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Sunday, July 31, 2016

Cartoon Sunday: JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Phantom Blood Review

How's it going lurkers? You may recall from last Sunday, I mentioned that JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood will be premiering on Adult Swim's Toonami block this October. 

Judging by only watching Season 1: Episode 1 on my own last week, it really doesn't seem like too bad of a series. If anything, I'm quite surprised that JASON DEMARCO, who is running the Toonami block, took such a risk.

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is not the stereotypical Shonen Jump Action Anime, that would be aired on either Cartoon Network, or Adult Swim. This is a series that I would've expected to have been aired on Chiller TV, Syfy, IFC, or another cable or satellite channel. 

So far, the only real complaint I have about the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure franchise would be, that the illustrations of the characters look somewhat dated for a 2012 Anime. This Manga franchise debuted in 1987, which could POSSIBLY explain why the characters look like something from the Speed Racer Manga circa 1966. However, the Anime illustrations for JoJo's Bizarre Adventure look MORE modern compared to the Manga illustrations.

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Complete Manga Set Vol. 1 (Parts 1-5)

Last weekend, I YouTubed vlogs, which gave summaries about the franchise. This was BEFORE watching episode 1 of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood. 

As I watched Lore In A Minute's animated summary for a better understanding about the characters, it made me laugh.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lore In A Minute: "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Phantom Blood" Animated Summary (2016)

So, you are probably wondering what genre(s)/sub-genre(s) is JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood? 

Even though I have only watched Phantom Blood Episode 1, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is considered a Horror, Thriller, and Supernatural Action Adventure Anime.

This series is obviously meant for the male audience, since its target demographic is between Shonen (boys) and Seinen (men).

I don't know as much about JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, but I WILL say that only reading summaries about the franchise, both the Anime and Manga are really complex. JoJo's Bizarre Adventure has 8 parts to it in regards to the Manga. This is not including the novel, OVA's, or Anime.

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Season 1 only explains the first 2 parts of the series, which include both Phantom Blood and Battle Tendency. 

We still have yet to be given the exact date in October for its Toonami premiere. All we know is that JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is premiering in 2 more months.

Speaking of the first 2 parts of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, Season 1 begins with the Phantom Blood Arc, which is set in England 1868. Dario Brando, who is a thief, tries raiding an overturned carriage.

To give a better explanation about episode 1 (since the link for today is English Subtitled), Dario then changes his mind after learning a father (George Joestar) and son (Jonathan Joestar) are still alive.

Rather than raiding the overturned carriage, he rescues them. About 12 years later, Jonathan sets out to become a "gentleman" after becoming of age. This includes fighting for a "woman's honor" (Erina Pendleton).

At the same time, Dario is on his deathbed and forces his son (Dio) to move in with Jonathan and his family, in order to fulfill George Joestar's life debt. Dio obeys his father prepared with his OWN hidden agendas.

In other words, Dio Brando moves in with The Joestar Family and social climbs his way to the top, in order to become the next heir to The Joestars.

Dio goes as far as sadistically upstaging Jonathan in performing his "gentlemanly" duties. To bruise Jonathan's ego, Dio becomes a more skillful boxer than him. Making matters worse, Dio SLANDERS Jonathan by spreading lies about him to all of Jonathan's friends.

Adding more insult to injury, Dio stoops as low as poaching Jonathan's childhood love by forcing Erina to kiss him; He steals Erina's first kiss from Jonathan, making her feel extremely violated (as if she had been raped). When Jonathan learns of the news, he flies into a fit of rage. After being punched, Dio's blood is spilled on an ancient Stone Mask. It starts to react. 

Suddenly, George has to interrupt the brawl between Jonathan and Dio. Just when we all thought the situation could NOT get any worse, it DOES!

Watching JoJo's Bizarre Adventure feels more like a Japanese animated soap opera. It will NOT surprise me, if a J-Drama will soon be in the works. 

Not only do I sympathize, but also empathize with Jonathan. Coping with slander really hits close to home for me, especially when it comes to double standards for glorified, lowlife men.

Today's blog has been quite a lengthy review. I hope did not spoil too much for everyone. There is still more that I haven't mentioned for Phantom Blood Episode 1. I tried locating a decent English Dub of this particular episode on YouTube but had no such luck.

Luckily for me, I have watched Episode 1 on another online streaming site dubbed and the characters have British accents. It is probably much better for you to watch JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood in Japanese, before it premieres on Adult Swim's Toonami block in October.

With that being said, here is Phantom Blood Season 1: Episode 1 for today's Cartoon Sunday. 

Click on the following video link:

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood Season 1: Episode 1 (2012) [English Subtitles]

Sunday, July 17, 2016

Cartoon Sunday: WatchMojo's Top 10 Horror Based Anime

How's it going lurkers? Last night, I watched the premiere of the Seinen Action Anime, One Punch Man, on Adult Swim. Judging by the premiere, it was a WTF? Moment for me. 

Other than the fact, that it somewhat reminded me of Dragon Ball Z meets Bleach, I don't know what else to make of One Punch Man. The premiere went over my head. 

It does not seem like this will be an Anime that I will run to my TV for and watch every Saturday night. Like I already expected, the Toonami sycophants on Adult Swim overhyped One Punch Man.

I still say that Tokyo Ghoul could've been Parasyte -The Maxim's- replacement. Even though I have yet to marathon Tokyo Ghoul (I only watched the episode 1), I found this Seinen Horror Anime to be more intense than Parasyte.

Speaking of Tokyo Ghoul, I CANNOT  believe that it has already been an entire year, since Chiller TV debuted their Anime Wednesday block, only to cancel it within its first 3 weeks. During commercial breaks, Tokyo Ghoul was advertised more so than Chiller TV's block, Anime Wednesday.

This was no thanks to the bratty middle schoolers and ingrates on Facebook and other social media sites. They griped about a PG-13-rated Horror network airing Horror Anime on a HORROR channel.

It was already outrageous that Chiller TV took almost ZERO initiative to promote their own block for both Horror and Anime fans. This is excluding the fact that most Americans don't possess a satellite package like Direct TV or Dish Network.

There were 12-13-year-old middle school boys on Chiller TV's social media pages, who condescended to fellow Horror Anime fans and myself by telling us to go watch Toonami. That was ridiculous. 

Not to sound like an old lady, but their pompous asses should've either been in bed at midnight, or they should've shut the hell up and watched something else. Instead they ruined a block, which had some potential.

The Anime fans from Adult Swim (mainly the bratty Toonami incels) exacerbated problems by them bitching about Is This A Zombie? being aired on Anime Wednesday. They acted as if Is This A Zombie? was THE ONLY ANIME on the entire block, when there were 3 others to watch.

Could Chiller TV have bought better Horror Anime?

Yes, the igorami in charge of the network really should have. However, I mostly blame Chiller TV for their lack of advertising, considering that the network is owned by NBC Universal. Also, when there are ingrates continuously nitpicking ONLY 1 SERIES the entire time online, it does not help generate MORE viewers to an already niche audience.

Since we're mostly on the topic of Horror Anime, I thought I would share WatchMojo's countdown to their Top 10 Horror Based Anime. Some of WatchMojo's choices I have already seen within the last 4 years or so. 

In fact, some of them have been already shared in Cartoon Sunday blogs over these last 2 years as well. There are a few listed on the countdown from the late '90s to early 20st Century, which I have never seen or heard of until now. The more I think about it, tons of Horror Anime exist and YET  this particular genre gets very little recognition. 

Most Anime and Manga licensors, publishers, and especially ignorant marketers at Adult Swim only want to dumb down and pander to mostly teenage boys and impressionable man-children, who love the cliche supehero stories. Anyway, here is WatchMojo's top 10 picks for Horror Anime.

WatchMojo's Top 10 Horror Based Anime (2015)

Thursday, July 14, 2016

Which Writers Made Writer's Relief's Top 10 Horror Writers Countdown

How's it going lurkers? Because I normally blog at least 2-3 days a week on here, blogging appears to overshadow the fact, that I am also a Horror Writer. 

I have been creating MY OWN stories with MY OWN characters, since I was a 3rd grader. This cannot necessarily be said about those, who write Fan Fiction.

I'm actually amazed by some people I meet in public, who have NEVER heard of Fan Fiction or know what it is. Even though I am not yet published, I have never liked or respected Fan Fiction. Neither do more established and published authors such as Stephen King, for example.

Fan Fiction is more like a disguised form of plagiarism by nerds online, who want to pretend they are so-called screenwriters. I have said this countless times, if you are able to write your own stories, you can create YOUR OWN CHARACTERS, as well.

Why re-write another author or screenwriter's story to best suit YOUR OWN LIKING, when you can create your own characters and write your own stories?

I can understand basing your story on a historical figure/event or paying homage to an author. 

In fact, 11 years ago, I was assigned to pay homage to an author for a Creative Writing class during my college junior year. 

My short story, "Dolls", which I eventually renamed "Across The Street," is mostly an homage to Octavio Paz's Flash Fiction piece, "The Blue Bouquet." 

In addition to paying homage to Paz, I incorporated an homage to the inside album cover of KoRn's Follow The Leader album and James O'Barr's The Crow.

This will surely offend quite a few by me saying this, but it seems like it is mostly Millennials, who are so quick to write Fan Fiction rather than creating their OWN stories to write and creating their OWN characters.

It's as if Fan Fiction writers are striving to be wannabe "screenwriters" and expect for everyone to pat them on their backs for UNoriginality and copycatting. 

Writers of that ilk don't try to be innovative in the slightest because they deluded themselves into believing, that they can write a famous author or screenwriter's story BETTER than he/she did. This automatically makes me roll my eyes and laugh.

If Fan Fiction writers can create such dynamic stories, they can surely create their own characters. I don't care HOW they try justifying to me or anyone else. You will be a lot more respectable, WHEN you create your OWN characters with the stories you independently created. It would NOT surprise me if most publishers consider Fan Fiction writers to be laughingstocks.

Speaking of writers in today's blog, Writer's Relief shared a YouTube video sharing their countdown of Top 10 Horror Writers. Since I am a Horror writer and a FAN, I thought I would share their video.

When I was growing up, I was NOT a bookworm. Reading books typically bored me to sleep. Watching TV, movies, and music videos were entertaining. However, I will say that whenever I DID enjoy reading books, they were usually published books by R.L. Stine or another Horror author.

Whether I was reading or watching it, Horror always kept my interest. Then again, it's like I already said, I was born and raised during the 1980's and '90s. During the 1980's, TV shows such as Freddy's Nightmares, for example, used to air on local TV stations.

Slasher Horror was highly condemned and demonized yet it was a favorite among Horror fans. The Horror fandom was not like it is today. Horror was nicher for a niche audience.

Almost everyone today is a Horror fan because Horror is now widely acceptable, more contrived, LAMEstream, and "trendy" for the HIPSTER demographic.

You will have to forgive me, if I sound more like an elitist for saying this, but a lot of today's so-called Horror fans are hipsters. Those supposed Horror fans did NOT  earn their proverbial stars and stripes of being labeled as a sociopath, psychopath, FREAK, weirdo, serial killer, or any other type of negative label, which most of us REAL Horror fans were demonized and branded as, during our youth.

Anyway, here is Writer's Relief's video countdown for their Top 10 Horror Writers.

Writer's Relief's Top 10 Horror Writers Countdown (2015)

Sunday, July 10, 2016

Cartoon Sunday: The Real Ghostbusters


How's it going lurkers? Last week, I forgot to mention that Blue Exorcist is actually getting another season! This is fantastic news for us fans! 

Hopefully with a 2nd season, there will be more exploration about the character, Renzo Shima.

The finale for this Supernatural Shonen Jump Action Anime felt incomplete much like a cliffhanger. Even though Rin Okumura is the protagonist, I still am quite fond of Renzo Shima. 

He and Rin Okumura are my favorite characters from Blue Exorcist. Shima wants to act like he is a Don Juan YET  he's a cowardly character, who's always scared of everything. That is always hilarious to watch.

Nearly 2 years ago, I remember reading a summary about the Blue Exorcist Manga and its characters. 

If memory serves me right, Renzo Shima becomes a double agent and is very skilled with his weapons. 

If this is true in the Blue Exorcist Manga, maybe Shima hides the fact that he's a lethal agent from everyone. Hopefully the Blue Exorcist Anime shows that Renzo Shima is a double agent for Season 2.

Meanwhile, are you feeling nostalgic for the 1984 Ghostbusters movie franchise? If so, there's more '80s nostalgia for you today.

Last night, I was able to locate the Ghostbusters cartoon I grew up watching during the 1980's. If you are at least in your mid-30's like myself, you should remember The Real Ghostbusters. 

The Real Ghostbusters debuted in 1986, which was 2 years after the original Ghostbusters movie. I CANNOT  believe that it has been nearly 30 years, since I last watched this '80s classic!

Being able to understand a childhood cartoon as an adult is the best part about re-watching it!

Whenever I re-watch a movie or  TV show from my youth, it is more like viewing something without blinders over my eyes; It's like being a virgin to that show or movie all over again.

There are more times, when I re-watch a show or movie and think to myself, "I don't remember this happening. When did this happen?" or "Hmm, I never thought of it that way."

While re-watching The Real Ghostbusters' pilot "Ghosts R Us," I started realizing how much the animated illustration for Dr. Egon Spengler resembles some of the characters we always see in today's Japanese animation (Anime).

This made me question if those, who did the illustrations were Japanese and/or possibly Korean.

After watching the ending credits scroll during the end of "Ghosts R Us," I saw a lot of Japanese names listed for the animation. This explained a lot to me. 

Even though The Real Ghostbusters was an American cartoon, some of the characters resembled Japanese illustrations. The illustration for Dr. Egon Spengler was an automatic dead giveaway for yours truly.

It's amazing how much you can learn by watching Japanese animation! Things that make you go hmm...

Okay, now I am REALLY showing my age here. Anyway, if you have NEVER had the chance to watch The Real Ghostbusters circa 1986, you now have the chance for today's Cartoon Sunday.

The Real Ghostbusters Pilot "Ghosts R Us" (1986)

Sunday, July 3, 2016

Cartoon Sunday: Masam Hashimoto's Fireworks Beads

How's it going lurkers? I am sharing something a little different for today's Cartoon Sunday.

Since Independence Day is tomorrow here in the gold ol' U.S. of A, I have chosen to be a little more "festive" by sharing this phenomenal piece created by Masam Hashimoto. Masam Hashimoto is a Japanese Stop-Motion Animator.

He created this amazing piece with fireworks beads. I never knew that such a thing existed, UNTIL 2 days ago. Well, ya learn something new everyday. When I stumbled upon Hashimoto's animation of fireworks, I could NOT  resist sharing it with everybody.

Normally, I'm more indifferent to fireworks, but this is an exception. When it comes to yesterday's Song Saturday blog and today's Cartoon Sunday blog, I have been making quite a few exceptions lately.

With that being said, I will leave you with this Stop-Motion Animated Video of fireworks created by Masam Hashimoto for today's Cartoon Sunday.

Masam Hashimoto Fireworks Beads Animated Video (2013)

Saturday, July 2, 2016

Song Saturday: Ikimono-gakari's Hanabi

How's it going lurkers? Yes, I am back with Song Saturday this weekend. I already know that many of you have been waiting for over 1 1/2 month.

Can you believe that Independence Day is in ONLY 2 more days?

For this weekend, the theme is fireworks. While working on this blog last night, our neighborhood could not help hearing fireworks from the outside. 

I actually live not too far away from another park besides Hart Park. There are also firework shows at Summerfest, which is in Downtown Milwaukee.

As I was saying, the theme for this weekend is fireworks. 

Those, who are fans of the Shonen Jump Action Anime and Manga, Bleach may be familiar with today's song. It comes from the J-Pop Rock band, Ikimono-gakari.

Their song "Hanabi," meaning fireworks in Japanese was featured as an ending theme song for Bleach. To be more specific, "Hanabi" was the 7th ending theme song to the series. 

The song is also 1 of my favorite Bleach ending theme songs. Considering my favorite genres of music, "Hanabi" is a bit unusual for me to like as a song.

As most of you already know, Metal is my favorite genre. However, you may also recall that I do enjoy other music genres, including some J-Pop. 

Normally, I would NOT  be a fan of listening to the harmonicas. Therefore, Ikimono-gakari's "Hanabi" is an exception for me.

You can find "Hanabi" on Ikimono-gakari's debut album, Sakura Saku Machi Monogatari. I'm sure that all you Bleach, J-Pop, and Anime Otaku fans were just dying to know, which album you could find the song. Now, you know. You're welcome. Anyway, here is Ikimono-gakari's song, "Hanabi" for today's Song Saturday.

Ikimono-gakari "Hanabi" Sakura Saku Machi Monogatari [The Story Of The Town Where Cherry Blossoms Bloom] (2006)

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