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Anime Caption Contest! -- 6/25/13 -- AV MOD MATERIAL

| Sunday, June 30, 2013
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Anime Caption Contest! -- 6/25/13 -- AV MOD MATERIAL



Welcome back to the Anime Vice Caption Contest! You know the drill; we have three new images that need some funny captions! See who won the previous contest below!

Here are the Rules

  • You can caption any or all of the images!
  • You can caption the same image more than once, but not in the same post!
  • You cannot double post! You must wait for someone else to post before you may post again! This makes it fair and stops spam.

The captions will be judged by the hosts of THE VICE PIT themselves; Tom Pinchuk and Sam Weller! The winners and their winning captions will be featured in the next Caption Contest post!

HELP! THE IMAGES WON'T INSERT CORRECTLY!

I've noticed some users don't always insert the images correctly in the comment section. To make sure you post the images properly, you should copy them from this post and paste them into the comment box, rather than upload the images again yourself. To do this, highlight some of the text below the images (try starting from "want to recommend") all the way up to some of the text above the images (try highlighting up to "fill in the captions!") and then right-click on that text and select "copy", go to the comment box, right-click inside that and select "paste" - then all you need to do is fill in the captions! Hope that helps, have fun!

Week #13 Winners

"Damn it you ALWAYS pick Eddy Gordo!"
~ Daniel Newton

"He didn't want me to super size it..BUT I DID ANYWAY BRO I DID IT ANYWAY"
~ jj_jackson
"See its not a trap"
~ Mutant_God

Caption Contest #14

So, are you up to the challenge? Just copy the images into the comment box below and fill in the captions!

"Caption me!"
"Caption me!"
"Caption me!"
"Caption me!"
"Caption me!"
"Caption me!"

Want to recommend some images for the contest? Go to my profile and send them to me in a PM and I'll check them out.

Have fun and good luck!

About the Author

Daniel Newton is an Anime Vice moderator and occasional guest writer with a dangerous Wine Gum obsession. Follow his personal and community Twitter feeds: @Daniel_Newton and @AnimeVicers







Anime Caption Contest! -- 6/25/13 -- AV MOD MATERIAL

Posted by : Unknown
Date :Sunday, June 30, 2013
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ONE PIECE #601 - - Special Review

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ONE PIECE #601 - - Special Review



Sure, it’s probably too easy to look at every
supervillain who cackles with perverted delight over his own villainy and
compare him to the Joker. Still, I’d be lying if I said that I wasn’t starting
to hear Caesar’s lines ‘auto-dub’ in my mind with Mark Hamill’s voice at this
point. Even past the basics of this
being a clown-themed creep who uses creatively-designed poison gases, the
whole scene of him showing off Smiley to a gallery of roguish buyers seemed like
exactly the sort of stunt that Hamill’s Mr. J would do. And that bit where the slimer
catches CC embarrassingly off-guard and eats the big, deadly candy ahead of
schedules is precisely the sort of bubble-bursting gag that’d often happen
to Hamill’s more self-serious clown prince of crime.

I got some warnings to watch out for ONE PIECE’s 'Joker,' last
episodes, but I’m seeing far fewer comparison points in Don Flamingo at the
moment.

== TEASER ==

(By the way, somebody totally needs to draw some fanart, right now,
of Caesar teaming up with TIGER & BUNNY’s Jake Martinez. You know - - that other
anime Joker tribute
).

Maybe it’s because I get easily grossed out by bad table manners, but
the running joke about various food-stuffs sticking onto Vergo’s face really
isn’t working for me. Nothing about that
character has been terribly interesting, to be honest. He’s not colorful enough
to be fun like Caesar, nor ‘respectable’ enough to be a badass. He’s just an
awkwardly-designed sketch whom Oda’s just running with because he never gets
time to re-think an idea once he’s put it in the comic.

Also - - I will say, once again, that this whole sub-plot with kid’s
drug addiction continues to be one of the most atonally messed-up things I’ve
ever seen in a shonen show. Especially now when the girl’s being tormented by
visions of serpents. That’s like an ALTERED STATES level of messed, right
there.

Watch this
episode,
"Shaking
up the New World! Caesar's Horrendous Experiment!” here and decide
for yourself, then read my comments about the previous episode here.

About the Author

Tom Pinchuk’s a writer and personality with a large number of comics, videos and features like this to his credit. Visit his website - - tompinchuk.com - - and follow his Twitter: @tompinchuk







ONE PIECE #601 - - Special Review

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DRAGON BALL Z #21 - - Watch & Learn

| Saturday, June 29, 2013
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DRAGON BALL Z #21 - - Watch & Learn



Now, there’s one funny thing that really stuck out to me about this
episode. It might even help support a larger point about how long-running
serials like this put other stories into perspective. Bear with me for a sec -
- I promise this will make sense. See, the scenes in question is when Oolong brings up the rather logical question of why Master Roshi doesn’t just use the Dragon
Balls
to wish the Saiyans away.

I generally tend to give more credit to the broad strokes of a story
when I’m critiquing it. That is, if a show pulls off a couple thing
spectacularly well - - or if it’s heart seems to be mostly in the right place - - then that
generally makes up for any of my smaller, more detail-specific grievances. I’ve
been thinking about this a little more lately, because there’s basically a whole
corner of this pop culture blogosphere (or whatever we want to call it)
that makes its bones off nitpicking every new blockbuster to pieces as soon as
it’s out.

== TEASER ==

Sure, there are plenty of times where a flick has plot holes that are
too big to ignore because they’re borne out of laziness on the storytellers’
part. However, I’m sure you all know
somebody who loves to walk out of a movie and just scoff dismissively about
minor things that nobody really gives a shit about.

There isn’t enough room to get as detailed as we probably need to get here but, to put it simply, most ‘plot holes’ are just basic conceits of
dramatic license, as far as I reckon. Would it make more sense for NASA to send a team of trained
astronauts to drill that asteroid instead of a bunch of oil riggers? Yeah, sure…
and it’d be lot less interesting to watch. And if the movie went out of
its way to run through a bunch of well-reasoned, logical explanations to qualify it,
holy shit, would that slow the pace down.

Long-running shonen series, though? Well, they’ve got oodles of time
and space, don’t they? Which is why you have time for Oolong to raise the sort
of logical concern that the smarks would have - - and boy, doesn’t that bit
of dialog seem like some unnecessarily expository?
This is what would happen if every show were concerned about throwing bones to the nitpickers instead of just running
with the story.

Watch this episode, “Counting Down" here and decide for yourself, then read my comments on the
previous episode here.

About the Author

Tom Pinchuk’s a writer and personality with a large number of comics, videos and features like this to his credit. Visit his website - - tompinchuk.com - - and follow his Twitter: @tompinchuk







DRAGON BALL Z #21 - - Watch & Learn

Posted by : Unknown
Date :Saturday, June 29, 2013
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The Epic VICE PIT Q&A - - Part 1

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The Epic VICE PIT Q&A - - Part 1



Recent Vice Pit sessions on...

Recent sessions in Vice Pit: Undercover...

You can check out every episode of the Vice Pit here.

Be sure to submit questions and topics for a future Vice Pit session here. We will answer them!








The Epic VICE PIT Q&A - - Part 1

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Date :
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ONE PIECE #601 - - Special Review

| Friday, June 28, 2013
Read more »



Anime Vice News Feed





ONE PIECE #601 - - Special Review



Sure, it’s probably too easy to look at every
supervillain who cackles with perverted delight over his own villainy and
compare him to the Joker. Still, I’d be lying if I said that I wasn’t starting
to hear Caesar’s lines ‘auto-dub’ in my mind with Mark Hamill’s voice at this
point. Even past the basics of this
being a clown-themed creep who uses creatively-designed poison gases, the
whole scene of him showing off Smiley to a gallery of roguish buyers seemed like
exactly the sort of stunt that Hamill’s Mr. J would do. And that bit where the slimer
catches CC embarrassingly off-guard and eats the big, deadly candy ahead of
schedules is precisely the sort of bubble-bursting gag that’d often happen
to Hamill’s more self-serious clown prince of crime.

I got some warnings to watch out for ONE PIECE’s 'Joker,' last
episodes, but I’m seeing far fewer comparison points in Don Flamingo at the
moment.

== TEASER ==

(By the way, somebody totally needs to draw some fanart, right now,
of Caesar teaming up with TIGER & BUNNY’s Jake Martinez. You know - - that other
anime Joker tribute
).

Maybe it’s because I get easily grossed out by bad table manners, but
the running joke about various food-stuffs sticking onto Vergo’s face really
isn’t working for me. Nothing about that
character has been terribly interesting, to be honest. He’s not colorful enough
to be fun like Caesar, nor ‘respectable’ enough to be a badass. He’s just an
awkwardly-designed sketch whom Oda’s just running with because he never gets
time to re-think an idea once he’s put it in the comic.

Also - - I will say, once again, that this whole sub-plot with kid’s
drug addiction continues to be one of the most atonally messed-up things I’ve
ever seen in a shonen show. Especially now when the girl’s being tormented by
visions of serpents. That’s like an ALTERED STATES level of messed, right
there.

Watch this
episode,
"Shaking
up the New World! Caesar's Horrendous Experiment!” here and decide
for yourself, then read my comments about the previous episode here.

About the Author

Tom Pinchuk’s a writer and personality with a large number of comics, videos and features like this to his credit. Visit his website - - tompinchuk.com - - and follow his Twitter: @tompinchuk







ONE PIECE #601 - - Special Review

Posted by : Unknown
Date :Friday, June 28, 2013
With 0comments

DRAGON BALL Z #20 - - Watch & Learn

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DRAGON BALL Z #20 - - Watch & Learn



Goku chasing a grasshopper around with a mallet for half an episode?
Yep. Exactly like a Tax Avery short.

Watching this so soon after MAN OF STEEL, I can’t help but feel like
Toriyama has been pulling an epic-sized prank all these years on everybody who’s
done any sort of serious comparison between Goku and Superman. I mean, when you
essentially recount the Fall of Krypton with a lisping goofball filling in for your Morgan Freeman-type, gravitas-wielding narrator, it’s impossible for
it not to be an epic-scale case of one cartoonist ‘taking the
piss out’ of another cartoonist’s creation.

Goku isn’t Japan’s answer to Superman. He became Japan’s parody of
Superman.

== TEASER ==

(And I really felt like I needed to grab a towel to wipe away all
the spittle that’d accumulated after King Kai’s epic monologue. Man, oh man… that’s definitely Sean Schemmel’s
‘wet’ voice
).

Initially, I figured this would actually be a filler episode. Jiminy
Cricket up there fits the exact same mold as those red and blue demons from a
few episodes past - - a goofy seat filler cooked up by a hurried animation
staff. However, the accelerated pacing,
and sheer amount of exposited lore, quickly made this seem like A material.
Or at least, maybe meat sandwiched in with some spam.

I guess I wasn’t paying attention to this show that closely when I was
growing up. I don’t remember this business with the Tuffles (or whatever they
were called
) ever being referenced again. It sounded like King Kai was playing Mad
Libs most of the time, and perhaps that’s the bigger goofy on over-complicated
anime mythologies anyway. We spent such a breathless amount of exposition on
this stuff - - just hurrying to get it done and over with, basically - - and
the show know it’s all just gobbledygook to toss away.

Watch this episode, “Goku's Ancestors" here and decide for yourself,
then read my comments on the previous episode here.

About the Author

Tom Pinchuk’s a writer and personality with a large number of comics, videos and features like this to his credit. Visit his website - - tompinchuk.com - - and follow his Twitter: @tompinchuk







DRAGON BALL Z #20 - - Watch & Learn

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Date :
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3 Mech Anime Shows We Think Inspired PACIFIC RIM

| Thursday, June 27, 2013
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Anime Vice News Feed





3 Mech Anime Shows We Think Inspired PACIFIC RIM



When you watched the trailer for Guillermo del Toro's upcoming PACIFIC RIM (and if you haven't, check it out yo!) you probably thought to yourself, "Man, that looks just like a mecha anime!"

Guess what? You're right! Del Toro has stated that he wants to bring mecha anime to the masses with this project, which features giant robots (Jaegers) squaring off against giant monsters (kaiju) for the fate of the human race. While del Toro also said that he didn't allow his design team to discuss influences during production, you must have noticed some similarities between PACIFIC RIM and some notable mecha series.

Here are three that might have had a hand in shaping the movie in either story or design...

== TEASER ==

#1: NEON GENESIS EVANGELION

No kidding, right? Giant monsters bent on the extermination of the human race? Desperation in the face of absolute annihilation forcing nations to work together on new technology? The fact that pilots must synchronize their brainwaves in order to effectively pilot the massive machines? Oh yeah: EVA's all over this thing.

I also wouldn't be surprised if even more EVA-esque elements appear in the movie, as well. Perhaps there's a shadowy world-government with ulterior motives, or the secret origin of the Jaegers has something nasty in common with the kaiju, hm?

(Plus, China's Crimson Typhoon's head looks a lot like Eva-00. Just sayin').

Sure, things look desperate for the human race in RIM but, damn, if that makes them mopey or depressed! No, if the epic speech actor Idris Elba gives in the trailer is any indication, our heroes are warriors all, with drive and passion to defeat the enemy! Which brings us to our next influence...

#2: TENGEN TOPPA GURREN LAGANN

If that speech is any indication, there are no cowards among the Jaeger pilots, and they're going to have to work together if they're going to topple the kaiju! They're going to team up, they're going to work together, and they're going to win because they are heroes! They're never going to give up!

Unless, of course, your co-pilot has some sort of mental block that prevents you from fully synchronizing. I'm sure that's not going to happen at all in the movie, though, because self-confidence is clearly the key to piloting these mechs. No one with the slightest shred of existential angst would ever be piloting a 200 ton walking building, right? And then that angst certainly wouldn't rub off on you just because your memories and thought patterns are completely synchronized... right?

Besides, even if you fail, there's an international team of mecha-pilots that are going to help you! They're from all over the world, including Japan, Russia, China, and the USA! And everybody knows that when there's a huge global crisis, countries put aside their hundreds of years of differences to put the welfare of humanity first. Always. Without question. In every series.

Well, maybe except...

#3: MOBILE FIGHTER G GUNDAM

Dutch. Windmill. Mecha. Suit. GUNDAM.
Dutch. Windmill. Mecha. Suit. GUNDAM.

In G GUNDAM, countries from across the solar system send robot representatives to duke it out on Earth, and each country has their own quirky (which is a nice way to say "offensively stereotypical") design or power.

While RIM isn't going so far as making the representative of Holland a giant windmill, each of the countries we know are in the film have their own unique designs and skills. Crimson Typhoon, for example, is one of the fastest Jaegers and has three arms with spinning claws. Russia's Cherno Alpha, meanwhile, is the most massive -- built for power above all else. I wouldn't be surprised if it ends up suplexing a kaiju into the Mariana Trench or something. Naturally the USA's Gipsy Danger is the "herobot," so while it's basic, human-like design doesn't boast the best stats, their fighting spirit is bound to shine through.

Russian. Nuclear. Reactor. Mecha. Suit.
Russian. Nuclear. Reactor. Mecha. Suit.

And surely, someone's thought about what the world is going to look like after the kaiju menace is dealt with. Everyone's going to go home, sing Kumbaya, and the world will enter a new age of peace and prosperity.

That or all the countries with giant robots are going to start duking it out everywhere.

In fact, if we don't see any mecha-on-mecha action in this movie, I'm going to be pretty disappointed. Sure, fighting monsters is sweet and all, but isn't watching inter-personal conflict expressed through giant robots slugging it out even sweeter?

What shows do you think belong here, too? Toss some titles in the talkback! Continue the conversation.

Matt Murphy is a freelance nerd and has contributed to many nerd websites. You can reach him by going to the place where the light meets the shadow, by sending out zeta-brainwaves, or by following him on Twitter at @Murphix.








3 Mech Anime Shows We Think Inspired PACIFIC RIM

Posted by : Unknown
Date :Thursday, June 27, 2013
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AV MOD MATERIAL: NARUTO Ch. 635 Review

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AV MOD MATERIAL: NARUTO Ch. 635 Review



Well, we already know he's full of hot air... and other things.
Well, we already know he's full of hot air... and other things.

The tide may have turned, but it's sure taking a while for the Shinobi Alliance to put an end to this arc.

The Good

Back in last week's review, I lamented on how Sakura was the only one out of Team 7 that didn't get their own summons. However, that makes more sense given the scene at the starts off the chapter with the confrontation with Orochimaru. Another summoned creature wouldn't have the history with Orochimaru and had to make the hard decision of risking to trust him to save Tsunade.

Orochimaru is among the members of this cast that annoys me by their mere presence, but I actually warmed up to him in this chapter. I especially loved his conversation with Tsunade about Jiraiya. He makes an intriguing point. Sure, Jiraiya may still be alive if Orochimaru hadn't betrayed the village, but Jiraiya may not have become the same person as a result. Change can influence other changes, but that doesn't mean for the better. That could be directly connected to Naruto and Sasuke.

The Bad

Sakura was really hard to read in this chapter, and I'm torn how to evaluate this scene. She appears to by lying becasue she knows Sasuke can't really be trusted, but it's irritating at how much pain that revelation seems to be for her. Where does this devotion come from? Sasuke has done little more this entire series than mock her and try to kill her. Sakura reminds me of the type of girl we've all known in some form in our lives. She always seems to go out with the wrong person who keeps hurting her, but she always takes them back. The fact that she knows it's bad for her makes it all the more worse.

Speaking of annoying fan girls, Karin pulls out all the stops in the sycophant department. She truly is the Harley Quinn of manga. There's something about the hypocrisy in her own words that makes it more annoying. Honestly, what is it about Sasuke that inspires such admiration other than being a tragic, pretty boy? He's entirely self motivated, and how many times does he have to betray and attempt to kill a woman before she says enough is enough?

Verdict 4/5

I very nearly rated this chapter a 3 out of 5. The fan girl drama, and Sasuke's willingness to just let the Ten-Tails burn despite those that could die really dragged things down. Anyone willing to let Samui die isn't to be trusted. You may disagree with my reasoning but not the sentiment on which it's based. However, the reappearance of the Kages, and that interesting dynamic with Tsunade and Orochimaru really improved matters. Not much, but enough to raise the score.

I would almost be annoyed with that cliffhanger we get in this chapter, but Kishimoto has been making it a practice of following up with his shock endings these past few weeks. I expect we will be getting some clarification on these events at the start of next week. See you then.

About the Author

Kristoffer Remmell (FoxxFireArt) is a freelance graphic artist, writer, and over all mystery geek. Follow for news updates: @AnimeVicers / @FoxxFireArt








AV MOD MATERIAL: NARUTO Ch. 635 Review

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Date :
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DRAGON BALL Z #20 - - Watch & Learn

| Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Read more »



Anime Vice News Feed





DRAGON BALL Z #20 - - Watch & Learn



Goku chasing a grasshopper around with a mallet for half an episode?
Yep. Exactly like a Tax Avery short.

Watching this so soon after MAN OF STEEL, I can’t help but feel like
Toriyama has been pulling an epic-sized prank all these years on everybody who’s
done any sort of serious comparison between Goku and Superman. I mean, when you
essentially recount the Fall of Krypton with a lisping goofball filling in for your Morgan Freeman-type, gravitas-wielding narrator, it’s impossible for
it not to be an epic-scale case of one cartoonist ‘taking the
piss out’ of another cartoonist’s creation.

Goku isn’t Japan’s answer to Superman. He became Japan’s parody of
Superman.

== TEASER ==

(And I really felt like I needed to grab a towel to wipe away all
the spittle that’d accumulated after King Kai’s epic monologue. Man, oh man… that’s definitely Sean Schemmel’s
‘wet’ voice
).

Initially, I figured this would actually be a filler episode. Jiminy
Cricket up there fits the exact same mold as those red and blue demons from a
few episodes past - - a goofy seat filler cooked up by a hurried animation
staff. However, the accelerated pacing,
and sheer amount of exposited lore, quickly made this seem like A material.
Or at least, maybe meat sandwiched in with some spam.

I guess I wasn’t paying attention to this show that closely when I was
growing up. I don’t remember this business with the Tuffles (or whatever they
were called
) ever being referenced again. It sounded like King Kai was playing Mad
Libs most of the time, and perhaps that’s the bigger goofy on over-complicated
anime mythologies anyway. We spent such a breathless amount of exposition on
this stuff - - just hurrying to get it done and over with, basically - - and
the show know it’s all just gobbledygook to toss away.

Watch this episode, “Goku's Ancestors" here and decide for yourself,
then read my comments on the previous episode here.

About the Author

Tom Pinchuk’s a writer and personality with a large number of comics, videos and features like this to his credit. Visit his website - - tompinchuk.com - - and follow his Twitter: @tompinchuk







DRAGON BALL Z #20 - - Watch & Learn

Posted by : Unknown
Date :Wednesday, June 26, 2013
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Anime Caption Contest! -- 6/25/13 -- AV MOD MATERIAL

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Read more »



Anime Vice News Feed





Anime Caption Contest! -- 6/25/13 -- AV MOD MATERIAL



Welcome back to the Anime Vice Caption Contest! You know the drill; we have three new images that need some funny captions! See who won the previous contest below!

Here are the Rules

  • You can caption any or all of the images!
  • You can caption the same image more than once, but not in the same post!
  • You cannot double post! You must wait for someone else to post before you may post again! This makes it fair and stops spam.

The captions will be judged by the hosts of THE VICE PIT themselves; Tom Pinchuk and Sam Weller! The winners and their winning captions will be featured in the next Caption Contest post!

HELP! THE IMAGES WON'T INSERT CORRECTLY!

I've noticed some users don't always insert the images correctly in the comment section. To make sure you post the images properly, you should copy them from this post and paste them into the comment box, rather than upload the images again yourself. To do this, highlight some of the text below the images (try starting from "want to recommend") all the way up to some of the text above the images (try highlighting up to "fill in the captions!") and then right-click on that text and select "copy", go to the comment box, right-click inside that and select "paste" - then all you need to do is fill in the captions! Hope that helps, have fun!

Week #13 Winners

"Damn it you ALWAYS pick Eddy Gordo!"
~ Daniel Newton

"He didn't want me to super size it..BUT I DID ANYWAY BRO I DID IT ANYWAY"
~ jj_jackson
"See its not a trap"
~ Mutant_God

Caption Contest #14

So, are you up to the challenge? Just copy the images into the comment box below and fill in the captions!

"Caption me!"
"Caption me!"
"Caption me!"
"Caption me!"
"Caption me!"
"Caption me!"

Want to recommend some images for the contest? Go to my profile and send them to me in a PM and I'll check them out.

Have fun and good luck!

About the Author

Daniel Newton is an Anime Vice moderator and occasional guest writer with a dangerous Wine Gum obsession. Follow his personal and community Twitter feeds: @Daniel_Newton and @AnimeVicers







Anime Caption Contest! -- 6/25/13 -- AV MOD MATERIAL

Posted by : Unknown
Date :
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AV MOD MATERIAL: NARUTO Ch. 635 Review

| Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Read more »



Anime Vice News Feed





AV MOD MATERIAL: NARUTO Ch. 635 Review



The tide may have turned, but it's sure taking a while for the Shinobi Alliance to put an end to this arc.

The Good

Back in last week's review, I lamented on how Sakura was the only one out of Team 7 that didn't get their own summons. However, that makes more sense given the scene at the starts off the chapter with the confrontation with Orochimaru. Another summoned creature wouldn't have the history with Orochimaru and had to make the hard decision of risking to trust him to save Tsunade.

Orochimaru is among the members of this cast that annoys me by their mere presence, but I actually warmed up to him in this chapter. I especially loved his conversation with Tsunade about Jiraiya. He makes an intriguing point. Sure, Jiraiya may still be alive if Orochimaru hadn't betrayed the village, but Jiraiya may not have become the same person as a result. Change can influence other changes, but that doesn't mean for the better. That could be directly connected to Naruto and Sasuke.

The Bad

Sakura was really hard to read in this chapter, and I'm torn how to evaluate this scene. She appears to by lying becasue she knows Sasuke can't really be trusted, but it's irritating at how much pain that revelation seems to be for her. Where does this devotion come from? Sasuke has done little more this entire series than mock her and try to kill her. Sakura reminds me of the type of girl we've all known in some form in our lives. She always seems to go out with the wrong person who keeps hurting her, but she always takes them back. The fact that she knows it's bad for her makes it all the more worse.

Speaking of annoying fan girls, Karin pulls out all the stops in the sycophant department. She truly is the Harley Quinn of manga. There's something about the hypocrisy in her own words that makes it more annoying. Honestly, what is it about Sasuke that inspires such admiration other than being a tragic, pretty boy? He's entirely self motivated, and how many times does he have to betray and attempt to kill a woman before she says enough is enough?

Verdict 4/5

I very nearly rated this chapter a 3 out of 5. The fan girl drama, and Sasuke's willingness to just let the Ten-Tails burn despite those that could die really dragged things down. Anyone willing to let Samui die isn't to be trusted. You may disagree with my reasoning but not the sentiment on which it's based. However, the reappearance of the Kages, and that interesting dynamic with Tsunade and Orochimaru really improved matters. Not much, but enough to raise the score.

I would almost be annoyed with that cliffhanger we get in this chapter, but Kishimoto has been making it a practice of following up with his shock endings these past few weeks. I expect we will be getting some clarification on these events at the start of next week. See you then.

About the Author

Kristoffer Remmell (FoxxFireArt) is a freelance graphic artist, writer, and over all mystery geek. Follow for news updates: @AnimeVicers / @FoxxFireArt

Just when I thought I couldn't dislike her more.
Just when I thought I couldn't dislike her more.
And this guy wants to be Hokage?
And this guy wants to be Hokage?
Well, we already know he's full of hot air...and other things.
Well, we already know he's full of hot air...and other things.







AV MOD MATERIAL: NARUTO Ch. 635 Review

Posted by : Unknown
Date :Tuesday, June 25, 2013
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GARGANTIA #11 - - Watch & Learn

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GARGANTIA #11 - - Watch & Learn



Oh no! Not the Gargantia!

I’m still not as… convinced of the horror surrounding the Hideazue as the show might expect me to be, but Kugel training his reticle
on this island of generous hosts does turn my stomach a little. Ledo’s tense
anxiety over getting squeezing between the proverbial rock and hard place was
pretty palpable.

(Well, maybe they weren’t too generous, actually. They did insist on
Ledo paying for his stay pretty quickly, didn’t they?)

== TEASER ==

Out of all the developments this show might’ve thrown at me, I never,
ever expected that it’d reintroduce this space captain with a high seas cult
worshipping him; nor that the pirate queen would return as something of a high
priestess in that cult. That’s about three steps of surprises, right there. If
I might add another box car to my ongoing Urobuchi praise train, I’ll say I
appreciate how it’s hard to even guess the themes of his stories
as they’re unfolding, let alone the plot developments. I’m confident that the
show will tie this all together cohesively, but it’s really throwing up none of the
telltale signs that allegories usually swing around with such obvious aplomb.

I’ve alluded to this before, noting how the show seemed like it could
just as easily turn into a conservationist fable or a cautionary warning about
underestimating threats. Here, that ambiguity centers on a couple specific points.
We’ve got only got a couple episodes left at this point (right?) and, even with
this threat against Gargantia, I can’t tell what Kugel’s being set up to be. He could easily become a villain whose
ideology Ledo must finally break from, or… who knows… he might actually
be right in the economic, logical morality of this show.

Guess that means this serial’s doing its job, huh?

Watch this episode, “Supreme
Ruler of Terror" here and decide for yourself, then read my comments on
the previous episode here.

About the Author

Tom Pinchuk’s a writer and personality with a large number of comics, videos and features like this to his credit. Visit his website - - tompinchuk.com - - and follow his Twitter: @tompinchuk







GARGANTIA #11 - - Watch & Learn

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AV MOD MATERIAL: Community Spotlight 6/21/2013

| Monday, June 24, 2013
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AV MOD MATERIAL: Community Spotlight 6/21/2013



Greetings, Anime Vice Community. Tom and Sam united once more this week to for a special podcast presentation on the topic of theSUPER SENTAI - HERE. In the middle of the week, Alex Eckman-Lawn posted his editorial on the TOP 5 GREATEST ANIME FATHERS.

Anime Vice Task Initiative: Alphabetical: HERE

Anime Vice Task Initiative: Wiki Style Guide: HERE

Wonderful Wikis

WANTED Wikis

Blog-o-sphere & Formidable Forums

  • Weekly Fairy Tail Manga: Ch. 335 - The Time of Life by takashichea HERE
  • Summer 2013 Anime Capsule Previews by DocHaus HERE
  • ANIME REVIEW: UMINEKO NO NAKU KORO NI: LARGELY CRAZY…. by katmic HERE
  • Crunchyroll Streaming the Oreimo 2 OVAs in August 2013 by takashichea HERE

Anime AMV Showcase

Here's a little DREAM EATER MERRY action for this week's AMV.

Remember, if you would like to submit something for the Spotlight. You can send me a PM, but please be sure to add "Spotlight" to the subject line. I can't stress how important that is because it might just be lost in my Inbox when I clear it. Even if you have worked on something yourself and are really proud of your work. Get to work, and make more content for the next Spotlight!! Jana!!

-Kristoffer Remmell ( FoxxFireArt) is a freelance graphic artist, writer, and over all mystery geek.- Follow for news updates: @AnimeVicers/ @ FoxxFireArt








AV MOD MATERIAL: Community Spotlight 6/21/2013

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3 Mech Anime Shows We Think Inspired PACIFIC RIM

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3 Mech Anime Shows We Think Inspired PACIFIC RIM



When you watched the trailer for Guillermo del Toro's upcoming PACIFIC RIM (and if you haven't, check it out yo!) you probably thought to yourself, "Man, that looks just like a mecha anime!"

Guess what? You're right! Del Toro has stated that he wants to bring mecha anime to the masses with this project, which features giant robots (Jaegers) squaring off against giant monsters (kaiju) for the fate of the human race. While del Toro also said that he didn't allow his design team to discuss influences during production, you must have noticed some similarities between PACIFIC RIM and some notable mecha series.

Here are three that might have had a hand in shaping the movie in either story or design...

== TEASER ==

#1: NEON GENESIS EVANGELION

No kidding, right? Giant monsters bent on the extermination of the human race? Desperation in the face of absolute annihilation forcing nations to work together on new technology? The fact that pilots must synchronize their brainwaves in order to effectively pilot the massive machines? Oh yeah: EVA's all over this thing.

I also wouldn't be surprised if even more EVA-esque elements appear in the movie, as well. Perhaps there's a shadowy world-government with ulterior motives, or the secret origin of the Jaegers has something nasty in common with the kaiju, hm?

(Plus, China's Crimson Typhoon's head looks a lot like Eva-00. Just sayin').

Sure, things look desperate for the human race in RIM but, damn, if that makes them mopey or depressed! No, if the epic speech actor Idris Elba gives in the trailer is any indication, our heroes are warriors all, with drive and passion to defeat the enemy! Which brings us to our next influence...

#2: TENGEN TOPPA GURREN LAGANN

If that speech is any indication, there are no cowards among the Jaeger pilots, and they're going to have to work together if they're going to topple the kaiju! They're going to team up, they're going to work together, and they're going to win because they are heroes! They're never going to give up!

Unless, of course, your co-pilot has some sort of mental block that prevents you from fully synchronizing. I'm sure that's not going to happen at all in the movie, though, because self-confidence is clearly the key to piloting these mechs. No one with the slightest shred of existential angst would ever be piloting a 200 ton walking building, right? And then that angst certainly wouldn't rub off on you just because your memories and thought patterns are completely synchronized... right?

Besides, even if you fail, there's an international team of mecha-pilots that are going to help you! They're from all over the world, including Japan, Russia, China, and the USA! And everybody knows that when there's a huge global crisis, countries put aside their hundreds of years of differences to put the welfare of humanity first. Always. Without question. In every series.

Well, maybe except...

#3: MOBILE FIGHTER G GUNDAM

Dutch. Windmill. Mecha. Suit. GUNDAM.
Dutch. Windmill. Mecha. Suit. GUNDAM.

In G GUNDAM, countries from across the solar system send robot representatives to duke it out on Earth, and each country has their own quirky (which is a nice way to say "offensively stereotypical") design or power.

While RIM isn't going so far as making the representative of Holland a giant windmill, each of the countries we know are in the film have their own unique designs and skills. Crimson Typhoon, for example, is one of the fastest Jaegers and has three arms with spinning claws. Russia's Cherno Alpha, meanwhile, is the most massive -- built for power above all else. I wouldn't be surprised if it ends up suplexing a kaiju into the Mariana Trench or something. Naturally the USA's Gipsy Danger is the "herobot," so while it's basic, human-like design doesn't boast the best stats, their fighting spirit is bound to shine through.

Russian. Nuclear. Reactor. Mecha. Suit.
Russian. Nuclear. Reactor. Mecha. Suit.

And surely, someone's thought about what the world is going to look like after the kaiju menace is dealt with. Everyone's going to go home, sing Kumbaya, and the world will enter a new age of peace and prosperity.

That or all the countries with giant robots are going to start duking it out everywhere.

In fact, if we don't see any mecha-on-mecha action in this movie, I'm going to be pretty disappointed. Sure, fighting monsters is sweet and all, but isn't watching inter-personal conflict expressed through giant robots slugging it out even sweeter?

What shows do you think belong here, too? Toss some titles in the talkback! Continue the conversation.

Matt Murphy is a freelance nerd and has contributed to many nerd websites. You can reach him by going to the place where the light meets the shadow, by sending out zeta-brainwaves, or by following him on Twitter at @Murphix.








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ATTACK ON TITAN #10 - - Watch & Learn

| Sunday, June 23, 2013
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ATTACK ON TITAN #10 - - Watch & Learn



Well, it’s a treacherous good news/bad news situation, ain’t it? I’m
not even talking about Eren’s “escape or persuade” predicament, either.

See, on the one hand, this episode actually centers on an emotional
dilemma that - - wouldn’t you believe! - - is actually applicable to the
human experience. Lord knows, I can think of plenty of times where I was in
spot similar to the one Armin’s in here; realizing that his self-image is much
lower than the one his friends have actually been perceiving as all this time. When he
digs deep inside himself, finds his confidence and then steps out to potentially
put himself in harm’s way, that all felt like it’d been written by somebody who’d
actually experienced something similar - - not somebody who was basing it all
on a bunch of trite platitudes.

However…

== TEASER ==

I’m really hoping that this is the last of internal
monologues we hear in this show. To be fair, it would’ve been really difficult
to convey the emotional drama adequately without this particular device. At
the same time, the monologue really could’ve certainly been more concise. As I’ve
said, the boon and the bane of these shows is that they get plenty of time to
linger on ideas that would’ve been briskly passed by in tighter, feature-film
running time. The boon’s obvious, but the bane is that the lingering can get excessive rather
easily. I can’t point to any specific lines that should’ve been axed but, boy,
did I get the point long before the plot moved on.

Anyway…

Commander Pixis’ intervention at the end was quite pleasingly sensible,
at least. While you can appreciate characters acting stupid in the context of a
story, up to a point, you really do need some characters to be thinking
as reasonably as the audience after a while.

Watch this episode, "Response - The Battle for Trost" here and decide for yourself,
then read my write-up on the previous episode here.

About the Author

Tom Pinchuk’s a writer and personality with a large number of comics, videos and features like this to his credit. Visit his website - - tompinchuk.com - - and follow his Twitter: @tompinchuk







ATTACK ON TITAN #10 - - Watch & Learn

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GARGANTIA #10 - - Watch & Learn

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GARGANTIA #10 - - Watch & Learn



You know, it does make plenty of sense for Pinion to start going power mad after he’s salvaged all this high-tech, dangerous weaponry. We’ve
seen him bristle under command a few times already, so it also makes sense that
he’d want to want to assert himself once he established a base of leverage. And,
given how we saw his brother get horribly murdered by the Whalesquid, we can’t
really argue with the logic of him just shaking off these creatures' deaths, either.

Nobody’s cheated to get us here but, to reiterate, I’ll be disappointed
if this show ends up becoming yet another screed about “man’s inhumanity to
man.”

See, what I’ve appreciated about Urobuchi’s previous work is his level-headed, almost economic approach to the morality plays you usually see in
genre adventure. For instance, both MADOKA MAGICA and PSYCHO-PASS acknowledged
that, in the greater scope of things, some level of evil actually is needed for a civilization to function. That’s a more
intelligent theme to aim at (and it takes more skill to properly hit) than a
maudlin, nihilistic message that any moody middle-schooler would shoot for
in creative writing class. It’s just too easy.

== TEASER ==

So, if we can’t get the lower-stakes ‘summer job’ angle I was hoping
for, I hope the show will do something a little more daring and maybe have Ledo realize the validity of Chamber’s logic about the irreconcilable antagonism between the
Hideauze and humans. Killing them makes him sick to his stomach, sure, and it horrifies
some of the surface dwellers… but it has to be done to prevent these monsters
from exploiting the ignorance and superstition these people have developed over
centuries of isolation.

Does that seem callous? Well, keep in mind that this all fantasy at the
end of the day. The fantasia is a metaphor for whatever you want it to
represent. In some stories, Frankenstein is a gentle and misunderstood
creature. In other stories, Frankenstein is a horrible blight on nature. So
there’s no inherent way to ‘read’ the whalesquid just yet.

And I hope the reappearance of this familiar mech will put us in that
direction.

Watch this episode, “Island
of Ambition" here and decide for yourself, then read my comments on the
previous episode here.

About the Author

Tom Pinchuk’s a writer and personality with a large number of comics, videos and features like this to his credit. Visit his website - - tompinchuk.com - - and follow his Twitter: @tompinchuk







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TOP 5 GREATEST ANIME FATHERS

| Saturday, June 22, 2013
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TOP 5 GREATEST ANIME FATHERS



Previous Lists... Top 2D Fighting Games *** Top Soundtracks *** Top Miyazaki Movies *** Top Forgotten Fighting Games***Top Manliest Men *** Top Ninjas *** Top Mecha *** Most Awful Anime *** Most Awful Dubs *** Wimpiest Guys *** Top Intros *** Top Anti-Heroes *** Best Ultraviolent Anime *** Top Sci-fi Anime *** Top Overlooked Sci-Fi***Top Intros (Part 2) *** Top Detectives *** Top Car Anime *** Overlooked Ghibli

We hope everybody's still in
the Father's Day mood, because this week we’ve decided to honor five of our
favorite dads. We’re not talking exclusively about paragons of animated
parenthood, father-of-the-years or role-models, mind you... these are the dads we
just can’t get enough of!

Even if you’re sick of your own pop, these guys wont
let you down!

== TEASER ==

NUMBER FIVE == JOSEPH JOESTAR (JOJO’S BIZARRE ADVENTURE)

That beard alone would be enough to earn this guy a spot on
the list...

However, he’s also got a bionic arm, Indiana Jones wardrobe, and he shoots magic brambles. I guess you can keep reading if you want to, but that’s
really all we ever look for in a Dad.

In his younger days, he thwarted Nazis and the ancient evil
they awoke (as well as winning a chariot race, natch). That’s some timeless manliness. Dads
all over the world are jealous.

Oh yeah, and he’s psychic.

Joseph knows what you’re going to say, before you say it, and he’s going to make fun of you about it. Humiliation is the final key in the
perfect dad puzzle!

NUMBER FOUR == BUNTA FUJIWARA (INITIAL D)

Bunta fits neatly into the anime character tropes hall of
fame: wise, nearly-closed eyes, permanently-dangling cigarette, somewhat scruffy
demeanor. Yeah, and flawless, superhuman control of his car. Dude's the
classic shonen father.

This guy is not only the record-holding, absolute best
downhill racer in all of Mt. Akina, he is also possibly the sneakiest, training
his son Takumi to carry on the legacy without him even knowing about it! This
man’s devotion to tofu delivery, racing and smooth cornering are matched only
by his dedication to tricking his son.

This unassuming man is a fearsome beast of a driver - - and a
pretty huge and looming shadow for Takumi to try and escape
- - but he seems
confident that his son will indeed surpass him one day. This man is a rock, a
pillar of assurance, quiet dignity, and presence of mind... and he gets the tofu
to you on time. What a man.

NUMBER THREE == TATSUO KUSAKABE (MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO)

In start contrast to papa Joestar, Professor Kusakabe is the
kind of animated father that you want to have picnics with. This guy could not
be more trusting, sympathetic and relaxed as shit. This guy is taking care of two kids in a house full of
spirits, with a wife in the hospital, but you’d never know it from his relaxed
temperament, kind face and family bath-time antics. This guy keeps it together
in the toughest of circumstances.

When the prof’s daughters tell him they’ve seen monsters in
his yard, he doesn’t argue, or scold them... he encourages their new supernatural
friendships!
Even the most open-minded dads don’t usually like their kids
hanging out with giant-mouthed monsters at the bus stop after dark.

This is the kind of guy who would bring home made cupcakes
for your whole kindergarten class on your birthday, then stay and teach the
rest of the class better than your regular teacher ever could, then take
everyone in class for ramen, and then everyone would laugh all night at his stories (and go home hating their own parents).

NUMBER TWO == GENMA SAOTOME (RANMA ½)

Genma Saotome is a monstrous father who probably should have
his kid taken away by child services. Not only was it his idea to swim to China and train his son in the ways of a martial arts style he made up (eventually getting his son cursed with a
body that switches gender whenever it touches cold water - -
and then continually shaming him about it), he also promised his son’s hand in marriage
to a host of people around Japan.

Ranma is Genma’s successor, and it is clearly important that
he carry on the famous Saotome School of Anything Goes Martial Arts, but Genma
is more than to exploit Ranma’s marital future. He might use it to secure a place to stay,
satiate an old pal or get a bit of fish to eat when he’s really hungry.

Gif time again! Click for the animated version.
Gif time again! Click for the animated version.

On the other hand, he’s also a giant panda about 60% of the
time and it’s damn hard to argue with that. What Genma lacks in responsibility
and good judgement he makes up for in being a giant panda bear (and elaborate secret martial
arts techniques
).

Oddly enough, Genma Saotome and Joseph Joestar have the same
ultimate martials arts technique - - the art of running away!

NUMBER ONE == GOKU (DRAGONBALL)

Before you start whining that Goku's an absentee father, or
more concerned with fighting than parenting, think for a minute about how Gohan
turned out. That wasn't an accident!

Also, how psyched would be if your dad saved the world about a
billion times, was friends with a few dragons, died and came back on
two occasions, and taught you some badass alien kung fu in a
time chamber?

Goku has done just about everything a man can do for a
planet/son, and arguably even better than that, he’s a career optimist.
Cheerful at almost every turn, Goku always has the best intentions, and the
biggest hair. Yeah, so maybe he spent one of Gohan’s formative years running
around on a Snake Way and hanging out on tiny planet - - but it was only because he
sacrificed himself to save everyone he knew!

Plus, he punches dudes through
mountains...

One of Goku’s most admirable qualities is his willingness to
make sacrifices for the greater good: be it his own death, or embarrassing
fashion decisions like a certain pair of earrings that bound him to his former arch-nemesis. Goku isn’t squeamish. Goku doesn’t care what you think. Goku has
seen and done it all, and probably already punched whatever your worst
nightmares look like.

If you’re somehow still not convinced, here are some bonus Dad credentials...

  1. He goes on
    adventures all the time
  2. He hangs out with dinosaurs (!!!)
  3. He basically
    devotes his life to what amounts to a high stakes Easter-egg hunt (
    kids love those).
  4. He doesn’t
    tolerate bullies

And ultimately, he taught his home-schooled crybaby kid to take care of himself in a world where
there seems to be a new alien monster/robot/demon/pink blob monster/psychopath
every weekend. This is perhaps the greatest fatherly feat of all. He’s raised a
son who can deal with the insane cartoon world they live in, full of constant
danger and monster attacks.

These are five of our favorite dads in all of anime, but I’d
bet there are a few you’re angry we’ve neglected! Who makes your list, Daikichi Kawachi? Maes Hughes? Let out all your
frustrations in the comment section below.

Alex Eckman-Lawn is an illustrator and comic artists from Philadelphia. Check out his site - - alexeckmanlawn.com - - rumble with his Tumblr - -dudenukem.tumblr.com - - and hit up his Twitter: @alexeckmanlawn








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