Masamune Shirow Hyperpage

It was recently revealed that Masamune Shirow did the character illustrations for upcoming Nintendo RPG Fire Emblem DS. Which obviously is a game for the Nintendo DS.

The Fire Emblem DS is slated for an early August 2008 release in Japan. The Fire Emblem RPG is an established RPG series and this version is a remake of the 1st version of the game. It also features online play and is about some prince going on a mission to regain his kingdom and rescue his kidnapped sister etc etc etc.... Oh I just can't be bothered to go into specifics about the game. I'm just interested in the artwork, that's all.

The Shirow-girl elements are strong with this one, in an Orion-esque way :) Artbook, please!

Shirow Character Artwork for Fire Emblem DS

I'm definitely feeling the "Fire" :P

Source: Nintendo Fire Emblem news
Thank you Kadath :)

Nope, it's not "Manmachine Interface" as we'd hope. Just a souped-up upgrade of the original Mamoru Oshii first 1995 GITS movie. Bummer. Making the graphics better doesn't necessarily make the movie any better - could be worth a watch if it comes to DVD since I never re-watched for at least some years now (The news only mentioned screenings at selected cinemas in Japan).

GITS 2.0 Poster

Ghost in the Shell to Return to Japanese Theaters (Updated)
posted on 2008-06-08 23:57 EDT
2.0 edition to have new CG, Oscar-winning sound mixer, Skywalker Sound

Mamoru Oshii's first Ghost in the Shell cyberspace film will return to five Japanese theaters in an enhanced Ghost in the Shell 2.0 edition on July 12. The new edition will include new computer graphics and digital effects for some scenes and a reunion of most of the cast members for a new 6.1 surround sound recording. Academy-Award-winning sound mixer/editor Randy Thom (Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence, The Incredibles, The Right Stuff) has overseen the new soundtrack with Kenji Kawai's original music and a final mix that has been produced at Thom and Lucas Digital's Skywalker Sound studio in California.

In the new edition, the enigmatic Puppet Master character will be played by Yoshiko Sakakibara (Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence's Harraway, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex's Prime Minister Yoko Kayabuki). Iemasa Kayumi (Giant Robo's Chief Chuujou Shizuo, RahXephon's Ernst Von Bähbem) played the role in the original edition.

The film will screen in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka, and Sapporo. Not coincidentally, Oshii's latest film, The Sky Crawlers, will open one month after Ghost in the Shell 2.0 on August 2.

Source: Anime News Network

This seems like a promotional excercise for Mr. Oshii's new film. But what's the point really? :( Don't think it will show at my local cinema anyway.

Keep your eyes peeled for release dates from Shirow Sensei's Official Website! :)

Shirow 2009 Calendar

After missing out on 2008, finally we will have new Shirow pictures for the coming new year~

Hot Toys Snap Kits!

1/20 ES.W.A.T Snap Kits
Product code: SK080407
In-stock:COMING SOON
Exclusive:--

Especially Weapons And Tactics! :) Huh?

This SNAP KITS series features below listed five (5) E.S.W.A.T Snap Kits, each stands approximately 10-12 cm tall with 20 points of articulation

* E.S.W.A.T. Deunan Knute

* E.S.W.A.T. Briareos Hechatonchires

* E.S.W.A.T. Tereus

* E.S.W.A.T. Manuel Aeacus

* E.S.W.A.T. Rhoetus

AND

* Approximately 18 cm tall fully poseable LANDMATE (32 points of articulation)

## Each closed box comes with one of the above listed E.S.W.A.T Snap Kits as well as parts of LANDMATE

## A completed LandMate and all ESWAT team members are guaranteed in each display box

## Simply assembly required.

{Release date: Q3, 2008}

**Product shown is not final**

What you get

Landmate- coolness

And in other Hot Toys news...

Bad Boy Tereus in 1/6 scale glory!

TEREUS 1/6 Scale Fully
Poseable Model Kit

Product code: MMS65
In-stock:COMING SOON
Exclusive:--

Product Description:

** Approximate 31 cm tall fully poseable model kit
** over 15 points of articulation
** Weapons & accessories include:
- ES.W.A.T Riffle- HECATE stg 1002
- ES.W.A.T HandGun- HECATE P-08
- HandGun
** Display base with ExMachina logo and Tereus name plate
## simple assembly is required

{Release date: Q3, 2008}

**Product shown is not final**

I should really update more often here :( Missed out on quite a lot of news - like VMF Motoko, Wave 1/10 Ex Machina, Ex Machina DVD release, GITS 1.5 Human Error Processor, Ghost Hound etc.

So it was Tereus and the "Especially Weapons And Tactics" Snap Kits (where on earth did they come up with such a ridiculous ESWAT description) that got me updating again.

Did have a plan to do some kind of massive update on things missed out since Jan 2008, but eh... excuses, excuses. Goodness I'm so broke, and its not even half of the year yet...

Well, 2007 had been a great year for the Shirow fan. And we look forward to 2008 already, with the Appleseed Saga EX Machina DVD due very soon. Thanks to everyone for the news alerts and encouragements. I will try to do better with the site this year. Cheers! ^_^

Medicom Real Action Heroes (RAH) 1/6 Scale figure, that is :) She made it finally! Great~ Details are quite scarce at the moment but not to worry. Ample time to plan for this one. This Major will be in Solid State Society costume.

Real Action Heroes (RAH)
Ghost In The Shell Motoko Kusanagi
RAH（リアルアクションヒーローズ） 攻殻機動隊 草薙 素子
Size: 12" (1/6 scale)
Manufacturer: Medicom Toys
Price: 17640 Yen (tentative)
Release: August 2008 (tentative)

Ladies & Gentlemen- Major Motoko Kusanagi :)

Wow. That is alot of 1/6 scale figure news for the end of the year. I have a few Medicom RAHs in my collection and I am sure this Motoko will turn out great :) Another one for the 2008 wishlist then.

SOURCE (seems like some kind of magazine scan). As always, check the forums for any breaking news :)

Ok, old news I know, but for the sake of comparison I will write something about the Takara CG Deunan Knute 1/6 figure slated for release sometime in February 08.

Appleseed 2 EX MACHINA Deunan in CG (Doll)
Manufacturer: Takara
Scale: 1/6
Series: Cool Girl
Original: Appleseed
Release Date: Late Feb
Regular Price: 19,800 yen

Already up for pre-orders if you feel like owning one :)

With armour and gear

From the back, looks very good :)

Takara's CG line can sometimes be deceiving with the promotional prototype pictures and the actual mass release product, as we experienced first hand with Motoko. This Deunan Knute CG is dubious also, certain angles she looks hot, while other views look a bit off. I guess there's no other way to know for sure until she is released. However, the beauty of CG dolls is that with a good eye and some customizing skills, they can be altered to extremely collectible beauties. More pictures of Deunan with her kit off :)

Deunan actually looks better without the armour in my opinion :) and if the level of detail is anything like the Batman Begins CG costume, I think this will work out quite nicely. Fingers crossed that she will turn out beautiful. At the moment though, seems like the Hot Toys version is more hot... and with Briareos too. Maybe Briareos would be a bit offended to be released as a "Cool Girl" :P

I'm helping out yet another Shirow collector to promote some rare, hard to find Shirow publications for sale. This time it's none other than Franco, owner of one of the best Shirow sites (still, after all these years!) Puto's Home Page.

He has decided to put up part of his collection for sale, you can find items such as some Shirow Calendars from the 90's, Shirow-content magazines, Jashin Hunter novel set, etc. For more information on the items for sale and how to get in touch, do visit his Sales Page Update here.

Rebirth 99 Calendar

Ultra Jump Magazine

Franco and I go way back... I still remember when we first got in touch years ago... that was like 1997 if I remember correctly, when the Shirow Hyperpage was still hosted on Geocities and Puto's also (amazing how the home page still stays at the same address after all these years! ^_^).

Anyway, it was never nice for me to know of people letting go of their Shirow collections, but hey, you gotta move on right? And while Puto's have not been updated for a very long time, rest assured that Franco is still very much a Shirow fan- just that the new direction Sensei Shirow has taken ever since he started tinkering with CG and abandoning manga stories probably left many old-time fans disappointed. Well, that is another topic for another time.

Note to those that emailed me during the past few weeks- so sorry I didnt answer your mails. I've been busy at work and just came back from outstation. I'll get to answering them later. Hey I didnt even update the Takara CG Deunan Knute yet! :) That's how far behind I am...

While I reserve judgement on the EX Machina movie proper, in terms of merchandising, EX Machina is looking VERY promising. Have you all heard the news recently about Hot Toys acquiring the license for 1/6 scale Ex Machina figures? Deunan & Bri heads the list.

For the unfamiliar, Hot Toys is a Hong Kong based toy company producing mainly high quality collector's 1/6 figures which contributed to the military 1/6 dolls collecting craze which started years back. Their products are quality, (very expensive) and usually sell out very fast. Ex Machina figures will be under the "Movie Masterpiece" line, and according to Hot Toys website, their first animated show figure set.

Enough with the small talk, on to the important stuff! :)

Best looking Appleseed figures so far!

Briareos Hechatonchires
1/6 Scale Fully Poseable Model Kit
Product code: MMS52
In-stock:COMING SOON
Exclusive:--
~Movie Materpiece series~
Product Description:
+ Approximate 35 cm tall fully poseable model kit
- Weapons & accessories include:
- Analog watch
- PROMETEUS M-08 CYBORG PISTOL x 2
- ENIGMA M-117 ANTI MATERIAL RIFLE
- Display base with Ex Machina logo and Briareos's name plate
** simple assembly is required
Release date: Q4, 2007

Deunan Knute
1/6 Scale Fully Poseable Model Kit
Product code: MM51
In-stock:COMING SOON
Exclusive:--
~Movie Masterpiece Series~
Product Description:
+ Approximate 28 cm tall fully poseable model kit
+ Weapons & accessories include:
- Analog watch
- Knife
- Sheath
- ES.W.A.T Riffle- HECATE stg 1002
- ES.W.A.T HandGun- HECATE P-08
- Display base with Ex Machina logo and Deunan's name plate
** simple assembly is required
Release date: Q4, 2007

Here comes some glamour shots :)

Without a doubt, a very desirable collector's set for any Shirow / Appleseed / 1/6 Scale figures fan :) Me included. Updates on pricing, release dates etc. as and when the information becomes available. Thanks Markus for the tip.

If you are in Japan / Tokyo this weekend why not check out the EX Machina Roadshow? I wish I could...!

Well, seems like we have enough material to do a dedicated post for this certainly unique Tachikoma product. What we know so far, the basics:

Debuted (prototype) at 47th All-Japanese Model Hobby Show (13-14 Oct 07). Produced by Bandai, set for February 2008 release at 13440 Yen. 1/24 scale (9.5cm high) Alloy Tachikoma, or a "Chogokin". Features are still being added and re-considered at this stage, so this is just a prototype for show.

Tachikoma at Bandai Booth

Other features known so far:

• USB connection to PC (via hatch at the Tachi's pod)
• CD-Rom containing "Tachikoma Finder" Software
• Once connected via USB, "Tachikoma Finder" software loads on PC
• Changes PC wallpaper to "attack mode" (as in the anime)
• Several options of wallpaper, including warai otoko version
• Tachikoma activates with connection to "Tachikoma Finder" software
• Simulates the Tachikoma agents dive into the PC (as the 2nd GIG anime)
• Voice provided by Sakiko Tamagawa (of SAC anime)
• Eyeballs occasionally move
• LED on pod blinks with data transfer
• User can't control Tachikoma in this mode, only in "Voce Memo" & "Mini Game"
• Voice Memo - Alarm function, Tachi-kun speaks to you at specified time
• Mini Game - Win & lose will activate "special events"

Ok, so far it is confirmed that the eyeballs move! ;)

More pictures:

That's all I have for now... check out the original Japanese sources, and feel free to correct any mistakes I make above:
GA Graphic Report
IT Media Lifestyle Report

So Bandai, when can I order one? :)