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Post by fenrir72 on Sept 26, 2011 1:36:59 GMT 8
I must have been living under a rock for quite sometime 'cause I knew less to nothing about this series. It was only when I encountered several PVC figures of the femme fatals of the series by Chara-Ani that the series piqued my curiosity. Released and localized by Sentai Filmworks and purchased through Animenation's equally awesome online store, that I came to the realization that, hey, this anime is mighty great! Format: DVD (2 disc) Contents: Chapter 1-6 (DVD #1),Chapter 7-12 (DVD#2) : In house solicitation of other anime releases (DVD #1) : English dub/Japanese dub with subtitles : well that's all folks......kind of bare The Rant:Having grown with Dawn of the Living dead and Capcom's Survival Horror console games, I thought yawwwwwwwwwwn! Seen it, done that but what I got was a knock on the head! Sure, it kind of rips off Sega's HOD and such, but add a sprinkling of John Woo, DOA series' bouncy boobies and pantsu flashing, dash of spicy naughtiness and all the icky sticky drama you get in a soap opera and you get this quirky (imho) work of art. Being kind of new to the series, I'll skip from the prerequisite backgrounder of the manga (though the art style used in the anime reminds me of ecchi artist DaHootch..........another fav of mine). It has its own charm and sexiness mixed with every stereotype you can wish for in an anime.The animation is oh so hi def quality that the characters dance the dance of the d**ned when bashing heads of the undead. Madhouse sure poured in the moo lah when they bankrolled the series. If there be any quality drop in the 12 episodes, I'd be hard fought to find it. Plot wise..........., should we care? It's so enjoyable with the over the top naughtiness and nastiness that sometimes you loose track of the dire straights the characters are living in. will they survive? Who will be turned next? I've said enough without spoiling it too much for the uninitiated but trust me, the set is worth the price of admission! The English voice actors did a stupendous job in their effort to get the emotional gravity portrayed by the original Japanese seiyu. Sure, it won't win any Academy Award but I expect no less from the stable of talents from the company that previously localized Evangelion. Easter Eggs for the DVD is kind of bare as I previously mentioned but at least we get all, emphasis in ALL the 12 episodes in one release unlike another highly anticipated title I dig (cough..............ahem,........Queen's blade) If I have any complaints, its the lack of the 13th episode "Drifters from the Dead". Sentai Filmworks must have missed the release window when they nailed its exclusivity. Hopefully can get to see its official localization as soon as possible. I give this release a 4.9/5.0
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Post by fenrir72 on Sept 26, 2011 1:33:36 GMT 8
Released and Localized by Sentaiworks aka the old ADV films outfit Format: DVD Contents: 3 DVDs Disk #1 Episodes 1 to 6 Disk #2 Episodes 7 to 12 Disk #3 Bonus disc The Rant:************************"Some Spoilers"*************************** Picture the show as a high caloric, multi topping pizza pie that recycles every fetish/theme we have come to expect from a Japanese anime. Let's see, we have KissPlayers from Transformers, Ikkitousen,Queen's blade and Maburoho for all the clothes bursting off, Luv Hinna for the harem theme, Inma Seiden for "harvesting "DNA" etc etc. Talk about originality..................but I ain't complaining ;D Art style/presentation is similar to Muramasa:The Demon Blade Wii game(and Jubei Yagyu's persona is similar to that of Momohime). It's like watching an interactive Japanese painting (very slick accolade to the producers..........ARMS )(known for Queen's blade,Words Worth, Midnight Panther etc). This company also had its finger prints on Mezzo Forte and Akite (another great classic anime with a lot of violent and sexual overtones) Rin Shin btw also is responsible for the Animation style/direction and Tsutomu Miyazawa. Need I mention that it is uncensored. I won't delve into the plot too much as most if not all already know but to the uninitiated, in an alternate world, Emperor Hirohito's family never got into the restoration period (as seen in Samurai X). So the Tokugawa shogunate continued to rule Japan until the present (so being isolated from the "evil" Western influence that eventually led Japan to the fascist route that of World War II) under the Code of Bushido. Under the honor code, every time Japan was threatened, 7 Master Samurai always rose up to confront the threat (manifested by Shogo Amakusa who for all Samurai X fans remember, was a Christian rebel who wanted to overthrow the Shinto Japanese government). An underlying theme in the anime has a bit(to put it lightly) of xenophobia and religious paranoia ( can't blame them, the Japanese that is, 'cause the Catholic Christian missionaries back in the 16th century did want to conquer the country through Cross and Sword) Oh, did I fail too mention the show having a lot of double entendre ? Seiyu on both fronts, Japanese and English (not like the horrid Bible Black type dub,I've been emotionally scarred by it even up to the present ) was superbly implemented and the subtitles synced properly to help the viewer in keeping up with the high octane action. Easter Eggs:Though been trying hard to find one................. well zilch! (Queen's blade by Animeworks had only one, but I'll delve with it in my QB review later). So being without easter eggs, the set is chuck full of bonuses in disc #3. We have the following: 1. Narrated comics with absolutely non-sensible situations by various characters of the series ( very rib tickling btw) 2. Blushing Maidens in the Pact aka the 6 ovas that accompanied the Japanese release(divided into 2 episodes + 1 ova per disc ). The animation btw is animated using the traditional style of animation and not the sepia purple shaded style of the main story. You can opt to see each episode individually or watch them continuously 3.Japanese Promotional Videos 4.Japanese TV Promos 5.Uncensored production Sketches 6.Clean Opening and Closing 7.Trailers Rating:Plot wise, heck it won't win any awards I'd grant you. Should we care? I don't think so. ;D We came to watch to marvel at it's production values at presenting a fresh take on ancient Japanese mythos that...........awwwww heck, we watched it for the stereotypical unrealistic standards we place on our fantasy girlfriends/wives. The set btw is a bargain compared to the Japanese releases (though the Japanese versions came with all sorts of bells and whistles like a special case, telephone cards, art by Nio etc(win some loose some catch 22 situation)) And Sentaiworks really know how to pack their stuff not like Animeworks ( the latter who always the worst case of cat scratch syndrome on their dvds) Though the dubbing is AAA, there is one track in episode one that managed to get a snafu. A scene where Muneakira blurts "....the discipline committee....." well he just says "......... discipline......" I give it a 5/5 (not counting the "originality content "which is a subject I won't touch with a 10 foot pole ;D )
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Post by fenrir72 on Sept 17, 2011 14:07:30 GMT 8
I'm in need for a loose not necessarily complete but undamaged Energon/Superlink Convoy. He's the smaller version without any "STD" Need to repair my existing unit's foot. PM me if available
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Post by fenrir72 on Sept 1, 2011 22:11:20 GMT 8
Mr. Evil.................prepare to meet your maker !
[Aims the (functional) mis-transformed Transformer Six Shot straight at his ugly mug.]
Well hold that pose Mr. Evil, while I get the dang instruction manual...........what the ........?! It's not included? I paid Php 15,000 for this...............refund!
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Post by fenrir72 on May 7, 2011 16:17:52 GMT 8
She is imho one of the most beautiful figures ever sculpted! Not to mention she was based on one of ero master Tony Taka's artworks: Background:Sculpted by: Chieri (one of my fave sculpters ;D ) Contents:A yellow banana yellow box + die-cut black book case like cover a banana a well designed/detailed school desk (with some leg and buttock molding which is pictured) Tony Taka postcard of Kotone and a two layer blister plastic holder The figure herselfKotone at all angles: * see her well rendered pantsu? Close up of her face:Beautiful!!!!!!!!!!! Details:nail polished hands faux banana school girl shoes Now the "piece de resistance", no self respecting Native figure would never be caught with her clothes on right? Well yes, she does comes with some cast-off elements as seen here: Just detached the two components that cover her breast and bra and voila! NSFW links!img270.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=748496695_DSC01360_123_493lo.JPGimg272.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=748355148_DSC01358_123_173lo.JPGimg143.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=748087559_DSC01357_123_379lo.JPGimg107.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=747890223_DSC01353_123_156lo.JPG You can actually take of her panstu but because of this #@$%*& design (which took me nearly 6 months to figure out,) well I just didn't want to risk it The rant:Being like the 2nd or 3rd of Native's premier classy ecchi figure line I am at a loss to find anything wrong with the figure (except, I'm not sure if it's just my eyes but there seems to be a seam line on her left leg (which can't be seen in the pics but noticeable when angled to a light source) The details (from well her Tony-rrific face sculpt) which makes her look more beautiful than her source art material (5/5 Chieri ),her cute nipples and breast and "sweet-spot", nail polished finger nails, shoes(shiny as a mirror with a faux leather like appearance in the soles), the banana, her pantsu and finally her desk.Again, I'll repeat I'm hard pressed to find flaws in the sculpt. But being O.C., I did find the flaw: (as repeated in one of the pics above) This d@mn connection piece to fasten her pantsu is located in a very out of reach spot. You detach it now and it takes like forever to re-hook. Minor complaints aside, this figure is a must have! I give her a 4.999999 out of 5.0. Honorable mention btw to lillybelle from whom I got Kotone.
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Post by fenrir72 on Mar 2, 2011 14:46:26 GMT 8
No Thunderwing? Major bummer. Though I was kind of feeling something like that would happen given the movie and the lack of solicitation for the last 4 figs in online shops.
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Post by fenrir72 on Feb 21, 2011 22:50:17 GMT 8
The anime design kind of reminds me of Naruto(which was done fyi by the outfit /animators of the ecchi animeAngelium)
Bandai doesn't disappoint!
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Post by fenrir72 on Feb 21, 2011 22:46:08 GMT 8
G1 Scourge and hopefully TFC Kup aka targetmaster Kup.
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OCTO 1
Feb 21, 2011 22:44:33 GMT 8
Post by fenrir72 on Feb 21, 2011 22:44:33 GMT 8
Nice job mein freund!
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Post by fenrir72 on Feb 16, 2011 20:07:49 GMT 8
This review will focus on the Defensor gestalt and not the individual 'bots. Defensorfunction: Super warrior/protector Components:Hot spot/ Hot zone Fuso Fire Engine Groove Police Honda "goldwing" motorcycle First Aid Toyota Light Ace Ambulance Blades Bell I helicopter Streetwise Nissan police car Accessories:? head (where's his head?) 2 part/piece chest plate 1 hip guard and 2 "fire ball" canons 2 fists 2 foot parts Various angles:Front Back Left and right arms his legs So where's his head? More in the review The Review:The implied counter balance to Bruticus, Defensor made his first and only official appearance in Season 2 in B.O.T.. The component parts did show up in Bruticus Revenge doing what they do best, rescue people. We saw more of him in Season #3 though imho, he didn't get the respect and fan loving that Superion received Now on to the figure. Like the previous Scramble gestalts, he is composed of the leader who makes up the head and torso. In this case, it's Hotspot. But a peculiar difference is that Defensors' head is incorporated into his body unlike the others who have to wear a mask or helmet. This kind of reminds me of G1 Inferno. It also allows his head to have a 180 degree articulation. *Note: The blue optics and gold highlights are just enhancements I added. Add the two piece chest guard and hip guard and voila! 90% Defensor. He doesn't have any die-cast parts btw (first versions had it on the red part thighie.) Being a "scramble" gestalt, you can mix and match the limb placements. Though nominally, Blades takes the right arm, First Aid the left and so on. Studio Ox rendered him in a much more "proportional" form And he actually looks like this: Full body shot Surprisingly, he is verrrrrrrrrrrrrry stable. Either position of the limbs and still very stable. Like a brick . This stability is what make him a fave of mine. He doesn't at all flop or slouch. His weight is right, not too heavy that will cause a limb to fall. Based on the description I made, expect a very limited articulation concentrated on just the head/neck and shoulder connection. But for it's time, having a neck articulation is like groundbreaking. The only 'bots that had the feature IIRC was Shockwave,Jetfire and Omega Supreme (all came from different companies and not Takara). So how do I rate him? Does he stand up to todays standard? I give him a 5 out of 5. Proportional form design. Very little kibble and not slouching. Kudos for the neck articulation. Honorable mention to his "interaction with Metroplex. MiscellaneousThere is a KO version of Defensor. It is based on the first pressing with die-cast parts. So be on your guard unless you really are after the KO. The version I have on the other hand is a mix version, Hotspot is the USA non metal version I acquired more than a decade ago. The limbs on the other hand are recent acquisitions whereas all are the Euro Classics versions (as in no rub symbols). Also, only Groove and Streetwise retained their die-cast parts. I hope you'll all find this review helpful in acquiring Defensor.
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Post by fenrir72 on Feb 15, 2011 23:36:54 GMT 8
After nearly 20 years of searching.............Menasor is one! I'll be doing a review of the gestalt only and not the individual 'cons that make him up. Here's his high detailed artwork courtesy of Studio Ox Menasorfunction: Super warrior Components:Motormaster Kenworth tractor trailer Deadend Porche Wildrider Ferrari Dragstrip F1 Race car Breakdown Lamborghini Countach 1 Menasor mask 1 "roller car"/chest plate (Motormaster's poor mans version of Roller) 1 hip guard 1 ionizing sword 1 cyclone gun 2 fists 2 foot pads Various anglesfront back The Review:Megatron's answer to the Autobots' supremacy of the road, the Stuntrons/Stunticons were a wild bunch of Sunday drivers. Armed with anti-gravity generators which allowed them to do incredible "stunts" and force field reinforced armor, they all but totaled the Autobots in Key to Vector Sigma and the Pearl of Bahudin episodes. Heck even Optimus and the gang "cosplayed" him in Masquerade.Screeching back to reality though, the detailed rendition of Studio Ox just barely reflects the figure's true appearance in toy form. Motormaster makes up the main torso and head. A mask covers the head to create the Menasor persona. Connect the "Roller car" to the chest and the black hip guard we get.............nearly 90% of Menasor. The other Stunticons makes up his arms and feet. But given the "scramble" gimmick of the figure, there are no permanent assignments for the cars. (Though nominally, Dragstrip makes up the R arm while Deadend the L arm while Wildrider and Breakdown does the legs) this is the Studio Ox formation while this one the toy catalog formation Both of which are...................slaggin' unstable! though the latter is more stable than the former. I tried the formation rendered in the gift set (courtesy of Botch the Crab) which surprisingly was the most stable so go figure Overall, the figure won't win awards with poseability, 'cause he is a literal brick! Detail wise, well he is very detailed, even for his time, the component cars' are easily recognizable from their real life counterparts (back then copyright wasn't probably that strict). It would have been better though if Takara used rubber tires instead of plastic (like Gobots' "Puzzler"). Now that would have made him awesome! Rating:In a scale of 1 out of 5, Objectively, I'd give him a 3.5. Why? Well, he is a literal box with arms and legs. Just that. Seeing how the japanese rendered him in a more humanoid form makes you wish it was better. But then again those were the 80's...........we weren't as demanding as we are now. Fan mode wise, I'd give him a 4.9( arrgh! just the effort to find a complete and near mint Motormaster is enough to drive you nuts!) Just wanting to share and hope you liked my review.
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Post by fenrir72 on Feb 15, 2011 23:35:56 GMT 8
This review will be focusing on one of my fave gestalts. Superion! Does the mold hold up compared to the latest version ( Superlink's Superion Maximus)? SuperionFunction: Super Warrior Components:Air raid=F-15 Eagle Fire flight=F-4 Phantom Skydive=F-16 Fighting Falcon Slingshot=Harrier Jumpjet Silverbolt=Concord SST Superion helmet (with added gold and blue visor high lights) Chest plate and hip guard Electrostatic rifle and 2 fists and 2 feet pads Note: You can use Silverbolt's "launch pad"(not pictured) as a sort of shield if you will for me lee attacks. Various anglesfull front close up front Side Back Studio Ox line art Looks awesome right? The art I mean . Well, sometimes the artists at Studio Ox did let their imagination get a way with their rendering of the guy. Though an awesome toy in his own right, he is not without his flaws......... The Review:Optimus Primes answer to challenge Megatron on his supremacy in the skies, these former cargo/transport ships(depends on which continuity) are one of the many fan faves of the G1 gestalt teams. The eternal opponent of Menasor, Superion always seems to get his @ss kicked by the former (except on the Cosmic Rust episode). Personality wise, according to his bio, he as not so much different from psycho Menasor. Though a good bot at the core, his programed simply to either Protect humans or destroy the Decepticons, and in the comics, he did more damage to the former. Now back to the figure. Utilizing the scramble gimmick, Superion is composed of Silverbolt who makes up the torso and head. Add the helmet,chest plate and hip guard and you get 90% of Superion done. He comes with chrome and a die-cast under carriage. My version though, being the USA iteration, has the spring launcher gimmick gutted. The rest of his appendages is made up of the four smaller jets. Their placements owing to the "scramble gimmick" can be jst about anywhere. Though nominally Fireflight and Airraid make up his arms. As stated I follow this pattern.............looks more kick@ss The aforementioned limbs have die-cast parts with an oddity in Slingshot's design, the front landing gear folds in a different manner. He also shares a similarity with Predaking and Piranacon with his fists being solid and not hollow. And now the flaws ..........he is so d@mn frickin' unstable. Whereas Menasor, after experimenting with certain combinations is quite stable, Superion keeps on slouching forward. And the placement of his hip guard makes his thighs look too long. (IIRC Crazydevy released a new lengthened chest plate that gives a more proportioned illusion.) *Special mention to the the limb/jets' hip sigil /decals. They are mis positioned, minor design flaws that reprolabels' version corrected. Is his Superlink version any better? No sirreee! After burners' nose cone keeps on dislodging. ( It seems all Superions are flawed ). Does the mold stand the test of time? Well if you grew up with G1, maybe, for nostalgic reasons but imho, it may be 50/ 50 for our younger collectors. This guy is not only a brick, but a fragile brick! Heck, I'm so afraid that I might pull out his legs. . Rating:Even as a ogling fan, in a scale of 1 out of 5, I'm giving him a 3.9. And I'm being generous at that. His slaggin' legs are like too floppy/ fragile. Sure Silverbolt can interact with Metroplex but.................on an objective side, I'm giving him a pass of 3.5 (okay, it was the 80's and the aesthetics then are quite different from now. I hope this review will be help give the latest generation of fans some idea on what the first gen combiners looked like and felt like.
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Post by fenrir72 on Feb 13, 2011 22:07:10 GMT 8
Holy Moley! That is one big mother of spark!
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Post by fenrir72 on Jan 26, 2011 21:08:10 GMT 8
Hey, I remember back then, there was a contest sponsored by the (IIRC Boy Scouts) that if you complete the set, you win some TF figures.
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Post by fenrir72 on Dec 9, 2010 0:06:54 GMT 8
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