Great VHS Box Art pt.3 "Another State of Mind"

So, right about when I decided to feature VHS covers here on this blog some other guy comes out with a book doing the same thing, and it gets mixed reviews, and I get discouraged 'cuz I thought I had an original idea... then came the Intellivision project and summer. Anyhow, I knew I'd get back into it again when I found a good one, and Dude's book got dissed for not including so many great covers like this one, so as you can see, I just had post pics from the VHS box cover for the great punk rock doucmentary film "Another State of Mind"



That's an impossibly young Mike Ness sitting on the bumper of the same beat up school bus featured in the film, and a logo that screams Ralph Steadman. The whole thing could be designed by the guy, who knows? This is going back to 1983, when it would be possible for Steadman to still be working more commercially. Whoever it was, this image represents the classic hardcore punk graphic style, with stark black and white contrasts offset by (in this case, two) swatches of muted, primal color. The effect is an intensity level that is through the roof, even though the subject is in repose. It's so simple and effective, and it works every time. I can't be a dick and not post the back cover for you.



If you're an aging punk rock fan like myself, the film is like a time machine back to the early eighties. It's also a compelling story featuring some great performances and interviews, a ton of optimism, and a sadly unique philosophy on life. This hasn't resurfaced on DVD to my knowledge, so buy whatever format you can find it on.

Mattel Electronics Sci-Fi Box Art

Hand painted production art circa 1978-82






and you know you're getting psyched for the new movie!

New Dirty Pair manga in Japan

The Lovely Angels, Kei and Yuri are back, appearing in the pages of Monthy Comic Ryu. Let the chaos, destruction, and cheesecake ensue!



As an early supporter of anime, I can't describe what a relief it is to see these two icons return. By now the animated adventures of The Dirty Pair are widely known but disregarded by the contemporary anime fan, seeming clunky and dated. The reality however is that these two characters pushed the media's limits early on, with swashbuckling sci-fi tales laced with violence and sexuality. As an 80's preteen absorbed with ROBOTECH and Voltron, The Dirty Pair served as a proper white rabbit leading to years of discovery via VHS tape trading networks like the CFO.



Apart from a Joji Manabe Doujinshi I once flipped through, the Pair never quite looked this sleazy, which is understandable given the current state of the anime industry. Frankly, I can't understand what took so long for this series to happen. Kei,in particular, looks to have received the biggest makeover. It might not be "wolf hair", but at least it's not Dirty Pair Flash.

I predict that this incarnation will be successful enough for the inevitable anime adaptation, and then this and every previous generation of anime fan will know the madcap glory of The Dirty Pair!

Super Shogun Stormtrooper

Here's a little bit of super coolness to brighten up your day. This news is so awesome that it's become my sole purpose in life for the immediate future.



Super 7 has announced the Super Shogun Stormtrooper, a fine tribute to both George Lucas and Go Nagai, two creative luminaries from the '70's, operating on polar opposite sides of the world, forever dominating the imaginations of generations of children young and old. Whatever your leanings, this classic Shogun Warrior/Jumbo Machinder reworking has the confidence and style to stand proudly along side either Jumbo Kamen Rider or Kenner Bionic Big Foot. Maybe you like both types of toys; Super Shogun Stormtrooper is quite likely to mix it up a little so that things on the shelf could start to get freaky. The infamous "Toy Pirates" even went as far as to create a new website in his honor.



Is it normal to have a sexual response to a toy?



The blaster doesn't shoot red missles, which sucks, but it comes with a foil sticker sheet for the things belly!

All in all, Super Shogun Stormtrooper appears to be an instant classic, and even at $300 a pop, getting one is going to take some luck.

The Imai Files

I think this one actually came in on the 12th Day of Christmas, too! Of course, I'm just getting to it now....

Roger Harkavy and his anonymous friend will go down in Otaku history as two of the coolest archivists on earth for bringing the rest of us this small treasure trove of pre-production and concept sketches from the clssic anime series "Mospeada" and "Super Dimension Calvary Southern Cross." By now, one wouldn't be a well informed fan of anime if one didn't recognize these titles as the basis for the second and third installments of the classic localization "ROBOTECH"



These files were once the property of toy/ model maker Imai, and are the product of the design firm ARTMIC, two names synonymous with 80's anime. Apparently, Harkavy and Mr.? couldn't find a publisher willing to take on the project, so they simply created a detailed pdf file complete with notes and translation, and sent it off into the internet void for us to enjoy free of charge. The resulting Imai Files is a 108 page look back at two of the most influential chapters in anime's early bid for an American audience, that also manages to somehow capture that moment in time during the shift from "Super Robots" to "Real Robots." Bravo!



In another sense, the arrival of this electronic file (instead of a book) speaks volumes on the state of the anime industry. That no one would pick this up as a property probably has more to do with Imai and ARTMIC being long gone and legally obtuse organizations, rather than any lack of interest on the part of fans. I wonder if they approached Harmony Gold with this idea. If the rights to these illustrations are anything like what's going on with "Macross" then this production is more than we could expect. This would have sold as a book, and in fact there is a new book covering "Mospeada" just published within the last year, however, maybe it's not selling well enough. It also can't help that "SDCSC" really only has a fan base as "ROBOTECH: The Masters," but then again, that doomed program is only reflected in ten or so pages, compared to the hundred+ sketches of Ride Armor and Legioss. Frankly, the nature of this material is of highly specific interest, and getting a licensed publication in the rights hands in the current anime climate would've been a tall order. After all, robots don't sell as well these days. Maybe if it were a bunch of sketches of Rook, Mylene, and Annie...








Whatever your position on "scanslations" may be, with the advent of "The Imai Files" it becomes a more legitimate practice. Now, when money hungry U.S. Licensees finally back off completely and the anime/manga industry reverts back to it's original, Japan-centric mission statement (i.e. becomes interesting again,) Western fans will have a sturdy model by which to continue the decimation and enjoyment of the form. The future of the hobby has just begun thanks to a healthy dose of the past.


*****
Update 2/23 Thanks to Roger for chiming in and clarifying my wild speculations. See his comment for tremendous insight into this great project. Thanks again Roger!

Great VHS Box Art pt. 2 "Inframan"

Here is the cover to this Shaw Brothers classic.



This one almost didn't make the cut due to the original kanji script being so crudely replaced by cut and paste lettering. However, this classic promotional art features a dynamic rendering of everything great about the film, and all in glorious brush stroke. A favorable qoute by Roger Ebert isn't hurting the cause either. As kid, this would have leaped from the shelves at you.

Great VHS Box Art pt. 1 "Super Chick"

The VHS was a thing of it's time. We virtually ignored it's limitations while it lured us from the local Cinema with it's convenience and beautiful box art. From a marketing standpoint, the VHS tape is a high water mark for the home entertainment industry, second only to the vinyl LP.

Here is some great VHS box cover art from the movie "Super Chick", presumably of the original theatrical poster. VHS box art continued the fledgling home entertainment industry's tradition of featuring original marketing materials from a film's theatrical release. Often the synopsis were original copy as well. Now, in the era of Photoshop, entire marketing divisions are devoted solely to repackaging films for retail, and some aspect of quality and charm are lost in the process. I've got a few nice boxes to share, and I've chosen to start with the best of the bunch.


"She'll really move her tail for you!"

I love the box art for this mid 70's soft core cheapie. Filmed as a vehicle for sex advice columnist Joyce Jillson. Super Chick is the alter-ego of a timid stewardess, who has a beau in every port to assist in her various counter cultural dabblings. Despite a who's who of 70's exploitation stars, it's very pro-woman and actually quite vanilla. Nothing like the drunken tramp witnessed on the box cover.

The sleepy eyed, wanton gaze seals the deal even as the lustful lady sheds her attire for you. The action is well portrayed and subdued by the muted color palette. This box art is entirely functional and maintains a delicate balancing act between serving as product and pin up, and is way hotter than anything found in the film itself. "Super Chick" can be found on region 1 DVD, unfortunately the cover is a little more representative of the actual film.



At least it's not more Photoshop.

For whatever reason, great art work continues to be suppressed in favor of cheap production art churned out by the underpaid for each new DVD release. That's a shame, for although the format may be better viewing on your television, it is nothing to view on your shelf. I will continue to prove this in future installments of Great VHS Box Art.