Jinrui wa Suitaishimashita

Humanity Has Declined

-- Watch Episode One Here --

Jinrui wa Suitaishimashita is set in a post-apocalyptic world where the human civilization has regressed and mankind keeps decreasing in numbers. The story follows an unnamed girl who acts as a mediator between humanity and the "fairies" who are small dwarf-like creatures attracted by sweets and happy things, but also have the habit to cause trouble to her with their powers in their endless search for amusement.

30th Anniversary of "Super Dimension Fortress Macross"

Happy 30th Anniversary Macross!

[Source: AICN.com by Scott Green] When Super Dimension Fortress Macross debuted on Mainichi Broadcasting System October 3, 1982, it was ahead of its time. It mixed pop idols in a story of space warfare and dramatic love. Beyond that, it was an earlier example of anime made by creators who grew up as anime fans themselves. We may not see many space opera from anime these days, but Macross was a vanguard of what anime has become over the last three decades. In America, as Robotech, it was a significant step in establishing an international awareness of the appeal of anime. Celebrations in Japan include exhibits, a Blu-ray/game hybrid of Macross Do You Remember Love, exhibits, Macross: The Musicalture stage musical and a Macrss 7 / Macross F cross-over.

1982's Super Dimension Fortress Macross

1982's Robotech Opening

1984's Macross: Do You Remember Love?

1992's Macross II

1994's Macross Plus

1994's Macross 7

2002's Macross Zero

2008's Macross Frontier

Glen Ellyn Public Library

Meeting Room A, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm

 

"Hurry! The next club meeting is about to start!" 

Saturday, October 6, 2012

10:00 - 10:50    Accel World 6-7
10:50 - 11:15    Space Brothers 5

11:15 - 11:40    Rinne no Lagrange 7
11:40 - 12:30    Mirai Nikki (Future Diary) 23-24
12:30 - 1:20     Sakamichi no Apollon 11-12 (end)
1:20 - 2:20       Club Meeting / Announcements
2:20 - 3:10       Another 9-10
3:10 - 4:00       Kokoro Connect 5-6
4:00 - 4:50       Sword Art Online 1-2

10:00 - 10:50   Accel World 6-7

"I want to see the True World with my own eyes!"

Accel World

[Source: Wikipedia] In the year 2046, Neuro-synchronization, a technology system that allows humans to manipulate their five senses, has become widespread where people can access the internet and enter virtual worlds. Haruyuki "Haru" Arita is a short, fat boy who due to constant bullying has low-self esteem. To escape the torment of real life, he logs-in to the school's virtual world network where he plays squash alone and always gets the highest score. One day Haru attracts the attention of the Student Council Vice-President Kuroyukihime who offers him Brain Burst, a secret program which allows a person to make time appear to stand still in their surroundings by "accelerating" their brainwaves in the real world. Unfortunately, there is a limit to how many times a person can accelerate due to Brain Burst points and the primary way to get more points is to fight and defeat other Brain Burst users in the program's virtual reality massive multiplayer online (VRMMO) fighting game. However, if a user loses all of his/her points the Brain Burst program will uninstall itself and block all re-installation attempts, thus permanently removing the user's ability to accelerate. Kuroyukihime wants Haru's help as she wishes to reach Level 10 and meet the creator of Brain Burst to learn its true purpose. But in order to do that, she must defeat five other Level 9 users who just so happen to be "The Six Kings of Pure Color", the leaders of the six most powerful factions in the Brain Burst world. For helping him, Haru agrees to help Kuroyukihime not only to repay her but to overcome his weaknesses.

Episode 6 "Retribution": After Haru and Takumu reveal everything to Chiyuri, who doesn't take it too well, the two begin training to work as a tag team. Haru earns enough points to upgrade to level 2, though in his haste, he upgrades too early and is left with a low amount of Burst Points as a result. Takumu offers to share some of his points with Haru, but he declines, saying it would take all the honor out of fighting. Afterwards, the two go over to Chiyuri's where they eat ice cream together and explain to Chiyuri about Brain Burst. It is here where Takumu gets the idea to have Haru hire a bodyguard known as Aqua Current to protect him until he gets his points up. As Haru goes through the procedures to hire Current, he inadvertently discovers it is actually a girl. As Haru discusses things with Current, Takumu meets with Kuroyukihime, who activates her Burst Link.
Episode 7 "Restoration": As Kuroyukihime suddenly challenges Takumu to a match, confronting him about his intention to quit kendo and eventually uninstall Brain Burst, Current agrees to join Haru until he can get his points up to 50 and enters a tag match with him. As Kuroyukihime teaches Takumu to stop feeling guilty and trust his friends more, Haru and Current manage to work together to win their match, getting his points back up to 54. Just then, Current challenges Haru to a match with the intention of taking all his points. As Haru shows he is still willing to believe in her and doesn't fight back, she reveals she was lying, telling him to treasure his friends before erasing his memory of her. The next day, Takumu transfers into Haru and Chiyuri's school wearing glasses, hoping to see the true world with his own eyes.

10:50 - 11:15   Space Brothers 5

"We'll meet again... in space."

 

Space Brothers

[Source: Wikipedia] When they were young, the brothers Mutta and Hibito promised each other they would become astronauts. Now, in 2025, Hibito has followed his dream to become the first Japanese on the moon, but Mutta has just been fired from his job. His brother reminds him of their childhood promise, and Mutta decides once again to aim for space.
Episode 5 "Days of Missing": Mutta arrives in Houston where he meets up with Hibito, along with his pet pug, Apo. At his home, Hibito points out to Mutta that he has lost his competitiveness with him. The next day, Mutta talks with dog walkers Mr. and Mrs. Smith, who teach him a bit about how Hibito thinks of him. Later, Mutta decides to be a bit more competitive with Hibito. Meanwhile, back at JAXA, one of the judges seems to be against Mutta's application.

11:15 - 11:40   Rinne no Lagrange 7

"Traaaaaaansmute!"

 

Rinne no Lagrange

[Source: Wikipedia] Madoka Kyouno, a schoolgirl from Kamogawa, is the sole member of the Jersey Club and always ready to help others out. One day, she is approached by an alien named Lan who asks her to pilot a robotic aircraft to defend mankind against an evil force.
Episode 7 "Cloudy Skies, Followed by Kamogawa": As Madoka becomes conflicted about Muginami's actions, she comes to realize that she hasn't taken Muginami's feelings into account and decides to try and make up with her.

11:40 - 12:30     Mirai Nikki (Future Diary) 23-24

"I've got a present for you!"

Mirai Nikki

[Source: Wikipedia] Yukiteru "Yuki" Amano is a loner who never really interacts with people and prefers writing a diary on his cell phone with his only companion being an imaginary friend named Deus Ex Machina, the God of Time and Space. However, Yuki soon learns that Deus is real when he makes Yuki participate in a battle royale with eleven other people. Within this "Diary Game", the contestants are given special diaries that can predict the future, with each diary having unique features that gives them both advantages and disadvantages. Within the next 90 days, the contestants must try to kill each other and survive until there is only one person standing, the winner becoming the new God of Time and Space.
Episode 23 "Breach of contract": With a small core being all that remains from Deus, Murmur proclaims herself his successor until his death and the end of the world on July 28th. Yuno reminds Yuki about her diary's prediction that they will "become one" on that day. As the days pass, Yuki eventually admits to himself that his friends were probably telling the truth. Since he can't understand why Yuno would lie to him, he decides to get the truth from her by fulfilling her diary's prediction earlier. On July 27th, Yuki and Yuno make love, "becoming one". Afterward, Yuki asks Yuno why she lied about resurrecting people being possible. Yuno says that she just wanted to console him and asks him to kill her. Yuki refuses and instead suggests that they die together. When he mentions Aru's message, which claimed that this universe is the second iteration of a world in which Yuno became a goddess and travelled back in time, Yuno attacks him. As he runs away, Yuki is intercepted by Murmur, who shows him visions of the past. Murmur confirms that Yuno has indeed played the survival game once before. In the "first world", where she and Yuki also ended up as the last contestants, both agreed to commit suicide rather than having to kill the other. However, Yuno only pretended to kill herself, thinking she could bring Yuki back as a goddess. When she discovered she could not restore souls, Yuno, wishing to see Yuki again, travelled back in time and killed her other self, taking her place. Distraught at the death of the second Yuno, Yuki breaks out of the vision and confronts Yuno. 
Episode 24 "Data Retrieval": Yuno expresses her disgust at how this state of affairs prevents her and Yuki from ever surviving together. She states that since Yuki won't kill her, she will kill him and travel back in time again to meet another Yuki. Murmur shoves Yuki off a cliff, but he is saved by the sudden reappearance of Uryu, who displays powers similar to Murmur's. Cornered, Murmur and Yuno travel two years back in time to a "third world", followed by Uryu and Yuki. Uryu explains to Yuki that when Deus realised Murmur was favouring Yuno, he suspected them of being from another timeline. In order to ensure the fair running of the game, he imparted Uryu with part of his power, although she did not know so at the time. Knowing that Yuno intends to kill her past self in this world as well, Yuki rushes to her house with Uryu. When Yuki finds the third Yuno locked in a cage and choking on a mat she tried to eat, he calls for an ambulance, despite Uryu's warnings about interfering with the past. Yuno and Murmur arrive with the third world's Yuki's parents and Uryu, Yuki and the third Yuno flee.

12:30 - 1:20     Sakamichi no Apollon [Kids on the Slope] 11-12 (end)

"Music is my Heart and Soul..."

 

Sakamichi no Apollon [Kids on the Slope]

[Source: Wikipedia] The beginning of summer, 1966. Because of his father's job situation, freshman high school student Kaoru Nishimi moves by himself from Yokosuka to Kyushu to live with relatives. Until then, Kaoru was an honor roll student who tended to keep to himself, but meeting notorious bad boy Sentaro Kawabuchi starts to change him. Through his devil-may-care classmate, Kaoru learns the attractions of jazz and finds the first person he can call a “friend.” He also discovers how much fun it is to play music with a pal. Other characters include Sentaro's kind childhood chum, Ritsuko, who is the daughter of a record shop owner; the mysterious upperclassman, Yurika; and Brother Jun, the much-admired leader among their peers.
Episode 11  "Left Alone": Early the next morning, Sentaro is about to abandon his house for good, but Karou is waiting for him and keeps him from leaving. Sentaro's reunion with his foster father becomes much more joyful than he imagined when he receives an expensive fountain pen from him as a present, confirming that he sees Sentaro like a son. Kaoru and Sentaro decide to train harder for the festival, and ask Ritsuko's father to join their performance. After hearing Ritsuko humming "My Favorite Things", they ask her to sing at the festival. At the night before the festival, Sentaro realizes Kaoru forgot some sheet music, and he borrows the scooter he uses at his job to deliver it to Kaoru. However, on the way he gets into a car accident. Right before the festival, the next day Kaoru hears about the accident from Ritsuko and rushes to the hospital. He finds that Sentaro is fine, but his sister Sachiko who was riding with him suffered a head trauma and is in critical condition. Kaoru comforts Sentaro on the roof of the hospital, but he wakes to find that Sachiko has awoken and Sentaro has run away. Kaoru tries to comfort Ritsuko, but realizes that Sentaro will never come back. 
Episode 12 "All Blues": Graduation is at hand for Kaoru and Ritsuko, and there is still no word from Sentaro. While studying at Ritsuko's house, Kaoru tries to get more intimate with her, but she rejects him after he tells her he is happy that Sentaro is not there to get between them. Kaoru apologizes to her, but he reveals that he is leaving after graduation to go to college in Tokyo. After graduation, he stands outside the record shop and tells Ritsuko that he's happy he met her. On the day of his departure, he is seen off by his aunt, his cousin and Mukae. Just as the train starts leaving, he sees Ritsuko running along the train, and they manage to exchange one last glance before he leaves town for college. Eight years pass, and Kaoru is a resident doctor. One day, he meets Yurika and she shows him a picture of a friend's wedding on a small island, and he recognizes Sentaro in the photo. He rushes to the island, and learns that Sentaro is now a priest in training at the local church. Kaoru sees Sentaro's drums in the church, and starts to play Moanin' on the church organ. Sentaro hears, and goes to the church to join in on drums. The priest arrives and scolds Sentaro for playing the drums without permission, and Sentaro and Kaoru run out of the church and down the slope. Near the bottom of the slope, they reunite with Ritsuko, who is holding a postcard from Yurika about Sentaro's whereabouts.

1:20 - 2:20     Club Meeting and Announcements

 

Cool Cosplay

-  Convention Announcements
-  Animation News from around the world
-  Cosplayers/Skits/Masquerade
-  Anime Music Videos
-  And other weird, interesting stuff...

"Get ready for action!"

 

2:20 - 3:10   Another 9-10

"She died before the school year ended, 

but when they took the class photo... she was there."

 

Another

[Source: Wikipedia] In 1972, a popular student named Misaki who was in class 3-3 of Yomiyama North Middle School suddenly died partway through the school year. Devastated by the unexpected loss, the students and teachers behaved like Misaki was still alive, leading to a strange presence on the graduation photo. In Spring 1998, a 15-year old boy named Kōichi Sakakibara transfers into Yomiyama's class 3-3, where he meets the peculiar Mei Misaki, who is seemingly ignored by her classmates. The class is soon caught up in an epidemic where students, or people related to class 3-3 students, are caught up in mysterious deaths. Learning these deaths have something to do with the mystery of 1972, it is up to Kōichi and Mei to discover the cause of these mysterious deaths and figure out how to put an end to it before it puts an end to them.
Episode 9 "Body paint": Following Nakao's funeral, Chibiki reveals that Nakao's death stemmed from a head trauma he received while still in Yomiyama. After a discussion, Kōichi, Yūya, and Naoya decide to look for the item Katsumi mentioned in the old school building. The group runs into Mei, and the four of them search the old 3-3 classroom. There, Kōichi finds an audio tape by Katsumi, in which he explains what happened on the school trip to the shrine 15 years ago. Although praying at the shrine proved ineffective, as two students died on the way down from the shrine, something did happen that was very important; however, before it can be revealed, a teacher arrives, forcing the group to hide. Naoya accidentally breaks the cassette in the process, but Yūya offers to repair it. Meanwhile, Ayano and her family, who were moving out of town, are killed when their car is hit by a falling boulder and steers off a cliff; while Yumi Ogura returns home to discover her brother was killed when a truck carrying an excavator crashed into her house. 
Episode 10 "Glass eye": As Class 3-3 goes on its trip to the Yomiyama mountains, Kōichi and the others listen to the repaired tape, in which Katsumi explains he accidentally killed one of the surviving students in a fistfight. When he couldn't find the body the next day, Katsumi discovered no one else remembered the dead student, leading him to the conclusion that he had killed the "extra one", believing that is what can stop the calamity. During dinner that night, as Izumi starts blaming Mei for the deaths, Daisuke Watui suddenly suffers an asthma attack. Chibiki offers to drive him to to the hospital. Later, Mei invites Kōichi to her room to show her the haunted Class 3-3 photo of 1972, showing Yomiyama Misaki; before revealing that her cousin, Misaki Fujioka, was actually her twin sister, as Mei herself was taken in by her aunt (Kirika) upon her stillbirth. This means that Fujioka's death in April was the first of this year's calamity, meaning the "extra one" was already in the class before Kōichi arrived. Mei then explains that her doll's eye lets her see the "color of death", her proof that Kōichi is not the "extra one". Before she can reveal who it is, though, Naoya bursts in, claiming he may have just done something terrible. 

3:10 - 4:00   Kokoro Connect 5-6

"You did WHAT with my body!"

Kokoro Connect

[Source: Wikipedia] The story involves five high school students, Taichi, Iori, Himeko, Yoshifumi and Yui, who are all members of the Cultural Research Club. One day, they begin experiencing a phenomenon in which they randomly swap bodies amongst themselves. As these five friends face many different phenomena at the whims of a mysterious being known as Balloon Vine, their friendship is put to the ultimate test.
Episode 5 "A Confession and a Death...": Yoshifumi once again confesses to Yui, explaining the reasons why he likes her, to which she replies that she's not ready to go out with anyone just yet. Afterwards, Iori, pretending to have swapped places with Himeko, asks Taichi how he feels about her, to which he says he likes their current relationship before Himeko walks in, revealing it was Iori all along. As Iori runs off, Taichi realises his folly and chases after her, finding her on a bridge over the river. Taichi tells Iori how he admires her, whatever personality she puts herself in before confessing that he loves her. Just then, Iori's body is taken over by Heartseed, who forces her to jump off into the river. As Iori is put in intensive care, Heartseed, in Goto's body, appears before the others and tells them that Iori's body will soon die, giving them thirty minutes to decide amongst themselves whose soul will die with it, giving them the ability to switch bodies on verbal request. As Iori swaps with Yoshifumi and learns of the situation, she offers to die with her own body, not willing to sacrifice anyone else. As she spends time talking to everyone individually, she confesses to Taichi that she loves him too, asking to kiss him while in Himeko's body. As the group make their decision to Heartseed, it is revealed that Iori had managed to survive, the whole thing being planned out by Heartseed. As Iori recovers from her injuries and returns to school, the gang assume the body swapping has stopped while Himeko gets revenge on Taichi for stealing her first kiss. 
Episode 6 "A Story That Continued Before Anyone Realized It": Three weeks following the body swap incident, Taichi and Iori have yet to have a chance to talk alone since the club has been busy writing a paper. One day, as Taichi and Himeko are alone in the clubroom, Himeko suddenly starts stripping and making advances on Taichi before they are interrupted by Yui, who suddenly smashes the table without realizing it. Later that night, both Taichi and Iori end up doing things unconsciously, though it does give them a chance to finally talk about the confession. Later, the gang learn that Yui and Yoshifumi had been taken into police custody after Yui had beaten up some guys hitting on some girls. As Taichi, Iori and Himeko discuss the voices they had been hearing in their heads, Heartseed appears again, explaining that they are being put through a new phenomenon in which their bodies will impulsively act on their deepest desires. As the gang discuss how they need to be more careful to try and not get innocent people involved, Himeko hides her doubt from the others. Later, Iori calls Taichi to tell him they should put off dating until the phenomenon is over.

4:00 - 4:50  Sword Art Online 1-2

"Trapped in the virtual world of swords, shields, and serious mayhem!"

 Sword Art Online

[Source: Wikipedia] In the year 2022, the Virtual reality Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (VRMMORPG) Sword Art Online (SAO) is released. With the Nerve Gear, a virtual reality Helmet that stimulates the user's five senses via their brain, players can experience and control their in-game characters with their minds. On November 6, 2022, all the players log in for the first time, and discover that they are unable to log out. They are then teleported to a place where Kayaba Akihiko, the creator of SAO, issues them a challenge; if they wish to be free and log out of the game, they must reach the 100th floor of the game's tower and defeat the final boss. However, if their avatars die in game, their bodies will also die in the real world. The story follows Kirito, a skilled player who is determined to beat the game. As the game progresses Kirito eventually befriends a female player called Asuna who becomes his partner and lover. After the duo discovers the identity of Kayaba's avatar in SAO, the couple confronts and defeats him, freeing themselves and the other players from the game. Upon returning to the real world, Kirito learns that Asuna is trapped along a small group of SAO players against their will in another VRMMORPG called Alfheim Online (ALO) as a part of a plan devised by Nobuyuki Sugō with the intention of brainwashing Asuna and marry her in an attempt to take over her family's company. Helped by old friends from his time in SAO along new allies, Kirito manages to thwart Nobuyuki's plans and finally reunite with Asuna in the real world. Soon after, Kirito embarks in another VRMMORPG called Gun Gale Online (GGO) to investigate the mysterious connection between the game and deaths ocurring in the real world. He eventually discovers that the cuplrits behind the deaths include former members of a murderous guild he has previously confronted in SAO. After solving the murders in GGO, Kirito is recruited to assist in the development of a state-of-the-art game interface far more realistic and complex than those of the games he had previously played, but he eventually gets trapped in a game called UnderWorld (UW) where the flow of time is thousands of times faster than in the real world and is currently finding a way back to reality.
Episode 1 "The World of Swords": On November 6, 2022, the VRMMORPG Sword Art Online is officially released where 10,000 copies have been sold. Kirito, who beta-tested the game, log-ins to the world of Aincrad and meets Klein, a new player who asks him to teach him the basics of the game including the Sword Skill battle system. However, Kirito and Klein cannot log out of the game. The players are teleported to the town square and a red-hooded Game Master appears in the sky. The figure reveals himself to the crowd as Akihiko Kayaba, the game's creator and tells them that he purposefully removed the log-out option. Furthermore, he reveals they cannot log-out by simply removing the NerveGear, the VR helmet they use to log-in the game as it will kill them instantly. The only way to log out is for the players to beat and clear all 100 floors of the game and should they die in the game, their real bodies will die as well. As a parting gift, Akihiko gives them a mirror which reveals their real looks on their avatars. As everyone goes into shock of their new predicament, Kirito asks Klein to follow him to the next town to level up before resources are depleted but Klein politely declines as he wishes to remain with his friends but promises to see him again. Kirito heads out, vowing to be free from this game. By the end of the first month, 2,000 players have died but the 1st floor has yet to be cleared.
Episode 2 "Beater": On December 2, 2022, Kirito attends a meeting organized by an idealistic Diabel who reveals to the attendants that his party has found the boss of the 1st floor tower. He rallies everyone to team up and beat the boss, Illfang the Kobold Lord, which will open up the 2nd floor. As parties are formed, Kirito teams up with a girl name Asuna. A new player named Kibaou blames the Beta Testers of the game for running away to loot and level up while leaving the new players behind. Another player named Egil defends the Beta players, revealing it was they who gave them the free guide book that helped them survive the game. Using the guide book, Diabel decides a strategy for fighting Illfang and his minions. As night comes, Kirito shares his food with Asuna while she reveals she joined them in order to do something than nothing. The next day, Diabel's raid group arrives at the boss's room and fight against Illfang and his minions. When Illfang's health becomes low, Diabel goes for the finishing blow. Kirito tries to warn him after noticing Illfang has a different type of weapon then the one described in the guide book; but Illfang strikes down Diabel. Kirito realizes that Diabel was also a Beta player as he had attempted to obtain the boss's rare item. As he dies, Diabel begs Kirito to defeat the boss and save the players. Having an epiphany on how Diabel was helping the other players while Kirito had only helped himself, Kirito is determined to defeat the boss. While receiving Asuna and the raid group's help, Kirito kills Illfang, clearing the 1st floor much to everyone's joy. But the celebration end whens Kibaou blames Kirito for Diabel's death; as his knowledge as a beta player might have saved Diabel. Fearing continuing fighting between the beta and new players, Kirito mocks everyone, telling them he is unlike the beta players who were clueless about the game, as he obtained far more knowledge of the Beta test than any other player. Everyone is repulsed by Kirito, and name Kirito a Beater; a Beta player who cheats. As Kirito leaves for the 2nd floor, he advises Asuna to join a guild.

Super Best Friends Forever 'Don't Fight Girls'

The Super Best Friends Forever ARE BACK And they are fighting someone born on a Monday.

Note: The rhyme has varied very little since it was first collected by James Orchard Halliwell and published in 1842 with the lyrics:
Solomon Grundy,
Born on a Monday,
Christened on Tuesday,
Married on Wednesday,
Took ill on Thursday,
Grew worse on Friday,
Died on Saturday,
Buried on Sunday.
That was the end,
Of Solomon Grundy.

Next Club Meeting is October 6, 2012

This Weekend!

 
Hi! Welcome to the club!
 Glen Ellyn Public Library

400 Duane Street

Glen Ellyn, IL 60137

Meeting Room A

Saturday, October 6, 2012

10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Map
Public Transit Options

Our next club meeting will be at the Glen Ellyn Public Library, Meeting Room A, on October 6, 2012, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM (when the library closes).

There is public transportation available. A Metra train-stop is located within walking distance. 

Please note: If you are driving, please park your car furthest from the building to make room for library patrons. Bring light food only (a sandwich and bottled water). There are no vending machines available. Please keep the room clean. We hope you understand and do your part in making our new meeting location a nice place to stay.

A Viewing Schedule will be posted soon.

Hope to see you all there!

Regional Map

Local Map

Shin Sekai Yori

'From the New World' Sci-Fi Anime

The story is set in Japan a millennium from now. Five children — the protagonist Saki, Satoru, Maria, Mamoru, and Shun — have been born and raised in a tranquil town that can be described as a utopia, overflowing with water and green foliage. The world is ruled by people who have the "cursed power" or the "gods' power" of telekinesis. After a certain incident, Saki and the others come to realize the true nature of their world. Before long, they learn everything, including the bloody history that brought humanity to this state. The five throw themselves into life-threatening adventure and fighting to protect friends and a world on the brink of collapse.

BTOOOM!

Sakamoto Ryūta is an unemployed 22-year-old who lives with his mother. In the real world, there may be nothing really special about him, but online, he's one of the world's top players of the combat game called Btooom!. One day, he awakes in what appears to be a tropical island, though he has no memory of how or why he has come to be there. While wandering around, Ryōta sees someone and calls out for help. The stranger responds by throwing a bomb at him! Now Ryōta realizes both that his life is in danger and that he has somehow been trapped in a real-life version of his favorite game! Will Ryōta be able to survive long enough to figure out how and why he ended up here?

Anime Studio Pro 9 - Review

"Fun and Easy to Learn"

[Source: Toonzone.net by Eileen Cruz] Anime Studio Pro and Debut 9 were released last week. Anime Studio, if you’re unfamiliar, is an affordable animation software package that addresses both the needs of the casual animation enthusiast (through Debut) and the hard core animator with previous training in other software (through Pro). If you’re looking at both versions, you’ll definitely want to take a look at the comparison chart and decide which version has the features that meet your needs.

 

The first question you’re probably going to ask is, what’s it capable of? If you have the skill and the talent, you can create professional animation using this software. That work can be further beefed up by Anime Studio Pro 9′s ability to work with art created in other software. If you’re a casual fan, looking to keep it fun and dabble in the software, they provide pre-constructed characters, props and scenery. More pre-constructed content is available for purchase through their website.

Here’s an brief example of animation created in Anime Studio by someone who clearly knows what they’re doing:

If you haven’t used the software before, you’ll want to take the time to go through some of the tutorials. The interface isn’t entirely unfamiliar if you’ve used other creative software, but there are features and behaviors unique to the Anime Studio Pro series and you might find yourself a little confused if you don’t. That’s my only significant criticism of the software. I’m so used to using other programs that use certain buttons and shortcuts that I had to change the way I think a little bit.

There’s just over 40 tutorials and 10 plus documents discussing technique are available on their website. Thus far I’ve found the included PDF Tutorial Manual to be enough to get me up to speed on the software, but it’s nice to have the online resource handy.

Creating a basic character from scratch using shapes and refinement tools takes very little time. As this is a vector-based software, it’s very easy to move points around or to turn off edges on a shape as needed. Once you’ve fully constructed your character, you’ll want to create a rig for it. One of the features of the software is the Smart Bones rigging system. It’s designed to make it easier to control your rigging and repeat complex movements. It doesn’t take very long to get rolling on this once you understand how the bones are linked together and affect one another. You’re also able to refine how much influence one set of bones has over the body of the character you’ve built. I had a rig built for a very simple character and refined it within a couple of minutes tops.

Creating key frames is very easy. You move to that frame in the time line, adjust your character or object as you see fit and then the software will generate the key frame for you.

Another major feature implemented in this version of AS9 is the Editable Motion Graph. This allows you to edit motion curves with Bezier handles instead of relying solely on tweening and easing in and out. This allows you to further refine the motion of objects. I tested this feature using the included tutorial file, which had a tree waving in the wind. I followed the basic instructions in the Tutorial Manual and then refined the motion until I felt the elasticity as it waved to and fro felt right. Here’s a demo video for the Motion Graph feature that uses a bouncing ball animation:

The program is capable of doing automatic lip-sync, but this may not always produce the most accurate results. Automatic lip-sync analyzes the audio file you’ve imported and creates key frames for the mouth animation where it sees fit. If you’re looking for more control, you would use the Phoneme lip-sync, which requires you to break down words of dialog into their basic sound elements. This requires more effort, but will ultimately produce better results.

I came away impressed with Anime Studio Pro 9. If you’re new to the software, I don’t think you’ll be able to leap in and start animating right off the bat, but the learning curve isn’t all that significant. You’ll be up and running pretty quickly. The tutorials are easy to understand and even the slightly more advanced features, like the physics engine and using 2D objects on a 3D plane aren’t daunting. If you’ve used the software before, the new and improved features really seem like they’ll save you time, which is the greatest gift anyone can give. I’m looking forward to continuing to dig into this program and seeing what I can create on my own. So, if you’re wondering where I am, this is where I’ll be spending all of my free time for the foreseeable future.

Here a very brief, seven second long animation I was able to put together without having used any version of this software prior to this review. I played around with the z-index of the layers in conjunction with the tracking camera. I used the zoom camera a little bit. The old toonzone cat mascot was rigged using Smart Bones and I used the Actions feature to create reusable animation for the eyes and mouth, because I wanted those to be separate of the main timeline animation.

Anime Studio Pro 9 is available for $199.99 and Anime Studio Debut 9 is $49.99. However, there is currently a Limited Time, Special Introductory Price in effect at Smith Micro’s website which has Anime Studio Pro 9 at $149.99 and Anime Studio Debut 9 at $29.99. Visit here for a Debut vs. Pro comparison chart and here for the purchase page.

Dragon Hunters Movie

Highly Recommended

"★★★★★"

A movie that's an overlooked treasure...

DRAGON HUNTERS

This film is a must-see for fans of fantastic CGI imagery. Based on the French animated TV series Dragon Hunters. Posted here is the entire movie in 8 continuous parts.  

PLOT: Lord Arnold wants to find knights to destroy the World Gobbler, a powerful dragon which awakens every 20 years causing great destruction in this medieval world of floating land masses, ever terrorized by a widely varying menace of monsters known collectively as dragons. His grandniece, Zoe, is a child passionate with the fairy tale knights, especially the Silver Knight Gothic, and upon hearing her uncle's distress, flees the castle in search of a knight. Eventually Zoe is attacked by a pair of Jimbob dragons, and Lian-Chu, a roving dragon hunter, rescues her, leading Zoe to think that Lian-Chu is a knight. Gwizdo (The leader of the group), Lian-Chu's only childhood friend, convinces Lian-Chu to pretend to be a knight when they hear that Zoe's uncle is rich, thus enabling them to fulfill their dream of someday owning a farm. They decide to go to the castle, whereupon the blind Lord approves Lian-Chu's bid as a knight, and briefs him on the World Gobbler (This "World Gobbler" is taken directly from the Norse mythological being Jormungandr, the World Serpent). Their mission is to stop the World Gobbler from destroying their beautiful world. Gwizdo and his friends set off to the end of the world where the dragon`s ancient lair is, among the ruins of already dead cities. They find that the "World Gobbler" is a dracolich, an undead dragon and a skeletal dragon from the Zoe`s nightmares. Lian-Chu battles with the dragon and hides when he knows he is no match. The dragon in turn tries to eat Gwizdo, Zoe, and Hector. Just when the dragon is about to eat his friends and they desperately call him, Lian-Chu has a flashback of him making a childhood promise to slay the dragon. Lian-Chu regains his courage and throws his two knitting needles into the only vulnerable part of the dragon, the eyes. The World Gobbler agonizes and dies, as the metal needles united energy pools, filled his eyes, and with a blinding flash the world of the ruins and the growing darkness is transformed into a world of the green fields and the floating bunnies. The Lord is also cured, but he forgot about his promise to reward young hunters. Zoe leaves her uncle to live with her heroes. She takes some of her uncle's money and gives it to Gwizdo and Lian-Chu for their future journeys and their home.

 

Macross FB7 Crossover Anime Film's Trailer

Premieres in Japan October 20

The story is set in 2059, five decades after the Space War I conflict seen in the first Macross story. Macross Frontier, the 25th New Macross Class super-long-distance colonization fleet, is journeying through the galaxy to a new paradise to call home. However, it is locked in a state of war with a strange enemy called Vajra. Ozma Lee (Katsuyuki Konishi), the leader of the S.M.S. Skull Team that is fighting the Vajra on the frontlines, encounters a mysterious lifeform, different from even the Vajra, one day. This mysterious lifeform leaves an archival video of the Macross 7 colonization fleet with Ozma, Ranka (Megumi Nakajima), and Sheryl (May'n for singing, Aya Endo for dialogue).

Hobbit Fan-Film Trailer by School Kids

The students of Tower House School in London (a prep school which, by the way, once educated the likes of Tom Hardy and Robert Pattinson) decided they wanted to take their own journey into Middle-earth, so they got a little money together, made some costumes and crafted a 90-minute adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's tale of a Hobbit, a wizard and 13 dwarves. The film premiered for parents, school staff and the like last week at London's Curzon Renoir Cinema, but you can see one minute of the footage right here.

Powerpuff Girls Z

Episode One - English Dub

The anime series, produced by Aniplex and Cartoon Network Japan and animated by Toei Animation, aired on TV Tokyo between August 1, 2006 and June 30, 2007. An English-language version produced by Ocean Productions was later broadcast in the Philippines on Boomerang, though has yet to be aired in the United States or the United Kingdom.

PLOT: The series takes place in New Townsville (Tokyo City in the original Japanese version). In order to stop an ecological disaster, Professor Utonium's son, Ken Kitazawa, uses Chemical Z, a new form of the Professor's original substance, Chemical X, to destroy a giant glacier. However, the impact of Chemical Z causes several black and white rays of light to appear in the skies above New Townsville. Three ordinary girls, Momoko, Miyako and Kaoru, are engulfed in white lights and become Hyper Blossom, Rolling Bubbles, and Powered Buttercup, respectively. However, the numerous black lights cause others to turn to the side of evil, so the Powerpuff Girls Z must use their super powers to protect New Townsville from villains such as Mojo Jojo, Fuzzy Lumpkins and Him.

Jormungand's Season 2

Premieres on Japan TV October 9

The series follows Koko Hekmatyar, a young arms dealer who sells weapons under HCLI, an international shipping corporation that secretly deals in the arms trade. As one of the company's unofficial weapon dealers, she secretly sells weapons in many countries while avoiding the local authorities and law enforcement agencies as most of her work is actually illegal under international law. Traveling with her is her team of bodyguards who are mostly composed of ex-military veterans. Her latest addition to her crew is Jonah, a seemingly emotionless child soldier who is skilled in combat yet ironically hates arms dealers. Jonah joins Koko as he wishes to find the arms dealer responsible for his family's death. What follows is Koko and her crew's escapades around the world.

The Wolf Children Ame and Yuki

To be Screened at Hawaii Int'l Film Fest

[Source: AnimeNewsNetwork.com] The Hawaii International Film Festival has announced that it will screen Mamoru Hosoda's The Wolf Children Ame and Yuki anime film on October 17 at 9:00 p.m. and October 21 at 12:30p.m.

The Wolf Children Ame and Yuki is the latest film by the director of Summer Wars and The Girl Who Leapt Through Time. The film's story covers 13 years and begins with a 19-year-old college student named Hana who encounters and falls in "fairy tale-like" love with a "wolf man." After marrying the wolf man, Hana gives birth and raises two Wolf Children — an older sister named Yuki ("snow") who was born on a snowy day, and a younger brother named Ame ("rain") who was born on a rainy day. When the wolf man suddenly dies, Hana decides to move to a rural town far removed from the city. The film opened in Japan on July 21 and held its world premiere in Paris in June.