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Daryl reviews the MANLY MANGA Satsuma Gishiden, Gerald reviews the MANLY CARTOON Spirit of Wonder (what?), and Clarissa is the MANLIEST of us all since she reviews MAZINKAISER~! which law dictates must be spelled in all-caps tilde exclamation point.
Show notes are possibly delayed due to us all undertaking an impossible mission, and by that we mean that Daryl got a Nintendo Wii.
Introduction (0:00 – 20:33)
Is there such a thing as “anime literacy”, and can we recommend any nonsensical anime comedies? We talked about that for 20 minutes?
Let’s News! (20:33 – 40:43)
Kadokawa, undoubtedly best known around the USA for bringing us ABSOLUTE ZERO, NOW!, is going to start distributing their movies via BitTorrent, Yamato Toys is expanding their US operations, the live-action Speed Racer has a set release date, a doujinshi circle somehow sold 15,000 copies of their comic and got nailed for it, the cost to license one episode of anime for release in the US officially averages to $20,000 per episode but can go as high as $80,000, and the Go Nagai Chibi World OAV is getting remastered. In the rumors department, Discotek might actually release something new and Tokyopop might have licensed one of the Gutsoon!/Raijin Comics titles (presumably Slam Dunk), but in the flat-out FACTS department, Hajime no Ippo is THE BUSINESS and Initial D is for people in the Home For Infinite Losers. Also, there are now Rilakkuma condoms.
Promo: Anime Pacific (40:43 – 42:17)
Never mind that this promo is entirely too long; see that website background? ONE OF US! ONE OF US! Clearly Daryl’s advocacy is proving effective. Even though that fansub script for Raoh Gaiden they made totally used “hegemony” as every other word.
Review: Satsuma Gishiden (manga), Volume 1 (42:17 – 1:04:22)
Daryl reviews this fine gekiga title about angry samurai who run around in loincloths and scream like lunatics, as drawn by a master calligrapher. It goes without saying that this is a title from Dark Horse Comics, makers of all sorts of totally rad manga that nobody fucking sells anywhere. Otherwise, this review would also cover Volume 2. Wait, Mail Volume 2 is out? They’re on Volume FOUR of Oldboy? God damn you, bookstores and comicbook shops. Oh well, at least you can order them online. Here’s some Amazon links for the first two volumes: if you buy them through clicking these, we get some money for it or something.
And if you want to buy the comics anthology containing Fairy Princess Yukio Mishima, it can be yours for $10 shipped by heading over to Cheap Disposable Entertainment!
Promo: Popcorn Samurai (1:04:22 – 1:05:26)
Yeah yeah, so his show isn’t actually “weekly,” but it’s not like we’re ones to talk. Because of Daryl’s review, he picked up Le Chevalier D’Eon Volume 1. AND his next episode is about Kazuo Koike. Clearly Daryl’s advocacy is proving effective.
Review: Spirit of Wonder (1:05:26 – 1:20:35)
Gerald has not one, but two different titles to review here, though we get the feeling that neither of them really have any business being classified as “hard sci-fi.” No, this is more of a whimsical light romance affair, though Inignokt and Err better step back if they know what’s good for them. WHICH THEY DON’T.
Review: MAZINKAISER~! (1:20:35 – 1:52:18)
Due to strict awesomeness quotient laws enforced by the federal government, Clarissa is obliged to tell people on the air that MAZINKAISER~! will not change their life and is not as good as GaoGaiGar. These laws do not apply in print. The truth is that it WILL change your life–entirely for the better–and that if there is anything it is not as good as, it would be Getter Robo. After all, how can one TRULY believe in GaoGaiGar’s superiority without acknowledging that GaoGaiGar Final is better than the series itself?
The reason there has not yet been any sort of MAZINKAISER~! vs SHIN GETTER ROBO~! is because that would violate even Japan’s awesomeness quotient laws, which are generally more lenient than ours. Make the right choice, Shinzo Abe.
Promo: Dave and Joel’s Fast Karate for the Gentleman (1:52:18 – 1:53:08)
This is actually a fan-made promo and so there’s nothing in it mentioning the website. Wait, they get fan-made promos?! Actually, we got a fan-made promo too from The Comics Interpreter, but it’s like three minutes long and no podcast would ever actually run that. However, it was professionally done and was awesome. We received this promo and have done nothing with it since…August 2006. Hmm. Maybe THAT’S why we don’t get fan-made promos…
Closing (1:53:08 – 1:55:54)
Next time, Daryl will review another Dark Horse manga title that he can’t find Volume 2 of anywhere, The Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service. In celebration of it’s 20th anniversary, Gerald’s reviewing Dirty Pair: Project E.D.E.N. aka “the real Dirty Pair,” and Clarissa acknowledges that MAZINKAISER~! does indeed change your life by reviewing Loveless in order to bring her testosterone levels back down.
I’ve heard the conspicuous lack of blacks in the world of manga explained thusly: Hey, dark-skinned character is just too time consuming to draw! We aren’t racist, we’re just too busy to color our character’s skin. Oh and that inexplicable abundance of blond Japanese in manga? That’s because it’s faster to leave them blond than to color it to make it black. It has nothing to do with pathologic inferior complex we have toward whites.
Yes, I know, a total BS. It’s really annoying how most Japanese just refuse to admit that they’re one of the most racist people on the face of this planet.
Fortunately, as an American, I can say that our nation has always been entirely free from the taint of racism. To be fair to the Japanese, there may be a far more prosaic reason for the perceived lack of black characters in manga: namely, the fact that 99.9% of Japan is not black. A number of nations, including America and Brazil, have had their culture profoundly shaped by Africans and African descendants, but Japan is not one of them.
You will admit, Clarissa, that Daryl has a much better personality than Nadia. In doujinshi she is often referred to as “the selfish dark-skinned princess,” and I feel there is a risk Daryl may also be called that, should he be cast in the tsundere uke role.
–C.
Though I think, given doujins I’ve looked at, the far more likely outcome is that Daryl will get to be the possibly faceless (not really) black dude who gang rapes me with a bunch of his friends.
The last thing that comes to mind with Daryl is raping, especially considering I’ve successfully managed to magically transport the feeling of being raped by just posting a photo of myself.
I will concede that it’s understandable for folks in Japan to be fairly ignorant of other ethnic groups like Africans, since as Carl mentioned, their population is fairly homogenous. That’s always seemed to me what the racist portrayals of black people out of Japan were–more an outgrowth of not being around black people very often, and also not understanding how certain renditions, statements, etc (like blackface) are stereotypical and hurtful. I’m reminded of Mad Bull’s portrayal of New York, melded out of a bizarre combination of methodical physical study and exaggerated, out of context Hollywood pop culture; though hopefully even Japan didn’t actually believe that one.
You will admit, Clarissa, that Daryl has a much better personality than Nadia. In doujinshi she is often referred to as “the selfish dark-skinned princess,” and I feel there is a risk Daryl may also be called that, should he be cast in the tsundere uke role.
Hmm, very true. Though if it comes with Daryl being dressed up as either Nadia or Anthy from Utena, I’ll accept it due to hilarity.
The last thing that comes to mind with Daryl is raping, especially considering I’ve successfully managed to magically transport the feeling of being raped by just posting a photo of myself.
But Gerald, you forget, this is *doujinshi* we’re talking about. Personality doesn’t enter into it really. All men may be rapists, and all women, no matter how calm or even super powered, are likely to simply whimper, weep, and succumb to the rape. Kind of like how in lots of yaoi doujins, the guy who’s shorter will almost always be uke, period. The only thing that usually makes a difference in the end is whether the doujin artist in question has fetishes that lie outside that paradigm, in which case we may get domineering women molesting guys ala Pink Sniper or general straight shota works, or other such variations.
Also, being the pervy photographer doesn’t preclude you from participating in the rape too. Why, just look at Distorted Love! (Curse you, Azasuke.)
An alternative role for Gerald in the doujinshi could be for him to hold up cue cards off-panel, so Clarissa doesn’t forget such obligatory lines as “dame” “iya” and “a feeling is good even though it is painful.”
–C.
Ok, I’ve got boxes of unsold copies of Fairy Princess Yukio Mishima in Ed Hill’s garage and we’ll sell ’em to you for $10 a copy postage paid through PayPal. Goto http://www.cheapdisposable.com for details.
Notes on the podcast:
1. Kino’s Journey was always licensed; John Ledford and ADV’s names did appear in the opening credits of the Japanese broadcast. If it was fansubbed, it was done so because people are greedy and don’t like waiting. Still, a great, great show.
2. As has been stated, there were Dr. Slump featurettes fansubbed back in the VHS era. They were hysterically funny, I hope they resurface.
3. 8th Man is comedy gold. Interestingly, Jiro Kuwata and Kazumasa Hirai’s manga does not have this comic quality– it’s very gritty.
4. I disagree with Gerald’s statement that the Fuuma Conspiracy is the most 80s of Lupin III. The most 80s title has got to go to Lupin III TV part 3. After all, that’s the one that features Lupin in his blue jeans/hot pink blazer ensemble. How 80s is THAT?
5. The Mishima book you’re thinking of is ‘Confessions of a Mask.’ It is wonderful– even translated, Mishima’s prose is beautiful and otherworldly– but very, very gay. SUPER gay.
6. One thing you might’ve missed about the Spirit of Wonder DVD from Bandai is that (and I don’t remember if this was a sticker or a blurb on the package) it included a TOTALLY HOT pin-up of Ms. China in the liner notes. It’s a shame that Ms. China only appears in the main feature so the audience can see her boobs, because she’s an interesting character.
The podshow’s been excellent lately, guys. I’ll feed you back more after I’ve finished listening (I’m only midway through the Mazinkaiser review).
Chris: I’ve got the Candy Candy pilot. I’ll youtube it later tonight, because youtube is the internet’s VCR.
Mike is correct about Lupin III Part III, although the series is widely derided (somewhat unfairly, in my opinion–I think on average it was no better or worse than the 1977-80 series–the New Lupin III, to be pedantic) and thus tends to slip out of memory. For example, they must exist, but I don’t recall seeing any toys or figurines based on Part III, only on the original series and the 77-80 series. I mean, Part III was 50 episodes down the memory hole. The ending credits were set in Santa Monica. Nissan was the main sponsor. They had an ad with white people in a hot tub.
–C.
My main man Mike Toole said…
Notes on the podcast:
1. Kino’s Journey was always licensed; John Ledford and ADV’s names did appear in the opening credits of the Japanese broadcast. If it was fansubbed, it was done so because people are greedy and don’t like waiting. Still, a great, great show.
Heh, I was reminded of having seen the first episode in the raw on a DVD-R a friend in Japan sent me back when it first broadasted and saw ADV’s mention in the credits going “eh, it’ll come over, give it time!”
2. As has been stated, there were Dr. Slump featurettes fansubbed back in the VHS era. They were hysterically funny, I hope they resurface.
I could stick one up on YouTube if I bother.
3. 8th Man is comedy gold. Interestingly, Jiro Kuwata and Kazumasa Hirai’s manga does not have this comic quality– it’s very gritty.
I outta buy those DVDs this guy has out!
http://www.8thman.com/
(guy should just see if he can in some way own the rights legally to this show by this point)
Having read these pages, I can’t help but think of the great lengths that were taken to ensure this cartoon took place in the US, and that anything with ‘oriental writing’ came from Orientia!
http://8thman.com/t8theps.htm
4. I disagree with Gerald’s statement that the Fuuma Conspiracy is the most 80s of Lupin III. The most 80s title has got to go to Lupin III TV part 3. After all, that’s the one that features Lupin in his blue jeans/hot pink blazer ensemble. How 80s is THAT?
Best I can find of it is this Italian Opening sequence on YouTube, oh well, we just need a visual aid anyway…
I personally enjoy this one a bit more (when the first series was brought over in ’79), it’s such a kickass tune!
(really, I can’t get enough of watching these goofy foreign adaptations of anime classics)
6. One thing you might’ve missed about the Spirit of Wonder DVD from Bandai is that (and I don’t remember if this was a sticker or a blurb on the package) it included a TOTALLY HOT pin-up of Ms. China in the liner notes.
Heh, why did I see that coming? 🙂
It’s a shame that Ms. China only appears in the main feature so the audience can see her boobs, because she’s an interesting character.
I felt the same way too. If you can’t find some way for her to be used beyond that, why bother having her at all during those scenes. On it’s own, the Scientific Boys Club could work as a live-action film on it’s own (the kind of movies I would make). Somehow I found myself being too impressed at having watched Spirit of Wonder all the way through, only wish Dark Horse did bother publishing more than those measily chapters (seen some copies of the graphic novel on eBay I wouldn’t mind picking up if ever, but I can tell I LOVE this one). Perhaps it’s a show made for guys like me who like that sort of thing Gerald talked about (except the killing).
Thinking back to the Scientific Boys Club, I think there’s a movie that might’ve came out right now about some farmer who build his own rocket he wants to take to the moon or whatever (I forgot the title right now). I thought about going to see it since I haven’t went to the movies since “Clerks II”, and it’s TV spot seemed enticing.
The podshow’s been excellent lately, guys. I’ll feed you back more after I’ve finished listening (I’m only midway through the Mazinkaiser review).
Take your time!
Chris: I’ve got the Candy Candy pilot. I’ll youtube it later tonight, because youtube is the internet’s VCR.
COOL!
Perhaps I’ll stick up an episode of “Angel” tonight if I bother (Lunlun the Flower Child, or as I call it, “the show that picked up where Candy left off!”).
Best I can find of it is this Italian Opening sequence on YouTube, oh well, we just need a visual aid anyway…
I personally enjoy this one a bit more (when the first series was brought over in ’79), it’s such a kickass tune!
Wait what?
Both of those opening songs were pretty good (except for the children singing in the background on the first one), but what’s up with the second one? “We are pirates from the Planet 0” as a theme for Lupin? Cool song, just something about it doesn’t seem to fit with Lupin (and on another level it seems perfectly suited).
Wait what?
Both of those opening songs were pretty good (except for the children singing in the background on the first one), but what’s up with the second one? “We are pirates from the Planet 0” as a theme for Lupin? Cool song, just something about it doesn’t seem to fit with Lupin (and on another level it seems perfectly suited).
That’s the part I still find so ironic and amusing (Italians are crazy fucks perhaps). From what I understand, the dubbers just picked whatever song just happen to be released prior to dubbing the show in Italy, and that’s what they got for their first series opening. The song had already been repleased by RCA Italia a few months earlier before being associated with this show. It’s initial 45rpm sleeve used to show a different picture of a girl being attacked by some alien before it was replaced with Lupin and the gang.
You can download the full version mp3 madness here!
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=U2J3FZ6W
(would be neat if this ever got to be another net/YTMND kind of thing, but I kidna doubt it, hell I didn’t expect Dschinghis Khan’s “Moskau” to be anything than a passing thing when I first heard that tune 7 years ago)
Negro Casas, why are you waiting for raws for Blazing Transfer Student?
There is already ripped Laserdisc copy floating around on Emule. I should know since i downloaded it and timed the script to match the file.
I was actually thinking about giving it to a fansub group to release on to their tracker and let it enter public distribution.
You’re kidding, right? Gah…
Well we bought a copy of the LD a few months back and we’re now waiting on a rip of it, and considering emule speeds, it might just be faster to wait on our ripper to stop doing important computer things instead.
on second thought, I realize that you had just offered to send it directly to us. The current state of my apparent reading comprehension worries me, I have a test in 3.5 hours. Anyway, how is the quality on the rips? Any chance you could take some screencaps?
Just listened to the episode now, so please forgive the late reply but I had to comment regarding the whole issue of black anime characters. I completely with agree with an earlier comment that due to Japans naivety/ignorance, black characters in anime are either offensive (Mr Popo, DBZ) or a stereotype (Dutch, Black Lagoon).
However, as a black guy living in the UK, I take more offence to stereotyping and racism coming from the west (particularly America) than from anime/manga simply because you guys should know better. I don’t want to judge an entire nation on a few, but what about the response to Katrina?
It’s one thing to point at Japan’s poor representation of black people, but the American government’s response was proof that black people are still considered as second class citizens.