While it is not possible to post every single one of the great New Years artwork posted by various groups and companies in Japan that deal with products covered on this website (A feat that AnimeNewsNetwork has managed to do yet again), I thought I would share a few of my favorites.
5pb Games
5pb has been behind some really great titles this year including the Steins;Gate PSP game and Corpse Party Book of Shadows / 2U.
Alcot
Alcot is a Japanese Visual Novel company responsible for the release of many titles including My Girlfriend is the President and FairChild.
AliceSoft
Unfortunately, the website remains geo-locked to those outside of Japan.
Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae o Boku-tachi wa Mada Shiranai
Message from those who are a part of the ANOHANA Project. The series aired in 2011 as one of the noitaminA series – unfortunately it is one series Siren Visual has so far skipped over despite their picking up of other major noitaminA releases.
Cube
Cube was behind the release of the Japanese-exclusive visual novel Your Diary in 2011. Design looked really good over all and their Christmas greeting image is of the titles main character Yua.
Cuffs
Their latest release was Cafe Sourire which came equipped with their characteristic art-style. From the looks of it, their New Years image features one of the two Mizushima’s from the title.
K-ON
With the first three volumes of the anime being released in the second half of 2011, it might not be the best series I have watched but been very enjoyable nevertheless.
MinatoSoft
With their first release of 2012 being released at the end of this month, MinatoSoft are most certainly jumping into the action!
Nippon Ichi Software
Given how many posts I have made on this company in the last year… do I really need to introduce them?
Tachibana Higuchi
Without a doubt the most memorable project by Tachibana Higuchi is Gakuen Alice, which is sadly in its final arc. This piece of New Years artwork comes bearing the series four “main” characters and the series mascot – Mr. Bear.
Okama
Persona 4: The Animation
2011 turned out highly memorable for the Persona 4 franchise with not only Persona 4 The Golden announced for the Vita, but also another fighting game and the currently airing anime series.
Turumiku
While perhaps being responsible for some of the darker looking visual novel series of 2011, you can’t deny that this artwork is pretty damn cute!
Type-Moon
2011 certainly proved to be another big year for Type-Moon, with the Fate/Zero anime being released as well as several other bits and pieces.
SHAFT
Doubled as a reminder to everyone that Nisemonogatari will begin this month.
Skyfish
Kanoko Sakurakoji
Artwork based on Black Bird, for which they were responsible for producing the manga version.
Humikane Shimada
Artwork based on Strike Witches, for which they were the Original Creator of and behind the Character Designs.
Studio Ghibli
This piece of artwork, celebrating 2012 being the Year of the Dragon was illustrated by Miyazaki himself, and while not being the most exciting in the list is still masterfully drawn.
Digital Cute
In perhaps a bit of a late New Years greeting, Digital Cute provides this rather cute piece of artwork with the character on it being from their upcoming side-scrolling shooter game Let’s Go! Burunyanman Hardcore/Portable on the PC/PSP respectively.
These images are all but the tip of the iceberg, with many people from all roles in the Japanese anime, manga and gaming markets posting artwork to their website or through physical distribution. As I myself cannot simply compile such a large number I strongly advise keeping an eye on the AnimeNewsNetwork homepage, as they are making many updates in terms of them.
