My Hubby, Christopher Wanamaker, bought me "Taro The Dragon Boy" at Katsucon last weekend. I just finished watching it. Honestly, the storyline was good, though the animation quality was a bit archaic! (It was created in 1979). "Taro The Dragon Boy" is the story of Taro, a lazy, selfish boy who loves to eat and sleep and wrestle with the animals. He has little direction or inspiration in his life. That is, until a wizard passing through the forest one day bestows young Taro with a magical potion. Upon drinking the potion, he gains the strength of a hundred men! However, there is a catch: he may only summon this power when he is helping others. Taro soon learns that his long-lost mother was transformed into a dragon as punishment for her greediness. He sets forth with a sense of purpose to locate his mother and free her from the spell. All the while trying to help the peasants of his village, as well as other colorful creatures that inhabit the mountain.
I can't be sure, but I think one of the voice actors for "Taro" also provided the voice of Giuseppi Mayart in "Wicked City!" (At least, it sounded like him!)
More perplexing and probably shocking to prudish Americans is the film's casual and unashamed nudity, from Taro's genitals, which are inadvertently flashed when he stands on his head, to the surprising but completely logical appearance of semi-naked women several times during the story. The film is suitable for all ages, however, and such scenes will probably bother parents much more than their kids. Inspired by an ancient Japanese folklore, "Taro the Dragon Boy" is an enchanting animated masterpiece!
Saturday, February 25, 2012
"Arrietty" Is Amazing!
My Hubby and I had a great day yesterday. We went to see the movie "The Secret World of Arrietty!" I loved it! It takes its story from "The Borrowers," by Mary Norton.
The story takes place in 2010 in Koganei, western Tokyo and as in the novel revolves around a group of "tiny people" who are 10 cm tall and live under the floorboards of a typical human household.
A boy named Shō arrives at the house his mother lived in as a child, to live with his great aunt, Sadako. When Shō leaves the car, he sees a cat trying to attack something in the bushes, but the cat leaves after being attacked by a crow. Shō goes to see what the cat was trying to attack. He then sees a Borrower named Arrietty.
That night Arrietty's father, Pod, takes Arrietty above the floorboards to show her how he gets sugar. Their first stop is the kitchen, then they walk within a wall to reach a dollhouse in Shō's bedroom, to get tissue. Before Arrietty and Pod can leave, Arrietty notices Shō is awake, and accidentally drops the sugar cube they got. Shō tells them not to be afraid of him.
The next day, Shō leaves the dropped sugar cube beside an underground air vent where he first saw Arrietty, but Arrietty's mother Homily warns them not to take it because their existence must be kept secret from humans. Still, Arrietty sneaks out to visit Shō in his bedroom and the two become friends. On her return, Arrietty is intercepted by her father. Pod and Homily realize they have been discovered, and decide the family must move out of the house.
Shō learns from Sadako that some of his ancestors had seen Borrowers in this house, and they had the dollhouse made especially for the Borrowers, with working electric lights and ovens. The Borrowers had not been seen since, however, and the dollhouse stayed in Shō's room.
Pod returns injured from a borrowing mission and is being helped by Spiller, a Borrower boy he met on the way, who also informs them of some places the Borrowers could move to. While Pod is recovering, Shō uncovers the floorboards above the Borrower household, uproots their kitchen, and replaces it with the kitchen from the dollhouse as a display of kindness, in hopes the Borrowers would be more accepting of his knowledge of their existence. Instead, they react quite oppositely from Shō's expectations, the action causing the Borrowers to speed up the moving process.
After Pod recovers, he goes to explore some of the places Spiller suggested to them. Arrietty goes to say goodbye to Shō. During their subsequent conversation Shō theorizes that the Borrowers are becoming extinct, which hurts Arrietty. Apologizing, Shō reveals he has had a heart condition since birth and will have an operation in a few days. The operation does not have a good chance of success.
Meanwhile Haru, Sadako's maid, notices the floorboards have been disturbed. Sadako is out and Shō is still in the garden speaking with Arrietty, when Haru unearths the Borrowers' house and puts Homily in a jar in the kitchen. During this time, Arrietty hears the cries of her mother being captured and leaves Shō in the garden so she can go see what is happening to her mother. Saddened by Arrietty's departure, Shō goes back inside the house and into his room, unaware he is being followed by Haru, who subsequently locks him in his room. Haru then calls a pest removal company to smoke out the Borrowers and bring them to her alive.
When Arrietty returns to find Homily missing and their house disturbed, she goes to Shō for help. Arrietty helps Shō break out of his locked room, and Shō then carries Arrietty to the kitchen and distracts Haru while Arrietty rescues Homily. Sadako returns soon after the pest removal company comes, and tells them to leave. Haru tries to prove to Sadako that the Borrowers really exist, but Homily has escaped, and there is nothing below the floorboards: The Borrowers have already set off on their move, and Shō has destroyed the remains.
The Borrowers stop for dinner during their move, and Shō's cat spots Arrietty. The cat brings Shō to Arrietty. He gives her a sugar cube as a parting gift, and tells her the Borrowers' fight for survival has given him hope to live through the operation, which will happen in two days' time. In return, Arrietty gives Shō her "hair" clip. The Borrowers then get into a teapot, which Spiller steers down a river. Spiller gives Arrietty a red berry after joining him on the teapot's top.
It was a terrific film! However, I was not fond of Haru, the maid. She was such a nosy busybody! Ugh! However, as with most projects involving Hayao Miyazaki (as the screenplay writer), even the villain was not so mean as to be completely hated. I can't wait for the DVD to be released! I suspect that it will be here no later than July, right in time for Otakon! Hooray! I'll be one happy "Anime-niac" if I'm right!
The story takes place in 2010 in Koganei, western Tokyo and as in the novel revolves around a group of "tiny people" who are 10 cm tall and live under the floorboards of a typical human household.
A boy named Shō arrives at the house his mother lived in as a child, to live with his great aunt, Sadako. When Shō leaves the car, he sees a cat trying to attack something in the bushes, but the cat leaves after being attacked by a crow. Shō goes to see what the cat was trying to attack. He then sees a Borrower named Arrietty.
That night Arrietty's father, Pod, takes Arrietty above the floorboards to show her how he gets sugar. Their first stop is the kitchen, then they walk within a wall to reach a dollhouse in Shō's bedroom, to get tissue. Before Arrietty and Pod can leave, Arrietty notices Shō is awake, and accidentally drops the sugar cube they got. Shō tells them not to be afraid of him.
The next day, Shō leaves the dropped sugar cube beside an underground air vent where he first saw Arrietty, but Arrietty's mother Homily warns them not to take it because their existence must be kept secret from humans. Still, Arrietty sneaks out to visit Shō in his bedroom and the two become friends. On her return, Arrietty is intercepted by her father. Pod and Homily realize they have been discovered, and decide the family must move out of the house.
Shō learns from Sadako that some of his ancestors had seen Borrowers in this house, and they had the dollhouse made especially for the Borrowers, with working electric lights and ovens. The Borrowers had not been seen since, however, and the dollhouse stayed in Shō's room.
Pod returns injured from a borrowing mission and is being helped by Spiller, a Borrower boy he met on the way, who also informs them of some places the Borrowers could move to. While Pod is recovering, Shō uncovers the floorboards above the Borrower household, uproots their kitchen, and replaces it with the kitchen from the dollhouse as a display of kindness, in hopes the Borrowers would be more accepting of his knowledge of their existence. Instead, they react quite oppositely from Shō's expectations, the action causing the Borrowers to speed up the moving process.
After Pod recovers, he goes to explore some of the places Spiller suggested to them. Arrietty goes to say goodbye to Shō. During their subsequent conversation Shō theorizes that the Borrowers are becoming extinct, which hurts Arrietty. Apologizing, Shō reveals he has had a heart condition since birth and will have an operation in a few days. The operation does not have a good chance of success.
Meanwhile Haru, Sadako's maid, notices the floorboards have been disturbed. Sadako is out and Shō is still in the garden speaking with Arrietty, when Haru unearths the Borrowers' house and puts Homily in a jar in the kitchen. During this time, Arrietty hears the cries of her mother being captured and leaves Shō in the garden so she can go see what is happening to her mother. Saddened by Arrietty's departure, Shō goes back inside the house and into his room, unaware he is being followed by Haru, who subsequently locks him in his room. Haru then calls a pest removal company to smoke out the Borrowers and bring them to her alive.
When Arrietty returns to find Homily missing and their house disturbed, she goes to Shō for help. Arrietty helps Shō break out of his locked room, and Shō then carries Arrietty to the kitchen and distracts Haru while Arrietty rescues Homily. Sadako returns soon after the pest removal company comes, and tells them to leave. Haru tries to prove to Sadako that the Borrowers really exist, but Homily has escaped, and there is nothing below the floorboards: The Borrowers have already set off on their move, and Shō has destroyed the remains.
The Borrowers stop for dinner during their move, and Shō's cat spots Arrietty. The cat brings Shō to Arrietty. He gives her a sugar cube as a parting gift, and tells her the Borrowers' fight for survival has given him hope to live through the operation, which will happen in two days' time. In return, Arrietty gives Shō her "hair" clip. The Borrowers then get into a teapot, which Spiller steers down a river. Spiller gives Arrietty a red berry after joining him on the teapot's top.
It was a terrific film! However, I was not fond of Haru, the maid. She was such a nosy busybody! Ugh! However, as with most projects involving Hayao Miyazaki (as the screenplay writer), even the villain was not so mean as to be completely hated. I can't wait for the DVD to be released! I suspect that it will be here no later than July, right in time for Otakon! Hooray! I'll be one happy "Anime-niac" if I'm right!
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Katsucon 2012: Exhiler-18-g!
I spent President's Day Weekend 2012 as I have since 2003--at Katsucon with Hubby Christopher Wanamaker! (and the rest of the Otaku!) Friday (2/17/2012), Chris and I cosplayed as Jem & Rio. Saturday, our alter-egos were Mario & Toad (Super Mario Brothers), and on Sunday, Chris was Ben 10 and I was Rei Ayanami (Neon Genesis Evangelion)! Of course, the Dealer's Room had me feeling like a kid in a candy store! LOL! Chris bought me most of the items on my Wish List. 2 discs of "Fairy Tail," "Taro The Dragon Boy," part on the the TV series "Squid Girl," the complete collection of "Witch Hunter Robin," and "Princess 69: Lesson 1" (a hentai!). I bought a few DVDs for my cousin Lonnie and my friend Amber. (Don't make me have to beat you down like Stewie Griffin beat Brian....I want my money!) I also found a stuffed "Ponyo!" (I've been wanting one since I bought the DVD when it first came out!) Sadly, I could not find "Princess Mononoke" for my niece, Anaiya! I guess I will make a trip to Best Buy to see if they have it! Or wait until Otakon this summer! Aside from the Dealer's Room, I also enjoyed attending the Funimation panel. It was there that I learned that the second season of "Black Butler" will be released on DVD in April! Of course, I'm going to check it out!!!!!!!!!! I blogged about the first season of "Black Butler" in 2011. (see the post "Black Butler: One "Hell" Of An Anime About "One Hell Of A Butler!") Not surprisingly, I managed to get some great photos! There were cosplayers dressed as characters from "Fairy Tail," "Black Butler," and several people cosplayed as characters form the "My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic" series. I think my favorite cosplayer was the woman who was dressed as Satsuki and carried a doll of Mei (from "My Neighbor Totoro)! There was also a guy dressed up as Totoro himself! Needless to say, I had a great time, and can't wait to attend Otakon this summer!!!!! In the meantime, I have plenty of anime to keep me busy writing this blog!!!!!!!!!!!!! I know what I'll be doing on Saturday!!!!!!!!!! Watching anime (hopefully) uninterrupted!!!!!!!!!!!! Woe unto those who dare disturb this "Anime-niac!" LOL!!!!!!!!!!!
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Miyazaki's Masterpieces
After being unable to immerse myself in "Girls Bravo," I decided to pay tribute to Hayao Miyazaki, one of the greatest and most well-known directors within the anime community. Miyazaki celebrated his 71st birthday on January 5, 2012. In his honor, I decided to watch his films in chronological order. I watched the frst 6 movies yesterday, and spent most of today watching the last 3 with Anaiya, my 9-year-old niece and Cameron, my 5-year-old nephew.
1. Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, 2. Castle in the Sky, 3. My Neighbor Totoro, 4. Kiki's Delivery Service, 5. Porco Rosso, 6. Princess Mononoke, 7. Spirited Away, 8. Howl's Moving Castle, and 9.Ponyo!
I love all of them, but when I asked my niece, Anaiya, she said that her favorite was "Princess Mononoke." I guess that will be the next one I buy for her! I've already given her "Spirited Away" and "My Neighbor Totoro." I hope that she will one day want to attend an anime convention with me and my Hubby Chris! In the meantime, I can't wait to see Miyazaki's latest release, "The Secret World of Arrietty"! The film is scheduled to be released on February 17, 2012 in North America by Walt Disney Pictures. Maybe my niece will want to watch it with me!!!!!!!!!! I am definitely getting it when it is released on DVD!!!!!!!!! I'm expecting it to be as good as his previous releases. I can't think of a better gift to give the man who continues to bring so much joy to me and many others within the anime community than another successful film under his belt!!!!!!!!!!!! HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY, MR. MIYAZAKI!!!!!!!!!!!!! MAY YOU CONTINUE TO RULE OVER THE ANIME COMMUNITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1. Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, 2. Castle in the Sky, 3. My Neighbor Totoro, 4. Kiki's Delivery Service, 5. Porco Rosso, 6. Princess Mononoke, 7. Spirited Away, 8. Howl's Moving Castle, and 9.Ponyo!
I love all of them, but when I asked my niece, Anaiya, she said that her favorite was "Princess Mononoke." I guess that will be the next one I buy for her! I've already given her "Spirited Away" and "My Neighbor Totoro." I hope that she will one day want to attend an anime convention with me and my Hubby Chris! In the meantime, I can't wait to see Miyazaki's latest release, "The Secret World of Arrietty"! The film is scheduled to be released on February 17, 2012 in North America by Walt Disney Pictures. Maybe my niece will want to watch it with me!!!!!!!!!! I am definitely getting it when it is released on DVD!!!!!!!!! I'm expecting it to be as good as his previous releases. I can't think of a better gift to give the man who continues to bring so much joy to me and many others within the anime community than another successful film under his belt!!!!!!!!!!!! HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY, MR. MIYAZAKI!!!!!!!!!!!!! MAY YOU CONTINUE TO RULE OVER THE ANIME COMMUNITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Monday, January 2, 2012
Dead Wrong about "High School Of The Dead?"
I spent a portion of New Year's Eve watching High School Of The Dead with Hubby Christopher Wanamaker.
I decided to watch it again today just for the "hell" of it! LOL!!!!
The broadcast series High School of the Dead (2010) opens on an ordinary day at Fujima Academy in Tokyo--until hordes of zombies begin attacking people. Anyone who's bitten by them is either devoured or turned into a zombie. Sophomore Takashi Komuro, four of his friends, and Ms. Shizuka, the overendowed school nurse, fight their way out of the school and struggle to survive in a world gone mad. Using swords, baseball bats, and an arsenal of high-tech weapons and vehicles, the teenagers beat, blast, and flatten their grisly foes. The cause of the zombie plague is just one of the many important plot points that's never explained, but director Tetsuro Araki isn't really interested in presenting a coherent story. He keeps the camera looking up the girls' skirts, down their blouses, or at blank walls that get splattered with blood. In one shot certain to go down in fan-service history, he follows a projectile over one girl's breasts and under another's skirt--in slow motion. Hormonal adolescent boys who enjoy the juxtaposition of jiggle shots and blood baths are the obvious audience for High School of the Dead; other viewers should approach it with caution. Needless to say, this is one anime that is definitely NOT FOR CHILDREN!!!!!!!!!!!
Honestly, it reminded me of the 1968 film classic, Night Of The Living Dead. However, unlike its classic counterpart, High School Of The Dead does not blame the zombie attacks on nuclear radiation waking the dead. As I stated before, no obvious explanation was offered for the events that unfolded during the anime. Though, self-proclaimed genius Saya Takagi suggested that the cause might be a pandemic! Of course, there were some characters worth mentioning. The school nurse, Shizuka Marikawa, was an idiot, and Saya Takagi is bossy and conceited! At least, in my opinion! On the upside, Monica Rial, my fave voice actress, had a role in this particular anime--that of Shizuka Marikawa. Also, Jessica Boone, whom I loved as Misaki Suzuhara in Angelic Layer, voiced Rei Miyamoto in High School of the Dead! (Incidentally, Monica Rial also provided the voice of Tamayo Kizaki in Angelic Layer!) Aside from no logical explanation for the events that unfolded throughout the course of the anime, the ending was inconclusive. Does this mean that a second season looms on the horizon? If it does, I'll probably get it just to see how the story ends!!!!!!!!!
I decided to watch it again today just for the "hell" of it! LOL!!!!
The broadcast series High School of the Dead (2010) opens on an ordinary day at Fujima Academy in Tokyo--until hordes of zombies begin attacking people. Anyone who's bitten by them is either devoured or turned into a zombie. Sophomore Takashi Komuro, four of his friends, and Ms. Shizuka, the overendowed school nurse, fight their way out of the school and struggle to survive in a world gone mad. Using swords, baseball bats, and an arsenal of high-tech weapons and vehicles, the teenagers beat, blast, and flatten their grisly foes. The cause of the zombie plague is just one of the many important plot points that's never explained, but director Tetsuro Araki isn't really interested in presenting a coherent story. He keeps the camera looking up the girls' skirts, down their blouses, or at blank walls that get splattered with blood. In one shot certain to go down in fan-service history, he follows a projectile over one girl's breasts and under another's skirt--in slow motion. Hormonal adolescent boys who enjoy the juxtaposition of jiggle shots and blood baths are the obvious audience for High School of the Dead; other viewers should approach it with caution. Needless to say, this is one anime that is definitely NOT FOR CHILDREN!!!!!!!!!!!
Honestly, it reminded me of the 1968 film classic, Night Of The Living Dead. However, unlike its classic counterpart, High School Of The Dead does not blame the zombie attacks on nuclear radiation waking the dead. As I stated before, no obvious explanation was offered for the events that unfolded during the anime. Though, self-proclaimed genius Saya Takagi suggested that the cause might be a pandemic! Of course, there were some characters worth mentioning. The school nurse, Shizuka Marikawa, was an idiot, and Saya Takagi is bossy and conceited! At least, in my opinion! On the upside, Monica Rial, my fave voice actress, had a role in this particular anime--that of Shizuka Marikawa. Also, Jessica Boone, whom I loved as Misaki Suzuhara in Angelic Layer, voiced Rei Miyamoto in High School of the Dead! (Incidentally, Monica Rial also provided the voice of Tamayo Kizaki in Angelic Layer!) Aside from no logical explanation for the events that unfolded throughout the course of the anime, the ending was inconclusive. Does this mean that a second season looms on the horizon? If it does, I'll probably get it just to see how the story ends!!!!!!!!!
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Nana, Nana! Nana, Nana! Hey! Hey! Good-bye! (Again!)
I spent most of the last 12 hours watching the 3rd and 4th box sets of the "Nana" anime. All in all, not a bad series, though the last episode left the series with an incomplete ending (at least, in my opinion!)
Synopsis of Box Set 3
Nana K. is happily involved with Takumi from Trapnest, though she doesn't fully trust him. Nana O. graciously stays away from the apartmen for a while, and both Nanas feel the loneliness of their separation. Then in the midst of BLAST preparing to sign their first record deal, Nobu makes a surprise confession to Nana K. Now she must make a difficult choice, and someone's heart is bound to be borken.
Synopsis of Box Set 4
As if BLAST's debut wasn't causing enough stress, Takumi and Nana K.'s announcemnt sends everyone reeling, but none more than Nona O. and Reira. While Reira turns to Shin for comfort, Nana O. is drawn to Yasu and his calm understanding, leaving her questioning her relationship with Ren. Nana K. meanwhile is happily nesting in her new home, but her continued estrangement from Nana O. weighs heavily on her heart.
After all is said and done, this was truly an interesting anime with one of the highest ratings in my book! I'm gonna miss it! Undoubtedly, I will pull out the entire series to watch again sometime in the future! But for now, I'll quote the song: "Na Na Na Na Hey Hey Hey Goodbye!!!!!!!!!!!"
Synopsis of Box Set 3
Nana K. is happily involved with Takumi from Trapnest, though she doesn't fully trust him. Nana O. graciously stays away from the apartmen for a while, and both Nanas feel the loneliness of their separation. Then in the midst of BLAST preparing to sign their first record deal, Nobu makes a surprise confession to Nana K. Now she must make a difficult choice, and someone's heart is bound to be borken.
Synopsis of Box Set 4
As if BLAST's debut wasn't causing enough stress, Takumi and Nana K.'s announcemnt sends everyone reeling, but none more than Nona O. and Reira. While Reira turns to Shin for comfort, Nana O. is drawn to Yasu and his calm understanding, leaving her questioning her relationship with Ren. Nana K. meanwhile is happily nesting in her new home, but her continued estrangement from Nana O. weighs heavily on her heart.
After all is said and done, this was truly an interesting anime with one of the highest ratings in my book! I'm gonna miss it! Undoubtedly, I will pull out the entire series to watch again sometime in the future! But for now, I'll quote the song: "Na Na Na Na Hey Hey Hey Goodbye!!!!!!!!!!!"
Friday, December 2, 2011
"Shinjuku" Superb!
I just finished watching "Demon City Shinjuku," one of the anime DVDs my Hubby bought for me at Anime USA 2 weekends ago! I decided to get it after Amazon recommended it based on the fact that I liked "Wicked City."
From the director of Ninja Scroll!: The near future. The glittering skyline of Tokyo now lies broken and crumbling under the weight of an oppressive evil: The tyrannical Rebi Rah. Desperate to rescue her father, who was taken captive by Rah and his monstrous minions, the beautiful Sayaka Rama enlists the help of Kyoya, a streetwise Tokyo teenager. The two must bravely venture into the Demon City, where even the army fears to tread.
From the director of Ninja Scroll!: The near future. The glittering skyline of Tokyo now lies broken and crumbling under the weight of an oppressive evil: The tyrannical Rebi Rah. Desperate to rescue her father, who was taken captive by Rah and his monstrous minions, the beautiful Sayaka Rama enlists the help of Kyoya, a streetwise Tokyo teenager. The two must bravely venture into the Demon City, where even the army fears to tread.
The movie begins with a battle between fates, the evil Rebi Ra (also pronounced Levi Ra or even Devi Da) versus the short-lived hero Genichirou. Rebi Ra has allowed himself to be possessed in order to gain the incredible powers of evil and plans to summon demons to conquer the world. Defeating Genichirou and destroying Shinjuku, a part of Tokyo, with a devastating earthquake, the area becomes a demon-haunted wilderness.
Ten years later, the World President, put in place to uphold world peace, is attacked by Rebi Ra indirectly to keep his old master, Aguni Lai (Aguni Rai), as the protector of the president, occupied. However, Rebi Ra did not know that Genichirou had a son who inherited his powers and more. After an emotional plea from the president's daughter, Sayaka Rama, the unlikely hero Kyoya Izayoi follows her deep into the heart of the evil city, finding new allies and terrifying enemies along the way.
This is definitely a dark anime, and while it is similar in some ways to Wicked City, and while I do consider the animation quality and storyline to be superb, there weren't nearly as many sexual situation and comic relief characters to put it as high on my ratings list as Wicked City! All in all, it was an interesting anime that I wouldn't mind checking out again sometime. (Maybe Hubby will be with me instead of working the next time I watch it!)
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