From post-war black market, to a bustling electronics district, to whatever the hell it is now–Akihabara, like most of Tokyo, has gone through serious changes since the end of World War II. Despite the progress of modernity, looking at footage of Akihabara from 30 years ago it’s still easy to recognize major landmarks.
The Un-Gunpla: U.C. Hard Graph
First released in 2006, U.C. Hard Graph was a range of kits that focused on everything modern gunpla didn’t (and still doesn’t) bother with. In other words, just about anything that isn’t a giant robot.
Redline Creators: Takeshi Koike + Katsuhito Ishii Talk
An interview with Redline director Takeshi Koike and producer Katsuhito Ishii, as published in Plus Madhouse 5.
Japanese Modelers are Combining Fuzzy Animals and Rusty Robots
Scratchbuilt kits featuring furry Sylvanian Families toys alongside robots have recently been popping up on Twitter via Japanese modelers.
FamilySoft’s PC-98 Gundam Games
Beginning with Mobile Suit Gundam: Classic Operation in 1990, FamilySoft would release seven core Gundam simulation titles plus expansions. Of these, only three would feature original stories and a pedigree brought by artists that had previously worked on Gundam anime and manga.
Let’s Read: Combat Comic, No. 6
Published in September, 1986, Combat Comic No. 6 provided readers with a mixture of military-themed comics, articles, and model kit features stretched across over 200 newsprint pages.
Yoshihisa Tagami and the Oddities of Anime Journalism
GREY: Best Collection included an article about artist Yoshihisa Tagami. It’s a bit odd.
Anime Simulation Games of the 1980s
There’s no shortage of retrospectives about tabletop wargaming in the 1980s, but most of them are focused on the U.S. or U.K. markets and rarely, if ever, touch on Japan’s wargaming scene.
Goodbye, Soldiers: Director’s Roundtable with Ishiguro, Takahashi and Yamada
The directors of Orguss, Mospeada and VOTOMS sit down with The Anime to discuss their shows and the state of SF and mecha TV anime in 1984.
Five Reasons to Watch Orguss
With Orguss coming out today on DVD thanks to the folks at Discotek Media, here’s five reasons why it’s worth watching.