Genki Life Magazine 22 - Winter 2016

Genki Life Anime • Videogames • Manga

Magazine

22

冬 2016 Winter

Dec 21-Mar 19

An Interview with Russian Cosplayer Eleonora Alekseeva Winter Conventions Sankarea: Undying Love Manga Inside!

Also Seiyu¯ s of Autumn 2015 Plastic Memories

Guest of Honors Alicja Chrena Chakravarti Todd Haberkorn Stephanie Sheh Caitlin Glass Lionel Lum Lolita Dark Tadao Tomomatsu

Featured Guests Erica Mendez Lucien Dodge Sarah Williams Lisle Wilkerson Ezra Weisz Edward Bosco Chocolate Covered Cosplay Team Lift XMA Twilight Knights Panda Cubed Victor Frost Kyle Hebert Jen Turner (Space Pizza Cosplay)

Contents

Winter 2016

2 Editor’s Notes

4 Sankarea: Undying Love

Anime Review

11 Convention Schedule 16 Charlotte Anime Review

23 New Anime: Winter 2016

Christmas Slay Belle Katarina

Cover Photo by El Lianos

34 An Interview with Russian Cosplayer Eleonora Alekseeva 49 Manga Releases 61 Anime Character Information 65 New DVD Releases 70 Who’s That Seiyu− of Autumn 2015 73 Those Who Have Passed 2015 78 Plastic Memories An Anime Review

82 Videogame Releases 87 DAGASY - Ho−kago Cho−no−ryoku Senso− Manga Preview

Issue 22, Autumn • December 21, 2015 – March 20, 2016 Genki Life Magazine is published seasonal, quarterly, by The Genshiken of the Inland Empire anime club, a subsidiary of Studio ArtMix: Intelligent Graphic Design. Subscription of this magazine is free of charge. Please email glm@studioartmix.com your request to subscribe to this digital publication as well as any other inquiries about this publication.

Any statements made, expressed or implied in Genki Life Magazine are solely those of columnists and persons being interviewed and do not represent the editorial view of the publisher, who does not accept responsibility of such statements. Unless otherwise specified all design; text, layout, images, graphics, and the selection and arrangement are the copyright works of Studio ArtMix or its partners. No part of this publication may be reproduced, in whole or in part without the written consent of the publisher. Please email glm@studioartmix.com to obtain permission.

Other content are subject to copyright may be the property of their respective owners.

Other material mentioned may not have been used with permission in the publication are so stated herein, but only to promote material on a non-fee basis. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein and/or third party trademarks, trade names and logos contained herein my be the trademarks of their respective owners. All release dates of products/content herein in are accurate as of the publication date and may be subject to change without notification in any form.

Editor’s Note

A

s with each Autumn season, things are winding down for the winter. The two major things we did was Comikaze Expo in Los Angeles and Phoenix Fan Fest in Glendale, Arizona.

Comikaze Expo this was grew by leaps and bounds. Also a little chaotic was the crowd control when we arrived that Halloween morning. This was, the con was mostly held at West Hall with overflow rooms at Hall K. To get from Hall K to West Hall was a walk, which was a pain! But overall, there was a lot to see and things to do. My big thing was seeing Erik Estrada of the 70’s television show, CHiPs. There was also Walter Koenig of the original Star Trek and, more recently, Babylon 5. What got me about Mr. Koenig was that we was wearing an Attack on Titan sweater!

More recently, we attended Phoenix Fan Fest again this year, though it was almost a “no go.” Well, luckily we went. It also happened to me my friends birthday, so I treated her with the weekend trip there. Thankfully, we stayed at “better” hotel. Some of the guests that we saw was mainly Karen Gillan (Doctor Who and Guardians of the Galaxy), Gareth David-Lloyd (Torchwood), Julian Richings (Supernatural), Alaina Huffman (Supernatural and Stargate Universe), Kevin Sorbo (Hercules and Andromeda) and a glimpse of Dirk Benedict (Battlestar Galactica and A-Team).

Oh, Star Wars: The Force Awakens was hella lot better than I expected!

- Ed Gomez

Graphic Designer Publisher-Genki Life Magazine, President–GIE

Staff Publisher & Editor Ed Gomez Graphic Design & Layout Ed Gomez Miriam Barrientos Image Editing John Thompson

glm.studioartmix.com glm@studioartmix.com

Contributors & Writers Derek Boleware, Jr. “Yukimura82” Staff Photographer Michelle Schrokosh Contributing Photos Tim Brillo Andy Van “Yukimura82”

GLM masot by Jennifer Tourtilloitt

2

We’re always looking for contributors to this magazine in the fields of writing, reporting, reviewing, photography and graphic design.

If you would like to contribute to this magazine, please e-mail me at: glm@studioartmix.com or Facebook: www.facebook.com/GenkiLifeMag

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

3

Undying Love

Sanka Rea

4

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

Chihiro Furuya Sankarea さんかれあ TV • April 5 – June 28, 2012 Studio Deen • Aniplex of America http://www.tbs.co.jp/anime/sankarea/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Sankarea:_Undying_Love Director: Hatakeyama, Mamoru Producer: Urasaki Norimitsu Music: Hashimoto, Yukari Character Design: Sakai, Kyūta Writer: Takagi, Noboru Cast: Sanka, Rea = Uchida, Maaya Furuya, Chihiro = Kimura, Ryōhei Saōji, Ranko = Yahagi, Sayuri Furuya, Mero = Iguchi, Yuka

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

5

If

“

my own

happiness will lead the misfortune of others, then being unhappy is probably the wisest

T

ell me if you’ve heard of this before…a high school boy dreams to be with his ideal girl. Not too uncommon among romantic tales, but here’s something that might run your blood cold, pun intended. He likes zombies! He really likes zombie girls, and one day, POOF! Due to the plot, he gets to live with one. With a premise like this, what could possibly go wrong?

Quite a bit actually, yet Sankarea stands out as quite the opposite, as something special. It, however, requires some context.

6

Adapted from a manga of the same name by Mitsuru Hattori, Sankarea was directed by Shin’ichi Omata (also known as Mamoru Hatakeyama), with in-show character designs by Kyūta Sakai. Produced by Studio Deen, for something designated with genre labels such as comedy and ecchi, the series begins rather morbidly. Chihiro Furuya has spent the last several evenings putting his enthusiast facet to work searching for a way to revive his beloved deceased cat. During a couple of these evenings, he overhears the strained cries of a girl his age…desperate to lead a normal life with friends and attend outings. She’s no other than Rea Sanka, the school idol of the local prestigious girl’s academy and the sheltered heir to a rather wealthy, influential name. Through one direct encounter, the zombie otaku and the school idol end up hanging out and working through the nights on what now became a joint project, neither being intimidated by the other. In the most natural of fashions, through this relationship the show breaks down the walls of the stereotypes that would have otherwise defined these two. Chihiro, outside his odd persona and Rea, outside her perfect exterior, reveal themselves to us Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

y

choice.” as characters of depth: sensible, quirky, considerate and kind. In fact, the show does very well—for the most part—in coaxing out the stuff of substance from many of the cast, even the most despicable ones.

Make no mistake, comedy is a prominent fixture in this show— and a welcome one at that—characters playing off one another in funny and even clever ways that forgo heavy reliance on exaggerated visuals. In fact, such restraint promotes that underlying sentiment of unease that balances the frivolity and serves to make the show compelling in a meaningful way.

It’s this ever-present feeling of tragedy that makes the moments that are meant to be tragic doubly so and the instances that are sweet more bitter than before, tragedy that’s driven by two factors: Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

7

One is zombieism itself. Far from being just a fun, but ultimately needless accessory. The show utilizes key aspects of this condition to derive really compelling drama. The specter of mental health and physical well-being wasting away over time looms in whatever air our two leads breathe. While the living dead gain abilities such as super-human strength and insensitivity to pain, they also lose precious things that we, as people, take for granted. The capacity to bask in the sun…to feel warmth… to shed tears.

8

Two is how zombieism is applied to Rea. To live under the confines of a suffocating patriarch who’s, at best, neurotically obsessive and, at worst, possessively abusive to his daughter.

His affection for her is that of a blur between love and lust; a jealous matriarch who doesn’t give a damn; she’s like a songbird in a cage, crooning for her freedom. And so the songbird becomes a zombie. A tragic paradox rings true— she feels more alive dead than she otherwise felt living and here’s where everything falls together. No matter how much she aches to be normal, she can’t. She’s cheated out of experiencing life to the fullest because her condition chains her down.

While the show flirts around humorously with the premise of zombie love, it also holds no illusions to its implications—wish-fulfillment, if not precisely necrophilia. But taking care of a zombie girl is a lot more emotionally demanding than can be preconceived. Rea living with Chihiro as much a romantic nod as it is sanctuary and liberty from her folks, the chemistry of this relationship, from before the girl becomes a zombie, to after the girl becomes a zombie, feels undeniably genuine and the question is brought up constantly, aloud and not.

Is this a lust toward zombie girls or a love toward a girl that now happens to be a zombie?

Any review of this show would be remiss without at least a mention about the direction. While this is Omichi’s first project as the head director, he’s worked on a number of Shaft projects.

He’s a Shaft veteran, and, for anyone familiar with Shaft’s style, that influence is apparent from the get-go: camera angles, theatrical metaphor, abstract imagery etc. But rather than being a mere copy and paste of Akiyuki Shinbo, whose application of said style can be heavy-handed and sometimes irrelevant to the narrative (to make the visuals superficially striking through its unorthodox-ness, in other words), Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

Omichi co-opts the style as something his own, that carries meaning every time is utilized in place of the mundane (which I think is rather beautifully rendered, by the way) rather than something that is abused for novelty’s sake.

Something like a painting or curtains rising and falling to bring the audience in and out of flashbacks adds to sad and bad memories in not only a new way. It adds a whole new layer of melancholy by probing the emotional implications of these ruminations. Something like an arm fading away into nothing in place of a normal slap of the hand conveys far more than a one-fold rejection. In addition, the pacing goes at a slow, but natural pace that’s embedded with a decent amount of subtly that allows the audience to really know about the characters rather than know of them. An example of said subtly can be found in the male protagonist’s usually reserved deadpan of a snark sister, Mero, both in episode 1 and episode 9.

Also, if it can be helped, I recommend watching episode 9 before watching episode 8. It takes place chronologically before episode 8 anyway, and has unfortunately been perceived as a rude detour.

With it being placed in a middle of an ongoing crisis, so much so, that its beauty and genius has been dismissed as mediocre filler.

All of these wonderful things being said, the show suffers substantially on a few fronts. Ecchi. There are actually

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

interesting uses for it in the show. Sparingly, it’s great when it’s used to convey atmospheres of the frankness of freedom and the desperation for affection.

Sparingly, it’s amusing in comedic moments, or at least tolerable. However, the show also goes somewhat heavyhanded on it for titillation’s sake, something which mars characterization and, in general, is just in bad taste, what with how grim, but well-told the series otherwise is. And while the characterization is very good, for the most part, the show also plays up the gimmicky troppiness of some of the characters in a way that can get irritating at times.

Now to end on a happy note, pun intended. Well, maybe not happy, per se, but the audio and visuals of the OP and especially the ED are impressive.

The OP, “Escoragoto,” was done by nano.RIPE. While I can’t say I’m a fan of nano.RIPE’s vocalist on her own, the melody, combined with the musical accompaniment, drum set, electric guitar and electric bass makes for an energetic, uplifting piece; that even then, is tempered somewhat by some of its bitter visuals. Outside of introducing the cast, the OP does a great job saying a lot about each major character without saying anything. In particular, the segment involving Rea surrounded by her parents and household—this really fake, almost dead countenance of geniality pasted on her face when gripped on the shoulder by her father.

Even the title “Escoragoto,” translated from Japanese, means fabrication or pipe dream.

But if there’s any one concise thing I could show to anyone that demonstrates the level of respect the show has for its material in a brief one minute, thirty minute music video, it would be the ED “Above Your Hand” by Anabel.

Soft, sincere, beautiful vocals accompanied by classical guitar, next the electric bass, then the drama of the drum set and embellishing echoes—before revolving back to guitar, the visuals, which take place in the backdrop of the bowling alley Chihiro and Rea first met personally. This plays well with the classic dichotomy of dark and light which, when the female protagonist faces the light’s source, is greeted by the male protagonist. She’s much a figurative as well as literal person brought back to life.

There’s not a whole lot wrong with Sankarea. In fact, it does a lot of things right. It dares to something smarter, darker. More insightful, and heartwarming too. And, for the most part, it succeeds on every account. v ZeroReq011

9

10

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

Convention Schedule Winter 2016 Comic Market

AniRevo: Winter

Tampa Anime Day

December 29–31, 2015 Tokyo Big Sight, Tokyo www.comiket.co.jp

January 3 Art Institute of Vancouver Vancouver, British Columbia www.animerevolution.ca/ winter-event/

January 9 Embassy Suites Tampa Brandon, Tampa, FL www.tampa.animeday.net

KotoriCon

January 15–16 D.C. Everest Junior High School Weston, WI www.evercon.org

New Year’s PartyCon December 31, 2015 – January 1 Holiday Inn Allentown - I-78 (Lehigh Valley), Breinigsville, PA newyearspartycon.com

Ichibancon December 31, 2015 – January 3 Embassy Suites Concord Concord, NC www.ichibancon.com

Ikkicon January 1–3 Renaissance Austin Hotel Austin, TX www.ikkicon.com

Sac-Anime

Ahn!Con January 8–10 Howard Johnson Plaza Kansas City Hotel and Conference Center, Kansas City, MO www.ahn-con.com

Anime-Zap! January 8–10 Embassy Suites East Peoria Hotel & Riverfront Conference Center, East Peoria, IL www.animezapcon.com

Photo by T. Brillo

January 1–3 Sacramento Convention Center Sacramento, CA www.sacanime.com

January 8–9 Rowan College at Gloucester County, Sewell, NJ www.rcgc.edu/Kotoricon/Pages/ default.aspx

Evercon

Newcon PDX January 15–17 DoubleTree by Hilton Portland, Portland, OR www.newconpdx.com

Ohayocon January 15–17 Hyatt Regency Columbus/ Greater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, OH www.ohayocon.org

Anime Impulse

Otakon Vegas

A Taste of Animethon

January 15–17 Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino, Las Vegas, NV www.otakonvegas.com

Taiyou Con January 15–17 Mesa Convention Center Mesa, AZ www.taiyoucon.com

Anime Blues Winterfest Remix January 16 Landers Center, Southaven, MS www.animebluesremix.com

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

January 16–17 Fairplex Exposition Complex Pomona, CA www.animeimpulse.com January 22–23 Shaw Conference Centre Edmonton, Alberta atoa.animethon.org

Anime Apocalypse January 22–24 Hyatt Regency Schaumburg, Chicago, Schaumburg, IL www.animeapocalypse.org

AniMore January 22–24 Hyatt Regency Baltimore Baltimore, MD www.animorecon.com

11

Convention Schedule Winter 2016

Continued

G-Anime

Amelia Con

AniMangaPOP

Katsucon

January 22–24 Palais des Congrès de Gatineau Gatineau, Quebec www.g-anime.ca

February 5–7 Fernandina Beach Recreation Center/Days Inn & Suites Amelia Island At The Beach Fernandina Beach, FL www.ameliacon.com

February 6 Holiday Inn Plymouth Plymouth, UK www.amp.keep-it-secret.co.uk

February 12–14 Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center National Harbor, MD www.katsucon.org

Cos-Losseum January 23–24 Crowne Plaza San Diego Mission Valley, San Diego, CA www.thecosplayinitiativellc.com/ Anime-Convention-Comic-BookConvention.html

Animé Los Angeles January 29–31 Ontario Convention Center Ontario, CA www.animelosangeles.org

Chattacon 41 January 29–31 Chattanooga Choo Choo Chattanooga, TN www.chattacon.org/

Seishun Con February 5–7 Atlanta Marriott Perimeter Center, Atlanta, GA seishun-con.com

Star City Anime February 5–7 Holiday Inn Roanoke - Valley View, Roanoke, VA www.starcityanime.com

Ushicon February 5–7 Wingate by Wyndham Hotel & Conference Center, Round Rock, TX www.ushicon.com/home/

AnniCon

Tsukino-Con

February 6 Anniston City Meeting Center Anniston, AL www.annicon.com

February 12–14 University of Victoria ECS Building Victoria, British Columbia www.tsukinocon.com

SSA+S Toracon February 6 Sarasota School of Arts and Sciences, Sarasota, FL www.ssastoracon.net

AOD (Anime on Display) February 13–14 Santa Clara Convention Center Santa Clara, CA www.aodsf.org

YumeCon USA February 6 Foothill College Los Altos Hills, CA www.fhcollege.wix.com/yumeconusa

Bak-Anime February 6–7 Bakersfield Marriott at the Convention Center Bakersfield, CA www.bak-anime.com

February 13–14 University of Florida, J. Wayne Reitz Student Union Gainesville, FL www.swampcon.tumblr.com

GalaxyFest February 19–21 Antlers Hilton Colorado Springs, CO galaxyfest.org/

Colorado Anime Fest

Anime Crossroads

February 12–14 Renaissance Denver Hotel Denver, CO www.coloradoanimefest.com

12

SwampCon

February 19–21 Wyndham Indianapolis West Indianapolis, IN www.animecrossroads.com

Farpoint Convention

Pensacon

February 12–14 Radisson Hotel North Baltimore Timonium, MD www.farpointcon.com/

February 19–21 Pensacola Bay Center Pensacola, FL www.pensacon.com

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

Zipcon

AniBlaze

Triad Anime Convention

EvilleCon

February 20 University of Akron Akron, OH www.zipcon.weebly.com

March 4–6 Atlanta Marriott Century Center/Emory Area Atlanta, GA www.aniblaze.com

March 11–13 Winston-Salem Marriott Winston-Salem, NC www.triadanimecon.com

March 18–20 Old National Bank Events Plaza Evansville, IN www.evillecon.com

Queen City Kamikaze

Kawa Kon

Omni Expo

March 12 Manchester Memorial High School, Manchester, NH www.queencitykamikaze.com

March 18–20 Airport Marriott St. Louis, MO www.animestl.com/

Rai Con

Shuto Con

March 12 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Glasgow, UK raicon1.wordpress.com

March 18–20 Lansing Convention Center/ Radisson Hotel Lansing Lansing, MI www.shutocon.com

Digi-Con February 21 Doncaster Deaf College Doncaster, UK www.digi-con.co.uk

CollegeCon February 26 Oklahoma Memorial Union Norman, OK www.facebook.com/UPBoku

Anime Matsuri February 26–28 George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston, TX www.animematsuri.com

Visioncon February 26–28 Hilton Branson Convention Center Branson, MO www.visioncon.net

ETSU-Con February 27–28 East Tennessee State University, Culp Center, Johnson City, TN www.etsu.edu/students/sorc/ organizations/etsucon/

AgamaCon March 4–6 Hilton Garden Inn Aiken, SC www.agamacon.com

March 4–6 DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel at the Entrance to Universal Orlando Orlando, FL www.omniexpo.com

Anime Milwaukee March 11–13 Hyatt Regency Milwaukee/ Wisconsin Center Milwaukee, WI animemilwaukee.org

Kami-Con March 11–13 Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex Birmingham, AL www.kamicon.net

Naka-Kon March 11–13 Overland Park Convention Center Overland Park, KS www.naka-kon.com

Shumatsucon March 11–13 Sheraton Columbus Hotel at Capitol Square Columbus, OH www.shumatsucon.com

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

IAFA (The International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts) March 16–20 Orlando Airport Marriott Orlando, FL www.iafa.org/

All-Con March 17–20 Westin Park Central Dallas, TX www.all-con.org/

Manga-ComicConvention March 17–20 Messe Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany www.manga-comic-con.de/de/

Kelowna Fan Xpo March 18–19 Kelowna Community Theatre Kelowna, British Columbia www.kelownafx.com

13

Convention Schedule Winter 2016

Continued

Texancon

LouisiANIME

Kitacon

Tekko

March 18–20 Tarleton State University Stephenville, TX www.texancon.com

March 25–27 Baton Rouge Marriott Baton Rouge, LA www.louisianime.com

April 1 – March 3 Hilton Birmingham Metropole Hotel, Birmingham, UK www.kitacon.org

April 7–10 David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh, PA www.teamtekko.us

Fannatiku Fest

Sakura-Con

Collective Con

AnimeCon Arkansas

March 25–26 Dixie Convention Center Saint George, UT www.fannatikufest.com

March 25–27 Washington State Convention & Trade Center, Seattle, WA www.sakuracon.org

April 1–3 Jacksonville Fairgrounds Jacksonville, FL www.collectivecon.com

April 8–10 Holiday Inn Little Rock-AirportConfrence Center, Little Rock, AR www.animeconarkansas.com

Anime Boston

Animarathon

March 25–27 Hynes Convention Center Boston, MA www.animeboston.com

March 26 Bowling Green State University, Bowen-Thompson Student Union, Bowling Green, OH www.animarathon.com

Nadeshicon

Emerald City ComiCon

Animeland Wasabi March 25–27 Ramada Plaza Northglenn/ Denver North, Denver, CO animelandwasabi.com

Hero Hype March 26 Miami Airport Convention Center, Miami, FL www.herohype.com

April 1–3 Université Laval Quebec City, Quebec www.nadeshicon.ca

April 8-10 Washington State Convention Center, Seattle, WA emeraldcitycomicon.com/

Zenkaikon

Kawaii Kon

April 1–3 Lancaster County Convention Center Lancaster, PA www.zenkaikon.com

NashiCon

Mizuumi-Con April 2–3 Our Lady of the Lake University, San Antonio, TX www.mizuumicon.org

SC Comicon

April 8–10 Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, Columbia, SC www.nashicon.com

Supanova Pop Culture Expo - Gold Coast

April 2–3 TD Convention Center Greenville, SC www.sccomicon.com

April 8–10 Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre Broadbeach, QLD Australia www.supanova.com.au

BotCon

Lebanon Comic Con

April 7–10 Galt House Hotel Louisville, KY www.botcon.com/BotCon2016/

14

April 8–10 Hawaii Convention Center Honolulu, HI www.kawaiikon.com

April 30 – May 1 Cowan Civic Center Lebanon, MO www.lebanoncomiccon.com/

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

16

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

H

“

Charlotte シャーロット TV • July 4 – September 26, 2015 P.A.Works • Aniplex of America charlotte-anime.jp www.charlotteanime.com Director: Asai, Yoshiyuki Music: Maeda, Jun Anant-Garde Eyes Hikarishuyo Writer: Maeda, Jun

ow could I possibly pull this off?! This isn’t something one person can do alone! Especially not me, a lowlife who cheated to get good grades! A goodfor-nothing who thinks about nothing but himself! A vain loser whose only desire is for others to see him in a good light! That’s who I am!”

Cast: Otosaka, Yū = Uchiyama, Kōki Tomori, Nao = Sakura, Ayane Takajō Jōjirō = Mizushima, Takahiro Kurobane, Yusa/Mia = Uchida, Maaya Otosaka Ayumi = Asakura, Momo

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

17

Yū Otosaka is a student who possesses the ability to take control of anyone within his eye sight for five seconds at a time, using it to cheat his way into a prestigious high school and earn the spot of class representative. Unknowingly to him, his actions are being monitored and soon is confronted regarding his special ability. Nao Tomori transfers him to Hoshinoumi Academy as a representative of the student council in order to track down others who also have special abilities to protect them from being experimented on. However, the power Yū has is not all it seems to be, and just may be the key to saving the future for others like him!

Story and Plot Impressions Charlotte starts off impressively, immediately displaying who’s the main character, Yū Otosaka, and what he is capable of doing. They show him utilizing his power—which seems borderline useless at first because of its drawback—to make it into a prestigious school in order to live a fulfilling life with minimal effort.

The main plot of the story is introduced within the very first episode. While not the entirety of the story, it leads to what will become the epitome of the entire anime; seeking out those with special powers to save them from the trouble that their powers will cause them if left unchecked. This premise is very similar to X-Men, a comic and cartoon series revolving around people who have special abilities that are being targeted by those who do not have the same. This is shown even more so by the fact that each school (Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngster and Hoshinoumi Academy) was founded in order to protect those who have superhuman abilities and supernatural powers. Others are seeking them out to figure out what causes these particular individuals to manifest superhuman abilities in order to harness their powers for themselves or eliminate them as threats to humanity.

Jo ¯ jiro ¯ Takajo ¯ with sisters Misa (deceased) & Yusa Kurobane

18

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

It has been discovered in Charlotte that the powers for users disappear during their adolescence—about the time they graduate from high school—so they only need to protect them until they are finished with high school. Nao expresses this agenda to Yū and practically forces him to help by saying they have the money to provide a better life for himself and his little sister Ayumi.

They introduce the plot and what the main story is about from the very beginning, this is good so they can focus on actually telling how it plays out during the rest of the anime.

Things take deeper turns and goes more in-depth as the anime continually progresses towards its epic conclusion. They recruit new members and dedicate an episode or so to each of them, making sure that everyone understands why they would be such a help to the ambitions of Hoshinoumi Academy’s student council.

Later within the story they introduce several plot twists. One plot twist which makes you wonder about Yū’s true nature and shows how humans can react in extreme circumstances. The other completely changes your perspective on every single anime episode that you have watched up to that point. To be perfectly honest, the story is told and presented in such a way that a plot twist of that proportion completely blindsides you, making for a very compelling episode and makes you unsure of what is it come from that point on.

The ending is rather bittersweet, but it was perfect for what it entailed. It was an anime that had an acceptable conclusion and tugged on the heartstrings of the watcher. While I do feel some things could have been done different, the ending is not bad by any means and is a good place to stop. Though, the only qualms I have with the ending (specifically,

Nao Tomori with siblings Ayumi & Yu ¯ Otosaka

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

19

the final episode) was that it could have been made into an ENTIRE second season in which Yū gains the ability to be able to correct an event which devastates someone close to him, but chooses not to do so. However, even with these minor nuances, it ended in a perfectly acceptable manner… even if it felt a bit rushed.

Character Impressions The character presented within Charlotte, at least the main protagonists, all have powers with flaws attached to each of them. Yū can possess someone’s body, but only for five second increments; Nao can turn herself completely invisible, but it only works for a specific target; Jōjirō can move at superhuman speeds, but is unable to control where he lands, etc.

I think this is trying to convey that, while you have extraordinary things about yourself, everything has a downfall and you just need to learn how it can best be utilized. They introduce each of these character flaws in amusing ways as they present the characters themselves, showing the advantages and disadvantages of each specific power.

Character development really only happens for Yū, the main character. The main protagonists were introduced as using their powers for good, wanting to make sure they could do what they needed to in order to secure the lives of other ability users. We were introduced with Yū using his powers for other things, such as fighting or finding a potential girlfriend, showing that he is willing to do whatever it takes to get what he wants. This is the personality befitting of an antihero, such as Light Yagami from Death Note. I find these types of characters appealing because it shows that everyone has a very dark side to him and human nature sometimes is about finding the best way to survival…the most reward with the least amount of effort.

20

We see Yū him going from someone who is willing to get his way no matter what it takes to someone who genuinely cares for those around him and is willing to work for a world where everyone can live free of fear. He grows to respect those around him and shows a deeper understanding of the responsibilities he holds for having the ability that he does.

That is quite a change, for the only person whom we can see that he has any real affection for is his little sister, Ayumi.

While we can see definite changes in other characters, none really matter as much as the main character’s. For his attitude and motivations go in a complete 180 degree turn from where they were during the very first episode.

The Verdict Overall, I feel that Charlotte was an anime that was pretty decent. It had some heart wrenching moments, some suspenseful cinematics and it had possibly the BEST plot twist I have ever seen in any anime to date. The anime itself is also justified in how it progresses through the use of the plot twists, allowing you to really appreciate the efforts of everyone involved on the Hoshinoumi Academy’s student council.

The characters, while intriguing, were not memorable or remarkably original. The characters in themselves existed to get the job done, but are not characters whom I could find myself thinking about once the series is finalized. Yū started off as an ideal character archetype for me, but he evolved into a more caring individual throughout later episodes.

I would recommend this anime for anyone that wants a good, short anime series to watch that has all the makings of a good story. While the ending did feel rushed, it did fit perfectly with what was going on at the time and made for a good a pretty great ending that tugged on the heart strings. v Rok the Reaper

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

SAVE THE DATE! Feb. 6th, 2016 Anniston City Meeting Center Anniston, AL

Free Admission!

www.kalafina.jp

Anime Schedule 2016 Winter Season Chika Homura, Shinjiro ¯ Kusakabe & Haruta Kamijo ¯ – Haruchika: Haruta to Chika wa Seishun Suru

Prince of Stride: Alternative プリンス・オブ・ストライド オルタナティブ

January 5 • Madhouse • AT-X, Tokyo MX, SUN, KBS, TVA, BS11 www.pos-a.jp • https://youtu.be/PtdI_v8s_9Y The series is about an extreme form of sport known as “Stride.” It involves 6 players on a team that runs relay races in towns.

The story takes place at Honan Academy where first year high school students Takeru Fujiwara and Nana Sakurai try to recruit members for their “Stride” club. They request Riku Yagami to join with the help of Takeru and Nana. Their goal is to compete and win the “End of Summer,” a top competition hosted in Japan alongside other schools.

Active Raid: Kido ¯ Kyo ¯ sho ¯ shitsu Dai-Hakkei (Active Raid: Special Public Security Fifth Division Third Mobile Assault Eighth Unit) アクティヴレイド 機動強襲室第八係

January 7 • Orange, Production IMS • Tokyo MX, TVA, SUN, KBS http://activeraid.net Set in a part of Tōkyō that has descended into a quagmire, the story follows Unit 8 of the 5th Special Public Security Section’s 3rd Mobile Assault Division — popularly called “The Eighth” — who don powered armor “Willware” exoskeletons to counter the rise in crime.

HaruChika: Haruta to Chika wa Seishun Suru (HaruChika: Haruta and Chika’s Springtime of Life) ハルチカ ~ハルタとチカは青春する~

January 7 • P.A. Works • Tokyo MX, SUN, SBS, KNB, TVS, CTC, tvk, GBS, BS11, MTV, TVQ http://haruchika-anime.jp • https://youtu.be/udiZuVIjyrs Two high school students named Haruta Kamijō and Chika Homur, are members of a wind instrument club that is on the verge of being shut down. The two are childhood friends, and they spend their days practicing hard while also trying to recruit new members. When a certain incident happens within their school, they work together to solve it.

Air dates and info are subject to change without notice. Some shows could appear on other channels on different times and days.

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

23

Anime Schedule 2016 Winter Se Norn9: Norn+Nonet NORN9 ノルン+ノネット

January 7 • Kinema Citrus, Orange • AT-X, Tokyo MX, BS11, SUN www.norn9-nonet.com • https://youtu.be/Ut2BzbK5jmA The story takes place a little in the future. Guided by one particular song, young elementary kid, Suzuhara Sorata is warped back through time to an unfamiliar place much like the Meiji and Taishō eras from his textbooks. In this world, Suzuhara meets three young ladies and nine young men and joins them on a journey aboard the mysterious ‘Norn’ ship in the sky.

Musaigen no Phantom World (Myriad Colors Phantom World) 無彩限のファントム・ワールド

January 7 • KyoAni • Tokyo MX, TVA, ABC, BS11 http://phantom-world.com • https://youtu.be/KTfS6_zo1ZU In the near future, spirits and monsters are in full sight. A boy leads a group of people with special abilities as they plot against a massive organization that takes advantage of a certain incident and eventually know the truth about their world in the process. Is the world the real thing? Or is it a mere phantom?

Sho ¯ jotachi wa Ko ¯ ya wo Mezasu (Girls Beyond the Youth KOYA) 少女たちは荒野を目指す

January 7 • Project No.9 • Tokyo MX, BS11, MBS, AT-X www.shokomeza.com Buntarō Hōjō doesn’t know what he wants to do in the future. He does not have any kind of dream that he wants to pursue, so currently he just spends his days hanging around with his friends. When one day his classmate Sayuki Kuroda asks him if he wants to help with development of a galge. She says that she had become interested in his help after she read one his works intended for the drama club.

Cast of Norn9: Norn+Nonet

24

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

eason

Continued

Ansatsu Kyo ¯ shitsu 2nd Season (Assassination Classroom 2) 暗殺教室 第２期

January 8 • Lerche • Fuji TV www.ansatsu-anime.com A powerful creature destroyed 70% of the Moon. The creature claims within a year, Earth will also be destroyed by him, but he offers mankind a chance. In class 3-E at Kunugigaoka Junior High, he starts working as a homeroom teacher where he teaches his students not only regular subjects, but the ways of assassination. The Japanese government promises a reward of ¥10 billion to whoever among the students succeeds to kill their teacher. Second season of Assassination Classroom.

Boku Dake ga Inai Machi (The Town Where Only I Am Missing) 僕だけがいない街

January 8 • A-1 Pictures • Fuji TV www.bokumachi-anime.com Struggling manga author Satoru Fujinuma is beset by his fear to express himself. However, he has a supernatural ability of being forced to prevent deaths and catastrophes by being sent back in time before the incident occurred, repeating time until the accident is prevented. One day, he gets involved in an accident. Desperate to save the victim, he sends himself back in time only to find himself as a grade-schooler one month before fellow classmate Kayo Hinazuki went missing.

Dagashi Kashi だがしかし

January 8 • feel. • TBS, CBC, SUN, BS-TBS www.tbs.co.jp/anime/dagashi/ Kokonotsu Shikada’s father owns a rural sweets shop and his plan is for Kokonotsu to take it over one day. However, Kokonotsu wants to be a manga author instead! One day in summer, a cute but weird girl Hotaru Shidare, from the famous sweets company, comes to pay a visit. Kokonotsu’s father is famous and she wants him to join her family’s company. He will only agree if she can convince Kokonotsu to take over the family business!

Divine Gate ディバインゲート

January 8 • Studio Pierrot • Tokyo MX, TVA, SUN TV, KBS, TSC, TVQ, BS11 www.marv.jp/special/divinegate/ When the Divine Gate opened, the living world, heavens and underworld became connected…ushering an era of chaos where desires and conflict intersect. To restore order, the World Council is formed. As peace is restored, the Divine Gate becomes an urban legend. Boys and girls deemed fit by the World Council are gathered. They are ones who aim to reach the gate for their personal objectives. Those who reach the gate can remake the world. What lies beyond the gate?

Ko ¯ kaku no Pandora (Pandora in the Crimson Shell: Ghost Urn) 紅殻のパンドラ

January 8 • AXsiZStudio Gokumi • Tokyo MX, Chiba TV, TVK, TVS, Sun TV, KBS, TVQ, BS11, AT-X www.k-pandora.com It is an age when large-scale natural disasters frequently happen all over the world. Cyborgs and autonomous robots are beginning to appear on the market in technologically advanced nations. Major world powers compete for technology and resources. The divide between rich and poor grows. In this transitional stage, everyone wanders around in a self-indulgent daze and the way out isn’t clear. This is the story of how two cybernetically enhanced girls meet in such an era.

Air dates and info are subject to change without notice. Some shows could appear on other channels on different times and days.

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

25

Anime Schedule 2016 Winter Se Ojisan to Marshmallow (Mister and Marshmallow) おじさんとマシュマロ

January 8 • Creators in Pack • TVS, KBS Kyoto, AT-X, tvk, Sun TV www.dreamcreation.co.jp/ojimasyu/ The series is about a man named Kusaka who has a fascination for marshmallows. Kusaka gets involved in a relationship with an office lady named Wakabayashi, and the story focuses on their relationship in the workplace.

Oshiete! Galko-chan (Please Tell Me! Galko-chan) おしえて！ギャル子ちゃん

January 8 • feel. • Tokyo MX, BS11, AT-X http://galko.jp Follow the daily school life of Galko-chan, Otako and Ojyo. Galko-chan has a tendency to speak rudely, but she’s basically friends with everyone. Otako is the quiet loner of the class, but she is good friends with Galko-chan. Ojyo speaks her mind freely and naturally.

Phantasy Star Online 2 The Animation ファンタシースターオンライン2 ジアニメーション

January 8 • Telecom Animation Film • JNN, TBS, MBS, CBC, BS-TBS http://phantasystar.sega.jp/psportal/pso15anniversary/animation/ Anime to commemorate the 15th anniversary of Phantasy Star Online. The Phantasy Star Online 2 The Animation series will be a completely original story that take places on Earth in the near future.

Sekko ¯ Boys 石膏ボーイズ

January 8 • LIDEN FILMS • AT-X http://sekkoboys.com • https://youtu.be/9qCX1-Gkdcw Sekkō Boys is a unit of four stone figureswith quirky personalities are part of an idol unit produced by a rookie female manager. The members are soldier Saint Giorgio, the amorous god of war Mars, the multitalent with a beautiful skin Hermes, and celebrity pioneer Medici. The story depicts their efforts to make it in the entertainment world with their female manager Miki Ishimoto, who just graduated from college.

Bubuki/Buranki ブブキ・ブランキ

January 9 • Sanzigen • Tokyo MX, Sun TV, TVA, KBS, BS11, AT-X http://bbkbrnk.com When Azuma Ikki returns to Japan after 10 years when he gets assaulted by a group of armed men and becomes their prisoner. Kogane Asabuki, a childhood friend, saves him with a weapon on her right hand known as Bubuki; a weapon with its own mind. Azuma, who is a Bubuki user himself, learns about the existence of Bubuki. He then goes on a journey with companions he’s found in an attempt to find and revive Ōmai, a Buranki (titan) who sleeps underground.

26

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

eason

Continued

Rory Mercury, Lelei La Rellena, Yo ¯ ji Itami & Tuka Luna Marceau – Gate: Jieitai Kano Chi nite, Kaku Tatakaeri

Durarara!!×2 Ketsu デュラララ!!x2 結

January 9 • Studio Shuka • Tokyo MX, GTV, GYT, BS11, MBS, CBC www.durarara.com Mikado Ryūgamine, a young boy who longs for the exciting life of the big city moves to Ikebukuro to attend Raira Academy with his childhood friend Masaomi Kida, who he has not seen since he was young. After the two meet at the train station, they set out at night to the streets of Ikebukuro. The third and final season, set two years later of the Durarara!!×2 arc.

Gate: Jieitai Kano Chi nite, Kaku Tatakaeri 2nd Season (Gate: The Self-Defense Forces Fight Like This in That Place 2) GATE: 自衛隊 彼の地にて、斯く戦えり 2クール

January 9 • A-1 Pictures • Tokyo MX, TVA, MBS, BS11, AT-X www.gate-anime.com A portal to a parallel world, the “Gate,” suddenly appeared in Ginza, Tōkyō. The JGSDF immediately took action and pushed the fantasy creatures back. Yōji Itami, a JSDF officer and team leader visits a variety of places and learnt a lot about the local culture and geography of the “Special Region.” Second season covering the light novel’s Flaming Dragon Arc.

Luck & Logic ラクエンロジック

January 9 • Dogakobo • Tokyo MX, Sun TV, KBS Kyoto, BS11 www.luckandlogic-animation.com • https://youtu.be/8kr-2Ss_opY In the year L.C. 922, mankind faces an unprecedented crisis. One day, Yoshichika Tsurugi, a civilian who is lacking “Logic,” meets the beautiful goddess Athena while helping people escape from a Majin attack. Logicalists are a special power, Logic, that allows them to enter a trance with Goddesses from Tetraheaven. She wields the Logic that Yoshichika that should have been lost. This leads Yoshichika to an unexpected destiny with Athena.

Reikenzan: Hoshikuzu-tachi no Utage (Mt. Reizan: Stardust’s Banquet) 霊剣山 星屑たちの宴

January 9 • Studio Deen • Tokyo MX, Sun TV, KBS Kyoto, TV Aichi, AT-X www.reikenzan.net • https://youtu.be/NlT3D_BoA7c In the story, a comet falling will bring about a great calamity. In order to choose a child fated by the falling comet, the family of the “Reiken” clan is once again resuming its entrance examination process to find disciples. The protagonist Ōriku (Lu Wang in the original novel) possesses a special soul that is only available once in a thousand years and decides to take the exam. He starts down the path toward becoming an exceptional sage.

Air dates and info are subject to change without notice. Some shows could appear on other channels on different times and days.

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

27

Anime Schedule 2016 Winter Se Sho ¯ wa Genroku Rakugo Shinjo ¯ (Sho ¯ wa Genroku Double Suicide Storyteller) 昭和元禄落語心中

January 9 • Studio Deen • MBS, TBS, CBC, BS-TBS www.rakugo-shinju-anime.jp After falling in love with a traditional comic storyteller’s rendition of the story called Shinigami, he is determined to become his apprentice. The performer, Yakumo, has never taken an apprentice before. To everyone’s surprise, he accepts the eager ex-prisoner nicknaming him “Yotaro.” As Yotaro happily begins his new life, he meets others in Yakumo’s life, including Yakumo’s ward Konatsu. She was the daughter of a storyteller and Yakumo took her in after her father’s tragic death.

Dimension W January 10 • Studio 3Hz, Orange • Tokyo MX, KBS, SUN, TVA, BS11, AT-X www.dimension-w.net The year is 2071…and the world’s energy problems seem solved by a network of cross-dimensional electric-field inductors, “coils,” that extract energy from a seemingly infinite source. That source is the W-dimension. Unofficial illegal coils harness powers that the police can’t hope to counter. Dealing with these coils is the job of coil-hating repo man Kyōma Mabuchi, whose run-in with the unique coil android Mira leads the two to form a reluctant partnership.

Kyo ¯ ma Mabuchi & Mira Yurisaki – Dimension W

28

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

eason

Continued

Nijiiro Days (Rainbow Days) 虹色デイズ

January 10 • Production Reed • Tokyo MX, ytv, CTV, STV, BS11 www.rainbow-days.tv The series details the lives of four main characters named Natsuki, Tomoya, Kei’ichi and Tsuyoshi. They spend their days trying to have fun by finishing their studies and debating about romance. Natsuki, one of the main characters, has a crush on a girl named Anna at school, while others often get involved in their relationship.

Nurse Witch Komugi-chan R ナースウィッチ小麦ちゃんＲ

January 10 • Tatsunoko • NTV www.ntv.co.jp/komugir/ Komugi Yoshida is a slightly clumsy junior high school girl who is pursuing her dream of becoming a pop idol. Unlike her close friend Kokona and Tsukasa, Komugi’s low-key live concerts at the local shopping promenade pale in comparison.

One day, a mysterious, wounded creature, Usa-P, appears in front of Komugi. As she gently tends to its wounds, Usa-P notices Komugi’s kind nature and asks her to become a legendary girl with magical powers.

Yami Shibai 3rd Season (Theater of Darkness 3) 闇芝居 3期

January 10 • ILCA • TV Tokyo, AT-X www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/yamishibai/ Third season of Yami Shibai featuring more than 100 weird characters with a focus on urban legends. Yamishibai is a picture story-style of animation whose motif is surrounded and based off rumors and urban legends throughout the history of Japan.

¯ ya-san wa Shishunki! (Landlord is in Puberty) O 大家さんは思春期!

January 10 • Seven Arcs Pictures • Tokyo MX www.ooyasan-anime.com The story follows a boy who has gained an independent life after finding employment. At his new, tiny, no-bath apartment he finds a landlord, Chie Satonaka, who looks like a little sister. The landlord has the physique of a little girl and does the cooking and housework while attending middle school with her friends.

Hai to Genso ¯ no Grimgar (Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash) 灰と幻想のグリムガル

January 11 • A-1 Pictures • Tokyo MX, AT-X, BS11, ABC www.grimgar.com Before Haruhiro had realized what happened, he was surrounded by darkness. Those around him were the same as him, no one remembered anything other than their own names. When they emerged from the darkness, the world that awaited them seemed like something of a video game. In order to survive, he forms a party with the others, learns fighting skills and takes their first steps into the world of Grimgar.

Air dates and info are subject to change without notice. Some shows could appear on other channels on different times and days.

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

29

Anime Schedule 2016 Winter Se Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut (Undefeated Bahamut Chronicle) 最弱無敗の神装機竜《バハムート》

January 11 • Lerche, Orange • T-X, Tokyo MX, SUN, KBS, TVA, BS11 www.saijaku.jp Lux Arcadia is a former prince of an empire which was overthrown. He accidentally trespasses in a female dormitory’s bathing area and sees the kingdom’s new princess Lisesharte naked. 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. After his duel with Lisesharte, Lux ends up attending the female-only academy that trains royals to be Drag-Knights.

Schwarzesmarken シュヴァルツェスマーケン

January 11 • Ixtl, LIDEN FILMS • TV Tokyo, TVO, TVA, AT-X www.schwarzesmarken-anime.jp The story follows the East German Army’s 666th TSF Squadron “Schwarzesmarken” (Black Marks) in its battles and political conflicts during the BETA’s westward push in 1983. They are a special-forces unit tasked with assaulting BETA forces through unconventional tactics. Their orders are given the topmost priority. It’s common practice for the 666th to ignore allied distress calls that will result in deviation from their original mission, even if only for a short moment.

Akagami no Shirayuki-hime 2nd Season (Snow White with the Red Hair 2) 赤髪の白雪姫 2ndシーズン

January 12 • Bones • Tokyo MX, ytv, TVA, BS Fuji, Animax www.clarines-kingdom.com In the kingdom of Tanbarun lives a young woman, Shirayuki who is independent, strong-willed and a skilled pharmacist.

Her apple-red hair gets her noticed by the prince of the kingdom, but instead of romancing her…demands she be his concubine. Shirayuki refuses, chops off her lovely locks and runs away to the neighboring kingdom of Clarines. There, she befriends a young man named Zen, who happens to be a prince, has a better temperament than the previous one.

Ao no Kanata no Four Rhythm: Beyond the Sky, Into the Firmament (Four Rhythm Across the Blue: Beyond the Sky, Into the Firmament) 蒼の彼方のフォーリズム: Beyond the Sky, Into the Firmament

January 12 • Gonzo • TV Tokyo, TVO, TVA, AT-X www.clarines-kingdom.com Hinata Masaya once had a bright future ahead of him in the “Flying Circus,” but due to an overwhelming defeat, he has left that field. He meets the transfer student, Asuka Kurashina, and regains his passion as he teaches her how to fly. Just how high will he be able to fly this time with Asuka at his side? This is a love story about the two who met.

Maho ¯ Sho ¯ jo Nante Mo ¯ Ii Desu Kara. (I’ve Had Enough of Being a Magical Girl) 魔法少女なんてもういいですから。

January 12 • Pine Jam • Tokyo MX, Sun TV www.mouiidesukara.com The comedy follows Yuzuka Hanami, a young girl who has few friends but who can do anything. One day, Yuzuka gets accosted by a strange creature named Miton who is digging through a trash dump. Miton tells Yuzuka, “you have the makings of a magical girl” and seems extremely suspicious. When Yuzuka is suddenly transformed into a magical girl, she’s wearing a bathing suit.

30

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

eason

Mitsuhide Lowen, Kiki Seiran, Zen Wistalia, Shirayuki & Obi – Akagami no Shirayukihime

Continued

Te ¯ kyu ¯7 てーきゅう 7期

January 12 • Millepensee • Tokyo MX www.te-kyu.com Tēkyū is based on a sports comedy manga of the same name featuring four high school girls who belong to a tennis club.

Although the amount of tennis they play is questionable. Seventh season of Tēkyū.

Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku wo! (Give Blessings to this Wonderful World!) この素晴らしい世界に祝福を!

January 14 • Studio Deen • Tokyo MX, TVS, CTC, tvk, SUN, GBS, MTV, TVQ, BS11 http://konosuba.com The life of Kazuma Satō, a hikikomori who likes games, all too soon came to an end because of a traffic accident. It was supposed to, but when he woke up, a beautiful girl who called herself a goddess was in front of his eyes. The great adventure of subjugating the Demon King will begin for the reincarnated Kazuma. Despite Kazuma wanting to live in peace, the goddess keeps causing problems one after another, and eventually, they attract the attention of the Demon King’s army!?

Ajin 亜人

January 16 • Polygon Pictures • MBS, TBS, CBC, BS-TBS www.ajin.net Ajin are humans that cannot die. Seventeen years ago, they first appeared on a battlefield in Africa. More and more of their kind are being discovered with societies. Their rarity in appearance means that, for experimental purposes, the government will generously reward anyone who captures one. For one certain high school student who expects to have a typical summer holiday, his life is about to turn around.

Fairy Tail Zerø フェアリーテイル ゼロ

January 16 • A-1 Pictures • TV Tokyo www.fairytail-tv.com/contents/special/zero/ Details the meeting of the founders of Fairy Tail and exactly what happened between them to lead them to found the guild.

A spin-off of Fairy Tail.

Kono Danshi, Maho ¯ ga Oshigoto Desu. この男子、魔法がお仕事です。

February 5 • CoMix Wave Films • Tokyo MX, BS11 www.konodan.com/wizard When the Divine Gate opened, the living world, the heavens and the underworld became connected…ushering an era of chaos where desires and conflict intersect. Chiharu is a wizard in charge of the magic department’s counter-measure division.

One day, he meets a candid young man named Toyohi Utsumi at his favorite bar. Utsumi confesses, “I’ve fallen in love with Kashima-san.” Kashima is taken aback and begin to spending more time together.

Air dates and info are subject to change without notice. Some shows could appear on other channels on different times and days.

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

31

An Interview with Russian coslayer

Eleonora Alekseeva

Edward: Hello, Eleonora. Thank you for allowing

me to interview you. To start off, please introduce and tell our readers a little about yourself.

Eleonora: Hello and thank you for interviewing me.

My name is Eleonora (thus the “Leonora” nickname from my gaming years), I’m from Moscow, Russia— and yes, it’s pretty cold here right now . Apart from cosplay, I’m a photographer and a gamer—mostly PC and Tabletop. I also love anime, dancing (particularly pole dance) and reading fantasy—guess I could be considered something of a geek.

Edward: Those interests would certainly make you

a geek. That’s a good thing—with all my interests, I would also be considered a geek. I looked through your photos and and liked them very much. Did your interest in photography perchance result in your interest in cosplay? Did you take your own photos on DA?

Eleonora: No, photography and cosplay weren’t initially related—cosplay came through my interest in anime, while photography was an interest in and of itself. The photos on my DA page were taken by my photographer acquaintances, while editing them was done by me.

Эдуáрд: Здравствуйте, Элеонора. Спасибо за

то что согласились на это интервью. Для начала, представьтесь пожалуйста и расскажите нашим читателям о себе.

Элеонора: И Вам спасибо за возможность

принять участие в интервью. Меня зовут Элеонора (поэтому мой ник и стал “Леонора”), я живу в Москве, России—и да, здесь действительно довольно холодно . Помимо косплея, я занимаюсь фотографией и увлекаюсь играми (в том числе и настолками). Я также люблю аниме, занимаюсь pole dance и люблю читать фэнтези—в какой-то мере, меня можно охарактеризовать как Гика.

Эдуáрд: Да, с такими увлечениями тебя можно

назвать гиком. Впрочем, это хорошо—мои увлечения тоже характеризуют меня как гика. Я посмотрел твои фотографии и мне они крайне понравились. Скажи, не твой ли интерес к фотографии побудил тебя заняться косплеем? Фотографии, размещённые на DeviantArt, сняты тобой?

Элеонора: Нет, изначально они не были связаны—

косплеем я занялась из-за увлечения аниме, а фотографией—потому что меня в принципе всегда привлекала фотография. Фотографии на ДА сняты моими знакомыми фотографами, а их обработкой занималась я.

Edward: I see. Your photos are amazing! Keep up

with the photography. It could lead to a good career in the future. I do a little photography too, but still an amateur. When your interest in anime began, what were some of the first shows you watched? Anime in America became popular in the early 1990’s, but was available by other means a few years before. Because of the political environment of Russia at that time, when did anime become more popular there?

Eleonora: As for me, the ones I’ve seen first would

be Sailor Moon and Candy-Candy. It was the 90-s, the latter half of them. But anime was available through various forums and hard copies in the fandom for some time, so my guess would be it started gaining popularity in Russia in 1995-1996?

Эдуáрд: Твои фото удивительны! Обязательно

продолжай заниматься фотографией, это может привести к хорошей карьере. Я тоже немного увлекался этим делом, но я скорее любитель. Когда проявился твой интерес в аниме, какими были первые шоу, которые ты посмотрела? Аниме в Америке стало популярным в начале 90-х, но в принципе его можно было достать за несколько лет до этого. Учитывая специфическую полит. ситуацию в России в это время, когда у вас набрало популярность аниме?

Элеонора: Что касается меня, первыми сериалами стали Сэйлор Мун и Кэнди-Кэнди. Это были девяностые годы, вторая их половина. Но в принципе аниме в России было доступно через форумы и хард копии среди фэндома уже несколько лет, так что я предположу что оно начало набирать популярность у нас в 19951996 годах?

Title pages: Ginger Leonora & Saber (Fate/Stay Night) Previous pages: Valkyrie Leona (League of Legends) Maid, Police, Love Thief & Samurai Hatsune Miku (Crypton Future Media Vocaloid)

Above: Cowgirl and Dragon Hatsune Miku (Crypton Future Media Vocaloid) Left: Bunny Girl (Crypton Future Media Vocaloid)

Edward: That’s a very interesting piece of information. Эдуáрд: Спасибо за ответ, я нахожу интересным I find it intersecting how anime started in other countries. Anime in Russia was only 2-3 years behind in popularity. Just as there, many fans here also started out with Sailor Moon. Candy-Candy never became popular here. Even I haven’t heard of it before until you mentioned it. We had Pokémon, which was also very popular here at the time and still is. You mentioned that anime was an influence to you to start cosplaying. When you started cosplaying, did you start because of friends that cosplayed? Or did you start cosplaying on your own? Basically, how did you start cosplaying?

Eleonora: It was my decision to make a costume for

myself first—I made two costumes, one of Saber from Fate/Stay Night, the other—Suigintō from Rosen Maiden. Later on, I also dragged my brother into cosplay as well:) As for Pokémon—it had a surge of

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

то, как культура аниме зародилась в других странах. Аниме в России отставало, получается, всего на 2-3 года. Как и у вас, многие фанаты начали с просмотра “Сэйлор Мун”. Кэнди-Кэнди никогда не было у нас популярно. Я даже не слышал об этом сериале прежде. У нас были “Покемоны”, вызвавшие тогда ажиотаж, и продолжающие быть популярными и по сей день. Ты сказала, аниме повлияло на твоё желание начать косплеить. Начало этому увлечению положили друзьякосплееры? Или ты сама решила сделать себе костюм? В общем и целом, как начался твой путь как косплеера?

Элеонора: Я сама решила сделать себе костюм.

Первыми двумя косплеями для меня стали Сэйбер из “Fate Stay Night” и Суйгинто из “Rosen Maiden”. Позже, я также затащила своего брата заниматься 39

popularity around the same time as America, but it has since chilled down considerably.

косплеем. Что касается Покемонов—в России они были на пике популярности некоторое время, примерно как и в Америке, но с тех пор они болееменее утратили свою популярность.

Edward: That’s funny…dragging your brother into

Эдуáрд: Забавно, что ты затащила своего

Eleonora:While I prefer photo-cosplay in general,

Элеонора: В принципе, я предпочитаю фото-

cosplaying also. When you cosplay, do you go to conventions in your area to show your cosplay? Or at other types of events? My first cosplay was at an anime convention, Anime Expo which is America’s biggest anime convention. Out of curiosity, can you describe how convention are like in Russia? Particularly around your area? I think this would be very interesting to readers here in America.

I attend a lot of the conventions and festivals in my region. In Russia, most events could be roughly divided into two categories: conventions in the traditional sense, which we have a few of—and they became this way only in the last couple of years—and festivals, which are more “traditional” for Russian cosplay fandom. Festivals (one of which I’m a part of as an organization committee member) are numerous—annually, there’s about 25 of them throughout Russia—but small (up to 2000 attendees, averaging at 1000) events focused purely on cosplay. Simply put, it’s a daylong show on a theater scene with various contests—costume défilé, mini-spectacles (scenes played out in costumes based on original script), vocal competitions etc. It’s not a widely known format overseas, but it is a completely different way to experience cosplay—and that’s the way cosplay started as a movement in Russia in the first place, conventions came way later.

брата в косплей. Ходишь ли ты по конвентам и фестивалям чтобы показать свой костюм? Или другим мероприятиям? Мой первый костюм был на аниме конвенте Anime Expo, самом большом конвенте в Америке.Не могла ли ты описать, как обстоят дела с ковентами в России? В частности, в твоём регионе? Я думаю, это было бы интересно нашим американским читателям.

косплей, но посещаю много мероприятий в моём регионе. В России большую часть мероприятий можно разделить на две категории: Конвенты в привычном смысле этого слова, каковых у нас всего несколько и они появились в целом недавно, и фестивали, которые можно было бы назвать более “традиционными” для России косплеймероприятиями. Фестивалей много (в среднем 25 в год по России), но они небольшого размера (до 2000 участников, в среднем 1000) и они сфокусированы на косплее. Если вкратце, то это выступления на театральной сцене, разбитые на конкурсы—дефиле, сценические выступления, вокальные и т.д. За рубежом этот формат мероприятий не особо известен, но при этом являет собой принципиально другой способ окунуться в косплей—и именно так зародилось косплей-движение в России, конвенты появились гораздо позже.

Above: Santa Miku (Crypton Future Media Vocaloid), CandyCane Lux & Sorceress Lux (League of Legends) Left: White Mokona (xxxHOLIC)

Edward: It’s quite the opposite here about conven-

tions. There were a lot of conventions here for a long time now. But years ago, there were only very few cosplayers. Only over time that there were more and more cosplayers. But there are still very few cosplayonly events here. At most cosplay-only events, it usually consists of a small skit (what you call mini-spectacles) and fashion show-style walk through. I don’t know if I seen all your cosplays on DA. Of all the cosplays you have, which one is your favorite? And why is it your favorite?

Eleonora: No, I’ve got less than half of my cosplay

presented on DA for now—since I started it, time’s been a little bit sparse, and some costumes I still haven’t even shot yet. It won’t be original, but I do love my cosplays the same—some more, some less, but I don’t truly have the favorite one. There is one that would definitely be the one though, but it’s still in planning stage ;) Valkyrie Leona is the costume that took most time so far—and in the end it won RIOT Games(League Of Legends creator company) regional contest this year.

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

Эдуáрд: У нас наоборот с конвентами. Их

уже давно много, но раньше было совсем мало косплееров. А вот с мероприятиями, ориентированными специально на косплей, у нас хуже—их мало. На большинстве, есть только сценки и дефиле. Я не уверен, все ли твои костюмы представлены на ДА? И из всех твоих образов, какой твой самый любимый и почему?

Элеонора: Нет, на ДА представлено меньше

половины всех моих костюмов—с тех пор как я начала его вести, свободного времени не очень много, а некоторые костюмы до сих пор не отфографированы. Я не буду оригинальна, но я люблю свои косплеи примерно одинаково— некоторые больше, некоторые меньше, но любимого среди них нет. Есть один, который определённо станет любимым, но он пока на стадии планирования ;) Валькирия Леона— костюм, в который было вложено больше всего времени и с ним я выйграла оффициальный конкурс от RIOT Games региональный в этом году.

41

Edward: How do your [would you?] describe typical Эдуáрд: Как бы ты описала фанатов аниме и Russian anime and cosplay fans that you’ve encountered? In a sense, other fandoms that people like that tie into anime and cosplay.

Eleonora: Not sure if i understood the question correctly on this one, but overall I would describe fans mostly as students and geeks.

косплея? И в целом другие фэндомы, которые можно было бы обобщить с аниме и косплеем.

Элеонора: Не уверена, что правильно поняла вопрос, но в целом я бы описала фанатов как студентов, школьников и гиков.

Edward: I’m certain that many photographers tak-

Эдуáрд: Я уверен, много фотографов

Eleonora: We don’t really have that type of problem

Элеонора: У нас в России не столь ярко

ing pictures of you at conventions and other cosplay events. Here in america, there had been a growing number of cosplayers that complain about photographers being rude and taking inappropriate pictures without permission. There are also have been reports of cosplayers being harassed or threatened. To fight back, there is a growing movement in America called “Cosplay is NOT Consent.” Has there been such news about bad photographers in Russia? Is there something similar movement like this there? If so, how does it affect cosplayers?

in Russia—sure, there’s always some freaks, but that’s more of an exception. We cosplayers mostly have problems with photographers slacking on the final touches in the photos themselves or not releasing the prepaid photoshoots in time. My guess would be there are some differences in our countries and here, people like that are just...”encouraged” to not conduct themselves that way by socially active members of fandom. There’s no movements to counteract that type of behavior as it’s not at a point where it would be considered a big enough problem.

снимают твой косплей на конвентах и прочих тематических мероприятиях. В Америке участились случаи фотографов, грубящих и снимающих неподобающие кадры без согласия модели. Также были случаи обид и угроз косплеерам. В противовес, есть развивающееся движение “Cosplay is NOT Consent”(Косплей— не значит согласие). Бывают ли у вас случаи с плохими фотографами подобные этому? И нет ли подобных движений в защиту? Если да, какое они оказывают влияние на косплееров?

Left: White Mokona & Black Mokona - xxxHOLIC

выражена эта проблема—да, люди бывают разные, но у нас это скорее исключение из правил. У косплееров к фотографам претензии скорее с качеством материала и сроком обработки фотографий. Лично я думаю что наши страны просто отличаются и здесь таких людей...”убеждают” так себя не вести социально активные члены сообщества. Особых движений по защите прав косплееров тоже нет, поскольку эта проблема не достигает такого уровня, чтобы обращать на себя внимания.

Below: Alice (Alice in Wonderland)

Edward: That’s good that there isn’t a big problem

with photographers like that here. I guess its a bigger problem here because of the movement that began here. Now, as a cosplayer, in your opinion, do you think cosplaying will help you in your future endeavors and career? What kind of plans do you plan for yourself in the future?

Eleonora: Well, cosplay helped me connect with

a wide variety or people—as a great example, I’ve met aforementioned Riot Games Russia and even worked on a project with them. I’m also hoping to get a chance to attend conventions in other countries as a cosplayer in the future. As a side benefit, cosplaying improves crafting skills, which are useful as small fixes or lifehacks in general :)

Left: SteamPunk - Original Aristocrats, Tsukasa (.hack//sign), Lust, the Lascivious (Fullmetal Alchemist) Below: Original Beast Demon & Original Maid

Эдуáрд: Я рад что в России нет таких проблем

с фотографами. Полагаю, всё-таки влияет то что у нас зародилось подобное движение. Как косплеер, предполагаешь ли ты что это увлечение скажется на будущих действиях и твоей карьере? Какие у тебя планы на будущее?

Элеонора: Косплей помог мне познакомиться

со многими новыми людьми. Хорошим примером будут те же самые Riot Games Russia, с которыми мне вследствие удалось поработать по контракту над одним проектом. Разумеется, я надеюсь в будущем посетить зарубежные конвенты как приглашённый косплеер. И как дополнительный плюс, косплей улучшает навыки крафта—что полезно в жизни само по себе, будь то малые починки или интересные лайфхаки :)

Edward: In closing, thank you Eleonora for this

Эдуáрд: Подводя итоги, Элеонора, спасибо тебе

Eleonora: To all you new cosplayers out there—

Элеонора: Всем начинающим косплеерам—не

interview. Regarding your audience, do have any final thoughts you want to tell them? Any advice you want to give to new cosplayers?

don’t be afraid to dare. The skill will come, the costumes will improve, given enough time and determination. Trust me—patience isn’t my strongest suit, so I can understand the frustration of not doing something right on the first try. As for all of you who just like cosplay—thank you for supporting cosplayers and actually taking the time to give your feedback. I was extremely surprised of how reddit’s a much nicer place than could be expected, given the harsh net board culture here in Russia. v

Photo Credits: Saber - Fate/Stay Night, Tsukasa - .hack//sign, Lust, the Lascivious - Fullmetal Alchemist,

by Tars Maido, Police, Love Thief, Samurai, Bunny Girl, Cowgirl, Dragon Hatsune Miku’s - Crypton Future Media Vocaloid, White Mokona & Black Mokona - xxxHOLIC, Alice - Alice in Wonderland, Will of Abyss - Pandora Hearts, Sorceress Lux - League of Legends, Original Maid

by Lyk Valkyrie Leona - League of Legends

by XaysRus CandyCane Lux - League of Legends

by Ivan Alden Miku Santa

by Kanda Dream Ginger Leonora, SteamPunk - Original Aristocrats

by Eleonora Alekseeva Original Beast Demon, PoolParty Lux - League of Legends

by Ragnaradi

46

за интервью. Не хочешь ли в завершение сказать пару слов нашим читателям? Может какие-нибудь советы новым косплеерам?

бойтесь дерзать. Навыки придут, костюмы станут лучше—если вложить в них время и усилия. Уж поверьте мне—терпение не моя сильная черта, и я прекрасно понимаю раздражение когда что-то сразу не получается. Что же касается тех кто просто любит косплей—спасибо вам за то что поддерживаете косплееров и высказываетесь о их работе! Учитывая культуру интернет борд в России, я была приятно удивлена тем, насколько более сдержанным и приятным оказался реддит. v

Will of Abyss (Pandora Hearts)

Left: PoolParty Lux (League of Legends)

Manga Releases Winter 2016 New Lone Wolf and Cub, Vol. 7 Kazuo Koike, Hideki Mori Dark Horse Manga December 22, 2015

Ninja Slayer Kills, Vol. 2 Kōtarō Sekine, Bradley Bond, Phillip N. Morzez Kodansha Comics December 22, 2015

Noragami: Stray God, Vol. 9 Adachitoka Kodansha Comics December 22, 2015

Planetes Omnibus, Vol. 1 Makoto Yukimura Dark Horse Manga December 22, 2015

Attack on Titan: Before the Fall, Vol. 6 Ryō Suzukaze, Hajime Isayama Kodansha Comics December 29, 2015

Attack on Titan: Junior High, Vol. 4 Hajime Isayama, Saki Nakagawa Kodansha Comics December 29, 2015

Citrus, Vol. 4† Saburōta Seven Seas Entertainment, LLC. December 29, 2015

D-Frag!, Vol. 7 Tomoya Haruno Seven Seas Entertainment, LLC. December 29, 2015

Die Wergelder, Vol. 1 Hiroaki Samura Kodansha Comics December 29, 2015

Fairy Tail Ice Trail, Vol. 1 Yuusuke Shirato, Hiro Mashima Kodansha Comics December 29, 2015

The Heroic Legend of Arslan, Vol. 4 Yoshiki Tanaka, Hiromu Arakawa Kodansha Comics December 29, 2015

Vinland Saga, Vol. 7 Makoto Yukimura Kodansha Comics December 29, 2015

Narsus, Arslan & Daryun – The Heroic Legend of Arslan

The information presented here is as accurate as much as humanly possible and is subject to change without notice. †Yaoi and ††hentai titles for mature audiences 18+.

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

49

Manga Releases Winter 2016

50

Continued

Your Lie in April, Vol. 5 Naoshi Arakawa Kodansha Comics December 29, 2015

One Kore: Sweet Sister Selection†† Yuzuki N’ Dash 801 Media, Inc. December 30, 2015

A Certain Scientific Accelerator, Vol. 2 Kazuma Kamachi, Yamaji Arata Seven Seas Entertainment, LLC. January 5

Blue Exorcist, Vol. 14 Kazue Katō VIZ Media, LLC. January 5

Honey So Sweet, Vol. 1 Amu Meguro VIZ Media, LLC. January 5

I, Otaku, Vol. 3 Jiro Suzuki Seven Seas Entertainment, LLC. January 5

In God’s Arms, Vol. 1 Yonezou Nekota Seven Seas Entertainment, LLC. January 5 Not Actual Cover

Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You, Vol. 23 Karuho Shiina VIZ Media, LLC. January 5

Kiss of the Rose Princess, Vol. 8 Aya Shōoto VIZ Media, LLC. January 5

Merman in My Tub, Vol. 2 Itokichi Seven Seas Entertainment, LLC. January 5

My Love Story!!, Vol. 7 Kazune Kawahara, Aruko VIZ Media, LLC. January 5

Naruto Box Set 3: Vols. 49–72 with Premium Masashi Kishimoto VIZ Media, LLC. January 5

Naruto: The Seventh Hokage and the Scarlet Spring Masashi Kishimoto VIZ Media, LLC. January 5

Natsume’s Book of Friends, Vol. 19 Yuki Midorikawa VIZ Media, LLC. January 5

Nisekoi: False Love, Vol. 13 Naoshi Komi VIZ Media, LLC. January 5

One-Punch Man, Vol. 4 ONE VIZ Media, LLC. January 5

Senran Kagura: Skirting Shadows, Vol. 3 Kenichirō Takaki, Amami Takatsume Seven Seas Entertainment, LLC. January 5

The Demon Prince of Momochi House, Vol. 3 Aya Shōoto VIZ Media, LLC. January 5

Twin Star Exorcists, Vol. 3 Yoshiaki Sukeno VIZ Media, LLC. January 5

World Trigger, Vol. 8 Daisuke Ashihara VIZ Media, LLC. January 5

Air Gear Omnibus 6 Oh!Great Kodansha Comics January 12

Arpeggio of Blue Steel, Vol. 6 Ark Performance Seven Seas Entertainment, LLC. January 12

Astro Boy Omnibus, Vol. 2 Osamu Tezuka Dark Horse Manga January 12

Case Closed, Vol. 57 Gōshō Aoyama VIZ Media, LLC. January 12

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

His Favorite, Vol. 8† Suzuki Tanaka SuBLime January 12

Love Stage!!, Vol. 5† Eiki Eiki, Taishi Zaō SuBLime January 12 Not Actual Cover

Magical Warriors: Chocolat & Pudding†† Kanon Ishino 801 Media, Inc. January 12

My Monster Secret, Vol. 1 Eiji Masuda Seven Seas Entertainment, LLC. January 12

Pandora in the Crimson Shell: Ghost Urn, Vol 3 Masamune Shirow, Rikudō Kōshi Seven Seas Entertainment, LLC. January 12

Ranma ½ (2-in-1 Edition), Vol. 12 Rumiko Takahashi VIZ Media, LLC. January 12

Requiem of the Rose King, Vol. 3 Aya Kanno VIZ Media, LLC. January 12

A Sensual Ladies Man†† Hitoshi Kino Project-H, LLC. January 14

Marika Tachibana, Chitoge Kirisaki & Haru Onodera – Nisekoi: False Love

The information presented here is as accurate as much as humanly possible and is subject to change without notice. †Yaoi and ††hentai titles for mature audiences 18+.

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

51

Manga Releases Winter 2016

52

Continued

Eden, Vol. 2 Bash Gen Manga Entertainment, Inc. January 14

Fetishisms: Gone Wilder†† Takumi Adachi Project-H, LLC. January 14

Freshly Licked†† Ashita Morimi 801 Media, Inc. January 14

Itazura na Kiss, Vol. 11 Kaoru Tada Digital Manga Publishing January 14

Itazura na Kiss, Vol. 12 Kaoru Tada Digital Manga Publishing January 14

Kill la Kill, Vol. 2 Kazuki Nakashima, Ryō Akizuki UDON Entertainment, Inc. January 14

Lovephobia, Vol. 3 Kokoro Natsume Digital Manga Publishing January 14

Persona 4, Vol. 1 Shuji Sogabe, Atlus UDON Entertainment, Inc. January 14

Persona 4, Vol. 2 Shuji Sogabe, Atlus UDON Entertainment, Inc. January 14

Princess Lucia, Vol. 1†† Kōji Seo 801 Media, Inc. January 14

Ring X Mama, Vol. 3†† Jōji Manabe 801 Media, Inc. January 14

Ring X Mama, Vol. 4†† Jōji Manabe 801 Media, Inc. January 14

Ring X Mama, Vol. 5 Jōji Manabe 801 Media, Inc. January 14

Sexless Friend, Vol. 2†† Hidetaka Kakei 801 Media, Inc. January 14

Stardust Traffic, Vol. 3†† Kobato Takahashi Project-H, LLC. January 14

The Tyrant Falls In Love, Vol. 9† Hinako Takanaga Digital Manga Publishing January 14 Not Actual Cover

Ze, Vol. 11† Yuki Shimizu 801 Media, Inc. January 14

A Girl on the Shore Inio Asano Vertical Comics January 19

A Silent Voice, Vol. 5 Yoshitoki Ōima Kodansha Comics January 19

Air Gear, Vol. 34 Oh!Great Kodansha Comics January 19 Not Actual Cover

Blood-C, Vol. 4 Clamp Dark Horse Manga January 19

Devil Survivor, Vol. 2 Satoru Matsuba Kodansha Comics January 19

Golden Time, Vol. 2 Yuyuko Takemiya, Umechazuke Seven Seas Entertainment, LLC. January 19

Kagerou Daze, Vol. 3 Jin (Shizen no Teki-P), Sidu Yen On January 19

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

Master Keaton, Vol. 5 Naoki Urasawa, Takashi Nagasaki, Hokusei Katsushika VIZ Media, LLC. January 19

Monster, Vol. 7: The Perfect Edition Naoki Urasawa VIZ Media, LLC. January 19

My Neighbor Seki, Vol. 6 Takuma Morishige Vertical Comics January 19

PandoraHearts ~Caucus Race~, Vol. 3 Shinobu Wakamiya, Jun Mochizuki Yen On January 19

Terra Formars, Vol. 10 Yū Sasuga, Ken’ichi Tachibana VIZ Media, LLC. January 19

The Testament of Sister New Devil, Vol. 1 Tetsuto Uesu, Miyakokasiwa Seven Seas Entertainment, LLC. January 19 Not Actual Cover

Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches, Vol. 6 Miki Yoshikawa Kodansha Comics January 19

A Certain Magical Index, Vol. 4 Kazuma Kamachi, Chuya Kogino Yen Press January 26

Accel World, Vol. 6 Reki Kawahara, Hiroyuki Aigamo Yen Press January 26

Akuma no Riddle, Vol. 2 Yun Kōga, Sunao Minakata Seven Seas Entertainment, LLC. January 26 Not Actual Cover

Akame ga KILL!, Vol. 5 Takahiro, Tetsuya Tashiro Yen Press January 26

Fairy Tail, Vol. 52 Hiro Mashima Kodansha Comics January 26 Not Actual Cover

Final Fantasy Type-0 Side Story, Vol. 3 Tetsuya Nomura, Takatoshi Shiozawa Yen Press January 26

First Love Monster, Vol. 3 Akira Hiyoshimaru Yen Press January 26 Not Actual Cover

Horimyla, Vol. 2 HERO, Daisuke Hagiwara Yen Press January 26

How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend, Vol. 1 Fumiaki Maruto, Takeshi Moriki, Kurehito Misaki Yen Press January 26

Alice in Murderland, Vol. 3 Kaori Yuki Yen Press January 26

Saya Kisaragi – Blood-C

The information presented here is as accurate as much as humanly possible and is subject to change without notice. †Yaoi and ††hentai titles for mature audiences 18+.

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

53

Manga Releases Winter 2016

Continued

Hotaru Ichijo ¯ , Renge Miyauchi with sisters Komari & Natsumi Koshigaya – Non Non Biyori

54

Log Horizon: The West Wind Brigade, Vol. 1 Mamare Touno, Koyuki, Kazuhiro Hara Yen Press January 26

Lone Wolf and Cub Omnibus, Vol. 11 Kazuo Koike, Gōseki Kojima, Frank Miller Dark Horse Manga January 26

Magical Girl Apocalypse, Vol. 6 Kentarō Satō Seven Seas Entertainment, LLC. January 26

My Little Monster, Vol. 12 Robico Kodansha Comics January 26

Non Non Biyori, Vol. 3 Atto Seven Seas Entertainment, LLC. January 26

Noragami: Stray God, Vol. 10 Adachitoka Kodansha Comics January 26

orange: The Complete Collection, Vol. 1 Ichigo Takano Seven Seas Entertainment, LLC. January 26 Not Actual Cover

Puella Magi Madoka Magica: The Movie ~Rebellion~, Vol. 2 Magica Quartet, Hanokage Yen Press January 26

Sword Art Online: Girls’ Ops, Vol. 2 Reki Kawahara, Neko Nekobyō Yen Press January 26

Sword Art Online: Phantom Bullet, Vol. 1 Reki Kawahara, Kōtarō Yamada Yen Press January 26

Taboo Tattoo, Vol. 1 Shinjirō Yen Press January 26

The Complete Chi’s Sweet Home, Vol. 2 Konami Kanata Vertical Comics January 26

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

The Devil is a Part-Timer, Vol. 4 Satoshi Wagahara, Akio Hiiragi Yen Press January 26

The Seven Deadly Sins, Vol. 12 Nakaba Suzuki Kodansha Comics January 26

Triage X, Vol. 11 Shōji Sato Yen Press January 26

Übel Blatt, Vol. 4 Etorōji Shiono Yen Press January 26

Umineko WHEN THEY CRY, Episode 5: End of the Golden Witch, Vol. 3 Ryukishi07, Akitaka Yen Press January 26

Until Death Do Us Part, Vol. 11 Hiroshi Takashige, DOUBLE-S Yen Press January 26

Totally Exposed†† Various Artists 801 Media, Inc. January 27

Assassination Classroom, Vol. 8 Yusei Matsui VIZ Media, LLC. February 2

Batman: The Jiro ¯ Kuwata Batmanga, Vol. 3 Jirō Kuwata DC Comics February 2 Not Actual Cover

Behind the Scenes!!, Vol. 1 Bisco Hatori VIZ Media, LLC. February 2

Bleach (3-in-1 Edition), Vol. 14 Tite Kubo VIZ Media, LLC. February 2

Food Wars!, Vol. 10 Yūto Tsukuda, Yuki Morisaki, Shun Saeki VIZ Media, LLC. February 2

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Part 2 Battle Tendency, Vol. 2 Hirohiko Araki VIZ Media, LLC. February 2

Kamisama Kiss, Vol. 20 Julietta Suzuki VIZ Media, LLC. February 2

Kiss Him, Not Me, Vol. 3 JUNKO Kodansha Comics February 2

Magika Swordsman and Summoner, Vol. 3 Mitsuki Mihara, MonRin Seven Seas Entertainment, LLC. February 2

Maid-sama! (2-in-1 Edition), Vol. 3 Hiro Fujiwara VIZ Media, LLC. February 2

Monster Musume, Vol. 8 OKAYADO Seven Seas Entertainment, LLC. February 2 Not Actual Cover

My Hero Academia, Vol. 3 Kōhei Horikoshi VIZ Media, LLC. February 2

Naruto: Shikamaru’s Story Takashi Yano, Masashi Kishimoto VIZ Media, LLC. February 2

One Piece, Vol. 77 Eiichirō Oda VIZ Media, LLC. February 2

QQ Sweeper, Vol. 2 Kyōsuke Motomi VIZ Media, LLC. February 2

School Judgment, Vol. 1 Nobuaki Enoki, Takeshi Ōbata VIZ Media, LLC. February 2

So Cute It Hurts!!, Vol. 5 Gō Ikeyamada VIZ Media, LLC. February 2

The information presented here is as accurate as much as humanly possible and is subject to change without notice.†Yaoi and ††hentai titles for mature audiences 18+.

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

55

Manga Releases Winter 2016

56

Continued

Tokyo ESP, Vol. 3 Hajime Segawa Vertical Comics February 2

Toriko, Vol. 32 Mitsutoshi Shimabukuro VIZ Media, LLC. February 2

Yu-Gi-Oh! (3-in-1 Edition), Vol. 5 Kazuki Takahashi VIZ Media, LLC. February 2

12 Beast, Vol. 3 OKAYADO Seven Seas Entertainment, LLC. February 9

Angel Beats!: Heaven’s Door, Vol. 1 Jun Maeda, Yuriko Asami Seven Seas Entertainment, LLC. February 9

Awkward Silence, Vol. 5† Hinako Takanaga SuBLime February 9

Deadman Wonderland, Vol. 13 Jinsei Kataoka, Kazuma Kondō VIZ Media, LLC. February 9

Hayate the Combat Butler, Vol. 27 Kenjirō Hata VIZ Media, LLC. February 9

Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic, Vol. 16 Shinobu Ōtaka VIZ Media, LLC. February 9

Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation, Vol. 2 Rifujin na Magonote, Yuka Fujikawa Seven Seas Entertainment, LLC. February 9

The Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service: Book Two Omnibus Eiji Ōtsuka, Hōsui Kamazaki Dark Horse Manga February 9

Your Lie in April, Vol. 6 Naoshi Arakawa Kodansha Comics February 9

I’ve Seen It All, Vol. 3† Shōko Takaku Digital Manga Publishing February 11

PuruPuru Hearts†† Satsuki Kanna Project-H, LLC. February 11

Dragonar Academy, Vol. 9 Shiki Mizuchi, Ran Seven Seas Entertainment, LLC. February 16

Fairy Tail: Blue Mistral, Vol. 2 Hiro Mashima, Rui Watanabe Kodansha Comics February 16

Franken Fran Omnibus 1-2 Katsuhisa Kigitsu Seven Seas Entertainment, LLC. February 16 Not Actual Cover

Oreimo: Kuroneko, Vol. 4 Tsukasa Fushimi Dark Horse Manga February 16

Princess Jellyfish, Vol. 1 Akiko Higashimura Kodansha Comics February 16

Tokyo Ghoul, Vol. 5 Sui Ishida VIZ Media, LLC. February 16

Ultraman, Vol. 3 Tomohiro Shimoguchi, Eiichi Shimizu VIZ Media, LLC. February 16

Ajin, Vol. 7 Gamon Sakurai Vertical February 23 Not Actual Cover

Aldnoah.Zero Season One, Vol. 2 Olympus Knights, Pinakes Yen Press February 23

Ani-Imo, Vol. 6 Haruko Kurumatani Yen Press February 23 Not Actual Cover

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

Are You Alice?, Vol. 11 Ikumi Katagiri, Ai Ninomiya Yen Press February 23 Not Actual Cover

Barakamon, Vol. 9 Satsuki Yoshino Yen Press February 23 Not Actual Cover

Demonizer Zilch, Vol. 1 Milan Matra Yen Press February 23

Devil Survivor, Vol. 3 Satoru Matsuba Kodansha Comics February 23 Not Actual Cover

Dimension W, Vol. 1 Yūji Iwahara Yen Press February 23 Not Actual Cover

Dragons Rioting, Vol. 2 Tsuyoshi Watanabe Yen Press February 23

FukuFuku: Kitten Tales (Chi’s Sweet Home) Konami Kanata Vertical Comics February 23

Giganto Maxia Kentaro Miura Dark Horse Manga February 23

Blood Lad, Vol. 7 Yūki Kodama Yen Press February 23

BTOOOM!, Vol. 13 Junya Inoue Yen Press February 23 Not Actual Cover

Rinka Urushiba – Tokyo EPS

Handa-kun, Vol. 1 Satsuki Yoshino Yen Press February 23

Inu x Boku SS, Vol. 10 Cocoa Fujiwara Yen Press February 23

The information presented here is as accurate as much as humanly possible and is subject to change without notice. †Yaoi and ††hentai titles for mature audiences 18+.

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

57

Manga Releases Winter 2016

Continued

Inuyashiki, Vol. 3 Hiroya Oku Kodansha Comics February 23

Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?, Vol. 4 Fujino Ōmori, Kunieda Yen Press February 23

LDK, Vol. 3 Ayu Watanabe Kodansha Comics February 23

Maga-Tsuki, Vol. 1 Hoshino Taguchi Kodansha Comics February 23 Not Actual Cover

Ninja Slayer, Part 3: Last Girl Standing (2) Yoshiaki Tabata, Bradley Bond, Phillip N. Morzez, Yūki Yogo Vertical Comics February 23 Not Actual Cover

Noragami: Stray God, Vol. 11 Adachitoka Kodansha Comics February 23

Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth Side: P3, Vol. 1 Sō Tobita, Atlus Kodansha Comics February 23

58

Bell Cranel & Hestia – Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?,

Puella Magi Homura Tamura, Vol. 2: ~Parallel Worlds Do Not Remain Parallel Forever~ Magica Quartet, Afro Yen Press February 23 Not Actual Cover

Puella Magi Madoka Magica: The Movie ~Rebellion~, Vol. 3 Magica Quartet, Hanokage Yen Press February 23 Not Actual Cover

Say I Love You., Vol. 12 Kanae Hazuki Kodansha Comics February 23

School-Live!, Vol. 2 Norimitsu Kaihō (Nitroplus), Sadoru Chiba Yen Press February 23 Not Actual Cover

Strike the Blood, Vol. 2 Gakuto Mikumo, TATE, Manyako Yen Press February 23 Not Actual Cover

The Boy and the Beast, Vol. 1 Mamoru Hosoda, Renji Asai Yen Press February 23 Not Actual Cover

The Devil Is a Part-Timer! High School!, Vol. 3 Satoshi Wagahara, Kurone Mishima Yen Press February 23

Tomodachi x Monster, Vol. 1 Yoshihiko Inui Seven Seas Entertainment, LLC. February 23 Not Actual Cover

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

Trinity Seven, Vol. 4 Kenji Saitō, Akinari Nao Yen Press February 23

Tsubasa Omnibus 7 Clamp Kodansha Comics February 23

Void’s Enigmatic Mansion, Vol. 3 HeeEun Kim, JiEun Ha Yen Press February 23 Not Actual Cover

Ane Koi: Elder Sister Love†† Yuzuki N’ Dash 801 Media, Inc. February 24 Not Actual Cover

Strange Sex in Parallel Worlds†† Takayuki Ōhashi 801 Media, Inc. February 24

Bleach, Vol. 66 Tite Kubo VIZ Media, LLC. March 1

Bloody Mary, Vol. 2 Akaza Samamiya VIZ Media, LLC. March 1

Devils and Realist, Vol. 8 Madoka Takadono, Utako Yukihiro Seven Seas Entertainment, LLC. March 1

Dragon Ball (3-in-1 Edition), Vol. 12 Akira Toriyama VIZ Media, LLC. March 1

Fate/Zero, Vol. 1 Gen Urobuchi, Type Moon, Shinjirō Dark Horse Manga March 1

Idol Dreams, Vol. 2 Arina Tanemura VIZ Media, LLC. March 1

Kiss of the Rose Princess, Vol. 9 Aya Shōoto VIZ Media, LLC. March 1

Komomo Confiserie, Vol. 3 Maki Minami VIZ Media, LLC. March 1

Mayo Chiki!

Omnibus 2 Hajime Asano, Neet Seven Seas Entertainment, LLC. March 1

One Piece (Omnibus Edition), Vol. 15 Eiichirō Oda VIZ Media, LLC. March 1

One-Punch Man, Vol. 5 Yusuke Murata VIZ Media, LLC. March 1

Seraph of the End, Vol. 8 Takaya Kagami VIZ Media, LLC. March 1

Shoujo Material†† Hanaharu Naruko FAKKU Books March 1

Shuriken and Pleats, Vol. 1 Hino Matsuri VIZ Media, LLC. March 1

Skip Beat!, Vol. 36 Yoshiki Nakamura VIZ Media, LLC. March 1

World Trigger, Vol. 9 Daisuke Ashihara VIZ Media, LLC. March 1

Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal, Vol. 8 Shin Yoshida, Naohito Miyoshi VIZ Media, LLC. March 1

Chiro, Vol. 4 Hye-kyung Baek NETCOMICS March 3 Not Actual Cover

Give to the Heart, Vol. 6 Wann NETCOMICS March 3 Not Actual Cover

The information presented here is as accurate as much as humanly possible and is subject to change without notice.†Yaoi and ††hentai titles for mature audiences 18+.

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

59

Manga Releases Winter 2016

60

Continued

Appleseed Alpha Iō Kuroda, Masamune Shirow Kodansha Comics March 8

Dance in the Vampire Bund II: Scarlet Order, Vol. 4 Nozomu Tamaki Seven Seas Entertainment, LLC. March 8

Haven’t You Heard? I’m Sakamoto, Vol. 3 Nami Sano Seven Seas Entertainment, LLC. March 8 Not Actual Cover

Ranma ½ (2-in-1 Edition), Vol. 13 Rumiko Takahashi VIZ Media, LLC. March 8

RIN-NE, Vol. 20 Rumiko Takahashi VIZ Media, LLC. March 8

The Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service Book Three Omnibus Eiji Ōtsuka, Yamazaki Hōsui Dark Horse Manga March 8

The World’s Greatest First Love, Vol. 4† Shungiku Nakamura SuBLime March 8 Not Actual Cover

UQ Holder, Vol. 7 Ken Akamatsu Kodansha Comics March 8

Vampire Hunter D, Vol. 23 Hideyuki Kikuchi, Yoshitaka Amano Dark Horse Books March 8

Record of Agarest War, Vol. 2 Compile Heart UDON Entertainment, Inc. March 10

A Silent Voice, Vol. 6 Yoshitoki Ōima Kodansha Comics March 15 Not Actual Cover

Evergreen, Vol. 4 Yuyuko Takemiya, Akira Kasukabe Seven Seas Entertainment, LLC. March 15 Not Actual Cover

Forget Me Not, Vol. 1 Nao Emoto Kodansha Comics March 15

Freezing, Vol. 7–8 Dall-Young Lim, Kwang-Hyun Kim Seven Seas Entertainment, LLC. March 15 Not Actual Cover

Furari Jirō Taniguchi Ponent Mon S.L. March 15

Genshiken: Second Season, Vol. 8 Shimoku Kio Kodansha Comics March 15 Not Actual Cover

Goodnight Punpun, Vol. 1 Inio Asano VIZ Media, LLC. March 15

Livingstone, Vol. 2 Tomohiro Maekawa, Jinsei Kataoka Kodansha Comics March 15

Master Keaton, Vol. 6 Naoki Urasawa, Hokusei Katsushika, Takashi Nagasaki VIZ Media, LLC. March 15

My Neighbor Seki, Vol. 7 Takuma Morishige Vertical Comics March 15

Mysterious Girlfriend X, Vol. 1 Ri’ichi Ueshiba Vertical Comics March 15 Not Actual Cover

Paradise Residence, Vol. 1 Kōsuke Fujishima Kodansha Comics March 15

Real, Vol. 14 Takehiko Inoue VIZ Media, LLC. March 15 Not Actual Cover

Terra Formars, Vol. 11 Yū Sasuga, Ken’ichi Tachibana VIZ Media, LLC. March 15

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

1 Kei Dirty Pair Flash Might Guy Naruto 3 Kasuganomichi, Seiko I My Me! Strawberry Eggs Natose Kimi ga Aruji de Shitsuji ga Ore de 8 Kanzaki, Sumire Sakura Taisen Monaco Hetalia: Axis Powers

January 一月 10 Leona King of Fighters

19 Sendō, Yukari Rosario + Vampire

12 Mihara, Ichirō Chobits

Hayashida, Airi Wake Up, Girls!

13 Kawai, Saori Busō Renkin 15 Shiranui, Tomoya Tennis no Ōjisama

20 Terashima, Nobuo NANA 21 Puchiko Di-Gi-Charat

17 Naoe, Riki Little Busters!

22 Takigawa, Hōshō Ghost Hunt

18 Kitazawa, Shiho THE iDOLM@STER: Million Live!

23 Claude C. Kenny Star Ocean: The Second Story

Art by Duffyknight2005

Anime Character Information 24 Francois Arnoul/ Cyborg 003 Cybrog 009 Mado, Kureo Tōkyō Ghoul 26 Hakone, Yumoto Binan Koukou Chikyuu Bouei-bu Love!

27 Dr. Kozaburo Nambu Kagaku Ninjatai Gatchaman 30 Megurine, Luka Crypton Vocaloid 31 Yukimura, Keiko Yū Yū Hakusho

The information presented here is as accurate as much as humanly possible and is subject to change without notice.

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

61

1 Kuonji, Shinra Kimi ga Aruji de Shitsuji ga Ore de

February 二月 6 Miura, Kento Kimi ni Todoke

12 Hanzō Naruto

23 Kunzite Bishōjo Senshi Sailor Moon

7 Aeris Gainsborough Final Fantasy VII

13 Marine Reigan Uchū Senshi Baldios

25 Sadaharu Gintama

Isawa, Tae Lamune

8 Kuroi, Nanako Lucky Star

14 Amahane, Madoka Aikatsu! Idol Katsudō!

26 Daimonji, Saki Platonic Heart

3 Edward Elric Hagane no Renkinjutsushi

9 Fuwa, Yuzuki Ansatsu Kyōshitsu

17 Sunohara, Yōhei Clannad

4 Blue Mary King of Fighters

27 Matsunaga, Tsubame Maji de Watashi ni Koi Shinasai

10 Mikasa Ackerman Shingeki no Kyojin

20 Hakamada, Kagetsu Rōkyū Bu

28 Run Elise Jewelria To Love-Ru

5 Kasugano, Haruka Yosuga no Sora

11 Misora, Naomi Death Note

22 Tsukamoto, Chisa Comic Party

29 Usui, Kenta Karin

2 Aika S. Granzchesta Aria the Animation

1 Aono, Kyōko Rosario + Vampire

March 三月 7 Inukai, Rintarō Busō Renkin

17 Ōtoribashi, Rōjūrō Bleach

23 Karura-ō Reiga Tenkū Senki Shurato

2 Hikigaya, Komachi Yahari Ore no Seishun Lovecome wa Machigatte Iru

8 Jolly La storia della Arcana Famiglia

18 Yuri Dirty Pair

24 Kuga, Nanase Iris Zero

3 Yuri Dirty Pair Flash

11 Elucia de Lute Ima Kami Nomi zo Shiru Sekai

4 Hokazono, Rinka Gift: Eternal Rainbow

13 Kurugaya, Yuiko Little Busters!

5 Aoba, Shigeru Shin Seiki Evangelion

14 Ayase, Yūto Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu

21 Yūki, Yūna Yūki Yūna wa Yūsha de Aru

29 Tōdō, Kasumi King of Fighters

16 Nogi, Ruka Gakuen Alice

22 Annie Leonhart Shingeki no Kyojin

31 Makimura, Kaori City Hunter

6 Yamamoto, Yōko Soreyuke! Uchū Senkan Yamamoto Yōko

62

19 Hinata, Yachiyo Tokurei Sochi Dantai Stella Jo-Gakuin Kōtō-ka Shīkyūbu 20 Hanazono, Hikari Special A

25 Takatsuki, Yayoi THE iDOLM@STER 28 Minowa, Hikari Aikatsu! Idol Katsudō!

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

Top Male Ranking

†

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Kirigaya, Kazuto 桐ヶ谷 和人 Sword Art Online

1

Chihaya, Gunzō 千早 群像

Aoki Hagane no Arpeggio: Ars Nova Cadenza

Producer プロデューサー THE iDOLM@STER CINDERELLA GIRLS

Kira Yamato キラ•ヤマト Kidō Senshi Gundam SEED

Archer アーチャー Fate/Zero: Ultimate Bladeworks

Araragi, Koyomi 阿良々木 暦 Monogatari Series

Mikazuki Augus 三日月・オーガス Kidō Senshi Gundam Tekketsu no Orphans

Emiya, Shirō 衛宮 士郎 Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works

Saitama サイタマ One Punch Man

Otosaka, Yū 乙坂 有宇 Charlotte

Top Female Ranking

†

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10 Kudelia Aina

Takao タカオ Aoki Hagane no Arpeggio: Ars Nova Cadenza

1

Iona/I-401 イオナ

Aoki Hagane no Arpeggio: Ars Nova Cadenza

Yūki, Asuna 結城 明日奈 Sword Art Online

Tōsaka, Rin 遠坂 凛 Unlimited Blade Works

Saber Arturia Pendragon セイバー•アルトリア• ペンドラゴン Fate/zero

Doma, Umaru 土間 埋 Himōto! Umaru-chan

Tomori, Nao 友利 奈緒 Charlotte

Kongō コンゴウ Aoki Hagane no Arpeggio: Ars Nova Cadenza

Shibuya, Rin 渋谷凜 THE iDOLM@STER CINDERELLA GIRLS

Bernstein クーデリア・藍那・ バーンスタイン Kidō Senshi Gundam Tekketsu no Orphans

The information presented here is as accurate as much as humanly possible and is subject to change without notice. †NewType The Motion Picutres Magazine

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

63

SHUTO CON MARCH 18TH 20TH, 2016 LANSING CENTER & RADISSON HOTEL LANSING, MI OUR SIXTH YEAR FEATURES INTERACTIVE COSPLAY, A GREAT LINEUP OF AWESOME GUESTS, DOZENS OF UNIQUE ARTISTS, DEALERS SPECIALIZING IN IMPORTED BOOTLEGGFREE ME MERCHANDISE, A MAID CAFE, AND MORE! FOR MORE INFO AND CURRENT BADGE RATES PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE!

ART BY NANCY FREY

Upcoming Anime DVD/Blu-Ray Releases Winter 2016 December 29 Sailor Moon R: Season 2, Part 2 Viz Media DVD • $4482 MSRP

Sailor Moon R: Season 2, Part 2

Viz Media Blu-ray/DVD Combo • $6999 MSRP

January 5

Sword Art Online II Volume 4: Mother’s Rosario LE Aniplex of America Blu-ray • $11498 MSRP

January 10 ETOTAMA: Collector’s Edition 2 PONYCAN USA Blu-ray/DVD Combo • $8998 MSRP • Sub

January 12 ARGEVOLLEN: Collection 2 Sentai Filmworks DVD • $4998 MSRP • Sub

Tokimune Susumu & Jamie Hazaford – ARGEVOLLEN

Dai-Shogun -Great Revolution-: Complete Collection Sentai Filmworks DVD • $4998 MSRP • Sub

Dai-Shogun -Great Revolution-: Complete Collection Sentai Filmworks Blu-ray • $5998 MSRP • Sub

Mobile Suit Gundam Movie Trilogy SUNRISE / TRSI DVD • $4999 MSRP • Sub

Pet Shop of Horrors: Complete Collection (Sentai Selects) Sentai Filmworks DVD • $1998 MSRP

January 9 Sword Art Online II Volume 4: Mother’s Rosario Aniplex of America DVD • $4998 MSRP

Sword Art Online II Volume 4: Mother’s Rosario Aniplex of America Blu-ray • $7998 MSRP

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

65

Upcoming Anime DVD/Blu-Ray Winter 2016

Continued

ARGEVOLLEN: Collection 2 Sentai Filmworks Blu-ray • $5998 MSRP • Sub

IGPX: Complete Collection

Discotek Media DVD • $69.95 MSRP

Noein - to your other self: Complete Collection

FUNimation Blu-ray/DVD Combo • $6498 MSRP

Noein - to your other self: Complete Collection LE

FUNimation Blu-ray/DVD Combo • $6498 MSRP

January 19 A Certain Scientific Railgun S: Complete Collection

FUNimation Blu-ray/DVD Combo • $4998 MSRP

Discotek Media Blu-ray • $34.95 MSRP • Dub • SD

Terror in Resonance: Complete Collection

FUNimation Blu-ray/DVD Combo • $6498 MSRP

Terror in Resonance: Complete Collection LE

FUNimation Blu-ray/DVD Combo • $8498 MSRP

January 20 Persona 3 the Movie -#3 Falling Down-

Aniplex of America Blu-ray • $7498 MSRP • Import • Sub

Hanayamata: Complete Collection

Persona 3 the Movie -#3 Falling Down- LE

Sentai Filmworks DVD • $5998 MSRP

Aniplex of America Blu-ray • $9998 MSRP • Import • Sub

Hanayamata: Complete Collection

January 26

Sentai Filmworks Blu-ray • $6998 MSRP

Locodol: Complete Collection Sentai Filmworks DVD • $4998 MSRP • Sub

Locodol: Complete Collection Sentai Filmworks Blu-ray • $5998 MSRP • Sub

Pokémon the Series - XY: Set 2 Viz Media DVD • $26.95 MSRP • Dub

66

Samurai Pizza Cats: Complete Collection

ALDNOAH.ZERO, Vol.3 Aniplex of America DVD • $3998 MSRP

ALDNOAH.ZERO, Vol.3 LE Aniplex of America Blu-ray • $9498 MSRP

Corpse Party - Tortured Souls: Complete Collection Maiden Japan DVD • $2998 MSRP • Sub

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

y Releases Corpse Party - Tortured Souls: Complete Collection Maiden Japan Blu-ray • $3998 MSRP • Sub

Giant Gorg: Complete Collection Discotek Media DVD • MSRP TBA • Sub

Kingdom: Season 1 Collection FUNimation DVD • $7998 MSRP

Momokyun Sword: Complete Collection

Sentai Filmworks DVD • $4998 MSRP • Sub

Momokyun Sword: Complete Collection

Sentai Filmworks Blu-ray • $5998 MSRP • Sub

Naruto Shippuden: Set 25 Viz Media DVD • $4482 MSRP

One Piece: Season 7, Part 5 FUNimation DVD • $3998 MSRP

Re: Hamatora: Complete Collection Sentai Filmworks DVD • $5998 MSRP

Re: Hamatora: Complete Collection Sentai Filmworks Blu-ray • $6998 MSRP

Tamako Market: Complete Collection Sentai Filmworks Blu-ray • $6998 MSRP

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

February 2 Blade Dance of the Elementalers: Complete Collection Sentai Filmworks DVD • $4998 MSRP • Sub

Blade Dance of the Elementalers: Complete Collection

Akame ga Kill!: Collection 1 CE

Sentai Filmworks Blu-ray/DVD Combo • $12998 MSRP

Lord Marksman and Vanadis: Complete Collection

FUNimation Blu-ray/DVD Combo • $6498 MSRP

Sentai Filmworks Blu-ray • $5998 MSRP • Sub

Evangelion: 3.33 You Can (Not) Redo FUNimation DVD • $2998 MSRP

Evangelion: 3.33 You Can (Not) Redo FUNimation Blu-ray • $3498 MSRP

From the New World: Complete Collection Sentai Filmworks DVD • $7998 MSRP

From the New World: Complete Collection Sentai Filmworks Blu-ray • $9998 MSRP

Pita-Ten: Complete Collection TRSI / Nozomi Ent. DVD • $4999 MSRP • Sub

February 9 Akame ga Kill!: Collection 1

Sentai Filmworks DVD • $5998 MSRP

Akame ga Kill!: Collection 1 Sentai Filmworks Blu-ray • $6998 MSRP

67

Upcoming Anime DVD/Blu-Ray Winter 2016

Continued

Lord Marksman and Vanadis: Complete Collection LE

FUNimation Blu-ray/DVD Combo • $8498 MSRP

Sailor Moon Crystal: Set 1 Viz Media DVD • $4482 MSRP

Sailor Moon Crystal: Set 1

Viz Media Blu-ray/DVD Combo • $6999 MSRP

Sailor Moon Crystal: Set 1 LE

Viz Media Blu-ray/DVD Combo • $7998 MSRP

SHIROBAKO: Collection 1 Sentai Filmworks DVD • $4998 MSRP • Sub

SHIROBAKO: Collection 1

Love Live! School idol project: Season 2 Premium Edition NIS America Blu-ray • $6999 MSRP

Sentai Filmworks Blu-ray • $5998 MSRP • Sub

February 16

Tokyo Ghoul: Season 1 Collection CE

Bleach Movies: Unforgiven 2-Pack (Fade to Black & Hell Verse)

FUNimation Blu-ray/DVD Combo • $12998 MSRP

February 10 Rokka -Braves of the Six Flowers-: Collector’s Edition 2

PONYCAN USA Blu-ray/DVD Combo • $8998 MSRP • Sub

February 14 Love Live! School idol project: Season 1 Standard Edition

NIS America Blu-ray • $5999 MSRP

Viz Media DVD • $1498 MSRP

Fate/kaleid liner PrismaIllya 2wei!: Complete Collection Sentai Filmworks DVD • $5998 MSRP

Fate/kaleid liner PrismaIllya 2wei!: Complete Collection Sentai Filmworks Blu-ray • $6998 MSRP

Fate/stay night [Unlimited Blade Works]: Blu-ray Box Set 2 LE Aniplex of America Blu-ray • $21998 MSRP

Fate/stay night [Unlimited Blade Works]: Season 2 Collection Aniplex of America DVD • $9998 MSRP

FREE! -Eternal Summer-: Complete Collection

FUNimation Blu-ray/DVD Combo • $6498 MSRP

FREE! -Eternal Summer-: Complete Collection LE

FUNimation Blu-ray/DVD Combo • $6998 MSRP

68

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

y Releases FREE! -Eternal Summer-: Complete Collection PE

FUNimation Blu-ray/DVD Combo • $11998 MSRP

Space Brothers: Collection 7 Sentai Filmworks DVD • $4998 MSRP

Space Brothers: Collection 7 Sentai Filmworks Blu-ray • $5998 MSRP

February 23 Ga-Rei-Zero: Complete Collection (S.A.V.E. Edition)

Death Note: The Omega Edition Viz Media Blu-ray • $6999 MSRP

Wizard Barristers: Complete Collection Sentai Filmworks DVD • $5998 MSRP

Wizard Barristers: Complete Collection Sentai Filmworks Blu-ray • $6998 MSRP

March 8 Wolf Girl & Black Prince: Complete Collection

FUNimation Blu-ray/DVD Combo • $3498 MSRP

Sentai Filmworks DVD • $4998 MSRP • Sub

Indian Summer: Complete Collection (Sentai Selects)

Wolf Girl & Black Prince: Complete Collection

Sentai Filmworks DVD • $1998 MSRP • Sub

NO-RIN: Complete Collection

Sentai Filmworks Blu-ray • $5998 MSRP • Sub

March 15 Those Who Hunt Elves: Complete Collection (Sentai Selects) Sentai Filmworks DVD • $3998 MSRP

Waiting in the Summer (TV & OVA): Complete Collection Sentai Filmworks Blu-ray • $5998 MSRP • Sub

When They Cry - Higurashi no Naku Koroni: Season 1 Collection Sentai Filmworks DVD • $4998 MSRP

When They Cry - Higurashi no Naku Koroni: Season 1 Collection Sentai Filmworks Blu-ray • $6998 MSRP

FUNimation Blu-ray/DVD Combo • $6498 MSRP

Photo Kano: Complete Collection Sentai Filmworks Blu-ray • $5998 MSRP • Sub

Tokyo ESP: Complete Collection FUNimation Blu-ray/DVD Combo • $6498 MSRP

Tokyo ESP: Complete Collection LE FUNimation Blu-ray/DVD Combo • $6998 MSRP

March 1 Death Note: Complete Collection Viz Media Blu-ray • $5497 MSRP

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

69

Who's That Seiyu¯ Asai, Ayaka

Yamashita, Daiki

Kobayashi, Yūsuke

朝井 彩加

山下 大輝

小林 裕介

DOB: May 11, 1992 Shizuoka

DOB: September 7, 1990 Shizuoka

DOB: August 2, 1986 Tokushima

Blood Type: A

Blood Type: NA

Blood Type: O

Current Roles…

Current Roles…

Current Roles…

Naruse, Mio

Kato¯, Hazuki

Hanabusa, Yo¯ taro¯

Amakusa, Shion

So¯go Amagi

Kurebayashi, Kazuki

Shinmai Maō no Testament

Hibike! Euphonium

Lance n’ Masques

Uta no Prince-sama

Comet Lucifer

Selector Infected WIXOSS

Aki

Calimero

Onoda, Sakamichi

Hashiba, So¯ji

Tsubasa Yamanami

Takamiya, Honoka

Onsen Yōsei Hakone-chan

Calimero

Yowamushi Pedal

Rampo Kitan

Argevollen

Witch Craft Works

Serizawa, Yū

Iguchi, Yuka

Ōsaka, Ryōta

芹澤 優

井口裕香

良太 逢坂

DOB: December 3, 1994 Tōkyō

DOB: July 11, 1988 Tōkyō

DOB: August 2, 1986 Tokushima

Blood Type: NA

Blood Type: AB

Blood Type: O

Current Roles…

Current Roles…

Current Roles…

Tenku¯bashi, Aika

Shiragami, Yo¯ ko

Shikishima, Mirei

Saikyo¯, Nene

Kurogane, Ikki

Moritsuna, Satoru

Shomin Sample

Jitsu wa Watashi wa

Valkyrie Drive: Mermaid

Rakudai Kishi no Chivalry

Rakudai Kishi no Cavalry

Ushio to Tora

Aiha

Nyanyai

Sangu¯, Mitsuba

Kohinata, Miku

Yamada, Ryu¯

Isogai, Yu¯ma

Noragami ARAGOTO

Wizard Barristers

Owari no Seraph

Senki Zesshō Symphogear

Yamada-kun to 7-nin

Ansatsu Kyōshitsu

70

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

¯ of Autumn 2015 Furukawa, Makoto

Tamaru, Atsushi

Hosoya, Yoshimasa

古川 慎

田丸 篤志

細谷 佳正

DOB: September 29, 1989 Kumamoto

DOB: February 27, 1986 Saitama

DOB: February 10, 1982 Hiroshima

Blood Type: A

Blood Type: NA

Blood Type: B

Current Roles…

Current Roles…

Current Roles…

Saitama

Miach

Amagiri, Ayato

Kagurazaka, Kimito

Kusanagi, Takeru

Orga Itsuka

One-Punch Man

DanMachi

Gakusen Toshi Asterisk

Shomin Sample

35 Shiken Shōtai

Gundam Orphans

Tengenji, Kakeru

Kurashiki, Kuraudo

Minatogawa, Sadamatsu

Kazehaya, Kamito

Talken

¯ ji, Mochizo¯ O

Mikagura Gakuen

Seirei Tsukai no Bladedance

Sword Art Online II

Tamako Market

Star-Mu: Kōkō Boshi Kageki Rakudai Kishi no Chivalry

Ishikawa, Kaito

Izawa, Mikako

Itō, Shizuka

石川 界人

井澤 美香子

伊藤 静

DOB: October 13, 1993 Tōkyō

DOB: September 6, 1994

DOB: December 5, 1980 Tōkyō

Blood Type: AB

Blood Type: O

Blood Type: O

Current Roles…

Current Roles…

Current Roles…

Hitoyoshi, Jiro¯

Fujisaki, Ko¯ to

Tokonome, Mamori

Tokita, Moeko

Kujo¯, Sakurako

Shiraki, Meiko

Concrete Revolutio

Noragami ARAGOTO

Valkyrie Drive: Mermaid

Wakaba Girl

Sakurako-san no Ashimoto

Prison School

Genos

Havia Winchell

Hanako-san

Kashiwaba, Satsuki

Himejima, Akeno

Takanashi, Kozue

One-Punch Man

Heavy Object

Re-Kan!

Locodol

High School DxD BorN

Working!!!

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

71

Sakura-con!

Sakura-con!

MARCH 25-27, 2016

WASHINGTON STATE CONVENTION CENTER ✦ All ages, “by the fans, for every fan” ✦ 100% volunteer-run 501c3 non-profit ✦ Over 1200 hours of round-the-clock anime, manga, and more presented in three days ✦ 2012 recipient of the Japan Foreign Ministry’s Official Commendation ✦ Experience Asian culture with traditional artists, educators, & performers

✦ Cosplay, dances, guests, & artists are only a sliver of what’s available at Sakura-Con Register at Sakuracon.org Like us on Facebook facebook.com/SakuraCon Follow us on Twitter @SakuraCon

Remembering Who Have Passed

Bob Magruder Voice Actor April 12, 1932 Houston, TX January 2, 2015 Dallas, TX Rasputin – Soul Eater (2008) Narrator, Igneel – Fairy Tail (2009) Berthold Hawkeye – Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (2009)

Ōtsuka, Chikao Voice Actor July 5, 1929 Setagaya, Tōkyō January 15, 2015 Shinjuku, Tōkyō Nezumi-Otoko – Gegege no Kitaro (1968) Kiyomasa, Keitarō – Kindaichi Case Files (1996) Gol D. Roger – One Piece (1999)

Hirai, Kazumasa Novelist May 13, 1938 Yokosuda, Kanagawa January 17, 2015 8 Man (1963) Genma Taisen (1967) Zombie Hunter (1972)

Note: Japanese titles are given to the Japanese artists and English titles for Western artists for their works.

Nakamura, Hidetoshi Voice Actor July 12, 1954 Tōkyō, Japan December 24 2014 Buran Blutarch – Kidō Senshi Zeta Gundam (1985) Oswald lenn Mathers – Rental Magica (2007) Gid Lucion Deviluke – To LOVEru -Toraburu- (2008) Fujimoto, Nobuyuki Scriptwriter 1957 Miyagi January 4, 2015 Saitama Doraemon: Nobita’s the Night Before a Wedding (1999) Kamikaze Kaitō Jeanne (1999) Cosmowarrior Zero (2001)

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

Ol’ga Yakovleva (Origa) Singer October 12, 1970 January 17, 2015 Insert Song – Princess Arete (2001) Opening Theme – Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex (2002) Ending Theme – Fantastic Children (2004)

James Ward (Rome Elliot) Voice Actor 1969 Chester Borough, New Jersey January 22, 2015 New Jersey Yuki, Eiri – Gravitation (1999) Mitsunori, Kugayana – Genshiken (2004) Kōchū, Kanshō – Battle Vixens: Dragon Destiny (2007)

73

Leonard Nimoy Actor March 26, 1931 Boston, MA February 27, 2015 Los Angeles, CA Galvatron – Transformers: The Movie (1986) Master Xehanort – Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep (2010)

Tatsumi, Yoshihiro Mangaka June 10, 1935 Tennōji-ku, Osaka March 7, 2015 Tōkyō Abandon the Old in Tōkyō (1970) A Drifting Life (1995) Fallen Words (2009)

Ogawa, Shinji (Haruhiko) Voice Actor February 19, 1941, Den-en-chōfu, Tōkyō March 7, 2015, Tōkyō Franz von Stresemann – Nodame Cantabile (2007) Ronan Marcenas – Kidō Senshi Gundam Unicorn (2010) Tōdō, Heikurō – Space Battleship Yamato 2199 (2013) Fujiwara, Cocoa (Kokoa) Mangaka/Illustrator April 28, 1983 Fukuoka March 31, 2015 Dear (2002) Ojōsama to Yōkai Shitsuji (2009) Inu x Boku SS (2009)

Aikawa, Kin’ya (Igawa, Toshiaki) Actor June 25, 1934, Sugamo, Tōkyō April 15, 2015, Tōkyō Yadokari – Space Ace (1965) Masked Racer/Ken’ichi Mifune – Mach GoGoGo (1967) Kame Sen’nin – Dragon Ball: The Path to Power (1996)

74

Kojima, Kō Mangaka March 3, 1928 Taitō, Tōkyō April 14, 2015 Tōkyō Sennin Buraku (1956) Nihon no Kā-chan (1968) Hige to Boin (1974)

Nishimoto, Hiroyuki Actor January 3, 1927 Tōkyō April 19, 2015 Snufkin – Moomin (1969)

Robert W. Gibson Writer 1960 May 5, 2015 Captain Harlock (1989 Eclipse) Robotech: Return to Macross (1993 Eclipse/Academy) Robotech Civil War Stories (2005 Academy)

Koizumi, Hiroshi Actor August 12, 1926 Kamakura, Kanagawa May 31, 2015 Tōkyō Tsukioka, Sho’ichi – Godzilla no Gyakushū (1955) Professor Miura – Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964) Dr. Shin’ichi Chujo – Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. (2003) Christopher Lee Actor May 27, 1922 Belgravia, London June 7, 2015 Chelsea, London Ansem the Wise/DiZ – Kingdom Hearts II (2005) The Programmer (Narrator) – Deus Ex Machina 2 (2015)

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

Himura, Masaki (Shinkiba, Yuki) Mangaka NA June 17, 2015 Kazoku Mono (2002) Hajimete no Kōshien (2006) Nyūin Note (2013)

Tatekabe, Kazuya Voice Actor July 25, 1934, Kimobetsu, Hokkaidō June 18, 2015, Tōkyō Takeshi “Gian” Goda – Doraemon (1979) Aijan – Magikano (2003) Tonoda – Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex - Solid State Society (2006)

Takizawa, Toshifumi Director September 18, 1953 Matsumoto, Nagano June 22, 2015 Dirty Pair (1985) Crusher Joe The OVAs (1989) Samurai 7 (2004)

Ueda, Hidehito Director November 3, 1953 Yamanashi June 28, 2015 A.D.POLICE (1999) GTO (1999) Sekirei ~Pure Engagement~ (2010)

Anastasia Moreno Translator * Okinawa July 11, 2015 Love Hina – Novels (2006 US) Trinity Blood: Rage Against the Moons – Novels (2007 US) Girls ünd Panzer (2014 US)

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

Mota, Shiina “Powapowa-P” (Mizoguchi, Ryō) Producer March 9, 1995, Ishikawa July 23, 2015 Sepia Record (2010) Yume no Mani Mani (2012) Ikiru (2015)

Izumi, Masayuki Actor May 12, 1980 Arakawa, Tōkyō July 28, 2015 Ōchi, Masayuki – Gokusen (2002) Kiba, Yūji/Horse Orphnoch – Kamen Rider 555 (2003) Konosuke, Shimoyonagi – Akihabara @ DEEP

Konno, Hinako Mangaka/Lyricist January 10 August 18, 2015 Di Gi Charat Theater: Leave it to Piyoko! (2002) Tosho Iinchō no Hinkaku (2010) Imōto no Synthese (2011)

samfree (Sano, Takayuki) Musician/Music Composer September 9, 1984 Niigata, Niigata September 24, 2015 Tegami Bachi: Reverse (2010) Crime – Album (2010) Wish Upon the Pleiades (2015)

Kumakura, Kazuo Voice Actor January 30, 1927 Minato, Tōkyō October 12, 2015 Tōkyō Higeoyaji – Astro Boy (1980) Prince Toness – Ōritsu Uchūgun: Honnêamise no Tsubasa (1987) Medama Oyaji – GeGeGe no Kitarō: Ibun Yōkai Kitan (2003)

75

Miyata, Kōji Mangaka 1981 October 22, 2015 Mahiru ni Miyoko (2008) Inugamihime ni Kuchizuke (2011) Utatane Hime (2011)

Ōrai, Noriyoshi Illustrator 1935 Akashi, Hyōgo October 27, 2015 Kunitomi, Miyazaki Macross Perfect Memory – Poster (1983) Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack – Poster (1988) Godzilla: Final Wars – Poster (2005)

Matsuki, Miyu Voice Actress September 14, 1977 Kure, Hiroshima October 27, 2015 Tōkyō Mido, Kaoru – Tsukuyomi -Moon Phase- (2004) Saginomiya, Isumi – Hayate no Gotoku! (2007) Nishikinomiya, Anna – Shimoseka (2015)

Katō, Haruko Actress November 24, 1922 Akasaka, Minato, Tōkyō November 2, 2015 Tōkyō The Genie – Sen’ya Ichiya Monogatari (1969) Rô-fujin – Majo no Takkyūbin (1989) Sariman – Howl no Ugoku Shiro (2004)

Sakurai, Takamasa Producer/Writer 1966 December 3, 2015 Arakawa, Tōkyō Sekai Kawaii Kakumei: Naze Kanojōtachi wa Nihonjin ni Naritai to Sakebu no ka (2009) Anime Bunka Gaikō (2009) Garapagosu-ka no Susume (2010)

Nosaka, Akiyuki Novelist October 10, 1930 Kamakura, Kanagawa December 9, 2015 Erogotoshi-tachi (1963) Hotaru no Haka (1967) War Stories for Children (1971)

The seasonal free online fanzine that gives you con-schedules, cosplay, upcoming anime, manga, video games news, reviews and more.

Visit and View our current and past issues

glm.studioartmix.com

Find Us On Facebook

Genki Life Magazine

“

W

hen I first started watching Plastic Memories back in April, I was immediately very impressed by it because the first episode was simply amazing. It forecasted an original anime with beautiful artwork, an ambient atmosphere, likeable characters and a lot of tragic drama. At the time, I really thought that it would become the next hidden gem and the biggest surprise of the season.”

Plastic Memories プラスティック・メモリーズ TV • April 4, 2015 – June 27, 2015 Doga Kobo • Aniplex of America http://www.plastic-memories.jp http://plasticmemoriesusa.com https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Plastic_Memories Director: Fujiwara, Yoshiyuki Music: Yokoyama, Masaru Writer: Hayashi, Naotaka Cast: Mizugaki, Tsukasa = Yasuaki, Takumi Isla = Amamiya, Sora Kinushima, Michiru = Akasaki, Chinatsu Zack = Yahagi, Sayuri Hanada, Yasutaka = Tsuda, Kenjirō Sherry = Aimi

78

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

79

As it turned out however, Plastic Memories instead ended up being one of the most misleading anime I’ve seen in quite some time. Unlike what the opening seemed to imply, in reality the show is mostly a cute and light-hearted slice of life comedy with quite a lot of romance in it. Now this doesn’t mean the anime turned out poorly in the end. Quite the opposite in fact, but it never reached the level that I thought it would have reached in the beginning.

The story takes place in a future world where humanoid androids are a common part of human society. The androids, named “Giftias,” are fully equipped with human emotions and help their respective human owners however possible.

But the Giftias have very limited lifespans and thus needed to be taken out of commission before too long. Enter Tsukasa, an 18-year-old boy whom is offered a position at the SAI Corporation—a group responsible for retrieving Giftias who are approaching the ends of their lifespans and eventually scrap them. Right next to him, we have his fellow co-worker, the incredibly cute and lovable Isla, who is actually a Giftia herself despite her position. The two of them form a team by order of their boss, and they consequently start working together, socializing together and of course fall in love with each other.

This is how Plastic Memories suddenly becomes something totally different from what it originally promised to be. Despite

the premise, the anime is in fact not about the retrieval of various Giftias, nor is it about the SAI Corporation itself or any of the other people working there. Plastic Memories is about Tsukasa—and it is about Isla. That is all. And honestly, that’s totally fine in and of itself because they make up one of the cutest couples I’ve seen in ages and watching their awkward romance is surprisingly enjoyable no matter how much you see of it. But for a lot of people, this was nothing more than wasted potential because the cool and interesting premise of the story itself is heavily neglected in the process.

For everyone who wanted to see a melancholic story about

Co-workers at SAI Terminal Service One: Kazuki Kuwanomi, Ren Kawarake, Zack, Michiru Kinushima, Sherry, Takao Yamanobe, Constance & Yasutaka Hanada

80

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

the tragedy of having to say goodbye to your loved ones and how they deal with it…you’re probably going to be left disappointed because Plastic Memories doesn’t actually focus very much on that at all other than right at the very beginning. The only character the show ever really emphasizes this point for is Isla herself as her lifespan is of course also very limited due to being a Giftia, but for everyone else…not very much.

However if you can get past the fact that the show is more or less in disguise and try to see it for what it actually is (in other words a romantic slice of life story), then suddenly Plastic Memories is a very enjoyable anime again. Why? Because it actually has “proper romantic development.” Quite a lot of it in fact. This is not the kind of show which ends with a confession in the final episode and nothing more. No, there are actually things happening from very early on in a romantic sense, which is something that is unfortunately very rare in today’s anime. Especially seeing Plastic Memories airing in the same season as Nisekoi was pretty amusing to me. They’re like night and day in comparison as far romantic progression goes.

Overall, Plastic Memories is an anime which you will probably be given a very different impression of depending on your expectations on it. Is it a good anime?

Yes. But it’s a completely different anime from what you’re most likely anticipating when you start watching it. That doesn’t make it a bad show per se, but it feels a bit like false marketing. It’s up to each and every viewer to do their best at adapting to what the anime has to offer.

If you’re looking for a deeply touching and emotional melodrama like Clannad: After Story or Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso, then sorry to say but you’re looking in the wrong place.

But for a cute yet beautiful story about young love, it’s hard to find a better example than Plastic Memories. v HaXXspetten

Isla & Tsukasa

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

81

HATSUNE MIKU

APR 23: Seattle, WA WaMu Theater APR 30: San Francisco, CA The Warfield (two shows) MAY 06: Los Angeles, CA Microsoft Theater MAY 14: Dallas, TX The Bomb Factory MAY 20: Toronto, Ontario Sony Centre for the Performing Arts MAY 28: New York, NY Hammerstein Ballroom (two shows) JUN 04: Mexico City El Plaza Condesa 82

http://mikuexpo.com/na2016 Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

Console & Desktop Gaming Winter 2016 December 22, 2015

Tharsis

January 22

The Witness

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel

NA • Strategy • PS4

Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam

NA • Puzzle • PC, PS4

January 19

NA • RPG • 3DS

January 27

Blade & Soul

January 26

Shadow of the Beast

Xseed Games • Nihon Falcom Corp NA • RPG • PS Vita, PS3

January 5 Amplitude HD Harmonix

NA • Music, Action • PS4

January 12 Gone Home

Midnight City • The Fullbright Company

NA • Simulation • PS4, XOne

Gaijin Games • Gaijin Games

Nintendo • AlphaDream

NCsoft • Team Bloodlust NA • RPG • PC

Square Enix

Resident Evil Origins Collection Capcom

M • Action, Horror • PS4, XOne

The Deadly Tower of Monsters Atlus • ACE Team

Final Fantasy Explorers

T • Adventure • PC, PS4

E • RPG • 3DS

LEGO Marvel’s Avengers Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment • TT Games

NA • Action, Adventure • 3DS, PC, PS Vita, PS3, PS4, Wii U, X360, XOne

Thekla Inc.

Sony Computer Entertainment • Heavy Spectrum Entertainment Labs NA • Action, Adventure • PS4

January 29 Sebastien Loeb Rally Evo

Bandai Namco Games • Milestone NA • Racing • PC, PS4, XOne

Cast of The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel

ESRB rating at time of publication. The information presented here is as accurate as much as humanly possible and is subject to change without notice.

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

83

Console & Desktop Gaming Winter 2016

This War of Mine: The Little Ones

Deep Silver • 11 Bit Studio

NA • Strategy • PS4, XOne

Febraury 2 Gravity Rush Remastered

Sony Computer Entertainment • SCE Studios Japan, Bluepoint Games T • Action • PS4

Febraury 5

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4

XCOM 2

Bandai Namco Games America Inc. • CyberConnect2 Co., Ltd.

2K Games • Firaxis, Feral Interactive

T • Action • PC, PS4, XOne

NA • Strategy • Linux, MAC, PC

Febraury 16

Febraury 9

Project X Zone 2

Alekhine’s Gun

Bandai Namco Games America Inc. • Monolith Software (JP)

Maximum Games • Haggard Games

M • Action, Adventure • PC, PS4, XOne

Firewatch

Panic Inc. • Campo Santo

NA • Adventure • Linux, MAC, PC, PS4

Return to PopoloCrois: A Story of Seasons Fairytale Xseed Games • Xseed NA • RPG • 3DS

Stellaris

Mighty No. 9

Paradox Interactive • Paradox Development

Deep Silver, Comcept • Inti Creates, Comcept

E • Action, Platformer • Linux, MAC, PC, PS Vita, PS3, PS4, Wii U, X360, XOne

NA • Strategy • PC

Street Fighter V Capcom

T • Fighting • PS4

Mighty No. 9 (Collector’s Edition)

Deep Silver, Comcept • Inti Creates, Comcept

E • Strategy, RPG • 3DS

Fire Emblem Fates: Birthright Nintendo • Intelligent Systems

E • Action, Platformer • PS4, XOne

NA • Strategy, RPG • 3DS

Febraury 19 Fire Emblem Fates: Conquest Nintendo • Intelligent Systems NA • Strategy, RPG • 3DS

Febraury 23 Far Cry Primal

Ubisoft • Ubisoft Montreal, Ubisoft Toronto, Ubisoft Shanghai, Ubisoft Kiev M • Action, Adventure • PS4

84

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

Arnice – Nights of Azure ESRB rating stil

l pending

Mega Man Legacy Collection

March 8

E • Action, Platformer • 3DS

Tom Clancy’s The Division

Capcom • Digital Eclipse Software

Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 2

Electronic Arts • PopCap Games NA • Shooter • PC, PS4, XOne

The Town of Light

Ubisoft • Massive Entertainment

M • Shooter • PC, PS4, XOne

March 11

Independent • Independent

Hitman

March 1

NA • Shooter • PC, PS4, XOne

NA • Adventure • Linux, MAC, PC

Far Cry Primal

Ubisoft • Ubisoft Montreal, Ubisoft Toronto, Ubisoft Shanghai, Ubisoft Kiev

M • Action, Adventure • PC, XOne

Square Enix • Io Interactive

March 18 Uncharted 4: A Thief ’s End

Heavy Rain

Sony Computer Entertainment • Naughty Dog Software

Sony Computer Entertainment • Quantic Dream

M • Action, Adventure • PS4

M • Adventure • PS4

March 25

The Witch and the Hundred Knight Revival

Hyrule Warriors Legends

NIS • Nippon Ichi

T • Action, RPG • PS4

Nintendo • Tecmo Koei America Corporation, Team Ninja, Omega Force

March 2

NA • Action • 3DS

Alienation

March 29

Sony Computer Entertainment • Housemarque NA • Shooter • PS4

March 4

MLB 16: The Show Sony Computer Entertainment • SCE Studios San Diego

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD

NA • Sports • PS3, PS4

T • Action, Adventure • Wii U

NA • RPG • PS Vita, PS3, PS4

Nintendo • Nintendo, Tantalus

Nights of Azure

Tecmo Koei • Gust

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

85

perform live at

APRIL 8–10

www.garnidelia.com 86

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

¯ ba, Asa O

¯ ba, Amime O

Asa is a normal high school student.

On one certan day, he became invisible as he wakes up. It couldn’t be helped so he tries to be himself.

Asa’s younger sister. Though pysically weak, she has a multitude of ESPbased powers.

Daimon, Yaki Yaki is a normal high school girl.

One morning, she wakes up with the capability to manipulte fire.

DAGASY Ho ¯kago Cho ¯no ¯ryoku Senso ¯ by AKIRA (日日日) & Risumai (りすまい)

Asa Ōba woke up one morning and became invisible. He isn’t the only one that changed though…other students around school also have been gaining powers. All the while his little sister, Amime, has been losing some some of her multiple EPS-like powers. Somehow, there’s suspicions that the student council president could be giving out powers. Asa, Amime and the grudge-filled flame girl, Daimon Yaki, form an uneasy alliance to investigate and get back at the mysterious student council president.

DAGASY - Hōkago Chōnōryoku Sensō (Dagasy After School Super Power War) DAGASY 放課後超能力戦争 Square Enix/Gangan Online 2012–2014, 3 Volumes www.ganganonline.com Author: AKIRA & Risumai Genre: Shōnen, Comedy, Romance, School Life, Fantasy, Ecchi Format: Softcover/Manga Price: ¥607 MSRP each volume

Here’s a preview of the first chapter. Be sure to support the author.

These pages are meant to read in spreads, side by side.

The story flow will be off, if read page by individual page.

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

87

DAGASY - Hoˉkago Choˉnoˉryoku Sensoˉ

Start with top right and end with bottom left. Reading is done the same direction.

Stop Reading Here 88

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

Start Reading Here Start with top right and end with bottom left. Reading is done the same direction.

DAGASY - Hoˉkago Choˉnoˉryoku Sensoˉ

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

89

DAGASY - Hoˉkago Choˉnoˉryoku Sensoˉ

Start with top right and end with bottom left. Reading is done the same direction.

Stop Reading Here 90

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

Start Reading Here Start with top right and end with bottom left. Reading is done the same direction.

DAGASY - Hoˉkago Choˉnoˉryoku Sensoˉ

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

91

DAGASY - Hoˉkago Choˉnoˉryoku Sensoˉ

Start with top right and end with bottom left. Reading is done the same direction.

Stop Reading Here 92

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

Start Reading Here Start with top right and end with bottom left. Reading is done the same direction.

DAGASY - Hoˉkago Choˉnoˉryoku Sensoˉ

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

93

DAGASY - Hoˉkago Choˉnoˉryoku Sensoˉ

Start with top right and end with bottom left. Reading is done the same direction.

Stop Reading Here 94

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

Start Reading Here Start with top right and end with bottom left. Reading is done the same direction.

DAGASY - Hoˉkago Choˉnoˉryoku Sensoˉ

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

95

DAGASY - Hoˉkago Choˉnoˉryoku Sensoˉ

Start with top right and end with bottom left. Reading is done the same direction.

Stop Reading Here 96

This concludes our preview of “DAGASY - Ho ¯ kago Cho ¯ no ¯ ryoku Senso ¯” This manga is be available at Kinokuniya Bookstores www.kinokuniya.com or at your local Japanese manga retailer.

Genki Life Magazine • Winter 2016

Used without permission. GLM is not affliated with Final Fantasy Distant Worlds, Square.

Distant Worlds music from

FINAL FANTASY

速

December 26 Symphony Center Chicago, IL

February 6, 2016 The Mahaffey Theater Saint Petersburg, FL

April 6, 2016 Tempodrom Berlin, Germany

April 23, 2016 Le Grand Rex Paris, France

www.ffdistantworlds.com

MORNING MUSUME Saturday, February 27