Tag Archives: Japan

Introducing Arcanamusica to Manga. A Multidimensional Music Project.

8 Aug

2GW3ozVuCIXFKlVJP8yTJCFZkNM ew9 8xY2Z7 DB980KS

Arcanamusica, the multidimensional media-mix collaboration project from Shueisha and avex, will be made into a manga this summer.

When the mysterious music app named Arcanamusica suddenly appears on smartphones out of nowhere, the five protagonists Shizuka Kawawa, Gakunoshin Maimiya, Riku Shibuyoshi, Itsuku Igashima and Kazuki Jujo are given their new “Arcana names” (AN), making them RiZ, DarkPalace, Shibukichi, Ikkun and Rejje, and we follow each of them as they pursue their ambitions as singers and streamers.

The manga version will depict the truth behind the app and the secrets held by the five lead characters, as the mysteries behind Arcanamusica are gradually revealed…

With the cooperation of ‘Ikémen Series’ game developer CYBIRD Co., Ltd., Arcanamusica featured in a series of commercial spots during Anime Expo 2022, which ended on July 4; the spots sparked a huge reaction, especially from outside of Japan.

Arcanamusica’s RiZ (Shizuka Kawawa) – ‘My song’

Arcanamusica’s Rejje (Kazuki Jujo) – ‘Tenohira Dancer’

In addition, Arcanamusica will participate in Animate Girls Festival 2022 on Nov 5 & 6 in Ikebukuro, Tokyo! They will have both an exhibition booth and a stage appearance at the event. For further information, check out the festival’s official website and Twitter account.

Event information

Animate Girls Festival 2022 (Japanese)

Official website: https://agf-ikebukuro.jp/s/agf2022/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AGF_info

The Arcanamusica project will continue its constant and aggressive multidimensional activity, so don’t miss it! And don’t forget to check the official website and Twitter account for more information.

For more Arcanamusica Information

Behind the Scenes, Arcanamusica are:

  • Shizuka Kawawa: RiZ (music produced by Yuri Kuriyama) / voiced by Kakeru Hatano
  • Gakunoshin Maimiya: DarkPalace (music produced by SLAVE.V-V-R) / voiced by ROβiN
  • Itsuku Igashima: Ikkun (music produced by Somari) / voiced by Sho Sakagami
  • Riku Shibuyoshi: Shibukichi (music produced by Kinoshita) / voiced by Kosuke Shiraishi
  • Kazuki Jujo: Rejje (music produced by Natsuyama Yotsugi) / voiced by Tomohiro Hatano

Tags: , , , ,

What to Do with a Dead Kaiju (or should that be What Must We Do) at Fantasia 2022’s Final Day?

2 Aug

What to do with a Dead KaijuAnyone who watches a lot of Japanese monster movies knows how the story goes. We are introduced to a giant monstrous threat to humanity, people panic, and some force arrives to save the day. The two clash and sometimes the opponent dies, and that begs the question (and also the title of the movie), What to Do with a Dead Kaiju? (大怪獣のあとしまつ)

The answer we get is similar to what we saw in Shin Godzilla (while he’s alive). We have to address the ramifcations of sending out special forces, decide when to make a stand, and consider the cost of rebuilding–especially after all the missiles are fired. The mess that the Japanese special forces have to deal with afterwards is never shown, and as for other monster movies prior, we never know about the damage control that has to take place between films.

And it’s tough to tell if Satoshi Miki‘s film is trying to be serious. This movie was the last thing I saw at Fantasia Film Festival because of my love for this genre. Plus, the trailer made the film look good. Maybe next time, I should consider looking at Japanese reviews. But I have no regrets over my decision.

Continue reading →

Tags: , , , , , ,

The Fight is Real! Shin Ultraman Brings on the Nostalgia, and What’s Next After Fantasia 2022?

23 Jul
Shin Ultraman PosterNext Fantasia 2022 Screening on July 30, 12:00 PM at the Auditorium des diplômés de la SGWU (Théâtre Hall)

When Hideaki Anno was offered a chance to update Toho’s most beloved kaiju, not everyone knew what he would do until Shin Gojira played at movie theatres. Some fans hailed it as a masterpiece, while others said it was too talky. This talent behind the writing of Neon Genesis Evangelion even rebuilt that series. But as for Shin Ultraman, a reboot to the classic series, I thought, “As long as he delivers some classic moments from the series, it’ll be good.”

He was tasked by Tsuburaya Productions to create a pitch for a trilogy of films, and what I’m seeing in this movie’s North American debut is a beloved throwback to the old 80s style of filmmaking. Shinji Higuchi was in charge of directing, and Anno got to play the titular character! It was a childhood dream of his come true! And instead of digitising and realising these big kaiju sized fights on the computer, it’s done with miniature sets and rubber suits! That is, they’re more like motion capture suits these days, but to have the animation department recreate that look has me thrilled.

Continue reading →

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Wild and Carefree. Pompo the Cinephile on Home Video!

11 Jul

GKIDS & Shout! Factory
Release Date: July 12, 2022

Pompo the Cinephile is coming to home video this Tuesday, and it’s a wonderful film to add to any collection. I’ve reviewed this film when it debuted at Fantasia Film Festival, and what I’ll look at is the bonus material. There isn’t a lot of added footage save for the commentary, storyboards and a nice looking postcard.

Here, Takayuki Hirao talks about the Hollywood directors whom he really wanted to pay homage to. Also, He explains why he started this movie with a huge musical number.

This animated movie looks at what goes on behind the cameras. The added commentary discusses differences between the Japanese way of making films to Hollywood and gives some afterthoughts to why the team like certain scenes more than others. Here, second unit director, Kenji Imura and editor, Tsuyoshi Imai not only break down how a few scenes were layered but also discuss what drives a few characters, especially Gene. He’s the focus in this piece, and Pompo is along for the ride.

Continue reading →

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Alternative Band ego apartment’s First Album is Here!

5 Jun

ego department

Not every sound coming out of Japan is about J-pop and for music lovers, ego apartment is a welcome change of pace. This band quickly become a hot topic in the scene. They’ve been featured on numerous curated playlists both in Japan and overseas, and they are considered an act who are ahead of the times. Their track ‘FOG’ was included on Spotify’s ‘RADAR: Early Noise Japan 2022’ playlist, a selection of artists from Japan who are expected to turn heads in 2022. Their September release ‘Wrong with u’ has generated over 1 million plays on Spotify, cementing their reputation as a band with a bright future.

Following the success of the May 18 release of ‘FOG’, their self titled album ‘EGO APARTMENT’ was released June 1, 2022. The album contains 14 songs steeped in ego apartment’s unmistakable bedroom alternative sound, and it’s no exaggeration to say that each and every one of them is strong enough to be a lead track!

Comment from ego apartment

“We began writing these songs before deciding on a particular theme for the album, so in that sense, you could say that this is a sound that we could only express at this point in time. This is our first album, but it won’t be the last. See you on the next production.”

ego apartment

About the Band:

Made up of three members all born in 1998, ego apartment is a three-piece band based in Japan. They switch freely between two vocalists with different styles and lyrics in Japanese and English, producing an alternative sound that feels both analog and brand new.  The group consists of Dyna (laptop, bass, band leader), who hails from Saipan Island; Peggy Doll (guitar and vocals), from Sakai City, Osaka; and Zen (guitar, vocals), from Sydney.

The band switch freely between two vocalists with different styles and lyrics in Japanese and English, producing an alternative sound that feels both analog and fresh. Over Dyna’s tracks that are simultaneously filled with both melancholy and a sense of fun, Zen sings with a beautiful and distinctive voice, while Peggy Doll has a remarkable voice and extraordinary melody sense, resulting in a sound that is unique to ego apartment.

The September 2021 release of their fourth track ‘Wrong with u’ caught the attention of listeners around the world, steadily surpassing 1 million plays on Spotify. The band’s inclusion on Spotify’s ‘RADAR: Early Noise 2022’ playlist placed ego apartment as one of 10 breakthrough artists expected to hit the big time in 2022.

Upcoming live dates in Japan

  • June 4: TOWER RECORD PARCO Nagoya Store
  • June 5: SAKAE SP-RING 2022 @ Live & Lounge Vio, Nagoya
  • June 12: TOWER RECORD Umeda NU Chaya Store
  • June 25: Chilli Beans. 2nd self-produced live event ‘Dancing Room 002’ @ Umeda Shangri-La, Osaka (sold out)
  • July 15: Fujifabric 3-act live event ‘Friend Park Attractions’ ＠ BIGCAT, Osaka
  • July 23: Flying Flags @ Sendai darwin with YONA YONA WEEKENDERS, Luby Sparks

FOLLOW go apartment

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/egoapartment
Twitter: https://twitter.com/egoapartment
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5T2_wHLTDi_QZiLRQQSZuA
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/20SNDAIdUW3fjTA14UvSj4?si=ncDI1Kq9SaKoyayUF7g05Q

Tags: , , , ,

← Older Entries

%d bloggers like this: