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Showing posts with label Chiller TV. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chiller TV. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 28, 2017

0_0 WHAT?! Chiller TV Drops Dead Before 2018! 0_0

How's it going lurkers? Like the coldest winter chill, Heaven will surely not be beside Chiller TV next year. (Did you catch that Alice In Chains song reference?)

On Black Friday, I browsed around a forum I belong to and discovered that NBC Universal's Chiller TV will drop dead before next year.

Deadline: Chiller Going Dark As NBCUniversal Axes Horror-Centric Channel

Wow! This was unexpected news. Even though Chiller TV's programming could've been a LOT  better, I cannot help feeling rather surprised that NBC Universal chose to ax their Horror-centric channel, after all these years.

This March 1st, Chiller TV officially turned 10. Households without a Dish Network or Direct TV package will not be hurt by the network "going dark;" Only households with Direct TV and Dish Network were able to watch Chiller.

Time Warner Cable NEVER had Chiller TV as a part of their cable package. This particular channel was WAY too niche.

After Dish Network discontinued Chiller TV from their packaging, the Horror-centric channel became nicher. Every household did not have a Direct TV or a Dish Network package.

Had Time Warner Cable added Chiller TV to their package 10 years ago, the network probably would've acquired more Horror viewers and ratings. 

More households today may pay to watch online streaming shows, but there are still households with basic cable and satellite packages.

I believe more households had Time Warner Cable as their provider than Direct TV and Dish Network combined. When Horror Anime returned to Chiller's programming, ONLY  the households with Direct TV and Dish could watch the channel.

Those of us viewers with satellite packages DID watch Chiller's shortly lived Anime Wednesday block. However, we were automatically excluded from the viewer ratings.

There were articles claiming that ZERO viewers watched Anime Wednesday within the first 3 weeks of its launch. Viewers like myself can declare that was a LOAD of bullshit.

Before Adult Swim's forum was shut down last winter, I posted in threads during July 2015 about Chiller TV's Anime Wednesday block. Those of us with Dish Network and Direct TV watched it. Our viewership just was NOT  included in the ratings.

The preceding is a perfect example of why I am not OBSESSED with ratings. Ratings can be RIGGED. This is what Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, and Toonami sycophants over the Internet cannot seem to grasp.

By Chiller NOT  being on Time Warner Cable's package, it lost more potential viewers.

On August 16, 2015, I published a Cartoon Sunday blog. In the following blog, I gave 5 reasons why Chiller TV's Anime Wednesday block tanked in generating more viewers.

Cartoon Sunday: Tokyo Ghoul Trailer (2015)

All 5 reasons I provided in the preceding Cartoon Sunday blog are still true, 2 years later. The fact that the Horror-centric network was excluded from Time Warner, seriously hurt Chiller TV's viewership the most, in my opinion.

When I joined the original Xanga 4 years ago, I published a blog explaining about the flaws in Chiller TV's programming.

Chiller TV Or Not So "Chiller TV"? (2013)

As I reflect on 1 of my earliest blogs from Xanga 4 years later, everything that was said still holds true today.

As a Horror AND Anime fan, I remain to be disappointed in Chiller TV's programming. This NBC Universal channel had SO MUCH potential, that went to waste.

On December 31, 2017 at 11:59 pm, Chiller TV will drop dead and be gone forever.

Therefore, if you are a Horror fan with Direct TV, I recommend watching Chiller TV during these final days.

Pretty soon, this channel will bite the dust and we will all have NBC Universal to thank for axing their very own Horror-centric channel.

What are your thoughts?

Sunday, March 26, 2017

Cartoon Sunday: Tactics (Anime)

How's it going lurkers? Earlier this morning, Tokyo Ghoul premiered on Adult Swim's Toonami block. 

Hopefully, this Seinen SciFi Horror Action Anime does well in the ratings, despite the Toonami nitpickers acting like crybabies and throwing their tantrums ad nauseam because it does not live up to being the stereotypical Toonami Anime.

To all those who have never watched episode 1 of Tokyo Ghoul, if you liked Parasyte -The Maxim-, you should enjoy Tokyo Ghoul.

Over the last 2 weeks, the Toonami fans that watch One Piece have been acting like crybabies because One Piece was replaced with Tokyo Ghoul. 

Meanwhile, there are the other Toonami fans who LOVE ruining everything for other fandoms with their incessant nitpicking of shows, which do not fit their personal Toonami archetypes.

Those Anime fans in particular are partially to blame for the cancellation of Chiller TV's Anime Wednesday block from 2 summers ago. Toonami brats and other Anime fans nitpicked Anime Wednesday so much, that their incessant nitpicking was the straw that broke the camel's back.

Their constant bitching online contributed to the downfall of Anime Wednesday.

Nearly 2 years later, I am still reeling over the fact, that Chiller TV not only did a piss poor job of advertising Anime Wednesday, but also canceled their own Horror Anime block within the first 3 weeks.

About 10 years ago, SciFi launched their Ani-Monday block. Shortly after, Chiller TV began airing Ani-Monday.

Because Chiller TV and Syfy are sister channels owned by NBC Universal, Horror Anime that premiered on SciFi was eventually sent to Chiller TV. This wasn't the case for Chiller's Anime Wednesday block the last time.

The Anime Wednesday block actually premiered Anime that SciFi NEVER aired, which was a positive. However... the Horror Anime for Chiller TV's Anime Wednesday block did NOT  necessarily qualify as Horror Anime. Both Anime AND Toonami incels threw the biggest toddler tantrums online about Is This A Zombie? premiering on this Horror Anime block. 

Is This A Zombie? NEVER qualified as a Horror Anime. 

In fact, 1/2 Chiller TV's Anime Wednesday block were Comedies for a Horror Anime block. 

Even though I enjoyed watching Black Blood Brothers and Is This A Zombie? years before Chiller acquired them, they were mostly Supernatural Comedy Anime.

Devil May Cry and Tokyo Majin were THE ONLY 2, which came close to being Horror Anime. Devil May Cry is a Horror Action Anime and Tokyo Majin is more Supernatural Action.

There is a plethora of Horror Anime, which Chiller TV could've acquired and premiered at decent times.

I believe if Chiller really wanted to compete against Adult Swim's Toonami block, the network could've possibly premiered Horror Drama and Mystery Anime at 9pm Central on Saturdays or Sundays. 

This would've been MUCH better than premiering Horror Anime on Wednesdays at midnight.

The Horror network also could've premiered its Horror Anime block starting at 9pm on Fridays. Then again, that would've been too logical.

I am somewhat surprised that Chiller TV did NOT acquire the Occult Supernatural Detective Anime, Tactics. SciFi originally premiered it on Ani-Monday in 2008.

Then again, Tactics might've lacked suspense for Horror Anime fans. The Anime is set, during the Taisho Era as opposed to the Meiji Era in the Manga. 

Regardless, Tactics focuses on the young man, Kantarou Ichinomiya. Since childhood, he had the ability to see yokai and was of course, ostracized for having this special ability. 

Kantarou's yokai friends told him, that he must find the oni-eating tengu, in order to become stronger. Shortly after, Kantarou vowed to find the oni-eating tengu and name it. 

Long story short, the florist/part-time exorcist finds this oni-eating tengu on an assignment in the mountains and names him, Haruka.

I could explain more, but it would be much better for you to watch Tactics for today's Cartoon Sunday.

Tactics Episode 1: "The Black Goblin Awakes" [English Dub] (2004)

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)

Sunday, August 16, 2015

Cartoon Sunday: Tokyo Ghoul Trailer

How's it going lurkers? These last several weeks, I have mentioned Chiller TV's Anime Wednesday block. 

Throughout last week, I searched for an official confirmation of whether or not Chiller TV canceled Anime Wednesday. 

I went as far as messaging the network. Chiller TV never responded back on Stalkbook. Facebook. 

While conducting Google searches, I only saw people on Chiller TV's social media accounts, YouTube, Anime News Network, Adult Swim, and other forums and social media sites claiming, that Chiller TV canceled Anime Wednesday. I also stumbled upon my very own Cartoon Sunday blog from last week.

Type into Google "Is Chiller TV's Anime Wednesday Canceled?" and scroll down the page. In case you missed the link to my blog on Google, the link is below.

Cartoon Sunday: Black Blood Brothers (2015)

As I was saying, there is no actual confirmation directly from Chiller TV. I read on another blogger's page, that Anime Wednesday tanked in the ratings. 

Supposedly, Anime Wednesday had ZERO ratings. I have always hated The Nielsen Ratings.

The Nielsen Ratings System is extremely inaccurate. Every TV viewer doesn't sit around documenting every little show we watch. I have never done The Nielsen Ratings because it's rigged and very biased.

Contrary to Chiller TV's so-called "zero" ratings, those of us Horror and Anime fans with Direct TV and Dish Network watched Anime Wednesday. There are several reasons why Anime Wednesday tanked.

Why Chiller TV's Anime Wednesday Tanked In Viewership:

1) Extremely niche- Only Direct TV and Dish Network have Chiller TV. It's not on Time Warner or any other provider. This is mostly what hurt Anime Wednesday's viewership.

2) Terrible advertising- I had no idea that Chiller TV started airing Anime again, until I just happened to be channel surfing the same night Anime Wednesday premiered. The block barely got any on and offline announcements.

3) Terrible scheduling- Anime on late Wednesday nights was already a bad idea. Had the block aired, during the early evening/primetime slot, Anime Wednesday would've gotten more viewers. Honestly, if Chiller TV would've premiered Anime on Fridays, during more reasonable hours, that could've improved its viewership. It most definitely could've rivaled Adult Swim's Toonami block.

4) Integrity- Much like NBC, Syfy, and Chiller TV's other sister stations, it lacks integrity. A nice chunk of Chiller's programming is a hub for Syfy's failbag shows. Before Chiller TV premiered ITS version of the Ani-Monday block years ago, I sometimes watched the channel for the late '80s Horror Anthology miniseries Freddy's Nightmares. 

Just when Chiller's Anime Wednesday block had a chance, the network POSSIBLY yanked the block.

5) Ignorant & Extremely Immature Horror Fans- On Chiller TV's Facebook page, I saw some middle school brats throwing their tantrums about a cheesy and highly censored PG-13 rated Horror channel airing "Japanese cartoons." I'm willing to bet that 1 particular brat was the same bratty, pompous ass, YouTube vlogger, who degraded and mocked Anime fans.

There is a wannabe hoodrat YouTube vlogger, who believes he is superior to Anime fans. Apparently, he's better than Anime fans because he's not (insert homophobic slurs), a "virgin," or an Anime fan since he has a sex life. HA! Yeah, right? 

Over compensate much? Hmm... Sounds like a 7th grade Incel trying to act cool to me!

Oh, how I love when bratty middle schoolers who still watch The Nickelodeon Channel condescend to viewers about Horror Anime on a PG-13 rated Horror Channel. What a joke!

I would've shared his vlog but I refuse to have my IQ drop even more, after listening to that over compensating, wannabe hoodrat failing at trying to sound "intelligent." Besides, he does not need anymore viewership. The poser needs to crack open a book and get a real education. Then, he can better articulate himself in his YouTube vlogs.

Generally speaking, Chiller TV doesn't know how to communicate with its Horror and Anime fans. This really doesn't help anyone. 

If the network wants to maintain its current viewers, having integrity, organization, better advertising, and showing consistency with its schedule would immensely help everyone.

Chiller TV needs all the help it can get because it is highly unwatchable for the most part. I get the impression that most of NBC Universal's networks are being run by a bunch of flakes, that ride on The Hot Mess Expresss Train.

It sounds a bit harsh to say, but I can't help it. Chiller TV really has potential for both Horror and Anime fans. Although, the people in charge of it obviously have no idea of how to run it, which is highly visible to its viewers.

Well, at least Chiller TV aired Funimation Entertainment's trailer for the Seinen Horror Action Anime, Tokyo Ghoul. I have heard about Tokyo Ghoul at least several times. Eventually, I will have a chance to watch it.

I still have yet to watch the entire series, Tokyo Majin (no relation to Tokyo Ghoul). It doesn't seem like Chiller TV will be resuming to Anime Wednesday anytime soon. Therefore, it is better to watch both Tokyo Majin and Tokyo Ghoul independently.

According to Anime News Network, Tokyo Ghoul is about a college student named Ken Kaneki. 

The protagonist meets a girl his age, named Rize at a cafe, who he frequents and quickly bonds with her. Ken Kaneki doesn't know, that Rize is a ghoul. 

Hunting and devouring human flesh is how Rize survives. 

After The Red Child (Rize's special organ) is transplanted into Kaneki's body, he becomes a ghoul and is trapped in a warped world where humans are not at the top of the food chain. Anyway, here is the trailer for Tokyo Ghoul for today's Cartoon Sunday.

Tokyo Ghoul Trailer (2015)

Sunday, August 9, 2015

Cartoon Sunday: Black Blood Brothers

How's it going lurkers? It was already stated in yesterday's blog, that Chiller TV's Anime Wednesday block is triggering LOTS of controversy over these last few weeks online. 

Some Adult Swim posters have been complaining about Anime Wednesday. In fact, last week, someone from the Toonami sub-forum had a massive spazz attack. 

The rabid fangirl went as far as to assume, that Anime Wednesday has been canceled.

Just because Chiller TV didn't air the block last week, doesn't necessarily mean that it has been canceled.

Then again, I really should NOT expect much from the Shonen Jump Action Anime crybabies. 

This sounds like I'm being patronizing, however, I have interacted with YouTube vloggers over the last 3 years and have SEEN the way Toonami sycophants and zealots react towards other fans, who don't share their views. 

The Toonami fandom is extremely divided about the current programming, which is why those same vloggers stopped doing YouTube vlogs about Toonami.

The tards are extremely fixated on cartoon ratings and their childhood nostalgia. They believe it is a requirement to listen to Steven Jay Blum voice a talking CGI robot, in order to enjoy watching their favorite Anime.

TOM Gives His Patronizing "Life Advice" To His ADULT Toonami Viewers (2012)

Before Adult Swim rebranded its Anime programming as "Toonami," there was more diversity in the Anime genres and sub-genres being aired. Toonami is an Action block, which limits what can now be aired on the network.

As I was saying, the Toonami  Tards, that can get Chiller TV on their Dish Network and Direct TV packages are flipping their shit because Anime Wednesday wasn't aired, last week. 

I had to remind the biggest spazz from Adult Swim's Toonami sub-forum, that Syfy and Chiller TV's programming were always inconsistent. 

Both networks love changing their schedules on a whim. Therefore, viewers shouldn't automatically assume, that Anime Wednesday is canceled. I have not read anything online about the block being canceled yet the Toonami zealots are jumping to conclusions as usual. 

I also reminded Anime fans that even if Chiller TV did cancel Anime Wednesday, it's not the end of the world. We are NOT  living in the 1980's and early '90s, when Japanese animation was scarce.

We live in the 21st Century. We have the Internet and have more access to Anime than ever both legally and illegally. Not that I'm condoning illegal downloads and streams, but you get the point. Where there's porn online, there's Anime.

Watching Anime on TV is the most convenient for us all.

Meanwhile, I went back to Chiller TV's fan page on Stalk Facebook. Some Horror fans threw temper tantrums about Anime being aired on the network. Some Horror fans dislike the fact, that a PG-13-rated Horror network is airing "Japanese cartoons," again. This makes me roll my eyes and laugh.

When Chiller TV originally launched in 2007, I mostly watched it for Ani-Monday. As much as I enjoy Horror, Chiller TV's programming is censored. It mostly airs the worst movies and shows just like its sister station, Syfy. Chiller TV should be a premium channel like Encore and Starz, for examples. I will watch Horror movies on premium channels, before Chiller TV most of the time.

Anime and Horror are 2 of the most demonized forms of entertainment. 

Since I have always been an Anime and a Horror fan, I will tell you that BOTH fandoms are viewed as outcasts and have been treated as outcasts because we are usually negatively depicted by the media as being deranged serial killers and heavily medicated mental patients. 

Horror and Anime can both go hand in hand with each other, when it comes to content. I believe that Chiller TV is more willing to attract both Horror and Anime fans at once time, right now. The network has the ability to bridge the gap by uniting both Anime and Horror fans.

Chiller TV is also exposing Horror fans, who are unfamiliar with Anime to Japanese Animated Horror. Honestly, I commend them for putting Horror Anime back on the lineup. It would be fantastic to see the average Horror fan embrace some Japanese animation. 

Shonen Jump Action Anime is marketed the most to the Western audience. There are numerous Anime genres and sub-genres than Action meant to attract teenage boys. 

Most average people don't know more about Japanese animation unless they are exposed to Anime and have knowledge about Japanese culture and entertainment.

When it comes to Japanese animation, there's a little bit of something for all age groups, genders, sexual orientations, sub-cultures, etc.

Since this is another blog about Horror Anime, it's only fitting to share another Horror Anime from Chiller TV's current Anime Wednesday block. Today, I have Black Blood Brothers for Cartoon Sunday.

Black Blood Brothers is more of a Supernatural Action Dramedy. In order to give a better understanding, the Red Bloods are humans. 

Meanwhile, there are at least 3 elite vampire clans.

3 Elite Vampire Clans:

1) Old Blood- Vampires that have lived at least 100 + years. Their abilities are much greater than the average vampire.

2) Black Blood- Jiro and Kotaro are 2 examples. They have superhuman strength, can turn humans into vampires, survive wounds that would normally kill humans and don't age. Technically, Jiro is an Old Blood, that can survive being impaled by silver. Most vampires are vulnerable to silver. Although, Jiro can't handle sunlight or exposure to water.

3) Kowloon Children- Their lineage was founded by the 9 Dragon Kings and they are hated by other vampires. The Kowloons only need to suck the blood of humans and other vampires. Whenever they attack both humans and vampires, their bloodline is spread. 

Humans and other vampires can also be turned into Kowloons by drinking their blood. Then, Kowloon victims will fall under their control, which starts a chain of other vampires.

Now that you have learned about the 3 main vampire clans, here is Black Blood Brothers.

Black Blood Brothers Episode 1 "Black Blood Brothers"[English Dub] (2006)

Sunday, July 26, 2015

Cartoon Sunday: Tokyo Majin

How's it going lurkers? I meant to share this 2 weeks ago but as usual, a lot has been happening both on and offline. Once our Dish Network boxes and satellite dish were upgraded, I discovered that Chiller TV began re-airing Horror and Supernatural Action Anime.

If you have either Direct TV, or Dish Network as your provider, Chiller TV now has the Anime Wednesday block. The network is premiering English Dubbed Anime from Funimation Entertainment.  

Anime News Network and Chiller TV both published their articles about the schedule.

Anime News Network: U.S. TV Channel Chiller Runs Anime Block On Wednesdays

Out of Chiller TV's current Anime Wednesday block, I watched Black Blood Brothers, Devil May Cry, and Is This A Zombie? online years ago. However, Tokyo Majin was an Anime I never had the chance to watch, until recently.

Over the last 2 years on Xanga 1.0 and It's Not All Gumdrops & Unicorns, I mentioned that Adult Swim should have acquired Devil May Cry. It appears that Chiller TV beat Adult Swim to the punch. The network's Anime Wednesday block appears to be a hot topic on Adult Swim.

Some Adult Swim posters are currently insulting Chiller TV's block. Their criticism is somewhat necessary. I have to agree with some posters. 

Because Devil May Cry is the most popular Anime out of the 4, it SHOULD be the opening Anime Wednesday series. At the same time, I'm somewhat annoyed with them complaining about Black Blood Brothers and Is This A Zombie? being aired. 

Granted, Is This A Zombie? is more of a Supernatural Comedy, but at least Chiller TV is trying to expose Horror fans to other Anime genres and sub-genres. 

Most people lack knowledge about Anime. There is much more to Japanese animation than Shonen Jump Action Anime. Everybody doesn't know about Anime except for most casual Cartoon Network and Adult Swim viewers from over the last 10-20 years. However, Anime Otakus know more than casual viewers hands down.

Anime existed before, during, and after Cartoon Network, Toonami, and Adult Swim were launched. Younger Gen Xers and older Millennials were watching Anime long before the existence of most of today's cable and satellite networks.

I cannot help feeling annoyed, whenever I have to deal with Anime fans, who consider Cartoon Network's Toonami and Adult Swim to be their so-called "Gateway To Anime."  

Younger Millennial and Gen Z viewers act as if Cartoon Network and Adult Swim are their Bibles and believe they know everything about Japanese animation.

Yes, the Toonami block on Cartoon Network helped "pave the way" for most American Anime viewers years ago. At the same time, those same viewers were only exposed to Action Anime. There is more to Anime than Action yet Action Anime is supposedly what sells better to the male American Anime demographics.

Within the last decade, younger Anime fans had and still have access to more Anime genres and sub-genres streaming online than us older Anime fans ever had growing up.

During the '80s and '90s, us 30 and 40-something-year-olds rented and bought Anime from local video stores like Blockbuster Video. Otherwise, we shopped at Japanese stores that sold imported products or got bootleg versions of Anime.

I hate sounding like an old lady, but today's younger generations have it made.

Since today's blog is mostly about Chiller TV's Anime Wednesday block and because everyone does NOT  have Chiller TV, it is only fair to share at least 1 of its shows. Here is Tokyo Majin for today's Cartoon Sunday.

Tokyo Majin Episode 1: "Moment Of The Demonic Encounter" English Dub (2007)

Sunday, March 2, 2014

Cartoon Sunday: Anna H's Horror Anime Reviews

How's it going lurkers? In addition to sharing Vampire Knight for today's Cartoon Sunday, I will be reviewing some Horror Anime. Are you excited? Horror and Anime fans should be.

Since there are several to review, I will start with Another. Another is a Seinen (Mens) Horror-Mystery Anime based on the Japanese novel, Another.

Koichi Sasakibara is a 15-year-old junior high student whose mother died shortly after his birth. Meanwhile, his father (a business man) traveled abroad to India for a year. This all leads to Koichi being sent to live with his aunt and grandparents in Yomiyama. 

Yomiyama is a small town where his dead mother grew up.

In the process of Koichi moving there, he acquires a serious health problem, which delays him from transferring to his new school and causes him to be hospitalized. Then, Koichi meets this strange girl with an eye-patch named, Mei Misaki.

After Koichi meets Mei, his eerie "class representatives" from his new school, visit him in the hospital. This is just before his first day of school because they wanted to learn more about Koichi's background.

After Koichi is finally released from the hospital, he starts getting strange vibes from his classmates. Mei is sometimes visible in his classroom. Everyone else pretends she doesn't exist because their classroom has been cursed, since 1972. They must follow certain rules around the campus, in order to avoid dying brutal deaths. Those rules actually backfire on everybody both inside and outside Koichi's classroom.

Another has some brutal death tolls. Some Anime critics claim that Another is similar to the movie, Final Destination. 

I cannot support their claims about Final Destination because I've never watched the movie. Koichi's homeroom teacher committing suicide in front of his entire classroom is definitely an unforgettable scene from Another.

Another: Kubodera Sensei Commits Suicide Scene (2012)

As a quick reminder, YouTube is blocking outside viewers from watching certain videos, when they're not removing them due to copyrights. Therefore, if you're at least 18 years old, you can sign into your Gmail and/or YouTube account(s) to watch the scene above. Here's the URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRW3iD7FZPQ

If you like creepy dolls, curses, ghosts, death tolls, and Horror-Mystery, you should definitely give Another a watch. It not only has a novel and an Anime, but also a live-action J-Horror Movie and Manga (Japanese Comic Books).

Next, we have the Shojo (Girls) Psychological Supernatural Horror Mystery Drama Anime, Ghost Hunt. High school freshman, Mai Taniyama and her friends exchange ghost stories. 

While exchanging ghost stories, they are introduced to 17-year-old, Paranormal Researcher/Manager of the Shibuya Psychic Research Center, Kazuya Shibuya.

Kazuya, a few psychic mediums, and exorcists are sent by Mai's high school principal to investigate an allegedly haunted school building. 

During the school's investigation, a dangerous situation occurs, when a bookcase nearly crushes Mai. Kazuya's taciturn assistant, Lin Koujo rescues her.

Lin becomes incapacitated by the falling bookcase and she destroys their expensive camera equipment. Since Lin is incapacitated and Mai destroyed their expensive equipment, Kazuya makes Mai repay her debt by making her work for his company. She later nicknames him "Naru."

"Naru" is Mai's short Japanese nickname for Kazuya being narcissistic.

The "Bloodstained Labyrinth Arc" is Ghost Hunt's scariest arc, which is later in the series. "Bloodstained Labyrinth" lasts for 4 episodes. 

In the arc, Mai starts having nightmares and has first-hand experience with the death of someone from the estate they are investigating.

Ghost Hunt Episodes 18-21: "Bloodstained Labyrinth Arc" (2006)

If you enjoy watching exorcisms, ghosts, psychic mediums, espers, and poltergeists, you'll love Ghost Hunt. The opening theme song even sets the creepy mood.

Similar to Ghost Hunt is Hell Girl. Hell Girl actually has 3 seasons. Only Season 1 aired on IFC years ago. There are 2 other unaired seasons. 

Much like Ghost Hunt, Hell Girl is a Shojo Psychological Supernatural Horror Mystery Drama Anime. However, Hell Girl's main themes are about death, revenge, tragedy, and comeuppance.

During the stroke of midnight, The Hell Girl Correspondence appears online. Avengers posting their grudges on the Hell Girl Correspondence will be visited by the Hell Girl herself, Ai Enma. She offers the person, who wants vengeance, a straw doll and 1 of her 3 companions to help seek vengeance.

Each person seeking vengeance has the option to either accept, or reject. If he/she CHOOSES vengeance, his/her enemy will be sent to hell. The avenger will also have a permanent black crest-shaped mark on his/her chest. The mark symbolizes that he/she will ALSO go to hell, when it is his/her time to die.

Basically, Ai Enma's services come with a double-edged sword. Most people follow through with seeking revenge, regardless.

At the very beginning part of Hell Girl Season 1, the stories seem repetitive. As the season progresses, viewers learn more about Ai Enma's origins and how she became Hell Girl. This doesn't happen until Season 1: Episode 13 "Purgatory Girl."

Hell Girl: "Purgatory Girl" Scenes (2005)

If you're someone like me, who loves revenge, Hell Girl is the franchise to watch.

Besides Hell Girl, there are the Hellsing Ulitmate OVA's. Years ago, Hellsing originally had an Anime series. Then, Japan released the OVA's, which were adapted more to its Manga. 

The Hellsing franchise is a Seinen Biopunk Horror Action Drama. Overall, Hellsing is named after and centered around the Royal Order of Protestant Knights.

The Hellsing Organization was founded by Abraham Van Helsing. It is currently led by his daughter, Sir Integra Fairbrook Wingates Helsing. 

Sir Integra witnessed her father's death at a young age. Van Helsing's death hardened Sir Integra and turned her into a lethal force to be reckoned with. Integra is protected by her family's former "trashman" now turned butler, Walter C. Dornez and Alucard.

Alucard is the original and most powerful vampire. He swore his loyalty to The Helsings, after Van Helsing defeated him.

The Hellsing Organization's main objective is to secretly search and destroy "the undead" and other evil supernatural forces, that are threats to the queen and England. In addition, there's Seras Victoria a.k.a. "Police Girl." 

Seras Victoria is a former police woman now turned so-called "Draculina." She was originally sent on a vampire mission with her squad. The mission soon becomes more than what she bargained for. It results in "Police Girl" being taken hostage by a vampire priest, who controls zombies. Alucard shoots through Seras Victoria, in order to kill the vampire priest. 

Then, Alucard gives her the choice to die or become a vampire. She chooses vampirism, which leads to Alucard becoming her master. 

Now, Seras must drink blood like a regular vampire and go on missions with The Hellsing Organization.

Hellsing Ultimate: Seras Victoria's 1st Hellsing Operative Mission Scene (2006)


 

 

 

 

 

Because YouTube keeps removing the Hellsing Ultimate clip of Seras Victoria sniping the ghoul named Jessica, the preceding image above is from that exact scene. The fact that YouTubers keep inserting Justin Bieber in this scene is highly obnoxious.

Creeping down the stretch, there is the Shounen (Boys) Supernatural Horror-Mystery Anime, Shiki. Shiki (literally translated in English as "corpse demon" or "death spirit") takes place in Sotobamura, Japan, during the summer of the 1990's.

Sotobamura is an isolated Japanese village with old customs such as the burial of the dead, for example.

Throughout the summer, 3 corpses are mysteriously found and villagers start dropping like flies. Everyone, including Dr. Ozaki Toshio, assume there's a growing epidemic in Sotobamura.

All the while, The Kirishikis conveniently move into the long abandoned Kanemasa Mansion on the outskirts. 

As more villagers die throughout the summer, Dr. Ozaki Toshio starts investigating and discovers the supernatural presence of vampires.

The vampires are referred to as "shiki" and they return from the dead, infecting the entire town.

I watched Shiki 2 summers ago. As I watched each episode, there were times I became frustrated because the main characters kept dying. 

When it comes to Megumi Shimizu, that character was and still is the most sickening character in Shiki.  

She was a snob, who was OBSESSED with Natsuno Yuuki so much so, that she stalked him. Even after Megumi died from anemia and was revived as a shiki, I am willing to believe that most Shiki viewers rejoiced, when she officially died. I know I did.

Shiki: Megumi Shimizu's Brutal & Well Deserved Death (2010)

Tokko is another Seinen Horror Action Anime. The gif above is a scence from Tokko. This has more of a supernatural, police procedural theme to it. 

In Tokko, Ranmaru Shindou graduates from the police academy and is assigned to Tokki. 

Tokki is a Special Mobile Investigation Force. 

On the same day of Ranmaru's graduation, he meets this half-naked girl, who he constantly sees in his dreams, named Sakura Rokujo. Sakura happens to work for Tokko.

Tokko is the Special Public Safety Task Force, which is secretly within Tokki.

Eventually, Ranmaru joins Tokko mostly to avenge the death of his parents and to solve the mass murder mysteries for Machida, Japan's residents. Because Tokko is a short series, the story has a faster pace. The following is a clip of the opening scene for Tokko's 2nd episode.

Tokko: 2nd Episode Opening Scene (2006)

If you enjoy watching Japanese demons and strange creatures with a blood lust being slayed, you should definitely give Tokko a watch.

Last but not least is Vampire Knight. This is a Shojo Supernatural Action Romance Bishounen (Pretty Boy) Vampire Anime with a high school theme.

Even though Vampire Knight really is not scary, it heavily revolves around tragedy. The series can be somewhat considered Horror because it has the elements. It is mostly meant for the female audience, since it is a Shojo Anime.

Ghost Hunt and Hell Girl are both Shojo Horror Anime except they have more Horror elements to them than Vampire Knight. 

In other words, Vampire Knight is more feminine with dark and tragic overtones. Anyway, Cross Academy has both Day and Night Classes. The Day Classes are for humans and the Night Classes are for the vampires. 

Cross Academy's headmaster (Kaien Cross) created the academy for both humans and vampires to "peacefully coexist." At the same time, they are still segregated on campus.

You are probably asking yourselves, "Okay what's the point? That sounds rather contradictory."

In a way, it is contradictory, not to mention delusional. 

I believe Kaein Cross built Cross Academy for his foster daughter/campus guardian, Yuki Cross and her childhood/campus guardian friend, Zero Kiryu.

Vampire Knight begins with Yuki remembering that stormy winter night, when she was nearly attacked by a Level E Vampire. Instead, she was rescued by Kaname Kuran.

Kaname Kuran is a Pureblood Vampire/Moon Dorm President/Vampire Society King. These are only naming a few titles he possesses in Vampire Knight. Out of respect for potential fans, I won't spoil everything about Kaname Kuran. 

Kaname, Yuki, and Zero are the main characters with a love triangle.

Rather than sharing clips of the Vampire Knight series, I am sharing the links below to its pilot episode. You can watch Vampire Knight on Crunchyroll either in Japanese, or English.

While watching it, you will quickly learn about Zero's self-hatred and his hatred toward vampires. This includes his seething jealousy towards Kaname.

Vampire Knight Season 1: Episode 1 (2008) [English Subtitles]

Vampire Knight Season 1: Episode 1 (2008) [English Dub]

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