Gakken85

I just read that Takara Tomy is forcing 100 employees to retire. http://toyokeizai.net/articles/-/13150 That's pretty shocking. And that is from a company many times larger than Arcadia that has hugely successful toy franchises in America that sell out consistently. The sells on Masterpiece Transformers would eclipse anything that Yamato and Bandai did with Macross combined in the last 10 years. It's just a bigger market. I think this discussion about Yamato turning into Arcadia and continuing on in its previous fashion is really inside a little bubble that we've created. We have people who say they have sources, and people talking bad about other peoples sources. but the fact remains that the Japanese economy is in the toilet right now, and probably will continue be for the extended future. This is partly due to the global downturn that is still going on, and partly from the Tsunami. The Yen has been dropping all year and I think there are two things we have to keep in mind: 1. Transforming toys are expensive to develop, and due to this don't make a lot of money because of a small margin of profit. (Hard for us to believe for the prices we pay!) 2. Macross is a small market with NO visible show, or movie on the horizon to prop up sales. Frontier was in 07-08! (And that's why you should pray for a crappy American movie my friends.) Also, I'm not trying to spread doom and gloom and get peoples hopes down, I'm just trying to be realistic. Obviously, I was wrong about the 1/60 30th Anni that Arcadia is planning, and I don't mind admitting when I am wrong. But, I think that Yamato's height in the late 00's will come to be known as the golden age of Macross toys, and we probably won't see anything like it again. The release schedule, depth of releases (Plus, 7, Votoms, Destroids, ect.) and the innovation and quality of Yamato are probably a thing of the past. Toys are a luxury, and will only ever be plentiful in healthy robust economies. Cost of production will also, only increase.

there .. are.. only.. four.. lights!

Ha. Troll'd hard.

Just saw this tonight. I really enjoyed it from start to finish. Only thing I would have changed: keep Kirk dead at the end and let him come back in the next film, They really missed an opportunity there to give the movie more impact. They could have had him read the speech about bolding going from a letter or something The alternate reality with the Old Spock as a mentor really paid off in this film. You can see where things could have gone, but it still feels fresh. Also, ROBOCOP KICKS ASS! haha.

haha.

I hope so! Like I said I'm not really one to go for autographs or even conventions, so it was a different experience for me. Here is a very short video of him actually signing.

I hope it comes with some sort of Minimay figure

Well, I think Animazement was a little sloppy. Maybe they rushed him so there was more room and time for Noize? or whatever they are called. I did feel a little bear bones, but I'm glad he came. I hope they paid him well at least. Also, hello Veffidas, were you at the signing?

It was $130. haha and I'd been looking at buying one for a week or two.

I'd buy that for a dollar. Much better than the 30th tuxedo. Didn't somebody on the forums just spent like 600 on a minmay guard?

Nascross! Hahaha.

Cnsidering coming out for this. Haven't been to la in awhile.

repost from my phone.

I find the whole process insulting and degrading honestly. I feel awkward waiting in line and it has to be a shitty experience for the artist. I rarely go for autographs, but that was what was being done. I get mortified that people would do it just to sell something on ebay. I hope he appreciated that I went to a lot of trouble and picked a specific piece. I also bought a nice gold marker just for him to use. His translator seemed impressed and I got to shake his hand. I feel at the least its a connection to him on a work I really enjoyed. Ah, I wasn't sure what it was from. Its a very nice little print. I like it a lot.

I got a pink Fyana for $60 shipped. Pretty stoked about that.

Just started watching this. I'm completely confused. I like Asuka's Mod target pin on her hat! haha Digging the soundtrack. -30 min The art is just fantastic. I can't help but think that this is the ultimate Giant Robot movie. The scale is just so massive. - 1 hour Pretty confusing.. but lots of nice Eva battles at least. I'd have to say it's my least favorite of the 3 so far. Really stoked to get the new Medicom 08 Beta

I see them around from time to time. Mine is currently in route from Japan. I haven't gotten a tracking update in 6 days though so I'm a bit worried.

Are you talking about the Hikiru TV 30th?

First question, about Minmay. Sorry for the weird string music, there was some music panel next door and it was too loud. I have one more of him signing, I'll upload that later.

Posted this in the Animazement thread. Thought this was a good spot too.

I have two short videos. I asked him what his favorite valk was, and how he felt about working on gunbuster.

This might be things he has said at other panels, as I'm sure he gets the same questions. But if anybody cares: Notes from Mikimoto's Panel: 1. He had a hard time with Macross 7 Characters. He doesn't like rock music. 2. Minmay was influence by the catty women he worked with when he first started out 3. His style would be different if he started out today. 4. He wanted to use a simple style for Gunbuster but he had to make it more complex due to the requests of Gainex. Very happy with the outcome of the Show even though he came into the project late. 5. His favorite Valk design are the VF-1, and the Delta wing (VF-0 I think). He also likes the triangle stealth valks (VF-171?). He feels the toys never really capture the look of the artwork. 6. Claudia was a design he worked on at his desk, and a random studio Exe. saw it, like it, and wanted to add it to Macross. Wasn't intentionally so racial diverse, just worked out that way. 7. He is always struggling with being burnt out. He tries to keep things fresh for himself. 8. Macross the first: Wants to introduce the love triangle sooner. He has a team drawing the mechs. He feels that DYRL is a good framework for condensing the story. 9. His parents were very against his choice to become an artist for a living. They still aren't that keen on it and have probably never seen Macross. He asks for support for his new projects. Everybody had one piece that he would sign, and he also signed these Macross the First prints for everyone. I saw one guy get his VF-X signed and a Masterpiece Hikaru toy. I had him sign my DYRL movie program. Enjoy.

Start your own series of shops. Its only 100,000s of yen. Then you can get that toy for less! Haha.

I got a great Autograph from Mikimoto. He was also signing pictures of Macross the 1st and giving them to all the people who were in line. I'll post notes of his panel in a bit. The Dealers room was a joke. Nothing but figarts crap and gundam kits. I saw one Yamato Fire Valk but they wanted $300 bucks for it. I tried not to laugh. This other dealer said he sent all his macross stuff to boston to sell it for that convention. I was like.. Oh, that's too bad. I have 600 bucks in my pocket. haha

I just got out of a mikimoto panel at animazement in Raleigh nc. He spoke about macross the first. He said he wants to introduce the love triangle sooner than it was played out on the television show. He said DYRL is an inspiration for condensing the story and retelling it now. He said he has a tem drawing the mecha, as he can't draw mechs. He hopes all his fans will continue to support his projects and comics. Ill have more general notes in the main animazement thread and a small video about minmay.