Viewing Journal: Fullmetal Alchemist (complete)

Series Overview TV Broadcast Info DVD Info Rating: Overall= B+ Story = A- Video = B+ Audio = B

Journal

Way before I first saw Fullmetal Alchemist, I had heard about it through online forums and magazines. From what I read, the show sounded like it was going to be an instant classic; so needless to say, when I got a chance to watch it on Adult Swim, my expectations were set pretty high. I watched the first few episodes and although I really enjoyed it, I wouldn't have put it on my list of all-time greats.

The animation, and music worked well for the show. If there's one thing that I can say about Studio Bones, it's that they always seem to make consistently high quality animation that compliments a story without being distracting. The music was the same way.

So because the story had such high-quality visuals and music, and because it had such an original plot and colorful characters, I gradually got more and more into it.

Then in the fall of last year, I went to the Youmacon anime convention where I got to see a panel discussion with Vic Mignogna, who does the voice of Ed Elric in FMA. During the panel, he sang the praises for the show, and went on and on about how the ending was just so unbelievably shockining and oh my God we were just going to be blown away. So once again my expectations shot sky high, and I eagerly anticipated the series' climax and conclusion.

Well, the show did get better, and I actually was surprised by some of the twists it took. But once again, my expectations put somewhat of a damper on the whole experience. (Not that this is Vic's fault, I'm just saying...)

The last couple episodes included a good climactic showdown between all the key players, but it ended on a cliffhanger with a lot of questions left unanswered. As it turns out, the story is actually going to conclude in the FMA movie. So I gues I'll just have to wait to see what really happens to the Elic brothers when that is released on DVD (and potentially in theatres?) in September.

So regardless of all of my overblown expectations, I really did love FMA and look forward to seeing how the movie wraps things up. It was a solid show and I would definitely recommend to any anime fan.

Viewing Journal: Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex (season 1 complete)

Series Overview TV Broadcast Info DVD Info Rating: Overall= A Video = A Audio = A Story = A

Journal

I love Ghost in the Shell. There's just something about the whole idea behind it that I think has so much potential. The idea that every part of you can be replaced with cybernetic prosthesis -- while not exactly original -- is cool enough. But add to that the fact that even your brain can be cyberized and linked directly to the internet brings up all kinds of opportunity for cool storylines, from the technical (ie, brain hacking), to the philosophical (ie, what remains to identify you as human?).

The original manga was written/drawn by Masamune Shirow, who also acted as a consultant on this first season of the Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex TV series. And if you've ever read the manga you'll notice his influence right from the first episode by the intricately complex plot and engenious use of contrived-but-plausible technological concepts. Those are two things that I just love about any anime because it forces me to think in order to keep up with what is going on, but at the same time is interesting and cool enough to make me want to do that extra mental processing. To me, that just makes the show that much more engaging.

Though, to be perfectly honest, there were points where I was a little lost in the web of political positioning, conspiricies, and character motivations that made up the show. But even at those points, the show never stopped being entertaining due in no small part to Production IG's awesome-as-always animation quality. That coupled with Yoko Kanno's creative and emotional soundtrack gave the show a whole other layer of quality.

The end of the show did seem kind of unexpectantly anticlimactic in a way, but at the same time it was not disappointing and was very enjoyable and satisfying. But anyone expecting a all-out cybernetic brawl will probably be very surprised by how it all turns out.

The only thing that did bug me about the show was the way the episodes were structured. There were "complex" episodes, which involved an overarching storying, and then there were "stand alone" episodes which took place totally removed from the larger story and from each other. Although the episodes themselves were great, you could never tell when you were going to get back to the complex episodes. At first it seemed that there would be a regular pattern (like three standalone, then two complex), but at times you would have long stretches of one or the other. I just wished it was more prectible. But that's really only a relatively minor point and I could even see understand some arguments for doing it the way they did. Regardless it's a small price to pay when everything else is so great.

Overall, I'd recommend the series to anyone, whether or not you are into animation. The intricate plots alone I think are enough to capture people's attention. But the animation and music together with the awesome story -- to me -- make it anime's perfect storm.

Viewing Journal: Le Portrait de Petite Cossette

OAV Overview DVD Info Rating: Overall= D Story = F Video = C Audio = B

Journal

This anime is a perfect example of a show with too much mood. I was struggling to get through the entire DVD (which is only 3 episodes) because to me (1) it was just so boring and (2) it tries too hard to shove it's dark, deep, depressing tone down your throat.

The story revolves around this boy who was supposedly in love with this little girl named Cossette who was in this painting which was painted by this artist who was also madly in love with her and had something to do with her untimely death. Then there were devils and blood and crucifixions up the yin-yang until I just couldn't stand it anymore.

The only saving grace was the music. Yuki Kajiura provided an excellent score which -- when it was there -- helped to somehow balance out the heavy-handed tone and make some scenes tolerable. If you are really interested though, I'd suggest that you just buy the soundtrack and avoid the DVD.

So as you can probably tell, this show isn't high on my list of recommendations. Even so, my guess is that if you are a fan of gothic Edgar-Allen-Poe-type stories, then you may enjoy it. It's not that I don't like that kind of thing myself; it's just that -- as with anything -- when it's so forced, it tends to get annoying.

Reading Journal: Notenki Memoirs

Book Info Rating: Overall= B+

Journal

Let's just get this out of the way now: regardless of the impression the cover might give you, this book is not a behind-the-scenes account of the making of Evangelion. Evengelion doesn't even come into play until near the end of the book where it acts as a sort of climax to the story -- the point at which the animation studio has finally reached its (arguable) pinnacle of fame and success. But there is a lot that happens prior to Eva, and it's all well worth reading.

This book is the story of the birth and development of Gainax -- the animation studio behind classics like Gunbuster, His and Her Circumstances, and of course Evangelion. But this is by no means an objective history. It's told from the point of view of Yasuhiro Takeda, who played a major role in founding the company, but whose name many anime fans -- especially those in the US -- probably don't readily recognize. He basically had a management role more than a anime creation role. He helped produce and run the famous Daicon III and Daicon IV conventions, as well as gather up all the major players that would eventually form the Gainax animation studio.

He admittedly tells the history from his own point of view, with all of the qirks, biases, and potential inacuracies that may come with it.

The thing that may frustrate fans the most about this book is that it covers more than just the animation studio itself. The author was also in charge of running an anime merchandise store as well as a series of conventions. Plus there are some personal stories about when the author had bouts of apathy or depression. And although it helps give a bigger picture of exactly what was going on, at times I just wished he would say (if he knew) what was going on over at the studio.

But among all of that subjectivity there really are some great stories and intriguing info. Plus, there's mention of plenty of big names that many fan will recognize. It's cool to see how so many famous directors got their start there, and how some big-name studios were actually offshoots of Gainax.

At the end of the book there's an interview with Hiroyuki Yamaga, Takami Akai, and Hideaki Anno where they talk about Takeda and how he fit into the group. It really helps round things out by giving you an outside perspective of the author.

All in all, it was a good, enjoyable, well written, insightful book. And it's got enough history and behind-the-scenes anecdotes to keep most any anime fan interested. Even the more personal moments, while frustrating, did not leave me without empathy for the author. Overall, I'd definitely recommend this for those interested in knowing more about Gainax and how it got its start.

Daicon 3 & 4 videos

A while ago I read the Notenki Memoirs which is a book about the founding of Studio Gainax (the creators of Evangelion). One of things it mentions is how back in 1981 and 1983 the Gainax group hosted a couple of anime conventions called Daicon 3 and Daicon 4. It also said that they created orignal anime videos for the openings of those conventions, and how impressed everyone was with them.

Well, I just recently found somewhere you are able to download the videos (or, if you prefer, the YouTube versions are here and here). They are great! Keep an eye out and see how many characters you recognize.

On another note, if you ever saw the 5th episode of FLCL you might remember Haruko flying in to a fight wearing a bunny outfit and shouting "Daicon 5!" You'll see where that scene came from if you watch the Daicon 4 video. (You can see the relevant scene in FLCL in this music video, about 45 seconds in.)

Another homage to Daicon 4 apparently can be found in the Gonzo-produced Densha Otoko opening animation. A comparison of the the two can be found on YouTube.

Watanabe Detroit interview audio online

From Anime News Network

The CBC's Pedro Mendes conducted a 13-minute interview with Shinichiro Watanabe while the Samurai Champloo director was in Detroit. Audio of the full interview, which discusses how hip hop culture intersects with Samurai
Champloo, is available here.

Interview with Evangelion producer

From AnimeNation:

The Mainichi Daily News has published a series of revealing English language articles about the Neon Genesis Evangelion anime, concluding with a revealing interview with Evangelion producer Toshimichi Otsuki.

Evangelion Special: From phenomenon to legacy

Evangelion Special: Genesis of a major manga

Evangelion Special: For producer Otsuki, success not always a bed of roses

Trailers of the Week

• Gunbuster 2 - Volume 5 (info)

Twelve Kingdoms novels coming to US

From AnimeNation:

Newsarama has reported that TOKYOPOP's "Pop Fiction" line of novels will include Otsu Ichi's Calling You, Hiroshi Ishizaki's Chain Mail, both to be released in January 2007, and Fuyumi Ono's Twelve Kingdoms series of novels. The first English translated Twelve Kingdoms novel will be released next March.

Trailers of the Week

• Death Note - new - (info)
• Genko Senki - new - (info)
• Hellsing OVA (info)

Trinity Blood movie showing in Michigan

From Anime News Network:

As with Basilisk, Funimation's upcoming Trinity Blood theatrical release will be a compilation of the first four episodes of the series, with the in-between opening & endings and the eye-catches removed; there will be a full opening and ending at the beginning and end of the movie, which will run approximately 90 minutes.

Unlike Basilisk episode 4, which ends on a cliffhanger, Trinity Blood episode 4 ends a 2-episode arc.

The full theater list for Trinity Blood is not yet available, however the following three National Amusement locations have been confirmed:

The Bridge Cinema De Lux, Los Angeles, CA
Showcase Cinemas Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, MI
Showcase Cinemas Revere, Revere, MA

Funimation is aiming to publicise the full list of theaters farther ahead of the screenings than they did with Dragon Ball Z and Basilisk, which screened in 22 and 13 theaters respectively.

Trinity Blood opens on May 5.

Evangelion Games

• Evangelion Doujinshi Fighter
• Evangelion Clue board game

Viewing Journal: Scrapped Princess (complete)

Series Overview
DVD Info

(interesting in concept, but longer than it should have been; watch it maybe if you have the time)

This show had so much potential. It had a great concept (reminicent of a certain movie <-- click only if you're willing to risk a potential spoiler), and it would have been great if only the episode count was cut in half. So much of this show just seemed to drag on. I wanted to find out what this world of the Scrapped Princess was all about, but it just took forever to get there. Plus, even when it did get to certain key plot points, they just seemed deflated. This may have had something to do with the general animation quality which was consistent, but not anything great. I was really disappointed by Studio Bones for this one. Most everything else of theirs that I've seen (Wolf's Rain, Fullmetal Alchemist), I've enjoyed. Maybe I just set my expectations too high.

The story was pretty interesting though, so maybe check it out if you have nothing better to choose from. Personally, I watched the last half of the show in a marathon viewing, and I'm glad I did because 1.) I wanted to find out how the story turned out, but also 2.) because I just wanted it to be over with so I could move on to better shows.

Trailers of the week

• Oban Star Racers (info)
• Prince of Tennis movie (info)
• Red Line (info)
• Witchblade (info)

Viewing Journal: Elfen Lied (complete)

Series Overview
DVD Info

(Surprisingly good and emotionally gripping; recommended, but be sure to bring a strong stomach)

After watching the first five minutes of this show I uttered two very appropriate words: "Holy Sh**". That may seem vulger to some, but if you can't handle that then there's no way you'd be able to handle the introductory episode of Elfen Lied. It's just blood and guts and death and breasts all over the place for a good portion of the time. And it's not like they show you the attacker and then cut away just before the fatal blow. Oh no. You see cut-up body parts in lovingly-rendered organic detail. And then, just when the facility is just littered with severed limbs to the point where you don't think you can stand the carnage for a second longer, the story takes a twist. It turns the formerly brutal murderer psycho chic into a cute and innocent girl, with no appologies. Talk about WTF.

Of course, after that unnecessarily detailed description, you may be thinking to youself, "Bah! It's just another throwback to the old days of Ninja Scroll and Demon City. I'm not into that kind of thing." Actually, I am not really into that either, but after watching Elfen Lied for a while, I started to feel something other than pure nausia. I felt sympathetic. The show was actually emotionally gripping, for crying out loud. It took while to get to that point because I first had to figure out what the characters motivations were. But after that it seemed more like an effective drama than a strait-out blood bath.

That's not to say that the death let up much. It's just that after a while I saw that there was a point to it other than raw agression. I think the definitive turning point for me was during the whole flashback episode dealing with Lucy and the puppy. I'm not going to spoil it for you. Just watch it yourself and get your heart torn out (emotionally).

Anyway, suffice to say that if you can stand the violence and stuff, I'd really recommend this series. It's the kind of drama that I don't think you could pull off in live action. Only anime could combine nudity, violence, and romance and make it work as a worthwhile drama. I guess that's why I love it.

Viewing/Reading Journal Archives

Viewing Journal

• 5 Centimeters Per Second
• Afro Samurai
• Afro Samurai - Resurrection
• Aim for the Top! / Gunbuster
• Aim for the Top 2! / Diebuster
• Animation Runner Kuromi
• Appleseed - Ex Machina
• Avalon (live action movie)
• Barefoot Gen
• Basilisk
• Batman: Gotham Knight
• Battle Royale (live action movie)
• Beck
• Black Lagoon
• Bleach (episodes 1-25)
• Bleach (episodes 26-51)
• Bleach (episodes 52-74)
• Bleach (episodes 75-97)
• Bleach (episodes 98-120)
• Bleach (episodes 121-143)
• Bleach (episodes 144-167)
• Bleach (episodes 168-189)
• Bleach (episodes 190-214)
• Bleach: Memories of Nobody
• Bleach: The DiamondDust Rebellion
• Blood+
• Brave Story
• Burst Angel
• Casshern (live action movie)
• Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion
• Cutie Honey (live action movie)
• Death Note
• Death Note 1 & 2 (live action movies)
• Densha Otoko (live action movie)
• Densha Otoko (live action TV)
• Devilman (live action movie)
• Durarara!!
• Eden of the East (TV, Movie 1, and Movie 2)
• Elfin Lied
• Ergo Proxy
• Eureka Seven
• Evangelion: 1.0 You Are [Not] Alone (untranslated)
• Fafner
• Fafner - Right of Left
• Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children
• Flag
• Freedom
• Fullmetal Alchemist
• Fullmetal Alchemist - Brotherhood
• Fullmetal Alchemist - Conqueror of Shambala
• Fullmetal Alchemist - Premium Collection
• Fullmetal Alchemist - Sacred Star of Milos
• Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu (episodes 1-6)
• Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu
• Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid
• Fushigi Yuugi
• Fushigi Yuugi - Eikoden
• Fushigi Yuugi - Oni
• Gankutsuou - The Count of Monte Cristo
• GaoGaiGar
• Genshiken
• Genshiken 2
• Ghost Hound
• Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex (season 1)
• Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex: 2nd Gig
• Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex: Solid State Society
• Godannar
• GTO (live action TV)
• Gunslinger Girl
• Gun Sword
• Gurren Lagann
• Hellsing
• Hellsing Ultimate (DVD 1)
• Highlander: The Search for Vengeance
• Honey & Clover (live action movie)
• Honey & Clover (season 1)
• IGPX (season 1)
• IGPX (season 2)
• Initial D (live action movie)
• Irresponsible Captain Tylor
• Irresponsible Captain Tylor (OVA)
• Kaiba
• Kaiji
• Kamichu!
• Karas
• Kurau Phantom Memory
• L Change the World (live action movie)
• Last Order Final Fantasy VII
• Le Chevalier D'Eon
• Lupin III - The First Haul
• Macross: Do You Remember Love?
• Madlax
• Michiko to Hatchin
• Mind Game
• Monster
• Moribito: Gurardian of the Spirit
• Mushi-shi
• My Hime
• Nana 1 & 2 (live action movies)
• Noein
• Otaku no Video
• Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt
• Paprika
• Paradise Kiss
• Petite Cossette
• Ping Pong (live action movie)
• Planetes
• Pumpkin Scissors
• Redline
• Rescue Me: Mave-chan
• Revolutionary Girl Utena
• Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky
• SaiKano: Another Love Song
• SaiKano (live action movie)
• Sakura Wars OVA
• Samurai 7
• Samurai Champloo
• Scrapped Princess
• Seven Samurai (live action movie)
• Shakugan No Shana
• Sin City (live action movie)
• Sky Crawlers
• Skull Man
• Steamboy
• Stellvia
• Strait Jacket
• Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie
• Sword of the Stranger
• Tachigui - The Amazing Lives of the Fast Food Grifters
• TANK S.W.A.T. 01
• Tekkon Kinkreet
• Tenjho Tenge
• The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
• The Hidden Fortress (live action movie)
• The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya
• This Ugly Yet Beautiful World
• Trava Fist Planet
• Trigun: Badlands Rumble
• Trinity Blood
• Tsubasa Chronicle (episodes 1-26)
• Tsubasa / xxxHolic Movie
• Twelve Kingdoms
• Vexille
• Whisper of the Heart
• Wind Named Anmesia
• Witchblade
• X'Amd: Lost Memories
• Yugo the Negotiator
• Yukikaze
• Zipang


• Batch Entry 1: Completed series aplenty
  Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Gad Guard, Gungrave, R.O.D. TV, Texhnolyze, Chrono Crusade, Cutie Honey, Paranoia Agent


• Batch Entry 2: Old stuff and older stuff
  Trigun Limited Edition 1, Evangelion Platinum (complete), Haré+Guu Episode 1, Macross Episode 1, Misakii Chronicles Episode 2, Revolutionary Girl Utena (up to episode 8), Initial D Volume 14

Watched But Not Reviewed

• 100 Meters
• Adolescence of Utena
• Aggretsuko (season 1)
• Ajin: Demi-Human
• Akiba Maid War
• All You Need Is Kill
• Appleseed Alpha
• Appleseed XIII
• Assassination Classroom
• Attack on Titan
• Baccano!
• Back Arrow
• Batman Ninja
• Batman Ninja vs. Yakuza League
• Belle
• Berserk (1997)
• Black Rock Shooter
• Blame! (2017)
• Bleach (live action movie)
• Blood Blockade Battlefront / Beyond
• Blue Giant
• Blue Lock (season 1 & 2)
• Brave Bang Bravern!
• Bubblegum Crisis
• Bungo Stray Dogs (season 1-5, movie)
• Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skills (season 1)
• Carol and Tuesday
• Cells at Work
• Chainsaw Man (season 1)
• Chainsaw Man - The Movie: Reze Arc
• Chaos;HEAd
• Children Who Chase Lost Voices
• Code Geass: Akito the Exiled
• Cromartie High School
• Cyberpunk: Edgerunner
• Dan Da Dan (seasons 1 & 2)
• Danganronppa (season 1)
• Darling in the Franxx
• Darker Than Black (season 1)
• Deadman Wonderland
• Deca-Dense
• Death Parade
• Deer King
• Delicious in Dungeon (seasons 1 & 2)
• Demon Slayer (season 1-4 & movie)
• Devilman Crybaby
• Dr. Stone (seasons 1-3)
• Dragon Dentist
• Drifters (episodes 1-15)
• Erased
• Evangelion 1.0 - You Are [Not] Alone
• Evangelion 2.0 - You Can [Not] Advance
• Evangelion 3.0 - You Can [Not] Redo
• Evangelion 3.0+1.0 - Thrice Upon a Time
• Fable
• Fatal Fury: Legend of the Hungry Wolf
• Fatal Fury 2: The New Battle
• Fatal Fury: The Motion Picture
• Frieren: Beyond Journey's End (seasons 1 & 2)
• From Up On Poppy Hill
• Fruits Basket (2019)
• Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood - OVA Collection
• GaoGaiGar: Final
• Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet
• Ghost in the Shell: The New Movie
• Giant Robo - The Day the Earth Stood Still
• Guilty Crown
• Gun Gale Online
• Godzilla 1: Planet of the Monsters
• Godzilla 2: City on the Edge of Battle
• Godzilla 3: The Planet Eater
• Hajime No Ippo (Episodes 1-92)
• Haikyu! (seasons 1-4)
• Harlock: Space Pirate (CG movie)
• Heavenly Delusions (season 1)
• Hellsing Ultimate
• Hell's Paradise (season 1)
• Hunter x Hunter (2011)
• Hunter x Hunter: Phantom Rouge
• Hunter x Hunter: Last Mission
• Inferno Cop
• Inuyashiki: Last Hero
• Jojo's Bizarre Adventure (parts 1-6)
• Josee, the Tiger and the Fish
• Jujutsu Kaisen (season 1 & 2)
• Jujutsu Kaisen 0
• Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress
• Kaguya-sama:Love Is War
• Kenshu
• Kill La Kill
• Knights of Sidonia
• Kowloon: Generic Romance
• Lazarus
• Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These
• Look Back
• Love is War
• Lu Over the Wall
• Macross
• Macross: Do You Remember Love?
• Made in Abyss (season 1 & 2)
• Made in Abyss: Dawn of the Deep Soul (movie)
• Mary and the Witch’s Flower
• Mashle: Magic and Muscles (season 1)
• May I Ask for One Final Thing?
• Megalobox
• Megazone 23 - Part 1
• Mirai
• Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack
• Mobile Suit Gundam: Gquuuuuux
• Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway
• Mobile Suit Gundam Movie Trilogy
• Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbold: December Sky
• Mobile Suit Gundam: Witch from Mercury
• Mob Psycho 100
• Monsters: 103 Mercies Dragon Damnation
• My Hero Academia
• My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising
• My Hero Academia: Two Heroes
• My Hero Academia: World Heroes Mission
• My Hero Academia: You're Next
• Naruto (Seasons 1-3)
• Night on the Galactic Railroad
• Nippon Sangoku(season 1)
• No Guns Life (seasons 1-2)
• Odd Taxi
• Old Boy (live action movie)
• One Piece (live action season 1-2)
• One Piece Fan Letter
• One Punch Man (seasons 1-2)
• Orbital Children
• Oshi No Ko (season 1 & 2)
• Ping Pong
• Pluto
• Ponyo
• Promare
• Promised Neverland
• Psycho-Pass
• Puella Magi Madoka Magica
• Ranking of Kings
• Record of Lodoss War
• Ringing Bell
• Rising of the Shield Hero (season 1)
• Roberta's Blood Trail
• Rock is a Lady's Modesty
• Ruroni Kenshin - New Kyoto Arc
• Ruroni Kenshin Part 1: Origins (live action movie)
• Ruroni Kenshin Part 2: Kyoto Inferno (live action movie)
• Ruroni Kenshin Part 3: Legend Ends (live action movie)
• Ruroni Kendhin Part 4: The Final (live action movie)
• Ruroni Kenshin Part 5: The Beginning (live action movie)
• Scott Pilgrim Takes Off
• Secret World of Arrietty
• Serial Experiments Lain
• Sgt. Frog (episodes 1-13)
• Shin Godzilla (live action movie)
• SK8 Infinity
• Solo Leveling (season 1 & 2)
• Space Adventure Cobra (movie)
• Space Battleship Yamato (live action movie)
• Space Dandy
• Spy Family (season 1)
• SSSS Gridman
• Star Wars: Visions (seasons 1 & 3)
• Steins;Gate
• Summertime Rendering
• Summer Wars
• Sword Art Online (seasons 1 & 2)
• Tagopi's Original Sin
• Tatsuki Fujimoto 17-26
• Tekkaman Blade
• Tekkaman Blade 2 (OAV)
• Terminator Zero
• Terror in Resonance
• The Boy and the Beast
• The Devil Is a Part Timer!
• The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya
• The Great Pretender (season 1)
• The Night Is Short, Walk On Girl
• The Secret World of Arrietty
• The Summer Hikaru Died
• The Wind Rises
• They Were 11
• Tiger and Bunny
• Thunderbold Fantasy (TV series & movies)
• Tokyo Revengers (season 1)
• Trigun Stampede/Stargaze
• Vinland Saga (season 1-2)
• Vivy: Fuorite Eye's Song
• WataMote
• Wind Breakers (episodes 1-13)
• Witch Hat Atelier (season 1)
• Wolf Children
• Yuri!!! On Ice
• ZOM 100 (season 1)

Reading Journal

• Battle Royale
• Blame!
• Death Note
• Death Note 13: How to Read
• Dreamland Japan
• Genshiken
• GTO
• Manga! Manga! The World of Japanese Comics
• Monster
• Neon Genesis Evangelion: Angelic Days
• Notenki Memoirs
• Pluto
• Rurouni Kenshin
• Tekkon Kinkreet: Black & White
• The Twelve Kingdoms - Volume 1: Sea of Shadow
• The Twelve Kingdoms - Volume 2: Sea of Wind
• The Twelve Kingdoms - Volume 3: The Vast Spread of Seas
• Town of Evening Calm, Country of Cherry Blossoms
• Trigun / Trigun Maximum

Read But Not Reviewed

• 20th Century Boys
• Battle Angel Alita: Last Order
• Battle Angel Alita: Mars Chronicle (volumes 1-6)
• Berserk (volumes 1-41)
• Chainsaw Man
• Dr. Stone
• Drops of God (volumes 1-5)
• GTO: 14 Days in Shonan
• GTO: The Early Years
• Hellsing
• Hikaru No Go
• Naussica Of The Valley Of The Wind
• Neon Genesis Evangelion
• One Piece (volumes 1-111)
• One Punch Man (volumes 1-27)
• Pluto
• Twelve Kingdoms - Volume 4: Skies of Dawn
• Yotsuba& (volumes 1-13)

Fullmetal Hellsing

I found this randomly while surfing the net. The artist's website is pretty impressive (watch out though because there's some hentai stuff in there).

Metroid manga flash

From Ohnoes:

In a recent bout of Metroid obsession (something I am very prone to), I discovered something that I had never seen before; a Metroid e-Manga. It’s in Japanese by the way. For a non-flash English translation, go here. It tells about the origins of Samus, and how she was adopted by the Chozo, but not much else.

Volume 1
Volume 2

Why I care: Wow. Nastalgia. Pretty cool. Apparently Johny Woo is directing a live action movie too.

Eureka 7 (and Bleach) broadcasts

From AnimeNation:

Mediaweek has reported that Adult Swim will broadcast Eureka 7 and Bleach.

Adult Swim Fix has announced that the Eureka 7 anime series will become available for online viewing on April 14th.

Bandai Entertainment has announced plans to revive its former online retail outlet AnimeVillage. Beginning April 16th, AnimeVillage will host episodes of Eureka 7 for streaming online viewing for one week per episode. Episodes will also be available to purchase for download. AnimeVillage will also serve as an online retail store, offering Bandai Entertainment products at discounted prices.

Why I care: With Fullmetal Alchemist and Samurai Champloo over, people are going to be itching for something to fill the void. So Eureka 7 is going to be huge this year. So's Bleach.

Ghost in the Shell: Solid State Society trailer

From AnimeNation:

Anime fan Danny Choo's homepage now hosts a camcorder recording of the trailer for Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex - Solid State Society. The footage from the new anime begins 1:30 into the video clip.

Why I care: Maybe I should just group all the Ghost in the Shell stuff in one post, eh?

Viewing Journal: Genshiken (complete)

Series Overview
DVD Info

(great; if you are an otaku, watch it...if you are not an otaku but know one, this may give you some insight)

I've read a lot of reviews that compare watching the Genshiken anime (as well as reading the original manga) to hanging out with a group of good friends. Now, to me, that sounds like some of the cheesiest cheese of a review that has ever been written about anything. But after having watched the show, I really have to admit that, cheese or no cheese, that is probably about as accurate a description as you can get. Seriously.

Now, to be perfectly honest, I don't personally know a lot of other anime/manga fans, so I guess I can't say that I have a lot of real-life reference material to go off of; but I don't think that matters. The thing that made this show feel more like a social engagement than a narrative is the fact that I (and probably most any fan out there) could find a lot to relate to in the characters. That deep, dark, hardcore otaku in me connected with a lot of members of the Genshiken group. The very fact that I don't have a lot of otaku comrades probably made the show that much more socially cathartic for me.

That aside though, the show is actually very well written. It's not chaotic, like some character-driven dramas can be. Each episode had a natural flow, but also had a good structure. And I've read some reviews that said the show didn't have a satisfactory ending, but I disagree. I thought it ended at as logical a point as you can have, with the torch being passed to the next generation of fan, sort of speak. Regardless, I heard that there is going to be a second season, and the US release of the manga has already passed the point where the anime ended. So there will be plenty of Genshiken to come anyway, which I am very thankful for.

iPloo and iMotoko

iPod advertisement spoofs (here's the rest):

Thanks J.

New Brave Story trailer

From AnimeNation:

The official homepage for the anime movie Brave Story now hosts a new, long trailer. Click the second option to the left at the bottom of the Japanese site then choose trailer #2. The movie is scheduled for release on July 8th.

Why I care: Because the trailer looks so frigging cool! Why else?

Details on new Ghost in the Shell animation

From AnimeNation:

Production IG has confirmed that Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex - Solid State Society will be a 100 minute long production. The studio anticipates having the new production completed by this summer, but has not yet decided if the new anime will be broadcast on television, released straight to home video, or released as a theatrical movie. The first "promotion image" for Solid State Society will be revealed on March 26th at the Tokyo International Anime Fair.

From Anime News Network:

The 100-minute (tentative running time) movie takes place in 2034, two years after the refugee riot incident. A significantly larger Section 9, with over 20 new officers, investigates terrorist actions related to a wizard-like hacker “Kugutsu Mawashi.”

Why I care: Read my incoherent blabberings here.

Monster live action movie

This is old news, but I didn't notice it until just recently.

New Line Cinema is planning on producing a live action movie based on the Monster manga. Apparently there is already an anime, but it's currently not licensed for release in the US.

Why I care: I just started reading the manga and it's really good. Another one -- like Death Note -- that I think would have the potential for cross-audience appeal because the story is easy to follow, and shows that a manga can be adult without having to be that kind of adult (at least not in volume 1). Plus, it's a suspense story which is a genre that is always popular with the masses. I've only read the first volume thus far, but I'm looking forward to what's to come.

Viewing Journal: Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu (complete)

Series Overview
DVD Info

(frigging hilarious; recommended)

Hands down, this has to be the funniest anime series I have ever seen. Hell, it ranks up there with the best live action US sitcoms. And what's even better is that the further I got into the series, the funnier it got. By the last two episodes I was just dying!

I really wish that there were more shows like this. I mean, sure there are plenty of comedy animes out there, but so few of them really have the kind of character interaction and comedic timing that gets me to consistently laugh. Maybe it was something in the original novels/manga that gave this series the material that set it apart. Whatever it was, I wish other shows could glean something off of this one.

I just looked up the director, Yasuhiro Takemoto, to see what else he's done. Apparently he did Hare+Guu as well. I saw the first episode of that show on a Newtype DVD, and it was pretty funny. Maybe I should check out the rest of it to see if it's as good as Fumoffu.

Dinner with Evangelion's Lilith

Messed up picture of the day; from Gainax's official website:

3rd season of Ghost in the Shell confirmed

From AnimeNation:

Production IG has revealed plans to formally announce a new anime project titled "Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex: Solid State Society" at the Tokyo International Anime Fair later this month.

Why I care: Oh my God! I love Stand Alone Complex and am so happy they are making a third season I may just spontaneously combust from the overstimulated joy sensors in my brain overheating (assuming such things exist). So far the second season has been even better than the first season, and if the next iteration can top that then I may forsake Catholicism and make Production IG my focus for a new world religion. Though, I don't want to build up my expectations too much... (Too late?)

[ UPDATE: 2-D reviews Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex: Solid State Society ]

VIZ licenses Bleach anime

According to Ain't It Cool News:

Anime on DVD and C21 Media report that Viz has acquired the anime license to Bleach, one of the most popular new action anime series. The company plans to market the anme to teens, and Adult Swim has mentioned that it would fit perfectly with their line-up a-la InuYasha.

Anime News Network has also posted the official press release from Viz.

Why I care: Speaking of Youmacon, I saw the first 10 episodes of Bleach there last year and thought it was pretty good. I don't know if I'm going to go totally ga-ga over it like I do with so many other shows, especially since it's such a long-running series and I don't like having to dedicate that much time/money to one show (with the exception of maybe Rurouni Kenshin). But since it will likely be on Adult Swim, I'm not too worried about it. We'll see.

Youmacon 2006

According to the anime convention's official website, Youmacon 2006 will take place on November 3-5, at the Hilton in Troy, Michigan.

Why I care: I know that this is a small convention relative to, say, Otakon, but it's local and you have to support your local anime events. Plus, I had a blast at the last one, so why wouldn't I go?

Final Fantasy VII remake??

From AnimeNation:

Reportedly during the recent Final Fantasy XII launch event held in Shibuya, Tokyo, Square Enix president Yoichi Wada confirmed that a Playstation 3 remake of Final Fantasy VII is "likely to happen" in response to massive consumer demand. Square Enix, Wada said, is presently "examining the possibility."

Why I care: What the heck am I even bothering to finish the original game for (yes, I am still sludging thorugh it) if I'm just going to have to start over again with a remake? Not that this devious marketing ploy will manipulate me into actually buying a Playstation 3 anyway, so maybe it doesn't matter. That's not to say that I wouldn't want to get the new platform, it's just that I don't want to get sucked into the video gaming black hole again. Anime and manga already take a good chunk of time out of my life...not to mention that attempt to create a little something of my own. Oo... the mystery. :eye roll:

New Production IG anime

According to Anime News Network, Production IG's new anime is tentatively titled "Chevalier D'Eon". Here's a summary:

18th Century, just before the French revolution, multiple religious cults of the dark side were engaged in secret maneuvers under the name of Revolution."Le Chevalier D'Eon" (Knight D'Eon) a diplomat and a special agent working for Louis XIV, is fighting against those cults, and also on a mission to find the killer of his own sister. A mysterious cult organization called “Rose Cross” stands in his way, using vicious powers to create a dark creature, “Gargoyle” to over take Europe....

ANN goes on to mention that "Le Chevalier d'Eon, Charles de Beaumont (b.1728 d.1810), was a real-life diplomat and spy in 18th century Europe, most famous for being of questionable gender...It was not until his death that doctors confirmed that he was a man."

Why I care: I haven't exactly been covert regarding my vast respect for animation studio Production IG; so mentioning this new anime should really come as no surprise. I haven't been fond of all the studio's works in terms of their storylines (IGPX, Kaidomaru); but their animation quality is always top notch so anything that comes out of them will always catch my attention.

Viewing Journal: Samurai Champloo (complete)

Series Overview
DVD Info

(fun, exciting, and original -- just try not to compare it to Cowboy Bebop; recommended)

I'm not sure why, but for some reason Shinichiro Watanabe -- the director of Samurai Champloo (as well as Cowboy Bebop and Macross Plus) -- is really good at mixing genres. Not everyone can pull it off, but when he does it, it's always fun to watch.

I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that he is not a big anime fan. That's not to say that he doesn't appreciate anime (his favorite is Lupin III), it's just that he is more into live action films. That's what he said during that panel discussion a while ago anyway. He grew up on watching tons of American and Japanese films. The only reason he got into anime instead of live action filmmaking was because he heard that anime was "easier". So, again, I wonder if that is what makes his style seem so different from other directors.

Regardless, Samurai Champloo was was a great show. The characters were cool, and the fighting was a blast to watch. Mugen's fighting style has been compared to breakdancing and -- although the director hadn't heard about it until after the series was complete -- many fans apparently thought that his style was based on capoeira which is an kind of African martial arts. Whatever the case, Mugen's moves were so unpredicatable and wild, while still seeming somewhat plausible; and that's a big part of what made it so fun to watch.

Jin's fighting was just the opposite (the "wild" part, not the "fun to watch" part). It was clean and crisp, and although I'm sure Watanabe just developed it in order to balance out Mugen's style, it still had an appeal all its own. Both the characters' attitudes reflected their fighting styles, so even when they weren't fighting and were just ripping on one another verbally, it was almost just as fun.

All in all I had a good time watching it. The only downside was that I was constantly comparing it to Cowboy Bebop. And that isn't fair because -- although Mugen and Spike share some similarities -- it's a totally different story.

As a final note, I just want to say that my wife -- who is not an anime fan -- liked it too. So even non-otakus might want to check it out to see just how cool the show is.

Oh yeah... one final final note. This was the last series I needed to wrap up before I was able to start watching new series! Thank God! I really don't think I ever want to make that "deal" again, if for no other reason than it creates such a huge frigging backlog of titles to watch. Can you say "anime viewing marathon"?

CLAMP explains X manga hiatus

From Anime News Network:

MangaNews has translated part of an interview with CLAMP in which they offer an explanation as to why they ceased working on their epic, apocalyptic manga X. The group attributes the break to various real world tragedies and disasters that parallels their story and a reluctance to change their plans based on the requests of their editor and publisher.

Why I care: I'm not really interested in this as it relates to the X/1999 manga since I never read it and thought the anime movie/series were only okay. But what I did find interesting was CLAMP's reason for putting the ending of the manga on hold. It wasn't so much due to any creative dry-spells or attempts to build tension among the readers. It was actually due to world events, along the same lines of 9/11 when certain movies were put on hold so the audience wouldn't be reminded of the tragedy. Although, one could argue that events like that just make the story all that much more "relevant". I can't help but wonder whether or not anyone would have really noticed/cared if the story was ended on schedule.

Appleseed sequel and TV series

From Anime News Network:

Production is underway for a sequel to the Appleseed film, as well as a TV series based on the franchise, according to an interview with Masamune Shirow in the latest Kikan-S magazine. LA's Axis Entertainment first announced the plans in December 2004.

Why I care: I really don't care since I didn't like the movie (though I did enjoy much of the original manga). It's more like I'm shocked that the movie generated enough support to justify expanding the franchise with both a sequel and a series. Maybe they're just betting they can do better this time around.

MTV covers Yaoi

From AnimeNation News:

MTV has published a primer on yaoi anime and manga and its introduction into America. The article is supplemented by a two minute long streaming video.

Why I care: I love explaining Yaoi to people who have never heard of it, then, just as the look of disgust starts to form on their face, explaining the it is written by women for women readers, and that most of those readers are young teenage girls who absolutely love it. Seeing people's expression after explaining all that is just priceless. :D

Viewing Journal: Stellvia (complete)

Series Overview
DVD Info

   (Maybe, maybe not)

I really didn't like this show very much; but still, I can't say that it was all that bad either. (Huh?)

The series takes place in the year 2167, after a radiation wave from an exploding supernova has decimated most of the Earth's population. As it turns out, there is a "Second Wave" approaching which threatens to annihilate the rest of humanity. In order to prevent this disaster, candidates train aboard space stations to take part in the "Great Mission," which is meant to prepare a final defense for the Earth.

The show starts with the arrival of a new class aboard the Stellvia space academy. Shima Katase is one of these new recruits and the series mainly focuses on her struggle to master her skills to take part in the "Great Mission."

All this talk about disaster and destruction may sound exciting, but its mostly a lot of waiting and preparing. In fact, "waiting" seems to be the overall theme. In the first half of the series, the world is waiting and preparing for this "Second Wave". But after that, there is yet another disaster that the crew of the Stellvia has to wait for. I think the creators of the show want you to focus more on what is happening during those interim periods instead of on the disasters themselves. But that didn't really work for me. I just wanted them to get to the disasters and be done with it.

Not that the waiting periods were horribly boring. They mainly involved the budding friendships and romance among the classmates, and their personal struggles to master the skills they needed for the mission. There wasn't a lot of interpersonal strife; just a few misunderstood intentions between friends, and some students' angst over not being able to meeting their own expectations. The characters tried to give support by constantly telling each other to "just do your best!" Its actually kind of refreshing to see that in anime every so often; and taken in a different context, I might have enjoyed it. But I couldn't help but think that it was all just filler before the main event.

So like I said, I can't really call this a bad show, because I can see where you might enjoy it if you don't focus too much on the disaster aspect. It just didn't work for me personally.

Man! This may very well be my most useless review ever.

Viewing Journal: Twelve Kingdoms (complete)

Series Overview
DVD Info

   (Great, highly recommended for all audiences)

What an enjoyable series this was. It was actually kind of weird and confusing at first, but once you really get into it and all the intracacies of the 12 Kingdoms are explained, it really shines as one of the most involving and well-thought-out anime I've seen in a long time.

The main story arc involves a normal Japanese girl named Yoko who is "spirited away" to another world (along with a couple of her friends) where she is meant to ascend to the thrown of one of its 12 kingdoms. The group eventually gets seperated, and Yoko tries to navigate her way through the world in order to find out just what the heck is going on. Meanwhile the man who brought her to this world, Kaki, is himself trying to find Yoko so she can take her rightful place as queen.

Sounds straitforward enough, right? Well, maybe it is, but I defy anyone to jump into the middle of this series and make sense of anything that anyone is talking about. I say this because the world that the story takes place in has its own set of rules, including a whole dictionary's worth of vocabulary. Make no mistake, this is a series where you have to listen to what's being said and mentally reference back to concepts you've learned previously. Thankfully, from time-to-time, the show makes sure to give you a summary of the concepts that you should know up to that point. Don't let this scare you away though. All of the rules are meant to keep the world in balance. Even the world itself is designed in an unnaturally symentrical design. And this struggle for balance is part of what drives the story and makes it so enjoyable to watch.

The other thing that makes the story great is seeing the characters gradually develop and change due to their experiences. Yoko changes drastically from the weak-minded, easily-influenced girl she is at the beginnig into a strong, compationate, independent-minded ruler. Other characters in the story develop along similiar lines as well. And the change isn't sudden or unnatural either. It's gradual over time as they make mistakes and learn from them that they start to change their attitudes and personalites. It's that tendency for the characters to change -- I think -- that really pulls you into the story.

So this is probably one of my favorite series of all time. In fact, the only issue I really have with it is that there isn't more. The main arc involving Yoko is resolved, but there it seems like there is more that can be told (one of the minor story arcs isn't even resolved at all. :( ). I know that the show is based on a series of novels, so hopefully those books will get translated and brought state-side eventually.

All in all, this was a great series and I had really had fun watching it. I would highly recommend it for otaku and non-otaku alike.

Viewing Journal: IGPX - season 1 (complete)

Series Overview
TV Broadcast Info
DVD Info

(Disappointing; not recommended)

* Note 1: I've just seen the 13 episodes shown on Cartoon Network thus far. I have not seen the original mini-series and I don't know if there are going to be any further episodes past 13.

* Note 2 [6/19/06]: I just found out that they are going to be contintuing the series. The first episode of the new season starts today.

This show seemed okay at first. But after I got over the initial "Wow" of the cool visuals, there really wasn't much that kept my interest.

The story revolves around an event called the IGPX (Immortal Grand Prix) that combines Grand Prix racing with battling robots. As an idea, it sounds kind of cool, but the general concept isn't sufficiently developed. For one thing, it never goes into the kind of technical or strategic details that make other battle-oriented shows worth watching (two that come to mind are Initial D and Rurouni Kenshin). I kept getting frustrated with the coach for Team Satomi because he was supposed to be this great, experience racer, but the only advice he ever gave his team was stuff like "do your best" or "we have to win" or "you have to have heart" (although I don't know if he actually literally said any of that stuff), and while that kind of thing may give some people warm fuzzies, it just seemed to me like a way for the series writers to BS their way out of doing any actual work.

But even so, you can have an underdeveloped concept and superficial characters and still have a worthwhile anime if you have intense fight scenes. You know -- the kind of fighting that builds the tension to a crescendo and may or may not end in an explosion. You don't need technical minutiae for that kind of thing, all you need is cool, powerful weapons and driven characters. But in order to have a convincingly driven character, he or she has to be like that all the time -- ie, they can't be wishy-washy or weak-willed. IGPX characters were nothing like that. Pretty much everyone -- scar or no scar -- came off looking weak. So even in the final battle of the series when the characters are screaming each other's names in fits of rage, it was too-little-too-late.

The only thing that really made me keep watching this show was the fact that it was animated by Production I.G. And -- true to form -- the studio did make it look great. But you can pretty much watch the first two episodes and see everything that is worth seeing in terms of the visuals. After that, there really isn't anything new.

So suffice to say I was very disappointed by this series. Hopefully Cartoon Network and Production I.G will learn their lesson from this. Anime is anime and US animation ... isn't. Trying to combine the just doesn't seem to work.

Death Note movie trailer

The trailer for the live action Death Note movie is now available via Warner Brothers' official website. To see the trailer, go to into the site and click the TV in the right side of the screen, then click the button on the TV.

Why I care: I'm current working on reading the third volume of the Death Note manga and I love it, so I am looking forward to seeing this movie when it comes States-side (if not before).

Eureka 7 website opens

From Toon Zone:

Bandai launched the official English site for Eureka 7, a 2005-2006 mecha anime. Among the features on the site include story and character info, a trailer, wallpapers, and more. You can visit the site at the following address: http://eurekaseven.bandai-ent.com/.

The first DVD volume of Eureka 7 streets on April 25th.

More details on the DVD release from AnimeNation:

Bandai Entertainment has officially announced plans for a domestic release of Eureka Seven anime, manga, and music. Bandai will release the first Eureka Seven DVD on April 25th in a $24.98 disc only edition and a $59.98 disc with collector's box, t-shirt, manga with exclusive cover, and CD soundtrack.

In addition to the DVD release set for April 25th, Bandai Entertainment Inc. has plans to release two manga series, a four volume adaptation of the series storyline and a two volume series based on the Eureka Seven video game prequel story, as well as a stand alone soundtrack. There are also plans in the works to broadcast the series on a premier TV network.

Why I care: I've seen the first few episodes of this series via fan-sub downloads, and judging just from that, it's going to live up to the hype. Plus the series was produced by my second favorite anime studio -- Studio Bones -- so I'm pretty excited to see the rest of this one.

Presenting OS-tan

This is old but still pretty funny.

The OS-tan or simply OS Girls are the personification of several operating systems (OSes), most famously Windows, by various amateur Japanese artists. A pure fan creation, the appearance of each OS-tan is generally consistent across artists. OSes are almost always portrayed as women, the Windows girls usually as sisters, despite sometimes seeming the same age... (more)

Meet the creator of Evangelion... sort of

You can have your very own Hideaki Anno to pose and admire in all his articulated glory. This figure depicts the renowned director as Ultraman from Daicon Film's 1983 production "The Return of Ultraman". Never before has plastic been able to capture such amazingness as with this glorious action figure. You just might sell your soul and disown yourself for the opportunity to own this fine specimen of geekery. This limited edition figure is available from the Mediacom Toy Corporation.

See EvaMonkey for the images.

Why I care: Because it's hilarious. Plus, I finished reading Notenki Memoirs a few months ago, which is the story of the creation of studio Gainax, and it talks all about the Daicon and Ultraman stuff. I definitely recommend the book if you're a Gainax fan, BTW.

Battle Angel movie updates

From Anime News Network:

The February 24 issue of Entertainment Weekly has an article on the next two James Cameron projects. The deal with Twentieth Century Fox was to do both projects, so that one wouldn't be done without the other."We couldn't do one unless we do both," says Cameron. "They use the same technology."

The technology that Cameron is speaking of is a brand-new high-definition 3-D. Cameron hopes to have at least 1,000 theaters capable of showing HD-3D by the time the movies are released, but fans shouldn't worry because there will be standard 2-D prints made.

According to the article Battle Angel is slated for a 2009 release.

And from AnimeNation:

Ain't It Cool News has reported that director James Cameron personally admitted that he's still undecided whether his next film project will be Battle Angel Alita or his original science fiction film Avatar. Both movies will be shot back-to-back using state of the art digital 3D cameras, and Cameron has stated that his Lightstorm Studio has already produced full 3D CG models of Alita that he's satisfied with. Cameron also confirmed again that he plans to make Battle Angel a movie trilogy.

Why I care: Because I love the Battle Angel Alita manga and pray to God that Cameron doesn't screw this up.

Tales of Earthsea trailer

From AnimeNation:

French fan site Catsuka now hosts a downloadable 3 minute long theatrical trailer for Studio Ghibli's upcoming film Gedo Senki (Tales of Earthsea). The video clip, recorded from an exclusive Japanese TV broadcast on the "Zoom in Super" program, is in Real Media format.

Why I care: This should be an interesting release from Ghibli since the movie was directed by Hayao Miyazaki's son, Goro Miyazaki. And from the trailer it just looks like a Miyazaki movie, so you can tell that the son was obviously influence by the father. Then add to that the fact that Hayao is totally against the idea of his son directing, which for some reason makes me want to see the movie all the more...

Godzilla and everything else you can think of

The Ultimate Showdown.

Thanks J.

Trailer for new Mamoru Oshii movie

From Anime News Network:

The official website for Mamoru Oshii's upcoming Tachiguishi-retsuden (Tachigui The Amazing Lives of the Fast Food Grifters) is online here. According to the site's new section, Tachigui will be released theatrically on April 8. The movie will be produced in "superlivemation," a mixture of photography, animation and digital puppetry. A trailer can be seen here. Production I.G has an English language page deadicated to the film here.

Why I care: Oshii's films are always worth checking out, if for no other reason than that there are few directors I know who can make such strait-forward plots seem so deep and look so good.

Advent Children Release Date

From Animenation:

1up has published a seemingly authoratative English dub cast list for the Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children motion picture and reported that the film will be released on American DVD and UMD on April 25th. According to the report, the American release will also include the original Japanese language dialogue track with optional English subtitles.

Why I care: Because it helps me know how much time I still have before I have to finish the Final Fantasy VII video game, which I've been (pitifully enough) working on since back in 1997. Knowledge of the game is apparently a prerequesite to being able to enjoying the movie.

So I got to see the Shinichiro Watanabe lectures...

My wife and I originally went to the Detroit-area Shinichiro Watanabe "lecture" (it was more like a panel discussion) at the DIA on Wednesday, but unfortunately we had to leave early to go to a concert. However, I did get a chance to hear a few things before leaving. For instance Mr. Watanabe mentioned that one of his big musical influence as a kid was the band KISS (ie, "Detroit Rock City"). On a related note, he said that he always pictured Detroit as looking like it does on the Destroyer album cover -- but of course he's glad that it really doesn't.

The panel leader then asked a series of questions. For instance he asked Mr. Watanabe why his work has such universal appeal. Watanabe said that always wondered that himself but only recently came up with an idea about it. He said that one of his big movie influences was Dirty Harry. So, he said, maybe everyone has a little bit of Dirty Harry in them and that's why people can relate to his work.

Not too long after that question, I had to leave for the concert. The worst thing was that the concert was horrible, so it wasn't even worth missing the talk. In fact, I was so upset by missing it that I skipped out of work early the next day to travel an hour-and-a-half to MSU to see the second lecture!

Here's a decent summary of that talk if you're interested in the details. One of the more amusing things from both talks was that the professors who were leading the panels kept asking these long drawn-out, convoluted questions, so Mr. Watanabe kept having to say, "Okay... so what was the question again? Can't you make it shorter?"

Luckily , I eventually got the opportunity to ask a question of my own. But when they called on me I was so nervous that my mind went blank, and I think I was just babbling incoherent nonesense at first. When I finally was able to regain some of my composure, I asked what he thought the main differences between American movies and Japanese movies were, and also what did he think it took to create a truly great film in either country. He said, "that's a good question" (to which I almost peed my pants in joy) then said that one big difference was that US films tend to have a much bigger budget than Japanese films, "but I don't think that's the kind of answer you were looking for". He followed up by saying that American films seem to feel the need to explain every detail, while Japanese try to leave some elements intentionally ambiguous so the audience will need to figure them out on their own. He said that he tries to find a happy medium between the two for his own works.

For the second part of the question, he said that he thinks that creativity is important for making a great story. He used the Dirty Harry movies as an example; saying that the original movie was great, but the after the fifth movie it gets kind of tiring. He then said that he is often approached to make shows "exactly like Cowboy Bebop", but he doesn't want to because it's already been done. He wants to make something that is original.

After the talk, he left some time to sign stuff. He signed my Cowboy Bebop movie DVD, while my wife tried to snap some pictures (I'll try to post them if I get a chance). Ironically enough, I'd left my Samurai Champloo DVD with my nephew at the Detroit lecture, and asked him to see if he could get a signature. I haven't heard yet if he was able to or not, but having two signed DVDs would be pretty sweet if he did.

Suffice to say that I was totally satisfied if not overjoyed with the experience, so it was definitely worth the trip.

Second Detroit-area Watanabe lecture at Michigan State University

Actually, this does me no good because it's an hour-and-a-half away and during work hours!

Shinichiro Watanabe's second presentation in the Detroit area will be at on Michigan State University campus, 303 International Center, Thursday, February 9 at 4:00 p.m Further details are available here. Further details about the February 8 event at the Detroit Film Theater are available here.

Source: Anime News Network