21 January 2015

TOM & JERRY




The series features comedic fights between an iconic set of enemies, a house cat and mouse. The plots of each short usually center on Tom's numerous attempts to capture Jerry and the mayhem and destruction that follows. Tom rarely succeeds in catching Jerry, mainly because of Jerry's cleverness, cunning abilities, and luck. However, there are also several instances within the cartoons where they display genuine friendship and concern for each other's well-being. At other times, the pair set aside their rivalry in order to pursue a common goal, such as when a baby escaped the watch of a negligent babysitter, causing Tom and Jerry to pursue the baby and keep it away from danger.

The cartoons are known for some of the most violent cartoon gags ever devised in theatrical animation such as Tom using everything from axes, hammers, firearms, firecrackers, explosives, traps and poison to kill Jerry. On the other hand, Jerry's methods of retaliation are far more violent due to their frequent success, including slicing Tom in half, shutting his head in a window or a door, stuffing Tom's tail in a waffle iron or a mangle, kicking him into a refrigerator, getting him electrocuted, pounding him with a mace, club or mallet, causing a tree or an electric pole to drive him into the ground, sticking matches into his feet and lighting them, tying him to a firework and setting it off, and so on.[1] Because of this, Tom and Jerry has often been criticized as excessively violent. Despite the frequent violence, there is no blood or gore in any scene.

Music plays a very important part in the shorts, emphasizing the action, filling in for traditional sound effects, and lending emotion to the scenes. Musical director Scott Bradley created complex scores that combined elements of jazz, classical, and pop music; Bradley often reprised contemporary pop songs, as well as songs from MGM films, including The Wizard of Oz and Meet Me In St. Louis. Generally, there is little dialogue as Tom and Jerry almost never speak; however, minor characters are not similarly limited, and the two lead characters are able to speak English on rare occasions and are thus not mute. For example, the character Mammy Two Shoes has lines in nearly every cartoon in which she appears. Most of the vocal effects used for Tom and Jerry are their high-pitched laughs and gasping screams.

Before 1954, all Tom and Jerry cartoons were produced in the standard Academy ratio and format; in 1954 and 1955, some of the output was dually produced in dual versions: one Academy-ratio negative composed for a flat widescreen  format and one shot in the CinemaScope process. From 1955 until the close of the MGM cartoon studio a year later, all Tom and Jerry cartoons were produced in CinemaScope, some even had their soundtracks recorded in Perspecta directional audio. All of the Hanna and Barbera cartoons were shot as successive color exposure negatives and printed by Technicolor; the 1960s entries were done in Metrocolor. The 1960s entrees also returned to the standard Academy ratio and format, too. The 2005 short The Karate Guard was also filmed in the standard Academy ratio and format, too.

19 January 2015

Air Gear

A new fad by the name of 'Air Treks' (a futuristic evolution of aggressive skating) has swept the nation's youth and all over gangs are being formed that compete in various events using their A-T's. Ikki is a middle-school boy who is the toughest street-fighting punk on the east side of town, on top of that he lives with 4 gorgeous sisters that took him in when he was a kid. But what Ikki doesn't know is that the girls are part of one of the most infamous A-T gangs, 'Sleeping Forest'. It doesn't take long before Ikki finds out about the world of Air Trecks and is propelled into a fate he had not foreseen.

Main characters
Itsuki "Ikki" Minami Voiced by: Kenta Kamakari (Japanese), Chris Patton
The main protagonist of the story, he was given Air Treks (in the anime, he took them himself) and soon delved into the world of Storm Riders. There is a small crow named Kuu that lives in his hair. In the anime, Kuu was used as a censor. Eventually he creates a team, Kogarasumaru with his two best friends, Kazu and Onigiri. Eventually Buccha, Agito/Akito (Lind is discovered at a later time) join Kogarasumaru. Originally trained to become the Wind King, and eventually the Sky King by Sora, he soon finds himself betrayed by Sora and Nike (Sora's twin brother), who conspire together to steal his Regalia. When they do this, Ikki is stripped of the chance to become the Wind King. Shortly thereafter, Ikki is instead named the Storm King, following the "Hurricane Road." He has the ability to use his Air Trick's to manipulate the wind. His special techniques allows him to create a space where there is no wind called Null Wind, similar to the eye of a hurricane, which may explain his road's name.(Battle level of 117 in battle with Sleipnir)
Kazuma "Kazu" Mikura Voiced by: Kenn (Japanese), Clint Bickham (English)
A long-time friend of Ikki, Kazu is a friend who's always by his side. He is a speed-type rider who has recently inherited the title of Flame King following the path of the Flame Road, along with Spitfires old AT's. Due to his speed he got the nickname Stealth. His special techniques allows him to 'manipulate time' (this technique is actually just an illusion, where he moves too fast for the normal human eye, thus making him able to fool the opponent with his speed, one of these tricks being the 'cloning' which is just all his afterimages) and literally marking out a 'Flame Road', where he rides his AT's at such high speeds that the heat caused by the friction of the wheels creates the illusion of flames. These two techniques are, at some level, inherited from Yasuyoshi Sano, the Aeon Clock, and Spitfire, the former Flame King, respectively. This is highly likely, as they both followed the Flame Road.(Battle level of 89 in battle with Sleipnir, and over 200 in battle with Nike)
Onigiri Voiced by: Masami Kikuchi (Japanese), Greg Ayres (English)
Also a long-time friend of Ikki, Onigiri is a "perverted pig" as called by most. He has an unorthodox riding style, wearing his Air Tricks on his head and riding it upside-down. He has his own unique Road called the Smell Road, which uses an opponents senses against them. (Battle level of 36 in battle with Sleipnir however in the battle with Nike his Battle level skyrocketed to 326)
Issa Mihotoke "Fats Buccha" Voiced by: Hitoshi Bifu (Japanese), Mark X. Laskowski (English)
Formerly of the Team Yaō (Night Kings),recently named as Mountain King, Buccha was defeated by Ikki and his team was forced to disband. Eventually, he joins Ikki's team as one of the main power riders, making use of his extremely large build and strength. In the manga he is known as the Black Pig for his seemingly overweight appearance. Ironically he isn't truly fat; because all of the blood from his muscles go from his body to his belly due to his constant over eating, explained in episode 17, and when he needs to, he reverts all the blood to his upper muscles, gaining super human strength, and an extremely well built appearance. Being considered one of the two weakest in the group next to Onigiri, with the help of the cyber Spitfire, Buccha set out down a road of enlightenment. This road he discovers he is also able to transfer his blood to his lower muscles giving him great speed to rival Orca (Genesis gravity child after the fang regalia).(Battle level of 68 in battle with Sleipnir)
Akito/Agito/Lind Wanijima Voiced by: Kokoro Kikuchi (Japanese), Blake Shepard (English)
He is the Fang King (a.k.a. the Shark) with a split-personality. Akito is the "light" side while Agito is the "dark" side. They used to work for the police team of "WIND" led by their "brother" Kaito, until inspired by Ikki to leave and join Kogarasumaru. Their split-personality changes depending on the side their eye patch is worn. Akito wears his patch on his right eye, Agito on his left. Later, a new personality named Lind emerged. Lind is like a "big brother" personality akin to Akito/Agito's older brother, Kaito Wanijima. He claims he is the original personality of the body. Akito/Agito/Lind are the second strongest members of Kogarasumaru. Recent Chapters have revealed the Lind persona to be the Original Brain Charger known as Gazelle. The Kaito's Past arc revealed that Gazelle was female as well as the original Thorn Queen, who had a "special" relationship with Kaito. After Kaito and Gazelle's battle with the Takeuchi twins resulted in Gazelle's death, Rinta Minami was able to recover her body and revive her and Kaito's child, who happens to be Akito/Agito/Lind as revealed in Chapter 300. Further details to how the Akito/Agito personas came to be have yet to be revealed.(Battle level of 122 in battle with Sleipnir)

Isekai no Seikishi Monogatari




Kenshi Masaki is a 15 year old boy that unwillingly traveled from his home on Earth to the alternate world of Geminar. In Geminar, the countries wage wars using Seikijin, humanoid weapons that were originally discovered within ancient ruins. After being tricked by a mysterious organization into participating in an attempt to assassinate Lashara Earth , the young princess of the Shitoreiyu Empire, he ends up captured after he chooses not to kill her. When Lashara hears the truth, she decides to help.Disguised as her servant, Kenshi moves with her to the Holy Land, a virtually impregnable fortress that serves as an academy to train Seikijin pilots. With his kindness, tenacity, and skills that vary from carpenting to advanced techniques of survival, Kenshi eventually becomes a celebrity in the academy, becoming the object of affection of many female students and making some of the male students envious. However, the same organization who deceived Kenshi is secretly working inside the academy, and a worldwide conflict is about to begin.

Countries
Shitoreiyu Empire
The home country of Lashara and Chiaia prior to moving to the Holy Land. Shitoreiyu lacks some technological advances, as quoted by Maria, so it relies on using the technologies of other countries such as Havoniwa. It is also the place where the Seikishin and Doll were unearthed. Shitoreiyu's past ruler was Koyo Earth, Lashara's father, but after the latter died, Lashara became his successor. However, Lashara slowly loses her position of power to Babalun after his promotion to Prime Minister.
Holy Land
An impregnable fortress made in the image of the Choushin goddess. It is also home to Holy Land Academy , a special school where nobles and the wealthy train to become Seikishi. The Holy Land also holds the Holy Tournament , a tournament where Seikishi from all over Geminar compete (Aura once stated that Flora was one of the champions). In the Holy Arena, pillars and Ena's Draft are placed as challenging obstacles for the most skilled Seikishi, though Kenshi is able to maneuver through them with ease. According to Lashara, winning the Holy Tournament is the greatest achievement for a Seikishi. It was later invaded and conquered by Babalun, who was after the Shield of Gaia that was buried underneath and Gaia itself, but was later reconquered following Babalun's defeat.
Havoniwa 
The homeland of Flora, Maria, and Yukine, and is one of the more technologically advanced countries in comparison to the others. In Havoniwa, there is a welcome ceremony in the form of a pillow fight, where the competitors are to pull the sashes off of their opponents' yukata and the last person standing wins. Their main defense is the Meteor Fall  a floating fortress that drops meteor-sized rocks to destroy their invaders. It is stated in the anime that the main city that was destroyed by Dagmyer's forces was actually it's governing area and there was little to no residents in the area so it was a small loss to Havoniwa. It also has an underground city in case their main city is destroyed. Havoniwa's capital was destroyed by Doll, but its people managed to find refuge in the underground city.
Shurifon Kingdom 
The nature-affiliated home of the Dark Elves , who have dark skin, silvery-white hair, and blue eyes much like Aura's. Also like Aura, their personalities shift based on the time of day, which is described by others as their "weak periods". In Shurifon, there is a rare mushroom that can be sold for a huge fortune (Kenshi found four during the series' run) and it is often used as a gourmet ingredient in the royal courts. Also in Shurifon, there is an event called the Pot-Dish Battle, where the contestants find ingredients to make a dish. The winner is determined by a judge and the person with the most delicious dish wins. Shurifon was the first of the countries to be destroyed by Dagmyer's forces. It is later revealed by Naua that Shurifon's people were brought to Geminar by the Senshi Civilization in ancient times to pilot the Seikishin.
Church 
The main overseers of Geminar. They are the remnants of the Senshi civilization and are well-aware of the dangers of Seikijin. They tried to prevent the introduction of Seikijin into the current world but had no choice once the Seikishin was unearthed in the Shitoreiyu Empire. To prevent the occurrence of an arms race of the kind that destroyed the Senshi civilization, the Church decided to allot a fixed number of Seikijin and Seikishi to each country to maintain a balance. The Church was shown to have superior technology, such as teleport-pads, apart from monopolizing the construction and repair of Seikijin.
Senshi 
An ancient civilization on the world of Geminar. The Senshi civilization was world-wide and unified, with individual units such as cities and villages. Naua Furan explains that the Senshi civilization created the Seikijin, not for war, but for sports and other athletic competitions. Eventually, the Seikijin were used for gladiator-like fight events, and the Seikishi became an elite class. Massive technological advancements were made to the Seikijin as people tried to one-up their opponents. As the battles between Seikijin grew more fierce and the number of Seikishi fatalities increased, the expertise and fighting instincts of the Seikishi were downloaded onto crystals (called Core Crystals) and embedded into newer Seikishi to preserve them. Over time, the accumulation of fighting skills and bloodlust in the crystals caused the Seikijin to go on a rampage. These rampaging Seikijin (Holy Machine Men) were labelled as Seikishin (Holy Machine Gods) because of their overwhelming power. The human remnants managed to disable the Seikishin, but were too late to save their civilization, which had split into several groups as the people fled the Seikishin.