Before I end this work week, I am posting two updates from two modders that I regularly keep track of. Keita just recently posted his finished work on a mod for the SD Unicorn Gundam, kenosyokutaku posted two SIC mods in his site.

First, I’ll talk about Keita’s SD Unicorn mod. Now, I love all of Keita’s mods but this one, I’m a bit on the fence with regards to whether I will like it or hate it…well, not really hate it. Super Deformed has always been characterized by the unreasonably large heads and small bodies. Now, Keita likes modding SDs to incorporate joints and other pieces taken from 1/144 scale HG model kits.

This one however is beginning to loose the super deformed proportions that I have always been used to in SD versions of robots.

When you look at this mod, although yes, the head is still relatively bigger than the rest of the body, scale of the head as against the scale of the body is beginning to disappear and it is actually appearing to be borderline evenly scaled between head and body. I would say it looks like a kiddie version of the Unicorn Gundam rather than a Super Deformed version.

Have a look at the rest of the gallery at Keita’s site. Continue Reading

Aside from the goosebump-inducing developments in One Piece, the news I’m getting from stuff pre-ordered and upcoming is just staggering! There’s so much to talk about that I was temped to break them up into different posts but I decided to just lump them all together into a single post and leave you guys to ogling them.

Amiami.com finally has merchandise pics of SIC Kamen Rider Ixa and Dark Kiva. But looking at the English site for Amiami, it appears that you would not be able to preorder this through the site. But the odd thing is that I don’t recall this item coming out for preorder in the English site although I did see it in the Japanese site. Japan-exclusive item? Probably. Either way, I’m getting my grubby hands on them.

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Some updated scans of the upcoming SIC release for Kamen Rider Ixa and Dark Kiva. I had mentioned in a previous article that it looks like there is a transformation mechanism for Rising Ixa. I was wrong. The face opens up but that’s it. It has been quite some time since I last finished watching Kamen Rider Kiva so I think the face-open transformation is for when Kamen Rider Ixa is going to execute his hissatsu. Nevertheless, that does not make this SIC release any less magnificent. Two action figures in a single box: one for the force of good, driven by self-righteousness; the other for the force of evil, yet driven by his love for his son.

Although Ixa looks very robotic compared to the very organic-looking Kamen Rider Kiva, I am absolutely loving the white, blue and gold color scheme and the knight theme for this suit. Continue Reading

Checked out some of my favorite modders and saw some recent updates. Two have released new mods, complete with photos, while one has a teaser on a Master Grade that a lot of fans have been asking Bandai to manufacture for decades.

This is Keita’s latest masterpiece, a modded version of the Master Grade GN-X from Gundam 00. In his site, he details the changes he made on the original model kit. The difference between this and the original release is just staggering. He never fails to amaze me with the amount of detail he is able to apply on these model kits to further enhance them. I just wish he had included shots of the GN-X with the GN Drive lit up.

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Saw a toy online today that made me feel nostalgic about the shows that I used to enjoy back when I was a kid. It’s a Metal Hero action figure by Action Works. This Metal Hero is the first of a trilogy of Space Sheriff shows. His name is Space Sheriff Gavan. Continue Reading

Having just finished watching Kamen Rider W’s 24th episode, I realized how many gorgeous idols are actually featured in this series since day 1. Just looking at the main cast, you’re already treated to a healthy number of pretty faces. Continue Reading

Moeyo.com posted several additional merchandise pics of the upcoming magazine exclusive of SIC Kamen Rider Den-O Wing Form and it’s getting more tempting to order this every time I see the pictures. Locally, there’s a way to preorder this from one of the stores that I frequent here in the Philippines but it would set me back over Php6,000 which is quite painful to the pockets. Continue Reading

This is the next sentai that will air after Samurai Sentai Shinkenger. It’s been quite some time since we last had a sentai series where the helmet designs had lips.

Looking at their uniforms, it’s like five Zeon soldiers were given a specific color each and turned into a sentai team. But I AM interested in the design as well as the actual concept of the series. No green character this time around and the black ranger makes a reappearance (Shinkenger has a green ranger). Looking at their weapons, the blue ranger gets a bow-type weapon like in Shinkenger. Also, they all appear to have similar shield-like devices that transform into their unique weapons. The guns have that steampunk look to it.

Which do you prefer watching? 

Right now, there’s actually only two Japanese tv series types that I seriously watch: mecha anime and tokusatsu. I love watching mecha anime because I’ve always had this child-like fascination with bipedal robots, their designs and the pilots who use them. I love watching super robot anime like Getter Robo, Mazinger Z, GoLion (or more popularly known on this side of the planet as Voltron – Lion Team), Dairugger (Voltron – Vehicle Team), Voltes V, Daimos and Godannar among others. I also love watching real robot anime, particularly Gundams.

And yet at the same time, I enjoy watching tokusatsu and sentai shows. Tokusatsu shows include Kamen Rider, Ultraman and other metal hero shows like Shaider. Sentai shows are what are known here as Power Rangers although in fact, most, if not all of the sentai teams significantly differ from each other except for instances where their stories overlap.

Mecha anime nearly have no limits. You can do practically anything since you can draw anything. But obviously, those that have a good viewership are the shows that tend to keep their feet on the ground or have a good grip on reality, particularly the real robot genre. You have enhanced or genetically modified humans who can pilot mobile suits that fly at high G’s without worrying about their internal organs liquefying in outer space. You have mobile suits that run on nuclear reactors and can blow up entire cities given the right gun in hand.

Tokusatsu and sentai still do have that fantasy feel in them but seeing it in live action makes the show interesting in a different dimension from anime. Fight sequences look really cool when done in real life like in Kamen Rider Kabuto. Realistic settings of large robots and superhero giants like Ultraman make the experience even more fascinating. You’d start thinking that if people can make these suits, then there’s the possibility in the future that they can be real (not including that stupid Gundam project thing by the Japanese government where it’s basically a glorified personal armor/suit). 

So my fascination with both genres are nearly on equal levels although I tend to collect more of the mecha stuff than the tokusatsu and sentai stuff (perhaps mainly because the mecha stuff are focused more on the aesthetics while the sentai and tokusatsu merchandise are focused on selling large quantities to kids). There are days when I can sit down and watch an entire Gundam series all day while there are other days where I’d rather see Kamen Riders kick each others’ butts in the struggle for supremacy or flipping “The Man” or the “The Organization” the middle finger for messing with their innards.

Do you spend more time watching the anime stuff or the live action stuff? 

I know it’s pretty late to be watching this but I never really had the time to download the fansubs online as each episode came out. But I’m definitely enjoying being able to watch each succeeding episode without having to wait a couple of weeks for the release of the fansub.

I’ve always liked watching Kamen Rider shows although there were some shows in between Kamen Rider Black and Kamen Rider Kabuto that kind of ruined it for me. Especially the one that was Americanized by Haim Saban. I do like the designs on Kamen Rider Ryuki, Kamen Rider Blade and Kamen Rider Kabuto. I haven’t been able to watch the older Kamen Rider shows like Kamen Rider Stronger but I’m definitely planning on getting the Kamen Rider The First and Kamen Rider The Next movies.

What I love about Kamen Rider Kabuto are the fight scenes but like probably anyone else who has watched Kamen Rider Kabuto, I would suggest that if you haven’t watched the series, finish the series first before watching the movie. The movie was released right in the middle of the actual TV series and it kind of messes up your liking for the TV series. But that’s just probably me.

I’m currently on episode 27 where Reina Mamiya has been showing up and kicking everyone else’s ass whenever she transforms into a Worm.

Here’s a list of his “Grandmother said this” quotes:

My Grandmother said this…

• He who walks the path of heaven will rule over everything
• Force the world to revolve around you. It’s more fun to think that way.
• People become stronger through adventures.
• When people love others, they grow weaker, though it’s nothing to be ashamed of. True weakness lies elsewhere.
• When not close by, one is even closer.
• Chase two birds, and you catch two birds.
• People who steal things, lose something even more important.
• It is enjoyable to eat something delicious, but the greatest joy comes from the time spent waiting for it.
• If you wish it to be so, luck will always be on your side.
• Flowers can make any girl glow.
• All girls are equally beautiful.
• A knife can only bring happiness when used in cooking.
• Fancy flavors cannot hide poor cooking.
• It is fun to add a secret flavor so that no one knows. But… it’s more fun to find it.
• Even the devil’s whispers can sometimes sound like an angel’s voice.
• One that drowns in oneself will eventually fall to darkness.
• Even in a world full only with enemies, there will always be someone you must protect.
• If you receive a little kindness, give them a large serving.
• Imitating others is not bad, for it’s how we recognize ourselves.
• Once you know the real thing… you won’t be fooled by an imitation.
• Children are treasures. The greatest sin in this world is to damage those treasures.
• Angels descend during meals, for it is a sacred time.
• There are two things a man must never do. One is to not make girls cry…The other is to not handle food so crudely!
• The sun is wonderful, it can make even the dirt shine.
• Life is a long path to a goal. Drop your heavy luggage and enjoy walking with your hands empty.
• Men must be cool. Boiling water is but vapor.
• The wishes of the children are the future’s reality…Adults that laugh at such dreams are no longer human.
• A bond is a deep connection that can never be broken. Even if apart, heart and heart are still connected.
• My evolution is faster than the speed of the light. There is nothing in the whole universe that can keep up with my evolution.
• The justice is myself.

Taken from Wikipedia.