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NEO Magazine Goes Baka in Issue 97, On Sale From Today!

Apr 19th 2012

THE EASTER HOLIDAYS are over and it's back to school for NEO as the team tackle the barmy world of Manga Entertainment's Baka and Test – the anime where being the class dunce can have serious implications on your HP! Matt Kamen examines the series' chaotic cast of failures ahead of its release next month.

The anime goodness doesn't end there. Crammed inside the UK's anime, manga and Asian pop culture magazine is also the very latest news and reviews of the latest series, including Langrange: The Flower of RIN-NE, Kiddy Grade and a full blown tour of the Bleach movie universe as the franchise's third film Fade to Black gets analysed by our critical eyed reviewers.

Plus! Dragon Ball Z is about to strike the UK on DVD and we have all the information you need to know about it!

NEO also celebrates the legend that is Jackie Chan as the action star releases his 100th movie. Further Asian film goodness is included with news of Takashi Miike's latest remake, reviews of the bloody Yakuza Hunters and Re-Cycle – a film that promises ‘The Matrix meets Inception’ – and find out which Jackie Chan film makes this issue's Buyers' Guide.

For fans of Asian music, NEO #97 contains an exclusive interview with Japan's pioneering hardcore act Crossfaith ahead of their UK tour. There's also NEO's regular coverage of the Japanese music charts and UK specific music news, including Japan Underground's latest show in London and Birmingham featuring three of Japan's hottest indie rock talents, as well as news of the NEO Party, taking place right after the upcoming MCM Expo!

Speaking of Expo, we also take a sneaky peak at what some of the event's exhibitors will have up for grabs during the three-day weekend. Make sure you're clued up so you don't miss out!

Plus Fairy Tail, Soul Eater, Bleach and Baka and Test posters! Industry expert Jonathan Clements examines the latest manga hitting Japan and we introduce our new series of profile, kicking starting with action idol and gravure model Nao Nagasawa.

All that and a whole lot more for £4.25 – or £2.99 digitally – we must be baka!

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This Week in Anime - How The Many Sides of Voice Actor Radio Captures the Reality of Gig Work

Apr 30, 14:00 anime

The new anime series is far more forthright about the idol and seiyū industry, from maintaining relevance on social media to subsisting on substandard wages. ― The new anime series is far more forthright about the idol and seiyū industry, from maintaining relevance on social media to subsisting on substandard wages. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the participants in this chatlog are...

review

3 comments

Shaman King Flowers Anime Series Review

Apr 30, 12:00

3 comments

anime

Ultimately, my biggest problem with Shaman King Flowers is that it mostly just feels like a set-up to a much larger story that has yet to actually happen. ― [Warning, this review will contain major spoilers for the ending of Shaman King (2021)] If there's one thing that can be counted on with battle shonen properties, it's that any of them that go on long enough will inevitably get some sequel series...

news

13 comments

Dahlia in Bloom Staff, Ekachi Epilka Studio Respond to Report Claiming N. Korean Animators Worked on Anime

Apr 29, 19:19

13 comments

industry

Dahlia in Bloom staff state they are investigating the situation ― The official X/Twitter account for the Dahlia in Bloom: Crafting a Fresh Start With Magical Tools anime and the official website for the Hokkaido-based anime studio Ekachi Epilka have both released statements, after the 38 North website posted a report on Monday claiming that North Korean animators worked on Dahlia in Bloom and an unn...

review

8 comments

The Grimm Variations Anime Series Review

Apr 29, 15:00

8 comments

anime

The Grimm Variations is one of those shows that tries. It almost tries too hard, and the result is that some of the tales are beyond recognition, while others play it too safe. ― At the end of The Grimm Variations, Charlotte, the real-life younger sister of the Brothers Grimm (who were, in fact, only two of many Grimm brothers), remarks that she would like to see fairy tales where the protagonists ar...

feature

26 comments

Anime to Watch if You Liked Shogun

Apr 29, 09:00

26 comments

anime

The critically-acclaimed historical drama captivated audiences, but if you're craving more battle tactics and court intrigue, these anime will scratch your Shogun itch. ― For the past couple of months, it's been hard to ignore the loud promotion of Disney+/Hulu's mega-budget Shogun. Based on James Clavell's feted 1975 novel, it's a compelling and glossy historical drama following a large cast of fic...

news

21 comments

The Quintessential Quintuplets Manga Gets New Honeymoon Anime

Apr 28, 08:23

21 comments

anime

Creator Negi Haruba drafts story for new anime, light novel ― "The Quintessential Quintuplets 5th Anniversary Event in Yokohama Arena" announced on Sunday that Negi Haruba's The Quintessential Quintuplets (Gotōbun no Hanayome) romantic comedy manga is inspiring a new anime, Gotōbun no Hanayome*. Haruba personally drafted the original story concept and is supervising all aspects of the anime, which re...

review

2 comments

BLUELOCK THE MOVIE -EPISODE NAGI- Anime Film Review

Apr 27, 12:00

2 comments

anime

Makes Nagi an even more interesting and nuanced character, but the last 10 minutes almost upends the film's otherwise interesting plot. ― BLUELOCK THE MOVIE -EPISODE NAGI- is a retelling of the early events of BLUELOCK through the eyes of Nagi and Mikage. However, that's not to say this is a recap or compilation film. Rather, a good 70% of the film is newly animated footage as the story follows their...

interview

Interview: Author Akihiro Nishino on Bottle George, His New Stop-Motion Animated Film

Apr 27, 10:00 anime

Following Poupelle of Chimney Town, Nishino tackles addiction in his new stop-motion anime short film. ― In advance of the U.S. premiere of the new stop-motion animated short film Bottle George, Anime News Network sat down with writer Akihiro Nishino and chatted not only about the film and its creation but also its deeper message and how it connects to Nishino's past. While now well-known as a childr...

feature

16 comments

The Spring 2024 Light Novel Guide

Apr 27, 09:00

16 comments

novels

From Classroom for Heroes to Management of a Novice Alchemist, we have reviews of the newest light novels in our guide! ― Welcome to Anime News Network's Spring 2024 Light Novel Guide, the companion to our ongoing manga guide! This season, we have 20 novels with reviews in the guide for you to browse. Every included novel was published in March or April or will be released in May. This guide focuses...