Author: James Robert Shaw

Making a comeback.

Discotek’s Latest to Include a Private Detective, Giant Robots, and a Space Pirate

DiscotekBy James Robert Shaw (The Wind up Geek)

Discotek Media recently had anime fans jumping for joy on March 3rd with the announcement of the upcoming DVD release of the entire Go Shogun (戦国魔神ゴーショーグン) series (known originally in North America as Macron 1), but now news on April 13th of the release of one OVA and three animated television series, there are many who will be preparing to make as much shelf room as possible for their latest Discotek treasures.

Discotek Media will be releasing on July 26, 2017 the 1985 animated series Choujuu Kishin Dancouga (超獣機神ダンクーガ), known in North America as Super Beast Machine God Dancouga, 1999’s Masou Kishin Cybuster (魔装機神サイバスター) AKA Psybuster, Waga Seishun no Arcadia – Mugen Kido SSX (わが青春のアルカディア 無限軌道SSX) AKA Arcadia of My Youth: Endless Orbit SSX from 1982, and the 1989 OVA series Midnight Eye (ゴクウ) AKA Midnight Eye: Goku.
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[Sidney, BC] Disney’s ‘Moana’ Co-Director, Chris Williams, to Appear at Van Isle Comic Con

DiscotekBy James Robert Shaw
(The Wind up Geek)

Sometimes for a con going big or go home can be dangerous. When your event makes a single guest your draw, going big can be a good thing. As in the case with Van Isle Con, Vancouver Island’s upcoming comic and cosplay convention, having Moana‘s co-director Chris Williams as your guest of honor is a very smart move. Sure, Williams doesn’t have the muscles of Dwayne Johnson (who voiced Maui), and okay, maybe he can’t sing like Auli’i Cravalho (Moana), but what he does have is a lot of talent and experience when it comes to creating films for all ages to enjoy.

William’s earliest credits are as story contributor for Disney on animated feature films such as 1998’s Mulan, The Emporer’s New Groove, and Brother Bear. More than just an ideas man, Williams also performed story artist duties on films Chicken Little, Meet the Robinsons, Tangled, Frozen (where he voiced Oaken), and the Academy Award winning Zootopia.

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Japanese Artist Hikaru Shirosu Upstaged by Cat in Latest YouTube Video

hikarushirosuprofileBy James Robert Shaw (The Wind up Geek)

For those of you who love cats or even own one or two (or three), you’ve come to realize (as I have) that cats come with incredible power. They may not fetch a stick or even a ball like our canine companions, they are more than willing to look silly chasing a bit of yarn, tossing a fake mouse laced with catnip, or bravely explore a brown paper bag. But the true power of cats comes from their ability to inject themselves into whatever we are doing at the time, no matter how important, and cause us to stop and pay attention to their kind. In a way they are saying “I want to be loved, now.”

That appears to be what is being told to Hikaru Shirosu, a talented pianist and singer from Japan. In his latest video we get a behind the scenes look at a video he produced for YouTube back in 2013. Shirosu found the video on an old SD card. Posting through his official Twitter the artist stated of the video:

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[Victoria, BC] Cherry Bomb Toys to Explode with Party Room Goodness

Reposted from an article written by Ed Sum for TwoHungryBlokes.com. To see the full photoset, please visit the original article.

1069719-01Cherry Bomb Toys in Victoria, BC is expanding. Not only do they have the National Toy Museum of Canada, on the second floor, which showcases approximately 80 years of love for childhood knickknacks, but soon, they will be opening their basement for people to use on a by appointment basis. The official opening is tentatively set for the end of March.

This area will not be limited to families wishing to celebrate their child’s birthdays (or an adult’s) in a venue that does not have to be their home. B Woodword, manager of the store, explained that not everyone has the space, especially if they live downtown, and cleanup for a whole home can be a chore. This operation’s idea is to offer a safe space so people can have fun in. There’s an arcade area filled with classic gaming consoles (Nintendo and SEGA were spotted) and four separate television screens so anyone can game with. People can bring their own next-gen consoles, but the purpose of this space is to stay retro. A dining room type area (with a few basic kitchen essentials) exists so people can mingle in. Of course, washroom facilities is down the hall.

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Day Two of Tsukino-Con 2017: Panels and a Fist Bump from Takahata 101

Tsukino-Con 2017 poster art by Bomhat.
Tsukino-Con 2017 poster art by Bomhat.

By James Robert Shaw (The Wind up Geek)

I must say this almost every year: I swear I need to find lodgings in or around the University of Victoria (UVic) campus when Tsukino-Con is on. Saturday was a late start for me (again) but this was due to more than the time of travel from where I reside to Gordon Head. There was an added case of business before pleasure. I think the two things I must look into next year are finding accommodation on the UVic campus and bringing along a laptop to type an article between panels.

A number of Saturday panels caught my eye. One was a drawing session and chat on the subject of Osamu Tezuka’s Tetsuwan Atomu (Astro Boy) with Canadian Comic Hall of Fame artist Ken Steacy, the TeamFourStar Q/A with voice actor Takahata 101, Nanohabridged: Table Readings and Auditions Part 1, and the annual Tsukino-Con Swimsuit Showdown. Sadly, of these I only made it to two.

In hindsight, I would’ve included the Vikes Improv panel. I’ve heard they’re good but with years of watching improv on shows like Whose Line is it Anyways? (UK and American versions) and Canada’s own Don’t Lick the Pig, I was still suffering from improv burnout.

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Advance Tickets Go on Sale for Cyberpunk Animated Film ‘Blame!’

blamemovieposterBy James Robert Shaw (The Wind up Geek)

Advance tickets went on sale Saturday Japan time for the computer graphics animated film Blame! (pronounced Blam!). Based on the short story by Tsutomu Nihei (and later serialized from 1997 to 2003), this film has been animated by Polygon Pictures whose work has been seen in the television series Knights of Sidonia (シドニアの騎士), Transformers Prime, Tron: Uprising, and Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Yuki Moriyama from the supernatural horror anime series, Aijn (亜人), is the character designer. Cast members are Takahiro Sakurai as Killy and Aya Suzaki as Cibo. Director is Hiroyuki Seshita.

Tickets are retailing at 1500 yen (tax included). It appears you not only get a cool ticket in return but you also get a mini poster and original large format sticker (quantities are limited for both items).

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