This weekend, it was revealed that no less than 5 titles on the Japanese light novel label MF Bunko J (affiliated with Comic Alive) have had anime adaptations green-lit. The first of these is an exciting prospect by the name of Magical Warfare (Mahō Sensō).
Upon finding a girl in a strange uniform collapsed on his school grounds, Takeshi Nanase’s whole world is turned upside down. His once normal life, aside from his dark past, is changed forever by the odd girl, Mui Aiba, who claims that she is a magician. What is more, she apologises to him, saying that she turned him into one too! Now he suddenly has more problems than his fake relationship with his childhood friend as he begins to see a side to the world that he never thought existed … The world of magic.
There has been a manga adaptation of Magical Warfare being released in Monthly Comic Gene since earlier this year. The original character designs were provided by Lunalia who is a sublime artist and the manga adaptation is being handled by a relatively inexperienced, but very talented mangaka called Ibuki Yū. Certainly this is an anime to keep an eye on, especially if it has been picked up by a prolific animation company like J.C. Staff who recently animated Toaru Kagaku no Railgun S as well as a lot of highschool based anime based off of light novels which would make them perfect for the job. We’ll be following the news on this series very closely indeed.
This weekend, it was revealed that no less than 5 titles on the Japanese light novel label MF Bunko J (affiliated with Comic Alive) have had anime adaptations green-lit. One of these that stood out was a fantasy novel featuring a host of extremely well-endowed warrior women entitled Madan no Ō to Vanadis (The King of the Magic Arrow and the Vanadis).
This story is set in a wartime Western Europe which has been split into seven territories. These territories are ruled over by the seven fearsome Vanadis who are a group of beautiful women that have been bestowed a weapon of great power by a dragon. One day, a humble archer from the country of Brune is defeated ruthlessly by one of the Vanadis called Ellen. But, in an unusual turn of events she chooses not to kill him after admiring his skills in battle. However, in exchange for his life he must become her servant.
No less than seven volumes of Madan no Ō to Vanadis have been published since it began in 2011, and a manga adaptation has been running for 2 years in Monthly Comic Flapper. There has yet to be any news regarding which animation company will latch onto this project.
This weekend, it was revealed that no less than 5 titles on the Japanese light novel label MF Bunko J (affiliated with Comic Alive) have had anime adaptations green-lit. Amongst those titles there are a few that sound incredibly generic, but there are one or two that definitely excite me. No Game, No Life is one of them, mainly because it gives me vibes of Mondaiji-tachi ga Isekai Kara Kuru Sō Desu yo?, but with an awesome digital aesthetic and heart meltingly cute female leads.
Joining the ranks of NEET comedy like Princess Jellyfish and Welcome to the NHK, No Game, No Life centers around a pair of siblings called Sora and Shiro who take the term NEET to a whole new level. Tales of their shut-in life have made them the stuff of legend on the internet. In true “The World God Only Knows” fashion they view reality as being just another crappy game. However, their shut in life is ripped away from them when they are summoned to another world by a boy claiming to be god. The boy has forced all conflicts to be settled by games and not war, even if those conflicts are over cities or country borders. Shiro and Sora arrive at a time where every remaining human in the world has been forced back into one city and it is their job to drive back the invading forces and save humanity in the only way that they know how … By gaming.
Boasting a promising art style and an interesting, if not slightly unoriginal premise, this series looks to be one to search out in the news. Both the art and the story are provided by Kamiya Yuu who is already known for his illustrations in A Dark Rabbit Has Seven Lives.
Trivia: A NEET is someone who is Not in Education, Employment, or Training (NEET). There was a huge rise in the number of young people who would be classified as a NEET in Japan recently as a direct result of the baby boomer generation born in the late 40’s reaching retirement age.
This weekend, it was revealed that no less than 5 titles on the Japanese light novel label MF Bunko J (affiliated with Comic Alive) have had anime adaptations green-lit. Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance was one of these titles and is definitely the most highly anticipated piece of news of the bunch. It has already acquired quite a large fanbase in its two and a half year lifespan with 10 volumes already written and a manga adaptation being drawn by MM! writer Issei Hyōju.
In a world where it is thought that only pure females are able to make contracts with spirits, students at Areishia Spirit Academy study hard to achieve their goal of becoming spirit elementalists. Claire Rouge, a noble daughter studying to become a spirit elementalist, was purifying herself in a lake in the spirit forest, where she in unaware of a lost boy called Kazehaya Kamito peeking on her. While in the forest she is attacked by a sword spirit Restia who would have killed her were it not for Kamito rushing to her aid. While trying to save her he ends up forming a contract with the spirit, becoming the first male to ever form a spirit contract.
This weekend, it was revealed that no less than 5 titles on the Japanese light novel label MF Bunko J (affiliated with Comic Alive) have had anime adaptations green-lit. Interestingly, this is the only anime announcement out of the five that has been licensed to have a manga adaptation in English. This particular anime takes the term fiery tsundere a little too seriously. Most anime characters only have to worry about a few bruises if their tsundere friend becomes a bit hot headed, but for the main character of Dragonar Academy, Ash, he has to fear for his life. Why you ask? Because she’s a dragon …
Mocked by his classmates at Ansarivan Dragonar Academy, first-year student Ash Blake wants nothing more than for his dragon to hatch so that he can ride dragons like everybody else. Ash has a huge star-shaped scar on his hand that should mean that in the future he will be a dragon master which just makes the ridicule worse. But one day his egg begins to hatch and his dragon awakens! What nobody expected though was for Ash’s dragon to take the form of a beautiful red-headed girl, especially one with this much attitude. After immediately putting Ash in his place and taking her place as the master in this relationship, Ash’s real problems with dragons begin.
Bullet to the Head is straightforward, predictable and as bland as the title of the movie, which surprisingly accounts for the choice of Stallone’s drink, Bullet Bourbon. However, that is not to say that director Walter Hill’s film doesn’t deliver what the audience can expect from a Stallone crime and action film. Does the muscular brutality and shoot ’em up thriller hit the right level of execution or miss the target shot?
Story
The film begins in shades of black and white underneath railway tracks, focusing on Taylor Kwon, WDCPD (Sung Kang , Fast and Furious), who steps into a car and meets a gun to his head. Before the trigger is pulled, an outside shooter kills the mysterious gunman, and we see James (‘Jimmy’) Bonomo (Sylvester Stallone) pouting through the broken window.
Following the opening scene is a mug shot of tough guy, Jimmy, with a voiceover explaining the narrative progression of the film; “The guy I just saved is a cop. That’s not the usual way I do things, but sometimes you gotta abandon your principles and do what’s right. Here’s a story. This is the way it went down.”
From the city streets of New Orleans to two hitmen posing as Federal Agents, Jimmy and his partner, Louis (Jon Seda) interrupt the dance routine of a drunk and high ex-cop, Hank Greely (Holt McCallany) in his black underwear, (awaiting sex from the hooker in his shower). Louis temporarily puts down Hank in two shots, but a bullet to the head is more precise for Jimmy, in finishing the break-in and murder job. As for the Russian hooker, we find out that Jimmy has a soft spot for young females with tattoos; considering his daughter, Lisa (Sarah Shahi), is a tattooist herself.
Both men go to the Crawfish Hollow Bar and Grill to meet up with the man who hired them, Ronnie Earl (Brian Van Holt), unaware they are being hunted down by the brutal mercenary, Keegan (Jason Momoa, Game of Thrones). Jimmy returns to the bar after being attacked in the bathroom, to discover his partner is bleeding out.
In an attempt to resolve the death of his former associate, Hank Greely, Taylor calls Jimmy in regards to same enemy being responsible for the murder of Louis. The manhunt for vengeance is the basis for a cop and criminal forming an alliance, offering the audience a new perspective on breaking the law for justice. Without being too critical though, there is no evidence within the film that favours police detectives that follow their duty to protect and serve society. Bullet to Head prioritises on the deceptive side of the legal and justice system; in that no one can be trusted at all and betrayal is derived from greed and survival of the most powerful. Within reason, Taylor assists Jimmy in tracking the men who double-crossed them; taking them out one-by-one and closing the case once and for all.
Stallone is a stand out actor and narrator, giving the audience not only a piece of his weapon, but his mindset. One of my favourite Stallone quotes in the film is; “Guns don’t kill people, bullets do. You made two big mistakes; you should have checked the weight and you should have never tried to burn me.” Sung Kang, performed reasonably well in his role as the detective associate, but did not suit the helpless victim, manipulated by his own colleagues and dependent on a hitman for saving.
Without giving away too much of the plot, within the film you will notice that the characters have a way of explaining each event before and after it takes place, which becomes an irritating default as there is not much left for the audience to assume. Needless to say, the ending is predictable; “nothing much changed, except some people got killed that nobody’s ever going to miss”. However, the straightforward manner of story-telling does the film a great justice in effectively executing each event from the beginning to end scenes.
Visuals
The Blu-Ray edition features amazing high-definition visuals throughout the film, from contrasting black and white to colour scenes and incorporating orange and red flashes between character movements and transitions. The visual elements create an additional burst of energy that draws in the audience’s attention; especially during the slow motion shoot-out and fighting scenes. I will admit that the slow pace of the film does make 91 minutes feel like 121 minutes; yet the constant and ruthless action makes up for the drawn-out story.
Audio
The Blu-Ray edition provides viewers with a Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound audio test and calibration to better suit their movie experience. The jazzy bass soundtrack reminds me of a Law and Order: SVU episode, playing the same upbeat and suspenseful tune in specific scenes to accompany a shoot-out. Steve Mazzaro composed and Hans Zimmer produced the original music of the film, with badass titles including; Guns Don’t Kill People, Vikings and This Is My City. Jay Weigel, who grew up in New Orleans, should also be credited for the music he produced and wrote; Bourbon Street Parade, Main Street Special Family and J’Etais Au Bal. The clean-cut and striking music suits the intense atmosphere and unwilling association between WDCPD detective, Taylor and long-time criminal and hitman, Jimmy.
Overall
Bullet to the Head is a raw and powerful film that stays true to the title and genre as an action, crime and thriller. The audience can expect a bullet to the head, but there is no need to name who take’s the final shot. Unfortunately, there are no special features included with this particular Blu-Ray edition. Nevertheless, Bullet to the Head brings Alexis Nolent’s French graphic novel, Du Plomb Dans La Tete, to life and draws upon the aesthetics of fighting from the 80’s and 90’s era; whilst incorporating humour to compliment the level of controversy explored between legal and illegal actions.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind Box-Set Author: Hayao Miyazaki Illustrator: Hayao Miyazaki Publisher:Viz Media/Madman Release Date:December 10, 2012 Price: $55.95 – Available Here
Overview Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind is arguably one of the most important anime films of all time. It is the film that started it all for legendary anime studio, Studio Ghibli. Nausicaa has gone on the inspire countless anime, manga and all manner of entertainment since its release. But this isn’t about the film, this is about the manga that inspired it.
In 1982, Hayao Miyazaki began drawing the Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind manga series. He mentions in the author’s notes of this deluxe box-set release that he didn’t have much faith in his ability as a mangaka. However after experiencing Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, I can say without a shadow of doubt that Miyazaki is a humble man. Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind is a manga epic.
Story It goes without saying that Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind is unforgettable. It is a tale so immense that Miyazaki himself concludes it by saying that although our journey with Nausicaa is over, there is still so much that will go left untold. It is a benchmark of great story-telling. It is the sense that even though there are no more pages left to turn, the characters and their world lives on, in our hearts and in our minds.
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind is well known for its epic environmental tale that questions the affects we have on the world around us. Many Studio Ghibli fans in the West are likely to have first acquainted themselves to the film before the manga, despite the manga being released first. There are a number of differences between the two works, some big, some small. But at their core, both works are instilled with a deep-seeded love for the environment and the wonders of the world around us.
It is very clear that Miyazaki has an agenda behind Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind and he has a message that he wants to get across. He manages to get that point across without ever being overly preachy and with a deep emotional impact to boot. This may very well be his magnum opus as far as manga goes.
If you are a fan of the film, you will no doubt find yourself salivating over the rich amount of detail and exploration given to the world of Nausicaa and it’s cast of characters. The manga goes deeper than the film ever could, providing greater insight and more colour to the world and characters we have come to love over all these years. This is definitely a must-read for fans of Nausicaa, it is undoubtedly the full-picture that Miyazaki envisioned for this story and one that must be experienced.
Artwork Miyazaki is nothing if not a beautiful artist. The worlds and character that he imagines are perfectly conveyed through his richly detailed artwork that is both gritty and surreal in its conception. The fantasy world of Nausicaa is fully-realised with every little detail bursting with life. On top of his artwork, Miyazaki has a great sense for framing his scenes, with great panel-work and angles that show definite traces of his work in animation. There is also a real hint of influence from Osamu Tezuka, with a art structure and direction not unlike Tezuka works such as Apollo’s Song.
Extra Content This deluxe edition box-set release from Madman Entertainment and Viz Media is absolutely remarkable. It comes bundled with a plethora of bonus content, that makes it definitely pack a nice big bang for your buck. The box-set is housed in a lovely hard-cover box, while the books themselves are also hard-covered. Inside each book is a number of colour pages and art from Miyazaki himself that are utterly gorgeous in ever regard. On top of all of that is a lovely double-sided poster that comes inside the box. It is all in all a great package and the greatest release the manga has seen to date.
Overall What more can be said about Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind that hasn’t been said? The praises of Miyazaki have been sung for decades now and his legacy of work honestly speaks for itself. Nausicaa is a masterpiece in every regard and this is the perfect release for what is one of the greatest manga epics the medium has ever seen.
Miyazaki believes that we are at the starting point of an incomprehensible world. We may not understand it, it may scare us, but in spite of it, we must live. It’s a lovely notion that. If you have never experienced the magic and wonder of Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, now is the time. It’s time to let the wind sweep you off your feet and take you on a journey you’ll never forget.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
It’s an exciting time for mobile gaming. We’re seeing revolutionary new genres and concepts, hours of gameplay for less than $1, titles with graphics that arguably rival current gen console titles and even smooth online multiplayer. Iron Force is a strong example of online multiplayer done right on iOS. It may not be flawless, but the excitement of virtually murdering a fellow human being can never be replaced and Iron Force captures it perfectly. Even if the game doesn’t interest you, you should still pick it up regardless as it really does showcase the power of current mobile gaming. Oh yeah and it’s free so you have no excuse!
Gameplay
Iron Force is an online multiplayer tank battling game much in the same vain as World of Tanks. Players duke it out against each other in Tanks, earning experience points along the way to level up and improve their vehicle. The game runs on the free-to-play concept but before you dismiss it – Iron Force is a game that actually pulls it off well. The way this works is that upgrades can take time to deliver to you, but using in-game currency or in-app purchases you can speed up the process. The same thing applies for fuel which is needed to battle, so players are restricted to how often they can play in a day unless they want to pay. While this is a major obstacle for many free-to-play titles on iOS, Iron Force generally doesn’t make you wait to long – about enough time for a quick Facebook break. Also purchases don’t feel forced and the game encourages you to just grind more instead so it all seems rather fair. Battles earn you two types of currency – a typical money currency and a rarer diamond currency awarded you throughout your battles. Cash can be used to purchase upgrades, while diamonds can be spent to speed things up and if you save for long enough – buy better tanks. On top of this there’s tournaments, leader boards, legions to join and more so it’s safe to say it’s set up well for a strong community to flourish. Every day you log on you get a sweet little gift as well. How thoughtful!
So with all that sorted – how does it feel once you actually get inside the tank? Well sadly, a little slow at first. As you level up however players will definitely feel an immediate increase in both power and fun and it can grow to be a rewarding experience. However this doesn’t kick in until you’ve unlocked a N2O boost for your engine and the aim/scope option for your turret. So while it does kick off to a slow start things do tend to improve after that obstacle. Gameplay can be a little clunky at times but it’s no deal breaker and connections are generally pretty strong. Sure it’s not perfect but about 80-90% of the time you can expect smooth gameplay as you destroy tanks worldwide. The upgrade system is deep but there’s not much strategy involved in combat so generally whoever has the best tank is going to win. The only exception of coarse is power ups which are found on the battlefield which results in a Super Smash Brostype situation where everybody is running for the power up to give them that edge in battle. It gives the game a type of party atmosphere and really makes the game fun. One major flaw of the game however is that once you get a better tank you lose all your upgrades and the game starts to suck again, forcing the player to build their machine again from scratch. It’s worth it but still very annoying.
Audio & Visual
Presentation in Iron Force doesn’t go leaps and bounds to impress you, but what’s present is nice. While graphics are a little blocky some nice attention to detail with textures is good and while maps generally tend to play out the same there is a nice variety in the aesthetics for what’s on offer. Top it all off sound effects get the job done to assist in making the tanks feel like tanks and like all military games you can expect the typical horns, marching drums and motivational “epic” sound. Much like everything else in the presentation it’s pretty much what you’d expect. It doesn’t need or want to blow you away, it’s just there to set the tone and keep you engaged in the atmosphere in which it does so successfully.
Overall
Iron Force isn’t a perfect game – the controls can be a little clunky, the presentation won’t blow you away and it does require a lot of patience. The game is very slow at first, but if you can make it through that players will find a deep upgrade system and that the game is set out and ready to support a very active community. The free-to-play model doesn’t feel forceful with in-app purchasing and for the most part gameplay feel smooth when battling opponents from distant locations. If you’re rocking a mobile device you should definitely consider giving it look as it could be one of the best online multiplayer titles for mobile gaming since Order & Chaos Online. Plus it’s free – so it’s an easy recommend for online multiplayer fanatics.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
The third annual Slash Only #3 event too place today in Beijing China! So as always it was another perfect excuse for the Capsule Computers Crew to attend and cover the event. As always Slash Only #3 event was open to the public with 1000 tickets being sold online and also at the door (after 1pm – only 100 tickets made available). Ticket prices were set at 40RMB (approx $5USD/AU) per person, so it certainly was a very affordable price if you’re a Dojinshi/comic book fan eager to pick up the latest Dojinshi’s and merchandise from popular TV Shows, Movies and games from the US and UK “Only” Yes you heard that right. Slash Only, only focuses on US and UK stuff and this time around absolutely NO Japanese Anime, Shows, games or movies were allowed.
Mad Rush to buy Dojinshi was on for young and old!
Slash Only #3 was held at a different venue from the first two events which were at Beijing Workers Indoor Arena, also known as the Beijing Worker’s Gymnasium which hosted the 2008 boxing events for the Summer Olympics. This time Slash Only 3 took place at Beijing Garden of World’s Flowers (an exhibition centre for plants and flowers) The size of the hall was slightly larger than Beijing Workers Indoor Arena but still much smaller than other Dojinshi conventions we’ve covered in the past. A total of 1000 tickets were made available to the public via online purchasing. As we’ve come to expect from Slash Only events, the organization was fantastic and the staff were very helpful. The event started a little earlier than usual due to massive heatwave with temperatures reaching as high as 38 degrees Celsius at 9:30am in the morning so fans were allowed in half an hour earlier. And as always the mad rush to buy thier Doujinshi and merchandise was on for young and old!
A wide variety of Dojinshi merchandise for sale!
What the event organizers also did to entice the fans was offer everyone attending a chance to pick up and collect the Slash Only trading card game cards. (similar to other card games like Magic The Gathering) These cards were not for sale at the beginning of the event, and initially were given away to the fans once they purchased merchandise from any of the vendor booths. However, at the end of day the entire collection comprising of 24 cards went on sale and massive lines were quickly formed and anyone interested in picking up the entire set were able to do so for only 20RMB ($3US/AU). This was certainly a great little incentive cooked up by the organizers (GA EXPO) for the fans which everyone really enjoyed.
Harley Quinn Cos Play ~ AWESOME!
Today’s event drew an impressive amount of Cos-Play characters dressed up from US and UK TV Shows, Movies and Games. Check out the pictures below in the gallery (we also have a link to our full gallery images hosted on Facebook) a lot of effort and time was certainly spent into some of these outfits which I must say were very interesting and amazingly well designed. All in all Slash Only #3 event was a great day out for the fans with a fun and enjoyable Doujinshi event! Click on the link below to be taken to our Facebook gallery page for Slash Only #3 Event or Deadpool with give you kick you in the face!
Recently Section23, the parent company of Sentai Filmworks, Maiden Japan, and Switchblade Pictures, announced what their November 2013 anime release plans are and these plans include nine different anime releases, most of which are getting a Blu-ray treatment.
They are kicking off the month by releasing Hiiro no Kakera Season 2 and Patlabor TV Collection 3 on November 5th, followed by Nakaimo and Yumeria on November 12th, Divergence Eve and Hellhole: Inmate 611, which is a live-action film, as well as Little Busters! on November 19th and finally they are closing out the month with the Highschool of the Dead: Drifters of the Dead OVA and La Storia Della Arcana Famiglia hitting shelves on November 26th. Each of these releases minus Inmate 611 feature an English dub and except for Yumeria, Divergence Eve and Inmate 611 which are being released on DVD only, everything is going to be released on both Blu-ray and DVD.
This story is set in a wartime Western Europe which has been split into seven territories. These territories are ruled over by the seven fearsome Vanadis who are a group of beautiful women that have been bestowed a weapon of great power by a dragon. One day, a humble archer from the country of Brune is defeated ruthlessly by one of the Vanadis called Ellen. But, in an unusual turn of events she chooses not to kill him after admiring his skills in battle. However, in exchange for his life he must become her servant.
Mocked by his classmates at Ansarivan Dragonar Academy, first-year student Ash Blake wants nothing more than for his dragon to hatch so that he can ride dragons like everybody else. Ash has a huge star-shaped scar on his hand that should mean that in the future he will be a dragon master which just makes the ridicule worse. But one day his egg begins to hatch and his dragon awakens! What nobody expected though was for Ash’s dragon to take the form of a beautiful red-headed girl, especially one with this much attitude. After immediately putting Ash in his place and taking her place as the master in this relationship, Ash’s real problems with dragons begin.
Recently Section23, the parent company of