Ghost in the Shell (2017) Movie Review: Revenge is a Dish Best Served...

It was one of my most anticipated movies of 2017. What struck me the most was its visual style. Futuristic, vibrant and bright with a flamboyant colour palette- a consistent tone dotted all over the movie's posters and promotional details- it was screaming wildly for attention and promised to pack a lot of fun.

Add to that the many great things I had heard about the iconic anime despite having not watched it before- the themes it explores such as the definition of humanity in an advanced society where minds could be transplanted- there is even a page on "Philosophy of Ghost in the Shell" on Wikipedia- and I had high hopes of a good time.

Iketeru Hearts Interview: Making "Iketeru" A Universal Word

(Top left, clockwise) Iketeru Hearts members Yuyu Arata, Kotone Uchida, Rie Tachibana, Karin Ochi, Yuno Yurano, Nijika, Kazune Manami (Not in picture: Madoka Usami)

Their ambition is to make the Japanese word "iketeru (cool)" a term as well-known as "kawaii (cute)" and be a bridge connecting Japan and the world.

Idol group Iketeru Hearts were in Singapore last month for the recent Anime Festival Asia (AFA) Japanese pop culture convention. It was their second year in a row attending the event, having placed first in a contest organised by idol-supporting app CHEERZ for the second consecutive year.

From Stand-Up! Hearts to Iketeru Hearts: One Last Stage in Singapore

Idol group Iketeru Hearts (formerly Stand-Up! Hearts) performing on the second day of AFA 2015

Over three days, they had fun with, bantered with and no doubt, put a smile on the faces of the many who had dropped by their booth, their curiosity piqued by the eight vivacious girls who would cheerfully invite them to take a picture or two together.

Often performing alongside many other groups at idol events in Japan, they had the audience's undivided attention showered on them for the first time, with supporters turning up in droves to spur them on at their daily stage performances.

They were only idol trainees, yet to make their professional debut but it didn't matter. The crowd couldn't care less. To them, "Stand-Up! Hearts" was what they were there for, what made them happy the most.

Ex-AKB48 Singer Tomomi Itano Holding Singapore Fan Meeting in October

Well, this is unexpected but great news! Ex-AKB48-idol-turned-pop-singer Tomomi Itano will be be performing in Singapore for the first time next month! The JAPAN MUSIC FESTIVAL - Tomomi Itano Fan Meeting & Showcase Live in Singapore will be held on Saturday, 8 October at Millian Singapore.

C3 CharaExpo 2016 Press Conference LIVE!

It's time again for Southeast Asia's largest mid-year anime, comics and games convention!

Get live updates from the latest press conference at the Playstation stage at the 313@Somerset flagship Sony Store!