When preparing to watch a movie by acclaimed animation director Hayao Miyazaki, more often than not, it’s easy to predict what you’re in for. There’s going to be a lot of beautiful scenery and imagery; fantastical animals and characters; and a strong environmentally friendly message. You can also be guaranteed to finish with a smile on your face. Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea did not disappoint.

The feel of the movie was much more childish, centering on a 5-year old boy, Sosuke and a small fish named Ponyo, a contrast to the last couple of Miyazaki films, which had older protagonists. The theme of the movie was also much younger in style, focusing more on the friendship between Ponyo and Sosuke and less on any one antagonist or large-scale threat. This allowed for more attention to be paid to the characters and their development, as opposed to a higher message.

The characters and setting pulled their share of the weight nicely. Miyazaki’s classic design, combined with wondrous sea creatures and vast seascapes painted a gorgeous picture. More and more it’s easier to realize that Miyazaki’s films are like art books in and of themselves. The image of Sosuke’s house on the hill set against a raging storm or a clear night sky evokes memories of nameless coastal towns. You can almost smell the salty tang of a crisp ocean breeze.

According to posted figures, Ponyo has managed to post box-office numbers second only to Spirited Away as compared to Miyazaki’s other films. Well worth the watch, but you’ll have to search for it. There’s no current date set for a domestic (U.S.) release, but Disney has managed to snatch up the rights to all of Miyazaki’s Ghibli films so far, so it’s safe to assume that it’s only a matter of time before it’s released out here.

-Joshua Kaplowitz

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One of OB's most superduperamazing members, Mrs. Mink, is fighting the world's awesomest battle against cancer. Except for the fact that she has cancer in the first place. Actually there's really nothing awesome about it at all except for her great spirit.

Her next step looks to be allogenic stem cell transplant. These stem cells are harvested from bone marrow from great people like you. This can't happen unless people like you get on the bone marrow donor registry so that people like her can get lifesaving, life-extending, and life-reawesoming treatments.

For a limited time you can get on the registry for free. They mail you a simple cheek swab kit -- you did something like this in science class in high school, right? -- and you swab your cheek and mail it back to them. Simple and painless. It's sort of like selling your used underwear on Craigslist except you feel great afterwards instead of queasy.

Join up at marrow.org right now or read Becky's thread for a little more background and discussion.

Hurry - joining the registry is only free during November because it's Bone Marrow Month, ya'll.

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I think we can all appreciate this article from the Onion, no matter who we voted for.

"...Today the American people have made their voices heard, and they have said, 'Things are finally as terrible as we're willing to tolerate," said Obama, addressing a crowd of unemployed, uninsured, and debt-ridden supporters. "To elect a black man, in this country, and at this time—these last eight years must have really broken you."

Added Obama, "It's a great day for our nation."

Carrying a majority of the popular vote, Obama did especially well among women and young voters, who polls showed were particularly sensitive to the current climate of everything being fucked....

Source: The Onion

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While we're all beating each other up over the presidential election here in America, let's remember a time when -- okay, technically it's in the future, but you know what I mean -- the whole Earth came together for a common goal. We'll try and forget the part where the evil alien invasion was a thinly disguised allegory for World War II and the Americans and their atomic bombs. Just focus on the unity part. Also the rad uniforms.

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Do you like puppies? Do you like rainbows? Flowers? Soft kisses, gentle words and warm embraces? Prepare to have your brain raped by one Johannes Krauser II. Scared? You should be. Enter DMC. Go to DMC.

Negishi Soichi is a fresh-faced young man who loves Swedish pop music and writing songs about love and nature. He has a crush on a girl he went to college with, but he has trouble telling her that he likes her, often ending up in difficult situations which eventually sabotage his attempts at confession.

Johannes Krauser II is the lead singer of the hot new underground metal band, Detroit Metal City, DMC for short. Renowned for his innate ability to play with his teeth and the “Ten rapes per second” shout. A demon from hell, summoned by a world desperate for all things metal. The catch? Negishi and Krauser are the same person.

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Comedian, actor, and sometimes-R&B singer Rudy Ray Moore has apparently died. OtakuBooty mourns the loss of this great man. Best known for his Dolemite character, Rudy Ray Moore produced other priceless blaxploitation classics like Avenging Disco Godfather (clip below) and scores of comedy albums.

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Quite a few of us will be at ZENKAIKON this weekend. If you're in the Philadelphia area and looking for something to do, why not meet us there? Get your nerd on.

ZENKAIKON is a small two-day convention at the Valley Forge Scanticon Hotel, just of the Schyulkill Expressway (76). There are games, panels, cosplay, and possibly even a human sacrifice. Hey, guess which one of those I made up?

Check out ZENKAIKON's official site or OtakuBooty's Zenkaikon discussion thread if you want to see which of your fellow awesome nerds are going. ZENKAIKON starts tonight, Friday October 17 and runs through Saturday, October 18.

Update, Sun 10/19: Congrats to Jackie, Matt, Sammy, Paul, Joe, and all the other organizers. The joint was PACKED with people having a good time.

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If seeing Capcom's Gyakuten Kenji / Ace Attorney booth -- decked out like an actual courtroom -- doesn't bring a smile to your face, you might be reading the wrong site.

via Kotaku

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