My personal view on anime, as it is become a visible media niche in the world. Just like any other media, it has its share of pukes and good ones....this is my view on it. Whimsical? Informative? Overly serious? Too silly? Why the hell am I still watching anime? Thoughts like this runs through my mind here.
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"
The current most talked about mecha sci-fi series, Aldnoah Zero will be split into 2 cour series of 12 episodes each, Season 2 is announced to be aired in Winter 2015, if I am not mistaken.
Perhaps this is to avoid expected to be explosive debut of Fate/Stay Night reboot that is scheduled end of this year. And perhaps the rationale is to keep quality of the production instead of stretching the budget for 24 episodes which might compromise the art etc too like Fate 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.
To be honest, I am not too keen on this prospect despite his commercial success with Transformers franchise (it made billions for the movie studio) because I don't think he is the right guy to handle something like Evangelion. It is not a direct to toy mecha show and it is very stylistic discourse of self existenalist by Hideaki Anno. He is very commercial, action orientated with big love for explosives plus unmistakable love for US militaria. I just can't see how the live action Evangelion can do justice with his handling. Big time.
If he wants to do an adaptation then Macross maybe more suitable since it is a very commercial friendly mecha saga. Not Evangelion, it is a very personal work.
I really don't like the shakey cam action sequences where I don't know what the heck is going on. I hate it with my passion. I already can see it when this news came up few days ago.
Well, these are photos taken at Yokohama not long ago, apparently it is from filming site. Check it out. The movie is slated for release in 2014 with participation of Mamoru Oshii. As a mecha geek, this is an awesome news indeed.
Okay this is it. SPOILERS warning for Pacific Rim (2013).
Pac Rim (2013) delivers on gigantic scale in terms of action and sheer size, especially Battle of Hong Kong which going non stop for 30-40 mins straight of pure mecha vs monster action. I mean old timer mecha/kaiju fans will immediately spot few homages such as Serizawa Scale (a direct nod to Japanese scientist who killed Godzilla in 1950s movie) and the striking resemblance of Striker Eureka to VF-1 Valkyrie Battriod Armored/ Armoured from Macross , complete with missile barrage system. Needless to say, the old Mazinger Z and Tetsujin 28 Rocket Punch which is used by Gipsy Danger in smacking Leatherback for good old fashioned American punch make me guffaw and giggle with unrestrained joy.
The monsters themselves are nod to Japanese famous monsters such as Rodan (Otani) or even Baltan (Onibaba), the nemesis of Ultraman. Heck few battles are settled with good old fashioned sword finisher, a homage to Japanese superhero mecha signature finisher. The last boss, Slattern, a category 5 on Serizawa Scale is quite scary and imposing - a worthy opponent of tried and tested Gipsy Danger in the last brawl underwater.
The mecha/monster did not disappoint at all, as I said earlier, I was crying with joy at the sights - cheering and hollering like a kid, complete with punching in the air as the Jaeger and Kaiju going for smackdown.
Yes, the glorious scene of Gipsy Danger slapping Otani silly with a ship is a sight to behold too.
Aesthetic wise, Gipsy Danger reminds me of US industrial war machine image like B-17 or M4 Sherman - tough, reliable and industrial funk feel. Striker Eureka is the most modern, sleek looking - you can feel it has iPhone inside it as one of the instruments. Very Gundam feel, as if it is designed by Katoki Hajime. The Russian's Cherno Alpha is the personification of Soviet style brutal, simple engineering like T-34 merged with RBMK nuclear reactor. The Chinese Jaeger is very agile and practical but a bit bare on its range. So is Cherno Alpha which leads to their destruction as the Kaiju actually evolved and learning on how to fight them. Unpredictable and well equipped Gipsy and Striker managed to survive because it did not rely on one sole technique to destroy the Kaijus.
Personally I would love if there is more scenes of absolute destruction like Man of Steel but at this point, I can't complain too much.
The composer of HBO Game of Thrones, Djawadi is delivering a catchy soundtrack for the movie - each Jaeger have their own signature leitmotif, Cherno Alpha with vocal male orchestra singing in gloomy Gregorian, Crimson Typhoon resounding big drum music and the cowboy like swag theme for Gipsy Danger.
Character wise....okay....the hero guy is kinda meh to me. When I look at him, I am just not convinced that he is a badass mecha pilot. He looks more like office worker than a Jaeger pilot. His partner, Mako have problems to give full emotion to her lines, she is trying her best to enunciate her lines which is not bad but at the cost of emotional range that she could have deliver. The little girl in her memories is more convincing than the adult version. Idris Alba as Marshall simply rocks, he is the backbone of human side in the narrative. This man commands respect and presence in all of the scenes that he is in. The crew of Striker Eureka have an interesting Aussie accent, I think some of my Aussie friends will cringe hearing them speak. Their presence is okay, serves as a foil to returning Jaeger pilot hero in the movie.
The scientist duo is the comic relief, they adequate enough for what they supposed to be. Other Jaeger crews of Cherno Alpha and Crimson Typhoon is not given enough time, I wish they have some human scenes in the flick. I believe it will make their deaths more poetic and human.
Ron is Ron, he exudes cool charisma all the time. His role is pretty small but still important, I believe he might be key character in the sequel. A big maybe. I chuckled at most of his lines, he is funnier than the scientist duo IMHO.
I just don't get why some people trying so hard to compare this film to Evangelion, it is totally different like comparing a durian to fried chicken. Pac Rim story is about desperate humanity in face of relentless Kaiju attack, battling it out in giant mechas whereas Evangelion is a psychological drama with broken people insulate themselves in giant titans, cutting themselves off from humanity and slowly weans into connection or rejects it thru EVA. Different feel, different beast altogether.
Overall, maybe biased but I would consider this movie as the best in 2013 summer blockbuster. This is the only movie that make me go nuts and cheering in the cinema since long, long time. Anime mecha otakus must watch this, this is the movie for us as Hideo Kojima asserted. This movie worth multiple rewatch because it is just so awesome.
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.
Sunrise and writer of Code Geass & PlanetES (Ichiro Okuchi) just gave the world a batshit insane series, Valvrave the Liberator. Why I say that? On the surface it looks like a predictable, shonen angsty mecha series that Sunrise churns annually but by the end of Ep 1, it is not.
By Ep 10, it have transcended the ceiling, it can never look back.
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.
Ah, looks like Mr Sadamoto might restart his work on this famous manga (started in 1994). So far, 12 volumes is out and many fans estimated it will take another 2 books to complete the story. I wonder how long the 2 volumes will take.
Plus!
This news is before 11 March tsunami so I do wonder if the plan is still on or will be postponed in face of major disaster. So far, no post tsunami updates regarding about manga resurrection plan on April. But to be fair, Evangelion manga was illustrated beautifully and with great care, a nice feast for eyes.
I wouldn't hold my breath for next volume, that's for sure. Hee.
It is up 2 days ago, showing the main antagonist of the story. Roughly covered novels vol 3 and 4, I think. Couldn't wait for it, partly curious to see if they will still retain the top notch quality seen in famous 1st episode. Knowing this OVA/OAD format, the quality should be more and less maintained.
I love the old series when I was a kid....and this teaser just blew me away. WOAH!
Revealed in Tokyo Anime Fair 2010, the staff included director Matthew Gratzner, who basically a visual effects guy who did work on Benjamin Button and tons of movies.
anime
.jpg)
