http://heiseidemocracy.com Modern Visual Culture Digest Mon, 05 Dec 2011 19:05:11 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://heiseidemocracy.com/2009/01/07/new-vocaloid-character-information-megurine-luka/ http://heiseidemocracy.com/2009/01/07/new-vocaloid-character-information-megurine-luka/#comments Tue, 06 Jan 2009 17:05:58 +0000 Seiya http://heiseidemocracy.com/?p=9122 http://heiseidemocracy.com/2009/01/07/new-vocaloid-character-information-megurine-luka/feed/ 7 http://heiseidemocracy.com/2008/12/30/otaku-metaculture-nhk-ni-youkoso/ http://heiseidemocracy.com/2008/12/30/otaku-metaculture-nhk-ni-youkoso/#comments Tue, 30 Dec 2008 00:14:09 +0000 Seiya http://heiseidemocracy.com/?p=8958 On the Creation of a Comprehesive Index of Otaku Metaculture. Which is to say, my attempt at creating a (more or less) complete list of anime, manga, and video games which happen to be centered on characters who are themselves afficionados of anime, manga, and video games. For our first installment, we will be featuring a retrospective for a franchise that is very near and dear to HD (hint: the site is named after it).]]> http://heiseidemocracy.com/2008/12/30/otaku-metaculture-nhk-ni-youkoso/feed/ 5 http://heiseidemocracy.com/2008/08/22/haruhi-chan-churuya-san-anime-series-announced/ http://heiseidemocracy.com/2008/08/22/haruhi-chan-churuya-san-anime-series-announced/#comments Fri, 22 Aug 2008 11:33:42 +0000 Shingo http://heiseidemocracy.com/?p=8869 Moon Phase Diary updates with the news this evening that according to the October '08 issue of Shounen Ace (on sale August 25th), two new short-episode anime series are being produced simultaneously for broadcast on the YouTube Kadokawa Channel: "Suzumiya Haruhi-chan no Yuuutsu" (based on the Haruhi spinoff manga by the same name) and "Nyoro~n Churuya-san" (based on the popular doujin 4-panel comic by Eretto). The Moon Phase author speculates that these may be a stopgap measure to placate ravenous hordes of Haruhi fans hungry for solid news of a sequel to the original TV series, but I for one welcome our chibi webcast overlords. I hope they give them voices... We'll keep an eye out for further news on this over the coming weeks. (no more)]]> http://heiseidemocracy.com/2008/08/22/haruhi-chan-churuya-san-anime-series-announced/feed/ 8 http://heiseidemocracy.com/2008/08/21/fullmetal-alchemist-second-tv-anime-series-announced/ http://heiseidemocracy.com/2008/08/21/fullmetal-alchemist-second-tv-anime-series-announced/#comments Thu, 21 Aug 2008 09:00:25 +0000 Shingo http://heiseidemocracy.com/?p=8813 Moon Phase Diary, a second TV series of Fullmetal Alchemist will be announced on the dust jacket of the release of the 20th volume of the FMA manga tomorrow. According to information obtained by Moon Phase it is likely that the series will again be produced by Bones, with Irie Yasuhiro on directorial duty, and the story will continue as a faithful adaptation of events from the manga. The series is scheduled to last a year starting next April, and air at 5:00 PM Sundays on TBS/MBS stations in Japan. Those of us who are FMA fans can look for confirmation and further info to appear in the coming days! (no more)]]> http://heiseidemocracy.com/2008/08/21/fullmetal-alchemist-second-tv-anime-series-announced/feed/ 18 http://heiseidemocracy.com/2008/06/20/queens-blade-anime-announced/ http://heiseidemocracy.com/2008/06/20/queens-blade-anime-announced/#comments Fri, 20 Jun 2008 03:50:49 +0000 Shingo http://heiseidemocracy.com/?p=8643 Queen's Blade combat artbooks hit store shelves yesterday (Allean and Ardra), and with them the news that the Queen's Blade franchise is scheduled for TV anime adaptation! Other than the bare fact that it's in the works little is known about the project, but based on Hobby Channel's official announcement it's hinted that Reina will be the protagonist. This in turn leads to all sorts of wild speculation - with the shared character designer, can we expect animation from the My-HiME team? Hobby Japan is a Bandai property, Sunrise is a Bandai property, it's not entirely out of the question... we'll follow up on this as soon as further information is made known. (no more)]]> http://heiseidemocracy.com/2008/06/20/queens-blade-anime-announced/feed/ 24 http://heiseidemocracy.com/2008/05/31/magazine-review-megami-vol-98-july-2008/ http://heiseidemocracy.com/2008/05/31/magazine-review-megami-vol-98-july-2008/#comments Sat, 31 May 2008 06:37:55 +0000 Shingo http://heiseidemocracy.com/?p=8140 Megami Magazine things are officially heating up in the countdown to issue 100! The sticker price was raised to reflect the presence of additional extras, and unlike last issue there are no Nanoha filler posters to be found - just pure original poster goodness, and a lot of nice ones at that. Read on for a look at one of the best Megami issues to appear in recent months:]]> http://heiseidemocracy.com/2008/05/31/magazine-review-megami-vol-98-july-2008/feed/ 26 http://heiseidemocracy.com/2008/05/21/kanokon-pulled-from-free-online-broadcast/ http://heiseidemocracy.com/2008/05/21/kanokon-pulled-from-free-online-broadcast/#comments Wed, 21 May 2008 14:38:08 +0000 Shingo http://heiseidemocracy.com/?p=7713 Moon Phase is reporting tonight that following episode seven, TV anime Kanokon will cease free distribution via online broadcasters GyaO and BIGLOBE. The reason given for the move is "ethical regulations", which appear to have kicked in following the repeated depiction of racy visuals such as bare breasts, implied handjobs, flashes of nipple exposure, and etc. Apparently a particularly memorable scene occurs in episode eight that the free broadcasters weren't willing to test against government regulation (Edit: the objectionable content was from "episode 7 and beyond" - not ep. 8 specifically), so from now on online viewing options will be restricted to paid only. Note that this currently does not affect any of the show's terrestrial broadcast networks; we'll keep an eye out for any further developments on this story or related censorship issues that may arise. (no more)]]> http://heiseidemocracy.com/2008/05/21/kanokon-pulled-from-free-online-broadcast/feed/ 16 http://heiseidemocracy.com/2008/05/09/otaku-no-musume-san-drama-cd-announced/ http://heiseidemocracy.com/2008/05/09/otaku-no-musume-san-drama-cd-announced/#comments Fri, 09 May 2008 13:12:02 +0000 Shingo http://heiseidemocracy.com/?p=7273 fourth volume of Sutahiro manga Otaku no Musume-san, a two volume drama CD set was announced! The story of a 20-something otaku who finds a daughter on his doorstep one day that he didn't know he had has come a long way from its humble webcomic roots, currently serialized in Dragon Age and with this new Drama CD set produced by some of the best talent in the business (including the "original landlady" Shimamoto Sumi reprising her spiritual role as OnMs landlady Asou Taeko). The first CD volume is scheduled for release on June 27th at 2,940 yen. Check out the CD official site for a very funny manga promo movie as well as voice samples. The main reason I'm posting this (other than for inherent awesomeness) is that drama CDs have traditionally paved the way to anime series, and with this as one of my favorite manga currently running the mere possibility of an anime in its future engages the engines of delicious fanboy self-delusion. We'll keep an eye out for further news. (no more)]]> http://heiseidemocracy.com/2008/05/09/otaku-no-musume-san-drama-cd-announced/feed/ 7 http://heiseidemocracy.com/2008/04/30/magazine-review-megami-vol-97-june-2008/ http://heiseidemocracy.com/2008/04/30/magazine-review-megami-vol-97-june-2008/#comments Wed, 30 Apr 2008 11:41:31 +0000 Shingo http://heiseidemocracy.com/?p=6909 Megami Magazine was released today, and we're here with the scoop of its contents! With poster entries from most of the bishoujo anime of the season along with several looks ahead at what we can expect in the summer it's a pretty well-rounded issue, and though soft in a couple of parts (too much tiny Nanoha) there are a few standout offerings that make the purchase worth it in the end. Moon Phase scoops the news of a new Higurashi OVA and talks about yuri love in Koihime Musou revealed in this issue, but we're here for the posters:]]> http://heiseidemocracy.com/2008/04/30/magazine-review-megami-vol-97-june-2008/feed/ 14 http://heiseidemocracy.com/2008/04/09/tv-anime-slayers-revolution-official-site-open/ http://heiseidemocracy.com/2008/04/09/tv-anime-slayers-revolution-official-site-open/#comments Wed, 09 Apr 2008 10:44:19 +0000 Shingo http://heiseidemocracy.com/?p=6059 Slayers TV anime back in February, and this evening we're happy to report that the official site for Slayers REVOLUTION is now online! Details posted to the site reveal that the cast and staff remain unchanged from the original Slayers TV series (with the exception of J.C. STAFF now helming animation production), which is significant as it marks the return of seiyuu goddess Hayashibara Megumi to the small screen as Lina Inverse (the most recent of her increasingly infrequent TV appearances was as the childhood version of the school principal in episode nine of Manabi Straight). She will be joined by Matsumoto Yasunori as Gourry, Midorikawa Hikaru as Zelgadis, and Suzuki Masami as Amelia. Watanabe Takashi reprises his directorial role, and character design is from mangaka Araizumi Rui and Miyata Naomi. Series composition (writing) is from Takayama Jirou, who in addition to Slayers Next and Try also wrote several episodes of King Gainer. According to Moon Phase Diary the story will be a mix of elements from the original work that have yet to be animated, and material newly created expressly for the show. I was never much of a Slayers fan back when the show was really popular, but this new incarnation looks like a lot of fun. I'll be keeping an eye on it as development moves forward. (no more)]]> http://heiseidemocracy.com/2008/04/09/tv-anime-slayers-revolution-official-site-open/feed/ 8 http://heiseidemocracy.com/2008/04/03/toradora-anime-confirmed/ http://heiseidemocracy.com/2008/04/03/toradora-anime-confirmed/#comments Wed, 02 Apr 2008 22:46:48 +0000 Shingo http://heiseidemocracy.com/?p=5909 Moon Phase: The rumored report of a Toradora! anime that we mentioned last night was confirmed this morning by a post at the Forest Field blog. The news will be officially announced in the coming edition of Dengeki Bunko Magazine set for release on April 10th along with vol. 7 of the Toradora! light novel. No further details regarding the production are yet available, but we'll be keeping an eye out. (no more)]]> http://heiseidemocracy.com/2008/04/03/toradora-anime-confirmed/feed/ 0 http://heiseidemocracy.com/2008/03/29/magazine-review-megami-vol-96-may-2008/ http://heiseidemocracy.com/2008/03/29/magazine-review-megami-vol-96-may-2008/#comments Sat, 29 Mar 2008 10:10:43 +0000 Shingo http://heiseidemocracy.com/2008/03/29/magazine-review-megami-vol-96-may-2008/ Megami Magazine was released today, and we've got a thorough review of it here! The sticker price was bumped up from the standard 780 yen to 840 yen for this issue, but it comes with a couple of great extras that more than make up for the slight price increase - a double sided pencil board brings us a look at Saber of Fate/stay night as drawn by Nanoha creator Tsuzuki Masaki, with the reverse side an illustration of Fate Testarossa by Takeuchi Takashi. Other extras include large Clannad and Shana posters and an alternate cover for Nanoha StrikerS manga vol. 2, as well as the continuation of Ditama Bow's Yotsunoha manga. Oh, and there are lots of great posters, too. :3]]> http://heiseidemocracy.com/2008/03/29/magazine-review-megami-vol-96-may-2008/feed/ 9 http://heiseidemocracy.com/2008/03/28/north-korean-abductee-anime-megumi-released/ http://heiseidemocracy.com/2008/03/28/north-korean-abductee-anime-megumi-released/#comments Fri, 28 Mar 2008 12:15:35 +0000 Shingo http://heiseidemocracy.com/2008/03/28/north-korean-abductee-anime-megumi-released/ Moon Phase Diary: Today an animated version of the story of Megumi Yokota was released for free download by the Japanese Government Abduction Issue Countermeasure Headquarters (政府拉致問題対策本部), an agency that works to resolve the issue of North Korean abductions of Japanese citizens (an official explanation can be found here). It's a 25 minute short "documentary anime" that covers Megumi's life from birth through abduction and the subsequent unresolved quest to determine her fate, and seems to have received some budget as the film was simultaneously released dubbed in four languages (Japanese, English, Chinese, and Korean). I downloaded the English version first expecting subtitles, and was greeted by a truly awful dub - I shut it down as soon as Megumi's mom went into labor and decided to watch the Japanese version instead. This is a fascinating piece from several angles, both as a look at the rare intersection of documentary and anime narrative forms, and in light of its overtly political / propagandistic nature. It's something I'm sure a visual anthropologist would have a field day dissecting - Moeyo's initial response is "for this topic, is it really alright to give Megumi such a moe design?" An interesting question, in light of the film's purpose. (no more)]]> http://heiseidemocracy.com/2008/03/28/north-korean-abductee-anime-megumi-released/feed/ 4 http://heiseidemocracy.com/2008/03/07/sekirei-tv-anime-announced/ http://heiseidemocracy.com/2008/03/07/sekirei-tv-anime-announced/#comments Thu, 06 Mar 2008 22:51:28 +0000 Shingo http://heiseidemocracy.com/2008/03/07/sekirei-tv-anime-announced/ Sekirei manga site at Square-Enix's Young Gangan Magazine brought the announcement last night: as previously rumored, the bishoujo fighting-themed manga from Gokurakuin Sakurako (Ashika Sakura) will become an anime some time this year! It will be directed by Kusakawa Keizou (recent directorial work includes Nanoha StrikerS and Inukami), script from Yoshioka Takawo (Sky Girls, Ikkitousen Dragon Destiny, Zero no Tsukaima), character design from Tomooka Shinpei (Inukami), and animation production from Seven Arcs (the Nanoha series, Inukami, SHAFT's Negima, Red Garden, Zero no Tsukaima II, Da Capo II, the Yakin Byoutou series). The official anime website will be at Sekirei TV.com when it's established; we'll be keeping a close eye out for further news on the series as it develops. Update: The show's official site is now online, and while it doesn't offer much information beyond what we already knew we do get a first look at the anime character designs, and the cover of the 6th volume of the manga, due out on March 25th. (no more)]]> http://heiseidemocracy.com/2008/03/07/sekirei-tv-anime-announced/feed/ 3 http://heiseidemocracy.com/2008/03/05/appleseed-tv-anime-announced/ http://heiseidemocracy.com/2008/03/05/appleseed-tv-anime-announced/#comments Wed, 05 Mar 2008 13:53:16 +0000 Shingo http://heiseidemocracy.com/2008/03/05/appleseed-tv-anime-announced/ Masamune Shirow Appleseed manga is to be called Appleseed Genesis and will be directed by Romanov Higa and feature the voice talent of Paku Romi, according to Moon Phase and the series listing on the Tokyo International Anime Fair website. This is all we know about the series at present, but more details should appear leading up to the TIAF stage event on March 30th and we'll be keeping an eye out for them. (no more)]]> http://heiseidemocracy.com/2008/03/05/appleseed-tv-anime-announced/feed/ 7