We pick interesting products and trends for you!
Ramen and a Half was video recorded before a live convention audience for their podcast as they talked about what FanimeCon is all about and discussed a serious topic on how some Cosplayers can be uncomfortably handled by costume admirers and sometimes get perverse images taken of them without one’s consent – then get posted on the internet.
Where is the Retrenders team going to be at this Memorial Day Weekend? We’ll be at FanimeCon from May 24-27 taking place at the San Jose Convention Center in San Jose, CA.
For more info, go to: fanime.com.
All time manga and anime favorite Sailor Moon returns for it’s 20th anniversary this year. Naoko Takeuchi & Kodansha Comics have announced the simultaneous worldwide release this Summer 2013 and Momorio Clover Z will provide the theme song. In light of the celebration, here’s some cool Sailor Moon makeovers by artist Abraham Cruz.
This kid likes to put himself into pictures with other superheroes and anime characters. It’s pretty neat. Illustrations by 蓋老師.
Captain Harlock is back from TOEI Animation and will be released this Autumn 2013. The animation will be directed by Shin Aramaki. Here’s the teaser trailer:
Image via Blastr.com
What’s trending for Japanese schoolgirls in Japan lately? Photographing anime-inspired fighting moves and it looks pretty awesome.
Image via Blastr.com
In the past Incubot Productions have made some really cool USB flash drives with iconic Japanese anime robots like Voltron and Gigantor. Now Incubot wants to put out this cool legendary anime robot – Grendizer 4GB USB flash.
The head and arms have some articulation, the detail on the robot looks amazing, it comes with a USB saucer, and 4GB of solid state flash! What more do you want? Check out their Kickstarter page for more info and details on how to buy this groovy robot.
How does Mercedes Benz launch a new car? Well, Mercedes Benz Japan teams up with famed anime house – Production I.G (Batman Gotham Knights, Halo Legends & Ghost in the Shell) for the launch of the new Mercedes Benz A-Class. This short anime film follows 3 protagonists chasing a ramen food truck in the city.
Okay, I’m hungry for noodles now.
Here’s 2 interpretation of the Marvel’s X-Men Nippon-style. Which is better?
This is the Marvel and Madhouse collaboration which featured 12 episodes. It was a hit and miss, but I’d actually had a fun time watching this series and hey, it’s Madhouse that did this!
Or check this Alex Mitchell version – the Jidaigeki X-Men:
For more info, go to: Alex Mitchell – Jidaigeki X-Men.
Please comment and let me know which is cooler!
Anybody remember the anime Fooly Cooly (FLCL)? I still remember the first time watching it and how I was mesmerized by it – I just couldn’t get enough of it. Japan’s AmiAmi will soon be selling a really cool Canti figure. It’s very pose-able with various points of articulation.
Photo from Sole Collector.com
Very simply put – Reebok meets Ghost in the Shell. Can’t wait for the day when Batman will pair up with Nike or how about Adidas and the Avengers? For more info and release date, go to: Sole Collector – Reebok Insta Pump Fury – Tachikoma.
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Since the Reebok Insta Pump Fury x Ghost in the Shell is not out yet, why not get these limited release sneakers – the Reebok Insta Pump Fury x Spider-Man kicks?
You can pick up a pair @ Mita Sneakers Japan and it’ll set your wallet back around $237.00USD. How come Asia gets all these cool kicks?
Fans of the anime smash hit One Piece will have a cool graphic tee line-up from BAPE. Starting June 9, at BAPE NYC and on their online store, they will be selling 5 different tees in this collection: Zoro Tee, Luffy Tee, Zoro Flag Mark Tee, Chopper Tee, & the Star Silhouette Tee.
Watch this neat animated short “SubWars” by Sean Soong. Inspired from a mix of anime and Star Wars.
We only ever regret the things we do not do in life. For Takamiya Naho, the sixteen year old heroine of the manga Orange by Takano Ichigo, regrets have plagued her since she started high school. She receives a letter from herself, ten years in the future. Her future self repeatedly wrote in her letters that she has had many regrets in her life and hopes that her sixteen year old self would not make the same mistakes. Naho falls in love with a classmate named Naruse Kakeru in the present, but in the future he is no longer alive. The future Naho asks her past self to watch over him and to always treasure loved ones or we will end up hating ourselves for the rest of our lives.
This manga is about love, regrets, and if given a second chance to change our past mistakes, would we ever take that chance? Fate can be cruel but only we can change it.
— Contributed by Karen Jang
This ain’t for cosplayers but for the street & urban wear cool people.
Bandai recently announced it’s opening Strict G stores around Japan which sells men’s apparel inspired by the Gundam world. Basically Bandai is getting into the wacky and tough streetwear business. At least they will be getting it right by first doing some collabs with top urban wear companies like Alpha and Swans.
I want to be in Kaneda’s biker gang!
Akira is one of the most iconic anime films and has inspired many cosplayers and fans building Shotaro Kaneda’s motorcycle. But this new bike has Akira’s creator Katshuhiro Otomo’s blessings. From his hometown of Fukuoka, Japan – Mr. Tejima built Kaneda’s famous futuristic super bike.
Quick stats: The bike took Mr. Tejima 7 years to build and cost him around $121,000USD.
Since the advent of YouTube, everybody and their mom cuts and splices their own fan/tribute music videos to their favorite anime or cult TV show. Here’s a good one using Frou Frou’s single “Must Be Dreaming.”
Custom Hikari Gunship by Mark Stafford.
This custom Lego Hikari Gunship looks really cool. Check out custom toy builder Mark Stafford’s Flickr site @ Lego Nabii.
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Major Kusanagi & her Tachikoma tank by Cole Blaq.
Okay, this is really cool. If you are into anime and a fan of “Ghost in the Shell” – check out these custom built Lego toys – Major Kusanagi and her Tachikoma tank. These custom Lego builds are by Cole Blaq. Check out more pics, other custom builds, and details @ Cole Blaq’s Flickr and his blog @ Cole Blaq.
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