EVANGELION 2.0 ：破

I watched the movie "EVANGELION 2.0 : 破", a second film of the EVANGELION tetralogy ! It was released on June 27th. The movie attracted about ome million people in the first 10 days and it was grossed over 2 billion yen at the box office in the first 17 days !! Its theme song is "Beautiful World" by Hikaru Utada, same song as the first film "EVANGELION 1.0 ： 序".

EVANGELION's view of the world is like that,

...The year 2000, a massive meteor fell into the South Pole. Then, the catastrophe "Second Impact" had happen. The population of the world great decreased into half. 15 years after, the world reflects the sign of recovery, but another crisis has come. It's called "Angel", unknown huge weapons that descend on the world one after another. Human race made the all-purpose battle weapon, artificial human "EVANGELION". Then, a boy (Shinji Ikari) and 2 girls (Rei Ayanami & Asuka Shikinami) have been chosen for the pilot...

Its TV series was televised from 1998 to 1999. Though the story is very complicated and It's not easy to understand (I think the story is very gloomy..), EVANGLION caught many people's heart and "EVANGELION boom" arose in Japan at that time. Anyway, it's awesome that EVANGELION attracts not only anime fans but also not anime fans though 10 years has passed since the TV series was televised !

However, "What is 'Angel' ?" "What is 'The Instrumentality Project' ?" , these are still not clear, still remain a mystery. The movie version is little different from the TV series. Also, new character appears in the second film. The last scene of this second film...It's unexpected !!! Then, the story continues to "EVANGELION 3.0 : Q" . (Its release date is not clear). Will many mysteries become clear in the Q !?

I watched the EVANGELION 2.0 破\ alone. There were many otaku guys in the theater, so I felt little bit nervous (^-^;. To meet such a otaku guy's expectation, there were a lot of 'service scenes' in the movie (laugh) !! Rei and Aska (especially Rei), are very popular with men, and their costumes also very popular with cosplay fans in Japan. I think, they are forever, everlasting heroines !!

YATTERMAN - Incredible live-action

Hello ! It has been while again ! (^^;) I watched interesting movie "YATTERMAN" !
"YATTERMAN" live-action has released in March. Maybe, it has already finished showing in Japan, but it was very interesting. So I decided to write about it.
As is well known, YATTERMAN is originally an animation. The animation has been released not only in Japan, so you may know what is it about.

The story line is like that.
The DOKURO stone, which can grant any wishes was split into four parts in long time ago. Now, DORONBO, a group of thieves are trying to collect whole parts of DOKURO stone for DOKUROBEE, their god of thieve. However, because of the power, the world has being affected by the stone.
Mt.Fuji disappeared, "Tuesday" disappeared, and incredible object also disappeared (laugh)!! Finally, the friend of love and justice "YATTERMAN" stand up !

YATTERMAN 1, the main character is played by Sho Sakurai, a member of ARASHI, Johnny's artist. Sho Sakurai also anchors a news program now. He is a good young man with intelligence.
The person who stole the show the most is Kyoko Fukada as Dronjo, the leader of DORONBO. She had been a actress who has an image of being pure and innocent, so anyone couldn't imagine her in a bondage. Dronjo, Kyoko Fukada played, is more cute than the anime's.
Every actors and actress match the image of original characters. Also, Takashi Miike, the director has attracted attention as a film wizard.

The live-action "YATTERMAN" is full of gags and jokes which are exactly elementary school children would say, so there were many children in a theater. Of course, not only children but also adult people can enjoy it. You will grin at schtick and stereotyped story lines that you'd expected ! I hope this movie will be released in other country !

"As long as YATTERMAN is here, evil will have no place ! "
(ヤッターマンがいる限り、この世に悪は栄えない! ： YATTERMAN ga irukagiri, konoyo ni aku ha sakaenai)



"Believe" The theme song of YATTERMAN : by ARASHI

UVERworld become ANIME SONG KING!?

This week, new CD single of UVERworld, "儚くも永久のカナシ" (hakanakumo towa no kanashi) topped the Oricon J-POP weekly charts. This CD single has been attracting a lot of attention as the theme song for a TV animation series GUNDAM 00 2nd season.

Member of UVERworld are from Shiga prefecture that located Western Japan. They debuted in 2005 with single "D-technoLife", the theme song for TV anime BLEACH. This song entered music charts at No.4. Now, they are popular with teenagers.
UVERworld have released 11 CD singles, 6 songs of these singles ware used for TV anime as theme song and 2 songs got tie-up with TV drama.
UVER's sounds have heart-quickening melodies. I think the reason for their popularity is catchy, ear-catching tunes and thought-provoking lyrics. It's may suitable for anime song. But lead singer TAKUYA∞ has a high-pitched voice, so most men can't sing UVER's song well like him at Karaoke. (^^;)

The story of GUNDAM 00 is heavy. . But since GUMDAM SEED series, GUNDAM is popular with women. Because the characters are attractive. In addition, theme songs for GUNDAM series always become a hit.
"儚くも永久のカナシ (hakanakumo towa no kanashi)" means transitory but everlasting sadness in English. This song has a sense of speed. It match with the opening image of GUNDAM 00.
Ending pictures of GUNDAM 00 are also great. Its theme song "Prototype" by Chiaki Ishikawa will take the top spot in J-POP music charts. Its on sale date is Dec. 3th. She also sang the theme song for GUNDAM SEED & GUNDAM SEED DESTINY in 2004 and in 2006 as See-Saw.

MACROSS F reached BUDOKAN !

MACROSS F finally reached BUDOKAN!
On November 5th, the concert "Kanno Yoko Presents : MACROSS F Galaxy tour Final" took place at a big arena in central Tokyo "NIPPON BUDOKAN" .

BUDOKAN is a special place for Japanese musicians and they are dreaming of reaching there, but by reason of the size of venue, only very popular and big musicians can be allowed to perform there.

In spite of the concert was on weekday, tickets were immediate sold out from they went on sale.
There were two concerts at city concert hall in October which has same title as this, but these were also a sellout from the moment they were on sale. So,this time's concert was decided to take place specifically as service for fan.
Of course I tried to get the ticket too, but I couldn't get it.

I was surprised because the animation series "MACROSS Frontier" had been broadcasted via TV in late night hours, so I think it should be known by fans only. (Has Otaku population increased in Japan?)
In addition, a singer May'n and a voice actress Megumi Nakajima who are 19years old girls, sings main character's song had been unknowns until then.

I think this time's success was brought by a composer Yoko Kanno, so to speak she is a God of anime music. All CDs of associated MACROSS F has entered music charts in top5 and it's a first hit for the animation music since 1997, The End of EVANGELION.

For your information, on the following day, very popular techno-pop idol group Perfume began two days concert at BUDOKAN.

MACROSS F × Yoko Kanno × Maaya Sakamoto

In Japan,new TV programs go on air in April and October. This Spring,a new TV animation series "MACROSS Frontier (MACROSS F)" is coming. Music by Yoko Kanno!! Yatta～\(^0^)/
I listened to her music for the first time by Japanese anime MACROSS PLUS more than 10 years ago. I was surprised at splendor of her music. The music Yoko Kanno composes is very fantastic!I love her music very much.
There are some series of MACROSS. Below is the history. ↓

In 1982, TV:Super Dimension Fortress MACROSS
In 1984, Film:Super Dimension Fortress MACROSS (Do you remember Love ?)
In 1992, OVA:MACROSS Ⅱ
In 1994, OVA:MACROSS PLUS
In 1994, TV:MACROSS seven
In 2002,OVA:MACROSS zero
In 2008,TV:MACROSS Frontier (MACROSS F)

In all titles,songs are the key of the story in common. so,music is very important in "MACROSS". I've seen "Super Dimension Fortress MACROSS (Do you remember Love?)". It's a old anime film but the quality of the story is amazing. I've seen "MACROSS 7",too. It's very interesting and songs are very good!

In new series,Maaya Sakamoto sing the theme song "Triangular". I like her cute voice very mach.
MACROSS Frontier × Yoko Kanno × Maaya Sakamoto !!
I'm looking forward to MACROSS F and Yoko Kanno's music !!!

AKIRA - live-action version

Japanese animation film AKIRA will be made into a live-action movie in Hollywood.
AKIRA was directed by Katsuhiro Otomo in 1988. Katsuhiro Otomo is a master of Japanese animation. AKIRA is one of my favorite animation film.

In animation version,the stage of the story is Neo-Tokyo in 2019,after 31 years of destruction with new bomb. Grotesque structure of city that wiring and pipes are exposed,lining huge buildings that emits brilliant neon lights,old section of city in ruins... The image of chaotic city is "Tokyo" exactly.

Music of AKIRA is amazing,too. The music was composed by Syoji Yamashiro (Geinoh Yamashirogimi). I think this music makes AKIRA more attractive work. When I watched this anime,I was absorbed in the story completely.

In live-action version, the stage of the story is Manhattan (N.Y.). Leonardo Dicaprio takes part in this work as a producer.

I have a simple question. "AKIRA" is Japanese boy's name. He is a key of the story.
Is the name changed into an American boy's name in Hollywood version...? If the title is changed,it's no longer AKIRA...(^_^;)

Anyway,I want the live-action version's AKIRA to become a cool and wonderful movie!

Toward the TERRA

This year,an animation was televised in Japan. The title of the TVanimation is "Toward The TERRA".
The original is a comic book "To TERRA" drawn by Keiko Takemiya 30 years ago. "To TERRA" was made into an animation film in 1980, and got into the news at that time.

This animation was produced quite newly this year as a TV series"Toward The TERRA". The image and music of "Toward The TERRA" are very beautiful. And because the characters are attractive, it was especially popular among the woman.

I think, "Toward The TERRA" conveys a message of to respect the environment. I feel such a message also from a famous animation film "NAUSICAA" and "Princess Mononoke" that directed by Hayao Miyazaki.
Fan of "To TERRA" since 30 years ago seems to have watched "Toward The TERRA" with their children. After broadcasting the tv series had ended, a big event of "Toward The TERRA" was still held in Tokyo.

A lot of programs and CM, etc. of which the theme was ecology were televised in Japan this year. Environmental problems are so serious. I actually feel that the temperature of Tokyo goes up every year.
Some time, I want to invest in an enterprise that works on environmental problems.

I received the impact to the appearance of the earth that had been drawn in "Toward The TERRA". And the story of the last moved me greatly!

The 1st opening theme's title of Toward The TERRA is "endscape". Music by UVERworld. Recently,UVERworld is very popular rock band in Japan. 2nd opening theme is "Jet Boy Jet Girl". Song by Hitomi Takahashi. Their music is perfectly with image of Toward The TERRA!