Cobra The Animation (2010 Version)

I have to admit I don't really know anything about Cobra. Haven't seen any of the old shows, but I was interested when I heard they were doing a tv series for winter of 2010. I was somewhat surprised when Crunchyroll picked this up simply because I didn't think new fans would like an "old show".

The first episode basically lays everything out. A planet, Galon, has broken it's orbit and is now heading straight towards the sun. In a week they will collide and annihilate the solar system. However, a key, literally, can change that. Secret, a Galaxy Patrol office who looks like Cobra's old flame, Dominique, is taking the key to a professor that apparently knows how to stop all this. Throw in the Pirate Guild who is chasing after Secret, and the key, when Cobra bumps into her and you have a show that at least isn't moe. I'm in.

As I write this, the first three episodes are available for viewing on CR, so head on over and check it out. Until then here's the opening.

Forget Tea, in China there's BEER!

Another good read here.

Not a big fan of Chinese lagers myself, but who knows what they'll be coming out with soon -- right now they're basically experiencing the Microbrew stage that the U.S. did in the early to mid 1990s. Kampai!!!

RIP "Grandma Sophie"

Jean Simmons has passed at age 80.

Yamato Overload

While on an internet walkabout, found some more Yamato stuff.

A couple of trailers for Yamato: Rebirth that was released last month in Japan. Official Site.



Almost 9 minute preview.

A couple more trailers.

A five meter long Yamato model and underwear.



Yamato Pachinko 2. I know these have probably made the rounds on other sites/blogs, but I don't care. It's still worth a few links.



Commercial #3
Commercial #4
Commercial #5

Here's the Star Blazers homepage from Voyager Entertainment and to the pachinko machine. Good info and more links as well.

Bonus A
Bonus B


OK, that's enough. Now, get outside and play!

75 Years of Beer Cans

A good read here.

(Note: I don't need the GE999 can, just happy to know it exists : )

Other Stuff

Some other stuff . . .

- 30 Rock had an episode where James Franco guest stars as a celeb in love with Kimiko, a dakimakura or a "hugging pillow". Check the episode out at Hulu. Via Anime Vice

- It's no surprise that James Cameron is possibly planning a trilogy for Avatar since it's been such a huge success. The interesting bit is the last paragraph where it says he is working on Battle Angel now for a 2011 release. Via Yahoo! Movies

- DVD Fantasium, a Japanese online retailer, announced it will no longer import Funimation titles due to licensing agreements. Via ANN.

- For $1.99 you can buy a sarcasm punctuation mark. < sarcasm >Great.< /sarcasm >. Via CNet.

- RIP Isamu Tanonaka. He was the only voice for Medama Oyaji, the walking eyeball that is Kitaro's father from Gegege no Kitaro. Via ANN

- To end on an up note, here's a good quality clean opening for the Dirty Pair TV show from 1985. The song is "Ru-Ru-Ru-Russian Roulette" by Nakahara Meiko. Via Japanator

Gundam Unicorn at Amazon

For those of you looking to buy it right out of the gate.

Fumiko's Confession

"Fumiko's Confession" is this year's YouTube Video Awards Japan's winner in the anime catagory. Mostly the work of Hiroyasu Ishida, a 21-year-old student aspiring to be an animator, with the help of a couple friends. You can read the rest at ANN.



ANN also has links to some of the nominees for the awards here.

Japan Probe has something of a translation here. You should check them out, but if you're too lazy:

"In the short, Fumiko asks a boy to date her, but he refuses, wanting to concentrate on his baseball skills. At the end, she offers to make him miso soup every day (a marriage proposal in Japan), but the result is… "

I should have put "Fumiko's Confession" in my Stuff Good for 2009. I like.

Via Anime News Network and Japan Probe

Here's Nova . . .

Meisa Kuroki is going to play Yuki Mori (a.k.a. Nova in StarBlazers) in the new Yamato movie. Looks like she has taken on plenty of roles with ties to anime and manga:

-She was Sister Angela in the TV adaptation of 1 Pound no Fukuin (One Pound Gospel) based on the manga by Rumiko Takahashi.
-She played Miyamoto Subaru, the lead character in the movie Dance, Subaru! based off the manga from Masahito Soda.
-She was the voice for Vexille in the CG animated film of the same name.
-She was the character Grey in Mamuro Oshii's Assault Girls from last year.
-And for the Takashi Miike fans, she was Ruka Aizawa in '07's Crow Zero.

Here she is huckin' something called Cola Shock:


Here's her singing side being a "Bad Girl" (Might be a bit NSFW):


I think she'll make a fine Yuki/Nova.

2010 and Japanese Film

Looking forward to one of these turning up at our own festival here in flyover country.