Death’s Notes and Thoughts

Posts Tagged ‘japan’

The summer of a man’s boyhood memories continue. Still on the cusp between childhood and being a man, he has linked with the ghost of a young woman from the World War 2 era. She, and the ghosts of other young ladies from that time, continue adventures alongside their linked partners, learning more about each other and travelling through time via their supernatural connection. While he struggles to see his crush on her come to fruition, meanwhile his friend- a girl his age, pretending to be a boy- seeks his attention as well. [taken from ANN] Well, to say it in short words they go on where S1 left off. Hajime still fails hard to realise that Jun is a girl. Even after seeing her basically naked he still fails… the is so bold. Poor Hajime. But there is even more to laugh and a lots of new parodies on older animes everyone knows. And as far as I can tell we probably get also here a S3 since the summer dont end with this season. But also we get to see chibi Arashi, she is so cute <3. If u enjoyed S1, you will definitly luv S2.

Opening

Source: YouTube

Ending

Source: YouTube

Have fun,

-Death

The Yomota family is small and typical: father Kinekuni (42), mother Tamiko (38), and son Inumaru (17). One day, a beautiful girl appears at their front door, calling herself “Maroko Yomota,” granddaughter of Inumaru who travels back in time with a time machine to visit her ancestors. Even with Tamiko’s strong objection, Kinekuni and Inumaru welcome her to stay with them, and the structure of a happy family has begun to collapse. [coming from AnimeNewsNetwork] Well, where should I begin? It’s a really weird anime. The motivation to watch this OVA at first was that it features Kenji Kawaii aswell as Mamoru Oshii, both are people that brought us numerous great animes including Ghost In The Shell, Patlabor, Avalon, and more… But after the first episode it got me and I because curious how it goes on. Before it was looking really weird and I was kinda unsure but it dragged me into its world. It begins with that weird time machine storyline and then later envolve into some kind of family drama where the family falls apart. But later on as if this move was just to confuse the viewer they let the family merge again and live on until a point where Maruko vanish again. Its not done at that point and still goes on for a bit. So far I understand it as parody of some sort spice with some hints to think about the concept of family and bloodrelations that gets served with a drop randomness. I definitly think I have to watch this one serveral times to fully get it or at least get a further idea about the intent of the creator. Also intresting was the way they made it up, hence the title of the entry. They made it up like a theater piece, a piece with just a handful of actors. It’s not that much present in the first episode but later on it gets more clear, when u have scenes in a very theater like manner with spotlight on a character and the others around in the dark (or complete not visible). Also u have that songs inserts made up in a funny and sometimes dramatic made up, which also remind me much on a theater. Another fact the viewer might figure is that the characters seems to have “joints”, not fully drawn out but indicated as if they’re puppets. It gives an additional intresting feeling to the whole thing which develops pretty hasty but gains from the speed and the confusion it sometimes causes. Also people who knows Kenji Kawaii’s works from other animes can hear out very nice his “flavor” out of the background music pieces, it was something I noted with joy as I personally like Kenji Kawaii’s works very much, and this one is definitly a one of his. I probably stated this earlier but he has this great ability to deepen the mood the scene bring with his music and to give it a unique touch I dont find in other animes/movies/series. I wouldn’t go too much in the story and the chars as the description gave u a fair idea of them and to go into the story may spoil it. Also anothe r reason is to me that I’m not sure yet to have it fully understood, but if you like a animes that is a bit different with an intresting fully setup this is one for you. Also I was wondering alone with a friend (Marcus), if they got payed for the constant advertising of Coca Cola, since u have in every single episode multiple appearances of Cola cans, sign and other stuff. Also one can note other big brands. I think after all its meant as some parody on them, but I’m not entirly sure. Maybe it is just that we’re very used to them obfuscate the brands, like making McWonalds out of McDonalds or Risa out of Visa (through one still can figure the original most the times when its international stuff). Kinda reminds me on Black Lagoon, where they changed Heineken (a beer brand) to Heireken, but kept the original can design and all^^. Anyway, enough of those memorys, if u liked my description of it, or found it at least intresting, pay Frostii a visit and grab your copy to watch it. Just keep in mind that u should watch it when u have time so u can think about it afterwards.

Opening

Source: YouTube

I was lucky to find this one, the rest of the “videos” on tube just consists of the music from the individual episodes.

-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

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

a picture of how it could look

Saitama prefecture (home of the anime Lucky Star) is currently considering a proposal that should make the schoolgirls of the prefecture wearing school uniforms which follow the design of the ones found in the hit anime “Lucky Star”. Here are are more pictures, one from the Uniform and one from Lucky Star.

The Uniform

Kagami wearing the uniform

The “Prefectural Anime Tourism Investigative Commission” came up with the idea behind this and also submitted this proposal. They’re a group of professional in the anime/manga industry which thinks when this is taking place it should definitly help to boost the popularity of Saitama for anime/manga orientated tourism. That would result in even more money for the local economey as they already earn with other stuff in this direction. Also they plan more meetings to find futher ways to improve the anime/manga tourism in the region. The final results can be awaited in 2010. The prefecture’s tourism board is non-committal: “We’d like to consider the results of their deliberations for events and so forth.” Well, i personally wouldnt disagree on that proposal ^.^

The reaction on 2ch (maybe also intresting in this context) are however mixed:

Saitama has started up!

Saitama is just too amazing…

These will probably encourage sex crimes.

Aren’t these uniforms unsightly? Their colours are designed for anime after all.

The uniforms are ripped off of ToHeart anyway.

The colours are totally unrealistic.

Whichever way you look at it, these uniforms are from an eroge…

Tourism is for people coming into the prefecture. These look a huge nuisance to students.

Let me just go get my little sister transferred to a Saitama school…

Well, we’ll see what comes out in the end.

Sources used for this article: Sankaku Complex

Enjoy, Death

And here we have one of the lulz. I found this old video (finally subbed!) of MiniMoni (a subgroup of Morning Musume) doing some funny stuff with lockers and the fact that they’re just 1.50 m. Here we go:

Source: YouTube

Enjoy, Death

Source: YouTube

Its maybe not the best quality and dont show tons of stuff but still its a funny lil tease, thanks goes out to Jd-, who gave me the link. I think we all look forward to this one.

-Death

The show is based on a light novel series by Katayama Kentarou, illustrated by Yamamoto Yamato. 16-year-old Shinkuro Kurenai is a Mediator – a specialist in settling squabbles between people. Despite his youth and easygoing nature, he is a man of some skills when it comes to protecting both his clients and his client’s interests. And then one day he is assigned as a bodyguard for Kuhouin Murasaki a seven-year-old. [stolen from AniDB] Desprite the kinda easygoing start of the series it gets pretty intense later, especially when the stuff around our lil girl gets revealed more and more. It shows not some random s-f stuff like one maybe wanna expect but rather some of the darker sides of tradition and idea’s of the people in japan. Through its probably not complete realistic i came to think that still some part of it are true while watching this show. I dont wanna go too much into detail here or i will spoil it and thats not what we want, right? Once again they produce a good story which shows characters that emotionally and mental evolving in a way that feels realistic, through a lil girl with the attitude of Murasaki is rare. But this way of beeing give her presents and also is a important part of the story. What i like is that she isnt that annoying as lil girl with that attitude in other series could be, but that probably comes from the whole situation that give it a different picture from what one is used to. Basically it’s not your nice happy sunday evening series but rather a honest series with some nice parts but a dramatic through still happy end. It keep ones emotion in continious motion from happyness from sadness and to anger. It made me feel a wide range of emotions and let me think a bit about the so called “upper class” after i finished it. Also it a bit of two worlds colliding. So, who like this kinda stuff or wanna give it a try, should watch it.

Trailer (particular subbed):

Short CM (raw):

-Death

yes, i failed to write the promised reviews last week. i even dont really remember what the fuck i did last week, so u can imagine it was a crappy one. Anyway, back to the point of this entry, i found today something that angered me heavily. See for yourself:

Many will probably say “great, finally a remake version of gits 1, i love it” or “yea, its finally worth watching” or similar, aka welcome it. But i say this is not a remake or improvement, its a great loss in my eyes and ruins what gits movie 1 stand for. Back in the days when it came out, it was a technological mile stone in animation, it showed stuff that wasnt there before like combination of 2d foregrounds with 3d backgrounds and such. Especially its perfectness was greatness as u saw such in other movies/series/watever before back then maybe but always really always it was flawed. The cg was not good enough integrated in the whole pictures so it was kinda outstanding. Basically my point is that this is one of the movies that never should have been touched, they only thing i would probably had wished for would have been a better mastered HD version on BluRay as the current one have room for improvement through there is worse like the R2 BluRay of Perfect Blue which have scenes with quality below VHS particulary. I dont like the idea to earse the memory what gits has brought us. Sure this movie aged and also the quality isnt up 2 date anymore but still it is something, something real great and it have to look as it is in the old real version. I loved and love it still, it raises great respect and emotions in me every time i watch it. The music alone can make me cry in joy and reverence, so i cant and never will fully accept this so called “remake”. It makes me even a bit sad to see that they try to squeeze out money of great old stuff by turn it into “modern versions”. I didnt liked the new nge version, and i even dont like the idea of gits redone. Well thats my point and my thoughts on this.

Death

PS: if you’re want more data, look around on ANN on this pages: Page1 Page2