In today’s update: Comiket tomorrow! And other assorted news.

Media Side

• Shonen Magazine announces the production of a second School Rumble TV anime series, slated to air in spring 2006.
• Media Works launches a three-pronged Strawberry Panic offensive, including the anime announced here along with a novel and a manga to be serialized in Dengeki G’s Magazine. This looks worthy of further investigation, which I’ll try to do when time allows.
• Starchild launches the official site for its upcoming “chotto ecchi na doki doki comedy” Tonagura, slated to air in 2006 (wallpaper here).
• I recall this being announced earlier, but February’s edition of The Sneaker notes the animefication of the Suzumiya Haruhi manga. Shakugan no Shana fans alert: this is illustrated by Itou Noiji.
• A new chapter of Toranoana’s Shiawase no Momoringo web comic is online today. [direct link]
• February’s edition of Megami Magazine is on sale today, sporting a lovely picture of Saber on the cover.
• We’re not a maid cafe, we’re a Victorian Cafe Emily!
• Toranoana announces Binchou-tan SPAM– …er, hard candy.

Ero Side

• An explosion of updates today for Waffle’s Nukenin, including a set of trading figures coming out from Solid Theater, some new sample CG, two new character intros (Karura and Kirito), and a download of the second side story demo first published in December’s issue of Tech Gian.
• Galge.com updates with a 640×480 .mpg version of Pink Pineapple’s Stringendo trailer, for those who prefer their gargling in high(er) definition.
• G.J?’s Tsuma to Mama to Boin gets a blog update! Not much, but any news on this front is welcome.
• Earl Box once again shows his impeccable taste with the acquisition of the current edition of Kairakuten, on sale today and featuring a Hanahalu cover and seven pages of color manga.
• New Site Launches / Release Announcements
  • UnDel’s Okaerinasaimase Goshujin-sama [sample CG]
  • Art’s Costume Player
  • Silver Bullet’s Setsuei
• We’ve Got Movie Sign!!
  • Bloomhandle’s Nami no Ma ni Ma ni
  • Rasen’s Hime Miko
• Demo Downloads
  • Front Wing’s Boy Meets Girl
  • Giant Panda’s Futari de Hitotsu no Koigokoro
• Sample CG
  • Tarte’s School Panic!
  • Crowd’s Sodatete Miryu?
  • TinkerBell’s Ijikea [official site]
• Wallpapers
  • An*tique’s Shinobue Renka
• Comiket Corner
  Down to the nitty gritty here, aren’t we fellows?
  • Giant Panda represents
  • Chien represents (updated)
  • Panda House represents
  • Cuffs represents
  • Navel represents (updated)
  • To Heart 2 anime represents

Hobby Side

• The few. The proud. The diary update.
• In Gainax’s continued bid for world domination through the exploitation of Eva-related materials (BFWDTTEOERM for short) the Eva at Work project has been announced to start in early 2006. It will gather famous designers of things to design other things and sell them, presumably through the Eva Store.
• Danny Choo represents with a stand-up photo gallery from last weekend’s WHF 13, to cap off coverage in earnest.
• Queen’s Blade volumes 3 and 4 went on sale yesterday, and it appears that the Hirata Katsuzou-designed Nowa is indeed 100% nopan. :3 [Akibajin scoop]
• On Sale Today
  • Bandai’s Gainax Heroines part 2 capsule figures
  • Yujin’s SRDX Aya PVC from Ichigo 100%
  • Kotobukiya’s Onodera Karen bikini ver. PVC from Onegai Twins
  • Max Factory’s Aries PVC from Makai Tenshi Jibril 2
  • Alter’s Furu Furu Furu Moon trading figures from Tsukuyomi
  • Alter’s KOS-MOS from Xenosaga [Akibajin review]
• Coming at the end of March is this pair of polystone Gundam heroines from maker B Club: Tifa Adiil from Gundam X (color picture) and Lunamaria Hawke from Gundam SEED Destiny (color picture). Also coming in Marchi is this Latuuni Suubohta PVC from Toysworks and Super Robot Wars.

While I respect a man’s right to dress up in insect antennae and play party games while eating snacks with cosplayers, this is just a bit silly.

As I’m heading off to Comiket bright and early for the next two days, regular news updates won’t be resumed until the 31st (provided I can get my act together then and don’t need to spend a day or two after the event purely convalescing). My goal at this point is to post tomorrow evening after the first day is over, we’ll see what happens; if not, an event review will be online as soon as possible. Comiket is a war, and we are soldiers…

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