Last week I had the bittersweet opportunity to assist to one of the now many otaku gatherings in the city I’m currently studying in. – “It was an adventure!” – of course I could say that but I won’t, simply because this event was light years away from being more interesting than going to the store at midnight to get some milk for my cereal. That would be betraying my own principles and lowering my standard on entertainment even more, which is happens too often in the anime and videogame community nowadays . . .

Read more!

“It’s a bit hard commenting publicly on this, but the most popular comics on the mobile are adult-oriented ones for women” said Yusuke Nakabashi, a media consultant at Nomura research. It’s true, a growing number of Japanese women are getting their freaky boy love manga in their phones.

The New York times profiles the rise of the mobile phone as a manga reading platform in Japan, where last year mobile manga sales grew 43%. Out of the whole mobile manga market 70% are females in their 20’s and, you guessed it, most are using them to buy Yaoi. Apparently girls are more open to indulge in their boy love fantasies when they cant be seen buying or reading the stuff.

However, this can be a mighty useful tool for prospecting dates. Forget reading her text messages while she’s in the restroom, checkout her manga reader for yaoi. If you find some you might want to reconsider meeting that athletic and trendy friend she keeps mentioning. You know how she says you need some male bonding? Yeah, she’s speaking literally.

[The New York Times]

It’s the summer, schools are out and now is the time when flirtation kicks into high gear. The subtle hair flip, the cutey laugh, you ladies know how to pull out all the tricks. Although there are those times when your makeup goes a little too far. This is where I come in, I’ve scoured the net to bring you BubzBeauty. Ever wanted to get that anime eye look, but just not sure how to pull it off quite right? Bubz takes some of the guesswork out beautification and gives you some tips for the natural look rather than some other tutorials out there.

Knowing is half the battle. So go out, get dolled up, and get ready to show us those big beautiful round…

…eyes.

[BubzBeauty Channel]

Amazing ball point artist Shohei Otomo mashes-up old world Japan with modern themes. Permeating each page are high contrast designs and a provocative subject-matter. While image has a very distinctive look, all display the same manga-influenced style that are just begging to be silk-screened.

I’ve included a gallery with some of his (more tame) illustrations. Consider yourself warned; his drawings are powerful, intense, and often violent. A full list of his works here.

Prepare to be amazed

[Pink Tentacle]

While researching for a post, I came across an interesting concept to reality video. Back in 2007 WIRED had commissioned Yochiro Ono to create the cover design for their November issue. The concept was “Manga Conquers America”. Although it isn’t explicitly said, the evolutionary process highlights the importance placed on the cover design; the first impression. Similar to Bayonetta’s enemy creation, understanding all the elements of the design gives you a greater appreciation for the final product.

[WIRED]

To commemorate the 10th anniversary edition of the original Azumanga manga (oh god has it been that long?) Kiyohiko Azuma will be launching a revamped edition that will contain 3 new 16-page chapters to the series. Starting on June 11. While there’s no news on any international company picking up the rights to distribute this edition you can bet your friendly neighborhood scanlators will be there to help you out while that happens.

While this is excellent news for fans of arguably the best slice of life school comedy ever, its still doesn’t make up for what the fans really want Kiyohiko Azuma to do. Where is our Yotsubato! anime Kiyohiko? Where is it?!

[Comic Natalie / Via ANN]

Yet another trailer for the live action movie adaptation of Blood: The Last Vampire and the movie just keeps looking better each time. This trailer delves a bit more into the plot of the movie and while there are significant differences with the manga, the OVA and the anime series, there’s also quite a bit of reference to these original works. In fact there’s quite a few shots taken directly from the OVA.

The general public will most likely find it cheesy and juvenile but it also might just be the most faithful Hollywood anime adaptation in quite a while.

[TrailerAddict]

There’s probably already an anime or manga for every after-school club Japanese schools have already. Except maybe for the sys admin club, that is, until now! Enter Ubunchu, a school comedy about a sys admin club and their adventures in choosing an OS for their new quad-core machine.

Oh snap! SexyGame 2.0 is out already?!

Its been translated into English by some Ubuntu supporters and distributed as a PDF file for your enjoyment. It’s deliciously geeky, technically accurate, and a perfect example of utopist literature, as everyone knows it’s impossible to get OS fanboys to agree on anything!

[Ubunchu]

Anyone familiar with Berserk, the manga created by Kentaro Miura over 20 years ago is sure to appreciate this Italian fan-made film featuring the mercenary Guts and his colossal sword. A collaboration between LED Productions and Deus Ex Machina Visual Effects Studio, this gritty and dark short directed by and starring Francesco Sanseverino proves that given a chance, even on a-what I am assuming to be-small budget, there is a proper and effective way to translate a manga/graphic novel into a rather stunning, though short film.

Hollywood head cheeses, you may want to whip out a pencil and some paper and start taking notes.

Francesco and company, we here at DDN salute you.

We want to hear what you guys think of this fan-made film. Did you enjoy it? Have you seen any other manga, anime or comic book related fan films? If so, what are some of your favorite fan films?

[Anime Nation]

In these times of economic turmoil and with the Japanese economy officially in a recession, its no wonder the Japanese are questioning the capitalist system. How strangely coincidental then, that a manga version of Das Kapital is being released next month in Japan.

Karl Marx’ complex ideas and dense discourse will surely translate well into manga form, hell if Shakespeare could be manga why not Marx. Next month the Japanese might find they already get the worst parts of communism, loss of individuality, a group centered society and a heavy dose of xenophobia, so they might as well get the shared wealth and cool hats that come with communism.

Lets just hope no one tells them there’s no room for designer clothing in communism, unless everyone wears that one design.

[Japan Probe]