Dirty Pair

 For what initially i thought to be an ecchi fanservice series with its somewhat suggestive name, Dirty Pair turns out to be yet another hidden gem among Sci-Fi anime! The premise of this series lies around the misadventures of Female crimefighting agents Kei and Yuri forming a duo named Dirty Pair whose infamy spread across the galaxy. Dirty Pair Tv series took episodic formula where Kei and Yuri encounter a case each episode with a good share of wacky and serious moments.

For a Sci-fi series made by Sunrise in mid 80s, the writing quality is surprisingly good and had some attitude defining the charm of 80s Sci-fis, a stark contrast with Tomino's works in the same period who seems only waste potentials after another. To me what makes Dirty Pair stand apart is its depth of the futuristic setting which is quite ahead for its time and sometimes not fully surpassed by its successors.

Kei and Yuri are portrayed as a pair of problematic misfits who only cause troubles but completely competent Agent when the situation requires. Being one of the pioneer of its Genre, Dirty Pair sets up important trope for its genre. If you like Cowboy Bebop and prefer something lighter, Dirty Pair is a good choice. Considering i am sold with the Tv series, i will at least complete the Original OVA series.

Yami starting playing Arknights

 Recently there is a new Gacha game called Arknight that has been gathering a significant amount of hype among FGO Community for some reason. Getting slightly tired with FGO Gacha Hell, i joined the bandwagon and tried to give this game a spin. This newcomer Gacha Game released by the same Publisher of Azur Lane and Girls Frontline no doubt had it takes that makes it deserve its recent attention. 

Monster Hunter Nendoroid 1284 Nargacuga Female Blademaster

 Straight out from the Winter Wonderfest early this month, another Monster Hunter characters landed on Nendoroid lineup! There were two Nendoroids for Monster Hunter series revealed during Winter Wonfes 2020 which are Zinogre and Nargacuga Blademasters and the latter is the one up for Preorder already! Just like MHW Rathalos Blademaster, Nargacuga will come in two versions, regular and DX with the latter add more effect parts and an extra weapon. Nendoroid 1284 will be released for 5000 & 6800 Yen for the Regular and DX version respectively with August release schedule. Nargacuga is the flagship monster from Monster Hunter Freedom Unite which was the turning point of MH Franchise into a Blockbuster AAA title. Made from a sneaky and stealthy wyvern, Nargacuga's Armor is quite memorable because it basically grants hassle-free Evasion set and i remembered to pull some cheese with the set back when i was a noob in MH series. I will get the regular version because the DX parts doesn't really appeal to me. I already have 4 MH Nendoroids by now and will keep getting more as long the character appeals me and certainly look forward to Zinogre's. I wish someday GSC will make another MH Nendoroid that have Lance as part of the weapon.

Odin Sphere Parfom Gwendolyn Review

The Valkyrie takes up the flight.

Konosuba Legend of the Crimson

After about 6 months from the initial release, The Konosuba Movie managed to be aired in my local cinema! I give the movie an automatic watch considering I am kind of Aqua's follower. Overall the movie gives you what you expected from a Konosuba series, though i suppose it is not as hilarious compared to TV series considering the scarce time for development. 

The legend of crimson movie covers the 5th volume of LN where Kazuma's team visit Megumin's hometown chock full of Chuunis and facing yet another Demon Lord's General. In the end Kazuma still shows his worst side in the movie and resorts to pathetic means to defeat the big boss yet again. As expected Megumin becomes the main focus of the movie but at very least Aqua had some nice moments though not as much crying. Overall you won't miss much skipping the movie as the Light Novel still stands as the definitive source material. But if you are fan of Megumin, you will be in for quite a treat!

Hi-Metal R L-Gaim Mk-I

 Just like other mecha anime, i am looking for a physical representation for L-Gaim after i finished watching the TV series. While L-Gaim is another mecha series that ends up to be a wasted potential at the hand of Tomino, i am quite sold by the concepts that Mamoru Nagano tried to sell. I guess after Bandai made series of Hi-Metal mechas for Sunrise 80s mecha series, L-Gaim is soon to follow after. With the prototype shown around end of 2019, Bandai had announced the product release for Hi-Metal L-Gaim. The product will be released for 18000 Yen scheduled for July 2020.

 Hi-Metal Lineup is the non Gundam equivalent for  Metal Robot Spirits, but this particular rendition of L-Gaim feels more like Metal Build because this one stands 22cm tall. While i don't think the diecast parts would be as much as Metal Build, i think it should satisfy the collectors at very least. L-Gaim as a mecha series was an interesting one because it had some attitude and tried to make something different among the peers of its time. L-Gaim at its time is the closest thing to mecha version of Star Wars, had it been made as an OVA in late 80s i think L-Gaim's potential would have been more fully realized. Over the time i think i end up preferred L-Gaim Mk I over Mk-II because it feels more balanced overall, considering the latter doesn't really feel as proper successor mecha. Even if L-Gaim Tv Series is a flop, the spiritual successor FSS put its design to good use as Engage SR-1 and Junchoon. I wonder which 80s Mecha series will follow next in the Hi-Metal Lineup

Starship Troopers Figma SP-124 Warrior Bug

 Being one of the most respected Sci-Fi series out there, Starship Troopers didn't really have many merchandise in recent times after the Verhoeven's Movie. The prototype has been around for a while, but we are finally getting an action figure for the iconic Warrior Bug in Figma Format! The Figma Warrior Bug will be released in October 2020 with 11000 yen price tag. I think the Warrior Bug Figma is around 1/24 scale and it will come with two pre-painted Mobile Infantry Marine figure with one being the short end of the stick of Warrior Bug's claw. Apparently this version of Warrior Bug is based from the Traitor of Mars Movie though the only noticable difference is the Marine Armor design compared to the movie. The Warrior Bug rendition in Figma Format no doubt looks really fierce and deadly as they are portrayed in the movie even if it is not 1/12 format which could have cost double at least. Out of the CGI series while Traitor of Mars is a terrible movie, Starship Troopers Invasion is still an enjoyable ride. Lastly I am still waiting for Mobile Infantry Marine Action Figure that comes with reasonable price.