GearsBlog

In my quest to watch every Godzilla movie I have just finished Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla (2002). It was very good. The movie focused on the action, avoided excess preaching and provided an ending that wrapped things up nicely without upsetting long-time Godzilla fans.  I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a monster movie. Read more…

Char's Zaku II from Mobile Suit Gundam

Tokyo-based Bitec Global Japan makes false teeth and they’ve decided new job applicants should prove their skill by building and painting a model of Char’s Zaku II from Mobile Suit Gundam. Want to work in dentistry? Better brush up your model building!

Anime News Network translated the information from Mainichi Shimbun‘s Web site.

A new blog titled Mecha Damashii has launched. The name means “spirit of mecha” or “true spirit of mecha”. This blog focuses on mecha video games but already contains articles that branch into other mecha-related territory. My online friend Ollie Barder is the mastermind behind this new blog and he has a lot to say about mecha. Stop by and see what you think.

Andrew W. K. wants to rock the Gundam - but can he?

American rocker Andrew W. K. has released an album for Gundam’s 30th anniversary.  But does it rock? View the linked videos and decide for yourself. Personally, I’m good with the Gundam soundtracks I’ve already got. Read more…

But will it make the cut for the next World Cup?

An inventor in Japan has created a robot that can play soccer. No, you don’t have to worry about World Cup being taken over by robots (although I’d start watching it if that happened). The main point here is to show that robots can be endowed with a sense of balance. I have heard many English speakers talk about how to advance artificial intelligence but I’m glad the Japanese have a keen focus on where that artificial intelligence will live: a mechanical body.

The inventor talks about how he’s a Gundam fan but look at the robot’s head. Looks like he’s a Gurren Lagann fan too!

To round off my Patlabor experience I watched Patlabor 3 the Movie: WXIII (2001). The WXIII in the title is short for Wasted 13 – more on that below. The movie was great and I recommend it to science-fiction fans but with a warning. This movie is not a standard Patlabor story. It’s a side story and there’s almost no mecha action. Like Orguss 02, Patlabor 3 the Movie takes place in the same setting as the title but focuses on different characters and a different storyline than usual. The characters of Special Vehicles Section 2 are only seen very briefly and don’t figure prominently into the plot. Read more…

I had a great time watching the second Patlabor movie (1993).  Although it bogged down in the middle and risked boring the audience it was a good movie overall and I would recommend it to mecha fans. Read more…

I watched the Patlabor Movie (1989) last night and thoroughly enjoyed it.  If you’ve seen any Patlabor then you shouldn’t miss this movie.  The story centers around a plot by a mad programmer who wants to stop Tokyo’s development by creating a hidden flaw in a new operating system for labors.  Once a certain low frequency sound is made by the wind a hidden program takes control of the labors and sends them on a rampage.  Learning about the plot just before a hurricane with the right wind speed comes to Tokyo, Special Vehicles Section 2 springs into action to try to prevent a tragedy. Read more…

The AV-98 Ingram Unit 1 "Alphonse" is back!

Patlabor’s second OAV series started in November 1990 and ran for 16 half hour episodes.  Really, the second OAV series is a continuation of the TV series.  It makes Patlabor 63 episodes instead of 47.  I really enjoyed the second OAV series and highly recommend it but only to those who have already seen the TV series. Read more…

I’ve just finished the 47 episodes of the Patlabor TV Series. Patlabor ran from October 1989 to September 1990. Patlabor is a truly great TV show and I highly recommend it to all mecha and science-fiction fans. I wrote about Patlabor’s basic premise not long ago so there’s no need to go over it again. After watching the entire run of Special Vehicles Division 2′s adventures protecting Tokyo my enthusiasm for the show hasn’t diminished at all. Read more…