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Emoticon Sushi Rolls to Replace Twitter
Relive 80s Anime with the GunBuster Pachinko Machine
Posted by Michael Pinto on Feb 9, 2010 in Animation, Japanese TV
Tasty Stop Motion Animation
Posted by Michael Pinto on Feb 7, 2010 in Animation, Japanese TV
For all of the advances with computer animation there’s something still charming about good old fashioned stop motion animation. This Honda advert from the year 2000 does a nice job of using candy to animate the typography for the ULTRA Step WGN. Although it should be noted that the candy in this spot isn’t mere decoration — it’s being used to emphasize both the range of colors the auto comes in and the fact that it’s a kid friendly mode of transportation. Read more… A Japanese Snuggle Bear
Posted by Michael Pinto on Feb 6, 2010 in Japanese TV
The Sad Tale of Tommy Lee Jones and His Coffee
Posted by Michael Pinto on Feb 2, 2010 in Japanese TV
It’s heartbreaking to watch the sad saga of Tommy Lee Jones in this 2006 Japanese commercial for boss coffee — I’m not even sure why he’s crying while watching the singer on TV, but it made me sad to think of an alternate universe where he exists as a Hollywood ex-pat collecting parking tickets in Tokyo. Of course I should feel sorry for myself: I love Boss coffee too, but at $2 for the small cans I’ve been cutting back due to the recession. The Ultimate Strange Ultraman Toy
Posted by Michael Pinto on Jan 28, 2010 in Hobbies and Collections, Japanese TV
This is such a strange bobble head: It’s suppose to be Ultraman however his head has been decapitated and replaced with an old school television set which is showing Ultraman on its screen. But making this toy even stranger is that the television head will shake and nod which is powered by solar power. Read more… The Disturbing Case of the Aflak Duck Cat Wedding
Posted by Michael Pinto on Jan 19, 2010 in Japanese TV
There’s something just freaky about this Japanese commercial for Aflac which stars Aoi Miyazaki (宮崎 あおい) sharing the screen with a creepy look animatronic duck and kitty. The odd kids song being performed is Song of the Duck Beckoning Cat and is featured in this very cute animated music video which Aflac has also put out: Read more… Kato Rosa: A Japanese Neapolitan Icon
Posted by Michael Pinto on Jan 15, 2010 in Japanese TV
Nicknamed Ro-chin actress and fashion model Kato Rosa (加藤ローサ) was born in 1985 in Naples, Italy — her mom was Japanese and her father was Italian. At age 6 her family moved to Japan but sadly lost her Italian language skills by the time she grew up. Since 2005 she’s been very active starring in both television shows and films, although I get a kick out of her commercials which I’ve collected here: Read more… Dr. Who Makes House Calls
Posted by Michael Pinto on Jan 13, 2010 in Dr. Who, Hobbies and Collections
The Dr. Who Cell Phone Alert Charm comes in two flavors: Dalek (seen above) and Tardis. The catch is that these cell phone charms only work with 800 – 1600 MHz GSM network cell phones — but if you own one of those models the cell phone charm will light up when a call comes in. Read more… What Would Happen If You Mixed Dr. Who and Lost in Space?
Posted by Michael Pinto on Jan 13, 2010 in Dr. Who
A clever fanboy in the UK edited together this nice mashup video which kitbashes Dr. Who with Lost in Space. Of course having a character called Dr. Smith seemed to help the creative process a bit. In terms of Lost in Space I was never in love with the show although I always watched it in re-runs as a kid, but years later I discovered that the pilot for the show was quite well done and lacked the comedy elements that turned me off as a child. Why You Should Still Detest Jay Leno
Posted by Michael Pinto on Jan 12, 2010 in Television
The 80s seems like such a distant era these days and part of the reason was that there was just so little media in that era. Cable television was just starting to take off, but it was a very niche and the America wasn’t even on AOL yet. So there were so very venues for alternative culture aside from perhaps MTV and a few publications. However after Johnny Carson, the David Letterman show was a special oasis of culture. It was based out of New York City so it had a very different vibe, and the guests were much more off the beaten path. Read more… What Would Happen If You Mixed Dr. Who and Space:1999?
Posted by Michael Pinto on Jan 9, 2010 in Dr. Who, Television
The above fan mashed video kit bashes together the Dr. Who spacial The Waters of Mars with classic 70s sci fi series Space:1999. What this video reminds me of is just how well the opening titles of Space:1999 hold up — that powerful combination of the music and editing still hold up today. Bandai: Is the Official Company Uniform Gundam Cosplay?My favorite thing about this Mobile Suit Gundam toy commercial? The fact that it shows all of those Bandai employees dressed in in uniforms from the show: Read more… How To Impress the Ladies in Japan: Wear a Baseball Outfit
Posted by Michael Pinto on Jan 5, 2010 in Japanese TV
Just look at her: She’s so smitten with him! Sadly I couldn’t trace down the baseball player and the lovely lady from this wonderfully cute advert from the 80s. I also love the added touch in the commercial of how she changes her outfit for each special soft drink encounter. Although I did figure out the orange, pineapple and grape flavored beverages featured in the advert was manufactured by Hagoromo foods. Dancing Animated Rice Balls
Posted by Michael Pinto on Dec 31, 2009 in Animation, Japanese TV
This 1991 advert for rice balls features J-pop singer Arisa Mizuki (観月ありさ) who was just making her singing debut at the time this commercial was shown. Arisa had been modeling as a child since the age of four, but her big break came with the TV drama Mou dare mo Aisanai which was followed by her first single record Densetsu no Shoujo. In addition during this time she also provided vocals for the Sailor Moon song Kaze Mo, Sora Mo, Kitto. Mari Yaguchi and Her Baby Lion
Posted by Michael Pinto on Dec 30, 2009 in Japanese TV
I just came across this amazingly cute clip of Mari Yaguchi from a Japanese TV show appearance she did back in October: This video shows her adventures taking care of a baby lion! Yaguchi is a current member of the Hello! Project and was leader of Morning Musume back in 2005. Entertaining Christmas Birthdays
Posted by Michael Pinto on Dec 25, 2009 in Cinema, Television
The problem with being a Christmas baby is that your birthday is forever ignored: Although that can give some motivation to stand out in life and become a success. Here are just a few remarkable talents who have shared their birthdays with the day that everyone else is getting gifts: Read more… Cylon Target Practice Made Practical
Posted by Michael Pinto on Dec 24, 2009 in Battlestar Galactica
I’m actually surprised how attractive this Cylon Centurion Replica Target Poster looks, it almost makes you feel bad for the cybernetic warriors. My bet is that most fanboys won’t use actual ammo to harm a collectable, however a within an office environment a nerf gun might be the ideal weapon for training purposes. Read more… Control Gigantor With Your Netbook
Posted by Michael Pinto on Dec 13, 2009 in Animation, Japanese TV
Shown above is an NTT ad for the Docomo for PC service which features Tetsujin 28-go, which is lovingly known to American fans as Gigantor. I love how while the two giant robots are destroying Tokyo the Docomo PC user is still spellbound by his nifty software… The Sad Fate of the Ban Ban Nuts
Posted by Michael Pinto on Dec 8, 2009 in Japanese TV
Those poor Ban Ban nuts: They sing, they dance and then they get crushed up to be sprinkled over ramen! Although I was happy to see the the Bam Ban in the middle escaped the destruction of the marketing department of Acecook. Chocolate Craving Christmas Tree
Posted by Michael Pinto on Dec 7, 2009 in Japanese TV
What’s not to love about this Meiji chocolate commercial? I don’t know what’s cuter about the chocolate maker — the fact that she’s singing while making her cupcakes or that she’s so nonchalant about someone sneaking up on her dressed as a Christmas tree. And here’s a cute fruit flavored advert from Meiji for the few of you who don’t like chocolate or Christmas: Read more… Enter the Pachinko Matrix!
Posted by Michael Pinto on Dec 6, 2009 in Japanese TV, Videogames
I just came across this amazing commercial for an Enter the Matrix Pachinko game which is from Daiichi (although I couldn’t find any info anywhere else on the web and the original version of the game came out in 2003). I love the Japanese twist of setting the commercial in a noodle shop — and the fact that the “special effect” is so low budget makes it all the better! The Xylish Flavor the Jungle
Posted by Michael Pinto on Dec 5, 2009 in Japanese TV
This Japanese gum commercial stars the lovely ladies Miki Nakatani and Ryoko Hirosue as double mint girls (the sad actor stuck in the jungle is Watabe Atsuro). I love the cute touch of having a monkey and a raccoon at the start of the advert. June Angela: Remembering the Electric Company
Posted by Michael Pinto on Dec 4, 2009 in Television
June Angela is a grownup these days (it happens to the best of us I’m sorry to say) but back in 1971 she played Julie who was an official member of the the Short Circus — that special cast of kids that powered The Electric Company. From age 11 to 17 she was the longest surviving cast member (of the kids) who lasted to the very end of the show in 1977. Her efforts earned her an Emmy and in this series of clips she recalls that amazing series from the 70s. You’ll notice that she mentions Joe Raposo who was the musical genius behind the show: Read more… |
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