I say it's my birthday

[davemerrill]

Actually it's been my birthday for a while but I only got up at 2pm today. I'm working this crazy shift again. Actually this is my 8th consecutive day of going in to work and let me tell you, both my productivity level and my "don't give a crap" level are in the extreme ranges of acceptability.

AND Satoshi Kon died, which pretty much means you can ignore every Japanese animated film from now on that Miyazaki didn't do. I didn't like PERFECT BLUE - it was lurid without being trashy, Hitchcock without the wit - and grudgingly went to see MILLENIUM ACTRESS in the theater, which I loved. LOVED! Suddenly here was a guy who was making FILMS, not "anime movies". As usual Patrick Macias says what we're all thinking. He also posts awesome photos of models advertising anime-themed pachinko games. Including Japanese Hulk (he's smaller and more efficient.)

So it's been kind of a grinding enduro-marathon of a week, sailing through a emotional rollercoaster of tragedy and loss. I am looking forward to having a few days off. My drawing hand is getting antsy. In the meantime here's some real fake Star Wars.



I bought this for a quarter at the Jockey Lot on account of the cover, which skillfully merges poses from "Empire Strikes Back" with spaceships from "Battlestar Galactica" while keeping in mind the juvenile audience these properties were aimed at. It actually does include an excerpt from the "Star Wars" novelization, written by "George Lucas." Just think, if this had been published as an e-book, "George" would be able to update and edit his work even in prose form! Anyways there are amusing illustrations.



Who knew Wookies had ears?



I like to think that there were some sort of legal issues preventing the publishers from using on-model Star Wars characters, because reference for Darth Vader could not have been hard to find in 1979. Not that that kept a lot of the licenced material from being charmingly off-model, but still.

I'm probably going to sell this book, I can't decide whether I should sell it at the SF/Anime Garage Sale in Toronto or the Super Happy Fun Sell at AWA. Cast your vote now!

Comments

[childings.livejournal.com]

AND Satoshi Kon died, which pretty much means you can ignore every Japanese animated film from now on that Miyazaki didn't do.

Nah, you can even cross Miyazaki off your list. He hasn't made a good movie since Spirited Away.

And that book is awesome. I'd be tempted to keep it because those illustrations are BAD ASS. It makes me feel like scanning some of random things I've found at secondhand stores

[gyopi.livejournal.com]

Isao Takahata is still around, although he is getting very old! I generally liked his movies better than Miyazaki's anyway.

[davemerrill.livejournal.com]

I wasn't a big fan of Howl's Moving Castle, but I found Ponyo to be really entertaining.

[sobieniak.livejournal.com]

Ditto, at least it got me a little motivated to pay $6 or whatever to see it on the big screen.

[sobieniak.livejournal.com]

I feel that way too whenever I get around to another helping of "Only Yesterday".

[sobieniak.livejournal.com]

Happy B-Day to you Dave. I should feel more sadden of Kon's passing on my birthday too. Pretty cool book you got there.

[redneckgaijin.livejournal.com]

Just so happens I have the Star Wars novelization on the bookshelf in the bathroom (the most appropriate place for it). Double-checked and yes, indeed, the text is from that book.

[kikaiju.livejournal.com]

Well happy another b-day!

And quit bitching about working too much. As we were told in a company meeting last week, "You know, you people (the American workers) worry about telecommuting and you come in late and you're out of here at 5. The Canadians (back at HQ) come in to work at 8AM and THEY don't leave until 7:00PM!"

LOL

[belecrivain.livejournal.com]

I remember your review of Perfect Blue. It was awesomely cranky.

Happy birthday! Looking forward to seeing you soon!

[astrange.livejournal.com]

There's this guy MAMORU HOSODA who made some good movies. Not quite as good, though.