Fashion retailer Mobacolle is collaborating with anime studio Gainax to release cat eared parkas based on the hit Evangelion series. The parkas are based on each of the Evangelion units (00 yellow, 01 purple, 02 red) and will be reversible. Unfortunately the parkas are only currently available for preorder in women and kid sizes and will retail for 7245 yen from the Official Gainax store.

As a note, over the years, artists have created various fanart involving the series as hoodies. Probably the most popular are the hoodie adaptation of the plug suits that each pilot wears. Pictures of fan art and of the parkas inside.

Yes Atelier fans, NIS America has announced on Friday that they will be releasing the third Arland installment, Atelier Meruru: The Apprentice of Arland in North America and Europe this May. Full details as well as the prologue trailer inside.

Check out what's upcoming in Spring! A new season of the majhong anime Saki, the second part to Fate/zero, and a sequel to mecha anime Eureka Seven titled Eureka Seven Astral Ocean. For those interested in a bit of the supernatural mixed in with a bit of ecchi, the zombie themed Sankarea and ghost story Tasogare Otome x Amnesia are great choices.

At a press conference held earlier yesterday, new details about upcoming Code Geass projected were announced.

Code Geass: Boukoku no Akito (Akito the Exiled)

Currently it is unclear if this will be a full season show; however, it has been announced the first episode will be screen this summer in Japanese theaters. The story takes place during the events of the original series and follows Akito, voiced by Miyu Irino and Layla, voiced by Maaya Sakamoto in Europe.

http://geass.jp/akito/index.html

Code Geass Gaiden: Nunnally in Wonderland

A new OVA release that retells the fairy tail of Alice in Wonderland with Code Geass characters that's set to release with a picture book.

http://www.geass.jp/nunnally/

Code Geass will also be getting the stage treatment in a full blown musical (http://www.geass-musical.net/) and apparently a film adaptation of the original series is also in the works. 

Another blow to the anime industry, we have received official word today Bandai Entertainment will "stop releasing new titles on DVD, Blu-ray and Manga formats starting in February of 2012."

Although Bandai has stated in their press release that they "will continue to sell catalog titles and shift its operation to licensing which will include digital distribution, broadcast and merchandising," they have also noted they will be shutting down their official twitter and facebook page.

You can read the full press release inside.

Figure maker Good Smile Company opened a branching cafe in Taiwan earlier this month and a couple of our staffers happened to be in the neighborhood. While we wait for their report which will appear here later, why not check out some of the photos?

The popularity of ONA (Original Net Animation) has been picking up recently, and last week NamcoBandai published Kyousogiga, an episode-length video to its NicoNico and YouTube pages. Kyousogiga was created by Izumi Todo, who also made the Ojamojo Doremi and Futari wa Pretty Cure series, and animated by Banpresto and Toei Animation.

The animation style is fairly stylized, and it reminds me of the stuff Madhouse makes. The video description mentions a new work coming out in March 2012, but it doesn't say if it's related to this ONA or not. Also, the video will only be available until January 15, 2012, so watch it while you can! It's embedded after the break.

Kyousogiga homepage: http://www.kyousogiga.com/

From the anime with a second season on the way (Tantei Opera Milky Holmes) comes another Nendoroid to join the Milky Holmes family! Nendoroid Yuzurizaki Nero is finally up for pre-order. Being the 3rd girl released in Nendoroid form, there is only one more to go before the quartet is complete!

This cute Nendoroid Nero figure comes with three different expressions, as well as the metal rod she uses when using her toys ability. Included is also an 'Umauma Stick' treat for her to munch on and even the flying machine that was seen in the last episode will be included. As a special treat, Nero also comes with extra parts to help recreate the way she looked in Episode 9 - after getting possessed by her ancestor.

This lively Milky Holmes girl is now available for pre-order at all your normal online or local anime figure retailers. The retail price is set at a normal 3,334 yen. The figure is set to release in April of 2012. As always, figures are always made in limited quantity, so get your pre-orders quickly in the event that she does sell out!