Uryaa! -- Otaku Madness

Gong Xi Fat Choi!

2008-02-24T23:05:00.001+01:00

Influence of stuff and the horror of figure leaning

2007-04-28T21:33:00.000+02:00

Sometimes, people can do the strangest things because of stuff they buy. A 45 year old salaryman will spend his entire weekend waxing his newly bought BMW 3-series, a 26 year old woman will simply must show off her Chanel suit (although the colours are totally ugly and size is too small) and your neighbour's 6 year old kid will fight his best friend over the pog he supposedly won.

I do not know what causes this phenomenon, but I can describe what they're probably feeling. When you buy something you really like, you start a full-fledged love affair with it. You love looking at it, love breathing it, and love bragging about it. And whenever it is hurt or damaged in any way, the primal instincts handily take care of any shred of intelligence, restraint and dignity, and thus occurs the weird behaviour that is observed.

So, as all regular people, otaku are also affected by this process. But even moreso. Because one of the things we buy (figures) are hideously precious. Bought with little money available and sometimes after painful cycles of preorders and internet retailing, we want our figures to be as perfect as they can be. That is why we bitch when we discover any mold line, PVC flash or paint mishap and why blister packs end up unopened.

But the greatest horror is when the figure is actually damaged. The local cat, little sister, or ignorant significant other have caused agony with which we can all relate to. But it can get even worse. And that is figure leaning. This is worse because the figure comes to life by deforming itself and making itself hideous in the process. Moreover, since there is to external assailant involved, it is an insult from the manufacturer, who mocks you with shoddy quality control and substandard manufacturing. Almost all what makes you like the figure, makes you hate it.

Overly worded rant aside, figure leaning is indeed an issue with figurines today. There have been many articles about this issue, of which this one (http://www.happysoda.com/archives/142#more-142) is a great one. This issue is due to the malleable nature of PVC, the material of which many figurines are made. PVC gets its rigidity and longevity from the plastic coating applied on it: this is not only important for figurines, but also for medical uses of PVC (PVC catheters are cheap, but the plastizer can cause allergies). It's usually not the quality of the PVC, but the quality of the coating that defines the resistance of a figure to deformation.

The most important cause of leaning however is not the material, but the support system and center of gravity of a figure. As you may know, most figures come with their own display base and cannot stand on their own. The base usually sports pegs or screws placed in such a way, that the figure will remain in the pose it's supposed to. Usually, this is done in such a way that the center of gravity of the figure (the point of the figure on which gravity pulls) is balanced by support points, thus equilibrating the figure. You can see this on this example:

The blue arrow represents the center of gravity, and the green dots the support points. As you can see, there are 2-3 points behind this centre, and 1-2 in front. This will "pull" the figure to the center, without straining any of these supports and the location of the figure anchored to these points. This figure (Tomoko Hoshina of "To Heart" by Kotobukiya, a plain and cheap figure) will thus be very unlikely to warp or lean.

Next, we have a figure that almost everyone knows and probably owns:

We see that the situation is different. Ignis' center of gravity is located slightly anteriorly: this is due to her stance, but also due to the relatively low mass of the hair. Also, the support pegs are located on the tip of both her shoes. Ideally, she should've had a stance in which one leg would be in front and the other behind the center of gravity, or additional supports posteriorly. This is however not the case. So, strain on her front feet and also her lower extremities (ankles) occurs. And over time, leaning may insue.

My cure was twofold: first, I stuck some transparent poster putty on her right heel: this is place where there should've been a support point. Secondly, I place the figure on a minor (10-20 °) bank posteriorly, to place the center of gravity between her feet and alleviate structural stress. This "bank" trick doesn't need to be done constantly, I do it once a week during one night or something, but this depends on the center of gravity, ambient temperature, support locations, etc.

Sorry for the crappy rotated image.

So, first, ascertain the center of gravity. Then, if possible, search for candidate locations for extra support points. And, if necessary, display the figure under an angle so that the center of gravity moves to..well..the center ^_^.

So, you'll see this 23 year old dude sticking glue on figure's shoes..I prefer that to a bunch of PVC Smooth Criminals.

Moonlight Sonata -- Presto Agitato (3rd Movement)

2007-03-30T14:43:00.000+02:00

Been awhile since I posted.

I've been frantically trying to learn the 3rd movement of the Moonlight Sonata. You know, not the slow, melodramatic stuff from the beginning, but the furiously quick, insane bit from the end. This piece has always blown me away and I always thought it was out of my range of skill. This is because I've never had any training or teaching whatsoever. I still use this little cheat sheet with all the notes written besides the 2 clefs and a guide to how long notes are.
Usually, I listen to the music, and try to copy it step by step. It worked with "A Thousand Miles" (Vanessa Carlton), and two songs from "Amélie" (Yann Tiersen). But classical pieces are difficult to analyze, for Für Elise I had to consult the score for the first middle bit.

Now, I started using the sheet from day 1.

And what a miserable day that was. The arpeggio was totally crooked, first note was too loud and long and the three others either were too soft, one of em skipped, or mistaken. I spend that night only playing that 1 arpeggio on my old toy Casio keyboard (50 bucks or something, but still of use).

After I was able to do the arpeggio constantly, with even volume and timing, I gradually started training the left hand. This wasn't as easy at it seemed: although it's only a repetition of 2 notes, the second note is the same as the first note of the first arpeggio, and simultaneous with the second note of the arpeggio. My fingers constantly bumped into each other, and I needed 1,5 day to figure it out.

More posts as I progress, I'm sleepy now..see ya soon!

Mira -- Winner!

2007-03-04T23:27:00.000+01:00

You ever get those moments when you're doing trivial things (read the paper, wake up, studying for midterms) and the radio's on, and you suddenly hear a song that you instantly like? But not in a pop-hit kinda way, that's being played over and over again, but really, appreciate the song despite realizing you may never hear it again.

I had that with "In de daluren" of fledgling singer/songwriter Mira. "In de daluren" is hard to translate into English, you could call it "During downtime" or "During off-peak hours at which your phone charges are reduced". But with the latter, you'd probably have one lousy chorus.

Anyway, Mira is a talented 24 year old Belgian from Antwerp, whose big break was winning the Public Award at the Nekka Night 2005 festival and clinching 2nd place overall. Her first album "In de daluren" is both critically acclaimed and loved by a growing amount of fans.

Her music is a very nice piece of "Belgicana" in which she makes cute little songs about cute and less cute little people and situations. Her lyrics are witty, uncomplicated but sometimes poignant and spunky. In the song "En Uwe Maat" ("And your boy", as in "BF") you get the following passage:

En uwe maat
Heeft een goe-fout Hawaï-hemdje aan
En uwe maat
Waar haalt hij die droge humor toch vandaan
En uwe maat
Loopt gelijk Travolta in Saturday Night Fever
Is wa kik krijg
Van uwe maat

Translated freely:

And your boy
He sure got one lame Hawaian shirt
And your boy
Where does he get those lame jokes and wit
And your boy
Look at him, like Travolta on Saturday Night Fever
He gets to me like nothing else
Your boy

Imagine this song with a jazzy set and sung with such mock that girls will recognize it, and guys will laugh at themselves. Wonderful.

Musically, her first album is a blender of pop/rock, jazz and piano ballad. Vocally, her voice is very similar to Cara of the teen band "Spring", but no other comparisons are present to the latter's bubbly kiddie songs. A keen characteristic is the obvious "Antwerp" accent she deliberately uses, which adds a touch of class (because Antwerp is simply thé greatest metropolis east of New York).

A noteable comparison to be made is that to Vanessa Carlton. Both are classically trained on the piano, and feature light pianodriven pop/rock/jazz on their albums. Live and on stage, they are both "the cute chick with the great voice and piano". Recently, she did a cover on a Belgian show in which she delivered a stellar performance.

So, if you're wondering if Belgium has some great new talent coming up, then look no further! You've found her.

http://www.mira-online.be

Top image courtesy of Mira-Online.be and Peggy Schillemans.

Figure review backlog

2007-02-17T21:33:00.000+01:00

Okay, it's been an awesome long time since I posted. Sorry for that, also, thanks to my good-for-nothing lazy *ss colleague oaf of an admin.

Here's the backlog of figures that still need to be reviewed. I've included one picture of each, just as a sort of preview. Will review them soon (when my laziness subsides).

Mizuho Kazami -- Max Factory

Bought in summer 2006. It was hot. The weather. And still is. The figure. Wonderful detailing, unbalanceable pair of glasses. Mizuho-sensei was on my desk during midterms, she was great company. Picture taken with Canon Powershot A640.

Genshiken: Saki & Ohno -- Gargoyle Gashapons

Bought at the FACTS 2006 convention. Was on top of the world about this. Great genki and detailing for such a small scale. Especially Saki looks great, worthy of one of the coolest female characters in anime. And of the great Yukino Satsuki. Picture taken with Canon Powershot A60 (pwning with 2MP)

Cloud Strife Resin -- Kotobukiya

Also bought at FACTS. Ultimately a bit ugly, but cool to be had whenever replaying FF7. Picture also taken with A60.

Tomoko Hoshina -- Kotobukiya

Bought this just for fun. Very inconspicuous in every way, but decent delivery and detail. Also quite cheap. Picture taken with Canon EOS 350D dSLR.

Tsukishiro Meena -- Sega

Cheap PVC from Sega, who are also known for their flood of cheap Evangelion releases. This figure is actually very good, a copy of the famous figure that donned the desk of Densha Otoko. Great "gambatte ne--" pose! A60 shot.

Ignis -- Max Factory

One of the winning designs of 2006, from the galge "Jingai Makyou". In all respects, the best figure in my collection. Pose, face, hair, body, detail & production. Looks great from all angles, she absolutely loves the camera. Shot with A640.

Tessa & Chidori -- Bome/Kaiyodo

Getting this set was extremely difficult. Released in Japan in May 2006, it was always quickly sold out at most Japanese webshops. BOME figures usually get US/overseas versions, which are often cheaper than the original Japanese releases. In this case, the Japanese was 6800 yen at HLJ (45 eur, with tax and shipping this would become 70-80 eur) while the overseas version is 40 eur including shipping. The overseas version was slated for august 2006, so I put down my preorder. In one of the worst tests of patience ever, this date kept being pushed back, the last date I've seen is March 2007. So I decided to switch to "crazy I-don't-care-about-the-money collector's mode" and ordered with HLJ, at one of their sporadic restocks. My sample was the last (currently "discontinued") of their stock.
The figures themselves are quite exquisite. While not as expressive as other figures (as with most BOME releases), this Chidori is the only Chidori worth getting. The Atelier Sai version is bigger, expensive and ecchi, but ugly. And the Good Smile version is poorly balanced (she's holding a bazooka whilst standing on one leg) and only in bikini.
The detail levels are very high, with subtle creases in the clothes and very crisp hair. Chidori is also holding the big paper fan, one of the most hilarious accessories in any anime. The skin PVC looks a bit "rough", creating the illusion that these figures are handcrafted as opposed to being mass-produced. Tessa-chan's hair is of the grey-blueish semi-transparent sort, similar to the hair of KOS-MOS of Alter.
Pictures taken with Canon A640.

iPhone - Apocalypse Now

2007-01-10T14:29:00.000+01:00

So, the word is out. iPhone.

3,5" 480x320 touchscreen, 4-8GB storage, music-video-photo, WiFi - Bluetooth - internet, 3G cellphone with 2MP camera, GPS

It's basically a PSP (black styling, large display, multimedia) - NDS/PDA (touchscreen) - cellphone - Wifi/Bluetooth hybrid, and is actually not that revolutionary at all. However, the fact that this got Steve Jobs' magic touch and the wide iPod demographic (geeks, girls, normal people) will utterly devastate cellphone and handheld companies, like Nokia, who have been pushing multimedia phones with only marginal success amongst cellphone aficionados and business customers.

Another asset will be that iPhone will have access to a properly equipped content management system (iTunes), so that all that multimedia potential actually will be known and used (as opposed to 3G phones and PSP).

The only thing I can think of this thing lacks, is gaming and homebrew access. However, both of which will be resolved soon after the launch by hordes of iPod hackers and fanboys, I think.

Prices are announced to be between $ 500 and $600. Satisfying your brand-snob-and- geek-instinct comes as a huge, free extra.

No sleep, first exam and first encounter!

2007-01-09T12:18:00.000+01:00

Okay, so I didn't sleep *at all* today. I had an exam Urology, and kept going at it until 0700 am. Then I ate breakfast, drove to uni (actually, my mom drove me), and slept for 45 minutes in the car.

I had a bad feeling about this exam, most likely because I was completely devoid of nervousness. Was it the sleep deprivation, the New Year anime-figurine overdose, or some strange force of the universe? I still don't know, but I went to the venue with a fearlessness only displayed by the most stoic of Jedi heroes (or the most stupid of courageous fools).

Luckily, the exam went pretty well. There were some glitches, but considering the circumstances, I very glad.

But that's not what I'm most happy about. For some time this semester, I've seen this Asian dude having lunch with the PhD students of the professor of Urology. My JDorama experience has allowed me firmly distinguish Japanese from Chinese, Koreans, and so forth. But, the chicken**it I am, I never had the guts to ask him something at the cantina.

After the exam however, I bluntly asked the professor "That Asian guy..is he Japanese?". The Force must've been strong in me. And lo-and-behold, he said he was. Moreso, he said I should stop by his desk and say hello!

And so I did..and I had a first conversation with a REAL Japanese person! OMG! You may think it's trivial, but this is HUGE. Gone are the barriers of artificiality of anime and the internet, this was a real, living, breathing Japanese bloke. He was pretty much how I imagined him to be, with the little gestures typical of Japanese: the constant nodding, faulty English (although his English was really very good, by any standards), the slight shyness. I could utter "Hajimemashite", but that's as far as my anime-driven Japanese could bring me. We had a nice initial conversation though, talking about his time in Belgium and from what city he came and from university he was, etc. I even managed to exchange emails with him.

So, pretty much one of the coolest days of the year. And 2007 is only 9 days old! Bitchin'.

Happy New Year!

2007-01-01T15:48:00.000+01:00

Happy New Year!

IGNIS IS IN! I RULE, you sux0r, race!

2006-12-06T21:25:00.000+01:00

HahgahahahahahAHaHahahaha

*keeps laughing frantically, I'm insane, remember?*

Insanity, anime and a small country

2006-12-03T18:55:00.000+01:00

Insanity is one of the ailments that plagues man. It's strange that, otherwise balanced, productive and amiable people, can lose their minds, and cease to function in society. All medical technologies and knowledge aside, we still do not know why people go koo-koo.

Here's part of the answer: Japanese merchandise and import delays.

As you all know, the single purpose of the existence of anime is to brainwash helpless otaku and to pave the way for large, faceless corporations to sap these suckers of the little financial assets they have.

That is the usual scenario. In the figurine world, this is amplified to new and uncharted levels. Instead of large companies (like Bandai), the publishers are smaller (but not less evil) and release their merchandise in small quantities, and without restocking after 1 or 2 shipments. Combined with (undoubtedly through evil, underhanded) agreements with ruthless webshops that heat things up with preorders, user reviews (written by their own staff) and box/real-life pictures.

The worse of it all is import tax and delays. Since I live in an utter anime-less corner of the world (Belgium), I have to solely rely on these webshops. But because I refuse to risk having to pay import tax, I prefer Belgium-based shops, who usually get supplied by European importers. Although they are slightly more expensive than the Japanese webshops, import tax and shipping result in favour of local dealers. But here's the thing: since demand for anime stuff is really, really, really slim in Belgium (most people here think that all anime is Pokemon), deliveries are really unreliable and in small numbers. Also, since it's Belgium (it's the size of a postal stamp), European distributors will supply to Germany, France, UK..and leave us little schmucks hanging.

The reason for this rant?

Announced for 8/2006, released 10/2006, arrived in Europe mid 11/2006. But not with me yet. Argh. *going insane*.

Ero ero peto peto

2006-11-20T22:49:00.000+01:00

Yeah, i'm back :D
This time i'm gonna talk about Petopeto-san, the latest anime i've seen :). it's about a petopeto youkai (a sticky monster :p), in the form of a little girl. her "special power" is to sometimes by accident stick to other people (which is her way of seducing people, hence she's an ero monster :D). she calls herself an ero- ero youkai.

It's a very light, funny little anime (13 eps) that maybe hasn't got a killer story, but i really enjoyed watching it :). It's got a good bit of humor, but what really got me was the great characters. Petoko (her nickname) isn't the only monster. The setting is a world where people and monsters coexists (and thus the anime handles the issue of racial tensions), i really liked how the other monsters were portrayed, their actions, abilities, how other people interacted with them, it simply all made perfect sense!

I think this anime shows that with a good eye for detail and a good sense of humor you can already make a very decent anime that's a lot of fun to watch. it may never be one of the best anime's ever, or get superb reviews, but fur such a small scale production i really liked the result, and i really recommend it if you want to watch a small, light anime where you can just sit back, relax and enjoy what you're watching :).

Why PC pwns PS3 -- part 2

2006-11-19T12:18:00.000+01:00

PS3 has arrived on Japanese and American shores. Lines of frienzied users have braved the night to get their grubby mitts on the latest black box of Sony.

After reading the initial specs, I was willing to do this. Now, I just pity the fools. Picture courtesy of Dannychoo.com

Initial letdowns are inherent to any console (XBOX360 disc scratching, PSP/NDS dead pixels,..) and the PS3 doesn't dodge this bullet either. There are a number of defects amongst launch units, these being the most important:

Incomplete backwards compatibility for PS1/PS2
Scattered reports of overheating issues
HDMI failure
Broken/unsupported upscaling for DVD, BD and PS1/PS2

The latter is of course a huge bummer. PS3 is not able to upscale 480p DVD movies or PS1/PS2 games to 720p, 1080i or 1080p. FYI, for all pc users out there: 480p is 640x480 or 720x480 (depending on aspect ratio). 720p is 1280x720, a resolution supported by the majority of recent flatpanel televisions. 1080i is 1920x1080 interlaced, with the actual vertical line count being 540 pixels, and lastly there is 1080p, or 1920x1080. P stands for progressive: something unusual for TV sets, but common for all pc monitors.

This all means that your shiny, $600 PS3 will still make your entire DVD collection and your PS1/PS2 stock look lame on that fancy $2000 HDTV you bought. Of course, this is rather logical, the pc can't magically add pixels or detail to lower resolution video material either. But because Sony had always implied that the PS3 could, it's still a bummer.

What's worse, PS3 games, or at least the launch titles, will have resolution issues as well. The majority of these games are programmed to run on 720p. Ok, no problem you'd say. The problem is that many older generation HDTVs (amongst which many plasma and rearprojection televisions) support 1080i rather than 720p. And here's the booboo: PS3 doesn't scale from 720p to 1080i. What happens is that the shiny new launch games will run in..480p. Read: PS2 resolutions. I can imagine people getting a tad infuriated after having spent hundreds of dollars/euros on stuff (PS3, tv,..) and then being swindled like this.

Ultimately, this is probably a driver (or in console terms: "firmware") issue. RSX (nVidia's PS3 graphics chip) probably has an early set of drivers, in which resolution switching and compatibility with tv sets isn't properly implemented yet. In the worst case scenario, RSX may simply not be able to switch resolutions, and then people are really screwed over. It's like a Ferrari being forced to look like a Datsun.

A Datsun Cherry. Yes, it's this ugly.

The moral of this entire charade? For the same price, you get a GeForce 8800 GTX, which delivers faster, better and fully scalable graphics for a better platform (ie, the PC). You don't have to deal with constant letdowns, ignorant consumer hotlines ("Did you try to turn your console on and off?") or obnoxious forums full of fanboys ("Hah, Wii pwn0rsR0x0rs yoo sOnY bi***es"). If you want a different resolution, simply adjust it in Windows/Vista. If you want to play an older game, there's no fuss or worrying about "backwards compatibility" (or at least it's fixable with easy solutions). In short, you simply plug things in and play. And that's what it's all about, right?

PS3 killer

Why PC pwns PS3

2006-11-15T16:45:00.000+01:00

I've always been a PC gamer. Yes I own both a PSP and a PS2, and plan on buying a PS3. But I started off with a 80286 and have been a loyal PC enthusiast for as long as I can remember. I remember when I played Flight Simulator on my dad's lap, learned English because of the CD-ROM talkie versions of Day of the Tentacle and Sam & Max Hit the Road, spent hours playing 4 hour, dialup FFA Starcraft games (in which Racemaniac nuked me several times, and where backstabbing was hideously frequent) and was scared to death when that first headcrab jumped me in Half-Life. So many memories.

Starcraft. Starcraft..just saying it hits me with waves of nostalgia

Okay, I admit, PSP is the single best portable multimedia device ever (screw you, iPod bi***es) and PS2-3 has Final Fantasy (omg FFXIII).

Anime-faced girl elf with gunblade in Final Fantasy? Winner.

But right at the launch of PS3, nVidia and Intel come out with stuff that instantly debunk the XBOX360 and PS3 "next-gen" label. Pff, next-gen. PC invented that word! Next-gen graphics card: makes sense. Next-gen Nintendo? That's just Mario or Zelda looking better and you monkeying with a remote in front of a TV. But I'm missing my point.

The 8800 GTS/GTX are the two new graphics cards of nVidia, and the first to implement DirectX 10. This is the new API (application programming interface) of Vista, Microsoft's new reason to rob you of your Christmas bonus. While I won't delve into the technicalities of it (check here: http://www.tomshardware.com/2006/11/08/geforce_8800/index.html), it means that future games will look better, and your current games will run smoother than reality in HD resolutions (1920x1440). Because one picture says more than a thousand words, here's a pic:

PS3 next-gen, my a**

Adrianne Curry ("Who'll be America's Next Supermodel") will grace nVidia's latest techdemo. Yes she's pretty hot. Yes this is a real-time render. Yes, I've already used half a box of tissues to dispense of drool (the other half is for..other usages).

Intel threw its bomb a few months ago, with the Core2Duo. Shedding the mistakes of the Pentium D series, they've integrated Centrino's mobile platform into their desktop line and strapped some afterburners on its back for fun. Ghz-wise, it's a step back. The midrange 6600 is 2.4 Ghz, but it's 100-250% faster than my (very old) P4 2.6, especially in games and video. Last spring, Apple decided to finally get real and get Intel processors. Perhaps Core2Duo blew them away.

Due to the AGP/PCI-X hoax, I'm reasonably screwed. I'll need to switch cpu, vga, motherboard ànd memory. But if spent wisely, I can get a killer system for 1000 eur - $ 1350. And ultimately, this is an alley I've been ever since I started playing on/using my pc, or even technology in general. The true bottleneck is not pixel pipelines, not transistor-amount, even not the IQ of the capi-de-tutti-capi egghead at the processor plant. It's the size of ones wallet.

1/8 Kotobukiya Belldandy

2006-11-02T17:33:00.000+01:00

This is Race's latest score: the very nice 1/8 Belldandy by Kotobukiya. He received it from HLJ, and it was sent through EMS (whose purpose I needed to convince him of) to Belgium. The lucky bastard didn't have to pay any taxes on it, so he got the whole deal for under 50 eur.

Pictures were taken by me. Race doesn't have the 1337 skillz required for macro photography :p But he supplied me with some anime and (some desperately needed) blank DVDs ^_^. So, arigatou ne.

The box art is pretty standard, although the inner backdrop features a forest background, which is very appropriate.

The figure itself stands well over 20cm, and what immediately catches anyone's eye is the lovely dynamics on her hair and dress, both wonderfully layered and sculpted. It's funny how a relatively boring character (cuz let's face it, Belldandy is nowhere near as cool as her half-demon sister) can be brought to life with a little windeffect. Most importantly, this figure embodies everything Belldandy stands for: kind, innocent and free-spirited. Kotobukiya's production is spot on, wonderful detailing in all areas, no noticeable errors whatsoever, perfect paintjob.

All-in-all, a great figure, especially for Ah Megami-sama fans.

Full review will follow later *looks at Racemaniac*.

Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu -- Figure Bonanza

2006-10-26T10:38:00.000+02:00

We all know Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu, or "The Melancholy of--". For those who don't, this show is probably (one of) the most popular show(s) of 2006. Plotwise, it's pretty insane (like Race pointed out), but it's the brilliant execution that sets this show apart. Also, the very aggressive marketing has brainwashed otaku around the world, the OP and ED even made it into the top 10 of Oricon (the Japanese pop charts).

Now, fanboys and general animation lovers alike, brace yourself for the engulfing, all-engrossing and utterly unstoppable flood of Haruhi figurines!

First we have a private garage kit of Haruhi in her bunny costume playing and singing in episode 12 (which was thé best musical of àny Seiyuu éver). Sculpted by Bubba, this kit's mass produced resin version (which is inferior to the original sculpt) is still available from select sources at very reasonable prices (50-60 $).

Next Atelier-Sai comes into play with Mikuru and Haruhi, both again in their bunny suits. I personally don't like Atelier-Sai, since they often don't get a close enough similarity to the anime/manga of the character. Cfr. Chidori/Tessa from FMP. These figures are also 1/6. Read: huge and expensive.

Then we have Kaiyodo, best known for their "Monsieur BOME" line-up. Theirs is a cute Mikuru in her "Episode 00" maid costume. Skirt has been dramatically shortened for your otaku pleasure :p I like this figure very much, it looks a lot better than Atelier-Sai's.

Last we have the line-up of one my favorite companies, Max Factory. Noteable releases in the past are Mizuho from Onegai Teacher (review and pictures pending!), Naru from Love Hina, and recently the amazingly awesome Ignis from the eroge Jingai Makyo. They are planning on releasing Both Haruhi and Yuki (in her witch's costume!!) and possibly Mikuru-chan as well. F***** 1337.

My day at the facts convention

2006-10-20T20:50:00.000+02:00

I know, i should've posted sooner, but i've been busy with the beta of trackmania united (i'm a complete trackmania fanboy). i'll probably devote a post to it in the near future, but i promised you some stuff about facts :D.

First of all: the stuff i got. You already saw the list in my previous post, and i must say i'm pleased with what i bought. I've already been reading the manga's, and i like them. some of the dvd's were already borrowed by a friend, and they were good, so that's good news (although it just adds to the pile of "anime to watch"). The figurines and gashapons have already found a place on my desk/around my computer, and they're absolutely lovely!
I may have spent a bit more money than planned, but i don't regret it. i may even have payed a bit too much for some things, but when they're good, i don't mind :).

Then, the convention itself. I loved the atmosphere, very relaxed, and lots of cosplayers (as could be seen in the pictures i posted). Also everyone i asked if i could take their picture responded very enthousiastic, and that also made the day great :).
Also the people i was with (users from a forum i often visit) were good company, and being with a group adds a lot to the fun you have at such a convention :).

i'll update this post after the weekend with some pictures and descriptions of the things i bought, but you'll have to do with this now. I'd go play tmu now, but i haven't got an account for it on this pc, so i'll have to endure till after the weekend.

cya soon, boredom will have to strike me sometime tomorrow, probably enough to inspire me for a next post :)

Densha Otoko -- 電車男 -- Specials

2006-10-17T16:28:00.000+02:00

Ok, after the enormous emotional climax of Densha Otoko episode 11, I sat down and watched the two specials. Densha Otoko SP was released quite quickly behind the TV series, and without spoiling it, I can describe it as a sort of epilogue where you get to know the forum gang a bit more. It's executed in the same excellent manner as the series, and is highly recommended. In fact, it really is quite "must see" if you've watched the series.

Spoiler 1, highlight to view:
_____
I didn't like Matsunaga and Kawamoto dubbed the crucial emotional climax from episode 11. I saw it coming, I fast forwarded through it, but it still left a blemish on that pristine scene. I loved everything else though, it's great to see the last episodes play out from the perspective of the forum gang. The "strategist" getting together with his Korean sweetheart is the icing on the cake. And even that moron Matsunaga's horrid ballad was nice.
_____
On September 23rd, the second and last special was released: Densha Otoko SP Deluxe. It features almost the entire cast from the TV series. Although not 100% certain, this 2 hour special will most likely be the final chapter in the Densha Otoko drama universe. The anime spin-off "Getsumen Toheiki Mina" or "Moon-faced Rabbit Weapon Mina" is set for January 2007.

Spoiler 2, highlight to view:
_____

This entire special reminded me of Love Hina's Summer Special. I think it was the tropical island. I also love Jinnkawa-san, after about 25 minutes without her I was afraid she wasn't going to show up at all. Luckily the Vader-theme put me at ease. Kitamuri Kazuki is a great villain, I hated him from the start. His psychotic state at the end was even better. The ending is very satisfying, but you'll have to admit that's it's kinda "seen it, been there, done that". Once again the forum team throw themselves in battle to save Densha. But although predictable, it's again very well executed, albeit not so earthshattering as episodes 9-10-11. And of course, we have the whole "ke...--cut to Sambomaster" and ringless finger scene at the very end. Although in my heart I utterly despise this and called my PSP names (Densha Otoko should have an ultimate, happy ending!) it's probably done on purpose. Either we'll get one, final "honeymoon/marriage" special, or the director wanted to point out that it's all still based on a real story. Densha would've probably picked another time/place to propose and Densha and Hermes will live and experience their relationship on a more mature, calm and non-J-dorama pace.
_____

And so (probably) ends the entire Densha Otoko story. In drama-form, that is. I must say that this television show has moved me more than any other show ever has. It's a modern fairy tale, a legend that will reverberate across popular (Japanese) media for years to come. And let's not forget how funny this show is. The reason I like Densha Otoko so much probably is my stubborn belief in old-fashion friendship, love and happy endings. Despite the collective, snobistic intellectual reflex to dispel such stories, Densha Otoko manages to come across as loveable, honest and endearing.

電車男とエルメスさん、またね。

FACTS 2006: Made it back --two--

2006-10-14T20:54:00.000+02:00

Ok, I admit. Today was the first time I went to a convention. Although I started this blog, and pronounced to be a total otaku, I'm a total noob at this.

The convention was FACTS, by the way, abbreviation explained by Race. In Western Europe, it is one of the most noteable conventions for anime, but even moreso for Star Wars and fantasy.

To my surprise, months of intensive googling, ebay/webshop purchasing, and visits to fellow anime blogs have rendered me quite adept at picking out merchandise. While the convention floor was pretty large, I finished a preliminary tour in 30 minutes, despite the packed crowd and accompanying parents (who have been great sports). I triaged three locations: one had a 1/60 Wing Zero plamo (technically crap like the entire GW HG series, but big and kick ass). Another had a lot of figures, some new ones (GSC's Melissa Seraphy) and a few rarer older ones (a 1/6 Yamato Mizuho in swimsuit). He was also cheap, 20-30 euro for most of the stuff. The last location had a lot of Star Wars stuff..but also a few Final Fantasy VII items. And amongst them was a Kotobukiya coldcast 1/8 Cloud.

I bought that on the spot. I mean, the box says 12000 yen. And the guy gave it away at 32 euros (5000 yen). Ok, the box was slightly dinged and clearly opened but *who the f--- cares* for *thirty freakin' euros*!! Anyway, score one.

I then decided to proceed to the Gundam guy and get that 1/60 Wing Zero. I remember being in highschool and oogling that plamo after watching Gundam Wing. Upon arrival, I had some kind of timeshift experience. I saw this guy who kinda looked like me, but 7-8 years younger. He paid up and..took the Wing Zero. Damn.

The thunderous stamping of feet interrupted my disappointment, as the stage was filled with Star Wars cosplayers. I mean, is the Stormtrooper costume thé pinnacle in cosplay, or what?

I tried catching a Stormtrooper for a pic-op, but failed due to..well..too many
scifi..otaku..people..*dizzy*

I then proceeded to the cheap figurine guy for some serious, point-blank, up-close and personal browsing through his inventory.

On my way, I came across this other guy who handpainted his resin kits. They were absolutely stunning, here's a shot from the rare Kenshin resin, masterfully crafted and finished.

At the figurine guy, after 15 minutes I realized that I didn't really need any of these figurines, despite all their Nihon-cuteness. Either I didn't like one specific element of them (the face is all wrong, the pose is all wrong, the hair is all wrong, the base is crap,..) or I just didn't know the character. With a sense of unhealthy levelheadedness I left the figurine den.

I was lucky to run into Racemaniac and the Telenet Forum gang. Race (after thoroughly bragging about his conquests) pointed out that there where Genshiken gashapons.

Hold the phone.

Genshiken gashapons? Widely appreciated and sold out? Here? Available? URYAA!!!!

With renewed otaku-powah I rushed through the stands. The only good material form of Chairman Saki was waiting..(GSC's has no nose and Yamato's face is slightly wrong and the ankles are weak, cfr. Race's post) After much elbowing and scifi-fan shoving I found it.

Then I remembered what gashapons are.

Evil..closed..boxed..things..of evil.

I must've looked quite pathetic, shaking the boxes one by one in a desperate attempt to discover Saki-chan. In fact, I must've been enormously pathetic, as the dealer went up to me and asked "hey, just tell me which one you want". It was one of the nicest things anyone has ever said to me...*sniff* arigatou!!

Oh, and I also picked up Ohno, cuz she was one of the "dropouts" prior to Saki showing up.

So, FACTS was great for me. I scored bigtime three times, and it cost me less than 50 euro. All that I lacked was a Stormtrooper.

Hah. Bunny Stormtrooper. Hah. FACTS was great. Hah.

PS: In-depth reviews of Saki-chan, Ohno-san and Cloud will follow. As will some Gundam and other figurine reviews (Mizuho-sensei!!) Watch this space :p

Made it back

2006-10-14T20:20:00.000+02:00

Hi there, I'm back from facts, photo's can be seen here
things I bought:
-some gashapons (d'oh), from genshiken and chobits
-chii figurine
-3 azumanga daioh mangas
-2 shaman king manga's
-.hack sign and legend of the twilight dvd's
-t-shirt of hellsing
-another naruto headband ^^ (starting to form a pattern, since i bought one last year too
-ah my goddess artbook

that's about it I think :).
I'll get into more detail after the weekend.

Ready for battle!

2006-10-14T07:42:00.000+02:00

Here I am, up early, ready to go to the facts convention.
for the non belgians: a convention all about fantasy, ANIME, comics, toy's & sci-fi. Shonen will probably be there too, so expect some new exciting things we can soon blog about!

Densha Otoko -- 電車男　-- キター！！

2006-10-12T20:59:00.002+02:00

I just finished Densha Otoko. I...can't quite put into words how I feel. I'll do it at the end of this post, perhaps.

Densha Otoko (Train Man) is a J-Dorama (Japanese TV Drama) adapted from a true story. Yamada Tsuyoshi is a typical 23 year old otaku. Nice, dorky, and a bit of a loser, things never seem to swing his way. But one day, a beautiful woman is harassed by a drunk and Yamada gathers all his courage to put a stop to this. She sends him a gift, and not knowing what to do, Yamada decides to turn to a BBS for help and advice.

And so, the legend of Densha Otoko is born.

I'm sure many of you know the story and have probably have seen the series/specials/movie. If you didn't, I can wholeheartedly recommend it.

There's so much to like from this series. First of all, the actors (leads Misaki Ito and Atsushi Itou but also all of the auxiliary cast, not in the least the BBS gang) are so believable and endearing. The story, whilst very simple (it's a boy meets girl story, in its core), is so well executed that it never grows stale. Densha Otoko also succeeds in intercutting the sometimes very involving love theme with lighter arcs (Jinnkawa-san! Sakurai-san!), that will leave your sides thoroughly split.

Also, last and not least, the otakuculture and akiba-kei is expertly depicted here. And as opposed to Genshiken, what you see is all on location and real. Densha Otoko is a testament to the entire identity of what it is to be a Japanese Modern Art fanatic. Not just the crazed frenzy, but also the fact that we are living, breathing people that are afraid, cry and love just like anyone else.

http://www.fujitv.co.jp/denshaotoko/index2.html (TV official)
http://www.trainman-movie.com (movie official)
http://www.geocities.co.jp/Milkyway-Aquarius/7075/trainman.html (the real BBS)

Invasion of the gashapons

2006-10-09T19:05:00.000+02:00

Hi, my name is Racemaniac, and I'm a gashapon addict
*starts crying*

Well, maybe it isn't that bad yet, but it's more or less becoming an issue... Everytime I go to the local anime/manga shop, I seem to return with yet another gashapon (for those not familiar with otaku terminology, it's a small figurine, that's sold in a closed box so you can't see which you buy, and is meant for trading). Right now I've got a total of fifteen gashapons standing behind my keyboard (or rather in front of my monitors (two), since they're already with so many that the line up is wider than my keyboard.

If you don't recognise them all on the photo: the left six are from Mai Otome (bought because they look pretty good, and even better now i discovered you can undress them), the right 4 are from kujibiki unbalance (the series in the universe of Genshiken (yes, we love that anime)), and the others are from Genshiken itself. I've also got one from amaenaideyo (who came up with that name) lying around somewhere, but it isn't as beautiful as the others(very cheap and plastic look)...

Luckily, being an otaku (who buys this junk) is pretty rare here in Belgium, so I haven't really got friends yet to trade these gashapons
with. But their rapid increase in numbers is worries me!, soon I'll run
out of space to put them, I'll have to start selecting...
Right now, I guess Ihave no choice but to go along with it, and see where Iend up, but just in case, has anyone heard about a gashapon rehab centre?

Ohno Kanako Figurine and Jeremy Clarkson

2006-10-07T17:58:00.000+02:00

Yamato SIF EX Ohno Kanako 7” PVC figurine

Foreword

This is my first PVC figurine. I have numerous Gundam plastic model kits. I am a detail freak, and very anal about small defects in anything I buy: from dead pixels on PSP’s (sold one and RMA’ed three) to the flavour and consistency of gum I just bought at local supermarket. Well, ok, I’m overdramatizing, I only RMA’ed two PSP’s.

Having that said, I also love Genshiken. I think it’s one of the best anime ever, and I watch an episode on a daily basis, without ever growing tired of it. Consequently, I love the girls in Genshiken, Kasukabe Saki and Ohno Kanako. I can go on and on about them, like how Jeremy Clarkson can rave on about his Ford GT. Hold that thought, by the way.

Box art, parts, construction

The box is very nice, depicting a shot from the Genshiken clubroom’s window with attached Kujibiki Unbalance poster, and Ritsuko and Tokino flanking the clear window. On the sides, Ohno is portrayed as herself, holding a pair of cosplay nekomimi, and as Ritsuko. The back shows a picture of the figurine.

After carefully opening the box (which I perceive as contributing to almost half the esthetic value of the entire product), the contents are revealed: the figurine (no detachable parts), a scabbard, sword and a stand.

Construction is straightforward, no excessive bending or jamming was necessary. All parts fit snugly and firmly. The scabbard is unfortunately not hollow, and thus, not functional. The stand has a snakeskin motif, but is otherwise very basic, almost flimsy. But it does the job. The figurine’s center of gravity is slightly to the rear, but the ankles seem strong enough to prevent bending.

First impression, design

At 7” tall, it’s about the same height as a 1/100 Gundam plastic model kit. Ohno is in a simple standing pose, nothing special here. The way she stands though, and how she holds both the sword and scabbard is great. She looks slightly sideward, whilst smiling sweetly and politely. So instead of a samurai girl, she looks like a girl *pretending* to be one, and that is *exactly* what we want cosplay-queen Ohno to be like.

Both hair and clothing ripple slightly in the wind, like it is being created by a fan during a photo-shoot. Again, exactly the effect that fits perfectly with Ohno’s character. The effect itself is well done, with the creases not too deep and the fringes rippling in a believable fashion. The hair is also great, and the ribbons (one in the hair and one on her back, which straps in her short battle yukata) adds an enormous amount of cuteness to the entire design.

Technical: paint, mold

The paintjob is pretty good. Blacks are done in a matte finish, the colours are bright yet slightly shaded, so it doesn’t look too much like a toy, but still like anime. Lines are generally crisp, no major flaws. The eye decal is excellent; the entire facial area is, actually, with Ohno’s trademark moles positioned perfectly. Another outstanding element is the shading on skin areas, especially the knees. The boots are also great, the straps are sharply painted.

The mold is good in the crucial areas (front, face, skin, J-cup boobies), and there is not an intolerable amount of flash (small dots of excessive material). The knee looks fantastic, with noticeable tibial tuberosity (the narrower elevation below the kneecap). Detail on the hands is also great, the recession of the nails is visible and the fingers are slender and feminine. There are a number of flaws though, especially in the hair. There were 3 flat spots, 1 of them even mimicking an ugly “solder burn”. Another similar damaged spot can be found on right fringe of the pink ribbon in her hair. Seam lines are also visible, although not in a dramatic fashion. There is also a dent above the right knee.

Although the PVC production process is prone to this kind of defects, the combination of all of the above, pose a serious issue. It usually comes down to the manufacturer’s QA policy. Companies like Good Smile Company, Alter and Max Factory have higher standards, others lower ones. I have little first hand experience, but this figurine, as well as the buzz on the net, puts Yamato on the lower end of the scale.
Having considered this, the many great technical features seem to outweigh the production hick-ups though.

Personal satisfaction, conclusion

Yes, this figurine has an amount of serious flaws. Yes, the pose isn’t very dynamic. Yes, Yamato probably is a poor manufacturer. It just looks so nice though, it’s right up there with my 1/100 MG Freedom in terms of eye candy yumminess. Detailing and colouring are very good, with high marks going to the face and knees. The figurine perfectly conveys Ohno’s character. One of the reasons why I held off a long time from figurines is the fact that they seldom get the faces and “heart” of the character right. Not so with this figurine. It *is* Ohno. I can kinda sum it up like Jeremy Clarkson’s Ford GT. It is impossible to get into due to the ridiculous doors that contain part of the ceiling. It needs to be filled up at virtually every single petrol station you come across. And it breaks down more than clockwork made by a baboon. But he still loves that car. As I love this figurine.

Company of Heroes - Pwnage

2006-10-06T23:36:00.000+02:00

Just played the Company of Heroes Demo. Spent 4 hours straight on a skirmish. I sucked, but man, it was 4 of the most intense hours of RTS I've ever played. It's right up there with a flank charge from cavalry in Rome Total War or a protracted 4 player FFA in Starcraft. I'm too tired to talk about the skirmish in detail...my eyes are watering, I feel exhausted in every part of my being.

Play.com is running a very interesting deal: for 38 eur (which is already under suggested retail price) you get CoH ànd Dawn of War. Wow.

The aniverse

2006-10-05T21:29:00.000+02:00

Thats where I sometimes feel I'm stranded when watching a new
anime... a huge universe filled with anime, and there never seems
to be an end to it...
After every serie I finish watching, Inotice on my HD another dozen of series i've still got to watch. It's sometimes like drowning in a sea of anime...

Luckily once I've selected a next series to watch, I get absorbed
in it enough not to be troubled with all those other series Istill have to watch. The last serie I saw was "The melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya", a fantastic 14 episodes long series, about a very unique girl who only cares about aliens, esp'ers and timetravellers. It's a fantastic slice of life/comedy/sf serie that'll keep you watching until the end, and perhaps a few more times since the episodes are shown in the wrong order (I might watch it again sometime soon in the "right" (chronoligical) order.
The serie i'm watching right now is "Angelic layer". It's a nice series about a game in which people control puppets (the angels) with an interface controlled by your thoughts. it's not that special, and even pretty cliché (the main character won't lose etc...). But there's also a touching background story, and overall it always remains interesting. It's obviously aimed at teenagers, but I still enjoy it very much.

The series I'm going to watch after this one? I wouldn't know, but i do know i've still got a lot of great series waiting to be seen. Perhaps, this aniverse isn't such a bad place to be in :)

I AM the Ridge Racer KING

2006-10-03T17:17:00.000+02:00

We all love Ridge Racer. Yes, the physics don't make any sense, there is a horrendous invisible wall and the soundtrack isn't always bearable, but Ridge Racer has some of the most exhillerating arcade gameplay available to man. And there's Reiko. Of course.

Having bought Ridge Racer with my PSP at launch back in September 2005, I've played it with such relentless vigour that I honestly perceive myself as the best f*****g Ridger Racer player on the planet. I swear, if Ridge Racer had an official event, I'd be the Fatal1ty of that game and have my face printed on graphics cards and my name sighed in awe by cute girl gamers.

The proof?

Seaside Route 765, Crinale, Time Trial

Total time: 02:06:846
Lap Time: 00:39:981

http://users.pandora.be/erwinspages/totaltime.jpg
http://users.pandora.be/erwinspages/laptime.jpg

BTW, Ridge Racer(s) 2 for PSP is released in Japan. New tracks, new intro (which totally rocks) new special cars (Crinale is hideous, Angelus pretty, Pacman less backwards) but same menus, same regular cars. So a relative rip-off. The new stuff is a lot of fun though.

Figthing gravity

2006-10-03T10:46:00.000+02:00

Behold my cute cosplaying Saki figurine (character from
Genshiken, great anime/manga ). As always, trouble is never
far off when you're trying to have a bit of fun... In this case,
buying this nice figurine has given me another thing to worry
about.

In the store, i already saw that the one on display had fallen forward,
but since i got another one, i thought mine would be stable (in
retrospect, pretty naive...). After a few falls, i knew mine wasn't any
different, so i came up with the brilliant idea of superglueing it to the
base...That's when the real problems started. Now it doesn't fall over,
without any real damage afterwards, but starts to bend forward!
In a few weeks my figurine would probably have been wasted if i
hadn't found a way to counter it!

Luckily i did. After a few nights of hanging her horizontally off the
handle of a drawer, she has bended backwards enough to compensate,
and appears to be pretty stable now :) (and i can always hang her on
the drawer a bit more if necessary).

Ahhh, another crisis averted :), and somehow i don't really mind.
Encountering little challenges, and seeking solutions is also fun, i
think life would be boring without such little mishaps (as long as
they don't ruin things, ofcourse).

Well, this concludes my first post on this blog, cya soon!

Zip Archive Horror

2006-10-02T22:57:00.000+02:00

Compressed archives..they've been around since the dawn of the pc age. I still remember that "Games" floppy disk my dad made me. It had a stunning 3 games on them: 2 Accolade racers and King's Quest, which I never played due to the fact that virtual death scared me. They were packed in a zip format, to fit the disk. No problem, since my daddy was a stern teacher and I was a sharp kid.

Until the day that (due partly to the infinite reliability of floppies) one of the zips corrupted. A feeling of disgust, dismay, disappointment and plain destructive urges towards anything in sight already got the best of me at such an early age. My stuffed animals still call that day "Tuesday, Bloody Tuesday".

As time went by, so did everything change in computerland. Except for compressed archives. People still have the uncontrollable urge to squeeze data in an as small as possible size. In a time where you can get external HDs with pocket change; eurekas, hurrahs and general feelings of well-being still accompany data compression.

The reason for this long rant? A corrupted compressed archive download. Of course. 4 files, totaling 720 mb and WinRar not knowing which file is corrupt. Employing all my 1337 computer skills built up by years of negating Windows operating systems, I tried shareware decompressors (btw, WinZip is no longer free), corruption fixers, tried renaming the files to rar - r01 - etc...All to no avail. I then tried redownloading the lot, which I thoroughly hate, and of course, again without result.

Getting close to deleting the blasted files due to 450GB absolutely stuffed with anime and DVD-size TV recordings (World Cup and Tour de France, both with a sour aftertaste but important enough to be kept), I tried consulting Google in a last ditch attempt, hoping that Larry Page and Sergey Brin's algorithms would rescue me. And so did it transgress. Gogole led me to 7-zip. And the damn thing decompressed flawlessly.

So to conclude. Got a nasty multiple file archive that's giving you the finger? Stick to it, and you'll eventually find a key that fits the lock. Don't redownload unless you're 100% sure you've got a corrupted file. Unless you have unlimited T1 access. Or if Google didn't exist.

New admin and a new start

2006-10-02T22:40:00.000+02:00

Ugh, what have I done. I've actually let this insane, racing-game-lovin', totally otaku Computer Science graduate student in. And as an admin. This guy is even worse than me, so brace yourself for even more wanton, unsolicited and shameless otakuness!

Uryaa ni youkoso!

2006-09-01T17:06:00.000+02:00

Welcome to Uryaa! Here you can find my occasional ramblings about anime, figurines and Gundam, as well as some utterly interesting anecdotes of my life. よろしくおねがいします！

Uryaa! -- Otaku Madness

Gong Xi Fat Choi!

Influence of stuff and the horror of figure leaning

Moonlight Sonata -- Presto Agitato (3rd Movement)

Mira -- Winner!

Figure review backlog

iPhone - Apocalypse Now

No sleep, first exam and first encounter!

Happy New Year!

IGNIS IS IN! I RULE, you sux0r, race!

Insanity, anime and a small country

Ero ero peto peto

Why PC pwns PS3 -- part 2

Why PC pwns PS3

1/8 Kotobukiya Belldandy

Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu -- Figure Bonanza

My day at the facts convention

Densha Otoko -- 電車男 -- Specials

FACTS 2006: Made it back --two--

Made it back

Ready for battle!

Densha Otoko -- 電車男 -- キター！！

Invasion of the gashapons

Ohno Kanako Figurine and Jeremy Clarkson

Company of Heroes - Pwnage

The aniverse

I AM the Ridge Racer KING

Figthing gravity

Zip Archive Horror

New admin and a new start

Uryaa ni youkoso!

Densha Otoko -- 電車男　-- キター！！