Ah, I am a happy sunshine camper indeed. Partially 'cause of my prediction being spot-on and partially due to the fact the Yuno is so moe my eyes bleed tears of manly blood.Once again, obligatory thanks to Ando and ASuki.Ah, but I digress, here are group 17's standings:1st-9th~1位　777票　ゆの���ひだまりスケッチ 特別編(Yuno@Hidamari Sketch Tokubetsuhen)2位　687票　南千秋���みなみけ シリーズ(Minami Chiaki@Minami-ke series)3位　605票　水無灯里���ARIA シリーズ(Mizunashi Akari@ARIA series)4位　559票　湯浅比呂美���true tears(Yuasa Hiromi@true tears)5位　478票　すず���ながされて藍蘭島(Suzu@Nagasarete Airantou)6位　456票　梶原空���スケッチブック 〜full color's〜(Kajiwara Sora@Sketchbook ~full color's~)7位　428票　シグナム���魔法少女リリカルなのはStrikerS(Signum@Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha StrikerS)8位　367票　結城ノナ���現プリマ・アスパラス������ななついろ★ドロップス(Yuuki Nona(Prima Asparas)@Nanatsuiro*Drops)9位　334票　クラン・クラン���マクロスFRONTIER(Kuran Kuran@Macross FRONTIER)10th-30th~10位　325票　委員長���ラストアマゾネス������瀬戸の花嫁(Iinchou(Last Amazones)@Seto no Hanayome)11位　324票　野上葵���絶対可憐チルドレン(Nogami Aoi@Zettai Karen Children)12位　313票　安岡紫音���しおんの王 The Flowers of Hard Blood.(Yasuoka Shion@Shion no Ou The Flowers of Hard Blood.)13位　311票　小節あびる���さよなら絶望先生(Kobushi Abiru@Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei)14位　278票　緋室灯���ナイトウィザード The ANIMATION(Himuro Akari@Night Wizard The ANIMATION)15位　221票　梅梅���ながされて藍蘭島(Umeume@Nagasarete Airantou)16位　218票　ハーさん���スケッチブック 〜full color's〜(Haa-san@Sketchbook ~full color's~)17位　204票　久遠寺夢���君が主で執事が俺で(Kuonji Yume@Kimi ga Aruji de Shitsuji ga Ore de)18位　188票　花菱美希���ハヤテのごとく!(Hanabishi Miki@Hayate no Gotoku!)19位　183票　ケイコ���みなみけ シリーズ(Keiko@Minami-ke series)20位　174票　上杉美鳩���君が主で執事が俺で(Uesugi Mihato@Kimi ga Aruji de Shitsuji ga Ore de)21位　166票　東谷小雪���ケロロ軍曹(Azumaya Koyuki@Keroro Gunsou)22位　153票　花咲茜���D.C.II 〜ダ・カーポII〜(Hanasaki Akane@D.C.II)23位　118票　アンバー���Darker than BLACK -黒の契約者-(Amber@Darker than BLACK)24位　116票　八雲雪路���H2O -FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND-(Yakumo Yukiji@H2O -FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND-)25位　102票　リリオ���エル・カザド(Lirio@El Cazador de la Bruja)26位　94票　洞木ヒカリ���新世紀エヴァンゲリオン シリーズ(Horaki Hikari@Shin Seiki Evangelion series)26位　94票　桑原先生���ひだまりスケッチ 特別編(Kuwabara-sensei@Hidamari Sketch Tokubetsuhen)28位　79票　三珠真夜���さよなら絶望先生(Mitama Mayo@Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei)28位　79票　七々尾蓮���かのこん(Nanao Ren@Kanokon)30位　74票　トア���DRAGONAUT -THE RESONANCE-(Toa@DRAGONAUT -THE RESONANCE-) Meh, what can I say, what with Hidamari sketch's second season going on, and the lack of strong opposition here, Yuno had it in the bag. Loli + a show with moar Loli = 2ch voter spam.And Group 18:<<フェッロ���GUNSLINGER GIRL -IL TEATRINO->>(Ferro@GUNSLINGER GIRL -IL TEATRINO-)<<オカメ姫���おじゃる丸>>(Okame Hime@Ojarumaru)<<籠女李々子���リリス������ロザリオとバンパイア>>(Kagome Ririko(Ririsu)@Rosario + Vampire)<<アリス���劇場版 ポケットモンスター ダイヤモンド・パールディアルガVSパルキアVSダークライ>>(Alice@Pocket Monster Diamond Pearl Dialga vs. Palkia vs. Darkrai)<<ラゼル・アナディス���ラゼンシア・ローズ������破天荒遊戯>>(Rahzel Anadis@Hatenkou Yuugi)<<丸山誉子���ピアノの森>>(Maruyama Takako@Piano no Mori)<<城ヶ崎姫子���ちびまる子ちゃん>>(Jougasaki Himeko@Chibi Maruko-chan)<<ドラミ���ドラえもんシリーズ>>(Dorami@Doraemon series)<<お不三���ルパン三世 霧のエリューシヴ>>(Ofumi@Lupin III Kiri no Elusive)<<鮎川恵美���遊戯王 デュエルモンスターズ GX>>(Ayukawa Emi@Yuugiou Duel Monsters GX)<<恵理子���ひぐらしのなく頃に解>>(Eriko@Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai)<<ヨーコ・リットナー ���天元突破グレンラガン>>(Yoko Litner@Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann)<<旅館「清水屋」の女将���瀬戸の花嫁>>(Landlady of Shimizuya inn@Seto no Hanayome)<<アギト���魔法少女リリカルなのはStrikerS>>(Agito@Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha StrikerS)<<アトラ・モンテヴェルディ���ARIA The ORIGINATION>>(Atora Monteverdi@ARIA The ORIGINATION)<<ユウ���ナイトウィザード The ANIMATION>>(Yuu@Night Wizard The ANIMATION)<<松本裕子���イタズラなKiss>>(Matsumoto Yuuko@Itazura na Kiss)<<ファンティーヌ���レ・ミゼラブル 少女コゼット>>(Fantine@Les Misérables: Shoujo Cosette)<<新聞子���きらりん☆レボリューション>>(Shinbunko@Kirarin Revolution)<<カペルテータ・フェルナンデス���ストレイト・ジャケット>>(Kapelteta Fernandez@Straight Jacket)<<フブキ���仮面のメイドガイ>>(Fubuki@Kamen no Maid Guy)<<藤崎真菜���おねがいマイメロディ すっきり♪>>(Fujisaki Mana@Onegai My Melody Sukkiri)<<なずな���アイドルマスター XENOGLOSSIA>>(Nazuna@IDOLM@STER XENOGLOSSIA)<<水谷島子���やっとかめ探偵団>>(Mizutani Shimako@Yatto Kame Tanteidan)<<フランカ���GUNSLINGER GIRL -IL TEATRINO->>(Franca@GUNSLINGER GIRL -IL TEATRINO-)<<榎本梓���名探偵コナン>>(Enomoto Azusa@Meitantei Conan)<<崩月夕乃���紅>>(Houzuki Yuuno@Kurenai)<<ラグナ・グランセニック���魔法少女リリカルなのはStrikerS>>(Ragna Grandscenic@Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha StrikerS)<<シャイナ���聖闘士星矢 冥王ハーデス エリシオン編>>(Shaina@Saint Seiya Meiou Hades Chapter - Elysion)<<ローマ空港の免税店店員���マリア様がみてる OVA>>(Girl of a duty-free shop at Rome airport@Maria-sama ga Miteru OVA)<<黒主優姫���ヴァンパイア騎士>>(Kurosu Yuuki@Vampire Knight)<<ルイス・ハレヴィ���機動戦士ガンダム00>>(Louise Halevy@Kidou Senshi Gundam 00)<<魔王エイミー���ナイトウィザード The ANIMATION>>(Maou Amy@Night Wizard The ANIMATION)<<源ちずる���かのこん>>(Minamoto Chizuru@Kanokon)<<深田麻美���もっけ>>(Fukada Asami@Mokke)<<たんぽぽ���えいがでとーじょー! たまごっち ドキドキ! うちゅーのまいごっち!?>>(Tanpopo@Eiga de Toujou! Tamagotchi Doki Doki! Uchuu no Maigotchi!?)<<仙菜まゆ���もえがく★5>>(Senna Mayu@Moegaku*5)<<魔王フェウス���モール���ナイトウィザード The ANIMATION>>(Maou Pheus Mor@Night Wizard The ANIMATION)<<エル���はぴはぴクローバー>>(El@Hapihapi Clover)<<ユリアーナ���CLAYMORE>>(Juliana@CLAYMORE)<<日高メグミ���今日の5の2>>(Hidaka Megumi@Kyou no Go no Ni)<<児童相談所の女性相談員���ひぐらしのなく頃に解>>(Member of the consultation office for children@Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai)<<鈴木凛���バンブーブレード>>(Suzuki Rin@Bamboo Blade)<<呂布子���やわらか三国志 突き刺せ!! 呂布子ちゃん>>(Ryofuko@Yawaraka Sangokushi Tukisase! Ryofuko-chan)<<花子���墓場鬼太郎>>(Hanako@Hakaba Kitarou)<<サクラ���木之本桜のような女の子���ツバサ TOKYO REVELATIONS>>(Sakura/Girl who looks like Kinomoto Sakura@Tsubasa TOKYO REVELATIONS)<<オジョウ���全力ウサギ>>(Ojou@Zenryoku Usagi)<<鴇羽舞衣���舞-乙HiME Zwei>>(Tokiha Mai@My-Otome Zwei)<<白川高菜���ピューと吹く!ジャガー>>(Shirakawa Takana@Pyuu to Fuku! Jaguar)<<鈴野綾���モノクローム・ファクター>>(Suzuno Aya@Monochrome Factor)<<ペイオース���ああっ女神さまっ 闘う翼>>(Peorth@Aa Megami-sama Tatakau Tsubasa)<<黒岡野しじま���シラタマ������隠の王>>(Kurookano Shijima(Shiratama)@Nabari no Ou)<<笹山かず子���ちびまる子ちゃん>>(Sasayama Kazuko@Chibi Maruko-chan)<<二宮くん���みなみけ>>(Ninomiya-kun@Minami-ke)<<ルル���モノクローム・ファクター>>(Ruru@Monochrome Factor)<<ミーナ���古代王者 恐竜キング Dキッズ・アドベンチャー>>(Mina@Kodai Ouja Kyouryuu King D-Kids Adventure)<<青木瑠璃子���青木の姉������秘密 〜トップシークレット〜>>(Aoki Ruriko(Aoki's elder Sister)@Himitsu ~Top Secret~)<<富士原なえか���仮面のメイドガイ>>(Fujiwara Naeka@Kamen no Maid Guy)<<波野タイ子���サザエさん>>(Namino Taiko@Sazae-san)麻生夏海���スケッチブック 〜full color's〜(Asou Natsumi@Sketchbook ~full color's~)<<笠原郁���図書館戦争>>(Kasahara Iku@Toshokan Sensou)<<マリア・バルセリート���バッカーノ!>>(Maria Balserito@Baccano!)<<銭形巡���瀬戸の花嫁>>(Zenigata Mawari@Seto no Hanayome)<<柚原このみ���ToHeart2 シリーズ>>(Yuzuhara Konomi@ToHeart2 series)<<アイリス���ルビー・グルーム>>(Iris@Ruby Groom)<<侘姫���タキ������獣神演武 -HERO TALES->>(Taki@Juushin Enbu -HERO TALES-)<<岡崎汐���劇場版 CLANNAD>>(Okazaki Ushio@CLANNAD the Movie)<<アンナさん���シナモン the movie>>(Anna-san@Cinnamon the movie)<<笹川京子���家庭教師ヒットマンREBORN!>>(Sasagawa Kyouko@Kateikyoushi Hitman Reborn!)<<アナコンディ���Yes! プリキュア5 GoGo!>>(Anacondy@Yes! Precure 5 GoGo!)<<白河ななか���D.C.II 〜ダ・カーポII〜>>(Shirakawa Nanaka@D.C.II)<<二の妃���精霊の守り人>>(Ni no Kisaki@Seirei no Moribito)<<クラエス���GUNSLINGER GIRL -IL TEATRINO->>(Claes@GUNSLINGER GIRL -IL TEATRINO-)<<コロナ���スパイダーライダーズ 〜よみがえる太陽〜>>(Corona@Spider Riders ~Yomigaeru Taiyou~)<<チー���チーズスイートホーム>>(Chi@Chi's Sweet Home)<<美術教師���ひだまりスケッチ 特別編>>(Art Teacher@Hidamari Sketch Tokubetsuhen)<<あやね���ながされて藍蘭島>>(Ayane@Nagasarete Airantou)<<北川���げんしけん2>>(Kitakawa@Genshiken 2)<<hmx-17a toheart2="">>(HMX-17a Ilfa@ToHeart2 series)<<しのぶ���ながされて藍蘭島>>(Shinobu@Nagasarete Airantou)<<ミレイ・アッシュフォード���コードギアス 反逆のルルーシュ R2>>(Milly Ashford@Code Geass Lelouch of the Rebellion R2)<<かがみ���ゆきのの母������ながされて藍蘭島>>(Kagami(Yukino's Mother)@Nagasarete Airantou)<<大友絵里子���しゅごキャラ!>>(Ootomo Eriko@Shugo Chara!)<<南菜々美���よつのは>>(Minami Nanami@Yotsunoha)<<メル���はぴはぴクローバー>>(Mel@Hapihapi Clover)<<ゆきの���ながされて藍蘭島>>(Yukino@Nagasarete Airantou)<<筧美央���魔人探偵脳噛ネウロ>>(Kakehi Mio@Majin Tantei Nougami Neuro)<<ハルのママ���はぴはぴクローバー>>(Haru's Mother@Hapihapi Clover)<<日奈森あむ���日奈森亜夢������しゅごキャラ!>>(Hinamori Amu@Shugo Chara!)<<ぱな子���ながされて藍蘭島>>(Panako@Nagasarete Airantou)<<宮崎都���バンブーブレード>>(Miyazaki Miyako@Bamboo Blade)<<魔妃ネロクィーン���祝!���ハピ☆ラキ���ビックリマン>>(Makisaki Nero Queen@Shuku! (Happy Lucky) Bikkuri Man)<<藤林椋���CLANNAD>>(Fujibayashi Ryou@CLANNAD)<<流姫那由乃���乃亜の姉������キスダム -ENGAGE planet->>(Rukina Yuno(Noa's big Sister)@Kissdom -ENGAGE planet-)<<巣山英子���巣山の母������おおきく振りかぶって>>(Suyama Hideko(Suyama's Mohter)@Ookiku Furikabutte)<<木津千里���さよなら絶望先生>>(Kitsu Chiri@Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei)<<天海春香���アイドルマスター シリーズ>>(Amami Haruka@IDOLM@STER series) - HOLY SH*T, VOTE FOR MY ACE COMBAT 6 F-22's skin! SO MOE I RESCUED AN ENTIRE NATION!<<われめ姫���撲殺天使ドクロちゃんセカンド>>(Waremehime@Bokusatsu Tenshi Dokuro-chan Second)<<チー���うちの3姉妹>>(Chi@Uchi no 3 Shimai)<<プリンセア���騎士王妃������プリズム・アーク>>(Princea@Prism Ark)<<シャナ���灼眼のシャナII>>(Shana@Shakugan no Shana Second) - A VERY POWERFUL contendor to go far, if Saimoe '07 was any indicator. And to my knowledge, J.C staff doesn't get much hate sentiment on 2ch and has a pretty ardent support base. Only problem I see here is if fanboy hate-votes rear their head again.<<オヒュカス���流星のロックマン>>(Ohyucus@Ryuusei no Rockman)<<怜子の祖母���もっけ>>(Reiko's Grandmother@Mokke)<<保健医���ZOMBIE-LOAN>>(School Nurse@ZOMBIE-LOAN)<<アネーク・パタゴス���ポルフィの母������ポルフィの長い旅>>(Anek Patagos(Polfy's Mother)@Porfy no Nagai Tabi)<<長門店員���長門有希のコスプレをした女の子���らき☆すた>>(Nagato Shopgirl/Girl who cosplayed Nagato Yuki@Lucky*Star) - Now it's just getting plain outlandish.<<ラクシャータ・チャウラー���コードギアス 反逆のルルーシュ R2>>(Lakshata Chawla@Code Geass Lelouch of the Rebellion R2)<<一ノ瀬ことみ���CLANNAD>>(Ichinose Kotomi@CLANNAD) - KyoAni fanboys will be all over silent, suffering moe like pigs to a trough.<<春原芽衣���CLANNAD>>(Sunohara Mei@CLANNAD)<<観月マネージャー���白鳥ありすのマネージャー������もえたん>>(Mizuki Manager(Shiratori Arisu's Manager)@Moetan)<<灰谷羊子���狂乱家族日記>>(Haitani Youko@Kyouran Kazoku Nikki)<<財宝院美麗子���きらりん☆レボリューション>>(Zaihouin Bireiko@Kirarin Revolution)<<レン・エルシ・ジュエリア���ルン������To LOVEる>>(Ren Erusi Angelia(Run)@To Love Ru)<<洋子���まいの母������大ちゃん、だいすき。>>(Youko(Mai's Mother)@Dai-chan Daisuki)<<ドリア���今日からマ王! 第3シリーズ>>(Doria@Kyou kara Maoh! the third series)<<御堂蘭���菫の妹������こはるびより>>(Midou Ran(Sumire's little Sister)@Koharubiyori)<<佐藤美和子���名探偵コナン>>(Satou Miwako@Meitantei Conan)<<モモチャ���なぞなぞう>>(Momocha@Nazonazou)<<ペローナ���ワンピース>>(Perona@One Piece)<<小泉リサ���ラブ★コン>>(Koizumi Risa@Love*Com)<<ウルド���ああっ女神さまっ 闘う翼>>(Urd@Aa Megami-sama Tatakau Tsubasa) </hmx-17a>Kotomi and Shana are two I guarantee will be in for sure, if their previous performances or fanbases are any indicator.And the Idolm@ster seems to get lots of MAD love on Nico Nico, perhaps that will aid Amami in a rather indirect form of "campaigning" by showcasing her best moments in the games? Also helps when she's one of the most easily recognizable girls and main heroine of the series.
(Read the rest of this entry) (Entry meta)

Doing the Best Today Too! Really, what would happen if a bunch of bunnies decided to form a construction company? Apparently, hilarious hijinks would ensue. That’s the name of the game for Zenryoku Usagi. Someone finally decided to sub it, so I’m going to watch it. The show originally aired at 8:30 on Saturday mornings, so you [...]
(Read the rest of this entry) (Entry meta)

The romance drama true tears has passed Zoku Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei to become the most popular new-season show on 2channel, the Japanese forum site.true tears is on its 88th thread, having passed 87,000 posts. Zetsubou Sensei is on its 85th thread (84,000+ posts).A little over a month ago, Zetsubou Sensei was 50 threads ahead, but true tears has captivated fans both on 2channel in Japan, and also on the international English forum site AnimeSuki, where it has 2417 posts and rising fast, just behind Spice & Wolf (2559).On 2channel, threads have sprung up with names like "true tears -- godly anime" and "Compared to true tears, Clannad is a Worthless Harem Anime." And there is now a special thread for spoilers and speculation, as there is on AnimeSuki.true tears is by far my own favorite show of the new season, too, with Spice & Wolf next. The voice-acting in both is superb. Comparative newcomer Takagaki Ayahi (Feldt Grace in Gundam00) as Noe is outstanding, as is Iguchi Yuka (Sakura in Tokimeki Memorial) as Ai. That Nazuka Kaori (Eureka in Eureka Seven, Cossette in Les Miserables) is excellent as Hiromi is no surprise. One other performance that steals the show for me is Takahashi Rieko (Neviril in Simoun) as the hero's mother.Here are the current numbers of threads for all the new shows in the top 100 most recently posted about shows on 2channel:true tears 88Zoku Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei 85GUNSLINGER GIRL -IL TEATRINO- 28Spice and Wolf 27Yattaman 21Shigofumi 20Persona 17Rosario to Vampire 17Hakaba Kitaro 13KimiAru 12H2O～FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND～ 10Hakutenko Yuugi 10Major 5 5Noramimi 4Ayakashi 3Mnemosyne 2Porfy no Nagai Tabi 2Zenryoku Usagi 1And here are figures for shows continuing from last October:Minamike/Okawari 230 Shakugan no Shana II 167 Gundam00 150 CLANNAD 188 Kimikiss 136 Bamboo Blade 78 Gegege no Kitaro 37 Rental Magica 20 Nougami Neuro 18 Shion no Ou 9 Ghost Hound 7 Mokke 5 Some shows are missing because they were not among the last 100 shows posted about.
(Read the rest of this entry) (Entry meta)

Ever wondered what Animal Yokocho (Animal Alley) really looks like behind that trapdoor? Unfortunately I have no idea whether or not this is revealed later in the series since I've no means of watching it thus far :(Well, whatever it is, there's a good chance these guys here were the ones responsible in constructing/deconstructing/reconstructing the place (And you wonder why in Animal Yokocho Iyo, Issa, and Kenta spend so much time in Ami's room? Besides to torment the girl, of course). Zenryoku Usagi (Give It All Rabbits), this season's offer to the kiddies (and the kiddy-at-heart-otakus *ahem*) is a show about bunnies GIVING IT ALL THEY'VE GOT in construction work. And GIVE IT ALL THEY'VE GOT is what they do, be it their morning dance/warm-up routine, the construction work - or the inevitable deconstruction and reconstruction that follow.They're even asked to GIVE IT ALL THEY'VE GOT when they're pissed at one another and have to bust each other up on the site! This being a kid's show after all, they naturally have to make up afterwards WITH ALL THEY'VE GOT as well.Our main bunny is the spunky but fragile Minarai, who doesn't leave for the worksite without his trusty pen marker-ed eyebrows (LOL!). He tries to GIVE IT ALL HE'S GOT on the worksite, but most of the tasks prove too difficult for him, so he usually ends up emitting moe-waves when he's distressed(double LOL). The other bunnies on site include the old geezer bunny who's constantly telling everyone to (you guessed it) "GIVE IT ALL YOU'VE GOT", the foreman who's tough on the outside but a mommy's boy at heart, the tough-girl bunny, the lovesick nee-san bunny (voiced by Mitsuishi Kotono, which makes her the Misato bunny =P) and the Kouki Miyata megane bunny (which concludes today's 'spot' the seiyuu game). They're all in the first pic of the post and should be easily recognized, otherwise you can read usagijen's post =P.There's also this guy here who may or may not be an actual bunny considering that he(?) has jet propulsion and the ability to multiply itself at will. It'll be awesome too he shoots beams out of his ears as well =P So yea, Zenryoku Usagi may not be on the typical healthy 18 going on 19 year old's viewing diet... At a glance the show's 'kiddiness' is probably on par with Animal Yokocho, and it also begs the question of whether or not kids in Japan actually watch series like these considering the jokes are probably a tier higher than you're average episode of Doraemon/Shin-chan (Would they actually follow Misato bunny's cement mixing love rant this episode? 'Twas pretty WTF). But I'm obviously a fan of all things zany and at least a little off the beaten track, so what the heck =PZenryoku Usagi may lack the awesome punnage and unpredictability level of Animal Yokocho, but it's still a bundle of good 'clean' fun, and I just can't help thinking that every one of the Give It All Bunnies has a part of their bunny cousin Iyo from Animal Lane in them. XD (Though on second thought this show reminds me more of Sweet Valerian than AniYoko... yet another reference that will probably earn me very strange looks =P). And what with my relatively light watchlist right now, the only thing stopping me from following this show is my combined noob-ness in listening to raw Japanese and reading Chinese subtitles! No worries, so long as they don't pull out any fancy puns, I'll just have to...GIVE IT ALL I'VE GOT for now (=P *dodges smelly fruit*)
(Read the rest of this entry) (Entry meta)

Hah, this episode seals it, I am SO watching this show to the end, Chinese subs be damned! (Had to watch this episode twice, once to understand the gist of it off from the Japanese, the second time to slowly read the few Chinese characters I could manage to confirm anything I didn't fully understand and had to guess during the first watch. Admittedly I didn't GIVE IT ALL I GOT since I was too lazy to grab my Chinese dictionary, but I assume I managed well enough) =PZenryoku Usagi is obviously my current 'innocent pleasure' of the season (which offsets the fetish-fest that is KimiAru =P), and this episode shows that the show manages to pull off simple humour with the characters' worksite interactions. Like Misato-bunny above, I'm already quite smitten with little Minarai's klutzy/moe-emanating antics, but the LOL factor in this episode is watching Minarai go GAR when provoked! Well, considering who the show is aimed at, I doubt it's a performance that would qualify him for the next SaiGar tournament (but it would be absolutely WTFBBQ if Minarai actually got nominated XD)."Vote for me WITH ALL YOU'VE GOT!!!"Short summary: Basically tough-chick bunny (Ojou) gets tired of Minarai getting off easy at work using his moe-waves, so she teams up with the foreman bunny to try to crack the little guy and toughen him up. The megane-bunny screws up the number of lunch bentous for the crew by one (this I guessed off the subs, someone correct me if I'm wrong), which leaves poor Minarai hungry ;( Megane-bunny offers Minarai his own bentou out of guilt, but the foreman bunny steps in and takes it for himself instead... Which almost cracks the little guy up, but he maintains his "pity me" state. Megane-bunny sees a bond with Minarai, both of them feeding off the bottom of the GAR-scale at work.Foreman bunny quickly surmises that lack of food should be the right trigger for their plan, so while Minarai partakes in beardy-bunny's bentou, Ojou snatches the food from the hungry little bunny, which finally cracks the kid and unleashes GAR-Minarai. After flaming up for a while, which impresses foreman-bunny and Ojou, Minarai goes back to normal work mode, only to be told by beardy-bunny that if he worked any slower he'd have to deduct his pay (I think). With horror, Minarai realizes that less pay equals less food (a thought process I can easily relate too :P), so he goes back into GAR-mode again..."Kids, don't try this at work..."In the end, the worker bunnies are impressed by how GAR Minarai has become (except poor megane-bunny who feels he's lost a comrade, aww... Maybe all he really needs are some marker eyebrows, lol). Ojou even lends him a waterproof marker when it starts to rain ('cos you can't stay GAR without some GAR-brows!). However, there seemed to be one more little problem at the end of the episode. Unfortunately, my noobness caught up there, so my best educated guess is that despite all of Minarai's GAR work, he had neglected to follow the plans and was digging up the wrong place or something to that effect (if someone has watched the episode and could follow exactly what went on, it would be a great help if you confirmed/disconfirmed this :P).Definitely will continue following the series, with any luck it might improve both my Japanese comprehension and sorely lacking Chinese reading ability XD.
(Read the rest of this entry) (Entry meta)

Smack dab on the equator, seasons don't really count for much here in Malaysia. Sure we have sweltering heat, high humidity and the prolific rain all year round, but at this time of year elsewhere, low temperatures and freak weather tend to bog down the daily proceedings. The Winter season (generally at the start of they year) is thus associated as a slow time for anime, and not much hype is attached to the titles released at this time of year. Which suits me just fine since I can take this time to compose actual opinions on shows without being giddy over a huge wave of new titles that tend to surge around the Spring and Fall seasons.Last year's Winter only saw me following 3 titles from that season (In order of awesome, just short of awesome, and meh: Hidamari Sketch, Nodame Cantabile, Tokyo Majin Gakuen Kenpuchou:Tou). This year's pool sees me doubling that number (and with any luck the number will stay this way, since there's only the risk of me dropping one series and picking up one more =P). So here goes, from most enthralling so far to least noteworthy...1) Zoku Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei (So Long Mr Despair, Extreme!)Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei pits a schoolteacher who is the epitome of negativity (with a penchant for paranoia and suicide) against the world's most optimistic girl - and her class of dysfunctional (to say the least) classmates. There's the hikikomori, the stalker, the tail fetishist, the bipolar exchange student, the illegal immigrant, the yaoi fangirl, et cetera X (who knows how many more they'll be introducing). This 'Extreme' addition basically carries on from last year's hit (or miss, depending on how well you tolerate SHAFT's crack-like style) dark comedy, and as the name suggests, takes it to higher levels of insanity.Thoughts (based on 3 eps) : Preference towards the first season's OP/ED (though Kusou Runba's ~RunbaRunbaRunbaRunbaRunba~ is constantly ringing in my head), but other than that, am loving the fact that ZSZS is at least twice the level WTFBBQ of all out schizophrenic proportions the first installment had already achieved. And though SHAFT's latest gimmick (layering multiple chapters simultaneously into one scene) makes my head hurt sometimes reading the multiple subtitles (the scribbles on the blackboard still remain), the show's immensely over the top humour and characters keep the show going strong, despite its tendency to be incredibly erratic (never knowing what SHAFT is going to pull off next is actually one of the reasons I love their work so much, though it also earns them their share of haters =P).Also kudos to a.f.k. for doing a marvelous job subbing everything SHAFT overloads both seasons of Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei with =PLeft/Right: Before/After: Doumu/Asread: Minami-ke/Okawari 2) Minami-ke: OkawariAnother sequel to another of 2007's best comedies, Minami-ke, which tells the tale of 3 Minami sisters and how they both intentionally and unintentionally wreak small-time havoc on one another and the rest of the otherwise innocent bystanders in their lives. Okawari ( = seconds in Japanese) sees a production studio change (and mixes up the casts hair colour for some reason) but otherwise keeps everything else about the show intact to give us a second helping of tough sisterly love, mind manipulation, and gender-bending hijinx.Thoughts (3 eps): Despite coming from the infamous Cabbage Love production, Minami-ke from last year is definitely a comedy of high calibre, consistent with its epic humour and clever use of recurring jokes. General fears that the production change to asread have been mostly allayed and fans of the original can rest assured that Okawari still packs the good punches. Sure the different hair colours take a little getting used to, but its all worth it just to hear "bakayarou!", follow the legacy Haruka-banchou, and see those Bible Black faces (which make up for the strange blacked out faces of the background cast) once more :DAs for the new neighbour that just moved in, I'm giddy anticipating how and which sister is going to mess him up for life, *snickers*.3) ShigofumiFumika (voiced surprisingly grimly by Ueda Kana) is a postgirl for the dead who is tasked to deliver letters from the deceased (termed Shigofumi) to the living with the help of her snarky talking staff and trusty gun (which doesn't talk btw). The show is episodic in nature, giving us somewhat unorthodox views on death every episode, though there are signs of a recurring overarching plot element regarding Fumika's past and the agency she works for.Thoughts (3 eps): Wow. Am awed - I can hardly recognize Ueda Kana as Fumika AT ALL here, Fumika's low serious tone is a far cry from the usual Kansai-ben or 'girly' voice Ueda Kana employs, which is impressive. Besides that, Shigofumi probably has the first episode to remember of all 6 shows here, with its 'shocker' ending (in retrospect, all the signs were there, but I guess J.C. Staff's involvement dulled my senses. =P Plus the ALI PROJECT OP wasn't featured in the 1st ep) that sets the pace for the episodes to come. From what I've seen so far, it can be expected that every episode will feature a different story, with at least one death, some sort of intriguing development peppered with visual clues to the surprise finish in the end. Yes, I agree it's very Jigouku Shoujo meets Kino's Journey (though both these series I've only watched an episode or two of) in setup. I'd say it's only fair I watch something dark serious to balance off the dark zany of ZSZS, so Shigofumi is a prime pick this season.4) true tearsOne guy + 3 girls + other miscellaneous side characters. Standard formula for your standard harem romance, but keeping in mind that this genre can be further split to "serious romance" to "trashy harem", true tears obviously belongs to the former, thankfully.Thoughts (4 eps): Despite being a relatively small time production , P. A. Works blows the competition this season away in terms of production quality in true tears. This series is hands down the best thing to watch aesthetically this season (unless you're a Kyoto Animation worshipper very much caught up in Clannad), which is good as true tears doesn't initially grab your attention with its story as quickly as the other series in the lineup. However I believe this is one series that'll reward the viewer as the story and characters develop, and it already shows in the first couple of episodes. Though at first I was only interested in the kooky chicken loving Noe, the rest of the cast is slowly but surely coming to life and adding the necessary conflict to the story. *thumbs up*(The only down to true tears for me is that I always end up cracking up in laughter whenever they show the scene in the OP of the two guys gaping 'in awe' of the girls - all it needs is drool dripping from the corners of their mouths LOL)5) Spice and WolfTravelling merchant meets Wolf goddess who tags along for a journey through post-medieval Europe-like world(?). Cue nakedness and economics lessons (in that order).Thoughts (4 eps): I will definitely commend Koshimizu Ami's performance as Horo, the wolf goddess, who is both wise as she claims and a foxy tease of a character (As for Fukuyama Jun's Lawrence the merchant, I'm thinking he must be pretty excited to reprise his role as Lelouch in Code Geass later this year - so am I =P). As for the story so far, it's decent enough, but I'm not exactly as 'sold' on it just yet. Coupled with some inconsistent and relatively weak animation, I'm getting the vibe of 'decent but not exactly memorable' from Spice and Wolf. We'll see if the show proves me wrong by the end.(But if there's one thing I love about this show, it's is the Engrish folksy ED :P)6) ~They Are My Noble Masters~ (or KimiAru - shortened from an unnecessarily long Japanese title) Butler comedy of the lowest denominator (fanservice and fetishes being the main focus).Thoughts (3 eps): Serious viewers will definitely have to give this series a pass. Incredibly low calorie humour which has its LOL moments stemming from the flashy fetishes, but overall screams inferior all round. I know I've definitely seen better, but heck I'm not expecting anything big of this show, and it's either this or Rosario + Vampire + (Yes, yes, we know) Pantyshot...(I can't believe I'm not watching Hayate no Gotoku anymore but I am this...)Obviously the show to drop here is KimiAru, and if that does end up happening (subs seem to have stalled lately), I'm thinking of substituting it with Zenryoku Usagi =P I definitely feel a Animal Yokocho-like vibe from it, though I'll have to try it without english subs for now...Finally there are the shows I'm still following through from Fall 2007: Bamboo Blade, Clannad, Kimikiss ~ pure rouge. But I think I'll leave those for another post for now.(P.S. This season's "Dropped after one episode" list: Persona-trinity soul-, Rosario+Vampire, H2O, Hatenkou Yuugi)
(Read the rest of this entry) (Entry meta)