:: 士郎正宗 :: Masamune Shirow Hyperpage Rebirth Version of Lucas' MSHP >> A Masamune Shirow Fan Page

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Please inform me of any inconsistencies, mistake or copyrights breach on my part and it will be ammended/corrected.
Also, Views & Opinions on the MSHP are my own (Lucas) and not that of Shirow or the respective companies.

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Yamato's Orion & Dominion Figure Collection Sets Now On Sale!

Yamato's Orion & Dominion 6-piece Collecton Figure sets ( Ref previous post ) are out since yesterday (29th April 05). As far as Japan is concerned that is. Orders from Yamato USA will probably receive their sets when they are shipped in June 05. These 4" figures comprises a set of 6 figures each from Shirow's Orion and Dominion series. If I'm not mistaken, the prices per complete set in Japan costs approximately 600 x 6 = 3600Yen, while prices for US sets are about US$5x6= US$30 per set. Packaging for US market could probably be different as well (maybe). Certainly very collectible as figures from Orion and Dominion are really very very rare and hard to come by compared with GITS or Appleseed.

Product: Orion Figure Collection (JP) オリオン　フィギュア　コレクション Maker: Yamato Material: PVC / ABS Dimensions: H135xW83xD45 (mm) Price: 600 Yen each (630 Yen plus tax) Full set comprises 6 figures Release Date: 29th April 2005

Product: Dominion Figure Collection (JP) ドミニオン　フィギュア　コレクション Maker: Yamato Material: PVC / ABS Dimensions: H135xW83xD45 (mm) Price: 600 Yen each (630 Yen plus tax) Full set comprises 6 figures Release Date: 29th April 2005

And here are some pictures! ^_^ [ Disclaimer: These are NOT mine, just some early pics I found on the 'net. I am not planning to get these two sets- honest! This time I'm serious...! ^_^;; well... ok... maybe I will get Bonaparte if I come across a good deal ] 

 
Yamato's Orion & Dominion Figure Collection Box-art

The Orion Set

The Dominion Set

A view of the Orion Set Box

They look real nice ne? ^_^ For those who have this on order, great choice! I think you guys must be looking forward to getting your sets very badly. I'm envious but at the same time happy to see these Shirow classics get fleshed out in such great form. Really beautiful set. Two thumbs up! d^_^b

posted by: Lucas at 04/30/05 23:51 | link | comments | Category: figures & toys, dominion, orion

My (Sega) Motoko Collection!

Oh Yes!! Thank you Mr Postman~ So my parcel from Japan has arrived safely today, the newest addition to my Shirow collection: Sega GITS Collection Figure Vol.3 (Complete Motoko Kusanagi Set!). Well, I posted previously that I wasn't planning to get this set, but the temptation proved too strong so I went for it  -_-;; Luckily I was able to secure a complete set of these lovely figures. So far so good, Sega Prize did not disappoint once again with this high quality set of Motoko Kusanagi. I am thrilled to add this to my collection, joining the Sega Mini Figures Vol.1 & 2 which I managed to get not long ago. Wonder what will I need to sacrifice this time to justify this purchase *coughs* x_x

Here are some shots I took of my new figures set, and noticed that I really need to improve on my photography skills... -_- Well, anyhow, here's a little gallery of my latest toys~ ^O^

攻殻機動隊 コレクションフィギュア・Vol.3 (全3種セット)

A Classic Motoko Moment from the GITS Manga...

... Replicated by a Finely Done Plastic Sega Prize Motoko Figure :)

   
Individual Poses (Click on Thumbnail for Full Picture)

Motoko Kusanagi Full Set Pose (Sega GITS Collection Figure Vol.3)

The photos aren't exactly well-shot (or even in focus), but please forgive me. I will find out how to take better digital photos next time...!

posted by: Lucas at 04/29/05 20:06 | link | comments | Category: figures & toys, lucas collection

Dominion: Tank Police

"I'd rather be DEAD than see the Tank Police kissing ass and perverting justice!!"
- Leona Ozaki, Phantom of the Audience.

In 1986, Masamune Shirow published a light-hearted mecha action story- the story of a futuristic police team utilising Tanks to fight crime and uphold justice. Initially Dominion was conceived and serialized in Monthly Comi Comi Magazine published by Hakusensha in 1985. It was collected into a tankubon edition by 1986 and finally in 1993 re-published under Seishinsha. Shirow's Dominion series was so popular that it spawned two animated features so far, with a third on the way in the near future. Also in 1995, Shirow published the long-awaited sequel to Dominion- Conflict 1: No More Noise. The anime and Conflict will be dealt with seperately in time to come, so for now let's concentrate on the original that started it all... Masamune Shirow's Dominion!

posted by: Lucas at 04/27/05 22:43 | link | comments | Category: dominion

This Month's Question: April 05

Introducing a new feature - the Monthly Shirow Trivia & Polls presented by MSHP! The Question / Poll Voting Box is available on the left side menu under my Profile section.

I hope to increase interactivity for MSHP visitors and this poll feature is one of the plans that I had while re-starting this page. For this month, its just experimental to see if this pollhost service is good enough and to gauge the response of my visitors (that's you lot ^_^) to this feature. Anyway, please leave some comments on this post to give me opinions and feedback on how you find this new MSHP feature OK? This is just the beginning, there are more plans for interactive features and fan services which I'm working on, so stay tuned...

This month's (April 05) trivia asks:

Which Shirow series does this Symbol come from?

The answer choices are:

• Appleseed
  
• Ghost In The Shell
  
• Ghost In The Shell SAC
  
• Dominion Conflict
  
• Orion
  
• Black Magic

The symbol is taken from one of Shirow sensei's series, but rendered by myself for this question. The correct answer will be revealed when the voting ends (tentatively end of this month). The truth exists somewhere... so vote for your answer! ^_^

posted by: Lucas at 04/24/05 16:31 | link | comments (2) | Category: mshp polls

Ghost in the Shell Collection Figure Vol.3 Now On Sale!

I posted some time ago on the pending release of Sega Prize GITS Collection Figure Vol.3. Well folks, its out since yesterday (18th April 05)! ^_^ So those who find this set appealing, work extra hard to secure your set RIGHT NOW because GITS Sega kits sell like crazy. Trust me!

Product Data:
Ghost In The Shell Collection Figure Vol.3 (Set of 3)
攻殻機動隊 コレクションフィギュア・Vol.3 (全3種セット)
(Motoko Kusanagi only)
Manufacturer: SEGA
Release Date: 18th April 2005
Selling Price: 2880 to 3600 Yen (depend on where you shop)
Size: Approx. 14cm (standing)
No assembly / painting required

Here are some actual pictures of the figures for you to see if its worth going all out and get them. Personally, I think they are really well done and pretty, so my decision not to get is a purely financial one (had my $$ tied down on the EX2 Aramaki Motoko Set! ^_^):

Motoko A: Diving Suit Version

Motoko B: "Tank Battle" Suit Version

Motoko C: Battle Fatigues Version

Complete Set Packaging

So if you like this item, my advise is please hurry. I bet they will sell out soon, judging from previous GITS Sega releases and it won't be easy getting them again. Sorry that I can't help much in providing good links to websites selling them (I'm not residing in US or Japan). I found sources about this release from Japanese online toyshops mainly and I don't think many of them are willing to accept overseas orders. However, a reduced set of 2 (minus Diving Suit Ver.) is available for purchase at Hobbylink Japan at the time of this post for 2560 Yen. No guarantees when it will be out of stock though. The reason is that many online shops take pre-orders for this figures set and, when the orders closed that's it. Unless they manage to get extra stocks I don't expect many sets to be on sale.

To my figures-inclined readers, please do other fans a favour ne? If you find or know of anyplace selling these Sega Collection Figures, drop a link at this post's comments section ok? It would be really helpful to all of us. Cheers!

posted by: Lucas at 04/20/05 00:46 | link | comments | Category: shirow news, figures & toys

Production IG Greeting Card (April 05)

Here's a nice little gift~ ^_^

Major Motoko Kusanagi SAC 2nd Gig Card!

Thanks to the great people at Production IG actually, for presenting this very cool picture of Major Motoko Kusanagi for this month's goodies. Mind you this is just for personal use in hardcopy greeting card form. Any other purpose is strictly prohibited. There's also a 2nd Gig wallpaper too, if you look properly ^_~.

Pay them a visit ya? The new Production IG website is seriously top-notch! ^_^

posted by: Lucas at 04/16/05 10:05 | link | comments | Category: shirow news

GITS: Stand Alone Complex Visual Book

"Simply a must-have book in any Masamune Shirow / SAC fan's collection" - MSHP, April 05

Ghost In The Shell
Stand Alone Complex
Visual Book

Recently I got a copy of Hobby Japan's GITS SAC Visual Book from my local chain of Kinokuniya Bookstore. I've had a vague idea that this book might be interesting from the little bits of info available online, and as a confirmation - yes, this is a good book for any Masamune Shirow or GITS / SAC fan. The layout is nice, plenty of pretty pictures (which is real important! ^_^), a good amount of technical information, comprehensive plot and episode summaries, plus some stunning extras and surprises!

The Visual Book opens straight away into 8-pages of full page color graphics rendered by various artists attached with the SAC project, used in promotions and magazine covers / articles. Most of the pictures are Motoko-orientated, which I have no complaints about ^_^.

Artwork for Tokuma Shoten's ANIMAGE, 11/2002 Issue

This is followed by introduction to Section 9, its members, machines, weapons, intelligence, vehicles, and their "duties" so far. Also given a detailed treatment is the Laughing Man Report, where the characters and incidents involved in the Laughing Man case were highlighted. This ends the book's 66 color page count. Next is the black and white section, starting off with GITS: SAC Analysis, where some technical terms commonly used in the anime were introduced and explained, e.g. Cyberbrains, Cyborg Technology etc. This is followed by the design pages, where sketches and design drawings of the characters, weapons, mecha and etc were briefly introduced.

Seburo C-30 Design (sample)

Last but not least, the Visual Book ends with an excellent section of 12 SAC 4-koma manga strips by Yuichiro Matsuka, which is a great surprise addition to the book:

4-koma by Yuichiro Matsuka! ^_^

However, that's not the last of what the Visual Book has to offer! The color pages came back and next we see the「攻殻 S」 section, exploring in-depth again the Seburo & Glock 33 Advanced Gun Systems, this time graced with the beautiful presence of Japanese idol / model Haruka Nayuta (那由多遥) posing as Major Kusanagi! ^_^ FYI, Haruka modelled for Hobby Japan's ARMS Magazine (03/2004 issue) as Major Motoko Kusanagi for the magazine's Ghost In The Shell feature special.

If you need one reason to get SAC Visual Book, this is it! ^_^
This is as close as we get to an official live-action GITS for now ^_^

The color pages continue again with the SAC Story Digest, summarizing all 26 episodes in 13 DVDs with little screenshots. This is then followed by SAC Goods Collection section where SAC-related products and merchandise were given some publicity. This includes model kits, gashapons, CD soundtracks, the PS2 game as well as brief one-page previews of 2nd Gig and Innocence. Finally, another surprise- 10 pages of "Transient Target": Motoko Kusanagi Image Picture Book modelled by Haruka Nayuta again. A collection of mostly black & white photograph shoots of Haruka as Motoko posing around... to repeat myself, very nice ^_~

GITS SAC Visual Book Cover

ホビージャパンMOOK 攻殻機動隊 STAND ALONE COMPLEX ビジュアルブック Hobby Japan Mook: Ghost In The Shell Stand Alone Complex Visual Book Published by: Hobby Japan Release Date: 15th July 2004 ISBN4-89425-341-0 C9476 Recommended Price: 2000 Yen 130 pages (w/o cover) Websites: Hobby Japan Official GITS Arms Report 那由多遥 Haruka Nayuta Official

posted by: Lucas at 04/15/05 17:45 | link | comments (5) | Category: ghost in the shell

Mini-holiday ^_^

Just a short post to say that I will be away for a few days until 15th April 05 for a much needed break after many weeks of gruelling hours at the workplace... So MSHP posting will resume again by the time I get back ^_^. Sorry if I miss any news during this period. Please keep everyone updated at the Shirow fan BBS if you have any news or anything interesting to share. Later then.

posted by: Lucas at 04/11/05 22:47 | link | comments | Category: mshp post

Shirow Seishinsha April Pick-up & Etc ^_~

The monthly Data Library at Seishinsha Online has been updated, with hi-res images from ID2 and ID3 this month. Next update is on 10th May. Sorry couldn't post this earlier as I was busy yesterday.

In another totally unrelated news;

New Appleseed series Screenshot??

Nah... just pulling your leg! :P So what exactly is this anyway? These screenshots were taken from Adult Swim's new stop-motion animated series Robot Chicken! The antenna-less Bri made his brief appearance in Episode 2: Nutcracker Sweet on 27th February under the "Ode to the Nut Shot" clip where errr... tons of action figures gets a hard shot at their privates o_o Luckily Bri's a tough one ^_^;; OK here's what happened:

Ouch. That has got to hurt even if you're made of steel

What the ****?!?

Why the hell did you do that for??
..... (silence) :)

What is Robot Chicken anyway? Its a new 15-minute animated program from Seth Green and Matthew Senreich. This wacky stop-motion series is currently airing on the late-night programming block "Adult Swim". As you all know, Adult Swim also broadcasts GITS SAC season 1 to viewers in the US. By the way Matthew Senreich is an ex-editor of Toyfare magazine, which kinda explains where he got all those crazy action figures~ so basically this show animates motion figures doing and saying really silly things :) Very enjoyable show... waiting to see if any more Appleseed or GITS figures makes it on air (although for now it seems that only really crappy and damaged toys were featured). Good idea though! Since there are so many Shirow-related figures on the market, why not make a stop-motion animation out of them eh? :) Souds like a Motokoma-ish project to me. Hmmm... so maybe I will get those Yujin Appleseed figures :P maybe not...

Dont take this post too seriously, although to some extent it is somewhat Appleseed related eh? ^_^

posted by: Lucas at 04/09/05 11:16 | link | comments | Category: shirow misc, shirow news

Appleseed「POSEIDON Project」News

It's no April Fool's joke folks~ Appleseed producers Micott & Basara's website was updated with some news on the planned Appleseed sequel and TV series today! Aside from reporting the new collaboration project (the presence and involvement of the internationaly acclaimed HK Director John Woo seems to be hogging much of the limelight though!) which was announced in a press-conference on 31st March 05, little else is revealed about the Appleseed Sequel and TV series. So it is confirmed that the new Appleseed production team will comprise Micott & Basara, Lion Rock Productions and Axis Entertainment.

This however, is new. The new Appleseed movie sequel and TV series project will be called the「POSEIDON Project」. The report highlighted again the partial participation of John Woo in directing, character design, action scene choreography etc in addition to Shinji Aramaki's direction of the new series. Also included are some background on the other parties involved in the project - Lion Rock Productions and Axis Entertainment. No details again on the planned contents of these new Appleseeds. All we have so far is still Shinji Aramaki's hint of new animation techniques and style... Expected release is scheduled for Summer 2006.

Relevant Links: sTwo's Shirowledge | Micott & Basara | Project Poseidon Announce

MSHP Notes: By the way, no mention of Shirow sensei's involvement in this new project also. For context, "Poseidon" in Shirow's manga world typically meant "corporate" Japan in his future stories. In Appleseed Poseidon refers to a nation in the east with fast developing technological advancements and is being closely monitored by Olympus. Doric works as a spy for Poseidon. Most recently of course, Poseidon Industrial surfaced in Shirow's world as employer of sexy network hacker / lifeform Aramaki Motoko (GITS2: MMI).

posted by: Lucas at 04/06/05 23:50 | link | comments | Category: appleseed, shirow news