Shimura Zoo: More Panda Fun!

This new episode of “Tensai! Shimura Dobutsu-en” (aka Genius! Shimura Zoo) features baby Pandas yet again! Sadly Becky isn’t a host on this show, but it’s still ever-so-cute to watch:

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Dr. Who Tardis USB Hub

It’s silly, but you know you want one:

Doctor Who Tardis 4-Way USB Hub
Lacking USB ports? Better call the Doctor!

“We don’t use any old hubs to bolster our USB connectivity. Good grief, no! We use ones shaped liked Doctor Who’s Tardis. Why? Well, for starters we love Doctor Who. But more than that we love the Tardis. This ingenious product of Time Lord technology is surely one of the most iconic objects in sci-fi history.”

Found via Boing Boing.

The Twilight Zone Writer’s School

This is a 1965 commercial for a home study writing course pitched by none other than Rod Sterling:

I have to admit that if I could write half as well as Rod I’d take the course in a minute…

Yo Gabba Gabba to Air on Nick Jr.

Yo Gabba Gabba! is an amazing kids show that I found on the net a few months ago, well now it looks like it’s set to premiere on Nick Jr. in Fall 2007:

Yo Gabba Gabba to Air on Nick Jr.

“Super secret sources indicate that Yo Gabba Gabba!, a zany kids’ show produced by Christian Jacobs (The MCBC, duh) and Scott Shultz, has been picked up and will begin airing on Nick Jr. in Fall 2007. The first 20 episodes have been in production for a couple months now and from what I’ve seen so far all is going well in Gabbaland (don’t know what it is called, your guess is as good as mine).

Yo Gabba Gabba! is a revolutionary approach to children’s programming; it combines a HIGHLY imaginative cast of characters and beautiful set design and imagery that stimulates visually with an upbeat focus on learning and creativity. Guest stars will include Biz Markie and Aquabats band members The MC Bat Commander and Ricky Fitness.”

Here’s a taste of the show:

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The Toto Washlet Apricot Commercial

The Toto Washlet Apricot is the latest in high tech toilet fixtures from Japan, but for some odd reason they’re using a giant chicken and frog mascot in their commercials (but the jingle they use is quite catchy):

Spirk Suggests: Serenity

Fans of the sci-fi and horror genres know who Joss Whedon is. The creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and it’s popular spinoff Angel for the WB and UPN had a loyal following built on Joss and his team’s ability to tell stories. When Fox came knocking asking Joss to create a TV show for their network what he presented them with was a hybrid sci fi/western combination called Firefly. From there Fox did everything they could to make the show’s failure a guarantee. From refusing to air the two hour pilot to moving the show around different nights and different times Firefly was doomed to failure without ever being given a chance. After a handful of episodes the series was canceled.

Fans of the show were up in arms. How could Fox do this? How could they not even give Joss and company a chance to show what they could do? A few months later Fox released Firefly as a boxed set and had to be amazed at the way the set sold. It sat at the top of the charts for months, people were giving them as gifts and the word began to spread. This was a damn good show and well worth watching! The storyline was amazing, the characters complex and loveable the villains reminiscent of the Empire from the original Star Wars Trilogy. The cry was loud and it did not go unnoticed.

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Dr. Who: Third Series Trailer

Above: Coming attractions for Season Three of the current Dr. Who.

Shimura Zoo: Miracle Dog

Warning: The following video from “Tensai! Shimura Dobutsu-en” (aka Genius! Shimura Zoo) will make you want to cry! This episode features the sad tale of the Takahashi family which lives in Aichi prefecture Ichinomiya city and their one and a half year old paralyzed pet puppy dog. But don’t fear, before the episode runs too long we see the return of the mystery psychic pet healer from California who may be able to help:

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Godzilla Wearing Kiss Makeup

This is a very silly Kiss themed commercial from Japan that’s now airing for Canon cameras:

Found via japanprobe.com.

The Prisoner: A TV Series Remake?

So there are plans to remake the Prisoner again! No it’s not the film version that’s already in the works but a television series. I get a bad feeling about this, why does Hollywood have to ruin classic shows by trying to remake them, are there no new ideas out there:

AMC remaking ‘The Prisoner’
Cable network to produce remake of classic show

“AMC is remaking 1960s sci-fi cult fave “The Prisoner.” Cabler has come aboard to co-produce at least six episodes — billed as a modern-day reimagining of the TV series classic — with U.K.’s Sky One. Granada Intl. also produces. AMC’s is the second adaptation in the works. Universal Pictures has set helmer Christopher Nolan to direct a feature version that Janet and David Peoples are scripting (Daily Variety, Aug. 11).

U has the film rights to the skein, while Granada has separate television rights. Like the planned skein, bigscreen pic is said to be a contemporized take on the 1967 thriller. Bill Gallagher (“Conviction”) is writing the series, to be produced by Michelle Buck and Damien Timmer. Production will begin next spring for a debut in both the U.S. and the U.K. in January 2008.”

…but it’s this quote that makes me nervous:

“The show isn’t just a re-creation,” said Rob Sorcher, AMC exec veep of programming and production. “What we’re doing is an entirely new reinterpretation that stays true to the components of the McGoohan (show)’s vision.”

Kurosawa Sells Suntory

When I think of great directors selling out the first image that comes to mind is poor Orson Welles doing all of those commercials before his death. It’s sad to think that you’d have the likes of the director of Citizen Kane selling “no wine before its time!”

But much to my shock I came across this little wonder, which is a commercial for Suntory not only starring Akira Kurosawa but also none other than Francis Ford Coppola! There’s nothing I like to do after directing an award winning epic like Ran or the Godfather than to enjoy a glass of the good stuff:

Takanofoods Commercial

This is yet another cute and silly Japanese commercial, this one is selling a fermented soybeans product for Takanofoods:

And if you like the commercial you can decorate your computer desktop with wallpaper from here.

Choujin Sentai Jetman

If you’re a fan of Gerry Anderson shows like Thunderbirds and the anime show Gatchaman (seen in the States as ‘Battle of the Planets’) you might get a kick out of Choujin Sentai Jetman (鳥人戦隊ジェットマン, Chōjin Sentai Jettoman) which is an early 90s live action TV show from Japan. The title of the show ‘Choujin Sentai Jetman’ translates into English as ‘Birdman Squadron Jetman’. Jetman was produced by Toei Company and Bandai from 1991 to 1992, yet it has a very 70s vibe to it.

Here’s the opening title of the show:

Below: Team Jetman in and out of costume, a Bandai Jetman toy, and the soundtrack CD to the show.

Becky and the Red Pandas

In our previous entry we enjoyed clips from “Tensai! Shimura Dobutsu-en” (aka Genius! Shimura Zoo) a Japanese kids show which features a new animal each episode. In this clip our intrepid host Becky moves in with a new set of Pandas, but instead of good old fashioned Giant Panda cubs in this episode she’s hanging out with Red Pandas which look like cute oversized raccoons:

The funny thing is when I last saw some Red Pandas at the Central Park Zoo they were rather shy! I guess Becky knows how to charm ’em.

Spielberg to do Time Travel TV Show

Steven Spielberg is developing as as-yet-unnamed time-travel television series for Fox TV. But the plot looks more like ‘Saving Private Ryan’ than ‘Back to the Future’:

Spielberg takes development role in Fox TV projects

“The untitled show will revolve around two young American physicists in WWII who discover a way to pinch time and travel to the future. They wind up hopping between 2007 and the 1940s in order to aid the war effort — but in the process begin to upset the space-time continuum. Along the way, one of the physicists also enlists a woman in 2007 to help him adjust to culture shock, and the two develop a relationship.”

Hana-Kimi

The Japanese manga Hana-Kimi has been turned into a live action tv show in Taiwan titled ‘Hua Yang Shao Nian Shao Nu’.

The manga centers on Mizuki Ashiya, a Japanese girl who lives in the United States. One day, she sees a track and field competition on TV, and becomes attracted to one of the competitors. She begins to idolize the young athlete and eventually transfers to Japan to attend the same school. However there’s is a catch, it’s an all-boys high school! So she must disguise herself as a boy to enter the school.

Here’s a trailer for the Taiwanese drama show:

And here’s some artwork of Ashiya Mizuki from the Japanese manga:

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Becky and the Pandas

“Tensai! Shimura Dobutsu-en” (aka Genius! Shimura Zoo) is a kids show from Japan in which each episode is focused on the plight of a specific animal. In this episode several baby Panda Bears have moved into Becky’s apartment:

So you may ask just who is Becky? Becky is is Rebecca Eri RayVaughan, Born on March 6, 1984, in Kanagawa, she is the daughter of a Japanese mother and an English father. And she most often refers to herself as Bekiko (ベキ子 or 絲子). She got her start the popular children’s show Oha-Suta (おはスタ) in 1999 reading out the English names of various Pokémon characters in a section of the show called “Pokémon: The World.”

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Terry Gilliam 1986 MTV Interview

This is not-so-clever interview by MTV VJ Mark Goodman with Terry Gilliam on his “new film” Brazil from 1986:

Ah yes the good old 80s when MTV showed music videos and directors made films that weren’t remakes. When the film came out I managed to watch it quite a few times as I made it the subject of a term paper for a film class, I knew the film was good but little did I know it would be a future classic.

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Aragaki Loves Her Pocky

Pocky commercials featuring actress Aragaki Yui:

…and here’s her official website (in Japanese).

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Aho Aho Man

Ryuichi Sakamoto appears in Aho Aho Man (Stupid Stupid Man) a skit from the comedy show “Gottsu Eh Kanzi” from Japan (1999):

Majokko Rikachan no Magical Biyuuden

It can’t get any cuter than this! Majokko Rikachan no Magical Biyuuden is a Japanese TV show that ran for 60 episodes in late 2004. It featured the members of v-u-den along with other Hello! Project members. The series seems to be the opposite of a reality TV show:

J-Pop singers v-u-den are Ishikawa Rika (石川梨華, leader), Miyoshi Erika (三好絵梨香), and Okada Yui (岡田唯):

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Xylish Chewing Gum Commercials

These Japanese chewing gum commercials reminds me a great deal of photographer David LaChapelle:

Japanese Macintosh Commercials

It’s funny but in Japanese the Mac guy seems much less snarky:

…I think it’s the lack of facial hair on the Mac dude!

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Babylon 5 Mini-Movies Start Production

Babylon 5 fanboys can rejoice! It seems work has started on a new set of mini-movies:

Sheridan, Lochley, Galen, And More!! BABYLON 5: THE LOST TALES Begins Production!!

“The initial goal was to try and do three big stories in one DVD. So I wrote three scripts, featuring Sheridan, Lochley, Galen and Garibaldi. (I wanted to focus on the human characters initially so we’d have more time for prosthetics R&D for the next one.) The stories, as noted previously, were huge…all over the map, from Minbar, to Earth, Mars, the future, the distant past, as well as B5 itself obviously. We’re also going to be trying some new production technologies, again trying to stay ahead of the tech curve, the way B5 has always stayed ahead on these things.

And over the last few days, as we began to bring on crew and lay out the production, looking at just how complicated these mini-movies were going to be, the idea of making three of these monsters began to become a bit much for us to pull off on out first time out the gate, especially since I’m still kind of new as a director. So we decided to postpone one of the three to the next DVD, and lengthen the other two to make up the difference. GIven that the Garibaldi story was the most complicated visually and technically, also the most difficult from a CGi perspective, that’s the one that got pushed until, potentially, next time.”

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