Beatnik Robot

From the Los Angeles Times on July 29, 1965:

“Author Lawrence Lipton, chronicler of the beatnik scene, demonstrates his “robot,” Duhab (detector of undesirable habitues). Lipton says robot ferrets out the undesirables-including censors and book-burners.”

…it looks like we can use a few of those robots today! By the way there’s a real Twilight Zone quality to that photo too.

Found via boingboing.net.

Japanese Schoolgirl Inferno

Patrick Macias is one of my favorite bloggers, and I guess the proof is that I’ve swiped dozens of interesting stories from his site. Well now Mr. Macias has a cool new bok coming out which is titled Japanese Schoolgirl Inferno: Tokyo Teen Fashion Subculture Handbook and knowing Patrick’s love of Japanese subculture I can tell that the book is going to be killer! So do yourself a favor and go out and buy a copy today…

Godzilla Loves the Ladies

I love this silly short film, in it the director has a plastic Godzilla model roaming the halls of a school making Beavis and Buttheadesque comments:

So after watching this mini Godilla epic, I had to do a quickie interview with the director!

First question, who are you?
Well, I’m Jeremy Eugene Jones, you may also remember me from my really bad Elimidate appearance or, more likely, as one of the writers and voice actors of “Zinwrath: the Movie.” (I wrote the dialogue for the Burakubuu character and also the crazy gnome speech in the middle, and did the voice for Burakubuu, along with some general script editing) I’m currently going to film school in San Francisco and working on film sets whenever I can.

I like ocelots and the musical stylings of Bruce Willis.

…and what inspired you to make this short film?
Well, that’s an odd question. I started making Godzilla videos when I was bored one night and wanted to re-enact the death of two of my friends who weren’t, in fact, dead. But there was a banana, and a toy tractor, and some GI Joes and then, Godzilla. Given my lack of social wazoo, I later used Godzilla as a personal spokesperson to say to girls what I could not, myself, being a simple sterile ninja.

Tokyo International Anime Fair 2007

There’s a great photo gallery from the Tokyo International Anime Fair 2007 at kilian-nakamura.com that’s worth checking out (if you’re not luky enough to be in Tokyo right now). And here’s a short video clip of some of the fun featuring characters from Keroro Gunso:

Gundam Cosplay in Japan

Over 1,600 cosplayers attended the event, including some fantastic Gundam costumes:

Found via Japan Probe and Zaeega.

AnimeCon ’91: Desslok Cosplay

This is some old school cosplay from AnimeCon 91 (the first major American anime con with major guests from Japan)! This is Robert Fenelon cosplaying as Leader Desslok from Star Blazers:

I first met Rob about ten years (or more?) before the above video was shot. Anime fandom was very small back in the day, we were blown away if you could get 100 people to show up at a C/FO (Cartoon/Fantasy Organization) meeting. Rob was very much a central figure back in those days, and after I handed the Star Blazers Fan Club over to him he created the first full color anime fanzine “Anime-Zine” back in the early 80s.

ComicsSpace

ComicsSpace is like MySpace, but for Comic Book professionals and fans. Right now the service allows you setup a page and network with friends, but there are plans in the works to allow comic artists to hosttheir work on the website:

ComicsSpace.com

And if you’re already on ComicsSpace, add me to your buddy list:

Comicspace.com/fanboy/

Gaijin Fanboys (and Gurls) Invade Japan

A funny video from Japanese TV on a tour of American anime fans visiting Japan for the Tokyo Anime Fair:

Cosplay Episode of Ainori

This looks like a cosplay themed episode of the Japanese TV show Ainori:

Here’s a description of the show:

“Ainori is a reality program where seven young men and women travel the world riding a pink bus. The program is reminiscent of a travelogue; as of October 2006, the show has followed the bus across 71 countries as participants explore both famous tourist attractions and more off-the-beaten-path places.

The show’s twist is that the participants are each young, single people whose goal is to find love with another participant and return to Japan as a couple. When a participant has decided they like someone else, they ask the driver for a ticket back to Japan. They then declare their love to the object of their affection, and ask that the two return to Japan together. After a night’s consideration, the person who received the love declaration can either answer with a kiss, after which both participants leave the bus for Japan. Otherwise, the jilted participant is left to return to Japan alone. ”

Massara Blue Jeans

It’s the dance craze that’s sweeping the net:

So what is this?

Massara Blue Jeans

まっさらブルージーンズ (Romaji: Massara Blue Jeans; English: Brand New Blue Jeans) is an Indie-Single of the Hello! Project group °C-ute. The single was released on 2006-05-06 at the second to last date of the Morning Musume Concert Tour 2006 Haru ~Rainbow Seven~, where °C-ute opened the show. It is also on sale at Fanclub Events and at the Hello! Project store.

Read more…

Elvis and the Fangurls

A website about a fanboy who like to dress like Elvis and enjoys the company of the ladies:

Elvistrooper.com

“Who is the Elvis Trooper, where did he come from, is he really Elvis or a Clone, and why is he here? These are just some of the many questions that may have brought you here. Well, there are no answers to be given here, just a photographic documentation of the many Elvis Trooper sightings that are being reported across this great land of ours.”

Elvis spotted at Dragon*Con 2006 in Atlanta: