nephrus.net

Welcome to nephrus.net, an interactive web site covering anime news and conventions, rail and rapid transit, hockey updates, plus many other events in and around Vancouver, British Columbia.

Anime Conventions 2012

The 2012 convention scene is just around the corner! While the 2012 line up is much shorter than previous years, it doesn’t mean that a 3-day weekend won’t be packed full of action, photos, cosplay, screenings, raves and concerts! Take a peek at the 2012 anime convention schedule for nephrus.net.

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Canucks 2011-12 schedule

It’s just around the corner! The 2011-2012 NHL season starts in just a few short weeks and the rivalries renew again. To see who the Vancouver Canucks are facing, pull up the schedule for the regular season here on nephrus.net!

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The Magical Kingdom

It’s the world’s largest resort and theme park. Walt Disney World is a colourful realm of the future, the past and the magic of imagination. Join Mickey, Minnie and their pals in a memorable adventure. Dreams really do come true in the world of Walt Disney.

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Stanley Park

It’s named after the same Lord Stanley who’s cup is coveted by hockey players. Within walking distance of downtown Vancouver, Stanley Park is an oasis with walking trails, beaches, deep forests, fields and history. Breathtaking and beautiful, the park is open year round and full of colour and creatures.

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Construction ready to start on the Evergreen Line

Frederick Linsmeyer • January 25, 2012 • Local

Lougheed Town Centre Station

Following numerous setbacks, funding issues and debates on where rapid transit should be expanded in Metro Vancouver, the Evergreen Line is finally rolling forward.

Through years of determining how to fund the $1.4 billion line and finally settling on a controversial $0.02/Litre gas tax that was approved last year by the mayors of Metro Vancouver, the next step for the SkyTrain extension has come down to getting the land ready. The provincial government has inked deals with Pedre Contractors Ltd and Hans Demolition and Excavators to prepare the route for the elevated structure and tunnel – this includes removing existing buildings, adding/moving underground utilities and expanding existing road infrastructure.

The Evergreen Line has an anticipated completion date of mid-2016, linking Coquitlam Centre and Port Moody to the rest of the SkyTrain system through the Lougheed Town Centre station.

Source: The Vancouver Sun

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Blue Exorcist volume 6

Frederick Linsmeyer • January 21, 2012 • Manga

Blue Exorcist volume 6

Following the theft of the Left Eye of the Impure King, the Right Eye of the Impure King is stolen as well. As the priests from the Myodha temples convene on how to handle the loss of the relics, deception and other accusations come to light.

With all the trouble going on around him, Rin’s secret ends up being revealed to the Myodha sect who then have him locked up. Tatsuma Suguro, one of the priests, hands a letter to Rin which unearths some of the history behind him and his sword.

Volume 6 of Blue Exorcist will be available on store shelves on February 7^th, 2012.

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The Legend of Zelda concert schedule

Frederick Linsmeyer • January 12, 2012 • Gaming

The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses

At long last, the music from the Sacred Realm of Hyrule has escaped and will be travelling through North America. Celebrating the 25^th anniversary of the Legend of Zelda video game series, Nintendo has arranged for an orchestral concert aptly titled: The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses to visit select cities in Canada and the United States.

Last year, two concerts were held; one in Los Angeles, CA and the other in London, UK, to celebrate the series 25^th anniversary which coincided with the launch of the latest game, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. Building on the popularity of both concerts, Nintendo teamed up with Jason Michael Paul Productions Inc. to organize a musical journey for Zelda fans – The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses.

The symphony was most recently held in Dallas, TX just prior to the announcement of the remaining locations and dates. Vancouver, BC will be the first Canadian city to host event with Montreal, QC and Toronto, ON in the following months.

Vancouver, BC – March 14^th, 2012
Seattle, WA – March 16^th, 2012
San Francisco, CA – March 28^th, 2012
Denver, CO – April 7^th, 2012
Phoenix, AZ – April 20^th, 2012
Phoenix, AZ – April 21^st, 2012
Atlanta, GA – May 12^th, 2012
Montreal, QC – May 31^st, 2012
Austin, TX – June 22^nd, 2012
Orlando, FL – July 14^th, 2012
Toronto, ON – September 29^th, 2012

For further details and to purchase tickets, visit the Zelda Symphony web site.

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Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos showings in Canada

Frederick Linsmeyer • January 11, 2012 • Anime

Over the last few months, there have been limited screenings of Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos across Canada; only at a handful of film festivals.

However, Cineplex Entertainment will be holding additional screenings at its theatres across Canada for two days only: Sunday, January 15^th and Thursday, January 19^th, 2012.

Edward and Alphonse Elric return for another journey into a squalid settlement occupied by the proud people of Milos. There, the brothers learn the plight of the Milos and become entangled in their fight for freedom. Alphonse subsequently saves a young girl named Julia and befriends her upon finding out that she too, is an alchemist. As the uprising continues, Edward and Alphonse must find a way to help the people and prevent the legendary Philosopher’s Stone from falling into the wrong hands.

Check Cineplex.com for available times and locations. Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos is rated 14A for its depiction of animated violence.

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9 O’Clock Gun

Frederick Linsmeyer • January 10, 2012 • Local

Every evening, the 9 O’Clock Gun belts out a thunderous boom across Coal Harbour and through Downtown Vancouver, an act from which its name is derived.

The barrel of the 9 O’Clock Gun was cast in Woolwich, England in 1816 as a 12 pound muzzleloader. Two crests are stamped into the cannon: King George III and Henry Phipps, 1^st Earl of Mulgrave, Master-General of the Ordnance. The cannon itself does not fire any projectiles, but does still use a black powder charge which is lit electronically.

The gun arrived in Vancouver around 1894 and served as a means for nearby ships to set their chronometers as well as notifying fisherman of closings. As time keeping devices improved, the need for the cannon transformed from practical into a tourist attraction.

Located on the eastern shore of Stanley Park, the 9 O’Clock Gun is only a brisk stroll from the totem poles and faces the brilliantly lit Canada Place and downtown core.

: 9 O’Clock Gun enclosure

: 9 O’Clock Gun

: 9 O’Clock Gun firing at night

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Bandai to stop releasing new DVD, Blu-ray and manga

Frederick Linsmeyer • January 3, 2012 • Anime

In a serious blow to the anime community, Bandai Entertainment announced they will no longer be releasing any new DVD, Blu-ray or manga series in North America. Bandai Entertainment will stick to its current release schedule, but as of February 2012, products will not be available for general purchase. Existing copies of DVDs, Blu-rays and manga are still available and will continue to be until their licenses expire.

The company will, however, handle licensing of digital distribution, broadcasting and other merchandising of its products instead.

Series that are affected by this change, include DVD and Blu-ray discs for Gosick, Nichijo, Turn A Gundam; with manga for Code Geass: Renya, Gurren Lagann, Kannagi, Lucky Star, Mobile Suit Gundam OOI and Tales of the Abyss: Jade’s Secret Memories.

Anime News Network has also posted an interview with Bandai Entertainment’s Ken Iyadomi about this change in the company’s direction.

Source: Anime News Network

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Naruto volume 54

Frederick Linsmeyer • December 16, 2011 • Manga

Naruto volume 54

After feigning death, Kisame reveals himself once his cover is blown by Naruto. Attempting to escape the island, Kisame encounters and fights Might Guy, who still doesn’t recognize him. Can Might Guy defeat Kisame once and for all in their third meeting and stop the Akatsuki from gathering intelligence of the impending war?

Konan confronts Tobi in an attempt to prevent him from claiming Nagato’s corpse and taking his rinnegan. Konan knows that Tobi is a tough opponent, but is prepared to stop him from destroying the world. It’s an epic battle between two equally deadly ninja but only one will survive.

Volume 54 of Naruto will be available on store shelves January 3^rd, 2012.

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Giants 11 – Royals 3

Frederick Linsmeyer • November 19, 2011 • Hockey

Victoria's Kevin Sundher and Vancouver's James Henry battle for the puck.

It was an exciting night for fans at the Pacific Coliseum, but a royal pain for the visitors. The Vancouver Giants blew past the Victoria Royals in an energetic 11-3 win: it was all Vancouver in the first two periods until Victoria woke up in the third.

Two Vancouver players, Dalton Sward and Neil Manning picked up their first ever hat tricks, while Taylor Makin got his first goal as a Giant. Marek Tvrdon scored twice with Brendan Gallagher and Cain Franson each finding the net once.

Victoria’s Steven Hodges got his team on the board in the third period. Jamie Crooks and Logan Nelson were able to get two goals on Vancouver’s Jackson Whistle, who replaced Adam Morrison after Hodges’ goal. Royals goalie Keith Hamilton was replaced with Jared Rathjen after the fourth Giants goal.

With five straight wins in hand, Vancouver heads across the border to face the Everett Silvertips on Saturday, November 19^th.

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Longest running anime series

Frederick Linsmeyer • November 6, 2011 • Anime

If you thought The Simpsons was the longest running animated television show, take a look at some of the series from Japan. While a lot of the mainstream series such as Naruto, Bleach and Dragon Ball Z seem neverending to those who watch them outside of Japan, there are some shows which eclipse these shows easily. This is a select list of anime shows, with episode counts up to November 6^th, 2011 – the original broadcast start and end dates are in parentheses. While Pokémon has an insatiable list of episodes (more than 700), it was difficult to sift through the numerous series and versions available to get an accurate count.

Sazae-san – 6,000+* episodes (October 5^th, 1969)
Doraemon – 1,787 episodes (April 2^nd, 1979 – March 25^th, 2005)
Case Closed/Detective Conan – 635 episodes (January 8^th, 1996)
One Piece – 521 episodes (October 20^th, 1999)
Naruto Shippuden – 455 episodes (February 15^th, 2007)
Bleach – 346 episodes (October 5^th, 2004)
Dragon Ball Z – 291 episodes (April 26^th, 1989 – January 31^st, 1996)
Naruto – 220 episodes (October 3^rd, 2002 – February 8^th, 2007)
Inazuma Eleven – 127 episodes (October 5^th, 2008 – April 27^th, 2011)

* Fuji TV’s web site lists 5,620 episodes for Sazae-san which is not up-to-date.

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Fullmetal Alchemist movie screenings in Canada

Frederick Linsmeyer • November 2, 2011 • Anime

Canadian anime fans can take part in watching Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos on the big screen! Three events across the country are screening the movie this month: Vancouver Asian Film Festival, Toronto Reel Asian Film Festival and the Waterloo Festival of Animated Cinema.

If you’re in Vancouver, you catch Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos as part of the Vancouver Asian Film Festival on Saturday, November 5^th, 2011 at 9:15 pm PDT.