1/144 SchnabelGeist resin kit by Kallamity

MG Narrative/Unicorn Remix

Falldog’s Gunpla Collection – State of the Hanger 2024

Real Grade Zeong – Gundam Base Limited Clear

MG Psycho Zaku Thunderbolt Diorama

Otaku Evolution Episodes 285 – Why The American DBZ Soundtrack Sucks

Otaku Evolution Episode 284 – Dragon Ball Super: Broly

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Otaku Evolution Episodes 285 – Why The American DBZ Soundtrack Sucks

I don’t get it, folks. I really do not understand the popularity of the American soundtrack to Dragon Ball Z, outside of base nostalgia. It’s so tacky and borderline racist to replace the music to begin with, but then to do it with music that is such an enormous departure from the original sound is even more insulting. Most of the Faulconer Productions score is lousy, or utilized poorly, or both. Especially when compared to Shunsuke Kikuchi’s fantastic orchestral score.

After this, no Dragon Ball for a while, okay? I’ve done two videos in a row and… wait, I’ll have to talk about the Broly movie again in my next video, because it’s an English Dub Review video. Well, other than that, no Dragon Ball for a while. I’m burned out on the franchise. read more

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Otaku Evolution Episode 284 – Dragon Ball Super: Broly

So, this is a tale of redemption. I always expected Dragon Ball Super: Broly would be as lame and forced as the previous Broly entries, but by reinventing aspects of the character, they (finally) made him a worthwhile addition to the Dragon Ball canon. I completely discounted this movie for years, believing it was just another Broly stomp romp, and especially hating the Dragon Ball Minus aspect, but never actually sitting down and watching the entire thing. Now that I have, I understand its popularity. It’s a damn fine DB movie. Might be the best entry in decades, it’s certainly among the best. And for that, I apologize. I was wrong. It happens (though rarely). read more

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Otaku Evolution Episode 283 – Lupin III Part IV

I just love Lupin III. Especially when Lupin III is good, and Lupin III: Part IV is quite good, indeed. It has just the right balance of standalone capers and ongoing storyline, and is bursting with energy and fun. It was just what the franchise needed after years of mediocre TV specials (though The Woman Called Fujiko Mine came out just a few years before it, and that’s arguably the best series): a return to form for Lupin. Not too soft, not too rough. A great balance.

It also happens to have my favorite new Lupin character in ages, MI6 Agent Nyx, who I am so upset never appeared in anything after this. At least Rebecca got a cameo in Part V, but I’ll get to that another time. read more

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Otaku Evolution Episode 282 – Flame of Recca

Flame of Recca is one of those shows I saw as a teen, back when I was just getting into anime, that I thought was pretty neat, only to revisit and realize it’s not so great after all. It’s a shonen action series that feels pretty diminished when compared to a lot of other, better shonen action series… especially Yu Yu Hakusho, which it feels like a lesser version of. I tried to find all the positives I could about this show, but try as I might, there wasn’t a whole lot to say about it. read more

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Otaku Evolution Episode 281 – Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin (OVA)

I wanted to do another Gundam video, but I had a few ideas and didn’t know which to pick. Part of me wanted to do a video on the original TV series, though I covered the story of that in my reviews of the compilation movies. Then I thought, maybe I should do a non-UC Gundam series? But I felt like it would be a pain in the ass to get back into the AUs when I’m in more of a UC mode. I could have done Gundam Thunderbolt, at least the first “season”, but I really wanted to add some new context to the original series and Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin is a great way to do so. read more

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Otaku Evolution Episode 280 – Armitage III: Dual Matrix

So, here’s a short video on Armitage III: Dual Matrix, the sequel to the Armitage III OVA (and compilation movie Poly Matrix). There’s not a whole lot to say about it other than the presence of Ahmed Best as Jar—I mean, Mouse. Otherwise, it’s a pretty basic bitch sci-fi action romp with the usual cyberpunk-ish tropes and cliches. If you didn’t see the first Armitage thing, go watch my video on it I did a while back.

I would have done some bookend story material but I couldn’t think of anything. read more

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Otaku Evolution Episode 279 – Astro Boy (2003)

Welcome back to Otaku Evolution!

I am so sorry it’s taken me this long to post a new video. I had terrible sciatica pain in my back for a few weeks, forcing me to sleep on a yoga mat on the floor of my room at night, and hampering my concentration on completing my viewing of this series, which is 50 episodes long! That, and my obsession with completing Chrono Cross (which is entirely my fault), slowed me down. But at least I mostly avoided my usual post-holiday funk.

In the bookend material here is the aftermath of that attack on me in my quarters at the end of last year. I wanted to show that one of Pen Pen’s students, Llewellyn, who was normally depicted as a child, has grown up since the last time I used him. As for the “Puffin Elite”, they’re characters that I created years and years ago that I never ended up introducing into my sprite comics. You’ll see me explore that story idea sometime this year. read more

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Otaku Evolution Episode 278 – Year End English Dub Review XII

I really wish I hadn’t done this video until AFTER the whole Amazon AI dub fiasco, because then I could have commented on it! Well, to say the least, I was dismayed by it. As picky as I am about dubs, making them is a human endeavor, and should remain so forever. Fortunately, it was easy to mock Banana Fish‘s dub, but what happens when the AI dubs improve? I would still reject them.

Anyway, as usual, I take a look at all the anime I’ve covered since the Mid Year video and rate the English dubs. Most of the English dubs I’ve encountered in this half of the year were pretty good. Even Lupin III‘s, let’s say, loose dub, is still fairly decent. But there was also Space Pirate Mito‘s. And Crest of the Star‘s. Ah well. You’re going to run into good and bad when you watch as much anime as I do. read more

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Otaku Evolution Episode 277 – (Top 10) Favorite Anime (TV and OVAs)

Merry Listmas! This year, I’ve stuffed the stockings and trimmed the tree with my favorite anime TV shows and multi-episode OVAs. While my top 15 or 20 might change over time, very little about my top 10 changes, so this should stay relevant for a few years, at least.

You know, I have my own Christmas traditions. For instance, I have Cuban sandwiches and chicken wings on Christmas Eve. I look forward to it every year. I get together with my family for food and mirth. It might even be better than receiving presents (though I enjoy that, too). Not because I’m a huge family guy (lucky I’m a man who positively can do all the things that make you laugh and cry, though), I just like the company and I’m a huge fucking glutton. I hope you viewers find something diverting and rewarding this Christmas (or Hanukkah, or whatever), too. read more

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Otaku Evolution Episode 276 – Crest of the Stars

Crest of the Stars is a show that was sold to me as this big political space epic, and maybe when paired with Banner of the Stars, its sequel, it is. But on its own, it’s kind of lacking. In characterization, in plot development, in charm, and in general. It’s by no means awful, it just lacks the greatness of, say, Gundam, or Legend of the Galactic Heroes. It’s kind of like watching .hack//SIGN. It’s LoGH by way of Dot Hack: a lot of talking, not a lot actually going on. And by the end, the characters aren’t that different than when they started out like. I guess that’s realistic? I mean, people in real life don’t develop like fictional characters, in some grand linear fashion. But I guess I was just expecting a little more from what I’d been told. read more

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