FANTASY ART & ASSORTED ODDNESS by Patrick W. Stewart
ASIAN ANIME REVIEWS: Intro Page
("Mokona is Mokona")
I sort of discovered anime during my early teen years many eons ago. The old Voltron series was my first exposure to that world. It was broadcast as an early morning cartoon five mornings per-week I believe. (Little foggy on the exact details.) That series really pulled me in. The animation was pretty cool for the time and I loved the storylines and characters. Oh yeah...and the wicked cool GIANT ROBOTS!!!! AWESOMENESS!!! For me there wasn't much after that wrapped up. I watched the re-runs numerous times until it disappeared from the telly schedule. That would be my last venture into that genre for maaaaaaany years. Many yeeeeearrrrrs.
For a long time I did have a scattered and GROWING interest in asian cultures and their entertainment. But for some reason, I didn't want to dip my big toe (on my furry Hobbit foot) into the anime world. Why???? Well, probably because on some unconscious level I knew that once I did I'd be forever hooked. Those anime series can be quite expensive. And I'm one of those people who likes to collect what I love. So yeah, it was the financial based fear I suppose. But then, suddenly a miracle happened. That miracle was Big Lots. During the early 2000's I started discovering (and buying) many asian movies on their shelves every so often. They would sell 'em for $3.00 apiece. Pretty dern cheap...right? (Good time to experiment!) Occasionally there would even be the odd volume of some mysterious anime series or film. I actually passed them by many times and avoided buying them. I felt a strange and powerful attraction to them though. Eventually it got the better of me and I bought a couple of things-- just to try out. That was the beginning of the end. All my resistance and will power ebbed away in the face of Japanese anime. I was now hooked for life. And I'm glad too. The stuff is amazing!!!!!
What do I like about it? What's the appeal? Sighhhhh...you require more words. What am I gonna do with you readers???? Ok, ok...I'll tell you what I like about it. It just simply makes me feel better. Asian stuff, especially anime is like an anti-depressant for me. Almost nothing (that I have access to) cheers me up more. When I'm watching anime I feel almost euphoric. My little heart flutters and I actually smile--unless it's something sad or horrific happening. Then I feel the other appropriate emotions--honest. The point is, it makes me feel. (K-Dramas have that effect on me too.) I stopped arguing with it and just accepted the positive results. Watching School Rumble or Negima or Moon Phase (etc.) is better and MUCHO cheaper than a perscription for Prozac (a.k.a. Nutburger helper) in my opinion.
To this day, my collection keeps expanding. My Amazon wishlists are full-to-the-brim with even more desired series and films too. Between getting the stuff as presents on holidays, finding great sales on Amazon, and, continuing to find junk at Big Lots... golly-wally I'm running outta room on the shelves. I'm happy with that. I think I'll keep up the collecting if nobody has any objections.
On a side note -
I felt I needed to state this since it's very important to the subject matter at hand. This is kind of a BEEF btw. I am a SUB, not a DUB (blech) fan. That is a BIIIIG issue for me. I can't stand to watch Japanese material and hear crappy english (U.S. english that is) voices coming from my speakers. It leaves me very perturbed. The voices in my opinion never fit the characters. I've switched back and forth while watching all my series. I listened to a section in Japanese then replayed the same scene in english. The difference is incredible. A character that sounds cute and charming in the original language is ear grating in english. I've also noticed that they also re-script the dialogue for english audiences. Main plot points, side plot points, humour, cultural references, etc. are changed and usually dumbed down too. This really gets me angry. I know that cartoons are seen as mainly kiddie fare over here, but, please. We're not that doofy! (Well....) I really do have the firm opinion that if you're going to watch material from some other country that you should hear it as it was intended to be heard. Learn to read humans. It won't hurt you. If you miss a little bit of the screen action whilst reading, that's what the back button on your video-watching-machine-thingy is for. I think you'll be surprised how much better it actually is. I command you to believe me. Do as you're told. Grrrrrrrrrrrr.
Anyhooooooooo...
What's on my anime wishlists (or watchlists)??? I know you're asking this. Check 'em out if you're curious what I gots me eyes on.
ANIME: HORROR & SUPERNATURAL
ANIME: COMEDY & DRAMA
ANIME: FANTASY & SCI-FI
ANIME & MANGA RELATED ITEMS I LIKEY
For a long time I did have a scattered and GROWING interest in asian cultures and their entertainment. But for some reason, I didn't want to dip my big toe (on my furry Hobbit foot) into the anime world. Why???? Well, probably because on some unconscious level I knew that once I did I'd be forever hooked. Those anime series can be quite expensive. And I'm one of those people who likes to collect what I love. So yeah, it was the financial based fear I suppose. But then, suddenly a miracle happened. That miracle was Big Lots. During the early 2000's I started discovering (and buying) many asian movies on their shelves every so often. They would sell 'em for $3.00 apiece. Pretty dern cheap...right? (Good time to experiment!) Occasionally there would even be the odd volume of some mysterious anime series or film. I actually passed them by many times and avoided buying them. I felt a strange and powerful attraction to them though. Eventually it got the better of me and I bought a couple of things-- just to try out. That was the beginning of the end. All my resistance and will power ebbed away in the face of Japanese anime. I was now hooked for life. And I'm glad too. The stuff is amazing!!!!!
What do I like about it? What's the appeal? Sighhhhh...you require more words. What am I gonna do with you readers???? Ok, ok...I'll tell you what I like about it. It just simply makes me feel better. Asian stuff, especially anime is like an anti-depressant for me. Almost nothing (that I have access to) cheers me up more. When I'm watching anime I feel almost euphoric. My little heart flutters and I actually smile--unless it's something sad or horrific happening. Then I feel the other appropriate emotions--honest. The point is, it makes me feel. (K-Dramas have that effect on me too.) I stopped arguing with it and just accepted the positive results. Watching School Rumble or Negima or Moon Phase (etc.) is better and MUCHO cheaper than a perscription for Prozac (a.k.a. Nutburger helper) in my opinion.
To this day, my collection keeps expanding. My Amazon wishlists are full-to-the-brim with even more desired series and films too. Between getting the stuff as presents on holidays, finding great sales on Amazon, and, continuing to find junk at Big Lots... golly-wally I'm running outta room on the shelves. I'm happy with that. I think I'll keep up the collecting if nobody has any objections.
On a side note -
I felt I needed to state this since it's very important to the subject matter at hand. This is kind of a BEEF btw. I am a SUB, not a DUB (blech) fan. That is a BIIIIG issue for me. I can't stand to watch Japanese material and hear crappy english (U.S. english that is) voices coming from my speakers. It leaves me very perturbed. The voices in my opinion never fit the characters. I've switched back and forth while watching all my series. I listened to a section in Japanese then replayed the same scene in english. The difference is incredible. A character that sounds cute and charming in the original language is ear grating in english. I've also noticed that they also re-script the dialogue for english audiences. Main plot points, side plot points, humour, cultural references, etc. are changed and usually dumbed down too. This really gets me angry. I know that cartoons are seen as mainly kiddie fare over here, but, please. We're not that doofy! (Well....) I really do have the firm opinion that if you're going to watch material from some other country that you should hear it as it was intended to be heard. Learn to read humans. It won't hurt you. If you miss a little bit of the screen action whilst reading, that's what the back button on your video-watching-machine-thingy is for. I think you'll be surprised how much better it actually is. I command you to believe me. Do as you're told. Grrrrrrrrrrrr.
Anyhooooooooo...
What's on my anime wishlists (or watchlists)??? I know you're asking this. Check 'em out if you're curious what I gots me eyes on.
ANIME: HORROR & SUPERNATURAL
ANIME: COMEDY & DRAMA
ANIME: FANTASY & SCI-FI
ANIME & MANGA RELATED ITEMS I LIKEY
The saddest & creepiest snapshot known to man. Literally the stuff of nightmares. BOO! Yes, it's true. I actually have a (xxxHOLIC) Yuko body pillow & a (Moon Phase-Tsukuyomi) Hazuki wall scroll. And they're MINE! MINE! All MINE! Mwuuuu haaa haaaaaa! Gasp, gasp, gasp, pant, pant, pant! Cough! Gurgle! Gurgle!
