Mike:
In the mid 1980’s, writer / producer Carl Macek was a pioneer in the distribution of Japanese anime in the USA, whose efforts acquainted many Americans with the wonders of Japanese anime for the first time. His company Streamline Pictures translated many anime titles which found their way to American TV, VCRs and even the big screen.
Streamline’s impressive list included Cagliostro’s Castle and other Lupin III titles, Barefoot Gen, Silent Mobius, Akira, Robot Carnival, Lensman, Vampire Hunter D, Golgo13, Fist of the North Star, Wicked City, Doomed Megalopolis, Windaria, Twilight of the Cockroaches, Zillion, and some of the Dirty Pair movies!
I have often contended that Hayao Miyazaki’s movie Cagliostro’s Castle would be the first thing I would show to someone who was interested in – but unfamiliar with Japanese anime. Streamline also released Lupin’s Greatest Capers which had two more marvelous Lupin episodes by Miyazaki- I sure which that would get a new DVD release!
Barefoot Gen is such a powerfully dramatic story, Silent Mobius is one of anime’s greatest science fiction masterpieces, and Dirty Pair: Project Eden other big favorite of mine. Robot Carnival is a terrific anthology of robot tales by various directors, Lensman is fun space opera based on the novels by E.E. ‘Doc’ Smith, and Vampire Hunter D is a very stylishly macabre post-apocalyptic tale.
Shonen animation rarely gets as stone-cold macho as the world’s greatest hit man Golgo13 or the deadly martial artist Kenshiro, master of the Fist of the North Star technique… and then there is Akira. I was already an anime fan since the 70’s thanks to Starblazers, Battle of the Planets, but in the late 80’s Akira became a new benchmark by which all following anime would be compared.
I had never seen anything like Akira, one of the most ground-breaking, technically brilliant & significant anime of all time and almost singularly responsible for so much anime fandom in the late 80’s. It was one of the few Japanese anime feature films to be shown in theaters, and Carl Macek is one of the people we have to thank for that astounding experience.
Akira and numerous other translated anime (on VHS) and manga titles were what introduced a new generation to anime, by the 80’s end, but allow me to go back to the mid 80’s when I was thrilled by televised science fiction, fantasy & adventure genre animation (and related toys & comic books) such as GI Joe, Transformers… and Robotech.
I still vividly recall the first time I saw Robotech’s opening titles sequence and heard that gloriously triumphant theme song, as those magnificent Varitech fighters launched to defend the Earth from the Zentradi invaders. It was a great time for me and countless others to be anime fans- thanks again to Carl Macek and the folks at Harmony Gold who brought it to the USA.
The clever- or controversial – thing about Robotech, depending on your point of view, was that Robotech was not just one anime TV show with three seasons, but actually three different Japanese series that had been edited together and integrated into a re-written, shared universe once ‘repackaged’ for the USA.
In Japan they were Superdimensional Fortress Macross, Genesis Climber Mospeda and Southern Cross- but to many American fans it was all just Robotech. It’s especially big with mecha fans and I myself have a few Macross toys & books! While there are those who prefer the unmodified original Japanese versions, there are lots of folks who do like the Robotech version.
Whether any fan prefers the original Japanese versions or the altered American versions, whether they prefer their anime dubbed, subbed, or ‘raw’ (untranslated), I don’t think there’s any denying
how Carl Macek & friends helped to introduced many Americans to anime, and from there perhaps to other aspects of Japanese culture.
Macek’s work wasn’t without critics, but the impact was quite profound. I never got to meet him or shake his hand, and although he is no longer with us, I doubt his significant accomplishments will ever be forgotten by those who became anime fans thanks to him and the others at Streamline and Harmony Gold.
For more information, I recommend the articles on Carl Macek at Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Macek and the Internet Movie Database http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0532146/, the Streamline Pictures article at Anime News Network http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/company.php?id=813, the Official Robotech site http://www.robotech.com/, the Robotech page at Absolute Anime http://www.absoluteanime.com/robotech/index.htm, and Carl Macek.com http://www.carlmacek.com.
Clan of the Cats http://www.clanofthecats.com
purrsent a Mike Moon purrduction, starring The Ladies of The Mew in
The Catgirl Critics’ Media Mewsings
for May, 2010, nya!
It’s the 30th anniversary of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back,
and in this big special 3rd Anniversary Edition of ‘The Mew’ are:
• Aloha & Introductions
• Since Last Time
• What’s Mew in the Catgirl Island Mewseum of Art
• The Lightning Round Topic: Our Favorite Surfers!
• A Look Back at The First Three Years of The Mew
• Our Monthly Lucky Kitty Web Comics Picks of the Litter
• Purriodicals, Comics & Manga Reviews:
Power Girl #11
Gotham City Sirens #11
The Brave and The Bold #33
Buffy The Vampire Slayer Season Eight #34
Mass Effect: Redemption #4
Fathom Vol. 3 Worlds at War
Spice and Wolf manga vol. 1
Shoulder – A – Coffin Kuro manga vol. 1
Back Issue Magazine #40: Cat People Issue!
• More Purrinted Media- Book Reviews:
The Complete Peanuts 1975 to 1976
Instructions by Neil Gamin & Charles Vess
Pop Wonderland’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
Meg: Hell’s Aquarium
• Toy Talk
Japan & India Hello Kitty Plushies
• Celebrity Catgirl Spotlight: Cat People’s Irena Dubrovna!
• TV, Movie, Anime & DVD Reviews
Strike Witches Complete 1st Season DVD
James Cameron’s Avatar DVD & recap our other purrevious Avatarish mewsings
The Descent Part 2 DVD
The Imaginarium of Doctor Paranssus DVD
Deadly Honeymoon TV Movie
• Our Feature Purresentation: an intermew with Rainbowfish!
• The Mermaids Wave & The Cat Lady Sings…
_______________________________________________________
Bold red warnings indicate imminent plot spoiling information,
locations of hidden Easter Eggs or certain graphic descriptions
_______________________________________________________________
Mike:
(wearing an Aria The Animation shirt, Khaki cargo shorts & Nike trainers) Aloha & Welcome to The Catgirl Critics Media Mewsings, or just ‘The Mew’ for short, for our monthly batch of banter & reviews of movies & TV shows, DVDs, music, books, comics, toys & games, conventions and other fun stuff! I’m Mike, the show’s ‘Purrducer’, and today’s 3rd Anniversary Show comes from Sheila May’s Seafood Restaurant, in the merfolks’ grotto just a few fathoms down off the NorthEastern Shore of cordial Catgirl Island!
You have to swim underwater or ride in the sub to get here, but there’s plenty of fresh air to go with the fresh seafood under this high dome ceiling! The gorgeous Anemone Room is one of the restaurant’s private dining coves, and we’re so grateful for them allowing us in before business hours to do the show! So without further delay, here are the ‘Ladies of The Mew’, along with a few of our other islander catgirl, faerie and mermaid friends!
Mary Nyan:
(wearing the Wisteria purrint ring-closure bikini and a Tuberose lei)
Konnitiwa!
Yvonne:
(in an Azalea purrint front-tie string bikini top with side-tie bottom & Heliconia lei)
Nameste, nya!
Jeannie:
(in a Cherry Blossom purrint bandau top & thong, White purreo & Pikaku lei)
Nihao!
Elizabeth:
(wearing Magnolia purrint tanga bikini, Lime Green sarong & Green Ti leaf lei)
Aloha! And here’s the Curator of the Catgirl Island Mewseum of Art–
Petra:
(Nana Puddin colour boy-shorts, Saffron colour halter top with Yellow Ginger lei)
Hi Hi, nya! I brought along our local martial arts mistress, Nya-sensei, nya!
Nyanko:
(a Blue Carnation in hair, a cropped White tee over an Azure suspender mailiot)
Howdy! We managed to catch Mie-sensei in between the golf tournyaments too!
Mielikki:
(wearing a Hibiscus in her hair tucked behind an antennae, her faerie wings extend from the back of a criss-cross Lilac bikini made with real Lilacs)
Fur shur! And here’s Ilyana, fresh from the spurring semester on the mainland!
Ilyana:
(in the Gold Metallic trimmed Purrple purretzel mailiot & Purrimrose lei)
Thanks- it’s great to be back!
Jeannie:
She has a purrfect 4.0 GPA.
(applause all around)
Ilyana:
(blush) Arigato gozaimasu! Ah, and here’s the Keeper of The Kitt Inn, Lady Nemui!
Nemui:
(wearing the Apurricot coloured cut-out mailiot and an Orchid tail corsage)
Congratulations, Ilyana-san! I purrsuaded our Police Chief to join us again too!
Meryl:
(wearing the Red tankini with a Crimson Anthurium blossom in her hair)
Mellow Greetings! I appurreciate it and hope I’ll be able to stay for the entire show!
Mary Nyan:
We sure hope so! Now I’d like to introduce Sheila May’s MerMaidtr’d, Ceresatami!
Ceresatami
(new earrings & Aqua coloured ‘Jellycups’ top made of 2 hollow jellyfish bells)
Bon jour! Just call me Tami! And here’s Tsu, our Assistant Manager!
Tsuruku:
(wearing a Blue Tang tube top, a new gold tail fin ring, and Piku shell necklace)
This is so exciting- HI!!! Um, well, on my right here is Nella, our Sommeleir!
Ne’ellakaliomi
(Brain Coral patterned top & Pink Plumeria lei)
Hola! And on MY right is ‘Lani is the restaurant’s Barista!
Kianalani
(Fuchsia coloured Jellycups top & Sand Dollar necklace)
Guten Tag! I would like to introduce Keami-chan, our Catering Coordinator!
Yvonne:
Yay ‘Keami’s here, nya!
Melanakeami
(wearing the Cherenkov Radiation Blue Jellycups and a strand of Purrls)
Shello! Allow me to introduce our Senior Saucier, Nyssy!
Nyssy:
(wearing the ivory & beige banded seashell top, and various piercings)
Hi! She may no longer be employed here since becoming a PurraMermedic with the island’s surf patrol, she’s still part of the family- so here is Dessy!
Lourdessaluorno
(Iridescent Indigo Jellycups, piercings, and a Blue Calathea flower in her hair)
Hi! Luckily I was able to swap surf patrol shifts to be here!
Nyanko:
Where’s Ruru-chan?
Lourdessaluorno
Ah- where did he go? I hope he didn’t help himself to the the salad! Ru-chan?
Avana-ruru:
(Dessy’s search & rescue manatee pup swims back to her side)
Elizabeth:
That’s almost all of us, except for Jamie who’ll join us later online!
Petra:
Yay Jamie nya! That will be about 20 of us this time- it is a big group, nya!
Mielikki:
Totally!
Mike:
And since May means Mothers Day–
(everyone in unison)
HI MOM!
Mike:
So what has everyone been up to
Since Last Time?
Meryl:
The deputies and surf purrtrol insist they can hold down the fort while I take a couple of days off! After the show I plan to hit the mainland and ride up to the mountains!
Lourdessaluorno:
No purroblemo- we have it covered! Isn’t that right, Ruru-chan?
Avana-ruru
(snacking on a sea grass appurrtizer) nom nom nom
Meryl:
Oh Jeannie, please thank your robotic club for offering to equip the Ducati with a purrtical beam, but I don’t think I have a street legal purrmit for that!
Jeannie:
It is not yet purrfected anyway. Thank you again for allowing us to admire the motorcycle collection!
Meryl:
Any time! So how are things at The Kitt Inn?
Nemui:
The same as always, I am married to the inn! If you have not been there in a while you should please visit and see the Azaleas, Wisteria and Cherry Trees. They are at the peak of the bloom! Mie-sensei I am sure they would purrticularly wish to see Mie-sensei!
Mielikki:
Then I will visit the rotemburo and orchard in the morning before I go to the forest theater! We are getting ready for the summer Shakespeare series!
Nemui:
Oh I should inform the lodgers of that- what will the plays be?
Mielikki:
A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and The Tempest! Then I will be resuming the golf tour.
Meryl:
Mie-sensei, I hope the ash cloud from Eyjafjallajokull did not affect your flight home from golf at St. Andrews!
Mielikki:
Oh that volcanic ash is grrody to the max! That stuff can like so cake up your wings! But I just flew around it! So like, how are things at the shrine?
Mary Nyan:
We have the new appurrentice miko at the shrine which is freeing me up a bit for cosplay, soccer, hula & aerial dance at the purrforming arts center!
Mike:
What are you cosplaying as next?
Mary Nyan:
I gave up on the Ney’iri cosplay because she is twice my height, but I can put the blue make-up to good use towards Aalya Secura and Liara T’soni costumes for the cons!
Elizabeth:
Ooh or how about Shadow Lass – which would be timely since there’s a new Legion of Super Heroes comic book coming out!
Tsuruku:
That would be fintastic! Speaking of costumes, I am so excited about today’s special guest, Chainmail Chick Rainbowfish!
Elizabeth:
Hai, she is so cool and I get to intermew her later for the main event!
Ne’ellakaliomi:
So how’s Lizzy been?
Elizabeth:
Oh fine but busy at the shrine, spa, soccer purractice, and planting some purrennials, but I plan to resume the free diving and my D&D game ’cause my paladin character needs to level up! I have managed to keep up with my comic books and watch The Brave and the Bold, Clone Wars, Lost, and Dancing with the Stars! I want a silver dress like the one Edyta wore for week four’s Rumba!
Petra:
I liked Cheryl Burke’s tiger stripe dress from week five, which was appurropurriate for dancing with a Bengal, nya!
Nyssy:
Bengal?
Melanakeami:
Her dance partner on the show is Chad Ochocinco, the NFL wide receiver of the Cincinatti Bengals!
Nemui:
Well, it is the Year of the Tiger!
Mary Nyan:
I’ve been listening to favorite radio purrograms with great mewsic & stories such as Back Porch Music http://wunc.org/programs/backporchmusic/, Sound Opinions http://soundopinions.org/, The Thistle & Shamrock http://www.thistleradio.com/, A Purrairie Home Companion http://prairiehome.publicradio.org/ and This American Life http://www.thisamericanlife.org/! Howboutchoo, Vonny?
Yvonne:
I could not commit to the soccer after all, and I was barely spending time with the drumming circle after the charters, but we have reeled in lots of the Bluefin, Marlin, Wahoo, Kings, Cobia, Reds, Bass, Mahi, Purrmits, & Pompano, nya! But I have been reading and keeping up with Clone Wars, and my reports for this special show, nya!
I also continue to cheer for Queensland’s Jessica Watsonhttp://www.jessicawatson.com.au/ as she appurroaches the completion of her historic attempt since October 18th to be the youngest purrson to solo sail non-stop around the world in her S&S 34 yacht Ella’s Pink Lady, and hopefully return home to Australia purrior to her 17th birthday on May 18th, nya!
(The Ladies of the Mew, in unison)
Banzai! nya!
Ne’ellakaliomi:
We were so glad to hear that Ilyana would also be here too! So what are ilyana’s plans between the semesters??
Ilyana:
Jenjen and I are going scuba diving to the sunken U-boats! You should join us!
Jeannie:
In addition to that I have the Beginner & intermediate belly dance class, the kyu-do club & robot clubs, soccer & yoga, and I am excited about the new season of Doctor Who.
Petra:
Where in the world will Jenjen be modeling next, nya?
Jeannie:
Purresumably Mikinos and Ibiza. How are things at the Mewseum of Art?
Petra:
Sigh I wonder what I did with all of my free time purrior to taking up the beach volleyball & soccer, but we have more staff & volunteers at the mewseum so it is not as hectic there with the exhibits or helping coordinating the Riverwalk artwalk ‘n swim, nya! And speaking of arts how are things at the martial arts, nya?
Nyanko:
I am thinking I will need a bigger dojo! It’s been busy there but the but so enthused and dedicated! The parents of the younger students enjoy the carpools to the tournyaments so there is the fun family atmosphere in addition to the vigorous compurrtition! I understand you’re quite the equestrian winner!
Tsuruku:
Hai! I won the last regional seahorse riding event!
(polite appluase from the catgirls)
Tsuruku:
Arigato gozaimasu! I have been watching a bit of anime, and we’ve been helping with the Leafy & Weedy Sea Dragons at the wildlife sanctuary!
Yvonne:
We nyow interrupt this purrogram to bring you the surpurrise Mew Mermaids’ Marine Biology Links List, nya!
Ceresatami:
You can learn more about these wonderful creatures at the Wikipedia articles on Weedy Sea Dragonshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weedy_sea_dragon and Leafy Sea Dragons http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leafy_sea_dragon!
Ne’ellakaliomi:
There’s a page on them at the National Geographic Society’s site http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/fish/sea-dragon/!
Kianalani:
Dive Gallery has pages about the Weedy http://www.divegallery.com/Weedy_Sea_Dragon.htm and Leafy http://www.divegallery.com/Leafy_Sea_Dragon.htm Sea Dragons!
Melanakeami:
Another informative site is Reef Watch South Australia’s Dragon Search http://www.reefwatch.asn.au/dsIntroduction.html!
Nyssy:
Blane Perun’s site TheSea.org is a big oceanic resource with pages on the Sea Dragons, both Leafy http://www.thesea.org/TheSea/leafy_sea_dragon.html and Weedy http://www.thesea.org/TheSea/weedy_sea_dragon.html!
Lourdessaluorno:
I found this interesting site pertaining to not just Sea Dragons, but also Seahorses & Pipefish too, at FusedJaw http://www.fusedjaw.com/!
Yvonne:
We now resume our regularly scheduled mewsings, already in purrogress, nya!
Ne’ellakaliomi:
‘Lani and I have been taking pictures them, and we’ve both entered some of our photos in the Riverwalk Artwalk ‘n Swim!
Kianalani:
Hai, so hopefully Madam Petra will award us the blue ribbon, hee!
Meryl:
Hey, no tampurring with the judging, hee!
Petra:
I am one of the event organizers but not a judge, nya!
Kianalani:
Oh I am just kidding, I just hope to promote the awareness of the dragons! However I am hoping to win the big barista contest!
Ne’ellakaliomi:
With her special sea foam technique she is a cinch to win!
Nemui:
Please keep us informed so we can purropurrly purrmote you!
Nyanko:
We will cheer for your cappuccino and rally ’round the mocha!
Kianalani:
Hee thanks guys! Tami has an upcoming dance recital too!
Ceresatami:
I sent out the email & tweets about it!
Elizabeth:
I need to RSVP.
Mielikki:
The Fey will not miss it! Say did you change your finstyles, nya?
Tsuruku:
Hai, I got a gold tail fin ring! Tami’s got new jewelry too!
Ceresatami:
I got these cute new silver “Narwhale Tusk” earrings!
Meryl:
Kawaii!
Nemui:
Do any big fish ever try to nip your tail fin, mistaking that jewelry for a lure?
Lourdessaluorno:
No, but they would get a mouthful of spines if they tried!
Mielikki:
Although, I would say those are “alluring” tails heehee!
Kianalani:
Arigato, Mie-sensei! Using the styling product helps keep the scales nice ‘n shimmery!
Petra:
We should definitely purrsue that idea for a local jewelry & tattoo artists exhibit at the mewseum – would y’all like to help, nya?
The mermaids:
Hai!
Petra:
I will discuss it with my assistant, nya. Purrhaps we could purrsuade Nya-sensei’s sister to purrticipate, nya?
Nyanko:
Ahh… well she might be purrsuaded, but she’s not around much…!
Mielikki:
So like, where is Nyoka these days, anyway?
Nyanko:
Oh, last I heard she was off to visit Purrince Edward Island!
Melanakeami:
Sugoi!
Mielikki:
Keami-chan, How much closer are you to purrchasing the hot air balloon?
Melanakeami:
Ah I am still a ways off…! I had a set-back when I had to to buy a new laptop and textbooks!
Ilyana:
They can be purricey! So how are your visual & purrforming arts purrogressing?
Melanakeami:
Sigh, gosh, lately between classes and catering I have been busy and my hobbies have lapsed! So how about you, Nyssy?
Nyssy:
The restaurant, dragons sanctuary, cheer & dance squad competition, and the ikebana club fill up my time!
Mike:
Are these your arrnagements on the tables and alcoves by your club?
Nyssy:
Hai, I did that one and that one… but most of these are by ‘Lani, who i the new club president!
Nemui:
The arrangements you did for the inn receive much purraise!
Nyssy:
Hee… thank you! Hopefully Madam Petra will award us the blue ribbon for those entries too, hee!
Meryl:
That is not purrmitted!
Kianalani:
We are just kidding- but any that are sold in the art show will benefit the dragons!
Mary Nyan:
Do any of y’all know if the boutiques will be getting in more jellycups? They still sell out as soon as they hit the shelves!
Ne’ellakaliomi:
I read something about a sea nettle couture version starting to turn up!
Mielikki:
I should check with my selkie friends the next time I play at St. Andrews… they like totally keep up with UK, Milan & Parisian fey fashions!
Jeannie:
I will also investigate it. I assume things are well with Dessy and the surf purrtol- I have not heard of any incidents.
Lourdessaluorno:
Hai, it has been pleasant here of late, knock on driftwood, but are ever poised to assist in other regions in the event of an emergency! OK now it is Mike’s turn!
Mike:
I’ve been watching A Year in Provence, the BBC series starring Lindsay Duncan & John Thaw…
Meryl:
John Thaw purrtrayed Inspector Morse!
Mike:
Yep that’s him! Ah, and other highlights for April were the monthly Artwalk http://2ndfridayartwalk.com/ with lots of galleries, shops & cafes in Carrboro & Chapel Hill participating, and the April meeting of the North Carolina Web Comics Coffee Clatch http://ncwccc.com/ at lovely Caffe Driade http://www.caffedriade.com/, the neatest cafe with outdoor patios in the woods!
There was the AIDS Walk and Ride http://www.aidswalkandride.org/ in Raleigh, Free Comic Book Day http://www.freecomicbookday.com/ at participating comic book shops, getting ready for Animazement http://www.animazement.org/, Heroes Con http://heroesonline.com/, some design projects, gardening, and I’m hoping to hit a bucket of balls at the driving range this week!
Mielikki:
Oh let me know when you want to go- you can be my guest at the club! Oh, Petra, I hear there’s like this totally awesome new portrait of a certain mermaid? Could tell us–
What’s Mew in the Catgirl Island Mewseum of Art?
Petra:
Hai, nya! We are honored to have an addition to the mewseum’s Guest Gallery http://catgirlisland.net/art/gallery/guest.html, nya! To see that pic it will be on the bottom row of that gallery page, so just click on the small ‘thumbnail’ size portion of that image to see the full pic!
It is a purrfect portrait of “Kianalani” here by our amazingly talented friend Bixhttp://tonomurabix.deviantart.com/, nya! This is the 3rd portrait that Bix has done of of our local mermaids, after purrior portraits of Nel, Dessy & Ruru-chan, as well as several catgirl and faerie illustrations in the mewseum, nya!
It was rendered with purrismacolor pencils & ink, and I think it is a purrticularly lovely pic, which captures ‘Lani’s lovely coiffure, complexion, and the rich luster of her purretty mer-tail, nya! Bix is very adept with the portraiture, purropurtions, colour & light, and the foamy ripply seascape under the crescent moon, nya!
Lourdessaluorno:
Y’all should have seen the look on ‘Lani’s face when the she first saw the portrait!
Kianalani:
(excited flappy fishy tail) I’M SO HAPPY!!!!
Nyssy:
Ooh lookit how she captured ‘that look’ ‘Lani gives over the shoulder, hee!
Ceresatami:
Bix sure faithfully caught ‘Lani’s likeness & expression!
Petra:
This dialogue reminds me of the reaction to Myayr’s portrait, nya!
Ne’ellakaliomi:
Oh I’ll bet- I finally got to see the gorgeous portrait of Myayr by Jamie Davenport!
Melanakeami:
Wow I can’t believe that there are portraits of us in the mewseum!
Mike:
We are so fortunate to have been visited by so many wonderful artists!
Nyssy:
Thank you for introducing that new art!
Petra:
You’re welcome, nya!
Tsuruku:
What’s next?
Avana-ruru:
(swims by trailing a banner which reads)
The Lightning Round!
Lourdessaluorno:
It is now time for the Lightning Round part of the show! For those who are new Mew viewers, in the Lightning Round, a fun discussionary topic is chosen, to which everyone replies in fast fashion. A person’s response can be a one word or a quick sentence or two, then another person is tagged to go next, and so forth until everyone has gone!
It could be any topic such as “movie or TV show you most want on DVD”, “the best concerts you ever attended”, “favorite video game”, “favorite vampire movies” and so forth. The Lightning Round is a good warm-up segment for The Mew, and hopefully it might inspire an interesting conversational topic amongst the viewers! So let’s get started with today’s topic–
Our Favorite Surfers!
(the ladies in unison)
LIGHTNING ROUND GO! nya!
Avana-ruru:
(reverses direction, the other side of banner has a pic of a lightning bolt)
Ilyana:
(tagged by Dessy to start the round) Do you mean purrofessional surfers?
Lourdessaluorno:
It could include pro or amateur long board, short board, body boarders, wake, paddle, kite or wind surfers of any age or nationality, past or present! I realize this might be tough to choose so just try to list your favorites as quickly as you can! Ready?
Ilyana:
Hai. Then… Keala Kennelly, Michiko Morimoto, Chelsea Hedges, Veronica Kay, Stef Tor, Amee Donohoe, Rosy Hodge, Marisa Miller, Yasuko Sato, and Sofia Mulanovich! (tags Nyssy to go next)
Nyssy:
My turn? Oh… Layne Beachley, Lisa Anderson, Kaitlin Maguire, Megan Abubo. Emilia Perry, Rochelle Ballard, Bethany Hamilton, Yumi Hori, Brandy Filtzer and and Chanelle Sladics who is also the snowboarder! OK you’re ‘it’, Chief Meryl! (tags Meryl)
Meryl:
Layne, Keala,Pam Burridge, Stephanie Gilmore, Sally Fitzgibbons, Easkey Britton, Beth Mason, Nicole Morgan, Paige Hareb, Sarah Beardmore, Wendy Botha, Ellie-Jean Coffey, Gemma Harris, Gwen Spurlock, Natalie Fox, Candice O’Donnell, Arini & Sarah Mason, Bec Gange, Amber Wing and iron woman Hayley Bateup! (tags Nyanko)
Nyanko:
Yay Hayley Bateup – I will vote for her too, and other stars of the surf such as Shelby Kantar, Pauline Menczer, Stephanie Gilmore, Yoko Furuichi, Kanesa Duncan, Suzie Cooney,… and Carol Philips, Lena Yada, Stacey Guy, Julie Whitegon, Jenny Crusat, and North Carolina’s Kell Nicely and Kayleigh Winslow! (tags Lani)
Kianalani:
Definitely Bethany & Rochelle…. and … Andrea Kabwasa… Holly Beck, Sarah Bentley, Claudia Goncalves… Pauline Ado… Brianna Coleman, oh oh and Reika Noro and Masumi Shiokawa! (tags Petra with the flit of her mer-tail)
Petra:
Hee- I’d say my top ten are Brittany Fletcher, Annie Allegretti, Izzy Tihanyi, Prue Jeffries, Atsuko Nakano, Cori Schumacher, Yumie Kouchi, Tammy-Lee Smith, Juli Warisaya and Angela Maki Vernon, nya! And now it is… Tami’s turn, nya! (tags Tami)
Ceresatami:
Oh… can I pass? I’m not ready!
Lourdessaluorno:
Ok we will come back to you, so tag someone else!
Petra:
I wanna include inspurrational Bethany Hamilton too, nya!
Elizabeth:
(tagged) Hmm I would have to say… purrobably… Heather Tiddens, Tiare Friedman, Hayley Smith, Sarah Gerhrdt, Dallas Friday, Kerry Powell, Kassia Meador, Nicola Atherton, Amy Swanson, Joy Monohan, Kyla Langen, Leah Dawson, Asako Mizuno, Bo Stanley and Rachel Spear! (tags ‘Keami)
Melanakeami:
Alessa Quizon, Maya Gabeira, Shelby Detmers, Anna Garaway, Mercedes Maidana, Monica Byrne Wickey, Jenna Balester, Judith Sheridan and Bruna Schmitz, oh oh and Savannah Bradley! (tags Nemui)
Nemui:
In addition to those amazing athletes purreviously purraised, I wish to add Caroline Sarran, Masumi Shiokawa, Serena Brook, Coco Ho, Lizzie Williams, Lani Doherty, Miya Inoue, Cassandra Scott, Karina Petroni, Leilani Gryde, Hiroko Ohashi, and Claire Bevilacqua! (taps Nella)
Ne’ellakaliomi:
My favorite surfers are Jennifer Useldinger, Courtney Conlogue, Melanie Bartels, Mimi Horiuchi, Jennifer Flanigan, Sayuri Hashimoto, Kelia Moniz, Heather Hudson, Brittani Nicholl, Chiaki Okuyama, Marie Dejean, Robin ‘Zeuf” Janiszeufski, Sarah Baum and twin sisters Sierra & Hailey Partridge! Vonny’sturn! (tail flits Vonny)
Yvonne:
Soul surfer Bethany Hamilton, Alana Blanchard, Carissa Moore, Midori Oshima, Belinda Baggs, Kirby Wright, Karen Gallagher, Jo Dennison, Shauna Ward and actress Tanna Frederick, nya! (politely kitty tail pokes the faerie)
Mielikki:
Jamilah Star, Lynne Boyer, Margo Oberg, Joyce Hoffman, Jericho Poplar, Linda Benson, Kathy Kohner Zuckerman, Grace Rheeders, Maureen Drummy & her mom Mary Lou Drummy, the legendary Mary Ann Hawkins, and the late Rell Sun, fur shur. (tags Jen with the brush of a wing tip)
Ceresatami:
ponder ponder ponder…
Jeannie:
I narrowed it to these 16: Malia Jones, Sanoe Lake, Schuyler McFerran, Jarah Mariano, Naara Carolyne, Maylla Venturin, Akemi Saito, Karina Mattos, Yries Pereira, Emily Dudley, Neymara Carvalho, Renata Cavalleiro, Kamilla Pimentel, Crystal Dzigas, Kayla Goosen, and Isabela Sousa. (tags Tsu)
Tsuruku:
Ooh we should also include Marine and Ophelie Ah-Kouen, Kim Mayer, Esther Hahn, Kim Mearig, Anastasia Ashley, Laura Enever, Erica Hosseini, Mary Osborne, Johanne Defay, Lyndsay Noyce and Lexi VonderLieth! Oh oh and Rebecca Woods, Pandora Decoster and… oh I could mention others but I need to keep it shorter! (tags Myayr)
Mary Nyan:
It’s a tough call but… Megan, Bethany, Sanoe, Kassia, Paige… Steph, Rochelle, Zeuf, Layne, Holly… Frieda Zamba, Coline Menard, Silvana Lima, Alyssa Wooten, Meleana White… Krisha Sowinski, Daize Shayne, Nao Omura, Jeanette Ortiz, Malia Manuel… Marine Ah-Kouen… and mewsicians such as Anuhea Jenkins, Kym Campbell, Ashleigh Mannix & Ashley Lloyd! (tags Mike)
Mike:
I’d like to mention several brilliant artists / designers who also catch the waves, such as Heather Brown http://www.heatherbrownart.com/, Julie Cox http://juliecoxsurfing.com/, Lane Davey http://www.usgirlshawaii.com/, Betty Depolito http://www.aroundhawaii.com/banzai-betty-blog.html, Colleen Gnos http://www.colleengnos.com/, Dawn Gray http://www.reddawndesigns.com/,
Lucia Griggi http://www.luciadaniellagriggi.co.uk/, Liz Lantz http://www.lizlantz.com/, Karlee Mackie http://karleemackie.wordpress.com/, Pamela Neswald http://www.wetsetter.com/, Leisa O’Brien http://www.envisionillustration.com/, Fernanda O’Connell http://fernanda-surfart.blogspot.com/, Peggy Oki http://www.peggy-oki.com/, Ana Osgood http://www.anaosgood.com,
Bonnie Preziosi http://www.bpwaves.com/, Sally Lundberg http://sallylundburg.com, Jenifer Prince http://www.kauaiarts.net/, Julie Rhodes http://www.julierhodes.com/, Wanda Smans http://www.wandasmans.com/, Donna von Hoesslin http://www.bettybelts.com, and Dr. Jasmin Young http://jasmindesigns.blogspot.com/!
Ceresatami:
ponder ponder ponder…
Meryl:
Easkey Britton http://www.easkeybritton.com/ is not just one of the greatest surfers but she is an artist too! Oh gosh- and of course there’s the famous sculptural works that purrmote the efforts of the Keep-A-Breast http://www.keep-a-breast.org/ organization, which was founded by Shaney Jo Darden & Mona Mukherjea-Gehrig to fight cancer!
Petra:
Don’t forget the photography by Nikki Brooks http://www.nikkibrooksphotography.com/, editor Lynne Dickinson http://www.curl.co.nz/, Helen Hening http://www.helenhening.com/, Heather Hiett http://www.h2photos.com/, Maggie Marsekwww.maggiemarsek.com, Elizabeth Pepin http://www.jettygirl.com/features/elizabeth_pepin.html,
Simone Reddingius http://www.flickr.com/photos/by-simone/, Mary Schwinn http://www.maryschwinn.com/, Shannon Switzer http://www.aquasoulphotography.smugmug.com/, and the paintings of Jenny Brymer – who is among the many surf artists purrofiled at Club of the Waves http://www.clubofthewaves.com/, an impurressive site dedicated to surf art, culture, history, nya!
Mary Nyan:
I so hope our theater gets that surfing documentary movie First Love http://www.firstlovethefilm.com/ by Claire Gorman, Clare Plueckhahn & Fran Derham! It stars Jess Laing, India Payne and Nikki van Dijk!
Nyssy:
I want to see that too- we should make the inquiry!
Mielikki:
Those are all such seriously talented & adventurous illustrators, designers, sculptors, photographers, and film makers!
Mike:
Oh that reminds me- I almost forgot to mention another favorite surfer, Norrin Rad! I’m sorry- we still have to hear Tami and Dessy’s favorites!
Avana-ruru:
(cruises by with banner that reads “So much for lightning fast!”)
Lourdessaluorno:
Now cut that out!
Yvonne:
We stray-cat off topic all the time Dessy but your lightning round is going purretty well given this many purrticipants, nya!
Mielikki:
So, has Tami-chan had enough time to ponder her favorites?
Ceresatami:
Hai- I’ll nominate Missy Gibson, Jennifer Smith, Sage Erickson, Emily Copeland, Kumiko Mishima, Jessi Miley-Dyer, Yuko Shimajiri, Leah Gibney, Shakira Westdorp, Carla Rowland, Diana Cristina, Janna Irons, Paige Hareb, Justine Mauvin, Ornella Pellizari, and Bethany Hamilton! So… now it is back to Dessy to finish the round!
Lourdessaluorno:
Christa Alves,Lee Ann Curren Daize… wait, who’s Norrin Rad?
Elizabeth:
THE SILVER SURFER!
Lourdessaluorno:
Oh… Ok!
Kianalani:
I was just thinking of real surfers- I was not even thinking of fictional surfers!
Jeannie:
If we are including sky & space surfing, that is purrominent in Eureka 7 and Treasure Planet.
Mary Nyan:
Y’know, the Silver Surfer was on the cover of Joe Satriani’s “Surfing with the Alien” album! That record rocked!
Melanakeami:
Lena (Sanoe Lake)’s fellow Blue Crush characters Anne Marie (Kate Bosworth), Eden (Michelle Rodriguez) & Penny (Mika Boorem), nya!
Nemui:
The characters Natalie (Cameron Diaz) and Madison (Demi Moore) in Charlie’s Angels Full Throttle!
Petra:
Daphne surfed in “Aloha Scooby Doo”, nya!
Elizabeth:
Hai Hai… there was much surfing in Archie Comics, and oh, of course, Koni Waves, and Fathom’s Aspen Mathews is an an expurrt surfer too!
Jeannie:
Batman, James Bond, Snake Plisskin, Ranma Saotome and Snoopy know how to surf.
Nyssy:
Huhwhat? When did Batman surf?
Jeannie:
It was an epurrsode of the 1966 TV series. The Joker surfed too.
Ilyana:
Um, I think Mike wants us to expurrdite what’s left of the lightning!
Mike:
Well yeah, but I was also gonna add Lance of Apocalypse Now, and Doolittle of Dark Star!
Avana-ruru:
(swims out of the room)
Lourdessaluorno:
Wow I think we came up with a fine list of wonderfully talented wave riders!
Ne’ellakaliomi:
Wave Riders was a great Elfquest Spin-off comic book!
Tsuruku:
That was my favorite!
Ceresatami:
Wasn’t there a DC comic book character named Waverider?
Meryl:
Mike’s got that look on his face- he’s just about to say–
Mike:
Um, we need to wind it up folks, and it’s about break time too… Dessy, I’m sorry- don’t think you got to finish your picks!
Lourdessaluorno:
Ok… um I was going to nominate Christa Alves,Lee Ann Curren, Nichola Butler, Andrea Moller, Tasia Jones, Lisa Tuttle, CJ Soto, Jen GilanFarr, Alizee Amaud, and Bethany Hamilton!
Mike:
Thank you very much for conducting the lightning round!
(the Ladies of the Mew)
Arigato, Dessy, nya!
Nyanko:
“Conducting the lightning”… hee!
Lourdessaluorno:
De nada! Say where’d my manatee go?
Yvonne
There he is by that alcove, nya!
Lourdessaluorno:
Ah–! Ruru-chan, don’t nibble those floral arrangements!
Kianalani:
EEK!
Avana-ruru:
nom nom nom
Mary Nyan:
Of course there are so very many other surfers whom we admire- perhaps our viewers will ponder their own favorite surfers too! That’ll do it for the Lightning Round and for this part of the show, but we’ll be right back after this short break, so please don’t go away!
(snip)
(one short break later..)
Avana-ruru:
(cruises by with a banner reading)
A Look Back at The First Three Years of The Mew!
May, 2007: The Mew purremiers
Mary Nyan:
We’re back! My my It is hard to believe it has been three years since that the May, 2007 Mew, on the 30th anniversary of Star Wars, when our first movie reviews were 300, Grindhouse, The HIlls Have Eyes 2, Spider-Man 3 and 28 Weeks Later, and TV purrograms we talked about on that first show were the re-mastered Star Trek, Doctor Who and Galactica!
Jeannie:
In Jamie’s web comic Clan of the Cats, Dracula & Chelsea were in hell fighting the demons.
Mary Nyan:
You can sure tell a big difference between that purremier show and later ones… it wasn’t as long for one thing!
Yvonne:
Myayr’s critiques sure got a lot longer, and induced the catnaps, hee!
Mary Nyan:
Ah—!
Mike:
Now now!
Elizabeth:
Mike did not transcribe every word from the recording- he missed some “nya’s”!
Jeannie:
It was a shakedown purriod and a learning expurrience for all of us.
Yvonne:
I think Jennyjen’s reviews have been the most consistent all along… she tends to give more purroduct facts than the opinions, nya!
Jeannie:
Well we all have a purrticular style and purreferences.
Mike:
The June 2007 Mew had our Animazement con report and our first DVD wish list… and the July 2007 Mew had our Heroes Con report and our first web comics picks of the litter!
Mary Nyan:
The August, 2007 Mew had our first intermews with special guests! Thanks to Jamie, on that show we welcomed Clan of the Cats http://clanofthecats.com and Sebo cast members Chelsea Chattan, her daughter Charlotte, and cats Sebastian, Eon, Beige, Leander, Seydi, Fluff & Loki!
Elizabeth:
The September 2007 Mew had our book review on Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows… and then in the October, 2007 Mew our next special guests were Power Rangers fan / collector Pacozord and Star Wars fan / action figure collector ob1.
Yvonne:
December, 2007 was I think the first time we purrformed our Catgirl Holiday Fun Song, nya! I think we should sing that again sometime, nya!
Mary Nyan:
January 2008’s Mew had plenty of toy & collectible reviews including Wonder Woman, Elfquest Leetah statue, Tales of the Abyss, My Hime, Star Trek, and Hermione Granger items… and our first annual Awards Purrogram was in February of 2008!
Jeannie:
The March ’08 show was the cosplay special, with our guests Crissy http://www.crimsonskycreations.com/, Hezachan http://www.hezachan.com/, Misty http://daisukiwabunny.com/ and Bix http://tonomurabix.deviantart.com/, and our report on WhatTheHell?!Con http://www.guilford.edu/yachting/wthcon/.
May, 2008: The 1st Anniversary Mega-Mew
Petra:
The 1st anniversary show of May, 2008 occurred at the newly renovated Catgirl Island Center for Purrforming Arts, nya! It was somehow fitting, given how enormous that place is… because I recall that purrticular show went on forever, nya!
Meryl:
They were all dressed up too- Lizzy wore the little black cocktail dress, Jenjen wore that crimson cheongsam, Vonny wore a saree and Myayr had the kimono, nya!
Nyanko:
It was a purretty special show with a mewsic focus and lotsa guests, with Rivka, Becky & Dolph of the mewsical trio Three Quarter Ale http://www.threequarterale.com/, Animazement and WXDU’s Phil Lee http://ibiblio.org/phil/, Pink Lady expurrt Jeff Branch http://www.pinkladyamerica.com… Klingon Karaoke Captain Keela, singer Lisa Kyle and Jamie were intermiewed too!
Ilyana:
That was when Vonny pounced upon Phil’s yo-yo, heh!
Yvonne:
I could not resist my temptation, nya!
Mielikki:
That also had our reports on Animazement, Bot Con http://www.botcon.com/, the Carolina Basketball Museum http://www.carolinabasketballmuseum.com, and it was when we first heard that Aria the Animation http://aria.rightstuf.com/ would be released here on DVD by Right Stuf, and become our favorite manga & anime TV series of the past decade, fur shur!
Petra:
June 2008 was a sad month due to the passing of Michael Turner and Stan Winston who we talked a bit about… but there was some happier art mews in July 2008 with Syd Mead’s http://www.sydmead.com/ 75th birthday! He is Mike’s favoritest designer, nya!
Mary Nyan:
That August’s Mew had a guest review by our friend Kaiser of Judas Priest’s Nostradamas album! (throws the ‘horns’ hand gesture and sticks her tongue out) Nyaaa!
Nyanko:
That summer was also when we were introduced to a favorite new Star Wars character, Ahsoka Tano, and when Kerri Walsh & Misty May Traenor won the beach volleyball gold in Beijing! That seemed like too short a summer though because it was Autumn before I knew it and then time for–
October, 2008: Trick ‘R Eat!
Mielikki:
October, 2008 was another big intermew show, with special guests author Marna Martin http://marnamartin.webs.com, Star Wars fan Tiawyn http://trevnara2001.livejournal.com/, monster plushy maker Igor, returning guest Jeff Branch http://scribeofthemoon.webs.com/, and Osiris Rising’s Tari http://sailorsirius.webs.com/, blogger Sparky MacMillan http://sparkymac.wordpress.com/ and his review of K-9 & Company. Nemui was there for that show too, which originated from her inn!
Nemui:
As I recall for your Halloween cosplay of the characters from the anime Daphne in the Brilliant Blue, Jenjen purrtrayed Shizuka, Lizzy was Gloria, Myayr dressed up as Rena, and Ilyana was Yuu!
Ilyana:
Hee Lizzy had that ‘wardrobe malfunction’ when she tried to play a Halloween pounce purrank on Vonny!
Elizabeth:
(purrturbed kitty tail twitch) Ah– that spooky tree grabbed my top!
Nemui:
I hope that was not one of the trees in my orchard misbehaving!
Mielikki:
No, it was in the park and the tree was innocent of the Halloween trick backfire!
Ilyana:
Well if it is any consolation, I think a spooky tree in Pirate Cove pulled my tail once!
Nemui:
There are uncultivated trees in maritime forest!, However, purrhaps we have stray catted off the topic!
Ilyana:
I was lucky to be there a 2nd time for the November, 2008 Mew when we welcomed web comics My Fake Heart’s creator Niki Lemonade http://myfakeheart.smackjeeves.com/, and The Devil’s Panties’ creator Jennie Breeden http://devilspanties.keenspot.com/!
Nyanko:
December 2008’s holiday extravaganza included guests model & milliner Joei Reed http://www.modelmayhem.com/joeireed, http://joeireedhats.etsy.com/, artist / cosplayer Sakky http://www.sailorastera.com/store/, artist Emathyst http://emathyst.deviantart.com/, artist / author Jamie Davenport http://jamiedavenport.deviantart.com/, comics writer / journalist Dan Johnson http://dan.johnson.writer.googlepages.com/danjohnson%27shomepage, and Simone & Ajax http://www.simoneandajax.com/ creator / comics writer & artist Andrew Pepoy http://www.pepoy.com/!
Meryl:
That was a poignant Mew because Sakky talked about her friend Sara ‘Glory’ Baker…
(all in unison)
GET WELL SOON SARA, nya!
Mary Nyan:
It was several big intermew shows in a row- as our January 2009 guests were our Chef friend Ron, and several more stars of Clan of the Cats: Akemi Tamiko, Audrey Kim, Ruth Chattan, Anna Louise Crenshaw, Diane Chattan Monroe & Rei Hoshi! Rei Hoshi was a scary spider grrl… brr!
Kianalani:
It is the arachnaphobia!
Elizabeth:
We don’t wish to generalize about were-spider grrls, but in this purrticular case, her dispurrsition was purrticularly unnerving! She was licking her chops… at us!
February, 2009: The 2nd Annual Mew Awards
Mielikki:
Nya-sensei and I were there for the February, 2009 Awards show to pick favorite stuff of 2008! So like, the pick for favorite Live Mewsical Purrformace of 2008 was Yes, Favorite Album was Asia’s Phoenix, and Favorite Song of 2008 was Peter Gabriel’s “Down to the Earth”, from the movie Wall-E!”
Nyanko:
Gail Kim, Danica Patrick, Beth Mowins, Pam Ward, Kara Lawson, Doris Burke, Sally Fitzgibbons, Bethany Hamilton, Tanya Streeter, Misty May-Treanor & Kerri Walsh, Diana Lopez, Katie Hoff, Dara Torres, and the UNC Tarheels Womens Soccer Team were among the favorite purrsonalities in the sports category!
Petra:
I remember the favorite & collectible toy picks too, nya! Those included the Hot Wheels 1966 1:16 Batmobile, Art Asylum’s Star Trek II USS Enterpurrise, Happinet’s PVC figure of Yurei from the anime Kami-Chu, and Hasbro’s Transformers Animated Blackarachnia – who is another spider grrl, nya!
Nemui:
Among the favorite books of 2008 were Brush With Passion: The Art & Life of Dave Stevens, JK Rowling’s Tales of Beedle the Bard, Nurk by Ursula Vernon, the Anniversary Edition of Frankenstein illustrated by Berni Wrightson, and the big Surf Girl Roxy book!
Ilyana:
The favorite comics, graphic novels, manga & comics collections of 2008 were Aria, KonKon Kokon, Fathom: The Definitive Edition, Katy Keene Model Behavior, Wendy Pini’s adaptation of Masque of the Red Death, and The Complete Peanuts series!
Elizabeth:
Uh-huh, and WALL-E, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, The Little Mermaid- Ariel’s Beginning, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and Aria were the winners in our animation category! Doctor Who, The Sarah Jane Adventures, H20: Just Add Water, Power Rangers Jungle Fury, The Big Break: Ka’anapali, Shimmy, Namaste, and Samantha Brown’s travel show were some of the TV picks!
Yvonne:
The cinema category was purretty complicated with the sub-categories, nya! The Dark Knight was our favorite pick for editing, cinematography, screenplay, director and best film, nya. Hellboy 2 got favorite make-up, Li BingBing won for best hair, the pick for best tattoos went too Lee-Ann Lliebenberg & Chelsea Richards, Diane Lane was our favorite actress, and the pick for Cutest Overall Look went to Ahsoka Tano, nya!
Jeannie:
The March 2009 intermew with Jeff Branch’s character Alexandra the vampire http://phillyflash.deviantart.com/. She was a very polite vamp who purromised not to chomp any good people.
Nyanko:
March 2009’s Mew had reviews of What The Hell Con, The Nevermore Film Festival, and the Oscars… And in Apurril’s we reviewed Stellar Con and began our mulit-mew discussion on women of colour in science fiction, fantasy & horror genres! Wow that just about brings us up to–
May, 2009: Our 2nd Anniversary!
Nemui:
That show was at Susanowo Beach, so our mermaid friends could join the show and the later luau on the shore! Meryl, you surrpurrised us by wearing that Bengal Tiger stripe tankini!
Meryl:
Hai- and you had on that cute Clouded Leopard purrint ring-closure bikini! I also recall that Dessy had just been certified as a Paramermedic then, so this is an anniversary for her too!
Lourdessaluorno:
Thanks guys! I will have to give Ruru-chan a nice celebratory cabbage. That sure was a very festive time and I recall reviews of books & magazines that commemorated the UNC Tarheels’ 2009 national basketball championship!
Tsuruku:
Last May’s comic book reviews included the next to last issue of Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds, Dr. Light / Kimiyo Hoshi appearing in the Justice League of America, the conclusion of “Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?” and the Star Trek: Countdown movie prequel comic!
Ne’ellakaliomi:
I think the only theatrical release that was reviewed that month was X-Men Origins: Wolverine… and the only TV show review was of Krod Mandoon and the Flaming Sword of Fire…. but there were several DVDs reviewed such as Scooby Doo and the Samurai Sword, Captain Nemo and the Underwater City, The Mysterious Cities of Gold, and Dojinwork Vol. One!
Kianalani:
Of course the main event of the 2nd Anniversary Mew was the interview with special guest Ursula Vernon http://www.redwombatstudio.com/blog/! She is such a nice, stylish & talented genius artist & author!
Nyssy:
Among the other topics for that show were centaurs, and women of colour in the science fiction, fantasy & horror genres!
Lourdessaluorno:
Then in June, 2009 the special guest was professional costumer Cheralyn Lambeth http://ghostposting.blogspot.com/! She is such a friendly, kind, and amazingly talented person who makes the conventions more fun! I recall that month’s movie reviews included Star Trek, Terminator: Salvation, and Pixar’s Up!
Ceresatami:
I recall… September’s Mew had that the double main event of wonderful fantasy artists Rebecca Brogden http://www.rbrogdenart.com/ and Alan Welch http://www.reverierealm.com/!
Melanakeami:
October’s guest was Clint Hollingsworth http://www.wanderingones.com/, creator of web comics such as The Wandering Ones and Shin Kage; that was also when the monthly Celebrity Catgirl Spotlight started! November’s guests were the web comic A Girl and Her Fed’s creator Otter http://agirlandherfed.com/, and Clan of the Cats’ Melepomene Chattan!
Kianalani:
December’s guests were fandom legends Deborah & Devra Langsam! These days Deborah & her husband are chocolatiers http://www.barkingdogchocolates.org and she is a fibre artist www.barkingdogfiberart.org: Devra has a company Poison Pen Prress, http://www.poisonpenpress.com/ which sells books about Medieval & Renaissance culture, combat, crafts & cuisine!
December 2009: the 30th anniversary of Mike’s favoritest
movie of all time, Star Trek – The Motion Picture…
Ne’ellakaliomi:
December 7, 2009 was of course the 30th anniversary of Mike’s favoritest movie of all time, but let’s not get him started on that again, hee!
Avana-ruru:
(nods)
Mike:
Ah- I wasn’t gonna!
Meryl:
But you do tend to talk about it at the least purrovocation, hee!
Mike:
Sigh!
Ilyana:
January ’09’s show included reviews of Spice and Wolf, The Princess and the Frog, Sherlock Holmes, Avatar and Star Trek stuff, Tori Amos’ Midwinter’s Grace CD, The Art of Charles Vess, and Nya-sensei’s ‘intermew’ with author & Avengers expurrt, Purrofessor Van Plexico http://www.plexico.net/! Petra wore her wearing the cute Flowering Pineapple purrint string bikini!
Petra:
I almost wore that again today, nya!
Ceresatami:
Then it was February’s awards show for favorite stuff of 2009! There were lots of categories and sub-categories!
Kianalani:
Tori Amos, Karen O, Cheryl Burke, KISS, Trans Siberian Orchestra, Randy Newman, Joe Hisaishi, The Beatles box sets, the Muppets’ “Bohemian Rapsody” music video, Shimmy, and Belly Dance Magazine were among the Mew’s Music category faves for 2008!
Elizabeth:
The Comic Book, Manga, Graphic Novel & Comic Strip Collections category faves included Aria, “What Ever Happened to The Caped Crusader?”, Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds, Buffy Season Eight, Power Girl, Gotham City Sirens, the Modern Masters series and The Complete Peanuts!
Yvonne:
Another special part of that show was during the Favorite Toys & Collectibles category, when the “Suna-chan” kitten hand-made by Alexcia http://www.sailorchristmas.com/won for favorite plushy toy, an ydou can see how to make such a cute widdle kitten plushy in the “Khriste’s Crafts” section ay Alexcia’s site, nya!
Meryl:
Alexcia’s characters Michi & Tash http://michi.byethost16.com/ made the surprise appearance to accept the award on Alexcia’s behalf! Michi wore the Orange Sherbet coloured silk caftan with a Tiger Lily hair clip & tail corsage; Tash wore the Blue Palm Tree purrint midriff peasant top with Hawaiian wraparound pants. Hopefully they can visit again soon!
Mary Nyan:
Last month’s topics included Aria The Origination, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, The Oscars, Cat Woman, our report on the NC Comic Con, and a few words about the late Dick Giordano.
Mike:
That’ll do it for the highlight reel of our first three years- and this segment of the show, but after the next short break, we’ll catch up a bit more, and then jump into this month’s reviews & topics, so please stay tuned!
Avana-ruru:
(swims by trailing a banner that reads “We’ll be right back after the short break!”)
(snip)
(one short break later..)
Jeannie:
Welcome back. It is time for our-
Monthly Lucky Kitty Web Comics Picks of the Litter
– and my recommendation for this month is the work of Faith Erin Hicks, whose fun titles include Demonology 101, Ice, Trilogy and lots of other comics! You can see those her art gallery and blog at her official web site http://www.faitherinhicks.com/!
Yvonne:
Yay my turn, nya! I’d like to recommend the web comics by Diana Sprinkle such as Green Hollow, My Muse, Handle With care, and Saiko and Lavendar, which you’ll find plus more at her site DXS Machina http://www.ghostcircles.com/dxs/, nya!
Jeannie:
I would like to recommend the wonderful works of Jonathon Dalton http://www.jonathondalton.com/.
Elizabeth:
My pick for May is the Skin Deep web comic & other splendid illustrative works of amazing art by Kory Bingaman http://www.korybingaman.com/! Her art is so cool! Howboutchoo, Petra?
Petra:
I wish to nominate the web comics by Max Riffner http://www.maxriffner.com/, such as Quick Step, Golden Boy, Drunk Elepahnt Comics, and Lydia (written by Kevin Church), nya! What did Nya-sensei pick this time, nya?
Nyanko:
The creations of Kelly Hamilton whose illustration, conceptual, animation, game and comics art you can admire at Jungle Studio http://www.junglestudio.com/!
Mielikki:
Fantasy Realms http://www.fantasyrealmsonline.com/ is like one of the most totally awesomely beautiful web comics by Niko Geyer & Clay Gardner, fur shur!
Ilyana:
I wish to purraise Honoel A. Ibardolaza’s sumptuous. lavishly rendered web comic By Moon Alone http://www.bymoonalone.com/! He is also a member of Studio Cramoisy http://www.cramoisy.com/ with Niko Geyer!
Nemui:
I have selected the exquisite Elysion Age by Alexis Cala & Justin Hernandez of Glowing Raptor Studio http://glowingraptor.com/! Who have you chosen, Meryl?
Meryl:
I have chosen Naut-cotic http://naut-cotic.net/ by Louis Lloyd-Judson, whose blog & gallery are at Louistrations http://louistrations.co.uk! Your turn, ‘Tami!
Ceresatami
I’d like to recommend Diana Cameron McQueen’s web comics A Sadistic Muse and Spades at her web site New Moon-Old Soul http://newmoon-oldsoul.com/!
Tsuruku:
The stunningly beautiful fantasy artistry of Daphne Lage, as well as her comics Egoraven and Tall Tails (the latter with JD Calderon) can be found at her lovely site The Egoworks http://www.egoworks.com/!
Ne’ellakaliomi
Sarrah ‘Nightlyre’ & Robert ‘Leezard’ Wilkinson’s super cool high fantasy web comic Planes of Eldar and other projects which you can enjoy at their Red Nebula Studios http://www.rednebulastudios.com/! Sarrah also has amazing art ‘n costumes at http://www.nightlyre.com/! OK Lani your turn!
Kianalani
‘Kay! I would like to recommend the gorgeous Reality of Dreams web comic & fabulous flora, fauna & anthropomorphic artistry of Badger (including the nice orca art) at Insane Feline Studios http://www.studios.insanefeline.com/!
Melanakeami
Min ‘Keiiii’ Kwon’s art http://www.cozypaper.com/ and web comic Haru Sari http://www.haru-sari.com/ are as gorgeous as gorgeous can be, so these get my recommendation!
Nyssy:
I am a big fan of the prose stories, art and Riven Sol http://www.rivensol.com/ comics of Elaine Corvida http://www.onecrow.net!
Lourdessaluorno:
Draconia Chronicles by Danny Valentini & Donnie Sturges, Psycho Dreamatic by Donnie Sturges & various artists, and the cute Why So by Jamie Sturges are among the super spiffy comics by their group 2WC http://www.2wconline.net/!
Avana-ruru:
(holds up a sign to purrmote Amelia Altevena’s Sketch Fervor http://www.sketchfervor.com/!)
Jamie:
(sends message) I like Gisele Legace’s http://www.giselelagace.com/ work quite a bit. She has a style that is finely crafted and is one of the best comic artists I’ve ever seen.
Mike:
Lastly but not leastly, my pick of the month isn’t so much a web comic, but a fantastic illustrated online prose adventure serial by Paul Gazis, featuring His Majesty’s Airship R505, The Flying Cloud http://airships.paulgazis.com/! That’ll do it for this month’s web comic picks, but we got more comics to discuss in our–
Purriodicals, Comics & Manga Reviews!
Power Girl #11
Nyanko:
Power Girl is about as fun as supurr hero comics get, and for the past year, it has tied with Gotham City Sirensl and Buffy The Vampire Slayer Season Eight as our favorite American comic book series!! Issue #11 is purriced at $2.99, for 32 full color pages, compurrised of the 22 page story, 9 pages of ads, and the 1 page of DC Nation mews by DC’s Dan Didio.
The creative team responsible for this excellent issue were artist Amanda Conner, writers Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti, colorist Paul Mounts, letterer John J. Hill, editor Mike Carlin, and associate editor Rachel Gluckstern. Amanda Conner also illustrated the front cover scene of Kara / Power Girl fighting her friend Atlee / Terra!
We’ve been curious as to when this series is set compared to other DC titles, and Power Girl’s references in issue #10 would seem to place this whole series after The Blackest Night event. Purreviously, Terra helped Power Girl to defeat Satanna, but somehow the villainous Ultra-Humanite’s brain got transplanted into Terra’s body! Eek!
That’s why Kaara & Atlee are fighting on the cover. So now Power Girl has to survive another re-match and figure out how to swap their brains back! Amanda Conner is such a master of the sequential art narrative with excellent pacing, and drawing such supurrbly posed & expurressive characters.
Among the gorgeous examples in this issue are the shocked look on the tigerboys’ faces at Power Girl’s wrath, Terra’s hand gestures while controlling the rocks, the very sad looking burned gorilla. Hell hath no fury like the heat vision of a Kryptonian woman scorned! There are also some dangerous scorned ladies in —
Gotham City Sirens #11!
Nyanko:
This issue of the ever fun Gotham City Sirens is purriced at $2.99, for 32 full color pages, compurrised of the 22 page story, 9 pages of ads, and Mike Carlin’s page of purraise for the late Dick Giordano, who passed away in March. This issue stars the mewsual suspects of Selina (Catwoman) Kyle, Pamela (Poison Ivy), and Harley (Quinn)!
The creative team responsible for this fine issue were writer Paul Dini, penciller Andres Guinaldo, inker Raul Fernandez, colorist Ian Hannin, letterer Steve Wands, editor Mike Marts, associate editor Janelle Siege, and cover artist Guillem March! Selina & Harley purrtrol for missing pets, while Pamela starts her new job!
Harley & Selina discover that far more animals are missing. The trail leads to a gang known for illegal dogfights- but are those thugs responsible? Meanwhile, Ivy has started her new job at S.T.A.R. labs, as a ruse to get her hands on the botanical expurriments, but she’s making enemies who might outsmart her!
Selina is more of an anti-hero these days rather than a villain, purrotecting numerous victimized Gothamites although she still likes to purrloin the purretty jewels. She’s been a good influence on Harley, who seems to be a wacky girl who just wants to have fun more than hurting people or committing crimes, since hanging out with Selina instead of The Joker.
Ivy’s admirably very ecologically minded, but she’s the colder, less human of the trio with better plant skills than people skills- and as a result it looks like yet another deadly cliffhanger in Gotham City! I’ll definitely be back to read more next month, same cat time, same cat channel! Speaking of girls in Gotham, I believe that Dessy wishes to discuss —
The Brave and the Bold #33!
Lourdessaluorno:
Hai! I thought this was a very special comic book because it stars Wonder Woman, Batgirl and Zatanna in a very poignant tale, written by Babylon 5’s J. Michael Stracynski and drawn by Cliff Chiang whose Dr. 13 comics were fintastic! The story is a flashback to the past when Barbara Gordon was still Batgirl, and Zee convinces her ‘n Wonder Woman into a rare night of fun!
I don’t wish to spoil too much of the plot, but the story begins on a worrisome note for Zee, who decides to do something fun about it, so she rounds up Wonder Woman who is beating up thugs on a cruise ship. Those two then catch up with Batgirl motorcycling the mean streets of Gotham after nabbing some thieves- and coax her to dress for a hot night on the dance floor!
Thus ensues their long fun night on the town on high heels with several stops, from the crowded thumping club scene, to a more matured ‘n refined latin dance venue, the karoke, and a late night round of waffles ‘n pancakes! There’s much more depth to this story- and not all of it is frivolity either. That’s about all I should reveal of the plot, but I’ll say a bit more about the art!
Trish Mulvhill’s coloring is especially beautiful at the night club scenes & the cover by Jesus Saiz neatly depicts those heroines pleased with many unconscious bad boys in their wake! Letterer Rob Leigh, editor Joey Cavalieri & associate editor Chris Conroy also deserve applause for their excellence, so I’ll give The Brave and the Bold #33 an ‘A’! OK done now – Ne’s turn!
Buffy The Vampire Slayer Season Eight #34 (plot spoilers)
Ne’ellakaliomi:
Yay! We sure have been enjoying Dark Horse Comics’ Buffy Season Eight, and I think it might be the best continuation ever of a movie or TV show in the comic book medium! It really does feel like more of the Buffy TV show with such faithful story, dialog and art without the budget or schedule or other constraints that (any) TV series would be restricted by!
This issue’s story “Twlight Part 3” was executively purrduced by Buffy creator Joss Whedon, scripted by Brad Meltzer, pencilled by Georges Jeanty, inked by Andy Owens, coloured by Michelle Madsen, lettered by Richard Starkings & Comicraft’s Jimmy Betancourt, designed by Tony Ong, edited by Scott Allie & Sierra Hahn, Freddye Lins & Brenden Wright.
There are two different covers as usual, one painted by Jo Chen of Buffy hugging Angel, and the other is a cute romantic montage of various couples by Georges Jeanty! It has a price of $2.99, and a total of 36 full colour pages, compurrised of 24 pages of story, 8 pages of ads, 2 pages of readers’ letters, a title/ credits page and a page of Dark Horse mews.
Previously in Buffy Season Eight, after the battle between the slayers, werewolves, goddesses and Twilght’s army outside Oz & Baya’s Himalayan home, Buffy began to exhibit Kryptonian-level super powers, and Twilight’s secret headquarters was discovered. She had a super battle with the mysterious adversary, who was unmasked & revealed to be Angel!
Now in #34, there are three things going on simultaneously: Buffy and Angel are making very hot naked super love for several pages, which is having a huge affect the Earth’s environment and the whole fabric of reality; meanwhile at the HQ, the others want an explanation from Giles, who reveals some big secrets about the history of the universe and magick!
Spike appears in a couple of panels! This seems to be setting up events foretold in that Fray slayer-series which is set in the buffyverse future, and Melaka Fray appears in a panel, although I am curious how all of this relates to what is currently going on in Angel’s comic book, and his odd behavior of late! Hopefully in the next issues we will get more clues!
I suspect the sexual content will be controversial and the cosmogonical revelations of great interest to Buffy fans, but there’s also such fun dialogue moments with Willow, Amy, Dawn, Xander, Andrew, Warren, Faith & Satsu, and the art is so delightfully expressive portraiture that so nicely resembles the actors who played those great characters on TV!
I was pleased with another fine and steamy issue of Buffy, and continue to look forward to the next issue! That’s it for my comic book report, but now here is ‘Lani to report on another Dark Horse comic book that stars another favorite super-powered heroine in–
Mass Effect: Redemption #4!
Kianalani:
Thanks Ne! Mass Effect is gorgeously designed space opera type of video game by Bioware & EA Games, and this 4 issue mini series from Dark Horse comics is set between the original game and the new sequel! Redemption’s story was written by Mac Walters, the lead writer of Mass Effect 2, with the script by John Jackson Miller.
The plot has beautiful, blue. smart & powerful Dr. Liara T’Soni of Asari on a quest to find the missing body of her friend, Captain Shepard. Not only is she strong, nimble & quick, but even without the sidearm she is dangerous with her purrojected biotic-energy attack, so the enemies that stole Shepard’s body better look out!
Previously in this mini-series, Dr. T’Soni’s search took her to a Space Station and a rough crowd where she met an informant named Feron whose employer The Shadow Broker was going to trade Shepard to a mysterious group, The Collectors. An enemy named Tazzik bombed the stattion and escaped with Shepard!
Dr. T’Soni found out that Feron was a double-agent and was having trouble trusting him but they traveled together through hostile space and snuck into the Shadow Broker’s secret base. So in this final issue, it looks like she has finally found the Captain and the culprits, but can she & Feron outfox & outfight the villains?
It has a cover purrice of $3.50 and a total of 28 full colour pages, which consist of 22 pages of the story plus 6 pages of advertisements. The front cover art depicting strutting agent Miranda is by Daryl Mandryk, and the interior art is by Omar Francia, which was coloured by Michael Atiyeh and lettered by Michael Heisler.
The artwork is is very good with action scenes, special effects, intricate mecha, exotic creature designs & neat costumes! Dr. T’Soni’s costume is an thin, tightly form-fitting blue-gray layer in places for the dexterity, with more layered ribbed, padded and rigid armored parts in cool gray and white with orange trim!
The story is continued in the Mass Effect 2 video game. This comic book might appeal more to those who are already fans of the game, but others might also enjoy this science fiction tale, and Dr. Liara T’Soni is such a neat character and I can see how purrk interest in the game, or cosplaying as Liara, like Myayr’s gonna!
Mary Nyan:
Hai! Thank you for that report, ‘Lani!
Kianalani:
You’re welcome! OK now it’s Tami’s turn to talk about –
Michael Turner’s Fathom Vol. 3 Worlds at War!
Ceresatami:
All right- but ‘Keami is helping with this report too! We are all such big fans of Aspen Matthews, the wonderful heroine with aquatic super powers and star of Fathom! Last month Vonny reviewed the 10th issue of Fathom volume 3, which has already been reprinted in this awesome $29.99 trade paperback book, published by Aspen Comics in March!
If you’re unfamiliar with this series, ah well let’s see… basically the main protagonist is is a marine biologist named Aspen who later found out she is not a normal human but is from an undersea race called The Blue. The good news is that she has super aquatic powers, butt the bad news is that the first contact between The Blue and the surface humans didn’t go very well!
There are some military incidents, and Aspen tries to use her super powers to stop a war and get better acquainted with The Blue. Well, there is inner political turmoil within The Blue civilization too, just as there is in a lot of the surface countries, with a more reasonable leader named Cannon on one side, and more violent dissidents such as Killian and Kiani on another side.
So Aspen is caught in the middle of this global conflict, which gets even more complex and disastrous when yet another race shows up, The Black. They are a powerful ancient evil from the deepest darkest abyssal depth of the ocean, who want to destroy everybody else, but hopefully this threat might engender a bit more unity between the surface humans and The Blue folk!
This has taken quite a while to get to, as the fathom series started 12 years ago back in 1998, and this 3rd volume of the saga ran from 2008 to early 2010. There’ve been spin-off series and special issues and many variant covers to those comics too, which might make this seem a bit daunting to collect, but it’s been reprinted in these lovely books!
This book collects Fathom: Prelude, Fathom Vol. 3 issues #0-10, and the illustrations for 37 variant covers. The 320 full colour pages include 269 pages of story, 37 cover gallery pages, 5 pages of book & chapter introductions, 1 ads page for Aspen books, and the remaining 8 pages are the endpaper, indicia, frontispiece, title, dedication, credits and contents pages.
Those issues were co-written by JT Krul and Aspen’s Founder / Fathom creator Michael Turner (April 21,1971 – June 27, 2008), who co-illustrated the majestic front cover pic and co-created ‘The Black’ along with cover designer / Aspen’s Vice President Peter Steigerwald, who co-designed the book with Aspen’s Director of Design & Production Mark Roslan–
Roslan was the co-editor of the collected edition with Aspen President / introduction writer Frank Mastromauro, who was also the original series co-editor along with Aspen’s Editor-in-Chief Vince Hernandez! Oh and Chris Rupp is the Aspen Storeologist! They all seem to wear multiple hats- I suppose that is the nature of the smaller independent publishers!
Ale Garza was the penciller for these collected issues, and Sal Regla was the inker for Fathom vol. 3 #0-10. Beth Sotelo was the colourist and Dreamer Desgn was the letterer for the gorgeous Fathom: Prelude prequel story, while John Starr was the colourist and Aspen’s Editorial Assistant Josh Reed was the letterer for Fathom vol. 3 #0-10! Take it ‘Keami!
Melanakeami:
Hai! Fathom comics tend to have numerous variant covers. Most of the Prelude & Vol. 3 cover art is by Michael Turner, Peter Steigerwald, Ale Garza and John Starr, but other cover artists include Sa Regla, Beth Sotelo, Jae Lee, Jeff Scott Campbell, Randy Green, Talent Caldwell, Scott Clark, David Beatty, Eduardo Francisco, John Sibal, Sana Tekeda & Marcus To!
Whew- that sure is lot of credits for just one book, huh? But this book sure has a lot of bang for the bucks, when you consider how much you get for the price. For about $30 it collects 12 issues in full colour, plus all of that that gorgeous variant cover art without the issue logos, captions, prices etc, and some of those variant covers might have been harder to find!
It isn’t just the quantity, but the quality of the comics within this book that we like! The Prelude story is an awesome tale of Aspen’s younger days as a hopeful Olympic swimmer with the cute moments of camaraderie with her team mates and the lavishly rendered scenery, and these comics have such exquisite character & scenic designs that are so richly coloured!
It is not just that the fantastic costumes at exotic locations in thrilling scenes are so beautifully depicted, but at the heart of it these are such interesting complex characters, especially Aspen who is so endearing, smart & tough! Even the adversaries are a joy to read, particularly Kiani, even if she is a might hostile amidst such those complicated, intense situations!
It has so much going on from the more introspective character moments & their relationships and the side-stories with joyful, sad, mysterious & shocking moments, to the political, tactical & strategic situations discussed by the leaders on all sides in the global spectacle as three civilizations clash, with all sorts of amazing technology & epic special effects!
It is so sad that Michael Turner is no longer physically amongst us, but his brave artistic spirit permeates his wonderful creations which are excellently continued by others, and I am looking forward to reading the Free Comic Book Day Aspen Special, and the next series Fathom: Blue Descent! Good informative sites about Fathom and Michael Turner include:
the Wikipedia articles http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fathom_(comics) and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Turner_(artist), Thomas Jay’s Michael Turner Shrine http://michaelturnershrine.com/, and of course the official Aspen site / store http://www.aspencomics.com/! That’s all the Fathomness for now, so let’s go back to Myayr for her report on the–
Spice and Wolf manga vol. 1!
Mary Nyan:
Thanks y’all! Spice and Wolf started as a series of purrose light novels titled Ookami To Koushinryo in Japan authored by Isuna Hasekura, from which was adapted the anime TV series (reviewed by Jeannie in the January Mew) and this manga book series! This Japanese manga was originally published by Ascii Media in 2008, and in the USA by Yen Press last month!
Yen publishes a lot of manga that we like, and thisun’s art is by Keito Koume & character designs by Jyuu Ayakura, and story by Isuna Hasekura, translated into English by Paul Starr & lettered by Alexis Eckerman. The purrice is $12.99 USA / $15.99 Canada, and the front cover art is of Lawrence the merchant rasing an eyebrow as Holo the wolf goddess chomps an apple!
She sure does like the apples and other sweet fruit treats! I should explain the plot. In the somewhat medieval era, a traveling merchant named Lawrence parks his horse drawn wagon outside a small farming village during their harvest festival. It is an older pagan observance, when such religious tides have changed in favor of a more controlling Church organization.
Lawrence discovers that he has a stow-away in his wagon, a naked pretty wolf girl named Holo, whose true form is that of a terrifying giant wolf! After the introductions, she tells Lawrence that the need for a harvest goddess has waned so much in the region over the centuries, so she would like to hitch a ride to return to her ancient homeland up North.
She dons a cloak to disguise her lupine features as they travel from town to town to trade his merchandise. Between his business connections & savvy and her keen senses & instincts they seem to make a good partnership! An interesting theme of the story is the economic system’s bartering, contracts, mediums of exchange, trading companies, investments, coin metallurgy & minting.
They’d better be careful between the church’s dim view of the pagans, dangers on the road, and tricky business purrposals that could be too good to be true, but Lawrence is pretty smart, and Holo is the wise wolf, as she is fond of reminding him! Hopefully they will have a purrofitable, well-fed journey so that he can eventually open a store and she can reach her home!
I thought this first volume was very charming and entertaining with very detailed art of the rural fields and the urban architecture, and the character designs, especially Holo with her lovely ears & tail and the cute mischievous fangs. Because of the language & tasteful artistic nudity, the manga is rated ‘mature’ with a parental advisory for that sort of content.
It has a total of 196 pages, of which 170 are the first 6 chapters of manga (appurroximating the first 3 epurrsodes of the anime) in black & white except for 4 colour pages. There’s a 10 page excerpt from the first novel, 2 pages of map & character introductions, a 2 page spread of Holo eating an apple, a pic of Nora the shepherd, and 2 illustrated pages of thanks from the creators!
I’m delighted with the anime & manga adaptations of Spice and Wolf which are quite purretty & pleasant, and highly recommend them to fans of the charming kemonomimi stories! I certainly look forward to the 2nd season of the anime and the 2nd volume of the manga! Now here’s Mie-sensei to tell us about another manga of travelling kemonomimi in–
Shoulder – A – Coffin Kuro manga vol. 1!
Mielikki:
Thanks Myayr! So like. Petra showed me this totally awesome manga by Satoko Kiyudaki, titled GA (short for Geijutsuka Art) about these art students, and later in the Suzunari manga we saw a preview for this other manga by Kiyudaki, Shoulder-A-Coffin Kuro! Well I already had the happy glowy wings over the storytelling of GA, and was eager to read ‘Kuro’, fur shur!
Shoulder-A-Coffin Kuro is also published by Yen Press- they publish so many awesome titles! This book was translated by Satsuki Yamashita & lettered by Alexis Eckerman, has 128 pages, all B&W ‘cept for like 16 color pages, mostly in the 4-koma format of 2 columns each of 4 panels per page. That includes the 120 pages of manga plus various notes & a preview of vol. 2!
Kuro is this slightly androgynous goth girl who travels from town to town, carrying a coffin of all things, and thus tends to be suspected to be a vampire, but then her bat accomplice named Sen does contribute to that stereotype! There are other stereotypes encountered in her travel, such as a delightful pagan girl who is referred to as a witch by her fellow villagers!
Kuro is also accompanied by two little catgirls named Sanju and Nijuku who she rescued from a cell in a mansion abandoned by a mysterious professor! They have such distinctive dialects and innocent naivety! There are a few sad scenes but there is much whimsy & charm, and I so hope that Kuro, Sen and those girls will stay together as a happy new family!
It’s not yet clear what Kuro’s objective is or what the coffin is for, which adds to the mysterious quality and a dash of the supernatural! Most of vol. 1 seems to be set amidst urban, suburban or rural locations, but the 6 page preview for vol. 2 indicates a more woodland wilderness setting! Regardless of where Kuro’s journey takes her, I plan to keep reading along, fur shur!
For these fascinating characters & interesting plot I will give a high recommendation to the seriously endearing art & writing of Satoko Kiyudaki, and to the folks at Yen Press for their continued excellence! Speaking of continued kitty-eared excellence in comics related publishing, here’s Jennyjen to tell us of the there’s a bountiful array in prowling the pages of–
Back Issue #40: The Cat People Issue, fur shur!
Jeannie:
Arigato. When it comes to the books & purriodicals that we crave purrtaining to comics, few impurress us as much as those published by TwoMorrows http://www.twomorrows.com/, such as their Modern Masters book series about famous comic book artists, and numerous magazines such as Alter Ego, Kirby Collector and Back Issue.
Those publications purrvide us with such wonderfully entertaining & insightful articles about comics artists, writers, publishers, titles & characters, with purrofusely illustrated historical information & intermews by those who love comics, so we were extremely eager to pounce upon Back Issue #40 due to it’s feline focus.
Purriced at $7.95, 16 of this 80 page May, 2010 issue’s pages are in full color, as is the purrfect cover art of Catwoman by Joe Staton & colorist Freddy Lopez. The issue’s designer was Rich J. Fowlks, cover designer was Michael Kronenberg, and the purroofreaders were Eric Nolen-Weathington & publisher John Morrow.
After the cordial greeting from editor Michael Eury’s kitty Miss Edgewood, two purrominent DC characters are featured in John Shwiran’s 6 page look at The Vixen and John Wells’ 10 page article on Wildcat, followed by Alan J, Porter’s 4 pages on the Thundercats and Mark Arnold’s 3 pages about Josie and the Pussycats.
That latter article had had some photographs of the group I had never seen before. The next 3 pages courtesy of writer Michael Aushenker purrtain to Atlas Comics’ catboys Tiger-man and The Cougar, which purrecedes Jim Kingman’s 8 page purresentation on Cat Woman and Jason Shayer’s 9 page Black Cat article.
Those two articles get the purrecious color treatment, which is good because among the purretty pics on those pages are images of Selina Kyle by Paul Gulacy, Brian Bolland, Alan Davis, Frank Robbins & Jim Aparo; and images of Felicia Hardy by Joe Jusko, Adam Hughes, Al Milgrom, Keith Pollard & Terry Dodson.
More Marvel-ous martial artists, The White Tiger and The Sons of the Tiger are chronicled by writer Bruce Buchanon, purrior to Jonathan Miller’s article on Patsy Walker / The Hellcat, which includes comments on the character by three of her authors Steve Englehart, David Anthony Kraft, and J.M. De Matteis.
Tom Ziuko’s “Rough Stuff” six page gallery showcases full-page sketches of comics, animation & purroduct art, such as Mr. Jinks by Len Smith, Tigra by Jack ‘The King’ Kirby, Merlin & Baron Winters by Gene ‘The Dean” Colan, Wonder Woman purrsuing Cat Woman by Ross Andru, and a Wildcat purrposal by Alex Toth.
The issue’s cat motif coverage is not limited to heroes of comics & animation, as Eric Houston purrvides a look at The PumaMan, a 1980 Italian live-action supurr hero movie. This rare cat treat is accompanied by a few photos & quotes from actor Walter George Alton who starred in that movie with Donald Pleasance.
Next is Scott E. Williams examination of another fun 80’s character Norbert Sykes / The Badger. He is not actually of the feline purrsuasion but I would not try to convince Norbert of that. Bringing the issue home are 3 pages of readers’ mail, including an amewsing tale from Terry Austin about his Power Records experience.
I think an amewsing tale is an appurropurriate way to conclude such a fine feline-centric issue full of famous & rare sketches, comics covers & interior art, facts, photos, quotes & comments. Back Issue and other TwoMorrows publications are of consistent quality, but somehow I was purrticularly fond of this issue which I give an A+!
Mike:
Thank you for those reviews, girls! We’re up against another break, but we’ll be back with
More Reviews of Purrinted Media: Book Reports!
(snip)
(one short break later…)
The Complete Peanuts 1975 to 1976
Tsuruku:
Hi again! The Complete Peanuts 1975 to 1976 is the 13th volume in this series collecting what is possibly the greatest comics strip of all time! This volume marks the half-way point of the series with Frieda & her “naturally curly hair” on the cover, and a 3 page introduction by comedy writer & Peanuts fan Robert Smigel.
The $28.99 (US) hardcover published by Fantagraphics http://www.fantagraphics.com/ collects all of those two years’ daily & sunday Peanuts http://www.snoopy.com/ newspaper strips by Charles M. Schutz http://www.schulzmuseum.org/ in Black & White (the Sundays are not reprinted in colour).
There are 314 pages of the wonderfully fun newspaper strips, with 3 dailies per page, and the Sundays are full page. There’s also a 2 page biography of Schutz by Gary Groth, a 3 page index to all of the characters, references & plots of those two years, plus the typical end papers, frontispiece & title page.
Highlights from that period include the first appearances of Snoopy’s siblings Spike & Belle; Snoopy’s leg is in a cast for a while, feuds with World War II (the cat next door) his Joe Motocross purrsona debuts, and adventures as a World War One Flying Ace, Tennis pro, Hockey star and novelist continue!
Truffles and Marcie’s admirer Floyd are introduced. Peppermint Patty gets stuck on a waterbed while her house is robbed, enters the PowderPuff Derby, attends Obedience School, and joins Linus in the pumpkin patch. Lucy’s domination of the Van Pelt’s TV continues, as does her unrequited interest in Schroeder.
Charlie Brown goes door to door for part time jobs, plays more baseball and meets his hero Joe Shlabotnik. Sally is frustrated with school work and talks to the school building – which eventually falls apart. Mid-70’s cultural references include the Bicentennial, a mood ring, pet rock, Elton John, Billie Jean King and Jaws!
If you are a fan of Peanuts, I heartily recommend this handsome definitive series of books which will eventually collect & reprint all 50 years of the strip which ran from 1950 to 2000! I think it would be the ultimate part of a Peanuts collection! Now here is Petra to tell us about —
Instructions, by Neil Gamin & Charles Vess!
Petra:
Thank you Tsu, nya! Artist Charles Vess http://www.greenmanpress.com/ (Book of Ballads, Drawing Down the Moon, Rose, A Circle of Cats, Spirits of the Earth, The Raven Banner) and author Neil Gaiman http://www.neilgaiman.com/ (Sandman, Coraline, Wolves in the Walls, Mirrormask, Neverwhere, The Graveyard Book)
are each responsible for so many award – winning, beautifully charming fantasy imagery and stories, so it is an especially significant when they collaborate, nya! Their purrevious collabrations included the graphic novel Stardust (which became a movie), the storybook Blueberry Girl and this storybook titled Instructions, nya!
Instructionn is a lovely little 7.75″ x 8.25″ dust-jacketed hard cover storybook, containing 36 full color pages, with the US purrice of $14.99. nya. It is recommended for readers of all ages, and each page has a lushly lavish illustration; some of the illustrations are two-page spurreads, even across the book’s end-papurrs, nya!
The text contains tips and clues for one’s travels from the purrdictable familiar home into the enchanted paths of the unknown, nya. The book’s main anthropomorphic character journeys beyond splendid garden walls, past a charming cottage purroceeding into the woods, and is joined by a kitty companion along the way, nya!
The expurrdition through the faerie tale realm encounters imps and blackbirds amongst huge twisty trees, a deep well, river ferry crossing, purrincessly tower and other locations, with advice in few words on how to behave in dealings with wise elders, ghosts, witches, wolves, eagles, giants, dragons and other situations, nya!
I will give this book my tip top recommendation to fans of Neil Gaiman, Charles Vess, or beautiful faerie tales and fantasy art in general, nya! Oh and in addition to his official site there is also an official site for Gaiman’s young readers http://www.mousecircus.com/, nya! Next, my friend Lady Nemui has another story book to tell us about–
Pop Wonderland’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, nya!
Nemui:
Arigato, Petra-san! When Meryl showed me the lovely Thumbelina storybook (reviewed in September), I just had to purrchase this series it for the Inn! Published by Dark Horse & purriced $16.99, this book so charmingly adapts the classic story of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll!
Written by Michiyo Hayano in Japan and translated into English by Camellia Nich, the beautifully delicate, full colour anime-style illustrations are by POP! The front cover has an adorably cute painting of winsome Alice purrched on the mushroom by the flowers, caterpillar and 2 of Spades purrson!
The publisher is Mike Richardson, the editors are Robert Simpson & David Land, assistant editors are Rachel Edidon & Katie Moody, and Heidi Whitcomb was the designer for this 38 page 8.5″ x 10.5″ hardcover storybook, in which we follow little Alice on an odyssey down a rabbit hole into wonderland!
There she transforms from gigantic to tiny sizes after consuming the magickal food, meets a hooka-smoking caterpillar, and the grinning Cheshire cat. She attends the Mad Hatter and March Hare’s tea party, and encounters the playing card gardeners and their irate Red Queen, who puts Alice on trial!
It is such a purretty book, and I am delighted with this entire series, which also includes Little Red Riding Hood, and I hope to purrchase their adaptation of Cinderella! This concludes my book report, but I believe our next report deals with animals whose teeth are much, much bigger than the big bad wolf in–
Meg: Hell’s Aquarium (warning: Meg series plot spoilers)!
Yvonne:
Thanks Lady Nemui, nya! Meg: Hell’s Aquarium is the 4th novel in the thrilling Meg series, purreceded Meg, The Trench and Primal Waters by Steve Alten http://www.megsite.com/, nya! Meg is short for Megalodon, a giant purrehistoric shark, and the ones in this book get to be almost 75 feet long and weigh over 100,000 lbs, nya!
That is a lot of fish steaks, but I’m supposed to chomp the fish, not the other way ’round, nya! I’ve caught many sharks, but none that large, which is for the best ’cause I’d need a bigger boat, nya. The Meg books are loaded with oceanographical & marine biological details, subs & other undersea mecha, and lots of chomping, nya!
The chomping gets purretty violent, as is the nature of wild, hungry territorial apex purredators, and there is graphic gory detail in these books. Those Megalodons are not picky eaters, so nothing at sea is safe, not sharks, whales, people in boats, other Megalodons and some of the other purrehistoric creatures from the deep, nya!
In the first Meg book, a paleobiologist named Jonas Taylor discovers that Megalodons are still dwelling down in the deep Mariana Trench, but not for long as one of those monsters manages to ascend to the surface waters for the chomp fest, and purrocreate to have offspurring such as one named Angel who gets captured, nya!
Angel is kept at the Tanaka Oceanographic Institute in Monterey, California, where Jonas & his lovely wife Terry Tanaka work in the 2nd book, set 4 years later, nya! Angel escapes to the open sea, amidst other species of dangerous purrehistoric sea creatures, bad guys, international espionage and neat deep sea vessels, nya!
The third book is set about 18 years after the second book, with Angel’s offspurring grown up and on the purrowl, nya! Terry & Jonas have kids too, Danielle & David, so there are more Taylors to purrsue the Megs over the decades, nya! I enjoyed those 3 exciting books, so now on to the latest installment, Meg: Hell’s Aquarium, nya!
It was published in hardcover last year, and it finally came out last month in this 502 page, mass-market papurrback edition from Tor books, nya! The front cover design is by Erik Hollander, and the various little interior black & white diagrams & illustrations of the maps, institute, vessels & creatures are by William McDonald, nya!
This book is set in the year 2023, 4 years after Primal Waters, or about 27 years since Jonas met his first Meg, so Jonas & Terry’s kids are grown up, and Angel’s had a 2nd litter of 5 more kids, nya! At this rate the Taylors are going to need a bigger institute, but an animal rights group would purrfur those Megs to be set free, nya.
A bit of relief might come from royalty in Dubai who want to purrchase 2 of Angel’s grrls (named Mary Kate and Ashley, hee!) for their own huge new aquatic theme park, and hire David to train their Manta Ray submarine pilots, nya! David takes the megs to Dubai, where he meets cute girl submarine pilot Kaylie from Scripps, nya!
You get a lot of the next generation of Taylors, although unfortunately Terry has a smaller role in this book, but there are amazing discoveries as this book greatly builds upon the Meg mythos, with plenty of the intrigue, tech stuff, exciting underwater action and much chomping, in this purrehistoric sea monster extravaganza, nya! I wish they would make movies of these books, nya! Well gosh, I think that concludes the book reports… are we taking a break, nya? No, OK well then here is Mie-sensei to purroceed with the–
Toy Talk Topic, nya!
Japan & India Hello Kitty Plushies
Mielikki:
So like, I found these tre cute little 5″ Hello Kitty plushies! They are part Sanrio’s http://www.sanrio.com famous friendly feline’s toy line made by Jakks Pacific, featuring her in outfits associated with different countries! A few countries are represented in the series, but for starters I just picked up the Japan and India Hello Kitties, mm-hmm!
I have gotten into the custom of bringing home a new plushy after every golf tournament- last year I picked up similar ones of Kitty wearing animal costumes, such as a black & white Panda and a fleecy little lamb! Have I mentioned those? I’ve been decorating one of the guest rooms with with them – they totally add to the cheery ambiance!
Japan Kitty is so cute in a light blue kimono with a pink floral pattern, Red eri collar, Pink obi sash & Pink bow by her left ear! Next to her is India Kitty, adorned in a Gold trim Red saree draped across her Yellow choli blouse & shiny Red pavada skirt, with a matching bow by her ear & Red Bindi dot on her forehead! For our next kitty topic it’s time for-
The Mew’s Monthly Celebrity Catgirl Spotlight:
Cat People’s Irena Dubrovna, fur shur!!
Mielikki:
Since October of 2009 we have devoted this segment of the show to honor the famous catgirls who we admire of movies, TV shows, comics, literature and games! We’re like broadly defining the topic to include favorite feline furries and nekomimi characters, whether they are like actually part cat or are famous for their famously feline apparel or demeanor!
Previous honorees have included Lt. M’ress & other Star Trek catgirls, Mel of Clan of the Cats, Power Rangers’ Dr. Kat Manx, Marvel Comics’ Tigra, Doctor Who’s Novice Hame, Nuku Nuku and Catwoman! This month Jamie http://www.clanofthecats.com joins us online to shine the spotlight on Irina Dubrovna, of the 1942 movie Cat People, and herrrre’s, Jamie!
Jamie:
1942’s Cat People was RKO’s low budget answer to the 1941 Universal classic film, The Wolfman.
Both films dealt with the psychology of the human mind and the duality between man (or woman) and beast. While The Wolfman had Lon Chney Jr. howling at the moon in full (iconic) make up, Cat People took a more subtle and more mature approach to the same theme.
Irena Dubrovna (Simone Simon) is a sympathetic antagonist, depicted early on in the film as innocent and as adorable as a kitten. Despite Irena’s quirky delusion that she is damned by some evil Serbian cat curse, she soon catches the eye of Oliver Reed (Kent Smith) and the two quickly wed.
Unfortunately for Oliver, the main hero of the story, Irena is under no delusion. She is damned by a Serbian cat curse. Whenever Irena is sexually aroused or jealous, she transforms into a black panther. An obvious metaphor for female chastity, this aspect of the film could have been sensationalized to the point of being tacky.
Fortunately the puritanical standards of the1940s, combined with a great film team of Val Lewton (Producer) and Jacques Tourneur (Director) helped turn the sensational into the complex. Thusly, Irena and her husband are treated as a couple with real marital problems.
Unable to consummate the marriage due to fear of turning into a panther, Irena’s innocence turns into sadness. She mopes around in dark rooms, hidden in the shadows and fearing what darkness is lurking inside of her. Oliver, Irena’s husband, makes promises of love and patience, but eventually strays with his best friend, Alice (Jane Randolph).
The sadness finally turns to jealousy and the darkness within Irena finally emerges. For most of the movie Irena is treated as mentally unstable even to the audience, but she manages hang on to the innocent quality that made her a singularly tragic and sympathetic character.
Suffering from her own foibles as well as others, in the end Irena is more of a victim than she is a monster. Cat People produced a sequel, Curse of the Cat People (directed by Robert Wise) and a 1982 remake (directed by Paul Schrader).
Nemui:
Arigato, Jamie-san!
Nyssy:
Thanks Jamie!
Mielikki:
Thank you very much!
Mike:
Thanks Jamie- we’ll see you later when you get here for the luau! You know, Robert Wise also directed–
Elizabeth:
There he goes again, trying to talk about Star Trek!
Nyanko:
Quick- resume the Cat People topic!
Mike:
Ah, actually, I was going to say he also directed The Day The Earth Stood Still, West Side Story, The Haunting, The Sand Pebbles, Run Silent Run Deep, The Sound of Music, and The Andromeda Strain; and he was the editor of Citizen Kane and The Magnificent Ambersons!
Nyssy:
Gosh!
Mike:
And of course he directed Star Trek- The Motion Picture! But back to Cat People…?
Yvonne:
I thought Jamie purretty much summed up Irena, nya!
Jeannie:
Well, there is the 1982 remake we could elaborate upon, which starred Nastassja Kinski and Malcom McDowell.
Petra:
I thought that was a good movie and Nastassja Kinski nicely purrtrayed that were-cat, nya!
Meryl:
It had that great song sung by David Bowie!
Mielikki:
Oh, he was like totally awesome as the Jareth the Goblin King in Labyrinth!
Tsuruku:
Did you know that Gates McFadden was a choreographer for Labyrinth?
Ne’ellakaliomi:
I did not know that- oh oh but you know, I seem to remember her Star Trek character Dr. Beverly Crusher turning into a dog- is she a lycanthrope too?
Kianalani:
No, that was because the antagonist Q using his super powers to briefly turn her into an Irish Setter!
Ceresatami:
And then crewman Amanda played by Olivia d’Abo reversed the spell with her own super Q Girl powers!
Elizabeth:
She purrtrays lots of girls with supurr powers… she was a voice actress for Justice League Unlimited, and she purrvides the voice for Jedi Master Luminara Unduli on Clone Wars too!
Melanakeami:
Oops I think we need to get back to the cat topic!
Petra:
Well, If we can segue to the DVD reviews, I believe those purrominently include some cat girls this month, nya!
Ilyana:
Myayr, we sure did stray-cat off topic again! Can you get us back on course?
Mary Nyan:
We should purrobably move along to the next segment! That’s all for this segment of the show, but after the short break we’ll be right back with our–
TV, Movie, Anime & DVD Reviews!
(snip)
(one short break later…)
Strike Witches Complete 1st Season DVD
Jeannie:
We are back. Combine a feisty team of semi-Kemonomimi characters with aerial magick combat and splendid military mecha in an alternate reality’s 1944, with quite a lot of ‘fan service’ and that yields a Japanese anime series titled Strike Witches, the first season of which is now available translated on Region One NTSC standard DVD from Funimation.
This anime TV series is based upon the manga by Humikane Shimada & Projeckt Kagonfish which was serialized in Comp Ace magazine, published monthly by Sneaker Bunko. The DVD set’s front cover art depicts the very determined witchy Shiba Inu girl Sgt. Yoshika Miyafuji armed with her 13mm Type 99-2-2 machine gun.
Slim-packed in the box are 12 epurrsodes totalling 300 minutes on 2 discs with optional English subtitles for the16x9 screen format. Audio choices are Japanese stereo or English 5.1 Dolby Surround. The reverse of the slim-pack covers are charts with each character’s name, rank, nationality, species, panty type, weapon & purropulsion system.
The purremise of this series is that instead of a 2nd World War, countries analogous to our own US, Britain, Japan, Germany, Italy, Russia and so forth have united against alien invaders called the Neurois, whose mysterious dark aircraft have decimated Europe. In response, the multi-national 501st Joint Fighter Wing ‘The Strike Witches’ was created.
The team consists of Maj. Mio Sakamoto, Lt. Col. Mina-Deitlinde Wilke, Sgt. Lynette Bishop, Lt. Perrine-H Clostermann, Lt. Erica Hartman, Capt. Gertrude Barkhorn, Ens. Francesca Lucchini, Flight Lt. Charlotte Yeager, Ens. Eila Ilmater Juutilainen, Lt. Sanya Litvyak, and the main character Sgt. Yashika Miyafuji (from The Fuso Empire (their Japan).
The girls of the 501st all have magickal abilities and fly into combat not on brooms, but with the Striker Units which resemble aircraft fuselages worn around each leg. When a witch uses her powers, animal ears & tail are manifest. For example, Yoshika’s are Shiba Inu, Perrine’s are Chartreaux Cat, Eila’s are Black Fox and Charlotte’s are rabbit.
Shown on th front of the box, Yoshika just wants to use her magickal powers to heal and purrotect people, and initially joins the team to find her missing scientist father. They opurrate from a most palatial island base in Brittania. Each girl’s Striker Unit is based on a real WWII fighter, such as Charlotte’s P51D, Lynette’s Spitfire and Mina’s BF109G-2.
Each girl has special abilities and can create a very ornate magickal deflector shields. They carry weapos such as Mio’s13mm Type 99-22 machine gun, Gertrude & Erica’s MG-42s, Sanya’s Fliegerhummer, Perrine’s Bren Gun and Lynette’s Mk 1 Boys anti-tank rifle. Each girl also has a distinctive colour or style of panties, which are often shown.
Disc 1 has a front-loaded trailer for Negima, Disc 2 has a front-loaded trailer for Shuffle, plus trailers in the ‘extras’ for 8 other anime series. The optional audio commentary track for epurrsode 12 is by English dub voice actresses Cheramie Leigh (Yoshika), Kate Bristol (Lynette) and ADR director Scott Sager, who discuss the entire first season.
It is a fun series with delightful characters, thrilling magickal aerial combat, clever WWII aviation & naval references, very good animation from studio Gonzo directed by Kazuhiro Takemura, great voice acting & sound design, a supurrb score by Seiko Nagaoka, and peppy opening & closing theme songs, with textless versions of the songs in disc 2’s ‘extras’.
There are many charming, joyful, sad, heroic, cute & serious moments to makeStrike Witches highly entertaining, despite the over-abundance of zany ribaldry with ample nudity, which I suspect contributes to the anime’s TV MA rating. Nevertheless, I would definitely purrchase the 2nd season should it be released here on DVD. Now here is Nyssy to review-
James Cameron’s Avatar DVD
Nyssy:
Thanks Jen! April was a bountiful time for fans of Avatar’s Zoe Saldana http://www.zoesaldana.com/, with the beautiful cover and a 6 page floral fashion pictorial on the beach in the May issue of Self magazine, the theatrical release of her new movie The Losers, and the release of Avatar on both Blu-Ray and standard DVD, the latter which I will now review!
As much as I liked the movie itself, there’s not much to say about this DVD. Inside the outer cardboard sleeve is the plastic box, both with that famous Ney’tiri close-up art on the front is a single R1 NTSC dual layer DVD disc, with just the PG-13 rated 162 minute movie in 2-D only with no extras, except for maybe the registration card inside to join a program of exclusive on-line stuff.
The widescreen video has an aspect ratio of 1.78:1 with optional English SDH (subtitled for those who are deaf or hard of hearing) or French subtitles, and audio choices of English 5.1 Dolby Digital, English Dolby Surround, Spanish Dolby Surround, or French Dolby Surround. The main menu is pretty simple to navigate with just 3 choices: play movie, set up, and scene select.
Under scene select you can choose from scenes 1-35. There are no ads or trailers on the disc, but there is a 30 second tobacco public service announcement listed along with the audio & subtitles options in the set up menu. That’s basically it- no extra bonus materials. For those who just want to see the movie and aren’t interested in any extra stuff, this no-frills edition is fine!
So, sadly this DVD has even less stuff on it than the DVD for Zoe Saldana’s other 2009 science fiction film, Star Trek! Mike gave that Trek movie a grade of C in his thorough June review, by the way, although I think all of us here sure did like Zoe as Uhura! I also liked Avatar more than Sam Worthington’s other big 2009 science fiction film, Terminator: Salvation… but I now am digressing!
That’s about all I cans ay about this Avatar DVD, but I hope there might eventually be a super deluxe standard DVD box set of Avatar that you could watch in either 2-D or in 3-D with lots of extras such as commentaries, galleries, documentaries, deleted scenes, screenplay, Avatar teasers & trailers, etc. similar to what came with the The Abyss or Terminator 2 DVDs!
Mielikki:
Thank you Nyssy-chan!
Nyanko:
Thanks Nyssy! Thanks Jen!
Ceresatami:
Do you suppose Ney’tiri will be in the celebrity catgirl spotlight?
Meryl:
Or Lt. Clostermann?
Mary Nyan:
Oh they might, but there are lots of others who have been around much longer!
Yvonne:
It is a big clowder of catgirl candidates, nya!
Mike:
Indeed there is- but um… we still have more reviews! Ilyana was going to report on-
The Descent Part 2 DVD!
Ilyana:
Myayr has been recommending horror movies to me and thought I might like The Descent since I have explored my share of caves in purrsuit of archaeology studies. I thought it was purretty good, with a good cast and it was purrticularly effective at creating the unnerving claustrophobic atmosphere, so I was curious to see the sequel.
Directed by Neil Marshall, 2005’s The Descent was about a group of women who go spelunking in an Appalachian cave system, only to be trapped underground and attacked by subterranean humanoid creatures. It had 2 different endings, so I assume the sequel picks up from “original unrated cut”, but I suppose it could continue from the theatrical version.
This 2009 sequel occurs 2 days later, as an almost amnesiac Sarah escapes from the caves, while a small British rescue team has been searching for her party, especially Juno who is a Senator’s daughter. A mean ol’ Sheriff treats Sarah more like a murder suspect than a surviving victim and coerces her go back underground with the searchers.
The movie stars Shauna MacDonald as Sarah, Krysten Cummings, Natalie Mendoza, Anna Skellern, Douglas Hodge, Gavan O’Herlihey, Joshua Dallas. The 94 min. movie is rated R for terse language & bloody violence. The R1 NTSC standard DVD is in a plastic case in an outer cardboard sleeve with a pic of a purrturbed Sarah on the front.
The widescreen aspect ratio is 2.35:1, audio is English 5.1 Dolby Digital with optional commentary by MacDonald, Skellern & director Jon Harris. There are several purreview trailers for other movies; special features include an almost 26 min. “making of” documentary, over 7 min. of storyboards, and 8 deleted scenes totalling just over 11 min.
This plot reminds me a bit of Aliens, in that the nightmare-ridden purrotagonist is a traumatized sole survivor whose daughter died, and while the monsters are certainly plentiful & deadly, the real villain is the purrson purrsuading the heroine to join an expurrdition back to the eerie inhospitable domain of the monsters who slew all of her friends in the first movie.
Unfortunately The Descent Part 2 seems like redundant, purrdictable retread of its purredecessor but with plot holes as deep as mine shafts, fewer character moments, and less than sparkling dialogue. Some of the characters are not smart enough, and the unlikable Sheriff makes Brian Dennehy’s character in First Blood seem like a nice guy!
There should be more people out searching too. At times it does retain the claustrophobic quality- this time adding water, but it has too rushed a pace, and relies much more on the “Boo!” sort of frightening, with things jumping out. Also to my dismay were the annoying sped-up editing style and “shaky cam” technique during most of the action & attack scenes.
However, among the good aspects of the film are the actors – especially MacDonald, Mendoza, Skellern & Cummings, good locations & scary cave sets, lighting / cinematography, sound design, some of the ambient mewsic cues, stunts, the creature purrformers & their make-up & special effects. If you’re a fan of bloody gore, there is lots of it!
I will not further spoil the plot of The Descent Part 2, but in closing I don’t think it is nearly as good as the first one, and I purrticularly did not care for the sequel’s ending, although I will be curious to see what other movies those actors will be in next! That’s it for my review, but next are Chief Meryl Murrey’s movie mewsings of–
The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus DVD!
Meryl:
Thanks Ilyana! This is a movie I was so eager to see, as I am such a fan of director Terry Gilliam, ever since his Monty Python days! It looked such such a supurrb fantasy film, with a brilliant cast including Christopher Plummer, Lily Cole, Andrew Garfield, Verne Troyer, Tom Waits, Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell, Jude Law, and Heath Ledger in his final purrformance.
Gilliam co-wrote it with purreviousl collaborator Charles McKeown, so I expected it to be a wonderful story too, and I was not disappointed! Basically the plot concerns the traveling purrformance troupe in the giant wagon of Dr. Parnassus (Plummer) who has made a Fasutian deal with the devil (Waits), with Parnassus’s daughter Valentina (Cole) at stakes.
To complicate matters is a love triangle between her, stage purrformer Anton (Garfield), and the enigmatic Tony (Ledger) whom they rescue from a hanging. As Ledger passed away purrior to the completion of the film, in the scenes of the worlds of imagination inside Parnassus’ magickal mirror Tony is seamlessly & cleverly purrtrayed by Depp, Law & Farrell.
In what might be his best role ever, Verne Troyer purrtrays the part of Percy, who is not just another member of the traveling troupe, but also serves as the conscious of Parnassus. This is such a beautifully surreal movie filled with such charm, wit, amazing visual effects, art direction, scenery, great purrformances, and I give it a supurr grade of A Plus!
Not only is it such a wonderful movie but the DVD has plenty of neat extras! The R1 NTSC single disc standard DVD is in 1.85: anamorphic widescreen, with English & Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital sound with an optional commentary track by Gilliam. Subtitle options include English, English SDH, English commentary, Spanish & Spanish commentary.
Special features include an almost 3 min introduction by Gilliam, an almost 4.5 min deleted scene and 2 min Heath Ledger wardrobe test – both with optional commentary by Gilliam; an intermew with Ledger from November, 2007 at just over 3 min; Gilliam discussing the art of the film for 4.5 min, and an 8.5 min stage purrsentation by some of the cast & crew!
“Behind the Mirror” has brief snippets about the film for appurroximately 3.5 min by Terry & Amy Gilliam, purrducer Samuel Hadida, actors Cole, Plummer, Garfield & Waits; and “Building the Monastery” is a 7.25 min look at an impurressive sequence with visual FX supurrvisor John Paul Docherty, design director Dave Warren & models supurrvisor Leigh Took!
“Doctor Parnassus Around the World” is six minutes of scenes of Gilliam greeting the fans at the film’s purremeirs at Cannes, Rome, London & Japan (where Lily Cole has such a cute dress)!
Finally there’s the 1.75 min trailer for this film, plus 4 front-loaded trailers for Not The Messiah, Young Victoria, Dear John, The Road… and 20 more trailers in the special features menu!
I am very pleased with the DVD and will highly recommend it to fans of this movie, which I think is Gilliam’s most lavish masterpiece since purrhaps Baron Munchausen! And now, I will turn the show over to Lady Nemui, for her impurression of a recent tale of mystery & romance on the high seas that turned into a–
Deadly Honeymoon!
Nemui:
The other night at the Inn, Shanny, Kyra and I had our crab apple nummy berry cocktails and watched Deadly Honeymoon on the Lifetime Movie Network! I was purrticularly interested as it stars Firefly’s Summer Glau as the main character Lindsey, whose husband Trevor (purrtrayed by Chris Carmack) goes missing, purrsumed overboard from their honeymoon cruise.
I suspect that Summer Glau’s fans will be pleased with not only her understated purrformance. I do not wish to spoil too much of the plot, but much of the movie purrtains to the investigation purrocedural of the disappearance, lead by the ship’s security chief and vacationing FBI agent Gwen Merced, who is supurrbly purrtrayed by Zoe McLellan!
Although all purrformances were good, Gwen was my favorite character and I hope to see Zoe McLellan in more starring roles. Nicely directed by Paul Shapiro, Deadly Honeymoon also benefitted from lovely dresses & swimwear, splendid cinematography & purrduction values in the lovely Hawaii & ocean liner locations, so I will recommend the TV move!
Kianalani:
She is the concise catgirl critic!
Petra:
Now I want to see that movie – I must consult the schedule, nya!
Mike:
Ilyana, Chief Murrey, Nemui, thank you for those reviews!
Nyanko:
That will do it for this segment of the show, but after the next break we’ll be joined by our special guest Rainbowfish, so please stay tuned!
Avana-ruru:
(swims by with the banner that reads “We’ll be right back!”)
(snip)
(one short break later…)
Feature Purresentation Intermew with Rainbowfish!
Elizabeth:
It is always good when Catgirl Island receives a visit from our friend Rainbowfishhttp://catgirlisland.net/art/guest/261.html! When we heard that she would be in town during this special 3rd anniversary show, it was impurrative to invite her to the purrogram as our special guest!
Also known as Chainmail Chick, you can see her modeling the chainmail at Chained Elegance http://www.facebook.com/pages/Garner-NC/Chained-Elegance/138319699607?ref=ts and other appurral in her modeling purrtfolio at Model Mayhem http://www.modelmayhem.com/814236!
She appears in the fantasy art photography of Alan Welch http://www.reverierealm.com/ and also has a pages at Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Chainmail-Chick/264533176445, Myspace http://www.myspace.com/504004989 and Twitter http://twitter.com/chainmailchick! So let us please welcome Rainbowfish! Aloha! How’s your vacation been thus far?
Rainbowfish:
(wearing the chainmail bikini) Lovely! Just what I needed. It’s been a busy year.
Elizabeth:
Would you like a tasty beverage?
Rainbowfish:
Yes please! I have a huge weaknesses for blended fruity drinks. And their little umbrellas, of course.
Elizabeth:
Coming right up! I understand that you have kitties! Purrhaps you could tell us about them?
Rainbowfish:
I have two, a big fluffy self-styled princess named Sarabi that we rescued from an animal shelter, and an insane orange shorthair that we adopted from my roommate’s family.
Originally we’d just planned on having one, but Sarabi is so affectionate that she gets really sad when people aren’t around, and she’d always fuss at us when we got back from class.So we adopted Froderick (the orange one) to keep her company. Except that kind of backfired because Frodo bullies her. Now I think she’d be happy to be an only cat again.
Elizabeth:
I also heard that you like to cook! Do the cats get to sample your cooking?
Rainbowfish:
Not if I can help it! Froderick is very crafty about stealing food, so I’ve developed impeccable aim with the flyswatter (catswatter?). I do pay them a “tuna tax”, though.
Elizabeth:
What sort of foods do you like to purrpare?
Rainbowfish:
Everything! I worked as a pastry chef for a while, so I’m a little biased towards sweets (okay, I’m a lot biased), but I cook everything from chili to coq au vin (chicken stewed in wine with mushrooms and bacon).
Elizabeth:
Mm mm num num num!
Rainbowfish:
I like Italian food – pesto is just magical – and that sort of pan-Asian or Asian fusion cuisine. I have two shelves dedicated to my cookbooks and about 20 sites on my computer that I go to for recipes and cooking ideas. My latest addiction is grilling, so I’ve been going through bags of charcoal in the quest for the perfect burger.
Elizabeth:
Please do let us know about the purrfect burger! Given your artistic purredilections, how fancy is the purresentation of your cuisine?
Rainbowfish:
Depends on the dish – if it’s a regular meal, I like to arrange the food neatly, but I don’t dress the plate up. If it’s a dessert, or a really big meal, then I’ll spend a good bit of time on it.
I did a cake for my birthday that had sugared rose petals, and one for my friend with chocolate covered strawberries. My first job in bakeries was decorating fancy cakes so part of me wishes I still had a cabinet of dyes and pastry bags!
Elizabeth:
Mm those sound purretty and delicious! So, what are your other purrfured means of visual or purrforming artistic expurression?
Rainbowfish:
Does doodling on notebooks count?
Elizabeth:
Hai!
Rainbowfish:
I like painting and drawing, and I’ve recently gotten into photography. I mean, you can only model for so long before you wonder what it’s like on the other side of the camera! It’s certainly a very interesting genre. I’m teaching myself Photoshop, too, so I can retouch and digitally create my own images.
Elizabeth:
I was reading about your hobbies & favorite things, so I take it your favorite book is The Voyage of the Basset?
Rainbowfish:
I’m a lit nerd so I can’t pick an absolute favorite, but Voyage of the Basset is definitely a contender. It’s technically a children’s book, but it’s so beautifully illustrated and written that you’re just entranced. It’s also very funny. For more adult literature, I’d have to say one of my new favorites is Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. It’s one of the most interesting, original fantasy novels out there, and I am just all a-quiver with anticipation for the next book.
Elizabeth:
And you’re a gamer grrl too? I have a high level D&D Paladin- she’s tough! What are some of your favorite games, classes or characters?
Rainbowfish:
I just started a D&D campaign with a Paladin! He’s a misogynistic drow paladin. I think he’ll be fun to play. Obviously I love D&D, and I really enjoyed the Star Wars d20 RPG (we recently finished a campaign set in between the two movie trilogies).
I’d like to expand to some other systems sometime; I’ve heard that Burning Wheel and Exalted are both really really good, and they put an emphasis on the player’s imagination and role playing abilities. Not that powergaming your way through a dungeon isn’t fun!
My favorite character so far was an Eladrin fighter – she had 19 DEX and could dual-strike at will. I took a bunch of really obscure feats geared towards dexterity-based fighters and she ended up being a total beast. I loved it. They later realized that the at-will dual strike was incredibly broken and removed it from 4th ed, but damn was it fun while it lasted.
Elizabeth:
Speaking of Star Wars, which are your favorite Star Wars movies, comics, books, games, characters etc? What sort of Star Wars things do you collect?
Rainbowfish:
Empire Strikes Back (obviously) + the original Clone Wars cartoon. It’s kind of weird, but the cartoon reminded me of how ridiculously badass the Jedi were back in the day, and it sort of hinted at how epic The-Prequels-Which-Shall-Not-Be-Named could have been if they’d focused more on the near obliteration of the Jedi, the rise of Palpatine, the fall of the Republic instead of Anakin’s anger management issues.
I was definitely into the Knights of the Old Republic games; they were some of my favorite RPGs. I can’t wait for the MMO! The cinematic trailer was so awesome that just watching it gives you a +1 to your next combat. Oh, and favorite characters? The Mandalorians (for you non-Star Wars nerds, think Boba Fett, the bounty hunter). In my fangirlish opinion, one of the baddest, sexiest things to come out of Star Wars.
Elizabeth:
The Fetts and Madalorians definitely have a big fan following! As Star Wars fan who often models chainmail bikinis, is there a Purrincess Leia Organa ‘slavegirl’ cosplay in your future?
Rainbowfish:
If I can ever get my hands on a proper Leia bikini, my lord yes. They’re quite expensive but I’d looove to do a shoot with one. It was such a stunning outfit on Carrie Fisher – the hard lines of the bikini, the flowing skirt, the exotic colours – and she looked so soft and vulnerable. Then of course she kicks ass.
Elizabeth:
Could you tell us a bit about Chained Elegance?
Rainbowfish:
Chained Elegance is the business and brainchild of my friend Shaun Mendes. He has a very interesting and unusual approach to chainmail that I’d not seen before, and despite being a very heterosexual man, he really does have an eye for making metal look sleek and elegant and feminine. He likes challenges and trying very odd things with chainmail, and as a result he’s come up with some really awesome pieces, like the chainmail web wings. He’s also one of the most affordable chainmail designers I know, which is really nice.
Elizabeth:
How long does it take to make some of those chainmail garments?
Rainbowfish:
It depends on the size of the rings and the size of the finished design. A bikini might take between 2-5 hours, while something large like a shirt could take anywhere from 15-60 hours. He has one scale mail shirt that took over 100 hours to put together! Chainmail is definitely not a hobby for the impatient person.
Elizabeth:
What are some helpful do’s & don’ts for wearing chainmail appurral?
Rainbowfish:
Do make sure you give your chainmail a wipe down, since the stuff they use to keep it shiny and non-rusting will rub off on the skin after a while and make you look like a relative of the tin man! I usually wear band aids or custom-made cloth inserts to keep the bikini top “family friendly”, and not out of concern for pinching. Well-made chainmail shouldn’t pinch! I also like to warm my chainmail a little before I put it on with a hair dryer.
As far as don’ts… don’t invite your friends to test out the effectiveness of your chainmail! For some reason people will inevitably punch you, and as chainmail is meant to stop slashing attacks, a punch just leaves you will little ring shaped bruises. I wouldn’t recommend getting steel mail unless you’re genuinely intending to use it for combat, because that stuff is heavy!
Elizabeth:
Aside from the chainmail, what are your favorite things & styles to model?
Rainbowfish:
I’d really love to do some corset modeling – is there such a thing? – or get into some really elaborate cosplay outfits. Not that chainmail bikinis aren’t fun, but sometimes a girl wants to dress up and feel pretty! Obviously I like doing fantasy work, but I also like doing more artsy work, stuff that’s very striking or surreal or colourful.
Elizabeth:
Do you purrfur studio or location shoots?
Rainbowfish:
They both have their perks. The studio is good for when you want a lot of control over the shoot and don’t want to deal with weather/ bugs/ passersby/ sunlight/ etc. Location shoots are great when you’ve found a killer spot and are feeling a bit adventurous. I’ve worked with a lot of photographers who don’t have a studio but really know how to work a location shoot, and they’re always fun.
Elizabeth:
Do you work with other stylists, hair & make-up artists or do you do tend to do your own?
Rainbowfish:
Of course! Never underestimate the power of professional stylists to take a shot to the next level. While I can muddle through with adequate makeup and hair, I can never achieve that really polished look that a makeup artist or hair stylist can.
I’d have them at all of my shoots if I could. Since I can’t, I’ve been trying to teach myself a little about makeup and hair, and I’ll let you in my sole discovery: false eyelashes. They help eyes to stand out and you can do all sorts of coy things with them when you’re looking at the camera.
Elizabeth:
Do you just pose for the camera, or do you also ever have a hand behind the camera?
Rainbowfish:
I dabble in photography a little, although I am an absolute amateur. I like directing shoots better, I think. There’s something very powerful in having this image in mind and coordinating all the elements of it to come together. Or maybe I just like bossing the models and photographers around!
Elizabeth:
Do you ever model glamorous fashions on the catwalk or the fashion runway?
Rainbowfish:
Haha, I actually have done one runway show! However, the standard for runway and fashion models is a very tall (around 5’10”) and slim figure, whereas I am very short and decidedly curvy! So, I don’t often meet requirements for runway shows.
To be honest, I’ve found that I enjoy photoshoots and promotional modeling a lot more. The fashion show I did was very exciting and glamorous, but it was also very impersonal and there was a lot of waiting around.
Elizabeth:
So what is it like working with Alan, and what is a Reverie Realm fantasy photo shoot like?
Rainbowfish:
They’re very fun. I arrive at the studio – we shoot in a costuming warehouse – and get into costume while Alan sets up the lights and camera. Usually he brings along props, like jewelry or weapons, and we’ll consult a few times about hair, makeup, accessories, and so on. When Alan shoots, he has a specific concept in mind, so we’re trying to match that as closely as possible.
He always takes great care to explain the image he’s shooting for, so I know what my character is doing, what she’s feeling, and that helps me with expression and pose.Alan is a wonderful person to work with; he’s extremely experienced working with models and he knows a million things about posing. I swear I never thought I could take a good picture until I met him! Anyway, we’re usually very laid back on set and make a lot of jokes (Alan’s an incorrigible punster), and sometimes we go out to eat afterwards. It’s all very enjoyable.
Elizabeth:
He is such a nice ‘n talented purrson- he was one of our September, 2009 guests! So, is it great imaginary fun, or is it much harder work, to interact with elements that are not purractically there, but will be added later to the scene digitally?
Rainbowfish:
Very fun! It’s always a wonderful surprise to see how the final piece turns out.
Elizabeth:
Do you have any advise for aspiring models?
Rainbowfish:
Have fun with it! Don’t take it too seriously. The vast majority of aspiring models won’t make a living from it, so do it because you enjoy it. I’d highly recommend reading www.newmodels.com to read the facts from an industry pro. With that said, photography is a popular hobby nowadays, so it’s easier to find photographers to work with!
Don’t be afraid to seek out photographers to shoot your concepts and ideas. Just make sure you do your homework and check people out before you work with them. It’s a much safer method than “bringing an escort” — which, I’ll warn you, turns a lot of professional photographers off of working with you.
Elizabeth:
So what are some of your next purrojects or appurrances?
Rainbowfish:
Mostly this year I’ll be busy with cons – I’m booked for Dragon Con http://www.dragoncon.org/and FX http://www.fxshow.com/in Orlando, and possibly Origins http://www.originsgamefair.com/ as well.
I’m really excited to be going to some of the bigger cons that I’ve heard so much about! I’ll be doing more modeling, hopefully expanding my portfolio a bit. And I’ve got a big long list of costumes and photoshoots and props that I want to make! So I’ll have plenty to keep myself busy.
Elizabeth:
Thank you so much for taking time from your vacation to join us- and we hope to see you again at the luau!
Rainbowfish:
Thanks for having me! I’ll bring more tuna next time.
Elizabeth:
We’ll be right back!
(snip)
(one short break later…)
The Mermaids Wave & The Cat Lady Sings…
Lourdessaluorno:
Hi hi- welcome back!
Nyssy:
What’s next?
Jeannie:
I believe we have concluded all of today’s topics.
Nyanko:
Well, I guess that wraps it up for another edition of The Mew!
Ceresatami:
Already? Wow that sure was fun!
Elizabeth:
We are so glad that so many of our friends could be here for this special show!
Melanakeami:
It was good to be back!
Nemui:
We greatly appreciate the kind invitation to purrticipate in the anniversary!
Ne’ellakaliomi:
Hai!
Ne’ellakaliomi:Kianalani:
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!
Mielikki:
Fur Shur!
Yvonne:
We wish to thank our web master Jamie Robertson for all of his hard work, nya–
Mary Nyan:
– and thank those visual & purrforming artists, authors, editors, publishers,
filmmakers & broadcasters for the wonderfully entertaining things we reviewed…
Tsuruku:
Rainbowfish for taking time from her vacation to join us!
Meryl:
And Bix for more of her beautiful art!!
Petra:
…and we thank our friends at Sheila May’s for hosting today’s show, nya!
(the catgirls in unison)
ARIGATO GOZAIMASU, NYA!
(the mermaids in unison)
DOITASHIMASTE!
Ilyana:
If y’all have polite, sincere responses to our discussion, feel free to post them-
Meryl:
– purrvided that any such remarks are brief, spam-free, and stay on-topic!
Mike:
Thanks for watching, y’all! We’ll be back with more next month!
Avana-ruru:
(swims by trailing a banner that reads “Be there… Aloha!”)
(the catgirls in unison)
Happy tails to mew, until we eat again! BaiBai, nya!
The Mew 
Just had to share when I saw this, http://www.projectrobotech.com
Does anyone have info about the upcoming Canada only release of Earth Final Conflict season 2 by Alliance Films home entertainment on June 29,2010 via amazon/ca, email by Universal Home Entertainment and tvondvd.com there seems to be some possible misinformation? I’m disabled and housebound and would really appreciate a reply because video is as close to ‘a life’ as I can get, Sincerely, Star