.

The summer is about to end with it’s surprisingly entertaining line-up which I didn’t really see a few months ago… But now again we are looking at the calender to see the what we can be expecting from the next season.

This next season, I must say is a most interesting one, moving from the Summer Camp story to the a more indoor type of stories. Namely the increase in the number of Otaku themed anime by a gross 600%! There is two of them that even cover the Fujoshis!!

Again there are still shows that must be watched in this season, and I’m going to try listing it out with a little tips of information for your reference.

A Certain Magical Index 2- J.C Staff

But I’m not looking forward to seeing Index… Who I’m more interested in is Misaka Mikoto aka Biri Biri. If the anime is going to be following the manga faithfully, which I doubt so, then the chances of seeing Index having much of the role is really not that high.

Expectant Index: ♥♥♥♥♥+1

IRONMAN -- The Anime -- MADHOUSE

You have seen the movie, maybe read the comics and have seen the cartoon but now from one of the best studios in Japan comes the anime! Ironman will be making it’s anime debut in Japan this fall, as of Marvels few project to the anime treatment.

One thing thou, it’s by MADHouse, so you can bet on it to be good!

Expectant Index: ♥♥♥♥♥

My Sister Can’t be this cute! -- AIC

My sister is also not cute…

This anime is about a fellow brother kind, find out that his cute, attractive but violent little sister is actually an Otaku… Based on the light novel by Tsukasa Fushimi. According to the reviews, I have have heard, these anime have the potential to be good.

However it will be interesting to see what will happen and how otaku, his little sister really is… I see manga, and gunpla.. .wooh~

Expectant Index: ♥♥♥♥

The World God Only Knows -- Managlobe

So this anime is based on that very popular manga that I have not read… It’s about, this god of Eroge(Dating Game) making real life female fall in love with him, in order to kill a demon… Talk about applying what you have learned…

It would be a god send, if that “God” didn’t hate 3D girls… lol!

Expectant Index: ♥♥♥♥

STAR DRIVER -- BONES

From the people who brought you eureka seven, comes the original STAR DRIVER!

It’s a mecha show, featuring big robots on this cross shape island. Partnering his “Cybuddy” Tauburn, Takuto Tsunashi rode out to save Wako Agemake from the “order”, wanting to use her as a “key” to activate a giantic “Cybuddy” that they have found…

Expectant Index: ♥♥♥

Here are only 5 out of a lot of them… So I think a part 2 is in order. Yay?

So look forward to the part 2! If things turn out as what I thought… there might even be a part 3?! Yes, the incoming season have this many good shows…

Look at the list?!

Popularity: 8% [?]

Well, the thing about the fiesta is that… Compared to last year, the layout is the same and there is not much too interesting to see, most of the items are simply a rehash what have been revealed, and the Gundam Builder side is a bit underwhelming. Furthermore when I got there the Gundam Image girls are just going away, so quickly that I don’t even have a picture of them close-up… … … =_=|||

But one thing is for real thou, the sales are real! The cash counter there sure is busy, and make sure you don’t throw away the receipt, for you can collect tokens to redeem for more free stuff!

Maybe because it’s just the first day, but I have a feeling, I’ll be more interested next Saturday, when the special guest, Mr Kawaguchi, the creator of the MG series is there for a workshop.

However I did buy something, despite being broke… Got myself Bonta-kun, he is not gundam, but he is from Bandai’s Robot Spirit series! Some SDX are also on sale there!

So If you are going for some shopping, go to Compass point for the Gundam Fiesta!

Now take a look at my little gallery of pictures of  the event.

Popularity: 8% [?]

OMG she looked and smiled at me!!!! Mikuni actually did that!!!!

This is so great!!!

Not to say, the performances are AWESOME too! With the live Band, oh the Guitarist is so cool!

Mikuni even sang solo, a cappella for Singapore ONLY! Those who didn’t attend the Concert this evening will live to regret it!

But now, we are kinda low on batteries and a strict no photography inside rule applies so, notthing much to see here…

However, this post will be updated with set-list and a proper review, once we recover from the shock and got into the working mode…

BTW Robin, GOOD JOB!

Update: If you cannot wait for our update, do visit our friend at The Bonkurasu Brigade for their review of the concert!

And here is the Set list provided by The Bonkurasu Brigade.

1/3の純情な感情
輪舞-revolution-
ハレ晴レユカイ
MC
それが、愛でしょう
tomorrow
Alone
MC
蕾～tsubomi～
ねずみは米がすき
XTC
プラチナ
Truth
MC
夢の途中で
Naked
MC
南風
イ～じゃナイ!?
君がいるから

Encore
残酷な天使のテーゼ
MC
愛・おぼえていますか
MC
Love song on the radio

Popularity: 5% [?]

Ok, I am late… So I thought I can be late for a few more days… Nah… I was involved in a very big event for the nation and really got the time to write this post only recently, event thou I already got my pictures ready.

So here It goes,

Look, I didn’t get Starcraft 2. Yes, I find it very over priced and my pocket accountant just don’t want to thrown out the cash to get it… But I might just get it later in the year… Since there is so many copies floating around, even the US version can be found for $20 cheaper then the local version. Very soon, the price will drop, trust me, so no hurry on that.

Now my pride and glory for the month, my Misaka Mikoto Figurine, by GSC. She is just so beautiful, despite her scary look, the figurine even have a option either to display the particle sword or not. The coin thou is a nice touch, btw I chose not to display the sword.

Then for some weird reasons, I managed to buy 2 Nendoroids… They are just so cute and I can’t seem to ignore them, whenever I drop by KKnM, they are like calling out to me… So I really have no choice not to buy them… Ah Azusa! And the other would be from the Martian franchise, the Japanese SDF representative, and she comes with a lot of fun accessories.

Next, August’s G’s Magazine which I stalked the shop to get… It comes with a Petit Nendoroid of Tachibana aka Angel from Angel Beat! So irresistible, I was lucky to get a copy after a friend give up his 2nd copy…

I also got myself Scandal’s latest album, thanks to Kenneth for the mass ordering. Won’t say too much since Kenneth will be bringing you a better review. I got the DVD version while he got both the photo book and the DVD, I’ve seen the photobook, and it’s really quite delicious…

Lastly, I got myself the game, Uncharted 2. They say it’s a epic movie like game and for now it’s still good. Although I haven’t really progress a lot yet.

Still no Blu-ray anime to review yet… … Hopeful by September I can get my hand on the Blu-Ray of the Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya. Hopefully…

Over and out!

Popularity: 6% [?]

It’s have been sometime since Sega’s Yakuza 3 is release both in the Native Japanese and the US’s English. And haven’t you wondered how true is the game to the source it’s based on?

Well now you can.

In a web article written by Jake Adelstien, author of the book Tokyo Vice, and Lisa Katayama, they went to a Yakuza’s office with a PS3 and the game Yakuza 3. In order to get 3 senior ranking Yakuza’s to review the game, Isit truthful or just some fairy tale…

And you will be quite surprised by the result.

Go read the article and find out yourself.

Article: Yakuza 3 Reviewed by Yakuzas
Scroll down for the summary judgment…

Yes, It’s very truth to life. Even the power-up food seems to be agreeable with the 3 Yakuzas as the good choice of energy replenishment. Still go read the whole article, it’s very interesting.

Popularity: 5% [?]

I would like to wish Singapore a Happy 45th Birthday. So here goes,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SINGAPORE!!!

Next I would like to Dedicate this song from Corrinne May, Sing a song for Singapore

This song is just so beautiful and meaningful, especially if you are an Anime Fan… In the past that I remembered, I am only able to watch an anime on the national TV and the Cable Vision don’t really come along until I’m like 7 years old and I don’t watch cable TV until I’m 21…

Animax only arrive on our shore in the year 2004, and it’s so wonderful how far we have moved on from there. Being the few countries to first get same week telecast, the first in the world to watch the new EVA movies outside of Japan and many more.

No, The Sun is not setting on Singapore, It's just rising for the anime scene.

My generation have also witness the growth and decline of the local Anime VCD/DVD scene,  and the disappearance of once great Cosplay Clubs and their events.

Nonetheless I am at the beginning of Anime Festival Asia and ACME, along with the recent rise of the many activities to do with anime, even Anisong singer are coming to Singapore. And very soon, the first true LIVE SOLO Anisong concert is going to happen at the St James Power Station.

Not to say, I have also seen with my own eyes the growth of KKnM, and the starting of Genesis Frontier. I’m just so glad they are based in Singapore.

Also I love our Airport, with the direct flights to Tokyo, now if only there is a budget one way flight… Thou without it, a ticket to Japan is still attainable.

So, I am grateful for all the privileges I got as a Anime Fan in Singapore and I truly wish Singapore a Happy Birthday and may there be many more to come!

It’s JUST so good to be a SINGAPOREAN!

Screen Grab from Setokai no Ichizion thanks to Speed Knight. The rest are photos from the NDP 2010 Rehearsals and Previews.

Popularity: 6% [?]

Want to grow your money?!

Do it now with the Figurine Investment Fund(FIF) where the you can just put in a fix amount of money everyone and be repaid with the figurines that you wanted or not. The investment fund will turn those money into more plastic for you, locking in the value of your acquisitions.

But why invest in figurines?

Why? Because collectors are looking for the figurines. For the beauty of it, the cuteness and most importantly the rarity  of the figures. Some just don’t get a re-issue regardless of how popular they are.

These can be view as a chance to make that extra bucks as collectors race to find and to keep the available stock in the market.

And now for the last song!

How does it works?

By putting a sum of money with the credit management firm, we will be pre-ordering the most sought after releases and calculating the possibility of either a re-issue or a limited edition.

Some of the recent examples that can be found in the market today,

Azusa Nendoroid, the first run’s market value rose from 3500 yen(54 SG$) to over SG$90. Before the 2nd release reduce the price back down to SG$59.90. Our assessment is to buy the 2nd run as there might not be a third run.

Who removed my Neko mimi? T_T

But who will be managing the fund?

The Figurine Investment Fund is managed by both  Ani-culture.net Money & Credits and KK&M Credit Investment & Assessment Company. We both have plenty of experience in the figurine market.

To sign up, please fill in the following non-existences form and submit it to the Comment box below. Then you can wait for the approval from us to join the program. Either that you can sign-up at the participating non-existences outlets.

After that may you have fun collecting the figures and playing with them!

Disclaimer: I know it’s not April Fools, but this is just a Joke… It’s not real. Why so Serious?

This is just a joke that was thought off when I was at KKnM today, watching a fellow mate tearing his hair out whether to buy the Azusa Nendoroid, me and Sharon(owner of KKnM) created the Figurine Investment Fund(FIF) to offer him a second option in return for his month allowance… Naturally he didn’t take it up, LOL!

And just a note, you won’t be able to make big bucks trying to do resell to collectors.

Lower your weapons!!

P.S: Do you like my new Nendoroid Azusa? She is just so Kawaii don’t you think?

As for the example above about the Azusa Nendoroid, it really quite true, since at some places which still do have stock of the Nendoroid is indeed retailing it at SG$90.

Of cos, the 2nd run have already been released, but most of it, are either already been reserved or pre-ordered. Thou you can still find 1 or 2 left at KKnM(as of today, 29th July 2010) selling at SG$59.90. They also have 1  or 2 Nendoroid Francesca Lucchini in the shop… going at SG$64.90. So better make you way there ASAP… @_@

Not again?! TT-TT

Popularity: 4% [?]

Yoshihiro Tatsumi’s autobiography manga that is as thick as an encyclopedia won 2 Eisners yesterday at the awards presentation in Comic-con USA.

The manga won an award in the Best US release of the year for the publisher and Best Reality-Based work of the year, and I have to agree with the them on this one. Even thou Yoshihiro-san is not able to accept the award himself, he left a message based on his experience of Comic-con in 2006.

Here is the the excerpt from ANN:

Peggy Burns of Drawn & Quarterly accepted the awards on Tatsumi’s behalf and noted that Tatsumi attended Comic-Con International as a special guest in 2006. She added that his biggest observation of that visit was that he had never even signed a book for a woman in Japan. Tatsumi’s works have now sold 60,000 copies in North America. Burn said, “He really is the embodiment of everything that is great with comics. He went to the drawing board every single day and drew what he believed in.”

I finished the book despite the very long process which I must say, I enjoyed… I even managed to astonish some of my workmate and on lookers with the thickness of the book and my concentration when reading it.

Confess I must, that all the credit for my above stated achievements should be credited to Yoshihiro-san for creating such an interesting book that can suck me in for that long 2 hour period in a hot and humid hall…

With that said, I’m really looking forward to the local animation movie directed by Eric Khoo. It will be the first of such movie made in Singapore… But I am very afraid that it might become a “cannot make it” movie… Well that is one fear, at least it’s not made by Jack Neo, yah?

Eisner Award: The Will Eisner Comic Industry Award, It’s an award for American Comic creators created in honer of the pioneer artist and writer, Will Eisner.

Other winners for the 2010 awards can be found on the Comic-con website

Source: The Beat, Newsarama, The Warp via ANN | Sindieonly|

Popularity: 3% [?]

I bought something from Chuang Yi, Singapore’s main publisher of Manga. Unlike my other buys, I got the manga online, from their online store and it’s really easy if you have a paypal account.

But what I don’t like about the service would be the waiting time… 3 days to process the sales and then another 3 days for the delivery is really not a very fast service, even thou there is a SG$3 delivery charge if your purchase is less then SG$30.

I could easily have got the mangas I wanted from a book store within an hour, so the time advantage that the online store provided is not really there, at least not yet.

Free gift 1: A Floor Mat, from LALA magazine

There is a few good points to the service thou, for example their online promotion which makes averagely gives me a discount of about 50 cents per volume. Additionally, It comes with free gifts, although it doesn’t worth much, it’s the thought that counts.

Free Gift 2: A La Corda D'oro pouch from Lala magazine

For that I’m going to be using the service for some time to come. Will you?

A note to Chuang Yi’s online store people, one of the most basic service you can provide is to take note of what manga I have bought and keep it as my favorite, and sending me a email when a new volume is coming. That will be a very nice service, don’t you think?

Website: Chuang Yi Online Store

Popularity: 4% [?]

And so the Ruby round has ended with the conclusion of the 7th round. And here are the results of the round.

Mio unfortunately lost to Taiga in the last round, thus loosing the Ruby necklace to Misaka, which is also good. Too bad is what I would like to be said for Mio losing only by a mere 23 votes… Btw, Shana is runner up, losing due to some other statistics.

Past winners: Haruhi Suzumiya(2008) and Hinagiku(2009)

Well Misaka don’t really have an easy time too, after all she is in the vote with Saber.  Other interesting matches includes the Sanzenin Fraction massacring their opponents and how Haruhi Suzumiya proves herself to be the ever popular queen of the empire.

Now you should be curious to who are the other holders of the Jewels, before the last Diamond and finally the Elimination.

Past winners: Shana(2008) and Tomoyo(2009)

Past winners: Setsuna Sakurazaki(2008) and Yuki Nagato(2009)

Past winners: Kagami(2008) and Suigintou(2009)

Past winners: Kyou Fujibayashi(2008) and Shana(2009)

Past winners: Kagami(2008) and Suiseiseki(2009)

So these are the Jewel Holders, with Shana almost wining 3 times in a row, guaranteeing her a position in the next International Saimoe League. The grand master confirmed her participation for next year.

But now, who will make it into the double elimination match?

The top 8 of the board is more or less confirmed, but the Double Elimination will only work with 16. So a fight to be in the top 16 is brewing in the final Diamond Necklace season. Is your favorite character safe?

If she is not, you better vote for her in the next match up on the 25th of July. Have fun!

Website: International Saimoe League 2010

Popularity: 3% [?]

AKA Asobi Ni Iku Yo! is not what you would usually expect from a show with a cat girl with large boobs… and a guy with 1 active female childhood neighbor, a quiet shy looking girl friend that adores you, and a Sexy Teacher.

Everything on the poor guy’s front looks really promising and it’s really turning out to be a 2005 type Harem show all over again… You know the Childhood friend, quiet school mate and the mature women fight over a guy’s heart type of show…

No. That would be boring right? Since that is so not in fashion now after the out-break of the harem kind 5 years ago, I still remember when half the show in a season is made up of harem shows, killing any appetite for watching anime. Most of them I just cannot remember now…

Asobi ni Iku Yo! is not as simple as it looks, with it’s simple minded alien and all. Behind the outside appearance conceals a deadly Sci-fi flick, with guns, betrayer and underground killings.

In episode 1 for instance, the girls/women that the main character met other then the alien and his mom is out to kill him, figuratively.  So much for the good relationships huh?

But all that I wrote kinda changed in the second episode… I’m so glad I haven’t published the post yet… The dark sinister feeling of the anime somehow turned 180 degrees, bringing a sense of over happiness and etc… Are the aliens are really that carefree?!

I guess so. Since when you are invincible, you don’t really need to worry about things like the enemies and resources, yah? That explains a part of the plot and why they are so well evolved…

Then, the momiji thing that Futaba kept on mentioning, well that suit will really garner quite a lot of fans with that DFC theme going on. Best of all she is most likely legal and can drive. And she can become a rather deadly opponent in a battle, compared to her quiet shy type in school, piping any interest?

Well I better not say any more, I might really get arrested for being a lolicon… So this might be come the new watching point of the show.

On the other hand, did you notice that Elis have always been promoting Okinawa Food? From the layered pork to the Grilled beef, this turns out to be a very convenience plot hole.

Hence I don’t know what to rate this anime, but I can say that, it’s going to get interesting and even if it’s not, it will be good entertainment, atleast for now. Just hope it don’t go beyond 13 episodes plus a few ovas… Afterall this is a production by the Harem Experts, AIC. So I sure hope they don’t let me down…

Website: Anime News Network entry on Asobi Ni Iku Yo

Popularity: 4% [?]

Oops is a little late this month… but hey I still made it.

You have already seen a few of my precious buys in an earlier post but I did buy some other items. Could be more if i have went to Cosmo during the day. Now a look at my miserable purchases for this month… … I’m poor… damit…

Ok I bought a total of 3 CDs… And that is a lot from my pitiful resource…

But I’m so glad I got them, especially Hirano Aya’s Hysteric Barbie. The single is filled with high tempo songs, from the hysterical first song which sound like a rap to the the third slightly more conventional and slightly soothing. The DVD that came with the single is also a treasure for me…

Girldemo’s first and last album didn’t really provide much of a surprise, as the songs are as they were, funny is that it didn’t include the original opening… Perhaps proving that it’s really not sung by them in the anime. Nonetheless, atleast Yui’s suicidal version is inside, along with her rendition of “My Song”, in place of the original by Iwasawa.

Within the booklet of the album, there is a note by the composer and musical director, Jun Maeda. It is to me 2 pages of words i don’t understand… So anyone wanna try translating it?

Last by not least, “LOVE” by the Death Devils… It’s a bit of a disappointment… The song is not really that good for a death metal and you can really hear it. Plus there is really no extras… 2 songs and 2 non vocal… that’s all… then end it off with a Death that looks almost funny… It’s not death metal at all… Just not what I had expected…

At the time of writing this post, I just found out that 2 volume of the Mangas I am following is out… They are Black Lagoon Vol. 6 and Ouran High School vol. 16. I have already placed an order for them so, this considered a buy?

This is also the first time I’m trying out Chuang Yi’s e-market, but taking 2-3 days to process an order seems a bit too much… Nonetheless, it’s a good try. Let’s just wait and see then… So…

 Loading ...

Popularity: 5% [?]

Exactly on the last day of June, Scandal’s first ‘Live’ DVD, [BEST SCANDAL 2009] was released and again, I got my own copy via cdjapan.

This DVD features footage from their live performance at Ebisu Liquidroom on December 24, 2009. What a Christmas eve for those who managed to attend this performance.

The set list consists mainly of songs that these 4 girls sangs from their first single [DOLL] up to [YUMEMIRU TSUBASA]. And also on that night, they performed [SHUNKAN SENTIMENTAL] for the fans way before the actual release!

This ‘live’ performance clip on the DVD is a short one, clocking slightly over 75 minutes for the main footage, though I suspect on the actual night itself, it should last for about 80 minutes, but the final footage that made it showed otherwise.

The girls did gave a solid performance though, singing song after song without taking much interval. And yes, they DO know how to play with the instruments.

And here are some tracks that got me looping them on the iPod after watching the footage.

[SPACE RANGER], [BEAUTEEN!!], & [TOKYO].

And later this month and early next month, Scandal will be releasing a new single and their 2nd full album which has 3 editions. Following that, they will embark on a tour in Japan, 「SCANDAL TEMPTATION BOX TOUR 2010」～YEAH!って言えいっ!～.

Popularity: 6% [?]