Toy’s works is going to release the Hojo Kuniko ( 北条國子 ) 1/8 PVC figure from the light novel/mana/anime “Shangri-La” ( シャングリ·ラ, ). Will be released in July 2010. Around 135mm tall, 6,648 yen. Ooooooooh, this Hojo Kuniko is so lovely. I like Range Murata’s [...] Related... **This is a content summary only. Please visit Nekomagic for full content!**
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Last year's April line-up was pretty damn impressive. Suzumiya 2nd season(though this was only a "rumor" in the beginning), K-ON!, Basquash!(though this turned out to be rather unpopular), Fullmetal alchemist, Cross Game, Saki, Shangri-La(though this wa..
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I’ve decided to write about what I like to see in AMVs and what I don’t like. If you don’t know what a AMV is for some strange odd reason, google it. I watch AMVs quite often and have edited before as well, so I felt the need to write this post.First, I’ll start off with [...]Related posts:Shangri-La, the new Nausicaä? First impressionsNo MoreWhy everyone likes her so much
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Beauty is subjective. It is rare for two people to have the same thoughts on a piece of art.  I think that makes the concept of art as beautiful as the works it produces. So!  I’ve compiled 25 beautiful, loosely anime art styled images to share with whoever wishes to read this post, and while you may [...]Related posts:Illustration in Aniblogging — Really Neccessary?Don’t steal, or why proper crediting of art is importantShangri-La, the new Nausicaä? First impressions
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3 out of 4 character from anime i watched in July 2009. Even less than 24 hours, as i write this article, this year 2009 will reach its end and we’ll welcome a new year 2010. And here i am bringing you another recap post, it’s about anime in 2009. Anime in 2009 could be good and could be bad. I myself have so much experience about anime this year compared to last year, since i devoted myself to anime more than games, figures, or even blog post in October (yeah, one of the reason my blog is in vacuum state is anime). I even ate 12 series in 40 days, while I was at my girl’s hometown. Except, most of the anime i watched were backlogged anime. In the past fall season, i tried to get myself watching anime “ongoing style” (download then watch). But The backlog anime and school projects didn’t let me do that. Instead, i got almost all of the season also went to my backlog list. K-On and Saki are in my list. Anyway, in this 2009 recap, I’ll put 9 worth to mention anime title because its goodness or its badness accoding to me: K-On! Saki Shangri-La Bakemonogatari Toaru Kagaku no Railgun Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu 2 CANAAN Kampfer Seiken no Blacksmith Let’s get in depth of each anime. Moe moeeee…. Kyun!!! K-On! is a controversial anime, just like Haruhi and Lucky Star. K-On is so popular that it could bring so many lovers and haters of this anime. I myself still enjoy watching this anime, because it got its own humor, music, and girls. Akiyama Mio is my favorite, and she’s still in the top row of my favorite character. I don’t know what you haters would think, but the fact that I’m enjoying K-On doesn’t change. How about you? Is this anime in your 2009 worth to mention list? Moe mahjong! Saki has more lovers than haters i think. This anime brought moe to serious mahjong table. Worth to mention in 2009? Yes… This anime made my day, and this anime even made me learn to play mahjong XD . My favorite from here: Takei Hisa. Saki could be one of the best anime in 2009, but i don’t think it would be the best of the best. The most controversial things in Saki is: IT NEEDS ITS F***IN 2ND SEASON!!!! No more moe… Shangri-La is IMO one of 2009 anime that needs to get more attention. The first episode gave you a girl who can destroy a tank with her boomerang. And then this anime gave you 2 transsexual, 1 little tomboy girl, and some other weird looking people. Yeah, this anime isn’t about character design or cute moe girls, it’s about deep story. Some of you maybe bothered with those 2 transsexual, but putting that aside, Shangri-La got a good story, believe me. I love those two. XD This anime wasn’t even on my list when the season started. But after seeing some art and asking my friends’ opinion, i put Bakemonogatari on my list, and watch it right away, since at that time, Bakemonogatari already reached episode 13. Well, you could say that I’m suddenly in love with Senjougahara Hitagi, especially after her “I love you” confession in Mayoi Snail ark. The anime itself brought a unique style of art and story. I guess this is also one of the best anime in 2009. Only my railgun! Before continuing, i should let you know that i just watched 3 episodes of this anime. But i knew it right away, this anime would be a great anime. Before Railgun, there was Index anime, but it seems that Index has lower screen time than Misaka. I myself already put Misaka as my favorite character from Toaru Majutsu no Index, and i think most of you did that before. So the airing of Railgun could be a great moment for you Misaka lovers. You could get action packed railgun action, yuri action, and some cute girls around. The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya. I’ll be waiting for this. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya second season is i think the most controversial anime in 2009. While everyone expect too much on this, KyoAni gave them shit. I don’t know what was KyoAni thinking. They made this second season worth only 7 GODDAMN UNIQUE EPISODES!!! First they made a fake schedule, then they made EIGHT SIMILAR ENDLESS EIGHT EPISODES, and then they made only 1 arc worth of 5 episodes: The Sigh of Haruhi Suzumiya. Is this anime worth watching? I don’t know… But KyoAni, also made us expect more Haruhi in MOVIE format: The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya. Will this movie bring us more tragedy? We’ll see in 2010. Canaan and Alphard. TYPE-MOON lover? Not really, I’m not a TYPE-MOON lover, but so far i enjoyed watching anime from TYPE-MOON visual novel: Tsukihime and Fate Stay Night. But CANAAN isn’t a good one. CANAAN did bring a good shoot out action in the first episodes. But next episodes? No… it worse. CANAAN filled with some weird characters and deep heavy story. Not sure if i didn’t enjoy this because i don’t understand, but the fact doesn’t change: i don’t enjoy this anime, so this anime is a list of disappointment in 2009. Yuri, action, and ecchi. To tell you the truth, i only watch this anime only for 2 episodes. I tried to guess what’s inside. Don’t know if it’s worth mentioning in 2009, but Kampfer brought me my favorite genre: Yuri. Kampfer content is easy to guess: yuri, harem, ecchi, action, and some moe stuffs. Standard stuffs for otaku. Is it great? You decide… It’s anime about sword and blacksmith. Once again, i only watch this anime only for 3 episodes. I can’t say that this anime is a good anime. But to tell you the truth: it’s fun seeing Cecily Campbell being bullied by Luke XD . I still don’t know what or how the story’s going but surely, Seiken no Blacksmith could be one of the let down in 2009. Still want to watch it? Me: I’m going for it. How about you? Also waiting for episode 14 and 15 of Bakemonogatari: continuation of Tsubasa Cat. Well, that’s it for the anime recap! Expect for the last post of this year: figure recap, coming up tonight! So… see you later!!
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So before you jizz your in pants complaining how I am mixing up the couples, I’ll do the Offical Couples of 2009 tomorrow so don’t complain.  I’m just going by the rankings in which they corresponded together.  So let me remind you who the couples are: Haruhi Suzumiya (Haruhi Suzumiya 2009) x Kunihito Kusanagi (Shangri-la!) Kanako Sumiyoshi (Nyan [...]
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2009 may have been a great year for anime fans, but that doesn’t mean there weren’t any disappointments. In this post, I’ll be discussing the 2009 anime shows that I was looking forward to seeing, but unfortunately turned out to be a major snoozefest. Again, this is only my opinion, and I just know [...]
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The shounen fighting stuff is pretty generic, but I found moments like this kinda funny. ©2009 Sea Slugs! Anime Blog. All Rights Reserved.. Related posts:Paranoia Agent 8Shangri-La 19 or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
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There have been some wonderful OPs and EDs this year. I posted this list of my own favorites in an AnimeSuki thread. But I'd like to post a slightly expanded version here.My favorite OP? KOKIA's "Karma," the OP to Phantom ~Requiem for the Phantom~. The song has KOKIA's usual captivating flow, and such beautiful and appropriate imagery. It does what an OP should: please you with its music and images and draw you in to the mood of the show:<object height="340" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/pq8E0OkXF3k&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/pq8E0OkXF3k&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="340" width="560"></embed></object>I also loved the OPs for Darker than Black 2 (by Stereopony), Pandora Hearts (Kajiura Yuki and Fiction Junction), Railgun (fripSide), Hanasakeru Seishounen (J-min), Tegami Bachi (Suga Shikao), Spice & Wolf 2 (Arai Akino), Bakemonogatari (Saitou Chiwa), Souten Kouro (Tribal Chair), Shangri-la (May'n), Asura Cryin' OP1 (angela), White Album OP2 (Mizuki Nana), Eden of the East (Oasis), and Basquash! (Eclipse: Tomatsu Haruka, Nakajima Megumi, Hayami Saori). (links are to online streams)Favorite EDs: Bakemonogatari (ryo and supercell), Phantom ED2 (KOKIA), Guin Saga (Kanon), Hanasakeru Seishounen ED (J-min), Sora no Otoshimono ED9 ("Hatsukoi" by Hayami Saori and Takagaki Ayahi), Sora no Otoshimono ED1 ("Soba ni Irareru Dake" by Blue Drops: Yoshida Hitomi & Hayami Saori), Sora no Otoshimono ED2 ("Misaki Meguri," the flying pantsu ED, sung by Mina), Souten Kouro ED (by Ogre You Asshole), Asura Cryin' ED1 (angela), White Album ED2 (Suara).As you can see, I like melody. Although there is a bit of punk in there, too. Here are a few embedded streams:OP Darker than Black 2 -- "Tsukiari no Michishirube" by StereoponyCreates the perfect mood for this more feminine Darker than Black mystery adventure. Excellent melodic rock and moving lyrics from an all-girl band, and Bones animation that carries you into the story:<object height="340" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-NgM53FWyDg&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-NgM53FWyDg&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="340" width="560"></embed></object>OP Pandora Hearts -- "Parallel Hearts" by Fiction Junction (written by Kajiura Yuki)Another great song from Kajiura Yuki, with animation that's pretty straightforward but captures the feelings of the story. This might have been the OP this year that best got me ready for its show:<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Zm9fhJHoWo8&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Zm9fhJHoWo8&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object>OP To Aru Kagaku no Railgun -- "Only My Railgun" by fripSideCompletely undeniable. Picks you up and throws you forward like a railgun, right into the show. Seiyuu Nanjou Hoshino hits it big with her first song as fripSide's new vocalist:<object height="340" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/utjLMEeYCCM&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/utjLMEeYCCM&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="340" width="560"></embed></object>OP Hanasakeru Seishounen -- "Change" by J-minBeautiful folky music from Korean-born pop singer J-min, wedded to simple but apposite images that give a deeper layer to the show:<object height="339" width="420"><param name="movie" value="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/x8x37g"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/x8x37g" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="339" width="420"></embed></object>ED Bakemonogatari -- "Kimi no Shiranai Monogatari" by ryo and supercellHas everything: beauty, invention, and fine music from amateurs-turned-pro Ryo and Supercell, with vocals by Nagi:<object height="340" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/bD7Eg2H3vJk&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/bD7Eg2H3vJk&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="340" width="560"></embed></object>ED Phantom ~Requiem for the Phantom~ ED2 -- "Transparent" by KOKIAKOKIA is just terrific. I hope that showing up here in anime music doesn't mean she is losing ground with the general public. She is one of the world's top singer/songwriters, for me. And this ED has the same rich animation as OP1 of this show (see above):<object height="340" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/tnQr_2lESXw&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/tnQr_2lESXw&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="340" width="560"></embed></object>OP Spice & Wolf 2 -- "Mitsu no Yoake" by Arai AkinoA truly professional singer and a lovely song, with beautifully edited images that pull us right into the show's mediaeval world:<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Bva2moBZWoc&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Bva2moBZWoc&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>ED Guin Saga -- "Saga - This is My Road" by KanonKanon Wakeshima gives me chills with her beautiful, expressive voice and this marriage of classical song and Enya. The imagery is mainly just pans of a lush background, but suits the story so well, as does the song:<object width="420" height="339"><param name="movie" value="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/x8xazr"/><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"/><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"/><embed src="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/x8xazr" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="339" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always"></embed></object>ED Souten Kouro -- "Pinhole" by Ogre You AssholeOne of the more unusual OP/EDs I've ever seen. Deceptively simple, as is the music, but with a deep effect:<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/F_YdspJZvkI&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/F_YdspJZvkI&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>OP Souten Kouro -- "909" by Tribal ChairDramatic punkish rock with a great shouted vocal and terrific visual editing of scenes from the show. I especially like the moment a catapulted rock smashes a wooden guard tower, so well timed to a solid drumbeat:<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/dP6u6qRSqjo&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/dP6u6qRSqjo&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>ED Sora no Otoshimono ED2 -- "Misaki Meguri" by MinaThis is the virally famous "flocks of flying panties" ED. It's not that the music is so great, but the visuals are hilarious and somehow moving:<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/q_aTNzl-TKQ&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/q_aTNzl-TKQ&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>OP Shangri-la -- "Kimi Shinitamou Koto Nakare" by May'nA strong, if standard, song, but the editing of the images to the music is superb. Reminds me of the rushing movement of the Railgun OP (above). If only the show were as good as its OP:<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/QCLLE5kigrs&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/QCLLE5kigrs&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>OP White Album 2 -- "Mugen" by Mizuki NanaI've seen some grumbling by Nana fans that this is nowhere near her best work, but as someone who has found it hard to get into her, this song helps do it for me. The amazingly complexity and lithe precision of her singing come through, without the overblown arrangements that put me off. The images are pretty and mysterious, and the lyrics strong:<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/72Xju9om2q0&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/72Xju9om2q0&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>ED Sora no otoshimono ED9 -- "Hatsukoi" by Takagaki Ayahi and Hayami SaoriFinally, here is a song by two seiyuus who, like Nana-chan, are worthy of comparison with professional singers. The imagery is nothing special, but Hayami Saori's voice (the second you hear) is one of the prettiest on the planet, for me, so I can't help including this ED from last week's episode of this show:<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/J2Ug-VsiqM0&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/J2Ug-VsiqM0&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>
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Having recently watched through the entirety of Shangri-La for a second time, I decided it would be a better time than any to write up my own little review on it. Shangri-La is an science fiction anime based on a light novel written by Eiichi Ikegami with illustration done by Ken’ichi Yoshida. The [...]
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