Lenni Reviews: Rogue Touch by Christine Woodward

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(Image Source)

Rogue is my favorite character. In fact, I stopped reading X-Men comics for years because I felt she didn't get enough screen time to warrant my money. That changed but now I'm broke. So, when Rogue Touch by Christine Woodward came across my desk, I was excited but reticent. It's just a kick in the chest when your favorite character and childhood idol gets a crappy novel but I went into this novel with an open mind.

This novel explores the life of a young Anna Marie; a runaway who's mutant powers have just manifested and left her boyfriend Cody in a coma. Eighteen and barely making it, she encounters fellow outcast James outside the bakery where she works just standing there watching her. After getting fired and her boss accidentally touching her skin, she goes on the run and encounters James doing the same. Together, they crisscross the country, getting closer but also getting into trouble.

Woodward absolutely nailed a young and lost Rogue, already feeling lonely and heartbroken in a world she can never touch. You just want to hug her; even though that would probably kill you. The poor girl can't catch a break so it's almost a relief when she says "Screw it" and bolts out of town with the handsome and mysterious stranger. The set up is pretty standard romance novel fair; guy with hidden secrets and girl with hidden secrets meet up, fall in love, and their secrets inspire wacky hijinks. Typical but certainly not boring or sappy. Rogue was always a warmhearted woman in the comics and it shows through in this novel with how she wants to get close to her fellow fugitive help him with his "I'm an alien being hunted by my own kind" problem.

I was rooting for these two with "Young Turks" stuck in my head. The story is told in Rogue's voice and I was very grateful to have the prose written out instead in her thick southern accent. While endearing, such accents can be difficult to read at times and using my imagination to hear that smexy southern drawl was much better and allowed me to flow right through the very evenly paced and tight writing. Just like any romance involving Rogue, all you want is for everything to turn out ok because they are so obviously attracted to one another but, as is wont to happen in this genre, the universe quite literally will not let them be.

There is a coming of age aspect to this adventure and it's a fun road trip story, even with the danger. I was excited to find out how it would all turn out and enjoyed every minute. If you like Rogue and you like a little romance with your mutants than you can't really go wrong with Rogue Touch. I enjoyed it and I think you will, too.

Rogue Touch will be released on June 18th, 2013.
Can't get enough of Lenni's writing? See more here.


AnimeNext 2013 Review

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It's been a week since our trip to AnimeNext convention in Somerset, New Jersey which was on June 7-9th. Now that I' am rested up from a busy week I can give you a proper review of the convention. Is this con worth checking out?

The first thing you will notice about AnimeNext is how greatly organized they are. There is a staff member in almost every area to assist you with a question or concern. The lines are also organized and the wait for panels wasn't too bad at all. The location of the con was split up into sections, which can be easily reached in a two to five minute walking distance. The main section which is at the Garden State Exhibit Center contain the artist alley, the main stage where you will see the huge big panels like the masquerade show and many more. Also held in the main section is the shopping section where you can by all your geeky and otaku goodness. The other area is located by a near hotel where panels and other places to buy goods are held.

 Artist Alley: The artist alley was filled with amazing talented artist. I wish I had enough money to buy something from each of them. But I manage to get a nice caricature of myself in anime style which you can see below. The prices were pretty fair ranging from 10 to 20 dollars the most. The artist at AnimeNext were definitely worth every penny.

 Anime Justin by May Shing http://mayshing.com/































Guests: The guest range from Japanese music artist, to voice actors in anime and other acts in otaku culture like Uncle Yo. Some of the guest were rock band Moon Stream, voice actor Greg Ayers, Chris Gason, Michelle Knots just to name a few. The guest were awesome had panels especially Greg Ayers he was all over the convention engaging fans, hosting panels and more. My only wish is that we would like to see more voice actors, directors or maybe producers of anime shows, or maybe some exclusives premieres of latest anime movies or shows. Otherwise the guest list was pretty solid.

 Events: AnimeNext had a wide range of fun events that you will expect at an anime convention ranging from AMV contest, LARP (Live Action Role Play), Karaoke, Dating Games and many more. There was plently activity to do and I would say the AMV's shown was amazing. The winner of the horror category was truly a highlight. I also sat down to watch the karaoke event and I was impressed that some people actually sang Japanese songs.

 Final Grade: B+/8.5: AnimeNext is a great con to visit for the east coast. It's not as big as Anime Expo or New York Comic Con, but it's good enough for the audience it's targeting. It could use some more improvements with the guest, premieres and more exclusives to really make the con stand out. Also the press are treated very well :). Overall this is a con we will be attending year after year and it seems that it's only getting better. 

 Check out the Cosplayers Of AnimeNext 2013

 Cosplayers Of AnimeNext Part 1
/www.otakusandgeeks.com/akusandgeeks.com/2013/06/the-cosplayers-of-animenext-2013-part-1.html

 Cosplayers Of AnimeNext Part 2
/www.otakusandgeeks.com/akusandgeeks.com/2013/06/the-cosplayers-of-animenext-2013-part-2.html




Lenni Reviews: The She-Hulk Diaries by Marta Acosta

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(Image Source)


Not having read much of She-Hulk in the past (me and her books never quite were in the same place at the same time) I was very curious to read this book. The She-Hulk Diaries are set in a time where Jennifer Walters, aka She-Hulk, is on probation from the Avengers for her rage issues and penchant for major amounts of collateral damage. As Jennifer, she sets a series of goals for herself and awards herself points upon their completion; such as 25 culture points for listening to opera or 100 points for landing a very lucrative job with a high profile law firm.


I did learn a lot about She-Hulk and have new insight to how hard it is to balance your superhero alter ego with your regular human life. In this case, it is doubly hard considering She-Hulk is a separate personality from Jennifer Walters and is difficult to contain in times of stress. However, this book struck me as a sort of Sex and the City with superheros. This is not to say the book is bad by any means; it is an entertaining piece of fluff peppered with some pretty cool superhero battles and the legal case she’s embroiled in involving bio-engineered organs failing inside their patients is very interesting; but this book was so vapid in some parts, I physically cringed.

First off, this book fails the Bechdel Test completely. I know this test is traditionally reserved for movies but when all Jennifer and her friends seemed to talk about was how to get a man, keep a man, and what men they've slept with or dated, I couldn't help but roll my eyes a little. I nabbed some of the She-Hulk trades to read to compare to this novel and it seems there’s so much more to both She-Hulk AND Jennifer Walters than who she’s boning, has boned, or will bone. On the flip side of this, the nitty gritty of the legal case against ReplaceMax for their defective organs is very touching; with She-Hulk making surprise visits to the sick plaintiffs and Jennifer getting very invested in the case. Next to the crime fighting, these were my favorite parts of the book.

Secondly? “Shulky” is a terrible nickname and seeing text speak in novels when characters are not texting always makes my brain screech to a halt. When I was about 60% into the book; anytime a character said Shulky or described a man in conversation as “OMG! amazing” I wanted to bash myself in the face with my kindle.

In summary, if you can look past the horrid nickname and occasional conversations where “ppl tlk lke this, omg so HAWT!!” this novel is not a bad ‘day in the life of your favorite super-heroine’ story. You learn a lot about the character as a person and have some fun along the way. I identified with her insecurities and cheered for her when she stood up for herself in the face of some pretty harsh criticism and very human mishaps. This book is funny when it should be, touching when it should be, and thrilling when it should be. It’s a perfect piece of comic book novel candy. Read it and have some fun.

The She-Hulk Diaries will be released June 18th 2013.

Can't get enough? More of Lenni's writing can be found here.

Late Night With Jimmy Fallon To Host Fourth Annual Videogame Week

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“Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” will host its fourth annual video game week featuring a mashup of the latest games alongside special musical performances and comedy sketches for a week of tech-filled fun June 17 -21 (12:35am ET on NBC).The week will include the following demo line-up: Monday, June 17 – “Forza Motorsport 5” on Microsoft’s Xbox One, Tuesday, June 18 – “Knack” on Sony PlayStation 4, Wednesday, June 19 – Ubisoft’s “Watch Dogs,” Thursday, June 20 – Activision’s “Call of Duty: Ghosts” and Friday, June 21 – “Game & Wario” and “Super Mario 3D World” on Nintendo Wii U.Additionally, “Late Night” has scheduled a variety of musical guests to appear during the week with ties to the video gaming world.

On Monday, Anamanaguchi will be taking the stage for their first live in-studio performance on American TV. The band is well-known for being at the forefront of the musical genre “chiptune,” which is often performed on and pays homage to sound chips from vintage video game consoles. Fallon will welcome Chvrches on Wednesday night to perform the single “Mother We Share” from their upcoming fall debut album. The group will have several songs in video games this year, including FIFA ’14. Lastly, Zedd and special guest Foxes will have a video game themed set on Friday performing “Clarity” with The Roots, which will transition into Zedd’s famed remix of “The Legend of Zelda” theme song.There is another exciting component of the week -- “Late Night” wants to connect directly with the fans at home. Fallon is asking fans to submit a video of themselves and their moms going head-to-head in a gaming session. The videos can be uploaded to YouTube with the title “Gaming With My Mom” and “Late Night” will select the best moments to premiere on the show the week of June 17. For more information on submitting a video, please visit www.latenightwithjimmyfallon.com/gamingwithmymom.


Chuunibyou Movie Announced – KyoAni: “Recaps = Boring”

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A Chuunibyou movie has been announced in the form of Takanashi Rikka: Kai – however, it is merely to be a much reviled “season highlights” movie, albeit one refocused on Rikka rather than the token male protagonist of the series.

The trailer, revealing it is due in on the 14th of September:


The production staff admit that “just making a highlights compilation movie wouldn’t be interesting to viewers” and so have promised to introduce “new elements” centred on Rikka’s perspective on events, possibly making the whole thing interesting.

The movie apparently does not have any bearing on the second season, which should follow afterwards.


source: Sankakucomplex.com

Hello Herman Review

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“Hello Herman” is a social commentary film focusing on the effects of bullying, parenting and other influences on a child who is being bullied. The film stars Norman Reedus (Darryl from The Walking Dead) and Garrett Backstrom. Is this a film a must watch or instead of hello Herman it should be bye Herman.  

Story - “Hello Herman” is a story about Herman a sixteen year old boy who by a series of unfortunate circumstances gets pushed to the brink and ends up committing a violent act of huge proportions. Lax (Norman Reedus) is the journalist who goes into the maximum security prison to interview Herman and ultimately the two forge a connection and see each other for who they truly are.

“Hello Herman” has its heart in the right place. The movie does a stellar job of examining factors of the cause and effects of bullying and how it not only affects the community but the family of the one that committed the crime. I found this take to be refreshing because we rarely see how the family of the one who committed the crimes deals with the issues.  I think the examining the cause of Herman’s reasons for his acts is what drives the movie. The movie has some good characterization on the two main characters Herman and Lax the reporter chosen by Herman to tell his story. With Herman’s character it’s about finding the layers of his madness, what is the button that pushes him to kill. For Lax it’s about finding these answers but at the same time trying to find a way to understand Herman, this works well as the two characters play off each other very well. Herman knows of Lax’s dark past and tries to get him to realize he too was a monster. Lax character is trying to come to terms with his past, while trying to move forward with his life and decisions that he is made. The movie is engaging on the character study point and the interaction between new monster and old monster is very entertaining. The only problem I have with the story is when examining Herman’s reasons for killing is finger pointing and putting blame. For example Herman plays videogames in the first person shooter genre in the film he states that is how I got such good aim, which places videogames to blame for his actions, then it was the music he was listening too and various factors in entertainment. The film doesn't point fingers directly at entertainment but it does make entertainment accountable for Herman’s action. Other than that little complaint the film is done well and you will enjoy the interaction between Lax and Herman.

Acting – The acting is done well by Norman Reedus. Reedus character is sympathetic, but what drives his character is when he has to come to terms with his past. The scenes of Herman asking questions of Lax’s past and his reaction and emotion Reedus shows was very well done. Garrett Backstrom does a stellar job as Herman. The highlight of his performance is when Herman fate is decided and you want to feel for his character, but can’t because of the actions he took. The last scene is very powerful as an audience member because you start to question is Herman really a monster or some misguiding kid. Overall the acting is well done by the main too leads, some supporting cast members might have been overacting just a bit.

Music & Film-Making – Overall the film making is very good for the budget it was on. The film doesn't get gory with the massacre but it leaves you with enough scenes to show you what Herman really did. The music is fits the tone of the film, but nothing really that will standout for you.

 Final Thoughts - "Hello Herman" is not a bad movie at all, it might be something you want to make your teenage kids and junior high school kids watch. It has a message and that is stop bullying, while I don't agree with some of the social commentary it does raise questions on how can we handle our kids, and how parents can handle themselves more as well. This is a movie with a message, heart and it gets point across. 



V/H/S 2 Review

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In 2012 VHS was released and it was pretty good. It had a nice concept of a bunch of robbers watching a collection of tapes that have they own horror series. The movie was well received and naturally due its success a sequel was rushed into production. Is the sequel just as good as the first one? Or rushing the production did more damage than good?

 Story – If you’re not familiar with V/H/S story format I will explain it for you. The film starts off with the central story and characters who will be watching the tapes. In the first film we followed a bunch of robbers who were hired by an unknown source to retrieve some tapes that will be brought at top dollar. In the sequel we follow a pair of private investigators investigating a case of a disappearance of a young student. Once they enter the home of the student, they discover a pile of various videotapes which they hope will have some clues to the boy’s whereabouts. In pure V/H/S form these tapes are anything but normal. Each tape is a tale of horror written and produce by a different writer and director. Since this movie has a different storytelling format. I will review each tape one by one and then give an overall score of the movie.

 Tape 1: Clinical Trials Phase 1

 “Clinical Trials” follows a man who recently got eye surgery to repair the eye that he lost in a car accident. However the surgery he has undergone is one of the first ever. The eye replace has a camera place inside it for researching purposes. Everything the man does and I mean everything will be monitored by the doctor and his research team. As the man gets accustomed with his new eye, he is told by the doctor that it will contain some glitches but he shouldn’t worry. However the glitch in the new eye turns out to be having more harm than good, as he starts to see the paranormal in his home and around him. The story is a nice kick off to the concept of V/H/S, unfortunately “Clinical Trials” is very cliché and will remind horror fans of the horror movie “The Eye” the same concept, but executed poorly if we were to compare the two. Clinical Trials doesn’t really explain anything story-wise. Why are the paranormal after this guy? Why haven’t these souls move on? They introduce a girl who had a similar surgery as the protagonist, but she is not explained or flushed out enough for you to care. While the story is lacking it does succeed in a couple of jump scares. Clinical Trials provides some fairly intense scenes but it doesn't last as the ending will leave you with an this is it moment. Believe it or not this is one of the better shorts in this film.

 Tape 2: A Ride in the Park

 "A Ride in the Park" follows the story of a biker who encounters the beginning of the zombie apocalypse while on his regular routine ride. The story is told through the perspective of a zombie, which left it the story to appear boring, flat and something you won't get invested in. While it's nice to see the zombie apocalypse from the zombies eyes or a person that turned, it leaves you really not caring because you have no emotional connection with the character. Zombies don't feel anything, don't say anything so you can't really connect with them. This tape was the weakest out of the four and the least entertaining one.

 Tape 3: Safe Haven

 "Safe Haven" follows a news team documenting a cult group and their activity. This is the most disturbing, creepy, entertaining story in this entire movie. Safe Haven has it all, great performances, a creepy setting and enough backstory on characters for you to care about the fate of them. Personally there is nothing more scarier to me than a cult that is run by one man who claims he take his followers to the promise land. That is what you see in "Safe Haven." However while this might be the best and creepiest story in the entire movie, it does have one big problem that will take all reality it was going. The ending of this tape kind of ruins all the build up, the set up of that it was going for. It's one of those endings and twist that was executed so poorly that if it had a bigger budget it would've been forgiving, however it comes off as cheap and ridiculous and a better ending should have been written. 

 Tape 4: Slumber Party Alien Abduction

 "Slumber Party Alien Abduction" follows a group of teenage boys having a sleep over being watched by a sister and boyfriend. The teenage boys are prankster playing pranks, joking around on the sister and her boyfriend until they get unexpected visitors knocking on the door. This one is a pretty generic alien abduction   short, but it is done pretty well. The use of lights, sound and first person perspective turns generic to flat out good. There is a some creepy jump scares, especially involving in the water that will have you really intense. The characters are not developed enough, but however it's done well for you to hope that these kids will survive the night, this was the second best tape in the film.

 Acting - The acting is range from good to medicore. However with no real story or chance to develop characters it's hard for an actor to give they best performances. The acting is nothing memorable, and you can't expect Oscar caliber acting in a horror movie. The actors do what they can and for the most part they are convincing in their performances. 

 Music and Film-Making - Most of the films shorts are short from the first person perspective. You see everything through the character's eyes. For the most part it works very well and makes the jump scares more intense because it comes unexpectedly. The flaw of the first person perspective is sometimes the camera gets shaky in some shorts, which will make the film appear to be amateurish. It's not a bad thing but sometimes it takes away from the intensity of the moment.

 Final Thoughts - "V/H/S 2" could have been just as good as the first one if it wasn't rushed. Some of the endings of the shorts are totally going left wing from the original pace it started from, there are way too much use of zombies that are just thrown in there for the sake of having zombies. On the other side of the coin it provides a few scares, the "Safe Haven" story is a must watch and it is entertaining and doesn't over stay it's welcome.




Square Enix E3 2013 Lineup

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The announced E3 lineup for Square Enix was announced today. Check out below what Square Enix have in store for you this year.

Consoles and PC

FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn

FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn is the first massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) to have been completely rebuilt from the ground up with a focus on all systems, gameplay and player experience. FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn invites players to explore the realm of Eorzea with friends from around the world.

Platforms: PlayStation®3 system, Windows® PC
Developer: Square Enix Co., Ltd.
ESRB Rating: RP (Rating Pending)
Available: August 27

THIEF

THIEF is the reinvention of the classic franchise that allows players to take on the role of Garrett, the Master Thief. As the tide is about to turn in the City, Garrett, takes cover amidst the growing uprising and sneaks into the Baron’s manor to steal his most prized possession.

Platforms: PlayStation®4 system, Xbox One®, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, Windows PC
Developer: Eidos-Montréal (A Square Enix Company)
ESRB Rating: RP (Rating Pending)
Available: 2014

MURDERED: SOUL SUSPECT

The hardest case to solve is one’s own murder. Murdered: Soul Suspect takes players into a whole new realm of mystery where the case is personal and the clues just out of reach. When Ronan O’Connor, a detective with a checkered past, gets caught up in a violent burglary, his life is brought to an untimely end by a brutal and relentless killer. Shocked to find himself in the afterlife, his only escape from the limbo world of ‘Dusk’ is to uncover the truth behind his killer, track him down and bring him to justice using his detective instinct and newfound supernatural abilities.

Platforms: Xbox 360® games and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 system, Windows PC
Developer: Square Enix Co., Ltd. and Airtight Games
ESRB Rating: RP (Rating Pending)
Available: Early 2014

LIGHTNING RETURNS: FINAL FANTASY XIII

As Lightning, it is your mission to save souls so they may be brought to a new world. However, with only thirteen days remaining, not everyone can be saved.  Armed with all-new weapons, player customization and battle abilities, you are in a race against time to fully understand your destiny.  It all ends here.

Platforms: Xbox 360, PlayStation®3 system
Developer: Square Enix Co., Ltd.
ESRB Rating: RP (Rating Pending)
Available: February 11, 2014

KINGDOM HEARTS HD 1.5 ReMIX

Fully remastered in high-def, KINGDOM HEARTS HD 1.5 ReMIX is a compilation of the critically acclaimed KINGDOM HEARTS FINAL MIX and KINGDOM HEARTS Re:Chain of Memories titles. Players can now relive the origins of the celebrated franchise with Sora, Riku and the colorful cast of Disney characters, including Mickey, Donald and Goofy.

Platform: PlayStation®3 system
Developer: Square Enix Co., Ltd.
ESRB Rating: RP (Rating Pending)
Available: September 10

DEUS EX: HUMAN REVOLUTION® - DIRECTOR’S CUT

DEUS EX: HUMAN REVOLUTION - DIRECTOR’S CUT is the enhanced return to one of the most critically acclaimed video game franchises of all time. By offering players the chance to advance through the game in multiple and vastly different ways, DEUS EX: HUMAN REVOLUTION - DIRECTOR’S CUT provides an experience where every choice has a lasting consequence. Director’s Cut features include visual improvements, overhauled boss fights, reinforced combat mechanics and much more making it the ultimate HUMAN REVOLUTIONexperience.

Platform: Nintendo Wii U™
Developer: Eidos-Montréal (A Square Enix Company)
ESRB Rating: M (Mature)
Available: 2013

FINAL FANTASY X/X-2 HD Remaster

FINAL FANTASY X/X-2 HD Remaster takes players into the adventures of Tidus and Yuna in beautifully remastered high definition.

Platforms: PlayStation®3 system, PlayStation®Vita handheld entertainment system
ESRB Rating: RP (Rating Pending)
Available: 2013

 Mobile and Tablet

DEUS EX: THE FALL

DEUS EX: THE FALL is the next chapter of the award winning DEUS EX series. Developed by Square Enix Ltd. in collaboration with the original DEUS EX: HUMAN REVOLUTION team at Eidos-Montréal and N-Fusion, DEUS EX: THE FALL is a story driven action-RPG and the first DEUS EX in the series to be released on mobile and tablet devices.

Platform: iOS
Developer: Square Enix Ltd./ Eidos-Montréal/ N-Fusion
Available: Summer

MINI NINJAS®
Mini Ninjas is the first mobile and tablet game in the action adventure franchise.  Based on authentic ninja values, this beautiful, fast-paced game takes players on an epic journey, free from gruesome violence and high on Ninja fun. Hiro and his Mini Ninja friends run, jump and slash their way through spellbound lands to retrieve the stolen artefact from the dragon.

Platform: iOS, Android
Developer: Magic Pockets SAS
Available: Now


Top 10 Anime Couples

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Hey Otakus and Geeks readers, today we are going to look at a top 10 ranking formulated by fans and romantically themed, featuring their favorite lovey-dovey couples, who are either much loved or else loathed by those who challenge their claim…

 1. Shinichi Kudo and Ran Mouri (Detective Conan)
 

2. Kirito and Asuna (Sword Art Online)

3. Touma Kamijou and Mikoto Misaka ( A Certain Magical Index)

4. Koyomi Araragi and Hitagi Senjougahara (Bakemonogatari)

5. Syaoran Li and Sakura Kinomoto (Cardcaptor Sakura)

6. Ryuji Takasu and Taiga Aisaka (Toradora) 

7. Kyosuke Kosaka and Kuroneko (Ore no Imouto) 
 
 8. Haru Yoshida and Shizuku Mizutani (Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun)
 
 9. Tomoya Okazaki and Nagisa Furukawa (Clannad)

10. Haruhi Suzumiya and Kyon  (The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya) 

So Guys and Girls, let us know if you agree or disagree or Who you think should have been in the ranking.


source: sankakucomplex.com 

aFRILLiations

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This past weekend, life got real ruffly, as we packed our bags of ruffles & bows and art wares to head to Atlanta, GA for FRILL, a rather newly created gathering convention for lolitas across the states. Scheduled to tattoo, I was able to fully serve my clients even into the start of the convention. After which, there was a major shift in my cute attitude as I got ready to register and set up for Artist Alley.


Here's a bit of my first Lolita convention MISS-Adventure, of the FRILL sorts.
About FRILL
Affrilliation INC. is an Atlanta based corporation dedicated to promoting the American lolita scene both locally in Atlanta, as well as in the United States at large. We are the parent organization behind Frill- A Lolita Convention, and the Anime Weekend Atlanta Pop-Up Lolita Boutique, in addition to our other local events. As we continue to grow, we hope to be able to share our events with other lolita communities around the country, and work to showcase American lolita culture.

The staff as whole was very pleasant, though I only got a chance to speak with Andrea Baker, Afrilliations's CFO, in detail. who is just a doll! Immediately and without hesitation, she takes me to her "office" for thoughts, feedback, and possible ideas for future growth of both the convention and Lolita communities. After exchanging information, we were sure to part ways with frilly warm feelings of wanting to get some things done. 

FRILL, in its second year, was held at the quaint Courtyard Marriott in downtown Decatur. It seemed to be a few under 300 attendees drifting through the halls, during the con's main days. However, that is an eye-balled guess-timate on my part. On the flip side, it was confirmed that at least 15 states were represented tis time around. GO FRILL!


Friday was the "unofficial" start to Frill. A bit late (UGH!) from tattooing and running errands early in the day, I arrived to the fashion walk right at picture time. All fashions welcomed, a great deal of various J-fashions were represented. The stroll continued through downtown Decatur to end less than a block away from the con's host venue. At the stroll's end, refreshments were waiting where we could hang around, eat sweets (almost ANY lolita's favorite past time), snap pics, and commune with locals in the neighborhood.
After which, the pool party happened. And much like Vegas, what happened at the pool party and thereafter, stays at the pool party. *a kee kee lee* Just kidding! All the ladies had a wonderful time splashing around in mermaid tails and kawaii swimsuits in a 4 ft. swimming pool. 

The Programming
Very simple, clean, and straight forward, offered a well-rounded program for varying interests in Lolita. From natural hair care, to beer tastings, genderbending in lolita, J-fashion influences, Taobao, to men's etiquette and cake decorating. There were even panels on how to assist a lolita and how to be a nerd. Unfortunately, I did not get the opportunity to do much in the realm of panels ... with the exception of the beer tasting. Now that was a treat!

The People
Frill attracted a mixed crowd in lolita experience and lifestyle. Hopefully in the coming years, we will see more lolitas with other J-style mash-ups there. Overall, however, most people were extremely kind. As we passed in hallways there would be a smile and nod or a simple greeting as we passed by each other on the streets. Unfortunately, I am pretty shy in person so I found it, personally, hard and awkward to meet other lolitas. So I do suppose I have something to work on. However, I'm quite positive that had I gone to the silly games workshop, I would have been able to break the ice a bit better. >.<
  

My Experience. My Last-word
FRILL, though small, but like most cons, can be very overwhelming and tickle the senses. It is just enough to keep you wanting to experience more. So by the time it is over I don't think a sad "I'll miss you" kinda feeling is unnatural. I attribute some of my being reserved to having traveled and worked a long week so I have no complaints. However, as a learning experience, I would definitely make a note to leave some breathing room between the two, since they are equally as intense in my life.

I, personally, strive to have better experiences in lolita, both in and outside of my communities. So I have taken a lot of notes on what I can do to improve my personal and inner lolita for such occasions. For the little things like that, I would not trade my experiences at FRILL for the world. I would highly encourage more lolitas, like me- shy and reserved in person, tending to stick to their own- to go and experience. Maybe next year we can all go together ;-D

More to come so please stay tuned!
Be sure to paint your days bright!
~je t'adore! =^.^=



Humble Bundle 8

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The Humble Bundle 8 has just been announced and for under $10 USD. You can get seven awesome indie games plus soundtracks.
The games include Dear Esther,  Thomas Was Alon,  Capsized,  Awesomenauts, Little Inferno, Proteus and the award winning  Hotline Miami. This is not the only time they have done this and will not be the last so remember to sign up for their email updates by going to there site https://www.humblebundle.com .

AKB48 plus HTN39 Now They Are Just Trolling Miku Fans

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AKB48 idol Haruka Shimazaki‘s efforts to emulate the virtual beauty of holographic princess Hatsune Miku with some rather unflattering makeup and cosplay have been less than well received by Miku fans, so much so that some have been given to wonder if it is not a deliberate ploy…

 Video:







source: Sankakucomplex.com

Sword Art Online DVD/Blu-Ray Release Dates Announced

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Recently at their panel at Anime Boston, Aniplex of America Inc. announced their release plans for the hit anime series Sword Art Online in North America: 4 volumes per format, Limited Edition Blu-ray Box Set and Standard Edition DVD. Release dates are as follows: 
Volume 1 – Aincrad Part 1 - August 13th 
Volume 2 – Aincrad Part 2 - September 17th 
Volume 3 – Fairy Dance Part 1 - October 15th 
Volume 4 – Fairy Dance Part 2 - November 19th 

 All SKUs will be available for pre-order and purchase through rightstuf.com and Aniplex’s official retailers (Aniplexusa.com/retailers) from May 28th . Each of the Limited Edition Blu-ray Box Sets will come with tons of bonus materials including Original Soundtrack CD (Vol.1 & 3) or Bonus DVD of English cast interviews (Vol.2 & 4), a deluxe 16 page booklet, illustration pin-ups as well as exclusive collectible card from Bushiroad. In addition, bonus contents on each Blu-ray discs will include audio commentary by creators and Japanese cast, Special Animation “Sword Art OFFline”, and more.


Pre-orders for all volumes begin today and can be ordered through Rightstuf and Official Retailers

Right Stuf:           Limited Edition Blu-ray Set Vol. 1: http://bit.ly/12gzPJS
DVD Set Vol. 1: http://bit.ly/12gzPJS

Official Retailers: http://www.AniplexUSA.com/retailers

Microsoft XBOX Next Gen Conference

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Hey Otakus and Geeks fans, Today Microsoft revealed their next gen console to the world. The XBOX ONE. The new console looks good, but is it going to be the the best Next Gen console out?
Lets look at the Xbox One's Specs:


A sleek, glossy black machine that appears to be close to the same size as the Xbox 360. The Kinect camera is a separate peripheral with a form factor similar to the new console’s and the same glossy black exterior. The console features voice controls for various functions via Kinect and integrated support for live TV switching.


 
Specs:



Microsoft has confirmed that the Xbox One has a beefed up set of specs to the tune of 5 billion transistors and 8GB of RAM, compared to the 360′s 500 million and 512MB. The console comes equipped with a Blu-ray drive, multiple USB 3.0 ports, and an 802.11n spec Wi-Fi receiver. The Kinect is significantly improved as well, with a 1080p camera that captures a wider field of view and more accurate sensors, to the point that they’ll be able to detect your heartbeat as you exercise.  



The new console has integrated support for Tv and Cable services, complete with Kinect-powered voice and motion controls. Switching from game to movie to live TV to a guide was shown to be a quick and seamless process during the presentation. Motion controls give users the ability to swipe between channels and back out from full screen mode.



Skype comes with the XBox One with group chat as an added feature. Microsoft has also partnered with the NFL and ESPN to give fans a more immersed sports experience. Daily updates and up to the minute stat changes for your fantasy League. As always Xbox will have exclusive and downloadable content first. The new console will have a Live Halo series directed by Steven Spielberg.



  


Interview With Jim Dirschberger (Co-Creator Of Sanjay & Craig)

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We had a chat with Jim Dirschberger one of the co creators of Nickelodeon's new show "Sanjay and Craig." We talk about how the show came about and many more. Sanjay and Craig premieres tomorrow May 25th at 10:30 A.M. Eastern/Pacific

OtakusandGeeks.com: How did the idea of Sanjay and Craig begin?

Jim Dirschberger: It all started with Jay Howell  in 2004. I met him in San Francisco and we were doing animation together in 2006 to 2009, we did a web series called "The Forest City Rockers" about a motorcycle gang. Then we got a email from Nickelodeon who saw our animation and we were really excited cause Jay and I are massive fans of Nickelodeon. However we had to think of what were going to pitch them, we couldn't pitch this motorcycle gang series, because it's not really for kids. So we went back to Jay's "Sanjay and Craig" and we realize this was  the one. At first we were searching for who is Sanjay, you look at other shows and the kids usually have occupations, or a title we just wanted him to be a kid. 

OtakusandGeeks.com: What are some the challenges of putting the show together storylines since it's a comedy?

Jim Dirschberger: I think at first is trying to find your voice. Will be dialogue based, gag based or goofy slapstick based, the challenge was trying to find the balance between them all. We didn't want to close any doors so we can still have creative dialogue and we can turn to Craig who can bend, stretch and bring that physical comedy element. 

Trailer

OtakusandGeeks.com: Based on the clip show there seems to be a little competition from the main characters for the affection of a pretty girl. Can you tell us a little more about that?

Jim Dirschberger: Belle Pepper works at the arcade where Sanjay and Craig hangs out. Craig is a little smoother when it comes to Belle and Sanjay comes off a little awkward. 

OtakusandGeeks.com: Any characters that are a reflections of yourself?

Jim Dirschberger: Everyone says Jay is more Craig and I' am more Sanjay. We based a lot of characters on our lives. Sanjay mother is a nurse, and my mother is a nurse. One thing we use to bond over is she will get home from night shift and will tell me some of the most grotesque stories like, "You'll never believe what happen to day a guy had an infected eyeball." Sanjay mother is similar in some ways. I think it's another way of keeping it grounded and unique.

OtakusandGeeks.com: Do you have a character that you personally love?

Jim Dirschberger: We have a character that is a wash up actor. All the kids look up to him. It's something to see.







Con Survival

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Since the team is planning on going to so many con-adventures, Nerdist on Youtube, run by Chris Hardwick, have a segment on their channel called Jus Cos. Its about cosplayers at conventions and people talk about experiences and other stuff. Well this segment is about surviving conventions which is important especially in the summer. Justin and I did a list before but its nice to hear it from other people as well. Here you go and enjoy going to conventions. Be safe and have fun. Cons Rule!!!!!!!!!!!!!!




Japan Film Festival Of San Francisco

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The 2013 J-POP Summit Festival, the popular yearly San Francisco summertime Japanese Pop Culture celebration, has announced the launch of the Japan Film Festival of San Francisco, the first fully-dedicated annual Japanese film event for Northern California and the S.F. Bay Area. 
The week-long Japan Film Festival of San Francisco will take place at the NEW PEOPLE Cinema beginning Saturday, July 27th through Sunday August 4th. The festival will also be a prominent feature of the 2013 J-POP Summit Festival, taking place across Japantown on Saturday and Sunday, July 27th and 28th. A complete schedule and advance ticket information is available on www.jffsf.org. 

 Tickets are $13.00 per film unless otherwise indicated. NEW PEOPLE Cinema is located at 1746 Post St. (cross street is Webster St.) in the heart of San Francisco’s Japantown. 

 Nine live-action films representing a vivid cross-section of the best in recent Japanese cinema will have their exclusive U.S. and/or San Francisco premiere at NEW PEOPLE. The Japan Film Festival of San Francisco will complement this press release in coming days with a subsequent announcement detailing an exciting slate of anime feature films also set to receive their U.S. and/or San Francisco premieres.
Live-action films include director Miwa Nishikawa’s Dreams for Sale, Sakuran director Mika Ninagawa's Helter Skelter, Sion Sono's award-winning masterpiece, Himizu, architect/author Kyohei Sakaguchi’s documentary, How To Build a Mobile House, director Takashi Miike’s Lesson of The Evil, director Shinsuke Sato’s Library Wars, actor Kazunari Ninomiya’s Platinum Data, the samurai adventure of Rurouni Kenshin, and Space Battleship Yamato, based on one of Japan’s greatest anime properties (known in the U.S. as Star Blazers) and a must-see for any sci-fi aficionado. Films will be presented with their original Japanese dialogue with English subtitles.

 The Japan Film Festival of San Francisco is also honored to welcome Director Shinsuke Sato, who is also known for his 2011 blockbuster, GANTZ, for a special in-person appearance for the exclusive U.S. premiere of his newest film, Library Wars. Sato will participate in a special Q&A session with the NEW PEOPLE Cinema audience and also appear as a Guest of Honor during the 2013 J-POP Summit Festival.  

The Japan Film Festival of San Francisco is presented in conjunction with the 2013 J-POP Summit, taking place Saturday July 27th and Sunday July 28th across the city’s historic Japantown district to celebrate the phenomenon of Japanese pop culture with a colorful array of live bands and artists, panel discussions, film premieres, edgy fashion shows and DJ dance events, celebrity appearances and more. The J-POP Summit Festival is hosted and organized by NEW PEOPLE in cooperation with the Japantown Merchants Association. In 2012, the two-day event attracted nearly 65,000 attendees. More information is available at www.J-POP.com.

 Japan Film Festival of San Francisco Live-Action Program:

 DREAMS FOR SALE - S.F. PREMIERE!!!
Saturday, July 27th, 7:00pm
Written and directed by Miwa Nishikawa, who’s SWAY and Dear Doctor were screened at numerous film festivals around the world, Dreams for Sale is a richly evocative drama about a couple that lose everything in a fire and attempt to make a fresh start by swindling others. Wife Satoko (Takako Matsu) and her husband Kanya (Sadawo Abe) run a small eatery in a corner of Tokyo, but on the 5th anniversary of its opening, a fire erupts in the kitchen and burns the place to a cinder. In desperate need of cash, Satoko and Kanya embark on a hilarious and heartwarming marriage scam in an attempt to put their lives back on track.



HELTER SKELTER - S.F. PREMIERE!!!
Saturday, August 3rd, 4:20pm 
Sakuran director Mika Ninagawa's live-action adaptation of the eponymous shojo manga by Kyoko Okazaki utilizes brilliantly colored visuals to depict the descent of an outwardly perfect but inwardly unstable star that reigns over the entertainment world. Top model Liliko (Erika Sawajiri) captivates the public with her beauty that is the envy of all who look upon her. However, her appearance has been entirely engineered through plastic surgery. Complications arise from the numerous operations and begin to eat away at Liliko both physically and psychologically, sending her into a downward spiral.

HIMIZU - S.F. PREMIERE!!!
Sunday, August 4th, 1:10pm
Sion Sono's award-winning masterpiece is based on Minoru Furuya's manga "Himizu,” named for a species of a Japanese mole. Set after the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, all 14-year-old Yuichi Sumida (Shota Sometani) wants is to live a decent life. But his environment keeps dragging him into the mud. Keiko Chazawa (Fumi Nikaido), a classmate of Yuichi, harbors a severe crush on him and sticks around despite being berated by him. One day, the yakuza comes by Yuichi's home and tells him to pay off his father's debt. Yuichi already heartbroken by his mother's abandonment and abuse from his father nears a tipping point. A string of incidents occurs that brings Yuichi's world to a screeching halt. Is there light at the end of the tunnel?
HOW TO BUILD A MOBILE HOUSE - U.S. PREMIERE!!!
Saturday, July 27th, 1:30pm 
With the appearance of the famous "Zero Yen" architect, Kyohei Sakaguchi, the documentary, How to Build a Mobile House, makes its U.S. premiere in his favorite city, San Francisco!  Screening attendees will also be invited to his free workshop to build a Mobile Green House with him during the J-POP Summit Festival. Kyohei's numerous books include "Tokyo Zero Yen House, Zero Yen Life,” inspired by the exuberant creativity of street dwellers. This documentary delves into the roots of dwelling, and living, through the unique activities of this architect who "does not build." Sakaguchi, who devised a nest-like abode that fits the size of the human body, apprentices himself to a Tama River Robinson Crusoe who actually lives on a riverbed. The film depicts the completion of a mobile house for only $260.00 in materials.

LESSON OF THE EVIL – S.F. PREMIERE!!!
Saturday, July 27th, 4:20pm & Tuesday, July 30th, 7:00pm 
Directed by Takashi Miike, Lesson of the Evil is a twisted psycho thriller based on a bestseller novel by Yusuke Kishi. Hasumi is a popular teacher among students at Shinko Academy, a private high school, and well respected by the faculty and the PTA. However, a student named Reika feels something menacing lurking beneath his shining reputation. While Hasumi brilliantly solves one problem after another, from a teacher-student sexual harassment to group cheating to bulling, he starts to take control of the school. As the problems go away, Reika becomes uneasy about the way they are solved. Tsurii, an unpopular teacher in the school, despises the popular Hasumi and starts investigating Hasumi's past and discovers that Hasumi is a real psycho.
LIBRARY WARS - U.S. PREMIERE!!!
Friday, August 2nd, 7:00pm & Saturday, August 3rd, 1:10pm 
** Featuring special in-person appearance by Director Shinsuke Sato
Library Wars is based on the bestselling novel and manga series by Hiro Arikawa. Set in the year 2019 in Japan, a new law is passed to crack down on free expression, which allows for the government to create an armed force to find and destroy objectionable printed material. Meanwhile, to oppose this oppressive crackdown, the Library Force is created. The Library Force includes instructor Atsushi Dojo (Junichi Okada) and Iku Kasahara (Nana Eikura), who work to protect the libraries. A fierce battle soon ensues between these two groups.

 PLATNUM DATA - U.S. PREMIERE!!!
Thursday, August 1st, 7:00pm & Saturday, August 3rd, 7:00pm
J-Pop artist Kazunari Ninomiya (Gantz, Oscar –nominated for Letters from Iwo Jima), stars in Platinum Data, the biggest film to be released n Japan in 2013 and directed by Keishi Ohtomo (Rurouni Kenshin). Ryuheo Kagura (Kazunari Ninomiya) is an exceptional scientist working at the National Police Agency's Special Analysis Research Institute. After solving series of complex criminal cases, he is assigned to investigate the murders of several people connected to the newly developed DNA forensics. Yet, when the faint trace of evidence left at the scene is analyzed through the DNA forensic system, it identifies himself as the offender. With no such memory, he decides to flee and the pursuer becomes the pursued. Is Kagura guilty or innocent? Should he trust in science, or in himself? Does he represent hope for humanity or despair? Platinum Data holds the key…

 RUROUNI KENSHIN - S.F. PREMIERE!!!
Sunday, July 28th, 6:30pm & Thursday, August 1st, 4:00pm
A new live-action film adaptation of creator Nobuhiro Watsuki 's samurai manga that has sold over 57 million copies, been translated in 23 countries, and also inspired a popular animated series. Rurouni Kenshin follows the adventures of a slight and mild-mannered young man who was once an assassin working for anti-Shogunate forces but vows to abandon killing following Meiji revolution in Japan, and devotes his sword-wielding talents to helping others. 

 SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO – WEST COAST PREMIERE!!!
Sunday, August 4th, 3:20pm
A stunning live-action adaptation of the famed space opera originally created by Leiji Matsumoto that laid the foundation for the entire Japanese science fiction anime genre. A brave young crew journeys into space on a fateful trip to save the human race as it teeters on the brink of extinction. Five years have passed since the alien Gamilas first began assaulting Earth with radiation bombs in 2194. Most of the human race is now gone. Susumu Kodai (Takuya Kimura) joins other survivors of the Earth Defense Force in the mighty Space Battleship Yamato in search of a device that can restore the devastated planet. Although director Takashi Yamazaki first gained prominence with his heartwarming film, Always: Sunset on Third Street, his background is in science fiction and his talents for VFX shine in this acclaimed film based on one of Japan’s greatest sci-fi properties. 

 NEW PEOPLE Cinema is a 143-seat cinema located in the underground floor of NEW PEOPLE in San Francisco. Equipped with a cutting-edge HD digital projection and THX®-certified sound system, NEW PEOPLE Cinema is home for local film festivals and entertaining events. www.newpeoplecinema.com