For more reviews, previews and news check out either: http://www.cosmic-comics.com.au or check out my blog: http://anime-review-guy.blogspot.com Time for review number 4. This time I have a look at the Official PS2 game for "DNAngel". Will I be able to save Chii from the totally evil Dark? All image and sounds are used for commentary and review purposes only and all come from either the DNAngel Official Playstation 2 Videogame or the DNAngel Anime Series.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Chobits Videogame Review - [by the animereviewguy]
Review 3, the first that has been published twice, in two different formats and in two different time scales. This is the full, unedited video. This time, we look at the PS2 game 'Chobits' and, with the help of my own persocom, we shall see if there is really more to this game than meets the eye. Featuring a special guest appearance by Chii and my first appearance on camera outside of the Comic Shelf.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Vlog 01: BANDAI BLOCK PWN3GE and DELAYS
I reciently got around to making my first ever vlog and was quite excited to finally be able to show myself in all my hideous glory to the people of blip.tv and youtube. I go to upload it and what happens? Straight away im hit with an infringing copyright notice and a health warning from Bandai Visuals to not steal their stuff. Of course, I was under the impression that footage was allowed to be used for commentary, review or parody purposes, but apparently the law also doesn't apply in this situation. I'm working on it, but it seems that I may be a little delayed in the release of this, my first vlog. It's all in an effort to be more active and post more, but if im going to get continuously blocked and infringed I guess it might not work out on this level. Ill keep you posted as things develop!
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Text Review 3: Genshiken
Genshiken - Anime and Manga Review
Manga AUTHOR: Shimoku Kio
other works include Kujibiki Unbalance (2004-2007) and Digopuri (2008)
Publisher: Kodansha, Del Rey Manga
Volumes: 9
Anime Episodes: 12 (Season 1, 2004), 3 (OVA, 2006-2007), 12 (Season 2, 2007)
IF YOU LIKE THIS, TRY: Comic Party, Cosplay Complex, Otaku no Video
Just look, look at the state of my room! I just got back from Supanova, the 'pop culture' expo of Western Australia and what have I got to show for it? MORE manga, anime and unmentionables that must be added to their relevant piles, cases and stacks. Sorted into their shelf space, or as that fills up, their floor space. I may not have huge posters on the walls or an anime bedspread but there is no hiding it, I'm a fully fledged otaku. Now some of you are probably asking 'what the heck is an otaku?' to which I will give the most basic of definitions;
Otaku (Oh-tah-ku) 1. A person who thinks about anime, manga, videogames and not much else. 2. A misunderstood type of mammal that can be seen at dusk scurrying towards the nearest store.
'Where are you going with this?' you wonder as you sit there with your head on one hand, and SIT UP! it's not good for your posture. This is all relevant as you shall see as your enjoyment with the series I will talk about today is based solely on how much you are like me. How much you can relate to the culture I speak of, and no I'm not talking about Lucky Star. Granted there is an otaku character in that series, it's not a series ABOUT otaku. For that, I turn to the marvellous series Genshiken.
Genshiken is a club in a university campus, Shiiou University, consisting almost entirely of otaku's and their quest for fandom, mastery of games and love. Now of course, most universities would see through a club application for the study of said things, so they are known by the technical term 'The Society for the Study of Modern Visual Culture'. Let's put it this way: A similar thing has occurred as the martial arts have become more popular. Every college now has a club that studies the martial arts (at least in Japan) even though there are also separate clubs devoted to karate, jujitsu, kickboxing etc. The former type of club focuses on appreciating the martial arts as a whole, while the latter type practices specific styles. Why shouldn't otaku clubs follow similar principles? members of manga or anime clubs tend to talk about manga and anime from the creator's perspective. But the Genshiken considers the consumers point of view first.
What makes the series interesting as a whole is the look into all the aspects of otaku culture. From touring known comic shops, to conventions, cosplay, gaming, to just debating about certain recognisable series, it's all covered at one point or another, and that's partly why I myself clung to it to vividly, because I could relate so well to all of it.
I guess I should get around to telling you the plot right? well here is what we have:
SYNOPSIS
"It's the spring of freshman year, and Kanji Sasahara is in a quandary. Should he fulfill his long-cherished dream of joining an otaku club? Saki Kasukabe also faces a dilemma. Can she ever turn her boyfirend, anime fanboy Makoto (Kousaka), into a normal guy? Kanji triumphs where Saki fails when both Sasahara and Kousaka sign up for Genshiken: The Society for the Study of Modern Visual Culture. Undeterred, Saki chases Kousaka through various activities of the club, from cosplay and comic conventions to video gaming and collection anime figures - all the while discovering more than she ever wanted to know about the humorous world of the Japanese otaku!"
Oh and by the way. The majority of manga and anime references made in Genshiken are on the then-fictitious series known as' Kujibiki Unbalance', a stereotypical romantic comedy. 'Kujibiki Unbalance' was likely originally conceived to avoid potential copyright problems from referencing other series too heavily, but has since spun off into its own fully fledged manga and anime series.
Now that the whole plot thing is out of the way, on to the review!
MANGA REVIEW
It should go without saying at this point, but this is by far one of my most enjoyed series thus far
during my introduction to manga. The characters were relateable to me, I could understand the problems they were having and the excitement they felt. It's purely circumstantial and you will see by what I mean when I said earlier that you will like it ' based solely on how much you are like me'.
Shimoku Kio has always been praised for his attention to detail in the series, and it really shines through with everything stacked to the brim in otakuness. Each characters room plays out a representation of their minds with posters, anime and manga littering their walls, floor and beds. Their club space is also filled with recognisable series and detail.
The story progression evolves from commentary to romantic comedy, which helps introduce new characters while still showing how the old ones are growing as people. The series shows that otaku are people too, with their own joys and defeats, and should not be so readily cast aside (as I believe they are in Japanese culture especially) but maybe I'm reading too far into it. It's an amazing series and should be checked out immediately if you haven't already done so.
ANIME REVIEW
As for the anime (another that isn't available in Australia, so if you want to look into it you're going to have to order it in) it's seperated by seasons, different animation companies and different mind sets, so some of the aspects of the manga change from series to series.
Series one focuses on seperating each aspect of being an otaku out into an episode a piece, with the characters simply playing a representation of an otaku, and don't blossom into their own recognisable personalities til later near the end of the series. Sure they are interesting, but only in the terms of only knowing their stereotype slightly and not them themselves. An OVA seperates series one and two and introduces a new character and the next story arc involving the production of a doujinshi (erotic manga).
Series two is focused much more on the relationships between the members of the Genshiken themselves more than just a comment on otaku culture. That vibe from the first series is still there, but now it seems more focused on developing the characters, as such, the second season evolves in the same progression as the manga did. The second season also used Kio's art style, to the point of copying images directly from the manga in the sense that it almost looks like an animated comic if you have read it beforehand. The only dissapointment about the series is that it takes a few episodes to pick up and become interesting and it has no climax, leaving out the last two volumes of manga AND the only relationship I wanted to be explored. It's been 2007 since the last series was made and nothing on the horizon for any further production, but there better be or I will destroy all. (Yes I was pretty ticked off at the finale).
Overall though, Genshiken a great series about a bunch of otaku. If you are interested in the workings of the culture, or just after a funny adventure through a college I highly recommend you check this one out. It really summarises the lifestyle basically and for that, you are essentially getting to know me from reading it, and so I look forward to not hearing from you ever. GET Genshiken!
Manga AUTHOR: Shimoku Kio
other works include Kujibiki Unbalance (2004-2007) and Digopuri (2008)
Publisher: Kodansha, Del Rey Manga
Volumes: 9
Anime Episodes: 12 (Season 1, 2004), 3 (OVA, 2006-2007), 12 (Season 2, 2007)
IF YOU LIKE THIS, TRY: Comic Party, Cosplay Complex, Otaku no Video
Just look, look at the state of my room! I just got back from Supanova, the 'pop culture' expo of Western Australia and what have I got to show for it? MORE manga, anime and unmentionables that must be added to their relevant piles, cases and stacks. Sorted into their shelf space, or as that fills up, their floor space. I may not have huge posters on the walls or an anime bedspread but there is no hiding it, I'm a fully fledged otaku. Now some of you are probably asking 'what the heck is an otaku?' to which I will give the most basic of definitions;
Otaku (Oh-tah-ku) 1. A person who thinks about anime, manga, videogames and not much else. 2. A misunderstood type of mammal that can be seen at dusk scurrying towards the nearest store.
'Where are you going with this?' you wonder as you sit there with your head on one hand, and SIT UP! it's not good for your posture. This is all relevant as you shall see as your enjoyment with the series I will talk about today is based solely on how much you are like me. How much you can relate to the culture I speak of, and no I'm not talking about Lucky Star. Granted there is an otaku character in that series, it's not a series ABOUT otaku. For that, I turn to the marvellous series Genshiken.
Genshiken is a club in a university campus, Shiiou University, consisting almost entirely of otaku's and their quest for fandom, mastery of games and love. Now of course, most universities would see through a club application for the study of said things, so they are known by the technical term 'The Society for the Study of Modern Visual Culture'. Let's put it this way: A similar thing has occurred as the martial arts have become more popular. Every college now has a club that studies the martial arts (at least in Japan) even though there are also separate clubs devoted to karate, jujitsu, kickboxing etc. The former type of club focuses on appreciating the martial arts as a whole, while the latter type practices specific styles. Why shouldn't otaku clubs follow similar principles? members of manga or anime clubs tend to talk about manga and anime from the creator's perspective. But the Genshiken considers the consumers point of view first.
What makes the series interesting as a whole is the look into all the aspects of otaku culture. From touring known comic shops, to conventions, cosplay, gaming, to just debating about certain recognisable series, it's all covered at one point or another, and that's partly why I myself clung to it to vividly, because I could relate so well to all of it.
I guess I should get around to telling you the plot right? well here is what we have:
SYNOPSIS
"It's the spring of freshman year, and Kanji Sasahara is in a quandary. Should he fulfill his long-cherished dream of joining an otaku club? Saki Kasukabe also faces a dilemma. Can she ever turn her boyfirend, anime fanboy Makoto (Kousaka), into a normal guy? Kanji triumphs where Saki fails when both Sasahara and Kousaka sign up for Genshiken: The Society for the Study of Modern Visual Culture. Undeterred, Saki chases Kousaka through various activities of the club, from cosplay and comic conventions to video gaming and collection anime figures - all the while discovering more than she ever wanted to know about the humorous world of the Japanese otaku!"
Oh and by the way. The majority of manga and anime references made in Genshiken are on the then-fictitious series known as' Kujibiki Unbalance', a stereotypical romantic comedy. 'Kujibiki Unbalance' was likely originally conceived to avoid potential copyright problems from referencing other series too heavily, but has since spun off into its own fully fledged manga and anime series.
Now that the whole plot thing is out of the way, on to the review!
MANGA REVIEW
It should go without saying at this point, but this is by far one of my most enjoyed series thus far
during my introduction to manga. The characters were relateable to me, I could understand the problems they were having and the excitement they felt. It's purely circumstantial and you will see by what I mean when I said earlier that you will like it ' based solely on how much you are like me'.
Shimoku Kio has always been praised for his attention to detail in the series, and it really shines through with everything stacked to the brim in otakuness. Each characters room plays out a representation of their minds with posters, anime and manga littering their walls, floor and beds. Their club space is also filled with recognisable series and detail.
The story progression evolves from commentary to romantic comedy, which helps introduce new characters while still showing how the old ones are growing as people. The series shows that otaku are people too, with their own joys and defeats, and should not be so readily cast aside (as I believe they are in Japanese culture especially) but maybe I'm reading too far into it. It's an amazing series and should be checked out immediately if you haven't already done so.
ANIME REVIEW
As for the anime (another that isn't available in Australia, so if you want to look into it you're going to have to order it in) it's seperated by seasons, different animation companies and different mind sets, so some of the aspects of the manga change from series to series.
Series one focuses on seperating each aspect of being an otaku out into an episode a piece, with the characters simply playing a representation of an otaku, and don't blossom into their own recognisable personalities til later near the end of the series. Sure they are interesting, but only in the terms of only knowing their stereotype slightly and not them themselves. An OVA seperates series one and two and introduces a new character and the next story arc involving the production of a doujinshi (erotic manga).
Series two is focused much more on the relationships between the members of the Genshiken themselves more than just a comment on otaku culture. That vibe from the first series is still there, but now it seems more focused on developing the characters, as such, the second season evolves in the same progression as the manga did. The second season also used Kio's art style, to the point of copying images directly from the manga in the sense that it almost looks like an animated comic if you have read it beforehand. The only dissapointment about the series is that it takes a few episodes to pick up and become interesting and it has no climax, leaving out the last two volumes of manga AND the only relationship I wanted to be explored. It's been 2007 since the last series was made and nothing on the horizon for any further production, but there better be or I will destroy all. (Yes I was pretty ticked off at the finale).
Overall though, Genshiken a great series about a bunch of otaku. If you are interested in the workings of the culture, or just after a funny adventure through a college I highly recommend you check this one out. It really summarises the lifestyle basically and for that, you are essentially getting to know me from reading it, and so I look forward to not hearing from you ever. GET Genshiken!
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Copyright and YouTube back on the Warpath
Hey Guys! Wow what a week. University has gone back and its time to figure out just how in trouble I am with assignments and the such.
But thats not the most pressing news, lend my your ears young ones and I shall tell you of a tale so predictable you will most liekly run into it time and again in your life. I refer to, of course, Copyright.
Now, now. I am not starting off on a rant about copyright being bad or anything, I mean credit where credit is due right? Besides, I wouldnt want anyone copying my work, and copyright helps me stop that.
The issue I am having is with the distribution right of trailers, you know, the little minute clips edited together to give people an idea about a movie/game/animation and maybe an idea if they would like to try it out.
Now form what i understand, companies construct these trailers to give like, a little preview of the series, as such it is free, widely distributed and is found on many DVDs, internet sites and the such.
Now you would thing that if something is FREE, and its already WIDELY DISTRIBUTED, then it should be FREE for me to WIDELY DISTRIBUTE it as well, just as long as im doing it for FREE. You see where im going with this right? Same concept applies to the some 70 trailers found on my youtube account.
Ive had very little issue with these, only a few have brought up notices to check them for copyrighted material (some 5 of the 70, which would mean 75 attempted uploads), and ive immediately deleted them if that notice did come up. I though this would help me avoid any unnecicary strife.
Well...I WAS WRONG! Turns out today my trailer for 'Baki the Grappler' was taken down for copyright by someone by the name of [insert random japanese characters here]. Now, if it ACTUALLY is the company who made Baki the Grappler, and its simply their wish to have me take it down, I would have been happy to. In fact, if they had just asked me to take it down via a message or something, happy to. If I had uploaded a full episode, a dubbing session, something you can only find by PURCHASING THE DISC I would be happy to. But it was the trailer, something FREE given to me that I cant give away.
It was a relitively popular clip to (some 20,000 views, most likely because of the 360 game release) so I would think they would appreciate all the free publicity.
So what am I getting at here with this? Simply put, if they can take that down pretty much ANYTHING is up for deletion, and I have no idea if ill even have an account next time I get back on youtube. There are a few things on there that are definately not infringing copyright in anyway (game reviews, convention videos etc) but if I get infringed a couple more times ill be permanently banned from youtube.
SO whats the plan then? Even if get banned ill probably just start up another account under a different name (like instead of animereviewguy, it will be anime-review-guy) or the such. Ive already hooked up my blip.tv account to youtube so my game reviews will always be on both sites regardless, so not that hige of a thing, just a relitive pain over something so minor.
Anyway thats about it on that topic, now on to some more exciting things!
My next game review for Chobits on PS2 is chugging along nicely. Ive gotten through a playthrough or two and got my sound effects and camera stuff done, now all thats left is to write the script, record and put it all together. Im thinking a release of 08/20/10 wouldnt be asking too much.
Cosmic-Comics seems to be having trouble uploading my reviews so ill put the next one up here, review for Genshiken. Ill be putting that up tomorrow (08/12/10) to celebrate my 22nd BIRTHDAY!
And well thats about it for now. I've been caught up in a Christopher Nolan Watch-a-thon Marathon, getting through all his movies I can get my hands on and ive only got one left, the Prestige. Ill probably do this again once Dark Knight 3 is on the horizon, but 2012 is the end of the world so I hope he hurries up.
All the best guys! Catch ya all round next time!!
But thats not the most pressing news, lend my your ears young ones and I shall tell you of a tale so predictable you will most liekly run into it time and again in your life. I refer to, of course, Copyright.
Now, now. I am not starting off on a rant about copyright being bad or anything, I mean credit where credit is due right? Besides, I wouldnt want anyone copying my work, and copyright helps me stop that.
The issue I am having is with the distribution right of trailers, you know, the little minute clips edited together to give people an idea about a movie/game/animation and maybe an idea if they would like to try it out.
Now form what i understand, companies construct these trailers to give like, a little preview of the series, as such it is free, widely distributed and is found on many DVDs, internet sites and the such.
Now you would thing that if something is FREE, and its already WIDELY DISTRIBUTED, then it should be FREE for me to WIDELY DISTRIBUTE it as well, just as long as im doing it for FREE. You see where im going with this right? Same concept applies to the some 70 trailers found on my youtube account.
Ive had very little issue with these, only a few have brought up notices to check them for copyrighted material (some 5 of the 70, which would mean 75 attempted uploads), and ive immediately deleted them if that notice did come up. I though this would help me avoid any unnecicary strife.
Well...I WAS WRONG! Turns out today my trailer for 'Baki the Grappler' was taken down for copyright by someone by the name of [insert random japanese characters here]. Now, if it ACTUALLY is the company who made Baki the Grappler, and its simply their wish to have me take it down, I would have been happy to. In fact, if they had just asked me to take it down via a message or something, happy to. If I had uploaded a full episode, a dubbing session, something you can only find by PURCHASING THE DISC I would be happy to. But it was the trailer, something FREE given to me that I cant give away.
It was a relitively popular clip to (some 20,000 views, most likely because of the 360 game release) so I would think they would appreciate all the free publicity.
So what am I getting at here with this? Simply put, if they can take that down pretty much ANYTHING is up for deletion, and I have no idea if ill even have an account next time I get back on youtube. There are a few things on there that are definately not infringing copyright in anyway (game reviews, convention videos etc) but if I get infringed a couple more times ill be permanently banned from youtube.
SO whats the plan then? Even if get banned ill probably just start up another account under a different name (like instead of animereviewguy, it will be anime-review-guy) or the such. Ive already hooked up my blip.tv account to youtube so my game reviews will always be on both sites regardless, so not that hige of a thing, just a relitive pain over something so minor.
Anyway thats about it on that topic, now on to some more exciting things!
My next game review for Chobits on PS2 is chugging along nicely. Ive gotten through a playthrough or two and got my sound effects and camera stuff done, now all thats left is to write the script, record and put it all together. Im thinking a release of 08/20/10 wouldnt be asking too much.
Cosmic-Comics seems to be having trouble uploading my reviews so ill put the next one up here, review for Genshiken. Ill be putting that up tomorrow (08/12/10) to celebrate my 22nd BIRTHDAY!
And well thats about it for now. I've been caught up in a Christopher Nolan Watch-a-thon Marathon, getting through all his movies I can get my hands on and ive only got one left, the Prestige. Ill probably do this again once Dark Knight 3 is on the horizon, but 2012 is the end of the world so I hope he hurries up.
All the best guys! Catch ya all round next time!!
Thursday, August 5, 2010
I"s Videogame Review - [by the animereviewguy]
I finally sit down for my first full video review. Well, my actual text reviews can be found here: http://www.cosmic-comics.com.au/reviews.html As of the 20th of June the text review of the anime and manga of I"s shall be up here, but it is replaced every two weeks with a new review. After its gone ill find somewhere else to upload all reviews that have been missed. Check it out! All image and sounds are used for commentary and review purposes only and all come from either the I's Videogame or the I"s Anime series.
Code Geass Lelouch the Rebellion: Lost Colors Videogame Review - [by the animereviewguy]
Time for review number 2. This time I have a look at "Code Geass Lelouch the Rebellion: Lost Colors". head to www.cosmic-comics.com.au for more reviews! a special shout out and credit for the images I could not achieve goes to: www.atalude.net/. Head there, or search 'Code Geass Lost Colors' for more images from the game. All image and sounds are used for commentary and review purposes only and all come from either the Code Geass Lost Colors Videogame or the Code Geass Anime Series.
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