I am back from my trip, and it's been no less than fun fun fun :D I had such a great time staying at the hamster's den, not simply because she and her entire family were such kind hosts (smothered us--me and my officemate/ travel buddy, the hamster's buddy as well--with love, foodies especially <3), but because we got to spend time together with the hamster chef, her sister, and the rest of the hamster's buddies (including our duck chef BeLe :P)--quality bonding time playing Wii until the wee hours of the morning~ Hanging out someplace in Davao City in the morning, playing Wii at home at night. That's basically our "leisure lifestyle" throughout the trip, with the scrumptious snacks and meals in between *yum yum*
(Read the rest of this entry) (Entry meta)

Just to follow up on what Kabitzin started and this post is dedicated to dear Shin of Atarashii Prelude (cool blog name because Nodame Cantabile rocks). So while Kabitzin has mischeviously teased Shin and Ranka fanboys on whether THEFT IS MOE, we would like to see how MOE the Ranka sign is when used by real [...]
(Read the rest of this entry) (Entry meta)

With One Piece out for a breather, there goes one of my regular titles. I was hoping for translations for Fullmetal Alchemist c.85, Psyren c.30, and Nodame Cantabile c.125. Alas, I was to be disappointed. Maybe this coming week.  I was about to add Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles in this week’s roster, [...]
(Read the rest of this entry) (Entry meta)

Let us cry. I finished the Live-Action Drama version of Nodame Cantabile a while ago (a few hours, actually), and I didn’t realize that this series also fell under the “shoujo” catergory after stumbling across Wikipedia (midnightrose’s favourite site). So I might have said that I despised all shoujo series because of its typical storyline [...]
(Read the rest of this entry) (Entry meta)

The episode begins with Ogurin, Eri played by Mizukawa Asami (Iryu, Pride) , Takeru played by Eita (Atsu-hime, Orange Days) and Michiru played by Nagasawa Masami (Proposal Daisakusen, Sailor Fuku to Kikanju) sitting in the living room, Eri is channel surfing looking for Ruka’s played by Ueno Juri (Nodame Cantabile, Jodan ja nai!) race broadcast but it’s not on. Ogurin asks if it’s the TV owner’s fault and Takeru says they sound like an old married couple. Then Ruka calls Michiru with the news that she’s just won the race and also that she’ll come by the share house the next day to celebrate. They open a bottle of champagne to celebrate then Takeru goes into Ruka’s vacant room and sits having a flashback to his last time in the park with Ruka where he told her he didn’t want to lose her and wanted to support her. Michiru comes in and she asks Takeru what there is between himself and Ruka and he tells her that they are just friends.Lot’s of stuff goes on later in the episode that really drives the story forward, and the cliff hanger ending has me waiting to see the next episode. Sosuke has become one of my most hated characters; the guy needs some serious counselling, anger management and a long jail term.Download the Raw video from the bit torrent tracker here; English soft subs can be downloaded here. Screen Shots of the previous episodes are here.
(Read the rest of this entry) (Entry meta)

The third Bleach movie will premiere in December. The Slayers Revolution website has updated with a cast list (the main voice actors are still the same as always) and airdates. The first episode of the mobile phone anime Chocolate Underground will be available this Thursday, June 12th. The production blog for the upcoming Mission-E anime (the sequel to CODE-E) has updated with airdates. The official site for the new Sky Crawlers movie has a trailer for the Ghost in the Shell 2.0 movie. Both are Oshii Mamoru-directed works. According to MOON PHASE, upcoming GAINAX series Shikabane Hime Aka will have Murata Masahiko as director, Aikawa Shou on the script, and Kubota Chikashi & Sadakata Kikuko doing the character designs. The official Nodame Cantabile website has updated with staff and airdate information for the Paris sequel. It'll be returning to FujiTV's Noitamina programming block on Thursday nights starting in October, however this sequel will only be 11 episodes long. That's unlikely to be long enough to cover a lot, so I wonder what point they'll stop at. As for production, J.C.Staff is still animating the series, but I was surprised to see that Kasai Kenichi will no longer be directing - instead it will be Higurashi director Kon Chiaki. The To Aru Majutsu no Index website has updated to reflect the upcoming anime series. Hearts Grow's Sora will be the OP and Afromania's will Let's go together will be the ED to the upcoming Birdy the Mighty DECODE series. The official site also updated its airdates list. If you find anything that you think I should mention on any particular day’s Daily Dose, please send me an email with the words “ANIME NEWS” somewhere in the subject line. Image at left courtesy of みはら on pixiv (account needed to access).
(Read the rest of this entry) (Entry meta)

I remember when I first started watching the anime version of Nodame Cantabile and had these skyhigh expectations on the show for some reason. I hadn’t heard of the manga at the time and didn’t know anything about the characters but I had visions of a story filled with sweet romance and college life. After [...]
(Read the rest of this entry) (Entry meta)

The episode starts with a recap, Takeru played by Eita (Atsu-hime, Orange Days) is at Ruka’s played by Ueno Juri(Nodame Cantabile, Jodan ja nai!) door telling her that she can tell him anything, after confessing to her in the park. But she’s upset and yells back that there are some things that people don’t want to talk about even when they are about to die. Later Michiru played by Nagasawa Masami (Proposal Daisakusen, Sailor Fuku to Kikanju) asks Takeru if it’s alright that she likes him. Eri played by Mizukawa Asami (Iryu, Pride) sees Ogurin with his wife in the airport terminal. Sosuke played by Nishikido Ryo (Attention Please, Ganbatte Ikimasshoi) saves the little boy who was abandoned by his mother from being run over by a train. Ruka is looking for an apartment where she can live on her own, and tells the realtor that she plans to move overseas in six months. Michiru is busy making a bento for herself and Takeru when Eri comes and asks what she’s doing. Eri’s confused because she’d assumed that Takeru was gay after the evening that she’d tried to kiss him. Michiru can tell that Takeru is uncomfortable around her at work and tells him not to worry about what she’d said.Sosuke does a selfless act and winds up injured saving the little boy from the train, so he’s not completely evil. In fact we haven’t yet learned why he works for social welfare, did he just need a job or was it some deep urge to help troubled kids avoid his childhood problems. However it doesn’t mitigate what he’s put Michiru through.Download the Raw video from the bit torrent tracker here; English soft subs can be downloaded here. Screen Shots of the previous episodes are here.
(Read the rest of this entry) (Entry meta)

Misako played by Ishihara Satomi (Hanayome to Papa, Ns' Aoi) finds a wallet in the school hallway, she checks and is surprised to see how much cash there is and takes a wad for herself. Shinichi played by Yamamoto Yusuke (Hanazakari no Kimitachi e, Kamen Rider Kabuto), Akira played by Kimura Ryo (Hanazakari no Kimitachi e, Nodame Cantabile) and Yoshio played by Nagayama Kento are being lectured by the kendo instructor, Yoshio’s wallet had a picture of the three boys with the Sakuraba girls. Misako had claimed to be shocked by their depravity to hide the fact that she took a chunk of Yoshio’s money for herself. The boys are now forced into special kendo training everyday after school. Later when Misako finds the three in an empty classroom she asks if they already planned another weekend trip. When they deny it she tells them to be ready to go to the home of a man she met at a goukon who proposed to her. He’s got a treasure map to some of the Tokugawa treasury’s money and all will be revealed to the chosen bride.I just love it when Misako is evil and she’s great in this episode first stealing her student’s money then ratting out the three guys who help her consistently episode after episode just to cover the fact that she robbed him and of course the greedy Misako’s just headed for more trouble and dragging the boys along with her.Download the RAW video bit torrent file here, soft subs can be download here. Screen shots of the previous episodes are here.
(Read the rest of this entry) (Entry meta)

Takeru played by Eita (Atsu-hime, Orange Days) went to get Michiru played by Nagasawa Masami (Proposal Daisakusen, Sailor Fuku to Kikanju) at the end of the previous episode, and convinced Michiru to return to the share house with him. But on the way Sosuke played by Nishikido Ryo (Attention Please, Ganbatte Ikimasshoi) notices them and gives chase running after the cab they jump into. Ruka’s played by Ueno Juri (Nodame Cantabile, Jodan ja nai!) parents receive disturbing mail about her and while Ruka knows that it’s been done by Sosuke she lies to them and tells them that it’s a jealous female motorcycle racer. Ruka and Takeru go to the park and just as Ruka is about to reveal her secret to him he instead confesses to her. But she tells him that she can’t respond to his feelings there is someone else that she likes. But then when he asks what she wanted to tell him she lies and tells him it’s about Michiru, that he should like Michiru. When Takeru tells her he already likes Michiru, Ruka suggests that he like her a lot more.It’s not all fun and games in the share house this episode. In the previous episodes when ever Michiru escaped to the share house it was a relief but this episode all the characters seem tied up with problems of their own, and aren’t being honest with each other. Michiru’s only support is Takeru who has problems of his own but still manages to make time for her, and he’s still my favourite character of the lot.Download the Raw video from the bit torrent tracker here; English soft subs can be downloaded here. Screen Shots of the previous episodes are here.
(Read the rest of this entry) (Entry meta)