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Hakaba Kitaro Opening Titles
Posted by Michael Pinto on Jan 21, 2008 in Animation
I love the comic book look of the opening titles above, they’re for for the anime series Hakaba Kitaro which just started running this January on Fuji Television. The series focuses around the character Kitaro who was born in a cemetery and his missing his left eye. Scientist Makes Radio Waves Travel Faster than Light
Posted by Michael Pinto on Jan 21, 2008 in Science
It’s been a long time dream of fanboys like myself to travel faster than the speed of light, because once you’re able to do that hopping around the the galaxy becomes easy (ala Star Trek or Star Wars). Shown above on the left is a table top polarization synchrotron which allows radio signals to travel faster than the speed of light. I don’t expect interstellar travel to become a reality any time soon, but this is a pretty neat start: LANL scientist makes radio waves travel faster than light “Scientist John Singleton insists that Albert Einstein wouldn’t be mad at him, even though at first blush Singleton appears to have twisted the famous physicist’s theories about light into a pretzel. Most people think Einstein said that nothing can travel faster than the speed of light, but that’s not really the case, Singleton said. Patariro Collectables CommercialThe anime series Patalliro! ran from 1982 until 1983 and is interesting because it was based on a manga by Mineo Maya which focused on bishounen (i.e. pretty boys). The show was more comedy than anything else, but I think it’s a good early example of Yaoi, which are manga focused on male gay relationships marketed to the ladies. There’s a good article on the show here by Mary Kennard. It was funny for me to come across that article because back in the early 80s I knew Mary, as she could be spotted at meetings of the Cartoon/Fantasy Organization in New York City which I went to all of the time. The Cutting Room Floor: See No Evil
Posted by Guest Author on Jan 20, 2008 in Horror
The first film released by WWE Films, See No Evil stars WWE Superstar Kane (a running theme in WWE movies with The Marine starring John Cena and The Condemned starring Stone Cold Steve Austin). The basis for the movie is a basic horror film formula. An abandoned building, a psycho killer and a group of kids just waiting their turn to die. Jinzo Toriumi Turns the Page
Posted by Michael Pinto on Jan 19, 2008 in Animation
Recently I was reading that screen writer Jinzo Toriumi passed away. Toriumi got his start writing episodes of Astro Boy in 1964, and then in 1965 he moved to Tatsunoko Productions where he worked on Speed Racer, Gatchaman (Battle of the Planets to us American fanboys), and well into the 80s with shows like the Votoms. Shown above are the titles for the 70s anime comedy series Yatterman which he wrote the script for (along with Akiyoshi Sakai). Star Trek Film Teaser
Posted by Michael Pinto on Jan 19, 2008 in Star Trek
Shown above is the first teaser trailer for the upcoming Star Trek film – now I see that “Under Construction” is a reference to the building of the Enterprise. I love the early NASA and JFK references and I’m happy to hear Spock, but I’m also sad that there’s no reference to Shatner. How can you have Nimoy without Shatner? That’s like having Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups without the chocolate and peanut butter! Underrated Manga: The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya
Posted by Guest Author on Jan 18, 2008 in Comic Books
With American anime sales on a downward trend, a lot of attention is being paid to its partner in crime manga, the Japanese comics that are often adapted into anime (if they’re not already adaptations themselves). In North America and Europe manga has exploded, but the sheer volume of manga published in Japan means that not every series makes it over here— and even the ones that do don’t always get the attention that they deserve! So here’s one of our Top Ten Underrated Manga that we recommend that you should get your hands on: The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya How can the manga adaptations of a light novel and anime series so immensely popular that even protesters in Gaza use her on their signs go unlicensed and unloved? Haruhi has two manga adaptations: one started in 2004 and was cancelled due to its unpopularity; fans maintain that it’s a poor adaptation. A new version started in 2005, shortly before the anime aired, and now has five volumes in Japan. Breakout Cartoonists: Liz Baillie
Posted by Guest Author on Jan 18, 2008 in Comic Books
Our Top Indie Cartoonists to Watch For in 2008: Keeping true to our “Anti-Superheroes in Tights” mood at fanboy, we took a look back at the comic books and graphic novels that caught our eye: My Brain Hurts, by Liz Baillie Being a gay teenager is tough. Being a punk teenager is tough. Both are marginalized by mainstream society, and put them both together and you have a minority-within-a-minority situation, because lets face it, anyone who’s spent time in Chelsea can tell you that queer culture and punk culture don’t overlap nearly as much as they should. But when they do, you usually end up with an explosion of creativity that brings us very very good things. Things like Liz Baillie’s My Brain Hurts, an outstanding mini-comic series, the first five issues of which have been collected by Microcosm Publishing why, just this last Fall! Star Trek Movie Website Almost Live
Posted by Michael Pinto on Jan 18, 2008 in Star Trek
To boldly post an “Under Construction” sign where no fan has gone before! Nothing real on this website yet, although you can sign up to be spammed by Paramount when the time comes… Richard Knerr: Toy Genius
Posted by Michael Pinto on Jan 17, 2008 in Hobbies and Collections
Richard Knerr the co-founder of the Wham-O toy company, died on Monday at the age of 82. Shown above is a commercial for Super Elastic Bubble Plastic, and below is a commercial for one of my childhood favorites Silly String: Underrated Manga: Yubisaki Milk Tea
Posted by Guest Author on Jan 17, 2008 in Comic Books
With American anime sales on a downward trend, a lot of attention is being paid to its partner in crime manga, the Japanese comics that are often adapted into anime (if they’re not already adaptations themselves). In North America and Europe manga has exploded, but the sheer volume of manga published in Japan means that not every series makes it over here— and even the ones that do don’t always get the attention that they deserve! So here’s one of our Top Ten Underrated Manga that we recommend that you should get your hands on: Yubisaki Milk Tea There once was a boy named Yoshinori whose face was remarkably similar to his sister’s. As a result, he once had to take her place in a modeling session, dressing in a bridal gown for a local photography shop. Ever since then he’s had a taste for both cross-dressing and photography, and Yubisaki Milk Tea follows his exploits both as male Yoshinori and female “Yuki.” Yoshinori winds up in a love triangle with his childhood friend Hidari, who doesn’t know about his cross-dressing, and a classmate named Minamo, who hates men and will only talk to Yoshinori when he’s dressed as Yuki. Messenger Reveals Mercury
Posted by Michael Pinto on Jan 17, 2008 in Science
Shown above is the latest photograph of the surface of Mercury taken by the Messenger probe, it’s the first time we’ve looked at the planet since the 70s (click on the image to see it at full size): Messenger Reveals Mercury in New Detail “As NASA’s Messenger spacecraft approached Mercury on January 14, 2008, it captured this view of the planet’s rugged, cratered landscape illuminated obliquely by the sun. This image was taken from a distance of approximately 11,000 miles, about 56 minutes before the spacecraft’s closest encounter with Mercury. It shows a region 300 miles across including craters less than a mile wide. The large, shadow-filled, double ringed crater to the upper right was glimpsed by Mariner 10 more than three decades ago and named Vivaldi, after the Italian composer.” Underrated Manga: Lunar Legend Tsukihime
Posted by Guest Author on Jan 16, 2008 in Comic Books
With American anime sales on a downward trend, a lot of attention is being paid to its partner in crime manga, the Japanese comics that are often adapted into anime (if they’re not already adaptations themselves). In North America and Europe manga has exploded, but the sheer volume of manga published in Japan means that not every series makes it over here— and even the ones that do don’t always get the attention that they deserve! So here’s one of our Top Ten Underrated Manga that we recommend that you should get your hands on: Lunar Legend Tsukihime A high school boy named Shiki is suffering from a life-threatening injury, and as a result he has started to see “death lines” on the people around him. He discovers that if he traces the lines with a sharp object he can kill people. He protects himself from his ability by wearing a special pair of glasses that prevent his ability to see the lines. The Cutting Room Floor: Looking Ahead to ‘08
Posted by Guest Author on Jan 16, 2008 in Cinema
It’s the beginning of a new year and is starting to look like the last good batch of movies we will see in a while. The Writer’s Guild of America remains on strike and until that is settled Hollywood will be starting to look rather barren around the end of this year and the start of ‘09. Television is already beginning to feel the sting with the cancellation of 24 this year and a load of Reality Shows ready to hit the mid season lineup. So I thought I would take the opportunity to look ahead to 2008 and see what’s coming up for us in theaters this year: Underrated Manga: Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service
Posted by Guest Author on Jan 15, 2008 in Comic Books
With American anime sales on a downward trend, a lot of attention is being paid to its partner in crime manga, the Japanese comics that are often adapted into anime (if they’re not already adaptations themselves). In North America and Europe manga has exploded, but the sheer volume of manga published in Japan means that not every series makes it over here— and even the ones that do don’t always get the attention that they deserve! So here’s one of our Top Ten Underrated Manga that we recommend that you should get your hands on: Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service Five university students with abilities that range from channeling spirits to dowsing (finding dead bodies) to ESP form a company called the Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service, an organization that communicates with the dead and transports their bodies to wherever they need to go in order to allow their spirits to move on to the next world. Maila Nurmi: Vampira Exits the Stage
Posted by Michael Pinto on Jan 15, 2008 in Horror
I’m sad to report that Maila Nurmi (known to us fanboys as Vampira) has passed away. Her career highlights include starring in Ed Wood’s classic epic Plan 9 From Outer Space and had her own TV show in Los Angles. This is the notice from her website: Underrated Manga: Kodomo no Jikan
Posted by Guest Author on Jan 14, 2008 in Comic Books
With American anime sales on a downward trend, a lot of attention is being paid to its partner in crime manga, the Japanese comics that are often adapted into anime (if they’re not already adaptations themselves). In North America and Europe manga has exploded, but the sheer volume of manga published in Japan means that not every series makes it over here— and even the ones that do don’t always get the attention that they deserve! So here’s one of our Top Ten Underrated Manga that we recommend that you should get your hands on: Kodomo no Jikan (“A Child’s Time”) This may seem like an odd choice for underrated manga, seeing as this series gained infamy throughout the English-language manga world when Seven Seas licensed it and then cancelled it because the content was too racy. Well, the problem isn’t just that the content is racy— it’s that it’s racy and it involves primary school students. It didn’t help that original creator Kaworu Watashiya wanted them to call it Nymphet. Coris Whistle Candy
Posted by Michael Pinto on Jan 14, 2008 in Hobbies and Collections
Shown above is the special secret surprise package from Coris Whistle Candy. The small package within a package contains a surprise toy, which turned out to be a pink racing car. This candy itself will drive parents up the wall, because when you blow into it you get a painful playful whistle-like noise: Just Say OK to Pocky!
Posted by Michael Pinto on Jan 13, 2008 in Japanese TV
Check out those those tacky 80s gaucho pants which are featured in the above vintage Pocky ad! The Fashionable Astrotwins
Posted by Michael Pinto on Jan 13, 2008 in Hobbies and Collections
Ah the good old days when being a NASA fanboy was in style! This November 1965 fashion spread from Mademoiselle features a prototype of the Mercury Space Suit (click to see the page at full size). The photo is by David McCabe (a young British fashion photographer of the era who worked with Andy Warhol) and discovered by digital diva archivist Sugarpie Honeybunch. World War Robot Bertie
Posted by Michael Pinto on Jan 12, 2008 in Hobbies and Collections
The above photo is a “Dirty Deeds” variant of World War Robot Bertie by Ashley Wood. I just love the rusty look of the metal and the nice touch of the decorative graphics… Photograph by Toybot Studios. Parody Preview: Mighty Avengers #7
Posted by Michael Pinto on Jan 12, 2008 in Comic Books
Is it me or does that Iron Man head look more like a missing toy part than the scene of super hero slaughter? This cover for Mighty Avengers #7 by Frank Cho is available in your local comic book shop this week… Underrated Manga: Ouran High School Host Club
Posted by Guest Author on Jan 11, 2008 in Comic Books
With American anime sales on a downward trend, a lot of attention is being paid to its partner in crime manga, the Japanese comics that are often adapted into anime (if they’re not already adaptations themselves). In North America and Europe manga has exploded, but the sheer volume of manga published in Japan means that not every series makes it over here— and even the ones that do don’t always get the attention that they deserve! So here’s one of our Top Ten Underrated Manga that we recommend that you should get your hands on: Ouran High School Host Club Haruhi Fujioka is the only scholarship student at the swanky Ouran High School, an unenviable role at a school full of kids so rich that they actually have a host club as part of their after school activities. A host club is a place where women pay large amounts of money to spend time with good-looking men, just chatting and flirting. Dark Crystal uRac Statue
Posted by Michael Pinto on Jan 11, 2008 in Hobbies and Collections
I was looking at the latest Dark Horse offerings for April of this year and came across the above cool looking statue based on the character uRac from Jim Henson’s Dark Crystal. |
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