CAPTAIN HARLOCK FEATURE FILM TRAILER - CG ANIMATION

CAPTAIN HARLOCK : THE REBIRTH 
OF A LEIJI MATSUMOTO CLASSIC

BROKEN BLADE - ONE OF THE BEST MECHA ANIME EVER

 
BROKEN BLADE RATING

THE LOWDOWN:

It's a future filled with kingdoms, crystals, magic and mecha.

 In Broken Blade, two kingdoms clash for reasons that aren't entirely clear (just like the real world, eh).  And in battle,  the military's weapon of choice are these human-piloted giant robots. But unlike your usual mecha, these robots are controlled by crystals and "magic" (not the kind where in you conjure spells...it's something closer to something like telekinesis.)

In fact, any kind of machinery in this world, including guns, are powered by "magic".

And once in a blue moon, there are people who are born without "magic" (these misfits are called unsorcerers), rendering them powerless to maneuver any kind of machinery.

Enter Rygart...former schoolmate and dear friend to the King whose country is under siege. Rygart is an unsorcerer.  He is invited by the king and queen to look at an ancient mecha that was dug up by the government.

To make a long story short, the mecha from the ancient times uses traditional technology (something the future world doesn't understand).  And Rygart who accidentally ends up in the old mecha's cockpit becomes its first "registered" user in a very long time. This old mecha is infinitely superior to the newer mechas--but controlling it is quite a hassle.

This narrative element drives the whole story arc into interesting and entertaining places.

Broken Blade treats mechas as weapons and nothing more.  Ironically, this treatment gives the mechas their personality in many ways. In this anime mechas break and are actually repaired on a regular basis.

On that merit alone, we must conclude by saying  that this is probably one of the best mecha-based animes of all time.

Go get it!

Dareka no Manazashi Trailer - SHINKAI'S NEW SHORT FILM

Dareka no Manazashi by Makoto Shinkai Saw this trailer uploaded by Pireze from Youtube

MANGA STUDIO EX 4: ALMOST THE BEST COMIC SOFTWARE

MANGA STUDIO EX 4: ALMOST THE BEST COMIC SOFTWARE


MANGAKA YOSHIKADU USING COMIC STUDIO (MANGA STUDIO)FOR HIS ECHII MANGA, TSUGUMOMO

HERE ARE SOME COMIC BOOKS MADE USING MANGA STUDIO FROM WRITER/ARTIST DOUG TENNAPEL

I've been doodling with Manga Studio since the first quarter of last year and I think it's one of the most phenomenal programs for comic book artists ever.

Anyone with Photoshop or Illustrator experience will be able to transition easily to Manga Studio. The program interface is extremely intuitive and the program tools mimic the the real-world tools very well (real-world tools meaning tools that comic artists really use). It's as if the software developers went into a comic artist studio and watched him/her work--then went out and built an application based on the work flow they saw.

So what makes Manga Studio Stand out? Let me enumerate:
1.) Panel Tools (from simple panel cuts to advanced panel layouts). 2.) Speech Balloon Tools - The most professional-looking speech balloons can be achieved here. I've seen people who use other programs for speech balloons...and the results can be very disappointing. And as any artist knows, lousy balloons can kill the best artwork.

3.) Ruler Tools. MS EX 4 has the most comprehensive and flexible set of rulers (perspectve, concentric, parallel, etc.). So get rid of that T-square and that extra piece of paper you had to stick to your art board for your vanishing point.

4.) INKING Tools - The best pens that simulate G-Pens (Japanese dip pens) Maru pens, etc.

There's so much more but I don't have the time to list 'em all down.

So, why do I think that Manga Studio is almost the top software for making comics and not the top software for making comics?

I think it lacks just a tiny bit of bells and whistles compared to the original Japanese version. In Japan, Manga Studio is actually called Comic Studio (developed by the Japanese company, CELSYS)...and I've seen quite a few Youtube videos of professional mangakas using Comic Studio. They were using tools that seemed to have extra improvements. I just hope that Manga Studio EX 4 gets a few updates soon. Manga Studio is available from the good people of SmithMicro.

Go on! Make a comic!

I ordered Tsugomomo from Amazon Japan to see how Yoshikadu's lines translate to the printed page---and they are awesome. I think Yoshikadu makes full use of the program. If you want to study Yoshikadu's art you'll have to be around 18 or above. Unfortunately, his comic has mature content...extremely funny though. If you want to learn about lines, composition and the other possible techniques of illustrating with Manga Studio, you should watch all of Yoshikadu's "speed art" on youtube.

KATSUHIRO OTOMO IN THE LATEST ISSUE OF BRUTUS

Copyright 2012 Anime Institute

KATSUHIRO OTOMO IN BRUTUS
This publication is all in Japanese.  I don't read Japanese but I just had to get it.This issue pretty much celebrates Katsuhiro Otomo and his work (mostly on Akira).  There's even a feature of Otomo together with Takehiko Inoue...another one of my favorite manga artists.  Now, if only someone can translate!

This issue coincides with Otomo's Genga exhibition and Genga book to be released this month (April).  If you're looking for big pics of  his work, this magazine is NOT for you.

On that note, his Genga book will be available on Amazon.jp or Play-Asia.com ! :-) Cheers!  Check this site out!

http://www.otomo-gengaten.jp/