Hello Kitty is a superstar.  Since her birth in 1974, her product line has developed under licensing arrangements and is now worth more than $1 billion in annual sales.  Her popularity also attracted many celebrities such as as Mariah Carey who assimilated Hello Kitty into her fashion collection.  Recently, she was named the ambassador of Japanese tourism in China and Hong Kong (check out our previous blog entry “Hello Kitty, the ambassador“).  So, who is manly enough to date a celebrity like Hello Kitty?  Little do people know she is off the market, possibly involved in a love triangle, or even married.  So who’s the lucky guy?  “Waddup Cat?”  No.  His name is, “Dear Daniel.”

Dear Daniel was introduced as a Sanrio Character in 1999.  Dear Daniel (real name: “Daniel Starr“) was born on May 3 in London.  His hobbies include taking pictures of animals, and he hopes to be professional photographer in the future.  He is very sensitive and naive and is very self-conscious, especially with regard to his outward appearance – the ultra spiky hair is supposedly his trademark.  Additionally, he is also rumored to be a great dancer.

Daniel and Kitty have known each since childhood (kittyhood?).  They shared many interests, but their relationship was never easy.  Daniel had to travel the world with his father who is a professional photographer.  It is rumored that during Daniel’s stay in Africa, Kitty started developing feelings for Tippy, a strong and kind-hearted bear who constantly competes with Daniel for Kitty’s affection.  One day Kitty’s seemingly unfocused personal life was lifted away with the announcement of her plans to marry Daniel.  However, Kitty’s loyal fans believe the marriage was merely a PR stunt to boost Daniel’s sinking popularity.

Here’s a music video dedicated to Hello Kitty and Dear Daniel.

unrelated info:

Hello Kitty has a twin sister named “Mimi.”  They look alike, but Mimi is more shy and wears a yellow ribbon on her RIGHT ear as opposed to Kitty wearing hers on the LEFT ear.

SOURCE: Official Japanese SANRIO

The ultimate battle…  Star Wars vs. Star Trek!  So, who’s gonna win if they go head-to-head?  Check out this video clip to get a glimpse of this intergalactic feud!

Okay, so Mega Man (aka “Rockman” in Japan) won’t be in the movie theaters any time soon.  But, how would it look like if were to hit the big screen?  Check out this video clip of a fanciful movie trailer to find out.

The National Institute on Media and the Family issued its 13th annual video game report card and red-flagged ten violent games for this holiday:

• Blitz: The League II
• Dead Space
• Fallout 3
• Far Cry 2
• Gears of War 2
• Legendary
• Left 4 Dead
• Resistance 2
• Saints Row 2
• Silent Hill: Homecoming

Do violent video games lead to aggression?  Read our previous blog “Violent Games lead to Aggression?“

Are you in love?  Do you like playing Mario Kart?  How about “are you in love with Mario Kart?”  If so then check out this beautiful, romantic, lovely, but yet very…VERY…geeky song.

check out his other songs here.

Final Fantasy X is widely loved among the loyal FF fans.  The strong emotional themes, deep character development, and beautifully-rendered cutscenes are just few of the many impressive features of Final Fantasy X.  The game was released in 2001 exclusively for PlayStation 2…or at least that’s what we thought.

It is rumored that a group of Japanese hackers recreated Final Fantasy X for NES using Final Fantasy 2j beta roms.  Obviously the game was recreated in 2D and lacks the detail of the original, but the uncanny resemblance to its 3D predecessor is impressive.  It is uncertain whether or not whether these FFX NES screenshots and clips are fake, but nevertheless it is worth mentioning.  Check out the image below comparing the original and recreated Final Fantasy X.

Source: Mikes Homepage, HUHEN, Siloconera

Woohoo! W inter break starts today!  Well, here’s my 4th black and white sketch.  Enjoy!

American Otaku B&W Sketch #4

“On the evening of 16 December 1997 approximately 700 people around the nation (mostly children) were rushed to hospitals and treated for seizure symptoms. The youngsters had been watching the vastly popular TV animated cartoon series Pocket Monsters (Pokemon).” Pocket Monster incident and low luminance visual stimuli: special reference to deep red flicker stimulation. Acta Paediatr Jpn. 1998 Dec;40(6):631-7.

We all heard about the Pokemon Seizure incident, but what is the scientific evidence behind it? I searched for “pokemon seizure” on PubMed, a searchable online database of articles from medical journals maintained by The National Library of Medicine, and came up with few interesting articles. I’ll summarize a few of their findings in chronological order.

[1998] Initial reports accused the low luminance, 12 Hz alternating red/blue stimulus as the cause of the Pokemon incident. Early studies considered the possibility that some healthy youngsters may have latent photosensitivity and such a sensitivity might be disclosed by use of low luminance deep red flicker stimulation. Pocket Monster incident and low luminance visual stimuli: special reference to deep red flicker stimulation. Acta Paediatr Jpn. 1998 Dec;40(6):631-7.

[2001] Further studies were done on the role of long-wavelength red light emission from TV in the induction of photosensitive seizures by an animated TV program called “Pokemon”. Conclusion: High amounts of long-wavelength red light emitted from CRTs might play an important role in induction of photosensitive seizures in “Pokemon” incident. However, the small sample number (n=11) makes this conclusion slightly weak, but does bring up the “possibility” of the association with red light emission induced seizure. Long-wavelength red light emission from TV and photosensitive siezures. Acta Neurol Scand. 2001 Feb;103(2):114-9

[2001] However, despite the mounting scientific evidence, others claim that the photo-induced seizure alone cannot account for the breadth and pattern of the events. “The characteristic features of the episode are consistent with the diagnosis of epidemic hysteria, triggered by sudden anxiety after dramatic mass media reports describing a relatively small number of genuine photosensitive-epilepsy seizures.” Pokémon contagion: photosensitive epilepsy or mass psychogenic illness? South Med J. 2001 Feb;94(2):197-204.

[2002] Many studies characterized the hospitzlied children to determine the risk factors to photo-induced seizure. Higher incidence of induced-seizure were found in children who (1) concentrated in watching the show, (2) watching it in short distance, (3) watched in a lowly lit room, and (4) had familial history of seizure. A comparison survey of seizures and other symptoms of Pokemon phenomenon. Pediatr Neurol. 2002 Nov;27(5):350-5.

[2008] General risk factors and association with photo-induced seizure. The overall prevalence of the photoparoxysmal response (PPR) among patients requiring an EEG is approximately 0.8%, but 1.7% in children and 8.87% in patients with epilepsy, more often in Caucasians and females. Autosomal dominant inheritance is indicated, and this response is seen especially at the wavelength of 700 nm or at the flicker frequency of 15-18 Hz. The PPR extending beyond the stimulus carries no increased risk of seizures. Prognosis is generally good, especially after 20 years of age. Attention to PPR has been increased with the advent of video games, and the evoked seizures from these games are likely a manifestation of photosensitive epilepsy. Drug therapy has emphasized valproic acid, but Levetiracetam has also been successful in eliminating the PPR. The photoparoxysmal response: the probable cause of attacks during video games. Clin EEG Neurosci. 2008 Jan;39(1):1-7.

You know who the real victim of all this is? Your friend who has to drag you to the hospital after finding out that you watched Pokemon that evening.

Pikachu doesn’t seem so cute now does he?

In one of our previous blog entries, we wrote about “Hello Kitty” being elected as the ambassador of tourism to represent Japan in Hong Kong and China (check out our blog entry “Hello Kitty, the ambassador“). This bold move paved the way for other manga characters to participate in the Japanese government. Please welcome Japanese ambassadors: Doraemon and Astroboy!!!

Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura appointed Doraemon, the “ambassador of anime,” and told him, “Doraemon, I hope you will travel around the world as an anime ambassador to deepen people’s understanding of Japan so they will become friends with Japan.” Doraemon, through voice actress Wasabi Mizuta, replied “through my cartoons, I hope to convey to people abroad what ordinary Japanese people think, our lifestyles and what kind of future we want to build.”

Astro Boy, another cartoon icon, was named in November as the ambassador of overseas safety.

SOURCE: MNBC

I’m not a big fan of bullet hell games, but even I can appreciate this video clip.  Check out these mad skills!!!!  Seriously, this is ridiculously insane!

SOURCE: Game Addiction Blog