Babymetal Battles Evil Spirits in New Music Video ‘Karate’

By James Robert Shaw (The Wind up Geek)

Babymetal2Japanese metal/J-pop fusion group Babymetal have released the second track in video form from their upcoming album ‘Metal Resistance’. ‘Karate’ sees the teenage trio in a martial arts showdown to the death against three skull-masked adversaries. In order to defeat their foes the girls have to first fight the spirits of deceased warriors that are called up to protect their mistresses. In a battle that can only be compared to a Dragon Ball Z episode, Babymetal almost tastes defeat from the encounter. It is only after picking themselves up off the ground they call upon the power of the Fox god. With a new force flowing through them each girl uses a unique power to dispatch their enemies,

“Karate” has a very heavy and dark feel and it’s reinforced with grinding guitar riffs that will have you banging your head along to the music. The release of ‘Metal Resistance’ will be followed by a World tour to kick off at the Tokyo Dome on what Babymetal has called “Fox Day” (April 1st). April 2nd will see the group perform at the SSE Arena, Wembley in London, England followed by a New York concert at the PlayStation Theater on May 4th.

‘Metal Resistance’ can be purchased in advance at Babymetal’s Official Merchandise Store.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvD3CHA48pA&w=560&h=315%5D
 
Babymetal was formed in 2010 and includes members Suzuka Nakamoto (Su-metal), Yui Mizuno (Yuimetal), and Moa Kikuchi (Moametal). Babymetal and it’s band are managed by Amuse, Inc.

Wind up Geek’s Cool Japan: McDonald’s New Commercial, I’m Loving It.

By James Robert Shaw (The Wind up Geek)

McDonaldsJapanTeamI’m going to get this off my chest right now, I’m not fond of McDonald’s, at least not the North American version. It’s not McDonald’s food, it’s their marketing and how they’ve changed from a family restaurant to a cafe atmosphere, If I want to go to a café I would go to one that isn’t operated by a fast food company. That being said, I hear Japan‘s McDonald’s is run a little different from their North American counterpart. In the United States Ronald McDonald commercials may have been pushed out in favour of the “I’m Lovin’ It” jingle (based off the song “I’m Lovin’ It” by Justin Timberlake) in the world but in Japan they are at least creating interesting (and sometimes wacky) corporate commercials.

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Anime Evolution 2016: Tracey Moore Announced as First Guest

By James Robert Shaw (The Wind up Geek)

TraceyMooreAnime Evolution has announced Tracey Moore as their first guest for their 2016 convention. Moore has spent the last 30 years doing casting, voice directing and voice work for companies such as Nelvana Limited, Lacewood Productions and DiC Entertainment. Moore is known to many as Princess on My Pet Monster, Cheer Bear and Shreeky of the Care Bears, Emily from The Railway Dragon, and Princess Toadstool from The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 and The New Super Mario World. For the recent generations of children, Moore has come to be known as Warbeak from Redwall, Geek from Sam and Max: Freelance Police, George Shrinks and as the singing voice of Strawberry Shortcake.

Anime Evolution takes place August 19 – 21, 2016 at the Sheraton Wall Centre in Vancouver, British Columbia. You can purchase tickets to this event through Anime Evolution’s official website by clicking here.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXTgCIxQC3U&w=560&h=315%5D
Video Source(s): ShawTVSouthVI.

Sakura-Con Releases Annual Downloadable Guidebook

By James Robert Shaw (The Wind up Geek)

SakuraGuidebookFor me as a con-goer, it’s a pain to have to wander the convention floor with a floor plan in one hand and a guidebook in the other. Add to this my pens and pad for jotting down notes, my camera for photo, my spare batteries for my camera, soon its complete anarchy! Is it any wonder I need a side bag hold it all? I understand the need for a con guidebook for memory’s sake. Most people would want to get their copy autographed by as many guests as possible.

But for old-timers like me who’ve been there and done that, I would prefer a guidebook in application (app) form, one where I can know all in a single finger stroke. Since 2012, Sakura-Con has done this and I am grateful they have. It’s easy to learn where to go, to know what panels to see and to find who is appearing on what days at what times. All this and more is contained in a nice app on your mobile (cell phone).

The app is available for your smartphone and tablet for operating systems iOS, Android, and the web. You can download the Guidebook app by following this link to Sakura-Con’s official website. Or if you prefer, you can obtain it on PDF here. [Editor’s note: It’s good to see the massively huge conventions are offering this option. It’s been in place for a few years now.]

Sakura-Con is Washington State’s largest Japanese animation and cosplay convention. It will run March 25-27, 2016 at the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle.

Right Stuf Celebrates Summer with Gundam Releases

The RightStuf! Inc. Company LogoMark your calendars for the last days of spring because summer’s going to be a memorable one for anime fans.

Announced yesterday by Right Stuf’s Japanese animation arm Nozomi Entertainment, Two Gundam series will see commercial release for the first time in North America. June 7, 2016 will see the distribution of After War Gundam X on DVD and Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ on DVD and Blu-ray.

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Mitsuyo “Mie” Nemoto Announces Live Shows with Ponta Box

By James Robert Shaw (The Wind up Geek)

PontaBoxIf you know Mitsuyo Nemoto then you know she is one half of late 70’s J-pop group Pink Lady (the other half being Keiko “Kei” Masuda). They were the biggest selling female music group in Japan and quite possibly the world. Pink Lady had nine consecutive million-selling hits and at their peak they performed a Tokyo stadium concert in front of a crowd of over 100,000 people. Their record of over 11 million in single sales would not be broken until 2007 by Morning Musume. It took Morning Musume 10 years to accomplish what took Pink Lady only five.

Since her Pink Lady days (and their subsequent reunions), Mie has enjoyed a successful solo career. Seven albums were released since 1981 and she’s performed with heavy metal band Animetal.

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