Random Reelz: Robotech:New Generation

And we're back! Welcome back to the blog, readers. Thanks for the birthday wishes on Sunday. Most appreciated.

Today is the start of a random week as I am waiting on a poll count on whether or not to do a Subspecies II or a Tremors review in front of the camera. Should be fascinating. So this time around we are back into anime as we head to the third Robotech War. With years of conflict, the REF (Robotech Expeditionary Force) have just fended off the Robotech Masters, saved their planet and kicked their asses out of the solar system. Alas a new enemy has risen to dominate the world. This is Robotech: New Generation.

Reminds me a bit of Babylon 5.

With the Flower of Life spores released ten years ago by the Robotech Masters, their conflict with Southern Cross Armies brought out a hunger for protoculture, something this new species the Invid covet, so with the REF fleet scattered still fending off the Robotech Masters and Admiral Rick Hunter's expedition being attacked by the Invid, a collective of protoplasmic beings that thrive on protoculture. Most of the Robotech forces fled the Earth to reestablish a fighting force to retake the Earth. The 10th Mars Division can be sent to deal with this new menace. With reversed engineered Zentraedi cruisers and battleships at the ready and squads of Veritech fighter jets, this inexperienced but readily trained crew is ready to take back their ancestral home. Ten years later under Invid reign, large pits have been made for hives and what they call genesis pits to evolve their species into the Ultimate Life Form!!! * Cue Wesker* The Earth now appearing as a wasteland, the colonies of humanity are enslaved to process and procure protoculture.

Space Crabs! Get the medicated shampoo STAT!!!

Humans live at the whim of the Invid and it is time for the 21^st Mars Division to come in, kick some ass and stomp some big bugs. With ten years of weapons, engines, armor and mecha improvement, the REF is hopeful to stand a bigger fight against the Invid. Lt. Scott Bernard, Veritech Alpha Squadron flies cover to stop the Invid shock troops. His men take heavy casualties while defending the cruisers, medical frigates and battleships.

Well defending the Earth, most of the populous (that conveniently all speak English) is either scared, tired or flat out doesn't even care about their Invid masters. In spite of not being allowed new tech, growth or a development to their own legacy. Yup humans have just rolled over to their alien masters. Well not all of them as there are guerilla tactics being used for covert attacks but the Invid patrols usually squash them at a moment's notice.

Boom, baby.

As luck would have it, Scott slowly adds a band of freedom fighters willing to follow his command. Some are undisciplined, a few former REF members and just people without a home thanks to the Invid but they are ready to fight no matter the odds.

Can the freedom fighters hold out until Admiral Hunter's Expeditionary Forces arrive? Is there a chance their mission to Reflex Point will succeed? How do you go pee in battleloid armor?

Just a sidenote here. Robotech has never been shy about characters, secondary characters and even main characters getting killed. It was almost if Harmony Gold Productions wanted kids to realize that the good guys don't always walk away unscathed. With G.I. Joe, Thundercats, Silverhawks and Transformers giving most of their characters virtually immortality, this series always pointed out that these men and women were mortal. That they must be clever and capable or dead.

This series was released on the airwaves stateside in 1985 and was a welcome addition to viewing at my young age. With the Zentraedi, Robotech Masters (they genetically engineered the Zentraedi as a peace keeping force) and the Invid, we saw humans rallying together, squabble with each other, cry, get hurt and even killed.

Witnessing a gambit of emotions through your favorite characters really made the show worth viewing. With this show, Voltron and Transformers I started getting into Anime at a very early age and have never regretted it. The influences these cartoons had on America is obvious in the mainstream for the last 30 years. While I highly recommend this series I would point out watch the previous two first starting with the Macross Saga and then the Robotech Masters. With the films, well you kind of have to be a fan outright with Super Dimensional Fortress Macross and Super Space Fortress Macross as these are the precursors to the series. Robotech: The Movie and Robotech II: The Sentinels brings you Admiral Hunter, crew and fleet stories.

Tight formation, crab brothers!!

Bloodsucker Sequels: Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust

Welcome back readers of the blog. I really need come up with better intros. I felt this week we would look at some sequels to existing vampire movies that may or may not have had an impact on its viewers. For better or worse sort of viewing. Now some of these films were relegated to straight-to-DVD while others got big screen time but in a finite viewing capacity. Nevertheless I shall endeavor to give them an objective screening as much as humanly possible. This time around we gander at the sequel to 1985 anime Vampire Hunter D, which between gorgeous artwork, decent storyline and a substantial English and Japanese voice cast breathed life into the undead. Can the 2000 sequel do the same? This is Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust.

The house has seen better days.

Alas Toyoo Ashida (director of Heidi: A Girl of the Alps, Space Cruiser Yamato III, Fist of the North Star, Fist of the North Star 2 and Vampire Hunter D) did not take the helm as the sequel's director but instead Yoshiaki Kawajiri (director/animator of Lensman, Wicked City, Ninja Scroll and Bio Hunter) giving an almost ethereal look to his main characters. An otherworldly beauty even to the monsters. As with its predecessor, the story is set thousands of years into the future after the nuclear war of 1999, this ballparks our storyline somewhere about 12,090 A.D. where thanks to bands of hunters, vampires become less and less active and their numbers have been diminished. Obscene bounties have been put upon vampire heads causing bounty hunters of different ilk to rise up and smite them for that huge chunk of change. Our vampire Meier Link (John Rafter Lee of Aeon Flux, Black Jack: The Movie, Todd McFarlane's Spawn, Spawn 2, Spawn 3, Trigun, Reign: The Conqueror, Vampire: The Masquerade- Redemption and Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex) exhibits telekinesis, the undead aura that wilts flowers and puts animals at ill ease as he scoops up his intended victim Charlotte (Wendee Lee of Bleach, Ninja Gaiden 3, Monster High: Ghouls Rule!, Resident Evil: Damnation, Conan the Barbarian: Queen of the Black Coast and Diablo III: Reaper of Souls).

This arrow has meaning.  I can just tell.

Among these hunters, one stands out as he tackles the vampires on his own. Aloft his cybernetic horse, black garbs and long sword, he rides to the regions that need his help whether they like it or not. The money almost seems secondary to him. The dhampyr vampire hunter solely known as D (Andrew Philpot of Castle in the Sky, Almost Dead, Bio Hunter, Tenchi Muyo! In Love, Magical Project S, Reign: The Conqueror and The Chronicles of Riddick: Dark Fury). His only companion is a symbiote that resides in his left hand. A creature able to think, talk, create vortexes of wind, psychometry (able to read events associated with objects, people and even the timelines the objects were used) , induces sleep and acts like a medical scanner for victims of the supernatural. Handy, ain't he? I'll slap myself for that bad of a pun later. Left Hand is voiced by comedian/improv/voice actor Michael McShane (Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, UK Who's Line Is It Anyway, Spawn, Final Fantasy X-2, Evil Alien Conquerors, Death and Texas and Wayward Pines)

The Markus brothers, a collective of vampire hunters have a day's headstart of D as they use a steam based tank outfitted with bolt throwers, crucifixes and their own unique fighting styles and weapons dealing with Link's cadre of undead minions. Looks like he remade an entire village to greet trespassers.

Can the Markus brothers and D work together? Will D have to journey alone?

For some reason the Japanese to English translation is calling the Dhampyr (child of a human and vampire) a dunpeal.  Bit of a goof I am guessing.  This film is a straight up adaptation from creator Hideyuki Kikuchi (Genmu senki Leda, Vampire Hunter D, Wicked City, Demon City Shinjuku, Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust, The Vanished and Vampire Hunter D: Resurrection) keeping it pretty faithful to the original source material and Kikuchi believes in incorporating all aspects of mythos using wooden stakes, beheading with swords and silver blades, bolts and bullets. A mixture of cyberpunk, steampunk and Romanian mythos this story pushes the envelope of augmented people, shapeshifters and werewolves to make you wonder is there any normal humans out there? It's moody, eerie and fascinating all together wrapped up in one anime. On par with its original but I do not feel it surpasses it. Still a good flick.

Yeesh the Circus of Crime got weirder.

Anime Absurdity: Rosario + Vampire

Welcome back to the week! Again sorry for the lay over to Sunday but I only possess so much energy...and migraines are a bitch. Moving on, we are taking a look at some of the more popular animes of the last 10 years. Thankfully I have narrowed down some titles thanks to some of my Anime friends and it was most appreciated. Today we look at school life as a teenager but with the difference being I think the student body may be a bit more than expected. This is Rosario + Vampire.

So, has Oz changed much Jack Pumpkinhead?

Average student Tsukune has failed entry exams for almost every school in Japan. When it looks like Tsukune will have to be home taught, his father finds a flyer on their doorstep for the Youkai Academy. For the rest of the round eyes confused on this word, Youkai (Japanese folklore of monsters, spirits and demons) so a world of wonder and utter madness await our unsuspecting lad. Now often the manga and the anime with diverge into different presentations of the story but in this case they show more of the root of their being but there is not a lot of indept examination of the characters themselves. Crossing from home and through a tunnel of the bright sun shining day, is a realm of lava moats, castles and darkness. Ahh King Bowser is at work! Ominous crows and a dark woodland forest path later, the foolish lad sallies forth into this disturbing castle. At no point does the brain, instinct or every good ole' fashion fear kicking warning him. Admiral Ackbar nowhere to be found screaming, "It's a trap!" so the boy is left to his own devices.

Cue jingle sound and twinkly lights.

Concerned for his well-being Tsukune is attempting to skip out of school and run for the hills (Cue Iron Maiden) until he run smack dab into Moka Akashiya, the most loveliest girl his lids ever have to clap eyes on. The naive but good natured teen seems smitten by her and proceeds to hang out with her when he realizes there is something different about her...oh yes it could be her fangs.

Many a comedic moment in this series offering up monsters galore both male and female and because of Tsukune's good nature, the girls seem to gravitate to him. Maybe it is innocent blood, his heart will make a wonderful sacrifice to a dark deity and the like but he needs to fight them off with a crucifix and a stick. Apparently the boy's pheromone signature drives the girls crackers as he is actively pursued by a succubus, a witch and an ice creature. And before you menfolk ask, yes there is booby, upskirt jokes and many a time of them running around in their bra and panties. So glad we got that all cleared up.

With a great animation, wonderful music and voice work being top notch it is not too difficult to figure out what drew most folks to the series. The monsters vary in multiple folklore as we have lizard men, a fiery fox creature, mermaids, werewolves all with hair colors in their humanoid forms ranging in colors of the rainbow to only ones I have seen in yarn. Moka's flashbacks about Human scholastic are a bit on the vague, I was hoping to see a goofy mob of pitchforks and torches but alas none came to pass. I do love the talking bats that announce they're talking bats. Yup a momentary distraction from the action scenes, love scenes or general chaos. 

Yikes, he's got that Legend of the Overfiend look in his eye.

 

Butt Hurt Hollywood.

So folks are extremely butt hurt over Ghost in the Shell being our lead character of Motoko is going to Scarlett Johansson and I sympathize. Nothing against the actress in general. But she already is playing this uber badass character through Black Widow. Hey Marvel, where's the solo Black Widow movie? Maybe a pair-up with Hawkeye and Black Widow and two solo films there. Scarlett's body of work has managed drama, superhero flicks, romantic comedies and even some sci-fi films. Quite few points on Johansson, she is all of 5'3" does a great degree of her own stunts and has the star power to pull off Major Kusanagi.

Do I really look like the Black Widow?

That being said, taking Japan out of a Japanese product seems like a bad move, Hollywood. I understand the risk of doing a series not widely known to John Q. Public unless he is a Manga/Anime fan so I do get wanting a better known actress as an attention grabber but again this creation should stay with Japanese source material and hey nutty idea, maybe snag a few headshots for Asian actors and actresses. 

 Now I know the exact argument could be said about white characters in Marvel have become black is an issue but considering the majority of these characters are white since 1964 and frankly a little alteration isn't a bad thing.  No I did not lose my mind after Idris Elba was made Heimdall because again not a huge ordeal.   Samuel L Jackson isn't white, brunette and gray in his hair.  So what?   Psst, white folk.  It's not the 1930s so accept that characters can swap sexes and skin tones so long as the region makes sense.   The backbone of this story is centrally located in Japan and it would make sense using those locations, people and background for the film.

The biggest complaint among the guys is there are " No big titted Japanese girls to play this role." Fellas fellas let us not be too sexist piggies here. A simple bodice gives the illusion of a stacked girl. Chiaki Kuriyama (Gogo from Kill Bill 1) and Eihi Shiina from Audition and Tokyo Gore Police are but two Japanese young women that could pull of the physicality of the character as well as the look.

Besides we can cast beyond Japanese to find a girl that fits the look of Motoko easily. Given her wirework, choreography and swordplay in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Hero and House of Flying Daggers Ziyi Zhang could take a shot at the role and she is Chinese. Hell I would love to see Ji-hyun Jun from the live action Blood: The Last Vampire also audition for this role and she hails from South Korea. Need something more current? Pacific Rim's Rinko Kikuchi, an actress that has done live action adaptations of anime as well as been a voice actor for anime.

I just think Hollywood needs a slap in the face, needing to wake up and realize that not every fricking superhero, sci-fi and horror fan is WHITE. No white power, Hollywood. That's bad touch. Do your damn homework, Hollywood. Inspire future writers, astonish the viewers and set the bar high for new productions. 

Hey kids, don't I look a bit like Dolph Lundgren? 

Missing in Anime: Hellsing

Well hello all and welcome to the beginning of the week. I noted I haven't had much anime in some time. Worry not. Already had the 50 lashes implemented. This time around I knew we have a series that paramilitary units dealing with legions of the undead under the Hellsing Organization, yes after the infamous doctor/vampire hunter. With that in mind, there always needs to be an ace up one's sleeve. This is Hellsing.

Best dressed psycho 50 years running.

Based on Kouta Hirano's manga (Angel Dust, Crossfire, Drifters, Deep, Gun Mania, Magic School and The Legends of Vampire Hunter) our series was first broadcast via Fuji TV in 2001 and 2002 then later released in the US in 2003 and finished 13 episodes long. The head of the Hellsing family, a noblewoman Sir Integra Hellsion inherited her position when her father died while she was thirteen. With links of MI5, the royals and even the Catholic Church, Hellsing is aware of too many things of politics and evils.

A competing organization known as the The Iscariot Organization (named after the apostle Judas Iscariot) does not view the Hellsing Organization a valid calling given they are Protestant faith and have been known to associate with vampires willing to stave off their own execution by assisting in taking out their own brethren are natural rivals. Their goals similar courses and even worked together depending on the case by case standing but this wing of the Vatican is charged with the pursuit and elimination of all that is deemed unholy and unnatural... start with the pedophiles there, fellas.

Rat race even catches up with the monsters.

A true trump card of Hellsing's is Alucard, an ancient vampire that Integra has at her disposal as well as a former member the the D11 elite police response unit, Seras Victoria, a fledgling vampire who is subordinate to Alucard. Armed with mystical powers, vampiric abilities and a .50 caliber semiautomatic and even a .454 semiautomatic (twice the stopping power of a .44), our vampire dons a garish red suit, white gloves, shades and inverness coat. With his wicked and sadistic nature he slaughters vampires and other such supernatural creatures for his amusements, bidding his time and living it up. Seras Victoria struggles with losing her humanity, the distain D-11 has for her and her new life as a vampire.

What appeared to be utter chaos actually starts show signs of slight of hand if you will, a power behind the power keeping the D-11, Helling and Iscariot organizations busy busy so evil can make a subtle move about. Can anything be done about it? What is the ancient evil? Will good prevail?

A darker organization known as Millennium has ties to the Nazi party creating vampires through artificial means, airships and advanced firearms. Before the final days of the war, Hitler created order 666 (yup insert Iron Maiden jokes) putting funds and research into supernatural for military purposes.

With all these watchdog enforcement or administrations, it makes you wonder who do these watchmen report to? A gothic tale with modern and classic views on monsters and how humanity can fight against it.

Ah...this could go better.

Anime Week: Princess Mononoke

Howdy all and welcome to  Day 4 of Anime Week and what collection would be complete without some sci-fantasy.  Yeah we need a bit of sword and sorcery to add to our anime so I scoured the archives at the homestead and thought this would be a nice touch.  Given it is a Hayao Miyazaki (writer and director of Lupin III: The Castle Cagliostro, Lupin the 3rd, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away and Castle in the Sky) film  we are in good hands.  From a complicated conflict stretching over the world a young woman must fight for what she believes in.  This is Princess Mononoke.

I'm looking for a great warrior. 

Hii-sama: You cannot change fate.  However, you can rise to spoil it, if you so choose.








Our saga opens in the Muromachi (the dismissal of Emperor Go-Daigo and Shogun Ashikaga Takauji's reign) timeline of Japan but with some fantasy intermixed with it.  A local village is attacked by a demon and the prince of the village, Ashitaka slew it but somehow the demon's touch corrupts his fighting arm, it gives him terrifying fighting ability but the oracle of the village tells him that he must go West to find a cure.  As Ashikaga's quest begins he encounters a monk name of Jigo that tells the young prince he may find help the Great Forest Spirit (The Deer God).  A caravan heading towards to a nearby town simply called Irontown led by one Lady Eboshi which gets attacked by a gathering of wolves.  Atop one of the wolves rides a young girl named San as she seems to take great dislike to Eboshi and seems to have a deep loathing of humans.   Eboshi thanks Ashitaka and invites him to town, a town compromised of criminals, cutthroats, prostitutes and lepers.  Yes, welcome to Barter Town.  While they are lacking a Master Blaster, our hive of scum and villainy is tackling the forest gods by using firearms and gun powder to burn them down.

Ride like the wind!!!

With humanity encroaching on the forest without proper tribute to the gods, the times feel as though they are changing for the worse for nature.  A tale is spread throughout the land about the Boar God Okkoto, it is said that the god's head would give the one who possesses it immortality and long lived life.   Eboshi is determined to take Okkoto's head and gain favor to the Emperor to keep the Daimyo (robber barons or feudal lords) at bay and to never trifle with her affairs again.
San and Ashitaka decide they must join forces to battle the might of Eboshi's collective of lunatics and mercenaries in order to save the forest and preserve the life.  Perhaps he may even have time to find a cure for his demonic affliction.

Okay, I had a few observations on the film now.  Hayao Miyazaki hand drew more than 80,000 film frames of the 144,000 frames.   The English dubbing dialogue was adapted by novelist/comic book writer Neil Gaiman (Sandman, Neverwhere, MirrorMask, Stardust and American Gods) to make the translation as close as possible.  the production of this film's budget was $23.5 million making it the most expensive anime film that was made at the time.   Disney/Miramax released the film reluctantly because they were not allowed to edit or cut anything of the original print and one would almost conclude that out of spite, Disney/Miramax released the film stateside into fewer theaters than was promised.   My only real complaint of the film is I did not agree with the main characters' voice choice.

*snicker*  Sorry, it's the bamboo.  You look like a soggy wicker man.

Anime Week: Black Magic M-66

Welcome, welcome, welcome to Day 3 of Anime Week.  As I am attempting to stick to themes and genres of anime I thought now would be a good time to do a Sci-fi anime.  Yes, with its myriad of mechas, killer robots, star vessels and orbital platforms, science fiction gets a lot of love from Japanimation.   So it should not come as a surprise that this particular flick hails from the cyberpunk sub-genre manga called Black Magic M-66 created by writer/illustrator Masamune Shirow (Black Magic, Appleseed, Dominion, Ghost in the Shell and Orion) with what happens when technology you so willingly trusted with your very life takes a turn for the worse.  With that thought, you can only amaze the havoc that awaits.    This is Black Magic M-66

Sorry ma'am, no John Connors here.

Leaky: You're going after a story on the spoiler?  You're nuts!







With an aggressive android capable of moving at high speeds, agile, lethal in melee combat and packing an assortment of laser based weapons, nerve gas and an explosive core for self-destruct, it gets worse than that.  Imagine a machine capable of independent thought, tactics and strategy and will not be deterred from its objective.  That in mind, a freak lightning storm strikes the armored helicopter transport frying the pilots and causing the ride to go barreling down into a dense forest.  The android units emerge from their containment pods with the only mission parameter they know, which is a mission to find a specific target.  Their redundancy programs establish that this is their purpose for being and nothing stands in that way.   Hours later while the androids are on the move, two hunters in the woods find a Grizzly bear just smashed like a rag doll and even its thick and heavy paws are snapped and broken.   The units trail the men but they have an off-screen death to ratchet tension I suppose.  

Sir, I stepped in an exposition sinkhole.

We now get to meet Sybel, a freelance journalist with the typical anime girl build.  Yup that's right at least a large C to D cup and hourglass figure.  She pipes into a Military broadcast that an operation is underway and she grabs her cameras, tapes and cameraman Leaky to go investigate.  No sooner do they make it to the "toxic" crash site that the whole area has been sealed off by soldiers and cordoned off by trucks and men.

Tensions are a bit high in this partnership.

A Special Ops team lead by the Major, no other ID than that seems cool headed but realizes he is sending his men into a substantial forest against beings that are faster, stronger and many times more deadly than they.   With the use of massive electromagnet, the retrieval teams hope to capture and transport the M-66s with little to no fuss or muss.

I had a few quick comments on the film now.  With its fairly complex story with tech along you kind of have to go with the flow and not let your attention wander with this one, folks.  It is fast paced, hard hitting action and some nail biting moments worthy of Cameron's Terminator.  With 50 minutes on the clock you will squirm a bit in your seat waiting for the next explosion or possibly jump scare.  A fairly enjoyable movie is what it meant to me.

Form Voltron!!

Anime Week: Blood: The Last Vampire

Welcome back readers of mine for Day 2 of Anime Week.  As promised, I am sticking solely with animated films rather than anything that spawned a series, mini-series or continuation of any sorts.  That in mind, we look at a film based on the manga work of writer Benkyo Tamaoki (The Sex Philes, Tokyo Red Hood and Necromansque) whose work was intriguing enough for director/writer Mamoru Oshii (Urusei Yatsura, Patlabor, Ghost in the Shell, The Animatrix and Assault Girls) a man of anime and live-action movies to push Tamaoki's creature into the medium of anime.  This is Blood: The Last Vampire.

I fight evil with my fishing rod!

David: You SPOILER! Don't ever piss her off again! As far as we know, she's the only remaining original!





Now some of you are probably a bit huffy and point out I have already done Blood: The Last Vampire from one of my many vampire weeks.  Well, simmer down and I would point out that the film previously was the live-action version directed by Ronny Yu (Bride of Chucky, Formula 51, Freddy vs. Jason and Fearless) and while the subject matter is the same, the story varies only slightly.   The year is 1966 in Japan.  A girl name of Saya that looks of all of sixteen takes the subway where she dispatches a man in a suit with a katana that she believes to be a bat creature known as chiropterans.  Because schoolgirls always carry a 300 time folded uchigatana blade in the event of pervs.  Her handler David arrives to deal with the mess and remove the body.  It is eluded to that they may be CIA but never confirmed out right so take a guess.
From Saya's predatory instincts and hunches she tells David that the chiropterans have most likely already evaded Yokota Air Base and with Vietnam on the rise, the airbase is already twitchy enough but they are way out of their depths with beings of this nature.  They will come out of hiding, feed and then sink back into the dark depths and Saya will never have another shot at them so she volunteers to go undercover as a schoolgirl to better patrol the base grounds.  Top that, Buffy.

Saya's just fitting in at school.

Running into the school nurse, Makiho Amano when two of Saya's fellow classmates Sharon and Linda complain about a headache.  Naturally Amano preps the ibuprofen when Saya bursts into the office slicing Linda in twine and wounding Sharon revealing they are chiropterans and of course freaking the ever-loving crap out of Amano.  Saya ends up snapping her sword in the process due to its constant wear and tear and must fight these beasties with a broken blade or whatever is available.  Trust me when I say I think a tire iron or poker from a fireplace would be deadly in this girl's hands is not an exaggeration.   Can Saya defeat these monsters before the SPs wake the bloody hell up or will Japan be shrouded in their eternal darkness for generations to come?

I just had a few fun facts about the film at this time.   Blood is the first completely digitally animated anime from Japan.  Due to a ridiculous time table and money not fully available this was supposed to be a 3 part story but instead got theater distribution instead as a full feature.  The interesting thing about this film is there is no English or Japanese version as at least 3 of the voice actor switch from Japanese to English depending on whom they are speaking to.  

This one manga spawned a series of light novels, a video game for the PSP, an animated series called Blood C to compliment our film of the day but that is another story and time.

Chiropterans secretly bomb Cambodia while maintaining plausible denability..

Anime Week: Akira

Welcome to Anime Week boys and girls!!  We will begin with a controversial title that rocked the nations with its cyberpunk look, feel and dark premise to how the world will progress.   Yes, I am not referring to Pokemon.   That is a whole other kettle of fish to contend with.  I speak of the popular manga turned anime Akira.   With this intense saga of violence, the struggle for power and the corruption of the human soul, this story brought amazing visuals and a complex story was well captured on cell.  This is Akira.

The apocalypse came as we always knew it would. The Cubs won the Pennant.

Tetsuo: Twin ceramic rotor drives on each spoiler!   And these look like computer controlled anti-lock brakes! Wow, 200 horses at 12,000 rpm!





Created from the Manga (Japanese graphic novel) by writer/illustrator Katsuhiro Otomo (A Gun Report, Short Peace Peace, Highway Star, Hippa: The Little Vampire and Park)Akira lasting from 1982 to 1990 and creating more than 6 volumes brings us a similar vision in the small cell screen of the same name.

Our story begins in 1988, when a nuclear explosion destroys the better chunk of Tokyo inviting the beginning of World War III.   By the year 2019, Neo-Toyko is a wasteland of anti-government hysteria, bosozku (tribal biker gangs) and people simply getting by day to day.  Shotaro Kaneda is the leader of the Capsules in constant conflict with a rival gang known as the Clowns.   Guess the Jokers was too on the nose and DC comics would have gone crackers over it.   Kaneda's best friend Tetsuo almost runs down an esper (psionically powered being) Takashi who escaped from a secret government lab sprung by an revolutionary group of underground freedom fighters.  No sooner does that occur, heavily armed soldiers tracking Takashi scoop him up along with Tetsuo after a small firefight.  Kaneda and his whole crew get rousted and interrogated for hours to no avail because the gang has no idea what is going on.    

Let's do some crimes, man!

The military head figure Colonel Shikishima and Doctor Onishi realize that Tetsuo has the same level of psionics that to the esper Akira who gave birth to World War III and they want to either lock down his powers or outright kill the boy before Neo-Tokyo suffers a similar fate.  With martial law declared the Colonel preps block to block searches for Tetsuo and his girlfriend Kaori.   Kandea and Capsules are in deep conflict with the Clowns when Tetsuo unleashes a psychokinetic wave that devastates both gangs and starts tearing up the land.  Kandea has no choice but to join forces with the revolutionaries to bring his former friend down before there is no city left to save.

Just a few tidbits on the overall vibe of this film.  To create this film over 2,000 shots and 160,000 single cell pictures were drawn using over 327 different colors.  The interesting part of this all is the better portion of this film takes place at night, which most animators avoid like the plague due to the increased color requirements.  


Otomo's creation of a post-apocalyptic Tokyo has brought about future similar such stories such as: Demon City Shinjuko, Bubblegum Crisis and A.D. Police mixing the aftermath of the world before and the cyberpunk genre.    The themes Otomo's stories displayed where the awkward social isolation, government corruption and totalitarian concepts.

My side! Your side! MY SIDE! YOUR SIDE!

Anime Week!

Okay boys and girls, I got a decent request that did NOT involve Troma movies, slasher flicks or some obscure Japanese torture movie.  My best friend Shawn approached me with a nice simplistic idea of doing an Anime Week.  So the next five days we will tackle a plethora of anime movies of different genre.  Oh yes, there are sub genres in the anime world as you would come to expect.  A novel concept in of itself given the mass collection of Japan-animation my girlfriend Janine and I have collectively.  

Hmm, must be one of those kid kites I have heard so much about.

This of course means we will be ranging from anything to comedic standing, action, some sci-fi and even maybe a horror or two.  As always, I will do my level best to keep it PG-13 in both description and visual.  
 This particular animation process began as far back as 1934 due to the light shading process and multiple drawings creating movement that was fluid and coherent.

Sir, the weather seems a bit rough!

From the success of Gigantor, Astro Boy and Captain Harlock, the 1980's became flooded by it in the states receiving English dubbed versions of Voltron, Transformers and Robotech.   Shows like Shadowhawks, Thundercats and G.I. Joe started hiring out artists from Japan to produce the same quality work and thus animation in the states has never been the same since.  Whether the shading is as intense offering greater definition, comical expression or a battle royale with the forces of good and evil, Japanimation has altered cartoons.

TetsurooOOoOoOoo!!!!

Grab Bag Week Returns: City Hunter

Good evening and hello for Day 4 of Grab Bag Week!!!   I got started late on this one because I selfishly spent time with my girlfriend.  Yes, boo and hiss!!!   I am sure I am free from the chopping block as I thought what we haven't touched base on in a while was japanimation or anime if you prefer.    Anime as you already may know is Japanese cartoons ranging from something sweet and lovable as Pokemon to adult themed action/horror/sci-fi as Vampire Hunter D.  There of course is also Hentai (NC-17 Adult anime which is sexual scenarios, adult language and adult themes) but that is really not on the menu for discussion at this time... or possibly ever.    This time I thought I would speak of the continuous story of writer/illustrator Tsukasa Hojo's manga (Japanese comic book/graphic novel) City Hunter.  A complex man that fears next to nothing but letting down a client.  He will defend his patron even to the point of his own death, this modern-day ronin defends the cause and consumer willing to stake their life on his skills...  and he is also a bit of a horn doggy. This is City Hunter.

Big Damn Hero.

Ryo Saeba: Mokkori spoilers!!!









Residing in Toyko, the streets can be a dangerous place, not every concern or danger is acknowledged by the police so what can a girl do?  Drop a XYZ note and meet with troubleshooter sweeper Ryo Saeba.  A private bodyguard/detective with excellent martial arts prowess, superb street smarts, lay of the land and expert marksman with a .357 Colt Python.   Aside from the fact that he comes across as a skirt chasing hedonistic pervert that should be on the watch list; when the peril is high, Saeba is at his "A" game laughing in the face of death and offering a myriad of bullets in thugs' way.    The irony that these sort of different aspects of his personality come to light at all are just happy coincidence that all his clients happen to be voluptuous and beautiful women.

Speed line dodge!!

His partner Kaori Makimura manages the business, handles and screens clients plus preps Saeba to "attempt" best behavior but cannot fathom why she puts up with him at all.  With his constant flirtatious mentality towards women, he commonly treats Kaori with respect and idle teasing leading her to believe she is not his type and/or attractive enough.

There is competition in the sweeper business as a rival sweeper named "Falcon" or Umibozu tends to butt heads with Ryo.  They clearly have a history together and while they may not always agree with each others outlooks on life, there is a mutual respect; in spite of the gags that are played on one another.  
Saeko Nogami, a Toyko police detective and daughter of the chief of police is constantly outsourcing gigs to City Hunter as a means to cut down on her increasing case loads, giving him a decent paycheck and the moron keeps trying to get in her skirt rather than just accept he is at best, a competent subordinate to her.  

Hmm, that sounded a bit SMBD there for a second.   The theme of this show is anything from organized crime figures and serial killers to full-blown paramilitary groups having a shoot out with Ryo.  No way to say how the wind will blow.

I had just a few highlights to get into on this particular sensation and then back to it.   A bit of background would establish Ryo grew up in Central America during the civil war giving his a disturbing past as he fled to Japan to team-up with Kaori's older brother Hideyuki Makimura to form City Hunter but Hideyuki was
murdered and his killers taken out, Ryo feels obligated to see no harm to come before Kaori or even pursue her as a potential lover.  An oath he keeps silent from her.

Damnable credits thwarting my every turn!!!

Old School Week : Vampire Hunter D

Old School Week starts up again and this time I thought we would take in an anime.  Hmm this title will do nicely as we seem to have the need for supernatural and science fiction so let’s get to it.

So grab a refreshing soda, maybe a savory treat and find your favorite sitting chair.   This is Vampire Hunter D.

 

There he goes on a horse with no name.

Count Magnus Lee: What a wonderful night this has been! For the first time in one hundred years I haven’t been spoiled once!

From the Japanese novels of same title Hideyuki Kikuchi (Vampire Hunter D, Raiser of Gales, Demon Deathchase, Tale of the Dead Town, The Stuff of Dreams and The Rose Princess) written well over 25 novels in regards to this character and the world surrounding it.  Some time in 1999 a nuclear war occurred and the population suffered for it.  Vampires knowing all along it was only a matter of time when humanity would do such; uses their vast technology to shield certain pockets of humanity around the planet. Keeping the human population to a steady amount and given their technology is less advanced, the vampires walk among their “cattle” and causing them to live in fear and torment.  They postulate and preen that they are of great nobility and should be treated as such.

Optic blast fire!

The year is 12,090 AD; a young sheep herder named Doris Lang is making guard rounds her farm to insure no predators get to her herd when she is attack by the lord of the land Count Magnus Lee, a 10,000 year old vampire who intends on making Doris his new bride, leaves cackling as he plots, schemes and prepares for his new concubine.

Hungry Hippos: A Gothic Fairy tale.

A day later a man shrouded in black the name of D riding a cybernetic horse sees Doris is in trouble and offers her his help for 100 pieces of gold.  She even offers herself to him because she is completely desperate to fight the vampires.    Our young vampire hunter assures her that will not be necessary and he will take the job.   The counts’ minions and even the count’s own daughter Lamika feels utter distain to bringing a country bumpkin human into the House of Lee and she is torn between her loyalty to her father and her disgust for her would be stepmother.

And now I just have a few points about this anime.  Lead animation designer Yoshitaka Amano(Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy VIII, 1001 Nights, Gatchaman and Angel’s Egg)and animation character designer/animator Noriyasu Yamauchi (City Hunter, Gunbuster, Megami Paradise, Agent Aika and Cowboy Bebop) were given this challenge to create not only this post-apocalyptic vision but to give off elements of terror and gore.  I say now this IS NOT for the kids, people.  With depictions of extreme violence, some nudity and more than a fair share of snark, this is truly an adult themed animation.  

Batter up!

We have elements of mystery, intrigue, violence and the animosity between the human working class and residing authority.  The realm is almost a new dark age with technology cobbled from the previous years prior to the nuclear holocaust.  This gives of the feel of a sci-fi fantasy and old west theme which makes for a decent tale of our unknown vampire hunter and why he alone must step into the darkness to destroy it.