SWTOR rocks! Yup, my Tatooine Toyboxers, I’m back for my final broadcast of 2011. And guess what I’ll be talking about? The “Star Wars: The Old Republic” (SWTOR) massively multiplayer online (MMO) game, of course! Well, just a little bit, hehe. After two amazing SWTOR beta weekends (11-13 and 25-28 November), I leapt back into SWTOR early access almost one full week (14 December) before the official launch date (20 December), and brought back my bad-ass female cyborg character, Punktrooper Motoko Mandara, based on the most-famous cyberpunk chick in anime history: Major Motoko Kusanagi, the elite anti-terrorist commander in “Ghost in the Shell”, “Stand Alone Complex”, and “Solid State Society”. Haha, very nice indeed!
Category Archives: Star Wars
Blog 231 > Old Republic to New Renders
Whoa, three months flew by fast! And now, my Tattered Toyboxers, I’m back for a mini-broadcast. For this one, I’ll be leaping from 2D art to hi-def hardware to 3D renders, and hyperspacing from the Old Republic to Daz Studio to Poser. How did it all begin? I think it began in July-August with my unexpectedly consuming interest in the upcoming “Star Wars: The Old Republic” (SWTOR) massively multiplayer online (MMO) game! Since then, that interest has spread into SWTOR-laced 3D art as well, haha. So here we go, folks, time to let the Force flow through us…
Blog 225 > Into the Bright Blue Bubble
Yup, IBM. If the proposed acquisition (announced on March 22nd) closes by the end of the month as planned, then I will officially become an “IBMer”. Not bad. Intimidating? Yeah. Terrifying? Sure. But it’s a tremendous opportunity as well. To explore the bright blue bubble.
Blog 223 > Women of the Clone Wars
Star Wars. The Clone Wars. First, the pilot film. Next, the Season 1 television series. Then Season 2. Now Season 3. Brilliant. From the settings and scenes to the characters and conflicts to the dialogue and drama. Sublime. That pretty much sums up my speed review. Five stars. Spectacular. But now that you know my point of view, why not focus a quiet Jedi-like eye — or a silent Sith-like smile — on the alien women of the Clone Wars series? Do you have a bad feeling about this? Haha, enough said. Let’s start blasting! And may the Force be with you!
Blog 196 > Art Deco, Retro & Steampunk
Heyyy, my Timeless Toyboxers, what’s up? Is it time for another weekly mega-broadcast yet? Well, duh, I guess so! For this first week of April, we time-travel through shiny slave-driven “Pop Anime” trends, wide-eyed “Art Deco” lolitas, retro-armored “Star Wars” steampunk, sentimental “Firefly” fanart, and a random chrome-plated cart of orangy antics, lol. Did I mention time-travel? Haha, yeah, I did. Well, without further ado, fine-tune the station, grab your favorite bag of popcorn, sit back, and enjoy the five-ringed circus show…
Blog 194 > Assassins, Serpents & Wishes
Awww, thanx, Miyabi! We haven’t seen you since Hearts and Sevens! Sadly, I know this is another fabricated message, lol. Oh well, a birthday dream is better than none at all, lol. So, my Trembling Toyboxers, what’s in store for this broadcast week? Well, this week, we take another five-lap trek, peeking at ongoing otaku-blog battles, glimpsing at galactic hunters and bountiful assassins, staring through split-tongue serpents and masochistic dragons, digesting a few tasty birthday treats, and blinking at random red-red-red-tinged observations. And maybe, just maybe, Miyabi will say “Hi!” once more. Who knows? With her gorgeous figure in mind, let’s start the show…
Blog 173 > The Punk Trooper – Video
Are you sick and tired of Imperial Stormtroopers who can’t aim or blast the side of a barn to save their lives? Are you sick and tired of Jedi Apprentices who can’t find peace without a Master? Well, enter the Stormtrooper drop-out, Jedi outcast, and bounty-hunter-in-black~~ “Punk Trooper”, lol.
Like I first explained in my second audio broadcast and teased again in my last post, I dressed up (or God-forbid “cosplayed”, lol) in my original character for the Halloween lunch at work. And as my video hopefully shows, it was a “blast”, pun intended, hehe.
Blog 172 > The Punk Trooper – Teaser
Just a teaser, lol. Full post coming soon… So how was your Halloween?
Blog 171 > From Drunk to Punk Trooper
xJAYMANx_broadcast 002
“From Drunk to Punk Trooper”
Saturday, 1:15am, 25 Oct 2008
MP3 Length 16:27 Minutes
- OP – “Virgin’s High” by MELL from the anime “Sky Girls” [2007].
- Second broadcast, hope not as crackly and staticky
- Jackie Chan‘s and Woo Ping’s ground-breaking 1978 Hong Kong film Drunken Master
- Got 89th figure Queen’s Gate Alice; Potter-esque “Zero no Tsukaima” (4 of 5 stars)
- Anime in a philosophical light: No art is stupid? Anime is art? So no anime can be stupid?
- Hated Metropolis, disliked Amazing Nurse Nanako
- Sent in my absentee ballot, voted for NONE of the above candidates, liberating
- Japanese street fashion, funny stuff, lol
- “Punk Trooper”, Stormtrooper or Jedi drop-out, bounty hunter in black, jack of all trades
- Katana bokken, test for Halloween costume, damn helmet so hot to wear or breathe
- Punk Trooper!
- ED – “Last Regrets” by Ayana from the anime “Kanon” [2006].
Blog 169 > MP3 Audio Broadcast 001
xJAYMANx_broadcast
Saturday, 9:15pm, 11 Oct 2008
MP3 Length 13:33 Minutes
- OP – “Into the Battlefield” from Crows Zero [2007].
- Stuffy nose, cold weather, Miko sick, hope u feel better
- Rearranging house, plasma TV soon, remove old wood shelves, TV stand, sit on floor
- Behind on blogs, website to design
- Mimi‘s comment on high-school classroom, feng shui?
- Lisa is home, Guiness the dog is there
- Danny’s blog, Mimi’s comment on hikikomori vs. otaku
- Behind on TV shows and anime, Harry Potter 5
- Lucky Star OVA, Sayonara Mr. Despair (Zetsubou Sensei), WTF LOL, 4 of 5 stars
- Star Wars (Clone Wars) TV, Roughnecks (Starship Troopers), good formula for kids, Yoda!
- Crows Zero, 8 Mile, Eminem, Lose Yourself, D12
- Treadmill, hours editing a blog post, pain in the butt, life of a blogger, too lazy to write up
- ED – “Lose Yourself” from 8 Mile [2002] by Eminem.
Blog 164 > Mimi Says
Hahaha, when I read the last line of this blog post, the words suddenly called to me, begging for a Despair poster, lol. But what image to use? So I hopped onto Google. Then somehow, I don’t remember how, I stumbled upon this random image of Danny Choo and his buddy Hector Garcia taking a break from their Imperial trooping earlier this year. And voila, this poster was born! Frivolous? Sure. Mindless? Maybe. But I couldn’t help it, hehe. ^_~
Blog 160 > Adventures of Danny Clone
The Adventures of Danny Clone
- Warning: Massive 58-photo segment following the show.
- Danny Clone: Hey Jay, are u sure about this?
- xJAYMANx: Sure, let’s push the envelope a little bit, hehe.
- DC: Okay, if you’re sure.
- xJ: Yeah, let’s do it. Go ahead whenever you’re ready…
- [Audience applause.]
- DC: Okay!… Welcome ladies and gents to “The Adventures of Danny Clone”. I’m your host Danny Clone, a third-rate copy of the extraordinarily unique and original Danny Choo!
- [Audience applause.]
- DC: But first, a quick plug for Good Smile Company! And the beta launch of the English Good Smile website at eng.goodsmile.info! Where they go the extra mile for your good smile!
- [Audience applause.]
- DC: And your good cash… Just kidding, just kidding!
- [Audience laughter.]
- DC: Today, our guest is the beautiful Barbie from Las Vegas.
- [Audience applause.]
- Barbie: Thank you, DC. Would it be okay to call u DC?
- DC: Why not? I’ve been called worse things!
- [Audience laughter.]
Blog 158 > Deconstructing Danny – Part 3
“You will know… when you are calm, at peace, passive. A Jedi uses the Force for knowledge and defense, never for attack… No, no, there is no why. Nothing more will I teach you today. Clear your mind of questions.”
~ Master Yoda, Star Wars Episode V.
Previously in Part 2 [Link]
- Mish [waves]: Hi Katt!
- Katt [waves back]: Hey Mish! Wow, I like the red!
- Mish [touches her hair]: Thanks. Just had it done. Hi Takeshi.
- Tack: Hey Michelle. Looks really good!
- Mish [smiles]: Thanks… So what’s so funny? I could hear u guys all the way from the library.
- K: Haha, it’s nothing. Just some stupid guy talk.
- Mish: U sure?
- K: Yeah, we’re sure.
- T: We’re stupid. Can’t u tell?
- Mish: U guys aren’t stupid. Just “otaku”.
- K [shocked]: Hey! When did u learn to use that word?
- Mish: What? Otaku? U guys taught me that just the other day!
- K and T [look at each other]: …
- T [turns to Mish]: Really?
- Mish: U forgot already?
- T: Ahhh, wait… Oh yeah! The mall!
- K: Hmmm, that’s right.
- Mish: Yeah! U know, sometimes I think u two are hopeless.
- K: Yeah.
- T: Well, u just missed Jimi. She practically yelled at us.
- Mish: Hehe, but Jimi’s too cute.
- K: If u say so.
- Mish: Anyway… I meant to ask u, since you’re the experts.
- K: Sure. Go ahead.
- Mish: Do u know where I can find some cute cat-ears?
- K and T [look at each other]: …
- K and T [together]: Hahaha!
- Mish [confused]: What? What’s so funny?
Part 3
- Tack [laughs]: Haha, so u haven’t seen Jimi yet?
- Mish: Ummm, nooo. Why? What? She isn’t wearing cat-ears around campus, is she?
- Katt [smiles]: Yup, u got it!
- Mish: Nooo wayyy! You’re joking, right?
- T: Would we joke?
- Mish [thinks]: But now that I think about it, it definitely fits her. Hopping down the hall. Skipping up the steps…
- T: Scratching our eyes out.
- K: Haha, no question. Unfortunately…
- Mish: Unfortunately?
- K [turns, winks at T]: You’re right. We were joking.
- Mish: What!?!
- T [nods at K, turns to Mish]: Haha, yeah, you’re such an easy target!
- Mish [smacks K’s shoulder]: I can’t believe u guys. Really, I can’t believe u.
- T [laughs]: What? Didn’t u just say we were hopeless?
- Mish: I was just being polite.
- K: Haha, polite? How is that being polite?
- T: Hahaha!
- Mish [looks down]: Forget it. I’ll ask somebody else.
- K: Hey wait, wait.
- T: Come on, Mish, we’re just teasing. So why do ya need cat-ears?
Continue reading
Blog 156 > Deconstructing Danny – Part 2
“But beware. Anger, fear, aggression. The dark side are they. Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny.”
~ Master Yoda, Star Wars Episode V.
Previously in Part 1 [Link]
- Jimi [points]: I think you’re both wrong.
- Katt [surprised]: Oh shit! Where’d u come from?
- Jimi: Huh? I was sitting right there. U just didn’t realize it. As usual.
- K: Yeah, whatever.
- Jimi: Hmmm, wasn’t Tack here a second ago?
- Tack [runs back, blushes]: I’m here! I’m here! Hey Jimi.
- Jimi: Hey Tack.
- K [annoyed]: Christ, are u cosplaying again?
- Jimi [sighs]: Why do guys always ask me that? Just because I’m wearing cat-ears doesn’t mean I’m cosplaying. I just couldn’t find my other hair-band, okay?
- K: And the mini-skirt?
- Jimi: So now I can’t wear a mini-skirt? It’s the only thing that matched my outfit. Jeez!
- T [blushes]: I think it’s cute.
- Jimi: Thank u, Tack. I think so too.
- K: Wait a second.
- T and Jimi: What?
- K: You said we’re “both wrong”? How’s that?
- T: Both wrong about what?
- K: She said we’re both wrong about Danny. Right?
- Jimi: Exactly.
- T: What? How can we be BOTH wrong?
- Jimi: Because I’m right.
- K and T [look at each other]: Huh? Explanation please?
Part 2
- Jimi [sighs]: You guys were talking about popularity and enjoyment and sensitivity…
- Tack: What’s wrong with…
- Katt [shrugs]: Yeah, so?
- J [sits]: Oh god, u guys sound like old ladies. Did u exchange apple-pie recipes too?
- K and T: …
- Jimi: Reality is much darker than that.
- K: You’re wearing cat-ears and you’re gonna talk to us about reality?
- T: Hahaha, good one.
- Jimi: Who else? Because like every other guy, you’re too distracted, or too stupid, to figure it out. Playing with your little dolls. Lifting up their little skirts. And peeking at their little panties. Awww, how cute.
- K [annoyed]: Christ, here she goes again.
- T [blushes]: They’re called figures…
- Jimi [ignores them]: But since you’re not as stupid as other guys, I’ll tell u anyway. Because u…
- Jimi and K [at the same time]: …don’t have a choice.
- K: Yeah, we got it, we got it. Are u gonna tell us?
Continue reading
Blog 153 > Deconstructing Danny – Part 1
“I’m taking an awful risk, Vader. This had better work.”
~ Governor Tarkin, Star Wars Episode IV.
Part 1
- Tack [smiling]: Hey Katt! What’s up?
- Katt [lazily]: Hey, not much…
- T: What’s wrong? U sound bummed…
- K: I just visited DannyChoo.com this morning. He had another figure post…
- T: Sounds cool!
- K: …mixed with some of his inspirational wisdom again.
- T [confused]: What’s wrong with that? U like those, don’t u?
- K [nods]: Yeah, I do. Usually I do. But something bugged me this time…
- T: Oh, really?
- K: Yeah…
- T: What’s that?
- K: Well, u know that Cosby quote that Danny always likes to reference?
- T: Oh yeah, something like “…the secret to failure is trying to please everybody.” Yeah?
- K [nods]: Yeah… Actually, it’s pretty similar to that Lincoln quote “… can’t please all of the people all of the time”, yada yada.
- T: Hey, that’s true! So what about it?
- K: Well, I got to thinking about it… If Danny isn’t trying to please everybody, why does he keep on floating his polls and requests for opinions, et cetera. Isn’t he trying to please everyone?
- T [laughs]: No way! Come on, Katt! Wait, you’re talking about his new portal design, right? He’s definitely not doing that.
- K: Are u sure?
- T [nods]: Yeah! He’s just trying to design the best experience for regular and potentially-regular visitors. But not ALL his visitors.
- K: Huh? Potentially regular?
- T: Sure! Why would Danny want to keep new readers who didn’t like figures or anime?
- K: Yeah, that makes sense.
- T: Not only that, if he wanted to please ALL his readers, he’d design his site for IE6, IE5, IE4… But that would be stupid.
- K [nods]: Yeah… Or he could just be lazy, and not make the time to be backward-compatible.
- T: Hahaha, good one. I guess that makes us ALL lazy, hahaha.
- K [laughs]: Hahaha, yeah… I dunno.
- T: What?
- K: It still bugs me.
- T: Really?
Continue reading
Blog 116 > Saber Trooper!
Triple damn!!! More than 2 1/2 months since my Vader Versus Haruhi photoshoot in mid-August! Tied up with work, anime, my brother’s wedding in September, and the completion of my latest Mirai masterpiece in October. But finally, we welcome my 1/6-scale “Saber in White Swimsuit” (Clayz, June 2006) obtained in August 2007, 1/6-scale “Bunny Girl Yuki Nagato” (Atelier Sai, April 2007) obtained in May 2007, and 1/7-scale “Storm Trooper” (Kotobukiya, November 2003) obtained in July 2007.
For this Canon photoshoot, I ended up with 59 shots, taken with various backgrounds. And for the first time, I experimented with the “Auto Levels” function in Photoshop. Wow, it automatically adjusted the color and contrast pretty well!… But what’s the funniest of all is that this looks like a trooper-armored Danny Choo kidnapping Saber and Nagato! Just like he “kidnapped” the easy-on-the-eyes Aya Hirano, hahaha! Enjoy!
Otakurl it! >>
My Anime Figure List >>
Click for Full Photoshoot (59) >>
Blog 114 > Saber Trooper, Coming Soon!
Coming soon! My full photoshoot of Swimsuit Saber and Storm Trooper!
Blog 105 > Vader Versus Haruhi!
Double damn, it’s been 7 busy weeks since my Ghost in the Shell photoshoot. Busy with work, friends, and my Mirai project, lol. But finally, this month, we welcome my 1/7-scale “Darth Vader” (Kotobukiya, July 2005) and 1/6-scale “Bunny Girl Haruhi” (Atelier Sai, December 2006) figures!
For this Canon photoshoot, I saved 38 shots, then narrowed it down to these 28 shots. I must admit, with the huge 13-inch ultra-black figure, the lighting and lack of screen background made the raw shots horrible. Hence the delay in salvaging the shots via Photoshop. Luckily, the final results aren’t half bad. Enjoy!
Otakurl it! >>
My Anime Figure List >>
Click for Full Photoshoot (28) >>