[Covers] Kobato. Volume 6 and xxxHOLiC POST CARD book

And CLAMP-NET just added these images:

Kobato. Volume 6 will be out August 26th.

The xxxHolic POST CARD book will be out September 6th. (It doesn't look like it will have the colored illustrations, but the description says it will contain the complete collection of illustrations from all 19 volumes...hmmm. I think it may be like the Chobits postcard book from way back with one-tone splash images, but let us know if someone finds out more.) It will contain the color cover illustrations from the 19 volumes.

and lets go back to squeeing over the prospect of a new manga series... ^_^

[News] CLAMP -NET (new manga coming our way!)

CLAMP-NET's beginning of August update: Gotta get Newtype 9!!!

In this month's Newtype, there will be a few great CLAMP features:

CLAMP will be illustrating the cover of Newtype with BLOOD-C. Included will be an article featuring the birth of BLOOD-C including Nanase Ohkawa x Director Mizushima interview, and a feature on Nana Mizuki.

And in addition to the special Kobato. feature, there will be breaking news on a BRAND-NEW manga series. There will be some kind of promotional campaign involved.

Newtype 9 is on sale August 10th.

------------and the usual news------------

GATE 7 ~ [JUMP SQ. - monthly chapters]
August 4: Chapter 6
September 4: Chapter 7 (color image included)

BLOOD-C - [weekly anime]
September 28: BR/DVD Volume 1 (LE extra: CLAMP setting guide, video from the premiere)
October 26: BR/DVD Volume 2 (LE extra: OST 1, textless op/ed)
November 23: BR/DVD Volume 3
December 21: BR/DVD Volume 4
January 25: BR/DVD Volume 5
February 22: BR/DVD Volume 6
2012: movie

ETC.

August 1: In honor of Nobuyuki Fukumoto's 500th chapter of Kaiji, CLAMP has contributed an illustration and note in Young Magazine #35.
August 26: Kobato. Volume 6
August 26: Cardcaptor Sakura movies on Blu-ray
September 6: xxxHolic Postcard Book (will include illustrations from all 19 volumes)
September 24: CLAMP FESTIVAL
September 26: Kobato. Illustrations & Memories
October 26: Tsubasa Chronicle DVD-BOX
November 26: Tsubasa Chronicle Season 2 DVD-BOX
Date unknown: xxxHolic Artbook
Date unknown: Code Geass GAIDEN: Boukoku no Akito (News from Otakon 2011 says the series is coming in 2012)

[News] BLOOD-C Blu-ray/DVD releases

Here's a comprehensive list of the upcoming BLOOD-C Blu-ray & DVD releases:
The limited editions will come with the same basic extras (CLAMP-illustrated jacket, booklet, & cover illustration cards).

September 28: Volume 1 (LE extra: CLAMP setting guide, video from the premiere)
October 26: Volume 2 (LE extra: OST 1, textless op/ed)
November 23: Volume 3
December 21: Volume 4
January 25: Volume 5
February 22: Volume 6

Here's the LE cover to Volume 1.

[credits: BLOOD-C]

[Update] BLOOD-R webradio & CLAMP FES...

The BLOOD-R webradio site has updated with the 4th show featuring Nana Mizuki.

And the CLAMP FESTIVAL site has updated with the Mokona mascot characters.

[Preview] CLAMP's Yuuko as Blythe

Here's a preview of CLAMP's new Blythe design and the Yuuko illustration it was based on. This was taken at the Blythe 10 Happy Memories exhibit currently open at the Parco Factory in Tokyo.
[credits: cranberry's blog]

ETA: Junko Wong, Blythe's Creative Director, has also posted the Yuuko Blythe on her blog

[News] CLAMP Gakuen Tanteidan DVD box set

CLAMP Gakuen Tanteidan is getting a re-release in a reduced price EMOTION the Best DVD box set for sale December 22nd for 15,750 yen. No special extras are mentioned.
[credits: av.watch]

Of course, most of you would probably prefer the domestic release that is sometimes $25 at Amazon]

[News] CLAMP x BLYTHE

CLAMP has designed a Yuuko Blythe for the 10 Happy Memories exhibit celebrating Blythe's 10th Anniversary. There are plans to release a doll, [B2・ HOLiC], this fall. I think this is in reference to the Yuuko doll. They previously collaborated to exhibit a Watanuki and Cardcaptor Sakura doll last year.

Exhibit info~
Date: July 25th, 10:00-21:00
Venue: Parco Factory, Tokyo

[credits: CLAMP-NET, Blythedoll]

Feel free to comment with more info or images.

[News] CLAMP -NET

CLAMP-NET's mid-July update: not much added

GATE 7 ~ [JUMP SQ. - monthly chapters]
August 4: Chapter 6
September 4: Chapter 7 (color image included)

ETC.
August 26: Kobato. Volume 6
August 26: Cardcaptor Sakura movies on Blu-ray
September 6: xxxHolic Postcard Book
September 11: Kobato. Illustrations & Memories
September 24: CLAMP FESTIVAL
September 28: BLOOD-C Blu-ray/DVD Volume 1
October 26: Tsubasa Chronicle DVD-BOX
November 26: Tsubasa Chronicle Season 2 DVD-BOX
Date unknown: xxxHolic Artbook
Date unknown: Code Geass GAIDEN: Boukoku no Akito

[Review] Magic Knight Rayearth Omnibus 1

Magic Knight Rayearth Omnibus 1 (of 2)! published by Dark Horse continues their line of CLAMP manga compilations. I've noticed that the ones printed in Canada are smaller and have the paper that feels rougher. The Cardcaptor Sakura and Clover omnibuses are printed in China and have smooth paper. I'm not a paper expert, but do prefer the feel of the smooth paper. It feels like the ink might rub off of the rough paper. Rayearth 1 is 645 pages covering 3 original volumes with the omakes and extra color illustrations.

As with my other reviews, you can easily look up the story on wiki, and everyone agrees that the strongest feature of CLAMP's story is that they successfully combines the magical girl genre with the shounen mech genre. The twist in the middle of the story (at the end of this omnibus) is also one of those refreshing 'manga is awesome' moments. It has been a fairly long time since I've read this manga, so I can't comment on how accurate the translations are, but Dark Horse has been consistent with how well they are editing these manga releases.

[Magic Knight Rayearth 1 @ Amazon]
[Magic Knight Rayearth 2 @ Amazon out January 2012]

The anime was recently remastered and released by Animeworks. There were a few differences in the story and the production is quite old, but overall, the anime is entertaining. I'm a fan of the 3rd opening song.

[Magic Knight Rayearth Season 1 @ Amazon]
[Magic Knight Rayearth Season 2 @ Amazon]

ETA: Mid-reading note~ Wish the editor would refrain from LOTR or other specific pop cultural references, and use footnotes or endnotes. I think there was a LOTR reference in another English-translated manga I read recently. I hope it wasn't a CLAMP one because that would just be a big annoyance to an otherwise nice production.

[News] Kobato. Illustrations & Memories

Kobato. Illustrations & Memories will be on sale September 11th for 1365 yen. The book will compile illustrations, an interview with CLAMP, and an illustrated short story.

The book size is B5 which is smaller than a normal artbook. Is this the size of Okimono kimono?

[Credits: amiami]

[Preview] JUMP SQ. LaB's GATE 7 poster

Here's a better preview of the GATE 7 poster mentioned in the previous post. Click image for larger picture. [credits: Natalie]

[News] xxxHolic Postcard Book +

Kodansha has listed the xxxHolic Postcard book for release September 6th.
(This was previously announced early this year along with an artbook announcement. No word on an artbook date yet, but I'll keep watch.)

------------

Also, the 3rd BLOOD-R webradio show is up. The guest is Kenji Nojima who requested an illustration from CLAMP. (They talk about the illustration about 23 minutes into the radio show.)

------------

And JUMP SQ. LaB will be released tomorrow with several poster giveaways including GATE 7. The website has updated the preview with a new CLAMP illustration for GATE 7. Looks like Date there...

ETA: preview posted by JUMP SQ's twitter account.

[News] BLOOD-C Blu-ray/DVD Volume 1

The first volume of BLOOD-C on Blu-ray and DVD will be released September 28th. It will contain 2 episodes. Even though the show is currently airing on Niconico, there is no mention of English subtitles.

The limited edition will contain:
- CLAMP-illustrated jacket & clear case
- Original Drama CD
- CLAMP creation document collection
- Jacket illustration card A (limited)
- Jacket illustration card B (regular)
- Booklet
- Special clip of the BLOOD-C premiere

If you purchase it at certain stores, there are also other extra goods like posters given away.

The first volume of the manga by Ranmaru Kotone will be out July 26th.

DUSTZ's spiral single will be out August 31st and contain an anime sticker.

[credits: BLOOD-C]

[Preview] Kobato. the end.

Kobato. just ended its run in Newtype..though there will be a special article about it in next month's Newtype. The final volume (6) will be out August 26th in Japan.

Yen Press is releasing the manga here in the US. Volume 4 will be out July 19th, and Volume 5 will be out in December.

Sentai Filmworks is releasing the anime. Kobato Collection 1 (containing episodes 1-12) will be out August 9th.

[News] Kobato. in Newtype

Newtype 8 is out now and contains the last chapter of Kobato which is 32 pages. To commemorate the series, Newtype 9 will contain a special Kobato. feature. It will be on sale August 10. [credits: Natalie]

[News] CLAMP FESTIVAL 2011

A few blogs have excitedly posted about an upcoming event that was leaked to them by the CLAMP@Mobile site. There will be a CLAMP music and visual festival held in September. Music sung by popular seiyuu & singers, skits, talk shows, a cosplay event and the sale of limited edition festival goods will be a part of the festival.

When: September 24 with afternoon and evening concerts
Where: Ajinomoto Stadium, Tokyo
Who: Nana Mizuki (BLOOD-C), Naomi Tamura (Rayearth), Yui Makino (Tsubasa), Megumi Nakajima (Kobato), Rie Tanaka (Chobits), Mika Kikuchi (Tsubasa/xxxHolic), Jun Fukuyama (xxxHolic/Code Geass), Sakura Tange (CCS), Junko Iwao (CCS), Sayaka Ohara (Tsubasa/xxxHolic), Kinya Kotani (Tsubasa), Kamiya Hiroshi (Kobato)...
Tickets: on sale July 22 (@Mobile members), August 27 (general public) (as a bonus, there will be an original CLAMP manga in the venue booklet)
Website: CLAMPFestival.jp (site is open now, hey a live viewing page!)
Twitter: @CLAMPFESTIVAL

More information to come.
[Credits: blog source]

[Preview] BLOOD-C opening & ending

There was a BLOOD-C event for Japanese fans who were picked by lottery today where they were able to watch episode 1. I think there were also fans who were picked to watch it on Niconico.

See the opening HERE on Youtube
Watch the ending HERE on Niconico (you'll need to login) removed already.
...ending on Youtube


Any thoughts?

Found one image from the event.
Screencaps of episode 1 here
If you find any other event posts, let me know.

[News] CLAMP -NET

CLAMP-NET's beginning of July update: slow time for new news

GATE 7 ~ [JUMP SQ. - monthly chapters]
July 4: Chapter 5
August 5: Chapter 6
July 15: Poster included in Jump SQ. LaB

Kobato. ~ [Newtype - ending July 10th]
July 10: Last chapter
August 26: Volume 6

ETC.
July 7: BLOOD-C anime airs
August 26: Cardcaptor Sakura movies on Blu-ray
October 26: Tsubasa Chronicle DVD-BOX
November 26: Tsubasa Chronicle Season 2 DVD-BOX
Date unknown: xxxHolic Artbook
Date unknown: Code Geass GAIDEN: Boukoku no Akito

*updates

Random note: Someone shared an image of CLAMP's GATE 7 message illustration which you can see here.