Sekai Project Plans to Release 1st GATE Manga Volume in 2nd Quarter 2016

North American visual novel and manga publisher Sekai Projectannounced at its panel at Otakon Vegas on Friday that it will begin taking pre-orders for the first two volumes of Satoru Sao, Takumi Yanai, and Daisuke Izuka's GATE (Gate: Jieitai Kanochi nite, Kaku Tatakaeri) manga this month. The company plans to release the first volume with an "estimated ship date" of second quarter 2016. The company has not yet announced a release date for volume 2.

GATE will be Sekai Project's first manga release. The manga adapts writer Takumi Yanai and illustrator Daisuke Izuka's light novel series of the same name. Sao is publishing the series monthly on Alphapolis' website. Alphapolis released the eighth compiled volume of the manga in print on December 10.

The first television anime adaptation of the light novel series premiered in July, and a second season premiered earlier this month. Crunchyroll streamed the first season and is streamingthe second season. Sentai Filmworks will release the first season on home video.

Sekai Project has not yet released a final cover image for the first volume of GATE. The image above right is the Japanese cover for volume 1.

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Erica Lindbeck, Max Mittelman Star in Your Lie in April English Dub Cast

Also: SAEKANO, The Anthem of the Heart, Durarara!! ×2 The Second Arc release details revealed

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Aniplex of America announced the English dub cast for Your Lie in April at Otakon Vegas on Friday. The cast, under ADRdirector Patrick Seitz, includes:

• Max Mittelman as Kousei Arima
• Erica Lindbeck as Kaori Miyazono
• Erica Mendez as Tsubaki Sawabe
• Kyle McCarley as Ryota Watari
• Erika Harlacher as Emi Igawa
• Erik Kimerer as Takeshi Aiza
• Stephanie Sheh as Nagi Aiza
• Julie Ann Taylor as Nao Kashiwagi
• Robbie Daymond as Saito
• Wendee Lee as Saki Arima
• Carrie Keranen as Hiroko Seto
• Cristina Vee as Koharu Seto

Aniplex of America plans to release the first Blu-ray volume with the first 11 episodes on March 29, followed by the second with episodes 12-22 on May 31. Both will retail for US$159.98.

Aniplex of America streamed Your Lie in April on the Aniplex Channel, Hulu, and Crunchyroll.Naoshi Arakawa's original shōnen manga that inspired the anime follows Kōsei Arima, a former child prodigy who lost his ability to play the piano when his mother died. His daily life is monochrome, but it begins to gain color when he meets a female violinist by chance. Kaori Miyazono is an audacious go-getter who is overflowing with personality. Enchanted by the girl, Kōsei starts to move forward with his own legs at the age of 14.

Kyōhei Ishiguro (Fairy Tail, Psycho-Pass episode director) directed the anime at A-1 Pictures off scripts by Takao Yoshioka (High School DxD, WATAMOTE). Yukiko Aikei (Accel World, Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere) served as character designer and chief animation director. Masaru Yokoyama (Queen's Blade, Freezing Vibration) composed the music, while Jin Aketagawa (High School DxD, anohana) served as sound director.

Aniplex of America also revealed release details for SAEKANO(Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend), The Anthem of the Heart, and Durarara!! ×2 The Second Arc. The 13-episode SAEKANOseries will ship in two Blu-ray Disc sets on March 29 and May 31. The release will not include an English dub, and bonuses include illustration postcards, clear Blu-ray Disc cases with two-sided wraps, and a package illustrated by original character designer Kurehito Misaki. Pre-orders start on January 18. Each Blu-ray Disc set will retail for US$89.98 and have a store price of US$69.98.

The company will release the import version of The Anthem of the Heart in limited and standard Blu-ray Disc editions on March 30. Pre-orders start on January 18. The limited edition will include three discs (the feature disc, a bonus disc, and an audio CD). The audio CD will include the original soundtrack, musical part, and a special voice drama. Other extras include a booklet, a 52-page theatrical pamphlet, and video extras. The limited edition will retail for US$104.98 with a store price of US$84.98. The standard edition includes one Blu-ray Disc and retails for US$69.98 with a store price of US$54.98.

Aniplex of America will release Durarara!! ×2 The Second Arc in two DVD and Blu-ray Disc sets (technically volumes 3 and 4) on March 22 and May 24. Pre-orders start on January 18. The releases will include Japanese and English audio and English and Spanish subtitles. The Blu-ray Disc sets each retail for US$99.98 with a store price of US$79.98, and the DVD sets each retail for US$59.98 with a store price of US$49.98. Volume 4 will include episode 13.5.

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Hyrule Warriors Legends Video Shows Adventure, My Fairy Modes

3DS Musou-style game ships in Japan on January 21

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KOEI Tecmo Games posted a gameplay introduction video on Friday for Hyrule Warriors Legends(Zelda Musou: Hyrule All-Stars), the Nintendo 3DS edition of the Wii U game Hyrule Warriors(Zelda Musou). In the video, game producer Yōsuke Hayashi and voice actress Ruriko Aoki preview the game's Adventure Mode and My Fairy fairy-raising mode.

The game will feature all the characters from Hyrule Warriors, as well as most of Hyrule Warriors'DLC characters (with the exception of Ganon and Cucco). Hyrule Warriors Legends will also includeLinkle, Skull Kid from Majora's Mask; Ganondorf (the 3DS version will feature him with a new trident weapon); and Tetra, Toon Link, and the King of Hyrule from The Wind Waker as playable characters. All the new characters can be added to the Wii U game from the 3DS game.

Hyrule Warriors Legends will ship in Japan on January 21 for 5,800 yen (about US$47), or 5,143 yen (about US$42) from the Nintendo eShop. The first editions of the game will include a download number for an original 3DS theme. A premium box version retailing for 9,800 yen (US$79) will include a compass-shaped pendant watch and an official setting document collection book. A treasure box edition available only on Amazon.co.jp and Gamecity will include a "Zelda Musou special ocarina performance set," a "fluffy fairy plush" that speaks, the compass-shaped pendant watch, and the official setting document collection book. The treasure box edition retails for 13,800 yen (US$111).

The game will ship on March 25 in North America and Europe. A limited edition of the game in Europe will include a compass. Those who purchase the game in N. America will get an original 3DS home menu theme for a limited time.

Hyrule Warriors for the Wii U shipped in Japan in August 2014 and in the West in September 2014.

Source: MoCa

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Crunchyroll Adds Ghost Stories Anime to Catalog

Includes "infamous" English dub and original Japanese audio with subtitles

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Media distribution service Crunchyroll announced on Thursday that it has added the Ghost Stories (Gakkō no Kaidan) anime series to its catalog. The anime is available with both its "infamous" English dub and the original Japanese audio with subtitles.

The anime is available to Crunchyroll users in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. The entire series is available for premium users, while only the first 10 episodes are available for free users, with the remaining 10 episodes available next week.

Crunchyroll describes the series:

When nearby construction disturbs a spiritual resting place, it's disgruntled denizens so what any supernatural being would do after a rude awaking - they terrorize the local school.

And that means it's up to a scruffy band of young ghost hunters to expel their satanic schoolmates before everyone gets sent to permanent detention! Meet Satsuki, her crybaby brother, the resident class stud, the school nerd and “psychical researcher,” a born again beauty, and a resentful, demon-possessed cat in the funniest, scariest school you've ever enrolled in.

The 20-episode anime premiered in Japan in 2000. ADV Films released it in North America on five DVDs released from 2005 to 2006. Discotek released the complete series on DVD in March 2014 with the English dub and original Japanese audio.

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Norn9, Girls Beyond the Wasteland to Stream on Anime Network, Hulu

Undefeated Bahamut Chronicle to also stream on Anime Network outside of the U.S.

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Sentai Filmworks and The Anime Network announced via press release on Friday that the Norn9 and Girls Beyond the Wasteland anime series will stream on both Hulu and Anime Network Online. Additionally, The Anime Network also announced that it is streaming the Undefeated Bahamut Chronicle anime series outside of the U.S. Sentai Filmworkshad announced earlier on Friday that Undefeated Bahamut Chronicle would stream "exclusively" on Hulu.

All three series are streaming on Hulu through the company's No Commercial and Limited Commercials subscription plans. The episodes will then be available one week later on the freeHulu.com website.

All three series are available on Anime Network Online through its subscription plan. Norn9 and Girls Beyond the Wastelandare available in the following countries/areas on Anime NetworkOnline: the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, South Africa, Latin America, the Netherlands, Scandinavia, Turkey, the Middle East, and North Africa. Undefeated Bahamut Chronicle will stream on Anime Network Online in the following countries/territories: Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, South Africa, Latin America, the Netherlands, Scandinavia, Turkey, the Middle East, and North Africa.

Norn9 and Girls Beyond the Wasteland began streaming on Thursday on both sites, andUndefeated Bahamut Chronicle will debut on both sites on January 11.

Sentai Filmworks has licensed all three series and plans to release them on home video.

Norn9 adapts Otomate's Norn9: Norn + Nonette PSP otome game for female players. Sentai Filmworks describes the story:

Based on the visual novel of the same name, the story follows a 12-year-old boy named Sorata Suzuhara who finds himself transported to an alternate time, and possibly a different world. Aboard the Norn, a giant spherical ship that acts as a miniature city, Sorata joins three girls and nine young men on a journey toward an unknown destination...

The anime's main cast are reprising their roles from the game. Takao Abo (episode director forEureka Seven, Macross Frontier, assistant director for Lunar Legend Tsukihime) is making his directorial debut at Kinema Citrus and Orange. Tetsuo Ichimura (Ane Log, episode director forBleach, Penguindrum) is serving as assistant director, Natsuko Takahashi (My Love Story!!, 07-Ghost) is handling the series composition, and Yukari Takeuchi (animation director for Bleach, Uta no Prince-sama - Maji Love 1000%) is adapting Teita's original character designs for anime and is also serving as chief animation director. Nagi Yanagi performs the show's opening theme song.Kaori Oda (Baccano! Pandora Hearts) performs the ending theme song.

Girls Beyond the Wasteland adapts MinatoSoft's Shōjo-tachi wa Kōya o Mezasu (~Girls beyond the youth KOYA~) game. In the story, Buntarō is a student who wants to be something, but doesn't know what. One day his female classmate Sayuki announces she is working on a bishōjo (pretty girl) game. Sayuki scouted him because he wrote a good script for drama club, but Buntarō doesn't know anything about bishōjo games.

Takuya Satō (Selector Infected Wixoss, Steins;Gate, Mission-E) is directing the anime at Project No.9, with scripts by Yuniko Ayana (Bakuman., Hori-san to Miyamura-kun, Kinmoza! Kiniro + Mosaic), based on the game's original scenario by Romeo Tanaka. Takayuki Noguchi (Queen's Blade 2: The Evil Eye, Ro-Kyu-Bu!, Papillon Rose) is adapting the character designs for animation, based on Matsuryū's original character designs for the game. Takahiro (Akame ga KILL!, Yuki Yuna Is a Hero) is planning the project. Sayaka Sasaki is performing the opening theme song "Wastelanders" and the voice actresses for Sayuki (Haruka Chisuga), Yūka (Kana Hanazawa), Teruha (Satomi Akesaka), and Uguisu (Satomi Satou) are performing the ending theme song "Sekai wa Kyō mo Atarashii" (The World is New Again Today).

The cast are reprising their roles from the game.

The story of the Undefeated Bahamut Chronicle light novel series revolves around Lux, a former prince of an empire named Arcadia that was overthrown via a rebellion five years earlier. Lux accidentally trespasses in a female dormitory's bathing area, sees the kingdom's new princess Lisesharte naked, and incurs her wrath. Lisesharte then challenges Lux to a Drag-Ride duel. Drag-Rides are ancient armored mechanical weapons that have been excavated from ruins all around the world. Lux used to be called the strongest Drag-Knight, but now he's known as the "undefeated weakest" Drag-Knight because he will absolutely not attack in battle. After his duel with Lisesharte, Lux ends up attending the female-only academy that trains royals to be Drag-Knights.

Masaomi Ando (Gakkō Gurashi!, Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse, White Album 2) is directing the series at Lerche(Assassination Classroom, Monster Musume, Danganronpa The Animation). Yuuko Kakihara (Heaven's Lost Property, Unbreakable Machine-Doll) is handling the series composition, Keiko Kurosawa (Assassination Classroom, Re:_Hamatora) is designing the characters for animation, and Orange (Accel World, Terror in Resonance, Tiger & Bunny) is producing the 3D CG animation.

TRUE is performing the opening theme "Hiryū no Kishi" and nano.RIPE (Hana-Saku Iroha,Humanity Has Declined) is performing the ending theme "Lime Tree."

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Top-Selling Anime CD Singles: 2015

BUMP OF CHICKEN's Blood Blockade Battlefront single sells 208,845, followed by 3 Love Live! film singles, Unison Square Garden's BBB single

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This list covers sales surveyed from December 8, 2014 to December 13, 2015.

Rank	Estimated Sales in Discs	Title	Anime
		Artist
1	208,845	Hello, world!/Colony	Blood Blockade Battlefront
		BUMP OF CHICKEN
2	131,274	Angelic Angel/Hello, Hoshi o Kazoete	Love Live! The School Idol Movie
		μ's/Rin Hoshizora (Riho Iida), Maki Nishikino (Pile), Hanayo Koizumi (Yurika Kubo)
3	125,225	SUNNY DAY SONG/?←Heartbeat	Love Live! The School Idol Movie
		μ's/Eli Ayase (Yoshino Nanjou), Nozomi Tojo (Aina Kusuda), Nico Yazawa (Sora Tokui)
4	124,254	Boku-tachi wa Hitotsu no Hikari"/"Future Style	Love Live! The School Idol Movie
		μ's/Honoka Kōsaka (Emi Nitta), Kotori Minami (Aya Uchida), Umi Sonoda (Suzuko Mimori)
5	90,965	Sugar Song to Bitter Step	Blood Blockade Battlefront
		UNISON SQUARE GARDEN
6	86,128	Love & Peace/sHi-tai!	Duel Masters VS R
		CROSS GENE
7	78,994	Hard Knock Days	One Piece
		GENERATIONS from EXILETRIBE
8	68,099	Boku no Kotoba de wa Nai Kore wa Boku-tachi no Kotoba	The Heroic Legend of Arslan
		UVERworld
9	65,213	The IDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls Animation Project 01 Star!!	The IDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls
		Cinderella Project
10	63,302	Seven Deadly Sins	The Seven Deadly Sins
		MAN WITH A MISSION

Source: Oricon

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Top-Selling Animation DVDs in Japan: 2015

1st Yōkai Watch film sells 133,738, followed by CG Doraemon film, The Last -Naruto the Movie-,Totoro, When Marnie Was There

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This list covers sales surveyed from December 8, 2014 to December 13, 2015.

Rank	Estimated Sales in Discs	Title	Maker	Release Date
		Artist/Categtory
1	133,738	Movie Yo-kai Watch: Tanjō no Himitsu da Nyan! (Special Price Edition DVD)	SGK/MFI	15/7/8
		Animation
2	89,074	Stand By Me Doraemon (DVD Limited-Time Price Edition)	SGK	15/2/18
		Animation
3	76,158	Despicable Me 2 (14.09)	NUE	14/9/3
		Animation
4	56,010	Despicable Me (12.04)	GUE	12/4/13
		Animation
5	53,323	Despicable Me Mini Movie Collection 500-Yen DVD	NUE	14/12/19
		Animation
6	34,687	The Last: Naruto The Movie (Limited Complete Pressing)	ANX	15/7/22
		Animation
7	29,823	Toy Story of Terror!	WDS	15/7/2
		Animation
8	29,068	My Neighbor Totoro	WDS	14/7/16
		Animation
9	27,983	When Marnie Was There	WDS	15/3/18
		Animation
10	26,836	Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F'	TOE	15/10/7
		Animation
11	23,052	Disney Short Film Collection	WDS	15/8/26
		Animation
12	22,637	Utano☆Princesama Revolutions 1 (DVD+CD)	K	15/7/1
		Animation
13	21,496	Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin I	BVS	15/4/24
		Animation
14	19,529	Yo-kai Watch DVD-Box 2	SGK/MFI	15/3/25
		Animation
15	18,194	Utano☆Princesama Revolutions 2 (DVD+CD)	K	15/8/5
		Animation
16	17,102	Yo-kai Watch DVD-Box 1	SGK/MFI	14/10/29
		Animation
17	16,204	Kiki's Delivery Service	WDS	14/7/16
		Animation
18	15,718	The Tale of the Princess Kaguya	WDS	14/12/3
		Animation
19	14,079	The Last: Naruto The Movie ( Standard Edition)	ANX	15/7/22
		Animation
20	13,952	Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin II	BVS	15/11/26
		Animation
21	13,637	Kuroko's Basketball3rd Season 1	BVS	15/4/24
		Animation
22	12,754	The Little Mermaid Special Edition	WDS	13/10/23
		Animation
23	12,728	Tom and Jerry Dodo-nto 32 Supersized Pack Vol. 1	WHV	13/8/21
		Animation
24	12,588	Aladdin Special Edition (08.08)	WDS	08/8/6
		Animation
25	12,226	Minions&Despicable Me+Bonus DVD DVD Series Pack (Limited First Pressing)	NUE	15/12/2
		Animation
26	12,039	Kuroko's Basketball3rd Season 2	BVS	15/5/27
		Animation
27	11,830	Madagascar 3 (14.11)	FOX	14/11/21
		Animation
28	11,693	Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F'Special Limited Edition	TOE	15/10/7
		Animation
29	11,604	One Piece Log Collection Fish-man Island	AVP	15/8/28
		Animation
30	11,575	Kuroko's BasketballFan Disc Fan Disc	BVS	14/12/25
		Animation
31	11,567	Free! Eternal Summer4	KYA/Iwatobi High School Swimming Club ES	14/12/17
		Animation
32	11,267	Laputa: Castle in the Sky	WDS	14/7/16
		Animation
33	11,164	Madagascar Special Edition	FOX	14/11/21
		Animation
34	11,052	One Piece Log Collection "SHIRAHOSHI"	AVP	15/9/25
		Animation
35	10,901	Uchū Senkan Yamato 2199: Hoshi-Meguru Hakobune	BVS	15/5/27
		Animation
36	10,522	Eiga Crayon Shin-chan: Ora no Hikkoshi Monogatari ~Saboten Daishūgeki	SDO	15/11/6
		Animation
37	10,089	Haikyu!! Vol. 8 DVD	TOH	15/2/18
		Animation
38	10,084	Detective Conan: Sunflowers of Inferno(Limited Special First Pressing)	SGK	15/11/25
		Animation
39	9,797	Summer WarsLimited-Time Special Price Edition	VAP	15/7/1
		Animation
40	9,758	Utano☆Princesama Revolutions 3 (DVD+CD)	K	15/9/2
		Animation
41	9,705	Haikyu!! Vol. 9 DVD	TOH	15/3/18
		Animation
42	9,343	Haikyu!! Vol. 6 DVD	TOH	14/12/17
		Animation
43	9,152	Doraemon: Nobita no Space Heroes	SGK	15/8/5
		Animation
44	8,976	Haikyu!! Vol. 7 DVD	TOH	15/1/21
		Animation
45	8,879	Spirited Away	WDS	14/7/16
		Animation
46	8,699	Utano☆Princesama Revolutions 5 (DVD+CD)	K	15/11/4
		Animation
47	8,542	Yo-kai Watch DVD-Box 3	SGK/MFI	15/9/25
		Animation
48	8,505	Utano☆Princesama Revolutions 4 (DVD+CD)	K	15/10/7
		Animation
49	8,477	Finding Nemo (07.06)	BVH	07/6/20
		Animation
50	8,410	Free! Eternal Summer7	KYA/Iwatobi High School Swimming Club ES	15/3/18
		Animation

Source: Oricon

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