Nintendo is hosting a Pokémon Direct live-stream event at 6:30 am PST (9:30 am EST) in the morning of Thursday, January 9th, 2020.
No further details regarding the content of the 20 minute video were made available.
Source: Nintendo
All posts by Frederick Linsmeyer
New opening and closing songs announced for My Hero Academia
The fourth season of My Hero Academia is well underway and the official site of the series has announced titles of the new songs that will open and close the show starting Saturday, January 25th, 2020.
The song “Star Marker” by KANA-BOON is the new opening, while “Shout Baby” by Green / Yellow Society will end each episode. Singles for these titles go on sale March 4th, 2020 and February 19th, 2020 respectively.
KANA-BOON’s music was used previously in both Naruto Shippuden and Boruto: Naruto Next Generations as well as the film Boruto: Naruto the Movie.
Additionally, a new promotional image for the episode airing on Saturday, January 11th, 2020 was released the same day as the news regarding the opening and closing themes.
Source: My Hero Academia Official Site
Sony unveils PlayStation 5 logo
With the expected launch of the PlayStation 5 later this year, Sony shared the logo for their next generation console on Instagram.
Similar to that of previous logos, Sony continues with the abbreviation PS5 and retaining the PlayStation icon that was created 25 years ago.
Source: Instagram
Crunchyroll shares the most popular anime of the 2010s
As 2019 transitions into 2020 across the globe, Crunchyroll has revealed some interesting statistics about the anime watched throughout the decade on its platform.
For North America, the most popular anime in Canada was Attack on Titan. In the United States and Mexico, that was Naruto Shippuden.
However, in South America, it was Goku that reigned supreme with Dragon Ball Super; Brazil was the only exception as Naruto Shippuden came out on top there.
Europe was a toss up with no clear winner. My Hero Academia (Norway, Sweden, Denmark), Naruto Shippuden (Spain, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina), Black Clover (France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Greece, Russia), Attack on Titan (Ireland, Finland), and JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure (Poland, Belarus) clashed for the top anime watched on the continent.
In the Middle East Naruto Shippuden, its successor Boruto: Naruto Next Generations and Black Clover took the cake. Naruto was popular in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates; Boruto was watched most in Yemen and Black Clover in Iraq and Iran.
Africa loved Black Clover the most, especially in Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Egypt, Nigeria and Sudan were busy watching Naruto Shippuden. South Africa, however, went with My Hero Academia.
Anime fans in Asia can’t get enough of Naruto Shippuden; the series led in Kazakhstan, India, Nepal, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Indonesia. Black Clover was top in Turkmenistan, Tajikistan. Boruto: Naruto Next Generations was big in Uzbekistan. But in Japan, Crunchyroll users watched the American RWBY (considering they can watch most anime on television).
Down under in Oceania, both Australia and New Zealand were busy watching My Hero Academia; Papua New Guinea and Guam were caught up on Naruto Shippuden. Boruto: Naruto Next Generations took Fiji, Niuie, Palao and Samoa. Micronesia loved Fairy Tail, Nauru enjoyed Ace Attorney, and on Norfolk Island watched Bladedance of the Elementalers.
But the biggest surprise came with the continent of Antarctica where Hunter x Hunter was the most watched anime. So when the scientists were finished watching the penguins, weather and other environmental factors, they streamed some good anime.
Source: Crunchyroll
My Hero Academia creator shares artwork for New Years 2020
Kohei Horikoshi, the artists and writer of the manga My Hero Academia, shared artwork to ring in 2020 on his personal Twitter account today.
明けましておめでとうございます！昨年はヒロアカをご愛顧頂きありがとうございました！今年も楽しんでもらえるよう描いて参ります！Happy new year! Thank you so much for your support to Heroaca last year! I will do my best this year as well,so enjoy! pic.twitter.com/SLN214de4F
— 堀越耕平 (@horikoshiko) December 31, 2019
In the drawing, Izuku Midoriya, Katsuki Midoriya, Minoru Mineta, Shoto Todoroki, Mina Ashido and Ochaco Uraraki are dressed in traditional Japanese robes while flying kites. For Midoriya, it’s his hero All Might, while Bakugo’s kite has broken free. Mina still has control of Eijiro Kirishima, and Ochaco with Tenya Iida.
Horikoshi included a message in both Japanese and English thanking fans of his manga and wishing them the best (along with himself) in 2020.
Source: Twitter
MMA fighter wears cosplay to fight in Japan
This year is the 20th anniversary of the Naruto manga by Masashi Kishimoto and there has been no shortage of famous people bearing tribute. MMA fighter Michael “Venom” Page was in Japan last week and donned an Akatsuki cloak and headband with the Village Hidden in the Leaves emblem scratched out akin to the outfit Itachi Uchiha wears.
A video posted to Reddit’s r/Naruto sub-forum shows Page approaching the stage, complete with the Naruto run (running with arms stretched behind the back) and with a kunai in his mouth.
MMA fighter, Michael “Venom” Page, cosplays as Itachi Uchiha during his walkout last night in Japan. from Naruto
Page was in Japan for the Bellator 237 fight where he took on Shinsho Anzai which took place on Saturday, December 28th, 2019 at the Saitama Super Arena.
Page defeated Anzai in the second round with a knockout.
Sources: Reddit, Comic Book, MMA Mania
Fire Force heats up with second season in 2020
A second season of the anime Fire Force will air in 2020 was announced today with new artwork and trailer on Funimation’s blog.
The brief 30-second video includes a short recap of the first season, character montages and a peek in what’s to come for next year as the battle between Company 8 and the White Cloaks intensifies.
Fire Force is based on the manga of the same name by Atsushi Ohkubo.
The first season of Fire Force is available on Crunchyroll and FunimationNow.
Source: Funimation
Promo artwork and video for episode 74 of My Hero Academia
The fourth season of My Hero Academia anime is well underway, and a new promotional video and artwork for episode 74 was released today.
Izuku “Deku” Midoriya and Mirio “Lemillion” Togata are studying as interns under Sir Nighteye in their journey to become professional heroes. Part of their mandate is to discretely gather as much information about the Shie Hassaikai and their interactions with the League of Villains.
Episode 74 of My Hero Academia airs this Saturday, December 28th, 2019 and is available for streaming on Crunchyroll and FunimationNow.
The anime of My Hero Academia is based on the manga of the same name by Kohei Horikoshi.
Source: Natalie
Second season for Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- to air April 2020
A second season for Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- was announced, which is expected to air in April 2020. This comes following a remastered version of the first season as one hour episodes titled Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World Zero- beginning on January 1st, 2020.
The official web site for the anime also shared artwork in anticipation of the specials next month; these will broadcast in Japan on AT-X, Tokyo MX, TVh, KHB, TV Aichi, KBS Kyoto, Sun TV, TVQ Kyushu Broadcasting, and BS11.
Additionally, a nearly three-minute video to promote Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World Zero- was released on Friday.
Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- first aired in 2016 with 25 episodes and is available on Crunchyroll.
Source: 『Re:ゼロから始める異世界生活』アニメーションポータル
Good Smile Company reveals new Naruto Nendoroid
The Good Smile Company announced that a new Nendoroid of Naruto Uzumaki in his Six Paths Sage Mode form from Naruto Shippuden is in the works.
A photo posted to their English Twitter account shows a painted model shows Naruto in this mode, with Truthseeker Orbs behind him, kunai and bo staff in hand. Nendoroids include additional facial expressions and accessories along with a stand for display.
More information, photos, price and release date are expected soon.
From "Naruto Shippuden", Nendoroid Naruto: Six Paths Sage Mode Ver. is coming soon! Here is a first look at the painted prototype! Stay tuned for more information coming soon!#NarutoShippuden #Naruto #nendoroid #goodsmile pic.twitter.com/HG7rAkuTY0
— GoodSmile_US (@GoodSmile_US) December 21, 2019
Source: Twitter