I don’t normally pay attention to the background music in anime but there are just some tracks that become indelibly associated with key scenes. When I hear Salva Nos (Yuki Kajiura: Noir), I always think to myself that Kirika is going to kick some serious ass. Likewise when Foxy Doll (EDISON: Black Lagoon) comes on, the image of Revy or Balalaika strutting their stuff comes to mind. Or Haruka charging with her bass guitar to the strains of crazy sunshine (The Pillows: FLCL).
Ghost in the Shell has impressed me with all its offerings, including the Innocence OST (on order from TSRI) and the Solid State Society OST. Bought the first and second sound tracks for Stand Alone Complex for GBP 10.99 each via Amazon.co.uk (with free delivery FTW).
Continue reading ‘GITS:SAC OST 1 and 2 getto daze!’
…and thinpaks 4TW. Bought this boxset, via Amazon.co.uk, for GBP 29.99 (free shipping in the UK!) inclusive an ab fab pre-order discount of 25% (and inclusive of the humongous 17.5% Socialist Democratic Peoples’ Value Added Tax). The discount has been reduced but Forbidden Planet has wised up (at least at the Shaftesbury Avenue mothership) and is now offering the Stand Alone Complex and 2nd Gig boxsets for GBP 29.99 each until 2007-05-31.
Price-wise, TSRI’s offering at USD 48.99 is still unbeatable value for US-based fans (though 1 cent under the free economy shipping threshold LOL) but there’s the whole hassle and added cost of shipping plus the risk of getting slapped with the VAT and Royal Mail handling charge on its way into Her Majesty’s Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Overall, well pleased with my purchase at a very reasonable price of just under SGD 90; it’s genuine stuff at DVD quality (rather than VCD quality on DVD discs from you-know-who) and English subs that are, at last, at least as good as Laughing Man Fansubs. Zyl a very happy fanboy. MOTOKO~~~~!!
In Anime Podcast #10, JP Meyer gave a pithy response, along the lines of "not really", to a comment and question by Thor about whether increased anti-US sentiment in anime will affect anime sales in the US. I shared Thor’s impression that in blood+ and Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd Gig, the US has not been portrayed favourably. In addition to these two Production IG series, we’ve also seen SUNRISE draw a parallel between the US and the Blue Cosmos/Logos controlled Atlantic Federation with its capital in Washington D.C. and its puppet president Copeland in Gundam SEED Destiny.
This post attempts to look at the definitional problems that reflect the often confused and contradictory character of anti-Americanism and disentangle how separate levels of analysis are often conflated. Furthermore, this post argues that many of these ideas and themes regarded as “anti-American” are echoed in or even influenced by US political science, literary, cinematic and popular culture sources.
Continue reading ‘Anti-Americanism in Anime’
Up to my ears in course work now. T_T Entries on SHUFFLE! 18 and Mai Otome 07 will be a bit late. On a happier note, the past month’s consolidated loot from Forbidden Planet, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.co.jp (via the Yuricon Shop):
- Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex (1st Gig) DVD box set
- Ghost in the Shell 2: Man-Machine Interface
- Yuri Hime Vol.2
- Kashimashi Girl Meets Girl Vol.2
- xxxHolic Vol.1-6
The Mahoro towel underneath was a present from Stripey btw. ^_^
This would be my fourth time watching Innocence but the first two were with a fansub (I forget which) and the third time on my tiny 17-inch room TV on a R2 DVD (no subs T_T). Had promised myself to see it in a movie theatre if I ever got the chance. As luck would have it, GITS: Innocence was screening at just one screen in central London. Continue reading ‘Ghost in the Shell: Innocence (London screening)’