Month: June 2009

Mechademia #1, Attack of the Anime Literati!

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Here at Reverse Thieves we try to entertain the notion that we are intellectuals. We like to think that sometimes we have tread new ground or started deep discussions. (Feel free to debate these ideas.) We also like to be engaged by others taking such lofty ideals and exploring them through anime and manga. So in the spirit of that Mechademia was picked up.

I first heard about Mechademia on an episode of Anime World Order. It intrigued me because as I get deeper into otakudom I become more and more interested in the mechanics of anime, manga, and the associated fandom. Where does anime and manga draw its inspirations from, what is its history, what makes stories captivate the viewer, and how does it effect society and how does society effect it in turn? I have seen individual papers being quoted and there are several books done by individuals that are quite informative but what I really wanted was a collection of papers from different authors. An anthology of analysis. My first sampling of such was Mechademia.

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AnimeNEXT, Are we there yet?

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It is officially convention season again! This time of year is always a lot of fun but takes quite a bit out of me. Plus, there is a lot of planning going on. While I think this year AnimeNEXT has been more on top of it compared to last year, that isn’t much of a compliment. Also this new location I know nothing about. Though it looked like such a pain commute I ended up getting a hotel room last minute. Still, we got our panel confirmation along with approval for press badges a couple of weeks before the convention so that is something. Speaking of our panel, that is right ladies and gentlemen, Reverse Thieves will be making their second appearance at AnimeNEXT! Come see our panel “I Can’t Believe You Haven’t Seen This!” on Saturday from 9-10AM. It’s early but come on! Oh, and we will be wearing Reverse Thieves t-shirts on Saturday. I know, I know we are like the coolest people you know.

AnimeNEXT is a mid-sized convention. It is bigger than a small con with it’s ability to swing some bigger guests and bands but is smaller than your 800 pound gorillas like Otakon and AnimeExpo. This gives it a unique feel. I am disappointed that we don’t have any awesome Japanese guests that interest me like we have in the past. But if you go in with the right attitude, and a few friends, any convention can be fun. Also good panels are good panels no matter where you go so I hope that this year’s panelists are up to par. Plus the dealers’ room is usually good. We will be running the “I Can’t Believe You Haven’t Seen This!” panel in Panel Room 2 with celebrity blogger Carl from Ogiue Maniax so you have two reasons to wake up early on Saturday. Also we will be giving away prizes at the end of the panel so that actually makes three! Don’t forget to check out Carl at the Anime Blogging Basics Panel on Sunday at 2 PM in Panel Room 1, too.

Our tentative schedule is as follows:

Friday
Funimation Sneak Peek Panel
Anime Through the Generations Panel
Anime’s Pirate Legacy Panel
Anime Princesses Rule Panel
Japanese Crime Fiction in Anime Panel
My Stereotypes are More Offensive than Yours Panel
These are a Few of My Favorite Scenes Panel

Saturday
I Can’t Believe You Haven’t Seen This! Panel
(This is our panel!) 9AM – 10AM
Misako Rocks! Panel
Vertical Panel
Anime/Manga Influence Panel
Business of Webcomics Panel
ParaPara Dance Workshop
Japanese Snacks and Sweets Panel
Funimation Panel
Bad Anime, Bad! Panel
As the Otaku Grows Panel

Sunday
Con Horror Stories Panel
History of Manga Panel
Otaku Perceptions and Misconceptions Panel
The Misadventures of an AnimeNEXT Con-Chair Panel
Gravitation & Genshiken Panel
Anime Blogging Basics Panel
Con Feedback Session Panel

As a reminder: No Ongoing Investigations this week!

Kamichu!, Let’s all go to Kami-con!

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I was initially interested in Kamichu! because I heard people describing it as Spirited Away the TV series. That is some pretty high praise so it had a lot to live up to. When I went to Anime Expo I randomly saw the end of episode three and all of four while waiting for a panel to begin. While I really enjoyed it, I will admit to forgetting about it. When I saw it on a Geneon clearance sale later I picked it up. And then I promptly threw it on my unwatched anime pile. I dug it out when Narutaki and I agreed we should review something that was not a robot show. We were pleasantly rewarded for our efforts. This is a well done comedy for the whole family. It is just a warm series that has comedy, romance, and a dash of nostalgia with a fun supernatural twist.

I was initially interested in Kamichu! because Hisui came over and basically told me what she did in that first paragraph. Spirited Away is one of my favorite Studio Ghibli films (as I am sure it is many others’) so anything that even remotely resembles it, I’d need to check out. It also looked very cute. The show ended up being equal parts magical, funny, and charming. It has a lighter than air quality to it making Kamichu! easy to enjoy. While we stay earthbound (mostly) the show transports you to its setting and integrates you into its life. And it certainly has the ability to entertain the young as well as the old.

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