Lupin the Third: Back in Blue

Good evening everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

This October Japan will be airing a new “Lupin the Third” series and if there’s one thing I love, it’s “Lupin the Third”.  “Lupin the Third” to me is what ice cream is to a child; it’s a goofy series that can have serious moments while developing great characters and multiple plots. These unconnected plots make it easier for people to start watching the series regardless of what episode they stumble upon.

This new series (the blue jacket in the list of jacket series from the franchise) will be a combination of “Castle of Cagliostro” and “A Woman Named Fujiko Mine” animation styles.  The influence behind this decision lies in Kazuhide Tomonga joining the team for this new series. Tomogna is the man behind the “Castle of Cagliostro”’s and the original television series’ animation. Naturally, it makes sense for someone to be so well acquainted with “Lupin the Third” to be working on this project.

This series will take place in Italy where Lupin will be marrying a supposedly famous woman judging by the new theme song. The theme song appears to be a melting pot of the original 78 theme, an Italian melody, and the show’s fourth opening. It’s a good culmination of something original, something foreign, and something iconic. The fourth opening has a unique tone to it which follows the initial show’s jingle, but also standing out from the rest of the other melodies. To add this special sound to the culmination of the blue jacket series’ theme makes the overall theme bear beautiful audio results.

Mostly everyone has received a makeover; Lupin now sporting a blue blazer, Zenigata wearing a crimson trench coat (who knew Pops looked good in red), and Goemon donning a soft pink shirt.  From what we have seen and heard so far, the new series looks like it’s going to be a treat. With multiple “Castle of Cagliostro” references thrown into the opening credits as well as an updated version of the iconic Jigen Daisuke vs Goemon Ishikawa battle from “Episode 0: First Contact”, it looks like we have a great series in store.

Thank you for reading tonight’s entry. If you enjoyed it, feel free to share, subscribe, comment, and critique.

So tell me, what are your thoughts on the new blue jacket series of “Lupin the Third”?

Roller Coasters to Thrill Your Summer

Good afternoon everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

Summer’s here which means theme parks are open for business. Some of you are coaster junkies like myself and enjoy the rushing sensation of the wind in your hair while screaming for your life.  Others simply enjoy watching coasters speed through the air which is an art in itself. The fluidity of the track, the unexpected drops, it’s a feast for all the senses.

Here are the top coasters of the summer:

5.  Cu’ Chulainn – Tayto Park, Ireland

So you are a plain Jane/Joe type of rider, looking for something with thrill, but nothing too extreme. Look no further than this wooden beast of a coaster situated in Ireland.  Cu’ Chulainn is actually the name of a medieval Irish warrior who defended the province of Ulster against an incredulous army and bore wondrous strength. Needless to say, he was not to be trifled with combat and this coaster is not meant to be trifled with either. Boasting the title of Europe’s largest coaster with an inversion, this ride will have you holding on as you tear through the tracks like a powerful hero.

4.  Black Mamba – Phantasialand, Germany

So you’re looking for a hanging coaster with tight turns and smooth drops? Black Mamba has just what you need. Black Mamba is an inverted steel coaster named after a lethal, ebony snake that shares the same name.  Power packed with 4Gs, this ride will have you nearly missing walls, giving you the notion that you just may not survive this ride. With a wild, African flare this roller coaster will spiral you into the jungle searching for a means of escape.

3. Takashiba – Fuji-Q Highland, Japan

A recent holder of the world record of the world’s steepest coaster, this ride puts the thrill in ‘Thriller’. Bearing a drop angle of 121 degrees and standing at a staggering 141 feet, this coaster doesn’t mess around. Even its name translates to “high fly car” in kanji and “domineering”  in English. Packed with inversions and loops, this coaster will take you on the ride of your life.

2. Goliath – Six Flags Great America, Illinois

Smashing three of the world’s records for steepest, fastest, and tallest roller coaster, Goliath is a monster to behold. Towering at 165 feet, this beast tears through steel tracks and surrounds you in tight loops. At one point it even has that audacity to slowly stop you in mid air, only to pick up the pace more powerful than before.

1.  Batman: The Ride – Six Flags Fiesta, Texas

Franklin D. Roosevelt once said, “The only thing we should fear is fear itself.” This coaster is the definition of fear. Strapping into a car on this monstrous B roll formation coaster, this ride will have you rolling with no end in sight. Just when you think you’ve stopped flipping and rising, you couldn’t be more wrong. This roller coaster is so intense that even watching footage of it makes me stop the video in fear of losing my lunch.

Thanks for reading today’s entry. If you liked it, feel free to share, comment, and critique.

So tell me, what is your favorite roller coaster?

Take My Revolution: Kill la Kill

Good evening everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

Having been away from most modern day animes and thinking I finally escaped; I was dragged back in by one of my friends. I used to love anime as a teen and grew up with the classics: “Dragonball Z,” “Dragonball,” “Sailor Moon,” “Pokemon,” “Wolf’s Rain,” “.hack//SIGN,” “Revolutionary Girl Utena,” “Lupin the Third,” and so many others. But I found that the more I transitioned into modern day animes like “Black Butler” and “Soul Eater,” the more I realized I just couldn’t do it anymore because it was hard to keep up. Life was what mostly blocked me from pursuing more programs, but it was also the fact that these new shows lacked something for me. What that something was, I still have no idea to this day, but it just felt wrong and incomplete.

And so my friend decided to drag me back into anime by recommending “Kill la Kill.” I had heard about this anime before on many web sites and from my other friends. I think his recommendation was the final nail in the coffin for me to give this show a shot and so I sat down not too long ago and began my binge. I literally finished my binge watching of this anime a half hour ago.

What followed was a series of references, insane (and logical) plot twists, lovable characters, and an addictively fun art style. I was not expecting any of this and immediately found myself caught up in the story of a young lady (Ryuko Matoi) wanting to learn about her father’s death and secrets. With nothing but a scissor blade and a talking uniform (Kamui Senketsu) by her side, she transfers to Honnouji Academy where the story begins.

After watching the series it was at then this anime made me realize two things.

1.  Not all modern anime lack that certain something for me. When I was watching “Kill la Kill,” it reminded me of how I used to feel when watching anime; completely excited, curious, and hanging on the edge of my seat.
   
   
2. “Kill la Kill” is a modern day “Revolutionary Girl Utena.”

The second note made me realize this because of the show’s premise and details. There’s the main protagonist (Ryuko Matoi) who wants to achieve knowledge to understand a fragment of her past. She is a tomboy, very unfeminine, and rough; much like Utena Tenjou, the protagonist from “Revolutionary Girl Utena”.  Ryuko has something (Kamui) that only a select group of people have and this is what entices them to fight; they also issue each other challenges (sometimes by paper, but mostly verbally). In “Revolutionary Girl Utena,” those with the rose crest ring are the only ones that can fight each other and often challenge each other with words or paper.

The challengers in “Revolutionary Girl Utena” consist of five student council members (Kyouichi Saionji, Juri Arisugawa, Miki Kaoru, Touga Kiryuu, and Nanami Kiryuu). Touga is the president and leads them, while receiving orders from the director of Ohtori Academy. The challengers in “Kill la Kill” are also five students (including Satsuki) who entitle themselves the Elite Four, but act as the overall student council; they consist of Hoka Inumuta, Satsuki Kiryuin, Sanageyama,Nonon Jakuzure, and Ira Gamagori. Satsuki is the president and leads them, while also receiving orders from the director. Each take on Ryuko in a single battle that brings her closer to fighting her rival, Satsuki. They each battle her on a platform similar to the platform from the movie, ”The Adolescence of Utena” which ties in with the “Revolutionary Girl Utena” program. Both platforms are a flat surface connected with a bridge that drops down onto the area.

The protagonist’s best friend (Mako Mankanshoku) even acts a lot like Wakaba from “Revolutionary Girl Utena,” being completely supportive, hyperactive, and even being taken over by the antagonist’s intentions. Wakaba was taken over by the black rose issued by Mikage and fought Utena. In “Kill la Kill,” the antagonist (Satsuki) allowed Mako to be overtaken by club status and a greedy lifestyle so that she had to fight Ryuko.

Ragyo Kiryuin, the very villain of this series also shares some tendencies with Akio (the ultimate antagonist from “Revolutionary Girl Utena”). They are both presented as tall, God like figures, looking down upon those who are beneath them in luxurious towers. Both Ragyo and Akio are very incestuous when it comes to their family; Akio and Anthy (his sister) have an abusive, yet sexual relationship. Ragyo and Satsuki (her daughter) also have the same type of relationship.

There’s also a matter of Ryuko’s weapon, the scissor blade. In “Revolutionary Girl Utena,” the main protagonist (Utena) has the sword of Dios. Though later on, we encounter its counterpart in the hands of a villain – much like in “Kill la Kill”, the other half of the scissor blade is in the hands of an enemy, Nui Harime. Even the ending itself is similar to “Revolutionary Girl Utena,” in which the protagonist is impaled with thousands of sharpened items (in “Revolutionary Girl Utena” swords, in “Kill la Kill” Ragyo’s wings) and falls to Earth after the battle.

I heavily enjoyed “Kill la Kill” and I love “Revolutionary Girl Utena” to death. To find such similarities between the two filled me with delight. Not only did the series rekindle my love for “Revolutionary Girl Utena,” but it also made me realize that I just can’t leave my love for anime.

Thank you for taking the time to read tonight’s entry. If you enjoyed it, feel free to comment, share, and critique.

So tell me, what’s your favorite anime and why? 

Nintendo's News for the Gaming World

Good evening everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

With E3 just around the corner, Nintendo has tons of surprises in store. E3 is basically a gamer convention where companies like Sony, Nintendo, and other game industries show off their latest projects. One of Nintendo’s main features for E3 is that once again there will be no press conference. Instead, there will be a constant live stream entitled the Nintendo Treehouse.

Another treat Nintendo has for us gamers is the latest Fatal Frame game for the Wii U. While this is a Japan release only game, we can only hope that it will come to America. Fatal Frame is a game where you shoot pictures of ghosts, aka an occupation that any Ghostbuster or ghost hunter would love to have.

Another interesting game on the horizon is the latest Phoenix Wright game. As opposed to being set in modern times, it will be sent back in time to hundreds of years ago in the Meiji era of Japan. This game will focus on the ancestor of the titular character, as well as the ancestors of many other characters in the franchise.

For all the Pokemon lovers, there will be a new game released entitled Pokemon Art Academy. In this game, you draw Pokemon. Any Pokemon from Gen One to Gen Six are at your artistic mercy. For now it’s only a Japan release, but it may come to the United States.

Lastly, Mario Kart 8 has been mostly featured throughout Nintendo News. However, today we’ve received some good news and some strange news. The good news is that your vehicle comes with antigravity technology which allows the wheels to spin sideways and provides a spin boost if you run into other characters or just feel like spinning. There is also a new feature called Mario Kart TV (MKTV), where you can view your past races, and upload them to Youtube. This is the first time that one of Nintendo’s games as ever connected to a social site. The final piece of good news is that we now have a full cast of characters for the game, including Baby Rosalina.

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Look at those cute little cheeks! 

 As for the odd news for Mario Kart 8, it’s a character that for some unknown reason has been added. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you Pink Gold Peach.

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Look at that cold, unfeeling girly stare!

You may leave your confused remarks and concerns in the comments section. Also, feel free to follow me and as always feedback is welcomed. One final question of the night though:

What are you looking forward to in the future of gaming?

The Ghost Host Has Arrived

Welcome foolish mortals to The Magical Mystery Blog; I am your host, your Ghost Host.

Today we’ll be looking at the ghoulishly glorious Haunted Mansions throughout the world. The Haunted Mansion is a classic Disney World attraction, tracing back to the first days of Disney. Walt Disney, Rolly Crump, and Marc Davis constructed the art, concepts, and ride. Each Mansion is different, having its own theme, musical score, and story.

There are five Haunted Mansions in the world in each Disney park. First there’s the original Haunted Mansion located in Disneyland, Anaheim California. Every September to January, they give this mansion a nightmarish makeover, combining Halloween and Christmas. This brief renovation is called the Haunted Mansion Holiday and I will be covering this one to showcase one of the Haunted Mansion Holidays.  Next, in the heart of Orlando, Florida is the Haunted Mansion of Walt Disney World. After that is Phantom Manor, found in EuroDisney in Paris, France. Then just across the sea, we have the Tokyo Haunted Mansion. Lastly, there’s Mystic Manor located in Hong Kong’s Disneyland.

I’ll be doing ten facts from every mansion, encompassing the most interesting, the extreme unknown, and the spooky secrets. 

10) The Mariner’s Two Stories (Haunted Mansion)

Just like the other characters throughout the mansion, nearly everyone has more than one story. The stories are created by fans and cast members of Walt Disney World. However, I’m focusing on the Mariner because he has an original story that’s taken over by something less spooky but more whimsical.

Not too long ago, the Florida Haunted Mansion finished its new queue where everyone could interact with the tombstones. The graves had tributes to some of the attraction’s creators and old art concepts. One crypt in particular was that of the Mariner’s, claiming he drowned in a bubble bath.  This is the one everyone knows because it’s his epitaph.

Before the new interactive line was even created, the Haunted Mansion already had fan stories buzzing around about this particular character. In one story, the Mariner was a sea faring individual who died during a terrible storm aboard his ship. In another tale, the Mariner was a captain of the ship who owned the mansion, and had seven brides (whose names can be seen on an epitaph when leaving the mansion). The seventh bride’s spirit haunted his ship, leading it into a violent storm, which killed him, and his crew.

9) The Travelling Hell Hound (Phantom Manor)

In Phantom Manor, just before you fall into a tunnel of corpses, there is a hell hound. He leaps to your face, attempting to devour your flesh, while snarling, and growling at your very existence. Sometimes he enjoys leaving the manor and roaming around the other mansions. He can easily be seen in the Disney World Haunted Mansion to your left after you pass by the Caretaker and his hound.

8) Lonesome Ghost (Tokyo Haunted Mansion)

In all of the Haunted Mansions, there is the famous seance room.  Within this room is a head in a crystal ball who chants for spirits to come join her in the mansion’s revelry of mystery, mayhem, and macabre. There are various takes on the room, some having the head floating, others having tarot cards or instruments dancing around her. However, there are no spirits whatsoever in the room.

Take a look at the 3:49 mark in this video. Notice anything levitating in the background? That would be a ghost and Tokyo’s Haunted Mansion is the only one to have a spirit flying around the seance room. If you want to see a closer look of this specter, it pops up at the 3:23 mark. Perhaps, this particular ghost has heard Madam Leota’s incantations and is responding to them.

7) It’s Dead in Here! (Mystic Manor)

Mystic Manor was built unlike the other mansions. As to where they focused on ghosts and the otherworldly, this estate decided to take a different road.  The Hong Kong Disneyland is located in China, where the Chinese view death as a negative concept and is regarded as an end to one’s life. Death is also a taboo subject which is ultimately avoided in conversation. Even those on their death beds in China refuse to speak of death in fear they may jinx their fate.

When it came to building Mystic Manor, the Imagineers understood they had a cultural conflict on their hands. If they built the Haunted Mansion of tombstones and spirits, it would be considered unpopular, and completely dishonorable. Yet if they constructed a new version of the Haunted Mansion, one with a lightheartedness aimed towards humor and adventure, then there would be a different outcome. So the Imagineers set forth to create a new brand of Haunted Mansion that abandoned its grim grinning ghosts and took up a comedic monkey in a fez.

6) A New Story (Haunted Mansion)

The Walt Disney World Haunted Mansion has received a new addition in the past. They have created another queue line which leads to a pathway of interactive tombs, tribute graves, and other oddities. Before you can walk by these crypts and creeps, there is a series of busts bearing a family with epitaphs on how they died.

These busts are supposedly the new owners of the mansion and it’s your job to find out who killed out and why. This has angered some fans (much like myself) because it takes over the fan stories and cast member tales we heard about through rumors, like forbidden secrets. It’s bad enough Constance did this when she became a part of the mansion, making her the focus of the attraction, and centering on her story as a gold digger bride who wanted everything for herself; including the mansion. 

Not only does this new story of who killed who ruffle the fans’ feathers, it’s also the style of the busts. Look at the new busts and compare them to some of the busts you’d find in the mansion. The new busts are more cartoony, drawing away from the realism Walt had intended when creating the attraction. 

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5) “Upstairs? I didn’t know we had an upstairs!”  (Haunted Mansion Holiday)

Years ago, there was a rumor that circulated around the Internet claiming that Emily, our beloved Corpse Bride, would be taking part in the Haunted Mansion Holiday. As seeing she was a bride, it only seemed fitting that she would roam around the attic portion. Even a store in Disneyland started to sell Corpse Bride items.

However, this myth was debunked by a few facts: 1) Burton made Corpse Bride with Warner Bros. Disney did not offer to make the movie with him or vice versa. (2) Even if Disney did ask, it’s a matter if Burton would go with them to make it. Burton has worked with Disney before and isn’t too fond of their “selling out” method.

Fans speculated that Emily would be appearing in the Haunted Mansion Holiday because she is a product of Burton. To this day, they still dream of entering the attic and a whispered,”You may kiss the bride” echoing through the darkness as they stumble upon the doe eyed bride of death.

4) Melanie Ravenswood was Inspired by a Charles Dickens’ Creation (Phantom Manor)

If you’ve ever read the book Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, you may recall a character named Miss Haveshim. In this piece of literature, she was a forlorn bride who waited in her wedding gown for her beloved to return. On her dining room table was a rotting wedding cake, complete with table settings, and spiders crawling about. Miss Haveshim not only inspired the character of Melanie Ravenswood but the ballroom scene as well. As you pass the ballroom sequence of the ride, you’ll notice a decaying wedding cake, ruined table settings, and other details of a wedding that never occurred.

3) In with the Old (Tokyo Haunted Mansion)

Japan’s Tokyo Haunted Mansion is the only mansion that has not received an upgrade. Unlike the other mansions, it has kept the old charm of walking books, and staring portraits that follow your every move. When people step through the threshold and witness the old technology, they feel as though they’re going through an abandoned, haunted mansion. It’s also why Phantom Manor has very few upgrades and they do nothing more than touch ups. Mystic Manor, the Florida Haunted Mansion, and the Haunted Mansion Holiday are all about up-to-date technology which widens eyes and stuns souls. Yet Japan and Paris choose to keep their old, antique quality to warm the spirits of many who enter.

2) 13 Surprises  (Haunted Mansion Holiday)

Since this is the Haunted Mansion Holiday’s 13^th anniversary of scaring up screams, Jack decided to scatter thirteen surprises throughout the attraction.  What these thirteen items were no one knew. However, on some sites, it’s been briefly noted as to what these thirteen objects are. It seems like the thirteen surprises are different décor to match the Haunted Mansion Holiday. Most of them you would never take notice of during the ride.

In the attic, there are thirteen bows, some imprinted with the number thirteen on them. When Zero welcomes you to the mansion, there are thirteen bones in his dish.  But what really has fans boggled is the towering gingerbread piece in the center of the ballroom.

Since it’s started, the Haunted Mansion Holiday has had a different gingerbread house on the ballroom’s dining table. At first, the gingerbread pieces were stagnant and merely stood to impress guests.  As the years rolled on, Imagineers decided to let their creative spirit loose, and give life to the gingerbread pieces. One year, the gingerbread masterpiece was a spinning carousel. Another year, Jack himself popped out of a gingerbread version of the attraction, complete with miniature pumpkins modeled after the singing busts. But this year, the 2013 gingerbread house has not moved an inch.

Not yet, anyway.

What makes this year’s gingerbread piece so special is that it’s an advent calendar. An advent calendar is used in December to count down the days to Christmas. Every day an advent calendar door is opened, there is a treat or present waiting for those who looked inside. This gingerbread house works in the same function but instead of a gift, there is a different expression of the Pumpkin King himself. Every face and number is supposed to represent each year the Haunted Mansion Holiday has been running. Since the gingerbread advent calendar is only marked with thirteen numbers, the doors may start to open thirteen days before Halloween and/or Christmas.

1) Look Ma! No Tracks! (Mystic Manor)

Mystic Manor opened in Hong Kong Disneyland with an alternative look and feel to a scary house. As opposed to terrifying its guests with ghosts and ghouls, it took on the story of a wealthy adventurer showing you his house with his monkey as a tour guide. This attraction is aimed more towards the funny bone with a whimsical design from audio to vehicle. The car you ride in is not your average Doom Buggy and is entitled the Magneto-Electric Carriage.

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Because of this updated carriage, Mystic Manor is the first Disney ride built without a track. Instead of having a guided railway to follow, its carriages are lead by radio frequency identification (RFI).  The cars receive direct instructions from the RDI technology within the floor and Wi-fi. It is also the first vehicle of the mansions to be able to spin as opposed to only turning left, right, and straight.

So what mansion is your favorite and why? Feel free to leave a comment below and as always, followers are welcomed.