joe randel's art dump

So there is a new Astro Boy trailer out.  I’ve watched it a few times now.  Not bad, the touched up look of Astro is okay.  I can understand why Imagi Animation Studios didn’t make him look exactly as he does in the cartoons.  I don’t think American audiences would warm up to it as much as this.  I’m interested in it for sure.  I’d love to see more though as I didn’t think the trailer really showcased enough.

What this did remind me of is was when I was little and I would watch AstroBoy on tv.  Man, I thought it was awesome.  I remember watching that and Battle of the Planets (Gatchaman) and just being completely lost in each episode.  I didn’t know what made those cartoons so much more special then the others, I just knew they where my favorites. (I still need to watch the 2000 reboot of Gatchaman).

Actually, most of my childhood faves are old anime shows.  AstroBoy, Battle of the Planets, Fables of the Green Forrest, The Adventures of the Little Prince.  I even watched Belle and Sebastian on the French channel even though I couldn’t understand it.

Ah, the memories.  Anyone else remember those shows?

I totally called it…

/facepalm

Oh PETA… why do you hate Mama so…?

Some of you might have heard that this Thanksgiving (at least for Americans cuze we Canadians had our turkey day over a month ago) the PETA is getting all kinds of press with their parody flash game Cooking Mama: Mama Kills Animals. In it you get to pluck a turkey, remove the entrails, cut off the head, make stuffing and cram it in the bird and make gravy.  Mmmm… mmmm… tasty.  The game is done pretty well in all honesty with unlockables like turkey clips, turkey facts,  wallpapers and a secret Veggan recipie if you don’t do the first turkey challenges.  If you play really well you can get the rank “Meaner then Mama!”.  It’s a lot of bloody fun ^_^

I know this is parody, but what I don’t care for is how PETA puts Majesco on some of the things in game.  Mejesco isn’t killing animals… they make games.  I’m sure that the people over at the PETA would argue that Cooking Mama supports and promotes the slughter of animals to kids but come on now…  let’s be realistic.  Majesco even issued a statement about the Mama slaughter game from Mama herself.

“I would never put rat in my Ratatouille,” said a feisty Mama while beating some eggs. “Like any accomplished cook, I create my recipes to appeal to a broad range of tastes and preferences. My only goal is to ensure you leave the table well fed.”

But I’m sure the PETA won’t be happy unless Majesco releases Cooking Mama: Veggan Delights.  I know I get my meat from free run, organic farms when I can.

Sigh…

Once long ago I reviewed a MAME game.  Not just any MAME game though… a saucy adult one called Sexy Reaction Pachinko.  I said I was going to do more reviews of sexy MAME games but never did…  until now.

This one is for a game called Dancing Eyes.  Released in 1996 by Namco, it’s a game that’s sort of like Qix if I had to make a comparison.  You control a little monkey character and you run him around a grid layout cutting out block pieces until the whole grid is clear.  What’s so naughty about this?  The grid is overlayed on the clothes of an anime girl (most times) and as you clear out sections the clothes fall off her until she’s left with nothing but her undies.

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Don’t worry, not me… but 1/3 of my studio currently is.

Suck…

It’s really scary when this come down.  I’ve been in a studio when the announcement is made that they have no more money and that everyone should go home.  Yeah, that was a bad day.  Is was pretty close but not quite.  The studio is hoping and pushing to have everyone back in January, but if I’ve learned anything from my time working is that you can never put your faith 100% in you employer.  If you do… well, lets just say that you shouldn’t.  So today, after the meeting this morning I started to hit up my friends and contacts in the industry and see how things are everywhere else and if anyone is, or will be, hiring.  I do know some people that have told me that I’ll have a job in their studio if I want one, so that’s good to hear.

The other huge problem is having to move to another city.  When you’re a single person, picking up an moving sucks but it’s easier to do.  But when you’re a family of 4 and a dog…  you really have to sit and make hard decisions as to what’s going to happen next.

The whole thing sucks.

Stupid crappy economy…

Feeling better today.  Thanks to everyone that sent well wishes ^_^

So today for lunch I made some of my famous (in my house) orange pancakes.  They’re soooo good.  Wife and kids love them.  It made me think of all the other things that I make well.  I make the best damn sandwiches out there and I also make damn good raisin, cinnamon bread and orange, craisin bread.  At Christmas time I make orange and chocolate cookies too.  Yes… I do love working with oranges.

I don’t cook much but sometimes I wonder if I could have gone culinary school.  Not that I really know anything about cooking but sometimes it’s nice to think about you life in a different direction.  Maybe in a another life time…

Do you have any culinary treats that you and only you make/cook?