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  • Naruto on Cartoon Network. Thumbs up?

    Last saturday Naruto started airing on Cartoon Network’s Toonami block of programming. For those of you who aren’t anime fans, Naruto is one of the most popular shows to come out of Japan in the last couple of years. Cartoon Network has a really random reputation when it comes to treatment of anime. Sometimes deserved, sometimes not.

    Given the above, I was kind nervous tuning in to check it out. I tend not to be a fan of dubbing, but realize that it is the only way that most shows will make it onto TV. In the end, Cartoon Network did a pretty good job. My biggest complaint was ‘why bother changing the opening and ending?’. The ones for the show are pretty good as it is (and some of the later ones are great). The voices themselves were okay, I think the VAs may have to grow into them a little, but hopefully that won’t take long. Very little editing. One minor thing that bugged me a little was that they edited out nosebleeds. Nosebleeds? They’re an anime thing. When a character sees something naughty or has perverted thoughts they tend to get nosebleeds. No, I don’t get it either, but I’m used to it.

    I’ve got it programmed into my TiVo as a season pass for now.

  • TV on your phone

    Full episodes of cult TV sci-fi show Red Dwarf are being made available for fans to buy and watch on their mobile phone handsets.

    The Doctor Who special The Five Doctors, originally screened in 1983, is also part of the licensing deal. [BBC News]

    Okay, maybe I’m just a bit picky or something, but I really can’t see the enjoyment of watching TV on a cell phone screen. I think the smallest I could go is the PSP screen.

  • You Are On The Global Frequency

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    After reading about the pilot for a TV show called Global Frequency over on Heath Row’s Media Diet my curiosity went into overdrive. I read up about it some on the net and then hunted down a copy of it. One of the best pilot episodes I’ve seen ever I think.

    But what is just as interesting is how this leaked pilot has really generated interest in the show. People are asking “how can we help get this show to TV”. The site FrequencySite has coverage of what’s going on with it (though they don’t suggest you go out and download the show, that would be bad :)). But imagine if a network were smart enough to use this as a way to promote a new show. Especially one that might be a bit of a risk (as this one may be). Then see how strong the feedback is, and they might get an idea of how successful it could be.

    Anyways, if you get a chance to see this, definitely check it out. I now kind of hope that it does actually get picked up after all.

    Now Playing: Love at First Sight from the album “Black Sea” by XTC

  • Powerpuff Girls Anime!?

    I’m still a bit speechless on this one. The images are kind of funky looking. I still can’t decide if this will be a good thing or a bad thing.

    Powerpuff Girls Anime Announced
    Plans for a Powerpuff Girls anime were announced at the Tokyo Animation Fair. A joint venture between Toei Animation, Aniplex, and Cartoon Network, the new project will be tentatively titled “Demashitaa! Powerpuff Girls Z.” Posters from the booth can be seen on AV Watch here and here. [via Anime News Network]

  • Oh. My. God.

    Okay, someone needs to stop coming up with ideas for reality shows. This is getting ridiculous.

    New Fox Show: Adoptee IDs dad for $100K

    NEW YORK (AP) — The Fox network said Tuesday it will air a special next month, “Who’s Your Daddy?”, where a daughter given up for adoption as an infant attempts to guess the identity of her birth father for a $100,000 prize.

    Activists in the adoption community immediately attacked the special, which will air for 90 minutes on January 3.[cnn.com]

    I don’t even want to think about what will be next.

  • What I Hate About This Time Of Year

    One thing I’ve been finding lately is that I just don’t watch quite as much TV. I blame it partly on the TiVo. I like being able to record something and watch it at a later time. The thing is, this is college basketball season. And since my parents, dad especially, is a UConn Women’s Basketball fanatic that takes priority over anything else on TV. Including the one hour of prime time TV that I watch (Joan of Arcadia). I think what is most annoying is that I end up having to watch it in real time, suddenly having to run (er well, my version of run) to the third floor at the last minute. Oh well, at least whining always makes it not seem so bad.

    And Joan was good this week. I hadn’t gotten to watch last week’s until this afternoon and it was a bit harsh to say the least. The show needed and episode that ended up an up note like this. This season has just had quite the dark cloud over it.

  • Not Getting It

    Roger Catlin of the Hartford Courant writes in today’s Eye on TV section:

    Japanimation Cute, But Strange; UConn Women Open Season

    The super cutesy side of Japanese animation, already adapted in cartoons like “Hamtaro” and “Powerpuff Girls” (Cartoon Network, 8:30 and 11 p.m.) gets even closer to the source on the new “Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi” (Cartoon Network, 7:30 and 9 p.m.), with its rendering of a popular pop duo as a pair of adorable squibs.

    Like a lot of Japanimation, there are some traits that are still tough to figure – chiefly how the mouths inexplicably become two dimensional slabs of baloney when open; and when open very large, routinely exceed the boundaries of the face. [CTnow.com (registration required)]

    Um, just because the show is based on people from Japan does not make it Japanese Animation. Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi is a Cartoon Network original series. As is the Powerpuff Girls. They may be anime influenced, but that’s it. Hamtaro is anime, but I still think Hamtaro should end up in a wood chipper one of these days.

    Oh, and nobody uses the term ‘Japanimation’ anymore, that’s so 80s.

  • A Sign of the Times?

    From CNN.com:

    TV stations canceling ‘Ryan’ telecast

    Worried about FCC sactions; film must run uncut

    NEW YORK (AP) — More than 20 ABC affiliates around the country, including two in Ohio, have announced that they won’t take part in the network’s Veterans Day airing of “Saving Private Ryan,” saying the acclaimed film’s violence and language could draw sanctions from the Federal Communications Commission.

    The decisions mark a twist in the conflict over the aggressive stand the FCC has taken against obscenity and profanity since Janet Jackson flashed the world during the last Super Bowl halftime show.

    Steven Spielberg’s Oscar-winning movie aired on ABC with relatively little controversy in 2001 and 2002, but station owners — including several in large markets — are unnerved that airing it Thursday could bring federal punishment. The film includes a violent depiction of the D-Day invasion and profanity.

    “It would clearly have been our preference to run the movie. We think it’s a patriotic, artistic tribute to our fighting forces,” Ray Cole, president of Citadel Communications, told AP Radio. The company owns three ABC affiliates in the Midwest.

    …

    Cole cited recent FCC actions and last week’s re-election of President Bush as reasons for replacing “Saving Private Ryan” on Thursday with a music program and the TV movie “Return to Mayberry.” [CNN.com]

    I don’t know about you, but I certainly find “Return to Mayberry” to be much more offensive than “Saving Private Ryan“. I really hope this isn’t some kind of sign of what TV will be like in the near future.

  • Yay! More Looney Tunes!

    Looney Tunes: Golden Collection: Volume 2
    I was just looking at Amazon.com and noticed they had a little ad up for the Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 2. I loved the first collection, it was a great start to them releasing many old old cartoons that I hadn’t seen in their entirely in ages. This one looks to continue the trend with a lot of early material. And even better, it comes out on my birthday next month (November 2nd)! I’ve added it to my wish list, anyone wanna pick it up for me?

  • Joan of Arcadia, Season 2

    After the season finale of Joan of Arcadia, I really wasn’t quite sure what they were going to do this season. So far, I think they’re off to a good start. No other real comments at this time to avoid spoilage.