Old School Walt Disney World

Recently I got the "I want to go to Disney World again" bug, and while browsing Youtube I wondered if they had anything from around the time it first opened. They did!



Who couldn't love the absolute cheese of this? Magic Kingdom is only barely recognizable, though - it's so empty and so many things obviously aren't finished!



Beautiful. I wish so much I could've been there. Sadly this was 10 years before I was even born.



Julie Andrews sings a groovy little number. It's too bad she doesn't have the voice for it anymore.

Kirarin Revolution, episodes 75 & 76

(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 75:

Soon enough, Hikaru will have to seperate from Kirari and branch out on her own. The problem is, she still suffers from stage fright. And "Black Wood" overhears a conversation in which they talk about it - he'll make sure to screw up KiraPika's latest live performance by having the Super Nova twins distract Kirari from being there in time to sing with Hikaru. If she must sing alone, then Hikaru's flaw will be out for all to see!



Episode 76:

Hikaru is about to embark on her own solo debut, but first they must have a KiraPika farewell concert. The theme will be "Two People's Friendship Will Last Forever!", but once "Black Wood" gets wind of it, still furious the twins failed in their last mission, he decides to try to cause a great stir between the two idols. A rumor is started on the same day that Kirari will give a special performance for anyone who visits her dad's cafe, and that Hikaru will be holding a handshaking event. The chaos is just about ready to tear the two apart, as Hikaru decides Kirari was lying when she said being an idol was fun and amazing.

Pokebeach interviews Masamitsu Hidaka

From Pokebeach:

According to the site, "Masamitsu Hidaka was the original director of Pokemon up until around the Battle Frontier season, and also worked as the storyboard artist for many episodes" - recently he was interviewed during a convention by one of the site's staff. I've taken clips from the whole thing, and discussing what popped out at me.

So, will Misty ever return to the show? His answer was a flat out no - not as a main character, anyway. If she is to ever return to the show, it will only be in a minor role as something like as a rival for a tournament, similar to May returning for a few Diamond and Pearl episodes. But no, "Kasumi-san" would never return as a main character again, unfortunately. I heard him mention "Pokemon Contests" in his response to my question, but the translator did not tell me what he meant.

This saddens me greatly. Perhaps it was foolish, but I always hoped the writers would bring her back for an "original trio" deal, if only close to the end. She's one of my favorite characters besides Team Rocket, so that "flat-out no" was like a strong jab in the chest. I was actually waiting for her to come back before I started watching new episodes again. Guess that won't happen!

Who is Ash's father? This one made him laugh, since I asked it rather bluntly and simply. He explained Ash's grandfather was a great Trainer who traveled the lands a long time ago, and Ash's father followed in his footsteps and left. Then I asked if he would ever appear, and he responded that only if the writers felt a need to "grow" Ash as a character (personal note: we need some character development, please). He explained he was not a writer on the show and merely worked as the storyboard artist, so he had no control over what they put on the show. But, he said there is a possibility his father could appear one day. At least we know Ash has a father now, unlike other anime characters.

You know, I've seen a lot of theories over the years, from Team Rocket's leader Giovanni, to Professor Oak. I didn't believe they ever found it important nor would they reveal it, but if they suddenly did someday, it would be great character development for Ash. So, Ash is a 3rd generation Pokemon trainer, huh?

This next paragraph is rather interesting. I asked him why they dropped Brock like a rock in the Orange Islands, and if they ever intended on his absence being temporary. He started to explain that they like to “switch up” the cast once in a while, and that was their first time doing it. Then I made sort of a “that’s obvious” face, and he started to talk for quite some time to the translator. The translator began to explain that the Japanese crew felt that Brock might be viewed as racist by the American people because of his eyes, and that they were even fearful of it when Pokemon first came to America. I asked if anyone ever complained, and he said no, but it was just that they were worried someone might eventually. So, they brought in a tall, white, Anglo-looking character to replace him, just to be on the safe side. Going back to the first interview with Mr. Hidaka, he had said they had to consider other countries when Pokemon started to go global, so this mentality fits even here, especially with the whole Jynx incident. So then I asked, “Why did you bring him back?” and he responded that “we realized no one really cared about it and liked Brock, so we brought him back.”

So that's why Tracy came in. Very interesting! I guess if Brock had stayed, Professor Ivy really would've been his dream girl? I wish he'd asked what exactly happened between them.

What about the main cast on the show? Since he had talked about how they like to “switch them up,” I explained to him that many fans want Ash, Misty, and Brock reunited again together. But, he reaffirmed what he said in the previous interview and said it wasn’t going to happen. I asked him what he meant in the previous interview about Pokemon Contests, and he said he just meant that characters like May have come back for a few episodes in Pokemon Contests, so Misty could come back too. He said, however, that Contests don’t appear to be her thing, so if she were to come back, it would probably be to join Ash in a battle or to just meet them somewhere. So then I said, “Why can’t you just ditch Brock, have Ash, have Misty, and then bring in a new boy? That would be switching up things instead of having a new girl.” His following answers made me laugh my head off – I had to pick it up off the floor and reattach it. He stated that they like to switch up the girls because it gives the boys some new eye candy every once in a while. He also said girls are more customizable and you can change their outfits, like when they are in their bathing suits (yes, he specifically said that).

Tsk. Well, that's sexism for you. Misty, May, etc. nothing more than fresh "eye candy."

Slayers Revolution, episode 2

WARNING - SPOILERS BELOW!

In this episode, Lina demands that Wizer give her a good, solid reason why she should be arrested, Amelia and Zel reveal just why they were all searching for her, and we finally get to meet the strange little creature that conjured up the Dragon Slave.

What I liked about the episode:

-We learn that Zel was asked by Prince Phil to watch over Amelia during their journey to locate Lina and Gourry. The subs say "Deputy King" but I think it's more like "King's deputy." You see him in a knighthood-like ceremony, so if he wasn't knighted I don't know what else it could be!
-You also learn that there was an official request from one kingdom to Seiruun to locate Lina, so something bigger must be involved, Wizer just being the annoying detective sent to arrest her for supposedly doing damage to several mage-tanks.
-Pokota made a replica Sword of Light! And he claims that the tanks originally belonged to him!
-Lina's amplified Dragon Slave to teach the little plushie a lesson for calling her boobless.



What I didn't like:

-Pokota. I still don't like him - I guess I'm still weirded out by the little "mascot." Well, hopefully that'll change soon.
-That "Miss Mermaid" eyecatch. Oh lordie.

My "The Secret Show" Site

Please check out my new site dedicated to this wonderfully clever and funny British cartoon. It's supposed to be for kids, but when has that ever stopped me?

http://www.frostedsuki.com/secretshow

Keywords: Anita Knight, Victor Volt, U.Z.Z., Doctor Doctor, Professor Professor, The Secret Show

So far I have episode information, character profiles, message board icons, and more. I'll update whenever I can, but the fanbase is very small, practically non-existant, so new stuff won't be easy to find.

As a side note, here are the pairings I support: Lucy x Changed Daily, Victor x Anita, Professor Professor x Doctor Doctor

Slayers Revolution, episode 1

After 11 years, Slayers is back and as wonderful as ever! In this first episode, Lina destroys a pirate ship, brings to our attention that she and Gourry are on the hunt for a replacement of the Sword of Light, and Lina is arrested under the charge of being Lina Inverse. But she won't go without a fight!

What I liked:

-It was so great to see them all again. Like old friends who haven't really changed. I was grinning like crazy through the whole thing.
-Nice, vivid colors. The modern animation only makes Lina's spells more awesome.
-Lina was her usual, sarcastic and violent self. Gourry was pea-brained, Amelia still loves justice, and Zel was... well, Zel.
-The ironic twist at the end, despelling the opening episode tradition of Lina blowing something up with a Dragon Slave was great.



What I didn't like:

-That fish woman. She was way over-the-top with a shrilly, whiney voice. I've never been a fan of the fish creatures, and she was really pushing it.
-That plushie, digimon-like animal at the end. I hope he (she?) will be of some importance and not another annoying Martina-like character that makes herself known from the very beginning and causes trouble throughout the series. If they insist on adding it, don't overdo it, please.

I have to wonder who the villian will be this time, and when Xellos will show up. 'Til next episode!

Ouran High School cast and release date announced

From ANN:

The North American anime distributor Funimation has announced its full English dub cast for Ouran High School Host Club at the anime's panel in Anime Expo at Los Angeles, California on Friday. The company also said that it will be releasing the series in 13-episode half-series boxes starting in October. The English dub cast is as follows:

Caitlin Glass as Haruhi Fujioka
Vic Mignogna as Tamaki Suou
Greg Ayres as Kaoru Hitachiin
J. Michael Tatum as Kyoya Ohtori
Luci Christian as Mitsukuni Haninozuka
Mike McFarland as Ryuuji "Ranka" Fujioka
Patrick Seitz as Umehito Nekozawa
Todd Haberkorn as Hikaru Hitachiin
Travis Willingham as Takashi Morinozuka
Aaron Dismuke as Yasuchika Haninozuka
Brittney Karbowski as Hinako Tsuwabuki
Carrie Savage as Momoka Kurakano
Cherami Leigh as Kirimi Nekozawa
Christopher R. Sabat as Ritsu Kasanoda
Eric Vale as Toru Suzushima
Jamie Marchi as Chizuru Maihara
R Bruce Elliott as Kasanoda's Father