Earlier today, Enterbrain posted the launch trailer for a recently-announced anime, Kokoro Connect. Kokoro Connect was originally a light novel written by Anda Sadanatsu with illustrations by Yukiko Horiguchi (character designer for Lucky Star and K-On!), which has also enjoyed manga and drama CD spinoffs.

The story revolves around a quirky "Cultural Research Society" whose members' noisy but everyday lives were turned upside-down when they switch personalities. And while they try to figure out what happened and how to reverse it, they must act like someone else in order to avoid being found out!

Although viewers will likely have flashbacks to K-On! due to the similarity in character designs, it's only because the character designer was the same for both series -- the story itself is unrelated to that of K-On!'s. The concept of switching bodies or personalities is always an interesting plot device, and if they do a quality interpretation of the light novels, this series ought to be one to keep an eye on.

The trailer and detailed series info can be found at their official page, and the trailer is embedded after the break.

Kokoro Connect anime website: http://www.enterbrain.co.jp/fb/pc/02sp/02_1111kokoro/index.html

The official website for the 8 episode TV animation of Black Rock Shooter has just released a trailer. Visually, the combat scenes are gorgeously animated; however, fans will quickly notice some visual differences from the OVA that was released back 2010. The most noticeable difference are the changes to the character designs. The OVA and TV anime were both animated by Studio Ordet; however, staff information for the TV anime has yet to be released.

Are the changes for the better? Watch the trailer and let us know in the comments. Poster image inside.

Earlier this year, we had interviewed the creator of Cave Story, Daisuke Amaya at a press event hosted by NIS America. Amaya, who is also known as Pixel, had designed, programmed, and created the original game as a freeware PC game that featured classic 2D platforming mechanics. 

With the new remake Cave Story 3D about to release just weeks away, hear what he had to say about the original game and the remake!

Gundam fans will be excited to hear that SD Gundam Capsule Fighter, a MMOTPS created by Softmax, was announced to be released in the US by an online game publisher, OGPlanet.  The game was originally released in Korea during the summer of 2007.  At the time, the game was only available to those who held a Korean National ID number.  Luckily, my housemate, who happened to be from Korea, was able to sign up for an account and I got to try out the game.  Without a doubt, the game was fun and I'll be playing this again when it's released.

The game is played through multiplayer online battles where players have full command of their mobile suit.  There are also missions in the game that offers rewards when you complete them.  For me, it was all about collecting and trying out new and different mobile suits.  One of the great features of this game is that there are many ways of obtaining mobile suits either by renting one for a limited time, using Astros (out of pocket money), spending points (in-game currency) on capsule machines, or by mixing mobile suits.

The variety of mobile suits available in the game is astonishing.  They have mobile suits from the old Gundam series such as Universal Century to the more recent ones like Mobile Suit Gundam 00.  With over 300 mobile suits available in the game, they are classified into four ranks: S, A, B, and C rank.  In addition to ranks, mobile suits are also categorized based on their specialty such as hand-to-hand combat (phase blades, fists), long-range (guns), or multi-role (balanced).

There wasn't a release date given, but a closed beta test is planned to start November 2nd, 2011 for those who are interested. If you like to participate, you would need to register an account with OGPlanet, "like" the SD Gundam Capsule Fighter Facebook page, and submit your email address.  But be quick, there's only a limited amount of beta keys given out.  For anyone who loves mechs or shooting games, I highly recommend trying out this game.  Plus, it's free.

Sign up here: http://sdgo.ogplanet.com/en/teaser.og

This coming November (11/10), an event called "Miku Party" will be held at 8 different cities across USA! and San Francisco is one of them. This is a world-wide celebration event for Vocaloid fans, "Miku-pa" (Miku party in Japanese) also planned in Thailand, Brazil, France.

During Miku-pa, the live concert in Sapporo will be screened to the fans overseas. it is a special event celebrating the release of "Hatsune Miku Live Party 2011" DVD release on 11/16.

You can find more information by clicking the English tab over at this website and at the official Japanese site of Miku-pa.

Sekiranun Graffiti is the second American musical release which featured the virtual idol, Hatsune Miku after the first album, Supercell Feat. Hatsune Miku, topped the iTunes chart back in May 2011. Sony Music smartly chose to release Sekiranun Graffiti simultaneously in Japan and in the US in late August 2011 to to the delight of Miku fans. Sekiranun Graffiti has a total of 5 tracks (2 songs, 1 remix, and 2 instrumental) making it more than just a single, but falling short of a full album, thus categorized as an extended play (EP). The EP is a collaboration project between Supercell member Ryo and producer Dixie Flatline.

At New York Comic Con earlier this month, Aniplex of America had announced information regarding the American release of Puella Magi Madoka Magica and the full details has just been released. Preorders have already started and will be released in 3 separate volumes in a limited box set, a regular Blu-ray, and DVD set. The Limited Edition Combos will include:

"soundtrack CD, an exclusive collector's box, a double-sided poster, a Kyubey sticker, collectible postcards, and a deluxe 24-page booklet with character designs, a special short manga by Aoki Ume and more!"

If the bonus goods tickle your fancy, they will cost $74.98 each. Press release inside.

Figure maker Good Smile Company released the complete colored photos of Shinobu Oshino from the hit series Bakemonogatari earlier this week. Based on the cover art for the 6th volume of the Blu Ray release, Shinobu cutely sits on top of the rest of the cast from the series buried in donuts. In a rare twist, I have to say I think the figure is better than the original art, especially the face! What do you guys think?

She will retail for 7800 yen and be released next year in March 2012 and most likely will be on my preorder list.