-
The Greatest School Bus In Japan
Kindergarten is a tough time for some kids. It’s the first time that they are away from their mother or father for an extended period of time. To help ease the experience, Japanese kindergartens and pre-schools have cute, colorful buses. The buses are supposed to hopefully make children want to ride them — and thus,…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 30, 2010 -
Pokémon’s Health Care, Better Than America’s?
Ooohh, politics! Well, not really. More like humorous insight, with a Facebook group springing up based on the premise that the health care afforded to Pokémons trumps that offered to real, breathing Americans. “Universal Health Care: Good enough for Pokémon, Good enough for America” is the name of the group, and it has a point.…
By Luke Plunkett Published March 24, 2010 -
How To Write Pokemon Music? Pretending!
In the West, when one says “Pokémon music”, this song probably leaps to mind. We are not talking about that this song. Besides heading up the Pokémon franchise, Junichi Masuda also composes battle music for the series. “There is no doubt that I am inspired by many great composers. But when I work on the…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 19, 2010 -
Why Doesn’t Pokemon Get Global Simultaneous Releases?
DS title Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver were released in Japan on September 12. The games didn’t come out in North America until this March. With so many games these days getting either global or near global releases, what gives? “We do our best to make our games so North American players can enjoy the game…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 18, 2010 -
My Pokemon Battle Went Downhill From Here
That’s me vs. MTV Multiplayer’s Russ Frushtick, before our Poke-battle yesterday. Despite the wonderful Pokemon advice that the world’s best game designers gave me, my Level 15 Totodile could not beat his Level 17 Totodile. Gory details at MTV’s site
By Stephen Totilo Published March 17, 2010 -
This Week In Comics
There are gaming comics in comics shops across America this week. But there’s also a rare Marvel comic that interests me. See? Mass Effect: Redemption #3 Written by Mac Walters and John Jackson Miller. Drawn by Omar Francia. Summary Via Dark Horse Comics: Liara T’Soni finds herself both pursuing Commander Shepard’s abductors and on the…
By Stephen Totilo Published March 5, 2010 -
Which Pokemon Song Do You Like Better?
Nerd hero and cat-butt-sniffer Shoko Nakagawa (pictured) belted out a the ending theme for the televised Pokémon. Sadly, her song has been replaced. But is the new song better? Nakagawa’s tune, “Get Fired Up Notch-Eared Pichu”, is catchy and fun. She also voices Giza Mimi Pichu (“Notch-Eared Pichu”). Watch her as she sings the song…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 5, 2010 -
This Pokemon Is Somehow Strangely Familar
After hinting with a silhouette, Japanese magazine CoroCoro Comic revealed the first new Pokémon of the fifth generation, Zoroark. And yet besides that silhouette, I could shake the feeling I’d already seen this Pokémon. Maybe it was former 1970s rocker Gary Glitter? The lead singer of J-pop band Kishidan? Or this lady? Hrm….. Monster fox…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 16, 2010 -
Pokémon’s Fifth Generation Begins With Zoroark
Scans from the latest CoroCoro Comic out the first new Pokémon of the fifth generation, Zoroark, the monster fox Pokémon and star of the franchise’s 13th animated feature, Phantom Ruler Zoroark. First shown in silhouette during this weekend’s Pokémon Sunday in Japan, CoroCoro Comic magazine scans from across the sea have confirmed the mysterious creature…
By Mike Fahey Published February 10, 2010 -
Silhouette of New Pokemon Series
Over the weekend, Pokémon morning variety show Pokémon showed the outline of the upcoming Pokemon series — that is, the “entirely new” series. Already officially announced, the new Pokémon series will be out this year. It will be getting a reveal in the upcoming March issue of CoroCoro Comic, on sale in Japan on February…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 8, 2010 -
Cat Head Girl Gets Her Own Comic
That’s rude. Shoko Nakagawa is more than a nerd heroine who puts her cats’ heads in her mouth. She also sniffs their butts. Where to start? Shoko Nakagawa is a singer and Japanese celebrity, who hosts kiddy show Pokémon Sunday, among a bajillion other things. She voiced the new Pocket Monster character Giza Mimi Pichu…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 5, 2010 -
Pikachu Shrieks Like The Sirens Of Hades
Japanese circuit bender Kaseo loves taking Pikachu toys and doing wonderful things with them. We’ve seen his stuff before, with the legion of singing Pokemon, but his latest work is well worth a look. Witness the Pikatron, a handheld distortion device that’s basically a guitar-looking synthesiser that uses Pikachu as a medium to channel the…
By Luke Plunkett Published February 1, 2010 -
“Entirely New” Pokemon Series Coming This Year
There hasn’t been an entirely new Pokémon series released since Pokémon Diamond and Pearl. Know what that means? Time for a new Pokémon series. An “entirely new” Pocket Monster series, complete with “new Pokémon” is in development. The new Pocket Monster series will be heading to the Nintendo DS and feature many new features and…
By Brian Ashcraft Published January 29, 2010 -
Pokemon As Traditional Japanese Art
As seen on Asamegraph. Thanks, Aeshir!
By Brian Ashcraft Published January 25, 2010 -
Pokewalker Dated For U.S.
Already released in Japan to monster sales, the 3 million selling Pokémon HeartGold/SoulSilver has not just had its date confirmed for the U.S. market. It’s also getting a Pokewalker. The pair of Pokemon games are remakes of Game Boy titles Pokémon Gold and Silver, and their 2009 release in Japan correspond to the 10th anniversary…
By Brian Ashcraft Published January 11, 2010 -
Writing ‘Sweets’ Summons Scribblenauts Truffles
While not cake, these confections define the idiomatic dilemma of choosing to have one or eat it. Ana Fuji’s amazing truffles tackle many themes, games among them. On the jump, Pokémon, LEGO and, yes, Super Mario truffles. Mario and Pokémon Truffles [Sprite Stitch, thanks Jane]
By Owen Good Published January 10, 2010 -
Pikachu Girl Wants You To Join The Manga & Anime Club
As seen on Otaku2.
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 23, 2009 -
New Pokemon Movie Has Double The Ash
The trailer for the upcoming Pocket Monster movie Pocket Monster Diamond & Pearl: Genei no Hasha Z (The Phantom Champion Z) is streaming online. It features two Ash (Satoshi in Japan) characters. One of which does not look so nice. Movie out next summer in Japan — July 10, 2010. Watch The Trailer [Pokemon-Movie via…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 11, 2009