July 21, 2013
RWBY Episode 1
Over the course of the last several months, four computer animated shorts have been released, each focusing on an "eponymous" character from an upcoming animation series called RWBY.
The first two were superb and used color and music to great stylistic effect. The second was less stylish but had a good deal of action and a voice actress whose purr was husky enough to pull a dogsled. The third had a heroine who was not particularly likeable and its pacing was uneven, but it was technically impressive (rather too much so...it had a tendency to break You Tube) with very well imagined action sequences and a fine score. These trailers have generated much anticipation for the series...and now that series is here...
In contrast to the first two trailers, which had a very ephemeral, almost European atmosphere, the first episode has a more or less conventional Japanese Shonen comic feel to it.
It seems that "Red" from the first trailer is going to be our lead.
Ruby Rose is a student at a college that specializes in training monster hunters. She's a typical shonen heroine, idealistic, enthusiastic to the point of being a goofball, and a very adept at the utilization of her .50 caliber, bolt action, magazine fed, fully articulated, rocket assisted, collapsable scythe. Her immediate goal is to graduate college and do her graduate work at Beacon University, which is required to become a huntress. Huntsmen and Huntresses are the elite monster hunters of this rather anachronistic world.
How anachronistic is it you may ask? Well, for one thing, they presumably have monsters. Additionally, they have magic (which is facilitated by a McGuffin called "dust"), machine guns, cities that look like a cross between 1930's Chicago and Vienna, airships, a broken moon, advanced tablet computer devices and villains who wear derby hats....
Meet Roman Torchwick. He is a well known criminal who has decided to rob a dust, dry-goods, jewelry, magazine and music store. Unfortunately for him, Ruby happens to be loitering in the magazine section. While Torchwick relieves the owner of his dust, an ill conceived bit of initiative by one of Mr. Torchwicks henchmen makes Ms. Rose aware of their shenanigans and fisticuffs ensue. Things proceed to escalate rather quickly after that, to swordplay to gunfire and eventually all sorts of magical 'splodies.
Mr. Torchwick has formidable resources at his disposal and (despite the intervention of a professional huntress on our heroines behalf) he makes good his escape.
Afterwards, she is questioned by the huntress, handed off to the huntres's supervisor and we learn that Ruby Rose is not just a formidable fighter, she collects huntress/ hunter autographs, is hyperactive to the point of being something of a spaz and she can eat a pile of of chocolate chip cookies as big as her head.
Well, I liked it.
It's not the least bit original at this point, but it's visually interesting, seems to have a decent story and Ruby Rose is a thoroughly likeable character. The voice acting is above average. The pacing of this episode was excellent. I was surprised to find it was only 12 minute long. They provided enough exposition and character development for a full thirty minute pilot in that time. The music, as can be expected from the trailers is superb. Someone named Jeff Williams delivers a fine BGM that complements the fight scenes choreography nicely. The new theme song is quite catchy too.
The computer art is odd and occasionally distracting, but it can be surprisingly expressive. It certainly lends itself to fluid motion.
The 12 minute webisodes air every Thursday at 7pm (5pm for those who subscribe).
This show is pretty neat...but it is the harbinger of something neater still
more...
Over the course of the last several months, four computer animated shorts have been released, each focusing on an "eponymous" character from an upcoming animation series called RWBY.
The first two were superb and used color and music to great stylistic effect. The second was less stylish but had a good deal of action and a voice actress whose purr was husky enough to pull a dogsled. The third had a heroine who was not particularly likeable and its pacing was uneven, but it was technically impressive (rather too much so...it had a tendency to break You Tube) with very well imagined action sequences and a fine score. These trailers have generated much anticipation for the series...and now that series is here...
In contrast to the first two trailers, which had a very ephemeral, almost European atmosphere, the first episode has a more or less conventional Japanese Shonen comic feel to it.
It seems that "Red" from the first trailer is going to be our lead.
Ruby Rose is a student at a college that specializes in training monster hunters. She's a typical shonen heroine, idealistic, enthusiastic to the point of being a goofball, and a very adept at the utilization of her .50 caliber, bolt action, magazine fed, fully articulated, rocket assisted, collapsable scythe. Her immediate goal is to graduate college and do her graduate work at Beacon University, which is required to become a huntress. Huntsmen and Huntresses are the elite monster hunters of this rather anachronistic world.
How anachronistic is it you may ask? Well, for one thing, they presumably have monsters. Additionally, they have magic (which is facilitated by a McGuffin called "dust"), machine guns, cities that look like a cross between 1930's Chicago and Vienna, airships, a broken moon, advanced tablet computer devices and villains who wear derby hats....
Meet Roman Torchwick. He is a well known criminal who has decided to rob a dust, dry-goods, jewelry, magazine and music store. Unfortunately for him, Ruby happens to be loitering in the magazine section. While Torchwick relieves the owner of his dust, an ill conceived bit of initiative by one of Mr. Torchwicks henchmen makes Ms. Rose aware of their shenanigans and fisticuffs ensue. Things proceed to escalate rather quickly after that, to swordplay to gunfire and eventually all sorts of magical 'splodies.
Mr. Torchwick has formidable resources at his disposal and (despite the intervention of a professional huntress on our heroines behalf) he makes good his escape.
Afterwards, she is questioned by the huntress, handed off to the huntres's supervisor and we learn that Ruby Rose is not just a formidable fighter, she collects huntress/ hunter autographs, is hyperactive to the point of being something of a spaz and she can eat a pile of of chocolate chip cookies as big as her head.
"...and not a single cookie lived to tell the tale."
Upon establishing these important facts she is scolded, given a unique opportunity, which she decides to take. This results in Ruby reuniting with her obnoxiously loud older sister as the episode ends... Oh dear God...Did that woman just say her name was...Gladys Goodwitch?" "Yeah sis...I'm afraid she did."
As an aside, there is some indication from the closing credits that
this will not be quite the female sentai team people were expecting.
There is a fairly large mixed gender cast and the fellow we currently
know only as "Vomit Boy" features prominently. Well, I liked it.
It's not the least bit original at this point, but it's visually interesting, seems to have a decent story and Ruby Rose is a thoroughly likeable character. The voice acting is above average. The pacing of this episode was excellent. I was surprised to find it was only 12 minute long. They provided enough exposition and character development for a full thirty minute pilot in that time. The music, as can be expected from the trailers is superb. Someone named Jeff Williams delivers a fine BGM that complements the fight scenes choreography nicely. The new theme song is quite catchy too.
The computer art is odd and occasionally distracting, but it can be surprisingly expressive. It certainly lends itself to fluid motion.
The 12 minute webisodes air every Thursday at 7pm (5pm for those who subscribe).
This show is pretty neat...but it is the harbinger of something neater still
more...
Posted by: The Brickmuppet at
01:23 AM
| Comments (5)
| Add Comment
Post contains 941 words, total size 7 kb.
July 17, 2013
Dowsing for Girls
Here we have 4 girls looking for a girl.
Now, being girls, they presumably know all about girls and how to find them, so it's with considerable interest that I note that in addition to he usual methods involving optical detection they have broken out the dowsing rods. I'd never considered dowsing as a means to meet the ladies....I also note that I'm single. Correlation does not indicate causation but this may warrant further study.
From episode 2 of the quirky and pleasant Stella Women's Academy, High School Division Class C3...which as a title is rather a mouthful.
Now, being girls, they presumably know all about girls and how to find them, so it's with considerable interest that I note that in addition to he usual methods involving optical detection they have broken out the dowsing rods. I'd never considered dowsing as a means to meet the ladies....I also note that I'm single. Correlation does not indicate causation but this may warrant further study.
Posted by: The Brickmuppet at
09:12 AM
| Comments (1)
| Add Comment
Post contains 101 words, total size 1 kb.
July 05, 2013
Twisting the Knife
Sony has released an informative How-To video walking prospective users through the involved process by which they share games on the new PS4.
Posted by: The Brickmuppet at
06:58 PM
| No Comments
| Add Comment
Post contains 26 words, total size 1 kb.
7 Letters, Selected and Arranged to Maximize Consumer Happiness
DRM Free!
There is more on this happy development here.
...comic book publisher Image Comics announced at its Image Expo convention that it will now sell all of its digital comics as downloadable via its website for both desktop and mobile users, making it the first major U.S. publisher to offer DRM-free digital versions of comics. Readers can even choose the file format they prefer: PDFs, EPUBs, CBRs or CBZs.
There is more on this happy development here.
"No it's true! When you buy E-versions of Image Comics you really really own them and can put them on your flash drive or computer or print them out and put them in a 3 ring binder to get autographed or read when the power goes out or make paper airplanes out of them...or anything!"
Posted by: The Brickmuppet at
04:59 PM
| Comments (5)
| Add Comment
Post contains 134 words, total size 1 kb.
57 seconds
...that will give you a completely erroneous idea of what sort of show Gargantia is.
It will also get you fired, 'cause it's TOTALLY not safe for work....and as for me? Well, I'm going to that special hell for linking to it.
It will also get you fired, 'cause it's TOTALLY not safe for work....and as for me? Well, I'm going to that special hell for linking to it.
Points though, to the young lady that edited it. She not only understands synchronization, but also the importance of brevity.
Posted by: The Brickmuppet at
09:45 AM
| Comments (1)
| Add Comment
Post contains 64 words, total size 1 kb.
June 25, 2013
"Wound"
Attack on Titan continues, and while our heroes don't accomplish much in the way of their goals this episode, an awful lot is happening.
Yeah, things are not going well for our would be giant slayers. At the end of last episode, everything pretty much went to worms and this has a sort of cascade effect, so they just cannot seem to get a break.
Nicely paced with an even better than usual score, episode 12 is an enthralling three ring circus and the show seems to be well and truly back on track.
Yeah, things are not going well for our would be giant slayers. At the end of last episode, everything pretty much went to worms and this has a sort of cascade effect, so they just cannot seem to get a break.
Nicely paced with an even better than usual score, episode 12 is an enthralling three ring circus and the show seems to be well and truly back on track.
Posted by: The Brickmuppet at
07:19 PM
| No Comments
| Add Comment
Post contains 96 words, total size 2 kb.
June 23, 2013
Well...THAT Was Unexpected
...and so was all that other stuff...
Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet is not quite the show we thought it was, it's in no way the show we thought it had become in episode 9, and given the amazing (yet perfectly convincing) surprises and misdirections the writer has thrown at us though the whole series, I'm unprepared at this point to predict what kind of show it will turn out to be. However, It is looking really, really good right now. My only quibble with this episode is that is that IGOTTAWAITAWHOLEWEEK4THENEXTONE!
They could still screw it up, but right now It looks like Madoka was no fluke.
"...like MELTY of all people demonstrating such intrepidity and being so pivotal to the plot."
Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet is not quite the show we thought it was, it's in no way the show we thought it had become in episode 9, and given the amazing (yet perfectly convincing) surprises and misdirections the writer has thrown at us though the whole series, I'm unprepared at this point to predict what kind of show it will turn out to be. However, It is looking really, really good right now. My only quibble with this episode is that is that IGOTTAWAITAWHOLEWEEK4THENEXTONE!
They could still screw it up, but right now It looks like Madoka was no fluke.
Posted by: The Brickmuppet at
03:46 PM
| No Comments
| Add Comment
Post contains 126 words, total size 1 kb.
June 19, 2013
Never Trust ANYONE Who Doesn't Believe in Money
This always bothered me about Star Trek...the whole "We have no money, we....ummm....uh....stuff" thing was always put out there but handwaived..
Of course there are all sorts of problems with this notion as it means that whoever is in charge decides what and who has value....and doesn't. This may appeal to a certain type of control freak, academic or fanatic, but it is unlikely to work out for those not in favor with those who take it upon themselves to define value.
This is explored extensively in episode 11 of Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet which holds forth in part on how NOT to set up ones economy and society.
more...
Of course there are all sorts of problems with this notion as it means that whoever is in charge decides what and who has value....and doesn't. This may appeal to a certain type of control freak, academic or fanatic, but it is unlikely to work out for those not in favor with those who take it upon themselves to define value.
This is explored extensively in episode 11 of Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet which holds forth in part on how NOT to set up ones economy and society.
In Gargantia, the fanatical new-age commies parroting received wisdom from their "betters" are the BAD GUYS....I LOVE this show!
more...
Posted by: The Brickmuppet at
07:15 PM
| Comments (3)
| Add Comment
Post contains 350 words, total size 3 kb.
The Best Song In the History of Everything
Is not available on iTunes or Amazon, it long predates CDs and of course all vinyl containing it was ordered destroyed by Nixon's FDA so my quest to add this to my MP3 queue is still unfulfilled.
Via Moe Lane who uses it to one-up Geraghty's lame Ninja Turtle reference.
Via Moe Lane who uses it to one-up Geraghty's lame Ninja Turtle reference.
Posted by: The Brickmuppet at
03:20 PM
| Comments (1)
| Add Comment
Post contains 58 words, total size 1 kb.
June 17, 2013
Haiyore Nyarko-san Wanker
I dunno WHAT the "W" stands fore but I'm stikkin' with my theory. The original series was not exactly good, but it mildly amusing and occasionally clever. Every episode made me at least chuckle once.
This sequel alternates between execrable and stupid.
I mean...odd numbered episodes are execrable. Even numbered episodes are merely stupid. Odd numbered episodes tend to have everyone out of character and have the show written as a straight harem comedy devoid of Lovecraft Jokes, or any but the most tendentious attempts at humor. Even numbered episodes are bone-crushingly stupid, have the characters acting in accordance with their frequently warped motivations and generally remember that the blonde, under all that moe' is a trap and the redhead is not interested in guys. The even numbered episodes also differentiate themselves from the odd, by remembering that the protagonists three roommates are aliens disguising themselves as humans with vastly different biology, ...and oh yeah nerd jokes.
These differences are most visible across a two part episode, where it appears the characters are from two completely different series.
I really think there are two different writing teams one of which is using a harem comedy trope generator and is unaware of the actual characters or the fact that it's not actually a harem comedy, but is close enough to parody them...
Neither odd nor even episodes are at all good, but the even episodes are making me laugh occasionally....and groan often. Of course, even at that I can't recommend this show in good conscience due to the fact that it is objectively terrible and finding the less abominable ones becomes problematic after episode 8 when the two writing teams division of labor seems to have become chronologically inconsistent.
"You say Mee-Go, he says Mi-Go but all I care about is that away from here I go"
I dunno WHAT the "W" stands fore but I'm stikkin' with my theory. The original series was not exactly good, but it mildly amusing and occasionally clever. Every episode made me at least chuckle once.
This sequel alternates between execrable and stupid.
I mean...odd numbered episodes are execrable. Even numbered episodes are merely stupid. Odd numbered episodes tend to have everyone out of character and have the show written as a straight harem comedy devoid of Lovecraft Jokes, or any but the most tendentious attempts at humor. Even numbered episodes are bone-crushingly stupid, have the characters acting in accordance with their frequently warped motivations and generally remember that the blonde, under all that moe' is a trap and the redhead is not interested in guys. The even numbered episodes also differentiate themselves from the odd, by remembering that the protagonists three roommates are aliens disguising themselves as humans with vastly different biology, ...and oh yeah nerd jokes.
These differences are most visible across a two part episode, where it appears the characters are from two completely different series.
I really think there are two different writing teams one of which is using a harem comedy trope generator and is unaware of the actual characters or the fact that it's not actually a harem comedy, but is close enough to parody them...
Neither odd nor even episodes are at all good, but the even episodes are making me laugh occasionally....and groan often. Of course, even at that I can't recommend this show in good conscience due to the fact that it is objectively terrible and finding the less abominable ones becomes problematic after episode 8 when the two writing teams division of labor seems to have become chronologically inconsistent.
Stupidity on ice.
Posted by: The Brickmuppet at
03:24 PM
| Comments (4)
| Add Comment
Post contains 312 words, total size 2 kb.
June 09, 2013
Gargantia #10
Remember Melty? She was on the fleet that left and is now anchored near an island in perpetual mist. She's started her own courier business and delivers dispatches to all the captains...as such she has a pretty good view of what's going on.
The episode continues the shows dark turn but it remains interesting and thoughtful. I'm unsure where they are going with this, as the story is far down a path, that while interesting, has no clear resolution. Yet they continue to complicate things and as far as I know, they have only 2 episodes to wrap things up.
This is likely to either be brilliant or a train-wreck.
It certainly has my interest.
"Oh dear."
The episode continues the shows dark turn but it remains interesting and thoughtful. I'm unsure where they are going with this, as the story is far down a path, that while interesting, has no clear resolution. Yet they continue to complicate things and as far as I know, they have only 2 episodes to wrap things up.
This is likely to either be brilliant or a train-wreck.
It certainly has my interest.
Posted by: The Brickmuppet at
04:40 PM
| No Comments
| Add Comment
Post contains 120 words, total size 2 kb.
Attack on Titan Episode 10
This episode finds our heroes standing by to make ready to review procedures for initiating steps to set in motion preparations for beginning to consider actions necessary to lay the groundwork for thinking about getting ready to do something.
We'll see eventually if that something involves resuming this shows heretofore excellent pacing.
This episode finds our heroes standing by to make ready to review procedures for initiating steps to set in motion preparations for beginning to consider actions necessary to lay the groundwork for thinking about getting ready to do something.
We'll see eventually if that something involves resuming this shows heretofore excellent pacing.
Posted by: The Brickmuppet at
03:39 PM
| Comments (1)
| Add Comment
Post contains 57 words, total size 1 kb.
June 08, 2013
10 minute Teaser for the sixth Yamato 2199 movie
It likely won't be up long.
Also: Spoilers.
Also: Spoilers.
They've been doing this for every movie, that is running the first ten minutes as a teaser on Japanese TV to hypethe films.
The official trailer from the ヤマト2199 website and the DVDs is here.
Spoilers again of course but if you are a Starblazers fan it will warm your heart.
The official trailer from the ヤマト2199 website and the DVDs is here.
Spoilers again of course but if you are a Starblazers fan it will warm your heart.
This show has taken all that is good about the old series and made it better, all the while plugging plot holes in the original. The way they neutralized a formidable Gamillas strategic advantage in the last few episodes was particularly elegant.
The characterizations are very well done too. This is turning out to be one of the best no-holds barred adventure series in many years.
The characterizations are very well done too. This is turning out to be one of the best no-holds barred adventure series in many years.
Posted by: The Brickmuppet at
05:35 PM
| No Comments
| Add Comment
Post contains 134 words, total size 1 kb.
June 05, 2013
Sign of the End-Times
I'm pretty sure this is one....
Posted by: The Brickmuppet at
06:33 AM
| Comments (1)
| Add Comment
Post contains 10 words, total size 1 kb.
June 04, 2013
For Those Having Trouble Getting a Pixiv Membership
AOL and Juno it seems can't be used for ones E-Mail address. The issue seems to be with AOL and Juno blocking E-mails from Pixiv for some reason.
I couldn't access my old G-mail account as I've long forgotten the password, but I was able to get a new one and join up.
Of course, with Deviant, this makes two art boards I'm a member of, despite having artistic skills a few notches below Randall Munroe....but without the medical insight.
I couldn't access my old G-mail account as I've long forgotten the password, but I was able to get a new one and join up.
Of course, with Deviant, this makes two art boards I'm a member of, despite having artistic skills a few notches below Randall Munroe....but without the medical insight.
Posted by: The Brickmuppet at
09:55 PM
| No Comments
| Add Comment
Post contains 88 words, total size 1 kb.
Ideas of Great Importance
Between, recent bad news and the fact that I was offline for a bit, I've been surfing and playing catch-up on current events.
In the process I blundered into the two most important posts in the history of everything:
Moe Lane has a solution for what is increasingly beginning to look like a mistake.
Scott Lowther demonstrates that what many assumed was a mistake, may not have been.
The implications of these ponderings are indeed profound and will require much thought from great minds to have their meanings fully grasped.
Much like this will...
In the process I blundered into the two most important posts in the history of everything:
Moe Lane has a solution for what is increasingly beginning to look like a mistake.
Scott Lowther demonstrates that what many assumed was a mistake, may not have been.
The implications of these ponderings are indeed profound and will require much thought from great minds to have their meanings fully grasped.
Much like this will...
Posted by: The Brickmuppet at
08:50 PM
| No Comments
| Add Comment
Post contains 98 words, total size 1 kb.
June 02, 2013
Gargantia Episode 9
Oh my...
"That was...harsh."
Well...
That was impressive.
That was unexpected.
This is an exceptionally thoughtful and well crafted show.
Now if you will excuse me...I has a sad.
"That was...harsh."
Well...
That was impressive.
That was unexpected.
This is an exceptionally thoughtful and well crafted show.
Now if you will excuse me...I has a sad.
Posted by: The Brickmuppet at
05:14 PM
| No Comments
| Add Comment
Post contains 33 words, total size 6 kb.
Gargantia Episode 8
This was a transitional episode, poignant with a very "on the precipice" undercurrent.
This was a well done episode. A bit downbeat, but it does stress the overall decency of most of the characters. We learned some things too.
For instance, if one can let ones hair down to reveal a hime cut, most concerns about ones leadership abilities will be allayed.
ahem...
I still cannot get over how gorgeous the production values on this show are. I'm not at all sure where this is going, but this has been a thoughtful show thus far and I'm anxious to find out. Anxious well describes my sentiments here, as this show has done an exemplary job of making us care about these characters...and this episode has a vibe very much like...late summer...1914.
This was a well done episode. A bit downbeat, but it does stress the overall decency of most of the characters. We learned some things too.
ahem...
I still cannot get over how gorgeous the production values on this show are. I'm not at all sure where this is going, but this has been a thoughtful show thus far and I'm anxious to find out. Anxious well describes my sentiments here, as this show has done an exemplary job of making us care about these characters...and this episode has a vibe very much like...late summer...1914.
Posted by: The Brickmuppet at
05:14 AM
| Comments (1)
| Add Comment
Post contains 135 words, total size 2 kb.
Harryhausen's War of the Worlds
I had no idea this existed when he passed earlier this month.
It's the test footage for Ray Harryhausen's War of the Worlds project which was being pitched in the late 1940s and early 1950s.
It's the test footage for Ray Harryhausen's War of the Worlds project which was being pitched in the late 1940s and early 1950s.
George Pal reportedly used this footage for his pitch and with it got the rights to the book. But Pal made his own version with no input from Harryhausen and went in a completely different direction regards effects.
Interestingly, the model was very nearly used as the heavy in the Howard Hawks version of The Thing, which was originally going to be a bigger budget film with Harryhausen doing the effects. I do wonder if Hawks was initially intending that film to be a much straighter adaptation of Who Goes There.
Interestingly, the model was very nearly used as the heavy in the Howard Hawks version of The Thing, which was originally going to be a bigger budget film with Harryhausen doing the effects. I do wonder if Hawks was initially intending that film to be a much straighter adaptation of Who Goes There.
Posted by: The Brickmuppet at
03:11 AM
| No Comments
| Add Comment
Post contains 131 words, total size 1 kb.
OK This is Just Getting Freaky
Attack on Titan Episodes 8 & 9 seem to have largely wrapped up the 'Battle for Trost'. The show continues to surprise. It continues to have its characters develop in unconventional, but interesting ways. The nightmarish imagery continues as well and they really outdo themselves in that regard with some truly horrific visuals...
On the other hand, it is really nice to see someone who thoroughly enjoys her work.
more...
On the other hand, it is really nice to see someone who thoroughly enjoys her work.
Posted by: The Brickmuppet at
12:19 AM
| No Comments
| Add Comment
Post contains 313 words, total size 6 kb.
91kb generated in CPU 0.0296, elapsed 0.158 seconds.
36 queries taking 0.1386 seconds, 134 records returned.
Powered by Minx 1.1.6c-pink.
36 queries taking 0.1386 seconds, 134 records returned.
Powered by Minx 1.1.6c-pink.
