I would have to say I am not exactly a fan of sports anime. A sports movie is okay, but when you make a TV show about sports, it becomes very easy for it to get stale and sports anime is no different. And so, my first review of an anime fresh from Japan is a tennis anime called Softenni.
Softenni is basically a sports clone of K-on, except this time around the show is about a group of girls starting a Tennis team rather than starting a rock band. There's Asuna; a pink haired cutie who mistakes certain comments made by her fellow teammates as sexual innuendos and has a somewhat perverse imagination. Therei s also Chitose, a busty girl who loves to eat and has a unhealthy fascination with a Giant Japanese Salamander, seemingly almost to the point of bestiality. There's also a girl who often shows up in mascot uniforms, a girl from England who has a crush on her teacher (ew.) and a headstrong girl who sometimes takes Soft Tennis a bit too seriously and also has a crush on her teacher (double ew).
However, it is mostly the show's humor and the character's interactions with each other that manages to keep it fresh. The show's humor is mostly based on random humor which tends to be quite bizarre at times. Oh, and this is also a fan service anime so you K-on fans might want to some blood bags ready because you're gonna need a transfusion after all the nosebleeds caused from watching this show. Thankfully, the fan service is mild and not too over the top or vomit inducing, but it does get pretty close at times and some of the fan service gets pretty needless.
Overall, this is an enjoyable series, but I won't give it a rating just yet until the show is released stateside. My question for Softenni, as always for any unlicensed anime is, who will get the license for it and will it be dubbed in English? I guess only time can tell at this point.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Some new changes
Well I guess some new changes are on the way to site. First off, my brother is coming back home from the military which means that I am going to have to find a new filming location. Second, my newest review marks the first installment in an overall story that pits me against the notorious 4Kids Entertainment and their corporate mercenaries! More details on that are to come at a latter time. I've also began to add more tweaks to the site in order to make it more dynamic and interactive, so expect some more new changes to the site as well. I am also planning to try posting episodes on Youtube again as well as looking for other video sites to host my work. More exciting changes will be announced over the next few weeks or so.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Anime Expo Highlights
Boy, this years Anime Expo was the best I have seen in quite some time! Here is a list of highlights and events I attended:
Day 1
3:00 AM - 5:30 AM
Got up at 3:00 AM in the morning and arrived early at 4:00 AM. You got to beat the crowds to the registration line right? Unfortunately, I found out the hard way that the parking lots don't open until 5:30 AM! Commence driving around in circles for an hour and a half!
6:00 AM - 8:00 AM
Wait for registration lines to open. Passed out cards advertising the website while waiting in line.
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Attended oping ceremonies. Hatsune Miku was scheduled to appear as a guest of honor but didn't show due to "Technical Difficulties." Honestly, I think they were just teasing us.
5:00 PM - 5:45
Met Vic Mingnogna for the 9th or 10th time. Sure helps if you both live in Southern California.
DAY 2
5:30 AM - 8:30 AM
Arrived at convention center. Passed out cards in line.
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Waited in line for Hatsune Miku concert tickets. Thank God they didn't sell out after all.
11:00AM - 12:15 PM
Went to Vic Mignogna Concert and almost wasn't let in due to carrying a camera.
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Went to premiere of Last Exile sequel.and got to meet the producers at Gonzo Studios.
4:30 PM - 6:00 PM
Shopped around at the exhibit hall.
7:00 PM - 8:15 PM
Stood in line for Hatsune Miku concert.
8:30 PM - 9:45 PM
Saw Hatsune Miku concert. What an Experience! Gotta love that dancing and singing hologram!
DAY 3
6:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Arrived at convention center and locked my keys in the car. I must have burned away three hours trying to get them back!
11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
I took it easy for most of the day since I was burned out from the Hatsune Miku concert the previous night and accidentally locking my keys in the car.
7:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Held my first panel at Anime Expo! What a barrel of laughs!
DAY 4
11:00 AM
Overslept! Wait a minute. Why spend driving an hour and waste gas and twelve dollars for parking if the convention ends in 4-5 hours by the time I get there? Decided to head home and recharge after three days of long, yet fun experiences at Anime Expo and I am definitely looking forward to next year.
Day 1
3:00 AM - 5:30 AM
Got up at 3:00 AM in the morning and arrived early at 4:00 AM. You got to beat the crowds to the registration line right? Unfortunately, I found out the hard way that the parking lots don't open until 5:30 AM! Commence driving around in circles for an hour and a half!
6:00 AM - 8:00 AM
Wait for registration lines to open. Passed out cards advertising the website while waiting in line.
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Attended oping ceremonies. Hatsune Miku was scheduled to appear as a guest of honor but didn't show due to "Technical Difficulties." Honestly, I think they were just teasing us.
5:00 PM - 5:45
Met Vic Mingnogna for the 9th or 10th time. Sure helps if you both live in Southern California.
DAY 2
5:30 AM - 8:30 AM
Arrived at convention center. Passed out cards in line.
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Waited in line for Hatsune Miku concert tickets. Thank God they didn't sell out after all.
11:00AM - 12:15 PM
Went to Vic Mignogna Concert and almost wasn't let in due to carrying a camera.
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Went to premiere of Last Exile sequel.and got to meet the producers at Gonzo Studios.
4:30 PM - 6:00 PM
Shopped around at the exhibit hall.
7:00 PM - 8:15 PM
Stood in line for Hatsune Miku concert.
8:30 PM - 9:45 PM
Saw Hatsune Miku concert. What an Experience! Gotta love that dancing and singing hologram!
DAY 3
6:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Arrived at convention center and locked my keys in the car. I must have burned away three hours trying to get them back!
11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
I took it easy for most of the day since I was burned out from the Hatsune Miku concert the previous night and accidentally locking my keys in the car.
7:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Held my first panel at Anime Expo! What a barrel of laughs!
DAY 4
11:00 AM
Overslept! Wait a minute. Why spend driving an hour and waste gas and twelve dollars for parking if the convention ends in 4-5 hours by the time I get there? Decided to head home and recharge after three days of long, yet fun experiences at Anime Expo and I am definitely looking forward to next year.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Lots to do before Anime Expo!
It's that time once again for the biggest event for anime on this side of the Pacific, Anime Expo! Being a person from Southern California, I can't wait for the event to start. As such, I have a lot to do to get ready. I was hoping to have my review of the original Transformers anime done before the event in order to tie it in with the release of Transformers: Dark of the Moon. However, due to a busy schedule, I decided to wait until the film comes out on DVD before I release it.
I'll also be doing a panel this year at Anime Expo! The panel is being held on Sunday, July 3, at 7:30 PM in LP4. Hope to see you there!
I'll also be doing a panel this year at Anime Expo! The panel is being held on Sunday, July 3, at 7:30 PM in LP4. Hope to see you there!
Friday, June 10, 2011
Where The Hell Is My Macross Frontier?!
Something has really been bugging the hell out of me recently. I have been hearing a lot of good things about a show called Macross Frontier. According to what I've heard, Macross Frontier is loaded with spectacular Sci-Fi action, loveable characters, and a very well thought out storyline. The question is, why hasn't this show ever been licensed in the US?
Macross Frontier was released in Japan on April 7, 2008 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Macross franchise. It is now 2011, and we have yet to see the show being given a US release. What's taking so long?! According to Wikipedia, the anime has seen difficulty in getting licensed in the US due to international copyright problems with the franchise. According to what I have read on the subject, there is an copyright dispute between Harmony Gold, Tatsunoko Productions, and Big West Advertising over who ultimately owns the rights to the Macross franchise.
I tend to believe that Harmony Gold's involvement in the dispute is a major reason why the franchise has had such a spotty history of being released in the US. I guess it may also explain why I haven't heard anything official about the upcoming live-action Robotech movie for over a couple of years, even though I recently heard from Tony Oliver that the movie is still being planned. Personally, I have given up all hope that this movie will be made just as I have given up all hope over the proposed live-action Evangelion movie.
Bottom line, I think this is an interesting and promising series. Sadly, the only way to watch it right now is by downloading it via fansub. Hopefully, the dispute will be resolved and we can finally see the show on a region 1 DVD, on Bluray, or on Crnuchyroll sometime soon. Unfortunately, the way things are right now, that possibility is floating up there somewhere in the cosmos.
Macross Frontier was released in Japan on April 7, 2008 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Macross franchise. It is now 2011, and we have yet to see the show being given a US release. What's taking so long?! According to Wikipedia, the anime has seen difficulty in getting licensed in the US due to international copyright problems with the franchise. According to what I have read on the subject, there is an copyright dispute between Harmony Gold, Tatsunoko Productions, and Big West Advertising over who ultimately owns the rights to the Macross franchise.
I tend to believe that Harmony Gold's involvement in the dispute is a major reason why the franchise has had such a spotty history of being released in the US. I guess it may also explain why I haven't heard anything official about the upcoming live-action Robotech movie for over a couple of years, even though I recently heard from Tony Oliver that the movie is still being planned. Personally, I have given up all hope that this movie will be made just as I have given up all hope over the proposed live-action Evangelion movie.
Bottom line, I think this is an interesting and promising series. Sadly, the only way to watch it right now is by downloading it via fansub. Hopefully, the dispute will be resolved and we can finally see the show on a region 1 DVD, on Bluray, or on Crnuchyroll sometime soon. Unfortunately, the way things are right now, that possibility is floating up there somewhere in the cosmos.
Top 10 Things I've Learned About Japanese Culture Through Anime
To celebrate my new blog, here is a list of things that I have learned about Japanese culture in my years of watching anime.
1. Shrine Maidens are heavy users of witchcraft, necromancy and other occultist practices. Either that, or their martial art skills are honed in to the point of superhuman strength. In short, you do not want to piss her off!
2. Octopi and other cephalopods are not always used for food; and the less said, the better.
3. It is incredibly difficult to distinguish normal humans from robots. Try coping a feel in, and your in for a shock, sometimes literally.
4. Japanese girls are either flat-chested or their breasts are bigger then their heads.
5. Umm... not pigeons. They eat breadcrumbs. They craps on people.
6. Prestigious Japanese schools tend to over indulge themselves. Some schools in Japan are big enough to have their own zip code! Tell me if at least one school in real life Japan has it's very own gundam, a subway system exclusively for students and faculty, a dormitory complex the size of Disneyland, a public bath that could be misinterpreted as a water park, etc. etc.
7. Businesses in Japan are often bigger than most nations. Some even have thier own military!
8. The most absurd situations often bring people together. How else can you explain how you fell in love with your undead sister who is a cat girl robot from Mars, who works at your rich uncle's house as a maid who is actually the reincarnation of Yamatohime-no-mikoto and, yeah. I think you see my point about now.
9. Most Japanese males are completely oblivious when it comes to girls and often have a tendency to barge in to their rooms without knocking.
10. If she's a bitch toward you, she's obviously in love with you.
1. Shrine Maidens are heavy users of witchcraft, necromancy and other occultist practices. Either that, or their martial art skills are honed in to the point of superhuman strength. In short, you do not want to piss her off!
2. Octopi and other cephalopods are not always used for food; and the less said, the better.
3. It is incredibly difficult to distinguish normal humans from robots. Try coping a feel in, and your in for a shock, sometimes literally.
4. Japanese girls are either flat-chested or their breasts are bigger then their heads.
5. Umm... not pigeons. They eat breadcrumbs. They craps on people.
6. Prestigious Japanese schools tend to over indulge themselves. Some schools in Japan are big enough to have their own zip code! Tell me if at least one school in real life Japan has it's very own gundam, a subway system exclusively for students and faculty, a dormitory complex the size of Disneyland, a public bath that could be misinterpreted as a water park, etc. etc.
7. Businesses in Japan are often bigger than most nations. Some even have thier own military!
8. The most absurd situations often bring people together. How else can you explain how you fell in love with your undead sister who is a cat girl robot from Mars, who works at your rich uncle's house as a maid who is actually the reincarnation of Yamatohime-no-mikoto and, yeah. I think you see my point about now.
9. Most Japanese males are completely oblivious when it comes to girls and often have a tendency to barge in to their rooms without knocking.
10. If she's a bitch toward you, she's obviously in love with you.
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