Posted in

Otaku Evolution Episode 106 – Heroic Legend of Arslan (Eps 5-6) (OVA)

Hey, remember when Arslan was a thing?

I mean, okay it’s still kind of a thing, the TV series hasn’t completely concluded, right? Well, yeah, for now it has, but it’s sure to come back, right? One thing’s for sure, this OVA that adapted Yoshiki Tanaka’s historical fantasy novels before Hiromu Arakawa’s manga or the show based on it certainly stopped, and pretty much ended with no real conclusion. But here I review the final two episodes, regardless, making sure to stop now and then to drop referential jokes and still really like Gieve, because Gieve is the best Arslan character and we all know it. read more

Penguin Truthby Penguin Truth•
Posted in

Outlaw Star Episode 05 – Gritty Kitty

Obviously after such a whirlwind series of events, Gene and the gang (this includes you, the viewer) have to take a break. So, we’re back at Blue Heaven, and as the Outlaw Star begins its dynamic change into the iconic ship in the opening, our remaining three heroes take some deserved R&R. Except, as per the episode title “Beast Girl! Ready to Pounce!” this isn’t going to come true.

Unlike her shrill, screamy, debut on Episode 03, the Ctarl-Ctarl’s character is handled better. Despite being a product of a proud, privileged, family with a military history, Aisha’s well… a bit dim and goofy. It helps how Gene and the gang are unfazed and unimpressed by her, and thus opens the gate for some amusing moments. We get some good fight scenes between her and Gene, and a tease of a greater Beast form in the future, so when she finally joins the crew (you don’t want the opening to LIE to you, this isn’t Gundam SEED after all) those character qualities are good to have. read more

Juu-kuchiby Juu-kuchi•
Posted in

Outlaw Star Episode 04 – Get It By Your Ship Hands [SPOILERS?]

SPOILERS?

In a testament to my lack of involvement in the animu community, I’m probably not even the first to think this. However…

When it comes to tragic, role model, deaths early on in an animu, erryboddy loves to think about a couple of characters from Martian Successor Nadesico and Gurren Lagann. Those two are larger than life characters (or at least acted the part well enough) who got things rolling so our main protagonists can start the series proper. On my rewatch of this episode (my third I believe), I realize Hilda does not get as much love as she should. Granted she only meets our heroes in the first episode, but her kick in their ass to get things moving has the same ripple effect the other two had on their show. So raise a toast to the now ex-Hilda before we talk about the episode proper. read more

Juu-kuchiby Juu-kuchi•
Posted in

Otaku Evolution Episode 105 – Boogiepop Phantom

It actually took a couple of weeks to make this (all things considered) pretty short Halloween episode that might be a bit padded, but I’m otherwise pretty satisfied with. Like last year, I didn’t want to go with a ghouls and monsters title, I wanted something more psychological, and while there are, in fact, supernatural boogie(pop)men in this, it’s very much in the same vein as Serial Experiments Lain in the way it gets you to think about the social commentary as much as the characters and plot, if not more. So enjoy my review of Boogiepop Phantom, a veritable Russian nesting doll of a narrative, and form a few memory butterflies as you watch. read more

Penguin Truthby Penguin Truth•
Posted in

Outlaw Star Episode 03 – All Aboard the Ctarl-Ctrain

This episode always was a bit of a lull for me. Like the last two there is quite a bit of whirlwind action taking place within the runtime, however it feels like a bit too much time is spent in transit. After putting the kybosh on their nighttime assailants, Hilda and the gang make off for the mysterious ship she spoke to Gene of last week. Obviously this means more space battles…

…However the space battles are not as exciting as they were in the first episode, and if the opening and episode 1 prologue are any indication, the best is yet to come. One can’t do too much with firing lasers on the run on ships that are immune to lasers. So what is there then to make things interesting? Well, introduce a fourth character out of the five showcased in the intro of course: Aisha Clan-Clan. The intro pretty much spoils she’ll join the crew in the future, but I guess it’s nice to see how she and the other three in the intro (Gene, Jim, and Melfina)get their destinies intertwined. read more

Juu-kuchiby Juu-kuchi•
Posted in

PG Wing Zero Refurb Project – Part 1

One of my favorite things to do is pick up used kits on eBay for cheap. It’s become a lot harder these days with the increasing popularity of Gunpla but there are still deals to be had if keep your eyes open. This is one of two kits I just picked up on eBay, a Perfect Grade Wing Zero Custom.

The listing for this kit made it clear that it was a parts only kit. From the photos I could tell that most of the kit was there, namely missing a piece on the upper torso and the buster rifles (which I planed use, never having done anything with them following my PG Wing build over a decade ago). Since then I’ve found more pieces missing, such as a rear-leg armor piece, some ankle armor, and one of the yellow detail pieces on the should armor. Still well within tolerances for the project plan.  read more

Falldogby Falldog••0
Posted in

Falldog’s Unicorn Collection

For awhile now I thought it would be swell to get all my Unicorn kits and related all together into one big family photo. I’ve been holding off because, as you may have noticed, that’s quite a bit of work. Well last night I spent quite a few hours on what may be some of the worst photographs I’ve ever taken.

I had a very terrible idea that I’d be able to manage to get them all on my photo table, which obviously didn’t work. At the very least I was able to get the built kits onto the center section of my display room though by then I had run out of patience to get everything sorted by height as much as possible. In both scenarios though I had to resort of my wide angle lens which sucks in low light and isn’t good at focusing ob objects a meter away. Of course the latter half of the issue is my inability to mitigate those problems.  read more

Falldogby Falldog••0
Formania V Sazabi & Formania EX Sazabi Bust Comparison
Posted in

Formania V Sazabi & Formania EX Sazabi Bust Comparison

I wanted to share some photos of the Formania V Sazabi and the Formania EX Sazabi. These busts are figures, straight from the box, no need to paint or detail. The Formania V came out in 2010 and the one with a simple flat red colour scheme. The Formania EX just came out in 2017 and is glossy with more complex colour scheme.

For the most part, other than the colour scheme, they’re pretty similar. The newer EX has a lot more metallic details across the bust, but I’m a much bigger fan of the simplistic scheme and colour choices of the original. Both kits have parts that come off to display some of the inner frame. The head opens on each to reveal the cockpit enclosed within. read more

Falldogby Falldog••0
Posted in

Outlaw Star Episode 02 – Pathos to Gail Simone’s Chagrin

In the fight for gender equality, I believe women have a more pressing group to compete towards than men: The waifu. You may wonder: “Yo, aren’t waifus women? What makes them different and treated better?” Well, it’s a matter of this.

When you stick a woman in a refrigerator, chances are she’s dead. When you stick a waifu in one, it’s for the purpose of waking her up again for some story element a bit of a ways away. The argument has an issue however in that River Tam was NOT a waifu, nor should be considered one. However, that is another story for another day (That will never come). Let’s get back to Outlaw Star. read more

Juu-kuchiby Juu-kuchi•
Posted in

Outlaw Star Episode 01 – Makings of a Legend?

I’ve a confession. I never really finished Outlaw Star. I watched the first half until the midpoint of what I remember is the Space Race, and then lost interest after that, except for the then-taboo “Hot Springs Planet Tenrei”. However, thanks to FUNimation and an evolved animu home media market which does not sell 25 to 26 episode series in three-volume two-disc sets with an MSRP of $44.99 each, I have decided to take the plunge once more. It’ll not only be great finishing this, but it’ll also be great having a full opinion on the complete product instead of one where I’m “Oh, what I saw was good but I didn’t finish it.” read more

Juu-kuchiby Juu-kuchi•