New Slayers scans from Dragon Magazine

These are scans from the July 2008 issue of Dragon Magazine, featuring fresh and new pictures of the Slayers series coming out on July :D I'm super excited!







For translations and more info, go HERE

Hilary Duff in new Disney Cellphone ads

Hilary Duff has made a "magical" appearance to promote a Disney vamped phone in Japan called Disney Mobile.





I personally think it's really cute. Wish such a thing was available in the states. If it is, I want in!

Bad Movie "To See" List

I may not be able to complete this over the course of the Summer, but I can start! Some may surprise me and actually be good, but most of the time I can spot a stinker by the cover alone. Kids movies seem to be the most "fun" to sit through, which is what this list basically consists of.

Bug Off!
Ghost Club
I Downloaded a Ghost
Pirate Kids: Blackbeard's Lost Treasure
The Kids Who Saved Summer

High-King, Cinderella Complex

High-King's one-shot single and support song for Morning Musume's rendition of Cinderella, "Cinderella Complex." The song itself won't be available until June 11th, but the video is already online.

I have to say, both the song and video are OK, but it's not particularly memorable - and where's the fairy tale? It could be because I'm a fairy tale junkie, but I was hoping for a little less "hip hop" and a little more sparkly. You know, have the girls in ballgowns, or wearing tiaras, or holding a glass slipper, something. Incorporate something into it besides a ballroom in the video. The lyrics fit, at least - supposedly it's about a girl who tries to be good, but still can't find her Prince Charming.

Basically, H!P, if you have to use "hip hop," why didn't you start out with a sweet little waltz or other typical storybook cliche, stop for a second, then jump into the other style? Or "mix" the waltz music in at some parts? I feel disappointed.

Heidi Club

If ever I get to go to Japan, I hope one of my stops will be Heidi Club, a cafe/store centered around the show Heidi of the Alps.

Despite the fact that this proves popularity for this old anime still thrives, I doubt it would do even 10% as well if licensed for the US - and that makes me very sad.

There is a children's area set up with a TV that plays episodes, a menu that consists mainly of biscuit treats and drinks (like milk with honey and hot cocoa), figures of characters in the window, etc. Looks very cute!

Blogs featuring pictures:

http://www.akibatic-blog.com/archives/50777683.html
http://ameblo.jp/akibacafe/entry-10040689976.html

Official site: http://www.heidi.ne.jp/hp/shop/main.html

Nintendo DS - Mario Kart

It took me awhile to get this, but I finally did and I have yet to regret it.

I have always found racing games fun but held a warm spot in my heart for Nintendo's wacky characters and their arsenal of banana peels, koopa shells and mushrooms. If you ever played Super Mario Kart (I spent many an hour with this as an 11-year-old back when it first came out) or any of its future incarnations, there are a number of "retro" tracks you can experience that should indulge your nostalgic needs - or, if you're like me and never owned a GBA or N64, you can get a feel for, if only slightly, what those games were like. There are also 16 new tracks that range from "normal" to zipping through a pinball machine and even a clock!

Of course, the old fan favorite of "battle mode" is also included, and I think you can play against friends if they have Mario Kart themselves. And if you have Wi-Fi or can locate a "hot spot," you can race against people from all over the world, so this game should never get boring.

Definitely recommended!

Official site: http://www.mariokart.com/mkds/launch/index.html
Youtube search: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=%22mario+kart+ds%22&search_type

Inuyasha, volume 30

-Inuyasha and the gang's search for a village of ogres has led them to a quiet little area inhabited completely by widowed and childless women, who seem kind and hospitable enough. But something dark lurks around them, and no man, not even a half-demon, is safe from something that desires their hide to become powerful again.
-Sango and Miroku's potential relationship is tested when Miroku can't keep away from the ladies and Sango is so distracted danger befalls her and everyone else.
-The demon baby Hakudoshi and his "guardian," Kagura, are on the search for the final jewel shard. He believes that it is hidden between the borders of the afterworld and this world, and entry is pretty much impossible. But could it be that Inuyasha and Kagome have already been there?

This series is really starting to drag for me. I'm sick of Naraku and all of his little "creations" that he expells from his body and I just want them all to be killed off already. But as of April there's about 23 volumes more, ergh...

Kirarin Revolution, episodes 63 & 64

(きらりん☆レボリューション) 2006

Kirari (voiced by Koharu Kusumi of Morning Musume!) is a middle schooler who LOVES her food. So much so that it's scary! While girls her age swoon over idols, Kirari swoons over her dad's cooking, and couldn't care less about the life of a celebrity. But when she saves the pet turtle of Seiji of pop group SHIPS and falls in love, she decides to become an idol herself so that they can be together (or so she hopes).



Episode 63:

Kirari has been assigned the job of helping Hikaru overcome her stage fright problem. It'll be tough, but it must be done if a successful debut is to take place. She seems to do OK, and even manages to sing in front of a small audience, but still has not warmed up to her supposed mentor. Hikaru even calls her a bother at one point and tells her to leave the room. Kirari is understandably hurt, but she still shows up for a special concert in which Hikaru is set to appear as a guest. Poor Hikaru, however, is still very much not in the clear, and runs off stage when the spotlight is on her. Since it seems even perky and friendly Kirari can't reach the newbie, will it be up to SHIPS push past her wall of fear?



Episode 64:

Hikaru still isn't ready to go it alone, so the chairman decides Kirari will be paired up with her in a singing "unit" called KiraPika. An old "friend" of the mouse director also shows up and is introduced to Hikaru as a means of motivation - but Hikaru hates cats, and that's exactly what "Fuu" is. What's worse, Fuu went to the same university as Naa-san and holds a burning hatred for him. Naa-san was always number one in grades and popularity, leaving the other cat frustrated and angry. This meeting can't be good. And even worse? "Izumi" is back, and "she's" as determined as ever to win Hiroto's heart. With Fuu challenging Naa-san to a competition and Izumi challenging Kirari to the same, what a crazy, combined spectable that will be!

Mamotte! Lollipop anime licensed by Funimation

From Anime News Network:

Funimation announced that it has acquired the Save Me! Lollipop (Mamotte! Lollipop) romantic comedy anime from the Japanese publisher Kodansha. The story centers around a girl named Nina who swallows a Crystal Pearl after mistaking it for a lollipop. Two sorcerers from another world sudden appear to claim the Crystal Pearl as part of a critical trial. The two vow to protect Nina from other competing sorcerors until one or the other can safely retrieve the jewel and win the trial.

Director Noriyoshi Nakamura (Dragon Slayer, My Santa) adapted this anime from Michiyo Kikuta's Mamotte! Lollipop manga, which ran in Kodansha's Nakayoshi shōjo manga magazine. The anime aired 12 episodes in Japan in 2006. Funimation plans to release the series in one DVD set in late 2008.

Only the first two episodes were fansubbed so I won't bother removing them from the blog.

Fandom "Wikis"

Recently I discovered that some of my fandoms have whole online "wikipedias" created for them.

Asian Pop Culture Wiki
Muppet Wiki
Pokemon Wiki
Sims 2 Wiki
Super Mario Bros. Wiki

One additional website that may be of interest. A site that gives a "history" of the activity of fans of certain media, including when fansites and forums were first opened and hot topics fans tend to argue about.

Fandom History

Cosmic Baton Girl Comet-san, episode 4

(コメットさん) 2001

12-year-old Princess Comet has no interest in her royal duties. She'd much rather play with little stars in the Haromonica Star-World system than fulfill anyone's expectations. On the evening of a ball meant to introduce Comet to the prince of Tamborine Star-World, he runs away, and the only way to know him is from the "twinkle" in his eyes. Now it's been decided that Comet will go to Earth to find him and set things right - but can she make the time between having so many fun adventures?

In this episode, Comet joins the twins on her first trip to the zoo. Just before the entrance, Comet and Rababou get into a fight about finding the prince (Comet reveals she doesn't care at all for the prince, she came to Earth to play and have fun!), which upsets her little friend. He decides to go off on his own to find the royal boy, and Comet agrees that they're both perfectly capable of doing things without the other around. Well, Rababou runs into trouble when a monkey mistakes him for her baby, and Comet leaves him behind. However, later she feels guilty and tries to check on him. When she only gets a cry for help "on the other end" (she made a star mark before they left the zoo) she decides to rush in for a rescue. We also learn that Tsuyoshi is popular among the girls, and the mom of Pani-kun (the weird little kid that thinks everything is mysterious) wonders why Comet is there when she should be in school. And she's never seen a zoo animal, either! How strange.

Hime-chan no Ribbon, Volume One DVD

Just arrived in the mail today!



Contains episodes 1-6 (for a Japanese DVD, 6 episodes for 3800 yen is really good!). There wasn't any special insert, no collectible post card or anything, but I don't really mind. The cover is colorful and has small pictures with each episode description posted on the back.

I'm just so happy to finally own this on DVD :D

Super Mario music

Some fun and clever Super Mario music videos I found on Youtube. If you're bored or just feel like being entertained, these should do the trick. Keep in mind they are mostly "old school" oriented. You won't find Mario Galaxy, kiddies. It really brings back some childhood memories just watching them :)

Super Mario Bros theme, midi-fied. Neat!



Super Mario Bros. 3 theme (done on Mario Paint). Pretty cool! I really wanted Mario Paint when I was younger, but I never got it (although once or twice I had the chance to play it at someone else's house).



Princess Peach sings "The Sweet Escape." Pixelated hilarity ensues.



For the grand finale, somebody with WAY too much free time got Super Mario World to actually make songs with sound effects from the game. Prepare to have your mind blown.

Train Man: Densha Otoko

Densha Otoko (translated to Train Man) is the story of a 22 year old otaku (geek), who, when not working, spends his time watching anime, surfing the net, and generally living in his own little world.


Train Man and the woman who comes to be referred to as "Hermes" (the brand of the cups she sent).

One day while riding home on the train he saves a pretty young woman from an aggressive drunk, and in thanks she sends him a set of expensive cups a few days later. He is excited and overjoyed at the prospect of a girl giving him positive attention. However, with no prior romantic experience or real life friends, he goes to a online message board for advice. There he meets an unhappy married couple (who don't even know the other is there), a nurse getting over a bad breakup, an emo-ish young boy, and three fellow geeks (they crack me up), who are all too eager to lend a hand.


The three otaku friends who help Train Man win his dream girl, while at the same time lament their own lack of love and praise him for being at a higher level.

Train Man gives them updates at every available moment, and they in turn give him support and tips (such as staking-out possible date spots, and talking him into getting a makeover) as he moves forward step by step. Through it all he manages to touch them, as they learn to gather their own courage and step out into the world.


Tea at Hermes' house.

Overall I would say that this is quite cute. The characters are lovable and the soundtrack is upbeat and fitting. The plot is predictable, but that doesn't make it less enjoyable. If you're tired of Hollywood's tendency to "sexy" things up, you'll like the sweet and innocent romance portrayed.

Besides the movie, there are a few comic series and a TV show. I am skeptical that Train Man exists in real life, however (this is supposedly based on a true story), but I guess it doesn't really hurt anything.

I'll save saying anything else to avoid spoilers. But if you like Japanese films and/or are curious about this Japanese obsession, check it out!

Train Man has been released in the USA through Viz and is available HERE