“Humans are simply the strangest creatures in this world.”Another of CLAMP’s work, ×××Holic is one of the unique works created by the group of artists. As this would be my first ×××Holic update, I might as well explain what is with this anime and how it is different compared to its manga, and how supernatural incidents occur as the story goes on. To those who don’t know about it, ×××Holic is a story collaborating with Tsubasa Chronicle; or at least CLAMP intended the two stories to come together at several points. However, the creator of the anime decided to do it otherwise by not even mentioning Syaoran and the others in the anime. In anyways, the anime still retained the original humoristic style featuring Watanuki and Yuko as the main characters, with a few other side characters such as Himawari and Doumeki. The anime also retained the original manga art style by CLAMP, which featured its characters with long hands and long legs. "You're going to work in this shop,""What is a Mokona?"Episode one of the anime was the same as the manga, with Watanuki reaching Yuko’s shop. Watanuki was born with a special ability, and the ability was to be able to see strange things, such as ghosts and spirits. This had caused him to be unable to live a peaceful life, since he had been running away from strange creatures. Somehow, Watanuki was led into the shop, although he didn’t wish to do so, and met Yuko. Yuko had promised to grant all of her customer’s wishes, as long as they pay a price: something of equivalent value with their wishes. Watanuki had wished that he would not have to see strange creatures anymore, and in order for Yuko to fulfill his wish, Yuko had him to part-time work in her shop. So, from here onwards, the story goes on."If it is a wish, then nothing comes to mind...""Somehow, I'm unable to move my pinky finger...""She does not have a boyfriend. She is lying the whole while..."Smoke emitting from the pinky finger after the ring was removed...Episode two is the starting point of the title of this update, “lies”. The story of this episode was as if it was trying to convey a message, telling us not to tell lies, or else one shall pay for one’s own deeds. In here, a middle-aged woman visited Yuko’s shop. She claimed that she wasn’t able to move her pinky finger. Yuko told her that she ought to stop a habit. Meanwhile the middle-aged woman lied about her age, smoke started to emit from her pinky, and Watanuki is able to sense it. She left after Yuko gave her a ring to be put on her pinky finger. Then later on a few days later, the middle-aged woman visited Yuko’s shop once again, and this time, she had problem moving her arm. Yuko gave the same advice once again. Meanwhile, Watanuki had followed her all the way back, and he had found out that the habit Yuko was talking about. She had been lying (as in telling lies) all along. In the end, the middle-aged woman was hit by a truck. She died on the spot. You should know the moral of the story. Even a three-year old kid would know this."A few of my classmates are playing Angel-san..""AT LEAST COMMENT SOMETHING ON THIS EARPHONE!"A few girls playing Angel-san.."There is something behind you!"In episode three, Himawari, Watanuki’s crush in school, was introduced to Yuko. Himawari told Yuko that she had a few friends who had been playing with “Angel-san”. Yuko sent Watanuki, together with Doumeki to check out the school. Meanwhile, Watanuki was also forced to wear a pair of ears which resembles the ears of Chi from Chobits. Watanuki and Doumeki saw a few girls playing the game on top of the roof. The rules of Angel-san, is that you may not take your hands off, or else you shall be cursed. Well… in the end, Watanuki forced the girls to take off their hands. He was paid a price. He fell down the roof, but luckily, Doumeki saved him. To repay Doumeki, Watanuki had to serve barbeque lunch for him with the others. The fake fortune teller..Yuko was able to sense that this is a fake fortune teller..Yuko made a butterfly out of a handkerchief.. and it let Watanuki and herself to a real fortune teller.The real fortune teller...Episode four is another episode telling us not to delibrately cheat. In this episode's case, the story is about Yuko looking for a fortune teller, but ended up consulting a fake one. However, she is able to sence it, while Watanuki seemed to have fallen for the fake fortune teller's trick. Yuko then became mad, and quickly finished up the consultancy and left the spot. Yuko then created a butterfly which lead Watanuki and her to a real fortune teller. A real fortune teller risks their own lifes predicting the future, and this is why Yuko got mad at the fake fortune teller.
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I’m not sure whether I’m going to use this section often, but it’s perfect if I want to say something about certain series outside of the monthly summaries. Perhaps I’ll use this more often in the future f I want to say something about series I’m not blogging. Himawari I remember that I classified this anime [...]
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Opening Theme: 「蒼き炎」 - Aoki Flame by Takahashi Youko Download: AVI format (28.4MB) | Download PSP format (coming soon) This is a pretty good first episode. Animation-wise, this seems to be GONZO's better effort. The story itself is quite dark mostly because of the mysterious background that surrounds the main character, Randel Oland. People have been comparing this to Full Metal Panic but I think story-wise, it's a lot closer to Kenshin in the sense that the focus is on a character who tries to move on with his new life but his dark past continues to catch up with him. The Pumpkin Scissors group essentially functions as Oland's link to humanity which he occasionally loses. The opening theme itself is pretty good but then again I've always been a fan of Takahashi Youko's songs like Cruel Angel Thesis. The ending theme is rather humourous which feels kind of strange since this episode has a dark tone to it. Voice acting wise, Shizuka Itou (Himawari in xxxHOLiC) and Kenta Miyake did a god job as their respective characters, Alice and Oland.
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God… this episode was incredibly creative. And incredibly fun as well. Yuuko invites Watanuki, Domeki, Himawari, the Rain Sprite, the Vestal Sprite and Mokona to a playground in order for them to have a snowball fight. Though it’s not a normal snowball fight. Each of the contestants has to create some kind of snowman. These [...]
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I’m dropping some shows. Utawarerumono I have been scanning some episode summaries of this one and although it looks interesting, since I’m so far behind now I’d rather wait for it to finish and then read the final reviews. Then maybe I’ll get the batch release, if the ending is good. The Third Same reason as Utawarerumono. Himawari I was [...]
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And it's another rather uneventful hot and humid summer day here, and my lack of sleep isn't helping things much. But that's the usual in summer for me ;) Anyways, we're through most of the new summer shows now with only a couple more slated to start at the end of the month. Aside from perhaps adding Innocent Venus then, I think my schedule is pretty much set. Not quite as many shows to really get your attention like there was in the spring, but good enough :) And now a bit of news from the past week (or two, or more...)Illumitoon Acquires Beet the Vandel Buster It's somewhat unexpected to have a new NA distributor starting up nowadays, but here you go:Three former executives from FUNimation have announced the formation of a new privately-held company, Illumitoon Entertainment Ltd., dedicated to bringing exciting anime titles to the US. Formed in January 2006, the company focuses on acquiring exciting anime from Japan, with the emphasis on making them relatable for an American audience.“Of course, we always want to include the original Japanese tracks with our shows, for the serious anime fan,” says Barry Watson, the company’s President and CEO. “It’s just that we want it to be accessible and engaging for a mass audience as well.Illumitoon Press Release - Beet the Vandel Buster Coming to US An emphasis on making shows "relatable for an American audience" sounds very much like 4Kids, but the indication that they intend on including the original Japanese is reassuring if they do end up acquiring something that I like. I doubt that'll happen, though, since most of the kid shows I'm watching (or have watched) probably wouldn't be considered marketable to a mass audience here. Shoujo and mahou shoujo doesn't sell here and all that... Oh well... Coyote Ragtime Show Ep 3 Preview You can watch it at the show's website. Click "story", then click the big button with "Next show time" on it (it's very good quality wmv). Wonder if this will continue for the entire series... perhaps they really need that extra time for the episode itself. Otogi Juushi Akazukin Goods You can have your own Sweetphone now and such... What, they're not going to sell the weapons Akazukin uses? ;) btw, OP single is out August 2, ED single is out August 8. Negima! Website Renewal Now with the character designs from the new season of Negima! that Shaft is producing. Official title: Negima!?. Don't forget the "?" ;) Second Seasons for... Himawari! (no mention of when) and Sasami Mahou Shoujo Club (in the Fall). From what I've read, it looks like the "last" episode of Sasami that aired today leads into the next season, so I'll treat it as just another episode (as episode 13 of 26) instead of doing a full wrap-up and review.
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Site and Pre-site openings: Himawari! 2 Gakuen Utopia Manabi Straight! Ayakashi Ayashi Bakumatsu Kikansetsu Irohanihoheto In other news: Kanon PRELUDE DVD goes on sale 08/25. [Price: 1,980 Yen including tax]
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I am now downloading a completely subbed full series of Inukami at breakneck speed. Other series include Himawari, Blood+ and KAMISAMA KAZOKU. How is this possible, many of you would ask? The catch is that all of these are Chinese fansubs. My HK friend, Tikchan, introduced me to a couple of torrent aggregator/fansub websites and [...]
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Man, I really love the voice work in Himawari. For some reason, I absolutely love Himeji and her suffix "de arinsu." Or, yeah… news. Well, today, Sega tossed up a teaser site for an upcoming Bleach game for the Wii console. At this point there is… well… zero information other than that there will be [...]
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