Daniel Dockery

From a 1967 magazine feature on Japan’s society-wide “Kaiju boom”: footprints of Varan, Ebira, King Ghidra, Angilas, King Kong, Rodan, Godzilla, Mothra (larva), Mothra (adult)

YouTube video by Tsundoku Diving Ise-Shima (Ishiro Honda, 1949) w/ English subs

New translation!

This week I’ve translated the short documentary Ise-Shima, the 1949 directorial debut from the man behind Godzilla, Ishiro Honda!

Enjoy the start of one of the most famous names in movies, the first instance of underwater filming in Japan, and lots of post-war anxieties!

Same here! Mine are barely holding together.

Don't get me wrong - I love Pokémon Adventures, especially the Red/Blue/Yellow story.

But if you've never read Electric Tale and its take on Ash Ketchum, give it a shot.

The pacing is all over the place, but that only helps it stand out. The way it dives into the various intricacies of the Pokémon training hierarchy, or its dive into how shady the world can be, or the little quirks it gives characters that might otherwise feel familiar make a big difference.

It was goofy, horny (its artist was Toshihiro Ono and if you read Electric Tale and thought "I bet this guy drew hentai...," you'd be right!) and weird. But that weirdness allows it to feel singular - You never really know what to expect. And it's very playful with its worldbuilding.

When I think of my favorite Pokémon aesthetic, I tend to come back to either Ken Sugimori's Red/Green era art work or The Electric Tale of Pikachu, a manga that was meant to adapt the story of the anime but had an energy that was all its own.

Pokemon: Μια εμπορική αυτοκρατορία 100 δισ. δολαρίων Τριάντα χρόνια μετά την πρώτη εμφάνιση των Pokémon στο Game Boy, τα ιαπωνικά «τερατάκια» έχουν μεταμορφωθεί σε μια εμπορική αυτοκρατορία που αποτελεί βασικό συστατικό της πολιτισμικής μας «διατροφής»....

I was also interviewed by a Greek newspaper to talk about Pokémon, which was interesting: www.kathimerini.gr/k/k-magazine...

Nintendo Released Its First ‘Pokémon’ Games 30 Years Ago. Here’s How the Beloved Catchable ‘Pocket Monsters’ Became the World’s Biggest Media Franchise The phenomenon—with its video games, trading cards, shows, movies and merchandise—has generated billions in revenue

I was interviewed by the Smithsonian to talk about Pokémon's 30th anniversary and why its utopian ideal of blending nature and technological progress continues to resonate today:

www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-...

Bulbasaur. Charmander. Squirtle.

I wrote about what your choice in original starter says about your relationship to Pokémon: www.crunchyroll.com/news/feature...

ICYMI: I wrote about why going to middle school is like Dragon Ball Z

Director and Curator, Special Collections and Archives - Middlebury College Reporting to the Dean of the Library, the Director and Curator of Special Collections provides leadership, vision, and budget oversight for Middlebury’s special collections, including its rare book an...

JOB ALERT! 📜📚

Who wants to be director & curator of special collections & archives at Middlebury College (Vermont!) — & work for a wonderful boss (& one of my favorite people), Rebekah Irwin?

apply.workable.com/middleburyco...

I am currently watching Black Lagoon and digging it a lot! I'd only seen bits and piece prior.

A handful of masterpieces on this list!

Beautiful blob

It's cool, man. We're anime fans. Why read?

This is a great one! Also? Legitimately good show!

Sean, gimme your favorites

Yes!

Don't worry if they "haven't aged well" or whatever. Give me the stuff that lit up your life and made you brave your local convention in handmade cosplay to buy figurines that may or may not have been legal.

What are your 2000s anime must-haves? The kind of shows you obsessed over on fan sites and downloaded on your family's home computer? The stuff you burned on a DVD for your pals in the high school anime club? I want to hear your recommendations.

Thank you for the kind words!

The Video Game Library Newsletter - Vol. #021 The Pokémon spectacular!! Monster Kids, Pikachu's anatomy, and over 100 more Poké-books catalogued!

Thanks so much for the tag as always @davidsaysthat.com! 🙏

Yes, @dandock.bsky.social's books are fantastic!

If I can be selfish, might I suggest checking our Issue #21 of the Newsletter where I reviewed and interviewed Daniel Dockery + Monster Kids?

(I picked Charmander because he made me cry in the anime)

Aww, man. Guess that does it. Considering that it is currently November 2028 right now at this very second when this poll is taking place, it pretty much looks over.

Oh, and @mattalt.bsky.social is in this one! Good company to have!

Pokemon: Μια εμπορική αυτοκρατορία 100 δισ. δολαρίων Τριάντα χρόνια μετά την πρώτη εμφάνιση των Pokémon στο Game Boy, τα ιαπωνικά «τερατάκια» έχουν μεταμορφωθεί σε μια εμπορική αυτοκρατορία που αποτελεί βασικό συστατικό της πολιτισμικής μας «διατροφής»....

I was also interviewed by a Greek newspaper to talk about Pokémon, which was interesting: www.kathimerini.gr/k/k-magazine...

Nintendo Released Its First ‘Pokémon’ Games 30 Years Ago. Here’s How the Beloved Catchable ‘Pocket Monsters’ Became the World’s Biggest Media Franchise The phenomenon—with its video games, trading cards, shows, movies and merchandise—has generated billions in revenue

I was interviewed by the Smithsonian to talk about Pokémon's 30th anniversary and why its utopian ideal of blending nature and technological progress continues to resonate today:

www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-...

“I know you miss the Wainwrights, Bobby, but they were weak and stupid people—and that’s why we have wolves and other large predators.”

“I know you miss the Wainwrights, Bobby, but they
were weak and stupid people—and that’s why
we have wolves and other large predators.”

That sounds super interesting! I hope it goes well!