Anime Expo Lite announces “Discover Little Tokyo” Event

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Anime Expo Lite 2021 ticketholders will have the opportunity to partake in a special promotion event being offered by a dozens retailers and restaurants in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles!

Little Tokyo’s famous Yagura or Tower

Beginning Friday, June 25 thru Sunday, July 11, 2021, Anime Expo Lite Ticketholders are invited to discover the historic Little Tokyo district and visit each of the participating establishments listed below to receive a custom designed Anime Expo coaster.

(C) Collateral Damage Studios

There are 6 different full color coasters available to collect, each may be assembled to create the above artwork designed by, Collateral Damage Studios commemorating Anime Expo’s partnership this year with Hate Is A Virus.

The list of participating establishments are as follows:

Although held virtually the past two years, Anime Expo Lite 2021 marks the 30th Anniversary of the long-running annual convention. Anime Expo Lite begins on July 3-4, 2021 from 12pm – 8pm (PST).

Tickets for Anime Expo Lite 2021 are just $5 (+ processing fees) with all proceeds to benefit the Hate Is a Virus commUNITY Action Fund. Purchase your tickets here and take a trip to Los Angeles to ‘Discover Little Tokyo’ and get exclusive access to Anime Expo Lite (Live stream).

Nihon Falcom Celebrates its 40th Anniversary with A free virtual concert from Falcom jdk BAND

Concerts, Events, video games, , , , , , , ,

Nihon Falcom announced their celebration plans earlier this week. For the last 40 years, Nihon Falcom has become a prominent video game developing company within the industry alongside Square Enix.

Falcom is most notably known for the Ys, The Legend of Heroes, and Trails series. Its current company president, Toshihiro Kondo, will be making a special message during its special 40th Anniversary celebration event on June 24th.

The special event will also feature a special virtual concert from the Falcom jdk band, for all Falcom fans for free, featuring tracks spanning four decades of Nihon Falcom’s game history.

NISA (NIS America) Online Store and NGPX have team up to announce brand new merchandise going live on June 24th after the event, warping up the celebration. According to NISA Online Store, one of these ‘brand new’ merchandise will be made in limited supply.

Tune in and catch it all:
Thursday, June 24, 2021 at 10:00 PM PT (June 25 at 7:00 AM CET)
Streamed live at the New Game+ Expo Twitch and YouTube channels

Lucasfilm + Anime Expo Lite: STAR WARS: VISIONS Panel & Sneak Peak

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Anime Expo announced that Lucasfilm will bring a galaxy far, far away to Anime Expo Lite this July with Star Wars: Visions – Sneak Preview panel!

Join host Chastity Vicencio and Lucasfilm executive producers, Jacqui Lopez, James Waugh Josh Rimes and Qubic Pictures’ Co-Executive Producer, Justin Leach and Kanako Shirasaki for an inside look at Star Wars: Visions before the series debuts on Disney+ later this year.

Star Wars: Visions is an upcoming anthology of animated shorts celebrating
Star Wars through the lens of the world’s best anime creators and storytellers.

Concept Visual

According to Kathleen Kennedy, President of Lucasfilm Ltd, Star Wars: Visions “[is an] anthology collection [that] will bring ten fantastic visions from several of the leading Japanese anime studios, offering a fresh and diverse cultural perspective to Star Wars.”

The upcoming novel Ronin written by Emma Mieko Candon, will tie into one of the shorts. Ronin is set to release on October 12, 2021. There is no current release date for Star Wars: Visions.

Cover not final

Full Panel Details:

Star Wars: Visions – Sneak Preview
Date: July 3, 2021 / 3:00PM PST
Duration: 30 minutes

Where:  Anime Expo Lite

Tickets to access this year’s Anime Expo Lite programming are $5 each, with all proceeds benefiting the Hate Is A Virus commUNITY Action Fund. After the stream concludes on July 4th, ticketholders can re-watch the content, as well as access additional programming, on a VOD basis from July 5th -16th, 2021.

MyAnimeList’s Zombieland Saga: Revenge “Caption This” contest

Anime, Autographs, Contests, Giveaways, , , ,

MyAnimeList has announced that it will be holding a worldwide “caption this” contest in collaboration with the popular TV anime Zombieland Saga: Revenge. From the submitted entries, MyAnimeList management and staff involved with the anime will choose the funniest 4-panel manga. The winner will be announced at the end of July 2021.

Contest Outline

A global “caption this” contest using images from the popular TV anime Zombieland Saga: Revenge, open to participants from all over the world.

In response to three panels Tweeted by the official MyAnimeList Twitter account, participants must choose a fourth panel, caption it, and retweet it using #CaptionZLSR to enter.

The submitted 4-panel manga will be screened by MyAnimeList management and staff involved with the anime, and the creator of the funniest manga will receive a Blu-ray signed by the anime’s cast. There will be a total of five different ‘themes’ per week, the starting theme is “The Legendary –[insert you caption here]–“. For examples, take a look here.

A new theme will be posted on Friday, June 18th. Contest ends on July 11th and winners will be announced July 30, 2021.

How to Enter

  1. Follow the MyAnimeList official account on Twitter (@myanimelist)
  2. Choose a story theme and an image for the final panel.
  3. Quote retweet the chosen theme and add the image, a punchline, and the hashtag #CaptionZLSR

Event Schedule (may be subject to changes)

Entry period: June 11 – July 15 23:59 (JST) 

Prize announcement: July 30, 2021

Please keep an eye on the masterpieces created using the cute, funny, touching, and unique materials of Zombieland Saga: Revenge!

TRESE Graphic Novel Sells Out Ahead of Netflix Anime Series Debut!

Anime, Voice Actors, ,

Filipino komik (Comic) series, Trese sold out before the Netflix anime adaption!

Created by Filipino writer Budjette Tan and Illustrator Kajo Baldisimo, Trese is a dark fantasy, crime comic series that was originally published in 2005. Trese tells the story of Alexandra Trese, a private detective who specialized in supernatural crimes. The series itself is inspired heavily on Filipino mythology and American series such as, Batman, X-Files, CSI and Constantine.

  • Budjette Tan (Writer)
  • Kajo Baldisimo (Artist)

Having already won numerous awards, including the National Book Award Best Graphic Literature in 2010, an anime inspired adaptation by Netflix was announced back in 2018, with Trese creators as showrunners and Jay Oliva as the series director.

As the series drew more attention from its Netflix adaptation announcement, the award-winning graphic novel sold out ahead of its anime series debut! But don’t worry, you still have a chance to get your hands on a copy, as the comic heads back to press for a second printing.

With TRESE Volume 1’s second printing, fans will have just enough time to get catch up on the supernatural journey of Alexandria Trese, just in time for TRESE Volume 2: Unreported Murders which will be released on July 13th, followed by TRESE Volume 3: Mass Murders on September 28th!

  • SOLD OUT (2nd Printing coming soon)
  • Coming Soon (7/13/21)
  • Coming Soon (9/28)

The series stars Pretty Little Liars star, Shay Mitchell, as the voice of Alexandra Trese in English, and Liza Soberano (My Ex and Whys, Alone/Together) in Filipino.

  • Shay Mitchell (English)
  • Liza Soberano (Filipino)

Watch the hit -series, TRESE the animated series now on Netflix!

Exclusive Interview with Stephanie Southerland – Jean Gunnhildr -A Genshin Impact Interview

Anime, TKN Exclusive, video games, Voice Actors, , , , , ,

As Genshin Impact continues to gain more and more players, we continue to bring you more exclusive Genshin Impact voice actor interviews, to get to know those favorite characters you all love and adore. This time we had the opportunity to interview Stephanie Southerland, the voice of Grand Master, Jean Gunnhildr!

Get to know the voice behind Grand Master, Jean Gunnhildr as we take you behind the scenes with voice actress, Stephanie Southerland! Pst! Stay tuned to the end of the interview to learn how you can win an autographed print from Stephanie Southerland!

Exclusive CODE LYOKO Interview I – Barbara Scaff

Anime, Current Interviews, TKN Exclusive, Voice Actors, , ,

Many animation voices have touched our hearts during our childhood, but for those who grew with with Code Lyoko, these voices still keep on living in our hearts.

Code Lyoko, created by animators Thomas Romain and Tania Palumbo, is French animated show that. The series was the child of two short films, Les enfants font leur cinéma (The children make their own films) and Garage Kids.


The series gained attention due to its unique combination of 2D and CGI animation. It first premiered in the U.S. on Cartoon Network in April 19, 2004. It became extremely successful in both its origin country and in the U.S. as well as other parts of world.

The success behind the show was not its unique style of animation but its dramatic storyline and character development. As the series progressed, we begin to see characters evolve and thus are more relatable. Bringing these amazing characters to life are of course, the cast of Code Lyoko; Sharon Mann (Aelita Schaeffer), Matthew Géczy (Odd Della Robbia), Barbara Weber-Scaff (Ulrich Stern), Mirabelle Kirkland (Yumi Ishiyama), and David Gasman (William Dunbar/XANA) to name a few.

Odd Della Robbia, Aelita Stones (Schaeffer), Jeremy Belpois, Ulrich Stern, Yumi Ishiyama & William Dunbar

In an exclusive interview we had with Code Lyoko star voice actress Barbara Scaff, reveals her experience working on the series, afterthoughts, her opinions on the follow-up series, Code Lyoko: Evolution and much more! Stay tuned till the end of the interview for a VERY special announcement!

GIVEAWAY!
A have chance to win this RARE Code Lyoko Ulrich figure! Originally released by Marvel Toys, this is a very RARE figure that has now been discontinued since 2009. Don’t miss your chance, enter now! Here’s how:

  1. Subscribe to our channel
  2. Comment your favorite Lyoko Warrior and your reason why ON the video’s commnet section (not here)
  3. DONE! It’s that easy!

Deadline: 4/17/2021

Thank you for the memories, Barbara!

Exclusive Genshin Impact Interview: Amber (Kelly Baskin)

Anime, Current Interviews, Giveaways, TKN Exclusive, Voice Actors, , , , ,

Miyoho’s release of Genshin Impact was one of the most anticipated mobile game releases of 2020. With over 10 million pre registered users, it quickly gathered popularity among anime fans. Shortly before its release, MiYoHo’s official Genshin Impact Twitter page announced its English voice cast.

We’ve made it a mission to interview each every Genshin Impact voice actor as possible!

Join us in our VERY first and exclusive interview with Kelly Baskin, voice of Amber. Watch as speaks Kelly goes through her career origins, her roles in Disgaea 6 as Melodia, Genshin Impact as Amber, and so much more!


–Giveaway–

TWO (2) Lucky Amber fans have a chance to win an autographed Amber print signed by Kelly Baskin! Or be even luckier and be our Grand Prize Winner (1) and win an autographed Amber print PLUS a Barron Bunny Plush!

—How to Enter—

Comment your favorite Amber quote (on Youtube’s video comment section) AND subscribe to our channel! That’s simple! Make sure to publicly subscribe to our channel!

Deadline to Enter: 4/02/21

**Winners are selected RANDOMLY and announced 48 hours after the deadline. Only ONE (1) Grand Prize Winner will be selected. Please read our terms and conditions BEFORE entering: https://thekitsunetwork.net/giveaways **

Exclusive Interview | Emi Lo voice of Rinku Aimoto (D4DJ)

Anime, TKN Exclusive, Voice Actors, , , ,

Bushiroad is known for its popular card games, idols, and rhythm games. D4DJ is a semi-new series created to appeal to the DJ community, and although the game to set to be released in the US this spring, it gathered a very big fanbase. Like BanG! Dream, this game features different types of bands with different genres.

Recently, Bushiroad released an anime series based on the D4DJ game on their official D4DJ Youtube channel. The channel also features D4DJ LIVE performance concerts, D4DJ music tracks, and seiyuu videos.

We recently had an interview with the English voice of D4DJ’s protagonist Rinku Aimoto, Emi Lo. Emi’s voice can also be heard in Higurashi: When They Cry, Love Live Sunshine, Kemono Friends, and Appare-Ranman! Join us as Emi Lo speaks on her career and her experiences voicing anime characters, as always stay tuned after the interview for a giveaway opportunity!

Click here to see more upcoming interviews!

Levi’s x Pokémon collection coming NEXT WEEK

Anime, Clothing, , , , , , ,

As part of Pokémon’s 25th anniversary, Nintendo is collaborating with Levi Strauss & Co.

The Levi’s x Pokémon collection, ranging from $20.00 – $148.00, will launch in Levi’s stores, on Levi.com, and on the Levi’s App starting February 15th. Inspired by the first season of the original Pokémon anime series, the collection includes a range of Levi’s denim, tops, bottoms, fleece, tees, and accessories that feature graphics and prints of both the popular characters and the woodland settings of the Kanto region.

Also included is a range of graphic tees that features throwback character art, such as Ash, Misty and Pokémon from that classic first season. And, for fans of Misty, there’s even the Levi’s Misty Short and Misty Tank, an homage to the iconic outfit she wears in the series.

There’s also an all-over floral Pokémon print gym bag, a Poké Ball crossbody bag and clip-on pouches with Pokémon characters embroidered on the front. And, on the sundries, the collection features Pokémon branding on Levi’s® back patches, Red Tabs that mimic red and white Poké Balls, and buttons stamped with Pikachu and Poké Balls.

In January, Nintendo announced it had began its 25th anniversary celebration with its collaboration with Bear Walker skateboards.

Created by craftsman, Bear Walker 

McDonald’s later announced its collaboration with Nintendo for their Happy Meals. Starting today (February 9th), each Happy Meal will include one of the following:

Photo by Pokebeach.com

Each Happy Meal toy is available for induvial purchase for $2* depending on location. For more information please contact your local McDonald’s.

Let’s the hunt begin!

Special thanks to the Levi’s PR team for providing the Levi’s X Pokémon Photoset collection