Check it! Learn Japanese via anime, manga

The Japan Foundation has launched a website focused on teaching the Japanese language to foreigners using anime and manga. The site launched on Feb. 1.

While hardly the first to attempt this (many other tries at this have had various results), The Japan Foundation is dedicated to spreading Japanese language knowledge, are the administrators of the JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) and run several language and cultural institutes outside of Japan – meaning if they take on a project like this, it’s likely worth noting.

The website isn’t fully online yet, but several of the sites features can be accessed now.

J Geeks editorial prediction: Anyone thinking this alone will teach you Japanese is probably mistaken, but it will likely serve one more valuable resource for learners of the language.

To access the site, click here: (The Japan Foundation).

Time of Eve manga announced

A manga series based on the anime series Time of Eve (Eve no Jikan) has been announced.

Due to debut in the Feb. 19 issue of Young Gangan, the series will adapt what originally aired as a six-episode series on the internet. Eve no Jikan tells the story of everyday life in a world filled with robots and life-like androids. It’s billed as “non-hard science fiction,” meaning the sci fi element is downplayed in favor of character development.

Also launching from the series is a movie adpating the first six episodes, called Time of Eve the Movie: First season complete edition.

The manga will be drawn by Yuuki Oota and written by creator Yoshiura Yasuhiro. Young Gangan is published twice per month.

One Piece recap OVA announced

Due out March 17, according to Anime Newtype Channel, is One Piece an album CD featuring mostly openings and endings from the show. Bundled with the album will be a recap OVA series.

The recap is supposed to cover the entire One Piece saga up its current position (impressive, given its 10+ years run).

The album itself will contain 33 music tracks, and will retail for 3360 yen, or 3990 for the special edition.

Sora no Otoshimono flying panty-fest event planned

In a spirit of general Japanese randomness, an event involving real flying pantsu (women’s underwear) is planned in homage to the manga/anime series Sora no Otoshimono in March.

The event is meant to mimic the ending sequence of the anime series, in which a flock of flying pantsu is seen soaring in formation. Called Sora Fes!, the event will feature ornithopters (airplanes with flying wings) shaped like pantsu.

Tickets to event are around $11, and for twice the price an attendee may return home with one such ornithopter. Also available at the event will be a workshop on constructing ornithopters.

To see the ending sequence referred to, click here: (Sora no Otoshimono).

Negima! Mou Hitotsu no Sekai to get extra OAD

Negima! Mou Hitotsu no Sekai will get a new OAD extra series this fall, according to the 10th volume of Weekly Shonen Magazine.

The series will pick up the magical girl arc from the original series.

The extra series is being produced to thank fans for making the first series a success, according to the magazine.

A release date is yet to be announced, but the last volume of the Negima OAD is slated for Aug. 20 of this year, with vol. 31 of the tankoban release.

For a trailer for the OAD series, click here: (Negima OAD)

Ueyama posts Doraemon/Loveplus crossover manga

Michiro Ueyama, creator of Droids, has released a cross-over manga of popular future cat Doraemon and the popular Nintendo DS dating sim, Jittai Loveplus.

The story features Doraemon introducing a dating sim to his human master Nobita, but something goes wrong and three copies of the game with three simulation girls appear.

The manga can be found here (Doraemon/Loveplus).

J Geeks weekly roundup

Avatar continues its hold on the Japanese box offices, as it did in America, holding the No. 1 spot for five weekends in a row. It will be interesting to see how long the movie’s staying power will be worth.

The manga top five looks almost unchanged from five weeks ago, save for a new first-placer. Yugioh GX, Vol. 4 sits atop the nytimes.com list, leading Naruto 46, followed by Vampire Knight Vol. 8.

The Oricon Jpop charts, as they often do, are almost competely new, but with some old favorites. Yui dominates the top of the chart, with Kodi Kuma at No. 2 and Miss Nana herself, Mika Nakashima in No. 3.

Winter anime preview announced

A preview of the latest anime series to premiere this winter has been released by Moon Phase and can be viewed here: (Moon Phase preview).

Highlights on the list include the hot and heavy conclusion of Aika: Zero, with lowlights including the anime adaptation of Chu-Bra, about a girl obsessed with bras.

This season’s list seems remarkably obscure, with many of the series seeming to be B-list fare.

J Geeks Weekly Roundup

With little surprise, One Piece once again dominates the weekend box office charts for the week before X-mas, taking the No. 1 spot the for the second week in a row since its premiere. It will be interesting to see how much staying power the film will have. The only addition to the chart is the Nodame Cantabile movie.

As per usual, the Jpop charts are completely different this week, with the top spot going to Masaharu Fukuyama.

Topping the anime charts this week is a little slice of Americana. Bolt earned the No. 1 spot on the Oricon weekly DVD charts, with the latest Pokemon Movie to release on DVD coming in second.

It must be breaktime at the NY Times, with no manga update for the week.

Disappearance of Suzumiya Haruhi trailer up

A trailer has been posted for The Disappearance of Suzumiya Haruhi by the movie’s official web site.

The film will adapt the fourth volume of the light novel series abouta wacky high school girl who can change reality.

The film will release in Japanese theaters Feb. 10, 2010. See the trailer here: (Suzumiya Haruhi).