Feels like anime just turned 1!

The local TV station that brought back the excitement of anime is turning a year old! Congratulations!

As much as gusto kong balikan ang mga nangyari sa buong taon, masyado nang marami ang mailalagay ko dito. Halos buwan-buwan mula nang simulan ko ‘tong blogzine na ‘to ay pinupuri ko ang TV 5. Kaya hindi ko na lang lilingunin ang mga ibinagay na treats ng local channel na ‘to.

Ang magandang gawin ngayon ay isipin kung ano pang mga future developments ang pwedeng maihatid ng TV 5 para sa mga pinoy otaku!

First and foremost, syempre mga bagong palabas. Hindi naman ibig sabihin ay mga bagong labas sa Japan, pero mga shows lang na hindi pa naipapalabas locally. Ang dami dyan…

Gusto ko sanang ipalabas nila ang Fate/Stay, Le Chevalier D’eon, Emma, Maria-sama ga Miteru, among others. Sana ituloy-tuloy nila ang pagpapalabas ng Ranma ½ (I really think mali kasi ang timeslot last time – di naman yun para sa bata na nasa bahay na kapag hapon).

Tapos pwede rin nilang ipagpatuloy ang Shin-chan; o kaya naman ipalabas nila ng buo ang ilan sa mga anime noong 90’s na biktima ng kabulukan ng IBC 13 noon: Superboink, Time Quest, Dragon Quest at Candy Candy.

Pwede rin namang magpalabas sila ng anime movie or OVA bilang anniversary treat sa mga pinoy otaku!

I know ang dami naman ng hiling ko at masyadong mabigat ang iba, pero di ba sa Pinas uso naman na kapag ikaw ang may birthday, ikaw ang naghahanda at nagse-serve sa mga kakilala mo? Ganoon din naman syempre ang gagawin ng TV 5 kaya might as well tell them what I would like them to do. Of course, kahit sino pwedeng gumawa ng “wish list”. They can also do that in their blogs.

Congrats nga pala sa TV 5 for having a wonderful contest for Pinoy Cosplayers. I’m going to check out the videos. Hopefully magkaroon naman ng convention na fully supported ng TV station para madagdagan naman ang anime conventions dito.

Again, congrats to TV 5 for making it to year 1! Here’s to more years of anime revolution!

*****JHAJR*****

Love Defined By A Persocom

It hasn’t been that long since technology, mainly in the form of computers, had made our lives better. Technological developments hasn’t stopped since, paving the way for more advancements we’ve never imagined.

In the world of Chobits, a manga/anime from CLAMP, technology has gone way farther than our reality – at least with the concept of computers. No more are personal computers four-sided and placed in a desk. The computer has become more than just a mere thing, and the word “personal” can be aptly used for it. In fact, it may be the perfect word to describe it.

Persocoms are the new fad. They come in different shapes and sizes. Much like humans. In fact, they are human-looking. They are human-sounding. They operate much like their creators.

This innovation, in itself, have created much conflict in the lives of different
(and real) people whose fates are about to intertwine in this short series from the people behind some of the most beloved stories in animedom.

It might be decades before we humans will ever create something as complex as persocoms. But if ideas and imagination are the first building blocks leading to invention, then we’ve made our first step to achieving it.

Now isn’t it about time to let more people know about this? And there’s no better way to do it than to air it out over man’s greatest invention so far – the television. Here are some good reasons to air Chobits over our local channels:

Technological Inspiration

The concept of human robots is not something new for it has been thought of decades ago. Yet Chobits presents this concept in a very fresh way, a point of view that no one else has done. Personal computers looking like humans? That is way better than the best laptops and cell phones out in the market. Man can finally have a two-way communication with his gadgets. And finally, it’s okay to have one’s computer operating non-stop and be with it every time of the day.

Deeper Human Understanding

A big problem with having computers seem human is its effect on the relationship between real humans. Chobits presents a good understanding of how humans fill their need for companionship. Persocoms have started to provide the same comfort that people once provided each other. So what does that mean for humans who feel true emotions? Can wires, computer plates and discs replace a human?

CLAMP Cuteness and Complexity

CLAMP is now known for its simplistic style of animation. Chobits is no exception to this with its main character being one of the cutest there has ever been. But do not be deceived. CLAMP is also known for complex stories divulging the human emotion. In each of CLAMP’s story is a deep understanding of concepts like love – which happens to be their forte.

The Hard Lesson

How does one really define love? Chobits revolves around the most explored but undefined of human emotions and challenges one to view what love could really be. And with the introduction of persocoms, the human “relationship” is never the same.

*****JHAJR*****

Anime in hot waves and in stagnant summer waters

Dalawang bagay lang na na-obserbahan ko sa nagdaang buwan…

Ang Studio 23 may bagong line-up sa primetime anime nila. Blood+ is now showing and by the second week of April, they’ll be airing Gun X Sword. I want to commend this UHF channel for dishing out English-dubbed anime. It’s really been a long while since we saw English-dubbed anime on TV (Samurai X is the last one and everything else goes back to a decade ago when anime were mostly in English).

Now, TV5 which I haven’t stopped praising for their efforts to bring back the fire among local otakus, seems to be on stagnant waters pagdating sa anime line-up. I’ve noticed kasi na months ago they’ve aired Black Blood Brothers, Coyote Ragtime Show and Special A. When I looked for the titles over the net, I learned na maiksi lang pala ang mga titles na ito. And it made me wonder. Parang ang tagal-tagal na kasi na umeere ito sa TV5. Months back, natapos na ang Coyote Ragtime Show pero ngayon after Special A ibinalik na naman ito.

There could a misunderstanding here on my part. Baka naman gusto lang ng station na i-promote ng maigi ang mga titles na nabanggit ko kasi parang hindi sila ganoon kasikat among otakus. It’s something normal for a TV station. Re-airing once paved way for the success of Lupin III back in Japan.

But I’m not so sure if TV 5 is able to lift their other anime titles by re-airing them. Anyway, nakakatipid siguro ang station by not buying permission to air other anime titles. Pero sana, as soon as possible may bago silang isalang na anime.

They have to remember na vacation time na – the only time na makakapagpuyat at halos palaging nasa bahay ang malaking portion ng anime audience nila.

Wouldn’t it be nice to be splurged with a variety of anime titles during summer vacation? I’m not a kid anymore, pero I know how special it would feel for kids and teens. Studio 23 has just done it. Good timing. So to other local channels, maaga pa ang bakasyon. Pero samantalahin nyo na dahil maiksi rin ito. It’s our kids’ breaktime and they deserve it so bigyan natin sila ng reward for making it past another year of school.

Bring more anime, onegai shimasu!

Happy Summer Vacation!!!

*****JHAJR*****

Sweet, Sweet Luck

What is your purpose? Where will life take you? Are you ready to face whatever future lies waiting?

While in school, we learn to reason using logic; to value things; to prepare for the life ahead. But sometimes as we get closer to the finish line, a tiny but unavoidable concept called ‘doubt’ manages to inject itself into our consciousness, there growing like a seedling until it branches out the feelings of frustration and fear. It becomes normal to worry about what might lay ahead the paths we would eventually choose to walk on.

It’s the same predicament for Yuuta Takemoto, a 19-year-old art student. He’s a good student and friend; he seems to have the formula for success, so what keeps him from realizing a path for him to take?

Honey and Clover, a story by Chika Umino puts the limelight on a teenage boy learning the tougher side of life starting with finding one’s path. But he’s not alone. Joined by a bunch of unique individuals with life struggles of their own, they go through the difficulties and complexities of living.

Life for these friends is as sweet as honey but as difficult as coming upon a four-leaf clover.

Our local channels need much sweetness and luck to be able to air more anime. So here are four sweet reasons why an endearing story as Honey and Clover ought to be lucky enough to get into our local channels:

It’s animated telenovela

No scorching shonen battles, no gruesome encounters, no magical girls (or boys). It’s just the lives of 5 individuals struggling in and out of college.  Wait, did I say “just?” Pardon me. Honey and Clover may be an ordinary story but then what else could be more interesting than ordinary life itself. Completely spontaneous and exciting, life twists and bends the same way in this wonderful short story of making choices and living life. Isn’t that a good basis for one nice telenovela? Or asianovela for the term-specific.

It’s a celebration!

Value friendships, embrace the joys and quirks of life, celebrate triumphs and failure, learn to face and champion over circumstances. Let Takemoto and company show you how. Take their life experiences to heart and make the most out of your own. Life can be bittersweet but just like a wave in the sea, the bad feeling comes and goes just as fast.

It’s about hard and hearty laughs

A special amount of sweetness awaits in the form of Hagu-chan and a mouthful of laugh comes in the form of Shinobu. Occasionaly, the other members of the gang join in on the fray to make situations lighter. It’s balanced fun for a show meant for drama and some reflection.

It’s a call to step up and move forward

After some much needed reflection it’s time to make sound decisions. It’s time to hit the pedal and move. To where? Who knows. Takemoto took a trip to learn how important the things in his life are; Yamada chose to keep her feelings floating inside her heart; Mayama chose to go where his heart has always lead him to. There’s always a four-leaf clover waiting by the roadside. All it takes to find it is to keep the eyes focused together with the goal-at-hand.

Honey and  Clover is a fine mixture of comedy and drama, making up a perfect slice-of-life anime.

*****JHAJR*****

Solving Mysteries: CLAMP School Detectives

Welcome to the exclusive CLAMP School!
Founded by the Imonoyama Group, it is a large city school that integrates all levels of education from Kindergarten to University. Run by the Chairman of the Imonoyama group, the school is intended to be a haven for those young people on whose shoulders the future of the world rests. This group of people include, but are not limited to those who are prodigies in their special fields. But, the school also has a reputation for holding many wonderful festivities.

Three famous elementary students live here and perform tasks too daunting and heavy for their age – and the fact that they still go to class. They find answers to some of the mysteries happening around their beloved campus and help colleagues and individuals who may need their help. Especially if they’re damsels in distress.

Meet the members of the CLAMP School Detectives:

Nokoru Imonoyama, is the heir to the Imonoyama group who founded the school. He created the CLAMP School Detective to reach out to the female population who may need their service and also a way to get out of his duties as Chairman of the Elementary Division. He’s not fond of sport, but gains enough strength to pull out an athlete side whenever a damsel needs rescuing.

Suoh Takamura is a martial arts expert who have sworn to protect Nokoru. He makes sure that the Chairman does his duties. For a 5th grader, he holds great skills as a descendant of a ninja clan.

Akira Ijyuin can whip up the most delicious pastry and drinks to come with it. A first-class chef, he may look innocently deceiving for he is also the inheritor of the legacy of the legendary theif 20 Masks.

When these three youngsters decides to solve a mystery, they would go through anything to accomplish it. So why not hire them to make their way to local Philippine TV and help find answers to mysteries that might require the smarts of these three bright individuals?

We deliver five mysteries on social issues in this country to convince local channels to bring the three famous young detectives to our shores and help solve them:

1. The mystery of the weeping statue of Mary

The statue of Mother Mary was occasionally seen with tears of blood streamlined on its cheek.

With a female as the focus of this mystery, Nokoru will surely be in the forefrunt of the investigation. Nothing can compare to this young man’s determination to help a woman in any way possible. Akira can easily carry out a mission to steal the statue from the church for a short time to take a closer look.

2. The mystery of the Ebola Reston virus

The virus has been spreading among hogs and causing millions worth of damage.

How the virus got here and how to dispose of it completely could be a very daunting task. But perhaps, not for Akira. Being a lover of food, Akira might be able to think of a solution to the increasing virus infection among hogs. Not just that, he also might solve the problem for other diseases targeting poultry and cattles.

3. The mystery of the media-killings

This country has been recognized recently as an unfriendly place for journalists.

Suoh would never want any harm to fall on anyone. He could use all his resources and skills to investigate any mastermind to the crime. Having a ninja clan to spy and protect media men, the journalists in this country would be safe again.

4. The mystery of the Presidential election

The 2004 Presidential election was one of the most controversial political topics. Who should have been the real leader of this country?

It may seem to big for the CLAMP Detectives, but these three has an extensive resource of people who might be able to do the job. Not only that, they have enough money to bring assassins or sadistic private investigators in and get the information they needed when they needed it.

5. The mystery of the Marcos Swiss Bank account

A former president of this country allegedly placed millions worth of graft in the Swiss Banks. True or not?

No wall is too thick to penetrate for the legendary 20 Masks. Not even the Swiss Banks. And with someone like Nokoru whose family have successfully founded a school as big as a small city, it won’t be a surprise to learn that he himself holds a Swiss Bank account. All they need is to get to the documents. Leave that task to the ninja Suoh.

This CLAMP anime has been aired a decade ago. Yet its charm has not waned in years. Isn’t it about time for them to bring that charm and hope for solution to us?

*****JHAJR*****

Movie For TV, Anyone?

There was once upon a time in Philippine TV history na nagpalabas ng anime movies ang ilang local channels. If I recall correctly, Gunsmith Cats was shown over GMA on a Monday night. Then in IBC, the Akazukin ChaCha movie was shown in line with other anime titles such as the YuYu Hakusho OVA.

Wasn’t it a  nice time back then? Lalo pa na hindi pa talamak ang piracy noong panahon na iyon.

However, since then wala nang ipinalabas na kahit na isang anime movie or OVA sa local Pinoy TV. And since then, nagsimula ng lumala ang piracy.

Hindi ko naman sinasabing tumaas ang level ng anime piracy directly because of the lack of anime shown on TV.

But won’t it be a good idea na labanan ang piracy by showing anime movies or OVAs on TV once more?

Of course when I say this, hindi ako aware kung paano ba ang sistema ng pagpapalabas ng anime movie. I mean, compared to ordinary movies na ipinapalabas sa sinehan, ibang-iba ang anime (or so it seems in this country). Wala akong alam sa kung anong proseso na kailangang daanan para makapaglabas dito ng isang anime movie. And since the piracy problem here have exploded out of control, lalong wala akong ideya kung gaano kahirap ang dinadaanan para makapagpalabas dito.

So this is a call to local channels concerned (and I do mean the ones who still have concerns for local otakus): Kung may paraan para makapagpalabas ng anime movies dito, bakit naman hindi subukan ulit?

The way I see it, the more movies shown on TV, the less reasons for people to buy its pirated video version. Syempre, tayong mga Pinoy kapag napanood na sa TV, para saan pa kung bibili ng video version? Plus, it’s a tough time. Sa hirap ng buhay, siguro naman mas pipiliin ng tao na manood na lang ng libre sa TV kaysa sa gumastos sa pagbili – at ng ano, pirated?

I have a suggestion for the almost-half-a-year-old-now TV5. I noticed kasi na your station has come to a point na nagpapaulit-ulit na ang nightly movies. Why not try going for anime movies everv Saturday? I bet kahit mag-replay iyan, panonoorin pa rin iyan. Or you could go for more anime with, say, five or four-episode marathon of 1 anime series instead of a movie.

More anime, mas masaya di ba?

_____

Whenever I try looking for information about the Philippines’ first anime magazine over the net, nothing helpful comes up. It’s like no one even remembers it. So for this month, I’m going to revisit the pages of Questor Magazine: The Country’s Ultimate Anime Magazine. I hope to make people remember that cool magazine that started out almost a decade ago.

*****JHAJR*****