June 29th, 2010 by The Grey Ghost
Episode 39B: “BRB Popsicles”
Animazement 2010 Review Part 2
Run Time: 48min 43sec
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Our Animazement 2010 coverage continues!
Saturday was the apex of our convention experience; a whirl of events, commerce, and good drink with good friends. Sunday wound down the weekend, but not without a grand hoorah.
Also, Kevin hates furries.
In the Method to Madness podcast, I’m joined with my good friend Kevin “The Business” Gray to discuss great anime and video games that you should be watching as well as ones you should feel ashamed you are watching.
Posted in Anime, Podcast, Rants | 14 Comments »
June 22nd, 2010 by The Grey Ghost
Episode 39A: “Raleigh! Con-ven-tion!”
Animazement 2010 Review Part 1
Run Time: 42min 16sec
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Animazement reminds us why we not only love anime, but also love being part of the fandom. Strangely, the opposite is simultaneously true.
Kevin and I has so much to say in our podcast report of Animazement 2010, we had to split it into two parts! In part one, we discuss Thursday’s pre-con harbingers along with the big con kick-off on Friday. Stay tuned for part two when we follow up with Saturday and Sunday.
For those curious about the kinds of horrors inflicted upon hapless otaku during Anime Hell, the video playlist has been posted here.
In the Method to Madness podcast, I’m joined with my good friend Kevin “The Business” Gray to discuss great anime and video games that you should be watching as well as ones you should feel ashamed you are watching.
Posted in Anime, Podcast, Rants | 25 Comments »
June 20th, 2010 by The Grey Ghost
Watching The Humanoid is like pulling out a iconic curio from a time capsule from the 1980s. Its lead character, Antoinette, is based off of Hajime Sorayama‘s popular gynoid art designs. If ever you’ve seen a Trapper Keeper or Aerosmith album cover, you’ve probably seen his work.
Unfortunately, the plot of this 1986 OVA doesn’t contain much substance beyond the exploits of the robot’s familiar design. A long time from now, in a planet far far away, the royal refugees of a war-torn planet have made a new home for themselves on a lush, primitive planet.
However, some villainous douchebag within the empire seeks to exploit powerful ancient secrets left behind by a lost native civilization to–bum bum BUM–seize the throne and rule the new world.
Wouldn’t you know it: At the same time, our heroes’ cargo ship crash lands on the planet and unravel this sinister plot. Our heroes include such deep, three-dimensional characters as Eric (“the dude”), Dr. Watson (“the scientist”), Sheri (“the daughter”), Alan (“the black guy” or possibly “Lando”), and of course his newest creation: Antoinette (“the robot chick from the video cover, which is why you bought it, possibly mistaking it for SilverHawks“).
As this crew of clichés searches around for means to repair their ship, the robot Antoinette learns about what it means to be human, including our most mystical of emotions, love. The target of her growing affection is Eric, whose engagement with the scientist’s daughter, Sheri she covets; thankfully without murderous ambition. Had this anime drawn farther than a one-shot OVA, it could have easily become just another “Homeboy Gon’ Fuck The Robot”.
It’s no spoiler that Antoinette is not only the key to unraveling the villain’s dastardly scheme, but also is his undoing. The strength of both her robotic body combined with her suddenly-developed womanly heart allow her to bear the deadly energies unleashed by the ancient power, thus saving her love Eric, the Empire, and the world.
There are few redeeming qualities to this anime that would make it worth watching. If you were born after 1985, this anime will likely mean nothing to you. The animation is poor. The plot is hackneyed. And there isn’t even any fanservice for otaku in search of some fembot wank fuel.
Posted in Anime, Reviews | 3 Comments »
June 15th, 2010 by The Grey Ghost
Episode 38: “M Also Stands For Merlot”
Run Time: 31min 15sec
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You can’t have “Method” or “Madness” without “M”. Our series of Animazement weekend podcasts continues as our special guest, M, dispenses some wisdom on yo dorky asses.
This episode’s also given me the excuse I’ve been looking for to inject Garfunkel & Oates into the podcast. Give these girls a listen!
In the Method to Madness podcast, I’m joined with my good friend Kevin “The Business” Gray to discuss great anime and video games that you should be watching as well as ones you should feel ashamed you are watching.
Posted in Podcast | 19 Comments »
June 12th, 2010 by The Grey Ghost
The gamer community has been–and perhaps always shall be–a male-dominant population. The context of that statement surrounds only the quantity of males, as most gamer guys are unknown to Alpha characteristics.
Nevertheless, video game companies know that they’ll rake in the most profits by creating games with themes that pander to men. This has resulted in gross demoralization of women and impossible standards of beauty across the industry. With few strong female role models and a general disrespectful objectification of women in games, it’s no wonder why more girls aren’t jumping to join our ranks.
Good news, girls: It’s payback time. Lady Killers, Inc. has developed a new video game, Hey Baby, designed to provide empowerment to those vexed by male chauvinism. The game is a first-person shooter; very reminiscent of Postal 2, but as a woman with a low tolerance for sexual harassment. Her only objective is to retort to unwelcome cat calls with a rain of ammunition. Each round striking men down as an angel of vengeance, carrying the definite message of “No means no!”
This game doesn’t exactly unite the sexes through gender-equalizing enlightenment, but it’s a guilty pleasure that tips the scales at least one point in women’s favor. The game is currently out of stock, though new prints should hit production soon as word spreads across the web. However, there is a “basic” version available for play on the website.
Posted in Games | 8 Comments »
June 8th, 2010 by The Grey Ghost
Episode 37: “Check Box!”
Queen’s Blade
Run Time: 42min 51sec
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Yes, Queen’s Blade… It’s a show that we’ve treated like dental surgery. We’ve always been told that we should do it. We know it’s going to suck. We procrastinate and reschedule, but we both know that sooner or later, we’re going to have to do it. And now that we’ve done it, we’re ready to put it behind us and never ever think about it again.
Of course, misery does love company. “The Business” and I were thankful to spread out some of ours with M, who was in town to join us for Animazement.
In the Method to Madness podcast, I’m joined with my good friend Kevin “The Business” Gray to discuss great anime and video games that you should be watching as well as ones you should feel ashamed you are watching.
Posted in Anime, Podcast | 22 Comments »
June 2nd, 2010 by The Grey Ghost
To say that I wish that Animazement would never end would be much like saying, “I wish everyday were Christmas”. The body and the will can only sustain for so long before you surrender to exhaustion. It is as they say about having too much of a good thing.
It would be more accurate to say that I wish that the feelings I experience during the convention were everlasting. No doubt Kevin and I will offer our convention commentary in a future podcast, but I would like to unload a bit here while it’s still fresh in my mind…
Animazement is the highlight of my summer…sometimes my entire year. Of my peers, I am in the minority with this. Most of my friends have become disillusioned by the con; annoyed by the increasing teenage population and left wanting for substantial events. The sad truth is that our generation is no longer at the core of the fandom. Anime conventions (as well as the industry) are geared to entertain the new kids. And these kids are loud and won’t get off our lawn.
Thankfully, many of us continue to attend these conventions. While the kids come to be entertained and raid the dealers room, I approach the event as a true convention: A place where fans of all ages from all places can convene. I love meeting fellow fans to discuss favorite shows that we share, as well as discovering ones I’d yet to be exposed. While not as many, there are still features where I have the opportunity to learn about some of the history and craft of the fandom. Unlike anything you’d find in the dealers room, the Artists Alley is a hotbed of raw talent and valuable treasures. And yes, I do admit that I’ll join in some of the silly fun that the kids take part in just so I too can feel that young, if not for a moment.
So until Kevin and I can get together again in front of the mics, here’s a brief rundown of my Animazement weekend:
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Anime, Podcast | 14 Comments »
June 1st, 2010 by The Grey Ghost
Episode 36: “Curse You, Kevin Kline!!!”
Time Travel Booty Calls
Run Time: 42min 57sec
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Using (or abusing?) time travel to tap some vintage tail? Hey, Doc Brown did it in Back to the Future Part III, and frankly, I think he was on to something.
For this episode of the podcast, Kevin and I rescue ourselves from anime burnout by having a geeky back-and-forth about women and time travel.
The exercise is simple: What women (or men) would you travel back in time to meet and in what year? Post your answers in the comments or email them to us! We may even revisit this topic in a future podcast with your answers!
Sean’s Picks:
Kevin’s Picks:
Honorable Mention:
In the Method to Madness podcast, I’m joined with my good friend Kevin “The Business” Gray to discuss great anime and video games that you should be watching as well as ones you should feel ashamed you are watching.
Posted in Podcast | 16 Comments »
