Weekly Ramen Feast August 12-17

Sword Art Online Extra Edition to Air With New Footage - *Faints* A little over dramatic sure, especially since it just recaps the whole series but there will be new footage. That may not make you excited but if this new footage say leads to the "Gun Saga" of SAO, well you won't see me complain.

Blue Exorcist Spin-Off One-Shot Manga Becomes Full Series - I guess people really love that Blue Exorcist.

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn Previewed in 13-Minute Video - "Here we go again." After the announcement at E3, Square Enix is now released a 13 minute video of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn.

Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 Full Burst Slated for October 22 in U.S. - Do I want this? Yes. Do I need this? No. I do want that Goku costume for Naruto.

Warner Presents Pacific Rim's del Toro With Madoka Magica Films - "So he gets two free copies of the Madoka Magica movies, all because he made a 'kaiju' with robots." Is there more? A tweet. Speculation about a live action Madoka Magica film. What!

Pokémon: The Origin TV Anime to Premiere in October -

Pokémon The Origin Anime Special's Video, Visual, Characters Unveiled - "a... a... awesome!" I mean I didn't expect to see this promo so soon. Just days after pictures were leaked we get a trailer. Instead of following Ash or any of the regular Pokemon cast we are going to follow the video game character Red, the trainer from the Pokemon video games. The special will air October 2 @ 7:00 pm.




For all the Trainer Red fans. This one is for you.



I support trainer red by *majinchris87 on deviantART

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Gantz Manga End & New Pokemon X/Y Trailer

Hiroya Oku's Gantz Manga to End in 2 More Chapters

The 24th issue of Shueisha's Young Jump magazine announced that Hiroya Oku's Gantz have two more chapters until it ends. This is a follow up the Oku's announcement about the manga ending soon. The manga has been in the "Final Phase" since 2009 and Oku's wanted to end it in 2012. Gantz is about a group of people who are reanimated to life to fight aliens.

I always wanted to get into Gantz, but like all these things not enough time too much anime I was already watching but couldn't stop it because it will ruin the momentum and blah blah blah. It did have me curious though I might check it out now, or not and wait another 5 years to watch or read it. 

Pokémon X/Y Gameplay Trailer Shows New Pokémon & Region

The Pokemon company streamed online a 70 second trailer that shows a new region and some gameplay footage. This game will be the first installment of the sixth generation of the Pokemon games. This marks the 13th game of the series on the handhelds. The game will be launched in October of this year. 

A new Pokeman game! That means.......................... Ash goes into another region and does the same thing over and over again. Besides that I'm actually excited about the game this time around I haven't really been excited mostly due to the gameplay (I really don't like playing the same thing over and over and over again), but I could give this a shot. When I get a 3DS.

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Gurren Lagann Ends & New Sentai License

Gurren Lagann Manga to End This Year

Kotaro Mori announced on twitter this week that the Gurren Lagann Manga will come to an end in 2013. He wrote the final volume and will be shipped by the end of the re-broadcast of the anime in Japan. There's no word on when it will hit North America since it's stopped being distributed in January 2012.

Well. I always say this "its better to learn about something when it ends." Why? To avoid the hype and its better watching since I can watch the whole thing in fewer sittings. Now it is said to see any anime franchise end and I assume many will be sad after this.That's all I got.

Sentai Filmworks Licenses Tegami Bachi: Reverse Anime

 Sentai Filmworks announced on Thursday that they have acquired the license fore Tegami Bachi: Reverse animated series. Reverse is a sequel to the fantasy manga Tegami Bachi. The story focuses on a boy named Lag Seeing. He becomes a "letter bee" delivering messages throughout AmberGround, which is cast by eternal darkness. The anime will be available on DVD and other media outlets this year.

I've got nothing... Seriously nothing. The series is on Crunchyroll but its near the bottom (or middle whichever you prefer) of the shows page. I might give this one a look. Besides its not like I can overload on anime right? Right?

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Shonen Jump same day as Japan

Weekly Shonen Jump Alpha Shifts To Simultaneous Release With Japan In January

The online manga magazine Shonen Jump announced last week that they will release new manga in the west simultaneously with the release in Japan. This process will start in January. Viz Media, the largest North American publisher, distributor and  licensor reports that its weekly Shonen Jump Alpha magazine will be synchronized with the Japanese releases of manga. The reason for this change is to celebrate SJA one year anniversary.

“North American fans have been waiting for a long time for real-time publishing to synchronize with Japan, and it’s about to happen in WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP ALPHA,” says Alvin Lu, Executive Vice President, Publishing. “A robust VIZ Manga digital infrastructure, combined with our close relationship with WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP in Japan allows us to close the gap in release schedules. We look forward to fans continuing to look to WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP ALPHA for the latest hot new manga titles straight from Japan!” - The Fandom Post

It's about time! It was only a matter of time before they do this. I never thought it would be so soon. This is a good move by Viz Media, especially since its coming after Crunchyroll giving its premium members near simulcast with the broadcast in Japan. I shall reiterate this shows that the western audience is demanding foreign goods faster, and the way it's suppose to be seen. Hopefully they'll see some increase in membership or a sales increase. 

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Hiatus on Print Manga

Digital Manga Publishing Sets Temporary Print Hiatus

The president of Digital Manga Publishing, Hikaru Sasahara announced that there will be a temporary hiatus on physical manga titles. There was no clear reason given as to why this is happening. Speculation has began to suggest that the cost of paper, and other print related issues have caused this. The printed mangas will be released later next year. (For the full list of titles you can link above or go to DMP's website here)

"Today we would like to announce that effective January 1st 2013, the print editions for our DMP, June Manga, DokiDoki and 801Media imprints will be placed on a temporary hiatus. Please be advised that none of our licenses are cancelled, simply postponed. We will be resuming the distribution of our print editions in June, 2013. This hiatus will allow us to coordinate our production schedule for 2013 and temporarily shift our focus to our digital publications.

I am sure our fans are shocked by this announcement, but I would like to extend my gratitude for their continuing support and patience. In the mean time, if you have any questions, I can be reached at: contact (at) emanga dot com"

Sincerely,
Hikaru Sasahara

It's the beginning of the end folks....... or perhaps just a phase. There's been movement going towards the digital platform for years, and with the all the portable devices (tablets, smartphones, and versatile mp3s) it makes it easier easier to carry all your entertainment with you. This hiatus is just the beginning of the conversion, we've seen the beloved Shonen Jump magazine make the jump to digital this year. I'm not saying that there will be no printed manga anymore after such and such a time, but publishing companies are only going to print their most popular or bestselling series. They're not going to want to take risk with new properties and if they do there going to start out digital.   

Are we seeing the end of the print era, or are we worked up over nothing? 

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en

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Comixology gets manga catlog & a manga team-up

The digital comic platform, Comixology just announced that it licensed Shotora Ishinomori's entire manga catalog. This includes Kikaider, Cybory 009, and Skull Man. What you see on Comixology will not be the only issues however, more will coming later in the year.

This good news, very good news. Why? I can't seem to find a copy of Kikaider any where physically, so going digital works in my favor. It also works for the manga industry as a whole. My major complaint has been there are not many digital manga outlets that are not pirating sites, and most legal outlets have very few choices. This is the step in the right direction acquiring a license that has classic's attached to it along with a store that's been around long enough and has the backing. 

Oh! Great (Ogure Ito) is partnering up with acclaimed novelist Otaro Maijo to launch a new manga series (that's what a poster says anyway). Oh! Great is responsible for Tenjo Tenge and Air gear which ended earlier this year. 

Well, excuse me for not being hugely excited. Sure I like Tenjo Tenge, but I'm not familar with Otaro Maijo. I will try and keep an open mind, because this can turn out to be really good. 

Sources: Tenjo Tenge Creator to Launch Manga With Novelist Ōtarō Maijō, Comixology Licenses Shotaro Ishinomori's Entire Manga Catalog

photo- http://www.comixology.com/Ishimori-Debut/comics-collection/696

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GTO Spin off returns and gets own manga volume

The Weekly Shonen Magazine revaled that the GTO spin off, GTR (Great Transporter Ryuji) will make a return to Kodanshas monthly magazine special next year. The series if you don't know focuses on Onizuka's close friend and drinking buddy Ryuji Danma from GTO: The Early Years. Kodansha will compile and publish a single GTR Book volume in November.

I know it's a matter of time, but I keeping my fingers crossed on this one. GTO is one those manga's I've always wanted to get into but I was so busy with other ones it fell off my radar. Now that there's a spin off with its own manga volume coming in November to Japan, I'm crossing my fingers that we get this translated next year. Why? It will give me excuse to finally sit down read both GTO to understand GTR because all of you will be clawing my door if I don't.

Source: GTO Spinoff Manga GT-R to Return in 2013

Photo- http://www.jcafe24.net/index.php?topic=32609.0

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Dark Horse get's Trigun Anthology ,and Evangelion Detective Manga

The North American publisher, Dark Horse announced at Anime Weekend Atlanta on Saturday that it just licensed Trigun Multiple Bullets, a collection of stories from various authors that include Satoshi Mizukami (Lucifer and the Biscuit Hammer). Neon Genesis Evangelion: Shinji Ikari Detective Diary was also annouced to be licensed by Dark Horse. This manga is set up in an alternative world where Shinji seeks out two private detectives.


 Hmmmmmm.....? This not the first time that an established North American picked up an anime property, and Dark Horse already have manga under their company. However it seem they have may have set a trend that's not stopping. (Have you not seen that anime Ironman). It makes me wonder when will DC and Marvel publish a manga themselves.


Sources: Dark Horse adds Trigun and Evangelion Detective Manga, New "Trigun" Manga Anthology Collected

Photo- http://trigun.wikia.com/wiki/Trigun_Volume_1

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Comic Valkyrie goes digital!

The magazine manga dedicated to "fighting heroines," Comic Valkyrie will print its last issue on Thursday, but says it will continue on as free digital magazine on its official website. Kill Time Communication publisher of the magazine says they will still publish complied book volumes of the series they have and any others that make an appearance in the magazine.

Another manga magazine hit's the digital realm, it's probably for the best. The trend in the printing industry (this includes comics, and books) has been going digital and most anime, and manga publishers still have to catch up. It's bad enough when most manga can't be found in bookstores but worse when it's not available for online purchases. Shonen Jump made its jump to digital (no pun intended, I swear) back in the spring and seems to be doing well. It seems like a smart business practice to me, now if they could only make an English version of this magazine.

Source: Comic Valkyrie Manga Magazine Ends Print Run on Thursday, Comic Valkyrie is defunct, announced transistion to the web

Photo- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Comic_Valkyrie_09_2008_cover.jpg

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