Archive for the Yuri Network News Category


Sasamekikoto Anime on Crunchyroll

October 6th, 2009

I’m pleased to report that Crunchyroll has obtained the license (limited to US and Oceania this time… don’t blame them, blame stupid country licensing issues) to Yuri anime Sasamekikoto. Here’s hoping that the anime captures the book’s zaniness without losing the solid emotional story in the back and vice versa, that it doesn’t wallow without the comedy to temper it.

In honor of the news, I’ll review Volume 5 later today. :-)

I just love their press release that says this series is “one of the most famed yuri manga of all time in Japan.” LOL I’m thinking not so much, really. But, yay for Yuri fans anyway. :-)

So, what do you think is the “most famed Yuri manga of all time”?





Yuri Network News – October 3, 2009

October 3rd, 2009

Yuri Light Novels

I have been the recipient of a large number of questions about the third volume of the Strawberry Panic Light Novel, which has appeared on Amazon.com with a December 3, 2009 release date.

I emailed Seven Seas last night and they confirm that the 3rd LN is NOT coming out, they still have no plans to print it. This is an errant entry, from back when they had just kept pushing the date back. They didn’t say this, but I am sure they apologize for the confusion.

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Yuri Manga

YNN Correspondent Erin S. has two great pieces of news:

“Tankoubon versions of several Yuri Hime cell phone manga are due out on November 18:
Gokujou Drops volume 3 by Hajime Mikuni
Sorairo Girlfriend by Rikachi
Honey Quartet by Tokoro Kemeko
Otome Senshi Lovely 5! by Jounouchi Nene
Yukemuri Sanctuary by Amano Shuninta

and

The website for the new Rakuen (Le Paradis) anthology has been updated with descriptions of the stories in the first issue. Some appear to be het, but a few have promising descriptions: Takemiya Jin’s, Nishi UKO’s (she will have two pieces in the issue–a 4-panel comic and a short one-shot), and Kiryuu Suruga’s.

Thanks Erin!

Although Yohko’s been dead (for about 20 years now,) she still talks to Asuka in New Hana no Asuka-gumi, Volume 8, which is finally coming out after a really long delay. More importantly…where do Kiryuu and Bara no Miya go off to? They always seem to be in a back room together. Volume 8 is accompanied by a new volume of Gaiden, related side stories of the folk that inhabit Asuka’s world. (Also, if you missed this in the comments last week, Ana M. reports that one of the stars of the new Hana no Asuka-gumi movie is the mangaka, Takaguchi Satosumi’s daughter. That’s worth getting it, just for that!)

And Kate Dacey informs me that Dragon Sister! is not only a *third* version of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, in which all the roles are played by buxom women, but that there is predatory lesbianism. Woot!

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Other News

Right Stuf announces a new Aria lithograph: “Those Nightshine Chimes.” Fan-selected artwork to be released on December 8, 2009. Visit aria.rightstuf.com for more info.

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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 Network News – September 27, 2009

September 27th, 2009

Yuri Anime

The big buzz on the Yuri Network is the existence of Himegami no Miko, a possible new, alternate-universe series by Kaishaku recyclying everyone’s favorite lesbian priestess couple….again. The links on the site imply some kind of animation production. If this all sounds vague it’s because it all sounds vague. I want to thank a number of YNN correspondents for this item, but especially Aesyl for poking me to check back until the site had some actual information.

Ashley wants to remind everyone that the entire run of El Cazador can be watched streaming on Funimation’s online channel.

Speaking of El Cazador, the DVD volume is on the Yuricon Store.

Blue Drop Complete Collection is also on the Shop.

And as I reported yesterday, Ikkitousen DD will be out for November. I have actually heard some fans wondering incredulously why so *many* titles are coming out in November and December. Let me gently remind you of the phrase “holiday shopping.” :-)

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Yuri Drama CD

Say what you will about how painful it is to sit through, there is *no* doubt that Maria-sama Ga Miteru: Rainy Blue is the story of a break up. And now you can sit through it once more, listening to Yumi’s heart break as Sachiko drives away in the newest Drama CD. The good news is…after this, it’s *all* downhill.

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Snatches of Yuri

Significantly, one of Tokyopop’s new licenses, Seikon no Qwaser, is something that has piqued my interest *every* time I’ve seen it. There is a cool, competent female lead, uniforms, violence, and the smell of Yuri.

Death Co-mu-ni-ka-shun is another spin on school girls at a school for /fill in the blank/ theme. The first volume is apparently strong nioi-ke, the second volume not much of anything, but in Volume 3, Valentine’s day hits and with it, girls giving chocolate to one another – and a kiss scene.

Mahou no Jumon follows girls in a school for magic. In Volume 3, there’s enough girls’ love that two of the characters are discussing how using magic allows women to have a child together. This title also is significant because you can read three chapters online through KR comic’s reader:

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

For heaven’s sake, please don’t ask if these are in English. These are from a Japanese comic, from a Japanese magazine, on a Japanese reader for Japanese people…in Japanese.

Sugar ha Otoshigoro seems to have settled down to having a storyline by…Volume 3. Asami is ignoring Hatanaka and she’s getting desperate. In a dream sequence, Hatanaka sings a love song to Asami, who responds with interest….at the end of the volume we’re not sure what is real or not.

Last month’s Cobalt Shueisha had a Maria-sama ga Miteru story that starred Yumi, Tsutako, Shimako and Kagura, so it looks like she’s caving and writing more about “our” characters. lol

And I might as well put this down here too. There is an anthology movie, (i.e., made of shorts) called GL – Imp’s Seduction. The code phrase here for “this is for FanBoys” is “No Men Allowed.”  In fact, I was talking to James Welker about that in regards to Yuri Hime, because it’s so suspicious sounding. As soon as a publisher puts “No Boys Allowed” or something similar on a magazine or DVD, you know *instantly* this is for guys. It’s so dreadful – it’s that whole fake girls in their lingerie eating bonbons, pillow fights and light foreplay crap in softcore sorority movies.The worst part is, if it *is* a book or movie that might appeal to women, tagging it like that is a clear “keep away” sign. So, now, these stories might actually be okay…which I doubt because Japanese on-screen kisses are excruciating usually…but ugh. Do I get this and suffer through a bunch of servicey, icky vignettes for what might be a good story or two as seen through the eyes of a Fanboy or not? I don’t know. I’ll have to think about.

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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 Network News – September 19, 2009

September 19th, 2009

Yuri Games

One of the biggest news items this week is the Sasamekikoto kissing game application for iPhone and iPod touch. It’s available with English subtitles and apparently Ushio and you get to practice kissing until her mask dissappears. As you might remember, a Sasamekikoto anime is due out soon, so this is an interesting way to promote it. The game is free to download. Ted the Awesome shared his experience with the app on the Yuricon Mailing List: “Just put two fingers together, put it where you think the lips are behind the mask and gently move the fingers away from each other and than move the away from the screen. The moment your fingers no longer touch the screen is when the ‘kiss’ is counted for. I scored 100 at least four times and got some bonuses.

The more you kiss her, the more her mask becomes transparent. If you’re a good kisser throughout, she’ll even take the mask off. The more points you score, the more character profiles shots you unlock.

It also comes with a Manga preview. Not too bad for a free little app.”

Also rocking the Japanese games world right now is Love Plus, a DS Game in which you court and date any one of three girls. I first read about this game in a blog written by a Japanese lesbian who confirmed what seemed obvious to me – by its nature, if you’re a woman playing this, it’s an insto Yuri game. :-)

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Yuri Anime

Crunchyroll has announced that they are streaming Koi Hime Musou. The description was so cute, pretending it had anything really to do with Romance of Three Kingdoms. :-)

On the Japan side, a series called Working!, which has been on a number of Yuri lists there, is getting an anime. Take a look at the (so far, sparse) website for yourself.

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Yuri Live Action

Here was my crazy news find for the week! I was doing something I have not done in about a year – surfing the internet. (I know, wild, huh?) and I came across this – a NEW Hana no Asuka-gumi Live Action Movie! It’s real and it looks totally legit. What Hana no Asuka-gumi NEO! does not look, is good. :-) It also looks like it couldn’t be less like the Asuka I know, but hey, the first Asuka live action movie….that was no masterwork, let me tell you. (And I always hear the Rolling Stone’s “Satisfaction” when I think of it. lol) Miko seems to be a major character in this new version and Hime makes an appearance, but no Yohko. OTOH, the bad guy looks psycho enough for fun.

I’ll see about getting a copy and reviewing it for you.

And, amazingly, while we’re on the topic of series that will not die, there’s new news about the Live Action Bubblegum Crisis movie. Apparently the project is alive and using the weirdest way possible to recruit staff. :-)

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Snatches of Yuri

Tamatamato follows the romance of a diminutive miko and a school girl and zOMG they kiss!

Beni! Aina Jogakuen is a Japanese “Plot What Plot” taking place at a school, at which sex occurs. The school name is…sexually suggestive. There is bondage and highly unrealistic body proportions.

In Yuki no Saku ni ha – Suddenly Chihiro’s life is disrupted by the appearance of a Yuki-Onna (a snow spirit) who moves in with her and starts to act like her wife. Clearly this is all that is needed for love to bloom between Yuki and Chihiro.

And to end on a pleasant note, there’s Nagisa no HaiQ-bu a 4-panel series about a girl, Nagisa, who joins the Beach Volleyball club and who falls for fellow team member, Akira.

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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.)

Thanks to all of you – you make this a great Yuri Network!





Yuri Network News – September 12, 2009

September 12th, 2009

Lots of Yuri News this week!

Yuri Anime

Animevice reported that He is My Master is going to be showing on Anime Network Online and out on DVD, and Ultraviolet 044 (yes, *that* Ultraviolet – based on the crap movie, and wasting starring the voice talents of Paku Romi) will be getting a US DVD release. If you aren’t following Animevice on Facebook or Twitter or on the site directly, you’re missing some extremely otaku-tastic news, btw. Highly recommended.

Aoi Hana on Crunchyroll has ended for those of us who purchased subscriptions, and will end next week for the remainder of viewers. I cannot express how much I liked it. Yes, there were a few changes from the manga – in every case for the better, I thought. From beginning to end it is one of the best anime I’ve seen in the last few years and an exceptional example of schoolgirl romance Yuri. The 11 episodes covered three volumes of manga and, as of yet, there are only 4 volumes out so it may be some time before we learn if there will be a second season. However, I want to address a question I keep getting about this anime. There’s a alot of confusion about this.

Crunchyroll *is* the official licensor of this series – for streaming only. But that does not make them less a licensor. (Just like Funimation holds the streaming rights only to Air Master right now. You wouldn’t write Viz and ask them to license that, would you? Because even if you wanted them to, Funimation is the license holder and therefore more likely to get it to DVD than some unrelated company.) As the primary licensor of Aoi Hana, it is CR who has the best ability to *obtain* the DVD rights to this anime.

No one has DVD rights at the moment.

What I am suggesting is that people who would like to see a DVD release of AH should let CR know that there is a *market* for it. (I.e., that you will be willing to buy DVDs should they become available.)

It seems to me a much better chance of getting DVDs by asking CR to find a way to make them available, either through licensing, POD or partnering, than to ask some other company that has absolutely no relationship with the anime to suddenly put money up to distribute DVDs for it.

If you do send an email to CR, I suggest you put in a line that you *understand* that CR does not currently have the DVD rights, and would the person who gets this email forward it to the guy in charge, so he can tally up what kind of interest there is.

The dub cast for Rin – Daughters of Mnemosyne has been announced by Funimation.

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Yuri Manga

Erin S points out some objectively Good News – a number of popular Yuri doujinshi artists are involved in a new anthology from Hakusensha called Rakuen (Paradise). Among the list are several of my personal favorites, including Nishi UKO, whom we have featured in the last few Yuri Monogatari volumes. This anthology is due out at the end of October – as soon as I can, I’ll put up a link for ordering it here and on the Yuricon Shop. I am also interested in the entrance of yet another publisher into the genre, with such clearly doujinshi circle choices. I bet they were recruiting at one of the last couple of Comiket. I approve, of course and am very much looking forward to seeing this. It’s much more to my tastes than Hobunsha’s Tsubomi.

And objectively Bad News. For a lot of reasons, which she has detailed on her blog (in Japanese), Nakamura Ching has announced that the serialization of Gunjo has been suspended and there will be no collected volume from Kodansha. Many thanks to all the Japanese readers and friends who told me about this, including Nakamura-sensei herself. We’ll keep our thoughts positive and see what the future holds.

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Yuri Events

Please join me at NYU on Wednesday October 21 from 5:30-7pm at 60 Washington Square South (Room Number to be determined), in New York City, for what is going to be an *incredible* panel on Queer Manga. I will be joined by Ivan Velez, June Kim, Mari Morimoto and Hiroki Otsuka. I’m going to do a 5-minute overview and then turn it over to the panelists. Interestingly, the panelists represent Bara, Bian and Queer manga, while manga created by and for straight members of the opposite sex as porn are pretty much not represented at all. It should be a really interesting conversation!

For our friends in Japan, the all-Yuri doujinshi event, Maiden’s Garden 4 will be held in Kyoto on Novermber 8.

The success of Maiden’s Garden and Girls’ Love Fest, along with a third publisher entering the Yuri field with an anthology, (not to mention the mainstream women’s and anime magazines reporting on the genre that we’ve covered in previous weeks) is more indication that the Yuri wave is finally building towards a self-sustaining model. We’re nowhere near that yet, but give it a few more years. 2003 was when Yuri Shimai and Yuri Monogatari were launched. I’m willing to bet that ten years after that, by 2013, our genre will be an established feature of the manga landscape. Will anime follow? I don’t know – there’s not that much really decent Yaoi anime, but that’s very much because it’s a given in Japan that women will buy manga and novels, but do not buy anime. Could Yuri shift that, because the audience is split between men and women? Possibly. It remains to be seen.

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And 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.)

Thanks to all of you – you make this a great Yuri Network!