Item! The Viz Pictures R1 DVD of Train Man: Densha Otoko comes out next Tuesday (Feb/6) in the USA. “So what?” you groan, inbetween sucks on a Fudgecicle before mumbling something about how the TV series was supposed to be better. Well, this disc here comes with a running audio commentary supplied by Anime City co-author Tomohiro Machiyama, the mysterious “Jay Tack,” and myself. We talk about Akihabara and the usual otaku poisons, how the whole Densha Otoko phenomenon could merely be a massive conspiracy on the part of the eeeevil Dentsu ad agecy, and even reveal the shocking truth about the Adult Video-only sequel to the film: The Kissing and Sex of Densha Otoko! The most effective words in any sales pitch are “get” “want" and “need.” So if those don’t convince you to go out and buy one then perhaps you aren’t human!
I've not seen the movie, but given the praises I've read for it, the movie seems honestly good. The TV series is good, but in the same way that something like Gundou Musashi is good. Well, not that bad but it's good cheesy fun.
Posted by: wildarmsheero | January 31, 2007 at 03:46 PM
Congrats on this Patrick, this could actually make me buy it.
Posted by: Nahu | January 31, 2007 at 04:24 PM
I skim thru the movie after seeing the TV series and thought it was OK. I guess for me the TV series was a lot more entertaining because of the great acting and how over the top the actor who played Densha. Also it was awesome to see so much Keroro Gunsou! I guess the Tv series will never get license here tho it had a run on Channel 26 (unsubbed) in SF a last year.
Posted by: Danielle Tokunaga | January 31, 2007 at 07:04 PM
SHOCK(!) - Densha Otoko... as played by one Patrick Macias!?!?
Posted by: Joseph Luster | January 31, 2007 at 07:33 PM
KITAAAAAAAA!!!!!!
This was already on my list, but I'm even more into buying it now that I know your commentary track is on there.
I'm right now watching the TV series fansubbed...it's awesome. If I wasn't already married I would have a major crush on Ito Atsushi. He's ADORABLE!!! Teh hawtness. And funny too! Really, really funny!
Ironically I blogged about my intro to Densha Otoko TV on Cartoon Geeks just the other day:
http://cartoongeeks.blogspot.com/2007/01/different-kind-of-otaku-no-video.html
Someone has GOT to put the TV series out in R1. Anyone know if Viz has the rights? Then again, Fuji TV dropped the ball on putting out R1 DVDs of Iron Chef, to my disgust.
Posted by: Ms. Geek | January 31, 2007 at 08:16 PM
オレは人間をやめるぞ。
Posted by: Carl Horn | January 31, 2007 at 10:25 PM
I stop the human.
Posted by: Daryl Surat | February 01, 2007 at 11:30 AM
Ask Clarissa ^_^
Posted by: Carl Horn | February 01, 2007 at 02:37 PM
I sort of dropped the Densha TV series in the middle. The 2ch scenes were a lot of fun, but everything else, from Densha (who, even for an otaku, is hard to watch) to the blank slate heroine, grated on me. 90-minute Densha, I guess I could take that a lot better.
Posted by: Sub | February 01, 2007 at 03:00 PM
@Ms. Geek
Don't you think licensing the Train Man TV series would be a pain? You know, given all that music they use. OEL's Twilight, The Imperial March, etc. I mean, I dunno how much of a problem that'd be, but I just heard someone mention that.
Posted by: wildarmsheero | February 02, 2007 at 05:02 PM
Licensing music? That never stopped Gainax.
Posted by: Carl Horn | February 02, 2007 at 06:43 PM
Well, licensing music is what is keeping the series "Daria" off of DVD. It's a mess. So I suppose I can relate. If anything though, Jeff Lynne should be thanking his lucky stars that someone has revived interest in ELO, though.
The other stuff like The Imperial March from Star Wars and Numa Numa could be replaced with "soundalike" stuff, though. I mean, that one bitchy client's character's "theme music" could have been Ride of the Valkyries and it would work. I do believe Wagner is in the public domain now, although particular recordings of Wagner are not.
Posted by: Ms. Geek | February 02, 2007 at 07:02 PM
Generally speaking, it's been a non-issue for the last 5 years or so, as production companies are very careful about music clearences so as to not limit the future re-purposing of the product.
I would think that anything cleared with JASRAC would carry over to the US.
But of course I have been told in other places that since I am not in the Industry I can't possibly know what I'm talking about. :)
Posted by: Steve Harrison | February 02, 2007 at 07:17 PM
They certainly keep such considerations in mind, although sometimes it's simply a matter of money--they can afford permission to use a song in a movie or TV show, but not necessarily for home video or re-broadcast in another country.
--C.
"Learn about the word 'recoup,' troop." --Ice-T
Posted by: Carl Horn | February 03, 2007 at 11:32 AM
I saw this on a plane last year and thought it was pretty good. It's sad that I have to rely on Virgin Atlantic to watch all the Japanese films ages before they make it to the US. Not that I take trans-Atlantic flights just to catch the 'Nana' movie or anything.
Posted by: Jaime | February 05, 2007 at 10:48 AM
hey! i accidently stumbled on your site. thanks for reminding me to see this movie!
Posted by: | February 06, 2007 at 09:11 PM
OK, got it, saw it while listening to the commentary track, and frankly I'm somewhat disappointed. Ito Atsushi truly IS Densha Otoko. The pretty-boy they put in the movie is fakey-fakey-fakey. Seeing the segment of the TV series at the end (yes, that is a scene from the TV series, folks) that point is driven home for you. He's also got all the personality of dishwater. :-P So does the woman portraying "Hermess" but Aomori-san didn't have much personality either.
I mean, it's better than nothing. If this causes people to seek out the English translations of the original BBS/Chat posts, then cool. If this causes people to clamor to Fuji-TV to put the season out on DVD for us here in North America, even cooler. (Yes it's out there in Bit Torrent land...I won't lead you by the hand to it but y'all here are Otaku, you know the drill...)
Anyway, the commentary and background you and Machiyama Tomohiro and Ms. Jay Tack did is indeed worth the price of admission, in spite of the inferior nature of the movie. It's a lecture in Otakuism by three of its most esteemed scholars. Forget what I said about it being inferior...buy it!!! You won't be sorry!!! KITAAA!!!
Posted by: Ms. Geek | February 10, 2007 at 09:36 PM
drat..."Hermess" was known in the TV series as Aoyama, not Aomori. Gomen nasai...
Posted by: Ms. Geek | February 11, 2007 at 08:19 AM
I got this from Netflix and checked it out today. As Ms. Geek pointed out the commentary track is truly amazing. I'll be picking up my own copy soon even though the TV series is the superior of the two.
Am I the only anime podcaster who hasn't interviewed you yet Patrick?
Posted by: aaron | February 17, 2007 at 12:25 AM
No, I haven't interviewed him either. And I want to. Really, really want to.
http://cartoongeeks.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Ms. Geek | February 17, 2007 at 08:19 AM
The only really good place to buy lumber is at a store where the lumber has
already been cut and attached together in the form of furniture, finished,
and put inside boxes.
-- Dave Barry, "The Taming of the Screw"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://kelvinmckeeei.easyjournal.com
Posted by: Fumarouri | May 05, 2008 at 10:55 PM
I'm new here, just wanted to say hello and introduce myself.
Posted by: Unebtella | August 16, 2008 at 02:26 AM