Life-size Doraemon plush has arrived from the future! Prepare to give him $2,000 and his own room 3

Life-size Doraemon plush has arrived from the future! Prepare to give him $2,000 and his own room

Bandai will start taking pre-orders for a super-sized Doraemon plush to commemorate his birthday on 9/3. Aptly named Very Big Doraemon Plush, orders will be taken at their official online store Premium Bandai, and will cost 194,250 yen (includes tax; $1,949.68). Very Big Doraemon Plush took into account Doraemon’s official height of 129.3 cm (4’2″). While …

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Studio Ghibli's famed director Hayao Miyazaki announces his retirement: "But wait, this is his fifth time saying this..." 4

Studio Ghibli’s famed director Hayao Miyazaki announces his retirement: “But wait, this is his fifth time saying this…”

Translation:

’86 “Castle in the Sky: Laputa” → Miyazaki considers retirement from industry due to financial failure
’92 “Porco Rosso” → Miyazaki “I’ve done what I’ve wanted to do. I’m done with anime.”
’97 “Princess Mononoke” → Miyazaki “This is really my final film.”
’04 “Howl’s Moving Castle” → Miyazaki claims that he’s not as passionate as he used to be, says he will retire
’13 “Kaze Tachinu” → Announces on NHK (Japan’s equivalent of PBS/BBC) that he will retire

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Live-action adaptation of Gatchaman, AKA Battle of the Planets/G-Force, reviewed: "4/100; shut up and go save some people!" 5

Live-action adaptation of Gatchaman, AKA Battle of the Planets/G-Force, reviewed: “4/100; shut up and go save some people!”

I just reviewed Star Trek Into Darkness, and I noted how compared to Hollywood, the Japanese entertainment industry has trouble conveying themes about social problems on the big screen. Gatchaman is a prime example of what I was talking about. It’s also tragic that its release is on the same week as the highly lauded, previously …

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