June 2017 | Otaku No Culture

Yamato 2022 Lands With a 12-min Preview

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

Yamato (the old series or remake) will always have a special place in my heart. While the redo may seem to some fans as unneeded, I will watch it. The crisp new designs, expanded universe and the music … it gets me excited every time! Today marks a release of the first 12 minutes of Space Battleship Yamato 2202: Warriors of Love (宇宙戦艦ヤマト2202 愛の戦士たち), the second film of the series, a week ahead of the theatrical screening in Japan.

Based on the visuals and what I can understand in the piece, planets are being marked. As returning characters celebrate a peace of sorts (from the last movie), Kodai is in conference to hear about yet another threat that’s coming. Gatlantis is sweeping over the universe and approaching Earth.

The bumper on the top right exists to let viewers know about the upcoming theatrical release on Jun 24, 2017 and on the official Bandai Youtube page, pre-sales for a special limited edition blu-ray will also begin simultaneously as this volume will be released July 28th.

‘Restaurant to Another World’ Promotional Video Released!

By James Robert Shaw (The Wind up Geek)

Restaurant to Another World‘s (RTAW) anime television website released has released the 2nd promotional video to the series that begins airing July 4, 2017 on Tokyo MX. The series is based off Junpei Inuzuka’s light novel series, first serialized from January 4, 2013 on the user-generated novel publishing website Shōsetsuka ni Narō.

The series takes place in a western cuisine restaurant located in the poorer section of a shopping district. The restaurant serves food to salarymen and everyday people during the work week. But this restaurant with the sign of a cat over the door is secretly open during the weekends where they serve an unusual menu to unusual customers.

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The Video Game Cars 3: Driven to Win Races In Before the Film

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Hot on the heels of the coming Disney•Pixar film, Cars 3, on Friday (Thurs night in select markets), Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media today announced Cars 3: Driven to Win is now available in the Americas for the PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment systems, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Nintendo Switch™ and Wii U™.

This game by Avalanche Software wants to deliver is the world-class competitive racing game inspired by the upcoming film by providing an entirely new interactive experience that is thrilling to play alone or with friends and family. Players can race as Lightning McQueen, Cruz Ramirez, Jackson Storm and other beloved characters while mastering the tricks, skills and combat techniques needed to become the Ultimate Champion.

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3rd Trailer for Koi to Uso’s Animated Series Released!

Restaurant to Another World By James Robert Shaw
(The Wind up Geek)

Koi no Uso‘s official TV anime website released June 13th (Japan time) the third promotional trailer for the series based off the manga by Tsumugi Musawo. The story follows 15 year-old Yukari Nejima who can’t seem to get ahead in life athletically or academically. He lives in a near future Japan where lies and love are forbidden. At 16 years of age the Japanese Government chooses your life partner for better or worse but what happens when Nejima falls in love all on his own. Can he defy his own country’s laws?

The series first appeared as a manga on August 10, 2014 and is simultaneously published in Japanese, English, and Chinese on Kodansha Weekly Shonen Magazine’s DeNA Manga Box app. The series is also licensed in North America as Love and Lies through Kodansha Comics USA.

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Impressions on Van Isle Con

Van Isle Con (held in Sidney, BC) successfully compressed down what felt like a weekend event to one day and left me wishing for more.

Van Isle Con By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

Out of the many conventions I have attended over the years, some leave me wanting for more and others make me wish it could go on forever. With small events, the choices of what to do can leave me realizing I can take on most of the show in under a few hours and enjoy the sites from the city/town that’s hosting. Van Isle Con successfully compressed down what felt like a weekend event to one day and left me wishing for more.

Well, that’s if you are not like certain buddies of mine who will remain nameless. One had a long work day the night before, and the other was here to work (sort of) but he does not understand these geek shows as well as I do. Although I did not get much sleep, as I’m a night owl by nature, I did not crash n’ burn or find myself mentally exhausted when I took a long bus ride to and fro to get to this show.

I did need time to write (and edit) to describe all that I have experienced:

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Could the Gods and Monsters in The Mummy Want Their Humanity Back? An Analysis

mummyposter By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

* Spoiler Alert

Whoever wanted to revitalize Universal Studio’s vast catalogue of monsters into a new Dark Universe needs a lesson in understanding what made their golden era great. In the 40’s, the studio executives simply wanted to combine terror and comedy to reinvigorate box office sales, especially in-between or following a World War. The scares are delightful in Dracula (1931) and the laughs were genuine in Abbott and Costello meets Frankenstein (1948). I feel these two are milestones of an impressive and unintended plan to unite properties.

The whole notion to have a host of these beasts meeting or allying was never considered during these early days. What happened back then was more like a happy accident. Also, the latter film was assembled due to this studio suddenly owning the contracts of these comedians after they merged with International Pictures and producer Robert Arthur suggested pairing the boys with Frankenstein’s monster.

Fast forward to now, the intention to craft a shared world to compete with other studios (namely Marvel Entertainment’s) than to find effective pairings of star power with a property is questionable. Johnny Depp and Tom Cruise are neither exactly huge draws in every world-wide market. When considering the types of roles that earned them their best reputation, Depp can play a terrific smarmy pirate and Cruise that action-hero super-spy.

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