Pokemon vs. Haruhi Suzumiya

I always preferred the Lucky Star opening to the Haruhi Dance, but I got quite a kick out of the work put into this fan made video.

Found via kotaku.com.

A Gallery of Kenner Star Wars Action Figures

Looking through Jason’s Flickr account I came across an amazing set of Kenner Star Wars Action Figures from the early 80s — what’s amazing is that they’re all in their original boxes. I think my favorite is the IG-88 assassin droid at the very end:

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The Patchwork Girl of Oz: Illustrated by John R. Neill

There’s something very innocent yet creepy about this 1913 cover illustration by John R. Neill for the book The Patchwork Girl of Oz by L. Frank Baum. If you look closer at the artwork what’s interesting is that the little girl doesn’t seem the least bit disturbed by this doll that has come to life and I also love the little touch of the multichromatic creature grabbing the typography of the book’s title:

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Batman & Robin Bat Coders

I’ve got the signal, let’s go! The Batman & Robin Bat Coders are authentic walkie talkies, there are two in the set — one for Batman and one for Robin of course. The best unique feature of this toy was the switch for sending either an alarm or danger signal as shown here in a commercial from the late 70s:

9 volt battery not included!

Photo via toysfortheages.

Fables #76: Cover by James Jean

Shown above is a detail of the cover of Fables #76 by James Jean. I love his use of candy colored hues, and if you look closely you’ll see quite a bit of nice detail in his illustration as well like the stickers on base of the streetlight. Below is the full cover which is due out in September from DC Comics:

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Oh No: It’s the Star Wars Dance Off!

OMFG! How can Lucas let this happen to his prized characters? This footage was shot by ParkSleuth and the dance competition is part of a Star Wars Weekend at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Found via Kara Swisher whose name rhymes with Carrie Fisher!

Battlestar Galactica: Mark II Viper Statue

I’ll be honest: I’m not a big fan when it comes to the new Galactica, but I did get a kick out of the old show (well until it jumped the shark with Galactica: 1980). So I got a kick out of seeing this worn looking viper from the old show:

Battlestar Galactica: Mark II Viper Statue

“This eight-inch statue features the classic Mark II Viper design complete with display base and removable cockpit shield! Based on the original digital effects files taken right from the hit series, each interstellar ship is limited to 2,007 pieces and features a hand-numbered base with matching box and Certificate of Authenticity.”

Earth-like Planets May Be Common

It’s amazing to think in just a few short years we’ve discovered over 300 planets outside of this solar system, it’s only a matter of time until we come across Earth-like which are known as “Class M Planets” to us Star Trek fanboys:

Trio of super-Earths found around Milky Way star

“European researchers said on Monday they discovered a batch of three “super-Earths” orbiting a nearby star, and two other solar systems with small planets as well. They said their findings, presented at a conference in France, suggest that Earth-like planets may be very common.”

Animated Peter Max Anti-Smoking Commercial

It’s funny to see this vintage early 70s animated commercial with features the work of psychedelic artist Peter Max encouraging folks to stop smoking cigarettes. While his work was very associated with hippy drug culture to my surprise it seems that Max was willing to speak out and urge folks to not smoke:

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Kabuki: Reflections #11 by David Mack

I was looking at what Marvel has coming out for September and I came across the above gem by David Mack which is a wonderful homage to Gustav Klimt:

“This square-bound art book acts as a tie-in to the DVD documentary on Mack’s work, THE ALCHEMY OF ART: DAVID MACK from Herovideoproductions.com. REFLECTIONS #11 includes details and commentary on never-before-seen art and stories – including Mack’s new children’s book THE SHY CREATURES, handmade books and paintings from the DVD. Also featuring step-by-step art techniques, loads of art and extras you’ve never seen before, figure drawings, new paintings, sketches and art for Tori Amos’ new Comic Book Tattoo story, album cover art, large art, live art shows, original scripts and more!”

Billy Batson and The Magic of Shazam: Cover by Mike Kunkel

I love comic book covers when they’re less serious and more cartoony and this cover of Billy Batson and The Magic of Shazam #3 by Mike Kunkel does the trick! The above issue hits the streets on September 24th from DC Comics.

Vintage Animated Japanese Commercials

This first risque soap commercial from 1970 does a nice job of combing live action with animated characters. I love the design of the character with her smiling mouth touching her eyes.

Not only is the stop motion animation in this advert great, but the music it catchy too!

This hipsteresque spot is for Suntory Torys Whisky.

And this last spot is for Vicks cough drops.

Soviet City of the Future from 1969

The funny thing is that although this Soviet city of the future seems utopian, it’s very repressive under the surface: Every building in site looks exactly alike! It’s as if in this vision of the future there is only one architect who designed just one building and then they figured out to leave well enough alone after that point. Also notice how all the vehicles carry multiple parties — clearly mass transit rules the day, but if you want to own a private car jet that’s too bad! The illustration is scanned from a 1969 copy of Teknika Molodezhi (Techniques of Youth) magazine which was a Russian Popular Mechanics magazine of sorts.

Found via darkroastedblend.com.

Panda-Z: The Robonimation

The minute I spotted the above photo I fell in love with the toy! The toy is from the 2004 kids anime series Panda-Z: The Robonimation which is a bit of a parody of giant robot cartoons from the 70s like Mazinger Z. Even though the show is no longer on the air Bandai is still pumping out toys and other goodies based on the series which you can find at the official Panda-Z website. Below is an official shot from their Panda-Z Goods section of their website of the toy that caught my eye:

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The X-Files: I Want to Believe Theatrical Trailer

It’s very strange seeing Billy Connolly in a serious role! Here’s the tease copy from Fox Movies:

“In grand “X-Files” manner, the film’s storyline is being kept under wraps. This much can be revealed: It is a stand-alone story in the tradition of some of the show’s most acclaimed and beloved episodes, and takes the complicated relationship between Fox Mulder (Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Anderson) in unexpected directions. Mulder continues his unshakable quest for the truth, and Scully, the passionate, ferociously intelligent physician, remains inextricably tied to Mulder’s pursuits. In theaters July 25.”

Tang: The Official Beverage of the Space Race

My parents loved me way too much to give me Tang, so I had to live with the hardship of drinking primitive orange juice every day of my earth bound childhood. The faux sugar fueled orange power was first sold over the counter in 1959 by General Foods. However the drink didn’t take off until 1965 when the above ad campaign tied it to the Gemini program which forced astronauts to risk their lives in more than one way.

Here’s a pre-space race commercial for Tang starring Bugs Bunny from 1959:

However this cute animated spot from the 70s is the one I grew up with (which came after the space race was over):

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Sean’s Suggestions: New York Asian Film Festival

Editor’s Note: My long time friend and fellow Asian cinema fanboy Sean sent me this wonderful email giving his critique on the upcoming New York Asian Film Festival:

Films I’d Like to See

Accuracy of Death: All I have to say is “death and his telepathic dog” – Sold!

Dainipponjin, aka Big Man Japan: Okay, as someone who grew up watching Godzilla movies this fake documentary about a bumbling super guy who fights Tokyo’s giant monsters appeals to me.

Dead Time: Kala: Okay, more than one person has compared this film to Dark City a film which I think had such great unrealized potential! I will go see it just for that fact.

L: Change the World: I’ll admit it, I saw both Death-note films and thought they were okay made for TV movies (but they weren’t made for TV), and a result I am interested in seeing this film which is part of the Death-note Phenomena…

Love On Sunday: So this one looks like a chick-flick but it’s directed by former soft-porn director Ryuichi Hiroki.  I saw his first “commercial” film Vibrator (named for the fact that the protagonist leaves her cell phone on vibrate, but also a reference to her depressed feelings of no one being able to ‘hear’ her – so get you minds out of the gutter!) and very VERY impressed, plus the reviewer compares it to a John Hughes film. For those reasons I am willing to face what appears to be a  chick-flick.

Mad Detective: Sounds like TV show House meets a HK gangster film!

Sukiyaki Western Django: I know it’s not going to be good, but there has been so much hype over Miike’s Japanese Western costarring… Quentin Tarantino in his first Japanese acting roll, my curiosity has gotten the best of me.

This World Of Ours: The review of this film really piques my interest. A manifesto written by a hikikomori (literally an anti-social individual who locks themselves in their room and won’t come out) ! How can I pass it up?

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Green Hornet Uniform and Equipment for Captain Action

We’ve got everything here: the official uniform, gas pistol, shoulder holster, hat, Hornet face mask, signal watch, string ray, gas mask, phone adapter, shoes and the official ring! So who is Captain Action? He was launched in 1966 by Ideal as competition to G.I. Joe — but unlike poor Joe the Captain had outfits so he could be Superman, Batman, Captain America, Flash Gordon and even the Lone Ranger. The Green Hornet version came out in 1967 and is one of the most in demand by collectors of the ill fated action hero series. Here’s a commercial from the original Captain Action sans his Green Hornet or Lone ranger uniform:

Photo via toysfortheages.

Exploring the Moon in 1965

The above illustration is from an illustrated Spanish book from 1965. The oversized space suits remind me of the Lost in Space robot:

Illustration found by one size fits all who lives in Barcelona, Spain.

Big Buck Bunny

Big Buck Bunny is an “open movie project” which was produced by Ton Roosendaal, the author the 3D software tool Blender. It’s exciting to think that these tools for doing high quality 3D character animation are getting out there, so far these films are just shorts — but we could see a full length indie 3D film one day in the near future.

Found via cgindia.org.

Happiness is a Warm Wookie

My best guess is that this photo is either from 1980 or 1983 when either The Empire Strikes Back or Return of the Jedi came out. Although if you forced me to place a bet I’d say that with her hairstyle and the t-shirts with the iron on lettering the photo is from 1980.

Photo found via digital archivist superbomba!

Vintage Animated Korean Commercials

This first commercial tells a of tale of the tortoise, the hare and an underwater sea king — it’s for some sort of drink.

You can tell this Jinro spot is from the 60s from the go go dancing.

This animated cosmetics spot seems to be inspired by the film 2001: A Space Odyssey. The animation on the second commercial is a bit more cute.

This last spot is a public safety announcement from the 70s.

Parody Preview: Conan the Cimmerian #0

As a nerd I’ve always hated the character of Conan who always seemed like the poser child for stupid. Shown above is my improved version of the upcoming cover of Conan the Cimmerian #0 which will hit the street on June 25th from Dark Horse Comics.

LEGO Batman Nightwing Trailer

Yeah get him LEGO Batman! I like how they always have to have the ESRB rating at the front, as if we couldn’t figure out that LEGO wasn’t real or something. Anyway plenty of action here, the game is due out September.