Anime Comments and Reviews

Ataque de Pánico! (Panic Attack!) 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Stormy001) — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 10:13:00 +0000

Wow, this video earns Hollywood attention which promptly offered 30 million USD to the film maker to create a movie (by Sam Raimi no less). Power of Youtube harnessed in right direction. According to sources, this video was made on 300 USD budget. The mecha looks great, to be honest and the story is pretty okay considering it is 5 min short movie.

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Suzumiya Haruhi Movie trailer is out

noreply@blogger.com (Stormy001) — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 06:29:00 +0000

Duly, Haruhi Movie trailer is out and it looks ok to me. But after such damage done by Endless 8 arc, I am not exactly jumping in joy here to be honest. Won't be surprised if the movie prove to be another troll. Heh.

Cheers.

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Unlimited Blade Works Movie on 23 January 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Stormy001) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 08:43:00 +0000

1 more month to Fate movie and poster is already released to announce its coming. I still have doubts about it since the production is the same as the series which not consistent in art direction and some weird scenes (the CG dragon). Slated for 23rd January 2010 release in Japan. The official site have the proper trailer up and looks spiffy.

I wonder how they going to compress the story into movie format to be honest. But heck, I looking forward to see the sword spam between Shirou and Gilgamesh anyway.

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Unique mecha

noreply@blogger.com (Stormy001) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 09:45:00 +0000

LOL! Interesting idea!

anime

Iron Vendetta

noreply@blogger.com (Stormy001) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 08:45:00 +0000

It begins as self published doujin then have some animated pictures which must have attracted some investment, supposedly release an episode this year. However from the site diary, it seems that it will be delayed. Looks pretty somber work with nicely designed mecha which reminds me of Armoured Core ilk. The female characters looks like intense loners by themselves, however not much information can be gleaned so far. All I know is they release a compilation of their production works and stuff, call it "audio picture" in Comicket.

What I do like is the size of the mecha. It is not too ridiculously big and looks like something that is designed for warfare with proper military camouflage, not like Gundams.

Looks pretty impressive but I wonder if the story can live up to the trailers. I will check it out as always when it is out, Hahaha!

Main Site

anime

A radical feminist anime? B型H系 / B Gata H Kei

noreply@blogger.com (Stormy001) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 21:13:00 +0000

Another 2010 anime series is announced and yes, it also caught my attention: B Gata H Kei. The story is a typical school romance but it has interesting twist,this girl who wanted to have multiple (100 to be exact) casual sex partner ends up pursuing only one boy. In fact most of the time, she have perverted fantasies which is highly refreshing considering most of the time females in other series tend to be too innocent to even go as far as this character Yamada did. The cover even shows how defiant Yamada's sexual rebellion is; hands on her hips screaming for attention,legs spread apart with a very determined gaze and a confident smirk.

The premise talks on how aggressive the main character in pursuit of eros which is pretty unusual. Normally this kinda character always end up as side character in most other series or became a "villainess" female fatale type trying to ensnare main character away. It has a very confident feminist streak, something that is traditionally frowned in Japanese, heck Asian culture in general. In this story, her libido is running amok with unrestrained manner.

No other info is available yet, only main voice actress Yukari Tamura is confirmed. It is based on 4 panel manga strip penned by not too surprisingly a female mangaka, Yoko Sanri.

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Moyashimon live action drama soon on Fuji TV

noreply@blogger.com (Stormy001) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 21:15:00 +0000

Ah, the manga and anime caught my heart with eccentric cutesy depiction of mircobes is now given a green light as live action drama TV, to be aired in supposedly prime time in Fuji TV soon next year. The series have a very charming atmosphere provided by funny comments from little germs that main character can see and hear. Of course most people remember his good friend more. (shrugs) Or the lesbian sex scene. Whatever.

I am looking forward to watch the drama, expecting same type of humor and charm from the ilk.

Source

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Thought controlled machine interface

noreply@blogger.com (Stormy001) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 21:03:00 +0000

Wooo, I can see future of power armour here! Thought controlled control systems is getting nearer to reality. Gasaraki or Starship Troopers OVA anyone?

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ソ・ラ・ノ・ヲ・ト/ So-Ra-No-Wo-To

noreply@blogger.com (Stormy001) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 20:37:00 +0000

Hmmmmm

For some reason this story caught my attention, it is a story of a place where continuous war has devastate it and leave it exhausted in future. A 15 year old girl joined a military unit consists of 5 girls, blaring music over towns that is devoid of people and seas that has no fish. Sounds like some pacifist, green hugging story with moe characters thrown in. After witnessing the success of Strike Witches, A-1 Studio might decided to take a plunge with military moe genre? What struck me is people are expecting this to be cheerful and happy brainless moeblob K-On! copy. However, looking at the synopsis, it did not seem this way to me nor the choice of director for the upcoming series. Slated for January 2010 airing.

Director is a dude who did the infamous Elfen Lied, Mamoru Kanbe. The art style looked familiar? It looks like Kannagi because it from same studio, I suppose. Script is by Hiroyiki Hoshino who did Macross Frontier.

I sensing a potential train wreck like Saikano or over-the-top violence and self pity of Elfen Lied. Interesting.

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Summer Wars was honoured in 13th Japan Media Arts Festival Awards

noreply@blogger.com (Stormy001) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 22:32:00 +0000

Mamoru Hosada's Summer Wars won critical acclaim, awarded Grand Prize in Animation by Japanese Ministry of Cultural Affairs. To me, this movie deserves the accolade, it has more tight pacing than Girl Who Leap Time by same director back in 2007. More on this movie review later.

Now let's see what I have covered in this blog that has won the awards or selected by jury, I am pretty gratified that the Japanese government seems to agree with most of my choice. LOL.

1. Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 ( Excellent Prize)
2. Canaan (Jury Selection)
3. Toradora! (ibid)
4. Nodame Cantabile: Paris (ibid)
5. Eden of the East (ibid)

Manga award goes to excellent Saga of Vinland, a Japanese version of Viking story. More on this later too. The award ceremony is scheduled on next year February.

Source
Source no 2

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Break Blade / ブレイクブレイド anime series trailer is out

noreply@blogger.com (Stormy001) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 17:00:00 +0000

I have been reading the manga and it is not bad. I liked the clean art and gritty mecha designs with some Escaflowne taint thrown in. However, I am kinda skeptical on how the anime will able to bring out the story to shine, I am pretty suspicious that it will be another hanging ending type of story since AFAIK, the manga yet to be finished in Japan at the time of this entry was made. There is going to be 6 movies. XEBEC and Production I.G will be tasked in making of the movies, directed by the Fafner guy, Nobuyoshi Hara. (oh no, emo time?) Supervisory Director will be the dude who did Macross 7 (bleh!) and Starship Trooper OVA Tetsuro Amino.

Why I have a feeling that it will be emo pilots with some dosage of music thrown in for good measure while piloting semi realistic mecha? And why they need a Supervisory Director? Sounds like they can't trust the Fafner guy not to emo too much perhaps?

The story centered on tragedy of friendship been torn apart by politics and history, spiced with mecha that runs on magic except for one. The battle scenes in manga is a bit Gundamsque with emphasis on speed and "dueling" as primary combat actions, not really militaristic squad based mecha action like Gasaraki or FLAG.

Let's see how it turns out.

Source

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Fate/Stay Night TV episodes will be reworked and released

noreply@blogger.com (Stormy001) — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 17:06:00 +0000

Right, I heard it from my friend that the studio in conjunction with Unlimited Blade Works movie release will redo 12 episodes of Fate/Stay Night TV series. In an obvious ploy to milk more $$$ from fans, it will be released in the 2 Bluray compilation featuring new versions of song and new animation (I wonder if the awful CG dragon will be re-edited). Set to be released in January 2010.

I am more interested in the movie to be honest. Can't wait to see the sword spammage between Gilgamesh and Shirou.

Source

anime

Go, the dancing robot

noreply@blogger.com (Stormy001) — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 14:22:00 +0000

Awesome dancing robot from Japan.

anime

Wall Street Journal Discussion on State of Anime Industry now

noreply@blogger.com (Stormy001) — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 10:59:00 +0000

Basically this article talks about poor state of animation industry workers and struggling economy as pointed earlier in this blog. Osamu Tezuka pioneering work in anime also brings in the concept of cheap pay for mass production of anime, this is recent result of his vision.

The more detailed link from WSJ.

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A real guy marries a girl from some game...WHAT?

noreply@blogger.com (Stormy001) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:43:00 +0000

Oh humanity! What kinda retarded shit is this?

And Japan was wondering why they are running out of kids now. Basically this dude goes by pseudo name of SAL 9000 marries this character from some game. The rest I leave it to the video to elaborate further.

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Next big series on horizon? Sugar Dark: Umerareta Yami to Shoujo / シュガーダーク

noreply@blogger.com (Stormy001) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:31:00 +0000

Shinichiro Inoue, the president and CEO of the Japanese publisher Kadokawa Shoten, predicted that Enji Arai's Sugar Dark: Umerareta Yami to Shoujo (Sugar Dark: The Buried Darkness and the Girl) light novel will get an anime adaptation.

Story is about a boy named Muoru who has been arrested on false pretext and sent to a cemetery as slave labour. He calls himself the "grave keeper" and meets a beauty named Meria (Maria?). Muoru becomes enchanted with her while he spends his days digging a hole containing the undead monster named "The Dark."

He made the comment at 14th Sneaker Awards Ceremony and it is noteworthy that the last light novel to be bestowed with such honour is wildly popular Suzumiya Haruhi back in 2003. (kyon kun notwithstanding) It is interesting to know that the award only give 4 times in 15 years of its existence.

Perhaps this will be next Kyoto Animation project after K-On! ? Who knows. Kadokawa certainly smelled money in this work and I wouldn't be surprised if the prediction comes true. Just a matter of how soon.

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Sacred Blacksmith / 聖剣の刀鍛冶 utter bullshit on katana superiority

noreply@blogger.com (Stormy001) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:17:00 +0000

I am quite irritated by this trope of Japanese sword is better than Western sword which many, many anime series love to perpetuate. Latest of this is the underwhelming fantasy anime series based on light novels by Isau Miura which is now animated by Mangalobe; Sacred Blacksmith. There is even a scene where the katana cuts thru an axe (!) where the heroine's heirloom longsword broke against it earlier.

Sacred Blacksmith, a new sucky anime series by Mangalobe (Samurai Champloo, Michiko no Hatchin) touting the virtues of katana sword over blunt, European styled longsword. Which is not true. Look below for why I said so:

See? The European longsword might need little more force but it cuts thru the tamesghiri (straw mats) just as effectively as the katana. So the whole fact of "katana is superior than Western longsword" is utter BS. What is more ironic that the katana is often a secondary weapon of real samurai during the civil wars, they prefer to use bow, spears or later on, arquebus to fight in battlefield.

Here is the CONCLUSIVE evidence of the fact, katana versus longsword side by side against the same target:

There? I rest my case now. Oh, Sacred Blacksmith manga is more entertaining than the anime to be honest.

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Spice and Wolf US Novel cover controversy

noreply@blogger.com (Stormy001) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:56:00 +0000

Planned US release which causes so much furore and anger amongst otakus.

The original cover.

Hahahahah, this is rich. I honestly don't know why fans were so angry about original cover for Spice and Wolf translated novel series which is soon to be released in mid-December 2009. To me, it is not important what is on the cover but what is inside. I hardly bothered by cover when I read the novel, I mean it is not manga or comic so pictures are secondary to me, FFS. It is not like Horo will be different when the cover of novel changed, right?

Anyway, I will still grab the novel, regardless of what cover they use.

The rather spirited discussion on this here

Zac Efron in US version of Death Note?

noreply@blogger.com (Stormy001) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:30:00 +0000

The current heart throb actor who is rumored to be in Full Metal Panic! live action movie (Mandalay Pictures) also in talks for Death Note live action. However he did not really confirm anything concrete on these 2, and he dismissed Full Metal Panic! role as "unlikely". So far there is not much news on Full Metal Panic! (most likely still in plan), however I do feel that Death Note has more possibility to be adapted for silver screen treatment. After all, it is already have 2 Japanese live action movies and it is highly popular in US too. Plus, it did not require a lot of special effects too unlike Full Metal Panic!.

Source

Titan Rain

noreply@blogger.com (Stormy001) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:20:00 +0000

Production I.G (man they are rocking hard ain't they?) announced new project in collaboration wth Singaporean company Storm Lion Productions (Yona Yona Penguin) titled Titan Rain, a CG movie. Apparently some interesting names attached to the project:

1. Atsushi Takeuchi (Clone Wars director of General Grevious Lair)
2. Bear McCreary (Battlestar Galactica music composer)
3. Tow Ubukata (Heroic Age, Chevalier d'Eon, Fafner of Azure = OMG emo time?)

Project will be completed around early 2012 for worldwide release. So far what I can tell is it looks like a sci fi movie but information is pretty sparse for now. As usual the male lead is brandishing armour and looks so muscular yet the chick is skimpy. Hehe.

Maritan: Mili-moe?

noreply@blogger.com (Stormy001) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:00:00 +0000

Man, I don't know what to comment. I was laughing out loud watching this and...and...I am speechless. It is even funnier if you watched Full Metal Jacket, most of the punchline came from the fact that these were lines used by a famous Marine, R.Lee Ermey. The Engrish just puts the finishing touch on it. On Youtube there is several short lessons available for watch if you want more Marine cussing moe Drill Instructor.

The blonde white shirt is US Navy, the bespectacled girl is Japanese Self Defense Force.The strip and 4-koma manga started by Yukio Hirai and apparently it is first appeared in 2005 (books and CD format) to teach Japanese on how speak colloquial English (!) using US Marines mascot. It is an innocuous image of squeaky high pitched Japanese Engrish swearing off like a hard bitten Devil Dog but hilarious if somewhat disjointed mental dissonance. Apparently real US Marines stationed in Japan fond of Maritan and contributed some phrases to be used in the publication.

Perhaps she is first strange combination character in mili-moe genre (military + moe). This character is more appealing to me than Strike Witches to be honest.

Main Site

MS Gundam Unicorn HQ Preview

noreply@blogger.com (Stormy001) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:13:00 +0000

Looks great, hopefully the story and execution can live up to it. Though, Super Saiyan Mode Gundam is kinda silly to me, to be honest.

Bungaku Shoujo / 文学少女

noreply@blogger.com (Stormy001) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 13:05:00 +0000

Production I.G work, it caught my interest few months ago. Now the trailer is out so expect the series out by April or May 2010. Looks interesting to me, though the main female lead tendency to eat books horrifies me since it is a sacrilege to destroy books. Yes, she eats pages of her books.

Main Site

Academy Award nominees: Ponyo of the Seas and Astroboy

noreply@blogger.com (Stormy001) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 12:51:00 +0000

For Academy Awards 2009 for animation movies category, 2 anime originated flicks were chosen for nominee candidates, namely Ponyo and Astroboy CG Movie. I haven't watch Astroboy yet but Ponyo to be honest, not really Miyazaki's best work. To me, Princess Mononoke is his magnum opus. Ponyo did not have the same amount of charm and magical moment like Spirited Away nor grittiness and honesty like Princess Mononoke.

But yeah, good luck to Studio Ghibli and Miyazaki sensei anyway.

Source

Independent work anime short

noreply@blogger.com (Stormy001) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:12:00 +0000

"Hiroyasu Ishida, a 21-year-old student who is aspiring to be an animator, has posted on Monday a 143-second "Fumiko no Kokuhaku" (Fumiko's Confession) anime short that he independently directed, animated, edited, and recorded. Ishida (a.k.a. "Tete") received some assistance on the backgrounds, 3D CG textures, in-between animation, and 3D modeling."

A student from KSU, this short showcase timing, detailed animation and uses a simple but right soundtrack (I hear this first time from Ebichu). The scene where the schoolgirl went down the stairs uncontrollably is direct homage to Spirit Away scene where Sen have similar situation, only shorter. This one turns it into one long, elaborate scene. And maybe, maybe I doing a wild guesswork here but the baseball obsessed male lead reminds me of Shinji from Evangelion series.

His personal website.