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Social Networking with Hello Kitty
Posted by Michael Pinto on Feb 14, 2008 in Hobbies and Collections
If you think that MySpace and Facebook have jumped the shark well perhaps it’s time to try social networking with the kitty? Hello Kitty Online is the new community site from Sanrio and it’s now accepting players for closed beta. Found via ValleyWag. Creepy but Cute: The Petit Pterosaur
Posted by Michael Pinto on Feb 13, 2008 in Science
It’s amazing to think to think that the creature above isn’t a space alien but once upon time was flying around China: Tiny perching pterosaur discovered “A beautifully preserved fossil of a tiny pterosaur suggests that the giant pterodactyls that roamed the skies during the late Cretaceous period may have come from much smaller, tree-dwelling ancestors. The new fossil, which was discovered in 2004 in western Liaoning province, China, is about 120 million years old. “This is a very, very complete specimen of an unusual little pterodactyl,” says Michael Caldwell, a vertebrate palaeontologist at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada. The new fossil also sheds some light on another mystery of pterosaur evolution – whether pterosaurs began to fly upwards from the ground, or whether they first climbed into trees and then began to glide downwards.” Illustration by Chuang Zhao, found via Neatorama. Clone Wars Coming to Theaters in August
Posted by Michael Pinto on Feb 13, 2008 in Star Wars
Some more details on the upcoming The Clone Wars film and TV series for Star Wars fanboys: Star Wars: The Clone Wars In Theaters and on Television in 2008 “A new era of Star Wars entertainment begins in 2008 when Star Wars: The Clone Wars, from creator George Lucas, premieres as an all-new feature film in August, followed by the television series debut in the fall, in a partnership announced today between Lucasfilm Ltd., Warner Bros. Pictures and Turner Broadcasting System Inc. Produced by Lucasfilm Animation, Star Wars: The Clone Wars takes audiences on incredible new Star Wars adventures, combining the legendary storytelling of Lucasfilm with an eye-popping, signature animation style. Star Wars: The Clone Wars will open in North American theaters Friday, August 15. International release dates will be announced soon.” Kung Fu Panda Trailer
Posted by Michael Pinto on Feb 13, 2008 in Animation
This latest trailer for Kung Fu Panda doesn’t look too bad, although to be honest I’ve always preferred Pixar to Dreamworks. I think it’s that Dreamworks always relies upon sitcom jokes with well known actors while Pixar films are always about the story itself with the humor playing a supporting role. Also Pixar uses animation to tell the story while with Dreamworks you might as well use puppets. The Top Ten Worst Mistakes by Sega
Posted by Michael Pinto on Feb 12, 2008 in Videogames
Chris is a videogame fanboy who made the above documentary on The Top Ten Worst Mistakes by Sega, even though the production values are crude his insights into the game industry of the 90s are great. I found myself laughing a few times watching this, it’s amazing to think how many times Sega would become their own worst enemy. Part two is below: Sew a UFO!
Posted by Michael Pinto on Feb 12, 2008 in Hobbies and Collections
Talented Teresa of Sewing Stars created the wonderful hand crafted UFO above. I just love how she managed to make the space aliens look ever so cute! Atari Game Manuals
Posted by Michael Pinto on Feb 11, 2008 in Videogames
Shown above are just two examples from an amazing collection of Atari game manuals and other associated items collected by designer Joe Kral. I have to say that I was blown away with the quality of the print design work associated with Atari in the 80s, I tend to associate good taste from that era with IBM and Apple but their taste wasn’t too shabby. Post-It Notes Animation from Russia
Posted by Michael Pinto on Feb 11, 2008 in Animation
The above film was produced by 18 animators living in St. Petersburg, Russia. I love how the entire film was created by drawing on Post-It Notes. The song featured is by Oppa Novy God. Found via MetaFilter. Transporter Accident Space Dog
Posted by Michael Pinto on Feb 10, 2008 in Star Trek
The folks behind the lolcat website I Can Has Cheezburger? now have a site for dogs! Being a Star trek fan I loved the loldog shot above from the episode The Enemy Within from 1966. As you’ll recall the poor horned space puppy went red shirt in the episode when used for unethical transporter testing, causing Dr. McCoy to comment “It’s dead, Jim”. Arf! Arf! Mickey Mouse Merchandise from the Eighties
Posted by Michael Pinto on Feb 10, 2008 in Hobbies and Collections
Shown above (click on the image to see at full size) are two pages from the 1988 Sears catalog, which featured quite a bit of Mickey Mouse merchandise. At this point in Disney history Michael Eisner was busy turning the company around, with the Great Mouse Detective (a good but under appreciated film) having come out in 1986 however they were still working on the Little Mermaid which didn’t come out until 1989 and put the studio back on the map. But in the meantime the studio did quite a few merchandising deals — some of the goodies shown above include a Mickey Mouse necktie, 101 Dalmations sweat suit, a tacky 80s black satin jacket, a Mickey phone, matching his and hers nightshirts (tacky!), underwear and yes an ultra light weight Minnie-Vac! Found via Alan and Jason of WishbookWeb.com. The Dark Knight Trailer in LEGO!
Posted by Michael Pinto on Feb 9, 2008 in Comic Books
From “Custard Productions” a clan of fanboys from Australia. What’s Your Lost Nickname?
Posted by Michael Pinto on Feb 8, 2008 in Lost
Lost fanboys (and fangurls) should check out Sawyer’s Nickname Generator — my nickname is Freebird… Found via zaeega.com. Fritz Lang Remake: Beyond a Reasonable Doubt
Posted by Michael Pinto on Feb 8, 2008 in Cinema
When ever I think of Fritz Lang the film Metropolis comes to mind, but often folks forget that he did a nice body of film noir projects in the 40s and 50s. It seems that RKO hasn’t forgotten this and is now in the process of putting together a remake of the 1956 Lang film Beyond a Reasonable Doubt with Michael Douglas: Michael Douglas to Remake ’50s Legal Drama Beyond a Reasonable Doubt “The movie in question is a film noir by Fritz Lang, who made such unquestionable classics as M and Metropolis. Beyond a Reasonable Doubt was a sturdy flick starring the underrated Dana Andrews (Laura, The Best Years of Our Lives) as a writer who pins a murder on himself to prove the folly of circumstantial evidence. Heady stuff. Variety tells us that this time around, Michael Douglas, Amber Tamblyn and Jesse Metcalfe will star in a contemporary remake of the film to be written and directed by Peter Hyams (who’s a far cry from Timecop here), and production is expected to begin next month. Having adored the noir touches of Hollywoodland a couple years ago, I wish they’d kept it in the period. I guess with the litigous nature of modern America, it makes sense to skewer the judicial system in the here and now, but I can’t help thinking it would be more special as a traditional film noir.” Here’s a clip from the film: Professor Layton and the Curious Village
Posted by Michael Pinto on Feb 8, 2008 in Videogames
If you’re an animation fanboy (or fangurl) who owns a Nintendo DS you should check out the the American website for Professor Layton and the Curious Village which just launched (nicely designed by POP Multimedia in Seattle). A friend showed me the Japanese version of the game a few months ago which features Hayao Miyazaki inspired animation set in a charming Victorian world. The gameplay features characters that you would find in a Charles Dickens novel solving a Sherlock Holmes mystery. Here’s the game trailer to give you a taste: Year of the Rat: The Rat on Chaos
Posted by Michael Pinto on Feb 7, 2008 in Animation
Today marks the start of the Chinese New Year, so we’re exploring fanboy themes relating the Year of the Rat. Shown above is The Rat on Chaos a clever short animated film I found on YouTube from sanewave. Warning: This film contains some profanity and an animated rat going to the bathroom. Although no rats were harmed in the production… Year of the Rat: Dougal and the Rat
Posted by Michael Pinto on Feb 7, 2008 in Animation
Today marks the start of the Chinese New Year, so we’re exploring fanboy themes relating the Year of the Rat. Shown above is Dougal and the Rat a short animated film directed by Morgan Williams of Club Cocoanut Animation (which also features the work of illustrator/designer Julie Williams). Year of the Rat: Roland Rat Superstar
Posted by Michael Pinto on Feb 7, 2008 in Animation
Today marks the start of the Chinese New Year, so we’re exploring fanboy themes relating the Year of the Rat. Shown above is Roland Rat Superstar, a British puppet character from the 80s. Roland was first conceived and voiced by David Claridge in 1983. The show would become so popular that it would inspire three UK chart hit singles and a video game. Here are some clips from the show: Year of the Rat: Monty Python’s Rat Tart Sketch
Posted by Michael Pinto on Feb 7, 2008 in Television
Celebrating the Chinese New Year (year of the rat) in fanboy style with Monty Python! Year of the Rat: Rat Fink
Posted by Michael Pinto on Feb 7, 2008 in Comic Books
Today marks the start of the Chinese New Year, so we’re exploring fanboy themes relating the Year of the Rat. Shown above is the cover to the book Rat Fink: The Art of Ed “Big Daddy” Roth Here’s a trailer for the film Tales of the Rat Fink Year of the Rat: Rat Patrol
Posted by Michael Pinto on Feb 6, 2008 in Television
Tomorrow marks the start of the Chinese New Year, so we’re exploring fanboy themes relating the Year of the Rat. Rat Patrol was a TV series that ran from 1966 until 1968 which featured the exploits of four Allied soldiers (three American and one Brit) during World War II whose mission was “to attack, harass and wreak havoc on Field Marshal Rommel’s vaunted Afrika Korps”. Year of the Rat: An Urban Toy Celebration
Posted by Michael Pinto on Feb 6, 2008 in Hobbies and Collections
Tomorrow marks the start of the Chinese New Year, so we’re exploring fanboy themes relating the Year of the Rat. Shown above is an urban toy themed photograph by Flickr community member ecpica who is based out of Singapore. Year of the Rat: The Stainless Steel Rat
Posted by Michael Pinto on Feb 6, 2008 in Pulp Fiction
Tomorrow marks the start of the Chinese New Year, so we’re exploring fanboy themes relating the Year of the Rat. Our pulp fiction pick to celebrate the new year is the series of science fiction books on the Stainless Steel Rat by Harry Harrison. If you like anti-heroes you’ll love the Stainless Steel Rat .The series features James Bolivar diGriz a futuristic con man who is an expert in the martial arts and a master of disguise. He many aliases including “Slippery Jim” and “The Stainless Steel Rat” and has an odd code of ethics, for example he’ll be more than glad to steal but will never kill anyone. He justifies his crimes by arguing that he is providing society with entertainment. The character of the Stainless Steel Rat first got his start in the 1957 issue of the science fiction pulp magazine Astounding. The first novel was then published in 1961 and today there are over ten books in series including spin-offs like choose your own adventure books and a board game. There was talk of a movie but it hasn’t happened yet… Year of the Mouse?
Posted by Michael Pinto on Feb 6, 2008 in Hobbies and Collections
I thought that the Chinese New Year (February 7th) was the start of the year of the rat, but perhaps I’m wrong! According to Hot Toys of Hong Kong it’s the year of the mouse — Mickey Mouse that is! And you can purchase two sets of Disney figures to bring you good fanboy luck in the year to come — the first set are 11″ high Mickey and Mini Mouse figures and the second set are 3″ high Cosbaby Disney figures featuring Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy Dog, Donald Duck, and Daisy Duck (shown above are Mickey and Mini Mouse). Found via Action Figures Hub and ToysBlog.it. Etch-A-Sketch on Homer’s Head
Posted by Michael Pinto on Feb 5, 2008 in Hobbies and Collections
I love industrial design of the above Etch-A-Sketch based on Homer Simpson’s head, it shows some clever thinking on the part of the toy designers. Here’s the product description: “D’oh! This hilarious Simpson’s Etch-A-Sketch is shaped like the top of Homer’s head. Turn the pupils of his eyes to draw your masterpiece. Homer’s hair forms a handy plastic handle. Shake well and start over with a new, clean screen.” |
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which is focused on the life of Ed “Big Daddy” Roth:
