Beast Player Erin

Beast Player Erin (Kemono no Sou-ja Erin) is an anime about a green-eyed girl who can tame creatures with the use of her harp.

We like how everything (characters, setting, timeline, plot, etc.) is presented. It is so simple but not at all draggy. Since the chapter titles already give hints on what the episodes are about, then it's really silly guessing what's going to happen. What we're trying to say is that this is not a "guess-who-the-real-villain-is" or "guess-the-ending" kind of show. This anime gives you more than that. This show is so full of heart which you'll have to see for yourself.

Anyway, here are photo clips and quotes from each chapter. All quotes are from the subtitle, we didn't change a word of it. The subtitle isn't perfect but it's understandable. :-)

Chapter 1:Green-Eyed Erin

This isn't really a quote but we love the closing song specially it's last two lines.

Chapter 2: Soh-yon the Healer
The girl is Sah-ju - Erin's bestfriend in Akeh Village.

Stringent -adjective 1. rigorously binding or exacting; strict (definition from dictionary.com)

Chapter 3: The Fighting Beast

This is Dahmiyah - the Shin-oh's nephew.

Chapter 4: Secrets in the Mist
All workaholics think about is work - SO NOT TRUE! Just one of the things that this chapter reminds us. So if you live with one, don't forget to thank them for working so hard for you. We all have our ways to express our love and as they say just because it's not the way we want doesn't mean they don't.

Chapter 5: Erin and the Egg Thieves

Chapter 6: Sohyon`s Warmth

Chapter 7: A Mother`s Whistle
These are Nugan and Shunan - the Grand Duke's sons

Chapter 8: Joh-on the beekeeper

Chapter 9: Honey and Erin

Chapter 10: Birds of Dawn
This is Ia-lu - a sehzan or bodyguard of the Shin-oh and the royal family.

Chapter 11: Inside the Door

Chapter 12: The Silver Feather

Chapter 13: Valley of the Beast King (Ohju)

Chapter 14: People of the Mist
This is a recap episode of chapters 1-13.
This is Na-sohn - watchman and explorer of the People of the Mist.

Chapter 15: The Two's Past
These are Nuk and Mok.

Chapter 16: Ialu the Seh-zan
We think it should be "turn our backs to all...".

Chapter 17: Shin-oh in Danger
This is Princess Seimiyah - heir to the throne, granddaughter of Shin-oh Harumiyah.

Chapter 18: Master Esal
Master Esal: "This isn't Tamu-Yuan. At Kazalum, the Grand Master spends most of her life here. You won't be able to do your jobs, if you had any ambitions."
(Although this quote may seem odd, you'll understand what she's really trying to say once you watch the series. The "ambitions" has deeper meaning. )

Chapter 19: Friends at Kazalum

Chapter 20: The Ohju named Lilan/Lelang
There seem to be more than 1 person translating. Watching the series, we have noticed a lot of the names (spelling) change. Although we don't really mind it. We're just happy that Japan is able to share this with us.

Chapter 21: The Disappearing Light
This is Tomura -one of Kazalum's top students and a friend to Erin.

Chapter 22: The Harp's Sound

Chapter 23: The Oath of Kazalum

Chapter 24: Song of Grief

Chapter 25: An Errand for Two

Chapter 26: Lilan's/Lelang's Feelings

Chapter 27: Fallen into Hikara

Chapter 28: Joh-on's Death

Chapter 29: The Beast's Fangs

Chapter 30: The Fourth Winter

Chapter 31: Luminous Sky

Chapter 32: The Great Crime

Chapter 33: Flying

Chapter 34: Ia-lu and Erin

Chapter 35: A New Life

Chapter 36: The Graduation test

Chapter 37: Birth
This is Shiron- the third girl student at Kazalum.

Chapter 38: Shin-oh Harumiyah

Chapter 39: Tohda Attack

Chapter 40: A Nation in Shadow

Chapter 41: The Truth of Shin-oh
Shin-oh Harumiyah: "You have such composure. Even if the pond was murky, you would surely still be able to catch the fish swimming in there. "

Chapter 42: Seimiyah's Tears

Chapter 43: Beast Healer

Chapter 44: Akun-Meh-Chai

Chapter 45: Caged Bird

Chapter 46: The Bond Between the Two

Chapter 47: A Pure Night

Chapter 48: Dawn of Tahai-Azeh
We think the snow effect in this episode was too much.

Chapter 49: Final Battle

Chapter 50: Beast Player
(Ending)

Here’s a link to the official site (it's in Japanese but you can "google translate" it):
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/anime/erin/

Here's where you can watch the complete series: http://www.crunchyroll.com/library/Erin
Downside of this site is that if you're not an anime member, you'll have to experience a lot of ads.

FYI: This is a fan-post. We do not own any of the Beast Player Erin images. Thank you!

Mangaholix Manga Mania '09

Mangaholix Manga Mania '09 - was a two-day(November 21-22) anime, manga, gaming, toys and cosplay convention held at World Trade Center (Philippines).

We were there only on the second day and these were the cosplayers we saw. The list below is NOT at all complete. Naldo went as Char Aznable this time with the mask and helmet. Shirl went as movie Urd.

All cosplayers' photos (left) were taken by Shirl unless indicated. All reference photos (right) were taken from the internet. The only thing we did in photoshop was crop the photos, label and put the cosplayers' and reference photos side by side.

We'd like to apologize for the following:
1. Low quality and terrible pics- Shirl isn't really much of a photographer- yet.
2. The reference photos are not the exact pose match. We really tried to get the closest.

Anyway, here they are in alphabetical order basing on the characters' names.

FYI: Char's mask and helmet are WHITE in the animated series.
This guy right here played his character really well. He was able to do ninja moves and jutsus without hurting anyone. His enthusiasm level was definitely Rock Lee.

Mangaholix was a week after Anime Overload Fest. Lucky for Shirl, this particular Urd outfit is really easy so she just used the pieces ready from her closet. As for the top, she couldn't find the same cut so it's a little bit different. It's a cosplay crime- she knows and is really sorry!

We think the cosplay collision was a little unfair. The Mangaholix Staff should have matched characters in the same category like cute vs. cute (example Chi-Chobits vs. Pinny-Disgaea) or girl vs. girl and boy vs. boy. We've noticed that the boy cosplayers went really gently with their girl opponents except for one who hit Rinoa with a giant crocodile.

Here are short and shaky videos of cosplay collision. (Both videos were taken by Shirl.)

Pinny was sooo cute, Kamen Rider Ixa couldn't do a thing. Awww!!! That was an obvious win.

Gundam made little Red Power Ranger cry. Audience gave a loud boo. Gundam lost because of that. Actually we think he was only trying to protect his costume otherwise that kid would have torn him apart.

We would like to thank kevinsky1985.multiply.com for sharing some of his photos with us, our Kamen Rider friends for being awesome cosplay friends, Bujecht and Ronnie for the infinite support . :-)

How to make Char Aznable's Helmet

Last time at the Anime Overload Festival, a lot of people asked Naldo "Where is your helmet, Char?". So due to public demand, he decided to make one. Yeah, yeah we know there are better ways to do it but this is our version.

YPQs (Your Possible Questions)
1. Experience level in making helmets:
-Level 1 (first-time)

2. How long did it take to finish?
-Half a day

3. What materials were used?
-a really cheap safety helmet
-tape measure
-marker
-pattern paper or newspaper will do
-illustration board
-handy bow saw
-sand papers (cc400cw)
-a dozen of the smallest screws and nuts
-cutter and scissors
-sticky tape
-duct tape
-spatula
-mask
-polyester body filler or putty used for cars (you can get this from any hardware stores) + hardener
-airbrush
-surface primer
-white spray paint (400cc)

4. How to make it?

STEP1: Remove the inner foam of the helmet.

STEP2: As you can see in the picture, the "peak" or "bill" of Char's helmet is more of a V while the safety helmet we have is more of a U.
STEP 3: Draw a V. Make sure you find the center point.

STEP4: Following the mark you've made, saw the bill. You don't have to use too much force when sawing.


STEP5: Sand the rough edges of the sawed bill.

Step 6:Using this reference photo, draw the helmet's "back arc" (sorry we don't know how else to call it) on a pattern paper. Cut and paste it on your helmet to see if it fits and if it's the right length on you.

STEP7: Once you've finalized the pattern, trace it on your illustration board and cut.

STEP8: Then, screw the board on your helmet.

If you want to have that slightly arc effect at the bottom, cut a triangle then bent it outwards a little bit. Cover it up with duct tape.

STEP9: Apply putty to cover the screws and to make the helmet and board look as if they're one piece. By the way, please don't forget to wear mask. The putty smell can be really strong.

STEP10: Let the putty dry.
STEP11: When it's dry, the surface will be very uneven. So sand it.

It doesn't have to look smooth but it has to FEEL smooth. If after sanding and you still notice hollow parts, just cover the small holes with putty. Dry then sand again.

STEP12: Paint it with surface primer. You may hand-paint if you want but Naldo used air-brush. It's way faster. Then wait for it to dry.

STEP13: Make the W. We won't be giving instructions on how to do it since it's really easy.

STEP 14: After you're done with the W, attach it to the helmet. There are so many ways, you can double tape, glue or screw it. It really depends on you.

STEP15: Spray Paint.
STEP16: Let it dry and voila!

If you don't want to go through all the trouble of making your own, there's this (refer to photo below) for sale. As to where and how to get it, we are not really sure. Even we ourselves couldn't find it. We think it may be only available in Japan or maybe it can be ordered online.

Anyway, we hope we helped and if you have more questions, the comments box is below.

p.s. Here's a photo of the putty and the hardener we're talking about.