January 2012

All articles posted in January 2012.

Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos DVD

  Frederick Linsmeyer • January 29, 2012 • Anime

Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos

After all the film festivals, premieres and screenings in North America and around the world, Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos is finally coming to DVD and Blu-ray.

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.

Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos will be available for purchase on April 24th, 2012.

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Fan Expo Vancouver comes to town

  Frederick Linsmeyer • January 28, 2012 • Conventions

There’s a new convention in town. Fan Expo Vancouver is bringing the best of likes of Toronto’s Fan Expo Canada to the West Coast for the first time with big names, games, comics, anime and manga.

Fan Expo Vancouver isn’t just about anime and manga, rather the whole spectrum of comics, movies, science fiction and pop culture. Just like any convention, there’s going to be big name guests, gaming, autographs, panels, swag, artists, exhibitors, workshops, cosplay and entertainment.

Some of the names you might run into are Colleen Clinkenbeard (Fullmetal Alchemist, Kiddy Grade), Trevor Devall (Gundam SEED), Richard Cox (InuYasha), Veronica Taylor (Pokemon), Mike McFarland (Dragon Ball Z, Fullmetal Alchemist) and Brian Froud (Bakugan). Of course there will be other celebrities including Adam West and Burt Ward (Batman), Tom Felton (Harry Potter) and Lou Ferrigno (The Incredible Hulk).

Fan Expo Vancouver runs for two days only – April 21st and 22nd, 2012 in the west building of the Vancouver Convention Centre. Tickets will be available for purchase online on February 21st, 2012 or at the door during the convention itself. Prices range from $20.00 CAD for each day or $30.00 CAD for both Saturday and Sunday.

With the void left by the now defunct Anime Evolution in Vancouver’s convention scene, Fan Expo Vancouver and Anime Revolution (no relationship to Anime Evolution), these should be two events for anime buffs to gather and share their love for the medium.

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Construction ready to start on the Evergreen Line

  Frederick Linsmeyer • January 25, 2012 • Local
Lougheed Town Centre Station

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

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 7th, 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

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 25th 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 25th 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 14th, 2012
  • Seattle, WA – March 16th, 2012
  • San Francisco, CA – March 28th, 2012
  • Denver, CO – April 7th, 2012
  • Phoenix, AZ – April 20th, 2012
  • Phoenix, AZ – April 21st, 2012
  • Atlanta, GA – May 12th, 2012
  • Montreal, QC – May 31st, 2012
  • Austin, TX – June 22nd, 2012
  • Orlando, FL – July 14th, 2012
  • Toronto, ON – September 29th, 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 15th and Thursday, January 19th, 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, 1st 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.

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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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