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Simulcast Bleach!

Yes, that is correct! You can watch the latest episode of Bleach an hour after it airs in Tokyo on Crunchyroll, and not only is it legal but TV Tokyo, Shueisha, and Studio Pierrot actually make money off of the streaming distribution model. Crunchyroll has been doing this for a number of quality Anime programs, including Naruto Shippuden, for quite a while, as they gradually become The place for streaming Anime online. And hey, they even have some live action programming from Japan, Korea, and China. Don’t be fooled by the Drama header on the page, there is plenty of comedy and action available as well.

Here’s how it works. If you are a Premium Member of Crunchyroll (and if you’re not, please use the link below if you want to sign up; I think they give me an extra 4 hours on my premium membership for referring someone) you can watch the simulcast stream of the episode one hour after it airs in Tokyo. That gives Viz time to bolt the subtitles onto it, but still make it as close to realtime as possible, and you can watch it at 480p and 720p resolutions. If you are not a premium member all is not lost; you have access to stream the new episode a week after it airs, at slightly reduced resolution. Either way beats waiting the months it takes for the episodes to be dubbed and released on Disk in the US, although I still find myself buying the boxed sets as they come out.

There is, of course, a downside or two. First, Bleach starts next Tuesday, June 8th at 5:30AM EDT, 2:30am PDT; likewise, Naruto Shippuden runs on Thursday mornings at 7AM Eastern, 4:00AM Pacific Time. That’s a bit early for me, but I don’t really care. I just watched this weeks Naruto episode when I got home from work yesterday (Streaming is the Video On Demand of the internet), which means I still got to see it the same day as Tokyo, just adjusted to be convenient for my schedule. The other downside is the current season of Bleach consists of episodes #266-#273, going live on the 8th, with 274 being this Tuesdays Simulcast. Why is that a downside? Because the latest US DVD release of the Bleach Uncut Box Set: Season 5 also happens this Tuesday, the 8th, and that season ends with episode 109. I think there is going to be a bit of a gap in my understanding of the story arc. Again, I don’t really care, because eventually that gap will be filled, and until then I will have a steady diet of new episodes to watch.

Crunchyroll

Steampunk Japan

A while back I mentioned the Karakuri, the 16th through 18th century Japanese robots, or programmable clockwork dolls. Nor did it end there; the Karakuri continued to develop in the following centuries, becoming the basis for the development of an advanced robotics industry in that country.

There is an anime series dedicated to the Meiji period and Karakuri called Clockwork Fighters Hiwou’s War that I would like to recommend. Besides being a great Giant Robot series (but the robots are made out of wood and brass, and driven by springs or steam) it is a fun quest-type adventure where a group of kids are out to find their father and save their village. But like Carmen Sandiego, it includes some quality education embedded in the entertainment. The story begins eight years after the port is opened up to ships from the west, a time of cultural and political turmoil that is nicely represented in the program. Many of the people they meet are historical figures, some already famous and some on their way to getting there, and we get to learn a bit about each of them, their attitudes and actions both. Additionally, in virtually every episode there are little 15 to 45 second pieces that give still more of the background and events happening that help put the story into focus, but are also historically accurate. The animation is good and the voice acting is great; this is very definitely worth your time to check out.

Something to Do: Cons

Most folks got Conned out with the massive number of events last week. But if you are ready for more, they are happening. Expo Comic Cancun is taking place in Cancun, Mexico, which includes a series of events by the Cosplay Deviants (they don’t show up at too many US events). Colossalcon 9 is an Anime, Gaming, and Japanese Culture con held in Sandusky, OH. It is being held at a waterpark resort, and they are giving away a trip to Japan, but not at random; you have to win their Cosplay Masquerade competition to get the prize. A-Kon 21 in Dallas, Tx. is an Anime con with a great concert lineup, and for the competitive they are running a Kabuki Slam! In Huntsville, Al., it is HamaCon 2010, an anime con that includes the Okinawa Festival Drums, and AMV and Cosplay competitions. Finally, Anime Kaigi in Flagstaff, AZ has a complete and aggressive series of events to edutain everyone.

A general Sci-Fi con well worth a visit this weekend is Con Carolinas 2010/ Deep South Con 48, in Charlotte, NC. These two events seem to have merged, at least for this year. Jerry Pournelle and Johnny Ringo are the writer GoH’s, Ed Beard, Jr. is the Artist GoH, and Media guests include Claudia God Sent Me Christian and Richard Hatch. Another good general con, although leaning towards the WriterCon side of life is SoonerCon 2010 (2010: A Bubba Odyssey) in Oklahoma City, OK. This one is particularly well endowed with panels and workshops for artists, authors, and fans. And in Nashville, TN, it is HyperIcon 6, again with lots going on.

DieCon X is a great name for a gaming convention, and this one is held just outside of St. Louis in Collinsville, IL; come ready to play, some of the tournaments have already started and will be going through the weekend.

Something to Watch: DVD’s

The pick of the week for mixed media films (combining live action with animation) is the Tim Burton Alice in Wonderland. This twisted little tail continues a long film making tradition of using the Lewis Carrol source material to tell a morality tale; what the moral of the story is changes with each director, of course. I am not a fan of Burton’s visual style and found Depp’s character in particular somewhat grotesque, but I still consider this version a must-have addition to the collection. The other film of note this week is the recent remake of The Wolfman, with Anthony Hopkins and Benicio Del Toro. Despite the star power this one fell just a little flat for me, but fans of the Gothic may have a better opinion of it.

My pick for number one imported live action film this week absolutely has to be 20th Century Boys 3: Redemption. While there is enough exposition at the front of the film to catch you up on the story so far, I am setting this one aside for Saturday, so I can watch all three films back to back. This has a very original story, and great characters that you follow through most of their lives, watching them grow and develop.

New in the live action TV category this week is Burn Notice, Season 3. Yes, I know it’s not science fiction, but I think everyone would agree that it is a bit of a fantasy. Plus it is just too much fun to miss. As usual, they have the previous season DVD release just before the new season starts; in this case two days before, as season 4 kicks off Thursday night.

In the world of animation, he’s Baa-aa-aack! Shaun the Sheep: One Giant Leap for Lambkind is another half dozen episodes from the team that brought us Wallace and Grommet. Very few language skills are needed to enjoy these, as dialog is not a core component of the tales they tell.

For anime proper, Brighter than the Dawning Blue: Complete Collection is a story of diplomatic fence mending between the Earth and the Moon, with the Lunar Princess exchange student running into some romantic complications along the way. Also out this week, Slayers Evolution-R season 5. As usual when the Slayers are involved, they nearly destroy the world in the process of saving it, and magical mayhem abounds. Also out this week another S.A.V.E. edition re-release of a complete series, this time Beck.

Something to Do: Cons

You would think there was a holiday weekend coming up the way the Cons are stacking up. There are so many good ones I don’t know where to start, and I am sure I will short some of them, but let’s start with the Steampunk cons. The big one of course is World Steam Expo in Dearborn, MI. The musical guests alone are worth the price of admission, plus the panels, events, and everything else going on. Nakamacon is a Steampunk con for Anthropomorphic and Anime fans held in Madison, WI; or maybe a Furry Con for Cartoon Victorian Werewolves. Whatever it is it looks like they have some fun things planned. And ConQuesT 41 in Kansas City, MO, is billing itself as Steampunk & Evil Geniuses, but it also has a great lineup of authors and publishers.

There are a number of general Sci-Fi cons, meaning a little bit of everything but leaning towards the mediacon side of the spectrum. In Atlanta there is TimeGate, in Lansing, MI MediaWest*Con 30, in Santa Clara BayCon, and in Missoula its MisCon. Most of these appear to be fan run gatherings with plenty of activities and guests (including Harry Turtledove in Montana). My personal favorite fan run con this weekend has to be BaltiCon 44 in Baltimore, MD., and this would probably be the major Readercon event for the weekend. Tanya Huff is the author guest of honor, just for starters; check the participants list to get an idea of the scope of this event.

If you want a comicon this weekend, the prime choice looks like the Phoenix Comicon, with guests like Stan Lee, Felicity Day, Levar Burton, Wil Wheaton, and James Marsters, this one could double as a Media Con. Stan Lee will also be at Rock’N Comicon in L.A., California, which really is a monster media event. Another comicon is Florida Battlecon in Orlando, for those who prefer their comic art tattooed directly onto their epidermis while driving hot women around on monster bikes.

The actual media con for this weekend is a true monster: the London MCM Expo. If I start naming everyone who is there and all the things going on I would still be typing as the doors open Friday. So, instead, here is a glimpse of the last one they held…

If you are in Europe this weekend you also have an event in Paris that looks like a lot of fun, la convention Epitanime. This time I can’t tell you what’s going on because my French tutor back in school was actually teaching me Louisiana Cajun, which is about as close to French as German is to English.

English speaking Anime conventions this weekend include Animazement 13 in Raleigh, NC, Anime Oasis in Boise, ID, and Anime North in Toronto, CA. All three events have a hoard of guests and a lot of activities planed throughout the weekend, and they all look great. And Fanime Con takes place in San Jose, CA, right in the heart of Silicone Valley. What makes this event special, besides the location? Flow will be one of the bands playing at the Music Fest, and will probably be playing the theme songs they did for shows like Naruto, Code Geass, Psalms of Planets, Eureka Seven, and Persona. Also playing are LM.C and Halko Momoi. Or how about the US almost-premier of 20th Century Boys 3: Redemption at Viz Theater. Supposedly they have enough back-story at the beginning of this film so you don’t need to have seen the first two to enjoy it, but they are always fun to re-watch. Also playing at Viz that weekend is The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya, the feature length presentation that comes between the first and second series of the TV program. Seeing either of those on the big screen would be a treat; seeing both would be worth the price of that coast to coast ticket.

There are more cons this weekend, but that should be enough to get you started; have fun!

Something to Watch: DVD’s

The number one TV release this week is obvious: True Blood: The Complete Second Season. If you thought the first season was good, fasten your seat belts and get ready to be blown away. You already know this if you have HBO, but now is your chance to add it to your permanent collection. Unlike certain movie series, this story is strictly for the adults in the audience, and delivers on every level. And as usual, the timing on the DVD release is because Season 3 is about to happen; it hits your screen on June 13th.

On the Movie side, The Road becomes available on DVD. I can’t speak one way or the other about this movie, since I haven’t seen it yet. I can certainly speak up for Season 3 of The Guild; I consider this a must-have for every person who has ever sat down at a computer, and doubly so if you are a gamer. This is geek humor at its finest, and word is there are all kinds of extras on the DVD that did not appear online.

In anime, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood Part 1 brings back that good old Steampunk Alchemy we loved so much the last time around. Likewise, Hell Girl – Two Mirrors returns us to that rather dark universe, where the second season starts off showing us that things are changing for Ai and her companions. In addition, the Hell Girl Complete First Season is being re-released in a S.A.V.E. Edition, so you can add it to your collection at a good price.

Also in anime, Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple has part two of season two being released, as well as the re-release of season 1 in a single box set, for the Martial Arts fans. While I normally only mention boxed sets here (predominately because I can go nuts waiting for the next volume to be released), I decided I should mention Kanokon: The Girl Who Cried Wolf, because it just looks like silly fun; a high school boy has a pretty female fox deity and a wolf goddess vying for his attention, with all the expected mayhem that would entail.