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The Mike Toole Show - Rocket from the Script


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Zin5ki



Joined: 06 Jan 2008
Posts: 6680
Location: London, UK
PostPosted: Sun Feb 18, 2018 6:02 pm Reply with quote
I did consider the Blue Gender baseball cap for a few fleeting moments, until I realised how the shipping costs would render the acquisition an even greater act of folly. (Not to say that I didn't enjoy the series itself, though.)
On the opposite side of the scale, that Votoms "ammo box" has always been simply too grand to be a safe blind buy. Having predated the trend for long series bundled onto single-spindle releases, I see it as a trophy for those who had sufficiently deep pockets back in the day.
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trunkschan90



Joined: 08 Aug 2002
Posts: 592
Location: California
PostPosted: Sun Feb 18, 2018 6:33 pm Reply with quote
I remember reading that the Mythology arc was originally going to be adapted for the 1979 Cyborg 009 anime, but of course since the series ended early the designs created would later be used for the 2001 anime version. Although I would've liked to see what Takahashi's version of the mythology arc would've played out.
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CatSword



Joined: 01 Jul 2014
Posts: 1489
PostPosted: Sun Feb 18, 2018 7:09 pm Reply with quote
The price for that Blue Gender cap has already been significantly inflated on Amazon. Sad
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Bamble



Joined: 30 Aug 2011
Posts: 130
PostPosted: Sun Feb 18, 2018 7:46 pm Reply with quote
I got the VOTOMS ammo box back in the day, and I was very grateful it was released at all; its release came hot on the heels of CPM laying off most of their employees and pretty much closing up shop there and then, so the release of the ammo box seemed a very shaky proposition back then.
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BodaciousSpacePirate
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Joined: 17 Apr 2015
Posts: 3018
PostPosted: Sun Feb 18, 2018 8:34 pm Reply with quote
Quote:
the show's previous, single-disc release, from DVD Ltd.


Color me confused: I have the U.S. Manga Corps 2-disc releases of Uoodo City and Kummen Jungle Wars, which have Central Park Media's copyright info on the back of the digipaks, and the NuTech Digital, Inc. double-sided single-disc releases of Deadworld Sunsa and God Planet Quent, which also have Central Park Media's copyright info on the back, along with U.S. Manga Corps logos as well. (The NuTech releases are also inexplicably region-free?) Which of these, if any, are the DVD Ltd. versions you're talking about?
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jroa



Joined: 08 Aug 2012
Posts: 542
PostPosted: Sun Feb 18, 2018 11:41 pm Reply with quote
BodaciousSpacePirate wrote:

Color me confused: I have the U.S. Manga Corps 2-disc releases of Uoodo City and Kummen Jungle Wars, which have Central Park Media's copyright info on the back of the digipaks, and the NuTech Digital, Inc. double-sided single-disc releases of Deadworld Sunsa and God Planet Quent, which also have Central Park Media's copyright info on the back, along with U.S. Manga Corps logos as well. (The NuTech releases are also inexplicably region-free?) Which of these, if any, are the DVD Ltd. versions you're talking about?


I assume he's referring to the NuTech release, since U.S. Manga Corps was part of CPM.
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zawa113



Joined: 19 Jan 2008
Posts: 7358
PostPosted: Sun Feb 18, 2018 11:44 pm Reply with quote
I love Ryosuke Takahashi! I really hope Discotek gets into releasing him at some point! Here's what I've seen of his:

VOTOMs-Definitely liked this one a lot, it was serious, but also not as whiny as Gundam. Also, I have the singles, but I don't recall noticing the wrong audio track on an episode (probably because I don't understand Japanese anyway).

Armor Hunter Mellowlink-this guy, Mellowlink, is awesome. He's like that one random dude taking out everyone's vehicles in an online Halo match while himself not being in one, just applied to mecha instead. I really wish this one would get released.

Panzer World Galient-honestly? I found myself bored to tears by this. The lead character just wasn't that interesting, it's a shame that was our lead. I'm rather mad that a series with centaur-mecha was somehow boring. I heard it got cancelled early, it wouldn't surprise me.

Fang of the Sun Dougram-I've only seen the first third of this series (which is still almost 26 episodes) and I really liked it, I would definitely buy it if released.

Blue Gender-I enjoyed the series overall, even if the lead could be a bit whiny (starting off the series by having your lead piss himself in his very first scene probably didn't help)

Gasaraki-i remember mostly being completely confused pretty much the whole time. That OP song though? That's pretty awesome (and it changes visually damn near every episode). The mechs themselves though, I found them quite memorable, for perhaps being the first mecha I ever saw that made me go "no, that would not be fun to ride in. In fact, it looks very very painful", because most mecha look like something that would at least be fun to mess around in, but no, not here.

FLAG-definitely ambitious in presentation. I kind of forget the war story part, but the visuals more than make this worth seeing. I kind of want to see a VR game based on this.

Intrigue in the Bakumatsu-I hated this. Barely remember much else more at this point, only that I thought it was terrible.

Phoenix-did not realize this was hime somehow! As someone who has read the manga, some chapters were better adapted than others, but it's overall well worth your time. Gotta give kudos for only adapting the more interesting half of Sun too.
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BlueAlf



Joined: 02 Jan 2017
Posts: 1534
PostPosted: Sun Feb 18, 2018 11:58 pm Reply with quote
You know, can anyone enlighten me about Gasaraki's behind-the-scenes so I can understand how the tonal shift came to be? In general, I really liked it. I was just surprised with the sudden focus on Japanese economics.

I kinda liked Bakumatsu. I thought it was unique. But I didn't really follow it until the end.

I really wish we have better Votoms spin offs.

Better yet, I often wish Takahashi produces a new real robot anime franchise.
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Mr Adventure



Joined: 14 Jul 2008
Posts: 1598
PostPosted: Mon Feb 19, 2018 1:29 am Reply with quote
I love Armored Trooper Votoms so much. And it's weird to say that, because I while I hate the Newtypes of Gundam, the Perfect Solider idea of Votoms just works for me. I suspect because its embodied into a single persistent character, doomed to find himself at the center of events. His implicit immortality a curse he suffers.

Votoms really is the ultimate antithesis of super-robots. The realist of real robots. Where in Super-Robot shows you always have the unique hero unit, Votoms goes out of its way to show all its mecha to be mass produced and disposable. Cuvie goes through Scopedogs like toilet paper, and the only distinctive feature a custom painted red shoulder when occasionally Cuvie really means business.

Macross will always be my favorite mecha franchise, but Votoms will always have my heart.

EDIT: I've generally enjoyed most of Votom's spin-offs. I know many don't like Shining Heresy because of what it changes about the ending of the TV series, but I like it a lot.

My first Votoms was actually Pailsen Files, and while its probably a bad place to state, I thought overall it was well made and made good use of CG mecha.

And Phantom Arc + Alone Again was just a solid all around send off to the series that I'm glad it got.

Would I love to see Votoms ride again? Sure would. I would not be adverse to a Votoms: The Origin type retelling either.
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Kicksville



Joined: 20 Nov 2010
Posts: 1212
PostPosted: Mon Feb 19, 2018 2:55 am Reply with quote
I had expected VOTOMS Pailsen Files, the first one with CGI robots, would totally suck - the robots are about as OK-at-best as you'd expect, and it's another prequel featuring Chirico and another set of War Buddies - but the writing is some of the sharpest the series has ever had. Those middle episodes on the arctic planet are among my all-time favorites.

It's a shame it doesn't have the legendary animation of the 80's OVAs, but still, I was impressed.

...and it's downhill from there, but admittedly I haven't seen the "Can we franchise this like Gundam" Case;Irvine or Finder spin-offs, or Alone Again.
Mr Adventure wrote:
I've generally enjoyed most of Votom's spin-offs. I know many don't like Shining Heresy because of what it changes about the ending of the TV series, but I like it a lot.

This one is like 99% awesome except for that one completely unnecessary "why would you do that" bit at the ending. The first episode in particular looks amazing - I love the way Sunrise in the 90's depicted space and people living in it.
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omiya



Joined: 21 Sep 2011
Posts: 1838
Location: Adelaide, South Australia
PostPosted: Mon Feb 19, 2018 3:01 am Reply with quote
classicalzawa wrote:
Here's what I've seen of his:

VOTOMs-Definitely liked this one a lot, it was serious, but also not as whiny as Gundam. Also, I have the singles, but I don't recall noticing the wrong audio track on an episode (probably because I don't understand Japanese anyway).


After being really impressed with TETSU's live performance at Animelo Summer Live 2012, I finally was able to get the single of the OP and ED of the series:

炎のさだめ / Honōnosadame
いつもあなたが / itsumo anata ga

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donhumberto



Joined: 19 Jan 2017
Posts: 811
PostPosted: Mon Feb 19, 2018 3:55 am Reply with quote
Excellent article, thanks a lot! Really love Gasaraki and Blue Gender (probably the most opressive post-apocalyptic anime ever). And I really need to get around to finishing Votoms
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Lemonchest



Joined: 18 Mar 2015
Posts: 1771
PostPosted: Mon Feb 19, 2018 8:59 am Reply with quote
I know him best as the director of my one of my favourite paranoid nationalist politics porn films Silent Service. I get the sense from his work that he isn't much fun at parties.
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Zin5ki



Joined: 06 Jan 2008
Posts: 6680
Location: London, UK
PostPosted: Mon Feb 19, 2018 9:41 am Reply with quote
classicalzawa wrote:
FLAG-definitely ambitious in presentation. I kind of forget the war story part, but the visuals more than make this worth seeing. I kind of want to see a VR game based on this.

Having only seen a clip of this, the format seems most fascinating. Its framing device could easily enhance or subvert the viewer's experience, though at the same time I fear it might not contribute very much thematically. Could you confirm?
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GeorgeC



Joined: 22 Nov 2008
Posts: 795
PostPosted: Mon Feb 19, 2018 9:57 am Reply with quote
I've got that Votoms DVD set that was released in the lunchbox. Oh gosh, I must have gotten it 10 years ago now! Still haven't watched it past the first episode that was available for download.
Nobody's license-rescued Votoms yet OR picked up the licenses for the later OVAs, either. Pity but considering how generally indifferent fandom is to most mecha shows in the West I guess it's to be expected.

CPM did put up the first episode of Votoms online for a while for download. Of course, it's long gone along with the CPM website...

Blue Gender -- never watched this series, never really had an interest in it. I'm just not into that alien bugs/Starship Troopers stuff. There are a ton of anime series like that out there.

Weird... the show did air on Cartoon Network at least once during the channel's golden age of flirting with anime before that imploded not much later...
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