Pseudo-Elf Princess Speaks:
Saturday, April 15, 2006 10:10 p.m. New season
April has brought showers of new anime to watch. I think I've finally slogged through most of what I plan to watch (well, I can think of a few more things, but oh well), and here I am to give my verdict! (complete with overblown crappy summaries)
Nana: [ep. 1] Two young women with the same name, Nana, but very different personalities meet on their way to Tokyo. By coincidence they end up at the same apartment and become roommates. This is the story of their friendship and their lives....
Ah, Nana~! As a long-time, huge fan of the manga, this was the series I most expectantly looked forward to this season (probably). For the most part, I wasn't disappointed. The animation's not that great (Komatsu Nana looks so plain--her hair looks stringy x.x), but the writing and characters seem to be shaping up nicely. Oosaki Nana's deep voice (Romi Paku = Edward Elric x.x) took some getting used to, but it fits in the end. I liked the music a lot, and in the end it doesn't really matter if I like the rest of the series that much, cause I'll always have the manga. (But I did enjoy it for what it was ^^;;) Also, I'm REALLY looking forward to hearing the other characters with their seiyuus (Shin = Akira Ishida, WAH!)
Ouran Koukou Host Club: [ep. 1-2] Haruhi, a poor student attending a rich school because of a scholarship, stumbles onto the meeting room of the school's Host Club and accidentally breaks an expensive vase. Haru must join the bishounen of the host club in entertaining the girls of the school to pay back the debt. Only ... Haruhi's a girl?!
This show was a lovely surprise to me. I'd read a few chapters of the manga, but while it was somewhat amusing, the artwork was a little funny and my feelings toward it were lukewarm. But oh, the anime! First off, it was a lot funnier to watch than the manga was to read. A few little additions (like the lightbulbs that came on when each boy realized that Haruhi was a "she") were just hilarious. And not only was the art better than the manga's, but it was GORGEOUS! It's not just the character designs; the colors are vibrant and the backgrounds (particularly those shown of the school at the beginning) and very pretty. The second episode didn't disappoint either, so this one's a keeper ^_^
Ray: The animation: [ep. 1] As a child, Ray was given the gift of special eyes that could see disease inside people's bodies. As an adult, Ray became a doctor to save people's lives with her extraordinary powers. Now she has taken up work at a hospital.
Ray was unexpected like Host Club, but in a completely different way. I was expecting something kind of mysterious (the summaries I read talked about a donor farm on which Ray was raised), but then I thought it would just be a supernatural medical drama. Then the martial arts expert nurses and eye-patched, peg-legged doctor came in, and all I could think was "WTF?" It seems that this show is somehow connected to Black Jack, so perhaps if I had seen that I would have more context for it. As it is, I don't think I'll continue. The story didn't particularly stimulate me, and the art (particularly backgrounds) was rather blah.
Princess Princess: [ep. 1] Kouno transfers to an all boys' school and gets a strange reception because of his good looks. He discovers that his prestigious school has a tradition of choosing "princesses"--pretty boys who cross-dress and cheer up the rest of the students by acting girly--and that he's been chosen to be one. Oh my!
"..." is all I have to say. Curiousity killed the cat. I can describe this anime in one word ... gay. I mean that in a very literal sense (that's the only way I use it). Everything about this anime screams shounen-ai. That's not my cup of tea, so I will watch no more. (I just wanted to see pretty boys...)
Disgaea: [ep. 1] Demon prince, underworld, angel, RPGs, goofiness, and stuff.
Yeah, my summary is lame ^_^ But really, how can I describe Disgaea at this point? It's bright and sparkly and silly and cute and RPG parody-ish and kind of funny tasting, but I've enjoyed it so far. The main character is a demon prince who's been asleep for years and hates love. Another character is a ditzy angel-in-training. Yeah, it's fun.
Today in Class 5-2: [ep. 1] Do you remember what fifth grade was like, when you were first discovering the world (not to mention hormones and the opposite sex)?
This was a total whim. I can't really give a good summary of Class 5-2 because a lot of shorter stories made up the first episode. It's certainly comedy, and it was amusing to a point, but the humor was a little bit too perverted and fanservice-y for me. Other than that, it was a fun way to spend 20 minutes ^_^
.hack//Roots: [ep. 1] The World blah blah the Twilight Brigade blah blah the mysterious TaN blah blah newbie with something special blah blah you know the drill ^_~
So, the World is back! I have mixed feelings: on the one hand, I know that Bandai is just trying to milk more profit out of the .hack franchise. On the other hand, I'm intrigued and the backgrounds are just so darn **~PReTTy~** The new main character, Haseo, promises to be whiney, though not as much as Tsukasa (we hope). ... He's kind of cute, too ^^; And like I said, the backgrounds and clean character designs (well, some of them are ugly...) are nice eyecandy. I'll follow the show for a few more episodes and see what I think then. (Some of the music was really nice, too...)
There are a few things I'll watch once they're subbed (Gintama, Glass no Kantai, Saiunkoku Monogatari, Juuousei, and maybe some others) in addition to some stuff I have but haven't watched (XXX-holic), so perhaps I'll review those next. Wah, I wish they were subbed already ... I'm so excited for some of them!
Ah, yes, and to give a brief rundown of some other stuff: Mushishi has finished its 20 episode tv run, but apparently there'll be six more episodes released on DVD (I can't wait!); Fate/Stay Night isn't really interesting me so much right now with its continued focus on Shiro and Saber, so I might stop watching it; Karin is still sweet as fresh blood; Black Cat has the most anti-climactic ending ever (esp. after the rest of the series was so promising); Blood+ is so good and I can't get more of it fast enough; Sugar Sugar Rune is still super-sparkly fun; and all the manga I'm reading is pretty much wonderful. If you want to know what place I'm at in all the anime I'm watching, just look over to that lovely sidebar on the right and it shall tell you (hopefully accurately...)! Peace out :P
Thursday, March 2, 2006 03:25 p.m. Great entry gone; in summary
I attempted to post long entry, but something happened and my long hour or so of writing disappeared. In summmary:
Mushishi: [eps. 10-13] Still so good. Why aren't you watching this?
Ergo Proxy: [ep. 1] Stylish and interesting. Probably a crowd pleaser.
Fate/Stay Night: [eps. 2-4] A lot better than I initially thought. I still dislike the majority of the characters, but I adore Tohsaka and Archer. Also, I like the opening song ^_^
Karin: [eps. 2-14] Still very cute and funny. I love Karin's family (mostly Anju and Ren). Not everyone will like it, but I definitely do. (The fanservice of late is disgusting, though.)
Lemon Angel Project: [eps. 1-4] Silly and stupid, but somehow I keep watching. Cute girls with cliche personalities and occassionally skimpy outfits (ew!) vie to become popstars. Main character is super annoying, but the vapidness is humorous and almost appealing.
Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora: [eps. 1-6 end] Complex and sweet romantic dramedy about a boy in the hospital for a brief stay and the girl he meets there. Not what I expected, since I hate hospital romances (so if you hate them, too, don't write this one off). Yuichi is occassionally stupid but likeable, and Rika is selfish but really strong and kind. The characterization is excellent, and the visuals and music are pretty and soft. Literary references lend a lot. The story stays light despite it's set-up. I'm going to remember this one for a long time with pleasure, and I'll certainly buy it if it gets a domestic release.
Speaking of domestic releases, Kimi-Nozu was licensed by Funimation! Though Funi doesn't immediately bring kind thoughts to my mind, they actually treat their releases very well, and I didn't really expect Kimi-Nozu to get licensed (since it aired two years ago), so I'm pretty excited. I just hope they don't stretch it out longer than 3 or 4 DVDs.
Anyway, that's all for now. I've collected all of Scrapped Princess' domestic release, yay! I guess now I should collect the odds and ends of other series I missed along the way while I wait for boxsets (oh, I hope they release a Stellvia boxset ... and a Gundam Seed one ... urgh). Yup, yup. Peace out : P
Sunday, January 15, 2006 09:06 p.m. Beware of molesters
At long last, I'm posting. No, I didn't die. I went to college, heh. That's no excuse for my prolonged absence, but oh, well. Anyway, it'd be a bit much to try to summarize all that I've seen since my last entry, but I'll at least comment on some of the latest things I've seen. Here we go!
Blood+: [eps. 1-3] Blood+ is the story of Saya, a high school girl who has no memory of anything before a certain time (I think a year ago, only). She is in fact something of a weapon the army used to wage war against the ... um, scary creatures with funny names that I won't attempt to spell. Her kick-butt self is awakened in an encounter with a mysterious (but sexy ^^) man named Hagi (pronounced and sometimes spelled "Haji"), and now the government wants her back (or something like that). My summary isn't worth beans, but this looks to be a very interesting show. The little of it that I've seen was plenty to have me intrigued by the characters and the plot. The opening and ending songs are both very catchy, and the animation is more or less good. Oh, yeah, and there's at least the impression that Saya's powers have something to do with blood, making her a vampire of sorts (I guess. It's been so long since I've watched this that my review is probably completely inaccurate >_<). Good stuff.
Mushishi: [eps. 1-9] Ooh, I like this. Ginko is a hunter/collector ("mushishi") of the mysterious mushi, creatures most people can't even see that tend to cause a lot of trouble. Mostly, the tales of Mushishi resemble folk tales or fairy tales--they have a mythical, calm purpose to them. The animation has a lush quality to it that works well in the forest and village settings Ginko travels through, and I completely adore the music. Each episode chronicles one of Ginko's fantastical encounters with a mushi, making them one-shots of sorts. But Ginko is such a likeable character and the stories are so compelling that I'm still on the edge of my seat, waiting for each new episode. It sort of resembles Boogiepop Phantom or maybe Kino's Journey in this way (or most likely a less violent and not quite so creepy Requiem from the Darkness/Hundred Stories). In any case, I recommend it highly.
Paradise Kiss: [eps. 1-9] Ah, yes, the successor to Honey & Clover's timeslot. I was excited for this anime from the time I heard it announced, being a big fan of Ai Yazawa's other works (though I wasn't familiar with the plot of this), and I haven't been too disappointed. ParaKiss is the story of Yukari, a high school senior who has no idea what she wants to do with her life. Through a chance encounter with a punk rocker (ha, ha) named Arashi, she's invited to become a model for a fashion show he and his friends are participating in. In the process, she grows up a lot, experiencing her first real love with the gentlemanly but cold-hearted designer George and making a decision about her future. That's kind of vague, but it's pretty good stuff. I really like the colorful animation, and the opening and ending themes ROCK (Tommy February6 and Franz Ferdinand? Oh, yes). I've heard, however, that the manga's much better in terms of character depth and plot, so you may want to take that into consideration. ParaKiss ends up just being kind of fun.
Fate/Stay Night: [ep. 1] Geneon's latest production (so yes, that means it's automatically their licensee already) failed to impress me. I hate to judge on a first episode basis, but this one was pretty bland. We have our true-hearted hero (who can heal electronics ... or something), his cute but servile female friend, his loud and annoying female teacher, and a rather flat plot. The Magi summon servants (something about cards?) for some purpose. There have been a rash of "gas leaks" in the area, in addition to the murder of a family. Apparently this destruction is caused by girl (adding the beautiful but cold female to the series) and her summoned servant (probably). The first episode mostly set the characters up for whatever will happen next. Our hero will presumably summon the blonde chick seen in the opening and ending themes and proceed to carry out justice in the city. It *could* be interesting, but I was just so annoyed at how stereotypical the main characters were that I'm not sure I care to see any more. Probably the most interesting thread was that of the hero's deceased father, who was a "wizard" (a Magi, I guess). Of course, there were a few more characters that I haven't seen much of that could add their own elements to the story. In any case, the art has the kind of soft, cute feel that some people like to it (I do, but the boys aren't that great looking), so this could be a hit or miss.
Karin: [ep. 1] *giggles* This show takes itself so seriously at first that when it switches, it's even funnier. Karin is about a girl named (what else?) Karin who happens to be a vampire ... well, actually, an un-vampire, but you don't find that out til the end of the episode. In any case, Karin is not like the rest of her darkness-loving family, which causes her great shame and embarrassment. Besides that, the new transfer student Usui-kun seems to have discovered her secret (in addition to making her heart beat so fast it hurts)?! Yeah, it's goofy cuteness. Karin is likeable, and Usui Kenta had me laughing with his death glare (which he swears isn't intentional). The ending theme (no opening was shown) was sweet and catchy. My biggest (and really only) problem with this series is that the character designs are ugly. Kenta looks like a blond, kiddied version of Ichigo from Bleach, and most of the girls look just plain funny. Well, that and the preview screen was pretty fanservice-oriented (though the show itself wasn't). But I really liked this episode, so I'll probably try to follow up on the other episodes ^^
And that's all! I might limit myself to first episode reviews from now on, because, besides taking a long time, I don't know who would need to read reviews of later episodes in series. I may at least comment on whether certain series improved or got worse, though, so ... yeah, that's about it ^^;; Peace out : P
Tuesday, July 19, 2005 10:04 p.m. New material
So. Perhaps it would be best to aim for once a month? It's not that I haven't seen some great stuff since my last entry; I just haven't gotten to writing about it until now.
Tide-Line Blue: [ep. 1] You would not believe how good it feels to watch the first episode of a new show and crave more. So good.
Anyway, I picked up TLBlue on a whim, just because it's been a while since I've seen a new series (Snow Queen feels more like an OAV to me... but more on that later). It was listed as sci-fi, and didn't look particularly interesting, but at least it wasn't a fanservice anime (of which there are way too many). The character designs aren't great, and that's what threw me off. But once I started watching. . . . Well, the plot summaries I've read are too much focused on the background as opposed to the actual story, but I guess there's nothing clear I can say about the story yet. That's not to say it's plotless--just that there are many threads that have just revealed themselves. Anyway, TLBlue focuses on a boy named Keel (who happens to look like a bad fanart of Ed of FMA, but no matter) with no direct family but lots of connections (they said she was his "mother-in-law," but I'm not sure how that works... unless he's married to..?). Anyway, he has a crush on a girl who's ... pregnant?! I know, it's bizarre (unless he's married to her...? Somehow, I don't get the feeling that it's his kid), but that makes in better in some weird way. The world is a post-disaster one in which the oceans swallowed up lots of land and people, and the nations have only recovered enough now to discuss formed a new U.N. However, even as they argue veto terms, another declares his power and begins blowing stuff up. Ah, but if only it were that simple. He has connections with the new secretary general who has connections with Keel who has connections with the messenger boy the new guy sends to warn that he's going to blow stuff up. I know, it sounds rather typical and shounen-ish (except maybe the pregnant thing--guess what, she gives birth in the first ep., too! O.o), but the small amount of information they gave was perfect--just enough to make me want more. Besides that, the specs are really good--good animation, good music, good backgrounds. I find myself liking Keel a lot, though I can't figure out why (he's not a bishie...). For one thing, he's not completely over the top. He seems pretty sweet about his feelings for pregnant girl (aw, the blushing), and though he freaks out when she starts giving birth, he does his best to help her. It's also interesting to see the girl being the oblivious one in the relationship.
I suppose it's not a good idea to judge on first episodes, but if I were to, I'd say TLBlue is going to be a really interesting show. The characters and story--as little as I know about them--have me hooked already, wanting more. At this point, I would definitely recommend watching this series.
GS Destiny: [eps. 35-38] Can we say "squee?" If GS Destiny was ever in danger of becoming bland (and I doubt that), these episodes definitely shook things up. I'm really starting to like Shinn! Heck, I don't even hate Mia any more! Anyway, as Athrun's doubts about Dullindal's motives grow (particularly due to the recent Kira/Archangel incident), Dullindal's use for Athrun as a fighter diminishes--after all, a fighter who won't fight is good for nothing in his eyes. Mia warns Athrun to watch himself after hearing a particularly grave conversation between Dullindal and Rey, and Athrun, losing all faith in Zaft, decides to leave. Cue lots of heartwrenching scenes, including one in which he tries to convince Mia that she should come with him, as she's in just as much danger as he is. But she still believes in Dullindal, and--this is completely heartbreaking--sees herself as not Mia at all, but Lacus, and therefore necessary to Zaft's future movements. Athrun does gain an interesting companion, but revealing who would take the fun out of it. Beyond that, Shinn's blossoming doubts about Athrun's apparent "betrayal," make him a much more interesting character in my mind (as does his bittersweet new relationship with Lunamaria). I'm sad to see Rey reduced to his current state, and honestly, confused about why exactly fighting Logos is bad. I mean, yes, the responsibility for wars rests in the hands of all humanity and not just theirs, but they were responsible for a lot of crap. But I really like how Dullindal place in the show has turned itself on its head--he seems more sinister than charismatic these days, though the knowledge we have of his early days softens his character a bit. If you couldn't tell by this, I'm enjoying GS Destiny more than ever, and look forward to each and every episode.
Gakuen Alice: [eps. 9-10] Cute. Cute. Cute. Even with some of the silly plots these episodes pull, I can't help but continue to adore Gakuen Alice. It never fails to hit that place in my heart and make me go "Aww" and feel all gushy inside. Which is not to say that it's sappy, because it isn't really. It's simply endowed with the warm fuzzies of true friendship and genuine humor. Irresistable.
Honey and Clover: [eps. 9-11] So, it's been two years since the main characters all met. You know, I like Takemoto's hair a lot better the way it is now as opposed to the short cut he used to have. Which is totally off the subject, but anyway ^^;; H&C continues to be a winning slice of life series. On the surface, not much is happening, but beneath . . . it's becoming obvious to nearly all how Morita feels about Hagu-chan, and Takemoto can't help but worry about their relationship. However, he needn't bother; Hagu is still too emotionally young and easily hurt to attach herself to either of them. She remains stuck to Shuu-chan (her uncle) like glue, and somehow I can completely sympathize with her. She's a different sort of person, and she's definitely the type that needs time. But will either of them wait for her? And what will become of Ayu and Mayama? Mayama and the older woman? Etc. etc. H&C delivers the drama but remains more comedy than anything else. It's a fun little series with its own quirks, and I continue to enjoy it for that.
I also saw the first episode of The Snow Queen, which was very enjoyable, but I don't really feel like giving a review, especially since my friend Jen already wrote a lovely one (if you want to check it out, go to http://dchan.pitas.com and scroll down a bit).
There's probably more that I could say, but it's getting late, so I'll stop here. Peace out : P
Wednesday, June 22, 2005 01:02 p.m. So much for promptness
Two entries in one month! Ha, ha, I know, I was hoping more for at least once a week . . . but I've finally gotten on track with most of my fansubs, so maybe . . .
Trinity Blood: Okay, I'm still two eps. behind. I have 6, I need to get 7, so the review will probably come soon, okies?
Honey & Clover: [eps. 3-8] Yay! At first I thought of Honey & Clover as simply an interesting diversion, but the characters are really growing on me. Since I got just about all their names wrong the first time around, here's a review: Hagumi (Hagu-chan), a small but very talented 19 year old girl; Takemoto, the sweet architect hopeful with a crush on Hagu-chan; Morita, the goofy but very attractive (in my opinion ^^) boy with the mysterious job (who may or may not like Hagu-chan and is often shown observing others); Mayama, the graduate student who rooms with Takemoto, has a crush on an older woman named Rika, and looks uncannily like Aizen from Bleach; and Yamada, the potter who has a crush on Mayama. There's also Hagumi's cool uncle/relative, Shuu-chan, who is also a teacher at the college the characters attend (darnit, I forgot his real name. Hagu calls him "Shuu-chan," and the others usually call him sensei). Anyway, the aforementioned characters have been developing nicely in this offbeat shoujo, and I find myself liking them more and more with each episode. Their situations feel very real (if somewhat more amusing than real life--like that twister game!), and I can relate to them. The only problem I've found with Honey & Clover is that the time frame keeps jumping. Suddenly we're 4 months later, or what not. It doesn't take away from my enjoyment of the show, but it can add a bit of confusion to the mix. But if you like shoujo and are interested in trying something a little different, then give this one a shot. I don't think you'll regret it. (Anyway, the insert songs and ending rock!)
Bleach: [eps. 33-36] They didn't do a bad job of turning a few pages of extras into an episode, though I think it was weird to flash from all the drama of Renji and Ichigo's fight to Kanonji in Karakura town. Other than that, I'm having fun noticing the little differences (itsy-bitsy) between the manga and the anime. It's really weird to watch some of the events of these episodes, remembering how I felt when I read them in the manga, and feeling something complete different now, as I know a lot more about the conspiracies in Soul Society. Yes, I'm being cryptic purposely. Honestly, the makers of the anime can't change even most of the little things, because so much ends up being vitally important for the rest of the plot. Other than that, there will be many fight scenes ahead, but I don't recommend jumping in on Bleach in the middle, as it's complex enough even when you've been keeping up with it. Good stuff ^_^
Gundam Seed Destiny: [eps. 32-34] My goodness. I cannot believe that they did what they did. I'm trying to stay away from spoilers, but. . . . Well, the first death wasn't the greatest surprise (and it's definitely final, as far as I can tell), but the events of 34 . . . that character can't really be dead. They just can't. Of course, GS Destiny has already resurrected characters. Just look at Flaga-san. He has no memory (which really sucks for Murrue), but he's certainly alive. In a way I feel cheated by all this tragedy, but I'm also very curious about what they'll do with it. I'm beginning to wonder if they'll just kill off everyone . . . but please, please, don't kill Athrun . . . wah. I still love Destiny, but I'm a little bit scared now.
That's about all I can say, and I have to get ready for work now, so until next time. . . . Peace out : P
Monday, June 6, 2005 11:19 a.m. Return of the reviewer
Woooow, it's been a while. I've been very busy with school, but now that I've graduated, I'll likely have more time to spend cranking out reviews of all the stuff I'm watching and reading. Let's begin!
Trinity Blood: [ep. 2-5] Episode three finally introduces Abel's love interest Sister Esther ('sister' because she's a nun) into the story, but it mixes things up from the manga. I'm finding it really hard to see sweet-faced and polite Esther as a murderer (no, really--even if it was revenge for her dearest friend). And her friend, Dietrich? I actually liked him in the manga, but in the anime he doesn't show up enough as Esther's friend for anyone to feel much for him at all. But despite all this, I'm hanging on. Episode five contains a very intriguing flashback sequence that actually raises some questions I would love to see the answers to (it also contains an extremely whiney pope and a slutty nun, who I disliked on sight). There's some good stuff going on here, but not really enough for there to be a strong pull making me want to see the next episode. The plot is still a little fuzzy, and I think the series suffered more than it gained from the first two filler episodes. Nonetheless, I will continue watching in hopes that the writers get their acts together and build on the foundation of plot they've set up. This show has potential. It just needs a push.
Bleach: [ep. 32] I know I haven't done much in the way of reviewing Bleach (and I'm a little bit behind), but it's very close to the manga, so there's nothing new for me to see, in a way. However, I would like to discuss the episode concerning Renji's past, ep. 32. Though most of the elements were found in the manga as well, I don't like the way they handled it. Yes, there are definitely some serious things in Renji's and Rukia's childhood. But they made it way too serious. The manga takes a much lighter tone, especially about Renji's impressions of Rukia, and I think that worked better. But, hey, I'm a manga purist when it comes to Bleach, so . . . I'm just venting a bit. I still really like the anime a lot, and if you haven't seen it yet, you should (but read the manga first!).
Honey and Clover: [ep. 3-4] Review forthcoming (I hope)
GS Destiny: [ep. 29-31] Shinn and Stellar's relationship is slowly developing, and some of the characters are starting to bug me. The thing is, I still love it. The reason I can have mixed feelings about characters is that they're real to me. They change their minds. They make decisions that aren't necessarily for the best. They nurse false hopes. So, even when I disagree with them completely, I still find myself deeply caring about what happens to them. GS Destiny is just so amazingly good at doing that.
Gakuen Alice: Hmm. I would love to do an entry on Gakuen Alice, but unfortunately, episode eight was the most recent release, and I already did an entry on it! I hate to be impatient, but it's been over a month, and Gakuen Alice is really too wonderful for me to want to wait any longer.
Diamond Head: [chapters 1-5] I heard Mizushiro Setona was a great manga-ka, so I decided to check out some of her stuff, including Diamond Head. From the cover and summary involving a group of students that "judges" others and a girl who is caught in their midst, I was expecting a creepy and dark psychological tale. Actually, this is a rather light and sometimes humorous story about three boys who act in courtroom situations for their fellow students: one will be a lawyer for defense, one will be a lawyer for prosecution, one will be the judge. Nanao is the transfer student invited to join the club, called the "Judicature club." She eventually accepts, and each of the stories deals with the clubs subsequent cases. Diamond Head has the episodic feel of a mystery series, but it doesn't suffer any from it. The cases are fairly interesting, and the real draw is seeing the interaction between Nanao and the other club members. The art ain't too bad either. (Available from ShoujoMagic on IRC.)
Kimi wa Pet: This is a series that I did not think I would like. I mean, a woman finds a homeless guy and makes him her pet?? Okay, never mind that that summary is totally inaccurate, but the reason I tried it out was because I've heard so many good things about it.
To start out: this is not about a kinky master/pet relationship. We start with an introduction to Sumire, a beautiful, smart, and successful career woman who has just gotten dumped because her boyfriend felt more comfortable with another girl. For being so envied by others, Sumire's life really isn't all it's cracked up to be. Men are intimidated by her intelligence (and her high earnings). Her co-workers dislike her because they think she's got it good. Sumire is lonely, though she might not admit it.
That's when she finds a bishounen half dead in a box outside her apartment. She gives him food to revive him and lets him stay over, saying he reminds her of her dog, Momo, who was the only one she could really talk to and cry with as a child (but Momo is dead now). Then the boy refuses to leave. Sumire suggests on a whim that if he wants to stay, he can become her pet, thinking that there would be no way he would say yes. He says yes, and tells her to give him a name.
Momo. His real name is Takeshi, and he's a dancer. Though Momo often acts simplemindedly--exactly like a dog, begging Sumire to cater to him--there's a lot to him beneath the surface. While at Sumire's house, he is petlike, but outside, he's just like any other person. Certain frames of the manga show him with a strange expression on his face. Takeshi cares very deeply for Sumire, but at first he is willing to wait until she sees him as more than a replacement for her dog Momo, and there's something almost scary about how different he is when he's with Sumire and when he isn't (and it seems that he may make Sumire see him as a person by force). Sumire treats him exactly like someone would treat a pet they love dearly, but she only really sees him as a person part of the time. This isn't to say she's really out of it-- but Takeshi fills the place in her life that has been empty since her dog died, and she doesn't seem sure how exactly she should treat him as a person.
All in all, Kimi wa Pet is about two complex characters interacting with and finding their feelings for each other. And I haven't even mentioned the other characters that come in--Sumire's sweet new boyfriend, Hasumi, and Takeshi's ex-girlfriend who still carries a flame for him, Rumi, and so on. All in all, this is a very enjoyable (and even thought-provoking!) series, which I highly recommend if you haven't read. (Available in the U.S. from Tokyopop under the name Tramps Like Us.
Well, I must go for now, but I might add to this entry later, so be sure to check back. Peace out : P
Friday, May 13, 2005 04:08 p.m. vampire ist love ^_^
So, I finally got the chance to download and watch Trinity Blood. Having read and enjoyed the first two chapters of the manga . . . well, let's get down to it.
Trinity Blood: [ep. 1] I was so confused. Not because the episode itself was confusing, but because I expected it to be like the manga, and it wasn't. The manga starts with Abel Nightroad (sexy, awesome dorky vampire, erm, vampire-eater ^_^;) running into a nun named Esther and hanging out at her convent, where a vampire appears. The anime starts with a quick summary of the world and Abel flying on an airship that's been hijacked. This disappoints me a little, because I don't know that the girl on the airship, Jessica, will appear again or not, and if she doesn't, it feels like a waste. There were also a trio of siblings who seem to live in the Vatican . . . um, there was a boy who they kept calling "Your Sanctity" and that was really confusing because he was dressed pope-ishly but he was a teenager O.o (imagine a teenage pope...). But the opening and ending credits are chockfull of Esther, and Iqus (or whatever his name is--the cyborg who's good at shooting stuff who looked better in the manga ^^) showed up briefly, so at least I don't have to worry about losing all the characters that I'm familiar with (not that Abel doesn't make the show worth watching all on his own ^_~).
But anyway, I like it. The animation is very lovely, and the music, oh! the music. Between another sexy Buck-Tick song for the opening and a pretty English piece for the ending, I'm hooked. Definitely going to keep up on this show (I think ep. 2 is already out...).
Honey and Clover: [ep. 2] Still odd, but still enjoyable, like Jalapeno jelly or something like that. I've decided the opening sequence is definitely disturbing, especially the food they show last, which could give someone a heart attack, I think. In this episode a girl who does pottery is introduced (I forgot her name, but I think it's Aya), Takehito and Hayama have a Japanese food fry at their apartment, and Morita buys Hagumi a pair of shoes she wanted so that she'll forgive him for ... well, watching it would give a better explanation ^_^ (especially since I don't remember what else happened, except that there was another weird insert song ^^;;) Odd and comedic without losing that hint of shoujo . . . I would still recommend it at this point.
I'm behind on Meine Liebe, Bleach, and GS Destiny because I haven't been able to download as much now that my mom and brother have discovered E-bay (and my brother always seems to use the compie after me at night and turns off the torrents so they don't ever finish >.<). So on to manga!
Salad Days: Usually shounen romance doesn't float my boat, but Salad Days' unique approach is a bit more palatable. Rather than dragging out a done-to-death storyline like a harem romance or a fanservice fest, Salad Days does one-shots, called dishes. Okay, I call them one-shots for simplicity's sake, but they can up to three or four chapters long, and a number of the characters who have already appeared show up again as main characters or cameos. The plots of the dishes usually aren't terribly inventive, but they're well done and at the least are nice as filler while I'm waiting for the next chapter of a favorite to be released (and at best are really fun little stories). Anyway, you can find out more (and download!) here. I didn't like the first story much, but there's lots of variety ^_^
Beauty Pop: [ch. 1-4] I wasn't interested in this until a read a review raving about it--I mean, a manga about three snobby guys (who do makeovers for pretty girls only) and their rival, the daughter of a hair stylist who wants to make everyone feel beautiful? It sounds pretty bland. But though it's a touch cliché, it comes off as a mix of shoujo school story and shounen adventure (a la Cooking Master Boy or Pokémon), with the hair-styling being competitive, which is really a fun kind of twist. The art is shoujo cute, too, so if you just want a nice little pick-me-up story, this is the ticket. You can find the series (and the review that made me pick it up) at Dragon Voice.
I think that's all for now. Maybe I'll put a review for ep. 28 of GS Destiny one I watch it ^_^ Peace out : P
EDIT: Gundam Seed Destiny: [ep. 28] So I said that the ending theme doesn't really fit--but it's starting to more and more, especially the English version. "Is it really okay? It's never okay for me." This is really a hard series to deal with, because it's so ... you can't choose which side to root for. You can't. It's not just that there's a side with good people but bad ideas; the Earth forces are obviously out of line, but PLANT is likely just as screwed. And the Archangel crew in the middle--well, Cagalli's still trying to be idealistic (poor Cagalli--she's trying, but she can't do anything), while Kira doesn't want to fight but seems to be doing a lot of the killing. The Archangel's meddling seems to make things worse rather than better. It all sounds like it should be frustrating, but in a way it's refreshing, because in real life, right and wrong in situations like these are not clear cut at all. Peace is what we all want, but is it attainable? Amidst character death and injury (not to mention seeds bursting and Cagalli sobbing over her country), we are faced with this question. And if we can get peace, how? Destiny goes deeper with this question than even Seed did, and I'll continue watching to see how they answer it.
Wednesday, May 4, 2005 04:09 p.m. Hoooney
Honey and Clover: [ep. 1] This is some crazy stuff. Takehito, Mayama, and Morita are college students living in a tiny apartment complex. Their lives are somewhat hectic (understatement), but they are happy enough. Then, a very young-looking 18-year-old named Hagumi comes into their lives. . . .
I'm not sure what to think of it yet. This has one of the craziest opening sequences I have ever seen (featuring food. Weird, surprising, disturbing food. You have to see it). There's also a crazy insert song near the end of the episode (the funny lover melts honey??). The animation is soft and sometimes sketchy, but generally nice. I was expecting straight up shoujo, but the guys are really the main characters, and the genre leans toward comedy. It works. (And it's certainly no harem comedy with a milquetoast main character.) I have to see more of it to form a solid opinion, but the first episode was quite fresh and interesting, so thus far I like it.
Gakuen Alice: [ep. 8] Pulling back on the humor aspect (though there was still the fortune-telling dance *dies laughing*), this episode sets up what I sense will be a big plot in Gakuen Alice. Mikan-chan wonders why her granpa hasn't sent responses to any of her letters and finds out--just as Natsume said she would--that Narumi-sensei has been keeping them at the direction of higher ups. She feels betrayed, but even more than that, wants to let her granpa know, somehow, that she's okay. The whole episode was pretty sweet. I love series that practically kill me with laughter but can still touch my heart. The end of the episode was a little bit weird, but it was completely innocent, so I can deal with it. Two sidenotes: Narumi-sensei is only 20! *_* Wow, he's so young ^_^ and I adore Ruka. As if the animal dance weren't enough, he's just so sweet in how he tries to help Mikan, even though he doesn't want to hurt Natsume (but I adore all the characters . . . except maybe Natsume's annoying fangirl ><). If you haven't started watching this yet, you really should.
Gundam Seed Destiny: [ep. 27] Um, I don't actually remember it . . . but I guess I can talk about the new opening and ending songs. The opening is very rappish and . . . it's all right, but not my favorite. The ending is a song by Rie Fu ("Life is Like a Boat" from Bleach). While I like Rie Fu, I don't think her music fits with GS Destiny . . . oh, well. It's a nice song anyway. Also . . . I was right about my suspicions of Neo. According to the opening, he is who I think he is. Though I have no idea how that's even possible. How can you resurrect a person when there's nothing left? And why is he doing what he's doing now? (Or is he another clone?!) Um, I guess we'll find out?
And that's all. At least, I need to go, so that's all you get. Peace out : P
Sunday, April 24, 2005 09:21 p.m. And more!
Since I'm taking to adding entries more frequently again, the style of this journal may consequently become more and more informal (hah, this sentence is not a preview of that). Anyway . . .
Gakuen Alice: [ep. 7] Ooh, so CUTE! I love this series so much right now. Mikan-chan is just . . . well, she should be sort of annoying, but I ended up absolutely loving her because of it. Which is really what makes the series work (besides the great plot, animation, music, humor, characters and everything else that is wonderful ^^)-- you can tell why the other characters stick with her. And the whole dodgeball game was too funny (with the Bear and the giant Piyo...). Like I said, I love this series so much ^_^
Bleach: [ep. 28] Hee hee. Some nice Orihime/Ishida interaction here with the life-saving ^__^ . . . I think I'm liking the anime more now mostly because I like the Soul Society arc a lot. It tends to skip around between characters and groups of characters (it's just starting that now and will be doing A LOT more with that once the captains and VC's really get involved), but that's only because there's so much interesting stuff going on. There's a lot of fighting, too, which can get dull if prolonged, but as long as the whole episode doesn't focus on just one battle, it'll be fine.
Tenshi Nanka Ja Nai: [manga] This is one of Yazawa-sensei's earliest works. It's not my favorite by a long-shot, but it's not bad either. It focuses on Midori, a high school student and vice president of the student council, who is cheerful and has a crush on the SC president (who has a funny hairstyle). It's pretty typical (not as good as her later stuff), but manages to pull off more warmth and humor than the average shoujo, so it's likeable. I'll run with it until I can get more Nana or Gokinjo Monogatari.
Gokinjo Monogatari: [manga] Speaking of which . . . Yazawa-sensei has really upped the emotional level a notch, what with Mikako's thoughts on her Papa and her parents' divorce and the stuff happening between Ayumi and Yuusuke and Mariko. I really dislike Mariko right now, by the way. She's so selfish, and her indecisions are definitely screwing up both Yuusuke and Ayumi. I know she's trying, but . . . I feel a lot more for Ayumi-- the nice girl who likes someone she can never have. And Yuusuke's just kind of stuck in the middle . . . I wanna know what happens next. . . . *whinge*
Well, that's all for now. Look at how nice and short the entries can be when I update on time! Next up will probably be ep. 26 of GS Destiny. I'm getting worried about Athrun and Cagalli's relationship. . . . Peace out : P
Wednesday, April 20, 2005 06:57 p.m. Basilisk
La la la . . . so I'm going to try to confine my anime/manga ramblings here *the key word is -try-*
Basilisk ~Kouga Ninpou Chou~: [ep. 1] So, I heard it was sort of like Romeo and Juliet, and I looked at the website and it looked like something I might like. Maybe I will like it later. But right now, I'm really wishing that I had a few Japanese history classes under my belt, because I'm lost. I know this much: Donjou and Ogen were from opposing, er, clans, and they fell in love. Then Donjou's clan attacked Ogen's clan and she thought he had betrayed her so they began fighting. But the episode mostly focuses on Donjou and Ogen in the future. As really old people who hate each other meeting with a bunch of other people and talking about ninjas and who will be the next leader and . . . stuff (like I said, confused. They were throwing a lot of names around that I recognized but didn't know the significance of). Then at the end it shows old!Donjou kill old!Ogen, but Ogen doesn't die before she kills Donjou. Then she snuggles up in his arms and their bodies float down the river. Um, how romantic? Actually the sheer number of gross/old people in the first episode scared me (I know, I'm pathetic--but one of the guys had something giant and bulbous growing out of his chin! It was disgusting). The animation was good, but wasted on the ugly characters. The music was nothing special (though hardly bad). I might go for the next episode, but I have my doubts so far. . . .
On the manga side of things, I finished Kagen no Tsuki. It was a good manga, though the ending was a little bit disappointing to me--the last two chapters were abrupt, since I thought there was still more story to tell. At least Yazawa-sensei tied everything up, not perfectly, but nicely enough.
I guess that's it for now. Peace out : P
Sunday, April 17, 2005 03:11 p.m. Return of the Webmistress
Yes, I thought it was about time for an entry. It's only been what, three and a half months? Heh. Here we go.
Anime
Bleach: [- ep. 27] Woo-hoo for catching up. Bleach the anime is still pretty fun, though sometimes the characters annoy me (which they never did in the manga. At all). It's strange to go this far back in the series, but it brings up new questions, as I see how character treating each other in the past as opposed to how things are presently in the manga (at chapter 175 ...). I luuurrve the new opening. The new ending is all right, too (GO KIRA!! in ep. 27 ending), though I don't adore it like I did the previous two endings (it'll probably grow on me, though. They usually do). I just can't wait for *CENSORED* to die and for the conspiracies to emerge....
Meine Liebe: [- ep. 7] This release is quite slow. Episode seven was really pushing the anti-yaoi buttons, though (okay, it's not near yaoi, but you get my drift). I don't think it'll go there, but I'm afraid o_o Yet I'll keep up for the Random Bishie Poses. It's all about the poses ^_^
Gakuen Alice: [- ep. 6] is also being released very slowly. Which is a shame, since I really do love its plot and inventive humor. It's like . . . Harry Potter, as written by Lewis Carrol with a dose of Miho Obana's Kodocha humor thrown into the mix. Very fun. Give me more ;_;
Gundam Seed Destiny: [- ep. 25] Yes, I know it's licensed. But I can't stop! There's simultaneously nothing and tons of stuff happening. I mean, really, it's strange. Mostly, relationships are being jerked around. And it's really hard to see who has the right idea in this war that they're all fighting. Whatever happens, I'll just continue rooting for Athrun o_o (And continue watching, because I'm addicted . . .)
Isn't it sad? I'm watching four series now (Harukanaru is licensed ;_;), two are barely being released, and GS Destiny is licensed. It's pretty sad.
Manga
I have been reading lots and lots of manga. I can't even tell you all the titles because I've been deleting some of it as I go. IRC is the gateway drug to manga. I'll just cover some of the bigger series . . .
Bleach: [- ch. 175] Nyah. I'm overwhelmed. I know what's going on, but . . . there's too much! I really need to get the scans and read it again (I've been doing raws and trans, because they come out much faster). Besides that, all the chapters are really short. Anyway, I still LOVE it, so . . . I guess it's okay. Lots of explanation, some mysteries still mysterious; at least now we know exactly who's behind everything (and it's probably not who you think--don't spoil yourself, though, it's a surprise ^_^).
Ai Yazawa Manga: Since there's three of them ...
Gokinjo Monogatari: The most recent I've read, but the earliest in the Ai Yazawa timeline. This is a cute and funny story of a girl whose dream is to become fashion designer. She sortofkindofmaybe likes her nextdoor neighbor/childhood friend, Tsutomu, but she doesn't really want to tell him. It's shoujo-y and pretty sweetly fluffy and humorous on the surface, but the characters are well-rounded and likeable. (Don't let the cover art turn you off--the art's cute once you get used to it.)
Kagen no Tsuki: The first Ai Yazawa piece I read. This broke the idea I had that Ai Yazawa had weird art work. The art's quite pretty, and the story is ... kind of hard to explain. On one hand we have a teenage girl who ran away from home and met a boy named Adam, who invited her to come with him. But now they've been separated, and she's trapped in a house, pinned to it like a ghost. On the other hand we have a 5th grade girl and her 3 friends who discover the teenage girl haunting the house. They do some research and realize that while Adam appears to have died years ago, the teenage girl is still alive--and trapped in a coma. Okay, I've killed some of the mystery, but there's still more, and the reading is pretty suspenseful. It's still fun, though ^_^
Nana: WAH! I ADORE Nana. It's the most recent of Ai Yazawa's stuff, and the art is great. The story sounds silly at first--two very different young women with the same name find themselves rooming together in Tokyo--but it's sooo good. Komatsu Nana is a cheerful girl who's boy crazy and doesn't have any ideas for the future. After she's dumped by a guy she really loved, she swore off guys and clung to the dreams of her friends (which happened to be art school). Then she meets Shouji, a nice boy, and, of course, falls in love again. But Shouji is accepted to a school in Tokyo, and Nana is left behind. She works hard and saves up until she can finally follow him. Of course, things aren't perfect. At all. Osaki Nana is a punkish orphan who sings in a band, Black Stones (Blast). She's very much in love with the band's guitarist, Ren. But then, Ren is asked to join Trapnest, a band that's on the brink of success. He accepts and asks Nana to come with him to Tokyo. She says no, because she doesn't want to give up her own dreams. Both continue to love each other, but from afar. Eventually, Nana comes to Tokyo, ready to make it big and challenge Ren's popularity. The two Nanas end up trying to get the same Tokyo apartment and decide to move in together. They become very close friends despite their very different personalities, and each go through their own traumas. The characters, both main and secondary, are so unique and wonderfully developed. Their problems feel real. And, as much as it hurts, the relationships are very delicate and many don't last long. So there's drama. But there's also plenty of humor to lighten things up. Laughter and tears, that's why I love it.
MeruPuri: Wah, the art's so pretty. This is a cute little story about a small prince with a vengeful older brother who lands in the home of a normal teenage girl. The prince had been cursed to "grow old" in the dark, but he ends up just taking the body of a teenager. The girl finds him cute at first, but isn't sure what to do with him when he gets big, because . . . he's pretty hot *_* And, he's developed a crush on her ^^;; I know, it sounds sort of gross, but it's actually pretty cute (innocent, I say, innocent!). And as I said, the art is GORGEOUS.
Moonchild: Ooh, it gives me shivers. So, what if "The Little Mermaid" (the depressing version) was a true story? And what if mermaids were sort of like salmon, returning to their birth place, but instead of swimming through water, they swam through space? And what if a prophecy concerning humans, mermaids, and the fate of the world depended on an out of work dancer, a handsome mermaid, and someone who looks like a little boy (but isn't what they seem)? Woo. Fix that up with a good dose of mystery, romance, and intricate art and I wanna know what's going to happen next o_o
I know, this is too much already. So here's just a brief list of some other good stuff I've been checking out: Vampire Knight (by MeruPuri's author--gorgeous art AND vampires), A Thousand Years of Snow (a really cute vampire/sick girl story), As Long as the Sun Shines in the Sky (shoujo by Hot Gimmick's author), Trinity Blood (vampire action!), Wasurerarenai (long title, sad love story), Minto Na Bokura (cute cross-dressing/humor by Wataru Yoshizumi!), Ingenuo (love triangles and photography from a Taiwanese author), and other stuff by Reiko Shimizu, including Himitsu, Magic, and Kaguya Hime.
*phew* I don't even feel like going back to correct any errors. Sorry for this bloated entry >_< But hey, know you know what to watch and read if you're bored, ne? *heh* Peace out : P
Sunday, April 17, 2005 12:06 a.m. Heh
My, my, it's been forever since I archived (or updated at all, ahem). Um, I wanted to get this taken care of, but don't actually have time to post a real entry, as it's past midnight. So, maybe tomorrow?
