SparkPlugged » manga & anime

Why are anime eyes so big?

Shay — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 20:41:08 +0000

So why do anime characters often have such large eyes or corneas? They wear contacts.

At least that’s what a Thai Acuvue contact lenses advertisement suggests.

It’s a cute and pretty fun ad campaign. Throw out all your Tezuka, ‘shows emotion’, and other reasons because it’s in the contacts baby. But then why must some characters wear glasses? A fashion accessory? I kid.

Acuvue Define: Boy
Acuvue Define: Girl

via Ads of the World

Tachikoma, Lego style

Shay — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 07:09:41 +0000

Legos and a good anime like Ghost in the Shell are pretty cool. So how does it get better? Ghost in the Shell Lego models perhaps.

Tachikoma (ã‚¿ãƒã‚³ãƒž) and Fuchikoma (ãƒ•ãƒã‚³ãƒž) are those adorably awesome tanks from Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex. Here’s some Lego Tachikoma and Fuchikoma creationsã€€by ï¼´ï¼¯ï¼¹ã®é ˜åŸŸ (Toy no Ryouiki, Territory of Toys):

These aren’t the only Tachikoma models out there but they’re some of the best photos. The tanks could be replicated by those ambitious enough. I wish this was a kit.

Tachikoma & Fuchikoma

ï¼´ï¼¯ï¼¹ã®é ˜åŸŸ

Some other cute, non-Lego Tachikoma renditions here and here.

via Gizmodo Japan

Shakespeare, manga style

Shay — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 05:41:38 +0000

Do you find Shakespeare boring or overrated? Do you enjoy reading manga?

If you answered “yes” to one or both of those questions, you’re in luck. Up until recently, if you had to read Shakespeare, I’d recommend reading the CliffsNotes version or something. Well, CliffsNotes have made it even easier with yes, Shakespeare manga.

Shakespeare: The Manga Edition makes it easy and entertaining to digest the classic tales. The CliffsNotes official website says:

Passion and poison. Deception and revenge. Betrayal and assassination. Ambition and murder. Politics and greed. Plots and counterplots. Supernatural visitations and evil manipulation. Packed with drama, excitement, and emotion, Shakespeare’s tragedies are a natural in the fast-paced manga format.

The text mostly stays the same and is abridged by NYU professor Adam Sexton. The books feature art by a variety of talented artists including Hyeondo Park.

Current offerings in the Shakespeare Manga collection include Romeo & Juliet, Hamlet, Julius Caesar, and Macbeth.

Normal people: 1, purists: 0

I wish I would have found out about these sooner!

Shakespeare manga on Amazon
“Get manga editions of Shakespeare plays”