Fans of Bakuman listen up! There is going to be a live-action adaptation for the series, and it looks like they have started work on the principal photography!

A earlier tweet went circulating around that filming was taking place in Hachioji. The official announcement soon followed, for a live-action movie based on Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata’s Bakuman Shonen Jump series in 2015. The duo were also responsible for creating the Death Note series.

A quick jump start to anyone who might want to look into the series: the storyline revolves around how Akito Takagi found a notebook with drawings done by Moritaka Mashiro, and from there on, Takagi tries to convince Mashiro into creating his own manga. After citing some reasons (his uncle died from overwork) and being all discouraged, Takagi arranges for Mashiro and Miho Azuki (Mashiro’s crush) to meet, where they find out that Azuki wants to become a voice actress. They then made a proposal that the two of them should marry if Azuki gets to become a voice actress for an anime adaptation of one of their mangas.

As incredulous as it sounds, it actually happens at the end – they share their first kiss together. As for the journey and how they went about achieving it? Well, that’s for you to find out! There’s like a number of volumes to keep you company. (20 to be exact)

Hitoshi Ōne, (Moteki live action) will be directing the movie. Takeru Satoh (who plays Kenshin in the live-action Rurouni Kenshin) will be acting as Mashiro and Ryunosuke Kamiki (live-action Kenshin’s Sōjirō Seta) will take on the role of Takagi.

Sources: [CR][Yaraon][Natalie]

The post [LIVE-ACTION] Live Action “Bakuman” Planned for 2015 appeared first on AFA Channel!.

From Noragami’s ending song, we present to you Tia’s latest album, [Heart Realize]! To those not familiar with Tia, she is one of the current guest singers (along with Chelly and Koeda) for Supercell. [Heart Realize] is not Tia’s first collaboration with Supercell,  Her first being [Love Me Gimme], the ending song of the anime Wooser’s Hand-to-Mouth-Life. The limited edition version includes a DVD and 3 picture cards bundled along with the CD.

And here’s what we think about this single after listening to it:

Ryo’s lyrical abilities shines as usual with his latest song, with a very emotional and romantic meanings behind it. Heart Realize is an extremely bittersweet song despite it’s upbeat tempo, with lyrics that are quite meaningful. One can related better to the lyrics after watching the anime series (if you had been following the series you would understand).

The same can be said for Chotto de Kakete Kimasu, although it has a much sadder tone and a more melodic tempo to it. It’s lyrics too quite contrasting with Heart Realize, Heart Realize being more about protecting someone, while Chotto de Kakete Kimasu is about leaving and separation, making one grow up. With both this quite contrasting songs on one album, it really is a very nice blend, and can move the heart quite easily.

Tracklist: Disc 1

1. Heart Realize
2. Chotto de Kakete Kimasu
3. Heart Realize -Instrumental-
4. Chotto de Kakete Kimasu -Instrumental-

Disc 2

1. “Noragami” Non-credit Ending Theme Eizou
2. Full Size “Noragami” Special Eizou

The post [Anisong] Heart Realize – Tia appeared first on AFA Channel!.

Knights of Sidonia (Sidonia) is originally written by Tsutomu Nihei, famous for his other works such as Blame!, NOiSE and Biomega and is currently  being adapted into an anime by Polygon Pictures, most well-known from their works such as Tron: Uprising and Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

Set in a distant future where thousands of years after humans have fled from Earth due to its destruction by alien monsters called the Gauna, they live aboard massive spaceships. One of the ships is Sidonia, which has developed its own human culture where various human engineering are commonplace and also said to be the last human settlement remaining.

Each Gauna has a core protected by a material known as the ‘placenta’ and when the core is damaged heavily, it disintegrates. Sidonia is defended by huge weapons called the Guardians which are powered by “Hyggs particles”. They are armed with a high output cannon for long range combat and a special blade called the “Kabizashi” for close combat, made of an unknown material able to cut through the Gauna’s placenta.

Synopsis

The story follows Nagate Tanikaze, a resident of the underground layer of Sidonia since birth raised by his grandfather. He trains himself in an old Guardian pilot simulator, eventually mastering it. After his grandfather’s death he is found by the population and selected as a pilot.

Our protagonist is suffering from hunger as his food supply ran out. He goes up to the surface to look for sustenance but things goes horribly wrong and Nagate goes through a sequence of hilarious yet painful events which ends up with him being a Guardian pilot. He is soon led to his first mission where he unfortunately encounters a Gauna, the first any humans have in 100 years. Due to his simulator training, he does manage to get out alive but is scarred due to a psychological attack.

He then sees a festival on TV where a competition between Guardian pilots is taking place, and it also has delicious food. The winning team heard of his accomplishments and decided to meet. At the end up the third episode, we are made known that no matter how good the pilots are in the competition, it is nothing compared to an actual Gauna.

Thoughts

The plot is similar to last year’s extremely popular Attack on Titan. You have a haven for mankind to reside in after a huge struggle against a powerful enemy. After a hundred years of peace, the humans encounter the Gauna once again!

Unlike Attack on Titan however, Sidonia seems to be LAST remaining human population so it kinda makes Eren’s struggle feel miniscule as compared to Tanikaze’s. There also seem to be a mystery surrounding Captain Kobayashi and the group of people she normally interact with, as well as her reason for wearing the mask.

I have to mention the soundtrack as it really got to me.

The first thing I felt was that it felt atmospheric. Special note to the BGM they use during the battle preparation situations and the next episode preview theme, the violin really strikes a chord! I also do like how there is a sense of emptiness during the space scenes, as if you could feel the vacuum. Same goes for the opening sung by Angela. I generally do like most of Angela’s work and this is probably my favorite of them all though. The song feels like those old Super Robot songs with its anthem like feel, with a current era vibe to it.

The environments are simply gorgeous to look at. Everything from the little details of each surface to the sprawling scenery of Sidonia is beautifully replicated in 3D. The massive landscape feels almost realistic to look at I sometimes just enjoy staring at them. Watching Sidonia in HD will allow you to truly appreciate the effort the animators put into these intricate models.

However, the character models feels a little off compared to everything else. They feel a little stiff and take away from the masterpiece Polygon has created. The mouth of each character feels like it was made separately and plastered on though. To be fair, it’s understandable seeing everything else is in 3D which makes it easier to integrate everything together.

Editor note: 2D? 3D? Well depends on you…

Editor note: Guy? Gal? Izana can be whatever you want~ Doujin people have fun!

I feel that the pacing is pretty alright, except for the first episode where Tanikaze abruptly ends up being on his first mission shortly after becoming a pilot. It is explained away as the higher-ups wanting to test out if Tanikaze has some special ability. We are introduced to quite a number of characters at the first episode which I feel might be a bit too much since I kinda got lost on who’s who at the beginning but the show fleshes most of them out within the following 2 episodes. Aside from that, Sidonia is also a current running manga so I hope that the show does not end on a cliffhanger. Did I mention there’s a humanoid bear?!

My biggest gripe with Sidonia is the frame rate of the show. It feels pretty choppy at times when there’s a lot of action going on which disappoints somewhat. Anime is normally streamed at 24 frames but due to the CG it drops quite a bit from time to time to what I feel is around 15fps. It is a little jarring to see it move almost like a slideshow sometimes. Thankfully the Guardians move very fluidly as compared to the characters. . I do hope Polygon would fix the issue as the episodes goes by.

Worth continuing?

Sidonia seems to be one of those mecha anime that strays from the norm as compared to other mecha titles this year. I’m really excited to see how Tanikaze grows as a pilot, the motivations of Kobayashi as well as the fate of Sidonia as a whole in the upcoming episodes. Definitely a must watch for Mecha fans and Sci-Fi fans as well as anyone who wants an interesting show to watch this season that gets your attention, if you’re willing to look past the frame-rate issues.

ANIPLUS HD

Knight of Sidonia is now ongoing on ANIPLUS HD (Available on Toggle and Singtel MioTV CH 340 in Singapore, and various platforms in Thailand and Indonesia) every Wednesday at 9:30PM with repeat telecast at 8:30 PM on Saturday in Chinese Subtitles.

Missed the first 3 Episodes? Well it will be good to know that at the end of the season, the show will be available on it’s Video ON-DEMAND menu with English subtitles.

Editor note: Lastly did we mentioned?

Honoka is Eri where…

Screen Captures and images provided by ANIPLUS HD
Knight Of Sidonia © TSUTOMU NIHEI・KODANSHA／KOS PRODUCT COMMITTEE

The post [ANIME] Knights of Sidonia – The First Impressions appeared first on AFA Channel!.

While Japanese folks are still enjoying the last month of Spring in Japan, the blistering summer season has began for many of us living closer to the equator. The unbearable heat means that many people would have poorer appetite, but all is not lost because we have prepared a list of five Japanese snacks to beat the summer heat!

(Image: https://flic.kr/p/athGWt)

Ramune

Ramune is a lemon-lime soft drink originally found only in Japan. It is usually sold ice-cold by sidewalk stalls at temple festivals and fireworks events. The taste is pretty ordinary — similar to Sprite or 7-Up, but what makes it different is the packaging! Ramune are sold in glass bottles with a marble stopper, and it takes some talent (or a lot of practice) to chug an entire bottle straight without the marble getting in the way. You can try heading to your nearby Daiso store to grab a bottle of ramune.

(Image: https://flic.kr/p/fBwP6j)

Kakigoori

Kakigoori is Japanese shave ice, usually flavored with syrup and milk, and topped with sweetened red beans or fruit. Like ramune, it is usually sold by sidewalk stalls at temple festivals and fireworks events. A staple of hot and humid Japanese summers, it is not unusual to see yukata-clad Japanese girls walking together to a local temple with a cup (or two) of this sweet treat. For our SouthEast Asian readers, this is very similar to our ice-kachang dessert.

(Image: http://www.yuyutuhan.jp/item/002/sp-3.htm)

Soumen

Soumen are thin wheat noodles served in a bowl of iced water, accompaned by a dipping sauce made of bonito flakes, sliced negi, and mustard. Some restuarants in Japan offer nagashi soumen or flowing soumen, which are basically noodles floated down a bamboo pipe that diners try to pluck with chopsticks  (you can recreate the nagashi soumen experience at home by purchasing this goofy contraption from Bandai).

(Image: http://www.oshiete-sendai.com/blog/2009/08/post-14.html)

 Hiyashichuuka

Hiyashichuuka literally means “chilled Chinese (food)”, which is a pretty strange thing to call what is basically a cold ramen. It contains chilled ramen noodles, shredded vegetables, sliced ham, tamagoyaki stips, and is drenched with a cold vinegar, soy, and ginger dressing. Although the basic ingredients are the same, each Japanese household seems to have a secret recipe for the dressing

(Images (clockwise from upper left): http://irorio.jp/sousuke/20130115/43398/; http://matome.naver.jp/odai/2133314784798479301; http://doshakajihou.blog28.fc2.com/blog-date-201108-1.html; http://mossarinikkori.blog.so-net.ne.jp/)

Ice-Cream

Ice-cream is not Japanese — yes, we get that. But only Japan comes up with some truly unusual and downright bizarre flavors for ice cream! If you think that vanilla ice-cream too boring for you, then you must try miso ramen ice-cream! Does chocolate ice-cream start to taste mundane after a while? How about we excite your tastebuds with yakisoba ice cream! For the truly adventurous, there is even basashi (horse sashimi) and tako (octopus) ice cream – this is reserved for the truly adventurous.

The post [JFOOD] Five Japanese Snacks to Beat the Summer Heat appeared first on AFA Channel!.

On the the evening on 07 May 2014, the Pokémon Twitter page announced that two new Pokémon titles will be launching worldwide sometime in November 2014. These two just so happens to be Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire for the Nintendo 3DS. Here’s the first teaser of the latest titles!

The press release of the games states that they are a fresh new take on Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire and that “The new titles promise to take players through a dramatic story within a spectacular new world. ”  Will we be seeing an updated remake of Ruby and Sapphire? Or will be treated to an all new 3D adventure set in the Hoenn region? Nothing much is known at the moment other than the trailer above but stay tuned to the Nintendo Direct on Tuesday,10 Jun 2014 for more new info on the newest Pokémon games!

I’m really excited for these two titles as Ruby was my favorite Pokémon game of all time, so I’m really pumped up to see more new info in the coming days!

Source: Pokemon.co.jp

The post [GAME] Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sappire Coming in November! appeared first on AFA Channel!.

More news from Love Stage!! Full cast announced, plus Kazutomi Yamamoto providing the ending theme in his music debut~

Following up the excitement for the anime adaptation of Love Stage!!, J.C. Staff revealed their all-star line-up for the rest of the characters!

Shougo Sena
CV: DAIGO (BREAKERZ)
Izumi’s older brother. Vocalist for super popular band CRUSHERZ. Has a serious brother complex towards Izumi and dotes on him.

Rei Sagara
CV: Daisuke Hirakawa
Manager at SenaPro, also manages all aspects of the Sena family. Straight-laced, no nonsense character.

Seiya Sena
CV: Ryotaro Okiayu
Daddy Sena. Singer. Also boss of his own management agency, SenaPro. Easy-going. Half-Japanese.

Nagisa Sena
CV: Sayaka Ohara
Mommy Sena. Famous actress. Feels that everything should revolve around her (and rightfully so), naturally charismatic.

Takahiro Kuroi
CV: Ryohei Kimura
Izumi’s friend from the Manga Club in his university.

Kousuke Sotomura
CV: Kazutomi Yamamoto
Manager at SenaPro responsible for Shougo

Kasumi Shino
CV: Kyoko Sakai
Ryouma’s manager from his artiste management agency, B-DASH.

Kojirou Ryuuzaki
CV: Showtaro Morikubo
Boss-man at Ryouma’s artiste management agency, B-DASH

Tenma Hidaka
CV: Junji Majima
Ryuuzaki’s secretary.

The ending theme song “CLOCK YOUR HEART!” will be sung by Kazutomi Yamamoto, who also voices Sotomura. This single will also mark his CD debut. Looking forward to it~

Plus, in addition to all these updates, do also check out the new extended 58s CM for Love Stage!!

Previously on AFACHAN: [NEWS] LOVE STAGE!! ANIME ADAPTATION

Character design images from moca-news.net
All other images from Love Stage!! official webpage http://lovestage-tv.jp/

I’m still reeling that they actually managed to get DAIGO to get on board for Shougo (perfect since Shougo’s based on him), plus Hirarin for Rei (not to be confused with the other one in that swimming anime) has always been the first choice in my mind – bullseye for both counts! When Yonaga and Eguchi was originally casted for the leads, we were joking that Kimura should totally placed somewhere so Trignal could be complete~ (and maybe provide the the ED- I was wrong) Casting choices-wise there’s way too many in-jokes, so seiyuu fans do check this out when it airs in July! 

Now we only need to hope for BREAKERZ to provide some background/insert songs as CRUSHERZ… or is that too much to hope for? I’ll make do with one of Trignal’s sugary confections too.

The post [ANIME] LOVE STAGE!! Additional Cast and ED artiste revealed! appeared first on AFA Channel!.

In just about one week on May 17^th, Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn Episode 7: Over the Rainbow will be airing around the world via multiple video platforms. Some countries outside of Japan like Malaysia and Singapore will have the privilege of watching it in theatres on the same day as well. There’s still quite a bit of time before the actual premiere however, and what better way to prepare for the finale than by rewatching the first 6 episodes just in time for the screening!

Don’t have the Blu-Rays or DVDs? No worries! Gundam.info has got your covered. They will be streaming Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn episodes 1 to 6 for FREE on their YouTube page for a limited time! It will only be available to select countries however.  Looks like I know what I’ll be doing before the movie screening on May 17^th! I can already feel the excitement and tension piling up to an all-time high already, May 17^th can’t come any faster!

Source: Gundam.info

The post [ANIME] Catch Gundam Unicorn Ep1 to 6 Free on YouTube! appeared first on AFA Channel!.

Golden Week holidays are here! And if you are a Madoka fan, what’re you gonna do? Well, on 3-6 May, Tokyo’s Ikebukuro is hosting a Madoka Magica exhibit featuring appearances by voice actresses Ai Nonaka , Kaori Mizuhashi, Emiri Kato and Aoi Yuuki, life-sized figures. There is also a cafe with themed drinks, and a “net-sensation”, Kyuubei ice-cream dish.

It doesn’t just stop there though. The exhibit will be stopping by Osaka  on May 17 and 18.

Fans are advised to remain hydrated while standing in the queue that could take as long as more than 90 minutes. Some test of determination that must be. Well, and here you can have a look at some of the pictures of the event:

Sayaka Soda Drink:

Homu Curry?:

Kyuubei Ice-Cream:

Merchandise (some of it):

You can view a list of merchandise they are selling at the events here: Click Here!

Tweets courtesy of @GwynCampbell

Despite having tics, the line to get into this weekends Madoka Magika exhibit is 2.5hrs long! #madoka_magica #anime pic.twitter.com/bzyzofgsON

— Gwyn Campbell (@GwynCampbell) May 4, 2014

Life-sized Ultimate Madoka. Almost worth waiting in line for. #madoka_magica #anime pic.twitter.com/Kp8HMeCsxm — Gwyn Campbell (@GwynCampbell) May 4, 2014

3hrs in line for the Madoka Magika exhibi… Oh hai there Mami. #madoka_magica #anime pic.twitter.com/qMInwBW3u9

— Gwyn Campbell (@GwynCampbell) May 4, 2014

You can view more here:

The Event’s Website: Click Here!

MatoMagi, a fansite of sorts: Click Here!

If we were to have such an event in your country, what would you add into or change from the current program they have at the event? Share it with us down in the comments!

Source: [CR via MatoMagi][MadoMagiEventWebsite]

Photos Courtesy of: @amakurakeiji @xyz_km @Aniplex_plus

The post [MADOKA] Want to See Life-Sized “Madoka Magica” Girls and Eat Kyuubei? Wait in Line With the Fans! appeared first on AFA Channel!.

Ever since I picked up a copy of Pokémon Red as a kid and played it on my Gameboy, I have always been interested in the world of Pokémon.

So you can understand my joy when I saw a video play through of Pokémon Snap on the Oculus Rift by Chadtronic on Youtube. Pokémon Snap, released in 1994 for the Nintendo 64, was a first person rail shooter taking pictures of Pokémon, with the help of items like apple-shaped fruit, “pester balls” and the PokeFlute to achieve better shots, while riding on an amphibious buggy. It’s like taking a ride at a theme park and taking one of those rides with animatronics.

Although it is just an old game with buggy graphics for now, it would be interesting if Nintendo decides to throw their hat into the Virtual Reality ring, where it will face competition from the Oculus Rift and Sony’s Project Morpheus.

Here’s the video if you want to check it out:

The post [Games] One step closer to real Pokemon appeared first on AFA Channel!.

In Japan, spring is usually welcomed by the blooming of sakura, or cherry blossom, trees in full bloom turning the trees into giant sticks of cotton candy. The Japanese usually enjoy viewing this with friends, family, and loved ones, also known as hanami.

While this occurs around April, many of us have missed the chance to experience this. May brings about another perspective for viewing the pink flowers, the Japanese have many names for the yearly occurrence, from, hanafubuki, blizzard of petals, to hanagata, flower rafts, and hazakura, the budding young leaves that are revealed when the flowers have fallen off.

With a grand total of 2600 trees, Hirosaki Park in Aomori Prefecture provides one of the best views of both phenomena in April and May.

With the park in full bloom in April, all the flowers drop begin to drop in May turning it into a sea of pink. Dubbed, sakura no juutan, or the Cherry Blossom Carpet, the park’s paths and ponds are covered in a layer of fallen cherry blossom flowers. Here’s just a glimpse of the sights that will greet you if you visit Hirosaki Park at the start or middle of May.

Images from: Curazy

The post [JAPAN] Travel – Walk along the Pink Carpet in Japan appeared first on AFA Channel!.

May’n will be release her new single 「Re:REMEMBER」on 18 June. It will contain 4 tracks, including the Japanese version of the Jay Chou’s “Wo Niu” titled “Katatsumuri”.

If you are curious as to how Wo Niu sounds like, here is a Jay Chou’s version of,

Other tracks recorded on the Single includes, 「Re:REMEMBER」,「Darekatameni」, and the karaoke version of  「Re:REMEMBER」.

The Single is priced at 1300 Yen for the normal edition and 1800 yen for the CD+DVD version.

「Re:REMEMBER」 is the opening song for the anime M3: Dark Metal, which you can watch legally on-line.

10thシングルとして6月18日にリリースする「Re:REMEMBER」のミュージックビデオが解禁されました！
◎YouTube「May’n／Re：REMEMBER（1cho.ver）MUSIC VIDEO」
◎10thシングル「Re:REMEMBER」
2014年6月18日（水）発売
収録曲：
1.Re:REMEMBER　　作詞：藤林聖子　作曲・編曲：NAOKI-T
TVアニメーション『M3～ソノ黒キ鋼～』オープニングテーマ
2.誰がために　　作詞：藤林聖子 作曲・編曲：NAOKI-T
3.カタツムリ　　作詞・作曲：周 杰倫　訳詞：地宗明香　編曲：NAOKI-T
各曲の”without May’n”も収録
初回限定盤（CD＋DVD） VTZL-81　1,800円＋税／「Re:REMEMBER」MUSIC VIDEO収録DVD付
通常盤（CD） VTCL-35184　1,300円＋税

Source: May’n Asia

The post [MUSIC] May’n -「Re:REMEMBER」 to be released on 18 June, featuring JAY CHOU’s 蜗牛 appeared first on AFA Channel!.

The Music Matters Japan Night is back for the 2014 edition at the same location. The Fountain Stage @ Clarke Quay from 8 PM Onwards. The 2014 edition promises the entry of 3 totally different genre of musicians, with one common point, all of them can write their own music. Starting with Singer-Songwriter Naoto Inti Raymi, the talented duo, CREAM and Idie band/rocker The Oral Cigarettes.

Since most of the invited artistes are either new or unfamiliar to Singapore, let’s take a look at their profile;

Naoto Inti Raymi

Naoto should be the most familiar among the 3 with an appearance at the annual Red-White Competition in 2013.

Naoto is a singer-songwriter born in Mie prefecture growing up in Chiba, Japan.
Naoto has traveled alone to 28 countries in 515 days, performing live in each of the countries to absorb it’s the global culture and music. “Inti Raymi” is Quechuan (Incan language) meaning “festival of the sun.”

Naoto made his major debut in Japan on April, 2010 from Universal Sigma and successfully performed at the Tokyo Budokan Hall that December. He has released 12 singles, 4 albums, 1 EP, and 3 concert DVDs to this date.

Naoto was featured in Kohaku Utaassen, one of the most viewed TV program and year-end concert, making him as one of the most influential male singers in Japan.

Coming this June, Naoto will release a new track called “The World is Ours!” which will be featured as Coca-Cola Inc. World Cup Anthem song in Japan for the FIFA WORLD CUP BRAZIL™.

Naoto Inti Raymiナオト・インティライミ Official Website: http://www.nananaoto.com/
Official YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/naotochannel

CREAM

A group form by the lyricist and composer of the song sung by m-flo, Namie Amuro, BoA, V6, Jasmine and more! The talented duo is out to rock your world.

CREAM is a newly formed mainstream group, formed by singer song writer, Minami and rapper/track-maker, Staxx T. Their sound is a fusion of POP, EDM, HIP-HOP also known as “NEW J-POP”.

CREAM receives popular support for their DIY YouTube channel “CREAM VISION”, where they upload original songs, behind the scene & live footage as well as a wide variety of covers in Japanese. CREAM VISION has racked up over 70,000 subscribers and recorded a total of over 23 million views, which continues to grow daily.
They usually work together as a unit but flaunts their individual talents, writing lyrics and composing music for various artists including, m-flo, Namie Amuro, BoA, V6, JASMINE, etc.

On January 23, they achieved as many as 20 power-plays nation-wide with the 11 tie-ups with TV, satellite broadcasting, and radio tie-ups. Lead single, “Shooting Star”, was ranked No.1 on the USEN HIT J-POP, while their debut album, “DREAMIN’”obtained No.1 on the iTunes Top Song Chart.

On July 17, 2013, a summer anthem single, “Wonderland”, which beautifully incorporates EDM, was released. CREAM performed in 11 nationwide summer music festivals, such as SUMMER SONIC, TOKAI SUMMIT, Sunset Live. On November 27, CREAM released their 2nd single, a a mid tempo ballad titled,“Beautiful” . They successfully held 100 live performances in year.

In April, 2014, “#nofilter”, the 2nd album is released.

Staxx T – Rapper / Track-Maker “T’Z BEATZ”

Staxx T was born and raised in Osaka, Japan. He started playing the piano at a very young age and due to the influence of his parents he grew up listening to soul music.
Staxx T first came in contact with Hip Hop at the age of 15. Soon after, he started to self-produce songs and was featured in Hip Hop fashion magazine “TIGHT”. Apart from music, Staxx T modeled for Hip Hop fashion magazines such as “411”. In 2005, he entered a live battle contest, hosted/sponsored by DJ MASTERKEY/ Coca Cola and won No.1 in the MC/Vocal department.
His talent as a lyricist is highly acknowledged as he was offered to write lyrics for a wide variety of artists including TERIYAKI BOYZ®, V6, m-flo, etc.

Minami – Singer/ Song Writer
Minami was born in Hong Kong and raised in Kobe, Japan. Minami is bilingual and speaks both English and Japanese.
Minami’s career as a song writer began when she received an offer from VERBAL (m-flo), who at the time was producing BoA’s single, “BUMP BUMP! feat. VERBAL (m-flo)”. She took that opportunity to develop her skill as a song writer and continues to write for a wide variety of artists including Kylie Minogue, m-flo, Namie Amuro, BoA, etc.
Minami was also featured as a composer and vocalist by the TERIYAKI BOYZ® and m-flo.

■Information
CREAM official: http://www.creamofficial.com

YouTube channel “CREAM VISION” : http://www.youtube.com/CREAMVISIONJP

Facebook CREAM Official Fan Page : http://www.facebook.com/creamofficial

The Oral Cigarettes

The band from Nara(explains the deer), won the hearts of fans via their music, will they make a splash in Singapore?

Originated from Nara prefecture in 2010, THE ORAL CIGARETTES have gain popularity in Kansai Region with their highly energized live performances. The soulful lyrics written by lead singer Takuya Yamanaka and the carefully detailed musical arrangements won the band a steady growing number of fans within a short time frame.

In 2012, THE ORAL CIGARETTES sold out their final tour held in their hometown. They also successfully sold out 1 single and 2 mini album released under their indies label “ZIG ZAG RECORDS”. Their first 2 singles “mist…” and “Sakaurami Kozō” music videos has exceeded 50,000 views on YouTube.

The band gained national popularity when they emerged as grand champion of A-SKETCH/MASH A&R Audition in 2012 and officially debut in 2013 Summer with a Japan national wide CD release. Well perceived “mist” and “Sakaurami Kozō” will get a new recording and together with an additional of 4 new songs, completes the mini new album, fully packed with the charisma of THE ORAL CIGARETTES.

Members Profile
Masaya Nakanishi（Dr）1983.7.10
Takuya Yamanaka（Vo/Gt）1991.3.2
Akira Murakami（Ba/Cho）1991.3.28
Shigenobu Suzuki（Gt）1990.10.11

Official Website　：http://www.theoralcigarettes.com
Official Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TheOralCigarettes
Official YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/MASHARchannel

<Event Details>

Date: 22nd May 2014 (Thursday)
Time: 8pm onwards
Venue: Fountain Stage, Clarke Quay
Artist Line-up: Naoto Inti Raymi, CREAM, THE ORAL CIGARETTES
*Free Entrance*

Find out more about the Japan Night at Music Matter on their facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MusicMattersJapanNight

The post [EVENT] MUSIC MATTERS JAPAN NIGHT! – SG, 22 MAY, 8PM appeared first on AFA Channel!.

Let me introduce this series of upcoming articles regarding the history of Gundam. The AGE to Zeta of Gundam will be recounting the history of the Gundam franchise, from the original Mobile Suit Gundam in 1979 all the way towards the recently concluded Gundam Build Fighters.

Director Yoshiyuki Tomino was inspired by shows such as Starship Troopers and Space Battleship Yamato and decided to make his own mecha anime. He collaborated with mecha designer Kunio Okawara as well as Sunrise creators Hajime Yatate with the upcoming project then called Freedom Fighter Gunboy. The Gunboy was the titular mech while most of the mechanics in the show had the name Freedom in it.

They decided to combine the “Gunboy” with the dom in “Freedom” to form the name Gundom which changed to the Gundam. It signified a powerful gun wielding unit strong enough to hold back enemies like a dam. From there, Mobile Suit Gundam was born.

Synopsis:

The Principality of Zeon, former Republic of Zeon declared its independence from the Earth Fedaration in Universal Century (UC) 0069 and subsequently on January 3 0079, it launched a war of independence known as the One Year War. Every continent on Earth as well as space colony was affected by this war. While the Zeon forces were smaller, they had the tactical upper hand in the form of a new humanoid weapon called the Mobile Suit.  After many months of fighting, both sides are in a stalemate.

On 18th September 0079, a new Federation warship, White Base arrives at a secret research base located at Side 7. At the same time, a Zeon reconnaissance team commanded by Char Aznable surveys Side 7 for any traces of the top secret Federation Project V. One of the recon team members disobeys the mission orders and starts attacking the colony, killing most of the Federation crew and civilians. One citizen, Amuro Ray finds the top secret weapon, the RX-78-2 Gundam by accident and resolves the situation. The Gundam and the hastily made White Base crew and then sent on a mission to turn the tides of the One Year War.

What made MSG stand out?:

The original run of Mobile Suit Gundam was not received well in Japan, and was cut from the final episode count of 52 to 39 by the sponsors, as well as the original toy makers. However, when Bandai got the license and made the very first set of Gunpla, sales shot through the roof due to its immense popularity. The show did better during reruns and even better on the theatrical compilations.

Mobile Suit Gundam also has the honor of being the pioneer of the Real Robot genre. The Real Robot genre is defined by traits that make it similar to a real war setting. Their mecha are usually developed by a military or a huge corporation to be used for warfare. They also do take damage and their technology is usually defined in scope and limitation. The most distinguishing feature is that the mecha in these shows are usually powerful but they require a pilot to serve as a form of brain function to effectively use this well. Many shows were spawned through this genre thanks to the original Gundam. To name a few; Super Dimension Fortress Macross, Patlabor, Full Metal Panic!, Armored Trooper VOTOMS and Code Geass. Spot any of your favourite shows?

It also has a villain that became insanely popular he is regarded as Japan’s Darth Vader, except that the Japanese really embraces him a lot culturally. This person is none other than the Red Comet, Char Aznable. This masked character boasts an amazing amount of charisma that makes him naturally fit for being a leader. He also has a deep hatred for the Zabi family and swears to take them down personally, as well as his famous rivalry with the main character Amuro Ray. Future series follow his archetype to create similar characters with a mask and similar goals, henceforth known as ‘Char Clones’.

Famous mecha from MSG:

Being the titular Gundam show, the most famous design to come from this is surprise, the RX-78-2 Gundam! It is a design that has stood the test of time, thanks to Bandai continuously updating its design bit by bit over the years. It does not have giant wings, newtype weapons or giant guns, the simplicity of this mobile suit is its best feature. It is also the basis for most future Gundam designs to come. Pretty much every future designs share the same basic trait as the Gundam: White/Blue/Red color scheme, humanoid-like design, V-Fin, a signature styled Gundam face and overall performance better than everything else in its current era!

Another popular design that spawned from this is the MS-06 Zaku II! It has that really obvious bad guy feel to it with its signature mono-eye head piece. Countless and countless variants of the Zaku have been made due to its immense popularity and it even has a variation in Gundam SEED Destiny!

Here’s a trivia for you: Did you know that the Zaku’s name came from the word Zako (雑魚)? The word Zako means “small fry” in English. Very apt, don’t you think? Of course, being the small fry, these poor Zakus gets the brunt of the Gundam’s assault.

Recommendation:

Being the original series, it is usually the best place to start watching Gundam. Also, seeing that it is also the starting point of the One Year War, it’s the best place to start if you wish to follow the Universal Century.

Certain websites like Gundam.info streams Mobile Suit Gundam from time to time for a limited time for free; keep an eye out for them! You can also choose to purchase the Mobile Suit Gundam Blu-Ray box!  While the animation is pretty dated, it is definitely worth watching to see how the Gundam franchise started off.

For those of you that have watched Mobile Suit Gundam, what did you enjoy most from MSG and what is your favorite Mobile Suit? Share in the comment box below!

The post [ANIME] The AGE to ZETA of Gundam: Mobile Suit Gundam appeared first on AFA Channel!.

You read it right! The Love Live! School Idol Festival app is now out in English! And its out for both iOS and Android users.

As we have said in an earlier article, here’s the latest scoop on the game itself!

There have been rumors saying that players would be able to transfer their data over from the Japanese version of the game to the English one, and at present, we are in the process of verifying it. We will be playtesting the game and will give you readers a review soon!

For those of you who might be new to this, Love Live! School Idol Festival is a rhythm game where players tap the corresponding character portraits as an indicator approaches their respective icon. Songs would be unlocked as you view some of the story scenarios, and you could recruit more girls to the idol group μ’s. The girls are recruited and represented in a TCG (Trading Card Game) style, and as you upgrade them, they would become stronger and may even change outfits, depending on how you upgraded them. Why not you try it out to see it for yourselves?

Here are the download links. You might want to view them on a phone: iOS | Android

Japanese download links for if you want them: iOS | Android

A tutorial site: Click here!

The English wiki: Click here!

For anyone new to this game and who might want to see what the game looks like:

A review by us will be coming up, so stick around! Also, feel free to share your experiences with us in the comments!

The post [GAME] LOVE LIVE! SCHOOL IDOL FESTIVAL APP NOW OUT IN ENGLISH! appeared first on AFA Channel!.

It’s been some time since our last news update on Sword Art Online, and today we have more news for you SAO fans!

Aniplex of America Inc. has announced that Sword Art Online author Reki Kawahara and Original Illustration and Character Design Concept abec, will be attending Anime Expo 2014 in Los Angeles. They would both be participating in panels, autograph sessions and special events.

The announcement follows another announcement in France by Producer Shinichiro Kashiwada, where Aniplex of America has confirmed that they would conduct the US Premier Screening Event for SAO II at Anime Expo, which is scheduled on 04 Jul 2014. This event would coincide with other premier events happening in Paris’ Japan Expo, Hong Kong’s MCL Telford Cinema, Taiwan’s CINEMARK TAIPEI, Korea’s Megabox Dongdaemun, in Germany and in Japan.

You can visit Sword Art Online’s English site for more information: Click Here!

We expect more major announcements to be made at Anime Expo 2014. In the meantime, you could check out some of their games first while waiting.

Do check out our earlier article about the SAO game by clicking here. In fact, the game has been released, so you might want to check it out here.

We have included the gameplay trailer below for your convenience:

We promise to update you all on any future news that might come up till then, and anything that might be announced at Anime Expo 2014, so stick around!

Source: [CR 1 | 2][Maxim Fisrov]

The post [SAO] Sword Art Online II Premier Dates and New Anime Preview appeared first on AFA Channel!.

#JMF #MIKUEXPO #ININDONESIA – MIKU Fans rejoice! You can now get your tickets for the MIKUEXPO concert at 7-Eleven via the SEVELIN KIOSK at a promotional price, including 2 tickets, a Rice Bowl & a Mini GULP!

Silver: Rp 800.000  for 1 Ticket + 1 ( Rice Bowl & Mini GULP ) and 1 Free Silver Ticket
Bronze: Rp 500.000  for 1 Ticket + 1 ( Rice Bowl & Mini GULP ) and 1 Free Bronze Ticket

To purchase the MIKUEXPO promotional tickets, you can visit the 92 stores through out Jakarta with a SEVELIN Kiosk! Do approach the friendly 7-ELEVEN staff if you need help!

#JMF #MIKUEXPO #ININDONESIA – sekarang kamu bisa mendapatkan tiket konser MIKUEXPO mu di 7-Eleven melalui KIOS SEVELIN dengan harga promosi, termasuk 2 lembar tiket, sebuah Rice Bowl dan sebuah Mini GULP!

Silver: Rp. 800.000 untuk 1 tiket + 1 (Rice Bowl & Mini GULP) dan 1 Tiket Silver GRATIS
Bronze: Rp. 500.000 untuk 1 tiket + 1 (Rice Bowl & Mini GULP) dan 1 Tiket Bronze GRATIS

List of participating 7-Eleven outlets with SEVELIN Kiosk,

JAKARTA PUSAT

1 “TELUK BETUNG Jl. Teluk Betung No. 33 Jakarta Pusat”
2 “SALEMBA Jl. Salemba Raya No. 21, Senen. Jakarta Pusat”
3 “ASIA AFRIKA Jl. Asia Afrika No. 1 Jakarta Pusat”
4 “CEMPAKA PUTIH Jl.Cempaka Putih Raya Blok B No.2 Jakarta Pusat”
5 “CIDENG Jl. Tanah Abang II No.87 Jakarta Pusat”
6 “MENTENG Jl. HR Cokroaminoto No.70 Jakarta Pusat”
7 SABANG Jl.K.H Agus Salim No. 32B Jakarta Pusat
8 “BENDHIL Jl. Bendungan Hilir Raya No.23 Jakarta Pusat”
9 “HUSADA Jl. Mangga Besar Raya No. 137-139 Jakarta Pusat”
10 “GAMBIR Jl Merdeka Timur Jakarta Pusat”
11 Cikini Jl. Cikini Raya No.40, Jakarta Pusat
12 Tugu Tani Jl . Raya Prapatan, Jakarta Pusat
13 RS. Islam Cempaka Putih Jl Cempak aputih Tengah, Jakarta Pusat
14 “Manggadua Square Lobby Hotel Ibis, Jln. Gunung Sahari No. 1 Pademangan Barat – Jakarta Utara.”

JAKARTA SELATAN

15 “BULUNGAN Jl. Bulungan I/64, Lt. dasar, Kebayoran Baru. Jakarta Selatan”
16 “PASAR FESTIVAL Jl. HR. Rasuna Said Kav C-22 Jakarta Selatan”
17 “CIPETE Jl. Cipete 5 No.2 Jakarta Selatan”
18 BINTARO SEKTOR 1 Jl.Kesehatan Raya No.1A Jakarta Selatan
19 “RUKO GEDUNG HIJAU Jl. Terusan Gd. Hijau No.10 & 39, Pondok Pinang. Jakarta Selatan”
20 “FATMAWATI Jl. RS Fatmawati 3D, KebayoranBaru. Jakarta Selatan”
21 “RS. FATMAWATI Jl. Raya Fatmawati No.4 Jakarta Selatan”
22 PONDOK LABU Jl.RS Fatmawati No.11 ABC Jakarta Selatan
23 “SATRIO Jl.Prof Dr. Satrio No. 10D–10E Jakarta Selatan”
24 “SAHARDJO Jl. Sahardjo No. 321 Jakarta Selatan”
25 TEBET BARAT “Jl.Tebet Barat Dalam 2 No. 2 Jakarta Selatan”
26 TENDEAN Jl. Kapt. Tendean No. 13. Jakarta Selatan
27 TRUNOJOYO Jl. Wolter Monginsidi No. 2A Jakarta Selatan
28 MINANGKABAU “Jl. Minangkabau Timur No. 43 Jakarta Selatan”
29 PEJATEN Jl. Raya Pejaten No. 20A Jakarta Selatan
30 MAMPANG “Jl. Mampang Prapatan Raya No.1 Jakarta Selatan”
31 DUREN TIGA “Jl. PLN Duren Tiga No.6 Jakarta Selatan”
32 BUNCIT RAYA “Jl. Buncit Raya No. 40 Jakarta Selatan”
33 RADIO DALAM “Taman Radio Dalam No.2 Jakarta Selatan”
34 PANGLIMA POLIM Jl. Panglima Polim IX No.25, ebayoran Baru. Jakartas Selatan
35 Jati Padang “Jl Ray Ragunan B-6 Ps Minggu Jakarta Selatan”
36 Perdatam Jl Raya Pasar Minggu No. 29, Jakarta Selatan
37 Kemang “Jl Kemang Selatan 12 No 130 Jakarta Selatan”
38 La Codefin “Jl Kemang Raya I, No.8A Mam.Prapatan Jakarta Selatan”
39 Bangka Jl Bangka Raya No. 38, Jakarta Selatan
40 Cilandak KKO “Jl Cilandak KKO Klomp Marinir Jakarta Selatan”
41 Taman Puring Jl Kyai Maja Blok E1-35 Keb Baru, Jakarta Selatan
42 Ahmad Dahlan Jl Gandaria Tengah III no 1 Keb Baru, Jakarta Selatan
43 Karang Tengah Jl Karang Tengah Raya No. 26, Jakarta Selatan
44 Veteran Bintaro Jl RS Veteran K8-9 Keb Lama, Jakarta Selatan
45 Tebet Raya Jl Tebet Raya no 5, Jakarta Selatan
46 Setiabudi Jl. Setiabudi Raya No. 17B Jakarta Selatan
47 Kartika Chandra “Jl. Gatot Subroto Kav. 18 – 20 Jakarta Selatan”
48 AN TV Jl. HR Rasuna Said Epicentrum, Jakarta Selatan

JAKARTA TIMUR

49 MATRAMAN “Jl. Matraman Raya 12 Jakarta Timur”
50 BUARAN “Perumnas Raya Komp. Buaran Indah No. 104-108 Jakarta Timur”
51 PONDOK BAMBU “Jl. Pahlawan Revolusi No.5 Jakarta Timur”
52 DEWI SARTIKA “Jl. Dewi Sartika No. 317 Jakarta Timur”
53 KALIMALANG “Jl .Inspeksi Saluran Kav. Agraria 9 Jakarta Timur”
54 RAWAMANGUN “Jl. Balai Pustaka Timur No.5 Jakarta Timur”
55 Rawamangun Paus Jl.Paus No.88, Jakarta Timur
56 Pemuda Jl Raya Pemuda, Jakarta Timur
57 Basuki Rahmat Jl. BAsuki Rahmat No.70 Duren Sawit, Jakarta Timur
58 OTISTA Jl Otista Raya No. 64 Jati Negara, Jakarta Timur
59 Cipinang Jaya “Jl Cipinang Jaya No 70, Jatinegara Jakarta Timur”
60 Jatinegara (MM Photo) Jl Raya Jatinegara Timur no 107A Jakarta Timur
61 Pinangranti “Jl. Pdk.Gede Raya 1 Pinang Ranti Jakarta Timur”

JAKARTA BARAT

62 GREEN CENTRAL BUILDING “Jl. Gajah Mada No.188, Petojo Jakarta Barat”
63 GELONG BARU Jl.Gelong Baru Utara No. 1A, Grogol Petamburan. Jakarta Barat
64 MERUYA Jl.Meruya Ilir Raya No.42, Meruya Utara. Jakarta Barat
65 PERJUANGAN (RCTI) Jl. Perjuangan No.3, Kebon Jeruk. Jakarta Barat
66 DAAN MOGOT Jl.Marketing Gallery Sky Terrace. Jakarta Barat
67 MUWARDI Jl. DR. Muwardi 2 No.19, Grogol. Jakarta Barat
68 KEMANGGISAN Jl. Kemanggisan Ilir Raya No.40, Palmerah. Jakarta Barat
69 MANGGA BESAR “Jl. Mangga Besar Raya No.41 Jakarta Barat”
70 Syahdan “Jl KH. Syahdan No 1 Palmerah Jakarta Barat”
71 Kebayoran Lama Jl. Mesjid Al Anwar Berdikari No.3 Kebun Jeruk, Jakarta Barat

JAKARTA UTARA

72 MEDITERANIA 1 Kav. 5 Tanjung Duren Raya Jakarta Barat
73 Kedoya Jl. Kedoya Raya No. 2 Jakarta Barat
74 Green Garden Jl. Panjang No.26 Kedoya Utara, Jakarta Barat
75 SUNTER MALL Jl.Danau Sunter Utara Blok M Kav. 14-15.Jakarta Utara
76 MANGGA DUA Jl. Pemandangan 1 No. 32 Jakarta Utara
77 SUNTER WH Jl. Danau Sunter Utara Blok A3 No. 14A Jakarta Utara
78 KELAPA GADING BOULEVARD Jl. Boulevard Raya Kelapa Gading Blok 1/4 No. 14 Jakarta Utara
79 Sunter POM Jl Sunter Kemayoran No. 45, Jakarta Utara
80 Gedung CMNP (Citra Marga Nusaphala Persada) Jl. Yos Sudarso Kav 28, Sunter Agung Tj Priok, Jakarta Utara
81 Pluit Permai Jl. Pluit Permai No.31, Pejagalan, Jakarta Utara
82 Kelapa Gading Mall Jl.Kelapa Gading Boulevard Blok LA-6 No.26-27, Jakarta Utara
83 Pluit Emporium Jl. Pluit Selatan Raya No. 23-25, Penjaringan Jakarta Utara
84 Bugis Jl. Gadang No13A Rt 010/02 Sungai Bambu Tanjung Priok, Kota Jakarta Utara

TANGERANG

85 CIRENDEU Jl. Cireundeu Raya No. 8C Tanggerang Selatan
86 Ciputat – Pahlawan Jl Gg Arsento no 81, Ciputat Timur- Tang. Selatan
87 BINTARO SEKTOR 7 Bintaro Jaya Sektor 7, C31 Komp. CBD Blok A5 Tangerang Selatan
88 RS. Sari Asih Jl. Ciledug Raya No. 66 Tangerang
89 Cipadu Jl. Cegar Raya RT.02 / RW. 04 Tangerang Selatan
90 Kreo Jl. Ciledug Raya RT. 001 / RW. 07 Tangerang

DEPOK

91 MARGONDA Jl. Margonda Raya No. 418 Depok
92 MARGONDA – 2 Jl. Margonda Raya No. 228 Depok

MikuEXPO in Indonesia website: http://mikuexpo.com/indonesia_top

The post [MIKUEXPO] 7-ELEVEN Ticket Promotion! appeared first on AFA Channel!.

“This post is written in Bahasa Indonesia”

Kalian semua tahu ’kan, Hatsune Miku itu apa?

Buat yang tahu, Miku Expo akan digelar pada tanggal 28 – 29 Mei 2014 di JCC. Jam bukanya yaitu pukul 16.00 – 22.00 pada hari pertama dan pukul 10.00 – 22.00 pada hari kedua.

Buat yang nggak tahu, Hatsune Miku itu apa sih?

Hatsune Miku, atau biasa dipanggil Miku, adalah seorang gadis yang memiliki penggemar terbanyak di dunia. Bahkan penggemarnya melebihi jumlah penggemar Justin Bieber loh. Saking populernya, baru-baru ini Miku menjadi penyanyi pembuka untuk konser Lady Gaga. Tapi yang paling menggemparkan dari gadis ini adalah, dia sebenarnya tidak ada! Kok bisa? Karena sebenarnya Miku adalah sebuah karakter dengan visualisasi seorang gadis cantik berambut hijau toska dikuncir dua dari program suara virtual yang dibuat untuk menjadi penyanyi pengganti dalam pembuatan demo lagu. Tapi akhirnya Hatsune Miku menjadi sangat terkenal sehingga banyak produser musik yang tidak hanya menggunakan Miku dalam demo lagu mereka, tapi menjadikan gadis ini sebagai penyanyi utama untuk lagu-lagu mereka.

Paras cantiknya sudah sangat mendunia. Jika kita pergi ke acara Jejepangan di seluruh dunia pasti ada saja satu atau dua cosplayer yang menjadi Hatsune Miku. Apalagi dengan banyaknya pakaian yang dikenakan gadis cantik ini, penulis yakin pasti ada banyak pembaca yang telah menyaksikan penampakan gadis berkuncir dua ini dalam berbagai versi.

Dan, tahu nggak, Indonesia tahun ini mendapat kehormatan sebagai negara pertama yang menyelenggarakan Miku Expo!

Serunya Miku Expo itu…

“Miku itu’kan tidak ada terus buat apa kita datang ke Miku Expo?”

Pasti ada banyak pembaca yang punya pertanyaan yang sama’kan? Hahahaha… Nah ini dia nih yang namanya kudet alias kurang update! Ada banyaaaaaaaak banget alasan buat pergi ke Miku Expo!

Alasan yang pertama, Karent!!

Bukan nama gadis yah! Karent itu adalah salah satu Label Musik Vocaloid terbesar di dunia yang telah menyalurkan lebih dari 4,500 lagu vocaloid ke seluruh dunia. Di bawah Karent terdapat lebih dari 300 Vocalo-P (produser lagu-lagu vocaloid). Yang pasti di booth Karent ini kalian bisa menikmati lagu-lagu Hatsune Miku dan Vocaloid lainnya, juga membeli CD original dari lagu-lagu tersebut.

Mau tahu lebih banyak tentang Karent, langsung cek website mereka di http://karent.jp/

Alasan kedua, booth software Vocaloid dan Piapro Studio

“Software Vocaloid itu apa sih?”

Tuh kan masih ada yang nggak tahu. Vocaloid software itu adalah program suara virtual yang salah satu karakternya adalah Hatsune Miku. Jadi Hatsune Miku itu adalah Vocaloid.

“Kalau Piapro Studio itu apa?”

Piapro adalah program yang digunakan oleh para Vocalo-P untuk memproduksi lagu-lagu vocaloid mereka. Jadi kalau mau kalian penggemar lagu vocaloid dan gregetan ingin memproduksi lagu kalian sendiri, kalian harus punya software ini.

Penasaran dengan kedua software ini, langsung datang saja ke Miku Expo atau kunjungi websitenya di http://sonicware.com/product/vocaloid/special/index

Alasan Ketiga, ada timeline yang memaparkan Sejarah Hatsune Miku

Jangan mengaku fans Miku kalau belum tahu semua hal tentang Miku. Buat mereka yang ngaku fansnya Miku kalian harus datang ke Miku Expo dan foto di depan timeline-nya Miku. Dengan begitu kalian juga menjadi bagian dari sejarah Miku.

Alasan keempat, Hatsune Miku Gallery

Di sini akan ada banyak banget ilustrasi hingga barang-barang langka dari Hatsune Miku. Kita bisa melihat semuanya dibawa langsung dari Jepang!

Alasan Kelima, Costume and Make-up Experience

Rasakan pengalaman menjadi karakter vocaloid yang kita suka di booth Costume & Make-up experience. Kapan lagi kita bisa merasakan pengalaman cosplay tanpa mempersiapkan perlengkapan cosplay sendiri?

Alasan Keenam, Hatsune Miku Official Goods!

Kita bisa membeli merchandise resmi dari Hatsune Miku di Miku Expo! Resmi loh, bukan barang tiruan!

Alasan Ketujuh, Origami Miku!

Tahu ’kan apa itu origami? Seni melipat kertas yang berasal dari Jepang. Di Miku Expo ini kita bisa membuat origami super spesial. Origami berbentuk Hatsune Miku! Penasaran? Makanya datang langsung ke Miku Expo!

Dan masih ada banyak hal lain yang asyik banget untuk diikuti bersama teman-teman. Seperti nail pollish experience, photo booth dan jangan lupa membubuhkan tanda tangan dan kesan pesan kalian di Piapro Wall.

Tapi, kalau ke Miku Expo belum lengkap rasanya kalau belum nonton konsernya. Ada tiga waktu konser, yaitu:

1. 28 Mei 2014 : pukul 18.30 – 19.30
2. 29 Mei 2014 : pukul 12.00 – 13.00
3. 29 Mei 2014 : pukul 18.30 – 19.30

Harga tiketnya sama kok untuk semua jadwal konser, untuk detilnya cek langsung di :

http://mikuexpo.com/indonesia_ticket

Tinggal dipilih saja mau yang mana tiketnya, disesuaikan sama jadwal dan budget kalian. Dan lagi, ada promo tiket konser Hatsune Miku buy get one di 7 Eleven.

http://www.afachan.asia/2014/05/mikuexpo-7-eleven-ticket-promotion/

Yang artinya, kalian nggak boleh datang sendiri! Bawa teman, pacar, atau mungkin gebetan kalian, siapa tahu setelah itu jadian!

Yang belum beli tiketnya, buruan jangan sampai kehabisan. Kapan lagi kalian bisa merasakan pengalaman menonton konser dengan teknologi 3D super canggih dengan feel yang hanya dapat dinikmati secara live dan tanpa buffering. Sampai jumpa di sana!

The post [Bahasa ID] Hanya di Miku Expo!! appeared first on AFA Channel!.

Genesis Frontier, the Singaporean distributor for the numerous brands and one of them is the ANIPLEX PLUS series of collectors figurine and anime related merchandise.

Things like,

They have introduced a special site that would introduce the items coming to the South East Asian regions, including Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia. The site will allow for fans and Japanese figurine collectors to find out relevant information of the releasing goods, and directing them to the partnering retailers taking pre-orders.

So visit the site today and find out what would poison your wallet for the time to come~ Now, to get some shopping done =D

Site: http://www.genesisfrontier.com/Aniplex+/aniplexplus.html

The post [JCOLLECTOR] GF INTRODUCES ANIPLEX+ SITE FOR SG, MY AND ID appeared first on AFA Channel!.

Its been almost too long since the Galatic Fairy held her last solo concert in Singapore, and after her last visit at AFA13, May’n returned to our shores as part of the Dots and Lines World Tour 2014-2015.

Her Singapore’s stop concert was held at TAB, a lovely mid-sized venue in the heart of Orchard. I walked into TAB knowing that I would have a great time once again listening to her powerful vocals, but this time I had the added responsibility of covering the Dots and Lines Concert as AFA Channel’s associate writer.

I was looking forward to listening her songs from Macross Frontier, and just sink into the nostalgia. Those songs were the ones that first got me interested in Buchou  (the nickname that fans would call her). Classic songs like Northern Cross, Diamond Crevasse, have always been crowd favourites.

Okay, there isn’t much nostalgia, since her Macross Frontier materials are not even a decade old yet!

Concert Review

Based on my own count, there were about close to twenty songs sung and it was a well-paced concert and there was a good mix of both old songs with newer materials.

Similar to past May’n concerts that I had attended, the concert opened with a dance segment. Then once the music for ViViD kicked in, the crowd started jumping. It’s quite surprising that fans could get so high so early at the start of the concert. The starting segment was followed with her more recent material including Brain Diver, which I though was a seamless delivery. (Brain Diver! YES! Oh it’s from the anime Phi Brain. Loved that series).

Midway into the concert, May’n performed “Re:REMEMBER”, the opening theme song that is featured for the Spring 2014 autumn anime series “M3 the dark metal”. It was a lovely delivery, and I’m hoping FLYING DOG can send us a few copies when it gets released in June.

Then the segment that I most anticipated finally arrive – the Macross Medley is seriously nothing short of awesome! It felt almost as if Sheryl Nome took the stage as May’n performed “Iteza ☆ gogo kyūji Don’ t be Late”.

The encore segment was equally great, and when she performed Phonic Nation, it brought memories of watching “May’n The Movie -Phonic Nation”, the documentary movie that was released back in 2011.

Meet-and-Greet

Even after May’n has sung her last song and left the stage, there was still a final special segment for the fans – the meet-and-greet session for the VIP ticket holders! And there were so many fans who eagerly awaited to see Buchou!

There were so many folks in the queue that I hesitated for a moment, and wondered whether I should head for supper instead. However, my colleague urged me to stay and enjoy the experience. In the end, I decided to stay and witness for myself how popular May’n still remains amongst fans.

We waited till the last in the queue, waved and exchanged a few hellos with May’n. Even if it was just a brief encounter, I must say that it was definitely all worth it! I was amazed that she was still so full of energy even after a high-powered performance on stage. I don’t understand how she could remain so genki after performing for more than two hours on stage, singing and dancing. She must have been invigorated by the fans who cheered and sung together so wholeheartedly during the concert.

Overall verdict

It had been a great concert and definitely worth the time to watch! Even though I’m a fan of the older songs, the newer materials were still quite refreshing.

There were a couple of times where I was surprised by the fans. Just when I thought the fans were getting a little to tame, they would get hyped up and start jumping wildly again. Its almost as if they were tired out from the last burst of energy and waiting for the next correct moment to start jumping again. I thought to myself: “Give these guys some credit, they do know how to have a good time!”.

Did I mention that the call for an encore was really nerve wrecking? The audience must have called for an encore for what felt like a good five minutes before she graced the stage with a few more epic songs. Totally loved it.

Here’s hoping that May’n would soon return to the shores of Singapore again! Its been an amazing 10 years since she first started her singing career at the age of 13, and she has managed to unite fans across the world through her music.You could hear from the chants of encore that her fans want her to continue singing for many years to come.

To find out more about the Japan Music Festival, visit japanmusicfestival.asia.

P.S. by Editor: For the record, we counted 4 songs in the encore… but we can always handle more!

The post [JMUSIC] May’n’s Dots And Lines Concert – Needs More Encore! appeared first on AFA Channel!.

Posted yesterday on ClariS’s official page: Alice will be graduating from ClariS.

ClariS is the singing duo, consisting of two high school girls from Hokkaido, who first gained popularity through the video sharing site  Nico Nico Douga as “アリス☆クララ”  (Alice☆Clara) back in 2009 and 2010. 

They have since changed their name to “ClariS”, which means “Sunny, Clean and Bright” in Latin.

ClariS’s first debut single was released in October 2010, which was used as the opening theme to 2010 Winter season anime “Ore no Imouto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai” (My Little Sister Can’t Be This Cute!). Since then, they have gone to release various singles for other anime such as Moyashimon Returns, the Puella Magi Madoka Magica Films and the recent Nisekoi.

The rough translation is as follows:

I Alice, in order to concentrate on schoolwork, after this 3rd Album “PARTY TIME” will be graduating.

To all our fans, staff, administrators and those working behind the scenes, since our debut 3 and a half years ago, you have made my world full of dreams and happiness.

This has been such a wonderful time in my life that I will treasure.

If you have been a fan of ClariS, do remember to get their upcoming third album “PARTY TIME”, which is set to be released on 04 Jun 2014. It could just be the last time the duo recorded an album together.

We here at AFACHAN wish Alice all the best in her studies and her future ambitions.

Source: [Sony Music]

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