I have found myself recently spending a fair bit of time in hotel rooms, and am certainly not a fan of the standard sub-par programming, nor do I want to line LodgeNet’s pockets by paying for their content. Luckily, I had the right equipment around to create my own portable VCR of sorts.
The main components are:
Today we celebrate the birthday of a toy very near and dear to my heart: Lego. It is time to put 50 candles on the cake and let the brick blow ‘em out to commemorate 50 years of pushing kids to explore their imaginations and make that always ciritcal decision: do I use the instructions or go rogue? You can find more information on the history of the Lego as well as a whole bunch of cool toys to buy at the Lego Anniversary site.
Check out some of my handiwork from the Lego pit at last year’s SXSW after the jump.
This past weekend I finally made it to the Takashi Murakami exhibit at the LA Musuem of Contemporary Art. I tried to go last weekend, but, after making it through exactly one room, the entire facility was evacuated due to an underground explosion.
Despite this setback, some friends and I went for strike two (strike three for a couple) and were not disappointed. Murakami is the founder of the “Superflat” style, and I first encountered his works when I attended the exhibit at the NY Japan Society called, “Little Boy: The Arts of Japan’s Exploding Subculture” that explored the impact that the atomic bomb had on Japanese culture. Murakami’s sensory-overloaded pop style is inspired by and also subverts Japanese otaku culture by twisting conventions of anime and manga. The exhibit not only features his artwork, but also a bevy of sculptures as well as several film explorations.
The exhibit runs through February 11th, and I highly recommend taking the time to soak it in before it ends.
I came across this trailer for a Japanese puzzle-based adventure game series that will be debuting in the U.S. on February 10th. It seems to be 1 part “Phoenix Wright”, 1 part “Howl’s Moving Castle”, and 1 part “Brain Age”. Either way, I am a big fan of the point-and-click adventure genre, and between the Miyazaki-inspired art-style and use of logic puzzles it seems like a winner to and for me. Check out the trailer below.
I never turn down the chance to see anime on the big screen. Luckily, as an L.A. resident, the opportunity does occasionally present itself, usually through midnight showings or special premieres tied to cultural centers. Next weekend, the American Cinematheque will be presenting three of Hayao Miyazaki’s phenomenal films in a Studio Ghibli showcase at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica:
Friday, February 1
7:30pm – “Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind”
Saturday, February 2
3:00pm – “My Neighbor Totoro”
Saturday, February 2
7:30pm – “Spirited Away”
This is a rare opportunity to sample Miyazaki’s craft in a theater setting, and you owe it to yourself to experience his storytelling. If you don’t consider yourself an “anime” fan or simply have never seen a Miyazaki film, I assure you that you will find these films captivating, your imagination sated, and leave with a smile on your face. I have already bought my tickets to all three at fandango.com, and let me know in the comments if you are planning on attending.
- news courtesy of Anime News Network