and you know you're getting psyched for the new movie!
Monday, April 26, 2010
Mattel Electronics Sci-Fi Box Art
Hand painted production art circa 1978-82
and you know you're getting psyched for the new movie!
and you know you're getting psyched for the new movie!
Monday, April 19, 2010
RIP Carl Macek 1951-2010
If you don't know who Carl Macek is, you can check out the wiki on your own. Here, in the meantime, is the official press release.
If you were a kid back in the early eighties and liked "Japanimation" then you have Mr. Macek to thank. If you like Anime at all it would not have been possible without the success of shows like ROBOTECH, no matter what your opinion of the program itself is. Sure, Macross is better, but under the circumstances the man was quite successful in developing a continuity across three distinctly different shows, resulting in a sweeping story the likes of which had not been scene during after school programming since Starblazers.
I got to meet Carl at a ROBOTECH convention in '85. It was one of those Creation Cons, the same people who promoted the traveling Star Trek conventions of that era, so it was a decent sized affair with guests and a killer dealers room. Some time between ogling model kits and anime books I went to see Mr. Macek give a presentation which included footage of the upcoming (not really) ROBOTECH movie. He spoke and took questions, and was generally a busy, but decent enough fellow with the public. If it wasn't for that guy so many people wouldn't get to enjoy their hobby of hording neat knick-knacks based on beloved (and localized) Japanese characters they sit in front of a screen watching for hours without end.
I imagine in real life Macek pulled a dick move or two, which would explain the amount of contempt so much of the fan community has for him. Anyone who's been into J-pop for a few decades is aware of the level of animosity directed towards the man, yet so much of it has always been fan boy posturing. It's okay if you get how the original Macross is a masterpiece of entertainment. It's not okay to bash Macek because he tweaked it enough to create an entirely new market for anime in the western hemisphere. I'm pretty sure he didn't personally screw over so many of twenty-somethings who love to slag him on the internet bulletin boards. I'll never know what this guy did wrong, but I know what he did right.
Lots of fascinating stuff in the press release that I didn't know about the man. The video is great, too. No matter what kind of person he was in private, he was the guy that made an entire, currently desperate, industry possible. Thank you Carl Macek for the thrilling adventures.
If you were a kid back in the early eighties and liked "Japanimation" then you have Mr. Macek to thank. If you like Anime at all it would not have been possible without the success of shows like ROBOTECH, no matter what your opinion of the program itself is. Sure, Macross is better, but under the circumstances the man was quite successful in developing a continuity across three distinctly different shows, resulting in a sweeping story the likes of which had not been scene during after school programming since Starblazers.
I got to meet Carl at a ROBOTECH convention in '85. It was one of those Creation Cons, the same people who promoted the traveling Star Trek conventions of that era, so it was a decent sized affair with guests and a killer dealers room. Some time between ogling model kits and anime books I went to see Mr. Macek give a presentation which included footage of the upcoming (not really) ROBOTECH movie. He spoke and took questions, and was generally a busy, but decent enough fellow with the public. If it wasn't for that guy so many people wouldn't get to enjoy their hobby of hording neat knick-knacks based on beloved (and localized) Japanese characters they sit in front of a screen watching for hours without end.
I imagine in real life Macek pulled a dick move or two, which would explain the amount of contempt so much of the fan community has for him. Anyone who's been into J-pop for a few decades is aware of the level of animosity directed towards the man, yet so much of it has always been fan boy posturing. It's okay if you get how the original Macross is a masterpiece of entertainment. It's not okay to bash Macek because he tweaked it enough to create an entirely new market for anime in the western hemisphere. I'm pretty sure he didn't personally screw over so many of twenty-somethings who love to slag him on the internet bulletin boards. I'll never know what this guy did wrong, but I know what he did right.
Lots of fascinating stuff in the press release that I didn't know about the man. The video is great, too. No matter what kind of person he was in private, he was the guy that made an entire, currently desperate, industry possible. Thank you Carl Macek for the thrilling adventures.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
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!
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!
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Olympic Report 2010
At first I was worried about the raunchy conditions, worries that were almost confirmed by the Men's Snowboard event. Then I realized that it was snowboarding, and that with snowboarding it's totally acceptable for Olympic calibur athletes to be flopping around on the course like drunks. Ah, Snowboarding... snObOardNING.... Skiing ...I'll never get it. Actually, this years Olympic coverage has warmed me up to Women's SNBX, were the athleticism seems to be in spades. Skicross didn't impress me either.
So this time around, Body Miller avoids the Beaster and comes through. I like the man, although I get the feeling he's that guy they're trying to represent in those MCDonald's commercials which claim that Olympic athletes are lining up for McNuggets.
The U.S. Women's Ski Team isn't being hurt so much by a supposed popularity contest as it is being hurt by sculpted eyebrows. I'm also not sure I should feel like I'm eavesdropping, in a reality TV kind of way, when a hopeful faces his/ her event standing, so I just leave the room. The microscope is what is stressing out the athletes.
So far I've enjoyed the coverage and events. Too bad the great conditions are in the east this year. I'll expect to find lots of newbies on the slopes in the coming weeks.
So this time around, Body Miller avoids the Beaster and comes through. I like the man, although I get the feeling he's that guy they're trying to represent in those MCDonald's commercials which claim that Olympic athletes are lining up for McNuggets.
The U.S. Women's Ski Team isn't being hurt so much by a supposed popularity contest as it is being hurt by sculpted eyebrows. I'm also not sure I should feel like I'm eavesdropping, in a reality TV kind of way, when a hopeful faces his/ her event standing, so I just leave the room. The microscope is what is stressing out the athletes.
So far I've enjoyed the coverage and events. Too bad the great conditions are in the east this year. I'll expect to find lots of newbies on the slopes in the coming weeks.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
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.
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.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Doritos wins Best Superbowl Ad
An instant classic. Apparently there are "groups" out there that have a problem with this one, but I can't imagine how. Maybe there's too much truth to it, I don't know. I just love the kid.
Now, you know who I do NOT like? The fucking e*trade baby. That spot jumped the shark after the second or third entry, but people love it. I cannot understand the appeal of a narcissistic, gloating, philandering piece of shit yuppie, even in the form of an articulate baby. Maybe it's the articulate baby thing that bugs me, since that gag is ancient. In any case, I'm usually very thoughtful concerning the subject of abortion, but in e*trade baby's case I'm saying it's not too late. Anyone have a coat hanger? I would be happy to stomp the little prick's bourgeois head in myself. "Milkaholic?" No, a new low.
Now, you know who I do NOT like? The fucking e*trade baby. That spot jumped the shark after the second or third entry, but people love it. I cannot understand the appeal of a narcissistic, gloating, philandering piece of shit yuppie, even in the form of an articulate baby. Maybe it's the articulate baby thing that bugs me, since that gag is ancient. In any case, I'm usually very thoughtful concerning the subject of abortion, but in e*trade baby's case I'm saying it's not too late. Anyone have a coat hanger? I would be happy to stomp the little prick's bourgeois head in myself. "Milkaholic?" No, a new low.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Kaiju brick-a-brack
The always entertaining Sci-Fi Japan has posted it's findings on the current state of collecting Bandai vinyl Godzilla toys. If you're into it, there aren't many surprises as you've probably been scooping up these things lately on the cheap. Not a good time to be speculating, that's for sure. In any case, it's good to see someone take another stab at the valuation of these somewhat obscure collectibles.
While I'm at it, here is a great spot currently running in Japan that highlights the fun of daikaiju eiga, which JapanProbe.com has dutifully posted on YouTube:
While I'm at it, here is a great spot currently running in Japan that highlights the fun of daikaiju eiga, which JapanProbe.com has dutifully posted on YouTube:
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