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Japanator Radio 125
by Zac Bentz, 03/10/2010
Japanator Radio 125 photo

It's a new Japanator Radio! Exclamation point! For emphasis!

This week, music from Capsule, Mudy on the Sakuban, The Telephones, Chatmonchy in the Artist Spotlight and much more! Woo!

Grab it whilst the grabbin's good!

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DOWNLOAD EPISODE 125

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Track-list and links after the jump!

 


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  4 comments Latest by halcy0n
"Thanks for another spin. I've been tripping down memory lane, listening to the old shows - some bands have really evolved/blossomed ... especially Ogre You Asshole ... love that. How about a trac..."...read more



 Tuesday Otaku Debate: Gundam Battle Royale
by Jon Snyder, 03/10/2010
Tuesday Otaku Debate: Gundam Battle Royale photo

Okay, so technically this is a WEDNESDAY Otaku Debate. Wanna fight about it?

Although the Imperial Star Destroyer performed better than I expected last week, it still wasn't powerful enough to topple the mighty SDF Macross, which blasted its way to an easy victory with 68% of the vote. Unfortunately, the Macross was utterly obliterated by the Death Star approximately twelve minutes later. All hail the Galactic Empire!

Since we covered giant robots in the latest Japanator AM episode, I figured we might as well use this week's debate to settle an age-old question that plagues the otakushpere: which Gundam series, film or OVA is the best? Cast your vote below, accompanied by a short explanation of your favorite's superiority. When the all the votes are tallied, the winner will be declared the *drumroll* GREATEST GUNDAM SERIES OF ALL TIME. By this time next week, the ancient Gundam debate will be settled once and for all, and the internet will finally be at peace.

  19 comments Latest by Gymnopedie
"THE SCHOOL OF THE UNDEFEATED OF THE EAST! THE WINDS OF THE KING! ZENSHIN! KEIRETSU! TEMPA KYORAN! LOOK THE EAST IS BURNING RED!! No but seriously, Zeta Gundam was my favorite series. But I think..."...read more

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A real-life guide to Japanese emoticons is super useful
by Josh Tolentino, 03/09/2010
A real-life guide to Japanese emoticons is super useful photo

Japanese emoticons (kaomoji) are awesome. They're so much more versatile (and expressive) than our boring old :) and :( . Hell, they can even include hand movements and body language.

Unfortunately, those not versed in the anime/manga aesthetic, or at least in certain Japanese cultural filters, might not "get" what a given expression means. More than once I've been asked what (-_-) or (T_T) mean.

If you get questions like that a lot, you can forward them to this little photo gallery by Jurgen Sprecht and his friend Ako, which places real-life, human-looking faces to the little expressions on your screen. 

Now, if they could add instructions on using the more complicated characters easily from my barbarian non-Japanese keyboard...


  5 comments Latest by undyingstorm
"This face T~T always reminds me of Konata, i think its the mouth. "...read more



 Kannagi manga to get a spin-off in Comic REX
by Josh Tolentino, 03/09/2010
Kannagi manga to get a spin-off in Comic REX photo

Not much to go on right now, except that it's going to be called Kenpachi Kanpachi, and will be run by Kannagi author Takenashi Eri's real-life brother, Yuuki Shinichi. This might smack of nepotism to some, but both are accomplished mangaka.

I certainly enjoyed Kannagi's TV adaptation by Yamakan, who thankfully left Kyoto Animation before Endless Eight struck, so I can't help but wonder whether he and Studio Ordet will handle Kenpachi Kanpachi should the time come.

[Via Canned Dogs]


  1 comments Latest by Brad Rice
"Please arrest me, Officer Nagi. I've been a very bad boy."...read more



 VIZ announces sci-fi/horror manga DOROHEDORO
by Colette Bennett, 03/09/2010
VIZ announces sci-fi/horror manga DOROHEDORO photo

Mmmm, horror manga. I can never get enough of it. Having reread my Junji Ito dozens of times however, I have to admit I would not mind something new. VIZ has come to my rescue with the announcement of DOROHEDORO. This ongoing title was originally published in Ikki and has been readable on the Sigikki site since 2009. However, now you can own a bound copy!

The story centers around a young man named Keinan, who was transformed by a magic user and now possesses the head of a demon. He also cannot recollect his own identity, and is accompanied by a female named Nikaido as he seeks to find out what happened to him and how he can regain his human form. Just the kind of demonic madness that floats my boat! We'll bring you a full review in the very near future.


  6 comments Latest by Yuusen
"Very good manga, read it for quite a while already. You have to get used to the unusual art style, but after a while it actually develops it's own charm. Just give it a try. (^_^) I'm pretty sur..."...read more

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Japanator Recommends: Castle in the Sky
by Brad Rice, 03/09/2010
Japanator Recommends: Castle in the Sky photo

For the longest time, I had films like My Neighbor Totoro and Spirited Away as my safe bets for favorite Miyazaki films. They were accessible, fun, and certainly evoked plenty of emotions. But then, Disney sent us a package full of their Miyazaki releases, and I grabbed Castle in the Sky for myself, eager to finally get around to seeing another one of his films.

I didn't know what I was getting into when I claimed this film.

What I ended up sitting through was a film more stark and emotionally charged than I really ever expected from the folks at Studio Ghibli, and something that has taken the top honor for my favorite film from this legendary team. Follow me after the jump to see why.


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  10 comments Latest by guillep2k
"Laputa is excelent, but my all time favorite is Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind. It is as violent as Laputa, if that matters, but doesn't have any comic relief characters. I hate comic relief ..."...read more



 Gurren Lagann Parallel Works 2 out on May 26th
by Ben Huber, 03/09/2010
Gurren Lagann Parallel Works 2 out on May 26th photo

You know those awesome music videos GAINAX did featuring characters from Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann in new "stories" or environments (or just sticking their fingers where they don't belong)? Well, we knew a second set was coming since the second Gurren Lagann film came out, but now we've finally got a DVD release date nailed down: May 26th. The initial limited pressing will include a CD of the music, a booklet, and a box that everything comes in. Yes, a real, honest-to-goodness box. Calm down, now, it'll be alright.

Actually, don't calm down -- all the music is totally new music! New background music (possibly for the Lagann-hen film or totally new stuff) and new character songs will be used this time around, and of course, the animators are different as well. Gekidan Inu Curry, the director of the Maria + Holic ED will be animating one, as well as Ayumu Kotake, Shingo Abe, Shouji Saeki, Satoru Yamaguchi, Shouko Nishigaki, Sushio, and Akemi Hayashi, most of whom have worked on key animation for Gurren Lagann and other GAINAX shows such as Gunbuster.

The whole thing has me excited, especially the new music. Who else is interested? And no I'm not quite sure what is happening in the above image.


  2 comments Latest by THE KING OF HEARTS
"It'd be nice if I could acquire these legally. "...read more



 J-Pop singer Koichi Nakamura arrested on drug charges
by Tim Sheehy, 03/09/2010
J-Pop singer Koichi Nakamura arrested on drug charges photo

Various news sites are reporting that Koichi Nakamura, lead vocalist for the j-pop band Jaywalk, was arrested for possession of stimulants late last evening. The arrest was made after police found Nakamura inside a parked car. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed a small quantity of the drugs in question. Authorities are still investigating the matter in hopes of determining the source of the drugs. 

According to Tokyograph, Nakamura was also arrested for owning a swiss army knife a few years back. Sometimes I forget how serious Japanese gun and knife laws are, but then I hear about stuff like that. Could you even imagine how screwed MacGuyver would be if he got lost in Japan? Actually, I take that back, he'd probably just fashion his own knives out of chopsticks, scotch tape, and glass.

I don't doubt he's guilty, but I have to admit that I feel kind of sorry for the guy, seeing as Jaywalk is celebrating the 30th anniversary of their formation, and had planned a nationwide tour this May. I hope that they'll still be able to make those concerts happen.

On the bright side, this gives me a reason to post the intro to Road Avenger (Road Blaster FX). While I'm sure most of you probably haven't heard of Jaywalk before today, some of you who owned a Sega CD might have come across this game, and wondered who it was that sounded like a Japanese Adam Sandler singing the intro song. Well, to answer your question, it's these guys. If you're brave enough, watch it after the jump.


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  4 comments Latest by Tim Sheehy
"Probably not. He's not popular the with the kids, and he has a penis."...read more



 Rock the charts: Japan's box office numbers 2/27 - 3/05
by Brad Rice, 03/09/2010
Rock the charts: Japan's box office numbers 2/27 - 3/05 photo

Well, now that just about every person in Japan has seen Avatar, it shouldn't be too long until it starts fading away from the country's mind, right? Knowing this film, I'm probably dead wrong. Well, at least we saw Percy Jackson take a pretty good stab at de-throning Avatar, and we might see a new #1 next week.

1. Avatar. 10th week, pulling in $4.03 million.
2. Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief. 1st week, pulling in $3.41 million.
3. Oceans. 6th week, pulling in $1.02 million.
4. Saru Lock The Movie. 1st week, pulling in $1.01 million.
5. Younger Brother. 5th week, pulling in $701k.
6. The Vanishment of Suzumiya Haruhi. 4th week, pulling in $675k.
7. Sergeant Keroro. 1st week, pulling in $675k.
8. The Fallen Angel. 2nd week, pulling in $650k.
9. It's Complicated. 2nd week, pulling in $577k.
10. Coraline. 2nd week, pulling in $527k.

The biggest surprise in here, though is that The Vanishment of Suzumiya Haruhi made a big rebound, shooting up its revenue 52% from last week, to reclaim the #6 slot on the charts. That's mighty impressive, Yuki.


  1 comments Latest by Strey
"Nice picture, I really liked Nagato in the series, makes me want to watch the movie. "...read more



 Japanator AM Episode 8: GIANT ROBOTS!!
by Karen Gellender, 03/09/2010
Japanator AM Episode 8: GIANT ROBOTS!! photo

You'll notice that this week's title comes with two exclamation points, because two exclamation points are the new exclamation point. What's up with that, anyway? Chu-Bra!!, Durarara!!....

This week, we discuss GIANT ROBOTS with special guest Dustin, making this episode an awesome crossover with Bakacast; John cements his position as the world's foremost theoretical-anime-physicist with his theory of Quantum Fanservice (I'm thinking that he should pick up a Nobel for this), and we go all highbrow on you during Omake with some Japanese literature. You can listen to it right here, right now.

Oh, and Nick Simmons continues to amuse the hell out of us. I think that dude is to Japanator AM what Sarah Palin is to The Daily Show- everything he does just leads to enjoyable podcast shenanigans. Hit the jump for show notes and coffee, or maybe just show notes. I'm drinking coffee now, but it's instant, so don't get too jealous or anything.


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  12 comments Latest by firehawk12
"You guys could also try fixing the feedburner feed to let it work with iTunes if Apple is giving you guys problems. :)"...read more






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