Welcome to the first of the weekly update of nerdy niches and today I’m looking at a wonderful candy store in the middle of the city.
Walking in the walk through to the Queen Victoria Building, me and my co-writer, Spike or Michael, came across this candy store and INSTANTLY had to go in. The store is filled with all kinds of candy imaginable, not only from our country but also from the UK and US, which ranged from every flavour jelly beans to something as weird as crunchy ice cream. In the end we could not resist at least buying one or two things, even though we are supposed to be on diets.
Which is freeze dried and in a packet (most of you know it as Dipin’ Dots) – MasterAbbott’s FAVOURITE ICE in the whole entire WORLD !!!
Every flavour jelly beans
Red Hots
Butter Fingers
Gob stoppers
bigger then my mouth
Tootsie Rolls
Nerds rope
Twizzlers
American Cereal
such as Trix
Atomic Fireballs
War Heads
Baby Ruth Bar
Hersheys Chocolate Syrup
Pop Tart
So I think this is probably a great nerdy niche and if you have a sweet tooth like me I advise you to check it out 😀
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I actually have a lot of respect for this guy. In an age where the majority of people in any position of power or responsibility will roll over with very little pressure this guy has stood his ground. Senator Ron Wyden, an Oregon Democrat continues to be a thorn in the side of all those in favour of trying to pass the COICA bill in the US. After the Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act was introduced late last year by Senator Patrick Leahy it was passed unanimously, but in a law system where individual Senators can uphold pending legislation, Wyden proved to be a brick wall.
Already backed by obvious supporters, such as the majority of Film and music studios, the COICA has attracted the attention of many others who have signed on board such as Nike, Adidas, Viacom, NBC, Chanel and MLB franchises. While the likes of Nike and Chanel may seem a little odd on a list of companies worried about internet piracy, if passed the bill will also give these manufacturers more power over stopping the influx of counterfeit and knock-off products that profit from their IP. (and yes I see the irony of a companies like Nike and Adidas jumping on the bandwagon considering the outsourcing and labour sources they use to achieve such massive profit margins.
Companies have always battled online piracy and honestly all it has proven to be is a complete waste of time, effort and money. You could feed third world countries sometime into the next century with the disgusting amounts of money spent through the American legal systems combating piracy. The entertainment industry in general is undeniably down in sales figures but instead of looking at the current economic climate where a lot of people have to make the choice between buying the latest Blu-ray or I don’t know um…….eating, they blame internet piracy. Since Apple brought ITunes to the world, and music went online, CD shops have been closing down worldwide. This is more a sign of changing technology not a result of internet piracy. Again it all comes down to the fact that these companies count every download as a lost sale, which could be true in maybe 15% of cases.
COICA gives the US government the ability to shut down any website they deem to be breaking any part of the bill. This would include forcing CC companies to refuse payments to suspect sites as well as forcing anyone (think Google), to remove any offending advertising. While Senator Wyden has worked closely with many US industries to combat more tangible counterfeit goods, he feels the internet is “too important to our(US), economy and to advancing American values to be inappropriately regulated and censored under the guise of protecting IP”. Personally I agree with him as it seems to be an exploit the government could use to shut down other sites.
There are many other critics to the bill besides a world of teenagers already pissed off that Limewire doesn’t exist anymore. Google Chairman Eric Schmidt is heavily opposed to the bills passing saying that Google would fight its implementation even if it became federal law. He is quoted as saying “Even if there is a law that requires DNS to do x, and its passed by both house of congress and the president , and we don’t agree with it we would fight it”, he goes on to add that if it was merely a request , he would have no part of it.
As the months have gone on, Wydens stance has not changed, as he still feels the costs are far higher than the benefits, stating “…I am not willing to muzzle speech and stifle innovation and economic growth to achieve this goal”.
I hope this guy continues to stand his ground as no government should have the authority prevent their people from accessing information. There is a case for major companies to protect their IP but I don’t think this is the way to do it. Giving any government the authority to shut down websites based on their content (with the exception of the obvious underage sex issues), will eventually get out of hand and slowly sites unrelated to the bill will start disappearing. In Australia the Communications minister Steven Conroy has had plans for years to censor the internet in an effort to remove child pornography, already making a vast list of sites to be blacklisted at a federal level. While I’m all for this concept it’s not the right way to go, and is really an excuse to be able to monitor and censor whatever material he and his Family first party deem fit. Sorry, while I disagree with the theft of others property the current solutions encroach too much on my freedom for my liking.
Genre: Comedy/Horror/Cult Produced by: Asylum Director: Quentin Dupieux Featuring: Stephen Spinella, Roxane Mesquida, Wings Hauser Running Time: 78 minutes Available for purchase at:Madman Online Store ($29.95)
Overview
If you’re a person that is absolutely logical, needs an explanation for everything, and loves pointing out every little inaccuracy or absurd detail in a film, I’m warning you: put down the film, walk away, and watch some sort of documentary. The entire basis for this film is that there is “no reason” to anything, and that is – if anything – an understatement for everything that goes on in this killer tire movie.
Rubber is plenty of things: B-grade, funny, quirky, and a little bit subversive…but it isn’t to everybody’s liking. The film finds itself walking the tightrope between arthouse and B-grade horrors, and ends up somewhere in between funny and unsettling. If you are one of the few like me who can let go of cinematic reason and just observe, it’s an interesting experience; however the majority of audiences will probably watch for half an hour, shrug, and walk away.
Plot
The plot is predicated on the fact that there is no reason, and therefore everything in the film is possible. In the middle of the desert, there is an animated tire that has discovered it has telekinetc powers: it can concentrate its energy on an object and cause the object to explode. While the tire initially uses this power to destroy cans and bottles, it soon realises that it can destroy living things: birds, rabbits, and humans. It wanders to a nearby highway, where it sees a beautiful woman drive past…and surprise, surprise, the tire becomes obsessed with this woman and follows her to a hotel to watch on her. Meanwhile, there are a group of people with binoculars a little while away, watching the tire and its story as it unfolds, much like the audience watching the film in the cinema.
This shot pretty much sums up the entire film: killer tire vs. the world.
Yeah, the storyline needs a big question mark stamped straight over it. Of course, it doesn’t make sense at all, and Quentin Dupieux seems to count on the nonsensical ways of the film to score some easy laughs with the viewers. While the idea of no reason is charming and comedic in the beginning, it quickly spirals into a big dose of confusion and doesn’t reappear as comedic until the last ten or so minutes. With that being said, though, I have to give Dupieux a million and one brownie points for originality: there is absolutely no way that anyone could wander into this film and know exactly what is going to happen at the end.
Without giving away too much, I do have to add that I think this film says something deeper about all movies which try to follow the classic Hollywood narrative. It can be shrugged off as something that just tries to be silly and comical, but what I have learned about a lot of B-grade filmmakers is that these films will, on occasion, try and make a point. Dupieux is great at breaking down the boundaries between spectator and character, between the real and the constructed, and creating some laughs while he’s at it.
Characters
Since the main character is a tire, it can be hard to understand that the film is actually quite relatable. In fact, one of the spectators in the film summed up my sentiments perfectly: “It’s the first time I’ve ever identified with a tire”. The tire is funny, charming, and even though it’s on a major power trip, it’s not evil. In fact, Dupieux gives the tire enough human qualities to validate it as a legitimate character, and I have to say that it was most definitely my favourite in the film. Girls will like the tre because it falls over and makes funny noises, and guys will like the tire because it stalks the really hot girl.
I’m pouring this water…for no reason.
The rest of the characters ranged from terrible to brilliant, but in a B-grade movie that’s to be expected. The policeman who introduces the film reminds me of Craig Ferguson: someone who knows how silly the movie is, and therefore just goes along with it. The acting of some spectators was a little exaggerated – almost to the point where it seemed they were trying too hard to be funny -, but I suppose Dupieux would argue that they are supposed to be that way (for no reason, of course). Really though, aside from the tire, a few spectators, and the policeman, I felt the other characters were negligible and I probably wouldn’t have missed them if they all spontaneously disappeared from the movie.
Visual and Audio
The best part about Rubber was its cinematography. Being able to make a film about no reason meant that Dupieux could also make it beautiful for no reason…and that’s exactly what it is: visually stunning (minus the animals and humans exploding). Because a lot of the film depicts the tire’s journey through the desert and its discovery of its telekinetic powers, it really did need to be presented well in order to keep the audience’s interest. From the high contrast to the slight sepia tones which sometimes seep through, this film really makes the most of its setting. The tire is also brilliantly animated, and Dupieux does, as I mentioned before, give the tire a sort of lifelike quality through the animated movements.
Yep, that’s a beautiful tire.
Soundtrack-wise, the film is interesting and while the soundtrack suits the film, I’m not sure how I feel about it. The music is akin to that used in arthouse films – straight out of the book from indie films, in my opinion – but sometimes is adjusted to conform more to the horror genre. What Dupieux has done here is create a unique tone to an already unique movie, and provide what can only be described as a new experience. The sound effects are pretty standard, although the sound the tire makes when telekinesis-ing is extremely entertaining and very likely to get stuck in your head.
DVD Extras
The DVD came with a few teaser trailers, the original trailer, and a few Madman trailers. Suffice to say that this DVD really wasn’t jam-packed with a lot of goodies to watch after the feature had finished, but in all honesty I don’t think I would have wanted to watch any extras anyway. For 70 odd minutes, the film felt ridiculously long: my brain was absolutely exhausted from all the lack of reason and switching from no reason to a normal “making of” would have been too much to bear anyway.
Final Comments
Rubber surely was an interesting experience, but I’m not sure I could do it more than once. It’s a film that’s more comedy than horror and more nonsensical than logical, and Quentin Dupieux has really got me baffled on this one. What he was going for, I’ll never know…but I suppose the real beauty of this movie is that there is absolutely no reason at all, and maybe the point is that sometimes a lack of reason can be okay.
Game Name:Mighty Milky Way Platform(s): Nintendo DSiWare Publisher(s):Wayforward Developer(s):Wayforward Genre(s): Puzzle/Platformer Release Date: May 9, 2011 (US) May 27, 2011 (EU) Price: 800 Points ($8 US)
Back in 2009, Wayforward released an instant cult classic onto the DSiWare by the name of Mighty Flip Champs. The game was a puzzle-platformer which utilized stage design to offer variety as players flipped the entire stage to find a path out of each level. Two years later, Wayforward have released a bit of a successor to Mighty Flip Champs with Mighty Milky Way. Instead of being a true sequel though, Mighty Milky Way offers completely different gameplay mechanics with a new heroine to guide through each out-of this-world stage. How does this new entry into Wayforward’s resume measure up compared to past releases? Here is my review for Mighty Milky Way.
Story
When starting up Mighty Milky Way, there is no way you can ignore Luna, the main character player’s must guide through each stage. Not only is Luna a little green alien with a lot of spunk, she is also French and speaks it fluently during the game. Luna’s main goal is to make it to the warp point located on each planet filled stage, later going on to fight a dapper T-Rex at the end of each area as she aims to complete her “secret mission”.
Luna is a sheer delight to control as with such a simple plot, the vibrant nature of her character made the whole game feel fun and lighthearted all the way through. Most characters just die when they meet their doom. Luna actually stops, speaks a charming little phrase in French and then parishes. When you complete a stage, Luna stops to blow the player a kiss as a thank you, which is as adorable and rewarding as it sounds. Wayforward seem to know how to create characters like this, and while Luna isn’t exactly an in-depth portrayal, she certainly will make you want to fight to finish Mighty Milky Way to the end based on personality alone.
Gameplay
The way Mighty Milky Way actually plays is honestly like nothing I have ever seen before and is honestly a bit hard to write down a paper due to it’s complex nature. Mighty Milky Way is a bit of a puzzle-platformer. Instead of actually controlling Luna, players must act as a gravitational guide as they pull the heroine from one planet to the next, eventually pulling her into the warp point goal at the end of each stage. This may sound simple, but this game relies heavily on proper timing, requiring a lot of thought-out strategy and planning ahead to succeed.
To accomplish this mission, the touch screen is used to quickly create planets for Luna to jump to. Every time you collect a piece of candy, an extra planet can be created which will pull Luna into it’s orbit. Once Luna is on the planet, she will walk around it in a clockwise fashion until you give the planet a tap, pulsing the planet and launching her into the direction she was facing at the time. If you launch Luna without a planet for her to safely land on, she eventually will keep floating and fly straight into a barrier on the stage, one that usually kills the player instantly.
Most levels are designed with a few planets ready to be orbited, with an end-level warp point usually being located in a blank space on the other side of the map. To get to this destination, a set number of planetary candy are scattered throughout each area which makes the main objective of each level to collect every piece found as candy is crucial for creating the next platform to land on. To make things tricky, if Luna pulsates off the same planet twice, it is destroyed instantly. Thankfully the game is ready for this as planning ahead is made easy due the main map located on the top screen as well as a zoom function added in with the Up and Down buttons on the D-Pad. Creating a planet is done by tapping in a blank space with the stylus. Holding down the stylus instantly controls the size of the planet you are creating. At certain times, a different sized planet is needed so yet again, this is an element the player must think out a bit as if the planet is too large or a bit too close to the edge, Luna might walk right into a barrier. Barriers are not all bad though as some walls are made out of a bouncy material, letting Luna pounce off the walls of a stage to collect candy or to fly to a new area of the map.
To mix things up a bit more, some planets have enemies roaming about which kill at the touch. Since there is no way to actually kill an enemy aside from destroying the planet they inhabit, they must be avoided. Using the left and right buttons on the D-Pad, Luna has different speed settings which can speed up or completely stop her walking pace to assist with this and for most enemies this does the job fine. Later on, enemies with other abilities introduce themselves, requiring new techniques to avoid and upping the challenge greatly. Other gameplay elements are also added in during later levels of the game, changing the gravitational pull gameplay with tele-portals and cannons that are used to create different means of planetary travel. Those wanting variety in gameplay will not feel hungry during Mighty Milky Way as each stage feels distinctly different from the next, making each new area a feel like whole new experience.
Each area as I mentioned is made up of 10 stages in all, and at the end of each you are greeted by a T-Rex boss that uses a laser to destroy planets that Luna is gleefully walking on. Boss battles work a bit the same as standard stages but with a much greater threat that increases the intensity to work and think faster. Overall, Mighty Milky Way is one of Wayforward’s most challenging offerings to date that requires thought and strategy to complete and because of this, every time I completed a stage I felt that much more rewarded at the end. After you complete the game, a time-bomb mode is unlocked which doesn’t really change the way the game is played, but increases the challenge dramatically by adding in a timed approach.
Graphics/Audio
Visually, Mighty Milky Way isn’t going to win awards with it’s graphics as they are a bit pixelated at times. However, the bright colors and personality are displayed vividly throughout each “universe” Luna traverses through, making each area unique in it’s own way, from smoldering hot settings to sunshine lit backdrops. Luna is a charming little protagonist as well, which shows through in her bubbly sprite and animations as she struts upon each planet.
The music in this game is exceptional, from tunes that are a throw-back to many 16-bit classics as well as the main theme that Luna sings herself. Wayforward were genius in making Luna French as well as it adds a lot of depth to her character. I had no clue what the little alien was spurting out when she died, but each time I usually cracked a smile as there is a lot of personality in her voice that makes even the most frustrating of levels feel oddly calming and enjoyable.
Overall
Mighty Milky Way is an interesting and welcome addition to the DSiWare as the whole concept and gameplay mechanics introduced feel completely original and unique. I sat trying to think of any games to compare this title with but honestly I can’t come up with any as this gem truly stands on it’s own legs in just about every way. With the bubby character of Luna to the vibrant galaxies to explore, Wayforward have introduced yet another DSiWare title that feels like a cartridge release. Mighty Milky Way may look like a simple game from afar, but the complexity and thought that was added into the level design gives the game a thick layer of strategy, enhancing the rewards for completion ten fold and giving birth to yet another Mascot on the DSiWare.
It seems that every little bit of news we manage to scrape together for Otomedius Excellent is from a video game retailer placing the information on their website before Konami decided to say anything about it. We previously saw that GameStop had listed a Collector’s Edition of the title but we did not know at that time what would be in said edition.
That is until Amazon updated their listing for the title. Siliconera was the first to notice that Amazon now lists a $49.99 Collector’s Edition of Otomedus Excellent and under the product features it describes the following:
Lovely characters to pilot through an expanded world. Choose from nine characters on-disc to battle through 8 all-new stages of thrilling sh’mup action!
Three’s company! Cozy up with a friend or two in local and online multiplayer and team up to obtain hard-to-get items!
Eye-popping Gallery mode. View your unlocked stills and graphics in a new Gallery that grows as you progress through the game.
Loads of appealing downloadable content. Sure to appeal to both Gradius and Otomedius fans, this content will be announced later!
Exclusive Special Edition. Includes 2-sided pillowcase, 64 page artbook and soundtrack disc featuring music from the Otomedius series.
Some of these things we already knew, such as the multiplayer modes and the characters that you could play as. But the interesting thing here is obviously the 2 sided pillowcase, 61 page artbook and soundtrack disc you will receive after you buy the Collector’s Edition. I’ve gotten a pillowcase before from the Record of Agarest War Naughy Edition that was released last year and that just sits away in the closet. It’ll be interesting to see what this one will look like when Konami ever gets around to acknowledging the title again. Oh and Amazon also lists the game for a July 19th release. Wonder if that’s just a placeholder.
While we are disappointed that High Moon Studios will not be producing a sequel to War for Cybertron as of yet, it is comforting to hear that that they are making the video game adaption of the upcoming movie. While we await both the movie and game release, some screenshots and a trailer have made an appearance. Hopefully, they can satiate our curiosity for how the game will turn out. As long Dark of the Moon holds to WFC’s reputation of high quality voice acting, visuals, gameplay and detail, it sure has a shot, even if the game is set mostly on Earth.
While some people were busy watching soccer for the game, the rest of the world was watching the Champions League Final to catch a glimpse of Gears of War 3’s full campaign trailer that was teased earlier this week. If you couldn’t watch the show or just didn’t know about it, then don’t despair because we have the trailer below.
The trails is set to Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs” which is quite suiting in this case. The Gears of War 3 campaign will obviously focus around Marcus’ father which was easily guessed from the teaser. What wasn’t seen however was plenty of action as well as a few new characters that have yet to be introduced. Catch the full campaign trailer below.
Many long running Nintendo fans will no doubt recognise the name Phonenix Wright of the Ace Attorney series. When first released to the public on the Nintendo DS, the series became a runaway hit on the handheld system. The unique visual sytle combined with the investigative nature of the gameplay were appealing in themselves, but most of us tended to revel in the court-room scenarios. The game series flawlessly combined elements of mystery, drama and comedy into a very well deliver package.
As of today, the producer of the series: Capcom, has announced that everybody’s favourite “OBJECTION” shouting lawyer will be heading to the big screen in a live action full length feature! Whether the story will follow the path of the first “Attorney at Law” game, or if the storyline is a brand new feature, I’ll be willing to wager that this film will be one to look out for. However, it has already been confirmed that appearing characters will include obviously Phoneix himself, his assistant Maya Fey, and everybody’s favourite prosecutor Miles Edgeworth as the main rival character. The director of the film is also confirmed as Takashi Miike, the same director behind the film “Thirteen Assasins”.
Now, video game to movie adaptations have had mixed results in the past. From the downright embarassing ones, like Mortal Kombat and the Mario Brothers movie, to averagish slug-fests like DOA, and actually surprising gems like Prince of Persia. This particular film is, as many may have guessed going to be filmed for Japanese audiences, but hopefully western audiences may later be privy to a dubbed version. Regardless of whether you hold a bias against video game films or not, this little number will be one to watch closely.
Produced by: Zexcs, Kadokawa Pictures Distributed by: Madman Entertainment, Funimation Entertainment Media: DVD Genre: Action, Comedy Runtime: 300 minutes, 2 DVD’s Rating: M- Animated Violence Available from: Madman $59
PREMISE
Hey folks! Guess what? It’s the FUTURE! And guess what else? Yep, humanity is in trouble again. As an avid watcher of many anime and science fiction series, it would not be unreasonable of me to say that our current outlook on the future can be downright pessimistic. If it’s not an alien invasion, or outbreak of some deadly disease, it’s nuclear war, robot induced massacres or everything else on the planet evolving to the point they all want us dead. What should however, strike viewers immediately about Chrome Shelled Regios is how it attempts to portray a sense of normalcy in a futuristic world that seems alien to our own. Say what you will about the old “humanity in danger” chestnut, but when a series is able to pull it off successfully, then its most certainly deserving of attention and acclaim from the anime viewing community.
“A desperate battle in a contaminated future…
The world of tomorrow is an arid wasteland; a forsaken place where nomadic communities take shelter within mobile, domed cities. Massive, mutant Contaminoid monsters swarm the planet’s desolate surface, and the lack of resources fuels constant conflict between cities.
In this bleak future, mysterious young Layfon struggles to escape his violent past. Unfortunately, his former life might be impossible to hide after he’s forced to enroll at the military academy – his special powers are clearly stronger than those of his comrades. As he joins his fellow student soldiers in the desperate battle against the Contaminoid scourge, Layfon must fight to keep the origins of his enhanced abilities a secret, because the truth could tear his team apart.” – DVD Blurb
The premise of this anime series is to tell the tales of life surrounding a young student soldier named Layfon and those of his military cohorts. The group of young soldiers go about the business of training, developing team bonds and attempting to live the semblances of normal student lives within their enclosed domed city. All too often the students are reminded of the bleak, desolate world in which they live, and the prices that must be paid for survival, but that does not stop them from chasing their dreams and hoping for a brighter future. Not only for themselves, but for the rest of humanity as a whole. Throughout the anime, viewers should expect to be treated to a vast array of kick-ass action sequences, hilarious characters and situations, and an underlying mystery regarding the protagonist’s origins. It should also be noted that this particular series shares many similar popular elements of other popular anime series, particularly in regards towards the construction of characters, and the universe itself. Chances are, when viewing this anime, fans may be prompted into thinking of other anime or video game which seem closely interlinked.
PLOT
Suddenly BAM! The story opens with a large, dragonfly-like monster attacking one of the dome-cities, making absolute mincemeat out of the protective layers. As the creature nears the city proper, a small band of human warriors appear to halt the beast’s advance. It is revealed that these warriors are a special brand of guardians who are able to utilise a magical energy called Kei to fight their opponents. In this bleak future, it appears that humanity has learned to use some pretty kick ass tricks, using Kei energy to augment weapons, create energy blasts or erect barriers or traps. Using a combination of customizable weapons called DITE’s and Kei abilities, the small group prove themselves more than a match for the monster.
It is then that the attention of the scene is cut and replaced by that of the mainstream story. A young man departs from (what can be assumed to be) his home town, leaving behind a saddened young lady, and off-screen dialogue hinting at their parting. Riding on a desert transport, viewers will likely make the accurate assumption that the young man portrayed is the main protagonist of the series. Upon his arrival in a college-like city named Zuellni, the young man introduces himself to some fellow students as Layfon Alsief, a student studying to work in machine maintenance. Around the same time, the audience is also introduced to the cohort of Zuellni Platoon 17, led by the series’ lead female: Nina Antalk. It’s the beginning of the school semester, and military platoons are seeking new members undertaking military arts studies to recruit into their respective camps. Layfon, dressed as a normal student clearly holds little interest in the military arts. However, things don’t exactly go according to plan when a schoolyard brawl almost turns fatal for a by-standing schoolgirl, spared only by Layfon’s almost superhuman reflexes (and a psychic tip-off). This act of heroism suddenly attracts some very unwanted attention as he is immediately transferred into military arts thanks to his natural abilities. He is immediately scooped up by Nina and platoon 17, who henceforth provide the focal points of many proceeding episodes and story structures.
Throughout this collection, each of the different members of Platoon 17 open themselves up to the viewers and each other, creating many sub-plot opportunities to compliment the ongoing story. It should be said that the ongoing plots regarding Layfon’s mysterious abilities, and the nature of the Contaminoid scourge are concepts that should not be too foreign to many anime viewers. However, the pace and delivery of the story itself is remarkably well executed. While on the outside, and from first impressions, the anime appears to be based solely on action, suspense, blood and explosions, deeper within holds a truly shining example of combining humor and action together in a very satisfying ratio. In other anime titles that I had viewed in the past that attempted to combine these two elements, very rarely are they so well proportioned against one another. I found it quite uplifting to see how in scenes a deep and meaningful conversation such as those between Nina and Layfon can be immediately turned into comic relief in an almost seamless fashion. I believe that the time spacing between action and comedy is what allows viewers to truly appreciate the purpose of one type of scene without still being stuck in the mindset of another.
CHARACTERS
For the sake of keeping things concise, this section will briefly observe the most significant characters to the story.
Layfon Alsief-
The protagonist of the story is a young man with clearly a past he wishes to keep hidden. It is revealed early on that he wishes to keep his abilities a secret not only to protect the integrity of his platoon, but to also stop him from being exploited for his talents with Kei. While under the surface, he is clearly no stranger to action and danger in his life, he maintains a friendly although somewhat quiet attitude to his new life as a military arts student. Throughout the first collection of the series, we see Layfon slowly reveal the nature of his past, and viewers are drawn in to sympathize with his reasons for staying away from fighting.
From a viewers perspective believe that Layfon is a solid example of what a main character should be: strong, capable, and yet aware of his limitations. All while attempting to maintain bonds with the friends closest to him. Add in a mystery back-story, and we have an overall appealing character.
Nina Antalk-
Nina is the commander of the 17th Platoon of Zuellni’s military arts academy. She too has a slightly tarnished past, but the nature of this is quickly brought to light within the first few episodes. As a leader, she may seem strict to outside members, but in reality she is highly protective of the friends she has made in the platoon. She consistantly shows a strong degree of loyalty to her squad-mates, and will often attempt to jeopardise her own safety or comfort for others. Now while Layfon is the main character of the anime, I personally feel it’s Nina that steals the show in terms of character growth and general audience appeal. Her role as leader of the platoon garners a huge responsibility which sometimes can be seen to take its toll on her when the group is faced with a defeat. Ultimately however, viewers are drawn in by her friendly nature, and the loyalty she clearly holds for her teammates. An interesting point to note, referring back to the notion of being reminded of other series, both the character design and militaristic attitude adopted by Nina very closely resembles that of Noel Vermillion from the BlazBlue video game series. Both often wear blue military fatigues. Both are trained in military discipline, and the visual similarities are very distinct. If you’re a fan of this particular fighting genre, checking out Nina’s portrayal in Chrome Shelled Regios is definitely worth a go.
Sharnid Elipton-
Sharnid fills in what most would consider to be the “protagonist’s best friend” and “playboy” role of the group. He fulfills the role of the ranged weapons specialist, and sharpshooter. Despite the fact that Sharnid is the oldest member of the 17th platoon, he’s happy to let Nina take on the role of group leader. His easy-going attitude and laid back lifestyle can often put him across as somewhat selfish, but he always seems willing to lend a hand to other people in need. That said however, he takes great pride in his “lady-attracting” skills, often spending much of his free time at the local maid cafe. He is without doubt, the scoundrel of the group, and his interventions have often been what has led to some of the groups more humorous exploits. (Such as Felli getting a job in the maid cafe.) Now on to personal comments: Sharnid is a DEAD ringer for Edward Elric from Full Metal Alchemist. The hair styles are identical. The Face shapes are identical. Heck, even some of the clothing is identical. The only real differences physically are that Sharnid has clearly been drinking his milk, and growing in height. As for his attitude and character, I found myself drawing similarities between his personality and skills from that of Lockon Stratos from Gundam 00. A laid-back master sniper? Certainly sounds the part. It goes without saying, Sharnid is one of the most appealing characters in the series. Fan of Gundam or FMA? Check it out.
Felli Loss-
Felli fulfills the role of Platoon 17’s Nen-I operator. Felli is a young, and somewhat shy girl who excels in the use of psychic abilities, acting as either telepathic communication conduit for her teammates, or using telekinesis to engage in combat. As a result of her telepathic abilities, like other Nen-I operators, Felli lacks quite a lot of personality. Smiling and feelings of positive inclination are difficult for her to express. On the flip side however, she seems a little TOO good at expressing herself with negative emotions such as anger. Her outbursts are often the source of unexpected but quite entertaining humor value, especially since few ever expect the strong silent types to yell and express themselves by swearing and kicking at everything in chibi style animation. It appears that she actually likes maintaining a relatively blank expression. (A fact which is affirmed by her kicking Layfon when he witnesses her express a stray smile). I found that Felli is a strong, relatable character for Layfon, as she also finds her own abilities exploited against her own wishes. However, the degree in which she attempts to play down her true feelings tells us that she is suffering on the inside. Like Sharnid, expect Felli to be the source of many humorous situations.
Harley Sutton-
Harley is the final member of the 17th Platoon, and the teams DITE mechanic. As the weapon mechanic for the group, Harley is not what one would call the fighting type, typically taking on support roles in combat situations. Outside of battle, Harley is Nina’s closest confidant, being her childhood friend. He also acts as the source for Nina’s back story. His attitude is one that is often upbeat and logical. Amongst the rag-tag group of warriors, he seems to be the most “normal” of the group, often acting as the voice of reason when Nina becomes unsettled. Not surprisingly, he gets on very well with pretty much every other member of the platoon. As a main character however, Harley doesn’t really stand out as much against the other team members, but viewers can’t help but like his consistantly upbeat attitude.
VISUAL
The art style utilized in this series is reminiscent of that used Studio Bones in the Full Metal Alchemist series, and partially in Soul Eater too. The character designs are all quite unique amongst themselves. Each character has their own distinctive visual identity. The only difficult part is matching up the visual to the name. Several character model types are clearly used for different scenes, which works to the show’s advantage. By utilizing chibi animation, viewers can obviously tell the nature of the scene is supposed to be light hearted or humorous, in comparison to the full-scale sized character models which denote action sequences or scenes of social interaction. What I also enjoyed in regards to character designs were the weapons utilized by the main characters. Each individual military arts student wields a different personalized DITE, which I feel is a very distinguishing feature of the series as a whole.
The visual layout of the anime environments are also very well detailed. What’s particularly impressive is how the landscape artists were able to create a distinctive visual contrast between the arid, desolate landscapes outside the Dome cities, and the urban, peaceful nature within the cities. Looking at the landscapes and city design, it is sometimes hard to believe that the city itself is housed within a walking shield, surrounded by nothing but desert and monsters. For the most part, one might assume that the cities themselves are part of a whole different world.
However, the real visual winners in this series are the special effects. The combination of weapon based combat and the utilization of Kei and Nen-I abilities during battle sequences really shines through. It’s satisfying when, say, someone is playing a video game, and they score a particularly gruesome kill. Within this series, it’s satisfying just to SEE Sharnid score a headshot, or see Nina and Layfon beat members of rival platoons to a pulp. The level of graphic detail that’s gone into combat flow and special effects is nothing short of amazing. When an anime is able to make the viewer truly feel immersed with the same sense of satisfaction as the main characters are, then the visuals have to be doing something right. 🙂
AUDIO
The soundtrack for this series is certainly a standout factor. The opening song does a VERY good job of getting the viewer interested in the universe of the anime. The techno-rock theme works wonders for the establishment of combat by providing a vital rhythm and pace in which the fighting takes place. The music is also well differentiated for different themes being presented in the anime. Regardless of whether the situation involves comedy, action, drama, or a degree of romance, the musical accompaniment is very well stylised to suit the scene. The militaristic nature of many of the action type soundtracks compliment the underlying nature of the story, and enhances the immersion feel for the audience. Being drawn into the often unseen aspects of military life is something not many anime fans get to truly experience. However, the team based nature of many scenes that are appropriated with these tracks provides a strong sense of allegiance and teamwork.
I will also note that however, the voice acting work is not perfect. There are a few particular instances of social interaction that one would may have preferred to watch in a Japanese dub. However, this is not to say the English dubbing is bad. In fact, for the most part, the dubs are pretty good. The point is they are not always perfect for the situation or character. A minor issue, but forgivable in my book.
CONCLUSION
As a personal note, I would like to add that Chrome Shelled Regios does, at various points, consistently remind me of elements of other anime I have previously viewed, and absolutely loved. The best description that one might provide would be: “like blending Soul Eater, Full Metal Alchemist and Gurren Lagaan into one chaotically funny and totally kick-ass series.” If you are a fan of any of these series, along with BlazBlue, Fallout, Gundam, and a cavalcade of other such anime or games, don’t waste time. Pick up a copy and watch it for yourself!
Prior to be told about the series, I will admit that it was not a series that I was likely to have picked up to view myself. I unfortunately suffer from a bad case of “judge a book by its cover” syndrome, contrary to what I said in my Black-Butler review with Grace. However, I am truly thankful that I had the opportunity to review this and be introduced to a really kick-ass series that combines my favorite aspects of action and humor.
Hunter x Hunter volume 1 Author: Yoshihiro Togashi Release Schedule: 27 volumes at time of posting and on hiatus. Publisher: Viz Media Release Date: April 05, 2005 Available for Purchase at: The Book Depository
Overview:
I recently decided to check out Togashi’s work, after having heard people sing his praises for several years. I knew of him as the man behind Yu Yu Hakusho, a series I recall from my younger years. I liked Yu Yu Hakusho, a fair bit, but it never drew me to Togashi’s other works. Until recently when after a chance error on my part when I mistakenly purchased Hunter x Hunter volume 1 instead of Dragonball volume 13 from the Book Depository. Don’t ask me how I did that, it just happened.
So without realizing I had bought Hunter x Hunter I waited patiently for my Dragonball volume 13 to arrive. The day arrived and I opened my package to confusion. After checking their site I realized I actually had purchased it. I could have returned it but I instead decided to read it. It was a decision I am thankful I made, because what I discovered was not only a hidden treasure but a true manga classic.
Story:
We are introduced to a young boy named Gon fishing whilst camouflaged as he reels a giant river monster. He returns home to his Aunt and asks her to keep her promise in allowing him to take the Hunter Examination to become a Hunter. She reluctantly agrees and he sets off for the Exam. Through a series of flashbacks it’s revealed that his father is a legendary Hunter named Ging, who hasn’t died as his Aunt had told him, but instead ran off to live his dream as a Hunter. The interesting thing about this is that it isn’t played off as a story of father abandonment but more as a story of a life so great you would abandon your child for it. It feels refreshing and deservedly so, the father abandonment story has been done to death and when this didn’t turn out as I planned I was pleasantly surprised.
Over the course of the volume it mainly details Gon’s journey to find the examination hall, which is unbelievably difficult to find, so difficult in fact that finding it is part of the exam itself. The road to the examination hall is riddled with deadly traps and deadly creatures as well as murderous examinees trying to kill off as many weaker examinees as they can. It provides a ominous sense of dread and leaves a darkness hanging over the characters heads as danger is ever present. But it doesn’t effect the light-hearted vibe of the series, in fact it is a complete juxtaposition. However Togashi masterfully melts both together for what makes a great mood for the volume.
Characters:
This is a manga that develops it’s characters extremely well, let me say that first. But the way it does so is very subtle, for common readers they may find themselves knowing and understanding the characters without knowing their true motivations, which is quite a feat for Togashi. What he has done is rare for manga and even anime, where-in the characters say little regarding their past or motivations, but their actions tell you who they are.
Take for example Leorio, on the surface all he cares about is money, yet he has a strong sense of chivalry and honor despite his surface appearance and constant claims that he wants nothing but money. Yet he is so often called to action and steps up no questions asked and slowly along the way we gain a hint of his motivations and the final understated revelation of his motive albeit not entirely revealed. Their had been hints of his knowledge of medical care along the way such as when he treats the Navigator with first aid and when he is seen reading a magazine called “Meds”.
It is these little touches of detail that give life to these characters. Each character has development much like this, some even at the end of the volume have yet to have motivations revealed, yet we are finding ourselves caring deeply for these characters. It is a testament to the genius of Yoshihiro Togashi, a genius that deserves greater acclaim.
Artwork:
The artwork is simple and easy to understand, that’s not to say its void of detail. The level of detail rivals that of One Piece. I found myself noticing little things in the background, that show the amount of love and care Togashi has put into this work. If you have followed the series through Japan you would undoubtedly know about his common hiatuses, to think that even though he has suffered illness after illness and been brought away from the series he hasn’t given up and kept the finished products artwork in tact is amazing. I know that some chapters published in Weekly Jump were sub-par but the finished volumes are improved.
The artwork overall is just spectacular and really gives life to the world of the Hunters and the characters within it.
Overall:
This is an excellent first volume for a series I can not wait to blast through, if you have ever considered reading any of Togashi’s work but did not know where to begin I wouldn’t be far stretched to say Hunter x Hunter is a better place to start then Yu Yu Hakusho (a series that is over 20 years old now). I particularly recommend it to fans of One Piece and even fans of Naruto. Although Naruto owes a large debt to Hunter x Hunter, with taking many of the same elements from it.
If you are looking for a new manga series or somewhere to begin in Togashi’s expansive library of works, this is for you. I highly recommend it. It is a near perfect volume of shounen action manga.
