple is very much canon. Still they’re my favorite couple ever, and perfect for Valentine’s Day.

Shameless Shipping ‘09 #4 – Iku/Doujou

I’ve already pimped this pairing pretty hard, but like with any under appreciated couple, you can never really pimp it too hard. And one needs some GARful shipping during a series in honors of the sappiest holiday in human history, anyway, just to keep y’all from getting cavities.

Shameless Shipping ‘09 #3 – Fakir/Duck

Ah. Nothing like a boy and his duck.

Princess Tutu is a very difficult anime to explain, especially without spoiling anything.  Although in truth, my favorite part wasn’t the story itself, but the characters and the way they changed and developed. One of the most notable is the relationship between the shape-shifting Duck and Fakir.

Shameless Shipping ‘09 #2 – Taiga/Ryuuji

One of my favorite things about Toradora is how it’s still relatively unpredictable. Or, rather there isn’t any blatant foreshadowing. For example, with Zero no Tsukaima, the viewer is introduced to LouisexSaito right off the bat, and every other character is obviously a rival — a humorous obstacle — for the real relationship that’s supposed to happen. This is not the case in Toradora! where, right off the bat, our two main characters are fully interested in OTHER people. And even four to eight episodes in, they’re still quite neutral towards each other. What they have is really a friendship, a partnership. And with seemingly no romantic tension between them (at least prior to the most recent episodes, I guess), my “shameless shipping” for them is fueled further.

Tales of Vesperia Movie Announced

Via Kotaku.

I really can’t summarize it more than they did, so I’ll just tell you a bit about it.  Tales of Vesperia is the latest flagship title in Namco’s Tales series.  The Tales games are RPGs done with a real time battle system, which seems to improve with every iteration, and they’re also known for their storylines.  The series is made in the anime style, and they’re popular in Japan.  Popular enough to make the Xbox 360 sell out.  If you know anything about the game industry over there, you know that is a huge deal.  And now it’s getting a movie adaptation, much like previous games in the series have gotten the series and OVA treatment.

From the game.