Heavy Object Anime Announced

Dengeki Daioh announced anime adaptation of Heavy Object, a series that I already expected to given anime treatment since 2011. Written by same dude who did Magical Index, so expect typical anime hijinks - mecha, cute girls and clueless hero.

Synopsis: "The science-fiction war action story revolves around Objects, powerful, massive weapons that change the course of warfare and Elite Object pilots. An odd Elite girl named Milinda meets Quenser, a student who aims to become a Object mechanic, with the soldier-in-training Heivia on a snowy battlefield"



No announcement of the airing time yet.

Source.

Live Action Ghost in the Shell is Gaining Momentum

According to this site, Dreamworks is getting serious in adapting the most famous Japanese cyberpunk science fiction, GITS. Apparently one of the actress, Margot Robbie (Wolf of Wall Street) in talks to be the female lead.

Directed by the dude who did Snow White and the Huntsman, no timeline has been given yet. Honestly speaking, I am not too impressed with Snow White so I getting a bit leery about this adaptation.

Time will tell if this movie will be something or not.

First Impressions: Aldnoah Zero

Holy crap, the 1st episode upped the stakes so high and epic, I love it. Easily, I can see why this will be the most talked about and perhaps one of the best anime in 2014.  

The peaceful, lovey dovey princess dies in 1st ep and milions of people of dead in nuclear assault by enraged Martian troops in her wake. Their bodies (the Earthlings) turn into nuclear ash in unapologetic manner as it should be. With a mournful J-Rock song accompanying it. Certainly a nod to Japan's experience of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. 

The unrealistic and pacifist belief in peace is mercilessly crushed in face of human reality. Urobochi have no time for this non sense so no Relena Peacecraft crap here.

And I actually feel sad for a pair child siblings who innocently wishing for peace when they saw shooting star which is really Martian weapons descending down to wreck some hell on their world.

The feels of the final scene is very strong for me.

Highly recommended.

Awww Yes.

Best news to confirm my hopes. Pacific Rim 2 scheduled for 2017 release. Muahahhaha!

Sidenote: Animated series is coming out but I am not holding much hopes for it.

Ghost in the Shell Live Action Video. (NSFW)

Check this out. Looks pretty cool. 

Fan Made Akira Kicks Ass.

Perhaps one of the best live action Akira to date. I wonder if the upcoming Warner Bros project can equal to this short fan made trailer or not.

If that project ever becomes realized that is.

First Minute of Knights of Sidonia is Here.

Check this out, it looks great. Now I wonder if this can do the manga justice.



Slated for 12 ep anime cour this coming April.

Ghost in the Shell Live Action is Happening?

Alright, I read the headlines and frankly speaking, I am not too comfortable with the choice of the director since I found Snow White and the Huntsmen (2013) suck balls.

Fine, my opinion is premature given he is doing 1 movie only so far. Maybe. I am not so sure. All being said, I am excited to see the project finally going somewhere now. Just hope it won't suck.

Link.

2nd Season for Gargantia is confirmed.

【速報：翠星のガルガンティア】本作品の「続編制作決定」です！！詳細に関しては今後公式サイト等で告知していきます！今後も末永くお付き合い下さい！！この時間の再放送も引き続き宜しくお願いします！ http://t.co/JFsfjyyCJd #gargantia
— 「翠星のガルガンティア」公式アカウント (@gar_anime) October 10, 2013

Here it is, the Tweet that confirmed 2nd Season. I cannot wait, to be honest. Guess Galactic Mankind will come in the next installment?

anime

Hal (2013)

                    

Hal or Haru is a new movie by Ryoutato Makihara in full directorial debut. This guy involved in Shingeki no Kyojin, Fractale, Tatami Galaxy and many more. The story is about a replicant android sent to a girl who just lost her beloved in a plane accident. The android is designed to sound and look like him so the girl unable to accept it/him at 1st but slowly warms up.

Sounds like a very emotional and intriguing story, caught my interest intensely. Released in Japan on June this year.

anime

Psycho Pass Season 2 is Confirmed

Charting a reasonable sales on BD, Production I.G decided to give Psycho Pass another go at Anime Expo on 6th July 2013, confirmed by the CEO of Production I.G, Ishikawa.  Right now, script development and production is underway as this entry is written.

Sales chart average for Psycho Pass is moderate, about 5000 copies sold for each volume so far.

To put things in benchmark perspective, popular mainstream anime series like Sword Art Online average is around 24,000 - 25,000 copies each volume. Each BD volume is priced around 6000-7000 yen each. (MYR 180-210)

For Japanese domestic market, anime series must pass the magical barrier of 3000 units on average to have a chance for sequel.

Ironically the director,  Katsuyuki Motohiro is actually squeamish on the violence level in the series, he will never allow his kids to watch this one. However he wanted to work with Gen Urobochi very badly after he watched Magica Magi Puella Madoka (2011) and Fate Zero (2011-2012) so he go ahead with the script. He encouraged the voice actors to add in quirks into the characters themselves.

So far no news if Urobuchi is back but the chances is high that he will. I think the main villain will be the system itself, Sybill. And what is going to happen to Yayoi's lesbian relationship or the unresolved sexual tension between Akane and Kogami? Questions abound.

anime

Trailer for Knights of Sidonia is Up!

Ah a serious mecha show is coming! Wohooo! Sadly not enough details yet. 

anime

Final thoughts on Suisei no Gargantia

Being a loyal fan of Gen Urobochi, I always look forward to watch any work of his since days of Phantom of the Inferno game. Gargantia is no exception.

For this series, I have to admit that I love his portrayal of the world that is torn between technology advocate (Continetal Union) and transhumanist movement. However some episode I felt is a bit too slow - the belly dancing is one despite its role as foreshadowing of what is coming in excellent episode 9. I really wished they focus more on the space Nazis, the Galactic Alliance. So many questions still around like the fate of them after the failed all or nothing assault on Space Hideauze. Did the transhumanist have any trace of humanity left after so many years of change?

But those are not important since the focus in on Ledo/Red's step into new world and reacquire his humanity after the disconnect that he felt in episode 1. Chamber can be said like a doting parent, shielding and cultivate the pilot in guise of Pilot Support System and the AI decided to eject his "children" in the final fight, it is like a  real farewell between a charge and the guardian.

The real ride starts in episode 11 and ends with cliched but nevertheless sensible 13 when determinism versus choice (the commander mecha Striker and Ledo/Red's Chamber). In the duel, the machines even still debating about what makes a human, right at the last moment.

There is going to be 3 more OVA/OADs bundled together with the Bluray, it is merely expanding on other characters like Ridget or Bellows. But I do wish they will talk post episode 13 or at least a glimpse into the space war between 2 sides.

What is your next story, Urobochi Sensei?

anime

Gundam AGE.

New Gundam promo vid. Ugh, Yuck, Bleugh.



I will not touch this with 10 feet pole. Luckily Unicorn is still going.

anime

Analysis on Fractale / フラクタル, what works and what is not. Part 1.

I heard Yamamoto Yutaka is retreating from anime directing for a time being after he admits that Fractale failed his expectations. He was reportedly perplexed at "failure" of Fractale and why it did not become breakthrough anime that he hoped for. He also said he could not understand other anime shows ( I wonder if he talks about Infinite Stratos which managed to sell 22,000 BDs for 1st volume or Madoka in this aspect). The clincher is he wondered whether he has gone insane or the world has gone crazy instead. Sourced from Otona Anime here. Personally I think if he really did retire, it will be quite a loss to anime scene. Despite his bombastic boast that he will single handedly turn back anime from moe pandering to real plot and real story before the airing of Fractale, I still thinks he is talented, slick director.

This will be quite long article, so bear with me as I go through slowly as to what I like and what I don't dig about this series. Beware though beyond this point, it is spoilerific territory. Part 1 deals with what I like with this series, part 2 is what I do not like about Fractale.

What works



Music is stupendous, very sweeping in orchestration and feel. Many times I have chill listening to the BGM while it accompanying the scene. The OP/ED is quite decent combo, however I love the ED more as the image meshed with the song perfectly. Peaceful, quiet yet endearing feel fueled by Irish poem inspired song. This is where Yutaka Yamamoto really shines: making slick OP/ED montage. Many will still remember the legendary Haruhi S1 ED.



Now, next on the list, art. Many controversy generated when fans are not too keen with the anime style, they wondering why the promo arts (done by Hidari) is so different from finished product. For me, it did not really bother me as the animation is smooth and pleasing, just not as distinctive as the illustration art. Some pundits hammer this is one of the reason why the anime failed to be big since they don't employ the promotional art all the way.



Hidari's art.



Anime's art.

Frankly, I disagree with those pundits since it did not really jar me anyway. Fractale's anime art is lush and beautiful, very high production value for TV series in honesty.

Storywise?

I quite like the general outline of the story, it has the sweeping epicness behind it and general interesting ideas. What happened to the world after Fractale was activated? Why humanity at large become glorified sloths in global Holodeck? Why Lost Millennium rebel against this "religion"? Is Fractale too happy for humanity to live? I have to pay tribute to the writer who came up with this good ideas, a great potential for a great series. What screw it up though is some plot holes and execution.

And the ending. Ah, it is one of the most beautiful and heart tugging ending ever in anime. I still feel the bittersweet sensation, weeks after I watch the finale. It wrapped up the story nicely, giving it a solid closure. Nice writing for the scene.

Stay tune for Part 2.

anime

Ghost in the Shell: Solid State Society 3D

Ghost in the Shell: State Solid Society 3D? Damn. These people are pushing consumers to get 3D capable TVs.



Apparently remade with 3D technology, shown in Japan on 23rd March this year. Looks nice with new opening sequence. I wonder if Production IG is going to release any new GITS. Just wondering.

anime

Last EXILE Fam The Silver Wing / ラストエグザイル-銀翼のファム-. Sequel?

Hmmmm, I thought GONZO is dead. How is this come about? Same director, same designer (Range Murata), GONZO was taking advantage of new TV tech (3D thing) for this series. No news of when it is coming out or will it be a series or movie. From short preview, no male lead is observed. No more Claus.

More will come soon on this. I do enjoy the 2003 series so this caught my interest very intensely.

Home Site

anime

Tiger and Bunny....Yes or no?

At first I am puzzled by high quality production and intrigued by this reality show take on superheroes angle. Then I realize one thing, some of the names emblazoned on the hero's costume are real life counterparts. Pepsi, Bandai and Softbank, these were the guys with big money. Ingenious, their advertising on the costumes reminds me of the World Cup soccer player jersey names.

Story? Well, I am still withholding judgment here, not too sure if the story can remain fresh despite such luscious art. Music is pretty standard hero type, nothing fancy here.

EDIT (8/4/2011): I decided to remove the illegal stream and post the trailer instead. Enjoy the trailer and those who able to subscribe to legal streaming, just google "Anime On Demand" or ANN video. My apologies.

anime

The Governator?! Arnold Schwarzenegger in cartoon?

Yeap, we all guilty of making fun of it. Arnie the ex-California governor as Terminator + Robocop + Neo + whatever else jokes. Guess he heard it and as savvy as ever, he decides to cash on the jokes. It looks like kid friendly cartoon to me though. I admit that I laughed hysterically when I watch the trailer for first time.

Yeah man, don't fool around. The Governator is here. Will be back soon in 2012 to terminate the baddies, sticking around and already hungry despite chewing Green Berets for breakfast.

anime

Cliche, cliche and more cliches....

Well, I am kinda bored so I check out the last episode of Infinite Stratos just for the heck of it and I was vindicated as to how clichéd this series was. I was told the light novel is better so I might go and have a look but I not holding any hopes for it. Well this harem looks like bloody G-9 meeting, all girls came from richest country in the world to dote on one "manly" Japanese dude who as usual, indecisive on which chick he wants to bang.

Ah well, the IS looks "Gundamish" but I don't dig the design, it exposed the pilot too much. And the amount of Gs they pull while they do those tight Angle of Attack and turns, I am amazed that they still in one piece, not puking their insides out. And according to what I see from this episode, the drone IS should have won since it is not limited by human factor. And bright colour schemes screaming for attention. I wonder if this supposed to be military machines or....?

And characters, oh man, this is rich. The author just picked all cardboard stock characters from many, many harem anime and repackage it into this story. The only difference is the nationality of the girls. I do wonder if Japanese international relations bias play any role in characterization of the girls here. Interestingly, no American girl here. I bet she will appear in future season with cowgirl theme and likes to use lots of guns. Hehe.

For those who look for mainstream mecha anime with harem appeal, this is pretty much the current choice.

anime