tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188576272011-10-11T11:38:19.308+11:00Once a long-time otaku, I would consider myself somewhat of a `reformed otaku' these days. This is, however, subject to interpretation, especially as I could very well be regressing back into otakudom...Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.comBlogger2841100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-1389669380188516082007-05-28T07:40:00.000+10:002007-05-28T08:24:46.717+10:00

At long last I have been able to read the first volume of Juuni Kokki, and I was rather surprised with what I found. I was already aware that the anime had made some additions, but I did not realise how much: while the main story was the same, it was quite dramatic how much had been added for the anime! It has made me appreciate the anime far more too, as the additions truly enhanced this story

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-76451299604164130802007-05-25T12:33:00.000+10:002007-05-25T12:39:26.350+10:00

With episode five, El Cazador de la Bruja finally sounds like a real Kajiura Yuki series: positively gorgeous! The music has not been at the fore quite in the way I expect of a Bee Train series, but it finally seems to be doing it. I have to admit that I am beginning to like many of the main cast now too; they are quirky enough to be interesting. The plot remains very, very basic at the moment

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-35317603077766577592007-05-22T06:57:00.000+10:002007-05-22T07:06:51.479+10:00

Finally, with episode 30, I once again saw what made DEATH NOTE so good in the first arc: a battle of wits between Light and N! With Mello also in the mix, seeking revenge, perhaps this arc might have an impressive conclusion. With Near narrowing in on Light even faster than L, things were looking pretty rough on him, but Light appears to be taking the inititive by springing his own trap. I

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-7383863886999160992007-05-21T09:06:00.000+10:002007-05-21T09:08:17.487+10:00

Episode six of Lucky Star saw a general improvement in the series, but it it still nothing special. While the jokes and references were slightly funnier, they were still not laugh-out-loud funny, though we did get to see some impressive visuals. It continues to be a series that has a certain appeal to me, but it is far from anything special.Episode seven of Hayate no Gotoku! continued this

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-90210802283658925972007-05-15T08:01:00.000+10:002007-05-15T08:11:13.517+10:00

Terra e... grows quite exciting in volume two. Some considerable time has passed since the previous volume and the Mu and Humans have both been following their individual agendas. There were some very interesting revelations, especially on the past --- and future --- of the Mu, while the main plot was action-packed. While the series feels a little pulpy at times, it does easily grab the

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-72614863687591306142007-05-11T11:34:00.000+10:002007-05-11T11:36:14.861+10:00

Episode four of Lucky Star was more of the same, which is turning this series into a bit of a disappointment. While moderately entertaining, it lacks anything to really hold the viewer's attention, such as wit or interesting character development. It does have some potental in the characters and the constant references to anime and games, but it really needs to work this line better to save the

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-59733704343015009992007-05-07T09:05:00.000+10:002007-05-07T09:20:47.351+10:00

I was a little concerned about the second series of Saiunkoku Monogatari, but the first episode brought relief. They have not dropped the ball at all! The visual quality is maintained, and the characters are already continuing to grow. Just a funny little filler episode, it introduced another eccentric character and provided some fine entertainment.Episode five of CLAYMORE began the backstory,

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-70615959977715164732007-05-04T08:27:00.000+10:002007-05-04T08:29:08.851+10:00

Episode five of Hayate no Gotoku! was reasonable, but a little dull compared to the previous installment. The first of Nagi's friends to be introduced is simply a comedy freak, who fails to contribute to the comedy of the series --- a big mistake. The second friend is a typical moe character, but at least she put Hayate into a bad position... without doing anything herself. Since this is a

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-57869866217258205382007-05-02T12:33:00.000+10:002007-05-02T12:36:39.869+10:00

Chapter 285 of Berserk was quite well done. While I am itching to see more of Gattsu and his group now, Griffith has really got himself set up rather well. With the highest secular and religious support he could ask for, the people now being turned towards him as a result of this, and the knowledge that he will be king once he regains the kingdom... his dream has almost been fulfilled! For

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-15329130133650864682007-04-30T08:35:00.000+10:002007-05-25T12:40:19.628+10:00

Continuing Saiunkoku Monogatari with episodes 25-33, this final arc is really heating up. I am more than a little frustrated at how little Shuurei has fought back against Sakujun, but the other characters have been interesting enough even when she is not. The unwravelling plot of the Sa clan --- and I mean unwravelling! --- has managed to be quite captivating, though it never quite reaches the

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-62763424653132680382007-04-27T11:41:00.000+10:002007-04-27T11:46:27.521+10:00

Continuing Saiunkoku Monogatari with episodes 16-24, the series continues to amaze me. Just as I thought I had seen so many twists I could not be surprised any more, Eigetsu and Shuurei are sent to Sa Province! The plot and character development are all top-class, and this series does not look like it is going to slow down any time soon. Nothing is wasted, no character is meaningless; short of

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-53833454504916510302007-04-25T08:12:00.000+10:002007-04-25T08:15:47.122+10:00

Saiunkoku Monogatari continues along nicely with episodes 13-15. The troubles they experienced upon becoming officials were somewhat predictable, but they are both handling them rather better than I had anticipated. I wish they would hurry up and discover the documents that were left in the archives for them though, as I cannot wait to see what the significance of that scene was!Episodes 27-30

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-57970309789577675242007-04-24T08:21:00.000+10:002007-04-24T08:28:21.280+10:00

Continuing Volume 30 of 3x3 EYES, Natsuko is really messed up. Sure, it was obvious she always had a crush on Yakumo, but surely she could have got over it by now! Though a relatively minor arc, it could prove interesting, though I hope they add some humour to it --- it needs to be one of the lighter arcs, in my opinion.With episodes 7-12, Saiunkoku Monogatari continues to push home just how

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-20583082572858735042007-04-23T08:34:00.000+10:002007-04-23T08:39:27.452+10:00

Episode three of CLAYMORE cements its position in this season for me. Though still remaining tightly with the manga, the visuals are bringing the series to life enough to make up for a lack of surprises. Whether the series eventually diverges from the manga or not is yet to be seen, but I would imagine it does not move into the current story arc --- I doubt they would have the episodes.

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-67638951429567203232007-04-20T07:52:00.000+10:002007-05-25T12:40:27.598+10:00

The start of sola leaves me rather undecided on this series. The characters look like they may have potential, but the series also looks like it is unlikely to step above the average bishoujo anime. The fact that the writer of D.C. ~Da Capo~ was involved leaves me with little confidence either, given how low my opinion of that was. Still, the visuals were nice, and it does seem like the male

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-84940300174752315702007-04-18T09:44:00.000+10:002007-04-18T09:53:04.691+10:00

DEATH NOTE finally gets back on track with episodes 24 and 25! Light is, once again, Kira and quickly puts the rest of his plan into action. The way Light and Misa regain their powers, and Light works the situation in his favour, was brilliant; easily the best move yet made in this series! I found L's end a little odd, however; what was with all those seemingly meaningless scenes as his time

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-69161276868739514712007-04-17T08:24:00.000+10:002007-04-17T08:29:44.011+10:00

The first episode of Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha StrikerS was a nice little start. We did not get to see too much of the old characters, but from what we did see they are pretty well the same, albeit more mature. The two characters introduced here, however, were both handled quite well and look like they will be fun additions to the series. The episode also gave us a peek at what this series

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-28180412381920132462007-04-16T08:22:00.000+10:002007-04-16T08:26:29.794+10:00

Roujin Z proves to be a masterpiece of science fiction, presenting a unique tale that not only captures its audience, but makes them question the present. The basic plot of the movie was quite interesting, as it examined the way we are heading towards looking after out elderly, especially with an aging population, but the presentation was both thrilling and hillarious. While the soundtrack was

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-25522388117701062932007-04-09T07:44:00.000+10:002007-04-09T07:49:38.620+10:00

Armitage III has everything that made 90s cyberpunk anime good, and it is not so bad itself. With an exciting pair of protagonists, an interesting world, and a lot of the kinds of subtext that make cyberpunk fun, this series met all its basic necessities. Unfortunately, it did not do anything new either. The themes and plot developments have all been done to death before, which is what makes

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-551611525103139082007-04-07T08:01:00.000+10:002007-04-07T08:23:43.323+10:00

Chapter 222 of Aa! Megami-sama! continues the camera arc and, from the hints they have dropped so far, I am sure it was Keima's camera, while the photo is of Takano. While this arc does not look like it will be any better than the others in the ast couple of years, it gives me a feeling that something good may be just around the corner. Or perhaps that is wishful thinking?Episode three of Waga

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-40118292027710334672007-04-06T07:55:00.000+10:002007-04-06T08:04:08.851+10:00

Beginning to catch up on Mahou Sensei Negima! with chapters 165-7, there seems to be a clear winding-down of the current series, with Negi looking to leave Japan and search for his father. How this future plot arc will work is difficult to say, but given it is likely to feature far greater action, I have high hopes for it. It will surely be impossible for all the characters to join him --- at

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-89643884153068421482007-04-03T07:48:00.000+10:002007-04-03T07:51:39.406+10:00

Watching the second half of Street Fighter II V, I was bitterly disappointed. They seemed quite unconcerned with the details of the original backstory from the games, and the further the series went along the more of a mish-mash it became. What looked like half-decent viewing quickly developed into pointless tripe, making it a real chore to finish things off. A series with much potential, it

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-39125725970593923552007-04-02T08:07:00.000+10:002007-04-02T08:14:12.851+10:00

Gakuen Utopia Manabi Straight! episode 8 was quite an interesting episode. Having Manabi's opponent be her brother's girlfriend (and complertely different around him compared to when she is at work) was quite an interesting twist, but with Manabi and the gang given one, final, half-chance to work with, the next episode should be quite interesting. As usual, this episode featured some great gag

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-33420503382054535062007-03-30T07:47:00.000+10:002007-03-30T07:52:49.630+10:00

Continuing Watashi no Ashinaga Ojisan with episodes 15-20, the series is really growing on me. The characters are all lovely, and the plot is moving on at a nice rate. The developing relatioship between Judy and her room mates is proving a nice focal point, especially with the recent introduction of Leonora. The factor of Jervis is also proving quite interesting, especially with the way that

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-53040193032600812152007-03-27T08:54:00.000+10:002007-03-27T08:56:48.394+10:00

Starting Watashi no Ashinaga Ojisan with episodes 1-14, I have found another wonderful World Masterpiece Theatre title. Though the first couple of episodes were a little slow, once it got into the `fish out of water' plot it became quite entertaining. Judy is quite an interesting character, though very different from how I imagined her to be. Her costumes are quite wild, as is her personality,

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-88206664984225618502007-03-26T07:51:00.000+10:002007-03-26T08:02:32.161+10:00

With episodes 19-26 I completed PitaTen. The comedy seemed to peek in the middle and he conclusion was fairly predictable. Overall, this was a decent enough series. The angel/demon comedy was good for a laugh, while the visuals were very cute, but it took a long time to find its feet and the latter episodes were more serious, without having any substantial developments to support such a

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-68035617855638511362007-03-23T10:53:00.000+11:002007-03-23T10:58:04.248+11:00

Continuing Kodomo no Omocha, episodes 21-24 were pure filler, but they seemed to want to lighten the tone of the series after the previous arc, and they were quite successful in doing so. While these episodes contributed nothing to the continued development of the series, they were fun and humourous. While the gimmicks are still pretty second rate, the characters are taking over and making this

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-34946711666537215112007-03-21T08:11:00.000+11:002007-03-21T08:17:04.290+11:00

Picking up Kodomo no Omocha again, I flew through episodes 9-20. While the gimmicky manner by which they made the series continues to detract from it, the great characters and plot from the manga are finally pushing though and are making up for this. While most of the good parts are just copied from the manga, they have also been adding small bits that contribute nicely to the series, and at

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-51154004039201362452007-03-20T08:02:00.000+11:002007-03-20T08:11:10.515+11:00

Continuing with PitaTen, episodes 11-18 see a significant improvement as the series plays ever more on the commedic value of angels and demons being together. Even without this, parts such as the visit to the Mitarai castle were quite a lot funnier than in the manga, but nothing beats the visit of Misha's sister --- that was a hillarious episode that makes the whole series worth watching on its

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-37716696954061539232007-03-19T09:17:00.000+11:002007-03-19T09:22:05.691+11:00

Episode 18 of Ginga Tetsudou 999 was an interesting one, with Tetsurou being taken by a lonely woman living in the mud. It was another look at the rich opressing the poor, but also of the human spitit, which made for an interesting episode. The ending, however, was a little tragic, with her freedom being something she could never truly have.Episode eight of Dr. Rin ni Kiitemite! was also quite

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-33716560950690997342007-03-16T09:31:00.000+11:002007-03-16T09:37:16.149+11:00

Completing Akage no Anne with episodes 47-50, everything moved along much as anticipated, but it was no less enjoyable for this. The loss of Matthew was quite moving, and Anne's realistic expression of grief was quite touching. The way she changed her life to save Green Gables was quite inspiring too, especially with how she finally made her peace with Gilbert and they became friends at long

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-38089680922365069502007-03-14T13:56:00.000+11:002007-03-14T14:05:15.520+11:00

Akage no Anne episodes 44-46 build up nicely for the finale. The situation at Green Gables seems shaky, and they are clearly building towards Matthew's death, yet they focus strongly on the loving family that has grown over the past five years. Clearly things are going to get quite powerful in the remaining episodes, but the characters have been so brought to life that it should be a

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-5430721509973442762007-03-13T13:54:00.000+11:002007-03-13T14:05:40.265+11:00

Kodomo no Omocha episodes one to eight turned out to be a little disappointing. What started as a spontaneous and unbridled ride has quickly fallen into routine, with what seemed spontaneity turning out to be merely an unconventional style. Hopefully this will change for the best, but one of the major appeals of the beginning has fallen flat. The bits where the audio had to be removed were

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-89712496692934626782007-03-09T14:37:00.000+11:002007-03-09T14:38:55.566+11:00

Volume two of Seikai no Monshou was excellent reading. As with the first novel, all of the important content seemed to have made a perfect transition across to the anime adaption, but the additional details fleshed out in the novel were, this time, quite impressive. The characters and their world are coming more to life than ever before, making a series I already enjoyed all the more so. I now

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-85191855314451432732007-03-06T11:53:00.000+11:002007-03-06T11:55:21.674+11:00

Volume two of R.O.D READ OR DREAM was nice, but it was nothing more than fun fluff. Indeed, it does not look like this series will have much of an over-arcing story; if anything, it looks like the ultimate plot may be why Anita does not like books and changing her attitude towards them. The various arc are quite nice and feature some lovely character moments, but it is not a patch on R.O.D READ

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-16913770097099468392007-03-05T12:44:00.000+11:002007-03-05T12:49:16.263+11:00

Continuing with Akage no Anne, I have hurried through episodes 21-32, which have had some of the best developments yet seen in the series. The new characters, especially Mrs Allan and Miss Stacy, are proving a positive influence on Anne, while her growing friendship circle is proving an ever-valuable source of entertainment. With incidents such as Anne breaking her ankle and the concert, we see

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-48771811618385221032007-03-02T09:46:00.000+11:002007-03-05T09:19:30.702+11:00

I have not seen much anime or manga this week. I have spent more of my time playing FINAL FANTAST XII (which does not look to be getting any better) and Touhou Koumakyou ~ the Embodiment of Scarlet Devil (which I am only gradually improving at). I also received a couple of new kits in the mail. The Henrietta ~assaltto~ (GUNSLINGER GIRL) from VOLKS looks wonderful! The kit is smaller than I

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-28806626137727450772007-02-26T11:17:00.000+11:002007-03-05T12:51:56.356+11:00

Reading volume four of the Gakuen Utopia Manabi Straight! manga, I have decided that it is just not worth it. The plot and character development is identical to the anime, but without the small visual extras that ufotable add it lacks the charm, and with nothing extra there is little point in reading it. A rather disappointing title. On the other hand, episode 5 of the anime was quite nice,

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-70466002641675491782007-02-22T14:03:00.000+11:002007-02-22T14:05:00.830+11:00

Episode 22 of Sugar Sugar Rune was more sugary filler, but as per usual it was the better kind of filler. For the most part, it was more of the same: Blanca gets in Chocolat's way as she tries to get a heart, but through her efforts and some misused magic she manages to succeed in the end. While there were some good magical moments in this series, I did like how it had the message of hard work

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-68798472553961193612007-02-21T14:16:00.000+11:002007-02-21T14:23:38.875+11:00

The final DVD for Part One of Tenchi Muyou! Ryoouki is, quite frankly, almost a rip-off. Putting the main content aside, paying as much as normal for one episode and some extras is plain stupid. This should have been a two DVD release. Rant-aside, the concluding special is quite nice and is an appropriate end to Part One, but it is nowhere near the best episode ever. Some of the bits, such as

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-82514748777607571182007-02-19T14:17:00.000+11:002007-02-19T14:21:37.909+11:00

I finally completed Asatte no Houkou, which turned out to be a nice series, but nothing altogether special. It had a suitable ending, and I liked how both Karada and Shouko learned to not only accept their lives, but also managed to grow into the sort of person they wanted to be while still returning to their true selves. It was a well-executed series with lovely visuals, a nice soundtrack and

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-5499144363511363342007-02-16T09:55:00.000+11:002007-02-16T10:02:44.362+11:00

The second DVD of the third installment of Tenchi Muyou! Ryoouki remains good viewing. While I was originally disappointed by the battles of episode five, or, more to the point, the lack of any real battles, I have now come to accept it for what it is. It shows that all the characters are so powerful that a bunch of flunkies are nothing, yet even they were nothing before Z. With a translation

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-36846336098052226032007-02-15T13:54:00.000+11:002007-02-15T14:04:20.865+11:00

After having left it aside for so long, I decided it was about time I watch Umi ga Kikoeru. A lesser-known film by Studio Ghibli, it certainly meets their normal standards as far as visuals are concerned. The plot was quite different to what I had anticipated, but it was quite enjoyable none the less. My only real complaint was the anachronistic telling of the story. Because the characters

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-12081803484004436782007-02-14T14:09:00.000+11:002007-02-14T14:12:58.387+11:00

Completing Touch with episodes 96-101, the series manages to go out with a big finish. The revelation of Tacchan's feelings about Kacchan along with him finding himself at last, as well as the finally developments of Kashiwaba's character, combined to give this series a fitting conclusion. Tacchan striking out Nitta, while predictable long ago, was still quite nice to see; the resolution of

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-72860723504423143692007-02-12T10:00:00.000+11:002007-02-09T13:49:47.698+11:00

Continuing Touch with episodes 81-95 things have definitely picked up to the standard of the rest of the series. The developments in Tacchan and Kashiwaba are both quite interesting, and leave me wanting more after each episode. The smaller issues, such as Koutarou with his injured shouler, also make for exciting episodes. The characters of Yoshida and Sasaki also finally make sense, showing

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-20535559896916504942007-02-09T12:42:00.000+11:002007-02-12T14:15:45.480+11:00

Volume three sees the completion of Hiatati Ryoukou, but it was a little surprising. A good volume, the baseball has been pushed aside and the series focuses more on the characters. This, along with Adachi's trademark fourth-wall-breaking humour, made the volume a far more entertaining read, but the end left me wanting. Rather than providing a conclusion the series simply ends just as things

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-63697639882243915802007-02-08T14:22:00.000+11:002007-02-08T12:24:52.712+11:00

Episode three of Gakuen Utopia Manabi Straight! was quite nice, and seems to firmly cement the style of the series. Like Azumanga Daiou before it, we are presented with a high school-based slice-of-life series with a group of weird female students. The high quality of animation continues to be present and the visual style is quite appealing. The characters continue to look interesting, but I

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-91928160906144842922007-02-07T07:11:00.000+11:002007-02-08T15:38:31.992+11:00

Touch 71-80 felt like the wind-down of another stage, and the lead-in to the final part of the series --- in actuality, this is probably what it will turn out to be. Though I cannot say things `improved' at this time, it definitely felt like it was just about to return to what I loved about Touch. There were some good moments in here, and they finally seem to be getting over the whole `mother

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-42008967880491727452007-02-05T08:33:00.000+11:002007-02-05T08:36:55.989+11:00

Touch 61-70 gets us well into the third year of High School, but it has not been the best part of the series. While the exposition on the Coach has been quite interesting, Yuka never fails to annoy me more than she does the characters and there have been few entertaining developments in Minami or Tacchan. Ideed, these ten episodes have been little more than `our coach sucks, boo-hoo'.

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-1170391121775821342007-02-02T15:36:00.000+11:002007-02-05T08:46:36.282+11:00

Keroro Gunsou episodes 25 and 26 were quite enjoyable. The Momoka's father-daughter battle was really well handled, being even more enjoyable than the manga version. The underground battle was probably the best action sequence we have seen yet in this series. The sports festival was also quite good, though not quite as enjoyable as the previous episode. As with the manga, Giroro's entrance in

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-1170299264679698442007-02-01T14:05:00.000+11:002007-02-05T08:39:16.899+11:00

I aught to start with some late figure reviews. Firstly Alter's TYPE-MOON Collection has proven that gashapon need not be poor quality. Whilst obviously smaller and less detailed than Alter's regular figures, they are still quite well done, and generally have only minor flaws. Arcuied Brunestud, while painful to put together, strikes a dynamic pose, locked in combat with Nrvnqsr's familiars.

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-1170212711797140722007-01-31T13:56:00.000+11:002007-02-08T11:50:47.450+11:00

Volume two of Hiatari Ryoukou! continued hoping that the reader could suspend their disbelief that the last-minute additions to the team were the ultimate players, whilst also mixing in some vague romantic tensions --- which also ask you suspend your disbelief that such developments could even be possible. The series makes no attempt to be relalistic, and it is also far from Adachi's best work,

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-1170039622011109972007-01-29T13:57:00.000+11:002007-02-09T10:28:51.484+11:00

The latest chapter of Aa! Megami-sama! was decent enough, though there seems to have been a rather dramatic change in Aoshima's design since we last saw him. This new arc with the camera could prove interesting, but I cannot help but think of the Brough Superior arc and suspect we may be onto something similar again here. What is it with Keiichi and old things anyways? He seems to know and

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-1169757555601270002007-01-26T07:37:00.000+11:002007-02-09T10:29:31.917+11:00

Episode 17 of Kingyo Chuuihou! continued to offer the same crazy comedy that we are used to. With things jumping on wild tangents, it was definitely kept things interesting the whole time. Wapiko did not get much of a chance to shine this time, rather Chii-chan seemed to take over for a while, not that this was a bad thing.Episode eight of Renkin 3-kyuu Magical? Poka~n was a welcome improvement

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-1169694019993293022007-01-25T13:59:00.000+11:002007-02-08T12:07:02.270+11:00

The first episode of Gakuen Utopia Manabi Straight! proved to be rather interesting viewing. Firstly, the episode looked beautiful with cute character designs (as is to be expected of a Dengeki Daiou title), flashy action sequences and generally good art; pretty well a given for a first episode, but it shows they have a good team assembled for this show. It appears to have an oddball cast,

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-1169675640191282702007-01-24T02:51:00.000+11:002007-03-02T19:50:23.380+11:00

I finally checked out the first episode of Fushigiboshi no Futagohime, a series I had heard some good things about. While the main characters, Rein and Fine, both seem to be pretty good, I the mascot looks like he will get pretty anoying pretty quickly. The series looks more than a little like Futari wa PreCure meets Puchi Puri Yuuchi, though it seems like it could be subtly less anoying than

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-1169435147609451232007-01-22T14:04:00.000+11:002007-02-06T20:45:24.563+11:00

Continuing with Renkin 3-kyuu Magical? Poka~n, namely episodes 5-7, I find myself a little frustrated. Every time this series looks like it might be getting good, such as Uma going to Hell, it turns around and presents a boring episode, such as Liru and the full moon. I suspect this will end up being the sub-par series I had always expected it to be, but I could yet be proven wrong.The latest

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-1168891628916311022007-01-16T06:57:00.000+11:002007-02-09T10:17:42.872+11:00

I checked out a a couple more episodes of Renkin 3-kyuu Magical? Poka~n and I believe I am finally beginning to understand the apeal. It may be predictable, it may not be treading any new ground, but it is one of those titles where everything is so stupid that it is funny. It is not yet laughing out loud funny, but it is beginning to become entertaining. I shall definitely have to watch the

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-1168808066227331912007-01-15T07:50:00.000+11:002007-02-08T16:25:05.574+11:00

Unable to bear the wait any longer, I grabbed scanlations for the rest of Mahou Sensei Negima! and read through them. The Festival arc did not disappoint providing lots of slashy scenes, great plot developments and some rather interesting character developments too. The aftermath should prove quite interesting, but I suspect it will not be long before the next arc gets started.The latest

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-1168570846631568032007-01-12T13:54:00.000+11:002007-02-08T16:30:55.583+11:00

The next volume of Shin Lupin III released by TOKYOPOP continues to maintain the same level as the rest of the series. Dirty one-liners, impossible trickery and the craziest cast around, along with the brutal violence, continue to make this a hilarious series. The real stand-out in this volume was Zenigata being interrogated by `someone', who kept changing as they removed the next of a series

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-1168486585023139112007-01-11T14:32:00.000+11:002007-02-05T09:04:07.056+11:00

Last night I eagerly dug into the next two volumes of Mugen no Juunin and was blown away. Every time I thought the proverbial had finally hit the fan, things got just a little worse. The battles were exciting and beautifully drawn, and the plot continues to become ever more interesting. I can hardly wait to get my hands on the next volume! I also read the next volume of Karin, which catches

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-1168398401611195462007-01-10T14:03:00.000+11:002007-02-05T09:05:05.522+11:00

Continuing Touch, I moved into the start of Part 2. The way everyone is reacting to Kazuya's death is very well done, but it is already becoming exceptionally interesting to see how Tatsuya is developing from here. It is only the start of his dive into baseball, but things are already looking like they will develop in an entertaining way. I then decided to give Renkin 3-kyuu Magical? Poka~n

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-1168225520652895732007-01-08T14:01:00.000+11:002007-02-08T12:13:16.529+11:00

I started the weekend off by completing Eikoku Koi Monogatari Emma, which now has me prepared to start watching the new season. Studio Pierrot performed excellently in their presentation of the first arc, though there were a couple of small sections that I felt moved a little too slowly. In general, it is an excellent adaption of the manga, and I look forward to seeing how they continue the

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-1167879374155498132007-01-04T13:55:00.000+11:002007-02-05T09:06:34.779+11:00

Last night I decided to throw on the first half of Eikoku Koi Monogatari Emma. This is a truly amazing piece that I cannot comprehend the lack of a license for. Beautiful visuals, detail one expects only of a BBC production and some rather good seiyuu performances --- particularly from Touma Yumi, who presents a wonderful Emma. Even as a fan of the manga, I find the tweaks and additions they

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-1167792966329422072007-01-03T13:54:00.000+11:002007-02-09T10:25:58.210+11:00

The the close of the years-end break, I made one final break for geekery. I started off with a bunch of Mahou no Star Magical Emi episodes. Sadly, I am a little disappointed with this title. The concept is quite good, but it is nowhere near as good as the other Studio Pierrot mahou shoujo titles. On the other hand, the Winter Garden special was some nice, light viewing. The characters and

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-1167512441451760892006-12-31T07:39:00.000+11:002007-02-08T16:18:51.233+11:00

I started yesterday off with Lupin III 1$ Money Wars, which was a pretty decent Lupin III movie. It featured plenty of good action, one-liners and excellent trickery. It would not rate with the best of them, but definitely a step above average. The latest Kanon was also good viewing, with Mai's arc approaching its peak, but Shiori's arc is also moving along nicely now too. They are managing

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-1167424608314630782006-12-30T07:21:00.000+11:002007-02-12T10:04:47.084+11:00

I started yesterday by completing ToHeart 2, which was a little disappointing in the end. It was decent enough viewing, but fell far short of the standard set by the original. The visuals were beautiful and it had its moments, but the characters never became overly appealing (except Tama-nee) and the scenarios were sub-par. Trying to use Konomi as an equivilent to Akari at the end was pretty

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-1167337007050706802006-12-29T07:15:00.000+11:002007-02-06T20:40:35.871+11:00

I started yesterday with Lupin III Walther P38 In Gedenken an die Walther P38. Fairly Par for the course, there was nothing particularly outstanding with this movie and the lack of Zenigata action was rather disappointing. A decent watch, but nothing to make it stand out from the croud. I also watched a few episodes of Candy Candy, but I am still unable to understand what the deal with this

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-1167250795193565322006-12-28T07:17:00.000+11:002007-02-06T20:40:20.041+11:00

I finally decided to check out Touch yesterday and I was pleasantly surprised. I had been a little concerned that there would be too much of a baseball focus, which would make it difficult for me to follow things, but thankfully this is not the case. So far, this series looks like it has an interesting group of characters and an interesting plot. I shall definitely continue with this title. I

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-1167164606951960662006-12-27T07:21:00.000+11:002007-02-06T20:40:05.413+11:00

I started yesterday by finishing off Juuni Kokki. A truly masterful piece, it is truly a shame they have never made any headway into completing it. Certainly, an announcement of its completion would make 2007, but I cannot help but wonder if it is at all possible. There would have been an enormous number of people involved, so it would be an equal undertaking to bring them all together again.

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-1167078860926518192006-12-26T07:30:00.000+11:002007-02-06T20:39:57.846+11:00

Christmas break has rolled around, so some time for a little anime has popped up. I began by finishing off Tokyo Mew Mew. The very end was much the same as the manga, but it was quite well done. As the series drew close to the end, the art seemed to improve quite considerably --- perhaps an injection of budget late in the game --- which improved things somewhat, but the plot and character

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-1166670461438627332006-12-21T14:06:00.000+11:002007-02-08T16:09:01.316+11:00

I started Suzumiya Haruhi no Douyou yesterday, but the initial chapters were nothing special. They were among the best episodes of the anime, but it was the visuals that made them rather than the events themselves (well, and the music for Live a Live). Well, Kyon's commentary for the movie was actually a little better in the original short story, as there was more of it, but we still miss out

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-1166586321752019802006-12-20T14:44:00.000+11:002007-02-09T10:08:36.308+11:00

Yesterday I continued Tokyo Mew Mew and was rather pleased to see it improves later one. Whilst some of the early episodes possessed more than a hint of Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon, this practically disappears once the real story begins. Not to say there are no obvious influences, but that is to be expected. As you read the middle of the series, the anime focuses more on what made the manga

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-1166413066305391932006-12-18T14:35:00.000+11:002007-03-26T08:03:50.632+10:00

Some new figures arrived before the weekend. Firstly there was Studio Kotobikuya's Yomiko Readman. A beautifully designed and nicely detailed figure in a great pose, this one immediately found itself displayed in a prominent location. They have captured Yomiko at her coolest with this excellent-looking figure. Secondly, Kotobukiya's Arche Klein also managed to impress me. Another nicely

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-1165980922339847452006-12-13T14:33:00.000+11:002007-02-06T20:38:51.329+11:00

I started yesterday off with the colour manga... I mean anime version of Sakigake!! Cromartie Koukou. Despite the cheap way they made this series, it seems to work fairly well and the seiyuu have performed well enough to make up for the lack of animation. Though very hit-and-miss in its jokes, the anime tends to spend more time on the better jokes, though it still can get sidetracked and spend

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-1165806307054127592006-12-11T14:01:00.000+11:002007-02-07T07:22:18.818+11:00

I started the weekend by completing Gankutsuou. Despite its bad reputation, due to its visual style, this is probably GONZO's best work, with a wide cast of well developed characters and a deep plot. Personally, I loved the audio/visual side of it too, even if they are not to everyone's liking. Adaptions of classic novels do not tend to go well, despite coming from such a strong basis, but

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-1165551876543959782006-12-08T15:23:00.000+11:002007-02-06T20:37:47.112+11:00

I watched a little more Keroro Gunsou last night, and things contine to be at a high level. Honestly, if this series can maintain this level --- or better --- it would definitely be worth buying. I am seriously considering it now! I also read another volume of the manga, and this one had me in stitches. Especially when Natsumi was turned into Lum, that was a classic! It is not like I have

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-1165465012978654132006-12-07T15:16:00.000+11:002007-02-06T20:37:34.863+11:00

Last night I watched some more Keroro Gunsou and finally can fully appreciate its popularity. Once things get going, the anime is actually quite funny. I am sure most of the Gundam references are going completely over my head and I probably miss some of the less explicit references, but the rest of it is quite entertaining. The characters are completely crazy and it is not too bad visually

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-1165376060822826622006-12-06T14:31:00.000+11:002007-02-06T20:37:24.673+11:00

Yesterday I finished off Bubblegum Crisis. I really appreciated this series on a different level this time, paying more attention to how the different directors handled their episodes with such varied styles. Episodes as powerful as MOONLIGHT RAMBLER are almost enough to turn me into a Priss fan, but how could I not be a die-hard Nene fan with SCOOP CHASE? It is a right shame this series was

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-1165202753551537892006-12-04T14:21:00.000+11:002007-02-09T10:26:06.602+11:00

I started the weekend by rewatching Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha. I notices a few things this time I seemed to have conveniently ignored before. The early art is definitely pushing a lolicon angle, though this moves on (thankfully), though there was a lot more fanservice than I recalled in its place. Though only a decent series for the most part, it possesses a strong cast of characters and I

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-1164943659668588012006-12-01T14:26:00.000+11:002007-02-06T20:36:29.598+11:00

I tried to like Mahoraba ~ Heartful days, I really did. I just cannot see it as anything more than horridly overrated tripe! As I watched more of it last night I felt I might have been grasping at what may have been its primary appeal, but really I was just grasping at straws. It is generic and unfunny. Well, it is mildy amusing at its best, but I cannot say I laughed even once in what I saw.

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-1164855929622067272006-11-30T14:04:00.000+11:002007-02-06T20:30:55.239+11:00

Last night I continued reading Mugen no Juunin. I had thought this manga was looking pretty good, but little did I know... that was only the introduction! Things are beginning to move on a much larger scale, and a degree of realism is moving in. The development continues to be strong and the art exceptional. In fact, the developments have been rather unexpected. They are quite appropriate,

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-1164773319168754592006-11-29T15:05:00.000+11:002007-02-09T09:58:57.386+11:00

Yesterday I checked out the BLOOD THE LAST VAMPIRE novel, and was reasonably impressed. It reads very much like an Oshii film --- a good Oshii film --- and took some very surprising directions. It also revealed where some of the better concepts used in BLOOD+ originated from. Unfortunately, it was a Dark Horse release, and as such is quite flawed. It seems quite apparent that no one bothered

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-1164598712568669852006-11-27T14:34:00.000+11:002007-02-09T10:04:00.378+11:00

I started yesterday off by completing Suzumiya Harushi no Yuuutsu. Whilst the final episode was pretty awful, though some of the cost-cutting was still amusing, it does not detract from the series overall. The concert remains my favourite scene, though I will admit I am not as overly hyped as I was the first time. Definitely a quality series, and one I shall surely watch a few more times in

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-1164343953539536582006-11-24T15:51:00.000+11:002007-02-06T20:30:07.743+11:00

Last night I decided to try rewatching Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu, this time in Haruhi's order. I only got through the plot from the first novel, but so far I am pleased to say that I still enjoy it --- I am glad I had not just got caught up in the hype that followed the third episode and blown it out of proportion. Looking at it objectively, I can now see that Kyoto Animation cut corners far

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-1164252429616766562006-11-23T14:18:00.000+11:002007-02-06T20:30:00.290+11:00

Last night I read most of Suzumiya Haruhi no Bousou. Only another collection of short stories, they are pretty entertaining with Haruhi turning the world up-side-down all the time!. The Day of Sagittarius was particularly good, though I do like the additions that Kyoto Animation had made, as they made it even more enjoyable. Still, with a cast of characters like that, any simple scenario has

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-1164166015391486032006-11-22T14:23:00.000+11:002007-02-06T20:29:51.000+11:00

With the movie box set finally arriving, I egarly started watching Lupin III DEAD OR ALIVE. I can say only one thing: no one, but no one does Lupin III half as good as Monkey Punch! Although the basic elements of this movie were the same as all the others (as you would expect), this one had a very unique feel and style. This was not only fresh in its visual style, but also in the

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-1163996625299281482006-11-20T15:21:00.000+11:002007-02-09T10:12:21.243+11:00

I started and ended my weekend with light novel chapters. I started with the second volume of Zero no Tsukaima. Currently, most things are still quite similar to the anime, with only relatively minor changes. Nothing special yet, I hope things get more interesting soon. On the other hand, I completed Suzumiya Haruhi no Shoushitsu which concluded in a rather unexpected way. All-in-all, it was

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-1163646562392311042006-11-16T14:04:00.000+11:002007-02-06T20:28:47.843+11:00

I started yesterday off with the next DVD of Saiyuuki RELOAD, where things are finally good. Back onto the manga, the jokes are a lot funnier, the story is more interesting, the characters are, well, in character, and the action is more violent. The art is still a little dodgy at times, but at least it was not too distracting. After this, I completed Koukaku Kidoutai S.A.C. 2nd GIG, which was

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-1163387361692839422006-11-13T14:06:00.000+11:002007-02-06T20:27:58.388+11:00

I started yesterday with the next episode of Kanon. I know I am getting repedative, but I just cannot get enough of this. This is far superior to the Toei series in not only character development, but also in general entertainment value. I can just imagine the pathos Kyoto Animation shall conjure once this series gets into the core of things. DEATH NOTE continues to impress too. I was quite

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-1163129110131106342006-11-10T14:23:00.000+11:002007-02-08T11:46:50.190+11:00

Last night I checked out Lupin III Hemingway Paper no Nazo. Par for a Lupin film, it was mildly entertaining and had some good moments, but it offered nothing that I have not seen in a half-dozen others. Some of the scenes were quite well thought out, and a lot of the developments between characters were quite nice, but there was nowhere near enough Zenigata, and nothing really stood out as

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-1163025362513616182006-11-09T09:34:00.000+11:002007-02-06T20:27:28.037+11:00

Having put it off for so long, I finally decided it was about time I finished of BLOOD+. The concluding episodes were mostly fairly predictable, though I had not expected so happy an ending to the series --- I had expected Saya and Diva to kill each other. The series as a whole held an awful lot of potential to go several ways. I was initially disappointed they did not follow the path of BLOOD

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-1162955951803440982006-11-08T14:14:00.000+11:002007-02-09T10:06:27.837+11:00

A long-weekend, but I fit in surprisingly little for the amount of free time I had. I started off by completing Mahou Tsukai Tai!. A fun series with much of what made the original OVA good, I found the inconsistencies a little jarring in places. It is not quite as good of a series either, but still entertaining. The character development is quite nice, though some of it seems a little forced.

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-1162523074821095272006-11-03T14:03:00.000+11:002007-02-09T10:26:08.216+11:00

I continued with a little more Mahou Tsukai Tai! last night. Things continue to be a lot of fun, and the relationship between Sae and Takakura seems to be moving along, as well as the main plot. The episode where Akane has the hiccoughs is probably one of the funniest in either series, and it is not like the rest is bad. I also read the latest volume of Sakigake!! Cromartie Koukou, which was

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-1162437105425866022006-11-02T14:10:00.000+11:002007-02-06T20:26:21.864+11:00

Following from the OVA, I started the Mahou Tsukai Tai! TV series. In some ways not quite as good as the original, this series continues to be a lot of fun, and has not lost the charm that makes it good viewing. I just cannot for the life of me work out why they would suddenly add the letters to Mikey-sempai though! Obviously they replace Sae's diary, but you would have thought someone so

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-1162179011585102702006-10-30T14:28:00.000+11:002007-02-06T20:22:33.869+11:00

I started yesterday with the latest Kanon, and continue to be pleased by this series. I had entered with skepticism and hessitation, fearing it would fall short of the Toei version, but my expectations keep getting met. The girls begin to meet each other, and the hints towards who everyone really is are getting dropped all around the place --- not that anyone who does not know the end would

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-1161923581698592582006-10-27T14:26:00.000+10:002007-02-06T20:21:15.846+11:00

Last night I completed BLUE SEED. Whilst a dramatic finish with excellent twists and lovely character development, I guess I have seen enough better shows these days to no longer get excited over it. It was good, however, to see the omake for the first time. Although some of them were pretty flat, and one totally gross, most were quite enjoyable, and they seemed to get funner later on. I also

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-1161835773210246912006-10-26T14:07:00.000+10:002007-02-09T09:51:30.168+11:00

Last night I decided to continue BLUE SEED, and was pleased I did. I began to rediscover what makes this series good in the third quarter. The character development really picks up nicely, and the plot becomes a lot more interesting. Even the soundtrack, whilst not the best I have heard, is quite enjoyable. I only wish I had a more solid foundation on Japanese mythology as, whilst I recognise

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-1161750015475552882006-10-25T14:18:00.000+10:002007-02-09T09:55:22.534+11:00

Yesterday I watched the next episode of ARIA The NATURAL. Perhaps one of the more overt `nothing at all happens' episodes of the series, I found it to also be one of the more enjoyable ones. It was nice to see `Grandma' make a return, and Akari and Alicia have some great moments in it. Very nice. I also checked out the first episode of Galaxy Ange-Ru~ne. Quite different in style from the

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18857627.post-1161578820077644432006-10-23T14:43:00.000+10:002007-02-09T09:55:48.291+11:00

I started the weekend with the first half of BLUE SEED, but I fear I may be a little over this series nowdays. Despite its excellent cast, interesting plot, good comedic moments and reasonable action sequences I was finding it difficult to maintain my interest half the time. Trouble is, I cannot pin what it is that is turning me off. Far superior to Takada's Aokushimitama BLUE SEED in its plot

Elric of Granshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514999532806208389noreply@blogger.com0