this debut episode of
Catshit One was released free on the web to coincide with the DVD/
Blu-ray
release earlier this month...
In this debut episode, the two rabbit soldiers from Special Force 'Cat Shit One',
PACKY and BOTASKY, infiltrate enemy lines to rescue hostages captured by unidentified militia. Knowing the hostages are in need of immediate help, they launch a snake attack without waiting for backup.
Cat Shit One started out as a manga of the same name by written and illustrated by Motofumi Kobayashi. It was originally published in Japan in 1998 by
Softbank Publishing, but for obvious reasons was renamed
Apocalypse Meow
for the US release. The manga takes place in Vietnam instead of the middle east. The recon team Cat Shit one probably gets its name from the fact that the bad parts of the conflict are called "the shit" and the Vietnamese are all characterized as cats. The Americans are all rabbits (Japanese for rabbit is Usagi [U.S.A. + G.I.]).
I was talking to my dude Rod from
Planet Griffin this morning about this episode and he pointed out that the Studio Anima dudes did this indie style on PCs in their garage, and that they raised the OPM ("Other People's Money") to make it with a series of YouTube trailers. I actually like that they kept the name
Cat Shit One (even though it would definitely keep the DVD out of Wal-Mart), because it reminds me of the military (I grew up on in a military town). Dudes in the military have mastered the art of using profanity and sounding official at the same time... Anyways,
Cat Shit One: The Animated Series episode 1
is on sale now on
Amazon, and I'm sure other respectable anime outlets have it too.
holla!
-samax.
looks hard...
(2007 Japanese Academy Award winner, Best Animated Feature) comes the story of an ordinary family going to extraordinary lengths to avert the impending cyber apocalypse!
(which I really liked), but with a lighter touch. I'm sure some of you have seen Summer Wars
. Whatever. So anyways, I hope the voice actors are good, 'cause the animation looks pretty sweet! Feel free to repost your comments you wrote on other blogs when this first aired (in February?). I missed the buzz entirely!
, Tekkon Kinkreet
, Genius Party
and Mind Game
), so I'm not all that worried about how the show will look. These character designs work for me, too... for me, it's all about the story and character development.
's flimsy writing and inconsistent character portrayal. Mind you, I LOVED watching it, but I am happy to see someone take a shot at updating it. Hopefully, they are able to throw away some of the cornier elements and bring us a leaner, meaner Thundercats. I'm sure it's too much too ask for them to ditch Snarf, but maybe he can have some kind of skills to justify his food rations...
, an animation how-to book by master cartoonist Kyle Baker...
, Nat Turner
, Special Forces
) without needing to do typical comicbook artwork. Every now and then, someone says my work reminds them of Baker's, which means my study must be going alright! If I ever come close to his ability to inject humor without derailing a serious story, I'll be a happy camper! If you want this book as much as I do, click here to cop it on Amazon
fame. When this cartoon came out, I wasn't really a fan of it. The new cartoons just didn't reach out and grab me like the ones I grew up on, and the deceptively flat geometric art style felt generic and pointless. I don't remember which episode was the first one I actually sat down and watched, but whatever it was, it hooked me and didn't let go!
and Firebreather Volume 2 tomorrow while you're at the comic shop or book store. As for me, I gotta get my hands on the new joint, and sit back and peep the cartoon ... 