Author: admin

Amish Otaku, Convention Coverage, Features

Convention Coverage: Katsucon 13

In case you didn’t know, Katsucon 13 occurred on Presidents Day weekend (February 16–18, 2007). Katsucon, which has consistently been one of the largest US anime conventions for the past several years and has been located in the general DC area for most of the last decade, topped over 7,100 attendees. The convention staff was, once again, more than up to the task of making sure all of those present had a great time.

The Katsucon senior staff is large and very diverse, with people from all over pitching in to help ensure the convention goes off without a hitch. One of the senior members of this year’s con was Jim Miller. Miller has been involved with Katsucon for several years, starting as a volunteer with con security and moving up through the logistics department, which he later oversaw. Now, as vice-con chair, Miller runs “Katsucon Command Central,” the main hub that works to ensure that the convention runs smoothly. Keeping in mind what a large and sometimes difficult job it is to run an anime convention, why does Miller do it? Continue reading “Convention Coverage: Katsucon 13”

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Amish Otaku, Comics, Vertigo

Y: The Last Man

 
 

Although it has been many years since I could actually consider myself a fan or avid reader of comic books, there have recently been released a number of books that have attracted my attention and drawn me back into the world of comics. One of the most original and engrossing storylines was created by Brian K. Vaughn, writer, and Pia Guerra, penciler. Their brainchild, Y: The Last Man, is an ongoing series that was first released in comic book format in 2002 and which is currently available in collected book format.

Y tells the story of an ordinary—and unemployed—young man with a flare for escape artistry (Yorick) and his male capuchin monkey companion (Ampersand), whom Yorick is training to be a helper monkey. As the story begins, a phone conversation between Yorick in New York and his girlfriend, Beth, who is vacationing/studying in Australia, is cut short as all of the human males around the world—as well as most, if not all, males of any other species—suddenly and instantaneously collapse and die, most bleeding from all of their orifices. Both Yorick and Ampersand miraculously survive the “gendercide” and begin their journey to find Beth and, hopefully, some answers. As one might guess, the “Y” refers to the y chromosome that is necessary to produce a male during pregnancy (xx=female; xy=male). Continue reading “Y: The Last Man”

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Amish Otaku, Convention Coverage, Features

Convention Coverage: Con-going Hints

If you have never been to an anime convention before and you’ve decided that you want to see what it’s all about, here are some helpful hints about how to make the most of your con-going experience. If you want to cosplay, start on your costume as early as possible. A good costume is the best way to meet people at a convention, as everyone … Continue reading Convention Coverage: Con-going Hints

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ADV, Amish Otaku, Anime, Gonzo

Red Garden: Gantz Dresses Down

 
 

Powerful women, or women in power, have long been a taboo fetish in mildly repressive societies—particularly societies where women are traditionally viewed as meek or timid. Considering the Yamato Nadesico (the ideal Japanese woman) fits this description to a T, it shouldn’t be a surprise that anime starring or revolving around girls who, implicitly or explicitly, challenge gender norms are so popular.

Such anime, however, generally falls into one of two categories: the service-driven, and the story-driven. Although both challenge gendered constructions of power, the service-driven show gives the impression that the main reason for female preeminence is to provide plenty of opportunity for fanservice. The story-driven shows tend not to challenge the gender power structure as much, but also create more believable circumstances for an inversion of gender norms (without turning their female cast into purely sexual objects). Continue reading “Red Garden: Gantz Dresses Down”

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Amish Otaku, Anime, Geneon

Paradise Kiss: A Look into the World of Fashion

 
 

Paradise Kiss is one of the many examples of the quick turnaround time between the original Japanese airing of an anime and its US release, which has become common for the anime industry of late. Originally airing in October 2005, Paradise Kiss—or ParaKiss, as it is frequently shortened to—is a comedic look at the fashion industry in Japan from the perspective of four fashion school students who form the label from which this anime takes its name.

None of those students are the point-of-view character for the show, however, with that part being taken by Yukari Hayasaka, a student from a high-ranking high school, who is preparing for her college exams. Yukari, who is very beautiful yet very unfriendly, is approached by the members of ParaKiss, who want to use her as the model for the clothing they design. While ambivalent at first, Yukari is drawn into the lives of those four designers, which are much different than her own. Continue reading “Paradise Kiss: A Look into the World of Fashion”

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Amish Otaku, Anime

Bartender:. . . Take a Shot!

 
 

So the premise sounds like somebody got tired of all those “anime-watching drinking games” that people came up with, and decided to make a show that’s actually designed to work with them.

Or a liquor company funded the project.

Or both.

Presented in a series of vignettes, Bartender follows the various people who end up coming to a very esoteric bar in an urban district of Japan famous for its clubs and bars. It’s hidden away in a dark alley and has only a single proprietor/bartender. Continue reading “Bartender:. . . Take a Shot!”

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Amish Otaku, Nintendo, Video Games, Wii

Wario Ware: Smooth Moves

 

Wario Ware: Smooth Moves continues in the short but noble tradition of micro-games on the Nintendo Wii. Aside from the Wii remote, it plays nearly identical to the other titles in the Wario Ware series.

For those of you unfamiliar, you are given a series of micro-games to play through. If you complete enough of them more games open up for you to play. You have four lives to get through each level leading up to a boss stage, which is typically a micro-game of a longer nature. Continue reading “Wario Ware: Smooth Moves”

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Amish Otaku, DS, Nintendo, Video Games

Final Fantasy III: Final What?

 

Very rarely does a newly released game—or anything for that matter—come out and remind me of my childhood. Final Fantasy III D.S. does, however, meet my requirements for a full-on extravaganza of nostalgic delight. I know this is a much older title in its development in storyline and game style, but it was completely remade with the options of today and still retained its classic approach with more polished outcome. I am reminded of “the old days,” when I sat for hours, glued to a fantasy world brought to life with brilliant display.

Keeping it real with such aspects as crystals, airships, black-robed black mages and white mages, extremely hard to find elixirs and an overabundance of weapons that are lesser in point value than the one you acquired hours ago during game play. But I like these things and have grown biased to a classic rpg style that the original Final Fantasy’s revolutionized. Continue reading “Final Fantasy III: Final What?”

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Amish Otaku, Video Games, Xbox 360

Lost Planet: Extreme Condition

Lost Planet comes to us from the creator of Mega Man and Phoenix Wright, Keiji Inafune. With such a diverse pedigree it can’t help but be a fun gameplay experience. The graphics shine on the Xbox 360 as they should, with absolutely no slowdown even with uncountable enemies on the screen.

The action of the game takes place throughout the frozen world of E.D.N. III, a world in the midst of colonization in the future. No word is given on why humanity felt the need to abandon their original home, but their determination to colonize is firm, motivated in no small part by the newfound thermal energy within the bodies of the planet’s only inhabitants, the insectile Akrid. You play the role of Wayne, an amnesiac who can only remember two things: his name and the death of his father at the hands of the giant Akrid Green Eye. Continue reading “Lost Planet: Extreme Condition”

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Amish Otaku, Features, Kosher Kuts, Nintendo, SNES, Video Games

Kosher Kuts: Super Mario RPG

When I was eleven, I really did not like RPGs. Chrono Trigger’s plotline was too confusing and Final Fantasy seemed too complicated. I just couldn’t wrap my head around the genre. A glimmer of hope resurfaced when I heard about a new RPG starring Mario. Not only Mario, but also a few new characters were present … and Bowser was a playable character? I read about it in Nintendo Power, rented it at Blockbuster, and brought it home soon after returning the rental. Long after I have sold many other Super Nintendo games and moved on to other systems, Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars has remained ingrained in my memory. With the recent introduction of the Wii and its Virtual Console line-up, this game is now available to a whole new generation of RPG fans. Does this eleven-year-old RPG withstand the test of time? Continue reading “Kosher Kuts: Super Mario RPG”

Joshua Goldberg