Next Club Meeting: April 20, 2024, at the Fountaindale Public Library in Bolingbrook from 11:00 am - 5:00 pm

The Animatrix Network is an anime & manga fan club located in the Southwest suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. We usually meet on the third Saturday of each month (except when holidays or conventions coincide). The meetings are free and open to the public. Join us for a day filled with anime.

This site provides news, reviews, commentaries, and previews of the world of anime and everything it inspires, such as live-action films, comics, music, art, and other weird things to enjoy and contemplate.

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Michael Bay! EXPLOSIONS!

Booom!!! Kablaaam!!! 'Splosions!!!

Michael Bay!!! 'Splosions!!!!

Monday, June 27, 2011

Early Pics of "The Hobbit" Movie

Martin Freeman as Bilbo (Enterntainment Weekly)
Cover of Empire Magazine

Sunday, June 26, 2011

BIOSHOCK: INFINITE - "Factions At War"

E3 Trailer
Factions are at war in the floating city of Columbia. It's a whole new world and a whole new Bioshock, packing in the action and thrills in place of scares and chills. Check out the video to this fresh, new and exciting look of 2007's instant classic. 

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Epic Anime Time

Cosplay Action Like You've Never Seen Before!

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Cool Gadget - Japanese Hover Spyball

Like something from a scifi anime come to life...
[Source: Dvice.com] Developed by the Japanese military, this reconnaissance drone is clearly meant for the battlefield, not the changing rooms at Macy's. It's a pretty impressive piece of tech, as you can see in the below video, with it able to keep in control really well as it flies around.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Journey

E3 Trailer
An exotic adventure with a more serious tone, Journey presents TGC's unique vision of an online adventure experience. Awakening in an unknown world, the player walks, glides, and flies through a vast and awe-inspiring landscape, while discovering the history of an ancient, mysterious civilization along the way.

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Uno

A Charming Aniboom Animation by Jessica Lindsay
Up high in the sky, a young girl resides on an island and is separated from everyone and everything. Although such a life might seem lonely for some, she thinks otherwise and found a way to pass the time.

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Friday, June 17, 2011

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Echoes From Across the Sea

Live-Action News!
[Source: AICN.com by Scott Green]
Motorcycle racing manga Kirin is being adapted into a live action TV drama, slated to hit Japan TV this fall
Eita, Ryuhei Maruyama, Kyoko Fukada, Kippei Shiina, Tsuyoshi Abe, Takashi Ukaji, Yusuke Hirayama and Minoru Matsumoto have been cast for the live action adaptation of renegade motorcycle cop manga Wild 7.
Naoyuki Ochiai's Crime and Punishment: A Falsified Romance will be adapted into a live action movie
Katsuhito Ishii's adaptation of Shohei Manabe's Smuggler, released in North America by Tokyopop

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former boxing Shinji Takehara and Yusuke Ochiai’s manga Thanatos: Mushikera no Kobushi will be adaptated into a live action movie with Hidenori Tokuyama ad the lead and boxers Ishimatsu Guts, Koichi Wajima, and Leopard Tamakuma making cameos
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Masanori Morita's boxing manga Rokudenashi Blues is being adapted into a TV drama. Aya Omasa and Rie Kitahara have been cast
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Takayuki Yamada (Densha Otoko/Train Man film, H2: Kimi to Ita Hibi), Haruka Kinami (20th Century Boys), Tsuyoshi Muro (Ooku, Yatterman), Shin Takuma (live-action Touch and Azusa Okamoto (Moyashimon) have been cast in "Dragon Quest-style" live-action television Yusha Yoshihiko to Mao no Shiro (The Hero Yoshihiko and the Devil King's Castle) , scheduled to air on Japanese TV starting July 8th.
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Osamu Tezuka's Ningen Konchuki (The Book of Human Insects/Human Metamorphosis) is being adapted into a live action TV Drama starring Minami (Battle Royale, Tomie Revenge, Sakuran, Detroit Metal City), Yukiya Kitamura (Michiko to Hatchin), Shingo Tsurumi (Hyouge Mono, L change the WorLd, Maho Tsukai ni Taisetsu na Koto), and Kyoko Matsunaga.

Vertical will be releasing the manga in North America.


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The live adaptation of Hana Kimi will feature AKB48's Atsuko Maeda
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The live action adaptation of classic masked wrestler anime/manga Tiger Mask is current planned for three films
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Takahiro Miki's live-action film adaptation of Yuuki Obata's We Were There (Bokura ga Ita) shojo romance manga will be two films with Toma Ikuta (Akihabara @ DEEP) and Yuriko Yoshitaka (Gantz) in the lead roles.
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a film and an online project will be adapting Aki Katsu's Futari Ecchi (Futari H) - released in North America as Manga Sutra by Tokyopop

Director Kazuhiro Yokoyama's film version will star Yuri Morishita and Riki Miura (Here is Greenwood) as the couple Yura and Makoto Onoda. Other cast members include Miyuki Yokoyama as Rika Kawada, Atsushi Ninomiya as Yusuke Nagatsuka, Aimi Nakamura (GTO: Great Teacher Onizuka) as Makie Sugiyama, Hideki Nakamatsu as Manabu Okahama, Hidehiko Emi as Koichiro Matsuzaki, Takahiro Ochi as Yosaku Inagaki and Mika Kubota as Mai Nagao. Juri Sanemura is writing the screenplay.

The net version will star Nana Nanaumi and Shinnosuke Fukushima as the main couple Yura and Makoto. Other cast members include Takaso Kase as Akira Onoda, Sasa Handa (Tokyo University Story) as Sanae Onoda, Marumi Shiraishi as Akiko Onoda, Ayaka Tomoda as Rika Kawada, YUKIO as Taku Yamada, Natsumi Kamata (Phone Braver 7) as Jun Onoda, Rakuto Tochihara (Kamen Rider Hibiki) as Yosuke Inoue, Saki Seto (Hana Yori Dango 2 [Returns]) as Miyuki Kikuchi, Yukiko Suo as Makie Sugiyama, and Taro Suwa as Makoto's boss Katori.

The Korean live action City Hunter

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

GREEN LANTERN: Emerald Knights DVD

Highly Recommended    *****   5/5
Now Available on DVD and Blu-Ray
[Source: Wikipedia] The sun of the Green Lantern homeworld, Oa, is becoming a gateway for Krona, an evil anti-matter alien tyrant that once sought to destroy all life. As precaution the Guardians of the Universe decide to evacuate Oa of all valuables, such as the Central Battery. While in line to charge their rings before the Battery is taken away, Green Lantern Corps rookie Arisia Rrab converses with Hal Jordan and expresses her self-doubts as the newest Green Lantern.
In response, Hal tells her the story of the first Green Lantern: 

The First Lantern
Avra, a scribe to the Guardians, is chosen by one of the first four power rings despite having no skill as a warrior. Avra and the other three original Green Lanterns are sent to stop a nation of warring aliens. One of the four Lanterns is killed and, with defeat at hand, Avra uses his willpower and imagination as a writer to continue the battle. He creates the first construct from his ring, a sword, that is used to decimate the alien war crafts. Taking Avra’s lead the other two Lanterns also create shapes from their power rings to win the fight. Thanks to Avra the war is won and the power to shape constructs from the power rings is discovered. Avra rises in prestige among the growing Green Lantern Corps, and after his death his ring is passed down until it eventually becomes Abin Sur's and then Hal Jordan's. 

Back in line at the Central Battery, Hal and Arisia meet Kilowog, the head trainer of the Green Lantern Corps. He antagonizes Arisia as a rookie and reminds her that she still has boot camp. Hal tells Arisia not to fear Kilowog and relates the story of Kilowog's own trainer. 

Kilowog
Sgt. Deegan trains a rookie Kilowog and others by removing their power rings and putting them in deadly settings. Kilowog confronts Deegan and accuses him of a reckless training method and having no value for the lives of his trainees. Sgt. Deegan is then called to act with his recruits when a nearby planet comes under attack. Deegan purposefully drops Kilowog’s ring before departing with the other recruits. In the battle Sgt. Deegan orders the rookies to protect the refugees as he deals with the invaders. As Kilowog catches up, Sgt. Deegan is mortally wounded. Kilowog destroys the army and goes to Deegan's side. Deegan tells Kilowog he never would have let his rookies die and that he did what was best for their training. He passes superiority to Kilowog who then takes up completing the mission. 

Hal and Arisia arrive at a border patrol of the sun and await Krona's return. Arisia meets a Lantern named Laira and Hal shares her story: 

Laira
Once a princess, Laira is sent on her first solo mission to her homeworld to deal with charges that her people are attacking other nations unprovoked. Standing in her way, Laira quickly defeats her father's mistress and her belittling brother. But when she faces her father she is saddened to learn that the recent war crimes were his own decision. He has been driven into rage by the loss of honor that Laira's ring choose her and not him. Laira is ultimately able to defeat her father who admits she has truly earned her adulthood. He then commits ritual suicide to maintain his honor. 

Back at the border patrol of Oa's sun, every Lantern has been called to await Krona's return. The only absent Lantern noted is Mogo. Hal explains who Mogo is and why he is not present: 

Mogo Doesn't Socialize
Bolphunga the Unrelenting seeks to fight and destroy all the most powerful warriors in the universe and is told he will never defeat the Green Lantern Mogo. Bolphunga’s computer contains no information on Mogo but tracks his whereabouts to a mysterious green planet. There Bolphunga spends weeks tracking Mogo's power signatures but never finds the elusive Lantern. Bolphunga sets explosives all over the planet to flush Mogo out but is horrified when the planet extinguishes all the bombs and Mogo is revealed to be the entire planet itself.  

At Oa's sun, Hal and Arisia are attacked by Krona's Shadow Demons and rescued by Sinestro. Sinestro then speaks of the prophecy that Oa will be destroyed and relates a story of Abin Sur and the Lantern view on destiny: 

Abin Sur
Hal Jordan's predecessor Abin Sur fights Atrocitus, an alien criminal speaking dark prophecies. Abin Sur is assisted by Sinestro in capturing the alien. Sinestro and Abin Sur then have a conversation relating to the warnings that Atrocitus spoke and Sinestro insists that he does not believe in destiny. Parting ways, Abin Sur takes the criminal to a prison planet where Atrocitus again speaks on Abin Sur's imminent death. He also warns Abin that Sinestro will rise against the Green Lantern Corps and create his own lantern corps built on the power of fear. Abin Sur however refuses to believe his friend would betray his Green Lantern duties. 

Emerald Knights
Krona finally arrives from the Oa Sun. All the Green Lanterns fight swarms of Shadow Demons as Krona, an enormous figure, rises from the sun. Many Green Lanterns are killed and all others fall back. It is Arisia who devises a plan: if Krona is made of anti-matter then an equal density of matter will destroy him on contact. The Green Lanterns fall behind Oa and push it at Krona. Krona uses Shadow Demons to push back. Mogo the Living Planet arrives and uses its own mass and Lantern Power to assist the Corps. Oa and Krona are forced back into the sun and both are annihilated. The prophecy of Oa's destruction is fulfilled but the Corps is saved.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

More Upcoming From Japan!

Manga News!
[Source: AICN.com by Scott Green]
  • Black Rock Shooter will be getting a new manga in Young Ace
  • Hiroya Oku will be pushing a Gantz one shot concerning the Joichiro Nishi character in Weekly Young Jump
  • Miki Yoshikawa's school comedy Yankee-kun to Megane-chan is ending after 23 volumes
  • Hiraoki Samura's Halcyon Lunch will be ending in good! Afternoon, with his new series Beageruta launching this July in Nemesis
  • A limited volume volume 11.5 edition of the Fullmetal Alchemist movie with a new story from creator Hiromu Arakawa will be offered with the premiere of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood movie movie.
  • 4-Koma Nano Ace's Barcode Geass: Lelouch of the Sales features Code Geass characters as convenience store workers
  • Shueisha announced plans to launch a new "pure manga magazine" this summer
  • Arina Tanemura (Full Moon O Sagashite) will be launching a new manga in Margaret
  • Kiminori Wakasugi's (Detroit Metal City) new advertising manga Kappei is launching in Young Animal

Monday, June 13, 2011

Armored Core 5 - Game Trailer

Highlight from E3 2011
Get ready for the mech fight of your life in Armored Core 5. See futuristic robot warfare like never before in the next sequel to the SciFi action game.

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Upcoming From Japan!

Anime News!
[Source: AICN.com by Scott Green]
An 11th volume of the late Osamu Dezaki's Black Jack anime, based on Osamu Tezuka's medical thriller manga, is being produced. Akio Ohtsuka and Yuko Mizutani reprise their respective voice roles of Black Jack and Pinoko
Gonzo will be collaborating Hatsune Miku character design KEI on Copihan
A new Lupin III TV special will air on NTV this fall.
An anime adaptation of Future Diary will hit Japanese TV this fall
Anime studio Production I.G has posted an English language introduction and staff details for the upcoming 3DCG Appleseed XIII: Tartaros.

Based on the original graphic novel Appleseed, created by Shirow Masamune (Ghost in the Shell,Vexille), the story follows the exploits of the ES.W.A.T. special forces member Deunan Knute and her combat cyborg colleague Briareos at the city of Olympus after World War V. Though keeping Shirow's story setting and characters, Appleseed XIII features a completely original story plot, supervised by Shirow and written by Junichi Fujisaku, one of the main scriptwriters in Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex.

Appleseed XIII will be released in Japanese theaters as two feature films. The first one,Appleseed XIII: Tartaros will open June 13th, 2011. The second one, Appleseed XIII: Ouranos will be released on October 24th.
Mardock Scramble: The Second Combustion will be opening September 3rd, 2011 in Japan * Hayate the Combat Butler! Heaven Is a Place on Earth and Negima! Magister Negi Magi: Anime Final will screen together starting August 27th.
Monthly Shonen Ace recently revealed that Nana Mizuki (Hinata in Naruto, Wrath in the original Fullmetal Alchemist Anime and Lan Fan in Brotherhood) will be voicing the lead role, Saya in CLAMP/Production I.G collaberation Blood-C.

Additional cast members are now known to include

Kisaragi Tadayoshi: Keiji Fujiwara (Maes Hughes in Fullmetal Alchemist)

Nanahara Fumito: Kenji Nojima (Clark Kent in the Japanese Smallville dub)

Amino Yuuka: Masumi Asano (Black Rose in .hack)

Motoe Nono and Nene: Misato Fukuen (Yoshika Miyafuji in Strike Witches)

Tomofusa Itsuki: Atsushi Abe (Toma Kamijo in A Certain Magical Index)

Tokizane Shinichiro: Tatsuhisa Suzuki (Masamune Date in Tono to Issho)

Tsutsutori Kanako: Miho Miyagawa (Cynthia in Claymore)

The Blood-C anime will consist of an anime series, slated to hit Japanese TV in July, and an anime movie - both directed by XXXHoLic's Tsutomu Mizushima. The new incarnation of Production I.G's vampire franchise features story and character design by popular manga creator team CLAMP.
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Studio Ghibli has revealed the cast for Goro Miyazaki's second anime movie, an adaptation of Chizuru Takahashi and Tetsuro Sayama's manga Kokuriko-Zaka Kara (From Kokuriko Hill). Masami Nagasawa (live action versions of Mitsuru Adachi's sports manga Touch and Rough, Godzilla Final Wars, Godzilla vs. Mothra vs. Mechagodzilla: Tokyo SOS) plays the heroine, a girl named Komatsuzaki growing up in Yokohama in the 60's. Junichi Okada (Prince Arren in Goro Miyazaki's Tales from Earthsea adaptation) plays the male lead.
Other case members include Takeshita Keiko (in Phoenix in Tezuka adaptations, Odette in Toei's Swan Lake), Ishida Yuriko (San in Princess Mononoke, Yuria in the latest Fist of the North Star revival), Jun Fubuki (won a Japanese Academy Award for Muno no hito), Naitou Takeshi (the father in Spirited Away), Kazama Shiyunsuke (Yugi in Yu-Gi-Oh), Nao Omori (Ichi in Ichi the Killer) and Kagawa Teruyuki (live action 20th Century Boys).
The movie hits Japanese theaters on July 16th.
s Someday Book has been adapted into an anime short by Pierrot Plus (Letter Bee, Beelzebub)
Kitsune Tennouji's anthropomorphic assault rifle/gilr military four panel gag strip is being adapted into anime
The newly launched site for Production I.G's adaptation of Bunny Drop has revealed the lead cast for the anime version of Yumi Unita's josei manga series. Hiroshi Tsuchida (Lightning McQueen in the Japanese dub of Cars, Tony Almeida in the Japanese dub of 24, Skullman in Skullman) plays 30 year old bachelor Daikichi, while nine year old Ayumi Matsura plays his six year aunt, Rin: the born-out-of-wedlock daughter of Daikichi's recently deceased grandfather.

The series will be airing on Fuji TV's Noitamina starting in July 7th.

A live action movie is also scheduled for an August 20th release. In that version, Sabu directs Death Note's Kenichi Matsuyama as Daikichi with Japanese Academy Awards "Rookie of the Year" as Rin.

Sci-fi No. 6 will also be premiering on Noitamina on July 7th
Eiji Nonaka (Cromaertie High) and Maru Asakura's Double-J will be adapted into an anime series.
Paperman, a first person shooter featuring paper characters, is getting a 3D adaptation
Dai Sato (Cowboy Bebop) will be scripting 3D CG Tekken Vengeance with Shinji Higuchi (Evangelion) story boarding

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Newsletter - June 2011

June 2011
Weekly Wrapup 5/9 – 5/14
Post-earthquake charity efforts continue in Japan and Hatsune Miku is coming to America... not much to do with AU and NZ though. Maybe you can help? Two months after the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake (Higashi Nihon Daishinsai) disaster, charity events are still being held and planned to raise funds and support those affected by the earthquake and tsunami. ANN reported just a few of these events in the past week:
Composer Joe Hisashi, famous for his work with Studio Ghibli, will hold concerts in Japan, France and China to raise funds for musical instruments for children in disaster-affected regions.
Tezuka Productons donated 870 Osamu Tezuka manga volumes which were distributed to two cities in the Iwate and Fukushima prefectures. Messages of support from 106 manga creators were published in a two-page spread in the newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun by publisher Hakusensha.
The Yoshiki Foundation, founded by the leader of rock band X Japan, has raised over US $1.6 million in charity auctions, with more auctions announced. Rock band L'arc~en~Ciel will donate all proceeds from their 20th anniversary concerts and live screenings to relief efforts.
In an internet survey, 68.2% of respondents stated that anime programs should not exercise self-restraint in the aftermath of the March 11th earthquake. The survey asked respondents to specify things that should or should not exhibit self-restraint; anime programs topped the list of items that should not show self-restraint, followed by items such as eating out, wedding ceremonies and letting children play outside. Unnecessary use of electricity topped the list of items that should be restrained. Various anime and other media have been delayed, cancelled or edited due to the earthquake, such as Puella Magi Madoka Magica and Gyakkyō Burai Kaiji: Hakairoku-hen.
In other news, virtual idol Hatsune Miku will appear in a multi-projector concert for the first time outside Japan at Anime Expo on July 2nd. Miku has appeared on traditional screens in the United States and other countries, but the upcoming concert will utilise holograph projection used in the 2010 "39's Giving Day" concert in Japan, combined with new 3D projection. Hatsune Miku is the most famous of the Vocaloid characters, representing voice synthesizer software created by Crypton Future Media used to create songs without a human singer. Vocaloid characters Rin, Len and Luka will also appear during the concert.

Gonzo Collaborating with Chinese Firms on 3 Projects posted on 2011-05-16 02:30 EDT
Film about popular Chinese character to open in 2012-2013; ADK also entering China
The Nihon Keizai Shimbun paper reported on Sunday that the anime studio Gonzo is collaborating with Chinese companies on the joint production of three projects. At least one of the projects will be a film that will open in 2012 or 2013, and it will feature a character that is popular in China. Gonzo's current projects in Japan include Copihan, Last Exile: Ginyoku no Fam (Last Exile -Fam, The Silver Wing-) and Nyanpire The Animation. The overall article dealt with various Japanese anime studios' attempts to enter the marketplace in China, all while the Chinese government is developing the country's media industry in animation and other fields. Japan's Toei Animation is jointly producing a new animated film based on its historical comedy anime Ikkyū-san with the Chinese conglomerate Shanghai Media Group (SMG). The Japanese broadcaster TV Tokyo is working with the Canadian artist Pat Lee (Transformers, Darkminds) and the Chinese studio Carloon Animation on a full-CG television series called Train Hero. Another Sunday article in Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported that the major Japanese advertising firm Asatsu DK (ADK) is entering the Chinese animation industry by partnering with a Chinese government-owned animation company.

George Lucas Strikes Back!

Finally, the truth behind the Star Wars prequels
In the 12 years since Star Wars: The Phantom Menace hit multiplexes across the world, we've been left wondering, "This can't be from the same guy who brought us the original trilogy, right?" It wouldn't be so crazy to posit a theory that the real George Lucas was kidnapped and held hostage for years while an impostor ran roughshod over the Lucasfilm empire and created the prequel trilogy that crapped all over the legacy that Star Wars nerds held dear, right? That's the premise behind George Lucas Strikes Back, a nerdy, reference-filled gem from the kids at Slick Gigolo that makes a fantastic addition to the "trailers for movies that don't exist" viral shelf. And besides, there's something hilarious about a guy in a Darth Maul mask burying his face in a mound of cocaine while Stormtroopers dance around him.

Friday, June 10, 2011

Ten Must-Haves from E3 2011

Games and Innovative Devices are Coming Your Way...
[Source: Yahoo! Games] The holiday shopping season might be a good six months away, but thanks to the E3 2011 extravaganza, video game Christmas lists are already taking shape.


While many of the biggest titles and hardware shown off at this year's game geekfest aren't coming until well into 2012 -- including the innovative Wii U, the gorgeous Tomb Raider reboot and the downright awesome Bioshock Infinite -- a wealth of top tier titles will be out in time for your holiday shopping sprees. Start balancing your checkbook, because it's going to be a busy 2011. Here are ten you absolutely won't want to miss:


Batman: Arkham City
Release Date: October 18

The follow-up to 2009's superhero spectacular Batman: Arkham Asylum, the Dark Knight's next caper breaks out of the prison of linear gaming and into an open-world city run by Gotham's most vile villains.  You'll soar from the rooftops as the Caped Crusader, using a variety of awesome bat-gadgets as you tussle with The Joker, get stumped by The Riddler and duke it out with The Penguin. Even cooler?  You'll alternate between Batman and fellow misunderstood costume-wearer Catwoman, who lets you explore Gotham's underworld in search of shiny baubles.


Playstation Vita
Release Date: Holiday 2011

Plagued by one of the biggest online security breaches in U.S. history, Sony's had a rough go recently. But the winds of change are blowing, and they're bringing good tidings in the form of the company's next portable machine, the Vita. Not only does it pack loads of impressive tech - a brilliant OLED touch-screen, dual analog sticks and a rear touch panel - but at $250, it's actually reasonably priced. And with some terrific games already demoed for the system, including a gorgeous take on their Uncharted franchise and an innovative music game called SoundShape, it's looking like a real contender.


Mario Kart 3DS
Release Date: Holiday 2011

Got a 3DS but already bored with the launch games? You're not the only one. The good news, though, is that Nintendo is set to release a metric ton of cool games in the coming months, and having played through most of them, none got us excited as much as this stellar take on Mario's legendary racing series. Already a graphical treat, the racer adds new elements, such as a deployable glider to help your kart soar over big gaps and fully customizable karts.


Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception
Release Date: November 1

Poor Nathan Drake can't seem to keep himself out of tight spots, though after spending some time with his next adventure, it's clear that his trouble are our treats. The resilient star of Sony's hit franchise is in top form in Uncharted 3, which somehow manages to go even bigger than its award-winning forbear by pushing the boundaries of white-knuckle action-platforming. Placing Drake in perilous situation (tumbling about a sinking cruise ship, for instance) after perilous situation (leaping from a moving car to the slowly rising landing gear of a cargo plane, for another), it's as close to Indiana Jones as any of us will get.


Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Release Date: November 8

Grumble away about how Call of Duty is an overexposed franchise, but there's a reason why it sells a bazillion copies ever year: it's really quite great at what it does. And what it does is provide some of the most intense, blistering, and downright fun first-person shooting in town. The next installment takes the fight around the world, letting players fight terrorist groups in cities like Paris, London and New York while all hell breaks loose. Countless upgrades to the game's class-leading multiplayer will likely keep you playing it for years...or at least until the next Call of Duty comes out.


Battlefield 3
Release Date: October 25

Of course, you might well be sick to death of Call of Duty. We wouldn't blame you - and neither would EA, who's hoping to convert more than a few shooter fans with its jaw-dropping Battlefield 3.  A showpiece for the epic Frostbite 2 game engine, the war game is an absolute stunner, boasting some of the most impressive graphics you'll lay your eyes on all year. It's got the gameplay to back it up, too: revamped classes, compelling modes and brilliant details (shine a flashlight in someone's eyes and you'll temporarily blind them) make it a force to be reckoned with. Call of Duty, watch your six.


The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Release Date November 11

Prefer swords and sorcery to guns and ammo? Bethesda's got you covered with the massive Skyrim,. Built by the same team behind Fallout 3, it's as big and beautiful as role-playing games get. But it's not just about scope - Skyrim also features fantastic design, including a streamlined interface (no more time wasted digging through backpacks for potions), hundreds of abilities, over 80 spells that can be combined in a myriad of ways, and, well, dragons. Big ones. Lots of ‘em. 


Rage
Release Date: October 2011

Speaking of Fallout, if you dig post-apocalyptic mayhem, Rage is your next buy. The big winner of last year's E3, this shooter/racer/role-playing hybrid can do it all, and it looks pretty incredible doing it. Behind its big, brash bluster lies what might be the smoothest shooter to ever appear on a console, though that's what we've come to expect from the shooter experts at developer id Software. 


The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
Release Date: Holiday 2011

Wii U this, Wii U that - you know, the regular, boring old Wii is still in the room. The least we could do is pay attention to it a little, which exactly what the next Legend of Zelda game will make us all do.  Link's latest boasts bundles of goodies for fans, from rock solid sword-swinging to a new flying system that sees the green-clad hero seamlessly transitioning between air and land.  Add traditional Zelda puzzles, items and enemies and you get an intriguing new entry in one of gaming's best-loved series.


Gears of War 3
Release Date:  September 20

You've been itching for it for ages, but come this September the perpetually-postponed action romp finally stomps into stores. And we're betting the stores will be crushed, because it's got some serious firepower. Not only does Gears 3 wrap up the trilogy, but it's loaded with enhancements - including a rebuilt Horde multiplayer mode that critics are already insisting is one of the coolest multiplayer experiences around.

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Magneto Goes Lady Gaga in Parody Video

"It doesn't matter if you love men... or X-M-E-N."

Parody of Lady Gaga's Born This Way
It doesn't matter if you love men, or X-M-E-N
Just put your Claws up!
'Cause you were born this way, baby

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Anime Viewing Schedule for June 11, 2011 Meeting

Here's what we'll be showing this weekend!
NOTE: Meeting is pushed back by one hour due to a class in the morning. Starting time is now 1:00 pm.

1:10 - 2:00   Fortune Arterial 9-10
[Source: Wikipedia] Fortune Arterial's story revolves around the male protagonist Kohei Hasekura, who transfers into a prestigious public school in the style of an English six-year school encompassing junior-high and high school students. The school, named Shuchikan Academy (修智館学院 Shuchikan Gakuin), is on an island named Tamatsu Island (珠津島 Tamatsushima) off-shore from mainland Japan, and the only way to get there is by boat. Soon after transferring, he discovers that one of the student in the class next door to his, Erika Sendo, is in fact a type of vampire. Kohei is the protagonist of the story, and is a fifth-year student. After always transferring to other schools, he makes his way to Shuchikan Academy where he plans to stay for a while. Erika is also a fifth-year student, as well as the student council vice-president. She is a vampire. She is strong in literature classes and martial arts, and is very attractive, making her popular in her school. She has an inquisitive personality, and likes to do things directly. Once she has her mind set on something, she becomes very pushy, and will take her time making plans to make sure she gets her way. Her older brother Iori is the student council president.

2:00 - 2:50  Fractale 1-2
[Source: Wikipedia] The story takes place on an island resembling a futuristic Ireland (certain scenes are directly taken from Galway city in the west of Ireland), in a world ruled by the "Fractale System" that ensures mankind's stability and prosperity. One day, Clain meets a fleeing girl called Phryne, who disappears during the night leaving a pendant. When he is able to activate the pendant (which turns into a "dopple" named Nessa), Clain sets out for a journey with the girl-shaped avatar Nessa to look for Phryne and discovers the secret behind the Fractale System. While taking a walk, Clain has an encounter with the mysterious Phryne who was running away from a gang of pursuers. Clain and Phryne soon become friends, but in the following day she disappears without saying a word, leaving a mysterious item behind. While examining the brooch left by Phryne, Clain finds that Nessa, a doppel in human form, was sealed inside it. After trying to dispose of her, he ends up accepting Nessa's company, just before being captured by the same trio that was pursuing Phyrne.

2:50 - 3:15    The World God Only Knows 8
[Source: Wikipedia] This episode features 4 different perspectives happening on the same day. Elsie is angry that Keima called her useless for making his lunch despite "it" having bizarre ingredients that are still alive. After her friend Chihiro advises her on how to impress Keima, Elsie decides to make a strawberry cake for him. Unfortunately, she misunderstands recipe's instructions and mistakenly uses ingredients from Hell instead of normal ones, causing many accidents including releasing a Mandragon and blowing up the Home Economics classroom. At the same time, Keima irritates his English teacher, Mr Kodama, who dislikes the fact Keima constantly plays games during class yet still manages to get perfect scores on tests. After getting into an argument with Keima over games and real life at PE class, Kodama is chased by the Mandragon. The Mandragon eventually arrives at the Katsuragi residence, where it drops Elsie's cake. Keima returns home and finds Elsie's cake and eats it out of guilt. However, because he was hiding, his mother mistakes him for a thief and hits him on the head with a vase. Kodama arrives at the Katsuragi residence for his meeting with Keima's mother, but sees the Mandragon get eaten by the "lunch" Elsie made earlier, scaring him away. Elsie returns home and vows to make another cake for Keima. Despite having eaten the cake, he tells her that he doesn't like sweets, much to her chagrin.

3:15 - 4:05   Deadman Wonderland 1-2
[Source: Wikipedia] A massive earthquake ravaged Japan's mainland and destroyed most of Tokyo, sinking three-quarters of it into the ocean. Ten years later, the story shifts to Igarashi Ganta, a seemingly ordinary student attending Nagano Prefecture's middle school. An escapee, a survivor of the great earthquake, Ganta has no memories of the tragedy and has lived a normal life. This all changes when a strange man covered in blood and crimson armour floats through his classroom windows. Grinning madly, the Red Man massacres Ganta's entire class but instead of killing him, embeds a red crystal shard in Ganta's chest. Within days of the massacre, Ganta is declared the sole suspect and, following a quick trial, is sentenced to life imprisonment in Deadman Wonderland, a massive theme park like prison. Arriving at the prison, Ganta is fitted with a special collar which monitors his location and life signs. Due to the heinous nature of Ganta's 'crime', he has to live out his imprisonment under Deadman Wonderland's 'Death Sentence'. A lethal poison is constantly injected into his bloodstream through the collar, but it can be neutralized by consuming a peculiar candy-like medicine every three days. Additional candy can be earned through hard work or by purchasing it. In order to gather Cast Points, the prison's currency, an inmate has to perform in the facility's lethal games and survive. Fortunately for Ganta, he is aided by a mysterious girl named Shiro, who apparently knows Ganta, and is known by other prisoners as well. While trying to survive as an inmate on death row, Ganta becomes increasingly obsessed with the 'Red Man' and tries to find him so he could clear his name. In a bizarre twist, Ganta begins to develop the ability to manipulate his own blood, to the point of turning it into a weapon. Unbeknownst to him, Ganta has become one of the prison's 'Deadmen', a segregated group of prisoners possessing the Branch of Sin which makes them capable of controlling their blood. After his ability is discovered, Ganta is forced to participate in brutal gladiatorial death matches, known as Carnival Corpse, whose anonymous spectators pay large amounts of money to watch. In his struggle he manages to befriend some of those he fought off in the arena, and with their help Ganta continues his quest to uncover the identity of the Red Man, why he turned into a Deadman and the dark secrets the prison authorities are hiding.

4:05 - 4:55    Occult Academy 11 (corrected episode from last month)
[Source: Wikipedia] The story revolves around Maya, the daughter of the former Headmaster of a private Japanese academy dedicated to the study of the occult, and time traveling agent Fumiaki Uchida, a mysterious young man who travels back in time from 2012. In 1999, Maya returns to the Academy, both for her father's funeral and for her goal to destroy the Academy, as she hates everything occult. Occult Academy is apparently situated in Nagano, as the Matsushiro Underground Imperial Headquarters are shown to be nearby. In episode 10 the acedemy was actually Maya's Christmas gift therefore giving her a reason of not destroying the school. Maya successfully assumes her father's place as the academy's headmistress. She later meets Fumiaki Uchida whom makes his appearance from the future. Having no luck in finding the Nostradamus Key, Bunmei meets Mikaze Nakagawa at the diner she works in. Meanwhile, people are mysteriously disappearing around the city. Mikaze tries to convince Bunmei that Maya is actually the Key of Nostradamus and asks him to separate Maya from her spellbook, but he ends up warning Maya about Mikaze's intentions instead. After trying unsuccessfully to deceive her enemies by faking her death, Maya must escape from Mikaze whom is revealed to be a black mage.

4:55 - 5:55    Club Meeting and Announcements
Anime Central Convention Coverage
-  Animation News from around the world
-  Cosplayers
/Skits/Masquerade
-  New Anime Releases

-  And other interesting stuff...

  
5:55 - 6:20    Gosick 5
[Source: Wikipedia] Gosick takes place in 1924 in a small, French-speaking fictional European country of Sauville. The story centers on Kazuya Kujo, the third son of a Japanese Imperial soldier, who is a transfer student to St. Marguerite Academy, where urban legends and horror stories are all the rage. There he meets Victorique, a mysterious yet beautiful and brilliant girl who never comes to class and spends her days reading the entire content of the library or solving mysteries that even detectives can't solve. The series mostly focuses on Kazuya and Victorique getting involved in different mystery cases and their struggle to solve them, at the same time forming important bonds with different people. Kujo is still puzzling over Avril and cannot understand what is bothering him about her character. He begged Victorique to find him a book in hopes that it would give him a clue to Avril's mystery. Instead, Kujo is knocked unconscious and the book disappears. Victorique reveals to Kujo that the Avril Bradley he knows is actually an impostor and the successor of the legendary thief, Kuiaran. After Kujo rescues the real Avril Bradley, the duo confronts Kuiaran the Second on top of the library tower who came looking for the book.

6:20 - 8:50    Break Blade 3-5
[Source: Wikipedia] The inhabitants of the continent of Cruzon are born with the ability to freely control quartz. Technology based on this power allows them to perform a great multitude of tasks such as shoot projectiles and pilot mobile suits (called Golems in this society). Rygart Arrow is an un-sorcerer, a rare individual who is unable to levitate even the smallest crystal. Living with his brother on a farm, he receives a letter from an old friend, Hodr, the current king. Close companion of the king and queen when they were students at Assam Military School, Arrow is informed that a war is about to occur. Hodr called him because an ancient type of Golem has been found in a mining shaft. No one has been able to move it and queen Sigyn, an expert engineer, suspects that maybe an un-sorcerer might be the key to activate it.
Episode 3: "Scars from an Assassin's Blade"
Zess wonders about the terms of surrender Rygart was talking about as he and his squad prepares for one more attack at Binonten. As Rygart is being taught on using the Delphine and its new heavy armor, Sigyn wonders if he is capable of killing someone and Baldr warns him he has to work hard if he wants to save an enemy's life. Zess's squad begins their final attack but quickly aborts the mission once they realize the Krisna forces are following them. As they escape to the border, Rygart soon arrives and quickly kills one Zess's men, Argath which Zess stays back to fight him. Rygart at first is reluctant to hurt Zess but quickly puts it aside and seriously damages Zess's Golem and injures him. Cleo, traumatize from the death of her comrades, fights Rygart in anger where she quickly defeats Rygart and fights against Baldr and his men alone. When Erekt manages to retrieve the injured Zess, Cleo tries to escape but her Golem is shot and disabled by Narvi, and tells Erekt to leave her behind and escape with Zess. While Rygart believes it's over, Baldr tells him they now must face the Athens Invasion force led by General Borcuse. In Athens, Borcuse is informed by his second in command, Colonel Io, that Secretary Loquis has manage to acquit the General's war crimes at Assam and made him commander of the Athens Invasion force where his soldiers are gathering at Ilios. Meanwhile in Binoten, Sigyn decides to have Cleo stay at her bed chambers instead of prison, hoping she will cooperate and tell them about her Artemis Golem but Cleo takes her hostage in order to escape. As Cleo escapes while holding up Sigyn with her gun, they find Rygart talking to Hodr's pet owl Gram. Cleo at first is reluctant to shoot him upon hearing that Rygart is a friend of Zess and hopes for his safety but when she does tries to shoot him, she learns the gun is empty and is apprehended by Sigyn guards. At Ilios, Loquis informs Borcuse of their nation's Quartz shortage and tells the General that he must do everything necessary to win and take over Krisna as his army heads out.
Episode 4:  "The Land of Disaster"
As Zess and Erekt returns to Athens, Krisna mobilizes their army to face the Athenian Invaders. Cleo continues living with Sigyn where the latter warns her not to harm Rygart again. Meanwhile, Sigyn assembles a special Golem force led by Narvi with Rygart, her older brother Nile and Sniper Loggin under her command including Girghe. Girghe is General Baldr's son and a talented Golem pilot who has been given Cleo's Golem but he is a former criminal who killed his teammates without reason which Baldr warns Rygart to be careful with his son and kill him if he does anything suspicious. As General True and General Baldr's forces head out, Rygart trains with his teammates to better use the Delphine while Hodr asks the Orlando Empire for help. Before leaving, Sigyn, who is revealed to be in love with Rygart, makes him promise to come back safely. Unknown to Rygart and co. General True is killed in battle after being ambushed by the Athenians led by Io and Nike, the Golem commander who killed General True. As a siege battle begins between Baldr focres on a hill and Borcuse forces attacking, an officer named Elsa notices a small opportunity and convinces the General to let her lead a small Golem detachment to kill Borcuse who is currently protected by five of his officers. However much to their shock, Borcuse and his men kill all of Elsa's forces despite being outnumbered 20 to 6 and is one cruel act, Borcuse orders Nike to drag and show Elsa's cockpit to the Krisnan defenders to demoralize them. However, Baldr uses Elsa death into anger and orders all of his Golems to attack Borcuse's army. As Baldr's forces are cornered by Borcuse on both flanks, they are soon rescued by Rygart and his teammates as they decimate the left flank, forcing Borcuse to order his army to retreat. As they escape into a valley, Borcuse forces get ambushed by Girghe who quickly subdues Nike's Golem and proceeds to fight Borcuse and his officers.

Episode 5:  "Death's Horizon"
Girghe is questioned by Narvi over his surprise attack against Borcuse forces and has him put under house arrest so he doesn't repeat his antics again. Later Loggin, Rygart and Nile learns about True's death but Nile is unsure whether to tell the true to Narvi. While Rygart and Baldr talk about Girghe's past and Cleo learns more about about Zess's academy days with Sigyn, the Athenian Invasion army have finally regroup and despite losing many Golems, Nike's ego badly bruised by Girghe and the death one his officers, Borcuse is overjoy of finding two worthy opponents to fight, particular Rygart and Girghe. When Rygart learns Borcuse forces are heading to his hometown where his little brother Regatz lives, he disobeys Narvi's order to head home and search for his brother. However, when he arrives, the villagers have been slaughtered by Borcuse's men. Borcuse is glad to see Rygart is here and has duel with him while his men are ordered to watched. After a long tenuous fight, Borcuse knocks out Rygart and orders his men to pry open the Delphine cockpit and kill the pilot before returning it to Athens. Yet Rygart manages to regain conscious and is able to escape thanks to his squad mates who have come to rescue him. As they are about to fallback, the squad is intercepted by Io and Nike forces where Narvi, Loggin, and Nile's Golems are taken down. In the confusion, Girghe runs away where Rygart chases after him where he has a duel with Rygart. As they battle, Girghe mocks Rygart for defending the weak and reveals he knows the stories that Sigyn is in love with him and offers him the chance to make Sigyn his. But Rygart scoffs his ideals and tells him he should fight for Krisna just like his father and defeats him. Io and Nike forces finally where they corned both men and with the Delphine out of energy, Girghe decides to save Rygart by kicking the Delphine into a valley while he sacrifice himself fighting against the enemy, killing many of them including Nike.

8:50 - 9:00   Shinryaku! Ika Musume 5 - "Aren't You an Alien?"
[Source: Wikipedia] A woman named Cindy Campbell who comes from a US extraterrestrial research laboratory believes Ika to be an alien and wants to take her back to her lab. Cindy attempts to brainwash Ika into thinking she's an alien, but her appetite snaps her out of it. Later, Ika has a look around Eiko's school, believing it to be a military base. She decides to hold the principal captive and take over the school before Eiko stops her. Later, Sanae has a dream in which Eiko finds a miniaturized Ika and keeps it as a pet.