Hi-Sci-Fi

This image was uploaded with the post Oshii’s “Sky Crawlers” to Premier.

by Irma Arkus

The Sky Crawlers, Mamoru Oshii’s latest film production, will premier on Dec. 12th in New York.

Based on Hiroki Mori’s novel series, the animated film was released in Japan in August of 2008, followed by appearance at 65th Venice Film Festival, where it won the Future Film Digital Award.

Thus far, the reviews from the festival circuit have been excellent.

The story of The Sky Crawlers involves some of the best motifs of science fiction, as it depicts a civilisation that has abolished physical conflict and war. Instead, to provide a psychological release for humanity’s violent tendencies, concept of corporatized faux conflict is provided in the form of gladiator matches involving teens flying sophisticated, yet nostalgic war planes, the genetically engineered Kildren.

Kildren, or Kirudore, are adolescents who do not age, until that time when they are shot down, dying for the sake of entertainment. Worst is, that many of them have no memories, no origins, and the mystery of their incepeption fuels the story.

One kirudore, Yûichi, arrives to the base, and has superior fighting skills, yet he has no memories of past. Will he reveal the secrets of the kildren?

Oshii’s film promises beautiful and sophisticated animation, in both 2D and 3D, and a kind of pastiche between Top Gun, WWII, and the obligatory anime romance.

Can’t wait to see it!

This image was uploaded with the post Mamoru Oshii: The Sky Crawlers.

by Irma Arkus

The Sky Crawlers, Mamoru Oshii’s latest title, is due to be released on Aug. 2nd. Based on a Hiroshi Mori novel, the story is set in alternate history, and follows a group of young kirudore fighter pilots, Ace Combat Team, embroiled in a conflict.

The interesting part of the conflict is that the pilots reprsent not national interests, but corporate ones. The war is not necessarily a war, but a homocidal championship - a futuristic gladiator sport created for amusement of Television viewers.

The Sky Crawlers was so well received that even though intended as a single novel, quickly developed into a series of novels, garnering a great deal of readership interest. The airplane enthusiast especially will enjoy the film, as Hiroshi’s universe of Sky Crawlers is full of alternate technology.

Wii game is set to be released this summer, while Oshii’s film is to immediately follow. No word yet on North American release date.

So the big J is in Europe for a few months and I finally finished read Roland Kelts wonderful book on the supposed Anime Invasion of the US. However, it is a much more global phenomenom than that. In Barcelona, I slid past the old castle and throne of the old Catalan Royal Family and right next door along the Roman walls in which the castle was built along was a shop with large letters advertising ‘COMICS’ and ‘MANGA’ in bold capital letters. In Cannes, amongst the cafes and bakeries there were anime figurines proudly displayed in the window of a shop selling expensive statues of such shows as Totoro and Magical Lyrical Nanoha. Japan is like way cool over here as well. In the small port town of Citivecchia in Italy, you can even buy the latest Naruto manga volume from newspaper stands on street corners. The more I look the more I see it, and the more I think it is a case of the US, and Canada for that matter, not being invaded, but catching up to the global phenomenom.

by Irma Arkus

There are some things that can never end, and Gundam is apparently just one of those things.

Bandai Entertainment has announced its acquisition of Gundam 00. Directed by Seiji Mizushima, better known for his previous work on Full Metal Alchemist, Gundam 00 animated series will focus on the political and human drama revolving around three major nations in conflict. Set in year 2307, the weapons of choice are, of course, the Gundam.

This image was uploaded with the post The Genderbending of Haruhi Suzumiya.

This is why I love the internet. Take a show that is 14 episodes long, add in a couple of the original light novels and through Kyoto Animations’ genius create a brilliant little epic that still has us begging for more. In fact, that bending has gone into the actual fan reshaping of the series in which is probably the most exciting little bit of fan fiction and doujinshi I have seen a long time. Folks, I give you the Gender Bending of Haruhi Suzumiya. A project in which the entire series is brought to life except with the genders of each of the characters swapped. The result is why I love fandom so damn much. Not to mention the gender swapped Kyon is kind of hot.

I was just talking with one of the publicity heads from Sakuracon, and according to them, they are “well aware” of all the problems in terms of crowd size that has caused a bit of reaction so far through out blog land. Apparently they had no idea cosplay chess as an event was going to be so popular, and programming is going to be examining this issue. In other words, yes they know and are all over it like a fat kid on a Twix PB bar.

The cops also did not just all of a sudden show up and start the martial law that I made a wise crack about in my post about day 2. For those of you who don’t know, they have police on hand as they are required to, they just keep them out of the way until they are needed. I know that seems surprising and shocking, but that is how it works when you got insurance and fire codes to consider. All kidding aside, it still does cause a bit of wonder and wild rumor when the boys and girls in blue start directing the traffic and not the usual conventions staff. Perhaps they should have got Funimation to project the first slide of their powerpoint presentation up on the big screen along with a holographic image of Arthur Dent urging “Don’t Panic.” After all, with all the “crisis” and “no shows” and “lockdown” being brought into the convention lexicon, it would have continued the thematics that they started in the first panel I attended on Friday morning.

In regards to Viz Comics, they were never meant to be there, which should come as no surprise. They don’t seem to be the convention types, which is unfortunate because it would have been a great opportunity to talk with them face to face about their goodies. According to the publicity, they were penciled in, had declined, but the schedule unfortunately made it to press anyway. Viz however, is none too pleased because now it makes them look like they wussed out when they didn’t. Still, fans and press want to talk to them, and when all is said and done, not much of that has changed.

The trailer for the movie is up on youtube in a grainy totally cam stolen edition, so if you want to watch it check it out HERE. The quality is not that good in that there are background noises from the stealer, but you still get a chance to see some of the new animation as well as all the characters making their appearances. REJOICE!

This image was uploaded with the post Sakura Con Cosplay Pics.

This image was uploaded with the post Sakura Con Cosplay Pics.

This image was uploaded with the post Sakura Con Cosplay Pics.

This image was uploaded with the post Sakura Con Cosplay Pics.

This image was uploaded with the post Sakura Con Cosplay Pics.

This image was uploaded with the post Sakura Con Cosplay Pics.

This image was uploaded with the post Sakura Con Cosplay Pics.

I took a few cosplay photos while stumbling around the convention as well as a few snap shots of the beautiful archway that lead over to where the registration area was in the Washington State Convention Center. I also shows you what the place looked like before the chaos of Saturday. So enjoy the tranquility and the costumes.

This image was uploaded with the post Sakura Con Cosplay Pics.

This image was uploaded with the post Sakura Con Day 3.