This weekend was the first day of the winter session at Comic Book Masters. I am teaching my Anime: Round 1 drawing class after a long period of that level not running, so I'm pretty excited about that. It's a manageable group who seem interested so far, and though I'm not sure just how into the medium some of them are right now, I think it will be a lot of fun to show them what anime is really all about as time goes on. Also, later this week I will also be teaching anime lessons at the private school I work at. The students there are pretty keen on learning about anime, some of whom only took my previous class just so they could get to anime, and I have really been looking forward to teaching it to them. So, I am back in the anime saddle, and that's a good thing because I feel like I've been away from it for awhile. It's been awhile since I've done any significant anime style artwork or held my own marathon on a new show on DVD or fansubs. Maybe this will help get some mojo going.
And how about this? Canada is finally getting its own all anime television network. It's all been approved by the powers that be, and it's actually going to happen for real. We won!
Sayonara.
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Nihongo no Kurasu o Kaerimasu.
The second level of the Japanese classes I had taken last year started tonight. It was mostly a review of the previous lessons. There were some new faces along with the few returning students, so they had to be brought up to speed. I was a little nervous, because I didn't practice as much as I would have liked and it had been awhile so I wasn't sure how much I would remember. But I think I did ok.
I've been looking forward to these classes starting up again, and I'm pretty happy to be in them now. But, it's not very likely that there will be a third level after this. So I am starting to wonder about what I should do when these classes are done, because I really want to continue!
Sayonara.
I've been looking forward to these classes starting up again, and I'm pretty happy to be in them now. But, it's not very likely that there will be a third level after this. So I am starting to wonder about what I should do when these classes are done, because I really want to continue!
Sayonara.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Greatest Town Ever?
They say that you learn something new everyday. Not only have I just learned something new, but this new thing that I have learned is so unbearably awesome that I had to share it.
You see, there is a town in Colorado, USA, that has the most amazing name ever. It is a name I would never in a million years expect a town to be called, and yet all other towns wish they had names this cool.
The name of this town is DINOSAUR! That's right, Dinosaur, Colorado. Just wrap you head around how amazing that is. It's a real town. A real town called Dinosaur! The people who live there get the privilege of writing DINOSAUR on the return address of their outgoing mail. That's just mind blowing! Why am I just learning about it now? Had I known much earlier, I would have made it my life's mission to see that I relocate to this incredible land of Dinosaur.
I wish I lived there! Someone from Dinosaur, please invite me to your town and I will bring my Jurassic Park DVDs.
Sayonara.
You see, there is a town in Colorado, USA, that has the most amazing name ever. It is a name I would never in a million years expect a town to be called, and yet all other towns wish they had names this cool.
The name of this town is DINOSAUR! That's right, Dinosaur, Colorado. Just wrap you head around how amazing that is. It's a real town. A real town called Dinosaur! The people who live there get the privilege of writing DINOSAUR on the return address of their outgoing mail. That's just mind blowing! Why am I just learning about it now? Had I known much earlier, I would have made it my life's mission to see that I relocate to this incredible land of Dinosaur.
I wish I lived there! Someone from Dinosaur, please invite me to your town and I will bring my Jurassic Park DVDs.
Sayonara.
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
See this Movie!
Didn't get a chance to mention this until now, but last week I saw one of the best movies I have ever seen.
It's called Children of Men.
This movie was so intense and totally awesome. The story was great, the acting was well done, and the camera work was incredible. It's the kind of movie that keeps on getting better the further you get into it. It must be seen. Do yourself a favor and go check it out on the big screen while you still can, because it's worth it.
Sayonara.
It's called Children of Men.
This movie was so intense and totally awesome. The story was great, the acting was well done, and the camera work was incredible. It's the kind of movie that keeps on getting better the further you get into it. It must be seen. Do yourself a favor and go check it out on the big screen while you still can, because it's worth it.
Sayonara.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Canadian TV is actually good!
In my last post I talked about how the CBC is totally cool. Well, this past week they aired a pair of shows that officially cemented that reputation. It's pretty rare for me to talk about TV shows in this way, because I really don't go out of my way to watch very many television programs. But these two shows are really great, and are definitely worth watching no matter where you're living.
The first show is called Dragon Boys, a 2-part miniseries that aired this past Sunday and Monday. It's all about Asian gangs in western Canada and the people who's lives are effected by them. It was a very well done series with lots of twists and turns. While watching I could swear that I had seen the actor who played the lead detective character in something else that I had seen. In fact, I was sure that he was in my DVD collection somewhere. So I looked it up and I was quite embarrassed to say that I was right, because he played Ryu in the live action Street Fighter movie, and I do happen to own a copy of that film on DVD for some reason. But anyway, I won't hold that against anyone, because Dragon Boys was excellent, and I hope they do a sequel. A DVD release is forthcoming, so hopefully a wider audience will get to check it out then.
The other show I want to talk about is getting a lot of buzz. It's called Little Mosque on the Prairie and it's about a community of Muslims living in small town Saskatchewan. It's also a comedy. Obviously this show is dealing with some sensitive issues, but it is very funny. I think I'll be making an effort to catch this show whenever I can.
What's really great about both of these shows is that there is no way that anything like these could ever be a Hollywood product. It that were the case, the people in charge would go out of their way to make these shows as bland and generic as possible by casting few minorities and taking away pretty much anything that could be considered ethnic, thus ripping the heart and soul out of the entire project. Only Canada could be the birthplace of shows like this, and that's yet another reason why I'm proud to live in this country right now.
Sayonara.
The first show is called Dragon Boys, a 2-part miniseries that aired this past Sunday and Monday. It's all about Asian gangs in western Canada and the people who's lives are effected by them. It was a very well done series with lots of twists and turns. While watching I could swear that I had seen the actor who played the lead detective character in something else that I had seen. In fact, I was sure that he was in my DVD collection somewhere. So I looked it up and I was quite embarrassed to say that I was right, because he played Ryu in the live action Street Fighter movie, and I do happen to own a copy of that film on DVD for some reason. But anyway, I won't hold that against anyone, because Dragon Boys was excellent, and I hope they do a sequel. A DVD release is forthcoming, so hopefully a wider audience will get to check it out then.
The other show I want to talk about is getting a lot of buzz. It's called Little Mosque on the Prairie and it's about a community of Muslims living in small town Saskatchewan. It's also a comedy. Obviously this show is dealing with some sensitive issues, but it is very funny. I think I'll be making an effort to catch this show whenever I can.
What's really great about both of these shows is that there is no way that anything like these could ever be a Hollywood product. It that were the case, the people in charge would go out of their way to make these shows as bland and generic as possible by casting few minorities and taking away pretty much anything that could be considered ethnic, thus ripping the heart and soul out of the entire project. Only Canada could be the birthplace of shows like this, and that's yet another reason why I'm proud to live in this country right now.
Sayonara.
Saturday, January 06, 2007
Cutting Bill.
Kill Bill is on TV right now. It's on the TBS network. The current network slogan for TBS is "Very Funny", and they like to portray themselves as being a comedy network. Now, Kill Bill is awesome and it certainly has its funny moments, but I don't think it's a comedy. But it is "Very Funny" how edited it is. I started watching just out of curiosity to see how it would turn out after being pasteurized and reprocessed for television consumption. It's still pretty bloody, all things considered, but some of the cuts are rather obvious. I kind of wonder why they even bothered. Interesting how, a few months ago, Kill Bill Vol. 1 ran on the CBC in Canada, pretty much uncut from what I could tell. This is obviously because Canadians are much more hardcore than Americans.
Speaking of which, the CBC is now airing Arrested Development on weekdays at 5:30 p.m. after The Simpsons. This officially makes the CBC cool, because Arrested Development is totally great. In fact, it really ought to be on TBS too, when you think about it.
Sayonara.
Speaking of which, the CBC is now airing Arrested Development on weekdays at 5:30 p.m. after The Simpsons. This officially makes the CBC cool, because Arrested Development is totally great. In fact, it really ought to be on TBS too, when you think about it.
Sayonara.
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
A "Reoccuring" issue.
This is a message to the person who chooses to be known as "Reoccuring Former Jerk".
I am honored that you continue to scroll through my gallery even though my artwork "bugs" you so much. One would assume that if my artwork were so unsavory that one would simply, you know, not look at it anymore. But since you have made return visits, I can safely claim that my artwork is successful, regardless of what you perceive the quality to be. After all, I just want people to visit my website, and you are helping me accomplish that by visiting again.
Now, if you continue to insist on undertaking the next-to-pointless task of critiquing artwork that was made 7 years ago, then it would certainly benefit you stance on the matter if you stop being such a bloody coward and simply tell me who you are. Leave a name. Leave an e-mail address. Send me a proper message instead of leaving your long rants in my guestbook where they do not belong. It's not like I don't already know who you are. I do! So just stop with the charade and come out with it.
Your critiques are interesting, and perhaps there is something to be learned here, but you have given me absolutely no method to respond or explain anything, and that's not fair. A person who believes in what they say is not afraid to stand by their opinions with their name. Be a reasonable person and let's have a reasonable conversation. So it's all on you to make a difference if that is what you want to accomplish. If you refuse then it's no sweat off my nose, because I, in turn, refuse to listen to anonymous criticism of my work, even if you can spell.
Speaking of which, you spelled "Reoccurring" wrong. Not trying to start a spitting contest here, but still, just throwing that out there.
Sayonara.
I am honored that you continue to scroll through my gallery even though my artwork "bugs" you so much. One would assume that if my artwork were so unsavory that one would simply, you know, not look at it anymore. But since you have made return visits, I can safely claim that my artwork is successful, regardless of what you perceive the quality to be. After all, I just want people to visit my website, and you are helping me accomplish that by visiting again.
Now, if you continue to insist on undertaking the next-to-pointless task of critiquing artwork that was made 7 years ago, then it would certainly benefit you stance on the matter if you stop being such a bloody coward and simply tell me who you are. Leave a name. Leave an e-mail address. Send me a proper message instead of leaving your long rants in my guestbook where they do not belong. It's not like I don't already know who you are. I do! So just stop with the charade and come out with it.
Your critiques are interesting, and perhaps there is something to be learned here, but you have given me absolutely no method to respond or explain anything, and that's not fair. A person who believes in what they say is not afraid to stand by their opinions with their name. Be a reasonable person and let's have a reasonable conversation. So it's all on you to make a difference if that is what you want to accomplish. If you refuse then it's no sweat off my nose, because I, in turn, refuse to listen to anonymous criticism of my work, even if you can spell.
Speaking of which, you spelled "Reoccurring" wrong. Not trying to start a spitting contest here, but still, just throwing that out there.
Sayonara.
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