tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23611212027495578242024-03-13T14:20:05.976-07:00Turning JapaneseAnime, manga, and general Japanese crazinessLori Inghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09764323960997199480noreply@blogger.comBlogger82125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361121202749557824.post-22551115888313822972015-04-15T06:21:00.000-07:002015-04-15T06:21:13.369-07:00Introducing..."Butthurt Anime Fan!"<br />
I watched this College humor video this morning, and I had to share.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8mQScjlXbBE" width="560"></iframe>
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First of all, I patted myself on the back for getting the references.<br />
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Second, I don't think I've had the experience of running into someone quite this bad when it came to the fandom. I'm not saying they don't exist, and I know for a fact that they do. Maybe I've just been lucky enough to not run into anyone this annoying at the cons that I've been to (although I've gotten into discussions with at least one gentleman in my age range about whether the younger generation appreciates the history of the medium, but that was a fairly civil discussion).<br />
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Third, I honestly think that some fandom communities can get a little ridiculous when it comes to excluding potential fans. Last year, Cracked had an article about <a href="http://www.cracked.com/blog/3-fan-communities-that-hate-their-own-members/">fandoms that hate their own members</a>. It doesn't specifically mention anime, but it does talk about how these three particular fandoms can get exclusive because the people within them won't allow people to "join" them unless they know every single obscure detail about their fandom. If we have too many fans that act like the fan in this video, we can run the risk of being a fandom that "hates its own members."<br />
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Honestly, there are a few debates in the community that I wish would just go away, mostly because I can see both sides of it. Most annoying to me is the sub vs. dub debate, probably because I'll watch both and have different reasons for wanting to watch either version.<br />
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1) Subs are good for when you're watching shows online that are still airing in Japan and haven't been dubbed yet, you're learning Japanese and want to get more listening practice, or you want to get more accurate translation of what they're saying.<br />
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2) Dubs are good if you have issues with subtitles (like my stepson -- he has ADHD and can't pay attention to reading and the action at the same time), just want to put on something in the background but want to know what's going on, and for introducing people to anime.<br />
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I will admit that I lean more towards dubs if they're available, but oftentimes I'm "impatient" enough to watch the subs. (Right now, two shows I'm following on the FUNImation site are the dubbed version of "Assassination Classroom" and "Ultimate Otaku Teacher," which is subbed) But dubbing these days is better than it has been in the past, thanks to actors and ADR directors who put care into making sure it's a good experience for the audience.<br />
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I don't know how this turned into a discussion of my personal preferences...moving on.<br />
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Anyway, any fandom has these types of people in them. The cartoon probably exaggerated these traits only slightly. But let's not let these hyperactive fans ruin the fandom for the rest of us.Lori Inghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09764323960997199480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361121202749557824.post-90076336172224570872014-03-30T16:16:00.001-07:002014-03-30T16:16:20.828-07:00The Spring 2014 Anime Season is coming up!<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What would YOU like to see me cover?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Grabbing the list from <a href="http://www.japanator.com/japanator-s-spring-2014-anime-preview-guide--32032.phtml">Japanator</a> of titles that feel are getting the biggest buzz, I'm trying to decide which titles I want to start doing recaps for either here at Turning Japanese or at Examiner.com (similar to the recaps I did for "Brothers Conflict" and "Danganronpa: The Animation" a few seasons ago). Here is the list they have:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Knights of Sidonia</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Irregular at Magic High School</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">No Game, No Life</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Nanana's Buried Treasure</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Brynhilder in the Darkness</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Mekaku City Actors</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ping Pong the Animation (based on a 20 year old manga, which is rare)</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Black Bullet</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Daimidaler the Sound Robot</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Captain Earth</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One Week Friends</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Chaika the Coffin Princess</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Magica Wars</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Selector Infected WIXOSS</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Kanojo ga Flag wa Oraretara</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Mangaka-san to Assistant-san</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Akuma no Riddle</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Haikyuu!!</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Atelier and Logy: Alchemists of the Dusk Sky</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Tricks of the Gods</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In this mix we have some sports anime (Ping Pong, Haikyuu!), some harem anime (Kanojo ga Flag wa Oraretara, Tricks of the Gods), lots of action shows, at least one borrowing a concept from "Sword Art Online" (No Game, No Life), and a few other titles that I don't know how to immediately classify. There are more series coming out than this, but this is just the ones Japanator thinks will get the biggest buzz.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So, which show or shows would you like to see me recap from this list? Or would you like to see me recap a completely different show?</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Programming note: Because I have a FUNImation Elite Subscription account, any shows slated to air there will get more immediate recaps. I don't have a paid account with Crunchyroll, so any shows being streamed on their site will get recaps the next week.</span></i></span></div>
Lori Inghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09764323960997199480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361121202749557824.post-45187177037865191272014-03-29T08:27:00.003-07:002014-03-29T08:27:46.247-07:00Funimation, Gawker, and the Smearing of a CompanyWe all know the term "fan service." In general entertainment, the term could apply to anything in a work that fans would recognize that would be considered a "reward" for being a fan of the work. As an extreme example, Kevin Smith's film "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back" is an exercise in fan service, a virtual "love letter" to the fans of Smith's films because of how many references to other works from the Askewniverse are made in the film.<br />
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Anime fans who use the term, however, are referring to shots in an animated work that either involve boobs or butts, or otherwise show off the "physique" of a female or male character.<br />
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Now, to be fair, almost every anime show has a little bit. It's when it gets prevalent that sometimes it can go into "ecchi" territory. The most obvious examples are when they have the characters take a trip to the beach or the pool, giving them an excuse to feature the female characters in skimpy swimsuits.<br />
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But remembering that Japan is still very much a very patriarchal society, should an anime company be called a purveyor of "smut" by our standards?<br />
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In an effort to discredit a political "enemy," <a href="http://gawker.com/rick-santorums-wholesome-film-studio-has-a-smutty-anim-1552802755">Gawker</a> overstepped their bounds with a recent article regarding anime distributor FUNImation Entertainment, its founder and CEO Gen Fukunaga, and Christian film company EchoLight Studios, which is backed by former presidential candidate Rick Santorum.<br />
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The connection is that Fukunaga is also the founder of EchoLight Studios, which is not a huge secret. What Gawker is trying to use as ammunition is the fact that FUNImation Entertainment has some "fan service" titles in their collection, making it sound like FUNImation distributes anime porn.<br />
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Now, Gawker makes it sound like FUNImation is the only company that diversifies its production companies to make or distribute different kinds of films or products. Hollywood has been doing this for years -- a prime example of this is Disney, which has production companies dedicated to more adult fare versus the family-friendly Disney brand. In the more independent market, Troma Entertainment produces and distributes mostly extreme B-movie grindhouse style films, but also has one company dedicated to distributing classic movies from the 1940s and 1950s.<br />
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Depending on their particular business model, every anime company has a collection of "fan service" titles among their catalogs. Sentai Filmworks, for example, carries "Highschool of the Dead" among their titles, which mixes "fan service" with zombie stories. Aniplex of America distributes shows like "Oreimo" and "Kill la Kill." Arguably, FUNImation has more "fan service" titles, but they're also one of the biggest distributors of anime in the US. It's not a major focus of their business -- out of over 200 titles in their catalog, only 60 titles are classified as "fan service," and out of those, probably 27 of those titles have a focus on "fan service" material.<br />
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Although the show "Sekirei" was a top seller for them when it was released on DVD, most of their bread and butter is on the shounen/action titles such as the "Dragonball" series (which is how the company got its start), "One Piece," and "Fullmetal Alchemist." The show predicted to make huge bank for the company once its released on DVD: the mega-hit from last fall "Attack on Titan," which is slated to get a second season.<br />
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Overall, Gawker is way off base on this one. In their attempt to smear someone else, they ended up dragging in another company and making them out to be what they weren't. In the future, the writers at Gawker should do some more research before writing their pieces.Lori Inghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09764323960997199480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361121202749557824.post-10301692018945332202014-03-26T04:28:00.001-07:002014-03-26T04:28:26.396-07:00Anime Boston 2014: The AftermathOne of my goals for the upcoming year is to post more here. So here is my first post for 2014: how I survived Anime Boston.<br />
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Because of how expensive the trip can get (and it got more expensive for congoers this year since they got rid of the one day passes for every day except Sunday), I only go on Saturday because that's when most of the major events happen during the week.<br />
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And, oh boy, was there a major event on Saturday.<br />
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But before I get to that -- one thing I've learned about going to Anime Boston is that, if I want to keep my sanity, only attend the stuff I really need to attend in order to write stories. What this usually means is industry panels -- panels that are held by major distributors. Last year, I attended panels for Sentai Filmworks, Aniplex of America, and Funimation. This year, the only industry panel I attended was Funimation because it was scheduled back to back with Aniplex of America, which was in another building and would have required me to go through the bag check again if I had gone. And Sentai didn't have a panel this year despite being a sponsor.<br />
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This year, most of the events that I needed to go to were in the afternoon, so it gave me some time to explore the Dealer's Room and Artist's Alley beforehand. <br />
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When I go to Anime Boston, I have an unofficial tradition that I have to get at least a DVD and a t-shirt, which started with my first year going in 2011 (I bought a Dr. Who t-shirt for my husband, and I purchased the first "Eden of the East" movie before it officially went on sale, getting it signed by voice actor J. Michael Tatum who was there that year). This was my haul for this year:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm56b-AmYZToZBBJLs4yo75DAIqvmMecuvYEoaiVG_Hbgggf6hjhYcLTD7v8elPGqVNh-JFtQWrUbtYaR2pN9UKTsQKsX93AgheRooRtuCbIKHk6zC6zGZugIqJP1c7smzAOmChzpTM4Y-/s1600/2014-03-22+11.00.20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm56b-AmYZToZBBJLs4yo75DAIqvmMecuvYEoaiVG_Hbgggf6hjhYcLTD7v8elPGqVNh-JFtQWrUbtYaR2pN9UKTsQKsX93AgheRooRtuCbIKHk6zC6zGZugIqJP1c7smzAOmChzpTM4Y-/s1600/2014-03-22+11.00.20.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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I should say, this was PART of my haul -- towards the end of the day I bought a $20 grab bag which included a Gundam toy, a manga, and a few other things. But these were the things I bought on purpose. :-)<br />
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When I went in this year, it was with the goal of buying "Akira" here since it was on my initial Christmas list. From watching it this weekend, I like what Funimation did with this special edition, which celebrates the movie's 25th anniversary. They included both the 1988 English track and the re-done 2001 track as well as the Japanese track. Plus, there's a bunch of extras related to the remastering of the film and other things that are interesting.<br />
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The t-shirt I looked around for awhile before I decided on what I wanted to get. This one I thought was totally adorable and funny at the same time (and not black -- the three anime shirts I have on rotation for these occassions are all black). Considering that next year's theme for AB is "Kaiju vs. Mecha," I'll definitely be wearing this next year.<br />
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And then we have the three manga I bought as part of a "Buy 1, get two free" deal. "Excel Saga" is one I collect (I have the first seven volumes -- I thought I had eight when I bought this one, but when I went home discovered that I didn't). "Toradora" I had heard of, but thought it might be interesting. And "Taro and the Magic Pencil" was one that I bought for my son. Since I brought it home, he's been reading it on his own and asking me to read it to him -- for a kindergartener, he reads like a third grader. So that might be one where I'm going to look for more of those titles when I go to cons or online.<br />
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Like I said, there was a doozy of a big event this weekend that warranted this much of a packed house:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6kIbsv3Y8EYJgQzk6g0YLEcjPVbonaquGHFprto5oSHXwYoNreJKxzok9llzzYjj4nfLEvVcoQ8knjh9JOtIXrP4PWjGrQn49pskoV5Jsle_2iSWNP22vfZBKFUGtOQVjFULjgFPTZhg_/s1600/2014-03-22+16.28.09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6kIbsv3Y8EYJgQzk6g0YLEcjPVbonaquGHFprto5oSHXwYoNreJKxzok9llzzYjj4nfLEvVcoQ8knjh9JOtIXrP4PWjGrQn49pskoV5Jsle_2iSWNP22vfZBKFUGtOQVjFULjgFPTZhg_/s1600/2014-03-22+16.28.09.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4CbD9ww_kcCmww_kDdWo0mlJAZIRZ-oG5PtJAPC0mVrwTCHOZLV32P0mDreTdtJdIEzZTNJ2fN9YJa90v_Iymyi_vnf5YbomT6ZqKhyphenhyphenOdpUX0uKWy4G37Svvcdhz-TMfKjXcn5yd1Td7v/s1600/2014-03-22+16.28.16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4CbD9ww_kcCmww_kDdWo0mlJAZIRZ-oG5PtJAPC0mVrwTCHOZLV32P0mDreTdtJdIEzZTNJ2fN9YJa90v_Iymyi_vnf5YbomT6ZqKhyphenhyphenOdpUX0uKWy4G37Svvcdhz-TMfKjXcn5yd1Td7v/s1600/2014-03-22+16.28.16.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
This was just before the premiere of the first three episodes of the "Attack on Titan" English dub, where they announced that lead character Eren Yeager would be voiced by Bryce Pappelbrook ("Sword Art Online," "Blue Exorcist"). I know some site reported on the audience singing the "Jeager!" line when it came up, but I would argue that it was the most audible of the singing -- I could hear people around me singing the entire song.<br />
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I ended up talking with the press guy who was sitting next to me, who at one point said, "Why is this show so popular? It's not Shonen Jump!" (I think he was being sarcastic), and at one point admitted to me that this was his first time seeing the show and was taking guesses as to what the Titans really were (which he was WAY off, and I didn't want to spoil it for him in case he decided to continue watching the show). Unfortunately I didn't stay for the Q and A afterwards because I had told my stepdaughter and her friends that I would meet them at 6:30 to go home.<br />
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After watching these first three episodes in the dub, now I want to get this when it's released in June. (Just the standard edition, only because the collector's edition, as cool as it looks, is out of my price range and has too many small parts that might get lost and in the hands of a curious five year old) Or maybe next year's Anime Boston purchase?<br />
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Overall, I had a pretty good time. Next up: Another Anime Convention!Lori Inghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09764323960997199480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361121202749557824.post-52037905631589432232012-12-23T09:02:00.002-08:002015-04-15T06:36:15.171-07:00My Top Ten All Time Anime<br />
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With being a mom and a substitute teacher, I haven’t had a
chance to sit down too much with new anime this year. There has been a few shows I’ve caught here
and there, but I found myself rewatching a few series that I just really liked,
especially when it was something I caught last year and now has a dub.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So, instead of doing a countdown to my top anime for this
year, I’m going to do a top ten anime for me for all time. Feel free to argue for your choices in the
comments, but here is my list of my all time favorite anime in no particular
order that I think everyone should check out at some point in their fandom, whether
it’s old school or more recent.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<img src="http://images.puella-magi.net/thumb/c/ca/Madoka_main_page.png/200px-Madoka_main_page.png?20110119201909" height="267" id="il_fi" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="200" /></div>
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<b>Puella Magi Madoka Magica</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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“Puella Magi Madoka Magica,” or just simply “Madoka Magica”
or “Madoka,” is one of those shows that has had such a strange effect on
me. In its 12 episode run, you manage to
start with a story that you think is going to go one way, but gets dark really,
really fast. Early on, it’s a typical
magical girl anime – you have cute girls, and they have special abilities that
allow them to fight Witches. But then you get to episode 3, and all heck breaks
loose – expectations are broken, and you realize that you are watching
something that had never been seen before in the genre up to that point. I’m not one who likes “magical girl” anime,
but I really liked this one.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiApHweTkV8PyFlKXMGagHsCS6vnBu8vxPxTo8PSy1pVrgTyfMHJH4lYOB7SOCZPW3elmbGEHMkI0MIaUd9QLUcSLGA-ACWfbUmfvtabl9L6YovTWcbEghWRJopw8eBYBnf3160mZ5Tnw6V/s320/Neon-Genesis-Evangelion-03-1024-83834.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></div>
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<b>Neon Genesis Evangelion</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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This is a series that divides anime fans. Those that like it are awed by the symbolism
and the deconstruction aspects of the series.
Those that hate it think every character is annoying, in particular lead
character Shinji Ikari. As someone who came late to the game on this series (I
watched it for the first time last year), it’s identifiable for me. Why?
Because I can identify with what Shinji is going through in terms of a
deep depression and self-doubt. So that’s
why, to me, his character is not as annoying as others take him for. Yeah, he’s whiny, but all kids his age
usually are at some point. He’s this
teenager who’s being asked to do this adult job, and add to that his
relationship with his father and you have the makings of a major psychosis. Worth at least checking out.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/2/27/Kuroshitsuji_Volume_1_cover.jpg/230px-Kuroshitsuji_Volume_1_cover.jpg" /></div>
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<b>Black Butler</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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I introduced my stepkids to this show when I started
watching anime again, and since then my stepdaughter in particular has been
really into it. It’s a very easy
show to fall in love with – set in Victorian England, you have a handsome demon
who is contracted to be the butler of a 13 year old boy who wants revenge for
his parents’ murders. The staff seem
incompetent in comparison to Sebastian, but they have secrets of their
own. Add to that the excellent writing
and situations these characters are put in, and you have the makings of a great
anime.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<img src="http://static.tumblr.com/2rlpxi0/255le66fb/death_note.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></div>
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<b>Death Note</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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I know, this seems like an obvious choice, but this was the
show that got me back into anime. And I
started watching it just as a shortcut to the manga to make sure that it was
appropriate for my stepson at the time.
What drew me in was the twists and turns of the story, and without a
single plothole open to interpretation – you would think writer Toshiki Inoue
(adapting Tsugubi Ohba’s manga) would have a few holes that need explanation in
the course of the story. It’s a perfect
cat and mouse type story, and although it does have its flaws (parts of it can
be seen as a little overdramatic) it’s worth a watch.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<img src="http://images5.fanpop.com/image/photos/26900000/Excel-Saga-excel-saga-26909132-640-480.jpg" height="240" id="il_fi" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="320" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Excel Saga</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is an anime that got me into anime in the first
place. For those who don’t like it, it’s
usually because the lead character Excel is so over energetic and her voice can
get grating (the original English dub actress had to be replaced halfway
through because she blew her voice out doing the part). For those who do like the show, however, it’s
for the many anime parodies and references to genres such as space operas,
American action films, dating sims, Japanese horror films, and others. Nothing is off limits, especially in the last
episode, which never aired. It’s just a
lot of fun to watch.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<img src="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR0vD45QzZQOk4ichfgKPZpc626kS4cLeSWmYaOFAMYMawAi1lnnMq35u_y" height="273" width="400" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Cowboy Bebop</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My husband bought this for me one Christmas knowing that I
liked anime, and it’s probably one of my favorite Christmas gifts to date. The show is popular for a reason – the tight
writing, the voice acting, the humor, the jazz soundtrack which shouldn’t fit
but does. You can’t help but like these
characters.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<img src="http://www.geekpeeks.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/eden-of-the-east.jpg" height="223" width="400" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Eden of the East<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I like this series so much that I own the entire series on
DVD/Blu-Ray along with the two movies, and all three are signed by voice actor
J. Michael Tatum, who plays Kazuomi Hirasawa in the show. The overall theme of
what you would do to save your country really resonates, because even though it’s
set in Japan it can really apply anywhere.
The animators on this series really did their homework when it came to
U.S. geography – since I lived in New York City for a time, I was able to
actually establish in a few scenes where they were in the city.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<img src="http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20121013022551/keroro/images/a/a3/Keroro-platoon-sgt-frog-keroro-gunso-5075483-1024-768.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Sgt. Frog</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This show didn’t get the love that it should have. The original Japanese version of the show was
more kiddie fare, but when FUNImation got a hold of it adults could watch it,
too, with no shame. The dub of the show
is really heavy on incredibly silly jokes, pop culture references, and very out
there humor. And how can you hate that?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<img src="http://static.zerochan.net/Chobits.full.32959.jpg" height="240" id="il_fi" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="320" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Chobits</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is the other show that got me into anime. I’ve read the manga so many times now, but
when I was pregnant with my son I was finally able to watch the show in its
entirety, and was crying by the end. I
like to jokingly describe the plot as “a guy who falls in love with his
computer,” but really there’s more to the show in regards to saving yourself
for the right person, what it means to be human, and whether machines can also
have personalities on their own.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<img src="http://static.zerochan.net/Ouran.High.School.Host.Club.full.872582.jpg" height="255" id="il_fi" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="320" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Ouran High School Host Club</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m not one for shoujo anime. My idea of a good Christmas
movie is “Die Hard.” But when I heard
that “Ouran High School Host Club” was a show that made fun of that genre, it
piqued my interests a bit. And when I
started watching the show, I really fell in love with it. Yeah, it made fun of the tropes of most
shoujo anime with its “pretty boy” cast, but the show has a lot of heart behind
it. And my favorite character in the
show is Honey, mostly because he resembles my son. But it’s worth checking out.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4wir-MZu0R8n01XtpC7JKjEMDHPAe5j8C1OHpBzRMBE9tikF4MasY9ODuZFlE4wMqtghrXQhq8LTbftvOn5mLZgp4IPhtynkebGs2hhsMejvxtulFMiSpaA4UdimeAeAfaDtRWvoo9fc/s1600/honey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4wir-MZu0R8n01XtpC7JKjEMDHPAe5j8C1OHpBzRMBE9tikF4MasY9ODuZFlE4wMqtghrXQhq8LTbftvOn5mLZgp4IPhtynkebGs2hhsMejvxtulFMiSpaA4UdimeAeAfaDtRWvoo9fc/s1600/honey.jpg" height="240" id="il_fi" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="320" /></a><a href="https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/s720x720/284446_244068088950127_4272832_n.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/s720x720/284446_244068088950127_4272832_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
See what I mean?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So what are your favorites?<o:p></o:p></div>
Lori Inghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09764323960997199480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361121202749557824.post-63126724232529485022012-07-18T19:34:00.000-07:002012-07-18T19:34:01.744-07:00J-Drama: "Ouran High School Host Club"<img height="298" src="http://moonchild.weebly.com/uploads/4/4/2/6/442636/9317130_orig.gif" width="400" />
<br />
<br />
Okay, I'm not really into J-Dramas, but this one I'm liking. And I didn't think I would.<br />
<br />
I think everyone is familiar with the story of "Ouran High School Host Club." It started out as a manga, then became an anime show. Here in the states, the anime became really popular (in particular among female anime fans), and who wouldn't fall in love with the charms of these boys?<br />
<br />
But as a live action show? I didn't think it would work.<br />
<br />
Until I watched the first episode. Then I could see it.<br />
<br />
Some of the trademarks from the anime series were there, such as the text randomly showing up and the more cartoonish moments from the series. One thing they don't do that the anime did was break the fourth wall.<br />
<br />
I'm also disappointed that Honey isn't blonde and shorter. He's one of my favorite characters just because the anime version looks so much like my son.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD6dE3U1YDgSdhiMpxZ7lFCVbawlxBQ5F8BHkUzH0ETLo96MXylQb1XzPQsholpuB3GzP0Bg7RhlWnrdkqHdwQ3JbZIKemj8OQBAjEO4zHT1svRphsutjfe_MSkFwfcaQutnLcaL7ZN6_k/s1600/chritopher+and+trip+to+boston+023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD6dE3U1YDgSdhiMpxZ7lFCVbawlxBQ5F8BHkUzH0ETLo96MXylQb1XzPQsholpuB3GzP0Bg7RhlWnrdkqHdwQ3JbZIKemj8OQBAjEO4zHT1svRphsutjfe_MSkFwfcaQutnLcaL7ZN6_k/s320/chritopher+and+trip+to+boston+023.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can't you see this adorable face in a couple of years cosplaying as Honey?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
But as I watched the first episode, I actually liked it. It was funny, and captured the spirit of the story perfectly. I especially like how any drawn versions of the characters are taken out of the manga/anime versions.<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If you're an "Ouran" fan, check it out online. Anywhere I send you might not be a legal stream, so no links. But just type it in and you should be able to find it.<br /><br /></div>Lori Inghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09764323960997199480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361121202749557824.post-35597781991784781942012-06-16T09:20:00.000-07:002012-06-16T09:20:25.911-07:00Coming Soon...More posts!<br />
<br />
It's been a crazy year for me as a substitute. Since I've been subbing in September, I've gotten at least three calls a week from the same school district, at either the middle or high school. Four different instances I did assignments that lasted more than a week (in one instance, in a subject that I wasn't certified in, which was only until they could find a sub). The one I'm doing now I've been doing since the week before Spring Break for a teacher who has since resigned. When I get done with my teaching career I'll probably write a book about this first year.<br />
<br />
Monday is my last day of school, and there are two days worth of workshops for me to attend. I don't have to attend them because I'm a sub, but I'm going to because I get professional development hours out of it. After that, in between job hunting for next year, expect some more posts.<br />
<br />
I don't know what about yet, but expect them soon.Lori Inghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09764323960997199480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361121202749557824.post-86913100186179511162012-02-26T18:21:00.000-08:002012-02-26T18:21:17.573-08:00When Con-going, Be Prepared...Anime Boston is coming up in a little over a month, and I thought I would do a general post about things you should think of when going to any anime convention. I've only really been going for a little over a year now, but I've already learned a few things along the way. For instance:<br />
<br />
<b>Know the location</b> -- I don't mean just knowing how to get there, but knowing the intricacies of the particular place where you're going to. Is there WiFi there if you need it? Can you get easy cell service in the building? Where are the restaurants in the area? Can you bring food inside? What's the layout of the location? All the little things that you don't think of when you go to a convention for the first time you'll start to think of when you go to subsequent conventions afterwards.<br />
<br />
<b>Know what kind of cell service you'll get in the building -- </b>When I went to AAC for the first time in 2010, having a cell phone on me and the kids wasn't that big of a deal. It's on the first floor, so I could find them easily. Going to Anime Boston, it's a priority because the event takes up the entire convention center, so knowing where others in your party are is important. What we didn't know going down there, however, was that the cell phone coverage would be so spotty, and when there was coverage the kids couldn't hear the phone ring because it was so noisy in the convention center with that many people attending.<br />
<br />
<b>Food </b>-- Make a plan ahead of time on where and when you are going to eat. For this year, me and my party are going to be bringing bento boxes with us for lunch, then eating dinner at a restaurant afterwards. This came from last year's experience of going to the food court in the Prudential Mall during Anime Boston, and finding it was packed with no place to sit. It seems like such a small thing, but the ability to be able to sit down and eat can be considered a luxury sometimes.<br />
<br />
<b>Panels/Workshops </b>-- Don't stress too much on this one. The schedule can look a bit overwhelming, but just look it over and decide which panels are the most important to you. I know for me, industry panels are a good safe bet for stories, and anything else is incidental after that. And the Masquerade is always a must to attend just because it is the big event of the weekend. At some point, you might change your mind and decide that workshop on how to create your own Pokemon isn't so important.<br />
<br />
Can you think of anything else that you think of before going to a convention?Lori Inghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09764323960997199480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361121202749557824.post-73045167234681355382012-02-24T19:24:00.000-08:002012-02-24T19:24:04.161-08:00Sorry For The Delay in PostsSorry it's been so long since I've posted. Real life has gotten in the way of me being able to post anything here, so I'm just trying to catch up right now -- I just got done doing a 6 week stint as a Language Arts teacher in fifth grade, and I'm still busy with other random assignments. So forgive the lack of posting up here.<br />
<br />
Here are a few things that I am planning for the future:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.animeboston.com/"><b>Anime Boston</b></a> -- I have my press pass all set, so I will be doing some posts on Anime Boston here and at Examiner.com about the event. And I'll be doing two days, but won't be doing an overnight there: on Friday I'm going down with the Franklin (NH) High School Anime Club as a chaperone and reporter, and on Saturday I'm going down with my stepkids. I like doing the two days because then I don't feel the need to be running around like a madwoman trying to get stories and interviews. And since I'll be going down with the Anime Club, I can sleep on the bus on the way home on Friday and not be so tired on Saturday.<br />
<br />
<b>New Web Show</b> -- Part of the problem I'm having right now is finding companies that are willing to send me copies of DVDs to review for shows, so what I decided to do instead is review shows as they air via (legal) streaming web sites. I'm doing pre-production work right now on a review show where I review shows that are currently streaming online, so that might not come out until this summer when I have time to record and produce the show (probably sometime in July), so when I have a set air date I will post it here, and also update you on the progress.<br />
<br />
<b>Writing More! </b>-- I will try to write more here...I'm a one woman operation, so please be patient. I plan on getting back to the planned Evangelion postings I was going to do before, but I just have to find time to sit down and do them.<br />
<br />
I thank you for your patience.Lori Inghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09764323960997199480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361121202749557824.post-38921722058066859232011-10-16T17:12:00.000-07:002011-10-16T17:12:57.144-07:00Another Anime Convention Has Come And Gone...No, seriously...AAC, otherwise known as Another Anime Convention, ended today.<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I had a great time this year. There was a lot to see. Four panels/workshops alone on "My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic." I'm still trying to understand this, but I will be writing something up on Examiner.com about it tomorrow night.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
(Speaking of which, stories will be a little slow going this week because I'm booked all week at my other job as a substitute teacher, so having time to write and bring my son back and forth to different sitters this week is going to be a challenge to writing.)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Right now at <a href="http://www.examiner.com/anime-in-manchester/lori-ingham">Examiner.com</a> I have some great pictures up from the con, as well as a starter story -- sorry for the lack of detail, but I'm going to be touching base with the chair at some point this week to get more details to add to it, and I needed something to be up there for the time being.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I was happy to see some "Madoka Magica" love there -- I bought a whole six pin set of the characters from the show, and took a picture of someone dressed as Kyubey. She told me that people have been stopping her to get pictures telling her she looks "cute," not realizing that the character is "evil."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I do have some Masquerade videos up at the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/FRKAnimeExaminer?feature=mhee">YouTube channel</a>, although not all the skits because my camera died, and I have to check to see if the footage from the last two sketches that I took from my cell phone is still going to have sound towards the end of it -- I was having issues with the cell phone cutting the sound out towards the end of videos that I was taking, so I took the footage just in case it actually did work out. Another sketch/walk on will be up as soon as I re-edit it to be able to put it back up on YouTube -- first the download stopped, then it was rejected as a "duplicate." Eventually I will have all the sketches either up or re-directed.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
At some point in the next few weeks I will have interviews up for the voice actors that appeared at AAC this year -- Robert Axelrod, Quinton Flynn (of which I have some hysterical footage from his "Shenanigans" panel on Sunday that I will be posting up soon), Chris Cason, Christopher Smith, and Cynthia Cranz. I'll be doing e-mail interviews with all five of them, so those will be up once the interviews have been conducted.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Overall, great con. I love hanging out with fellow geeks. :-) I will most likely be attending Queen City Kamikaze next, then Anime Boston in April. So keep an eye out!</div>Lori Inghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09764323960997199480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361121202749557824.post-15050134542736824572011-10-10T09:40:00.000-07:002011-10-10T09:40:17.903-07:00Another Anime Convention This Weekend!Good news is that I will be at Another Anime Convention in Nashua this coming weekend, and you will see a lot of reports coming from the convention since I'm planning on being there for the entire three days.<br />
<br />
I wasn't able to get my panel, though, which is a bummer. But expect a series of stories on a non-anime property that seems to have the attention of the anime community, judging from the planned panels: "My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic."<br />
<br />
On Friday, there is a panel planned as of this writing called, "Calling All Bronies!" (male fans of the show) Saturday has two planned panels: Why Ponies are Awesome, and right after that in another room a panel with the title Survivng the My Little Ponypocalypse. So I figured this fandom was ripe for a story package.<br />
<br />
Whether I cosplay or not will depend on whether I can get my costume together in time -- most of the pieces I need still need to be purchased, so I have to get to the store this week and see if I can find them.<br />
<br />
I'm still trying to perfect the technology for video, audio and such, so be patient as I try to put something together afterwards. Plus, now that I'm a substitute teacher work is starting to pick up a bit. So I will try to get something together afterwards by the end of the week.Lori Inghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09764323960997199480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361121202749557824.post-16580368767623215172011-09-19T07:18:00.000-07:002011-09-19T07:19:33.632-07:00Final Impressions: "Tiger and Bunny"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpdbsDGc8Y5cL3aUvanUpVPs-LsW8T6cUtUFL65k_WYFUufVwhwIbEG0iSwnwPw2b9WXmGT2I4XEiiMagTsp7OoiCunom9AWNCN3W1Kwe1Vd0buIfB_Pgx_EYiS0NVNXKnPTSwzS7HGN25/s1600/TigerBunny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpdbsDGc8Y5cL3aUvanUpVPs-LsW8T6cUtUFL65k_WYFUufVwhwIbEG0iSwnwPw2b9WXmGT2I4XEiiMagTsp7OoiCunom9AWNCN3W1Kwe1Vd0buIfB_Pgx_EYiS0NVNXKnPTSwzS7HGN25/s640/TigerBunny.jpg" width="452" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Warning: SPOILERS!</b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b>Last Chance: There will be spoilers in this post, so if you haven't watched it yet (as I encourage you to do), don't read this post!</b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
25 episodes later...I stuck with this show, and was glad that I did. A lot of excitement in its two halves -- while the first half focused on Barnaby's search for his parents' killer, the second was solely on Kotetsu's dealing with his powers declining and subsequent frame up by the true bad guy of the series -- his and Barnaby's boss, Albert Maverick. And I felt like I didn't want to miss a moment of it.<br />
<br />
The non surprise for me was how Kotetsu's daughter Kaede discovered she was now a NEXT. I knew that was coming. I thought that she would inherit her father's Hundred Power, but instead she can copy the powers of other NEXT she touches, which plays a huge part in later conflicts when she goes into the city to look for her father.<br />
<br />
There were several avenues that I would have liked to have seen them explore in the series, such as getting more into the lives of some of the other superheroes that weren't featured in the show, such as Rock Bison, but they did a good job with this series.<br />
<br />
The creators have said they have another project in the works. Don't know if it's another anime or what, but we will see in November. I hope it is, preferably one that focuses possibly on Kaede and her possible decision to be a hero like her father.Lori Inghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09764323960997199480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361121202749557824.post-35410853417622008742011-09-18T10:04:00.000-07:002011-09-18T10:04:15.747-07:00I Apologize for Not Writing Much Here...Unfortunately in the real world I was kind of forced to panic about not having any type of work for awhile and was searching for a job. So basically grown-up responsibilities kind of got in the way.<br />
<br />
However, I got some cool stuff planned.<br />
<br />
In a few weeks, I'll be going to Nashua to <a href="http://www.anotheranimecon.com/">Another Anime Convention</a> (AAC) for at least two days to cover it for Examiner.com, and I am hoping to also be able to host a panel on legal places online to watch anime.<br />
<br />
I will also be covering <a href="http://www.animeboston.com/">Anime Boston</a> for Examiner.com...I'm waiting for the request form for press passes to go up. So my arrangements for that are going to be determined by a few factors that I am not going to reveal here until it gets closer to the time. It may involve another story for Examiner.<br />
<br />
In the meantime, I think starting in October I'm going to dedicate a whole month to "Neon Genesis Evangelion." That's right, I said it -- a whole month dedicated to "Eva!" Why, you may ask? Because I can, that's why! And also, I just watched the entire show for the first time this week, so I have a lot to discuss in regards to the show. I'm not one to get heavily into mecha shows, but this one I liked because it went deeper than that.<br />
<br />
I'll probably be doing some posts on another show that I have just been so inspired that I've been drawing fan art around it -- "Puella Maji Madoka Magica," or just "Madoka Magica."<br />
<br />
So stay tuned to this space!Lori Inghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09764323960997199480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361121202749557824.post-62206886760462322822011-05-22T04:41:00.000-07:002011-05-22T04:42:56.419-07:00Trailer: "Eden of the East: Paradise Lost"If I can get my hands on a copy of the film, you better believe there will be a review.<br />
<br />
FUNImation has released a trailer for the last film in the "Eden of the East" series, "Paradise Lost."<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/E6JnUZJ7qvY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">"Eden of the East" is one of my favorite series right now, so I'm looking forward to seeing how it all ends. The film will be released as part of a DVD/Blu-Ray combo pack on August 2.</div>Lori Inghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09764323960997199480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361121202749557824.post-84278314287115717782011-05-09T18:41:00.000-07:002011-05-09T18:41:51.815-07:00Attention: Interview with Spike Spencer is Now Up!You can find it <a href="http://www.examiner.com/anime-in-manchester/for-spike-spencer-life-s-an-adventure">here</a> and <a href="http://www.examiner.com/anime-in-manchester/spike-spencer-on-voice-acting-and-conventions">here</a>.<br />
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It took a long time to get this interview, primarily because of schedules not meshing. But we were finally able to do it this afternoon (Spike's morning).<br />
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There was one answer that I wanted to include in the second interview, but I felt my notes on it weren't good enough for me to quote him accurately. I asked him about his part in "Excel Saga" as Shioji, the scientist with a "lolita complex." One thing I learned is that voice actors sometimes don't remember all the roles right away, especially when they are as busy an actor as Spike Spencer is (he also wasn't aware that Funimation was re-releasing it soon). I felt that this was a safe enough spot to put it where I didn't have to quote him directly but at least give a flavor of where the conversation went on this.<br />
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I asked him about whether Shioji would be considered controversial now since the uproar over "Dance in the Vampire Bund" and the Tokyo Youth Ordinance Bill, and whether American audiences would go along with it. He pointed out that he saw several people dressed up as Pedobear, so he's got a point there.<br />
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But it was a great overall conversation with him. Make sure to read the articles over at The Examiner.Lori Inghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09764323960997199480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361121202749557824.post-12656024002986540142011-05-02T17:52:00.000-07:002011-05-02T17:52:15.759-07:00Attention: Interview with Brina Palencia Is UpYou can read parts <a href="http://www.examiner.com/anime-in-manchester/q-a-with-brina-palencia-part-one">one</a> and <a href="http://www.examiner.com/anime-in-manchester/q-a-with-brina-palencia-part-two">two</a> at <a href="http://www.examiner.com/anime-in-manchester/lori-ingham">Examiner</a>.<br />
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I have to keep the articles short over there, so I didn't follow up about the prank she played on voice actor J. Michael Tatum at Anime Central 2010, and I figured that the song she sang was somewhat sort of self explanatory as to what exactly happened.<br />
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This is her telling the story behind what happened. You might need to bring the volume up on your computer to hear what she's talking about.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/Sh9fjJhsysQ?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Pretty funny story. :-) But then voice actors are apparently known for pranking each other.<br />
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Here's one about voice actor Christopher Sabat (well known for doing various voices in "Dragonball Z" as well as "Speed Grapher," "Sgt. Frog," and others) playing a prank on another fellow actor:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/GnXKGHTtN2U?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
Right now I'm in the process of making arrangements to interview with voice actor Spike Spencer, so hopefully you'll see that interview soon up at Examiner.Lori Inghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09764323960997199480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361121202749557824.post-64732433490095939982011-04-29T16:07:00.000-07:002011-04-29T16:08:57.654-07:00The Newest Acquisition From Funimation I Can't Write About At Examiner...But I can certainly write about it here!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZQ4qsJc8w83H88lkV9T2Dq91xAOSM1rYlXYl3eQokQgQUC4mh0SOwREBocCNkcWohXuy7jgAjImt9KTDSV7tcY7ESQ12nCenZd9WDFQlHCvscUdtXRK1PEsQ5wrJlM9bI2JF9HPs7hsjg/s1600/BigTitsZombie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZQ4qsJc8w83H88lkV9T2Dq91xAOSM1rYlXYl3eQokQgQUC4mh0SOwREBocCNkcWohXuy7jgAjImt9KTDSV7tcY7ESQ12nCenZd9WDFQlHCvscUdtXRK1PEsQ5wrJlM9bI2JF9HPs7hsjg/s640/BigTitsZombie.jpg" width="452" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Yes, you are reading that right. The name of the film is "Big Tits Zombie."</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;">Here's the UK Trailer for it. Not Safe For Work.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/xxFGLTXI1ZY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I would say this sounds almost like a rip-off of "Stripper Zombies," but I don't know if that film ever got picked up for Japanese distribution. The look of the film from the trailer looks almost like an old 70s style grindhouse film.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Funimation <a href="http://beta.funimation.com/news">just announced</a> on their website and on Facebook that they acquired the rights to this one. The reaction so far on Facebook has been more along the lines of, "What the ****?" just based on the title (which was pretty much MY reaction), others getting a kick out of it.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">It's coming out this Fall, so once it's up on Netflix you bet yoru sweet bippy there will be a review of this one.</div>Lori Inghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09764323960997199480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361121202749557824.post-28869523691958002182011-04-27T19:31:00.000-07:002011-04-27T19:31:31.681-07:00Catch-Up Review: "Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIUFKTtSlFcl80VL1eqVKKfa4k7LgXz271GcUBTCRcXrqF7CnR_4UvIpsfanDeB26Ah3XPn-lBL6K2Nr7apGQINyH4ldac1jEeR_GTuJT8tXIsQ_lRArodpCIow2uM6mqBqeaKBrlJe78P/s1600/PSG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIUFKTtSlFcl80VL1eqVKKfa4k7LgXz271GcUBTCRcXrqF7CnR_4UvIpsfanDeB26Ah3XPn-lBL6K2Nr7apGQINyH4ldac1jEeR_GTuJT8tXIsQ_lRArodpCIow2uM6mqBqeaKBrlJe78P/s320/PSG.jpg" width="245" /></a></div>I had heard about "Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt" for the past few weeks from people referencing the show. Because the names of the characters all reference some piece of underwear in some way, I thought that someone created a show with anthropomorphized underwear similar to what "Hetalia" did for countries. My curiousity was further piqued when Funimation announced a few days before Anime Boston and on the day they launched their new beta site that they had picked it up.<br />
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So, of course, I had to check it out.<br />
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Reaction: Oh. My. Gosh.<br />
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If you have a demented, sick sense of humor, this is definitely the show for you. Do you laugh at poop monsters? This is your show. Do you find "South Park" or "Drawn Together" funny in any way, shape or form? Then this is definitely your show.<br />
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The basic plot goes like this -- Panty and Stocking Anarchy are fallen angels who are tasked to fight ghosts with the assistance of the priest Garterbelt. Panty, the blonde who wants to live a superstar lifestyle, is obsessed with sex. Stocking, the lolita goth and more responsible sister, is obsessed with sweets. Garterbelt often gets mad at the sisters over their obsessions and the fact that they don't seem to care about their jobs.<br />
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The animation is very much influenced by American style of design, and actually uses several styles at different points. When the angels transform, it's one style of animation. When the angels do different things, sometimes you don't know what kind of animation you're going to get (one episode had a scene done in South Park style). And when the ghosts are defeated, it cuts to a live action papiere mache model getting blown up.<br />
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A lot of the situations involve Panty's obsession with sex, and the men's willingness to go along with it. This can get old after awhile, although I'm hoping that a second season won't focus so much on it. In fact, a lot of the dialogue involves sex in some way or another, with different characters revealing different fetishes.<br />
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And the one thing I don't think I could really get used to -- the characters swearing in English. That's right -- you'll be reading the subtitles, and all of a sudden you realize that what they are saying is VERY clearly in English and didn't really need to be subtitled.<br />
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Is the show funny? It is if you have a dark sense of humor. And it can get very, very dark at times with the humor. It's definitely a show for adults. There were times when I was watching the show that I couldn't believe what I was watching. But then it had some really funny parts in it.<br />
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You have been warned.<br />
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The show can currently be viewed on <a href="http://www.crunchyroll.com/">Crunchyroll</a>.Lori Inghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09764323960997199480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361121202749557824.post-13530152411745588072011-04-26T10:29:00.000-07:002011-04-26T10:29:49.063-07:00Review: "Eden of the East: The King of Eden"My Examiner review is <a href="http://www.examiner.com/anime-in-manchester/king-of-eden-dvd-worthy-continuation-to-eden-of-the-east-review">here</a>.<br />
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It's tough sometimes to expand on the Examiner site because they want us to not go too long with what we write. But here I can go into a little more depth.<br />
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I've been a fan of "Eden of the East" since I watched it on Netflix a few weeks ago. It's a great spy mystery/espionage/cultural commentary type of show that addresses several types of issues, including getting the audience to thinking about how they would improve their own nations. It's a very universal theme.<br />
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On the animation -- very rarely do you see an anime that actually gets an American city right as far as locations and placement. They did an excellent job with not only drawing the landmarks the way they really look in New York City, but the signs are all also in English. Gramatically correct English, too.<br />
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The end of the film definitely leaves you hanging and wanting more. Not going to spoil it, but if you didn't know that there was a final film already out there you would be screaming at the screen, "That's IT?"<br />
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And I was disappointed that the "Air Communication" film was only available as a sub on the DVD. Primarily because my stepkids, for the most part, won't watch subbed animes -- I wanted to at least give them a condensed version of the show so they could follow the film.<br />
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Overall, a definite pick it up title in the store if you're a fan of the show.Lori Inghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09764323960997199480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361121202749557824.post-74037801256725547692011-04-24T09:53:00.000-07:002011-04-24T09:53:30.683-07:00Anime Boston: The AftermathWell, technology was not working for me yesterday. We weren't able to charge my phone overnight because we were charging four other phones, and one of the phones used the same charger as mine. And I had to use the phone as my GPS on the way down there -- the phone is weird in that it won't charge unless it's completely off, and I had it plugged into the car charger on the way down.<br />
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I also learned another valuable lesson -- "smart phones" use a lot of juice.<br />
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What I did get I will put up soon. I just need some time to sort through what I have that I took pics of.<br />
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If you have pics you'd like to submit, let me know and I'll post them.<br />
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But overall, had a great time. I don't think I'd want to try to do it all in one day again -- next year's plan is for the entire weekend. I found myself rushing from here and there just to get to panels. The cell service in the building was a little spotty at times, so keeping track of the kids I had with me at times was a challenge. But overall, the experience was great, and I can't wait to do it again next year.<br />
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Highlights -- Masquerade was great, and the Evangelion panel was a blast. And if you weren't able to get into the "Kuroshitsuji" panel, you missed out -- what I saw of it, Jackie Grande did a great job with the information and organizing it. When I got there, there was a line starting at conference room 309 and ending at 301.<br />
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Next year, we're going to make a contingency plan in case of low coverage areas. And with being there over the three days instead of just one, I think I can take some time and just relax instead of feeling "rushed."Lori Inghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09764323960997199480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361121202749557824.post-47262319097460136612011-04-22T16:47:00.000-07:002011-04-22T16:47:18.953-07:00Anime Boston: Coverage UpdateWell, I just got news from my husband that the only laptop I could take with me needs a new power adapter, and he asked if I could just run it off the battery only.<br />
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Unfortunately, for the best option on coverage I'm not going to be able to do that. So, no posts while I'm at AB tomorrow.<br />
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Good news is that I will have my husband's Android phone on me, so I will be twittering from there. You may have noticed the new little addition I put up on the site tonight -- "Twitterings from Anime Boston." Although I won't be able to do full length posts, I will be tweeting while I'm there so you can follow along on the feed. Ignore the current posts -- I also run the <a href="http://www.conchrist.com/">ConChrist</a> blog which is more politically motivated, so those twits are related to my more political interests.<br />
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And also remember that I'm going to be posting videos at my <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/FRKAnimeExaminer">You Tube channel</a> throughout the day, as well.Lori Inghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09764323960997199480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361121202749557824.post-85533982784139833852011-04-22T04:29:00.000-07:002011-04-22T10:41:18.700-07:00Anime Boston Starts Today!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs4gM4X3jwh05ChCqBXd5gOlFIR9YSf67mMGc72c9AqQv8Y2MopO7DmdOzJLJCo_xaXMFec1JgPSJYmF4ZFYBidr0sctiGL7mTSOs4r91TUfnJKomB6G9AH8YHa5OBx8YTNefoWX1WctF8/s1600/logo.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs4gM4X3jwh05ChCqBXd5gOlFIR9YSf67mMGc72c9AqQv8Y2MopO7DmdOzJLJCo_xaXMFec1JgPSJYmF4ZFYBidr0sctiGL7mTSOs4r91TUfnJKomB6G9AH8YHa5OBx8YTNefoWX1WctF8/s320/logo.PNG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<br />
Starting today and ending Sunday, otakus all over New England will be meeting at the Hynes Convention Center to discuss important matters in relation to anime, mangas, J-pop, and other aspects of Japanese culture. Yippee!<br />
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I am going down with four teenagers first thing Saturday morning (yikes!). The three middle schoolers will be dressed as Akatsuki ninjas, while my 16 year old stepson will be Sebastian from "Black Butler" in the peacoat.<br />
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So today, no reporting from the convention, unfortunately. But expect some posts from the event starting tomorrow afternoon. And I'm also going to be putting up some raw videos up on YouTube, as well, throughout the day.<br />
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So stay tuned!<br />
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<i><b>Update:</b></i> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/FRKAnimeExaminer">Here</a> is the You Tube channel that I will be posting video to tomorrow. There will be a finished package up there within the next week after I get all of it together, but at least you'll get an exclusive look at the video before it's edited.Lori Inghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09764323960997199480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361121202749557824.post-10865456007427330912011-04-20T12:24:00.000-07:002011-04-20T12:24:26.570-07:00Reviews: "The World God Only Knows" and "Blue Exorcist"These are more like season previews than actual reviews, but out of the shows I've seen so far online that are premiering, I'm liking so far how this season is turning out.<br />
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<b>Warning: There are some spoilers</b> <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBY5hT_YSpvPcJynK7KhPFSCh3YkLz0wOTSZBXBjmYUJsDl16Q9rVoxfPp1tFhczNUasGy5f3w5db0kB0WIvfUL6Fz2p69Q7QB7FpjyWLBLWQhPxkqSPjYiPSAEDgUngJeiBo7UiBDuvYP/s1600/the-world-god-only-knows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBY5hT_YSpvPcJynK7KhPFSCh3YkLz0wOTSZBXBjmYUJsDl16Q9rVoxfPp1tFhczNUasGy5f3w5db0kB0WIvfUL6Fz2p69Q7QB7FpjyWLBLWQhPxkqSPjYiPSAEDgUngJeiBo7UiBDuvYP/s640/the-world-god-only-knows.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Let's start with a show that some of you may already be familiar with from last season.<br />
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If you've never seen it...shame on you! It's a comedy that breaks the fourth wall on occasion and also makes fun of the cliches of dating simulation games.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/ORATORIO-WORLD-GOD-ONLY-KNOWS/dp/B003XTG95K?ie=UTF8&tag=widgetsamazon-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">"The World God Only Knows"</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=widgetsamazon-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B003XTG95K" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> tells the story of a dating sim otaku named Keima Katsuragi. He prefers his dating sim women over the real ones in his school, even going by the name "King of Conquests." He gets what he thinks is an invitation to join in another game, but instead finds himself paired up with a chibi demon named Elsie who tells him he has a task -- to capture loose souls from the hearts of girls by "conquering" them. Problem is, Keima has never actually "conquered" a girl in real life. But if he doesn't, both he and Elsie could lose their lives. So now he's forced to rely on what he knows from dating simulators to figure out how to "conquer" the girls and capture the loose souls.<br />
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The first season of the show was a fun ride. Season 2 has started, and is promising more of the same. The first arc focuses on a female karate club captain (who is now the only member thanks to the rest of her club quitting two days after she took the position) who is trying to conquer her own personal demon -- she secretly likes cute things.<br />
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It's already starting some of the fun humor that the first season had -- the first episode set the tone where we get a recap of what the show is about, then Keima comes into the frame and asks the audience, "Didn't you watch season one?"<br />
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Keep an eye out this season. It's now simulcasting on <a href="http://crunchyroll.com/">Crunchyroll</a>.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDtEjunAX5PyYF7Qt2KrbPK5q4lFJ6ZfVQAjZYyvca7-arrfN1A48JoRMyyo4UEcd4FIkOcrjJ96zjOVtKIjiLAt8A-MgzNgBsdtjIQ9pN5AKSearqipPiGrpypF51a3gt2LiEN61fc05b/s1600/blueexorcist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDtEjunAX5PyYF7Qt2KrbPK5q4lFJ6ZfVQAjZYyvca7-arrfN1A48JoRMyyo4UEcd4FIkOcrjJ96zjOVtKIjiLAt8A-MgzNgBsdtjIQ9pN5AKSearqipPiGrpypF51a3gt2LiEN61fc05b/s400/blueexorcist.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Exorcist-Vol-Kato-Kazue/dp/1421540320?ie=UTF8&tag=widgetsamazon-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">"Blue Exorcist."</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=widgetsamazon-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1421540320" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Do we really need another shinigami-type show? Why, yes. Yes, we do.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Rin lives with his twin brother Yukio and Father Fujimoto, the man he's called Dad for as long as he could remember. In this first episode, Yukio is about to go to the Blue Cross Academy to study, while Rin is facing a possibility of going from job to job and not being able to do anything with his life. That changes when he saves a little girl from a demon in a grocery store, and when he discovers that he has powers he never heard of, Fujimoto finally tells him the truth -- he's the son of the Devil.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">From the preview for next week, I'm assuming that we discover Rin makes the decision to be an exorcist himself. Or else the title would be just silly.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The show actually has some good things going for it. It has some great effects animation, the writing is sharp, and you really get into it. I plan to keep watching.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The show is currently simulcasting on <a href="http://hulu.com/">Hulu</a>, <a href="http://crunchyroll.com/">Crunchyroll</a>, and <a href="http://animenewsnetwork.com/">Anime News Network</a>.</div>Lori Inghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09764323960997199480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361121202749557824.post-11708416566205561972011-04-16T16:50:00.000-07:002011-04-18T19:10:12.147-07:00One Week Until Anime Boston...<strong>Updated Schedule Below</strong><br />
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And I did the deed last night...dyed my hair blonde for the week.<br />
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Here are some pictures that I took of myself in the full Julia Silverstein costume.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZCF_MttmUfvoCrK55lqm8FpoAOOTMTcV_OoQcm0-xYE6JDP8QwYkaWwx2at95iia_Ue_5hsYe1rG0xL8w5KsXuva1a8ZtTJgE87YrNAXez_9KEdt5P45MzemScEhcsM9pRxQgFnlf4oP9/s1600/Pose+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZCF_MttmUfvoCrK55lqm8FpoAOOTMTcV_OoQcm0-xYE6JDP8QwYkaWwx2at95iia_Ue_5hsYe1rG0xL8w5KsXuva1a8ZtTJgE87YrNAXez_9KEdt5P45MzemScEhcsM9pRxQgFnlf4oP9/s400/Pose+1.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think I might have to find a way to adjust the top a little more when I put it on the day of...just a LITTLE more cleavage than I really want to show in this shot.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicKMXD5x12i8fjOe7u1hqR91QXjAw1oZnGwCwbe7TpaAtrWeqiLt2SzD8tey_qp8swdPKGzlSvKy5VEsnk9qwCkAlAzOqFoA6hwxarMYqMWUXmLVcNWxTPOogEAWIMcONFIoLtDek2j90R/s1600/Pose+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicKMXD5x12i8fjOe7u1hqR91QXjAw1oZnGwCwbe7TpaAtrWeqiLt2SzD8tey_qp8swdPKGzlSvKy5VEsnk9qwCkAlAzOqFoA6hwxarMYqMWUXmLVcNWxTPOogEAWIMcONFIoLtDek2j90R/s400/Pose+2.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrs8VRhmwU0-1HWNWMc6MS0__-r9ILhXRlG050KfnVb3RVIr1dHva26EUDHzvYt0kCS3Atsj0vqOWHLWM0ViBOEZXkjiVIeUCgq4euwFll0qzh6jKkd76t8IIPlz6fmdK-vafRrd4l0u2x/s1600/Pose+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrs8VRhmwU0-1HWNWMc6MS0__-r9ILhXRlG050KfnVb3RVIr1dHva26EUDHzvYt0kCS3Atsj0vqOWHLWM0ViBOEZXkjiVIeUCgq4euwFll0qzh6jKkd76t8IIPlz6fmdK-vafRrd4l0u2x/s400/Pose+3.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I should probably iron a few things before going anywhere.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I'm going to be there on Saturday, and am planning a few special surprises in the coverage of the convention. So keep on the lookout on this site.<br />
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In the meantime, expect to see me attending these panels:<br />
<br />
11:00am -- Kuroshitsuji, Demons, Shinigami and Horror -- Oh My!<br />
12:00pm -- Last half of the Funimation Sneak Peek Panel<br />
4:30pm -- Autograph session for the English voice cast of Evangelion 2.0 -- I'll be taking pictures<br />
5:00pm -- The Dark Side of Pokemon <strong>(time was changed)</strong><br />
7:00pm -- Bad Anime, Bad!<br />
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Feel free to say "Hi!" when you see me. I don't bite.Lori Inghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09764323960997199480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361121202749557824.post-20799965698542036632011-04-15T12:58:00.000-07:002011-04-15T12:58:45.329-07:00Tokyopop To Close North American Publishing DivisionAnime News Network is <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-04-15/tokyopop-to-close-north-american-publishing-division">reporting</a> that the North American division of Tokyopop is closing their offices, but continuing their film division and their operations in Europe.<br />
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Current manga titles that may go out of print (so pick them up now, unless they go to another publisher) include classics such as "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fruits-Basket-Vol-Natsuki-Takaya/dp/1591826039?ie=UTF8&tag=widgetsamazon-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Fruits Basket</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=widgetsamazon-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1591826039" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />," "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/GTO-Teacher-Onizuka-Complete-Collection/dp/B0038AZ9SW?ie=UTF8&tag=widgetsamazon-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Great Teacher Onizuka</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=widgetsamazon-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0038AZ9SW" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />," the "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/hack-Part-1-Infection-Playstation-2/dp/B00006B5T8?ie=UTF8&tag=widgetsamazon-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">.hack</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=widgetsamazon-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00006B5T8" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />" series, "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Love-Hina-Vol-Ken-Akamatsu/dp/1931514941?ie=UTF8&tag=widgetsamazon-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Love Hina</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=widgetsamazon-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1931514941" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />," and "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sgt-Frog-Graphic-Novels/dp/1591827035?ie=UTF8&tag=widgetsamazon-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Sgt. Frog</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=widgetsamazon-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1591827035" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />." <br />
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This is kind of disappointing, although the manga and anime worlds have been going into a bit of a decline for awhile. So it's not a shock. But it's disappointing, so hopefully another publisher will pick up these titles for republication. I know that Dark Horse has started picking up certain manga titles for "omnibus editions" (three volumes at a time put together) so hopefully more publishers will follow the lead to preserve these titles.Lori Inghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09764323960997199480noreply@blogger.com0