Chic Pixel’s Ultimate 2015 Holiday Gift Guide

11 / 18 / 1511 / 26 / 15

The gift-giving season is nearly upon us, which means it’s time to start deciding what you’re going to give your loved ones this holiday! Just like last year, I’ve whipped up a handy guide to cute and nerdy items that make perfect presents… for others, or maybe even for yourself! We all need to treat ourselves every once in a while, right? I’m going to try not to overlap too much with last year’s holiday gift guide, so be sure to check that out too if you’d like even more awesome gift ideas! Read More

Japan Envy: Pokémikke Okashi no Machi (Candy Town) Series

11 / 9 / 1511 / 9 / 15

Another day, another adorable Pokémon merchandise series I absolutely have to get my hands on! To be fair, it’s actually been a while since I wrote about Pokémon merchandise (but my last post is more than worth checking it if you haven’t already – it’s drop-dead adorable). Rest assured, I wouldn’t break my Pokémerch silence for any less than the best!

And the best it indeed is, as Pokémikke has just announced its third series, titled Okashi no Machi, or Candy Town. The new line of criminally adorable merchandise goes on sale in late November in Japan, and it just may be my favorite Pokémikke series yet! Here’s the full lineup:

Sofubi Invades Brisbane! Soft Vinyl Mayhem Event Recap

9 / 14 / 159 / 14 / 15

This past Friday, Australia saw its first ever sofubi exhibit right in my home of Brisbane! It’s not often that I get to attend a first of anything in Australia, let alone something related to Japanese pop culture, so of course I had to go. The event, titled Soft Vinyl Mayhem, was all about showcasing the bizarre world of sofubi, or soft vinyl toys. Before Friday, my knowledge of sofubi began and ended with Negora, but I’ve studied up and am ready to share what I’ve learned! But first, here’s a peek at what awaited me at the Soft Vinyl Mayhem show:

Chic Pixel’s Ultimate Otaku Shopping Guide

8 / 27 / 1510 / 10 / 18

It’s hard to be an anime, manga, or video game fan and not live in Japan. While our friends in the land of the rising sun have access to all of the latest merchandise, exclusive collaborations, and tie-in events, we’re left high and dry, with only an internet connection and a credit card serving as a gateway to the nerdy items we crave.

Admittedly, things have come a long way since I was a young Japan nerd! Now there are tons of online retailers that ship Japanese anime, manga, video games, figures, and virtually anything else otaku-related all around the globe. In fact, there’s almost too much choice! When you’re after a specific item, how do you know where to turn?

The Odin Sphere: Leifdrasir Famitsu DX Limited Edition is Utterly Amazing

8 / 15 / 152 / 27 / 16

Odin Sphere is one of those games that, while I think extremely highly of it, I’ve never actually finished it. Unlike my usual excuse of “well, I just got sidetracked…,” I can actually pinpoint the terrible slowdown the original PlayStation 2 version of the game experienced as the reason for my inability to complete the game. As you can imagine, I was thrilled when the HD remaster Odin Sphere: Leifdrasir was announced for a January 2016 release on PS3, PS4, and PS Vita in Japan. Not only will the game look gorgeous, but the new version should totally fix the slowdown problems of the original!

Though preorders for the Japanese version have been up since shortly after the announcement last month, the official website has only just unveiled the store-exclusive preorder bonuses for the game. Now, normally I am not a fan of these kinds of deals, but for my beloved Odin Sphere, I’ll make an exception. I may even make an exception and preorder my first Famitsu DX limited edition… I mean, just look at some of the amazing stuff you get:

Coasters?! A a Kitchen Pooka mug?! Not only that, but the extra special limited edition, exclusive to the Japanese store Ebten, will also include an A2 size tapestry, a desktop calendar, and a 3D LED crystal featuring the adorable Alice and Socrates (preview images not yet available). All preorders of the game also come with a special art book, and the Famitsu DX limited edition is no exception.

The Odin Sphere: Leifdrasir Famitsu DX limited edition will set you back ¥14,615 regardless of system for everything, or ¥11,534 for everything but the 3D crystal. I… may have already ordered the crystal-less PS Vita version. The game itself is retailing at¥7,980, clocking in the cost to get the additional tapestry, calendar, coasters, and mug at ¥3,554. That’s not so bad for all those neat goodies, in my opinion!

If you’re desperate to get your hands on this limited edition, keep in mind that the game has already been announced for an English release sometime in the future. However, I’d say it’s highly unlikely that items such as the mug, coasters, or 3D crystal will be made available elsewhere. If you’re ready to spring for this amazing set like me, you can either the preorder version with the crystal or without the crystal using a forwarding service such as Tenso to order from Ebten. I have a guide that walks you through the whole process. Happy shopping!

Japan Envy: Pikachu Nebukuro Collection

8 / 8 / 158 / 8 / 15

Banpresto has just announced their latest Pokémon Ichiban Kuji, and if you can’t tell already, this one’s a real doozy. The series is titled Pikachu Nebukuro (sleeping bag) Collection, and features pikachus in a variety of Pokémon-inspired sleeping bags. As if it weren’t cute enough, the website even opens with an adorable short story that shows how the pikachus ended up with such an adorable sleeping arrangement! Read More

Japan Envy: Pokémon Time Eevee Collection

5 / 26 / 15

Who doesn’t love Eevee? The iconic first generation Pokémon has a whopping eight different evolutions, each as adorable as the next. There certainly isn’t a lack of Eevee-related merchandise, but the Pokémon Time’s latest collection is going to capitalize on that cuteness even more in its newest line, the Eievui Collection! Wait… Eievui? You can chalk that up to a weird attempt to romanize the Japanese name, but for sanity’s sake, I’ll be sticking to Eevee. However you spell it, it’s too cute to resist!

The collection launches on June 6th in Pokémon Centers in Japan, with an exclusive tote bag to commemorate the launch available to those who spend over ¥10,000 (about $100) on any items in a Pokémon Center from June 6th through the 14th.

I absolutely love the above photo, which shows how Eevee Collection items can be integrated into your daily life. While the items themselves are not very easy to spot, there are a number of t-shirts, a blanket, and even a backpack featured! Sometimes it’s nice to own nerdy merch that isn’t so in-your-face, wouldn’t you agree?

Here’s another way they’re advertising the items, this time focusing on fashion. I absolutely love the way the products are integrated into the Sylveon girl’s outfit! Let’s take a close look at the merchandise, though, shall we?