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Jisho: Japanese to English translator for the Mac
I've watched as much anime as the next guy, but even I need a Japanese dictionary to figure out what those crazy robots are saying sometimes. Enter Jisho, a Japanese/English dictionary for Mac OS X 10.4 and higher. You can search in the Kanji, Hiragana, and Katakana forms of Japanese, and also in English, German, Russian, and French, and it will translate not only the Japanese characters out for you (in a bright, clean interface), but the Romanization as well.And the latest version features a completely rewritten Romanization engine, as well as Kanji "zooming" and more OS X integration. If you ever need to regularly go from English to Japanese (or back again), Jisho's got what you need-- it's just $15 from Sugoisoft. And maybe you'll pick up enough to actually learn the language.
Super Musical World
These self-playing Super Mario World levels may not be as intricate or as precarious as the original Detteiu Mario videos we presented you, but they have an added dimension that further subverts the normal Super Mario World experience: musicality. The levels are designed such that noisemaking events-- jumps, 1ups, shell kicks-- are triggered in time with the accompanying (shrill) anime theme music. In this way, Super Mario World becomes a musical instrument itself; an extremely difficult-to-program sequencerThe best implementation of the technique, we believe, can be found in the first half of the video above, as Mario bumps and bounces in time to "Hare Hare Yukai" from The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. We've embedded the original video for you after the break, so you can form your own hypotheses as to why all animation has not been replaced by custom Super Mario World levels. Check the link for some more anime/Mario mashups!
Don't move, just listen: Automatic Mario goes anime music
When we collected videos of Super Mario World levels that played themselves a few weeks back, we figured nothing could be more impressive. We were proven wrong when we stumbled across the below videos. Not only do these Mario World levels complete themselves without player input, but they also manage to approximate an anime soundtrack using in-game sound effects at the same time.We know internet fads like this come and go like a summer breeze, but we're still giddy about the possibilities for the further evolution of this meme. If any Mario hackers are reading this, can we suggest some popular music for you? Stairway to Mario, anyone?Continue reading for the videos, plus the anime intros they're culled form.[Thanks, futamegawa]
Heavenly Sword animation: The Divine Birth
The Heavenly Sword animation continues. The latest episode chronicles the journeys of the clan that protects the Heavenly Sword. At the end of their trials comes a birth of the divine variety (is there any other kind?). What will this mysterious baby become? Well, you'll have to watch and find out, no?This episode will be available in HD on the PlayStation Store later this week. See also:Episode 1: Legend of the Heavenly SwordEpisode 2: Guardian of the SwordEpisode 3: The Rise of Evil
Heavenly Sword animation: The Rise of Evil
It's Monday. You know what the means: another episode of the Heavenly Sword prequel animation. As if the titular Heavenly Sword wasn't cursed with bloodlust already, this episode chronicles the rise of evil. As usual, you'll be able to download a high definition version later in this week's Store update. See also:Episode 1: Legend of the Heavenly SwordEpisode 2: Guardian of the Sword
Victorious Boxers boxart, for real this time
We threw in the towel last week when we mistakenly identified GameFly's Victorious Boxers: Revolution mockup as the finalized design, but now we're scrambling into the ring to retrieve the surrendered cloth. "Uh, sorry about that! It must've slipped out of our hands!"Dynamite Glove, a community site for the Hajime no Ippo series, received a first look at publisher XSeed's actual packaging, and it is a thing of beauty. This is the sort of box that we could run up the Philadelphia Museum of Art's steps with, holding it above our heads once we've reached the top, hopping up and down in slow-motion as the training montage fades out.Those of you who would still rather have Ippo's fighting figure on the front will be happy to hear that the jacket is reversible, the opposite side using artwork from the Japanese cover. Jump past the break for a better look at both boxart designs.
Virtually Overlooked: El Viento
Welcome to our weekly feature, Virtually Overlooked, wherein we talk about games that aren't on the Virtual Console yet, but should be. Call it a retro-speculative.Wolfteam's El Viento for the Genesis may look like just another 16-bit action platformer, but that's only because it was. But it's not a bad one, and we live in a world now where side-scrolling action games are a rarity. We might as well play some old ones while we're waiting until the end of time for new ones.
Heavenly Sword animation: Guardian of the Sword
The Heavenly Sword animation continues this week. Once again, GAP members were treated to an early look, and now the video is freely available for you to enjoy. This time, find out more about the Guardian of the Sword, and expect to find the video (in HD!) later this week when the PlayStation Store updates. See also: Heavenly Sword animation explains mythic origins
Heavenly Sword animation explains mythic origins
Ever wanted to know where the titular Heavenly Sword came from? Sony's releasing a brand new animated series highlighting the origins of Nariko's sword. Available first to GAP members, the video has made its way to the internet ... and to you. Watch the first part of an ongoing series, to be updated weekly.
Wii version of Victorious Boxers coming to U.S.
Lost a bit in the mess of announcements and impressions that was this year's E3 was the news that XSEED is bringing the Wii version of anime-flavored boxing sim Victorious Boxers to the states at the end of September. The sequel to the PlayStation 2 classics, which is already out in Japan, offers three different control modes: one using the classic controller, one using the Remote and Nunchuk to simulate boxing gloves (a la Wii Sports: Boxing) and one that uses the remote pointer to control things.A video preview on Gamespot (embedded after the break!) shows the boxers doing elaborate dodges as well as some incredibly over-the-top special moves. It's hard to gauge how well the motion-sensing controls work without some hands-on time, but it has to be better than the flail-fest that is Wii Sports.
Dragon Ball Z dual release marks FUNimation's Blu-ray debut
FUNimation is kicking off its support of the Blu-ray format by releasing one of its biggest anime franchises, Dragon Ball Z this winter. Dragon Ball Z Broly: The Legendary Super Saiyan and Broly: Second Coming are due on store shelves November 13th, fully remastered in 1080p directly from the original Japanese 35mm film, along with a new 5.1 surround sound mix and HD special features. No word on pricing yet, but FUNimation expects to follow up by releasing other popular catalog titles in high definition as well.
Kekkaishi ain't afraid of no ghost
Kekkaishi is a manga and anime series about high school kids who trap demons inside magical barriers in order to protect their haunted school. We think. Not having read the manga or seen the cartoon, we're mostly concerned with the Wii adaptation and the basic gameplay mechanic, which looks fun.You target crazy demon creatures with a reticle, then you apparently draw shapes around them, and fling the Wiimote upward to create barriers in those shapes. Once the monster is enclosed, you hit the B button to destroy it. If you forget the anime license, that actually sounds like an interesting basis for an arcade-style game with potentially enjoyable motion controls. But if you remember the anime license, it sounds like a recipe for wasted potential that we'll never see in the US anyway.
Major anime studios split on HD DVD / Blu-ray decision
For the anime lovers out there, there's no question that even cartoons have a very different feel in HD, so we're sure there's quite a few of you out there clamoring for more HD renditions of your favorite shows. Unfortunately, there seems to be quite a bit of discord when it comes to settling on a format of choice. According to a report at IGN, Bandai looks to be squarely in the HD DVD camp (despite conflicting reports), while FUNimation seemed to prefer Blu-ray and Geneon remained undecided. Generally speaking, none of the firms seemed to think that branching out to other high-definition film formats was out of the realm of possibility, but if the major producers do indeed choose opposing sides, the hardcore anime fans may want to check out a hybrid player to prevent future heartaches.
Friday Video: Fast as lightning
Since we talked a little about import games here this morning, showing off a trailer for a game often mentioned in the same breath as "if only" seemed appropriate for our video spotlight. If you're one of the four people around who isn't familiar with Jump Ultimate Stars, let us enlighten you. Jump Ultimate Stars is a fighting game packed with hundreds of manga characters. Yes, hundreds, from dozens of series ... and it also happens to be a great fighting game on the DS. Check out one of the trailers for the game after the jump.
Devil May Cry anime hits the web
Back in April, Famitsu reported an anime series based on the Devil May Cry games would begin a 12-episode run starting mid-June in Japan. As expected, shortly after the first episode aired on TV it made its way to the internet chopped into low-quality bite-sized pieces. Fan subs are currently the only way non-Japanese speakers can watch the anime, however, as a company has yet to pick up the rights to officially dub/subtitle the series.[Via Siliconera]
Xenosaga anime coming to US
Our memories of playing Xenosaga was that it was one-third video game and two-thirds cinematic movie -- we didn't mind the lengthy cutscenes, but they were quite noticeable compared to other titles. The philosophically-minded RPG was unsurprisingly turned into an anime in 2005, and now ADV Film has announced (via IGN) that it is finally bringing the twelve-episode series to the US later this year.The series will be split into three DVDs, presumably four episodes apiece, with the first one coming out September 11. No special features or other information is available at the time. Xenosaga: The Animation was produced by Toei Animation (Dragon Ball series).
Wii Warm Up: When you just can't take any more Dragonball
Don't get us wrong, we used to like Dragonball Z. When we were, like, twelve. But with the announcement of yet another DBZ game coming to the Wii, we can't help but think of all the other deserving anime franchises that could use the gaming treatment. The import Naruto titles on the 'Cube were spectacular, and we hear that the Bleach and Full Metal Alchemist titles aren't half bad.You guys probably watch more anime than us, so which series, no matter how obscure, would you have make its way to the Wii? How about Read or Die, which could make very interesting use of the Wiimote for the various paper-based powers, or maybe Hikaru no Go, as a cool boardgame/RPG tandem title? Come forth, otaku, we summon thee!
Ben 10 coming to multiple consoles and handhelds this fall
One of our guilty pleasures is Ben 10, a very fun anime-inspired show on the Cartoon Network (and we aren't afraid to admit it ... just mildly embarrassed). It revolves around young Ben Tennyson and the bizarre Omnitrix, a sort of an alien watch thingy, that allows him to turn into different aliens to fight the baddies with. Sure, it sounds simple ... but watch one episode and you're hooked. D3Publisher of America has announced that they are developing several different versions of the game that will be released this fall, appearing on the Wii, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, and the Nintendo DS. What, no love for the 360? Even more exciting is that Ben's nemesis Kevin 11 (we kid you not) will be appearing in the game as well.
Pururun! Shizuka-chan hits the forest
Popular Japanese anime series Pururun! Shizuka-chan is about to make a splash on the DS, courtesy of developer Open Sesame.Shizuka is a raindrop sprite, and is joined by a selection of liquid chums. These include a milk sprite, various tea sprites and, our favourite, an aftershave sprite.The story centres around the adventures of Shizuka, and his attempts to rescue animals lost around the forest. The action moves through five different themed areas: ranch, cave, forest, flower garden, and fruit field.The stylus is used to drop water onto the animals. Wrapping the animals in water makes them rise up into the clouds, and judging from the screenshots they look perfectly happy. This is perhaps due to the calming effects of the magic fruits.Pururun! Shizuka-chan hits Japanese shelves on July 12th; fingers crossed for a western release after that.
Gundam 0079 revealed, Guilty Gear XX Accent Core announced
We have yet to get the first Gundam game in the US, and Bandai Namco is already moving on to another one. Whereas SD Gundam SCAD Hammers used the pudgy lil' SD Gundam characters, this one is based on Gundam 0079, which is serious business. We've got a scan featuring the first images from the game after the break.Also announced, but not yet shown, was a Wii version of Guilty Gear XX Accent Core-- this is apparently 2D Fighter Announcement Week. We're a little scared to see how a precise 2d fighting game will use the Wiimote, and we're hoping that we can skirt the issue with configurable Classic Controller functionality. At least until Hori gets around to releasing a wireless joystick.
