This episode begins with the fake Warp being told by an electronic device that a suitable replacement body with the correct DNA type is almost ready, this new body will be the 99th.  Then we see someone examining Kaiba’s first body and he determines that the body still contains massive amounts of frozen and [...]
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And time flies by too swiftly for my liking. Already the month of June has passed and July is soon upon us. July has always been a much hated month for me, not the least of which it is the month of the star sign Cancer, and also because when I was still schooling, it never had a holiday during the entire month at all here.June has been a slow month for this blog. Much of the stuff done was for the blog itself, causing a drop in readership (at least, according to the number of hits per day, and I did see quite a drop in the number of unique visitors too). Not much was done outside of blog tech related stuff this month, but here is the summary of the month. Image above of Arin from Pangya thanks to DBlade.Blog UpdatesI started using blog themes only this month. It just so happened that, because I received Kuonji Shinra as a figure from the previous month, I made her the Anime Girl of the Month as well, and so it made me think, why not use Shinra-sama as a backdrop for a theme? And so I unveiled a blog theme, Shinrabanshou, for the blog for the first time. Have a look at the post here.I also finally gave a name and created "Team Blue", and later in the month, created a team blog. For local outing updates and events, as well as announcements of stuff happening within Team Blue and its bloggers and community, look there from now on.Blogrolls and links were reorganized around the middle of the month, this was around the time readership started to fall. Did most of you find that perhaps the new blogroll is harder to use and navigate by? I certainly found it easier to find out which blogs had newer posts, but I would like to find out from the general readership as well regarding the matter. I might revert back to using just simple links and only use the new Blogger's feed feature for certain sections.I also finally solved the problem of the random header. Now random header images should show up properly. I will continue to use this feature in the future.Surveys started being put up as well. These polls will continue, probably once a week. Would you like them to stick around, or do you want them gone?This blog also went past 10K hits this month, and the obligatory appreciation post is here.A new category was created for La Tendo, as I do help them post up new preorders and arrivals.Finally, Ruri made her self-introduction this month. Do stop by and say "Hi!" to her, and read up about her as she will be helping me in the future as well with the blog. Thanks, darling daughter Ruri!Song of the WeekNew section started for this monthly review, so that you know what songs were done for this month.I'm Still Here (Johnny Rzeznik)Kasumi (369 miroku)Number One (Vocal Version) by Hazel FernandesFar Away (Nickelback)Anime Girl of the MonthThe Anime Girl of the Month for June was Kuonji Shinra, did you perhaps miss her? If so, head on to the link to read up on her.Figure of the MonthThe Figure of the Month was also Shinra-sama, the only known one of her out, by Good Smile Company. It was also the first time I had an outdoors photoshoot for a figure, as well as a night shoot. If you missed her wonderful photoshoot, head on over to the post to view her gentle side.FiguresThis month's haul was a total of four figures, an image of all of them is provided below. Sadly, there is still no news of Imari Kurumi arriving, even though I have seen the figure itself in another shop.I also did a post of my preorders from this month all the way till October, and though a last figure was left out of the count, the list is pretty much complete. View it if you are so interested here.Clockwise from top left: Arin from Pangya by Solid Theater, Elwing from Shining Wind by Kotobukiya, Kureha from Shining Wind by Max Factory, and Yoko from Tengen Toppa Gurren-Lagann by Enterbrain Inc. AnimeNothing new here, as even though the summer anime season has started, none of the shows I actually want to watch are out yet. I continued blogging on Kaiba, though blogging on it has been slow thanks to the emphasis this month on the blog. I will of course finish watching and blogging on the series, hopefully readers who come for my write-ups on Kaiba will not be disappointed. At the end of Kaiba I will also be putting up my own review of Kaiba and the series.I also put up my summer anime watchlist, have a look if you feel like knowing what I will be keeping watch on.GamesThis section does not exist, move along sir/madam.Multimedia & MusicAside from Team Blue banners and headers, as well as blog banners, and theme banners and etc., nothing else was achieved. You can view the respective banners and headers in their respective posts, all of which were mentioned above.I also did a review for the first time ever on a movie, Kungfu Panda. Have a look if you are interested, the movie is really good.Special Features, Articles & EssaysPart 2 of the workout tetralogy has finally been completed. It took me long enough to get around to it. I apologize if anyone was keeping track. I may or may not get around to the third part next month, it depends on the month's activities and how free and motivated I am.Though it is not of a pretty nature, you might also want to read up on this post I did near the start of the month regarding my take on DC.com users back then.Two posts from my previous blog were posted this month, you may take a look at them here and here.I also wrote up something regarding my view on otaku culture, especially locally, though it may be extrapolated for a global look. Do read up on it if you are interested.EventsThe very recent Toys & Comics Convention held locally was an event that I had to cover for the month, for it was the first time such an event was held here. For my coverage of both days, go here for Day 1 and here for Day 2. For coverage of the event from other blogs as well, do take a look at the post done up for such a purpose over at Team Blue.LifeAcademic studies were started again, I mentioned it here (I know, it was linked in an earlier part). Other than that nothing much of note has occurred.July '08 PreviewMore blog tech stuff expected, but not as extensive as this month. Mainly the new theme, "Elven Beauty" will be unveiled for July. I am also expected to be putting up a few polls, and may put them near the top to garner attention.The new theme also reflects the Anime Girl and Figure of the Month, Elwing la Sylphis. Do look out for her figure photoshoot (which will be done outdoors) and her lovely elven cuteness.As regards anime, certain series I will be starting on begin airing in July. They were mentioned in the summer anime watchlist (linked above). I will not be blogging on any of them.The music playlist, as voted by the majority, will remain the Japanese playlist with a few changes to the song lineup. By request of CI, Sakura Kiss by Kawabe Chieco (from Ouran High School Host Club) will be removed.As for events, the upcoming Cosfest 2008 will likely be Team Blue's monthly outing as well, stay tuned on Team Blue's blog for updates on that. I do not have any other events planned for the month that I would want to cover.More write-ups this month are expected, including the last two blog posts from my previous blog, which will deal with the time when I thought I had diabetes, which will surely be of interest to psychology students, or social workers. I may also write up something on globalization and individuality, but that is iffy, as I no longer have the writing talent at all.I will also be blogging on Saimoe 2008, which already has started, but is still in the preliminary rounds. For coverage on those, CI is doing them, while I will only begin at the start of the actual tournament, sometime around 10-11th July. Mine will hardly be that constructive either, but you may read mine if you are so interested.I am also expected to continue working on my academic studies and rush through them, including the western history course. I do not have much time left for that one, urgh. Can any one of you actually give me motivation to do these things?Finally, I am expecting not two but five figures this month, though one of them is kindly being searched for in Japan by Misakichii in Japan when he heads over in mid-July. Two of the others are preorders that will be released near the end of the month, while two others are figures that somehow had no preorder opened for them over at La Tendo. Damn off-the-shelf prices. The figures, in no order, are Kotobukiya's Mao, Max Factory's Kotona Elegance, Kotobukiya's Suzume (from Sengoku Lance), Orchid Seed's Mizuho Kazami and Yamato's Noyamano Ringo.That sums it up for the month of July and what you can expect for it. Stay tuned for more updates from this blog, and thanks for being a reader!Elven Beauty,Panther
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   Note: (for those new to this series, Kaiba is the name of the main character in this series, Warp is the name that Popo gives to Kaiba in the first episode, and Warp is also the name of the King/Prince that rules the world, and Chroniko is the name of the female body that Kaiba’s memories [...]
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Paku Romi 朴璐美 -- played Loran Cehack in Turn A Gundam, Edward Elric in Fullmetal Alchemist, Oosaki Nana in NANA -- stage actress with Theatre Group En -- tough, calm, forceful (both her characters and herself) -- won first annual seiyuu award as top female seiyuu -- Korean ancestry -- 36 years old near the top of the seiyuu A-list -- 93 anime roles in a ten-year career: Loran Cehack (Turn A Gundam) Edward Elric (Fullmetal Alchemist) Temari (Naruto) Ueki Kousuke (Ueki's Law) Oosaki Nana (NANA) Teresa (Claymore) Haraken (Dennou Coil) Ayumi (Shion no Oh) Yuuki (Itazura na Kiss) Kuchiha (Amatsuki) Popo (Kaiba) 044 (Ultraviolet: Code 044) -- won first annual Seiyuu Award for best female lead of 2006, for rocker Nana in NANA -- has enormous range: plays a ten-year-old boy in Itazura na Kiss, and will play a genetically altered female warrior in Ultraviolet: Code 44 -- but hasn't played any sweet girls in recent years; her characters tend to be tough and forceful, sometimes boys or young men who are mature beyond their years; sometimes tough and aggressive women. other activities -- dubs foreign film and TV: 68 roles -- is the voice of Hilary Swank in most of her films, and of Mila Jovovich in many of hers -- has acted in 15 stage plays -- has done over 35 drama CDs -- has been in 58 games (all all-ages) Korean background -- Japanese of Korean descent: father second generation in Japan, mother from Korea -- went to elementary, middle, and high school at Wayo Konodai Girs' School in Chiba -- studied drama at two-year college: Toho Gakuen College of Drama and Music -- studied Korean at Yonsei University in Seoul -- she lists her special skills as piano, swimming, Shaolin fighting, and Korean language -- born 22 January 1972 strong determination -- the day before recording started on Turn A Gundam, she was in an accident, breaking her leg and cutting her lip, but she was determined to show up for work anyway. -- on the final day of a stage performance, she tore a ligament in her wrist -- for a Fullmetal Alchemist fan event, she had a high fever, but appeared anyway. it took her several tries to even get out a word. who she is -- in Shaman King, she got a chance to work with two of the seiyuu she admired most: Hayashibara Megumi and Takayama Minami (Kiki in Kiki's Delivery Service) -- she seems forceful and sometimes mischievous, but basically serious and kind. -- she can be slyly funny and talk dirty with Kugimiya Rie, then be quiet and serious with the interviewers on NHK's Anime Giga. her name -- her surname is the Korean "Pak", which becomes "Paku" in Japanese. -- her given name Romi 璐美 is written with kanji that mean "Jade Beauty" -- the first kanji 璐 "[beautiful] jade" of her given name is unusual, and isn't available in the most common Japanese character sets for the computer (Unicode does have it). -- proper way to write "Paku Romi": 朴璐美 -- ways it is written: ぱくろみ, 朴路美, 朴王路美, パクロミ, 朴瑠美, 朴ロ美 charity event -- she was a guest performer at a charity event last weekend, in support of the blind -- she and other seiyuu read from the Tale of Genji and other works -- some other names involved: Kamiya Hiroshi, Konishi Katsuyuki, Seki Tomokazu, Orikasa Fumiko, Taniyama Kishou, Koshimizu Ami singer -- has put out several music CDs -- music video (PV) -- audio from her "Fight!" CD, put out with Miyano Mamoru -- cover versions of anime music (uploaded by houkoholic) TV interviews -- Fullmetal Alchemist seiyuus (Kugimiya Rie, et al.) -- Dennou Coil seiyuus (Kuwashima Houko, et al.) -- conversation with Kugimiya Rie Romi takes control and they spin yuri stories together about her wanting to sleep with Rie and wanting to come home and find Rie wearing only an apron. They are friends, since playing brothers in Fullmetal Alchemist, and Rie has stayed at Romi's place and eaten her Korean cooking. Shakespeare -- Paku-san played Desdemona in Theatre Group En's performance of Shakespeare's Othello links -- home page -- Japanese Wikipedia page -- English Wikipedia page -- Anime News Network page -- radio show with Seki Tomokazu (her ninth radio show) -- search YouTube for Paku Romi (in Japanese; in English) Kugimiya Rie conversation And finally, just for laughs, here are some subtitled screencaps from the Paku-Kugimiya interview mentioned earlier, in which they spin an entertaining yuri fantasy:
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Reviewed this week: Allison and Lillia 10-11, Chocolate Underground 1, Kaiba 8, Kurenai 11-12, Mnemosyne 5, Toshokan Sensou 11 …and in manga: FMA 1-84, Minami-ke 30-1 ANIME CURRENT SERIES RANKINGS Kurenai (1) – masterful Chi’s Sweet Home (2)- Chi plays Kaiba (3) – who am I? Nabari [...]
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Kaiba is an unusual show amongst unusual shows. Its visual style is not like any anime airing on tv, it visuals existing somewhere between Tezuka and 60s manga, and the high art of Japanese artists such as Aoshima Chiho. Kaiba is different, and people will inform you of this fact. I’ve heard numerous polarizing comments in [...]
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Click pictures to enlarge them. Spoilers ahead so please be cautious. So, part of my guess worked turned out to be correct after all. Popo is the one modified Neiro's memory to make him think that he is the lover when it was actually Kaiba. In this epi..글 전체보기
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After a long break from a post on Kaiba, we return with episode 6 of the series, "A Muscular Woman". This episode certainly advances the storyline and brings in, for the first time, Neiro (and her seiyuu Noto Mamiko).Gel, the cyborg body Neiro is currently in. Kaiba 06 - A Muscular WomanEpisode SummarySo for the first time we see Neiro, though in a different form, as a cyborg named Gel. Certainly she admits that she is a woman halfway through the episode or so. Also, it seems that something happens at every stop the ship makes, this time on a planet of memories known as Lolo.The old couple Warp sees that no one else bothers to save, due to the terrorists found onboard the ship, is actually traveling the world to see it in their old age. As they explained, their old bodies could not be sold, and they had not been converted to chips unlike others as they could not afford it and did not want to anyway. Their memories are kept in their minds and also in pictures, much like how we do it in contemporary times today.Kaiba also takes a deeper look into the issues of gender, as the genders of Warp and Gel are twisted in this episode, and in a slightly amusing scene Warp tries and help Gel with the urinating part, as the latter is unaccustomed to doing it the male way, and though not shown, Gel also helped Warp with his. As Gel observes, neither of them know the ways of the other gender, and hence their respective problems with even simple things like peeing.Gel also mentions Warp's name and what it means. Warp is the king that tries to enslave people and memories, but little else is known about his actual disposition and what else he does, aside from likely being a tyrant that is hidden above the clouds.Finally, we realize the actual meaning of the title "Kaiba" - a legendary plant capable of eating memories. Though nothing much else is known about the plant at this point, it is obvious that the huge explosion, likely caused by Gel (indicated by Warp's observation of the loss of her arms when Gel is found and being recharged), of the memory tanks created a huge food source for Kaiba, and it is seen at the end increased in size.Neiro is also shown for sure at the end, along with the reappearance of Popo, who appears to be her superior in the same terrorist organization.The old couple that Warp rushes to assist.IssuesThe first issue we take a look at is the importance of gender as discussed in the normal yet far-reaching conversation between Gel and Warp of how they are unable to understand the other gender's problems. It is theoretical, but what if one day you were to wake up and find yourself in the body of the other gender? Confusion as to what you should think, what you should do, and the like will inevitable arise. It may even lead, like in Gel's case, to impulsive action brought about by the other gender's body instead of making rational decisions. Certainly, it is huge food for thought as to how gender is actually a social issue and the way we view our own, and the other gender, is largely a result of social factors and education instead of actual rational discernment.This brings to mind a great book, classified under science fiction, by the title of "The Left Hand of Darkness", by Ursula K. Le Guin. It is a highly recommended read as it focuses on Genly Ai, who tries to assimilate a newfound planet into a vast consortium of planets. The biggest difference between the humans found on this planet and what Genly perceives as normal is how the humans have no specific gender; their sexes change only when mating seasons come and only change into a certain gender based on the reaction of others during the mating season. This leads to profound implications for Genly who struggles to deal with the idea of a society with no gender constraints, alongside other different social aspects that he must learn to overcome and learn about in order to bring this planet and its inhabitants into the larger picture for the better good of all. The Left Hand of Darkness is a really good book that takes a look at the same issue discussed above in this episode of Kaiba.The second issue is more about ageing. The old couple as described in this episode have nowhere else to go, nothing much to do, aside from quietly spending their time as they please. Their memories are left, as mentioned, in photographs and their minds, much like how it should be if we ever had a choice to convert our memory chips. Old-fashioned thinking to the new generation that is used to memory chips, but certainly, for old people, nostalgia and memories are the only things that they live for and go by in order to feel alive.The third is a minor issue, regarding how everyone refuses to help, near the start of the episode. As Warp observes, "everyone is pretending to be busy and not notice". Few people also lend a helping hand to others even in our world today, thinking that "someone else will help". This brings a detrimental effect as everyone thinks the same way and no one steps forward to help. Findings have indicated that the larger the group, the more likely no one will assist someone in need.The last deals with the memories. For amusement, memories are stored in a large tank and are summoned or called upon by visitors to view these memories. At closing time, the scariness and all-too-real setting of the memories rising up show Warp how these memories and the beings that were once them feel about the matter, much like how exhibits would feel like in zoos and artificial settings, for viewing pleasure. Freedom for animals and other lifeforms is how it should be, is what I feel the issue is trying to address. Knowing and respecting the feelings of others and even other lifeforms is certainly going to be helpful for many.The first look at Kaiba, the legendary memory-eating plant.My ImpressionsNot much has been left unsaid. The story has advanced to a point where we learn about the organization Popo and Neiro are working for, even if it is not much. Neiro is shown to have destroyed the factories on Abipa, and now she destroys the largest memory tank in the entire federation.Warp is slowly learning to deal with his gender issue, and thanks to Gel, comes to terms with himself and his female body that he is stuck in. Vanilla's corruption is starting to bring upon consequences that he never imagined, or perhaps did expect but not so soon. It goes to show that crime does not pay, especially if you are in law enforcement or the like and begin to go corrupt.Kaiba's appearance as a memory-eating plant, that is described as legendary, is strange at this point in time. It is obvious however that evolution occurs as Kaiba consumes more memories (the evolved form is shown at the top), and such memories can only be found in roe form as raw food for Kaiba, instead of converted chips. This may in time be important to the storyline, though we can only see in later episodes.I found it especially touching though, that the old man, despite knowing about his wife's affairs, still stayed by her side, especially since it is inferred that she has lost everything as she is now old, and still not famous. Very devoted man.In terms of issues, this episode touched upon social rather than other more far-reaching issues, and thus it is important as a lesson for all of us to look at the issues touched upon for sociological purposes, such as gender, and ageing. Certainly, it complements my studies in introductory sociology and psychology that I have undertaken, however elementary.
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La Tendo has opened another list of preorders available for members and non-members to preorder. As stated in a previous preorder post, non-members may also preorder these items, but are not subjected to the availability of the 10% discount enjoyed by members.As usual, my membership card is up for use by any of you if you wish to preorder under a membership but do not find it worthy of your money and time to actually sign up for one. Just contact me via email or leave a comment here.All prices quoted are in SGD.Image of Lyrical Lyric's Tamaki Rin's 1/7 figure thanks to Neko Magic. Format is as follows:Figure name, figure series, scale (if applicable)Manufacturer, release date, availability of unitsNon-member preorder price, member preorder price, depositClosing date (if any)Image thanks to Wcloudxkumo.Touka Kureha, Shining Wind, 1/8Beagle (President Japan), September 2008, 9118, 106.20, 204th July 2008Tamaki Rin, Lyrical Lyric, 1/7Solid Theater, September 2008, 995, 85.50, 2021st July 2008 (picture of her at top)Revoltech 058 Gurren-Lagann (Fulldrillized), Tengen Toppa Gurren-Lagann, 125mmKaiyodo, August 2008, 828, 25.20, 10Soul Eater Trading Arts Col. 1, Soul Eater, 140mm (each)Square Enix, September 2008, 9112, 100.80, 206th July 2008Note: For preorders, you are only allowed to order the entire unopened box of 8 figures, hence the price.You can minus off 1 Tamaki Rin because I slated her for my preorders list, as was mentioned in my preorders and wishlist here. Substantial post on Kaiba episode 6 later tonight.Tamaki Rin,Panther
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