Comments on: Our new alien overlords, and all that

Our new alien overlords, and all that

Chocolate Pickle — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 16:38:52 -0800

A giant robotic beetle (YT) built in Japan by a man in his garage -- and it works.

It's a long clip, so if you want to see it move you can skip ahead to about 7:15.

By: Chocolate Pickle

Chocolate Pickle — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 16:40:18 -0800

It took him 11 years to build it. It's 11 meters long, and it weighs 15 tons.

By: filthy light thief

filthy light thief — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 16:46:31 -0800

A bit more info here: Alas it more "shuffles" than walks -- the legs pull it along the ground, while the weight is supported by wheels. But hey -- not bad for something created for the love of it in a garage. Passion like this represents the best part of Japanese otaku culture. That's a level of Otaku which is new to me, a minor fanboy Gaijin.

By: delmoi

delmoi — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 16:51:29 -0800

What's up with all the "reaction headshots" in Japanese TV clips? How common is that? It seems like almost every clip has those reaction headshots in the corner of the screen all the time.

By: flapjax at midnite

flapjax at midnite — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 16:53:17 -0800

What's more amazing than the giant robot beetle is that this guy has a garage THAT BIG! In JAPAN!! OMG!!! Sugeeeeeeiiii!!! Dekeeeeeeeiiiiiii!!!

By: steef

steef — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 16:55:32 -0800

This is Japan's version of Pimp My Ride, isn't it? That thing was a `92 Honda when it came to the shop.

By: flapjax at midnite

flapjax at midnite — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 16:56:35 -0800

It seems like almost every clip has those reaction headshots in the corner of the screen all the time. Yeah, that's a standard feature of J-TV, delmoi. Very few shows like this (shows that feature interesting things or people or food or whatever) just run as documentaries on their own. They virtually always have a panel of celebs on stage, as well as a studio audience to provide the necessary gasps, laughter, applause, and commentary after the clip airs.

By: krilli

krilli — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 17:02:37 -0800

2:26 to 2:28: The control panel. The awesome, awesome control panel, for which I would pay money for alone. (The control panel that says KABUTOM RAGIO CONTROREA at the top and has a beetle all over it.)

By: Brocktoon

Brocktoon — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 18:03:30 -0800

Sorry, but this is a parade float. A Grand Marshall's Award winner, to be fair.

By: bigskyguy

bigskyguy — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 18:20:02 -0800

Damn. If only the Bush administration had known about this.

By: Mister_A

Mister_A — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 18:22:39 -0800

Damn, that beetle is waaaay bigger than I was expecting. I figured, you know, giant for a beetle – couple of feet long maybe. But that thing ain't just big for a beetle, it's big for a noun!

By: filthy light thief

filthy light thief — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 19:13:34 -0800

flapjax - you're saying that garages aren't big in Japan? I hear making things is easy when your garage is big in Japan (big in Japan).

By: Slap*Happy

Slap*Happy — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 19:51:18 -0800

Japan to Godzilla: "Bring it, bitch." There's no science like mad science!

By: armage

armage — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 20:51:37 -0800

I saw this on TV the other day and absolutely loved it. The best part was that it took him 11 years to build it—by himself—and that he had never once taken it out of its garage to actually play around with because he'd need two flatbed trucks to do it. Plus, this was the third version. His wife must be a saint.

By: Laotic

Laotic — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 04:17:00 -0800

I knew it. Chuck Norris

By: Laotic

Laotic — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 04:17:27 -0800

.Crap. Wrong thread.

By: orme

orme — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 04:30:08 -0800

Why are we not seeing a giant robotic beetle VS LAND WALKER -Japanese Robot suit? C'mon Japan! Do I have to think of everything?

By: eperker

eperker — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 15:07:35 -0800

That was anti-climactic.

By: flapjax at midnite

flapjax at midnite — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 18:51:37 -0800

I hear making things is easy when your garage is big in Japan (big in Japan). Garage bands are big in Japan (Big Band, in Japan) when the garage is big. In Japan. (Big In Japan).

By: bonobothegreat

bonobothegreat — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 13:00:53 -0800

I like this spidermobile