We are just having fun reviewing and discussing comic books, graphic novels, manga, anime/animation, music and movies that we have recently read, listened to or watched.
Another example of how anime and manga characters are being used in everyday life in Japan. Totalsoft, an insurance company in Japan, is using Moe characters on their new website. The site is primarily aimed at men in their 20’s and 30’s to teach them about insurance….What insurance is and the different types of insurance. The characters used were designed by Wataru Kikuchi.
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2011-07-19/insurance-explained-with-moe-characters
Bandai will begin selling a line of cosmetics with Lum-chan, from Rumiko Yatsura’s Urusei Uatsura, as the products spokesperson (image). The product will go on sale on July 29th and will have eyeliner for 1,260 yen ($16) and mascara for 1,575 yen ($20). This is something you can use for talking points with your young ladies that come into the library that are interested in anime and manga.
All Nippon Airways unveiled it’s newest jet paint design yesterday. The ceremony was held at Toyko’s Haneda International Airport. You can see an image of the jet above, which is a Pokemon jet “Peace Jet” where the company wants to express to their costumers and public “a world where the children’s futures are filled with smiles and peace”. It’s great to see when companies can have fun like this.
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2011-07-18/ana-unveils-pokemon-peace-jet-to-cheer-on-japan
Warner Bros. is currently going with Jaume Collet-Serra to director the live-action Akira. Collet-Serra is known for his movies Unknown, starring Liam Neeson, and Orphan. Thanks to ICv2 for this report.
This is a fun little item that your patrons that are into One Piece or anime in general would probably like. It’s the One Piece Dream Dessert Dish: Thousand Sunny. Bandai’s official shopping site will have the Sunday dish up for pre-order Friday at 1:00 p.m. in Japan (Midnight EDT). The dish is approximately 10 inches long and comes with 2 forks that feature the characters Luffy and Chopper. The price tag on this cool item is 4,500 yen or $57.00 and is scheduled to ship in early November. Check out the full article at the link below.
This last week the Japanese Manga and Anime community have lost two individuals that will be missed. First Shinji Wada, manga creator, passed away on July 5 and then Hideo Tanaka, anime/live action director, passed away on July 9. The staff here at ComicPop Library want to extend our condolences and let the family know that they are in our thoughts.
If anyone is planning a trip to Japan or live in the area Universal Japan has opened a One Piece themed Sanji’s pirate restaurant and placed two statues in the park from the “Marineford War” storyline. This is part of the park’s “One Piece Premier Summer” that is taking place now and runs through September 4th. Use the link below to go to AnimeNews Network for more information.
Just found these ads for Toyota Corolla that features the Virtual Idol Hatsune Miku. Your patrons that like JPop, Anime and Manga will be interested in these ads. I’m going to try and keep up with these, but I know I’m coming to the game a little late so the next few times I make posts might have Toyota Ads until I catch up with the storyline. The video below comes from Toyota’s YouTube page.
This will appeal to your patrons that like anime and trading card games. Redakai: Conquer the Kairu is set to debut on Cartoon Network on July 23 at 10:00 a.m. There will also be a tie in trading card game Redakai Lenticular, however these cards are not scheduled until August.
The CLAMP Festival 2011 Tokyo will be held on September 24 at Tokyo’s Ajinomoto Stadium. Tickets go on sale on August 27, and with your ticket of 7,350 yen or roughly $91.00 you will get an original manga booklet by CLAMP. If you know of any of your patrons that are planning a trip to Tokyo during this time you might let them know of this event.