[GIS] Basic Tools

 [What is a "Gundam"?][The Different Grades of Gundam]

Now that you know what a Gundam is and have chosen a grade/scale to work on, time to get some basic tools (and optional ones that can make the building process much easier). A lot of these tools can be bought locally at either a craft store such as Micheal's or Hobby Lobby; or at super market places such as Walmart and Target. You may also be able to get some of these at Walgreens or some other drug store, but not always. Just check the office supply isle at any store you go to.

These tools are for snap together kits!

These are also known as "wire cutters".

Price Range:  $3-$10

I've seen people build kits without these. Side cutters are used mainly to get the kit pieces off of the runners (also known as trays) without splitting a piece in half or breaking it into pieces. I really recommend getting a pair of these if you're building a kit with thin or really long pieces. I made the mistake of building the following kit without using clippers... let's just say I got a few cuts and one of the four pieces used to make the main part of the kits board split.

I would say this tool and the X-acto knife are the two most important tools you'll need even though you could in all technicality build many Gundam kits without them; but not very well. I've built kits with and without these tools. The one's I built without tend to have pieces fall off and stubs left over after pulling a piece off the runners.

 Price Range: $5-$10 

(for a good starter handle/blade)

Blades: $3+ 

(for a pack of 5)

Most people know this type of knife as an X-acto knife because that brand is really popular. Walmart has a brand of their own (even though some carry X-acto), and various other hobby stores don't always carry X-acto brand. Any hobby knife will due as long as it isn't old and rusted. You will need to replace the blades every so often, but blades are only about $3 for a pack of 5. There are different shapes of blades. I've only ever really used the classic #11 shape which most of the standard handles come with. Seems to work for any grade of kit.

 This type of cutting mat is also known as "self healing cutting mat" because the material is hard to cut through and can heal itself... really hard to explain the science behind it.

Price Range: $10-$40

(magazine's vary in price)

I haven't had the money to get a new cutting mat (the one I had warped from leaving in my car too long); instead I've been using a magazine and sometimes a plastic place mat (the kind that kids usually use when eating). All work, but I do recommend getting a self healing mat if you plan to build a lot of kits. This allows you to build kits almost any where without ruining tables, counters and other furniture. It also helps keep little pieces you'll shave off with the hobby knife from escaping.

[AOW] Basquash! (2/17-23/2013)

Image copyright Satelight/ Bee Train

I should kick myself so hard. Why have I never featured this anime!? Good thing I decided to go through my MAL to pick an anime this week because otherwise it might have been a while (or maybe never) before this one ever saw the light of day on my AOW series. Who would not love a series about mecha playing basketball? I really wish this series would end up on [adult swim], toonami or even Netflix because it is a fun anime without having to be too serious.

Type: Original

Genre(s): Mecha, Adventure, Sci-fi

# of Episodes: 26

Synopsis: 

On the planet Earthdash, its inhabitants gaze on its moon and the technologically advanced lunar city of Mooneyes with awe. Dan JD, a boy living in Rollingtown on Earthdash’s surface, gets caught up in Bigfoot Basketball—a fast-paced sport played with giant Bigfoot robots.

V-Day 2K13// Warm Bodies [Review]// Nana To Kaoru

Image copyright AkiaTomiyo (r//w[g])

Well nettaversers, it's that time of year where you either have a loved/liked one to call a "valentine" or you complain about how the holiday is usuless and you just want it to be SAD (singles awareness day).... or you're one of the neutral parties who could care less either way. Anywhosills, Happy V-day to you regardless. In order to add some R//W[G] to this "holiday" I've decided to do a few things with this post. The first one being a mini-review of Warm Bodies that I got to see yesterday with my Valentine despite an incident that almost ruined my perfectly planned day. Second is a manga feature of Nana to Kaoru.

Image copyright Summit Entertainment

Theater Release Date: Feb 1st, 2013

Run Time: 1hr 38min

Type: Young Adult Novel Adaptation

Synopsis: After R (a highly unusual zombie) saves Julie from an attack, the two form a relationship that sets in motion a sequence of events that might transform the entire lifeless world.

I was really looking forward to this film despite my not liking this whole zombie surge that has been around lately. Summit Entertainment has been making strides in the movie industry lately. With the Twilight Saga being over, I was wondering if they'd try and branch out to broader audiences. It seemed like they were trying to do so with Red Ridding Hood but that movie was aimed much at the same audience. While Warm Bodies is based on a young adult novel, the content it much darker and much goreier at points... but does that add any broader appeal?

Yes and no. While zombies have next to nothing to do with teenage romance, in this movie romance plays a bit part in causing a change to those who were once %100 human. The source material for this series was a YA novel, and those tend to have to have romance in them. Rarely is there none.

The film contained some really nice comedic moments, my favorite being later on in the film which would be spoilers so I will not really go into them. The zombie effects may not have been on par with the Walking Dead, but the bonies weren't all that great... seems like Summit still has budget troubles. Hehe. Also the music was interesting...

Overall, if you're a fan of stuff like Twilight, Red Riding Hood, The Hunger Games- basically if you don't mind cheesy teen romances but with a mix of zombies; go ahead and check this out. Otherwise wait until you can rent it for little over a dollar (or even go to the $1 movies instead) because this movie really limits its audience.

Review rating:

***.5

((different take on the whole zombie genre, but there is not much here for real zombie enthusiasts and those looking for more than a teen romance))

 

Image copyright Ryuta Amazume

I really wish this manga would come out in English. I could give so many less cares about it being an S&M manga because while that is a main focus this is not the violent or looked down upon S&M... you know what, check out this Weekly Manga Recap from thatguywiththeglasses.com (I never new the same website that had Nostalgia Critic covered manga as well till I was browsing the site last week) it really explained how I feel about the series.

Type: Japanese Manga

Genre(s): comedy, romance, ecchi, seinin, school

# of Chapters: 87+

Synopsis: 

Kaoru is a 17-year-old virgin who has an S&M fetish. He has always dreamt about an SM relationship with his childhood friend Nana, who is looked upon as perfect and is always the target of boys' eyes. Their relationship has somewhat deteriorated through the years, due to them hanging out with different people and because Kaoru is not taking his education too seriously. One day though, Kaoru's mother gives some of his S&M toys to Nana for safekeeping. Nana finds the leather one-piece that Kaoru bought and tries it on but accidentally locks herself in it and doesn't have the key! Kaoru frees her of the one-piece, but then Nana realizes she may like Kaoru's hobby more than she thought. Subsequently, the two of them start engaging in so-called "breathers". These breathers are intended to relieve Nana of stress that originates from her attempts at keeping her grades and name perfect.

[Quick Review] From Up On Poppy Hill

Image copyright Studio Ghibli

Type: Manga Adpatation

Genres: Drama, Romance, Tragedy

Synopsis:A group of Yokohama teens look to save their school's clubhouse from the wrecking ball in preparations for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. 

 .

From Up On Poppy Hill came out in Japan during the year 2011, so I'm wondering why the English adaptation of the film is barely getting released about 2 years later? Well, today I finished watching the Japanese version and found my answer....

1) The film is boring and lacks that Ghibli magic (which seems to happen when Goro directs).

2) This film looks like a Ghibli film, but lacks that magical element even Ponyo and Arriety had (even though those are two of the weakest Ghibli films in my opinion after Tales from Earthsea).

3) The characters are all pretty plain and the story lacked any real villian other than a situation where the students had to fight to keep a precious club house from being torn down.

4) Even though the animation was good, it still lacked that shinyness older Ghibli films seemed to have (note Spirited Away and Castle in the Sky).  

5) The music was just ok. I haven't really heard any good music in a Ghibli film since well much older Ghibli films.\

Basically, From Up On Poppy Hill was made by Ghibli studio but in no way is a Ghibli film. Heck, Disney isn't even releasing the English version. Some studio called GKIDS is... 

 Review rating:

**

((waste your time only if you really need to))

[AOW] Sasami-san@Ganbaranai (2/10-16/2013)

Image copyright SHAFT

I can't really say I love this anime, but I don't particularly think I can recommend it to people who aren't lurkers on 4chan or who have been anime fans for a really long time. This anime is like a combination of Bakemonogatari and CHAOS;Head- the first is an anime that is pretty much all 4chan jokes and the second is a anime only few could really like (I am one of them, but I also really liked STEINS;Gate)... so Sasami-san@Ganbaranai really limits it's audience. I particularly can like this anime because I myself can relate to the whole "being an otaku" thing but the main character is more of a NEET and that is where I tune out. There are several anime out there like this already... so I am waiting for this one to be unique outside of the context it is a SHAFT anime so the animation will be pretty, and what I like to call "full of space".

Type: Novel Adaptation

Genre(s): Comedy, Romance, Supernatural

# of Episodes: 12

Synopsis:

The Japanese call them hikikomori—people who've become so withdrawn socially that they refuse to leave their homes for weeks and even months at a time. For Sasami Tsukuyomi, who's attempting to pass her first year of high school despite being a shut in, it's more than just a word. Fortunately though, she lives with her older brother Kamiomi, who just happens to be a teacher at the school Sasami is supposed to attend. Not to mention, her "Brother Surveillance Tool" which lets her view the outside world via her computer and will, theoretically, allow her to readjust to interfacing with people again. What it mainly does, however, is let her view her brother's interactions with the three very odd Yagami sisters, who inexplicably seem to have had their ages reversed and have various types of "interest" in Kamiomi. And then things start to get really weird... Magical powers? Everything turning into chocolate? Is life via the web warping Sasami's brain, or is it the universe that's going crazy?

[AOW] Little Busters! (1/27-2/2/2013)

Image copyright J.C.Staff

Not much that I can really say about Little Busters! other than I was really excited to start it when I saw that finally the one Key VN I've been waiting to get an anime adaptation had been green lit. I have to be honest though, I'm really just waiting for this anime to be finished before I start it because knowing Key's track record I'll want to marathon this shiz-nizz (and I'm slightly afraid the show will turn sad as like every Key anime does).

Type: Visual Novel Adaptation

Genre(s): Comedy, Fantasy, Romance, School, Tragedy

# of Episodes: 26

Synopsis:

The story of Little Busters! revolves around the main protagonist Naoe Riki, a young male high school student. When Riki was a child, his parents died, leaving him hopeless and depressed. He was saved by a group of three young boys and one girl his age, who referred to themselves as the Little Busters, a group dedicated to fighting evil and preserving justice. The leader of the group was Natsume Kyousuke, who had a younger sister named Rin. The other two members were Inohara Masato and Miyazawa Kengo, who were rivals despite being friends. They took Riki out and played together with him during his time of need, making him the fifth Little Busters member. In time, Riki enjoyed playing with them, and his grief over his parents gradually faded away. Now, Riki and his friends are in their second year of high school, except for Kyousuke who is in his third year. They still hang out together, and enjoy their school life.

[AOW] Amnesia (1/13-19/2013)

After watching the two episodes that are out for Amnesia, I can tell I'm really going to like this anime. There's just something about anime, visual novels, manga that primarily have a medical theme. While the theme for this one is only really memory loss it's still right up my alley.

 Image  © Brain Base

Type: Visual Novel Adaptation

Genre(s): Shoujo, Romance, Fantasy

# of Episodes: 12

Synopsis:

This story takes place in a fictional town, in a fictional country, in a fictional world. One morning, a young lady awakens to find that she has lost all her memories prior to that morning. Her life, her relationships, her very name—all gone. All that's left is a cell phone with numbers and names she doesn't recognize and Orion, a young boy that only she appears to be able to see. With Orion's guidance, she struggles to make sense of herself, a boyfriend she doesn't know and the thousand and one little things that make up a daily life. But with no memories left, the only alternative is to forge new ones, even if that means leaving old loves behind.