For this spotlight, we are sharing an impressive artist called Oszaj, who has created a variety of different Metroid focused pieces throughout his time. Metroid has built a strong connection to his childhood, which has inspired him to make some really special art pieces. (He even provided his own header for his feature!) We were incredibly proud to feature such a talented individual, and hope you will take the time to read more about Oszaj and his work by clicking below!
Brie Larson Volunteers to Play Samus in Potential Metroid Movie
Brie Larson recently made comments about wanting to play Samus Aran should a Metroid movie be on the table for production. In the Animal Crossing based talk show Animal Talking, where people join the host Gary Whitta in a talk show set within Animal Crossing: New Horizons, the subject was brought up and she had this to say:
“I would love that so much,
…
She was always my character that I played in Super Smash Bros., and I just loved her. I definitely want to make that movie, definitely want to participate in that. So Nintendo, once again, I’d love to do it.”
This wouldn’t be the first time Brie has expressed interest in the role, as she has tweeted about it when asked back in November 2018. She has also dressed up in the Zero Suit for Halloween 2018, which we covered previously.
You can view the Twitch clip of the specific moment, and also view the entire show in the source.
Source: Animal Talking
Feature: Metroid V – My Concept
Almost eighteen years since the release of Metroiid Fusion on the GameBoy Advance, fans of the Metroid series have yet to see a continuation of Samus’s story. What happened to her after the events of the B.S.L. Research station? Where did she go after she sent the station hurtling through SR388’s atmosphere? Like many fans, I have had ideas for a continuation of Metroid’s timeline for years, and for this months feature I have decided to touch on five things I want to see from Metroid 5, if Nintendo ever decides to release it. I hope you will consider giving it a read!
Episode 07 – Orpheon (YouTuber)
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Our seventh podcast features special guest Orpheon, a Youtuber who creates awesome Metroid focused content, ranging from fun and humorous videos, to serious and informative ones. Orpheon’s branding of chibi-style characters that appear across his videos, and giving voices to the different characters, is what makes him stand out so much, and we are delighted to hear his story in this latest episode of the Shinesparkers podcast!
00:51 – Guest: Orpheon
32:31 – Topic: Should Ridley return in Metroid 5?
47:07 – Bloopers
Community Spotlight: Wikitroid
This month’s Community Spotlight features a major Metroid fansite, Wikitroid. It is the internet’s largest Metroid wiki, and has been documenting and expanding its knowledge of the Metroid series for over a decade. Our team member RoyboyX writes about his experiences contributing to Wikitroid, along with his fellow editor PeabodySam, to share what he has created for the wiki. If you need any information about a room, creature, or lore in the series, Wikitroid is your best bet to find answers.
On a side note, we are always keen to feature talented Metroid focused projects in the community. If you are a cosplayer, speedrunner, artist, musician or someone that has a really cool and unique Metroid focused project that could do with a bit more attention, don’t hesitate to reach out to us on our Facebook and Twitter social media pages, we would love to hear from you!
Hirokazu “Chip” Tanaka releases second album: “Domingo”
The composer of the original Metroid, Hirokazu Tanaka, has revealed that his second album “Domingo” will be available on July 15th 2020. His first album “Django” was released in October 2017, a collecton of music heard from his live shows, and simlar to the music you might hear from his Earthbound compositions. Domingo is a brand new album with eleven brand new pieces of music, described by him as a requiem to his past.
From Tanaka-san’s official YouTube channel:
Three years after delighting music lovers around the world with his debut solo album Django, CHIP TANAKA is back and ready to release his highly anticipated second album: Domingo.
Video game fans know him as Hirokazu “Hip” Tanaka, the pioneer artist who began spinning chipsounds into video game music in 1980 while working as a sound engineer at Nintendo. In addition to composing music for legendary games like Metroid, Super Mario Land, and Earthbound, his storied career includes writing and arranging numerous theme songs for the Pokémon animated films and TV series. His contributions to music catapulted forward yet again in 2017 with Django, the first album released under his live performance name CHIP TANAKA.
With Domingo, Chip returns with an all-new album of 11 conceptual pieces that combine disparate imagery of the sea, the night, outer space, and the retro-computer age, while exploring themes of nostalgia for bygone people and places. With an unpredictable mélange of genres including reggae, dub, and techno, and a rich palette of chiptune sounds, listeners will be transported into new and unknown auspices.
In his own words: “This album is a requiem to my past- a new life form born from treasured memories.” Don’t miss this epochal release from an artist who still has plenty to say!
Here are the eleven tracks featured on the album:
01 Calm Sea
02 Hammerhead Shark Song
03 Tubeworm Dub
04 Moonchild
05 Oppama
06 A Song For Stars
07 Guiding Light Dub
08 Plasma
09 Momongah
10 Rad Bat
11 Night Flight
Back in 2018, we had the pleasure of interviewing Tanaka-san, where he revealed he was “thinking about a next album” and we are pleased to see this has finally come to fruition! The first track on the album “Calm Sea” is available right now from Tanaka’s Bandcamp page. Be sure to pick up Domingo when it launches on July 15th!
Samus costume added to Jump Rope Challenge for Nintendo Switch
A number of costumes have been added to a free-to-play fitness app for Nintendo Switch called Jump Rope Challenge, one of which includes the famed bounty Hunter Samus Aran, who has decided to take a break from fighting alien threats, and picked up a skipping rope. The game was created by a group of Nintendo employees in Japan during lockdown due to Covid-19 to add some “quick and fun movement into their daily lives”. The game requires the use of both Nintendo Switch Joy-Con in order to play. How many jumps can you do?
The app is only available until until September 30th 2020, from the Nintendo Switch eShop, and will be removed after this date. If you download the app before then, it will be available to enjoy beyond this date.
Community Spotlight: Pamigu
This month’s Community Spotlight focuses on an excellent cosplayer called Pamigu, who has created a brilliant Varia Suit costume. Pamigu has come through a lot to get to where she is today, disregarding anyone who says she can’t achieve her dreams. Her story was very inspirational, and we thank her for taking the time to share it with us! Please check it out by clicking the link below.
On a side note, we are always keen to feature talented Metroid focused projects in the community. If you are a cosplayer, speedrunner, artist, musician or someone that has a really cool and unique Metroid focused project that could do with a bit more attention, don’t hesitate to reach out to us on our Facebook and Twitter social media pages, we would love to hear from you!
Feature: The Beauty of Getting Lost
We are delighted to share a new feature by our most recent addition to the team, Dalagonash! In his debut written piece, he shares his memories of Metroid II: Return of Samus, and the beauty of getting lost within its alien world. It’s a facinating look into Dala’s Metroid origin story, and we hope you’ll check it out!
Special thanks to David Porvia from our graphics team, who sketched the awesome header for this feature.
Episode 06 – Viking Guitar (Musician)
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Our sixth episode invites Harmony of a Hunter musician Viking Guitar to chat with us about his contribution to the album, along with some of his work outside of the project, and how he got into music in the first place. This episode also features our host Amanda, and team members Darren and RoyboyX.
00:45 – Guest: Viking Guitar
20:54 – Topic: What are your favorite pieces of music from Metroid?
31:47 – Bloopers