Some important news that I want to share about my all time favourite Japan anime/manga series: Gundam, Patlabor, Ghost in the Shell. And about a big lizard.

We are arrived to the 35° anniversary of the first Gundam transmission on television. Among other celebrations and anime, the greater news is a new anime series divided in four parts about the years before the events of the first series. It is called Origin and it is adapted from the manga of the same name.

It was a long time that we don’t hear news about this great series. Now they have thought to propose a live action version. It is a retelling of the same story with real actors but they changed uniforms look and something. 13 episodes on television and a film in 2015.

It is ongoing the new Ghost in the Shell series called Arise. It is composed by four parts and two of them are released as it is. It focuses on early years of the Section 9, its creation. And the Fuchikomas/Takikomas have got a new primitive look and colour: red.

And now something always from the Japan but this time produced by USA. A little different than the crap made by Emmerich…

All things that I will watch in the following months and years…

You can find every kind of Doctor Who toys. However until now we haven’t got a Lego version of our dear doctor. Sure, there is one made by Character Building. It is cool, but it is not the same thing. Why buy an imitated adaptation of Lego minifigs when you aspire to the real one?

Now the license to produce Doctor Who toys is expired or changed, so Lego can build a real version of him with a proper license. I hope that there will be a real interest in it. Here there is a full world of characters to be proposed as minifigs.

In the meantime I enjoyed very much the Lego Movie. I watched it in 3D and it was a real spectacle, maybe the best occidental animation film that I watched in these years. I found the plot very solid, interesting and fun. Spoiler: beware of the aliens from Planet Duplo!

If you want to find something to put on your desk or bookshelf, Lucca C&G is the best place. You only need money and space.

To start something from USA, some Marvel characters form the Planet Hulk storyline I think.

The main current is obviously the Japan one. Gashapons are the more common gadgets around.

Another kind of gadget are statuettes. They are not at bargain prices but they are very beautiful and bigger than gashapons. And with sexy elements. A lot of. Follow a gallery.

Evangelion is a famous anime and its female characters are now established erotic iconic characters for otaku. Rei Ayanami with her blue hair is so loved that is a common view among cosplayers and statuettes.

A collection of statuettes of Rei!

In a swimsuit.

Over the erotic, there is porno! Moreover there is a bondage part in it. A classic representation of Rei is wounded and bandaged.

All this sex in the visual elements means so scarce sex in real life. It is only a matter of mind.

Pillowcases for pillows to hug. Same matter. But vendors thought to censure them in strategic points with some pieces of paper… Decency…

Inside the Japan Palace there is the NKGC modelling competition. You have saw the little Gundam models exposition but there is even this section with lots of interesting models. This is the Yamato from space.

Ma.K. are always a must for modellers.

The best in the futuristic race contest.

Kallamity is the label under Luca Zampirolo makes its mecha art and resin models. Here while its signing with a sketch one small portfolio that I bought.

A Kallamity’s Garbaldy in the model contest. It is a Zion inspired model.

To end this mecha in Lucca post, some good classics from Japan.

Gunplay is the Bandai division for the promotion of Gundam modelling. In Lucca there is always an huge space for kit vendors and for a modelling contest.

Previously coloured versions. This is the weathered one. So it appears more as a real life model than a toy.

More versions of the hero. Always the same but different. You must have all…

Gloss metal finish…

Well, this is too much…

If the white fighter is the hero, I prefer the green enemy…

ZAKU is the best!!!

Part of its original family.

Here a Zaku involved with a big gun.

Scions of the original design, with the evolution for the neo Zion times, nazi helmet wearing…

Kit evolution, from 1980 to 1999. Better sculpt, better plastic models technology.

These Zaku were part of an exhibition about Gundam kit evolution during 30 years. Always the same design that evolve through times. Here in the red dress, but I ever prefer the green one, the trooper proud of Zion warriors.

This modelling contest by NKGC is always engaging. Here a diorama with the use of small figures from railway modelling.

One of the latest designs for the 0080 war. I like bulk mechas so much. I love it!

In the end, a war scene in the snow, like war on trenches, but with Zaku.

After only 2 months I came here to report the BIG event of 2013, the Lucca Comics and Games convention of 2013. In these days an official report by organisation gave the real numbers of the fair. They sold 217646 tickets. You have to add all the people that worked in the fair, as vendors for over 700 stands, volunteers that managed the masses of people, all the people involved in spectacles and events, press and all kinds of operators, citizens of Lucca and neighbouring. 40000 square metres of exposition area. To complete the numbers I can add that you could not find a room to sleep on all north-west Tuscany. During the 4 days I was in my area but I found some time early in the morning to watch the fair. Well, I reached to see all stands only one time, and no show, spectacle, event, film or exhibit. It was impossible, I could reach places only because I had a staff pass. In the next year they are thinking to expand the fair area because of the blocked streets of the city even for walkers and the long queues to enter in pavilions. So more Lucca C&G for 2014!

And now my report. I have over 100 photos to post. It is difficult to manage all this so it will be a little jumble. To start, a couple of photos about Doctor Who. Tonight will we watch the end of the 11th Doctor. Those days we were waiting for the 50th anniversary. A cosplayer meeting based on this saga was held. Huge numbers I heard.

Still the Ludica Roma 2013 report. Aiming to our real interest: wargame.

Well, the thing that you can easily note on the photo is the candies stand. However we were there. Ganesha Games was situated where is the bunch of people at the extreme bottom, on the left part of the photo.

Another view. The previous photo was took on the balcony where are the escalators. The moment is dramatic: a lamp on the roof turned off so they are working on it.

A dream that we realise was the Samurai Robots Battle Royale game. Instead here we have a wargame by Bandai in the Gundam universe. The Italian Gundam club organised this display with gashapons, among other games and things. I’m almost thinking to join this club…

Two-dimensional wargame goes 3D! There was a large display with two-dimensional wargames like this.

Samurai. We all need some bamboo fences, Japanese houses and other related things: we have to be ready for a Japanese wargame, ever.

The last production by Torriani: rules for western battles with miniatures.

A huge scenario by Games Workshop staff. The colours of water were amazing.

Di Bartolo’s Napoleonic rules made their debut in Ludica, published by Chillemi editions. Here while a game was held.

Look at this vineyard!

Some time ago I saw the huge Napoleonic miniature collection by Di Bartolo’s club. Every time I wonder for their beauty.

I like Lego so I’m happy when I see kids that play with it. A great way to conquest new people to this world is what this Lego group do: you can build something with available pieces, then you can bring it at home paying the price based on the weight of the final piece. Simple and fun.

Another thing that this group brought at Ludica was a modular mosaic with a view of Fontana di Trevi. Using a lot of Lego little cubes and a guide, the public could build this wall piece by piece during the days.

But the real impressive Lego kit (!) was this reproduction of the land of Game of Thrones. I forgot the number of bricks that they used, it was huge indeed. And thinking to the time and the skill for it, I could think about ages to realise it…

Troops to convert the diorama in a real wargame…

And now some photos to show you this table. Look at the details!

If you don’t like fantasy sets but real ones, think about what you could do with these tanks…

To the end, a photo of me on a wall made of Lego minifigs, a collection made of every kind of existing minifig, I think.