Yuri Anime

YNN Correspondent Elizabeth F. has this excititng tidbit to share – the live Sailor Moon/NicoNico Douga event will be streamed live on NicoNico Douga on April 27. “Live” means about 3AM Eastern Coast US time, so I have no intention of being awake when this streams. I’ll read the news when it’s posted. ^_^  The remainder of staff – and cast – announcements will be made during the event. I’m pretty sure that the voice cast will be all new, it’ll be interesting to see who they choose. ^_^ (Note: I expect this will be in Japanese, unsubtitled.)

Unrelated, but fun, here’s a Sailor Moon/Avengers mashup that I quite liked. Bonus points for the great costume designs! (Also for the mythologically sound pairings.)

YNN Correspondent Griznak has written in to share that fans of Sakura Trick can get merchandise that explicitly labels them as Yuri fans.

A mere 2 weeks left for the 3rd and final Dear Brother DVD set. It’s time to put what you can down on the table! Every dollar helps, seriously. ^_^

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Yuri Manga

Griznak also wants to let us know that Polish manga publisher Studio JG announced that they’ll release Moringa Milk’s Yuri manga Girl Friends in Poland during the second half of 2014.

Comic Yuri Hime July 2014 volume (コミック百合姫) is up for pre-order and so are a passel o’ Yuri Manga: Nagakura Keiko’s Torotoro Himeawase (とろとろ・姫あわせ), Imura Ei’s Innocent Noise (イノセントノイズ),  Momono Moto’s True True (トゥルー・トゥルー), the second volume of Tanaka Minoru’s quirky rock band love story, Rock It, Girl! (ロケット☆ガール) and a new collection by Takemiya Jin, game.

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Other News

As far as I’m concerned, this is the top news of the week – Uehashi Nahoko’s second Balsa novel, Yami no Moribito, will be adapted to a manga.  I reviewed the English-language version of the novel in 2012. Of all the Balsa novels, that one was quite probably my favorite and I very much look forward to the manga!

Save the date! May 7–8, 2015 the Queers & Comics LGBT Cartoonists’ Conference will be held in NYC at the CUNY Graduate Center.

Award-winning Sci/fi author Jim C. Hines has been a vocal supporter of diversity in SF/F and has been promoting essays on his blog about (lack of) diversity in genre fiction. All of these very excellent essays are now available as an ebook called Invisible. Available in multiple formats, including Kindle for only $2.99.

Damien Walter took on a similar topic at The Guardian, when he posited that Science fiction needs to reflect that the future is queer.

Yuri  no Real‘s Makimura Asako and Higashi Koyuki (of the Disneyland Japan same-sex wedding)  have a video channel on Nico Nico Douga dealing with queer issues. (In Japanese)

Asahi, one of Japan’s leading newspapers, ran an article supporting LGBTQ education in Japanese schools. (Also in Japanese.)

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That’s a wrap for this week! Become a Yuri Network Correspondent by sending me any Yuri-related news you find. Emails go to anilesbocon01 at hotmail dot com. Not to the comments here, please, or they might be forgotten or missed. There’s a reason for this madness. This way I know you are a real human, not Anonymous (which I do not encourage – stand by your words with your name!) and I can send you a YNN correspondent’s badge. Thanks to all of you – you make this a great Yuri Network!

Yuri Anime

YNN Correspondent Grisznak wants you to know that the opening theme of Akuma no Riddle is available on YouTube.

YNN Correspondent Jin H. also has some Akuma no Riddle news:  Funimation has picked up the series, and are streaming it, as is Nico Nico Douga and Crunchyroll.

YNN Correspondent Vivi C.is excited to let you know that school life anime Kiniro Mosaic is getting a sequel.

YNN Correspondent Jst wants to share the news from the official Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha site, which “announced the other day that all three series are going to get a Blu-ray release in Japan from October of this year (MGLN 10/1, A’s 11/5, StrikerS 12/3).  Whether this means, like with the movies thus far they will be including English subtitles or not we don’t know as yet.”. StrikerS with official subtitles would be something I’d definitely pay for. ^_^

YNN Correspondent Elizabeth F points out that following on the heels of the recent successful Sailor Myu, another new Sailor Moon Musical is on the way! And keep your eyes peeled on the upcoming Nico Nico Douga event, at which, it is rumored we’ll actually get a preview of the anime!

In case you haven’t yet had a chance, you have 3 weeks left to help make the third and final DVD box set for Riyoko Ikeda’s Dear Brother a reality.

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Comics News

Topping the industry news this week is the fact that Amazon has just bought digital comics vendor Comixology.

The Don’t Be a Dick series takes on The Gender Dynamics of Marketing Comics.

PBS Idea Channel has this lovely video: How is Ms. Marvel Changing Media for the Better? It’s totally worth a watch.

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Yuri Event

YNN Correspondent Katherine H. is really excited, she’ll be hosting a Yuri panel at this month’s Sakura-con in Seattle! It will be on Saturday April 19 from 9:00 PM to 10:15 PM. Its location is Panels 7 (3AB). Its official title is “Lesbian-themed Anime, Manga, and Visual Novels.” She hope to see you all there. ^_^

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That’s a wrap for this week! Become a Yuri Network Correspondent by sending me any Yuri-related news you find. Emails go to anilesbocon01 at hotmail dot com. Not to the comments here, please, or they might be forgotten or missed. There’s a reason for this madness. This way I know you are a real human, not Anonymous (which I do not encourage – stand by your words with your name!) and I can send you a YNN correspondent’s badge. Thanks to all of you – you make this a great Yuri Network!

A few years ago, in reaction to the Governor of Tokyo’s restrictive bill on manga, most of the companies that participated in the Tokyo International Anime Festival pulled out and created a new event, The Anime Contents Fair. Well, this year the TIAF and ACF have re-merged, and with the big (and yet, controversial) “Cool Japan” push from the Japanese government, a new event is born – Anime Japan. Anime Japan is happening this weekend at Big Sight in Tokyo. Their website is down for the moment, but you can follow Anime Japan on Twitter.

Both Anime News Network and Crunchyroll both have people on the ground there, so check out both sites for photos and news. I’ll update as it strikes me to do so, but please feel free to mail me links to news you think we really ought to not miss!

Yuri Anime

Animesols crowdfunding for the 3rd and final set of Riyoko Ikeda’s Dear Brother got off to a strong start, hitting 50% funding pretty easily. They’ve added new functionality – if you were unable to get the first two sets, you can now simply buy them as an add-on to backing on the third set. You have to make the pledge first, before you can get the option, but now you can just buy the first two sets, and help the third set get made at the same time.

YNN Correspondent Grisnak wants you to know that a new Yuru Yuri anime will get a release as an OVA this fall.

He also notes that upcoming Yuri assassin anime Akuma no Riddle has a commercial for you to enjoy.

Australian company Siren Visual has announced licenses for Mawaru Penguindrum and some other great series.

Pony Canyon at Anime Japan ran a Tamako Market event for the upcoming film Tamako Market Love Story.

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Yuri Manga

The most recent issue of English-language female-focused manga and Light Novel magazine, Sparkler Monthly, contains a preview of Yuri manga “Before You Go”. Check it out!

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Lesbian Novels

One of the very first contemporary lesbian authors I ever read was Katherine V. Forrest’s Kate Delafield mysteries.

At the time, (early 90s maybe?) Lesbian mysteries were quite the rage, as they gave characters a chance to be independent investigators, just outside the law or, really, nowhere near it. Of the many, many many authors that were churning out books, only two are people I still want to read. One is Ellen Hart, whose contemporary American cozy mysteries are a delight and Katherine V. Forrest, who is back with a brand new Kate Delafield novel. A LOT has changed since Murder at the Nightwood Bar.

Ellen Hart’s new book is Taken by the Wind, but you may wish to start with some of her earlier books to get to know her characters. I particularly suggest The Lost Women of Lost Lake.

And Kate returns in High Desert (which I imagine has to have been named as an homage to Desert of the Heart, another key book in lesbian novels past.)

I know what I’ll be reading for my summer reading series this year!

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Sailor Moon News

If you know your Myer-Briggs Personality type, and like Sailor Moon, try this chart to find out which Senshi you are. ^_^ Since you are reading this blog, most of you will be INTJ and therefore Sailor Uranus. ^_^

The Sailor Moon Official Channel has released the English language version of the new Sailor Moon Crystal art. We’re keeping fingers crossed for some key visuals to be released this weekend at Anime Japan.

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Other News

It’s almost hard to imagine, but Fushima Kousuke’s Aa! Megami-sama/Oh! My Goddess manga is coming to an end after 26 years.

My super random find of the week: Famed Josei mangaka Erica Sakurazawa (Between the Sheets, Angel) has done a online comic for Ricoh Imaging called “Koi Suru  Yama ga Aru.”

Book of Bantorra is being streamed on Hulu. It’s not Yuri, but is in every other way one the best anime I’ve ever watched. It’s effed up, has librarians with super powers, and stars Paku Romi as the sexy, sociopathic head librarian, Hamuts Meseta. (She is the reason I will occasionally say “Must kill Hamuts Meseta” and laugh creepily to myself.) I love the show. ^_^ And I so want a t-shirt that says “Must kill Hamuts Meseta.”

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That’s a wrap for this week! Become a Yuri Network Correspondent by sending me any Yuri-related news you find. Emails go to anilesbocon01 at hotmail dot com. Not to the comments here, please, or they might be forgotten or missed. There’s a reason for this madness. This way I know you are a real human, not Anonymous (which I do not encourage – stand by your words with your name!) and I can send you a YNN correspondent’s badge. Thanks to all of you – you make this a great Yuri Network!

Sailor Moon News

This week gave us a lovely leak of important information about the new Sailor Moon anime. Toei had carefully tucked away an image leading to a countdown for the release of anime-related art, but fans have no other hobbies and found both countdown…and art. Once the cat was out of the bag, Toei gave up on the countdown and just released the image. And so, we now know that the new series will be called Sailor Moon Crystal and will be a re-creation of the first arc in which Sailor Moon fights the Dark Kingdom and Queen Beryl alongside of her friends Sailors Mercury, Mars, Venus and Jupiter. I really, really like the new design, tell me what you think in the comments!

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Yuri Anime

The first glimpse of visuals and a commercial for the manga of Sabagebu!, the upcoming shoujo survival game club anime exists in the universe.

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Yuri Game/VN

YNN Correspondent C Banana wants to elaborate on the new “non-hentai visual novel…Flowers (link includes trailer) from group Innocent Grey which is going to be released April 18” which we mentioned a few months ago. CBanana continues: “I can point out that this game has a reasonable likelihood of getting a translation/distribution as the translation/distribution company MangaGamer has worked with Innocent Grey before.  MangaGamer may also be looking for all-ages games because they could get those games on Steam.  Mind you, it would have an increased chance of getting localized if people let MangaGamer know that they’re interested in it.”

Guild Wars 2 gets some really great press about the lesbian romance in the game.

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Yuri Webcomics

Via YNN Corresondent Erin S., we have a pile of adorable girls in love webcomics:
Sara Goetter’s Haircut, with which I could totally identify
Melanige Gillman’s Smbitten: A Ladies Romance With Teeth
and this short story of skateboarding and love by Actual Magical Girl, Homura Akemi

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Maria-sama ga Miteru

Welp, it’s been a good run. Just as the series hits a 15th anniversary, it will be coming to an end with one final Oshaka-sama ga Miteru novel, Hotaru no Hikaru (蛍のヒカル) according to illustrator Hibike Reine.

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Other News

This is a tad old, but that’s my fault. Back in December, the Japanese family court made a really important decision, allowing a transman to be listed on his child’s birth certificate as the father. His wife conceived the child through IVF (in vitro fetilization). The court ruled, “The child can be assumed as the husband’s child even though it is obvious that there is no biological link”. This is a huge step forward and we applaud it. Thanks to YNN Correspondent Ana M who sent it along.

Early Japanese lesbian awareness and advocacy group Regumi is alive and well on the internet. This famous grassroots organization is once again running seminars and promoting health, well-being and community for a new generation of Japanese lesbians. I love the Internet. ^_^

Bitch Media presents the next installment of their comic lecture series about comics, Don’t Be A Dick, with Don’t Be a Dick: How Comics Can Alienate Women and Trans Folks.

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That’s a wrap for this week! Become a Yuri Network Correspondent by sending me any Yuri-related news you find. Emails go to anilesbocon01 at hotmail dot com. Not to the comments here, please, or they might be forgotten or missed. There’s a reason for this madness. This way I know you are a real human, not Anonymous (which I do not encourage – stand by your words with your name!) and I can send you a YNN correspondent’s badge. Thanks to all of you – you make this a great Yuri Network!