Smoky, Yet Alive..

Reporting with signal cleared up yet again, and with tale of a most troublesome brush with a killer. Was a battle one could only run across whilst traversing the more treacherous corners and byways of life on foot. And with an enemy who's claws detach with intent to linger long after an attack. But keep in mind, that it is a killer. Not a killer of life, but rather a killer of time. (although, many may argue both being of the same ilk) A beast known for incapacitating some of the more resilient of our species. Bombarded by the best weapons imaginable, this creature finally found itself defeated and well assimilated into the Kaijyu like so many before it.

So yes, this flu was a bit of a monster.

Can't say I had ever experienced anything like it in my lifetime. And even though hospitalization was never deemed necessary, the convalescence and requisite fighting that it took to ward away symptoms was significant enough for a year's worth of job-delaying illness. More than grateful to be back among the world of the living (even though it was quite refreshing to be confined to more than one home, reading, typing, and exchanging ideas with others equally as infected for a few days), and eager to begin sharing thoughts on a great many things viewed again. So keep eyes and feelers lively, the true monster has returned, and boy is it ever hungry!

State Of The Kaijyu: Springtime For Monsters!

Firstly,

Mending from almost two weeks worth of airbound illness, and more than eager to be back in the cockpit. There are many more worlds of weird, and fun to explore, so keep those backpacks filled with essentials, things are continuing on all fronts..

Second,

Beginning to see my way through some major life trajectory changes, and as a result, posts will likely remain this sporadic for the time being. But don't let this be a hint of an oncoming closing of gates. In fact, much of what is in the real life planning has everything to do with the writeups shared here, and elsewhere. It only felt right to pull up a few stakes in the name of taking the best advantage. Living in a new location has been enlightening beyond words, and in that regard, it feels more than time to do more in the living department. Knowing how this will impact future writings, this decision seems all the more invigorating.

After all, a great deal of what makes the Kaijyu especially fun for me, is the bridging between strange visual culture intermingled with the social world at large. And it wasn't in any way a planned theme that eventually became something of a backbone here. It like so many things formed in the doing. And now that I feel like I have some focal point to work with on these pages, it feels quite appropo to study outwardly in tandem with various weekly screenings/events/editorials, podcasts, etc. Blogging is essentially a means to keep the abilities fresh, and to hopefully expand them. There is a great need for immediacy with these pages, and there are times when it simply won't do to force out a writeup simply for the sake of itself. Believe it, or not, there are weeks when many films/shows are viewed and are never reported on. Often this is the case simply because the subjects themselves exhibit very little to muse or expound about. - Which makes one wonder if many creators find themselves in a similar predicament; unable to find the inspiration necessary to provoke ideas, tortured by an almost pathological need for work to be done. And while it is true that even the most lackluster work is capable of eliciting some laugh, accidental profundity, or even wholesale rage, it is a very particular series of patters that one must find in order to pack a post with a fitting response.

Here's to a future of strange discovery! It's bound to be an illuminating voyage.

The Throughline

After much of the extensive pausing that has graced the walls of this blog over the last year-plus, it has nagged me what it is that binds a majority of my writeups/reviews. Considering it as some mildly consistent body of work comprised of hours upon hours of grinding through whatever thoughts were found floating about in need of some manner of home, while discomforting in some respects, also deserves examination if even for a moment. Which is hopefully why these words are coming out in rapid succession this morning, at the beginning of the year of the Water Snake. Perhaps with some calm resolve, this could help clear up the fog of so many recent breaks. While real life has taken a significant point in matters, it hasn't been without thinking endlessly about what topics make for good editorial, be them here, or at AD, or any number of places. Daily schedules notwithstanding, it is also about finding something new to consider, even if the subject itself has been adequately written about elsewhere. So where does the Kaijyu seek out its own brand of thought?

Likely within an insufferable need to clear the air between fan behavior and an awareness of more grounded social context. And while none of it is entirely successful, it does feel very much like a common denominator that binds even the most gonzo peek at a bloody post-tokusatsu tribute. Which is also why the occasional darker than average piece of horror or doc comes my way and has to attain some manner of coverage here. Even the more obvious multiplex experience can carry with it some manner of social challenge that the average crowd might consider in between the opulent production value and explosive sound mix. One of the bigger things that film school helped me understand was that everything created is equally capable of coming through with something that is beyond the often extraordinary trappings we are sold into watching it for. Ostensibly it's just looking out for some semblance of the personal that could transcend the package. When novelty wears off, especially in a media climate such as now, one may find it important to seek out just what it is that draws them to certain works. What does one walk away from them with? What did it help us consider? What is it to be truly entertained?

And it these thoughts continue through at places like Anime Diet, where the occasional cartoon review, or look back at fandoms of days past reside. Attempting to sum up feelings about a medium that has meant so much to me since childhood remains a challenging and occasionally rewarding part of my online life. And its also hard to imagine a medium more telling of a culture and its social nuances than anime, so there is often a wealth to be mined by looking at the trajectory it has granted itself in half a century. And like anything else, it is riddled with a need to make a quick yen, but it also has within it, the power to encapsulate a time and attitude like few other forms of art. Its often visceral nature is not unlike varying types of rock music from folk to punk to sheer noise. And whether or not we acknowledge such a thing, it never ceases to raise an eyebrow or two, or jolt someone into a soap-box-stepping frenzy. And it cannot merely by a reflection of the fans themselves so much as the work that helped illuminate these feelings that were brewing under that surface in the first place. "Just look at that passion all over those walls" It's a visceral, occasionally beautiful kind of love that is hard for some to see the value in, but still deserves some much needed examining from the ground floor.

So what it all comes together as, perhaps is best summed up as a multi-tentacled means of figuring out where one goes after the flaming fanboy begins to cool down. Where one can truly roost, and still appreciate the past whilst looking heartily toward the future. It can just as easily be magical as it could be gritty, horrific as it could be gorgeous, honest as it is bugnuts crazy. It isn't nearly as tonally schizophrenic as one might have imagined. After all, it is imperative that a wanderer seek themselves whilst being lost. It isn't easy to chart a map without a north star, or a compass, but the work brought forth by the challenge makes it all worth while. We are all visitors, and it remains to be seen how many choose to remain as tourists. So there is indeed value in staking out all possible hidden paths. The magic is in knowing where these paths intersect.

Kaijyu-OH.

The training has been rigorous, and the pressure points have been memorized.

Been taking a while to return to these pages. And despite the fact that a much-needed explanation (which really shouldn't happen to be completely frank, as living in a new place, and saddled with new work responsibilities has taken up a surprising amount of energy and time as of late) should be in order, it may tickle some to know that a long-considered podcast is very much in the making. The labs have been boiling with ideas. Ideas which seem to be gathering quite a bit of traction for Cel Count Media, and in turn, posting here as well as Anime Diet. Most of which may spend more time talking up nastier shows of the past, as well as the usual cinema pop schtick we tend to celebrate. It has been especially fun exposing the locals here to works I once enjoyed in a past life. Having the opportunity to re-evaluate many of these with older tastes has been truly inspiring, and I can't wait to share them with all. Even ones that can so easily be considered "bad" suddenly carry with them a certain amount of freakish charm that simply isn't found anywhere anymore. The current anime output can only be blamed for this, as I can now safely say that more often than not, it isn't a climate made for me anymore. And while here are winners here and there, there is no substitute for the J-media equivalent to a scuzzy pizza joint in the bad end of town.

So expect lots more leaping back n forth on that time machine, because we're bound to wear that sucker out pretty soon.

State Of The Kaijyu: To The Game Platform!

When we were last here, blogging duties almost immediately dropped due to sudden changes in living environs as well as the inevitable move closer to the Los Angeles area (which I am currently still in the process of digesting - something that will undoubtedly be a constant since one never truly gets a complete handle of the city, especially this one) And Hakaider was in no way something I truly wanted things to stop with, so I do apologize for that. There's also the issue of not having much to any time to watch, let alone evaluate anything during that amorphously hectic period of time. And while there's been no better reason to leave things consistently silent, I will say on these pages that getting to better know the new surroundings, as well as what manner of access I have to even greater patches of media and expression, has been truly liberating, not to mention nerve-wracking. What does one do when the entirety of one's world is shifted so dramatically by a mere 18 mile move?

Tends to older, questionable habits of course!

During the 4th of July, I was invited to make a "weapons" stop and drop at a local used books/comics shop in North Long Beach called A Castle Of Books, which was host to a great number of goodies from past to present. Was surprised to see the unexpected amount of anime history/toy weirdness that lie inside. And within all that came several finds that just plain baffled and amused.

On the baffling side was running into several issues of the long-lost Star Blazers comic originally published in 1987 by Comico..

Not that these are any kind of major find in regards to quality, but they are a fascinating peek into the early days of anime awareness, and tie-in business. But seeing no Captain Okita, and also a decent amount of "new" characters is pretty weird. This is also skipping the fact that much of the books are very rough and not altogether coherent. It also feels like a very scrappy attempt at early fanart based on mere ideas and concepts of Yamato, not so much on the show as a whole. Weird, weird stuff.

And continuing on the analog media train, the store also had a decent amount of VERY forgotten anime on VHS. I immediately broke out the footstool for this, as I hadn't seen a lot of these in well over a decade now. And the one I couldn't help but pick up due to its rarity, and the weird looks I still tend to get upon mentioning it to other anime fans, the first two episodes of TRSI's very limited release of the in many ways criminally underseen Starship Girl Yamamoto Yohko OVAs. Before the cult TV version came years later, it was this lightweight piece of science fiction goofy that came across me during the very end of the 1990s, ad charmed me in ways few shows do now.

For the unfamiliar, SGYY tells the tale of a thousands-of-years-in-the-far-future company's stake in a new form of warfare - grand scale space games take the place of bloodshed on a battle field. And with access to time travel technology, their best hope of working out grand disputes between nations and rival interests, is to assemble teams of brilliant arcade gamer girls capable of piloting company-owned spaceships to participate in often absurd wargames well-off planetary orbit. And being one among millions, cocky, tomboyish Yamamoto Yohko is the newest recruit, who seems to have little trouble getting the feel of her new situation, regardless of the often dangerous rivalry of the Red Snappers, a team with a supposedly bulletproof reputation.


So yes, the OVA version of the "story" is more comedic than anything else, but the freewheeling attitude of the show that just asks us to bask in it's idealized and often silly world makes for a fun "summer" diversion for those looking for cute girls and harmless action. And on top of that, the thought that this was a big Star Child vehicle for some of the 1990s biggest seiyuu talents(including Minami Takayama, Megumi Hayashibara, and Yuko Miyamura), makes it a much more potent piece of 1990s nostalgia for me to be honest. And yes, it's just fluff and a seiyuu commercial with a lot of quirky humor, and no real story. But at least it doesn't pretend to do so. (That's for the later series) For now, it's just a lot of latter 90s fun that leaves zero aftertaste, and very little in the way of creepy. Definitely something of a so-called guilty pleasure. Especially when considering that the anime's director was none other than a man called Akiyuki Shinbo!

So that's it for this morning. Plans for new posts and even more podcasts are very much in order. It has been far too long friends.

More fun than eating bananas while watching crocodiles!

State Of The Kaijyu : Tripping The Life Lulltastic?

Not going to make up any excuses as to my current status. As of this moment, Kaijyu's concentration lies heavily on new stuff I've been able to watch, read, or places I've been able to go. And since the flow of life has remained wildly busy in more than one manner, a big sporadic post here or there will have to suffice until further notice. To be completely blunt, I haven't been seeing much lately that has me charged up enough to write about them beyond the occasional Twitter post. But fear not. There are many new potential posts in the planning, along with reviews and write-ups that have already been submitted to their appropriate places. (Two of which are awaiting release at VCinema-one of which concerns a 1990s favorite that continues to inspire me in many ways.) Not to mention a recent, and very hopeful prognostication piece over at Anime Diet, where I offer thoughts on what excites me most about the coming year.

So for the time being, my Twitter feed will remain as busy as I can make it until time and material frees up. With some more than exciting changes on the roster within the next month, things might begin looking much busier around here, as well as at Cel Count Media. As a matter of fact; count on it. 

The Kaijyu Comes To VCinema!

Well. Figured it was more than overdue to spill about what has been going on behind the scenes as of late. True to this (and other) blog's roots, reviews and thoughts are more than waiting in the scaly wings, as I've been hard at work fine-tuning a wholly new & challenging life schedule. But the biggest news to come out of this resides in the newest place fellow monsters can check out for my signature (read: silly) rantings and ravings. Turns out after much radio silence, I'll now be providing occasional commentary for the fantastic souls over at VCinemashow! A truly one-of-a-kind home for news and reviews spanning asian cinema of all shapes and morphology, my duty will likely mostly consist of thoughts regarding anime films/ OVAs, and various strangeness in between. I must admit to being a little nervous, but that can only better fuel the excitement. So please, add VCinema alongside everything else to get a more vivid picture of what excites us about far east visual culture & more! It's bound to be a worthwhile trip.

For The Curious: 2012 Opening Moves

For the curious, the beginning of this most unique New Year has largely seen more activity elsewhere. And in that regard, it feels a lot like things have started on a more heavy-handed note than initially expected. In the days following the demise of US anime distributor, Bandai Entertainment, a post occurred on Kotaku regarding one of the oldest, creakiest arguments against piracy that essentially tipped me into hyperdrive. Having actually worked within the industry, and witnessing many things for myself, this post was the last I could take of such notions..and thus...Anime Diet became home to something that was wholly unexpected, and has become far more impression-making than I had even remotely anticipated.


And speaking of Bandai,..I think Mike Toole said it best..




In other news, the halls of Cel Count Media are beginning to glow with the warm colors of diversity, as another show entered the fray- and a most welcome return to a show I truly missed!

Join Jenny P. and myself as we restart our journey into our mutual lives as cinephiles from one generation to another with The Double Chop, where our first go-round pitts the lesser-remembered Jackie Chan in America romp, The Protector against John Carpenter's still-infectious paean thumb of the nose to whitebread Hollywood, Big Trouble In Little China! Join our monthly show, as we share personal movie memories, and stack them up against ones we both know we like. Truly unusual, fly-on-the-wall, verite podcasting!

With seeking new forms of employment, my focus is a little out of the realm of heavy blogging at the moment, but it should return at full speed soon enough. Posting will continue to happen when the inspiration occurs. Until then, Twitter is always the best way to see what's currently happening with me, and current projects. With a bit of extra work, and yes luck, things should be back to pseudo-normal. Either way, thanks for the feedback, and dialogue. It is always appreciated.

The Google + Effect

While I struggle to finish transcribing a Q & A from last weekend, this little nugget of news felt just ready enough to be shared.

As mentioned today via Twitter, through some good pals I am at last within deeper clutches of the Google Beast as I have joined the ranks of those now using the Google +  social networking tool. And since this will make for roughly my third venture into the social blobbosphere, I've decided to make it an extension of my W.Kaijyu Twitter feed, sharing news of just about anything that inspires, energizes or enrages regarding the genre universe. So should readers/followers wish to add me, please feel free to do so. I would be more than happy to do the same.

The State Of The Kaijyu & An Invitation To A Carnival...

Just when it began to feel a little too quiet around here....

Enough with the podcast links and onto something resembling an update here. Well it has been a pretty rough and tumble series of weeks as exhibited by the dearth of new posts on these pages. What with work, illness (still pending btw), and a newly acquired schedule, things were more than a little distant for sometime. Which is why as of this week, things will be a little busier. That's right, we'll be giving you quite a bit of material that I had been hoping to share since the latter weeks of 2010. From more film & tv verbiage, to local events, and Japanese media silly to perhaps even newer forms of bloggy-do. I'm happy to finally be able to stretch, and have an opportunity to present more thoughts on media past & present, and will do my darndest to give it a unique enough spin to keep pals coming back.

As the new schedule dictates, I'm going to do my part to be back in the three to five posts per week habit. And along with everything else going on, this feels like a safe cache of numbers to work with.

So in the spirit of new rhythm, here's this week's Karaoke Crush- [Hey, she was going to be a part of this eventually!]



And perhaps this can put us in the mindset of the upcoming series of posts I have in store this week.

Not sure why I've been in such the mood to explore some of my dusty old vids, but I guess it was only a matter of time when I gave a reliable favorite some discussion on the blog...so for now, I leave with you all with a plain, simple, no-nonsense hint.

At Incredible Speed...

Was just reminded on Twitter (via the always reliable Tim Maughan) about this eyeball raping juggernaut, and just had to chime in on my love for the works of Takeshi Koike & Katsuhito Ishii. Fluid, colorful, and near PCP levels of full-motion anime-fu. Those unfamiliar with these names may remember them upon my mentioning of The Animatrix. World Record? Or how about the live action Shark Skin Man & Peach Hip Girl(1998)? Ring any bells now?

Oh yeah, this premiered last August at the Locarno International Film Festival and apparently rocked the house, so seriously...this is something worth looking forward to. And best of all... it's a complete original. Finally, a peek at something altogether new. So suit-up, and break out your best insane goggles because this looks like it's going to be a unique brain-buster of a ride.