Tag Archives: Kobato.

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May 5, 2013

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CLAMP CLASSIC COLLECTION Boxes + new Kobato. art

Not much happening these days, huh?

Thanks for everybody who checks this livejournal daily in the hope to see CLAMP news, because we have some today!

As you may or may not remember, last year Kadokawa re-released some of CLAMP’s classic titles under a series called CLAMP CLASSIC COLLECTION. For those who purchased all volumes, special boxes to store all volumes featuring new CLAMP illustrations were given as a bonus.

Even though the last volume of the series came out in November of 2012, only now the boxes have been sent out to the people who earned them.

Here are a few pictures from the 3 exclusive boxes, featuring 3 brand new drawings by CLAMP (click on the picture to enlarge it):

I was starting to think these boxes would never see the light of the day! I’m glad to see them — and the new drawings!

There is also a new Kobato. illustration!

CLAMP made this drawing as a gift for Kana Hanazawa’s (Kobato’s seiyuu) first concert. It is part of the contents of the concert’s special pamphlet.

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October 26, 2011

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Gouhou Drug #3 [new version] cover

Kadokawa has the cover of the new version of Gouhou Drug #3:

It’s the same image released in the next issue preview of Young Ace #11. And it kinda makes sense since this is the volume where they go to the boys’ school and they are wearing the school uniforms on the cover.

I don’t know about you all but I still prefer the 3 original covers.

This will be released on November 4.

Also, dimichan has some pictures of the Kobato. artbook up here in her Picasa. Pics include the full epilogue and a few colored illustrations.

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October 20, 2011

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Several News

• Rio Comicon:

The convention Rio Comicon starts today in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where the exhibition CLAMP – As Rainhas do Mangá (CLAMP – The Queens of Manga) will take place until Sunday. This is the same exhibition that was originally held in Paris in 2009.

Tickets cost R$ 20,00 for each day at the event’s entrance (students pay half price). Check their official website for more info.

I will be there on Saturday, hope to meet some of you there! 😉

• Kobato. licensed in Brazil:

The Kobato. manga has been licensed in Brazil by JBC. The manga will be published every 3 months starting in October. The price will be R$ 10,90 for a full tankoubon format (unlike Tsubasa and XXXHOLiC), but no color pages.

This is the 10th CLAMP title to be published in Brazil, and they remain being the only manga authors with that many titles licensed in the country.

Here’s the cover for the Brazilian edition:

Also, the Card Captor Sakura manga, which was the first CLAMP title published in Brazil, will be re-released by JBC in a special edition still this year. The new release will be in full tankoubon format (unlike the original edition) and will have color pages. Release date and price are still undecided.

• Code Geass GAIDEN: Boukoku no Akito:

It was announced in this year’s New York Anime Fest that the new Code Geass project, Code Geass GAIDEN: Boukoku no Akito, will be released next year. CLAMP is in charge of the original character concept for this project as well.

The Code Geass and R2 seasons will be re-released in a new DVD Box early next year and an exclusive promotional video of Code Geass GAIDEN: Boukoku no Akito will come with it.

• BLOOD-C:

The official website of BLOOD-C has the 2nd DVD and Blu-Ray cover, which was drawn by CLAMP.

It will be released on October 26.

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October 3, 2011

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CLAMP NEWS !!

• Artbook:

Already posted this over at twitter but in case anyone doesn’t know yet, the Kobato. artbook release date has been postponed to October 19.

– Next scheduled chapters (red means new):

09/04 – Jump SQ #10 – Chapter 7 – Last chapter of tankoubon 2 (on sale).
10/04 – Jump SQ #11 – Chapter 8 – Beginning of tankoubon 3.
11/04 – Jump SQ #12 – Chapter 9 – Color page(s), GATE 7 will feature the front cover.

CLAMP-NET.COM also mentions a “comic cover replacement” (特別付録　コミックス替えカバー) in Jump SQ #12. Maybe an additional cover for volume 1? Not really sure of what that means…

• Comics:

GATE 7 #2 is coming out on November 4.

• BLOOD-C:

The BLOOD-C TV Anime ended its main broadcast on TBS channel with 12 episodes. The movie will be released on June 6, 2012 with the same staff and cast .

I really liked the final episode, in fact the final 2 episodes were good and a lot better than the rest. I wish that instead of dragging the plot for 10 whole episodes they could have worked better in building tension for the big revelations, in other words, I think the series’ composition was flawed (and CLAMP’s Ohkawa was in charge of that). The episodes were too repetitive, always following the same formula. I’m glad the mood changed in the final episode, I hope the movie will follow the same atmosphere. The animation was overall very poor, characters were too shallow and creatures too bizarre. I’ll give a 3/10 rate for this since I wasn’t hooked by most of it.

• The Witch’s Mansion and the Magic Summit::

Here is the cover for The Witch’s Mansion and the Magic Summit, CLAMP drew the cover and inside illustrations.

The book is coming out on October 9. You can play a puzzle with the cover illustration here.

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September 2, 2011

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CLAMP NEWS !!

Sorry I’m a bit late, I’ve been traveling around for the past weeks (see location at the end of the post =P) and I have had very little online time. But here are the most important news that have appeared in the past few weeks.

• Artbook:

Here is the cover of the Kobato. Illustrations & Memories artbook:

So pretty, I loved it! The artbook will have a short story drawn by CLAMP and an interview with them. It’ll be released on September 26.

• Blu-Ray:

The Kobato. TV Anime series will be released in Blu-Ray format sometime soon. The information comes from the series’ official website (http://www.kobato.tv). More details will be announced soon.

• Ranking:

After its first week of sales, the final volume of Kobato. debuted in the 16th position in Oricon’s ranking. That’s a very good position considering that it’s only covering 2 days of sales (since it was released on the 26th and the ranking covers up to the 28th).

08/22~08/28

1st – Ao Haru Ride #2
2nd – GANTZ #32
3rd FAIRY TAIL #28
16th – Kobato. #6

This is the first time that a Kobato. volume appears in Oricon’s ranking after volume 2. It is also the highest position reached by a Kobato. volume.

Also according to Oricon, Kobato. #6 sold 43.331 copies in its first week. In comparison, Kobato. #2 sold 32.351 copies in its first week.

Hopefully we will see Kobato. again in next week’s ranking, specially since there is a campaign related to that volume.

– Next scheduled chapters (red means new):

08/04 – Jump SQ #09 – Chapter 6 (on sale).
09/04 – Jump SQ #10 – Chapter 7 – Last chapter of tankoubon 2.
10/04 – Jump SQ #11 – Chapter 8 – Beginning of tankoubon 3.

No new additions for GATE 7.

• Gouhou Drug:

The covers for the new editions of Gouhou Drug #1 and #2 were announced!

Ahhh, so the original design was preserved, I’m so glad! They are even wearing the same outfits, it’s like the same “photoshoot”, but with different poses XD But maaaan, do they look different! I don’t like this new style at all, their trace looks too simple! =( I really hope Nekoi improves her drawing with time.

The new editions of Gouhou Drug #1 and #2 will be released on October 4

• BLOOD-C – Novel:

CLAMP has drawn the cover illustration for the novel version of BLOOD-C:

So nice!

The novel is written by Junichi Fujusaku, who is also one of the writers for the TV Series along with CLAMP’s Nanase Ohkawa. It will be released by Kadokawa Shoten on October 4.

• BLOOD-C – Interview:

Website ANN interviewed the director Tsutomu Mizushima and screenwriter Junichi Fujusaku of the BLOOD-C TV Series. It’s a very interesting reading since they talk about CLAMP’s involvement on the project. You can read it here.

• CLAMP FESTIVAL 2011 TOKYO:

Suga Shikao has been added to the festival’s line up as a special guest! He will make a XXXHOLiC special live performance.

So cool! This festival line up was missing a major name and that name has been filled now by Suga Shikao =)

Here’s a detailed schedule for the festival:

Singer Stage:
– Suga Shikao XXXHOLiC special live performance.
– Duet between Sakura Tange and Junko Iwao (Card Captor Sakura).
– Card Captor Sakura medley featuring 5 songs.

Seiyuu Stage:
– Holitsuba skit (script by CLAMP).
– Maaya Sakamoto will be the narrator for the animation based on the original manga drawn by ClAMP.
– Live performances of the seiyuus are scheduled during the Holitsuba skit as well.

A free event named CLAMP Campus Festival will be held at the back of where CLAMP FESTIVAL will be held. In this event, cosplay contests and sales of original goods will take place. There will be a CLAMP Cafe, where visitors can have Mokona-shaped candies while they check a collection of CLAMP’s art reproductions.

An official Guide Book about the Fetsival will be sold at the event and the cover art will be drawn by CLAMP.

The Japanese video streaming website Nico Nico will cover the event from 10 AM until 10 PM (not sure if they will cover just the CLAMP Campus Festival or the entire CLAMP FESTIVAL event).

And more, there will be merchandise booths for Card Captor Sakura, GATE 7, Kobato., Gouhou Drug and BLOOD-C.

Anyway, there is simply a lot of stuff happening in this event, it will be one hell of an event. I may have missed a few things here and there, or maybe I chose not to post about them, but this is pretty much what’s been confirmed so far =)

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August 1, 2011

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CLAMP NEWS !!

So many news!!

– Next scheduled chapters (red means new):

07/04 – Jump SQ #08 – Chapter 5.
08/04 – Jump SQ #09 – Chapter 6.
09/04 – Jump SQ #10 – Chapter 7 – Color page(s).

• Comic:

Here is the cover of Kobato. #6:

I love it! I think it’s my favorite cover! It screams HAPPINESS =D

It will be released on August 26.

• Feature:

To celebrate the series’ conclusion, there is going to be a large feature in the upcoming Newtype issue (out 08/10). Also, information about a new CLAMP series will be announced in the same issue! A campaign will be followed as well (but I don’t know if the campaign will be related to Kobato. or the new series).

So excited about this new series! Could be the revival of an old series as well (it’s alright to hope!). I don’t think it’ll be running in Newtype, though. They will most likely make the announcement to hook all Kobato. readers into this new series. I think it’ll run in a different Kadokawa magazine. Anyway, it was about time for CLAMP to work on another manga apart from GATE 7!

Looking very much forward to thissss!

• Book:

Here is the cover of the XXXHOLiC POST CARD BOOK:

I REALLY liked it! Even though there is little CLAMP illustration on it, I loved the design! I wonder if it was designed by CLAMP…

This postcard book will have illustrations from the covers and title pages of all 19 volumes of XXXHOLiC. It will be released on September 6.

• BLOOD-C DVD & Blu-ray:

The official BLOOD-C website has updated with the cover of the limited edition of the 1st DVD/Blu-ray. The jacket features a new illustration drawn by CLAMP!

It will be released on September 28.

The limited first editions of all 6 DVDs/Blu-rays will have jackets illustrated by CLAMP. Check out the release calendar for them at the CLAMP Widget at the top of my livejournal.

• BLOOD-C Manga:

Here is a drawing + message by CLAMP that came with the 1st volume of the manga adaptation of BLOOD-C:


Click to enlarge it.

So nice! CLAMP could draw the entire BLOOD-C anime and I wouldn’t mind =)

Thanks syaoranmew for letting me know about this!

• BLOOD-C in Newtype:

The upcoming Newtype issue (out 08/10) will be a BLOOD-C special issue.

The magazine will have:

– Cover illustration drawn by CLAMP;
– Special talk between director Tsutomu Mizushima and Nanase Ohkawa about the birth and future of BLOOD-C;
– Inside stories;
– Interview with Nana Mizuki (Saya’s seiyuu);
– After recording reports.

• Featuring CLAMP:

CLAMP drew an illustration and wrote comments for the current Young Magazine that is celebrating the 500th chapter of Fukumoto Nobuyuki’s gambling manga Kaiji:

• CLAMP FESTIVAL 2011 TOKYO:

Idol Nakagawa Shouko (aka Shouko-tan) has been added to the festival’s line up as a special guest.

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July 18, 2011

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Kobato. artbook? (Updated)

Several online shops such as AmiAmi are listing a possible Kobato. artbook entitled Kobato. Illustration & Memories.

The artbook would be released in late September or early October and would cost 1365 yens.

Could it be an artbook for Kobato.? It barely has enough color illustrations to fill one, unless it’ll have extra manga chapters, similar to the Wish artbook? Maybe that’s why it has “& Memories” in its title, as suggested by lovelessinma (thank you for the info, btw!).

I hope this is true, as I wasn’t expecting an artbook for Kobato.

UPDATE: The artbook is confirmed via several japanese online shops. It will have a CLAMP interview and a short story.

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July 12, 2011

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Kobato. (2004.12.18 ~ 2011.07.10)

Scans of the final chapter are available here.

My thoughts (spoilers ahead):

It was rushed! Much more than Tsubasa and XXXHOLiC were! But I feel like this was the best CLAMP could do under the circumstances they had. I feel like Kobato. could have been much greater, development-wise speaking. I feel like it wasn’t supposed to be only 6 volumes long. It ran for almost 6 years and it only had 6 volumes.

Kobato. was very damaged because of its publishing issues. Though never officially revealed, something didn’t work out during its days at Sunday GX, and after some months in hiatus, it moved to Newtype under its 14 pages limitation (since Newtype is first and foremost, an anime magazine). The story went back a few steps before continuing from where it was left out, and it looked promising, it even got an anime adaptation with only 3 volumes published and still rather unknown.

Being a CLAMP title, maybe they bet the anime would be popular regardless of the manga sales (because Kobato. never sold well enough for a CLAMP title). Maybe they even bet it would increase the interest over the manga version. But the anime ended, the manga kept going for another year, and maybe there was nothing else to be done.

Yes, I am considering here the possibility of the manga being canceled earlier than CLAMP’s original plan. There were a lot of sub-plots there weren’t explored well enough, I am talking about the creatures, the Mihara family, Sayaka and Okiura’s relationship, Doumoto, to name a few. The main plot itself – the girl who heals wounded hearts – seemed more promising than it actually was… I don’t know why Kobato’s bottle has that size if CLAMP’s original plan was for her to get this little amount of drops.

I thought the reincarnation resource is being way too much used by CLAMP, so is the “waiting x years in order to be happy with your loved one”. We’ve seen that in RG Veda, Wish and more recently in Tsubasa and XXXHOLiC. It was cool and different and it worked well with RG Veda, but now it’s getting overused. Before that, we’ve seen the “stopped time” plot in Tsubasa/XXXHOLiC, seeing it again in Kobato., so shortly after, feels like plot recycling, and I really don’t like that plot device very much (it doesn’t make much sense to me the stopped time thing!! xD).

I am quite unhappy with this ending, but not only the last chapter, because a chapter is a chapter, you can’t blame the ending just because of the final chapter. I am looking at the big picture here, the story as a whole and how it felt unexplored. With only 6 volumes (with 160 pages each, less than the average manga volume!), I think Kobato. should have less characters and less sub-plots to tell its story properly.

But not everything is wasted, right?

OUTO HIGH SCHOOL UNIFORM! Don’t you love when CLAMP do that? *-*

Seriously, though, love Kobato.! It lacks a proper ending, but not sure how much CLAMP is to be blamed for that…

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June 16, 2011

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CLAMP NEWS !! + Happy Birthday Mokona!

– Next scheduled chapters (red means new):

06/04 – Jump SQ #07 – Chapter 4 – Color page.
07/04 – Jump SQ #08 – Chapter 5.
08/04 – Jump SQ #09 – Chapter 6.

• Ranking:

GATE 7 #1 rose 3 positions and landed at the 5th position in Oricon’s ranking on its second week of sales:

1st – Naruto #56
2nd – Bakuman #13
3rd – D. Gray-man #22
5th – GATE 7 #1

According to Oricon, GATE 7 #1 sold 80.472 copies on its second week, with a total of 173.682 copies sold so far. These numbers are very similar to Tsubasa and XXXHOLiC numbers. Good start!

– Next scheduled chapters (red means new):

06/10 – Newtype #07 – Drop. 23-F (on sale).
07/10 – Newtype #08 – Drop. 24 – Final chapter.

• Birthday Girl:

Today is the birthday of CLAMP member Mokona! She’s turning 43 today.

Here’s wishing all the best to her! ♥

As usual, Nekoi made a drawing for the occasion:

All CLAMP members wishes her a happy birthday and that she keeps working hard from here on.

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June 10, 2011

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Kobato. manga to end next month

As we all expected, the Kobato. manga will end its serialization next month. The final chapter will be published in the August issue of Newtype magazine, out July 10.

The information comes from CLAMP-NET.COM.

The 6th and final volume of Kobato. will be released on July 25.

With this, CLAMP will have only one series to work with. This will hardly remain for too long. CLAMP is known for working on more than one series at the same time, they said they get easily bored if they are working on only one series.

Question is, will one of the their 3 works on hiatus be finally resumed? Fingers crossed!

Either way, I’ll happily wait for whatever CLAMP brings next =)