Tadaima

I'm back. It been some time since my last post. And now, my working schedule has been somewhat relaxed, i hope i can get back to frequent blogging like last year :3


And so, yesterday i went to watch the new Disney's 3D animation movie- Bolt at the Berjaya Times Square. In my opinion, this new movie was one of the better movies of the year though not as good as Dreamworks' Kung Fu Panda nor Pixar's Wall-E. Under the watchful eyes of Pixar's John Lassenter, the movie scores with its very cute and very endearing main characters, charming but predictable storyline and a visual feast :3
Pet lovers or not, i really recommend this above the other recent one :)

After the movie, I went around the other 2 shopping centers in the area- Low Yat Plaza and Sungei Wang Plaza- browsing for new collective figurines :3 In the end, I went back to Times Square to purchased a newly arrived figure from Revoltech- Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann.


I so gonna make some place at my working desk.. it getting really crowded :P By the way, I'll gonna blog about my job soon. So, till next time ;)

Still AWOL

Sorry for the absent of posts in the recent months. Guess i'm kinda have my hands full (anime, psp, artworks, sleep) during these few months especially after the long hours at work >.<"

But i'll promise to get back to regular posting in a month or two, or even earlier. Thanks and sorry to those who regularly drop by only to see the long out-dated post.

Spending Sunday

With me on the payroll, it's hard not to spent any of it on something. But then again, i'm not the person who spent his hard earn cash on reckless abandon. Well, hopefully i dun end up being like that *laughs*
So for lunch today (since we sick and tired of eating at the same old place every week), we went down memory lane, to one place that we like to eat during our childhood family outing- the A&W restaurant beside Taman Jaya LRT station. Well, actually, we went there only because i offer to buy him lunch as well. Figures.
Btw, we woke up late.

After lunch, he went back home 1st since he got thing to attend to. While I was shopping some essential stuffs at the nearby Amcorp Mall. Well, that what I thought. But after I browsed around the figurine shop located there, I couldnt help myself anymore. So in the end, after some budget calculation, i decided to buy, not one but two figurines.

Yeah, my own Gurren Lagann (Ignore the ugly bloke holding the figurine).

Gurren Lagann and Lazengann, both from the mecha anime Toppa Tenga Gurren Lagann and the figurines are a part of the Revoltech figurine series which is famous for its high degree of articulation. Spent Rm 150 on both of them. *Grins*

Lazengann vs Gurren Lagann

Since i started working, i been collecting some for a while (the cheap Gashapon mostly) and puts them up on my workplace since it's the place we can show off each other's ones. Guess i have to start packing them up for tomorrow *Grin*
Now, if only Revoltech come out with the Nirvash figurine too and i'll be in otaku heaven.

Celebrating 27 Years of Existence

Well, not that I was celebrating anything today as the day went past quite normally. The only thing that made today more significant was that i have been around for the full 27 years. So yeah, today's my birthday. Then again, the day went on as usual, save for a few wishes from my colleages. The only birthday gift i received today was the fact i got my salary banked in. Yippee~ At least i got to spent for a present to myself this weekend. Haha. Kinda like a lonely fella isn't it? Lolz

So, a few more years i gonna hit the big 30. Sigh~
Guess I have to work a lot harder and since i have a stable, nice job now, i should be more than grateful. Life better now than 1 year ago. An improvement, i'll say. :D A lot better. Hopefully, it will be great next year and that same day will be a celebration.

And thanks all for the birthday wishes.

Diablo 3 - It's Official

Finally good old Blizzard announced the sequel to one of fav pc game of all time which was made during an event, 2008 Blizzard Invitational in France yesterday. Some fans already expecting it but as for me, I totally shouted out loud when i saw the headline yesterday nite.

Apart from Ragnarok Online, I spent most of my life's gaming time on Diablo 2 which i still playing now occasionally. During that period, me and my bro talk nothing else but Diablo. That was the extent of our "passion". When the expansion, Lord of Destruction came out, i was doing my Form Six at KTAR. Needless to say, i spent more time in cybercafe hacking monsters than studying even till wee hours of the morning :P
Sigh, those was the days.

As for now, spent most of my time on anime, surfing the net and playing on PS2. But when Diablo 3 came out, you bet this otaku gonna be a full time gameboy.

Got Tagged

It been a while since I browse around people's blog and then found out that i been tagged by Sakura chan . Usually I dun even bother to reply to tags. But for the sake of fun and the tags seems rather interesting, so i give it a go.
Btw, there actually 4 tags but i left out the last 2 since both involved editing a picture and i dun feel like starting up my photoshop now. Maybe next time. Gome ne, Sakura chan ;)

1st tag
list (8) random facts about yourself :

1. I'm a shy, quiet guy which kinda boring to have around.. me think. But drop me among my siblings or close friends and i can be quite annoying and loud.
2. Plain blur like sotong. But sometimes, it's best to act blur.
3. Slow and steady. I like to take my time working at something- which might not a good thing on a job with a deadline. But my works almost always turn out above average.
4. Spent RM 2000 ++ on multi-level marketing products which turn out useless in the end. Sworn never to get myself into any of those again.
5. I'm fashion blind. My clothes are mostly hands-me-down from my relatives. And dun really interested in buying new clothes even on Chinese New Year. Plain simple and comfortable.
6. Three must-go-places when I'm in the shopping complex- general book store, scale model/ hobby shop and anime or manga related shop.
7. Usually watch movies alone in the cinema.
8. Can be really indecisive at times. But usually like to act at the spur of the moment.

2nd Tag
8 things I’m passionate about:

1. Jaw-dropping digital illustrations and trying reach that greatness myself.
2. Anime and manga. They are what which drives me on this road called life. Anything related to them, be it toys, music, magazines, events etc etc. It's good to be an otaku.
3. My current love- my 6 years old PC. Spent most of my free time in front of it. Extremely protective of its well being. Regreted of leaving it in the hand of my bro for almost a year while i'm in hometown. So sorry, dear.
4. Going online. Blogging, chatting, sharing stuffs, playing games, reading- almost everything i did i did them online. If only i can work online too.
5. Friends and family. I learned that to fully enjoy life, you must have them both. Appreciate them well.
6. Video games espesially RPGs. Real life can be extremly dull without them. Living through different lives at the price of one.
7. Sci-fi and fantasy movies. Nothing beats the feeling of watching fantastic creatures and epic stories on the big srceen.
8. Reading newspaper, book or mag while having breakfast, lunch or dinner. It's one of those moments that i like to be left alone till i finish either of them or both.

8 things i say often:

1. shoot !
2. erm..
3. ah/ hah?
4. yo~
5. honto ni?
6. wa sai~
7. i know...
8. kk

8 books or mag I’ve read recently:

1. 50 Robots To Draw & Paint
2. Venom vs Carnage paperback
3. The Animator's Survival Kit
4. Dik Cergas (Crayon Shin Chan) Vol. 47
5. GameAxis March 08 Vol 4 Issue 12
6. Capcom Design Works artbook
7. Gempak Isu 201
8. Powder Isu 5

8 things to do before I die:

1. Win an Oscar in any category, especially Best Animation :D
2. Publish a few graphic novels.
3. Travel around Japan.
4. Fall in love, get married, and live happily ever after.
5. Own a least 2 properties.
6. Create my own video games or at least have my own designed characters in them.
7. Six pack abs.
8. Have the resources to collect anime related figurines that fill up a big sized room.

8 songs I could listen to over and over again:

1. Houshi Boushi by Younha
2. Sorairo Days by Shoko Nakagawa
3. Sen no Yoru wo Koete by Aqua Timez
4. Chance To Shine by Akino
5. Every Little Thing by Grip!
6. Home Sweet Home by Yuki
7. Sakura Kiss by Chieco Kawabe
8. Say Nothing At All by Ronan Keating

8 things I learn in the last year:

1. Never let anyone decide for me that can alter my life. Make my own damn decision and stick to it.
2. Never get too rely on others- even close relatives.
3. A slacker's life sucks. No money, no purpose, no friends, no life.
4. Asks and be enlightened or choose to remain quiet and ignorant.
5. Of all the good things while living in Singapore, it can't beat the familiarity and comfort of my own country. And it's overated.
6. Divine counseling can be quite intimating and surreal experience. Especially facing with the priest acted as a medium for a an underworld deity. Then again, what he know about the 21st century mortal world.
7. There's a lot more budding artists with great talents locally than I have imagined. So better buck up.
8. "A digital illustrator using a mouse to paint is akin to a chef using a hammer to cook although they can get the job done in the end."- a member of Imaginary Friends studio. Meaning, get the best tool for the job.

So there is it. Apparently i have to tag another 8 people but i really dun like things that work like a chain letter. So if anyone of you wish to reply these tags, do let me know :D

Hisasiburi Dana

Finally getting the mood to blog again. Since the last update, I've either been busy , having a mental block or just plain lazy. Anyway enough of the excuses, since it's pointless. Heh~
Anyway, during the period, my life was having a transition of sorts. And hopefully a turn for the better. Seems my life got too many turns . Like going into circles.

I'm now back in PJ, staying the same place i left behind a year ago. Kinda ironic issit. And got myself a new job now with even more hectic schedule and longer working hours than any job i work on so far. Well, it least the job is within the industry i into.

To be precise, I'm working in Animasia Studio- an animation house specialized in using flash for making animated tv series. Right now, we are in the middle of a big international project with tight deadline. Great timing. Anyway, been working for almost a month now and kinda settled in. But one thing I yet to get used to is the fast working speed on a assigned job. Well, I'm a slow and steady kinda guy and quite worry that this may cost me the job. But still, my colleagues there are kinda supportive which made my day a little less stressful. As long i try a bit hard everyday, I'll think i can improve sooner or later.

Well, it kinda late and I not sure what to write about. But there another posting that i took the time previously to write, right after this post :)

Btw, been playing Cabal Online these days... Care to join me?

CJ7 Review

It's hard not to compare Stephen Chow Sing Chi latest movie, CJ7 with his previous blockbuster kungfu flick, Kungfu Hustle. Then again, comparing the two was like comparing an apple with a orange. Unlike all his previous movies, this time Stephen Chow aims not only to make the audience laugh but to cry as well. So expectation for this movie was very high which might not a very good thing.

CJ7 was a heart warming sci-fi comedy about a single father trying to give the best to his son dispite being a hardcore poor. Working as a construction labourer by day and rubbish savanger by night, Ting (Stephen Chow) placed his son, Dicky (Xu Jiao) in the best school, hoping to give him a better future. But Dicky, bullied often by his rich classmates and fed up with his father's moral naggings, wish to be able to compare with his better-off peers. But things changed when, Ti pick something from the rubbish dump and brought it home to Dicky which turn out to be an alien toy-like creature.
In this movie, Stephen Chow took a backseat and let his new child actress to take the limelight. Xu Jiao play the role of the son very well, in both comic and heart-tearing moments. As for Chow, his supporting role of a doting father was a far cry from his previous over-the-top main characters. The usual "mou lei tao" or nonsense have been toned down to make way for Disney-like feeling of this movie. Still, the movie has its geniunely funny moments.
Visually, well, honestly it was not quite on par with the effects you seen on Kungfu Hustle or even Shaolin Soccer. While Kungfu's effect was to enhance its contents to be mind blowing, CJ7's only serve as a essential ingredient to the story such as the alien "dog" which can only to be created via CG. Then again, we already seen a lots of cutesy CG characters running around in live-action movies these days. Then again, the dog, CJ7 hence the title, was made very cute and adorable. I can imagine what kind plush doll to a be hit in this season's Valentine.
Overall, the movie really lacks the fun and the grand feeling of the previous movies. The variety of the weird characters, the pictureque location sets, the "cool" dance moves, real mean villains, mind blowing special effect and action sequence, all seems to be missing in this movie. CJ7 was not bad actually and can really serve as great Father's Day movie. But we want a movie that was damn infection to watch and talk about for a long time over a cup of tea tarik. Still, CJ7 did make many of the audience cry and that's what Stephen Chow wants in this movie. Excuse me, but i think i gonna watch Kungfu Hustle for the upteenth time.

Cloverfield Review

It can be said as the first most anticipated blockbuster movie of the year 2008. Cloverfield started out a year ago a secretive movie project, codenamed "01.18.08." by the director, Matt Reeves -fueled by a rather smart online marketing ploy involving a soft drink and "leaked" info and pics. Even though hardly anything know about this movie apart from the official poster, trailer and casting, the movie was hyped to the stratosphere by the movie fans online.

So how was the movie fare to the audience when it was finally released a few days ago. For me, this monster movie really doesnt deserved the hype it created. No, it not a bad movie, just it can be better especially the storyline. More on that later.

Cloverfield was shown like viewing though a hand held video camera. It's about a group of friends in Manhattan, New York, planning and video taping a surprise farewell party for Rob Hawkins, who was going to Japan to hold a high ranking job. This previously upset his girlfriend Beth McIntyre , who did show up in the party but in the end left after a argument with Rob. It beginning to feel almost like a romantic comedy scenario when suddenly things gone very bad. A Godzilla-sized monster appeared and went on a unstoppable rampage through Manhattan. Worried about Beth's safely, Rob, along with a couple of close friends, set out to her apartment miles away to rescue her.

Technically, the movie really shine here. The "Blair Witch Project" camera view throughout the movie really get u into the action. You almost feel you were there with the characters, living through their most intense and dangerous moments of their lives. Still, the jerking and spinning around of the view can really put off some people. While people like me, who clocked hundreds of hours playing first person view video games (Half-Life, Quake, Halo etc) can truly enjoy the experience.

The SFX department really work hard to bring the monster to live and create the destruction it brought. The creature was far more intimating and invincible than the Hollywood version of Godzilla. And those little things it spawn really reminded me of Starcraft's zerdlings. How cool is that.

Still, great SFX doesnt make great movie and storywise, there a lot of work to be done. While the flow of plot was rather good, there a lot of loose ends. The whole plot was too generic if u ask me- boy and friends find girl, one by one friend drop death, boy finally found girl, tragic twist in the end etc etc.

By the end of the movie, it may leave you feeling unsatisfied which many of the audiences did. I got the feeling this movie act like a introduction to a sequel. Well, that's what i think. It a decent movie and one of the best monster ride out there nonetheless.

Back To Singapore..... Again

I went to Singapore the other day... last Saturday actually, to attend a career fair held at Suntech City Convention Hall during the weekend. So any result this time? Well, i can say it was a tiresome experience that doesnt worth the trouble i went into.

Prior to the visit, i not very optimistic about the chances that this job fair got to offer. The fact is, i went online to find out more about the companies which involved in the fair. Well, mostly from the manufacturing, hospitality and insurance industry. Almost none from the creative industry. Well, almost b'cos there one particular company with the word "art" in its company name ( as it turn out later, it wasnt worth even to remembering its full name). Nonetheless, i gave chance a chance and prepare myself to go there- portfolio burning, resume printing etc etc.

When i arrive there at noon, there was already throngs of people waiting in line to get themselves registered (which was required for any big fair like this). After registering which took a while, i went in and browse around to familiarize myself and to look around the companies' respective booths. Nothing here interest me much, which was rather disappointing. Anyway, there was a lot of people here, from different walks of life. Young parents who brought their misbehaving kids, middle aged uncles, fresh grads and foreigners apart from Malaysians like myself. The most troublesome thing that u required to do here before you apply for any job was u have to upload your resume in the main sponsor site- JobsDB.com. Since you have registered earlier, they gave out a id card with a barcode to hand round ur neck and filmsy cloth bag with the big sponsor logo to put in ur "goodies" (flyers, bousers, free angpow packets etc etc).

There were a lot of laptop booths set upped for the upload purposes but so were there hundreds of people waiting in line for the same reason too. Things didnt help when most took their own sweet time to even type out their name. Luckily there 're helpers hired to help to speed things up but not much anyway. After waiting for almost eternity for my turn, I just whipped out my id card, scan it, took out my pendrive and just load my resume, filled in some info and then log off. All that just took at most 2 minutes. I cant even believe some people can spent more than half an hour to did theirs- i waited behind one before getting off to somewhere else. And when you done you'll get a green sticker from another counter to prove you have uploaded ur resume. Did it worth it? Well, i can only applied for one suitable job of all the jobs out there. Sigh~~~ And that job was not even from the company which the word "art" in its name. The booth was there all rite, but the staffs seems to be MIA the whole time.

Hungry, tired and frustrated, i spent my remaining day McD'ing, window shopping and browsing creative related magazines which yield better experiences and worthwhileness before retiring to my aunt's house. And no, i dun even want to write what my aunt nag this time for my unemployment. Not worth mentioning them. This time i went back home the next day.

New Year 2008

Today is New Year's eve and in a few hours later, we'll ushered into the year 2008. While most people around my age in the country went out and celebrate the big occasion, I on the other hand, have no choice but to feel melancholy about this. For me, there's not much to celebrate about. Anyway, i still rather looking hopeful for the new year ahead.

I never really did New Year resolutions before though i always try out something in the middle of the year before giving up midway (exercising regularly etc). Still, i hope to make one this year.

1. Get a decent creative-related job.
2. Lost 15 kg of fat and gain 5 kg of muscle.
3. Make and finish my own manga/comic.
4. Learn to read and write Mandarin.
5. Learn basic Japanese.
6. Take a driving lesson test.
7. Buy a PC tablet.
8. Be more people friendly.
9. Update my blog more often.
10. Make at least 2 finished artworks a week.

Hopefully, i able to fulfil all of them by the end of next year. Guess i have to add stronger willpower to the list too, lol. Anyway, before i pen off the final post of the year, I like to thank anyone for reading this blog for the past 2 years. Yeah, the blog is two years old already. And before I forget, wish you all Happy New Year 2008.

Movies Trailers Update

*brushed off cobwebs*
Sorry bout the long absent :P Kinda unsure what to post about these days... Been online a lot though, but spent most of the time downloading mangas and browsing DeviantArt... heh.

Anyway, this time wanna intro a couple of my most anticipated movies which are coming real soon :D

Cloverfield

Formerly known as "1-18-08" the movie is shrouded in secrecy with its plot and production kept tight. From the teaser trailers, it is suggested as a monster movie with "blair witch project" like camera work. For me, it looks promising.

10,000 B.C.

This movie take place when man and mammoth share the planet. Expect caveman action when the hero hunter leads an army to take on a warlord while saving his love.... By the same guy that brought us Independent Day and Day after Tomorrow.

CJ7

The new Stephen Chow movie, most likely to be screen the next Chinese New Year. Expect madcap comedy and cool special effect. The movie is about a poor laborer father played by Chow and his young son. When a fascinating and strange new pet enters their lives, they learn a poignant lesson about the true nature of family and the things money can't buy.

Enjoy ;)

Happy Deepavali

Well, nothing interesting to blog about nowadays. Since i'm online now, just take this chance to wish every Hindu and anyone else who celebrating a Happy Deepavali :D

Halloween Post

Firstly a Halloween greeting to those zombie, witch and ghoul wannabes out there celebrating. Wow, it marks a begining of the year's end already. Time sure flies...

Anyway, it's been some time since i last posted. Ever since my bro brought my own PC back from my last residence during Raya, i been spending an awful lot of time in front of it. Not playing games, mind you, but honing my digital illustration skill. Still, the process is slow and painsaking (not to mention using a, only available, faulty mouse) but it's sure worth it. This month alone, i've finished 3 artworks. Do view them at my Deviantart page :) The pic featured here is one of them :D

Unfortunately my eyes still 've not get used to staring at the monitor screen for a long period, like it used to (a feat during my collage years). Must' ve been getting old.. lol. Anyway i spent the alternate time sketching and well, watching TV. My mum already complaining i spent too much time on the pc, resulting higher electrical bill- not that i seen this month's bill yet... At least it's better that watching TV all day.

Jobwise, i try not to think and dwell about it to much. Better spent the time and energy doing more positive and productive work- more artworks. I beginning to think myself as a poor artist spending much of his time alone painting in his studio.. lol. If my works is good enough, good offers will surely come. Till then, i ought to improve myself more and try to get more exposure.

Hari Raya Greetings From Space

Look up in the sky. Finally we have our own countryman in space. Congratulations to Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor for becoming the 1st Malaysian to rocket into space yesterday. It seems sweeter to have it held in conjunction with the Hari Raya festival. And the "Angkasawan" will be celebrating his' in the International Space Station with fellow albeit, foreign astronauts.

And close to home thousands if not, millions have watch the liftoff live in television and even on the net. I, unfortunately, missed the live broadcasting and only follow the event in todays newspaper.. Well, some people dun really seems to care much about the event at all- like my family. LOL. Guess they rather care about how the government dealing with the rising crime and cost of living than something that had nothing to do with their life directly- like sending a man into space.

I for one, hoping something better come out of this thing in the future. Rather than rely on other country's technology or resources, I hope in my lifetime, the country can send men into space using our own built rocket. Then again so can our football team in the World Cup finals.

Anyway, Selamat Hari Raya to all and Malaysia Boleh!

Divine Intervention? Or Irritation?

I must been so stupid... Gave up a confirmed job offer for another job which dun really exist... yet. Well, just hear me out.

Weeks ago while i was still a part time sensei, i been to an interview in Singapore for a job as a graphic designer as i mention in a post sometime ago. The interview went quite well, 'cept a bit problem with my expected salary. The highest they can offer was SG$ 1000 which i thought compared to the island's cost of living and the market price of graphic designer (i did my research)- was quite low. Anyway, i went back hometown while the interviewer who happens to be the editor had to discuss with others before confirmation. He promised contact me again the next week.

In the meantime, when my Singapore aunt heard about the news, she was wary about my choice of employer. She immediately lectured me 'bout malay people not being trustworthy and worried 'bout me being accidentally embroiled in some sort of terrorist plot (omg *sweats*). I try to make sense of things and ensure her fear was unfounded. Naturally i was quite dismay 'bout her racist claims and her being paranoid 'bout things. She either dun trust my employer or in me or both. I even got a lecture from my uncle 'bout national security and stuffs later. Talk about "kiasi" (fear of death or trouble). *sweats*

Back home across the strait, my mum brought me to a never-visit-before temple to pray and to get consultation from the deity. It seems a there a famous taoist priest there able to act as a medium for the deities. I scoffed at the idea. I never much of a religious guy and i never like doing all those putting all the joss sticks at every altar in the temple. Too troublesome for me, i guess. But still i do believe in God and for me praying is all about sincerity and nothing else in between. Short and simple.

Anyway, the taoist believe a wide range of gods and pray from all of them. That means a bunch of altars around the temple. What's new and strange for me was there was a small hut which inside lit up with only purple light. This houses the altars for the deities from the underworld. It kinda creepy putting up black coloured joss sticks in this cold (the only aircon room) purple shaded atmosphere. The consultation even took place here... and the deities whom to give consult were from hell itself. My mum explain different nights may have different deities. Some are stern and serious, and other are joyous and friendly- all in one medium. Talk about split personality. I personally witnessed two different characters in two different nights ( i been there twice last month).

It easy been sceptical about this deity from hell ( i kept thinking and referring to those shinigamis in Soul Society of Bleach fame, lol) but I do admit this guy have some sort of psychic-like ability. The advice seems logical and he advise me to take up interior design for a better financial future (like i have to money to take on) . Btw, he seems up to date to modern times and even spoke a few english words. Lol. My mum and little bro was there to be consult too. Mum was for health and finance and my bro was for safety and study- even get a bit of scolding for his disobedient... The priest/deity asked help from a fellow temple friend who was a singaporean to help me to find a better job for me. So now i have a choice.

My mum went there for a few times to get advice to set up a ancestor altar at home for better blessing. As for me, I was waiting at home for confirmation from the malay employer when it finally came. They offer me the job for SG$ 1000 (final figure) and i need to confirm myself for the job. As i was getting ready, my mum back from the temple told me to turn the job down and wait for a better job the temple friend helping to find. Even the priest/deity adviced so. As for myself too hoping for a better paying job in better enviroment and due to both family pressure and the so-called power of suggestion, i turned the job down. I even quit the tiution job. Sigh~

Now being jobless again, i not sure if i made the right choice or being stupid to believe all those things. Still, i can only hope to the sincerity of those people that are really trying to help.

Ratatouille

There is a saying- "Better late than never". Months after the movie, Ratatouille released locally, much to my relief and excitement, I finally able watch the Animation Movie of The Year which was still playing in the cineplex. Yeah!

Pixar did it again! After a rather generic but visually shining "Cars", my initial feeling about this movie was not very encouraging. I was thinking the story was a bit like "City rat and country mouse" or something like that after watching the 1st trailer. Not really fancy that kind of story plot. Soon i heard its developing story which turn out to be something else. Still I didnt get my hope up. When i finally watch the movie, i never expect i was thrown a curve ball by Pixar. And i love it.

Remy was no ordinary rat. He was born able to taste, smell and appreciate fine food- something that his family, brother Emile and father Djangon finds it odd. Guided by Remy's imaginary mentor, the recently deceased legendary chef, Auguste Gusteau, he aims to live a life of gourmet. But in the world where rats are considered as the much feared dirty food stealing pests, it was an impossible dream. Remy's life set to change, when he was accidentally separated from his rat colony and ends up in Gusteau's restaurant in "Paree" (Paris). And his chance came when a new garbage boy, Alfredo Linguini "cooks" up an incident that form a partnership between the rat and the hopeless as a cook boy.

Like the finest food, the movie was served with the best of both world- storyline and visual, all mixed so perfectly. Director, Brad Bird was truly a genius at storytelling combining with the great wizards at Pixar making this movie not only a visual feast but an endearing fun story for the whole family.

True to Pixar's standard, the animation in the movie was truly breathtaking. Paris was rendered in its most beautiful best on the big screen. Food so real you can almost taste and smell it. And characters animated so believable you just wanna hug them (or slap them silly depending on who). Some details were so fine you have to pause the movie to take a better look (one reason to buy the DVD).

The idea of Remy's voice narrating his story through the movie was with all the pausing effect, the talking illustration of Gusteau, the cooking training of Linguini, the rat's prepective of Paris urban life, the visualizing of taste and the trigger-happy grandma was really fun to watch. Any movie-goer whom missed this should have a rat put under his or her shirt.

Bleach: Memories Of Nobody

After waiting for almost 1/2 a year for a subbed version, I finally got my eyes on the 1st full-length Bleach movie- The Memories of Nobody. After much hoohaa in the fandom, is this movie worth the wait? Well, I 'll get on to that soon. Before that a little intro 'bout the movie.

The movie took place after the Soul Society arc of the main storyline, maybe in the middle of the filler story of the anime series ( Those whom are new to the series, better watch or read it to better understand the movie). It was the autumn holiday ( i think it was), Ichigo and Rukia were busy doing the best thing they do- slaying Hollows and giving soul burial. Suddenly they encounter a large group of strange red-headed souls- the Blanks. With communication to the Soul Society strangely cut off, Ichigo and Rukia were at wits in what to do when a female Shinigami suddenly appeared and destroy all the Blanks there. Baffled at the event, Rukia went back to Soul Society to check things out while Ichigo was ordered to look after the playfully childish shinigami, Senna. Soon things turned more grim as a dimension- The Valley of Scream, was manipulated by a group of rogue shinigami oucasts, threaten to destroy both the real world and Soul Society. And what is the connection between the event, Senna and something called the Memory Rosary?

Ok, The movie was not as great as i thought it would be. Seriously, the plot was simple and kinda predictable. It would be better if they just focus on either the storyline or the fight scene rather than crammed a lot of things into it. Some characters were pretty irrelevant to the storyline. Guess they were showed up just to please their respective fans... And as for the fight scene, well- those in the anime series are much better. Though some of the sinkais seems pretty cool to watch here.

As usual, with bigger budget brings better animation. Karakura Town was never been so populated and alive before. The beautiful background cityscape really suit the romantic like atmosphere which were aplenty in this movie (hint hint). Sword fights are more flashy but as I mentioned,unmemorable which was a real pity considering its big screen status and its target audiences. Next time hire a good martial art choreographer. As for the new characters, I really like Seena, a frail, confused girl hidden by her happy face and playfulness. Too bad she got too little fight scene. The mention of her so called lost legendary sword seems pointless. And the head villian hardly makes the impact. Pretty generic too.

Well, this movie has it all- action, comedy, friendship, sacrifice etc but it could be better. It had its touching moments though. I really like its ending song- Sen no Yoru wo Koete from Aqua Timez. And do watch till the credit ends for a little epilogue.

My 3D Animation DemoReel

This is my demo reel. Not bad huh..? It is a video montage of my various animation clips. I was trying testing the new video upload and might as well to have a demo reel online, in case I need to show it to any of my prospective employer. The background music is from Ragnarok Online 2 anime trailer. Do comment a bit. Heh.

Speed Painting For The Otaku

I found this video when i was browsing Japunit. It is a rare cool digital speed painting of a japanese anime character (not sure who is she though). Hopefully one day i may be as good as the artist of this work.
Anyway, enjoy the video along with its cute background music.