Project update ~ Alpha slowly opens her eyes

Figure: Alpha looks at another anime, Wasimo.

This is an article in an ongoing series in which the Abandoned Factory gets a new blogger: an aniblogging robot named Alpha!

I am closing in on a finished version of the Percieve portion of the problem (see last post). The two figures below were generated by Alpha while she was watching anime. Her actual percepts are also included, so people can see where things currently stand. I haven’t really started on the Analyze part of the problem yet, but you can already see by comparing the raw percepts that were generated from Masaki Yuasa’s latest masterpiece, Ping Pong, to a Flash-based anime, Wasimo.

Spring 2014 ~ Abandoned Factory viewing list

The first episodes of the new anime viewing season are being aired over the next couple of weeks, so it is time for a site update. As I mentioned in my preview, I have just a couple of shows I’m interested in this season, with Ping Pong: the animation foremost amongst them. I also revealed that I am building an anime-blogging robot, named Alpha, to assist me with the reviews here at the Abandoned Factory, which means I will be able to pick up a couple more shows.

The final list for Spring 2014:

Title	Premiering	Blogger
Kindaichi R	April 5	Alpha
No Game No Life	April 9	Alpha
Escha to Logy	April 10	Alpha
Insufficient Direction	April 10	Joojoobees
Ping Pong	April 10	Joojoobees
Mekaku City Actors	April 12	Alpha

I added Mekaku City Actors, and No Game No Life, because I thought they would be good shows for Alpha to watch. Mekaku City Actors is a Shaft production, and No Game No Life is Madhouse, so despite the fact that I don’t think I could stand to sit through the subject matter, they might be interesting shows visually. Insufficient Direction is a late add; I just think the premise (living with Hideako Anno) is a funny one.

Shows listed as being covered by me (Joojoobees) will actually be covered by both of us.

I probably will post sporadically, and Alpha’s reviews will begin later in the season, since she is still under development, but is intended to provide context, not episodic impressions. That being said, I’ll probably post something as soon as I have it, as part of my process of bringing her perception and analytic faculties online.

Happy anime viewing everybody!

** Update April 6: moved Insufficient Direction to April 10, which seems to be the Tokyo premiere; I think the earlier date was a premiere station that has early access to certain shows.

Alpha’s Eyes ~ 1. the problem of perception

Alpha, the Ani-blogging Robot needs to open her eyes so she can watch anime.

This is the second article in a series in which Alpha, the ani-blogging robot is brought into being. Here we consider how we can convince Alpha to watch Anime. For background please read the first article in the series.

Contents:

• Perception (theory)
• Programming Frameworks (practice)
• Next Steps

Introducing Alpha, the ani-blogging robot

Alpha from Yokohama Shopping Trip

As I enter another year of anime blogging here at the Abandoned Factory, I’m sure y’all are starting to wonder why I don’t have my very own robot to blog anime reviews for me. We have a lot to go over.

Contents:

• Motivation: can adjacency be removed from anime blogging without replacing it with Subjectivism?
• Alpha
• An Initial Plan for the Work Ahead
• Conclusion

Happy 500 ~ A quick celebration of my 500th post

Hello everybody, and thanks for visiting. This is my official 500th post here at the Abandoned Factory, so I hope you don’t begrudge me having a bit of fun.

Have a great 2014 everybody!

Celebrating 3 Years at the Abandoned Factory

Blogging powers … ACTIVATE!

Yes, it is official. The Abandoned Factory Anime Review began publishing in the distant past of February 28, 2010. Through the years I have met some great people online, and watched countless hours of anime, both good and bad. Now a new year begins and I look forward to more of the same.

Best wishes in the New Year, everyone!

Summer 2012 Picks and Prediction

Libraries oppose any type of censorship.

Each season I pick a few titles as being worth keeping an eye on, and predict one title that will rule over all. Unfortunately this season I just don’t see that one show that stands out above the rest, and it isn’t because everything is so utterly amazing that I can’t quite choose. This time I will break from my established convention and discuss three almost Predictions (Picks), and three almost Picks (Encouragement Prize).

For those looking for comprehensive previews, here are some links to good ones:

• Star Crossed Anime Blog – short analyses of each title, running from bad to better in terms of how much potential Psgels sees in them.
• Metanorn – previews of every title with perspectives from multiple members of the team.
• Avvesione’s Anime Blog – another individual perspective.

On to the shows…

Gooooal!

The now legendary Match 48 of Round 1 of the 2012 AniBlog Tourney has finally drawn to a close. And as we drag ourselves to our feet, and wipe the sweat from our brows,  we cast a tentative glance at the goal:

It went in!

Thanks for the victory to all who supported me! It truly feels awesome.

Welcome to the Abandoned Factory!

Entering the Abandoned Factory.

This is just a hello to anyone stopping by the Abandoned Factory for the first time. For those who don’t know, the Abandoned Factory is proud to have been accepted into the biennial Aniblog Tourney.

You can get a good feel for the site by clicking on links, either the recent posts below, or take a look at the categories listed on the right. I usually just muse about things that were of interest to me in a given show, but I am particularly interested in the Art and the Music. If you feel so motivated, please vote for the Abandoned Factory on April 26, 2012!

The Communicator. "You have no choice but to prevail against your own ordeal."

400th Post ~ Thanks to everyone! I couldn’t have done it without you.

The reaction I get regularly when I tell people I blog about anime.

Yes, this is the 400th post I have made here on the Abandoned Factory. I started this blog on a whim, but I have learned so much over the past couple of years. And there is no question in my mind about it: I couldn’t have done it without the support and inspiration that I get from everyone out there in the Internet.

So thank you, thank you, thank you to all of the folks who drop by to see what I have to say, and to those who leave me comments about what they have to say, and even for those folks who never stop by, but who have led by example, typing up blog posts year after year.

I have enjoyed my time in the Aniblogiverse, and never intend to go home. Yeah, actually I’m typing this from home, but I’m also right here with y’all, enjoying anime.

I hope each and everyone of you

finds health, and happiness,

and lots of great anime

to watch in the coming year!

Thanks again, everybody!