Archives For author

Pixel Ellipsis – Improved Search

September 3, 2010 //

I’ve been trying to find a good search plugin that’ll buff up WordPress’ default search, which as most of you know isn’t the best search around. The Search Everything plugin looked like a strong contender, but I couldn’t get the multiple search term to work for unregistered users – which is everyone apart from me. I ended up opting for the Search Tags plugin, which includes post tags and categories to the search. So now if you search for “studio ghibli” or “Satoshi Kon” on Pixel Ellipsis, you should be turning up more relevant wallpapers instead of the nothingness or the crap based on post content that was showing up before. Looking back at some of my old wallpapers’ descriptions, I sure used to be awfully emo/verbose, which is a terrible combination right there that was sure to guarantee crappy search results…

Update: Also added the WP-PageNavi plugin for better pagination + easier navigation. Maybe I’m starting to get a little too plugin happy here…

In Memoriam – Satoshi Kon

August 26, 2010 //

It’s really hard to put down into words all the things that went through my head when I first read the news. Disbelief, numb shock, then tears. Probably like many other Satoshi Kon’s fans from around the world when they first heard the news.

Reading Satoshi Kon’s 2008 ANN interview was bittersweet; reading his final message was heartbreaking. My Japanese is very limited, but the basic gist came through – the pain that the cancer wrecked on his body and family; regret about unfinished work; gratitude to his family and friends.

Millennium Actress is and always will be one of my favorite anime films of all time – the story was profound, and exquisitely told. It moved me in a way that few other films have. Watching Perfect Blue and Tokyo Godfathers cemented my status as a Satoshi Kon fan; watching Paprika renewed my love for this director’s incredible creativity and ability to tell stories that grab the imagination and take on lives of their own.

Satoshi Kon’s works will stand as lasting testimony to his unique vision. The world has lost a masterful storyteller – he will be sorely missed. My thoughts go out to his family and friends in the days to come.

Quote Seiho Takizawa:

ご冥福をナントカなんて書きたくない。

なぜ死んだバカヤロウ

Durarara!! Cosplay Around the Interwebs

August 17, 2010 //

Seeing this awesome image in the Boing Boing article “Spreading the Word About New Anime Through Cosplay“:

…made me want to check how many other cool cosplay pics there are out there for Durarara!! So I did. And Flickr, as always, delivers It’s really nice to see that Drrr!! was well-represented at this year’s cons!

Thumbs Up, Peace?

August 10, 2010 //

According to Spoon & Tamago, peace signs (or “the peesu” ) is going out of fashion in Japan and photographees are starting to favor a generic thumbs up instead.

…Definitely a bit of a bummer if that’s true, but I’d imagine that it would take quite a loooong while for the rest of Asia to phase out the infamous peesu.

Reading the Spoon & Tamago post definitely raised a more interesting question though: WHY do Asians like peacing out in photos so much? A bit of googling yielded this post from Stuff Asian People Like on the peace sign:

To show that they are indeed happy, asians outline their grinning chins with a “V” sign to draw attention away from their non-existant eyes. They also wouldn’t ever want to yell something while taking a picture because it would draw more attention to them. However, Asians are always stoked when a photo opp arises. In these situations, asians, instead of using America’s ludicrously awkward phrase, “Cheese,” will use the peace sign to show that they are indeed present in the photograph.

Not at all sure if I agree with that as an Asian, but since I don’t have any better explanations for this mysterious phenomenon, I shall leave the peesu to future ponderings…

The Deep Dark Secret Behind Spirited Away

August 4, 2010 //

Of all the hidden symbolism and meaning that I read into (or made up) from Spirited Away, I never thought that the sex industry would have anything to do with such a charming movie, but apparently it does! From cering.tumblr.com:

…I read interviews with Miyazaki. This was all put in intentionally. Miyazaki’s stories are filled with underlying themes and metaphors. He said he was tackling the issue of the sex industry rapidly growing in Japan, and that he felt children being exposed to it at such early ages was a problem.

Who would’ve thought?! Thanks tates for the tip!

Pixel Ellipsis – Sharing is Sexy

August 1, 2010 //

I’ve been sneaking changes in to Pixel Ellipsis. Firstly, in single wallpaper posts I pulled out the “next post/previous post” navigational links and substituted in “related walls.” The relation isn’t always perfect, and sometimes it makes me go “huh?” But I think it makes for more interesting browsing, especially when it links to some of the older wallpapers in the pixel ellipsis trove.

The second change is pretty obvious. I removed the “Tweet This” link on single wallpaper posts since the shortened urls don’t seem to be working any more, and installed the awesome SexyBookmarks WordPress plugin to make sharing THAT much easier (and sexier) on Pixel Ellipsis. So share away, because it shows that you care

AP Clash Immunity Round 1 Walls Pimpage

July 10, 2010 //

Since the Clash immunity challenge winners for round 1 have been announced, I figured I’d give a little extra love to some of my favorite walls from this challenge:

Wait by jubjub
Loved the exquisite simplicity and the subtle melancholy that this wall was able to convey through so few elements.

Da Ba Dee, Da Ba Die by Horseradish
Funk + soul + Spike of Bebop fame, what’s not to like?

Give Me Symphonies by ze
I’m obviously a junkie for simplicity, but the typography in this wall is also love!

Nodame Cantabile: Finale

July 8, 2010 //

I marathoned through the whole of Nodame Cantabile: Finale yesterday, and now there is a dark gaping void in my life which used to be filled with Nodame goodness. I almost blew the internet cap in the viewing process, but gosh it was worth it. I had delayed starting Finale because I thought this would happen, given how much I love the series. Despite the fact that I was utterly traumatized by the abrupt manga ending, seeing it again in anime form the second time wasn’t quite as bad. In fact, the anime actually helped me come to terms a bit more with the manga ending.

I think Nodame Cantabile is the ONLY series where I’ve read the entire manga, watched all three anime seasons, and the live action series (to the Europe special). I may have to track down the two live action movies soon. I also started a Nodame WIP to attempt to fill the abyss in my soul… it’s sort of helping

Seeing this image in the ED sequence always tore at my heartstrings, so… love to Nodame and Chiaki, and why, WHY did such an awesome series have to end? Whyyy?

Ni no Kuni Trailer

July 1, 2010 //

So I was browsing around as usual and saw that Studio Ghibli is collaborating with game studio Level-5 to create a video game. The screenshots so far look terrific – full of the trademark Ghibli charm and whimsy.

On top of all this tantalizing awesomeness, the trailer looked so jawdroppingly stunning that it took me a ridiculously long time to process the fact that this is a trailer for a NINTENDO DS GAME. I mean, seriously?! Really?! I actually have a DS – hands down DO WANT!!

Studio Ghibli, I didn’t think that you could top your previous levels of awesomeness, but clearly you’ve proven me wrong yet again…

From IGN: “Ni no Kuni: Black Mage“

I Love Paul (the Octopus)

June 27, 2010 //

Sadly I haven’t been keeping up with the World Cup, mostly because it’s not showing on cable in our apartment. Uber lame, I know. But I still got a huge kick out of Paul the (Oracle) Octopus, who has been splashing across major news sites like BBC News, Boston Globe, and Forbes for his 100% prediction rate for Germany so far.

And here’s a video of the actual moment of prophecy haha -

Does anyone else get a kick out of the idea of a mollusk prophet who can commune with the soccer gods?

P.S. ZOMG Germany beat England 4-1! AM SRSLY IN LOVE WITH THE OCTOPUS NOW YES I AM