The Greatest Anime Review

"The Japanese anime "The Devil Is a Part-Timer" offers the kind of take-no-prisoners humor American animation seems to have abandoned. And the premise is so outrageous, it may give fundamentalists heart attacks."

What f*ck?/' 

Yes, NPR reviews anime, specifically our local KCRW on the program Off-Ramp. If you can imagine the whitest person you know with a bit of dry British confidence than you'll will only start to gleam hearing the silliest, most serious review I've ever heard of anime by Mr.Charles Solomon. An anime that in no way deserves a KCET/PBS like review analyzing it for substance. It's a dumb anime with a big boob girl, a meaningless plot called the "The Devil Is a Part-Timer." Mr. Solomon gives it too much... anything.

Listen and laugh here. Quite honestly, I would like it if he had a panel at AX.

"Eventually Mao has to confront the cruel angel Sariel in a climactic battle. But the filmmakers once again juxtapose the fantastic and the mundane with hilarious results. His powers restored, a muscular, winged version of Mao begins the fight taking off his MgRonalds uniform and carefully folding it. Any damage to that uniform would be deducted from his salary! Clad in his boxers, he literally beats the hell out of Sariel, makes sure his friends are safe and repairs the nearby buildings. Then he puts his uniform back on so can start his shift at MgRonalds."

Trauncles

Things To Do In Games Has Its Own Site

Now you can watch new episodes of our video game show, Things To Do In Games, over on its own site. Now if you want to see if there's an new episode just type in thingstodoingames.com into any browser and boom, new episodes. Watch as your host Jonathan doesn't pay attention to the independent video game store he works at, World 8, a real video game store in Koreatown. He'll be talking with guests about the latest games or just dumb ones when he should really be helping customers. It's so much better than that Brian Posehn video game show that never got picked up by Comedy Central. And look at Brian he got to write the Deadpool comic and work on that Netflix show,With Bob and David, so pretty good for him. He now knows his place to stay out of video games.

The new site features every previous episode so you cant catch up to see us bad mouth horrendous video games, meet new friends and question what happened to James the Postman from episodes one and two. What the Hell did happen to him? Probably dead... or murdered.

We're going to have some more fun episodes this year.

Things To Do In Games Episode 11 Zumba

 I play Zumba for Xbox One for some reason.

Danny Devito Needs To Voice Detective Pikachu

There's a real petition to have Danny Devito cast as the English voice version of Detective Pikachu. We wanted a 70-year-old chain smoker, but that is a really good idea. Let's do it!

Sign the petition here.

Justice League Action Annouced

WB Animation, finally did something right? Justice League Action is a new Justice League cartoon series coming out to cash-in on the new film. No date was given, but after seeing the atrocity of straight-to-video Batman: Bad Blood this is just super.

Some of the best news about the series is Kevin Conroy is reprising his voice as Batman and to add to it Mark Hamill will once again be The Joker. James Woods out of nowhere is Luthor.

The series will only be 11-minute cartoons. Strange idea, hopefully the series can still be action oriented and not just funny nonsense like Teen Titans Go!.

The only thing bugging me is if the Justice League will ever have America in its title again, is the WB too afraid for the international market? More than likely.

Whose Gonna Win in Games at Annie Awards 43

The animation industry's Annie awards are taking place early next month. Each year the award show amazes at its strange proceedings of things going wrong or strange behavior...or just the results and nominees. TTDILA loves the award show and that almost every year we attend the award winners in the video game category forget to show up to pick up their award.

This year the choices in the category of Outstanding Achievement, Character Animation in a Video Game are very strange again.

• Armikrog - Pencil Test Studios, Inc. - Lead Animator: Mike Dietz Character: All Characters
• Evolve - 2K Games - Character Animator: David Gibson, Character: Daisy, Goliath, Kraken
• Invisible, Inc. - Klei Entertainment Inc. - Character Animator: Bruce Chang, Character: Decker, Central, Nika, Guards

Armikrog is a puzzle solving PC game coming from the creator of Earthworm Jim. The look is done in claymation, giving it an aesthetic that does stand out among current titles.

Evolve is a multiplayer game that work better as a concept. From some of the people who gave us Left 4 Dead comes a game where you could fight monsters or plays as a monster and evolve to kill those hunting you. We got sick of it quite quickly.

Invisible, Inc. is a stealth game. I haven't heard much buzz about it, but it's in positive standing on Steam. It does have an eye capturing look and sense of style that I think will be overlooked when people see big monsters.

Easily, Evolve will win as it probably has the most name recognition and looks the newest. We doubt 2K will attend or the other two nominees will. And as always we will like watching how the presenter handles it.

There's a list of other categories to check out, were hoping for Moonbeam City for Best General Audience Animated Television/Broadcast Production, but know it has very little chance.

Ugg, the animated movies this year are just...ehhh.

Adventure Time is up for only one thing, but it was one of it's worst seasons last year. Outstanding Achievement, Writing in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production

• Adventure Time - Episode: The Diary - Cartoon Network Studios - Writer: Kent Osborne, Writer: Pendleton Ward, Writer: Jack Pendarvis, Writer: Jillian Tamaki, Writer: Adam Muto

The 43rd Annual Annie Awards will take place on Saturday, February 6, 2016, at UCLA's Royce Hall in Los Angeles, California. The award ceremony begins promptly at 7:00 p.m. Sadly, VIP tickets are sold out for the before and after-party. You can still attend the ceremony or watch the live stream.

No EA at E3?

Strange news for fans of E3, EA is pulling out and will have a event next door instead of taking up space at the trade show. EA Play will now take center stage at the awful Club Nokia. It'll take place the same time as E3, June 12- 14. The live event in LA is suppose to have hands-on demos, special guests, competitions and schwag.

If you want more details and a possible entrance in sign up for more information on their website.

*TTDILA considers LA Live a terrible venue for any activities. Over-priced food and parking, annoying security guards and nothing of any interest nearby make it one of the worst places to visit in Los Angeles.

We Can't Even Say The Name Of This Film

Screened and freaking us out at Sundance Nextfest is a film we can only name in secret. Scroll over and highlight if you want to see the title. FUCKKKYOUUU The short film by Eddie Alcazar X Flying Lotus that can't be named is now available online. We suggest watching it in the dark and it's totally NSFW. It's a freaky mess of sex and weird imagery that we wish could be contained in a horror film.

Watch it here

The Thing We Want To See The Most @ The LA Art Show This Year

If that doesn't get your morbid taste, then you sir are too sick for us.

Melanie Pullen: Curated by Ace Gallery
Melanie Pullen will be creating a stage where she will be reenacting a series of historic crime scenes as part of her series “High Fashion Crime Scenes,” which engages issues of glamorized violence against women. Photographer and performance artist Melanie Pullen was born in New York City in 1975. She first began staging performances as a young child. Pullen is most noted for creating artworks engaging the issue of violence, particularly violence against women.


Check out some more of her work

LA Art Show 2016
January 27-31, 11:00 am – 7:00 pm daily
Los Angeles Convention Center
1201 South Figueroa Street
West Hall A
$15, $20 at the door

Future Fandom in February

This weekend may end January in a high note with cultural wonderment, but next month it's back to the proper focus of fandom and pop culture. Here's a list of fan events to get you excitied about your favorite shows, games and movies in February.

Conspiracies, Monsters & Mythology: An X-Files Art Show

Opening Reception: Thursday, February 4, 7pm-10pm

Iam8bit

2147 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, California 90026

The X-Files has 30 and more artists praising the series with an art show at iam8bit.

THE PEANUT GALLERY: A Charlie Brown Themed Art Show at Meltdown Comics

Grand Opening: Friday, February 5, 8pm
Nerdist Showroom at Meltdown Comics
7522 Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90046

Over 100 artists will be drawing Snoopy and Charlie Brown, maybe the event will be more entertaining than the movie that came out. We sure it will be, because that CGI garbage sucked at being entertaining at all. 

Long Beach Comic Expo

Feb 20-21

The Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center

200 S Pine Ave, Long Beach, CA 90802

$24 and up

We're going to be a honest and say wait for WonderCon the next month unless something in the programming makes you really want to go. If you're also a short drive away rather than much of LA I would recommend it for just the epic amount of fandom. A chance for cosplay or meeting up a celebrity you've wanted to encounter is hard to pass up.

YOKAI: The Horror of Shigeru Mizuki Art Tribute

Opening Reception: Saturday, Feb 27th , 7pm-10pm
QPOP 

319 E 2nd st. #121 LA, CA 90012

This is work based on the old Yokai, not the new video game series. Yokai generally refers to Japanese ghosts and monsters. For their first show of the new year QPop is going something they may have been better save for Halloween.

JapanLA x Pokémon Boutique!

Opening : Saturday, Feb 27th , 6pm-10pm

JapanLA

7320 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, California 90046

The Pokémon Boutique is back promoting Pokemon though designer clothing. Opening festivies include trivia contests with prizes, photo booths and of course cosplay.Free Exclusive Pokémon Tote Bag with purchases over $30! (while supplies last)

Pasadena Comic Con & Toy Show

Sunday, February 28, 9am-5pm

Pasadena Convention Center
300 E Green street
Pasadena CA

9 am Early Bird $12.00
10 am General Admission $7.00
Kids are Free 12 and below

 

Not the top of the line conventions you can go to. This is also only recommended based on distance and if there's anyone there you care to meet in person, like John K. creator of Ren & Stimpy.

Weekly What To Do: Art and Culture Weekend, Anyone?

Los Angeles Restaurant Week
January 18-31
multiple locations
Price varies

Still going strong is the remaining time you can get deals at LA's restaurant scene.

Invader Zim Signing
Wednesday, January 27, 2016 at 6:00 PM!
Barnes & Noble – The Grove
189 The Grove Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Jhonen Vasquez, Eric Trueheart, and Aaron Alexovich, the creative minds behind Invader Zim, appear at the Grove’s Barnes & Noble to discuss and sign “INVADER ZIM: VOLUME ONE”









Lazer Team Screenings
Starts Jan 27
Multiple locations
$

Rooster Teeth, known for online comedy make its feature film debut with an extremely dumb team of possible heroes that each have part of a super suit designed to fight aliens invading Earth.

LA Art Show 2016
January 27-31, 11:00 am – 7:00 pm daily
Los Angeles Convention Center
1201 South Figueroa Street
West Hall A
$15, $20 at the door

Enjoy the weekend long look at art from all over the world and LA. Featuring artists and galleries that you might have to wait for for years before seeing again.

Animé Los Angeles 12
Jan 28-31
Ontario Convention Center
Full Weekend (includes all days) : $60
Single Day : $35/day (Fri/Sat/Sun)

This is a real fan's convention. Don't expect big names or a huge selection of stuff to buy, this is more about the anime community and just hanging out.

Shatner's World

Fri, Jan 29, 8pm

Club NOKIA

800 W Olympic Blvd, Ste A335, Los Angeles, California 90015

$37.50 - $69.50 

An intimate evening of storytelling, jokes, and songs with William Shatner. It’s Shatner’s World, we just live in it!

Kid Koala’s Nufonia Must Fall

Fri, Jan 29 at 8PM
Royce Hall
$19-$49

Montreal-based scratch DJ and music producer Kid Koala presents a magical, multi-disciplinary adaptation of his graphic novel Nufonia Must Fall. The story centers around a headphones-sporting robot on the verge of obsolescence and infatuated with a winsome office drone.

Meet Cute
Fri, Jan 29, 7-9pm
G1988 East
7021 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90048

Meet Cute," the newest solo show from artist Nan Lawson.

Riot LA: Alternative Comedy Festival
Jan 29-31
Various location downtown
$110 for all-access, individual shows prices vary

Enjoy night of laughs of comedians who might be better off still being behind the scenes writing the shows than actually seeing them. It's alternative ... in no real way, it's just comedians doing some podcasts and shows live. The like of Patton Oswalt and other well-known comedians doesn't make it the most alternative comedy festival in LA at all.

SoCal Retro Gaming Expo 2016

Jan 30-31

19649 San Jose Ave, City of Industry, California 91748

Free

Kind of blown away by this one, it's a retro gaming expo celebrating all the games and systems of the past. I just wish it was closer to LA, it's a bit of a drive out of the city. It may be worth for the gamer looking to expand their collection or meet some like minded game enthusiasts. Extras include their own Star Fox Competition and the host of Nick Arcade.

Museums Free-For-All
Sat, Jan 30
Multiple museums
Free

A number of museums are free to scour and study at or just take selfies with classic art and priceless wonders.





David Bowie: Sound + Vision Screenings at The Palely Center for Media in Beverly Hills this weekend

Saturday, January 30 and Sunday, January 31, 2016 

The Paley Center for Media

465 North Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills, CA

Free

 The Paley Center of Media will pay tribute to the extraordinary legacy of David Bowie by reprising its landmark screening exhibition, David Bowie: Sound + Vision. Originally presented in 2002, Sound + Vision was the first retrospective devoted to the groundbreaking career of the ever-changing Bowie. The five-part screening series was culled from archives around the world as well as Bowie’s own library, showcasing the iconic musician’s pioneering work in music video, rarely seen performances, outtakes, documentaries, and interviews.

 

Stan Lee celebrates the release of "The Zodiac Legacy: The Dragon's Return"

Sat, Jan 30, 2pm

Barnes & Noble Events, The Grove

189 The Grove Dr, Ste K 30, Los Angeles, California 90036

Stan Lee will be there to hand out presigned copies of "The Zodiac Legacy: The Dragons Return"

Stay Melty

Buff Monster Book Signing

January 30, 2016

Giant Robot 2 (GR2)

2062 Sawtelle Boulevard

Los Angeles CA 90025

In his latest monograph, Buff collects his works in progress, paintings, murals, posters, stickers, Melty Misfits trading cards and toys. As it’s hard to keep up with this energetic artist’s output, fans will be grateful to find much of his recent work in one compact volume. (Gingko Press)

Universal Studios Hollywood Celebrates Lunar New Year

January 30 – February 14

Universal Studios

Special “Year of the Monkey” Festivities, Asian-Inspired Food, and a Mandarin-Speaking MEGATRON Character from the Park’s“Transformers: The Ride-3D” Thrill Ride. Unique to this year’s Lunar New Year celebration, Universal Studios Hollywood will welcome an exciting Shenzhen performance. "The Five Continents Arts Troupe” from Shenzhen, China entertainment will take place periodically throughout the afternoon for one day only on Saturday, February 13.

Lunar New Year Festival in Monterey Park
Jan 30-31
Garvey Ave in Monterey Park
Free

Monterey Park's Lunar New Year festival features vendors offering unique gifts and specialty items, food booths with various types of delectable items, amusement rides, and lots of live entertainment. The traditional  New Year lion and dragon dancers along with firecrackers will kick-off the festival Saturday morning. Various types of entertainment will be featured on both days. A large carnival fun zone will be featured in parking lots at the corner of Garvey and Lincoln Avenues.

CoffeeCon LA 2016
Sat, Jan 30, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
The Reef

Coffee, coffee everywhere, but please don't drink so much that you'll be awake over the weekend. There's a reason it's just on Saturday, they want you to level off the caffeine. A huge selection of what'll keep you up awaits you.

Verdi Requiem
Saturday, January 30, 2016, 2 pm, and
Sunday, January 31, 2016, 7 pm,
Walt Disney Concert Hall

Tickets range from $29 - $129

Written in memory of Verdi’s close friend, author and cultural icon Alessandro Manzoni, the Requiem combines virtuosic and deeply personal vocal solos, transcendent chorus parts and exhilarating symphonic writing, covering every operatic emotional range conceivable, from brittle tenderness and profound terror to bleak uncertainty.  The great composer Johannes Brahms called the Verdi Requiem “a work of genius,” a sentiment that continues to hold true.