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Three Episodes In – Bodacious Space Pirates

Bodacious Space Pirates is a new anime series for 2012 which tells the story of Mariko Kato, heir to the pirate ship Bentenmaru following the death of her father, the ship’s captain. Bodacious Space Pirates is written by Yūichi Sasamoto (co-writer of Venus Wars), directed by Tatsuo Satō (Stellvia, Martian Successor Nadesico), and animated by Satelight Inc. (Macross Frontier, Hellsing Ultimate). It’s already been licensed in North America by Sentai Filmworks.

Note – Most folks, including the subbing groups, are referring to the series as Mouretsu Space Pirates, the name of the light novel series this anime is based off of. Mouretsu, as it turns out, means miniskirt. Every other source, from ANN to Wikipedia and even the series logo, show the series is actually called Bodacious Space Pirates. read more

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Gundam AGE Episode 14 Review

 Episode 14, "A Flash of Sorrow"

*****SPOILERS*****   Synopsis: The battle at Ambat continues. The Diva begins to take on damage. Flit is attacked by Desil in his black MS. Suddenly a pink MS interrupts them. Yurin has been physically forced to pilot it, with her unable to break free. Desil struggles to fight two mobile suits. As Desil closes in for the kill, Yurin’s MS gets between them and her MS is impaled. Her MS explodes. Enraged, Flit attacks Desil’s mobile suit with ferocity, disabling it. Flit changes the Gundam parts from Spallow to Titus and charges the enemy base, opening a hanger door. The Diva parks in the hanger and the crew arm themselves for close combat.    Comments:   Yurin dies? Huge shock! Never saw that coming.    Actually, aside from the predictability, Yurin’s death was handled pretty well. It was interesting that the MS she was in was basically just using her and she was little more than a battery for it as it worked via X-Rounder resonance. This way not only is she forced to work for the enemy, but she’s physically forced to. Though if this was the case, why couldn’t her MS simply be remote controlled via Desil’s own MS? Or does it work better with an additional X-Rounder? Anyway, the vision of Flit and Yurin interacting in the woods just before her MS explodes was a little touching, to be honest.    So I guess at the last moment she was able to take control of her MS? It’s not quite clear.    I’m trying to decide which 0079 battle this is more like, Solomon or A Bao Qu. On the one hand, by the end of the episode, a new secret weapon that looks like the Big Zam is being activated. On the other, this feels more final than Solomon and the Diva crew is about to engage in close combat with guns, much like A Bao Qu. It’s probably a little of both, because I’m guessing fighting the new MS/MA (?) will be a significant portion of the next episode. Is the pilot the guy in the mask, unmasked?   Who’s the blue-haired kid that looks a bit like Desil?   The action was pretty good in this episode, especially when Flit became enraged at Yurin’s death and totally dominated Desil’s black MS. If the next episode can continue that level of awesomeness, this show might just turn around after all.     Overall Score:

4.5 out of 5

 
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Layman’s Gunpla Guide – Paint References

As I mentioned over here, I’ve started to test all of my paints on cheap plastic spoons to get the feel for a colour before applying it to a kit. Instead of just hogging them for myself, I’ve decided to share them here. Granted, there’s no better experience then testing out the colours yourself. The true colour of the paints will vary from the photos due to fluctuating camera settings and even the setup of your own monitor.

Note – The shade of these colors may change based on usage, especially the underlying base coat. All of these paint samples done straight on top of white plastic spoons. Unless otherwise stated there no primer or topcoat has been used. You can read more on how primer effects paint colours here. read more

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Layman’s Gunpla Guide – Sampling Paints

I’d just like to speak briefly about an easy and cost effective way to test your paints.

Traditionally, I would test my paint by spraying some on an unused action base, paper, or leftover runner. Since then, I’ve found that a better way to go about it is to test on some disposable white plastic spoons.

One can usually find 100 count packs of these disposable utensils at the local grocer for less than $5. They provide a nice consistent colour and surface to test upon. (Note – Make sure your spoon’s surface is clean before painting, sometimes there’s dust and other material floating around in the shipping container) If you’re interested in establishing a collection, you can write the paint’s information on the stem for later reference.  You can pull them out at a later date to compare and contrast paints you’ve already tested when planning a colour scheme. read more

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PG Zaku II ver. Reprise – Update 01

Long ago, in the depths of 2008, I built a Perfect Grade Char’s Zaku II. It was horrible. A travesty of all things great. A concoction of orange peel’d gloss and stickers. Thus, 2012 being the end of the world, the only proper thing to do would be to light it on fire and sing a sad song in remembrance. Or I could cover it in awesome.


Click to Enlarge | On Flickr

Yeah, I’ll do go with the awesome option instead. Okay, maybe I’m being a bit presumptuous of myself. read more

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Gundam AGE Episode 13 Review

 Episode 13, "Space Fortress Ambat"

  *****SPOILERS*****   Synopsis: With the Diva armed with a AGE System-created beam weapon, the crew prepares for battle. Grodek commands the fleet from the bridge. The mobile suit forces launch. The fleet approaches Ambat at fires, but at first there’s no response. Suddenly, a massive ship emerges from behind a forcefield. The Diva transforms into more of a battleship. Combat ensues, but the UE outnumber the rebels. Flit draws the enemy towards himself and takes out many of them. The Diva nears the base and fires it’s beam weapon at the ship, which is heavily damaged. Ract tries to sacrifice himself to stop the remaining part, but before he can, other friendly forces arrive to assist them.      Comments:   Wow, this was an excellent episode!   First of all, let me get this out of the way: what the hell is up with everyone’s normal suit? The Diva crew dress like they’re in their pajamas. The Zalam normal suits look like Zakus. The Euba MS normal suits are probably the best looking. It’s hard to take the Diva crew seriously with such ridiculous suits. Get some normal normal suits, guys! This isn’t a sleepover.    Speaking of the Diva (and we’re getting to the good parts now), it’s transformation is pretty cool. It’s transformed state looks like the Albion from Gundam 0083. Before, it looked a bit like the Ptolemaios from Gundam 00.    Considering how predictable this show has been, I was really pleasantly surprised by a the cliche-avoiding scene in this episode where Ract tries a suicide run but is stopped by Flit. Ract is unable to make himself a human missile like Don Boyage. The little talking-to he gets from Flit is a great moment. It feels like the kind of thing you’d see in FMA (though in FMA, it would be a big speech about not throwing your life away).   Emily’s really got her shit together now. She’s in full support of Flit’s decision to continue fighting in the Gundam. For a while, I thought she was going to go crazy or something.    There was some good action in this episode. I especially enjoyed when Flit drew a bunch of UE suits to himself, and then took them all out himself. That was pretty badass, especially the way he did it. It’s probably the best action scene in the show thus far.    This episode was a lot more compelling than the show has been overall. I only hope the episodes that follow can live up to it.   Overall Score:

4.5 out of 5

   
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Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood – Episode 52 ENGLISH DUB Review

Episode 52, "Combined Powers"

*****SPOILERS*****   Synopsis: Using the Philosopher’s Stone, Alphonse battles Pride and Kimbley. Kimbley is impressed, but is curious as to why Alphonse hasn’t used the stone to retrieve his body. Alphonse claims that the possibility exists to save everyone and regain his body. Kimbley argues that it’s possible that neither will occur, and attacks using his own, refined stone. In Central, the Armstrong siblings take on Sloth, who proves to be the fastest of the homunculi. Pride seemingly gains the advantage against Alphonse, but it turns out to be a trap. Heinkel comes from behind Kimbley and bites his neck. Edward, Scar, and the other chimera continue to fight the homunculi army, who try disabling them by taking out their legs. As Pride taunts Alphonse and his group, a car comes out of nowhere and hits him. The car is driven by none other than Yoki, who helps the others escape. Alone with a dying Kimbley, Pride decides to devour him like he did with Gluttony. Back at Central HQ, the troops who corner Olivier are attacked by the homunculi army and she tells them to make a choice between dying or making a stand. Beneath Central, Envy chases Mei. In the room where Ed and the others are, they are beginning to get overwhelmed, but Roy and Riza arrive.   Comments:   I just don’t know what to make of Eric Vale’s Kimbley. It sounds rough and detached. I guess it works to some degree, given Kimbley’s attitude, but I’d have preferred a smoother, sharpened voice for the character.    I like the transition from Alphonse’s battle with Kimbley and the Armstrong siblings’ fight with Sloth. For a second it looks like Kimbley was creating the dagger-like rocks.    Speaking of the Armstrongs, Sabat and Young both do an excellent job as the siblings, as usual. Even with the smaller things, like grunting when hurt sounds convincing from them. You can’t beat Young’s yells when she attacks.    Jerry Russell’s Marcoh still sounds crappy, though. It’s too bad that Brice Armstrong retired, he brought a real sense of weight to the role. Armstrong had a certain authoritative air to it. This one sounds like he’s a million years old and is dying of throat cancer.   There’s mercifully little of Vic Mignogna in this episode, and when there is some, it’s not that bad.    I really like Barry Yandell’s Yoki in this episode. He hams it up, but that’s Yoki for you. I love how he’s crying as he saves everyone.    Monica Rial’s May has improved over time. At first I found it a little off, but fitting, since I found May kind of annoying. But it evolved a little over time.    Next episode has a lot of drama in it, but it’s mostly Travis Willingham’s Roy, so I have faith it will be well-performed. Well, it also has a lot of Wendy Powell. Shudder.      Overall ENGLISH DUB Score:    4 out of 5    
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Gundam AGE Episode 12 Review

 Episode 12, "The Rebels Set Sail"

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: The Diva prepares to depart from Minsry. Federation forces intercept them as they leave. Reasoning with them fails and Grodek refuses to surrender. Zalam and Euba ships come to the Diva’s defense. The stalemate is broken when UE appear and attack everyone. Flit, Woolf, and Largan attack the UE in their mobile suits. The Diva is allowed to pass by the Federation ships to fire at the UE. The Federation ship then fires its own weapons at the UE, causing them to retreat. The Diva is allowed to continue on its way. Later, Grodek surmises that Flit could be a "X-Rounder", a person with extrasensory skills. Back at Minsry, Desil and the cloaked men threaten Yurin. read more

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Falldog’s First Convention

So this weekend I visited my first convention, MAGFest 2012, held this year at the Gaylord Convention Center at National Harbor, MD.

So, what did I think? Well here, enjoy my random rantings…

  • I’d love to know the profit margin of an event like this. While I still haven’t decided whether the entry fees are justified ($40 for a single day, $55 for all three days) I really want to know more about the finances of this (and other) conventions. My badge tag was #9469, and working under the completely baseless assumption that there are 9468 paying folks before me, I’m going to baselessly assume they pulled in $378,760 (which I’m also going to assume is on the low end, considering the multitudes who paid $55. It’s also safer considering that not everyone had to pay for entry). That’s quite a pretty penny. I doubt the hotel charges too much, they probably made a bucket load on their own through room rental and parking fees. I was informed that most of the bands perform for free, but what about the guest speakers? How much of the equipment/games/tables/etc were donated v. rented? I suppose it’s just the information nerd in me coming through. Either way, I hope that margins are good enough to support holding the event at the same location next year.
  • The Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center was awesome. Though I have gazed upon the Gaylord (who still uses that name in this day and age?) from the safe confines of Old Town Alexandria this was my first visit. The hotel and convention center was awesome. The large open air atrium was simply spectacular all decked out for Christmas. It’s the kind of place I would want to stay at if visiting the area. Unfortunately I can’t say too much about the National Harbor area. While it’s nice that it has easy access to I-495 it’s too touristy for my tastes, it lacks charm like Old Town across the river (sorry if I’m going too local for our random assortment of readers). Also, if someone knows, throughout some of the halls there are sections where the walls and ceiling were separated by foot wide aluminum plates… expansion joints, hidden fire doors?
  • Cat ears and or tails, really? While I can understand the random fetish nature of furries I don’t understand people who dress normally but throw on a pair of cat ears or a tail of some sort. If you feel so jealous of our furry underlings then please, commit all the way with your attire.
  • The same goes for welding glasses. And welding glasses on top hats, especially when the rest of your outfit isn’t remotely steampunkish. (On a site note, I saw a magazine for steampunk styles at Michaels. Is the fad officially over now?)
  • Cosplayers… could you at least not half ass it? I don’t really have the highest opinion of cosplayers. Now, I don’t have a problem with folks who want to dress up like their favorite character and have a good time. That’s fine, I can see how that would be fun. You lost me when a handful of folks became "professionals" and with the development of some of the most pretentious photography ever. "Oh, you’re Sephiroth? Well stand over against that wall, look to your right and think really hard about how much you hate Cloud." Okay, I’ve digressed from my main point which was cosplayers who half ass their costumes. I saw several folks who clearly spent time on their costumes, only to give up at the very end and wear tennis shoes or gardening gloves to complete the look. Go all in or not at all.
  • TURN THE MUSIC THE FUCK DOWN! This boggles my fucking mind. Scoping out the concert venue before the start of festivities I noticed a sign saying that they were selling ear protection. I was also witness to hotel room stashes and was even offered a pair later in the evening. At first I thought to my self, that’s silly, I’ve never needed ear protection at a concert before. Oh, how I was mistaken. The music was terribly fucking loud, and not just ‘I can’t hear what I’m thinking loud’ but ‘every other note is peaking’ loud. You have a relatively small, enclosed space, a crowd not normally characterized by their rambunctious audience attitude, and bands who’s main repertoire consists of video game covers. So take it down a notch. There’s no bloody need for things to be cranked to 11. Turn it down so the music comes through clearer and no one has to worry about tinnitus. Or at least start off low and turn it up as needed. I don’t know, it all seems so obvious.
  • There’s no crying at game conventions. Suck it up or go to your room. Or at least chat with all the passers by, pausing in an attempt to lend assistance.
  • The gaming areas were great but in need of refinement. Not only did MAGFest feature a decently sized LAN party but an even larger area for various board and table top games. So popular was the latter that finding a free table could be difficult at times. The hall next to it featured a vast array of electronic games ranging from networked consoles to pinball and classic arcade games. All very cool and a great experiance. Yet I couldn’t help feel that something was just not quite right, that something was missing. In general single player games seemed far too prevalent. Where was the row of several Cruising machines? Why did I only see one DDR machine and the soul iconic X-Men arcade game (apparently the source of some infamous yell, randomly bellowed out and echoed among he non-committed crowd like a poorly executed wave)? I figure they would want to foster more friendly competition. The designated area for Nintendo DS multiplayer games had the right idea. Most perplexing of the whole situation was the folks sitting around playing single player classics like Mario. I understand you like Mario, we all do, but we also have it at home.

For as much as I love to bitch, everyone I met seemed really nice and definitely were enjoying themselves. The staff members I interacted with were all very helpful, though some were a bit blunt at times, something I can’t fault them for considering the circumstances. One has to admire the folks who not only have to drive and commitment to put something like this together, but that patience to deal with thousands of tired/drunk/caffeinated nerds. read more

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