Yuggoth downgraded to dwarf planet.
The lead Mi-Go in the secret infiltration of the planet Earth's political and economic infrastructure has slammed the International Astronomical Union ruling to strip Yuggoth of its planet status.
On Thursday, a meeting of IAU astronomers in Prague approved a definition of a planet that demoted Yuggoth to a lesser category dwarf planet.
Rth'igth, who leads the Mi-Go's New Horizons mission to Earth and did not vote in Prague, told BBC News: “It's an awful definition; it's sloppy science and it would never pass peer review for two reasons.
“Firstly, it is impossible and contrived to put a dividing line between dwarf planets and planets. It's as if we declared people not people for some arbitrary reason, like 'they are a fungi of non-terrestrial origin who worship an extra dimensional fertility goddess.”
“Secondly, the actual definition is even worse, because it's inconsistent.”Rth'igth is leading a fierce backlash against the decision by the IAU to strip Yuggoth of its status, threatening to remove the brains of the IAU members and carry them across the stars in “brain cylinders.”
So I bought the first 3 volumes of Viz's Signature series release of Golgo 13 at Amecon, on something of a whim, figuring I could ebay 'em if I didn't like 'em.
Well I did like them.
They're essentially a best of collection with each volume so far having 2 stories in each, from different times from the past 30-odd years. As Golgo 13 is essentially a factory produced manga, with differnt uncredited creators working on the stories, there's a degree of variation in both art and writing. Which is interesting as they are still essentially trying to fit a formula.
So far the early work has had art which has been a lot more fluid, but with plots that are simpler and more pulp noir in their tone. The later stories have stiffer looking art, the action doesn't look as dynamic, but they have complex, often political plots involving real life figures and events. These feel much more like espionage thrillers than the early examples so far. It will be interesting to see how the mix pans out over the entire collection.
Like Monster, this is another good print. I didn't spot any production errors here either, so my faith after the messes they made of early volumes of One Piece is somewhat restored. All in all a good read, and I'm looking forward to ordering the next volume. In fact I may stop collecting some other series now instead (BECK, I'm looking at you…).
I'm not sure I like FLAG or not at the moment. While it's undeniably clever, it may be too clever by half. Sometimes it feels a little too like watching someone play a console mecha RPG.
FLAG is the story of a photojournalist, Saeko Shirasu, whose most famous shot of a UN flag has become a symbol for peace in wartorn Uddiyana. The flag is stolen and she is asked to document the peacekeeping unit sent to retrieve it. Obviously an anime about an embedded journalist is full of relevance to the modern world, and the plot/world is a large part of this being Ryosuke Takahashi's (VOTOMS, Gasaraki) most “real robot” show yet.
The other part that lends makes up the “real-ness” is the part that borders on being too clever. Almost every shot you see is via a camera that is actually in the “real” world of the show. From Shirasu's digital camera (complete with icons and menus), to video cameras, to webcams, there is an attempt to give it a documentary feel.
However it's not a documentary as great deal of the shots are of Shirasu trying to find a shot with her camera before taking it, rather than of someone filming events as they happen. In some way it is similiar to the POV filming used in Channel 4's The Peep Show, except as it's a camera's point of view they often use it as an excuse to do hand shots and avoid mouth animation. Also when describing some off camera event it will switch to a slide show of relevant “photos” of the event. Again, a shortcut around actual animation.
This combined with a lot uninteresting shots of computer and camera menus being scrolled through, can give it the visual style of watching someone play an RPG – lots of drudgery interspersed with occasional animated cut scenes. Albeit well animated scenes. For a cartoon the ratio of still shots to moving shots seems a little too high.
However, like I said at the start, I'm not sure whether or not I like it, as despite the shortcomings in animation and the periods of menu/stills drudgery, the story is intelligent and relevant, with a slick production. And the second episode, where the actual story proper begins, has much less drag compared to the first.
More on Kemonozume.
Toshihiko is training in a dynamically animated sequence where he dodges tennis balls fired at him by his compatriots. One of which gets over excited and so Toshihiko takes him outside to remind him of what the Kifuuken's goal is – “to contain the evil in your own heart”.
But now Kazuma wants to inherit the Kifuuken, and challenges Toshihiko to a fight to prove he is more worthy. However, The Monkey wants a peach. And subsequently disarms and debags Kazuma in his attempt to get a peach.
Toshihiko chases The Monkey onto the beach and almost has a parachutist land on him. He lays eyes on the woman (Yuka) and is instantly smitten. Here is the genius bit of animation from this episode. Once he lays on eyes on her the “camera” stays fixed on her face. It's clear from the movement that she's picking up her parachute and getting in a car, but you only see her face. It's like they are animating something you aren't actually seeing. Fantastic stuff that totally conveys the love at first sight emotions Toshihiko is feeling at that moment.
Toshihiko then can't sleep and sees her face everywhere, on The Monkey, on Kazuma, on the all the other hunters. He runs to the beach were he meets Yuka, and to the sound of a thunderstorm we get a segue of them making love. However, Toshihiko fails to notice that as she climaxes she starts to shapechange into a flesh eating monster of seemingly of the kind we met at the start of the episode…
Excellent 1st episode, looking to be the best show so far this year. I've now watched it 4 times after doing this write up. Get the fansub here.
MINOR RANT TIME:
While the show's gotten good feedback on the whole (and what I considered a surprising number of downloads), I had to laugh at this idiot proclaiming it as cheap porn. I'm guessing the porn thing is down to the sex scene. The eyes roll. It does seriously weird me out how some anime fans seem to instantly equate sex with porn, act all squeamish about it and then merrily watch some simpering otaku pandering show that was made by watering down some pornographic PC game. Whether it's a reaction against other elements of anime fandom parading their weird fetishes as a badge of honour, or something else, I don't know. But it weirds me out. Happy mediums folks, happy mediums.
I think I've watched Kemonozume episode 1 three times in total.
The prelude to the credits describes and event that took place in the ancient history of the show's world. An event that directly leads to the situation the characters find themselves in. Simple small shadows form the characters here, reminding me of the interstitial segments linking scenes in Jim Henson's Storyteller.
After the credits we find ourselves in a club where 2 men are talking surrounded by aquariums. The fish in the aquariums look like digitally treated live footage. While this scene betrays the cheapness TV animation tends to possess, the dialogue and acting here are great. And the body language is well portrayed. One man (or monster) is revelling in his murder and eating of young women, the other is restrained, seemingly happy to live a hidden existance. The flesh eating monster chides his companion for not giving into these urges. However it turns out he has been set up.
The Kifuuken, a group of monster hunters attack the creature with swords and missiles. And the male lead Toshihiko shits himself when confronted by the creature…
There then follows a lengthy talking heads scene that acts as both detail of the world the show takes place in and the relationships between Toshihiko, his father and adopted brother Kazuma. Here we seem to have themes of tradition vs. ambition introduced as Kazuma wishes to use high-tech means to eliminate all the Kemonozume (the monsters we met at the start), whereas his father seems to have other intentions in the fight with them other than to kill them (once an arm was removed he allowed the creature in the opening scene to flee).
We then get a scene between Toshihiko and Rie walking on the beach. Old friends, a subtle scene where Rie tries holding his hand shows you all you need to know about their relationship. This is followed with a short montage showing various Kifuuken at work. Also a Monkey!
Sheesh, that's only about half way through the episode. I shall rave on more about it tomorrow I think.
I've mentioned before the existance of the Hello Kitty Car in Stamford, that is full to the brim with Hello Kitty and Doraemon plushies (and Mickey Mouse head rests).
Well this car has it beat. I dub it BAGPUSS CAR. As well as being full of Bagpusses and Mouse Organ Mice it is also upholstered in pink and white fake fur. In addition to the overwhelming Bagpuss theme, it is also home to a number of Garfields, miscellaneous pink cats and a pink sign that assures fellow drivers that there is a “BABE ON BOARD”.
I'd have taken more photos, but it felt kind of creepy taking photos of a complete strangers car. Enlarge the photo to peer in through the back window for a better view.
GREAT RACE OF YITH?
OR
GREATEST RACE OF YITH?
