Viz Media released a short video of a limited edition Naruto Shippuden figure at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con. Only 1,000 of the Naruto Sage Mode figures are available, and can only be found in the convention. Check out the larger version of Naruto in the background too! Viz Media is located at booth #2813 in the San Diego Convention Center, so if you’re going, be sure to stop by to pay them a visit.
San Diego Comic-Con runs from Thursday, July 22nd, until Sunday, July 25th.
The Swedish Chef is back in the kitchen and composing music with his creative culinary style. See what this muppet can do with shrimp and popcorn. More hilarious videos are available on The Muppets Studio YouTube channel.
Link returns to the Wii with Nintendo proclaiming the new title as The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. Legendary game designer, Shigeru Miyamoto, took control of the green-clad hero using the Wii remote and Nunchuk to display use of the sword and shield.
To demonstrate the title of the game, Miyamoto pointed the remote skyward as Link imitated the action on-screen with his sword and the weapon charged up so that energy beams could be fired at enemies. It’s a throwback to earlier games in the series when Link’s heart containers were filled up allowing him to launch beams at Armos Knights and the like.
Skyward Sword uses the Wii MotionPlus accessory to enhance the controls used in-game. The game utilizes the A and B buttons for actions, while the Z button locks onto opposing creatures or targets. The Wii MotionPlus allows for a far more realistic approach in combat.
The game bears similarities to The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, though it’s rendered using cel-shading, similar to the style in The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Skyward Sword acts and looks differently while offering greater control of Link. Link also is given new weapons and items, as well as a new method of carrying and equipping them.
Nintendo expects to have The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword available in 2011.
Cloud Strife in all his 32-bit glory
Fans of Japanese culture converged on Seattle’s Washington State Convention and Trade Center over the Easter weekend for Sakura-Con 2010 to celebrate all things related to anime, manga and gaming. Sakura-Con has been a mainstay in the Pacific Northwest for the past thirteen years, drawing in attendees from not only Washington, but Oregon, Idaho, California, Montana, British Columbia and Alberta.
The convention this year was well organized and had a variety of events, panels, exhibitors, artists and video rooms. Con-goers were treated to concerts and even an exclusive premiere of the latest Trigun movie, Badlands Rumble, which is scheduled for in Japan later this month. There was also the long line of respectable guests, including voice actors, artists, musicians and industry personnel.
One feature that I thought was pretty neat, was providing special wristbands to attendees who had booked rooms at con-approved hotels. These wristbands granted priority seating for concerts and additional privileges.
The trip into Seattle wasn’t eventful, thankfully. Our group arrived shortly after 8:30 pm on Thursday evening, giving us a half hour to park at the hotel and bolt for the convention centre to claim our pre-registration badges. Fortunately, we got in just as last few people were being admitted, so we were pretty lucky. We returned to the hotel to check in and unpack our costumes and prepare for Friday morning.
A family of Naruto fans!
I returned to the convention on Friday morning ahead of the rest of my friends who had elected to stay back and add some finishing touches to their outfits.
Unfortunately, one member of our group wasn’t able to pre-register online, and had to stand in line to get their badge. This turned out to be a five hour wait for him (which for a convention of Sakura-Con’s size, we hoped to have been much less).
While he stood in line, I wandered around for a bit, snapping photographs, having my picture taken, and running into other people that I’ve met at previous conventions (or work). There were lots of amazing costumes and it was great to see every one dressed up as their favourite characters. My friends arrived later; two of them dressed as Fire Nation Soldiers and as Toph, from Nickelodeon’s Avatar: The Last Airbender.
After a brief photo-shoot outside (in between the rain and light snow), we made our way indoors to one of the panels featuring a number of voice actors: Todd Haberkorn, Richard Epcar, Brina Palencia, Luci Christian, Kent Williams, Chris Patton and Wendy Powell. The group fielded all sorts of questions regarding the voice acting industry in North America, and even provided valuable tips and suggestions for those looking to get their foot in the door.
I checked out the exhibition hall later on, where there were rows upon rows of purveyors of anything and everything related to anime. Lots of booths with vendors hawking figures straight from Japan along with DVDs, books, doujinshi, manga, pillows, shirts, energy drinks, Pocky, katanas, kimonos and much, much more.
Various forms of Sora from Kingdom Hearts
After dinner and some rest, I returned to the convention centre to partake in some of the late night panels, particularly “Chris Patton Shares Too Much” at the suggestion of another friend. The name is pretty accurate, as voice actor Chris Patton, does indeed share too much, and it’s quite entertaining. However, like most late night panels, it is restricted to adults, and we were asked to produce identification upon entering.
My friends wandered off after Chris’ panel and checked out the Anime Swimsuit Contest and the Adult Anime Dating Game, but weren’t too impressed with the organization of both events.
Saturday was a good day, minus the schizophrenic weather. As per our tradition of visiting Sakura-Con, it’s not quite complete with a brief stop at the amazing Pike Street Market in costume (and venturing into the ever-so busy first Starbucks store).
Upon returning to the hotel to drop off my purchases, I encountered a full gathering of the Power Rangers, complete with Rita Repulsa and Lord Zedd in the lobby. Pretty freakin’ epic, I must say.
Two Virals versus a bunch of Yokos
I knew there was a Naruto photo-shoot on Saturday at 2:30 pm (thanks to a fellow attendee staying in the same hotel), but wasn’t sure where it was being held (I’ve been to maybe one Naruto photo-shoot in all of the conventions I’ve attended – such luck). Since the weather had been fair for a few hours, everyone had massed outside in Freeway Park above the I-5 freeway where I caught the last remnants of the Naruto shoot as they were departing. I seem to run into almost every other photo-shoot except the ones I want to participate in, but maybe next time.
I made my way back in and rejoined my friends (who, ironically were amassing for an Avatar photo-shoot) after grabbing some shots from the Gurren Lagann and Bleach gatherings.
Yuusuke and Meg of HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR performing on stage
Later in the evening, a few of us made our way into the main stage for the concert featuring Dazzle Vision and HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR.
Dazzle Vision is an indie Japanese band, which is much harder than most J-rock bands, utilizing alternating vocals and heavier guitar playing. Dazzle Vision involves Maiko as the vocalist, Yu on guitars, Haru on drums and Takuro on bass.
J-rock band, HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR, is noted for their dual vocalists, Halca and Yuusuke, and their heavy sound. In addition to Halca and Yuusuke, Kazuto is on lead guitar, with Meg on the rhythm guitar, Mackaz on bass and Sassy on drums. HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR finished off their performance with the third opening to Bleach, Ichirin no Hana.
The concert was pretty intense, complete with crowd surfing and a mini mosh pit. I hadn’t seen anything like this since Black Label Society was at the Commodore Ballroom five years ago. It was a great experience to see these two bands from Japan live on stage.
Sunday was much quieter as con-goers packed up and prepared to head back home. All that was left was the Exhibitors, autograph sessions and a concert by Hsu-nami. Unfortunately, we didn’t stay too long on the last day since our group had to return to our individual homes before early evening.
Overall, Sakura-Con 2010 was pretty amazing and well done. Aside from a few missteps in the planning of some events, it was a great convention. I look forward to returning in 2011, when the convention is scheduled for the weekend of April 22nd – 24th.
Photographs from Sakura-Con 2010 are available on Gallery.
You know you want to be here!
If you’re in the Seattle area this Easter weekend, stop by Sakura-Con, the Pacific Northwest’s premiere anime, manga and Japanese cultural convention.
Japanese rock band, HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR, along with the indie group Dazzle Vision will perform for their fans for the first time in North America. Mai Kadowaki, Yutaka Minowa, Todd Haberkorn, Chris Patton, Satoshi Nishimura, are just some of the amazing guests lined up for the 13th incarnation of Sakura-con.
Of course, there will be plenty of interactive panels, video and game rooms, a large artist’s alley and exhibition hall and of course cosplay!
Sakura-Con runs from April 2nd to 4th at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center in downtown Seattle.
The torch relay for the 2010 Winter Games ran through North Delta, British Columbia this morning. 112th Street was packed with cheering fans all dressed in red supporting the torchbearers as they passed by with the flame.
Check out this amazing video of Vancouver, shot using time lapse photography. For more information, visit the Inner Life Project web site.
Alex Burrows
In what might have been Alex Burrows’ biggest night with a chance at a third hat trick, a referee purportedly uttered words to the left winger in revenge for a previous game. Referee Stephane Auger had pulled Burrows aside just before the national anthems and said “I’m gonna get you back.”
Auger did make good on his threat calling a penalty for diving on the Canucks player 3:26 into the third period. Burrows was then hit with a questionable interference penalty 12 minutes later and then slapped with unsportsmanlike conduct. The interference call allowed the visiting Nashville Predators to score the game winning goal. The Canucks lost 3-2 to the Predators.
After the game, an emotional Burrows explained to the press that this debacle was in retaliation for an exaggerated hit by Jerred Smithson of the Nashville Predators back on December 8th, 2009.
Speaking out against officials in the National Hockey League is considered taboo. Players who do voice opinions about on ice officiating, decisions or policies can be slapped with hefty fines or suspension. It’s quite possible that Burrows, captain Roberto Luongo and coach Alain Vignault and Vancouver Canucks organization will be fined. There aren’t too many cases of the officials being penalized for on ice conduct.
A clip of the pre-game talk by Stephane Auger with Alex Burrows.
