Episode #0009 – Anime on the Cheap, Part 1

(Note: yes, I announced the date of this episode as Monday, September 21. I really did intend to release it on that day, honest! Oh well, better late than never, I suppose!)

Pretty much everybody agrees that we are indeed going through some troubling times, economy wise. Most everyone is feeling the pinch of the global recession, and we’re all looking at cutting our expenses. So how do we feed our need for anime in these lean times, without breaking the bank? I explore this topic in the first of two segments I’m calling “Anime on the Cheap.” We also go through the latest anime news, including – of course – Weird Japan. And I have a few treats for you as well, so be sure and stick around till the very end!

Intro music: “Don’t say ‘lazy’,” Toyosaki Aki, Hikasa Youko, Satou Satomi, Kotobuki Minako (K-On! ED theme)

Followups to previous news items:

• Japan Girls Nite brings beauty, dancing, and punk rock to the City of Angels
• Comiket 76 Cosplay pics:
  • http://www.japanator.com/highlights-of-comiket-76-cosplay-part-2-10987.phtml
  • http://www.japanator.com/highlights-of-comiket-76-cosplay-part-1-10986.phtml
  • http://www.sankakucomplex.com/2009/08/17/c76-comiket-cosplay-sexier-than-ever/
  • http://www.sankakucomplex.com/2009/08/18/even-more-sexy-c76-cosplay/

News:

• Les Paul, Inventor Of The Solid-Body Electric Guitar, Dies At 94 (Wikipedia article)
• Eureka Seven feature film to be screened on September 24 (watch Eureka Seven on Crunchyroll) (English movie trailer)
• FUNimation announces “Anime at the Palace” live event
• JAM Project’s Anime Songs Now on Sale in U.S. iTunes
• Sola, True Tears Anime Songs Now on Sale in U.S. iTunes
• Sony Hints at Ultraviolet: Code 044′s U.S. Release Soon (watch fansub via Animesuki)
• Shuho Sato Earns Y100,000 on 1st Day of Paid Web Manga Service
• Tokyopop Announces Online Manga Program
• CLAMP Ends Tsubasa, RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE on September 30
• Charger Girl Ju-den Chan Complete Edition in the Works (watch it on Crunchyroll)
• Criterion planning a massive 25-film sized Kurosawa box set? DO WANT!
• DVD roundup: Criterion to release Nikkatsu Noir collection, Gunslinger Girl OVA and Blu-ray on its way!
• 3 K-On! Image CDs Debut on Same Day, Rank in Top 10 (Updated)
• K-ON! Live-Action Drama Due!?
• Nagaru Tanigawa “Has Started” New Haruhi Novel
• Mahoromatic: Tadaima Okaeri Anime to Debut in October (Updated)
• Dragon Ball Online MMORPG’s New Trailer Video Posted
• Bandai Channel to Stream Anime in U.S., Eurasia at Start of 2010
• Syfy’s Ani-Monday Block Lists Monster Series (Updated)
• We should do this: Manga written to explain economic policy

Con News:

• New York Anime Festival
• Superglorious and NYAF announce Far East To East Showcase
• Japanese musical group AKB48 to appear at NYAF
• NYAF & NYCC to combine forces for 2010 con season
• SPJA announces new President and Chief Executive Officer (some interesting thoughts from Japanator)

Weird Japan:

• The mighty, how they fall: Yakuza are stealing Peko-chan statues
• Burglar Dismembered with Katana in Samurai Self-Defence
• Soul’s Window: China Rips Off 5cm Per Second
• China Rips Off Naruto, Pokémon: “Imitation is Not Plagiarism”
• China: “Destroy Japanese Anime!”
• Manga Version of Hitler’s Mein Kampf Sells 45,000
• Ero-Figures Too Hot for Comiket!
• Don’t worry, zombies are training hard to scare the crap out of you

Main Event:

• Inari sushi – a tasty, cheap, relatively easy to prepare, vegetarian-friendly dish great for anime get-togethers
• The Anime Network
• Netflix
• Blockbuster
• RentAnime
• GreenCine
• DVDAvenue
• Zip.ca
• Webflicks
• AnimeTakeout and MangaTakeout
• AnimeLane
• Amazon
• The Right Stuf
• Deep Discount
• eBay and Half.com
• The Pirate Anime FAQ

Cool Finds:

• MangaGamer wants you to try before you buy, releases demos of three eroge
• K-On! fansub via Animesuki
• Mio the Wooden Idol
• K-ON! Don’t say “lazy” Ending Remade
• OMG! Real Life Ritsuko Tainaka!
• Saki Website Launches Mahjong Mini-Game Online (watch Saki on Crunchyroll)

Other links:

• TJX: The Japan Xperience

J-List is a peaceful island of Japanese pop culture for you

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:32:14 — 42.2MB)

Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)

1. Episode #0009a – Repost of Anime on the Cheap, Part 1
2. Episode #0013 (Part 2) – Anime Expo 2010
3. Episode #0017 – 2010 Year in Review, Anime Style – Part 2: Rebirth
4. Episode #0016 – 2010 Year in Review, Anime Style – Part 1: Death
5. Episode #0021 – Anime Expo 2011 (Part 1)