Death’s Notes and Thoughts

Yuusuke was just a normal kid going to high school. Then one day, the cute and behaloed Noelle fell, quite literally, into his life, naked as a baby and every bit as innocent. Before he can even fathom what’s just happened, Yuusuke is inducted into a rather odd family of otherworldly beings straight out of The Munsters. Papa is a Frankenstein monster with a taste for calisthenics. Mama is a gorgeous lady with a penchant for “round objects” — really! The eldest sister, Sara, is literally invisible; the brother, Gabriel, is a teenage vampire with an attitude problem; and the youngest sister, Ruka, loves inventing things. There’s a disapproving Grandma, who’s a witch to the nth degree, and her vulture familiar. All Yuusuke wanted was for the beautiful Natsumi to even notice his attention, but now he has an angel-in-training to follow him wherever he goes. And Noelle, too, has a guide on her path to being an angel, the mysterious Michael (or Kaeru-san). [from Animenfo.com] Well, it was fun until like 6 episods before the end where the anime started implenting a very weird, selfcentered logic without any explanations “why” things happens. Another angel related anime, namely “Ah! My Goddess TV” tended to explain to the viewer why things happens like they do. But if u get along with that fact and annoying logic, go and read further. The chars in this one are quite a out of the normal bunch as we got a bunch of “daemon” class chars. A witch, a vampire, a cat daemon, a girl with the ability to get invisible, an other witch with her weird bird companion and more. I personally took a liking in Miruru, the neko daemon. She is like u want your catgirl but just a bit… well, wicked at some times. Also she goes damn hot for the poor Gabe who have his probs with her love as he is allergic to cats^^. But those two arent our main chars, those are Noelle and Yuusuke (god… i cant hear that name anymore). No, this is not a harem anime, even if some might smell harem here. I agree he hangs between two girls in the later story but thats it. And two I dont call harem. Whats annoying about Noelle is her constant screaming of Yuusuke’s name. After like 10 episodes you wanna erase the name from the anime, I kinda think of rewatching it with doing a count of how often she screams his name. Her childish and “i trust them all” behavior is for a while fun but then it also looses a bit its impact as you get used to it a bit much. What I more found intresting since it was giving this weird and dark feeling off since u dont understand it until a certain point is the side stuff with Dispel-sama and Silky. I dont wanna go too deep into this as I would end up spoiling a part of the story. But Dispel was definitly an intresting fellow in terms of beeing the evil dude that takes the angel to the darkside (hmm, describing it this way make me kinda wanna say “Luke, I’m your father. Join the dark side!”). Oh well, Also fun was the enemy the face later on, Muse-chan. That lil one is trying really hard but faces always the problem that she is too shy and always seems to regret her actions fast, which give her a own “i dont have trust in myself” charm. Like u just wanna cuddle her and say “It’s all ok”. Also its every time again fun to see into what she transforms next, just to fail short after it again. Man, thinking over it afterall it maybe wasnt so bad, but I disliked that non-explained and with selffish irrlogic soaked end of it. That and Noells constant “Yuusuke” screaming. But like I said in the beginning, who can get along with it, go and watch it. You will like it.

Opening

Source: Youtube

Ending

Source: Youtube

To watch or not to watch, thats the question for you ;).

-Death

Thirteen year old Yasaka Hajime is a boy staying at his grandfather’s house during his summer vacation. One day, he meets a sixteen year old girl named Arashi at a café and it is love at first sight – at least for him. He decides to start working part-time there, in order to be close to Arashi. But Arashi is not just a regular girl; she claims to be a ghost possessing him. And if that isn’t enough, it turns out that with Hajime’s help Arashi can travel to the past. But she’s not the only one with a weird past; many other characters working in the café have a particular secret not everyone knows … [stolen from aniDB] First of all, i really enjoyed this one. It begins pretty straight without too much introduction, rather it lets u get to know the chars while the story unfolds. The team made of Arashi and Hajime make the show moving, and they a pair that u will like. Hajime is pretty outgoing, says straight what he thinks (I kinda like that). Arashi is a bit classy but still not too backholding girl either. She can keep it up to Hajime, through sometimes she is a lil bit dull, but that only adds to the fun factor. Hajimes outgoing characters goes to the Juns regret. During circumstances that happens in the beginning, when they all get to know eachother, she have to pretend to be a boy. They work out that fact during the series pretty good, and also use it good as source for various fun things. What also was very much to my liking was the way they series is drawn/animated as it reminds you (those who know it) of the good old animes from years ago but it also feature modern-day effects. It’s a lovly combination of the old and the new, not only limited to the animation itself but also the music does it’s part. One effect that I particular like as it’s rarly used is that they even animated the dust that gets visible in the sunlight, an effect when it gets right used (which is given here) can add very much to the atmosphere of the scene aswell it’s beautiful. They also included some “real life” effect scenes where they torture a lil model scene. Its may be a lil play on some other animes, like macademy wasshoi (they used modelling clay scenes as censorship) or maybe even on Honey & Clover, where they used modelling clay and various other things to make an animation with it (through this is just an assumption of mine). Another deeper parodie might is Jun. Some of you might remember Happyness! (i tend to call it trappyness), where one of the main chars also was called Jun, just that he was actually a guy that always dressed up as girl. Well there is even much more parodies to find and enjoy, some you have to figure by a specific catch-phrase or a description, others are very clear. The most parodies are to be found in ep 13 where the chars regulary change their outfits, and most of them are parodies on some other series. I figured a few but hell, its too much for knowing all. The anime itself tends also to parodie itself a lot, especially their time-traveling. They always end every few episodes philosphing about the “time-paradox” as in what happens when u do this in the past. Or what happens to the spoiled milk that u take back and exchange it for the one thats still good. Sounds weird ? Yes but its very funny made up. Sure even this one have its 2 more honest episodes but it all fits nice together so it makes a funny sometimes a bit weird feeling enjoyable piece of anime and I look forward to watch season 2 thats currently running. Enjoy this one!

Trailer:

Source: YouTube

Opening (OP1)

Source: YouTube

Ending (ED1)

Source: YouTube

The Endings vary with very episode a bit so its worth to regulary watch them, also the before the preview some funstuff takes place.For those living within US/CA that wanna take a quick peek on it, u can watch it here at CR. All others sadly must find their own rips (I suggest SHiNJi).

-Death

GA is a class that specializes in the arts at Ayanoi High School. Kisaragi, Nodamiki, Kyoju, Tomokane and Namiko are a group of five friends who have colorful adventures and learn about art techniques. Its the anime adaption of the ongoing slice-of-life manga series “GA: Geijutsuka Art Design Class” by Satoko Kiyuzuki, which premiered in 2004. Its one anime to like as it have quite intresting parts when the characters go about color type, what they made of, or what techniques all there. The technique are real stuff and usually good enough explained to a new comer to the topic to understand how it works. Also if you like to draw or to create things u might get a new impression what you can do or whats possible. But also the characters are a funny bunch. There are the hyperactive two, namly Miki Noda and Tomokane (we never got the familyname during the series). Noda images herself often as some colorful magical girl featuring a paint brush, also she love to play pranks on others, especially on the more settled Kisaragi. She also love fashion, getting alon with her small and cute looks, but on the other hand she is pretty spoiled. Tomokane is also quite hyperactive, and also does stuff together with Noda (while Noda is beeing the initator of that action for the most part), also she is also pretty tomboyish (she made me wonder for quite a while if she is maybe a trap, like a dude wearing girls clothes^^). She tends to get often into trouble during her rather explosive temperament and beeing impulsive. Then there is Namiko Nozaki, she is the tallest aswell as the oldest of the bunch. She behaves more adult then the rest and so act as the “older sister” character. She often offers assistance or scold when its needed (well, Noda and Tomokane gets it usually, but I think that was forseenable ^^). Kisaragi Yamaguchi is the opposite with her rather soft and sometimes also childish personally. So she becomes the target for the hyperactive tag team or at least gets affected by the actions of those. Matching her personality she likes natural cats (Sunekos), and so u often see her drawing them. Last but not least we have there Miyabi Oomichi (usually called “Masa” or by her family name), a shady person. Her expression seems to be the same the whole series, and no matter what she always come up with a solution or have the right thing at hand. But not enough with that she also posses strange powers like natural magnetism or the ability to control animals. She is the mysterious character, reminding me a bit on Ichijo from PaniPoni Dash!, which also was behaving pretty strange. Also speaking of weird chars, I found the idea of the Lord Chickens in G.A. pretty weird but somehow fun. The chickens are the lords of the land so are allowed to do anything and you’re not allowed to do harm to them. Also the animation styles like using those eyes without pupils which often gets used on Noda, I liked it as it made me even more lul since her expression gets so wonderful strenghtend by it. Sure it might sounds a bit scary but when you saw it you realise what I mean. All together its a quite intresting and also entertaining anime with a bunch of funny chars and lots info about art. The art infos arent getting you annoyed, rather they worked it pretty good in so it fits right into the flow of the series itself rather then making it too much like some teaching movie. I really consider to get the manga to get on with it and hope you got some intrest and check out this real good piece of anime to find out that you have the same amount of fun with it as I did. Also watch and hear the endings, they switch every episode. Every episode another char from our crew sings the ending song and so the songs vary, also there are 4 different endings. So dont just skip it like usual, also thats why I only feature one single ED this time.

Opening:

Source: YouTube

Ending:

Source: YouTube

So, and now watch it.

-Death

Set in a city of scientifically advanced superhuman students, but in a world where magic is also real. Toma Kamijo’s right hand, the Imagine Breaker, will negate all magic, psychic, or divine powers, but not his own bad luck. One day he finds a young girl hanging on his balcony railing. She turns out to be a nun from the Church of England, and her mind has been implanted with the Index-Librorum-Prohibitorum – all the magical texts the Church has removed from circulation. [stolen from AniDB] Well, this anime is something. You have a chibi that knows every magical book and stuff, a dude with a Hand that kills all supernatural, a girl that sends flashes behind you or use her eletric powers to speed up things. Also u have have a army of clones and more weird people coming up in it. What is weird is the title if u think about it when u have watched it (its no harm if I explain it) since the most time all chars besides Index plays a bigger roll then Index. At least when the big action begins it is like this. This might be also the reason why we got a side anime featuring Biribiri. Desprite that the anime is not too bad since u have lots of fun when Biribiri gets angry again since she is lovly dovly for Toma but Index is having a big problem with that. She think of Toma as her belonging^^. But well, Biri isnt the type to admit what she feels either. Also there is there Kuroko who also have a problem with Biri getting together. Ok ok, this is a side story but its one of the lulz things and well it probably gets merged somehow into the To Aru Kagaku no Railgun anime. Damn yuri-anime, stop entering my thoughts. Back to Index, what I missed in it somehow is the big end-fight to give it an end. They fight serveral enemys during the show once Index is freed from her fate. Even they announced that there will be a big end fight but it never happens, at least none that I consider as final fight to end it all. So this anime have the problem of feeling un-finished to me. Who can get along with that feeling and still wanna have fun, should watch it. It combines good action and some comedy/romance storyparts. But it focus more on action, so dont worry about too much lovlydovly shit. Thats rather side stuff to add more fun to the whole thing. And this anime made me ultra intrested in To Aru Kagaku no Railgun, as u might figured out earlier^^. So be sure to look forward to my review of that one, and also let us hope they give us more Index one day so it gets a proper end. Til’ then, enjoy the videofeeds and make your decision about to watch it or not ;). And before I forget, you also can check more of the index parodies in this article I wrote earlier.

Promo:

Source: YouTube

Opening:

Source: YouTube

Opening 2:

Source: YouTube

Ending:

Source: YouTube

Ending 2:

Source: YouTube

So, thats it.

Your Death-chan

Toradora!’s story begins with the male protagonist Ryuuji Takasu who is frustrated at trying to improve his look as he enters his second year of high school. Despite his gentle personality, he has a natural outer-appearance which makes him look like an intimidating delinquent so he is utterly hopeless about his chances of getting a girlfriend anytime soon, and does not have many close friends either. After being greeted by his hungover mother in the morning, Ryuuji goes to school and finds out that he is in the same class as his best friend Yuusaku Kitamura. But what makes him extremely happy is that he gets to be in the same class as his crush Minori Kushieda. However, it is then that he unexpectedly knocks into “the creature ranked most dangerous in the school” — Taiga Aisaka —, who goes by the nickname “Palmtop Tiger” and who just happens to also be in his class. Taiga has a negative attitude towards others and will not hesitate to snap at people. After a series of misunderstandings between Ryuuji and Taiga, Ryuuji is taken in by Taiga as her personal servant. Taiga had moved out to live on her own due to family issues and isn’t able to do any housechores. After discovering the state of her apartment Ryuuji, who has a real talent at domestic chores, decided to do all of her housechores. Taiga spends a lot of her time over at his house, so much so that she could almost be considered a member of his family. Since Ryuuji spends a lot of time with Taiga, he is opened up to her world and to a side of her that most people do not see. The two also attempt to help each other in order to improve their relationship with their crush (Taiga has a crush on Ryuuji’s best friend, Yuusaku, and Ryuuji has a crush on Taiga’s best friend, Minori). Unknown to them, however, people they know from school start to become curious about their strange relationship together and rumors begin to spread about them. (stolen from AniDB) Well, since you know now the story of it, we can go over its good and bad points :)) The characters are definitly intresting and differes a bit from the typical “harem” ones a bit. I mean u hardly have a model that is a bit schizophrenic, an ultra sports girl, a sword wielding lil chibi and a dude thats look like a good for nothing. What I also liked about it that they didnt used the usual “drama” scenario towards the end. Sure we (attention spoiler) get the old my parents are divorced and now my father/mother wants me back stuff but thats just a small fraction. Also no “I maybe die soon of some random illness” and no “I will kill myself since u didn’t choose me” emo shit we had way too often. No, rather they do straight at the topic from the beginning. In the begin they choose the wrong persons as their girlfriend/boyfriend but that works out in a manner you buy off them. It’s not too uber dramatic but more or less “realistic”. Well realism overdo it might a bit, but still I can imagine a similar scene quite good. Also u have some side stuff happening that support the main storyline in a pretty good manner. It makes the anime standing out from the usual sex and boob animes, or even worse those shota rape animes like Kanokon. If you want the real thing, and maybe already enjoyed Lovely Complex, then you should like this one too. Also the chars like said earlier have their own thingies that brings fun. Yacchan, Ruyuji’s mom, and her childlike but still cute behavior. The weird bird they have, called Inko-chan, you always wonder when he probably will die since he always seems to choke on something (I say its his tongue). Minorin and her hyperactive and happy beeing. Teiga does wonderful towards the end the part of the I never admit it girl, also lovly are the animation of her beeing a lil neko-like creature, its so cute, regardless the angry face. There is more but I close here or I spoil it too much.

Opening:

Source: YouTube

Opening 2:

Source: YouTube

Ending:

Source: YouTube

Ending 2:

Source: YouTube

So, I hope u like it. Sorry for the break but real life kept me busy. But therefore today I write some more reviews.

-Death

This is the first year of high school for the four girls, looking for that very special club. The healthy and energetic Tainaka Ritsu (club president, drums) decides to join the school’s Light Music Club, only to find out that the club is about to be closed — due to the lack of members. Without much ado she drags along her childhood friend, the shy, mature, and sensitive Akiyama Mio (bass). That leaves only two more members, required to keep club from closing. Luckily the gentle, calm, warm, and cute Kotobuki Tsumugi (keyboard) stumbles into the club, only to be “convinced” by the pleading Ritsu to stay. The last member, the easily distracted klutz Hirasawa Yui, can only play castanets, even though the club needs someone on the guitar, but she is “bribed” — with cake — to stay anyway. Will Yui be able to learn to play the guitar — the special one she just bought and loves so much — before the four girls graduate? [stolen from AniDB] I must say unlike many other animes with the genere music/band I liked this one and enjoyed it. It wasnt focusing too hard on just the band-thingie but also featured some life outside the band, making it more balanced. Also the characters are something one can enjoy as they sometimes a bit typical but also have their own cute behaviors. Funny was definitly Tsumugi (Nickname: Mugi-chan) with her big eyebrows, a very unusual attribute for a girl in anime (and reality aswell?). Normally I would expect her to be some bad-ass angry something, but its more the other way round. A bit quiet but lovly person. Through my favorite unlikes the masses opinion is still Yui, as she is just so wonderful clumsy, but also is just great when she is set on something. Its like she goes on fire but well… she lacks a bit planning ahead sometimes so… u can imagine what comes out^^. Mio is nice, and have a good makeup for a moe-char that pleases the masses (shy, easy to scare, easy to embrass, nice body). Ritsu is the impulsive and a bit hyperactive one of the quartet, but the same amount she is hyperactive she is lazy at other times and keep forgetting her forms for things (bad bad ritsu), and so causing Nodoka (the representative of the student concil) pain. At some points I feared it might end up in some worse drama (I cant stand drama stuff too much currently, having too much IRL drama around me) but thankfully they didnt choose that way. It always just was some lil “panic” event that get resolved within an ep. Also fun was their club supervisor, which i would call “metal teacher sawakawa”. Boy… she was definitly evil, also have this nice cosplay fetisch. (why i call her metal teacher sawakawa, u have to find out yourself, i already spoil too much^^) If this all is to your liking, watch it. The only thing I would have liked to be different would have been the amount of songs. 1-2 more songs would have been nice, but well, you can’t have everything, right?

Trailer

Source: Youtube

Opening

Source: Youtube

Ending

Hopefully u enjoy it as much as I did. I suggest to watch Frostii’s version.

-Death

Many of you might remember my article “Four Chan Magazine (FCM) – the FHM of the future ?” which i wrote around 2 years ago. Well, I got new material and so here we have an update.

• Feb 2008

This issue is featuring our lovly Horo from Spice and Wolf on the cover.

• Dec 2008

Here we have the highly trolled but also highly beloved Taiga Aisaka from Toradora as our cover girl.

• Jan 2009

This time we have Girls from Strike Witches (also called Strike Lolis on the Cover. Also in difference to the other issues this time we have 9 additional pages accomplish this one.

Here is a sample of those 9 bonus pages that comes along with issue Jan 2009.

You can download the complete issue Jan 2009 here. As source for this article I used again the lurkmorewiki aswell as Superior Internet Content! X2 Blog, thanks to both of em. Enjoy the stuff,

-Death

On November 22, 2010 ten missiles strike Japan. However, this unprecedented terrorist act, later to be called as “Careless Monday,” does not result in any apparent victims, and is soon forgotten by almost everyone. Then, 3 months later… Saki Morimi is a young woman currently in the United States of America on her graduation trip. But just when she is in front of the White House, Washington DC, she gets into trouble, and only the unexpected intervention of one of her fellow countrymen saves her. However, this man, who introduces himself as Akira Takizawa, is a complete mystery. He appears to have lost his memory and he is stark naked, except for the gun he holds in one hand, and the mobile phone he’s holding with the other hand. A phone that is charged with 8,200,000,000 yen in digital cash. (the description comes from Production I.G themself) In fact this anime is sounding weird, but its great. Those who enjoyed already Honey & Clover, especially their animation styles and ways in that anime, will already have something they will love about this one. It features a similar animation, through the story is much deeper and serious. But dont think a serious anime cant be funny, it always have something to laugh about. Surely the beginning have more but still, i liked their balance act. Also the way how Saki gets dragged into all this mess is good made up, in some other animes they’re pretty weak with finding a way to drag the char in the story events in the beginning. Its not the perfect way but its definitly one of the better. Also to my liking was the bigger idea behind the phone and the money which get slowly revealed as the story goes on. What should be said is that this series is a kind of a cliffhanger, the prequel for the movies to come (its three in total). I understand it that the series tell us how all begun and prepare us for the coming events, while the movies will keep the real deal, and have the highlight of the whole thing in em. Maybe I’m wrong but that will we find out once we saw the movies. But if u ask my opinion from all I watched about higu so far, I say it will be good. So if u like conspiracy, spiced with a splash of love and some crazy characters combined with great animation and some fun parts, u found your anime. But like always I say, give it a try even if u say “wtf is this??” as it confuse one a bit until u begin to get bigger picture.

Trailer (eng sub by Frostii):

Source: Youtube

The opening is a great song by the british band oasis, it fits the anime perfectly and if u can get your hands on the video of the song in the “Higashi No Eden” version, watch it. Its 200% better then the original music video, but sadly they decided to keep this version a japanese only thing. Sigh, sad but true. Anyway, here we have the opening for your and after that a lil parodie on the trailer, Higashi no Eden feat. Borne Identity.

Opening:

Source: Youtube

Higashi no Eden feat. Borne Identity:

Source: Youtube

The Quality of the fun trailer is a bit sucky but still its lulz. All together, watch it .

-Death

so i decided to share it with you out there to get u hooked too. A problem shared is a problem halved.

The song is from the Band “BOTS”, a dutch band which made projects in dutch but also in german. The title is “7 Tage lang”, which is translated to english “7 Days long”. I will first add the german original lyrics and then the english lyrics, so non-german speaking ppl can also enjoy its content.

German Lyrics:

Was wollen wir trinken, sieben Tage lang,
was wollen wir trinken, so ein Durst.
Es wird genug für alle sein,
wir trinken zusammen, roll das Faß mal rein,
wir trinken zusammen, nicht allein.

Dann wollen wir schaffen, sieben Tage lang,
dann wollen wir schaffen, komm` faß an.
Und das wird keine Plackerei,
wir schaffen zusammen, sieben Tage lang,
ja schaffen zusammen, nicht allein.

Jetzt müssen wir streiten, keiner weiß wie lang,
ja, für ein Leben ohne Zwang.
Dann kriegt der Frust uns nicht mehr klein,
wir halten zusammen, keiner kämpft allein,
wir gehen zusammen, nicht allein.

English lyrics:

What do we want to drink for 7 days,
what do we want do drink, such a thirst.
It will be enough for everyone,
we drink together, roll the barrel in then,
we drink together, not alone.

Then we want to work, seven days long,
then we want to work, come on lets do it.
and this will be no drudgery,
we work together, seven days long,
yes, we work together, not alone.

Now we have to argue, nobody knows how long,
yes, for a life without restraint.
Then the frustration wont get us down anymore,
we keep together, nobody fights alone,
we go together, not alone.

From the sound of the song some of the readers probably figured out the age of it. Its from the 1970, when the social and poitical critic movements was popular. Those also influenced em. Also some might reconise the melody, as it got used in various songs from other artists, like Scooters “How much is the fish”. I also fun a funny little video i want to show u from some guys at google video.

Source: Goggle Video

I hope u enjoy it the same as me. And if u think u can help me improve my translation of the song text, please dont hesitate to write a comment with the improvements. And even if not i would like to hear your thoughts on my articles. And if u want to know more about the group, there is much on Wikipedia (english) or on their homepage (dutch/german).

-Death

This post is delicated to two of my friends and former fellow fansubbers. I want to congrat them on their engagement and wish them best on their further way in life. Shall happiness and wonderful times escort them around the harsch cliffs in this life. They also marry soonish. I not will name them here to keep their privacy, but those who got told will surly know which two i mean. Please not forget about me you two, and enjoy the things to come!

-Death