It's Duke The Java Mascot!

I have my own rant which is random but related.This time in my college days, I'm in programming lesson now which includes this cool but complicated computer programming software known as JAVA. Yep, even that JAVA stuff has an official mascot. Mascot you say?

While finding some random stuff in the internet, I accidentally found and snatched pics featured the JAVA programming software mascot named Duke. With Duke's big and bulky costume, I wouldn't even imagine to someone who wear that one and getting sweaty. But fondly, isn't Duke so cute being a JAVA mascot? :)

Duke the JAVA mascot in illustration.

Duke the JAVA mascot on left, with the two guys on the right

Duke usually appears in every Sun Microsystem's promotions (the JAVA developer).

"What the heck happened to you?", that's my first reaction when I found out Duke is actually...taking a break.

Duke (behind) and a mug from one of the Javapolis promotions.

Even other mascots like Duke wants to hang out and be cool (Guitar Hero?).

Duke's solo appearance.

(Credits to people from Flickr and Sun Microsystem's blog who originally own the pics)

Combatron

An interesting storyboard animation found in the Youtube by this user entitled "Combatron". If you don't know what Combatron is, Combatron was a superhero character that first appeared on the Funny Komiks series during the 90's created by Berlin Manalaysay. It's comic series started when the young orphan named Empoy found a crashed spaceship and inside he saw an armored alien from the planet Omnicron.Thus,the alien handed down it's Combatron armor to Empoy to continue the task saving the universe against governing cyborgs...and Empoy became the new Combatron. Someone pointed out some of it's summary here.

I don't much familiarize this early Filipino-made comic series but I really admire to this creation and also Funny Komiks.I even reach Funny Komiks since early 2000 but I don't know if I read any Combatron series. Many people said during the time Funny Komiks characters including Combatron appeared since it's distribution around 80's, it went to a massive hit to Filipino's imagination especially kids. Although Combatron was considered as a rip-off of Megaman/Rockman, it's stories were very original packed with long action, adventures, and also many supporting characters.Those were the times that there were no computer games,MP3's or anime.

There was a project video in Youtube about making short Combatron animation (see above) but only they got stuck in storyboards and went to cliffhanger. Many Filipino people who were fans of Funny Komiks wanted to see Combatron or other of the comic's characters in TV either in animation or live-action. We're not pretty sure if this planned animated project of Combatron will appear on the internet or in TV someday, but at least they're trying to revive one of the superheroes that many Filipino people who admired Funny Komiks in the past. Buhayin si Combatron!

You can view about Combatron's profile here.


EDIT: Click for the missing scanlations of Combatron in a forum here.

Ragnarok: The Animation

An anime really couldn't escape video games as well."Ragnarok: The Animation" premiered around the first quarter of 2004 in Japan with it's 26 episodes. Around 2005,Korea and Philippines also premiered this episode in order to promote the MMORPG that called "Ragnarok". Like I said before,this animation was based on an online video game.Ragnarok is an MMORPG (Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game) created in Korea.In the game,it's a series of massive online game for multiplayers where you could level-up your sprite by defeating monsters from Rune-Midgard,customization of your own character and get higher job rank.A buff of merchandises of this game spread around in Korea including the "manhwa" (manga in Korea).

I would say at least I don't play much MMORPG's like the Ragnarok but the anime series at least,pleased me.The story started in the Rune-Midgard when the Dark Lord is planning to create a world of chaos with the help of the seven crystals known as Seven Strenghts that trapped him many years ago. Meanwhile,Yuufa the acolyte and her childhood friend Roan the swordsman set off in the journey across Rune-Midgard after saying goodbye to the grave of Yuufa's older brother Keough . They are both joined with Takius-a blindfolded woman who is a magician,Maya the merchant along with her Poring companion Poypoy,the hunter Judia and her companion Iruga the assassin.While they encounter dangerous set of adventures in the world Keough who believes he's dead returns...

I don't know why the producers chose the class randomly on each of the main characters .For the second though, they're more like doing task based on the game-defeating monsters,journey to different places,partying,etc.The story is much related to the manhwa version created by Lee Myung-jin. As the anime series goes on,there are parts that each of the characters develop their characterization such as getting a higher-rank jobs. There are also comedy and few running gags which can be at least made the story be good. Their fighting scenes can be plain at the first few episodes but later on at least they develop better movements in later episodes.Their clothing design can be limited .The voice acting seems to be fine but there are parts that can be quite horrible.

Just like in the game,this series also put up many merchandises available on the market-from CD's,clothes,posters to the DVD's in Japan and Korea.Last 2007,FUNanimtion release the Ragnarok : The Animation DVD's in it's complete set of episodes.In the Philippines last 2005, Level-Up Games Inc. and ABS-CBN Broadcasting Company got the rights in promoting merchandises and game promo of the series. An opening theme and closing theme of the series sang by Yamazaki Maimi are really good to hear and also available in Youtube. Various episode subs of Ragnarok: The Animation are also available so you can see what the series looks like.In the Philippines,the Tagalog-dub of this series are also available in a Youtube user's videos recorded from ABS-CBN. There is also a Tagalog version of Ragnarok opening sung by the 1st batch of Star Circle Quest entitled "We Are The Stars" (the same title of the series' Japanese opening).

Hakugei: Legend Of The Moby Dick

Title card of Moby Dick.

Another anime that was based from the popular novel entitled Moby Dick.The original novel was created by Herman Melville adapts to this theme of the story.However,the adaptation of this anime used futuristic themes and the setting is in outer space.The show aired in 1997-1999 in Japan and it ran 26 episodes.

Set in 4699,space traveling are more common during that time.Many abandoned machines and ships floating and spread around the space are called "whales".The pirates,hunters and bandits of space(known as "whalers") for them,"whales" are more important to them because those abandoned ships contains power source or even treasure in rare occasions.However,Federation Police keep tracking those pirates and gives punishment to them according to the law but for may people,all they want is freedom away from the law.One of the pirates is Captain Ahab and he has a reason for why he became a pirate-he's trying to search the legendary Moby Dick and get revenge.Moby Dick is the biggest machine ever created for Federation Police while for people,it is the threat for their lives. In Captain Ahab's flashback, he lost his leg and right eye when he's trying to kill Moby Dick which causes him to experience Moby Dick's dangerous attack.For the second time,Captain Ahab vowed himself that he will find and kill Moby Dick for revenge and protect the universe. Together with his bunch of (crazy) crew and his spaceship known as "Lady Whiskers", Ahab's search of Moby Dick begins.

We know that there are lot of differences between this anime and the novel aside from the setting.For example is Captain Ahab.In the anime,normally he is an easy-going guy and sometimes make pranks to some of his crew. He becomes serious when he find Moby Dick or a secret from Lucky(a blond,young girl who by many crew like Ahab thinks she's a boy).While in novel, the original Ahab his purpose is to kill the whale for his motive reasons of his own without any of his crew's suggestions.The plot of this anime can be possibly dark because the theme contains war and political freedom against the Federation.As Ahab and the crew almost searching the huge monster,Ahab is getting serious thinks that he will reach his revenge for Moby Dick.The animation can be rough and pleased as well,the machines such as "whales" are much rather sketchy or sharp but good detailed and they made as background setting for the theme.Plus,every episode there are few good 90's theme painting and colored sketches in the characters are exist which give more darker glimpse in the show.You'll soon notice that you like watching other futuristic anime shows such as Gundam or Outlaw Star.When it comes to action scenes, sometimes they skip over focusing only in war and desperation in the other characters.The character designs give pretty much effort as their futuristic style and like in the original novel,the feel of pirate look is there.As for the character's voice acting,you cannot hear many of the pirate's saying such as "Arr!" but instead,they show serious and touching moments in their space adventures.The music of the show can be good and pleasant to hear which you might think it's perfect to the theme.An opening theme and ending theme are available so you will notice the shows design.Oh yes,this anime released it's DVD version in six volumes.

If you're looking for a Moby Dick anime based on the novel like this one,don't expect to compare the differences between the adaptation and the original novel.It might disappoint you but if you're into a sci-fi adventure mood,you'll get amazed with the shows artistic images and Hakugei: Legend of the Moby Dick might amuse you.

P.S: Hakugei:Legend of the Moby Dick (or simply "Moby Dick") was aired in the Philippines back around 2006 and 2007.It was aired in QTV 11 every 11:00 P.M. weekends in one-hour block.

Avatar:The Last Airbender

I'm really hooked watching this series since TV 5 aired more Avatar: The Last Airbender episodes. On contrary, this is the synopsis: "Long ago, the four nations lived together in harmony.Then everything's changed when the Fire nation attacked.Only the Avatar-master of all elements could stop them but when the world needed him most he vanished.A hundred years past, two siblings from Water Tribe Katara and Sokka discover the new avatar-an Airbender named Aang stuck in the giant iceberg.Although his Airbendending skills were great,he has to lot to learn before he's ready to defeat the Fire Nation.Now, it's up to Aang to save the world as the Avatar.

Avatar created by Michael Dante Dimartino and Bryan Konietziko in the year 2005.Avatar: The Last Airbender contains the world full of people who have possessed their own elemental powers known as "benders".Also, there are four nations in the world of this cartoon-Water Tribes,Earth Kingdom,Fire Nation and Air Nomads.Each of the new generation yields only one person who are capable to control four elements as an Avatar.The Avatar shows it's unique power called an Avatar State which is usually used as defense mechanism and gets it's own will.Throughout the ages, countless of Avatar in every generation served to protect the world.

It's not really cheesy or boring to be called for this cartoon.Besides, the show really have many influences in culture and art mostly from Asia. The word "Avatar" has it's real meaning.
What really influence this great series aside from culture,one of the biggest elements for the characters from Avatar universe is the "anime".If you watch an episode of Avatar,you'll notice the character's reaction like when they're happy or getting a rant with a mix of funny reactions in their faces.Many people and fans who watch Avatar considered the show to be an "anime" but it really doesn't considered as anime because it was created in United States.Another biggest influence is their fighting styles.No joke, those fighting styles are based to similar martial arts techniques that exist today (I even heard the staff hire many martial artists experts in order to produce more fighting styles in every episode).

I can't tell the whole plot of this show because someday you can watch it whole. The characters of the show are really great and develop their personality as the series goes on.The whole story of Avatar consist of episodes called "chapters" and season called "books"(think as a classic book).
This tells about the adventures and struggles of Aang as an Avatar with the help of his friends like Katara and Sokka (Aang's pet flying bison and flying lemur included) in order to save many people from the power greed Fire Nation.I can't tell the spoilers, you better watch it instead...

The show's gain higher demographic ratings reaching 1 million+ viewers when a new episode premiered.It also gained more awards because of the great elements in producing the show.Although,Avatar:The Last Airbender never reached it's 100+ episode, they got a fair and happy ending.Many countries around the world ranked Avatar as their number one and one of the top rated programs on Nickelodeon today.Last July 19th this year,Avatar:The Last Airbender reached it's final episode and gained 5 million+ viewers in the U.S. (Source:Wikipedia).
In the success the series,Nickelodeon promote more promotions and merchandises-from video games,action figures,TCG's,etc.Their will be a feature movie of Avatar that will set to release in 2010 according to the co-creators.This year, Nickelodeon released an online MMORPG of Avatar:The last Airbender in this site that will be available worldwide.But unfortunately,when you'll play that game you'll have to download something from that game and an account from Nick in order to run.

Thanks to the cultural influence,you can assure that Avatar:The Last Airbender is one of the shows that considered as an anime by many fans. I can't really tell why they called that one.For at least the show got a great plot and satisfying ending.Will the show be considered as the "next Harry Potter" perhaps?Only time can tell.