Masamune Shirow Hyperpage

What on earth is Kodansha Box? Classical Fantasy Within? Forgive the ignorance but all I can google up is some gibberish which doesn't make any sense. I would take a blind stab and guess its just a novel series (in Japanese) with Shirow-illustrated covers. There are quite a lot of covers, with already uhmm... around 6 books out, but its mostly Shirow men... until recently, which brings us nicely to the main purpose of this post - new Shirow girl spotted! Get her in high-res up to 1600 x 1200 size at the "Kodansha Box" website - here - and be quick before they replace her with another man on a horse! Come on Kodansha, surely some Juliona Trans would skyrocket sales for your new boxes! :P

The only good thing in Classical Fantasy Within (so far!)

Classical Fantasy Within Wallpapers Page
Classical Fantasy Within Main Page

Oh, and the novel is written by a Soji Shimada. I know this because the name is on the wallpaper :)

Holy mother of Tachikoma! A Masamune Shirow illustration collection! Brand new unpublished material, Exon Depot 3, 88 pages, coming in January 2009! Thank you Seishinsha!

Shirow Masamune Pieces 1

Masamune Shirow Premium Gallery: Pieces 1
Publisher: Seishinsha
Size: A5
RRP: 1512 Yen

From the short summary text that Seishinsha put up, this seems to be a collection of rare, unpublished Shirow artworks on luxurious print, including an Exon Depot 3 comic. It does say 88 pages, or pieces. Not exactly sure if it's a book or illustration collection type. Yeah! This is what Shirow fans want and dream for years! Go Seishinsha! You the best! :)

And as usual calling it Pieces "1" kinda implies there is a Pieces "2"... damn you ambiguous publishers! Heh, but very very good news. Even trumped a much more feasible, material-ready Galgrease artbook collection. Well done.

Now I gotta find somewhere to order this... maybe 2 copies :P

Hey who would have thought... amidst all the GITS / Appleseed / Intron Depot stuff we are actually looking at some new Galgrease products coming soon! As much as we enjoy (ahem) looking at the pictures, just imagine... wait, there is no need to imagine. Now all Greasy fanboys and hold and feel 'em. :) Thank you PVC!

Spotted at Chara-Hobby 2008 in Japan (end of August 08), I'm sure all Shirow fans need no introduction to this cowgirl:

Nice cigar placement honey! :)

That's a pile of money there!

Another cigar smoking view

The Wet West, coming soon!

She's put up for a 2009 release, no other details available so far. Put her on your Wanted List anyway! ;)

The next Greasy Gal is actually up for pre-order, would you believe! Thank you Beagle! (Motoko 1/8, Space Pirates, SS Police Girl)

Hyakkisyo Shion (The Hellhound Girl)
Maker: Beagle
Height: 23cm
Price: 7140 Yen
Scheduled: October 08

She's coming over real soon, so put her also in your Wanted List! Check out your favourite Japanese figure import shop, they should be able to take pre-orders for her now.

Thanks to fellow Galgrease admirer, Akros for the great news. Cheers! :)

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