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Anime Milwaukee 2016: Recap

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It was a weekend of teens, panels, and lines.

Anime Milwaukee 2016 was a fun time for me this year. This convention has grown over the last several years and this year topped over 9000 (yes I know) attendees.

Highlights for us (my younger son and I) this year was the Sgt Frog panel with Brina Palencia and Todd Haberkorn (and later Cherami Leigh). Winning some Blue-rays in a Sentai Filmworks industry panel. A Funimation panel. The dub release and showing of 4 episodes of Monthly Girls Nozaki-kun. And my son finally getting Kerero (Todd Haberkorn) to sign his Kululu cosplay head piece.

Downsides: Lines…

The time taken to get Todd’s autograph: 2 1/2 hours. We also did get to meet Lauren Landa (voice of Sayaka in Puella Magi Madoka Magica) which was cool for me, being the Madoka fan that I am.

We also tried, and failed, to get Christopher Sabat’s autograph for my son (Chris voices Giroro on Sgt. Frog). We waited for 2 hours in line on Sunday and the line was cut and we were turned away.

I know this is a risk at conventions while trying to get autographs, and it is why I am personally kind of against it, but my son really wants to get as many Sgt. Frog characters as he can so I indulge that for him.

The Sgt Frog panel was probably the best experience of the convention for us both. The guests were very funny. They really all seem to be fans of Sgt. Frog as a show and I have always heard good impressions for those who worked on it. The bonus was my son raising his hand at the “wrong” time and as a result was being picked on (in a silly way) by Todd. It was hilarious, my son was in heaven and couldn’t stop laughing.

I didn’t get a ton of pictures, but I will share with you some of the many talented cosplayers we came across.

Well, Crap… My Son Got a Dakimakura

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As previously noted in my blog post, Why I Haven’t Got My Older Son a Dakimakura, I had avoided getting him his own sexy, anime, body pillow.

There’s a thing about teens…you can’t leave them to their own devices.

But at Anime Milwaukee I did just that.

I set him loose with his best friend and his cousin and gave him some money while I went to enjoy the convention with his little brother (who is not old enough yet to wander by himself).

I come back to the room for a break and a snack at some later point in the day and what do I find?

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I was speechless.

I wasn’t mad, or annoyed, or anything. I was somewhere between amused, slightly disturbed, and wondering what his mother was going to think when I dropped them off after the convention (she thought it was gross).

He was not in the room. His best friend was however. She laughed her butt off and texted him my reaction much to her glee.

So the moral of the story is: Teens are not to be left to their own devices with money, if they are: they might end up with a dakimakura.

Live and learn.

Now he wants another one…

Anime Milwaukee 2016

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It’s that time again: Convention time.

Myself, my two boys, their cousin, and my older son’s best friend are all packing into the car and headed out for the 3 day convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin next weekend.

Anime Milwaukee is in it’s 9th year and this will be our 4th time going (at least for my boys and I).
Guest highlights this year:

Todd Haberkorn

 Todd Haberkorn

A prolific voice actor know for many roles such as: Natsu from Fairy Tail, Italy from Hetalia, Ling Yao from Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Cheren from Pokemon, Allen Walker from D. Gray Man, Hikaru Hitachin from Ouran High School Host Club, Death The Kid from Soul Eater, as well as my younger son’s favorite Kerero from Sgt. Frog.

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 Brina Palencia

Another voice actor with a Sgt Frog credit (Tamama) along with some of the other following roles: Touka in Tokyo Ghoul, Chibitalia in Hetalia, Ciel Phantomhive in Black Butler, Holo in Spice and Wolf, Yumi Azusa in Soul Eater, Rei Ayanami in Evangelion 1.0 and 2.0, Chiaotzu and Puar in Dragon Ball Kai, Tony Tony Chopper in One Piece, and Georgie in Shin Chan.

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Chris Sabat

The final member of Sgt. Frog’s armpit platoon, Giroro, Chis has a great number of other voicing acting credits such as: Alex Luis Armstrong in Fullmetal Alchemist, Roronoa Zoro in One Piece, Ayame Sohma in Fruits Basket, Shio Sakaki in Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple, Yugo “Braun” Tennouji, as well as numerous voices on Dragonball Z.

 

All of these people are talented voice actors, but also as producers, writers, and directors. There are more guests (Sonny Strait Cherami Leigh, Kyle Herbert, Lauran Landa as well as other non-acting guests), but these are a focus. Why? Because of my younger son’s desire to get as many autographs on the head piece of his Kululu cosplay as possible.

Him with Chuck Huber (Kululu) last year at Anime Midwest.

Another fun guest pair is:

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Samurai Dan and  Jillian

A comic duo, writer, and martial artist: they are a lot of fun to see. If you see them listed as guests at a con you are attending do yourself a favor and attend one of their panels. They are a lot of fun.

I will update my adventures (with pictures) after the convention.

Until then,

Happy viewing!

-the images on this post are not owned by this blog-

 

Wait…What Just Happened?

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Chaos; Head

I finally got around to watching the first in the “Science Series” of visual novel adaptations from 5pb and Nitroplus (others in the series being Steins; Gate and Robotic; Notes). While all three of the visual novels (and thus the anime’s) are set in the same world,there is not a story that links them together. They all stand on their own, and Chaos; Head is the weakest of the three.

The story is set around Takumi Nishijo who for all puposes is a hikkikomori, rarely attending school, playing video games all day, and keeping to himself. After a conversation with an online friend in a chat room he gets a cryptic message with a picture file attached. The picture depicts a ritualistic style, brutal murder. From here on in Takumi is drawn into a world where the lines of reality and delusion become very blurred.

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I could try to describe this better, but I won’t…I’m not sure I could. And this becomes my main problem with Chaos; Head: it is confusing. The show has a lot of cool ideas, but the story is confusing and poorly structured. There are shifts between reality, girls who carry around imaginary (di) swords, a council of bad guys, another bad guy, lackeys, nasty murders, and a creepy old guy in a wheelchair.

This all leaves Takumi frequently clutching his head and screaming: “I don’t know what is happening!”

And I can sympathize, neither did I.

It wasn’t all bad. The explanations for the “science-y” things that were happening were interesting, probably a big load of horse poo, but at least interesting sounding horse poo. The animation was decent, nothing to get excited about, just good. The OP and ED were both good as well.I watched the English dub and felt like it was well done.

Attention Parents: The show contains blood, violence, and murder. There is some minor fan service elements, but not too much. Some of the violent themes would be disturbing for a younger viewer. And again, it’s confusing.

I was a little sad in the end that I didn’t enjoy this more. Perhaps it works better as a visual novel? Give it a look if you’re really curious: I’ll don’t often tell people to not watch something: different strokes for different folks.

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It’s okay Takumi. It’s over.

 

Until next time: Happy Viewing!

Watching Steins; Gate With My Son(s): The Summation

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So after a long hiatus I am back to Steins; Gate with my sons.

Originally this started with my younger son watching Steins;Gate with me so that I could control what he watched and to share the experience of watching one of my favorite anime’s with him. After a time, my older son began watching with us and it became a group activity (it just took us a long time to get around to finishing the series.

But finish the series we did. We binge watched the final 8 episodes and OVA that we hadn’t finished.

Steins; Gate, while an excellent story, is a demanding watch. The first half or more is a lot of set up and exposition. It is really well done, but to a younger viewer may be harder to sit through.

My younger son had a harder time with this. He is easily distracted and antsy. So missing subtle things and small jokes happened easily and I had to remind him that he needed to pay attention at times.

His older brother, being a bit more mature, was more inclined to watch intently because he could see, by context, what the show was demanding of the viewer.

And while the first half moves a bit slowly with all of it’s set up: it pays off. Intensely. Very intensely…

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I won’t put any spoilers here, but Okabe (our main protagonist) is put through the wringer. It is emotional and traumatic. Not just once, but multiple times in the last half the series. It is a great pay off for all of the early set up.

Both of my boys were watching with emotional awe as the rest of the story played out. My older son was left a little speechless at the end as I said: “So that’s Steins; Gate. Understand why it is one of my favorites?” I think he did.

Even for myself, I had forgotten some events (last 2 episodes) and was audibly gasping as things occurred. I also have a greater appreciation for the series as I have now watched Robotics; Notes and am currently watching Chaos; Head, where all these worlds are connected to one another in a fashion.

Attention Parents: This is an intense show. There is blood, murder, and tragedy. There are gel-nanas and gel-humans. It is a dark show at times. There are also off-color jokes and a lot of “hentai” name calling. Subject wise it is also dense matter dealing with concepts of time and multiple universes/ timelines. This would be harder material for younger children to understand or enjoy.

That being said: It is still one of my all time favorite shows and I’m happy I got to share it with my boys.

Until next time:

El Psy Congroo!

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all images contained in this post are not owned by this blog.

Future Cosplay Plans

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As anyone whose read my little blog knows that I attend Anime conventions with my two boys. Again, this year, we will be attending several. We will be going to Anime Milwaukee, Anime Central, and Anime Midwest.

I have cosplayed in the past and last year got a devious idea. I thought: “What might be fun to cosplay, be funny, from a show I like, and embarrass my children at the same time?”

And then it came to me:

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Mami Tomoe! 

I could be a magical girl! Even better, I’m not going to shave my beard! Even better than that, I could let my beard get all burly! Even better than that with ice cream on top, I could walk around with a cigar in my mouth and call myself ‘Manny Tomoe’.

My children are horrified. I am delighted. The cosplay is on order.

Pictures to come later this year.

I’m such a bad dad….

New Concert Coming Up

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While I mostly post about anime, I do share other things I’m loving at times. And what I’m most excited for right now is an upcoming concert.

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Nightwish!

 I have missed these guys several times as they have passed near me, but not this time. I, and my boys, will be checking them out.
Give them a listen if you haven’t heard them before.

 

 

 

 

I honestly think the videos are kinda cheesy, but the songs are awesome.

Where Did I GO???

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It’s been about a month since my last post. Truth be told, I’ve been having a hard time of thinking about what I want to write about lately.

I still am watching anime. Some on my own, some with my boys. We have resumed our watching of Steins; Gate after a long hiatus and I will probably post some thoughts about that later. This season doesn’t have me hooked on anything with two exceptions: Ojisan and Marshmallow  and Erased. 

So bear with me through the doldrums of the year and I’ll be back as time permits and as I’m more inspired.

Until then, I’ll go poke some jello…

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Bro, Do You Even Anime?

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I write this not to my anime viewing friends and associates, but to others who have never bothered watching anime. Maybe you thought it was for kids, too weird, had to many tentacles. I wasn’t always a fan, but became one after I gave it another look. So, now I will post shows, every now and then, that I think the non-anime viewer may like if they give it a chance.

Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood.

Often at the top of lists of must watch anime, Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood (and make sure you watch Brotherhood) has a lot going for it. It has steam punk elements mixed with a sci fi/ fantasy story line. There is humor, drama, and excellent storytelling. The world, along with the characters that inhabit it is interesting and rich (and some of the most kick ass female characters that you will see anywhere). If you like fantasy, magic, and adventure storytelling you will probably enjoy this show.

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I will say that you do need to stay with it past the first season, which has it’s good points, but is not as strong as the following ones. However, the first season does have a great OP.

Start there. Watch a new genre in the new year.

Happy Viewing!

Lets All Get Excited and Build a Robot!

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Robotics; Notes

Adapted from a 2012 visual novel released on PlayStation 3, X-box 360, and PlayStation Vita (2014), Robotics; Notes occupies the same universe as Chaos; Head and Steins; Gate.

Set nine years later than the events in Steins; Gate, Robotics; Notes follows two main protagonist’s story lines. Akiho, who is trying to live up to her sister’s legacy and build a giant robot in the Central Tanegashima High School’s Robot Research Club. And her childhood friend, Kaito who has no interests in building a robot or much else besides playing a robot fighting video game.

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Kaito one day stumbles across an Artificial Intelligence named Airi that he can only observe through an App on his phone. Through Airi he uncovers a series of reports that have far reaching consequences for the world.

I can really say I enjoyed Robotics; Notes thoroughly. Yes, as some have noted, it is not as well put together as Steins; Gate and is a little muddled in the plot at points, but overall I felt it was an enjoyable show to watch. The characters are fun…you even have a shut in, Otaku type…

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And then there is the animation, which is very well done.

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Overall it was a fun series to watch. There is a dub of it, which seemed fine, but I had come into it in the last 2 episodes and that never works since you are already accustomed to hearing the voices one way.

Attention Parents: There is not too much to object to. The exception is some slightly lewd comments from  Furugoori Kona, but many of those may fly over kid’s heads anyways.

I recommend the show for a fun bit of sci-fi in the same realm as Steins;Gate.

Happy Viewing!

all images in this post are not owned by this blog.