Here is a collection of news briefs for the last week in anime/manga news. These briefs include announcements that would not normally receive their own news thread. Please check the News Board for previous major announcements. Last week's News Briefs can be found here.

Upcoming Anime

Mekaku City Actors
The series has been announced to air April 2014.

Source: New Shounen Brave PV
Previous Related News: Vocaloid Producer Jin's 'Kagerou Project' to Be Animated Under Name 'Mekaku City Actors' by Shaft
News submitted by LoLyeah


Hakuouki Movie 2: Shikon Soukyuu
A key visual on the official site announces that the movie will open in Japanese theaters March 8, 2014.

Source: Official Site


Pokemon XY: Hakai no Mayu
According to a scan from the upcoming February issue of Coro Coro Comic, the movie will open in Japanese theaters July 19, 2014.

Source: Scan via ANN


Kantai Collection: Kan Colle
A few staff members for the series have been announced and are as follows:

Director: Keizo Kusakawa
Series Composition: Jukki Hanada
Studio: Diomedea

Source: Scan via Yaraon


Soul Eater Not!
Some cast members and staff have been announced for the series.

Cast:
Tsugumi Harudori: Haruka Chisuga
Anya Hepburn: Saori Hayami
Meme Tatene: Aoi Yuki

Staff:
Director, Series Composition: Masakazu Hashimoto

Source: Earlbox


Other Anime News

Buddha 2
The upcoming film has been endorsed by the Dalai Lama by saying he is "thankful to have the world of the Buddha be spread by the film."

Source: Anime! Anime!
Previous Related News: Second Anime Film of Buddha Trilogy to Premiere on Feb 8, 2014


Strike Witches
It has been revealed on a blog by Kazuhiro Takamura, director for the series, that a "New Project" for the series will be released sometime in 2014. It was previously announced in October that a new season along with an OVA, tentatively titled "Operation Victory Arrow (O.V.A), were green-lit however no airing dates were given. The "New Project" reveal doesn't specify if whether the new season or the OVA is what will be coming this year.

Source: Yaraon
Previous Related News: Anime 'Strike Witches' to Get New TV Series and OVA


Industry News

Hayao Miyazaki
The latest Simpsons episode pays tribute to Miyazaki and his work by including references from movies Howl no Ugoku Shiro (Howl's Moving Castle), Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi (Spirited Away), Tonari no Totoro (My Neighbor Totoro), along with a few others.

Source: Episode Trailer
News submitted by jimi888