Hiromi NANBE

Tokyo Anime Fair 2010 Blowout: Days One & Two
Day Two of our Tokyo Anime Fair booth coverage is up! Videos and info from Aniplex, Satelight, and Media Factory in addition to yesterday's coverage of Studio Ghibli, Gonzo, ShoPro, Pierrot, Sunrise, Genon, Good Smile Company and much more from Tokyo Big Sight! 2010-03-26

Hey, Answerman!
This time on a scintillating new Answerman! Brian chides fans who feel like they should "enjoy" things just because they are "popular," explains why movies can be dubbed several times, and later airs all of his embarrassing guilty pleasures to the public at large! Plus a large side of Hey, Answerfans to wash it all down! Yum! 2010-03-26

Zac Bertschy: Unfashionable American Tourist
UPDATED for Day Three: Tokyo Anime Fair part one! A handful of oddities from around the show floor, some unbalanced mascots and a whole bunch of other stuff including dramatic robot battle karaoke! 2010-03-25

Now Streaming: Gundam Seed Destiny 1-50 (sub)
The celebration of all things Gundam continues, with the second half of the Gundam Seed franchise. Don't miss this action packed sequel... and don't forget about Mobile Suit Gundam (d), Zeta Gundam (s) and Gundam Seed (s), all available for just a few more weeks. [discuss] 2010-03-25

Anime News Nina! - 2010-03-24
Sometimes, girls just want to be nerds. 2010-03-24

The X Button - Evolutionary
This week: a talk with the developer of Front Mission Evolved, followed by looks at Square Enix's Chaos Rings, two Fullmetal Alchemist games, and a newly renovated Cave Story. 2010-03-24

Alice in the Country of Hearts GN 2
It may be impossible to beat Lewis Carroll at his own game, but as Alice in the Country of Hearts shows, there are still ways to succeed ... simply by adding new rules to the game.

Detroit Metal City GN 4
The events of the Satanic Emperor music festival bring this storyline to a turning point, forcing Negishi to come face to face with a shocking truth about his musical career. It looks like things could remain interesting for quite a bit longer.

One Piece DVD Season 2 Part 6
Hits a balance of affect and action that is so perfect, so moving, that you can't imagine a show about a rubber pirate being any better.

Ristorante Paradiso GN 1
With its focus on a grown-up setting and cast, a harem of sophisticated men, and being open about your feelings instead of causing drama, this is the perfect pick for anyone who's tired of reading about shy high school girls and their cutesy little crushes.

You're Under Arrest Second Season Sub.DVD
The first few episodes are light and weak, but a major plot development leads to a serious look at the core relationships and provides the kind of shake-up the series desperately needed to break free from its rut.

Starting Point: 1979-1996 (book)
This collection of essays, interviews, and speeches spanning 17 years should be required reading for any dedicated Miyazaki fan or prospective animator, but one need only have a respect for animation (and those who make it) to appreciate the insight it offers.

Ghost Hound Sub.DVD 2
After taking a familiar premise and making something alien of it, the series unfortunately lapses back into conventionality at its end, defeating by a razor margin its aspirations of greatness.

Bleach GN 30
The most memorable fights are often not the ones of brute strength, but the ones where the heroes must conquer the villains in their heads. It's a principle that is exemplified in this volume of Bleach.

Yozakura Quartet DVD Complete Collection
Super-powered youths struggle to protect a town where demons and humans peacefully coexist in this run-of-the-mill offering. Though not bad and at least mildly entertaining, it is a little too bland and underdeveloped to leave much of an impression and is not as sexy as advertised.

Baka and Test Episodes 1-4 Streaming
Just waiting to charm the pants off of anyone who stumbles upon it. Or at least those among them that can stomach the occasional stinker of a rom-com cliché.

Mobile Suit Gundam DVD 4