Just when I talked about the image of Otaku in Japan, out comes a video I got to know of recently on YouTube.
Channel News Asia goes out to the field of otaku cosplayers and finds out about the difficulties of maintaining their “weird” interest in a conservative Japanese society.
They sang the School Rumble theme song :) Here are the rest of the parts:
My cousin Daim wrote a nice piece of article in his *ahem* BLOG (http://www.daimation.com) detailing his preferences in selecting his favourite animation/movies. Had a nice discussion with my cousins last night, thought it was a great idea to come up with my own list! :) I invite everyone to do the same!
This is also in tune with the upcoming ahbonk.net Anime Awards 2009, so you will roughly know why I choose some shows over others.
Of course, this is just a writeup about my preferences. To each his own, I’d say.
First, let me tell you the most important factor in choosing the right show:
As long as it’s not Micheal Bay’s Transformers, it’s good.
It’s been years since I left /if / interactive. 3 years to be exact. Yet it’s impossible to forget the sweet and bitter memories I had there.
I think I’d be some fresh greenhorn if I worked elsewhere. No regrets at all; it was one of the, if not THE greatest life and working lessons to be learned. Design, working culture, different mindsets, even programming, I attained most of ‘em here. I absorbed a whole lot of new things, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without them.
Being the first company to have industrial working experience, people often ask me what /if / does. It’s hard to answer that question to a layman without sounding too descriptive. I wanna get away with just saying “they do cool digital stuff, the ones where you don’t use a mouse or keyboard”, but that just raises more questions.
Now I don’t need to. I just forward them to the newly created YouTube channel IF dot TV. It’s about time! Here’s their latest cool entry:
This is an application for Kent. Be a video disc jockey among many and use the iPod Touch to interact with the screen.
They also did work for Nike. Don’t pray pray! The video explains it all.
And how could we forget the orgasmic jellyfish xD Starting commentary by yours truly!
If you think that Malaysians are left behind in the creative industry, you better think twice. /if / will prove you wrong.
Is this the future?! Nope, it’s the present. Released recently, Sekai Camera is an iPhone application where you can put tags and even comments on real world footage, utilizing the camera and GPS system. That’s Google Earth/Wikimapia on a whole new level. Been downloaded 100,000 times already, and counting.
Augmented reality just got better.
It’s getting closer to that cool tech you see in Higashi no Eden. Maybe Micchon programmed it. SHE’S REAL WOOT
End of last year, an interesting free online service called Myzo was born. It’s simply a slew of very unique variety shows, each between 1 to 5 minutes, shown one after another without stop, but you can switch “channels” easily. The videos include:
Stupid short films and commercials
Documentaries of all types, including how to sleep on a hammock
A cooking show with unusual conditions (e.g. cooking fried rice without waking your wife up)
Intentionally unsync-ed national anthems of different countries, with corny graphics and effects with Japanese translation (Malaysia was not spared)
It’s like Japanese variety show, Warioware-style.
The videos are crazy random, which is part of the charm. They have that weird but professional and creative aura that surrounds them. Anyone who has played Metal Gear Solid 4 should relate it to the beginning of the game; you know what i’m talking about.
My favourite channel is ShuuChuuRyoku no Tsukekata 「集中力のつけ方」. To test how well they can focus on a certain job/game, they do it in a room of curious cats.
Yup that’s it. Hey, told you I love cats rite? I need no other reason to watch this!
Playing the Hyakunin-Isshu, a traditional Japanese game where you’re required to choose a card that contains the second half of a given unfinished poem. Love how the guy lifted the cat’s tail to see the cards haha.
Jigsaw Puzzle. Awwww there’s a kitten in the hood. *heart*
Playing Shogi (Japanese Chess). The cats added more challenge to the game at first, but later they just laid back and watched the game.
Calligraphy. Hard to draw anything especially with a cat wearing a maid suit blocking your way!
For those in the dark, Whose Line is it Anyway involves 4 comedians who have to make stupid jokes on the spot, given a certain surprise situation or dialogue. Sometimes they would bring in a guest, like the video below. But Colin, Ryan and Wayne will always be the comedy classics.
I used to follow Whose Line is it Anyway on Star World some time back, but I think I missed this episode. I just finished laughing like a madman at 2 o’clock in the morning. Thanks to Chen for sending me this one.
Poor Wayne.
Haven’t had a super crazy laugh-till-die in weeks! Everyone cannot tahan and bursted into laughter, even after the stunt!
Damn I miss this show. Too bad it stopped 2 years ago. I think it deserves a worldwide petition campaign! Who wants to sign up? :)
Let me share with you what I’ve seen in YouTube these few days:
Ah~ it’s that volleyball show!!!
I was old enough to remember this japanese drama on tv2, around 7-ish (dinner time, nothing better to watch :P) focusing on a girl’s volleyball team. Thanx to my boss, Sweii, we have finally found the drama vid. It’s called Moero Attack!
Don’t you just love that 70/80s feeling? Haha. Oh yea, I miss that super somersault ultimate attack! If anyone can find that vid, please let me know.
A group of girls playing volleyball huh? I would appreciate it much more now :D
Tommy Lee Jones in Akihabara?!
Man, talk about awkward, hahaha. Love his facial expression.
Jack Bauer in Shinjuku?!
As 24 gets popular in Japan, it gets parodied in dramas, comedy sketches and 3 animes already. So Calorie Mate had an idea…
Hollywood Idol meets Japan Idol.
“JACK! This is the last one. Is it ok?” XD
English Anime Trailers, anyone?
Oh noes! It’s the attack of the dubs!
Gurren Lagann. ADV made it comedic, but in a totally wrong direction :(
Lucky Star. Actually Konata’s voice is suitable, though it reminds me of Bart Simpson. But Kagami is just not tsundere enough! Oh, and Miyuki’s voice actress needs to be shot, period.
Welcome to the NHK. Definitely one of the better ones. Maybe coz the characters don’t talk? XD Makes you curious about the show too. (This is a great show, btw!)
Pani Poni Dash. I’m very impressed with this trailer! It’s a really crazy anime, and ADV has managed to make it entertaining and not so annoying.
Paprika. Though not english dubbed, it’s the american trailer of Paprika. Satoshi Kon FTW! If you haven’t watched any of his shows yet, you’ll die a lesser being.
Romeo x Juliet. The pacing is nice and the narration is really good. Just the font :S
Utawarerumono. Love how the guy pronounced the title like he wanted to get it over with XD
Kanon. Man, Ayu’s voice is a little annoying (no american can beat Horie Yui!). But the best part is how the narrator pronounced “Hurai Suzumaiya”, what the. Practice first la!
This is an application for Kent. Be a video disc jockey among many and use the iPod Touch to interact with the screen.
Playing the 
