Check it Out! – TLBX Staff Picks for October 2021

Here’s what the staff of Teh Lunchbox Publications has been checking out to celebrate last month with thrills and chills!

Editor in Chief’s Pick: Pumpkin Night

I wasn’t into horror films back when I was a kid, because they gave me nightmares. However, after growing up, I realized I enjoy reading horror manga more.

When this month started, I wanted to get into some horror manga that wasn’t written and drawn by Junji Ito (Gyo, Tomie). After an hour or so of looking through the genre, I came across one called Pumpkin Night, by Masaya Hokazono and Seima Taniguchi.

The story follows Naoko Kirino, a student who escaped a mental hospital after killing dozens of doctors and patients. Her main goal is to exact revenge on those who have given her a disfigured face, which she covers up with a pumpkin head. The way Naoko takes out her victims can be pretty gruesome, as in some cases she tortures them before sending them off to the afterlife. For example, the first victim got their eyes taken out with a sharp pumpkin scoop before being ran over by a truck. Brutal.

If you’re a huge fan of slasher movies such as John Carpenter’s 1978 film, Halloween or Sean S. Cunningham’s Friday the 13th, then this manga series is for you. Oh, did I also mention that this is pretty much an rated M for mature audiences manga?

– Greg M. “TehR3M1X” (Founder/CEO/Editor in Chief)

Editor’s Pick: Netflix’s Ratched

While I appreciate all seasons of the year (and favor Winter), Fall holds a special place. As we watch the leaves fall, increase our intake of pumpkin spice, and hear the whispers of the spaces beyond us, let’s dive into the cerebral world of my recommendation, Ratched.

Netflix’s Ratched released back in Fall 2020 centers around the titular character, Nurse Mildred Ratched, played by Sarah Paulson (American Horror Story, Bird Box.) It tells the story behind the woman who is the antagonist of the 1975 comedy One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest…with a twist.

The show is set in the late 1940s to early 1950s California and centers around the ascent of Ratched to Head Nurse at Dr. Hanover’s mental hospital, Lucia. The subplot centers around the political struggle involving the fate of Edmund Tolleson, Ratched’s foster brother and murderer, who is being held at Lucia.

The show’s warm color pallet and use of iconic fashion thinly veil secrets, torture, murder, and romance. It serves to increase our discomfort with the subject matter. The show’s soundtrack is eerie and guides you through the waves of the unfolding plot. The show’s bonus is that it even allows space for many of its female characters to tell their stories.

Through all this we begin to wonder, as Mildred manipulates her way to her goals, is she really the worst? Watch to find out! Ratched is still available for Netflix subscribers.

– Denise G. “DehlinaR” (Editor)

Lead Artist’s Pick: House of Velez

I’m a huge fan of horror movies, TV shows, and indie horror games. I don’t think I’ve ever seen or played a game that uses gore as the selling point in a while. The House of Velez is a side-scrolling PC horror game made by game developer Dark Room Games. This game was infamous for its death scene compilations on YouTube in 2020.

You play as Lily Velez, a reporter who visits her childhood home and soon discovers something’s VERY wrong with your childhood home. The developer slowly introduces the player to the game’s mechanics and death sequences – and let me tell you, every death sequence is thought out and animated differently and uniquely every time you play.

The monster designs are also extremely creepy. Just like the Silent Hill series, many of the monsters and event areas the protagonist must go through are symbolic of the past and the trauma the main character has gone through.

The overbearing gore in the game would be a deal breaker for many gamers, so if you do pick this game up on steam, I highly recommend you read the developer notes and play with caution.

House of Velez is a very unnerving, unforgettable horror game, and I hope you guys consider picking it up to support the developer! Part 1 and Part 2 are currently available on Steam for $3.99 each.

– Gaylene A. “Paranormiac” (Lead Art Director)

Content Creator’s Pick: Psychonauts

When it comes to video games, I have a habit of determining my desire to play a game based on its art. Based on screenshots from Psychonauts available on its store page on Steam, I was originally uninterested. However, I decided to give the game a try after a friend of mine gifted it to me.  

I was surprised. The overall art style of Psychonauts turned out to be one of its charms. Cut scenes placed throughout the game appealed to the ’90s kid in me that used to watch cartoons on Nickelodeon while eating a bowl of Froot Loops. Aside from the rush of nostalgia, the story behind Psychonauts is interesting.

The game is played from the perspective of a boy named Razputin Aquato. Razputin, also known as Raz, is in a league of his own. Having snuck into a training facility for future Psychonauts, government agents gifted with psychic abilities, it is made clear that Raz’s psychic abilities are more advanced than those of his peers.

Overall, the game is fun and a treat for ’90s kids. Due to some of the games’ darker themes (emotional baggage, infidelity, and brains?!), the game is rated T for Teen. Psychonauts is available on both Steam and on the Playstation Store!

– Lori C. “Starry Strawberries” (Content Creator)

Was there anything that caught your attention last month? Do you have any recommendations? Let us know in the comments below!

Upcoming October Anime 2015

Fall has officially arrived! It is time to get ready for Halloween and here are some of October’s upcoming anime to start you off:

Kami-sama Minarai: Himitsu no Cocotama (TV)
10/1/2015
Kokoro Yotsuba is a fifth-grade student who is very clumsy but very careful and caring to her belongings, learning from her grandmother about “everything has a soul”. One day, she witness the birth of a strange creature from one of her colored pencils: a Cocotama named Luckytama. Surprised on each other, and with Kokoro now permanently linked to the “Contract of Secrecy”, she must agree to keep their kind a secret to the world. Now living with Luckytama, she and him learn each others’ friendship while meeting with other Cocotamas.

Young Black Jack (TV)
10/1/2015
Based on the brilliant maverick doctor created by manga pioneer Osamu Tezuka. This prequel follows Black Jack when he was still a medical student in the 1960s.

Lance N’ Masques (TV)
10/1/2015
Yōtarō Hanafusa is a young man who is part of the last remaining order of knights in the 21st century, “Knights of the World.” As he fights as the mysterious Knight Lancer, he must hide his identity behind a mask. One day he meets a girl named Makio Kidōin, and when finding that she lives alone, decides to watch over her.

Kyoufu! Zombie Neko (TV)
10/1/2015
A cat is suddenly resurrected from the grave and begins to wander around town. Despite being a zombie the cat is able to get all the townsfolk to fall in love with it.

Noragami Aragoto (TV)
10/2/2015
In the second season of Noragami the main focus is on Bishamon, god of combat. She has many shinki due to her being unable to abandon spirits attacked by Ayakashi. She has a large group of shinki with her as leader, causing her trouble as she sometimes cannot tend to all of them properly, especially when one of them gets sick or is in pain. She has a strong hate for Yato, as a dark past binds the two of them. How will the horrifying events dated hundreds of years ago in combination with current evil happenings affect Yato and Yukine?

Kagewani (TV)
10/2/2015
Mysterious monsters called “UMA” suddenly appear in the present day and attack humans. The scientist Sōsuke Banba pursues the truth with the keyword “Kagewani,” a word that literally means “Shadow Crocodile.”

K: Return of Kings (TV)
10/2/2015
In modern Japan there are seven “Kings” who share power with their fellow clansmen. The Blue King Reishi Munakata, the leader of the Blue Clan “Scepter 4,” held great responsibilities on his back. The tower that Gold King Daikaku Kokujōji supervised called the “Dresden Slate” was still on his mind, and he felt a great burden by killing the previous Red King, Mikoto Suoh. On the other hand, the former Red Clan “HOMRA” clansman Anna Kushina experienced the attacks from the Green Clan “Jungle” and awakened as the next Red King. By doing this, she bound her comrades through a strong bond once again. Finally, White Clan members Neko and Kuroh believe that the White King Yashiro is still alive, and seek his whereabouts. However, it was not just them searching for the White King. With “Jungle” once again jumping back into action, the fates of the various Kings are brought together.

Hacka Doll the Animation (TV)
10/2/2015
DeNA revealed during a stage event at the “Machi Asobi 14” event in Tokushima on Sunday that its Hacka Doll news app is inspiring a television anime series. Hacka Doll The Animation, which will be a series of anime shorts, will air on the Tokyo MX TV and BS 11 television channels’ “Ultra Super Anime Time” programming block starting in October 2015.

Heavy Object (TV)
10/2/2015
Objects are powerful! Massive weapons that change the course of warfare and are manned by Elite Object pilots. An odd Elite girl named Milinda meets Quenser, a student who aims to become an Object mechanic, with the soldier-in-training Heivia on a snowy battlefield.

Miss Monochrome – The Animation- 3 (TV)
10/2/2015
The third season about “Miss Monochrome” is an original character design from seiyuu Horie Yui. In March 2012, she first used the “Miss Monochrome” character as a 3D virtual singer to sing her songs at her concert “Horie Yui wo Meguru Bouken III ~Secret Mission Tour~.” Later, the character appeared in a range of merchandise as well as in the social network game “Girlfriend (Beta).” According to the setting, Miss Monochrome loves only the monochrome style, dislikes all kinds of color, and always dreams about changing the world into her favorite monochrome color.

Fafner EXODUS (TV 2)
10/2/2015
Soukyuu no Fafner: Dead Aggressor – Exodus 2nd Season 2150 AD. The battle against the silicon-based Festums from outer space reaches a new phase. Fragments of the North Pole Mir were scattered throughout the world. Eventually, they began to act on their own as independent Mirs. Most hated humanity and attacked them, but some chose to coexist with mankind. Some with the same way of thinking existed within the human race, as well: those who were both human and Festum. They added to the chaos of the battle and brought about even more hatred.

Shisha no Teikoku (movie)
10/2/2015
The story of Shisha no Teikoku takes place in 19th century Europe and revolves around John Watson. He is scouted by the government to become a secret agent. However, Watson lives in a world where “Frankensteins”, human corpses that are re-purposed with a false soul in order to use them as laborers and are used to improve industrial development.

Haikyu!! (TV)
10/3/2015
Second season. Inspired after watching a volleyball game, an ace nicknamed “Little Giant”, small-statured Shouyou Hinata revives the volleyball club at his middle school. The newly formed team even makes it to a tournament however, their first match turns out to be their last when they are brutally squashed by the “King of the Court.” Tobio Kageyama. Hinata vows to surpass Kageyama, and so after graduating from middle school, he joins Karasuno High School’s volleyball team—only to find that his sworn rival, Kageyama, is now his teammate. Thanks to his short height, Hinata struggles to find his role on the team, even with his superior jumping power. Surprisingly, Kageyama has his own problems that only Hinata can help with, and learning to work together appears to be the only way for the team to be successful. Based on Haruichi Furudate’s popular shounen manga of the same name, Haikyuu!! is an exhilarating and emotional sports comedy following two determined athletes as they attempt to patch a heated rivalry in order to make their high school volleyball team the best in Japan.

Utawarerumono: Itsuwari no Kamen (TV)
10/3/2015
The nameless protagonist awakens to find himself standing in the middle of a vast, snowy plain he doesn’t recognize. Suffering from amnesia, he remembers nothing about himself. Suddenly, he’s attacked by an insect-like creature but is saved by a beautiful girl with animal ears and a tail named Kuon. She names him Haku

Attack on Titan: Junior High (TV)
10/3/2015
The school comedy story is set in a junior high school and centers on the original manga’s characters such as Eren and Mikasa as they battle with Titans. The spin-off incorporates gags while using Shingeki no Kyojin’s story and notable scenes as its basis.

Asterisk War: The Academy City on the Water (TV)
10/3/2015
Invertia was a meteor storm that caused an unprecedented disaster during the 20th century. Because of this disaster, numerous cities around the world were destroyed. However, within the meteor, an unknown element called mana was discovered. It allowed human technology to make rapid strides giving rise to a new species of super-powered humans, the Star Pulse Generation (Genestella). The Festas (Star Warrior Festivals) host battles between Genestella at a city of six academies called “Rikka,” also commonly known as “Asterisk.” Scholarship student Ayato Amagiri transferred into Seidōkan Academy in order to fulfill his own wish, swearing he too will fight in this city.

Kowabon (TV)
10/3/2015
Kowabon, a horror story, will be animated using a technique called rotoscoping. Animators will trace live-action footage frame-by-frame to recreate it as animation.

Kindaichi Shōnen no Jikenbo Returns (TV 2)
10/3/2015
Hajime Kindaichi once again becomes embroiled in solving baffling cases and deciphering puzzling crimes that would confound the most seasoned of detectives. Whether it’s a gruesome murder and shady circumstances surrounding the Japanese board game Go; a perplexing and macabre case involving a mysterious character, “Rosenkreutz,” and blue roses; or blood curdling crimes associated with an urban legend at a winter ski resort Hajime is out to crack them all!

Itoshi no Muco (TV 3)
10/3/2015
The seventh compiled volume of Takayuki Mizushina’s Itoshi no Muco manga is announcing on Thursday that a television anime adaptation has been green-lit for this fall. The manga depicts the life of the pet dog Muco and his owner Komatsu, who lives in his glass-making workshop in the mountains.

Rakudai Kishi no Cavalry (TV)
10/3/2015
Magic Knights are modern magic-users who fight with weapons converted from their souls. Ikki Kurogane goes to a school for these Magic Knights, but he is the “Failed Knight” or “Worst One” who is failing because he has no magical skills. However, one day, he is challenged to a duel by Stella, a foreign princess and the “Number One” student. In this duel, “the loser must be obedient for life.”

Peeping Life Season 1?? (TV)
10/3/2015
It’s a slice of life comedy.

Owarimonogatari (TV)
10/3/2015
According to a notice displayed at Shosen Book Tower in Akihabara, the anime adaptation of Monogatari Series: Final Season’s Owarimonogatari will air on TV in Fall 2015. Production of the series was hinted last week when animator Hiroko Kazui listed Owarimonogatari on her online portfolio. In 2012, animation studio Shaft announced it would be animating all of Nisio Isin’s Monogatari Series novels.

Aoki Hagane no Arpeggio: Ars Nova Cadenza (movie)
10/3/2015
Second movie of Aoki Hagane no Arpeggio: Ars Nova which will be an entirely brand-new work.

Big Order (OAV)
10/3/2015
Eiji Hoshimiya is an introverted high school student with a huge secret — he wished for the destruction of the world when he was younger. Fairies give certain people special powers called Orders. What Order Users can do with their power depends on their wishes. 10 years after the Great Destruction, Eiji struggles to come to terms with his immense power.

Komori-san Can’t Decline (TV)
10/4/2015
Middle school student Shuri Komori is too kind and is unable to say no when someone asks her for a favor. However, she has gained various amazing abilities as a result.

Ameiro Cocoa: Rainy color e Yōkoso! (TV)
10/4/2015
Life at the Rainy Color café can never be described as boring. The arrival of the Koga brothers from England—Noel, always brimming with curiosity, and Nicola, somewhat shy and conservative—ensures that their sibling, café manager Shion, is kept on his toes. There’s also another newcomer, cameraman/photographer Jun Arisawa, who holds a mysterious connection to café owner Koji Amami. Last but not least, there’s a special photograph that incites all kinds of heartfelt and comedic reactions from the Rainy Color crew!

Concrete Revolutio: Chōjin Gensō (TV)
10/4/2015
Tokyo is flooded with countless heroes; chōjin, during the time of “apotheosis.” Their origin stories are all different. While some were altered by evil organizations, others came from space, magical worlds, or are fairies from ancient times or robots. But the Japanese government could not simply close its eyes as these superheroes ran rampant.

Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans (TV)
10/4/2015
300 years after a great conflict between Earth and Mars known as the “Calamity War,” a woman named Cordelia sets out on a journey to Earth to speak for the independence of the Martian city of Chryse, which is under the control of the Earth government. Escorting her is the private security company CGS members Mikazuki Augus and Orga Itsuka. When a group named Gjallarhorn attacks CGS and Cordelia, Orga sees this as a chance to rebel against CGS and launch a coup. Mikazuki and Orga are thrust into a new conflict. To fend off Gjallarhorn, Mikazuki rides an old mobile suit from the Calamity War, powered by a nuclear reactor, the Gundam Barbatos.

One-Punch Man (TV)
10/4/2015
One-Punch Man is a super hero who has trained so hard that his hair has fallen out, and who can overcome any enemy with one punch. However, because he is so strong, he has become bored and frustrated with winning all his battles so easily.

Comet Lucifer (TV)
10/4/2015
On the planet Gift there are precious crystals called Giftjium buried in the earth. A young man named Sōgo lives in Garden Indigo, a prosperous mining town. Sōgo’s hobby is to collect rare crystals. One day, he gets wrapped up in a riot caused by his classmates Kaon, Roman, and Otto, and he loses his way until he finds a lake deep under the ground’s mining ruins. There, he meets a mysterious girl with blue hair and red eyes that gaze straight ahead. The story follows the adventure of what happens after this meeting.

Teekyū
10/5/2015
Teekyuu is based on a sports comedy manga of the same name featuring four high school girls who belong to a tennis club.

Osomatsu-san (TV)
10/5/2015
A wacky comedy about identical sextuplets.

Yuru Yuri San Hai! (TV 3)
10/5/2015
Third season of Yuru Yuri. Four mischievous girls illegally occupy the former Traditional Tea Ceremony clubroom, in order to create the “Amusement Club.” These scamps… who ignore repeated warnings in direct rebellion with the righteous directives of the Student Council decide to remain in the room until they finally get off their bums and do something! In this slightly sluggish manga, full of fits and starts, the four girls set off from their homes for a walk together with days full of a little this and that!

JK Meshi! (TV)
10/5/2015
Three high school girls have mastered the art of cooking simple, B-class dishes called JK meshi. The three girls — Reina, Ryōka, and Ruriko — are all classmates in their second year of high school. They often get distracted when studying for tests, and when they do, they cook JK meshi.

High School Star Musical (TV)
10/5/2015
Yūta Hoshiya enters Ayana Academy, a school focusing on show business activities, specifically music. The academy has a group of the three students with the highest grades in the musical department, and they are known as the Kao Kai (Cherry Blossom Flower Association). This organization stands at the top of the pecking order within the academy. The shortcut to entering the musical department is to enter the Star Frame class, which is directly taught by the members, and to be recognized by them. Unfortunately, due to their own problems, students Tōru, Kaito, Shō, Shū, and Yūta are all struggling to even remain candidates for the musical department. By a stroke of luck, however, the five are spotted by Kao Kai member Ōtori, and they pique his interest.

Hero Company (OAV)
10/5/2015
Five workers workers at a giant corporation are dedicated to protecting people from disasters and other events all over the world. Together, they transform into the superheroes Dessert Five: Chocolate Red, Macaron Navy, Langue de Chat White, Soft Ice Cream Yellow, and Parfait Pink.

Aria the Scarlet Ammo Double A (TV)
10/6/2015
Akari Mamiya is a freshman and E-rank student who looks up to her upperclassman, the S-ranked Aria H. Kanzaki. They both attend Tokyo Butei High School, which employs the “Amica” system, allowing an underclassman to train alongside an upperclassman. Akari is determined to be paired with Aria.

Hokuto no Ken: Ichigo Aji (TV)
10/6/2015
A fun version of the Holy Emperor Souther tries to find ways to become friends with Kenshirō, demonstrates his party techniques, and sometimes plays with the Gosha Sei.

DD Hokuto no Ken (TV 2015)
10/6/2015
The gag manga centers on a fun version of the Holy Emperor Souther as he tries to find ways to become friends with Kenshirō, demonstrates his party techniques, and sometimes plays with the Gosha Sei. Imōto Yukito, Yukito, and Kawata launched the manga on Tokuma Shoten’s Web Comic Zenyon website in 2013. Kajio’s DD Fist of the North Star, another Fist of the North Star spinoff gag manga, previously inspired a DD Hokuto no Ken short anime, a series of anime shorts that premiered in 2011, and another television anime series that premiered in 2013.

Hantsu x Trash (OAV)
10/6/2015
Aimless high school freshman Yōhei Hamaji receives an invitation to join a club where “he can touch girls as much as he wants.” He finds himself at the water polo club.

AntiMagic Academy “The 35th Test Platoon” (TV)
10/7/2015
People with magic powers are close to being wiped out. Just as the balance of power and military might had once shifted from swords to sorcery, it shifts once again to guns. Takeru Kusanagi goes to “AntiMagic Academy,” a training facility for Inquisitors of Heretics who crack down on the dwindling threat posed by magic users. However, Takeru cannot use guns at all and can only fight with a sword. As a result, he is relegated to the 35th Test Platoon, the motley “small fry platoon” for poor students. One day, Ōka Ōtori, the ultra-elite pistol master who already has her qualifications for witch-hunts, joins the platoon.

Tantei Team KZ Jiken Note (TV)
10/7/2015
Aya Tachibana is a sixth-grader who frets and obsesses over friends, family, grades, and more. One day, she joins the “Tantei Team KZ” with four very idiosyncratic boys she met at cram school. There is the glib and attention-grabbing leader Kazuomi Wakatake, the mysterious “expert of personal relationships” Takakazu Kuroki, the smart and stoic math genius Kazunori Uesugi, and the sweet-hearted Kazuhiko Kozuka who is good at social matters and science. Aya finds her place among them as the “language expert.” “Tantei Team KZ” gets involved in modern-day cases, and even if they bicker from time to time, they collaborate by pooling each of their talents and skills to solve these cases.

Fushigi na Somera-chan (TV)
10/7/2015
The story follows the everyday life of Somera Nonomoto who can use the strongest kenpo, Nonomoto Mahou-ken, which is inherited from her mother with her younger sister Kukuru.

Ore ga Ojō-sama Gakkō ni “Shomin Sample” Toshite Gets-rareta Ken (TV)
10/7/2015
Kimito Kagurazaka is an ordinary high school boy who is kidnapped by an elite young lady’s academy to be a “sample of the common people.” The school is full of sheltered girls who have never met male peers before.

Dance with Devils (TV)
10/7/2015
Ritsuka Tachibana is a female second-year high school student who attends Shiko Academy in Shiko Town. She enjoyed her school life while living with her mother Maria, but one day, that balance fell into ruin when she discovers several of her attractive, male classmate are demons.

Beautiful Bones: Sakurako’s Investigation(TV)
10/7/2015
Also known as Sakurako-san no Ashimoto ni wa Shitai ga Umatteiru, this anime is about Shōtarō Tatewaki, a normal high school student with a serious demeanor who likes to show off his girlfriend Sakurako Kujyō. Sakurako is an extraordinarily beautiful woman in her mid-20s from a rich family who loves “beautiful bones.” The two live in the city of Asahikawa in Hokkaido, and they get involved in various incidents regarding bones.

Perfect Insider (TV)
10/8/2015
Sōhei Saikawa is a member of the Saikawa Research Lab. He goes on a vacation held by the lab, and Moe Nishinosono, the daughter of his mentor, joins the group on their vacation despite not being a part of the lab. There, the two end up finding a corpse. The two work together to solve the mysteries of what becomes a serial murder case.

Garo: Guren no Tsuki (TV)
10/9/2015
Second anime adaptation of the Garo series.

Testament of Sister New Devil BURST (TV)
10/9/2015
Second season of Shinmai Maou no Testament series. “Hey, you said you wanted a little sister, right?” First-year high school student, Toujo Basara, was suddenly asked by his father and fell into a state of panic. On top of that, the eccentric father told him he will be getting remarried. He then departed overseas after bringing Basara two beautiful step-sisters. But Mio and Maria’s true forms are actually the newbie Demon Lord and a succubus!?

Owari no Seraph (TV 2)
10/10/2015
Yuuichirou has reunited with Mikaela at the Shinjuku Battle. But Mikaela was turned into a vampire… To save the “family,” and to protect his fellow members, Yuuichirou needed to gain knowledge and power. He searched for ways to bring back vampire to human beings, and at the same time, trained hard working on the Cursed Gear. Meanwhile, Kureto calls Guren and tells him a shocking truth. That in one month, the main unit of the vampire will start attacking Tokyo. To get a head start against vampires, Kureto orders Guren to go to Nagoya. The noble extermination mission is about to open fire!

Is the order a rabbit?? (TV 2)
10/10/2015
Second season of Gochuumon wa Usagi Desu ka? Cocoa arrives at the cafe Rabbit House one day, excited for rabbits. She actually all but lives in that cafe. She meets lots of different girls there, including a tiny and cool girl named Chino, a tough and soldier-esque girl named Rize, a spacey and quintessentially Japanese girl named Chiyo, and the ordinary but dignified Sharo.

Valkyrie Drive -Mermaid- (TV)
10/10/2015
In a world where five artificial islands exists, Mamori is a “mermaid” transferred to one of those islands. When Mamori is attacked, a newly transferred girl named Mirei saves her. The enemy doesn’t stop, however, and the two are soon cornered. Just when they think all hope is lost, Mirei kisses Mamori, and Mamori turns into a sword. Mirei then wields the sword and launches a counterattack against their enemies.

Gamba: Gamba to Nakama-tachi (movie)
10/10/2015
Atsuo Saitou’s original 1972 novel is set in Yumemigajima, an island ruled by a fierce white weasel named Noroi. The town mouse Gamba and his friends fight to save the island’s mice.

Laws of the Universe Part 0 (movie)
10/10/2015
Or also known as UFO Gakuen no Himitsu, Ray, Anna, Tyler, Halle, and Eisuke are five high school students who are suddenly wrapped up in a mysterious incident. An alien species called Grey abducts Halle’s sister and embeds her with a special chip inside her brain. The five stand up to save Halle’s sister and try to reveal the existence of aliens, but continue to be met with mysterious events. The high school students’ story progresses into a shocking development! What truths hide on the dark side of the moon? What are the true intentions of the aliens that are infiltrating America, Russia, and China? What is the true crisis that is closing in on Earth and what hope can we have towards the future!?

World Trigger: Tōbōsha Hen (TV 2)
10/11/2015
It will be a brand new series with an original story not presented in the World Trigger manga, and with new characters and concepts.

Cardfight!! Vanguard G: Gears Crisis-hen (TV)
10/11/2015
Second season of Cardfight!! Vanguard G series. Taking place after a three-year time skip, the series will follow Shindou Kurono, Kiba Shion, and Anjou Tokoha as the new protagonists of G. Kurono uses the never-before-seen clan Gear Chronicle, which brings together the destinies of these three toward an “impossible future, an impossible self signifying ‘Generation.'”

Brave Beats (TV)
10/11/2015
Hibiki Kazaguruma is a sixth grader who meets an amusing little robot named Bureikin while coming home from school one day. Bureikin, a dancer from an alternate-dimension dance world, challenged the dance king for the throne and lost. He has been deprived of Dance Stones (the stones of dance power) and sent to the human world. To restore his power, Bureikin must collect all the Dance Stones scattered around Earth. Meanwhile, the Dance Stones cause chaos on the human world. To retrieve the Dance Stones, Bureikin fuses with Hibiki and transforms into a Dance Hero.

Ani Tore! EX (TV)
10/13/2015
Move your soul and body! Each episode contains a variety of routines, such as push-ups, sit-ups, spine twists, dance, yoga, stretches, trunk training and taichi. Five girls aiming to become idols will exercise with you, and that troubling body fat percentage will go down by 1000%…!?

Ketsuekigata-kun! (TV 3)
10/13/2015
Third season of the Ketsuekigata-kun! series. The anime adapted from the manga remake version of the Korean webtoon “A Simple Thinking About Blood Types” involving the faceless and nameless characters of four different blood types to discuss about popular anthropomorphized blood types (the stereotypes about the blood types) in Japan and Korea.

Neko no Dayan: Nihon e Iku (TV)
10/17/2015
Second series of Dayan the Cat. The titular character and his friends energetically explore Japan.

Cyborg 009 Vs. Devilman (OAV)
10/17/2015
Cyborg 009 vs. Devilman is a 2015 anime film crossover and a joint production between Ishimori Pro and Dynamic Pro. The animated feature, compiled from three OVA episodes, combines the characters from Shotaro Ishinomori’s Cyborg 009 franchise with Go Nagai’s Devilman franchise.

Tobidasu PriPara: Minna de Mezase! Idol☆Grand Prix (movie)
10/24/2015
When the right time comes, every girl will find that a mysterious PriTicket has been delivered to them, granting them entrance to the world of PriPara, where up and coming idols perform and partake in auditions. Unfortunately, in Paprika Private Academy, PriPara activity is prohibited for elementary schoolers so as to not take time away from their studies. But an unexpected chance comes to fifth grader Laala when she finds a lost PriTicket bag, leading her to the PriPara world where she makes her idol debut. In season 2 in the PriPara amusement park, a new zone called Dream Theater has opened and a new event called the PriPara Dream Parade will be held.

Eiga Go! Princess Precure Go! Go!! Gōka 3-bon Date!!! (movie)
10/31/2015
Go! Princess Pretty Cure: Go! Go!! Splendid Triple Feature!!! The movie will be divided into three parts. The title of the stories are as follows:
The Pumpkin Kingdom’s Treasure- The girls have to rescue a kidnapped princess.
Pretty Cure and Refi’s Wonder Night- The Kingdom of Night lost its daytime and the Pretty Cure fight alongside the Kingdom of Night’s Princess, Refi, to take back daytime.
Cure Flora and the Vain Mirror- It will feature super-deformed characters. Cure Flora will interact with a playful spirit that dwells within a mirror.

Queen’s Blade: Grimoire (OAV)
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A scan of the latest issue of Hobby Japan magazine, released on April 25, announced that Queen’s Blade Grimoire will be adapted into an OVA. Comprised of two disc volumes, it will be bundled with the release of the next visual combat book of the Queen’s Blade series in Fall 2015. The project is made to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Queen’s Blade. The project will feature a new cast, set in a parallel multiverse, with the characters fighting using Grimoires (magical books).

source: animenewsnetwork.com; myanimelist.net


Julisa I. is a contributing Editor for Teh Lunchbox Publications. Follow her on Teh Lunchbox Publication’s youtube channel along with the rest of the crew on twitter @tehlunchboxpub

 

Soulless: Novel or Manga? Does it Really Matter?

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Have you read Gail Carriger’s novel Soulless?  Did you read the manga? Yes she has a manga! For those who haven’t heard of it, I’ll run a quick summary for you.


The life of a spinster in Victorian London isn’t an easy one on the best of days, but such a life becomes infinitely more complicated when said spinster is “Soulless” – A Preternatural, bridging the gap between the natural and supernatural worlds. Miss Alexia Tarabotti has this unique distinction, and when she is assailed at a formal gathering by a Rove Vampire , an encounter that results in the death of the half-starved creature, her circumstances become exponentially more complicated indeed!!

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Now caught up in an intrigue with life or death stakes, Alexia must rely on all her talents to outmatch the forces conspiring against her, but it may be the man who has caught her eye -Lord Conall Maccon- and their budding flirtation that truly drives her to her wit’s end!


Verdict: This Victorian era manga is absolutely phenomenal, not only is the story great, but the art as well! It’s beautiful, clean, and the romance is quite steamy. Gail Carriger, you definitely get an immense amount of praise from me for this piece of work.

So check it out  if you haven’t, you won’t be disappointed!

Soulless gets a 5 out of 5

+ Amazing story

+ Outstanding artwork

+ The romance actually helps makeu the story rather than hurt it


Sherita M. is a contributing Editor for Teh Lunchbox Publications and she’s says…bobobo-bo bo-bobo…Follow us on twitter@tehlunchboxpub.

Another Kamisama Kiss?

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I had just picked up and read the first volume of The Demon Prince of the Momochi House and so far it is a great read with great art. But I couldn’t help but notice how similar this manga is to Kamisama Kiss.


0001-012On her sixteenth birthday, orphan Himari Momochi inherits her ancestral estate that she’s never seen. Momochi House exists on the barrier between the human and spiritual realms, and Himari is meant to act as guardian between the two worlds. But on the day she moves in, she finds three handsome squatters already living in the house, and one seems to have already taken over her role.

The only difference between the two manga is that the main protagonist in The Demon Prince of the Momochi house is only human with no special powers… or so it seems, as I haven’t read very far. She’s basically just a landlady who gets herself into trouble and collects rent from three demons. Even though this manga is similar to the other,


Verdict: I would still like to give Momochi House its due for its art and hilarity. So if you don’t mind reading another Kamisama Kiss with different characters and background story, then I suggest you check out The Demon Prince of the Momochi House.

The Demon Prince of the Momochi House gets a 4 out of 5

+ Good art

+ Great humor

– A bit too reminiscent of another familiar manga (though that could change)

Volume one of The Demon Prince of the Momochi House is available now


Sherita M. is a contributing Editor for Teh Lunchbox Publications and she’s chasing her dreams and she thinks you should too… Follow us on twitter@tehlunchboxpub.

Berserk Returns, this Month!!!

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Berserk fans, wake up and get the crust out of your eyes, because Young Animal Magazine‘s current issue will be announcing officially that Kentarou Miura’s legendary manga series, Berserk will be coming off hiatus after nearly a year.

In order to successfully publish his mini-series, Gigantomakhia, Miura took a fell off from consistent chapter releases for a couple of months in the first quarter of 2014, then took a break from Berserk all together for 10 months. Now in July 2015, he’s back on the Berserk grind!  Young Animal will be releasing its next issue on July 24th, so be on the look out and get caught up if you aren’t….who am I kidding; you are.   Hopefully, Miura’s concluded the current Rickert arc before his break, so we may hit the ground running again with a new adventure for Guts and company!  BERSERK IS BACK AS A MONTHLY SERIES, EVERYONE!!


Remy Tyndle is a contributing Editor for Teh Lunchbox Publications. Follow us on twitter @tehlunchboxpub.

Attack on Titan Live-Action Movie Second Trailer (Now With Subtitles)

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The wait for Attack on Titan’s live-action theatrical release is winding down as we get closer to the debut pf part one in theaters (in Japan anyway). Its only right to take advantage of the time left to get fans excited and with that comes a second trailer for the live-action adaptation. This time around the trailer includes subtitles and some extended scenes of the titans in all their CGI glory. For what its worth, it looks great. But don’t take my word for it when you can check out the trailer below.

Don’t know if it can get much better than that. The popularity of Attack on Titan has grown exponentially since the manga began its run in 2009, and again in anime form in 2013. Expect it to take another jump when part one opens August 1, 2015 with part two scheduled for September 19, 2015.


Stephon W. is a contributing Editor for Teh Lunchbox Publications and sorry, he doesn’t do social media. But you can follow the team on facebook (Teh Lunchbox Publications), and on twitter @tehlunchboxpub

 

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Anime : <=To Be Continued?

HOWWW is the first week of Summer treating you,homies andhomettes?!  This is your man, RemyTyndle over here, and I do believe it’s about that time to discover our hidden potential passed down our family bloodline, because I’m about to get you all hip toJoJo’s BizarreAdviggity!!


JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure logo

For those of you who aren’t familiar, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure originated as a Japanese manga series– one of the best-selling (80 million copies sold nationwide JPN) and longest running (1986-present) in history, written and illustrated by Hirohiko Araki.  It started out from being published through Weekly Shonen Jump up until Part 7 in 2004, and then transferred to Monthly Ultra Jump from thereon.

December 17, 1990 Weekly Shonen Jump Cover, featuring Part 3 Protagonist, Jotaro Kujo.

June 2011 Monthly Ultra Jump Cover, featuring Part 8 Protagonist, Josuke Higashikata.

The story focuses on the strange stories of individual characters who stem from a family bloodline, known as “Joestar”, all of whom’s names are able to be contracted as the nickname “JoJo”.  The franchise is currently divided into 8 parts and the typical plot is as follows; the affirmative Joestar family member discovers an extraordinary ability within themselves and realize their destiny to defeat supernatural threats.

The Main Protagonists from Part 1-8 From Left to Right: Jonathan, Joseph, Jotaro, Josuke (Part 4), Giorno, Jolyne, Johnny, Josuke (Part 8).


 

This iconic franchise has given birth to various forms of media over the years, but in the case of this article, we shall acknowledge the current anime adaptation since 2012, produced by David Production studio. In 3 years, David Production has successfully covered Parts 1-3.  Now, it’s Friday, and usually at this time, I’d be watching the latest episode, but as of the previous week, the finale of Part 3’s anime adaptation, Stardust Crusaders has hit the airwaves and come to an end.

David Production’s Animation of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure characters from Parts 1-3.

A screenshot of David Production’s special computer graphic animation (primarily used for the opening sequences) of the heroes of Part 3.

With the fans having so much appreciation for the effort David Production put forth towards the JoJo’s series thus far, many including myself are hoping for the continuation with Part 4, Diamond is Unbreakable.  It has been confirmed that the studio would like to continue the anime through Part 4, perhaps even beyond, however, the deciding factor depends on the fundraising for the necessary production budget.

A DVD release of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Season 1 is scheduled for release to North America this fall, published through Warner Home Video, and is now available for pre-order:  http://www.rightstufanime.com/JoJos-Bizarre-Adventure-Season-1-DVD-Hyb

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Season 1 DVD (Hyb) will cover Parts 1 and 2, and will feature both English and Japanese audio, with subtitles included. Available 9/22/15

There are also Japanese released Blu-ray disc sets as well, now available at Amazon.  They come with English subtitles and the discs are compatible for all regions, so if you consider yourself an avid collector of this all things JoJo, these would be great products to purchase in support of David Production.

JoJo No Kimyo Na Boken 1 (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, Vol. 1) [Blu-ray]. These home entertainment editions of the David Production anime cover up to the second Vol. of Part 3. Visit Amazon in order to purchase your very own copies today.

 

If you are already a fan of the franchise and you like what you are seeing from David Production’s animated adaptation of the series, show your support by purchasing a collection of these bizarre products of home entertainment!  The possibility of Part 4’s animation becoming a reality lies in your hands.  If you are just now familiarizing yourself to JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, thanks to this piece of literature, give the series a try, and you may just become a fan yourself.

Starting from 1986, as you read towards the more recent chapters, you will see how Araki’s artwork with the manga has evolved throughout the decades into a thing of sheer beauty, and David Production’s tribute to the manga by adding pop art style elements to their animation is certainly a unique site to behold.  I hope to have hooked your interest in the bizarre world of JoJo’s, and you will begin supporting this legendary brand in any way possible, and just in case you’re wondering, yes, there is an JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure abridged series.

With all of the outlets available, there are plenty of ways to get into the series. Of course once you do, get ready to join the JoJo’s Bizarre hype train and *inhale*…ORA ORA ORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORA!!!ORAAAA!!!!!


Remy Tyndle is a contributing Editor for Teh Lunchbox Publications. Follow us on twitter @tehlunchboxpub.

 

Dragon Ball Super Will See Manga Launch Next Month!

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Last month news came that Dragon Ball would finally see a return to the small screen with Dragon Ball Super! Fans were excited enough to hear the good news and now it gets even better with word coming in that the series will be receiving a manga adaptation as well.

The manga will officially debut in about a month so and will be headed by Toyotaro who’s famous for creating the Dragon Ball AF fan made manga as well as the Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection ‘F’ manga. With the manga coming out a month before the anime, this makes for a perfect promotional tool for the upcoming anime in July.

The anime itself will air on Fuji TV, Sunday mornings at 9 in Japan. No official date has been set. There is also no word yet on whether the series will see an English dub. Hopefully news will come soon on both of these fronts. When it does, you’ll be able to read it here.


Stephon W. is a contributing Editor for Teh Lunchbox Publications and sorry, he doesn’t do social media. But you can follow the team on facebook (Teh Lunchbox Publications), and on twitter @tehlunchboxpub

 

 

One-Punch Man Teaser Is Here Now!

wp_ss_20150329_0001[1]Little footage… Big anticipation. Madhouse studios delivers the first teaser for the anime adaptation of One and Yusuke Murata’s One-Punch Man manga. Check it out below!

Make sure to watch Saitama punch his way to the top when One-Punch Man drops in October.


Stephon W. is a contributing Editor for Teh Lunchbox Publications and sorry, he doesn’t do social media. But you can follow the team on facebook (Teh Lunchbox Publications), and on twitter @tehlunchboxpub

 

There’s a Shop for Zombies?

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Reiko the Zombie Shop

Terror has struck the sleepy little town of Shiraike. A serial killer stalks the streets murdering innocent girls. Twenty-nine grisly murders have been committed with no clues to catch the killer, that is until the town receives a strange visitor: a beautiful young woman who can raise the dead. She is Reiko the Zombie Shop, necromancer for hire. For a price, she’ll wake your dead, if only to find a clue to their demise. Despite being able to reanimate the dead, she is not responsible for what the dead will say or do once they awaken!


When I first saw the cover, I was thrown off a bit, but decided to give it a chance thinking it was probably good and about some awesome chick fighting zombies, but it wasn’t. This manga is basically about figuring out who killed who and psychotic serial killers. Did I mention that they also summon zombies to fight? It’s like something straight out of Yu-Gi-Oh?! (awesome show by the way… well the original anyway)

2888-1-6_PLDSY-Reiko the Zombie Shop v1 p 0092At the end of volume one, the main character (and the only important one) dies in a non-exciting battle and the only thing going through my mind was, “That’s it? Really?”  I could not read anymore after that, until I found out the series continued! I took a peek thinking maybe it’ll get better. Saw two high school students summoning zombies to fight… NOPE!


Verdict: I was so disappointed that I could not finish the series. So to make it short and not waste anymore of your time.

Reiko the Zombie Shop gets a 2 out of 5

– Killers who summon zombies to fight (no thank you)

– Misleading as a mystery manga with zombies

– Main character dies early in anti-climactic fashion

+ Interesting synopsis and concept (that was ruined almost immediately, but still pretty good)


Sherita M. is a contributing Editor for Teh Lunchbox Publications and she thinks all you guys are awesome…Follow us on twitter@tehlunchboxpub.