Omonomono

July 29, 2006

HDTV: High-Deshou Television

By omo

I’m sure all the people who care already knows, but just in case DJ Bouche has a really nice selection of remixes and midi related to Suzumiya Haruhi no Uutsu. Download and all that. And it is good–the tech spins the familiar hits under a new light.

Just like having those 720p encoded raws for the show, on a Sony KDS-60A2000, can spin up a new flavor for an old anime. I guess this blog entry could also serve as a mini-review if you’re looking to buy a nice microdisplay. It really looks nice.

Nice might even be an awfully inadequate understatement. I’m not entirely sure if the High-Definition broadcast of Suzumiya Haruhi was in 1080i or not, but that must have been jaw-dropping if you were watching it on a nice HD display. Hare Hare Yukai on this set was like that for me, even if people complain how the VGA port only allows 768 vertical resolution max, giving me a nice, but “not as big as it could be” replay. I still dropped jaws.

The picture up there is from my phone, and it doesn’t do anything justice, let alone a HD display in a relatively dark room, so never let the picture influence you in terms of what I am saying (always, in fact). Considering that I have already watched the first episode (well, episode 2) 5 times before today, going through it twice more on this set still leaves me hungry for the rest. I suppose that shows how much I enjoy this episode, but I’d like to think it’s because you really enjoy it differently watching it on a big TV, Hi-Def, than watching it on your monitor (well, also Hi-Def I suppose).

And … yeah. Why am I talking about it when I still have 13 episodes left to go? I could be watching it right now! Chronology for a second rewatch is what the Kyoani doctors have called for, so be it.

[And oh, if you are actually curious, these are not resized; but they come from my dinky camera anyways. And also they will probably be around only for a short while.]

10 comments | posted in Modern Visual Culture, Popular Culture, Seiyuu, Idol, Pop, Suzumiya Haruhi no Uuutsu

July 27, 2006

Wanted: Con-Going Bloggers

By omo

I just went through quickly Otakon’s list of panels, and AX2006‘s list of panels. It’s an impulsive thing, but it just struck me as odd–

Where are the bloggers?

I vaguely recall last there there was a blogging panel at Otakon, correct? There is a webcast/podcast panel this year at Otakon, and I didn’t catch anything even remotely like that on the AX list.

I fully realize such sort of thing could come from all kinds of reason, many of them irrespective of anything substantive to the nature of anime blogsphere. For instance, I know Otakon at least have fairly lax standards with panel applications, and I think if you can get a crowd going you can be pretty motivated. However panel applications have a short window of opportunity, and it is actually hard to get a decent audience at a con with a lot of other worthwhile stuff to do. Perhaps more frequently a panel exist because a dedicated individual, who knows how the system works, was on the ball with the application and promotion in a small venue (like a mailing list, or on a website itself, or a forum), as a semi-official “gathering.” There is a general-public aspect to it, but it tends not to draw as many people. And certainly even if the interest is there, without that key, catalytic individual, it doesn’t happen.

The bothersome thing for me is that we have plenty of huge internet communities with big Otakon panels–4chan.org, for starters. Granted the average /b/-tard probably does not read anime blogs, most of the /a/-tards probably do. Maybe it’s time for an animenano or blogsuki panel? I know it has readers, and some go to cons. If not, why not?

Enough conspiracy theories for one day…

2 comments | posted in Blogging, Conventions and Concerts, English Language Modern Visual Fandom

July 27, 2006

Gonzo Is Snarky

By omo

People knows about fansubs even in Japan. Industry people. I recall once such instance when the ROD TV core creative team was fielding questions @ Anime Central 2004. I believe was Hideyuki Kurata-san who asked the panel audience “how do you know about ROD the TV? It’s not in the US yet.” The answer was not awkard, and IIRC someone in the audience gave a very good, short, snappy summary of the nature of fansubbing. We all nodded to concede its impropriety yet its necessity, even our creators.

The reason I thought about that was watching Gonzo’s Welcome to the NHK, I realized the OP used 3D text that dropped shadows and ran on chroma key for overlaying and underlaying. In the scene where various women walked past the screen it was pretty obvious what was the trick–the uniform colored background probably made it easier. That was the key. “Why the uniform background? Was the text applied after animation”? And as a rule of thumb, it was–that’s how we can get “clean” OP and EDs. “Wow, that’s like something you can pull off in aegisub if you spend enough time doing it.” Click. Wasn’t this something we saw in Shinsen’s Speed Grapher subs? How they managed to string the song lyrics into the slideshow ED with a uniform background color?

Could the two be possibly related? They are both Gonzo shows… I mean, it is probably more likely that whoever was doing the credits just went to town and did a great job “adding” to the opening animation. More importantly it was probably coordinated, as the flat BG was kind of necessary for post-processing. Or it just could be someone trying to “fix up” a poor production? I don’t know.

Leave a comment | posted in English Language Modern Visual Fandom, Modern Visual Culture, NHK ni Yokoso

July 25, 2006

Who in the World Is Ayako Kawasumi

By omo

YA RLY.

Ayako Kawasumi’s wikipedia.jp article is a good start, if it isn’t a little fanboy-ish. There just hasn’t been a good write-up for her that I’ve come across, that has been keeping up to date, in English. As tempting as it may be, I’m certainly not qualified to write about her beyond parroting what others have said.

A good and brief bio would go a long way to help me ask questions at Otakon! It’s a little rare to get a relatively new generational voice acting guest from Japan who is in the precious position she is in–venerable and respectable and makes both Alex and I having a hard time picking an autographable item. She has (relatively) little hype, yet she’s in a billion shows. Well, that’s on top of the fact that she has long, long since overcame “the problem” plaguing Mamiko Noto when it comes to voice acting :)

The fact that she is going to be here means a few things, such as she’s taking a (minor) break this season. I would too if I had to play a main role in Fate Stay Night…. Anyways, I’m pretty excited, even if now is not the height of her popularity in Japan.

But discovering or re-discovering Kawasumi’s talents has been a bit of an eye opener even for me. I know she has her solo CDs, but I didn’t know Taku Iwasaki was a part of Primary (or I might have just forgotten). And funnily her rather amatuer style of composition fits my mood lately as it totally reminds me of a game like this. It’s also a good time to rewatch Piano.

Even if most people would find her more emblematic as Mahoro, Fuu, Saber, Lafiel, Koishi Herikawa (one of her best performance ever IMO!!!), or even Hinako from KOF, that’s all fine. I am excited! Aren’t you?

3 comments | posted in Modern Visual Culture, Seiyuu, Idol, Pop

July 23, 2006

May Tempus Patium Be with You, Always

By omo

No Trap-chan has been so valiant and stunningly beautiful as YUKANA’s performance in Simoun. Heck, few plain anime women were that good. In some ways her play with Mamiko Noto’s Limone was not even necessary, but it really helps to bring her into relevance.

And, yeah, it helps that her character design is also so stunning. May the girl with the best lips win? :)

Let this blog post dedicate itself to the power of her conviction and the beauty of her virtues, and may it bring peace to those living in a turbulent world.

1 comment | posted in Simoun