After all the questions that were asked, here are the answers and I wonder who would be the top scorers ^+^ The answers are….. 1. Gao~ = Misuzu from AIR 2. De arimasu~ = Wilhemia from Shakugan no Shana, Keroro from Keroro Gunsou 3. Miipa~ = Rika from Higurashi 4. Desu~ = Suisei Seki from Rozen Maiden, note green [...]
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...(more)... I started this Shinku a few months ago, but I haven’t worked on it for about 90 days. I’m going to declare the project closed for now and post my work until this point. The original concept was to have a porcelain-type doll that looked really lonely sitting in a Victorian chair. However, I made several attempts to get a good chair and background but I couldn’t come up with anything I
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Volume 7 of the Rozen Maiden manga has just been released in Japan, and they released a limited edition version packaged together with a figure in a big box. Essentially, the figure costs just over 2000yen when you work out the difference between the volume alone and the LE, and you can see the results [...]
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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.
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If you like something, it seems only natural to want more of it- anime included. After all, if it comes down to a choice between more episodes about your favourite characters and settings, or watching something new and unproven, the former may well sound infinitely preferable. Unfortunately, the saying “too much of a good thing” [...]
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The English-language subs are rolling out -- there's already one for this episode, from someone other than the two groups that have already been active -- and the forum at AnimeSuki is filling up. This show is clearly becoming more popular in Western countries. Real characters, intense relationships, and actual sex are hard to resist. Perhaps some people are not that thrilled with the animation, but I am. This is one of the best-looking shows to come down the pike since, say, Mushishi -- another Artland show, which shares some staff members with this one: episode directors, episode animation supervisors, key animators. And maybe the similarity in visual feel to Honey & Clover is no accident: the art director, Shibata Chikako, did the same job on both Honey & Clover series (as well as on Fruits Basket, Azumanga Daioh, and Rozen Maiden).At the end of this episode, there is a long scene of some gulls in the air over the sea. As the scene went on for 40 seconds with music under it, and then another minute or so under the titles, I thought: an artist's self-indulgence. The gulls are very well done, but really.... But I gradually saw symbolism in the gulls, as if they were Nana, Yano, Nana-san, Takeuchi.... And when the preview began, I realized that the long, peaceful scene had really made the separation of Yano and Nana-chan, which had happened a few moments before, feel real. By the time I saw the scenes from the preview, time had really passed. summaryBefore the OP, we see again the scene where Yano confesses that he and Yuri had sex. And we see how it devastates Nana-chan. Then after the OP we see Nana in her room, unhappily refusing to answer Yano's calls. But Yano actually comes to the door. Nana's mother tells him that Nana can't come because she is in the bath, but he sees her at the window. He leaves a huge bouquet for Nana (that he has ripped off from his mother's garden, but the thought's what counts, isn't it?). Nana is moved by the thought that he carried the bouquet all the way on the bus and rushes out after him, catching up to him on the street. "I love you. You idiot!" Is all she can say.Later, she is at school with her confidant Takeuchi. She tells him that she wanted to teach Yano a lesson, but once she saw his face it was all over. He asks if he can give her a piece of advice: if the love becomes all one person giving themself, then it's best to end it.Nana and Yano go to the beach. It is all wonderful until a bug crawls over Nana's foot and she screams and wants to go home. This is exactly what happened when Yano and Nana-san went to the beach, so it fills his head with thoughts of her. Nana-chan intuits this and starts expressing her ill feelings toward Nana-san, then asks Yano what he would say if Nana-san were alive. Big mistake. Visions of Nana-san dance through his head and he tells the truth: he can't hate a girl he loved so much. He forgives her everything and would be happy if she were alive. To Nana-chan, this makes all the words of love he has said to her into lies. She realizes that she can't make him happy and, in deep sadness, walks away. Another day, Yano sees Yuri at the lockers. He tells her he has been dumped and asks if she's satisfied. She asks him -- apparently in all seriousness -- if he would like to be comforted again. He says he won't fall for that one a second time and walks away. The way she is slightly twirling her umbrella in this scene is great. Pain and hope. Hope and pain.
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You have to see it, to believe it… The official site corrected the logo earlier this week with the proper German spelling of Ouvertüre. Since the announcement of the OVA — August 19th — the site had the name spelled as “Oubertüre”. Now since they’re finally using the correct spelling, so can I :3 Also noteworthy, it [...]
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You all have your own opinions on this, so I’ll be brief about laying the foundation and get into the meaty theoretical crap. The premise is simple: as genre is refined and redefined, people start to take cue as to what’s the best way to pitch within a familiar context, and evoking the same feel [...]
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Unyuunymous has a translation up of this scan from the current issue of Megami magazine. Be sure to read the setup to this “Prelude” OVA coming this winter season.
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I have a confession to make. I have never seen the penultimate episode of Rozen Maiden Traumend, for I did not want to see Suiseiseki die, even if it was only for one episode. I did, however, watch the finale. Four times. Watching Bara finally die had to be one of the greatest anime moments [...]
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