August 2010 Archives

Lately (and by lately, I mean the past year or so) I’ve had sort of a problem.  I’ve been downloading a whole lot of series and buying a ton of anime DVDs without setting aside the kind of time I need to actually watch them.  I’ve been out of college for a good five years now, but for some reason I never got the memo that I no longer have the luxurious free time I once had to watch anime and play video games (and sometimes finish my homework).

I came to the conclusion that I would have to take charge and make the time to watch all of these shows, or be buried beneath a pile of old DVDs (at least digital files and streaming video don’t take up any physical space).  My goal is to chip away at the pile by tackling one series or OVA a week until I’m caught up (meaning that I’ll be completely set until the world finally blows up).  I’m kind of torn about whether I should announce the prospective candidates or not, but here are a few things to start off with (they’re some things that I’ve picked up recently for low low prices and which now occupy the shelf in my office):

Earth Girl Arjuna

Living for the Day After Tomorrow (I’ve seen half the series but I’m probably going to have to start it over just because it’s been a while)

Human Crossing

Now and Then, Here and there

Someday’s Dreamers

Project Blue Earth S.O.S

Blue Drop

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So far, there’s a pretty decent variety in there, and that’s just the DVDs I have sitting here in my “inbox.” So, hopefully, I should have some thoughts on a few of those in the coming weeks, and I’ll finally be getting my money’s worth from them.

Kuroshitsuji 2

Number of Episodes: 12

Production Company: A-1 Pictures

ANN Encyclopedia Wikipedia Funimation Video

Brief Overview: The Black Butler saga continues, this time with a new master and butler.  Alois is a child who has led a hard life; he was kidnapped and made to work as a slave, then lost his family members one-by-one.  He returns to reside in his family's mansion, but as a changed person, accompanied by the mysterious butler, Claude Faustus.

I came home yesterday to the sad news that Satoshi Kon, director of such iconic animated masterpieces as Paprika and Paranoia Agent, had passed away quite suddenly at the young age of 46.  I've already read many condolences and statements of shock; scattered amongst them have been some eloquent words regarding Mr. Kon's body of work.  I, unfortunately am not so eloquent; I've greatly enjoyed all of his animated films but I don't feel like I'm in a position to say anything meaty about them at this time.  One thing that came to mind, however, was a fond memory about the day some friends and I went to see Paprika.

It was Spring, and my husband and I still lived fairly close to our college campus.  Word had spread quickly about an early showing of Paprika at the local one-screen cinema, and we got a bunch of friends together to go see it.  The group of us met at my apartment, and we all walked to the theater, across campus, with a light breeze following us.  Our anticipation built as we waited in line outside the theater, sharing the sidewalk with other anime fans and film enthusiasts, before we finally filed into the theater.  I remember sitting behind a guy with a large hairstyle and barely being able to crane my neck to see the subtitles, but the film's imagery and music were thrilling and eye-opening to me in spite of that.  When it finished, I remember experiencing the overwhelming urge to watch it again right away, the characters and soundtrack bouncing through my head like so much surreal dream imagery.

I hope that Satoshi Kon knew just how far-reaching and well-loved and appreciated his films were, not just in his home country, but by critics and fans all over the world.  We will all miss the spark of creativity he brought to the anime landscape.

"My Moyashimans, let me show you them."

So I'm not normally a person who invests in a lot of anime-related merchandise.  Much of what's available easily in the United States is related to series I don't really have any investment in, and most of the more expensive anime figurines that are available at conventions are a bit too... boobalicious for my tastes.  So when I see a toy or item that's related to a series I like, I tend to jump right on it.  That's how it was with this set of 6 figurines from the Moyashimon: Tales of Agriculture manga, anime and live-action drama.

I saw them up for pre-order on the Jbox website (a great website for obtaining Japanese snacks, study books, bento boxes, and anime goodies), and despite the $38 price tag, I decided that I just had to have them.

I'm generally out of the loop as far as video game news goes (because anime is really my one true love in terms of Japanese entertainment exports) but I caught wind of this game a couple of days ago and got a glimpse of the trailer, which is truly impressive.  I'm a big fan of Studio 4°C because they almost always take on unique projects and offer up non-standard and interesting visuals, from the fantasy world of Tweeny Witches, to the feverish hallucinations of Tekkonkinkreet, to the COMPLETE AND UTTER AWESOMENESS of Detroit Metal City.

The Japanese video game magazine Famitsu is streaming the trailer here (note: some scenes are erotic and might not be appropriate for work). Or, check out the Youtube version after the break:

Those of you who are interested in the production side of anime should check out Anime News Network's video uploads that take a peek at some well-known animation studios (the Studio Pierrot is recent, but there are others available and apparently more are on the way soon).  It's interesting to see the differing philosophies of each production house, as well as their differing uses of modern animation technology.

Studio Pierrot is known for producing two of the currently most popular shounen franchises, Bleach and Naruto, but have also animated quite a few other favorites including Fushigi Yuugi, Hikaru no Go, and 12 Kingdoms. 

The video takes a look at both the production side of things, including looks at in-between and key animation drawings and digital coloring and compositing, as well as the marketing of related character goods and the design phases of those products.

The president of the company makes some interesting remarks on the importance of appealing to the Western markets as well, though noting that it's not their primary audience.

Strike Witches 2

Number of Episodes: 13

Production Company: AIC Spirits

ANN Encyclopedia Wikipedia Crunchyroll

Brief Overview: After opening up communications and establishing peaceful relations with the Neuroi, a bigger, badder hive appears over Europe.  The Witches are once again called to defend the land from these alien invaders.

Shiki

Number of Episodes: 22

Production Company: Daume

ANN Encyclopedia Wikipedia Funimation Video

Brief Overview: In a small, isolated town of only 1300 people, old customs are still practiced, including burial of the dead (as opposed to cremation).  When three villagers turn up dead, the unusual event is treated as a normal, albeit tragic occurrence, until the villagers suddenly begin to drop dead one-by-one.

Kyou, Koi wo Hajimemasu (Today, Love Begins)

Number of Episodes: TBA (there is a second one in the works)

Production Company: J.C. Staff

ANN Encyclopedia Wikipedia Ending

Brief Overview: Tsubaki Hibino has a talent for styling hair, but no personal sense of style, which makes her the butt of her classmates' jokes.  Included amongst the teasers is Kyouta Tsubaki (who shares the same name), the class playboy, who decides to make Tsubaki his new "target."

Break Blade (Broken Blade)

Number of Episodes: 6 50-minute films

Production Company: Production I.G., Xebec

ANN Encyclopedia Wikipedia Trailer

Brief Overview: In a world where magic users are able to utilize the power of quartz crystal, Rygart is one of the few born without that ability.  What he can do is pilot an ancient mecha that magic users are unable to, and use it to fight in the war between to countries, led by Rygart's friends from military school.

Boku Otaryman

Number of Episodes: 1

Production Company: Panda Factory, Studio Puyukai

ANN Encyclopedia My Anime List 

Brief Overview: Yoshitani, author of the autobiographical manga on which this OVA is based, works as a system engineer while maintaining a bit of an otaku lifestyle. "Otaryman" is a portmanteau of "Otaku" and "Salaryman."

Panda Kopanda

Number of Episodes: 2

Production Company: Tokyo Movie Shinsha (TMS Entertainment)

ANN Encyclopedia Wikipedia Opening Theme (Careful: the song is a bit of an ear worm)

Brief Overview: Mimiko is a young girl who lives with her grandmother.  When Grandma needs to travel out of town, she leaves Mimiko to tend the house.  One day, Mimi-chan discovers a baby panda on the doorstep, followed soon by its father.  The three form a makeshift family and attempt to hide from the zookeepers trying to recapture the pandas for their exhibit.

Black Lagoon: Roberta's Blood Trail

Number of Episodes: 5

Production Company: Madhouse Studios

ANN Encyclopedia Wikipedia Trailer

Brief Overview: Roberta, the former terrorist turned maid, returns in this five episode OVA, hot on the trail of an assassins who murdered the head of the Lovelace clan - a trail that just happens to bring her back to Roanapur.

Densetsu no Yuusha no Densetsu (Legend of the Legendary Heroes)

Number of Episodes: 26

Production Company: ZEXCS

ANN Encyclopedia Wikipedia Funimation Video

Brief Overview: Raina Lute is a lazy magic school student.  After a war with a neighboring country in which his classmates are killed, he sets off on a journey to recover relics related to a hero of legend, and discovers the existence of a curse spreading across the continent.

Seikimatsu Occult Gakuin

Number of Episodes: 13

Production Company: A-1 Pictures

ANN Encyclopedia Wikipedia Crunchyroll

Brief Overview: Maya is a non-believer in the Occult who happens to inherit a private Japanese academy dedicated to its study.  She comes into contact with Uchida, a time-traveling agent from the year 2012.