Yo! What's a sexy variable fighter like you doing in a crummy hanger like this?

Sorry, sorry. I know that's a horrible line. In any case, it's good to see you! Honestly, flight-testing that VF-25 Messiah was an absolute ordeal. It's good to be back in the company of a REAL Valkyrie, not some glossy piece of sh*t overloaded with bells and whistles. Actually, I'm glad I met you here. Flying that VF-25 helped put a lot of things in perspective for me... helped me sort out my feelings. Because of that, I have something I need to tell you.

VF-171 Nightmare Plus, I love you.

Regular Japanator readers know that the "First Impressions" series typically covers brand new shows, but we've made an exception in honor of Macross Day. As a total Macross newb, I was afraid I would have nothing to contribute today, but Jonathon Snyder wisely pointed out that writing a First Impressions on the show would make good use of my ignorance. Now, he made it seem like this was for the benefit of all of you out there who are new to the show, just like me, but I think we all know that his intentions are far from altruistic; he just wants us all to become drooling Macross fanatics so he'll have more people to talk to.

However, despite the fact that I was aware of his evil plan from the word go, it appears to have worked. After watching a mere two episodes of Super Dimensional Fortress Macross, I find myself mumbling "Makurosu!" at inopportune times, and that can't be a good sign.

Of course, telling you that I am now a budding Macross-fiend kind of ruins the suspense concerning whether or not I think this twenty-five-year-old show holds up. However, if you're still curious about planes that grow bodies and Lynn Minmay's awesome shoes, hit the jump. Makurosu!

It's Macross Day today, and to celebrate it, we're giving you a dose of (proto)culture in every available field, including that of video games. Unfortunately, besides the incredibly inferior Robotech: Battlecry, there are few, if any, decent Macross games available out of Glorious Nippon.

That might have cut us off right there, but we are no mere blog. We are Japanator!

Read on for more about what is, in this Macross maniac's estimation, the best Macross game available.

Import engines GO!

Alot of people like Macross Frontier. And alot of people like the characters in it. Ranka? Sure, cute. Sheryl? Okay, she's not bad. Klan Klan? Heck, I wouldn't pass her up. But most people miss the real point. The honest-to-goodness truth, hidden deep inside Macross Frontier: Bobby Margot. The real soul, the real binding friend who held everyone together. Without Bobby, I believe everyone else you guys like would be dead, injured, or ruined. The real hero of Macross Frontier is Bobby, our bandana-wearing, smooth-talking, former hair-stylist friend.

Except to me, he's more than a friend. Bobby Margot, I love you.

Hey everybody, don't forget about this months musing. Tell us what is the best thing ever. It can be a show that you've watched, are currently watching, are currently dating, are currently doing naughty things to, whatever!  Tell us about it or any hot jams your listening to or any sexy manga that crosses your eyes.  The best stories will get put on the front page at the beginning of next month!

If you need some motivation, take a look at some of the ones that have already been put up.

Topher tells us that Yotsuba& is the best thing ever, and I'm inclined to agree.

EuricaeriS gives some UK insight on otaku housemates

lyfeforce talks about the people of Monster going through hell.

Hey! Hey Sheryl!

I haven't seen you in a while! How have you been?

It's been so long since we last talked, Sheryl. What have you been up to? Had your panties stolen by any Vajra larva recently?

*SMACK*

OUCH! Okay, okay, I shouldn't have brought that up. Still, it's great to see you. Say, would you mind if we talked... you know... privately? I have something I want to tell you.

Sheryl, f-for a long time now, I've been... well, my f-feelings are... ah, what the hell, I'm just going to come out and say it.

Sheryl Nome, I love you!

Yet another 4-koma strip manga is getting an anime adaptation, and this time it's going feudal! So get ready to put ya guns on for With My Lord, as the title translates, which tackles the Warring States period from a comedy perspective.

Of course, as with any anime adaptation announcement, we know next-to-nothing about it until the next issue of Comic Flapper, which hits stands December 5th. I'm wondering if this is going to be a Hetalia-esque show, or if they'll flush it out more in the direction of K-ON!, Lucky Star or Azumanga Daioh.

Well, until then, we get an airing date for this, we've got to hold on and wait for FUNi to get Sengoku Basara out to us for our fix of samurai-bustin' action.

While we're waiting for Nico Nico USA to cover more than just the Space Shuttle launch, the Japanese Nico Nico continues to get awesome stuff in the way of official channels -- the latest and greatest is from Madhouse. If you've got a NicoNico account, you can check out some of their listings, which include the likes of a trailer for the Trigun: Badlands Rumble film. It looks pretty boss, I must admit.

Of course, if you don't have an account set up for Nico Nico video (we'll walk you through how to do it one day), then you'll just have to sit tight and start adding your own line of "wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww" on YouTube annotations for the videos you're watching.

We here at Japanator can't leave you hanging, though. We've got some stuff waiting for you after the jump.

[Via AnimeAnime]

Sure, it may cost you your pride, but if you're looking to keep warm and generate a hell of a lot of fuzz, then you may as well go ahead and show your Naruto pride with this snuggie, which we see some of the Viz employees showing off theirs. According to Lex at Viz, these will be hitting stores come wintertime.

I am going to wear this thing with a vengeance. What other way can I share my love of all things Sasuke with those who come over and find themselves chilly. They'll have no choice but to accept the ninja within them and by the end of the night, they'll be painting their nails black like the Akatsuki members.

So, who else wants one? C'mon, I know you, Japanator readers.

[Via Nebs]

Macross and cosplay... two of the most awesome things in the universe. Bring them together, and what do you get? Pure, epic deculture, that's what.

This post is the result of hours spent slogging through the bowels of the intertubes, searching for Macross cosplay. After much blood, sweat, toil and tears, I invite you to enjoy the very best of what I found. Ten pictures are embedded below the break, and even more can be found in the gallery. Enjoy!

Yack deculture!