Hopeless Sensei's Anime Blog

My new URL...

2006-05-15T10:01:00.000+01:00

is http://hopeless.wordpress.com/. The efforts of blogger to make me give up blogging in frustration shall all be in vain. I'll be removing this location from the annals of history shortly, so please update any links!

Moving to Wordpress

2006-05-12T23:52:00.000+01:00

Due to the continuting annoyance with Blogger in general, I'm going to move this to blog to everyone's favourite system; during that time, everything is going to look even uglier than usual. Thanks ^^

Death Note Pages 101-107 - "A crazy mass murderer...nothing more" Spoilers

2006-05-12T15:18:00.000+01:00

I can recall the glory days of Death Note, when each chapter managed to be either chillingly human or unbelievably intense. When the first arc of the show drew to a suitably powerful and bittersweet conclusion, however, the series gradually wound down. Reito's idealistic humanity had all but ebbed away, replaced by, as Near puts it, "a crazy mass murderer." The development of the character was

Anime on trial: Jyo-oh-sigh

2006-05-11T20:51:00.000+01:00

Crime: Dress sense Punishment: Mysterious plant-related disappearance Jyo-oh-sei, you have been charged with failing to meet the lofty expectations placed upon you by, err, me. Let the prosecution speak first. Crime: Trying to be a manipulative bishi Punishment: 6 years wearing that vest The Prosecution: I really, really wanted to love this show. I looked forward to it for so long, moreso

Maki Maki Dash

2006-05-10T22:05:00.000+01:00

Sunrise know what we all want. While many shows may bombard the senses with comedy, none of them can equal the power contained in the single greatest joke of all time - maki maki. In fact, after recieving a huge shipment of invisible letters asking for more maki maki, Sunrise has finally complied to everyone's demands and unleashed four whole minutes of maki maki upon the world. Blessed be ye,

Hakuoro's Diaries: Week One

2006-05-08T19:40:00.000+01:00

I have taken to wearing this mask so that no one will recognise me whilst I undertake questionable acts. Day Two I am already in love. Young and innocent, yet truly caring, I feel she is the perfect partner for me to spend my life with. No-one else compares. Aruruu, please become mine. Oh, she has a sister too, but she is far past her prime. I mean…over half my age! That is just so wrong. I

Sakura-is-actually-useful? Chronicle: Episode 28

2006-05-07T23:26:00.000+01:00

Against all expectations, this episode covers an absolutely massive section of the manga, although it edits the original liberally. Piffle World is perhaps the longest world the heroes visit, but in the anime in could be one of the shortest. This episode deals with Tomoyo's investigation, then commences the real race, before Fye and Syaoran both leave the race due to sabotage. Syoaran

Fate/Stay Night: Episode 18

2006-05-07T19:11:00.000+01:00

While Sakura is meant to be the star of this arc, Rin is easily dominating it. I do wish that this section of the show will be longer than it seems to be, but if not, it will still stand one of the highlights. I'm hardly addicted to action, but Saber and Assassin's rematch here was unbelievably intense for a fight we know Saber will win. While it looked (and sounded) like it had been ripped out

The Glorious Revolution of May 2006

2006-05-06T11:08:00.000+01:00

Ah, so the whole world is turning due to the drama about blogging overdilation kicked-started over on suki and spread to the emerald green pastures of the blogsphere. I cannot help but wonder what the readers think, and what the statistics say - does blogging episode after episode with summaries prove popular for the blogs' audience? I use the Antenna and Blogsuki rather than bookmarks to read

Good Witch of the West: Episode 2

2006-05-06T10:30:00.000+01:00

I adore Firiel. While the general anime heroine recieves protection and help from the dull male protagonist, here she is very much the focus, the one who needs to help and protect Roux. Firiel is impulsive in her concern for others, even when they do not return it to her. She actually does things based on what she believes in, rather than leaving it for others to do. She's able to adapt into

Saiungoku Monogatari: Episode 1

2006-05-05T19:26:00.000+01:00

Ah, I finally have another series which demmands to be blogged. Saiungoku is a political pseudo-historical series set in a gorgeous Chinese setting (I love historical oriental settings. If an average anime is set in one, I can't help but call it good). Scion of an anicent but finnanically lagging clan, Shuurei leaps at the chance to pull her family out of the red by becoming the wife of the

Honey and Clover: Special F

2006-05-04T18:24:00.000+01:00

At long last, the second H&C special is subbed. Now that we know of the second series, though, the tension and mourning at the passing of the series is lifted here. While this isn't as constantly hilarious as L, being H&C makes it all good. The animation and art here are hardly the best the series has thrown up, but this is offset by the humour. The star of this episode has to be Miwako. She

Good Witch of the West: Episode 1

2006-05-01T09:14:00.000+01:00

This is just what I was expecting and hoping for with this show. While not a fairy tale in the actual details, stylistically this has everything one would associate with the format. The presentation of the show is remarkable, because it achives a look I can only describe as "modern retro." Some of the designs are as pristine and detailed as those of modern anime (the lords at the ball even

Higurashi no Naku Koro ni: Demoned Away Mysteries

2006-04-30T22:51:00.000+01:00

Higurashi is yet another anime I didn't plan to watch until the first episode was subbed, and now it has risen to become one of my favourites in this high-performing season. Perhaps the most interesting part of the show is something that hasn't occured to this quality since Monster and Spiral - the mystery element, fitting in the different pieces together. Possession? Where Mion and Rena aware

Ayakashi: Episode 10-11 and Series Thoughts

2006-04-30T21:30:00.000+01:00

These two final episodes are by some degree the most intense in the show, and easily those with the most claim to horror, as the family and the medicine seller are imprisoned in the house by the Baka Neko demon, and must discover its secrets along with those of themselves. This makes from some dramatic and compelling viewing, alternating with more serene visions of past events and complimented

Fye Chronicle: Episode 27

2006-04-30T10:51:00.000+01:00

Tsubasa Chronicle is back, and takes joy in rearranging the manga! Instead of going to the Land of Jungle Bunnies and then Samurai Shoujo World, Fye and his party have moved onto the virtually endless Minigame Republic of Piffle, the only location where Sakura proves herself to be useful, even if marginally. Shocking, I know. I do hope greatly that they are just moving this lighter (well, until

Fate/Stay Night: Episode 17

2006-04-29T22:27:00.000+01:00

Ah, a superior episode in the series after the laughable CG dragon and Ilya harem episodes. Caster and Kuzuki enter as the new antagonists, and manage to prove themselves more powerful and interesting than the previous foes. Shirou, Rin and Saber are easily beaten by Kuzuki's magic-enhanced physical prowess, which should come into light with some backstory. More interestingly, though, Sakura is

Ayakashi: Episode 9 "stepping into the painted world"

2006-04-25T23:41:00.000+01:00

This episode is very, very different from the last story visually. Different from other anime, really. It has been produced to look like a work of traditional art, and in this manages to stun. While some character designs fall into the trap of being generic and bland, the lead figures look ornate, proving that this is where the budget cut from last episode has gone. Animation is purposefully

Nana: Episode 3

2006-04-25T17:00:00.000+01:00

Nana is such a product of its time. While many veterans of the huge anime sector known as "slice of life" will have stumbled across superior shows for drama and romance, and many more will have seen masterpieces like KGNE or Honey and Clover, Nana manages to inflitrate mainstream consciousness. Many would argue that it is far from the manga-ka's greatest work, but few would also say that it is

.hack//Roots: Episode 3

2006-04-24T23:07:00.000+01:00

Ah, MMORPGs. I'd love to one day play one, and sit around staring at the rendered backgrounds for hours, or omniously talk to other PCs. Sadly, The World doesn't fully exist, so most games revolve around levelling up and completely quests. Such a shame. After two enjoyable but unremarkable episodes, Roots finally manages to entrench itself as a worthy successor to Sign. Haseo's seemingly easy

Fate/Stay Night: Episode 16 "you may be a murdrous child, but sleep with me"

2006-04-23T12:40:00.000+01:00

Predictably, the first eight minutes of this episode are devoted to action, and, fast as Berserker is, the scenes never quite manage to be as exciting as Archer's last stand or Rider and Saber's climatic encounter. It is all very much centered Shirou, and how he has the same ability Archer had, letting him create duplicate legendary weapons to cheaply slay Berserker in a single blow

Ayakashi: Episode 8 "the tentacles!"

2006-04-22T22:37:00.000+01:00

Ayakashi's second tale of woe and dramatic death scenes ends here, and does so in a much more spectacular sense than the first "horror" story is, even if said "horror" has still failed to compute. The episode basically sees legions of humans being wiped out with ease, but occasionally managing to bring down the Forgotten Gods. Even Uba-sama dies, but does so on the side of the protagonists,

Farewell and goodnight, Disgaea

2006-04-21T23:05:00.000+01:00

With the growing influx of titles being fansubbed, I've found there is no room for mercy (as Laharl above demonstrates) when it comes to dropping those series which so clearly deserve to be thrown into the scrapheap (never may they emerge again). I used to uphold a noble principle, one of watching at least four or five episodes before dropping in series, but then Law of Ueki destroyed all

Ouran High School Host Club - Episodes 2-3

2006-04-21T22:31:00.000+01:00

A slight serious element is introduced to the show with the introduction of some episodic plots that the Host Club solves, and, being Ouran, these work well. Otherwise, it's buisness as usual, and thus almost unbearably hilarious. Episode 3, in particular, dealt with the typical high school anime "health check episode" wonderfully, turning it into a device to laugh at Tamaki, who has actually

Noein: Episode 20 Brief Impressions

2006-04-20T22:16:00.000+01:00

The final death blow to any individuals of power La'cryma has is dealt here; finally Yuu faces the perils Haruka was subjected to earlier, and we learn in fact what the Dragon Torque actually does. Kuina exits the show well, crumbling into pieces as has been his way throughout, and does so with a realisation of his own follly. While he has only served as a minor player with his own faction

Fate/Stay Night: Episode 15 or "so that's how babies come into being"

2006-04-20T19:34:00.000+01:00

Saber and Shirou "recharge their mana," which involves being eaten by the worst looking dragon ever (why? why? why?) after the two engage in foreplay with Rin, and Berserker begins to have his way with beloved Rin, trying to squeeze her but inevitably being killed by Saber and Shirou next episode before he can. He needs a little bit of love before he dies; Ilya can't have done much with him.

Ayakashi: Episodes 6-7 or how to transfigure a moment into an hour

2006-04-20T17:07:00.000+01:00

Ayakashi reaches the bulk of the second tale with a pair of episodes that roll on as predictably as one would expect from a tale of two lovers on opposite sides of an age-long conflict. And conflict there is here, as the human forces prepare to storm the castle of the weakened Forbidden God, promising that every character who has so much as talked in the last three episodes shall be killed in a

Six best subbed screencaps from Haruhi 6

2006-04-19T22:05:00.000+01:00

i.e. blogging without having to write much so I can just watch this episode over and over again for the next 12 hours. The above shot is great just for the characters expressions. The true evil beind Haruhi finally manifests itself here, as we see what darkness lurks in the heart of this seemingly innocent, whimsical child. Haruhi is not afraid to blackmail people in her savage desire for a

Meine Otome

2006-04-19T14:04:00.000+01:00

Every so often, two series appear around the same time that manage to feel like exact duplicates of eachother. This week, we have Mai Otome, cut from the same branch as Mai Hime, and Meine Liebe Wieder, the follow-up to Meine Liebe. Today, my mission is to highlight the similarities, and the crucial differences, between the two series. The Five Pillars/Columns HARD GAY Both Meine Liebe

Five Often Unsung Traditions of Modern Anime

2006-04-16T21:09:00.000+01:00

Everyone knows the "traditional" side of anime - angsty male teenagers fighting in giant robots with aplomb despite a lack of training and mental stability, magical girls who manifest their powers by supernaturally changing their outfits and skirts that accidently blow in the wind, yet there are some events and set-ups that occur in so many anime and yet never seem to have the iconic image that

Nana: Episode 2 - On the trail of trauma

2006-04-16T20:33:00.000+01:00

After showing a completely genki face in the first installment of the series, here we delve into the backstory of Hachi, showing the many trials her love life has faced and how her current bond with Shouji first developed. While some opinions on this episode seem muted, I must admit I greatly enjoyed it - I feared the series would not detail the two leads in the same depth as the manga, and

An in-depth analysis of the genius of Air Gear's second episode

2006-04-14T19:08:00.000+01:00

"I-Impossible/I want to get stronger" Analysing the genius of Air Gear's second episode Air Gear, as this installment demonstrates, is a masterpiece. Not only does it juggle Animal Farm-style social commentry and gentle parody of such garish fanservice trawls as Ikki Tousen, Air Master and Tenjou Tenge, but it manages to find some valuable space to devote to building up an epic, fan-baiting love

Season Round-Up: three promising shows

2006-04-14T18:17:00.000+01:00

Utawarerumono Suikoden always needed an anime adaptation, and so here it is in the form of this show. The music is good, the animation is well-done and the environmental backdrops are serene. Oh, and the character designs have something about them that makes them really rather attractive. The premise is a simplistic one; our hero, -Insert Name Here-, awakens with a mask over his face, and

The best anime episodes ever (of the week)

2006-04-13T23:59:00.000+01:00

The title that has blown nearly everyone way this season must be Haruhi. With the second/first real episode of the series, we finally meet the lead character, a token tsundere and one of the most eccentric anime characters in recent memory, along with the poor Kyon, forced into her schemes. While I could wax lyrical about how wonderful this episode was, everyone else has already done so, but I

Season Round-Up: two titles we've seen before

2006-04-13T23:46:00.000+01:00

Now, where have I seen you before? Air Gear Air Gear is so very, very dire, and yet because of that it emerges as reasonably entertaining. Meet hero Ikki/Nagi, his two friends Takaganagi and Bob, his gentle hostess meganekko Aya and the feisty blader Maya, all clearly characters who have seen a previous life in another manga by the game author.

Season Round-Up: a pair of travesties

2006-04-12T15:28:00.000+01:00

To cap off all this new season madness, I present to you a look at some of the shows I'm too lazy to write a longer post on, before a summary of everything that has come to pass so far. First up comes these two excretable excuses of anime, abominations that should be hidden away in the depths of Bleach doujinshi and never looked at again. Yes, they're that bad. Disgaea I enjoyed the Disgaea

Simoun: Episode 1

2006-04-11T23:36:00.000+01:00

Clearly, the one thing this show aspires to be is Last Exile with yuri, and while this opening episode fails to capture the understated beauty of that steampunk classic, Simoun is powerful in its own right. Visually, the animation nothing beyond what other shows have offered up, but this is offset by the whole style of the show. The watercolour backdrops and occasional character images

Nana: Episode 1

2006-04-11T19:08:00.000+01:00

As soon as the excellent OP, the best of the season, begins to typical Yazawa imagery, you really do know Nana will be a special show. While stories like Paradise Kiss are gloomy tales of romantic frustration in stylised circles, Nana is comparatively upbeat and conventional. Two girls called Nana – one who embodies loud cute, the other quiet cool – meet, and quickly establish themselves as

god bless manga ent.

2006-04-10T21:53:00.000+01:00

No sooner had I delved into the deeper chapters of this show than Manga Ent. to the greatest deed they have for years and license this show. tactics has everything - an evil lead, hard gay bishis, a mascot character who actually comes in useful and is awfully cute, the comedy bishounen and even a fox fairy. Clearly everything one needs for a great anime experience. Plus, with what looks like six

Ouran High School Host Club - Episode 1

2006-04-10T17:07:00.000+01:00

Ah, Ouran may just become the next Fruits Basket for me, and this is just after a single shot. Once again, a show that I was not anticipating to a high degree easily manages to surpass all my expectations. One of the most striking features of this series from the start is the famed studio's production. The backgrounds and setting of the show are wonderful, pandering to all bishounen desires one

The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi: Episode 1

2006-04-10T08:44:00.000+01:00

I know everyone else and their cousin has raved about this show, but I feel the need to build it up some more. Before watching and reading other blogs, I had no idea this show existed, so far was it off the radar for this season. After seeing the reactions and screencaps, though, I had felt compelled to give it a try, and I am so glad I did. This episode must rank as one of the most hilarious

Zegapain: yet another standard mecha show

2006-04-09T20:22:00.000+01:00

Wow, I haven't heard actual Americans speak english in anime for a long time, but its nice to see that even if we have to endure an Archer-worthy brief performance later in the episode. Zegapain begins with a bundle of mecha show cliché, as our hero finds out that he is not yet too old to pilot a mecha in strange dream sequences and save the world, with his classmates conveniently massed on

Shinigami no Ballad - Episode 6 (Finale)

2006-04-09T12:07:00.000+01:00

The sixth episode of this brief series was by far the highlight for me, a tale of understanding oneself's place in the world and the meaning of your life. Our protagonist this week takes a nosedive from a bridge onto a busy road when the boy to whom her affection is directed is spied with another girl. When she visits the location of her suicide, Momo appears, and takes her on a tour of what

Fate/Stay Night: Episode 14 - The devil has a face, and she is loli

2006-04-08T20:54:00.000+01:00

A few weeks ago, I stated that episode twelve of Fate/Stay Night was a pinnacle achievement, a truly dramatic awakening for a series that began with a meandering start. I’m hesitant to say this once again, but this week’s offering truly raises itself above what has come before, and manages to create the first truly emotional Fate climax. The third death in as many episodes emerges here, and

a few anime impressions (yet again)

2006-04-06T19:48:00.000+01:00

Oh my, it's that time of the month again. Time to look at the titles I'm too lazy to write a full post about! Perhaps when I manage to make the damn Ayakashi file work I'll even be able to watch a new show. One can hope, at least. I'd also like to take this point to say how awesome tactics is, and how sad it is that the show seems to have escaped most people's notice. Tokyo Babylon/xxxholic

Mai Otome (Finale)

2006-04-05T19:01:00.000+01:00

Ah, finally the series that everyone rushed to make fun of is over. Obviously, this ending contains nothing suprisingly whatsoever, a few references to HiME and a form of action which sees random Otome collide in a shower of sparks rather than any actual action happening. The heroes are saved by more heroes at least sixteen times, even the characters yet to speak get to materialise and Shiho

Astraea Testament

2006-03-28T21:58:00.000+01:00

Good Witch of the West Episode 2 Episode 1

Fate/Stay Night: Episode 12

2006-03-27T17:06:00.000+01:00

A great episode, marred only by the mundane opening half. The fight here was far and away the most intense the show has pulled out of the hat. Fate/Stay Night is increasingly beginning to resemble the type of show it seemed to be before its airing. Shinji has managed to descent into a raging stupor due to his defeat last episode, and creepily and pathetically angsts, causing a scene in the

They didn't restrain their passions...

2006-03-26T17:11:00.000+01:00

Doesn't Shizuru wish she saw this? The HiME Specials alternated between comedy and hopelessly rampant fanservice; this one errs far on the fanservice side. For helping the girls break into the Libary around episode eight, Nao asks that they help her work - as a lingerie model. Nina is resistant, but eventually bows over to the supreme might of the other girls, and they are published in a

Mai Otome: Episode 24

2006-03-26T10:02:00.000+01:00

A mixed episode. Predictably, this is the set-up episode, featuring minimal contributions from Arika and Mashiro but showing most of the other characters getting ready for the final fight. In addition to these scenes, though, it contains the single scene in this anime that really makes one question the taste of the scriptwriters. I'm rather liberal in most of my views, but -that- scene just

Shakugan no Shana: Episode 24 [Finale] via the characters

2006-03-25T14:14:00.000Z

Shana won't go down in history as a masterpiece, but I'll fondly remember it as a highly enjoyable series with good characters, a great artstyle and a great balance between action-based plots and love triangle antics. While this episode contained little battling action (we briefly see Bel Peol defeat Wilhelmina with ease and Margery and Shudonai fight to a stalemate), it was high on

Shinigami no Ballad: Episode 4 Brief Impressions

2006-03-25T13:19:00.000Z

I wasn't hugely excited through this episode. The storyline basically shows a girl named Chiaki who works hard for her family and is on edge with the boy she loves. Her younger brother sees visions of Momo, Chiaki confronts Momo and loses her temper because she thinks she or her brother is going to die, but Momo explains that she is just babysitting to help Chiaki's brother get over their

Ayakashi: Episode 5

2006-03-23T22:34:00.000Z

Summary A group of revelling bandits come across an old woman on their travels. The group want to stay at the haunted castle ahead of them, despite the old lady's warnings of Forgotten Gods. The travellers kick her to the side and shelter in the castle, but while they travel the scorned elder reveals her true demonic form. We are then subjected to a horror show of the risque, before ghostly

Mushishi: Episode 20 Brief Impressions

2006-03-23T22:23:00.000Z

And so far and away the best series shown all year draws to an end, at least until the OVAs in May. This episode doesn't quite manage to top the stunning pair of episodes 17 and 18, but is one of the best in a series of twenty gems nonetheless. Ginko's role in this episode is not as a doctor but as a companion to the episode's focused character, and by the end of the episode the link between

Shinigami no Ballad

2006-03-22T22:25:00.000Z

A six-episode series of a healing nature that chronicles characters as they deal with the emotions they have after the death of a loved one, led by the white-clad death god Momo and her flying cat Daniel. Episode 6 Episode 5 Episode 4 Episode 3 Episode 2 Episode 1

Shinigami no Ballad - Episode 3

2006-03-22T21:57:00.000Z

Summary Momo compares life to role-playing games while Kantarou opens a box of role-playing games left by his grandfather. He opens a package to find a uniform and a letter that tells him to go on a trip as the main character in an RPG as one last game with his grandfather. At the end, he shall find treasure. Later, Tomato catches Kantarou and we see an earlier scene where Tomato demanded an

Mushishi: Episode 19 Brief Impressions

2006-03-22T21:49:00.001Z

This episode fails to scale the heights reached by the last few episodes, but, as is the case always with Mushishi, manages to still be great. Visually, the contrast between the glorious night and the mundane day is clear, along with an abundance of still shots with white backgrounds. The storyline of this episode sees a rich man fall in love with a family childminder, Fuka. One day she sees a

Fate/Stay Night: Episode 11: Fuji-nee! :'(

2006-03-21T21:10:00.000Z

Hot on the heels of episode nine's introduction of actual action and suspense to the series, episode eleven manages to mix a character-based beginning and ending with a truckload of exciting action as Shirou and Saber face Shinji and Rider. Summary The episode begins as Saber tells Shirou that she has never thought of herself as a woman, but a warrior. Rin steals Shriou from his swordmanship

Mushishi: Episode 18

2006-03-21T21:04:00.000Z

This summary is rather basic since the old one fell to the horrors of being lost. Another great episode, and for the first time one where Ginko does not appear to help the victim of Mushi until the story draws near its close. Essentially, this episode is the tale of Kai, an artist who leaves his family to study, taking with him a coat he has painted (in the present, Ginko is haggling for

Otome, Shana and Noein Finale Line-Ups

2006-03-20T23:08:00.000Z

It's that time of the season again! Shows that have ran for a season, or maybe even two, begin to draw to a close. Since Blogger is being unreceptive with screencaps at the moment, instead of Fate/Stay Night 10 and Mushishi 18 tonight I shall look at a few of the upcoming series endings. First up comes everyone's favourite sinking ship, Mai Otome. Mai Otome Main Clashes: Arika vs. Nina, Mashiro

Musings; moving on...?

2006-03-19T18:41:00.000Z

For the first time ever today I decided to open up a blog on that most popular of clients, WordPress, and I have to say I'm impressed. Although I'd need to get hosting to do anything in the way of customisation, Word Press is at least as simple as blogger, and makes even more sense. Pages and catagories are great ways to keep archives. The themes are also nice and clean, although again I think

Mai Otome: Episode 23

2006-03-19T09:03:00.000Z

An enjoyable episode with Mai and Mikoto, but it once again felt like it should have come a month ago. More than anything, this is the episode that deals out the most exposition possible before the final three installments, making it something of a mixed bag. Ealis is being decimated, Rena is being turned into a new Shinso, power looks to be in Nagi's grasp and many of the most powerful heroes

Shakugan no Shana: Episode 23 - "Give me more...of you"

2006-03-18T12:27:00.000Z

Shana and Wilhelmina reach the Castle of Ultimate Evilness, where all is quiet. Shockingly, this turns out to be a trap of the Professor; wave upon wave of mecha are summoned to attack the two Flame Haze. The mecha are pretty weak, but a tricksy spell drains the power of existance of the heroes and gives that power to the foes. Wilhelmina must dematerialise while Shana can only use her body as a

Bleach: Episode 72

2006-03-18T08:27:00.002Z

These two water vampires look absolutely awful. Before this episode, I had no idea character designs could be so terrifyingly atrocious and generic without Gonzo at the helm. Add the fact that their personality consists of "standard villainious monolongues in a creepy voice" and you have a pair of exceedingly dull foes who really must die next episode. Suprisingly, the GF that the water

Mushishi: Episodes 15-17 - The Blatherings of a Mushi Fanboy

2006-03-17T20:51:00.000Z

Mushishi is a hard show to blog, I'll admit, and blogability can sometimes cloud my opinion on a series. Despite this, though, today I have an overwhelming desire to write about it for the simple reason that episodes 15, 16 and 17 all managed to raise the series to a new level. I keep mentioning that each episode of this show manages to best the last, but after the heartbreak of episode 14 I

Dawning of a New Age? - Spring 2006

2006-03-16T19:56:00.000Z

I feel my blogging hasn't been really up-to-stratch lately. While a few shows like Otome make me write heavily each week regardless of episode quality, everything else that I blog really fail to make me want to write that much, even if I really enjoy them. I'm relieved, therefore, that next season will allow an almost clean slate to start with. I may just decide to drop everything, blog-wise,

Noein: Episode 18

2006-03-15T21:27:00.000Z

Noein 18 manages to be an enjoyable episode, but lacks much of the spark that the greatest parts of this series master so well. While Kosagi had her share of the limelight last time, Kuina remained underdeveloped and neglected until now, when he finally has some airtime for himself. Like many episodes I've seen lately, though, there isn't really that much to write about with this one. Hopefully

Shinigami no Ballad - Episode 2 Brief Impressions

2006-03-15T21:20:00.000Z

A pretty dark episode overall, despite the lack of a death at the end. Momo seems to be further fleshed out here, merely because she is given more screentime. Momo's role in this episode seems to be warning the dead of their impending doom and consoling those left behind later, as well as the obvious sending souls to the afterlife. Momo shows powerful wisdown and insight here, and her lines

Fate/Stay Night 10 through loli-tinted glasses

2006-03-13T22:27:00.000Z

Poor Shirou. While he has an evergrowing harem, he's been dealt a poor hand. First, his beloved father vanishes. Then, his best friend Shinji leaves him to join the Dark Side and more people than he can name are trying to kill him some way or another. Plus, for all his troubles, he only reached 11th place in the character poll. But now he may be in his toughest position yet, as the police are

Shakugan no Shana: Episode 22

2006-03-13T22:01:00.000Z

It's the episode before the final battle begins, and, as per custom, the cast left behind after Yuji's capture must pick up and pieces and get ready to set off on a journey. As such, instead of a full write up (I haven't done one of those for many shows for a while, actually), I'm just going to cover the main points. Kazumi's plea Kazumi, Satou and Tanaka come to the revalation that only Shana

Mai-Otome 22: Finally!

2006-03-12T09:20:00.000Z

Most of Otome's good points come together here to produce an episode of plot contrivances, angst, fast-paced action and Tomoe being owned. Sunrise have lent the show a lifeboat, and hopefully it can stay afloat. With Mai and Mikoto (human) returning at the end of the episode, we can hope the only way from here is upwards. I'm going to follow this episode in a haphazard, out-of-sequence way, so

Bleach: Episode 71

2006-03-10T22:44:00.000Z

Just a few main points this time... -Mayuri gets owned! The highlight of the episode for me, since Mayuri radiates vileness on a level few manage, and the role of one of my favourite captains was nice to see. -Focus shifts to Ishida; he seem quite fated. Yoshino has some link to his mother; Jin will direct his attacks at the former Quincy. It's like Ishida's being built up as the lead of this

xxxHOLiC Movie

2006-03-09T22:34:00.000Z

Wow. Tsubasa's film felt like a promo for the new series, but this companion feature is actually a fully-formed story that impresses from all corners. It helps, that, unlike with Tsubasa, we have not seen these characters animated outside brief cameos yet, and that xxxHOLiC is given almost twice the time as its companion. Then there are the styles - both anime look great, as per usual for CLAMP

Jigoku Shoujo: Episode 12

2006-03-09T22:32:00.000Z

I'm not sure if the theme of this episode is meant to be boredom, but it seemed that way to me. While the second half was marginally interesting, most of this episode seemed to star a couple of confused yet paper-thin characters who just couldn't wring a touch of sympathy out of me. Normally, Jigoku is pretty good at making me at least feel that someone suffered what they deserved, or that they

Tsubasa Chronicle Movie

2006-03-08T22:32:00.000Z

I have mixed feelings about this movie. Story-wise, we simply see Syaoran and co. separated in a new world where birds are a major factor, and end up battling the Evil King of the country who wants to use Princess Tomoyo (no relation to Kurogane's) to plunge his world into eternal darkness. As a thirty-five minute long feature, the Tsubasa movie seemed highly compressed, and a lot of events just

Mushishi: Episode 14

2006-03-08T19:22:00.000Z

Why does this series have to always be so good? Not only does each episode look, sound and feel stunning, but the episodic plots are potent mini-dramas in themselves. Add a dash of mysticism and a splash of folklore, and you have my favourite show currently airing. While I've felt that the last few episodes have all been superb, this one just edges above them all. It lacks the natural touch and

Shakugan no Shana: Episode 21

2006-03-07T22:10:00.000Z

Unlike, say, Otome, Shakugan no Shana is dealing fairly well with the transition to final few episodes. Both the Balle Masque plot and the potentially more exciting Love Triangle plot both running at their most intense. While this episode seems like the start of the foreshadowed great migration out of the town, its ending makes it seem even more like that is never going to happen. Instead of

Noein: Episode 17

2006-03-07T22:02:00.000Z

This episode is very much Kosagi's turn. While previously her only personality trait has been her dislike, even hated, of Karasu and Haruka, now she has some time to prove to us that she is a more worthy character than that. Firstly, we see her in La'cryma with Mr. Crumbly Face, who professes that he doesn't care for La'cryma but her. Kuina further paints his goals as to find a timespace where

Shinigami no Ballad - Episode 1 Brief Impressions

2006-03-06T21:37:00.000Z

I've been looking forward to this show since the start of HanTsuki, and it doesn't disapoint with the first episode. Like Jigoku Shoujo, death is the theme of the show, yet it is dealt with in such a different manner that the shows are hard to compare. Visually, Shinigami no Ballad looks like Ichigo Mashimoro grappling Zettai Shounen, a style I personally find to my taste. The story for this

Fate/Stay Night: Episode 9 + Master/Servant Theories

2006-03-06T19:48:00.000Z

The action that Fate/Stay Night promised with the Curtain Raiser finally manifests, here after two months. From the look of this episode, too, it was well worth the wait. Assassin and Saber's duel, despite being broken up by generally interesting exposition, seems to herald the start of the War, as the episode title for next week seems to confirm. After all the development, it's nice to see the

Mai Otome: Episode 21

2006-03-05T21:26:00.000Z

Ah, I remmeber the good ol' days. The time when the epic war-of-the-nations seemed round the corner, and it seemed that Argoss and Fia would try to take control of the world. I can remember thinking "next episode, surely, the conflict will erupt," just as the credits of episode nine rolled. But, as, they didn't. Then came episode forteen - Akane and Kazuya's departure looked like a potential

Mai Otome: This Week's Armitage!

2006-03-05T09:57:00.000Z

For the second installment of the Otome DVDs, we have a look at the days of General Haruka Armitage, set around the time of episodes three to four. As a whole, this short feature seemed much more exciting than the HiME specials, renowned for being little more than pure fanservice a lot of the time. Arika appeared in her old genki glory days here, hopelessly moronic, while Haruka provided her

Mushishi: Episode 13

2006-03-04T09:36:00.000Z

Of all the episodes of Mushishi I've seen, I have to rate this one as the most depressing, and, naturally, one of my favourites due to the emotional tragedy of it. Hana and Zen, especially the former, were both tragic characters for me. Hana seemed to have been loved by no-one apart from Zen, but also had an attachment to her mother, who was using her as a bartering item, and suffered

Winter 2006: Half-Way Rankings

2006-03-03T13:58:00.000Z

Last season had more bunnies :'( I think this year's first quarter of anime has been pretty dull compared to what came before it, and the huge line-up for the spring season ahead. Little has really seemed stunning, and the series I've followed most eagerly have tended to have been continuations from last year. New Series Rankings 1. HanTsuki 2. Binchou-tan 3. Kashimashi 4. Fate/Stay Night 5.

Makai Senki Disgaea - Promo

2006-03-03T13:42:00.000Z

I completely forgot about this show when thinking about what to watch next season, but after this tralier I think I must give it a try, especially considering how much I enjoyed the game back in the days when I actually used to play. The animation style looks both faithful to the game and pretty unique in itself, almost like a cell-shaded video game, and most of the comic elements of the game

Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora

2006-03-02T18:03:00.000Z

At only six episodes, HanTsuki is something of a brief pleasure, the sort of series that would be perfect to watch all at once. The show itself presents as highly dramatically and emotionally developed bittersweet romance through four main characters, and, as an extremely short series, suceeds in being engaging and heart-tugging. Episode 6* Episode 5* Episode 4 Episode 3 Episode 2 Episode 1 *As

Mai-Otome: Episode 20

2006-03-02T10:04:00.000Z

Better late than never, they always say. But with this post, I shall attempt to prove "them" wrong. ;) Instead of ranting/running throught the episode, I'll just address the main points and highlights in a style not copied from Hyousetsu at all, plus add quotes to increase my "Blog Pretention Quota" by 50%. At Ealis "Poor Natsuki isn't really having much luck of late, being burdened with one of

Blogging the Lazy Way, Pt.3

2006-02-27T21:29:00.000Z

Next week I shall get back on track, but for now here's some little digests of some of the episdoes I've seen lately. Noein - Episode 16 Mainly a recap episode, but a good one as far as they go, introducing a few new twists, as every episode of this show does. Any speculation that Noein and Yuu are one and the same seems to be confirmed here, which should make the conflict between Shangri'La,

Expulsion from AnimeBlog Academy

2006-02-25T15:41:00.000Z

Insane dolls cover up all failure It's taken a week, but I've finally summoned up the courage to attempt the ultimate test. Nothing wrong with diveboming into a spectacular defeat, I suppose. :D +1 point for viewable on small monitors +1 point for viewable on cross browsers ---> IE does show a few frays in my template, but I can patch those up +1 point for kawaii banner. Subjective. ---> Is Rin

Bleach: Episode 70

2006-02-24T14:29:00.000Z

Much to my amazement, Bleach keeps getting better and better. Gone is any seriousness as the latest trio of villains hit the screen! Welcome Wrath from FMA, sans beauty! Enter standard priest-like gentleman of EVIL and snakes! Rain salutations upon Archer! All three have escaped from the stock character store, and are ready to terrorize our noble band of heroes for the next few episodes.

Tales of a Lazy Blogger, Pt.2

2006-02-23T19:37:00.000Z

I've done it again. :'( The temptation, alas, was too strong, and so here we have a veritable clip show of increasingly vague glances at some of the last few episodes I have been watching last night and today, all the while sobbing at what a low rating my blog will score on Jason's guide compared to Mangaminx's Lair. I do have enough courage to attempt it tonight, but I feel a crushing F-grade

Ayakashi: Episode 3

2006-02-22T16:02:00.000Z

After part two of this story saw the first stage end and the second begin, this third installment brings characters from episode one back into the story with the purpose of causing yet more casual deaths and setting everything up for a true dose of revenge on Iemon next week. We only have a few scenes with the closest possible character we have to a lead this episode, but he is clearly tortured,

Blogging Backlog Clearance Sale

2006-02-21T14:56:00.000Z

Last time this happened, I swore it wouldn't happen again, but it has, alas, which is a shame because I enjoyed all the episodes featured below. Also of note today is the new layout that took me about two months to implement, so Hopeless am I; I'm not certain at all about the general colour and layout of my edited version of the template, but it'll do for now. Thanks to Problematic for the making

Mai-Otome: Episode 19

2006-02-19T20:49:00.000Z

Mashiro is attacked by a furball who suddenly turns into an oversized monster and prepares to swallow her, but Rado and co. from Aswod appear and hunt the beast, bringing Mashiro back to their village. She wakes up to find Arika and Mikoto are safe and well after the impact of the explosion in episode seventeen caused Arika to be flung out through the desert. Midori reveals some more about her

Shakugan no Shana: Episode 19

2006-02-18T20:45:00.000Z

The Professor's attack at the festival is the backdrop for this episode, but most of the important scenes focus on character relationships. Yuji and Sakai have a brief exchange of admiration before they go their seperate ways; Yuji and Margery both reach Khasmin at the same time, while Kazumi is saved by Shana. Yuji immediatly pours anger on Khasmin for revealing the true nature of the world to

Bleach: 68-69

2006-02-17T23:06:00.000Z

Bleach finally shapes up with this episode! It has everything it lacked - sensual vampires who look strangely like downgraded FMA designs and can summon elemental beasts, Rukia, bishi shounen-ai, shoujo-ai, strange visions of Orihime and Claude, cuddly toy wars, the fact that Urahara was behind it all, a villain not attacking Chad and Orihime because he had eaten enough and Chad in a giant

HanTsuki: Episode 4

2006-02-17T17:44:00.000Z

Nothing in the world will tempt be away from this series! Four out of six episodes in, and it feels like everything is just beginning to take off. Akiko provides some welcome relief this episode, and we see a smidgen more of what makes Natsume behave as he does. The focus, of course, is the relationship between Yuuichi and Rika. We see some rare glimpses of kindness from Rika. Rika's day at

HanTsuki: Episode 3

2006-02-14T22:15:00.000Z

Another day, another episode, and HanTsuki has me pretty much ensared; out of all this season's picks, it rises above the rest for me simply by virtue of the charm and melachony atomosphere of the show. It seems such an honest offering, with a visual style that I found more appealing than the for me extremely disappoinitng Ergo Proxy, the period tapestry of Ayakashi or the iconic designs of Fate

Jigoku Shoujo: Episode 10

2006-02-14T20:10:00.000Z

Episode 10 presented one of the most interesting cases so far, but I found it dull viewing in comparison to some of the previous installments. The two characters created here both suffer (eventual) damnation, and neither of them really deserves it; it's all a case of childhood misunderstanding and fickleness, resulting in one of the two girls sending herself, and eventually her friend, to Hell.

HanTsuki: Episode 2

2006-02-13T19:33:00.000Z

-This image stolen by blogger- To cut most of the details out; Rika discovers the porn collection Yuuichi has inherited, and locks him outside on the roof for the night. Disagreements manipulated by the Doctor cause Yuuichi to lose further face with Rika, until the two meet on the roof and Yuuichi finds out that the Doctor is behind Rika's words. Cue Yuuichi's turn to rage, which results in