Anime Video Streaming Website Daisuki.net Now Live

May 16, 2013 at 3:37 pm | Posted in Japanese, Other Stuff | Leave a comment

Homepage of Daisuki.net on May 15, 2013

Anime video streaming and E-commerce platform Daisuki.net is officially open for business! The website kicks off with episodes of Lupin III, Mobile Suit Gundam Seed HD, Mobile Suit Z Gundam, The Prince of Tennis: The National Tournament, Puella Magi Madoka Magica, and Sword Art Online. As part of its launch, Daisuki is inviting anime fans to participate in its giveaways of anime-related goods and to vote in a series of surveys for the titles that they would like to watch. Thus far, One Piece is listed as an upcoming addition to the website.

Alongside the free anime episodes, Daisuki is also set to offer paid videos and anime products, though both of those sections on the website are currently empty. It remains to be seen whether Daisuki will offer a subscription model similar to Crunchyroll or Hulu. Its user’s guide briefly mentions the availability of “discount package plan[s].”

Daisuki was first announced at the end of February and is a product born from the collaboration of Japanese Yu-Gi-Oh! licensors Asatsu-DK (ADK) and Nihon Ad Systems (NAS) with Aniplex, Dentsu, Sunrise, TMS Entertainment, and Toei Animation. ADK and NAS together own a 39 percent stake in the company.

A representative of Daisuki will appear on AnimeNewsNetwork’s ANNCast podcast later this week in a 30-minute segment.

Previously:
- ADK, NAS, Other Japanese Producers to Launch Anime Streaming Website Daisuki.net

Saban to Launch Vortexx On-Demand Channel on Kabillion

April 29, 2013 at 2:37 pm | Posted in Other Stuff, Saban | 6 Comments
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Kabillion logo

Saban announced today that it is partnering with independent video-on-demand network Kabillion to create a dedicated channel for Vortexx’s programming. The new VOD channel will debut in June with Sonic X and Power Rangers: Lost Galaxy, with Dragon Ball Z Kai joining the line-up in July.

Kabillion’s library of shows include Bobby’s World, Code Lyoko, and Mix Master and is available on-demand on a variety of cable services, including Comcast, Time Warner, Charter, and Blue Ridge. It is also available online at Kabillion.com and on YouTube on KabillionChannel and Cartoonium.

Vortexx’s current programming, which includes the classic Yu-Gi-Oh! and Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal series, can be seen every Saturday morning on The CW and on MyVortexx.com.

LittleKuriboh’s My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic Live Stream

April 17, 2013 at 10:22 pm | Posted in Other Stuff, Yu-Gi-Oh: The Abridged Series | 1 Comment
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Little Kuriboh getting his head shaved during his My Little Pony marathon live stream
This happened again.

In an effort to raise money to bring Nowacking and 1KidsEntertainment, his friends and the creators of Pokemon ‘Bridged, to Alcon 2013, Little Kuriboh on Sunday offered potential donators a startling incentive: if they receive one single $500 donation, he would marathon My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic. Within four hours, an anonymous donor did just that. So, LK made good on his promise yesterday, watching the first 28 episodes over the course of 12+ hours. Here’s the recorded event in its entirety: Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Some highlights from the live stream include:

  • That Annoying Sensei Guy from LK’s Naruto Spoof singing the MLP theme song at 2:25:34 in part 1.
  • Certain acts of extreme violence, the best examples taking place at 48:16 in part 3.
  • Naruto singing Pinkie Pie’s “Smile Song” at 50:30 in part 3.
  • Marik, Bakura, and other characters singing “Winter Wrap Up” at 57:40 in part 3.
  • LK performing the ebonics version of YGOTAS episode 46 at 1:13:05 in part 3. (Spoilers: Mega Ultra Chickn n’ Corn Bread!)
  • Marik singing the literal version of the MLP theme song at 1:33:10 in part 3.
  • And of course, LK getting his head shaved in part 4.

Little Kuriboh’s live stream kicked off at 9:00 am PDT yesterday on Twitch.tv and ran past midnight. He was joined at various times by his wife Marianne as well as his friends Lee, Kaiji, and TomaMoto. Lee in particular was very knowledgeable about the MLP universe and provided all sorts of insight into the various MLP episodes and generations (though he was adamant that he not be lumped in with the Brony fandom!).

To keep the live stream entertaining, LK was forbidden from using the word “pony,” with each mention being counted against him. (Spoilers: He doesn’t get very far.) Eventually, he decided that if he said “pony” 100 times, he would have to get his legs professionally waxed. If he said it 150 times, he’d do his back. And if he said it 200 times, he’d do his chest. So what ended up happening? LK said his 100th “pony” near the end of the 26th and final episode of the first season. Poor LK. Oh well, here’s hoping his trip to a salon will be recorded!

LK also provided various incentives to encourage people to support the fundraisers for Nowacking and 1KidsEntertainment and for Abridgers to Alcon 2013. A single $500 donation (later reduced to $225), led LK to shave his head live. And $3,000 in total donations led him to perform an ebonics version of any YGOTAS episode, for which episode 46 received the most requests by the chat. Sadly, we did not see anyone give a single $1,000 donation, which would have led LK to get a tattoo of his choosing on his arm.

The live stream ran, for the most part, without a hitch. The only major stumbling block came at 2:39:00 in part 1 when a Twitch.tv administrator named truthful entered the chat and presented LK with an inopportune notice: “Hello martininamerica, Twitch is exclusively for gaming / gaming related content only. What you’re currently stream is neither gaming nor gaming related therefore I’ll have to ask you to kindly please stop immediately.” LK quickly relocated to Justin.tv, where he streamed for the rest of the day without issue.

So after all that, does LK have a favorite pony? “Apple Jack is best pony, Pinkie Pie can f**k off,” he tweeted.

More Convention Announcements

Thought Little Kuriboh wasn’t adding any more anime convention stops for the rest of this year? Think again! First up is Youmacon 2013, to be held on October 31 through November 3. This will be LK’s fifth guest appearance at the Detroit, Michigan event, which has really established itself as the convention for abridgers.

LK has also been invited to Domo Con, taking place between December 13 and 15 in Lisle, Illinois. So far, the event has announced LK and Vic Mignogna as guests.

Additionally, LK has been contacted by J-Culture Con in Derby, England, though it appears that the organizers were unaware that LK now lives in the U.S. Although an initial response to the invitation produced no response from the con, LK eventually managed to get in contact with the organizers and is now in further discussions with them. Will LK be flying out to Derby to attend the September 20 and 21 event? Keep watching their website for updates!

For a list of all of Little Kuriboh’s stops this year, have a look at my LK’s Anime Convention Schedule page.

LK Returns to 91.8 The Fan

It seems like at least once every year since 2010, Little Kuriboh makes an appearance on 91.8 The Fan, a live anime-focused Internet radio station. This year, LK dropped by the Kana’s Korner program on January 31 for an interview with host Kanashimi, though the recording wasn’t posted until just last week. Strange!

Anyway, LK chats with Kanashimi about his role in the Crisis Heart Brawlers: Clash at Otakon video game, shares his opinions about the Silent Hill games, and pimps out the now fully funded Cryamore Kickstarter. Yeah, there’s some outdated stuff in there, but it was a fun time, so give it a listen anyway!

To hear Little Kuriboh’s previous interviews on 91.8 The Fan and on other programs and podcasts, check out my Interviews and Q&As with LK page.

Toonzaki.com Updates: The Latest Yu-Gi-Oh! Dubbed, Subbed Episodes, More Anime Shows

April 9, 2013 at 3:05 am | Posted in Duel Monsters, Other Stuff, Saban, Yu-Gi-Oh! | 2 Comments
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Tristan, Joey, and Tea freaking out after Yugi receives a package from Pegasus in episode 148

After months of stagnation, anime video portal Toonzaki.com has finally updated its Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s and Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal offerings to include the latest episodes. It’s about time! Uploads of new subbed episodes of Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s and dubbed and subbed episodes of Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal had resumed on Hulu back in January, but Toonzaki’s feeds had curiously stopped refreshing to display the latest videos until now.

Toonzaki has also patched up its many missing images and broken links, and has picked up several more shows from Crunchyroll, including Fate/Zero, Polar Bear Cafe, Space Brothers, and Sword Art Online. How many new titles can you spot?

Toonzaki had been heavily neglected since mid-2012 after the Yu-Gi-Oh! lawsuit wound down and 4Kids’ properties were changing hands. The site has even gone completely dark on a few occasions, most recently in late March. On Facebook, the Toonzaki crew remained optimistic and has long talked about improving its services, even mentioning a relaunch. In their most recent posts, they’ve casually discussed a “new Toonzaki” and offering “better functionality and more/new shows.”

With the launch of the Japanese-run anime video portal Daisuki.net right around the corner, the Toonzaki crew has picked a good time to polish their website and make sure it remains in the running to continually draw the attention of casual anime seekers.

Yu-Gi-Oh! on MyVortexx.com

Over on MyVortexx.com, the official website of Saban’s Saturday morning Vortexx block, links to the dedicated pages for Classic Yu-Gi-Oh! and Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal were finally set up in late March. When MyVortexx was revamped back in mid-February, both shows were missing from the website’s “Shows” page.

If you had noted my not-so-subtle hint and snooped around however, you would have discovered that pages for both shows had actually already been set up at the time MyVortexx’s new look was unveiled. The other main MyVortexx pages had simply not linked to them, for whatever reason.

So what’s new? Since then, the pages have seen the addition of the shows’ full episodes — most notably the subbed Japanese Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal videos. While this might not seem like a big deal to longtime Yu-Gi-Oh! fans, by deciding to post these videos, Saban has taken a momentous step forward. Younger Vortexx viewers, or other Vortexx fans who are browsing the website and who might not be as well-versed about what sorts of Yu-Gi-Oh! media are available out there, now have a chance to stumble upon the Japanese episodes and enlighten themselves with a slew of original uncut videos. Although official Japanese Yu-Gi-Oh! episodes have been around for a few years now, they had never previously been included side-by-side with other Saturday morning shows on Toonzai and 4Kids.TV’s websites.

Unfortunately, MyVortexx’s redesign suffers from a usability issue similar to that which plagued 4Kids.TV/Toonzai when that website was revamped in September 2010: its design is simply not suitable for linking to and posting full episodes. The organization of the videos is an absolute mess. Episodes aren’t numbered and aren’t listed in their proper orders, and dubbed and subbed episodes are all jumbled together.

4KidsTV/Toonzai eventually improved its layout to better accommodate its video listings. Will MyVortexx do the same?

The Last Traces of Toonzai Vanish

Speaking of Toonzai, the Facebook page of the former Saturday morning anime block managed by 4Kids was finally shuttered on March 22 — a little over seven months after its final broadcast. The last two wall posts were made on March 11 and directed fans to the official Yu-Gi-Oh! Facebook page and Toonzaki’s Facebook page.

Toonzai’s Facebook page was never very popular or heavily promoted. During its final days, it had a mere 691 Likes. Nevertheless, it was a window to an increasingly disregarded Saturday morning animation haven that many cherished, and it and the lifestyle the block embodied will be missed.

Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal to Premiere on Nicktoons This Friday

Let’s end on a happier note: Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal will be premiering on Nicktoons this Friday, April 12 at 9:00 pm EDT!

The newest series in the Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise joins Classic Yu-Gi-Oh!, which premiered on the Viacom-owned cable network on March 11 and now airs seven days a week.

[YGO: TAS] Yu-Gi-Oh – The Ebonics’d Series

April 3, 2013 at 3:26 pm | Posted in Other Stuff, Yu-Gi-Oh: The Abridged Series | 2 Comments
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Three Blue Peeps Whitey Dragons from Yu-Gi-Oh The Ebonics'd Series

Little Kuriboh didn’t get a chance to upload a video on April Fools’ Day this year, but his new video released earlier today will more than make up for it: Yu-Gi-Oh – The Ebonics’d Series!

The video features a recording from Kitsune Kon this past March where LK plugs the script for YGOTAS episode 1 into the Ebonics Translator and performs a live reading of the “translation.” Riley Freeman, Jaden, Skeletor, and a bunch of “black” cards also make special appearances.

Somewhere along the line, LK’s “ebonics” seems to morph into some other kind of Southern American English. I was waiting for a “howdy” or “y’all” to be slipped in there. :)

Next up: Yu-Gi-Oh! The Ebonics’d Vagina Monologues episode 1?

Kitsune Kon 2013 Rules Video

Speaking of Kitsune Kon, check out its Opening Ceremonies Rules Video that Little Kuriboh made for the event, where YGOTAS characters highlight the super strict policies that prevented any attendees from having fun. (Just kidding!) If you’ve ever wanted to see what Marik would do when he’s completely plastered, you’re looking in the right place!

The video was definitely made for Kitsune Kon in Wisconsin and was not a generic video thrown together at the last minute. Definitely.

Update: Uploads of the Ebonics video are now also on the Ninjabridged YouTube channel and, thanks to its sudden return earlier this evening, the CardGamesFTW channel.

Update (April 5): LK has now uploaded the Kitsune Kon video to his own CardGamesFTW channel, as well as to Blip.tv, which means that downloadable versions are also available!

ADK, NAS, Other Japanese Producers to Launch Anime Streaming Website Daisuki.net

February 27, 2013 at 7:25 am | Posted in Japanese, Other Stuff | 1 Comment

Screenshot of Daisuki.net in late February 2013

Japanese advertising agency and media production company Asatsu-DK (ADK) announced today that it and six other anime production studios have partnered up to launch Daisuki.net, an anime video streaming service and E-commerce platform for overseas markets. The website plans to stream popular titles like One Piece, Mobile Suit Gundam, Puella Magi Madoka Magica, and Prince of Tennis, as well as sell animation-related goods. The other entities participating in this endeavor are ADK’s wholly-owned subsidiary Nihon Ad Systems (NAS), Aniplex, Dentsu, Sunrise, TMS Entertainment, and Toei Animation.

In addition to delivering existing content, Daisuki also plans to stream new titles concurrently with their broadcasts in Japan and stage live events. Daisuki is scheduled to launch this April.

ADK and NAS, of course, are members of a consortium that own and control the rights to the Yu-Gi-Oh! brand and were plaintiffs in the Yu-Gi-Oh! lawsuit. There’s no word yet whether their prized and guarded Yu-Gi-Oh! anime series will make an appearance on Daisuki.

Naturally, there are many questions about which countries Daisuki will be available in and how it will interact with existing companies and platforms offering similar services. Stay tuned for more information!

News from Daisuki, Inc. via ANN (1, 2)

[YGO: TAS] Marik Plays Mass Effect – MOMOCON 2013

February 6, 2013 at 11:01 am | Posted in Other Stuff, Yu-Gi-Oh: The Abridged Series | Leave a comment
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Title screen from LK's Marik Plays Mass Effect video
“If you have a space problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them in space, maybe you can hire… The Space Team.”

I’m loving these Let’s Play convention promos. We’re getting the fun of Yu-Gi-Oh! Abridged and Let’s Play videos, an anime con announcement, and the variety and humor that comes with Little Kuriboh’s projects, all in one video! Yesterday, LK uploaded “Marik Plays Mass Effect,” a promo for his upcoming guest appearance at MomoCon. Why Mass Effect? As it turns out, both Jennifer Hale and Mark Meer, the female and male voices of Mass Effect’s Command Shepard, were invited to the con!

As a fun bonus, LK has also posted an extended 17-minute version of Marik’s Let’s Play video (minus the con promo) on Blip.tv. Nice!

MomoCon will take place from March 8 through 10 in Atlanta, Georgia at the Hilton Atlanta.

LK Confirmed for Alcon 2013

Great news for YGOTAS fans across the pond! Alcon has announced that Little Kuriboh will be returning to Leicester, England later this year for another exciting convention! This will be LK’s fifth appearance at the Anime League event.

Since September 2012, Alcon staff and attendees have made a big push to try to raise enough money to pay for LK’s and other famed abridgers and special guests’ invitations to this year’s event. You can support their cause on GoFundMe, where they are still quite a ways away from their goal of £6,000 (that’s over 9,000 U.S. dollars!). Give them a hand if you’d like to see some crazy abridged stuff at this year’s event!

Alcon 2013 will take place between September 5 and 8. Registration just kicked off two days ago!

Update (February 12): “We have had to make a new donations page,” tweets the head of the fundraising initiative. The new GoFundMe page is at http://www.gofundme.com/Abridgerstoalcon2013. The £800 raised by the old account was added to the new page.

[YGO: TAS] Kami Con Season 5 (w/ Kirbopher) – CON PROMO

January 30, 2013 at 9:12 am | Posted in Other Stuff, Yu-Gi-Oh: The Abridged Series | 1 Comment
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Yami Yugi, Nylocke, and Kirbopher in LK's Kami-Con Season 5 promo video
Did Yami seriously just say “Vic Mignogna” again?!

Ahaha, it’s another Kami-Con promo video from Little Kuriboh (on YouTube, Blip.tv)! Whose name is Yami going to butcher this time? Why, poor Kirbopher of course.

Both Little Kuriboh and Kirbopher will be at Kami-Con in Birmingham, Alabama from February 15 to 17. The convention, now in its fifth year, has outgrown its previous home at the University of Alabama’s Ferguson Center in Tuscaloosa and will instead be held at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex in Birmingham.

Oh, and they’ll also both be at Almacon in Alma, Michigan next week, from February 8 through 10. I’m sure Almacon’s organizers enjoyed seeing their event listed as an afterthought in this video. ;P (Or maybe they just didn’t request a video promo.)

“I’ll be working hard on new YGOTAS content (including new episodes!) throughout next month, doing my best to get season 3 done,” writes LK on Facebook. It would be super exciting if he could have some new material at one (or both) of the conventions!

Another Anime Con Update: Yama-Con

Little Kuriboh has also confirmed that he will be attending Yama-Con in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee later this year! Yama-Con, a young fan-operated convention in its second year, will also be welcoming voice actors Sonny Strait, Johnny Yong Bosch, Paul St. Peter, and others as guests. The event will take place from December 6 to 8 at the Smoky Mountain Convention Center.

Previously:
- Kami-Con Season 4 – THE NOSTALGIA CRITIC

Card Games For Charity #6 Fanfic: Our Love Is Violence

January 22, 2013 at 8:14 pm | Posted in Other Stuff, Yu-Gi-Oh: The Abridged Series | 5 Comments
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A close-up of Marik Ishtar in episode 69

During the Card Games For Charity #6 live stream event back in December, Little Kuriboh dedicated one hour to providing a very special incentive for donators: for every $50 donated during that hour to the Red Cross, LK would write 1,000 words in a brand-new fanfic! Fans who know LK’s work know of his strengths as a writer, not only in the realm of YGOTAS and other screenwriting projects, but also in creative writing.

Yesterday, LK made good on his promise, releasing Our Love Is Violence, a 7,500-word M-rated Thiefshipping fic about Marik and Bakura’s exploits in the tomb of a certain pharaoh. Unlike his previous story written for charity, Marik & Bakura Go To Censored Town, this new one is a tad more serious, and Marik and Bakura don’t do as much diddle-daddling before getting busy.

Can’t get enough of the action? “There’s still three more chapters to go,” says LK. Yup, that was only chapter 1!

LK on AbridgedForums Live

Earlier this month, Little Kuriboh and Dutch abridger HarrysFiddlesticks were invited to AbridgedForums Live, a monthly podcast hosted by Airrest, codeblackhayate, Ezekieru, and 1Kids about the world of abridging, with plenty of tangents of course.

In their January 5 recording, the gang chatted about why abridged series are able to transcend boundaries and appeal to people all across the world, how they balance ongoing jokes so as to appeal to both longtime fans and new viewers, and their thoughts about the presence of an “abridged community.” LK also talks about his favorite episode, whether or not he’s worried about running out of jokes, how he warms up when preparing for an episode, and a whole lot more.

If you’ve got two hours to spare, give this a listen as this is one of LK’s better recent interviews, and check out some of LK’s older interviews that I’ve followed if you want to hear more from the creator of YGOTAS!

Little Kuriboh’s Anime Convention Guest Appearances and Visits

January 11, 2013 at 11:36 pm | Posted in Other Stuff, Yu-Gi-Oh: The Abridged Series | Leave a comment
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Tea Gardner waving and running toward Yugi at the end of episode 144

It’s a brand-new year, and a brand-new year means four new seasons filled with crazy anime conventions! What lucky cities and towns across the United States and the rest of the world will get to see Little Kuriboh and the magic of Yu-Gi-Oh: The Abridged Series live? Where will LK stop next? What cities and towns has he visited in the past? Now, it’s easier than ever to keep track of the cons and events that have featured the creator of YGOTAS in their busy schedules.

Check out my new page, and keep your eyes peeled for updates:
Little Kuriboh’s Anime Convention Schedule: Guest Appearances and Visits

Note: Only anime cons and other fan conventions are listed. Even though LK has attended trade shows and industry-focused events, like CES and E3, those aren’t included (unless they are directly related to anime, otaku fandom, and the like).

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