2006 Kodansha calendars scooped, eroge makers at C68, Ginban Kaleidoscope anime confirmed, Weekly Web Radio Roundup, Shichinin no Online Gamers playable demo online, LOTS of eroge movies and sample CG, Maritan update, DearS Rin PVC announced, etc. etc.

Ichigo Mashimaro episode one was, for better or for worse, quite similar to the manga in tone and pacing. I like the Barasui designs a lot but can’t get very enthusiastic about the content; if things don’t pick up with Mamiko’s entrance in the next episode I’ll probably leave this one to its more zealous proponents.

Comiket Side

• The eroge industry represents today with a boatload of C68 announcements. Most of these links should be work-safe, but proceed with caution.
  • Tarte – Hinatabokko jockey girl telephone card, T-shirt, and etc.
  • Key – at the Broccoli booth. CLANNAD telephone cards, a “compilation mini album” and a Tomoyo After demo movie on DVD
  • Abel Software – an artbook of some sort
  • Roll Soft – a new card game and a novel based on their upcoming fall release, School Festa
  • PENTA – preproduction disc and OST from Gothic ~The Age of Innocence~
  • F&C – lots of stuff, scroll down to the bottom of the page to click through it all.
• It seems Afghanis-tan is becoming a cookie. The edible kind. Again, no words.

Anime Side

• Three Ichigo Mashimaro drama CDs will be released on July 22nd, August 24th and September 22nd respectively. [promotional site]
• It’s never too early to start thinking about 2006 calendars! Coming down the pipe from Kodansha are offerings from: Clamp/xxxHolic, Negima, School Rumble, Get Backers, Air Gear, Suzuka, Kamichama Karin, Sugar Sugar Rune, Nodame Cantabile, Cheese Sweet Home, and last but not least, Juuni Kokki.
• The previously rumored Ginban Kaleidoscope anime is confirmed, with launch set for this October.
• The official Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha site has been made over for its fall sequel, Nanoha A’s.
• Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex OST 3 will be coming out on July 21st.
• Weekly Web Radio Roundup
  • Futakoi Melt Collective ep. 10
  • Ai no Mahoraba Gekijou ep. 14
  • Kiminozo Radio ep. 16
  • Bara no Kaori no Garden Party ep. 6
• [NOT ANIME] It’s official: Princess Crown is coming to the PSP on September 22nd.
• This voluminous tome of Gainax interviews is on sale as of yesterday.

Ero Side

• A trial version of G.J?’s Shichinin no Online Gamers is available for download! I’ll be playing through it as soon as possible and will post impressions when time allows.
• WE’VE GOT MOVIE SIGN!!
  • Tama Soft’s Lost Child
  • Breeze’s Natsunone -Ring-
  • Petit Pajamas’ Puppet Princess
  • Zero’s Hajimete Doushi
  • Concept’s Tane wo Tsukeru Otoko
  • Elf’s Hana to Hebi
  • Actress’ White Clarity
  • Carriere’s Thanks Project
• Sample CG Updates
  • Petit Pajamas’ Puppet Princess
  • Squeez’s Homura no Haramase Tenkousei
  • Mille-Feuille’s Mahou Shoujo Sae vol. 1
  • May-Be Soft’s Monogokoro, Monomusume
  • Le Chocolat and FlyingShine’s Swan Song
  • Rune’s Shishunki (wallpapers)
  • Art’s Heaven’s Cage
  • Arkshell’s Tottemo Harem
  • Lucha’s One Boku
  • Bluege On Demand’s Milk Junkies 3
• Game Demos
  • Giga’s Duel Savior Justice
  • Liquid’s Haitoku no Gakuen
• Hue’s Kuruizaki Virgin Road has been confirmed for an August 26th release, with several new promotional items available for download.
• In eroanime news, D3 has launched a combined page for its upcoming release of Inbo and Inko vol. 1, with promotional videos available for each (scroll down).

Figure Side

• The few. The proud. The top image, gallery, and web comic updates.
• This Ichigo Mashimaro Ana Coppola resin kit will be released in August from maker Be-J.
• If you can make it to one of the three events listed here you may be able to take advantage of the listed discounts on several quality Solid Theater products.
• For the DearS fans, this PVC Ren kit will be coming out in September from Chara-Ani / Ano-Megaroh.
• [ERO] On sale today: this Marin-chan (bath-towel version) cold cast from Aizu. This would be a lot hotter if her arm didn’t look quite so bendy…
• The release of Max Factory’s Mai Shiranui PVC from King of Fighters has been delayed until late August.

Shichinin no Online Gamers Release Countdown: SIX DAYS

With the summer 2005 anime season safely off the ground in its entirety I suppose it’s time to cobble together the latter half of the good, the bad and the ugly. My opinions are certainly redundant across the anime blogosphere, but they’re short, so bear with me.