Category: Favored Topics

Ongoing Investigations: Case #136

Leave a comment

Detective Conan movie 9: Strategy Above the Depths takes place on a luxury cruise line, but thanks to today’s technology they aren’t totally cut off from the outside world as the usual police are flown in to investigate. I found this aspect to be slightly disappointing actually, but they want to get in all those favorite faces. There is a lot going on on this ship including conspiracy, murder, and bombs. Since these movies are known for spectacle, these bombs go off creating havoc just as the killer is confronted. While this time around the audience knows the culprit from the beginning, there are still some twists as Conan tries to uncover the clues and motive. Knowing the answer beforehand allows you to follow Conan’s logic, but it takes some of the fun out of trying to deduce the perpetrator. And when most of the people are safely off the ship, an intense show down begins as Conan and Kogoro look for Ran on the fast sinking vessel. This Conan movie lands in the middle for me, not super great fun but certainly not a lame film either.

I got Hayate the Combat Butler volume 15 for my birthday but I never did talk about it. It is nice to go back to a long string of silly stories considering all the drama with Ruka Suirenji and doujin and how serious it has been recently in the manga. We get two really great Nagi chapters with her wandering around the mansion at night and her building RC cars. They are great little stories and the RC storyline has one of my favorite lines of all time, “An Otaku who lacks love and care is just a nerd.” Good Nagi and Hayate moments throughout. This volume also has two Fumi Hibino chapters. I usually think her chapters are funny but she is easily my least favorite Hayate character. It also ends with the beginning of a Hinagiku story which I am sure will make many people happy. But speaking of making people happy there is a Maria story and a little Maria fan service as well. Great volume all in all.

Continue reading →

Ongoing Investigations: Case #135

2 Comments

The BEST series of the year is shaping up to be Mawaru Penguindrum. So far in the first 6 episodes Kunihiko Ikuhara has proven that Utena was not a fluke. The show has stayed as consistently excellent as the first episode and I look forward to a new episode every week. The animation, imagery, and direction remain high quality and imaginative every week. The Rose of Versailles style fantasy imaginary in episode 4 is just scrumptious. Also the laser guided slingshot is both goofy and bass ass at the same time. The plot remains mysterious but we are always getting enough information that we never feel that the show is spinning its wheels. I get the feeling that Ikuhara is more of an “I got this all planned out” sort of guy so it is more a matter of seeing the tale unfold then see him make it up as he goes along.  Kanba and Shoma’s antics in trying to find the Penguindrum are always amusing but retain a creepy vibe without either feeling hurting the other. That said I need to know what is going on with Kanba’s ultra shady deals. Ringo has that same mixture of very funny and very disturbing. I am curious how popular she is among the American and Japanese fans. Narutaki seems to think she would be insanely popular. I cannot disagree. And I know there is more to Himari than meets the eye. She is too innocent for a Ikuhara anime. There has to be more going to with her than you see on the surface. If you don’t have a moral objection to watching fan-subs then you need to watch Mawaru Penguindrum. Otherwise you should get this the second it gets licensed. Because it will get licensed. Fabulous Max!

The most anticipated arc in recent Detective Conan anime TV series was the London case, the 11th OVA happens concurrently featuring Ai and the detective boys back in Japan. It starts as just a cute mystery involving peanutbutter and jelly, a mistaken starlet, and kick the can. But the kids discover kidnappers in an abandoned building and things turn more dangerous when they themselves become trapped. The real treat for this OVA is seeing Ai’s smarts at the forefront since Conan is a world away. Her use of the cellphones as well as the detective boys badges is nicely done. It combines the kid antics at the beginning and a more tense situation later well. The ending has a couple of surprises in store, though nothing too earth shaking. A fun and nice OVA if not remarkable.

Continue reading →

The Speakeasy #020: The GaoGaiGar, Learning to Love Robots

5 Comments
Anime 3000 presents The Speakeasy Podcast:
Drink #020: The GaoGaiGar, Learning to Love Robots

With our special guest Carl from Ogiue Maniax, we look at one of the most off-putting genres in anime. Mecha is one of the few not phonographic genres that people easily decide they despise. At the same time, it is a genre that has a fanatical base of fans that can turn away anyone who is not  predisposed to liking robot shows. This is the podcast for anyone who has tried a mecha anime and decided they do not go together. This is also for anyone who is trying to get their more skittish friends to watch robots. We present a selection of shows that have enough robots to qualify as mecha while not being too down the rabbit hole. You might not find yourself building Gundam models while watching Mazinkaiser SKL but you might also not run away any time you see Valkyrie on the screen.

(Listen)

And now your helpful bartenders at The Speakeasy present your drink:

GaoGaiGar

First, separately mix each of these:
Robot
Orange Lion
Bullet Train
Drill
Stealth Bomber

Simultaneously pour the robot and Orange Lion into a large glass while shouting FUUUUSIOOOON!!!
Once the pouring is complete shout the name of your new drink: Gai! Gar!
Then wait for Final Fusion to be approved.
Once Final Fusion is approved and the Program Drive has been activated shout FINAL! FUUUSIOOOON! and pour the Drill, Bullet Train, and Stealth Bomber into the GaiGar as heroic music swells in the background. Once this is complete loudly shout to the heavens the name of your King of Drinks: GAO! GAI! GAAAAARRRR!