animerunner.net
July 25
Rina & Alna were a little more serious then I thought!
But all is not well & it seems that Volks quality control let this slip by a hook without a loop. waiting to hear back from them on the issue.
I don't care for being grossly overcharged for shipping (maybe it's that commission part) or having to pay Japanese tax (they shouldn't apply this to foreign orders), but Volks is the only game in town if one want these items at normal prices.
These girls look like they're gonna be high maintenance.
Take that vinyl staining warning from Volks seriously because this happened in less then 3 days. This is from the dark dyes in the clothing getting absorbed by the vinyl skin.
Luckily there is somewhat of a remedy using acne medicine with 10% Benzoyl Perozide & a source of heat & light like an incandencent light bulb. It's not perfect the treated area is slightly lighter & slightly raised. raised.
Gonna have to figure what to do though since I haven't had them back in there regular clothes yet. There are body stocking official & 3rd party, but I don't like how they look. I think I'll just give their clothes a dip in a water, vinegar, & salt solution for a few hours which is suppose to help set the dye & then wash them.
Still like the small scale fixed pose figures too.
This cute Azusa for some reason took longer then usual (3+ weeks, less then 2 is normal) to get here from Amiami. Of course I have her set up in nekomimi mode.
Teana Lanster was the only figure I bought at Anime Expo 2010. She's my first Nanoha figure. I like the pose & sculpt plus she was only $70 & when the Japanese retail price is 6800yen. Otherwise figure prices at anime conventions have really gone up because of the crappy exchange rate.
Some shuffling around of my collection.
Idolmaster 2
July 22
Some recent promotional videos captured from Xbox Live.
Idolm@ster 2
idolmaster2_pv1_1280x720.mp4
Otomedius Excellent a shmup like Deathsmiles. This more an anime opening then a game trailer.
otomedius_excellent_op_1280x720.mp4
Dollfie Dream 2
July 10
Rina Ogata from White Album as a Dollfie Dream doll finally arrived. EMS took a little longer then usual for her & there was no cushioning at all in the outer box but the package was delivered undamaged. I got in on the first preorder so got a swimsuit extra, but I can't see myself putting it on much because her arm warmers of which you get an extra different style set & her stockings were a bitch to put on. The only things I don't care for other then visible joint which are mostly covered on these girls is the wig cap which doesn't stay in place very well & being a little visible at some angles. I find the ears sculpt a little off & bulgy. Also with the way the joints are done the arms up position looks unnatural. And apparently the dark dyes in the clothing & hair can stain their vinyl bodies. But overall these dolls are still very pretty especially their acrylic glassy eyes & I'm glad to have them along with my collection of PVC bishoujo figures.
Rina x Alna the perfect idol pair?
A nice big collectible box different from what other Dollfie Dreams come in.
"Made in Japan" makes me feel better about spending so much for a doll.
Volks isn't kidding when they warn you about vinyl staining. I didn't have her black top for more then two days & it already left some marks on her. Volks does offer body stockings but they look like they'll noticiably affect the look & wouldn't protect all the parts that are touched by Rina's dark clothing. At least the body is standard so can be replaced if ever it got too bad & unfixable/coverable.
My First Dollfie
July 5
I entered the lottery for her on both Volks USA & Volks Japan & lost both so in a bit of otaku impulse I went after Alna using a bidding service for Yahoo Japan & won her. It cost about 77,000 yen all together, but I couldn't resist such a stunning doll & really wanted another dollfie as a companion to Rina Ogata who is on the way. She can stand unsupported if the pose is balanced, but she'll tip over easily with any movement.
I used www.japonicamarket.com to get Alna. The fees were reasonable & items well packed & shipped quickly. I don't know about declaring the package as "personal use toys" though; sounds a little kinky. I thought it would include a stand & a microphone as seen in some pictures.
Dollfie Dream Alna holding up the recently release side scrolling shoot'em up Deathsmiles Limited Edition. The LE comes with a soundtrack & faceplate.
Anime Expo 2010 Last Day
July 5
Unfortunately Yui Horie & Eri Kitamura weren't there for Sunday's open autograph session, but I did manage to get Yuu Asakawa & Megumi Nakajima autograph.
So that ended AX for me & now back home in Chicago. I would've liked to stay a little longer for closing ceremonies, but I also wanted to time my flight home so I get a unique view of all the fireworks from the plane. The city sounded like a warzone with all the fireworks after getting off the train from the airport.
Anime Expo 2010 Day 3
July 3
No autographs for me today because of long lines. Oh well maybe tomorrow in the open session.
Artwork made to order by the original artists for only $60 if you wanted color or black & white for $30. This one is of Ayu because I love twintails hair from Kimi ga Nozomu Eien done by Himukai Kyousuke. I wonder if it would be wrong to erase his pencil lines?
Anime Expo 2010 Day 2
July 2
Minami Kuribayashi the voice of Haruka in Kimi ga Nozomu Eien is here as guest of Mangagamer doing a mini-concert & then autographs at their booth. I missed out on Yui Horie's panel so I could get her autograph on my Kiminozo artbox to complement Chiaki Takahashi's autograph who voices the other main character in the show Mitsuki Hayase.
Eri Kitamura promoting Toradora! at her panel.
Anime Expo 2010
July 1st
So I wasn't planning on attending Anime Expo this year, but then I read that they got Yui Horie, Eri Kitamura, & Yuu Asakawa as guest so I couldn't resist. This is my 3rd AX after 2007 in Long Beach & 2005 in Anaheim. I must say that this Los Angeles Convention Center location is a nice venue for the con with the center itself, the Nokia Theater, & the outdoor Nokia Plaza. Just needs more nearby hotel & food options.
My plan for the con is to attend JP guest panels, get autographs, & go to few concerts. Only managed one autograph today though. I really wanted to get AKB48, but they arrived late for their signing & the ppl near the front were taking too much time with them. Oh well there will be another chance for 8 of the other team members tomorrow. I didn't know much about them but they put on a really good 100 minute energetic show. It's almost a sensory overload watching 16 cute & pretty Japanese girls sing catchy songs & dance in unison. The Nokia theater was only filled about 1/3 though for their performance, but it was a decent mix of guys & girls since I read that it's mostly a male fanbase that attends their performances in Japan.
May'n the singing voice of Sheryl Nome from Macross Frontier signing my Sheryl Nome artbook. I chose that page hoping to also get the autograph of the voice of Ranka Lee Megumi Nakajima who's also here.
Huggable Horo
June 13
The 2 way tricot version of the recently released Horo dakimakura by Ensky. It's a smooth fine jersey like polyester material that makes for a good printing surface so the colors are fairly deep & the lines sharp on this cover. Perfect choice of art showing the sly/cunning & vulnerable sides of Horo.
Not of my previous covers have said where they were made at least in English, but it's nice to know this one is "Made in Japan."
Brighter Then Then Dawning Blue & Evangelion 1.11 You Are (Not) Alone blu-ray. The former makes me want to watch Crest Of The Stars again which is a much better take on a similar theme.
Some random figures shots.
Kanda Festival Through Akihabara 2010
May 29
After booking the flight I had looked online to see if there might be any festivals I could see but they all seem to happen the 2nd half of May so it was a pleasant surprise when I ran into this one the way back to the hotel after a day exploring Akihabara. This is apparently a smaller version of the Kanda festival that runs on even years while a much larger one runs odd years. It ended at the Kanda Shrine nearby.
Cycling Through Den Den Town
May 28
Me riding through the Osaka's version of Akihabara With an experimental helmetcam (a video camera velcroed to my helmet with no image stabilization).
A nice scene with no relation to anime, just some young women rowing on a very fine day encountered while on a cycling tour.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsrmfMW-9gU
Man I'd really like to go back again. I would do two weeks in Japan because 8 full days isn't enough & two weeks in Thailand.
Just Arrived
Queen's Blade Wandering Warrior Vol. 1 A Single StepSamurai Harem (Asu no Yoichi) complete collection
Slayers Revolution Slayers Season 5 Evolution-R
Kanokon Vol. 1 Sexy Like A Fox
Kotobukiya - 1/6 Forest Goddess Elwyn from Shining Wind
Miyabiya - Rika Shiraki from Bible Black
Sega - Miku Hatsune Premium Figure (Blue Ver.) from Vocaloid
DVD's On Order
Learning the Hard WayFleshdance
CD's on Order
DVD Wishlist
> May
> June
Ikki-Tousen Dragon Destiny Vol. 3Papillon Rose Complete Collection
Soul Eater Part 3
> July
Toradora DVD boxset 1 Premium Edition> Out / TBA
My Anime DVD/CD Collection List
Music Wishlist
Agent Aika op CODC-1231 OOPAlien 9 op CODC-1973 OOP
Seraphim Call Complete Music Collection PICA-7014* OOP
Maze op/ed
Banner of the Stars OST's
Escalayer theme
Angel Blade theme
Square of the Moon op
Mimi Buttobi CPU op
Elfen Lied op/ed
D4 Princess ed Doriru de Runrun Kururunrun FSDA-00009 OOP
Figure 17 op/ed by The Alfee
Kamisama Kazoku op/ed
Shion no Ou ed - UPCH-5515
Galaxy Angel X ed
Koharu Biyori op
Idolm@ster Live For you! Colorful Days
Slap Up Party ed 1
GA Geijutsuka Art Design Class op
Figure/Goods Preorders
> May
Ensky - Holo Dakimakura Cover 2 Way Tricot from Wolf & Spice II> June
Alter - Nakano Azusa from K-On!> July
FREEing - 1/8 Mio Akiyama PVC Figure from K-On!Chari-Ani - Yuki Hibarigaoka Oppai Cushion Set from Buraban!
Wanted
Kurushima - 1/7 Tachibana Ichika "Holy Spirit of Wind" version GK from Uta-kataKotobukiya - 1/7 Terada Wakaba GK from Ensemble
Clayz - Kanae & Sana GK from Pia Carrot G.O.
FineScenery Noir et Blanc
My Artbooks
Madoka Kimagure Orange Road Newtype illustrated collection ISBN 4048532944Satoshi Urushihara
- Venus
- Cell Works
- Love
- U:Collection
Kenichi Sonada Artwoks 1983-1997
OH! Great Himiko-den Conceptual Art Book
Yui Shop 2
Yui Shop 3
Disgaea Visual Collection
Megami Deluxe Vol. 1
Megami Deluxe Vol. 2
Megami Deluxe Vol. 3
Megami Deluxe Vol. 4
Megami Deluxe Vol. 5
G-Doll Season 1
G-Doll Season 3
Replicant Vol. 13
Figumania Complete Collection
Figure Maniacs A-Brand Collection
Replicant Vol. 14
Raimuiro Senkitan Visual Collection
Moe Side Dengeki Hime Illustrations
Satoshi Urushihara Illustrations うるし原智志イラスト集Φ
Yami to Boushi to Hon no Tabibito Visual Collection
Fri-Fri Kimizuka Aoi Illustrations
Sentimental Graffiti Image Artworks
NAO-S Illustration Works
PUSH!! Art Collection
Paso Para Extra #01 Maid Paradise
Hattori Mitsuru Illustrations 978-4-903421-12-4
Miku Hatsune Graphics Vocaloid Art & Comic
Sexfriend Greatest Hits
Wanted
Noriyasu Yamauchi Illustrations - Tobimono Girls 9784894259492Tony's Art Works from Shining World 9784757748187
Tohsaka Rin Portraits