Season 2 of Avatar: Legend Of Korra is finally here! After well over a year since season one, will the show be able to captivate it’s audience as it did in 2012? Here is a brief, spoil-free look into season 2 of “Korra“.
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RWBY is the brain-child of Monty Oum, Director of Animation for Rooster Teeth, an anime-styled series about several teams of heroes (Hunters & Huntresses) attending their first year at Beacon Academy. The series is midwifed (written) by Kerry Shawcross & Miles Luna, with Kerry also assisting on directing. As I’ve stated many times over the last year, Monty, Kerry, and Miles are among my favorite people; both in general and for chatting with. Due to this it should come as no surprise that I’m a HUGE fan of RWBY — so much so that I’m listening to the soundtrack as I write this.
If you’ve been a fan of Rooster Teeth since before RWBY’s release, it is likely that you’ll face a bit of shock after the first episode. From a storytelling perspective RWBY is in a different world entirely from Rooster Teeth’s primary series Red vs. Blue; instead adopting a more family-friendly (with subdued graphic violence) vibe, compared to RvB’s more mature humoring style. That’s not to say that the humor is a lesser version of RvB. In fact, the humor is quite similar, which should come as no surprise as Miles Luna does writing duty on both series. Essentially RWBY’s style can be summed up as one part anime, one part Rooster Teeth, one part insanity, and one part old-world fantasy.
At its heart the series is a new way to look at classic fantasy; combining many of the best elements into a cohesive new universe, one that after a single volume we’re still nowhere near immersed enough in. Starting out we’re given multiple seemingly one-dimensional characters (primarily Weiss Schnee and Jaune Arc, played by Kara Eberle and Miles Luna respectively), but as the series flows forth we begin to see new facets of each character. By listening to this seasons “Director’s Commentary Track” you can hear Monty Oum, Kerry Shawcross, and Miles Luna discuss how this was their intent all along. Ultimately starting characters off like this was a bit of a risk, that may have burned some fans, but in the end it pays off. Jaune Arc, more than any other character evolves drastically during the series’ first volume; leading him to become quite the fan favorite in a short amount of time.
Speaking of fan favorites, this show is full of enjoyable characters, each filling different roles. The real star of the show however is the weaponry. At the RWBY panel at this past summer’s Rooster Teeth Expo (where RWBY made its debut) a fan took the mic and asked if there would be any weapons that were not also guns. The answer as of the end of this volume is a definitive “No”. This is not a bad thing in any way, as the weaponry is seriously a thing of beauty. The way they move and function, each design fitting the chosen character’s style perfectly; from Weiss’ magical rapier to Yang’s gauntlets to Pyrrha’s spear Miló, we’re given a series of weaponry that makes sense with the character. Personally I’m a fan of the show’s late entry Sun Wukon and his Gunchaku, a bo-staff mixed with nunchaku and what can only be described as some sort of quad-rifle. Seriously, watch the first volume’s finale and try to explain it any better; I’ll wait here.
No luck? Well, let’s move on then…
The true star of RWBY is the sound design of the series. The music composed and orchestrated by Jeff Williams so perfectly sets the tone for each episode, that it sometimes becomes easy to get lost in the motions of it, forgetting you’re even watching a show. Having the show’s soundtrack anchoring the show works very nicely, giving it a different feel from most other animated series. During battle scenes it flows into the sound effects so perfectly that it is difficult to not be immersed in scenes.
The other star of the show is not surprising, as it is in fact the stars of the show. Team RWBY are perfectly voice-acted, setting each scene with the ability to fall between drama and humor rapidly as needed. Special credit goes to Lindsay Tuggey who so perfectly encapsulates Ruby Rose, that it’s no surprise that Ruby is one of the rare starring characters in a series that is actually enjoyable to watch/listen to. Overall the entire voice cast performs phenomenally, except for one sad issue: I can’t stand Pyrrha (Jen Brown) starting around the mid-point of volume 1. Don’t get me wrong, I love Jen Brown’s usual voice acting work; Carolina being one of my favorite characters in Red vs. Blue. Sadly I just feel like the quality of her scenes with Jaune late in the volume greatly diminished, taking on an almost forced quality to it. Still, it does nothing to diminish the overall enjoyment of the series.
Now that the show review is over, let’s take a few moments to look over what you get with this Blu-ray set. On the disc you’ll get all of the original RWBY trailers, something that Monty Oum has referred to as akin to mini-movies in of themselves. There are two commentary tracks, one featuring director & creator Monty Oum, and writers Kerry Shawcross and Miles Luna; the other featuring the women of RWBY Lindsay Tuggey (Ruby Rose), Kara Eberle (Weiss Schnee), Arryn Zech (Black Belladonna), and Barbara Dunkelman (Yang Xiao Long). Each commentary track is worth a listen, with special honors going to the director/writers commentary which gives some interesting insight into the show’s inception and production, as well as jelly bean flavors. Hearing honest opinions on scenes and jokes about how things didn’t always work the way they intended adds another dimension to the show. Also, listening to Miles Luna’s first viewing of the RWBY volume 1 finale is easily one of the most endearing things I’ve ever heard.
Speaking of that commentary track, it helped me notice one issue with this Blu-ray which was not present in Red vs. Blue Season 11’s Blu-ray offering: the use of episode breaks instead of scenes flowing together. This series was obviously made with different methods, so bridging scenes may have been not within the ‘budget’, but it kind of breaks up the flow of things when you spot the episode breaks in something like this. A minor gripe at best, but something that I still found bothersome on first viewing.
In addition to commentary tracks and trailers, there are features showing off a Behind the Scenes look using interviews with Monty Oum, Kerry Shawcross, Miles Luna, Kathleen Zuelch, and more on the show’s inception and production. There are also looks at the RWBY fan art, cosplaying, and storyboards for the first episode.
Ultimately the RWBY Blu-ray is well worth a purchase for anyone interested in the series, or simply in anime in general. It’s a fun, different take on the genre involving lovable characters and solid voice-acting. You would, and should be saddened if you don’t pick it up. Waiting on a future box-set is also viable, but based on the team’s current plans and series’ rampant popularity, it may be awhile before one of those actually gets released.
As an aside from the above review, I just wanted to inform everyone that the Constantly Calibrating podcast is currently doing a contest over on our Facebook fan page to win RWBY Volume 1 on DVD! Check here for more details!
Joshua is the Director of Gaming for Geek News Network and host of Constantly Calibrating — and further podcasts that even he is unaware of. You can read more of his thoughts on gaming and everything else on Twitter @BearPunch.
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What a weekend January 3rd through the 5th was, Taiyou con went off rather well. Located in Mesa Arizona, hosted by the Hilton. The hotel was clean and the set up was rather easy to get around. Registration is close to where you walk in, immediately putting you in the spacious artist ally. I was able to get my badge in a quick manner, the staff was kind and seemed to know what they were doing. One of the most frustrating parts of a whole convention can just be getting your badge. Unruly lines, uninformed staff members, can all be a problem, but, I’m happy to report that wasn’t the case with Taiyou.
After getting my badge I was able to walk around artist ally a bit. Like I stated before, it was very spacious. A wide array of vendors producing their wares for perusing. In the middle of the area was the bar, where Taiyou Con had actually created special cocktails for the 21+ guests. Let me say, the Catherine was delicious, cheers to who ever came up with that drink idea, would love to have it again.
Venturing on, I decided to check out the vending hall, now that was a bit small and cramped. I understand they are working on limited space, but I wonder if there is a bigger space for them to set that all up. There were only about 6 vendors, and the tables were rather close together. Looking at something was a bit of a chore, since we were all squished together looking. Though, I will say, they were very good about checking for badges, something that is important and some cons are rather lax on.
Check out Twisted Manga’s cosplay video from Taiyou Con
Autographs and meeting with guests were also very well-organized. The lines were kept together, fans were allowed a certain amount of time to talk to their favorite guest, and were moved along. It went smoothly, another thing that can go horribly wrong if not ran correctly.
Now that I’ve gotten all of this out of my system, I suppose I should talk about all the events and panels that the con had to offer. Well, there were a few that really stood out for me, and it seems for a lot of others. The first was the Free! Café.
What can I say about that, the amount of enthusiasm alone made it a success. I peaked in and watched the cast interact with the guests. They were in character, making them laugh, blush, and genuinely have a good time. Food was tasty and well received, and the costumes all looked great. But, things really went down when the cast moved to get a photoshoot in the pool. I was almost killed by excited fans to get a glimpse of the boys. Well, they all looked great, cheers to Sheila from Aicosu, who orchestrated the whole thing. I hope she decides to do more cafes for local cons, she knew what she was doing and made for a great experience!
The other great event was the Mari Iijima concert. What is there really to say? It was just great. The music great, there was plenty of space, a well-organized autograph session at the end, and people seemed relatively happy. It was really cool to see a Japanese guest at one of our local cons. Here’s hoping Taiyou can get some more impressive guests next year. It will be hard to beat some of the ones they’ve had, but I have faith they can.
But, if you don’t want to believe me that I had a good weekend, perhaps take the advice of voice actress and guest Cristina Vee. She told me, when I was able to get to her, she always loves coming to Arizona and the con treated her greatly. Well, I don’t know if I speak for everyone, but, it’s always wonderful to see the amazing Cristina Vee.
Well, I think that about sums it up. Taiyou con is a great con. I would love to see them get bigger perhaps move locations for a future date. I’d also like to see a larger vending hall. They seem to be on the right track to making an even bigger con. Well organized, good guests, plenty of fun, I can’t wait for next year.
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With the New Year comes the start of con season. One of the best ways to start the New Year is by taking a visit to the lovely Los Angeles to catch ALA (Anime Los Angeles). Held at the LAX Marriott, its location was not only convenient, but impressive. It has a reputation, and even a nickname of being the “pool con.” The gorgeous pool has a river where you can take pictures of some of the best cosplayers in the scene.
Anime Los Angeles is a convention where you feel at home. The con takes every effort in listening to attendees’ ideas and even criticisms to add/remove items that will make the con more enjoyable for you. As you walk into the convention there are several largely printed signs accompanied with humor to help you navigate around the hotel. If layout gets a bit confusing, there are volunteers to help you find your way.
Beanbag chairs line the walls of the halls where you can relax. You are encouraged to hang out while talking to new people you have never met. Even the con chair Chaz sets up a couch near the information booth where you can chat with him about your experience at the convention. He loves listening to new ideas and even answers any questions you may have.
ALA definitely had the regular programming you would expect such as the Masquerade, Maid Cafes, game rooms, Manga room, panels and even more. They really catered to attendees of all ages, even creating a parent’s lounge for parents of attendees 14 or younger to come and hang out in when their children are at the con. This encourages them to be more involved and let them meet other parents who may share the same interests or may have been dragged into the convention life. There are snacks provided to help hold them over when their kids just don’t want to leave a tournament quite yet. There is a con suite for all the attendees to help make sure they stay nourished. The con suite is opened from early in the morning to very late at night, giving you a place to grab a small helping of various foods. There were an array of sandwiches all the way to chips and soda. The staff kept you entertained leading in singalongs to give you a show.
Photos taken by Cherise Kellogg of Geek News Network. All rights reserved.
One of the top things that made this convention a bit different is ribbons. You can receive ribbons that hang off of your badge to symbolize your status in the convention, all the way to showing you are a specific fan. So many attendees became involved in ribbon collecting that they were searching for more time to collect them even in the last hours of the convention. At the end, there were some attendees who had 20 ribbons all the way to over 100 ribbons that were rolled and banded to keep them together. Some ribbons were earned by just answering trivia in the gamer room while others had you try something like a new card game that you may have never tried before. By handing out these ribbons, it gave attendees who may need a little incentive to remind them of why they got into conventions in the first place. When was the last time you really took time to check out the manga room and take a breather for just a few minutes? Not to mention some of the silly ones where you had to walk down the hall and pretend you were a zombie. It served as incentive to make people interact, to trade and really talk to someone you might have never talked to before. Creating friendships and even discovering people who share the same interest as you just by looking at your ribbons. This alone added an additional layer of depth and interest to the convention, ensuring that there was never a dull moment.
So if you are looking for a convention that makes you feel at home and brings back that magic that really made you want to attend conventions in the first place, then check out ALA. Capping at 4000 attendees, they are dedicated to keeping the convention small enough to make you feel like you are a family. There is something to do at all times of day, with panels going as late as 2am, which really helps keep everyone involved. Don’t forget to pre-register, because passes will not be available at the door. It is only thirty dollars until May 1st, and it is definitely worth the investment.
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It is often said that you won’t get much done with your head in the clouds. But when you dream about creating airplanes for a living, it may just be a good place to start.
In The Wind Rises, director Hayao Miyazaki’s final feature film, a boy named Jiro Horikoshi (Zach Callison, Joseph Gordon Levitt), dreams of one day designing planes. His eyesight prevents him from being a pilot, but his lofty ambitions are encouraged, through these dreams, by an Italian plane designer named Caproni (Stanley Tucci). This film is a tale based on the history of Japanese aviation leading up to World War II.
As he grows older, Jiro travels to Tokyo, which is almost completely demolished by an earthquake. It is here he first meets Naoko Satomi (Emily Blunt) and her mother, who’s suffered a leg injury. He assists them to their destination and heads on his way without giving his name. At the factory Jiro is hired, his boss Mr. Kurokawa (Martin Short) sees nothing special in him, but over time is very impressed with his attention to the smallest of details. His colleague Honjo (John Krasinki) accompanies him on this journey of many failed attempts to build a faster, stronger airplane, which will someday be used for war.
Jiro meets Naoko once again in the countryside at a hotel owned by her parents. They spend time together which later blossoms into romance. Romance soon interrupted by the realization that Naoko is suffering from a serious illness and must remain at the hotel while he goes back to Tokyo to resume his work. Jiro struggles between fulfilling his lifelong dream and being with the love of his life who may not have much time.
The film balances these two stories very well. We continue to see Jiro’s work improve over time, the painstaking calculations he makes and the flaws he envisions in his dreams as they meet their fiery end, while also seeing his love story with Naoko become more pronounced. An emotional sincerity most times reserved for live action films and not animation.
What is most interesting about The Wind Rises is not only the terrific storytelling, but also the philosophical motivations the movie raises. You are destined to develop planes, but in the back of your mind you know ultimately they will be used as weapons. In spite of this, and for the sake of that hopeful, yet uncertain, future, you continue on cause you know that flight is a dream that should cannot be denied to the world.
The story is very straightforward and favors a realistic approach as opposed to the fantasy elements and magical creatures you would normally see in Hayao Miyazaki’s other works (Howl’s Moving Castle, Spirited Away). The imagery is as brilliant as ever breathing life into the most inanimate objects. The wind especially plays a significant character with its presence in several scenes pronounced by the blowing of an umbrella or the dance of a paper airplane.
The actual history laced within this fictional film is enhanced by the contemporary atmosphere and you begin to share that acute sense of enthusiastic progress the aviation engineers feel when their efforts are finally rewarded. In fact the character Jiro Horikoshi is named after an an actual chief engineer during World War II.
A strong story, beautiful visuals, and a brilliant voice cast which also includes Mae Whitman, William H. Macy and Elijah Wood as well as several others. I recommend this movie for all these reasons, and perhaps to relive your own childhood dreams of flying. It teaches us that we may endure many failures and setbacks to realize our dream, but every one of them is an important lesson to be appreciated. The Wind Rises is another wonderful work of art that Hayao Miyazaki can hang his hat on.
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*Photos by Andrea Agosto [http://www.andreaagosto.com/]. All rights reserved.
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*Photos by Nick Shiflet [www.nickshiflet.smugmug.com]. All rights reserved.
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Ah, I remember it like it was only yesterday.
Initiate dreamy recollection. (Possibly in black and white, because why not.)
Getting off the school bus and running home as fast as we could, dumping our stuff in a pile by the front door and plopping down in front of the television. Toonami was on Cartoon Network, and Dragon Ball Z was bringing the late 90’s anime awesomeness. Going Super Saiyan on my younger siblings and getting yelled at by my parents, ah yes, those were the days…
Whoa, okay. No more nostalgic flashbacks, I promise. Let’s talk about that DBZ movie! For those of you who were out of the loop, or maybe training in a hyperbolic time chamber or something, Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection ‘F’ got a limited theatrical release here in the States. Funimation handled the English dub and distribution for North America, with screenings initially planned from August 4th to the 12th, but with an encore run extended through the 17th in some locations.
This time around, arguably the most iconic villain in the franchise is resurrected with the help of the Dragon Balls and some fancy regeneration tech. Frieza is back!
Warning: Spoilers Ahead
I must say, the depiction of Earth’s hell is truly chilling. The movie opens on Frieza being tormented by adorable creatures of unspeakable cuteness in a world that is just so… pleasant… Oh, I shudder thinking about it!
Lucky for Frieza, former lieutenant Sorbet is bent on returning the Frieza Force to its former glory, and he starts by reviving its former leader. I thought it was a little odd that Shenron couldn’t bring fully restore Frieza, but just go with it.
At this point, the anticipation was building and the tension was palpable. The build-up for the epic showdown is the bread and butter of the franchise. Frieza in a regeneration chamber with Maximum the Hormone’s “F” rocking in the background. (Any Death Note fans in the house?) I couldn’t have been the only one head-banging in the theater.
There were a ton of guest appearances from characters throughout the DBZ universe here. Almost to the point where it felt like they were just checking boxes of appearing characters. Over the years the cast of characters has grown absolutely immense, so it’s understandably difficult to choose cameos that would benefit the story and who would be superfluous. That is except for Android 18, because I would have been SO disappointed if she wasn’t in the movie. What 18 and I had was special. Um, I mean. Never mind. No, I don’t want to talk about it.
I really appreciate the fact that the characters felt genuine to the way I remember them. Goku, lighthearted and merciful to a fault. Vegeta, the lovable a-hole. The two Saiyans bickering over who’s turn it was to punch Frieza in the face. And there is plenty of face-punching to be had, it is a DBZ movie after all, but for me that wasn’t the real draw. Where this movie really shines is in capturing the essence of those characters we came to know and love on that old standard-definition TV screen.
“But Jory,” you say, “I don’t have the nostalgic feelz for DBZ. Will I still enjoy this movie?”
I’d say, most emphatically, definitely, maybe. Even if you’ve never seen an episode of Dragon Ball Z, there’s still plenty of good laughs, fast-hitting action, and sufficient character explanation to enable anyone to understand what’s going on and enjoy the ride. Not that you’ve ever needed a Ph.D to understand what’s going on in the Dragon Ball universe.
My wife was quick to point out that the ending felt anticlimactic and abrupt. As we’ve seen before so many times, most of the top tier Z fighters and villains have destroyed a planet or two when fighting, but the way that Whis so casually rewound time didn’t feel that satisfying. But this isn’t her review. And what does she know anyway? She married me, so clearly her decision-making is questionable at best. (Love you hun.)
The “limited release” strategy by Funimation was a very conservative move. I’m honestly not surprised that the release was extended in some theaters. The figures floating around say the film brought in around $8 million in the US. That places it near the bottom of the top ten highest-grossing anime films to date, but when compared to any of the Pokémon movies it doesn’t quite match up. However, it is still impressive when you take into account the relatively small number of theaters that screened the film.
What did you think? Was it a light-hearted dip into the nostalgia pool that was easily forgotten? Did it reignite that love for the Z fighters that you had long ago? Or are you new to the genre and cultivating your new-found passion for animated martial arts (and face punching)?
Tell us! We want to know!
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You know that feeling when you finish watching the first episode of a series on Netflix and you’re like, “Welp, there goes the next 6 hours of my life. I’ll see the rest of you humans later.”
Honestly, how did we ever procrastinate before Netflix?
I’m referring to a series titled The Seven Deadly Sins, of which Netflix recently acquired the exclusive streaming rights. I feel like the distribution of Knights of Sidonia worked out pretty well, so I’m glad to see them continuing the trend by picking up another anime title. I hope to see the company continue to support and distribute anime series in the future. This manga adaptation is produced by the Aniplex subsidiary A-1 Pictures Inc., the same studio that brought us Fairy Tail and Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic. That should give you an idea of the animation style and feel you can expect.
The series takes place in a time before the magical and non-magical works had been separated. It’s a time of magical warriors and holy knights and vile demons. A good starting point, right?
Our unlikely heroes are a now disbanded team of ex-knights know as, you’ll never guess, the Seven Deadly Sins. Okay, I’ll start by saying get the Fullmetal Alchemist sins out of your head immediately. Yes, there is a sin of Wrath, Envy, etc. Not similar in any way. Erase all memory of the homunculi from your mind. There, now that that’s out of the way, you can enjoy the series for what it is. It’s a tale of good versus evil, of justice versus tyranny, of order versus chaos. And it’s excellent.
The characters are well-developed, and you really begin to empathize with them. Each one has a compelling back story and brings a unique flavor to the table. The point being that in the medieval / knights / magic fantasy genre, it’s all too easy to fall back on clichés and under-developed character molds that leave you uninterested in the story. It’s so refreshing to get a genuine, character driven story that gives you “the feelz”. Honestly, I was ready to pick up a sword and take on the entire Order of Holy Knights for Princess Elizabeth. I did, actually. Granted it was a cosplay sword my wife left by the couch.
I really am an adult, I promise.
While that might sound like an anime geared for the younger audience, the adult language and tasteful sprinkling of adult content let you know it has the more mature viewers tastes at heart. They don’t skimp on the blood either, which always makes me smile.
And to those who don’t like subtitles, you’ll be happy to hear that it is streaming in an English dub as well. In fact, it’s a pretty good one too.
All 24 episodes are streaming now on Netflix. So go add it to your friend’s or parent’s Netflix queue that you’re currently using. It’s okay, we won’t judge you (out loud).
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Geek News Network interviews Yuu Asakawa at Taiyou Con 2016. Yuu Asakawa is a voice actress most known for Crypton Future Media’s Vocaloid, Megurine Luka. She has also played the part of numerous anime characters from Akame ga Kil, Love Hina and much more. She discusses her experience at Taiyou and finding new ways to contribute to the community.
Director of Filmography: Chris Campbell
Reporter: Jory Blaine
Camera Operator: Paul Ling
Video Edit: Paul Ling
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RWBY is the brain-child of Monty Oum, Director of Animation for Rooster Teeth, an anime-styled series about several teams of heroes (Hunters & Huntresses) attending their first year at Beacon Academy. The series is midwifed (written) by Kerry Shawcross & Miles Luna, with Kerry also assisting on directing. As I’ve stated many times over the last year, Monty, Kerry, and Miles are among my favorite people; both in general and for chatting with. Due to this it should come as no surprise that I’m a HUGE fan of RWBY — so much so that I’m listening to the soundtrack as I write this.
If you’ve been a fan of Rooster Teeth since before RWBY’s release, it is likely that you’ll face a bit of shock after the first episode. From a storytelling perspective RWBY is in a different world entirely from Rooster Teeth’s primary series Red vs. Blue; instead adopting a more family-friendly (with subdued graphic violence) vibe, compared to RvB’s more mature humoring style. That’s not to say that the humor is a lesser version of RvB. In fact, the humor is quite similar, which should come as no surprise as Miles Luna does writing duty on both series. Essentially RWBY’s style can be summed up as one part anime, one part Rooster Teeth, one part insanity, and one part old-world fantasy.
At its heart the series is a new way to look at classic fantasy; combining many of the best elements into a cohesive new universe, one that after a single volume we’re still nowhere near immersed enough in. Starting out we’re given multiple seemingly one-dimensional characters (primarily Weiss Schnee and Jaune Arc, played by Kara Eberle and Miles Luna respectively), but as the series flows forth we begin to see new facets of each character. By listening to this seasons “Director’s Commentary Track” you can hear Monty Oum, Kerry Shawcross, and Miles Luna discuss how this was their intent all along. Ultimately starting characters off like this was a bit of a risk, that may have burned some fans, but in the end it pays off. Jaune Arc, more than any other character evolves drastically during the series’ first volume; leading him to become quite the fan favorite in a short amount of time.
Speaking of fan favorites, this show is full of enjoyable characters, each filling different roles. The real star of the show however is the weaponry. At the RWBY panel at this past summer’s Rooster Teeth Expo (where RWBY made its debut) a fan took the mic and asked if there would be any weapons that were not also guns. The answer as of the end of this volume is a definitive “No”. This is not a bad thing in any way, as the weaponry is seriously a thing of beauty. The way they move and function, each design fitting the chosen character’s style perfectly; from Weiss’ magical rapier to Yang’s gauntlets to Pyrrha’s spear Miló, we’re given a series of weaponry that makes sense with the character. Personally I’m a fan of the show’s late entry Sun Wukon and his Gunchaku, a bo-staff mixed with nunchaku and what can only be described as some sort of quad-rifle. Seriously, watch the first volume’s finale and try to explain it any better; I’ll wait here.
No luck? Well, let’s move on then…
The true star of RWBY is the sound design of the series. The music composed and orchestrated by Jeff Williams so perfectly sets the tone for each episode, that it sometimes becomes easy to get lost in the motions of it, forgetting you’re even watching a show. Having the show’s soundtrack anchoring the show works very nicely, giving it a different feel from most other animated series. During battle scenes it flows into the sound effects so perfectly that it is difficult to not be immersed in scenes.
The other star of the show is not surprising, as it is in fact the stars of the show. Team RWBY are perfectly voice-acted, setting each scene with the ability to fall between drama and humor rapidly as needed. Special credit goes to Lindsay Tuggey who so perfectly encapsulates Ruby Rose, that it’s no surprise that Ruby is one of the rare starring characters in a series that is actually enjoyable to watch/listen to. Overall the entire voice cast performs phenomenally, except for one sad issue: I can’t stand Pyrrha (Jen Brown) starting around the mid-point of volume 1. Don’t get me wrong, I love Jen Brown’s usual voice acting work; Carolina being one of my favorite characters in Red vs. Blue. Sadly I just feel like the quality of her scenes with Jaune late in the volume greatly diminished, taking on an almost forced quality to it. Still, it does nothing to diminish the overall enjoyment of the series.
Now that the show review is over, let’s take a few moments to look over what you get with this Blu-ray set. On the disc you’ll get all of the original RWBY trailers, something that Monty Oum has referred to as akin to mini-movies in of themselves. There are two commentary tracks, one featuring director & creator Monty Oum, and writers Kerry Shawcross and Miles Luna; the other featuring the women of RWBY Lindsay Tuggey (Ruby Rose), Kara Eberle (Weiss Schnee), Arryn Zech (Black Belladonna), and Barbara Dunkelman (Yang Xiao Long). Each commentary track is worth a listen, with special honors going to the director/writers commentary which gives some interesting insight into the show’s inception and production, as well as jelly bean flavors. Hearing honest opinions on scenes and jokes about how things didn’t always work the way they intended adds another dimension to the show. Also, listening to Miles Luna’s first viewing of the RWBY volume 1 finale is easily one of the most endearing things I’ve ever heard.
Speaking of that commentary track, it helped me notice one issue with this Blu-ray which was not present in Red vs. Blue Season 11’s Blu-ray offering: the use of episode breaks instead of scenes flowing together. This series was obviously made with different methods, so bridging scenes may have been not within the ‘budget’, but it kind of breaks up the flow of things when you spot the episode breaks in something like this. A minor gripe at best, but something that I still found bothersome on first viewing.
In addition to commentary tracks and trailers, there are features showing off a Behind the Scenes look using interviews with Monty Oum, Kerry Shawcross, Miles Luna, Kathleen Zuelch, and more on the show’s inception and production. There are also looks at the RWBY fan art, cosplaying, and storyboards for the first episode.
Ultimately the RWBY Blu-ray is well worth a purchase for anyone interested in the series, or simply in anime in general. It’s a fun, different take on the genre involving lovable characters and solid voice-acting. You would, and should be saddened if you don’t pick it up. Waiting on a future box-set is also viable, but based on the team’s current plans and series’ rampant popularity, it may be awhile before one of those actually gets released.
As an aside from the above review, I just wanted to inform everyone that the Constantly Calibrating podcast is currently doing a contest over on our Facebook fan page to win RWBY Volume 1 on DVD! Check here for more details!
Joshua is the Director of Gaming for Geek News Network and host of Constantly Calibrating — and further podcasts that even he is unaware of. You can read more of his thoughts on gaming and everything else on Twitter @BearPunch.
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What a weekend January 3rd through the 5th was, Taiyou con went off rather well. Located in Mesa Arizona, hosted by the Hilton. The hotel was clean and the set up was rather easy to get around. Registration is close to where you walk in, immediately putting you in the spacious artist ally. I was able to get my badge in a quick manner, the staff was kind and seemed to know what they were doing. One of the most frustrating parts of a whole convention can just be getting your badge. Unruly lines, uninformed staff members, can all be a problem, but, I’m happy to report that wasn’t the case with Taiyou.
After getting my badge I was able to walk around artist ally a bit. Like I stated before, it was very spacious. A wide array of vendors producing their wares for perusing. In the middle of the area was the bar, where Taiyou Con had actually created special cocktails for the 21+ guests. Let me say, the Catherine was delicious, cheers to who ever came up with that drink idea, would love to have it again.
Venturing on, I decided to check out the vending hall, now that was a bit small and cramped. I understand they are working on limited space, but I wonder if there is a bigger space for them to set that all up. There were only about 6 vendors, and the tables were rather close together. Looking at something was a bit of a chore, since we were all squished together looking. Though, I will say, they were very good about checking for badges, something that is important and some cons are rather lax on.
Check out Twisted Manga’s cosplay video from Taiyou Con
Autographs and meeting with guests were also very well-organized. The lines were kept together, fans were allowed a certain amount of time to talk to their favorite guest, and were moved along. It went smoothly, another thing that can go horribly wrong if not ran correctly.
Now that I’ve gotten all of this out of my system, I suppose I should talk about all the events and panels that the con had to offer. Well, there were a few that really stood out for me, and it seems for a lot of others. The first was the Free! Café.
What can I say about that, the amount of enthusiasm alone made it a success. I peaked in and watched the cast interact with the guests. They were in character, making them laugh, blush, and genuinely have a good time. Food was tasty and well received, and the costumes all looked great. But, things really went down when the cast moved to get a photoshoot in the pool. I was almost killed by excited fans to get a glimpse of the boys. Well, they all looked great, cheers to Sheila from Aicosu, who orchestrated the whole thing. I hope she decides to do more cafes for local cons, she knew what she was doing and made for a great experience!
The other great event was the Mari Iijima concert. What is there really to say? It was just great. The music great, there was plenty of space, a well-organized autograph session at the end, and people seemed relatively happy. It was really cool to see a Japanese guest at one of our local cons. Here’s hoping Taiyou can get some more impressive guests next year. It will be hard to beat some of the ones they’ve had, but I have faith they can.
But, if you don’t want to believe me that I had a good weekend, perhaps take the advice of voice actress and guest Cristina Vee. She told me, when I was able to get to her, she always loves coming to Arizona and the con treated her greatly. Well, I don’t know if I speak for everyone, but, it’s always wonderful to see the amazing Cristina Vee.
Well, I think that about sums it up. Taiyou con is a great con. I would love to see them get bigger perhaps move locations for a future date. I’d also like to see a larger vending hall. They seem to be on the right track to making an even bigger con. Well organized, good guests, plenty of fun, I can’t wait for next year.
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With the New Year comes the start of con season. One of the best ways to start the New Year is by taking a visit to the lovely Los Angeles to catch ALA (Anime Los Angeles). Held at the LAX Marriott, its location was not only convenient, but impressive. It has a reputation, and even a nickname of being the “pool con.” The gorgeous pool has a river where you can take pictures of some of the best cosplayers in the scene.
Anime Los Angeles is a convention where you feel at home. The con takes every effort in listening to attendees’ ideas and even criticisms to add/remove items that will make the con more enjoyable for you. As you walk into the convention there are several largely printed signs accompanied with humor to help you navigate around the hotel. If layout gets a bit confusing, there are volunteers to help you find your way.
Beanbag chairs line the walls of the halls where you can relax. You are encouraged to hang out while talking to new people you have never met. Even the con chair Chaz sets up a couch near the information booth where you can chat with him about your experience at the convention. He loves listening to new ideas and even answers any questions you may have.
ALA definitely had the regular programming you would expect such as the Masquerade, Maid Cafes, game rooms, Manga room, panels and even more. They really catered to attendees of all ages, even creating a parent’s lounge for parents of attendees 14 or younger to come and hang out in when their children are at the con. This encourages them to be more involved and let them meet other parents who may share the same interests or may have been dragged into the convention life. There are snacks provided to help hold them over when their kids just don’t want to leave a tournament quite yet. There is a con suite for all the attendees to help make sure they stay nourished. The con suite is opened from early in the morning to very late at night, giving you a place to grab a small helping of various foods. There were an array of sandwiches all the way to chips and soda. The staff kept you entertained leading in singalongs to give you a show.
Photos taken by Cherise Kellogg of Geek News Network. All rights reserved.
One of the top things that made this convention a bit different is ribbons. You can receive ribbons that hang off of your badge to symbolize your status in the convention, all the way to showing you are a specific fan. So many attendees became involved in ribbon collecting that they were searching for more time to collect them even in the last hours of the convention. At the end, there were some attendees who had 20 ribbons all the way to over 100 ribbons that were rolled and banded to keep them together. Some ribbons were earned by just answering trivia in the gamer room while others had you try something like a new card game that you may have never tried before. By handing out these ribbons, it gave attendees who may need a little incentive to remind them of why they got into conventions in the first place. When was the last time you really took time to check out the manga room and take a breather for just a few minutes? Not to mention some of the silly ones where you had to walk down the hall and pretend you were a zombie. It served as incentive to make people interact, to trade and really talk to someone you might have never talked to before. Creating friendships and even discovering people who share the same interest as you just by looking at your ribbons. This alone added an additional layer of depth and interest to the convention, ensuring that there was never a dull moment.
So if you are looking for a convention that makes you feel at home and brings back that magic that really made you want to attend conventions in the first place, then check out ALA. Capping at 4000 attendees, they are dedicated to keeping the convention small enough to make you feel like you are a family. There is something to do at all times of day, with panels going as late as 2am, which really helps keep everyone involved. Don’t forget to pre-register, because passes will not be available at the door. It is only thirty dollars until May 1st, and it is definitely worth the investment.
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It is often said that you won’t get much done with your head in the clouds. But when you dream about creating airplanes for a living, it may just be a good place to start.
In The Wind Rises, director Hayao Miyazaki’s final feature film, a boy named Jiro Horikoshi (Zach Callison, Joseph Gordon Levitt), dreams of one day designing planes. His eyesight prevents him from being a pilot, but his lofty ambitions are encouraged, through these dreams, by an Italian plane designer named Caproni (Stanley Tucci). This film is a tale based on the history of Japanese aviation leading up to World War II.
As he grows older, Jiro travels to Tokyo, which is almost completely demolished by an earthquake. It is here he first meets Naoko Satomi (Emily Blunt) and her mother, who’s suffered a leg injury. He assists them to their destination and heads on his way without giving his name. At the factory Jiro is hired, his boss Mr. Kurokawa (Martin Short) sees nothing special in him, but over time is very impressed with his attention to the smallest of details. His colleague Honjo (John Krasinki) accompanies him on this journey of many failed attempts to build a faster, stronger airplane, which will someday be used for war.
Jiro meets Naoko once again in the countryside at a hotel owned by her parents. They spend time together which later blossoms into romance. Romance soon interrupted by the realization that Naoko is suffering from a serious illness and must remain at the hotel while he goes back to Tokyo to resume his work. Jiro struggles between fulfilling his lifelong dream and being with the love of his life who may not have much time.
The film balances these two stories very well. We continue to see Jiro’s work improve over time, the painstaking calculations he makes and the flaws he envisions in his dreams as they meet their fiery end, while also seeing his love story with Naoko become more pronounced. An emotional sincerity most times reserved for live action films and not animation.
What is most interesting about The Wind Rises is not only the terrific storytelling, but also the philosophical motivations the movie raises. You are destined to develop planes, but in the back of your mind you know ultimately they will be used as weapons. In spite of this, and for the sake of that hopeful, yet uncertain, future, you continue on cause you know that flight is a dream that should cannot be denied to the world.
The story is very straightforward and favors a realistic approach as opposed to the fantasy elements and magical creatures you would normally see in Hayao Miyazaki’s other works (Howl’s Moving Castle, Spirited Away). The imagery is as brilliant as ever breathing life into the most inanimate objects. The wind especially plays a significant character with its presence in several scenes pronounced by the blowing of an umbrella or the dance of a paper airplane.
The actual history laced within this fictional film is enhanced by the contemporary atmosphere and you begin to share that acute sense of enthusiastic progress the aviation engineers feel when their efforts are finally rewarded. In fact the character Jiro Horikoshi is named after an an actual chief engineer during World War II.
A strong story, beautiful visuals, and a brilliant voice cast which also includes Mae Whitman, William H. Macy and Elijah Wood as well as several others. I recommend this movie for all these reasons, and perhaps to relive your own childhood dreams of flying. It teaches us that we may endure many failures and setbacks to realize our dream, but every one of them is an important lesson to be appreciated. The Wind Rises is another wonderful work of art that Hayao Miyazaki can hang his hat on.
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*Photos by Andrea Agosto [http://www.andreaagosto.com/]. All rights reserved.
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*Photos by Nick Shiflet [www.nickshiflet.smugmug.com]. All rights reserved.
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Ah, I remember it like it was only yesterday.
Initiate dreamy recollection. (Possibly in black and white, because why not.)
Getting off the school bus and running home as fast as we could, dumping our stuff in a pile by the front door and plopping down in front of the television. Toonami was on Cartoon Network, and Dragon Ball Z was bringing the late 90’s anime awesomeness. Going Super Saiyan on my younger siblings and getting yelled at by my parents, ah yes, those were the days…
Whoa, okay. No more nostalgic flashbacks, I promise. Let’s talk about that DBZ movie! For those of you who were out of the loop, or maybe training in a hyperbolic time chamber or something, Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection ‘F’ got a limited theatrical release here in the States. Funimation handled the English dub and distribution for North America, with screenings initially planned from August 4th to the 12th, but with an encore run extended through the 17th in some locations.
This time around, arguably the most iconic villain in the franchise is resurrected with the help of the Dragon Balls and some fancy regeneration tech. Frieza is back!
Warning: Spoilers Ahead
I must say, the depiction of Earth’s hell is truly chilling. The movie opens on Frieza being tormented by adorable creatures of unspeakable cuteness in a world that is just so… pleasant… Oh, I shudder thinking about it!
Lucky for Frieza, former lieutenant Sorbet is bent on returning the Frieza Force to its former glory, and he starts by reviving its former leader. I thought it was a little odd that Shenron couldn’t bring fully restore Frieza, but just go with it.
At this point, the anticipation was building and the tension was palpable. The build-up for the epic showdown is the bread and butter of the franchise. Frieza in a regeneration chamber with Maximum the Hormone’s “F” rocking in the background. (Any Death Note fans in the house?) I couldn’t have been the only one head-banging in the theater.
There were a ton of guest appearances from characters throughout the DBZ universe here. Almost to the point where it felt like they were just checking boxes of appearing characters. Over the years the cast of characters has grown absolutely immense, so it’s understandably difficult to choose cameos that would benefit the story and who would be superfluous. That is except for Android 18, because I would have been SO disappointed if she wasn’t in the movie. What 18 and I had was special. Um, I mean. Never mind. No, I don’t want to talk about it.
I really appreciate the fact that the characters felt genuine to the way I remember them. Goku, lighthearted and merciful to a fault. Vegeta, the lovable a-hole. The two Saiyans bickering over who’s turn it was to punch Frieza in the face. And there is plenty of face-punching to be had, it is a DBZ movie after all, but for me that wasn’t the real draw. Where this movie really shines is in capturing the essence of those characters we came to know and love on that old standard-definition TV screen.
“But Jory,” you say, “I don’t have the nostalgic feelz for DBZ. Will I still enjoy this movie?”
I’d say, most emphatically, definitely, maybe. Even if you’ve never seen an episode of Dragon Ball Z, there’s still plenty of good laughs, fast-hitting action, and sufficient character explanation to enable anyone to understand what’s going on and enjoy the ride. Not that you’ve ever needed a Ph.D to understand what’s going on in the Dragon Ball universe.
My wife was quick to point out that the ending felt anticlimactic and abrupt. As we’ve seen before so many times, most of the top tier Z fighters and villains have destroyed a planet or two when fighting, but the way that Whis so casually rewound time didn’t feel that satisfying. But this isn’t her review. And what does she know anyway? She married me, so clearly her decision-making is questionable at best. (Love you hun.)
The “limited release” strategy by Funimation was a very conservative move. I’m honestly not surprised that the release was extended in some theaters. The figures floating around say the film brought in around $8 million in the US. That places it near the bottom of the top ten highest-grossing anime films to date, but when compared to any of the Pokémon movies it doesn’t quite match up. However, it is still impressive when you take into account the relatively small number of theaters that screened the film.
What did you think? Was it a light-hearted dip into the nostalgia pool that was easily forgotten? Did it reignite that love for the Z fighters that you had long ago? Or are you new to the genre and cultivating your new-found passion for animated martial arts (and face punching)?
Tell us! We want to know!
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You know that feeling when you finish watching the first episode of a series on Netflix and you’re like, “Welp, there goes the next 6 hours of my life. I’ll see the rest of you humans later.”
Honestly, how did we ever procrastinate before Netflix?
I’m referring to a series titled The Seven Deadly Sins, of which Netflix recently acquired the exclusive streaming rights. I feel like the distribution of Knights of Sidonia worked out pretty well, so I’m glad to see them continuing the trend by picking up another anime title. I hope to see the company continue to support and distribute anime series in the future. This manga adaptation is produced by the Aniplex subsidiary A-1 Pictures Inc., the same studio that brought us Fairy Tail and Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic. That should give you an idea of the animation style and feel you can expect.
The series takes place in a time before the magical and non-magical works had been separated. It’s a time of magical warriors and holy knights and vile demons. A good starting point, right?
Our unlikely heroes are a now disbanded team of ex-knights know as, you’ll never guess, the Seven Deadly Sins. Okay, I’ll start by saying get the Fullmetal Alchemist sins out of your head immediately. Yes, there is a sin of Wrath, Envy, etc. Not similar in any way. Erase all memory of the homunculi from your mind. There, now that that’s out of the way, you can enjoy the series for what it is. It’s a tale of good versus evil, of justice versus tyranny, of order versus chaos. And it’s excellent.
The characters are well-developed, and you really begin to empathize with them. Each one has a compelling back story and brings a unique flavor to the table. The point being that in the medieval / knights / magic fantasy genre, it’s all too easy to fall back on clichés and under-developed character molds that leave you uninterested in the story. It’s so refreshing to get a genuine, character driven story that gives you “the feelz”. Honestly, I was ready to pick up a sword and take on the entire Order of Holy Knights for Princess Elizabeth. I did, actually. Granted it was a cosplay sword my wife left by the couch.
I really am an adult, I promise.
While that might sound like an anime geared for the younger audience, the adult language and tasteful sprinkling of adult content let you know it has the more mature viewers tastes at heart. They don’t skimp on the blood either, which always makes me smile.
And to those who don’t like subtitles, you’ll be happy to hear that it is streaming in an English dub as well. In fact, it’s a pretty good one too.
All 24 episodes are streaming now on Netflix. So go add it to your friend’s or parent’s Netflix queue that you’re currently using. It’s okay, we won’t judge you (out loud).
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Geek News Network interviews Yuu Asakawa at Taiyou Con 2016. Yuu Asakawa is a voice actress most known for Crypton Future Media’s Vocaloid, Megurine Luka. She has also played the part of numerous anime characters from Akame ga Kil, Love Hina and much more. She discusses her experience at Taiyou and finding new ways to contribute to the community.
Director of Filmography: Chris Campbell
Reporter: Jory Blaine
Camera Operator: Paul Ling
Video Edit: Paul Ling
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There are a few shows that have the effect on us that, when we finish, there’s a void. Something that the show or movie was so remarkable at, that it takes a piece of us as we sit at blank credits rolling just to process everything. Naruto, Clannad, Your Lie in April, and Your Name, are but a few examples of this phenomenon. The writing, themes, and other factors of the shows are what capture our hearts and minds as they take us through wild rides of emotion all throughout their running. Koe no Katachi is no exception and it is a show that earns its spot among famous titles such as these.
Plot:
The show revolves around Shouya Ishida, a young man beginning in 6th grade who is the center of attention and of popularity at his middle school. When Shouko Nishimiya joins his class, they are quick to find out that she is deaf and is quickly bombarded with questions and adolescent angst as they attempt to communicate and get to know Shouko. As with many children who are different in middle school, she is quickly the subject to bullying, the main perpetrator being Shouya. Eventually, she leaves the school, and after being called out by his teacher, Shouya is quick to throw his “friends” under the bus. Quickly they turn on him and he is found with the shoe on the other fit, now is the main target of bullying throughout his middle school and even his “friends” turning on him and becoming the main perpetrators. The story then moves forward to high school years where Shouya begins to look for redemption all while battling his own self-guilt, depression, and many other adversities.
Characters:
The characters, for the most part, were extremely well written. They portray the adolescent mind sets very well and are explored with enough depth on the whole. This leads to two different categories, however and one of the only complaints I have about the show. The main characters, Shouya and Shouko, are absolutely fabulously written. It is very easy to align with the characters and they each have their own distinct personalities that aren’t very cookie-cutter. You can visually and emotionally see the characters grow and develop as they move through the story.
All of this does seem like praise, but again, there are gripes. The supporting cast is overall good. However, they lack a little bit of development that the main characters got. Naturally, being supporting characters, they should get less screen time, however, with the movie being around 2 hrs and 15 minutes, more time could have been spent expanding on them as some of the characters magically come to a resolution or even randomly appear.
Animation:
There is really not much to say. The animation is absolutely top quality. I expect nothing less from Kyoto Animation. They, along with production studios like A1 Pictures, Mad House, Bones, and ufotable, consistently make top notch animation. Koe no Katachi is no exception. The colors and style are amazing and very reflective of the movie itself, animations are clean and crisp, and overall visuals are breathtaking.
Sound:
The voice acting is phenomenal. Miyu Irino (Shouya Ishida) has a very long pedigree that includes being in shows like the Code Geass movies (Akito Hyuuga), Fate/Zero (Kiritsugu Emiya), and Owari no Seraph (Yuuichirou Hyakuya) as well as a plethora of other supporting characters in a very long pedigree.
Similarly, Saori Hayami (Shouko Nishimiya) has a similar, impressive, list of works. Akagami no Shirayuki-hime (Shirayuki), Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae wo Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai (Chiriko Tsurumi), and Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Comedy wa Machigatteiru (Yukino Yukinoshita) among her works. Following both of their successes, they have worked together to make a large number of great shows and passing back and forth being main characters as well as supporting.
The music was very well timed. It was subtle but did a good job at reflecting the mood. Although there weren’t really any tracks that immediately make you start singing them, the overall music was well done. Kensuke Ushio has a very short list of shows which he has worked on, but overall, this is a very positive note he leaves for his career and is a good indication that his works will be much well known in the future.
Overall Enjoyment:
This is where I give more of a personal spin on Koe no Katachi.
It was hands down one of the greatest anime I have ever seen. The visuals, music, and ambiance all match together magically, but more so, was the themes and the issues touched upon the show that would be avoided by many media mediums, including western shows. It is extremely heavy in showing the fallout of bullying, shows very well how depression can effect an adolescents life, as well as touching on teen suicide and how social pressure can affect their minds. It teaches about maturity, parenting, tragedies, bystanders, the list goes on an on. It teaches about life in one the most realistic and intimate ways possible. It carries you on an emotional roller coaster of anger, sadness, laughter, pity. It’s a show that does not know when to stop hitting you with the emotional baseball bat. Koe no Katachi was simply a magical experience.
Overall, it’s an absolutely amazing show and I recommend it to anyone. In terms of enjoyment and meaning, it takes the top spot on my own list of favorite anime of all time, this does include my love for Fate/Zero, Your Name, and Your Lie in April. It is a show that everyone can relate on all ends of the spectrum and that you can simply get lost in the story and shear quality of the movie. It is a movie that should not be missed and be seen as soon as possible.
After a limited theatrical release worldwide, the movie can be imported from Japan as a Blu-Ray release has been put out. No date has been decided for a US release.
Synopsis: When a deaf girl, Shouko Nishimiya, moves to a new school, she is bullied by a boy, Shouya Ishida, to where she leaves. Tables turn as Shouya becomes bullied, with old friends turning their back on him. Shouya must come to deal with the past and attempt to recompense what he had done.
Directors: Naoko Yamada
Writers: Reiko Yoshida (Screenplay), Yoshitoki Ooima (Original Creator)
Starring: Miyu Irino, Saori Hayami
Runtime: 2hrs. 10 min.
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