Yatterman's New Job.

Last year, Kitaro and the gang of GeGeGe fame, got part-time jobs working at MacDonalds. Now it appears as though the Yatterman gang has been hired there, though they may just be working undercover on an assignment to thwart their nemeses. (You can buy your own set here!)

First up is ガンちゃん (Gan-chan) who appears to work in a managerial capacity and can be seen serving a soda. "Yatterman ga Yuka-Giri. Makuni akua Baka-nai" (I think!)










His girlfriend, アイちゃん (Ai-chan) serves up a burger and utters a welcoming, "Minna Mattere, Megata Happi-slide!" or something like that.









ヤッターワン (Yatta-Wan), their robotic battle-dog, let's out a cry of "ラオオオアー/Ra-ooo-ah" as he slides across the floor.

Here they are in animated action:




ヤッターペリカン, their airborne robotic Yatter-Pelican, glides across the room nicely, but doesn't say anything. It is pretty darned awesome though as this YouTube attests:



Since I can't find おだてブタ (Flattered Pig) on the wiki page, I don't have much info on it. On the packaging, it proclaims, "Even the pig climbs the tree if flattered." One industrious collector has made a YouTube display. This pig is not averse to climbing the Mac-pole which also lights up!



"ポチッとな = Now, come on!" according to the package and my YouTube consultant (whom I haven't really consulted) provides the following utterances: "マクドナルドのハッピーセットでもらえる、ヤッターマンのアイテ ムの一つ、「ポチッとなボタン」です。動画部分が荒いのは携帯電 話の動画機能を使っているためです。ご容赦ください。 The messages when I pushed the button are as follows. 1:Here we go 2:Kill them all!(Or Defeat it) 3:Pochitto." See for yourself:




As seen below, the bomb utters something and spits out a pog-sized disc.




The only villainess ドロンジョ (Doronjo) shows up in a teleporting device opposite Ai-chan. Here she shows up as the hot actress, 深田 恭子 (Fukada Kyouko) from the live movie.



Or animeted...



The live version of the Yatterman movie has been released on DVD, keep an eye out for it!



Or go for the anime from 2008:

Toys Am Me.

When I went to the movies on Monday, I had time to kick around the Toy store at the mall. What is it about being in a Toy Store that it makes you feel like you're 10 again, except this time with disposable income...a dangerous combo!

(Beware, the last image is a tad disturbing. You have been forewarned!)












I refrained from buying any Beetles (tough to tote on my bike when I already had all my books from work to carry.)












or Gegege fireworks (I don't think there is any age restriction on buying high explosives here!)


How could I resist this Speed Racer vehicle (2-in-1 vehicle, hidden weapons, pop-up launcher, escape vehicle, poseable Speed Racer figure) for only 3 bucks! Much to my surprise, it is imported by Mattel Canada Inc., from Mississauga, Ontario, next to my hometown!








I thought this Yatterman mascot would be cool, it turns out that it really isn't! Near as I can figure, the little characters spin around like a top. Yawn!










A little movie called ターミネーター 4 opens soon, so I got myself an inexpensive preview ticket that comes with this mini-Droid skull.











And biking home, I came across a dead ハクビシン or hakubishin... how cool is that? I thought it might be a Tanuki, but it is more of a weasel than a badger and in actuality is a civet (and was probably hit by a Civic!)

Yatterman!

Way back here I spoke of a series called ヤッターマン and included a few picks of goodies that I've collected. Ever since the release of the Live-Action Movie, there has been a plethora of loot, including these オリジナルフィギュア (original figures) from ミツ矢レモンサイダー (Mitsuya Lemon Cider).







Above is the entire unopened set to be sold at an enormous profit when this movie becomes a box office sensation. Here are handful of them opened up. I like the chick in pink!










Here's the trailer for the new movie and if I ever get some free time, I may go see it. One of the stars is 櫻井　翔 (Sho Sakurai) of 嵐 (Arashi) which is taking the country by Storm (Arashi means "Storm"...damn, I'm witty) and one of my students is their biggest fan!




Not knowing its contents, I found this on sale a while ago. I finally got around to opening it and it's a button and sticker. Meh, not worth tracking down the entire set, I fear.

Yadda, Yadda, Yadda, Man!

ヤッターマン or Yatterman is an anime series from the late 70's. I think it made its way to Canada, but I don't ever recall watching it. Apparently there was a revival last January which may explain all the merchandise hitting the streets (ie. UFO Catchers & conbini) such as this figure that I won a few weeks back.



















I never saw these in the conbini, but I did snag them from my local Yamaya (foreign foods, etc.) and fortunately at a discount! They are these funky "wiggle-vision" images that change character when you move them (sorry, I can't adequately capture the other image.)

When I was in an Ishinomaki candy shop, I picked up this package of melon-flavoured crystal meth that dissolves in water to give you a bubbly concoction (Note: may not actually be meth.)









There's a live action movie coming out next year directed by Takashi Miike who directed the uber-cool 妖怪大戦争, (Yokai daisenso or The Great Yokai War) so I know it'll be in good hands.

This should keep you occupied until it's released...