games  anime  toys
Japanator is anime news, community, videos & geeky J-stuff. Updated daily!   Sign up to comment or blog    |    Returning? Login

japanator logo


The Four Laws of Moe
by Jon Snyder, 03/16/2010
The Four Laws of Moe photo

It seems one of the biggest problems in the ongoing moe debate is the lack of any concrete definition for the term "moe." Therefore, after doing much research on TVTropes, Wikipedia and various anime sites, I've decided to expand on one of my earlier comments and propose the creation of The Four Laws of Moe. This system is designed to strictly define what traits make a character 'moe' in the context of modern otaku culture. Hopefully, with all of your help, we can refine these laws and settle the moe definition question once and for all.

Read more after the break!


view full story & comments

  7 comments Latest by Jon Snyder
"Although Miss Boyle is one handsome woman, I don't consider her moe."...read more

Gallery Images:
Photo Photo Photo Photo


Get me results: How to solve the JRPG Grind
by Josh Tolentino, 03/15/2010
Get me results: How to solve the JRPG Grind photo

[As posted on Destructoid]

If you haven't noticed, a big JRPG launched recently - Final Fantasy XIII. Even with the last couple of years chock-full of big RPG releases, this is one of the biggest. And it's also one of the most divisive JRPGs, in part because, as a Final Fantasy game, it represents what JRPGs are to pretty much everyone not familiar with Dragon Quest (i.e. people not in Japan).

You've probably heard the arguments for and against JRPGs, here or elsewhere, but suffice it to say that one can't help but acknowledge that they're need of more diverse design philosophies, its audience a bit too fond of tradition and comfortable conventions.

The most distasteful of those JRPG conventions - and the biggest obstacle to its critics' ability to enjoy them - is, without a doubt, The Grind. At its worst, grinding is entirely a matter of numbers, with tactical brilliance or skill mattering for naught in the face of the enemy having one level higher than yours, a speed bump along the road to the next cutscene.

Mind you, at the core of the matter, grinding is relative, and depends largely on the perception and individual preferences of the player. If it doesn't feel like a grind, it isn't. The problem, then, is that it does feel like a grind more often than not, and especially not in an environment wherein the Japanese-style RPG is no longer the only type of storytelling-focused game available.

What do we do about it, then? What can developers do to minimize that feeling of tedium in their games?  How can grinding be fixed?


view full story & comments

  8 comments Latest by brannon
"I don't think it's fair to say that JRPGs aren't RPGs - that's simply using a very limited definition of a term. Think of it as a play or performance. You're casted into that *role*, and you have..."...read more



 360 owners rejoice: MikuMikuDance getting ported to XNA
by Josh Tolentino, 03/15/2010
360 owners rejoice: MikuMikuDance getting ported to XNA photo

Here's some good news for Miku fans who don't live in Japan or own a PSP with which to enjoy hot Project Diva goodness: MikuMikuDance (MMD), the fantastic freeware dance animation program, is being ported by dedicated Miku-maniacs into a model database compatible with XNA, the game design framework used, among other things for developing Xbox LIVE Indie Games.

What can gamers hungry for some hot dancing CG action? Well, since XNA is not limited just to the Xbox LIVE Indie Games, you would be justified in anticipating a variety of MMD-oriented indie projects all over the different MS platforms. And not just limited to Miku properties, but to all kinds of crazy-ass memes and custom models.

At the very least, you might see more gems like the machinima below. Or some of the ones in our video window to the right of the site. On your Xbox 360. 

Truly, it is an age of wonders.

[Thanks to Ko for the tip!]


view full story & comments

  6 comments Latest by 3939
"There is some huge oversight here, Miku (as well as 90% of the other models) cannot just start appearing in indie games. There is no way the copyright holders are just going to let their charact..."...read more



 California sushi bar investigated for serving whale
by Tim Sheehy, 03/15/2010
California sushi bar investigated for serving whale photo

Ever wonder what whale tastes like? Well, up until a short time ago, you could have found out for yourself--assuming you had $600 to spend on sushi. Recently, the FBI is began investigating the high-end Santa Monica sushi bar known as "The Hump," after producers for the recent Oscar-winning documentary, The Cove, conducted a hidden camera sting.

A producer for the film had two animal activists use hidden cameras to film themselves ordering a $600 omakase special. For those who don't know about ordering omakase, it's like letting the chef decide what to serve you--it can be very expensive, so if you plan on living a little, it might help to know the chef before requesting it yourself. After watching the preparation, one of the activists pocketed a piece of the sushi to send to a lab where it was later confirmed to be an endangered Sei whale. A second sting was conducted shortly after with federal agents present.

I'm sure that if this happened in Japan, the response probably wouldn't have been so severe given their general views on whaling, but considering the location of the restaurant, you'd think they'd know better. The city of Santa Monica is rather liberal, with plenty of environmental and animal activists. It honestly doesn't surprise me that they were eventually busted, but are any of you as bothered that this was happening as I am?

[via JapanToday]

  10 comments Latest by Gee-Man
"Eh, I can't stand pretentious animal activists, but these guys were pretty ballsy (and stupid) to try and get away with whale in a place like California. Should've opened up in Japan, where no on..."...read more



 Nozomi starts countdown for new license reveal!
by Brad Rice, 03/15/2010
Nozomi starts countdown for new license reveal! photo

Well, the folks at Right Stuf/Nozomi are up to something. They've put up a Coming Soon page over on their website, counting down to a license that'll be revealed on Wednesday at 5pm EDT. Between now and then, though, they're going to have some fun with us.

The site has a little audio clue for intrepid hunters to listen to and try to piece together clues to figure out what the license is. They'll be updating their site with more clues and posting others throughout the various places on the Internet -- probably their facebook and twitter pages, would be my guess.

And what do you get, besides the smug satisfaction of finding these things out before even we press do? Well, the first person to figure it out and submit the correct answer on Nozomi's website gets $100 gift certificate to RightStuf, and the next four people to submit the answer get $25 gift certificates. Not too bad, eh?

Well, check out RightStuf's website, and the press release down below, and get to hunting. Perhaps you might want to use our forums as a discussion pad for this stuff? 


view full story & comments

  5 comments Latest by Reibooi
"The whole dirty pair thing is pretty well thought out but I really have no idea. I listened to the thing and I have no idea what it was saying. As far as K-ON!(I assume people are just kidding) ..."...read more



 Famous people go hatin' on Japan's new anti-loli laws
by Josh Tolentino, 03/15/2010
Famous people go hatin' on Japan's new anti-loli laws photo

It's always a good thing when people band together and speak out against laws they don't think help matters, and a bunch of famous manga creators did just that last night on an "emergency press meeting" regarding their concern about a set of draconian censorship laws to be voted on in just a few days.

And rather than providing the impression of a few lolicon protesting against the righteous restriction of their sick filth, the creators present included more than a few luminaries of the industry, including Devilman creator Go Nagai, Ashita no Joe creator Tetsuya Chiba, and Doraemon co-creator Fujiko Fujio A, as well as lawyers, professors and representatives from pretty much every major manga/anime publishing outfit. The meeting was also streamed live on Nico Nico Douga and Ustream, with excerpts aired on TBS news. A sizable list of participants is available on ANN. The protesters presented the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly with a written statement of opposition.

The conference itself also brought up some interesting reports, including the foolishness of trying to separate "good" publishers/artists from "bad" ones, since manga hits rise from the bottom up, and how several winners of the Tezuka manga prize started out with work that would be banned under the new law.

Ironically, for the purposes of the live streams, some of the "sample" slides from the creators' various presentations had to be censored.

It's on.

[Thanks to Ko and everyone who sent in tips and info!]


  28 comments Latest by Mr Ymmit
"@ShaggyTheOnly Thanks for seeing it like it is, man."...read more



 New York Times' top ten manga for 3/15/10
by Brad Rice, 03/15/2010
New York Times' top ten manga for 3/15/10 photo

Well, time to get to this week's bestsellers in manga. To no one's surprise, Bleach has topped the list with its latest volume, while most others are either rehashes or good ol' sequels. Surprisingly, The Dark Hunters doesn't quite strike me as manga, but somehow it's on this week's list. Any of you read it?

Well, let's take a look at the full list below:

1. Bleach Vol. 30 - Week 1
2. Naruto Vol. 47 - Week 5
3. Negima! Vol. 25 - Week 2
4. Vampire Knight Vol. 9 - Week 5
5. The Dark Hunters Vol. 2 - Week 1
6. Soul Eater Vol. 2 - Week 2
7. Black Butler Vol. 1 - Week 6
8. Skip Beat Vol. 20 - Week 1
9. Alice in the Country of Hearts Vol. 1 - Week 5
10. Alice in the Country of Hearts Vol. 2 - Week 1

With the way the charts have been going, it seems to me that Vampire Knight is the definitive shoujo title for girls here in America right now? I noticed that the latest volume of Skip Beat managed to debut well below Vampire Knight, even though it's already several weeks in. 


  1 comments Latest by HoodedMiracle
"I kinda hate how the manga that are either crappy or heading towards crappy being at the top. :/ Bleach was cool when it started, but now... Eeeehhh..."...read more



 Imagawa drops out of Sakura-con appearance
by Brad Rice, 03/15/2010
Imagawa drops out of Sakura-con appearance photo

Sorry, Sakura-con fans. Hate to break the news to you, but your 2010 convention has just gotten a little less awesome. Yasuhiro Imagawa, the director of G Gundam, has decided to pull out of the event so that he can get to work on a new project, according to the updated Sakura-con website.

I'm hoping and praying for G Gundam 2, or however they decide to write it. GG Gundam? G Gundam!!? Best Show Ever, Gundam Fans? I'll watch it, whatever it is.

So, we'll have to wait once again for Mr. Imagawa to appear (he dropped out of Anime Weekend Atlanta last year) on the US for all of us to thank him for his glorious work.

[Image via MAHQ]


  4 comments Latest by undyingstorm
"Nooooooooo! stormy sad now :'( But i agree with kindaaloser, we still get THE FUCKING TRIGUN MOVIE!!!"...read more



 Rock the charts: Japan's box office numbers 3/06 - 3/12
by Brad Rice, 03/15/2010
Rock the charts: Japan's box office numbers 3/06 - 3/12 photo

Welcome to another edition of Rock the Charts, where we check out the latest information in the Japanese box office! This week, Doraemon debuts in the South Sea, meeting up with all sorts of historical and popular characters -- and even gets kidnapped by the crew of the Black Lagoon! It's no surprise that Japan's most lovable cartoon character took the top slot, but what about the rest of the charts?

1. Doraemon: Nobita's South Sea Adventure. 1st week, pulling in $6.12 million.
2. Liar Game: The Final Stage. 1st week, pulling in $4.33 million.
3. Avatar. 11th week, pulling in $3.45 million.
4. Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief. 2nd week, pulling in $2.04 million.
5. The Princess and the Frog. 1st week, pulling in $1.02 million.
6. Oceans. 7th week, pulling in $619k.
7. Saru Lock the Movie. 2nd week, pulling in $546k.
8. The Hurt Locker. 1st week, pulling in $492k.
9. Younger Brother. 6th week, pulling in $465k.
10. The Fallen Angel. 3rd week, pulling in $415k.

Not surprisingly, The Hurt Locker made its debut in Japan following its win for Best Motion Picture at the Oscars, although it came out with less-than-stellar response. That's most likely due to Japan's lack of interest in the Iraq War, as well as the fact that foreign dramas tend to do poorly in Japan.


  2 comments Latest by Rank57
"Wait, so we will have a Doraemon vs Revvy gunfight? HOLY SH*T."...read more



 Annotated Anime: Winter 2010 Week 10
by Jon Snyder, 03/15/2010
Annotated Anime: Winter 2010 Week 10 photo

Not much to say this time around, except...

WE HAVE A FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST: BROTHERHOOD RECAP NOW! Thanks, Ben! Now all we need to do is add Naruto and Bleach recaps, and we'll be set for life!

Anyhoo, you know the drill. Anime recaps below the break, in-depth discussion in our forums, watch out for spoilers, so on and so forth. Enjoy!


view full story & comments

  19 comments Latest by Marlin Clock
"Oh, Hanamaru Kindergarten, you know how to pull my cuteness strings so well."...read more

Gallery Images:
Photo Photo Photo Photo Photo Photo Photo Photo Photo





« OLDER POSTS
« Older posts - Headlines Only


 
Anime news got news? tips@japanator.com



New episode: Japanator Radio 125 GET!

Loading
Loading Videos


    Community Blogs   + post a blog   view all




    TEAM

    Editor-in-Chief
    Brad Rice

    Managing Editor
    Dale North


    Associate Editors
    Chelsea Thompson
    Colette Bennett
    Edward Baylon
    Eva Duenas
    Rio McCarthy
    Tim Sheehy
    Topher Cantler
    Zac Bentz

    Made by

    ModernMethod













    about us and privacy policy