Wrote an Article on JanaiBlog About Funimation Suing Pirates

Link Here:
http://janaiblog.com/2011/01/30/funimation-vs-1337-pirates/

Just saw Summer Wars!

So today I saw Summer Wars in theaters with both Freddy (http://freddy13131.blogspot.com) and Jamie (http://manamisanimeblog.blogspot.com) at the Alamo Drafthouse. I found the film to be quite fantastic, the story being wonderfully complex, the characters all being amusing and likable, the animation being fantastic in both the real world and virtual world of OZ and the music also being done pretty well. The dubbing was also done nicely, the dialogue still being quite funny throughout, and the voices all fitting their roles. If I were to have one complaint, it would be that the complexity of the story can make it hard for small children to watch. That being said, if you are like me, and enjoy a complicated story, then you will definitely love this movie.

View all Summer Wars - Official Page tour dates
Please demand this show in order to see that this film gets more time to be released in theaters! One week is too little!
And also be sure to pre-order the DVD and Bluray.

Where have you been?

Since I haven't actually written anything for awhile, it seems that I must offer an explanation for my absence from writing. School work is overwhelming, and while I do enjoy watching anime and writing for this blog, I still consider my school work to be a top priority. However, due to winter break coming up soon (About 1 week), I will be back writing various articles for a few weeks, before going back to school work. I'm planning on reviewing:

• Shiki
• The Walking Dead (Not an Anime)
• Claymore
• Rubicon (Again, Not an Anime)
• The Event (AGAIN, Not an Anime)
• Darker than Black (Maybe... The show is just so AWESOME, that I'll try my hardest to review it!)
• BTW: I was planning on doing a Bleach review, until I discovered that the show wasn't going to end just yet. (Dammit, just end already!)

I will try my best to write other articles, but I'm serious when I say that I have been very busy. Anyways, see you in two weeks!

I'm back!

Attention: I will only be limited to writing on Friday and the weekend! Please keep note of this!

For those of you who don't go on twitter or the PH website, I am here to announce the reopening of The Austin Critic! It seems that two weeks after announcing my departure from Anim blogging, a few more events occurred during my hiatus, resulting in my return to anime blogging!

So with my return, many of you are going to want to know why I left anime blogging. Well... it seems that while I was writing episodic reviews of anime, I accidentally closed myself off from society. The blog became too much for me to handle, and kept on interfering with my personal life, resulting in a very bad relationship with my family and friends. It was for these reasons, that I was actually forced to end the blog, until we could find a way of balancing both my personal life and writing. This resulted in my decision to stop writing episodic reviews on my site, meaning that there will be no more episodic reviews on my site.

However, that isn't to say that I won't be writing that much content. I will still be writing my first impressions posts on Janaiblog, while I may review one anime episodically on Project Haruhi. Any reviews I write on this site will either be reviews of unlicensed material or any DVD box set that I found interesting enough to review.

That also isn't to say that I will only be writing about anime, as I've also decided to do something a little... odd. I have decided to also write about US politics on my blog, due to the fact that I have to broaden my writing interests if I want to make a living writing. The articles are opinionated, meaning that if you are offended easily, then don't bother reading them.

Thanks for all your support,
Eric Robinson
The Austin Critic

Indefinite Hiatus

Well... after going to Anime Fest in Dallas, something... happened. This event would result in the following:

• I now can't write anime reviews.
• I can't watch anime.
• I can't access electronics freely.
• I can't use twitter.
• I can't blog anymore.

It is for these reasons that I am sad to say that I probably won't be able to update this blog anymore, meaning that I'll be forced to put it on indefinite hiatus. It also means that I won't be able to write for Janaiblog or Project Haruhi anymore.

I will try to regain the ability to write anime reviews again, but with the way things are going in my personal life, it doesn't seem like the possibility of me updating this site again are high. I would like to thank those who followed my blog, as I hope you enjoyed the content that I have written. I will keep the site up, but I will not renew the domain http://www.theaustincritic.com/, meaning that when it expires, the original URL for the site is http://www.theaustincritic.blogspot.com/.

I would also like to thank Jon Ingoglia and the staff of Project Haruhi for allowing me to write for their sites.

As for the future? I'll try to regain the ability to write reviews on this site, but the possibilities don't look good. It may take 1 month to a few years till I may get the ability to write on this site again.

Thank you for your support.

Eric Robinson
The Austin Critic

Bleach on Crunchyroll

Due to finals, speeches and various other tests, I won't be writing any content from now on until the start of the summer.

Upon going to the Crunchyroll website, I discovered that the staff had created a petition in order to get Bleach simulcasted on Crunchyroll. While I am fully aware that Bleach is stupid, retarded and has filler that (while better than Naruto's) would make even the most patient viewer tear his hair out; it also has moments of gratuitous awesomeness and coolness, also having a sense of style that makes me want to have a Zanpakuto myself. In the end, it's just brainless fun that I love to watch when I don't feel like using this thing called a "brain". (Even if the filler does make me want to commit homicide!!!) It is due to these reasons that I entreat the world to sign this petition, as Crunchyroll is aiming to have about 100,000 signatures by the end of the week. While the number seems a bit unrealistic, it would still be worth a try to get this anime simulcasted on Crunchyroll. Here is why I believe Bleach should be on Crunchyroll:
(Note: If I say anything stupid or/and incorrect, than please forgive me. I am not an expert in this industry.)

1. Crunchyroll will probably release episodes faster than Hulu will.
2. If you pay for a Crunchyroll membership, you will finally begin to see the latest episodes of Bleach in 720P.

To sign the petition, please go to http://www.crunchyroll.com/petition/wewantbleach.Let's try to make this happen!

 Please sign the petition, or Gin will mentally torture you with this creepy stare!!!

Moving up the ladder

I have just become editor in chief of the review section of Manga Jouhou. My duties include the editing of reviews and the posting of reviews on the site. I can't wait to start the job!!

RightStuf.com: The place to buy anime and manga.

After searching for a website that could provide generous deals which allow me to actually afford anime, I found it. This website is called Right Stuf, an online store that gives insanely good deals everyday for those Otaku who may be forced to hold back on their hobby (or obsession). Those who want to purchase anime,manga, or collectibles should visit this site, as it's guranteed to provide relief for both your wallet and your hunger for anime/manga.

Wow...it has been a while...

It has been a month since I have posted any personal updates lately. This is mostly due to an insane amount of school work, which has left me temporarily scarred. I have also been doing very reckless deeds lately, such as staying awake till midnight, eating obscenely unhealthy meals, getting slight cases of major anxiety and buying eight anime DVDs which is sure to have a heavy toll on both my wallet and self esteem, mostly due to my complete inability to buy anything without feeling guilty afterwards.

Two weeks ago, Manga Jouhou sent me another batch of shipments to review, which included:

• Nephylym Volume 2
• Welcome to Wakaba-soh Volume 1+2
• Black God Volume 8
• Bamboo Blade Volume 3

While I do usually write one review a day, the amount of school work I have renders me incapable of such an achievement. I also have trouble maintaining a social life, meaning that I have to constantly talk to the voices in my head in order to stay sane. To add to the list of problems, I also have trouble finishing my homework before midnight, resulting in much fatigue the next day.

I am going to have a bit of trouble reviewing volume two of Nephylym, as I have never read the first volume. Scanlators don't seem to have picked up on it, meaning that I'm going to have to buy it. I'm going to hold off on the purchasing of anime and manga products, since I seem to have spent a little too much this month.

Overall, the first seven weeks of school have been stressful, but a little bird told me that I won't have to worry, as the worst has passed and the last few months of school won't be considered a hazard to my physical and mental health. I should be writing reviews like crazy next month.

Drivers Education=NIGHTMARE

I have been insanely busy lately. For the next three weeks I will be taking drivers education classes for every day of the week. This means that when class ends at 7:00 PM, I will have three hours to write reviews, do homework, eat dinner and write the script to Jouhou Cast (assuming that I don't get home at 7:30 PM due to my parents being late in picking me up). If I sleep at 10:00 PM, I will get about 8 hours of sleep, as I wake up every morning at 6:00 AM to go jogging. Please forgive me if I don't post as often, as I barely have time to do my homework, meaning that I would be lucky to actually write a paragraph before bedtime. To add insult to injury, I also have two projects during the three weeks, meaning that this month is going to be hell. I pray the teachers are feeling merciful during the weekend.

I have yet to type up my review of volume two of Bamboo Blade. I will also complete the reviews of volume 4,5,6 and 7 of Black God, somewhere this weekend. Jouhou Cast will also be completed on schedule, so no one has to worry about that. I will post more often when I complete my drivers education classes somewhere at the end of the month.

New Facebook Picture

I am an IDIOT!

DAMMIT!!! My stupidity/carelessness/overconfidence(circle your pick), has caused about an hour of temporary depression. Having requested Baccano! The Complete Box Set for my Christmas list, I have failed to realize that Baccano! The Complete Box Set comes out December 29th. What causes great self loathing, is not that I'm not going to get it, but the fact that I was spending hours researching the product, forgetting to check if it actually was released! WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME!!! (Abusing myself)

(sigh)

At least the present will actually be a surprise.

Note: WATCH BACCANO! RIGHT NOW IF YOU HAVE MISSED THE BEAUTIFUL EXPERIENCE!!!(TRY HULU YOU TWIT!)

Snow Day

For winter break, we have gone to Brewster in the Cape Cod area. It seems that the snow has hit the cape early, due to at least a foot of snow being presented to me as I looked outside my window yesterday morning. I have seen lots of spectacles that I have never seen before in person. It helps me to appreciate the beauty of the cape during winter.

I can't believe I forgot the camera! (DAMMIT!)

However, the beauty can be pretty decieving, due to my stupidity nearly resulting in my demise. During an outing, I accidently locked myself out, resulting in a struggle to the front door, which was surrounded by two feet of snow. Did I mention that a blizzard was taking place while I was stuck outside? This resulted in much pain, numb fingers, and wet clothes. Reflecting on it, I realize that it could have been much worse. MUCH WORSE!

A NEW FEATURE!

At the bottom of the blog is this Playlist widget which I update regularly. This contains music I like. While there is not much on it, it will grow with the passing of time. ENJOY!

Published on the Westlake Featherduster!!!

I am proud to report that I have been published for the first time on a newspaper! This paper is the Westlake Featherduster, a newspaper for Westlake High School. The story is a review for Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 Days and is on page 64 and in the Rants and Raves section of the paper. I also gave a sidebar with tips on how to play the game, so I hope they help. Those of you who are interested should pick up a copy of The Westlake Featherduster, an for more information go to http://www.westlakefeatherduster.com/.

A review show I found interesting.

Victory!!!

I have gotten a position in the Manga Jouhou (http://www.manganews.net/), reviewing staff! I am so glad, since I can finally gain some experience and assist the staff of Manga Jouhou. Thank you for accepting me, Manga Jouhou.

The Long Thanksgiving!

Due to my lack of time, I have decided to do make an episode of Critic Cast, with a co-host during Thanksgiving. I will attempt to get him to film with me and will also discuss multiple subjects per show. Please send requests at eric11harris@hotmail.com. I can't guarantee to accept all of them, but I will attempt to do most of them. Patrick Robinson shall be my co-host, if he accepts my offer. Prepare for a long string of reviews!

Sorry for Yesterday!

Today has been quite a busy weekend. The amount of work given to me seem to have caused me to go mad, resulting in immense fatigue, causing me to forget to write a post yesterday. I watched The Blind Side this weekend, and intend to do a review on it soon. I will review chapter 1 of Going Rogue, due to their only being 6 chapters. My review for Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 Days will be published on the school newspaper. Be sure to pick up the December issue of the Westlake Featherduster!

Sidebars and Going Rogue

The Westlake Featherduster asked me to do a sidebar for a story I was doing on Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 Days. I gave the game a mostly positive review, but found that their was many flaws that stopped it from being anything "special". The sidebar basically has me giving tips on how to complete the game. Those who are interested should take a look at the December issue of The Westlake Featherduster. For more information, go to http://www.westlakefeatherduster.com/. This newspaper has won various awards, and is considered on of the top High School Newspapers in the nation. Pick up a copy, you won't regret it!

Also, my Diablo 2 review won't be finished until I get the expansion pack, so be patient. I also plan on doing a review on The World Ends With You, but due to my grand parents coming, I probably will probably not get much time to play it. Critic Cast is still on hold unfortunately, I am trying my hardest to get all the software up and running for it. I am also going to read Going Rogue: An American Life, a book by Sarah Palin. I'm not expecting it to be good, since I don't like Palin in the first place, but I will give it a chance, since I don't hate Palin.