1 year anniversary!

My blog is now a year old - hurray! Here's to another year, and another, and another! Originally I planned to focus only on Japanese stuff, but it's obvious I've branched out. How did that happen?

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Funimation licenses Slayers Revolution & Evolution-R

From Anime News Network:

The North American distributor FUNimation Entertainment has announced on Monday that it has licensed the Slayers Revolution fantasy comedy anime series from Enoki Films. This 2008 anime is the fourth television series based on Hajime Kanzaka and Rui Araizumi's novel series, after the first Slayers series, Slayers Next, and Slayers Try. The first three Slayers television series were previously licensed by Central Park Media, and then FUNimation picked up their licenses in 2005.

Like the previous Slayers projects, Slayers Revolution follows the comic misadventures of the sorceress Lina Inverse (Megumi Hayashibara) and the swordsman Gourry Gabriev (Yasunori Matsumoto) in a fantasy land. Several other familiar characters in the franchise make appearances during the series, and Takashi Watanabe (Boogiepop Phantom, Ikki Tousen, Lost Universe) directed all four series. The 13 Slayers Revolution episodes aired in Japan from July to September, and a fifth series, Slayers Evolution-R, will continue the story in January.

Update: According to FUNimation's press release, the company will release the complete series on DVD in 2010. However, the website lists a 2009 date.

Update 2: FUNimation has confirmed with ANN that 2009 is the scheduled date for the digital release.This literally came out just 30 minutes ago!

Update 3: FUNimation lists its Slayers Revolution license as a 26-episode series. Hajime Kanzaka, the author of the original Slayers light novels, had indicated that Slayers Revolution and Slayers Evolution-R were originally planned as one 26-episode series with a production break in between the two halves.

Update 4: FUNimation has confirmed that it has licensed both Slayers Revolution and its follow-up, Slayers Evolution-R.

Smurfs links

If you're feeling nostalgic for The Smurfs and want to look at interesting websites about them or meet fellow fans, these links should help:

Blue Cavern

Kitty's Cavern

SmurfySteve's Smurf and Snork Forum

Three Apples Tall

Jellaby, Volume One

Portia Bennett is lonely. Though she is smart for her age and tries to be social, none of the other kids at school seem to want to have anything to do with her. Her home life isn't much better, with a mom that works all the time and a dad missing and presumed dead. One night, Portia finds an unexpected friend in a large purple creature she names "Jellaby." He (she?) never says a word and Portia presumes him to be lost, deciding to help Jellaby get back home, wherever that might be. Eventually a kid named Jason joins the group after Jellaby is accidentally exposed to him, and Portia has no choice but to let him in on the secret. Together they find a possible clue to Jellaby's origin and must venture alone to Toronto, a mission with unknown dangers at every corner.

Jellaby is a seriously cute and deceptively simple story. It's interesting that most of the coloring consists of shades of purple, though occasionally you see a dark shade of red, some yellow and a small amount of green. You'd think it'd be distracting, but it works very well. There is mystery and suspense on just where Jellaby comes from, where Portia's dad is, and even what a series of upsetting dreams/flashbacks Portia's been having might mean. I should warn you, however, that the story does not wrap up in this volume - there is another one on the way, set to be released in April of 2009 (ugh). This could definitely be enjoyed by comic enthusiasts, young and old.

Spears Christmas photoshoot

Pictured below are one of my Sims families: Blade (red dress), Jace (blue suit), Knife (gray suit), Fork (white tux), and Wanda (green dress).

Rainbow Brite Christmas

DOWNLOAD

This Christmas album featuring Rainbow Brite may be corny (and the first song is terrible), but if you ever loved this blonde girl in your childhood, or are simply curious, add this to your collection of holiday listens.

Holiday Must Watches!

In no particular order:

Movies:

1. Muppet Christmas Carol
2. Home Alone
3. The Santa Clause

TV Specials:

1. Jim Henson's The Christmas Toy
2. Muppet Family Christmas
3. A Chipmunk Christmas
4. Mickey's Christmas Carol
5. A Charlie Brown Christmas
6. Garfield Christmas

Alvin and the Chipmunks Holiday set: Christmas

Paramount recently released a DVD set featuring Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas specials by Alvin and the Chipmunks. I shall review each disc as their respective holiday arrives.

Disc Three: Christmas

A young boy named Tommy is bed-ridden with a mysterious illness, and may not make it through the holidays. Meanwhile, Alvin and The Chipmunks are anxious and excited for the holidays, caught up in the festivities and consumerism. But when Alvin finds out about Tommy, he gives away his treasured "golden echo harmonica" so that Tommy might get better - and soon after finds out that during The Chipmunks upcoming performance at Carnegie Hall, he's been assigned a harmonica solo. Too afraid to tell Dave what he did, Alvin attempts to make quick cash and buy another one in time.

Also included are two episodes from the 80s TV series:

Merry Christmas, Mr. Carroll - Alvin is so caught up in researching what he wants for Christmas, he neglects his homework and paper route, among other things. An elderly neighbor, Mr. Carroll, is considered mean by Alvin for demanding timely delivery of his paper and not understanding his "important" Christmas dilemma. But when Alvin falls asleep while writing an essay at the last minute about holiday spirit, he may get the wake up call he badly needs.

Dave's Wonderful Life - Times are hard on Dave. His song writing is in a dry spell, his car is as good as dead, and his kids expect to go to a camp they can't afford this year. Believing the chipmunks are better off without him, Dave takes a nap and comes across a discovery he should've realized long ago.

As I said in my review for the Halloween and Thanksgiving disc, check this out if you're a Chipmunks fan and/or simply want to see the 80s show finally on DVD. The Christmas special is a classic and a definite mustsee for those looking to get into the spirit. The TV episodes aren't so bad and definitely tie in with the theme of the disc.

Ranma 1/2, volume 22

Ranma is back for his 22nd round of adventures!

-Ranma, on his way back from school, comes across a savagely beaten Ryoga and Mousse, who claim men with inhuman powers have taken Akane and Shampoo to The Cat Cafe. As they arrive, Ranma is just in time to catch Akane, who had just been flung across the room. A very dangerous guest is there; Herb, the leader of the Musk Dynasty (a warrior tribe with the powers and slight appearance of animals) from China. Ranma, angered with the way Akane had been treated, fights Herb and ends up getting wet, turning into a woman. Seeing this, Herb decides to punish Ranma by splashing a special water on him, which it turns out "locked" Ramna into this female form, possibly forever. If he wants the cure, he, Ryoga and Mousse must follow their new enemies to find it.

Barbie in A Christmas Carol review

Barbie tells the story of Eden Starling, a famous singer in Victorian England. But despite her beautiful voice and appearance, she is a self-centered diva who can't even manage to be kind to childhood friend Catherine. On Christmas Eve, after demanding the employees of her theater report for rehearsal the next day (despite personal plans) she is visited by her late Aunt Marie. The grouchy woman who raised Eden with the motto "In a selfish world, the selfish succeed," wants to set things right for her niece before it's too late. Three Christmas spirits are the key to this, but is Eden willing to listen?

I came into this movie expecting to be disappointed or overwhelmed with cornball antics. That was not the case. Though it's been altered from the original Christmas Carol, they didn't do so in a bad way. Even the token cute animal mascot (Chuzzlewit) was actually funny and likable. The music was very nice, it's too bad the songs weren't quite long enough for them to make a side soundtrack like in the past movies. I think my favorite of the Christmas spirits would have to be Christmas Past. She was a giddy, hyper fangirl who spent most of her time goofing around with Eden and wanting to have fun. It was great.

As for the animation, it looks like they took a step or two back in the quality department. It's as though they made it around Nutcracker and forgot to release it until now. It takes some getting used to. Maybe they were rushed for time? Who knows.

And Barbie? She actually acted like a normal human being, expressing annoyance, impatience and anger at Kelly for not wanting to go to the charity ball. I was surprised! I was also surprised that Eden didn't get a love interest, but since it's not a "Princess" movie, I guess I shouldn't have expected one (even though Ebenezer did have a love interest, even if it ended tragically). Catherine got one, though - good for her!

Overall it's pretty good, so if you have or know a 3 year old and somehow you get pulled into watching it, fear not. It's nothing to sigh over. In fact, go out and buy it for yourself.

Morning Musume in Cinderella DVD review

Released on December 3rd, this DVD release consists of Morning Musume's performance of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella. It consists of two DVDs (Act I and Act II), both about 80 minutes in length.

I have always enjoyed this musical, so combining it with one of my favorite music groups was like a dream. Definitely more light-hearted and fun than their last play, Ribbon no Kishi, a rather dark story about a crossdressing princess. It made you feel good the whole way, even if you couldn't understand the dialogue. However, all you have to do is dig up the 1997 Disney (or other) version and you should be mostly set.

The costumes are stunning (Cinderella's ballgown was particularly beautiful), colorful and glittery under the stage lights. I was mesmerized and wished I could be performing with them, just so I could wear one of the dresses for awhile.

I think some of the humor was probably lost on Japanese audiences (like the door that wouldn't close, and the king's pants), as I hardly heard them laugh at all. It was surreal listening to the songs I'm used to being sung in Japanese, and was certainly a learning experience.

All of the girls did a good job, Ai was particularly excellent (she could even cry on cue). To note, the king seriously creeped me out. "He" (the actor behind the character was a woman) was like The Burger King's even creepier brother. I hated the hair! And he really should've invested in a royal belt or special shampoo or something ;)

I hope they do another musical like this again, because it really suited them. Actually, as I was watching them fly about on wires I thought of Peter Pan for some reason.

The Archies Christmas Album review

1. Here Comes Santa Claus
2. Up on the Housetop
3. Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree
4. Holly Jolly Christmas
5. Jingle Bell Rock
6. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
7. Run Rudolph Run
8. Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
9. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
10. Sleigh Ride
11. Archies Christmas Party
12. Christmas in Riverdale

While pretty generic, this is a cute, wholesome and harmless album that would be good for any Archie comics fan, and especially for people who love any and every Christmas album they can get their hands on. Betty and Veronica dominate the vocals, and you'll occasionally hear Archie, Jughead and Reggie (a shame they weren't featured more, but the CD title does say "Featuring Betty and Veronica"). However, I can't distinguish who is supposed to be who, though I guess it doesn't really matter. It also comes with two original tracks, "Archies Christmas Party" and "Christmas in Riverdale."

Buy here at Amazon.com

Emma, volume three

On the train ride back to her home town, Emma comes across a sweet and talkative young woman who is traveling with her mistress. Before she knows it, Emma finds herself with a new job. Overwhelmed with new rules and a more numerous staff (used to being the only servant), along with being sick for her old life, Emma must learn to adjust. Meanwhile, William is throwing himself into the "correct" life of the rich, working harder, attending things his old self would scoff at, in an attempt to forget Emma. Both are struggling, and both would never dream of ever finding each other again. But one person our young maid meets may just be a fateful connection.

I felt so sorry and sad for them in this volume. I don't think Kelly would approve of Emma running away and finding herself in an endless loop of living the "downstairs" life. She would be sad that her poor almost-daughter had been seperated from William and would probably never see him again. And William... I understand his anger, his giving them what they want but doing so in a "I don't really mean this but I'll act like it to shut you all up, because, dammit, I'm sick of it" way. You can imagine him getting stuck in a loveless (on his end) marriage, smiling for people but crying behind closed doors, reaching old age and very much ready to go with a weary heart.