Maison Ikkoku Returns to TV

The best news I have heard in a long time.....

animeOnline reports that the live action version of Maison Ikkoku will finally be released (after being announced in 2005)

"The show will begin airing on May 12th at 9pm on TV Asahi. It will continue airing every Saturday from then until…well, eternity, if the drama matches the length of the original 80's TV anime, based on Rumiko Takahashi's manga. For you young'uns who don't understand what the heck we're talking about, Maison Ikkoku follows the inept wannabe college student Godai as he falls in love with and attempts to woo his widowed landlady, Kyoko. Kyoko will be played by the famous actress Misaki Ito, who also played romantic interest Saori in the Densha Otoko J-drama. "

I am ridiculously excited about this. I need to see if/when this is getting fansubbed. (omg, I said the 'f' word!)

Here is the Japanese Maison Ikkoku site. I am sorely tempted to make that index image my wallpaper. Here is the wiki for Maison Ikkoku (you heathens shoud know it!) I really need to buy the rest of this series.

Black Lagoon figure

I haven't watched as much of this show as I would have liked to, but I really enjoyed the bits I saw and the character design is great. Found this figure while browsing Hobby Stock.

I don't know if her name is spelled Shenhoa or Shenhua... x_0;

Joe is Japanese (dot com)

(description taken from the creator's myspace page)

Joe is Japanese is based on the (mostly) true life adventures, of a 35 year old boy who firmly believes he has to grow up. This is biographical story following a “hafu-breed” raised in Asia and never able to fit into any culture. These life-long comrades of Joe’s now work to chronicle the (somewhat) true events of Joe and his friends, lovers, enemies, and surrounding companions.

Watch some of the video here: JoeisJapanese.com/joe
All of the characters have thir own myspace pages as well.
via Japanator and animeOnline

Tekken 6 News

(info from SD Tekken)

• Animations have been changed for every character!
• All characters have an “item move”, like the Bryan shotgun we saw at the AOU trailer. Although not all of them will have the same effectiveness.
• An example of an “item move” will be Anna throwing her high heels at her opponents.
• Harada officially stated that Leo IS a girl.
• Stance changes for Marshall Law & Lei Wulong
• Yoshimitsu now considered an "expert" level character.
  

More information at SD Tekken & Kotaku (but mostly SD Tekken)

Bandai Raises Prices

Bandai Visual’s upcoming releases are priced at $39.99 ($49.99 for Galaxy Angel Rune) for 2 episodes of content (at 25 to 50 minutes per episode depending on the title) without English language audio (Japanese audio and English subtitles only). Most other North American anime licensee’s typically distribute DVDs with 3 to 5 episodes for $19.99 to $29.99, including English audio and subtitles.sodes for $19.99 to $29.99, including English audio and subtitles.

Read the entire article here - with some interesting comments (thus far) - via Japanator

This doesn't make much sense to me at all. Even with prices as they are now, people are waiting for slim pack/ box sets to pick up their anime. This is going to snap back on Bandai, I think.