Anime is coming back

Hey everyone. For about two weeks, I was contemplating what I should do next in my life. I was writing for the Laguna Beach Coastline Pilot for about four months as an intern, but was released earlier than expected. The paper didn't have enough money to compensate me for my stories.

To anyone who is eagerly anticipating more anime news, bear with me. I had to take a short break to reassess my goals. It tends to get lonely, now that I'm away from college, from most of my anime-watching friends. I'd like to use my writing skills as part of a career. So far, I haven't earned all the money I would need to pay off my debt to my mom and dad.

So after spending a couple weeks reassessing my goals, I decided to write what I like. And so I'm returning to my second passion: writing anime reviews. Keep in mind, however, that this blog might head into uncharted territory, with reviews of anime-related video games.

By anime-related, I'm talking about the countless number of games with characters drawn in a Japanese anime style. These games will be on consoles such as the Playstation 2, the Nintendo Wii and the Nintendo DS. I had to limit my choices somewhat, because I don't feel like buying any new consoles yet.

I'm kind of stretching this blog into this genre, because I'm spending more time playing these games for the colorful character designs. The games can have a wide range of monsters and creatures. They can look almost as cute as the Mokona bunnies from various anime and manga by CLAMP. And ever since the Japanese role-playing game, Chrono Trigger, these anime character are spreading into JRPGs like a warm, fuzzy virus.

So don't be surprised if I switch from talking about "Soul Eater" to discussing the implausible plot of the anime-style game, "Sin and Punishment: Star Successor." It's only a matter of time before anime and anime video games eventually take over the world. It's like those Michael Jackson lyrics to "We are the World." Anime will make the world a better place for you and for me.

At least in this blog, it will.

Image courtesy of miraigamer.net

Bleach, Naruto Shippuden and Monster Hunter News

Dragon Ball Z Kai and Naruto Shippuden
Over at NY Breaking News, Neo discusses Dragon Ball Z Kai airing on CW4kids this fall and the latest Naruto Shippuden English Dub Episodes on iTunes.
You can see Neo's vlog here

Monster Hunter
Okay, Monster Hunter is a game that spawned a manga (Monster Hunter Orage), not the other way around, but since the game is very popular with anime and manga fans, I thought I'd include this.
Capcom has announced that this summer, it will release its new Monster Hunter spinoff game with a Flash-animated tie-in project on Japanese television.
On August 26th, MonHun Nikki Pokapoka Airū-mura will ship for the Sony PSP console in Japan.
Full story here

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Part 1, comes out on DVD and Blu-ray this week, and you can read a review of it here

Also coming out this week are Bleach, Vol. 28 and Kenichi: Season One.

On a side note, I have seen where you can watch Bleach Episode 272, Ichigo Vs Ulquiorra Conclusion, many places on the web, but so far, I haven’t found a single one that actually works.
If you find one that actually is a link to the episode, you can post it in the comments.
But I'll check the link before I approve it, so no funny business...LOL



Bleach, Naruto Shippuden and Monster Hunter News, posted to http://anime-times.blogspot.com/ on May 25th, 2010.

Zettai Shougeki: Platonic Heart

The story centres on the Platonic Heart, a jewel that — according to an old urban legend — can grant any wish when collected. Only a chosen few are allowed to compete in the Platonic Heart hunt, and high school junior Iseshima Aya is one of 11 girls and women who are taking part in this gruesome battle.


Type OVA, 5 episodes
Year 29.10.2008 till 25.02.2009
Categories Action, Ecchi, Female Students, Large Breasts, Martial Arts, Shounen, Violence

Size: +/- 300 Mb
mkv
Japanese Audio/English Subtitles

Episode 01 http://www.megaupload.com/?d=8L8D70SF
Episode 02 http://www.megaupload.com/?d=KL2UZ2FT
Episode 03 http://www.megaupload.com/?d=V6DX7QH6
Episode 04 http://www.megaupload.com/?d=8V66UYDJ
Episode 05 http://www.megaupload.com/?d=4QWMNSPT


Watch online Stream:

Episode 01 http://www.megavideo.com/?v=9J1WX49X
Episode 02 http://www.megavideo.com/?v=F90O51ES
Episode 03 http://www.megavideo.com/?v=IFSK839X
Episode 04 http://www.megavideo.com/?v=N1QZOATM
Episode 05 http://www.megavideo.com/?v=44L2SSOU

Ichiban Ushiro no Daimaou

* Based on Mizuki Shoutarou's Ichiban Ushiro no Daimaou magical fantasy romance novel series with illustrations by Itou Souichi.

The story of "love, magic, and battles" revolves around Sai Akuto, a boy who aims to become part of his country's highest order of magicians and contribute to society as one of its clergy. On the day he is admitted into the Constan Magical Academy, his aptitude test predicts the following: "Future Occupation … Devil King." Thus begins his difficult school life in which he is resented by his studious female class head, desired by a girl with mysterious powers, and guarded by a beautiful female android.


Type TV Series, 12 episodes
Year 03.04.2010 till 19.06.2010
Categories Action, Comedy, Ecchi, Fantasy, Harem, High School, Novel, Nudity, Pantsu, School Life, Seinen, Violence, Violent Retribution for Accidental Infringement - [similar]

Size: +/- 200 Mb
avi
Japanese Audio/English Subtitles

Episode 01 http://www.megaupload.com/?d=57CYC2CV
Episode 02 http://www.megaupload.com/?d=T1PGFNVX
Episode 03 http://www.megaupload.com/?d=34B9CYS0
Episode 04 http://www.megaupload.com/?d=OQFC3J17
Episode 05 http://www.megaupload.com/?d=2R37YB98
Episode 06 http://www.megaupload.com/?d=SDE6YWQT
Episode 07 http://www.megaupload.com/?d=KDEBYEZD
Episode 08 http://www.megaupload.com/?d=ML90RGNL
Episode 09 http://www.megaupload.com/?d=IL2S8UZ5
Episode 10 http://www.megaupload.com/?d=227IARGI
Episode 11 http://www.megaupload.com/?d=5O4H1V86


Watch online Stream:

Episode 01 http://www.megavideo.com/?v=PCI8MWHR
Episode 02 http://www.megavideo.com/?v=0W5RID2Y
Episode 03 http://www.megavideo.com/?v=PM2QYJPH
Episode 04 http://www.megavideo.com/?v=7LRSQY98
Episode 05 http://www.megavideo.com/?v=S24J2N5G
Episode 06 http://www.megavideo.com/?v=2LPKOV4C
Episode 07 http://www.megavideo.com/?v=LIZOLGX4
Episode 08 http://www.megavideo.com/?v=6OF5NW14
Episode 09 http://www.megavideo.com/?v=02HY7R8C
Episode 10 http://www.megavideo.com/?v=V8JNC62R
Episode 11 http://www.megavideo.com/?v=RTTEXV70

MP3 ALL ZOID FULL

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<download MP3  di bawah ini >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

Opening Theme

Enemy of Life by 2am

Ending Theme

Self Control 2004 by 2am

 

 

Opening Theme

No Future by Nanase Aikawa

Ending Theme

Sasuraibito by Dasein

 

 

Opening Theme

Yotaka no Yume by Do As Infinity

Ending Theme

1. Real Love by Paradise GO!! GO!!

2. Arino Mamade Lovin'U by Shizuka Ito & Kimiko Koyama

3. Nigirishimeta sono Te ni by Re Mii x Kotona

Opening Theme

Wild Flowers by Ramar

Ending Theme

1. Song for... by Dear

2. Chase by Develop=Frame

3. Into Yourself by Transtic Nerve

4. Your Song by Earth

 

 

 

DVD Review - Nana meets punk rock

The "Nana" anime charges up this coming-of-age manga with loud punk rock, and emotionally moving dialogue that everyone will fall in love with. This review covers the first box set of the series.

Ai Yazawa drew the manga which the anime is based on. Like her previous series, "Nana" features plenty of mature sexual situations and dramatic dialogue about lost love. However, the anime escalates the power of this manga with an edgy punk rock atmosphere.

The story involves two characters, who happened to meet each other on a train to Tokyo. Their first names are Nana. Though they are completely different types of people, they get along instantly. Although they separate, they meet once again by sheer happenstance when they are looking for an apartment to live in.

Sure, it's just a coincidental meeting, but the price is reasonable if they share the apartment. So by complete luck, the two Nanas become roommates and best friends.

Although this is a fictional anime about two strangers becoming close friends, the story involves more than just two girls. They each have bad luck in finding boyfriends who stay committed. Nana Komatsu is a polite-mannered girl whose boyfriend doesn't have enough time to see her very often. Nana Osaki is an orphan whose boyfriend left her to make a name for himself as a rock star in Tokyo.

The series is a masterpiece in its message of feminism and independence. Although there's plenty of emotional and sexual romance in the beginning, it's clear from the beginning that both Nanas really want more out of their love life. Economic freedom. Independence from the typical family lifestyle.

The series actually draws plenty of comparisons to "Kiki's Delivery Service," an anime by Hayao Miyazaki where a girl must face the nitty gritty difficulties of life, such as saving money to buy groceries instead of fancy clothes. The only big difference is that both of the Nanas' coming of age involves a punk rock band.

However, "Nana" is even more based on slice-of-life experiences in Japan. In this anime, the city of Tokyo is alive with sexy rock stars and cross-dressing fashion styles. At the same time, there's trendy, cute girl-like decorations for the trendy Nana Komatsu. And there's also a slew of economic pressures involving Komatsu's shopping sprees.

Certainly "Nana" will probably be the most eclectic of all the anime series this year. However, it conveys a universal theme involving characters who are missing the love they had as a child, as well as characters who push forward to find that love.

My only grudge with this box set is that it doesn't hit its big emotional peak yet. Most of the intense angst and frustration was purposefully left until box set two. However, this first box will definitely satisfy fans of the manga, as well as anyone else who loves punk rock, sex comedies and intense drama. In other words, there's something for everyone. This is a must-have for everyone to watch.

Cool features:

• Interview with Nana director Morio Asaka
• Clean opening and closing sequences.

Minor setbacks to the series:

• The English dub is great, but the voice actor for Nana Osaki doesn't sound nearly as cool and mature as she should be. Then again, I have my biases. Call me un-American, but our United States female rockers don't act as mature as Japanese female rockers. If you think I'm wrong, just listen to this clip by Jinn and see for yourself.
• There is a point in the anime where the director decided to rehash some of the events in episode one. Although he touches it up with new revelatory scenes, it could have been touched up somewhat.
• The last episode in this box is one of the dreaded recap episodes, where the characters review everything that happened in the previous episodes. Feel free to skip it if you wish.

Image courtesy of photobucket.com

Are Anime and Manga Going Live Action?

Since DC and Marvel are rolling out (usually successful) films based on their superheroes, why wouldn't Hollywood start mining Anime?
Well they are.
Steven Spielberg is working on Ghost in the Shell, James Cameron is working on Battle Angel Alita, Peter Segal and Michael Ewing are working on Bleach and The Hughes Brothers are working on Akira.

Over at indieWIRE, guest blogger Cameron Carlson has an article about the upcoming live action films based on Anime, and a whole lot more that are in development...

" Would you buy a ticket for a big-budget, live-action anime feature? What if there were four of them released at the same time? That could be the plight facing anime fans in 2011, and while the fans of japanimation recognize the difference between a cyborg and a mobile battle suit, the general public does not."

You can read the full article here:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/2010/05/04/anime_next_big_thing/

So with that in mind, here are a few Anime/Manga projects that have already made the leap to the big screen...

Lady Snowblood (1973)
Based on the manga by writer Kazuo Koike and artist Kazuo Kamimura.
There was a sequel, Lady Snowblood 2: Love Song of Vengeance in 1974, and a science fiction remake in 2001, released in the US as The Princess Blade.
Quentin Tarantino has said the film was a major inspiration for his Kill Bill films.

The Guyver (1991)
Based on the Bio-Booster Armor Guyver manga series written by Yoshiki Takaya, it spawned a sequel, Guyver: Dark Hero in 1994.

City Hunter (1993)
A Hong Kong martial arts action comedy film based on the manga series written and illustrated by Tsukasa Hojo.
Notable because it starred Jackie Chan as Ryo Saeba.

Hana Yori Dango (1995)
Based on the shōjo manga series Boys Over Flowers by Yoko Kamio
In 2008, Hana Yori Dango Final was released in theatres on as the end of the live action Japanese TV series.

Crying Freeman (1995)
A French and Canadian produced action film based on the manga by Kazuo Koike & Ryoichi Ikegami.

Blue (2001)
A Japanese romantic drama based on the manga Blue by Kiriko Nananan.

Blue Spring (2001)
A Japanese film based on a manga by Taiyō Matsumoto.

Doing Time (2002)
Based on the manga by Kazuichi Hanawa.

Cutie Honey (2004)
Starring Japanese model Eriko Sato and based on the manga and anime series Cutie Honey.

A Battle of Wits (2006)
This Hong Kong historical action drama film, was based upon a Japanese historical novel and a manga series written by Hideki Mori.

Death Note (2006)
Not one, but three films were based on the manga and anime series by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata.
Death Note was released on June 17, 2006, Death Note: The Last Name was released on November 3, 2006 and a spin-off L: Change the World, was released on February 9, 2008.
This film is one of those set for a remake by Warner Bros.

Dragonball Evolution (2009)
Based of course on the Japanese manga and anime series written and illustrated by Akira Toriyama.
Despite the fact the film flopped at the box office, with critic and with fans, there is a sequel rumored

DVD Review - The Gothic battle marathon

"Soul Eater" hits its stride in the second box set with a series of epic shonen fights in its big homage to a classic anime show.

For episodes 14-26, "Soul Eater" begins with plenty of excellent jokes, including one of the epic comedy episodes involving the animal character known as Excalibur. However, the true spotlight of this second set is one of the best story arcs of the series.

Our heroes race down a tunnel to keep a group of witches from awakening an evil kishin, also known as a demon god. This will no doubt remind anime fans of the Shishio Makoto battles in the show "Rurouni Kenshin." This was the famous story arc where Kenshin had to race down long corridors, fighting countless numbers of samurai until he fought the final battle against Shishio.

The set-up for the "Soul Eater" battle marathon is simple enough. Medusa and her evil cronies unleash a full-scale attack against the students and instructors in Death City. One of Medusa's assistants, Free, traps Lord Death and most of the students in a magical prison known as an independent cube. Fortunately, all the main heroes in the series escape.

Instructor Stein informs Maka, Soul, Black Star, Tsubaki, Death the Kid, Patti and Liz about Medusa's plot. Although there's plenty of backstory, all you need to know is that Medusa's assistants want to wake up a demon god by injecting his mummified body with black blood.

The anime doesn't really explain much about the difference between black blood and red blood, but that's not important. What is important is that a demon god is really, really powerful and destructive. And the students have to stop him from awakening.

This section of the show contains a very prominent fight between Maka and her deadliest rival, Crona. As people may remember in the previous box set, Crona almost killed Maka's weapon, Soul. Fortunately, Maka's learned a few things about her soul resonance power. I promise not to give away the ending, but I will say that it doesn't end with Maka killing Crona.

Instead, Maka reaches Crona's inner consciousness in an unusual series of scenes that take place in the soul resonance world inside Maka's weapon. Although a devil-looking character is trying to convince Soul to use the madness of the black blood to defeat Crona, Soul doesn't want Maka to lose her mind in the process. In a touching scene, Maka dances with Soul and asks him to use the black blood.

The fight is a brave and daring display of animation, where Maka reaches Crona's tormented soul at the end. Certainly "Soul Eater" isn't a series based on real-world situations. However, the show takes a breathtaking look at how the inner psyche can negotiate with itself to change a person's way of thinking. Although "Neon Genesis Evangelion" executed this with more visual flair, "Soul Eater" shows off its own unique blend of breathtaking backdrops and bright, vibrant colors.

Although "Soul Eater" is still plodding onward with its conventional, convoluted storyline, this is the box set that is worth at least a rental. The episodes in the next box set then slips into a series of boring shonen battles. There's still plenty of action in a big battle sequence in the arctic. However, you might want to think twice before you buy the third box set, because all these battles wore me out after two hours.

Image courtesy of photobucket.com