Now that Gundam UC is happening underway, there’s this one little surprise I uncovered lately.  But I couldn’t seem to put a finger on it….

Does anybody remember this actress?

Recognise the skirts?  The socks?  The Japanese uniform?  And the swinging metallic ball with razor-shapped blades stickin out??!?!

Boy, she was nasty for Uma Thurman’s nemesis!

And 7 years later, here we have her performing as a singing actress for the recent Gundam Unicorn movie and she’s singing its openining theme,

Check out her videos below! (her music video vs the movie trailer)

Source: LA Weekly

Was watching this video clip this morning after tweaking my Twitter settings.

Even though this video was many months old (timestamped on 9th July 2009), I still find it relevant on the fact that Japanese subculture is gaining traction (steadily) in many places around the world, even including Australia and New Zealand. I’ve seen a few around in Auckland for the past few years despite our incredible low ratio of 3000:1.

Have a look and you’ll be amazed. Especially how the otaku specialist said something about otaku gained a bad image after a psychopath killer went on a rampage to kidnap young girls. And then killed and dumped them into a river. The killer was an otaku fanatic…. 0.0.

Also, check out the massive Gundam cosplay video at 5:19!!^o^

Source: Youtube

After watching the previous trailers, I went on to uncover further scoop trailers on the cast and crew behind the production.

After reading this from offical Gundam Unicorn page, I went ahead and found the footage video of the voice cast interviews.

They’re certainly very energetic and enthusiastic young bunch! All looking hyped-up for the movie Spring release!

The Japanese UC Voice Cast Crew – Part 1

The Japanese UC Voice Cast Crew – Part 2

BTW, these footage videos are pretty old BTW, dated like back in August when I was away on Europe holidays. The interviews come into two parts. Each ran for about 5 – 6 minutes long. Why didn’t the author just record the entire thing into one stream… I have no idea. But that’s no longer relevant as long as they’re available to view online.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t come with any subtitles. You might as well enjoy the whole thing while you’re here. Maybe good for those who wish to brush up their Japanese language without the need of subtitles? ;-)

Source: Gundam-Unicorn.net

After reading this post in twitter,  I started to think myself how can the guy in the video really want to take over with the world with this so-called giant robots.   If you’re really planning to take over whole world with giant robots, then start working ahead towards being an actual scientist, rather than be a make-believe giant robot scientist wannabe! :-/

Source: Tonydyson.com, Youtube.com

Saw this ANN.com post some months ago. And I thought I love to share this piece with everyone.

Japan’s latest wacky robot invention that not only can speak and move recently, but can also – I couldn’t believe it when I first saw this – cosplay and sing as well!!

The new HRP-4C robot model was dressed up as this anime character, known as Miku Hatsune, whose apparently a very popular anime character that seems to be taken a widespread appeal among the Japanese media enthusiasts and raise the industry watchdogs for quite some time.

Never heard much about her.  However, according to Wikipedia, she’s a ‘product’ made by music instrument company, Yamaha, that produces synthetic music and singing of various popular songs by actually matching the pitch and vocal range of the actual singers when she  started to open her mouth to sing.  Really impressed.

Check out some of 80’s popular songs sang by her.

Miku Hatsune singing “Heaven is a place on earth” by Belinda Carlise in 1987

Here’s the original version…..

Miku Hatsune singing “Hard to say sorry” by Chicago

And the original video….

^^

Source: ANN.com, Youtube.com, Wikipedia.org

Before I resume, I just want to say Happy New Year 2010 to everyone! And hope everybody had a great Christmas break and safe New Year’s holiday!  Now the new year  with the second decade of 2000 rolling in, lots of goals and objectives everybody wants to aim.

I certainly have some.  One of my goals is to resume blogging again after being away in my Christmas/NY’s holidays. :-)

And today, I want to share something I learned from AltJapan the other day.

You will find that he’s stumbled across some very interesting documents about GCS…

All the early concept artwork of Mospaeda were found! At last!  It’s been so many years since the show finished in the early 80’s.  And here we have an actual copy of the documents sitting in the all-forgotten warehouse (where the original studio used to run), somewhere in Japan.

You can even download the copy of its documents too! Take a look!!!

Source:  AltJapan.com

Well… Not on all facets of them yet anyway.

Just starting with TV program first.

At least that’s what I understand after reading the blog from AltJapan and LightSabre.

Source: Anime Gender Ranking Page (Japan)

The top chart reads out that males’ top 5 anime preferences are

1. K-On!
2. The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi
3. Lucky Star
4. Gundam (all series)
5. Saki

Whilst for girls, theirs are

1. Gundam (All series)
2. K-On!
3. Code Geass
4. Macross Frontier
5. Evangelion / Toradora

After reading the above blogs, there’s a somewhat general consensus that we’re seeing a ‘reversing’ trend of male vs female otakudom.  Males are usually(and always will be) attracted to high-tech items, gadgets, toys, male-leading roles in various animes whilst girls are attracted to several romance, gentle characters (both male and female), and teenage-type dramas in several anime.

Couldn’t reach a final comment to say this is necessarily a good thing or a bad thing….

All I can say is that it’s a different kind of the generation for the youth in this modern day.   Tastes have certainly changed (or rather, evolved) and many people within the anime business community will have to be smart enough to follow where the youth market of the future is heading  to (and capitalize on their changing needs).  It’s bold step for them to engage new types of anime business activity for the youth of both sexes.

Perhaps it’s also another way of breaking down the barrier in gender differences for the first time in history and that both sexes don’t have to feel awkward when exchanging tastes between the two?  Perhaps they’re more open-minded now than they were many years back…

Source: AltJapan, LightSabre

Macross Frontier (MF) are at it again.  Now with their new film that’s just been released a few weeks ago, according to this blog,  it’s come to dazzle the audience with incredibly stunning cutting-edge animation, wide array of VF-fighter jets flying all over the cinematic screens with its impressive air dog-fight sequences and the mesmerizing story-telling elements by none other than Shoji Kawamori, our legendary Macross director, himself.

Lots of character casts were there for the glorious evening. Shoji Kawamori is amongst the crew.

Following this anime fan’s blog, the entire MF gang were there to enlighten the MF-crazed crowd. You can see them performing the PR stage from the beginning to the every end.

What’s interesting of this blog, as you scroll down the pages while skim reading, you are reading the translated script of the individual voice actors (and Shoji Kawamori) who presented their speeches in front of large audience.  This way, you get the rough sense of what they were truly saying while the premier was going on.

It’s sure was a major hit for the crowd during that day!

As you slowly get to know the main voice actors of MF representing the film, there’s one particular (how should I say) star of the show really wowed the audience! And it’s this person’s cosplay as Ranka Lee.

And… IT’S NOT A GIRL!

I just dropped myself dead on the floor laughing hard out how hilarious this turns out to be!!! :)

Apparently, this ‘gentleman’ is a Japanese kickboxer who’s well known in the boxing community, hence he’s pretty butch.  And he likes anime too.  One of his obvious favourite category in anime is the cosplay.   Looking at the above pictures, he’s certainly knows how to get in touch with his feminine side so acutely… :)  (He’s also got his own personal blog, if you’re keen to find more about his secondary life as an otaku)

So there you have it folks.  The MF movie premier for ya!

Source:  Networkedblogs.com, Gigazine.net

Gundam Statue in Odaiba Park before being dismantled in early September this year

Reading a couple of anime feeds from ANN.com, I can see that several bloggers posted a lot on how Gundam won one of the best awards in Japan in the category of art and design.

For the team of Green Tokyo Gundam, they sure certainly deserve a great praise by the public.  A very honourable praise.  Good on them for their outstanding achievement!!   With so many Gundam bloggers online, it’s difficult to see how such a ‘recreational’ figure (why I call it recreational it’s because technically it was part of Odaiba parks’ recreational activities) that’s been crafted to such extraordinary lengths.

And it won’t be long before Tetsujin 28 statue will have its turn to get nabbed for award nominations, since its unveil in early September October.

Not sure about its design potential though.  Maybe more comic potential?

Source: ANN.com, Youtube.com

Just learned a new Japanese phrase over the past week.

Jitsubutsudai gandamu.

Or life-sized gundam in English.  That’s one phrase I’ll definitely want to remember if I ever travel to Japan in the future.

At least it’s a start.  Along with 59 other cool phrases to go, if you read this interesting post by a Japanese online publisher, who annually conducts a survey of best Japanese phrases used in Japan’s mass media.  There will be some judging panel that will nominate the 10 best phrases used in 2009.  Hopefully, they’re in turn will become as catchphrases for masses.

I’m pinning high hopes that jitsubutsudai gandamu will be amongst the nominations! It’s paramount for the people wanting to appreciate the true life of an otaku, should they ever learn a lot of things in Japan.  Otherwise, how would they know such a real-life 18 metre Gundam actually exists (before Gundam Projects Team decided to remove them from premises) so they set foot in Japan to travel or live?

Source: PinkTentacle.com