Netflix joins virtual YouTuber boom in Japan

TOKYO - Netflix has joined Japan's booming virtual Youtuber - or VTuber - scene with the launch of an animated character to promote its growing anime streaming offering.

N-ko, a "sheep-human lifeform", is Netflix's attempt to tap into the appeal of VTubers - characters animated by motion capture that have built a loyal audience on YouTube in Japan by singing, dancing and interacting with fans.

The character is performed by a company employee and will introduce anime shows available on the streaming service, according to a video uploaded on YouTube on Tuesday.

Netflix and other streaming services hungry for content are turning to anime to secure local subscribers and exploit the global market for such shows that is seen by many in the industry as undercommercialized.

Japanese anime and Korean drama "play really well around the region as well as in-country and occasionally could be very, very global in their interest and desire", Netflix Co-CEO Theodore Sarandos said on an earnings call last week.

Anime is among industries boosted by spending during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a movie from horror fantasy series "Demon Slayer" breaking domestic records and reporting a strong opening weekend in the United States last week.

(Reporting by Sam Nussey; Editing by Giles Elgood)

-reuters-

LOOK: Pinoy 'Voltes V' fan makes Lego tribute

MANILA - A Filipino toy enthusiast has created a Lego tribute to the well-loved Japanese anime series "Voltes V," featuring the complete team and the iconic robot.

Arthur Tanseco, who works in Hong Kong, said he wanted to own a Lego set based on the popular anime and that his three sons loved the idea of being able to build and play with the "grandfather of MegaZords."

He added: "I specifically made this model to fit mini-figures as I wanted to maximize playability. The only challenge is that this will be a very big set, but well worth the investment."


Tanesco submitted his "Voltes V" tribute to the Lego Cuusoo Project or now known as "Lego Ideas," where fans submit and vote on ideas to be considered as future Lego products.

His design currently has about 290 out of 10,000 votes of support that it needs to get reviewed by the Denmark-based company, where it could become a legitimate set.

You can vote for his set by clicking here.

Through this crowd-sourcing method, Lego has already produced a host of unique products based on several television shows and iconic franchises such as the "Ghostbusters," "Minecraft," and "Back to the Future."

Last month, Lego made headlines when it revealed the set titled "Research Institute" -- a product of the Ideas project, which became the company's first offering to feature women in a professional setting.

"I sincerely hope that this can be considered for production," pleaded Tanesco.

Voltes V, which tells the story of humanity's battle against alien invaders from the planet Boazan, was first aired in the Philippines in the 1970s.

During the martial law years, it was banned, along with other robot-based anime, by then President Ferdinand Marcos supposedly for its excessive violence. The ban came in 1979 before the last five episodes of the anime could be shown.

In an interview last April, Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. explained why his father decided to ban the anime.

"It was actually the parents that worried about the violence that they were afraid might influence their children in a negative way," he said.

"There was a lot of private lobbying by all kinds of groups, parents-groups, and so I guess my father saw it prudent to acquiesce to their demands on an issue that was and still is not well understood," he added.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Japan invites anime fans to youth exchange program

MANILA - Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs is looking for Filipino students interested in manga, anime, and cosplay for its latest youth exchange program.

The 5th JENESYS 2.0, organized by the Japan Information and Culture Center and the Japan International Cooperation Center, will be sending 23 Filipino students, aged 18-30, for a cultural immersion to Japan.

The 10-day long program, from March 21-30, will be focusing on the Japanese pop culture, mainly in the art of manga, anime, and cosplay.

One of the highlights of the program will be a trip to one of the largest anime festivals in the world "Anime Japan 2014."

Interested applicants can visit the Embassy of Japan website for qualification, guidelines, and entry forms.

The deadline for submission of applications is on January 31, 2014 (Friday)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com