The Stranded Otaku

Berserk Movie Preview

2012-02-01T18:55:00.000-05:00

Over on Yahoo Japan, the Warner Brothers Movie Channel has put up a sneak preview of the first of three new Berserk movies. Now if Miura could only put down the Idolm@ster, we might get more manga.

The Death of DDL's

2012-01-25T16:11:00.002-05:00

As you have probably already heard, MegaUpload was taken down. This lead to similar sites, like Filesonic, to stop offering file sharing services. While I was never a fan of downloading a 15 part movie off MegaUpload, it was useful as an anime and manga fan. Ero manga, raw manga, music, and other goodies were hosted with ease. These were things not easily available with torrents.

Another One Bites the Dust: Bandai to Stop Distributing New Licenses

2012-01-13T05:57:00.002-05:00

The R1 anime industry took another hit last week, with Bandai Entertainment announcing that they will stop releasing new titles(DVD, Blu Ray, and Manga). Bandai will continue to distribute its existing catalog, and concentrate on licensing rights to other companies for digital distribution. Coupled with the recent layoffs at Media Blasters, the North American anime market is shrinking. What had been a marketplace filled with many companies vying for one license, has since turned into Funimation standing alone.

Katawa Shoujo is Finally Here!

2012-01-04T11:43:00.003-05:00

After five years of development time, the full version of Katawa Shoujo is finally here. Katawa Shoujo is an entirely fan-made project, with team members from around the world. For those unfamiliar with the plot of the game, you're a normal high school boy, Hisao. Hisao finds out that he has a serious heart condition, and is enrolled in a special school for people with disabilities. Throw in the main girls who each have their own disabilities, and you can see where this is going.

Katawa Shoujo is available for the low price of free.

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T11:45:00.001-05:00

A Happy New Year to everyone, I hope you had a good holiday season. 2012 should be a fun year in the worlds of anime and gaming. Games like Mass Effect 3 and Katawa Shoujo are on the horizon.

Quick Series Review: Gunparade March

2011-12-22T17:50:00.004-05:00

Series Name: Gunparade March(ガンパレード・マーチ -新たなる行軍歌-)

Episodes: 12

Plot:
"During WW2 a strange new alien, the Genjuu (幻獣), appeared who's sole purpose is to kill off Humanity. Whenever they appear the Genjuu give off a strange odor that is acid to a human and killed off a lot of the warriors sent to fight it. Flash foward 50 years. Hayami Atsushi is a pilot of the 5121. The number of adults killed off in the war has forced the government to form the High School Defense force, where children of a certain age and skill are fostered in dorms to fight off the aliens. They use new mecha (HWTs) and special anti alien suits made by the Shibamura group. One day they get a new transfer student. A hot shot mecha pilot who seems to be made out of ice and is a pro at killing the Genjuu. She introduces herself as Mai Shibamura."

Gunparade March, originally a PS2 game, tells the story of Unit 5121. Unit 5121 fights monsters called "Genju", who release poisonous gas and threaten human life on appearing. The real strength of the show is when it highlights the soldiers who make up that unit, most still in high school. Aside from being based on a game and only being twelve episodes, Gunparade March has solid characterization. The series excels in an area that takes most series 26 episodes.

The early part of the series is where it shines. We're introduced to a newcomer, Mai Shibamura, who at first seems out-of-place in the unit. Battles are fought, and yes, people actually die. Not just side characters, but main characters the show spends time developing. Even with this promising start, the entire tone of the series changes after an episode where Hayami and Mai spend time together. After this episode, Nonomi's comedic interruptions become more frequent, and the series starts to change into an angst filled high school romance.

The battles and fights of the first half are all relegated to side stories as the focus is instead laid on Hayami and Mai. What follows is what happens when you have an incredibly shy guy and an incredibly stubborn girl. The romance itself is believable, and while it ends up working, is incredibly drawn out. Aside from this second half stalemate, the show is enjoyable if not for the cast of characters.

Series Score: 6 out of 10

Spooky Never Looked this Good: Tasogare Otome x Amnesia Gets an Anime

2011-12-22T17:21:00.002-05:00

According to the January issue of the magazine it runs in, Tasogare Otome x Amnesia will be getting a TV anime. The manga was a "Manga Pick of the Month" some time ago, and combines great art with an interesting premise.

The series will air next spring. SILVER LINK will be handling the animation. You can find the official site here.

Jormungand Gets an Anime

2011-12-17T06:41:00.001-05:00

A manga I've followed for a few years now, Jormungand, has been green-lit for a TV anime. Studio WHITE FOX, most known for Steins;Gate, will be animating. For fans of shows like Black Lagoon, this will be one to watch for.

Winter Anime Season

2011-12-02T16:51:00.001-05:00

While waiting for Skyrim to be patched, why not take a look at the shows airing this upcoming season? The Fall season has flown by, even with interesting shows like UN-GO airing. Here are some shows to keep an eye on.

Another - P.A. works is at the helm for this mystery novel adaptation. Tsutomu Mizushima(Blood C, Squid Girl) will direct.

Rinne no Lagrange - Animted by Xebec, a mecha show involving girls. Boobs and Aliens.

Amagami SS + The triumphant return of the fan favorite. While the original girls are returning, the new director has promised "anime original elements" for the second season.

Moretsu Pirates - Miniskirt Pirates. Yes, you heard that right. Girl becomes captain of her dad's pirate ship, animated by Satelight.

Ano Natsu de Matteru - J.C. Staff's new show from the creator and character designers of the Onegai franchise(Teacher and Twins).

Helplessly Stuck in the Thralls of Skyrim

2011-11-19T18:10:00.001-05:00

So just about a week has passed since Skyrim hit store shelves, and I'm helplessly addicted. I've logged too many hours into the game, and am still not that far into the main story. Elder Scrolls games always make me disregard the main quest for other, perhaps more trivial things. Forget about saving the world from Dragons, I have to go fetch 50 emeralds for this Aragonian.

The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim

2011-11-10T14:25:00.001-05:00

The day is almost here, the arrival of Skyrim. As someone who "came in late" to Oblivion, getting the Game Of The Year Version, this will be me first Elder Scrolls game at launch. With the main quest said to take 40-60 hours, coupled with tons of side quests and other things to do, I can picture myself playing this game for a long time. Couple that with the game's "Radiant A.I.", which will generate random assignments and quests for the player, presumably until the end of time, and you'll always have something to do.

With Skyrim coming out tomorrow and Assassin's Creed: Revelations coming out next Tuesday, it will be a good month of gaming.

New R.O.D Project in the Works!

2011-10-27T12:00:00.002-04:00

In a recent interview with Japanese magazine "SD Bunk's SuperDash & Go", a manga and light novel magazine, R.O.D light novel author Hideyuki Kurata dropped some hints about the return of Yomiko Readman. Kurata was asked about the R.O.D series, and mentioned that a new project was in the works.

As a huge R.O.D fan, this is good news. The original OVA was solid, and the TV series brought us The Paper Sisters. Hopefully they'll bring the core R.O.D team back, as they've shown what they can do with series like Kamichu.

Amagami SS Second Season Details Revealed

2011-10-18T19:56:00.002-04:00

Per the official Amagami website, more details about the recently announced second season have been released. Tomoki Kobayashi(Rozen Maiden, Utawarerumono) will take over directorial duties, with Noboru Kimura also getting promoted to series script editor. Everything else will carry over from the first season, including the character designs, voice actors and animation studio AIC.

There has been little detail of the plot of the second season, but newly minted director Tomoki Kobayashi has mentioned that the omnibus format will make a return. Compared to the first season, Kobayashi also stated that the new season will include more original story elements set during and after the first season of Amagami SS. One hopes that Hibiki will get more screentime, along with Rihoko getting a proper ending.

Mass Effect 3's Multiplayer Confirmed

2011-10-11T01:40:00.002-04:00

Bioware has officially shed light unveiled the multiplayer aspect of Mass Effect 3. The multiplayer will consist of four player co op, where players can take on the role of Turian's, Asari, or even Krogans. These missions will also count towards the games "Galaxy Readiness Percentage", and can help you in the single player part of the game. While this will raise a few eyebrows, Bioware has promised that that's optional.

Mass Effect 3 to Include Multiplayer?

2011-10-03T11:14:00.003-04:00

Paying homage to the song "It's A Small World", a bit of interesting Mass Effect 3 news comes to use from a South African magazine. In an advertisement for the Mass Effect 3 collectors edition, an "online multiplayer pass" is mentioned. There have been rumblings about multiplayer in Shepard's last installment before, but this time they seem to be gaining ground.

EuroGamer is also citing sources, saying that there will be co-op multiplayer, with some competitive aspects. This seems more like EA's idea than Bioware, as EA has made it a point to put multiplayer in all of their games. Personally, as long as the core game lives up to the hype, a little co-op would be a welcome edition.

Fall Anime Season

2011-09-21T16:41:00.001-04:00

The Fall 2011 season is shaping up to be an interesting one, even with the much maligned Gundam Age premiering. Fan favorite manga's get the anime treatment, and everyone's favorite Squid Girl is back for more. Here are some shows I'll keep an eye on.

Guilty Crown - Another Production I.G. show, talked about before on the blog. This will also air in the fabled noitaminA time-slot.

Fate/Zero - A prequel of sorts for Fate/Stay Night. Zero is adapted from the running manga, and features many familiar servants such as Saber and the gang. While I'm more of a Tsukihime fan, ufotable is handling the animation, making it worth a watch.

Last Exile: The Silver Wing - With all the financial trouble Gonzo has had, it makes sense to go back to one of their few "winners" The Silver Wing is a new story, set in the same Last Exile universe. I was a big fan of the original Last Exile, but like all Gonzo shows, we'll have to wait and see.

I'm sure others will creep up, but that's it for now. Other notable series are a Person 4 anime, Mirai Nikki, and the finale of Shana.

Battlefield 3: Operation Guillotine Trailer

2011-09-10T02:39:00.000-04:00

Well, I need a change of pants after watching that trailer. Battlefield 3 is shaping up to be the game to own for FPS fans this fall. The beta, much like Medal of Honor and Bad Company 2 had, is scheduled to start sometime this September.

Onegai Teacher/Twins Creator and Designer Working on New Anime

2011-08-29T17:19:00.000-04:00

Onegai Teacher/Twins creator Yosuke Kuroda and franchise character designer Taraku Uon are teaming up for a new show. "Ano Natsu de Matteru" will be an "adolescent romantic comedy" with two main girls vying for the main male lead's heart.

Carnival Phantasm

2011-08-23T15:48:00.001-04:00

Updating a earlier post, Type Moon's 10th Anniversary project, "Carnival Phantasm", has finally been released. Carnival Phantasm is based on Takenashi Eri's "Take Moon" manga. The OVA set up is an excuse to put most of Type Moon's characters in a giant carnival setup, culminating in turning Fate/Stay Night's "Holy Grail War" into an actual game show.

For fans of Type Moon, this is a great lighthearted OVA featuring your favorite characters.

Assassin's Creed Revelations Gamescom Gameplay

2011-08-18T17:30:00.006-04:00

Aside from the new trailer shown at Gamescon, this bit of video takes us through a whole mission as Ezio and Altair. While I was skeptical at first, the bomb crafting system looks solid, with many uses. Everything from your normal explosive bomb, to shrapnel that stops a guard from following you. With some more set pieces and playable Altair missions added, Assassin's Creed Revelations looks to be the best in the series.

With Revelations launching just four days after Skyrim, it'll be non-stop gaming that week.

Amagami SS Gets a Second Season!

2011-08-13T05:08:00.001-04:00

In a surprising bit of news from TBS's "Anime Festa" event, a second season of Amagami has been announced. The announcement came via the official Amagami support site's twitter.

Aside from the official announcement, little is known about the project. Will all new girls be featured, preferably Hibki and Maya? Will Junichi make a return or will we get saddled with an all new male lead?

The Fall of Aya Hirano

2011-08-06T14:32:00.004-04:00

Japanese otaku, especially those that idolize Seiyu, are a scary bunch. They expect their idols to stay "pure", and often throw hissy fits when they aren't. Perhaps it's the difference of cultures in that most fans of say, Hollywood movies, don't care too much about actors/actresses sex life. If their sex life is brought up, it's usually met with a "wow, that's hot" response. So when a high-profile Seiyu, who has recently been going through trouble in Japan, gets outed as sleeping with most of her band, the Haruhi's will roll. Add to the fact that Aya took pictures, and you see many fans ripping posters, refusing to watch Haruhi, and comparing her to a variety of domesticated animals.

She can still voice characters, sure, but crestfallen fans won't forgive her transgressions. However fair that might be, it's the double edged sword of being a popular Seiyu. Head over to Sankaku Complex to view the pictures.

Japanese Moe Comes to France: Ikoku Meiro no Croisée

2011-07-24T14:08:00.001-04:00

When it comes to shows featuring "cute girls doing cute things", I usually go elsewhere. With the exception of Kamichu, they're usually not my cup of tea. Of course Japan had to make a respectable show with an insanely cute main character. The show centers around Yune, a young Japanese girl who visits 19th century France. So sets in motion the culture shock, and cultural exchange between Yune, Claude, and Claude's Grandfather, Oscar.

Aside from some well done French atmosphere, Yune makes the show. Watching her fuddle around and learn provides that heart attack like cuteness you've come to expect from shows like this. Ikoku Meiro no Croisee also has a manga, if one dose of Yune isn't enough for you.

More Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex in the Works!

2011-07-10T15:48:00.000-04:00

While we've heard rumblings about a third season for the popular sci-fi show, it seems now we have some hard proof. A Gabriela Robin Site has a report from AnimeNEXT, where Production I.G key animator Satoru Nakamura and episode director Koudai Kakimoto were in attendance.

"As could be guessed there were many more questions about Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex than anything else. Nothing could be better than the second, and biggest, surprise of the event when Mr. Nakamura and Mr. Kakimoto leaned their heads together then unofficially announced more Stand Alone Complex is in the works."

This is good news for all fans of GITS SAC. While GITS SAC aired bi-monthly, one has to wonder what has taken Production I.G this long to add-on to their premier franchise.

Guilty Crown

2011-07-09T03:36:00.002-04:00

In the run up to the release of NCAA 12, I've had little free time. With such little time, "Guilty Crown" still caught my attention. This is mainly due to the staff involved in the project. Production I.G will handle the animation, with Hiroyuki Yoshino(Code Geass, My Hime, Gundam Seed) handling the composition. Tetsuro Araki(Death Note), will serve as the series director.

The basic plot for the series will be:

"After the outbreak of the unidentified virus "Lost Christmas" in 2029, Japan has been under the control of a multi-nation organization called GHQ. Ohma Shu is a 17 year old boy who has a psychic power in his right hand. He can use the power "Ability of King" to extract tools or weapons from his friends. He has been avoiding making trouble for others but his life changes when he meets a girl Yuzuriha Inori, a member of a resistance guerrilla group called "Undertaker", whose members pilot mecha weapons to fight against the government."

Guilty Crown looks to air this Fall.

The Original Mobile Suit Gundam Gets a Reboot!

2011-06-22T06:37:00.001-04:00

The August issue of Gundam Ace surprised many by announcing a reboot of the original Gundam franchise. The anime project will be based off of Yoshikazu Yasuhiko's "Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin" manga. According to ANN, the manga will end in the very same issue.

As a fan of all things Gundam, this is great news. While a "re-imagining" of the original series, it will certainly make up for any misgivings about Gundam Age. This will also open up Gundam to newer fans, many of those who were not around for the original 1979 airing.

New Gundam Announcement: Gundam Age

2011-06-16T14:18:00.000-04:00

Hot on the heels of the success of Gundam 00, "Gundam Age" has been announced. Gundam Age was co-designed by LEVEL-5 Inc., the studio behind the Professor Layton game series. Upon the release of the first promotional trailer for Gundam Age, criticism started to appear. Many don't like the age of the characters, and feel that this series will be a straight cash in.

To be fair, Gundam has always been a giant cash in, mainly for model kits and related toys. Still, I can't help but feel the criticism is justified, especially when this looks like it will be aimed at a younger audience.

E3 2011

2011-06-07T15:10:00.003-04:00

The last of the E3 2011 press conferences have ended, and now lucky fans are descending on the show floor. The conferences themselves were short on surprises, aside from Nintendo throwing everyone for a loop with the "Wii U". Apparently the Wii U can run current games like Battlefield 3, Ninja Gaiden 3, and Batman: Arkham City. The controller, while looking like it's a great piece of technology, looks too much like an Ipad. The other big announcement at Nintendo's press conference was a new Smash Bothers title, which will work on the 3DS and Wii U.

Stepping away from Nintendo, Microsoft ran to embrace motion gaming with its "Kinect". Over half of their conference was dedicated to the Kinect, with a Halo 4 reveal at the end. To be fair, the MS conference did have on stage demos of "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3", "Tomb Moan.. er Raider", and "Mass Effect 3". Microsoft also talked up some new 360 functionality, such as being able to watch TV... on your TV. All in all, Microsoft's conference felt really stale, even if the Star Wars kinect game looked kind of neat.

In a weird turn of events, EA seemingly had the best conference out of all. More Mass Effect 3 gameplay was shown, with Shepard doing face to face battle with a Reaper. From all the footage of Mass Effect 3 so far, the game is shaping up to be a fitting finale. Towards the end of EA's conference, Battlefield 3 was also shown. As to be expected of DICE, the game will give COD a run for its money. If they can fix the lag issues that plagued Medal of Honor in its multiplayer, it'll be a day one buy for me.

For me, E3 this year was more about the games themselves, rather than the companies. Games like Skyrim and Assassin's Creed: Revelations were also shown off, and look to complete an amazing year for gaming.

E3 Buzz Already Starting a Week Before

2011-06-03T06:28:00.006-04:00

The gaming news continues in the form of "pre-E3 buzz"! Two new trailers are out for the highly anticipated games Tomb Raider and Dark Souls.

The Tomb Raider trailer gives a peek into the rebooted world of Lara Croft. For those like myself who grew up with Lara on our PC's and PlayStation's, they're taking the character down an entirely different path. So far the game itself is looking pretty good, even if the trailers was mostly CGI.

On the other hand we have Dark Souls. Dark Souls is the spiritual successor to the cult game Demon's Souls, which came out for the PS3 only. The game has acquired a reputation for kicking your ass, and I can't wait for it to finally appear on the Xbox 360. The scale when it comes to certain boss fights shown in the trailer look amazing.

In other pre-E3 news, Konomai has put out info and pictures announcing the release of two HD collections for the Metal Gear Solid series and Zone of the Enders. This is great news for PS3 and Xbox 360 owners as both consoles will get both packs.

L.A. Noire: Completed

2011-05-23T06:38:00.000-04:00

It's finally time to hang up my detective hat, as I have finally completed L.A. Noire. The game itself is very cinematic, perhaps a little too much for some tastes. While the story desk to desk kept me interested, it often felt like I could botch every case, and the game would continue regardless.

It's hard to talk about the game itself, since giving the story away negates the reason for playing. It's a solid effort by Team Bondi, and an enjoyable game.

L.A. Noire

2011-05-16T08:58:00.002-04:00

It's always an exercise in patience when a high-profile game nears release date. Patience in avoiding ones usual stomping grounds for a few days, in case of wandering spoilers. With a game like L.A. Noire, a mostly story driven game, this is key. Still, the game itself looks great, and harkens back to films like L.A. Confidential and Chinatown.

The game itself uses the much hyped, "Motion Scan" technology. No more "lets hope everything is lip synched correctly" cut scenes, but real actors faces are imprinted into the character. While this can lead to uncanny valley, it supposedly(looking at reviews) makes the game even that more engaging. It's one of the few games that I'll actually be in line for the midnight release of.

Summer Anime Season

2011-05-02T15:04:00.001-04:00

While there are some solid shows this Spring, I just can't get interested in them. Hopefully things will change this summer, even if I'm turning into a big cynic. Here are some shows that I'm keeping an eye on.

Usagi Drop - A Production I.G animated show about a thirty something guy taking care of his dead grandfathers illegitimate daughter. Many tears will be had.

No. 6 - Bones is back, and this time the series is just a number. It looks to have some sci-fi elements.

Dantalian no Shoka - With Gainax's recent track record, why not follow this show? Guy inherits a mansion, with a demonic girl reading books in the basement? Worth a shot.

Kamisama Dolls - The picture used by Brain's Base is cute, but the plot summary makes this one sound interesting. Hopefully it's doesn't turn into Narutaru.

There are a couple of other shows that I didn't list, but we'll see when the time comes. Roberta's Blood Trail and Hellsing Ultimate will also be continuing.

Amagami: Let's Go Swimming and Hot For Teacher

2011-04-20T22:56:00.003-04:00

With the ending of Amagami SS, and the later release of the Miya OVA, one might think that Amagami is over. Well fret not, the game continues in the form bonus scenarios, from a monthly magazine, Tech Gian. Tech Gian is a magazine dedicated to ero games and visual novels, and usually includes a bonus disk of goodies each month. The May issue has two new Amagami routes.

Hibiki Tsukahara - The captain of the girls swimming team, and a big fan favorite(mine included).

Maya Takahashi - The homeroom teacher. Maya is the classic "attractive female teacher". She is a little older, but is single. Another fan favorite.

In the original game, you get shut down immediately if you went after Maya, in the form of her knocking you out for asking about your relationship. Hibki was pretty much Haruka's balance, and it's good to see her get a route.

Mass Effect Meets Anime

2011-04-07T12:00:00.005-04:00

According to ANN, EA has announced that an "anime feature film" of the popular Mass Effect video game series is in production. This will be a co-production between Funimation and T.O. Entertainment. The press release also revealed that the movie itself is already being worked on. When it comes to turning video games into anime, there is some precedent. Microsoft had tried the very same thing with its Halo franchise, which led to mixed results.

As a Mass Effect and anime fan, this is good news. My expectations aren't too high, due to it being an anime adaptation of a western video game. Still, it will be fun to see Garrus, Tali, and the gang animated.

Teletha Testarossa's Message to Earthquake and Tsunami Victims

2011-03-23T21:40:00.002-04:00

ANN has an interesting piece on voice actress Yukina and her way of trying to helping the victims of the March 11th earthquake and tsunami. Fans of Full Metal Panic will recognize Yukina as the voice of the soft-spoken, but loveable, Teletha "Tessa" Testarossa. It's in this character that she has recorded a message to spur on Quake victims.

The recorded message came about when Yukina saw that novel illustrator, Shikidouji, had drawn Tessa as well as other Full Metal Panic characters to encourage Earthquake victims. The two then got in contact with series creator Shoji Gatoh, who in turn penned Tessa's message.

"Everyone, can you hear me?

This is the Captain of the Tuatha De Danaan, Teletha Testarossa.

To the victims of the recent disaster and to their families, as the representative of a ship, I offer my condolences.

The situation is tough, I firmly believe that everyone can somehow overcome this crisis and recover the peaceful times once again.

That is because everyone… uwah!!!

I’m sorry! I dropped my mike and tripped when I tried to pick it up…

Er… I’m alright, I only hit my bottom…

At any rate, don’t give in to anxiety and don’t ever give up!

Everyone is rooting for you, of course, me included.

I’m praying for your good fortune.

That is all.

Transmission over."

Torchlight

2011-03-14T18:58:00.002-04:00

It's unusual for a PC game to get a console port, even more so when that game is a "Diablo clone". Certain genres just do not fit well on consoles, mainly dungeon crawlers and RTS games. Even with this obstacle, Runic games has made Torchlight a satisfying, easy to play console port. Torchlight itself is a pure dungeon crawler, with a loose story to tie most of the game together. The real goal is to find better and better loot.

The game has been a time sink for me, even with the steep asking price of 1200 MS points. Sure the game has been out on the PC for a while now, and some will prefer it their, but Torchlight is a great XBLA title.

Major Earthquake and Tsunami Strike Japan

2011-03-11T13:24:00.001-05:00

"The biggest earthquake to hit Japan since records began struck the Pacific coast of the country's northeast. Tsunami waves are hitting a wide-ranging area from Hokkaido in the north to Okinawa in the south.

Japan's Meteorological Agency says the quake struck at 2:46 PM with a magnitude of 8.8.

A tsunami surging higher than 7.3 meters struck Fukushima Prefecture. Tsunami waves higher than 4 meters were observed in other districts of northeastern Japan."

NHK. Thoughts and prayers are with the Japanese. It's times like these where anime, games, and all other frivolous hobbies drop by the wayside. Keep safe.

Spring Anime Season

2011-03-09T12:35:00.003-05:00

Compared to the lackluster Winter season, the Spring season is looking promising. With not just normal TV series, but OVA's and theatrical films as well. Here are some of the shows that I'm keeping an eye on.

Ao No Exorcist - A series being animated by A1 pictures. The manga was interesting, so the anime is worth a look.

Deadman Wonderland - Another series with an interesting manga. This adaptation is being animated by Manglobe, so it's definitely one to watch.

Steins;Gate - Being animated by "White Fox", this 360 game adaptation is the show I'm looking forward to the most this season.

It may not seem like a lot at face value, but with several "maybe" shows, and the Asobi OVA, it will be a busy season.

Pining for the Days of Tenchi Muyo

2011-03-05T16:37:00.001-05:00

Maybe it's a product of the time I got into anime, but I still have a soft spot for the original Tenchi OVA's. Sure I'm probably looking through "nostalgia goggles", or even "rose-colored glasses", but I don't care. Returning to the show after years of not giving it a second thought was like experiencing it anew. With Blu Ray visuals leading the way, the warm cel animation of the original OVA's really shined through. From Ryoko's playfulness, to Sasami's cuteness, it was like a flood memories of a simpler time rushing back.

I came back to a time where I wasn't the jaded fan I'm today, but more of an optimist. The usual cliché ridden harem was something new to me, and not a thorn in my side. Some might be put off by the OVA's age, but to me it lends more to its charm. So while you're watching new shows like Madoka or Infinite Stratos, take some time to respect your elders. Who knows, you might even rediscover that show that catapulted you into anime fandom.

Aquarion is Back With "Aquarion Evol"!

2011-02-27T05:52:00.000-05:00

A series that had seemingly run its course with two season and a movie has it made its way back to the small screen. According to ANN Aquarion will be getting a whole new season! Shoji Kawamori and Satelight will return as the original director and animation studio. The announcement appeared in a teaser accompanying the second Macross Frontier film.

Aquarion's biggest draw for me was the Yoko Kanno music, and outside of that the show was largely forgettable. Hopefully we'll get an opening on the level of Akino's "Sousei no Aquarion".

Quick Review: Welcome to the Space Show

2011-02-17T22:29:00.005-05:00

Movie Name: Welcome to the Space Show(宇宙ショーへようこそ Welcome to THE SPACE SHOW)

Length: 2 hours and 16 minutes

Plot: " Five children save the life of a dog-like alien while at a self-run summer camp. He attempts to reward them by taking them to an alien colony on the Moon. Events take a turn for the worse when his report on that attack that injured him causes passage from the Moon to the Earth to be banned, and children are stranded in space. The children need to find a way back home before camp ends and their parents discover that they are missing. They also have to avoid the poachers that injured their alien friend, and now seem to be stalking them all."

When a new project from the minds of Koji Masunari, Masashi Ishihama, and Tomonori Ochikoshi gets announced, the team behind favorites such as Kamichu and R.O.D TV, it's worth taking note. The Space Show, while a little long in the tooth, is probably one of the most visually diverse movies I have seen this side of Miyazaki. Much like Kamichu, the backgrounds of the environment on Earth are wallpaper worthy on their own. With that said, the film really hits its stride when the main cast of children finally reach space. Here they meet many characters, visit many places and planets, all while feeling as down home and tangible as their time on Earth.

There are so few "standalone" anime movies that make you feel like you just sat through an entire twenty-six episode TV series in two hours. The Space Show accomplishes that, and makes you want to come back for seconds. Usually it's a telling sign for myself when a movie ends, and I feel disappointed not at the movie itself, but at the fact that there isn't more of it. The review itself is short on plot specifics due to the rambling nature of the movie, which is more of a feast for the eyes at times instead of forced drama.

With a likable cast of core characters, including a "dog" everyone will want in Pochi, I highly recommend this movie. Come for the eye candy, stay for the slew of interesting characters, places, and detail put into this movie.

Movie Score: 9 out of 10 (TSO Choice)

Monster: The Reason we Watch Anime

2011-02-09T05:28:00.002-05:00

When it comes to anime, very few titles grab you, and don't let go. Titles which represent equal parts suspense, action, comedy, and even fear itself are rare in their own right. In comes Naoki Urasawa and his creation, "Monster". Monster is a long running series of seventy-four episodes, with a couple recap specials thrown in. For those still on the fence, here is a basic plot summary.

"Anime series based on the famous "Monster" manga by Naoki Urasawa.

Dr. Kenzo Tenma is a very talented Japanese doctor and he's praised
by all doctors in Germany. But after he saw how a woman cried for her
man who died because someone else got more priority, he changed. He
decides he wouldn't let anyone pass; everyone is equal.

But one day, Tenma has to work on a little boy who was shot during
the murder of his parents. He decides he will save the life of the boy,
because he was first in line.

But then, the children disappear .. and the murders begin. Tenma,
feeling both guilt and worry, goes off to investigate the case since he
feels that it somehow relates to him ... and the horror begins, for both
Tenma and everyone he meets in search for the children..."

What are you waiting for, marathon it now!

Last Exile is Returning!

2011-02-02T06:14:00.001-05:00

In an effort to make itself relevant again, Gonzo seems set on rehashing some of their more popular works. Incurring the wrath and praise of Japanese fans alike, the new Last Exile project came to light from Tokyo International Anime Fair's exhibitors listing. Gonzo, one of the few companies that has stayed with the expo in the wake of the well publicized effort to tone down anime, seems unswayed.

Not much is known about the new show itself, other than Gonzo promising a "new story, new characters, and new character designs". What was wrong with Range Murata?

Stacking: Time to get Quirky!

2011-02-01T18:52:00.002-05:00

With the winter anime slowly chugging along, my eyes have turned back towards gaming. I usually stay away from XBLA games, in the sense that I tend to put money away for the usual, fully featured games. With that said, Stacking, by Double Fine really has me interested. Some might remember Double Fine from their days doing Psychonauhts on the original Xbox. They have been busy as of late, even putting out another quirky title, Costume Quest, to the XBLA.

Stacking will arrive on February 8th, for 1200 MS points.

Japan to US Fans: "No More Fractale Simulcast"

2011-01-23T14:37:00.006-05:00

So, aside from a lackluster anime season, I was getting into Fractle. With that said, Japan has seemingly taken notice of the fansubs of the show, and stated that Fractle will be not be streamed in North America until Funimation stops said fansubs. With the R1 industry being the way it's now, that's an awesome task for Funimation to pull off.

What's even more confusing is that Fractale's French simulcast is still up. Sadly, the Japanese production committee can basically pull the playground game of "I'm taking my ball and going home!".

"The Bubble has Burst"

2011-01-19T07:41:00.002-05:00

According to an article on Asahi, even seasoned creators like Yutaka Yamamoto are starting to take notice that the anime industry has taken a down turn in Japan. Yamaoto's new show is Fractale, a "Ghibli spirited" show that has high production values. Speaking of those production values, it's no secret that most shows get outsourced to the likes of South Korea or China. Check the credits for your favorite show and you'll most likely see Korean animators listed. What is new, sadly, is that it's starting to look like the Japanese anime industry can't meet its personnel requirements.

Any seasoned anime fan can tell you that Japanese animators get paid horrible wages, and are usually made to work impossible hours. The constant emerging theme from these types of articles seems to be what Yamamoto mentions himself:

"Part of the reason, Yamamoto said, is that producers, including himself, devoted too much of their energies in creating cutesy "moe" (budding)type characters in hopes of making sure-sell products in an already small market."

Instead of looking at an idea for a show, turning to your staff, and going "Wow, we could make an amazing show!", it has turned into "How can we make this so it exploits an ever shrinking fanbase?".

The Curious Case of the 2011 Winter Anime Season

2011-01-11T04:29:00.001-05:00

This anime season, apart from the newly released Trigun movie pictured above, is horrible. Sure that's a blanket statement coming from a jaded fan, but the only that somewhat piques my interest is Fractale. The other shows feel too cookie cutter, and not something that I'd want to spend the time following each week. Who knows, maybe something will still surprise me from this season. Sadly, I don't think that will be the case like the past couple of seasons.

One can look ahead to the Spring 2011 season, can't they?

When Real Locations Meet Anime

2011-01-04T12:10:00.001-05:00

It would be naive to think that all locations seen in anime are instantly made up by a half baked staff, and thankfully a dutiful Japanese blogger has proven just that. Like anything, animators are a product of their environment. So it piqued my curiosity when a dutiful Japanese blogger took the time to take comparison shots from various areas around Onomichi, Japan. As a fan of Kamichu, it's an interesting footnote on a great show. Just watch out for three middle school girls wandering around the city.

Album of the Month

2011-01-03T10:16:00.002-05:00

So, the little experiment that was "Album of the Month" has come to an end. Not so much because I didn't have the music, but more so due to the lack of interest. Oh well, off to find another gimmick!

Quick Review: Trigun: The Movie

2011-01-01T18:55:00.005-05:00

Movie Name: Trigun: Badlands Rumble(劇場版TRIGUN(トライガン) -Badlands Rumble-)

Length : 1 hour and 30 minutes

Plot: "The story is set in Macca, a town surrounded by quicksand. With rumours spreading that the legendary robber Gasback has his sights set on the town, the mayor Kepler has brought together bounty hunters to protect the town. These bounty hunters have been following Gasback from town to town in hopes of bagging the prize. Meryl and Milly have come to town to assess the situation as insurance agents, but are shocked by this turn of events. Moreover, Vash the Stampede is also in town, along with the female bounty hunter Ameria and Nicholas D. Wolfwood."

For every anime fan, there is a show, or shows, that they will always hold dear. This could be because it was the first anime they saw, it was their "gateway" anime, or that the series made a unique impression upon them. For me, one of the first series I watched DVD to DVD was Trigun. Decades old now, Trigun was only eclipsed by Cowboy Bebop back in the days of Toonami. Although unlike Bebop, Trigun seemed to lack the staying power and interest level that Spike and the gang commanded.

So imagine my surprise when it turned out that my first anime viewing of 2011 would be an old friend from years past. For those who've seen the original series, you'll be right at home with the movie. It's like coming back to your hometown after years away and finding your favorite local burger joint still open. The movie itself plays out like an extended episode, with a good part of the beginning being dedicated to back story. Vash is still enjoyable as always, and fan favorite Wolfwood is also a focal point.

Along with the normal cast of characters, we get the new character "Amelia". The best parts of the movie are the scenes where Vash tries to cozy up to a chilly Amelia in town. For fans of Trigun, or those who haven't had the pleasure, the movie is a great way to spend an evening. Highly recommended for fellow Trigun fans.

Movie Score: 8 out of 10

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-25T08:57:00.001-05:00

A Merry Christmas to all followers, readers, and random passerby! Sure you're probably counting your gifts, trying to get that new gadget to work, or booting up your new game, but remember the reason for the season. Spend time with your family/bros, and have a good time.

You don't get many moments like these, so enjoy everyone.

Quick Series Review: Amagami SS

2010-12-14T18:23:00.005-05:00

Series Name: Amagami SS(アマガミSS)

Episodes: 24 + 2(DVD only OVA for Maya Tachibana and Risa Kamizaki)

Plot: "
Tachibana Jun'ichi, a 2nd year high school student, always feels depressed around Christmas time due to a certain experience. Due to his fear of opening his heart to love, his school life is rather lonely.
One day, Tachibana asks himself if he is really satisfied with ending his high school life thus? Setting aside his fears, Tachibana determines that he will spend the coming Christmas with a girl.
Thus resolved, he goes on to meet many girls. In the end, what will Christmas hold for Tachibana?"

Amagami is a take on the PS2 game of the same name, animated by AIC. The popular PC game might look familiar as it has ties to Kimikiss in the original character designer/artist and the parent company Enterbrain. Those expecting a happy harem anime will have to look elsewhere in that the show uses an "omi-bus" format. This basically means that each girl gets her own four episode arc, which starts from their first meeting all the way up until mutual confession. Tachibana, our main character, is likable enough that even though he gets "reset" with each arc, you want to see how he handles each girl and the situations they throw him in. To compliment each differing situation, the girls themselves have varying personalities and attitudes.

Haruka - Playful older school idol
Ai - Stoic swim club member
Sae - Incredibly shy friend of Tachibana's sister
Kaoru - Tomboyish best friend
Rihoko - Slightly pudgy childhood friend
Tsukasa - Slightly "off" class rep

The girl's stories are well done and you'll soon be cheering on your favorite of the bunch. Sadly there is one girl who seemingly gets left out in the cold compared to the others in the ending department, but that's only a minor downside. If anything the show will spoil you in that a complete romance is swiftly finished in four short episodes.

Series Score: 8 out of 10

Attack of the Killer Pricing: How Far the R1 Industry Has Come

2010-12-14T13:54:00.002-05:00

Ah Japan, why do you tease me so? For those that don't follow the R1 scene that closely anymore, Kara No Kyoukai, the movie series animated by ufotable based on a Type Moon work, has been licensed by Aniplex. Normally this is good news, ad KnK is a great movie series with above average animation and music. That's until you see the price for this eight disc Blu Ray set, 400 dollars. Sure I guess I've been spoiled by the slew of cheap box sets, Blu Ray and DVD included, but even with the lavish R2 extras the price seems a bit high.

Here is the list of extras straight from the Aniplex site:

"SPECIAL PACKAGING

* Deluxe Visual Chronicle Book: Staff interviews, ALL key visuals, illustrations from each movie, artwork for DVD packages
* Exclusive for the North American release: a separate booklet of just English translations of the Japanese text from the Deluxe Visual Chronicle Book!
* New cover art exclusively drawn by Co-creator/Artist TAKASHI TAKEUCHI, who envisioned the series’ original character concepts and designs."

The book alone would be worth a hefty price if sold separately, but the cheapskate in me is still squeamish. Sure for Japanese fans this sort of price level is an everyday occurrence, but for most US fans that complained back in the Geneon/ADV/Funi/Bandai days about 100 dollar box sets, it isn't going to fly. Couple that with the ease of online distribution and viewing compared to those days, along with fansubing, and the only buyers will be the hardcore of the hardcore. Here at TSO we love Type Moon, but even I have to take a step back from telling people to support the industry when the price is the same as a 32" 1080p HD TV.

Anime and Manga Regulation Bill Set to Pass Committee

2010-12-12T12:58:00.003-05:00

While the anime and manga industry has survived these types of scares before, it looks like a bill is finally going to be passed, attempting to "regulate" the industry. ANN lists the bill as:

"The current ordinance already prevents the sale and renting of "harmful publications" — materials that are "sexually stimulating, encourages cruelty, and/or may compel suicide or criminal behavior" to people under the age of 18. Bill 156 would require the industry to also regulate "manga, anime, and other images (except for real-life photography)" that "unjustifiably glorify or exaggerate" certain sexual or pseudo sexual acts. Another section of the revised bill would allow the government to directly regulate the above images if the depicted acts are also "considered to be excessively disrupting of social order" such as rape."

Unlike the proposed video game laws pushed here in the United States, the industry is already flinching according to mangaka Takaku Shoko. She states on her official Twitter that her newest manga had been turned down by a major publisher due to one of her characters sporting a high school uniform. You can look forward to the industry neutering itself if this bill passes as suggested and becomes law.

In fairness, certain publishers and mangaka have already voiced their opposition to the new law. Ten publishers, including the juggernaut that is Kadokawa, have stated that they're boycotting next years Tokyo Anime Fair. Shintaro Ishihara, the current governor of Tokyo, is probably the most hated man among otaku and publishers alike now. Ishihara and his base of moral fundamentalists are pushing the industry to the edge of a steep cliff.

Hopefully the industry has learned from the Road Runner and lets Wile E. Coyote run off the cliff by himself.

Mass Effect 3 Announced with Trailer!

2010-12-11T22:17:00.004-05:00

In the midst of Spike's god awful "VGA Awards", the trailer for perhaps my most anticipated game of next year debuted. That's right Mass Effect fans, Mass Effect 3 has its first official trailer. The Reapers have arrived from dark space and are turning London, and presumably the Earth into Swiss cheese.

Humans are seeing what other races have before their end, including the Protheans. The trailer is amazing, but you're going to have to wait until this time next year...

Winter Anime Season

2010-12-10T09:00:00.001-05:00

A new season and new year is upon us, with a so so choice of shows to follow. I'm sure you'll have some quality shows, but the only things I'm interested are:

-Fractale

-Infinite Stratos

More Type Moon News!

2010-12-07T14:34:00.001-05:00

It has turned into a busy ending to the year for Type Moon fans, with yet another new project in the works. ANN is reporting that the next issue of the popular anime magazine Newtype will carry a major announcement about a new Type Moon/Newtype/ufotable collaboration. This is a different project from the aforementioned "Take Moon" manga series getting animated.

As a fan of most Type Moon works, it piqued my interest that ufotable would be included, as they handled the Kara no Kyoukai set of movies. It's a Tsukihime fans wet dream if ufotable could pull the same thing off with the beloved visual novel.

The Battle Over Moe

2010-12-04T23:22:00.004-05:00

A rift appearing among not just anime fans, but among the creators themselves. The crux of the debate is around around the "moe" archetype, one common in recent years. The most prevalent examples listed are shows like K ON! and Lucky Star, with the focus more being on "cute girls doing cute things", rather than a traditional story. The word "moe" itself is a rather ambiguous term, as the real meaning of "moe" is "to bud or sprout". Most take the word "moe" to mean something cute, or something where the viewer wants to protect the character, or even take them home.

When it comes to meaning of "moe", I tend to agree with the second one, the "protection" feeling. Like the picture posted in this post from Index, it's an emotional response to a usually younger character. Now I'm the last person to try to push my viewing habits or tastes on others, but it seems that a few Japanese creators are sounding off on the "moe" thing. For example, an older post on this blog takes quotes from Dai Sato, saying that he can't create what he wants to due to the "moe" movement. Now I doubt that if he had a really good idea, someone wouldn't put down the money, but I think what he is referring to is more sales driven. Just this year we have seen the traditional powerhouse of an animation studio, Madhouse begin looking into possible bankruptcy.

Album of the Month

2010-12-02T19:17:00.002-05:00

This month's "Album of the Month" comes from a favorite of mine, Gankutsuou, also known as "The Count of Monte Cristo". Aside from me being a big fan of the story itself, the anime took it to another level with the great score and visuals. When you're adapting a period piece of a novel with a space age twist, you do have to work in some hard guitar and electronica. Aside from Jean Jacques Burnel's great opening and ending pieces(We Were Lovers gave me chills the first time I heard it actually used in the story), Koji Kasamatsu and Reiji Kitazato take care of the rest of the music.

Track of Note: 15 - mercedes (Nagisa nite)

Aside from the opening "We Were Lovers", I love the soft vocals in this track, "Mercedes". It brings out this soft side of the show, mainly the ruined relationship between The Count and Mercedes. It's beautiful, yet sad in a way.

Link: Gankutsuou

"Take Moon" From Type Moon Gets an Anime!

2010-11-24T11:35:00.001-05:00

ANN is reporting that an anime has been green lit of Eri Takenashi's(Kanagi)anthologies of Type-Moon short stories! As a huge fan of anything Type Moon, this is great news. Seiji Kishi(Angel Beats) will direct.

A Pleasent Surprise: Otome Youkai Zakuro

2010-11-17T09:54:00.005-05:00

When it comes to the start of a new anime season, I tend to lean more towards the shows that I haven't heard about, rather than the ones I've read up on. Why is this?, well that's where you find diamonds in the rough, or end up following a show you knew nothing about. With this season, enter Otome Youkai Zakuro.

Zakuro tells the story of:

"It is the Meiji Era in a slightly alternate Japan, and the Gregorian calendar has just come into effect. The fox-eared girls living in the youkai part of town are about to be put to work together with a delegation of young human soldiers, to promote interracial understanding. So what will happen when Zakuro's strong personality collides with human sensibilities?"

Basically spirits like Zakuro are not welcome by most "normal humans", and you can guess that relationships develop between the three soldiers and their partners. The show,animated by JC Staff, has a female director in Chiaki Kon. Zakuro is definitely worth a watch this season, and followed up by a running manga.

Album of the Month

2010-11-06T18:53:00.001-04:00

This month's "Album of the Month" comes from a fan favorite, FLCL. Aside from its experimental nature for Gainax at the time of its release, FLCL has spawned three soundtracks. For most fans, including myself, FLCL introduced us to the Japanese rock band, "The Pillows". The Pillows highlight all three soundtracks, with songs such as "Ride on Shooting Star" and "Hybrid Rainbow". The rest of the soundtrack relies heavily on The Pillows as well as the use of rock melodies.

Track of Note: 16 - Beautiful Morning With You (Off Vocal Version)

Aside from the vocal tracks mentioned above, I love the guitar rift in Beautiful Morning With You. Even with FLCL coming out in 2000-2001, the track still gets my foot tapping on the opening rift.

Link: FLCL

Call Of Duty: Black Ops

2010-11-06T18:08:00.000-04:00

Well, after months of waiting, the new Call Of Duty game is but a weekend away from hitting retail shelves. I'll probably hit the midnight launch as I did with MW2, braving the mass of fellow gamers. Much like MW2, I can see myself putting tons of time into Black Ops, especially with the promise of no game ending killstreaks, and better competitiveness.

Black Ops comes out on November 9th in the US.

Full Metal Panic Light Novel Run Ends

2010-10-26T11:58:00.007-04:00

While some Full Metal Panic fans might think the series ended with "The Second Raid" TV series, there has been a long series of light novels continuing the main story. The latest title, "Always, Stand By Me", has recently put a bow on the main story of Full Metal Panic. Like Fumoffu was to the original TV series, there will be other side stories coming in the future. Still, as a FMP fan, it's a let down to know that these novels will never be animated, or at best take years. Below the jump will be spoilers about the ending of the novel, so tread lightly if you want to read it yourself.

Above are two pictures from the second part of the last novel, translated by the dedicated "MisterV". As a fan of the Sousuke x Kaname pairing, I was very happy to see that they finally got together at the end. The whole bit about them meeting each other again before graduation, and kissing in front of everyone was great. Even while teasing fans for most of the series, saving the pairing conformation till the end of the story worked well. While fans of Tessa will probably not be too happy, I can't wait for twenty years down the line when the novel is finally animated on holodisk by KyoAni.

Watch Mori Draw.. Again!

2010-10-16T07:45:00.001-04:00

Gigazine has an amazing writeup, with video, of Kaoru Mori drawing the main character from her newest work, Otoyomegatari. Of course It wasn't just Mori, a host of Mangaka from the bimonthly manga anthology "Fellows!" were present also. Otoyomegatari now runs in Fellows, where aside from the other manga series, the mangaka take turns drawing the cover story for each volume. The occasion for the meet up was to complete a giant poster that would be used in Machi*Asobi Vol. 4, an anime related event held in Tokushima, Japan.

Even if you only check the story out for Mori, it's worth it to read and watch the other Mangaka work.

Fall Season Guide: What I'm Following

2010-10-11T15:33:00.005-04:00

When it comes to recommendations and telling people what to watch, I tend to let me personal interests get the best of me. While I might like a show for its art style, or even simply for its music, others might not even give it a second thought. So instead of telling other what to watch, I'm simply going to list the shows I'm following for each season.

Anime: Star Driver

Studio: Bones
Plot: "In Southern Japan, there lies the verdant Minamijuuji Island.

One night, a youth by the name of Tsunashi Takuto arrives on one of the island's beaches. This youth, who had swam to the island from the mainland, subsequently enters Minamijuuji Academy's High School Division. Possessing a positive and forward-looking attitude, he easily develops relationships with Agemaki Wako, Shindou Sugata, and various other people he meets at the Academy.

However, Minamijuuji Academy hides a big secret. Beneath it, 20 humanoid constructs lie dormant.
In this land that lies under a blue sky and surrounded by blue seas, a story of love, dreams and friendship begins."

Reasons for following: The animation and music. The show is a little "fabulous" at times, if you catch my drift, but it's a well put together package by BONES. There is a variety of characters, and things l
ike kissing, sex, and "engagements" are nonchalantly shown right away, avoiding the typical male lead syndrome. Incredibly colorful, the show bears watching as one of the best of the season.

Anime: Hyakka Ryouran Samurai Girls

Studio: ARMS

Plot: "The era is Heisei 20+ in the reign of the 25th Tokugawa Shogun, Keikou. In the Christian calendar, it’s a bit past 2000 in the Empire of Japan.

In the skirts of the Sacred Mount Fuji, there’s an enormous school built in a vast area. Its name is Buou Private Academy. All students are children of samurai and while encouraged to study, they spend their days preparing themselves in battles that sometimes put their life in risk.

A peaceful school at first glance, but even there a shadow of turbulence draws near: the rebellious underground activities of discontents that oppose the Tokugawa clan that rules the school. Against the dissident students, the student council executive committee formed the Toyotomi Faction and began their suppression. Now with the Toyotomi Hunting as it became known, the tyranny of the student council escalated further.

The high school student Yagyuu Muneakira who attends the Buou Private Academy and is also the assistant instructor of fencing at the Yagyuu Dojo, while a servant to the Tokunaga family, he was opposed to the excessive oppression of the Toyotomi Hunting. And before Muneakira appeared several girls carrying the names of the ancient swordsmen and generals. Is that the beginning of a commotion that will shake the History or is it—?"

Reasons for following: The fanservice, animation style, and music. This show is another one Hobby Japan's babies, much like Queen's Blade was last season. The show itself has a likable male samurai lead, along with plenty of female cast members. Queen's Blade had an all female cast except for a the kid, so it will be interesting to see how many tits get thrown at the main character. The female character designs are nice, with your typical archetypes(loli, glass girls, stoic girl, etc.). It airs censored but hopefully AT-X will broadcast it uncensored.

Anime: Otome Yokai Zakuro

Studio: J.C. Staff

Plot: "It is the Meiji Era in a slightly alternate Japan, and the Gregorian calendar has just come into effect. The fox-eared girls living in the youkai part of town are about to be put to work together with a delegation of young human soldiers, to promote interracial understanding. So what will happen when Zakuro's strong personality collides with human sensibilities?"

Reasons for following: The animation style, "Soft" character designs". This was a show that caught me completely by surprise. I didn't even have it marked as something to check out in the run up to this season. I was pleasantly surprised when the show had that "Honey & Clover" warmth to the settings and characters, if that makes any sense. The main "Fox girl" is of course going to play hard to get, with my favorite character currently being the Fox girl partnered up with the tall guy. Excuse my ignorance of names right now, as I'm just getting into the show. The story seems interesting enough, coupled with a large cast of characters. Who knew pumpkin headed kids could be that cute?

Anime: Super Robot Taisen OG: The Inspector

Studio: Asahi Productions

Plot: "The story takes place half a year after the end of Divine Wars which had Earth's government facing off against the rebel Divine Crusaders and alien Aerogators.

As the struggle continues against Divine Crusader remnants, a new alien menace draws near."

Reasons for following: The mecha and female character designs. Yeah, call me shallow, but there are two things we love here at the TSO, Mecha and atractive "older female character" designs. This show has both, and is a big guilty pleasure for me this season. The Super Robot Wars franchise has spanned consoles, handhelds, manga, and even different anime series. The story will most likely fly over your head since you ened to have prior knowledge of the series, but this doesn't stop me from enjoying the show. I'm starting to sound like a broken record, but with a large cast of male and female characters, there is something for everyone. The ending is also a giant tease, couple with swimsuits, bust shots, and..

Well, you get the picture.

There are other popular shows that just don't seem to interest me, ie: Panty and Stocking, Squid Girl, and a couple others. These are the show that I'll probably keep up until they finish airing.

Album of the Month

2010-10-04T17:44:00.001-04:00

This month's "Album of the Month" comes from a favorite of mine, Victorian Romance Emma. Emma only received two soundtracks, one for each season. With Emma being set in Victorian England, you can already expect the "Pride & Prejudice" tone and style of the music. The album is put together by Kunihiko Ryo, who has a colorful personal history himself. Even with the heavy piano opening, the album features everything form acoustic guitars to harpsichords, making it a great, relaxing listen.

Track of Note: 05 - Menuet for Emma

I was close to picking the opening track, Silhouette of a Breeze, but "Menuet for Emma" made the cut. Who knew a take on a French dance, set in Victorian England, by a Japanese composer would give you Emma's personality in a theme.

Link: Victorian Romance Emma

Quick Series Review: Asobi ni Iku yo!

2010-09-29T04:09:00.007-04:00

Series Name: Asobi ni Iku yo!(あそびにいくヨ!)

Episodes: 12 + 1(DVD only OVA)

Plot: "The story revolves around Kakazu Kio, an ordinary high school freshman living in Okinawa. A girl with cat ears appears before him during a memorial service for one of his family ancestors. The girl calls herself Eris and claims she is an alien. Before long, fanatical alien worshippers and a mysterious government agency are in hot pursuit of Eris, but Kio's childhood friend Manami — who wants to follow in her father's footsteps in the CIA — captures Eris. Kio finds himself having to protect Eris from everyone."

The show plays out as the plot summary says, at least for the most part. I came into the series not knowing what to expect outside of the "healthy" character designs, and was pleasantly surprised. This isn't going to stimulate intellectual conversion like GITS SAC might, but Asobi carries its over the top narrative well. The characters themselves are pretty likable, with even the enemies having fun personalities. With plenty of references, helpings of fanservice at times, and Eris being that adorable, I'd recommend it as a guilty pleasure. Be warned though, Kio does have "Oblivious Main Male Harem Lead Character Syndrome". If you want an air tight ending with resolved love interests, you will be sorely disappointed.

Other then the wide open harem ending, the show knows what it's and doesn't take itself too seriously.

Series Score: 6 out of 10

Cat Shit One to Receive English Dub!

2010-09-29T03:25:00.002-04:00

Good news for all of you hardcore military bunny fans! According to ANN, an English dub for the hit CG animated show is finished! The dubbed version of the show will be broadcast freely online.

The series itself was planned for a twelve episode run, but at the moment, only one episode is available.

Choo Choo!, Here Comes The Claptrap Train!

2010-09-24T04:42:00.003-04:00

Just when you though it was safe to sell Borderlands back to Gamestop, a new DLC appears on the horizon. "Claptrap's Robot Revolution" releases on this upcoming Tuesday, the 28th of September, for 800MS points. The DLC takes place after the end of the original Borderlands game, with the main antagonist being the "Interplanetary Ninja Assassin Claptrap", shown after beating the anticlimactic Vault Monster. Gearbox promises many differently themed Claptraps to blow up, as well as six new locations to shoot through. If the updated achievement list is any indication, I'll have fun collecting Claptrap bobbleheads and panties come Tuesday.

Fall Anime Season

2010-09-20T17:44:00.002-04:00

Lots of high-profile shows this fall, with Seredemo leading the pack as one to check out.

Album of the Month

2010-09-16T16:29:00.004-04:00

The first of many albums put up during this new feature is the original soundtrack to the first season of Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei. The wacky show has one of the better anime soundtracks, with unique and catchy opening/ending themes mixed with foot tapping "in series" music. Tomoki Hasegawa leads the charge here, as well as handling the music on Sensei's sequels. Overall the soundtrack is a fun listen, if only for the little jingles that will make you instantly recall humorous scenes from the series.

Track of Note:

05 - Momoiro Gabriel

Upon first watching the show, this little piece of music instantly jumped out at me. It's a warm, yet sad sounding orchestra bit that grows on you when left on loop.

Link: Sayonara Sensei

New Feature: Album of the Month!

2010-09-16T15:39:00.002-04:00

There will be a new feature starting today, this sixteenth of September here at TSO, "Album of the Month". Followers of the blog know that I used to put up a monthly manga, something that I found interesting enough to check out. Unfortunately with the crackdown on manga, manga hosting and sharing sites by the parent Japanese companies and the US publishers, that feature has pretty much been rendered useless. So what better way to make use of my extensive music collection then share it with visitors?

The albums will either be video game or anime related in nature, and pretty much chosen by whatever I'm feeling that month.

Mass Effect 2: Lair of the Shadow Broker

2010-09-08T15:05:00.003-04:00

Just a small update for Mass Effect 2 fans that browse the blog. Do yourself a favor and check out the newest DLC, "Lair of the Shadow Broker". In the DLC, you help Liara hunt down the Shadow Broker, the mysterious front man mentioned in her sidequest in the original ME2 game. The DLC offers not just a great adventure, but many "after completion bonuses" that are really worth the price tag.

A definite pick up even if you haven't purchased any of the ME2 DLC to come out thus far.

Pre Airing: Hyakka Ryouran: Samurai Girls

2010-09-06T04:22:00.002-04:00

While I've enjoyed a long Birthday weekend, this show popped up on the usual sites. While the show doesn't air officially until October, it was "pre-aired" on MX. Aside from helpings of fanservice and ink blots that cloud the screen, I was pleasantly surprised that the music was enjoyable. Tatsuya Katou is at the helm musically, as the only credits of his I've seen are Qwaser and Phantom Requiem. Aside from the music, ARMS does a pretty good job with some stylish animation. Although seeing that Samurai Girls is Hobby Japan's "40th Anniversary Project", and that fact that ARMS animated Queen's Blade, makes me think the series is in competent boo.. er hands.

A quick overview of the story is a Japanese right wingers wet dream:

"The story takes place in Japan in the early 21st century, in an alternate reality where the Tokugawa Shogunate has remained in power. In this reality, student councils are tasked with oppressing schools. Yagyuu Muneakira is a high school student who rebels against his student council with the help of girls who've had the names of famous samurai heroes passed on to them."

The show seems enjoyable enough to follow come October, even if it's just for the soundtrack.

Death of an Animation Titan: RIP Satoshi Kon

2010-08-25T10:40:00.005-04:00

It's a sad day here at TSO, one of the visionaries of anime has passed away. Satoshi Kon lost his battle with pancreatic cancer yesterday, at the young age of 46. Kon is perhaps best known for his unique style, as well as hit movies such as Millenium Actress, Perfect Blue, Paprika, and Tokyo Godfathers. Kon had also ventured into TV anime with Paranoia Agent. As an anime fan first, I loved his work. Films like Tokyo Godfathers were not just great animation to watch, they were inspiring, comedic, and heartwarming at the same time.

A private funeral service will be held for family only, with his wife and Madhouse both leaving official messages thanking fans for showing their "kindness" during his lifetime. In closing, I leave you with a quote from the man himself.

"With feelings of gratitude for all that is good in this world, I put down my pen.

Well, I'll be leaving now.

Satoshi Kon"

The Art of the Remaster

2010-08-21T15:23:00.006-04:00

When it comes to anime produced in the last couple of years, most masters are in native HD, so they're relatively simple to port to Blu Ray. Watching shows like Macross Frontier, or even an older show like Darker Than Black in Blu Ray will end up spoiling your eyes. The problem gets more complex, if you're/were a R1 DVD buyer, and own many of the same shows on standard DVD. While Blu Ray is nice and shiny, it's often forgotten brother, "remastered" adds life to older shows where no HD master is available.

For me, remastered was always code for "looks better", until I actually took the time to read up on how much work remastering really takes. Your movie or show looks better because a team of people took the time remove things like dust from the original frames, as well as restoring colors to original intention. With things mostly done on computers, and with digital coloring, filming an anime that uses cells sounds foreign. Of course very few of these remastering jobs make it over to the R1 market, with the lone exception being hit shows like Cowboy Bebop or Full Metal Panic.

Still, it's a pleasure being able to watch an old favorite like the 08th MS Team remastered, and realizing that this will be the best quality you'll ever see it on, unless the reanimate it. Couple that in with the fact that many early R1 DVD releases, such as Macross Plus(pictured in the top of this posts), suffer from inferior, almost VHS like masters. The remastering process really shines when classics, titles like Macross: DYRL get the preferential treatment.

Comiket 78 Trailers!

2010-08-15T05:20:00.006-04:00

Lots of trailers this year! Most of the shows are pretty good-looking, but aren't all trailers?

Comiket 78 is Upon Us!

2010-08-12T18:05:00.004-04:00

Since 1975, the place to hang out as an anime and manga fan twice a year has been Comiket. Comiket 78 is starting this Friday, and will run through the weekend. In the past couple of years, Comiket has moved from being solely a doujin event to more of an all-inclusive anime event. There are trailers for new shows shown, big companies have tables, and even some mangaka make the trip.

I would be lying if I didn't say that my main interest is for the ero doujin of some of the newer shows, but the half a million people who show up are thinking the same thing. When the trailers are uploaded, much like the TIAF posts, I'll put them up on the blog. Look to Haruka's Ero if anything of note comes out Ero wise.

Production IG Hinting at Third GITS SAC season?

2010-08-05T12:24:00.001-04:00

Per ANN, Production IG is teasing that the sequel to a popular franchise is in the works for the 2013 fiscal year. This is investment talk for June 1, 2012 - May 30th 2013.

One can only hope we'll get more GITS.

Surviving the Crash

2010-07-28T22:10:00.002-04:00

Well, my computer has decided that it wants to try to commit suicide. I'm in the process of backing my files up to an external hard drive, which thankfully still works. Remember kids...

Backup, Backup, Backup

Sato Dai and the Current State of Anime

2010-07-24T20:26:00.002-04:00

So, Sato Dai, you know him? The writer behind Cowboy Bebop, Wolf's Rain, and Ergo Proxy recently sat down for a small conference titled "Cultural Typhoon" at Komazawa University in Japan to discuss anime. Of course this interested the pessimist in me, because his comments are quite revealing about the current state of the anime industry in Japan.

"He stated that “we can’t do our own anime” and depend on subcontractors for in-between frames. These subcontractors are often not even aware of the product they are working on, and it loses its consistency. In Sato’s mind, this became obvious beginning with Macross, when the “continuity between images was awful” but “we've been doing the same thing ever since.”

'
"As a storywriter, Sato had a big axe to grind about the place of the story in Japanese anime. He complained that his works are labeled “difficult-type” (muzukashii-kei), something like the opposite of “atmosphere type” (kuuki-kei) anime. The latter is the type where nothing happens, or there is no significant plot or grand narrative. They tend to focus on cute characters and be very popular with moe fans. Sato said guys like him get no work, even as “Hollywood rips off our ideas.”

Those are some stark quotes from the man behind the series that was my "anime gateway" Cowboy Bebop. Still it's hard not to agree with him, and somehow after watching the latest episode Amagami, I think I'll throw in some Ergo Proxy for Mr. Sato as well.

You can read the full article, which is an interesting read over at Otaku2. All quotes come from their article.

Cat Shit One: Finally Out

2010-07-17T14:30:00.002-04:00

Just a quick update for those who have followed the blog for a little while, Cat Shit One is finally here! After trailers, appearances at the TIAF, the first "episode" is finally out and subtitled. So if you want to see hardcore military action and tactics with..

Bunnies!

Then check it out.

Manga Pick of the Month, Meet US and Japanese Manga Publishers

2010-07-08T11:05:00.008-04:00

So it appears that Manga publishers have finally woken up and realized that people are actually "pirating" their books. It really took Japanese manga publishers this long to realize that someone was scanning their favorite manga out of the phone book like anthologies for online consumption?

Anyway, most of the big scantilation hosting sites like MangaFox and MangaHelpers were hit and have taken down massive amounts of manga. While anime is such a production and easily finable, I always liked finding that new or interesting manga that I had never seen before. Titles that had become the MPOTM like Bushido Sixteen and Say I Love You. So for now the MPOTM is dead, mainly due to this from ANN:

The 36 publishers in Japan's Digital Comic Association and several American publishers are forming a coalition to combat the "rampant and growing problem" of scanlations — illicit digital copies of manga either translated by fans or scanned directly from legitimate English releases.

The coalition asserts that "scanlation aggregator" sites "now host thousands of pirated titles, earning ad revenue and/or membership dues at creators' expense while simultaneously undermining foreign licensing opportunities and unlawfully cannibalizing legitimate sales." Google lists one site on its list of the 1,000 most-visited sites on the web. An unnamed spokesperson for the coalition also pointed to smartphone applications designed to read such sites as an escalation of the problem.

The Joys of Blu Ray Anime

2010-07-01T21:05:00.002-04:00

With the added support of a better video card, I have wasted my bandwidth on Blu Ray DVD rips. Sure it's the same as downloading rips of R1 DVD's, but the justification that lets me sleep at night is that I really don't want to dish out for the player, then another 60 for every imported disk. My first experiment was Darker Than Black, and boy was I blown away.

Downloading standard DVD rips, even watching some of my R1 DVD's leaves me a bit disappointed. Sure Blu Ray quality is better, but why reorder a whole library? The only problem now is the size of some rips. You want the original Tenchi OVA in Blu Ray? Fine, just be ready to download 4 gig an episode...

The Woes of Bad Internet

2010-06-21T11:10:00.002-04:00

Updates will begin soon enough, apparently Nintendo's E3 showing was so great it made my internet crawl to a stop.

E3 2010: Microsoft

2010-06-14T22:49:00.001-04:00

Well, Microsoft's conference was a big disappointment for me.

- Metal Gear Solid: Rising was the most interesting game shown, even if you do play as Raiden. The game is going for a first/third person aciton twist, with gory slicing and hot watermelon action.

- Most of MS's conference was built around their new "Kinect". Not interested, so I made a sandwich

- ESPN is coming to the XBOX 360 for free, much the same way Last.FM is. As a sports fan this makes me a happy camper.

-HAlo Reach, COD: Black Ops, and Fable III were also shown. I was going to buy Fable III, but after the trailer...

New Layout!

2010-06-14T02:45:00.003-04:00

Thank to Blogger's new set of "Design" tools, I was able to give the site a much-needed face lift. The only downside is that I'll need to make a new banner, and I'm not necessarily the artistic type. Oh well, I'll get used to it with the flurry of E3 posting this week.

E3 2010 Gets Rolling

2010-06-14T01:35:00.002-04:00

Well, E3 2010 has started with Microsoft's Nat.. er "Kinect" presser tonight. I've never been a big fan of these types of things, so I totally zoned out during it. I'm sure it'll be great for things like Rock Band and Wii types of games.

On the other hand someone at Microsoft really can't keep a secret. A day before Microsoft's yearly E3 press conference, an ad on an Italian site has leaked the "Xbox 360 Slim". Aside from looking like a PC gaming rig, the new system boasts Wifi and a 250GB hard drive(says Kotaku). More will be revelead tomorrow including prince points and hardware specs. As someone who has burned through five 360's due to RROD or E74, I'm a little annoyed that it took them this long to "fine tune" the system.

Summer Anime Season

2010-06-07T16:31:00.003-04:00

There are a couple interesting looking series this season, especially High School of the Dead.

Red Dead Redemption: Completed

2010-06-02T11:51:00.001-04:00

So after off and on playing, I have finally completed one of my favorite new games in a long time. The characters themselves are likable, especially the one you get to play most of the game as, John Marston. A man who committed some serious criminal activity, only to finally receive a wake up call when left for dead after an attempted bank robbery. So John rounds up his ex-prostitute wife and his son Jack and tries to lead life on the straight and narrow. Unfortunately your Epiphany came to late, the newly formed FBI is holding your family hostage for most of the game.

I'll forego any real story spoilers, instead saying that the game has a great narrative from Rockstar, complete with many of the side missions, such as the one pictured. With a great story, good side quests, and strong third person combat, the game is highly recommended. Just don't try to swim...

Soredemo Machi wa Mawatteiru Maid Gets Green Lit

2010-05-28T11:31:00.002-04:00

It's always nice when a manga you're following ends up being "green lit" for an anime adaptation, and Soredemo is no exception. ANN is reporting that the manga is finally coming to the small screen after it started in 2005. The story tells of an ordinary tea serving maid(not so much the maid café hype type) who enjoys going on slice of life adventures with customers.

Red Dead Remption: In Progress

2010-05-20T18:30:00.002-04:00

So another game has come and taken away my free time, Red Dead Redemption. While I had it pre ordered, I wasn't sure if I'd get another GTA IV let down, or a solid game that would keep my attention long enough to finish. After a couple of nights of playing, I'm just about reaching halfway through the game.

Manga Pick of the Month

2010-05-11T14:56:00.003-04:00

Manga: Tasogare Otome x Amnesia
Author: Maybe

Plot and Thoughts: TOA is about a freshman, Niiya Teiichi and his ability to see Yukko-san, a young woman in a similar school uniform. There is just one problem. Yuuko is a ghost that died under mysterious circumstances at the school and Teiichi is the only one who can see her. The story revolves around these two, with Teiichi being apart of a "Paranormal Investigation Club" with another female student, Okonogi-San. Together they go throughout the school with Yuuko causing pranks due to her limited visibility.

Just when you think this will be a gag manga, it immediately turns darker. From a girl who died of mercury poisoning in the school to the shadowy details about Yuuko's past and how she ended up as a spirit, one can sense that a huge revelation is slowly coming. Even though it's a little on the darker side, with great art and characters, Tasogare is a great Manga Pick of the Month.

Link: Maigo Scans

Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt: Believe it or not, Gainax's New Show

2010-05-06T14:26:00.000-04:00

ANN is reporting that Gainax has finally announced its new show courtesy of an early issue of Newtype. The plot is, well...

"The story centers around a teen-celebrity-like blond-haired girl named Panty and a black-haired Goth Loli girl named Stocking. The two are angels sent from the heavens to battle the "Ghosts" on Earth."

Ah anime, is there anything you can't do? Still it's coming from the talented minds at Gainax, so I'm sure it'll be something to look forward to.

Musical Madness

2010-04-28T04:59:00.014-04:00

In the world of anime, much like theatrical films, a piece of music can make or break a scene. Music can make a sorrowful scene more heartfelt, a lighthearted scene more merry, or a tense/action packed seen even more so. Finding myself a mixture of bored and waxing nostalgic, I decided to go through my considerable anime music folder. What did I find, well, songs and bits of music that "made" a series for me musically.

What do I mean? I'm talking pieces of music that illicit certain emotions, thoughts, or even scenes from a certain show. Here are some of my personal picks that match the given criteria.

Anime: Honey & Clover
Artist/Song: Hachimitsu by Spitz

Anime: Gundam 0083: Stardust Memories
Artist/Song: Evergreen by Mio

Anime: Gankutsuou(Count of Monte Cristo)
Artist/Song: We Were Lovers by Jean Jacques Burnel

Anime:Cowboy Bebop
Artist/Song: Rain by Steve Conte and Mai Yamane

Those are just some of the many that I could list, but the songs above are currently on my playlist.

A Take to the "Lolicon/UK Bill Issue": The Rebirth of the "Grown Up Character"?

2010-04-26T18:00:00.023-04:00

The recurring "lolicon is the new bogeyman bill" issue has gotten tons of play lately. This is partly because the Japanese government seems to have decided to take a harder stance this time, only to delay a bill yet again. The atmosphere seems different this go around, especially with a landmark UK bill passed covering what was struck down in the US's own "Protect Act". While everyone would agree the real thing is bad, is it wrong to have a moral equivalence when it comes to a drawing, or in movement, animation?

Do you believe in the freedom of speech angle or the slippery slope argument? This blogger will always stick up for artistic freedom within reason, especially when it comes to anime. While one might enjoy lolicon ero manga, it's easier to defend a show with younger characters displaying the occasional panty shot instead of full on hardcore sex. Still, more liberal friends of mine who would see no problem with the latter, you have to take on the view of the fabled "outsider".

We're already anime and manga fans, we're used to shows from Shuffle to Major. Anime and manga, like any medium runs the gambit genre wise, and of course will share its wide range of fetishes. Drawing characters offers more freedom then using real people, especially when it comes to the ero market. As a fan of ero manga and doujin, that's why I was draw to it in the first place, the variety. With that being said, I don't plan on trying to recreate any of those scenes anytime soon...

Even with all the doom and gloom mentioned, I see an opportunity for studios and manga creators. As mentioned in my last post, some studios are having to alter what they want to make to fit the new, and ever-changing "moe" demographic. They're a business, that's what sells. Even with these monetary woes, what happened to shows full of characters in their late teens to twenties? Could it be that this anime fan is getting older and wants to see more of his age range? Possibly, I'll give you that. Still the answer isn't to make characters younger and younger.

Nina is a good example and it's why I used her picture from Gundam 0083. Could you imagine a hit show with a female lead who has... GASP! .... had a boyfriend and a relationship before?

Cries of "damaged goods" would be heard, Japanese Kanagi fans would glue their manga together only to rip it up yet again. Don't despair Kanagi fans, you can still have a "pure" older character like Belldandy from Ah! My Goddess(even if I'd rather have Urd...). While I know this more saber-rattling, I see it as an opportunity for studios to get out of middle school, even if that's the demographic they're trying to hit.

It's Finally out in the Open: "We can't make what we want to make"

2010-04-25T17:29:00.008-04:00

Well, someone had to finally say it. A piece done by "SBS Dateline", an Australian news magazine type show actually had a pretty balanced report on the anime industry. The main draw of the article comes from these two quotes by A-LINEstudio head Kazumori Hashimoto.

"KAZUMORI HASHIMOTO, A-LINE STUDIO OWNER (Translation): We can't make what we want to make. To keep the business going our products must sell. The industry is geared to where demand is - which is the obsessive fan market, not the general public. That's the trend I worried about most.

REPORTER: So the pictures of the little girls, that's what sells?

KAZUMORI HASHIMOTO (Translation): It's kind of the soft-core genre, as we call it in Japan."

While anime is a business and I can respect that, you usually don't hear too much from the rank and file in the anime world. Why make a show Emma when something like Haruhi or K-ON can sell ten times as much? Perhaps those are the complaints of a jaded anime fan, but it's obvious the Japanese market is coming to a crossroads.

Will companies turn to ero and soft-core porn to survive like Gonzo is planning, or will they tow the line and try to make a buck out of existing series?

Seikon no Qwaser: The Guiltiest of Guilty Pleasures

2010-04-25T05:17:00.005-04:00

Ah yes, what can you say about Seikon no Qwaser?

Do you stay for the plot?

Do you stay for the compelling dialog?

Do you stay for the rich storytelling?

No, no and defiantly no. I hate to say it, but this has become a guilty pleasure for me even with it still airing. Of course I could give a damn about the story and am a superficial bastard in wanting to see more of Mafuyu and Theresa. Now I see why people liked Ikkitousen; the whole "I read Playboy for the articles" jive.

Of course if you're going to "watch" this show, I recommend Kira's Blu Ray rip.

Policy Change: All at Once, no Installment Plan

2010-04-24T21:28:00.005-04:00

Due to my waning interest in anime, and the fact that I don't have the patience(or maybe it's concentration) to follow a story each week, I'm simply going start waiting for series in "bulk" before talking about them or posting my thoughts on them.

Couple that with shows like Princess Lover airing censored, and it's worth it to wait for someone to put out a DVD release. On a personal note, it's so nice being able to double click on the next episode instead of waiting six months for a series to finish.