Thursday, September 30, 2010

TinierUpDate- Halloween Special

In celebration of Halloween, tinier me is releasing two new campaigns, one new gatcha, and a new chibi pet.
 Bokachin is the newest chibipet. It's a g-coin pet. *T-T*





This campaigns gatcha, with lots of nice items in both chibi coin and g-coin





 Every day, when you log on you get a piece of candy, then you can go to there page and swap it for an item.



An item swap.
Monday, September 27, 2010

Genshiken Sequel Announced

Afternoon Magazine has announced that there will be a sequel to Genshiken entitled, Genshiken Nidamime, and it will be serilized in Afternoon.
The PSP connectivity for Vocaloid should be in the Japanese PSP Store June 24th.
Sunday, September 26, 2010

Wanted- Matsuri Hino


Wanted is a one-book pirate love story, about a girl who boards the ship dressed as a boy, determined to find Luce, her 1st love. Luce was kidnapped by pirates years ago, and now, Skulls the pirate in charge of said ship, claims he is dead. Undeterred, Arto/Armeria continues to search for Luce, but what secrets will she uncover about his disappearance, and will she still love him once she does?

In the back, there is a short called Spring Cherry Blossoms,A Small Incident at Sakuradaya, Meiji Era.



Matsuri Hino-Left
Clamp's Mokona is fascinated by kimonos, and has published a book about them. Inside is a interview with Onuki Ami of  PUFFY AMIYUMI, who also has a love of kimonos. Mokona tells about her 1st attraction to kimonos and how she incorporates them into her art, mainly xxxHolic.

Published by Dark Horse Manga. Available for $12.99 US.





After two or so years, I have finally finished Asura Cryin seasons 1+2. The ending was fabulous, and had some interesting twists. Whether Tomoharu ends up with Kanade or Misao is left up to the viewers imagination.
Saturday, September 25, 2010

The Cute Girls of Kanon




Yuuichi Aizawa is a normal high school boy, coming back to live with his aunt and cousin after ten years of being away.

Is it just me or is there  something wrong with him and the town he lives in?He can't remember much of anything, his aunt makes a secret, and weird, jam only she knows how to make, he constantly gets hugged and attacked by various girls claiming to know him, hate him, bear grudges, or just want him to pay for their food. And at least one of them is packing a sword, claiming to be a demon hunter.

A remake of the original, published in 2002, this version was published in 2006, either way Kanon is a interesting, beautifully drawn, and adorable story.

Character Summaries:
Mai: Mai is a quiet third year who carries a sword and claims to be a demon hunter, only, she's the only one who can see the demon, and it only is at the school at night.  Her only friends to start with are Sayuri, who doesn't seem to know about the sword, and Yuuichi.


Shiori was born ill, and appears 1st under a tree covered in snow. She comes to stand outside the school where she, and Yuuichi, Mai, and Nayuki go to school, and talks to Yuuichi there, refusing to give her last name.She has a weird dream to build a ten meter tall snowman....



Ayu, appearing here on the original game cover, is a happy girl who knew Yuuichi when he 1st came to this town. She has a fondness for taiyaki, and is very forgetful.She always wears the same jacket.
Always saying Uguu...Can't stand scary movies.

Very klutzy.



Nayuki is Yuuichi's cousin, and is the captain of the track team. She collects alarm clocks, and still has problems waking up. She's very sweet, and relives what people tell her.
She's allergic to cats, but has a fondness for them....






Matoko has a passion for eating and has a dislike of  Yuuichi. The 1st time she appears, she hits and kicks him, then passes out and is taken back to his aunts home. When she wakes, she has no idea who she is. There she remains, constantly trying to hurt him, be it fire crackers or ice down his back. Instead of breaking out like Nayuki, when the Siamese cat comes, Matoko is afraid at 1st, and only picks it up after she is promised a pork bun. Then cat steals her pork bun. Matoko drop the cat over the side of a bridge, and it rides away on the top of a car, however Yuuichi starts berating her and she runs away crying only to disappear for hours. When she is found, on top of Monomi Hill, she is with the cat eating a pork bun. "We're the same, both nuisances with nowhere to go."It turns out her loss of memory was caused because she was a kitsune who fell in love with Yuuichi many years ago, and when he returned, traded her life and memory to be with
him again. She slowly dies, completly unaware of what is happening.
Phrase= Auu....

 Episode information:

 - in the 2006 version, there are 24 episodes, all available on WAO
 - each is about 22 minutes long, counting title song, and ending song.
Opening Song:





And the prize question for Kanon.... WHAT IS IN THAT JAM?!?!?!
Hetalia is a very odd and amusing take on the Allies and Axis powers of WWI. This manga started, as a web comic and then TOKYOPOP bought the publishing rights. However, funny as it may be, some people will likely find it offensive. It makes some jokes that can be taken the wrong way, and portrays Italy as slow but adorable, France as cowardly and so on. Example A:AnimeGlobe Article.

Personally, I found it funny, and cute, but you can't think of countries as real place, the characters have to just be a person, not a real place.

Episodes are short, and the manga has just been released.  It has a huge fan base, and not everyone thinks of it as offensive. in the back of the 1st book is a note from a woman in Russia who said it made her wonder about her countries past. ( I wouldn't use it as a source for a report.)

Hetalia is inaccurate, and just another anime that makes fun of things. It's cute, and a good read. Pick it up and decide for yourself. it's hit and miss like any other.


Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Next Vocaloid/Tinier Me instalment

The second to last event was released today, it's another gatcha, with images and costumes from the songs. The songs include, Meltdown, Meltdown Hard R.K. Mix, Saihate, Yume Miru Kotori, and Cantarella.

Also released with the gatcha was another ticket swap. For all campaign info:


The third and final concert started today, and ends Nov. 30th.There are 45 new songs to collect. You can get a new song every 2 hours.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010

10.24.10

Hetalia Day will be the 24th of October. The are going to be celebrations all over the world, if possible, the good people starting this, want you to, if you cosplay, to take a picture of you with your countries flag. The have imposed a dress code this year, it can be found on their website.( Click the picture for a link.)Please, know that this is not acknowledged by the mangaka, or publishers, however.
To contact the main branch, email: hetalia.day@gmail.com
Some friends and I are going to AWA-con, so there will be pictures. Unfortuantly, we're too young and have no money, so we won't be at the ball,(we're also not gonna be there that day....





program:
http://www.awa-con.com/uploads/file/AWA2010_Pocket_Program.pdf

Apparently there's also a blood drive going on for awa too: ( I don't know)
Sunday, September 12, 2010

Onemanga is gone

Our onemanga is gone, due to some copyright problems. However, manga fox and  manga exile are still up, and WAO has a area to read manga on.
Manga Exile:
http://manga.bleachexile.com/index.html
Friday, September 10, 2010

Ghibli Lego Sculptures

To see the full group go to:
http://www.comicsalliance.com/2010/09/09/brickcon-anime-manga-Lego-sculptures/
My favorite is the floating citadel from Castle in the Sky.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010

update on Tinier ME NYAF

Tinier Me is going to be at the NYAF at booth 3065 in the exhibit hall. They will again have a live gatcha, to get virtual prizes.Be sure to pick a flyer to get a special item for your room. The sponsors, Mari Watanabe, Stephanie Yanez, and DJ HeavyGrinder will be there, as well as some of the awesome techies. ♥.♥



Friday, September 3, 2010

Moment of Silence

How could I forget, May 18th of this year.
I received the following pronouncement from a cardiovascular doctor at Musashino Red Cross Hospital.
"It's the latter stages of pancreatic cancer. It's metastasized to several bones. You have at the most half a year left to live."
My wife and I listened together. It was a fate so unexpected and untenable, that the two of us together could barely take it.
I used to honestly think that "I can't help it if I die any day." Still, it was so sudden.
To be sure, there were some signs. 2 to 3 months before that I'd had strong pains in several places on my back and in the joints of my legs; I'd lost strength in my right leg and found it hard to walk, and I'd been going to an acupuncturist and a chiropractor, but I wasn't getting any better. So after having been examined in an MRI and a PET-CT and such advanced machinery, came the sudden pronouncement of the time I had left.
It was as if death had positioned itself right behind me before I knew it, and there was nothing I could do.
After the pronouncement, my wife and I researched ways to prolong my life. It was literally a life or death situation. We received the support of staunch frends and strong allies. I rejected anti-cancer medication, and tried to live with a view of the world slightly different from the norm. The fact that I rejected what was "expected (normal)" seemed to me to be very much like me.
I've never really felt that I belonged with the majority. It was the same for medical care, as with anything else. "Why not try to keep living according to my own principles!" However, as is the case when I'm trying to create a work [a film], ones willpower alone didn't do the job. The illness kept progressing day by day.
On the other hand, as a member of society, I do accept at least half of what society in general holds to be right. I do pay taxes. I'm far from being an upstanding citizen, but I am a full member of Japanese society. So, aside from the things I needed to do to prolong my life from my own point of view, I also attempted to do all the things necessary to "be ready to die properly". I don't think I managed to do it properly though. (But) one of the things I did was, with the cooperation of 2 friends that I could trust, set up a company to take care of things like the measly number of copyrights that I hold. Another thing that I did was, to insure that my wife would take over any modest assets that I had smoothly by writing a will. Of course, I didn't think there would be any fighting over my legacy or anything, but I wanted to make sure that my wife, who would remain behind in this world, would have nothing to worry about - and besides, I wanted to remove any anxiety from myself, the one who was going to take a little hop over there, before I had to leave.
The paperwork and research necessary for these tasks, which neither my wife nor I were good at doing, were taken care of speedily by wonderful friends. Later on, when I developed pneumonia and was at death's door, and put my final signature on the will, I thought that if I died right then and there, it couldn't be helped.
"Ah...I can die at last."
After all, I'd been brought by ambulance to the Musashino Red Cross Hospital 2 days before that; then brought back again to the same hospital by ambulance the day after. Even I had to be hospitalized and undergo many examinations. The result of those examinations: pneumonia, water in my chest, and when I asked the doctor [straight out], the answer I received was very businesslike, and I was in a way grateful for that.
"You may last 1 or 2 days...even if you survive this, you probably have until the end of the month."
As I listened, I thought "It's like he's telling me the weather forecast", but still the situation was dire.
That was July the 7th. It was a rather brutal Tanabata for sure.
So, I decided right there and then.
I wanted to die at home.
I might inconvenience the people around me, but I asked them to see how I could escape and go back home. [I was able to do so] thanks to my wife's efforts, the hospital's cooperation despite their position of having given up on me, the tremendous help of other medical facilities, and the coincidences that were so numerous that they only seemed to be gifts from heaven. I've never seen so many coincidences and events falling into place so neatly in real life, I could barely believe it. This wasn't Tokyo Godfathers after all.
While my wife was running around getting things in place for my escape, I was pleading with doctors "If I can go home for even half a day, there are things I can still do!", then waiting alone in the depressing hospital room for death. I was lonely, but this was what I was thinking.
"Maybe dying won't be so bad."
I didn't have any reasons for it, and perhaps I needed to think like that, but I was surprisingly calm and relaxed.
However, there was just one thought that was gnawing away at me.
"I don't want to die here..."
As I thought that, something moved out from the calendar on the wall and started to spread around the room.
"Oh dear, a line marching out from the calendar. My hallucinations aren't at all original."
I had to smile at the fact at my professional instincts were working even at times like this, but in any case I was probably the nearest to the land of the dead that I'd ever been at that point. I really felt death very close to me. [But] with the help of many people, I miraculously escaped Musashino Red Cross and came back home, wrapped up in the land of the dead and bedsheets.
I should emphasize that I have no criticism of or hatred for Musashino Red Cross Hospital, so don't misconstrue me.
I just wanted to go home to my own house. The house where I live.
I was a little surprised that, when I was being carried into my living room, as a bonus, I experienced that deathbed experience everyone is familiar with of "looking down on your body being carried into the room from a place high above". I was looking down on myself and the scene around me from a position several meters above ground, through a wide-angle-ish lens and flash lighting. The square of the bed in the middle of the room seemed very large and prominent, and my sheet-wrapped body was being lowered into the middle of the square. None too gently it seemed, but I'm not complaining.
So, all I had to do was to wait for death in my own home.
However.
It seems that I was able to overcome the pneumonia.
Eh?
I did think like this, in a way.
"I didn't manage to die! (laugh)"
Afterwards, when I could think of nothing else but death, I thought that I did indeed die once then. In the back of my mind, the world "reborn" wavered several times.
Amazingly, after then my life-force was rejuvenated. From the bottom of my heart, I believe this is due to the people who helped me; first and foremost my wife, and my supportive friends, the doctors and nurses, and the care managers.
Now that my life-force had been restarted, I couldn't waste my time. I told myself that I'd been given an extra life, and that I had to spend it carefully. So I thought that I wanted to erase at least one of the irresponsibilities that I'd left behind in this world.
To be truthful, I'd only told the people closest to me about the cancer. I hadn't even told my parents. In particular, because of various work-related complications, I couldn't say anything (to people) even if I wanted to. I wanted to announce my cancer on the internet and report on my remaining life, but if Satoshi's death was scheduled, there might be some waves made, however small. For these reasons, I acted very irresponsibly to people clear to me. I am so sorry.
There were so many people that I wanted to see before I died, to say even one word of greeting to. Family and relatives, old friends and classmates from elementary and middle and high school, the mates I met in college, the people I met in the manga world, with whom I exchanged so much inspiration, the people in the anime world whose desks I sat next to, went drinking with, with whom I competed on on the same works, the mates with whom I shared good and bad times. The countless people I was able to know because of my position as a film director, the people who call themselves my fans not only in Japan but around the world, the friends I'd made via the web.
There are so many people that I want to see at least once (well there are some I don't want to see too), but if I see them I'm afraid that that the thought that "I can never see this person again" will take me over, and that I wouldn't be able to greet death gracefully. Even if I had recovered, I had very little life force left, and it took a lot of effort to see people. The more people wanted to see me, the harder it was for me to see them. What irony. In addition, my lower body was paralyzed due to the cancer spreading to my bones, and I was prone on my bed, and I didn't want people to see my emaciated body. I wanted most of the people I knew to remember me as the Satoshi that was full of life.
I'd like to use this space to apologize to my relatives, friends and acquaintances, for not telling you about my cancer, for my irresponsibility. Please understand that this was Satoshi's selfish desire. I mean, Satoshi Kon was "that kind of guy". When I envision your faces, I only have good memories and remember (your) great smiles. Everyone, thank you for all the truly great memories. I loved the world I lived in. Just the fact that I can think that makes me happy.
The many people that I met throughout my lifetime, whether they were positive or negative, have helped to shape the human being that is Satoshi Kon, and I am grateful for all of those encounters. Even if the end result is an early death in my mid 40s, I've accepted this as my own unique destiny. I've had so many positive things happen to me after all.
The thing I think about death now. "I can only say, it's too bad." Really.
However, even though I can let go of many of my irresponsible actions [by not telling people], I cannot help regretting two things. About my parents, and about Madhouse [founder] Maruyama-san.
Even though it was rather late, there was no choice but to come clean with the whole truth. I wanted to beg them for forgiveness.
As soon as I saw Maruyama-san's face when he came to see me at home, I couldn't stop the flow of tears or my feeling of shame. "I'm so sorry, for ending up like this..." Maruyama-san said nothing, and just shook his head and gripped both my hands. I was filled with thankfulness. Feelings of gratitude and joy, that I'd been lucky enough to work with this person, came over me like a landslide. It may be selfish, but I felt as though I had been forgiven in that instant.
My biggest regret is the film "Dreaming Machine". I'm worried not only about the film itself, but about the staff with whom I was able to work with on the film. After all, there's a strong possibility that the storyboards that were created with (our) blood, sweat and tears will never be seen. This is because Satoshi Kon put his arms around the original story, the script, the characters and the settings, the sketches, the music...every single image. Of course there are things that I shared with the animation director, the art director and other staff [members], but basically most of the work can only be understood by Satoshi Kon. It's easy to say that it was my fault for arranging things this way, but from my point of view I made every effort to share my vision with others. However, in my current state I can only feel deep remorse for my inadequacies in these areas. I am really sorry to all of the staff. However, I want them to understand, if only a little bit. Satoshi Kon was "that kind of guy", and, that's why he was able to make rather weird anime that was a bit different. I know this is a selfish excuse, but think of my cancer and please forgive me.
I haven't been idly waiting for death, even now I'm thinking with my weak brain of ways to let the work live even after I am gone. But they are all shallow ideas. When I told Maruyama-san about my concerns about "Dreaming Machine", he just said "Don't worry. We'll figure out something, so don't worry."
I wept.
I wept uncontrollably.
Even with my previous movies, I've been so irresponsible with the productions and the budgets, but I always had Maruyama-san figure it out for me in the end.
This time is no different. I really haven't changed.
I was able to talk to my heart's content with Maruyama-san. Thanks to this, I was able to feel, at least a little, that Satoshi Kon's talents and skills were of some value in our industry.
"I regret losing your talent. I wish that you were able to leave it for us."
If Madhouse's Maruyama-san says that, I can go to the netherworld with a little bit of self-pride after all. And of course, even without anyone else telling me this, I do feel regret that my weird visions and ability to draw things in minute detail will be lost, but that can't be helped. I am grateful from the bottom of my heart that Maruyama-san gave me the opportunity to show the world these things. Thank you, so very much. Satoshi Kon was happy as an animation director.
It was so heartbreaking to tell my parents.
I'd really intended to go up to Sapporo, where my parents live, while I was still able to, but my illness progressed so unexpectedly and annoyingly fast that I ended up calling them on the telephone from the hospital room as I was closest to death.
"I'm in the late stages of cancer and will die soon. I was so happy being born as a child to Father and Mother. Thank you."
They must have been devastated to hear this out of the blue, but I was certain I was going to die right then.
But then I came back home and survived the pneumonia. I made the big decision to see my parents. They wanted to see me too. But it was going to be so hard to see them, and I didn't have the will to. But I wanted to see my parents' faces one last time. I wanted to tell them how grateful I was that they brought me into this world.
I've been a happy person. Even though I must apologize to my wife, my parents and all the people that I love, that lived out my life a bit too faster than most.
My parents followed my selfish wishes, and came the next day from Sapporo to my house. I can never forget the first words out of my mother's mouth when she saw me lying there.
"I'm so sorry, for not bringing you into this world with a stronger body!"
I was completely speechless.
I could only spend a short time with my parents, but that was enough. I had felt that if I saw their faces, that it would be enough, and it really turned out that way.
Thank you, Father, Mother. I am so happy that I was born into this world as the child of the both of you. My heart is full of memories and gratitude. Happiness itself is important, but I am so grateful that you taught me to appreciate happiness. Thank you, so very much .
It's so disrespectful to to die before ones parents, but in the last 10 plus years, I've been able to do what I want as an anime director, achieve my goals, and get some good reviews. I do feel regret that my films didn't make a lot of money, but I think they got what they deserved. In these last 10 plus years in particular I've felt as though I've lived more intensively than other people, and I think that my parents understood what was in my heart.
Because of the visits by Maruyama-san and my parents, I feel as though I've taken a big burden off my shoulders.
Lastly, to my wife, about whom I worry the most, but who has been my support until the end.
Since that time-left pronouncement, we drowned ourselves in tears together so many times. Every day was brutal for both of us, physically and mentally. There are almost no words for it. But the reason why I was able to survive those difficult days was because of the words that you said to me right after we received the news.
"I'll be at your side [run with you] until the end."
True to those words, as though you were leaving my worries in the dust, you skillfully directed the demands and requests that came rushing towards us like a landslide, and quickly learned how to take care of your husband. I was so moved, watching you deal with things so efficiently.
"My wife is awesome."
No need to keep saying that now, you say? No no. You are even more awesome now than you ever were - I truly feel this. Even after I have died, I believe that you will send Satoshi Kon to the next world with grace. Ever since we got married, I was so wrapped up in "Work, work" that I was only able to spend some time at home after the cancer - such a shame.
But you stood close to me, you always understood that I needed to immerse myself in my work, that my talent was there. Thank you.
There are so many things, countless things, that I worry about, but everything needs an end. Lastly, to Doctor H who agreed to see me to the end in my home, even though it's something not done these days, and his wife and nurse, K-san, I would like to express my deep gratitude. Medical care in a private home is very inconvenient, but you patiently dealt with the numerous aches and pains that cancer brings on, and endeavores to make my time until the final goal called death be as comfortable as possible. I can't say how much you helped me. And you didn't just deal with this difficult and arrogant patient as if it were just your jobs, but communicated with me as human beings. I cannot say how much of a support you were to me, and how much you saved me. I was encouraged by your qualities as human beings several times. I am deeply deeply grateful.
And, this is really the last, but from shortly after I received that pronouncement in mid-May until now, I've been lucky to have the cooperation, help and mental support, both personally and in business, from 2 friends. My friend T, who has been a friend since high school and is a member of KON'Stone Inc, and producer H, I thank you both from the bottom of my heart. Thank you so much. It's hard for me with my measly vocabulary to express my gratitude adequately to you both. My wife and I have both received so much from you.
If you two hadn't been there for us, I am sure that I'd be anticipating death while looking at my wife here as she sits by my side with considerably more trepidation and worry. I am really in your debt.
And, if I may ask you for one more thing - could you help my wife send me over to the other side after my death? I'd be able to get on that flight with my mind at rest if you could do that for me. I ask this from my heart.
So, to everyone who stuck with me through this long document, thank you. With my heart full of gratitude for everything good in the world, I'll put down my pen.
Now excuse me, I have to go.
Satoshi Kon

( Translation from http://www.makikoitoh.com/journal/satoshi-kons-last-words)

Beloved director of Tokyo God Fathers  and Perfect blue, is gone. He died at the age of 47, the cause is currently believed to be cancer. During the months leading up to his death, he was working at MADHOUSE for the new film Yume-Miru Kikai.
 
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