Just Dance for Wii by Ubisoft

Bibliographic Information: Ubisoft. Just Dance. Ubisoft Paris, 2009. ASIN: B002MWSY3O
Genre: Video Games, Music, Dance
Age Level: 10+
Curriculum ties: Arts, Music, Dance
Publisher: Ubisoft Paris
Developer: Ubisoft Paris
Awards: None
Note: The library offers a program called “Game time” where teens gather and play Wii games. This event is held once per week for 2 hour.

Reader’s Annotation: Compete against your friends while learning real dance moves to over 30 fun, chat topping songs.

Contents: Acceptable in the 80’s – Calvin Harris, A Little Less Conversation – Elvis Presley, Bebe – Divine Brown, Can’t Get You Out of My Head – Kylie Minogue, Cotton Eye Joe – Rednex, Hot n’ Cold – Katy Perry, Dare – Gorillaz, Eye of the Tiger – Survivor (Rocky), Fame – In the style of Irene Cara (cover), Funplex CSS – The B 52’s, Girls and Boys – Blur, Girls Just Want to Have Fun – Cindi Lauper, Groove is in the Heart – Dee-Lite, Heart of Glass – Blondie, I Get Around – The Beach Boys, I Like to Move it – Reel To Real, Jerk it Out – Caesars, Jin Go Lo Ba – Fat Boy Slim, Kids in America – Kim Wilde, Le Freak – Chic, Louie Louie – Iggy Pop, Lump – The Presidents Of The USA, Mashed Potato Time – Dee Dee Sharp, Pump up the Jam – Technotronic, Ring My Bell – Anita Ward, Step by Step – New Kids On The Block, Surfin’ Bird – The Trashmen, That’s the Way (I Like it) – Kc & The Sunshine Band, U Can’t Touch This – MC Hammer, Wannabe – The Spice Girls, Who Let the Dogs Out? – Baha Men, Womanizer – In the style of Britney Spears (cover)

Critical Evaluation: Just dance is one of those games that are fun for the whole family, especially teenagers. The best aspect of this game aside from the fun, upbeat routines and colorful graphics, is that it encourages teens to get up and participate. The Wii is known to get people off the couch and get involved but Just dance takes it to another level. As you dance along with each song, you begin to break a sweat. Teens can burn off calories, stay fit and enjoy a fun workout without even noticing. This is especially good for teens that are self-conscious about their appearance because the game can be played with friends without drawing any attention to the fact that this is a workout. Players have the choice of difficulty level for each song and if being used as a work out, teens can gradually step up the levels as they are more comfortable.

Booktalking Ideas: N/A

Challenge Issues/ Defense:
Challenge Issues: Mature lyrics
Challenge defense ideas:
• Rated “E10+” for teens 10 and older by ESRB see website: http://www.esrb.org/index-js.jsp
Why was this item is included?: Great team builder and workout game for “Game Time” at the library.
Developer Information: Ubisoft
1986 DEBUT -Ubisoft Entertainment S.A, an educational software and video game publishing and distribution company, is created by the five Guillemot brothers. A leading creator, publisher and distributor of video games, Ubisoft has grown considerably over the past two decades as a result of our strategy centered on the creation of strong brands, in-house development, and a vast global distribution network. This has allowed us to not only produce innovative, high-quality titles but also acquire an in-depth knowledge of our consumers and their expectations.

Strong brands play a pivotal role in Ubisoft’s strategy, ensuring the group’s recurrent revenue and long-term financial health. Ubisoft is fortunate enough to have a portfolio of 19 multimillion unit-selling brands that today represent approximately two-thirds of its annual turnover. The company furthermore plans to create three new brands every two years, expanding its catalogue to new market segments.

Hollywood movie and TV licenses have reinforced our strategy of brand creation. Our licensing agreements with major actors in the entertainment industry result in interactive games based on popular franchises and blockbuster movies. Thanks to resounding successes, such as Peter Jackson’s King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie, Avatar: The Game and Naruto, Ubisoft has pushed back the genre’s limits in terms of quality and innovation so that we are now one of tinsel town’s choice partners.

From the start, Ubisoft decided to bet on internal development. In 20 years, this strategic decision has paid off, and is proving crucial in the new transition period towards next-gen consoles. While numerous competitors prefer to externalize their game development to face this challenge, we remain convinced that our incredible creative teams and 24 studios will be key to a successful transition.

Over 5,350 creative talents in our studios – united in their desire to innovate – form the second biggest internal development force in the world. In order to build and develop the skills of these teams, Ubisoft promotes continuous professional training and international mobility thereby giving teams the necessary tools to excel in their fields. The Ubisoft Campus, set up both for future industry talents and available for existing teams, is one of the pillars of this strategy.

Ubisoft’s strategy is also based on its worldwide distribution network, a structure made up of experienced multi-cultural teams motivated by promoting and selling high quality games. With subsidiaries based in 26 countries, game distribution in 55 countries and localization in more than 20 languages, Ubisoft has a powerful, wide-reaching business network rare among publishers on any continent. Its market and consumer knowledge allows it to anticipate trends and reach players in the best possible way.

(Corporate information obtained from Ubisoft website. Retrieved from: http://www.ubisoftgroup.com/index.php?p=67&art_id=).

Peach Girl: Change of Heart, Vol.1 by by Miwa Ueda ; [translator, Ray Yoshimoto ; English adaptation, Jodi Bryson]

Bibliographic Information: Miwa, Ueda. Peach Girl: Change of Heart, Vol.1. Tokyopop, 2003, 1999. ISBN 9781931514194
Genre: Manga
Reading Level: 15+
Curriculum ties: Art/Drawing
Awards: Kodansha Manga Award, 2009
Note: Book 1 in the Peach Girl Series. First published in Japan in 1999 by Kodansha Ltd.

Reader’s Annotation: Momo Adachi, referred to as Peach Girl due to her tan complexion, is a high school student going through boy troubles and deceit from her wretched “best friend”.

Plot Summary: Momo is just a teenager trying to do well in all of her classes including swimming. She is one of the best on the team but with so much practice, it causes her to have tan skin unlike all of the other girls in her high school. She is teased with the name of “Peach Girl” and feels like an outsider especially because Toji, the one boy she does like, supposedly only prefers non-tanned girls. While she tries to chase after Toji and his heart, Kairi (one of her fellow schoolmates) tries to chase her. When Momo doesn’t expect it, she starts to fall for Kairi and his quirkiness and doesn’t notice that Toji becomes jealous. This is due to Toji actually dating her best friend Sae and Sae trying to ruin Momo’s reputation and self confidence. Sae is very conniving and ultimately jealous of Peach Girl and how much better looking and talented she is. Every manipulation and secret is produced by Sae and causes Peach Girl plenty of trouble in her life, including the title “slut”. Eventually all of the mishaps turn into Momo having to choose between his current boyfriend, Kairi, and her crush, Toji.

Critical Evaluation:  The point of view for this series is from the main character, Momo Adachi, who is a teenage girl in high school. She is different from every other girl and is picked on because of that. Her attitude is to take the high road and not fall into the immaturity of spreading rumors, unlike her best friend, Sae. This anime is basically following her life as she narrates it like a chapter in her diary. Plenty of high school girls are able to relate to the same emotions and interactions Momo has in school with her schoolmates, friends, and boys. Many girls feel insecure about their bodies and the relation to Momo and her “imperfection” of skin color is able to draw in the audience the creators intended for. Another connection would be the drama of rumors being spread and the hurt caused by the bullies with their jealousy. Conflicts always arise and one thing that the series focuses on is the choice Momo has to make between two boys. Her characterization of maturity yet innocence makes her decisions even more complicated including her giving up her virginity. This tone is placed in by the contemplation of sex and the actual consequences of sex are discussed and this also reaches the audience in providing them information they may not receive. An educational and explicit portrayal to young high school students about sex is essential to help these students understand every aspect of sex and what happens when it is all over.

Booktalking Ideas:
1)Discuss the relationship between Sae and Peach Girl. 2) Discuss the differences in American graphic novels and Japanese Manga. 3)Discuss the sexual issues in the book. Were they too explicit?

Challenge Issues/ Defense:
Challenge Issues: Sexual situations, Attempted rapes, S&M
Challenge defense ideas:
• Anime, the distinctive style of cartoon from Japan, comes in many styles. Some are defined by their audience, such as shojo (anime for young girls) or kodomo (those for children). Others are classified by the major theme of the story, like mecha (which involves robot-like vehicles). Ecchi involves more risque anime: romantic comedy with more sexual jokes than most American comedies. Though not pornography, the plots tend to revolve around sexual humor and misadventures. Genre boundaries often blur, but a number of anime shows–many considered classics–can be classified as ecchi- by Amber Walker. (Retrieved from: http://www.ehow.com/list_7325583_list-ecchi-anime.html)
Ecchi manga contain healthy doses of ‘Fan Service’. A manga term denoting sexy content that is added into the story mainly for fans of the genre. Although borderline at times, ecchi manga does not usually involve nudity. -One Manga. (Retrieved from: http://www.onemanga.com/directory/ecchi/).

Read more: List of Ecchi Anime | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/list_7325583_list-ecchi-anime.html#ixzz1Ms2ID8ho

Why was this book included?: As a representation of a true Japanese manga, Peach Girl appeals to any teen. This series is definitely aimed at teen girls, but Ueda’s writing and artwork are strong enough to attract older readers of both genders as well.

Author Information: Miwa Ueda, the manga artist known for her works like Peach Girl and Angel Wars. Miwa was born on September 29 in Hyōgo, Japan. She worked for some time with Sailor Moon author Naoko Takeuchi. She started publishing her works in 1985. When asked about some of her favorite things, this is what she listed: Chocolate, Coffee, Gold, Light blue, Lilies, Melons, Pink, Red, Roses, Shishamo, and silver.
She has won Kodansha Manga Award. The winners were be honored in a ceremony on June 21 at the Grand Prince Hotel Akasaka in Tokyo’s Chiyoda Ward. Each winner will receive a certificate, a bronze statue, and 1 million yen (about US$10,000). Miwa Ueda (Peach Girl). Her current occupation is artist.
Ueda just ended her Papillon – Hana to Chō manga in Bessatsu Friend’s December 2009 issue in November 2009, and Del Rey published the fourth volume in North America October 2008. Tokyopop published the Peach Girl manga in North America, while Funimation released the anime adaptation.

The author’s website (in Japanese) can be found at: http://www.yomogi.sakura.ne.jp/~peach/

(Author information obtained from the Anime News Network. Retrieved from: http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=12766)