The Secret World of Arriety coming to theaters Feb 17th

Arriety will be seeing an English language release thanks to Disney during February of next year. Be sure to check it out in your local theater.

Aspect Ratio - Daxie Boy Toys

Join Ruben Rascon along with the rest of the Augmented Reality crew as we take a look at El Paso's premiere independently owned toy store, Daxie Boy Toys.

Check out Daxie Boy Toys, 126 Shadow Mountain Dr. Suite D. El Paso, TX 79912. Or e-mail at daxieboytoys@gmail.com

Also check out their page on Facebook.

Zumbathon for japan Relief - At UTEP

Do you want to do good, feel good, and look good doing it? Our friends at Show your Heart! Japan Relief Zumbathon are hosting 2 Zumbathon events this Thursday, November 17th at UTEP's Thomas Rivera Conference center, 3rd floor in the Student Union. One starts at 5:00 and the other starts at 6:00. Bring a $5.00 donation to join with 100% of the proceeds benefiting Japan Tsunami Relief.

Want to see how fun these events are? Check out these videos we shot for Show Your Heart! At their Zumbathon event this past summer at the Bowling YMCA.

Aspect Ratio -- Frank N'Con 2011 [Day 1]

On Day 1 of our coverage of Frank N' Con, Ruben Rascon speaks to some of the faces behind the masks of your favorite freaky films, such as Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, Ghostbusters, and Return of the Living Dead.

Featuring Bob Elmore (Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2), Mark Bryan Wilson (Ghostbusters), Mark Christopher (Return of the Living Dead), billy Bryan (ghostbusters), Scott Tepperman (Ghost Hunters International.)

Chihayafuru. Imma slap that card from your reach!

I've decided it was time to talk about something important to me- how anime about games usually only popular or strictly played in Japan pretty much SUCK TO NO END. I mean, there's like this big boom of anime about card games in general, but there also way too many about games that I don't even care about. I mean even when Hikaru no Go was coming out I was like "blah no thanks" because the manga was good but the anime made me want to throw my DVD player across the universe. I tried out Saki before with not much more luck, I didn't get past the first episode. Basically, Japan's animation studios need to stop with the game anime. I know you want to sell more toys, and any other merch you can to young children, but please stop it japan.... because a lot of those toys come out over here T_T


Image copyright goes out to Madhouse.



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Specs:
Studio- Madhouse
Director- Morio Asaka

Series Information:
Year- 2011
# of Episodes- 12
Genre(s)- comedy, drama, karuta
Synopsis-
Chihaya Ayase is a frank and ebullient girl who becomes fascinated by the obscure world of competitive karuta, a card game based on Japanese poetry. Introduced to the aggressive style of the game by a quiet and thoughtful elementary school classmate named Arata Wataya, the two quickly become close friends. They start playing as a group with Taichi Mashima, Chihaya's smart and athletic childhood friend, until they have to part ways during their middle school years due to several circumstances. As their high school life begins, they meet once again.
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Let's get something straight, I really don't like anime based on games. A lot of them are made to sell toys rather than be a good anime so there are too many of them out there. Setting that aside, Chihayafuru isn't really based on a game directly- but on a manga that is based on a game played only in Japan. I've decided for this anime showcase to go ahead and let you know some details on the particular game played in this anime.

This game is karuta, a poem based game about "slapping" cards out of the way from your oponet. These cards containe lines from 100 poems, so in order to play this game you have to memorize 100 poems. That may sound easy but after watching the first 4 episodes of this anime, there's more than just initializing memorizing them- you also have to somewhat memorize the cards in front of you.

The main appeal of Chihayafuru isn't the gaming aspect; it's the main character Chihaya. There has not been an anime with such a fabulous main female lead in a long time, so watching this anime is like a breath of fresh air in a world of anime where %75 are about harems with main leads.

I can't say much about this show because it's one you need to watch rather than be told about but if you must be told here are some links about some other opinions on Chihayafuru:

Link 1 - this first one also has some nice comparison between PhiBrain, another game (more specifically puzzles) based anime

Link 2 - check towards the bottum of the page for some MAL user reviews

Journey into Mystery #629-#630

Oh hey there feeble Midgardians , tis’ another time for one of Alex’s dumb ass reviews. Today we will have a gander at the most recent issues of the ongoing series Journey into Mystery 629 and 630. The first of the two this is all I have to say…..The art gave it no justice, it was very uneventful art wise (which is my opinion don’t dispute it)

Kieron Gillen wrote this issue and the art was done by Whilce Portacio….Remember my last review? Well Loki did it! His rag tag team was successful in helping to bring down the serpent, in the most bad ass way possible too. Also remember when I said he stole the shadow of Surtur’s sword? Well they made a deal at that time, If Loki can use the sword, Surtur would be freed (keep that in mind). Loki and his team (Loki’s Magic Secret Action Squad as he called it) Snuck into Dark Asgard aka the giant floating island of evil. Loki then proceeds to release Surtur into the bowels of Dark Asgard where he would consume the energy of the isle (damn Loki will you ever stop being so magnificent?).

As they get out of the island, Loki watches to his dismay that the prophecy has come true, Thor has lost his life protecting Midgard (not without making the Serpent his bitch first) .

The whole plan was just wishful thinking, Loki just wanted to try out the WTF plan just in case it worked.

So with that Fear Itself (the main issues anyway) has winded down, but it is not exactly finished because there will be more tie ins than people go through toilet paper at a Mexican Restaurant. In Journey into Mystery 630 you will hear how Fear Itself has transpired…..Volstagg the voluminous’ version anyway (AWWWWWW SHIIIIT) And the art from Richard Elson just accompanies this so well, like an actual storybook!

Just in case you don’t know Volstagg, he is the portly (fat) one from the awesome trio that is The Warriors Three, essentially the coolest motherfucker around.

FUCK YEAH VOLSTAGG

Issue starts with Heimdall waking up to see the Destroyer armor outside as if no one took it (TOTALLY LEGIT GUYS). Then it cuts away to Loki and Toothgnasher and Toothgrinder, Thor’s mystical goats (that could totally kick your ass). Loki has a magic chain attached to them and he is luring the goats away from the roots of Yggdrasil as if pulling something from inside the tre- OH FUCK THERE IS SOME SORT OF HEAVY ASS ARMOR COMING OUT. When the goats finish the job Loki checks in the armor, who is in it you ask? MOTHERFUCKING VOLSTAGG . He and Loki were in cahoots to help Thor…..He was controlling THE FUCKING DESTROYER ARMOR! (It’s magic, I don’t gotta explain shit).Volstagg tells Loki he don’t want to see him anymore because he feels he helped Loki kill Thor (No, man NOOOO! It was for the greater good!). So with that he leaves Loki be.

This is when the story makes you DAWWWWW, Volstagg barges into his own house surprising his kids (who all pile on to him at once). He tells them to gather ‘round for he has a story for them (at this time you get your ass all sorts of comfortable). The way Volstagg sums up everything is like one of the best children’s stories ever and it’s filled with….You know when your dad/caretaker would do a self insert story and they would be all strong/brave/perfect? This story has just that

Notice how he is all buff and shit.

I mean you know how The Worthy all had hammers in Fear Itself? LOL Oh Volstagg you so crazy

Then the kids find out about Thor’s demise, but they take it so well;_; i mean they are sad that he is well, dead. But they know he fought to save everyone. This whole issue was really touching (again, my opinion) and while Volstagg’s story isn‘t completely canon it is a really fun read…..This issue has become one of my personal favorites artistically and story wise. I REALLY recommend Journey into Mystery #630, so get your ass into a comfortable fuckin’ couch and put dat Snuggie on and read this.

Going to Frank N' Con

We're heading to the El Paso Wyndham Inn for Frank N' Con. Look forward to our coverage of the event in the next couple weeks.

If you'd like to join us, tickets are still available at the door for the same prices. Also, keep an eye on the Frank N' Con website and Facebook page for updates from the convention as they happen.

Enjoy the convention, and have a safe and Happy Halloween from all of us at Augmented Reality!