27 Aug 2011

Luis Royo Black Tinkerbell PVC Figure Yamato





Based on the vision of gothic artist Luis Royo, a masterfully crafted creation by Yamato.  The dark beauty from a sculpt by Shin Tanabe stands approximately 5 1/2-inches tall from head to toe, 11 1/4-inches tall from her massive  base to the tip of her outstreched wings... which are translucent in backlight.  Limited to 3,000 pieces worldwide, Tinkerbell comes with a numbered display base, certificate of authenticity, and art card, all packaged in a collector-style window box.

Note: An earlier resin version,  features a slightly different facial expression, as well as paint application.
(bottom image: resin on left pvc on right)

Figure and print, from Amazon



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Luis Royo Official Website

20 Aug 2011

Wallpaper of the Week Guild Wars 2

size 1024x768 from Guild Wars 2
Right click image, open link in new window

A massively multiplayer online role-playing game, unique in the genre Guild Wars 2 features a storyline that is responsive to player actions, rarely (if ever) seen in multiplayer ones.

Official Website

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pic of the week Tang Yuehui


from Chinese born graphic artist Tang Yuehui

Official Website
CG Portfolio
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19 Aug 2011

Afro Samurai Forum Avatars





Right click save image as for 400x73
Right click open new tab/window for 550x100

A Japanese seinen dojinshi manga series written and illustrated by manga artist Takashi Okazaki. The Manga follows the story of Afro Samurai who having witnessed his father being killed by the hands of a gunslinger named Justice sets off to avenge his father's death.

Adapted into a 5-episode anime TV series in 2007 and a made-for-TV movie sequel entitled "Afro Samurai: Resurrection" in 2009.

Following the success of the Anime Takashi Okazaki remade the original Afro Samurai dojinshi into a two-volume manga.  Afro Samurai has also been adapted into a video game.

17 Aug 2011

What does Tokusatsu mean?

A popular form of Japanese entertainment, Tokusatsu translates as "special filming". Simply put, the genre features themes involving fantasy or science fiction characters, mecha, superheroes or beasts and the significant use of special effects. Film series are more recognisable to Western audiences as general Sci Fi.

The 1954 release of "Godzilla" inspired by the American film King Kong, formulated many of the techniques that would become staples of the genre.

TV series include "Metal Hero" 1982 onwards, Chouseishin Series 2003 onwards and Moonlight Mask 1961.
Films examples include "Warning From Space" 1956, "Green Slime" 1969, and "Virus" 1980

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13 Aug 2011

Garage Kit resin recast project x bad hair day




Yes I should be shot for purchasing a recast, but when a kit is no longer in production? (excuse, excuse...) And yes I paid the ultimate price, ill fitting joins, abysmal definition, hours of sanding and milliput, suffice it to say frustration crept in and I abandoned the project. Now 3 years later I can't remember the name of the artist, company or indeed the figure, but the frustration of the past has dissipated and feel I can't justify a new purchase without completing this potential gem.  So bear with me as I retrace my steps, adopt a more patient approach and over the next ? weeks r months attempt to bring this figure back to inanimate life.

So as the title suggests, and as you can see, her hair is a living nightmare, I straightened her long flowing locks all those years ago, but the resin has gradually returned to it's orignial cast shape, a bad omen for the future.  So once again a short soak in  hot water and the resin is pliable enough to to attempt a re-straightening
In the meantime If you recognise the kit, artist, manufacturer, please leave a comment.  As an amateur I would also willingly accept any advice or criticism you have to offer.

Wallpaper of the Week Innocent Gray

1280x1024 Suffering of Soul ova from Innocent Gray
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pic of the week mario wibisono


Official Website

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11 Aug 2011

Noir Anime Series Opening subbed



A 26-episode Japanese anime television series produced in 2001, written by Ryoe Tsukimura and directed by Kōichi Mashimo (blade of the immortal, Halo legends). Noir follows the story of two young female assassins Corsican Mireille Bouquet and the Japanese amnesiac Yumura Kirika. In their journey to learn more about
Yumura's lost memories and her connection to Bouquet, the two form an alliance and begin performing assassinations under the code name "Noir." During the course of the series, they are lured into more and more danger by a secret organization named Les Soldats.  Your closest friend could turn out to be your worst enemy , 

"Noir doesn't fail to deliver mystery, action, and drama"

"an exciting action packed suspense thriller" - AnimeNewsNetwork.com

"series like this don't come along all that often" - Don Houston, DVDTalk.com

Noir was followed by two series, "Madlax" and "El Cazador de la Bruja". Together, these series constitute a trilogy exploring the "girls-with-guns" genre.
Noir Japanese JVC site

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NTSC complete series English, Japanese, available from Amazon

6 Aug 2011

Asuka Langley Shikinami 1/8th scale pvc figure from Alter



Asuka Langley Shikinami (formerly Soryu) a character from the Neon Genesis Evangelion franchise. In the four-film re-imagining of the TV series, Asuka makes her first appearance in the second of four films, (Evangelion: 2.0 "You Can (Not) Advance")  released in the Rebuild of Evangelion series, based on the original anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion.

From renowned figure manufacture Alter, and standing around 23.5 cm tall, Asuka is sculpted by Yagyu Toshiyuki and depicted wearing her experimental plugsuit.

Available from Amazon



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3D Demo Reel Julianna Kolakis



The "Goddess Savanna" and "Captured beast"

Julianna Kolakis Official Website

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5 Aug 2011

Game Character Claire Farron "Lightning"



21 year old Lighting's real name is Claire Farron, also known as Éclair Farron (エクレール・ファロン Ekurēru Faron?) in the original Japanese version. She began using her code name "Lightning" after losing her parents in an effort to deal with the insecurities inherited from her earlier life.

A former Guardian Corps soldier, Lightning wields a gunblade called the Blazefire Saber, which is also known as the Blaze Edge, a combination of a gun and a sword, one collapsing into the other.

Lightning was ranked as the 34th most popular video game character in a poll run by Japanese games magazine Famitsu and second place in Afterellen's "25 Hottest Video Game Characters.

First released Dec 17th 2009 in Japan Final Fantasy xiii is a console role-playing video game developed and published by Square Enix for the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360. The fastest-selling title in the history of the series a sequel Final Fantasy Xiii-2 is set for release in Japan this December.

First image, fan art from Caucasian-eagle on deviantart

Lightning Cosplay
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Final Fantasy Xiii Official Website Jpn

2 Aug 2011

Appleseed Xiii

Not a sequel, but a retelling, Appleseed xiii is a CGI anime adaptation of Masamune Shirow's science fiction manga series Appleseed.

Composed of 13 (22minute) episodes and claiming to follow the original material more closely. Appleseed Xiii is being released as a combination of online streaming episodes, a two film remix, and optical disc sets.  The story follows the exploits of the ES.W.A.T. special forces member Deunan Knute and her combat cyborg colleague Briareos at the city of Olympus after World War V

The films:
Appleseed Xiii Yuigon - Tartoros (In Japanese theatres now)
Appleseed Xiii Yogen - Ouranos (due for release Oct 24th)

The clip above a trailer for the first film

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Official website
Masamune Shirow Wallpaper
Masamune Shirow Wallpaper 2

Kotobukiya Figures