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.

LAWSON, a chain of convenience stores in Japan, just announced their latest campaign which starts next week. It's a number of goods from the series A Certain Magical Index (Toaru Majutsu no Index). The top prize (10 winners), is a plush of Index that looks like it's biting your head. Second prize (another 10 winners) is a pajama set in the style matching that which Mikoto Misaka wears in the show. In all, 12,000 prizes are being given out in this campaign.

For this raffle you purchase the campaign items (usually bottled drinks) and enter the code on the receipt at the website to get points, which you spend on raffle entries. Knowing the spending habits of the average hardcore otaku, I'm sure campaigns like this raise a lot of money for LAWSON and the drink companies, and I don't blame them. If they had a similar campaign here in the states, I'd join in.

The campaign site is at: http://lwp.jp/toaru/campaign/static/toaru/

At Tokyo Game Show this year, SEGA announced the latest entry into the series of Vocaloid games for handheld systems with "Project Mirai" on the 3DS. The trailer is now available on YouTube, and the game website lists a release date of March 2012. The trailer shows off many new gameplay features that make it different from the "Project Diva" games on the PSP.

As expected, the 3D display is used to make the music videos have 3D depth, using both 2D sprites and 3D models in the Nendoroid style (by GoodSmile Company). In addition, the trailer hints at a "composition mode" which appears to use a simplified version of the Vocaloid 2 software to input the song. Another new feature in the trailer is the use of 3DS' AR (augmented reality) tech to have Miku appear in the real environment, and in 3D!

Although significantly different from the "Project Diva" series, this will definitely be another exciting Vocaloid game for portable systems. Unfortunately, since 3DS games are now region-locked, you'll need to get your hands on a Japanese 3DS to play this one in the states.

The trailer is embedded after the break.

Katanagatari is an anime adaption of the light novel written by Niso Ishin and illustrated by Take. White Fox did the anime adaption which aired on January of 2010 and consisted of 12 episodes. One episode was released each month until December 2010, making twelve episodes in total. NIS America has licensed the English release of the series in two premium bundles that contains both the DVD and Bluray copy.

Katanagatari starts in feudal Japan. It focuses on Yasuri Shichika, voiced by Yoshimasa Hosoya, a swordsman that fights without swords. He meets Togame, voiced by Yukari Tamura, who is an ambitious strategist seeking his assistance. Togame seeks to obtain twelve legendary swords for the shogunate, where Shichika’s strength is required. To answer her request, Shichika and Togame explore the rest of Japan to seek the twelve blades.

Being an anime fan in the Bay Area of California is great for a lot of reasons, but one of the main pulls is the fact that we have so many outlets for Japanese pop culture. For example, this past August saw the latest iteration of the J-Pop Summit Festival, a fun street fair conglomeration of all things related to J-Pop. Since it was based in San Francisco's very own Japantown, traveling was easy and the setting was familiar to all attendees. Even if you're not big into J-Pop, the whole thing is like a miniature version of the Cherry Blossom Festival which means food stands and vendors in the street, plenty of cosplay, and an all around good time. If you weren't in Japantown in San Francisco on August 27th or 28th, sit tight and I'll fill you in on what you missed.

TOKYO, JAPAN (September 21, 2010) -- niwango Inc., known for its "Nico Nico Douga" video sharing website (www.nicovideo.jp), and Aniplex Inc. have jointly announced today that they will premiere Aniplex's brand new TV series titled "Fate/Zero" worldwide (except for Japan) streaming simultaneously with eight different language subtitles on Sunday, October 2 at 1:00am (Japan local time) immediately following its TV airing on October 1.

In this first time event in the industry's history, the First Episode of "Fate/Zero" will be streamed on "Nico Nico Channel" for anime fans outside Japan free of charge. Subsequent episodes will also be streamed in the same manner every week.

"Fate/Zero" is one of the most popular properties in Japan, and Aniplex with niwango decided to team up to make it available immediately to anime fans outside Japan.

Anyone who has an account with "Nico Nico Douga" can post their comments on its live video in various languages. While language will be set automatically based on the language of your browser, you can also select a language of your choice from the menu. Each episode will be exclusively streamed for a week.

The official websites for Kizumonogatari and Nisemonogatari anime -- the prequel and sequel to Bakemonogatari, respectively -- have launched, both featuring an new front-page illustration and trailer. Currently only the trailer is available, and the site displays no other information such as characters or casting. Kizumonogatari will be released in theaters sometime in 2012, while Nisemonogatari will be released as a TV anime series, scheduled to start January 21, 2012. Both series are produced by SHAFT, who also did production for Bakemonogatari with character designs once again provided by Akio Watanabe. Also like Bakemonogatari, these anime are based on a series of popular light novels by Nisio Isin.

The style of both trailers is very non-standard, which should come as no surprise to any fans of Bakemonogatari or SHAFT. Of particular note is the Kizumonogatari trailer, which has a non-sequitur opening and closing. Fans will probably be excited to see some of their favorite characters again in the trailer for Nisemonogatari, though their appearances, namely their hairstyles, have changed for better or for worse. Both trailers have been included inside for your convenience.

Kizumonogatari movie website - http://www.kizumonogatari-movie.com/

Nisemonogatari anime website - http://www.nisemonogatari-anime.com/

Alice and Clara are definitely special. Being the popular junior high idol unit known as ClariS, they have been made famous by singing the opening songs for popular anime series such as Ore no Imouto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai and Puella Magi Madoka Magica. In tandem with their recent single release, Good Smile Company has created the vessel for their Nendoroid debut.

More information and photos after the jump.