It's our 6 month anniversary!
No obscure anime uploads this week! We go mainstream; very mainstream. Well...for this week at least as yours truly reviews "Highlander: The search for vengeance".
Shootin' The Breeze
We discuss the awesome awesomness of the awesome YouTube successor:
Divx Stage 6
It's like youtube but faster, better quality and a great place for anime fansubs!
(Do remember, I did upload Wannabe's to divx stage 6, please check it out if you have the time and let us know what you think.)
Anime Pacific is going to be reviewed on the Podcasterwhoiswho podcast on the 12th. How lovely!
We discuss how Podcast Pickle has gone to utter poo, especially with it's crappy interface which makes browsing on a microfiche orgasmic in comparison.
Console Wars!
PS3 is doing terrible business right now. Wii looks like it'll be the king for now as it's sales numbers are swiftly catching up to those of the X-Box 360.
You can check out up these live updating stats for the console wars, here.
Alex has never been much of a console gamer. When trying to illustrate the appeal of console gaming, I think I hit the nail on the head with two words: "Katamari Damacy".
Wait a minute Mr. Postman!
More e-mails from our good chum, Paul, who sends his condolences to Alex regarding something about some sort of recreational activity called..."Ice Hockey". How cute!
WatcherAngel sends us yet another great e-mail pertaining to the now infamous, "Nymphet".
Don't forget to check out her DeviantArt page, it just gets better and better!
Fai and Chi by ~WatcherAngel on deviantART
Scarecrow by ~WatcherAngel on deviantART
On a sidenote, check out our long time listerner, Jake's awesome pixel art. Done with Microsoft Paint no less!!!!
News!
Nymphet Creator's Blog
Apparently, this master of literature states that if you are not Japanese and attempt to bathe with your young child, "You'll be arrested".
Blog is here.
ANN Article is here.
Japanese Agency For Cultural Affairs Posts the top 50 manga.
Ever notice how each Japanese top 50 published is totally different from the other?
Top 50 are:
Slam Dunk
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure
Dragon Ball
Full Metal Alchemist
Doraemon
Phoenix
Black Jack
Nausicaa
Mushishi
Death Note
One Piece
Parasyte
Yotsuba&!
Nodame Cantabile
Akira
Azumanga Daioh
Doubutsu no Oisha-san (Animal Doctor)
YuYu Hakusho
Monster
Ushio and Tora
Hunter X Hunter
Hellsing
Fist of the North Star
Ookiku Furikabutte
Berserk
Banana Fish
Vagabond
The Rose of Versailles
Master Keaton
Glass Mask
Urusei Yatsura
The Tale of Genji
Touch
Sazae-san
Ashita no Joe
20th Century Boys
Fruits Basket
Lupin The Third
Warau Dai Tenshi
Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Ko-en Mae Hashutsujo
Hi Izuru Tokorono Tenshi
Pluto
Astroboy
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Emma
Detective Conan
Devil Man
Mobile Suit Gundam
Dragonquest
Nana
Some Classics there to be sure, but some baffle us to say the least. What do you think? Let us know!
Eye On Fansubbing!
Our new mini-segment, which aims to bring greater awareness to obscure fansub projects. Obviously, we won't be talking about Bleach anytime soon, but here's something better!
Sakigake!! Otoko Juku! Or..."Charge, Manly Cram School".
Instant comparisons to Cromartie not withstanding, this classic from the 80's is finally available in English subs! Support the project, torrents here.
The series is absolutely hilarious and far from forgotten in it's native Japan; Momotaro Tsurugi, the main character is playable in Jump Ultimate Stars
and there was a Playstion 2 game of this a few years back.
Review: Highlander: The Search For Vengeance
Let it be known; Nobody can water down Kawajiri; at least not too much. This film is classic Kawajiri, take that for what you will. All of his attributes are apparent here, including his flaws. The end result is a somewhat uneven but immensely satisfying action film. Stylistically identical to Vampire Hunter D Bloodlust, this is one beautifully animated film. I imagine hardcore Highlander fans will be kick up a stink than hardcore anime fans. Speaking as a Highlander fan, there are certian elements of the Highlander mythology that aren't explained in this film; to the detriment of anyone who hasn't seen any Highlander film before. To the uninitiated, certain elements of this story will seem like incoherant tripe unless you have a basic understanding of the Highlander Universe. At the same time, certain story conventions are sure to annoy some avid Highlander fans; Taking place in the future was a gamble, considering the mess that was "Highlander II: The Quickening".
Yutaka Minowa does the character designs again, and has been Kawajiri's "personal character designer" since Ninja Scroll.
Whilst I certainly do appreciate Minowa's character designs, I do miss the times when Kawajiri would do his own distinct character designs. Check out "Cyber City Oedo" for a good example of Kawajiri's character designs.
Edit: Seeing as I only just got the DVD, I didn't get to check out the extras. I have sinced viewed them and there's some pretty cool stuff on there, including a discussion with Kawajiri himself, not too shabby!
It's a wrap!
For those of you interested in the things Alex discussed, you can find them here:
The Dream Of Rome
Waterloo
Next week, more obscure anime and me and Alex discuss more about our whacky adventures in Asia.
