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| Anime conventions have truly provided a grand venue for J-rock groups to increase their popularity. For some reason, rock fans and anime fans seem to overlap, and cons are an opportunity to test American waters while not having to worry about how to drum up a crowd. For those of us who are not rock fans however, the irrelevance of such bands at cons is rather apparent. I have often wondered why it seems one is more likely to encounter a rock group an such an event than an actual anime singer. Perhaps it is a sign of the lack of notoriety of anime music (Michael's failed Anime Name that Tune panel at ANEXT would lead one to believe so)? Maybe because it's easier to find a wider fanbase with a genre already well-established in the states. Still, I'm of the opinion that if cons aren't going to have anime singers anyway, there are plenty of pop talents out there who are equally if not more connected to anime than their rock equivalents. Goodness knows when J-pop singers normally come to the US, they do something rock singers don't: change their styles to "match" American taste. So much for matching; truth be told, I think most J-pop singers get no attention upon their stateside album releases. Just looking at pop singers whose songs have been used for anime and video game, these talents would be a welcome addition to an Otakon-level event:
Hamasaki Ayumi (Inuyasha, Thousand Arms)
w-inds. (REBORN!, Blue Dragon)
LEAD (REBORN!)
Question? (Naruto)
NEWS (One Piece)
DBSK (One Piece)
Tegomasu (Lov-Com)
Hey! Say! JUMP (then 7) (Lov-Com)
...to name a few. Even a good singer/VA would be good. *roots for Miyano Mamoru*
***
Today's password is..."mingle".
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| I finally finished SRWK (it was released in March). When I was playing MX at Riva's last week, Michael S. commented, "You're still playing that?" It reminded me of Alex D.'s words two years ago in response to Alpha 3: "You're always playing that." Truthfully, I get self-conscious about things like that. It's one of the reasons I have trouble finishing books. I don't want people to see me and say, "You're still reading that?"
SRW is a long-running series of 18 years. Its quality was enough to draw in a non-mech fan like me. I suppose what really first alerted me to the series was when a person I worked on the SFC SMR beat-'em-up with asked me to translate Alpha Gaiden (A translation was completed by AGTP last Christmas. I'm not sure if any of my work was used as I had to quit work on the project in 2003. I was able to translate an SFC RPG called Rejoice for them last year, but I believe it got stuck on their end in the localization phase). So far, these are the games I have beaten:
Alpha Gaiden (PSX)
D (GBA)
Original Generation 2 (GBA)
Alpha 3 (PS2)
J (GBA)
W (NDS)
A Portable (PSP)
K (NDS)
These are the games I possess but have yet to beat:
Gaiden Masoukishin Lord of Elemental (SFC)
Complete Box (PSX)
F (Saturn)
Alpha (PS)
Original Generation (GBA)
IMPACT (PS2)
MX (PS2)
Z (PS2)
When I like a series, I frequently attempt to play all its titles. There was a time when people would ask what I was playing on the GBA, and it would normally be one of the Craft Sword games. A similar situation occurred with the Shining Force and Phantasy Star proper series (though many remain unbeaten). What keeps me from beating a lot of the SRW games is that I haven't had my PS2 since the beginning of 2007. That means I have to use other people's PS2s. Too, I've gotten to where I prioritize hanging out over staying at home, which makes it hard to beat console games.
***
Today's password is..."kikubari".
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| Upon seeing SRW, many people have asked, "What Gundam is that?" Currently, UNIQLO offers several anime-themed shopping bags. A cashier said there was a Gundam bag. I later discovered she was referring to Yatterman. I realize the mech genre is a stigmatized one. A "well thought-out" review of a Gundam game by X-Play asked, "How many Gundams can you Gundam?" I find that though many dislike the genre, few have watched anything in it. A girl commented, "That wasn't so bad. I thought it was going to be all about robots." after TUAC previewed 08th MS Team. True, some robot series are all hotblood, no plot (often "super robot" series are guilty of this). Still, I think a good series can feature robots and still satisfy someone looking for a good drama (generally, a "real robot" series).
What makes a Gundam? It is the name of the Bandai franchise that contains the titular robot. That means that no robot outside of that franchise is a Gundam. It can be said that there are two types of robots in Gundam: mobile suits (humanoid) and mobile armors (non-humanoid). Gundams are generally the strongest within a series and number very few.
How can you identify a Gundam? I'm no mech expert, let me tell you. If you're interested in learning more about anime robots, please visit mahq.net. People who know more about Gundam than I will generally point out the tell-tale V-fin in the "eyebrow" area of a Gundam's face. Many also have hexagonal, yellow eyes and a samurai-like helmet. What's problematic is that not all Gundams match that description.
Ultimately, what do you call an anime robot? What's wrong with just saying "robot"? "Unit" works as well. Either sounds better than calling Gou Shougun a Gundam.
***
Today's password is..."NRB".
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| I came to the decision that it made more sense to u/g my plan than to spend money on extra minutes and texts at the end of the month. Looking at my outbox though, I realize I've sent 92 texts in the entire time I've had my cell (since last July). Truly, then, I've come to wonder if getting a 1000-text package (the lowest one) was worthwhile. Nonetheless, I have fewer than 200 minutes left this month, so I guess I'll try using texts more. I generally find he process slow and clumsy, but I've got to use all 1000 by the end of the month... *** Today's password is..."A boy looks like a girl/And a girl looks like a pony". | | |
| If I had a hammer... I'd hammer out danger I'd hammer out a warning I'd hammer out love between my brother and my sisters Personally, I like to avoid getting hurt or embarassed. If there's a situation that will cause me to feel either, I try to circumvent it entirely. This can be a dangerous practice. If there is an issue, ignoring it doesn't make it go away. That's normally the stance I take in interpersonal relations. In other matters, however, it can prove very difficult. I think I have finally dealt with issues of returning things to the proper entities. It was really a matter of facing things and heeding warnings. For the things that have yet to be returned; Bonnifred: Your book is at Riva's. Vernon: Your book is at Riva's, along with an early present. *** Today's password is..."Lambo doesn't know why." | | |
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