The Latest Transformers Pics

Wow! I don’t know if there will be a plot or even good acting, but the special effects looks fun on this film. To see the above image larger, just click on them.

A Green Omelette

No it’s not a prop from a Dr. Seuss story, but a green tea flavored Japanese pastery with a sweet sticky center (click the photo to view it at a larger size). I love how the color of the package design plays off the color of the pastery. Here the description of the treat under the logo:

“Using the fine ingredients, we’ve arrived at a fantastic harmony of deliciousness.”

Disney’s Retro Rabbit Returns

Oswald the Lucky Rabbit will be back on DVD! Poor old Walt lost his pre-Mickey hit to Universal – it’s too bad that he never lived to see his company get his character back, but somewhere he must be smiling:

Oswald Unleashed in Walt Disney Treasures Wave VII

“Walt Disney Home Ent. continues the popular Walt Disney Treasures series with three new two-disc DVD sets, available Dec. 11. Oswald The Lucky Rabbit, who predates Mickey Mouse, is one of the highlights, having recently returned to the Disney fold. Oswald comes out of the vault for the first time ever on DVD. The silent shorts made from 1926 to 1927, with Walt’s personal touch, are revitalized with a brand-new score specifically made for Walt Disney Treasures Wave VII.”

Here’s a non-restored version of Oswald in “Oh Teacher!” from 1927:

Fujiya Peko Poko Chocolate

Here’s yet another example of playful product design from Japan, Fujiya Peko Poko Chocolate (click on the image to see it full size). The girl character on the left is can be found on other Fujiya products. My favorite is the little piggie in the middle. The back of the package was designed for an American audience, and you can tell this because it warns you not to let your child consume the small plastic sticks.

Anime Wartime Propaganda

This is a rare find, it’s a Japanese WWII animated propaganda film designed to educate civilians on how to respond to incendiary bomb attacks from American planes:

Here’s a description of what’s going on:

“The cartoon characters in this video introduce the concept of incendiary bombing and explain how citizens can extinguish the fire from each bomb. The methods range from simplying putting a bucket of water over the bomb to throwing wet blankets over the fire. After the explanation there is a short cartoon showing the cute animals of Japan responding to an American bomber attack and putting out the fires from bombs before any major damage is done. If you look closely, you can see the evil face of President Roosevelt appear in one of the fires shortly before the Japanese citizens eliminate it.”

Found via JapanProbe.com

Chocolate Pencils

I love to collect (well in the short term sense) examples of Japanese package design. Seen above is “Fujiya Choco Enpitsu”, which features four chocolate pencils. The object in the center is a button that has a sticky back so you can put it any where, which is a nice keep sake. However I have to say that I was surprised that the chocolate pencils didn’t taste too bad!

Behind the Scenes: The Space Shuttle

The above shots are from an amazing photo essay that shows all of the step-by=step pre-flight work that goes into getting the space shuttle setup for blast off. Shown above is the engines being attached and the shuttle being lifted into place to attach it to the external tank.

Found via Dvorak.org.

Robby the Robot Life Size Replica

Here’s some news that will make every Forbidden Planet fanboy happy: Slideshow Collectables is going to be producing a life size replica of Robby the Robot! Now only if we could get a working version of this from Japan I’d be 100% happy…

Shatner in an Esperanto Horror Film

In 1965 William Shatner starred in a horror movie called Incubus. It’s the only movie to be filmed completely in Esperanto. It’s bizarre and now being released back onto home video for you Star Trek fanboys. Here’s the trailer:

Read more…

Hello Kitty goes Goth Lolita

I love Japanese package design! Not just the high end items, but the silly stuff as well. This is a recent purchase from the m2m market on the lower east side here in Manhattan. Seen here is “Kabaya” Hello Kitty Stawberry Pretzel (click to see full size), although from a casual glance the product looks like a Pocky knock off. I sampled the contents, and let’s just say that the packaging is the selling point of the product!

Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue

This tv special has the worst of everything I hated about animation in the 80s: You’ve got the Smurfs, Alf, Garfield, and Alvin and the Chipmunks all getting together to * yawn * fight the war on drugs:

Here’s a great description of the anti-drug tv special from 1990:

“Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue is an animated drug prevention television special starring many of the popular cartoon characters from American Saturday morning television, among them Winnie-the-Pooh, Bugs Bunny, ALF, the Muppet Babies, and several others. Financed by McDonald’s, the special was originally simulcast on April 21, 1990 on all three major American television networks: ABC, NBC, and CBS, along with most independent and smaller networks. McDonald’s also distributed a VHS home video edition of the special, which began with an introduction from President George H. W. Bush, and First Lady Barbara Bush.

The plot chronicles the story of a teenage boy named Michael who is using marijuana. His concerned sister Corey worries about him, and her cries cause many of her toys, which depict several popular cartoon “all-stars”, to come to life. The various cartoon characters proceed to take Michael on a fantasy journey that teaches him the health risks and other downsides a life of drug use can bring. The special was able to get so many characters from various franchises because the licensors gave producers royalty-free access due to the public service aspect of the special.”

Found via Linkfilter.net.

The Times Trashes the Robinsons

It’s funny I can just look at the character designs (they’re so vanilla) from the Robinsons and get a bad taste about this film. But I think Disney will turn things around yet, just not with this picture:

A Nerdy Orphan Plows Ahead With a Lot of Familiar Novelties

“Meet the Robinsons is surely one of the worst theatrically released animated features issued under the Disney label in quite some time.

Lewis, the bespectacled orphan who is this film’s hero, is a budding inventor whose obsessive nerdiness turns off potential adoptive parents. One of his less successful creations is a peanut-butter-and-jelly-sandwich machine that sprays brown and purple goo in every direction except onto the waiting bread.

And so it is with “Meet the Robinsons.” With increasing desperation, the filmmakers (Stephen Anderson directed and shares screenwriting credit with a half-dozen other writers) and their Disney and Pixar supervisors hurl fun at the screen, digging deep into their bag of used novelties.”

Grand Theft Mario

And here’s another Grand Theft Auto inspired spoof

Swiped from dvorak.org.

Star Wars Stamps

Great news for Star Wars fanboys, the US Postal service will be coming out with Star Wars stamps (seen above, click to enlarge). Here’s a bit of the official press release:

Two Legendary Forces Unite to Honor 30th Anniversary of Star Wars

“Luke Skywalker, Yoda, Darth Vader and, of course, R2-D2 are among the unforgettable Star Wars characters debuting on 15 new 41-cent postage stamps unveiled today at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles, where the first Star Wars movie opened nearly 30 years ago.

The commemorative stamps feature images from all six movies in the Star Wars saga: Luke Skywalker; Han Solo and Chewbacca; Princess Leia Organa with R2-D2; C-3PO; Yoda; Queen Padmé Amidala; Obi-Wan Kenobi as seen in Episodes IV through VI; Anakin Skywalker battling Obi-Wan Kenobi; Darth Vader; Emperor Palpatine; Darth Maul; Imperial Stormtroopers; Boba Fett; the Millennium Falcon; and an X-wing fighter. The stamps will be released at a first-day-of-issue ceremony on Friday, May 25, at Star Wars Celebration IV, the biggest Star Wars event in the galaxy, at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Read more…

Jun Natsukawa Pachinko Machine Commercial

Meow! Jun Natsukawa (Kanji: 夏川純, Hiragana: なつかわ じゅん Natsukawa Jun – born September 19, 1980) is a Japanese gravure idol from Hiroshima, Japan. Above is a commercial for Kyoraku, which is a company that seems to have something to do with all sorts of interesting pachinko machines (including a series of Ultraman themed pachinko machines!).

Found via japansugoi.com.

28 Weeks Later Trailer

I’m not quite sure how they’re going to top the first film, although I’m not sure if that’s the point:

Tokyo International Anime Fair 2007

There’s a great photo gallery from the Tokyo International Anime Fair 2007 at kilian-nakamura.com that’s worth checking out (if you’re not luky enough to be in Tokyo right now). And here’s a short video clip of some of the fun featuring characters from Keroro Gunso:

New Transformers Posters

I think I like the Optimus Prime one best!

Found via aintitcool.com.

Lego Batman: The Videogame

This is something cool for fans of the Dark Lego Knight to look ahead to in 2008:

‘Lego’ flies with Batman

“The hottest word in the videogame world is, apparently, “Lego.” Following the huge success of “Lego Star Wars” and its sequel, Warner Bros. has signed a licensing deal with Lego to produce a “Lego Batman” game. In a significant, and likely costly, pact, Warner also nabbed TT Games, developer of the two “Lego Star Wars” games, to make “Lego Batman.” Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment will fully finance and publish the game itself, as well as handle all distribution in North America.

“Lego Star Wars” titles, both of which sold several million units in the U.S. alone, were family-friendly games featuring characters and settings from the “Star Wars” universe made out of the famous toy bricks. “Lego Batman” will follow a similar template, and Warner will release it in 2008 on multiple consoles.”

Tolkien Jr completes Lord of Rings

The last, unfinished ‘Lord of the Rings” book by J.R.R. Tolkien is being completed by his son, I wonder if a film deal can be far behind:

Tolkien Jr completes Lord of Rings

“he first new Tolkien novel for 30 years is to be published next month. In a move eagerly anticipated by millions of fans across the world, The Children of Húrin will be released worldwide on 17 April, 89 years after the author started the work and four years after the final cinematic instalment of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, one of biggest box office successes in history.

The book, whose contents are being jealously guarded by publisher HarperCollins – is described as “an epic story of adventure, tragedy, fellowship and heroism.”

It is likely to be a publishing sensation, particularly as it is illustrated by veteran Middle Earth artist Alan Lee, who won an Oscar for art direction on Peter Jackson’s third film The Return of The King. Lee provided 25 pencil sketches and eight paintings for the first edition of the book, one of which is reproduced here for the first time in a national newspaper.

Tolkien experts are already tipping The Children of Húrin – which features significant battle scenes and at least one major twist – for big budget Hollywood treatment. Takings from the Lord of the Rings trilogy box office takings to date total some £1.5bn.

Chris Crawshaw, chairman of the Tolkien Society, said: “It would probably make a very good movie, if anyone can secure the film rights.

“Tolkien saw his work as one long history of Middle Earth: from the beginning of creation to the end of the Third Age. The Children of Húrin is an early chapter in that bigger story.”

The author’s son Christopher, using his late father’s voluminous notes, has painstakingly completed the book, left unfinished by the author when he died in 1971. The work has taken the best part of three decades, and will signify the first “new” Tolkien book since The Silmarillion was published posthumously in 1977.”

A Star Trek/Monty Python Mashup

I hadn’t realized just how much dancing and sword play was taking place in Star Trek!

If 300 Were Rated PG

Tonight we dine in heck! And on a related note 300 continues to do well at the box office:

Spartans conquer world box office
‘300’ brings in $48 million overseas

The Spartans have conquered the world, as “300” completely dominated the international box office over the weekend, with $48 million from 5,000 playdates in 33 markets.

Ratatouille: The New Pixar Film

Make sure you check out the trailer for the new Pixar film Ratatouille, the quality of the animation (and story of course) looks pretty darn good!

Chorlton and the Wheelies

Chorlton and the Wheelies was an animated stopmotion series that ran from 1976 until 1979. The series was created by Cosgrove Hall films for the ITV station Thames Television, and named after the location of the studio, Chorlton-cum-Hardy in Manchester, England.

This strange show takes place in Wheelie World, which is inhabited principally by the “wheelies”, a race of anthropomorphic creatures who locomote by means of wheels. They have three wheels each: two large ones at the front, and a smaller centred one at the back. The wheels are replaceable, and suitable wheels grow on vegetation found in Wheelie World.

This is from the episode “Happiness is Dragon Shaped” from 1976: