[Anime of the Week] xxxHolic (3/27-4/2/2011)

Runtime:

xxxHolic- 25min/ep

xxxHolic Kei- 24min/ep

xxxHolic Shunmuki- 27min/ep

xxxHolic Ro- 40min

xxxHolic Ro Adayume- 24min

xxxHolic: A Midsummer Nights Dream- 1hr (movie bundle)

# of Eps:

xxxHolic-24
xxxHolic Kei- 13

xxxHolic Shunmuki- 2 ova

xxxHolic Ro- 1 ova

xxxHolic Ro Adayume- 1 ova

Type: manga

Rating: Teen

Synopsis: go here

New "Blood" anime collaboration from CLAMP & Production IG coming July 2011

Manga powerhouse team CLAMP will be creating the original story and character designs for this anime which will take place in the Blood universe. Blood spans through an OVA (Blood the Last Vampire), TV anime (Blood +), novels, manga and a live action version. Production IG will be in charge of animation. Production IG was the company behind the animated versions of CLAMP's xxxHolic and Tsubasa Chronicles. Not many other details have been revealed about the project other than it will recieve a manga adaptation as well and you can visit the official site for the show when it is up and running.

[Manga Spotlight][Text Ver.] Gate 7

That is pretty much the face I made when I realized Clamp's Gate 7 wasn't just a one shot but now an ongoing series. It's about time I got around to reading the one shot and 2 chapters that are out translated so far. (at the time of posting this, that is all that is out in Japan as well) Also this is apparently Clamp's first new work in 6 years. I thought their previous, yet still ongoing, title Kobato was only a year or so old but alas I was wrong.

Gate 7 One-Shot (or should it be called a prequel?):
After reading a good amount of Clamp's recent work (I've read all of Tsubasa, xxxHolic and 2 volumes of Kobato), I can say this one shot is definitely a Clamp work but it is more on the lighter side than some of their previous and recent work. It's ends on a 'heart beat' note and leaves a lot of questions. None of the characters were really developed, and all I can gather is the main character has some sort of powers or immunity to powers he himself can't explain and no one can yet seem to explain either. This is a Clamp work, so the art and dialogue are well done as par usual.

I'm not really going to delve into the other 2 chapters that are out because this is a manga spotlight, not a random manga entry. I hope just knowing that this is a Clamp title makes you want to read it. I know when I found out about Gate 7 back in fall of 2010 I was excited that I could read a new Clamp series. They haven't disappointed me.

K-ON! continuation to be 2 manga Serials

For those of you who really care about the moe-blob franchise known as K-ON! (despite how horrible I've been told the second season of the anime has been) would probably like to know the new manga isn't going to just be one series but TWO. The one that will follow Yui and company on their adventures in college is slated to start serialization May 2011 in Kirara magazine, while a second series to follow Azusa, Ui, and Jun in high school will be published starting in Kiarara Carat's June 2011 issue.

I've never been the biggest fan of K-ON but from what I saw of it (all of the first season) maybe this manga that follows them in college would be worth the read. I have a good friend who thinks it will probably be more like Genshiken than anything, and if he is right I will love the new manga.

[Touhou] Reitaisai 8 Rescheduled; 13th Touhou game Demo Delayed

The next installment in the Touhou series of hell shooters (aka shmups) was slated to be released in demo form at the 8th annual Reitaisai convention originally scheduled for March 13 2011 but due to the recent 9.0 Earthquake Japan was hit by the convention has recently been rescheduled for May 8th 2011 at a place called Tokyo Big Site. This 13th game (aka "Ten Desires") will feature veteran Touhou characters Reimu, Marisa and Sanae as well as a 4th character named Youmu Konpaku who was not in a Touhou game since the 10.5th game (pictured in order below).

I personally haven't played enough of the Touhou games to know if these characters are good. I can only say I'm a Flandre fan and she's clearly not listed. Reimu seems to be a favorite amount Touhou fans, and I like the character designs for all of them.

Credits:
Moetron for the original story [link]
Wikipedia for the game number info and featured characters [link]
The Touhou Wikia for information on Youmu [link]

Have a news tip? Email Akia at akia.rwg@gmail.com with the title "News Tip" and I'll be sure to give credit to you.
Want to join this blog team? Also email Akia but this time with the title "Join Blog Team" and a some info on what you'd like to contribute.

[Anime of the Week][bonus] Kore wa Zombie Desu-ka!? (3/20-26/2011)

Runtime: 24mins/ep
# of Eps: 12
Type: light novel
Rating: Older Teen
Synopsis:
Aikawa Ayumu is a normal high school boy. One day he is killed by a serial killer and revived as a zombie by a necromancer named Eucliwood Hellscythe. He starts to serve Eu as her guard but he happens to deprive the mahou shoujo Haruna of her magic power. Haruna orders Ayumu to fight against the anti-mahou shoujo system "Megalo" in her place.

[Gundam News] 1/144 RG GAT-X105 Aile Strike (to be released in April) [by striker0]

Oh my goodness, Bandai has announced it's next Real Grade, or RG as you will, and I don't think most of us were expecting this. (Yeah yeah, I know it was announced a while back, so sue me).

This time around, love is being given in the shape of the 1/144 RG GAT-X105 Aile Strike from Gundam Seed. And from initial looks, the inner frame looks to be different from the RX-78-2 and Zaku II that have already been released. I was not expecting to see this happen, but I am thrilled nonetheless. Slated for a April release, it looks to be on sale for a reasonable US price of $25 before shipping charges.

Though, with all these intriguing releases, wetting the appetites of almost everyone, one could only wonder what Bandai might have up their sleeves for their next Perfect Grade.

(striker0 wishes for either a PG Nu Gundam, or even a PG RGM-79 GM)