SPOILERS FOR GUNDAM AGE EPS. 1-15

Now that the next generation of Gundam AGE has started I think Bandai has the ability to really build on what they started in the first third of the series. I know that there are still people complaining about this being baby Gundam and that accusation will never go away. In fact we did a whole article on how much of that statement is true and how much of it is the normal Gundam complaining. But I think they have a golden opportunity to add a little complexity to AGE to bring in otaku who had dismissed the show while not alienating the existing fan base. Here is my list of the top 5 things I would like to see out of the part two of Gundam AGE:

5. A Female Ace:

So far we have not had any notable female pilots in Gundam AGE besides Yurin who basically is a pilot for one episode against her will before getting the “Lalah Sune sendoff.” A good Emma Sheen or Roux Louka styled competent female pilot would probably win some fan to the series by her mere existence. Plus she could make a good romantic rival for Romary Stone.

4. A Broader Scope:

Despite the fact that there was a war going on the first leg of the story it was a fairly personal battle. It all centered around one ship and one crew with some help from some other ships near the end. I think that the second act would benefit from a great number of pieces of the Federation being involved. While that story can revolve around Diva seeing more of the other fleets would give a greater insight into how big this war has become. Gundam has always been about big wars and this series needs to start embracing the entire conflict now that we know the stakes involved.

3. Desil needs to get his comeuppance:

If you make someone as loathsome as Desil and then have them get away in the first part then the karma that hits him in the second part should be equally powerful. If he dies then his death should be grand like a Zabi family member and not something minor like the death of Jerid or Cronicle. If he lives he should have a fitting punishment like Katejina. But he can’t get be ignored, casually forgiven, or given a lazy off handed death. If you keep someone like him around you have to use hims and remove him correctly.

2. The Return of Grodek:

Grodek needs to get out of prison and make an Otcho style reappearance in the series about half way through this arc. The older fans loved Grodeck so seeing the grizzled old captain back in action would get them excited again. Throw him in a grungy old grunt suit and they may finally be happy. Plus Grodek busting heads and taking names would surely be awesome.

1. More Shades of Grey:

One of the constants of the Gundam franchise that any organization named the Federation is always a ponderous and corrupt bureaucracy more concerned with its own preservation than the safety of its people and AGE is no exception.  But the Veigans on the other hand are just bad guys. They were severely wronged by the Earth government but their reaction to this injustice puts them at a level of over the top evil. It does not help that Desil is a psychopath and Yark Dole was a fanatic. They need some Veigans to be a bit more sympathetic and nuanced or this just turns into a battle of white hats vs. black hats. Zeheart Galette is a good start but they need to flesh out the Veigans as a human enemy beyond just him. Also if they muddy up Flit and his obsession with defeating the Veigans while keeping him a likeable character that might add an unexpected depth as well. The attempt to present both sides of the conflict as neither hero or villains has been a hallmark of the series and would certainly help here.

SPOILERS FOR GUNDAM AGE EPS. 1-15

Gundam AGE takes a lot of steps to try to combine the old image of Gundam with a more appealing aesthetic to children. While trying to bring kids into the Gundam fold isn’t a totally new approach for the franchise, attempting to grab both young and old audiences at the same time in the same main show can be hard to serve up. This is most difficult because of its ardent fans and long history, as opposed to working on something completely new. Gundam AGE makes great efforts of this balancing act in the first arc of its multi-generational story.

I think it is very important to note that Gundam AGE was originally supposed to be a Gundam video game by Level-5 until Bandai decided to green light the story to be a full anime series. Everything was originally written out to be for a younger video game audience with the pacing, characters, and story structure of said players in mind. I think the main disconnect between the traditional Gundam fan base and the anime is that they kept much of that same scenario in mind when they created Gundam AGE. With a younger audience turning more toward video games for their entertainment it makes sense on a certain level to try to court that audience with the same vibe of storytelling they seem to prefer. How well this is going to work has yet to be seen but there is a method to the madness. It all comes down to how well they adapt this game into an anime now that they have chosen that as their medium.

There is still quite a bit about AGE that feels like a video game. The AGE System is clearly how you were supposed to level-up your suit in the original game. The nature of the upgrades and even the method in which they are implemented seem relatively untouched from original blueprint. The enemy suits even have classes they are beaten with certain upgrades Flit unlocks by fighting enough of a certain type of enemy. A very classic video game structure of progression. Also the whole story on Fardain seems more like a video game plot than an anime plot. Flit befriending Iwark Briar and his daughter and how the crew of the Diva gets involved with the conflict between the Zalam and Euba have the pacing and story mechanics more suited for an RPG. Most people I have talked to seem to think that part of the story drags the most. I think if you were fighting while leveling up none of the section would have been as slow and unwieldy. But as a passive observer the your notice the chinks in the armor of the plot a bit more.

Something basic like the design of the characters immediately makes Gundam AGE feel younger. But as the story proceeds, those aesthetics seem to work as a grounding contrast to the story. Almost as if by creating these colorful characters they can present children with a darker story. The tropes of Gundam, like the price of war on civilians is still there but there is a bit more kiddie wish fulfilment in the earlier parts especially in terms or alliances as well. Flit acts as a an intermediary for people with long-standing feuds and inspires all those he meets. Emily even seems to forget she is a young girl or perhaps it is because of her youthful spirit that she confronts Grodek, on her own, about what she believes to be nefarious plot. The enemies that Grodek and soon all our leads are trying to defeat remain faceless, aliens for a long while which gives emotional distance but as a viewer you can read the writing on the wall. Decil is a very single-note villain who is pure evil vs. Flit the savior; black and white. Decil even cuts down his comrade Yurin without a second or remorseful thought (instead of say, having Flit accidentally do it which we be so Gundam of them). This comes off simplistic without the rest of the story being looked at. That anger that Flit has been fighting against since the beginning boils to the surface. Flit’s reaction pushes him to do attempt something he might have regretted, but he’ll never know since Grodek takes on the burden instead.

There are some parts of the first Gundam AGE that are more like the Gundam we are familiar with. It seemed to me that when Don Boyage died it was major turning point in which the story really started to put away a lot of its childish story telling. There has been deaths among both military personnel and civilians including Hendrick Bruzar but Don Boyage’s death seem to raise the stakes. The deaths seem more personal and more constant. Most importantly Grodek gets absolutely nothing for being totally right and not only discovering the truth behind the Unknown Enemy and dealing them a decisive blow that set back their plans for years. Nothing else sealed the corrupt nature of the Earth Federation Forces like sacrificing a hero for the sake of dirty politics while taking credit for his success. Also Grodek executes Yark Dole with no remorse. When we first meet Grodek he merely knocks out the some Federation officers with a stun gun. But at Ambat he murders Yark Dole so that Flit does not become a murderer.

The story grows, the consequences of war become a vital issue, and the grayness of fighting people each with a point of view and grudge is central. Bringing children in and then aging the characters up as the arcs continue might be a brilliant plan to get them interested in mature characters. One will just have to see how things play out. Onward to more Gundam AGE!

It is a hard line to toe in between appealing to old fans while trying to court new fans. Hardcore fans tend to resist change no matter how much they ask for it and nothing says changes will actually increase your audience. Gundam AGE has been an interesting experiment so far. I can’t say that it has fully succeed. The Gundam fan base just seems angry. But that is their default state. The anime fandom outside of Gundam otaku has not seemed to embrace the show as well. But the show so far has matured. I think they are moving in the right direction with slowly upping the ante and the maturity of the story. The story has a good deal of potential to keep this new-found maturity while making sure they don’t alienate their younger viewers. I wonder if this is a show that will have an audience that slowly warms to its methods or will it only be appreciated for what it is doing years from now like many of the other more experimental Gundam iterations?

Hisui’s picks:

• Just Accept that You Will Never be Ed Chavez
  The Eeeper’s choice podcast is back from its recent hiatus. Philip teams up with Ed Sizemore to look at Kingyo Used Books after shooting the breeze about the manga industry in general.
  
• Random Fact: My Brother Keeps a Raise Dead and a Swamp in His Wallet at all Times
  Chaos Theater talk about the most famous collectable card game of them all, Magic: The Gathering. So many memories, so many booster packs. What colors did you play back in the day? Heck, do you still play it today?
• If you Kickstart Me Up I’ll Never Stop
  The Manga Out Loud podcast looks at the use of Kickstarter to fund manga publishing and the community’s reaction to the Barbara project. I don’t agree with a lot that is said in the podcast but it is an interesting discussion. Ed also did an overview of the big events in manga during 2011 just before that.
• We Might not Get a U.S. Release of Turn A But We Can Take Solace in This
  If you were ever curious what Kunio Okawara designed Turn A Gundam would look like you don’t have to wonder anymore.
• This Says so Much about Gundam Fandom
  A diagram of the “winners” and “losers” involved in the romantic relationships of the various Gundam series.
• Type-Moon News Roundup
  • A well made Fate/EXTRA and EF – A Tale of Melodies mash up video
  • Some Fate/Zero Cafe exclusives 
  • Even more cafe news
  • Luna Haruna chosen to sing the ending of the 2nd season of Fate/Zero

Narutaki’s picks:

• Animation’s Annie Awards Streaming on February 4th
  This is considered Oscar night for animation!
• A Reasoned Opinion of Piracy’s Place in Comics
  Illegal downloading has come back around to be a topic again what with SOPA/PIPA on people’s minds it is no surprise. This time its American comic fans talking about the industry. David’s response takes on the accusation that piracy is the main reason comics, particularly superhero comics, have taken a dive in profits.
• ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION Album Coming Out in the U.S.
  Their first ever stateside release will be a greatest hits album. They’ve contributed to plenty of anime series so expect those songs and more.
• Self-Publishing Comics Through Amazon
  Apparently it is working, and working big for one 16-year-old. Her comic was even out-selling major titles at the holidays. I haven’t gotten to read any comics yet, but her website shows of her artwork better than the interview article.
  
• Re-branding Logos for Video Game Characters
  This is actually a double re-branding since he took already established logos but used them in a creative way for a myriad of characters.
• Megaupload Closes, Toonzaki Sees Online Views Rise 20%
  There isn’t a true way to equate these two occurrences but 4kids has made the connection.

Another look at something special from Turn A Gundam:

Our first editorial of the year is unfortunately a bit of a downer. As we all got into our Monday, Bandai announced they will cease releasing new DVD/BDs and manga which means any licenses that haven’t seen a pre-order are off the table. More than that personal loss for all of us, we are losing a big name and competitor in the U.S. industry. Bandai will continue to promote titles to other companies, after all they are still a Japanese company with big series on the other side of the ocean. Which makes it all the more sad that they couldn’t make it work here any longer.

Way back in May of 2010 there was a major warning sign that this day would come to pass on the ANNCast. Eric Sherman, the CEO of Bang Zoom! Entertainment stated that Bandai Entertainment was not doing that well and was banking on the success of their upcoming sales on Haruhi and a secret title to stay in business. I assume that other title was K-ON! as I doubt Bandai’s great white hope was The Girl Who Leapt Through Space. It seemed like despite that dire prediction and some delayed release schedules Bandai was holding on in America. But today we learned that dire prediction sadly came to its grisly conclusion. I know that will lead some people to say that the we should not be shocked because the handwriting was on the wall for a good time now. But when you have a sick relative who suddenly passes away it does not making their passing any easier. A part of you always hopes that they will get better even when you know their conditional is terminal. We might have know in our hearts that Bandai might not be with us for much longer but we wanted to believe that they would pull through. When ever a loved one passes on it is a good moment for reflection on what they left behind.

I always thought of Bandai as a dual niche company picking very otaku shows like Lucky Star and K-ON! but also fueling mecha fans desires on the other end. These days there isn’t a whole ton of mecha anime being made and an even a smaller portion of that sees a U.S. release. Bandai was the biggest distributor of robot shows from Gundam to Star Driver. And while other companies have picked up titles here and there (Evangelion, TTGL movies, Broken Blade), Bandai produces many of people’s favorites in Japan making the leap to stateside that much easier. It goes without saying that any older mecha titles have a .05% of ever being released not that Bandai was doing much of that themselves. Still, the fate of Gundam especially weighs heavy on all our minds.

The biggest hole left with Bandai leaving the market is the lack of a dedicated Gundam licensor. The conventional wisdom was that Bandai would release any iteration of Gundam they could at some point. It was never a matter of if more than when. Now that they are gone all bets are off. Gundam Unicorn will probably finish out its run in the US as the Japanese side of Bandai seems to have too much invested in it to stop now. And even Unicorn are somewhat in question. But everything else is not looking so good. Turn A Gundam was officially canceled and I doubt there is anyone rushing out to pick it up. Victory, Double Zeta, and Gundam X theoretically could be picked up by someone else but they generally seem like untouchable titles due to their age alone. Gundam AGE is in a weird place. On one hand it is the latest and greatest title and it has a connection to the popular Level-5 studio. On the other hand mecha is never super popular outside of a handful of titles and the current fandom seems to dismiss the show as Baby Gundam for Babies. One wonders if Funimation or Section23 Films would even want to touch such a title with a ten foot pole. This is really painful to me because Trun A Gundam is my favorite Gundam series and it seemed to gave gotten so close to being released only to vanish at the last second. There is an especially salty taste to the news because of that. I also assume that the second subtitled box set of Gundam 0079 is close enough to completion to still come out but it quickly might become a collectors item.

With Bandai taking a backseat to anime in America, I don’t know who is the best hope we have for mecha titles now. With one less company in the mix, taking risks seem like a bad move for the moment. And funnily enough, despite some thoroughly odd licenses for NISA and Sentai Filmworks, they still aren’t licensing robot series with the exception of Broken Blade. This is kind of frightening, as though the assumption is mecha sells worse than anything besides sports shows. Then again these companies might have felt Bandai was filling that role but now with their departure they can take on more robot series. Perhaps good sales of BB (fingers crossed!) will help lift that possibility as well. I’m not sure if this will cause more or less opportunities on the digital front. This creates a less likely scenario for certain shows to have physical releases which may prompt them to try for internet distribution.  Maybe the writing was on the wall when VIZ started simulcasting Tiger & Bunny. Which is still not licensed for physical release.

I am also rather saddened because this means that my precious Hayate DVDs are probably nothing more than a pipe dream now. I never bought the first round of DVDs as they were rather expensive singles. I had always assumed they would put out in a more affordable box set. Now that is pretty much impossible. That also means that no one is likely to pick up season 2, 3, or the movie. Hayate is just far too long a niche comedy while not having nearly enough fan-service to be picked up by anyone else. This along with the manga slowdown seems to prove the series in just cursed in the U.S. Also all of their manga has been canceled. While the manga division has mostly just been a very fancy extras division for their anime line they did have some great titles. I liked their release of Kannagi: Crazy Shrine Maidens and will be sad to see that disappear so alongside some other decent manga titles.

They clearly thought they could make a go of it, announcing shows this summer at Otakon, but they have been staying under the radar for a while now. Plus without a real online presence, they are easy to overlook. Still, Bandai was a large part in the industry for a very long time making it hard to see them go. Major questions remain about other shows that are only half done, etc. and those answers will probably only come slowly. Perhaps they don’t even know the answers themselves yet. But less competition in the market place is never good for fans.

There are still several questions we will not know for a minimum of several months. What titles will be rescued from their catalog? I am sure someone will shell out for Cowboy Bebop and Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex down the line but everything else is far less likely to get picked up by anyone else. Also since Bandai is still releasing what they have for awhile I am sure those titles will take years to be freed up at minimum. Maybe someone close go after Gosick but that seems even less likely. If I had any money I would get Gundam 0079 on DVD and Star Driver on BluRay right now while they are still in stock. They are the two titles I would want the most and have the greatest chance of going out of print and therefore being insanely expensive down the line. In fact I realy can’t see any big positives to this whole affair. While they were never the quickest company to release a series and they made their share of mistakes over the years but I  enjoyed their products. I will be sad to see them go. I can’t see anyone filling their shoes in the near future.

Hisui’s picks:

• Christmas has Come Early!
  Sai-zen-sen delivered a Christmas gift I did not even know I wanted. But man it is nice. Gen Urobuchi, Kinoko Nasu, Izuki Kougyoku, Simadoriru, and Ryohgo Narita played a table top RPG for 6 nights under Makoto Sanda as the Game Master. Now they are compiling transcripts of the role-playing sessions in January. I can’t say how hyped I am for that. That is a pretty amazing writing team and as someone who can still converse and table top RPGs I have played years ago I would love to see these transcripts turned into and anime. I will probably talk more about this during the week as a little post. There is just too much to say in a little APB.
• Everything You Were Afraid to Ask about Macross Video Games and More!
  The invaluable interfering Andrew and Renato look at almost every Macross video game ever made with its merits, flaws, and how fits into Macross history. I am sure they missed some obscure WonderSwan release that some uber-nerd will complain about but it is the most complete guide you will get.
• Why Can’t Narutaki Have More Brave Police J-Decker Toys?
  Also Andrew and Arshad look at the Brave series and its curious lack of toys. While there are a good deal of merchandise for GaoGaiGar it seems the rest of the Brave series goes without.
• I’m Only Buying These to Help Japan. Really.
  The Good Smile Company is making cheerleader versions of Saber and Rin with part of the sales of each figure going to disaster relief in Japan. There is also a cute Waver figure in the fan made figure world and they plan to make a Rider figure as well.
• Archer is Bringing Sexy Back
  They also unveiled the character costumes for Fate/Extra CCC. I am ever exited to see what they do with this game. I am pleased with the … pleasantness of Caster’s new outfit. Hopefully the game itself will be just as good.
• Pandora’s Box Has Been Opened
  Shout! Factory is releasing the three series in the Transformers franchise that were only broadcast in Japan. These are “slightly”  controversial in the English-speaking Transformers fandom but I would like you to point me to the series that is not. I am curious to see how The Headmasters, Super-God Masterforce, and Victory are received now that they are in an easy to purchase from.
  

Narutaki’s picks:

• Manga Awards in France
  As you probably know, the French consume a hefty portion of the international manga market. They also get some wildly different titles from us in the U.S. These nominees for the Festival International de la Bande Dessinee will give you a good idea. And of course it once again shoves in our faces how they get Saint Young Men and we never will.
  
• Interview with Brave’s Brenda Chapman
  Brenda is the original creator of Brave and helmed the project as director but was replaced because of “creative differences.” You don’t get any better answers on that question but you do get backstory for the film. There is also a Part 1 of the interview where she talks about her time at Disney and other projects.
• Gunpla Builders World Cup in Japan
  I’m sure it will come as no surprise that the representatives for Japan in the World Cup are freakin’ ridiculous. The sets they build for the mecha are an added bonus of amazing. 
  
• Twin Earth Found!
  Well, kinda, it the planet discovered that is most like our own (so far). It is 600 light years away! There are still many unknowns about the planet like whether it is mostly rock, gas, or liquid but it is still one of those cool finds that gets you giddy with science-fiction possibilities.
  
• The X-Men is the Next Logical Step
  Brain Michael Bendis has announced he is exiting as writer for Avengers/New Avengers in the summer. I can’t imagine anyone else writing New Avengers, which he formed, probably because no one else has. This Op-Ed is about speculating that he will move over to writing X-Men which he has yet to do. I am really excited about this possibility thanks to the article and it softens the blow about New Avengers a bit. Now let’s just hope this article was predicting the future!
  
• Behind the Scenes of Arthur Christmas
  This in-depth talk with the creators went a long way in making me want to see this film. From visual technique to the life of the story, everything is touched upon. This might be my next favorite holiday film!
  

Let us not forget that Japan is still rebuilding and readjusting after earthquake:

Filed under: All Points Bulletin, Editorials Tagged: Arthur Christmas, Brave, Fate/Extra CCC, Gundam, Gunpla, New Avengers, Red Dragon, robots, The Veef Show, Transformers, Type-Moon, X-Men ]]> http://reversethieves.com/2011/12/11/all-points-bulletin-022/feed/ 1 reversethieves hisuicon narutaki sep-pic hisuicon http://reversethieves.com/2011/11/27/all-points-bulletin-020/ http://reversethieves.com/2011/11/27/all-points-bulletin-020/#comments Sun, 27 Nov 2011 17:30:51 +0000 reversethieves http://reversethieves.com/?p=17255 ]]> If you have any suggestions for what to highlight on an APB drop us a line via email or Twitter.

Hisui’s picks:

• Even seeing it be made I don’t believe the 7 foot paper craft Gundam
  It is a 7 foot tall Gundam only made of of paper. That is sort of insane. Even with crazy software to help you out putting togeather such a project it is still a colossal undertaking.
  
• Either the Perfect Union or an Unholy Fusion. Take you Pick.
  As anyone who plays on the Internet will tell you the My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic fandom can be a bit insane and rather annoying at times. But sometimes their energy can be a positive thing. It seems there is a fan project to make a Phoenix Wright style detective game using the Friendship is Magic charterers. The developer videos make it seem like it might actually be rather fun. I am curious to see how it plays out.
• It is Only Matter of Time Before We Get Neco-Arc: The Movie
  It seems that another Type-Moon April Fools post has become a reality. This time the “Room of the April Witch” story will get a CD release as voiced by Maaya Sakamoto. I assume they are making this into a real project because it was far more serious than the Type-Moon wresting league or Necoarc Evolution.
• Let hope for some of those wonderful Tohou hits
  Looking around for Umineko music to listen to I happened to stumble upon that little number. It is a mashup of the Tohou Project and opening to Ougon Musou Kyoku. Just to balance out the universe I also present this little gem. Also for all the Marisa fans.
• A look at the Noire Sci Fi Future
  Chaos Theater reviews two somewhat under-recognized neo-noir sci-fi films, Gattaca and Dark City. If you have not seen both films you might want to give them a look before the podcast as they don’t hold back with spoilers. They also talk about the phenomenon of gaming elitism via MW3.

Narutaki’s picks:

• Womanthology Preview
  The first images from Womanthology do a lot to further the anticipation for this book of comics by all female artists. There is great variety in the pieces shown everything from gritty, shadowed pages to cartoony line drawings.
• LEGO Daily Planet
  I sometimes think I’ll like anything if rendered in LEGOs. Still the Daily Planet with Superman being attacked by Brainiac is rather impressive.

Speaking of Ace Attorneys:

Gladstone’s School for World Conquerors issue 1 starts with a brief and amusing history of how the school came to be through the bumblings of a not so great villain who was defeated by a totally way better villain who used the name “Gladstone’s” ironically. The rest of the issue introduces us to many of the current students the likes of which cocky Kid Nefarious, awkward Mummy Girl, trouble makers the Skull Brothers, and a bunch of other students and teachers. And it hints that the villains and heroes dynamic isn’t exactly what it seems. While this spend most of its time settling up the story, it still has good looks at characters personalities and stays humorous and fun all the way through knowing just how much to make fun of itself.

There are somethings that you read and you instantly know your opinion on. I hated this or I loved this. You just have a gut reaction that dictates your opinion. Other times you get a more middle of the road reaction and then with a little digestion you can give a thumbs up or down. But then you have a book like Breathe Deeply by Doton Yamaaki. Even after a day of contemplation I can’t tell you if I thought it was good or not. I clearly see the books strengths but I just as clearly see the books weaknesses. They are both equally obvious to me and neither really makes forget about the other. So the best review I can give this book it to put both sides of the coin on the table and let anyone reading decide for themselves which half they consider more important. The main thing is that the book seems to think that subtlety is for losers when it comes to story telling. So when it is doing well its success is as bright as the sun and when it is annoying it is like nails on a chalk board through a sound system and your right next to the speaker that is on MAX. The story is a tale of two boys who fall in love with the same girl who is dying from a heart condition. One is a cold genius the other is a hot-headed punk. When she passes away after declining a transplant for ethical reasons both boys fall into a deep and angry depression in their own way. But they both attempt to find a method of creating an artificial heart that would not require a donor to prevent a similar tragedy. Both men are haunted by the loss of the woman they love but at the same time are irrevocably bound to each other by their loss. There is a lot to like about this book. You have older working adult characters. We have some major flash backs to their childhood but the bulk of the story is about their present day medical research and politics therein. There is also some serious looks at the ethics of research, transplants, organ donors, and medical politics. There are also some solid character study and romantic moments. The problem in Breathe Deeply never attempts to do anything in subdued tones. It throws the medical issues at you with the force of a rail gun round.  It is obvious what the authors stance on the issue of organ donors is except for 1 scene at the end that sort of tempers his view. Also everything is soap opera levels of the theatrics. Everyone has dark secrets that they spring on the rest of cast at the worst possible moment, drunk dads are always drinking and abusive, anytime anyone learns a weakness of another character they immediately intact a fiendish blackmail scene, and every conversation is some sort of game be it political or emotional. There is even beating and interrogation by a group of doctors using sodium thiopental. The problem with that is that Breathe Deeply wants you to take it very seriously. When Team Medical Dragon does the same thing I am OK with it because it mostly want to be a crazy medical drama with action and boobs. If you think about some medical issues as well than all the better. Breath Deeply wants you to take its love story and its ethical concerns with a somber gravity. But it is hard to do so with the theatrics surrounding them. The art is very seinen and the characters are fairly realistic looking which reinforces the feeling the series wishes to give off. I can’t really tell you if you will like this book or not. I am still not sure what my feelings are. But it is only one book long and is not like a good deal of the shonen and shojo in the English market today. Take what I have said and see if it sound interesting to you. There is a lot to enjoy and just as much to turn you off.

Penny Arcade has started a comic of Zelda: Skyward Sword for Nintendo. There is exactly one page long so far, but it looks great! The art is crisp with great color. And the text, while sparse is intriguing. Looking forward to these each week!

To be warned Gundam Unicorn 4 is a fairly talky episode. There is some action in the beginning and a good deal of fighting at the end but most of the middle is people bantering about Laplace’s Box or why they fight. This being a middle episode it is perfectly understandable to me but my tolerance for slow conversation is higher than most of fandom’s. And there is a long fight sequence at the end to reward anyone who needs robots fighting in their episodes. Anyone who thinks that Unicorn is rehashing the tropes of the Universal Century will find many of an example to support their case. We have the protagonist falling into a depression where he refuses to fight, the noble villain who has a chat with the protagonist in the desert, the long discussion over why people fight, the mid-battle speech where the hero tries to convince someone not to fight and several other UC classic scenes. If you are tired of this formula then you are going to run to the Internet to complain a blue streak (and then most probably still continue to watch anyhow.) I also see a lot of people being annoyed with Banagher most of this episode. He is not Shinji this episode but moping around hardly wins you any fans in the mecha community. For everyone else there is still a good deal to enjoy. I will admit I have a soft spot for Audrey Burne but besides that I think she has some strong scenes in this episode. I was amused by Riddhe and Audrey’s super awkward hug. It is worth nothing this is the first role where Ken Narita was Bright Noah instead of Hirotaka Suzuoki, who sadly passed away. Ken Narita instantly does not sound like Hirotaka Suzuoki but he gets the Bright Noah tone rather well which I think is the most important part. I would have to hear a bit more to make final decision on the how well he was recast but so far I definitely can’t complain too much. This episode does end with the strongest hook for the next episode. It really makes to want to see the next episode. As a side note: do we ever discover who was piloting that RX-160S Byalant Custom at the end of the episode?

I started reading Legend by Marie Lui but sadly I had to enact my 100 page rule (i.e. I give a book 100 pages *which is generous!* to capture me, I actually went 130 pages for this one). The story is about two individuals on completely different sides of the law in a dystopian future in which they are on a collision course with each other. The thing that kept me out and prevented me from connecting was the internal monologue of the two protagonists. They were so in love with themselves it was nauseating at times; there is literally a paragraph that starts with “I look pretty awesome tonight.” They also prove how cool they are through actions, but that’s all you really want. The romance is there, you know that’s where it is headed, but from what I read of them it would have been more interesting to see them as rivals/frenemies and leave the romance to happen with the friends (who I incidentally like better than the leads) they each already have. The setting is good, rightly mysterious, and brutal at times which is the best part.

Macross Frontier: The Wings of Goodbye is 100% Macross cheese. If you like the serious business side to the Macross franchise watching this movie is going to be hell. Anyone who thinks that everything in Macross should be Plus should just hope that the 30th anniversary series is more to their liking. Anyone who actually liked Chiba Sound Units will be in heaven. It is all the soap opera drama, plot convenient saves, silly capers, and “music fixes everything” logic that Macross has to offer. If you sit down and really analyze what you like about the franchise you will discover your opinion before you see even one second of the movie. Other than that there are some major changes. Some characters who die in the TV series live and a few new characters bite the bullet in their place. There were some game changers in the first movie but the last movie ends in a totally different place. Different enough that I am surprised I have not heard debates on which is canon: the movie or the TV series. The biggest change is a final and conclusive end to the love triangle. If you were annoyed by the lack of a decision in the TV series the movie gives you exactly what you want but depending on which camp you were in you might not like the answer you get. I will spoil in enough to say that Mike Dent’s wish for a Sheryl/Ranka ending does not come to fruition. Like with the TV series there are some major shout outs to old Macross series including a long Macross 7 homage scene and a little Macross Plus wink. And even some love for Five Star Stories and Eureka Seven. The songs are catchy but it would not be a real Macross series if that were not the case. Although I must say that Sheryl’s first song is so very … weird. It is a fun movie but not really a smart movie. I had a good time. It makes me look forward to whatever they pull out for the 30th anniversary.

Hisui’s picks:

• Switch on Youth ’cause Space is Here!
  I have been getting it on all sides to watch Kamen Rider Fourze. It started with my friend Jewels constantly marathoning various Kamen Rider series and praising her favorite ones up and down. Then Patz from Insert-Disc specifically demanded that I watch Fourze. After that the Veef show did an overview of the whole  Kamen Rider series ending with a huge thumbs up for Fourze. Even Dynamite in the Brain has been heaping praise on the series. I have to say the series is cheesy but it is also so much fun. Plus it is like JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Part 4: Diamond is Unbreakable plus SPACE IS AWESOME! Definitely worth giving a shot.
  
• Hop on the Bus, Gus. The Fate Zero Bus.
  To celebrate the global streaming of Fate/Zero I present to you the Fate/Zero bus. The little festival scene on the side is very cute. For some reason the Japanese public transportation department refuses to give me that bus when they are done with it. Cheapskates.
• A Certain Magical Movie Announcement (of a Series That People Love to Hate)
  Despite the scorn the American audience has for Toaru Majutsu no Index the Japanese fandom keeps the franchise moving along with a theatrical entry into the series. I like the series despite its flaws so I look forward to the next installment.
• People like electronic music
  Since people like the 8-bit Mawaru Penguindrum music I have some more music for you. This time is its a little Robo Cop and a little Star Wars. And a bonus.
• The New Face of the Bright Slap!
  For all the fans of the Super Robot Wars Games and Universal Century Gundam in general let it be known that they have finally announced the new voice actor for everyone’s favorite White Base commander. When Hirotaka Suzuoki sadly passed away they had been using voice samples to voice him but the latest Gundam Unicorn episode forced them to pick a replacement. Ken Narita has big shoes to fill but I wish him well.

Narutaki’s picks:

• Happy 40th Birthday Walt Disney World
  Technically it was yesterday, October 1st, and the park did things up big! Wish I could have been there, but I was there earlier in the year and they’ve been celebrating for all of 2011. Also love this vintage-style map they had available.
  
• Katamari Amore
  A new Katamari game came to iOS this September! There is a free mode or a full 24 levels for $3.99.
• The Current State of LGBTQ Superheroes
  A solid article that looks at the good, bad, and the future of diversifying heroes.

A picture of The Five Star Stories drawn by Takeuchi Takashi of Type-Moon. How awesome is that?

TV:

Astro Boy

There are earlier examples of Japanese animation before Astro Boy. But this is the title that would define so many elements of the anime medium. In a way, all other Japanese animation were prequels to this first episode. Its influence on any and all anime after it is unmistakable so what general intro class to anime cannot touch on the work of Osamu Tezuka? It can be used for lessons on how decisions about production, characterization, storytelling, and adaptation all would go on to influence modern anime.

Rose of Versailles

The Rose of Versailles is a most iconic melodramatic shojo anime. It embodied and defined much of the visual iconography and emotional drama for later shojo and influenced titles like Revolutionary Girl Utena and Le Chevalier d’Eon. It is also a perfect example of an anime that takes elements from another culture and makes it a very Japanese friendly product that is still true to its origins. It can be used for lessons on early shojo, cross-dressing, historical fiction, and gender politics in anime.

Urusei Yatsura

Despite not truly being a harem comedy, Urusei Yatsura would set so much of the formula for later shows in that vein. It has the added elements of sci-fi, fantasy, Japanese culture all in one show. And it introduced the world to the powerhouse Rumiko Takahashi as well as countless other talents involved in the show. Everything with comedy or romance is probably influenced to some degree by this one show. It can be used for lessons on comedy, romance, common character types, women writing for a male audience, and merchandising.

Dragonball Z

Shonen fighting is one of the most lucrative forms of anime. Universally exportable it brings in profits domestically and internationally like no other genre. Dragonball Z had unprecedented success which change genre it was a part of permanently. Everything from Naruto to Fairy Tale draws from the formula created here. There is a reason they keep releasing Dragonball Z in countless versions. It sells every time as a timeless classic when most other older anime is forgotten. It can be used for lessons on shonen, fighting shows, and the international market.

Sailor Moon

Despite the fact that the magical girl genre had been around for years, Sailor Moon changed the scene. It is the definitive modern magical girl show and the first to add sentai aspects to the formula that would influence much that came after in the genre. The international success can also not be underestimated. Sailor Moon was responsible for much of the female anime and manga fandom in the U.S. in the 90′s and is currently in a revival. It can be used for lessons on the transition from the to modern shojo, magical girl shows, the fandom in the U.S., and trends in English adaptions.

Neon Genesis Evangelion

It has been said several times by respected people that you can define the medium by looking at pre- and post- Evangelion anime. It changed the way the Japanese looked at mecha shows, characters, and the reach of merchandise. So much anime looks either to borrow, reference, or react to Evangelion that it’s influence is undeniable. And the current remakes in production add another layer. It can be used for lessons on mecha, modern anime, merchandising, and the rise and influence of the modern otaku.

Cowboy Bebop

An iconic attempt to use western culture to create an internationally successful anime. Unlike Rose of Versailles that took a very western setting and made it a Japanese story, Cowboy Bebop took a hodgepodge of western influences and to make a solid story. It succeeded but therefore made a title mostly embraced by the west exclusively. Cowboy Bebop was one of the heralds of the Adult Swim revolution in the U.S. which brought a new wave of fans to the table. It can be used for lessons on differences between the tastes of fans on either side of the Pacific, marketing to a western audience, music in anime, and advances in TV quality animation.

The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzimiya

The poster child for modern anime, Haruhi created a powerful cultural zeitgeist that swept up fandom in a sea of trends and memes; a simultaneous deconstruction and celebration of the genres which spawned it. Completely self-aware it took on anime fans, modern archetypes, tropes, animation, and production cycles. It can be used for lessons on moe, fan service, and inward reflecting otaku trends.

Nodame Cantabile

Nodame Cantabile is a tremendously successful anime based on a hit manga that has elements of both modern josei and shojo. This is a look at anime for older and casual audiences outside of the normal student fanbase which succeeded in exactly what the Noitamina animation block wanted to do. Also a strong example of musical, school, and professional anime all in one. Plus it has amazing cultural penetration. It can be used for lessons on modern shojo and josei, comedy, romance, and embracing of anime and manga by the general public.

Cross Game

Mitsuru Adachi is another name that means successful and iconic series and Cross Game is the most recent success in a long line of them. Baseball is big in Japan so no doubt it is also big in their manga, but this series shows that there is more to sports anime than the game. Cross Game also highlights the classic-modern style of animation that uses crisp and clean techniques with older character designs. It can be used for lessons on slice of life shows, modern romance series, and the success and failure of sports genre around the world.

Movies:

Original Gundam Trilogy

The definitive version of the show that spawned the most successful mecha franchise and the real robot genre. More polished than its TV predecessor, the Gundam movies produce an epic space story of war and the people affected by it. It is also early enough in time that it contains enough super robot elements so they can be discussed alongside the real robot elements. It can be used for lessons on anything sci-fi and robot as well as the power of franchises, remakes, and re-imaginings.

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind

Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki are names that are recognizable even outside of anime circles. When you have to pick one and only one Ghibli, Nausicaa is a solid choice. It has a good mixture of the dark and light sides of Ghibli melded with its messages about war, humanity, and the environment. This film also trained or influenced so many people working in the anime industry today. It can be used for lessons on fantasy, family films, and the differences between television and film animation.

Ghost in the Shell

Anime fandom existed in the English-speaking world before Akira and Ghost in the Shell but these two films took the fandom to a whole new level. We picked Ghost in the Shell since it is an ongoing franchise that went on to have sequels, spinoffs, and solidified the director Mamoru Oshii in American fans minds. It is often considered the definitive cyberpunk anime. It can be used for lessons on early fandom, speculative anime, cyberpunk, and the growing influence of an international market on anime.

Paprika

Satoshi Kon was an amazing, modern director whose films were beyond the scope of anime. In fact, he was probably renowned more outside of anime circles than in them. Paprika was his final film and it brought to life the world of dreams in an amazing visual spectacle. His narrative weaved one of mystery, illusion, and people caught between the two. A perfect example of art house anime that exists outside the normal categories. It can be used for lessons on mature subject matter, elevating the genre, and animation achievements.

Girl Who Leapt Through Time

A story about a huge subject, time and space, told through a narrow lens. The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is a modern classic. A vibrant and modern visual style that easily segues into the advantages and disadvantages of computer animation vs cell animation. It also has a family friendly but mature plot line based on a classic novel. It can be used for lessons on science-fiction and romance, coming-of-age stories, and modern anime.

 Narutaki’s picks:

• Watch the Original Gundam Movies for free
  Available legally for free. Haven’t seen them yet, now is a perfect time to experience this timeless story.
• Creators Remember Oracle
  If you aren’t up on your new DC 52 news, Oracle (Barbara Gordon after she was shot in The Killing Joke) has returned as Batgirl which has been pretty controversial within the fan community.
• Miyavi Concert Streaming
  J-Rocker Miyavi is celebrating his 30th birthday with a big concert bash. You can watch on Nico Nico Live and Ustream on 11:00 pm, September 13 (JST), 7:00 am, September 13 (PDT).
• Jonny Quest Opening Remake
  This stop-motion remake of the original cartoon opening is too good.

Hisui’s picks:

• Google can’t stop you now
  In case you missed Google’s celebration of Freddie Mercury’s birthdays here is the magic unleashed! If you did see it why not watch it again. On a related note I have another cool version of Don’t Stop Me Now as well.
• Fate/CLAMP Down
  Takashi Takeuchi visited the CLAMP offices and this art exchange was the result. Could Type-Moon and CLAMP be working on a joint project in Faust in the future? Also according to Carl from Ogiue Maniax the text on the side mentions the artist was drunk which probably explains why Saber’s head is so small compared to her body. Thanks to Jrnemanich for pointing this article out.
• The hand of density moves towards more Fate
  The first details about the sequel to Fate/Extra are out. Fate/Extra CCC will still have Sakura Tange again as the Fate/Extra version of Saber with 2 new playable servants as well. If you are interested in the US release of Fate/Extra then Siliconera is soliciting questions for Aksys, the company that is localizing the game.
• It is not just Type-Moon fans that get love recently
  As the happy sounds recently coming from my roommate part of the apartment prove there has been a good deal of Persona goodness recently. On top of the anime in the fall there is also a Vita remake of Persona 4 and a Persona fighting game.
• It is not just a convention about Aya Hirano
  Since I have been posted so many podcasts about people from Europe taking about American cons I might as well post one of the guys from Dynamite in the Brain talking about and English con experience with their coverage of Ayacon 2011.

It can be none other than Char.

Hisui’s picks:

• Ponies: The Anthology
  It is basically AMV Hell but with My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic. They are little AMVs that last just long enough so that the joke does not wear out its welcome. Also my unrelated favorite Pony video as a bonus.
• LEGO X Gundam
  Some crazy person made a fully transformable and combining Victory 2 Gundam out of Legos.
• Otakon from across the Pond: Part 1
  More than just an Otakon podcast. The whole crew from the British Isles talks about coming to New York and then getting to Otakon.
• The Veef vs. The World
  Andrew takes on Daryl Surat, Redline, and Squid Girl in a no holds bar steel cage match.
• The More Things Change the More They Stay the Same
  A fascinating look by Wildarmshero at his triumphant return to Tokyo. A great examination of what parts of the city have changed and what has stayed the same not only after two years but also after the 3/11 earthquake.

Narutaki’s picks:

• Another entry in the ongoing “Women in Comics” discussion
  I have read so much now, I’m not totally sure where I stand anymore. But I might end up writing a little about it myself in the near future. 
• Films for Hope hosts Dai Soto and his work Five Numbers
  This is a charity event to benefit those affected by the Japan earthquake. Five Numbers, which I’ve yet to see, along with other films will be shown including Rain Town which I talked about before. Film festival will be at the Japan Society in NYC on Sept. 11th.
• Pirated Justice League #1 out before the real thing
  Even though DC has started doing same-day digital with the reboot, there are still some major hurdles. Honestly, they seem to be standing in their own way.
• Theme from The Rescuers
  I mentioned before about these lost recordings being put up, this one is the theme for the film. You have to turn it up, it is very low for some reason.
  

I thought it was clever:

Hisui’s picks:

• Return of the Veef
  After a long hiatus Andrew, otherwise known as VF5SS, is back with a new episode of the Veef show. He talks about Fang of the Sun Dougram, Legend of the Galactic Heroes, and the failure of Gundam in the US. Glad to see him podcasting again.
• MAHQ’s Chaos Theater looks at Batman: The Animated Series
  Who does not love Batman: The Animated Series? Dale Rausch from MAHQ is a guest as well.
• The Greatest Movie EVER! Podcast & AWO talk about My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
  I have seen people talking about Bronies on everything from NPR to Fox News. It takes the combined power of Greatest Movie EVER! and Anime World Order to get to the bottom of this mess.
• Otaku Generation talks about AnimeNEXT
  An alternative look at AnimeNEXT 2011. There is also Part 3 of their look at version terminology related to anime and manga. They mention me so my vanity insists I link to the podcast.

Narutaki’s picks:

• David’s Akira posts on 4thletter
  He tackles the visuals and characters in this series of posts which feature scans from the full-color version of the manga.
• Ho-Ling’s thoughts on Detective Conan
  In this series he is looking at themes and connections 10 volumes at a time.
• Defective Detective
  A hilarious short from Cartoon Brew’s Student Animation Festival.
• Trailer for Gackt in Bunraku
  His English debut!
• Burn Notice: A New Day
  A new webcomic that ties into the series bridging S4 and S5. I haven’t read it yet since I’m only on S2 but still thought it was cool and worth noting.
• 10-page excerpt from Laddertop
  This upcoming comic from Orson Scott Card and daughter looks terribly underwhelming. Also I am lame because it annoys the heck out of me that they are calling it a “manga.”

We decided to move the picture of the week here. This week we prove the power of imagination. Someone can make women from Jojo’s look cute:

There have been a lot of Gundam announcements of late, but it seems like no matter what the internet lights up with as many negative nancys as can be mustered. Perhaps the classic case of people not actually knowing what they want? If they want to do something new, if they want to broaden the audience, if they want to remake the classic, or if they want to add to the continuity, it seems nothing will satisfy the established fanbase.

It was a perfect storm of announcements recently. On June 13 Bandai announced that the newest Gundam series would be Mobile Suit Gundam AGE. Almost immediately after the announcement there was an overwhelmingly negative outcry from the Gundam fan community. The show was instantly panned for being immature and nothing more than a toy and game tie in for children. It was clearly too far from the franchise’s legacy. Then on the 22nd they announced that they were also adapting the Gundam: The Origin manga as well. This lead to an equal but opposite outcry from the fan base that they were just rehashing the original series and that Gundam had nothing new left in it. I noticed quite a few outsiders on Twitter questioning what did the Gundam fanbase want as it seemed that absolutely nothing made them happy. As someone who considers himself part of the Gundam fandom it is still puzzling to me. It almost seems that no one hates Gundam more than Gundam fans. What do you have to do to make them happy? Is there anything you can give them that does not cause a hissy fit?

 The most important thing about discussing these problems with Gundam AGE is that only a handful of details and a couple of pictures have been released about the series. But that in itself is relevant. The “immaturity” angle is really only supported by the merchandising plans outside the series. The plot and characters sound interesting, as does telling the story on three timelines. Randomly, you can buy bathing suit figures of most Gundam girls, not sure I’d call that “mature.” Anyway, considering that I can only name a handful of protagonists in robot series that aren’t teenagers, or younger, I’m not sure what we are freaking out over. 13, 14, 15 seems pretty standard fare that everyone should be used to and I might point out that each character description has the qualifier “at the beginning” after their ages.

I think Bandai has realized that Otaku are not immortal mystics monks whose magical parana is kept eternally youthful due to their virginity. Therefore the current Gunpla builders who drive the Gundam franchise need to have new blood enter their ranks. Therefore marketing to a younger fanbase might be better for them over the long haul. I don’t mind them doing a kids series on occasion to reinvigorate the fan base as long as it is well executed. Nothing says that Gundam is now only going to market itself towards 10 year olds for eternity. I know people are going to counter that they can market at kids all they want but they should do so outside of the main pieces of the franchise. But I think sometimes you have to go all out if your want to really shake up a fan base. Also who says that just because a show has young protagonists it has to be either garbage or dumbed down. I thought that one of the reasons most of us got into anime was that it was a medium that could make very intelligent and challenging kids cartoons as well as cartoon for adults. Plus the mecha fandom has embraced shows with young protagonists in the past like Zambot 3, GaoGaiGar, and even Gundam 0080. Why must they be contrary now? As Adam aka SoulBroRyu said so well in a recent article for Gundamn, Victory Gundam had an extremely young cast and the youngest Gundam protagonist ever but it has a plot that was as dark as pitch. There is a good amount of potential to tell a generational tale in which we see the prolonged effects of war on a population from its bloody beginnings to its protracted conclusion. You think by now mehca fans would be able to look past initial appearances considering their love of the Brave Series. Plus when has Gundam NOT been about selling toys and related merchandise. Perhaps everyone else has been watching a different Gundam series but the one I remember is carefully designed machine to sell merchandise hand over fist. As soon as video games and card games became common place they were added to formula of what a mecha series can make money off of. There are some Gundam titles that got made more to tell a story because the franchise had grown large enough to support that style of storytelling but don’t believe for a second Tomino was not given mandates on the beloved Zeta Gundam to sell more toys to kids.

They are trying to expand the reach of the Gundam franchise. This seems like a positive if you ask me, the last thing we need is a situation that superhero comics have been going through for the last decade with no signs of stopping. If you aren’t familiar with superhero comics, their fanbase has been rapidly shrinking because of creators writing for the adult who are already fans. And don’t we hear so often people complaining that anime is pandering to otaku too much? Following the aging fanbase down the rabbit hole would be a mistake and so far they have stayed solidly in the middle. TV series with broad market appeal have been the standard because that is the way to reach new people, say it with me new fans are born from this. You can’t get that with an OVA or movie. But there is no way you could say they dismissed the long time fans with the addition of more fandom centric OVAs like Gundam Unicorn and the announcement of Gundam The Origin.

This article was original only going to talk about Gundam AGE but then the announcement of an animated Gundam: The Origin brought into picture perfect clarity the insanity of the fanbase. Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin was considered an amazing adaption of the original Mobile Suit Gundam. Yoshikazu Yasuhiko, the original character designer of Mobile Suit Gundam, was able to retell the story he worked on to create something just as good if not better than the original. Gundam: The Origin is able to take many of the ideas that had to be scrapped from the original TV series when it was cancelled while letting Yasuhiko take advantage of the expanded story telling boundaries of manga and the wisdom on hindsight. So the ability to tell an updated version of the orignal Gundam story with modern graphics seems like something that would please the old fans while helping to bring in new fans at the same time. But all I hear is people complaining about how Bandai is merely going back to the well and they can’t create anything new.

Beyond the fact that I’m personally very excited for Gundam The Origin, I think it has the potential to bridge a gap. I’ve always said that Original Gundam is a timeless story only held back from appealing to newer fans by the dated animation (yes it is sad, but it is reality). Gundam The Origin could change that and get new fans interested in the UC timeline. Despite what some say, every iteration of Gundam is not retelling the original. Is it inspired by? Is it taking themes and pieces? Sure, of course. But it is a mistake to ignore all the differences, too. New, yet familiar, is actually a good and realistic goal.

So you can’t give the Gundam fanbase a series with an original premise because then they feel cheated that you are not giving them the Gundam they love. You can’t give them more of what they liked because they claim you are just regurgitating the same story again and again. So apparently you have to toe the line on an incredibly narrow path to give them a show that is radically new and different while giving them exactly all the things they loved in the past. While you can make a show like that it is so amazingly hard to do and you will only do so on rare occasion. If everyone could easily make something radically revolutionary but still solidly enjoyable then the entertainment industry would be a much easier field to work in. But don’t believe the lies the Gundam fans tell you as well. First off all the radical Gundam series have been universally hated when they came out. G Gundam, Turn A, and Gundam X were all panned harshly by the fandom when they first came out (heck X was cancelled) but only with many years of reflection has random realized why those were great additions to the Gundam Universe. If I was Bandai I would be gun-shy about innovating as well if that is the reaction I am going to get. Recognition 10 years down the line does not pay the bills today. At the same time if you are too close the formula they complain as well. I can’t remember how many times in the last month heard people state that  Gundam is pretty much the same story again and again. The fan base has even begun to turn against Gundam Unicorn which I would have assumed was an impossibility years ago. But they seem to now even hate anything that is an amazingly crafted part of the Universal Century. It seems nothing makes them happy.

Despite what nostalgia glasses might tell you, original Gundam was aimed at children, with toy and model kit tie-ins. It built a teen audience which included women, believe it! No matter how many times you watch Zeta Gundam, Kamile is still a teenager and acts like one. They added in transforming Gundams because they wanted to sell toys, it is true. I don’t know if Gundam AGE or Gundam The Origin is going to be great, average, or terrible but I’m going to judge it based on actually watching some of the show.

Overall I think that everything I said before is actually based on lies. The fans don’t want a new show that is amazingly innovate or a show exactly like the show they loved. Gundam fans want to dwell eternally in the feeling of the first Gundam show they truly loved. It does not matter if it was Zeta, SEED, or anything else in the franchise. They want that first feeling they fell in love with. They wish to recapture that lightening in a bottle. They want the Gundam show that will have them reborn as Gundam virgins. This is not only a self-defeating attitude for the fandom but also for their own personal enjoyment. I’m not saying that fandom has to accept any slop that is thrown on their plate. For all I know Gundam AGE might be a wretched abomination worse than the lovechild of Double Zeta and 0083. Gundam: The Origin might be a worse adaption than The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen. But I believe that you should give these shows a chance to prove themselves. I will give these shows a few episodes to prove what they are made of. But the fanbase has already judged for themselves based on a few scraps of information which I think points to their unhealthy attitudes toward their fandom more than anything else could have.

All the way back in my 2009 review of Gundam X I promised to explain my theories on the show with spoilers and then promptly forgot to ever do such a thing.  In the article I theorized that Gundam X was partially a critique of the certain aspects of the Universal Century of Gundam but then stated that any detailed analysis would actually be a biggest spoiler for the series possible. Since the whole purpose of the Ballads of the Earth and the Moon articles was to look at the two somewhat unappreciated Gundam series I felt like spoilers would have gone against the spirit of getting people to check out the series with an unprejudiced attitude. But I am finally going to unleash my little theory for everyone who has seen the show.

I think that one of the main points of Gundam X is that the mythology and possibilities of Newtypes in Gundam 0079 is full of hooey. Tomino presents Newtypes as a positive step forward in evolution and man’s true potential being awakened. While the Newtype’s psychic powers are mainly used for combat in the Universal Century it is often stated that their powers  let them understand people and concepts better. In fact it is due to the action of key Newtype like Amuro Ray and Char Aznable that the One Year war actually ends in one year as opposed to dragging on for years. Throughout the Universal Century it is Newtypes that are at the center of major changes for better and for worse. They are the movers and the shakers. So what is different in Gundam X?

Throughout Gundam X Jamil Neate and his crew tries protect all the Newtypes they can find while trying to discover the secret buried before the apocalypse. The grand reveal in Gundam X comes from the first Newtype D.O.M.E. when they discover him on the moon. They learn that everything they were told about Newtypes being the ultimate form of mankind and the destined architects of the future was a lie. The Earth and Space governments both knew that Newtypes were nothing more than humans with unusual beneficial mutations but needed something to rally the population around an unceasingly unpopular prolonged and bloody war. With no one to cut through the madness of the increasingly desperate and  insane leadership the war came to the apocalyptic ending that it does in Gundam X with a massive colony drop devastating both sides. And so Newtypes wound up with a sizable but largely undeserved legacy after the war.

I can’t help but think the portrayal of Newtype in Gundam X is not just an alternate timeline than the original Gundam but a critique on the idea of the show. Gundam X posits the idea that mankind can not look to evolution to solve its problems. Looking toward the idea of a scientific based savior or miracle is just as foolish as looking toward a mystical savior.  We must look to ourselves as we are today and improve our condition with hard work, sacrifice, and innovation. In the end Newtypes did not save the people of Gundam X and they will not save us. Only an honest desire to change will do that. That is the true message of Gundam X.

The last episode Gundam Unicorn left us with not so much a cliff hanger as a short pause before the crescendo that is the battle that opens up The Ghost of Laplace. While we get some conversation and character moments this episode is mostly a series of battles. Thankfully these battles are story relevant as opposed to lovely but time-wasting mecha porn filler. The battles are as engaging as they have been in the past although we don’t get much action out of Full Frontal. He mainly seems to be doing the Char the Manipulator not Char the Action Rival shtick this episode. We learn quite a bit about Marida Cruz and how she ties into previous Gundam material. We also get some mandatory Newtype nudity and trippyness as is a UC Gundam tradition. I did realize at the end of the episode that my Snarky Reductionist Theater title for the show would be Mobile Suit Gundam: National Treasure. It seems the main plot shall be Banagher Links pretending to be a calm version of Nicolas Cage as he goes around the historical sites of the Gundam universe solving puzzles that will unlock Laplace’s Box as he is chased by agents of various secret societies.  The end of this episode will seem VERY familiar to anyone who has seen a good deal of Universal Century Gundam but it continues the tradition of getting the audience excited for the next episode of Unicorn which is important in an OVA series like this.

I watched the short animation Out of Sight from Taiwan by recommendation from Twitter. It features a little girl whose bag is stolen, her dog then chases down the thief leaving the girl on her own searching the city for him. This is a brilliant piece of work incorporating all five senses in order bring the world to life. The design is stand-out while the little girl wanders the city as it comes in and out of focus. Beautiful, sweet, excellent.

Princess Tutu ends loud and strong as it should with an emotional climax as well as a full exploration of the themes of the show. The series wisely knows how to pace itself as it slowly removes the comedy elements so that the change does not come off as a sudden tonal shift. Included in this shift are some darker elements than what had come before including the revelation of a murderous secret society within the town. Princess Tutu also wisely changes the formula of the show half way through so it is not the same heart shard hunting that it was in the first half. The ending seems very quick but maybe because I was on the edge of my seat because of what had built up to it before hand. No matter how quickly it ended the show made sure to tie up all the major loose threads and have a satisfying conclusion. I really do think this is a series that everyone should who likes deconstruction and is fascinated by stories about storytelling. On top of it all I was highly amused that Drosselmeyer is the essence of who we are complaining about in a previous article. It is a show that very unique and will be mentioned as a hidden gem for years to come.

The Switch OVA like so many others assumes that you have read at least a little of the manga. This is a story that happens in the middle and even the signature “switch” doesn’t occur in these two episodes. Or rather it isn’t obvious that it happens I should say. This is fine for me, but it is worth noting to anyone unfamiliar. The case for the OVA involves a botanical center that is involved in producing a drug from Hal and Kai’s latest case. As Hal infiltrates the drug dealer’s gang, Kai begins working undercover at the gardens. As per usual Kai trusts way too much and gets in over his head. The final scenes are really tense and the story finishes open-ended.

The 8th Kara no Kyoukai movie is an epilogue that came with Blu-Ray box set. It is clearly an epilogue only for hardcore Nasu fans as it is a half an hour conversation between Mikiya and Shiki’s hidden third personality as they discuss Shiki’s powers. They mostly tie up some of the philosophical threads as well as some of the minor plot elements as well. It is well animated as they have their little conversation in the snow with some beautiful backgrounds and CG snow effects but all in all it is just a half an hour of two people chatting under a street light. There is absolutely no action and there is a whole bunch of navel gazing. I enjoyed it immensely because I am an odd human being but it quite easily could be the most mind numbing part of the series to anyone else. If you found yourself yawning during any of the explanations of magical systems and philosophy during previous movies you can easily skip this part and be none the worse for the wear. Considering that this did reasonably well they could always animate the Gospel in the Future bonus story as well but I would not hold my breath for that. If it end here I will be satisfied. They have gone above and beyond.

I rewatched the first episode of Neuro: Supernatural Detective since VIZ started streaming the series recently. It features Neuro a demon who eats mysteries. He has come to the human world because none of the demon world puzzles satisfying him anymore. In order to find great mysteries he strikes a bargain with Yako to use her as a genius child detective while trying to solve a mystery of her past. It was a nice refresher on just how insane the series is; it is truly a mash-up of crazy shonen with mystery. But don’t expect to be solving any of the cases here, they tend not to show you all the clues, but the ridiculousness of the show makes up for it.

Will this be the last time we mention Ryougi Shiki in an Ongoing Investigation? Not if I can help it!

Flawed works are sometimes the most special of all; they are chance taking stories that don’t quite have all the details worked out. When breaking new ground it is no surprise when one gets lost along the way. This can occur in many different facets from having the amount of episodes suddenly shortened due to low-ratings or lulls in the middle of the story as they try to stretch or even extraneous characters taking up too much time. But these are also stories that surprise you with their decisions and that’s a most powerful and memorable reaction.

The examples that spring to mind immediately are two of the biggest game changing mecha shows of all time, Mobile Suit Gundam and The Super Dimension Fortress Macross. Both shows constantly had their episodes counts changed during their production leading to major changes in the story during production which were often detrimental. They both have wildly inconsistent animation due to budgetary constraints. Gundam was plagued with odd dialog and Tomino’s peculiar characterization. The last third of Macross is usually considered the weakest and feels tacked on. Neither show is objectively flawless and can be picked apart rather easily.  But they were innovated and bold for their time. They both changed the way people look at mecha forever. The characterization and formulas of both shows would influence countless imitators, protegees, and successors.

Any game changing show really depends on the context of its release, more often than not this can be summed up by what year it came out. The title that comes to mind for me is Space Battleship Yamato, a classic, but not a flawless work. Parts can be hard to watch now, if you hadn’t seen it when it was more fresh, without the knowledge of its importance in those early anime days. But there is no denying the impact of this space opera that showed that a dramatic anime could garner a huge fanbase. The medium was different after Yamato hit the airwaves and likewise the world of anime and its fans changed much with the premiere of Neon Genesis Evangelion. Love it or hate it, think it is overrated or the best thing ever, some people would (and have) describe the anime scene as pre- and post-Eva. And just like many that came before it, watching it now and not acknowledging what the world was like when it came out can make you view it very differently. Even for myself, seeing The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzamiya after the fact gave it a different feeling.

In contrast think of the works that you think of as near flawless masterpieces. Like any piece of art they are flawed but for the most part they are solid works that get almost universal acclaim. The cherished works of Satoshi Kon and Hayao Miyazaki are often cited as shows that inspire creator to go into animation. Legend of the Galactic Heroes is awe-inspiring and beautifully crafted. But how often do you see people trying to imitate them? But how often are they considered revolutionary? How often do they change how anime in the genre that produced them? Oddly enough as amazing as these works are they rarely go on to be as influential as their ugly ducking cousins.

A perfect 10 in anime, personally I think it quite rare; even in arbitrary grading like MyAnimeList, I am pretty stingy. And just looking at it, with the exception of the original Gundam movie trilogy (which is a remake anyway) I can say that none of those shows changed the face of anime forever. There can be a difference between being a masterpiece and being revolutionary. Where would we be without the risk takers? Not even the greatest of them all, Osamu Tezuka, did everything perfect. And I don’t think any of us mind too much. Even if something is imperfect, or a flop, it can inspire other to think differently.

It comes down to the fact that a flawed work can be improved up. A masterpiece is often created in the prime of a genre. The flaws and kinks of the genre have been tested so a great director can come in and take what has come before it and make it sing. But something with almost no room for improvement might be a challenge and an inspiration to live up to  as an ideal they are sadly often creative dead ends. A flawed work on the other hand says to a creator that they can do better.  When are show makes tragic mistakes but is still inspiring and enjoyable it often gives creators a direction to work towards with a road map towards an even better creation. New frontiers are not only filled with new ideas but with new dangers and mistakes to be made. A flawed work is often the best soil for new frontiers.

• Shinmaru reviewed I My Me! Strawberry Eggs recommended by Crusader
• Eeeper reviewed Roujin Z recommended by Shinmaru
• Ryan reviewed Tokyo Godfathers recommended by Eeeper
• Gerjomarty reviewed Shigofumi recommended by Ryan
• Otou-san reviewed Dennou Coil recommended by Gerjomarty
• Emilio reviewed TBA recommended by Otou-san
• Stig reviewed Shigurui: Death Frenzy recommended by Emilio
• Emperor J reviewed Sketchbook: ~Full Color’s~ , Black Lagoon, and  Ah! My Goddess TV recommended by Stig
• Tom M. reviewed Gundam 0800: War in the Pocket, Gakuen Utopia Manabi Straight, and Aoi Bungaku recommended by Emperor J
• mDuo13 reviewed Dennou Coil recommended by Tom M.
• Digitalboy reviewed Bungaku Shoujo and Asatte no Houkou recommended by mDuo13
• lvll n reviewed Kurenai recommended by Digitalboy
• Opinion Prone reviewed The Place Promised in Our Early Days recommended by lvll n
• Schneider reviewed Dennou Coil recommended by Opinion Prone
• Link reviewed Armor Hunter Mellowlink recommended by Schneider
• Patz Prime reviewed Princess Tutu recommended by Link
• Tim reviewed Le Chevalier D’Eon recommended by Patz Prime
• Andy reviewed Pani Poni Dash! recommended by Tim
• Ghostlightning reviewed Baccano! recommended by Andy
• Animemiz reviewed Macross: Do You Remember Love? recommended by Ghostlightning
• Otaku no Podcast reviewed Ah! My Goddess recommended by Animemiz
• Ink reviewed Fate/Stay Night recommended by Otaku no Podcast
• Reverse Thieves reviewed Dead Leaves recommended by Ink
• Jasmine reviewed TBA recommended by Reverse Thieves
• Big N reviewed Bartender recommended by Jasmine
• Bradley reviewed .hack//Sign recommended by Big N
• James reviewed Haibane Renmei recommended by Bradley
• lwelyk reviewed TBA recommended by James
• Jaren reviewed Perfect Blue recommended by lwelyk
• Mikey reviewed Baccano! recommended by Jaren
• Calaggie reviewed Hatenkou Yugi recommended by Mikey
• Joel reviewed Paprika recommended by Calaggie
• Elliot reviewed Baccano! recommended by Joel
• warriorhope reviewed TBA recommended by Elliot
• Anthony reviewed Tokyo Godfathers recommended by warriorhope
• Zanaikin reviewed Seirei no Moribito recommended by Anthony
• Andika reviewed Seto no Hanayome, Inukami, and SaiKano recommended by Zanaikin
• Serdar reviewed Now and Then, Here and There recommended by Andika
• Scamp reviewed Legend of Sirius recommended by Serdar
• Scott F. reviewed Kino’s Journey recommended by Scamp
• SDShamshel reviewed Patlabor movie 1 recommended by Scott F.
• Greg reviewed Invincible Super Man Zambot 3 recommended by SDShamshel
• Spring reviewed Bokurano recommended by Greg
• Vamptvo reviewed Last Exile recommended by Spring
• Owen S. reviewed Whisper of the Heart, Millennium Actress, and Cowboy Bebop recommended by Vamptvo
• Landon reviewed Kaiba recommended by Owen S.
• Sanderz reviewed Cromartie High School recommended by Landon
• Travis reviewed Bamboo Blade recommended by Sanderz
• Hige reviewed Birdy the Mighty: Decode recommended by Travis
• Steve reviewed Tokyo Marble Chocolate and Dennou Coil recommended by Hige
• Executive Otaku reviewed Simoun Part 1 and Part 2 with spoilers recommended by Steve
• Shance reviewed Bakemonogatari recommended by Executive Otaku
• flak reviewed Saki recommended by Shance
• Baka Tanuki reviewed Umi Monogatari and Pale Cocoon recommended by flak
• Charles reviewed Kino’s Journey recommended by Baka Tanuki
• Drmchsr0 reviewed 5 Centimetres Per Second recommended by Charles
• Mercedes reviewed REC recommended by Drmchsr0
• mefloraine reviewed Kure-nai and Sora wo Miageru Shoujo no Hitomi ni Utsuru Sekai recommended by Mercedes
• Mike F. reviewed Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind recommended by mefloraine
• Janai reviewed Seraphim Call recommended by Mike F.
• Crusader reviewed Welcome to the NHK recommended by Janai

After hearing several rave reviews Narutaki and I were interested in seeing the Sherlock preview at the New York Comic Con but since that was the weekend of missing out on things we never got the chance to watch it. When we did find it playing on public television we eagerly gave it a look. The show is modernization of the classic Sherlock Holmes mysteries. While we have all the classic characters like Sherlock, Watson, Mycroft, and Moriarty but at the same time Sherlock has iPhone, Watson has just returned home from the Afghanistan conflict, and everyone has a web page. The cases themselves are loose reimaginings of  some of the original Shelrock Holmes mysteries. Sherlock himself has the right mix of genius, charisma, and full on prat that defines the character and makes him so iconic. At the same time Sherlock and Watson have a fun dynamic that sells the show (and would have people running to the Internet to complain about fan girl bait if this were an anime.) I did notice a bit of a vibe that I see in House which I found highly amusing because it means the influence may have come full circle. House was heavily influenced by the original Sherlock Holmes and now it seems that influence has come home to roost. Like many British TV shows the first season is extremely short with only 3 ninety minute episodes. The 2nd episode was the weakest of the three but they were all very entertaining and had a good mixture of action, comedy, and most importantly sleuthing. The only real downside in the first season ends on a cliff hanger so if you watch this you are just going to be on the edge of your seat for the conclusion.

I just can’t help myself, I really must talk about the BBC Masterpiece Mystery 3-part Sherlock (2010) series. This a modern telling of the classic detective unlike any done before, and wow did they set the bar high. The production quality is wonderful and well-crafted. Turning Sherlock and Watson into characters who live in the 21st century is a smooth transition in this series. Sherlock still relies on his incredible memory and capacity for noticing the smallest details but he does use some modern science once in a while. The reaction to him by the police is also a nice touch with most afraid of him or thinking he is a sociopath. As for Watson his war trauma and not feeling right in society is perfectly suited, and as my dad said “Watson always carried his gun.” Oh and I love that he has a blog about the cases. The dynamic between these two is comical at times but more comfortable than anything else despite them only meeting for the first time in part 1, in this I feel you can see the House influence the most. Watson is exasperated by Sherlock but also gripped by his insight and the mysteries. The first mystery is wholly gratifying in its puzzle, climax, and ending. Pretty much perfect. The second’s mystery is a little less solid but nevertheless good, and it was nice to see the solution be a bit unexpected. The final case is very intense because of the cat and mouse angle. And as everyone has already said, the cliffhanger is a major one (on par with that darned Twin Peaks first season cliffhanger!). It is excitement for the series that makes it devastating to wait a year for more of this brilliant rendition.

Since it is only 20 dollars I decided to pick up a remake of the classic game Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions. I have been always eager to pick up the game since I have fond memories of the original plus the remake has some added features and a much cleaner translational. It has been giving me a good flood of nostalgia while reminding me why I liked the original as well. It also reawakened by love of unlocking classes and abilities even if that means crazy amount of unnecessary grinding. But that also means I have gotten to the point were the random battle are now insanely hard and the story battles are cake. The new cut scenes are pretty stylish with cel shaded animation with cross hatching. It gives the scene a very unique feeling. It is a great way to go back and visit an awesome and timeless game.

Gurren Lagann Parallel Works 2. Once again I have to wonder if the directors don’t know what a music video is or if they just plain ignore it, as the first installment made me ponder, too. Big Building and My XXX is the Best in the World (seriously don’t know what this title had to do with the video) were music videos just not very memorable ones. Kittan Zero with plenty of action and comedy and The Sense of Wonder which felt like an anime music video of a series I’d want to watch stood out as the better pieces, but there was nothing very amazing in this collection.

As my very soul demanded I watched Gundam Unicorn 2. Overall I think it kept up the good feelings and momentum from the first episode despite the fact that I saw a bunch of tweets that seem to indicate that people’s feelings had cooled a bit. I think they wisely waited to show the Unicorn verses the Kshatriya fight for this episode because there was a bit more talking and less action in this episode. Of course we get to see Full Frontal in full three times as fast glory inside of his mecha and outside. This had to be done considering you could feel the Gundam fans need to see him from the second the first OAV started. I was happy to see a little more of what sort of person Audrey Burn is and we get the first big reveal about her. The federation officers clearly show that the more things change in the Universal Century the more they stay the same. Other than that is did a lot of setting up for the rest of the series as is the standard of the second act of any Gundam series. I listened to the dub on my second watch through. Everyone seemed pretty solid. No one stood out as amazing to me but I was happy with everyone’s performance.  I would go into more detail but Narutaki has to yet to see this episode so I can’t say anymore than I look forward to episode three. The trailer for that is already out.

I read Bunny Drop vol. 2 and it continues to play me like a fiddle, I absolutely adore it. At the end of the first volume we saw Daikichi going through his grandfather’s house hoping to turn up some clues about Rin’s mother. That continues here and we even meet the woman, but I have to say who she is surprises me and it felt a little wacky and out of sync, but that might have just been my expectations. I also took an immediate dislike to her. I’m not actually sure how she will fit into the story just yet as it feels a little premature. It was nice to see Daikichi’s parents getting involved in Rin’s life and not treating her like a curse, too. Daikichi grows as a parent in this book quite a bit as Rin gets ready to start elementary school and you can see him transitioning from feeling sorry for her to truly loving her. As for Rin, she is making friends and coming out of her shell bit by bit but you can also see her trying to act more like a “big girl” and how that is affecting her relationship with Dai. So far the book has stayed rather positive, even with the monumental underlying issues at hand. I’m not sure where this journey will take Rin and Daikichi but I really hope he gets to stay by her side.

I had to dig through some truly awful Milky Holmes pictures to find this but it was worth it.

AZAKNS4K72B3

If someone were to ask a Gundam fan who was the main character of the Universal Century series of Gundam two names pop into most people’s minds. They would either answer Amuro Ray or Char Aznable. They are both iconic characters of the series and have an enormous influence on the Universal Century time line. But neither character is in Gundam Double Zeta and their deaths in Char’s Counter Attack make it hard (but possibly not impossible) for them to participate in Gundam Unicorn. A more savvy Gundam fan might realize that Bright Noah  has been in every major Universal Century TV series and movie. But he always been a supporting cast member and never rose to prominence as a main character.  In fact there is one character for all of the first leg of the Universal Century time line can be a backdrop for their story.

I purpose that Mineva Lao Zabi is the true star of Gundam. Her history starts in Mobile Suit Gundam as the One Year War starts to head towards its inevitable conclusion.  As the Battle of Solomon quickly turned south for the Zeon it forces Dozle Zabi to evacuate his family and make his last stand. This act would give his wife and daughter a chance to escape and soon find themselves the only surviving members of the Zabi family.  Mineva appears again in Zeta and Double Zeta Gundam as a puppet of Haman Karn. She is clearly uncomfortable in her position but is trapped in the role as  the only remaining link to the Zabi legacy. We eventually discover that the Mineva in Double Zeta in a body double leading to the question of where did the original go. In Char’s Counter Attack we have an offhanded reference to  Haman and Mineva from Char as leader of the Second Neo Zeon movement. But finally she come to due prominence in Gundam Unicorn. It seems that since Zeta Gundam Mineva had been protected by various Zeon holdouts until she reemerged with the the Sleeves going by the name of Audrey Burn. Here she finally transcends to main character status as she tries to prevent the Laplace Box from falling into the wrong hands. She has played a major role in every step of the conflict between the Federation and Zeon.

While I am being slightly facetious by calling Mineva the main character of the Universal Century I do think that she has a unique place in the history of Gundam. Her growth can be seen over the course of the series and her fate seems bonded by blood to that of the Zeon movement that defines half of Gundam. The history of the first Gundam universe is the history of  Mineva Lao Zabi and vice versa.

Anime 3000 presents The Speakeasy Podcast:
Drink #010: The Red Comet, Romance in the various Gundam Universes

When you think of Gundam you usually think of a mixture of real robot battles and politics as the foundation of the various series that make up the franchise. But the relationships between the characters is an equally important part that is easily overlooked because of all the cool robot fights. High on the list of debate are the romantic relationships; some are praised as highly realistic and touching, others are viewed as melodramatic but engaging, while still others are seen as travesties. The problem is that few fans agree which relationships from which show go in which category. In this episode we will examine the relationships that stand out the most in our minds from all the Gundam series we have seen. We start with the works of Tomino and go up to the present with Gundam Unicorn and Gundam 00.

(Listen) (Show Notes)

And now your helpful bartenders at The Speakeasy present you a drink invented by Hisui:

The Red Comet (It gets you feeling toasty three times as fast)

6 oz. vodka
1 can Red Bull

Drop a shotglass of vodka into a Highball glass of Red Bull. Bonus points are given for being dressed as Casval Rem Deikun with a mask or at least wearing all red. Anyone dressed as Quattro Bajeena has to drink a Hyaku Shiki.

Right off the bat the most interesting announcements for me came from Bandai Entertainment. Bandai is finally releasing the original Mobile Suit Gundam with Japanese audio. Amazing that the Japanese audio tracks are no longer impossible to get now. I guess that Bandai has sold enough original Gundam DVDs in Japan that they are  no longer worried about reverse importation cutting into their profits. Still I will be happy to get rid of my dub only DVDs and get the dual audio DVDs I always wanted. Bandai also picked up the Gundam 00 movie and announced the U.S. DVD release of Gundam Unicorn. Some asked if they would be dubbing Turn A or giving a new dub the original Mobile Suit Gundam. Someone else asked if they were going to pick up old robot shows. They said they had no plans to do so which proves that while Bandai might be crazy they are not UTTERLY suicidal. Still overall it was a good day for American Gundam fans. Aniplex and Funimation did not have a new licenses and mostly gave more details on titles they already had. Still no Kara no Kyoukai announcement but I assume we will not hear anything until they sell their insanely expensive DVD and Blu-Ray sets in Japan for a while. Summer Wars is getting a theatrical release from Funimation so if you have not had a chance to watch that I really suggest you check that out. The Crunchyroll panel had to be the most boring event I went to all weekend. While questions were asked and answered I feel not a lot was really said. People asked about things like the manga program and streaming outside of the US but they mostly got variations on “We will see what the future holds.” If I had been more awake I might have been able to ask some good questions but the weekend started catching up with me at that panel. I assume that ANN would have had announcements and future plans for the streaming initiatives at their panel but the whole Oreimo leak debacle scuttled anything and utterly transformed the panel they had.

On the manga Manga front Vertical unveiled two titles. The Book of Human Insects is distinctly one of Tezuka’s gekiga influenced manga just by the cover. Usamaru Furuya’s manga of the Japanese classic No Longer Human which inspired Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei and was featured in the Blue Literature series. Dark Horse picked up two obvious but surely anticipated titles from Yasuhiro Nightow of Trigun fame and Kouta Hirano of Hellsing. I was a little surprised I had not heard of Kekkai Sensen or Drifters but they seem like great choices to pick up considering how well both author’s previous works have done. Yen Press mostly talked about manga adaptions of English books and their new iPad application. I am very curious how their attempt to enter the digital distribution game will work out for them. There has been talk that the Kodansha panel was never canceled but in fact never scheduled in the first place. I think that Kodansha just did not want to spend an hour not answering questions about the death of Del Rey manga but I would have liked them to just come and say that if that were the case.

If this had taken place a few years ago there would have been half a dozen of titles from everyone involved. Even the once seemingly invincible manga companies had less to say then they would have two years ago. But in these troubled times I understand and appreciate the need to buckle down and be conservative. At the same time companies are finding ways to innovate and adapt and hopefully we will see all these companies next year with slightly better news to report as well.

More NY Anime Festival and Comic Con 2010 posts:

NY Anime Festival & Comic Con 2010: Tweets
NY Anime Festival & Comic Con 2010: General Impressions
NY Anime Festival 2010: Artist Alley – Making it Big! (guest post)
NY Anime Festival & Comic Con 2010: Exhibitors Hall
NY Anime Festival & Comic Con 2010: Premieres
NY Anime Festival & Comic Con 2010: Panels
NY Anime Festival & Comic Con 2010: Minori Chihara

We already did an overview podcast of Mechademia which included the third volume but we didn’t get to every little thing that we found interesting. Since this collection included the first Gundam essay so far, we thought we would pull it out for discussion (plus there is no way we couldn’t take a minute to say how creepy that sculpture is). It features a translated essay, Gundam and the Future of Japanoid Art by Takayuki Tatsumi, and then a response from the translator, Christopher Bolton.

When we were on the Manga Out Loud podcast Ed Sizmore discussed the idea that in academia the progress and exchange of ideas is facilitated by follow ups on establish papers. In the spirit of promoting an academic mindset  in the anime and manga communities we decided to take a stab at writing out own response to one of the articles instead of just doing a review of the third book. Gundam and the Future of Japanoid Art discusses how the novel Starship Troopers influenced Gundam and in turn influenced the way authors view the relationship between man and machine in fiction. The translator then wrote a response in which he talks about his recollection of the Gundam Generating Futures exhibit where Tatsumi’s article originally appeared in the catalog for.

As Tatsumi incorporates many ideas both politically and visually into his essay, Bolton’s response focuses on the “visual richness of Gundam.” He calls it ironic that Tatsumi sees Gundam’s stylistic origin in Starship Troopers since the book’s text is rather sparse on visual description. However, the crux of Tatsumi’s proposal of such had less to do with the text within Starship Troopers instead pointing to Studio Nue’s cover for the book in 1977 as a spring board for the Gundam franchise. And I can easily imagine that the image was enough of a spark for the already challenging ideas of Tomino’s robot work. I’m reminded of how Tezuka recalled merely seeing the poster for Metropolis (another work discussed at length in this volume of Mechademia) and being inspired by it. The ideas of Starship Troopers, still highly debated even today, surely had a profound impact on Japanese mecha genre and I don’t doubt that extends to Tomino. But the way robots appear in Gundam especially the mass-produced army of suits, I almost wonder if it didn’t need to be Starship Troopers. Had that image appeared somewhere else, I’d speculate that it would have had a great impact anyway. I’d like to read further essays comparing Starship Troopers and Gundam, and also I would love to hear what Tomino has said about the work in relation to his own body of creations.

I find it interesting that Tatsumi begins the article talking about the Turn A Gundam novel by Fukui Harutoshi then goes on to talk about original Gundam considering that while both are directed by Tomino as part of the franchise, they both look at war and the relationship between man and machine very differently. The original Gundam series was so revolutionary when it popularized the idea of mecha being mass-produced tools of war and not unique super weapons. There is also no specific judgment on their use in war. Tomino’s message was to highlight the pointlessness and tragedy of war itself. Turn A Gundam on the other hand can be seen more as a response to the original Gundam. Turn A deals heavily with the concept of how machines are neither good or evil but serve to further the goals of those who use them. Throughout the series there is deep introspection of mecha as tools of war. Also both protagonists have a very different view of war and ending the conflict. In the original, Amuro fights to survive and end the war for his side quickly by defeating the Zeon. In Turn A Gundam, it is Loran’s goal to find as peaceful a solution to the conflict between the Earth and the Moon as possible. Considering how famous Fukui Harutoshi is for his unique voice I wonder how his novel ties into the discussion. Sadly, I assume that we will not see a translation of that novel any time soon.

I hope we can expect to see further discussions and Gundam essays in the Mechademia books. Though I certainly don’t see myself as being able to add a great deal, I like to speculate on the pieces I have had a chance to read. You may have noticed we didn’t really comment on the art exhibit mentioned so prominently in the essay by Bolton. It should come as no surprise that we would find it rather difficult to discuss such an exhibit without ever having the pleasure of viewing it. And I’m sure it would be pleasurable, minus the giant Sayla that would give nightmares to those present. Forever.

In conclusion, if I ever have to see another picture of  “Crash Sayla Mass” again it will be too soon. Whenever anyone does anything involving Gundam Generating Futures they invariably prominently display pictures of that statute which has to be one of the ugliest things I have ever seen. It is especially jarring when I am looking for normal Sayla pictures. The horrific face and monster teeth combined with the HR Giger styled cockpit in her stomach is prime high octane nightmare fuel. I have a feeling it is supposed to provoke that reaction but it still makes me uneasy. Can’t anyone focus of the rest of the exhibit. Pretty Please.

I decided to check out Real Drive mostly because I was intrigued that I knew almost nothing about the show despite its pedigree. A cyber future anime from Production I.G and Masamune Shirow seems like the type of show everyone should be talking about. I think the main problem people have with this show is two fold. First is chubby girls. All the female characters are full figured to the point that most of them look sort of chunky. I did not have a problem with it but I know that it is like 80% of the reputation of this show. The second is my nickname for the show: Slice-of-Life in the Shell. While there are cases of killer cyborg assassins, man’s relationship with technology, and political intrigue the fact that Minamo Aoi the 15-year-old girl is the main character is a turn off if people wanted the standard Shirow protagonist. One of the stories is even about a ghost at Aoi’s school but what people are mostly going to remember is Aoi and her friends being goofy ghost hunters. Overall the slice-of-life aspects are really high at times so if you can’t stand them there is no reason to even try to plow through to get to the good fight scenes and deeper plot. I had a good time but it’s hardly a show that you must see especially considering how light the story can be at times. I do have to give the show props for making the other protagonist a 81-year-old hacker in a wheel chair. Now that isn’t an overused archetypal anime character.

I got Kekkaishi 21 in the mail earlier this week, I’m glad I had this on pre-order. The last few books have been setting up the many facets of sacred sites being destroyed and then hanging the blame on the Yoshimori’s clan which is causing turmoil in many different sects. Everything is still very shrouded in mystery, few ties of trusts, which is only multiplied by Okuni’s group getting involved. Things really heat up in this volume when Karasamori itself is targeted and as Tokine makes a difficult decision in the battle. We finally get more hints about who and what is destroying the sites and Yoshi among others starts doing some detective work. Yoshi continues to grow in this volume, but there is a little too much of people spelling everything out. And given my dislike for Sen, it doesn’t help that he is digging further and further into his know-it-all attitude even though I can read betrayal all over him. However, Yoshi is able to recognize himself as a person who has to listen to others with the realization that using their knowledge to further his learning is okay. I also can’t help but feel Yoshi is such a misunderstood guy, but he is moving forward. Kekkaishi is also starting to feel a bit more like shonen adventure and even less like shonen fighting than it already does. The battles are good and hard won but they aren’t dominating the plot. I really wish this came out quicker! 

I finished Victory Gundam with episodes 31-52. I guess I will just throw out my overall feelings since the other person on the blog has not seen this yet. Observant Tomino fans will notice that there are 2 types of “Kill ‘Em All Tomino” shows. In the first type you will have one or two major deaths but almost everyone who is important dies at the very end. Then there is the constant murder throughout the series in Victory Gundam. I do have to note that some of the deaths were especially horrific even for Tomino. The big climactic fight centered around the Zanscare super weapon was suitably dramatic and tense. Tomino made a super weapon in a fashion he had never done before. He also seemed to be stalling for time at points with Shakti being passed back and forth between Uso and the Zanscare Empire. Overall I thought it was a solid Gundam series but not an exceptional one. It’s worth watching if you like Tomino but not anything you have to rush out to see. You just have to be braced for a series with a deep melancholy that permeates the show.

Conan Magic File 4 is a companion short to the latest film, The Lost Ship in the Sky. These shorts are always little insignificant romps which can be mildly amusing depending. This one is about Conan and Heiji’s attempt to get to a wonderful okonomiyaki restaurant before Conan has to depart for home and the many obstacles that get in their way. This mostly highlights both of the guy’s good Samaritan qualities but the likes of which often spill over into jumping to suspecting crime at every turn. Considering how many crimes happen around these two, it’s hard to blame them! And while they don’t solve any crimes they do clear up a misunderstanding between a couple. Fun but once again nothing too special.

On May 13th I participated on the live chat session of Monster episode 1 on manga.com. They played the first dubbed episode of Monster while letting viewers chat with each other or ask the producers at VIZ questions about the series. It was an interesting way to promote a show so I decided to check it out. They went out of their way to make the experience very interactive. You could also answer trivia question in a side bar quiz if you liked. The staff answered the questions in a quick and friendly manner which was very nice. Amazingly everyone was well-behaved from what I saw which for any open invitation online event is pleasing. For the life of me I could not get the advertisement bar to go away during the chat so it was hard to read the Q&A. But they answered a few of my questions including how free they felt they were in the adaption of the anime. They responded that they worked extremely closely with the translator of the manga to make sure they were perfectly in sync with each other. I think the showing with live Q&A session was clever and hope to see them do it again.

I have watched Heroman 2-6 and I can’t help but feel each subsequent episode seems less fulfilling than the previous. The pacing in this show is keeping me interested however since it is so wildly jarring as things you might suspect to happen over a couple of episodes instead occur almost instantly after you think of it. And the things that happen in Heroman you do literally think of because it is that familiar. I just keep suspecting there is going to be waaaay more to everything without any real proof of that. Though considering this show will probably be 50+ episodes it can take those first 10 to really get the ball rolling. Speaking of rolling balls, they are currently my favorite characters in the series, and as such I have taken to calling the show Marble Madness until they are disposed of.

They tried to stand up to the victory:

Kimi ni Todoke reminds me that although I may associate Production I.G with smart action shows like Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex and Le Chevalier D’Eon they can do all type of shows really well. The series just gives you a warm feeling throughout. It is a fabulous series to pick you up and reassure you of the good things in life. We learn more about everyone as they learn more about each other as well. And we want to learn these things because these are delightfully positive characters.  Everything we said about the first episode remains true throughout. If you liked the first episode you will be just as happy with the last episode. I never felt any of the story dipped in quality which is great. If you need an utterly conclusive ending that says, “This is where we stop” you have to hope the manga gives you that. The anime picks a good place to end where you can imagine where everything is going and be happy but if you got a second season you would not feel it was tacked on. The best series of the fall season and a wonder anime to hook a certain type of new anime fan as well as satisfy an old hand as well.

Kimi ni Todoke was always an especially bright spot in my weekly anime watching, it really has an uplifting feeling that is followed by a satisfied sigh. As the story takes a close look at friendships and love it creates an incomplete, but no less fulfilling, picture about growth. Few people could hope to be as endearing as Sawako, however, no one would ever know that had she not decided to come out of her shell. This is one of the many reasons I listed her as anime woman of the year for 2009, she is afraid but she moves forward and succeeds. I love Kimi’s ability to make you believe (or in my case remind me of what I have always known) that people change everyday, for many different reasons. I found the development of Chizu a surprising extra to the series, as well as how much I enjoyed Kurumi, Yano’s reveal of being somewhat of a mastermind, and how deeply I felt Ryu’s love. Each character added something to the mix never coming off as extraneous side characters in a love story about Sawako and Kazehaya. But that love story is wonderful, subtle, and fits in along side all of the other slow and sweet relationships that develop in Kimi ni Todoke. The shy quality that comes over the otherwise outgoing Kazehaya and the utter freaking out of Sawako are touching and hilarious as is the knowledge that they will end up in the right place someday, one small step at a time. Kimi ni Todoke deserves a spot as of one of the best of 2009/2010.

The next stop on the trip through the iterations of Cutey Honey was Re: Cutey Honey or as I like to call it Re: Super-Obvious-Lesbian-Sub-Text Honey. Re: Cutey Honey was made by Gainax as a companion to the Hideaki Anno movie. Once again Honey Kisaragi must battle Panther Claw after they killed her father. The biggest difference is now instead of Seiji Hayami being her love interest with a good deal of lesbian subtext to her adventures they outright have Natsuko Aki as her love interest. Also Honey is now an office lady instead of a student. Overall the formula is still the same one I mentioned on The Speakeasy and it does it well. The fan service is sort of off the hook in these OAVs. There are naked breasts all over the place and the racy material you expect from a Go Nagai work with a modern Gurren Lagann feel. The action is also rather well done and the fights are exciting and amusing. I’m actually quite surprised this has not been picked up. It’s only three episodes, the animation is quite good, and it delivers on all fronts that U.S. fans usually like.

I went to see the play Enjoy by Toshiki Okada translated from Japanese over the weekend but it struck me as almost more of a conversation rather than a production. The narrative revolves around a bunch of part-time workers at a manga cafe in Shinjuku. There is virtually no set or props to speak of so the crux of everything hinges on the stories they are telling to each other and the audience, often speaking directly to you the viewer. The speech used is worth noting because it really is street level, repeating yourself, stopping and starting, skipping things, filler words, very “real.” There is a bit of a divide in the cast, some are 30 (or just turned so) and the others are between the ages of 22-27, everyone makes frequent mentions of this. Much of the conversations revolve around societal pressures about jobs and relationships, but more to the point is this close look at a phenomenon of college grads who only work part-time and still live at home without being able to move on to the next stage. I found this concept an easy one to see in American culture as well. There is a presence of humor certainly in the quirkiness of many of the characters in the first half, but also a melancholy that gets more pronounced in the second part. In fact, while even some characters recognize their flaws throughout the play, it never really feels like they will move forward because of it. But in this way and others the characters are very tangible, you know these people or are/have been these people, you want to hear their story, sympathize, listen, encourage, advise, and talk to them. Enjoy doesn’t really come off as positive or negative, and is certainly never preachy, it is a play about what goes on, what is, and it succeeds in making you mull over all that you saw.

I made it to the next leg of Victory Gundam with episodes 15-30. These episodes all take place in space giving us a good deal more insight in the Zanscare Empire, their queen, the the rest of the players behind this war. We discover some shocking secrets about Shakti but they do seem to ever reveal her true birth name, Princess Peach. I say that because boy does this girl get kidnapped. The cast passes around Shakti like a hot potato. At the end of these 15 episodes Uso finally meets up with his mother and we get from her the requisite mid season upgrade to the Victory 2.  In between we get a betrayal from a certain character that is not entirely unexpected but is sort of jarring. We gets a bunch more dead characters because if Victory Gundam is not murdering the cast at an incredible rate it does not know what to do with itself. I’m still having a good time but Tomino’s depression is quite apparent in the grim and brutal nature of the series.

After watching each episode of Durarara!! I have a habit of saying “I don’t know about this show.” And I have maintained that attitude for 12 episodes. It has an intriguing pace, characters that are interesting to say that least, and an attitude about it that feels very hip. The twist came when it needed to, I was getting a bit bored by the character it pertains to so it was a perfect transition. However, I don’t like the relationships portrayed but thank goodness they are not the entire focus of the show. And even more importantly, they peeked my curiosity in the last minutes of episode 12, important because without that moment I would have more than likely dropped the show. This is a hard show to talk about without giving things away, and I’ve done a poor job of it, but Durarara!! is still worth seeing where it all will lead.

It took me a bit of hunting to find a picture that really captured what makes Kimi so good. There was lots of well done pictures but this one is prefect:

Mitsuru Adachi once again proves he wants to be writing shonen romance manga but keeps being forced to throw in a sports angle due to his perceived image as a sport manga guy. Cross Game has an ending that while different than Touch left me with that same feeling that the baseball and the trip to Koshien Stadium to just window dressing to the relationship. I enjoyed the series overall especially since I was braced for this sort of ending after Touch. I could tell you how I would have ended Cross Game but I am saving that for next month’s Final Denouement. Overall I think the series was well done and you should not let any criticism I give discourage you from watching the show. It ends well and is a very satisfying if you realize that the romance is the real heart of the series no matter how much the baseball might seem to be the key.

Cross Game started off incredibly strong then dipped in the middle as baseball appeared less and less even going for a stretch of 10+ episodes without the sport mentioned more than in passing. But throughout it all the characters were engaging and admittedly though I complained a lot, I did not give up on the show. Kou and Aoba are an interesting pair because they don’t change so much as realize what has been there all along, and that in itself is a change, but who they are is solid and established right from the beginning. I was equally happy to learn who each of the side characters were like Azuma (who quickly became my favorite) and Akaishi who both show how strong the bonds of friendship are. And within all of this the baseball really delivers, when it is in the story, with real tension and energy. The real problem for Adachi as I see it is that he can write really gripping baseball moments even if he doesn’t want to and therefore I wanted to see more of it. And believe me the ending hits all the right spots between a great last game and the wrap up of the romances I truly felt chills and emotion. The only hiccup with the ending is one piece of unfinished business that’s outcome is never disclosed. Much to my surprise I ended up being happier with Cross Game than I thought I was going to be.

With a mixture of sadness and triumph I come to the end of the the Universal Century time line by starting to watch Mobile Suit Victory Gundam episodes 1-15. Goodness. People have always said that Victory Gundam is clearly the work of a extremely depress Tomino. They are not exaggerating by any stretch of the imagination. This show has been a meat grinder so far and I can’t see that letting up any time soon. I mean they start killing of people right away and it never lets up. Set 60 years after Char’s Counter Attack and 30 years after F91 Zeon may have become a problem of the past but the Federation must now deal with the threat of the Zanscare Empire. Uso Evin is living next door to his friend Shakti Karin. They are both illegal immigrants on Earth looking to find their parents. Soon Uso is drawn into being a pilot for the League Militaire against the Zanscare Empire. The story itself starts in medias res and takes several episodes to show you how they got to the position they did in the first episode.  The Victory is yet another combining mecha which I have to assume was the in thing at the time but it is surprising to see a mass produced Gundam. As of episode 15 they are finally in space although I don’t think the journey to get out of Kasarelia was a bad as people made it seem. Also so far even better than Zeon they have shown that Zanscare Empire has some really horrible leaders with all types of people in the lower ranks. The Federation is merely selfish, apathetic, and incompetent. Well it only looks like it’s going to get worse before it ends so I will be sure not to watch any episodes while depressed.

Thanks to the IKKI website I started reading Kingyo Used Books (chs. 1-8). It is a very fun approach to healing manga in which manga itself is the healer. Whether it helps people remember their youth, give them hope for the future, or just plain make them laugh a different manga is featured in each chapter and guides these souls on their way. The workers of the Kingyo Used Books store appear in various degrees of importance depending on the story, sometimes making only a minor cameo when a customer comes looking for a manga. They all have their own quirks though and there does seem to be a little bit of continuing plot involving them which comes up now and again. The stories are fun to read, but what really makes this a standout series are the notes at the end about the manga that appear in the chapters, it’s a great learning tool! Sometimes I have heard of the series and sometimes not, but either way there is always some insight into it at the end.

I finished A Certain Scientific Railgun recently. There were a good deal of people complaining about the filler episodes in the middle but overall they were enjoyable fluff. They gave us some more insight into Mikoto Misaka and her friends. The problem comes down to the fact that I did not expect grand things out of Railgun so the plot filled episodes were a treat as opposed to being disappointed when the filler strayed form the main plot. The end ties everything together nicely bringing in all the major plot lines we had into to one final plot. Overall the story works out rather predictability but in a very fun manner. The fights at the end are nice and everyone gets a role to play. Even Saten gets a role to play which is nice to see. (Am I the only person who wants to shout all hail Satan every time I see her?) This show reminded me that since A Certain Magical Index is not being picked up any time soon I should go back and finish that.

I watched the new Bohemian Rhapsody music video by Leiji Matsumoto. The beginning was well done but then it kind of loses direction at a few early points, they just don’t seem to have much relation either storytelling wise or beat wise. However, it crescendo’s incredibly well and climatically, it seems to hit a stride. The character designs are of course old and familiar, the animation is good but there is the added bonus of CG animation thrown in, being me I would have preferred all 2-D animation but it isn’t terribly jarring. Another nice piece of work from Matsumoto.

Waking Sleeping Beauty is a fascinating documentary highlighting the renaissance of Disney animation from 1984 and 1994. It goes in depth on how the perfect storm cam together to create amazing Disney films like Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Aladdin, and the Little Mermaid after it seemed like Disney animation was dying. The studio went from putting out box-office bombs to having Beauty and the Beast nominated for Best Picture by the Academy Awards. The film shows how the triumvirate of Roy Disney, Michael Eisner and Jeffrey Katzenberg were all so instrumental in the success of these movies and how the tensions between them would eventually kill the renaissance as easily as they built it. The film uses archival footage, sketches, and caricatures from the artists of the time to ground the documentary in the period to great effect. It goes to show how luck plays just as much of a part in the creation of a great film as hard work does. Amazingly insightful and extremely well-executed. I think parallels could be made with the most recent rise and fall of anime as well for a clever soul out there.

What struck me as very unique about the story of Waking Sleeping Beauty is the focus on the artists, directors, musicians, and all other manners of the creation process rather than the infamous infighting between Roy, Michael, and Jeffery that has already been well-documented. This documentary goes deeper and really shows the hard-work of all those people who rarely made it into the newspaper. The way that it is cut together with only old footage much of which is very off the cuff like home movies (the only things that are new are some of the voiceovers) really helps it to feel grounded in reality and not like some glossy corporate highlights reel. What I found truly incredible about this 10 year journey was the proof of fate, that sometimes the right people come together at the right time and it can never be duplicated because the factors were so diverse. That isn’t to say that hard-work and dedication isn’t the most important part of this project, it’s central to what these animators especially went through to perfect these films, but there is a little bit of magic in these people getting together and making it all happen. Waking Sleeping Beauty is insightful, funny, moving, and may make you believe in Disney magic.

It seems like Fate/Stay Night TV Reproduction is based on the Wikipedia summary of Fate/Stay Night more than the game itself. It plays out like someone constantly hitting the fast forward button on the plot. The story is compressed so much from the visual novel to a 26 episode TV series then to two hour long episodes that it is incomprehensible to anyone that has not experienced some previous iteration of the franchise. In fact as out of character as it might seem I don’t think I could recommend this to anyone. Unless you need a refresher of the series everything goes by so quickly that anything newly added goes by unnoticed. Heck it is so rushed they can’t even spare the time to do all of Archer’s Unlimited Blade Works speech. Your best bet is just to watch the new opening in HD which is pretty sweet and call it a day.

I watched the latest Lupin III Special, The Last Job. This hour and half of anime includes the following: big-bosomed ninjas, car chases, a roaming band of kittens, explosions, ancient laser beams, a dog that can use smoke bombs, a psychopath with a deadly yo-yo, the mafia, the “death” of major character, a mutant bird-man, and history. It was entertaining, amusing, and fun…do you really need anything else from Lupin III?

I can easily picture how Mobile Suit Gundam F91 was created. When Tomino was forced to turn his idea for a 50 episode Gundam series into a single movie I am sure he was amazingly frustrated. So I assume that he just took the show notes for the TV series and adapted them directly into a movie script without any alternations overnight. The he got drunk on sake seconds afterward. Because that is exactly how Gundam F91 feels. I just sense that Tomino had these high points that he had written out like certain people changing sides, dieing, or discovering things. But he had them set up to be revealed over the course of a full length TV series. Now they just come off as a jumbled mess. Even more so than Tomino’s normal crazy. I will say that F91 is beautiful and the fight scenes are pretty sweet. It is a delightful piece of mecha porn but the movie is sort of a train wreck. Also Cecily Fairchild proves Gundam knows how to create attractive red headed pilots. This is a very good thing. If you are a Gundam fan it’s worth a look but everyone else should stay far far away. I wonder how much I will understand everything better after I read the Crossbone Gundam manga that supposedly explains quite a bit even if it is set after the movie.

While waiting for more Blade of the Immortal manga, I grabbed the novel The Legend of the Sword Demon. As per the author’s note in the back, the story is supposed to be a retelling and therefore doesn’t have to fit into the actual storyline. The story isn’t too far off the beaten path of what you’d expect from Blade of the Immortal though. We start with Rin and Manji’s first meeting and then follow them through a story about a monster of a swordsman who keeps showing up when Manji is fighting Itto-ryu guys. The story is well-written with fights that are vivid and tense plus the author has the personalities of the cast down. The one problem that arises with this book thanks to this new adversary is making Manji look a bit like a punk, this monster just keeps getting in his business! It’s like hey this fight is just getting interesting, oh wait now it is interrupted by demon beast! Also the ending fight is much more a highlight of how awesome (and he is oh so awesome) Magatsu is rather than Manji. The new pieces of art by Hiroki Samura are a welcome edition but I was a bit disappointed that the only new character, the Sword Demon, isn’t fully featured in any of them. The Legend of the Sword Demon is a quick, light read but may just make you want to read the manga even more.

We don’t have nearly enough mecha pictures so here is the F91:

It can be easy to dismiss Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn with “another year another Gundam project” but I am thrilled to see a full return to the Universal Century. Unicorn is so UC you can hardly tell it’s not directed by Tomino. Banagher Links is a student on the colony of Industrial Seven.  He is quickly drawn into a brewing conflict when he helps the mysterious girl Audrey Burne who is trying to prevent a war between Neo-Zeon and the Federation over a mysterious object know as the Laplace Box. At the end of the episode most of Banagher’s friends at school have been killed by the fighting that had broken out, he has found his father just before he died, Audrey and his remaining friends have been picked up by the Londo Bell soldiers, and Banagher himself is piloting the Gundam Unicorn. The animation is luscious and everything is what could only be OVA quality. The fights be they hand to hand or mecha are fluid and expertly choreographed. My only real complaint is other than being totally into Audrey I did not get much of an impression about Banagher. We know that Micott is the inheritor of the Frau Bow legacy of being in love with the main guy who totally ignores her and Takuya is a geek. Suberoa and Marida Cruz of Zeon distinctly make an impression as people to watch. It will be a hard 6 months to wait for the next episode but it will be worth it.

YAYAYAANEWUNIVERSALCENTURYGUNDAMYAYAYA! Okay, now that I got that out of my system, I can happily say that all the hype (that I myself was contributing to) surrounding this OVA release is 100% justified. Gundam Unicorn has all the trappings of the original storyline directed by Tomino, it knows its source material well. Audrey caught me happily by surprise with her determination and courage. Banagher acts in typical UC teenager style and does things seemingly for no reason and falls in love at the drop of a hat, but atleast I didn’t want to punch him! They set up a lot of players for the coming story and rattle off a few tempting names before a spectacular finale. I am completely in love with the modern but 70′s characters designs that are the trend for series with old roots, their simplicity actually makes the series looks even more slick. And that’s pretty amazing because the production quality is on overload with this. I am also enjoying the robot designs with this animation as well, Marida’s Kshatriya makes quite a splash in this first installment. Everything about Gundam Unicorn’s debut episode was exciting and better than I could have imagined, here’s to the rest being as impressive!

I started watching Future Police Urashiman (eps. 1-25) again. I had started watching a while back and then stopped watching in favor of waiting for the fan-subbers to just finish the series. Getting back into it I have to say it’s lots of fun. It reminds me of those old kid cartoons were the bad guys have wacky schemes to make money and defeat the mobile police. But all the characters have depth and when the villains have plans they more often than not tie into their personal history. There are three things about this show that stick out to me. The first is that everything about the series is so 80′s from the animation and character designs to the overall vision of the future. The second is apparently everyone is an acrobat because they jump around like sentai heroes and villains all the time. I was half expecting Inspector Gondo to jump up 10 feet in the air. The third is the show really likes to use insert songs. The real hook is the waiting for the reveal of who the Fuhrer is and what Ryu’s power is. I know that we are probably only going to learn these things in the last 5 episodes but it still keeps you waiting for answers.

Finally picked up the last two volumes (7-8) of Monkey High! Even though it gets a little more dramatic in the last volume with the interference of Haruna’s father, it still stays a little, familiar, and happy romance story where love rules the day! Though I was glad to see it take a closer look at a some adult issues, but still keeps that positive upbeat outlook. Monkey High! doesn’t do anything incredible but it uses what it knows perfectly and Masaru and Haruna are just adorable together.

Since I talked about Cutie Honey during the second Speakeasy podcast it spurned my interest in actually seeing the show I used as an example. I decided to start with the 70′s classic series (eps. 1-10). You see the groundwork for the immensely successful Cutey Honey franchisee laid out in the first 10 episodes. Honey Kisaragi’s father is murdered by the evil organization Panther Claw who is trying to obtain all the beautiful and rare objects in the world. Honey is actually an android made by her father who can transform into various forms. She uses her transformation powers to defeat the generic goons and gimmick bosses working her way up the ladder. She is assisted by the Hayami family who wants in Honey’s pants (because this is a Go Nagai work) and are all based on characters from another Go Nagai series. The episodes all follow a simple formula of Honey sneaking out of school, getting involved with a Panther Claw plot to steal something, taking on several disguises to find the boss, and then transforming to her ultimate Cutey Honey form and taking out the boss. It is a fun series but very simple and very low budget. They mostly keep the viewers interested by making sure Honey is naked every time she transforms and by often having her clothing shredded by villains in key locations. I can’t say it’s a great series by any stretch of the imagination but it does have a distinct charm to it. Also it is sometimes worth watching just to see some of the odder transformations Honey makes that people don’t talk about like Homeless Honey, Woodsman Honey, and Charlie Chaplin Honey.

Read through Kekkaishi books 19 and 20. The end of 18 was a bit of a cliffhanger and it finishes up nicely in 19. But what is most exciting is the looming longer story arc that is evolving out of it. A prophecy and a vision of destruction! Someone is destroying scared sites! The council of 12 is starting to be revealed more! And Yoshimori’s mother and brother are in the thick of things! And seriously it’s hard to tell if they are in the right or the wrong many times. Yoshimori is continually building his power, but his attitude (i.e. I want to seal away it’s power and for it to be gone for good) about guarding Karasumori is making him powerful enemies. He seems to be growing up a bit in these books but it’s hard to tell just where he is headed. Tokine hasn’t been as much of a prominent figure, but it looks like her feelings are starting to reveal themselves a little more regarding Yoshi.

It can be hard to find a tasteful picture that sums up Cutie Honey but I think this does the job well:

Would also love to hear other people’s picks for some of these categories as well! By the way, some of this stuff happens to have come out in years gone by but we first watched/read/whatnot this year so that’s why they’re here, I’ll hear no guff about it! I really enjoy this part of the year, all the posts seem to be more fun and this one is no exception.

Best Anime of 2009 or Show that Infuriates You to No End When Someone on MAL says “If you like this show you will love Dance in the Vampire Bund.”

Tokyo Magnitude 8.0
The noitaminA is your go to animation slot when you are looking for something that is simultaneously different, mature, well produced, and smart. Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 is no exception to this rule. An exceptional look at ordinary people involved in an extraordinary but still extremely feasible situation. It is a superb mixture of intense character study and survival drama. I know some people feel the end is weak but I thought it did well in capping off this  powerful and thought provoking show.

Eden of the East
It is a little bit mystery, a little bit drama, and a little bit suspense wrapped around an intriguing concept. It’s a wonderful series to watch unfold and since Takizawa doesn’t remember what has happened there is a wonderful element of discovery that comes. Takizawa himself is a refreshing and mysterious guy but you always get the feeling, or I did, that he was a good guy even when things looked dubious. Also he loved dogs, can’t be bad. The game was able to engross and impress me from episode one and continued to do so throughout its broadcast.

Anime Man of the Year or You Must be Swift
as a Coursing River

Battler Ushiromiya
Have you ever wished Phoenix Wright could be the star of his own supernatural murder mystery anime? Well if so then someone heard your prayers. In Umineko no Naku Koro ni we have Battler Ushiromiya who is a clear homage to Phoenix Wright with dramatic finger pointing, manly crying, and split between having to do detective work and acting like a lawyer. He may have his flaws but no matter what he keeps marching forward despite numerous set backs and tragedies. Plus he is just plain cool whenever he is on the counterattack. His casual charm and iron clad will set the tone for the anime as much as they do the games it was based on.

Guin
After thinking this over way too much, I finally decided on Guin for a few reasons. First being that after more than 100 books about his quest on the bestseller list, Guin finally got an anime. Adding to that is that Guin may arguably be the most manly character animated in 2009. If you watch just the first episode, this will become obvious. I also read about Guin in novel formthe first time this year myself. And finally, and sadly, Guin’s creator Kaoru Kurimoto passed away in 2009, a woman who was still writing about her most popular creation.

Anime Woman of the Year or I am Woman Hear Me Roar

Canaan
Canaan is a competent kick arse girl with a gun. That is usually all that you need to sell me on a character. The fact that Canaan has her rather slick synesthesia ability which I thought was a very original superpower. She has a stoic and cool feel to her but it she still cares for the people she wishes to protect and gives her all to do so. I also think that her competence on the battlefield but her awkwardness in personal relationships gives her a good mixture of strength and weakness that make her a serious version of Sousuke Sagara. I also think makes her an interesting character to me.

Sawako
Picking a woman of the year became a lot easier the more I watched Kimi ni Todoke. Sawako has a special strength of character that uplifts you, just as she does to the many characters around her. She is humorous and endearing and you never doubt that she will succeed and grow in each new scenario she encounters. Sawako’s positive attitude, even after endearing so much isolation is a true testament to the human spirit and the ability to change.

Favorite Classic Manga Release or Get Off My Lawn and
Read This Manga Instead You Whippersnappers

Astroboy
I bring up Astroboy for several reasons. The first is the releaseof the critically acclaimed manga Pluto in the U.S. which is based on one of the most famous Astroboy stories. While Naoki Urasawa makes the story his own, there is much to be gained from reading the original story. The second is the release of the Astoboy CG movie. It might be weak but it shows the lasting legacy of the Mighty Atom. The third is the fact that premier Tezuka scholar and Astroboy fan Frederik L. Schodt was an excellent guest at Otakon 2009. If any of these things interest you I suggest you pick up Astroboy and see where it all began.

Swan
Okay, so this didn’t just start in 2009 but the fact that it is still being released is something to celebrate. Swan continually wows me with its style, layout, and melodramatic storytelling exemplary of 70′s shojo.

Worst Thing I Watched or My Eyes! The Goggles Do Nothing!

Queen’s Blade
Oh Queen’s Blade you are so bad that you are not even good at accomplishing the simple goal you set out to do. You want to be a dumb little fantasy adventure series with enough titillation to captivate an audience. You go far enough to be grossly excessive in your fan-service but pull back from being porn almost in a chicken sort of way. Also all the humor is rather misogynistic or bizarre. In fact much of the series is just utterly misogynistic. They decided to try to turn everything up to 11 including the breast size but they forgot not to turn the knob for bad up to 11 as well.

Akikan!
Akikan! has a lot more wrong with it than its stupid premise of soda drinks transforming into girls. All the characters are either annoying, creepy, losers, or all of these things in combination. The character designs are awful and the animation quality is way below sub-par. Akikan! is the type of show that makes you say “I didn’t know they made anime this bad anymore!”

Best Convention Guest or I Need to Get an Autograph
with a Haro On It.

The Tomino
As anyone who has read the blog for any amount of time has seen Narutaki and I have very similar tastes. But when it comes to what we are the most passionate about we tend to be very different. But there is one place where both of our passions are about equal and that is for mecha. And one of our favorite mecha directors is Yoshiyuki Tomino. It was amazing to be able to meet the man behind the real robot genre. He was as blunt and cranky as you expected him to be but he seemed to be genuinely appreciative of his fans which was nice to see. Seeing him was the highlight of the year.

Tomino
Tomino Con 2009 was the highlight of many a fan’s year! Obviously we are no exception. What more is there to say other than there is a reason we both put him!

Thing I Wish People Would Stop Talking About
or SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP!

Kyoto Animation
I wish people would stop talking about Kyoto Animation fro two reasons. The first is the second season of Haruhi. Yes Endless Eight was a very silly idea that might have been one of the biggest missteps with an anime franchise we will ever see. If they stopped watching Kyoto Animation might have learned some sort of lesson. But it seemed like after a point people just started watching episodes just so they complain about it the day after. The second is K-On!. I wish people would just stop talking about K-On! because I did not think it was that good. Also because if I bring up K-On! we won’t hear Narutaki’s thoughts on K-On! and that would be less than pleasant believe me.

Studio Shaft
I am just tired of hearing the constant internet love letter to Studio Shaft. What little interest I had in them thanks to Sayonara Zetsubo Sensei has promptly been washed away by masses of people decreeing they can do no wrong. The fact that Dance of the Vampire Bund is coming out next month just compounds my disinterest.

Series I Unexpectedly Liked or Chili and Chocolate

Mirai Nikki
Mirai Nikki is a much smarter and more entertaining manga than I first thought it would be. Mirai Nikki turns out to be the smart little thriller with a good mixture of action and psychological horror. The different diaries each had interesting powers and seeing how Yukiteru has to overcome them is fun an interesting because he has to out think his opponents and find the weakness in their diaries. Plus when the manga needs to turn the creepy factor on it does it quite well. It is a fast moving series I am am pretty sure the end is coming soon. I hope it ends as well as it has started and I look forward to Sakae Esuno’s next work. I will say that I am still a little scared by the huge Yuno Gasai fan-base who sort of scare me.

Taisho Baseball Girls
While I was saddened there were no more musical numbers after episode one, it was a wonderful little story of baseball and friendship with just a touch of romance in the mix. Koume is a great lead who is a warm girl on the edge of a modern age. And while Baseball Girls does explore some feminist themes, it does so with the right amount of force for these characters. This is a show I was happy to say was one of the best of 2009.

Favorite Opening or Last Night a DJ Saved My Life

Umineko no Naku Koro ni – Katayoku no Tori
The opening to Umineko no Naku Koro ni is just as epic as the opening to the game and that is no small feat. It has some great vocals with a mixture of Italian and Japanese by Akiko Shikata. The lyrics are a delightful insight into the story if you are paying attention. Also I love that after every arc you will notice that they have added something new to the opening. It keeps the introductions interesting without raising the budget significantly. I can’t wait to see the opening for whenever they make a Umineko no Naku Koro ni Chiru anime.

Eden of the East - Falling Down
Best opening has to go to Eden of the East for me because of its great combination of design and sound. What I loved most was the use of graphics more than animated sequences. And Oasis just rocks.

Best License Announcement or Time to Sell Some Blood

Fist of the North Star
It has been the common sentiment that Fist of the North Star is just one of those titles that would never sell in the U.S. after its previous failure and therefore would never be completed. Then it started streaming online which was mind blowing. Then Discotek Media picked it the DVD rights. For the longest time Fist of the North Star has been one of those series that is popular elsewhere in the world but not in the U.S. Now hopefully the small but dedicated fanbase will get what they have always hoped for.

Sengoku Basara
Not only was I personally super excited that this series got licensed, but it is also a smart choice by Funimation. Crazy fighters and over-the-top characters in an insane interpretation of feudal Japan animated by Production I.G. That is basically a winning combination for me right there. Did I mentioned choreographed dancing samurai in the opening? Fun times all around!

Best Short Manga or Sometimes I Would Like to Read a Manga Series Under 30 Books Long

Tanpenshu
Tanpenshu is a short story collection in two books by Hiroki Endo the author of Eden: It’s an Endless World! The stories are often self-indulgent as Subatomic Brainfreeze said when he commented on the blog but I feel if you are going to be self-indulgent do it in short story form. It is a great collection that shows Endo’s range as an artist and storyteller. It is a good mixture of funny stories with dark stories but all of them are mature tales. It is a great read if you are looking for something a bit out of the ordinary.

Palette of 12 Secret Colors
I have basically spent all year praising Nari Kusakawa up and down to anyone who would listen, this I will continue now. Palette of 12 Secret Colors features an exotic island where the birds and their “palette’s” (human partners) provide the colors of the world. Cello is training to be just that but with only middling success and a string of clumsy color accidents under her belt. As such see often talks with Dr. Guell and things go forward from there. These two have such a hilarious chemistry that it is infectious. It is lovely the way that romance and choosing a future are combined here with an emphasis on what loving someone means. With all of Nari Kurakawa’s series there are elements of magic combined with romance and humor topped with heaps of charm.

Most Horrible Piece of Merchandise or Things Too Tacky to Place Next to Your Big Mouth Billy Bass

1/8 Sheryl Nome NA Ver PVC Figure
I realize that one of Sheryl’s biggest appeals is that she has a smoking hot body. I don’t think anyone is going to disagree with that. So as expected you are going to get some rather risque figures of her. But this figure crosses the line from sexy to downright vulgar. Her outfit is a bit gratuitous but it’s nothing that is inappropriate for a sexy figure. The thing that makes this figure utterly reprehensible is Sheryl’s pose above that huge shell with the phrase Rise Up !! on the base of the figure. It is about as unsubtle as you can get. It just makes the figure so crass that I can’t see anyone but people who buy the figures with the clothing you can take off or the figures with the “real” breasts to buy one.

Char figures that you can put your own face on
I wish I was making this up. To be blunt, no one should want to see their own face in place of Char’s. NO ONE.

Funniest Series or The Best Medicine

Hyakko
I said it once and I will say it again. I really feel that Hyakko is an unappreciated series. It is an excellent school based comedy with wonderful characters, good comedic timing, and a lively sense of energy that can be all too lacking in slice of life series. Torako is a great energetic and spunky girl to interacts off the rest of the class quite well. These is also a good amount of male characters who get face time which are easily forgotten in certain shonen school comedies. Although the manga has not been licensed the anime is streaming for free.

Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s
Yes, it is unintentionally funny but funny nonetheless. They have card duels (which is pretty funny itself) on motorcycles! Everyone in prison (there is a prison arc) has decks of cards which are used to decide who is boss! I am ready to marathon this show!

Favorite Mecha Anime or The Char Aznable Award for Excellence

Shin Mazinger Shogeki! Z-Hen
As Narutaki joked if we did not include this series in the list several people we know would probably jump us and then force us to edit this list so it was included. Possibly multiple times and even in categories where it did not belong. But this is for a very good reason. This is Yasuhiro Imagawa firing on all cylinders. It is not just an excellent giant robot show it is an excellent show all together. It has great characters, a full structured plot that was mostly written out from the start with amazing twists and turns, more Go Nagai references than you can shake a stick at, and of course blood pumping robot fights. If you watch one hardcore mecha series this year it should be this one. I mean it has Rocket Punch! 100 Rapid Shots! and what more could you ask for?

Eureka Seven
Okay, yeah I am way behind on the Eureka Seven fan train, okay? I just watched it this year and it makes me wish I had done so much sooner! It was a wonderful combination of characters and their growing, changing relationships. Both the looks at love seen through Eureka and Renton plus Holland and Talho captured me almost instantly. And equally thrilling is the shows combination of mecha and surf culture, very fun and unique. To round it all out is a world of mysteries that are slowly, but surely, revealed. Eureka Seven had everything I wanted in spades.

If I Never See This Type of Character Again or Characters Who Will Be the First Against the Wall
When the Revolution Comes

Fake strong female characters
I am just sick in tired of female characters that are supposed to be strong but are anything but. I don’t need every female character to be strong but don’t sell me a false bill of goods. Don’t give me the strong swordsman who is just a princess waiting to be kidnapped with and armor and a sword instead of a dress. Also don’t give me weak women who pretend to be strong by being total monsters and they try to sell me on the being fine either. Made real strong female charaters or don’t make them all.

Teenage girl who has the brain capacity of an 6-year-old
I think that pretty much sums it up, but if I have to elaborate I will. I’m not saying every girl needs to be genius level intelligence or anything, but really could they atleast go an entire episode without falling down for no reason or perhaps talk at a level someone their age should? I see this more than should happen and really it leaves the worst taste in my mouth.

So I decided to go a little crazy and try to put together a perfect grade RX-78-2 Gundam aka original Gundam kit a while back. I really wanted to either get a master grade RX-78-2 Gundam or a master grade RX-93 Nu Gundam. But when I saw the perfect grade RX-78-2 at AnimeNext I knew I had to have it. I also decided to splurge and get the extra weapons kit. I mean it comes with a Gundam Hammer on a real metal chain. What more could you ask for? When I initially opened up the box and saw pieces in sheets labeled from A to Z I was quite daunted by the task. But when I got into the swing of things I mostly found my previous Gunpla skills did not make it that much harder than anything else I had put together. When it came together it looks really nice. I would definitely not casually buy another perfect grade kit but I thought it was worth the extra money and effort.

The latest episode of Anime3000 features this very blog and the Otaku Diaries as its main topic of discussion! It was a bit unexpected but I think we did alright and it made us feel special. The podcast is a little more insight into the whole project and what our future plans are if you’re curious. There is a also a bonus segment where you can hear us go on and on about what shows we are sticking with from the new season and we even manage to throw Cross Game in as well.

After a random conversation I was inspired to go and watch some Exo-Squad on Hulu which quickly turned into me marathoning the whole series.  I mostly bring up the series because of it’s origin as a American cartoon specifically designed as a response to anime. It is an interesting show for a wide variety of reasons. Exo-Squad takes place in a future where Earth has colonized Venus and Mars, people work and fight commonly in powered armor called Exo-Frames, and there is a genetically engineered species of humans called neosapiens. When the Neospaiens revolt and enslave humanity the characters who are a part of humanities space fleet have to liberate humanity. The influence of The Super Dimension Fortress Macross is unmistakable. While hardly a clone the use of mecha, the themes of culture clash, the one fleet that has to save humanity, and even some of the sub plots can be seen as homages to Macross. The fact that is had such a sprawling plot that demanded you watch every episode was uncommon enough at the time as well. Also the attempt to capture the more “mature” storytelling in anime was clear. The protagonists in Exo-squad which often flawed characters who had vices and flaws that were ongoing problems. The show not only dealt with issues like alcoholism and  prejudice but had main heroic characters have these problems as well. Both minor and major characters characters died with an unusual regularity for American kids cartoon. It did feel like an American cartoon. It did not want to be a American anime but an American cartoon that took the strengths of anime and added it to the strengths of American cartoons. The characters designs were really ugly in my opinion but the story telling was top notch. It is an interesting artifact and definitely worth checking out if you never saw it when you were younger.

After watching three episodes of Animal Detectives Kiruminzoo I still don’t know what I think of it. The art style is rather odd, the story is rather odd, the whole is just plain odd, okay? It seemed like it was going to be a magical girl show, but it hasn’t really sprouted legs in that respect. A lot more people who can transform into animals have shown up, but they don’t seem to need the lockets like our main heroines. But I feel curious enough about what is going on. I also rather like Kanon who is a transfer student, who can transform of course, and is just strange. She also had a conversation with her mother about finding a husband. I am glad to report that the show seems on the level and not creepy. This series is also getting a manga adaption in Ribon.

Since this is the post about things I have been meaning to talk about in an Ongoing Investigation but never got around to, I will share my thoughts on the Kannagi OAV. Set during an indeterminate time during the TV series Takako finds a bunch of money and decides that the art club should make a movie using the main cast. This can be nothing else but a nudge and a wink to another series Yutaka Yamamoto worked on. Even the plot of the movie and the horrible acting is clearly supposed to invoke another movie about a combat waitress from the future. Other than, a rainstorm provides a reason for the cast to get soaked and have to play video games in bathing suits. Nothing major happens but it is a bonus episode that was thrown on the last DVD of the series so what do you really expect. I thought the epic quest to return the overdue DVD at the end was cute and delightfully over dramatic. It brought a smile to my face and that is all I ask of Kannagi.

Cross Game episodes 29-36 were seriously lacking in baseball, well except the last episode. Of course there were developments on other fronts like the appearance of Akane, which was done in a nicely jarring way. The main problem with a new love rival appearing this late in the game, and since they have stayed away from it becoming an annoying love triangle, is there is no real tension as the audience. However, Akane may prove more important as she could help people move on and accept some things. Finally, at 36 we get some decent baseball along with a good cliffhanger ending. Though I heard that was ruined by the preview, why do the Japanese like to do that?

In honor (or dishonor depending on who you ask) of Amuro and the first Gundam I present to you a line up of cute Gundam girls:

Dishonor.

Gundam X begins after the apocalyptic end of a war between the Earth and the colonies. During the climax of the war the colonies dropped themselves on the earth killing 99% of the population. Fifteen years later the environment is somewhat stable again and people are just starting to making decent headway in the rebuilding of Earth. Garrod Ran is hired to save a kidnapped young girl named Tiffa Adill with mysterious powers who was taken by mercenaries. But the people asking Garrod to rescue her might not have her best interests at heart. While rescuing Tiffa Garrod also finds an amazing pre-war mobile suit called the Gundam X. This suit is just as mysterious and powerful as Tiffa.

Garrod Ran is a likable chap. I like describing him as if you took all five Gundam Wing pilots and made them one guy with Duo being the main and strongest template. He is a loner but usually easy going, energetic, and resourceful. He goes through periods where he is depressed and angry but he’s fifteen. It would be highly unrealistic for him to be any other way. Garrod has an aptitude for piloting but does not start out as an ace and it is implied that he has done some piloting before the show begins. Tifa Adill is sort of a stock mysterious girl with powers but she is a well done version of that archetype. It turns out she is a Newtype but unlike in the original Gundam series she never uses her power for combat. She is a quiet and odd girl who cuts herself off from everyone else. Although it is never stated, you know that Tifa has been unable to live a normal life ever since she discovered her powers. Still she is a good and kind person who wants to help others but is not always sure how to interact with people in order to do so.

Eventually Garrod and Tifa wind up on a ship called the Freeden. The captain, Jamil Neate, was a war hero who now goes around saving Newtypes while earning a living as a mercenary and scavenger. He is a quiet father figure for the crew who is trying to atone for several major sins committed during the war. The rest of the crew is a tightly knit group that slowly integrate Garrod and Tifa into their family. They are a varied bunch from the ditzy blond helmswomen to the the 12 year genius mechanic. In the first episode we are introduced to Witz Sou and Roybea Loy who start out as independent mercenaries but they quickly become full members of the crew. They usually fight along side Garrod in lesser Gundams while providing him the advice of a pair of older brothers. I would be remiss in not mentioning Paula Cis, the spunky tomboy that saves Garrod at one point and later allies herself with the crew of the Freeden. She was obviously supposed to get a deeper back story and more screen time but Paula is a victim of the show getting the number of episodes cut. Which is upsetting because Paula Cis reminded me of a mixture of Sayla Mass and Allenby Beardsley. In other words, pure awesome.

The villains in the series are usually greedy individuals using the chaos that the colony drop caused to profit or push their personal agendas on the world. Gundam X is much more arc based than previous Gundam shows so the minor antagonists are usually around only for a few episodes. They are a mix of scheming politicians, evil and slightly mad scientists, despicable pirates and mercenaries, and power hungry war mongers. The only consistent villains Ennil El and the Frost Brothers. Ennil’s role changes several times throughout the series depending on who she is working with at the time. She is rather well endowed and they like to remind you of that from time to time. Shagia and Olba Frost are evil schemers who I think are supposed to be charming in a Char-like fashion but come off more crazy than cool. In fact they only kill enemies soldiers to set up their greatest act of ally murder yet. They keep going after Tifa and quickly develop a rivalry with the crew of the Freeden. I sort of wonder if part of the reason Gundam fans never got into Gundam X was because so many of the antagonists were villains instead of just heroes on the opposite side. Then again the Titans from Zeta Gundam were hardly shades of gray.

After reading this very good article on Gundam X I noticed something that I really liked upon reflection. In most Gundam iterations, a Gundam is exponentially better than any other mobile suit in the series and therefore the only real threat for a Gundam pilot is another Gundam pilot. In Gundam X it seems that Gundams are better than regular mobile suits but they are merely a level or two better. This means that the pilots for the Freeden can’t take on armies by themselves and the Gundam X’s trump card is amazingly powerful but limited in it’s applications which is unusual. Also the Gundam X eventually gets a weapon called the Harmonica Cannon which not only has an awesomely silly name but is actually awesome. It gives you a greater sense that the pilots have to fight hard to earn any of their victories which is refreshing.

It’s almost immediately obvious that Garrod Ran and Tiffa Adill are the official couple they are moving together for the whole series, spoiler! They obviously like each other right off the bat but they are both not romantically experienced teenagers so they are clumsy about expressing their affections. Slowly but surely as the series goes on they come to realize how they feel, how the other ones feels, and how to express those feelings. They also, very importantly, learn who the other one is beyond their first impression. I thought that was well done and cute especially after watching Tomino’s attempt at romance. I will say that there are a few other relationships in the series. Some are well done and some are TOMINO SAYS YOU ARE IN LOVE NOW! But the main romance is done well enough that I forgive it when they throw one or two characters together for hardly any explained reason.

In many a place I have seen Gundam X described as an alternate take on the Universal Century time line. While I think this is 100% correct I think it leaves out a vital part of this alternate take. It is also an examination and criticism of the themes in the original series. Most importantly it is an examination of the role of Newtypes and humanity. I think you could do a whole paper on the issue and I am sure there are several in Japan. It’s a fascinating subject but extremely spoiler heavy. I might go back and do an article with spoilers on it one day. In my opinion Gundam X is an examination of what would have happened if there were not an Amuro Ray to help bring the One Year war to a speedy conclusion. The reason there was no Newtype like Amuro Ray in the After War universe is one of the major themes of the series.

I can’t say that Gundam X is the pinnacle of Gundam but it is enjoyable show. I can’t agree with the major complaints with the series. The ending was a bit rushed but they did everything they needed to. It ties up all the lose ends and has about as much falling action as any other Gundam series. I also feel that people often complained that the characters in Gundam X were unlikable. I feel for people living in a post apocalyptic world they were fairly upbeat and well-adjusted. I think that having just come off of Gundam Wing people wanted more Gundam Wing but got something that was good but not what they were hoping for. This is a real shame because there is a lot to like about Gundam X. If your looking for a enjoyable mecha show I think you might be surprised at this unappreciated gem.