After Hours Weekly News

First thing this week on After Hours Weekly News…

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Everyone here at Midnight Anime Radio wishes you a happy (and safe) Halloween!

Sword Art Online PSP

This week, Namco Bandai announced that they would be releasing a special edition PSP of Sword Art Online that includes a bunch of goodies. First of all, it includes a soundtrack CD, a special booklet, a custom (and very sweet) PSP themed skin and some special content DVDs. This PSP is scheduled to hit Japanese stores on March 14^th. The special edition PSP is going for 9,980 yen (about $125) and the standard for 6,280 yen (around $78). If you would like to pre-order one now you can head over to AmiAmi.

FUNimation and Xbox Video Team Up

Yesterday (Oct 26, 2012), Microsoft launched its new operating system Windows 8 and also announced that it would be partnering up with FUNimation to sell certain anime at a discounted price on their new platform called Xbox Video. FUNimation will be selling the first six episodes of Dragon Ball Z season one and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood season one at a discounted price until the end of January; around 50 percent off! Also, Xbox Live/ Windows 8 consumers will be able to download episode one of Samurai Champloo and FLCL for free.

Windows 8 also hit Japan this past week and many people lined up to buy it. One difference is that in Japan, the new operating system has its own anime girls! Here are some photos from Akihabara, Japan during the launch party.

Source: Scott Green

Massaki Yuasa’s Kick-Heart Anime Hits Fundraising Goal

In our previous podcast, we talked a little bit about this fundraiser that Production I.G/Masaaki Yuasa had organized and this week they were able to reach their main goal! The project also added new stretch goals on Wednesday and will add new features/content if they reach these goals. There’s only a few days left so if you have a chance you should check out their project and maybe consider donating!

Also, a Japanese/Thai  IT company Goopa launched a preview of their new crowd funding service Anipipo this week. This is somewhat like the website KickStarter but only focused on funding animated projects. This might lead to a new era where people are funding these anime projects instead of people that are only focused on making money.

We need your help!

So this news segment has been out for a couple of weeks now and I would like to hear from you guys! What do you think about the content that is coming out every week? What can we do better or differently? Make sure to comment (or send us an e-mail) bellow and follow us on our Facebook!

Episode 10/25/12 - I'll Baccano You!

Hello guy's we have another great show for you guys. In this show we discuss the Funimation/ Senti suit and we discuss the Kick Heart kickstarter that you all should support! Here is a link:
kickstarter-production ig's masaaki yuasas's kick-heart
We also have Nick's review Baccano! and I have a interview with Leah Clark leftover from NDK 2012. Sorry, my Fafner review seems to have disappeared. Enjoy!

6 seconds Dashing Discourse

1 minutes 40 seconds Intro

10 minutes 42 seconds News

18 minutes 59 seconds Nick's review of Baccano!

28 minutes 51 seconds Leah Clark's Interview

Listen Now!

After Hours Weekly News

Steins;Gate Film Announced!

     The new Steins;Gate movie will be premiering in Japan inSpring 2013.  The MAGES president ShikuraChiyomaru tweeted that the anime movie will feature an original story with a new conclusion to the time travel mystery. The TV series directors will also beback: Hiroshi Hamasaki and Takuya Sato (chief directors). Tickets will go onsale on November 10 and will come bundled with one of four metal charactercharms. Also, the movie will be shown at 17 theaters across Japan. Hopefully itmakes its way over to the US and other countries.

     Something I might add is that a new character has beenannounced for the upcoming Steins;Gate novel that will be released this winter; thenovel is called Steins;Gate: Heijikyokuson no Epigraph. Her name is Maho Hiyajo(who is voiced by Sayuri Yahagi) and she’s the Japanese American university associate(or senpai) of Kurisu Makise and is an expert in neuroscience/artificialintelligence. There’s some fan speculation that the new novel will tie in withthe new movie that is coming out next year.

Source: Steins;Gate Movie Website

Amazon.co.jp Opens Online Pokémon Store

     In a partnership with game developer Game Freak andNintendo, Amazon has launched an online Pokémon store that offers over 10,000Pokémon merchandise! Some of the things they offer in the store were once only availableat the Japanese Pokémon Store (Pokemon Center Tokyo). They also offer alifesized Pikachu that’s priced at ¥3,800 or $48 US dollars. The shipping costis somewhat expensive when you’re shipping to the United States or any othercountry but if you’re a big fan of the series, this is a great opportunity tobuy unique merchandise.

Source: Amazon.co.jp, Life size Pikachu

New Puella Magi MadokaMagica Show Considered After 3^rd Film

Artist: Yamasan

     This week, writer Gen Urobuchi revealed in a newspaperinterview that the Madoka Magica staff is considering making a new televisionseries after the third film. In the interview, he said that plans for ahalf-year series are being considered. He also commented that he would like tosee new writers working on this project. Hopefully this new series (if its evermade) will be just as good as the last series.

The new Madoka movie has been doing quite well in Japan. Injust over a week, it earned $3.9 million (US dollars) and has been sitting atthe #11 spot in the Japanese box office.

Source:Anime News Network

Evangelion: 3.0 YouCan (Not) Redo

With less than a month to go before (November 17^th)the next Rebuild of Evangelion movie premieres in japan, a lot of newinformation, advertisements, and new merchandise have been popping up all overJapan. Here’s a trailer that was played on the wall of Tokyo's Shinjuku Wald 9 Theater. 

There's also a new Sante FX eye drop commercial:

and last but not least, Sante FX ads in Akihabara, Japan. Photos taken by Mikikazu Komatsu.