electric indigo

While there was a large number of conceptual models that were photographed for textures and lighting reference, there was also a large number of physical sets that were build & filmed in miniature. Of course the shots of these models were enhanced with additional CG elements and matte paintings, but this is still different from an all CG surrounding. Examples: The pod racer hangar, architecture on Naboo & Coruscant (interior & exterior), Tipoca city, Mos Espa. The list is endless.

Check out the "Art of..." books of SW EP 1-3, you'll be amazed just how many physical models were used in the FX shots. The modelers did a perfect job in making it impossible to distinguish the physical models from the CG sets. At the same time, I was totally surprised to learn that no single clone trooper costume was build for EP II. The animation/motion capturing was perfect.

No, those are the latest Hasegawa re-paints.

It looks like Bandai will cover Sky Crawlers in their EX models line http://www.geocities.jp/hobby_show_album/j...ka2008/0225.htm So we have actually competition between Kotobukiya, Fine Molds and Bandai. This will be interesting. And I love the Shinden and Focke-Wulf redesigns.

New Arm Suit toy from MegaHouse http://www.geocities.jp/hobby_show_album/j...ka2008/0237.htm

Revoltech ALIEN? http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2074/246059...0cb53ee23_o.jpg (lower left corner)

EVA-06 has horns. The head of 06 looks very "generic anime robot" like; did they kick Yamashita out of the design team?

The surface of the display models shows the structure of the 3D printer in some pics, so I assume those are just dressed up prototypes. The final look and detail level still may change.

How is the cockpit? I have an old recast of the kit, and the canopy was so thick that I went and made a vac-formed one. Also, the legs need a lot of putty if you build it with gear up, and there was a nasty seamline running through the engravings. Come to think of it, I might still have the master of the canopy, notify me if you can use it.

The new fighters are now up for a July release. And a 1/200 Mave just showed up. http://www.platz-hobby.com/event08shs.html

It's a massive B-Club kit from the early 90's. The body & the legs are one piece. About 24 cm high. There's even a Deunan bust underneath the hatch, but it's a really bad sculpt. The kit is impressive, but it needs some nice paint effects, else it will look boring with all those plain surfaces.

The Hot Toys releases sound interesting, I hope they won't cost an arm & one leg (ok they will...) Cain, the most awesome Landmate is the Manga Guges. And the softwired thing.

That looks spectacular, I hope to see a finished one someday. Will the landing gear be able to support the weight of the kit?

It's an injection kit from Kotobukiya's AC line http://www.kotobukiya.co.jp/kotobukiya/rel...080414/nbs.html

I think 3D live-action actually means what Mr. March mentions, i.e. living actors and 3D-glasses, which seems to be the latest trick in trying to get the people back into the cinema. I don't know why the majority here assumes that it will keep the japanese setting, cast, let alone the music. And by the way, the main characters in the manga are not looking very japanese, either, other than their names.

It has been done before (kinda)

I hope we will see the kits at Shizuoka next month. PS did you see this: http://hk.myblog.yahoo.com/iam-cybergundam/article?mid=7774

They could kinda take the BSG route and make it a gritty soldier movie http://www.zippyvideos.com/6357495732511556/tetra_vaal/

Uh oh - Neuromancer is in pre-production (again) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1037220/ Chris Cunningham directing it when he had the chance could have beem SF cinema's greatest moments. Now who the frog is Joseph Kahn?

I found out that just enough time has passed to re-discover William Gibson's Cyberpunk trilogy. The "Burning Chrome" collection of short stories is a good point to test if you like his style, then "Neuromancer" takes you quite for a ride. If you keep in mind that this is stuff from the 80s, it's surprising how little popular SF has evolved since then. The plots are somewhat anti-climatic at times, but there's all kinds of coolness to make up for it.

I watched it yesterday and was pretty impressed. This one has it all: Robots, Big Robots, Big Robots that fly, Big Guns, Unlimited Ammo, zombies (erm, ok), and some hints at tentacle p0rn to top it off. And Deunan has a hot ass. On a more serious note, I found the overall quality of the production really excellent. The design is unique and shows great care for detail, the characters are well done and convincing, and on the technical side, the motion capturing and character animation was the best I've seen in a long time. The YMO-ish soundtrack fit perfectly. The plot might not score big points for originality, but it worked better than anything Shirow tried to throw at us in the manga. Anyone who also liked the movie should take a look at the "The Analysis of Ex Machina" artbook. -i-

http://www.aintitcool.com/images2007/TrekSetBig4.JPG The car is awesome. Retro Future at it's best.

and while not anime/sf-related, Great Cinema takes another blow with the sudden death of Anthony Minghella.

I started cosmetic surgery on my EX Supersylph. There's a WIP at Hobbyfanatics. http://www.hobbyfanatics.com/index.php?showtopic=16388

Let's put it this way: I hope they make this movie for adults, not for the popcorn crowd (like League...)