#they deserve the remaster and restoration treatment

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rollflasher · 3 years ago

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I spoke about this a lot before but I decided to make this post to see if I can do something about it.

So, as everyone knows by now, both Sonic Adventure 1 and 2 have suffered from poor porting ever since they got released on other systems after the Dreamcast, specially SA1 as that game got buggier and more broken with each version to the point of making the game look much more dated than it should.

Of course the community has done efforts to fix this with mods that restore these games to their Dreamcast states bringing back lots of assets and fixing issues brought by the ports while also ironing out their flaws, and while this is great, I feel like it's not enough to completely undo the damage that was done to these games, so here's my main topic.

What if the fandom made a movement to signal boost to SEGA the demand of proper remasters of the Adventure games?

What do I mean with this? For starters, I'm not talking about doing something as shameful as what some fans did back in the day in the form of spamming every part of SEGA's social media with comments about an Unleashed port, that's certainly not going to pay off in the long run.

My proposal instead is doing things like creating a hashtag, doing fanarts about it and most importantly spreading the word around the fandom. Things like Change.org petitions are useless because they won't even make it into a company's radar, but a movement that gets popular enough to be trending in a fandom might be enough to catch SEGA's attention.

Why I propose this? After seeing the trailer of Sonic Origins, I can't help but feel it's pretty sad that the Classic games are gonna have their definitive versions as the most accessible ones, which is great because these games deserve to be properly preserved, but on the other hand the most accessible versions of the Adventure games are currently the most broken ones that do a complete disservice to the original titles, therefore I think it's time to do something about it.

In fact, Origins might be the best opportunity to do this, since it has been pointed out that the success of this title can lead to more Sonic games, including the Modern ones, getting ported to current gen systems, so this is the golden time to do something.

Who knows? The best case scenario could be developers who want to revitalize the Adventure games finally getting a chance to get hired by SEGA and give those games the same treatment Taxman and Headcannon gave to the Classic games. Or SEGA at the very least could greenlight the idea of finally doing polished ports of these games from the ground up.

Unfortunately, I lack the time, resources and most importantly the influence to cause this movement to happen. The most influence I have is here in Tumblr, however, I'm also aware that doing nothing won't magically change anything, so the best I can do is give my small grain of sand and hope that at the very least this idea can reach the ears of somebody who can actually do something about this, at this rate it can't hurt my chances.

#sonic the hedgehog #sonic adventure #sonic adventure 2 #sonic fandom #sonic origins #fan proposal #ramble #sega

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moosterrecords · 5 years ago

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Blue Underground set to release ZOMBIE and MANIAC

on 4K UHD Blu-ray on May 26th

PRE-ORDER HERE

Blue Underground is proud to present critically acclaimed restorations of ZOMBIE and MANIAC in true 4K Ultra High Definition with Dolby Vision HDR and a new Dolby Atmos audio mix, bursting at the seams with hours of new and archival extras.

"We put a lot of time and work into restoring films like MANIAC and ZOMBIE," said William Lustig, President of Blue Underground. " We're thrilled that fans can now view them at home in true 4K Ultra HD, with Dolby Vision High Dynamic Range and new Dolby Atmos audio mixes."

ZOMBIE

The Dead Are Among Us on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray!

In Italy, it was considered the 'unofficial sequel' to DAWN OF THE DEAD. In England, it was known as ZOMBIE FLESH EATERS and banned as obscene. In America, it was called ZOMBIE and advertised with the depraved tag line "WE ARE GOING TO EAT YOU!" Tisa Farrow (THE GRIM REAPER), Ian McCulloch (CONTAMINATION), Al Cliver (CANNIBALS), and Richard Johnson (THE HAUNTING) star in this worldwide splatter sensation directed by 'Maestro Of Gore' Lucio Fulci (THE HOUSE BY THE CEMETERY, THE NEW YORK RIPPER) that remains one of the most eye-skewering, skin-ripping, gore-gushingly graphic horror hits of all time!

Disc 1 (4K UHD Blu-ray) Feature Film + Extras:

* Audio Commentary #1 with Troy Howarth, Author of Splintered Visions: Lucio Fulci and His Films

* Audio Commentary #2 with Star Ian McCulloch and Diabolik Magazine Editor Jason J. Slater

* When The Earth Spits Out The Dead - Interview with Stephen Thrower, Author of Beyond Terror: The Films of Lucio Fulci

* Theatrical Trailers

* TV Spots

* Radio Spots

* Poster & Still Gallery

* Guillermo del Toro Intro

Disc 2 (Blu-ray) Extras:

* Zombie Wasteland - Interviews with Stars Ian McCulloch, Richard Johnson & Al Cliver, and Actor/Stuntman Ottaviano Dell'Acqua

* Flesh Eaters on Film - Interview with Co-Producer Fabrizio De Angelis

* Deadtime Stories - Interviews with Co-Writers Elisa Briganti and (Uncredited) Dardano Sacchetti

* World of the Dead - Interviews with Cinematographer Sergio Salvati and Production & Costume Designer Walter Patriarca

* Zombi Italiano - Interviews with Special Make-Up Effects Artists Gianetto De Rossi & Maurizio Trani and Special Effects Artist Gino De Rossi

* Notes on a Headstone - Interview with Composer Fabio Frizzi

* All in the Family - Interview with Antonella Fulci

* Zombie Lover - Award-Winning Filmmaker Guillermo del Toro talks about one of his favorite films

ZOMBIE (3-Disc Limited Edition) Blu-ray Reviews:

* "5 out of 5! The release is sourced from an exclusive new 4K restoration that is simply a thing of beauty. I think that it is the best work that the folks at Blue Underground have done to date... All in all, there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that the folks at Blue Underground have produced the definitive master and release of ZOMBIE. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!" - Blu-ray.com

* "Blue Underground has delivered the definitive home video release of ZOMBIE... It's difficult to imagine this 4K remaster and three-disc limited edition ever being dethroned... One of the most extraordinary cult cinema packages I've ever come across. I haven't awarded this site's highest rating to a title in more than two years, but Blue Underground's astonishing efforts here are richly deserving. DVD Talk Collector Series" - DVD Talk

* "ZOMBIE is a spaghetti splatter cornerstone that looks better than ever in Blue Underground's new 4K restoration-one of the few absolute 'must-own' releases for horror fans this year!" - Rue Morgue

* "Fulci gets so many elements of this film right - atmosphere, gore, story, decent characterization. This is Criterion-level treatment, and in some ways even more impressive. Undoubtedly, some of the best work Blue Underground has ever done, and if you're familiar with their transfers that's saying a lot. This is a no-brainer pick as one of the year's best home video releases!" - Dread Central * "Blue Underground's work on this title blew all of my expectations out of the water - the transfer truly is a revelation. After years of seeing this film in substandard quality, it's a shock to see it in such pristine quality - almost as if it was shot yesterday. Add to that a large extras selection and you have one of the finest Blu-ray horror releases of the year. Beyond recommended!" - The Digital Bits

MANIAC

The Notorious Horror Classic! Now on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray!

Frank Zito (a career performance by writer/executive producer Joe Spinell of ROCKY and THE GODFATHER fame) is a deeply disturbed man, haunted by the traumas of unspeakable childhood abuse. And when these horrific memories begin to scream inside his mind, Frank prowls the seedy streets of New York City to stalk and slaughter innocent young women. Now Frank has begun a relationship with a beautiful photographer (Caroline Munro of THE SPY WHO LOVED ME), yet his vile compulsions remain. These are the atrocities of a human monster. This is the story of a MANIAC.

Directed by William Lustig (MANIAC COP 2, VIGILANTE) and featuring landmark gore effects by Tom Savini (DAWN OF THE DEAD, FRIDAY THE 13th), this relentlessly shocking and disturbing film was originally banned or censored all over the world due to its graphic violence.

Disc 1 (4K UHD Blu-ray) Feature Film + Extras:

* Audio Commentary #1 with Producer/Director William Lustig and Producer Andrew Garroni

* Audio Commentary #2 with Producer/Director William Lustig, Special Make-Up Effects Artist Tom Savini, Editor Lorenzo Marinelli, and Joe Spinell's Assistant Luke Walter

* Theatrical Trailers

* TV Spots

* Radio Spots

Disc 2 (Blu-ray) Extras:

* MANIAC Outtakes

* Returning to the Scene of the Crime with William Lustig

* Anna and the Killer - Interview with Star Caroline Munro

* The Death Dealer - Interview with Special Make-Up Effects Artist Tom Savini

* Dark Notes - Interview with Composer Jay Chattaway

* Maniac Men - Interview with Songwriters Michael Sembello and Dennis Matkosky

* The Joe Spinell Story

* Mr. Robbie: Maniac 2 Promo Reel

* MANIAC Publicity

* MANIAC Controversy

MANIAC (3-Disc Limited Edition) Blu-ray Reviews:

* "5 out of 5! It is sourced from an outstanding 4K remaster that will end up being the final makeover that the film gets on the home video market. The bonus material that was gathered for the release...is beyond overwhelming. Simply put, the folks at Blue Underground went to work to produce the definitive home video release of MANIAC and they delivered it. As far as I am concerned this is the type of top-quality work that deserves a perfect overall score. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!"- Blu-ray.com

* "5 out of 5! This new 4K restoration of the original true 16MM negatives looks absolutely stellar. The folks at Blue Underground have absolutely done this film justice with this new 'Limited Edition' Blu-ray Disc release. It's sheer perfection in every single area. 5 across the board here for ratings, and that's something very rare for me to be able to justify!" - High Def Disc News

* "MANIAC is a horror classic. Blue Underground has treated it as such. A near flawless transfer, thoughtful audio commentaries, and a wealth of extras. As a result, MANIAC is a 'Top 10 Blu-Rays of the Year' level release. HIGHEST POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATION!!!" - The Movie Isle

* "10 out of 10! Blue Underground are heads and shoulders the fan's company as they are bringing us all these amazing films from our youth in stunning high definition and amazing quality with a lot of great special features. MANIAC on Blu-ray is a must buy!" - Wicked Channel

* "Almost forty years later, MANIAC has lost none of its power to shock... Blue Underground's Blu-ray reissue is a thing of morbid beauty, presenting the picture in a gorgeous new transfer, with really strong audio and with a couple of important new extras and all of the archival material from past editions as well. Highly recommended" - Rock! Shock! Pop!

* "MANIAC is just not a film you can ignore . . . especially in its final moments. Blue Underground presents the 4K restoration of MANIAC on Blu-ray with stunning results. With an upgrade in sound and in vision, this low budget shocker, originally filmed on 16mm, looks almost new again!" - Reel Reviews

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kingofbluebell · 8 years ago

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Top Physical Anime Releases of 2016

I wish I could spend this entire month making "Best of the Year" lists for 2016, but unfortunately, it would be disingenuous to do so. Most of the media I consumed this year was either older or just not strong enough for me to promote. However, there is a year-end list that is entirely made up of content not released in 2016 I consumed that I can put out: A List of my "Ten Favorite Anime Home Video Releases". That’s an overly specific title, but pedantry is something that comes with the territory. I am by no means an expert in the field of disk encoding nor would I say I’m well versed in all the goings on with the way anime is distributed, this is just a list containing the anime I was happy to see got a release or a re-release this year with a few honorable mentions. I’m also limiting this list to North American releases, only because I have even less knowledge of other regions' anime markets. Since this post is rather long, I’ve provided a list of the anime I’m going to cover here making it easier for you to search for a particular title.

Table of Contents

Shirobako (Honorable Mention)

Maria the Virgin Witch (Honorable Mention)

Otaku no Video

Belladonna of Sadness

Gundam Thunderbolt

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time

Dai-Guard

The Vision of Escaflowne

Dennou Coil

Only Yesterday

Getter Robo Armageddon

Sword of the Stranger

Shirobako: As impressive as this show is I wouldn't call the anemic release it got this year a must buy. A shame as the release and popularity of Shirobako in the West has aided in the significant change happening to the western anime fandom in recent years. The show opened a lot of eyes to the struggles inherent in creating anime, leading to a greater appreciation of the medium as a whole. I've seen it spur on people already present in a community branch out and diversify the type of content and critique that gets produced about the medium. These claims may be a bit unsubstantiated, but I’ve known a lot of people who after watching and enjoying Shirobako got a fire lit under them to really dive in and give back to the community/industry more than they had before. The knowledgeable and passionate members of our community are creating more content than ever that help breaks down the barriers between consumers and creators that appeared to exist for decades. Slowly we’re coming together to support these fans turned scholars and the medium of anime more and I can’t wait to see what 2017 brings to the table in this way. Unfortunately, as I mentioned earlier, my hyperbolic statements about Shriobako and what it may or may not have done for this community aren't reflected in this two-part Sentai Filmworks release (nor could they ever realistically be). With the show available to stream currently on Crunchyroll as well as Sentai’s oft-forgotten The Anime Network and its license nowhere near close to expiring this is a show you don’t need to run out and buy immediately. Frankly, if you’re still fanatical about the show you probably bought a bunch of character goods or the second pressing of the Japanese Blu-rays. I bought this domestic release an impulse buy because Amazon has decent pre-order discount and I had the leftovers of a birthday gift card. For everyone else who wants to buy I suggest you wait until Sentai inevitably releases a complete series set.

Maria the Virgin Witch: Another impulse buy, this the result of a Rightstuf.com holiday sale daily deal, but one I’m less regretful supporting early. What pushed me over the edge to buy it is because I am almost certain this gem of the Winter 2015 season will continue to be overlooked. It may be in part due to its title or the fact that a lot of anime fans tend to check out during the winter season. Either way, this show about a witch in an alternate history version of a European conflict is far more engaging and endearing than the one that aired in 2016 (though those are the only similarities between Maria and Izetta I swear). I want to talk about this show for the blog this year, so I don’t want to spoil too much. I will say that you can currently stream it through Funimation or Hulu and with Funimation’s partnership with Crunchyroll I’m sure it will enter their catalog as well next year (which would be a good time to release whatever I’ve written about it). Until then this show is destined to reach Funimation’s S.A.V.E. line in the coming years as a lot of good shows, unfortunately, do in this era of overwhelmingly huge anime seasons.

Otaku no Video: Probably the most impressive complete package I bought this year, Animeigo’s remaster of this classic OVA/Live-Action documentary by studio Gainax is pure shelf candy. I had slept on their remastering of Bubblegum Crisis, but I was enthusiastic in backing their second Kickstarter to give this essential commentary on fan culture the high-definition treatment it deserved. This limited edition comes in a solid chipboard box and includes an 180+ artbook on top of the additional audio commentaries, liner notes and three language tracks provided in the standard Blu-ray release. Though OVA itself looks better than it ever has the documentary, being not shot on 35mm film, looks decidedly more dated but less compressed than it did on the older DVD release. Robert Woodhead and everyone involved deserve high praise for the package they put together, and I would suggest any anime collector to grab the standard Blu-ray copy if they are the least bit interested. While I came from the generation of anime fans that grew after this project, I still find the topics it brings up relevant to fan culture today. There are numerous anime now that star “Otaku” now but the reasoning for almost all of those shows to do so is purely self-referential. The main character/characters are “Otaku” because the writer is one, and it gives them carte blanche to so how genre savvy they are to their majority otaku audience. Very few of these shows tackle the issues brought up about fan culture, and instead the "Otaku" character archetype has become so emblematic that it’s almost become a necessary cliche for a lot of writers to fall back on. So when I see shows that set out to address fan culture it makes me elated to watch. Shows like Genshiken, Welcome to the N.H.K. Comic Party and even Lucky Star to an extent come from a more genuine place. Whether this place is a more critical or celebratory doesn’t matter to me as it does to a lot of other fans and Otaku no Video clear cut between the fun-loving OVA and the far more sobering documentary may turn off some viewers. Sure both halves aren’t as seamlessly melded together as in later series but they are two halves of an essential whole, and I urge you to watch both if you haven't to gain the full experience.

Belladonna of Sadness: I adore this film and relish in its beautiful restoration, but I’m at a loss for words with how to sell it to those not already in the know. Conceptually Belladonna of Sadness your straightforward rape revenge story but its presentation is anything but, not only in the realm of anime but animation as a whole. Belladonna is the final of the three Animerama films made by Osamu Tezuka’s Mushi Productions, a project that aimed to create more adult-oriented animation. It’s by far the shortest of the three films and, from what I believe is due in part to Tezuka’s lack of involvement, by far the most serious. Still, it shares the trilogy's real sense of wanting to experiment with animation on top of showcasing more mature storylines. Belladonna tale is shown through ornate watercolor stills, their elegance worthy of presenting in any art gallery. Despite showcasing limited animation for an animated feature the use of these still images through cinematography manages to make its tale no less poignant. However, in movement Belladonna is a surreal journey unlike anything on celluloid. The closest comparison I have are some of the films of Ralph Bakshi but even the most psychedelic of his sequences appear far more grounded than Belladonna’s phallic parade. The use of color and sound in these moments would be electrifying by themselves, but given the stationary nature of the film these energetic and unearthly sequences stand out even more. Despite all my praise, I understand that not everyone is as willing as I am to watch a 1970s, experimental, anime rape-revenge flick that is made up of mostly watercolor paintings let alone run out to purchase it. Luckily Amazon has it for streaming for Prime members so if you’d like to try it before adding it to your collection or just want to watch something daringly different be my guest.

Gundam Thunderbolt: In a year where Nozomi was putting out a Gundam release every month, fans of the long time mecha franchise, such as myself, were downright spoiled for choice when it came to collecting the series on home video. If I was a more die-hard fan I could have made a list consisting of almost nothing but Gundam titles, but I decided to have one release represent the franchise this year. I could have chosen traditional favorites such as Zeta Gundam, 0080 War in the Pocket or Char’s Counterattack. The oft-maligned ZZ Gundam or underrated series like Victory Gundam and After War Gundam X, surprising newcomers in Gundam Build Fighters and Gundam Build Fighters Try are also appealing buys. The glorious trainwreck known as Reconguista in G was at points calling my name to defend it here and if I really wanted to send I could have even chosen the excellent adaptation of Gundam: The Origin which came in some lavishly designed art boxes. However, if I had purchased all of these this year, even taking advantage of every sale and discount possible, I’d have been downright broke. Besides, I have a much better candidate. Gundam Thunderbolt December Sky, the compilation of the previously released four episodes, is probably the biggest piece of fanservice anime I’ve seen so far this decade. From the action choreography to the mechanical design and fluid animation all nestled in a dour military plot where neither side is the clearly in the right: This is the stuff of Gundam fans' dreams. Thunderbolt demands to be viewed in the highest definition possible, its excellent jazz soundtrack and overall sound design pleading for an appropriate surround system and this minimalistic Blu-ray release doesn't disappoint on that front. Where it does, however, is in the included dub. A dub little to most Gundam fans, especially those willing to import a Blu-ray movie, but after coming off one of the best dubs this decade, Gundam Unicorn, this is a real letdown. I’m sure this will still go over well when this eventually airs on Toonami, but I think this could have been casted a lot better. As of this writing, Gundam Thunderbolt isn’t legally streaming anymore, but hopefully when the planned second season comes out, the original will be made available either through streaming or a domestically released Blu-ray. It may be too much to ask most people to shell out for, but this right here is one of the best looking series this decade. Truly a high point for anime and animation in general. Plus one of the leaflets included in this box announces the Japanese release date for the Mobile Fighter G Gundam Blu-rays, which means they can’t be too far out from releasing domestically. I can’t wait to experience that beautifully godawful dub again, this time in high definition.

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time: Shinkai’s first non-franchise film initially came to the West with far less fanfare as his name carries now. Sure there were fans of Digimon Adventure: Our War Game! And One Piece Film 6: Baron Omatsuri and the Secret Island but the cultural cache behind the director's name hadn’t exploded yet. The Girl Who Leapt Through Time changed that and probably lead to Funimation’s decision to pick up the rights and heavily market his next film Summer Wars, a film which increased his level of notoriety to the point where people began calling him “The Next Miyazaki”. While still beloved post Summer Wars, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time had the unfortunate distinction of being one of the last anime Bandai Visual had licensed before they closed up shop. The film’s popularity combined with the small print run the Blu-ray received lead to massive price gouging on the secondhand market even for the more readily available DVD copy. Having already acquired the rights to Summer Wars, Wolf Children, and the then upcoming The Boy and the Beast it seemed clear to everyone that a Funimation relicense of this film wasn’t far off. In the meantime, many in the collecting community decided to purchase the frankly stunning South Korean Blu-ray set, though others including myself waited for a far cheaper domestic copy. I bought the standard release although Funimation released a limited edition version as well that I hear doesn't compare favorably when up against the previously mentioned South Korean release. Either way, this major film from a now well-established director has finally been made available again so it can reach the wider audience he has now. Funimation’s release comes with a number of extras on the disks the most valuable being the two interviews with Hosoda. The Girl Who Leapt Through Time might not be in my upper echelon of anime films, but it’s certainly one I enjoy on occasion, even with my general lack of interest in time travel and I'm glad to have it back in my collection in an affordable higher fidelity.

Dai-Guard: In this modern era of anime where new giant robot shows, outside Gundam, are infrequent it sure was kind of Discotek Media to redistribute this forgotten title in the genre. Imagine if events similar to those in Neon Genesis Evangelion occurred except that N.E.R.V. was not a ludicrously well-funded organization and instead had a budget similar to many of our real-life underfunded government organizations. Yes, the angel-like, amorphous threat known as the Heterodyne have returned after humanity's destructive confrontation with them twelves years prior but the only weapon capable of defeating them, the robot Dai-Guard, has seen better days. Now used as a mascot for the military Dai-Guard is barely able to make it through a battle without falling apart. This somewhat more comedic take on alien lifeforms set to destroy earth is one of the many things that set Dai-Guard apart from the many anime the share its premise. Unlike a lot of those anime, however, Dai-Guard is piloted by three people and their conflicting personalities and interpersonal stories, along with those of the rest of the 21st Century Defense Security Corporation add a lot of the flavor and weight to the series. The ensemble cast is what makes Dai-Guard more than your average giant robot show and anyone who's been a fan of office comedies, both in and outside anime, in the past decade will find a lot to enjoy here. Dai-Guard itself, while not the most memorable robot in anime history, is well designed and its signature weapons lead to some very well done fights. This show's more light-hearted tone acts as a nice reprieve in between watching more heady programming, for example, I decided to give this show a rewatch after watching Casshern Sins, and it worked wonderfully as a palate cleanser. As always Discotek does an excellent job maintaining the quality of the original release as well as shipping it in solid packaging. The original dub from the ADV release is here and is on par with what they usually produced back in those days. Overall Dai-Guard isn’t the flashiest show, but much like its titular robot it manages to hold itself together to deliver a satisfying punch to fans of a currently underserved genre.

The Vision of Escaflowne: There was and still is a lot of drama in the anime collectors community surrounding the re-release of this well-loved anime from Sunrise. Funimation’s successful Kickstarter to redub the series was already showing warning signs before funding ended and their handling of the aftermath left a lot of people with a bad taste in their mouths. Needless to say, I doubt they’ll consider using crowdfunding again. I was unable to back the project and therefore I wasn’t privy to a lot of the discussion that took place about it. From what I managed to glean, unfortunately, it looks like an actual resolution hasn’t been met which is a shame that will continue cloud this release. Escaflowne was a huge deal in the western anime fandom upon its initial release and while it’s time in the limelight isn’t as constant as its contemporary Cowboy Bebop it is by no means a show that has aged poorly. Sunrise did an excellent job remastering this title in the Japanese release a few years ago, and the show has never looked better. I’m a bit biased toward the style of the show, being a huge fan of Nobuteru Yuki’s character designs since Chrono Cross, and when you add giant robots into the mix, you have a show that hits me right in the sweet spot. Top it all off with one of Yoko Kanno’s most celebrated scores, and you have a series poised to remain a staple in the western anime fandom for decades to come. As far as the new dub is concerned, it is certainly more up to the standards of new anime dubbing than the original, included with Bandai’s release. I never had a fondness for the original, so I can’t say I miss it. Nevertheless, I’ll still be sticking to the original Japanese for this show, unlike so many other Sunrise shows from this period. If this new dub is capable of bringing in more modern fans to enjoy this classic, then I am all for it supplanting the old one. I’m a bit disheartened that due to the new dub Funimation decided to split the series initially like they do with a lot of their newer acquisitions of similar length. They could have charged the combined price and kept everything in one box, but I guess that’ll happen when this show gets reprinted for their Anime Classics line. In the end, I’m for more people viewing this stunning show however possible either through purchasing these physical sets or streaming through Funimation and hopefully Crunchyroll sometime this year. Despite all of the mishegas, I’m glad to add this series again to my collection. However, I decided not to purchase Escaflowne: The Movie. The movie itself is an odd duck, being a pseudo-compilation movie that also alters many characters and events not just for the sake of time. I tend to find a lot of these movies rather substandard, the exception being The Adolescence of Utena which I have grown to enjoy over time and will be pleased to repurchase along with the rest of the series on Blu-ray in 2017. As for Escaflowne: The Movie I may pick it up for the sake of completion but only further down the road when it’s discounted.

Den-Noh Coil: 2016 was going to be the year that I began importing a lot of anime as domestic licensers were either slow or unable to distribute the shows I wanted. Many these series were made available by Australian publisher Siren Visual, whom I’ve purchased from before to get my copy of Welcome to Irabu’s Office. Luckily Sentai Filmworks stepped in to begin distributing a handful of Siren's catalog in Region A including this one (now if only they or anyone would license Monster or Kaiba). Den-Noh Coil had been a show that struck a chord with me when I found it online in 2008 and was one of the big things I shared with my college anime club when I was asked to run nights. I held out hope that the show would officially available in English, but that wish and the little fanfare the show received subsided as the years continued. It’s a shame the series and its talented creator Mitsuo Iso haven’t become household names, and I’m hoping this late release can help restart the conversation about both. What surprised me most about this release from Sentai Filmwork’s Maiden Japan imprint is that they decided to dub it, and I honestly think it isn’t half bad. I rewatched the first handful of episodes dubbed and while North America’s limited anime VA talent limits it (as it does almost every modern dub) I’d hazard to say it tops Maria the Virgin Witch’s for my personal choice for best dub of the year. Unlike Maria’s I find the dubbing of this show far more important as I genuinely think this is a good show for younger children. The kids in this show look and act like kids and while it gets a bit dark in places there is nothing here that I think would frighten kids more than the cavalcade of horrors I saw growing up watching Don Bluth movies. I also see this show as a good candidate to ease your older friends and family into anime as there isn’t anything here I’d consider objectionable or embarrassing. Besides, a lot of the concepts in this show are moving far closer to the realm of possibility than they were a decade ago. Wearable computers, virtual reality and the omnipresence of technology and how it meshes with where we live are far more relevant topics than they ever were in 2007 due to how tangible all these ideas are to us now especially with kids who grew up only knowing smartphones and tablets. I’m glad I got to revisit this show recently, and I’m hoping more people do in the coming years so I can talk about it with someone. It’s only available to stream through The Anime Network for now but hopefully, some other site (Crunchyroll) will be able acquire it as well.

Only Yesterday: It makes sense that this would be the last of the major Studio Ghibli films to see release in North America. A movie about the growing ennui of a late 20-something business woman isn’t something you can easily sell to kids, especially when there isn’t a randomly inserted fantasy sequence such as with the similarly tonal Whisper of the Heart. Still, as I hasten to reach the age of our protagonist Taeko Okajima I’ve only found this film more relatable and it has managed to climb the ranks of my personal “Ghibli Hierarchy”. There was a lot of buzz around this Disney dub starring The Force Awakens' lead Daisy Ridley, but I can’t say I’ve listened to this one yet. I can assure you that the mixed reactions I've heard and read from a lot of people haven't affected my decision to do so. My reasoning for not listening to it is rather simple: I don't want to watch a film grounded in 1980s Japan with English voices. The dub is there for those who want it, and if it manages to get more people to see this movie, then it was worth making. Only Yesterday is a fantastic film worthy of placement in your collection alone, but the over 40-minute making-of documentary included in its extra features make it a must buy for anyone interested in animation production or Studio Ghibli. Not only does this cover a lot of the movie's unique production aspects of the film but the culture of Studio Ghibli at the turn of the decade. Being filmed around Only Yesterday’s 1991 release this is relatively early in the studio’s life, so it’s an excellent snapshot of this period. Being one of Takahata's films we see a great deal of him and his worth ethic both in animation directing and with running the studio, something we, unfortunately, don’t get a lot of due to the cult of personality surrounding Hayao Miyazaki. Of course, Miyazaki is prominently featured here, as well, and this being the early 90s he’s relatively less cynical. Being able to own this documentary that I’ve watched for a number of years is great, and I’m thankful the folks at Disney went out of their way to acquire it again for this release. It's a sizable contribution that makes an already great package truly stellar.

Getter Robo: Armageddon: I tend to have horrible luck when it comes to purchasing old media. Most times I buy something that’s long out of print it gets announced for a re-release within the next few weeks. Getter Robo: Armageddon would surely have been another one of those cases had I not checked Facebook to see Discotek Media’s announcement. I used to show this one as well in my college anime club, and a lot of the folks who were Gurren Lagann fans ate it up. For months I had been waiting for this action-packed OVA to be released in high definition, getting jealous of those who attended summer cons grabbing and early print copies. This gritty, high-octane giant robot show is an enjoyable romp from beginning to end. The remaster not only makes the colors pop, but the improved sound makes all the action scenes for me, that and most of the episodes starting with the second opening HEATS doesn’t hurt either. This entire series scratches that itch for hot-blooded fun and looks marvelous doing it. I’m always happy to support a company like Discotek because time and again they release quality products and Getter Robo: Armageddon is no exception. After the anime crash in the late 2000s, I thought a company like Discotek that only licensed older anime would be a flash in the pan. With every box set and movie, I buy from them I'm reminded how wrong I was in my assumption. Their 2017 lineup is already looking stellar and the fact they announce new licenses almost every other month shows how strong they’ve become.

Sword of the Stranger: You might wonder why I’ve taken a photo of the older Bandai release instead of Funimation’s recent reprinting. This is because despite the Funimation release getting a dub I didn’t feel the need to rebuy something I already owned on Blu-Ray. I’ve heard the dub is fair and the extra features are nice, but neither are spectacular enough for me to double dip so early. Nevertheless, I wanted to bring attention to this great action film’s re-release and if you read until this point in the post you know I’ve already spent my fair share on anime this year so cut me some slack. Sword of the Stranger one of the first names brought up when anime fans want to showcase a great action scene. The choreography the folks at Studio Bones nailed down here is outstanding and worthy of any action showcase. Fans of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood should be elated in finally getting access to this movie again as that series owes a lot to the style of action created for this film. Not only that but the film as a whole is a solid feature: a simple samurai story told well. There isn’t anything revolutionary going on here plotwise, and the characters are familiar archetypes though not to a fault. It isn’t trying to deconstruct its themes and characters for critique. Rather it comes off as a slick action movie that effortless falls into the greater chanbara canon. I appreciate this film's simplistic approach. It makes for easy sharing with friends and family who don’t usually watch a lot of anime. Sometimes all I want is a good self-contained action movie and Sword of the Stranger delivers and then some even a decade later. My only reservation about picking this one up now is that somehow Funimation failed to include subtitles for the Chinese dialogue, something included in the Bandai release I own. I'm hoping that with the release being so recent and the mistake pointed out that it will be fixed in newer pressings and that those who picked it up early can get exchanges. Maybe 2017 will be the year Funimation also revamps its attitude toward quality assurance? Here's hoping because I'd hate for a great film like this to be dragged down by an easily fixed mistake.

By now I’ve written more than enough about the anime on home video (re)published in 2016. Not only that but some well-beloved classic titles have already been announced for release (again) next year. Featuring plenty of Gundam, Revolutionary Girl Utena Blu-Rays, Urusei Yatsura: Beautiful Dreamer, Captain Harlock: Arcadia of my Youth and if we're lucky more popular Sunrise shows. 2017 looks to be an even better year for those of us who relish in collecting disks and I'll be there, my bank account willing, ready to enjoy it.

See you next week.

#the vision of escaflowne #only yesterday #gundam thunderbolt #the girl who leapt through time #shirobako #maria the virgin witch #den-noh coil #sword of the stranger #da-guard #gundam #getter robo armageddon #getter robo #belladonna of sadness #otaku no video #anime

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comiccrusaders · 8 years ago

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Dynamite Entertainment is proud to share the great news that, thanks to the overwhelming support of backers, the current Swords of the Swashbucklers Kickstarter has surpassed not only its original $9,500 goal, but two additional stretch goals. It’s with great pleasure that the publisher is now announcing the third and final stretch goal for this Kickstarter campaign: an all-new Swords of the Swashbucklers comic book project with involvement by original series artist Butch Guice and the Mantlo family!

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Launched on April 13th, the Kickstarter campaign supports the restoration of the Swords of the Swashbucklers comic series, a creator-owned pirate adventure published by Marvel from 1984 to 1987, as a high-quality collected edition. The support of backers not only gives the long-lost, groundbreaking series the complete and fully-remastered treatment that it deserves, but preserves the prized work of writer Bill Mantlo, an industry great whose career was tragically derailed by a vehicular accident. The new $50,000 stretch goal threshold will continue the adventures of the interstellar pirate vessel Starshadow, its captain Raader, and displaced Earth girl Domino Blackthorne in a full-color project.

The Swords of the Swashbucklers Kickstarter campaign remains active from now until May 12 for backers to contribute toward the new stretch goal:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/dynamiteent/bill-mantlo-and-butch-guices-swords-of-the-swashbu

Backers who support the Swords of the Swashbucklers Kickstarter have the opportunity to receive rewards, including t-shirts, digital editions, collectible prints, hardcover upgrades, and hand-drawn illustrations by Butch Guice.

Artist Butch Guice launched his comics career in the 1980s with Rom and Micronauts and became a perrenial favorite at Marvel and DC Comics. Throughout the years, he has illustrated the most recognizable heroes and heroines in public consciousness in the pages of Action Comics, Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis, Captain America, Doctor Strange, Iron Man, JLA Classified, New Mutants, Uncanny X-Men, and many more.

Bill Mantlo rose through the Marvel ranks in the 70s and 80s to become one of their Bullpen’s most dependable writers. He scripted over 500 Marvel comic books including Spectacular Spider-Man, The Incredible Hulk, Micronauts, and Rom: SpaceKnight. Known for his far-flung cosmic adventures and colorful personalities, Mantlo would be partly responsible for bringing to life Rocket Raccoon, the star of the 2014 blockbuster film, Guardians of the Galaxy and this coming May’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. At the height of his career, Bill Mantlo was the victim of a hit-and-run accident in New York City. He suffered a closed-head brain injury that severely impaired his memory, mobility, and fine motor skills. For twenty years, he has resided in a rehabilitation center, where staff assist with nearly all of his physical activities.

Backers who support this Kickstarter will not only grant one of comics’ earliest creator-owned projects new life with the premium treatment it deserves, but they’ll help get Swords of the Swashbucklers back in print — and now expand the story with brand-new content — so that revenue from continued sales can improve the quality of life for Bill Mantlo, a beloved writer and heavy influence on the next generation of comic creators.

About Dynamite Entertainment:

Dynamite was founded in 2004 and is home to several best-selling comic book titles and properties, including The Boys, The Shadow, Red Sonja, Warlord of Mars, Bionic Man, A Game of Thrones, and more. Dynamite owns and controls an extensive library with over 3,000 characters (which includes the Harris Comics and Chaos Comics properties), such as Vampirella, Pantha, Evil Ernie, Smiley the Psychotic Button, Chastity, and Peter Cannon: Thunderbolt. In addition to their critically-acclaimed titles and bestselling comics, Dynamite works with some of the most high profile creators in comics and entertainment, including Kevin Smith, Alex Ross, Neil Gaiman, Andy Diggle, John Cassaday, Garth Ennis, Jae Lee, Marc Guggenheim, Mike Carey, Jim Krueger, Greg Pak, Brett Matthews, Matt Wagner, Gail Simone, Steve Niles, James Robinson, and a host of up-and-coming new talent. Dynamite is consistently ranked in the upper tiers of comic book publishers and several of their titles – including Alex Ross and Jim Krueger’s Project Superpowers – have debuted in the Top Ten lists produced by Diamond Comics Distributors. In 2005, Diamond awarded the company a GEM award for Best New Publisher and another GEM in 2006 for Comics Publisher of the Year (under 5%) and again in 2011. The company has also been nominated for and won several industry awards, including the prestigious Harvey and Eisner Awards.

Dynamite Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/dynamitecomics Dynamite Twitter: http://twitter.com/DynamiteComics Dynamite Official Website: http://www.dynamite.com/ Comic Shop Locator Service: 1-888-comicbook, or visit http://www.comicshoplocator.com/

NEW COMIC BOOK ADVENTURES FOR BILL MANTLO & BUTCH GUICE’S SWORDS OF THE SWASHBUCKLER ANNOUNCED WITH THIRD STRETCH GOAL! Dynamite Entertainment is proud to share the great news that, thanks to the overwhelming support of backers, the current…

#comics #guice #Kickstarter #mantlo

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viralhottopics · 8 years ago

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This Artist Fights Her Eating Disorder By Drawing About It, And Her Pieces Are Absolutely Amazing

Anyone who has struggled with an eating disorder (or has known someone who has) understands that recoveryis a process: it’s often not fast or easy, and how it plays out depends entirely on this person. This woman, for instance, began to healthrough her own artwork, and the result is captivating.

'I could no longer eat without being abused' (image taken from book 'Me and My ED') There is truly nothing glamorous about Eating Disorders 'Me and My ED' is now available in the Apple iBook store! Purchase via the link in my bio or search 'Me and My ED' in the iBook store

A post shared by Christie Begnell (@meandmyed.art) on Feb 6, 2017 at 3:32pm PST

After struggling with an eating disorder for four years, Christie Begnell is now coming out with a book of her work that illustrates the realities of living with an ED.

Body Dysmorphia. Not helping with the whole body love thing. I'm still working on loving my body no matter what it's size, but not being able to perceive that size makes it extra difficult. One day at a time

A post shared by Christie Begnell (@meandmyed.art) on Jan 7, 2017 at 11:40pm PST

Many of her illustrations involve a dark, skeletal figure looming in the background, signifying how her disorder has controlled her for so many years.

Last week I received a lovely message from someone telling me that I had never had an Eating Disorder. Despite the fact that my artwork represents the emotional and psychological torture that comes with the illness, and I have spent several years in Eating Disorder treatment, apparently I never had an ED because I never reached a critically low weight. I cannot stress this enough… EATING DISORDERS ARE MENTAL ILLNESSES Only a very small percentage of people with an Eating Disorder reach a low BMI, and for those who do restore weight, ED's do not just magically disappear. Saying shit like "Oh, you look so healthy" is seriously insulting. Somebody's mental health can not always be seen, and for the most part Eating Disorders are more dangerous when they go undetected. Please share this message. This point is what motivated me to start drawing in the first place. I couldn't use my body to show people how tormented I was anymore, so I used my art. Please. If you take anything from this, it should be that no matter what your weight, you still deserve treatment

A post shared by Christie Begnell (@meandmyed.art) on Feb 17, 2017 at 4:37am PST

Bed bug

A post shared by Christie Begnell (@meandmyed.art) on Jan 12, 2017 at 10:13pm PST

Her pieces remind us that eating disorders don’t just affect people physically, but mentally as well.

You are not your thoughts. Once this storm passes, you'll see just how incredibly perfect you are

A post shared by Christie Begnell (@meandmyed.art) on Feb 3, 2017 at 2:33pm PST

Recovery. There is hope. I pick up my spoon and one meal at a time I dig through the hole. I fought with the fire and I reasoned with Ana. Once the wall began to break down I saw light. Each day it grew brighter and brighter. Sure, I still have days that are harder than others, and I still have beliefs that I need to dig through, but I see the light and today I choose to fight (Picture taken from 'Me and My ED' a picture book on living with and recovering from an Eating Disorder {digitally remastered}. 'Me and My ED' is available for purchase from meandmyed.bigcartel.com. Link available in bio)

A post shared by Christie Begnell (@meandmyed.art) on Feb 22, 2017 at 7:27am PST

Much of Christie’swork is about changing how we see eating disorders and, most importantly, how we see ourselves.

Just in case you weren't sure… YOUR EATING DISORDER IS VALID REGARDLESS OF YOUR WEIGHT (and your age, gender, shape, culture, colour, religion, beliefs, etc). If somebody tells you you don't have an Eating Disorder because you don't "look like you have one", throw this picture in their face and find new friends!

A post shared by Christie Begnell (@meandmyed.art) on Feb 23, 2017 at 12:29am PST

I swear to god if I see another advert telling me how I can dress to make myself look like an hourglass, I'm going to scream

A post shared by Christie Begnell (@meandmyed.art) on Feb 17, 2017 at 5:33pm PST

I'm so in love with Ed Sheeran's song, Shape of You His lyrics have no mention of waist, butt, breast or thigh size and leaves every woman thinking "my body could be desirable". We are a diverse society and we all have our own unique silhouettes. We need more songs like this and less songs that degrade women. Love your work as always @teddysphotos #shapeofyou #bodyshape #edsheeran

A post shared by Christie Begnell (@meandmyed.art) on Jan 31, 2017 at 2:13pm PST

Christie’s work has a message we can all walk away with: you are beautiful just the way you are, even if you don’t always feel like you are. And you know what? That’s OK.