Some love for Mai?
(Read the rest of this entry) (Entry meta)

If there’s one thing I’m not too keen on when watching fansubs, it’s mkv format. According to its proponents, mkv is new and ‘1337’ whilst avi is old and outdated, but the fact remains that mkv is a pain to play. The picture gets stuck, it uses up more CPU resources than I’m willing to [...]
(Read the rest of this entry) (Entry meta)

The gathering of GHOSTBUSTERS! Wow, i am surprised that no one around had blogged about this after episode 2. This is one of the most interesting and scientifically based anime that I have seen so far. Man, am I the only baka that is in love with this show? Fansubs, I am really appealing now. I [...]
(Read the rest of this entry) (Entry meta)

Somehow I've managed to see the first episodes of almost all the new anime. Here's what I thought of them. As usual, there are far too many watchable shows.Just for reference, my favorite recent shows are Simoun, Honey & Clover, Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu, NANA, and Bokura ga Ita. But I've also enjoyed Kashimashi, Lemon Angel Project, NHK ni You Koso, Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora, Shinigami no Ballad, Saiunkoku Monogatari, and Noein, among others.Here is a trip through the week, day by day. Shows I like most get a screencap. Best show so far? For me, it's Asatte no Houkou. For others, it might be Kanon, Death Note, Bakumatsu Kikansetsu Irohanihoheto, or Negima. I also have a calendar of the week, showing days and times the shows are on in Japan, and highlights of staff and cast.Sunday:Gin-iro no Cord ~Primo Passo~ -- Reverse-harem romance in a high school devoted to music. Takagi Reiko does a lovely job communicating the heroine's feelings. The music fairy who is the guardian of the school gives her a magic violin that enables her to compete with the best musicians in the school, most of whom are bishounen. I liked it. So sue me.Galaxy Angelune -- Crazy comic beautiful girls commit crazy violence in good causes. Despite Hirano Aya and Kobayashi Akiko (PuniPuni Poemi), this didn't do much for me.Marginal Prince -- An innocent Japanese boy becomes a student at a grand old school on an island in Europe, where the half-dozen students are all princely bishounen. Uh-oh: I enjoyed this simple, old-fashioned, somewhat cheesy and yaoi-ish bishounen show. Your mileage may vary.Monday:Tokimeki Memorial ~Only Love~ -- School comedy. Beautiful girls. Stupid humor. Some people apparently liked this ero-game conversion. Not me.Rabudoru ~Lovely Idol~ -- Another simple show I enjoyed a lot. Girls becoming idols. Decent music. A nice look. Great voice-acting: Nogawa Sakura, Sakai Kanako (REC), Nakahara Mai (Mai in Mai-HiME), Chihara Minori (Yuki in Suzumiya Haruhi), Gotou Yuuko (Mikuru in Suzumiya Haruhi), Momoi Haruko (Nurse Witch Komugi). (Second episode was not so enjoyable.)Pumpkin Scissors -- Well-made show set in a post-war purgatory of famine and disorder. Decent action. Characters with character, although kind of shallow, for me. Itou Shizuka in one of her two good roles this season (the other being in Asatte no Houkou). Ueda Kana as the humble secretary who knows everything.Tuesday:D. Gray Man -- Monster-of-the-week. Well-made but a bit limp. Set in London circa Jack the Ripper. Kobayashi Sanae (Maya in Glass Mask) is good as the (male) protagonist.Death Note -- Powerful, excellently animated and well-acted descent into megalomaniac madness. For many, this will be the show of the season. Great performance by Miyano Mamoru (Tamaki in Ouran, in a totally different role) as the top student who gets a shinigami's notebook, enabling him to kill whom he pleases. And Hirano Aya and Kudou Haruka will apparently show up in episode 2.Ghost Hunt -- Nicely-made female-oriented story of a girl who becomes part of a group of ghost-hunters led by a (sort of) bishounen. Good voice-acting by Nazuka Kaori (Yun in Simoun). Develops slowly.Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge (Perfect Girl Evolution) -- Animation that's completely nuts of a manga that's completely nuts by a director who's completely nuts (Nabeshin, who made PuniPuni Poemi). Four bishounen are given free rent in a mansion if they can convert the owner's niece from a hikikomori, self-conscious, negative horror freak into a charming young lady. (Second episode was hilarious.)Shounen Onmyouji -- Great Heian setting for a monster-of-the-week anime featuring yin-yang magic. Love interest arrives in episode 2. Looks wonderful, has some nice features, including a terrific (and powerful) animal companion, but didn't do much for me. Screenplay by the man who did Wolf's Rain and Turn A Gundam, however, so things may improve. My problem is that monsters bore me.Black Lagoon ~Second Barrage~ (haven't seen it)Red Garden -- Fascinating supernatural mystery featuring amazing realistic animation and pre-recorded voices that really act. Set in New York, centered on four girls at the same school who discover they have all forgotten the evening when a classmate died, and are told that they are dead, too. (Second episode was outstanding.)Wednesday:Negima!? -- Wonderful comic animation directed by Shinbou Akiyuki (Tsukuyomi ~Moon Phase~, PaniPoni Dash!), with a cast that never stops: Kanda Akemi (Kazuki in Tonagura, etc.), Satou Rina (reprising her role as Negima), Nonaka Ai (Iriya, etc.), Kadowaki Mai, Noto Mamiko, Horie Yui, Inokuchi Yuka (Anju in Karin). (Second episode blew me away.)Busou Renkin -- Almost bearable monster show. And that's saying something, coming from me. Hirano Aya as a (platonically) loving imouto is worth the price of admission. Yahagi Sayuri (Karin) will show up soon. (Second episode bored me, descending into real monster-of-the-week. But Hirano Aya was still great.)Super Robot Taisen OG ~Divine Wars~ -- People who like this sort of thing seem to like it. Good mecha. Nice bright look. Takahashi Mikako in a b-role as the brave damsel in distress. For boys.Galaxy Railways ~The Junction Point to Eternity~ -- I find the whole concept of a train flying through space difficult to swallow, and don't like mecha that look as if they were designed in the 19th century. But even that aside, this first episode of the new series seemed pretty lame to me: logic seemed quite absent. I've never watched Galaxy Railways 999, which people say was a good show.Yoake Mae yori Ruriiro na Crescent Love -- Cute game-conversion comedy that I actually found funny. Nabatame Hitomi (Shizuma in Strawberry Panic, Nobue in Ichigo Mashimaro) is wonderful as the regal but romantic moon princess who comes to Earth for a homestay with the hero (his onee-san is chief spokesperson for the president of Earth). (Second episode has me hooked.)Souten no Ken -- Appears to be a stupid, cheap, ugly, fighting show. I couldn't stand to watch enough to really find out.Thursday:Sasami Mahou Shoujo Club 2 -- Kid stuff. The main seiyuu are all under 15 and sound like it. Charming, but of little interest to me.Pokemon Diamond & Pearl (haven't seen it)Mamoru-kun ni Megami no Shukufuku wo! -- A big surprise. Funny and extreme. The superwoman (and I do mean Superwoman) school idol instantly falls in love with the weak little new boy. Hilarious schtick and well-done fanservice. Takahashi Mikako in a new kind of role.Kanon -- As good as advertised. Fabulous, deeply moving animation. Melancholy supernatural romance featuring sad girls in snow. The largest, most liquid eyes ever. Horie Yui, Tamura Yukari, Sugita Tomokazu, Seki Tomokazu, Kawakami Tomoko, Kawasumi Ayako. Directed by the director of Air, written by the writer of Full Metal Panic, animated by Kyoto Animation. Need I say more?009-1 -- Could become a camp classic. Voluptuous, invincible, cool female James Bond and voluptuous colleagues in a 1960s East Block-West Block cold war setting. Great character design. Well directed, if simple and old-fashioned. Enjoyable fighting and bionic weaponry. Based on a classic late-1960s manga by Shotaro Ishinomori. A sleeper. Feminist bishoujo?CODE GEASS - Lelouch of the Rebellion -- Entertaining enough, but not as gripping as I'd hoped. Area 11 (i.e., Japan) rebels against rule by the Britannia Empire. America/England bad, Japan good. The first of two anti-foreign shows from Sunrise. I want to see and hear more of the intriguing alien (?) played by Yukana.Gin-iro no Olynssis -- A misfire from Artland. Fairly silly, with some nice shots and the potential for a good silent beautiful alien. Second-rate monsters are even worse than first-rate monsters. So far this is a waste of the talents of Nazuka Kaori, Hisakawa Aya and Akemi Kanda.Asatte no Houkou -- The best first episode of the week. Beautifully directed and acted, with an intriguing premise involving a little girl who wants to grow up fast, and a young woman who wants to go back to being a child. We'll see where it goes. Ito Shizuka is marvellous.Happiness -- Made me happy. Appears to involve tension-free romance at a school for magicians. Lamune vibes.Sumomomo Momono -- Hilarious and outrageous. Unique character design. The daughter of one martial arts master is betrothed to the somewhat older son of another so that they can produce a worthy heir. She wants to be his bride (does she ever) and he just wants to become a lawyer. But be warned: the greatest amount of loli fanservice I have ever seen in one episode. Hirano Aya enters the fray starting with episode 2.Gift ~Eternal Rainbow~ -- People love the game, but the first episode didn't do much for me. I didn't like the protagonist, and the "plot" was pretty limp. But the VA cast is nice: Shimizu Ai, Miyazaki Ui, Shintani Ryouko, Koshimizu Ami, Tai Yuuki(Chevalier/D'Eon).Friday:Bakumatsu Kikansetsu Irohanihoheto -- Animation at least as good as Kanon, if you can imagine it. So beautiful it brought tears to my eyes. Complex end-of-Edo-period plot involving swordsmanship and magic. Anti-foreign and maybe anti-Chinese vibes, but the animation is so good it doesn't matter.Kujibiki Unbalance -- It's going to take a while to get over the complete dissimilarity from the OVA eps in Genshiken, but I enjoyed it, up to a point. Moe voice-acting and reworked cliches to the max. Nonaka Ai was just fabulous as Tokino, and lots of others were good, too, including Koshimizu Ami as The Chairman and Gotou Yuuko at her most extreme kiddy-moe. The semi-unknown new recruits to the voice-acting cast stepped right up.Saturday:Katekyoshi Hitman Reborn! (haven't seen it)Ayakashi Ayashi -- Another Edo swordsmanship and magic story, like Bakumatsu Kikansetsu Irohanihoheto, with simpler (but still very nice) animation and a simpler (but to me more moving) plot. Fujiwara Keiji (Shuuji in Honey & Clover) and Niino Michi (Aaeru in Simoun).Jigoku Shoujo Futakomori -- Great new opening, at least for the first episode. If anything even more beautiful and tormenting that the first series, if this episode is any example. But still repetitive and unsatisfying.Otome wa Boku ni Koi Shiteru -- Kashimashi reborn. Following his grandfather's will, a very pretty boy dresses as a girl and goes to a girls' school, where everyone falls in love with him (I mean her). Lots of Strawberry Panic, too. Horie Yui, Matsuki Miyu (Simoun/Anguras, Strawberry Panic/Hikari), Kanda Akemi (Negima /Asuna, Tonagura /Kazuki), Asano Masumi, Gotou Yuuko, Nogawa Sakura. Plenty of yuri-esque fanservice.History's Strongest Disciple Ken'ichi (haven't seen it)
(Read the rest of this entry) (Entry meta)

I tried watching the raws for Bartender, though after only seconds I knew that I’d be better off with the subs. Seriously, that narrator had one strange voice. It sounded like a butler who likes to speak as polite and soft as possible with way too much enthusiasm. I’m hoping for subs to arrive soon, [...]
(Read the rest of this entry) (Entry meta)

I’m not sure if the masses will enjoy a show like this, but I can say for sure that this is going to be one of my favourites this season. The plot of this story strikes a personal chord with me, and I just find it interesting to see what these guys do to capture [...]
(Read the rest of this entry) (Entry meta)

Ghost Hunt: Can you catch em’ all! Gonna catch em all all ~ *sorry, really really bad Pokemon parody there* Hmm, yet another show that I have been rather interested to watch for quite a while. It seems that it is pretty funny, and yet another possible hit from J.C staff again. They are really making me [...]
(Read the rest of this entry) (Entry meta)

So people already know that when I finally come up for air, I'm gonna be immersin' myself in Yamanade and Ghost Hunt (I've sed as much). But in my admittedly few, totally haphazard references to which anime I'm looking forward to this fall season, there's one Very Glaring Omission: Death Note. (Was that a tad Drama Queen-ish? Anyhoo—) I asked for recommendations to the Death Note manga a while back – yes, I'm prolly the only anime/manga fan girl fan person I know who hasn't read this series – but up till now, I've yet to actually check out the first tankoubon from the library. Not even gonna use the standard "my manga TBR pile is just simply daunting/I'm still reading Bleach" defense. Because I have no excuse. I haven't read it because I'm not yet convinced that I should (that attitude right there shoulda warned me already...) So when I saw that Pajcat posted the Death Note teaser from YouTube in her blog, I very desultorily clicked the PLAY button and... Kono note... :falls out of chair: Tamaki! Tamaki da!! The teaser opens with a voiceover by Light, played by 宮野 真守 Miyano Mamoru. Who is known in these parts as my Most Adored of seiyuus currently. :chants: Miyano Mamoru is wub; Miyano Mamoru is wub ^^ You know how this story ends. ~nik, with no claims to being anything else but undeep, on her way to the library to borrow a certain manga series invaluable resource(s) Anime News Network
(Read the rest of this entry) (Entry meta)

The OP and ED are just instrumental, but they’re pleasantly off-beat and have a Wailing Woman in. Wailing Women are the hallmark of ANY good TV/film score (witness: Lord of the Rings, most Yoko Kanno stuff). Mai Taniyama is not as enamoured with the mysterious “sempai”, Kazuya Shibuya, that turns up at her school enquiring [...]
(Read the rest of this entry) (Entry meta)

Here's a graphic calendar of the fall anime season. I find the format useful for keeping track of what days shows are broadcast in Japan, and therefore what days we can expect to see raws around.This season, the calendar includes more staff and cast names, and more links to info about them in the Anime News Network encyclopedia. I got carried away. But the links are useful for easily checking who has done what before.Random Curiosity has a good overall outline of the new shows. I'm not sure which shows I'll be watching. I'll give almost all of them one episode. But just based on staff and cast, here are some observations:MondayLovedol~Lovely Idol~ has a very interesting cast, including Nakahara Mai, Gotou Yuuko, Chihara Minori (Yuki in Suzumiya Haruhi), and Sakai Kanako (Aka in REC). But it has the same director and scriptwriter as Amenaideyo, so I'm worried.... It's a show about pretty girls working to become idols, from Navel.TuesdayDeath Note was written by the man who wrote FMA and Tenjo Tenghe, so it has possibilities. And it has Hirano Aya (Suzumiya Haruhi) and Kudou Haruka (Hagu in H&C, Haruka in Noein). Psychological/supernatural thriller.Nazuka Kaori stars in Ghost Hunt. After Yun in Simoun, I am realizing just how talented she is. Kugimiya Rie and JC Staff are also attractions. Kaorin is a schoolgirl who joins a group investigating supernatural mysteries.Perfect Girl Evolution (Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge) is directed by Nabeshin (Watanabe Shin'ichi, who did Excel Saga and Puni Puni Poemi), so I just don't know what to expect. But I'll be watching. I think he's brilliant. Sugita Tomokazu (Kyon) and Nakahara Mai don't hurt, either. Some bishounen are given the task of turning an antisocial wallflower into a charming young lady.Black Lagoon~Second Barrage~ may not be my kind of anime, but the addition of Kuwashima Houko and Kaneda Tomoko to the cast, which already included Toyoguchi Megumi and Namikawa Daisuke (Koyuki in Beck), adds to this show's attraction. Adventure.Red Garden is directed by Matsuo Kou, who did Rozen Maiden, and the screenplay is by Yamashita Tomohiro, who did the script of Gankutsuou. That's a good start, and the addition of Sawashiro Miyuki, Shintani Ryouko, Tanaka Rie and Gotou Saori (who in my opinion was outstanding in the otherwise forgettable Rakugo Tennyo Oyui) make this something to look at. Mystery/horror set in New York.WednesdayI found the first Negima quite lacking, except for the cast, but the staff making Negima!? is extremely intriguing. The director is Shinbou Akiyuki, who did PaniPoni Dash and Tsukuyomi Moon Phase. He can be relied on to bring a fresh approach and some visual invention. And with Kanda Akemi, Satou Rina, Nonaka Ai, Kadowaki Mai, Noto Mamiko, Horie Yui and Inokuchi Yuka, there will be a lot to listen to. School comedy with magic.Soukou no Strain has Kawasumi Ayako, and I'll always look at anything she is in. But it also has Nonaka Ai's sweet voice, as well as Kondo Takashi (Train from Black Cat), Matsuki Miyu (another sweet voice, Anguras in Simoun), Jouji Nakata and Rie Tanaka. And the weird but wonderful voice of Mugihito (Kouhei's grandfather in Tsukuyomi Moon Phase, and the alien commander in PaniPoni Dash). Mecha SF (plus moe?).I'll be looking at Yoake Mae yori Ruriiro na Crescent Love mainly for the sake of its star, Nabatame Hitomi. But I'm intrigued by the fact that its first-time director is someone who did episodes of Ichigo Mashimaro and Mai-HiME. The fact that the scriptwriter did Karin and He is My Master make me wonder how well the manga adaptation will be handled, but we'll see. Game conversion about a moon princess who comes to live with a guy on Earth.As an instant fan of young, unglamorous Yahagi Sayuri, I will definitely watch anything she's in, and that includes Busou Renkin, even though I am less than turned-on by the genre. Fukuyama Jun, Yuzuki Ryoka (Misagi in Air), Hirano Aya and Nabatame are also reasons to watch. Weapons alchemy and monsters.ThursdayTakahashi Mikako may well be my favorite seiyuu right now, for her work as Ayu in H&C and Rika in Hantsuki -- and she has now had some very strong scenes in Simoun, as well. So I will definitely look at Mamoru-kun ni Megami Shukufuku wo! Ono Daisuke (Yukito in Air), Noto Mamiko, Shimizu Ai and Inokuchi Yuka (Anju in Karin) are further attractions. The director of Canvas2 worries me, but at least he didn't do series composition on that eventual train wreck, which was generally a good show. Series composition is by Okada Mari, who wrote many episodes of Simoun, some of Rozen Maiden, and wrote the screenplay for Aria the Natural. Magic and romance.I like the premise of Hataraki Man -- travails of an OL (working woman) -- and I look forward to some chemistry between Tanaka Rie and Ueda Yuuji (Morita in Honey & Clover).Kanon, of course, goes without saying. The director of Air and SHnY? The scriptwriter of FMP? Horie Yui, Tamura Yukari, Sugita Tomokazu, Seki Tomokazu, Kawakami Tomoko and Kawasumi Ayako? Kyoto Animation? Twelve days to go....Code Geass - Lelouch of the Rebellion also may not be my kind of show, but the staff and cast might make it one. The director did PlanetES and Infinite Ryvius. The screenwriter did the script of PlanetES and Turn A Gundam. And the character design is by Clamp. To that, add a cast that never stops: Fukuyama Jun, Sakurai Takahiro, Yukana (who was great in two roles in Simoun), Koshimizu Ami, Orikasa Fumiko, Nakata Jouji, Nazuka Kaori, Chiba Saeko, Ohara Sayaka and Arai Satomi (Kozue in Mahoraba). Mecha/SF adventure.Gin-iro no Olynssis is from Artland, and after Bokura ga Ita and Mushishi, I'll look at anything they show me. The scriptwriter, Nishizono Satoru, did script and series composition for Welcome to the NHK, as well as the scripts for Jigoku Shoujo and Keroro Gunso. The screenplay is by Takeda Yuichiro, who did the same for Banner of Stars and Infinite Ryvius. Add Nazuka Kaori, Hisakawa Aya and Akemi Kanda, and I'm all ears, as well as eyes. Mecha/SF romance.If you want to hear what Hino Satoshi sounds like when he's not paired with Kugimiya Rie (as he was in Shana and Zero), try Happiness. The story has a hook: the hero's little sister turns into an adult and his ex-girlfriend into a child. The director, Sakurabi Katsushi, directed Tsukihime. And there is Artland animation. Game-conversion harem romance.Sumomomo Momomo has two attractions: Hirano Aya in a supporting role, and Nakanishi Nobuaki, the director of Kashimashi. Martial arts plus moe romantic comedy.Gift~Eternal Rainbow~ does not have a famous staff or appear to have an original plot, but it does have Shimizu Ai and Koshimizu Ami, which may be enough, if they are at their best. I thought Amisuke was brilliant as Tenko in Kamisama Kazoku, and very strong in the completely opposite role of Paraietta in Simoun. And from Zettai Shounen to Okusama wa Mahou Shoujo to Strawberry Panic, I think Shimizu Ai has grown a lot in the past year. Moe magic romance.FridayHaving enjoyed Genshiken, I will certainly give Kujibiki Unbalance a long look. The fact that it stars Nonaka Ai is a further attraction, and the presence of Koshimizu Ami seals the deal. Amisuke has also grown this year, it seems to me. Yukana, who was so good as Eri and Dominura in Simoun, is also someone I'm now looking for. And the director of Dokuro-chan and xxxHolic, who also did some episodes of Genshiken?SaturdayThe only well-known seiyuu I can see in Katekyoshi Hitman Reborn! is Tanaka Rie, playing a minor role. But the fact that the director and character designer both did work on Mushishi, and the director worked on Zettai Shounen and Bokura ga Ita as well, makes this show a bit intriguing. Comedy.Ayakashi Atashi is a big show, occupying the 6pm Saturday timeslot, and has the cast and staff to match. The main attraction for me is the presence of Niino Michi (Aaeru in Simoun) in her second-ever anime role. But Fujiwara Keiji (Shuuji in Honey & Clover) also stars, and Orikasa Fumiko is there in a supporting role, as is Ueda Yuuji (Morita in Honey & Clover). And the director previously did Azumanga Daioh, Angelic Layer and Melody of Oblivion; the series creator is Aikawa Shou (FMA, Twelve Kingdoms, possibly Simoun, under a pseudonym); and the animation is by Bones. Adventure, monsters, magic, Edo.Jigoku Shoujo Futamori is interesting for the look and for Noto Mamiko, but I really found the first series dragged, so I don't expect to spend much time with the new one.Otome wa Boku ni Koi Shiteru is another gender-bender, with a boy dressing as a girl and attending a girls' school. Or maybe it will just be ecchi. I'm not sure. But I am sure that the cast merits a long look: Horie Yui, Matsuki Miyu (Anguras in Simoun), Kanda Akemi (Hatsuki in Tonagura, Asuna in Negima), Asano Masumi, Gotou Yuuko, Nogawa Sakura.
(Read the rest of this entry) (Entry meta)