Author: Anne Lee

Kitty Godzilla, Apricotsushi Samples: Pokésnacks, and a Giveaway!

Hello lovelies! It’s Saturday here in Australia, and I’ve just gotten back from seeing the new Hollywood reboot of Godzilla. Believe it or not, I’ve never actually seen a Godzilla movie (shock! horror!), but I am definitely familiar with the Godzilla mythos/legacy, and I must say I was really impressed with the film. It was thoroughly enjoyable, and I highly suggest anyone with even a passing Godzilla fancy to check it out! I’m also excited to hear that the director has confirmed he’s working on two follow-up movies, which will hopefully explore new directions/monsters.

via @Richmond_Lee

More importantly, I’ve been introduced to what may be the best kaiju on the planet: Negora! As far as I can tell, Negora is a kitty Godzilla spoof that has its own toy line. I may not really understand it, but I can definitely see the appeal. The creator, Konatsu, has her own Negora blog, which I highly recommend checking out if you find the above image at all intriguing. Negora is so popular that it even has its own set of LINE stamps in Japan! I have a feeling I’m going to have to seek out some Negora figures when I’m in Tokyo…

If you’re at a loss of things to do this weekend, why not check out the latest episode of Apricotsushi Samples? It’s all about Pokémon food! I try Pokémon curry, a Pokémon chocolate wafer, and “evolving” Pokémon gummies. All can be purchased through my affiliates, Oyatsu Café and Jlist, so if any of those sound like something you might want to try, please do consider supporting Chic Pixel by buying them there! Of course, you may want to wait and see what I actually think of the snacks before purchasing them for yourself…

Also, if you’re a Pokémon fan, be sure to watch this episode of Apricotsushi Samples to the end for details on my latest giveaway! It’s super easy to enter, and open worldwide. You only have until May 31st to enter, though, so don’t put it off!

Finally, I’m always thinking of ways to improve Chic Pixel, and am considering doing a little “miscellaneous” post every Saturday where I talk about a couple things that might not be big enough to merit their own post. But what shall I name this wee new column? I’ll have to pin that down before next weekend…

Apricotsushi Reviews: Little Witch Academia Blu-ray

Way back in August of last year, I wrote about an anime short called Little Witch Academia and how it brought back memories of some of my favorite magical girl series from my youth. With its gorgeous animation, great cast of female characters, and charming story, I immediately knew it was something I wanted to see more of. I highly suggest reading the above article for more of my impressions of the episode, as today I’m not going to focus on the merits of Little Witch Academia itself (suffice it to say, I think it’s wonderful!), but rather the lovely Blu-ray release now available from Studio Trigger’s online store.

When my copy of the Blu-ray arrived courtesy of acttil, I was immediately impressed by the quality of the packaging. Not only does it come with the main event, the 26 minute episode of Little Witch Academia itself, but it also includes a documentary, soundtrack CD, and a separate book full of illustrations, storyboards, interviews, and more!

Back cover of the book

The official booklet’s cover has the title embossed in gold text, which is a lovely touch. Though it’s a paperback, the detail put into the cover on its own reveals that it is by no means a cheap extra. In fact, the book itself is 112 pages long! Let’s take a look inside:

Two pages from the “story & commentary” section

Approximately one third of the book is in full color, which includes the gorgeous two-page spread shown above, illustrations of the main characters, an “image board” that consists of some backgrounds and environmental items, an overview of the story with commentary, and a color storyboard. The full color pages look great, but I wish there were a few more of them. Luckily, the rest of the book is still chock-full of amazing sketches and information.

There are a number of color glossy pages dedicated to specific animators, but since the images are all sketches, it seems like a waste to put them on the “nicer” paper at the beginning when there are full color stills that do not get the benefit of similar nice paper later on in the book (see images below). This is a very nitpicky critique, though, as the animator-specific sections and associated interviews provide a lot of interesting insight and it’s nice that Studio Trigger decided to highlight them by putting them towards the front of the book.

The rest of the book is printed on slightly lower quality paper using a limited color palette (lots of purple, pink, and blue). It’s difficult to think of a western equivalent, but it reminds me a lot of the monthly manga “phone books,” except on slightly thicker paper. The character sheets and background sections are definitely my favorite, as they get much deeper into all of the designs used in the episode than the color section does at the beginning. The full script is also included, along with samples from the storyboard, and there are more interviews to close out the book. As I mentioned earlier, the interviews in this section include images that have been reduced to a limited color palette, which is an interesting design choice but a bit of a shame for those who might prefer the original, full color versions. 
Before I move on to the Blu-ray and soundtrack, I wanted to mention that though I did not receive one, all orders of the Blu-ray set from Studio Trigger’s online store will include an extra “special booklet” that consists of English translations for all of the Japanese text, such as interviews, in the official booklet. 
Next up is the “book” that houses the Blu-ray and soundtrack CD. I am honestly really impressed by the packaging on both this and the booklet! The Blu-ray case has a hard cover, but unlike normal Blu-ray cases it’s a heavy cardboard-like material, so be careful not to spill water on it! When you open it up, there’s a rather shocking color choice: 

It’s so pink! I love how psychedelic it is. The Blu-ray itself is self-explanatory, but the bonus production documentary “How the Magic was Created” is definitely worth mentioning. It includes English subtitles and clocks in at a whopping 66 minutes, and is an eye-opening glimpse at what work in a Japanese animation studio is like.

The soundtrack CD consists of 13 songs, making it 18 minutes of full orchestral music. It’s not often that I even notice the music in an anime, so the fact that I listen to this soundtrack when I’m not watching Little Witch Academia is pretty high praise. One of my favorite tracks is Shiny Chariot’s Theme – it has a great sense of grandeur and wonder that I feel encompasses my feelings for the show as a whole.

Honestly, I can’t believe this Little Witch Academia Blu-ray set is only ¥6,171 (approx. $60)! It’s an amazing package and it really does the episode justice. While the Kickstarter for Little Witch Academia episode two has already been funded, I’d definitely recommend supporting the series by purchasing the episode one Blu-ray. You won’t regret it!

XSEED is all for equal-opportunity ogling in Akiba’s Trip: Undead & Undressed

When it comes to changes made or not made in game localizations, the most topical issue that comes to mind is Nintendo’s recent refusal to add the ability for Mii’s to have same-sex relationships in its upcoming release, Tomodachi Life. While Nintendo originally said there was no intent to make “social commentary” with the game (as if that somehow exempts it from social commentary), they later amended that statement, saying they were sorry for alienating their gay and lesbian fans but could not add the option this close to the game’s release and would strongly consider it for future titles. 
#Miiquality logo
The issue of same-sex relationships in Tomodachi Life and how Nintendo has handled responding to fans isn’t what I’d like to focus on today, however (please read this great piece by Christian Nutt if you want to know more!). Instead, I’d like to highlight a company that went above and beyond to make a game inclusive during the localization process. In contrast to the inability/unwillingness of Nintendo to address the wants and needs of its western audience, XSEED Games has announced that they have been working with developer Acquire to make the experience in the vampire-stripping open world brawler Akiba’s Trip: Undead & Undressed more appealing for those who’d like to see some male eye candy. The official statement is as follows: 

“An additional feature being newly added for the North American release – set for summer 2014 – is the inclusion of illustrated ‘strip portraits’ for all prominent male side characters, providing equivalent gender balance alongside the game’s existing female portraits. Once these have been viewed during normal gameplay, players may also use them as wallpapers for their in-game smartphones.” 

What amazes me about this reveal is that XSEED is going to the effort to get the developer to add new content to their game so that everyone, male and female, gay and straight, will feel included in the game’s (presumably abundant) fanservice. Not only that, but they took their own initiative to do so without being persuaded by a large number of fan requests, as far as I’m aware. Considering the relatively large backlash the breast-laden Senran Kagura Burst had leading up to and past its release, perhaps they wanted to make a conscious effort to not look like a company that only caters toward a specific audience?

Akiba's Trip promotional art showing high school girl in Tokyo holding cell phone and skirt

Honestly, whatever the reason, XSEED’s decision to add additional “manservice” to Akiba’s Trip has increased my interest in the game tenfold. While the media surrounding the Japanese release of the game was most definitely aimed at a heterosexual male audience, making it seem like the content of the game itself was skewed that way, it’s extremely refreshing to see a western publisher take the initiative to make a game more inclusive. Even though XSEED is a niche publisher and Akiba’s Trip an even more niche release,* gaming giant Nintendo could learn a thing or two about inclusion and localization from the fine folks at XSEED.

Akiba’s Trip: Undead & Undressed is a localization of Akiba’s Trip 2, and will be released on PS3 and PS Vita this summer.

*I understand that the inclusion of the male strip portraits along with the fact that XSEED is also recording English voiceovers for the game is an attempt to have it appeal to a wide audience, but I have a hard time viewing Akiba’s Trip as anything more than a niche otaku game. I hope they prove me wrong!

The Princess of Tennis Book Now Available for Preorder

Have you ever wanted to know what it’s really like working as a manga artist in Japan? Artist Jamie Lynn Lano had the extremely unique opportunity to work as an assistant on The Prince of Tennis and has recounted her experiences on her blog, Living Tall in Japan, and has decided to compile them into a book in order to share her story. Preorders are now open for the book, titled The Princess of Tennis: Working as an Assistant on The Prince of Tennis. As an avid follower of Jamie’s blog, this is a very exciting announcement indeed!

The Princess of Tennis by Jamie Lynn Lano book cover art

It’s often very difficult to get information on what goes on behind the scenes in the Japanese manga industry, especially outside of Japan, which makes Jamie’s book an invaluable resources for those interested in learning more about how the manga industry works, and what it’s like being a foreigner living and working in a Japanese-dominated field. If you’d like to get an idea of her writing style and what kind of content will be in the book, her whole story has been compiled in a series of blog posts available to read for free on her website. Even if you’re not sure you want to commit to buying the book, I highly suggest checking them out!

Jamie Lynn Lano drawing in Japanese manga studio
Jamie hard at work (source)

Preorders for The Princess of Tennis will only be available for a limited time, and for only $20 you can grab yourself a copy of the book (approx. 250 pages), postcard with Jamie’s original art, personalized message in the book (if desired), digital copy of the book on the day of release, and free shipping worldwide. That’s a pretty super deal, so it’s definitely worth putting your order in early! The book is scheduled to launch on June 15th.

10 Places I Have to Visit when I’m in Tokyo

It’s often said that one can either be a fan of Tokyo or Osaka, but not both. Well, I’m a certified Osaka girl, so while I’ve been to Japan numerous times, I’ve only actually been to Tokyo once for two days nearly 12 years ago. Blasphemy, I know! Luckily, I have the very unique opportunity to attend a popular Japanese media workshop at the University of Tokyo for two weeks in July, so I’ll finally get the Tokyo fix I never knew I needed.

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I say “never knew I needed” because after hearing the wonderful news that I had been accepted into said program, I promptly hit up Google to see exactly what sights I’d been missing out on in the pop culture mecca of Japan. As expected, there are a lot of exciting things to see and do in Tokyo, and my planner is quickly filling up with places to go and things to eat!

Since a lot of folks were asking what exactly was making my “must see” list for Tokyo, I thought it’d be fun to compile a top 10 list of places I’m going to make sure I hit up this July. Hopefully this way I can hold myself accountable and report back in two months with how each place actually stacked up! I’m not going to include vague general destinations like Harajuku or Akihabara that are on every “must see in Tokyo” list, though, but rather very specific things that folks like me who enjoy all things nerdy and cute will probably appreciate…

Kit Kat Chocolatory Tokyo store logo
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Kit Kat Chocolatory 

Everyone knows that Japan is a haven for all kinds of amazing Kit Kat flavors, from the innocuous matcha to stranger oddities such as wasabi. In fact, Kit Kats are so popular in Japan that Nestle opted to erect the world’s first dedicated Kit Kat store, known as the Kit Kat Chocolatory, in the Seibu department store in Ikebukuro, Tokyo! The Ikebukuro store opened this past January and has teamed up with patissier Yasumasa Takagi to sell three exclusive flavors: sublime bitter, special sakura green tea, and special chilli.*

While it’s a little disappointing that the store doesn’t sell all of the various regional Japanese Kit Kat flavors (as far as I can tell), there is no way I’m going to turn down the chance to visit the world’s only Kit Kat shop! And buy a pack of each exclusive flavor, of course.

*Side note: Apparently Yasumasa Takagi made some kind of deal with Nestle, as he also appears in this bakable Kit Kat promotional video.

Amnesia otome game cafe layout
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Animate cafés

I’m cheating a little by not specifying a single store here, but hear me out. Animate is a chain of anime merchandise stores located Japan-wide, but certain branches have cafés that frequently feature anime tie-in menus and special decor. There are two located in Tokyo, one in Ikebukuro that caters to a female audience, and another in Akihabara that has recently teamed up with Good Smile Company (it only just opened on April 25th!) to offer some extra goodies for the figure-loving crowd.

While I’d definitely love to visit both, I’ll probably prioritize going to the one that is doing a tie-in with a series I’m more interested in. Since the Good Smile x Animate cafe is doing a Love Live! collaboration until July 30th, I’ll probably go with the Ikebukuro branch. However, I hear there may be some Good Smile figures that can only be purchased at the Akihabara store, so I may have to visit that one as well. Oh, decisions!

The Nutcracker Studio Ghibli Museum flyer

Ghibli Museum

The Ghibli Museum, designed by visionary Hayao Miyazaki himself, is the ultimate mecca for fans of Ghibli films and Japanese animation, so of course it would be high on my “must see” list! Not only do you get to see exclusive animation shorts that are only shown at the museum, but there is also a yearly rotating exhibit that can’t be seen anywhere else. This year’s exhibit has just been revealed (flier pictured above), and the theme is The Nutcracker! As someone who attended The Nutcracker ballet every year at Christmas as a kid, I can’t wait to see Ghibli’s interpretation of the children’s ballet classic. You can purchase tickets to the Ghibli Museum in English through Voyagin!

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Of course, another highlight of the Ghibli Museum is the Straw Hat Café! Not only is the decor to die for, all of the food is served on gorgeous Ghibli-themed plates, and if you order a coffee drink you’ll be treated with an adorable Ghibli design drawn in the foam. I’ve heard the wait can be an hour long, so it’s important to get there early!

Related: I also have to try these Totoro cream puffs I wrote about two years ago! I couldn’t bring myself to allow two Ghibli-related stops positions on this list, but you can bet your puffs I’ll be making my way to this adorable (Ghibli-supported!) patisserie come July.

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Usagi no Ehon

There are two things I love very much in life – rabbits and books. Combine the two and you’ve got pretty much a winning combination for me! That’s why Usagi no Ehon, or Rabbit Picture Book, immediately caught my eye. I’ve always been a fan of cat cafés, but I’ve yet to visit a rabbit café, and one that combines adorable rabbit-themed decor with quiet atmosphere and all kinds of picture books crowding the cafe shelves sounds too good to be true! While I might end up swapping out Usagi no Ehon for another rabbit café if it happens to be more convenient, I may just opt to make a special trip to sit with the bunnies and read some Japanese picture books. Did you know that rabbits are illegal to keep as pets in Queensland? Yeah, it’s horrible. I need my rabbit fix!

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Otome Road

I’ll tell you right now – Otome Road has always been the one major reason why I’ve been wistful to visit Tokyo. The single street in Ikebukuro is home to shops full of all a fujoshi’s favorite things, meaning it very well could the the one-stop destination for all my needs when I’m in Tokyo. So, if you’re like me and swoon over cute anime boys romancing each other or games where you play a girl who romances cute anime boys, Otome Road should not be missed! If I’m not mistaken, the Animate café in Ikebukuro is located in or around Otome Road, making them easy to see in the same trip. But knowing me, I’m sure I’ll visit Otome Road much more than once during my stay!

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Capcom x Pasela Entertainment Bar

While nearly all of the themed eating establishments I’ve seen call themselves “cafés,” I find it interesting that Capcom has opted for the more mature “bar.” Virtually all themed cafés sell alcoholic drinks anyway, but I guess Capcom wanted a slightly different angle. Not only can you eat strange Capcom-themed delicacies here such as Resident Evil zombie brains (don’t worry, it’s a cake), but the staff apparently put on a little skits from the games when they bring out your food. While I’ll sadly be missing the special Monster Hunter 10th anniversary menu, I’m sure there will be plenty of interesting food items to try and Felyne goods to buy.

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Nakano Broadway

First, I must give a huge thanks to @Richmond_Lee for providing this suggestion. Everyone always says any video game/anime nerd has to hit up Akihabara while you’re in Tokyo, but there’s just so much to see! Where would you even start? Of course, if you have days to kill, it’s fine to wander around and find all of the hidden gems for yourself, but when you’re on a tight schedule like me, it’s much more helpful to have a few specific destinations in mind.

Well, Nakano Broadway looks to be the perfect place to get my otaku shopping fix – it’s a three-story indoor market filled to the brim with rare toys, electronics, anime, manga, figures… and practically anything else a Japanese pop culture nerd could want! I like how Danny Choo describes it as an indoor Akihabara with “a lot less maids, eroge, and computer parts stores.” Sounds like my kind of place! I’m definitely going to head here for some toy, manga, and game hunting.

These are all fake! (source)

Ganso Shokuhin Sanpuru-ya

You know what’s just as awesome as eating amazing-looking food? Looking at amazing-looking food. Ganso Shokuhin is a company that has been making those plastic food samples many Japanese cafés and restaurants put in their front windows for nearly 100 years, and they’ve opened a shop near Tokyo Skytree where you can look at all of their amazing creations. On top of that, they have a shop for souvenirs and kits to make your own, and demonstrations so you can learn how the pros do it! It’s worth mentioning that they have a branch located in the Tokyo Solamachi, a mall beneath the Tokyo Skytree that is the perfect place to shop for souvenirs, so I’ll probably have to take a day to visit the Skytree and get my shopping on!

Artnia Square Enix café

It’s no secret that I love nerdy themed cafés, so of course the Square Enix cafe, Artnia, would make this list. The café itself features a futuristic layout within a dome-shaped building and sells all manner of Square Enix merchandise (some that can be bought only here, of course!) in addition to the usual cafe fare. While it’d be great if Artnia is having a special menu when I’m there, I’ll be happy just to try the adorable Moogle cappuccino pictured above along with a tasty pancake set.

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Kiddy Land Harajuku 

Kiddy Land’s flagship store is five floors of so-sweet-you’ll-get-a-cavity cuteness, so of course I have to go there! I’ve been to Kiddy Land in Osaka before, but I’m sure everything else pales in comparison to the official Harajuku store. If you’re a fan of Hello Kitty, Rilakkuma, Disney, or virtually anything else sparkly and kawaii, this is a dangerous stop for your wallet! I think I’m going to need a shopping list and a strict budget for this one, or else I’ll end up with a suitcase full of tiny adorable merchandise. It’s a given that I’ll have a suitcase full of amazing purchases by the end of my trip, but it’ll be hard to pace myself with all the cute there is to take in at Kiddy Land Harajuku! If you’re interested in being overwhelmed by all the cute, I definitely recommend checking out Japan Lover and Danny Choo‘s great photos of Kiddy Land.

There you have it – 10 wonderful destinations in Tokyo hand-picked by yours truly! Of course there are many more things I want to see and do while I’m there, but this is just a tiny slice of what I hope to experience. If you’re planning a trip to Tokyo, check out Voyagin for help buying tickets for all kinds of amazing experiences that normally require Japanese knowledge to access! If you have any suggestions/things you’d like to see me cover during my trip, let me know in the comments!

Japan Envy: Pokémon Trainer Red Nendoroid

There’s nothing like an out-of-blue announcement to really get the blood pumping, eh? I’d say that’s exactly what happened when Nintendo put up the shocking reveal trailer for the Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire remakes, Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire for the 3DS just the other day. Following that Pokémon announcement, a Japanese Twitter user tweeted a photo of a Pokémon Center poster that is sure to delight all the Nendoroid fans out there: 

That’s right, the original Pokémon trainer Red has been Nendoroid-ified! His design is based on the Pokemon Origins TV special that aired last year, and will be limited to Pokémon Centers and Amazon.jp’s Pokémon Center store, meaning it will sadly be rather tough for anyone outside of Japan to purchase him. 
While these are the only pictures of Red released so far, we do know from the poster that he will come with the three facial expressions shown, four different arm parts, five hand parts, and three leg parts. Three is a rather odd number of legs, but I assume that means one might be bent? 
Even more exciting, however, is the fact that he comes with all three original starter Pokémon, Bulbasaur, Squirtle, and Charmander, along with a Pokéball, Master Ball, Pokédex, and his backpack. Think of all the posing possibilities! 
Preorders open on May 24th and will be available until June 29th, and he will retail for ¥4,500. He releases on September 27th, but only those with preorders will be able to get their hands on one at retail price, and you can bet resellers will attempt to gouge unlucky potential buyers soon after. Overseas fans looking to order him will have to rely on a friend to go to a physical Pokémon Center or using a proxy service to order him from Amazon.jp, as they unfortunately will not ship figures outside of Japan. If you’re at a loss of where to look for a proxy service, White Rabbit Japan is a great option. 
So, how about it? Are you a big enough Pokémon fan to pick this one up, or would you prefer a different trainer? I’m not particularly interested in Red himself, but those starter Pokémon are very tempting…

UPDATE: Good Smile Company has put up a listing for the Red Nendoroid on their website, which includes images of his accessories and the three starters:

Chic Pixel YouTube Channel Update

Most of you are probably aware by now, but in case you’re not… I have a YouTube channel! I’ve always found it much easier to express myself in text versus standing up in front of people or, in this case, on camera, making starting a YouTube channel perhaps the scariest online endeavor I’ve undertaken yet. But as they say, practice makes perfect, the show must go on, and video is a whole new world just waiting to be explored!

This is the face of someone who loves what she does

In the future, I’d like to do a post here every time I upload a new YouTube video, but I’ve been rather slack about it lately, so I thought now would be a good opportunity to remind everyone that I’d like to think of the channel as an extension of the Chic Pixel site, but by no means a replacement. If you like the kind of things I post here, I’m sure you’d enjoy the videos I have to offer! But if video isn’t your thing, don’t worry, I’ll still be writing regularly, and the vast majority of my content will continue to be written. I’m not going to beat around the bush, though – the views on my videos are painfully low at the moment, so do please consider checking them out!

The main series I’m focusing on at the moment is “Apricotsushi Samples,” where I try all manner of exotic Japanese treats and film my (sometimes) hilarious reactions on camera. And since I love Japanese packaging, you can be sure there are lots of gratuitous “packshots,” too! My latest episode is a weird one indeed:

I just love that someone thought to themselves one day, “You know what would be cool? A toy toilet bowl that kids can drink out of!” I actually still have my pink toilet sitting on my shelf, currently occupied by a little plastic Sylveon. I might actually do what the package suggests and plant something in it at some point!

Now, back in March I received an OyatsuBox Japanese snack subscription which was packed full of Japanese snacks and candy. After reviewing it, I did what any sane person would do – sample every single thing in the box! If you’re curious to see what was good and not so good, this episode of Apricotsushi Samples is for you:

Finally, you may remember how I was swooning over the Japan-only Hatsune Miku lottery that Family Mart did during the month of March. My host mother was kind enough to enter the lottery a few times for me, and I recently received the fruits of her labor. If you’re curious to see what the Hatsune Miku lottery items look like up close or what a typical package from my host mom looks like, it’s all here:

With that, I think we’re just about up to date! My goal is to get into a regular routine where I upload a new episode of Apricotsushi Samples a week, and any other videos as the opportunities arise. I’m having a lot of fun filming and editing them, but it’s a lot of work I’m not accustomed to, so if you have any comments or suggestions, I’d love to hear them!

Finally, there’s the little issue of nomenclature. I can’t decide if I should brand the channel with the Chic Pixel name, or use some variation of “apricotsushi” (the user name I go by on social media) in the title. What do you think? Do you have any fun channel name ideas I might have overlooked? Let me know!