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Season 3 Week 4 & 5 – Double Update Spectacular

Sean — Fri, 04 May 2012 17:41:06 +0000

That swan. That. Swan.

Okay, I may have forgotten to write a blogpost last week. I’ve been working on my Final Year Project, so just kinda forgot, sorry. Not that you guys did, as I saw more of you than ever this past fortnight. The end of the year is within sight boys and girls, one last push to the finish!

And with that attempt at motivation done, to the announcements!

- AGE VII is now less than a fortnight away! The Facebook page has all the information you need. There’ll be tournaments for Soul Calibur V, Smash Bros Brawl, UMvC3, Modern Warfare 3 and the return of the Pokémon Elite Four challenge (come at me, bros). So be there!

- Anicom has finally gotten past these silly room changes. We’re in H0.01 until the end of the year now (and beyond, but more on that in the near future). So if you’ve been locking yourself away doing work, come along and enjoy some cool stuff over the final three sessions.

- The ArtJam for next week is to draw the best or worst thing to fish up. I think. >_>

That’s all for now, so take care, and I’ll see y’all next week!

Season 3 Week 3 – Here Comes A New Challenger

Sean — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 12:08:00 +0000

Daaawwww

Well there it is. We now have our new committee for next year. Congratulations to our new Chairman, Mizzy, our new Secretary, Jimbo, and our new Treasurer, Sarah. I have full confidence the three of you will do a superb job over the next year. =D

Aaaand now for announcements…

- Anicom will be in OL1 for the next two weeks! You’d have thought I’d have remembered to announce something important like that in the session, but everyone leaving early meant it slipped my mind. >_>

- AGE VII! May 17th! For those of you who missed the last one, its a day full of gaming of every kind in the Hub, with loads of tournaments, a charity auction, and too many screens of gaming. There’ll be more information soon, but for now, if you’re interested in helping out, get talking to Marc.

- ArtJam for next week is to take an historical character and turn them into a superhero.

And that’s a wrap. Come along next week when we show… when we show… y’know, I have no idea. Just that its in OL1!

Anime of the Week – The Big O

Reaf — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 16:00:54 +0000

As featured during 90s Night

This article was written by James “Reaf” Miller. Want your article here? Give us an e-mail at anicomhivemind@gmail.com and this could be your piece!

Big O is a mech Anime series with film noir trappings and heavy influences from the 90s Batman animated series. The plot takes place in Paradigm City forty years after everyone and everything lost their memories through unknown and mysterious circumstances. We follow Roger Smith, a top Negotiator for Paradigm City who negotiates for kidnapped girls or to pilot the titular giant robot, Big O, to fight various other robots and monsters. The series is largely episodic with some ongoing plots, including the mystery of why everyone lost their memories forty years ago.

The characters are great and a lot of fun to watch. Steve Blum voices Roger Smith so you know to expect a cool and cocky character and Blum delivers. Assisting Roger is R. Dorothy Wayneright, an android, whose deadpan snarky attitude steals every scene and even gets the better of Roger at times. The supporting characters play off the two well and get fleshed out more as the series goes on.

The animation is good and the style is reminiscent of 70s Anime mixed together with 90s Batman. While a bit stiff at times when the action starts and the giant robots appear all the stops are pulled out. The music is astounding, ranging from classical, to jazz, to something out of a film noir, all a joy to listen to. The music adds that extra layer of atmosphere to the series and helps make the setting a character onto itself.

Overall the series is a good watch if you like giant robots, noir, or just some good ol’ episodic TV. The second half does let the series down a bit and isn’t that great compared to the first, but the ending is a kicker. Definitely a classic and well worth a watch.

Webcomic of the Week – Gunnerkrigg Court

Sean — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 15:48:52 +0000

GUUUUUUHHH!

Not done one of these in a while, so here goes. Starting in 2005, Gunnerkrigg Court portrays a world in which science and the ethereal conflict, the former represented by the titular court, and the latter a massive forest that surrounds the equally huge complex. The story follows two of the court school’s newest students, Antimony and Katerina, as they discover and unravel the mysteries of the world they inhabit.

And its that world that really defines this webcomic. While other’s go for straight up humour, or stand out via a quirky group of characters, its the Court itself (and what lies beyond) which stands out as the greatest element throughout. Machinery and countless weird and wonderful constructs lay dormant, scattered around the vast, cold and calculating court, which Kat has a field day disassembling, leading to her becoming a figurehead for robotkind, and far more besides.

Meanwhile, Annie, able to channel thoughts and communicate with the mystical, rapidly comes to be an intermediary for the court, able to appreciate both what science can explain, and what it cannot, becoming friends with the phantom Mort, dog spirit Renard, and even demigod Coyote.

I’ll avoid talking more about the characters, story and world, as its far better experienced than explained, but the art is worth a mention. While the style is distinctive, I’d be lying if I said it was anything special… for the main. However, whenever Antimony or Zimmy begins one of their out of body experiences, the imagery becomes far more vivid, and at times is simply jaw-dropping to behold.

While it shows no times of ending anytime soon, a lot has already happened in the 6 years Gunnerkrigg Court has been around for (coming to roughly 2 and a bit years within the comic). Three books have been spawned, and the webcomic itself continues to update three times a week, with plenty of additional content to be found too.

So go and check it out. The webcomic’s up here, and you can see some cool bonus drawings from its creator Tom Siddell over here. And if there’s a webcomic you think is a must read, either e-mail us with an article like this to our usual address, or if that sounds too much like effort, post over on the forum in this thread.

Season 3 Week 2 – And Now For Something Completely Different

Sean — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 16:01:43 +0000

Not everything we show has to be anime / cartoons

…yeah, I’m running out of ideas for blog post names. Chairman candidate Mizzy and Treasurer candidate Sarah were thrown into the breach this time, and came out with a cool selection of stuff including Looney Toons, Gundam Wing, Elfen Lied (now I remember why I never watch that show ;D ) and *deep breath* The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore. Now’s a good time to think about who you want running Anicom next year, because…

- The day of reckoning is almost upon us! By which I mean Tony’s told me the AGM for Anicom will be in our next session, on the 19th April. Same time (6pm), same place (H0.01), so even if you could only show up for a few minutes, its worth it to vote and decide who’ll be running Anicom next year.

- ArtJam this week tasks you with taking two characters, bodyswapping them and drawing the reactions that follow. I already dread to think what some people (read – Wayne) will come up with.

- TV & Movies and RAG have teamed up to make an All Day Movie Marathon this Wednesday (18th), and everyone’s invited. Its £5 for the entire day, or £2 for a block of two films, and the event runs from 9am til 9pm in H0.01. You don’t have to be a member to show up, and all the money goes to a good cause, so I urge you to come along and enjoy a small break from the stress of uni! Check out the Facebook page for more info, or just ask TV & Movies Chairman Reaf.

- MC-oh, you’ve all paid. Good.

- BE AT ANICOM NEXT WEEK FOR THE AGM.

Right, I’m done here. Come along next week because its the AGM. Oh, and because we’re showing Wall-E and apparently its pretty good.

Season 3 Week 1 – Return of the Avatar

Sean — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 23:30:53 +0000

American animation at its best

We’re baaaaaack. Not that we were ever gone. And to celebrate our return, we’re letting the wannabe committee members for next year take over sessions. This week, Chairman candidate Tom (not that one), and Secretary candidate Jimbo took over, amazing us with Dangermouse, Korra and… Poyopoyo. Should’ve seen that one coming, really.

Anyway, announcements…

- The AGM for these new committee members is 99% going to be on the 19th or 26th April. I’m awaiting an e-mail from Tony, so as soon as I know the date, I’ll update everybody.

- The ArtJam for this week is to take a cartoon character you loved as a child and give them a mech.

- I didn’t mention it at the session, but MCMers should have an e-mail now telling them the payment deadline’s been extended. Check your inbox!

- Stewart (or Hidama) is running a charity watch him play Amnesia sessionon Wednesday the 11th of April at 9pm. Its for charity so tune in, donate some money. After seeing the last one it was tons of fun and it’s all for a good cause. Go HERE for more information

I think I’m done here, if I’ve forgotten something, lemme know, as I’m wiped. See y’all next week when two other candidates, Mizzy and Sarah, take over.

Season 2 Week 12 – Jade Night

Jade — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 14:19:40 +0000

Please stand by

Well Sean was in Not-Wales, so i had control over the shows =3. Not much to say on this =P Now for any new announcements!!

And now for your Spring Break announcements!

- Still on the lookout for a new committee. I’m not up in Middlesbrough currently, but talk to Alex / Jade or message me somehow and I’ll set you up for one of the trial sessions and talk more about what running Anicom involves. Those trail sessions are currently set for April 7th / 14th (the first two weeks back), with the AGM to elect the new guys and gals in on 21st / 28th.

- I have actually sent out the MCM e-mail with the final payment details on it now. If you haven’t recieved it and you’re sure you should’ve done, get in contact with me asap.

- Anicom IS running over Spring Break. Same time as usual, in OL7, just without me in charge. I have no clue what Jade and Alex plan to do for those two sessions, so petition to them if you have requests.

Stewart (or Hidama) is running a charity watch him play Amnesia sessionon Wednesday the 11th of April at 9pm. Its for charity so tune in, donate some money. After seeing the last one it was tons of fun and it’s all for a good cause. Go HERE for more information

- Aaaand finally the Spring Break ArtJam! Instead of a big one which everyone would still leave to the day before, instead we want you to make some cool new banners for the forum! This thread has everything you need to know, and I’m hoping to see some awesome stuff to put up on the site.

Season 2 Week 11 – 90s Meltdown

Sean — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 14:34:55 +0000

Please stand by

Never before have there been so many technical issues in one session of Anicom. Between files crashing, DVD players not working and quality issues everywhere, I’m amazed the session didn’t fall apart completely. But somehow we made it, showing awesome stuff like The Big O, Johnny Bravo, Evangelion, Hey Arnold and a few others.

And now for your Spring Break announcements!

- I have actually sent out the MCM e-mail with the final payment details on it now. If you haven’t recieved it and you’re sure you should’ve done, get in contact with me asap.

Aaaand I’m done here. As I said a moment ago, we are still running over Spring Break in OL7, and I’ve just realised I don’t have to worry about getting shows and running sessions for a month. WOOOOO! Take care y’all. =D

Season 2 Week 10 – Riiiiiidge Raaaaacer

Sean — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 18:53:59 +0000

Elvis Presley meets Travis Touchdown

THROBULATOR APPROVES OF THIS POST. Yep, Invader Zim crashlanded into Anicom this week, followed by the masterclass of animation and insanity that is Redline. Along with a few announcements, some actually important, so enjoy…

- We are hiring! Okay, not quite, but next month it’ll be time to elect a new committee. If you’re at all interested in becoming the Chairman, Secretary or Treasurer of Anicom next year, get talking to myself, Jade or Alex. We’re hoping to give any wannabe committee members a trial session in early April, and I can tell you now, despite all the stress I’ve been through, to be in charge of the biggest society in Tees Uni is an amazing experience.

- MCM e-mail explaining how much you have to pay and when by will be sent out asap, as soon as we’ve finished origanising transport. Speaking of which, if you can drive a minibus, or know someone who can, who’d be interested in a free trip to this May’s MCM Expo, pleeeeeease get in touch with me asap. Many thanks! =D

- There’s an 8Bit coming up next week! Taking place straight after Anicom from 9 til late, in the Basement, it’s gonna be a 90s Night themed event, and if you’ve been to past 8Bits, you’ll know not to miss out (and if you haven’t, you really should go along). Its only £4 for the night, and here’s everything else you could possibly need to know.

- Talking of upcoming events, tomorrow (Sat 10th) Fight Club are holding their latest events, Parmo vs Capcom 3! Here’s the link, it opens at 11am with a cost of £2.50 per tourney you enter. If you’re into fightan’ games (or want to try Soul Calibur V out for cheap, like I’m doing), then come along!

- Oh and that ArtJam. Draw your dream sammich. You can tell I’m coming up with these out of thin air… >_>

And we’re done here. And don’t forget, next week Anicom is in OL7! So see ya there for more fun as we do our own 90s theme night to warm y’all up for 8Bit. With Evangelion, amongst other stuff. Take care!

Season 2 Week 9 – Role Reversal

Sean — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 12:45:07 +0000

We should make this Anicom's mascot or something...

Totally not late with this blog post. >_> But yeah, this (or last…) week you got to call the shots, and call them y’all most certainly did. Robot Chicken, Carnival Phantasm, Freakzaoid, Ghost in the Shell, Cow and Chicken, Ouran, Ren and Stimpy and some silly spherical cat, all chosen by you guys. So you can’t blame me for once. ;D

Also, the SU elections are now over, and you can see who won over on the forums, along with a few… choice reactions. Besides that there were hardly any announcements, just…

- The MCM trip is now closed to sign-ups. Like I probably said it was last week, and the week before. Except it really is this time. We’re getting the final quotes and calculations done now, and with any luck tomorrow we can give you a final figure on what you’ll need to pay and by when.

- ArtJam for next week has given you a million pounds! So what would you do with it? Besides hookers and blow.

See, told you there was nothing really to announce. Make sure you’re around tomorrow as its another movie night, and this time you get to choose. What could the options be? Wait and see. Take care y’all!