AnimeRoot

I’m not sure what to say about this choice but its pretty much the most fugly packaging I’ve seen in years. From what I hear it is raising sales and making the DVDs stand out more on the shelves, but I must say the color is unnatural on my shelf which is a mix of black, blue, red, and oddly enough green xbox 360 containers though that is the case not the sleeve so its not as bright as these S.A.V.E. labeled DVDs. I just don’t care for them, and I wish they would just shrink down the big ugly label and let the animes title take up more real estate on the side and front. They could have settled on a little green stripe that wraps the cover but no they went for the over sized label that says hey I’m cheap but I’m ok with that, to be honest I love the price point, most around $20 for an entire series. By all means the quality of the anime is still there and the product itself is solid, I just don’t like that ugly label.

If your a fan of the slayers or Eden of the East you owe it to yourself to pre-order these Blu-Ray’s today or at least buy them when they come out. These are all shows that are already out on DVD but for some reason are several months behind on the Blu-ray release. If you recall I wrote a rant about Slayers revolution not being launched on Blu-ray or combo pack and that the DVD release was years after the first show aired. (LINK HERE) But finally here they are and I can’t wait to get my hands on them.

The Product descriptions are from Funimation provided to Amazon.com

Slayers Revolution: The original cast of Slayers is reunited for the first time in over a decade in Slayers Revolution – a totally new season full of the magical mayhem that can only happen when Lina Inverse and her crew pull into town. Lina’s on the run from a government inspector who’s ready to put her away for good. Her crime? Just being herself! The guy’s hot on her tail, but a tiny creature that actually has a tail might be Lina’s biggest problem. Pokota’s a powerful little furball, and his path of destruction is getting pinned on Lina. With so much explosive magic between them, you know things will go boom when they face off. But there’s more to Pokota than anyone knows, and if Lina’s gang can get to the bottom of his habit of blowing stuff up, they could end up with an awesome new ally.

Slayers Evolution R: The magical mayhem of The Slayers Revolution continues in The Slayers Evolution-R! With the original cast of The Slayers back together for the first time in over a decade, Lina Inverse and her crew are reunited and doing what they do best – saving the world by almost destroying it! Lina’s gang and their new ally Pokota are hot on the trail of the Hellmaster’s Jar! It’s no ordinary piece of pottery: it holds the soul of Rezo the Red Priest. Opening the vessel and resurrecting Rezo is the only hope Pokota has of saving his kingdom’s people. With masked assassins, headless knights, and shifty Xellos in the mix, one thing is certain – destruction is guaranteed!

Eden of the East : Akira Takizawa wakes up naked outside the White House with no memories. He’s got a gun in one hand, a cell phone in the other, and doesn’t know if he’s a good guy or one of the worst. He doesn’t remember the phone gives him instant access to ten billion yen and a woman who can make his most outlandish requests a reality. He doesn’t recall his connection to the ongoing missile attacks terrorizing the Japanese people. Or the part he played in the sudden disappearance of 20,000 shut-ins. He doesn’t even remember he’s supposed to save Japan and will be murdered if he fails. Whatever it is he’s tangled up in, Takizawa’s definitely in deep – and that’s not even scratching the surface.

This was a post I actually ran into on a few other sources but it is a question that I have been asked countless times, by many people unfamiliar or just breaking into Anime. The person that actually created this post brings up some good points and the video its self adds a somewhat convincing opinion as to ‘why’ it is believed.

Why do the Japanese draw themselves as white? You see that especially in manga and anime.
Read the rest of this entry »

If you have played the game you owe it to yourself to see this movie, trust me your going to love it. If you have never played the game Tales of Vesperia, well it is still a fantastic movie.

Film Poster

The story of the movie takes place several years before the events of the game. Yuri Lowel is a new recruit the knights, and is put under the command of a very interesting captain. Alongside Yuri is his child hood friend Flent, and they still don’t get along together but can agree with one thing ” justice” but how you execute it that’s another story. The two main characters and the supporting cast are sent to a town to protect the villagers from the creatures coming from the forest which have been getting stronger by the day. More time passes and some events cause a few twists to happen, and more people die. Something must be done to save the villagers and the forest from total destruction. Can Yuri and the Knights stop the source of evil, or is something bigger hiding in the shadows?

Visually stunning, the quality of the animation is great, the colors, texture and frame rate all very smooth and crisp. With many Games that became anime the art style is lost with Tales of Vesperia the game and the movie line up perfectly, and the artists that worked on the game were major players in the movies creation. The same visual team at Bandai Japan, has done well with this franchise, for those who have not played the game its like playing an anime RPG that looks and feels like anime. Bandai did throw in a few shots taken striaght from the game, and used the map on a few occasions.

Game Screen Cap "not the movie"

The characters are just like the ones found in the game, Though the movie takes place several years before the game many of the supporting cast make cameos during the films duration. Some new characters are in the mix and the cast is solid. You will not be disappointment with the character development regardless if you have played the game or not. If you have played the games you will be not as surprised about Yuri’s past but I will hold out on spoilers there are a few good ones in there. All the original voice cast from the game are back, and some top notch talent was added for extras. This movie took several years to make and it shows, bandai really cares about its fans and its franchise.

Plot was much better then expected, I initially thought this was going to be some low budget re-hash but I was completely wrong. The plot was a deep and rich tale full of good and bad, tales of life and plenty of death. This film jerks your heart around and leaves you on the edge of your seat at times. This  is not a Rated G film for sure, but it kept a very high class tone, I would put it in at about Princess Mononoke about a PG-13 film. Sometimes fan service and vulgar language can take the backseat to solid plot and amazing characters, this is the case with Tales of Vesperia.

Overall I think this movie is a solid 4/5 if I had to give it a number. Why not a 5 well its still kinda short on a few things and was a little off topic at times, other than that I thought it was fantastic. I really hope this gets a US-release it deserves it. Bandai please give us the Blu-ray! Which you can buy in Japan but not here yet, the blu-ray is fantastic!

Well it seems like 3D movies are all the rage once again, and people are now paying (out the nose) for it. Oddly enough during these rough economic times people are willing to fork over $20 per ticket to watch a 3d IMAX movie. I don’t think consumers realize that most theaters don’t have the screen size to deliver a true IMAX experience and yet they are paying more for it.
Would you rush back to the the theater if say ghost in the Shell was re-released in 3D? I think I would but as we know not all people can enjoy 3D.

Howls Moving Castle

Most of the new big box office movies coming out are only coming out in 3D, I think this is trend that will die out in the long run but for many this is the best thing since sliced bread. So basically a regular movie ticket was $9-10 is no longer offered for some films, even though the 3D effect can’t be enjoyed by everyone and the IMAX experience is not true in most cases. People who have a lazy eye for example can’t tell the difference, and some people get sick or headaches due to the eye seeing only half offered, the color blind, the elderly, and those with poor depth perception are all getting the short stick. For those who can see it, it is rather amazing. From film to film the use of 3D varies and quality of the usage of the 3D is really what can make or break the effect.

If used in Anime I could see some of the benefits but do they out weigh the costs. I myself think that using 3D as a platform to theaters to push newer anime titles would be a cool thing. Ok we all know that movies directed by Hayao Miyazaki are widely accepted by Americans so there lays a sliver of hope, take something like Sonys Paprika and put it into theaters in 3D and I think you will have some good reactions.

The New Fate stay night Movies and Show Reproductions now available on BluRay in Japan only. I’m hoping these titles will see release in the US Market, but thanks to a few companies going under who held crucial rights to publish it might not happen.

Movie Poster

Though there is hope and Amazon.jp as well as the big old internets as a last option. I want to see the BluRay versions release here sometime within 2010, I’m a big fan of the Fate: stay/night series and of most of the type moon productions. Here is what anime news network has to say on the subject. Link to Full Article

The official website for the Fate/stay night Unlimited Blade Works film began streaming a new trailer .The all new animated production will cover the Unlimited Blade Works storyline from Type-Moon‘s game franchise. Director Yuji Yamaguchi, series script supervisor Takuya Sato, character designer and chief animation director Megumi Ishihara, and Studio DEEN are returning from the Fate/stay night television series.

Last September, Funimation released a Fate/stay night anime series box as one of its first anime DVDs from its distribution deal with Geneon Entertainment. Geneon Entertainment had ceased in-house distribution of its own titles in 2007.

フェイト/ステイナイト

It is great news that all the work that went into these movies\reproductions was done hands on with the first team, the only bummer is that much of the story is a re-hash of the same story. If you want to pick it to death you will have to play the game and go down the Rin Path to view the Archer story from the side in the movie, minus the adult content of course. It would be nice if they did 4 movies covering all the main paths and endings, but that would prove to be expensive and time consuming.

It should be noted that if you have not seen the TV series I suggest you pick up the DVD’s here for about 25 funbucks. The game is not for sale in the U.S. if you want it you will have to pay the big bucks to import it and then find a translation pack, they are out there but surf safely.

And oh yeah here is that Trailer Link Here

Surely not Haruhi.. This one is different.. Kinda

For many of us that are up to date with this seasons anime, there is a huge selection of title. Among the few sequals I.E. K-On!!, Ikkitousen: Xtreme Xecutor and Da Capo there are big name companies rolling out new series as well. Angel Beats! is produced by P.A Works, with the orginal story created by Studio Key (AIR, Clannad, Little Busters). For those that aren’t familar with Angel Beats!;

Angel Beats! Takes place in a world after death, angels fight for their fate and their future. Yuri, the leader of the Shinda Sekai Sensen, rebels against the god who destined her to have an unreasonable life. On the other hand, Tenshi, the chairperson of the student council for the world after death, battles against the SSS members. SSS members utilize armed weaponry to battle it out against the angels harnessing supernatural powers.

From Animenewsnetwork

Read the rest of this entry »

I hate to break it to Funimation but this grinds my gears so much I have to Rant about it.

I wish!

I’m so disappointed about this that I’ve made a list of what they did wrong with Slayers Revolution. First the bad then the good, because I care about making our anime better.

OK……what I’m not happy about:

1. Why did you acquire rights to it and wait an entire year and a half to release the DVD? Honestly why?

2. Why the Slimpack? It’s cheap sure but I feel kind of burned by this….

3. OK this show was aired in 720p in Japan on Tokyo TV don’t BS me I Saw it Air and its been pointed out all over the net.

4. DVD resolution is weak, aspect ratio is lacking, sound quality is poor at times, and menus are poor handling, I’ve seen better Hentai menus, I’m sorry but it’s true.

5. Subtitles lacking, I know most Americans don’t like it literal but please we are not that daft.

6. Back to point 3, this release should be in BluRay, as should most new anime Shows being released out here. Why no BluRay, or Combo pack? This release should be in 1080p and full, not cropped and shoved on DVD. I’m sorry but SONY would never release Paprika in the U.S. on just DVD they do both formats for the the justice of the artists and fans.

List of things I like about this DVD:

1. The English cast is great, thanks for bringing in the classics!

2. Its the slayers revolution!

3. Entire Series in one box for one price

Funimation please release anime as it was in Japan, you will never beat fansubs with low resolution releases. The fans demand bigger, faster and better, give it to them, you have the rights! Do us Great Justice!