One of this year's most interesting releases is a collaboration piece between old and new; a clash of style and time...
It's hard to be an anime or manga fan and not hear the name Osamu Tezuka dropped sometime in your life. The proverbial "Father of Manga" is responsible for much more than any contemporary can claim fame to. Probably even more than any current mangaka. His life's work is so ingrained in the history of anime and manga, and in the minds of the Japanese, it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to call him the history of anime and manga. Titles such as Astro Boy, Black Jack, Kimba, and Phoenix still amaze and intrigue throngs of fans today.
While it might be difficult to find an equivalent of Osamu Tezuka's stature in today's industry, there's no doubt as to mangaka and character designer Mine Yoshizaki's success. Starting out as a doujin artist, Mine's fame ballooned after his piece de resistance, Keroro Gunsou, was published in Shonen Ace, recently winning the 50th Shogakukan Manga Award in 2005. Born only a little less than two decades before Osamu's tragic death in '89, Mine was surely influenced, if only grazingly, by some of Osamu's work. Though Mine was a child of the Gundam era ( and a huge Gundam fan; when he was apprenticed to Katsu Aki, it was said Mine could draw flawless single frames of the RX-78-2 Gundam with only a passing glance) , and his work reflects it, homage is not something beyond his scope.
Mine is known in part for his subtle but cleverly placed allusions but in some instances, work is adapted forthright. As is the case in the picture to the left paying homage to Osamu's controversial Fushigi na Melmo series, where Osamu's style is shadowed and tweaked by Mine's own unique design. More than a simple piece of "fan art", a few months ago it was announced that the illustration would gain a dimension and have its very own set of PVC figures. Pictures of the decoration master were released soon thereafter, featuring production by Organic, sculpt by 小林真 (Makoto Kobayashi), and an undecided release date somewhere in the month of September. Tentatively retailing for around 7,350円, the fusion of two great mangaka's style is something not often seen in standard vendor releases. Definitely one to be on the look out for. Play-Asia is taking allocations as I type though it looks like the Melmo set might be delayed into October. A short amount of time to wait to gain this piece of history.
Update(9/28/08): Osamu Tezuka X Mine Yoshizaki Collaboration Fushigi na Melmo PVC set was released yesterday the 27th of September.
26 September, 2008
25 September, 2008
Manufacturer Megahouse claimed some territory yesterday with the creation of a new series of Idolm@ster PVCs, "Brilliant Stage"...
A departure from their Excellent Model but very much related to their recent niche "mini" brands like CAPCOMANIAX, Brilliant Stage gathers the lovely ladies of iM@s in a largely overdue collection. The first two characters to be featured are the eccentric 1/7 Amami Haruka and 1/7 Takatsuki Yayoi. Both are sculpted by 猫丸 (Nekomaru) of NekoHouse, and saw their first inception during WonFes 07 (Haruka during the Summer event and Yayoi during the Winter) as 1/6 scale resin kits. Though MegaHouse has noticeably overhauled both the original sculpt and paint for each; bringing two pieces exemplifying the quality we've come to expect from them. Both Haruka and Yayoi are retailing for around 7,140円 and 
are scheduled to be released mid-December of this year.
Hopefully, MegaHouse will pick up more of NekoHouses iM@S resin kits under the Brilliant Stage label in the future. I can only pray for Deko-chan.
Source:[Ami Ami]
24 September, 2008
Kumatanchi has been stirring the collective otaku consciousness since news of its existence and yesterday, the 23rd, the flood gates opened...
One of the reasons this DS game has gained so much attention is its association with Shigatake, the creator of the well-known Habanero-tan character and her respective 4koma. Though Shigatake worked hands on with the project, Ashinaga Oji-san, responsible for the Habanero-tan based doujin soft game Habanero-tan House, and developer Vanillaware were primarily responsible for bringing Kumatanchi to fruition.
Kumatanchi plays very similar to a virtual pet simulator (as everyone thinks back to their first Tamagotchi) in that you play the role of caring for the moe anthropomorphism of a moon bear named Kumatan as she adjusts to her new home in a zoo, along side other Shigatake designed characters such as Nekokun and Toraneesan. This involves feeding her, playing with her, and giving her constant attention. If that sounds like more fun that you can handle (at least we of the Tamagotchi generation may think so), Play-Asia currently has stock.
I'd like to say that I'd be getting Kumatanchi and having future posts about it but, sadly, my DS has succumbed to the void (aka I lost it) and funds will have to be amassed before I can claim another.
Source:[Akibablog]
20 September, 2008
Everyone's go-to source for up-to-date R2 anime releases, Amazon.co.jp now has volume 1 of the upcoming Kannagi anime listed...
Available for grabs is a standard edition containing basic content for 3,990円. Specs include:
Thus revealing that Volume 1 will be released roughly a month and a half after Kannagi airs on MBS on October 4th and will contain around 2 widescreen episodes.
Besides the standard release is a limited edition counterpart for 4,788円 that includes:
Source:[Amazon.co.jp]
18 September, 2008
Amiami updates for today, the 18th, included an alternate color release of Wave's highly anticipated Yoko PVC...
The news comes not too far after Wave claimed YOSHI's delectable swimsuit sculpt for their own and that the regular Yoko Swimsuit Ver. PVC (which can be found here) would see a release in January of '09. The most prominent difference in this special release is, of course, delicious tan-lines. In fact, this version harks back to YOSHI's original more so than the standard release. Besides the noticeably difference in the construction of the mouth, the original included similar tan-lines on lighter skin (seen here) while Wave's alternate version has them on a darker Yoko. Hopefully, online vendors will pick up the Special Color release just as readily as they did the standard one. Both PVCs will be released in January with roughly the same price, so really, besides limited quantity, there's no reason they shouldn't. Personally, I prefer the delicious tan-lines but I can already see myself purchasing both...
Source:[Amiami]
16 September, 2008
Yesterday marked the monumental release of the GUREPARA MV collection's final installation. Words cannot describe...
Yoh Yoshinari, known for his work with Gainax's Diebuster, Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, and Evangelion directed this awe-inspiring clip set to the Gurren Lagann BGM of「お前ら全員燃えてしまえっ！！！」roughly translating to "All You Bastards! Get Fired Up!!!". The MV is available for both streaming and direct download until the 21st of September when it will be taken down. Three days later on the 24th, the Gurren Lagann Parallel Works DVD containing all the GUREPARA MVs created for the groundbreaking project will be released for 3150円.
Perhaps the most gripping, profound, and revealing GUREPARA clip in the entire series, "All You Bastards! Get Fired Up!!!" provides the stuff of many heated debates in a format so close to the story structure of Gurren Lagann that it will move you like no other before it. That stuff being the origins of Lord Genome, the sole oppressing force in the first story arc of GL. And what is revealed is both shocking and, in a way, saddening.
The MV opens with a young boy, Genome, perched humbly atop a
small spiral pillar. He is flocked by many animals with which he seems to be bonding, distracting himself from his loneliness . The scenery is depicted as a utopia, the supposed pinnacle of human society. However, it is moreso melancholic, showing run-down streets and buildings. Then, unnannounced, the Anti-Spirals launch an assault, we can assume, for the purposes of population control and check of the Spiral race. Young Genome, along with all Spirals, rises up against this oppression and, in time, creates an insurmountable fleet of Spiral Knights from around the universe to tackle head-on and unabated the Anti-Spiral force.
At this point, Genome's power is unparalleled. He is the figurehead, the representative, the God of the Spiral race. A God who, on par with his followers; his friends; his race, fights to protect existence, meaning, and all else hanging in the balance. However, he is an imperfect God. Perhaps because he retains an individualistic mentality; a "Me vs. Them" mentality that, though he fights with his race, has the potential to corrupt him. Perhaps because, much like the Snake of Genesis, the Anti-Spiral deceives and depresses him beyond hope or recovery. Ultimately, what withstands speculation and destroys the Spiral race, as it is revealed, is not the Anti-Spirals but Genome's shortcoming, Genome's failure, Genome's weakness.
The poison of a confused, tormented, and immovable mind spews from Genome's soul, leading him to mutiny most foul. He destroys, single handily, the fleet of Spiral Knights that joined him in their mutual struggle. Harnessing his own Spiral power, Genome transforms into ChouGinga and continues to decimate his own people. Eventually, forcing them underground. A singular and lonely existence. Maybe justified by Genome as a "safe" existence; one meant to be.
The Beastmen of Gurren Lagann are created possibly to take advantage of a loop-hole in Anti-Spiral law, or for Genome's own ingratiation, reverting back to the familiar ways of his childhood; a simpler time. Then, in fitting parallel structure, we see Genome ascend his throne, a throne similar to that of his younger self. A throne now symbolizing a sad dominance based in submission to a supposed higher power. And it remains so.
Looks like the folks at HLJ expect Wave's recently acquired 1/8 scale Yoko PVC to be a hot seller come January...
Being solicited under HLJ's "Early Bird Special", a feature that allows customers to pre-order items with 5% off retail when the item comes in-stock, Yoko will be discounted from the gate. The catch, and clever marketing tactic, being that the discount only applies until a certain date or until all pre-orders have been allocated. Yoko's "order by" date is October 16th and going through with it will save you around 260円 off HLJ's original price of 5200円, bringing the total to around $47 USD. While you aren't exactly saving enough to fund NASA shuttle launches, any amount deducted from HLJ's already low prices is enough to warrant diving in headfirst and looking back later. January will be here sooner than you, or I, know.
Source:[HLJ]
13 September, 2008
After 4 months of diligent wait, the masses rejoice as Kotobukiya's overhauled Clalacan Philias PVC, Clalaclan Noir, was released today, September 13th...
Announced back in May of this year, Clalaclan Noir was a very promising species. A handful of photos previewing the prospective sculpt were released soon after word hit the street. While these photos didn't quite stir up fervor for this seemingly standard alternate color re-release, news that Clalaclan's second coming would be largely different than her first did the job. Tony Taka was to have directed the retooling of Houjun Otoyama's original sculpt and Clalaclan as a whole, not just her dress, was to receive a new paint job, base, and material for her skin. Making this re-release almost anything but.
From the pictures of the final product released by AmiAmi, all of the aforementioned elements have been applied, and rather successfully in my opinion. Her skin doesn't have as much of a "plastic" sheen, as was the case in the first Philias, and is slightly more tanned. Facial structure and features have also gone under the (putty) knife, with some major improvements. All in all, just as worth checking out compared to Philias' first release, if not more.
Source:[AmiAmi]
09 September, 2008
And now for something completely different...
Figure Title:Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann Kamina 1/8 PVC
Character Name: Kamina (VA:Katsuyuki Konishi)
Original Character Designer:Atsushi Nishigori
Sculptor: Black Sabbath (Eye Up/OWL)
Source Material: Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann (TV anime)
Scale: 1/8 (26cm)
Base: Color: Transient Blue Shape: Oval Features: Dai-Gurren Dan Insignia
Necessary Removable Parts: Base connector pieces
Removable Parts/Accessories: Kamina's sunglasses, Cape
Castoffability: None
Materials: PVC, ABS
Packaging: Windowed Box, 2 Plastic Interlocking Molds
Extras/Pack-ins: Illustrated backdrop, design-oriented box
Release Date: Late August, 2008
Manufacturing/Production: Eye Up
Distribution:Sol International
Original Dealer: OWL
Original Release: Wonder Festival 2008 Winter, 12 part Resin Kit
Approximate Retail Price:≈8,000円
Current Availability: Moar liek a lack there of amirite
Related PVCs: Kamina Strap
07 September, 2008
I received my first issue of the MFLOG publication, or Modeler's Festival Log, yesterday afternoon...
MFLOG is a hodgepodge collection of figures, models, sculptures, and kits presented at all the
major hobby events held throughout Japan, such as WonFes or C3xHobby. Some might be familiar with "WFLOG" or the Wonder Festival Log released every year, cataloging all the interesting pieces seen at the WonFes events. MFLOG actually derives from the pages of WFLOG, where it was first seen as a humble column. It was only until recent did publisher Toyspress segregate little MFLOG from its more established sibling. And because it did, a comprehensive guide book exists for all major events, and not just WonFes. The most recent volume covers major releases from the first portion of 2008 and, as is the trend of both WFLOG and MFLOG, is released with multiple covers. 08/09's selection being Space Look Yoko, Asuka, or a yellow bug-looking robot. I obviously opted for the former.
MFLOG is organized, first and foremost, with respect to figure sculptors and the fruits of their labor we so vigorously enjoy. The layout of the mook (not quite a magazine, not quite a book) is such that each sculptor present in the community is given his or her own "section", if you will, of MFLOG in which one, or many, of their pieces is shown. For example, this 2 page spread of a resin kit seen to the left is sculpted by zenko. Though zenko and other prominent figure sculptors such as Enoki Tomohide have numerous entries in MFLOG, their comeuppances are never far away, always listed in the same format providing such information as the figure title, series the character derives from, material, dealer, number of parts, first appearance, and much more.
The MFLOG series is obviously concentrated on bishoujo figures and garage kits, but has a small, if not
diversified, portion devoted to other works of art such as military models, mecha from classic anime, and just plain sculptures of everyday things like animals. Though I'm not a big fan of the aforementioned, this inclusion really emphasizes the "hobby" aspect present in both bishoujo garage kits and scale models of the Yamato, for example. It's the love of the hobby that unites all.
To conclude, MFLOG is a treasure trove of figure related information. Any collector, modeler, or fan looking to learn more about the hobby would be hard pressed not to own this, past, or upcoming volumes of MFLOG. It's just too good to pass up.
Source:[Toyspress]
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