WMaiden Japan, released as Heavy Metal Army in Japan, is a live EP by the British heavy metal band Iron Maiden. The title is a pun of Deep Purple's live album Made in Japan.
WAnime Network is an American video on demand (VOD) network dedicated to anime that is owned by AMC Networks.
WArmored Trooper VOTOMS is a Japanese military science fiction mecha anime series that has undergone several incarnations. The original 1983 television series was created by Ryosuke Takahashi and Sunrise, featuring mechanical designs by Kunio Okawara. Following directly in the footsteps of Takahashi's previous series, Fang of the Sun Dougram, VOTOMS continued the trend towards hard science in the mecha anime subgenre. The series was supplemented by numerous original video animation releases, and also inspired a number of spin-off works whose media ranges from serialized light novels to video games. The TV anime was originally licensed by the now-defunct Central Park Media who released the series on DVD and VHS. Currently, it is licensed by Maiden Japan, a unit of Section23 Films, who also released all OVAs other than Armor Hunter Mellowlink.
WAsura Cryin' is a Japanese light novel series by Gakuto Mikumo, with illustrations by Nao Watanuki. The novel series began on July 10, 2005, with fourteen volumes currently published by ASCII Media Works under their Dengeki Bunko imprint. A manga adaptation by Ryō Akizuki premiered in ASCII Media Works' shōnen manga magazine Dengeki Daioh on September 27, 2008, and an anime adaptation began airing in Japan in April 2009.
WBallad of a Shinigami , subtitled Momo: The Girl God of Death, is a Japanese light novel series written by K-Ske Hasegawa, with illustrations by Nanakusa. The series includes twelve novels released between June 10, 2003 and April 10, 2009, published by ASCII Media Works under their Dengeki Bunko imprint. The novels were licensed by Seven Seas Entertainment for release in English with the first novel released in March 2008. The series revolves around Momo, a shinigami, and her familiar Daniel, a talking black cat, as they interfere with the world of the living.
WBasquash! is a Japanese anime television series animated by Satelight. Created by Shōji Kawamori and Thomas Romain, the series aired on MBS between April and October 2009. The anime is licensed by Maiden Japan.
WBattle Programmer Shirase is an anime television series aired in 2003 and produced by AIC.
WBlack Magic is a cyberpunk manga written and illustrated by Masamune Shirow. It was first published as a dōjinshi in 1983, and was later reprinted in tankōbon format by Seishinsha in 1985. The series was later adapted into an OVA Black Magic M-66 in 1987 which was directed by Hiroyuki Kitakubo. AIC and Animate provided the animation/production while Bandai Visual was chosen as the distributor. The OVA is very loosely based on one of the chapters of the manga and centers around the efforts of a female journalist named Sybel, trying to save a young girl from an out-of-control military android created by the girl's grandfather.
WClamp School Detectives , also known as CLAMP Campus Detectives, is a manga series by Clamp, which was adapted into a 26-episode anime series, produced by Bandai Visual and Studio Pierrot. The manga series was serialized in Kadokawa Shoten's Monthly Asuka manga magazine between January 1992 and October 1993, spanning three tankōbon, while the anime premiered in Japan on TV Tokyo between May 3, 1997 and October 25, 1997.
WCombat Mecha Xabungle is a mecha anime television series created by Sunrise and directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino. It was broadcast on the Nagoya TV and TV Asahi networks weekly from February 6, 1982, to January 29, 1983. Promotional toys were produced by Clover. There was also a compilation movie made called Xabungle Graffiti, which included new footage and a different ending to the series. The anime series is licensed by Maiden Japan. It is currently streaming on Hidive, and it was released on an SDBD set on December 18, 2018.
WCorpse Party: Tortured Souls is a four-episode anime OVA based on the Japanese video game Corpse Party. It serves as a sequel to the Corpse Party: Missing Footage OVA.
WCoil - A Circle of Children, known in Japan as Den-noh Coil is a Japanese science fiction anime television series created, directed and written by Mitsuo Iso. The series was a project he had been working on for over a decade and his directorial debut. It aired 26 episodes from May 12, 2007 to December 1, 2007 on NHK Educational TV.
WDiebuster, also known as Aim for the Top 2! and Gunbuster 2, is a six-episode original video animation series directed by Kazuya Tsurumaki, written by Yōji Enokido and animated by Gainax. It was created to commemorate the studio's 20th anniversary in 2004, and it is a sequel to their 1988 OVA Gunbuster.
WDominion is a Japanese manga written and illustrated by Masamune Shirow. Set in the fictional city of Newport, Japan, in a future in which bacteria as well as air pollution have become so severe that people must wear gas masks when outdoors, the series follows a police squadron that uses military-style tanks.
WGlass Maiden is a half-hour anime series, directed by Mitsuko Kase and broadcast on Chiba TV, KBS Kyoto, KIDS STATION, Sun TV, Tokyo MX TV, TV Aichi, TV Kanagawa and TV Saitama.
WGlass Mask is a Japanese shōjo manga series written and illustrated by Suzue Miuchi, serialized in Hana to Yume from January 1976, and collected in 49 tankōbon volumes as of October 2012. The story has also been adapted into anime and a live-action television series. As of 2006, the collected volumes had sold 50 million copies in Japan, making it the second best-selling shōjo manga ever. The title refers poetically to the mask of faces that actors wear - while expressing emotions that are not their own, the mask they wear is as fragile as glass. If the actors are distracted, their mask will "break" and show on stage the actors' true feelings.
WThe Good Witch of the West is a series of fantasy novels by Noriko Ogiwara, published by Chuokoron-Shinsha.
WGunbuster, known in Japan as Aim for the Top! , is a Japanese OVA anime series produced by Gainax released from 1988 to 1989. It was the directorial debut of Hideaki Anno, best known as the creator and director of Neon Genesis Evangelion. The title is a combination of the titles of classic tennis manga and anime Aim for the Ace! and hit action drama film Top Gun, whose plot inspired Gunbuster's. To celebrate Gainax's 20th anniversary in 2004, an official sequel to Gunbuster, Diebuster, was released as an OVA. The sequel features new characters and mecha, but retains the format and many of the concepts of the original series.
WGunparade March is a Japanese video game. The video game, Kōkidō Gensō Gunparade March (高機動幻想ガンパレード・マーチ), was released on 28 September 2000, for the PlayStation. It was developed by Alfa System and published by Sony Computer Entertainment.
WHappiness! is a Japanese adult visual novel developed by Windmill released on October 21, 2005 for Windows PCs. The game was later ported to the PlayStation 2. An adult fan disc titled Happiness! Re:Lucks was developed by Windmill's sister brand Windmill Oasis and released on July 28, 2006 for Windows. A manga illustrated by Rino Fujii was serialized in Media Factory's Monthly Comic Alive between 2006 and 2007. A series of novels were published by Harvest between 2006 and 2008. A 12-episode anime produced by Artland aired in Japan between October and December 2006, and an original video animation episode followed in January 2007.
WHataraki Man (働きマン) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Moyoco Anno, serialized in the seinen magazine Morning since 2004. The story centers on 28-year-old Hiroko Matsukata, editor at the magazine Weekly JIDAI . Talented and hard-working, Hiroko's colleagues refer to her as Hataraki Man because of her dedication to her job. But despite her successes in the workplace, she struggles with moments of self-doubt and with the challenge of balancing life and career.
WHuman Crossing, originally titled Human Scramble , is a Japanese manga written by Masao Yajima and illustrated by Kenshi Hirokane. The manga is about a series of unrelated stories of people's life and their lessons in life. Human Crossing received the 1985 Shogakukan Manga Award for the General category.
WJoshiraku is a Japanese manga series written by Kōji Kumeta and illustrated by Yasu, telling the everyday lives of five young female rakugo comedians. It was serialised in Kodansha's Bessatsu Shōnen Magazine from September 2009 to September 2013 and the chapters compiled into six tankōbon volumes. An anime television series adaptation animated by J.C.Staff aired in Japan between July and September 2012, with an original video animation episode released in February 2013.
WKanamemo is a Japanese four-panel comic strip written and illustrated by Shoko Iwami (石見翔子). The strip has been serialized in Houbunsha's seinen manga magazine Manga Time Kirara Max since April 19, 2007. It is about Kana Nakamachi and her growing experience as a newspaper deliverer, cook, and orphan.
WMaria-sama ga Miteru , often shortened to Marimite (マリみて), is a Japanese light novel series written by Oyuki Konno with illustrations by Reine Hibiki. Originally written as a short story in 1997, Shueisha published 37 light novel volumes from April 1998 to April 2012. The story focuses on a group of teenage girls attending the Catholic Lillian Girls' Academy in Tokyo, Japan. Its storyline largely revolves around the lives and close relationships of the school's student council known as the Yamayuri Council.
WMonochrome Factor is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kaili Sorano. It was first serialized in Mag Garden's bi-monthly manga magazine Comic Blade Masamune in May 2004. However, when the magazine ceased publication, the manga began serialization in the new and revamped magazine, Comic Blade Avarus, in September 2007.
WMyself ; Yourself is a Japanese visual novel developed by Regista which was released on December 20, 2007 for the PlayStation 2. Takumi Nakazawa, the main scenario writer for the Infinity series, is the principal writer for Myself ; Yourself. Character design for the game is provided by Mutsumi Sasaki, who also produced the original character design for Memories Off, Happy Lesson, and Futakoi. Before the game's release, a light novel based on the story, written by Takumi Nakazawa, and illustrated by Wadapen, was serialized in the Japanese bishōjo magazine Dengeki G's Magazine between March and November 2007, published by MediaWorks. An anime television series adaptation by Doga Kobo aired in Japan from October to December 2007 on TV Kanagawa and contained thirteen episodes. A spin-off sequel to the visual novel was developed by the previous staff entitled Myself ; Yourself: Sorezore no Finale and was released on May 28, 2009 for the PlayStation 2.
WNatsu no Arashi! is a Japanese manga written and illustrated by Jin Kobayashi, who is known for his previous work School Rumble. The manga started serialization in Square Enix's Gangan Wing shōnen manga magazine on August 25, 2006, and seven bound volumes have been released in Japan as of March 2010. Natsu no Arashi! was also adapted into two anime television series by Shaft under the direction of Akiyuki Shinbo, Shin Oonuma, and Kenichi Ishikura and broadcast in Japan from April 5, 2009 to December 27, 2009. Maiden Japan licensed the series for US release on November 12, 2019 on Blu-ray.
WPapillon Rose is an anime series which Lampoons the magical girl genre, particularly Sailor Moon and Cutie Honey. A 24-minute OVA was released in 2003 followed by a six-episode TV series, broadcast in Japan in 2006. A DVD collection containing the OVA and TV series was released in North America in 2010. The origin of this anime series is different from most other anime series' as it is based on an Internet hoax rather than a previously existing manga series.
WMobile Police Patlabor , also known as Patlabor is a Japanese science fiction media franchise created by Headgear, a group consisting of manga artist Masami Yūki, director Mamoru Oshii, screenwriter Kazunori Itō, mecha designer Yutaka Izubuchi, and character designer Akemi Takada.
WPatlabor 2: The Movie is a 1993 anime film directed by Mamoru Oshii, who also directed Patlabor: The Movie. It was produced by Production I.G, Bandai Visual and Tohokushinsha.
WPatlabor: The Movie is a 1989 anime film directed by Mamoru Oshii, with an original story by Headgear. It was produced by Bandai Visual, Tohokushinsha and animated by Studio Deen, with animation assistance by I.G Tatsunoko. It is part of the Patlabor series.
WPatlabor: The New Files (機動警察パトレイバー2) is a Japanese original video animation series based on the Patlabor anime franchise. These episodes take place at several points between episodes of Patlabor: The TV Series and after the latter's final episode. The OVA episodes also features the conclusion of the Griffon storyarc.
WPatlabor: The TV Series (機動警察パトレイバー) is a 1989-1990 anime television series. It was created by Headgear, animated by Sunrise, and based on the Patlabor anime franchise. The story focuses on Second Special Vehicles Division (SV2), a group of Patlabor policemen who fight and investigate crimes. The TV series is an alternate timeline to the original Patlabor OVAs and films, with an all-new origin story.
WRay is a science fiction manga by Akihito Yoshitomi that ran in Champion Red magazine from 2002 to 2006 and was compiled in seven volumes. An anime television series adaptation, Ray the Animation, ran from April 6, 2006 through June 29, 2006.
WRoyal Space Force: The Wings of Honnêamise is a 1987 Japanese animated science fiction film written and directed by Hiroyuki Yamaga, co-produced by Hiroaki Inoue and Hiroyuki Sueyoshi, and planned by Toshio Okada and Shigeru Watanabe. Ryuichi Sakamoto, later to share the Academy Award for the soundtrack to The Last Emperor, served as music director. The film's story takes place on an alternate world where a disengaged young man, Shirotsugh, inspired by an idealistic woman named Riquinni, volunteers to become the first astronaut, a decision that draws them into both public and personal conflict. The film was the debut work of anime studio Gainax, whose later television and movie series Neon Genesis Evangelion would achieve international recognition, and was the first anime produced by toy and game manufacturer Bandai, eventually to become one of Japan's top anime video companies.
WRuin Explorers , also known as Ruin Explorers Fam & Ihrie, is a four episode 1995 OVA by ANIMATE and Asia-Do. It is set in a fantasy environment and stars Fam and Ihrie, two female treasure hunters working to find the "Ultimate Power".
WSXION 23 LLC, doing business as Section23 Films is an American multimedia distributor based in Houston, Texas specializing in releasing anime and Japanese films. Established in 2009, Section23 is one of five successors to ADV Films; alongside Sentai Filmworks, Switchblade Pictures, Maiden Japan, and AEsir Holdings.
WShinkyoku Sōkai Polyphonica (神曲奏界ポリフォニカ), also known as simply Polyphonica, is a Japanese an all-age visual novel created by Ocelot and first released for Windows on April 28, 2006. Aside from the game, multiple series of light novels have been created, and a manga adaptation started in March 2007. An anime adaptation that aired in Japan between April to June 2007. Another anime adaption aired from April to June 2009, and was a prequel of the events in the first anime.
WSpace Runaway Ideon is a 1980 anime television series produced by Sunrise, created and directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino, produced immediately following his most famous work, Mobile Suit Gundam. It first premiered on TV Tokyo from 1980 to 1981, followed by two feature films in 1982, and was later broadcast in Japan by the satellite TV network Animax from September 2006.
WA Spirit of the Sun is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kaiji Kawaguchi. It is about a resourceful boy, Genichiro Ryu, as he survives a series of natural disasters and collapse of the economy in Japan set in the beginning of the 21st century. It was serialized in Shogakukan's Big Comic from 2002 to 2008, followed by a second part, serialized in the same magazine from 2008 to 2010.
WThis Art Club Has a Problem! or Konobi for short, is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Imigimuru. It focuses on the adventures of the members of Tsukimori Middle School's art club, where only Usami Mizuki cares about art at all. The president is always sleeping, while Uchimaki Subaru is only interested in painting his perfect 2D wife, frustrating Usami. The series has been serialized in ASCII Media Works' Dengeki Maoh magazine since October 2012. A 12-episode anime television series adaptation by Feel aired between July and September 2016.
WTo Heart 2 is a Japanese romance visual novel developed by Leaf and published by Aquaplus. It was first released for the PlayStation 2 on December 28, 2004 as an all-ages title, and was followed by an adult version playable on Microsoft Windows and subsequent all-ages versions for the PlayStation Portable and PlayStation 3. This deviated from the release history of the game's predecessor, To Heart, which was originally released with adult content prior to receiving versions with such content removed. The gameplay in To Heart 2 follows a branching plot line with multiple endings, which offers pre-determined scenarios and courses of interaction based on the player's decisions. Its story centers on the male protagonist Takaaki Kouno, and focuses on the appeal of the female main characters.
WTokyo Magnitude 8.0 is a Japanese animated television series produced by Fuji TV, Asmik Ace, Sony Music Entertainment Japan, Dentsu, Bones, and Kinema Citrus. It first aired on Fuji TV's noitamina timeslot on July 9, 2009, running for 11 episodes until September 17. The anime was directed by Masaki Tachibana, with Natsuko Takahashi handling series composition, Atsuko Nozaki designing the characters and Kow Otani composing the music. The series centers on two young siblings, Mirai and Yūki, and single mother Mari who the two meet in the aftermath of a major earthquake hitting the Japanese capital, placed in the near future (2012). It won the Excellence Prize in the Animation category at Japan's Media Arts Festival in 2009. It was announced that the series has been licensed for a release in North America by Maiden Japan released on April 2013.
WVampire Princess Miyu is a Japanese horror manga series by Narumi Kakinouchi and Toshiki Hirano, as well as an anime adaptation by the same creators. The anime was originally presented in a 4-episode OVA licensed by AnimEigo in 1988, and was later adapted into a 26-episode television series licensed by Tokyopop and released in 1997.
WWacky Science Fiction Series Wandaba Style , shortened to Wandaba Style in the English language release, is a Japanese anime television series animated by TNK. It originally aired from April 5, 2003 to June 21, 2003. The series was released in English by ADV Films and 3 volumes of videos were released on VHS and DVD.
WWXIII: Patlabor the Movie 3 is a 2002 Japanese animated science-fiction/thriller film. It was directed by Fumihiko Takayama and Takuji Endo, written by Miki Tori based on the concept by Headgear, animated by Madhouse and produced by Bandai Visual and Tohokushinsha.
WYona Yona Penguin (よなよなペンギン) is a 2009 3D computer-animated fantasy adventure film produced by the Japanese anime studio Madhouse and sister company Dynamo Pictures. An international co-production of Japan and France, it was Madhouse's first fully 3D CGI film. Rintaro, known for Galaxy Express 999 and Metropolis, directed the project, while French production company Denis Friedman Productions collaborated and helped fund the film.
WYumeiro Patissiere is a shōjo manga and anime series by Natsumi Matsumoto. It began serialization on September 3, 2008, in the October 2008 issue of Ribon. The series ended on June 3, 2011, with a total of 12 tankōbon volumes. The manga won the 56th Shogakukan Manga Awards in the Children's category.