Archive for July, 2009

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Otakon, Return to the Motherland!

July 15, 2009

Ah, it feels so great to be returning to Otakon this year. There is just something so special about it and I don’t think I want to miss another one. This great love is what keeps me on the east coast convention wise. Like so many other years and conventions we are traveling in a large herd that includes Carl from Ogiue Maniax, Scott from Anime Almanac, and Evan from Ani-Gamers. Not to mention the many, many people we will be seeing during the convention. And, wow, a very nice guest list this year even if it was right down to the wire! Going right along with that, this is our first opportunity to attend as press giving us the chance to get a little closer to these amazing guests. We are also running panels so it will be a very well-rounded experience though we may be taking on too much. I expect a thoroughly enjoyable and busy time. I will be tweeting as much as I can from the con but I won’t have much Internet access otherwise. There will be fun, there will be food, there will be sleuthing, and there will be burning friendship! Otakon 2009, here we come!

I warn everyone that is in a post filled with dirty, filthy lies. There is so much to do, so much so see, so many people to talk with, and just any number of unexpected occurrences that can and will happen that I am sure this schedule will only be half right most of the time. More often than not it is not a matter of picking something to do but rather deciding between three equally awesome things. And as press we could be getting interviews as well so that makes everything even more up in the air. If you want to be guaranteed see both of us then your best bet is to attend our panels. We always give away great free stuff! I am bringing two Iron Mountain boxes filled with prizes this year so be there or be square. Other than that,  if you see someone with a Reverse Thieves badge or a Reverse Thieves shirt just say hello. We are always eager to talk. Also if you want to get me to attend your panel just ask. As long as I do not have something vital to do I will usually attend. I am easy that way. Now that I look at it, I have no where decent on the schedule to each lunch or dinner but that is why you bring snacks and drink lots of water. So hopefully I will have a kick arse time and so will everyone else who attends. Excelsior!

Our tentative schedule is as follows:

Friday
Travel to Japan panel
No Means No, Defense against Fanboys and Fangirls panel
Know Your Creators panel
Yutaka Yamamoto panel
Mobile Suit Gundam: Celebrating 30 Years panel
Anime Recruitment (12:45-1:45PM this is our panel!)
VAMPS panel
Legend of the Galactic Heroes: History’s Future panel
Opening Ceremonies
Kikuko Inoue panel
Evangelion panel
I Can’t Believe You Haven’t Seen This! (7:00-8:00PM this is our panel!)
MELL concert
Living with Kami: Shinto panel

Saturday
Gundam Model Building workshop
Funimation panel
Women of the Floating World: Geisha and Oiran panel
Anime and Manga Studies panel
Naomi Tamura panel
Anime’s Craziest Deaths panel
MELL panel
From Kenshiro to Kenshin: The Neo-Shonen Revolution panel
Fred Schodt panel
VCI Entertainment Industry panel
Fred Schodt autograph
Noboru Ishiguro and Yukio Kikukawa panel
Return of the Anime Old Timers Panel?
Review Anime the Right Way panel
Video Games That Push Our Buttons panel
Dubs That Time Forgot panel
Otakon Game Show
Sailor Moon’s Influence in Hentai (18+) panel

Sunday
The Negima Chupacabra Society panel
Without Watching the Anime: Opening & Ending Themes panel
Masao Maruyama panel
Hidenori Matsubara panel
Osamu Tezuka, Astro Boy, and the Manga/Anime Revolution, with Fred Schodt panel
Naomi Tamura concert

As a reminder: No Ongoing Investigations this week!

Posted in Conventions, Events, Otakon | Tagged | 4 Comments »

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New York Asian Film Festival 2009

July 13, 2009

Last year I attended only one film, Dororo, at the New York Asian Film Festival. Though we did try to see L Change the WorLd, too, but it was sold out. In any case, this seemed like a big mistake in retrospect. There are tons of films from all different genres. Everything from pulpy mysteries to sex-centric surrealism to over-the-top samurai action to sweet romance was up for grabs at this year’s Asian Film Fest. Many of these films one might not have a chance to see otherwise. So with that in mind, and a little help from the NYAFF guide book, we set out to see some unique flicks.

I missed out on all the movies last year including Dororo but that is because if it were not for bad luck I would have no luck at all. On the other hand, Narutaki and I insisting on seeing the L movie no matter how many times life seemingly tried to let us dodge it is our own fault. But this year we are in it to win it and are hitting up a bunch of the movies playing. My priority number one was to see the 20th Century Boys movies not only because they are most relevant to the blog but also because I really enjoyed the manga. All the other movies are interesting experiments. I was not sure how many I would like but I was ready to be surprised.

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Posted in Action, Comedy, Detectives, Drama, Events, Favored Topics, Live Action, Reviews, Romance, Science Fiction, Screenings | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments »

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Ongoing Investigations: Case #050

July 10, 2009

For some reason I have been sitting on Galaxy Railways for a while now. I finally watched the series up through episode 14. After a quite somber beginning, we follow new recruit Yuuki to the Space Defense Force crew of train Big One. When he first enters he has many idealistic ideas which cause constant conflict on missions, this continues throughout these episodes. However, there is growth on his part even if he stays rather rash. The rest of the crew provides a bevy of functions such as humor, animosity, friendship, guidance, and romance. So far most of the episodes have been individual missions with occasional looks at characters’ back stories. There is certainly a overall plot to come that is hit on now and again. Most things center around the complicated line of trains that cross the galaxy moving people and goods. Yuuki is constantly getting caught up in other people’s personal problems which makes him rather endearing if somewhat of an idiot at times. The series has a good mix of suspense, action, and character analysis combined with a unique setting and seems to have gone overlooked despite its good production values. The art style is a hybrid of Leiji Matsumoto’s classic 70′s character design with a little modernity thrown in which I really enjoy. I am looking forwarding to continuing on.

I try not to think of myself as too much of a shipper. I leave how much of this is a self disillusion to others. I will admit when I found out that the two figures from the Gundam RAH DX line for Turn A Gundam were Loran and Sochie I had to get them so I could display them together to suit my agenda. Loran is decked out in his pilot’s suit. It’s fairly form fitting so the ladies get some service with this Gundam figure. His pose is as if he is reaching out to something in the distance which is quite appropriate for the character. He comes with his helmet and his Children’s Day Carp toy. Since Loran is my favorite Gundam protagonist I’m glad to see him get an excellent figure. I would also buy a Loran figure in his Diver’s uniform or his Milita outfit but I am pretty sure you would only see those at Wonderfest. I won’t go as far as to say that Sochie is my favorite Gundam heroine because I’m not exactly sure who that is. She is my favorite female from Turn A Gundam though. She is in one of her pre-milita dresses and looking quite cute. I love her playful little finger waving motion. Another good pose that captures why I really like the character. For better or for worse (better) Sochie is wearing leotards so we don’t get a panty shot on her. Like Loran I would easy plunk down money to buy her again in a milita uniform as well.

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Posted in Anime, Merchandise, Novels/Light Novels, Ongoing Investigations, Toys/Figures | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments »

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Sayonara, Mr. Fatty! Food for thought.

July 8, 2009

At first Sayonara, Mr. Fatty! might seem like a odd title for us to be reviewing but it is on target for several reasons. The first and foremost is the author: Toshio Okada. Okada is one of the co-founders and the former president of Studio Gainax. He also holds the title of OtaKing or King of Otaku. Okada has had such a huge impact on the Japanese anime community as both a person who has contributed to through projects he has worked on and as commentator and scholar of otaku culture. Secondly, it is an interesting piece of Japanese culture and literature outside of its context in the otaku world. Lastly, Sayonara, Mr. Fatty is just very good. It is more than just a diet book; it is a book that shares with you a method of approaching life.

My interest in this book was my many layered curiosity more than anything else. The memoir aspect was easily the most attractive feature of this self-help book. Like our Otaku Diaries project may suggest, we have a interest in the underlying personalities, habits, and thoughts of geeks. And Toshio Okada is considered one of the most famous geeks in Japan! The book sounded like a positive look at losing weight and not changing who you actually are. A person’s personal philosophy and story should make you think or consider things that you might not have otherwise. Also as an ex-overweight geek I was just plain curious what his method was. So with all directions pointed to picking up this book, I sped through it in a mere day.

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Posted in Non-Fiction, Novels/Light Novels, Reviews | Tagged , , | Leave a Comment »

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