Pictures and Wallpaper: April 2011

Hear Aqua Timez sing Sen no Yoru wo Koete here! | Bleach - Memories of Nobody movie premieres 2 May 2011 on Animax Asia

Changed the post title because of baka-girl and Kia-chan's comments below ^^

Is it coincidence that I started this draft at 5.02PM? Yeah, didn't think so.

Bleach - Memories of Nobody premieres 2 May 2011, Monday, 7PM WIB (UTC+7), on Animax Asia. Japanese audio with subtitles.

Unidentifiable spirits begin appearing, and while dealing with them, Ichigo and Rukia meet a mysterious shinigami who may know what is happening.
–Animax synopsis

Get at least 20% discount on Gramedia publications at all Elex Comic Centers from 23-30 April 2011 [UPDATED]

Soooo sorry I didn't advise this earlier, but the Elex Comic Center (ECC) near me didn't SMS.

Anyhoo, you still have till tomorrow to avail of this end of April discount for ALL Kompas-Gramedia publications.

ECC Members

Discount	Term/Condition
20%	< IDR 100,000 spend
25%	> IDR 100,000 spend

Non-ECC Members

Discount	Term/Condition
10%	< IDR 100,000 spend
15%	> IDR 100,000 spend

Source: ECC Bintaro

"A boy's story ends" and Busou Renkin begins 28 April 2011 on Animax Asia

Airs weekdays at 830PM WIB (UTC+07)
Japanese audio with subtitles

The Busou Renkin anime premieres this tonight, 28 April 2011, at 830PM WIB on Animax Asia, replacing Kekkaishi.

Find it a little hard working up enthusiasm for the Busou Renkin premiere—especially as I always feel like going "If a boy's story ends," why should I bother to watch? whenever I see the ad. Not only does Animax actually answer the question (Because A hero's saga begins), I remember being so invested in this anime back in the 2006/2007 day. Perhaps I just need to sit myself down in front of the screen to dispel the meh.

When Kazuki Muto discovers he can wield the powerful weapon Busou Renkin, he decides to use it to eliminate the evil monsters plaguing his hometown.
–Animax synopsis

Love So Life 3, Ugly Duckling Become Swan 11, Crazy Girl Shin Bia 1 by Hwang MiRee (m&c! 27 April 2011 manga and manhwa) [UPDATED]

*fans self* Hot (and hella long) in herre. *looks sideways at hortatory Cyan-san* :D

Speaking of compelling persuasion, props to m&c! hyping Crazy Girl Shin Bia as one of Hwang MiRee's best. This Smells like New Sexy Simpleton meets jjang hybrid stimulated enuf GET! salivation, I expect stock to run out. (Yes, hyperbolic much.)

[Crazy Girl Shin bia] © Hwang MiRee/Samyang
Published in Indonesia by Gramedia/m&c!

Shin Bia, a beautiful but tuff orphan, has mastered such a scary array of martial arts, even gang bosses quail at the mere mention of her (not enough though to preclude nicknaming her Crazy Girl).

One day, a jade necklace whaps Crazy Girl upside teh head. Etched on the antique gold pendant is the kanji for “King.” And before you can say, “Look out behind you!”, Shin Bia is run over by Destiny — in the form of a handsome prince on a white steed.

That this soonjung romance manhwa is also known as Crazy girl Shin Bi-Ah goes to the alien world!! 「크레이지걸 신비아 이계로 가다!!」 ought to tell you why I liken it to New Sexy Simpleton, an earlier time-slipping Hwang MiRee product. Aside from Travel Back in Time into Alternate History and Strong Female Lead-ness, Possessive Lover also applies. (If that there cover isn't a hint, I don't know what is.)

All told, 19 volumes, so expect to shell out some IDR 318,400 if you become invested enough to collect. If it makes you feel any better, that rupiah total is roughly equivalent to USD 37.

Since we're already in HMR territory —

Ugly Duckling Become Swan 11 of 13 by Hwang MiRee

«I held your hand that cold day, wanting to end the lie.»

DoJin, I really like you... Would you kiss me?

«I can live with being a fat ugly duckling forever. The important thing is for me to kiss you...»

Glek. Mio is daring, isn't she? Actually wanted to lead with the Ugly Duckling Become Swan 11 cover, but a Kim DoJin in a Santa cap doesn't quite fit the end-of-April profile.

Now for the top DO WANT! —

Love So Life 3 of 6+ by Kouchi Kaede

Engulfed by the warmth of the Terminally Keyoot Twins™ and their Your kindness is killing me! Uncle Seiji, Shiharu hones her nanny skills to pro standards. But the day when she runs her own daycare is still far, far off; for now, she busies herself preparing for the school cultural festival.

When Sei-tan drops by the café Shiharu and her classmates have set up, Shiharu is torn between happiness and anxiety.

Why??

(Lina-chan, I hope you appreciate the effort I put into adapting m&c!'s summary to make Love So Life sound a little less of a treadmill. For those of you who just went Wut? after reading that, Lina-chan fondly describes LSL thus for its jalan di tempat or walking with nowhere to go narrative. AKA treadmilling.)

Cherry 53/2011: Super Sweet ☆ Honey Ends

Sekai Seifuku ☆ Honey
© Aoi Michiru/
Shogakukan [Ciao]
Published in Indonesia
as Super Sweet ☆ Honey

Aoi Michiru's Super Sweet ☆ Honey (originally Sekai Seifuku ☆ Honey) headlines Cherry 53/2011 for the simple reason that the Love for you makes me stronger! ex-Ciao serial concludes this edition with Episode 3: Vol. 3: All for Love!

The other Ciao manga continuing their serialization are I am not a Maid! by Iwaoka Meme (Episode 3 this issue taken from Maid ja Naimon! volume 1), My Lovely Class Leader ♥ by Nishimura Tomoko (Episode 27 from Gokujou!! Mecha Mote Iinchou vol. 9) and the side story about The Other Girl × The Guy's Middle School Friend—Her Boyfriend!?—that attaches to She, Between He and Me, now that Morita Yuki's Kare to Kanojo to Kanojo has finished.

As for the (defunct) ChuChu shoujo serials, we get 7 Centi! Memory 9. I assume Nanajima Kana's series closes in on The End as that ninth chapter comes from 7 Cenchi! volume 3 of 3. Meanwhile, we have a long way to go before Yomogi Loves Money? by Arai Kiyoko wraps: this issue's Episode 4 hails from Yomogi Mochi Yaketa? tankou 1 of 4.

Completing the mangazine installments are the Flowers josei drama Dawn Aria by Akaishi Michiyo (Episode 30 from Akatsuki no ARIA volume 9 of 11+) and sneak peeks into komikus Archie the Redcat's Panel!, Gita Juwita's Pakai Baju Apa Hari Ini? (What to wear today?) and Bijou's Between You and Me, all lifted from the local KOLONI romance antho Cinta Sang Fashionista released last January.

☂, IV No longer exclusively shoujo, the 4.27 restocks [RE-STO] include the Long Hu Men side story The Story of Wang Fenglei volumes 1 through 7, each carrying an IDR 85,000 price tag (unchanged from the time these things first streeted). Though considering the finale Book 10 releases today, wonder why m&c! didn't bother restocking Books 8 and 9, too? (Moar on the current Tony Wong kungfu manhua below.) Don't worry though; m&c! reverts to an all-shoujo line-up for the 4 May restock. Couldn't care less? How about if I tell you — My Sweet Kaicho and You Can't Disappear From Me? *evil grin*

m&c! manga (2011.04.27)

Golden Age 15 of 15 by Samukawa Kazuyuki [Finale]

Golden*Age 「ＧＯＬＤＥＮ★ＡＧＥ」
by Samukawa Kazuyuki
Shogakukan Shonen Sunday, shounen
Volume 15 first published in Japan 2009.10

Love So Life 3 of 6+ by Kouchi Kaede

Love So Life 「ＬＯＶＥ　ＳＯ　ＬＩＦＥ」
by Kouchi Kaede
Hakusensha Hana to Yume, shoujo
Volume 3 (chapters 11-16) first published in Japan 2010.01

Adaptations
Marine Entertainment released a drama CD in March 2010, starring seiyuu Noto Mamiko as Nakamura Shiharu and Ono Daisuke as Matsunaga Seiji.

My Kingdom (Ore-sama Kingdom) 2 of 4+ by Yagami Chitose

Ore-sama Kingdom 「オレ様キングダム」
by Yagami Chitose
AKA Kings of My Love
Shogakukan Ciao, shoujo
Volume 2 first published in Japan 2010.04

Sky Blue Beach (Sorairo Kaigan) 4 of 6 by Yamada Nanpei

Sorairo Kaigan 「空色海岸」 by Yamada Nanpei
Hakusensha Bessatsu Hana to Yume, shoujo
Volume 4 first published in Japan 2008.02

Other languages
English Skyblue Shore (TOKYOPOP: two volumes per 2011.03; further releases cancelled)

Manhwa (2011.04.27)

[Series Premiere] Crazy Girl Shin Bia 1 of 19 by Hwang MiRee

Crazy Girl Shin bia 「크레이지걸 신비아 이계로 가다!!」
by Hwang MiRee
Samyang, soonjung
Volume 1 first published in Korea 2008.03

Sandwich Girl 8 of 8 by Han YuRang [Finale]

Sandwich Girl 「샌드위치 걸」 by Han YuRang
Samyang, soonjung
Volume 8 first published in Korea 2006.12

Ugly Duckling Become Swan (Miunohri to Swan) 11 of 13 by Hwang MiRee

Miunohri to Swan 「미운오리 백조되기」
by Hwang MiRee
Samyang (Kkonnim), soonjung
Volume 11 first published in Korea 2007.12

[Release links are hide/unhide. Click for more details.]

Mangazine (2011.04.27)

Cherry 53/2011 (largely Ciao and ChuChu serials)

Hong Kong manhua (2011.04.27)

Long Hu Men - Next Level 2 by Tony Wong [IDR 70,000]
[Series Premiere] Pedang Maha Dewa 4: Amazing Weapons - The Lost Blade 1 by Tony Wong [IDR 80,000]
The Story of Wang Fenglei Book 10 of 10 by Tony Wong & Dick Kwong [Finale] [IDR 95,000]

AMERO comics (2011.04.27)

Monika dan Kawan-Kawan (Turma da Mônica) 140 by Mauricio

KOLONI local comics (2011.04.27)

[Premiere] Hantu by Onnie Krisnayana, Ida Arianti, Edwin "Tyo Kuuma" Prasetya, Risza A. Perdhana
Intan Permata Rimba 3 by Hans Jaladara
[Premiere] Jagoan Koloni: Gunnhildr by MazJojo, Amanokawa Osa & Deasy Ekawati, Muhammad Fathanatul Haq

[RE-STO] Restocked (2011.04.27)

The Black Swindler 12, Angel Heart 7, Moon - Subaru Solitude Standing 1 (Level Comics 27 April 2011 manga)

I lead with the third Most Wanted Manga because I can.

Moon © Soda Masahito & Tomiyama Kuro/Shogakukan
[Serialized in Big Comic Spirits]
Published in Indonesia by Elex Media/Level Comics

If Subaru 11 left discontent like prickles on your skin, grumble no more. The sequel Moon premieres this Wednesday.

After leaving New York, Miyamoto Subaru joins a German ballet company in Berlin where she meets Nico, a talented ballet dancer who has lost his vision. Subaru asks Nico to pair up with her and dance the Blue Bird pas de deux, promising to show Nico “another world.” Sadly, their dance disappoints.

To add, Baka-Updates Manga sez that Nico lost his ballet partner and lover in the same accident that took away his sight and asks Will Subaru be able to reach out to him, and help him to once again dance with a partner? In doing so, will she be able to find her own place in this world?

So, Ballet, Blind Dancer, Strong Female Lead, Romantic Subplot on tap.

The Black Swindler 12 of 20 by Kuromaru & Natsuhara Takeshi

Kurosaki's bankruptcy fraud case appears to be linked to a similar fraud perpetrated by the Tachimoto company 12 years previously, which caused 100 Tachimoto partner firms to go belly up.

Who's the perp behind the original crime? And can Kurosaki close this case with his brand of justice served?

Previews of the Pair of Sevens (Angel Heart 7 and K2 volume 7) after the release list.

New ROMICs/BDs

Le temps des copains
© André Geerts/Dupuis
Published by Level Comics
as Jojo - Sahabat Sejati

On the bande dessinée side, Level double launches Jojo, the late André Geerts's slice of life series, starring the seven-year-old eponym. In Sahabat Sejati ("True Friend," originally Jojo 1: Le temps des copains), Jojo shares his new experiences of school, camp and play with buddy Louis. Everything is fair game, even dreams.

Meanwhile, in Kabur Dari Rumah ("Runaway," Jojo 2: La fugue de Jojo), bad grades net Jojo punishment from grandma and provisioned with what amounts to snacks, Jojo runs away from home, making grand-mère cry.

With the premiering Jojo, that makes—what?—nine BD series for Level? Can you name them? (The comment box is below ^^)

Level Comics manga (2011.04.27)

Angel Heart 7 of 33 by Hojo Tsukasa

Angel Heart 「エンジェル・ハート」
by Hojo Tsukasa
Shinchosha (Coamix) Comic Bunch, seinen
Volume 7 first published in Japan 2003.06

Related series
City Hunter (Adapted from; 35 of 35 volumes), Angel Heart 2nd Season (sequel; one volume per 2011.03.19)

Other languages
French (Génération Comics and Panini Comics)

Adaptations
Adapted into anime by TMS, starring seiyuu Kamiya Akira as Saeba Ryo and Kawasaki Mao as Shan-In Glass Heart Lee. Fifty episodes adapting manga volumes 1 to 18 aired in Japan from October 2005 to September 2006.

The Black Swindler (Kurosagi) 12 of 20 by Kuromaru & Natsuhara Takeshi

Kurosagi 「クロサギ」
by Kuromaru & Natsuhara Takeshi
Shogakukan Young Sunday, seinen
Volume 12 (chapters 120-130) first published in Japan 2006.12

Awards
Best Seinen/General Manga, 53rd Shogakukan Manga Awards (2007), along with Sekiya Tetsuji's Bambino!

Related
Shin Kurosagi (sequel; 10 volumes per 2011.03.30)

Adaptations
An 11-episode live-action renzoku starring Yamashita Tomohisa (Kurosaki) and Horikita Maki (Yoshikawa Tsurara) aired on TBS from April to June 2006. A movie starring the same leads premiered in Japan on 8 March 2008.

K2 volume 7 of 14+ by Mafune Kazuo

K2 「Ｋ２」 by Mafune Kazuo
Kodansha Evening, seinen
Volume 7 first published in Japan 2007.09

[Series Premiere] Moon - Subaru Solitude Standing 1 of 7+ by Soda Masahito & Tomiyama Kuro

Moon—Subaru Solitude Standing— 「ＭＯＯＮ」
by Soda Masahito & Tomiyama Kuro
Shogakukan Big Comic Spirits, seinen
Volume 1 (chapters 1-10) first published in Japan 2008.02

Other languages
Traditional Chinese (Tong Li Taiwan: MOON~昴‧續篇~ 6 released 2011.01.20)

Related series
Subaru (prequel; 11 volumes)

[Release links are hide/unhide. Click for more details.]

European comics/BDs (2011.04.27)

[Premiere] Jojo - Kabur Dari Rumah (Jojo 2: La fugue de Jojo) by André Geerts (Dupuis)
[Series Premiere] Jojo - Sahabat Sejati (Jojo 1: Le temps des copains) by André Geerts (Dupuis)

Nodame Cantabile 23, Nakayoshi 4/2011 (Elex Media 27 April 2011 manga) [UPDATE2: Dream Eater Merry 1 by Ushiki Yoshitaka postponed]

Update2 Elex sez in the 4 May STO that Dream Eater Merry 1 did not release on Wednesday. ~~Keeping it here though because it's not repeated in next week's list.~~ It's tentatively skedded for 11 May 2011. Will confirm later.

Nodame Cantabile © Ninomiya Tomoko/Kodansha
[First serialized in Kiss]
Published in Indonesia by Elex Media

After disappearing, Nodame finally returns to Paris. She also embraces the piano again, this time playing her own Free and Gleeful music though. Chiaki begins to accept the path Nodame is determined to take, but all that changes when Nodame performs Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 31.

You can see why I didn't tack on "of 23" to Nodame 23 in the post title — to accommodate the not-so off-chance that Elex publishes the two-volume Encore Opera Hen as Nodame Cantabile 24 and 25 — just like Kodansha and (Tong Li Taiwan) did.

I reinstate Kariage kun 41, per Elex's 4.27 STO. The New Kobochan 1-4 reprints that didn't release on the 20th are skedded for 4 May. (Back story here.)

New Elex manga

Whilst the Arsène Lupin edu-manga generated favorable buzz long before volume 1 actually got a street date, Dream Eater Merry emerges as the top new manga DO WANT!, prolly owing to its recent anime adapt. Elex's summary —

Mimpi manusia adalah dunia, dan penguasa dunia-dunia yang dikunjungi saat tidur ini adalah para setan mimpi. Suatu ketika, hal sebaliknya terjadi; para setan mimpi juga ingin berkunjung ke dunia manusia. Untuk itu, mereka butuh wadah berupa tubuh manusia yang mereka kuasai kesadarannya. Mimpi buruk mengalir ke dunia nyata, dan yang menghadang mereka hanya satu, Merry Nightmare, setan mimpi yang terlempar keluar ke dunia manusia dan justru mencari jalan pulang.

—goes on about the role reversal of dream demons wanting ingress to the human world and needing to possess human vessels, which is where our heroine Merry comes in, for she needs to stop the leaking nightmares...I find the Elex blurb convoluted (but still skosh stingy on Why invest? detail), so I truncated the translate. If, like me, you prefer the Fujiwara Yumeji-centric synopsis, »here's an informative one from Wikipedia. (Of course, you won't need it if you've watched the anime.)

Edit (per 2011.05.01) As advised at the top of the post, Dream Eater Merry will likely street on the 11th.

Kaitou Lupin ©
Maurice Leblanc and
Kazumine Daiji/
The Kumon Manga Library
Published in Indonesia
Arsène Lupin
by Elex Media

Elex also apparently wants to introduce a new generation to the eponymous Arsène Lupin, gentleman burglar who can disguise himself as anyone. In volume 1 of Kazumine Daiji's Kumon Manga Library classic, the mysterious thief is rumored to have boarded the cruise ship Provence, his alleged presence unleashing terror on passengers Close Circled by an ocean.

Will Lupin get caught? And who will do the catching?

The third premiere is the boxing troped Stand Up!, the volume 1 cover of which just makes me go Pfft! and then Guffaw! (But then again, I'm not the target demographic. Not really burning to become strong(er) through boxing, you know.) Rounding out the newbies is another Doraemon Movie manga duo, Petualangan Nobita di Kota Mainan —First and Last— based on the 1997 Doraemon: Nobita's Adventure in Clockwork City film.

Nakayoshi 4/2011: Animal Official debuts

Watashi ni xx Shinasai!
© Toyama Ema/
Kodansha

That XX Me!'s Yukina is Nakayoshi Gress! 4's cover girl promises breath-stealing Shigure × Yukina doki-doki, but the conventional newsworthy is the debut of Fukushima Haruka's Animal Official. Circumstantial evidence makes a case for this a half-human creature slinks into the animal club; he evinces Dracula manga equaling 1-nen 5-kumi Ikimo Gakari, the ex-Nakayoshi Lovely Vampires and Werewolves, oh my! serial. Further assuming that Animal Official replaces CHOCOLATE by the same manga-ka.

The other Nakayoshi pals per the cover line-up are: Arisa by Ando Natsumi, Hell Girl Return by Eto Miyuki and Jigoku Shojo Project, Little Marchen and Ogawa and Team Saito by Sakyo (the latter's volume 5 released last February), Little Shugo Chara! by PEACH-PIT & Naphthalene Mizushima, Navi Runa by Kikuta Michiyo & Ikeda Miyoko and Shugo Chara! Encore! by PEACH-PIT.

Elex Media manga (2011.04.27)

[Series Premiere] Arsène Lupin 1 of 5 by Maurice Leblanc and Kazumine Daiji

Kaitou Lupin 「怪盗ルパン」
Original story by Maurice Leblanc; Illustrations by Kazumine Daiji
The Kumon Manga Library, educational manga
Volume 1 first published in Japan 1997.12

Blooming Youth (Hanasakeru Seishounen) 2 of 12 by Itsuki Natsumi

Hanasakeru Seishounen 「花咲ける青少年」
by Itsuki Natsumi
Hakusensha LaLa and LaLa DX, shoujo
Volume 2 first published in Japan 1990.05

Other languages
Traditional Chinese 天國少女 (Tong Li Taiwan, 12 volumes)

Related series
One-shot sequel (Melody 27 June 2009) and Hanasakeru Seishounen: Tokubetsuhen (one volume per 2011.03)

Adaptations
A 39-episode anime adaptation by Studio Pierrot, starring seiyuu Endo Aya (Kajika Louisa Kugami Burnsworth), Morikawa Toshiyuki (Huang Li-Ren), Ono Daisuke (Eugene Alexandr De Volkan), Namikawa Daisuke (Rumaty Ivan Di Raginei) and Fukuyama Jun (Carl Rosenthal) that aired between April 2009 and February 2010 on NHK, and at least two theatrical runs of a stage adaptation, the first premiering 29 September 2010 in Tokyo

Doraemon 6 of 45 by Fujiko F. Fujio (right-to-left edition)

Doraemon 「ドラえもん」 by Fujiko F. Fujio
Shogakukan Tentoumushi Comics, kodomo
Volume 6 first published in Japan 1974.12
(Premiered in Indonesia: 1994 [left-to-right format])

Awards
Best Children's Manga, 27th Shogakukan Manga Awards, Grand Prize, the first Osamu Tezuka Culture Award (1997) and the Excellence Award, Japan Cartoonists Association Awards (1973)

Related series
Doraemon Plus (sequel; 5 of 5 volumes), Daichouhen Doraemon (side story; 24 of 24 volumes); Dorabase: Doraemon Chouyakyuu Gaiden (spin-off; 21 volumes, ongoing) and The Doraemon's Special (spin-off; 12 volumes)

Adaptations
A 52-episode anime adaptation by Nippon TV (1973.04 - 1973.09), a 1,787-episode series by Shin-Ei Animation (broadcast on TV Asahi from 1979.04 - 2005.03), a 2005 adaptation by Shin-Ei Animation and Studio Pierrot (premiered 2005.04.15; 300+ episodes) and numerous movies

[Premiere] Doraemon Movie: Petualangan Nobita di Kota Mainan —First— (Eiga Doraemon: Nobita to Neji maki Toshi Boukenki) by Fujiko F. Fujio

Doraemon Movie: Petualangan Nobita di Kota Mainan (First) (Elex)

Eiga Doraemon: Nobita to Neji maki Toshi Boukenki
「映画ドラえもん　のび太のねじ卷き都市冒険記　上」
by Fujiko F. Fujio
Shogakukan Tentouchuu Anime Comics, kodomo
Volume 1 (Prologue-chapter 4) first published in Japan 1997.07

Related
Based on the 1997 movie Doraemon: Nobita's Adventure in Clockwork City

[New] Doraemon Movie: Petualangan Nobita di Kota Mainan —Last— (Eiga Doraemon: Nobita to Neji maki Toshi Boukenki) by Fujiko F. Fujio [Finale]

Doraemon Movie: Petualangan Nobita di Kota Mainan (Last) (Elex)

Eiga Doraemon: Nobita to Neji maki Toshi Boukenki
「映画ドラえもん　のび太のねじ卷き都市冒険記　下」
by Fujiko F. Fujio
Shogakukan Tentouchuu Anime Comics, kodomo
Volume 2 (chapter 5-8 and epilogue) first published in Japan 1997.07

Related
Based on the 1997 movie Doraemon: Nobita's Adventure in Clockwork City

~~[Series Premiere] Dream Eater Merry (Yumekui Merry) 1 of 6+ by Ushiki Yoshitaka~~ - POSTPONED

Yumekui Merry 「夢喰いメリー」
by Ushiki Yoshitaka
Houbunsha Manga Time Kirara Forward, seinen
Volume 1 first published in Japan 2008.10

Adaptations
J.C. Staff's 13-episode anime adaptation starring seiyuu Okamoto Nobuhiko (Fujiwara Yumeji) and Sakura Ayane (Merry Nightmare) aired in Japan between January and April 2011.

Here is Greenwood (Deluxe) 3 of 6 (Koko wa Greenwood) by Nasu Yukie

Koko wa Greenwood 「ここはグリーン・ウッド」
by Nasu Yukie
Hakusensha Bessatsu Hana to Yume and Hana to Yume, shoujo
Bunko volume 3 first published in Japan 2001.03

Other languages
English Here is Greenwood (VIZ Media, nine volumes)

Adaptations
A six-episode anime OAV starring seiyuu Sasaki Nozomu (Hasukawa Kazuya), Sakamoto Chika (Kisaragi Shun), Iwata Mitsuo (Ikeda Mitsuru) and Seki Toshihiko (Tezuka Shinobu) released in Japan between November 1991 and March 1993 and a 13-episode live-action renzoku that aired on Tokyo MX from July to September 2008 (Cast: Izawa Yuki, Suzuki Hiroki, Miura Riki and Sato Yuuichi)

Kariage kun 41 of 49+ by Ueda Masashi

Kariage-kun 「かりあげクン」 by Ueda Masashi
Futabasha Action Comics, seinen
Volume 41 first published in Japan 2006.06

Awards
Recipient, 28th Bungeishunjū Manga Award (1982), along with Ueda Masashi's other series Furiten-kun and Masashi-kun and Suzuki Yamato's Ai MY Tenrankai

Related series
Kariage-kun: Chinan dake no Kuchikara Otoko! Hen, Kariage-kun: Itazura Meichin Bamenhen and Kariage-kun: Makenai Onnatachihen (sequels)

Nodame Cantabile 23 of 25 by Ninomiya Tomoko

Nodame Cantabile 「のだめカンタービレ」
by Ninomiya Tomoko
Kodansha Kiss, josei
Volume 23 (chapters 131-136) first published in Japan 2009.11

Related series
Nodame Cantabile - Encore Opera Hen (two volume sequel released in Japan as Nodame Cantabile 24 and 25)

Awards
Best Shoujo Manga, 2004 Kodansha Manga Awards

Other languages
English Nodame Cantabile (Del Rey: 16 volumes per 2009.07.28), French (Pika Édition: Tome 12 per 2011.02.16), traditional Chinese (Tong Li: 交響情人夢 25 released 2011.01.29)

Adaptations
Adapted into an award-winning live-action TV series starring Ueno Juri (Nodame) and Tamaki Hiroshi (Chiaki Shinichi) that aired from October to December 2006 on Fuji TV, followed by a four-hour sequel TV special, Nodame Cantabile New Year's Special in Europe (4-5 January 2008), and two live-action movies: Nodame Cantabile Saishū Gakushō Zen-Pen (Japan premiere: 2009.12.19) and Nodame Cantabile Saishū Gakushō Kou-Hen (2010.04.17).

The first season of the Nodame Cantabile anime aired in Fuji TV's Noitamina programming block from January to June 2007. The 11-episode second season Nodame Cantabile: Paris Chapter ran from October to December 2008. An OAV was bundled with the limited edition manga volume 22 released 10 August 2009. The third season Nodame Cantabile: Finale aired from January to March 2010. Seiyuu Kawasumi Ayako and Seki Tomokazu played protagonists Nodame and Chiaki in all three seasons.

Otoboke Section Chief (Otoboke Kachou) 10 of 23+ by Ueda Masashi

Otoboke Kachou 「おとぼけ課長」
by Ueda Masashi
Houbunsha Manga Time, seinen
Volume 10 first published in Japan 2001.12

[Series Premiere] Stand Up! 1 of 3 by Itagaki Masaya

Stand Up! 「ＳＴＡＮＤ　ＵＰ！」
by Itagaki Masaya
Shogakukan Corocoro Comic, shounen
Volume 1 first published in Japan 2009.07

[Release links are hide/unhide. Click for more details.]

Mangazines (2011.04.27)

Nakayoshi Gress! 4/2011 (Indonesian Nakayoshi)

Chain of Pearl 1 by Minami Kanan, Swear Love on Your Knees by Honda Natsumi, Pet Wiz 1 by Morita Nana (3L manga out now)

Post wrote itself in the title...but NikBabble™. Will. Persist!

3L 2011.04.21 manga: Chain of Pearl 1 by Minami Kanan, Swear Love on Your Knees by Honda Natsumi

Shinju no Kusari © Minami Kanan/Shogakukan [Sho-Comi]
Hizamazuite Ai o Chikae © Honda Natsumi/Shogakukan [Cheese!]
Published in Indonesia as Chain of Pearl and Swear Love on Your Knees by Tiga Lancar Comic/3L

In lieu of ramping up Today the Love Begin and giving us the Christmas and hatsumode episodes of Kyou, Koi wo Hajimemasu 11, 3L procrastinates with another Minami Kanan shoujo series—only a two-volumer this time—consisting of a 9 chapter [love triangle] story with 3 side stories, Chain of Pearl.

Keito-senpai asks Hisa to re-apply as her high school's soccer club manager, and she agrees. There she meets Sakyou, the soccer club ace who scores a big fat zero in manners. But Sakyou is not your regular bishie jerk-and-a-half; he soon uncovers Hisa's secret part-time job. So, of course, the outed Hisa falls for Sakyou, which troubles My name is actually ‘Faithful’ Keito, concealing an unrequited love for Hisa.

Volume 1 contains Chain of Pearl 1 (don't know how many chapters) and A ‘Girlfriend’ with Substance (scanlated as The Fruit Called Grapefruit), Minami Kanan-sensei's debut one-shot about Sachi who forces Takanori to make her his girlfriend, much to the latter's (initial) aversion. (The remaining shorts are in volume 2.) Baka-Updates Manga adds that an additional Chain of Pearl one-shot appears in tankou 1 of LoveSupreme Principle AKA Renai Shijou Shugi.

I discuss Honda Natsumi's Swear Love on Your Knees romance antho and Morita Nana's ongoing seinen 4-koma Pet Wiz after the manga list.

3L shoujo and seinen manga (2011.04.21)

[Series Premiere] Chain of Pearl (Shinju no Kusari) 1 of 2 by Minami Kanan

Shinju no Kusari 「真珠の鎖」 by Minami Kanan
Shogakukan Sho-Comi, shoujo
Volume 1 first published in Japan 2002.07

[Series Premiere] Pet Wiz 1 of 2+ by Morita Nana

Pet Wiz 「ＰＥＴ　ＷＩＺ」 by Morita Nana
Ichijinsha 4Koma KINGS Palette Comics, seinen/4-koma
Volume 1 first published in Japan 2009.08

[Premiere] Swear Love On Your Knees (Hizamazuite Ai o Chikae) by Honda Natsumi

Hizamazuite Ai o Chikae 「ひざまずいて愛を誓え」
by Honda Natsumi
Shogakukan Cheese!, shoujo
This anthology first published in Japan 2008.02

[Release links are hide/unhide. Click for more details.]

baka-girl's manga that should be adapted into anime

Another random list from me — this time, listing manga that should be adapted into anime. I have lots of favorite manga, but so far, only six that I think suitable for the anime treatment. I'm one of those people who think some manga are better off remaining manga, especially shoujo ones like Skip Beat! (can't stand the anime) and Vampire Knight (the anime's character design looks weird imo). It's just my personal opinion though, no offense ^^

DO WANT!

Sargent-Caterina engagement

Towards the end of my newspaper work day, I swung by Colburn Park in Lebanon, N.H., to do an engagement photograph this afternoon. I'm going to be at their wedding ceremony at the Echo Lake Inn in Tyson, Vt., in a few weeks. I'm looking forward to it!

Golden Gloves

The other day in Windsor, Vt., I photographed boxer Chris Gilbert in a training session for a Valley News story about his upcoming fight in the Golden Gloves National Tournament of Champions. In a short amount of time, I could tell Gilbert is determined to compete (and win) on the big stage.

Boxer Chris Gilbert, of Windsor, take a breather between three-minute training sessions at Windsor Boxing Club on Tuesday.

More photos from workout can be seen here. And click here to read Jared Pendak's story.

i-Site Cycle 7 and 8

Cycles 7 and 8, saw activity from Powers, Jack Daniels, Bank of Ireland, Absolut, Carlsberg, Jagmeister and Bulmers. We have added new sites in Wilton, Mucky Duck, Village Inn, Sibin, Carberrys, Vortex, Dandelion and Walsh's.

Watch the videos below and see the media come to life.

The New and Then: Anime Roundup!, Part I

Spring 2011 anime first impressions and recently completed Winter 2011 anime reviews by Kia (Some rights reserved)

The New (Slice of Lifers)

Hanasaku Iroha

Short Summary

Sixteen-year-old Ohana Matsumae struggles to find herself amidst the ups and downs of teenage life. Raised by a single parent, Ohana holds an odd view regarding childbirth. In fact, she's still questioning her own existence. With a mother she can't look up to, who comes saddled with an irresponsible boyfriend, Ohana doesn't expect life to turn 180 degrees when her mother suddenly goes on a moonlight flit and sends Ohana to a hot springs inn belonging to Ohana's grandmother. Without any options, Ohana spends her remaining high school life living and working at the inn.

[Review] Perfect Love Project 1 by Han YuRang ~ From crude humor to (hopefully) some subliminity

m&c! street date: 20 April 2011

Nae Soong 9 Dan Project © Han YuRang/Samyang Publishing Co. Ltd.
Published in Indonesia as Perfect Love Project by PT Gramedia/m&c!

Perfect Love Project 1 by Han YuRang: From crude humor to (hopefully some) subliminity
Soonjung manhwa review by huamulan03 (Some rights reserved)
Rating: 6.75 of 10 ♥

The lowdown

Freckled school lunch thief Jung Daum constantly squabbles with perfect (plastic-surgeried) elder sis Jung Arem and their bickering degenerates into out and out catfight when they try to win the lurve of bishie school idol Jun Ki.
[Adapted from m&c!'s summary]

Thoughts and impressions
m&c!'s Sibling Rivalry/Love Triangle back cover blurb sends false signals, seriously simplifying this soonjung manhwa's premise and doing an injustice to its (albeit arguable) charm. Why do I say say say so? (Apologies to Hwang MiRee for co-opting her manhwa's title.)

Literary agent Malaga Baldi and I just completed a site for her New York City-based business, the Baldi Agency. Click here to read about Malaga's work and the authors she represents.

My Sweet Kaicho 11 is #1 DO WANT! across the (Gramedia) board [UPDATED]

Of all manga (and manhwa) streeting Wednesday, including Elex and Level releases, My Sweet Kaicho 11 leads the GET! votes (“polling” booth: LXO forum).

Kaichou wa Maid-sama! © Fujiwara Hiro/Hakusensha [Serialized in LaLa]
Published in Indonesia as My Sweet Kaicho by PT Gramedia/m&c!

Family interruptus Usui × Misaki intimacy. The Usui clan mandates Usui's transfer to Miyabigaoka, Seika High's elite rival. Misaki tells herself she doesn't mind, so how come this voice inside whimpers «No...»

And for those also reading/collecting the English TOKYOPOP Maid Sama!, just to let you know that with TOKYOPOP's closure, titles releasing after 4 May—including Maid Sama! 9 advertised for 2011.05.31—have been cancelled (via Manga Worth Reading's Johanna Draper Carlson-san, thank you).

Beauty Pop 9 of 10 by Arai Kiyoko

Elsewhere, in the penultimate Beauty Pop, Team Scissors Project manages to advance round after round of the All Japan Beauty Contest. But just as victory is within reach, the ties binding the team begin to fray.

Female Wolf's Boy 15 of 17 by Han YuRang

And talking about tempers fraying, Cha Eun Soo reverts to her violent self in volume 15 of Female Wolf's Boy. JaeHee who tries to calm EunSoo's a*se down gets clobbered for his efforts. What prompted to EunSoo's rampage?

Female Wolf's Boy isn't the only Han YuRang soonjung manhwa slated for the 20th. Perfect Love Project also debuts.

New m&c! titles

Before I blurb Perfect Love Project, volume 1 of which I gave 6.75 of 10 ♥, lemme mention the other (manga) debuts: Kiss & Harmony by Takamiya Satoru and The Ring of God by Obara Shou, both serials Cherry mangazine graduates. Misaki Aya's Love Love Nurse (ex-Ciao) completes the 4.20 premieres.

Perfect Love Project 1 of 8 by Han YuRang

Jung Daum likes to steal her classmates' food. No one suspects the Big Eater of being the younger sister of school beauty queen, Jung Arem.

When Jung Daum bumps into Jun Ki, the bishie school idol, she falls and falls...hard. Her sprawl into the lurve gutter pits her against Jung Arem who also likes Jun Ki.

Can Jung Daum beat her own sister for Jun Ki's heart?

[The other newbie previews continued after the releases lists.]

You already know that Han YuRang is responsible for Female Wolf's Boy, but m&c! also publishes her Sandwich Girl, Idol's Love Story and Secret.

KOLONI local comics (2011.04.20)

The third installment of Galang Tirtakusuma's Garudaboi promises Kaboom! and Planetary Doom (original Indonesian summary below):

Bumi dalam bahaya besar! Bosan cuma mengirimkan pasukan alien meteor ganjen, sang pemimpin Alien dari planet 4l4y datang sendiri untuk menginvasi bumi! Bumi memang memiliki Garudaboi dan kawan-kawan, namun mampukah jagoan kita menghadapi musuh misterius ini? Senjata pamungkas apa yang sedang disiapkan Garudaboi untuk mengalahkan sang alien?

☂, III m&c! continues to rain down restocked [RE-STO] shoujo manga, and again, they swamp the actual STO/Standing Order. Expect at least one more deluge next week (except that one also includes shounen manhua). Just have to note that of the 4.20 restocks, Gift Under The Rainbow is actually Gift Under The Rainbow volume 1 (of 2) by MOONSTONE & Yukiwo.

BTW, any unlinked restocked title means its premiere predates my blogging or it slipped down some Telor Ceplok crack.

m&c! manga (2011.04.20)

Beauty Pop 9 of 10 by Arai Kiyoko

Beauty Pop 「ビューティーポップ」 by Arai Kiyoko
AKA Beauty Pop Stage 2¹
Shogakukan Ciao, shoujo
Volume 9 first published in Japan 2007.10

Notes
¹ Beauty Pop went on short hiatus before returning in October 2006 as Beauty Pop Stage 2. The “sequel” covers volumes 7 to 10. The tankoubon releases, however, are still titled Beauty Pop.

Other languages
Serialized in the Indonesian Cherry (concluded)
English Beauty Pop (VIZ Media: 10 volumes), French (Soleil: tome 10 per 2010.04) and traditional Chinese 俏麗魔髮師 (Tong Li Taiwan)

Adaptations
A drama CD was released in November 2004, starring seiyuu Minagawa Junko (Koshiba Kiri), Seki Tomokazu (Narumi Shogo), Makoto Aoki (Ochiai Kazuhiko), Shimono Hiro (Minami Kei), Kurata Masayo (Aoyama Kanako), Shimozaki Hiroshi (Komatsu Taro) and Hoshino Mitsuaki (Koshiba Seiji).

Jun X Ai Sensation (Jun'ai Sensation) 4 of 5 by Oobayashi Miyuki

Jun'ai Sensation 「純★愛センセーション」
by Oobayashi Miyuki
Shogakukan ChuChu Comics, shoujo
Volume 4 first published in Japan 2009.12

[Premiere] Kiss & Harmony (Koyoi Oto Furu Sora no Shita) by Takamiya Satoru

Koyoi Oto Furu Sora no Shita
「今宵音降る空の下」 by Takamiya Satoru
Shogakukan ChuChu, shoujo
This volume first published in Japan 2009.10

Serializations
Serialized in the Indonesian Cherry (concluded)

[Premiere] Love Love Nurse by Misaki Aya

Love Love Nurse 「らぶらぶ・ナース」 by Misaki Aya
Shogakukan Ciao, shoujo
This anthology first published in Japan 2009.02
(Contains four stories)

My Sweet Kaicho (Kaichou wa Maid-sama!) 11 of 12+ by Fujiwara Hiro

Kaichou wa Maid-sama! 「会長はメイド様！」
by Fujiwara Hiro
Hakusensha LaLa, shoujo
Volume 11 first published in Japan 2010.08

Awards
Fujiwara Hiro-sensei won the 'Outstanding Debut' award at the 31st Hakusensha Athena Newcomers Awards in Japan for this manga.

Other languages
English Maid Sama! (TOKYOPOP: eight volumes per 2011.03, cancelled), French (Pika Édition: Maid Sama! tome 7 ships 2011.05.04), German (Carlsen Comics: Maid-sama Band 7 street date: 2011.08.26; serialized in Daisuki), simplified Chinese (Chuang Yi: 会长是女仆 #11 released 2011.02), traditional Chinese (Ever Glory Taiwan: 學生會長是女僕！ 10 per 2010.12)

Adaptations
J.C. Staff's 26-episode anime adaptation, starring seiyuu Fujimura Ayumi (Ayuzawa Misaki) and Okamoto Nobuhiko (Usui Takumi) aired from April through September 2010 on TBS and Animax Asia. An earlier released Kaichou wa Maid-sama! drama CD featured Kobayashi Sanae and Sugita Tomokazu as Misaki and Usui.

Related
An official fan book, Kaichou wa Maid-sama! Koushiki Fan Book Goshujin-sama mo dai manzoku was released June 2010 by Hana to Yume Comics Special.