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Mokke

This is a story about two sisters: Shizuru is a high school student who is able to see ghosts while her younger sister, Mizuki, is haunted by these apparitions. Frustrated by their abilities, their parents decided to entrust the sisters into the care of their grandparents who live in the countryside. As they adapt to life in the countryside, Shizuru and Mizuki begin to learn about the importance of coexisting nature with these apparitions.

"Mokke" is a nice and pleasant yet sad story that has probably stayed below radar as far a hype and popularity go. It's a solid series that definitely deserves more recognition, or at least more time in the spotlight. The animation and color palette is rather simple, but don't be dissuaded. This trait blends nicely with the lighthearted yet serious plot. While episode one starts out a bit slow, the series picks up and delivers.

Hisaishi + Miyazaki Commemorate 25 Years

As stated in Joe Hisaishi's official website, Tokyo's Nippon Budokan complex will host a large-scale concert event in August titled, "Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea Movie Opening Commemoration." This event will commemorate 25 years of cooperation between Hayao Miyazaki and Joe Hisaishi. Hisaishi will be accompanied by a 200-piece orchestra and a 400-member chorus. Songs for all of Hisaishi's collaboration with Miyazaki will be performed.

6th Annual Cherry Blossom Anime Marathon

Cherry Blossom time has bloomed once more over Washington, DC and with it comes the 6th Annual Cherry Blossom Anime Marathon at the Freer and Sackler Galleries. Taking place this Saturday, April 5th, four films will be featured in this day long event. Based on their official website, this year's event includes a costume show courtesy of the DC Anime Club as well as surprise special guests. Tickets are free for all films, but be sure to come in as early as possible, as tickets are available on a first come basis, and take it for me, they go by fast. Ticket distribution will begin at 10:30 AM Saturday morning (limit 2 per person per film). If you plan to get there by 9:30 or 10:00, expect a long line.

This years line-up, of which 3 are presented in Japanese with English subtitles are:

11:30 AM
Jungle Emperor Leo
Adapted from a manga comic by the legendary Osamu Tezuka, this charming fable directed by Yoshio Takeuchi is a treat for animal lovers of all ages. Leo, a majestic white lion, rules the jungle at the foot of mysterious Moon Mountain, living in harmony with the other beasts – until humans show up and threaten to shatter their peaceful existence. 1997 / 100 min., Rated PG, Dubbed in English.

2:30 PM
Atagoal: Cat's Magical Forest
Hideyoshi is, literally, a fat cat who loves nothing more than gorging himself on tuna and rocking out at the annual town festival in the magical land of Atagoal. He gets into trouble, however, when he accidentally releases the imprisoned Botanical Queen Pileah, who has sinister plans for Hideyoshi and his feline friends. Mizuho Nishikubo’s film is fun for the whole family. 2006 / 81 min., suitable for all ages.

5:00 PM
5 Centimeters Per Second
The title of Makoto Shinkai’s wistful coming-of-age film describes the velocity at which cherry blossom petals fall – a metaphor for the impermanence of human relationships that is the theme of its three connected stories. Each story takes place at a different point in the lives of the film’s three main characters, from puppy love thwarted by a family move, to an unrequited teenage crush, to melancholy reminiscences in adulthood. 2007 / 62 min., unrated, appropriate for all ages.

7:00 PM
Appleseed: Ex Machina
The year is 2138. Society is divided between humans and peaceful cyborgs developed to prevent the wars that killed half of the world’s population. But what happens when nefarious forces find a way to make them violent? Inspired by a popular manga comic, Shinji Aramaki’s sci-fi brain twister offers state-of-the-art animation, thrilling action scenes, and a provocative meditation on what our world might become. 2007 / 105 min., PG-13.

In related news, the Freer Gallery is also featuring an Anime Artists Workshop on Saturday (1:00 pm, 3:00 pm, and Sunday 2:00 pm). Join ImaginAsia's Anime artists to see how contemporary artists refer to the Japanese tradition of action drawing to create their Anime characters and scenes. Bring your own drawings to share, and learn how to expand your drawing technique. The event is free of charge and participation is on a first come first serve basis, due to limited seating.

J-POP LAND is back again this year, so if you're in the area be sure to hit the street festival. Rock with Mitsumassyu, a J-POP music group from Tokyo that is back for its third year at the Sakura Matsuri. For more information, check out www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org.

X JAPAN in Paris

The first of X JAPAN's three reunion concerts took place on Friday, March 28. Before the second concert on Saturday, the band held an urgent press conference to announce that they have finalized plans for a concert performance in Paris on July 5, 2008.

The conference was held at Tokyo Dome, the site of X JAPAN's first concerts in over a decade. Tokyograph notes that Japan Expo will also be held in Paris from July 3 to July 6...possible site of the concert, maybe? Yoshiki says the band hopes to draw in a crowd of about 20,000 people. I couldn't make it to Tokyo Dome this time, and I only wish this concert is a possibility for me.

Update (4/3/2008): X JAPAN has just announced, in a April 3 press conference, that it will perform its first live concert in the U.S. at New York City's Madison Square Garden on September 13.

FFVII: Crisis Core

FFVII...the game that shook the gaming industry and has made the FF series and its fanbase what it is today. The little feat of simply transitioning from 2D sprites to 3D marked the start of the RPG revolution. After over a decade, "FFVII: Crisis Core," the prequel to the original RPG classic materializes. Undoubtedly, all FF fans will be picking up this game and with good reason.
"Crisis Core" is set seven years prior to the events of the first FFVII, the Shinra Company is rapidly increasing its influence through its monopoly on mako energy and military might, and is becoming ever powerful. The game focuses primarily on Zack, SOLDIER 2nd class, aspiring for 1st, and his interactions with three other principle characters: Angeal, Genesis, and Sephiroth. Other familiar characters make an appearance, but generally speaking, these four SOLDIER operatives are the highlight of this story.

The story is well developed and maintains the legacy of FFVII quite beautifully. With all the pieces in place, it is hard not to feel nostalgic as a familiar soundtrack plays in the background, as you walk through the lobby of Shinra Headquarters, and as you meet some old faces. Gameplay, for lack of a better word, is perfect for the PSP and on-the-go gaming. "Crisis Core" offers action and realtime battle, similar to the "Kingdom Hearts" battle system. While the side missions may be on the heavy side, it is appropriate for a handheld game. One of the most unique aspect of its battle mechanics is the DMW, or Digital Mind Wave, which enhances the real-time battle system. "Crisis Core" brings innovation to the table and all of its extra elements work to its advantage -- one of which is its use of emails. There is also so much potential for the individual RPG player, especially with the nice amount of leveling up potential.

Loading times can occasionally be a minute too long, but nevertheless it is quite impressive, especially with its beautiful presentation. The cut scenes are of the highest caliber with "Advent Children" quality. The details and expressions are also something to be gawked at. It's no wonder that Square Enix is the leading studio in this realm of computer-generated cinematics.

Yet another fantastic PSP title. First "Chains of Olympus," now "Crisis Core." We're 2 for 2!

Square Enix Members

The SQUARE ENIX MEMBERS Site officially went live on March 24th. While there isn't a plethora of goodies at the moment, there are some nice features already building up. The site is currently featuring a Q&A with Crisis Core director Hajime Tabata, soundtrack giveaways and some web parts including a Zack Squat Test and Shinra ID generator. Also featured is a creator's roundtable from "The World Ends with You." There's a section for videos and downloads such as wallpapers, and a blog updated daily. Registration is free, and here's hoping that SQUARE ENIX North America will resemble the Japanese counterpart.

Blade of the Immortal

After so many years since its manga debut, Hiroaki Samura's "Blade of the Immortal" (Mugen-no-Jūnin) will be getting its television anime premiere this summer in Japan.

Set to play the main character Manji, a ronin swordsman condemned to immortality unless he kills a thousand evil men to compensate for the good men he killed, is Tomozaku Seki (who also played as Van in Escaflowne). Noir's director Mashimo & Bee Train studio are set to animate the new title. ANN has the entire casting listed.

One of the major elements that brings "Blade of the Immortal" above all others is its beautiful "raw" art form. I was curious to see how the unique drawings will be translated on the screen. But the picture from the official website eased my qualms and shows something quite promising.

Saint Seiya Life-Size Figure

The March 19 opening reception for Bandai's Tamashii Nation 2008 toy celebration featured a life-size, wearable replica of the "Gold Cloth" armor from "Saint Seiya" manga and anime. The 180-centimeter-tall, 24-carat-gold-chromed plastic replica weighs 20 to 30 kilograms (about 40 to 70 pounds). The armor is wearable, but it does not transform like the fictional original in creator Masami Kurumada's stories. The event runs from March 20 to March 23 at Tokyo's Akihabara UDX building. [Source: ANN]

MGS Mobile

Konami brought me good news and bad news at the same time this morning. It seems that "Metal Gear Solid Mobile" is now available for only $10.99 ($4.99 monthly). So why should I be disappointed? Maybe because it is available exclusive to Verizon Wireless customers of which I am not...arghh! Therefore, I have no review unless my carrier is deemed worthy in the long run. In the mean time, I'll just sulk in the corner.

The Twelve Kingdoms: Sea of Wind, Volume 2

Almost one year has passed since the first of seven books of Fuyumi Ono's "The Twelve Kingdoms" was released. And finally, the second installment, "Sea of Wind," arrives. Once again, translation is done exceptionally well and Ono's stylist writing is preserved. By the end of the first book, after a roller coaster adventure in a strange land, Yoko begins to accept her role in one of the Twelve Kingdoms. The second book takes us 3 years before "Sea of Shadow," and follows a young boy, named Taiki. Like Yoko, Taiki is taken to a whole new world and given their true purpose. Yet Yoko and Taiki's role is quite different. Taiki must take a crash course on what it is to be a kirin, with noone able to give him any details, all the while having a whole kingdom depending on him.

Though the experience may have been short-lived, as I finished the book in a couple of hours, it was constantly riveting throughout, and had incredible lasting appeal. Even days after I closed the book, the ending moments still captivated me. Ono definitely knows how to keep such a vast and boundless story going, connected and utterly precise. Volume 2's "happy ending" is bittersweet as we all know that tragedy is surely coming just around the corner. Even with this knowledge, we're still left with more questions than answers. I'm sure anyone who reads this will be itching for the third volume. I know I am.

Armored Core Figures

If you've been around me at all this week, you'll know what currently ails me. As I've stated so emphatically, I want ALL the Kotobukiya "Armored Core" Figures. And staring at the beautiful pictures really isn't helping me. Let the drool fest begin. Anyone feel like buying these figures for your friendly blogger? As you can no doubt tell, each figure is stunning in it of itself. Here is a definite case where pictures speak louder than words. Shhh...the figures...they emanate beauty.

FFXII Gabranth 1/1 Scale Helm

For the veteran collector and fan of Final Fantasy comes a collectible that's out of this world -- the Final Fantasy XII Artifacts Judge Master Gabranth 1/1 Scale Helm. This replica helmet measures over 14" high and was created from FRP fiberreinforced plastic utilizing the CG data from the game, ensuring a perfectly authentic reproduction of Akihiko Yoshida's elaborate designs. The HELM can be placed on the display stand, which includes a FF12 logo nameplate.

It is set to arrive at the end of July 2008. With pre-orders still open, you can grab this magnificent piece of FF history for 1,000 bucks. Thus far, the cheapest I've seen it for is at $799.99. Judge Master Gabranth never looked more fierce! WOW!

GOW: Chains of Olympus

My review is coming a little late this time, but I figure better late than never...

By now, we all know the tales of Kratos, the Ghost of Sparta. After being deceived into ending the lives of his wife and daughter, Kratos vowed revenge and denounced his service to Ares. But long before his battle with Ares, Kratos sought absolution from his past sins by pledging himself as a champion to the Gods. These brutal crusades in the name of Olympus became legendary, and it is this 10 years of servitude that is recounted in his first handheld appearance called "God of War: Chains of Olympus." In his plunge into darkness, Kratos must face the most feared creatures of Greek Mythology and forced to choose between his own personal redemption and saving the ancient world from certain destruction.

With two absolutely all-around spectacular GOW games, it was hard to fathom a smooth console to handheld transition at a quality level we've experienced thus far, but Ready at Dawn proved they had the chops to kick it out of the ball park. They deliver with uber perfection. The most obvious feature of the game is its outstanding technical and artistic visuals and combat. At a visual standpoint, this has got to be the best PSP game in existence. Without a doubt, I can think of no other game that matches the true visual potential of the PSP system. As far as combat goes and very impressive enough, almost no difference exists between the PS2 and PSP versions. Once you pick up the PSP, you're hands will immediately adjust and you'll feel as though you're playing on the PS2. Tight control and nice combos make up for lack of various weapons. Sound quality is sensational -- headphones are a MUST!!

The only cons I would bring up is its short gameplay -- a mere seven or eight hours worth. Though nothing new was brought to the table, "Chains of Olympus" fits perfectly snug in the GOW franchise. Fewer weapons, puzzles, and boss fights, but more action, blood, and gore. With absolutely no hesitation, this is one title that should be in everyone's library. Instantly thrown into battle, "Chains of Olympus" keeps the adrenaline pumping and gameplay moving.

Death Note: Another Note

L is back, this time in a novel spin-off entitled, "Death Note: Another Note - The Los Angeles BB Murder Cases." Written by Nisio Isin, "Another Note" serves as a sort of prequel to the "Death Note" manga series, pre-Kira. I admit I was a bit hesitant at the concept -- mainly on its execution, but was pleasantly surprised and entertained.

Mello narrates the story of L's first encounter with FBI agent Naomi Misora and delves into the inner workings of L. The story centers and stems from Wammy's House, Watari's orphanage, and the whole system of geniuses such as L, Mello, and Near. Following a detective-mystery format, the novel combines what we know from the manga and adapts it quite well to form a concrete recording of a serial murder.. Though it isn't perfect by any means, there is enough there, not to mention a big, hard-hitting twist in the end, that definitely captures the essence of L and the series. It makes a nice addition to the hit series and I'm glad I picked it up.

A quick note, I feel is worth mentioning: the illustrations, both on the cover and scattered inside, are absolutely sensational.

What's Next for Kojima?

The long awaited MGS4 will bring an end to the renowned saga of Solid Snake and the Metal Gear games. But no need to fret, genius Hideo Kojima is hard at work developing the concept for his new game outside the Metal Gear universe. Konami president Fumiaki Tanaka, could not reveal anything more at this point and stated that a formal announcement won't be coming this year, which in all sincerity makes perfect sense.

So what of the MGS movie? ComingSoon.net (via Japanator), is reporting that site reps recently spoke to Metal Gear Solid movie producer Michael De Luca who dropped word on a possible scriptwriter and director -- Kurt Wimmer. His past works include Equilibrium and Ultraviolet. Yeah, sorry, but I'm not sure if I'm impressed. But I'm definitely hoping that with Hideo Kojima executive producing the Metal Gear movie, the saga will be preserved.

Fruits Basket Vol. 19 Preview

TOKYOPOP.com will be hosting a manga free for all this Friday, March 14th. At exactly 19:19 EST, readers will be able to view "Fruits Basket" Volume 19 in its entirety for, you guessed it, 19 minutes. So if you simply cannot wait till the newest volume hits shelves March 18, 2008, set your clocks, cut off any distractions, and read away.

As the Fruits Basket saga continues, the relationship between Tohru and Kyo becomes increasingly complicated, especially since most of the members of the Zodiac seem to look down on him. Tohru comes to the realization that if she wants to save Kyo, she'll have to create some sort of trigger to break his curse. But what, if anything, can cure Kyo?

Guinness World Records: Guitar Hero Feature

To mark the launch of the first Guinness World Records: Gamer's Edition 2008 book, the best players of "Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock" gathered in New York City to break some records (Thanks for the heads up Yuna aka Crystal!). Among the records smashed was the "Highest Score for a Single Song" on GHIII with an incredible 840,647-point completion of the infamous DragonForce song, "Through the Fire and Flames," the toughest song on the game, played on Expert Mode, 97%.

In related news, Play N Trade will be holding a nation-wide GHIII contest this Saturday, March 14th. The grand prize is $2000!!!... in store credit. Runner up gets a PS3, Guitar Hero III bundle, and $500, while third place gets a Guitar Hero III bundle and $200. I find these types of prizes (excluding the first prize) very interesting because chances are those entering the contest probably already own a PS3 and/or GHIII. Nevertheless, "Guitar Hero" and "Rock Band" have definitely brought about a big phenomenon in gaming.

Resurrection

In case you've been wondering what hole I've crawled into with the lack of updates and all, don't despair. I've been stuck with the flu (along with my boss) for what seems like ages and have only recently become sane again (or as sane as I ever was). That was one hell of a week, but I'm back, more or less. So be on the look out for more entries heading your way, and thanks for your patience!

Even More MGS4 Updates

It seems like MGS4 was all the video game world talked about a couple of months ago when more concrete dates, trailers, and demos were being released like clockwork. Though the hype has dimmed down for a little while, as gamers patiently await for the game everyone's been waiting for, it sure enough has escalated once more, as MGS4 rumors and updates stream in by the hour. So as you guessed, here's more info. to swim in.

In the latest Kojima Productions Report podcast, it seems that MGS4 is pushing the limits of the new Blu-ray technology. Producer Ryan Payton announces that MGS4 won't have voice over tracks for other languages. Because of disc space, the Japanese version won't have an English language option and you guessed it, North American and European version won't have Japanese voice over. Before you fret, Payton goes on to state that the voice over work in MGS4 is the best it's ever been. When the time comes, if you're really itching for the Japanese VO, remember that the PS3 is region-free, so you can grab the Japanese version if you so desire.

Speaking of time, we've already heard from Konami that MGS4 is due for a simultaneous worldwide release. Thankfully enough, this hasn't changed. The penultimate date is June 12th! A day when all the major characters reunite and remaining mysteries unveiled. This will be the first time ever for Konami to simultaneously release the Metal Gear series throughout the world.

And remember when I first mentioned the pre-order special? Well Konami confirms that:

Beginning April 2008, consumers that pre-order Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots will receive the Metal Gear Saga 2.0 DVD, containing a Prologue that recaps the Metal Gear franchise, a 20th Anniversary retrospective, character bios for Big Boss, Liquid Snake, Solidus Snake, and Solid Snake, plus a collection of international trailers of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. This pre-order package also contains an insert with a download code and special instructions for accessing the Metal Gear Online beta test when it goes live in late April. This special pre-order package will only be available while supplies last.

Viva pre-orders! That's it for now...

Trigun Movie

According to Moon Phase Diary (via Heisei Democracy) the 14th volume of "Trigun Maximum" revealed word that a new "Trigun" animated film is in the works, care of Madhouse. Aren't you glad I didn't say live action?? Anyways, it will feature an original story developed by manga author Yasuhiro Nightow and director Nishimura Satoshi who collaborated with Nightow on the "Trigun" TV series. The script will be helmed by veteran anime writer Kobayashi Yasuko.

And here is the kicker, the tagline of this film is: “Vash vs. Wolfwood?! Old fans are quite familiar with the duo. I've been expecting this fight, like many others, since I first watched the anime many years ago. The movie is due out sometime in 2009, so we will probably, at the earliest, see it in 2010, unless you're lucky enough to be in Japan.

Playstation Bundle Party: MGS4 + GOW

News coming straight from Playstation and the video game event Destination Playstation is music to my ears. Many were hoping for it, crossing their fingers, and now an official statement finally arises:

To coincide with the much-anticipated North American launch of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots in late Q2 2008, SCEA will introduce a PS3 bundle, which will include an 80GB PS3, the upcoming blockbuster Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, and a DUALSHOCK 3 wireless controller for $499.99 (MSRP).

As has been announced previously, MGS4 will include a Metal Gear Online “Starter Pack.” If you can’t wait to try out MGS4, the good news is you don’t have to much longer. Those who pre-order the game will be guaranteed access to a multiplayer beta test for Metal Gear Online scheduled for late April.

On another note, a new PSP Entertainment Pack will be hitting stores, featuring the famous face of the Ghost of Sparta — Kratos, this June. Retailed at $199.99, this limited edition "Deep Red" PSP, will be bundled with the "Chains of Olympus" game, "Superbad" on UMD video, and a voucher to download "Syphon Filter: Combat Ops" from the Playstation Store for free. "Chains of Olympus" arrives for the PSP on March 4th.

Wonder Festival 2008 Winter

Wonder Festival 2008 Winter, the most prestigious figure event series, was held last Sunday and sadly I was not in attendance, yet again. From the looks of all the coverage and photos, breath-taking and wallet crunching figures were not in short stock. If you care to indulge, be fore-warned -- there's a lot of beautiful going on. For example, Range Murata never disappoints, check out the figure on the left from the Super Comic Series, "Robot." Asuka (Evangelion) and Robin (White Hunter Robin) also make a stunning appearance, among many others.

Akiba-ch / Heisei Democracy, Part 1, Part 2 / Moeyo / Danny Choo / HLJ

Devil May Cry Anime Vol. 1

First came the video game, then came the novel, the manga, and now the anime. Set the between the first and fourth games, the 12-episode "Devil May Cry" anime series brings the return of the half-devil Dante, as well as Trish and Lady.

In the series, Dante runs his devil-hunting business, Devil May Cry, while struggling under constant financial debt and a never ending search for strawberry sundaes. There are also two new regular characters -- Dante's agent Morrison who visits frequently, and Patty Lowell, a young orphan girl he saved in the first episode, who also visits frequently, quite annoyingly actually.
Character design and animation is done beautifully, though I would have loved to have seen some of Dante's fight combos incorporated in the anime. In addition, character design for the demons could have been escalated. They just seemed to ordinary. Voice acting is done perfectly and the soundtrack is a nice complement to the series. Though some elements are done well, the DMC anime was missing one crucial part of the equation -- a solid plot. This would turn out to be the major contributing factor to the downfall of the anime. Something substantial makes its way to episode 10 through 12, but it was too little too late. An enjoyable series nevertheless, but you may want to set your bar a little lower before venturing in this high profile franchise.

AKIRA Live Action

Arguably one of the most popular anime films of all time, "Akira", is getting the live-action treatment, a fact we've known for quite some time. My shivering qualms and discontent could not be more obvious with all these anime/manga to live-action mis-adaptations. But more so, with this specific title, especially with the new turn of events. When I first heard of the new update (thanks Gendo!), I was shocked and disgusted. I wasn't expecting any good to come out of this from the get-go, but somehow they have been able to make things even worse.

The live-action adaption has been in development by Warner Bros., and it is only recently that Leonardo DiCaprio's company Appian Way, along with Mad Chance, have joined in its production. The folks at Japanator took the words right out of my mouth: "and so begins the slow and painful death" of the masterpiece known as "Akira." A grotesquely painful death. Excuse me while I throw up uncontrollably...

"Akira" represents a huge colossal milestone in anime and the majority of anime fans today can trace the root of their passion to "Akira." The mature and cutting edge technology paved the way and was definitely a breakthrough. "Akira" originated in 1988 as a manga and then as an animated film co-written and directed by Katsuhiro Otomo. The story was set in a neon-lit futuristic post-nuclear war "New Tokyo" in 2019 where a teen biker gang member is subjected to a government experiment which unleashes his latent powers.

"The new story moves the action to "New Manhattan," a city rebuilt by Japanese money."

Ha! Don't make me laugh! The studio is aiming for a Summer 2009 release, the day when a classic title is officially ruined to bits.

Japanese Dreamcast Collection

We've seen some pretty hefty anime and video game eBay auctions before and this one definitely makes the top. If you ever wanted every single one of the 606 Japanese Dreamcast games ever made, then it's the French to the rescue. A seller in France is selling the entire Japanese Dreamcast game collection (including some pretty rare titles) in one fell swoop. All you need to do is cash out $20,000 for it. Oh, and what really takes the cake is that they are all sealed!! That's right, ALL sealed. Check out the full list of games here.

"Freedom" Pushes On

Toshiba joins many others in their discontinuation of HD DVDs. Following their statement made today, Bandai Visual USA releases the following statement:

In regards to Toshiba's news, we will continue to release future installments of "Freedom" on HD DVD/DVD Twin-Disc Format. We do not want to abandon our fans that have purchased Freedom 1-3. Retailers will soon stop carrying Freedom 1-3, but they will be available via our dot-anime.us (http://www.dot-anime.us) website along with the future installments.

"Freedom" is the only high-def anime release in North America without a Blu-ray Disc or digital download counterpart.

Anime Marathon Premiere

The last day of the 2-week Japan! Culture + Hyperculture event comes to a close with 3 back to back anime movie premieres: "5 cm per second," "Piano no Mori" (Piano Forest), and "Appleseed: Ex Machina."

5 centimeters per second
Makoto Shinkai is very well known for his one-man work on "Voices of a Distant Star" followed by "The Place Promised in Our Early Days." His style of animation, as well as his themes are very recognizable and his newest work, "5 centimeters per second" is no different. It carries the definite stamp of Shinkai. "5 cm per second: A Chain of Short Stories About Their Distance" is made up of three short films interconnected together to create one beautifully cohesive story. Five centimeters per second is the rate at which a cherry blossom petal falls loftily to the ground, and this little known fact serves as the focal point of this emotional and depressing love story. Takaki and his friend Akari are unexpectedly separated as Akari prepares to move into the country. As a reunion is underway, Takaki is confronted with obstacles, quite literally. As he gets closer and as time passes, he wonders if he will really ever see her again. The somber and depressing ambience Shinkai is so adept at producing is done eerily perfect as the movie also touches upon the unknown and isolation. "5 cm per second" is a must-see for all, especially Shinkai fans!!!

Piano no Mori
Next on the program was "Piano no Mori" (Piano in the Forest" and as an added and rather unexpected treat, the movie's director, Masayuki Kojima, joined us for the screening. "Piano no Mori" blends classical music and embeds it as the central factor of the anime. Based on the original manga, the story focuses on a pair of friends who later find each other competing head to head at a piano competition. The ideas behind this film is unique, but execution falls a tiny bit short. That is not to say, however, that it was a failure. In fact, "Piano no Mori" was a nice treat. The overall movie definitely made up for the small flaws. This seemingly understated anime, delivers a nice story, and should not be passed up. Regardless of your preferences, "Piano no Mori" could potentially be another classic and can stand on its own. One thing is for sure, the comedic elements of "Toilet Princess" are not to be forgotten.

Appleseed: Ex Machina
The sequel to the 2004 Appleseed film, "Applessed Ex Machina" directed by Shinji Aramaki, makes it to the east coast and serves up an interesting continuation. Set in the post-apocalyptic era, a utopian metropolis stands following the non-nuclear war that wiped out half of the world's population. Half of its current population is made up of Bioroids, genetically engineered humanoids.

Deunan, a young female warrior, and Briareos, a veteran cyborg-soldier, are both members of E.S.W.A.T., the elite special forces that maintain the upkeep of Olympus. Their partnership is put to the test as a new member arrives.

Genius Party Beyond World Premiere + Maywa Denki Concert

Maywa Denki gives a spectacular and wacky concert like only they can do, as part of the Japan! Culture + Hyperculture event. President Nobumichi Tosa and company perform their all-time popular Mechatronica concert. Maywa Denki is famous for its musical acts consisting of "nonsense" music machines and toys of their own invention. It is rare to get a chance at seeing this art troupe live, especially outside of Japan. And boy, they don't disappoint, it is quite the experience - a spectacle you've no doubt seen before. And for your education, be sure to check out his interactive manual on how his "instruments" all work here:P Below is a clip from the famous Maywa Denki "Tsukuba Series."


Right after grabbing Tosa's sig, (^_^) I quickly hustled to the "Genius Party Beyond" world premiere. "Genius Party Beyond" acts as a sort of continuation to "Genius Party." This time 5 directors showcase their work with 5 works of animated art. And present to introduce the films were 2 of the 5 directors: Masahiro Maeda (Blue Submarine No. 6) and Koji Morimoto (Memories, Macross Plus)!!

To continue on with the "Genius Party's" general theme of perspective, "Genius Party Beyond" kicks of with Maeda's short film "Gala." The film starts off with a massive meteor of some sort crashing down on a village reminiscent of ancient Japan. After a confusing upbringing, an orchestra of instruments engulf the scenes and we enter an almost "Fantasia-like" realm. Next up was Kazuto Nakazawa's "Moondrive," a comedic story about a group of four on a journey to the Island of Giants in search for gold. "'Wanwa' the Doggy" from what I could gather was a story of a boy's world of imagination. However, the MS Paint-esque method of animation is not so much an aesthetic of mine. Luckily Tatsuyuki Tanaka's "Tojin Kit" and Koji Morimoto's "Dimension Bomb" saved the day. Both spectacularly animated. "Tojin Kit" revolves around a young girl who seems to be concocting some illegal experimentation with the guise of dolls. The subdued and monotone coloring made a perfect blend with the story at hand. "Dimension Bomb" is well done and very unique, as is all the "Genius Party" and "Beyond" works. Set with an awesome soundtrack, it'll keep you guessing till the end. Overall, a nice continuation to "Genius Party."

Genius Party US Premiere

JAPAN! Culture + Hyperculture, the two-week long event at the Kennedy Center (Washington, DC) is in its last weekend run. More than 450 artists, 50 performances and events showcase the best in Japanese theater and dance, music and fashion, architecture and sculpture, poetry and literature, photography and film, including of course anime.


Among the slew of performances, is an exhibit dedicated to the evolution and technology of robots: Robotopia. The exhibit moves from the robots that built the foundation and place of robots in anime, to the role they can potentially play in life. The robot models on display really take the long time anime fan way back into time -- from Mazinger to Tetsujin to Gundam. And look it! Look it! It's Gundam's very own Zaku!

Several functioning robots were also featured. Kokoro's Actroid DER2 greeted visitors throughout the festival and is able to talk and answer your questions. The robot has an astonishing and almost unbelievable human-like appearance and movements, but the robot's answers and demeanor seemed almost barbie-like and stereotypically shallow. The yellow Wakamaru, Mitsubishi's robot can converse with people via voice and facial recognition and was able to shake visitor's hands...definitely a crowd favorite. Another favorite was Toyota's Parter Robot. Check out the my quick video clip below of the the robot playing his own Disney melody on the trumpet.

VIZ Media provides manga books and magazines in the Manga Cafe and Reading Lounge set up adjacent to the robot exhibits. The selections were very limited but is a nice addition to the event. I mean, how can you have an event showcasing the culture of Japan without some manga? As an added treat, Robin Nishi, manga author of "Mind Game" was on-site in a specially commissioned "Daily Manga" drawing.

And for the event of my night -- the U.S. premiere of "Genius Party," the anthology of short animated films from Studio 4°C released on back in July. It features 7 films from 7 directors that represent the best of the anime industry. "Genius Party" may not be for the casual viewer, but if anything, "Genius Party" showcases the artistic valor anime represents. While Executive Producer Eiko Tanaka was a no show, Shinichiro Watanabe made an appearance at the premiere and provided a nice introduction that stressed the fact that these directors weren't constrained with certain story and character limitations. Instead, these 7 directors were able to create what they really wanted to create. Nothing was out of bounds. "Genius Party" is definitely not your commercial anime, but shows the true scope and reaches of anime.

"Genius Party" is directed by Atusko Fukushima and is the leading story of this project. This unique piece expands from a theme based on the birth of an image, and serves as a great introduction for what's the follow. "Shanghai Dragon" (Shoji Kawamori) was hilarious and is impossible to fully explain without giving away the best part of the film. Futuristic people travel to the old city of Shanghai and encounter a drooling young boy who could hold the key to saving humanity. "Deathtic 4" (Shinji Kimura) is set in a place reminiscent to the world of "A Nightmare Before Christmas." The grotesquely cute foursome provide a comedy unlike any other. "Doorbell" (Yoji Fukuyama) sways from the comedy to the surreal. The film features a high school student who is manipulated by his other self. "Limit Cycle" (Hideki Futamura) takes a philosophical monologue approach and is breathtakingly poetic and visually stunning. Questioning and analyzing the duality and void of life, "Limit Cycle" is very mystical and takes you on a deep journey on the perspectives of life. Pay attention or you'll easily get lost on this philosophical quest. "Happy Machine" (Masaaki Yuasa) pulls viewers into the mystical world of a naive and pure baby. Shinichiro Watanabe's strays away from his normally action-filled kill fest to a simple love story with "Baby Blue." Though the films may seem like a jumble or compilation of separate films, the underlying theme they all undoubtedly share is perspective.

My favorite films would have to be the opening movie "Genius Party," "Doorbell," "Limit Cycle," "Happy Machine," and "Baby Blue." And speaking of Shinichiro Watanabe, I was fortunate enough to "run into" Mr. Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo in the halls to score me a Studio 4°C promotion flyer package, an autograph and a quick photo op. I couldn't contain my jubilation when I unexpectedly caught up with Watanabe-san looking all cool with his shades. That definitely wrapped up the night in a nice little package.

Look out for the rest of my coverage of this Japan! Culture + Hyperculture event. This weekend still brings us the "Genius Party Beyond" world premiere, Maywa Denki, and an anime marathon.

Happy V-Day!

Happy V-day to all, especially to the frequent visitors of my blog and to all my friends, you know who you are :)

Devil May Cry 4

"Devil May Cry 4" returns and makes a spectacular next-gen debut appearance. The final end result proves itself to be definitely worth the wait.

After popping in the disc, be ready for a couple more minutes of wait for initial installation (PS3) and a review of the entire DMC story. Once that's out of the way, it's time to crank up the insane action meter on full blast.

Its sick action sequences and combos, fluid controls, and the perfect new character, Nero, to complement the legacy of the ultimate anti-hero Dante, all dictate the perfection that is DMC4. Story development is nicely paced, not extremely surprising, but just right. In fact, DMC4 seems to be on point in all respects -- soundtrack, gameplay, boss battles, and all. While the puzzles are little drawn out for me and doesn't offer to much excitement, the variety of enemies and battles undoubtedly compensates.

Excluding the underlying story and characters we all know so well, the visual effects are beyond imagination, even in this next-gen era. If you thought Square Enix were the masters of video game eye candy, with developed stories to match, DMC4 may serve up some nice competition. Without a doubt, DMC4 produces beautiful visuals and incredible cutscenes that never cease to amaze. They are, to say the least, spectacular and with incomparable quality and uniquely balanced. And thankfully enough, they are not in low stock.

Just to quickly note, the collector's edition is generously packed with some sweet goodies within the tin case, including a bonus DVD with the DCM4 soundtrack and the first volume of the "Devil May Cry" anime series (review coming soon).

Refreshing, beautiful, breathtaking, and stunning, this is the game experience I've been waiting for, for what seems like years. Get ready to be blown away with an inflation of delight and enduring satisfaction.

Halo 3 PVC Statue

Kotobukiya proves once again it has the chops to whip out an awesome Halo 3 figure. This
10-inch tall PVC statue of Master Chief in the field of battle is fully assembled and ready to display out of the box. Highly customizable, and highly detailed, this figure is the second release in the ARTFX Statue series.

Straight from the press release: With a discharged grenade at his feet and the bubble shield dissipating, Master Chief readies his armaments and begins to rise. Master Chief holds two M7 SMGs (Caseless Submachine Guns), or you can switch the bonus arms and have him grip his Assault Rifle. When not using the Rifle, it can be stored on his back. Additional hands are also included for expression, and as a special bonus for fans that collected the first Kotobukiya ARTFX Statue, you can swap weapons and hands with the first release!

Retailed at $99.99, the figure will be in available in August 2008. All I've got to say is that I love the whole effect that bubble shield has on the entire statue as a whole. Thank you, Kotobukiya, thanks again.