Happy Independence Day from Urbanopolis

Roffles Lowell, the official illustrator of Jake and the Dynamo, sends us this delightful image of Magical Girl Grease Pencil Marionette cosplaying as the Statue of Liberty to remind us that imagination is freedom … whatever that means.

I doubt it if mankind’s last refuge, the megacity of Urbanopolis, has a Statue of Liberty. Instead of some colossus welcoming visitors to its harbor, it more likely has some kind of warning. Like a big sign saying, “Screw with humanity and we’ll kill you. We’re serious.”

In fact, while poking around the Internet, I think I found the city’s official flag:

I suppose, in addition to warning away mankind’s uncountable enemies, a statue in the harbor could potentially serve as a beacon to human survivors. Instead of “give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses,” it would probably say something like, “Get in the city if you want to live.”

It might be a statue of the Terminator.

“Hasta la vista, universe.”

Sabaton!

I happened to encounter this Swedish metal band through a reference in the comment section of another blog. They tend to produce songs about historical battles. As this blog is mostly about Japanese media, I here present “Shiroyama,” which is about the Battle of Shiroyama.

‘Sailor Moon Crystal’ Season 4 Confirmed

Moonkitty recently tweeted the news: the struggling and embattled Sailor Moon Crystal is set to see a fourth season, which will be in the form of a two-part movie.

“The same director” means Chiaki Kon, who did a lot to rescue season 3 from the problems that plagued seasons 1 and 2, by ordering revamped character designs and improving the animation.

Otherwise, I don’t know if this is good news or bad. My opinion of Crystal has been mixed, as you can see here. A two-part movie for the Dream arc, however, might be a good idea. If they’re not working to put out an episode on a bi-weekly basis, they might have the time they need to produce something more polished.

There was confirmation as far back as late January that this was going to happen, but there’s been little other news since then that anything was in the works.

Sailor Moon’s official birthday is June 30th, so that is apparently the reason for the announcement of the fourth season, which took place at a live event as Sailor Moon News explains. I chastise myself for having forgotten such an important date. I’ll send her a “belated birthday” card.

The live event also featured some info about the new stage musical, which is unfortunately irrelevant to us over here as the musicals never make it across the Pacific, not even in a subbed video.

Magical Girl Mixed Drinks!

See? I’m not the only one doing it.

A few days ago, I amused myself by inventing magical girl-themed mixed drinks (all are untested, so create at your own risk), except the Madoka is basically a ripoff of a standard Baby Guinness, only with Cannon Shot.

But I’m not alone. Kyla M. Covert beat me to it by creating the Magical Girl, a cocktail involving viniq, prosecco, and cranberry juice. I don’t even know what those are. Well, except for the cranberry juice … okay, viniq is apparently moscato with vodka. That sounds appropriately disgusting. Maybe not as disgusting as what I suggested for the Utena, but still.

Unlike me, Covert actually tested her creation. Here’s the result:

Reasonably classy.

It looks okay. It’s probably pretty sweet, but it really shouldn’t be called “the Magical Girl” unless it’s cloying and gross.

Speaking of which, if you really want outrageous girly drinks that will cause heart palpitations or possibly fits of rage in anyone with a Y-chromosome or a modicum of respect for alcohol, you totally have to check out the abomination known as a “unicorn.” As described on a blog inappropriately called Kidspot, a unicorn is an alcoholic beverage made with such ingredients as ice cream, milk, and cotton candy. And there’s booze in there someplace.

So, do you eat the cotton candy first, or do you push it into the drink, or … ?

This is apparently something of a trend, as Kidspot reports several bars with several variations on this diabetes-inducing creation.

Eww.

So there you go. Now we know what magical girls drink on their down time. As for me? I’m gonna go crack open a beer.

 

Art

Featured image: “Magical Girl Megatron” by RaspberryBananaCreme.

The Madoka

Initially sweet, it soon turns sharp and bitter

Pour Cannon Blast into a shot glass. Carefully pour Irish creme down the side of the glass until it forms a white “head” on top of the dark liquor.

Initially sweet and creamy, followed by a strong citrus taste and a sharp burn of ginger in the throat. Pairs well with heavily implied homoeroticism. Drink until you suffer.

The Tutu

A royal drink that will keep you on your toes

Pour vodka, Malt Duck, and coconut rum over ice in a tall, chilled glass. Over the back of a spoon, slowly pour in the Coole Swan to produce a layered “head” effect. Garnish with mint.

Initially chocolatey and creamy, but quickly becomes tangy and strong with a coconut aftertaste. Pairs well with wine and pizza. Drink until you can’t dance and feel like marrying your cat.

The Pretty Cure Double Shot

If sobriety is a disease, this is the cure

Shake ingredients together with ice until cold. Strain into double shot glass.

Strong shot with faint fruity notes. Pairs well with your best friend. Drink until you see rainbows and feel ready to fight.

The Sailor Moon

A refreshing blend of love and justice

Mix ingredients together in a blender. Blend until smooth. Pour into a chilled collins glass rimmed with sugar. Garnish with fruit wedges as desired.

Refreshing summer beverage with sweet, fruity taste of raspberries and citrus. Keep away from young girls, who may mistake it for juice. Pairs well with steamed pork buns. Drink until you cry and fall down.

The Utena

A revolution in mixed drinks

*

Stir ingredients with ice for thirty seconds and filter into a cold martini glass. Garnish with one pink raspberry and one purple raspberry skewered on a sword-shaped toothpick.

Round mouthfeel with bright fruity notes and a spicy aftertaste hinting of strawberries, mint, and lust. Pairs well with asparagus sandwiches. Drink irresponsibly before experimenting with homosexuality or incest.

* (actually a picture of a Beefeater Summer Martini)