What a Zoo!

I missed out seeing it in Canada when it premiered there so I was forced to watch it here in Japan, unfortunately dubbed into Japanese. To its credit, the dubbing is well done but it is very frustrating that there are NO viewings of the movie with English. (Why do they promote the Hollywood voice actors here when only a very few cinemas in Japan show the movie in English?) I've complained about this before and I'm sure I'll complain about it again. Oh well, I suppose I can accredit it to my need to study Japanese.

As the title of this post alludes to, the movie I'm talking about is  Zootopia. If you haven't seen it yet, run out and do so. It's wonderful. (Even in Japanese.) I'm sure many of the jokes went over my head, for that matter, they went over the heads of all the other audience members. No one in the joint was laughing. At my showing, there were no kids, just adults silently sitting there watching the animation before them.

NOTE TO HOLLYWOOD! My idea for a sequel involves the Zootopia gang getting into an altercation with chimps, monkeys, gorillas, etc. from Simiantown. "Forget it, Judy. It's Simiantown!"
You heard it here first!

I didn't see the movie upon its Japanese premiere though I did snap up a few items just in case they sell out quickly. A couple of Clear Files (of course):

 Front above; reverse below.

 Front above; reverse below.

 Front above; reverse below...and

 Interior.

 We DO need some stinkin' badges!

 A couple of stamps.

 Not bad looking, I'll have to head back to the Movix in Rifu to see if there are any left.

Giant movie poster:

Before it premiered, I was lucky enough to win these four characters for only 7 bucks. Not bad!

On Saturday, I slyly nabbed a fox on only my second try. Not quite as lucky with the other large plush.

At UFO Catcher today, I espied this sextet of mini-plush toys and was happy to see 4/6 of the lesser famous characters.

 This particular venue has very week arms to its cranes and thus I was only able to tame a shrew.

At the Disney Store, one can buy some Zootopia Tsum Tsum, yet at 620 each, it would take a lot of cash to make your pyramid.

I have nothing against Shakira (prior to this, I had never heard of her), but I think I prefer the Japanese version.



It's sung by Dream Ami and I think she has a lovely voice.



Which do you prefer? Also, where the heck is her biggest fan, the obese cheetah Officer Benjamin Clawhauser, plush figure??

As an aside, I thought this deep chinned Jay Leno lookalike orca was kind of cool.

 I may try and get the panda or croc.

Aside #2. From what I understand, several Furry conventions were renting out entire theatrical presentations of this movie so they could enjoy the movie in all its anthropomorphic glory. I don't know if the VancouFUR furries were attending a movie showing yet the Hotel in which they were housed was also where several hundred recent Somalian refugees were also placed. Welcome to North America!!

Crazy Party Night!

One of the oddest of the J-Poppers to arise in the last few years is Kyari Pamyu Pamyu (Click for her website). She has come out with yet another Halloween video and it's one of the funkiest yet.

Check out her Crazy Party Night (Click for details.)

And the Coca Cola Commercial:




Making of the Coca Cola ad featuring the above song.



You can join in the fun and maybe win a prize by emulating KPP in a Dance Contest.

Speaking of Coca Cola, I landed this little party package when I bought a couple of beverages.

 It comes with a few straws with mouth-masks.

 Which do you prefer?

I'm supposed to able to assemble these together...

...and come up with this:

I really thought I'd posted this before, but this is the video that provided KPP her to leap to fame: Pon Pon Ponder this:



Finally, a couple of Halloweenish tunes.

Kira Kira Killer with skeletons and death and the World Turtle!



Beware the Fashion Monster!



Some Fashion Monster GU ads:



Speaking of commercials:


I would love to see her in concert one day. I'm certain it'd be wacky!

Beware The Chupacabra!

Since I didn't grow up in Central America, I was unfamiliar with the legend of El Chupacabra until I saw the X-Files episode, El Mundo Gira. As portrayed in this picture, the razor spikes and tendency to chow down on goats is what makes this cryptid so popular.

Here's a snippet from the aforementioned X-Files episode, your typical Monster of the Week show.

Not such a cute portrayal is it?

Japan's version is of course far cuter and is less canine and more chiropteran. The J-Poppers, Arc de Ciel, spawned the group, Hyde, which spawned VAMPS who popularized the Vampiric Chupacabra.  I'm having a hard time finding an actual song with the Chupa, maybe you'll have better luck.



Ah, that's better. Here is Hyde's Halloween Party:



My first introduction to the Chupacabra was via UFO Catcher and of course, I had to win one or two. Initial attempts were wrought with naught but I eventually nabbed one ready to suck your goat's blood and one having a nap.

The next time I saw them was in a smaller version that also came with a terrified goat!

You can buy some Chupa-goods at the Vamprose Store. You can also check out the Vamps group and dozens other at a massive Halloween Party.

Fortunately, my hunt for the elusive Chupacabra was not in vain for it can be found in various guises. Two  pirate versions, one holding a pumpkin, a hipster and appropriately enough, a vampire.

Since Halloween is almost over (when it comes to merchandising, that is), the Santa -version is not far away!

I have a couple of doubles of the smaller ones and if you ask really nicely, I might send you one. Unfortunately, I'm a little strapped for cash of late, so you may have to wait a while.