J-Pop Summit Festival In S.F. To Host Japanese Fashion Events

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The 2012 J-POP Summit Festival, which takes place across the city’s Japantown district on Saturday and Sunday, August 25th and 26th. Catch the latest inspired designs from cutting edge Japanese brands such as Liz Lisa, h. NAOTO and Baby, The Stars Shine Bright as they stage several fun and free fashion shows and contests throughout the weekend. For event schedule, please visit www.j-pop.com.

The J-POP Summit Festival is honored to welcome Japanese fashion brand, Liz Lisa, for a first-ever appearance in the United States. Founded in the popular Tokyo shopping district of Shibuya, the Liz Lisa brand is built upon a fashion fusion of retro-meets-trendy, infused with a touch of feminine luxury and sensuality to accentuate the wearer’s charm and allure. During the 2012 J-POP Summit, Liz Lisa will host a pop-up boutique inside the NEW PEOPLE retail store offering an array of fashions and unique accessories for sale. Shoppers that spend at least $50 at the boutique will also enjoy free Liz Lisa eyelash makeup on-site by the brand’s official girls team that flying all the way from Tokyo to join in the festival.

Liz Lisa will also host a rose flower-inspired “Shibuya Girls Fashion Contest,” scheduled to take place on Saturday, August 25th at 1:00pm on the Main Pagoda Stage at Peace Plaza. Attendees that feel they that are the best example of a Shibya Fashionista are invited to participate in the contest and show their style at the J-POP Summit Festival! For entry information, check http://www.j-pop.com/2012/liz-lisa-fashion-contest. Prizes will include gorgeous Liz Lisa items. More information on Liz Lisa is available at: http://www.lizlisa.com/en.

Harajuku fashion will also bloom at the festival. Edgy Harajuku fashion brand, h. NAOTO has issued a call to potential female models to participate in their special live J-POP Summit fashion show showcasing the latest Autumn and Winter collections from the new FRILL and GRAMM clothing lines. The show will take place on Saturday, August 25th at 3:00pm on the Main Pagoda Stage in Japantown’s Peace Plaza. FRILL is the brand’s new Lolita-inspired line, while GRAMM is h. NAOTO’s romantic and more organic, “mori” (meaning forest) girl-inspired brand. More information on h. NAOTO is available at: http://www.hnaoto.us.

World renowned Lolita fashion brand Baby, The Stars Shine Bright has been a favorite with festival attendees since the very first J-POP Summit in 2009. The popular brand, which hails from the trendy Harajuku district of Tokyo, opened its first boutique in the U.S. in 2009 at NEW PEOPLE. For the 2012 J-POP Summit, Baby, The Stars Shine Bright invites fans to attend and participate in an Alice In Wonderland-themed fashion contest and show scheduled for Sunday, August 26th at 2:30pm on the Main Pagoda Stage at Peace Plaza. For entry information, please visit: http://www.j-pop.com/2012/baby-fashion-contest/.


New Dragonball Z Movie Trailer For 2013 Release

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Well the wait is finally over. The New Dragonball Z movie is not only confirmed but given a release date. Not much is known about the plot, but check out this quick teaser. I love how the animation looks for this one, it seems that we will get a DBZ unlike any other before it. 


VIZ Manga Series Will Debut Simultaneously In Print And Digitally

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Beginning today, all VIZ Manga releases will debut on Tuesdays. In addition, digital volumes of current releases will debut on the same day as its print debut. This will also include future VIZ Media titles available from the NOOK Store™ for the Barnes & Noble NOOK Color and NOOK Tablet. 

The VIZ Manga App is available for free through the iTunes Store and the Google Play Store, and all manga volumes are generally available for purchase and download in the U.S. and Canada within the application for $4.99 (U.S. / CAN) per volume. More than 80 series and 700 volumes are currently available for download. Plus, don’t miss the VIZ Manga End of Summer Sale going on now until August 20, 2012, saving fans up to 20% Off all series available on VIZManga.com and the VIZ Manga app for the iPad, iPhone, iPod touch and now Android phones!

Today’s Day-and-Date VIZ Manga Releases Include:

AI ORE! Vol. 6
BAKUMAN Vol. 13
BLEACH Vols. 44-45
DAWN OF THE ARCANA Vol. 5
NURA: RISE OF THE YOKAI CLAN Vol. 10
PSYREN Vol. 6 - Debuts one month before street date of Sept. 4th!
TEGAMI BACHI Vol. 10
TORIKO Vol. 11
ULTIMO Vol. 7
YU-GI-OH! GX Vol. 9

Additional Titles Debuting Today On VIZ Manga Include:

THE GENTLEMEN'S ALLIANCE Vol. 8
HIKARU NO GO Vol. 12
HUNTER X HUNTER Vol. 13
KEKKAISHI Vol. 32
LIBRARY WARS Vol. 3
ORESAMA TEACHER Vols. 3-4
OURAN HIGH SCHOOL HOST CLUB Vol. 15
SEIHO BOYS HIGH SCHOOL Vol. 7
SHAMAN KING Vol. 7


LiSA’s Upcoming Single “crossing field” is Coming to America

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Here is some J-Pop News from our friends at Aniplex.

Aniplex of America is set to release the Sword Art Online opening single “crossing field” by LiSA here in North America. The upcoming single release will be available in three different versions including a Regular, Limited and Anime Edition. Both the Limited and Anime Edition will include a Bonus DVD featuring the textless opening from Sword Art Online. These releases will be imported and will be available on August 14th. In addition, the official digital downloads of “crossing field” will be available on iTunes and Amazon on August 21st. Pre-orders for these releases are now open.


For detailed information, please visit:
http://www.aniplexusa.com/lisa/


All of LiSA’s Releases can be pre-ordered and purchased at:
Right Stuf: http://www.rightstuf.com/rssite/main/

Here is LiSA Music Video "Oath Sign"






Olympics 2012 Fashions

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My my my Otakus & Geeks! I have truly missed my fam during this break. But what better way to come back than to talk the hits & misses of this year's Olympics fashions.

From Team Japan to the ever controversial Team USA, I'll be spending the next few Sundays during the 2012 Olympics to see what we can gather about these hits & misses and how to do some everyday wear with any of these looks to make them complete HITS! ... who knows?! Some of these looks could definitely show up in Lolita.

So far, here are my basic hits & misses ... join in & let me know yours since we'll be digging into this yumminess and all of the geeky fashion ways it may have brought with it!

                                                           Undecided         HIT 
                                                                       HIT        HIT
                                                                       HIT        Undecided

                                                                             Miss         Miss


                                                            Undecided         HIT
                                                     Undecided         Undecided

                                                 Undecided         Undecided
Of course HITS are what they are ... and nothing's gonna change my mind. Misses can be changed, some are growing on me the more I look at them, but it could just be because I have to keep looking at them. These undecided picks can definitely go either way, so I'll probably watch those a bit closer in action to make any final decisions.

What's your fashionable thoughts? Email me at imani@otakusandgeeks.com
Until next week
~je t'adore!



The Venom Cosplay Photos That Facebook Banned

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Hey Otakus and Geeks fans Sean (True Comic Fan), I came across and article on Bleedingcool.com about Cosplay Photos banned on facebook. Now my personal opinion, the photos aren't any worse than what people put up on Facebook every day. Check out the Photos and let me know what you think.

*original article from Bleeding Cool.com Written on August 2, 2012 by Rich Johnston*

Link: http://www.bleedingcool.com/2012/08/02/the-venom-cosplay-photos-that-facebook-banned/

Durarara!! Limited Edition BD Lunch Box Set Releases On October 30th 2012

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Aniplex of America Inc. announced that the hit anime series Durarara!! will be released in a Limited Edition BD Lunch box Set on October 30th, 2012 and will be available through anime distributor RightStuf.com and official retailers (http://aniplexusa.com/retailers/). Available only in a limited quantity, this highly anticipated release is another example of the company’s objective to bring the highest quality experience for the North American fans. The Durarara!! Limited Edition BD Lunch Box set features the entire series (24 TV episodes +2 OVAs) on 5 Blu-Ray Discs, an exclusive booklet featuring bonus interviews and artwork, a double sided poster and other bonus extras. This release is a US and Canada Exclusive and available while supplies last.

Pre-Order here: http://www.rightstuf.com/1-800-338-6827/catalogmgr/OTJsicl-eNrPsCT0q2/browse/item/95935/4/0/0



YOUNG JUSTICE SEASON ONE REVIEW

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Hey Otakus and Geeks Fans, Sean (True Comic Fan) here.  Today I’m doing a long over due review of Young Justice. Now for those of us who have been feining for a new DC animated series since the ending of Teen Titan, Justice League, and Justice League Unlimited, Young Justice will give you the fix you need. As always here is a synopsis of the series:
The pilot episode (later re-broadcast as the opening two episodes of season 1) aired a month prior to the debut of the regular series and introduced four characters: Robin, Aqualad, Kid Flash, and Speedy. It established their desire for greater recognition and respect, namely, a promotion from sidekicks to full-fledged superheroes. Met with opposition from their respective mentors in the Justice League, Batman, Aquaman, Flash, and Green Arrow, the protégés react in different ways. Speedy resigns from being Green Arrow's partner and begins calling himself Red Arrow.
The others seek to persuade their mentors of their worth by secretly taking on a Justice League mission to investigate the Cadmus building. During their infiltration of Cadmus' headquarters, the three heroes find a clone of Superman named Superboy. After the discovery, the team finds out Cadmus is creating living weapons called Genomorphs. The episode deals with this revelation, the origin of Superboy, and how this relates to a mysterious group of people called The Light (Cadmus's Board of Directors). In the end, Robin, Aqualad, Kid Flash, and Superboy negotiate with Batman to organize a covert operations team as a practical contrast to the Justice League whose celebrity status makes it difficult to maintain secrecy. After consulting with his colleagues, Batman establishes Young Justice in a secret cave on a secluded island. Here the teens are trained and mentored by the Justice League. Miss Martian makes an appearance at the end of the episode and joins as the fifth member.
Synopsis from Wikipedia  



Review Young Justice Season 1
As a fan of the comic book series I have to say the writers have done an excellent job with season one. The storyline has a new twist and drama every episode, which keeps you coming back every week. I had my doubts in the beginning because the team roster is different from the comic (original comic roster Superboy, Tim Drake/Robin and Bart Allen/Impulse) but the writers really made it work with storyline.








One of the most interesting thing about season 1 is the relationship between Superman and Superboy. When they first meet after Robin, Kid Flash, and Aqualad free Superboy from a secret a Cadmus facility, the Justice League arrive and Superman is less than happy to see a clone of himself. Superboy tells them that “ He’s a clone made from Superman’s DNA, Created to replace him should he perish or destroy him should he turn from the light.”







Another highlight from season 1 is the agenda of the mysterious organization called the LIGHT. They are the group behind Project Cadmus and the Superman Clone. It’s revealed later in the season (to the viewers) that The Light has been behind a lot of the weird events happening all over the world.







Overall I have to recommend Young Justice to anyone who is looking for a new animated series to watch. Right now anyone looking to catch up or watch the series for the first time can check it out Season 1 on DVD. My final grade for season 1: A+







Check out the Young Justice Comic Series.
By Sean Tucker/Writer

VIZ Media's End Of Summer Digital Manga Sale

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Here is some news from our friends at Viz Media:

DIGITAL MANGA SALE OFFERING UP TO 20% OFF ON ALL VOLUMES ON VIZ MANGA APP AND

VIZ Media gives readers a fun and affordable way to wrap up the summer reading season with a just-announced “End of Summer” sale on ALL digital manga (graphic novel) titles currently featured onVIZManga.com and available for digital download through the VIZ MANGA App for the Apple iPad®, iPhone®and iPod® touch, and now also for Android-powered smart phones!

For a limited time, fans can catch up on favorite series and dive into new ones with this special promotion, which starts today running through 20th, offering up to 20% off on over 700 digital manga volumes and 80 different series (Reg. MSRP: $4.99).

Included in the “End of Summer Sale” and not to be missed is the debut of Volume 8 of the hit Shonen Jump Advanced series – BLUE EXORCIST. The latest volume of the paranormal action adventure series is available now to VIZ Manga readers more than 3 months ahead of the print counterpart’s North American release on November 6th!

Newly released VIZ Manga volumes include:

BAKUMAN Vol.12
BLEACH Vol. 43
BLUE EXORCIST Vol. 8
DR. SLUMP Vol. 9
HONEY & CLOVER Vol. 3
HONEY HUNT Vol. 6
KIMI NI TODOKE Vol. 10
LIBRARY WARS Vol. 3
NEON GENESIS EVANGELION Vol. 3
STEPPING ON ROSES Vol. 8
THE PRINCE OF TENNIS Vol. 11
WILD ONES Vol. 1
YU-GI-OH! GX Vol. 8
ZOMBIE POWDER Vol. 4 - Final Volume!

The VIZ Manga App is available for free through the iTunes Store and Google Play Store, and all manga volumes are generally available for purchase and download in the U.S. and Canada within the application for $4.99 (U.S. / CAN) per volume. More than 80 series and 700 volumes are currently available for download with new series and volumes added regularly.




Sneakers & Shoes For Otakus & Geeks

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Hey Otakus & Geeks. Today I wanted to share some really cool sneakers and shoes that I found just Google searching. Here is some really cool stuff that I found.

Captain America Heels for the ladies. You can see the colors of Capt look awesome. This is great for the ladies who love Captain America. http://www.saledunk.org/Nike-SB-Dunk-High-Heels-Captain-America







Men this is for you. These customize Batman Nike are a great homage to the original Tim Burton design. You can check it out here. http://www.high-top-nike.com/Nike-Dunk-High-Batman-The-Dark-Knight-Logo-Shoes







You can't buy these :(. However these are really awesome sneakers for Cell fans everywhere. Great job on these sneakers.












I know Justin will love these sneakers. Get on "The Grid" with these Adidas TRON sneakers. These are hard to find now, but you can try Ebay.





Can't find out where you can buy these because it's customize. However these Zelda high heels looks really good.











These Nike high heels have a Anime feel. Nice design and the blue looks great.





Pokemon Gengar sneakers really reflect the character. The purple and pink really good for who is a fan of the Pokemon. For more visit http://www.themed-shoes.com/pokemon-gengar-nike-dunks-purple-anime-shoes/









Don't where you can buy these, but these are really cool  Itachi sneakers. Naruto fans will certainly stop you at the cons to find out where did you get them.









Finally put a smile on your face, with these Harley Quinn shoes. Great good when cosplay Harley. Check it out here.
http://www.superherocostumes.com/ladies-harlequin-shoes.html

The Dark Knight Returns Part 1 Animated Movie Trailer

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Here is the brand new trailer for the upcoming DC animated film "The Dark Knight Returns." This is based off of Frank Miller's epic graphic novel. Facing the downside of middle age, a restless Bruce Wayne pacifies his frustration with race cars and liquor – but the bat still beckons as he watches his city fall prey to gangs of barbaric criminals known as The Mutants.

Persona 4 Anime Configuration Change

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Here is some Anime News: Sentai Filmworks announces a release configuration change. The September 18, 2012 release of “Persona 4 The Animation” Collection 1 on Blu-Ray will contain English language dub but not the original Japanese language.  This change has been required by the Japanese licensor.

The revised Blu-Ray configuration of “Persona 4 The Animation” Collection 1 will be priced at $59.98 reflecting a shift from the former $69.98 price point.

“Persona 4 The Animation” Collection 1 on DVD will contain both English and Japanese audio, as well as the Japanese episode commentaries.  Pricing for the DVD release is unchanged.




Stop Motion Film "Toys In The Attic" Releases September 7th

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On September 7th the stop motion animation film "Toys In The Attic" will be released. It has already won various awards in the film festival department. Movie stars Forest Whitaker, Joan Cusack and Vivian Schilling. 


Synopsis - Set in a magical world of toys and knick-knacks stored in the attic of a home in Prague, this award-winning stop-motion animated feature has been called “An animation masterpiece” (Anima Basuari), and “a diabolically inventive tale that is four parts Toy Story and one part Tim Burton (New York International Children’s Film Festival). The setting for the film was inspired by the cultural and political contrast of the Cold War era and its impact on director Jiri Barta and the Czech Republic. The world of the attic is divided into the land of happy toys in the West and the Land of Evil in the East. The despotic Head of State rules over the Land of Evil with a band of sinister minions, insects and rotted vegetables. When the lovely Buttercup (Vivian Schilling) is kidnapped and held prisoner by The Head (Jiri Labus, with voice by Douglas Urbanski), it is up to her friends - a teddy bear (Forest Whitaker), a mechanical mouse (Joan Cusack) and marionette puppet (Cary Elwes) to cross the international boundary and attempt their daring rescue. “Toys in the Attic” is a meticulously crafted visual feast, combining multiple forms of animation into an enchanting and fantastic adventure for the entire family.


Site - http://toysfilm.com/Welcome_To_Toys_In_The_Attic/toys.html






White: The Melody Of The Curse Review

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Girl group "Pink Dolls" is always pushed into the background by other popular idols. When the girls release their new song "White" - a remake from unknown origins they become instant sensations. The four members of "Pink Dolls" include Eun-Joo (Ham Eun-Jung), a former breakdancer, Jenny (Jin Se-Yeon), a singer insecure with hitting high notes, A-Rang (Choi Ah-Ra), a singer addicted to plastic surgery, and Shin-Ji (May Doni Kim) who can't sing, but is good at rapping. As the group becomes more and more popular, jealousy and competitiveness increases as all the girls tries to become the lead singer. But, when a member becomes the lead singer that person falls victim to a horrible accident, one by one. Eun-Joo then realizes that the song "White" is cursed and she attempts to reveal the secret ...