Gaming, Television

Pokémon to feature in Jeopardy! episode tonight

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Trivia and Pokémon fans, get ready for a televised battle! This evening’s episode of Jeopardy! will include a segment featuring Pokémon, according to a photo posted to the game show’s Instagram page.

Categories revealed in the post show tongue-in-cheek selections Peek A Choo-Choo, Geo, Dude, Odd-ish, Slowpoke, Nine Tales, and Pokémon.

Host Alex Trebek doles out answers where the three contestants must phrase their responses in the form of a question.

It’s hoped that the contestants on tonight’s episode have a little more luck with the topic than those with previous game-themed categories.

Jeopardy! airs at 7:30 pm PST tonight.

Source: Instagram

Videos

Trailer for 25th James Bond film No Time To Die dropped today

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A teaser newest James Bond film, No Time To Die, was released Wednesday morning. The two-and-a-half minute trailer reveals Daniel Craig’s performance as the fictional MI6 agent returning to active service following the events of Spectre (2015).

With the leader of Spectre locked up, Bond faces a new adversary, one the likes he’s never encountered before. Enlisting the help of CIA partner Felix Leiter, Bond must keep moving, but finds that those he knows harbour some dangerous secrets. Of course the legendary Aston Martin DB5, fitted with all of Q branch’s standard armaments, makes a return.

Joining Craig on-screen are Léa Seydoux (Madeline Swann), Rami Malik (Sofin), Ralph Fiennes (M), Naomie Harris (Moneypenny), Ben Whishaw (Q), Jeffrey Wright (Felix Leiter), Christoph Waltz (Ernst Stavro Blofeld), Ana de Armas (Paloma), Lashana Lynch (Nomi), and David Dencik (Waldo).

No Time To Die, directed by Cary Fukunaga, will hit Canadian theatres April 2020.

Source: YouTube

Local

VanDusen Botanical Gardens glows with the Fetival of Lights for 2019

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Festival of Lights at VanDusen Botanical Gardens
An illuminated pathway at the VanDusen Botanical Gardens in 2018.

December is a dark month with the sun setting earlier and earlier, but that doesn’t mean it has to be dreary, especially with the brilliant Festival of Lights at the VanDusen Botanical Gardens.

Thousands of Christmas lights are strung up through the gardens, a light show synchronized to festive music at fountain by the entrance, food and drink vendors, and a carousel. It’s fun for the whole family!

The Festival of Lights is on now until January 5th, 2020. Tickets are required for entry and available online or in person. Dress appropriately as it may be cold or wet. Parking is limited, but transit is always an option (either with the 17 bus or a short walk north from the 41 bus).

Local

Miku Expo to tour Canada and the United States in 2020

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Miku Expo 2020 - Canada & United States
Promotional artwork for Miku Expo 2020.

Virtual singing sensation Hatsune Miku is touring Canada and the United States in 2020 for the fifth anniversary of Miku Expo.

Miku is a Vocaloid (a computer-generated vocalist) easily recognisable by her long turqouise twin-ponytails, who performs on stage as a 3D hologram backed by live musicians playing guitars, drums and keyboards. Joining Miku are other Vocaloids Kagamine Len and Rin, Kaito, Meiko and Megurine Luka. Fans around the world have composed songs with her voice using the Vocaloid software.

There’s nine stops on the tour, with Vancouver being the first city.

  • April 4th, 2020 at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre in Vancouver, BC
  • April 14th, 2020 at the San Jose Civic Center in San Jose, CA
  • April 21th, 2020 at the Bomb Factory in Dallas, TX
  • April 24th, 2020 at the Gateway Center Arena in Atlanta, GA
  • April 29th, 2020 at the MGM National Harbor in Washington, DC
  • May 2nd, 2020 at the Asbury Park Convention Hall in Asbury Park, NJ
  • May 5th, 2020 at the House of Blues Boston in Boston, MA
  • May 9th, 2020 at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago, IL
  • May 13th, 2020 at the Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto, ON

Tickets go on sale Friday, December 6th, 2019.

Source: Facebook

Local, The Otaku Culture

FLOW to tour North America in 2020

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FLOW addresses their fans at Anime Central in 2011.
FLOW addresses their fans at Anime Central in 2011.

Japanese rock band FLOW is touring the world in 2020 with stops in Canada, the United States and Mexico. Only two cities in Canada made the list: Vancouver, BC and Toronto, ON.

Some of FLOW’s songs were used as opening themes for Naruto and Naruto Shippuden, including GO!!!, Re:member and Sign. Series including Eureka Seven and Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion have also used songs recorded by the band.

North American cities on the tour are:

  • May 25th, 2020 at Center Stage in Atlanta, GA
  • May 26th, 2020 at Canton Hall in Dallas, TX
  • May 28th, 2020 at the City National Civic Center in San Jose, CA
  • May 29th, 2020 at the City National Grove of Anaheim in Anaheim, CA
  • May 31st, 2020 at the Vogue Theater in Vancouver, BC
  • June 3rd, 2020 at the Phoenix Concert Theater in Toronto, ON
  • June 5th, 2020 at the Sony Theater in New York City, NY
  • June 7th, 2020 at Foro Didi in Monterrey, Nuevo León
  • June 9th, 2020 at Sala Puebla in Mexico City, Mexico

Tickets go on sale starting Friday, December 6th, 2019.

Source: Facebook

Anime

Kyoto Animation studio affected by arson to be torn down

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The building that was home to a studio of Kyoto Animation that suffered an arson attack on July 18th, 2019 is to be torn down.

NHK reported that the animation company revealed its intention to demolish the structure with neighbouring residents and businesses on Saturday.

Before demolition can begin, which is expected to start in January 2020, the interior of the undergo further clean up, as well as scaffolding erected on the exterior. No details were provided about how the space is to be used once demolition is completed.

Hideaki Hatta, president and CEO of Kyoto Animation, had brought up the subject of demolition during a press conference in October. He added that it “…pained him deeply” seeing the damaged studio.

Source: NHK World

Gaming

Last Cloudia comes to Crunchyroll Games with special Collection of Mana event

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Last Cloudia - Screenshot
A screenshot from Last Cloudia from AIDIS, Inc. and Crunchyroll Games.

Crunchyroll Games has announced that the role-playing title Last Cloudia by AIDIS, Inc., joins their mobile gaming platform and is now available in Canada and the United States on iOS and Android devices.

This new title includes a collaboration with Square Enix and their Collection of Mana series that includes Final Fantasy Adventure, Secret of Mana, and Trials of Mana; which goes live on Tuesday, November 26th, 2019. During this event, characters from Secret of Mana, Randi, Popoi, and Primm, are playable and come with their own special skill-sets and weapons from the Collection of Mana universe. The event ends on Friday, December 13th, 2019.

Last Cloudia is free to download and play, and contains in-app purchases.

Gaming, Videos

Previous Kingdom Hearts titles coming to Xbox One in 2020

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The Kingdom Hearts series has spanned nearly two decades and a handful of consoles (both Sony and Nintendo). With Kingdom Hearts III being available on both the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, Square Enix has revealed they are bringing Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX and Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue to the Xbox One in 2020.

These titles are remasters of Kingdom Hearts, Kingdom Hearts II, Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories, Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance, Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep, and Kingdom Hearts χ which included improved gameplay and enhanced cinematics, which as released for the PlayStation 3.

No date for when the Xbox One versions of Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX and Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue was provided.

If you've never played a KINGDOM HEARTS game before, want to play some titles you missed out on, or relive the magical experiences once again then look no further! KINGDOM HEARTS HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX & KINGDOM HEARTS HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue are coming to Xbox One in 2020!

Posted by Kingdom Hearts on Thursday, November 14, 2019

 

Source: Facebook

Anime, The Otaku Culture

Dragon Ball Symphonic Adventure to tour North America in 2020

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Dragon Ball Symphonic Adventure
Promotional artwork for Dragon Ball Symphonic Adventure.

A symphonic concert will tour North America as part of the thirtieth anniversary of the Dragon Ball series through 2020, starting with Chicago, Illinois on Friday, March 27th, 2020.

Funimation and Toei Animation have partnered with Overlook Events and AWR Music Productions (the group behind the Final Fantasy Distant Worlds concerts), to bring the music from the Dragon Ball anime to life by a live orchestra using taiko drumming, and a score by Japanese composer Shunsuke Kikuchi.

While Chicago is listed as the first stop, no other cities were provided. As Funimation’s blog post mentioned “North America”, it is hoped that some Canadian cities would be included in the tour.

Tickets for the Chicago date of the Dragon Ball Symphonic Adventure go on sale through Ticketmaster at 10:00 am CST, on Friday, November 15th, 2019.

Source: Funimation

Local

Vancouver Christmas Market celebrates 10th anniversary

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The central tower at the Vancouver Christmas Market.

The Vancouver Christmas Market is celebrating their tenth anniversary, with their German-themed market returning to Jack Poole Plaza at the Vancouver Convention Centre Wednesday, November 20th, 2019 through Tuesday, December 24th, 2019.

Over 80 huts will serve up European food, decorations, toys, and other crafts. Plus there’s live music, a carousel for the young and young at heart to ride, and of course, Santa Claus himself.

Tickets are available for purchase online or at the market itself. The Vancouver Christmas Market opens daily from 11:30 am PST and closest 9:30 pm PST, except on Christmas Eve, when it closes at 6:00 pm PST.