Last night on Robotech.com Tommy Yune posted a screen shot of the digital cleanup going on for the A&E DVD Box set. The image below is from the 1987 Toy Fair promo reel.
Friday, July 29, 2011
SPLIT SCREEN DIGITAL CLEANUP OF THE 1987 SENTINELS TOY FAIR PROMO
UPDATE: I made some changes for clarification
Last night on Robotech.com Tommy Yune posted a screen shot of the digital cleanup going on for the A&E DVD Box set. The image below is from the 1987 Toy Fair promo reel.
Last night on Robotech.com Tommy Yune posted a screen shot of the digital cleanup going on for the A&E DVD Box set. The image below is from the 1987 Toy Fair promo reel.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
COMC-CON PHOTOS NOW POSTED ON THE ROBOTECH FACEBOOK PAGE
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
TOMMY YUNE ANSWERS FAN QUESTIONS ABOUT THE A&E ROBOTECH DVD'S
After the reveal that A&E Home Entertainment has acquired the DVD license to the original Robotech series there has been quite a stir online from Robotech fans. There are many questions (many of them quite good) about the extras on the DVD release and they are popping up on the Robotech.com website.
Robotech Creative Director Tommy Yune answers a fans questions about the A&E box set in the Robotech Production Forum. (I've edited the questions and responses into a easy Q&A format.) Tommy's answers to the questions are in italics.
1) Since A&E are putting Harmony Gold's original dub versions of Macross and Mospeada on the set as extras, in addition to promises of Southern Cross stuff regarding the Robotech Movie extras, does this mean A&E also have distributing rights to the Macross/Southern Cross/Mospeada shows as ADV did?
They're selections of deleted Japanese scenes and alternate dubs in the bonus discs. The complete Japanese series are not part of this bundle or else it would not fit in 17 discs.
2) Is that little-known Mospeada music-tribute feature being considered as an extra?
If you're talking about Love Live Alive, that may be a better fit with the Japanese Mospeada and is not part of this set.
3) I apologize if asking something that's already been answered, but is the new documentary being included the one Harmony Gold has been interviewing VAs like Mr. Greg Finley and been working on for the past year?
Yes, the documentary is included and we announced at Comic-Con that we were renaming the project "Carl Macek's Robotech Universe" in his honor.
4) Kevin, can you point out which episodes in the prior ADV release had music issues? I haven't seen the original version, only my Protoculture set and the same version on YouTube, so double-checking these would be insightful.
The selection of "alternate" episodes bundled in the A&E bonus discs are from the original airing in Spring 1985 that had a work-in-progress audio track, which some fans actually prefer over the final version that was seen in re-runs and the Legacy box sets from 2001. The quality of these alternate episodes are nowhere near as pristine as the remastered footage, but have had some processes applied to clean them up from the 25-year-old analog source tapes they were recovered from.
5) With the Sentinels feature being remastered, we're talking a real remastering job like the three sagas, looking better than the VHS quality on the Legacy/Protoculture sets? (And is this potentially helping the Sentinels feature's state of canon consideration? )
Actually, visually cleaning up the Sentinels was suggested by a fan at AnimeExpo. Though we showed one screen shot sample at Comic-Con, we're still working on this. This is a far more complicated undertaking than we expected (the Sentinels was quite a messy salvage job that does not trace back to a clean set of 16mm reels as conveniently as the 85 episodes). As there are many factors to consider to this project and we have a ticking clock of October 18 looming, we'll keep you posted on how things progress on this specific feature.
WHAT'S NEXT?
With the blockbuster announcement that A&E Home Entertainment has acquired the DVD rights to the original Robotech series at the San Diego Comic-Con many have wondered: What's Next?
Well next up is the convention Matsuricon in Columbus, OH
What is even better is that while everyone is just talking about the bad economy Matsuricon is actually doing something about by having a special discounted registration of $30 USD for all three days. (Thats $10 USD per day)
To get this discounted rate you must pre-register before August 1st on the Matsuricon Website.
Monday, July 25, 2011
SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON ATTENDANCE: 120,000
From CBS News
Expect more pictures from SDCC on the Robotech Facebook page very soon.More than 120,000 people attended the sold-out event at the San Diego Convention Center, which spilled over into downtown San Diego.
Inside the convention center, comic books, toys and splashy displays touting upcoming games, movies and TV shows packed the exhibition floor while panels for various artists, programs and films continued nonstop in dozens of ballrooms and meeting halls.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Saturday, July 23, 2011
SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON ROBOTECH PANEL PART-3
This where A&E Home Entertainment is revealed to be the new DVD distributor for Robotech. You can hear an audible gasp from the crowd when A&E is announced.
Friday, July 22, 2011
ROBOTECH X PHOTOS FROM SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON
Robotechx.com has posted over 50 photos from San Diego Comic-Con on thier Facebook page. The photos include the Toynmai exhibit and the convention itself.
A&E ROBOTECH PROMOTIONAL BUTTONS
Robotechx.com has posted a photo of the promotional buttons A&E is giving out to fans in the wake of the blockbuster announcement at San Diego Comic-Con.
Here is a photo of a set of them.
Here is a photo of a set of them.
A&E ROBOTECH DVD BOX ART ONLINE!
The Robotech Facebook Page has posted DVD cover artwork from A&E Home Entertainment release of the Robotech.
A+E HOME ENTERTAINMENT PRESS RELEASE ON ROBOTECH.COM
Robotech.com has the full press release from A+E Home Entertainment up on the website. Here is an excerpt.
SAN DIEGO, CA, July 21, 2011 – Long before the current live action Transformers franchise took over the box office and introduced giant alien robots to a new generation, there was a sweeping animated sci-fi epic that delivered “mecha” to the masses: Robotech. Arriving on U.S. airwaves in the mid-80s via syndication, the legendary space opera – one of the very first anime imports -- helped to usher in the multi-billion dollar anime industry and now, through the cult classic curators at A+E Networks Home Entertainment, the influential series will be reborn on DVD. Working in close conjunction with original Robotech producer Harmony Gold, the franchise will be available in a handsomely-designed collector’s set featuring all 85 re-mastered episodes of the engaging and dramatic anime classic. Available for $99.95srp, the specially-priced 17-disc set ROBOTECH: THE COMPLETE ORIGINAL SERIES will also feature four exclusive bonus discs with more than 10 hours of bonus content – much of which is new to DVD. The deal was brokered by Content Media Corporation, the worldwide distributor of the series.
The release also has some of the DVD Box artwork as well so its worth checking out.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
BREAKING NEWS: A&E HOME ENTERTAINMENT ACQUIRES ROBOTECH: THE ORIGNAL SERIES!
A&E Networks Home Entertainment, long an innovative pioneer in TV DVD, is partnering with Harmony Gold and Content Media to release ROBOTECH: THE COMPLETE ORIGINAL SERIES. T
This October, A&E will release ROBOTECH: THE COMPLETE ORIGINAL SERIES, a 17-disc collector’s set featuring all 85 episodes in their entirety, re-mastered from their original elements for this release.
MORE INFORMATION TO FOLLOW PLEASE STAND BY!
ROBOTECH WORLD PODCAST AT 8 P.M.
Right now (Thursday July, 21st @ 7:05 p.m.) the Robotech Industry Panel is taking place at the San Diego Comic-Con. To update fans on everything that was discussed at the panel I will be joining Robotech fan MaverickLSC to talk about what happened at the panel and the future of Robotech.
Got questions? Then you can call in at Phone Number: (724) 444-7444 Call ID: 92340
THAT QUOTE BY THEODORE ROOSEVELT
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."
Theodore Roosevelt
Excerpt from the speech "Citizenship In A Republic", delivered at the Sorbonne, in Paris, France on 23 April, 1910
Theodore Roosevelt
Excerpt from the speech "Citizenship In A Republic", delivered at the Sorbonne, in Paris, France on 23 April, 1910
THREE NEW STOPS FOR THE ROBOTECH CONVENTION TOUR
Robotech.com has announced that 3 new tour stops have been added to the 2011 Robotech Convention Tour for the fall. Take note that the New York Comic-Con has been added as well...sounds like a good place to make an announcement before Dec. 31st 2011. (just sayin)
ANIME WEEKEND ATLANTA
Atlanta, GA
September 30 - October 2, 2011
Guests: Steve Yun
Awa-Con.com
Atlanta, GA
September 30 - October 2, 2011
Guests: Steve Yun
Awa-Con.com
NEW YORK COMIC-CON
New York City, New York
October 16 - 16, 2011
Guests: Kevin McKeever
NYcomicCon.com
New York City, New York
October 16 - 16, 2011
Guests: Kevin McKeever
NYcomicCon.com
ONI-CON
Galveston, TX
October 28-30, 2011
Guests: Kevin McKeever
Oni-con.com
WHAT REALLY KILLED BORDERS
Slate has an article on what really killed the Borders bookstore chain. Here is the first reason.
First, Borders famously flubbed its relationship with the Internet. From 2001 until 2008, it outsourced its online sales to Amazon, essentially handing customers over to the bigger, better site during the formative years of e-commerce. How on earth did that happen? The company's 2000 annual report explains: "Our online investment will be channeled to support our in-store platform, while Borders.com will continue to be utilized as a convenience retail channel," the report reads. "We have targeted loss reduction as a major goal in this area."
The article confirms something I wrote about yesterday.Translation: Borders decided to channel its "online investment" not to its website but to its "in-store platform": Title Sleuth, "the innovative self-help computer stations in Borders stores." The next year, to get the "loss reduction" it sought—that is, in an effort to lose less money—Borders tossed the keys to its website to Jeff Bezos. The company finally got them back in May 2008.
There is a human cost here.Still, Borders' decision to liquidate, closing 399 stores and laying off 10,700 employees, seemed shocking.
HOW TO GET TO THE ROBOTECHX FAN BOOTH
Meet other Southern California Robotech fans just like you and get a chance win some giveaways from the RobotechX crew! Check at the booth all weekened for scheduled appearances by Robotech veterans Tommy Yune and Steve Yun!
Cant find the RobotechX booth? Well here is a video to help you navigate your way to the booth.
Cant find the RobotechX booth? Well here is a video to help you navigate your way to the booth.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
SAN DIGEO COMIC-CON SURVIVAL TIPS
The San Diego Comic-Con is almost here and you can never have too many posts to help you get the most out of the convention.
- Get comfy — Hundreds of thousands of people descend upon San Diego to attend Comic-Con every year, which means the place will be packed with long lines, crowds, and a lot of walking from booth to booth and panel to panel (some of which are not on the expo grounds). Unless you're wearing an intricate costume, pack breathable clothes and arm your feet with comfy shoes, since you'll be doing a lot of walking, standing, and sitting in tight spaces.
Go read the whole thing.
- Plan ahead — Make sure you take a look at our daily Comic-Con must-see panel suggestions and plan your route and timetable ahead of time. Getting from one ballroom to another can be tricky with big crowds, so knowing where you're going will save you precious minutes (and line placement).
Also a quick reminder about the Robotech Industry Panel on Thursday at 7 p.m.: Panel attendance in past years have been capped by the San Diego Fire Marshall and many fans were unable to attend. We encourage our fans to get their badges and line up for the panel early not to be left out.
ROBOTECH MAKES DEADLINE HOLLYWOOD
It appears the Robotech panel has made Nikki Finke's Deadline.com Thursday night preview of the San Diego Comic-Con. Here is what it says.
I do not know about you but I'm looking forward to the SDCC Robotech panel and I wont even be down there on the stage. Instead I will be up in LA holding the fort at the Harmony Gold offices getting our next couple of shows ready.
BORDERS TO BEGIN LIQIDATION ON FRIDAY
From AnimeNewsNetwork.com
Yesterday I heard on the radio that the liquidation would throw about 10,000 people out of work. The liquidation will carry a large human cost as well as economic and will do nothing to lower the unemployment rate.Following Monday's announcement that the American bookstore chain Borders will close, Borders has confirmed it will submit a proposal from the liquidator consortium, led by Hilco and Gordon Brothers, to bankruptcy court on Thursday. According to Publishers Weekly, if the motion is approved, then going-out-of-business sales will begin "under a phased rollout," starting Friday and continuing until the end of September, when Borders expects to be completely out of business.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON ARTICLE NOW UP ON ROBOTECH.COM
ANIME NEWS NETWORK PREVIEW OF SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON
Monday, July 18, 2011
BORDERS BOOKSTORES TO LIQUIDATE - ALL STORES TO CLOSE BY THE END OF SEPTEMBER
From Anime News Network
The Wall Street Journal is reporting on Monday that the U.S. bookstore chain Borders will liquidate after receiving no other bids to buy out the company. Borders currently has 399 stores still open, and employs approximately 10,700 people. According to the article, liquidation of the stores could start on Friday. Borders Group Inc. said it expects to be completely out of business by the end of September.
This is a big blow to the North American manga industry. Manga was able to grow in popularity in large part due to the large section provided by borders. Cant tell you how many times I walked into my local Borders seening numerous kids and adults buying manga.Borders Group President Mike Edwards said in a statement, "we were all working hard toward a different outcome, but the head winds we have been facing for quite some time, including the rapidly changing book industry, eReader revolution, and turbulent economy, have brought us to where we are now.
A sad day indeed.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
ROBOTECH CONVENTION TOUR GOES TO TULSA!
The 2011 Robotech Convention Tour makes its first ever stop in Oklahoma at Tokyo In Tulsa this weekend. Footage from both the Robotech Documentary and the Animated Feature will be shown at the convention on Saturday and Sunday!
Monday, July 11, 2011
COMIC-CON 2011 PREVIEW
From The Wrap.com
FYI: The Robotech Industry Panel takes place on Thursday July 21 @ 7 p.m..
This year’s Comic-Con gets under way at an awkward time for superhero movies, which means fewer tentpoles in tights will fly into San Diego July 21-24.
Most of the coming onslaught of comic-book movies -- and that includes the latest “The Dark Knight” and the "Superman" reboot “Man of Steel” -- aren't far enough along in production to preview at the convention. On top of that, except for July 22's "Captain America," this year's slate already has hit theaters.
Go read the whole thing.That leaves "Cowboys & Aliens" and Sony's “The Amazing Spider-Man” as the only top-shelf comic book movies with a substantial presence at the annual fest.
FYI: The Robotech Industry Panel takes place on Thursday July 21 @ 7 p.m..
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Friday, July 8, 2011
ANIME EXPO PHOTOS NOW ONLINE
Photos from the Anime Expo Robotech Panel are now up on the Robotech Facebook Page.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
18 TIPS TO SURVIVE THE SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON
From the Examiner.com
Comic-Con blends together pop culture with nerd culture and sometimes that can be a bit overwhelming. I’ve been going since 2007, but it wasn’t until 2009 that I realized what the panels were for. That was the aspect of the con that I had no clue about for the first two years and it is but one part of the whole experience I missed out on, because as a newbie sometimes you just don’t know who to ask. Well read on for some helpful tips I’ve learned along the way.
If you are a newbie or a grizzled veteran of SDCC this is a good list of tips to read.1. Schedule your time– What do you want to see? Want to check out a TV panel? Or a movie panel? Want an autograph or picture taking opportunities? Want to hear your favorite author? Or just to walk along the floor? Well as the con gets bigger each year (or so it seems) getting your schedule created before hand is a great and wonderful thing. Right now, there are a few movie studios and TV shows that have their schedules set.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
TOKYO IN TULSA IS THE NEXT STOP ON THE ROBOTECH CONVENTION TOUR
PARAMOUNT LAUNCHES NEW ANIMATION DIVISION
From TheWrap.com
Paramount is getting into the animation game.
The studio announced on Wednesday that it is launching an in-house animation division and expected to release its first film through the unit in 2014.
In making the announcement, Paramount Chairman & CEO Brad Grey said that budgets on each of the division's films will be in the $100 million range. Grey said the company will draw on other members of the Viacom corporate family in developing its films, in particular the kids network Nickelodeon.
Grey said that the market “'has never offered as many opportunities" for animated movies "at very appealing budget levels." He said that the company will expand into toons "with appropriate and prudent overhead and production budgets.”
I think this is a great thing! The more studios and production companies get involved in animation the better off we all are going to be. Competition is a good thing for consumers and we now have one more player.The move comes as Paramount's renewal of its current distribution pact with DreamWorks Animation remains very much in doubt. That deal is set to expire in 2012, but Katzenberg has clashed with Paramount's leadership, according to individuals with knowledge of the situation. Paramount, which makes an 8 percent distribution fee on the films it handles, is unlikely to sweeten those terms and if the studio is serious about creating its own in-house product, that could severely weaken DreamWorks' hand.
THE GHOST FLEET OFF SINGAPORE HAUNTS YOU EVEN TODAY
During the Anime Expo Robotech panel I discussed how the Global Economic Slowdown has affected the supply chain. As expected the people "who know this business" took to the internet to say this was false.
From the UK Daily Mail from two years ago.
From the UK Daily Mail from two years ago.
Some experts believe the ratio of container ships sitting idle could rise to 25 per cent within two years [by 2011 which just happens to be right now - Kev] in an extraordinary downturn that shipping giant Maersk has called a 'crisis of historic dimensions'. Last month the company reported its first half-year loss in its 105-year history.
Martin Stopford, managing director of Clarksons, London's biggest ship broker, says container shipping has been hit particularly hard: 'In 2006 and 2007 trade was growing at 11 per cent. In 2008 it slowed down by 4.7 per cent. This year we think it might go down by as much as eight per cent. If it costs £7,000 a day to put the ship to sea and if you only get £6,000 a day, than you have got a decision to make.
The article is worth the read as it is gotten much worse since then.
'Yet at the same time, the supply of container ships is growing. This year, supply could be up by around 12 per cent and demand is down by eight per cent. Twenty per cent spare is a lot of spare of anything - and it's come out of nowhere.'
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
ANIME EXPO PANEL WRITE UP FROM THEREALMTOYS.COM
The website TheRealMToys.com has a great writeup of the Anime Expo Robotech panel and here is the opening.
It's a great writeup and worth the read.The biggest thing, for me, at Anime Expo every year is catching the Robotech panel staged by Harmony Gold, the company that owns and operates the franchise. This panel is always hosted by Tommy Yune, often accompanied by Steve Yun, and in this case, the two were joined by marketing rep Kevin McKeever. The three company men are also fans, so their enthusiasm for all things ‘Tech coming down the pike is infectious. Over the last year or two, news was few and far between, with various projects in the works, but not due to see the light of day just yet. Well, that light is getting closer, and here’s what Harmony Gold will offer up to Robotech fans in the months to come, and an approximate release date.
ANIME EXPO ATTENDANCE REACHES 47,000
From Anime News Network.com
Anime Expo announced on Sunday that this year's event had a turnstile attendance of over 128,000 and over 47,000 unique attendees.
"Turnstile attendance" is the number of attendees on each day added together, so a person who uses a four-day pass is counted four times. "Unique attendees" is the number of attendees regardless of how many days they attend, so a person who uses a four-day pass is counted once.
Former SPJA CEO Michael Lattanzio had announced that the convention had a turnstile attendance of over 105,000 last year. 2009's listed attendance numbers were over 109,000 (turnstile) and over 44,000 (unique).
YOUR SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT UPDATE FOR THE WEEK
News of the shipping slowdown begins with this report from Reuters.com
A decline of 20% over 6 months in the shipping world is BIG. But hey it gets better as this IFW-net.com report shows.The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index , which tracks rates to ship dry commodities, fell for a third day on Thursday as slower cargo business on the capesize and panamax markets took their toll.
Brokers said they were watching for further developments in China, which is facing its worst power shortages in years and likely to have an impact on dry freight activity. Uncertainty over prospects for the world economy could also potentially hurt demand for raw materials.
The overall index fell 0.49 percent or 7 points to 1,413 points. Prior to the drop, it had risen for four sessions previously. The index has declined over 20 percent this year.
This what an economic slowdown looks like and it has very wide ranging effects.In its latest market commentary, shipbroker ACM/GFI said little had changed over the past two weeks and market sentiment remained “dismal”.
It said: “Additionally, just to paint how depressed the current freight market is, one of our contacts in the US told us that to ship a 40ft container of grain door-to-door from Chicago to Kaoh Siung in Taiwan, the all-in rate in the current market is $1,250 per feu.
“That equates to a freight rate of $44 per tonne, which is cheap as chips.”
The broker added: “With no shortages of containers and what appears to be a poor harvest this year, carriers are facing weak volumes, not only on head-haul routes, but also on the back-haul.”
On the Shanghai-North-west Europe trade, it said: “We saw the recent months fall in value reflecting the weak sentiment in the market that general rate increases (GRIs) are unlikely until the start of Q4.
“However, despite Q3 and Q4 trading at 10% and 16% premium respectively to the spot market, we are seeing more buying interest for these periods, with expectations that the market is starting to reach a bottom.”
According to the Shanghai Containerised Freight Index (SCFI), prices from Shanghai to Europe fell $24 to $821 per teu last week, while rates from Shanghai to the Mediterranean slipped to $949 per teu, a decline of $4 on two weeks ago.
Prices from Shanghai to the US West Coast increased $19 last week, compared with the week before, to reach $1,652 per feu and prices from Shanghai to the US East Coast increased $79 to reach $3,113 over the same period.
SeaIntel’s Lars Jensen said at a recent conference that operating costs were the lowest for liner companies in the ultra-large container vessels segment, provided they were running at full utilisation levels.
Monday, July 4, 2011
Sunday, July 3, 2011
A CLIP FROM THE ANIME EXPO ROBOTECH PANEL
One of the cool things about the 3-disc Robotech Soundtrack we are working on is that we have found the 24 track masters of the original music. Steve Yun gives a demonstration of some of the new music and capabilities they provide.
WHAT REALLY HAPPENED AT FUKUSHIMA
While I'm working on post Anime Expo stuff here is an excerpt from from The Atlantic about Fukushima.
Its a interesting article and worth the read.
Throughout the months of lies and misinformation, one story has stuck: “The earthquake knocked out the plant’s electric power, halting cooling to its reactors,” as the government spokesman Yukio Edano said at a March 15 press conference in Tokyo. The story, which has been repeated again and again, boils down to this: “after the earthquake, the tsunami – a unique, unforeseeable [the Japanese word is soteigai] event - then washed out the plant’s back-up generators, shutting down all cooling and starting the chain of events that would cause the world’s first triple meltdown to occur.”
But what if recirculation pipes and cooling pipes, burst, snapped, leaked, and broke completely after the earthquake -- long before the tidal wave reached the facilities, long before the electricity went out? This would surprise few people familiar with the 40-year-old Unit 1, the grandfather of the nuclear reactors still operating in Japan.
Its a interesting article and worth the read.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
ANME EXPO MAIN HALLWAY CLOSED DUE TO 'UNKOWN OBJECT'
From Anime News Network
I will have more later on.
This incident began about 20 mins before the Robotech Industry Panel was about to start. I can say the panel went out with out delay or incident and was a great success.he staff members of Anime Expo and the Los Angeles Convention Center cordoned off the central hallway between the South and West Halls of the center just before noon due to a "threat from a hazardous object," according to security. The public announcement system made requests for anyone who left a package in the area to claim it. The exhibit area and panel rooms remain open, but the central food court area, several administrative rooms, and all interior passageways between the two main halls are closed to everyone except convention staff.
I will have more later on.
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