October 11th, 2014
Anime producer and distributor Right Stuf, Inc. is excited to announce a new expanded distribution deal with Sunrise Inc. to release the Mobile Suit Gundam franchise in North America.
The Mobile Suit Gundam franchise is a space opera anime that redefined the mecha genre. The original Mobile Suit Gundam series focused on using giant combat robots as a tool to win a war. This plot line structure strongly influenced future mecha series in the anime industry. Read the rest of this entry »
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October 9th, 2014
VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of manga and anime in North America, announced the acquisition of a pair of exciting new manga (graphic novel) titles during panels held during the recent New York Comic Con 2014. Fans attending the East Coast’s biggest pop culture and comics event enthusiastically welcomed the announcement of the Summer 2015 launch of creator Sui Ishida’s horror action series, TOKYO GHOUL, which will be published under the VIZ Signature imprint, as well as Go Ikeyamada’s cross-dressing comedy, SO CUTE IT HURTS!!, set to be published under the Shojo Beat imprint. Both titles will be released in print as well as digitally. Read the rest of this entry »
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October 9th, 2014
Just received news that Hatsune Miku will be available to obtain in the new update for Brave Frontier. Also Luka will be a free toon for NYCC attendees to obtain with code from the Brave Frontier booth #542.
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October 9th, 2014
Today begins the New York Comic Con. I’ll be attending the event and try to cover it as best as I can, but for those who can’t make it. NYCC has provided live streams of the events, which will be available once the event starts.
Watch live video from NYCC on www.twitch.tv
Watch live video from NYCC2 on www.twitch.tv
Watch live video from Twitch on www.twitch.tv
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September 4th, 2014
Under the Dog is the newest in crowdfunded anime. Set five years after an attack at the Tokyo 2020 olympics, Under the Dog follows a small group of “gifted” special operations troops and their ongoing hunt for others like themself. The Kickstarter funding period has been open for the past month and closes soon. Check out the Kickstarter video below and learn a little about the project.
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July 16th, 2014
Netflix with an original anime series? I had to check it out. Here is what I thought about Knights of Sidonia.
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July 16th, 2014
Synopsis:
An original anime series about Nagate, a low-born youth in a society of genetically engineered humans, refugees that escaped the destruction of Earth one thousand years earlier and now occupy the massive ship Sidonia. When Nagate’s talent as a pilot is revealed he becomes one of Sidonia’s elite defenders against the Gauna, shapeshifting aliens bent on eliminating humans from existence. Based on the popular Japanese manga comic.
Review:
A Netflix original anime series? That was unexpected. Shidonia no Kishi or Knights of Sidonia was originally a manga series that was later adapted into anime by Polygon Pictures; which then brings us to the exclusive streaming rights on Netflix. Now that we got that out of the way, let’s get on with the review.
Knights of Shidonia is set in space, a thousand years after they have left Earth due to the Gauna invasion. Our main protagonist Nagate Tanikaze was raised in the underworld of Sidonia, never leaving for the surface and always practicing on his grandfather’s robot simulator. During the initial scenes, we get to see exactly what we should be expecting from the show. Fast mecha action scenes and some borderline gruesome animation… personally I find the disintegration of the Gauna stomach turning. But that’s just me. Anyways, as a result of Tanikaze being raised by his grandfather in the underworld (no, not your typical underworld), he did not receive the genetic manipulation the population received, and therefore gets hungry like any normal human being. On his way to search for food, he slips, falls and is captured by the Sidonia governing body. It is during his whole “booking†process that we find out more about Tanikaze and the current situation of Sidonia.
It has been a while since I was entertained by a mecha anime. Some of the mecha that I have come across lately are either boring or lacked focus in the machinery. Knights of Sidonia, does not lose sight of what it is. This show is about mecha action along with a story that grips even the casual viewer. Unlike a lot of other anime where the protagonist is often the very emotionally imbalanced type, who constantly searches for the right and wrong. Nagate Tanikaze is confident in his ability and performs the way that is instilled by his grandfather. While Tanikaze is a straightforward character, the majority of his peers are flip floppers. On the first day that he attends pilot school, he is looked down upon due to his status. After he does something impressive, his peers changed at an instant, only to change back and forth. This flip flopping in how other characters perceive Tanikaze kind of gets annoying after a while.
One thing you should not do, while you watch Knights of Sidonia, is fall in love with any characters. They could die in battle at a drop of a hat. I guess that is what makes this show so much more “realistic.†You see, these Gaunas are no joke. If we were playing a game, these mobs are way overpowered. Even Sidonia’s elite Garde teams do not make it back alive. The anime shows how emotions can deter one’s ability to fight in combat. From this display, one wrong move or hesitation can mean the life and death of the entire team.
The Breakdown:
Knights of Sidonia consists of one season, twelve episodes, with a second season in the works. Judging by that, the anime did a great job in getting as much out of the twelve episodes as it did. I was impressed at how the whole time I was watching, I never once thought this piece was dragging on or it was cutting things short. Maybe they should have extended the action scenes more, if that is one complaint that I have. Now do not expect to learn much about the origin of the Gauna? Maybe in season two; they are still a mystery here. There are signs that they are a sentient species as the show rolled on. But aside from speculation, nothing concrete is revealed.
Posted in Reviews, Genre, Type, Company, Action, TV Series, Mecha, Sci-Fi, Netflix | 1 Comment »
July 16th, 2014
Dragon Ball Z: Battle Of The Gods will be coming to a theater, hopefully near you. Check out the official site’s theater locator and order your tickets to claim a seat on this event!
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July 15th, 2014
VIZ Media delivers a special theatrical treat for attendees of the 2014 Japan Film Festival of San Francisco as it announces a screening of the visceral anime action feature – BERSERK: THE GOLDEN AGE ARC III - THE ADVENT – on Wednesday, July 23th at 7:00pm with an encore presentation on Sunday, July 27nd at 7:00pm. The film will be presented with the original Japanese dialogue and English subtitles. Read the rest of this entry »
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July 15th, 2014
A Kickstarter campaign for Robotech Academy has been floating around for a week or so now from Harmony Gold. Go back it NOW!!!!
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