Magic THEROS Now Available!

New Magic The Gathering decks: THEROS are now available!

NEW BOOKS IN STORE!

THE NOBLE APPROACH

DIGITAL PAINTING TECHNIQUES VOLUME 5

UNE PETITE TENTATION

Final Fantasy Agito Trailer

What originally was supposed to be part of the Final Fantasy XIII Fabula Nova Crystallis mythos thing, Square Enix originally unveiled a game that was titled as 'Final Fantasy Agito XIII' that would accompany 'Final Fantasy XIII' and what was then called 'Final Fantasy Versus XIII'; three separate game worlds that originated from a similar mythology.

Those plans were dropped somewhere along the way following Final Fantasy XIII's release and Square Enix having problems with their Crystal Tools Engine. Final Fantasy XIII would go on to receive a sequel 'XIII-2' and another sequel yet to be released 'Lightning Returns Final Fantasy XIII.' The game known as 'Versus XIII' was changed to 'Final Fantasy XV.' And finally what was 'Agito XIII' moved from originally being a mobile game to a full fledged PSP game called 'Type-0.' Now Square Enix has returned to the well with a dedicated mobile/tablet game called 'Final Fantasy Agito' which is a sequel to 'Type-0', which was originally 'Final Fantasy Agito XIII.' So everything has come full circle... or something...

And here's our very first trailer for this title, currently only announced for japan with Type-0 still in localization limbo...

Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII TGS'13 trailer

NEW BOOKS ARRIVING WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 25th!!!

ART BOOKS

*This Week's Highlights!*
- Fans of the videogame 'Akaneiro', which reimagined Red Riding Hood as a monster hunter will want to check out the artwork behind the production! The 'Art of Akaneiro' arrives in a basket this Wednesday!

- Check out the artbook for the upcoming 'Cloudy with a Chance of Meat Balls 2'! Available right now!

- A full color art monograph book of Frank Frazetta's career with never before seen photos, memorabilia and early comic work! 'Frank Frazetta Art & Remembrances' arrives in a hardcover this week!

- The work of London's underworld burlesque artists are collected in a stylish book containing sketches, illustrations and paintings. Peek into 'SOHO Dives SOHO Divas' this Wednesday.

- The 'Walking Dead 100 Project' artbook collects 100 all-new covers envisioning the horrors of its best-selling title with brand new artwork by Charlie Adlard, Paolo Rivera and more! This book is a single run that will never be printed again with proceeds going to help struggling comic book creators! So don't miss out! Grab it this week!

ALP ALLEN ALTINER SKETCHBOOK (Now Available in Store!)
ART OF AKANEIRO HC

ART OF CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS 2 (Now Available in Store!)

DAVID FINCH LIMITED EDITION SKETCHBOOK ISSUE 2 (Now Available in Store!)
DR WHO MAGAZINE #464 

FRANK FRAZETTA ART AND REMEMBRANCES HC 

HOBBIT AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY CHRONICLES II (Now Available in Store!)

KENT WILLIAMS EKLEKTIKOS (Back in Stock!)

SOHO DIVES SOHO DIVAS TP 

WALKING DEAD 100 PROJECT TP 

COMICS

*This Week's Highlights!*
- A group of Marvel's best baddies are taking advantage of the events of Infinity to pull off a caper while the heroes are distracted! See what they're up to in the first issue of 'Infinity Heist' arriving this week!

- A discontented generation tired of old-fashioned ideals of power & responsibility seek to overthrow the Utopian. Follow the exciting events in 'Jupiter's Legacy #3' out Wednesday!

- Shining Armor & Princess Candence's love story comes to the forefront in issue #11 of 'My little Pony Friendship is Magic', arriving this week!

- The Powerpuff Girls are back to take on the fiendish Mojo Dojo! Check out their first issue arriving on Wednesday!

- Peter Panzerfaust's Kustis J. Wiebe brings us a new tale of a darkly comedic fantasy world where a team of mismatched battle maidens for hire team up to kill for profit. Check out the first issue of 'Rat Queens' teleporting in this week!

- Gwendolyn and the freed slave girl look towards the future in the 14th issue of Brian K Vaughn & Fiona Staple's SAGA!

- From Matt Fraction comes a tale of two lovers whose romps in bed have the side effect of stopping time; leaving the bank vaults free for the taking! Check out his wacky new series 'Sex Criminals' with issue #1 coming on Wednesday!

A PLUS X #12

ACTION COMICS #23.4 METALLO

ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #5

AQUAMAN #23.2 OCEAN MASTER

AVENGERS #20 INF

AVENGERS ASSEMBLE #19 INF

BART SIMPSON COMICS #86

BATMAN #23.4 BANE

BATMAN AND ROBIN #23.4 KILLER CROC

BATMAN SUPERMAN #3.1 DOOMSDAY

BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT #23.4 JOKERS DAUGHTER

CROSSED BADLANDS #36 WRAP CVR

DEADPOOL #17

DETECTIVE COMICS #23.4 MAN BAT

EAST OF WEST #6

FATALE #17

FF #12

GAMBIT #17

GREEN LANTERN #23.4 SINESTRO

GUARDIANS OF GALAXY #6

INFINITY HEIST #1 (OF 4)

INJUSTICE GODS AMONG US #9

ITTY BITTY HELLBOY #2 (OF 3)

JUPITERS LEGACY #3

JUSTICE LEAGUE #23.4 SECRET SOCIETY

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #7.4 BLACK ADAM

MARVEL UNIVERSE ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #18

MY LITTLE PONY FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC #11

NOVA #8 INF

OTHER DEAD #1 (OF 5)

POWERPUFF GIRLS #1

POWERPUFF GIRLS #1 SUBSCRIPTION VAR

PUNISHER TRIAL OF PUNISHER #1 (OF 2)

RAT QUEENS #1 

RAT QUEENS #1 10 COPY STAPLES INCV CVR 

SAGA #14

SCARLET SPIDER #22

SEX #7

SEX CRIMINALS #1

SIMPSONS TREEHOUSE OF HORROR #19

STAR TREK ONGOING #25

SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN TEAM UP #3 INF

SUPERMAN #23.4 PARASITE

TAROT WITCH OF THE BLACK ROSE #82

TMNT ONGOING #26

ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN #27

UNCANNY AVENGERS #12

UNWRITTEN #53

WAKE #4 (OF 10)

WOLVERINE AND X-MEN #36

WONDER WOMAN #23.2 FIRST BORN

YOUNG AVENGERS #10 NOW

MANGA

*This Week's Highlights!*
- Hot on the heels of 'Doubt' comes the first volume of 'Judge' where a new game is played with the participants picking who gets to die next!

- A new all-ages title arrives this week where the one and only Sherlock Holmes is reincarnated as a cute little doggy! Would you have preferred Robert Downey Jr. instead? Well you can make up your mind once you've seen the first volume of 'Sherlock Bones'!

- The late anime director Satoshi Kon's first comic work is being published in English! Check out 'Tropic of the Sea' about a town and the legends of a mermaid!

- A girl seeks to fulfill her dream of becoming a reknowned voice actress at a prestigious school! But is her voice too gruff? See if she makes the cut in the first volume of 'Voice Over Seiyu Academy' graduating to our store this week!

ATTACK ON TITAN VOL 07 (Now Available in Store!)

BTOOOM! VOL 03 (Now Available in Store!)

BUNNY DROP VOL 09 (Now Available in Store!)

GENSHIKEN SECOND SEASON GN VOL 03

HANA KIMI 3IN1 ED TP VOL 06

JUDGE VOL 01 (Now Available in Store!)

KINGDOM HEARTS II OMNIBUS VOL 02 (Now Available in Store!)

MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO NOVEL

SHERLOCK BONES VOL 01

TROPIC OF THE SEA GN

UMINEKO WHEN THEY CRY VOL 04 (Now Available in Store!)

VOICE OVER SEIYU ACADEMY GN VOL 01

GRAPHIC NOVELS

*This Week's Highlights!*
- The second deluxe large sized hardcover of Adventure Time arrives in its Mathematical edition glory!

- Check out the anime-styled take of DC's famous girls, Wonder Woman, Batgirl, Supergirl & Power Girl in the first volume of 'Ame-Comi Girls'!

- The 3rd hardcover volume of Justice League arrives this week with the U.S. Navy against the Atlantean Army with our heroes in the fray arrives collecting Justice League #13-17 & Aquaman #15 & 16. Also coming in is the softcover 2nd volume of Justice League for those awaiting it!

- The world's mightiest mortal is reborn in the New 52! Billy Batson is imbued with the power of the gods to take on Black Adam! Follow this tale in the first hardcover volume of 'Shazam!' collection Justice League #7-11,0,14-16 & 18-21!

- The stories of the A-babies & X-babies and a host of other baby stuff by Skottie Young are collected in a giant-sized 'Young Marvel - Little X-Men Little Avangers Big Trouble' of a book whose deliver due date is this week!

ADVENTURE TIME MATHEMATICAL ED HC VOL 02

AME COMI GIRLS TP VOL 01

ARCHIE 1000 PG COMICS EXTRAVAGANZA TP

BEN 10 OMNIVERSE GN VOL 01 GHOST SHIP

CYBER FORCE REBIRTH TP VOL 01

DARK TOWER GUNSLINGER TP LAST SHOTS

DOCTOR WHO PRISONERS OF TIME TP VOL 02

EERIE ARCHIVES HC VOL 14

HARBINGER TP VOL 03 HARBINGER WARS

JUDGE DREDD TRIFECTA GN

JUSTICE LEAGUE HC VOL 03 THRONE OF ATLANTIS (N52)

JUSTICE LEAGUE TP VOL 02 THE VILLAINS JOURNEY (N52)

LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT JIM APARO HC VOL 2

MARVEL UNIVERSE ULT SPIDER-MAN DIGEST TP VOL 04

PREACHER TP BOOK 02

RED SHE-HULK TP VOL 02 ROUTE 616 NOW

SHAZAM HC VOL 01 (N52)

SIN TITULO HC

SPAWN ORIGINS TP VOL 19

SPIDER-MAN 2099 TP VOL 02

THUNDERBOLTS TP VOL 02 RED SCARE NOW

WHAT IF AVX TP

YOUNG MARVEL TP LITTLE X-MEN LITTLE AVENGERS BIG TROUBLE

TOYS

*This Week's Highlights!*
- Lots of new DC statues are coming in with TIme Miller's Supergirl + the new ArtFX statue of Cyborg & new Play Arts Kai reimagined images of Batman, Green Lantern & Wonder Woman!

- New mini figures of the Evangelion Rebuild girls are arriving in store alongside new Marvel 'LABBIT' characters!

- A silver metal replica of Mass Effect's NORMANDY ship is flying in for fans of the series!

- A new action figure of Tiger & Bunny's flamboyant hero 'Fire Emblem' comes in with flame accessories and interchangable parts!

DC 66 BATMAN 6IN BATMAN AF (Now Available in Store!)

DC COMICS BOMBSHELLS SUPERGIRL STATUE

DC COMICS CYBORG ARTFX+ STATUE NEW 52 VER

DC COMICS VARIANT PLAY ARTS KAI BATMAN AF

DC COMICS VARIANT PLAY ARTS KAI GREEN LANTERN AF

DC COMICS VARIANT PLAY ARTS KAI WONDER WOMAN AF

DC THE NEW 52 TRINITY WAR AF BOX SET

EVA PORTRAITS NEW MOVIE VER EX PORTRAITS TRAD FIG 6PC ASST 

MARVEL MINI LABBIT 20PC BMB DS

MASS EFFECT ALLIANCE NORMANDY SR1 SHIP REPLICA SILVER VAR

TIGER & BUNNY FIRE EMBLEM S.H.FIGUARTS AF 

The Labyrinth @ WORD ON THE STREET

Attention Customers!

We will be participating at WORD ON THE STREET @ Queens Park, Toronto!

It takes place this Sunday, September 22nd!

We'll have 1000s of selected Graphic novels on SALE for 40% OFF the U.S. Cover Price!

In addition, we'll  also have lots of Children's and miscellaneous books on sale!

We will be located at booth #s 109-112

Please Note:

Our Oakville Location will be CLOSED on that Sunday Sep 22nd, and will reopen on Monday Sep 23rd.

Our Toronto location will remain OPEN for regular hours.

NEW BOOKS IN STORE!

THE HOBBIT AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY CHRONICLES II

 

 

KENT WILLIAMS EKLEKTIKOS (BACK IN STOCK)

 

 

THE ART OF CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS 2

 

 

BTOOOM! Vol. 3

 

UMINEKO WHEN THEY CRY Vol. 4

 

ATTACK ON TITAN Vol. 7

 

JUDGE Vol. 1

 

 

BUNNY DROP Vol. 9

 

KINGDOM HEARTS II Omnibus Vol. 2

 

Deep Down TGS'13 trailer

Capcom has shown off more of its new game 'Deep Down', a joint development between them and Sony as a PS4 exclusive with their new Phanta Rhei engine. The game is an online multiplayer game with randomly generated creatures and environments that aims to go after the same audience that loves titles like Dark Souls. Check out their new trailer below!

Toronto Zombie Makeup Workshop

The Complections College of Makeup Art & Design is holding a zombie & monster makeup workshop in a month's time!

The workshop consists of a three-hour demonstration of various horror/bloody makeup looks from basic to advanced. It is being hosted by SPFX artists Stuart Conran (Shaun of the Dead, Hellraiser) and Ryan Louagie (Evil Dead: The Musical). Attendees can buy a makeup kit if they wish to recreate the looks. The workshop is on the 22nd and 24th of October, the week before the 10th Annual Toronto Zombie Walk.

Anyone interested can get in touch with Katrina Massey, the Communications Coordinator.

Katrina Massey
Communications Coordinator

C | MU
Complections College of Makeup Art & Design
www.complectionsmake-up.com
(t) 416.968.6739 x24
(f) 416.968.7340

 

New Books in Store!

ALP ALLEN ALTINER Sketchbook Vol. 1

 

 

DAVID FINCH Limited Edition Sketchbook issue 2

 

 

 

Dr. Who promo at London's Heathrow Airport

One of our customers had been to London recently and mentioning this. He sent us some photos to share with you. As he describes it, "London Heathrow Airport, Terminal 3 on Saturday 10 Aug. He was there only for a 2 hour slot, as part of a Dr Who promotion. They were handing out a "Time Traveller Passport" mini-activity book for the kids as well. The cyberman made an appearance on only 4 days in total, each for 2 hours, so I was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time... They also had a couple of Daleks on display at different ends of the terminal - one from the 60s movie and one from the last season."

 

The Legend of Korra - Book 2: Spirits trailer

Here's the final trailer for the new season of 'Avatar - The Legend of Korra' that debuts this week. Cartoon Brew also has an exclusive clip! They're even teasing that we'll get to discover the tory behind the very first Avatar!

Drop by our store if you're looking for the art book for the first season!

NEW BOOKS ARRIVING NEXT WED SEPTEMBER 18th!!!

ART BOOKS

*This Week's Highlights!*
- Art students will want to check out the new 'Guide to Drawing Animals' by Gottfried Bammes where you can learn all the tips from a great master illustrator!

- Hollywood girls, sci-fi femmes & horror queens are all collected in a great pin-up book featuring the work of Carlos Valenzuela called 'Glamourama' revealing itself this week!

- Check out this new Neil Gaiman novel, 'Fortunately the Milk', a hilarious story of time travel and breakfast cereal with illustrations by Skottie Young!

COMPLETE GUIDE TO DRAWING ANIMALS GOTTFRIED BAMMES (Now Available in store!)

DOCTOR WHO DIARY 2014 PX ED 

GLAMOURAMA PIN UP ART CARLOS VALENZUELA SC 

NEIL GAIMAN FORTUNATELY THE MILK HC 

PREPARE TO BOARD 2ND EDITION (Now Available in store!)

COMICS

*This Week's Highlights!*
- Another opportunity appears this week for newcomers to jump on board 'Adventure Time' with issue #20 where Finn & Jake begin their final dungeon adventure!

- The 12th issue of Bravest Warriors arrives continuing the tales of our 4 brave heroes and their adorable pets!

- The Marvel event 'Infinity' continues with issue #3 world killing its way into our store this week!

- A demon trying to regain his halo becomes a contract bodyguard for a with hunted by werewolves in the first issue of 'Kiss me Satan' available Wednesday.

- The big face-off between the Superior Spider-Man and the 2099 Spider-Man continues in issue #18 of Superior Spider-Man, out this future Wednesday!

- A perfect spy must retreive a device inside a living bio-modified terrorist before an entire army does! Check out the first issue of 'Zero' this week!

SUICIDE SQUAD #23

100 BULLETS BROTHER LONO #4 (OF 8) 

ACTION COMICS #23.3 LEX LUTHOR

ADVENTURE TIME #20 MAIN CVRS 

ARCHIE & FRIENDS DOUBLE DIGEST #31

ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #243

BATMAN #23.3 PENGUIN

BATMAN 66 #3

BATMAN AND ROBIN #23.3 RAS AL GHUL

BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT #23.3 CLAYFACE

BOUNCE #5 

BRAVEST WARRIORS #12 MAIN CVRS

CABLE AND X-FORCE #14

CAPTAIN MARVEL #16 INF

CONAN THE BARBARIAN #20

CROSSED SPECIAL 2013 WRAP CVR 

DAMSELS MERMAIDS #5 (OF 5)

DETECTIVE COMICS #23.3 SCARECROW

DOCTOR WHO VOL 3 #13 

FABLES #133 

FLASH #23.3 ROGUES

GHOSTBUSTERS #7

GREEN LANTERN #23.3 BLACK HAND

INFINITY #3 (OF 6)

INFINITY #3 OF(6) CASTELLANI LEGO VAR

JENNIFER BLOOD #31 

JUGHEADS DOUBLE DOUBLE DIGEST #196

JUSTICE LEAGUE #23.3 DIAL E

JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #23.2 ECLIPSO

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #7.3 SHADOW THIEF

KISS ME SATAN #1 (OF 5) MAIN CVR

MIND THE GAP #14 CVR A ESQUEJO

MORNING GLORIES #31 

NEW AVENGERS #10 INF

PETER PANZERFAUST #14

POWERS BUREAU #7 

SAVAGE WOLVERINE #8

SECRET AVENGERS #9

SIX GUN GORILLA #4 (OF 6)

SONIC UNIVERSE #56 REG CVR

SONIC UNIVERSE #56 SEGA VAR CVR

SUPERIOR CARNAGE #3 (OF 5)

SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #18

SUPERMAN #23.3 HEL

SUPURBIA ONGOING #11

SWAMP THING #23.1 ARCANE

TEEN TITANS #23.2 DEATHSTROKE

THOR GOD OF THUNDER #13

THUNDERBOLTS #15 INF

ULTIMATE COMICS X-MEN #31

UNCANNY X-MEN #12

VENOM #41

WOLVERINE MAX #11 

WONDER WOMAN #23.1 CHEETAH

WORLD OF ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #32

X-FILES SEASON 10 #4

X-MEN LEGACY #17

ZERO #1 CVR B CLOONAN 

MANGA

ARE YOU ALICE GN VOL 02 

ARISA GN VOL 11 

BETRAYAL KNOWS MY NAME GN VOL 06 

BRIDES STORY HC GN BOOK 05

MELANCHOLY OF SUZUMIYA HARUHI CHAN GN VOL 07

SAILOR MOON SHORT STORIES VOL 01 (Now Available in store!)

SOUL EATER TP VOL 16

GRAPHIC NOVELS

*This Week's Highlights!*
- Fans of the 'Arrow' TV show might want to check out the first volume of this previously digital-only series collecting issues #1-6 filling in the gaps between episodes of the series!

- The 3rd hardcover volume of Batwoman arrives collecting #12-17 & #0 as many descend down onto Gotham to bring down Medusa!

- Moebius & Jodorowsky's 'Madwoman of the Sacred Heart' is back in stock in a new edition with a new cover.

- The complete galaxy-spanning adventures of Albino's path to become a Technopriest are collected in a new edition with all the content of last year's deluxe slipcase edition in a regular size. Check out this tome by Jodorowsky & Janjetov!

- A new original graphic novel explores the world of Tommy Taylor arrives revealing more of the world of 'Unwritten'! Check out the hardcover 'Unwritten - Tommy Taylor & the Ship that Sank Twice'!

- Wolverine's nightmares become reality as the sadistic agency that made him Weapon X returns. Check out this classic collecting 1988's Wolverine #159-176 & the 2000-2001 Annual in 'Wolverine - Return of Weapon X'

ALL NEW X-MEN PREM HC VOL 03 OUT OF THEIR DEPTH NOW

ANGEL & FAITH TP VOL 04 DEATH & CONSEQUENCES 

ARROW TP VOL 01

BATWOMAN HC VOL 03 WORLDS FINEST (N52)

BATWOMAN TP VOL 02 TO DROWN THE WORLD (N52)

BUTTON MAN GET HARRY EX GN 

CENTURY WEST OGN 

FIVE GHOSTS TP VOL 01 HAUNTING OF FABIAN GRAY

HARBINGER WARS TP

IRON MAN EPIC COLLECTION TP ENEMY WITHIN

LOST VEGAS TP

MADWOMAN O/T SACRED HEART HC 

MMW DAREDEVIL HC VOL 07 DM VAR ED 198

MORNING GLORIES DLX HC VOL 02

REGGIE 12 HC

SECRET SOCIETY OF SUPER VILLAINS TP VOL 01

SIXTH GUN TP VOL 05

SMASH GN VOL 01 TRIAL BY FIRE 

SMOKE ASHES TP

STORMWATCH TP VOL 03 BETRAYAL (N52)

TECHNOPRIESTS SUPREME COLLECTION HC 

TMNT CLASSICS TP VOL 06

UNWRITTEN HC TOMMY TAYLOR & THE SHIP THAT SANK TWICE 

WOLVERINE TP RETURN OF WEAPON X

WORLD OF WARCRAFT PEARL OF PANDARIA TP

TOYS & SHIRTS

*This Week's Highlights!*
- We've got more mini-figure sets in, from Titan's Dr. Who, and from Namco's 'Tales of' series!

BSG FRAK ME T/S (MED) 

DC 66 BATMAN 6IN JOKER AF

DC 66 BATMAN 6IN SURFING BATMAN AF 

DOCTOR WHO TITANS MINI FIG 20PC BMB DS SER 02 

LIVING DEAD DOLLS LITTLE BO CREEP DOLL 

TALES OF SERIES PETIT CHARA LAND 10PC BMB DS SER 01 

Mortal Kombat: Legacy II trailer

The hit web-series 'Mortal Kombat Legacy' is finally getting another online season! Check out the trailer for it below!

The Wind Rises - REVIEW

     Having managed to fit in a day at TIFF, I used the opportunity to check out the final feature film by Hayao Miyazaki. Since I had to wait in a long line-up for the rush tickets, I unfortunately missed around 2-3 minutes of the beginning, but I'd comfortably caught 99.9% of the rest.

     'The Wind Rises' is an animated biopic of the Japanese man who would one day build the infamous Zero Fighter aircraft that would be used to attack Pearl Harbor. As such there'd been some controversy surrounding the film's creation and Miyazaki is reported to have almost dropped the idea of making the film until he heard that one day, Jiro Horikoshi, the aircraft designer, and the film's protagonist, had uttered, "I just wanted to create something beautiful." This inspired Miyazaki to continue on despite the concern and negativity.

     The film's character Jiro also combines the life story of the Japanese author Tatsuo Hori with the historic Jiro to tell a sweetly compelling story of romance and loss. Hori translated French poetry in his time, and the film takes it title from one of these poems, "The wind is rising, so let us try to live" from Paul Valery's Charmes. Le Cimetière Marin.

     The story follows a young Jiro as he grows into adulthood with his head constantly in the clouds being inspired by foreign aviation pioneers to build something incredible; not merely of his own ambition, but also for the pride of Japan which is seen as poor and backward compared to Western nations. Along the way he encounters tragedy, friendship, rivalry, love and irony. But Jiro is a dreamer, so despite the conflicts in his way he is determined to rise above it all. It is here that Miyazaki uses the medium of animation to merge reality with Jiro's dream sequences. These blend in and out of each other throughout the film evoking themes and lessons through what has become the enduring Miyazaki standard of using sequences of flight and freefall. 

     Studio Ghibli is also in top form here with regards to the details; from the spluttering and chugging of engines and machinery; their trademark vfx style of the depiction of liquids and gases; beautiful scenery and detailed interior backgrounds. Of interest is that Miyazaki insisted that the sound be recorded in Mono instead of Surround or even 2 channel. He'd also insisted that some sound effects that would otherwise be traditionally done with foley work and recordings be instead voiced by a vocal performer imitating the sound, sort of like a child does when he plays with his soldiers and airplanes in his own make-belief way.

     Throughout the film, one can't help but draw parallels to Miyazaki himself, which is why he likely chose this project to be his finale. Jiro is a man obsessed with his craft and spends countless time drawing and designing. He does so despite the times and lives out his dream despite being fully aware of the consequences that his ambitions will inevitably bring about; in Jiro's case, that his aircraft will be used for warfare. That his creations intended to be so free and beautiful could also be so deadly. Miyazaki, however, doesn't make these negativities the focal point of the story, but they are not ignored. Neither are the background politics of pre-WWII Japan nor the other dark things over the horizon such as the European wars and the coming of the Third Reich.

     The lesson here is that in the face of these things, all those wonderful dreams and ambitions and moments of life, so temporal and fragile, are enough sunlight to cast away the shadows of doubt. Those tumultous winds, ever rising, changing direction, bring with it both the storms and the nourishing rain. The same winds that bring great devastation, can also bring lovers together. The times are always growing turbulent and such things are out of our control. We invest so much to build things so grand that may one day all come to a crashing end due to the breakdown of the simplest part in a chain reaction. So it is with airplanes, and so it is with nations and people. But despite it all we ourselves must strive to live on.

     It is a fine moment for Miyazaki to leave us on after a life dedicated to his work. Perhaps there are many things he'd have liked to have done. Certainly many of us were hoping to see him make more fantastic films in the vein of Spirited Away or Princess Mononoke. But some things may never be. The winds have shifted. In the end, did he use those years to the fullest? Did he fly as high as he could given the tools of his time? If the outcome of 'The Wind Rises' is any indication, then I'm certain he did!

ANIMATION HIGHLIGHT: Makoto Shinkai's 'Someone's Gaze' (2013)

Called 'Dareka no Manazashi', director Makoto Shinkai made this short film about a girl and her family and their cat. You can check it out below. Turn on Closed Captions for English subtitles.

NEW BOOKS IN STORE!

GOTTFRIED BAMMES - COMPLETE GUIDE TO DRAWING ANIMALS

PREPARE TO BOARD Second Edition

'The Wind Rises' TIFF showtimes!

Anyone looking to catch Studio Ghibli & Hayao Miyazaki's latest movie 'The Wind Rises' can check it out during the Toronto Film Festival on the following days listed below. Miyazaki announced that this film will seriously be his last feature film as old age is taking its toll on his ability to work. He will now only be taking on smaller projects and other Ghibli Museum related ventures. His retirement announcement is availabel below as well.

Wednesday September 11
Visa Screening Room (Elgin)
6:00 PM
Thursday September 12
Ryerson Theatre
5:45 PM
Sunday September 15
TIFF Bell Lightbox 1
9:00 AM

Tribal Swallow Tattoo

Following these 4 simple tips to make sure your tribal swallow tattoo sets you apart!

 


For more tattoo ideas, check out Tattoo Me Now, one of my favorite tattoo sites:

1) Bypass the free design sites or you will get what everyone else has. A membership tribal design site highlights designs by artist that specialize in tribal body art. They know what types of tribal designs look good where and with what elements.

2) Use a tattoo artist that specializes in tribal body art. If you are going with tribal art you need a professional who knows what they are doing and has done it before. You can recognize instantly the difference between a tribal tattoo specialty artist and an average artist. You will find the real thing on a membership site.

3) Go to a tattoo parlor that adheres to the proper industry health and safety regulations. Things can get nasty quick if you go to a tattoo parlor that is more concerned about making a quick dollar than the proper business and health practices. Your membership site posts reviews of different tattoo studios and what health and safety practices you should look out for.

4) Know what you are putting on your body. You may think you know what your tribal design means, but do you really? You don't want to find out later that the message you are wearing isn't what you thought. A fee based membership design site has experts that explain what certain tribal tattoo designs mean.

Whether it is for show or just for yourself, taking the right steps before you get your tribal tattoo will ensure that it is everything you wanted it to be.

Good luck getting your new tribal swallow tattoo!