Happy first YNN report of the New Year! It looks like there’ll be a lot of shiny fun for Yuri fans of all persuasions this year. Today we’ll catch up on some anime trailers and the like.

Yuri Anime

Looking forward to Black Rock Shooter anime? Check out the trailers on the official website. (I’m really hoping that this series looks half as good as all the figurines for this series, which tempted me mightily over the New Year holiday in every single store.)

The Smile! PreCure commercial has aired, take a look here.(NicoNico Douga is iffy, so if you have an account there, try logging in to see it.) The “difference” this time is that they are going with a team right out of the box, rather than two to start, then adding in a new character at intervals. They are also going with extra super teeth-grittingly cute names. I think they are punishing the adults who watch the series. Cure Happy, Cure Smile. Ugh. ^_^

Of great interest to me, the first Jormungand anime trailer is up on ANN, with the pleasant bonus of Itou Shizuka as Koko (She was Nadie in El Cazador de la Bruja and Rei in Maria-sama ga Miteru.) She’s a perfect choice for the role, I couldn’t be happier. And, while I say this knowing I should be careful what I wish for, I hope they leave the Valmet-Koko service in, because I like it. ^_^

Probably no more Yuri than its predecessors, but by Yuri-friendly Nanzaki Iku, Queen’s Blade: Rebellion is slated for a spring release.

Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere, A Channel and Yuru Yuri are all getting second seasons of anime.

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Yuri Manga

JManga is now offering Morita-san ha Mukuchi for your reading enjoyment! The Yuri is very light in this series, but the overall story is enjoyable enough that it’s worth a read.

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Other News

Manga Erotics F magazine announced a line of toys this year, including an Ah-chan figurine, for fans of Aoi Hana.

And for those who like to take their Yuri in game form, the trailer for the upcoming Madoka Online Browser game is streaming.

I was joking on Twitter a few days back, about which series has been the most over-merchandised series of 2011. The top three suggestions were One Piece (which has got to have hit some kind of saturation point in Japan by now…there are no stores of any kind without One Piece *somethings*) K-ON! and Madoka.

My three favorite random branded items seen for these are:

Axe has One Piece body spray available, I can’t imagine what Luffy or Chopper body spray could smell like and I never tried to find out…

K-ON! themed “Fuwa Fuwa Time” cotton candy in a bag at Lawson.

Madoka men’s trunk underwear.

So, yeah, these three win.

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That wraps it up 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.

Hello Yuri Network! Some fun news ahead.

Yuri Drama CD

Katherine H. wanted to remind you that, should you buy the second volume of Ame-iro Kouchakan Kandan, with the Drama CD, Blue Christmas, (which was great! Review forthcoming) there is a second bonus Drama CD, Maple Carol (which was also great!)

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Yuri Anime 

Namori’s Yuru Yuri is getting a second anime season. I’m not surprised and again note that this was, clearly, exactly the right series for Comic Yuri Hime to pick for it’s anime debut. The manga has gone on 8 volumes, so clearly there are people who like it. Nothing else in Comic Yuri Hime has run more than 3 volumes.

The English dubbed trailer for the Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica anime release is up for your viewing pleasure.

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Yuri Manga

Tomo K writes in to let us know about Matsumoto Tomoki’s プラナス・ガール “Prunus Girl.” She says ,
“The manga takes place in a senior high where boy meets girl, but girl turns out to be an 男の娘(a male who looks/acts totally female). In Vol. 2, the boy’s junior high friend transfers, and she declares to everyone that she likes girls.

In Vol. 4, the girl’s ex-gf transfers to the school as well, chasing the ex, and demands to know why the ex dumped her. In the end the two get back together, and the second girl declares that she’ll make her dad accept/congratulate them, no matter how many years it takes.

The series runs in Square Enix’s Monthly Gangan Joker.”

I wanted to mention a series that just started in Shodensha’s Feel Young magazine with a Yuri one-shot. Motomachi Natsuo’s 蜜ノ味 “Mitsu no Aji.” Aida is a plain-looking office lady, but after she meets a beautiful woman at a bar, and they begin a love affair, she begins to blossom. When she asks if they can move in together, the other woman says say yes but, when Aida-san goes to visit he that night, she learns that her lover has left without a word. Aida-san moves on with her life, but retains fond memories and a few relics in gesture and speech of the woman who changed her life.

Comic Yuri Hime, January 2012 volume (コミック百合姫) is available. New cover art, new cover story. No more girls with guns.

Tsubomi (つぼみ), Volume 15 is out now, with cover by Kurogane Kenn.

A third collection has been added to the 百合缶 series: Mielle, Feuille and now Petale. I’m not honestly overwhelmed by these. The first two are very generic Story A collections, we could be back in 2004 reading ES~ Eternals Sisters.

On the other hand, I know I’ve mentioned this, but really, run out and buy Takemiya Jin’s Seasons. Just do it. Don’t argue with me. I started reading it last night and it may well make it to my end of year Top Ten List.

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Other News

In other news, a Japanese-language magazine published in the NYC metro area, ENJOY, ran an interview with me in the December issue. Yuri Manga and festive meatloaves must have made an entertaining read.

This was the best interview I’ve ever had. Some items of note – we do discuss lesbian characters and stories, I talked about my “5th column” of manga magazines that don’t fit the 4 typical demographic categories.  And when I said “my wife” it was translated as「ワイフ」which was both funny and enraging. ^_^;;

If you can find a copy, and can read Japanese, take a look. It was a good time.

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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

ANN reports that Universal Studios Japan is hosting the K-ON! cast accompanying an installation of life-sized (but not realistically proportioned) statues of the characters. The K-ON! movie debuted today in Japan yesterday. ^_^ I’m pretty sure I heard the screaming over here.

If you’re around Ikebukuro at then end of the year, take a trip over to Sunshine City, where in the Cultural Hall you’ll find a Madoka Magica Exhibit. A map has been released with exhibit info. (The first time I ever walked into that space, there was a Sailor Moon festival going on. You cannot tell me there wasn’t a god involved with that. ^_^)

The 2nd Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha movie will have a summer release. I cannot wait. Sadly I won’t make it over there to see it, so will have to wait for the DVD release again. Boo-hoo.

And fans of Strike Witches will be thrilled to hear that the second Box Set will include an English dub and subtitles.

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Yuri Manga

Now this sounds a bit different, in a completely not different way – Centaur no Ayami ( セントールの悩み) is a typical highschool Yuri love story, starring magical creatures. The heroine is, as the title spoils, a centaur. If you’re a hooves and horns fan, this looks like a good bet. I’m on the fence about it, myself, so if you do get it and want to write a review, let me know!

Morita-san ha Mukuchi (森田さんは無口) is headed for a 5th volume.

Akira to Hiyori (アキラとひより) is two-volume Yuri love story by Kirihara Izumi. Volume 1 and
Volume 2 have been all over the Japanese Yuri lists.

OKS books is putting out an 18+ Yuri collection called Shiroyuri Girls Love Paradise (白百合Girls Love Paradise). This is explicitly (hah hah) targeted towards guys, so I’d expect lots of uncomfortable groping and bodily fluids, and less pleasant-looking sex.

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Yuri Game

Liar, the folks that brought us Sapphism no Gensou has a new Yuri game, Okujou no Yurirei-san. Erm, “Yuri Spirits on the Roof.” Cute art, I’d love to have a review of this too, if someone is planning on getting it.

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Other News

In a blatant attempt to prove that I really do read manga that has nothing at all to do with Yuri, I’ve written an article for Hooded Utilitarian this month that teaches you how to be a pretentious git about food and drink, the manga way: Eat, Drink, Read Manga.

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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 Manga

Top news story this week, in case you missed it, is that Seven Seas announced that they have licensed GIRL FRIENDS by Morinaga Milk and will be releasing it in omnibus format. The first volume is slated for autumn 2012.

Shannon L. reminded us on the Yuricon & ALC group on Facebook  that Yen Press licensed the Puella Magi Madoka Magika graphic novels, the first one of which also should be coming out in spring 2012.

YNN Correspondent Tomo K. wrote in with the most wonderful news! Ame-iro Kouchakan Kandan (飴色紅茶館茶話) is getting a number of post-series one-shots Ame-iro Kouchakan Kandan～Golden and Silver Tips～. Terrific news for all of us who enjoy spending time in Fujieda Miyabi’s Amber Teahouse. (And maybe, just maybe, for those of us who would like to see more well-established, older couples in the pages of Comic Yuri Hime?)

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Yuri Anime

Nozomi/Rightstuf is restarting showing Season 1 of Maria Watches Over Us on their Youtube channel. Catch 2 episodes a week for the next few weeks.

Also of interest to us on the Nozomi/Rightstuf website, is an interview with Director of Revolutionary Girl Utena, Kunihiko Ikuhara. Of specific note, Okazu reader and contributor Cryssoberyl asks the first question – and it’s about the romantic relationships involved! Cool for Cryssoberyl – and the answer is cool for us! ^_^

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Other News

Deb Aoki on Twitter brought this to my attention: We Love Fine, a t-shirt company has a Saiilor Uranus/Sailor Neptune meets Nagel art t-shirt design. Looks pretty cool. If you buy it, let them know I sent you. ^_^

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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 Manga

Peter on the Yuricon Mailing List was very excited to let us know that Morinaga Milk’s GIRL FRIENDS will be out this spring in German from Carlsen as Wir Beide. That brings the total to four languages: Japanese, English (on JManga), French and now German.

Bruce P wants you all to know that Wandering Son, Volume 2 is up for pre-order on the Fantagraphics website.

Sailor Moon, Volume 2 is now available for purchase. If you’re not reading this core Yuri manga, you really should. (Warning: Volume 2 is very heterosexual. Just so you know.) Codename is Sailor V, Volume 2 is out too – it’s also not Yuri, but you should really read it anyway.

Anytime Torako and Asami  share the page my Yuridar pings, and just in case they do appear, I’ll be getting Yotsuba &!, Volume 10. (I lie, I’d get it anyway and enjoy it. Also, please do not see the previous statement as a challenge to be responded to. If they are/not in the volume, don’t spoil it for us, thanks.)

George R. pointed out that the gentle tale of an attractive bookseller and the girl in like with her, Himawari-san, Volume 2 (ひまわりさん) is now on sale.

Josei drama Ohana Holo Holo, Volume 3 (オハナホロホロ) is heading for shelves and the Yuri subplot is not dead yet…

I’m pretty sure I mentioned this already, but it’s worth a second pass. Hoshikawa Ginza Yon-choume, Volume 2 (星川銀座四丁目 2) and Lonely Wolf, Lonely Sheep (ロンリーウルフ・ロンリーシープ) from Tsubomi magazine have hit the shelves. For totally different reasons, two of my favorite series from that magazine.

Let me digress for a bit – Mizutani Fuuka, creator of Lonely Wolf, Lonely Sheep is, right, now, in serious ascendance on my “I really like this creator” list. If you’re not reading her work, do. She’s a great story teller, something that is rarer than one might imagine in manga. For a utterly non-Yuri, but nonetheless charming story, check out her 14-sai no Koi (14歳の恋) from Rakuen Le Paradis magazine. It’s an absolutely delightful story about a boy and a girl falling in love. Just utterly adorable in every way. Get it even if you can’t read the Japanese, because the story is pretty easy to grok from the pictures.

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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!