Wednesday 6 August 2008

Importance of Cartoon Logos in your Business!

Author: Bhupendra Ahluwalia

Cartoon logos are images or symbols depicting certain characters and conveying the desired message in a light-hearted manner. They are not only funny but at the same time appealing and can generate excellent brand image recall. These logos speak in a unique language of their own. This is entirely based upon the expressions and colors used by the artist in line with the customers cartoon logo design brief. They can be multi dimensional and shaded to give a real life impression. One thing is for sure - Cartoon logos never fail to please any person of any age group.

No matter how serious the thought; it gets conveyed in the lightest manner possible to the public. Many a times cartoon illustrations and cartoon characters are very effective in quickly and compellingly communicating community issues e.g. in public health, education, etc. Who wouldn't want to see a memorable logo depicted by a cartoon (cartoon logo) that lays emphasis on core values like integrity, governance and compliance without having to go into the seriousness of the message?

Cartoon logos, cartoon characters and mascots convey the message with a child-like innocence. Many psychologists will agree that people like to associate themselves with their childhood. The innocence and curiosity inculcated in our minds through cartoon logos takes us back in time and enables people to view the products/services being emphasized in the message through the eyes of a child.

Cartoon logos are a humorous way to represent ideas and concepts. If your company wants to lay emphasis on its culture and virtues creating product cartoon characters, brand cartoons and mascots could be an excellent approach - The expressions of a character who says it all without having to essentially speak. In today's time when technology is so advanced, man has become a machine; this human aspect is almost invisible. Work pressure and stress have led to the deterioration of the mind and body. It is very important to have an element of humor to be present in life. Cartoon logos bring about that human touch in day to day life. One tends to stop and think for a while that life is not all about work, there is need to be play and fun along the way.

Once a thought is depicted through this medium, people are motivated by curiosity and are inspired to gather more information. No other way is more effective than a funny thought that can initiate a spark to bring about a change for the welfare of the people.

A company should, besides developing a cartoon logo consider drawing illustrations, cartoon characters and mascots to enforce their brand message and company philosophy.

Generally cartoon logo is customized by experienced artists, illustrators and cartoonists. These artists could both be freelancers or working for a graphic design company or even a website design and development company.

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Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/technology-articles/importance-of-cartoon-logos-in-your-business-66913.html

Funny Cartoon How to Draw Cartoon

Author: Cartoonist

Cartoons are a fun to read and watch. In the same way, cartoons are a fun to draw. Hard to believe? But it is absolutly true.
Seeing our favorite cartoon characters, playing, enjoying, having fun on the screen, we have all wished to draw them on our books, copies, walls and wherever possible. We have all been searching for an answer to "how to draw cartoons?". Well, here is the answer.

You need not be a professional artist, you need not get special classes on how to draw cartoon characters, all you need is the desire to learn to draw cartoons.

The easiest method of cartoon drawing is distortion. As the name suggests, it refers to drawing things disproportionately.For-ex, the head and feet are drawn disproportionately to give a comic effect. This effect is very impressive and attracts many and renders a formal drawing into a cartoon all by itself.

Remember, every drawing starts with a few simple shapes - circles, lines etc - don't try to add any detail until you are done with the outline. If you are not a seasoned cartoon artist, you will confuse yourself with the details. Therefore, it is recommended to add details, after you are finished with the outline.

With a little practice you will find you can draw just about anything!


The conclusion is everyone can draw cartoon, I can draw cartoon YOU can draw cartoon. I was learn this methode from Lou Darvas. If you want to learn cartoon you can visit my web site at http://www.cartoonsdrawingsecrets.com

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/visual-art-articles/funny-cartoon-how-to-draw-cartoon-494667.html

Tuesday 5 August 2008

A Look at the Ways That Japanese Animators and Storytellers Use Japanese Cartoon Art

Author: Muna wa Wanjiru

Japanese cartoon art can provide people with an insight into the culture of Japan. You will see these cartoon arts in many different places. These places will range from venues like cartoons on the television to that of the DVD game credits. In each of these Japanese cartoon art pictures you will find the heart of people looking out at you.

The best place for you to see different aspects of Japanese cartoon art is in the various Manga comics. Here you can see the beauty that is part of the comic story. While the colors are part of what makes these art pictures look so alive, it is the depth of feelings which can be seen with the facial expressions, the arm movements and the way that the entire body looks that brings these cartoons alive.

Another way that Japanese cartoon art has a more lifelike look is by the way the colors are used to denote emotions. For instance you will find that anger is shown by a red face and cheeks that seem to be bursting out. The other items which you will see to provide emotional response in Japanese cartoon art is the way the eyes are portrayed.

Unlike other cartoon art the eyes of the various Japanese cartoon art forms are detailed to show the different emotions that are a part of living. While seeing these details are a good way to feel the depth and range of emotions there are many other things which are going on behind these main characters.

In order to really understand the beauty of Japanese cartoon art you should look at one of the anime or manga desktop drawings. Here you will see the vibrant colors or subtle shadings of black and white pictures. Sometimes there will be one than one picture found on the desktop picture.

You will also see how the colors that are used in the Japanese cartoon art blend together. Since these are reasons why you can see movement in otherwise still drawings this may explain why people love watching and reading comics and anime shows that show lots of great Japanese cartoon art.

As you look at the ways that Japanese animators and storytellers use Japanese cartoon art you will be able to appreciate the subtle lines that show the tale. In each of these art forms you will see how far these Japanese cartoon art can take animation to the next level.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/visual-art-articles/a-look-at-the-ways-that-japanese-animators-and-storytellers-use-japanese-cartoon-art-308762.html

Monday 4 August 2008

How to Letter your Cartoons

Author: Chris Haycock

The usual term for the spaces in which spoken words are contained in cartoons is a "balloon". This is so called whatever the actual shape of the space. Lettering in a cartoon is an important feature, and it is well worth studying a few simple rules to make your cartoons look professional and easy to read.

Firstly your letters should be very plain and simple. Compare them to the use of Arial or Helvetica typestyles in printing, or on the web. These two styles are among the most popular because of their plain, non fussy style, and are pretty easy to read in most sizes. So, avoid fancy flourishes and curlicues, and capital letters should be the rule rather than the exception.

You do not need much space between your letters in a balloon, but on the other hand do not crowd your letters and words. Make all your letters vertical, and avoid mixing slanting (italic) letters with vertical.

For the sake of neatness do not attempt to letter without first drawing some faint parallel guidelines, sketch the letters in lightly with pencil before inking. A good tip is to cut slots in the form of parallel guidelines out of a piece of thin card. A standard business card is ideal. Cut out two or three of these for letters of different heights. Use a pen whose point has become blunted with use for lettering. A new broad-nibbed pen may be used, but never a new fine pointed pen.

When you are lettering your cartoons, you should bear in mind that all drawings intended for publication, with rare exceptions, will be reduced in size before the printing process. Usually your drawing will be reduced by one half, although occasionally it will be a little more or less. So an original drawing of four by four inches will appear as a two by two inch drawing.

The smallest type generally in use in newspapers and magazines is six point type, that is six seventy-seconds of an inch in height. So you can see that in a half reduction scenario you should be drawing your letters no less than twelve point type in size, or twelve seventy-seconds of an inch. If the reduction is to be a bit less than a half then your letters should be drawn about an eighth of an inch high. Smaller type may be used sometimes , but it is always better to err on the side of safety and make your letters slightly too big, rather than too small.

If you cut the slots in your card to these guidelines you won't go far wrong. You will never be thought the worse of (quite the opposite in fact, it shows professionalism) if you ask the paper or magazine you wish to submit to what reduction they usually use. Finally don't forget that it is easier to sketch your words with pencil before inking. You can easily make changes which will not be noticeable, using a good quality eraser prior to inking.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/art-and-entertainment-articles/how-to-letter-your-cartoons-324195.html

Sunday 3 August 2008

Johnny Bravo Cartoon Characters

Author: Craig Rad

There is only one thing that is larger than Johnny's muscles - his ego. This is, in fact, the main theme of the Johnny Bravo cartoon series - Johnny's ego gets the main character into all sorts of adventures and problems. As stated on Wikipedia - It is popularly believed that Johnny's name came from Greg Brady's stage name from an episode of The Brady Bunch, and it is possible that creator Van Partible was influenced by this source. However, in an interview that aired on Cartoon Network prior to the debut of Johnny Bravo as an ongoing series, Partible stated that Johnny Bravo was a derivation of his full given name, Giovanni Bravissimo Partible.

Johnny often proves that he is his own biggest enemy, whether he is facing a mighty foe or in his attempt to look cool with the ladies. While he still lives with his mother, Bunny Bravo and has a nerdy friend (Carl) and an annoying next door neighbor (Little Suzie), Johnny is never out of inspiration when it comes to meeting and seducing the ladies.

Johnny Bravo - dressed in black with cool sunglasses, muscular and confident, with a blond hair that stands out from the crowd, you'd think Johnny Bravo is quite a ladies man. He thinks the same about him.. the only problem is that he is too confident in his own presence (by the way, he still lives with his mom). Johnny thinks he is the ultimate chick magnet and this often leads to all sorts of weird complications. Johnny Bravo's pick up lines are priceless.

Bunny Bravo - Johnny's mother is an energetic and enthusiastic woman, always ready to help her son out. However, each of her interventions lead to disastrous results. Bunny Bravo is the typical portray of a mom that wants only the best things for her son.

Little Suzie - the 8-year old next door neighbor has a little crush on Johnny Bravo. She seems to have the ability to pop up at the worst possible times for our Elvis-look-alike cartoon star.

Carl - a few years back, Johnny Bravo and Carl were best friends. They were both nerds, and Carl still is one today. Quite often, Carl manages to get the girl by simply speaking out the truth and showing his personality, a fact which drives Johnny Bravo the hunk completely crazy.

Pops - the owner of Pops Soda is a good friend of Johnny's, always being there for him with advice and help.

The Johhny Bravo cartoon series proves that even grown up topics such as dating or certain ways of behaving can be adapted to a kid's program.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/art-and-entertainment-articles/johnny-bravo-cartoon-characters-109680.html

Saturday 2 August 2008

Cow and Chicken Cartoon Characters

Author: Craig Rad

Cow and Chicken manage to go through a huge variety of situations, and luckily for Chicken, Cow can always become her alter ego, Super Cow, and save the day.

The cartoon characters are very lively and well defined in Cow and Chicken: besides the two main "cartoon stars" we also have Mom and Dad, the waist-down-only parents, the ever-competing I.R. Baboon and I.M. Weasel and Flem and Earl, Chicken's best friends. Let's not forget Red Guy, the villain without underwear.

Cow and Chicken characters

Cow - she is a 7 year old mature cow with the spirit of a young girl. Cow adores her brother, Chicken, and is always there accompanying him in his adventures. Cow loves her family and often saves the day by becoming the Spanish-speaking Super Cow.

Chicken - there's anything he would do not to be called chicken. This is why he accepts any sort of dare, no matter how dangerous or insane it sounds. However, he is, after all, only a chicken, so he often has to ask for help from Cow when the situation gets too rough.

Mom and Dad - only seen from the waist down, Mom and Dad take good care of Cow and Chicken. They regularly provide them with strange but succulent food items. In a conflict, Mom and Dad tend to side with Cow, which makes Chicken even more frustrated.

I.M. Weasel - you'd be surprised to see that I.M. Weasel is the exact opposite of what you would expect a weasel to be like. Dignified and mature, I.M. Weasel manages to come out as a winner no matter what the circumstances are like. Cow and Chicken often cross paths with the intelligent weasel whose answer to many things is self-explanatory: I am Weasel.

I.R. Baboon - always trying to be better than I.M. Weasel, I.R. Baboon is let down by his stupidity and infantile speech style. In his quest for glory, I.R. Baboon only manages to make I.M. Weasel look even better.

Red Guy - the villain of the Cow and Chicken cartoon series, Red Guy has many incarnations, but never seems to be able to wear any pants.

Flem and Earl - Chicken's best buddies, Flem and Earl make their feathered friend look smart by comparison. Together with Chicken, Flem and Earl get into all sorts of trouble throughout their adventures.

More information and photos of Cow and Chicken, I.M. Weasel, I. R. Baboon and other "Cow and Chicken" characters will be added here soon, so remember to bookmark this page and revisit.

Voice Actors and their characters

Charles Adler: Cow, Chicken, The Red Guy and I.R. Baboon
Dee Bradley Baker: Dad
Candi Milo: Mom and Teacher
Howard Morris: Flem
Dan Castellaneta: Earl
Michael Dorn: I.M. Weasel

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/art-and-entertainment-articles/cow-and-chicken-cartoon-characters-102622.html

Friday 1 August 2008

Manga, Anime, and Animanga

Author: qaswer
Comics are very popular since a long time ago but in these days Comics are going beyond comics. A few times back I was not familiar with Manga or Anime at all but this genre fascinated me. Comics are very popular among children and kids but amazingly Japanese Comics “manga” and “anime” (I am going to explain difference between Anime and Manga ) get attentions of people with elder age group because Animanga has many flavors. www.mangahunter.com is the place which fascinates me most and it is a cool place to know something about Anime, Manga and Animanga.

Basics of Manga, Anime, and Animanga
It is so simple to explain “Manga is Japanese equivalent of Comics and I found nothing simpler than that. I listened and read about “Manga Cartoons” and people often say so. Anime is Japanese equivalent of cartoons so we can say Japanese Comics Cartoons “Animanga.
As we know about these terms, Manga, Anime, and Animanga, let’s take it further. World outside Japan believe and say that every Cartoon from Japan is Anime. At some extent it is absolutely right to get rid of Anime jargon. Most often Anime relates to Manga. Manga is a comic (Pure Japanese Comic) and the writer is known as “Mangaka”.
Regarding Anime, most often it prevails over Arcs. Arcs can have one or two seasons and each season can has 25-30 episodes. Rather than having episodes in single Anime is released in OVA (Original Video Animation) and it has 2 or more than two episodes.

Different Genres of Manga for different age groups
Anime can be simplified or described in Comedy, Romance, Action, Mecha, Bishonen and Bishojo (Bi in Japanese is used for cute or girls so both of these Animes relate to girls).Manga can be classified into two categories in a simple way, Manga for adults and Manga for youths. For younger groups, there are some targeted at young girls, called the 'shoujo' manga, and others targeted at young boys, called the 'shounen' manga. It can be classified further in mysterious and adventurous. Manga for youths can also be classified into core boys or girls Manga featuring boys or girls respectively.
Another popular genre is ahem and it is adult anime and Manga. As it is Adult to it can be called pornographic and erotic types of manga and anime. Ecchi and Hentai are the pornographic and erotic types of manga and anime. Within that Yaoi and Yuri are homosexual content, yaoi for male homosexual content, and yuri for female homosexual content. www.mangahunter.com is an absolutely right place to find manga and anime stuff according to your taste.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/art-and-entertainment-articles/manga-anime-and-animanga-363553.html

Thursday 31 July 2008

The Beauty and Vibrant Colors That you Will See on the Manga Wallpapers Will Brighten your Day

Author: Muna wa Wanjiru
The term Manga refers to the popular comic series that many people in Japan read. Some of these comics have been transformed into anime shows that bring the beauty and action of these popular series into the lives of people who are living far from Japan. For the many lovers of Manga there is the chance of having your favorite characters being placed on your computer’s desktop. The quality of the Manga wallpapers that you will find will allow you to enjoy these pictures for as long as you want.

The main thing that you need to remember with these different Manga wallpapers is that you have a wide selection of sites that you can look at. Some of these will have descriptions of the anime scenes and characters that are found on these sites. Others will not have any such information.

As you look at these different Manga wallpapers you will see the different sizes that you can choose to have these wallpapers downloaded from. While this information may be present in some anime and Manga wallpaper sites you should see how you can get the picture that you want on to your computer.

There are some sites when you access the thumbnail size picture, you will be able to see how the full sized picture looks. This will provide you with a better idea of whether you should download this chosen picture or if you want to look at several different Manga series.

In these sites you will have a small button that you can click on. This link will allow you the chance to download your Manga wallpapers with ease. As you go through these many sites for Manga wallpapers you will see that choosing the type of Manga is easy as these comics are given to you in alphabetical order.

Once you see the name of the Manga that you want, your next step is to click on the name. This will then take you to the site link where you will get to see different and in some cases several to a dozen pictures of the available Manga wallpapers for that particular name. Once you have chosen to download the various Manga wallpapers that you want to your computer the only item that is left for you to do is to choose which one you want to see on your desktop.

The beauty and vibrant colors that you will see on the Manga wallpapers will brighten your day. For the lovers of Manga comics these wallpapers are the best way to see the comic characters that you want. With Manga wallpapers your favorite comic characters are all ready to make your day spectacular.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/visual-art-articles/the-beauty-and-vibrant-colors-that-you-will-see-on-the-manga-wallpapers-will-brighten-your-day-308765.html

Wednesday 30 July 2008

Baby Looney Tunes Cartoons Still Amazing

Author: Craig Rad

Even from this early age, Bugs is still a cool bunny, Daffy is always self-centered and Tweety is even sweeter than as an adult. The Baby Looney Tunes cartoon series is a very interesting adaptation of the original Looney Tunes idea. By going back in time, all your favorite Looney Tunes characters gain even more charm and charisma, as babies discovering the world around them.

Baby Bugs Bunny - although he is not yet the confident and always on top bunny we got used to, Bugs already has the qualities that will make him a star in the future. The natural leader features characteristic to Bugs Bunny are still uncertain with baby Bugs, but his adventures teach him how to enjoy the good life.

Baby Daffy - although baby Daffy learns a lesson with each new type of trouble he causes, he is still the source of most problems for the Looney Tunes gang. Even though he isn't even out of diapers, baby Daffy wants everything to go his way.

Lola - she is always out there to prove something, both to herself and the rest of her friends. Baby Lola is a big dreamer and is the most emotional of the Looney Tunes group.

Sylvester - always hungry for something childhood has to offer, Sylvester the baby cat is often frustrated with things around him. This is why he uses his baby cunningness to get thing going in his favor.

Tweety - sweet and honest, Tweety represents the very spirit of childhood. She is empathic with everyone else's problems and has a kind and caring soul. Tweety is optimistic and dreams big, and this makes her one of the most adorable Looney Tunes characters.

Taz - this little tornado is easily distracted by anything moving around him. Although his speech is underdeveloped and funny, he has a kind heart and quite often a goofy behavior.

Granny - she allows the Baby Looney Tunes characters to develop and grow at their own pace, but she also looks out for them with a caring grandma attitude.

As stated on Wikipedia, the show premiered on WB stations usually before or after Kids' WB! on September 14, 2002. The show is similar to Muppet Babies, with the main characters taken care of by Granny.

The series officially ended on April 20, 2005, but a made-for-TV movie called Oh, Max is planned for release in summer 2007 and will serve as the series finale.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/art-and-entertainment-articles/baby-looney-tunes-cartoons-still-amazing-101484.html

Friday 13 June 2008

Download Prince of Tennis Episodes

Author: Rajdeep Brar
Attention: I mean be ready to download TV episodes! Now just download your favorite episodes from television. You download all episodes of television when you become a member and It’s is too simple, when you become member then you can download and of course watch online any TV show on this site. This site gives you all episodes of every show of TV. So first of all what you want to download? Confuse!! Yeah this will happened but don’t mind I suggest you that which one. Because I am a big fen of TV episodes. Which one is your favorite episode on TV.wait I guess I think The Prince of Tennis of course I am huge fen of this show this is my favorite. But I know that all people like different-different TV shows so which one your favorite? You can download that but first of all you will register in this website. After then you can download episodes.well, according me price of tennis is one of the favorite for me because this is animated and too beautiful show mostly Allen who play tennis every time and who called prince of tennis world. Do you interested in TV show. Do you want to download TV show? Which show is your favorite, if yes then don’t mind don’t go anywhere because I just bring for you, all TV show online and you can download all the episodes in your PC, and this is very simple. So don’t waste your precocious time and get TV show online.

The Prince of Tennis is popular show this is anime show and I like it too. Just look short summery about Prince of Tennis. Prince of Tennis is a popular manga and anime series. The manga is written by Takeshi Konomi, who has also written a manga called Cool. The manga is published in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump in Japan, and is published in English in North America by VIZ Media. And all people like it they say it’s amazing show on TV world. The series was put under hiatus when the author was injured in an accident during the summer of 2006, but publication resumed in September 2006, after a hiatus of slightly over two months. Just bit late publication of the prince of tennis but not too late.

The anime series, produced by Trans Arts Co., J.C. Staff, Production I.G, premiered across Japan on the anime satellite television network Animax and the terrestrial TV Tokyo network, airing between October 10, 2001 and March 30, 2005, spanning a total of 178 episodes. Beginning in April, 2006 an OVA continuation of the anime began to be released on DVD. But now not only DVD you can watch it online on internet. I mean from this site. And enjoy every show which shows you want. So what you thinking. Yeah some summery is pending for you. So also read it.The series has produced a half-hour weekly radio show, over 100 music CDs, several games, movies, multiple live-action musicals and a large selection of merchandise. On 13 May 2006 the live-action adaptation film, The Prince of Tennis, was released in Japan. And after releasing it’s famous in the world. When I sow the first episodes of this show I feel, this is amazing show. So friends don’t be forget to watch it but here I want to say,” watch it from here”, I mean do download it and. watch price of tennis TV show online.

The Prince of Tennis anime has been announced to be a part of Cartoon Network's new online broadband service called Toonami Jetstream. It began streaming July 14, 2006. The anime began airing on Toonami's Saturday night block on December 23rd.Tenisu is prince of tennis he is the hero of this series I like it too. And all character is also good of this show. Well, this is a brief summery of prince of tennis. And I think you all like it. And this is the time to download prince of tennis episode. So go this website and download price of tennis and also other show. From this website you can download episodes. You need to visit to download all the prince of tennis episodes is a simple to use website. When you become a member, after then you can get every knowledge about this. Which is the cost about 1 DVD episode.then you can download full the the prince of tennis episodes you like. So doesn’t waist you precocious time on the front of TV you can get prince of tennis for free download.

So after you have searched the file you want, you will need to download it to your pc. This is very easy, and should only take a few minutes. This will depend on your internet connection. But if you internet connection is slow then you also download episode.with some much time.

Anyway, after it has been downloaded to your PC, you can transfer it to a DVD and keep it forever. Otherwise, you will be able to transfer it to your I pod, Zune or any other hand held system.

So after read this you definitely want to download free episodes of prince of tennis. And am sure you too excited to register yourself in this website. I make it only for your entertainment everyone can download episodes. Enjoy all and download with your choice. make sure you visit today.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/television-articles/download-prince-of-tennis-episodes-350059.html

Thursday 12 June 2008

2 Ways to Keep it Cool as You Learn How to Speak Japanese

Author: Paul Brown
Listen, if you are the brave person who has chosen to study Japanese you are taking the path less trodden regarding languages and choosing a less commonly learned language will stand out on your resume and will set you apart from the crowd. Congratulations and more power to you! However, learning Japanese can be challenging and if you are feeling overwhelmed, do not be discouraged. Learning to speak fluent Japanese, will give you direct access and insight into the terminology used in these 2 cool Japanese activities that will keep your learning and knowledge of Japanese fresh and interesting.

Join a Japanese martial art school. There are many different schools ranging from Jujutsu to Aikido to choose from. Not only will you get in great physical shape and learn self-defense, but this will also help you to learn Japanese fast because you will be using the terminology associated with your marital art. How many of us have or had our children enrolled in martial arts? And the reason we did was because the practice of martial art is a way of life that encompasses the physical, spiritual and moral discipline with a focus on self-improvement and personal growth. Child or no child, learning a Japanese martial art is a good thing. And who knows? You may make a new friend or two.

If martial arts are not your cup of tea, you could check out other Japanese art forms such as Japanese film, animations or comic books. Anime animations and Manga comic books are everywhere and are made for youth and adults alike. Anime and Manga have many genres typically found in any mass media form. Such genres include action, adventure, comedy, drama, medieval fantasy, horror, romance, and science fiction. Manga books are readily available at specialty bookstores or at major bookstore chains such as Chapters. Anime DVDs series or movies such as Spirited Away, Ghost In The Shell 2: Innocence plus many more are also readily available in DVD stores or you can download or watch Anime for free online. Or how about some Japanese horror (also known as J-Horror) films which were commercial hits remade in English such as Ringu, Kairo, Dark Water, Yogen, or the Grudge series? You can watch these in their original Japanese version and do not forget the popcorn! These are cool activities to do with your friends and family as you learn how to speak Japanese.

These activities hand-in-hand with an excellent Japanese course will surely be able to make your learning less tedious or abstract. When you incorporate your learning with real-life activities, you will improve your retention, comprehension and verbal skills for Japanese thus making your path to learn how to speak Japanese shorter and more enjoyable.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/languages-articles/2-ways-to-keep-it-cool-as-you-learn-how-to-speak-japanese-380687.html

Wednesday 11 June 2008

Naruto Episodes

Author: Henry Hsieh
The popular Shonen Anime series, “Naruto” is based on the equally popular shonen manga with the same title that was written by Masashi Kishimoto. It is produced by Studio Pierrot and aired in several networks worldwide, including animax and TV Tokyo. The Anime started airing on October 3, 2002. However, as the manga went through a ‘time-skip’, so too did the anime. On February 8, 2007, part 1 of the series was officially concluded and was soon followed by part 2 which was called Naruto ‘Shippuden’ which started officially on February 15, 2007. The series is still ongoing up until now, airing a new episode almost every Thursday.

Naruto: Part 1

The first part of the anime series, Naruto, starts when the main characters are all 12-year old genins (Genin is the lowest rank for a ninja). Part 1 is composed of 9 seasons all in all. Part 1 starts with a brief explanation of the plot and the introduction of the main characters. It starts off light but becomes more serious towards the end of the first season where the group encounters strong enemies named Haku and Zabuza. It is here that the greatness of the series is elucidated because this is the part where Masashi Kishimoto’s prowess for blending humor with drama and action is first shown. After that comes the Chuunin exams, where more characters are introduced and many fights scenes are shown. The plot thickens in the heat of the Chuunin exams, however, as one of the series’ main antagonists, Orochimaru, is introduced. After which, some light is shed on the mysterious past of Uchiha Sasuke through the return of his brother, Uchiha Itachi, who is revealed to be Sasuke’s last living relative. Itachi’s return triggers a series of events that lead to Sasuke’s defection against Konoha which ultimately leads to his joining Orochimaru and become an antagonist himself. Kakashi’s Team 7 breaks up at this point, with Jiraiya taking Naruto in for training and Sakura asking Tsunade to train her too. Supposedly, this would introduce the start of Part 2. Unfortunately, by this time, the anime has caught up too much to the manga and had to show several filler episodes just to balance the time, much to the dismay of the fans.

Naruto: Part 2

The second part of Naruto is called Naruto Shippuden. Naruto and the crew are now two and a half years older. Shippuden starts with a teaser episode, showing a sneak preview of the fated reunion of Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke, a.k.a Team 7. The preview stops just before revealing a pivotal point in the plot and shifts to the true start of Shippuden which is Naruto’s return to Konoha after his training with Jiraiya. Shortly after the start comes the Rescue Gaara Arc which has the team battling Akatsuki. After which comes the formation of the new team Kakashi. The new team Kakashi then heads out in efforts to capture the spy or Kabuto. During this transition, they meet a surprising character which in many ways shocked the team. With new and improved abilities demonstrated both from the villains and good. The current Naruto Episode revolves around the team’s efforts to bring Sasuke back to Konoha.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/television-articles/naruto-episodes-282851.html

Tuesday 10 June 2008

What’s Hot for Kids Online?

Author: Ajay R (articlesubmit.net)
The internet knows no bounds and this applies to all users – adults and children alike. There are plenty of websites that are great for businesses or for adult use, but what about the offerings for kids? Just like toys, trends on the web change for kids, and what is hot now may be very different than what your child was playing just a few months ago.

Role Playing
One of the largest trends in online games is the huge number of role playing games. Children have the opportunity to plan scaled down versions of MMORPG classics like World of Warcraft and Star Wars. Kids develop a character and then take that character through a series of activities or missions. There are a large variety of these games for both girls and boys, with some overlap, but not much.

These games are actually rather good, assuming they are not playing anything too violent. The thinking and strategy involved in many of them is educational, and working with others in teams or guilds can help problem solving and build collaboration skills.

Coloring Pages
Coloring books are rather blasé. The way to color in 2007 is online. Websites such as The Doll Palace offer many coloring pages created from the dolls available on the website and that have been uploaded by other users. These coloring pages range from simple application of predetermined colors to a more complex color palette that allows your little artist to be as creative and detailed as she would like. Once the coloring pages are complete, they can be saved, shared or printed out to be proudly displayed on the refrigerator.

Anime
Anime is another popular internet offering. Anime style cartoons and the accompanying manga is gaining popularity with children at a very rapid pace. Unfortunately, anime and manga are not yet entirely mainstreamed on television or in the bookstore (although they are getting that way.) Kids who enjoy reading the Japanese style cartoons or watching the Japanese style artwork can find plenty online. Parents should help screen the series their child is reading or watching as both anime and manga are very mainstream in Japan – including with adult audiences.

Thinking Games
Games that involve no thought just shooting or the like still exist online, but kids of today appreciate a greater challenge. Games that involve thinking through problems or even math and science are becoming more popular. Creating roller coasters or complex lines that animated characters can ride are growing in popularity and the greater the challenge, the more the child is learning from their choice of entertainment.

With all things online, it is important for parents to sit down with their child to see what sort of websites they prefer to visit. While there may be questionable content on the internet, the online world as a whole is not a dangerous place. Just like anything else, parents must give their children the right amount of guidance and instruction to allow them room to grow and learn while keeping them safe.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/whats-hot-for-kids-online-194333.html

Monday 9 June 2008

Dragon Ball Movie Is Now Busting Out The Box Office

Author: Dror Klar
Fans of the hit anime Dragon Ball will soon get their long held wish courtesy of 20th Century Fox and if it goes off without a hitch, it will be in theaters around the beginning of summer 2008. What are we talking about?

A live action, English movie based off of the hit manga and anime series that has swept Japan and the United States since the 1980's when it was first developed by Akira Toriyama. The series has spawned two additional TV shows since its debut, including Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball GT, and numerous card and video games.

Up and coming actor Justin Chatwin, who appeared in War of the World, will end up getting to play Son Goku and the villain of the series will be played by James Marsters, who appears as Spike from the TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

The movie will follow the story of the alien Goku who, like so many superpowered beings these days, it seems, gets sent to the Earth to take it over. Like Superman, he changes his mind once he discovers what his species intent for him was and decides that he will not only live on the planet as a normal person, but also protect it from other aliens who seek to take it over.

When the series debuted in Japan as a manga, it was mainly seen as a comedy/fantasy series, since the first 134 chapters of the series were filled with all kinds of humor, even if some of it would be considered a little crude for American child audiences, such as humor involving women's panties.

When it was released into the United States, some name changes were in order, since the name of one character was Mr.Satan and since it was seen as a children's series, it was changed to Hercules. Alcohol, sexual innuendoes, and drugs were also edited out of the series.

All in all, we are not sure what to expect from a live action Dragon Ball movie in the United States. It is known that children and adults alike will flock to see the movie, but the content of the film, other than a very likely PG-13 rating, is currently unknown.

It is not likely to be as censored as the Dragon Ball manga was when it was released in the United States, but in order to keep its roots intact, there is likely to be a fair amount of objectionable content that some parents may not want their smaller children to see.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/art-and-entertainment-articles/dragon-ball-movie-is-now-busting-out-the-box-office-269207.html

Sunday 8 June 2008

Stop Through Alicante On Your Way To Murcia

Author: Peter Wilson
When you are looking at a map of Spain you can find the Autonomous Province of Murica quite easily because it touches borders with Alicante. When you are in the region you will recognize the beautiful of area of Murica because of the amazing scenery, which include the salt swamps of San Pedro del Pinatar. This area is not to be missed. You should also make sure you visit nearby Torrevieja while you are on your trip.

The capital of Murcia is also known as Murcia. Within the province you can find the Mar Menor or small sea which is separated from the Mediterranean by an area of land call Manga, which is a literal translation from the Spanish word manga which means sleeve. It is called this because the area of land looks a sleeve of a shirt. This area curves around and leaves you with a view of the city of Cartagena. You should also check out the town of Aguilas if you get the chance, which has amazing beaches. The summers are hot in this part of Spain and you can expect temperatures of up to 40 degrees high. The winters are lovely though because they are short and mild. The land in this region is fertile and many luscious fruits and vegetables are grown in this area.

You can catch an easy flight into the San Javier airport, which is only 30 minutes away from Murcia and very close to the Manga located in the Mar Menor. You could also fly into Alicante to the airport called Altet which will leave you about 40 minutes away from Murcia proper. Once you arrive in town you can check into a comfy hotel and soak up the culture and architecture followed by some delicious wining and dining in the evening.

One of the first sights to see is the beautiful Cathedral, which was built and added to between the 14th and 18th century. This means that more than five different centuries of architecture are all represented in this one cathedral. You can see Baroque influences in the door of Pardon, Gothic influences in the Chapel of Velez, Renaissance influences in the chapel of Junteron as well as the beautiful 96-meter tower adorned with 25 bells.

You can visit the Sanctuary of Fuensanta, which celebrates the patron saint of Murcia. Every Easter and during the Murcia summer festival there is a procession of statue of this saint from the sanctuary to the cathedral that is full of devoted worshipers and tourists alike.

You can organize your trip to Murcia around two great festivals that are of major interest to tourists and locals. Easter week in Murcia is a pageantry of processions. You can also visit during the spring festivals to enjoy more local color. There are music festivals during the summer such as the Sea of Music festival. You can be assured that there will be great musical performers every year.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/stop-through-alicante-on-your-way-to-murcia-91546.html

Saturday 7 June 2008

Naruto as an Anime

Author: Engr. Philip Solomon Cahayag

Naruto is an anime and manga series created by Masashi Kishimoto centered around a loud, hyperactive, young ninja who is in a constant search for both approval and recognition, and with a great aspiration to become Hokage. First published as a manga series in Japan by Shueisha in the 43rd issue of Shonen Jump magazine in November 1999, the Naruto series has risen in popularity exponentially and has since been licensed in the USA (becoming VIZ Media's top selling title) and nearly two dozen other countries, with the anime series currently airing in 18 countries.

Twelve years before the start of the series, a Kyuubi (nine-tailed fox demon) attacked the Hidden Leaf Village. A swing of one of it's mighty tails could raise tsunamis and flatten mountains, chaos reigned throughout the village as it killed many people, until the leader of the Leaf, the Fourth Hokage, defeated it by sacrificing his own life to seal the demon inside a new born child, that child is Uzumaki Naruto. The Fourth Hokage would forever be celebrated as a hero for sealing the Kyuubi and saving the entire village. It was his wish that Naruto would also be respected in the same way he would be, however, this was not the case. Everybody in the village avoided Naruto, regarding him as nothing more than the evil demon fox. The Third Hokage made it a rule within the village that other villagers were forbidden from mentioning this event to anyone, even their own children, however because of the way their parents treated Naruto, they mistreated him as well throughout most of his childhood.

More on anime can be found here:
http://www.animewallpaperz.net

Friday 6 June 2008

Metal Gear Solid 4 Guns of the Patriots - Technology and Plot Holes?

Author: IC
A battlefield you can find anywhere, anytime / No place to hide - this is how Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (MGS4) is described. Hideo Kojima, Shujo Murata and Yoji Shinkawa are the producers, directors and writers of the game. If you have read mecha mangas or seen futuristic anime series such as: Ghost in the Shell, GANTZ, Saikano, Gundam Seed, Evangelion or Code Geass you will definitively be able to correlate those series to this game. MGS4 fuses several elements in this futuristic war game, artificial intelligence, self-aware combat units much like the Tachikomas of GITS and machines which combined look a lot like the final form of Chise in Saikano (The beauty and the beast unit)

Metal Gear Solid 4 is unlike any other war game you have played until now, it stands alone because the concept has only been seen in Japanese animations and not in video games. Half-Life 2 is the only game which has some similitudes to this game because it is also pretty futuristic, but in MGS4 the player must face several commandos with the aid of other AI combat units.

The main character of the game "Old Snake" a genetically engineered soldier is sent to the Middle East by Roy Campbell in order to terminate Liquid Ocelot, a man who operates Outer Heaven which at the same time controls the five largest private military companies (PCMs) that fight wars for business purposes. As you see the plot is quite complex as there are several proxies which control organizations and combat units, so it may be natural to feel a bit disoriented as far as knowing what's going on in the game. Some gamers argue that there might be some plot holes as far as knowing who has stronger dominant genes, Ocelot, Solidus or Snake.

The technology used by Old Snake has been improved from previous versions and incorporates elements seen in Ghost in the Shell such as optical camouflage called "octocamo" which allows the player to blend with any surface, a new "solid eye" replaces the binoculars which were used in previous versions and provide greater details of the terrain and enemy. High-tech devices and war is what this game is all about so you will see a lot of items which may look familiar if you are a manga/anime fan.

Those players who are new to this game will not be lost since MGS4 provides a recap of the events that happened in previous versions of the game which hold crucial information in order to understand what's going on, the recap includes scenes from Metal Gear Solid 1, 2 and 3. MGS4 is a game which has carved a niche of its own when it comes to futuristic wars.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/technology-articles/metal-gear-solid-4-guns-of-the-patriots-technology-and-plot-holes-360964.html

Thursday 5 June 2008

Choosing a Gift Book for a Child

Author: Celia Webb
Books make wonderful gifts, but it can be hard to select the right book. As publishers of children’s books, we are often asked for advice on selecting a book for a birthday or holiday gift. Here are suggestions about how to select the perfect book to give to your niece, nephew, friend’s child, or grandchild.

1. Knowing age and gender does help. Now we know you may not remember exactly how old the child was at their last birthday, but being in the ballpark is useful. If the child is preschool age, you will choose different material than if they are in high school. Also, if you don’t see the child often enough to know about their interests, knowing whether you are choosing a book for a boy or girl can help define what type of book will be welcome.

2. Talk with the child’s parents. Ask about the child’s current interests, activities, or hobbies. Books related to what a child is doing make great gifts. You can find books specifically about the topic or books which incorporate the topic as part of a story. For instance, if the child is fascinated by snakes, you could choose a scientifically–oriented book with pictures and information about snakes or you could choose a story book featuring a snake.

3. Be sensitive to family values. Make your gift a happy addition to the family rather than a bone of contention. The most common issue is religious content. Most parents we talk to do not want books for their children which press any particular religious point of view. We have heard this from people of all faith backgrounds. Other content on which you would want to understand the parents’ position, or simply avoid, include level of violence, sexual content, and sexual orientation. These all tend to be areas which require a certain level of maturity to deal with and parents will know best whether their child is ready to deal with content like this.

4. If you have no clue, there are some topic areas that most children enjoy. Humor, fairy tales, and animal stories have broad appeal. Our experience indicates that Japanese manga (comic books) are very popular in urban areas of the US right now, but not nearly as welcome in rural areas. Manga varies wildly in content from “great for kids” to “strictly for adults”. Pay attention to what you select.

5. Ask for help. Bookstores often have a bookseller who manages the children’s book collection. This person is a valuable resource about the most popular books. They also will often know what choices might work for your situation. Having followed the tips above, you should be able to provide the bookseller with enough information for them to come up with several recommendations. Librarians are another good resource.

6. “Tweeners” are a challenge. There are lots of books for young children and lots of books for adults, but the in-between years of 10 to 15 years old can present something of a challenge. The books for young children are too childish for these budding adults, but the books for adults tend to have strong thematic elements which aren’t appropriate to this age. Our best advice for this group is to buy classics. Authors like Robert Louis Stevenson, Jane Austen, or Mark Twain, the Nancy Drew or the Hardy Boy series are all good possibilities. Writers from previous eras presented material differently.

Using these suggestions, you’ll find great books to give to the children on your gift list.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/shopping-articles/choosing-a-gift-book-for-a-child-335440.html

Wednesday 4 June 2008

Anime Video Downloads – Free or Paid?

Author: Davion W
Anime video downloads for Japanese cartoons like Naruto, Evangelion, Sailor Moon, Doraemon are much sought after by manga and cartoon fans. While these are normally screened in Japan over TV, the teens and even young adults around the world are getting fascinated with these anime series. Since they are not able to watch them via TV broadcasts, they are buying up anime VCDs and DVDs. With anime video downloads made available nowadays either for free or for a fee, here is a quick discussion on both free and paid options.

Free Services to Download Anime Videos

Fans have been downloading free videos for a while now at P2P networks. It is not totally problem free of course. Users have complained about the videos being incomplete with scenes cut and viruses, spyware and adware are often downloaded together with the video files. The performance of their PCs goes down as a result.

On top of P2P networks, you can also find anime videos at fan sites. They are not exactly free as we would soon realize. Similar to peer-to-peer, your videos may have missing or skipped episodes. Tell me which fan likes to watch an incomplete cartoon series where all the major scenes like showdowns are taken away. Fansub sites are also prone to the same problems at P2P when downloading anime videos.

Anime Video Downloads Membership Services

Registered members can now download not only anime videos but movies also at membership services. We are talking about dozens of DVD quality videos you can have access to. Transfer them to a DVD or CD and you can play it on both your PC and TV. Typically, such services do not cost more than $39.99 and it is a one off deal to download unlimited anime movies and videos. There are no bandwidth restrictions at all.

Like what we mentioned earlier, you can download anime videos and movies in full complete series and seasons. Even movies adapted from manga and anime like Death Note are available to members. No wonder it has gotten cartoon enthusiasts all over the world getting excited.

You can start to watch Death Note, or catch Bleach in a moment’s time when you download the full length DVD quality anime video downloads at my video blog.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/technology-articles/anime-video-downloads-free-or-paid-290518.html

Tuesday 3 June 2008

A Look at the Ways That Japanese Animators and Storytellers Use Japanese Cartoon Art

Author: Muna wa Wanjiru
Japanese cartoon art can provide people with an insight into the culture of Japan. You will see these cartoon arts in many different places. These places will range from venues like cartoons on the television to that of the DVD game credits. In each of these Japanese cartoon art pictures you will find the heart of people looking out at you.

The best place for you to see different aspects of Japanese cartoon art is in the various Manga comics. Here you can see the beauty that is part of the comic story. While the colors are part of what makes these art pictures look so alive, it is the depth of feelings which can be seen with the facial expressions, the arm movements and the way that the entire body looks that brings these cartoons alive.

Another way that Japanese cartoon art has a more lifelike look is by the way the colors are used to denote emotions. For instance you will find that anger is shown by a red face and cheeks that seem to be bursting out. The other items which you will see to provide emotional response in Japanese cartoon art is the way the eyes are portrayed.

Unlike other cartoon art the eyes of the various Japanese cartoon art forms are detailed to show the different emotions that are a part of living. While seeing these details are a good way to feel the depth and range of emotions there are many other things which are going on behind these main characters.

In order to really understand the beauty of Japanese cartoon art you should look at one of the anime or manga desktop drawings. Here you will see the vibrant colors or subtle shadings of black and white pictures. Sometimes there will be one than one picture found on the desktop picture.

You will also see how the colors that are used in the Japanese cartoon art blend together. Since these are reasons why you can see movement in otherwise still drawings this may explain why people love watching and reading comics and anime shows that show lots of great Japanese cartoon art.

As you look at the ways that Japanese animators and storytellers use Japanese cartoon art you will be able to appreciate the subtle lines that show the tale. In each of these art forms you will see how far these Japanese cartoon art can take animation to the next level.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/visual-art-articles/a-look-at-the-ways-that-japanese-animators-and-storytellers-use-japanese-cartoon-art-308762.html

Monday 2 June 2008

Dreamland for Free Anime Picture Downloads

Author: Anime
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Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/art-and-entertainment-articles/dreamland-for-free-anime-picture-downloads-352516.html

Sunday 1 June 2008

Naruto, Vol. 6

Naruto, Vol. 6

Naruto, Vol. 6
From VIZ Media LLC


Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #18219 in Books
  • Published on: 2005-04-05
  • Number of items: 1
  • Binding: Comic
  • 192 pages

Customer Reviews

A really big Naruto fan!
Okay,okay.So we survived the first part of the Chunin Exam.Now we are entering the second part of the exam.All we have to do is get a heaven and a earth scroll.It seems simple but your wrong! Our heros are in a very serious situation.Everyone is your enemy except for your squad.Naruto,Sasuke,and Sakura are on their own and are about to encounter a lot of enemies.

Also recommend Naruto vol. 1,2,3,4,5,7,8,9

NAruto Review
In this volume of Naruto, the second portion of the chunnin exam just started. This exam is being held in the Forest of Death, and the instructor Mitarshi Anko has promised to cut the number of called Orochimaru that is known for his evil forbidden ninja abilities and he's in the chunnin exam! Orochimaru wants something from Sasuke. But when the guards heard that Orochimaru was in the exam, they quickly sent out maximum security in the Forest of the advancing teams by half! Each of the teams are now turned against each other and they must use there fast cunning ninja techniques to collect the necessary scrolls from the other teams to past the test and to survive the many challenges that the forest brings to these young ninjas. It's a matter of life and death in the second chunnin exam. Some teams may come out alive and victorious, while the other teams may end up dead. And if that's not enough, there's an imposter Death to find this Orochimaru. Too bad it was already to late, Orochimaru found Sasuke, Naruto and Sakura, but he mainly just wanted Sasuke. Orochimaru was destroying the three of them, only Sakura was barely standing. The instructor, Anko tried coming in to save the three of them. But Orochimaru was too strong and Anko was useless as well. Luckily, Orochimaru fled from them and Sakura had to find a place for them to rest. But when Orochimaru's minions heard that Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura were weak, they were told to take finish them off. So they went off to find the three of them. When Naruto's friends who are also in the chunnin exam heard of this, they went off to find Naurto, Sasuke, and Sakura as soon as possible. Luckily they made it right on time. In total, two teams were there to help them. But one team were all cowards so they just watched. When Orochimaru's minions were there, they were outnumbered. But to them numbers didn't count, it was just how strong they were that counted and they were definitely stronger. So even with two teams against them, Orochimaru's minions still defeated them. That is where the story stands, but there is still a surprise from the evil minions. Nobody knows...

I thought this book was very interesting. This book had a great flow in the story and it wasn't boring like some books. It had lots of action in the story and I thought the plot was very interesting. I liked the way that they're in a world of ninjas and they are all in this gigantic examination to be the ultimate ninja or something like that. Something that also fascinated me was the artwork of the graphic novel. It was very realistic in an anime way. People who enjoy reading action or adventure books should trying reading this book because there's a lot of action and adventure going on in this book. Also, people who enjoy reading comic books should try reading this book. The drawings in there are very well drawn. This is a quote from Orochimaru " I'm Orochimaru the giant snake. If you'd ever like a rematch...".

You go girl!
Well Orochimaru K.O.ed Sasuke and Naruto,so it is up to her to protect them.Hey,Lee and Ino's team can to save the day!But the real savior is Sasuke?

Marc Antoine Hi-lo Split Jazz Music CD Review

Author: Clyde Lee Dennis
I can describe the latest release from Jazz sensation Marc Antoine for you with just one word… Outstanding!

I wish it weren’t the case but, it’s not everyday that I get a CD from an artist that I can just pop in and comfortably listen to from beginning to end. There is usually a song or two that I just can’t force myself to get through. Not at all the case with Hi-Lo Split. Every track is enjoyable and was pretty easy for me to listen to from start to finish.

The nice thing about a CD like this is when the talent is this rich even if Jazz isn’t your favorite genre you still can’t help but appreciate the greatness of the artist.

I’m of the opinion that Hi-Lo Split is certainly Marc Antoine’s best work in a few years. A totally enjoyable CD and an outstanding release. What I call must have music. I give it two thumbs up because it’s a collection that even the casual Jazz fan can appreciate and enjoy.

I wish it weren’t the case but, it’s not everyday that I get a CD from an artist that I can just pop in and comfortably listen to from beginning to end. There is usually a song or two that I just can’t force myself to get through. Not at all the case with Hi-Lo Split. Every track is enjoyable and was pretty easy for me to listen to from start to finish.

While this entire album is outstanding some of my favorites are track 4 - Silk and Steel, track 10 - Voodoo Doll, and track 11 - Tomorrow

My Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 1 - For A Smile. Good stuff!

Hi-Lo Split Release Notes:

Marc Antoine originally released Hi-Lo Split on July 24, 2007 on the Concord Records label.

CD Track List Follows:

1. For A Smile 2. Hi-Lo Split 3. Spooky 4. Silk And Steel 5. Cancun Blue 6. Groovin' High 7. Forever 8. Panacea 9. Bossalectro 10. Voodoo Doll 11. Tomorrow

Personnel: Marc Antoine (bass guitar); Bobby Martinez (flute); Manuel Machado (flugelhorn); Frederic Gaillardet (keyboards); Andre Manga (bass guitar); Ramoncito 'El Leon' Gonzalez (conga drum); Luis Conte (percussion).
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/marc-antoine-hilo-split-jazz-music-cd-review-331527.html

Saturday 31 May 2008

Naruto, Vol. 5

Naruto, Vol. 5

Naruto, Vol. 5
From VIZ Media LLC


Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #20099 in Books
  • Published on: 2004-12-07
  • Number of items: 1
  • Binding: Comic
  • 200 pages

Customer Reviews

CHUNIN EXAM FIRST ROUND
Cell 7 is getting prepared for the first round of the Chunin Exam to become journeymen ninja but first things first. Rock Lee challenges Sasuke to a one on one match before the test even starts! Naruto and company are a little intimidated by the assemblage of ninja at the Exam since a lot of them are not rookies like their team. Naruto almost wets himself when he finds out the first round of the Exam is a written test. We all know and even HE knows he's not exactly the brightest lightbulb in the room. There are 10 questions with a value of 1 point each with the total points of each team being the combined score of all three members. What makes it a bit tricky is that the ninja are not told what score it takes to pass. If any team member gets caught cheating, 2 points will be deducted from each member. If you lose all 10 points you fail and will be asked to leave. Sakura has no problem with the questions since she is the smartest on her team but Naruto and Sasuke are going to have to figure out some way to get the answers from other examinees without getting nabbed.

The reader is caught just as much off-guard as Naruto's team when you find out that the first item of business for the Chunin exam is a 10 question written test. I was expecting some sort of slam bang tournament in which fighters duke it out. What Kishimoto is able to do in Volume 5 is to give a hint of each ninja's powers without giving too much away as they use their various abilities to cheat without catching the eye of any of the proctors. Well, actually, some do get caught, but nobody worthwhile. Kishimoto also introduces two important relationships. The first is that between Sakura and Yamanaka Ino, who appear to be rivals for the affections of Sasuke (even though he hasn't shown interest in either). The second is that between Naruto and Hyuga Hinata, a shy girl that Naruto thinks is a freak, but she has an unuttered crush on him. Great character designs, art, and writing.

"I'm so screwed"
Ever taken a test and tried to cheat?It is caught once and your out right?In this book,they can get caught three times and you fail your entire cell.That's right.The name of the game is cheating. Luckily,almost everyone has some ninjutsu in there arsenal.All except for Naruto.Hurry up and cheat dunce or you'll fail!Hey what's with the last question?

Exam hell
Nothing is more Japanese than the written exam. High school students usually don't get graded on daily work, but instead can study all year for a single test that is close to 100% of their grade. If you fail it, then try again next year.

In "Naruto 5," all the genin (jr. ninja) who hope to advance to chunin (journeyman) must sit a written exam. The catch is, each team passes or fails as a team, using their combined score. If Naruto fails, then Sakura and Sasuke go down too. Naruto's only hope is to cheat, but anyone getting caught cheating is immediately failed, along with his team. A great story, showing Naruto's unique psychological strengths in a tense situation.

Of course, Viz does a great job with this book as with all the Naruto series. My only complaint is that the entire series is in black and white, and the colored parts of the series are also rendered in black and white. I wish they would get as close as possible to the Japanese original, including the colored sections.

The Background Of Naruto Shippuden Explained

Author: Gabriel Adams
On February 15, 2007, Naruto Shippuden began airing on TV Tokyo in Japan. It was like a breath of fresh air, considering that the fans had to suffer through all too many filler Naruto episodes for the better part of the previous year. The Naruto fans had to put up with non-canon episodes where Naruto performs rasengans and kage-bunshins faster than he can say dattebayo.

It was all rather depressing - that filler episodes would blotch up the great story that Kishimoto-sensei wrote. Some fans gave up the moment the fillers started, some gave up halfway, and some remarkably stuck to the anime until the very end, all of them fervently praying for the end of those hellish fillers. Well, there answer came in the form of Naruto Shippuden.

Naruto Shippuden

In the manga, Shippuden is simply known as Part 2. Shippuden, means "Whirlwind Chronicles", obviously an allusion to Naruto's power to manipulate wind (e.g. Rasengan). It happens after some sort of time-skip, it takes place two and half years after Sasuke's defection from Konoha.

Now, if you try to recall, Orochimaru would have done his body-transfer jutsu on Sasuke two years ago had he not been unlucky and had to perform an emergency body transfer on someone else. His acquisition of the sharingan eye would have to wait for three years. After the time-skip, the body transfer is no longer 3 years away, but a scant 6 months. And of course, this means that Sasuke has to be rescued and quick, because if not, he'd be taken by Orochimaru and Naruto would lose his friend.

Shippuden starts with a sneak preview of a scene that has yet to be shown in the naruto episodes thus far. It is the fateful team 7 reunion where Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke meet up, not as friends but as enemies. But before more of the plot is revealed, the scene cuts and changes to the actual start of Shippuden - Naruto's return to Konoha.

Actual Start of Part II

Naruto returns to Konoha after two and a half years of training with Jiraiya. He meets up with Sakura, who has also trained with a legendary Sannin, Tsunade, for the past two and a half years. She has grown a lot from that girl who was always left behind to a ninja who has inherited the inhuman strength and the medical prowess of her mentor. If you've noticed, all the members of team 7 have trained with a legendary sannin, including Sasuke, who has succumbed to evil by joining Orochimaru.

After meeting up with Sakura, they are summoned to the Hokage tower where Tsunade, the Hokage, reunites them with Kakashi. They are grouped together to form a team, but they are no longer called Team 7 but Team Kakashi. The first episode is a nostalgic remake of the Bell Test, only this time, Sasuke's not there and Naruto and Sakura actually win by threatening to spoil the ending of Icha-icha paradise for Kakashi.

Afterwards, the series starts getting serious, as Gaara, the new Kazekage, gets kidnapped by a member of the Akatsuki. The story starts from there and, after a series of events, progresses finally to Team Kakashi's Sasuke retrieval mission.

The first part of Naruto was great and it was surely a tough act to follow. But fortunately, Naruto Shippuden can cope. The anime series is still as interesting as ever, if not even more, what with the deepening of the plot.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/art-and-entertainment-articles/the-background-of-naruto-shippuden-explained-331256.html

Friday 30 May 2008

Naruto, Vol. 4

Naruto, Vol. 4

Naruto, Vol. 4
From VIZ Media LLC


Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #24856 in Books
  • Published on: 2004-08-03
  • Number of items: 1
  • Binding: Comic
  • 200 pages

Customer Reviews

naruto rocks out loud !!!!!!!
this story begins when naruto unleashes the power of the nine tail fox. A battle follows naruto vs haku the battle isn't real long, at the end naruto grabs haku and punches him through the demonic ice mirrors. Meanwhile kakashi senses the chakra of the demon and does a summoning jutsu and his nin dogs come and trap zabuza, now kakashi prepares to kill zabusa with lightning blade(lightning edge). Meanwhile haku tells naruto to kill him because he has lost and failed zabuza. So naruto goes to kill him with his kunai but haku senses that zabuza is in danger so he blocks narutos attack and teleports in front of zabuza. Kakashis' hand goes right through hakus' heart and out the other side then zabuza prepares to slice through both kakashi and the dead haku but kakashi moves him and haku out of the way , and then he runs up to zabuza and stabs him in both of his arms. Then gato shows up and plans to kill them and naruto get's mad and tells him how much haku loved him. zabuza gets sad that hakus dead and asked to use narutos kunai knife and holds it between his teeth, and runs through all the soilders and kills them and gets stabbed in his back about twenty times literally with swords in his back( amazing he could even move) and he runs up to gato and slices off his head then he dies next to haku. the rest is about the chunin exams' beging up to when lee asks sasuke to fight him. I would reccomend it for teens do to lots of blood and gore, mild bullying,and violence. Naruto is one of the best manga ever.

OMG HAKU!
THIS BOOK WAS THE GREATEST!!! HAKU!!!!!! I absolutly love Haku, I don't see how anyone can hate him, he's just a great character!

Recommends:Naruto Vol.3!

Climax
Cooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool New moves, the the death of someone that I think is dumb too and the story of Haku and Zabuza wow!

Bishojo Games Varieties and Types

Author: Tima.ashar

Bishojo games always involve anime girls, not the pictures of real-life girls. There are several reasons for this: first, anime girls were better and suited to computer screens in the early days when colors were limited. Second, anime allows hardcore bishojo game studios to circumvent Japanese child pornography laws, which ban only pictures of real-life minors, not simulations (the same as in US laws).

Bokukko (boku-girl) - A tomboyish, energetic girl who calls herself by the pronoun boku, (normally used by a young preteen male).
Ha-kagi (leaf-key) - A short term referring to two famous bishojo game studios with many fans hold up above all others, Key and Leaf. • Loli (short for "Lolita") - Usually a reference to any character that looks to be under 13. They are the most common characters who call the male lead of a Bishojo Game 'Oniichan'. See lolicon.

Meganekko (glasses-girl) - A girl who wears large glasses all the time and is usually shy and bookish. She can be beautiful to start with, but often she will seem plain at first and turn out to be a stunning beauty once her glasses are removed.

Meido (maid) - A girl maid who dresses in Gothic Lolita style.

Moe - A term used to describe a genre of works featuring a "ideally" cute girl, or the cuteness itself.

Oniichan (big brother) - A term of address often used by female characters towards the male. Many games involve little sisters, often friends who became step - sisters after their parents' marriage, so the literal meaning of "big brother" applies.

Naki game (crying game) - A game with a tragic story which moves some players to tears. These usually contain few if any pornographic scenes, as these would be likely to interfere with the sad atmosphere. Kanon and Air are often described as naki games.

Ugu - The famously cute catchphrase of the popular character Tsukimiya Ayu from Kanon, a nonsense sound she uses constantly with a meaning somewhat resembling "hmmm" or "argh".

Utsu game (depressing game) - A game where girls die or worse not because of something the player, but as a part of an unchangeable story line. Also used to describe games with a jarring or anticlimactic ending.

Yaoi - A term used to describe works with an implied or explicit homosexual relationship between males. Female homosexuality in hentai, manga, and dojinshi is referred to as Yuri.

Yari game (doing-it game) - An H game where the only reason to play the game is to collect all sexually explicit pictures, because the story is sloppy and unimaginative. Some designers intentionally make yaoi games by storing all relevant pictures in a folder that can be reviewed after the game is cleared.

For more information on hentai, renai, and bishojo games, visit - Free Hentai Games

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/sexuality-articles/bishojo-games-varieties-and-types-35187.html

Thursday 29 May 2008

Does Naruto Die In The Shippuden Movie?

Author: Gabriel Adams
Last 2007, the makers of the anime, Naruto, released a set of trailers concerning the First Naruto Shippuden Movie which is also the fourth in the series of Naruto movies. The trailers and the advertisements were all fraught with hints - some subtle, some blatant - about Naruto's apparent "death". The trailers were all dramatic - even heart-wrenching. The trailers first show Naruto fighting against some enemies, and then he dies with his headband torn and his body battered, and then, the Konoha ninja are shown to be gathered around a grave with the torn headband hanging on the side.

That trailer shocked Naruto fans all over the world. It created an uproar. Overnight, the internet was flooded with questions about the new movie. So many fans were asking whether or not Naruto does die.

That trailer was something of a phenomenon. You really had to see it to believe it. Because, really, can you honestly, after watching the whole anime, believe that Naruto would die - in a movie, no less? Of course not! The idea was just plain laughable. You just don't kill off the greatest and most loveable protagonist since Son Goku... It's almost immoral to do so!

But then there it was - the trailer - irrevocable proof from the makers of the anime themselves - that Naruto, Konoha's Hokage-to-be, was going to die. It was clear as day and written in blaring letters that "Naruto Dies!". It was unbelievable but it was official - Naruto. In the fourth movie, would die!

Or so we thought...

How could the Anime Naruto episodes end when the manga itself doesn't even seem to be nearing the end? How could the anime end with so many unresolved issues? How could the story go on without its main character dead?

The answer: It can't.

The 'Naruto Dies' thing was just an advertising trick to rope people into the cinemas. The death scene, including the funeral scene, was just a vision of a miko named Shion. She predicts Naruto's death through a dream, and since all her previous predictions were correct, then it follows that this one would also be true - unless Naruto gives up on his job to protect her and leaves for a safe place, of course. But then again, this is Naruto we're talking about, and he doesn't give up, "Believe it!". So, he challenges fate and stays to protect Shion despite the deep sense of foreboding. And, surprise surprise, he wins against fate and survives, killing off the evil villain with another rendition of the rasengan along the way. You could smell the plot's ending a mile away - or in this case, while the opening credits were rolling and those death scenes we've seen on the trailers were all laid out before we could even reach the second half of the movie.

This movie, with the interesting but misleading trailer, follows the pattern of the previous movies - a scarcity of originality and a surplus of fight scenes. It has the quintessential 'character-to-be-protected' with the sad past, the parallelism to Naruto's own life, the obligatory jokes and insults, and the super-evil villain who has a grudge against the world. The DVD comes out in April of 2008, and the subs should follow 2 weeks or so after the release of the DVD. It's not the best movie in the world, but it's still Naruto in his new Shippuden look series and Naruto is always entertaining no matter what he does. The fight scenes should be worth a look as the animators does seem to spent quite a bit of time detailing them, anyway.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/art-and-entertainment-articles/does-naruto-die-in-the-shippuden-movie-331248.html

Wednesday 28 May 2008

Heaven for Free Anime Movie Downloads

Author: johnwilliamben
Unlimited download access to free Anime movies! Isn’t that an offer you would die to grab? And it is not only movies that you can download but also videos, TV series, music, songs, themes and wallpapers. Think about the amount of money you could save without ever having to rent or buy and CD or DVD again.

You might know of hundreds of websites which provide you this kind of service. Most of them usually charge you around $30 - $40 every month to mainly support their huge servers. And for this monthly fee you can download unlimited files be it movies, videos, music or anything for that matter and all this at high download speeds.

I found something and you would love this if you are an Anime fan. I have found a website that offers possibly the largest collection of Anime movie downloads and all other file like music, video, TV series, etc. And you can download all these files without ever having to pay a single fee, be it pay per download or the monthly subscriptions. There is just no limit to how much you can download from this particular site. I am an ardent Anime and Manga lover, just like most of you and I have tried many site which offer Anime downloads and the fees each of them charged was atrocious and they did not even have a fairly good collection in their library.

The discovery of this particular website has simply got me hooked to it. It is impossible to think about life without it for me today. You could say it is heaven on the internet for Anime lovers. And no matter what once you join this site you would never leave it if you are a true and ardent Anime fan. It is so far the best site I have come across for free Anime movie downloads on the internet. I hope you cherish and love this particular website as much as I do.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/movies-articles/heaven-for-free-anime-movie-downloads-328418.html

Tuesday 27 May 2008

Download Anime Videos of your Choice

Author: Davion W
Whether you are a die-hard fan of anime videos or a beginner in this genre, chances are you are looking for ways to download anime videos online with the best quality and lowest cost possible. The good news is Japanese cartoons of all sorts are easily available at numerous websites today. However, before you jump at the first opportunity, assess your choices carefully.

There is quite a huge fan base on the Internet, which clearly shows that the distinctive cartoon style originated in Japan has spread all over the world and won the hearts of audiences across different cultures and languages. Thanks to some enthusiastic anime lovers, there are websites where you can download anime videos absolutely free of cost.

The perspective does look nice at the first sight; however, it may be potentially risky for both your computer and you, personally. Usually, what you get at these sites are pirated copies of original videos in Japanese, translated into English by a couple of enthusiasts. Clearly, you can’t expect much from an unlicensed copy – annoying downloading process, poor quality of picture and sound, frequent interruptions in the flow are some of the common problems.

What is worse, you never know what you are getting with each downloaded file. What if it is virus infected? And what about loads of nasty malware polluting your computer’s system? Do you want your PC to be hacked or your ID stolen? Definitely, not. And your innocent wish to download anime videos comes to nowhere close to copyright infringement and ending up abused and scammed.

Isn’t it worth paying a few bucks if in return you get a professionally looking website with all the latest and classic anime series, no frustrating pop-ups, digital quality, and full assistance at each and every step? As a fan, you deserve the best viewing experience, and spending an affordable amount on what you like most is only natural. After all, at a price of a few episodes on DVD, you can get instant unlimited access to an impressive database of old and new anime videos – clearly, the latter makes a fantastic deal.

On all large and popular websites you can download anime videos of wide choice – the most popular series as well as less known ones. You can also choose cartoons according to the audience they are targeted at – young kids and teenagers, boys, girls, young adults, and so on.

Most of the sites also have the popular Manga series based on the popular Japanese comics. Download anime videos wisely, and don’t let anything spoil your viewing experience!

Start your instant search for your favorite title at my popular blog today.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/art-articles/download-anime-videos-of-your-choice-325632.html

Monday 26 May 2008

Lovers of Japanese Animes Always Have Something Exciting to See and Feel

Author: Muna wa Wanjiru
For many of us the world of animation does not have any boundaries. These boundaries are however there when you look at the different styles of animation. One of these styles that you will find is that of Japanese animes. These fantastic animations are full of vibrant color and action. As you watch these programs you will feel as if you were living in one of these.

One of the best things that you will find when you are looking at these Japanese animes is that you have many different characters who interact with each other. The view of society that you can find in these animes will provide you with an idea of how intricately the anime is designed. When you look at these different aspects you begin to understand that the creators of these Japanese animes take a lot of trouble to create these interesting worlds.

One of the interesting things that you will find when you look at these Japanese animes is the fact that the source for these comes from manga comics and also from light novels. With all of these animes you can see a number of different influences. For instance there are cartoons where you have vehicles that morph into robots which are controlled by people.

You have people who have superpowers and yet are completely human in the way that they make mistakes just like us. These different Japanese animes are designed to reach a wide target audience. You will for this reason see animes which are suitable for children and ones that are perfect for adults.

While you may feel that adults do not watch these types of Japanese animes you will be proven wrong. As the different Japanese animes you will find there are ones which are targeted at adult audiences. In addition to these adult animes there are ones which any age group can watch and enjoy.

One of the interesting facts that you can find when you look for information about Japanese animes is the various categories these stories are divided into. You will find stories about magical girls. There are stories about robot warriors; you can also find stories about strange creatures like Pokémon.

By looking at these different categories of Japanese animes you will begin to see why there are so many people who love watching and reading about the events that unfold in these worlds. With these wonderful worlds the lovers of Japanese animes always have something exciting to see and feel.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/visual-art-articles/lovers-of-japanese-animes-always-have-something-exciting-to-see-and-feel-308763.html

Sunday 25 May 2008

Japanese Animation Movies are a Part of Life That We All Should Enjoy Seeing

Author: Muna wa Wanjiru
The world of animation has many different types of animated movies for you to watch. Some of these will be movies that are suitable for children. Others will be ones that adults can watch. You have yet more animated movies that can be watched by the entire family. It is into this category that you will find Japanese animation movies.

These many Japanese animation movies that you will see will provide you with all of the enjoyment that you want to see. As you watch these animated movies you will marvel at the different worlds that open to your senses.

Movies are a part of life that we all enjoy seeing. There are many different types of movies that you can see. The various Japanese animation movies will have all of the action and excitement that you are accustomed to. In addition to these scenes of action you can see humor and other emotions that will make you laugh, cry and feel triumphant as the movie progresses.

As with most of the animated movies that you will see today the Japanese animation movies are based on the desires that people have with regards to entertainment. This means that when you are watching some of these animation based movies you will be able to see exaggerated emotions being shown on the faces of the various characters.

You can also see a number of different vehicles and other non-human characters. These characters and objects will bring a contrast to the more human aspects of the Japanese animation movies. There is an interesting fact that you may like to know about the various animation movies that you sometimes see.

While there are many original idea Japanese animation movies some of these will be taken from the popular anime and Manga series. These movies can be entirely new stories or they can be an extension of the program series that is currently airing.

As with a number of movies and animated movies you can find your favorite Japanese animation movies being shown on the internet movie channels, DVD and video forms. There are other times when you can see previews for the newest Japanese animation movies on the preview section of animated cartoons.

Since there are many different tastes for animated movies you should understand that there are many different Japanese animation movies that people can see and enjoy. For movie lovers these Japanese animation movies can be the best way to spend their time. At the end of the movie you will feel as if you have returned from another world.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/movies-articles/japanese-animation-movies-are-a-part-of-life-that-we-all-should-enjoy-seeing-308760.html