Katsucon 2017 AKA Kat-Sick-Con

Another Katsucon has come and gone.  I attended Katsucon for the 14th year in a row.  The weather was more like spring than winter, what my mother likes to call "pneumonia weather."  She wasn't too far off this time.  My husband, our friend Edward Thomas, and I all ended up with nasty colds AKA "con plague."  Today--Wednesday (2/22/2017)--is the first day I've felt well enough to work on this blog post.  It wasn't my best con.  I bought some accessories for my kimono, but didn't buy any DVDs this year.  I missed the Funimation panel and the Feedback panel, the 2 panels I usually make it a point to attend every year.    I also missed the chance to see Monica Rial, one of my favorite voice actresses!  On the up side, my cousin Janessa attended Katsucon for the very first time.  I'm pretty sure she had fun; I'll have to call and check on her soon.  Another thing that I always look forward to is seeing Steve Bennett, whom I've dealt with at previous cons and who is now considered a friend.  I am a little peeved at the whole weather situation; it forced me to change my cosplay plans at the last minute!  My original cosplay lineup was supposed to be my Totoro kigurumi, my Rainbow Brite cosplay, and my hamster kigurumi.  However, Mother Nature said it was going to be too hot for all of that, so I ended up wearing my ThunderCats skirt with the matching jacket and a red turtleneck on Friday, my Toad (Super Mario Bros.) cosplay on Saturday, and I wasn't feeling great on Sunday, so I just threw on a t-shirt and jeans.  I was originally supposed to wear my Mega Man T-shirt with my blue chiffon skirt, but I was just starting to feel ill, so I wasn't trying to dress up!  Another thing that I normally do that I didn't this year is take a lot of pictures.  I don't know if the costumes weren't remarkable or I just didn't care.  After 14 years of con-going, I may just be burnt out!  On the up side, I did get to see my friends Phyllicia Hart and Bertina Lomotey.  Unfortunately, I was kind of disoriented when I ran into Bertina and had no idea who she was, so I somehow found myself in the hands of Katsucon's medical staff.  They diagnosed me with low blood sugar, gave me some orange juice, and sent me on my way.  Bravo!  (And I mean that with the utmost sincerity).  I'm hoping next year's Katsucon (February 16-18, 2108) will be better!   In the meantime, I have the Sakura Matsuri to look forward to come springtime.  Also, a new con will be coming to Washington, DC this summer.  BlerdCon will be happening June 30-July 2!  (http://blerdcon.com/)  “Blerd” is an acronym for Black nerd; this has become a phrase embraced by minority nerds of all backgrounds, no matter what their skin color. The word blerd has evolved to become a symbol of unity for all nerds; BlerDCon is a team of lifetime geeks that has rallied around this concept to create a con for all.   Oh! And before BlerdCon, there will be Awesome Con.  (http://awesome-con.com/) Though why they put that one during Father's Day weekend is beyond me!  I've got a busy season ahead of me!  Not a free weekend in sight for the foreseeable future!  Ah!  The life of an Otaku!

Katsucon 2016 was KatsuCOLD!

Another President's Day weekend has come and gone, and I spent it as I have every year since 2003...by attending Katsucon with my Hubby! As usual, there was some drama, but I'll get to that later.  Friday, Hubby Christopher Wanamaker and I drove down to the Gaylord with our friend, Marvin Aristide.  I wore my Totoro kigurumi and was fully decked out with the matching slipper feet, earrings, purse, and backpack!
 Having finally figured out how to use my IPhone properly, I was able to view the schedule and  attend almost every event or panel I wanted to. I made it a point to attend the Funimation industry panel.  I am really looking forward to getting the 2 "Black Butler" movies that were mentioned.  "Black Butler: Book of Circus" will be released on April 19 this year, and "Black Butler: Book of Murder" is set to come out on May 17, 2016.  I can't wait!  "Black Butler" is one hell of a series about "one Hell of a butler!" (I reviewed it in a previous blog post.)
As for my cosplay outfits, I wore the following: my "Totoro" kigurumi on Friday, my "Rainbow Brite" costume on Saturday, and my hamster kigurumi on Sunday. Needless to say, I had appropriate and cute accessories for each outfit! 
Of course, I managed to snag some great souvenirs!  I bought some accessories for my kimono, as well as a few DVDs I wanted.  I had to replace my copy of "Kiki's Delivery Service," because the one I already had got scratched (Don't ask me how!  I have no idea how it happened)!  I also found the "xxxHolic" movie (which was sold as a CLAMP double feature--along with the "Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicles" movie), "Haganai Next" (I got the first season at a DC Anime Club Swap Meet), "Lupin The Third: Bye Bye Lady Liberty," and some hentai titles (Don't judge me!).
As I mentioned before, there was some drama.  A fire forced everyone to evacuate the Gaylord on Saturday (2/13/16). I was wearing my Rainbow Brite outfit, and was FREEZING outside!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I felt really sorry for the guy (I don't know who he was) who, unfortunately for him, was in the hotel's indoor swimming pool when the fire alarm went off.  Apparently, the fire was caused by an electrical issue in the kitchen. (Though, there were rumors flying round that someone pulled the alarm as a joke!  If that had been true, I suspect that a bunch of cosplayers would be in jail for murdering the alarm puller!)  Sunday was Valentine's Day and the last day of Katsucon. I wore my hamster kigurumi, which, in hindsight, I wished I had worn on Saturday when we were evacuated.  I'd have probably been a little warmer!  Nothing much to report about Sunday.  I did my table shift as part of my duties for the DC Anime Club, which was founded and is presided over by my husband.  Sunday was also the day I bought (or had Hubby buy) some of the DVDs I wanted, as previously mentioned in this post.  All things considered, I had a great time at Katsucon and can't wait to attend MAGFest over the coming weekend!

Me dressed as "Rainbow Brite," holding my trusty Sprite & sidekick, "Twink!"

Snowy Satruday 2016: Food Fights, Fish, & Finding Yourself Snowbound!

Surprisingly, I haven't written anything in this blog for almost a year!  That's not to say that in the past year I haven't watched some amazing anime!  I've just been so busy, I guess I forgot to update the blog.  I'll blog about "Michiko & Hatchin" & "Good Luck Girl" another day.  Today's post is regarding anime I watched during the blizzard of 2016!  On this snowy Saturday (1/23/2016),  I watched "Ben-To," an anime about the ultimate food fight!

While innocently reaching for some half-priced bento, Yō Satō finds himself beaten up on the floor of a supermarket. He soon learns that getting half-priced bento is an all-out brawl between customers. Yō is invited to the Half-Priced Food Lovers Club by one of the top fighters, Sen Yarizui, in order to train to compete in these battles.

Bento brawls are big, all-out, free for all battles for half-priced bento boxes, where victors are decided by who claims the bento first. The brawls are governed by a set of unspoken rules among the brawlers, mainly to keep each brawl fair and even.

• Every brawler must wait away from the bento area until the God of Discounts, the ones who put the half-priced sticker on the bento boxes, put the sticker on the bento boxes and leave to the break room before beginning to battle. To take one beforehand and to harass the God of Discounts is disrespectful as the last thing they need at the end of their shift are people harassing them for their discount.
• If another brawler manages to get a bento for themselves, they cannot be attacked. If two or more brawlers get their hands on the same bento, then they fight among themselves until the other lets go of the bento.
• A brawler can only take one bento, to take another would be greedy and would spoil the victory for another.
• Brawlers should never do anything to cause a bento to spill, doing that would mean one less bento for someone to get.

Asides from that, whatever methods one can use in obtaining a bento can be used from simply brawling to using baskets and chopsticks as weapons, even running around avoiding fights altogether are valid strategies. Sometimes brawlers fight in groups, such as the Half-Priced Food Lovers Club (Yō, Sen and sometimes Hana) and the Orthros pair who will often fight with each other while going after separate bento or team up to take out a threat before brawling with each other.
Those that fight for bento boxes are often known as "wolves". Inexperienced bento brawlers are considered "dogs", usually considered as such when they do not understand the essence of bento brawls and use tactics that are looked down upon. Those that go against the rules and will selfishly go after bento and harass the staff are known "boars" and have no respect among brawlers. Bento brawlers will often do everything in their power to stop boars from obtaining bento as they go against everything brawlers stand for and thus do not deserve the bento. Strong and notable brawlers are often given titles (which are usually associated with personality or appearance), though how they get their title (and in the case of Yō, the title itself) are usually less than impressive.

A little more violent than my average anime diet, I found it amusing nevertheless.  I definitely think it's worth a second watch, although I do think the ending could've been better.  Then again, it's not the first time I've been disappointed in an anime ending.  For example, "Michiko & Hathin," which I watched last year, but never blogged about, was entertaining, but ended on a rushed, anticlimactic note.  But, as I previously stated, that's a story for another day!

Following "Ben-To," I found myself re-watching "Wolf Children," one of my favorite anime movies.  I remember the first time I watched it was a free 10-minute preview via my cable's OnDemand feature.  By the end of the preview, both Hubby Christopher Wanamaker and I were so hooked on "Wolf Children" that it was the first DVD we sought out at the next anime con we went to! 

I concluded my anime marathon with a movie from my favorite anime director, Hayao Miyazaki.  "Ponyo" is an anime movie loosely based on "The Little Mermaid."  However, seeing as I have previously blogged about it, to do so again would be redundant.  However, I will say that that animation quality is AMAZING!  The movie, if you have not seen it, is one I definitely recommend adding to your movie collection!

I am a little behind on my blogging, so look for one or 2 more updates before Katsucon weekend! (February 12-14, 2016).  I'm hoping to expand my anime collection at that con and also at MAGFest, which is the weekend following Katsucon this year!

Snowy Saturday? Might As Well Watch Anime!

Oh, the weather outside is frightful!  The heat inside is so delightful!  There's snow outside so inside we'll stay and watch nothing  but anime! Hubby and I started off watching "The Tale Of Princess Kaguya," which was recently released on DVD! 
Sanuki no Miyatsuko, a bamboo cutter, discovers a miniature girl inside a glowing bamboo shoot. Believing her to be a divine presence, he takes her home; he and his wife, Ona, decide to raise her as their own, calling her "Princess". The girl grows rapidly and conspicuously, marveling her parents and earning her the nickname "Takenoko" (Little Bamboo) from the other children in the village. Sutemaru, the oldest among Kaguya's friends, develops a particularly close relationship with her.
Okina comes upon gold and fine cloth in the bamboo grove in the same way he found his daughter, taking these as proof of her divine royalty. He begins planning to make her a proper princess. Her life in the mountains ends abruptly as Miyatsuko and his wife relocate her to the capital. She finds herself in a mansion, replete with servants and fine clothes. She is also saddled with a governess, Lady Sagami, who is tasked with taming her into a proper noblewoman. She struggles with the restraints of nobility, arguing that life should be full of laughter and struggle.
When she comes of age, a royal priest, Inbe no Akita, grants her the formal name of "Princess Kaguya" for the light and life that radiates from her. Okina holds a celebration in commemoration of Kaguya's naming. At the celebration, Kaguya overhears partygoers ridiculing her father's attempts to turn a peasant girl into a noble through money. Kaguya flees the capital in despair and runs back to the mountains, seeking Sutemaru and her other friends. She discovers that they have all moved away to let the mountain replenish itself. Kaguya passes out in the snow, only to awaken suddenly back at the party, not missed at all.
Kaguya grows in beauty, attracting scores of would-be suitors. Sanuki no Miyatsuko is delighted by the mass of prospective husbands, but Ona is less enthusiastic and Kaguya entirely uninterested. Five men of noble standing court her, comparing her to mythical treasures. Kaguya says that she will only marry whoever can bring her the mythical treasure mentioned. Two suitors attempt to persuade her with counterfeits, but are thwarted. The third abandons his conquest out of cowardice, and the fourth attempts to woo her with flattering lies and a promise of life in the countryside. When one of the would-be suitors is killed in his quest, Kaguya falls into depression. Eventually, the Emperor himself takes notice of her, visiting her in person. Taken with her beauty, he makes advances toward her, revolting her. Kaguya then demonstrates the uncanny ability to disappear at will, surprising the Emperor. Understanding that he has been too forward, the Emperor takes his leave, determined to still make Kaguya his.
Kaguya's melancholy worsens, worrying Miyatsuko and his wife. Okina sadly tells her that he hoped a life of nobility would make her happy, but she remains distraught. She finally reveals that she has learned that she originally came from the Moon. When the Emperor made his advances, she silently begged the Moon to help her and learned the truth: Once a resident of the Moon, she broke its laws, hoping to be exiled to Earth, so that she could truly experience mortal life due to witnessing the earthly sorrow of another celestial lady. Now having heard her prayer, the Moon will reclaim her on the fifteenth night of the lunar month, during the full moon. Kaguya confesses her attachment to Earth and her reluctance to leave.
Sanuki no Miyatsuko swears to protect her and begins assembling defensive forces. Ona returns with Kaguya to her hometown in the mountains once more. There, Kaguya finds Sutemaru and tells him she would have been happiest with him; Sutemaru vows to protect her, come what may, and they run away together through the mountains until they magically take to the air. However, when the Moon shines upon her, Kaguya begs Sutemaru to hold her tightly. Despite Sutemaru's best efforts, Kaguya is torn from his grasp out of the sky. He awakens alone in a field, and, convinced that it had been a dream, returns to his wife and child. Kaguya sadly returns home to the capital with Ona.
On the fateful night of the full moon, a procession of celestial beings descends from the Moon astride clouds as a form of transportation. Despite Miyatsuko's best efforts, the divine force is unstoppable as it sweeps in unperturbed, putting almost everyone to sleep. A Buddha-like figure directs some sprites to ferry Kaguya to them; they entrance Kaguya, who glides away, much to Ona's horror. She rises to the Moon entourage, from which an attending apsara offers her a crown and a robe that will erase her memories of Earth. Kaguya puts on the crown, but is stayed from the robe by her parents' cries. She begs the attendant to grant her a last moment with Okina and Ona.
The apsara assures her that upon returning to the Moon, she will be free of Earth's impurities. Kaguya rebuffs her, saying that Earth is full of wonder and life, embracing her parents. The attendant then drapes the robe around her, and Kaguya's expression goes blank, forgetting about her life on Earth. She resumes her seat in the heavenly entourage and they ascend to the Moon, leaving Miyatsuko and his wife distraught. As Kaguya and the other celestial beings leave the earth behind, the many people who played a role Kaguya's mortal life are seen simultaneously viewing the full moon.
Despite her apparent detachment from the Earth, Kaguya looks back one last time, with tears in her eyes, before the group disappears into the light of the Moon.
Honestly, I learned of this story from watching "Big Bird In Japan."   I guess you're never too old for the Muppets or "Sesame Street!"  LOL!    Also today, Hubby and I watched "Lupin The 3rd: Napoleon's Dictionary."  I found it when I was looking for "Lupin the 3rd: Legend of the Gold of Babylon."   I never did find "Legend," but I did enjoy watching "Napoleon's Dictionary."  While Lupin does enjoy racing for the sport of it, the prize in an antique car grand prix across Europe is Lupin's only goal. The prize is a dictionary that once belonged to Napoleon. More importantly, the dictionary was also once owned by Lupin's family and contains the location of one of his family's most prized possessions. Lupin does not know what the possession is, but it is a matter of family pride. With the usual suspects on his trail, can Lupin outrace everyone to the treasure?!  The only thing I didn't like about it was the fact that it was subbed and not dubbed.    I also watched some hentai today, but I won't reveal the juicy details of that! After all, there is such a thing as TMI--Too Much Information!  LOL!

Katsucon 2015

I had a relatively good time at this year's Katsucon, in spite of the fact that Chris and I didn't have a hotel room and commuted daily from our apartment to the Gaylord.  And I missed my Grandmother's funeral to attend the con.   But what could I do?  Katsucon was in the works way before she passed away.  Plus, the funeral was way down in Virginia, and it would have been impossible to attend both  the funeral and the con.  Mom understood. She's the one who told me not to worry about the funeral.  Sigh!  Life goes on, I guess.    I had a pretty decent cosplay lineup this year.  2 kigurumis (Totoro & a hamster) and my new Toad (Super Mario Bros.) costume.  I didn't have much money, but Hubby bought me a few "Lupin The 3rd" DVDs and one hentai DVD.  I was also hoping that one of the merchants might have had "The Tale of Princess Kaguya," but that movie won't be released until later on this week.  Hubby said he'd buy it for me when it comes out!   I tried to attend a few panels, but between commuting and my table shifts for the DC Anime Club, I missed the majority of the panels I wanted to attend!  Mercifully, Hubby said we will be getting a hotel for Katsucon 2016.  I'm glad!  I hated going back and forth this year.  Though, it wasn't the first time.  I stayed with my whackjob cousin Pam back in 2007 and commuted back and forth from her apartment to the Omni Shoreham hotel in Washington, DC. Unfortunately, it took another 2 years to see how crazy she truly was and to completely sever all ties with  her! But, anyway..... back to Katsucon! I ran into Larry Reclusado and a few other individuals I normally only get to see at cons.  Sadly, Steve Bennett didn't show up this year.  Mercifully, after the recent drama on Facebook, I didn't run into Adam Wright, either!  All in all, it was still a good con, and I can't wait until next year's Katsucon!  In the meantime, I'm going to be attending other cons as usual this year.  T-MODE, Otakon, Anime USA, and my first West Coast convention, San Diego Comic-Con!  I can't wait!

Anime USA 2014: Ani-mazing Con!

First off, I just want to thank the AUSA staff for not following in Otakon's footsteps and making their schedule available only on SmartPhones!  The paper schedules are so much easier to work with!  That being said, I had an interesting time at Anime USA this past weekend (October 3-5, 2014).
I cosplayed, of course.  With my "Toad" (Super Mario Bros.) costume out of commission until further notice, I had to search through my cosplay wardrobe for other alternatives.  I didn't realize how many costumes I actually own!  On Friday, I was a Japanese schoolgirl.  I think I've only worn that costume maybe about 2 or 3 times.  On Saturday, I donned my Totoro Kigurumi complete with matching paw slippers, Totoro purse, Totoro earrings, and a Totoro plushie. Sunday's cosplay outfit was Rei Ayanami from "Neon Genesis Evangelion."  Honestly, I'm not really into that particular anime, but it is what it is.  I sat a few shifts at the DC Anime Club (www.dcanimeclub.org) table. (The DC Anime Club is the organization that my Hubby, Christopher Wanamaker, founded and over which he currently presides).   I also attended a few panels--"School Days!  A History of Japanese School Uniforms," "Nintendo History 101," and "AHHHH!  Video Game Cartoons" to name a few.  Sadly, I missed the screening of the live-action "Black Butler," but I'm sure that it will be released in the United States sometime in the near future!   I stated before that my "Toad" costume is unusable, so I found someone--Ginger Woods of "Gbee Fabrics" (http://gbeefabrics.com/) -- to make me a new one.  I'm hoping to have it by Summer 2015.  I've already got my cosplay outfits for Katsucon 2015 (www.katsucon.com)  planned out.  I plan to be Wonder Woman, Rainbow Brite (once I order a new wig), and to keep warm with my Hamster Kigurumi.  I guess I'm jumping the gun slightly, as I might get to attend Annapolis Comic-Con (http://annapoliscomiccon.com/)  and MAGFest (http://magfest.org/)  before Katsucon in February.  But, back to Anime USA!  Money was a little tight, so I wasn't really able to splurge on much in the Dealer's Room at Anime USA; but I did purchase one DVD, "Parade Parade" (a hentai).  I'm hoping to be able to catch up on "Fairy Tail" at Katsucon, since it occurs a few weeks after my birthday (January 28)!  My cash flow should be a lot better by then!  In the meantime, I don't mind re-watching some of the many anime DVDs in my collection: "Wolf Children," "Grave of the Fireflies," or one of the films directed by the cinematic genius Hayao Miyazaki: "Spirited Away," "My Neighbor Totoro," or "Kiki's Delivery Service" (which is supposed to be adapted into a live-action film) to name a few.  Anime today, anime tomorrow, anime FOREVER!!!!!! 

Otakon 2014--The Story of the Wardrobe, The Writer, & The Wallet

Another Otakon has come and gone.  Sadly, I won't be around for Otakon 2015.  Hubby Christopher Wanamaker and I are planning to venture to a con on the West Coast next year, just for a change and a standard of comparison.  Hopefully, we'll be around for Otakon 2016.... But, back to Otakon 2014!   I was planning to cosplay as Toad ("Super Mario Bros.") all 3 days--August 8, 9, & 10, because Hubby was doing a different version of Mario for his cosplay outfits: Fireball Mario, Cape Mario, & Classic Mario.  Unfortunately, a wardrobe malfunction  rendered my Toad costume unsuitable for public wear after Friday.   Mercifully, I had--as I always do-- packed a pair of jeans a and few t-shirts in case of emergency.  On the upside, I did replace my copy of the DVD "The Last Unicorn." (Note to self: Stop loaning your stuff out to people who are likely to ruin or lose it!).  I even got it signed by Peter Beagle, who wrote the book that inspired the animated film adaptation.  I was lucky enough to have my picture taken with him.  That was the highlight of my weekend, though I did purchase some DVDs to add to my collection--"Garden Of Words," "Dragon Pink" (a hentai), and the aforementioned "The Last Unicorn."  I also walked away with a free disc of  "The Ping-Pong Club."  Aside from the DVDs that I got for myself, I was also thinking of my friends who were unable to attend Otakon.  I bought my friend Curtis the complete DVD set of "Deadman Wonderland."  I wish I had had enough money to catch myself up on the "Fairy Tail" anime, but 5 DVDs threatened to put a strain on my finances!  Oh, well!  There are plenty of cons where I will have an opportunity to catch up, right?  I do plan to attend Anime USA from October 3-5 of this year, and Katsucon during President's Day weekend in 2015.    I normally attend a few panels at every con, but I had a problem with the schedule. Unfortunately, someone on the Otakon staff thought it would be a brilliant idea to make the schedule available only via a SmartPhone app!  In other words, because I was too brainless to properly use my IPhone, I missed out on most of the panels.  Oh, well!  I still had a relatively good time, and I am looking forward to attending Anime USA this autumn. It is being held from October 3-5, 2014 at the Washington Marriott--Wardman Park, though I will probably not have a hotel room for that con. I'll probably just commute from my apartment.  For further details regarding the upcoming Anime USA, visit www.animeusa.org

Katsucon: 2 Decades of AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I spent yet another President's Day weekend with my Hubby Christopher Wanamaker and hundreds of fellow Otaku at Katsucon. It's the only con I've been to every year since I became interested in anime and Asian culture in general. Hubby and I roomed with another couple (Hi, Renee! Hi, Matt!) I'm kinda ticked because I left some of my essential cosplay accessories at home. I was supposed to be Rei Ayanami (Neon Genesis Evangelion) & Toad (Super Mario Bros. video games), but ended up wearing my Domo hoodie and my hamster Kigurumi. On top of that, I lost a few things over the weekend: a tote bag with the book I was supposed to be reading, as well as my Nintendo DS Lite and a few video games, not to mention my journal. On the up side, I saw Steve Bennett--a great artist and a good friend to both me and Chris--for the first time in quite a few years. (Hi, Steve!) I also bought a few DVDs for myself--"Wolf Children", "Fairy Tail: Phoenix Rising" (movie), and, yes, some hentai (hanging my head in shame)! I watched "Wolf Children" with Hubby when I got back Sunday evening. It was AWESOME! Hana is a 19-year-old student who falls in a "fairy-tale like" love with a "wolf man". Over the course of the 13-year story Hana gives birth to two children—older sister Yuki, and younger brother Ame, or "Snow and Rain". At first the family quietly lives in city trying to hide their wolf heritage, but when the "wolf man" suddenly dies Hana makes the decision to move to a rural town, far from their previous city life. I must be burnt out on the anime con scene. I barely attended the panels at Katsucon, and I hardly took any photos. Or maybe, I've just attended the same cons over and over again. I guess it's time for a change! Which is why I'm looking forward to attending Awesome Con for the very first time this year. That will be happening April 18-20 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Details relating to that con can be found here: http://awesomecondc.com/

Does "From Up On Poppy Hill" Deserve 2 Thumbs Up?

I have watched "From Up On Poppy Hill" at least once or twice, but I've never blogged about it until today. I know that Goro Miyazaki is not his father, the legendary Hayao Miyazaki, but I still would have liked to see a similar storytelling style. I didn't get it. While Hayao is geared toward fantastical stories such as "My Neighbor Totoro," "Spirited Away," and "Kiki's Delivery Service," his son appears to take a more "slice of life" approach with this film. father, who was lost at sea during the Korean War. Shun Kazama (Anton Yelchin), the engaging editor of the high school newspaper, gets her involved in his campaign to preserve "the Latin Quarter," a beloved but dilapidated building that houses the school clubs. The effort to save the ramshackle structure sparks a believable romance between these likable teenagers. Hayao Miyazaki and Keiko Niwa adapted the story from a graphic novel by Chizuru Takahashi and Tetsuro Sayama. The filmmaking is more intimate and assured than Goro Miyazaki's "Tales from Earthsea" (2006). Many Japanese retain a nostalgia for the early '60s, when the Olympics proclaimed their country's reemergence from the destruction of World War II and the period of rebuilding that followed. Kyo Sakamoto's crossover pop hit "Ue o muite aruko," which Americans know as "Sukiyaki," sets the tone. The Ghibli artists outdid themselves creating the dust and junk decades of high school students left in the Latin Quarter: the audience can understand both the students' affection for their ratty headquarters and the administrators' desire to be rid of an eyesore. At a time when American animation is dominated by fast-paced, big-budget CG films, "From Up on Poppy Hill" reminds viewers of the singular warmth of hand-drawn animation. The characters were neither particularly loveable or detestable, and the plot--while it unfolded nicely--was kind of "meh" and not particularly able to hold my attention. However, as a fan of both Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli films, I can't bear to eliminate this DVD from my ever-growing anime collection.

Otakon 2013!

Chris and I arrived in Baltimore for Otakon on August 8 (which happened to be my niece's 11th birthday. I left her gift with my parents ahead of time). It was the first time we'd ever gone to a con a day early. The Dealer's Room was epic! I found and purchased "Lupin the 3rd: Red vs. Green" and the latest DVD of the "Fairy Tail" anime, as well as some hentai. I was also able to (FINALLY!) buy a copy of the book "The Last Unicorn" by Peter S. Beagle! I even got to have my picture taken with him! Also interesting was watching my cousins enjoy a showing of "Lupin the 3rd: The Secret of Mamo." (It was their first anime con ever!) Of course, no con would be complete without cosplay outfits! I dressed as Toad ("Super Mario Bros." video games), Rei Ayanami from "Neon Genesis Evangelion", & my purple and black outfit that makes me look like either a ninja or one of the female characters from "Mortal Kombat." I made it a point to take a lot of pictures. Ironically, one of the funniest occurrences happened not in the BCC, but in the hotel room I shared with Hubby Christopher Wanamaker, our friends Kofi & Anwar, and my cousins Rasheena & Tammy. We were all settling down to go to bed for the night, but we were too excited and wound up to sleep, so I pulled up an audio recording of Samuel L. Jackson reading "Go The F*** To Sleep" by Adam Mansbach. We were all cracking up laughing! Unfortunately, that's all the fun that my cousins were able to have. My cousin Lonnie had to pick them up the following morning (Saturday). Saturday was fun for me. I wanted to attend 4 panels, but ended up missing 2 of them (Darn!) The "Ghibli Girls" panel was interesting. As the title implied, it was about the central female characters in movies released by Studio Ghibli. The "Lupin the 3rd" panel was also a treat. Incidentally, "Lupin the 3rd: Red vs. Green" was one of the DVDs I managed to find in the Dealer's Room. Also among my purchases during the con were the 5th "Fairy Tail" DVD and some hentai (some for me, and one for a friend! Don't judge us!) I would have finished this blog post earlier, but it's been utter chaos since Chris & I came back from Baltimore! Among the chaotic moments were coming back from Baltimore to find that my father-in-law went into the hospital the day after we arrived in Baltimore for the con. He has since been moved to another facility, but he is still recovering from pneumonia! Also, we spent September 7-8 back in Baltimore for Baltimore Comic-Con. The best thing I can say about that con is that I got some great 80s stuff on DVD from the Dealer's Room there. ("Hulk Hogan's Rock 'n Wrestling, "The Hugga Bunch," and "The Popples" were among the DVDs I found). Anyway, now that I have FINALLY finished this blog post, I can concentrate on preparing for Anime USA! Let the fun begin! Oh! By the way, the dates for next year's Otakon have already been announced! August 8-10, 2014! For information on Otakon and other anime conventions, you can go to http://animecons.com/

My First Time Watching "Yamada's First Time" And Visiting the "Arcade!"

NOTE: I have been dreadfully negligent with my blog lately. This post was originally supposed to be published back on February 23! I spent most of the day watching "B Gata H Kei: Yamada's First Time." B Gata H Kei revolves around 15 year old high school student Yamada whose lascivious nature causes her to aspire to one day achieve sexual relations with 100 different guys. However, her insecurities as a virgin herself lead her to reject every guy that attempts to make a move on her. In order to hurdle this mental barrier Yamada goes on a search for her "cherry boy", an inexperienced guy upon whom she will bestow the right to be her first. One day while perusing a bookstore for the replacement of a dictionary she had defiled by highlighting all the sexual terms, Yamada has a fateful encounter with classmate Takashi Kosuda. Believing that Kosuda is the boy she is looking for Yamada goes to great lengths to try to seduce him. All the while, she discovers the difficulties in making that first important step towards reaching her goals, not to mention, finding out her true feelings for him. Hilarious! 2 thumbs up!!!!!!!!!!!! I wish I could say the same for "Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi." After less than 5 minutes, I was tempted to turn it off, in spite of the presence of 2 of my favorite voice actresses (Monica Rial & Jessica Boone, who both had voice acting roles in "Angelic Layer!"). I did, however,make it through the first episode before I decided to turn it off and watch a movie to conclude today's anime marathon! Childhood friends Arumi and Sasshi are residents of the Abenobashi commercial district in Abeno-ku, Osaka. After an accident, they find themselves transported to an alternate sword and sorcery world. Their attempt to get back to reality finds them traversing a series of nonsensical worlds built on science fiction, war, fantasy, dating sim games and American movies. Each alternate Abenobashi is a surreal manifestation of Sasshi's otaku interests, populated by analogs of the protagonist's relatives and acquaintances and a blue-haired stranger known as Eutus. Their quest to return home is at core a bildungsroman because the Abenobashi dimensions are mostly hobby worlds of increasing sophistication. Sasshi does not want to go home, and in fact is the sole force propelling them between worlds. While chasing the cat in the first episode, Arumi's grandfather fell off the roof and was hospitalized. With this new trauma pressuring him in addition to his apprehension about the destruction of the shopping arcade and the Asahina's moving away, Sasshi was no longer willing or able to cope with reality, and unbeknownst to even himself, he had caused their dimension to rewrite itself into worlds echoing his escapist obsessions. It doesn't sound bad, but as I said, it wasn't my cup of tea. I ended up turning it off to finish today's anime marathon with one of my favorite movies. Maybe I'll try to watch "Abenobashi" at some point in the future....Maybe!

Katsucon 19: The Final Teen Year!

This weekend was epic! I've spent the last several hours trying to wind down and get settled in at home. What happened this weekend? The 19th Katsucon, and the 10th year I attended this particular con! I'm exhausted, but I definitely had a ball! I cosplayed, raided the Dealer's Room, and managed to promote my blog and fanpage. Sadly, I missed 3 key things: 1. Seeing Steve Bennett, 2.Seeing Monica Rial, and 3. Attending the Funimation panel. On the upside, I managed to get some of the DVDs I wanted, as well as a few that I got for members of my family. I admit it: I bought hentai! I got "Chains Of Lust" for a friend, and I bought one called "Sextra Credit" for myself! I bought "The Secret World Of Arrietty" for my niece. And of course, I wore my cosplay outfits! I was Rainbow Brite, Toad, and Rei Ayanami. Chris was Krys, Mario, and Ben 10. Quite a few people were taking pics of us, in spite of the fact that my Rainbow Brite wig was ill-fitting. The company I ordered it from claimed it was for adults, but I honestly believe they sent me the child-size wig! Oh, well! I have plenty of time to order a new wig. I won't be cosplaying as Rainbow Brite again until Anime USA! In the meantime, I have to plan on moving out, a vow renewal ceremony for me and the Hubby, another anime con this summer (Otakon), and a few other life events!

A "Fairy" Nice Surprise! A "Fairy Tail" & 2 "Castle" Stories!

I love days like this! Days where I can just relax and let loose the "anime-niac" within me! This entire day has been very "anime-ted," in spite of the fact that I woke up after 7 a.m. I decided to give "Ah! My Buddha!" one more chance before returning it to Netflix. It's not my cup of tea. Then I was wondering what to do next and realized that I had not watched-had not even opened-Volume 4 of "Fairy Tail!" Across the Fiore kingdom, great wizards join guilds and make their pay by filling magical needs - but there's one guild with a reputation as the roughest, rowdiest, most dangerous of all: Fairy Tail! Forced to face her demons at the Tower of Heaven, Erza is in real danger of becoming a live sacrifice in Jellal's demented plan - which spells disaster for Fairy Tail's strongest team! As the Council prepares to wipe out the island with the Etherion beam, Erza's allies endure a heart wrenching battle to get her back! Big surprises await the comrades as they return for Magnolia's annual Harvest Festival. But the celebrations are cut short when Master Makarov's grandson hotwires a contest to determine who's the fiercest wizard in a supercharged scheme to take over the guild! I think I have forgotten the chain of events that preceded the episodes on this disc. I guess I'll have to go back and watch the first 3 volumes of "Fairy Tail!" Some of the characters had me thinking "Who are you and where did you come from?" There was one sad moment for me--the moment when Erza sacrificed herself to save the others. The anime won't be the same without her!!!!!! The question is: Is Erza really dead, or is something big about to happen? I'm not saying one way or the other, but I find it hard to believe that a central character like Erza would be killed off completely! At any rate, I hope that Funimation decides to release the rest of the series in America. In the meantime, I think I'll finish off today's marathon with a few more of Hayao Miyazaki's movies! After all, January is his birth month (and mine!) What better way to pay homage to such a brilliant director than to watch some of his best movies! (Even though I've already watched and blogged about them on several occasions!) I'm concluding today's anime marathon with "Castle In The Sky" and "Howl's Moving Castle!" HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY, MR. MIYAZKI! MAY YOU CONTINUE TO REIGN OVER THE ANIME WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anime Deja Vu

Today's anime viewing is almost a waste of a blog post. Aside from the "Ah! My Buddha" disc that I got courtesy of Netflix, today's anime lineup consisted of a bunch of DVDs I've watched and bloggged about: "Spirited Away," "Grave Of The Fireflies," "Kiki's Delivery Service." Don't get me wrong; they're all great movies; it's just that I've already documented them in this blog!!!!!!!!!!!

Anime-ted Morning!

I didn't purchase a lot of anime at Anime USA 2 weekends ago. I only bought 2 DVDs!!!! I spent most of the following Saturday morning watching "Panda! Go Panda!" and "Sea Prince and the Fire Child." "Panda! Go, Panda!" was written and created by Hayao Miyazaki and directed by Isao Takahata, predating Studio Ghibli. This short movie hit Japan at the height of the panda craze, initiated in September 1972, when the government announced the loan of a pair of giant pandas from China to the Ueno Zoo as part of Panda diplomacy. "Panda! Go, Panda!" offers a charming pair of adventures for children. In Panda Family, Mimiko, a cheerful, energetic little girl, adopts a baby panda and is adopted by his father. Her parents are dead and her grandmother is away, so Mimiko is delighted to find a substitute family. They quickly establish a merry menage, although they wreak havoc wherever they go. Mimiko and the Pandas befriend Tiny, a lost baby tiger in Circus in the Rain. Unruffled by a storm that floods her town, Mimiko organizes the rescue of the circus animals, including Tiny’s mother. Like Miyazaki’s Totoro, whom he resembles, Papa Panda embodies the warm, reliable, magical friend children dream of having. I'll say it right off the bat: I can definitely see similarities in the character designs of "Panda! Go Panda!" and "My Neighbor Totoro," another Miyazaki project! Little Mimiko looks a lot like Mei. Unlike the majority of Miyazki's works--which I feel are suitable for all audiences--this one definitely seemed to be aimed more at children and less at families in general. Whether or not I will keep it or give it away is a decision I have yet to make! Yes, even an Anime-niac such as myself doesn't like absolutely every anime out there!!!!!!!!!!!!! As for "Sea Prince and the Fire Child," the story was reminiscent of Shakespeare's "Romeo & Juliet." (Which was also made into an anime and licensed by Funimation.) "Sea Prince & the Fire Child" tells the story of how The Gods once lived on earth, and two siblings, Oceanus - God of Water, and Hyperia - Goddess of Fire, lived in peace and dearly loved each other. However, the God of Wind, Algaroc, become jealous of the pair's happiness, and spread lies and deceit between them until their hatred for each other brought about war. Finally, Algaroc was imprisoned by the King of Gods, but after that time, the brother and sister still despised each other, so the Children of Fire and Water forever remained apart. But, then Prince Syrius of the Water and Princess Malta of the Fire meet and fall in love. The love of Syrius and Malta may not be enough to surpass their parents' hatred. Whether they can stay together forever may be impossible. As for me, I believe that true love conquers all! Did the anime prove me wrong? That's something you'll have to discover for yourself!!!!!!!!! In the meantime, I'm going to take a break from anime and spend the next few weekends watching holiday movies and grooving to yuletide carols, old and new!!!!!!!

Anime USA 2012

I am physically drained, but I am determined to finish this post tonight! I got home from this year's Anime USA a few hours ago. This was the first anime con where I wasn't working on the staff, for the press, or manning a table with Hubby Christopher Wanamaker and the DC Anime Club. I can look at this con solely from the point of view of an attendee. On the whole, the con itself wasn't horrible. Hurricane Sandy prevented some of the guests from attending, which meant that some of the panels had to be rescheduled or cancelled. Friday was pretty good. Chris and I dressed as Mario and Toad from the "Super Mario Bros." video games. We even participatd in a photo shoot! I wanted to check out the first 3 episodes of "Puella Magi Madoka Magica," which was being shown in one of the video rooms, but I decided to skip the viewing and check it out via Netflix instead. I spent the rest of Friday evening in the hotel room watching television with Hubby. Saturday was a lot of fun. Chris and I dressed as Rainbow Brite and Krys from the "Rainbow Brite and the Star Stealer" movie. Quite a few people asked to snap pictures of us, and we even had some professional photographs taken. Of course, one of the highlights of any con is seeing familiar faces. For me, one of those faces is Kevin Bolk! (Hi, Kevin!) I didn't see the guy who likes to cosplay as Ponyo's father at this con, but I did see several other people I knew: Penny Weir AKA "Moon Mama", her daugthers Rusty and Melissa, and several members of the DC Anime Club, which my Hubby founded and is President of. The last day of the con wasn't bad. Several people made it a point to attend the Feedback Panel. Chris and I cosplayed as Wonder Woman and Wolverine from the DC & Marvel comic book universes. The one thing I missed this year was attending the Masquerade!!!!! I think Chris and I were too tired to attend. However, this is a staple at almost every anime con we've been to, so we'll probably catch it at Katsucon 19, which is scheduled to take place in February 2013 over the President's Day weekend. (Side note: the deadline for Katsucon registration is the end of December!) In the meantime, I have a couple of anime DVDs to keep me occupied: "Panda! Go Panda!" and "Sea Prince and the Fire Child!" I know what I'll be doing this Saturday! (Aside from catching up on sleep, that is!) LOL!!!!!

3 Cheers for Volume 3 of "Fairy Tail!"

I picked up right where I left off with "Fairy Tail." Lucy briefly reunited with her father, revealing her royal roots. I've said before that Happy was annoying, but Lucy's father is a complete asshole! All he could do when Lucy went to visit him was berate her...after ignoring her during her childhood. Lucy's father was the reason she ran away to join the Fairy Tail guild after her mother died! In this third set, the supernatural comedy-adventure Fairy Tail careens along like a skateboard on a steep hill. As the stalwarts of Fairy Tail battle the sinister Phantom Lord Guild, the viewer learns that Lucy belongs to the fabulously wealthy and powerful Heartfilia family. But she's rejected her cold and mercenary father for the warm loyalty of her friends. Natsu goes one-on-one with Jaleel the Iron Dragon, and the viewer gets a hint of the scale of his latent power; Gray inadvertently wins the heart of water wizard Juvia ("drip, drip, drop"). The loyalty Lucy declared in the fight with the Phantom Lord wizards is severely tested when she discovers the shady background of guild lothario Loke, and brings his sad story to a satisfactory conclusion. The series takes a darker turn when Natsu, Gray, Lucy, and Juvia learn about Erza's unhappy childhood in a sinister tale that pits the Guild members against their most deadly foe to date: Jellal, the servant of Zeref, a god who is the embodiment of hatred. But even in dire situations, the filmmakers leaven the threats with a healthy dose of slapstick: Natsu fights two of Jellal's minions with his head stuck in a kawaii (ultra-cute) cat mask. In short, these adventures and misadventures deliver everything the rapidly growing cadre of fans expect from Fairy Tail. (Rated TV 14: cartoon violence, minor risqué humor, alcohol use) Yes, Happy is still annoying! However, as I stated in a previous blog post, he is also essential to the story line. Other than him, Lucy's father, and Erza's former friends, the character roster was pretty likeable, and I can't wait to check out Volume 4!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In the meantime, I think I'll give myself an early Halloween and watch some horror movies!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes, even an Anime-niac like myself has other interests!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Otakon 2012

Post-con fatigue has prevented me from posting the details of my weekend at Otakon 2012 until now. July 27-29, 2012 represented the pinnacle of the summer for me. Over the weekend, the city of Baltimore was overflowing with OTAKU! The biggest highlight for me was getting the interview with Peter S. Beagle that I was unable to get last year. I even managed to get someone to videotape it for me! Unfortunately, somebody cancelled the interview I was supposed to have with Jason David Frank, best known for his role as Tommy Oliver in the long-running TV show "Power Rangers." Dammit! I had even remembered to bring my VHS copy of "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie" for him to autograph! Of course, I spent (or rather my Hubby did) a few dollars in the Dealer's Room! My purchases included several DVDs: 1. Season 2 of "Black Butler," 2. Discs 3 & 4 of "Fairy Tail," 3. "Unico In The Island Of Magic," and 4. 2 discs of "Princess 69." (Don't judge me because I like hentai!) And, yes, I did cosplay! Once again, I donned the personas of Toad from the Super Mario Bros. video game franchise, and also Rei Ayanami from "Neon Genesis Evangelion." I also picked up a new cosplay outfit in the Dealer's Room. I plan to debut it at Anime USA this year, which is being held from November 9-11, 2012! As usual, I made it a point to attend the Funimation industry panel on Saturday. I was ecstatic to learn that there would be a second season of "Fairy Tail," as well as a movie based on the series! I also made it a point to attend the Cosplay Masquerade. However, I was not impressed by the entries this year and left before the skits were done. Clearly, I had a good time at Otakon 2012 and can hardly wait for Anime USA to get here. In the meantime, I think I have enough anime to keep me occupied and to keep this blog interesting!

Outrage Over “Truly Outrageous” Series Sends Anime-niac Into Viewing Frenzy

I've been trying to post this since last Saturday (6/2/2012), but for some reason the www.blogger.com website has been acting up! So, here's what happend!
I woke up Saturday morning, expecting to be able to watch the third and final season of “Jem & the Holograms.” However, the first disc would not play (it was scratched), so I decided to watch some random anime. The lineup consisted of “The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya,” “Rozen Maiden: Ouverture,” “The Fantastic Adventures of Unico,” “Lupin the 3rd Episode 0: First Contact,” “The Secret World of Arrietty,” and “My Neighbor Totoro.”
The theatrical feature "The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya" (2010) reunites the characters (and crew and voice cast) of the popular series "The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya" in an extended and appropriately offbeat adventure. Ignoring the bitter cold, Haruhi charges ahead with plans for the SOS Brigade to hold a Christmas Eve party. But when perpetually put-upon Kyon wakes up on December 18, the tinsel he bought the night before is missing from his backpack. Before class begins at North High, the murderous Asakura takes Haruhi's seat. When Kyon objects, he discovers none of his classmates have any memory of Haruhi. Asahina doesn't know him; Koizumi has transferred to an elite prep school; and an uncharacteristically meek Nagato greets him in the literary club room--where the SOS Brigade met. Apparently a major alteration of the space-time continuum took place early on the 18th. But who commands the staggering power needed to cause it? And how can Kyon, who has no psi abilities, repair the damage before it's too late? The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya is darker in tone than the often knock-about silly TV series. Directors Tatsuya Ishihara and Yasuhiro Takemoto build the suspense skillfully, playing on Kyon's (and the viewer's) uncertainties. As Haruhi and the rest of the cast are AWOL through most of the film, the story becomes an internal monologue for Kyon. Voice actor Crispin Freeman does an impressive job of holding the audience's attention and keeping his character sympathetic.
Clocking in at 185 minutes, "Disappearance" is at least 15 minutes too long and suffers from multiple endings. It's a good film that will please fans of the series, but if Ishihara and Takemoto had tightened the story and ended it more surely, it could have been a great one. The many extras include footage of location scouting in Tokyo, a recording session with the pianist who performs the Satie pieces for the soundtrack, and special screening events in Kyoto and Tokyo. I think the worst i can say about any of the characters is that they are spineless, and Haruhi is too bossy! But, then again, I guess that's what makes it interesting. It's not a complaint, just an observation!

Rozen Maiden: Ouverture Deserves Ovation
I fell in love with “Rozen Maiden” after seeing a picture of a cosplayer dressed as Shinku, the main character, while flipping through the book Everybody Cosplay by Jan Kurotaki. After watching both seasons of the anime—“Rozen Maiden” and “Rozen Maiden: Traumend”—on DVD, I was excited when the “Rozen Maiden: Ouverture” OVA came out on DVD last December!
Journey back to 19th century London and the birth of the Rozen Maidens to witness the cruel and tragic origin of Rozen's first doll, and how, even when left abandoned and unfinished , she still fought her own way to the Rosa Mystica and the Alice Game! But leave what you think you know behind, for this is Souseiseki's story, and what she has to say may surprise you! Prepare for an all new tale of Rozen Genesis in Rozen Maiden: Ouverture!
I know that based on what I’ve seen in the anime, that Hina Ichigo is annoying and that Shinku is bossy and spoiled. However, the Rozen Maiden series as a whole is quite enjoyable. I may have to go back and watch the entire series!

Unico: The Fantastic Adventures of Unico
I used to love "Unico" as a child, but usually had to wait until I was with my cousins before I could watch it...I didn't own the movie! Thanks to my wonderful Hubby, that changed recently! "The Fantastic Adventures of Unico" in English, and simply "Unico" in Japan, was released in Japan on March 14, 1981. This musical film, narrated by Iruka, directed by Toshio Hirata, written by Masaki Tsuji, and with animation by Yoshiaki Kawajiri, presents the back story of Unico's banishment and his subsequent travels, as well as his friendships with Beezle (to whom he grants his own horn) and Chao/Katy (to whom he grants the wish of becoming a human girl).
Beezle (known as "Akuma-kun," or "Little Devil," in the original version) initially rejects Unico's overtures of friendship, but comes around when he realizes how lonely he really is. After Beezle saves Unico from drowning, the two begin their friendship in earnest, but then the West Wind comes to take Unico away.
The next creature Unico encounters is Chao (Katy), a black-and-white cat who dreams of becoming a witch. Katy and Unico befriend a lonely old woman, whom Katy mistakenly believes is a witch and will teach her some magic as well as transform her into a human girl. When Unico changes Katy into a girl, Katy at first believes that the old woman did it, until Unico proves it was his doing by changing her back into a cat; but Unico, seeing how selfish Katy has become, refuses to change Katy back to a girl, until one day when Katy saves the old woman from drowning. Katy then becomes entranced by a man posing as a lord (Danshaku in Japanese, Baron de Ghost in English). He invites her to his castle, gets her drunk and attempts to seduce her. Unico follows, rescuing Katy (with help from Beezle) after transforming into a majestic white winged unicorn and destroying the monster that the "lord" had transformed into. Afterwards, West Wind comes to take Unico away again, and Katy moves in with the old woman.
This movie includes several songs, most of which were performed in the original Japanese version by the movie's narrator, singer/songwriter Iruka; however, Chao/Katy's recurring theme song, Chao no Kuroneko no Uta (The Song of Black Cat Chao), was sung by Chao's seiyū, Kazuko Sugiyama. The movie's other songs include Unico no Teemu (Unico's Theme), Hontou wa Subishikute (Beezle/Akuma-kun's image song), and Majo Neko Chao (Witch Cat Chao), all sung by Iruka. For the U.S. release, all of the songs were dubbed into English along with the spoken dialogue, except for the ending song over the closing credits, which is an instrumental in the English version. Unico was voiced by Barbara Goodson in the English dub.

Lupin the 3rd Episode 0: First Contact
Lupin is after mafia boss Galvez's single most precious treasure: a treasure within a treasure. Jigen is Galvez's hired gun who fails to kill cat-burglar Lupin in his first attempt on the treasure and seeks revenge. Fujiko is the girlfriend of Lupin's rival, Brad. Zenigata travels from Japan to America to find and arrest Fujiko. Goemon seeks the almighty sword that cuts steel, Zantetsuken. This sword is mysteriously connected to the treasure in Galvez's vault.... After a series of twists and turns, these complete strangers become acquainted in their "First Contact," an epic adventure! I’ve come to love the Lupin the 3rd movies, and this one is no different, aside from the fact that I had to watch it subtitled. The DVD offered no dub option! As for the characters: Galvez was a fat, horny SOB, but other than that, not detestable. For Lupin’s first movie, he was pretty cool. Fujiko was a sex kitten. (Big surprise!)I hope to collect more Lupin the III movies in the future. I've heard about a few via online sources that I'm not certain are available yet in the United States. (Green vs. Red & The Legend of the Gold of Babylon). Maybe I'll find them when I attend Otakon this summer! But anywho...On with the blogging! To finish up my marathon, I watched 2 movies I've previously blogged about: "The Secret World of Arrietty" and "My Neighbor Totoro." All in all, not a bad day! (But I still would have preferred to watch Season 3 of Jem!) I may be an "Anime-niac," but that doesn't mean I have no respect for the animated world in which I was brought up!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Witch Hunter Robin" Not Exactly Be-Witching Me!

After finally catching up on what I own of "Fairy Tail," I decided to check out a classic.  I spent most of today watching "Witch Hunter Robin," which Hubby Christopher Wanamaker purchased for me at Katsucon 2012.  "Witch Hunter Robin" is a Japanese anime series created by Sunrise. It follows the STN-J, the Japanese branch of a secret global organization called "SOLOMON" or the "Solomon Toukatsu Nin'idantai" (roughly "Solomon Executive Organization"), abbreviated as "STN".  Solomon  fights the harmful use of witchcraft using a database of witches, which includes those who have obtained the power of witchcraft through genetics and others who carry the gene (called "seeds") in order to arrest or eliminate them should their powers "awaken". The series focuses on one STN-J member, Robin Sena. 
Robin Sena is a "craft user", born in Japan and raised by the Roman Catholic Church in Italy. She is trained to use her craft of fire to hunt down witches. Witchcraft is a genetic trait, dormant within a number of individuals within the human population. Powers can be "awakened" in these dormant human "seeds" at any time, which seems to also drive the awakened witch into various forms of homicidal madness or sociopathy. Trained hunters, craft-users or "seeds" themselves that have not become full witches, are needed to keep watch over "seeds" and hunt those whose abilities become active, serving in secret organizations, such as the parent branch "Solomon" and the "STN-J" branch in Japan, as self-appointed witch police to curtail the use of witchcraft in society, and to keep the witch kind a secret from the public. Even the police, who cooperate with STN-J in abnormal criminal cases, do not know what STN-J does.
The series begins when Robin arrives in Japan to gain information for Solomon headquarters about a fabled item that holds the "secrets of the craft", while acting undercover as a new hunter to the STN-J in their efforts to capture witches. It is hinted that she subconsciously understands something of the STN-J's use of Orbo.
Orbo is a green liquid that negates witch abilities. STN-J's hunters carry small vials of it on necklaces in the shape of a cross as a form of protection against their targets' craft. Hunters also carry air pistols which fire darts or pellets of Orbo that dampen witch powers when it enters the bloodstream of the target witch. Hunters who are craft-users or seeds can use Orbo with little ill effects, although their own powers are reportedly diminished while using it. Robin, a craft-user herself, says that she will not keep Orbo on her because she says it is "disgusting" ("気持ち悪い" or "bad feeling" in japanese).
As the series goes on, Robin grows increasingly uncomfortable with her role in hunting and capturing other witches. She begins to question the treatment they receive while incarcerated in the mysterious "Factory". After the discovery of "secrets of the craft," she is entrapped and attacked twice by "witch bullets". Subsequently, the STN-J is attacked, presumably for "secrets of the craft," although the Solomon attack was carried out to find what Zaizen, the director of the STN-J, was planning.
Robin begins to worry that she will become a target and grows to suspect that her partner Amon will hunt her. Eventually, Robin does become a target of Solomon and labeled a witch, becoming "hunted". In the end, Robin finds out more about her craft and that of witches than she knew at the beginning.
Initially, the series appears to take a "monster of the week" approach. About halfway through the 26-episode season, the characters and the relationships between them are established and the main plot gets underway.
I'm not sure how to express my thoughts and feelings about this anime. I can't say I actually hated any of the characters, except for the old man (I think his name was Zaizen) who showed up in the last few episodes. I also cannot offer any protest with regard to the storyline progression.  I guess this is another one of those anime that falls under the "darker than normal" category, which I normally do not veer toward. (In spite of my love of "Black Butler").   Whether or not I will re-watch this in the future is something I have yet to sit down and consider.  In the meantime, I think I will finish today's anime marathon with "Kiki's Delivery Service, a "be-witching" anime movie I love! (And have previously blogged about!)