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Otaku Evolution Episode 159 – Mobile Suit Gundam Wing (Part 1)

Welcome back to Otaku Evolution!

This session is the first part in a two-part Gundam Wing review. Why two parts? Because of a few reasons. One, it gives me more time to gather all my thoughts and feelings about this 49-episode TV show. Second, so I can concentrate on the good things about it in this first part and the bad things in the next. I even have some additional pixel elements for my presentation next time, so I need time to work on that, too. So it’s not just laziness on my part.

I thought I’d start the video with a bit of a refresher of the “universe” I review in, too, and in the style of Gundam Wing itself. read more

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Otaku Evolution Episode 158 – Year End English Dub Review VI

 

Once again, I’m evaluating all the English dubs from the anime I’ve reviewed in the second half of the year. It’s a pretty good variety of dubs, in terms of studios. The only two titles that share the same one are Eden of the East and Lupin III: Island of Assassins. And the quality is likewise varied, with the troublesome Mewtwo Strikes Back dub from 4Kids, the just kind of “there” of X TV, despite it’s excellent cast, and the highs of FLCL‘s classic masterpiece of a dub. Lots of shades in the spaces between, too. read more

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Otaku Evolution Episode 157 – Christmas Grab Bag 2019

I always have a certain level of fun creating the Christmas episodes, even when I get a touch of seasonal depression myself. Normally, I really enjoy the holidays, at least initially, but when other people around me aren’t keeping up to my level of excitement, it bums me out. It figures, the one time of year I put aside most of my cynicism (most, not all) is when some people decide to get pouty. But then, as a shut-in, I don’t have to deal with a lot of things other people do, so who am I to judge? As of this description writing, I’m pretty okay, chilling and playing Christmas music. Christmas is next week, so let’s hope I can keep up the positive vibes. read more

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Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These Episode 24 Review (SEASON FINALE)

Episode 24, “My Friend”

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: Peace has returned to the Free Planets Alliance. However, Yang Wen-li has his doubts as to the nation he’s saved, and its leader, Job Trunicht. Yang is surprised when he hears Imperial Admiral Merkatz has defected, and plans to take him at his word. Trunicht and his inner circle discuss what to do with a reluctant Yang, but he has no fear and leaves it be for the moment. Reinhard, now recognized as a duke, and de facto in charge of the Empire, visits Siegfried Kircheis’ grave on Odin, while Yang visits the graves of Jean-Robert Lapp and Jessica Edwards on  Heinessen. But meanwhile, on Earth, the cult of Terra waits to see if their machinations pay off. read more

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Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These Episode 23 Review

Episode 23, “Farewell to the Days of Old”

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: Reinhard is presented with the war prisoners at Geiersburg. Farenheit is brought into his fold. Ansbach makes an attempt on Reinhard’s life, but misses, and fatally injures Kircheis in the struggle, then commits suicide. Reinhard is devestated by the loss of his dear friend, seeing and talking to nobody for several days. Oberstein contacts Annerose in an attempt to stir his superior from his seclusion, which works. Meanwhile, Minister of State, Lichtenlade, is taken into custody to prevent his schemes into stopping Reinhard’s rise to power. read more

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Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These Episode 22 Review

Episode 22, “The Fall of Goldenbaum”

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis:  Kircheis confronts Reinhard over the Westerland Incident and the latter’s allowing it to happen. This creates a small rift between the two as Lohengramm’s forces close in on the nobles. Said nobles, meanwhile, are dwindling after failures in battle and bad publicity. Flagel is determined to challenge an admiral one-on-one and is rejected by Reinhard’s men. He is ultimately killed by his own subordinates after refusing to listen. Admiral Merkatz’s own subordinate saves him from a suicide attempt and suggests he defect to the Free Planets Alliance instead. And Prince Braunschweig’s assistant, Ansbach, forces him to die by poison to go out with dignity. Geiersburg Fortress is occupied by the new power in the Empire. read more

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Kotobukiya Ace Combat 1/144 X-02S and XFA-27 Model Review

I wanted to take a quick minute to write about the new Ace Combat 1/144 scale models from Kotobukiya. There’s not too much to say, and depending on how you look at it, that’s a good thing.

For those out of the know, Kotobukiya recently released two 1/144 aircraft kits from Ace Combat. There are two fighters, the XFA-27 from Ace Combat: Infinity and the X-02S Strike Wyvern from Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown. There are two versions of each release, the first is painted, and the second is a gray “For Modelers Edition” ready or paint. Each kit comes with decals, different sheets for each aircraft, but thankfully the same both in the painted and unpainted releases. read more

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Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These Episode 21 Review

Episode 21, “Victory For Who’s Sake?”

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis:  The last obstacle between Heinessen and the Yang Fleet are the twelve defense satellites that circle the planet, Artemis’ Necklace. First, Yang has Bagdash announce that the coup on the FPA government was orchestrated by Reinhard von Lohengramm. This astonishes and angers the National Salvation Council, but Real Admiral Lynch admits it’s true. At this point, Yang destroys the satellites with propelled masses of ice that shatter them. Lynch kills Admiral Greenhill and is, in turn, killed by Greenhill’s subordinate. The coup is over. Frederica mourns the loss of her father. Order is restored to Heinessen and Job Trunicht reemerges, in care of the Earth cultists. On Phezzan, Adrian Rubinsky assigns Boris Konev to spy on Yang Wenli.   read more

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Otaku Evolution Episode 156 – The Sky Crawlers

 

Mamoru Oshii hasn’t made a major anime film in a long time, has he? It’s been 11 years! And the last one was 2008’s The Sky Crawlers, based on a series of novels by Hiroshi Mori (fuck you, Mori, I’ll write it how I want). It takes place in an alternate history where war is between private corporations, the technology level is all over the place, and apparently there are kids that never age that fight our battles for us. The main character is one such kid and he’s on the verge of an identity crisis. But not as badly as his commanding officer. The question is, does Mamoru Oshii still have the pizazz that made him so popular a director in the past? Ehhhh, not really. But he’s not bad. read more

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Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These Episode 20 Review

Episode 20, “Tragedy”

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: Kircheis, Lutz, and Walen engage the Littenheim Fleet in battle. Littenheim fires at his own supply ships when they block his escape, leading some to defect. One soldier kills Marquis Littenheim and damages Garmisch Fortress, giving Kircheis an easy victory. Reinhard lures Braunschweig and the nobles’ forces into a trap and they are just barely saved by Admiral Merkatz. Following this, Braunschweig, enraged that one of his territories has begun to rebel, orders the bombing of the planet. Reinhard receives word of this ahead of time, but is convinced by Oberstein to allow it in order to show the high nobles’ true colors to the public. After the attack is carried out, Kircheis recieves word of Reinhard’s forknowledge and worries. read more

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