In recent years with the increase of ease of internet access and the growing popularity in anime and manga hosting websites, has lead to billions in losses.

In an attempt to stop this trend, the Japanese government, in cooperation with 15 major anime production companies, will begin a large-scale operation against 580 foreign sites found to be uploading anime and manga contents onto the web without the permission of the copyright holders.

As reported by NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) on 28 July. While the government supports the anime and manga industry as one of their important cultural exports, there appears to be no end of illegal uploads of anime and manga via pirate sites (mainly operated by the Chinese).

The Agency of Cultural Affairs estimates a loss of at least JPY 560 billion (6.81 billion SGD) per year caused by Chinese pirate sites alone, a report from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) in 2014 indicates that the estimated cost of damage from online piracy to be as much as JPY 2 trillion yen (24.9 billion SGD) . Starting from 1st August, the Japanese government will simultaneously send requests to the operators of these 580 foreign pirate sites to delete/take down illegal anime and manga contents.

Adding on to this, METI will start to monitor and remove illegally uploaded copies of around 580 works over the period of 5 months. It is believed that with a decrease in piracy in the market and through fair rewards for legitimate contents, leading to the creation of new contents, it will help to generate a positive growth cycle.

In addition to this operation, they will be launching a new site, called “Manga-Anime here” to guide fans to legitimate sites offering some 250 titles including the latest ones at a cost of several hundred yen.

Taking countermeasures against the serious damage caused by piracy, the Manga-Anime Anti-Piracy Committee was formed in July 2013 in response to a proposal by METI, and subsequently launched the Manga-Anime Guardians Project (MAGP) to promote anti-piracy activities.

The MAGP has also posted a two-minute special promotional movie featuring “Arigato” (Thank You) messages from 42 different anime/manga characters, titled “Thanks, friends” on YouTube.

Even though this issue may not affect the Southeast Asia region, we here at AFACHAN would still highly recommend you to use legitimate broadcasting sites to stream anime such as DAISUKI, Crunchyroll and Funimation

Source: [ Crunchyroll | NHK | MAGP | METI ]

The post [Anime] Japanese Government to Increase Countermeasures Against Piracy appeared first on AFA Channel!.

Rejoice, fans of Attack on Titan! Just yesterday, Live-action Attack on Titan film director Shinji Higuchi confirmed that the project will span two films, and are both slated to open next summer. The movies are currently filming all across Japan, including Hashima Island (better known as Battleship Island) in the Nagasaki Prefecture.

As reported by Eiga.com. Higuchi stated that the film, under the supervision of Attack on Titan manga creator Hajime Isayama,  will be based on the world and characters that were presented in the manga, while also incorporating new characters and new enemies. Higuchi also stated that the film will be made by combining the best of special effects technology in Japan,while including plenty of action of the three-dimensional mobility gear, to draw a majestic scene of young people fighting the giants.

Isayama is joined by film critic Tomohiro Machiyama and Yuusuke Watanabe (Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods) to work together on writing the script for the upcoming movie

23-year old actor Haruma Miura (Crow ZERO II) is starring in the films. Joining the cast is Hiroki Hasegawa, Kiko Mizuhara, Kanata Hongou, Takahiro Miura, Nanami Sakuraba, Satoru Matsuo, Satomi Ishihara, Taki Pierre, Jun Kunimura, Shuu Watanabe,  Ayame Misaki and Rina Takeda. Their specififc roles in the film have not been announced.

Sources: [ Eiga.com | Otakomu | ANN ]

Illustration by 刃天: [Pixiv] Photos from Asian Dramas – AsianWiki

The post [Movie] Live-Action Attack on Titan Confirmed to be Two Films for Next Summer! appeared first on AFA Channel!.

Debuting from Gundam Build Fighters, after finally breaking free from the clutches of Team Nemesis thanks to Iori Sei and Reiji, Aila Jyrkiäinen is now able to truly enjoy Gunpla building and battling.  She decides to build a new gunpla during the Gunpla festival which would turn out to be the Miss Sazabi, which I will be reviewing today. Let’s check it out!

Looks 9.5/10

Its most striking feature is that of its sleek structure. Unlike the massive, overbearing Sazabi, the Miss Sazabi is more sleek and refined. I never thought I’d see a slim Sazabi! I do like this redesign a lot. For those who have built Sazabi before or like the Sazabi itself will also notice how parts of Miss Sazabi’s design has the original Sazabi parts used in other portions of the body. You can feel really feel the customization in this kit thanks to that which really adds to its uniqueness. The colors of the kit are also in Aila’s colors and the crown on its head is a nice touch too! One of the best redesigns in the series.

Articulation 9/10

The joints used in Miss Sazabi is the exact same as the Sazabi in the arms and legs areas so don’t expect a huge increase of motion. However, due to the now sleeker legs, the legs are able to move in a bigger range of motion so Miss Sazabi is able to do more dynamic poses compared to its original counterpart. The boosters at its back also have a vast variety of motion and the shoulder joints are more free thanks to its new shoulder parts. It can do pretty much all of the poses it has in the TV show!

Weapons 8/10

It comes with the standard pair of two beam saber effect parts which can be used on its Beam Saber or it legs (ala Aegis Gundam). It has the Sweet Sword as well, a customized Sazabi Tomahawk which also emits another beam axe from the side which also doubles as Miss Sazabi’s gun. Last of all is its Sweet Shield which is taken from the original’s skirt area which houses Miss Sazabi’s beam saber. I like the originality of these weapons that makes both the Sazabi and Miss Sazabi two unique monsters on their own.

Fun Factor 9/10

Even if you have built a HGUC Sazabi before, you’ll mostly come into building this kit a new experience. Even though a number of the runners may be from the original Sazabi, it has enough new pieces  coupled with some old Sazabi parts in new areas of the model that makes it a fresh enticing building experience. It was truly enjoyable to have built this kit and I’m only a little sad that I didn’t built this earlier and it didn’t have more screentime in the TV show!

Extras 7/10

It comes with quite a number of spare parts unused from the HGUC Sazabi which I don’t think you can really use but hey, free parts are always nice! It also comes with the same HG stand like the previous Qubeley Papillon. I really appreciate the addition of a stand to display the kits airborne, something not all model kits do provide. It doesn’t have much in the way of additional parts however.

Overall: 8.5/10

Looks: 9.5/10
Articulation: 9/10
Weapons: 8/10
Fun Factor: 9/10
Extras: 7/10

A solid, updated Sazabi from the Gundam Build Fighters line, it is probably one of the best models from the line that uses the currently existing Gunpla molds as its base. Sporting an entirely fresh look with more cool colors, Miss Sazabi is a great gunpla to have in a Build Fighter fan’s collection or any other. If Aila fans have to only get one Gunpla from her 2 choices, I would recommend Miss Sazabi.

The post [JCOLLECTOR] BANDAI – HGBF Miss Sazabi Review appeared first on AFA Channel!.

Calling all DigiDestined! The original DigiDestined from the first Digimon Adventures will be making a return in Spring 2015!

At the Digimon Adventures 15th Anniversary Event held on Friday (exactly 15 years ago, seven children from Japan were sent into a strange dimension called the “Digital World” during their summer camp).

The video above describes Taichi as being 17 years old in high school, and will tell a new story for all “DigiDestined” in the world.

Once again, with love.

A website for the 15th Anniversary Project has also been ‘unleashed’, featuring a DigiEgg on the home page of the website.

Also, it features a mini-game you can play!

Also announced at the event was a 15th Anniversary Blu-ray Box containing all 54 episodes of the Digimon Adventure television anime series. The first copies of the box will be released on 03 Mar 2015. The set will also come with a special drama CD.

The first Digimon Adventures TV series premiered back in 07 Mar 1999 (Spring season). The series followed the adventures of  Taichi “Tai” Kamiya, Yamato “Matt” Ishida, Sora Takenouchi, Mimi Tachikawa, Koushiro “Izzy” Izumi, Joe Kido, and Takeru “T.K.” Takaishieal  (Kari Kamiya joined later in the story) as they try to protect both the Digital world, and the Real World.

Once again, welcome back DigiDestined of the world.

Source: [ ANN | Happinet Pictures ]

The post [ANIME] CALLING ALL DIGIDESTINED! DIGIMON ADVENTURES SEQUEL CONFIRMED appeared first on AFA Channel!.

The rivalry between the Digimon and the Pokemon franchises has been relatively one-sided in the last few years, with Digimon dwelling in the shadow of it’s more successful rivals.

2015 marks the 15th anniversary of the Digimon franchise, and a new series will be released in Spring 2015 to celebrate the occasion. But before that, Digimon fans can look forward to a new game that will arrive on the last-gen consoles (Playstation 3, Xbox 360) later this year.

This is great news to many fans worldwide, myself included! While the Japanese market has received a relatively steady stream of Digimon games releases, the last English adaptation of a game in the Digimon series was back in 2008.

The North American market will be getting the latest installment of the Digimon franchise on 11 Nov 2014, while the European market will receive their Digimon fix in Fall 2014. The new game is titled “Digimon All Star Rumble”, and is reminiscent of the “Digimon Rumble Arena” series which graced the Playstation and Playstation 2 previously.

Other than resemblance to the series mentioned previously, not alot had been revealed about the game. Fans will be able to expect some of the 12 base Digimon and their ability to Digivolve to a total of 32 Digi-volution states, with select characters from all 6 series making an appearance in the game, available for selection.

Check the trailer out below:

The post Digimon returns to platforms for the West appeared first on AFA Channel!.

AFAID 2014′s Creator’s Hub consist of over 58 art groups with over 60 booths to explore. This is the biggest gathering of dojin art groups in Indonesia.

Presenting, the Creator’s hub pledge!

- THE CREATORS’ HUB -

I AM THE BRAIN OF MY WORKS

PENCIL ON MY HAND, PAPER ON MY TABLE

A COMPUTER AS MY SAVIOR.

KNOWING PHOTOSHOP OR ILLUSTRATOR

I HAVE ENDURED SLEEPLESS NIGHTS OF WORK

YET MIGHT NEVER SEE COMPLETION

I HAVE NO REGRETS AND SO AS I PRAY

UNLIMITED CREATION WORKS!

The Exhibition hall of the AFAID 2014 is open from 10am to 9pm on Friday and 9am to 9pm on Saturday and Sunday. With 2 halls to play around with, this year’s festival is set to be very very interesting!!

Now, you can download the whole Creator’s Hub e-GuideBook ver.2(PDF): http://bit.ly/1zO9lMk

Or scroll down for a quick look of the groups that submitted their catalogue to the e-guidebook.

The post [AFAID 2014] Creator’s Hub Guide Book appeared first on AFA Channel!.

Have you ever, while watching an action-packed sequence in a great anime, realised how the rocking music playing throughout the scene was causing  your heart to race? Or struggled not to cry during a heartbreaking scene but failed because the accompanying string arrangement made everything seem all the more tragic? Or been so fascinated by an incredible piece of background music that sounded unlike anything you’d heard before and scoured the Internet trying to find out who wrote it? You’re far from being alone.

Also, one of the four people in this list is probably responsible for all those feelings.

Anime is a medium that has allowed for so much experimentation; similarly, anime soundtrack composers have been able to be just as adventurous with their music, producing wondrous results. While they may not enjoy the same exposure as theme song artistes, these composers have managed to become phenomenally popular with anime fans worldwide. This recognition is well-deserved, for they’ve laboured to create soundtracks that do far more than fill the silence; their music adds an important dimension to the anime they compose for and can, even on its own, captivated the audience.

Hiroyuki Sawano

Has composed for:  Aldnoah Zero, Kill la Kill, Attack on Titan, Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn, Blue Exorcist, Guilty Crown

Official website: http://www.sawanohiroyuki.com/

Rapidly rising in prominence is Hiroyuki Sawano.  At 34 years old, he’s the youngest composer on his list and debuted fairly recently in 2006. Yet in just 8 years he’s built up an impressive discography and has been involved with wildly popular anime such as Kill la Kill and Attack on Titan. Some of his most popular tracks involve blending orchestral instruments with electronica – and occasionally, powerful vocals – to create incredibly epic battle themes that will make you want to lift your sword and charge into battle. Sawano is by no means constrained by this style, however; he’s worked with other genres including jazz and rock, and is also very capable of creating poignant and emotional pieces that will tug at your heartstrings.

In addition to composing soundtracks, Sawano has written songs for artistes including Korean singer Lena Park, mizuki, and Aimer, and uses the project name SawanoHiroyuki[nzk] when collaborating with singers. This season, he’s composing for yet another high-profile anime, Aldnoah Zero;  there’s no doubt that this promising composer will deliver another awesome score and win the hearts of more anime soundtrack fans.

Yuki Kajiura

Has composed for: Sword Art Online, Fate/Zero, Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Kara no Kyoukai, My-Hime, .hack//SIGN

Official website: http://www.fictionjunction.com/

Yuki Kajiura made her debut as a keyboardist and songwriter for the group See-Saw, together with vocalist Chiaki Ishikawa. She began composing soundtracks for anime in 1996, and has gone on to become one of the most popular anime composers. She’s scored soundtracks for some of the biggest anime in recent years, such as the Kara no Kyoukai series and Puella Magi Madoka Magica.

Kajiura is known for incorporating incredibly diverse musical elements into a distinct brand of music that defies genre norms – and, quite often, defies description. Middle Eastern-esque melodies played on orchestral strings, tribal rhythms together with heavily distorted electric guitar and a solo flute, forbidding operatic vocals singing Catholic Latin mass-inspired lyrics accompanied by heavy techno beats –  you know, that sort of thing. (Note: These refer to actual Kajiura compositions.) She’s also gone so far as to come up with her own language, dubbed “Kajiuran” or “Kajiurago” by fans, which allows her to be much very flexible with how she uses vocals in her music. Intricate vocal arrangements in”Kajiuran” have become one of the hallmarks of Kajiura’s style.Kajiura also places a strong emphasis on creating melodic pieces, which helps draw in casual listeners and makes her music highly accessible despite how niche her style may seem.

Apart from composing soundtracks, Kajiura also produces and writes all of Kalafina‘s and FictionJunction‘s songs. You can hear Kajiura’s work in Sword Art Online 2 – expect to be blown away by her fantastic music.

Yoko Kanno

Has composed for: Terror in Resonance, Macross Frontier, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Kids on the Slope, RahXephon,  Cowboy Bebop

Official website: http://www.kannoyoko.net/

Yoko Kanno is one of the anime industry’s biggest names; her involvement is enough to generate great publicity to any project. While she was already an accomplished composer at that point, her work on Cowboy Bebop’s highly acclaimed jazz fusion soundtrack propelled her into worldwide fame and cemented her reputation as one of the best anime soundtrack composers. Kanno has demonstrated that she’s not just merely capable of composing for every genre she takes on; she masters them. Dramatic, powerful orchestral compositions, catchy jazz songs, ethereal new age pieces,  futuristic electronica pieces, folk-inspired melodies – no matter what genre she works with, she’s always delivered an incredible soundtrack. And, more often than not, she blends elements of a variety of genres seamlessly to create eclectic, beautiful pieces.

Kanno has also written many songs in English, Japanese and even Russian for the anime she composes for. She has worked with a host of talented singers, including Maaya Sakamoto (whom Kanno discovered), May’n, American singer Steve Conte and Russian singer Origa.  And while never publicly confirmed, Kanno herself is highly likely the voice behind “Gabriela Robin”, a vocalist credited in some of her songs.

Some of the more memorable anime themes written by Kanno include Kiseki no Umi (Record of Lodoss War), Gravity (Wolf’s Rain), Tank! (Cowboy Bebop), Inner Universe (Ghost in the Shell: SAC) and Triangular (Macross Frontier). For this season, Kanno has taken on the helm of composing the complete soundtrack (including both opening and ending themes) for Terror in Resonance, which you can preview here. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to Kanno, don’t miss out on hearing this amazing composer’s latest work.

Joe Hisaishi 

Has composed for: The Wind Rises, Ponyo on a Cliff by the Sea, Howl’s Moving Castle, Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, My Neighbour Totoro

Official website:  http://joehisaishi.com

Music has been integral to Hayao Miyazaki’s Ghibli movies, helping to immerse audiences in the worlds of Miyazaki’s imagination. The famed director has, for most of his career, entrusted the important task of creating this music to Mamoru Fujisawa, known professionally as Joe Hisaishi. With an illustrious career spanning 40 years, Hisaishi is probably – very deservingly –  the most famous anime composer of his time, and a great inspiration to fellow composers.

Hisaishi has composed the scores for every single one of Miyazaki’s movies beginning with Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind in 1984. Hisaishi usually works with orchestral instruments while incorporating elements from different genres (including European classical, Japanese classical, new age and experimental electronic), resulting in a timeless, highly recognisable style. His complex, breathtakingly beautiful orchestral scores and intricate piano melodies are nothing short of magical, and are perfect complements to Miyazaki’s movies.  Hisaishi’s soundtracks, like the movies, have themselves come to be regarded as masterpieces.

Hisaishi’s career spans beyond anime soundtracks; he has composed for many live-action movies (including foreign productions), as well as for the PS3 game Ni no Kuni. Hisaishi has received much well-deserved recognition for his work, winning the Japanese Academy Award for Best Music six times. He was also awarded the Medal of Honour (with purple ribbon) by the Government of Japan in 2009 for contributing  artistic developments, improvements and accomplishments. His most recent anime soundtracks are Miyazaki’s final (maybe?) movie, The Wind Rises, and Ghibli Studio director Isao Takahata’s movie, The Tale of Princess Kaguya. I’ll be eagerly anticipating the next great soundtrack from this living legend.

Sources: [Joe Hisashi Fan Facebook page] [sh-nxk official site] [JVC Music] [Terror in Resonance official website] [Universal Music Japan]

The post [Music] 4 Composers Behind That Awesome Anime Soundtrack Music appeared first on AFA Channel!.

Over the weekend, yours truly packed his stuff and marched off to EOY with a few trusty friends, and went to see the sights and cosplay. For such a hot and sunny venue, it was encourging to see so many undeterred cosplayers, with some even donning thick costumes and posing under the hot sun. We were nonetheless glad to have been there to see it for ourselves.

While we were there, we decided to search for cosplayers who attempted to cosplay the elusive characters from recent anime and game characters, such as No Game No Life, Kill la Kill, or maybe even a Yoshino or Tohka from Date A Live (season two counts, right)? Anything was game, as long as the series was aired in 2014.

And we did managed to find them, and even had a short chat with a couple of them.

From left to right: Hiruko/Natsumi – Sora, Shiro – No Game No Life; Tsukiakari Einzurī – Haruka – Free! Eternal Summer; and Yiang – Primetime Draven – League of Legends

Below are the questions we asked them.

Hiruko/Natsumi – Sora, Shiro – No Game No Life

Q: When did the two of you first started cosplaying?

Natsumi: Last year at AFA

Hiruko: This is my first time cosplaying, at EOY.

jeno: Tell us a little about the characters that you are cosplaying today.

Natsumi: NGNL was awesome,

Hiruko: The anime was really interesting. It makes you want to watch every episode! I’m so looking forward to watching the next season.

Natsumi: Hopefully it comes out fast. I have been waiting too long it.

Q: – and the anime series ended like… there was so many questions left unanswered.

Natsumi: And then you’re like thinking… how many (possibly) more seasons? There just needs to be more! The cliffhanger is just painful.

jeno: What about the characters themselves? Like (what can you tell us about) Shiro and Sora?

Natsumi: Shiro and Sora are brother and sister, and they are really close. They cannot be separated – like more than five meters and they are both quivering and suffering. And in the series the duo is named “Blank”, which have never lost when they are together.

Q: Besides cosplaying, what other factor(s) would attract you to attend a convention or event?

Natsumi: The merchandises! And also you have the opportunity to make a lot of friends. You will make a lot of friends no matter what because the community is really open – you can just bump into people and be like “Hi, you’re awesome!”. And then immediately, boom! You’re friends.

jeno: So I suppose that’s how the two of you met?

Natsumi: Nah, we met through another friend.

jeno: And before (Hiruko) started attending such cons, you were coming to cons pretty much like us (normal attendees)?

Hiruko; yes, pretty much.

Q: Tell us if you have any future plans, like attending AFA and such?

Natsumi: As many events as I can go to. I’ll be at AFA, all three days. Plans already up. Find me there!

Tsukiakari Einzurī – Haruka – Free! Eternal Summer

Q: When was your first time cosplaying?

T.E.: Well, I started in late 2008, around October. My first character was Luffy from One Piece.

Q: Tell us about the character you are cosplaying as today, and also tell us about the series where the character is from.

T.E.: The series is Free!, which is a recent anime (has a second season airing right now). And my character is Haruka. He doesn’t really show his emotions, but that does not mean he does not have any. His one true love is the water, so her is always interested in anything that is related to water. Of course, he likes swimming too!

jeno: But that’s not the only thing is it? I remember there was mackerel.

T.E.: Yes. Mackerel is his deciding factor for anything.

jeno: then there is his swimming style.

T.E.: He favors freestyle. And he isn’t concerned with the time, and does not really considers himself as a competitive swimmer.

Q: Besides cosplay, are there any factors that entice you to attend cons?

T.E.: Merchandise is one of them. You will find interesting stuff done by local artists. Other times, you can find things that you cannot find elsewhere.

jeno: Not official merchandise level?

T.E.: More of, fan works. So there is a personalized feel to it, and you can see where the artist is coming from. Its really interesting, and I feel its a good way to showcase local artists. Another factor would be to meet friends. I have quite a few friends that are cosplayers, so I would go to events to see them.

Q: So what are your future plans for the next con and stuff like that?

T.E.: The next con I will be attending would be in September. But I’m not sure if I’m actually going to cosplay. Nevertheless, I would still be going there to enjoy the event as a whole. For everything else, they are under wraps.

Yiang – Primetime Draven – League of Legends

Q: When did you start cosplaying?

Yiang: Oh, I have been cosplaying for seven years. I am now 30, so it’s been a really long time, back in Bangkok.

jeno: So they have similar cons in Bangkok too?

Yiang: Yeah. With more people, more cosplayers, more cameramen.

Q: Tell us about the character you’re cosplaying today. We all know its (Primetime) Draven from League of Legends.

Yiang: Draven? He’s is fabulous! I like him! You will see the other champions, like Sona, or Riven. But when you see Draven, he’d be like “Welcome to the League of Draaaven!” Because Draven does it all, with style.

Q: Will we get to see you at future events?

Yiang: Yes, I’m looking forward to AFA, this coming December. AFA looks and sounds interesting, and many friends in Thailand who have been to AFA before had told me its a great event!

jeno: It’s also really big, and there will be more people there.

Yiang: You have my word, I will go there!

The post [COSPLAY] We Visited EOY! And We Chatted With Some Cosplayers appeared first on AFA Channel!.

It is the beginning of August so once again we will have this month’s upcoming model kit showcase! Another good mix of Gunpla along with other series such as the increasingly popular Youkai Watch, Majin Bone, Danball Senki and Pokémon! We also happen to have a MG Version Ka model kit in the middle of the year. A good surprise at least!

August 9^th 2014

HG 1/144 Gundam Amazing Exia

The model kit of Meijin Kawaguchi the 3^rd from Gundam Build Fighters gets a HG appearance! A variant of the earlier release HG Gundam Exia Dark Matter, the Amazing Exia comes with its Amazing GN Blade, the new Amazing GN Sword and Amazing GN Shield. It also comes with the GN Drive to replicate the episode where Meijin fought against Julian.

HGUC 1/144 Rozen Zulu (episode 7 Ver.)

A slight variant of the original HGUC Rozen Zulu, this version is molded with the actual colors as seen in the OVA of Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn. It has a new arm joint part for the repaired right hand of the Rozen Zulu.

Majin Bone 07 BF Dragon Bone –Iron Bone-

The upgraded version of Dragon Bone from the TV series Majin Bone. This version of Dragon Bone comes with metallic parts as well as foil stickers to replicate the colors of this armor.

Mega Blaziken

The latest Pokepla from the line, debuting from Pokémon X/Y is Mega Blaziken! It is molded in a way to allow it to make dynamic poses such as its signature Blaze Kick move. It also comes with a unique stand to allow you to pose Mega Blaziken in any way you desire!

Thousand Sunny TV Anime 15th Anniversary Ver.

Celebrating the 15th Anniversary of the original TV airing of One Piece is this updated Thousand Sunny. It comes with a huge 15th Anniversary celebratory mark and new color scheme. It also comes with all 9 crew members of the Thousand Sunny too!

August 23^rd 2014

Builder Parts 1/144 System Weapon 008

The latest in custom gunpla weapon, this System Weapon set comes with Zeta Gundam’s Hyper Mega Launcher and a Beam Spray Gun. With the included parts, you can customize the Hyper Mega Launcher in any way you desire! It comes with a personalised rack and hand parts for the gunpla to use the weapons.

August 30^th 2014

MG 1/100 Hi-v Gundam Ver. Ka

A surprise hit in the middle of the year is Hajime Katoki’s newly proportioned MG Hi-v Gundam Ver. Ka , a very popular design of many Gundam fans from the Novel and currently running manga Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack – Beltorchika’s Children. By using the technology and know-how of the MG v Gundam Ver. Ka, the MG Hi-v Gundam Ver. Ka was born.  This model kit is able to use the Gunpla LED Unit. All of its original weapons have been remade for this kit such as its signature Funnels and backpack, forearm Beam Saber and Beam Rifle. It also comes with the v Gundam Ver. Ka’s personalized stand.

Danball Senki 057 LBX Empeor M3 (LBX Emperor M5 Conversion model)

The upgraded version of the Emperor M2 from the original Danball Senki TV series and game comes the game original Emperor M3 from Danball Senki Wars. The model kit can also transform to the official Danball Senki side story original LBX model, the Emperor M5. The model kit can be transformed to the M5 after building the M3 kit base. It comes with a new Titania hammer and original shield weapon parts.

Youkai Watch 07 Manojishi

From the hit TV and game series Youkai Watch comes the Manojishi! It is made with the touch gate technology to allow for easy construction.  The eyes can be closed and opened, allowing you to display it in its enlightened form where the characters on its floating tails will be displayed.  Its sword can also be opened to reveal the characters hidden inside.

There we have it for August. It’s a nice selection of model from quite a few series. Needless to say, I’ll be getting the MG Hi-v Gundam Ver. Ka. Its one of my favorite funnel use mobile suits and seeing I have yet to get the original MG Hi-v Gundam, it will be a nice addition to my collection. The original Emperor was my favorite LBX model kit actually so I think the Emperor M3/M5 would be nice addition displayed next to its elder brother! Which model kits do you plan to get this month, new or old? Share your plans below!

The post [JCOLLECTOR] Bandai Plastic Models Roundup: August 2014 appeared first on AFA Channel!.

Mekakucity Actors, Sword Art Online, and Fate/Zero. If you have watched any of these anime series, you would have heard her lending her voice to their songs. A combination of gothic punk mixed with candy pop, Haruna Luna embodies this unique style of music all the way down to the way her dressing. Here, we give you a quick brief of her background to get you psyched up for her performance at AFA ID 2014.

Who is this cute girl?

Haruna Luna loves gothic lolita fashion, and you can see it often featured in her music videos (you can check them out on her VEVO channel). She developed an interest in anime, music and gothic lolita fashion at a young age, resulting in a collection of western clothing.

She once auditioned for an internet radio program (Rental Magica) and modeled for the Kera magazine. She was also a finalist in the 4th Animax Anisong Grand Prix.

And come this August, Haruna Luna will be making her South East Asia debut at AFA ID 2014. For those of you who are heading down to watch her concert, do give her your loudest cheers and strongest support!

So you would find her works in …?

Haruna Luna launched her full time career in 2011, and while she might not be as well established as other anisong guest artistes like LiSA or May’n, she still has a couple of notable singles. They are:

Kisaragi Attention, Mekakucity Actors. This one is a cover.

Monogatari Series: Second Season, Ai Wo Utae

Fate/Zero, Sora wa takaku kaze wa utau

Sword Art Online, Overfly

Those are some of my personal favorites, so I’m really looking forward to seeing them performed on the Anisong concert stage!!

What can we expect?

Definitely at least a few of those songs up there! She also has a number of other recent single releases, such as Startear, which is currently being featured as the ending theme for Sword Art Online 2. I am not ruling out any possibility of hearing any other unreleased songs during her upcoming performance.

Of course, you can defnitely expect some really beautiful gothic lolita fashion when she graces the stage!

What are the songs that you’d like to see her perform at the AFA ID 2014 Anisong concert? Share with us in the comments below!

Links:

Official Website

Twitter

Blog

The post [JMUSIC] AFAID 2014 I LOVE ANISONG ARTISTE FEATURE – HARUNA LUNA appeared first on AFA Channel!.

It’s been four weeks since the start of the summer anime season, and so far it has been quite mediocre. Sword Art Online II was not exactly a stand-out (Sorry guys, not even the cute Kirito “genderbend” and cool Sinon can save it), Fate/Kaleid Prisma Illya 2wei has fallen back to mediocrity (to be fair, it was not exactly a stand-out in the first place), and others such as Jinsei, RAIL WARS! and DRAMAtical Murder managed to somehow make me lose interest in their content by the second episode.

Still, what are the stand-outs of this season? Which ones managed to transcend expectations for this summer’s anime? Here are my top two for the season:

Note: This review/opinion was based on the first three episodes of each series, they may/may not reflect the actual quality of the anime as the season continues. The same sentiments apply to those that I mentioned above.

Extra Note: Possible spoilers ahead, you have been warned.

Aldnoah.Zero (A1-Pictures)

What is it about? 

In 1972, a hypergate was discovered on the surface of the moon, and humanity began migrating to Mars and settling there. However, eventually the seeds of war were sown.

Hold on, is it that good? 

Besides the main protagonist, yes! It has the makings of a good anime: good story, stunning visuals, great soundtrack, nice animation with above standard CG. The first episode was interesting mainly because of how they laid the foundations for the plot.

Written by Gen Urobuchi, it certainly felt like there was a lot going on with the story in the first episode, but not to the point where it gets  overwhelming. He really shows you the scale of how weak humanity is, and the futility of fighting against an overwhelmingly powerful force.

Gen Urobuchi’s latest achievement: almost taking out a whole city in one episode

Besides an interesting start, it boasts of solid CG work. Every mecha that has been shown so far looks stunning, with an amazing amount of detail put into them. The soundtrack by Hiroyuki Sawano (the same composer responsible for the soundtrack of Kill la Kill, Guilty Crown and Attack on Titan) is just so melodic. It invokes the same feelings from his previous works, complementing the scenes and just neatly completing the anime.

As of now, the only weak link is the main male protagonist, as he appears to be emotionless half the time (link contains spoilers). I  hope that the reason behind the way he is will be explained further down the road. Also, the main female protagonist is cute!

Like really cute

As a whole, it seems that Aldnoah.Zero has managed to surpass most of my expectations. I really look forward to seeing how the story will develop, and hope that it won’t disappoint!

Zankyou no Terror (MAPPA)

What is it about?

On a summer day … A massive terrorist bombing suddenly struck Tokyo. The culprits behind the act that woke up this complacent nation from its slumber, were just two boys. Now, the culprits known as “Sphinx” begin a grandiose game that encompasses all of Japan.

Hold on, is it that good?

It’s been awhile since I’ve seen a psychological thriller this good. It is clear that a lot of thought has been put into the story. Every visual effect is used to the fullest, delivering maximum impact. The storyboard and scriptwriting are excellent, with scenes like Lisa (voiced by Tanezaki Atsushi) choosing not to jump into the swimming pool, but instead into the arms of one of the two main protagonist making use of techniques such as parallelism.

The story also seems to be loosely based around the Greek tragedy of Oedipus, as the name “Sphinx” is from the mythological creature in the Greek tragedy. There are also a lot of underlying things that have been hinted at, like the relationship between the two protagonists (which seems to not be as simple as it looks) and how the female protagonist is involved in all this.

The OP and ED for this anime is top-notch, as expected from a master like Yoko Kanno, with an air of mystery and music that puts you in a trance. Such a fitting style of music for this anime.

What starts, will come back in full circle

Zankyou no Terror showcases very fluid animation, which fits into the way its being drawn, leading to much improvement over what most anime can offer. The little known studio producing this anime looks set to become on-par with studios like ufotable.

Catch Zankyou no Terror on Aniplus HD! 

And don’t forget to try out their weekly Terror in Resonance x Japan MENSA: Challenge from Sphinx.

Here are the top two that really stood out this season in my opinion. Agree? Do not agree? Comment below on your top picks for this season!

The post [Anime] Summer 2014 Anime Season: Top Two – Akane Hayato appeared first on AFA Channel!.

Picture: http://rickracksyn.wix.com/rickrack

High school bands are a dime a dozen, most often don’t succeed. So you could imagine my surprise when my friend recommended Rick Rack, a band consisting of SERINA (Guitar, Vocals), YOU (Bass, Vocals) and NATSUKI (Drums). It is not their age that surpised me as much as the fact that they sound like they have been playing together for years. At the average age of 17, the girls have been playing together for a year, forming the band back in August 2013.

They have a mini-album which you can get for about ¥500 on their website, a price that is well worth in my opinion and you doubt their credentials here are a few examples of their current works:

The most played song on their playlist, this song look like it’s ready to go viral.

My personal favorite, had it on loop since I’ve first heard it.

Yet another hit from them, this is not on the mini-album though.

The band has received an honorable mention at the Music Revolution in Nara Prefecture, it is worth mentioning though that they had received this award just a few weeks after forming the band. They also came in second place in Juudai Hakusho Teen Talent Discovery Project earlier this year.

With the band on summer vacation, they have become remarkably active with numerous shows lined up. Not too surprising considering the girls have managed to keep up with school despite their commitments to the band.

高校生はライブ当日も課題に追われるの巻。 pic.twitter.com/AlPhToqZMD

— Rick Rack (@RickRacksyn) May 6, 2014

If all that was not impressive enough the band has an ace up their sleeves, band leader and guitarist SERINA. She is not exactly new to Youtube, and has in the past uploaded a few videos of herself showing off her skills on a whole range on instruments, including a shamisen, a tradition Japanese instrument. Both videos linked below are original compositions:

With youth, talent, and chemistry on their side I’m pretty sure this band is destined for greater things.

You can find out more about Rick Rack on their Website or follow them on Twitter

The post [J-Music] Rick Rack: The Next Big Thing on the J-Music Scene? appeared first on AFA Channel!.

AFA ID 2014 is here! And what better way to start the first day by walking around and taking in all the sights and sounds over here at the Jakarta Convention Centre. Armed with comfortable shoes, our trusty camera, and cash in hand, our team of writers headed over for a first-hand look at the ground at AFA ID.

There are so many awesome booths to see, and so many photos opportunities and way too much merchandise (fanmade and official) to buy!

We plunged into the crowd, mingling with the rest of you here (bagging some merchandise for ourselves) while shooting lots and lots of photos!

Of course the cosplayerers were a highlight of the visuals available here, but first let us give you a peek what to expect at the event ground over here at AFAID:

The Booths…

Featured Anime…

Figures, Figures, Figures!!

And don’t forget the Creators Hub!

The Stage Area…

Everyone in line to getting ready to get in…

 More…

If you are in Jakarta, you definitely need to head down and join the rest of us for the remaining 2 days! And those of you here with us yesterday, we hope you enjoyed yourselves as much as we did! There was certainly no shortage of sights to see and booths to check out, and starting from today a whole-line up of events, showcases and the I <3 anisong live concerts in the evening!

Of course, we have not forgetten about the numerous cosplayers who came in their best, we’ll be featuring them in a separate post, so look out for that as well!

We will also be bringing you continued coverage of the various happenings here at AFAID, so keep checking back at AFACHAN for the latest updates!

AFAID 14 Day 1 Highlights:

The post [AFAID] IT’S AFAID 2014! A FIRST LOOK appeared first on AFA Channel!.

Rurouni Kenshin director Keishi Otomo  and actors Takeru Satoh, Emi Takei, and Munetaka Aoki arrived in Manila for the Asian premiere of “Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno“. The invitation-only red carpet premiere was held on 6 August 2014 at the SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City, and a public press conference was held the next day at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati City.

Photo by warnerbros.co.jp

The director and cast were clearly surprised by the rousing welcome, as more than the expected number of fans showed up to line the red carpet. They gamely signed autographs and posed for photos, personally greeted Filipino cosplayers who showed up as Rurouni Kenshin, and came up onstage to answer a few questions.

Photo by warnerbros.co.jp

Munetaka Aoki egged on the crowd into cheering for his character Sanosuke Sagara. Emi Takei expressed her excitement in being at an international premiere for the first time in her career. Takeru Satoh meanwhile made the extra effort of using the local language to greet everyone there: “Hello! Good evening! I am Takeru Satoh. I am happy to see all of you. Thank you! I love you all!“.

Photo by magnetic-rose.net

Director Otomo was also very vocal about his appreciation for the fans, citing that he and the staff did not expect this sort of response from the local audience, and that they all hoped this would be the start of more Japanese movies being released almost simultaneously in the Philippines and the rest of the world.

Photo by magnetic-rose.net

As the red carpet event wrapped up, the Rurouni Kenshin stars and the director where whisked away to attend the invitational advanced screening of “Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno“. There, some two hundred lucky fans got to ask them more questions, as well as view the new film (which is slated for local release on 20th August 2014).

Photo by warnerbros.co.jp

On the second day of their Philippine visit, the Rurouni Kenshin director and cast attended a special ceremony where they were appointed as “Cultural Friendship Ambassadors”. The honour was bestowed upon them by the City of Makati, and the ceremony was attended by government officials as well as top executives of Warner Brothers.

Photo by magnetic-rose.net

Later that day, director Keishi Otomo and actors Takeru Satoh and Munetaka Aoki made their way to the Glorietta Activity Center for an open press conference, where several thousand screaming fans welcomed them once again. At the press con, they answered questions posed by members of the press and media — which ranged from their personal opinions of their characters to their thoughts on the future of the franchise.

Photo by magnetic-rose.net

The final press conference wrapped up with the director and cast once again thanking all their fans for coming out and expressing their immense passion for the film, and asking everyone to watch the movie when it comes out in the Philippines on 20th Aug 2014.

The 2nd Rurouni Kenshin film “Kyoto Inferno” will be opening in Singapore on 28 Aug 2014 and in Indonesia on 10 Sept 2014, while the 3rd film “The Legend Ends” will be released on 2 Oct 2014. There is no word yet on the Malaysian release as of this time.

The post [MOVIE] Rurouni Kenshin Director and Cast in Philippines for Red Carpet Premiere appeared first on AFA Channel!.

Want to grab something to eat and have moe maids and handsome butlers at your service? Then you should visit the AFA Café!

Here at the AFA Café, you can place your order of various cakes, meal items as well as drinks and have the maids and butlers serve you. Being the curious folks we are, we stepped in!

The full menu of the maids and butlers you will get to meet in there!

Here, our customer awaits her cake while getting something to drink!

The cake! Nomz!

And it looks like you can get some tender loving care with…

And we were not alone! It looks like a lot of people are having some food and drinks at the cafe too!

On request, the maids and butlers can power up your food with a cute chant, write and draw something cute on your plate when you order a cake, plus many more fun possibilities to pamper you with! Here is one such power up in action!

All in all, we had lots of fun…

If you want to experience a maid and butler café, then AFA Café is the place you must try!

And finally, our customer has finished her cake!

The post [AFAID] Hungry? Visit the AFA Café! appeared first on AFA Channel!.

The official Facebook page for the Rurouni Kenshin live-action movies posted an announcement confirming another cast member. Popular musician and actor, Masaharu Fukuyama, will appear in Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends as Seijuurou Hiko, a master swordsman and mentor to main character Kenshin Himura.

The announcement also included a new poster for The Legend Ends that features the key cast members, including Fukuyama as Hiko.

Masaharu Fukuyama is a household name in Japan. His popularity is largely due to his music career; he has topped Japan’s Oricon singles charts numerous times. He has also starred in popular J-Dramas, including Galileo and Ryomaden, as well as in several movies, including Like Father, Like Son.

Rumours that Fukuyama would be playing Seijuurou Hiko have been rampant for the past several months due to information leaks, but the production staff had largely maintained secrecy on the matter. This is the first official confirmation of Fukuyama’s involvement in the Rurouni Kenshin movies and of his role as Hiko.

The second movie in the Rurouni Kenshin movie series, Kyoto Inferno, premieres in Singapore on 28 August 2014, while The Legend Ends will open on 2 October 2014. Don’t forget to catch them!

Sources: [Masaharu Fukuyama official Facebook page] [Rurouni Kenshin movie official Facebook page]

The post [MOVIE] Confirmed: Masaharu Fukuyama Plays Seijuurou Hiko in Third Rurouni Kenshin Movie appeared first on AFA Channel!.

There are many thing to see and experience at AFA ID 2014 – awesome cosplays, various events happening at the mini-stage, delicious food and drinks in a maid and butler café, and official merchandise from the various vendors. One of them, not to be missed, is the Creator’s Hub, where the creative works made by art groups and fans are displayed.

For anyone who are visiting AFA for their first time, these booths in the Creator’s Hub usually sell badges, posters, keychains and many other creative fanmade merchandise. Some creators even have their own doujinshi, which are essentially self-published works in the form of manga. With so much to look at and chose from, you can be sure you will find something that catches your eye!

Artgroups have always been somewhat of a mainstay at events. In order to differentiate themselves and promote their goods at the event, some booths let their customers take on a challenge! We have a go at one of the booth “Mocca Forte“, where they had prepared something for all their visitors and customers as part of the Independence Day celebrations! (17 August happens to be Indonesia’s Independence Day).

For us, we risked out taste buds on a certain spicy chips challenge in an attempt to win something!

The chips were really spicy and dry – worthy of a challenge. We still had a fun trying it and even won something!

The team went around the Creators’ Hub area and took many photos of the area. Take a look and see if you recognize any booths that your friends might have been running, or you might just happen to be inside one of our photos!

How did you like the Creator’s Hub? Let us know down in the comments!

The post [AFAID] The Creator’s Hub! They Want You! appeared first on AFA Channel!.

Before the popularity of Junjou Romantica and Sekaiichi Hatsukoi hit critical mass, Nakamura Shungiku‘s early work Hybrid Child had already provided a sneak peek into some of the compelling characteristics that make her work so wildly successful. After a long wait, fans can finally look forward to the upcoming anime OVA adaptation of this short stories series, centred around the common theme of a “Hybrid Child”.

This 4-part OVA series was animated by Studio Deen, the same production house responsible for Junjou Romantica and Sekaiichi Hatsukoi. The OVAs will be released this year starting 29 Oct 2014, and subsequently 26 Nov 2014, 24 Dec 2014 and 28 Jan 2015.

The “Hybrid Child” is designed to be humanlike, yet it is not simply a doll or a robot. Designed to learn and grow as a human being does, the Hybrid Child is nurtured by the love and care from its owner. In some ways, it resembles a mirror, serving as a reflection of its owner’s emotions.

As a child, Izumi Kotarou, the young head of the Izumi family, picked up a Hybrid Child abandoned in a dumpster. Insistent on keeping this “broken” doll (Hazuki), he showered it with the care that it needed to grow. 10 years later, Kotarou finds out that Hazuki’s physical life is reaching its limits. The other stories explore the bonds between the owners and their human-like companions, and lastly, we get a glimpse into the origins of the Hybrid Child.

In this series of bittersweet short stories, Nakamura explores the relationship and bond between humans and the Hybrid Child. Despite their brevity, these compelling stories will touch your heart, and make you question what makes us human. Is it a body made of flesh and bone, or the ability to feel and love?

PV:

Cast:
Izumi Kotarou: Okamoto Nobuhiko
Hazuki: Hirakawa Daisuke
Yuzu: Yonaga Tsubasa
Seya Ichi: Kimura Ryohei
Kuroda: Ono Yuuki
Tsukishima: Matsuoka Yoshitsugu

For fans of the original manga series, it has definitely been a long wait (almost 10 years!). You would definitely not want to miss this anime adaptation, complete with upgraded graphics and a stunning seiyuu cast. Okamoto Nobuhiko, who has been casted in Nakamura’s previous work (Kisa Shouta in Sekaiichi Hatsukoi) returns to voice yet another adorable, bumbling character. Hirakawa Daisuke and Yonaga Tsubasa, current favourites of the season with their voice work in popular series Free! and Love Stage!, are expected to steal the show voicing their niche roles, while the presence of Kimura Ryohei in yet another BL work begs the all-important question: will he finally get to cross the line? (I’m guessing not -this show is very PG) Personally, this writer is also looking forward to Ono Yuuki‘s lower tones as Kuroda (highly central to the plot) and another heart-stealing, adorable performance from Matsuoka Yoshitsugu.

Check out more information at the anime website here: http://www.hybridchild.jp/index.html.

Nakamura Shungiku, well-known for her work on Junjou Romantica and Sekaiichi Hatsukoi, now has Hybrid Child making up a nice trio of anime adapatations under her belt. She masterfully attains a balance of drama and comedy with her signature use of comical scenes in her manga series, a running feature in her works.

Serialised in 「BE×BOY GOLD」between 2003-2004, Hybrid Child was compiled into a tankoubon by Kazokawa in March 2005. A drama CD of this series was released in the same year, with a different cast.

Image credit © 2014 中村春菊 . 株式会社KADOKAWA 角川書店刊 . アニメ「Hybrid Child」公式サイト (http://www.hybridchild.jp/index.html)

The post [ANIME] Hybrid Child OVA to be released Fall 2014 appeared first on AFA Channel!.

Picture from E3

Over the past few months we have once again been treated, spoiled even with the variety of games shown at the yearly game conventions that captures the attention of us gamers; E3 Expo in June, Gamescom in August, and Tokyo Game Show in September. While we are only halfway through August, we have already seen a myriad on wonderful indie titles as well as the big blockbuster AAA game titles from our favourite big companies. Here’s just some of the few big hitters you should be keeping an eye out over the upcoming year.

Sunset Overdrive (Xbox One)

Developer: Insomniac Games

An entirely new IP from the hit makers of the Ratchet and Clank and Resistance Franchise, developer Insomniac starts the next generation with an Xbox One exclusive title which is as witty as their R&C games with a shooter twist to it, Sunset Overdrive! In the game you are an employee of FizzCo who is tasked to clean up the mess from a launch party of a new energy drink, Overcharge Delirium XT. Your task is to fight these OD’s humans and stop them.

A cross between an action game and a third person shooter, you have the usual platforming elements mixed in with the shooter experience.  It has a very colourful look to it which many shooters or even games lack nowadays as well.  I may not have an Xbox One but if there’s one game that would make me want to get it, this would be it. Insomniac has a great track record, so I’d believe this would be another hit in the making.

Release Date: October 28 2014

Xenoblade Chronicles X (WiiU)

Developer: Monlith Soft

Another spriritual sequel to the Xeno series by Monolift Soft comes Xenoblade Chronicles X. It is an open world RPG title where you can explore via foot or in your giant mecha called “Dolls” which can fly, hover and transforms into all sorts of vehicles. Like the original Xenoblade Chronicles, battles takes place in real time ala FFXII and the combat is further evolved from the original too with more skills available to use.

While we do not know much yet the game seems pretty impressive to me. I like that Japanese developers still have the ability to make wonderful deep RPGs like the ones we used to enjoy a lot in the PS2 era. I really hope that this game will succeed and pave the way for more great future RPGs in the next generation! I do also like that Hiroyuki Sawano will be doing the score too, an added plus to anime fans!

Release date: 2015

Bloodborne (PlayStation 4)

Developer: From Software

Another spiritual sequel to the hit 2009 game Demon’s Souls is Bloodborne. The game is set in Yharnam which is famous for its medical remedies. Many travellers have made the way to Yharnam to seek remedies but it is discovered that it is overrun with a curse that leaves the city’s population deranged.

This seems to be another lore-filled adventure with a murderous streak like its predecessors.  The battle system seems to have upgraded a lot this time round as well with a new gun weapon on the left and a scythe on the right which is said to evolve as the game progresses further. There’s even a dedicated healing button, convenient for those moments on the verge of death. Check out the preview from Gamescom!

Release date: 2015

Evolve (PS4, Xbox One, PC)

Developer: Turtle Rock Studios

From the same guys that have given us Left 4 Dead comes another multiplayer extravaganza, Evolve. You have a team of 4 unique characters going against a giant monster that would…Evolve throughout the game.  As the humans, your task is to simply take down the monster but as the monster, you can choose to kill the humans or evolve to the highest level and complete the secondary objectives! And this isn’t your standard FPS game, it’s set in an asymmetrical multi layered map filled with a variety of scenery, smaller monsters, and all sorts of multi layered paths sprawling with anything and everything.

I was lucky enough to be given an opportunity to try the game recently and having said that, each character and class is pretty unique, and all of them are required to work in unison to take down the monster. Communication is the key to winning in this game as the humans though I must say; the monsters are a whole new level of fun. Toying with the humans from the beginning or hiding and evolving slowly, its an entirely different ball game. This seems to be the next great multiplayer game.

Release Date: February 10 2015

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (PS4, Xbox One, PC)

Developer: Kojima Productions

The most ambitious project coming from Kojima Productions is Hideo Kojima’s latest epic stealth title MGSV: The Phantom Pain. An entirely open world stealth experience coupled with base building and a touch of Kojima’s wacky humour, Naked Snake’s latest adventure sets him out for revenge after the Ground Zeroes incident to get back on the people that have brought down MSF.

As seen in the trailer, you have a huge canvas with a start and end point. How you get there is up to you. Like Ground Zeroes this year, this game will have much bigger maps which means for much bigger exploration and variety of paths to explore. Snake also seems to have an entirely new cardboard box that can do all sorts of ridiculous moves, as per the Kojima standard. Compared to GZ, this seems to be a much more ambitious title and I can’t wait to see what Kojima has in store this time round.

Release Date: 2015

I feel that these 5 games are some of the games to look out for in the upcoming year ahead. We are quite blessed While some of you may and will disagree with said choices, do tell which big game will you be looking out for in the coming year ahead and why? Share you thoughts below!

Source: IGN, Nintendo, PlayStation, CVG

The post [GAME] 5 AAA Games to Look Forward to in the Upcoming Year Ahead appeared first on AFA Channel!.

Image Credit: LiSA’s Facebook

AFAID 2014 has come and gone, but there is still a huge upcoming event that should not go under the radar.

On this Saturday 23 August 2014, there will be an intimate live session with the one and only LiSA! The rock princess had made waves with songs like Crossing Field (Sword Art Online Opening Theme 1), Oath Sign (Fate Zero Opening Theme 1), Träumerei (Gen’ei wo Kakeru Taiyou Opening Theme) and the Opening Theme for the currently airing anime, Mahouka koukou no Rettousei. She will be gracing fans us with her stunning presence in a 1-day performance in collaboration with AFA Indonesia.

This event is a rare treat for fans outside of Japan because LiSA will be holding an extremely rare Unplugged live performance! Thus, in anticipation of this upcoming concert, I will be listing a number of things that are going to happen and why these are so important, especially if you are a die hard LiSA fan.

The concert will be held at the Upperroom in Jakarta, a small and intimate venue where you can feel much closer to LiSA.

• If you’ve been to a live performance with a large venue, you’ll know that it feels a lot less personal when you’re just a speck in the crowd. This is why this particular event is going to be such a treat for the fans. With a smaller venue, it means you’ll get to be that much closer to LiSA, and that close proximity will give you an experience like no other, a guaranteed experience of a lifetime.

There will be exclusive concert merchandise sold at the venue! Get them fast and while stocks last!

• Like a trophy or a medal, concert merchandise is your proof of attendance. Sure to make your friends turn green with envy, you can flaunt your experience in style with various apparel and goods that’s sure to be very coveted commodities amongst fans. Be wary though, you should probably hurry down if you want to avoid disappointment!

There will be copious amounts of fan interaction and the opportunity to have LiSA answer your questions!

• What better way to learn about LiSA than from LiSA herself? A few questions selected from those submitted by her fans will be answered at the concert. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to hear her answer your questions in earnest!

This is an extremely exclusive unplugged live event, the likes of which have not been seen outside of Japan.

• This is important so I’ll say it again. This is something that has not happened outside of Japan ever before. Do you want to be among the first people outside of Japan to experience this magic? Of course you do!

Last but not least, should you attend this event, you will receive a signed LiSA poster, handed to you by LiSA herself!

• Even in Japan, signed goods or autograph sessions are few and far between. As a fan, one simply cannot miss this chance of a lifetime. That’s right, a poster that is signed by hand, given to you personally by LiSA. Just let that awesome fact sink in, but not for too long because there’s not many tickets left! Get them before you lose this excellent opportunity to spend a glorious afternoon with LiSA!

Image Credit: LiSA’s Facebook

If you are still looking for that final reason to convince yourself to grab that plane ticket down to Jakarta to catch this special showcase, just check out LiSA’s special message for her fans:

The post [J Music] 5 Compelling reasons to catch LiSA’s Special Event in Jakarta appeared first on AFA Channel!.