Anime News, Anime Trailors and Reviews

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When I think of medieval samurai warfare, the first image that comes to mind is not, that of clashing swords or charging horses or even the distinctive kabuto-style helmet. Instead, I think of flags. Yes, flags.

Specifically, I think of the little "sashimono" banners that every soldier in a sengoku-era army had to wear strapped to their back. Stiffened at the top by a small bamboo crossbar, the sashimono made a fight between samurai armies look almost like a pageant or festival. Except with a lot of killing. Sashimono have also been used as a great tool for drama in period films and imagery, like Akira Kurosawa's Ran or Kagemusha. Broken flags floating in reddened water, banners stuck haphazardly into the ground at strange angles, all evoke the image of Japanese warfare more than any col sword or grand helmet crest to me.

Thus, color me overjoyed when I saw the latest screenshots and video from Shogun 2: Total War. As ever, developer Creative Assembly really seems to get it when it comes to visualizing a battle scene. As you'll see in the trailer embedded below (all captured using the in-game engine), the game is overflowing with hot sashimono-on-sashimono action, with the flags of the Chosokabe and Takeda armies fluttering in battle. An especially nice touch during the night battle is the appearance of soldiers who hold little lanterns during the charge. Very dramatic.

Check the gallery below for more screenshots, as well as some concept art for Date Masamune, Oda Nobunaga, and Takeda Shingen. A far cry from their Sengoku Basara incarnations, indeed.

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Seriously, I think NISA is trying to drown me in screenshots. That's the only conceivable reason why they could distribute so many of them at once, and just for one game!

Then again, a game with a title like Zettai Hero Project: Unlosing Ranger vs. Darkdeath Evilman is so long and ridiculous that it deserves more screenshots. Still, in an effort to avoid overwhelming your minds with awesomeness (and avoid clogging the front page up), I've once again picked out some of the best English screenshots. You'll see what dungeons look like, the exaggerated specials, and even what the story looks like (starting with this screenshot).

Seems as though the Unlosing Ranger is late to his climactic battle with Darkdeath Evilman, but gets run over by a car on the way there and dies. He gives the closest person, you, his powers, but since you're level one, you die and end up on "Bizarro Earth," where you'll train under the tutalage of your guardian spirit, the previous Unlosing Ranger, and some girl wearing a bunny hat.

It's certainly a funny premise, and I like how the initial battle with Darkdeath Evilman takes place as though it were an NES game. I'm looking forward to this game, and now that the premise is clearer, are you excited too?

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I don't see Farmville or any of Zynga's other properties appealing to the Japanese public, but I guess I didn't see them appealing to me either. I'll admit that I'm addicted to Frontierville, Zynga's newest Facebook-based social game. Don't ask why -- I'm not even sure myself.

Zynga has definitely conquered the U.S., but now it looks like they're prepared to be "big in Japan" with a new partnership between Japanese mobile company Softbank and Zynga. Zynga will develop and distribute social games there, armed with the $150 million that Softbank pumped into the American company.

It sounds like the plan is to bring their brand of addictive, time-wasting games to Japanese mobile devices. Perfect for the train ride.

Hey, maybe they could make a game using Softbank's talking dog mascot, Otousan!

A press release was just sent out and a press conference will take place in Tokyo later today. We'll keep you posted on any new developments. 

Black Lagoon premiered as a manga in 2002. The story is written and illustrated by Rei Hiroe. This isn't his only work but Black Lagoon is certainly his biggest success and the only with an anime to its name. The manga is currently up to 9 volumes (still on-going) and can all be found in English thanks to Viz Media. The anime debuted in 2006 with 12 episodes and followed up with a second 12 episode season entitled Black Lagoon: The Second Barrage. The first two seasons came out in a single boxset last year and is handled by Geneon and Funimation. Recently, a third season was announced and started airing in Japan. Lots of buzz has been made for Black Lagoon: Roberta's Blood Trail thanks to special guest appearances of the creator and voice actors at Anime Expo 2010.      

The Story
We begin with Rokuro Okajima, a Japanese businessman, doing a job for his company transporting a disc with confidential information. His troubles begin when Lagoon Company is hired to steal the disc and decides to take him hostage. After events transpire he takes on the nickname Rock and joins the scrappy and wild Lagoon Company. Lagoon Company is seen as being modern day pirates but primarily will take on any job as long as it pays good (be it legal or not). The bulk of the story takes place in modern times in Southeast Asia with their headquarters being in the city of Roanapur, Thailand. Roanapur was founded by Southern Vietnamese soldiers who survived the Vietnam War and grew from taking in fugitive soldiers to drawing in drug dealers, hookers, mercenaries, hitmen, gangs, and the like to become what could easily be stated as the worst damn place in the world. Cops are bought off and everybody's either got a gun or a disease. Black Lagoon is a very violent, but not over-the-top and mostly realistic, tale of crooked deals and trying to survive to see another day. 

The Characters

 
Rokuro Okajima is a simple, easy-going Japanese businessman. He doesn't like confrontation but it was his choice to join Lagoon Company. Rock doesn't carry a gun so he uses his education to get the job done as his experience in business proves to be handy for Lagoon Company. He constantly wonders where his life will go and just what to do. 
 
 
Revy aka Two Hands is the main gunner of Black Lagoon. She's of Chinese descent and grew up on the streets of New York City where she had to kill to live. Growing up on the streets provides why Revy isn't too keen on feelings, has a foul mouth, a short temper, and likes to drink. She wields two 9 MM Beretta 92Fs with deadly accuracy and won't think twice about putting a bullet between your eyes just to shut you up. But at least she isn't bad on the eyes with Daisy Duke shorts, a tattoo, and a short top. 
 
 
Dutch is the main man of Lagoon Company. Nobody knows much about this burly African-American man besides him being cunning, never losing his glasses, bearing a large revolver, and driving the torpedo boat Black Lagoon. 


 
Benny is the fourth member of Lagoon Company. Benny is a Jewish-American tech guy who always drives the land-based (getaway) cars. Like Rock he doesn't use a gun and was saved by Revy when he pissed off the FBI and Mafia while attending college in Florida. 
 

 
 
 
 

Balalaika is the leader of Hotel Moscow, a section of the Russian Mafia and a heavy hitter in concerns of control of Roanapur. She's also more dangerous than Revy on many levels. She is Russian and served as a Captain in the Soviet Army during the Soviet War in Afghanistan. She smokes cigars, is covered in scars, commands her war comrades (who are said to have the experience to fight and win World War 3), and is wanted by Interpol. Balalaika's battle experience and education are put to use as Hotel Moscow operates on a large underground scale. She frequently employs Lagoon Company for odd and dangerous jobs. 

Mr. Chang leads the Thailand Division of the Triad. He's easy-going, patient, and prefers that Roanapur be as "normal" as it can be. Mr. Chang is smart man and dresses such with nice suits, but, like Revy he uses two pistols when in a fight. Being a major player in Roanapur he is on friendly terms with Balalaika and employs the Lagoon Company as well. 

  

Roberta is the Lovelace family's maid and resident assassin-trying-to-do-good. Roberta is also known as the Bloodhound of Florencia for her work as a FARC guerilla in Cuba that made her internationally wanted. She wears a conservative maid outfit and glasses but don't let that fool you as she carries an arsenal of weapons and has formidable hand-to-hand combat abilities. Roberta is Revy's rival and Revy refers to her in many not nice terms. 

 

Yukio Washimine is a Japanese high school girl who becomes the head of the Washimine Clan of the Yakuza. She is headstrong and does not always think things through as she puts herself and her men in danger. Her dealings with Rock result in harsh emotional blows. 
 
 
 
Ginji Matsuzaki is Yukio's protector and confidant as well as the Washimine Clan's main muscle. His weapon of choice is a sword which he has great skill in using as he is another rival of Revy's. 

 
 
 
 
 
Why Watch?

Simply put, Black Lagoon is a down-to-Earth anime. There is lots of action but nothing too over-the-top and unrealistic except for a few instances. While Black Lagoon includes tons of swearing, violence, smoking, and drinking the series delves into characters facing personal and ethical dilemmas while providing adventure. Relationships are slow to grow and the anime has some ups and downs but the cast is very interesting and often complementary. Plus, who can forget all the badass chicks?! This is an adult anime and surprisingly rated at 16+ and not TV-MA. The animation is also well done while being mostly dark but also colorful when needed. As for whether to watch the subbed or dubbed version that is up to you, the viewer. The Japanese cast is full of well-known voice actors and actresses that are sure to be pleasing to fans of subs. The dub cast is scattered between notables and non-notables but the highlight has to be Brad Swaile (known for his dub role as Light Yagami) as Rock. 

Verdict

Black Lagoon is an entertaining series to sit and watch with its variety of characters and different story. It has its own special place in an anime fan's collection. If anything else the series can fulfill the need for rotten fun with some comedy, more violence then you can shake a stick at, gratuitous language, and plenty of booze to wash it all down.     
 
* This guide was written by Anime Vice member sotyfan16 *

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I like cosplay. A lot. I like to watch people dressed up at cons, I like to photograph it, and I like to don a costume myself of occasion. Although, it hard to fit anything over this robot armor ... sigh.
 
That being said, there comes a point where you just have too much damn money. And if you do, you may end up buying one of these crazy Eva plugsuits. Sure, there are plenty of plugsuits to be had from various different retailers. But, if you want to get super serious, you can order yours custom made from Cospatio. Which will set you back approximately 550,350 yen -- $6,334 US. Wow.
 
So obviously, you probably don't have 6 grand to blow on an Eva plugsuit. But if you did , would you?

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Everyone likes schoolgirls. So when you get the idea to take four dozen of them and jam them all into one band, well, you have to assume people will react favorably. So has been the case with AKB48, who are enjoying quite a bit of success in Japan.
 
According to Natalie, it seems a few of the girls in the group have decided to take on the manga universe. This will launch in Weekly Young Jump, with AKB48 members Mayu Watanabe, Rino Sashihara, Rie Kitahara and Yuki Kashiwagi each getting their own strip on an individual week.  You can look forward to seeing these starting August 19th.
 
The titles (subject to change) will be  "Mayuyu: Mangaka Debut Keikaku," "Yukirin no THE Idol Quest," "Kitarie no Mousou Bungaku Shoujodou," and "Sasshi Bishoujo-ka Keikaku." Like people needed any further reasons to love AKB48. Japan has fanservice down to a fine art, don't they?

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