More news on the manga front, Skip Beat has been picked up in Taiwan for a new Drama.  The Taiwanese adaptation will star Ariel Jin, whom you may recognize as Yuan Xiang Qin from It Started With a Kiss (aka Aihara Kotoko of Itazura na Kiss), and Jerry Yan, whom you may recognize as Dao Ming Si from Meteor Garden (aka Tsukasa Domyoji of Hana Yori Dango).

Most of us manga and drama fans know that this wouldn’t be the first time Taiwan has adapted a Japanese manga for a drama.  Personally I don’t mind this much since I love my manga’s and at some point during that love I end up wanting to see actors portraying the story (most of the time anyway).  Though one of my many pet peeves is when a show strays a little too far from the main plot idea, or the actors act too different from the way its read on paper (or compy screen in most cases, keke).  Granted you expect there to be differences, especially in the case of Taiwanese adaptation which has mostly to do with licensing issues (which I won’t get into right now :3) and having to change plot lines for legalities.  I can totally understand that, and I expect plot changes.  What leaves me lukewarm is the halfhearted effort to that commitment and the change of integrity that you get from the characters.  It just doesn’t feel right.  If you’re going to base a TV program on a manga then you’re accepting the integrity of that manga.

Keep in mind that while I’m writing this I’m thinking about two specific Taiwanese dramas (no not Meteor Garden, though the Japanese version is better or It Started With a Kiss since I haven’t seen it), and by no means is that going to keep me from watching Skip Beat.  But Skip Beat is probably one of my favorite manga’s right now, I just hope the drama will be one of my favorites as well.

Big news for manga fans and even bigger news for Haruhi fanatics stateside.  The Haruhi mania snowball in the US has rolled right over manga territory thanks to Yen Press publishing company.  Since the release of Kyoto Animations anime the Haruhi series has acquired a cult like following around the world.  The series is based on the novels and short stories by Nagaru Tanigawa first published in 2003, a manga was then adapted in 2004, an anime and audio drama in 2006, and three separate video games (PS2, PSP, Wii).

As of April 17, 2008 Yen Press has officially announced they have licenced the first four volumes of the manga series (ongoing in Japan) with plans to do the same with the fifth volume (Japan release: Oct. 26, 2007).  For those of you already planning to buy the manga; be prepared for the first volume in October, and every four months thereafter.  If any of you otaku’s are lucky enough to attend either New York Comic Con or Comic-Con in San Diego be prepared for poster giveaways from Yen Press.  And just in case anyone is curious about the “ecchiness” Yen Press does not plan to censor the manga, so all you fanboys can relax :3

Source: ICv2

If your a fan of girls with swords this is definitely for you! Choun’un Shiryuu is from Ikki Tousen. The figure is made by Alter and is scheduled to be released on July 2008, for the retail of 6,800 JPY (around 2,651 PhP). It is a 1/8 scale (around 210 mm), fully painted model so no need to make modifications.

More info and pictures at Hobby Link Japan, Hobby Search, Otakufuel, and Ami Ami.

Regarding my earlier post concerning Yen Press(Ice Kunion):

This February Yen press has begun releasing new volumes of their existing manga, as well as the absorbed Ice Kunion manhwa.  Some of the titles released were Volume 4 of Goong by Park So Hee, Volume 6 of Hissing by Kan Eun Young, and Zombie-Loan by Peach-Pit.  This months releases include Volume 3 of Spiral: The Bonds of Reasoning by Kyo Shirodaira (art: Eita Mizuno), and Volume 1 of the new manga’s Kaze no Hana by Akiyoshi Ohta (art: Ushio Mitza) and Kieli by Yukako Kabei (art: Shiori Teshirogi).

They have also recently relaunched the Yen Press website where you can find a list and summaries on each comic (with the exception of a few summaries that are being worked on).  You can also get a sneak peak on what will be released throughout the year (up to January ‘09) in the New Releases section.

And in other news:

Has anyone ever wondered what happened to Drama Queen?

Consisting of mostly Yaoi titles and a few

Shoujo, they pretty much disappeared around September ‘07.  Personally, I never really noticed since I’m not really into the whole Yaoi/Boys Love genre, however I am a huge Na Yeri fan.  So when I heard Peter Panda was licensed back in June of ‘06 I was obviously happy.  Over the next year I waited patiently for the release of the first volume until it just kinda slipped into the back of my mind.  Over the months (and months, and months) afterwards the question of "When’s Peter Panda coming out?" would pop up every now and then until I resorted to preordering it at Borders bookstore (since they send you reminders).  Its been over a year since I’ve done that, and still no Peter Panda or Drama Queen.

The good news on all that waiting?  They’ve actually been on hiatus since September.  Apparently they were fishing for a financial partner and they’ve since reorganized the company.  During time off they have been working of backlogged titles and playing catch up, not only within the company but taking a breather out of the company (a.k.a. personal time).  What does that mean for all of you Yaoi buyers out there?  You can expect all of your favorite DQ titles to be out around the end of May, and hopefully I can have my Peter Panda… finally TT_TT.

You can find a full article on the DQ Relaunch at Publisher Weekly

On a side note:  I had no idea Zombie Loan was licensed ^^;; and DQ had picked up Promise (yey) by Lee Eun Young manhwa-ga of Cream and Saver.

One of the universal worries of any female in any country is being harassed while out and about in public.  Us girls grow up being taught to be aware of our surroundings and we constantly hear stories of women who are abducted while walking on the street.  The fact of the matter is that we don’t always have a hawt guy to walk us home and protect us (unfortunately ._.)

So what are we to do for protection?  Pepper spray?  Women’s defense courses at the local community center?  Forcing male friends to do our bidding and walk us home?  Hidden knives?  Baseball bats?  Purses full of rocks? A well aimed kick?

Personally I’d recommend all of the above, but for those of us with the gentler souls and the crafty minds look to Tokyo fashion designer Aya Tsukioka.

Inspired by the iconic ninja, she came up with an awesome, if unconventional, way for a girl to blend into the background of modern day Tokyo, Japan.  A background that usually involves vending machines (Japan having the highest per capita, averaging 1 machine for every 23 people) and in this case a soda machine specifically.

The skirt goes from plain A-line red and spreads out à la Transformers to form the facade of a soda machine.  She’s also created a modified version where you the sides and top are part of the outfit as well.

Aside from this Coca-Cola Vending machine skirt she’s designed a fire hydrant version for the little kiddies walking home from school, and my personal fave, a manhole cover purse.

Click for the Daily Mail article.

If there was one game I wish I’d never given time to, it’s this one.

Don’t get me wrong… It’s not because the game is bad. In fact, it’s quite good… very good. That is, of course, if you don’t have a weak stomach for operating on humans who have living, poisonous, man-made parasites in them.

The Story

Derek Stiles is a new doctor in Hope Hospital. At first, he didn’t take being a doctor seriously, nearly causing the life of one of his patients. His assistant, Angela “Angie Thompson,asked him why he became a doctor in the first place when he doesn’t seem to care for his patients.

An accident that same night causes Stiles to operate on a patient once more. Severe inhuries to the heart made it seem impossible for him to survive, but Stiles miraculously saves him with an incredible power. This ability known as the “Healing Touch” is the key to defeat the terrorists’ biological warfare: and incurable disease known as GUILT (Gangliated Utrophin Immuno Latency Toxin).

Gameplay

Trauma Center takes advantage of NDS’ touch screen and allows the player to literallt slice open a patient, use lasers to kill off parasites, inject stabilizers, sew them up, and patch them like new. The time limit and very bossy assistants can make you panic a lot. Choosing the right tools to get the job done can also be hazardous to your patients’ health.

The solution? Keep calm, like any surgeon, and think one step ahead. Speed and technique are the keys for success, where in you must take things slow, or speed it up a bit depending on what you’re dealing with.

Replay Factor

This really depends on the player, but chances are, this game’s replay factor is medium. If puzzles and speed are what you’re after, then this game would suit you well, though there are plenty of alternatives out there. In all honesty, the game is very addicting, but if the gore and shaky pain you feel in your hands after several attempts to save a person’s life bothers you a lot, then this may not be worth a second shot.

Overall

One this is for sure, the game is worth trying at least once. It’s a hit or miss: either you like it, or you don’t. As for me, I haven’t finished the game yet, but it’s honestly very frustrating. When you think about it, real operations take hours to finish and you only have 5 minutes, even though an extra few seconds under the knife would have been all it took for you to save another life. Not only that, it tends to make you feel depressed when you’ve done all you could do to save a patient, even find a cure, and yet… you must still watch your patient die. This is a reality real doctors face in the real world and not everyone has the emotional capacity to handle it.

It gave me a much higher respect for surgeons, that much I can say.

Nijuu Menzou Musume - From what I’ve read It’s a detective story that revolves around a female thief. Now these kinds of series can either be boring as hell or be mildly interesting.. now if they add fanservice.. that’ll be a different story.. we’ll see ^^;

Odds I’ll watch this: Medium

Toshokan Sensou - A future under martial law.. and librarians arming themselves to fight the oppressors? or something like that.. Librarians + Guns.. my take on this is pretty much the same as Nijuu Menzou Musume’s.. we’ll see ^^;

Odds I’ll watch this: Medium

RD Sennou Chousashitsu - Another futuristic sci-fi anime. Now, I read the synopsis and it reminds me a bit of Ghost in the shell. Not much info is out about it but I like sci-fi even though 80% of the time I’m completely clueless what the hell they’re talking about.

Odds I’ll watch this: Medium

Himitsu - Top Secret - Here’s a philosophical science fiction suspense series involving memories of dead people used to solve murder cases and its side effects. Another Yay or Nay series depending on how they do it, the only thing I’m iffy about is the character design, it looks so old school and I’m not really into that unless the story blows me away.

Odds I’ll watch this: Low

Read the rest of this entry »

Kyou Kara Maou! 3rd Season - a comedy/adventure and one of the longest running shounen-ai (boys love) series to date.. haven’t seen a single episode of the earlier seasons yet and it will probably stay that way.

Odds I’ll watch this: Very Very Low

Allison to Lillia - adapted by Madhouse, it’s based on the four-volume Allison series and its six-volume sequel, Lillia and Treize. It’s supposed to take place in a war-ravaged alternate world similar to our 1930s. Allison and Lillia will be directed by Eyeshield 21’s Nishida Masayoshi, written and planned by Lucky Star and Mutekikanbanmusume’s Machida Touko. I really like the character design and I don’t mind cheese on my anime :p

Odds I’ll watch this: Medium

Code Geass Lelouch of the Rebellion R2 - some say the 1st season was a train wreck others say it was pure genius. All I can say is C.C. + Pizza hut and I’m sold.. they can show C.C. eating pizza for 20mins every episode and I’d still watch it.. *cough* Scheduled to air First week of April, and rumors say will be on the Sunday 5pm timeslot which is the timeslot most kids show in japan are shown.. Quite disappointing IMO.. we’ll probably not see any Viletta or Kallen nipple slips..

Odds I’ll watch this: Very High

Soul Eater - The character design had me sold since the manga days, which of course I was too lazy to read. It looks like the chibi version of D.gray-man IMO. Based on the manga by Atsushi Ookubo, Soul Eater is about three group of students known as “Technicians” that attends the Shingami Technical School that is in a quest to develop a death scythe that would suit a Shinigami by collecting souls of ninety-nine evil human and one witch. It has been announced that this series will be aired with two ‘versions’ of each episode. A day-time version and a night-time version with additional footage. Now is that night-time LATE-night or just kiddy night? lol.. It’s by Studio Bones which ups it on my to watch list.

Odds I’ll watch this: High

Wagaya no Oinari-sama - Based on a Japanese light novel which I should start reading.. I’m not into bestiality but OMG Fox Lady in a miko outfit!! SOLD! looks like Horo has competition now.. not much info is out about this series aside from its Directed by the same guy who did Sky Girls, and Zero no Tsukaima.

Odds I’ll watch this: High

watch out for part 2! :p hopefully I’ll finish all of em this week lol.

Haro will be available this February for the retail of 4,571 Yen (around 1,748 PhP). It is 1/4 scale, lights up it’s eyes depending on its mood and it has an alarm clock. It also rolls back and forth and speaks like the Haro of Lockon Stratos in Gundam 00.

More on AmiAmi.

Discovery Travel and Living presents: Kelly Osbourne, Turning Japanese!

Quite an interesting reality show. Kelly is practically thrown into Japan for a working holiday of 5 weeks. She goes to the extremities of Japan, from the Maid Cafes to the Love Hotels..!

One could say that Kelly is such a spoiled brat, as other people would probably pay to get to experience what she has so far. What otaku wouldn’t want to meet an actual Samurai Master?

I would give Kelly credit… as she did admit that she’s loud and spoiled.

But what I couldn’t believe was that she cosplayed as Lacus Clyne from Gundam Seed and Gundam Seed Destiny! I almost cried…

Have a look for yourself: