D&A 411: Inuyasha Spin-Off, New Paper Mario Game, and Anime REvisited!

Happy Monday guys n’ gals! Hopefully you all are staying healthy during these interesting times of which we live in, as we will continue to bring you some awesome content while at home. One of the coolest things about the internet in terms of content, especially anime and gaming content, is that it never stops – even in a pandemic! A lot of awesome things have happened within the last few weeks or so, so we’ll be breaking down what’s going down right here on a little special filler post that we call D&A 411!

Inuyasha’s Coming Back – And Getting A Sequel!!

Senza-titolo-1-copia-1
Everything old becomes new again…

Earlier this month anime fans were greeted to a surprise no one expected. Next to Bleach returning with a brand new story arc, another old classic that played a part in every 90’s kid’s love of anime, is returning in a brand new way! Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon is the title of the new series that focuses on the daughter of Inuyasha as well as the daughters of Sesshomaru, so it’s safe to assume the story takes place maybe 10 years after the final arc of Inuyasha. So may of us grew up watching the original series on Adult Swim/Toonami back in the day, so to see what happens next in the world of Inuyasha will be pretty exciting!

Paper Mario Is Coming To The Switch!

Nintendo pulled a fast one on us and dropped this trailer in the midst of the pandemic 64 days before its initial release. What does this mean for (Paper) Mario fans? Well, we finally get a Switch game to add to the Paper Mario franchise. So far the story centers around a new villain named King Olly, as he plans to ‘re-fold’ the world and turn all of its inhabitants into origami. Mario gets invited to a special festival held at Peach’s castle, only to find her brainwashed by Olly, as the castle gets transported to a mountain by five different colored streamers. Mario of course goes on a new adventure while taking out Olly’s flunkies through a new ring-based battle system that’s a remix of Thousand-Year Door (the audience). There’s still a lot to cover on this announcement, so let’s see what happens as we get closer to July 17th – when it comes out!

Anime REvisited Returns With Panty & Stocking With Garterbelt

psgmaxresdefault
Anarchy at its finest! ๐Ÿ˜‰

Ten years ago we were blessed with this ‘hot mess’ of a series that had us in stitches! Though many are clinging onto hope for a second season, we will be reviewing the whole first season of Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt. Jamie Marchi and Monica Rial are the dynamic voice duo behind these two slutty angels, so get ready, cuz’ the b%#@%&s are back! (Woot-Woot!)

So there you have it! That’s our 411 for this post for now, but we’ll keep you updated on what’s happening with these developments later on. Until next post guys, stay safe out there, and stay nerdy! ๐Ÿ˜‰

New Video Post: Otakon 2016 Cosplay Music Video!!

So awhile back we shot footage for a cosplay music video that we were going to do during Otakon’s last year in Baltimore back in 2016! Well, after a four year wait it’s finally here! Check out the awesome video we put together, and we also want to give a huge shout-out to all of the cosplayer’s that participated! ๐Ÿ™‚

D&A Update: New Videos, New Ideas, and Anime REvisited!

Hey guys! So, this week has been a mixture of happy moments, ‘off’ moments, and moments where we wonder if common sense has become a lost art. Instead of dwelling on that we’ve got a little bit of good news to share with you regarding more new content. Last month we’ve gotten a spike in views due to our first Anime REvisited review title; Dagashi Kashi season one. The series itself is indeed great with moments of comedy, segments of romance, and brief facts about candy. If you’re looking for an anime series that is weird yet funny, we endorse Dagashi Kashi. (We haven’t done the second season yet, but maybe we will in the future.)

With that out of the way, here’s what’s new:

A Brand New Cosplay Music Video!

Back in 2016 we shot video footage for a cosplay music video that we were doing while we were at Otakon – back when it was at Baltimore. We know it’s four years late, but we’ve just finished working on the video, and it’ll be up on our youtube channel this weekend. If you’re a cosplayer and you see yourself in the video, let us know in the comments and we’ll give you a shout-out.

A Virtual Cosplay Fashion Show!

I’m not sure if this idea has ever been done, but with conventions cancelled all around the U.S. throughout the Summer, we wanted to figure out a way for cosplayers to show off their fashions while staying at home. Thanks to a tip, we’re thinking about hosting a cosplay Fashion Show; where cosplayers would submit a video of them displaying their favorite cosplay to us, and then make a video out of it. With the 25 MB limit that Gmail can take, we would ask that all video submissions be 60 seconds or less. We don’t have a date set up yet, but we thought this would be a cool idea.

Anime REvisted Takes A Trip To Daten City!

With the overwhelming likes and views that we’ve gotten for this month-long segment, we’ve decided to bring it back with our next anime title that has a South Park/Rick & Morty level of comedy – nor is it safe for kiddos! That’s right, our next Anime REvisited title is none other than Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt. With it being ten years since the show came out in Japan (and eight since it was dubbed), why not revisit this one-season series that really deserves a second. Our next Anime REvisited will happen from May 19th – June 16th.

That will do it for our updates for the blog, and we’ll make sure that we keep you posted when everything kicks off! Until next post, stay healthy and stay nerdy! ๐Ÿ˜‰

DigiCon: The Rise of Virtual Conventions

It has been two whole months since our state (Maryland) was issued a ‘Shelter-in-Place’ order due to COVID-19. With large gatherings like festivals, sporting events, and yes…even anime and gaming conventions cancelled all around the U.S. and the world, nerds (and otaku) like ourselves have been wondering what the future of our three-day sanctuaries would look like in a post COVID world. It bummed us out after receiving word that our next convention, Zenkaikon, was cancelled after the state of PA issued its state of emergency. However, it was also nice to see that they take the safety of their con goers, staff, and potential guests seriously. With Summer knocking on the door, it’s already set in stone that con season is pretty much dead, and I can only imagine how bad the organizers and staff are feeling; having to scrap everything because you don’t want to take the chance of infecting more people, because at this rate, it seems like con season won’t have the same effect that it once did even after this year is over.

We’re not saying that you won’t have the same experiences you did back in year’s past, it just that with the mega conventions like Anime Expo, SDCC, SXSW, and E3, they probably won’t be returning next year either – at least not at the capacity they once had. There’s at least 6-8 months worth of planning that has to go into making cons that size what they are, and with COVID hanging around until Fall/Winter, that doesn’t give the organizers a lot of turn-around time to work with…which sucks! So yeah, we feel your pain, and though we can’t go to any of our favorite conventions to see you guys, many organizers have created digital alternatives to many of your favorite cons. Heck, even FUNimation has their own con!

With many of us who are FOLLOWING THE RULES AND STAYING HOME UNLIKE SOME PEOPLE WE WON’T NAME, digital conventions are the new norm – at least for now anyway. I’d say between 2021 and 2022, we’ll find ourselves back to doing what we do best; going to cons and meeting our cool friends and fans! (We’ll be hugging our super fans, and pounding fists with everyone else.) Hopefully you guys stay safe during this time, and remember, we’ve got discord and all of our other social media, so you can chat with us anytime! ๐Ÿ˜‰

akonmaxresdefault
We shall return! Believe it!

A Founder’s Thought’s With D.J. Lewis! (05/04/20)

Hey guys n’ gals, may the fourth be with you! Everyday that I find myself constantly distracting myself with ‘internet-tainment’ to keep me sane, is another small victory in my book. For may of us it feels like our quality of life is a bit…well, if there was a word for it, I’d say it in this post. With more cases of COVID coming in day-by-day; as well as the threat of a new and dangerous member of the wasp family, the Murder Hornet, making its U.S. appearance at the worst possible time, it feels like 2020 just told us to go @#$% ourselves. With Summer knocking on the door, the need to be outside without a mask is going to be higher than ever. Doctors and nurses all around the U.S. and the world save a lot of lives and been through pandemics in years past, but I bet they never had to deal with anything of this magnitude before.

All my life I’ve never heard of a virus shutting down the entire world before – let alone an entire country. Some say this was our divine punishment for all of the times we’ve taken mother Earth for granted, and other’s just want to point the finger. Yeah, having 80% of your social life stripped from you sucks indeed, but in the midst of it all, this situation gave me the chance to take a look at some aspects of my life. I guess you can say the coronavirus put the world on hiatus because we all need to reevaluate our priorities. I can’t speak for everyone, but instead of whining and complaining like some states I know (Florida, Atlanta, Huntington Beach), try making someone else’s life in quarantine a little better. Our world is being tested, but if I know my anime fans, my introverts, and my home-dwellers, we know how to make the best out of the worst situation!

Yeah, most of the idiots outside without masks are going to revolt and do what they want; which is terrible. (Sorry, but you can’t fix stupid, ask the president.) Just know that just because you wear your mask and follow social distancing rules, doesn’t make you weak or even feel like your rights are violated. It means that you’re a considerate person who cares more about the lives of others, their grandparents, and members of their family with health challenges instead of trying to figure out where the next party is, or even if you can get your nails done. Seriously, don’t even talk to me or spit in my direction if you care more about yourself than somebody else during this time!

Okay, I feel a little better. Just had to vent a little bit because of all the ‘dumb-assery’ I’ve been seeing all over social media and the news. Hopefully you guys are staying safe, and staying health. Until next post! ๐Ÿ™‚

D&A Anime Blog: Welcome To The Lounge!

In the past couple days an old thought seemingly found its way back into our heads; what about creating a page where our fans can listen to some of their favorite tunes while surfing through blog? Then it hit us! Since we have some music already on Spotify, why not link it up with the blog? Thus, our newest music page The Lounge was born! So if you’re a fan of music and have any particular genres you’d like for us to add to our new page, be sure to let us know in the comments below, or even on our Contact Us page. As always, stay nerdy, and stay healthy! ๐Ÿ˜‰

The Lounge [Header]
Our newest music section! ๐Ÿ™‚

Anime REvisited: Dagashi Kashi Season One Episode Eleven Review!

Alright! Weโ€™ve returned once again with another episode post from our Anime REvisited pick for the month; Dagashi Kashi! Overall, this series is interesting to say the least; as it has its moments of ups and downs in terms of comedy, romance, and slice-of-life. So without further ado, letโ€™s kick off the eleventh episode review.

dagashi_kashi
What will happen in the end?

Not much really happens in this episode except Hotaru trying to show Coconuts that his father is actually a pretty genuine guy. Sure, he doesnโ€™t see him as the type of person to take seriously at times, but deep down Coconuts thinks that Yo is pretty swell when it comes to customer service. During this time while watching his father in action alongside Saya and Hotaru, Kokonotsu is wondering if he should run his fatherโ€™s shop, so that Yo will get the chance to work with Hotaru and her family. Though heโ€™s still passionate about creating his manga, throughout the episodes leading up to this point Kokonotsu wonders if he should continue his fatherโ€™s legacy, or walk his own path.

While waiting for the train at the station Hotaru and Coco have their moment to talk, and in spite of the obvious trolling innuendos from Hotaru (which were a little bit hilarious), she understood that Coconuts may not exactly share the same vision that she has form him โ€“ that his dad sees for his future. I guess you could say that no matter what path Coconuts chooses, heโ€™ll always have a genuine love for dagashi. Iโ€™m guessing in the next and final episode of this first season, weโ€™ll see what Cocoโ€™s next move will beโ€ฆ

Sorry this one came off short, but before we sign off on this post, we just want to take a second to thank the doctors, nurses, and other personnel out there fighting against the demon that is COVID-19. I know it feels like a war you’d never expected to happen or thought you’d signed up for, but we want you to know we appreciate every little bit you do. And if youโ€™re an anime fan whoโ€™s among said doctors and nurses or you have family thatโ€™s among these brave heroes, we want to say thank you! From the bottom of our hearts, THANK YOU!

Until next post, stay safe! ๐Ÿ™‚

Anime REvisited: Dagashi Kashi Season One Episode 9 & 10 Review!

Hey! Weโ€™re back with another dual episode review from our Anime REvisited pick; Dagashi Kashi! I gotta say; this anime title has had some funny, weird, and okay moments between the members of the cast, and from what I saw in the ninth episode, itโ€™s about to get weirder than usual (thanks to Hotaru)!

dagashi_kashi
Will Hotaru convince Coconuts to run his father’s shop?

The ninth episode kicks off with Saya inside the candy store waiting for Coconuts to show up. The sound of the door was heard as she jumped up to greet him, but instead it was Hotaru (go figure) with a sore on the left side of her face. Saya tells her that what she has is a mouth ulcer โ€“ probably from all of the dagashi sheโ€™s been eating. This leads to yet another spell about the dagashi known as wata-pachi; a type of sweet candy with sour candy chips on the inside similar to pop-rocks. Yeah, things did get weird, but it only got worse (at least in Sayaโ€™s case). Hotaru then talks about a dagashi called Choco-droppings, where the design was of an animal with different kinds of choco-flavored candy inside. Guess where the candy comes out fromโ€ฆweโ€™ll waitโ€ฆ

(Told ya this was gonna get weird! XP)

Iโ€™m not gonna go too much into detail of what happens afterwards because itโ€™s better if you watch it than having me tell you, but later on Coconuts does come back and finds Hotaru with a bowl of rice. She then states that sheโ€™s from Osaka, Japan and that sheโ€™s speaks with a Kansai accent (which is later discovered that she doesnโ€™t). Then she out of nowhere asks Coconuts how he feels about boobs.

Now to any fanboys out there, this is the moment weโ€™ve ALL been waiting for! With Coconuts his answer could either make or break his sort-of-kind-of friendship with Hotaru, so he plays it cool, and says that boys who talk about them are pervs. This causes Hotaru to walk out in disgust, but itโ€™s then proven to be a ploy to get Coconuts to try boob ice cream. No, Iโ€™m not making this up, itโ€™s actually ice cream inside a rubbery edible thing in the shape of a boob โ€“ and you suck it to get the ice cream out. Okโ€ฆIโ€™m done, so letโ€™s move on to episode 10.

Remember that ulcer Hotaru had? Well in the very next episode it grew to the size of a baseball. Earlier she was running through the night until she met To, who was out getting a late-night snack. He asked why she was out late after greeting her, but her reply was that she was brought to him by some unknown reason; which in turn had to do with her ulcer, and her wanting to try a new flavor of baby-star ramen that was coming out.

Saya and Coconuts eventually head to Hotaruโ€™s house; which looked like a mansion compared to the shop, as the two entered inside to see what was wrong with Hotaru. (Although they discovered it had to do with her baseball-sized ulcer, and the fact that To told her to lay off dagashi for a bit until it heals โ€“ which is like telling a hardcore otaku not to watch anime!)

Overall both episodes do indeed turn up the weird factor (all thanks to Hotaru), while at the same time giving us brief moments of comedy. With this review being a dual episode post, there are only two more remaining until my final verdict on this show is made. That will do it for now, so until our next post, continue to stay safe and do not go outside unless you have to โ€“ essentially! ๐Ÿ™‚

Anime REvisited: Dagashi Kashi Season One Episode 7 & 8 Review!

Welcome back! So here we go again with another anime review post from our month-long segment, Anime REvisited, with our pick Dagashi Kashi. This time weโ€™re doing a double-header with episodes 7 and 8, so letโ€™s get right into it!

dagashi_kashi
Everybody’s here! What are they up to?

Usually when it comes to slice-of-life romantic comedy anime, thereโ€™s always a beach episode or a festival episode. Since weโ€™ve already been there and done that with the beach, letโ€™s jump into the festival episode. Coconuts and the rest of the gang are at the Summer Festival looking around at the various vendors and main attractions. (Of course since Yo and Coco work at the candy shop theyโ€™re vendors as well, so they have their own booth.) This episode does tap into yet another moment in Kokonotsuโ€™s and Sayaโ€™s childhood; as Coconuts tries to win a goldfish for Saya โ€“ like heโ€™s done so in the past. Sadly out of pity, the goldfish game owner ends up giving Coconuts a goldfish for trying so hard to win the game, which he then gives to Saya as a gift.

With this being a festival episode, there wasnโ€™t a whole lot going on that I can talk about. Hotaru wasnโ€™t much of a factor in this episode, as this was about another memory in Kokonotsu and Sayaโ€™s relationship. At least this episode did explain how she got the goldfish from the very first episode of the series, so now I know. Finally, To learned how to make Mojayaki for the first time, and was making it like a pro!

Thatโ€™s it for episode sevenโ€™s review, now onto number eight!

So the eighth one brings Coconuts and the gang (except Yo, because he comes in later but only for a minute) together at the shop during a typhoon, and To is telling the others some scary stories from the Scary Story Gum that Coconuts and Yo sell in the shop. Anime girls ( or guys) freaking out about ghosts is one of the funniest things Iโ€™ve ever had the pleasure of seeing; so at Sayaโ€™s expense, we get to see her freaking out about the various scary stories ever told through the packaging of the gum.

Scary stories aside things go pretty much back to normal as To tells Coconuts that Kendoyama is a popular toy thatโ€™s coming back in Japan, of course Coco also tells him that they havenโ€™t been able to sell any of the ones they currently have. So what does To do? He spends his cash and buys them to prove a point; of course that point ends up with his sister killing it at the sport, and him with a broken thumb. By the end of the episode Coco and To talk about getting popular with the ladies through the use of fortune-telling chocolate, and the fact that they want to see panties before the episode ends.

In comes Hotaru as she was looking for Coconuts and finds him with To by the beach. After telling her that heโ€™ll be back, she tells him that sheโ€™ll be waiting by the shop as usual; leaving a chance for Coconuts and To, to get a snapshot of Hotaruโ€™s panties. It wasnโ€™t much but mission accomplished โ€“ in their minds at least.

That will do it for this reviewโ€™s double-header post. Four more to go until we see what Coconuts will do! Stay safe guys!

Anime REvisited: Dagashi Kashi Season One Episode Six Review!

Alright! Weโ€™re back with another anime review post from our Anime REvisited pick; Dagashi Kashi, and now weโ€™re only halfway through the first season at episode six! With the other five episodes behind us; we can only assume itโ€™ll only be a matter of time before we see the final outcome, of what Kokonotsuโ€™s decision regarding running his fatherโ€™s candy shop will be. So, letโ€™s get to it!

dagashi_kashi
The gang’s all here!

Going into this episode we see Hotaru going on about another one of her favorite dagashi, in fact thereโ€™s about a few of them that she gets into. The first one has to do with something called Super Himo Q (at least thatโ€™s what I believe itโ€™s called, if Iโ€™m wrong let me know in the comment section); a long string of gummy candy that you can not only play with, but can eat as well. Aside from a moment of comic relief at Toโ€™s expense (with Saya knocking the living daylights out of him for lifting up her skirt so Coconuts could see her panties), this episode gives us a brief backstory between Coconuts and Sayaโ€™s childhood. From the looks of it itโ€™s clear the girl likes Coconuts but hasnโ€™t come out to him about her feelings towards him. Watching the banter between them growing up, Coconuts was really into dagashi at a young age. (Which is kinda ironic because heโ€™s so knowledgeable about dagashi โ€“ yet loves drawing manga and doesnโ€™t want to be a candy shop owner.)

Turns out the candy that both Saya and Coconuts blush over is Yoguret; a box of six pieces of yogurt-flavored candy thatโ€™s both nutritious and delicious. Basically, this was a flashback episode as to why Saya reacted the way the she did, when Hotaru thought that it would be a cool idea for her to join up with Coconuts and work alongside him at the candy shop. At least this episode gave us a little info behind their relationship, but seeing as though weโ€™re only six episodes in, thereโ€™s probably going to be a little bit more info about Saya and Coco.

Well, thatโ€™s it for this review! I know this oneโ€™s a tad shorter than the others Iโ€™ve done, but other than the brief backstory on Coco and Sayaโ€™s childhood relationship, thereโ€™s not much happening in this episode โ€“ aside from Hotaru being Hotaru. Only six more episodes remain until my final verdict on this anime series as a whole, until next post, remember to stay safe and stay nerdy! ๐Ÿ˜‰