The event held by VIZ Media on Saturday, January 28th at the West Hollywood Library in Los Angeles was to introduce their brand-new digital manga website, Shonen Jump Alpha, to the public. The new format is going to replace the printed version of Shonen Jump Weekly. With a mini-convention feel to it, it featured tons of cosplayers, raffles, snacks, goodie bags and of course a sneak preview of Shonen Jump Alpha. In Japan, the issues of Shonen Jump are weekly and for that reason most people in Japan don't keep them. They just read them and dispose of them like they would with any other newspaper-style format.
Fashion retailer Mobacolle is collaborating with anime studio Gainax to release cat eared parkas based on the hit Evangelion series. The parkas are based on each of the Evangelion units (00 yellow, 01 purple, 02 red) and will be reversible. Unfortunately the parkas are only currently available for preorder in women and kid sizes and will retail for 7245 yen from the Official Gainax store.
As a note, over the years, artists have created various fanart involving the series as hoodies. Probably the most popular are the hoodie adaptation of the plug suits that each pilot wears. Pictures of fan art and of the parkas inside.
Check out what's upcoming in Spring! A new season of the majhong anime Saki, the second part to Fate/zero, and a sequel to mecha anime Eureka Seven titled Eureka Seven Astral Ocean. For those interested in a bit of the supernatural mixed in with a bit of ecchi, the zombie themed Sankarea and ghost story Tasogare Otome x Amnesia are great choices.
At a press conference held earlier yesterday, new details about upcoming Code Geass projected were announced.
Code Geass: Boukoku no Akito (Akito the Exiled)
Currently it is unclear if this will be a full season show; however, it has been announced the first episode will be screen this summer in Japanese theaters. The story takes place during the events of the original series and follows Akito, voiced by Miyu Irino and Layla, voiced by Maaya Sakamoto in Europe.
http://geass.jp/akito/index.html
Code Geass Gaiden: Nunnally in Wonderland
A new OVA release that retells the fairy tail of Alice in Wonderland with Code Geass characters that's set to release with a picture book.
Code Geass will also be getting the stage treatment in a full blown musical (http://www.geass-musical.net/) and apparently a film adaptation of the original series is also in the works.
Another blow to the anime industry, we have received official word today Bandai Entertainment will "stop releasing new titles on DVD, Blu-ray and Manga formats starting in February of 2012."
Although Bandai has stated in their press release that they "will continue to sell catalog titles and shift its operation to licensing which will include digital distribution, broadcast and merchandising," they have also noted they will be shutting down their official twitter and facebook page.
You can read the full press release inside.
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