Anime Blog

Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas (On-Going)

2010-03-23T04:51:00.000+02:00

The Sacred war tale that took place during the 18th century is now unveiled. Tenma, Alone and Sasha, three orphans living their childhood protecting each other who then separated at different ages made a pact to meet again. They find themselves connected now but in roles they would never see as possible, Pegasus, Hades and Athena.

Genres: action, fantasy AJ have: 10/– Episodes

[Megaupload Folder] http://www.megaupload.com/?f=B1U7B9VY (All 10 links are inside)

[Via http://anything-japan.net]

The Virtual Whirl: News of the Whirl - Massively

To Aru Kagaku no Railgun Episode 24 final, Dear My Friends.

2010-03-21T16:50:00.000+02:00

A Certain Scientific Railgun

Finally, To Aru Kagaku no Railgun has come to an end! Recently on episode 24 of To Aru Kagaku no Railgun aka A Certain Scientific Railgun has just ended, was an awesome episode! You guys should not miss the best part, those fighting scenes and so on. Love the background music that tag along with the fighting scenes.

Snapshots after the break, BEWARE of SPOILERS!

That’s all,

Bye

[Via http://inhearitplay.wordpress.com]

Artnet News: Asia Week 2010, Documenta 13, Yves Klein, ABC No Rio ...

A Statement Regarding Dub Fans

2010-03-21T04:54:00.000+02:00

A Brief Statement

You know, I’ve held myself back for the last couple of months from making this statement. However, no more. The latest hail and then rage against a company has made me snap, so to speak. I’ve had my fill of this fandom, but one portion of the fandom in general. I’m talking of course, about the dub fanatics. Every thread that involves a new company license announcement that is sub-only, the annoying parasites are there. Sure, there exists a moderate faction of dub fans, but they are heavily outnumbered. Then, when a company does decide to dub something, the darn dub fanatics complain or have no interest in the title and would buy such-and-such instead if it was dubbed. Which leads to why I’ve made this post. How can I put this lightly?

Mr. or Mrs. or Miss Dub fanatics, you are parasites. You will kill this industry. Leave us non-radical parasites alone because you are ruining it for the rest of us. You are ruining what used to be a good thing for us all, you are ruining license announcement threads by complaining about it being sub-only. You are a disgusting group of people. Adapt to the sub-only way of life or shut the heck up and let the rest of us be happy. Self-centered little sons of… I think your parents taught you that you can’t have it all. Id they didn’t, I just taught it to you. Get over it and yourselves.

That is all.

-jls

[Via http://thegoldenwaste.wordpress.com]

Fox News disgraces itself with “disrespectful” Obama interview ...

Black Lagoon season 3 announced

2010-03-20T16:23:00.000+02:00

According to Moon Phase Diary, a new OVA season of Black Lagoon will be released by Japanese publisher Shogakukan.

Called Black Lagoon: Roberta’s Blood Trail. the series will debut on DVD and Blu-ray on July 17.

Black Lagoon is about a group of mercenary pirates called Lagoon Company who smuggle goods on the Southeast Asian seas.

To see the opening for the first Black Lagoon series, click here: (Black Lagoon).

[Via http://japangeeks.wordpress.com]

Panasonic announce 2 New portable Digital Viera TVs in Japan ...

Chapter 28: Don't You Forget About Me

2010-03-20T04:47:00.000+02:00

Chapter 28: Don’t You Forget About Me

Shikaku awoke in a hospital bed feeling slightly disoriented but overall very rested. Gingerly he flexed the fingers of his previously crumpled hand. They were stiff but still responsive, no blinding stab of pain like earlier. So, clearly, someone had already gotten started on patching him up. He thought back, he remembered making it back to the border of Konoha with Chouza carrying Yoshino most of the way, Inoichi occassionally carrying to give him a rest.

She had flickered in and out of consciousness, especially more toward the end so he had actually begun to hope that the antidote might reverse the fever, or at least slow it down enough so that they could get her into the hospital back home.

They had crossed the border into Konoha and been met by a standard security patrol who whisked them all directly to the hospital. After that it was pretty much a blur. He remembered being frantic about them seeing to Yoshino first, remembered medical attendants fussing over him, too and also vaguely recalling the ashen look Inoichi had developed now that they were in out of the darkness and under the bright lights in the hospital. Inoichi had kept waving the attendents off until he swayed himself and only CHouza kept him from falling to the ground. The red-head folded him up into a chair and told him to sit still and shut up or else he would sit on him.

There was no one else in the room with him. Shikaku started to get up. He had to know what had happened to Yoshino and Inoichi. He caught the side of the bed and that was all that kept him from crashing to the floor. He was weaker than he thought, weak as a kitten. Using that much chakra back at the coast and then the fast pace back to Konoha running only on adrenaline had left him completely drained.

He saw the mane of red hair before Chouza poked his head in the door way. “Shikaku! Good to see you up. How are you feeling?” His friend greeted him as he entered the room.

“Okay, I guess. But how’s Yoshino? How’s Inoichi? And what in the hell were you two doing?” He started to rise again and then realized that he did not want to pass out in the hospital room and have Chouza catch him, too. So he quickly sat back in the bed and motioned for Chouza to take the chair beside him.

“They’re both fine. Yoshino’s sleeping, mostly, she’ll be fine but she needs a lot of rest they say. Inoichi’s gonna be back to normal soon, too. He’s just got one helluva splitting headache for now.”

“Well? Why is that?” Shikaku asked, waiting for his friend to begin to fill him in.

“Well, ah, you see…”

“He took it, didn’t he?” Shikaku asked bitterly. He couldn’t believe his friend would have been so stupid. “He took the jutsu enhancing drug didn’t he?”

Chouza nodded. “Yes. No, wait. Yes he did, but he took Tsunade’s version of it. That is, Tsunade and Orochimaru’s version.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” Shikaku asked. “What version?”

“Well, ah, apparently, she and Orochimaru had made some progress on a way to circumvent the addictive properties. And,” here he shrugged, “I guess it works as advertised. You saw it, I saw it. You gotta admit, Inoichi was pretty fucking amazing.”

Shikaku was going to kick Inoichi’s ass. When the hell did he going around volunteering to be a lab rat?

“Anyway,” Chouza continued, “if it’s no longer addictive, I don’t think anybody will have to worry about it being habit forming any time soon, either. Inoichi is barfing his guts up in his hospital room as well as, and I quote, ’suffering throught the worst fucking-with-a-capital-F headache’ he’s ever experienced.”

A light tap at his door and Shikaku looked up and recognized two of his clan’s elders. He shot a glance over at Chouza who mumbled an answer back to his unasked question.

“Err, yeah, sorry about that Shikaku. You were pretty fucking amazing, too. I, err, guess I blabbed too much about it while I was waiting on you in surgery. I reckon that’s what they’re here to talk to you about.”

Shikaku scowled at his friend’s retreating backside, then tried to properly and politely greet his new visitors. He then spent the next two hours convincing them that his friend from the Akamichi clan had been overly effusive in describing the situation. Chouza had been down on the ground, it was dark the angle of observation must have made the cliffs seem much higher than they actually were, of course he was holding Yoshino when they both slipped over the cliff, overtaking her and catching her the way Akamichi described was preposterous, didn’t they think?

After an exhausting interview, the two older men reluctantly left to let him return to his rest. As he watched them turn down the hall, Shikaku was just about to put his feet on the floor and make another attempt at searching out Yoshino and Inoichi when he heard a noise at his window and turned to see Jiraiya entering his room through that portal.

“So how’re you feeling, Shikaku?” the older man greeted him.

“I’m fine, the better question is how did we do last night, all of us?”

Jiraiya grinned, “It was a success, all the targets were taken out, unfortunately we lost one man, but we achieved the main objective. Koharu’s got a pile of paperwork from all three sites she can sit on and hint at its existence. It’s enough to make everybody even remotely involved in it stay really really quiet for a long time.”

“So, what exactly did we do last night?” hating to even ask the question, ashamed to admit it, but Mugato’s declarations that what they were doing would trigger a new war were unsettling to say the least to Shikaku. “Did we start a war?”

“No. If anything we prevented one. At the very least delayed it for a long time.”

“How so?”

“There’s no one obvious to blame. All three nations suffered an attack last night. Amegekure could hardly call it an act of war if Konoha suffered an attack on the same scale, in the same night now could they? So they can sit around pointing fingers at each other all they want to, but no one’s really going to have any impetus to declare a war.”

He continued. “The other good thing is that everyday people are at least a little bit suspicious now, they are at some level, now aware that non-nation entities, or let’s call them extra-governmental entities, are capable of organizing something of this scope. Of course what they’re going to be concentrating on are the three sites that were attacked last night – since for all public information purposes those three were each legitimate installations of their respective governments. Never really realizing that the destruction of those site actually thwarted the goals of the true extra-governmental entities – the ones that set up their black shadow operations under the auspices of those labs. But at least it’s a start, it will get people thinking and talking I hope.”

Shikaku grumbled something that could be taken as reluctant acceptance of the explanation he’d just been given. “So did we really accomplish anything? Did we get rid of the bad guys?” Emphasis on the word bad made it sound like the childish and simplistic view of things Shikaku realized it was.

Jiraiya nodded. “Yeah, we got rid of them. But there’ll always be somebody ready to step in and take their place. That’s what you have to watch out for now.”

“So, which team lost a man? Who was it?” Shikaku asked.

“Orochimaru’s team. They lost Miterashi.”

Shikaku sat quietly absorbing this for a moment. That was the husband of Yoshino’s friend. That would leave their little girl an orphan.

“But enough about us,” Jiraiya said, interrupting his thoughts, “let’s talk about you. I heard you were pretty spectacular last night. Maybe Tsunade really does see something in you after all.”

Shikaku’s ears pricked up. That was the second time he’d heard that expression. What the hell? He answered in reply, “Chouza talks too much, he’s prone to exaggeration.”

“Hn, yes, must be. Because what he described would require a LOT of chakra and a tremendous level of chakra control, certainly nothing in your mission reports ever indicated you were capable of anything like that.”

“Maybe nothing in those missions ever required anything like that,” he answered coolly. “Now since we’re talking about me, let me ask you a question, what do you mean Tsunade sees something in me?”

Cocking his head sideways just a little, puzzled, Jiraiya asked him, “You really don’t know? You haven’t figured it out?”

Shikaku shook his head, honestly, he didn’t know what the sannin was driving at.

“You’re her fallback guy. Oh, don’t get your hopes up, I don’t mean in a romantic sense. I mean she begins to see more clearly the weaknesses Dan would bring to the Hokage-ship. Weaknesses she always thought she could help him to overcome by being there for him, with him, sort of as a co-Hokage since in this day and age she herself would never be chosen even though by all rights she should be.”

Shikaku sat still in his hospital bed, listening as Jiraiya had more to say. “From her perspective you bring, or allow her to bring a lot to the table. You’re Nara , your clan alone brings its own gravitas. You’re an accomplished jounin, a brilliant strategist, serving with distinction in battle, although not too much distinction…I must say. And I wonder, after hearing what I did from Chouza, if that’s calculated on your part?”

Shikaku was now very still in his hospital bed, trying his damnedest to not blush furiously like a twelve-year-old kunoichi who’d had her first kiss. He felt…out-ed. He shifted uncomfortably and cleared his throat. “Well, I might have been trying to keep a low profile…”

Jiraiya laughed with warmth, then, companionably. “She’ll be after you, you know. She’ll try to pick you up and shake you out and smooth out your rough edges. And Tsunade can be very persuasive when she wants to be.”

“So how many votes could you count on on the council?”

“At least one.” Jiraiya grinned, “And here’s a tip for you. The queen is just a pawn herself after all, but with fancier moves. Tsunade would support you, covertly, through other council members because she still loves him and won’t politically abandon Dan outright . And…Koharu will support you if I tell her you want to pursue it.”

“And Minato?”

“Minato has Sarutobi’s support,” Jiraiya answered flatly.

Shikaku shook his head. “No. No, I’ve spent the last eight years lying low. This doesn’t fit in my plan. And besides, what I did last night, I’m not even sure if I could do it again. You were right. It really is all about the girl.”

Jiraiya clapped him on the shoulder, “That’s what I thought you’d say, but I still had to let you know. Well, see you around. I’ve got a couple more goodbyes to say.”

“Tsunade?”

Jiraiya didn’t turn around as he left by the room door heading down the hall. He simply called back, “No, I’ve already told her goodbye.”

Walking on down the hall, Jiraiya came across Orochimaru just exiting Inoichi’s room.

“Is he going to be okay?” he asked his dark-haired teammate.

“Oh, yes. He’ll be fine. A massive headache. I don’t think he’ll be wanting to repeat the experience any time soon, but there is no damage physically or neurologically. You know, the effects of that are more remarkable than I would have thought possible. Imagine being able to unlock kekkai-genkai that are recessive or possibly even heretofore unknown jutsu locked up in junk dna somehow…”

Jiraiya held up one hand to slow his friend’s rapid speech. “Orochimaru, I’m leaving,” he said plainly.

“Now?”

“Yes. Now. I just came…to say goodbye.”

There was a long pause between the two friends and Jiraiya filled it. “I heard you lost a man last night. Miterashi, wasn’t it?”

“Yes. A good man. I’d worked with him on several missions before. A reliable shinobi.”

“His wife was the one who died a few weeks ago, right? From the fever?”

Orochimaru simply nodded. He knew Jiraiya was expecting, coaching him to say something and he just couldn’t come up with the right words.

“They had a daughter, Orochimaru. She’s four. She’ll grow up an orphan. We both know what that’s like…”

“Miterashi had a large family. I’m sure her experience as an orphan will be far different than ours.”

“But still, Orochimaru…”

“Fine, I can sponsor her to the Academy.”

After a moment of silence, Jiraiya spoke. “That would be a nice thing to do.”

Another long pause then Orochimaru added, “You see, I feel like I should feel something about Miterashi. But I just don’t. Why is that Jiraiya? At least when you are here, I can mimic the social expections based on yours. If you’re gone I don’t…Sometimes I wonder if… Can’t you stay?”

“There’s nothing for me here, anymore, Orochimaru.” Jiraiya responded. Orochimaru’s jaw clenched but he merely nodded. “But you could come with me,” Jiraiya added.

Orochimaru forced a small smile. “I don’t think I was made to be a wandering monk, traveling the open road, Jiraiya. My place is here.”

“Well, goodbye then, Orochimaru,” Jiraiya said and he embraced his friend like a brother then turned and walked back down the hall.

As his teammate walked away, Orochimaru was struck not for the first time by his mane of white hair. Idly he wondered if it was a badge of purity of purpose or simply a white flag of surrender.

Back in his room, Shikaku hesitantly tried standing again. He was much more stable on his feet this time. He decided to go down the hall, looking for Yoshino’s room. It didn’t take him long to find it. She was only a few doors down from him. When he first entered the room, she was sleeping. He just stood and watched her for a few minutes, unable to believe and unbelievably grateful that she was here, right in front of him.

Her eyelids fluttered open and she smiled up at him. “Hey,” she whispered softly.

Shikaku walked over and sat down on the edge of the bed beside her, holding one of her hands in his and kissing her on the top of the head. “Hey yourself. How are you feeling?”

She shrugged, “You name it, tired, exhausted, weak. Bleah, whatever it was it sure packed a punch. Plus,” she said grinning up at him, “I can’t get any sleep – I keep having visitors.”

“Oh, I can come back later,” he teased, starting to rise from the bedside.

“No, stay,” she said, tugging weakly at his hand and he sat down again beside her.

“So,” he asked,”who’s been interrupting your sleep?”

She laughed,” You wouldn’t believe it. Chouza, of course, then Jiraiya, then even a couple of guys from your clan, asking me stuff about what happened last night. I had to just tell them that it all seemed like a dream to me, I really don’t remember much of it.”

Shikaku sighed, “My big chance to be your hero and you don’t even remember it?”

“Wellll,” Yoshino said slyly, “that’s what I told them.” She stopped for a moment then continued, looking up at him with her eyes so soft and dark. “But what I do remember is that I was falling. And would have died. But you were there.”

Shikaku leaned forward then and kissed her very softly on the lips. “So who else came?”

“Koharu did. She came down here to see me. She said that when I got out of here, if I wanted to, I could stay staffed to her office. I don’t know. I loved what I did for her, but it was only for a couple of weeks. I don’t know what it would be like to not take missions for an extended period of time but just to stay staffed to that one office. But I did like working for her. “

“Wow,” he said, not quite knowing what to make of that.

Yoshino giggled then and added “And one more person came by, it was the headmaster from the Academy. Seems like I have an aptitude for keeping the younger students in line so they wanted to know if I’d consider taking an assignment there when I got out.”

“Guess you told them no?” he asked.

“Not yet. I mean, I know I grumble and complain about it, but it is something I’m good at and I don’t mind it as much as I let on.” She shifted in the bed, straightening her pillow so that she could sit up a little better. “It’s just that, I don’t know what I want to do. I don’t know where I want to be,” she added.

He gave her a half smile and said, “I thought you would have figured it out by now.”

“What? Do you know where I’m supposed to be?” she asked, arching an eyebrow at him.

Leaning forward and kissing her again, he whispered, “With me.”

[Via http://lovesrainscent.wordpress.com]

Acer to globally debut Calpella Timeline notebooks March 22

Kimi ni Todoke – 23

2010-03-18T15:58:00.000+02:00

Sawako spends the last few days of the year together with her friends.

The slow pacing is very well done in this episode, and it almost felt that the finale, in how they re-introduced all the characters again, except that we all know this is just a buildup to the actual final episode. It is lovely to see how Sawako’s relationship with the class has progressed since the first episode when she is deemed as a live walking horror story. Yano and Yoshida are sooooooooooooooooooo sweet too, with how they try to give Kazehaya and Sawako an opportunity to be alone together. Yano especially displays her understanding of Sawako in how she defends the pair by pretending to be the one inviting her to the party, knowing that revealing the truth would only worsen Sawako’s current state.

Looks like next episode will be an awwwwwwwwwwww and kyaaaaaaaaaaaa and soooooooo sweeeeeeeeeeeet episode as Sawako spends her birthday alone with Kazehaya. At least I hope he does something special for her.

[Via http://rinerei.wordpress.com]

Fox News Interviews The Prez!!! FOX NEWS! | PerezHilton.com

Tatakau Shisho – The Book of Bantorra after episode 24

2010-03-18T04:24:00.000+02:00

Spoilers ahead. The whole world against Bantorra library, a hate generating lizard, an entity producing snow that makes everyone but a select few fall asleep, and suddenly a giant grasshopper! The plot line was already becoming quite opaque by the late teen episodes, and I was hoping these past few episodes would answer more questions. But alas, it produced more instead, much more. It feels like the writer(s) is pulling stuff out of where the sun does not shine just to keep things interesting. Well, interesting yes, but does it make sense? Not so much. I have long since given up trying to figure out The Book of Bantorra’s story. I am sure there is some very convoluted explanation to all of these out-of-nowhere developments, but frankly, I do not care anymore. Which is a shame, because I rather I like the show’s characters. Oh well, there is just a few more episodes left of The Book of Rand…Bantorra.

[Via http://muirwoods.wordpress.com]

Hacker News Just Banned Google And Every Other Search Engine

Monster: Birinci sınıf bir polisiye, başka türlü bir gerilim

2010-03-16T04:55:00.000+02:00

Monster en sevdiğim anime olsa da tavsiye isteyenlere bu serinin adını hayatta vermem. Hem insanların kafasında oturmuş ‘anime çizim tarzı’ndan farklı, hem biraz uzunca, hem de epey ciddi bir seri. Bir de ne yalan söyleyeyim kıskandığım için bu seriyi tavsiye etmem, başkalarının Monster’ın değerini benim gibi bilemeyeceğini düşünüyorum.

Hayatını kurtardığınız çocuğun durdurulamaz bir seri katile dönüşeceğini bilseniz yine de onu kurtarır mıydınız? Bu o kadar zor bir soru değil, bence bir çocuğun hayatı ve suçları hakkında böyle bir yargıya varma hakkınız olmadığı için ne olursa olsun onu kurtarmalısınız. Zor soru şimdi geliyor: Bu çocuğun işleyeceği bütün cinayetlerde sizin de sorumluluğunuz olmaz mı? Sonuçta eğer siz olmasaydınız çocuk ölecek ve onun kurbanı olan tüm insanlar hala yaşıyor olacaktı. Daha fazla insanın ölmemesi için bu ‘canavar’a verdiğiniz hayatı geri alma görevini üstlenir misiniz? Cevap evetse onu hiç hayata döndürmemiş olmak daha iyi olmaz mıydı? Ama hani ne olursa olsun bir çocuğu ölüme terketmek yanlıştı? İşte 74 bölüm boyunca ben bu paradoksun içinden çıkamadım ve hala daha çözümü bulmuş değilim.

Konuyu kısaca özetlemek istiyorum ama maaşallah öyle kompleks bir konu var ki en kısa özet bile paragraflar alacaktır. Hikayemiz 80′lerin ortasında Batı Almanya’da başlar. Dr. Tenma Kenzo Almanya’da çalışan genç bir Japon beyin cerrahıdır. Müthiş başarılı bir cerrahtır, öyle böyle değil, tam bir dahidir. Kariyeri çok parlak, önü çok açıktır, üstelik çalıştığı hastanenin sahibinin güzel(!) kızıyla nişanlıdır. Kenzo bir gün hastaneye beyninden vurulmuş olarak getirilen küçük bir çocuğun ameliyatına girmek üzereyken kendisine çocuğu bırakıp sonradan getirilen ünlü bir opera sanatçısının ameliyatına girmesi söylenir. Kenzo vicdanının sesini dinler ve prestijlerine göre hastalar arasında ayrım yapılmasına karşı çıkar. Kariyeri pahasına küçük çocuğun hayatını kurtarmayı seçer. Çocuk kurtulur ama bu hareketi nedeniyle Kenzo’nun ataması durdurulur, kariyerinde ilerlemesi engellenir, nişanlısı onu terkeder. Üstüne üstlük -Kenzo henüz bunu bilmese de- hayatını kurtardığı çocuk gerçek bir canavardır.

Çocuk Kenzo’nun ilerlemesini engelleyen doktorları öldürür ve kayıplara karışır. Bundan sonra sonuna kadar Kenzo’nun peşini bırakmayacak olan ürkütücü dedektif Lunge’nin gözünde Kenzo bir numaralı zanlı haline gelir çünkü kimse bir çocuktan şüphelenmemektedir.

Çocuğun adı Johan’dır ve Kenzo’yla bir sonraki karşılaşmaları Johan 18 yaşına geldiğinde olur. Bu zamana kadar pek çok cinayet işlemiştir ve işlemeye devam etmektedir. Kenzo Johan’ın peşine düştüğü için bir şekilde bütün cinayetlerden o sorumlu tutulur. Polis Johan diye birinin var olduğuna bile inanmamaktadır. Johan öylesine şeytani bir dehaya sahiptir ki, kendini adeta bir hayalete dönüştürmüştür, varlığına dair tüm kanıtları silmiştir. Son derece yakışıklı, karizmatik ve insanları çok rahat etkisi altına alabilen bir insandır Johan. Neo-Nazileri bile parmağında oynatmaktadır. Onlar Johan’ın geleceğin Hitler’i olmasını bekleseler de onun hiç de böyle politik planları yoktur, allahın sosyopatı işte. Zavallı, sevecen, yumuşak başlı Kenzo’nun hayatı yıllar önce verdiği ahlaken son derece doğru olan bir karar yüzünden darmadağın olmuştur. Artık ömrünü polisten kaçarak ve Johan’ı kovalayarak, daha doğrusu onun kurduğu oyunu oynayarak geçirecektir.

O kadar mükemmel, o kadar yoğun ve karmaşk bir hikayedir ki Monster, bölümler boyu Kenzo’nun Johan’ın geçmişini kazmasını izledikten sonra bile hayretler içinde “Johan’a dair tek bildiğim bi bok bilmediğimdir” dedirtir. Johan ve Kenzo zaten şahane karakterler bir de kendisine gıcık olsam da sağlam bir karakter olduğunu itiraf etmek zorunda olduğum dedektif Lunge var. Daha ilk gördüğüm anda tırsmıştım bu Lunge’den ve Kenzo’nun başına bela olacağını anlamıştım. Ben bu adamı yolda görsem kaçarım, korkunç bir yüz ifadesi var. Sorgulama sırasında parmaklarını sanki klavyenin tuşları üzerinde gezdiriyormuş gibi oynatıyor, bu şekilde edindiği bilgileri beynine yazıyormuş. Bir de kendini zanlının yerine mükemmel bir şekilde koyabiliyor, peşinde olduğu kişiyi anlayabilmek için günlük hayatını o kişi gibi yaşıyor. Yine de bu kadar mükemmel bir dedektif olmasına rağmen Johan’ın Kenzo’nun kafasında yarattığı bir kişilik olduğu fikrine nasıl sağlanıp kaldı inanılır gibi değil. Zaten bütün seri boyunca Alman polisi rezil haldeydi. (Alman doktorları konusuna hiç girmiyorum) Allah aşkına 90′lar Almanya’sında bir Japonu bulmak ne kadar zor olabilir, yıllarca Kenzo’yu yakalayamadılar.

Kenzo çok düzgün bir insan olmasına rağmen nedense çevresi hasta ruhlu insanlarla dolu. Kovaladığı adam manyak, kendisini kovalayan polis manyak, eski nişanlısı apayrı bir manyak. Böyle korkunç bir kadın olamaz. Hem Kenzo’yu terk ediyor, hem de kendisine geri dönmedi diye intikam peşinde koşuyor. Hem Kenzo’ya aşık, hem de hapislerde çürüsün istiyor. Hele ki Kenzo’yla birlikte oldukları dönemlerdeki anılarını gösterdikleri bölümlerde gördüklerime inanamadım, böyle bir kadınla nişanlanmak için nasıl bir mazoşist olmak gerek bilmiyorum. Bi de böyle gözlerini kısmıyor mu… çok fena ya! Ama sonradan sonraya o da çetin ceviz olduğunu gösterdi.

Monster öyle kanla ya da dıırım dıırım diye alttan alttan gelen müzikle değil de zekice kurgusuyla geriyor izleyiciyi. Öyle olaylar, öyle gelişmeler oluyor ki nefesimi tutup izlediğim ya da dayanamayıp alkışladığım sahneler olmuştur. Johan’ın soğuk kanlılığı beni en çok ürküten şeylerden biri. Hele o nazik gülüşü ve sakin ses tonu inanılır gibi değil ama kendisini daha da korkunç yapıyor. Sanki insan üstü bir varlıkmış ve asla durdurulamazmış gibi görünüyor.

Seri de en çok hoşuma giden şeylerden biri bütün hikayenin Johan’ı derinden etkilemiş olan “İsmi olmayan canavar” adlı çocuk hikayesiyle son derece şiirsel bir paralellik kurması. Bütün seri boyunca bitiş videolarında yavaş yavaş bu hikaye anlatılıyor. Monster’ın açılış videosu da ayrı bir güzellik. Çok güzel, ilahiyi andıran bir müzik eşliğinde, çok sade bir video. Serinin ağırbaşlılığını çok güzel yansıtıyor.

Aşağıya Monster’ın açılış videosunu, onun altına da çok beğendiğim bir amv’yi koyuyorum. Rammstein’ın Sonne şarkısı kullanılmış (hastası olduğum bir şarkıdır) sözlerin Almanca olması da çok güzel uymuş. Yalnız spoiler içerir o yüzden seriyi izlemeyi düşünenler alttaki videoyu şimdilik izlemesin.

[Via http://ictenchan.wordpress.com]

Ubi to consider Splinter Cell DLC later News | Eurogamer

Bleach

2010-03-14T16:31:00.000+02:00

-BANKAI !!!-

What it do.

Since Callum told you about the show he watch, i like to share a lil some some about the serie i watch.

Bleach is a Japanese manga series. It follows the adventueres of a boy called Kurosaki Ichigo after he accedentally obtained the powers of a Soul Reaper, a Death personification similar to the Grim Reaper. I said that this is a manga, but there is also a Anime version and that’s the one i watch. It may be a bit childish, but it’s really cool to watch it. There is a lot of action going on and you feel quite dragged into the story. If y’all got some time, go check it out!

Here is a link to a good site to watch the episodes.

http://bleachget.com

- This is a post by Explicitafto -

[Via http://iamhangover.wordpress.com]

Citigroup's Good News, Not so Great - The Curious Capitalist ...

Yumeiro Patissiere Episode 23 Summary

2010-03-14T02:27:00.000+02:00

New Yumeiro Patissiere Episode is up!

Title: Ichigo Illusion?

This episode was very great but of course, I won’t tell you the ending xD. This episode starts out with the circus arriving in Japan and Andoh inviting the whole A group to see the show with him and his brother Ichita. After the circus show ended Ichigo and Ichita get lost and bump into Amelie, a performer in the circus, who shows them around. Ichigo later finds out that Amelie doesn’t like carrots and Ichita doesn’t like spinach so she makes it her mission to make a sweet filled with these two vegetables to make them like them.

Find out the rest by watching it!

[Via http://sweettaffy.wordpress.com]

Fox News Plucks 'Back Wax' Ad From YouTube

Durarara!! - 10

2010-03-13T16:32:00.000+02:00

Well now, this was a very interesting episode! Mikado is in the narrators chair and nothing much happened for the most part, but subtle hints dropped here and there and the final few minutes gave lots of food for thought.

Picking up from when Mikado ran into Scar-ty last episode, we get a slightly longer chase sequence and then cut to that night with Mikado and Masaomi talking in Mikado’s room while Scar-ty sleeps behind them. Masaomi seems to feel that Mikado’s encounter with Mikado is like something out of fiction, especially since she’s an amnesiac! Once Masaomi leaves Mikado reflects that he’s always longed for a more exciting life.

Next day at school Masaomi barges into Mikado’s classroom announcing to all that Mikado has a pretty girl with memory loss hidden in his room – no one believes him Masaomi then produces a sheet that’s been doing the rounds in his class with a list of names and votes – seems guessing who’s a member of Dollars is a new fad in school. Masaomi himself has quite a few votes, but Mikado zero’s in on a name that only has the one vote – from Masaomi as it turns out. The two of them head to the roof to meet this suspected Dollars member, Masaomi just bluntly asks the question and the fella confirms that yes he is a member of Dollars.

We get confirmation of what we already know about Dollars from the Otaku Quartet episode as Mikado asks numerous questions. The Dollars are again described as ‘colourless’ gang in contrast to the ‘Color Gangs’ like the Yellow Scarves and Blue Squares (Masaomi got a very serious expression when these were mentioned, quickly changing the subject……another hint that perhaps he was a member of the Blue Squares at one point?). Once they all head back to class, Mikado reflects that he won’t tell anyone about roof-guy being a Dollars member – only those that ask have a right to know.

After school Masaomi gets caught up in a meeting and Anri and Mikado head for home. Anri makes a comment about knowing Mikado before they properly met, which sends him into a paranoid daydream were Anri is a stalker out to harm him (although that may be ok since she’s pretty)! Turns out she was just teasing him.

Waiting at the gates for Mikado are a pair of stereotypical gang members. The girl turns out to be the one that got her mobile phone stomped on by Izaya While she and her boyfriend are busy threatening Mikado, another couple looking for him show up – Izaya and Celty. Celty makes short work of the boyfriend (and Izaya jumps up and down on his back with childlike glee), and the girl runs off in tears.

Mikado leaves Anri and tries to get away from Izaya and Celty, but they follow him home. Izaya is all kinds of awesome, following after Mikado with Celty, making motorbike noises with a delighted smile on his face the fella is just fun to watch!

Eventually Mikado stops and decides to talk to the two of them. Izaya retreats to take a phone call allowing Celty to talk to Mikado first. Celty claims that Scar-ty is a relative in the worst lie ever, Mikado asks her to prove who she is – wanting to see if the rumour that she’s headless is true. Celty consents and Mikado gets this expression of pure joy that’s a bit creepy. Celty tells him her whole back story and Mikado believes it all, and then agrees to try to convince Scar-ty to see Celty.

Elsewhere we join the Otaku Quartet outside Yagiri Pharmaceuticals. Seems Dota-chin has convinced the others to continue staking out the place. A van pulls out, causing a piece of gravel to mark Togusa’s precious mini-van prompting him to attempt to persue the van (unfortunately they run into a red-light). Erika and Walker discussing Railgun (or Index maybe?) in the backseat was a nice detail.

Over at Mikado’s apartment complex, he asks Celty and Izaya to wait outside while he goes to talk to Scar-ty. However when he gets into his room he finds Scar-ty missing and gets attacked by two mysterious men who demand to know where Scar-ty has gone. Outside Izaya remarks to Celty that he’s never heard her name or story before and finds it all quite interesting. They both realise that Mikado is taking quite a long time and decide to see whats going on. Bursting into the room they scare off the men, who take off in a cleaning van. Izaya remarks that there’s no point following them as he already knows that they’re from Yagiri Pharmaceuticals.

Once Mikado hears that he starts to connect all the pieces of information he’s heard over the course of the story. He immediately sits down in front of his computer and with some hardcore Death Note like mouse movements, logs into a chatroom using the password ‘baccano’ – the Dollars chatroom! Izaya looks on with an amused but knowing smile, seems that he wasnt looking for Mikado because he was sheltering Scar-ty, but for his own reasons. Mikado faces the two of them with a very different and confident attitude, asking them to aid him as all the pieces are now in his hands.

Thoughts: Right I got my Mikado episode now its time for wild speculation! I believe that we have the three chatters identities confirmed now – they are Mikado, Celty and Izaya and they’re chatting on the Dollars website. Of course these three don’t know that they’ve been talking to each other at this stage, but its interesting to see them interact IRL. Mikado took on a completely different personality once he was on the Dollars site and had his phone going. We know that he’s been longing for ‘connections’ and that he’s really interested in other peoples opinions of the Dollars gang – could this be because he’s actually the person that created them? At the very end Izaya seems to have confirmed something for himself saying “I was half-skeptical at first, but jackpot”.

I never really thought that Izaya was the leader of Dollars, it was a bit too obvious and I couldn’t really see him setting up an organisation with that amount of anonymity and freedom, although as an information broker being a member would be a great resource for him. However Izaya has been interested in Mikado since they first met, which I couldn’t understand to start with – but if he had a suspicion that Mikado was the leader of Dollars it would make lots of sense!

Mikado himself says that he hated living an ordinary life and wanted something to set him apart from the rest, and in the preview he says “I had no idea that desire would end up affecting the destinies of so many people” – what else could he have done that would affect a large amount of people but connect them all through the Dollars organisation that he created?

Next week it seems the narration duties stay with Mikado – I’m dying to find out whats going on!

[Via http://caraniel.wordpress.com]

News From Across The Pond: Jennifer Aniston Says She Would Happily ...

Baka to Test to Shōkanjū – 10

2010-03-13T04:43:00.000+02:00

FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF. I must have died and gone to heaven.

Save me, Hideyoshi nurse!!!!!

FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF

Hideyoshi’s long-forgotten sister. But really, who cares? Just imagine her to be Hideyoshi in seifuku and all will be well.

Fail traps. Someone should photoshop Hideyoshi’s head on them instead.

[Via http://rinerei.wordpress.com]

Hot Air » Blog Archive » Good news: “Under God” clause in pledge ...

Kimi ni Todoke – 22

2010-03-11T16:14:00.000+02:00

X’mas is coming to town~

Not sure if others find this episode as touching and heartwarming as I did, but I admit to being teary before the end of it.

First things first, the animation in this episode is really pretty, especially the snow (hence the picture overload). Production I.G. is definitely proving that it can do snow + town scenes as well as Kyoto Animation can during their Key works. I might have touched on this before, but the background music is as beautiful as the animation is. Turning our attention back to the story, this episode does an excellent job in displaying Sawako’s dilemma in choosing between her family and her new-found friends. This definitely can’t be helped, since her family is all that she has before this year, so spending X’mas together is something that is taken for granted by her parents, especially since it holds so much meaning, memories and emotions for them. On the other hand, Sawako would want to experience her first X’mas with her treasured friends and Kazehaya too.

Remember how I have been shouting at Kazehaya to confess and date Sawako? Now I no longer feel the same as before. Kazehaya and Sawako seem to have this delicate bond of love and respect, and I doubt being attached is going to strength this bond. In fact, it might even weaken it since Sawako would be too nervous to face Kazehaya directly. As such, I’m starting to realise that the current relationship seems most ideal for Sawako at this moment while she first gets accustomed to interacting with other people around her.

PS: I want this!!! Will someone buy one for me…

[Via http://rinerei.wordpress.com]

Memo puts WGN news staffers at a loss for words | Feder | blogs ...

Col. Hughes

2010-03-11T04:07:00.000+02:00

There are few fictional characters that I love more than Maes Hughes from Fullmetal Alchemist. Even though he appears for only a short time, he is the subject of countless fan creations (some of which appear above). Even when he becomes a Nazi in The Conqueror of Shambala, we still love him. Hughes is just plain awesome, just watch out for the knives.

[Via http://hypersquall.wordpress.com]

Promising competition. (Scripting News)

Yui Dominates Otaku Wife Rankings

2010-03-09T16:40:00.000+02:00

Quoted:

Readers of otaku rag Animage can’t help but notice moeblob Yui Hirasawa’s overpowering domination of the “Character Best” monthly wife rankings, only being edged out of the top spot on one occasion by Sheryl Nome.

Even Mio is powerless against the weight of Yui’s onslaught it seems.

I can understand if it’s Ui. Or even Mio. Or Mugi. Or Azunyan. Or even Ritsu. But Yui?! I have serious doubts as to whether she’ll be fine on her own if Ui ever falls ill. It’ll be like leaving Chihara Minori alone in her house and then receiving blog updates on how she has melted yet another kettle.

I’m surprised otakus don’t exactly vote Konata as their waifu though. I mean, she would definitely hold no prejudice against their interests; heck, she would even enjoy them in playing 2D adult games and online gaming, and I’m sure she would be happy to cosplay for the fun of it.

Personally, I want a Hinagiku to cuddle up to. If only I can get my hands on a decent dakimakura….

[Via http://rinerei.wordpress.com]

Disney's deal with Cablevision is good news for broadcasters ...

Patlabor WXIII - The Movie (2002)

2010-03-09T04:37:00.000+02:00

The 3rd Patlabor movie. Veteran police detective Kusumi and his young partner Hata search for the cause of several deadly labor accidents in and around Tokyo Bay. Each detective applies their own style of investigation and they soon uncover a labyrinth of deceit with connections to the Japanese and American militaries! As they continue their investigation, Kusumi begins to suspect Hata’s new girlfriend, Saeko, a genetic research scientist may be involved. However, neither is prepared for the brutal truth and must work with the military to lure the perpetrator into a showdown with the Patlabors of Special Vehicle Unit 2!

This is an interesting anime movie set in the Patlabor universe but it just didn’t do that much for me. It kept me entertained but I don’t think I’d want to watch it again. The animation is really good and so is the soundtrack. The storyline is intriguing. I think most Patlabor fans will be disappointed more than anything after seeing this because it’s more of a character driven movie rather than the mecha.

Sadako’s Rating: 2.5 out of 5

[Via http://asianflixs.wordpress.com]

News just in: Philip Langridge has died - Slipped disc

Project Saber: Armor Prep

2010-03-06T04:35:00.000+02:00

Today I worked on prepping the black undercoat on the other pieces that will painted with Alclad II Polished Aluminum.

Nice glossy finish and I haven't even sprayed on the clear coat.

Since I had some left over black I went back to the leg and detailed it more.

After airbrushing the black in I went over it again with metallic paint to blend it for a more subtle effect.

[Via http://wooys.wordpress.com]

The Fox News story that nearly sank a Bush presidency before it ...

Fixed Shakugan no Shana XP Themes & A Few New Ones

2010-03-04T04:01:00.000+02:00

Last week a friend of mine had a laptop pretty much (literally) fall into his hands; the techs were too incompetent to fix it and were going to toss it. Long story short I fixed it without having to yank any hardware out. In setting it up I used it as a guinea pig and found some bugs I’d previously missed.

First problem was the UXTheme wasn’t only applying half the theme, would change everything but the window colors and buttons. This ultimately led to finding a new solution with a different app – UXTender. If you had problems with the theme not applying correctly, download one of the updated themes and that program should resolve the problem.

The start menu images either worked perfect, or the images got stretched incorrectly. I was able to re-create the situation half the time, rather than pulling my hair out just wrote it off as a hidden Windows “feature”. I fixed that problem with the second theme I put up, and now went back to fix the original and add a new theme as well. Here’s everything I’ve got so far:

Fixed Twintails Shana Sitting

This is the fixed version of the original theme, unless you cram like 10+ programs into the left menu it should work smoothly now. You can download the fixed one here.

Twintails Shana With Mathilde

While scrolling through my Shana images looking for materials I came across a nice image of Mathilde, the flame haze previously contracted to Alastor before she died. Interesting how both Mathilde and Shana chose the same jinki for Alastor. You can download the alternate Mathilde version here.

Crimson Kimono Shana With Flames

This was the second theme I posted and is unchanged, just added the new theme patcher file. You can download it from here.

Original Long Menu

The original (first) theme I posted with the extra tall menu. For many people it worked fine, others had problems with the images not sizing correctly. For it to work correctly you’ll need to have 10 programs in the left portion of the menu. Make sure to have all 10 programs in place before applying the theme, adding them afterwards was a 50-50 chance that the images would scale correctly or not. You can download it from here.

If you’d like to get a different/custom made theme (with regards to the menu images) leave a comment here or message me on the MAL forums.

[Via http://pelsia.wordpress.com]

Flash Is Dead At Virgin America » Podcasting News

It Is Not Enough to Stare Up the Steps, You Also Have to Step Up the Stairs

2010-03-02T16:40:00.000+02:00

So many ways to go and look at the stars.

A space elevator is a proposed structure designed to transport material from a celestial body’s surface into space. Many variants have been proposed, all of which involve traveling along a fixed structure instead of using rocket powered space launch. The concept most often refers to a structure that reaches from the surface of the Earth on or near the Equator to geostationary orbit (GSO) and a counter-mass beyond.

This is not rock music.

Listen here. Download here. Contact here.

[Via http://songsworth.com]

Sony declares ApocalyPS3 is over News | PS3 | Eurogamer

explored art style

2010-03-02T04:32:00.000+02:00

i decided to do new shit

Decided to use my previous vector as a forum sig. wanted to add color to mystique so this is what i was able to get. a splash of colors for the bg, a vectored plant used with masking and a color-light line….it turned out well if I say so myself.

[Via http://reichub.wordpress.com]

Facebook-Like News Feed Headlines First Round Capital's Redesigned ...

Kampfer. Asura S2. 5cm per second.

2010-02-28T04:05:00.000+02:00

Hey! I’ve got to put up something nice and decent once in a while right?

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Kampfer

Senou Natsuru is your normal, everyday high school student. However he´s been chosen to be a Kampfer, who´s objective consists on fighting other Kampfer with either guns, swords or magic, however, there´s catch; first you can´t chose if you´re a Kampfer or not, and second, you must have the body of a girl to use your powers.

Funny thing about Kampfer. Having read and talked about nosebleeds in other blogs lately, I am actually surprised that although Kampfer had so much fanservice going on, not a single drop of perversion filled nose blood of youth was dripped. You really can’t deny that Kampfer had been one of the steamier fanservice we’ve seen in a while.

I enjoyed the slight improvement of animation during the transformation scenes. Unfortunately, the rest of the anime looks pretty “budget”. Overall pretty average, but still enjoyable. Not much to say other than that. Laughed the laugh, fought the fight. Don’t expect any form of ending and you’ll do alright.

Kampfer

Rating: 3-Stars

More info: AnimeNewsNetwork.com

I dedicate this screenie to Razrigz, the miku-phile. Lol!

More buttbumpz anyone? :p

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5 Centimeters per Second

“Should have,

Could have,

Would have.”

The three phrases which constantly echoes sitting through 5 centimeters per second.

It’s been a while but I felt that I had to write the story for this myself. That’s how beautiful the story is.

5 cm per second tells of a story about 2 friends, Tohno (male) and Akari (female).

Akari and Tohno were 2 kids who preferred to pass time at the library rather than the playground due to weak bodies. As time past, they got closer to each other. Other kids noticed the bond and started teasing them about it. Which just made them closer as they shy away from everyone else.

Although being very close from young, circumstances forced them apart when Akari’s parents got relocated due to work. And Tohno’s parents too later on. Moving further and further away from each other, to a point that it almost seems impossible for them to meet anymore.

Not just an anime about romance, but the choices one makes in life. Regrets, though vaguely expressed by Tohno is something one cannot deny from watching the anime. Instead, Tohno looks ahead. Knowing how some things will not change regardless oh how much he wants to be with Akari. And makes the hardest but deemed right decision for both… which is to part. Personally, it hurts. Even more so when it came to the ending.

*I’ll cut it short before I really can’t resist talking about the ending here. All I can say is, again, it will hurt*

There really isn’t much to talk about when it comes to it’s animation. It is one of, if not the best you will see. Animation alone was already shooting goosebumps up my arms, to the shoulders, down my back. Let alone coupling it with a beautiful story.

And the colors were absolutely… heavenly.

After all is said and done. The movie ends. Some might feel depressed, some might not. But what everyone needs to do, is to watch 5cm per second again. Could be a days later, could be months. You’ll be surprised how the second time will effect you, like how it’s making me feel now…

5 Centimeters Per Second

Rating: 5-Stars

More info: AnimeNewsNetwork.com

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Asura Crying Season 2

Following the precedent Asura cryin’ Tomoharu has now the dilemma of making a contract with an ‘Akuma’ since he might lost his dear friend Takatsuki if not, but doing so will compromise his own existence as the one from his ghost friend Misao since this will make them an “Asura cryin’ “. The biggest threat to humankind according to the school presidents. And the decision will be even harder since they now recover some of their past memories, memories of a 1st world they didn’t know that existed.

Do I even need to say anything? Just looked at the screenshots showing the monstrosity they dare call animation.

Dropped!! And to think I gave season 1 of Asura Cryin 4-Stars.

Asura Crying S2

Rating: Dropped

More info: AnimeNewsNetwork.com

*Yes, I know. Having just looking at the screenshots of 5cm per second, then looking at Asura Crying S2 just makes you want to puke blood. Trust me when I say, you’re suffering was my intention! Lol!

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[Via http://naneee.wordpress.com]

AMERICAblog News: 'State of catastrophe' in Chile after 8.8 ...

Stuffus all round

2010-02-27T16:14:00.000+02:00

Yay… new post!

Having my one week hols now, which is supposed to be used for catching up with work.. projects and all. My goodness I hate projects.

But as of now I’m relaxing a little… (Did two sets of notes but that’s all these 3 days! Hahahha so dead) Read Percy Jackson first book (which I fondly call Peter Jackson). I love that book! It’s so quirky and cynical and exciting all at once. XD Gonna have to watch the movie this wed!

Though I’m pretty sure I’d be disappointed in quite a few ways. I’m such a stickler for details I tend to get nitpicky if I watch the movie after reading the book. So I shall psycho myself to separate the two this time round – plus Logan is HOT! (yes yes this is the real reason.. ) I will do a review once I’ve watched the movie. After all I’m starting to regain interest in blogging again. Boom after the recession

What else? I’ve been playing Gaiaonline thought getting rather tired of it. But I must thank Gaia quite a bit since it propelled me to continue drawing. And I’ve been drawing quite a lot! Used Photoshop and my Wacom tablet.

Well here’s an example… (blah… be warned. The colouring is awful but I shall improve! As well as not be exceedingly slapdash and lazy!)

MY OC!!! Katsuto’s his name. Hehhehe. Quite a bit of background to his character but I shan’t be going into it right now. No stealing my OCs or I will come over and rip your head off thanks much. And in addition curse your entire family and later generations. Ok exaggerated but I’ve had bad experience. There’s the Creative Commons License anyway ^u~

For manga, I’m still reading my usual. Still loving Nurarihyon no mago, but now I added a new one to the list! Kamisama Hajimemashita! Heehehhe! Check it out! It’s shoujo but it’s really cute

In other news, I’m playing pm4 again, after cha passed it to me in her thumbdrive. Hehhehe. Missed it quite a bit XD – and I’ve got 4 endings already. Hahahhahaa.

And also, I’ve been hankering for Emma Watson People Tree collection – the Oxford cricket jumper in particular. Someone get it for me!!!

Okay that’s all for now. Going to watch Durarara now! HAHAHHA! Izayaaaaaa!

[Via http://pualeiplains.wordpress.com]

How Rupert Murdoch's Unfocused Leadership Is Crippling News Corp

Update No.19 : Makoto Ito

2010-02-27T04:47:00.000+02:00

*FIXED FOR THE POST NOT APPEAR*

Sorry for long absence!

Now i come with latest update, Makoto Ito model for GarrysMod!

Now its available to download! below:

Alternate:

(Skydrive) : Download

(Gmod) : Download

More Picture:

Makoto Ito is a male character from school days anime.

He is a generally mannered and composed student in year one of class three, his life becomes

complicated when he begins to unfaithfully initiate polyamorous relationships with girls

that he is unable to singly commit to. Though he is initially casual, gregarious and

understanding, his addiction to womanizing the female protagonists over time corrupts his

personality and he instead becomes more apathetic, rash and egotistical towards others,

regardless of interpersonal harm or later consequence. However, once he truly knows he has

done wrong, he is quick in his attempts to remedy the situation. Makoto lives with his

divorced mother and has a younger sister named Itaru who lives with their father. He is

good friends with Taisuke Sawanaga and Otome Katou.

Happy Killing Makoto!!

Addition:

New Wallpaper into Gallery!

[Via http://xenoaisam.wordpress.com]

News Topics as Social Network | FlowingData

K-ON! Radion! Special Vol.1

2010-02-25T16:30:00.000+02:00

Artist: Toyosaki Aki & Hisaka Youko & Satou Satomi & Kotobuki Minako & Taketatsu Ayana

Tracklist:

1. Radion! Special Vol.1 Start!

2. K-ON! Introquiz

3. “Ra!” “Di!” “O!” “N!” Dotou no 26 Renpatsu

4. Radion! Otayori Corner Special

5. Let’s Go (Yui Mio Ritsu Tsumugi Azusa Mix)

This is first volume of K-ON! Radion and only the last one is the new song of K-ON!

The Radion was pretty fun and the new song was pretty good.

[Via http://problackbird.wordpress.com]

Digimon MMO for Westerners in March News | MMO | Eurogamer

The God That is Possibility: Gundam Unicorn 01

2010-02-25T04:46:00.000+02:00

When Gundam was first forced down my throatI first started watching Gundam, I was unilaterally dissatisfied. I have come a long way since, and have seen many of the shows in the franchise and am very much fond of the franchise as a whole. My love and fondness is tested and proven by many of the things that still bug me about the whole thing. Some major, some minor, but the net result is that Gundam never really fulfilled its possibility given the immense library it has.

Not to say it doesn’t have its moments. Such moments can be sublime, as far as I’m concerned. But for the most part there are lots and lots of things that I must work hard to rationalize and apologize for. Without doing so I will fail to enjoy myself watching the shows. It’s beyond mere suspension of disbelief, but I don’t know what to call it.

A lot of it may have to do with the creation, and direction of Tomino Yoshiyuki, but it’s beyond that. The possibility of Gundam is that it is the finest expression of robot anime. It’s that awesome a possibility. For some people, it may be already that. If that is the case then the expectations for robot anime may indeed be so low. I think there is MUCH more to see and do, not just thematically but also in terms of execution of the most exciting aspect of robot anime: combat.

On both counts, in Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn episode 01 the possibility is being realized.

A more particular and thorough post on this episode will follow in the next few days, but for now I am in the mood for long-winded talk on what Gundam means for me, and how Unicorn reveals itself to me as a rich vein of fulfillment. If fan service can be moving and understated all at once, then I’ve experienced it here.

In 0079, 0080, and Z we are presented with variably grim and dark themes revolving around war and violence. The experience can be immersive and surprising, especially how stark and remorseless it gets. While some, heavy-handedness can occur even in non-Tomino works, the darkness in the shows occur to me remarkably weightless — not like without substance, but more like numbing in how far it goes. The meaning of the deaths are left for me to make much of, despite the lecturing and pontificating throughout the shows.

How Gundam Unicorn’s first episode felt, by use of depth of field (the colony looks both claustrophobia-inducing and forbiddingly vast at the same time), and by the musical score, heavy. There’s gravity to the whole experience. I really felt the dreadful onset of an inevitable war. The betrayals and counter-betrayals of organized humanity felt even more meaningful, standing on the shoulders of series upon series where the machinery of (military/political) organizations discount their morals and scruples for victory, however petty.

The high-school age characters, behave in their environments in notes that are the kind of perfect triviality. I don’t have the vocabulary to distinguish it, only that it feels so far from say the first episodes of, Mobile Suit Gundam SeeD, Code Geass, and Macross Frontier. The other examples have this strange and at times contrived levity: offhand mentions of homework, student council duties, test results rankings… In Unicorn you get a lecture (admittedly standard device for exposition) and a field trip setting. This allows for behavioral and relationship conflicts to play out without feeling too ’slice of lifey.’

When the litany of names are called out by the ‘jilted’ would-be love interest, dead classmates all from stray beam weapon fire, it felt like home, only more beautiful than I remembered it. War is hell.

The current head of the Vist Foundation (Cardeas Vist) saw it fit to lecture the captain of the Neo Zeon remnants. It was a thorough lecture that served as a rather effective exposition of the themes of the Universal Century narrative, going through the history of the Federation vs. Zeon conflicts — through 0079 and past Char’s Counterattack. It was interesting, how the captain tried not to look bored, how he gave the chairman his polite attention through the long speech. It made for a calibrating dynamic for me — I needn’t be bored by this, because this impressive man is toughing it out.

I particularly enjoyed how the cards were revealed: they will not open the mysterious ‘Laplace’s Box’ if their ideals are petty or limited to ‘reviving Zeon.’ They are to be given the key, and the key is Gundam, the Unicorn Gundam is presented as the God of Possibility: a creature from a medieval tapestry. It’s delicious fantasy, to have the titular robot exist within the narrative at a highly mythological level.

Possibility itself is held up as a God. More exciting than hope, and more powerful too, possibility is what inspires — what captures our imagination. Possibility is hype. Possibility is anticipation, expectation far from the cusp of fulfillment and yet never lacking of confidence that it will be realized. Possibility is just about the most awesome thing there is — it is in the realm of the future. For all my rhetoric of ‘remembering love’ it is ultimately a love weighed down by the gravity of history. What’s truly exciting is what’s ahead, the eternal becoming.

Gundam tells the same story over and over: The Earth is threatened by a Malthusian cataclysm. Resources become scarce, nationalism fails in that it fosters conflict. Newtype powers are really about authentic communication without misunderstanding and conflict. Oldtypes fail in that they only see NT powers for its military application — powerful NT = ‘ace pilot.’ Oldtype souls are weighed down by the Earth’s gravity, and are never truly free to embrace the future that is space. There are those who will take these ideals too far, and there will be heroes who will fight them.

Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn is poised to do the same, and some would see this as a failure — how the franchise itself is weighed down by the gravity of its own mass, and refuse to commit to the future (as represented by non-UC/alternate continuity shows). I see differently. I am not content with how the franchise has told the above stories over and over. I think there are many failures, as much as I love the respective shows — I find myself far from satisfied. I love the franchise so much that I want to see the stories fulfill their possibility. Unicorn may just be it!

There is something to be said about perfecting the telling of the story, and the Universal Century is for me, still the best continuity to do it. Is the possibility of perfection better than perfection itself? Not knowing perfection, I think yes. The symbol of the unicorn, is wonderfully fitting. It’s a promise — that this time, funnels make more sense in how they behave in combat; that the show remembers that mobile suits have nuclear engines; there is a Gundam without LOLTOMINO; that a dramatic story can be delivered straight and be taken seriously despite and because there are giant robots in it, no apologies necessary.

For all the little nods this episode gave to the Universal Century’s rich history, it is forward-looking. It posits itself as the fulfillment of the hopes of humanity in coming to space, in leaving the Earth; the possibility of robot anime as an expression of high fantasy, and substantial and fulfilling entertainment.

After 30 years of trying, Gundam might just pull it off. Give me more.

Yours and My Unique Approaches to Anime

2010-02-23T16:45:00.000+02:00

It sometimes amazes me just how many ways there are to approach a given creative medium or product. When we look at a piece of art or fiction (or non-fiction!), we bring with us all that we prioritize and seek in works. Even when the focus is on just anime and nothing else, the result is a plethora, possibly even a panoply of differing viewpoints, each with their own inherent sense of validity.

At Otakon 2009, Yamamoto Yutaka, director of Kannagi, mentioned his praise for Studio Ghibli’s Takahata Isao, and how Takahata’s classic TV series Anne of Green Gables is essentially the gold standard of how a long TV series should be. Yamamoto is also known for being an anime critic, though his opinion can be difficult to comprehend. But then you realize that he looks at anime from that director’s perspective, and that his priorities are less on the content or themes or story of the work and more about how scenes move into one another, how well it all conveys the idea.

Narrowing the focus a bit brings forth the notion of watching anime for the aimtion, and Anipages is probably the best example I can think of for someone whose focus is mainly on the “moving image” aspect of anime. It affords him a perspective very different from that of most fans and enthusiasts, and nowhere is this more evident than in the fact that he will watch isolated episodes of Naruto because there is particularly good and creative animation in them. One look at his site and it’s clear that he is in no way a “Naruto Fan,” but that divide between people who love the series and those who consider it the worst showcase of anime is a battle in which he is simply not participating. Just like Kaiba, just like Macross: Do You Remember Love?, Naruto can be another vessel for delivering great animation.

That’s not to say of course that things such as characters aren’t or shouldn’t be important. While I don’t have any specific numbers to give, I think the vast majority of the current anime fandom focuses heavily on characters. We like to relate to characters, we talk about shows and characters as if we were violating Wikipedia’s rules of not having profiles that are primarily in-universe synopses. Even with characters there are divides, such as between those who want to see a story unfold from the characters, and those who want to see a story focus on the characters above all else. Wanting to see characters to whom you can relate is wonderfully human, I think.

However, relating to humans can go well beyond the characters themselves, especially when you factor in the people behind those characters. Here, you have fans who will watch shows based on following their favorite voice actors, something I have actually done on occasion myself. At first, it can seem like the most shallow reasoning for a person to watch even shows they personally admit as being terrible simply because their favorite voice actors are in them, but that is mainly if your priorities are on anime as a storytelling device. When you take the idea that anime is also a showcase for the actors in the roles, it starts to become a more exciting prospect. When following voice actors, it becomes about seeing how those actors take on their roles, how they own their characters, how they approach the challenge of not having a great script.

You can also watch anime for the mechanical or character designs. They’re two very different, yet similar categories, which is why I’m grouping them together. Again, like following shows based on seiyuu, the idea of watching something based on how the robots or the girls look can seem incredibly shallow, but if that is another area in which you can follow anime based on seeing how well certain elements are executed. There are plenty of people out there who won’t watch a show because it “looks old,” and while I lament this case, I understand that many people want to experience something that feels like the environment and era in which they’re currently living, the desire for the new over the old. And generally, I’ve found that this is more an issue with getting into a show. I’ve known friends who couldn’t watch a show because they disagreed with the mecha designs, and it has everything to do with that initial barrier. Still, anime is what’s given us all these great mechanical designs, so it’s kind of no wonder that there are people who will focus on such things.

And then for others still, characters and animation and actors and such hardly factor in at all, and the real meat of what they’re looking for is in the overarching themes of a given anime. Characters aren’t human so much as they are vehicles through which to express different concepts. Director Oshii Mamoru of Ghost in the Shell fame has increasingly focused on this idea over the years, and as such his works appeal to those who seek not a world which you can step into in order to experience it firsthand, but ideas you extract from a world and bring into your own reality.

It’s obvious to me, looking at all of these examples, how some heated arguments can start. People approach works from so many different angles that people can be arguing from entirely separate universes, and frustration sets in when the other does not “understand.” On a much broader level though, interest in anime can simply be derived from wanting to laugh, wanting to cry, wanting to smile, wanting to be aroused, and all of the previously mentioned focuses, from technical direction to themes, are in a sense all there to deliver to us the emotions we want.

As for me, I’m actually not entirely sure what my approach is. Perhaps this whole blog has been me trying to find it.

[Via http://ogiuemaniax.wordpress.com]

Bad News for Film Fests: B-Side Shuts Down - Cinematical

Nodame Cantabile Finale

2010-02-20T16:32:00.000+02:00

Nodame Cantabile is so FUN too WATCH!!!! WAHAHAHAHAHAHHA!!!

I actually forgot how crazy Nodame can actually be. I am now watching ‘Nodame Cantabile Finale’ on YT after stumbling on its existance on animeseason.com. I now have this sudden crazy urge to play a Scarlatti sonata on the piano but I am holding back on this craziness due to it being 12:21a.m. Just being a considerate citizen. Heh.

Oh oh! On episode two. There is this error on episode two. Nodame opened her book, getting ready to play and I saw it to be a Chopin Nocturne but she played a Scarlatti sonata instead! (That somehow explains my crazy and sudden urge.) I had to do a double look at that scene! Hmmm… What is going on here??? Back to watching it! I think I will do two episodes at a time or lesser or else there will not be enough to satisfy my craziness. Lol!!! I will maybe mix it with an episode from Merlin Season 2. Hee!

Nodame is still crazy. And her music is getting better. This reminds me of my crazy days two years ago. Fond memories…

[Via http://childofwoe.wordpress.com]

Drew Peterson Trial: A Fox News Producer Helped Pathologist With ...

Actar's Reviews 140: Figma Nanoha Takamachi THE MOVIE FIRST

2010-02-20T04:45:00.000+02:00

Stand by Ready for a whole new slew of merchandise from the Nanoha franchise as the First Movie premieres in Japan. I’m exceptionally excited, and so should you, that the younger versions of Nanoha, Fate and the rest of the cast return in their younger forms.

Now, if I could only see the darn movie… (^.^;)

[Via http://actar.wordpress.com]

News Ticker: Beyonce, The Grateful Dead, Animal Collective, “Wu ...

Sneaking some figure orders in ^^

2010-02-18T16:41:00.000+02:00

The year list of orders just got a little larger and it’s all Queen’s Blade’s fault…Rebellion. Summer last year I picked up both Queen’s Gate Alice and Anne Lotte, thinking they were part of the standard Queen’s Blade series. Not an issue really as I love both the figures but at the time it was a case of chose one or the other so I went with the regular Queen’s Blade Megahouse series as my focal of collecting…Until today…

"Buy one pantsu get one free..."

I placed my pre-order today for Vignt (Vante – Steam powered maid) and Huit (Yuit – smaller one). This is apparently a special edition box set that not only includes both figures but also a hardcover character book. Now this works on many levels for me, Yuit and Vante are two tick boxes on my Rebellion list and I also like hardcover books (especially art/character books) so at 10,000 yen this is a great chance for me to get a number of things at the same time. I just hope that this item is allowed to be shipped internationally.

"Pantsu with gears"

Now to make matters worse I went ahead and ordered Mirim, as you can imagine the bill this month went from “have a normal life this month” to “Oh my god Otaku bankrupcy!”, and there is still the issue of where to put the darn things…

Oh well it’s all good, clean (?), expensive fun really ^^

Thanks for reading

DiStudios

[Via http://distudios.wordpress.com]

Huge News!!! Tiger Breaking His Silence!!!! | PerezHilton.com

Picture of The Day: Saber Cosplay

2010-02-18T04:44:00.000+02:00

Man, I’m so into cosplay girls nowadays and I always impress on how dedicated these girls are in cosplaying. I’m not a person who involved in a cosplaying event, but my question is what are the motives of this girls cosplaying? Are there some prizes to gain or is it for hobby? I mean they make up to look similar to a anime character and have to go to an anime expo which I’m pretty sure it’s quite hot with lots of crowds just for hobby? That’s just impressive man.

[Via http://kazasou.wordpress.com]

Sonic Team not making Sonic 4 News | Eurogamer

Will FMA Fandom Make a Comeback?

2010-02-16T16:09:00.000+02:00

Last Saturday, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood premiered on Adult Swim. Aside from a new voice actor for the character Al, most of the English cast returned. New FMA episodes on Adult Swim in the background while I was working on my computer? It felt like 2005 all over again.

Now, grabbing FMA:B seems almost like a no-brainer for Adult Swim. After all, despite Adult Swim’s declining interest in anime, its fans are still a sizeable section of its audience. Plus, The first series was fairly popular among the anime fandom when it premiered on the network in ‘04. Anime onventions for the following years were filled with a sea of red jackets lined up for autographs and swag for their latest fixation.

In 2005 at MTAC Go, Saturday night featured a crowded lobby as attendees gathered around a television someone managed to hook up to cable. All for the purpose to watch the latest episodes of FMA and Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex. That year also featured prominent FMA voice actors Vic Mignogna, Laura Bailey, Colleen Clinkenbeard and Monica Rial, hosting a two-hour wait for an autograph line filling the main room.

2006 continued the trend with fandom groups rising around characters Ed and Roy and their respective voice actors. The Risenbool Rangers and Miniskirt Army became competitive, perfect ammunition for MTAC 6th Period’s dodgeball match featuring voice actors Mignogna and Travis Willingham. Almost surprisingly, both have really good arms and determined the winner themselves via sudden death.

But then the hype and hysteria of fangirls began to wane. Like every other popular show of its day, FMA and its fandom made way for the next show. Adult Swim regularly reinvigorates the scene by reairing the show maybe once a year, but now it has a fresh new series to jumpstart the fandom. Will it work though?

FUNimation has regularly streamed subbed new episodes of FMA:B right after their Japanese premier, which is already up in the 40s. Will the dub cast be able to rile up the fandom in face of such a head start the show has in America? Will Adult Swim’s broadcast be able to generate the craze they did the first time? I’m kind of doubtful, but I’d like to hear what you think.

[Via http://nikoscream.wordpress.com]

News Of The Day

Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO

2010-02-16T04:06:00.000+02:00

Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO (機動戦士ガンダム MS IGLOO?) is a series of CGI feature short films of the popular Gundam meta-series. The series’ storyline takes place during the One Year War of the Universal Century. Two series have been released under the original title: The Hidden One Year War, which was exclusively shown at Bandai Museum in Matsudo, Japan but has seen a limited release on DVD, and Apocalypse 0079, an OVA series released on DVD starting in April, 2006. The director of MS IGLOO is Takashi Imanishi (previously directed Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory), and Yutaka Izubuchi is the supervisor.

A sequel series, Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO 2: The Gravity Front, was released on October, 2008.

Overview Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO

Taking place during the One Year War in the year U.C. 0079, MS IGLOO follows the missions of the crew of a former civilian cargo ship Jotunheim (named after the land of the giants in Norse mythology), which has been commissioned to become an experimental support ship by the Principality of Zeon to test various prototype weapons for combat use. However, the crews also served as witnesses to the cruelty of the war, as well as Zeon’s path from initial successes to the eventual fate of defeat. What distinguished this show from others is that the main character of the series, Engineer Lieutenant Oliver May, is not a mobile suit pilot, but a technical officer who monitors and reports the weapons testing.

This show is the first to depict some events early in the One Year War that have not been shown in a Gundam anime previously, including Operation British (before the colony hits Earth), the Battle of Loum and the Earth Drop Operations. It also features some of the biggest mecha designer names in the industry, including Yutaka Izubuchi and Hajime Katoki.

Although it is the first Universal Century Gundam series since Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team, which was last released in 1999, MS IGLOO had been a relatively low-key project compared with contemporary Gundam series such as Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny. The Hidden One Year War has only seen a limited DVD release, though it has been available for rental in Japanese stores starting 2006. Apocalypse 0079 by contrast was given a mass release, and as a result it managed to reach a few Top 5 Anime DVD charts.

Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO 2: Gravity Front

Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO 2: The Gravity Front (機動戦士ガンダム MS IGLOO 2 重力戦線, Kidō Senshi Gandamu MS IGLOO 2 Juuryoku-sensen?) was announced on March 25, 2008. The series would consist of three 30-minute episodes and have its setting based on Earth and from Earth Federation’s point of view. The 3D CGI will be in high definition, higher in quality than what was seen in the previous productions. The production staff is largely unchanged, though the mecha designers behind the design works in this series are Yutaka Izubuchi, Kimitoshi Yamane, Takuhito Kusanagi, Shinji Aramaki and Fumihiro Katagai. The super high-detail designs will appear in the U.C. Hardgraph line and be used as is in the animation.

The 1st episode “Shoot at that Death!” was officially released on October 24, 2008. The 2nd episode “King of the Land, Forward!” was released on January 23, 2009. The 3rd episode “Odessa, Iron Storm!” was released on April 24, 2009.

[Via http://srtnews.wordpress.com]

Viacom files for Harmonix refund following poor Rock Band sales | News

Music From the Future of the Past

2010-02-14T16:54:00.000+02:00

Robots dream in the high alleys hidden in the bosom of cities of steels.

On orbital rings, lands are recreated, lush with willow-trees, teeming with colorful birds.

We think about the next move.

This is not rock music.

Listen here. Download here. Contact here.

[Via http://songsworth.com]

Spice-up your life with a Pink, or Silver Lumix GF1. « Akihabara News

9 Days of Vampires (or "How I learned to love Chibi Vampire/Karin all over again")

2010-02-14T04:44:00.000+02:00

Okay, I’m officially vampire’d out for a while. I’ve been on a 9-day binge of anime, manga, and light novels focusing on vampires. It was part of an effort to catch up on unwatched fansubs and DVDs. The last nine days have been like this:

Friday – Dance in the Vampire Bund manga 1

Saturday – DitVB manga 2-4

Sunday – DitVB manga 5-6

Monday – DitVB anime 1-5, Chibi Vampire novel 1

Tuesday – CV novel 2-3, CV manga 4

Wednesday – CV novel 4

Thursday – CV novel 5, CV manga 5-8

Friday – CV manga 9-14, Karin Airmail scanlations, Karin anime 1-10

Saturday – Karin anime 11-24, DitVB anime 6

Busy, busy, busy. So yeah, I finally caught up on Dance in the Vampire Bund and I’m now waiting for weekly fansub releases and the official manga releases. I also managed to catch up on Chibi Vampire/Karin, a series that I liked, but put on the back-burner for so long I wasn’t sure I’d ever get back to it again. I’ve already posted my opinions on the Dance in the Vampire Bund anime so far (and my opinions of the manga are much higher), so I’d like to take an opportunity to talk about Chibi Vampire/Karin this time.

So Karin was brought over by Tokyopop as Chibi Vampire, hence all the silly name/name stuff I’ve been doing up to now. The manga and light novels used the new name to avoid confusion with another of their properties, Kamichama Karin. The anime, however, retained the original name in its distribution by Geneon (and later FUNimation under Geneon’s license). It comes in three wonderful flavors: Original Manga, Side-Story Light Novel, and Some Stuff Was Changed Anime.

This series focuses on the Maaka family, a family of vampires who migrated to Japan long ago after being driven from their old country along with several other vampire clans. Their original name was Marker, and the father and mother of the family, Henry and Calera, as well Henry’s mother, Elda, have kept this name. The children, however, were born in Japan and integrate with human society until their vampiric awakening, and so they use the name Maaka. The children are the older brother Ren, the younger sister Anju, and the middle child, our lovely heroine Karin. Karin, however, isn’t like other vampires. Instead of sucking blood, she produces too much and has to inject it into someone else by biting them. She also doesn’t have any of the usual weaknesses of vampires, allowing her to roam during the day, opposite the nocturnal nature of the rest of her family. She also has none of their strengths, possessing only normal smell, hearing, and night vision, is unable to manipulate bats, and can’t wipe the memories of humans (which makes biting them problematic). However, the problem with having to inject blood only occurs once a month. After a boy named Kenta Usui appears, things begin to change. Something about Kenta triggers Karin’s blood rushes far earlier than expected, causing problems for her. After she finds out that her “blood affinity” is for misfortune, she begins her goal of trying to make Kenta happy so that she won’t react to him and her life can go back to normal. Standard comedy series hijinks occur.

Initially, I followed the series through the release of the first three volumes in English. However, my time to read manga sort of dwindled in the face of other things, namely other hobbies. I loved the series, but I just kept buying it without reading it. I eventually finished buying the manga and light novels last year, as well as the complete collection of the anime upon its release. Having taken the time to read it all, I have a new-found respect for the series that far surpasses how much I liked it before.

Manga – This is, without a doubt, the best version of the series. If you only check it out in one aspect, make this it. The manga is absolutely amazing. It has a little bit of everything, but most importantly, it actually focuses on the characters. There’s a lot of coverage of the relationships between Karin and those around her, and it’s quite interesting. It runs 14 volumes (and a side-story chapter that’s mostly unrelated to the main story (“Karin Airmail”)) and all of them are officially available in English (except, unfortunately, Karin Airmail). This is, of course, the main story and is the most complete of all Karin works. Oh, and if you see Tokyopop’s volume 1 in stores with a reverse printed cover (as seen above), don’t flip out. There was some weird printing error and the cover is printed in left-to-right format, but the content inside is still in the original right-to-left Japanese format.

Light Novel – The light novels are written by a different author but illustrated by the series creator. They are written as side-stories that occur during gaps in the manga. They’re also canon. There isn’t much coverage of them in the manga, but there are direct references made to volumes 1 and 4 and they had direct approval from the series creator before publication. In fact, she really seemed to enjoy them, given the little 4koma strips in the back of the manga volumes. They’re pretty good stories, but they seem quite drawn out sometimes, and they’re oddly GRIMDARK. Kidnap is a common theme, and in the very first light novel, Karin herself almost gets RAPED and KILLED. I mean, holy crap. Grimdark. Anyway, they’re pretty good. There are nine total volumes, but only five were released officially by Tokyopop before dropping the series during their restructuring in 2008. It’s unlikely that they’ll ever release the last four. Recommended if you want more Karin adventures.

Anime – Now the anime is pretty good. I’ll give it some credit. I have to take issue, however, with how much content was changed, especially during the latter half of the series. It’s better to think of the anime as a “re-imagining” or “retelling” than as a straight adaptation. It covers events through volume 5 or so, as well as a few events from much later in the series (some of which were oddly carried out by different characters entirely) and as a result, it never really makes it through much of Karin and Kenta’s relationship. Some of the original content is pretty exciting, though. Elda stays around after she wakes up for the rest of the series and has a few pretty epic fight scenes. Karin herself gets a pretty damn epic scene in the last episode. My biggest gripe with the anime is the Sinclair family, namely the one character we see for most of the series: Winner Sinclair. For a guy named Winner, he’s kind of a douchebagel for most of the show. He does, however, offer some pretty awesome Engrish moments.

Anyway, it’s a great series and I’d recommend a watch after you read the whole manga, if at all possible. The manga makes a much better impression and the anime serves better as a new take on it than as a Karin anime in general. Oh, and I do not recommend watching the dub. I watched the first few minutes of it and decided that valley girl Karin wasn’t for me. I watched the rest of it subbed, not even so much as hearing another character’s voice in English. It was fine, though. Karin sounded great, I wasn’t confident in their ability to not mess up Anju and Boogie-kun, and Winner’s crazy accent made his Japanese sound hilarious. Recommended, but again, preferably after the manga.

So yeah, anyway, I love the series all over again, and it’s definitely taking a top spot in my list of “Greatest Anime & Manga Series of All Time.” Highly recommended for anyone that hasn’t given it a shot.

Oh, and since this is officially kicking my Toradora Portable! localization support from the top of the page (though I’m planning on adding it to the sidebar soon), I’m going to plug that as well. Please give it your support.

[Via http://daverost.wordpress.com]

Shakesville: Great News

what i was forced to watch this week #66: ichigo 100%

2010-02-13T16:51:00.000+02:00

Ichigo 100% is one of the most aggressively lazy fanservice series that I’ve seen yet. Let’s compare it with something like He is My Master from last week. He is My Master, as awful as it was, would at least set up situations or reasons to segue into its fanservice. Izumi breaks a vase, so she is forced to become a maid; becoming a maid, of course, requires her to wear a maid uniform. There. Now we have a basis for having the female characters walk around in fetish-wear.

this scene was not because someone tripped or walked in on someone or had some kind of misunderstanding. it's because the female characters decided that it would be a good idea to have junpei grab and motorboat all of their fuckin' huge-ass titties

Ichigo 100% sometimes begins to set up situations like that. There will be a beach episode, or someone will spill something on her clothes, forcing her to change them (which requires her to get naked first). That should provide a basis for a situation like say, peeping on the girls in the bath. Instead, we have them literally be like “Let’s put our bodies on display for Junpei while the other guys take pictures of our breasts!” or “Let’s all rub our boobs against his face while the other guys film us squeezing each other’s fuckin’ huge-ass titties!” On the other hand, I guess you could say that this is justified because of their personalities. That is, if you assume that this is a “personality” type.

I personally didn’t think the whole “walking boner” thing was so egregious in Hatsukoi Limited, but it’s completely ridiculous here. It’s both implicit and explicit here: girls with gigantic boobs, few goals or personality quirks, and who as I said above, purposely put their bodies on display for him as if its their only reason to exist. Normally, in situations like these I begin to yell out “YEAH FUCKIN’ HUGE-ASS TITTIES!” or “YEAH FUCKIN’ PANTIES!” and whatnot every time one of those situations occurs in order to make things more enjoyable. This time, I get yelled at to stop when I very early on yelled “YEAH JUNPEI GRAB SATSUKI’S FUCKIN’ HUGE-ASS TITTY!” three times in about as many seconds. I mean seriously, those scenes would just go on and on. Normally in a scene like that, the girl trips or something and lands on the guy, and then there’s a cut to how like her boob landed on his hand or something. In that scene, she lands on him as usual, but rather than the cut to a static shot of boob on hand, he just keeps squeezing it over and over again.

Would I watch it even if I weren’t forced? After watching/reading Hatsukoi Limited, I wanted to see if any of Mizuki Kawashita’s other manga were any good. Nope!

[Via http://jphinano.wordpress.com]

Stocks in the News: Motorola, Ingersoll Rand, Berkshire Hathaway ...

Kimi ni Todoke episode 18 review; love is tough.

2010-02-13T04:35:00.000+02:00

This episode begins in November with Chizu telling Sawako that she can’t wait of the New Year to arrive. Sawako tells herself that her feelings towards Kazehaya are advancing but Sawako also notices that others around her are having relationship problems. Sawako and Chizu notice that Ayane is having a problem with her boyfriend, he seems to be getting very possessive of Ayane by constantly calling her and demanding to know what she’s doing and whom she’s with. Well, Chizu asks why she’s going out with him. Ayane laments that he hit on me, and it’s always guys like him that seem the most mature in the beginning.

Sawako also notices how alike Chizu and Ryuu are, how they even have the same aura, and she wonders if Chizu likes Ryuu. Then the scene switches to Ryuu’s place where we hear Ryuu’s father tell Chizu that sometimes he wishes she was his daughter, and she wishes she could. Chizu casually walks in on Ryuu while he’s changing, and they hangout playing games and Chizu talks about Ryuu’s birthday. While they’re hanging out we see two things; firstly, that Ryuu has been attracted to Chizu since middle school, and secondly that Chizu gets all flushed and it’s not over Ryuu.

The next day, after school, Chizu invites Sawako and Ayane to go shopping with her. Ayane begs off saying she has to see her boyfriend right away, so Sawako and Chizu head off to shop for Ryuu’s birthday gift. As Chizu and Sawako are leaving the school grounds they see one of Kazehaya’s friends (Jo) chase after a girl and confess to her only to be rejected in a humiliating way.

While at the shopping center, Chizu picks out Ryuu’s gift, and the girls look at clothes. On their way home, Sawako sacks up and decides to ask Chizu if she likes anyone. Well, as Chizu tells Sawako about her unrequited love Sawako thinks its Ryuu she’s talking about but it turns out to be Ryuu’s older brother (Tooru). Chizu basically laughs off the idea of liking Ryuu in that way; she loves him like a brother and doesn’t think Ryuu knows she has the hots for his brother.

Back at school, Chizu continues to show Sawako more pictures of mini-skirts wanting one by New Years. Well, Chizu drops Tooru’s name and New Years in front of Kazehaya and Ryuu causing an awkward silence.

Then the relationship shit really hits the fan when Ayane walks into class with a bandage on her face. Ayane tells them that she met with her boyfriend, told him her true feelings, told him she was dumping him, and he slapped her. She goes on to tell them that he told her stuff like I only have you, and she concludes that he didn’t even listen to her. She tells them it’s not like she wanted it to end this way, and Sawako thinks to herself that love is tough and comes with break ups.

Later, Kazehaya and Ryuu talk about Chizu with Kazehaya asking Ryuu if he’s told Chizu. No, should I tell her. Yes. Then we switch scenes to the girls where Chizu says they’ll have a sleepover on Friday to help cheer up Ayane.

That evening, Ryuu stops by Chizu’s place and enters her room, and Chizu is a little bothered when Ryuu enters her room in the same casual manner she entered his room. Ryuu sits next to her and moves in close for the confession when she hops away from him to stop him from seeing is birthday gift. Chizu then tells Ryuu to leave and hustles him out of the house leaving Ryuu to wonder WTF. As Ryuu is heading home we hear Sawako comment on how she never thought about love before, and that it must be difficult and this is because she’s fallen in love with Kazehaya. Well, that’s all for this brew of teen hormonal angst.

Well, after resolving the Kazehaya/Sawako/Kurumi love triangle, and slowly moving Sawako’s and Kazehaya’s relationship forward, Kimi ni Todoke focuses its lens on Chizu and Ryuu. While Sawako’s and Kazehaya’s dance was one of shyness, longing glances and tentative touches, Chizu and Ryuu’s dance is more complicated and fraught with dangerous land mines.

Chizu and Ryuu, childhood friends, as close as brother and sister, both sharing unrequited loves, Chizu loves Ryuu’s older brother and Ryuu loves Chizu. While both unrequited loves might be filled with equal longing, Chizu’s longing is for is a virtual stranger she hasn’t seen in two years, and she might find out that her love is for a shadow, a past image, a fondly remembered vision of a boy that’s now a man who might not still exist in the present. But, I feel that Ryuu’s unrequited love for Chizu is far more painful, his love sits right next to him in class, sits next to him on his bed, so close that he can feel the warmth of her body, smell her scent, so close that he can reach out and touch her hair. While Kazehaya advises Ryuu to come clean and confess his feelings to Chizu, it’s a dangerous approach that could backfire and drive Chizu away from him. I really liked how Ryuu decided to go for it and let the chips fall where they may but due to Chizu’s reaction to him almost seeing his birthday gift he was left even more confused than before, girls and women have that effect and it doesn’t get better with age.

Also, Sawako continues to show slow but steady progress in her maturation into a normal teen aged girl. When the series began, Sawako never really noticed the subtle byplay occurring between boys and girls, but her newly awakened feelings for Kazehaya has made Sawako more aware of the world around her, and she discovers love is tough.

[Via http://animewriter.wordpress.com]

Crist-Rubio debate on Fox News looks doubtful | Post on Politics

Notes on "Tenkuu no Escaflowne"

2010-02-11T16:55:00.000+02:00

(1) I’ve just realized that I’m now exactly as old as Folken Fanel. Damn I’m old. ^_^

(2) It frustrates me how I still can’t figure out the meaning behind the “reflection” motif they’ve got in episodes 19-20. The closest I’ve got is this. When you gaze at yourself on a reflective surface, it’s a bit like confronting yourself. And that’s what most of the characters are going through in episodes 19-20 — circumstances were forcing them to sort out their feelings and decide already what to do about them.

My theory feels somehow incomplete, though.

(3) You know something else I can’t quite understand? Why Folken dies in the Zone of Absolute Fortune. All I have to go by is, “I see… I understand now… the Zone of Absolute Fortune… is where action and reaction are at their strongest…”

My ideas:

Folken betrayed his master and killed him; in the next moment, his own ’servant’ (i.e., his sword) betrayed him in turn, breaking off at the last moment and killing him, too. “Strong action and reaction” perhaps means something like “instant karma” or “swift retribution.”

From the moment Folken was rescued by Dornkirk, his life became an extension of Dornkirk’s, something necessarily attached to Dornkirk. So when Dornkirk’s life ended, Folken’s had to end, too. Note how Folken was hit in the exact same spot and thus killed in the exact same way. The focus now is on the balance to be maintained (as in an action with its corresponding reaction), and again perhaps “strong action and reaction” refers to how directly or how fast this balancing would happen.

[Via http://houshisama.wordpress.com]

Activision Blizzard financials "better-than-expected" | News

Gundam the Ride: A Baoa Qu

2010-02-11T04:51:00.000+02:00

“Gundam the Ride: A Baoa Qu” was an amusement park attraction at the Fuji-Q Highland Amusement Park located in Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, Japan.

Gundam the Ride, which opened to the public on July 20, 2000, was based on Mobile Suit Gundam. Set during the final chaotic Battle of A Baoa Qu on December 31, Universal Century 0079, Gundam the Ride places its riders in the place of civilian passengers onboard an Escape Launch Shuttle about to leave the battleship Suruga en route to Side 6. Of course once the Escape Launch leaves the Suruga it is immediately caught up in the tumult of war and must be escorted to safety by two GM pilots, Earth Federation Forces aces and members of the notorious “Jack the Halloween” Team, Jack Bayard and Adam Stingray.

The animation of Gundam the Ride used mostly computer graphics to create the large and engrossing space battles and mobile suits. However, all instances where a human character appears on screen while talking to the riders were created by hand-drawn cel animation, similar to the style current Gundam video games are done in. All of the character designs for Gundam the Ride were done by Mikimoto Haruhiko.

Like most themed rides Gundam the Ride had its own themed gift shop, called Gundam Mania, which was staffed by people dressed as Gundam characters. At the time of its opening Gundam Mania was the largest Gundam shop ever built, although it no longer holds that position. This gift shop sells vast amounts of Gundam-related merchandise, including t-shirts, model kits, videos and DVDs, various toys, and Gundam-themed snacks, as well as some unique merchandise which is produced exclusively for Gundam the Ride.

The Halloween team, as well as the Escape Launch, make a cameo appearance in the video game “Encounters in Space” while the player (playing as Amuro Ray in his Gundam) is making his way through the Dolos.

The ride closed on January 8, 2007, replaced by a new attraction named “Gundam Crisis” which features a full size 1:1 Gundam after July, 2007.

[Via http://srtnews.wordpress.com]

Stocks in the News: Toyota, Electronic Arts, Coca-Cola - DailyFinance

One Piece 435: Magellan's Strength! Bon Clay Flees Before His Enemy

2010-02-09T16:48:00.000+02:00

One Piece episode 435 was out yesterday and there was no better way for me to start the week but by seeing my beloved Luffy as he continues his struggle to save his brother, ‘Fire Fist’ Ace , who’s imprisoned in the world’s most dangerous Impel Down. As Luffy gets nearer to level 5 where his brother is being held, the enemies he encounters also get much stronger. In this episode, Luffy faces Magellan, who has a very deadly poisonous power. It was difficult for me to see my favorite character in a pinch.

Watching One Piece never bores me. Every episode just keeps on getting more exciting every week. Below are some screen shots that I’ve taken from the episode but the quality is not that good since I just used my cellphone.

The picture above shows Magellan blocking Luffy’s way to the kitchen because as usual, our adorable hero was feeling hungry and he couldn’t resist the delicious smell coming from the kitchen.

Magellan’s poison was very difficult to deal with that Luffy and Bon Clay could not do anything but run for their lives.

Bon Chan cries rivers of tears as he realizes that there is nothing he can do to help his nakama, Luffy, in fighting Magellan.

Meanwhile, Buggy and Mr. Three decides to take their chance of going back to level 3 but it seems that they’ll also have a difficult time since prison guards are already waiting for them.

Knowing that he won’t be able to see Ace unless he defeats Magellan, Luffy uses Second Gear to finish off his enemy.

Luffy hits Magellan with a very powerful Pistol despite the fact that he might also lose his arms as the poison will affect him once he makes direct contact with the enemy.

The last scene shows Luffy’s fist covered with Magellan’s deadly poison. (huhu)

I really worry about Luffy even though I’m pretty sure that everything will eventually turn out fine. I want to see the next episode so that I’ll see Luffy all better again. I hope Magellan had been finished off for good but I have a feeling that the real battle has just started.

[Via http://sawakosmiles.wordpress.com]

8 million register for Free Realms | News

another day

2010-02-09T04:13:00.000+02:00

SO another rather funny work order has come through today, which i thought i would share.

Just a note- I have been advised to be a little more ‘prudent’ when showing work orders on the internets hence, alot more black lines!

MOOOOOOLE

Anyyyyyways, P and Myself are planning our cosplay entries for Supanova 2010 (proudly supported by Borders, Madman and . . Dominos?), and yes, we do plan on actually showing up this time. We are thinking of going as Shana from Shakugan no Shana, possibly with one of us in her summer uniform;

and one of us in her winter uniform;

Maybe one of us with her red hair and one with her brown? Its a work in progress. We want to cosplay her mostly because she is kick ass, and has a sweet sword.

On a completely unrelated note, Happy 90210 day! You will figure it out

k.

[Via http://kelfen.wordpress.com]

Pickled Politics » News stories for today (Monday)

Dragon Ball Kai Episode 1 Summary

2010-02-07T16:40:00.000+02:00

Goku Surprised by the Ki of Raditz

Summary:

It starts with Goku being born and shows a little history of Dragon ball then back to The Present. Raditz Comes to Earth with a Space Ship and a Terrified Farmer comes to see what’s going on then gets Killed by raditz. As Raditz is trying to find Goku is Brother he stumbles upon a High power of ki and that is “Piccolo” a Namekian,Raditz takes down piccolo then leaves Piccolo in a shock on how Raditz was able to beat him. Then Bulma arrives at the Kame House where Roshi and kirillin are then Gokue arrives with a Child who could this Child be? Gohan his 4 year old Son,Leaving the rest surprised on How goku managed to get a Child. Then they all get terrified on the High Ki coming there way It turns out to be Raditz finally He made it to goku. And Wiped Kirillin Off then Goku Notices Raditz also Has a tail just like Gohan and Goku. Who could this Person be? Watch Dragon Ball Kai episode 2 To fine out!!!

Link: http://www.animefreak.tv/watch/dragon-ball-kai-episode-1-english-dubbed-online-free

[Via http://mangaxanime.wordpress.com]

CBS, News Corp. Grab For Station Retransmission Dollars Could Get ...

*saturday .

2010-02-07T04:39:00.000+02:00

It’s saturday! Ahh.. it’s so late already. Dx Guess what I spent the day doing? .. DRAMAS! LOL. There’s a new TVB drama (asian-chinese :3) about horoscopes and toys! It’s called.. Cupid Stupid. Yeah, it’s a rather retarded name but it’s interesting. I watched 6 episodes at once. x)

Well anyways, so it’s Saturday, meaning I have piano classes. :/ Nothing really interesting happened after that.. o.o actually, my brother had to hand-in his application form for the university he’s applying for and it was so hard to find. O_O He ended up having to go asking every person for directions. LOLL. xD But eventually, we found it and when we went inside it looked like a mall o__O

After that, we went home and I watched dramas for .. 5 hours straight. And, that’s basically all I did todayy. Anyways, it’s getting late, good night everyone — oh wait, I watched anime this morning and the episode on Shugo Chara was pretty cute. :3 Hikaru-kun smiled! <3 Uhhh.. what else? Hmm, there was Nodame Cantabile and something something no Railgun. :O Nothing really much to say about this.

Okay, now it is good bye. Good night everyone! ^^

[Via http://xbabystar.wordpress.com]

Apps & Games News section added, comments appreciated | iLounge News

GAH its sealed with 3 zen and 3 worldwake.

2010-02-06T04:50:00.000+02:00

GIMME MY WORLDWAKE!!!

RAWRS WANT WORLDWAKE!

Ok thats enough…

Ok if you didnt get it, its 3 zen and 3 worldwake for our sealed, i suppose its what the upper up peoples decided and there arnt much we can do about it…

Hmm if we have money we spend it.

If we have wood we make a fire or something…

If we has alcomahol we get smashed.

I will actually make a railgun post later…

But for now i want to rant a bit.

So the idea of having 3 zen and 3 world makes it VERY hard to come up with a decent sealed deck. I mean like some of the rares from zen dont even come close into synergy with Worldwake, i mean man lands and tap lands are kinda outta sync…

I suppose it would be nice to have those but THEY ARNT GOING TO WIN GAMES. We need things that bomb the field for a certain win, well thats how i play anyway.

And the only thing thats also going to happen in this tournament is that there arnt going to be skill based fights, its all going to be about whats pulled for rares and uncommons. AND there is a chance that somone is going to get 2 mythic and while others are not going to get anything good for rares. So that SINGLE person with 2 mythics is going to own some face no matter how they play and its going to be REALLY hard for others to try and keep up with them. Kinda like the new game of magic that is going to come out.

Erm cant remember the name of it but what happens is that one person is the boss, and there is like 8 other players trying to take down the single boss. 1 vs many.

Cept with the tournament if this happens then its actually not 1 vs many, but 1 strong vs one weakling.

Oh well its the luck of the pull. Doesnt mean ill get it, but it also doesnt mean im going to give up if i get a crap pull anyway.

Oh did i mention that im going to be having the best night of my life?

My neighbour decided to have a 21st party tonight and so they sent out a letter to other neighbours saying that they are going to start @ 7:30pm and they are going to make a lot of noise and they have already informed the police about this incident, so we cant exactly complain to them either and we alredy know of the parties existance so we cant complain about the noise.

I kinda wanted to sleep early for the sealed tomorrow but noooooo this has to happen….fkn fail….

need to find my earplugs…the good ones…

Till next time,

Andrew Chin,

[Via http://fatesofashe.wordpress.com]

Apple launches iTunes Preview for iPhone, iPod touch apps ...

What we are listening too: Mizore Shirayuki

2010-02-04T16:18:00.000+02:00

I just could not resist, almost as soon as I started writing about Rosario + Vampire I had to listen to this song: “Snow Storm” sang by the character Mizore Shirayuyki is a such a cute little song with a really funny video (taken from the episode). It’s one of those warm fuzzy moments despite coming from the coldest character (literally!) in Rosario Vampire.

I hope readers enjoy this little track as much as I do.

Go Mizore you can do it!

And to top it off, I have included my favourite of the current season Intros: “Discotheque” by Nana Mizuki. A very funky track and intro for that matter that see’s the Rosario cast doing a dance off to strobe lighting and disco ball! A great intro that has the addictive qualities of Haruhi’s “Hare Hare Yukai”.

Thanks for reading

DiStudios

[Via http://distudios.wordpress.com]

Joe Klein rips Fox News for airing Beck's 'hateful crap,' but O ...

黒執事II (Kuroshitsuji II)

2010-02-04T04:55:00.000+02:00

So, I already know that there will be a second season of 黒執事 (Kuroshitsuji). But I’ve never expected the seiyuu will be different from the first season. Is that mean Sebastian and Ciel will not appear in the 黒執事II (Kuroshitsuji II)? No Sebastian = No Ohno Daisuke-san. W-H-A-T!?!

As I hear the second season will evolve around the new shitsuji (Claude Faustus) with his master (Alois Trancy). Sakurai Takahiro-san, seiyuu whom I adore. Yes, as much as Ohno Daisuke-san. Sakurai Takahiro-san will be the new shitsuji. Though I love the voice, let’s see… the character will have the blond hair! Hmmm… Where is the merits of 黒(kuro) – black in this new season?

櫻井孝宏 Sakurai Takahiro

Junjou Romantica as Misaki

Kyou Kara Maoh! as Yuri Shibuya

Code Geass as Suzaku Kururugi

D.Gray-man as Yuu Kanda

and more.

New master, voiced by lovely Mizuki Nana-san. As we all knows, her voice is undeniably beautiful. Ok, is the new master, Alois Trancy, a boy or a girl? By the way, I’m a fan of 美少年! (笑)

水樹奈々 Mizuki Nana

Naruto as Hinata Hyuga

Itazura na Kiss as Kotoko Aihara

Shugo Chara! as Utau Hoshina / Utau Tsukiyomi

Ichigo 100% as Yui Minamito

and more.

For those who is interested in new shitsuji with his master. Here it is.

I’m a total and royal fan of Sebastian and Ciel. But let’s see how these new shitsuji and his master do in 黒執事II. The second season of Kuroshitsuji will be aired on July 2010.

[Via http://usagitsuki.wordpress.com]

'Sex Box' exposé might be the greatest news report of all time

"Kure-nai" will be having an OVA

2010-02-02T16:49:00.000+02:00

Shueisha’s Jump SQ Magazine has announced that there will be a new OVA for Katayama Kentaro’s Kure-nai.

Scan:

It will be released on July 2, 2010 along with the volume 5 manga.

[Source]

[Via http://kankeishorui.wordpress.com]

News to know: Apple, Obama's budget, Chrome, Google App Store ...

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2010-02-02T04:44:00.000+02:00

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International HD news roundup -- Engadget HD

The Younger Generation takes over??? White beard is surely dead?!?the Good old kakashi is now only a side character???!!! AHSAN IS BACK? O_o

2010-01-30T16:34:00.000+02:00

Well guys the title sums it all up . I am Back with a bang not much of a bang though more like bad news and more bad news well atleast for guys like me ( who love white beard >:) & Kakashi >:) and hate sasugay )

First up iss Kakashi and guys i think its official now … Kishi hates kakashi damn you kishi >_> <_< has there been any good kakashi only fight after the zabuza v.s kakashi which was a classic one … so i assume its safe to sayyyyyy that

Good 'ol Kakashi aint comin back!!!

Next up is our great whitebeard … personally guys i am not happy with how things have gone i mean i understand that he was sick ,weak and most importantly olllld but still he was supposed to be the damned STRONGEST GUY IN OP damn you oda killing off my second fav character . well enough of my ranting on to the announcement ….

BYE bye WhiteBeard ..... I LOVE YOU O_O

Lastly i R BACKNESS

I ARE BACKNESSS

in the end id like to say that i know that this post was stupid and full of errors , sorryyyyy i just wanted to do something so did it >:)

Ahsan

[Via http://iareawesomeness.wordpress.com]

News: Iran, John Barrowman, Mexico City, Scott Roeder, Brazil ...

Durarara!! – 04

2010-01-30T04:14:00.000+02:00

Kishitani Shinra is an underground unlicensed doctor who is currently living with Celty Sturluson, the headless motorcycle rider. Shinra, who is extremely interested in how the world appears in the eyes of the headless rider, deduces that the shadowy particles that are emitted from Celty’s body serves to convey information about her surroundings to her, in a way acting as replacement for the lost head. Celty is a Dullahan, otherwise known as a headless fairie from Celtic folklore. A Dullahan is supposed to carry its head whenever it goes, but twenty years ago, Celty woke up in the mountains to find her head missing, along with her memories. Since then, her search for her head brought her to several places, finally landing in Japan. To not let herself stand out among people, she transferred the spirit of her horse into an abandoned motorcycle and rides on it instead.

She has been constantly searching for a street artist who mentioned something about losing a Dullahan’s head, based on Izaya’s information, and finally finds him with Shizuo’s help. The old man clarifies that when he saw the Dullahan, she didn’t have a head, and his imagination is not good enough for him to draw it. He also tells them that a strange man once told him that his drawing of the Dullahan is perfect without the head. Shinra tells her that the Dullahan might not have been her, since Celty doesn’t recall encountering the old man before, but Celty insists that it has to be her. Shinra tries to persuade Celty to stop looking for her head and stay with him in vain, and she leaves the room. Shinra then recalls how he met her in the ship to Japan when he was four years old, and his father made an agreement with Celty to let him dissect her in return for a place to stay. It is revealed that Shinra is also the strange man who told the street artist that the drawing is perfect without the head.

Awesome episode! It’s definitely the most intriguing story so far, with the focus being the background of the most mysterious character in the show. It is interesting to learn that Celty is a Dullahan, but having an autopsy done on her must be the first time I have ever seen a doctor dissect a mythical creature. We have seen researchers wanting to open up aliens and mutants all the time, but this is the first for me when it comes to an immortal being (at least it wasn’t as brutal as in Baccano!). It makes sense that her organs need not be functioning to make her alive, otherwise she would be gravely injured if someone were to attack her, and what actually keeps her alive is still a mystery. However, I wonder why the heart would be missing, how Celty needs to sleep, and how is it that she can still feel pain. Doubt it is part of the major mystery, but more of just being a fact of supernatural beings. In addition, it was interesting watching a folklore creature in an urban city, having to “upgrade” from using a pen and notepad to using iPhone and IRC to “talk”, and exchanging a headless horse for a possessed motorbike.

Some of the remaining questions about Celty is how she is connected to the suicide person mentioned in ep 2, who is the person who took her head, and how and why did that person do it. Judging from the pen, it seems like Shinra’s father is the man who told the street artist of the existence of Dullahans in the past too.

That aside, we get to hear a lot of Fukuyama Jun and Sawashiro Miyuki this week! And the scenery pictures are simply gorgeous.

PS: Nice wallpaper that Celty has there.

[Via http://rinerei.wordpress.com]

Brad Friedman and Desi Doyen: Green News Report -- January 28 ...

Ultimate Avengers I& II

2010-01-28T16:53:00.000+02:00

AÑO: ?]

[NACIONALIDAD: EUA]

[Genero: Animation / Action / Adventure / Sci-Fi]

[Duracion: 1hr por cada capitulo]

[Idioma: Español-Latino / Ingles]

[Sound Mix: Dolby Digital]

Marvel Comics publicó entre 2002 y 2007 una colección donde aparecen los personajes del universo Marvel interpretados tal y como serían en la actualidad, ambientada en un universo alternativo al de las historietas clásicas. En este universo llamado Universo Ultimate, los Vengadores son conocidos como Ultimates. Pese a lo radicalmente diferente del enfoque, las apariciones de los miembros respetan a grandes rasgos el orden en que ocurrieron en la versión original. La historia comienza con Bruce Banner, Tony Stark, Henry Pym y Janet Van Dyne y el rescate del Capitán América. En la primera gran batalla del grupo se suma Thor y posteriormente se unen Quicksilver (también conocido como Mercurio), la Bruja Escarlata, Ojo de Halcón y la Viuda Negra (que, en la versión original, si bien fue miembro más adelante, estuvo presente poco después del primer gran recambio de integrantes)

Tipo de archivo .rmvb

Descargas

http://rapidshare.com/files/141661651/UA_I_II.part1.rar

http://rapidshare.com/files/141930225/UA_I_II.part2.rar

http://rapidshare.com/files/149014951/UA_I_II.part3.rar

http://rapidshare.com/files/149017046/UA_I_II.part4.rar

http://rapidshare.com/files/149019206/UA_I_II.part5.rar

http://rapidshare.com/files/149019300/UA_I_II.part6.rar

[Via http://daniel890.wordpress.com]

Actual News on Earnings Call: Yahoo Disables Annoying “Hover” Tool ...

Inuyasha: The Final Act Episode 17 spoiler

2010-01-26T16:45:00.000+02:00

Kyaaa just love this hehehehehe just love this ep hihi sesshomaru got a new and the arm grow out hihihi!!! Yeeeeey but I have to say that I got nervous then sesshomaru was fighting Magatsuhi ( the dark spirit of shinkon no tama)!!

But something happend to kagome ^^’ but what ?

click on the link to watch

Inuyasha: The Final Act Episode 17

[Via http://mamaa.wordpress.com]

'Make Them Filibuster': Gov. Rendell Tells President Obama ...

Cross Game Episode 42 Synopsis & Review

2010-01-26T04:03:00.000+02:00

Synopsis

Summer Koshien is almost here. With that, Seishu is getting more pumped up for the upcoming baseball matches. This episode displays pieces of music that really stick out from the rest of the show. The easy going and nostalgic melodies of the background music add to the soothing pace of this episode. The romantic pace is picking up too.

Momiji playing catch with Kou

The baseball players confirm their attraction to Aoba, and so does her cousin. Akaishi walks Akane home without waking Kou, Junpei introduces Ichiyo to his family, Nakanishi and his girlfriend are getting along quite well, and so is Momiji and her boyfriend. Senda and Azuma do batting practice while everyone is out and about. During the batting practice, Azuma gives Senda advice on how to improve his role as the 1st batter of Seishu.

Ozaki drops by to practice with Aoba, while Kou and Akaishi practice in their usual spot in the forest. The intense match-up between Aoba and Ozaki ends up with 2 strikes and 3 balls. Aoba’s last pitch is her fastest fast ball yet, causing Ozaki to swing and miss. It seems Seishu is ready for their first baseball game.

Overall it is a great episode. It develops the slice of life side of the show and prepares us for what’s next. I’m looking forward to the baseball matches to see how much everyone has improved. Hopefully the romantic developments continue to progress amidst the games. Closer and closer we get to the end of the show (9 more episodes perhaps) and to realizing Wakaba’s dream.

Review

[Via http://enroutejourney.wordpress.com]

Notes from Q1 2010 Apple Conference Call | iLounge News

Addicting Anime Nagasarete Airantou

2010-01-23T16:07:00.000+02:00

Aright so i forgot to post this yesterday it is the anime that got alot of people I know addicted to anime (over 8 people got addicted to it this week 0.0. Though I have not finish this anime yet I know all of you will enjoy it) This anime is about a boy who runs away from home and boards a ship, but the ship is suddenly hit by a huge storm that sends main main character overboard. When he regains consciousness , he finds him self on a strange island (yes the sailer men were too lazy to save him) and finds out that he’s the only guy on the island. ( yes it is a big harem anime) now go be happy http://www.watchanimeon.com/anime/nagasarete-airantou/

[Via http://shadowrj.wordpress.com]

On Tuesday, a Big Night for Fox News - Media Decoder Blog ...

Dance in the Vampire Bund after episode 03

2010-01-23T04:22:00.000+02:00

The second and third episodes revealed the true nature of this show, and they were better than the almost arduous to watch first episode. There is a clear animation style at play here: the show has a propensity to display shots of high contrast, usually an area where it is bright, and another dark. There is also a tendency for leg and skirt shots that borders on revealing the inner undergarments (if they are wearing any) of these pretty girls. In line with previous Shaft works, some shots are almost artistically driven. I would describe Dance in the Vampire Bund as a deeply atmospheric, gothic-like, and somewhat teasingly sexy anime. Anyways, while I can appreciate the deliberately crafted presentation of Dance in the Vampire Bund, so far the only character I care about is Yuki. She is a nice homely girl who unfortunately I fear may eventually lose her romantic pursuit.

[Via http://muirwoods.wordpress.com]

Ann Arbor news roundup: Jan. 21 - AnnArbor.com

Umineko no naku koro ni (when the seagulls cry)

2010-01-21T16:17:00.000+02:00

Battler Ushiromiya and his family decide to go to see their grandfather/father Kinzo after he has according to them diseased. What they do not know is that he has a contract with Beatrice the golden witch. He lives by himself on an island named Rokkenjima, his immense wealth and status are to be thanked by this same witch. In the main hall of the house there is an epitaph, consisting of 9 things that have to be solved and happened before one can enter the Golden Land.

Battler and his family are eager to solve this problem because this will mean immense wealth for one of them. At some points the vieuwpoints of the characters will change in a way beyond imagining. But this red-headed boy is persistent. He doesn’t believe in witches, then how can Beatrice exist? Every night one by one the family members will die as long as no one solves this incredibly difficult epitaph. Aunt Rosa, her husband and George have their own reasons for wanting to win this. Also, the servants are at some point found ”guilty”.

You can clearly see at some points that the makers of Higurashi no naku koro ni (when the chicadas cry) have been working on this project. A lot of elements that made the Higurashi series good are also implemented here. If you don’t mind the story starting out the same and changing along the way, you’ll love this series as much as I do. (And I am not a big fan of repetition ) All in all a must watch series!

[Via http://chidorii.wordpress.com]

News Quiz | January 21, 2010 - The Learning Network Blog - NYTimes.com

Final Fantasy Advent Children

2010-01-21T04:15:00.000+02:00

Reseña:

Dos años antes, durante los eventos en Final Fantasy VII…

Sephiroth, el “más grande SOLDADO que jamás haya habido”, ha invocado la técnica de máxima destrucción, “Meteor” para causar un máximo daño al planeta que le permita ubicarse frente atoda esa liberación de energía y convertirse en un dios. El protagonista del juego, Cloud y sus amigos logran detener al villano, mas no a tiempo para evitar que Meteor alcanzara el planeta. Qué sucedió después no se supo hasta hace poco (el juego original fue lanzado hacia 1997).

Debido a la enorme colisión de energías cuando el Corriente Vital emergió del planeta para detener a Meteor, las células de JENOVA, la entidad maligna atrapada en el planeta y que había guiado a Sephiroth, se han dispersado por el planeta y han infectado a mucha gente, particularmente a niños. Aquelos que sufren este mal, colectivamente conocido como Geoestigma padecen gran sufrimiento y expansión de las células de JENOVA como un tumor en sus cuerpos.

Fuente: Wikipedia.

Ficha Tecnica

Titulo: Final Fantasy Advent Children

Genero: Accion, Animacion Digital.

Duración: 01h-30min aprox

Idioma: Ingles con subtitulos en español incorporados.

Tamaño: 380 MB aprox

Formato: RMVB

Hosting: RS.com

Link en Total: 4

Calidad de imagen: Buena.

DESCARGAR

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[02/04] http://rapidshare.com/files/78138886/p-ff7adv.part2.rar

[03/04] http://rapidshare.com/files/78150397/p-ff7adv.part3.rar

[04/04] http://rapidshare.com/files/78159843/p-ff7adv.part4.rar

SFV http://rapidshare.com/files/78232037/p-ff7adv.sfv

DESCARGAR

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[02/04] http://www.megaupload.com/?d=83JVTZVZ

[03/04] http://www.megaupload.com/?d=QISPVQ3N

[04/04] http://www.megaupload.com/?d=MCRE1JMN

SFV http://rapidshare.com/files/78232037/p-ff7adv.sfv

[Via http://daniel890.wordpress.com]

Nearly Half Of Google News Users Don't Go To Source | paidContent

So・Ra・No・Wo・To – 03

2010-01-19T16:47:00.000+02:00

Kanata comes down with a case of malaria, and Rio is the only one left to take care of her. In the process, each reveals more information about their past.

“Ok girls, today we will be remodeling the tank into being able to play Amazing Grace!”

Awesome Rio!!!!

Listen, kids, NEVER trust some suspicious old men who walk into your house one night and say “Little girl, I can heal your mommy.”

I bet 99.9% of the audience guess they’re the same person, and the remain 0.1% is zoning out.

Nice episode overall, focusing on Rio’s character
Rio is awesome when she was desperately seeking a cure for Kanata. She really cares for everyone sooooo much.
NEVER tell your juniors to create trouble for you. You’ll eventually regret it. ^_^
I wonder if there will ever be an actual use for the tank, since it keeps re-surfacing.
How does the blond-hair girl factor into the plot? If there are enemies, she would be the biggest villain of all, but… it doesn’t seem like anyone would attack this secluded town.
Will this turn into a character-of-the-week series?

[Via http://rinerei.wordpress.com]

Stocks in the News: Citigroup, Apple, Kraft, Tyco - DailyFinance

Favourite OP/ED of Winter 09/10

2010-01-19T04:10:00.000+02:00

Decided to take a break from Vocaloid Weekly, since I don’t get much of an impression that people are interested, and I can’t see myself committing to a Vocaloid post every Tues for the next few months. This gives me time to create a post on my favourite OP/ED of this season. I’ll try to be impartial and not repeat 「光の旋律」 and 「時の向こう幻の空」 in every available slot.

Top 3 OP

3.To Aru Kagaku no Railgun: 「LEVEL5 -judgelight-」 by fripSide

Awesome song with awesome biribiri shots and awesome action scenes to go with it.

2. Durarara!!: 「裏切りの夕焼け」 by Theatre Brook

Video is apparently flipped to avoid copyright, but the song is as awesome and catchy as ever, though I must say the slick animation also contributes to my love.

1. So.Ra.No.Wo.To: 「光の旋律」 by Kalafina

I know this will be my favourite song this season the first moment I set my ears on it. Beautiful melody, composed by Kajiura Yuki, sang by Kalafina. I can find no faults (yes, I might be biased here, I don’t care).

Top 3 ED

3. Letter Bee: 「光の記憶」 by Angelo

Not much to say. Lovely song. Too bad the anime got boring.

2. Baka to Test to Shōkanjū: 「Baka Go Home」 by milktub and BakaTest All Stars

OP & ED in the same video and flipped to avoid copyright. Both OP and ED songs are good, but there are better OPs, so only the ED made it to my charts. The songs are quite cute when taken with the context from the anime as well.

1. Durarara!!: 「Trust Me」 by 松下優也

Once again flipped to avoid copyright. Awesome song showing the awesome cast of an awesome anime.

3 Guilty Pleasures

(in order of amount of guilt I feel when watching, not in order of how good the songs are)

3. To Aru Kagaku no Railgun ED: 「REAL FORCE」 by ELISA

Oh my… look at the legs… the fanservice-y shots…… cool scenes… mmm…

2. So.Ra.No.Wo.To ED: 「Girls, Be Ambitious」

Sang by Tomatsu Haruka, who is the cutest girl to ever appear on a PV with totally “squeeeeeeeeee” and “kyaaaaaaaaaa” and “OMG SO CUUUUUTE!!!!” poses, or in magazines with a totally moe meganekko-look. And her legs! Wow! CD w/ DVD to be out on 27 Jan, looking forward to the PV!

1. Seikon no Qwaser ED: 「Passionate Squall」

A “masterpiece” by Fujimura Ayumi, Toyosaki Aki, Chihara Minori, Hikasa Youko and Hirano Aya (no, there is no name here). Just the names of the singers are enough to make me happy, no matter how the song/anime is like.

Few ED songs this season catch my attention (most of them being my guilty pleasures), and there is a number of anime with good OPs, like Ookami Kakushi and Nodame Cantabile: Finale, which didn’t manage to make it to the list cuz I love those above-mentioned more. I’m tweaking the classifications here as well, by placing To Aru Kagaku no Railgun and Letter Bee on the list. Technically they belong to Fall 09, but since they have a new OP/ED this season, I figured they could count, right?

[Via http://rinerei.wordpress.com]

AMERICAblog News: Kuttner on Obama, Coakley, and health care reform

Dancing Queen [H][+18]

2010-01-17T16:39:00.000+02:00

~ the following material contains explicit sexual stuff…do not read it if you’re still underage ~ not safe for work!!!!

Okay…this flash H game is NOT the best you can get your hands on. I mean…with minimum of real player intervention…and just a flash video to explain what is going on…Dancing Queen it’s just another…rape and torture japanese hentai game.

We have some ladies and some bad guys. Also some freaking monsters…of course with tentacles [cuz it's tentacle rape we're talking about].

Don’t you feel struck by the idea of clichee???

Cuz I do. Why do these people don’t create something more sensual and body-caring?

They prefer to create a story where women are forced to fuck..if you know what I mean…It’s just me or there is as trange feeling in the air…bad things must generate other bad things?

So…if you come across this kind of game…trust me…you’ll see what I’m talking about.

That is why I prefer ecchi games instead of hentai…softcore it’s my deal .

[Via http://japfun.wordpress.com]

News: Kellan Lutz, PETA, Iowa, Susan Boyle, Top Gear, Jesus Luz ...

The Carb Coma

2010-01-17T04:45:00.000+02:00

Hit up the mall a touch today for some new leg-wear at a desirable 50% off then back home for a hard-core session of resume re-writing. Its not that I am not employed, its just that there is a very enticing promotion starring at me and I am starring back. I got a good amount done before my attention left me and I went and got ready for a birthday party of the husbands cousin. I have to say it was just alright, too many unknown people, too many carbs and yummy sangria all came together making me tired and cranky. Which brings me to where I am now, holding the eyelids open but simultaneously fighting off the urge to clean house and do laundry like a never-ending battle of the OCD and ADD.

On the anime side I have finished Princess Lover and started downloading the first eps of a lot of the new Winter 2010 stuff currently airing in Japan. Princess Lover was alright, lacked a lot of character development and an ending I could be happy with. The animation was excellent however and the girls were oh-so kawaii with HUGE oppai which I suppose made up for the harem surrounded in plot-less-ness. Anyone else seen it?

[Via http://rielleromdo.wordpress.com]

Phoenix Wright heads WiiWare update News | Wii | Eurogamer

Hetalia 50

2010-01-16T16:33:00.000+02:00

An episode leaning to the more serious side, but America makes everything crazy. It’s kind of refreshing, really. I’ve noticed that most anime airing now don’t use chibis or the classic sweatdrops and those sorts of expressions. It’s all fine to be more serious, but there’s something about chibis and chibi expressions that are so iconic and that I love to see. So watching something just nutty like Hetalia is refreshing.

Oh yes, Hetalia was licensed recently, so it’s gone from AnimeSuki. *sigh* I don’t even want to know what they’re going to do to Daisuke Namikawa’s voice…

[Via http://dragonarya.wordpress.com]

CBB Rolling News: Day 14 | The Sun |Showbiz|Big Brother

Doujinshi Review: "Recipe" by Carnelian

2010-01-16T04:21:00.000+02:00

Carnelian’s original doujinshi “Recipe” is a colorful collection of dessert-themed fairies or sprites. Each sprite is presented in the form of a colored sketch and a fully CG’ed super-deformed version of them swimming among the culinary treat of her choice. The cover is printed on sturdy textured paper and the pages on the inside are thick and glossy.

"recipe" cover

The cover girl herself is nameless, as far as I know, although you may have seen her before on the front of Carnelian’s 2008 calendar. You can view Carnelian’s CG of this image on Pixiv, too.

Inside the front cover.

The first page of the doujinshi introduces each of the characters in chibi form on a light purple checkered pattern.

Anne

The first food fairy is Anne. In her chibi portrait, she is sitting among dumplings and traditional Japanese wagashi. (和菓子) (View on Pixiv.)

Sugar

The second girl is named “Sugar”, and she is most appropriately the fairy of sugary sweet doughnuts! Notice that she has cute little glazed doughnuts in her hair. XD (View on Pixiv.)

Ginger

Ginger is knocking on the door of a rather delicious looking gingerbread house, complete with gingerbread cookies and… almond pocky! She looks rather like Kogami Akira from Lucky Star. She even has the ahoge. o_O (View on Pixiv.)

Limone

Limone is the mascot for Jelly desserts. Bill Cosby would be proud. She must be sitting in a glass of mint jelly because her chibi form appears to be holding mint leaves. (View on Pixiv.)

Chocolat

No list of desserts would be complete without Chocolate! Miss “Chocolat” presents to you here a luxurious box of truffles and chocolate-dipped fruits. (View on Pixiv.)

Cream

Our final dessert girl is “Cream”. Standing with a candle atop a cake with chocolate snowflakes and cream puff snowmen, this illustration is somewhat Christmas-themed. (View on Pixiv.)

Recipe Girl

Once again our pastry chef is showcased, without the sprites shown on the cover. Just in case you missed anything, there’s a handy ZOOM LAYER version of the picture as well. It’s kind of a filler, but I’m not complaining!

Chibi backs!

The last of the colored pages shows the back of the chibi image you saw inside the front cover. Cute! It’s followed by the introduction to the monochrome section, which is printed in chocolate brown.

Monochrome Section

The monochrome section starts off with the sketch of the cover girl and an introduction that I can’t read (sorry. :p)

Sketches of the Girls

For the sake of not becoming too redundant, I compiled the photos of the sketch section into one image.

The back!

The end!

There you have it. I hope you’ll forgive the quality of my photographs. I use a point and shoot with bad lighting, but the important thing is that now you know what this doujinshi contains! After waiting a couple of years to find scans of this book with no luck whatsoever, I finally gave in and bought it, and I’m certainly glad that I did so.

[Via http://plasticpleasures.wordpress.com]

Technology News: Internet: Google to China: Tear Down This Wall

Seena Kanon Orchid Seed shipping soon

2010-01-14T16:18:00.000+02:00

It seems I will be getting more figures than expected this month. Payment has just been taken from my supplier for Shining Wind’s Seena (Orchid Seed version) which means she can’t be far behind! I pretty much came across this figure by accident but am glad to have done so, I had thought that I was done with the Shining Wind series having picked up most of the Kotobukiya run from last year. For those who have not seen this figure, feast your eyes on her below:

**Shipping soon**

You can still pick up a pre-order for this figure HERE

I might not have too much order wises on the horizon but those few I have decided to add are in my opinion very nice ones or at least have stood out among the rest for my collecting tastes.

Thanks for reading

DiStudios

p.s. Wow! sorry so many posts this week due to so many things happening :s

[Via http://distudios.wordpress.com]

Diane Dimond: Good News for a Change!

Baka to Test to Shokanju - And the battle begins

2010-01-12T16:24:00.000+02:00

At first I was afraid that it would be another fluffy, eyes stabbing anime with some poor sense of humour, BUT it turned out that my worries were limited only to the Opening, as after it everything was shining brightly and I can already say: I’m going to watch this serie to the very end.

F-ail

The plot begins when our Main Hero gets assigned to a class depending on his Exam result, it’s not that surprising that in a comedy focused on school-battles, he appears to be a moron and gets to the worst class. It can sound a bit cliche – I mean – the whole thing is appearently all about getting to the top class ‘A’ from the worst ‘F’, so it’s just ‘I want to get stronger’ kind of bullshit, which in this case means – Getting better at subjects and passing exam with better results, atleast from here it goes special.

Cool class bro

Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t nowhere as annoyed by that fact as when I watched 1 minute of Dance in the Vampire Bund. Everything that disappointed me – Opening sequence which was Kampferishand a rather dumb main plot – was just a small piece of cake, as the serie appeared to be unexpectedly comfy to watch. I was glad that the difference between classes was crucial as I wished for it and I really liked how the whole F class is falling apart and the teacher replies to everything ‘Deal with it’ and he suddenly goes ‘Just kidding! Here, have some glue’.

Nevertheless all characters so far were atleast average, apart from Genius Pink-Haired Doom Girl(aka G.P.H.D.G). I really liked the guy who uses every possible chance to look under girls’ skirts like a true ninja, it’s not really surprising that his Summoned Being is a chibi lying on the ground with a camera. Main hero isn’t really awesome, yet gave me a lol when he summoned his chibi, who’s clumsy and as it turns out, the damage received by his chibi is transferred back to the master. There’s also that red-haired class rep, who is pretty much planning strategies and smiles all the time knowing the outcome of everything.. In the first episode I actually considered HIM a much better main character than the actual one.

Classic

And here goes the ninja

Thought it was going to be a lame ecchi scene? Actually it got followed up by dramatic nosebleed dying-scene

And just like in a good comedy, everything turns out to be on the side of classroom while others ignore them

Coming back to the plot, the school which characters attend is actually a Project, to be precise it’s meant to be a battlefield directly connected to the school subjects – you’re good at math? Do a math exam and your points become your summoned being’s attack points. Therefore the smarter(subjects-wise) you are, the stronger you are. That’s why classes can challenge each other anytime and if a lower class wins, they can swap places with losers and just like that, class A is the most powerful one, including all the best students.

Chibi 2d fights, damn cute

Camera guy is just awesome

In the first episode there’s already a battle between main characters (F) and E class. Class rep got his plan to beat them, which was so damn obvious from the very beginning but whatever, it was just natural that clumsy Main Hero was a sacrifice while G.P.H.D.G was the hidden striking force.

Main hero’s chibi is surprisingly funny, making his master bleed whenever he gets hurt as they’re exceptionally connected

G.P.H.D.G is getting ready to one-hit opposing class

A plot twist I guess, SHE’S OVER 4 HUNDREEED!

While the plot is average, lineart, animation are really good. What I found especially exciting though is the comedy part. Reminds me a lot of my favourite comedies like Ouran Highschool Host Club. The ending is also pretty decent, atleast not colorful and terrible like the opening, so here I won’t really judge as it’s really meaningless for a comedy anime.

First promising serie of this season, hopefully not last.

[Via http://mb2shan.wordpress.com]

Lotsa Locals Making Big News - The Detroit Blog - TIME.com

The Ring

2010-01-12T04:10:00.000+02:00

I’m blogging from Old Chicago’s via my WordPress iPhone app. Eating out with Ellie since Karen is out with her girl friends in Louisville. Ellie is playing in the arcade but just came back for more money. She showed me the ring she won. Wow. It took me back like Lennon singing a psychedelic song.

I was in the record shop in downtown Marion, Iowa. 45s cost 99 cents, not unlike iTunes today, except they had a B-side. I’d bought, well actually won from the weekly drawing, my 1st 45. I picked, “Me and You and a Dog Named Boo.” For whatever reason this little record shop also sold friendship rings. I picked up a ring that looked amazingly similar to the little faux metal ring Ellie just showed me. Same multiple rings of hammered steel design, except mine really was metal. I recall it costing like $1.39 or something.

The next day at school – Emerson Elementary – I gave it to this girl who was a friend of my older sister Diane. I was in 5th grade, Diane was in 6th grade, and her friend’s name was Tina Flemming. She was this incredibly pretty, petite (for a 6th grader) brunette with anime brown eyes. She was my Mary Ann Summers. Her dad was my little league baseball coach. I gave her the ring before the lunch recess and she agreed to go steady with me. She gave it back after recess. The first girl to ever break up with me, although not the last. I imagine she’s fat as a house now. I mean, she was pretty short.

[Via http://edmahoney.wordpress.com]

Biggest news at CES: 152-inch Panasonic plasma | DVICE

Pandora Hearts Omake 06 - Kicking the Habit

2010-01-10T16:11:00.000+02:00

The sixth DVD instalment of Pandora Hearts recently came out in Japan. Meaning another omake comes by full swing. This time (actually worthwhile to watch) the omake is focusing on about how Gil started smoking fags. Which the main catalyst for Gil’s addiction is simply due to his ionisation for Oz’s uncle, Oscar, and Break teasing Gil back when he was only 18 that he was missing something that would complete his frontal spitting image of Oz’s uncle (that is, cigarettes and a beard). Sadly, Gilbert decided not to grow a beard…

Fed up of Break and soon after of Oz’s ridicule upon that he was tricked into smoking and thinking that he’s a failure as a servant to Oz, Gil runs away to escape the shame. Oz decide to go to Gil, consoling him while giving a chocolate-scented fag, forgiving him for being a failure as a servant and promising that he’ll won’t make fun if his mistakes in life again. Three days later… Obviously, his promise is forgotten and Break and Oz go back to the usual and makes fun of Gil and calling him names like an incompetent fool.

Just an addition Sharon introduces the omake this time to the viewers and in the preview to the next DVD volume, they read out a fan letter asking who is the main heroine of the show. After a debate of whether it’s Alice or Sharon, the heroine role goes to Echo we all pretty much forgotten about…

Overall a pretty useful idea as a short omake peeking into one’s personal life… Dunno if this is true or not but I guess this was adapted from a omake chapter of the manga or something? Pretty sure it is since this couldn’t have been a last-minute idea by the producers. I personally haven’t gone beyond the first chapter of the manga so I don’t really have a say at this, but let me know if you read the manga and see if it is from some omake chapter, or somewhere in the manga itself, love to know.

Until the next omake I guess…

[Via http://nyarth.wordpress.com]

Media Watchdogs Call Out Planted "News" Story in the Washington ...

Owl City "Fireflies" Ocean Eyes

2010-01-10T04:40:00.000+02:00

Something I wrote for a video game forum

Hello GWJ community. I’ve been a fan of the podcast for about a year now. I’ve been a gamer for most of my life , with a current focus on classic PC and Ipod games. I am also a Japanophile, having taken a couple semesters of Japanese, a big anime fan, and been able to visit Japan itself.

This week’s podcast topic on Japan finally got me to chime in on the forum.

TWO TYPES OF GAMES

Certis brought up a very important division to Japanese games – games made for international release and games with,originally, the Japanese market in mind. We are all familiar with the former ,of course, from examples such as Space Invaders, Street Fighter and Resident Evil that are so established in gaming that we do not think of them as Japanese.

Then there are games made for the Japanese market. Examples that have made it to the US shores are Persona or Dragon Quest. However, for every Persona, there are easily scores of JRPGs, dating simulations and other games that never cross the Pacific. The ones that do cross do so for a myriad of reasons such as import demand or a foreign license. Its these games where I feel the barrier goes up , not only for the GWJ commentators, but for the gaming community in general. To understand why that barrier exists, we need to take a look at Japanese culture, particularly, anime.

GAMES AND ANIME

The companies and individuals that work on Japanese games generally work in the anime industry. One important difference is that Western game developers are entities generally focused on gaming, while Japanese developers are often part of a broader entertainment company (1). Gamers generally know Nintendo started out as a card company, but do they know that Square Enix also has its own manga (comic) studio, which is responsible for the now well known Fullmetal Alchemist? Or that highly regarded Japanese animation studios like Studio Bones and Gainax developed their own games?

Another important fact is that Japanese artists, composers, voice actors and programmers interchangebly work on anime projects, be it games, movies, tv series or comics. One well known example is Akira Toriyama, the character designer for Chrono Trigger, who is the same artist for the comic manga Dragon Ball. Anime intellectual properties routinely cross mediums – e.g. a comic becoming a movie or a game becoming a tv series or vice versa(2). So its impossible to talk about Japanese gaming without having to talk about anime.

LOST IN TRANSLATION

Ever wonder why a common Japanese anime game trope has high school age kids with outlandish looks and fantastic abilities going on a world changing adventure? For the teen target market of that game, it can be seen as an expression of the escapist ideals of the conformist academic meat grinder that is being in a Japanese high school (3). Despite all the “wackyness” we see in JRPG’s that makes it to the States, its more often the case that anime is a mirror of Japanese society and its values, especially material made for the Japanese audience. (4)(5)

The problem arises when its time for that game to move beyond Japan’s shores. Both literally and figuratively, Japanese games get lost in translation. Can you say “All your base are belong to us?”. Even fantasy JRPG’s make reference to everyday Japanese life and annual festivals that every native knows by heart. Besides the butchered translation or lost culture references, there are the issues connected with localization production such as censorship and voice acting. One recent JRPG, ArTonelico II, suffered a game killing bug because one of the final bosses’ attacks was edited to the point where if this attack happens, you cannot finish the game.

Speaking of JRPG’s, when was the last time you heard a decent JRPG English dub? In Japan, being a seiyu (voice actor) is more serious business, with schools and training specifically for it. The GWJ crew praised how Batman:Arkham Asylum used the voice cast from Batman:The Animated Series. In Japanese anime, thats more the norm than the exception.It would be like having the entire Batman:Animated Series cast available to do every Batman game.

SUNSET ON A GAMER’S MECCA?

Besides every Japanese game being critiqued as a game, it also has to survive the scrutiny of how its translation is handled for and by the Western market. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve played some truly terrible Japanese games that were terrible as games. I take notice on how JRPG “has become a pejorative” for GWJ, because Japan, in many ways, can be seen as a gamers’ mecca.

On the development side, Elysium brought up in one podcast that he would like game developers to take more chances for original game ideas. Japanese game developers are consistently able to do so. Developers have revenue streams outside of making games, so their bottom line is not tied up with the success of a single release. Although the appetite for games by Japanese society is larger as a whole, the overall size of the gaming market in Japan is still smaller than the US and is much more crowded, so developers need to stand out with unique story lines or game mechanics. We Western gamers gain from this in releases such as Okami, Shadow of the Colossus, Parappa the Rappa, and Katamari, just to name a few.

On the consumer side, any gamer simply needs to visit the “electronic city” shopping areas of Japan like Akihabara in Tokyo to experience gaming geek nirvana. Gaming arcades that are 2-5 stories in size, with a cornucopia of cabinets from the classics to the latest releases, all costing around 100yen ($1-1.50) to play. Gaming sections in department stores that would put an entire Gamestop to shame. Hobby shops with restored old systems and well cataloged older game game libraries.

What is truly disturbing is expanding on what Certis meant by “game houses are going where the money is”. Japan is suffering from zero population growth, has a shrinking population base and a larger percentage of that population are senior citizens.. Besides the more important problems this causes, from a game industry standpoint,put simply this means the native market is going to become even smaller.

I can totally respect it when someone admits that Japanese games are not one’s cup of tea. Its also normal behavior for humans to dismiss or even make fun of a culture that one is unable or unwilling to understand.(6) However, taking the broader social picture into account, a dark possibility is the anime and gaming market in Japan collapsing entirely. Meaning that we gaijin won’t have any JRPG’s to make fun of at all. This, to me, is unlikely. A more realistic scenario are game companies forced to merge (e.g.Square/Enix/Taito, Namco/Bandai) and expand more into the foreign market. Smaller anime/game studios that do not have the same international reach will be forced to make tough decisions on how to continue.The Japanese gaming and anime industries both have to contend on how much they want to keep the art form as uniquely Japanese as possible versus the economic need to survive at the risk of diluting and homogenizing the product.

In my studies and travels as a Japanophile, I have come upon many good and not so good aspects of Japanese culture. But as a gamer, its important to understand that within that culture, there is passion for games that runs as a deep as any GWJ podcast presenter or forum member’s own love of gaming.

——————————————————————————–

SIDENOTES

(1) Not to a confuse a developer (software maker) with a publisher (game publisher and marketer). There are companies like EA that do both. However, Western game developers hardly branch out beyond gaming itself. It would be like BioWare making a Balder’s Gate show for the Cartoon Network.

(2) Another nice thing about this is that the artistic integrity of an anime intellectual property often stays intact. Plot points and specific elements may change, but its harder for the overall vision of an idea to change if the same people or company is working on it. Whether or not the IP makes a good game is a different story.

(3) Most students do attend but upper high school (10-12) is not mandatory in Japan. However, these schools are ranked based on how well their students did on placement tests for universities, so there is competition to get into a “better” one. Also, upper high school is not free. Add to this the rigid rules, the constant exams, the uniforms, and the societal pressure to conform. If I was a student there I probably would have wanted to paint my hair blue and go drive a giant robot.

(4) Its interesting for Rabbit to say during the PAX podcast that “geek culture won” because , in Japan, anime culture is part of the mainstream. Anime artists and voice actors are household names. Anime game themed merchandising is everywhere, not only in toys, but costumes and household items as well. What really took the cake for me in my visit to Japan was the presence of anime themed merchandise in gambling establishments and love hotels.

(5) Speaking of lost in translation, Dragon Quest/Dragon Warrior that was derided in the podcast is actually a hugely successful and beloved game franchise, 2nd only in success to the Final Fantasy series. It never achieved the same popularity here in the States. Still, its important to note that the Dragon Quest I game is arguably the first console RPG and its music was one of the first gaming soundtracks taken seriously enough to warrant a full orchestral recording. So dismissing its importance as a game franchise would be like dismissing “The Godfather” as a movie franchise. And speaking of the “blobs” , the Slimes are so iconic in Japanese culture that there are even children’s comics about it.

(6) Having traveled a bunch, the “stupid American” stereotype is something I’ve had to deal with as well.

[Via http://chrislfernando.wordpress.com]

The American Spectator : AmSpecBlog : News From Honduras

Omamori Himari - 01

2010-01-09T16:39:00.000+02:00

OMG! This might end up as a shorter post than So.Ra.No.Wo.To!

Plot: Boy is targeted by strange monsters for unrevealed reasons. Boy gets a neko Ayakashi as his protector. Boy ends up with a harem of the neko Ayakashi and his childhood friend, with space for more (possibly Ayakashi too) to join in the future.

Ecchi fanservice harem. With the normal cliches.
- You get your hot sexy girl with a sword and big boobs.
- You get your cute(?) normal childhood friend with DFC.
- Both get tons of pantsu-shots.
- Both throw themselves upon the protagonist whenever possible.
- And as usual, none of them is my type. Neko Ayakashi is Tall, Dark and Bishoujo, but neither tsundere nor kuudere.
Typical useless idiotic protagonist.
- Just go make out with the neko Ayakashi already. Either push her down, or let her raep you.
- If a monster is attacking you, never say “Hey! Don’t harm him, that’s my friend!”. Instead, KILL HIM. You never know if the transformation is irreversible.

Conclusion: Make a guess as to whether I would blog this.

[Via http://rinerei.wordpress.com]

Times moves editor to new late-news section - LA Observed

Pandora Hearts (TV)

2010-01-09T04:16:00.000+02:00

Pandora Hearts (TV)

Complete

Oz Bezarius, heir to one of the duke houses, has just turned fifteen. His life is rich and carefree, darkened only by the constant absence of his father. At his coming-of-age ceremony, however, everything changes. For no reason that he can discern, he’s cast into the prison known as the “Abyss”, only to be saved by a “chain” known as Alice, the bloodstained black rabbit. It is unknown why was he cast into Abyss, how does Alice factor into it all, and what does the organization known as “Pandora” want with him.

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Fansub: Hatsuyuki

Size: 250 MB

Subs:English

Audio:Japanese

Format: MKV

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Episode 10 : Part [ 01 02 03 ]

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Episode 12 : Part [ 01 02 03 ]

Episode 13 : Part [ 01 02 03 ]

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Episode 24 : Part [ 01 02 03 ]

Episode 25 : Part [ 01 02 03 ]

[Via http://otiqwest4u.wordpress.com]

News Quiz | January 7, 2010 - The Learning Network Blog - NYTimes.com

Tough Guys with Big Swords Part I

2010-01-07T16:33:00.000+02:00

You see the same archetypes over and over again in Japanese video games and manga. The tough guy with the huge sword that can transform into different types of swords. The best part is that it remains cool despite over use! Who would win out of these characters if they fought? Probably Guts!

[Via http://ro42g.wordpress.com]

Hottest Stories on Network News for the Decade and the Year ...

Naruto 480 Manga – Raw Predictions,Spoiler (version 1)

2010-01-05T16:43:00.000+02:00

by: N.V.O. (Itasuke)

Naruto 480: Mangekyo Battle and the Power of the Will of Fire

(Battlefield Scene 1)

Madara: Hm…so you’re serious about this, eh?

Itachi: -Closes his eyes- I lied alot to you Sasuke…but one thing I said was true.

Madara: …

Itachi: -Opens his eyes staring at Madara- I…

-Itachi Suddenly appears behind Madara with a kunai and a kick, Madara barely notices-

Itachi: Am the one that can surpass him.

Madara: (No times to do my Jutsu! he might hit me…) -grabs Itachi’s kick, as Itachi moves forward his kunai, Madara kicks it away and lands backwards- *Pant*…Did you really think that THAT was enough…to beat Me? (He’s fast…)

Itachi: Hm…you didn’t have enough time to make your body permeable. Heh, am I too fast for you…? or is it that your getting old and out of shape?

Madara: Don’t mock me. It’ll be over before you know it.

Itachi: We’ll see about that.

(Wind blows)

-Itachi rushes towards Madara, and does the Fire Ball Jutsu, Madara dodges backflipping and throws a kunai tagged with a paper bomb, Itachi easily dodges the explosion, Itachi is able to see Madara but unclearly behind the smoke/dust. Itachi unleashes Pheonix Flower Jutsu on

Madara, then it appears that it’s a subsitution Jutsu-

Itachi: …A substit–

-Madara rises up from the ground- Madara: It’s over!! -with a kunai aiming for Itachi’s throat, The kunai was kicked away-

Madara: …?!

Kakashi: Seems like this game is fun, count me in.

Madara: …Fine. You two want me to be serious. Then that’s what you’re gonna get.

Itachi: Amaterasu! -Amaterasu is forming on Madara’s arm-

Madara: Gah! -Uses his Time/Space Jutsu to teleport- *Pant*…That did some damage, but–

Danzo: -Appears behind Itachi- Our battle isn’t over yet.

Madara: …!

Itachi: …?! (How did he gain consciousness so fast…?)

Kakashi: Leave him to me. Can you take care of Madara?

Itachi: I can.

Kakashi: Right. -Kakashi & Danzo jumps in the air and begin clashing with kunais-

(Battlefield Scene 2)

Sasuke: …(Can I help them…?) UGH! -Places his hand on his eye- *Pant*…*Pant*…

Sakura: …! …Sasuke…

Sasuke: ?

Sakura: Let me…heal you.

Sasuke: Huh? (Heal…?!)

-Sakura begins healing Sasuke-

Sakura: So…what’re you gonna do next…?

Sasuke: …(…..)…

Sakura: This time, there’s no need to be silent, I know everything there is to know, and I’m not useless as I was before.

Sasuke: …!

Sakura: -Smiles while her eyes closed- Really, you can–

???: Enough chit-chat.

Kiba,Sai,Lee,Sasuke,Karin,Sakura: …!!!

Sasuke: Zetsu…

Black Zetsu: You’re coming with me, Sasuke.

Sasuke: And if I say “No”?

Black Zetsu: Then I’ll suck up your whole chakra until I can drag you back with us.

Sasuke: Hmph. You’re really thinking that you’re able to beat me? I am not in the mood for silly jokes.

Black Zetsu: Well, I won’t be enough to beat you, that’s true. But I got other plans.

??? # 1: Are they the ones?

??? # 2: I guess so.

??? # 3: Should we go directly with the “Kill”?

Everyone: ?!

——————–

Who are these mysterious new comers?! What is their purpose?

Naruto 481: Enter 3 Mysterious New Members!

[Via http://karavi.wordpress.com]

Morgan Freeman Becomes 'CBS Evening News' Announcer - Media ...

Bungaku Shoujo PV

2010-01-03T16:52:00.000+02:00

Interesting… I think I’ve heard these seiyuu before… have to check Wiki.

When Toko started talking about Russian authors I had a Karin flashback. XD

Hmm. I like it! I’ve always had a fasnination for youkai, and one that eats books is a very odd twist, but it works. And how she compares the stories to food…

Seventeen minutes though… is this a preview or the whole thing? I hope not; I want more!

Download the PV here: http://www.anime-sensei.net/2009/12/update-476.html

Info here: http://anidb.net/perl-bin/animedb.pl?show=anime&aid=6959

[Via http://dragonarya.wordpress.com]

Balloon Juice » Blog Archive » Simply Not a Credible News Organization

Buzzer Beater (TV)

2010-01-02T16:25:00.000+02:00

Hideyoshi is a homeless boy living in New York in the near future, who survives by hustling other kids in basketball games. But now he’s been drafted into a pro team-a pro team with a very unique goal. There once was a time when humans dominated the game of basketball. But times have changed, and now the physically superior alien players have taken over the game, and there are barely any human players left. But Hideyoshi’s team-the first all-human team to compete in the Space League-intends to change all that, and bring the championship back home to Earth.

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File Info

Fansub:Saizen

Size:170-230 MB

Format:AVI

Audio:Japanese

Subtitle:English Sof-subs

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[Via http://otiqwest4u.wordpress.com]

New Year's heave | The Sun |News

Happy new year 2010!

2010-01-02T04:24:00.000+02:00

Well it’s 2010, omg! a new decade has begun. I just thought I’d update a bit so I can show you guys my new wall calendar I got for christmas. it’s really cute too, it’s fresh pretty cure an anime that is just darling to watch and is very popular in japan right now. it kinda reminds me of one of my favorite anime’s ” sailormoon”:

and here is a video of it as well I did for youtube viewers last year:

**video link coming soon!***

well, that’s pretty much it. see ya^^!

[Via http://edlenasama.wordpress.com]

Strong iPhone sales continue in France | iLounge News

The Top Five Series - Best of 2009 (Movie/ONA/OVA)

2009-12-31T16:29:00.000+02:00

So part two of my favourites of the year, this time dealing with movies, ONAs and OVAs. Again there is cheating going on – if it finished this year I’ll count it regardless of when it started. Bit more straight forward this time – I didnt watch an awful lot of movies/ONAs/OVAs this year for some reason…….spent all my time watching subpar shows by the looks of things!

5. xxxHOLiC: Shunmuki

I’m a big fan of xxxHOLiC (you would never have guessed from my gravatar ). The manga series is one of my favourite CLAMP titles and the TV adaptation did a good job. This OVA was also very well put together in my opinion – lovely visuals and atmospheric soundtrack; it did justice to the source material even if the pacing was a bit random.

Still getting to see Yuuko and Watanuki animated is always a good thing.

4. Cencoroll

This. I don’t know what this was, but I liked it a lot! Very original feeling, I didnt know what to expect going into it, but came out feeling refreshed – there’s just something very charming about a giant shape-shifting monsters destroying large buildings The premise was very simple, yet original and the execution made this short very memorable.

Hopefully there will be more shorts like this coming out in the near future.

3. First Squad: The Moment of Truth

An amazing movie, needs to be seen to be believed! The mock documentary format and the fact its in Russian really made this movie stand out in my mind. Its a very intriguing story and I could easily see this being done in live-action. The action scenes were just jawdropping and that soundtrack! Wow. Aspects seemed a bit weird, and since I hadnt read any summary before playing the file I was a bit bemused to begin with. However all strangeness aside, this is a brilliant film.

Highly recommended watch.

2. Time of Eve (Eve no Jikan)

An amazingly well produced ONA – Time of Eve’s visuals are a feast for the eyes! The premise raises a number of interesting questions and each episode makes you think about how advances in computer AI may change the way we think of the ’self’ and human rights. Each little slice of Time of Eve brought something new to the table – the characters were wonderfully well developed considering the short running time.

Brilliant little mini-series, definately a must see!

1. Kara no Kyoukai: The Garden of Sinners

A bit of a no-brainer for me. The Kara no Kyoukai series of movies have some of the best animation I’ve seen! Complez plotlines and timelines intersect one another as each film presents a different slice of Shiki. I loved every one of these 7 films – do not mind in the slightest that I’m still not entirely sure of the sequence of events, or that not all the questions were answered in the end. I just loved the sensory experience that Kara no Kyoukai delivered – fantastic visuals and a haunting soundtrack really made this series of movies stand out from the rest. An experience everyone must try for themselves.

[Via http://caraniel.wordpress.com]

News Corp president: Fox likely going off the air--The Live Feed | THR

ORIENTEMENTE - VOLUMEN 5 - CAP 10, 11 Y 12

2009-12-31T04:01:00.000+02:00

Se acerca el final de orientemente en este penúltimo volumen con los capitulos 10, 11 y 12 de esta saga que estremeció a las masas ciberneticas via online!!

En este volumen lakrux, vuelve a reunirse con sus amigos de aventura pero para mala suerte de ellos y por un error imprevisto vuelven a viajar en el tiempo a una epoca “pre-historica”!!! esto y mucho mas lo vas a poder disfrutar en esta quinta edición especial de 3 capítulos en uno de ORIENTEMENTE.

Y esta edición se la dedico a mi queridisima amiga KOKIRY que diseñó la foto del zorro willy que pueden observar

[Via http://orientemente.wordpress.com]

Taylor Swift & Taylor Lautner Call It Quits - OK! Magazine - The ...

Magical Girl Lyrical Fate 4Koma - 23 - Fortunate Mistake

2009-12-29T16:40:00.000+02:00

A late Christmas Present for everyone – Fate in a Melona Suit – LOL. I think she’s pretty hawt tho! Omake after the jump…

Yeah, I know, horrible pun. But Fate gettin abused by Insecticons had to be put in here somewhere ^_^.

As always, for the newcomers, you can catch the earlier parts at the 4Koma Page

I hope everyone had a safe and awesome Christmas! Even though I’m here in the Philippines, I do have some relatives which I spent Nocha Buena with. It was a fun-filled alcohol fuelled night >_>. I won’t say more than that …

As for Christmas Loot for myself:

MP-4 – Masterpiece Optimus Prime with Trailer – Always wanted a Japanese version!
Figma Tsukasa Summer Version
Figma Kagami Summer Version (yay for extra head of the fang toothed girl!)
Disney Transformer thing
Figma Tsuraya (Yes, another one – I broke my old one’s arm off ;_;)

I bought most of the stuff (except the Disney thing) from Wasabi Toys in Green Hills, Shoppesville:

A bit of free publicity for them ^_^;; A lot of people recommended them to me so I thought I’d check it out. They seem a tad cheaper than some of the other places and legit. Will probably buy more from them, especially if they stock more figmas.

Anyways looks for a comic on new years from me as well ^_^;; I already have one ready. But for now, sayanara and keep enjoy the festive season! ~Ace

[Via http://acesan.wordpress.com]

ABC News Obtains Photos of Flight 253 Explosives Swen into ...

EOY 2009

2009-12-26T15:59:00.000+02:00

My favourite cosplayer of the day!

Even though Misaka Mikoto was nowhere to be seen, there was Chrome Dokuro to save the day, fortunately.

I guess To Aru Kagaku no Railgun just ain’t popular enough for people to cosplay as Misaka Mikoto or Index, even though it’s definitely one of the hottest animes currently in this season. Well, I’m placing my final hope on SOY 2010. Let’s just hope I can find just one Mikoto there. I’m definitely keeping a lookout for her. Haha.

Today has indeed been a very fun day for me, as I’m always excited at the thought of cosplay events. Having been to EOY 2007 which was held at Singapore Expo, I must admit that I had quite high expectations of today’s event before I went. Frankly speaking, I was pretty disappointed with the venue as it really was too cramped and small for the cosplayers to properly pose for pictures without interference from the public. In addition, we ended up walking round and round the entire venue for many times and were bored in no time. From past experiences such as in AFA 2009, Matsuri 2008, SOY 2008 and EOY 2007, I feel that every cosplay event should have a large empty space where cosplayers can comfortably pose for pictures, and this space must be located close to the venue of the event itself. True enough, there was a large empty space for cosplayers this time at the ground storey outside the library, but it definitely didn’t make sense for them to travel from the third storey of the library all the way to the outside of the library.

Other than the slight problem of location, I do find the event pretty enjoyable. Nothing beats seeing those familiar characters whom appear in animes which I enjoy watching. I shall let the photos do the talking from now on.

Chibi Kakashi queueing up for ice cream!

Misa from Death Note! Where's the golden hair though?

I got a slight shock when I saw the number '3' on the back of his haori...

Suzumiya Haruhi!

K-On!

Natsu from Fairy Tail. His hair is totally awesome.

One Piece! Brook is so awesome - he can play Bink's Sake on his violin!

The coolest Rokudo Mukuro I've ever seen. A pity he didn't take any pictures with Chrome Dokuro...

Sesshomaru!

Ulquiorra!

Does anyone know which anime this guy/gal comes from?

Vocaloids - They're literally everywhere.

Well, that’s all for the photos. The rest are all uploaded onto my Facebook account. You should be able to see them I guess. Now that EOY 2009 is over, I can’t wait for SOY 2010!

On a side note, I really do want to try out cosplaying…

[Via http://vanillamilk.wordpress.com]

MTV News Doles Out Our Christmas Movie Awards » MTV Movies Blog

Railgun ep 13, and a little update

2009-12-26T04:45:00.000+02:00

Ok, so they arn’t taking a break from airing just yet, i think its the next week that there is going to be a break bad calculations… but for now onto railgun,

Storyline is that the group of girls were asked to do a swimsuit photoshoot.

Since im also too lazy to upload my own screenshots im going to “borrow” someone elses *kehehe*. And uploading screenshots takes too long as well…

So we are finished with all the drama of the first season and now we are thrown into some fanservice episode.

And as usual Kuroko is trying to atk Misaka

Ahh poor Uiharu she turned into a sand castle.

ITS A SNAKE!!!

Love the technology in the design, a room that can change scenery

Well this isnt the right scenery…

AHAHA THEY ARE ON THE MOON!!!

Yeah i have the same look with this scene.

Ok time for a break in their work. So they decide to make curry.

AHAHA Gas is broken, So Misaka is heating the rice, ganbare onee-sama.

She did it!!!Banzai!!!Onee-Sama!!!

Final Pose

Ok so thats the end of that episode, so episode 14 will air on January 8, 2010. And check this out

Opening Theme: #1: “only my railgun” by fripSide (eps 2-) #2: “LEVEL 5 -judgelight-” by fripSide Ending Theme: “only my railgun” by fripSide (ep 1) “Smile -You & Me-” by ELISA (ep 12) #1: “Dear My Friend -Mada Minu Mirai he- (Dear My Friend －まだ見ぬ未来へ－)” by ELISA #2: “Real Force” by ELISA

Oh yeah a new OP and ED SWEET!!!!!!!

Oh wait up i forgot something :/

Misaka really wanted to wear her first choice of outfit and play around at the sea so she does not knowing that she also hit the ‘broadcast” button for the billboard of the company.

Aha the look on Touma’s face is hilarious. I got a real kick outta this episode especially with that last scene i think ill use that as my new DP,

Oh might as well do the preview, and “borrow” the other pictures

Preview

oh, we are in Touma’s school now? Komoe is Touma’s teacher at his regular school,

yes thats a teacher if you haven’t seen the first series.

Hmm she looks familiar, was she one of the level uppers? Oh thats right she was asphalt woman.

Oh noes, she is back to draw on your eyebrows – not really, she is after Saten hmm more yuri.

Ok thats all this time, and im pretty sure thats all.

Andrew Chin,

[Via http://fatesofashe.wordpress.com]

News to know: Blackberry outage, Microsoft Word, Mozilla, Facebook ...

ORIENTEMENTE vol. 4!! capitulos 8 y 9!! al fin!

2009-12-24T16:18:00.000+02:00

La tensión se siente en el ambiente, algo siniestro se está planeando desde la confederación, las islas awuaji estan siendo devastadas por NESTOR el dragón con flema que pertenece a la villana XIPHIEX, en el mismo lugar se encuentran ZANGANITO y NINJA ESCROTO, que pasará en estos capitulos decisivos??? lo sabrás descargandolos!

[Via http://orientemente.wordpress.com]

Fox News Host Attacks Katie Couric Over 'Angry Nation' Comment ...

Shel-Yang Love

2009-12-24T04:27:00.000+02:00

Sooo, as I said I would, I have taken pictures of the gifts from my boyfriend. I have wanted Shel-Yang’s artbooks, these two in particular, since forever ago, and I am so happy to finally have them in my hands! Besides that, they came with posters and two pads of sticky notes that are just adorable! I am in love! ^.^ I have always loved Shel-Yang’s work, ever since I found her Children In Paradise series of pictures, so I’m glad I can support her! http://shel-yang.deviantart.com

Far Beyond the Sky and Wind & Clover by Shel-Yang

Also, Kelsey gave me two adorable hairbands that I just have to show off, but I only actually ended up taking pictures of one of them. This one’s a dream come true for me, since I’ve always wanted a hairband that’s just like a little band of pearls. I had envisioned the pearls being larger, but these are just as cute, for sure!

So, here are a few of the gifts I’ve received already, and I love them! I love all the gifts I’ve gotten, even though not all are pictured here. Katie actually told me today that she’s been working on my scarf (from last year! ^_^; ) on and off, which is more than I thought, so I’m glad, but she also says she’s running out of yarn. Ah, well… one day…

[Via http://1minutesprout.wordpress.com]

Stocks in the News: State Street, Take-Two, Boeing, Citigroup ...

Oops, I swallowed another one

2009-12-22T16:44:00.000+02:00

So, over the weekend I happened to find another Anime by luck which I sat through in no less than 2 days, which hardly ever happens, the more so since it’s a regular 26 Episode Anime on top. The name of the Anime is Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad.

On the very surface the Anime is about Music, more precisely a small Punk/Rock Band which is trying to make it big with all possible struggles connected to it. Beneath that however there’s quite a lot more layers to lay eyes on to. First off, you don’t necessarily have to like the Music initially, as it’ll change through out the complete Anime, it gets a bit less radical for that matter. What I considered valuable however was the struggle of the individuals, aside from some unrealistic story turns towards the end of the series. They weren’t unrealistic in terms of impossible, but for me took away some of the seriousness of the show or more precisely it looked too much like cliché. The main Character would be Koyuki, an initially 14 year old boy, who matures and grows more lively throughout the series. The series covers entire 3-4 years of the peoples lives, though it necessarily made clear or laid out to the viewer which might makes it confusing at times. On that note, it too shows the struggle undergone in those 3-4 years, daily life struggles which aren’t exactly all that far from reality, if not on spot even.

The show too contains a small amount of romance which isn’t brought over too shabby and too lays out obvious problems that can occur or even have in a lot of peoples life. I usually don’t watch romance Animes, this however was far from cliché from what I can tell. The drawing style is quite unique and you won’t necessary be a friend of it, for me however that was a reason to stick with it. The Anime contains a lot of sterile scenes and places with little to no conversation, or inconclusive conversations making it as interesting as it is. Partially it might be even awkward. For me it had the effect taking me way back into my youth / childhood and its peaceful moments when life was still easy, or a lot more simple for that matter. On the other side it takes normal people from all types of behavior patterns and brings them together, creating a good chemistry while the series lasts but also lays out the discrepancies of the individuals and that not everyone is compatible on all levels. Other than that, it too shows how people work to become a better person, or have dreams and work towards them while having to sacrifice other things in order to do so. This was communicated quite well I must say, but it also showed the frustration and smackdowns one might receive, whether other people actively realize it or not. The time sink that process is wasn’t all that clear though, lastly due to time jumps which you only noticed through conversations and remarks made by some of the Characters.

All in all it’s one of the few Animes that didn’t consist of super heroes smacking their butts across the screen for 400 episodes straight which I wish to not have ended as quickly as it did. Naturally I recommend watching the Japanese dub with English subs, as that usually delivers the best impressions and insights possible. In fact it’s probably one of those Animes I wind up to re-watch eventually, which is really rare for me

[Via http://sobernessoflife.wordpress.com]

Weekend news and notes - LA Observed

It is a start of a new day.....err I mean blog... O_O

2009-12-22T04:31:00.000+02:00

Well I going to start using this blog site for my updates now because it suits my needs more than facebook or myspace, as I tend to like to post images,links, and other none related topics to myself ; like games,anime and operating systems like the *nixes(Linux,BSD,Solaris),very geeky stuff 99% people won’t understand anyway…

So to start this whole uploading what I think,want and/or do crap into phase I should start with the basics

HERE is a screenshot of my laptop running ubuntu 9.10

Ubuntu 9.10 Screenshot Wed 02 Dec 2009

(ok it is slightly older than when I made the blog…)

[Via http://comradegarry.wordpress.com]

Media Equation: Not All the News Was Bad in 2009 - Media Decoder ...

One Piece Vol.0

2009-12-20T16:07:00.000+02:00

Do you know the Japanese manga (comic book) and TV anime (cartoon) titled 「ワンピース」 (“One Piece“)?

Do they sell the manga or show the anime in your country?

One Piece is about a boy called 「ルフィ」 (Lufi (pronounced: “loofy”)) who grew up in a port town idolizing the pirates.

He decides the he wants to find the “One Piece” treasure that will make him the “King Of The Pirates”.

He also mistakenly eats a magical fruit that makes his body become elastic and rubbery.

The story revolves around the adventures that Lufi and his pirate crew have while they search for “One Piece”.

Anyways, a new One Piece movie titled “Strong World” has just been released in Japan a few days ago.

I have never watched any of the One Piece movies…but my kids like to watch the anime on TV on Sundays and they have a few of the manga.

So I started watching the anime with them sometimes, and I read a few of their manga…it’s a fun story.

Well, the “Strong World” movie has been released at the ten year anniversary of the release of the first One Piece movie.

So to celebrate, they’re giving away free Volume Zero One Piece comics and 「ワンピーベリーマッチダブル」 (“OPBMW“) game cards to people who buy tickets to the new movie.

A flyer telling about the Vol. 0 comic and "OPBMW" cards

One Piece vol. 0 comic

Some "One Piece" game cards

[Via http://tokyo5.wordpress.com]

Take-Two posts losses of $138 million // News

"Big Windup!" Baseball Manga - 2nd Season Announced!

2009-12-19T16:28:00.000+02:00

『Ookiku Furikabutte / おおきく振りかぶって』 – “Big Windup!” a baseball, seinen, comedy series will have its 2nd Season.

Plot:

Ookiku Furikabutte isn’t just a baseball manga. It’s the story of a timid young man who was made an ace pitcher in middle school because of family connections. Now he’s in high school and it’s his time to shine as an ace in his own right.

Reading this story will get your blood boiling, heart pumping, and tears flowing. It has been popular since it was serialized, a true Japanese high school baseball manga! - Scans: -

Asa Hugushi said on the manga that there will be a 2nd season series which located on the scan Volume 13, the anime will premier this coming Spring 2010.

[Via http://kankeishorui.wordpress.com]

Joe Trippi: FOX News contributor: The Swamp

What's up with the alleged Miley Cyrus/Jeremy Shum sex tape

2009-12-19T04:05:00.000+02:00

Nov 2008 … I got a question from a reader today asking what I knew about the “Miley Cyrus sex scandal cover up”. Uh, I don’t know anything about any sex tape.

Jeremy Shum’s alleged “porno girlfriend”

hairpullingsoccer wrote 2 weeks ago: Jeremy Shum – Christian engineering manager Alleged porno girlfriend (PS-FAKE) The claim is ma … more →

Tags: jeremy shum sex scandal, jeremy shum sex, jeremy shum sex tape, Pornô, Pornography, Girlfriend, christian porn, christian pornography, Mucking Around

what a bitch for uploading misleading information on the internet, fag fake ass lying.

[Via http://jeremyshumnews.wordpress.com]

Sony, News Corp. Collaborate on Exclusive E-Reader Content | Peter ...

Japanese News and Culture Blog Roundup: 12/10/09-12/16/09

2009-12-17T16:43:00.000+02:00

Japan Probe

12/16/09: Japanese women want scarred, disease-riddled, brutal men of history?

An article was published in the Times on Saturday theorizing that since historical and samurai dramas are becoming more popular in Japan, then Japanese women must want “scarred, disease-riddled, brutal warriors whose kind died out centuries ago.” The author of the blog post takes exception to this statement, instead concluding that many female fans of these dramas are drawn not to the real historical figures, but to their idealized (and much more attractive) versions as portrayed in popular dramas and anime. I think the assertiveness of these figures is probably attractive to the women, but I highly doubt the bloody swordfighting and disfigured faces come into the equation. The video game version of brutal warrior Masamune Date is on the top, historical Masamune is on the bottom. 12/13/09: Japan books – 2009 Holiday season reading list

Looking for some new and interesting books to read about Japan? This list is a good place to start. One that always makes me smile is Solaryman, which is a collection of photographs of salarymen cutting loose and jumping high, turning the working father-figure into a flying hero. 12/11/09: Road to Hajj – Japan

Coverage of an English Al Jazeera report on ethnic Japanese Muslim communities in the Tokyo area who will be traveling to Mecca for the Hajj pilgrimage. There are only two travel agencies in Japan sanctioned by the Saudi government to allow pilgrims to travel for the Hajj. Pink Tentacle 12/14/09: Time-lapse video of Mt Fuji, Miyajima, Iwate

A cool, 4-minute video of well-known landmarks in Japan photographed by Samuel Cockedey. Tiny people skitter about, and the clouds roll slowly by for a very soothing image of the country. F*cked Gaijin

12/16/09: Wacky Japan Is OK To Talk About

Author Lisa Katayama (who wrote the infamous otaku pillow story that appeared in the New York Times in July) has posted an article on Boing Boing about how stories about “crazy Japan” are at heart just harmless fun that people take far too seriously. But like one commenter noted, there’s a difference between understanding a culture and merely being “entertained” by it. When most Americans associate Japan with either geisha and sumo, or perverted videos and obsessive cuteness, I think that there’s a problem.

12/16/09: New Mamoru Oshii Film Opens This Week

Are you a fan of Ghost in the Shell? Well director Mamoru Oshii has a new movie coming out this weekend called “Assault Girls” (click for the trailer). I wonder if it will ever be released in the US?

12/14/09: Fat Prisoners Put On Diet

Does putting prisoners on a mandatory, low-calorie diet constitute cruel and unusual punishment? The prisoners at Osaka Prison in Sakai certainly think so, and their lawyers are on the case. This reminds me of the controversy surrounding Lincoln University’s fitness class requirement for graduation in Pennsylvania.

12/12/09: Gaijin Head Of Dying Kyushu Village

Coverage of an article in the Wall Street Journal about American Jeffrey Irish who lives in the tiny farming town of Tsuchikure, Japan. He has been nominated to be the village chief, and is attempting to bring important services and possible newcomers to a dwindling town of less than 30 people. However, when a young couple seemed interested in renting a house in the picturesque area, the locals balked, saying that newcomers “could upset the delicate harmony of the close-knit community.” Irish, who has lived in Tsuchikure since 1998, is left to wonder what to do in a village that wants to simply “disappear gracefully and on their terms.”

[Via http://hillslearning.wordpress.com]

News Ticker: Oscars, Cardinals' Chris Feinstein, Simon Fuller, Jon ...

Anime: Japanese Animation

2009-12-17T04:28:00.000+02:00

Anime (an abbreviated pronunciation in Japanese of “animation”), is animation originating in Japan. The world outside Japan regards anime as “Japanese animation”. Anime originated about 1917.

Anime, like manga (Japanese comics), has a large audience in Japan and high recognition throughout the world. Distributors can release anime via television broadcasts, directly to video, or theatrically, as well as online. Both hand-drawn and computer-animated anime exist. It is used in television series, films, video, video games, commercials, and internet-based releases, and represents most, if not all, genres of fiction. Anime gained early popularity in East and Southeast Asia and has garnered more-recent popularity in the Western World. (from wikipedia)

There are different genre where each anime is categorized. Stories lines up such in Action, Fantasy, Romance, Comedy, Horror, mecha, Martial Arts, Sports, Shoujo/ Shoujo Ai, Shounen/Shounen Ai, Drama and others.

As per my observation, anime movies or television series are are released in Japanese language first then sub-titled in English and if it makes to the US for release then its translated to English.

[Via http://cartoonholic.wordpress.com]

Build to flip? (Scripting News)

....

2009-12-15T16:50:00.000+02:00

it feels like ages since i last wrote something…

now I’ve got my grades and my worse is french, and that sucks, but i passed so i’m okay but my teacher has me in swedish and english to and in oth have the highest grades you can get, so it’s quite embarrassing.

in class we watched Shakespear in love, and all theguy’s shouted “what kind of porn is this!!!!!!?” it was so anoying, and they say they watch porn, but that clearly shows tthat they are just talk, ’cause THAT wasn’t any porn, just “passion” love scenes between two people that where madly in love.

that’s about the things that has happend.

i’m watching samurai Champloo and it’s… special.

i’m saving up bleach and Naruto untill the 10th of January, so i’m watching fade to black, second story gemmi something and fairy tail, yami no matsuei epi. 1, examurai sengoku have i also started with, the rest is on ice.

I’m reading some vamp-yaoi and shoujo, but vampire love with hot guys is such a good read, i’ve read some vampire knight, but i’ve watched the anime so it’s not that great anymore.

Soual195/SaJoWi

[Via http://sajowi.wordpress.com]

Brad Friedman: Fox 'News' Fans Flood Anti-U.S. Chamber Campaign ...

Cell Phone Straps

2009-12-15T04:41:00.000+02:00

Popular Japanese culture is a fascinating world. Something that is extremely commonplace in Japanese culture, and not so ordinary in American culture is the use of what are called “straps” to decorate cell phones. Now, while America did go through a phase full of cell phone covers and sleeves and even bejeweled stickers, cell phone straps have remained an anomaly.

For this, I am honestly sort of sad.

Cell phone straps are inexpensive, adorable ways to express individuality. In Japan, they’re often used as such, as well as ways to keep a smaller cell phone from being lost or dropped by providing a place to grab that phone from your pocket or the bottom of the purse.

Here’s a couple of pictures of a typical Japanese phone. ^.^

It’s not entirely uncommon for cell phones to become completely overtaken by these adorable charms in Japan. Cell phones can become quite bulky and heavy when someone overdoes the customizations. But that isn’t to say that everyone goes that far.

Like the look? Wish you had a cute cell phone strap of your own? Well you’re in luck. Most American phones have the place to attach a strap. (Just look for what appears to be an unnecessary hole on your phone. It’s usually where the hinge is on a flip-style phone.) And there’s plenty of places to get cell phone straps. However, the BEST place I’ve come across so far is a website called Strapya World.

Strapya has tons of different cell phone charms that are always changing as they sell out of certain styles and get new ones in. They carry anime style charms, novelty styles, Hello Kitty, good-luck charms, and even some sort of practical cell phone straps. Here’s some images from straps that I’m looking forward to someday attaching to my own cell phone.

[Via http://hotpinkjoysticks.wordpress.com]

Uncharted 2 wins at Spike awards // News

The Gallery of Haruhi Suzumiya's Disappearance

2009-12-13T16:47:00.000+02:00

I have collected most of the ‘official’ artwork to do with the upcoming Haruhi Suzumiya film, I will update it as I discover more and more pictures, and of course, new trailers.

You can view the gallery after the jump.

The inside image is of Yuki Nagato, of which should be embedded into your souls after watching the trailer over 9000 times, or is that just me?

Oh, thee, long-haired Haruhi, how I have waited for your return. Grace our hearts with your endless antics and amazing dancing. Please come soon! Have I told you guys that I LOVE girls with long hair, and the real tsundere types? To me, Haruhi is a goddess (in more ways than one).

If it isn’t the nameless slider himself, Kyon. Looking cold as he should on a cold Decembers day (one I cannot fathom considering when it’s December here in Aus, we normally have 40+ degree days, many days in a row).

I never really get the whole ‘Nagato is so moe’ thing. Yeah, she can be cute when she’s cracking the source code to Windows, other than that, I don’t see anything in her. *Enter Nagato fanboys and epic flaming*

Now Miss Mikuru, it may be that she’s a helpless damsel-in-distress, or that she reminds me SO much of the girl I like (very loli looking female, without the ‘help-me’ attitude, again think tsundere), but I cannot help but love this girl. Plus she’s a time-traveller, I’m a sucker for any time-travelling story.

To quote a comment I saw on YouTube once; ‘Gay fag is gay’. I’m not saying this to be mean to him or anything, BUT HAVE YOU SEE THE WAY HE LOOKS AT KYON! If that isn’t a gay-crush, I don’t know what it is. Although it could be argued that because he is so in-tune with Haruhi’s personality, and she is in love with Kyon, Kozumi just feels that through her, but alas, for another time.

Last time we saw Asakura-san, was when she was smiling while trying to kill Kyon. She failed and was ‘deleted’. Yet she is back and I cannot wait to see Kyon’s face when he sees her.

That was the last of the workprint, now for colour!

This picture was seen on the cover of Newtype many eons ago now, before the time of the nightmares of the number eight and the urge to punch Haruhi in the face. Although I say that, this picture is the essence of Haruhi in Disappearance, she is back to square one, completely un-Kyonafied and un-K-ONafied.

Haruhi bookmarks! Yay! I’ll have to buy these off PlayAsia, or make ‘em myself … they’d go well when I get Boredom in July…

I love this picture! It’s so perfect! The two different dimensions colliding! AHHH!!!!!

I love this picture as well! Kyon looks so proud of himself, Haruhi is all ‘Why are you looking at me like that?’, Yuki’s is full of regret, Mikuru’s if full of worry and Itsuki is just happy to have his man back (wait … what?!).

This image is of an entry ticket into the film. It shows a colour version of the workprint above while giving us a happy Haruhi and a glum Yuki.

Miss Nagato seems a little bit happy. Wait a tick! It’s Yuki, she doesn’t HAVE emotion…am I the only one that seems a little creeped out by her smile. Yet, she does look cuter…

These images are from diaries you can buy on the KyoAni store. They cater for both markets, the Yuki one and the Haruhi…yet I don’t see Mikuru…

Well, that is all I have, for now, I’ll post most images as I find them, I’ll make little updates on the site so it comes up on AnimeNano and other random places I have my blog feed on.

If you have any more images, or you know links to where they are, please email me at: dazzatonippon@live.com and you’ll be credited for it on this site (plus, I’ll love you forever).

[Via http://fightingfornippon.wordpress.com]

Arrowheadlines: Chiefs News 12/12 - Arrowhead Pride

Dai-Guard 07 - Fire and Ice

2009-12-13T04:45:00.000+02:00

We now return to our regularly broadcasted program. I’ve finished watching Batman: Tas now so here we go!

A Heterodyne is sitting in the middle of the city, and the Dai-Guard team are standing by to in case it actually decides to do something. In the meantime, the team is basically just chillaxing around the area nearby. It’s shown that the army did attempt to attack, however the Heterodyne simply regenerated and continued to stand there doing nothing. In the meantime, everyone stands around and complains about their job.

Spiffy:

Akagi saves some woman’s dog because nobody else will do it. Hooray!
Domeki, the random previously unnamed character from previous episodes assists the team in destroying the Heterodyne.
Mr Shirota pilots Dai-Guard in Ikagi’s place due to Ikagi taking an injury.

Iffy:

The Dai-Drill (Or whatever it’s called) once again proves its uselessness.

Not much to say about this ep, it’s not terribly but it’s not all that great either. Pretty interesting to see Shitora attempting to pilot Dai-Guard, either way. You can still appreciate the sheer ridiculousness of it all, like a giant robot pilot taking the time to go rescue a puppy and almost kill himself in the process.

Can you imagine any major characters from any other series doing this?

Why did we make this thing again?

The attacks aren't voice activated, but I find that it helps.

[Via http://mechamash.wordpress.com]

AMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth: Gingrich ...

Kampfer - The End

2009-12-12T16:13:00.000+02:00

All done...*sniffles*

(Note: Episode 11 was the ‘official’ last episode, episode 12 is an ‘extra’ Christmas episode.)

When I finished this episode, I had one thing that went through my mind; ‘How did that happen?’ The whole series was a roller coaster, it goes from bad to good, then back to bad and then went off in a massive bang, and lastly…a Christmas episode…need I say more.

Other Anime blogging sites and Wikipedia have the plot/episode summaries in detail, these are just my thoughts.

Read the rest after the jump…

(Remember, spoiler alert!)

Kampfer in German means ‘Fighter’, so my first thoughts were; ‘Girls, fighting … awesome!’ But this was much more than that, and sometimes much less. Let me explain, the girls, there was many of them, much more than I expected, there were times when there weren’t any guys at all and 30+ girls on the screen at once. Fighting … there wasn’t so much of that, with episodes completely missing this one point, although, as much as that sounds bad, it really isn’t. The last point, ‘awesome’ isn’t the word I’d use to describe this show, ‘unique’ comes to mind, as does ‘interesting’. I say ‘unique’ because in my research and constant looking for something new to watch, I have not found a series like this. Comment me in the section below if I’m wrong.

As the attention span on most people with access to the internet is limited, and writing can be a little boring, let’s make a comparison using two images;

Akane-chan from Kampfer

Nadeko-san from Bakemonogatari

As you can see, these two images are of two VERY different females, one is a loli that changes into a ‘bakemono’ (Monster in Japanese) and the other is a big-breasted librarian that changes into a gun-wielding, foul-mouthed, ranga-haired ‘kampfer’. I choose these pictures because they are a little similar in appearance.

The bottom picture is from the fourth opening of Bakemonogaratari, that oozes the brain from the Nadeko Snake arc lead female, Nadeko Sengoku, giving the viewer an insight into her mind and feelings, plus it was an awesome song.

The picture at the top is from the closing of Kampfer, a clearly drugged ending song that does not make the slight amount of sense until the last episode of the series (an ‘Ohhhhhhhh…..‘ sound came out of my mouth when I worked it out). The music is repetitive and the visuals will make the eyes pop right out of your end, but, none-the-less, I really enjoyed watching it and it’s 21 second shot of the male Natsuru (one of the only times you saw him).

Oh, and why is Pocky ALWAYS used as a sexual innuendo? It was like the focal-point of Onegai Teacher.

Comes in two great genders!

Now, let’s get to the bad stuff, kicking off with the lead, Natsuru. Natsuru Seno is the only male Kampfer, but as the rules state, ‘you can not have your powers unless your a big breast chick that looks good without any clothes on’, he has to turn into a her to be able to fight, which I (and many other) won’t EVER complain about. The problems with the character isn’t his/hers look, it’s the personality, as he/her has one of a rockmelon, CLEARLY every single female is in love with him, but no, he has to like the psycho-lesbian bitch. I’d much rather Shizuku or Mikoto, but I do like the tsudere-type, why? Don’t ask me, but it get’s me in all kinds of shit.

Nawwww, she so kawaii!

The highlight of this series is defiantly the above woman. She is the Senjōgahara of the Fall season, (yet another reference to Bakemonogatari, I gotta stop these…Oh, fun fact; GG Fansubs, whom I get Kampfer from also subbed Bakemonogatari, okay, now I’m getting off track…) she purely get’s what she wants, when she wants, whether it be Natsuru (why she wants him, I don’t know) or to learn the truth behind the Moderators, not letting anyone stop her. She even comes out and says that she’ll have Natsuru as either a male or female (I can see lots of doujin appearing in the Summer Comiket, I’ll have to get my hands on it!).

All in all, I really enjoyed Kampfer, it wasn’t a Haruhi Suzumiya or To Aru Kagaku no Railgun in terms of animation or story-telling, but it was a light hearted show, with the right amount (and use) of fan service, and as another blogger nearly wrote, but I will; ‘A harem anime done right’. Let’s just say, I thought it was way better than Shuffle.

RATING: 8 out of 10

[Via http://fightingfornippon.wordpress.com]

Valve fixes L4D2, updates TF2 News | Xbox 360 | Eurogamer

Favorite Anime Couples

2009-12-12T04:31:00.000+02:00

Alrighty a post AFTER 2 months! i get to do this.. SO ONTO MY FAV ANIME COUPLES! oh and they might not be official couples…. its just who i think look cute together.

No.10 :

Tamaki and Haruhi (Ouran High School Host Club)

No. 9:

Kyohei and Sunako (The Wallflower)

No. 8:

Kyo and Tohru (Fruits Basket)

No. 7:

Hikaru and Haruhi (Ouran High School Host Club)

No. 6:

Nobu and Hachi (NANA)

No. 5:

Inuyasha and Kagome (Inuyasha)

No. 4:

Naruto and Hinata (Naruto/Naruto Shipuuden)

No. 3:

Ren and Nana (NANA)

No.2:

Yano and Nanami (Bokura ga ita)

No.1:

Sasuke and Sakura (Naruto/Naruto Shipuuden)

Sasusaku flamers… BUZZ OFF i like sasunaru too in a way but SASUSAKU FTW (even if they don’t end up together…T_T)

[Via http://vampireyuuki.wordpress.com]

The 8th Annual Right Wing News Conservative Blog Awards | Right ...

Ballad of a Shinigami

2009-12-10T16:42:00.000+02:00

It is a series centering on a shinigami named Momo who unlike other shinigami spends much of her time helping humans rather then taking their lives. I thought it was quite an interesting and original series unfortunately the anime series is only 6 episodes and the manga is also fairly short. There are 12 light novels out at the time of this post but I’ve yet to get my hands on any of them in english though I’d quite like to. Overall I would still recommend it though even without having read the novels.

Momo the white shinigami and her cat Daniel.

[Via http://infinitecognition.wordpress.com]

Riccitiello: UK retail "more aggressive" than US // News

Romeo X Juliet

2009-12-10T04:04:00.000+02:00

No. Not the play. This is a Manga by Reiko Yoshida. This Manga has almost nothing to do with the actual play. Except it keeps some of the names the same, and the basic meaning, but it is vastly different from the play. It’s pretty good, though. A lot more action in this Manga and Anime then what was in the play.

Plot, taken from Wiki

In the fantastical aeropolis of Neo Verona, the noble house of Capulet had ruled peacefully for generations – until fourteen years ago, when the ancient grudge held by the rival house of Montague led to a mutiny, and the Capulets were deposed and all wiped out in a bloody coup. Now, as Neo Verona suffers under the thrall of its new masters, the fates of two star crossed lovers are about to become tragically entwined… As the citizens of the city suffer, the Capulet clan struggles to strike a blow against their enemies, and the Montagues tighten their grasp on power, an unlikely love blossoms between Romeo and Juliet – but in the face of such adversity, this ill-fated love may be doomed from the outset. Triumph or tragedy; only fate knows what awaits Romeo and Juliet…

A young girl, Juliet, is the only member of her family to escape the massacre of the Capulet family at the hands of Leontes Montague. Fourteen years later, Lord Montague rules the land of Neo-Verona with an iron-fist as Juliet helps the common folk in a Robin Hood-like fashion, and Romeo Montague protests his father’s cruelty. Juliet and Romeo meet by coincidence at the Rose Ball and fall in love at first sight. However, when Juliet turns sixteen and learns the truth of her past that has been hidden from her for fourteen years, her love becomes conflicted between revolution and devotion. (Please take note that in the Shakespearean version of Romeo and Juliet that Juliet and Romeo know about the other ones family and still choose to love each other. The only conflict in the whole play is the conflict of souls in a race for power and love as Juliet and Romeo say their last goodbyes along with their vows. There is little to no revolution in the play.)

Plot, from Baka-Up-Dates (they always phrase things so much differently, just had to add it in here)

One stormy night in Neo Verona, the Montagues begin a mutiny against the ruling Capulets and murder Juliet’s family. Before they manage to kill her, Juliet is rescued by her father’s servants, thus becoming the sole survivor of the Capulet family. Fourteen years later, she encounters the son of the Montague family, Romeo, by chance and the two fall in love. However, only a cruel fate awaits them…

Okay, a few things that make it very different from the play:

Neo Verona – An aerial city in which the story is set. It is likely named after the city of Verona, Italy, in which Shakespeare’s story of Romeo and Juliet takes place.

Dragon Steed – A winged horse with the tail of a dragon, similar to the Pegasus. Ryūba are capable of transporting people on their backs and are handled using reins in the same way as normal horses. More than a means of transportation, winged Ryūba can be considered a symbol of status as they are not something that common folk can own, and are only seen ridden by members of the aristocracy or nobility. Ryūba with degenerated wings, thus unable to fly, are often owned by commoners.

Great Tree Escalus – A huge and enchanted tree inside the Montague’s castle, which is the remaining of a pair of trees that gives support to Neo Verona. According to its caretaker, a woman named Ophelia, it gives blessings to people, but it also weakens if the persons don’t have love in their hearts. When it is thriving, it drops shining fruit from its branches. Since it has been in Montague’s care, the tree has noticeably begun to wither. It is likely named after Prince Escalus from Shakespeare’s play.

Carabinieri – The Military Police of Neo Verona. The name is the same as the true Carabinieri of Italy.

Manga has nine chapters, but each are pretty long. And the anime has twenty-four episodes.

This was the promotional picture.

http://static.minitokyo.net/view/49/47/292399.jpg

http://www.basugasubakuhatsu.com/blog/screencaps/Romeo%20x%20Juliet%2009.jpg

http://www.animezet.com/products/469a.jpg

http://www.chucksanimeshrine.com/animeblog/2009/11/romeo-x-juliet.html

Chapter Covers:

http://media.onemanga.com/mangas/00002342/000088192/00-cover.jpg

http://media.onemanga.com/mangas/00002342/000088192/00-cover2.jpg

http://media.onemanga.com/mangas/00002342/000088202/01.jpg

http://media.onemanga.com/mangas/00002342/000088212/01.jpg

http://media.onemanga.com/mangas/00002342/000092122/01.jpg

http://media.onemanga.com/mangas/00002342/000120382/00-cover.jpg

http://media.onemanga.com/mangas/00002342/000120382/00-cver3.jpg

http://media.onemanga.com/mangas/00002342/000120382/02-03.jpg

http://media.onemanga.com/mangas/00002342/000129462/01.jpg

http://media.onemanga.com/mangas/00002342/000135662/01.jpg

http://media.onemanga.com/mangas/00002342/000143482/01.jpg

http://media.onemanga.com/mangas/00002342/000147112/03.jpg

http://media.onemanga.com/mangas/00002342/000147112/69.jpg

I much prefer the Manga drawing compared to how they draw them in the Anime. They just don’t look as good.

This would be something good for anyone to read, even if you don’t read Manga.

[Via http://sharpshoots.wordpress.com]

Stocks in the news: Texas Instruments, PepsiCo, Apple -- DailyFinance

Gurren Lagann - Emotion

2009-12-08T16:00:00.000+02:00

This is part 2 of a series exploring Gurren Lagann.

Part 1

If there is one thing Gurren Lagann is not afraid of being, it is passionate. Well, that and epic, but that is a different issue. This animated story runs rampant with excitement, tragedy, comedy and downright awesomeness. All this is fueled by characters who show drive, fury, caring and weakness in a great display of human nature.

Our hero, Simon, begins as a young, fearful boy. It is his friend, idol and blood-brother Kamina who drives him to do more. He may be meek, but he has an inner-fire which comes out with fury. A major focus of Simon’s story is self belief. He has to come to believe in himself, if sometimes through a convoluted network of surrogate-belief, so that he can fight for humanity.

Eventually overcoming a terrible tragedy by discovering his self-confidence, Simon begins to evolve into a confident man capable of facing any challenge. Along the way he finds his love, and he is not afraid to show how he feels, for her or his other friends. There is no awkward hiding of feelings here, luckily. Simon is shown to obviously care about those he fights with and so he fights for them. Simon may stutter in expressing his feelings a few times, but not from fear of his emotions, just natural human doubt.

Even as he grows older and stronger, Simon continues to show his vulnerable side as he must fight against untold odds to save his world and the life of his love. There is never any sense of macho-pride here, just pure human emotion, truthful and heartfelt. The characters never have a sense of invincibility, but they never give-up when their backs are to the wall.

Overall, the characters of Gurren Lagann, both male and female, show great heart and emotion, often better portrayed than in many live-action films. A core theme is the power of the human spirit, so the show undeniably encourages getting in touch with your emotions and using your positive feelings to drive you. Its male characters strike a balance between strength and weakness which is refreshing. Elsewhere, many characters (especially men) are either weaklings with emotion or tough-guys without emotions, both despised. Here we have believable men who are as strong as it gets but are still human, and so have feelings and vulnerabilities.

The message? Feelings do not make you weak, they make you strong. Embrace them and be the best you can be.

I also love the sense of classical romance this show has. Some might call me a chauvinist, but there isn’t anything more romantic than the hero holding his woman on his lap as he pilots his mecha into battle with the ultimate forces of evil. And she doesn’t have to just be a pretty flower. She can and should kick in all her energy and passion too.

Next time I will look at how all this heart and soul comes into play in the relationships between the men of the series.

[Via http://beardreel.wordpress.com]

MP shows strong support for games News | Eurogamer

Monkey D. Luffy is Cover Boy.

2009-12-08T04:32:00.000+02:00

In the Japanese men edition of fashion magazine “Non-no”, the highly known Japanese manga and Anime character “Monkey D. Luffy” historically becomes the first animated character to be featured on the cover. I’m a huge Anime fan creator Eiichiro Oda Manga and I’ve been watching “One Piece” ever since it first began airing in Japan many years ago (via fan-subs). One Piece is a wondrous tale and I recommend to anyone who don’t know what it is, to go look it up. The series is currently licensed by Anime distribution company Funimation and has a string of DVD releases available to own. The series has over 500 Manga chapters, 428 animated episodes and still counting, with a string of movies under its belt.

[Via http://tazsimpson.wordpress.com]

Child's Play raises over $1 million for children's charities // News

Random Cute Girl Wallpaper Pack

2009-12-05T15:59:00.000+02:00

This is actually begin with KatanAnime request for a non-specific anime wallpaper pack of cute girls. I then think it is quite a good idea since I have so many wallpapers from hentai series (Of course the clean ones are the ones I’m showing here). Therefore, here is my selection of girl anime wallpaper pack and it’s quite subjective to my personal taste. I hope it fits with your taste as well and enjoy downloading the wallpapers. Cheers.

[Via http://kazasou.wordpress.com]

Новая рецензия: Дневники мертвецов

Gokigenyou

2009-12-05T04:43:00.000+02:00

After having a nice kraft dinner, I proceeded to finish the last few episodes of Maria-sama ga Miteru 4th Season (I don’t even know how to pronounce it). Hence, bring my marathon of the whole Maria-sama (excluding the Specials from the 4th season) to and end. In conclusion, despite the fact that this anime is shoujo anime, I found myself enjoying the series (maybe it is because this anime is shoujo anime, that everyone have a bit more character depth and that they don’t provide as much fanservice as other anime *cough*Saki*cough).

Even though this series have a huge yuri overtune, it wasn’t as bad as Saki, mostly because it is both backed by character depth, has a reason for their dependence for each other, and it is elegant. Obviously I would not fall for yuri that easily, but…they are so elegant. ヽ(´▽`)/

I remembered reading that this anime is very similar to ARIA (one of my favorite anime of all time, OF ALL TIME!), and in some degree it is true. Like ARIA, the pacing of this anime is quite slow, and that it will develop one problem and takes either the whole episode or two to, well, get over the issue, which usually is handled in a anti-climax way. But different from ARIA, Maria-sama seem to take every small issue, and exaggerate it, only to, again, end it with something simple. Though I did say that they like to exaggerate really small issues, the did it in an elegant way, keeping in tone of the anime, making it seems is if it was natural and not forced. In short, its another slow paced slice-of-life kind of anime, but just at lot more elegant.

The main focus of the whole series is around Yumi-chan (voiced by Ueda Kana ヽ(´▽`)/ ). She started off as a normal girl that had a hidden crush on her going-to-be onee-sama, Sachiko, then continued till her second year, where she was lifted to a high position from the student body. Of all the characters in the series, Yumi had the most character development, both her inner personality and the other’s view of her. Without watching development of Yumi, I think I would be quite surprised on how much Yumi actually changed by the end of the 4th season. And this reflects on one of the strengths of this series, the strong character depth and character development.

Maria-sama ga Miteru (first season)

The first season started with a fairly good introduction of the characters and their personality, and of their relationship between each other. It started off with the focus of Yumi and Sachiko, and shaky their sister relationship was. Actually, the first season show spend most of the time discovering how shaky each of the main sister’s relationship was. Though by the last episodes, it displays and promises a more closer future between the characters. Lastly, comedy (mostly by Yumi) was minimal as most, but still useful to keep my interest in watching the show.

Maria-sama ga Miteru ~Haru ~ (second season)

Haru continuous from where the first season left off, but it focuses on Shimako and her smaller sister (imouto, I’m going to use that instead), Noriko, but then ends with the main focus on Yumi, Sachiko and Sachiko’s ‘annoying’ cousin, Touko. Similar to first season, second season felt it was really watching a continuation of the first season (for example, second season opening was just first season’s opening with voices; not that the song is bad, but just…the same), so all the goodness and badness stayed. Again, it was slow, elegant, and character based. While the comedy is still present in this episode, it became quite dark by the end of the second season. Also, when presenting and portraying Touko, the anime made Touko in quite negative light, and because of her importance in the 4th season, this negative light was fitting for her now.

Maria-sama ga Miteru 3rd (third season)

Different from the previous two season, this was released as five OVA’s, which each spans for 50 minutes (meaning about ten 30 minute episodes). With the longer time, the OVA presented 4-5 distant events (only episode two and three is a bit connected). While it still too time to develop the character relationship between Yumi and Sachiko, it seemed to be more of an application of their relationship instead of building them up (to show how close and strong their relationship are). Different from the previous seasons is that because of the application and not the building up of relationships, there was more comedy placed into this season, which I sometimes actually disliked, because took away precious time, time which more character relationships can be developed. And ironically, the stalker that showed up, Kanako had their problem still hanging there by the end of the season, which was disappointing also, because the OVA just left there with several problems hanging the for the 4th season to deal with. Also, not only is Touko annoying, she is pissed at Yumi! щ(ﾟДﾟщ)

Maria-sama ga Miteru 4th (fourth season)

While the fourth season did focused on most of the cast, Yumi and Touko (along with Noriko) took the center of the stage. Sadly, this was not apparent as first as the first few episode started on the wrong foot and quite frankly, was a mess. Not only was the plot messy, at time it seemed to throw the relationships and characteristics that was build from the previous three seasons, rendering it foolish at times, and the catchy opening doesn’t help, as it is in conflict of the over elegant feel that the anime had given off with the previous seasons. Yet, the anime as able to regain footing as it started to focus on Yumi and Touko, and to be honest, it when everything came into fruition. In this part, we see how Yumi was able to maturely handle the situation despite having no confidence in it at first, and of Touko transformation from just an annoying brat and casts Yumi aside, to someone who wants to be close to Yumi, because of Yumi’s kindness. While the closeness of Yumi and Sachiko is beautiful, Yumi and Touko’s new born relationship is just spectacular.

While I do like the second part of the 4th season the most, the first half of the season dragged it down so much that if I had to choose the favorite season out of all four, I think it would have been the first or second season.

[I might add some pictures if I like]

Gokigenyou

[Via http://mybalance.wordpress.com]

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