areaseven

What a misleading title. For a minute, i thought CPM was doing another M.D. Geist sequel.

I'll just wait until Bandai puts the series on DVD. In the meantime, nothing beats the old-school SD Gundam.

Well, there was another way... Last week in West Covina (which is 30 minutes away from my place), a group of environmental activists torched a Hummer dealership and a whole bunch of brand-new H2 units, resulting in damages in excess of $1 million.

Wow. Looks like Saber Rider is almost as popular to the Germans as David Hasselhoff.

A few months ago, Yamato announced that they will release a 1/60 VF-1 upgrade kit that includes the following parts: - Legs (with hardpoints for the FAST Pack leg armor and a new hip design to conceal a rather annoying gap when bent forward). - Backpack (with hardpoints to accommodate the boosters). - Arms (with hardpoints for the arm armor). - GU-11 Gun Pod with collapsible handle (first introduced in the VF-1S Strike Valkyrie).

Excellent find, Red Devil. I'll be checking out the original Southern Cross series later this year. These scans make great reference material for the series.

My co-worker gave me a copy of it, nyo. He found it while downloading some anime on KaZaA, nyo.

Sexy Commando Gaiden: Sugoi-yo! Masaru-san ( セクシーコマンドー外伝 すごいよ！マサルさん ) Magic Bus/TBS/Bandai Visual, 1998 U.S. Distributor Pending. Directed by Akitaro Daichi (Now and Then, Here and There, Fruits Basket). Not Rated (Suggested 16-Up). Contains graphic violence, suggestive sexual situations, suggestive drug use and profanity. Based on the manga by Kyosuke Usuta. Okometsubu Fujiyama just transferred to a new high school, hoping to fulfill his goal of making 100 friends. Unfortunately, that won't happen any time soon when he meets Masaru Hananakajima, master of the "Sexy Commando" style of martial arts. After making friends with Fujiyama (now nicknamed "Fuumin"), Masaru forms the Sexy Commando club, whose popularity skyrockets with all these weirdos coming out of nowhere. Story: B- I pointed out on the warning above that Sexy Commando contains suggestive drug use. Not because there are scenes of students taking drugs (which, fortunately, does not happen), but because whoever came up with this story must be smoking some serious crack. There is no actual plot or any sign of character development, but if you're into shows that rely heavily on fart jokes or comedy that literally fries your brain, Sexy Commando is your cup of tea. Animation: D- Not too long ago, I mentioned that even the worst anime could not compare to Robotech II: The Sentinels when it comes to piss-poor animation quality. Well, Sexy Commando nearly stepped into that same territory with its sloppy character designs and equally messy animation. It's so bad, I don't know how many beers it'll take to make it look better. Soundtrack: B Who cares about the BGM? You got J-Rock band Penicillin, and that's all you need. Cast Sexy Commando Gaiden features Yuji Ueda (Keitaro in Love Hina, Nanbara in Hand Maid May) as Masaru, Junichi Kanemaru (Sonic X) as Fuumin, Hiroko Konishi (Jubei-Chan, Nene in Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040) as Moe-Moe, Kazuya Ichijo (Ken in Street Fighter Alpha: The Movie) as Machahiko, Yuichi Nagashima (Jaken in Inu-Yasha) as Kyasharin, Omi Minami (Hyatt in Excel Saga, Ruri in Martian Successor Nadesico) as Meso, Yuri Amano (Kiyone in Tenchi Muyo!, Rain in Mobile Fighter G-Gundam) as Dr. Mariko, and Kazuhiko Inoue (Cyborg 009, Mamoru in Blue Seed) as Principal Susan. The Bottom Line If you thought Excel Saga or FLCL were demented anime, they can barely compare to Sexy Commando. Despite the horrible animation, I'm not declaring this title as bad anime because I actually find it amusing. Links TBS' Official Sexy Commando Homepage (Japanese) Reference Anime News Network

Haven't seen it yet, nyo.

Goddamnit! Right when I'm saving up for the 1/48 FAST Packs, Bandai decides to tempt me to file for bankruptcy with this new PG Gundam.

Yeah, many of us do, nyo. As much as I like this title, I still prefer A Little Snow Fairy Sugar, nyo.

What JELEINEN said, nyo. BTW, has anyone here seen the Di Gi Charat AMV " "?

Yes, I remember that anime. It's known in Japan as Seijuushi (Star Musketeer) Bismarck. The series was animated by Studio Pierrot (Great Teacher Onizuka, Hikaru no Go); the same animators would later on do another mecha anime titled Ninja Senshi Tobikage (I don't know if this saw a US release, but an English version (titled Ninja Robots) was playing on Cartoon Network Asia). The funny thing is that there was no actual leader in the original Japanese version. If there was, it would probably be the Japanese guy (duh!), not the British dude like in the US version.

Sorry to hear about your WRX, Vostok. That guy was a major dumbass. Hope the cops throw him to jail.

Big welcome to DragonX76 of the TFW2005 boards. Like UN Spacy said, that's for the Hasegawa kit, but don't worry. Yamato will release one for the 1/48 soon.

Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu ( フルメタル・パニック？ふもっふ ) Kyoto Animation/Fuji TV/Pony Canyon, 2003 ADV Films, 2005 Directed by Yasuhiro Takemoto (Soul Taker, Jungle Wa Itsumo Hale Nochi Guu). Rated 15+ for violence, nudity, suggestive sexual situations and strong language. Based on the best-selling manga Full Metal Panic! by Shoji Gato and Shukidoji (published in the US by ADV Manga). It's back-to-school mayhem with Chidori Kaname and her war-freak classmate Sousuke Sagara as they encounter more campus misadventures in this all-new TV series. Story: A- When the first series came out, fans of the manga were confused by the appearance of mecha as they practically had nothing to do with the original story. These same fans will be pleased with the fact that Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu is more faithful to the manga's characterizations of Sagara, Kaname, et al. Instead of being a mecha sci-fi, FMP? Fumoffu goes back to basics as a romantic high-school comedy. Animation: B+ Since there is no mecha action, there is no need for GONZO's (Yukikaze, Kiddy Grade) digital 3D animation. The task of animation has been passed over to Kyoto Animation. While the character designs by Osamu Horiuchi (Last Exile, Knights of Ramune) remains the same, the animation quality is just a few steps below that of the first series. Soundtrack: B Toshihiko Sahashi (Full Metal Panic!, The Big O) returns with another soundtrack. Unfortunately, it's pretty generic compared to his other works. On the other hand, we have two more great songs by Mikuni Shimokawa . Cast Reprising their roles are Tomokazu Seki (Van in Escaflowne, Domon in Mobile Fighter G-Gundam) as Sagara, Satsuki Yukino (Kagome in Inu-Yasha, Tina in Ai Yori Aoshi) as Kaname, Ikue Kimura (Ryoko in Samurai Girl Real Bout High School) as Kyoko, and Mamiko Noto (The World of Narue, Kotori in X) as Shinji. Joining the cast are Toshiyuki Morikawa (Aoki in X, Alex in Last Exile) as Atsunobu, Rie Tanaka (Chii in Chobits, Lacus in Mobile Suit Gundam SEED) as Ren, Shiho Kikuchi (Amarone in Vandread, Ayamo in Stratos 4) as Ena, and Tomoko Kaneda (Chiyo in Azumanga Daioh, Renge in Air Master) as Bonta-kun. The Bottom Line Fans of the first series might be disappointed by the lack of mecha action. On the other hand, fans of the manga will enjoy the new series even more than the first. Overall Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu is a hoot and a holler. Links Fuji TV's Official Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu Homepage (Japanese) Reference Anime News Network

Thanks for the URL, MrDisco. Now I have picture, but the playback is extremely shaky. Ah, what the hell. I just downloaded the Anime-Keep/ANBU version. No need for the Aozora version anymore.

Di Gi Charat Nyo ( デ・ジ・キャラットにょ ) Broccoli/Madhouse Studios/TV Osaka/Bandai Visual, 2003-2004, nyo Bandai Entertainment, 2005-nyo Directed by Hiroaki Sakurai, nyo (Di Gi Charat, Nanaka 6/17). Rated 13-Up, nyo. Contains comic mischief and mild language-nyo. Di Gi Charat (a.k.a. Dejiko) - along with Petit Charat (a.k.a. Puchiko) and Gema - travels to Earth as part of her training to become a full-fledged princess. They crash on a small town in Japan, where they meet the Omocha brothers (who spend most of their time thinking how cute Puchiko is) and Mr. & Mrs. Ankoro (an elderly couple that makes Japanese sweets). Story: B+, nyo Like most of the Di Gi Charat titles, there is no real plot-nyo. Instead, Di Gi Charat Nyo relies heavily on puns and childish jokes-nyo. Animation: B, nyo It's a Madhouse production, but don't expect state of the art animation-nyo. From the '70s-style opening to the end, Di Gi Charat Nyo is filled with wacky artwork-nyo. Of course, Yoshiki Yamakawa's character designs are as kawaii as ever, nyo. Soundtrack: A-, nyo The female vocal group Priere make an impressive debut with the ABBA-esque opening theme "Heartbeat", nyo. If the ending theme sounds familiar, that's because it's the group's remake of the 1989 Ranma 1/2 theme "Equal Romance", nyo. Cast-nyo Reprising their roles are Asami Sanada (Chizuko in Mahoromatic, Phil in A Little Snow Fairy Sugar) as Dejiko, Miyuki Sawashiro (Mint in Galaxy Angel) as Puchiko, Kyoko Hikami (Wedding Peach, Dojima in Witch Hunter Robin) as Rabi~En~Rose, and Yoshiko Kamei as Gema, nyo. Joining the cast are Kenji Nojima (Overman King Gainer, Turmeric in Sugar) as Yasushi, Omi Minami (Hyatt in Excel Saga, Ruri in Martian Successor Nadesico) as Kiyoshi, Masami Kikuchi (Tenchi Muyo!, Keiichi in Ah! My Goddess) as Dafuku, and Mika Kanai (Vanilla H in Galaxy Angel) as Kinako, nyo. The Bottom Line-nyo Di Gi Charat Nyo is da bomb, nyo! Links-nyo TV Osaka's Official Di Gi Charat Nyo Homepage-nyo (Japanese-nyo) Reference-nyo Anime News Network-nyo

Welcome to the club. Now to file for Chapter 11...

My co-worker has the FX bootlegs of Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki, which has Pioneer's English audio track. I have the Anime Cartoon/Manga International bootleg of the Rurouni Kenshin OAV, which is a direct rip of the ADV version (minus the English dub).

How about these?

Goddamn, that thing's huge. As always, you're doing a great job on building that Firefox kit, VHD. Can't wait to see the finished product.

URL?

I couldn't agree more about the character designs being "ugly," especially Renge. But at least they aren't as bad as Initial D's sloppy character art.

Koutetsu Tenshi Kurumi 2-Shiki ( 鋼鉄天使くるみ２式 ) OLM/m.o.e./WOWOW/Pony Canyon, 2001 ADV Films, 2003 Directed by Naohito Takahashi (Berserk, To Heart). Rated 17+ for violence, T&A and HLA. Taking place 75 years after the first series, Steel Angel Kurumi 2 brings the Steel Angels in a new mis-adventure. High school student and aspiring cellist Nako Kagura accidentally discovers and kisses Kurumi Mk. II at her home, thus making her Kurumi's master. But things go awry as Nako's best friend Uruka gets jealous and tries anything - including her father's army of top-secret mecha - to destroy Kurumi and win back Nako. Things get more out of control when Saki Mk. II is awakened by Uruka, and Karinka Mk. II joins in to steal Nako away from Kurumi. "Honto ni hani-hani!" - Nako Story: C Story-wise, Steel Angel Kurumi 2 falls a bit short as it's not only a rehash of the first series, but a rip of Project A-Ko and at least a dozen other anime I can't name right now. Kurumi Mk. II even rips off Mazinger Z and Kotetsu Jeeg with her partner Can-1 - a robot dog that transforms into a jet pack or "mermaid pack" (I'm not gonna bother explaining this). Animation: B While the artwork is as clean as the first series, the animation itself is surprisingly not as dynamic. The fight scenes are somehow not as fun to watch as those in the original. Soundtrack: A Perhaps the only thing that doesn't get downgraded is the music. Toshihiko Sahashi (The Big-O, Full Metal Panic!) supplies a musical score that's just as good as the first series. The cello tracks may not be Yo-Yo Ma, but still very relaxing. Sub vs. Dub Reprising their roles from the first series are Atsuko Enomoto (Megumi in The SoulTaker, Rinna in DiGi Charat) as Kurumi 2-Shiki, Rie Tanaka (Morgana in .hack//SIGN, Lacus in Mobile Suit Gundam SEED) as Saki 2-Shiki, and Masayo Kurata (Shinobu in Love Hina, Sherrice in s-CRY-ed) as Karinka 2-Shiki. Houko Kuwashima (Sango in Inu-Yasha, Kagura in Azumanga Daioh), who played Nakahito in the first series, plays Nako in this installment. Also joining the cast are Mie Sonozaki as Uruka, and Kotono Mitsuishi (Excel Saga, Misato in Neon Genesis Evangelion) as Misaki. As far as ADV's English dub goes, I haven't seen it yet. Kelli Cousins (Celecia in Rune Soldier, Akari in Chance Pop Session), Monica Rial (Kirika in NOIR, Miharu in Gasaraki) and Hilary Haag (Nene in Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040, Menchi in Excel Saga) reprise their roles as the Steel Angels. DVD Extras Scroll down for the full lowdown on the Complete Collection DVD. The Bottom Line Not as good as the first series, but Steel Angel Kurumi 2 is still worth the laughs. Links m.o.e.'s Official Steel Angel Kurumi 2-Shiki Homepage (Japanese) Reference Anime News Network