erniichan

sr editor + social @PSUdotcom | games, movies, tech, anime | 日本語OK

[erniichan]

The Bond Statue in Shibuya!

Created in honor of the SPY×FAMILY movie, it was on display last Friday and Saturday only.

It was an homage to the Hachiko Statue near Shibuya Crossing and in front of the train station. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hachikō

[erniichan]

I got the Anya mochi and Bondman steamed meat bun!

(A steamed meat bun is “nikuman” in Japanese and “baozi” in Chinese.)

Both are so cute!

For the mochi, there are ones with different Anya faces, too.

They’re part of the SPY×FAMILY movie collab at Lawson.

[erniichan]

🍿 I saw the SPY×FAMILY CODE: White movie at the elegant TOHO Cinemas Hibiya - the biggest screen in Tokyo hosting a midnight premiere!

The movie was cute and light fun!

Some great Anya faces, especially 😏

Loid’s dulcet tones sounded great in a theater haha. And Yor’s sweetness and Anya’s adorable voice rang clear.

Captures most of the spirit of the show, but I wish there was more of the funny slice-of-life and school life stuff . But yeah, they were going for a big event story.

Visually about what I expected with a movie budget allowing for some slick action and bigger set pieces with really dynamic camera work!

Has an unexpected type of humor that included a surreal dream/vision sequence.

Oh and there is a short after-credits scene.

4 out of 5 ⭐️

(After the screening, in the theater gift shop, was when the movie’s goods were available for the first time.)

[erniichan]

Waku waku! SPYxFAMILY game announced for Nintendo Switch!

SPYxANYA: Operation Memories launches in 2024!

“Complete a photo diary for homework by living your daily life as Anya in the world of SPYxFAMILY! You will surely find treasured memories in the ordinary daily life.

Not only the family members, Loid and Yor, but also Anya's friends, Damian and Becky, and even Yuri and Fiona will appear in the game.

In addition to outings, play unique mini-games to get cute costumes, and add color to your memories by dressing up characters in your style!”

Soo excited for this game! Best surprise of the Nintendo Direct for me!

[erniichan]

I saw Hayao Miyazaki’s new film “The Boy and the Heron” on opening day at a Dolby Cinema in Tokyo!

Great animation. Studio Ghibli doesn’t miss there ✨

Some elements (like with the story) felt underwhelming 🫤

And ends too soon after it feels like it’s really going 🥺

3.5 out of 5

[erniichan]

Happy Final Fantasy XVI launch day from Japan 🇯🇵

I got my pre-orders of two Japan-exclusive FFXVI accessories: PS5 faceplates and controller!

After the fantastic demo last week, I can’t wait to continue the adventure!

[erniichan]

Cherry blossoms at night in Tokyo 🌸

[erniichan]

I saw Makoto Shinkai’s new film “Suzume” in IMAX during its opening weekend 🚪

It was not as great as “Your name.” However, I liked it more than Shinkai’s previous film, “Weathering with You.”

“Suzume” looks beautiful as expected with a couple stand-out moments and character animations. 

Yet it feels lacking in fresh, impressive visual surprises. Shinkai (and his team) mostly stick close to what he knows. What’s here are the sort of sights you pretty much have seen before if you’ve watched his previous works. It’s pretty, but familiar. 

Storywise, it’s much more about the titular character’s journey than the romance (which feels underdeveloped). It’s a pretty fun adventure with road trip-like moments.

I found the themes of loss and past tragedy to be moving. Having certain parts more fleshed out / more depth would’ve made more of an emotional impact though. 

The music is notably pretty great, with a lot less use of lyrical songs and instead more instrumental tracks. Solid performances from the vocal cast, too. 

Likewise, the audio team did a good job with the sound design bringing Suzume’s world to life. 

I’ve been anticipating “Suzume” to be somewhat divisive. So far, reception seems pretty split among my friends and acquaintances who’ve seen it. 

Suzume was an enjoyable and emotional experience, despite certain elements being undercooked. 

🪑 3.5 out of 5. 

Trailers: https://youtu.be/F7nQ0VUAOXg https://youtu.be/FVU0zESXS5c 

(Photo: [Left] In Japan, for almost every movie, you can buy a “pamphlet,” a book that has information, interviews, concept art, and/or scenes from the movie. [Right] Some movies come with a freebie. In Suzume’s case, it’s a booklet with notes, interviews, and concept art. [Center] Japanese theaters have a gift shop selling movie merch. It’s cool but can be dangerous. I bought a keychain.)

[erniichan]

I saw The QUINTESSENTIAL QUINTUPLETS MOVIE on opening day in Japan!

Loved it personally. ❤️ A moving and satisfying finale to the series. It was beautiful.

The film is filled with all the twists and turns, the drama, and emotional beats you’d expect. Boy, the tears came more than once, for me and others in my theater. 😭 Honestly, The Quintessential Quintuplets is an anime I wasn’t fond of at first, but it grew on me. It’s got a lot of heart and unexpectedly more wholesome than a lot in its genre. If you’re a fan of the series, the movie will leave you with a full heart, and wiping a tear or two from your eyes. Congratulations, Nakano quintuplets!

[erniichan]

Happy birthday to voice actress Mone Kamishiraishi! She is best known for playing Mitsuha Miyamizu, the female lead in "your name."

[erniichan]

‘your name’ is amazing.

💖 I finally saw "your name." a film by one of my favorite anime directors Makoto Shinkai yesterday and LOVED it 😍 It's broken records and surpassed many of Hayao Miyazaki's Studio Ghibli films at the Japanese box office. 

Yesterday (Friday, December 2) was the first day of its Academy Award-qualifying run. I went to straight to the theater from the airport and was 1st in line for the 2nd showing 😅 

Absolutely beautiful, admit I cried a little 😭 "your name." has Shinkai's heart, themes (distance, love, space, etc) and gorgeous art + a lot more plot than usual for him. 

Plot is more in line with Mamoru Hosoda (Wolf Children, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time) than Miyazaki. 

After some of Shinkai's previous works (especially 5 Centimeters Per Second, Voices of a Distant Star), it was so satisfying to see this turn out as it did 😊 

Nationwide theatrical release set for 2017.

[erniichan]

Translation of the on-screen letter at end of the Shelter short film http://youtu.be/fzQ6gRAEoy0

To Rin From : Dad There was just so little time left after you were born. I don't know how much love I managed to pour into raising you after your mother died... But your smile kept me going. (^_^)

I would like to have come with you, but I couldn't. I wanted you to forget everything and move on... I knew you'd be alright. But you'll get lonely, and remember.

I know you'll grow strong, and read this letter some day. I really wish we could have spent more time together. I'm sorry. You were so young back then, too young to understand what they meant. So let me repeat...

My final words to you.

Source

[erniichan]

Shelter the Animation by Porter Robinson, Madeon, and A-1 Pictures https://youtu.be/fzQ6gRAEoy0

[rockets]

fanart for the music video “Shelter”. thank you @porterrobinson for being a huge inspiration <3

[erniichan]

Shelter the Animation 

A music video collaboration by Porter Robinson, Madeon, and A-1 Pictures, the anime studio behind Erased, Anohana, Sword Art Online, Your Lie in April, and The Idolmaster adaptations! 💖

n-no, I’m not crying at work *sniff* 😢

Director: Toshifumi Akai Character Designer and Key Animation: Megumi Kouno Cast: Sachika Misawa Translation of the on-screen letter at the end:  To Rin From : Dad There was just so little time left after you were born. I don't know how much love I managed to pour into raising you after your mother died... But your smile kept me going. (^_^)

I would like to have come with you, but I couldn't.

I wanted you to forget everything and move on... I knew you'd be alright. But you'll get lonely, and remember.

I know you'll grow strong, and read this letter some day. I really wish we could have spent more time together. I'm sorry. You were so young back then, too young to understand what they meant. So let me repeat...

My final words to you.

[erniichan]

Warner Bros, Sony Pictures, and Legendary Bid for Live-Action Pokémon Rights

Full story over at The Hollywood Reporter.

[erniichan]

The [email protected]

The iDOLM@STER Live-Action Korean Drama Announced!

Brand new characters (including 15 idols) & a new story set in South Korea. Existing characters will not appear however.

From Anime News Network:

Bandai Namco Entertainment announced on Friday that it will launch a South Korea-based live-action show based on The IDOLM@STERfranchise. The show is tentatively titled The [email protected], and its broadcast timeframe has not been set yet.

The show will begin casting auditions for 15 idols in mid-May, and Interactive Media Mix, Inc. will handle the planning and production of the series. The show will follow the tone of previous works, and will once again center on a new group of idols' growth, performances, and mutual friendships. However, the story will be set in South Korea, and will follow the country's production and entertainment industry. The characters from the games will not appear in the show.

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Official Press Release (via Gematsu):

Celebrating 10th Anniversary of a popular video game, The Idolmaster, a new Korean Television Drama, THE [email protected] calls up actors for an audition!

BANDAI NAMCO ENTERTAIMENT, Inc. (Minato, Tokyo. President & CEO: Satoshi Oshita) has announced that the company will hold an audition for a new Korean Television Drama, THE [email protected] in the late April (Editor’s Note: this is at typo. The Japanese press release says “late May”) in Seoul, Korea. IMX, Inc. (Shinagawa, Tokyo. President: Sohn, IlHyung) will be managing the entire course of launching the television show, including, but not limited to, its casting audition and production. It is the first attempt to bring a popular video game, The Idolmaster, to TV screens.

■ An audition within the production – applauding unique characteristics of the video game.

The television drama THE [email protected] takes different perspectives from its original video game series to unfold the storyline. The show will capture each character’s progress to become an idol star and friendships beneath vigorous trainings at an Korean entertainment production company (release dates: TBA).

The Idolmaster is a famous Japanese simulation video game published by BANDAI NAMCO ENTERTAINMENT, Inc. in 2005. The game allows a user to play a role of a producer who trains pop star contestants bymolding their talents to become idol stars. This very motto of the game will be implemented in THE IDOLM@STER audition when selecting casting members for the TV show by voting from all around the world.

The fifteen finalists will be determined by online voters via various social media channels. This opens up opportunities for the voters to take joy in watching the progress of their contestants becoming idol stars in the real world as well as in the television show. More detailed information will be posted on the website, www.idolmaster-kr.com on April 15th.

■ The Idolmaster, reborn in Korea

Unlike the usual route of transferring novels or comic series into TV shows, adapting a Japanese video game into a Korean television drama is a first attempt to come forward with avant-garde TV entertainment.

Be excited. Get ready. The show is coming!

Greetings from Youzo Sakagami, Chief Producer of The Idolmaster

“It’s a great news to congratulate that Japan’s beloved video game, The Idolmaster, has inspired [email protected], a new Korean television drama, to launch. This project provides a unique opportunity to witness simulated characters come alive onto TV screens. The Idolmaster fans, please support your new idols in [email protected]!”