Composer Yuki Kajiura to Perform at Anime Expo With FictionJunction

http://canta-per-me.net/2012/05/yuki-kajiura-fictionjunction-to-perform-at-animeexpo-2012/
http://www.anime-expo.org/guests/acclaimed-composer-yuki-kajiura-returns-to-anime-expo-for-a-live-concert-with-fictionjunction/


The organizers of this summer's Anime Expo in Los Angeles have announced that composer Yuki Kajiura (Fate/Zero, Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Tsubasa: RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE, .hack, Noir, Kara no Kyoukai) will perform at the event, playing keyboards for her FictionJunction project with a "special guest vocalist." The vocalist to perform with Kajiura, as well as the exact date of the concert has yet to be announced.
Anime Expo has already announced as guests the Japanese singer LiSA, as well as blogger and TV host Danny Choo.

Looks great already. Like I said I can't go but I'm sure this major event will be star-studded as always.

May'n 's USA Tour ROCK YOUR BEATS

http://www.jefusion.com/2012/04/mayn-adds-usa-dates-to-rock-your-beats.html

After reopening her Twitter account, J-Pop superstar May'n announces that she will return to America in June 2012 for two live performances in Los Angeles and San Francisco.

As part of the ROCK YOUR BEATS World Tour, May'n will perform with her live band and dancers, followed by a special autograph session for VIP ticket holders.


After her discovery in HoriPro's Talent Scout Caravan, May'n became known to anime fans worldwide as the singing voice of "Macross Frontier's" Sheryl Nome. May'n's new album "HEAT" debuted in Oricon's Top 10, featuring songs from "Phi Brain," "Aria the Scarlet Ammo," and "Kamen Rider Fourze."

ROCK YOUR BEATS America Tour Dates

Key Club, Los Angeles - Thursday, June 21
http://www.keyclub.com
Doors: 6:30pm
Start: 7:30pm
VIP ticket price: $100 (limit 100 - includes autograph session with May'n)
Regular ticket price: $40 (advance) / $50 (same day)

Yoshi's, San Francisco - Saturday, June 23 (*special afternoon show!)
http://www.yoshis.com/sanfrancisco
Doors: 1:30pm
Start: 2:30pm
VIP ticket price: $100 (limit 100 - includes autograph session with May'n)
Regular ticket price: $40 (advance) / $50 (same day)

Too bad I can't go, It would have been great especially in SanFo afternoon.

MIXPOD

If you want your own playlist of you're favorite artists, go to MIXPOD. For more information, check the right side of my blog.

Highschool of the Dead - Review (SPOILERS)

In a world that was once peaceful an unity turns into one of corruption and division. What if a zombie outbreak happens? There's a lot more than zombies and fighting.
 


Art (8/10) 
The artwork was good, for the most part. The animation was fluid and easy to watch. The zombies were based from the current manga. What I want to see in the zombies was there. The drawback of this anime is that the character designs are quite unoriginal. I don't mind the dark uniform for guys and the light uniform for girls. The bloddy theme of the anime is quite amazing. The contrast of red and black are fine with me. I'm not an artist myself but it looks fine to my eyes because it fits the anime. The good overshadows the bad but I can't give it higher than 8.


Characters (7/10)
I think I can reflect with the characters more than the story. I honestly thought that killing of Hisashi was unnecessary. The evil teacher was also kind of unnecessary. The teacher would only be a mere destruction to the team. Since the story is about how to stop the outbreak, the team needs to flee and rest and stopping some of the zombies in their way. Most of the time, the sound would trigger the zombies so any weapon that would produce the minimum sound is key. For the cast, at first I thought Shizuka was kind of useless because, she was just there and not fighting. Even useless characters like her have a purpose especially during survival. Alice, the small girl would be useful in a long run. Rei was a bitch and I'm sure of it. Saya more often scowls at the others. Hirano was an awesome gunman. Takashi and Saeko for their leadership mostly led the way for the group. The cast met some minor people. Shizuka's friend who gave the team her house to rest. The police who Hirano came to know in a short while. After all they are memorable but I can't give them more than 7 because they just don't appeal to the average viewer.


Sound (6/10)
The BGM is not as memorable because there was no music to remember for. The intense action and some conversations kept me in the anime. The OP was good, but that was the only good thing in the anime. The seiyuu are good anyway, not really an all-star cast but decent performance.The emotions were there so they were believable. 


Story (7/10)
It's just one of the post apocalyptic series that deals with zombies. The term 'survival of the fittest' is one of the major concepts of this anime. It emphasizes too on teamwork and friendship. Sometimes, there are times that it is useless to banter on such things but the main goal is to survive and live. It may be unrealistic at times but the small things will make you watch it - including fanservice. 


Overall (7/10)
Run off the mill service anime. It's one of the anime in which it doesn't really cater to everyone. If there's something you like especially zombie apocalypse then this is the one for you.

Kyoukai Senjou no Horizon II Cast Revealed

Natsuko Kuwatani as William Cecil (England's student council president)
Miho Yamada as Robert Dudley (England's vice president)
Masaya Onosaka as Ben Johnson (England's student council secretary)
Yuko Sanpei as Nicholas Bacon (England's secretary's assistant)
Ken Narita as Charles Howard (England's student council accountant)
Momoko Saito as Thomas Shakespeare (England's "Queen's Trump" 6)
Ryota Takeuchi as Francis Drake (England's "Queen's Trump" 5-1)
Susumu Chiba as John Hawkins (England's "Queen's Trump" 5-2)
Ryoka Yuzuki as Thomas Cavendish (England's "Queen's Trump" 5-3)
Megumi Toyoguchi as Grace O'Malley (England's "Queen's Trump" 4)
Toru Ohkawa as Christopher Hutton (England's "Queen's Trump" 5-3)
Yuko Goto as F. Walsingham (England's "Queen's Trump" 2)
Toru Ohkawa as Walter Raleigh (England's "Queen's Trump" 1)
Yoshihisa Kawahara as Milton
Hiroki Yasumoto as Kobold
??? as "Scarred"

Aira Yuki and Masami Okui will perform the new "Side Sunset" and "Side Sunrise" ending theme songs "Kanashimi wa Dare no Negai Demonai" and "Sora no Uta," respectively. The second anime season will premiere this July. Sentai Filmworks licensed the anime, and The Anime Network and Crunchyroll are streaming the first season in North America.

[Via Yaraon!]

So  
Yūki Aira - Side Sunset - Kanashimi wa Dare no Negai Demonai
Okui Masami - Side Sunrise - Sora no Uta
Chihara Minori - Zone//Alone

Top 10 Late Night Anime with the Best Endings

1. Ano Hi Mita Hana
2. K-On
3. Bakemonogatari
4. Clannad After Story
5. Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magika
6. Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu
7. Danshi Koukousei no Nichijou
8. Another
9. Ano Natsu de Matteru
10. Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha

The rest of the list (some of them are kinda funny)
11. Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha A's
12. Nichijou
13. Ga-rei Zero
13. Natsume Yuujinchou
15. Papa no Iukoto wo Kikinasai
16. AIR TV
16. ARIA THE ORIGINATION
16. Idolm@ster
19. Kanon
20. ARIA THE NATURAL
21. Zero no Tsukaima F
22. Angel Beats!
23. ARIA THE ANIMATION
24. A Channel
25. Hanasaku
26. Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt
27. Hanasaku Iroha
28. Astarotte no Omocha
29. Strike Witches 2
29. Tantei Opera Milky Holmes 2

Upotte Anime to Air on Japanese TV in July

The June issue of Kadokawa Shoten's 4-Koma Nano Ace magazine, as well as the June issue of the publisher's Monthly Newtype magazine, are announcing this week that the anime adaptation of Kitsune Tennouji's Upotte!! four-panel manga will receive a television broadcast this July. The title is currently being streamed on the niconico (formerly Nico Nico Douga) online video service in Japan. Crunchyroll is streaming the anime outside Japan, and Sentai Filmworks licensed the anime for North America. The first volume of the show will be released on Blu-ray Disc and DVD formats in Japan on July 27. Source: Saishin Anime Jōhō via Moe Ota-News Sokuhō

Otaku's Verdict 2011 Picks

http://otakusverdict.zenhonbuph.net/ov2011/nominees/

Although the voting period is done, I kinda voted on the poll but I didn't understand all the choices except for the easy choices. So here we go. No results yet released.

Event/Convention of the Year: Major Category

• Ozine Fest 2011
• 10th Philippine Toys, Hobbies and Collectibles Convention (Toycon 2011)
• HERO Face Off 2
• Best of Anime 2011
• Cosplay Mania 11
• AME Monogatari
• TOEInty Five! – Toei Animation Philippines 25th Anniversary Celebration 

Ozine Fest is the easiest choice. It's the biggest event of the year and it happens in April. It's a summer so a lot of folks go to this event. Cosplay Mania and Best of Anime seem to be big events but Ozine Fest is everything, not only catered for the cosplayers, but for the casual anime fans as well. There are gaming tournaments and a lot of games and bands performing.

Event/Convention of the Year: Minor Category

• 4th Philippine Cosplay Convention
• Tamashii Con
• Metro Comic Con
• 5th TAGCOM Toys & Hobbies Collection
• Otaku Expo 2011
• Cosplay Got Talent – Season 2

I picked Otaku Expo. PCC looks big so they can be put into the semi-major category. Everything else is minor. Otaku Expo is the smaller version of Ozine Fest but a few people go at this time. It happens in January.

Event/Convention of the Year: Online Gaming Events

• Pinoy Gaming Festival
• Level Up LIVE!
• E-Games Domination

I picked Level Up Live! Since the merge with E-Games, I think Level Up is so much better now.

Male Anime Character of the Year

• Endou Mamoru of Inazuma Eleven
• Natsu Dragneel of Fairy Tail
• Takumi Usui of Kaichou wa Maid-sama!
• Joey of Heroman
• Saito Hiraga of Zero no Tsukaima
• Souta Takanashi of Working!!
• Shin Kanzato of Persona: Trinity Soul
• Rygart Arrow of Broken Blade
• Rikuo Nura of Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan
• Lag Seeing of Letter Bee
• Akihisa Yoshii of Baka and Test: Summon the Beast
• Tatsumi Oga of Beelzebub
• Joon Sang Kang of Winter Sonata
• Takashi Komuro of Highschool of the Dead

I picked Nura because he has the patience and the strength when fighting. Others are driven by emotion/emotional or that they are clumsy, has the White Knight trait in them. Oga fights delinquents so he is a little annoying. Lag feels stupid sometimes. Takashi shows his emotional side a lot. Souta likes small girls. Kanzato is not as appealing. Usui is more of the face. Natsu seems to be aggressive. I don't find Mamoru, Joey, Joon Sang Kang and Arrow interesting. Saito is still loyal to the bitch even if he goes with other girls. Akihisa is a baka.

Female Anime Character of the Year

• Lucy Heartfillia of Fairy Tail
• Misaki Ayuzawa of Kaichou wa Maid-sama!
• Lina of Heroman
• Louise de La Vallière of Zero no Tsukaima
• Poplar Taneshima of Working!!
• Sigyn Erster of Broken Blade
• Mizuki Sakaki of Lovely Idol
• Tsurara Oikawa of Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan
• Niche of Letter Bee
• Mizuki Himeji of Baka and Test: Summon the Beast
• Hilda of Beelzebub
• Yoo Jin of Winter Sonata
• Rei Miyamoto of Highschool of the Dead

Misaki is my pick because she seems to be a popular choice. Tsurara is another but I find Kana and Yura more interesting. Saeko and Saya instead of Rei, Aoi instead of Hilda, Yamada instead of Poplar, Henrietta instead of Louise and Erza instead of Lucy. Shouko is more interesting and maybe Minami over Himeji.

Anime Theme Song of the Year

• “Kanpeki gu~no ne” by Watarirouka Hashiri Tai – Fairy Tail ED1
• “Dadada” by Group Tamashii – Beelzebub OP1
• “missing” by Kylee – Heroman OP2
• “SOMEONE ELSE” by Kana Asumi, Saki Fujita and Eri Kitamura – Working!! OP1
• “Magia” by Kalafina – Puella Magi Madoka Magica ED1
• “Destin Histoire” by yoshiki*lisa – GOSICK OP1
• “Asu e” by Galileo Galilei – Mobile Suit Gundam AGE OP1
• “My Dearest” by supercell – Guilty Crown OP1

Since all of the songs are awesome in their own way. Let's pick. missing's tune is kinda catchy. SOMEONE ELSE is good but there's something better than that. Kanpeki is not interesting for an ED. Be as one is a better ED from Fairy Tail as well. The 3rd OP of Beelzebub is good and is much better than Dadada. Asu e seems gloomy. Destin Histoire has power but could not beat Magia. Magia from Kalafina is one of their best singles but even if they are good, the experience of supercell wins here. My Dearest gets my vote. Kalafina is still young. The girls started their career at 22/23 years old, they blend their voices together but the experience is still lacking. In a few years, they will only get better. If they can match the popularity of Kuribayashi Minami and Mizuki Nana (even if they are pop stars and not singing in a group), maybe they will be very successful.

Of course I would have put other songs in there given the chance. Light My Fire by KOTOKO should be in nomination, Love Song by LM.C, In My World by Rookiez is Punk'd are just some of the songs that should have been up there.

Japan’s Newest Title

• Puella Magi Madoka Magica
• GOSICK
• Tiger & Bunny
• Steins;Gate
• Ano Hana
• Denpa Onna
• Blood-C
• Mayo Chiki!
• Gundam AGE
• Persona 4
• Fate/Zero
• Guilty Crown
• Kimi ni Todoke 2
• The World God Only Knows 2
• Shakugan no Shana III – Final

Steins;Gate is my pick. Madoka and Ano Hana don't come as close as this. Fate/Zero is divided into 2 seasons and Shana doesn't reach the level of Ano Hana. Tiger and Bunny is good but it seems to be overlooked. GOSICK is not as good as the ones above but decent story. Kimi ni Todoke 2, Kaminomi 2 and Mayo Chiki! are not even half of the success of Steins;Gate. Guilty Crown had a lot of negative criticism even if the ending was decent. Blood-C is at the bottom of the list but the saving grace was Mizuki Nana-sama and Junketsu Paradox. I find it weird that Mawaru Penguindrum is not on the list. It's severely underrated but could be on the top 5 anime of 2011.

Singer/Voice Actress Shokotan Describes Her Dating Type

On a Saturday television broadcast featuring a concert by Shoko Nakagawa ("Shokotan") celebrating 10 years since her debut, the singer/actress stated that now, at 27, she has started to feel a strong desire to give birth to a child with "otaku genes." When asked about the type of man she would like to date, she answered that her type is a "macho otaku who likes cats" with "long silver hair" and who "coughs up blood for some reason."
Nakagawa recently starred as Madoka in the live-action comedy inspired by Puella Magi Madoka Magica anime that premiered last month at the Nico Nico Chōkaigi convention. She is also starring in and singing the theme song for the Saint Seiya Omega television anime series.

via My Game News Flash

What I think:

It's good I'm not one of them. I'm not the kind of person who likes animals so much, doesn't have long hair and is macho.

I do respect her decisions if that's what she wants. Her singing career and being herself (Shoko) is what people might remember her for. I haven't watched Saint Seiya Omega since I'm not an old school kind of guy and also I think that I must follow the original series if I wanna understand what's happening in there.


I feel that she's fooling her fans once again, most likely to gain attention. 

Hyouka - Episode 2

Read the damn book.

Solving mysteries again? You guessed it right. It might be a letdown to others but please think of it as build up and just introductory episodes. Things will only get exciting from here.

Anyway there's a new girl named Ibara Mayaka who really knows Hōtarō in a long while. I think she is the childhood friend of Hōtarō if I'm not mistaken so there are 4 of them in the classics club. She has an interest with Satoshi so the more the merrier. I won't buy into pairings so even if it's quite evident that Hōtarō x Eru and Satoshi x Mayaka are the pairings this episode, I don't think the anime would have romance as a big element in the story.

So moving on to the mystery, it's not a big deal about the book. It's said that there are 5 people who borrowed the book according to the log. I think one borrowed it on a Friday and every Friday, another one gets to borrow it. It is revealed that they are from the art thing because Eru smelled the book. I like how Hōtarō analyzed that there was no time to read the book in between lunch break and dismissal class. At first I thought this mystery was good but too easy to solve.

At the end, there was a cliffhanger about Eru's 'confession'. We will find out in a few days what it is and it seems she's serious.