Brian Ashcraft

Anime Created On Nintendo 3DS Took Four Years To Make

YouTuber Mirror Panel-3 spent four years creating an anime on Flipnote Studio 3D for the Nintendo 3DS. Titled Flipnote Warrior, the 34-minute anime will be released on December 4, and is about a young girl’s life that forever changes thanks to an unexpected encounter on a Nintendo 3DS. According to Mirror Panel-3, all the animation…

Track: Mugenmirai | Artist: Perfume | Album: Future Pop 

Pokémon Air Is A Rubber Pikachu Folks Can Ride

This isn’t a video game, but rather, a rideable rubber Pikachu toy. Say hello to Pokémon Air. According to the official site, while Pokémon Air is listed as age three and up, it claims that even adults can ride the rubber Pikachu. Pokémon Air can hold up to 100 kilograms (220 pounds), so not all…

This weekend, official Fist of the North Star single malt Scotch whisky was released in Japan. Bottles of Kenshiro-branded 20-year-old Teaninich-distilled single malt are 20,900 yen ($197), while Raoh-branded Glentauchers-distilled single malt are 24,200 yen ($228). Both are already sold out. 

Artist Makes 3D Digital Models Of Hayao Miyazaki’s Classic Nausicaä

Twitter user Granicoph, a 3D modeler based in Tokyo, has created impressive 3D models of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, allowing us to freely move around still images. The result is very cool. As Gigazine reports, the models were uploaded to Sketchfab, a platform where people can share 3D, VR, and AR content.…

Track: Mack The Knife (Live) | Artist: Ella Fitzgerald | Album: The Lost Berlin Tapes

The Japanese Internet Reacts To The Xbox Series X and S

This week Microsoft showed off the Xbox Series X and S, and revealed the next-gen consoles’ price tags. So how has the news been received by the traditionally Xbox-spectic Japanese audience? Since the launch of the original Xbox, Japan has been an uphill battle for Microsoft. The company tried hard with the Xbox 360 to…

Mask Specialty Shop Opens In Japan

When people in Japan buy masks, then typically shop at drug stores, purchasing disposable ones. But increasingly, clothing retailers have been offering washable ones and now there’s even a mask specialty store that just sells masks. This week Mask.com opened in Tokyo, selling over 200 different types of masks for prices ranging from 500 yen…

Track: Be a Rebel | Artist: New Order | Album: Be a Rebel (single)

Nintendo Is Releasing a Fortnite Emblazoned Switch In Europe And Australia/NZ

Fortnite is a big hit, especially on the Switch. Nintendo thinks the game deserves its own Switch—and they’re probably right! The console is emblazoned with Fortnite designs and comes with exclusive yellow and blue Joy-Cons. As Nintendo Life reports, Fortnite comes pre-installed, and the bundle includes a download code for the Wildcat Outfit (plus two…

Track: Velouria (Alternative Version) | Artist: Pixies | Album: Bossanova

Japanese Hotel Chain Has Pokémon Rooms

The Mimaru hotel chain has locations in Osaka, Kyoto, and Tokyo. While most of its rooms are apartment-type hotel rooms, some also include special rooms that are covered in Pokémon Not only are there Poké Balls emblazoned on the walls and beds, but there are also Pocket Monster plushies, dishes, mugs, clocks and snacks! These…

If Fall Guys Took Place In Real-Life Japan

On Twitter, folks have been using footage of people in Japan cramming into trains or racing through stations as tongue-in-cheek, real-life Fall Guys tributes. Below, Twitter user Genchariino used footage of rush hour on the Seibu Shinjuku Line for this clip, which is titled “This Is Japan’s Fall Guys”: Back in late August, Twitter user…

Behold, The Famicom Model Tank

Talented Hong Kong-based model-maker Sean P. Yung has created a tank with a mock Famicom on it, trading a military paint job for the console’s burgundy and gold. The result is surprisingly cool. As you can see, Yung created a faux Famicom, apparently out of Styrofoam, and placed it atop a model Panzer, before then…

Track: Fade Away (War Child ver.) | Artist: Oasis | Album: Help!

The Internet Reacts To Xbox Series S

Today, Microsoft revealed its smallest Xbox ever, the Xbox Series S. The internet, inevitably, reacted. Upon first glance, the console does not look like a console, but a speaker, or maybe a washing machine, among other things… But let’s not just judge the way it looks. That’s so superficial! There are many more important things,…

Tetsuya Nomura Wants You To Look Forward To 2022, Kingdom Hearts‘ 20th Anniversary

This year sucks. 2021 will hopefully be better, but Tetsuya Nomura has his eye on 2022. It’s a big milestone in the history of Kingdom Hearts The first Kingdom Hearts game was released back in March 2002. In a recent Famitsu interview, Nomura was asked what’s next for Kingdom Hearts, to which he replied, “2022…

“Ass Warp” Is A Good Translation For Super Mario 64 Glitch

In Super Mario 64, the Backwards Long Jump trick has been used to refer to a glitch that’s known in Japan as Ketsu Waapu (ケツワープ). Surely, there has to be a better English translation. Turns out, there is. In the original game, the glitch is used in Princess Peach’s Castle to get to the top…

Track: Fake Plastic Trees (cover) | Artist: Phoebe Bridgers x Arlo Parks | Album: N/A

Anime Fans Show Their Love With Birthday Shrines

September 3 was the day that Zenitsu Agatsuma from Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba was born. It’s not uncommon for anime fans to celebrate their beloved characters’ birthdays online by posing merch or even baking birthday cakes. Twitter user Momotan’s online celebration was extra special. As pointed out on Hachima (via Soranews), Momotan posted a…