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]

Song Saturday: Siouxsie And The Banshees [Triple Dose]

How's it going lurkers? I have stopped participating in Blogster's Song Saturday Tours and have chosen to adopt Song Saturday, recently. Song Saturday is a fun concept.

Now, that I no longer particpate in the tours, I have LESS pressure on my shoulders because I am sharing whatever I want.

I am doing Song Saturday early. We are supposed to be getting more snow tonight and I will be too busy watching Grimm on NBC and the MMA's on AXS TV. MMA's stands for Mixed Martial Arts. It is nothing like the fake wrestling, that most people enjoy watching on TV. As usual, I digress.

This Song Saturday will be a triple dose of Siouxsie And The Banshees. They are an old Alternative Post-Punk New Wave/Goth Rock band from the late 1970's to 80's. These 4 kooks were originally from London, England.

It is surprising that most people do NOT know about Siouxsie And The Banshees. They highly influenced many bands and artists over several decades.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jane's Addiction, Shirley Manson from Garbage, The Cure, U2, Tricky, Massive Attack, Depeche Mode, Sonic Youth, PJ Harvey, LCD Soundsystem, and TV On The Radio were all highly influenced by Siouxsie And The Banshees.

This is only a short list. I'm giving you a triple dose of my favorite Siouxsie And The Banshees songs. These first 2 songs from their album, A Kiss In The Dreamhouse released months after I was a new born.

Out of "Cascade," "Melt," and "Scarecrow," I don't know which song I like the best. Anyway, here's some Siouxsie And The Banshees:

1) Siouxsie And The Banshees "Cascade" A Kiss In The Dreamhouse (1982)

2) Siouxsie And The Banshees "Melt!" A Kiss In The Dreamhouse (1982)

3) Siouxise And The Banshees "Scarecrow" Peepshow (1988)

Cartoon Sunday: The Powerpuff Girls' Too Pooped To Puff

 How's it going lurkers? It is Cartoon Sunday. Just in case some of you didn't already know, Blue Exorcist will be premiering its English Dub next Sunday on Adult Swim. It's great, that it will be premiering sooner than expected. 

Originally, Blue Exorcist was supposed to have been premiering, next month. Had it been MY choice, I would've premiered it much sooner rather than premiering that shitty Space Dandy Anime. 

Okay, I understand that Space Dandy is a Seinen Comedy Anime, but it's stupid and obnoxious. I would love for Blue Exorcist to air before or after Bleach as opposed to waiting until 12:30 am on Sundays to watch it. 

If I were in charge programming for the Swimnami Toonami lineup, here's how I would've scheduled the shows:

10:30 pm Naruto Shippuden

11:00 pm Bleach

11:30 pm Blue Exorcist

12:00 am Black Lagoon

This would've been a better arrangement on Swimnami Toonami than what Adult Swim already has on their schedule. I have no respect for Space Dandy or One Piece. They're stupid and annoying shows, not to mention money wasted. Space Dandy alone was catching a lot of flack weeks before its world premiere. 

I don't know about everyone else, but I can think of other Anime from Japan, that can afford to be world premiered. Space Dandy wouldn't have even made the list UNLESS viewers love having their intelligence insulted.

Meanwhile, it still would be refreshing to have Shojo and Josei Anime on this Toonami rebranding, as well as some other female animation. Like I have said in the past, since Adult Swim chose to acquire Cartoon Network's reject cartoons for boys, they also could've acquired The Powerpuff Girls. 

The Powerpuff Girls had a history of being on the previous Toonami block. The cartoon was originally meant for the adult demographic. Believe it or not, The Powerpuff Girls has a lot of hidden messages and pop-culture references, that Generations X and Y will understand. 

Most diehard fans of The Powerpuff Girls franchise are still complaining about its reboot from last month on The Powerpuff Girls' Stalkbook Faceboook page. The fans are not a far cry from staging a revolt against Cartoon Network. That's how upset they are over The Powerpuff Girls' reboot. 

Since it's Cartoon Sunday, I decided to share another mini-epiosde from The Powerpuff Girls. I would love to share the cartoon's "Reeking Havoc" and "Super Zeros" episodes, but there aren't any episodes re-uploaded to YouTube. 

Instead, I chose to share the video link to The Powerpuff Girls' episode, "Too Pooped To Puff." In this episode, The Powerpuff Girls go on strike because Townsville has become lazy, entitled, and overly dependent on them to the extent, that they have the girls doing their own jobs for them. 

Click on the following video link:

The Powerpuff Girls "Too Pooped To Puff" (1999)

Song Saturday: Olivia Lufkin Block

How's it going lurkers? Hopefully everyone survived Friday The 13th. Next month in case you didn't already know, we have another Friday The 13th. Ugh! I did NOT  watch Friday The 13th. Although, I did watch Child's Play and the original My Bloody Valentine. Yes, I know. What a morbid way to celebrate both Valentine's Eve and Valentine's Day.

Luckily for me, I'm not getting any ANY attention-seeking Facebook notifcations from friends bragging about how much they love their boyfriends, girlfriends, and spouses. Whether it's on Valentine's Day or not, being forced to constantly read it in our news feeds is enough to make any single OR married person want to gag. 

Regardless if it's the beginning or the end of the day, those same relationships are NOT  as "cozy" as these couples pretend for the public.

Today we all have to survive Valentine's Day. While couples are celebrating it, I will be sleeping in, after sharing this Song Saturday blog. 

For a little while, I have not shared any J-Pop. You may recall that I published a Song Saturday blog about Anna Tsuchiya last year.

Since it's Valentine's Day and today is mostly about couples in America, I thought I would share some Olivia Lufkin.

She and Anna Tsuchiya were both featured singers on NANA. Much like Tsuchiya's, Lufkin's voice was dubbed into the Anime series for the character Layla Serizawa.

Olivia Lufkin's voice is beautiful as well as phenomenal. Her music should have more global exposure. It's been nearly a decade, since the time I discovered her. Olivia Lufkin is a Japanese Pop-Rock singer, who is mostly known for her contribution to the Josei Anime compilation, Nana Best. 

In addition to Olivia's music being featured in NANA and Nana Best, her song "Dream Catcher" was used as the ending theme song for the J-Horror Drama, Hell Girl.

It felt somewhat odd that the Hell Girl franchise chose to use her song "Dream Catcher" as the ending theme song for the Hell Girl J-Drama. 

Normally, the Hell Girl franchise used singer/voice actress Mamiko Noto's songs for the Hell Girl Anime.

Choosing an Olivia Lufkin song over Mamiko Noto's songs was a different approach for the Hell Girl J-Drama'

Mamiko's vocals have a low, soft, and ominous sound compared to Olivia's beautiful and angelic voice.

In Ai Yazawa's Josei Anime and Manga NANA, Layla Serizawa was named after Eric Clapton's song, "Layla." This character voiced by Olivia is the lead singer of the band called Trapnest. 

Olivia Lufkin also produced a lot of her own songs for NANA under the alias "Olivia Inspi' Reira (Trapnest)."

"Starless Night," "Shadow Of Love," "Winter Sleep," and "Alone In Our Castle" are some of my favorite songs from the Nana Best compilation by Olivia Lufkin. 

I really enjoy her songs "Alone In Our Castle" and "Recorded Butterflies." Rather than going the usual route, here's a block of Olivia Lufkin's songs followed by a bonus music video.

1) Olivia Lufkin "Alone In Our Castle" The Lost Lolli (2004)

2) Olivia Lufkin "Starless Night" Nana Best (2006)

3) Olivia Lufkin "Shadow Of Love" Nana Best (2006)

4) Olivia Lufkin "Winter Sleep" Nana Best (2006)

5) Olivia Lufkin "Recorded Butterflies" Olivia Inspi' Reira (Trapnest) (2007)

6) Olivia Lufkin "Dream Catcher" Hell Girl (2006); The Cloudy Dreamer (2007)

 

[BONUS]

Olivia Lufkin "SpiderSpins" Merry & Hell Go Round (2003); The Lost Lolli (2004)

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY, LURKERS!!!

Cartoon Sunday: Foamy The Squirrel's A New You

How's it going lurkers? It is Cartoon Sunday, once again. This week, I'm sharing another Neurotically Yours Animated Short from iLL WiLL PrEss, which features Foamy The Squirrel and his slutty owner, Germaine.

I haven't done so, in a while. This episode is called "A New You." In this short, Germaine returns and explains to Foamy about her supposed "makeover." 

I always love whenever women have makeovers. Sure, there are some, who really need them badly (both physically and personality wise). However, almost every time women have makeovers, they are usually physical makeovers. We are supposed to believe their physical makeovers miraculously changed their personalities. 

Makeovers may simply change women and/or men physically, but those makeovers won't remove their insecurities and flaws about themselves as people. Sometimes their physical makeovers change them into worse people. They start over compensating because they still feel the same and have to prove to themselves and others, that they are suddenly "different people" compared to their last perceptions of themselves. I always found this to be hilarious. It is a lot like that old adage, "a leopard doesn't change its spots." If only some would learn. Anyway, here is today's short for Cartoon Sunday.

Foamy The Squirrel: "A New You" (2014)

Cartoon Sunday: Black Lagoon Roberta Vs. The Columbian Cartel

How's it going lurkers? As of last week, I have been watching Black Lagoon, before Adult Swim's Toonami block premieres it on March 22nd. You might be asking yourselves, "What's the point of watching it so early, when it will be on TV, soon?" 

I have been watching Black Lagoon early because I am impatient, want to see everything before it gets censored, and because I was curious about this Seinen Anime being any good. 

So far, Black Lagoon is a decent acquisition, that Swimnami Toonami has acquired. It is a Seinen Crime Action Anime, which means it is meant for men. The female audience can also watch it, if there are females interested in Crime Action Anime. This is especially when REVY is the leading female character. 

If viewers didn't know any better, they would assume that she was the protagonist. Black Lagoon must be the only Action Anime meant for the adult demographic within these last 2 years worth watching. 

Don't get me wrong. As much as I like Bleach and Naruto Shippuden, they are stereotypical Shounen Action Anime with teenage boys as their protagonists, which are oblivious to girls being attracted to them. That's not including the protagonists are always super/anti-heroes, that always get their asses handed to them in fight scenes, while being on some kind of never ending quest.

Black Lagoon is a nice change of pace from the usual Shounen Jump Action Anime. By this series being meant for men, they don't have to sit through watching the stereotypical Anime meant for teenage boys. 

Considering that the network is called "Adult Swim," shouldn't it always be airing more ADULT animation including Anime? This is only food for thought. 

Adult Swim mostly panders to teenage boys, when it comes to their "adult" programming (especially on Saturday nights).

Anyway, Black Lagoon started as a Manga created by Rei Hiroe. He based Black Lagoon on actual piracy cases in the East China Sea, during the mid to late '90s, and was inspired by the works of James Ellroy, John Woo, Quentin Tarantino, and Stephen King. 

The Crime Action Anime begins with the protagonist, Rokuro Okajima (also known as "Rock."). Rock is a businessman (who would also be labeled a "salary man" in Japan) for Asahi Industries in Tokyo. 

The protagonist is sent by his company to deliver a disc in the East China Sea. In the process, his boat gets hijacked by pirates/mercenaries known as the Lagoon Company, who were hired to steal it. Revy, who happens to be the only Chinese American female mercenary in Lagoon Company, chooses to hold Rock hostage in hopes of him being ransom worthy. 

Eventually, the disc is no longer worth the headache to them. Rock's Department Chief, Kageyama, declares him "dead" and abandons Rock, in order to hide the smuggling operation. 

Because Rock no longer works for Asahi Industries, he works for the Lagoon Company as their negotiator/translator by choice and claims to suffer from "Stockholm Syndrome." Gotta love it.

I watched the entire Black Lagoon Anime and recently began streaming the OVA's, which are mostly about the Columbian maid, Roberta. OMG! Roberta is by far, my favorite Black Lagoon character. She is a bad ass, motherfucker with some tricks up her sleeves (no pun necessarily intended).  

Roberta has a history of being a guerrilla trained assassin from Cuba and an internationally wanted criminal, while posing as a housemaid for a rich family in South America. 

In addition, she is referred to as being a "hardcore terrorist." Roberta gives Revy a run for her money, when it comes to packing heat. She is introduced in Season 1: Episode 8 of Black Lagoon. This Cartoon Sunday, I chose to share scenes from Season 1: Episode 9 of Black Lagoon. 

In these scenes, Roberta faces off with Revy and the Columbian Cartel, when she is in the middle of trying to search and rescue the heir, Garcia Lovelace.

1) Black Lagoon Roberta Vs The Columbian Cartel: (2006) 

2) Black Lagoon Roberta Vs. Revy (2006)

Song Saturday Special: Happy 49th To The Late Brandon Lee

How's it going lurkers? This Song Saturday, I have decided to do something a little different. 

Last winter, when Xanga 1.0 still existed, I published a blog about Brandon Lee's 48th birthday. This year, he would've turned 49 had he survived that gunshot wound, during the making of The Crow.

If you would like to read more of my Xanga 1.0 blog from last year, you can read it on It's Not All Gumdrops & Unicorns. 

Happy 48th Birthday To The Late Brandon Lee! (2013)

This year, I am sharing some past Brandon Lee movie montages and scenes, that he was in, before making The Crow. 

Also, I'm sharing some music from The Crow Soundtrack, along with Shannon Lee's vlog. In Shannon's vlog, she explains her bond with her dead brother, Brandon. This Song Saturday, be prepared to watch my Brandon Lee Birthday Tribute. 

I think the only time I ever go into fangirl mode is when it's about him. I always hear people say they're these Brandon Lee "fans," when they only watched him in The Crow. 

Within the last 2 decades, I have watched him in 3 other movies besides The Crow. I have watched Brandon Lee in Legacy Of Rage, Showdown In Little Tokyo, and Rapid Fire. 

However, I never watched him in Laser Mission. One of these days, I should try watching it.

I would've watched Laser Mission years ago, but it was very hard renting Brandon Lee's movies on VHS, when I was a teenager. Luckily, I had watched Showdown In Little Tokyo and Rapid Fire. That's how scarce Brandon's movies were in the '90s.

Last year, I YouTubed his Legacy Of Rage movie. I disliked the movie mostly because Brandon played as a prisoner. In the film, his "friend" set him up. Watching Legacy Of Rage infuriated me. 

I was NOT used to seeing Brandon Lee playing such naive and defenseless roles in his films. He may have been beaten, tortured, and murdered in his other films, but his other characters always swore vengeance and were better at self-defense than in Legacy Of Rage. Showdown In Little Tokyo and Rapid Fire were better. 

Even though Showdown In Little Tokyo was a really cheesy Action Flick, at least Brandon Lee and Dolph Lundgren provided some great comic relief. Sometimes I still don't know, who had the most hilarious 1-liners.

Behind The Scenes: Brandon Lee And Showdown In Little Tokyo (1991)

Brandon Lee's Funny 1-Liners About Dolph Lundgren's Huge Trouser Snake (1991)

Brandon & Dolph's Witty Banter While Cary Hiroyuki Tagawa Tortures Them (1991)

Behind The Scenes: Brandon Lee And Rapid Fire (1992)

Shannon Lee Remembers Brandon And Discusses The Crow (2011)

Speaking of The Crow, the comic book artist, James O'Barr, created it in black and white. I never completely read The Crow comic book. Although, I have read some pages.

In the comic book, James O'Barr wrote song lyrics from the band formerly known as Joy Division, which later became New Order. Those of us fans, who have The Crow Soundtrack and watched the film, heard Nine Inch Nails' cover of Joy Division's song, "Dead Souls."

I recently discovered there is an actual music video by the band, For Love Not Lisa. Their song on The Crow Soundtrack is called "Slip Slide Melting." 

"Slip Slide Melting" was featured in a bar scene with the villains shaking their guns in the air, shouting, "FIRE IT UP! FIRE IT UP! FIRE IT UP!" Talk about a legendary scene in The Crow. 

As I watched For Love Not Lisa's "Slip Slide Melting" music video, I noticed it was not only shot in black and white, but the song was also shortened. 

"Slip Slide Melting" is almost 6 minutes long compared to the music video only being 4:09. I assume the band had to shorten the music video, in order to get any airplay. That reminds me. I have NEVER seen For Love Not Lisa's "Slip Slide Melting" on MTV or any other music channel. 

During 1993-94, music channels still aired music videos. As for "Slip Slide Melting" being shot in black and white, I think For Love Not Lisa created their music video that way because The Crow comic book is in black and white, and because Brandon Lee originally wanted to shoot the film that way.

This Song Saturday, I have decided to share Joy Division's "Dead Souls" and For Love Not Lisa's "Slip Slide Melting."

1) Joy Division "Dead Souls" Unknown Pleasures (1979)

2) For Love Not Lisa's "Slip Slide Melting" The Crow Soundtrack (1994)

HAPPY 49TH BIRTHDAY AND REST IN PEACE, BRANDON LEE!!!

Cartoon Sunday: The Powerpuff Girls' Bubblevicious

 

How's it going lurkers? Once again, it's Cartoon Sunday. Remember last week, when I mentioned the promo Adult Swim aired, during their so-called Toonami block?

The network premiered a promo called "The Ladies of Toonami." I wanted to share the promo on here last week, but someone did not upload it to YouTube, until more recently. I re-watched the promo on YouTube.

The Ladies Of Toonami Promo: (2014)

Then, I read both the comments both on YouTube and on Adult Swim's forum. 

What is the verdict for "The Ladies Of Toonami" promo?

Most saw "The Ladies of Toonami" promo as a joke because most of the female characters are from Shounen Anime with damsels in distress and emotionally weak female characters. If you don't know what I mean by "Shounen," in Japanese the word means "boy." Whenever Cartoon Network and Adult Swim both premiere Anime, it's typically for boys and occasionally a series meant for men. 

The Shounen Anime may have physically strong female characters, but they are always emotionally weak and/or they are damsels.

Before last week ended, Adult Swim announced that the Seinen Action Anime, Black Lagoon would premiere in late March on its Swimnami Toonami block. I currently have nothing bad to say about Black Lagoon because I have yet to watch it and would like to keep an open mind.

Every time I was about to watch the series, I always ended up doing or watching something else. On the positive side, Black Lagoon is a Seinen Action Anime series, which is meant for men.

Seinen Anime has more mature content than Shounen Anime. It is only fitting for Adult Swim to premiere actual animation for its ADULT viewers. If only Adult Swim would premiere some Josei Anime (which is meant for women), that would be fantastic.

Black Lagoon Trailer: (2006)

If necessary, Adult Swim could premiere The Powerpuff Girls on its Swimnami Toonami block. After all, Cartoon Network used to air The Powerpuff Girls on their Toonami block.

Original Opening For The Powerpuff Girls: (1998)

Years ago, The Powerpuff Girls appealed to both genders of different age demographics. 

The cartoon is so popular that Christian Bale, who played in American Psycho and the Batman Begins franchise, sang The Powerpuff Girls' ending theme song in an ABC News interview.

Originally, when the cartoon was made, it was a short meant for the adult demographic and was called "Whoopass." Because Cartoon Network liked the show so much, it was aired for the younger female audience.

The content was toned down and the cartoon was re-named "The Powerpuff Girls " by the late '90s. The cartoon was on Cartoon Network for several years and won Emmys.

Last week, Cartoon Network premiered The Powerpuff Girls' reboot.

Opening For The Powerpuff Girls: (2014)

Honestly, I was highly unimpressed. The Powerpuff Girls' illustrations recently changed.

When the original series was created during the '90s, their signature illustrations were meant to resemble 1950's futuristic art quality, as opposed to the more recent CGI appearance. The reboot's animation quality is so bright, that it has a glare; The art quality is so bright and blinding, I could barely focus on The Powerpuff Girls' reboot premiere.

I reiterate, The Powerpuff Girls' reboot is VERY hard on the eyes.

Luckily, the original cartoon still airs on The Boomerang Channel, which is affiliated with Cartoon Network. 

Recently, my grandmother has been bored with what's airing on TV and wants to watch cartoons. This is besides watching her usual national news and televangelist channels. 

Since my grandmother wants to watch more cartoons, I got her into watching The Powerpuff Girls on a nightly basis.

Considering how much I have mentioned them in today's blog, I decided to share a classic episode of The Powerpuff Girls. This episode is "Bubblevicious."

Bubbles is the cute and innocent blonde, who everyone loves to underestimate as a Powerpuff Girl. Blossom is the leader and level-headed redhead out of the 3 sisters. 

Out of the 3 sisters, Buttercup is the mean and feisty brunette, as well as the tomboyish lemming, who loves taunting and bullying Bubbles. 

Anyway, "Bubblevicious" is mostly about Bubbles proving that she is "hardcore," when it comes to fighting villains. Click on the following video link:

The Powerpuff Girls Season 1 Episode 9: "Bubblevicious" (1999)

Christian Bale Partially Singing The Powerpuff Girls Ending Theme Song:

Is The Zombie Craze Highly Overrated?

How's it going lurkers? Last night, I was on Stalkbook Facebook and a friend kept posting updates about some Zombie flick she was watching on The Syfylis Channel. According to her, it was bad.

Because most of the shows and movies on that network are so terrible, including their Zombie flicks, why should ANYBODY like yours truly be surprised?

You will either agree, or disagree with what I am about to say. Personally, I feel Zombie flicks are highly overrated and they have become overkill for the Horror genre.

A while ago, another friend suggested that I write a Zombie Story. HA! I was never a huge fan of them. Therefore, it won't be happening anytime soon.

Zombies never resonated with me. They remind me of stupid local drunks with mental AND behavioral problems wreaking havoc by looting, vandalizing other people's property, harassing, and assaulting others.

Within this last decade, hack filmmakers only know how to create movies about vampires, werewolves, and zombies regarding Horror, if not some contrived paranormal flick.

Don't get me wrong. I like the Vampire sub-genre with the exception of the cringeworthy few such as Queen Of The Damned and Twilight. Ugh! All the while, there are other Horror sub-genres, that exist and can be explored.

Until this very day, I never understood "The Zombie Appeal." Recently, I discussed this with some of my other friends. I understand that zombies represent anarchy and the apocalypse.

Meanwhile, brainless, dead people wandering around in a daze and eating someone else's flesh does not evoke horror in some of us Horror fans.

At least vampires can have superhuman strength, hypnotize, lure, and seduce humans. We can encounter zombies in our everyday lives.

Similar to what I already said, imagine watching rioters, militant protestors, stupid drunks, and drug addicts, as they roam around, stealing and vandalizing property, and even meeting them at the most convenient local dive bars and clubs. Add in those pod people from high school to the clusterfuck.

We can also watch these zombies on Reality TV Shows such as Cops, The Bad Girls Club, and The Real World, to only name 3 examples.

I laugh at zombies of said ilk for sheer entertainment. They are mostly brainless or at least share 1 brain out the pack.

I think this is why I like Slasher, Occult, Creatures, Dolls, and Vampire sub-genres a lot better than Zombies. The characters are more entertaining and usually have more depth to them.

With Slashers, we can expect moral villains to serial kill the most sickening characters out of vengeance, if not act as vigilantes. This somewhat applies to witches. Ever watch The Craft?

Creatures and Possesed Dolls are scary because they automatically look physically frightening, especially when they look hideous. 

Most people don't know, that ghosts would use dolls' bodies as their vessels. Chucky from the Child's Play  franchise is a perfect example. The serial killer, Charles Lee Ray was shot in a Good Guys toy factory.

Before dying, Charles ("Chucky") used Voodoo to hide his soul inside a doll's body. It's amazing how a cute doll can turn so ugly, after being possessed by a dead serial killer.

Some in the past have asked me about the types of Horror stories I have written. My protagonists are typically stalkers, serial killers, and scorned men and women seeking revenge.

Think about it for a minute:

Knowing people, who are that depraved and DEADLY can freely walk around and assimilate with other everyday people is more frightening than zombies because serial killers really DO exist.

Simply turn on your local news. You will see and hear more horror on it more than you will in a movie or a book.

Anything involving glorified sex offenders (usually overpaid jocks, teachers, doctors, lawyers, politicians, musicians) bug infestations, killer grandparents, housewives, stay at home dads, terrorists, school massacres, animals, and the list goes on.

In reality, the preceding can all be seriously more terrifying than zombies will ever be. Why? Because they are REAL.

Today's Hollywood filmmakers and writers should start brainstorming ideas, return to their drawing boards, and start writing again about SIMPLE SCARES. 

We can find fear in just about any and everything.

Why limit ourselves to overused and highly overrated cliche themes about ZOMBIES?

Cartoon Sunday: Noein Outtakes

How's it going lurkers? Last night, I watched Bleach and Naruto Shippuden on Swimnami Toonami. As I watched Bleach, I noticed that Swimnami Toonami showed the entire season opening like they normally did for these last 8 years.

After it became 2014, Swimnami Toonami chose to remove the opening and go straight to the episodes. 

Throughout most of this month, Adult Swim did this to every show on their block EXCEPT  for that God-awful flop, Space Dandy. If Space Dandy wasn't world premiering every weekend and had Adult Swim NOT  invested in airing that Seinen Action Anime, I highly doubt they would've removed every show's opening. The block may have aired Bleach's opening, but it still did not air Naruto Shippuden's.

Although, Shippuden's ending was surprisingly aired. Adult Swim's viewers, including yours truly complained to them about removing every show's opening except Space Dandy's. This may seem trivial to most people, but Adult Swim has no respect for their viewers.

If Jason DeMarco and his loyal band of sycophants expect for Space Dandy to be their next cash cow like Bleach and Naruto, they are delusional.

Japan does not care for Space Dandy's Manga in particular. That is why its Anime contains ONLY  13 episodes compared to the typical 20 + episodes, if not perennial episodes like other Anime genres and sub-genres.

Just like the American audience dictates American shows and their seasons, the same applies to Japan and their audience.

Also, I noticed that Swimanmi created a new promo for their block. The latest promo is about the female characters on Swimnami, which is once again, more bullshit. The promo is a facade about "women's empowerment" by promoting physically strong yet emotionally weak female characters from Shonen Jump Action Anime on their block.

Last weekend, I e-mailed both Cartoon Network and Adult Swim my previously published Cartoon Sunday blog about them being sexist networks. Over the last few years, I've said this MANY times both on and offline, as well as famous filmmakers/screenwriters such as Kevin Smith.

Anytime Cartoon Network and Adult Swim will cancel any animation because they don't want to acknowledge their female demographic, that speaks volumes. We are only calling spades, "spades."

On a much lighter note for today, I stumbled upon 4 outtake videos from the SciFi Romance Adventure Anime, Noein. It used to air on The SciFi Channel's Ani-Monday block in 2007.

Noein is a very complex series to watch, which can be very confusing to casual viewers. It has themes consisting of time travel, quantum physics, and parallel universes. Only Haruka Kaminogi can control every parallel universe.

As you watch this dubbed trailer in English for a better understanding of Noein, please bear with me.

Noein Trailer (2015)

 

 

Listening to this English Dub promo makes me cringe. I say this because of the announcer's pronunciation of the words "Manga" and "Noein." 

After studying Japanese and listening to other people mispronounce Japanese words, you will understand what I mean.

Even though I have not bought the DVD's for Noein (I only watched it on The Sci Fi Channel's Ani-Monday block, years ago), 4 disks consist of English dubbed bloopers by the voice acting cast are featured on the DVD's. I watched Noein's bloopers years ago and thought they were hilarious. 

With that being said, here are Noein's outtakes for today's Cartoon Sunday.

1) Noein Outtakes Volume 1 (2006)

2) Noein Outtakes Volume 2 (2006)

3) Noein Outtakes Volume 3 (2006)

4) Noein Outtakes Volume 5 (2006)

0_0 Devil Baby Attack! WTF Is That? 0_0

How's it going lurkers? Since this is my 100th blog, I have decided to share the Devil Baby Attack.

The Devil Baby has gone viral on YouTube. It has an animatronic baby in a stroller, that strolls around town scaring people and animals shitless as a prank. 

The prank is to promote the Psychological Supernatural Horror film, Devil's Due. I don't think the movie will be worth the hype. However, watching this devil baby in the stroller is too hilarious. 

I laughed so hard, I cried tears!

Anyway, if you never had the chance to watch this Horror Prank on your local news or YouTube, here ya go!

Devil Baby Attack (2014)

Cartoon Sunday: Foamy The Squirrel Rants About The Exploitation Of Geek Culture

 

How's it going lurkers? It's Cartoon Sunday and I have another Neurotically Yours short with Foamy The Squirrel. This week, it's his short rant about the Geek Sub-Culture being exploited as "trendy" these days.

Foamy manages to squeeze in rants about the exploitations of Goth and Emo Sub-Cultures. As usual, the squirrel's rants are spot on. A while ago, I remember saying something similar to family and friends. Those, who are abusing these sub-cultures, are nothing but posers.

Growing up, I was tormented for being labeled "The Weird Girl." Today, being nerdy, weird, emo, and/goth is mostly a fashion statement for annoying yuppie, trust fund, brats to be "cool" and "smart." Those of said ilk are called HIPSTERS today. That pisses me the fuck off!

It reminds me of my adolescence during the '90s, when some of those pretentious ass, jocks would listen to bands such as KoRn, Tool, and Slipknot. Those stupid jocks quoted their lyrics and played their songs on repeat yet failed to grasp that they WERE the same assholes the vocalists talked about in their lyrics.

Those jocks could barely empathize, much less grasp what each vocalist suffered, especially when it came to KoRn's Jonathan Davis. They had no idea what it was like to be a survivor of sexual abuse or to be branded as a "faggot" or a "freak" for their musical preferences or fashion sense like he did.

Those posers mostly listened to KoRn, Tool, Slipknot, etc. only for a good work-out or to get them "pumped" for their next meatheaded jock game. Maybe their bromantic circle jerking wasn't enough for them.

Before attending and co-hosting my high school class reunion 3 years ago, I noticed that some of those past delinquents from high school, NOW wear collared shirts under their preppie V-neck sweaters.

Let it be known that some of the jocks were new money, juvenile delinquent, trash. All the while, there were those who were simply juvenile delinquents and domestic terrorists. 

It would NOT surprise me if they happen to be some of today's rioters at protests for something. Then again, some of them today are self-righteous posers pretending to be sympathetic, upstanding citizens when they are nothing but a giant Cancer to society.

These were some of the same delinquents, that wore baggy jeans with band T-shirts. They also either currently listen to old, yuppie music, or today's shitty, American Top 40 "Hits."

Sure, you can argue, that they have "matured," however they really haven't matured that much within a decade. It's a huge facade to make themselves appear to be these pseudo-intellectuals, when all they do is knock up drunken whores, that they meet at some local dive bar or club. It's quite sickening.

Thereore, I empathize with Foamy about the Geek Sub-Culture being ruined by pretentious hipsters. Most posers of said ilk did not earn their stars and stripes to have the geek, goth, emo, and/weirdo labels branded to them.

Like I already said, I was always labeled as being weird, and have been wearing glasses, since I was 5 years old. Why? Because I have TERRIBLE VISION, not because I want to look "cool" or "smart."

Decades ago, people were bullied and ostracized for wearing glasses. Now, wearing glasses is fashionable because hipsters today think glasses will make them look "cooler" and "smarter." They either have intelligence, or they don't. It's that simple. Well, enough of my ranting. Now, it's time to listen to Foamy The Squirrel's rants.

Foamy The Squirrel: Geek Culture Rant (2013)

Let me know what you think!