Ya know, I hate to admit it, but I've been wondering whether or not I should keep following this show after all. But I'll get to that later.
This episode formally introduces Pikachu...I mean Ruka, who works under Sonoka (the evil chick with the glasses) and just LOEVS to pester Sumire. Though there are a good amount of discrepancies, the main story behind this ep actually takes place in the last chapter from the 2nd volume, so damn is this show moving fast (I wonder if it'll be 12/13 episodes rather than 26..?). But anyway, in this episode we also get..
And now, back to what I was saying earlier on -- it's not that I don't like the anime.. more like.. I don't like it as much as I do the manga (lol, well that part is at least obvious). Anyway, whenever I personally choose to watch an anime over its manga counterpart, it's mostly just because of the fact that I love my seiyuu and I love my OSTs. ...and right now, it seems that this show doesn't really have either of those two things going for it (well, except for Lucia's voice. Sumire's voice is okay, too, but it kinda irks me sometimes).
But more than anything, I think what will make me want to stop watching the anime is because... (and this might be because I was introduced to the manga first) but.. somehow I think I'd rather be spoiled by the manga and then see it again in the anime, instead of the other way around.
Granted, I've already been spoiled concerning a few things -- the true nature of Lucia's brooch, and then in this episode we get a little more insight on Lola and Lyla's relationship. But what about when we get to the important things? (i.e., the yuri).
Oh well. This might just be how I'm feeling now, fresh off reading the 4th volume. And forcing myself to ignore the anime could be tough, seeing as there's a chance the next vol might not come out until June. D:
Anyhow, where we stand, we're still far from the anime catching up to where the manga is, so at least for the next couple of weeks, I'll still be watching. ..Or at least until Rocket Girls starts. I've been looking forward to that, y'know. Perhaps alone..
Yes! Pretty Cure 5 ep. 1
Do you remember when you watched the first episode of Pretty Cure (the original series, that is)? Well, it doesn't matter if you thought it was shit (like a lot of people did) or not, given that you haven't been following this series nonstop, if you were to watch the first episode of Pretty Cure 5, you'd very likely be blown away. I sure was. Sorta.
Jesus bleedin' Christ what merchandising can do for a franchise. I will forever wish the VVV anime had a budget like the one of this children's show. But I digress..
The stage this time is Sankurumieeru (I know that transliterates to something, but damned if I'm gonna figure it out) Academy, which like the original series, is a girls' school. If the title doesn't give it all away, Pretty Cure will now be a group of 5 girls, instead of the regular two, and the occasional third wheel. Our group of girls is as follows.
Nozomi Yumehara is a girl with a name full of puns. Also, like many classical mahou shoujo leads, she's an idiot. But though she may not be very good at nearly everything, she is a girl of pure intentions, and is quite bent on finding something of her own that she can do. Meaning this show could possibly go into the 100's of episodes. She will transform into Cure Dream.
Rin Natsuki is Nozomi's althletic childhood friend with a good head on her shoulders. For the first time, the popular sports wiz of the group actually isn't made the character the show focuses on, which I think is definitely for the best. I really like her -- she reminds me of Ichino from Battle Athletes. She will transform into Cure Rouge.
Urara Kasugano is a child actress who just transferred into the school as a first year. Before I watched the show, she seemed like the "spunky younger character that talks in the third person a lot"-sort of archetype, and I thought I wouldn't like her. However, I was surprised to see that she actually seemed to be a very mature, almost serious character. I now look forward to seeing her go crazy underneath the pressures of stardom. She will transform into Cure Lemonade.
Karen Minazuki is definitely the "Sachiko" of the group. She's a third year student from a wealthy family, student council president, and is also pretty no-nonsense. I like her alot. Conflicts between her and Nozomi (especially when on Pretty Cure duty) will be inevitable. She transforms into Cure Aqua.
Komachi Akimoto may not fit the bill looks-wise as much as her best friend Karen, but she'll probably be this series's new Honoka. She's polite, soft spoken, and a member of the Library Commitee. A tough job, I'm assuming, as this school has a library that can quite possibly put Congress's to shame. Might I add that between her and Karen, there are yuri vibes that are off the chart, but I've learned not to hold my breath when it comes to this show.
Though she seems gentle, according to the site she can get pretty angry sometimes, which I'm looking forward to seeing like all hell. She will transform into Cure Mint.
I also think I should mention that while in the library, she notes to Karen that Nozomi somewhat resembles her(Karen). And I can see it now -- though they won't actually be the best of friends most of the time, Karen will probably be one of the characters that resembles Nozomi the most in that although she excels at and has been thoroughly trained since birth in about everything, she too won't really know what she truly wants to do. She might realize this eventually, but probably won't admit it..
..Or at least that's just what I saw. Maybe it was just me.. I feel safe stating these assumptions now as there's a good chance I'll never blog about this series again.
So anyway, in addition to the amount of characters, the show's mascots are also different. No, they're still annoying balls of fluff that say their names after just about everything they say, but now they actually have the ability to transform into people instead of just cellphones. Very handsome bishounen, in fact. And the main character actually developes a crush on one of them (yes that's right. you didn't read any of that wrong).
The villains also seem a little scarier this time around. While watching, I was beginning to wonder if this show was still okay for young kids. Though that may be because I'm a wimp.
Like the 2 series before it, Pretty Cure 5's villains have a token monster they use to take care of their dirty work that has a name with a not-so hidden meaning (Zakenna → Fuzakena, Uzaina → Urusai na). This time we have Kowaina, who I think is an improvement on both. For one thing, it doesn't explode into apologizing stars when defeated, and secondly.... it's pretty darn creepy. Jeez, If there's anything that might make me stop watching this show, it would be so I wouldn't have to hear that thing's voice..!
So all in all, I was pretty surprised by this show's first episode. I may end up watching more episodes of it than I origianlly thought. At least more episodes than I did Splash Star.
Though the similarites are there, at least this time around, the characters aren't so blatant clones of our original Pretty Cure duo. Which I think is good. And though I'm sure a number of people don't really like the idea, but I think the fact that there are now 5 girls has it's upside. For starters, there's a lot more things you can do with this amount of characters. So while I think Splash Star may have been a bit of a filler series, at least this time we may be up for a run that could challenge that of the original show.
I hope I'm not getting and SS fans mad now. I didn't watch much of the series, but I'm sure it was lovely... in it's own way.
....Let's just come to an agreement that the original is still the best.
We miss you, Nagisa and Honoka. Please make a cameo as background characters in this show or something. (;´Д`)
Labels: Pretty Cure
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Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Venus Versus Virus vol. 4
(Warning: This entry contains SPOILERS...that.. may or may not relate to the anime, but still, spoilers. And you know what that means.
So if you'd rather not hear where and how the manga's progressed in terms of plot and character developments, then for God's sake, don't read further!)
No, I haven't given up on the anime, I'm still very much a follower of it, even though I may be a little strained (granted, it seems to be getting better).
What I am quite fervently following, however, is the manga, which fills me with joy and glee with each volume (well, actually, the third one was a little "meh", I thought). However, the fourth installment of the series was finally released about a week ago, and it's certainly filled me with said joys and glees. It may in fact actually be the best yet.
Read the rest!
..In my opinion, anyway.
What I thought was wrong with the third vol, actually, was that it might have spent a little too much time on needless action, and showing off Sumire's newfound powers (or rather, control of them). Some of the chapters, to be honest, seemed to almost downright be filler. The quality of the art in some places didn't really help that, either.
But I digress, the 3rd volume is still a great read, and of course crucial if you want to know what the hell's going on in the first chapter of this volume (not to mention the effect it casts over the rest of the entire book).
The first chapter of the 4th volume picks up right where the third leaves off -- the middle of Sonoka's planned hunt for fragments (which are to my understanding, small glass-like shards that exist in people that have the ability to see Viruses, and what apprently keeps them from becoming Viruses themselves).
So close, yet so far..
Aw, darn it Sumire, just when you get control of your Berserk side, it comes right back and bites you in the ass. Well, at least it helps her become pretty cool again (picture related).
After she scares Ruka off, she of course succumbs to her insatiable appetite for Lucia and heads to where the twin-tailed girl is currently fighting Gai. Through some persuasion and very clever double entendres (and of course, her sharp claws) she causes Lucia to lose her eyepatch for the first time.
This was a very interesting scene. Though she did cover her bare eye the one time she took off her eyepatch in the anime, the implication that she has a deep stigma about it doesn't come through at all. It being off numerous times in the OP doesn't really help that either.
The fact that Lucia was beginning to be attacked by that creeping darkness problem is most likely a factor in her erratic behavior, but Lucia also demands thar Sumire not look at her (Sumire however, who's still in Berserk mode, mentions that it's pretty).
Thanks to her eye's mysterious power (..of being very bright, I guess) Gai's KO'd. So with him out, and Ruka scared out of her wits, the good guys win by forfeit.
Oh, and if you're wondering what happened to Layla, she took herself out of the game early on her own accord. She wanted a snack.
Now, for a good part of the book, the girls mope. Or rather, Lucia mopes. Sumire mopes, too, for a little while, but is soon cheered right up by Yoshiki-san's gentlemanly charms.
...Speaking of him, he's been getting stranger and stranger.. He's not normal, that much is clear. However, I don't quite think he's with the bad guys, per se. He might actually be in a completely unrelated faction, and could possibly go to either side. I'm interested to see what happens.
Dun Dun DUUNNN...
Well doesn't she look familiar.
Anyhow, after receiving a mysterious letter, Nahashi decides to go ahead and take a trip back to Lucia's home country, where he'd spent time as a researcher and met Lucia's mother. He thus very formally leaves Sumire in charge of Lucia's "delicate condition", and the two girls become their only company.
Though despite Sumire's efforts, Lucia only moves herself further away from Sumire, going as far as to move out of the room the two share and spending time alone in Nahashi's room. The two girls both blame their individual faults for the distance.
Nahashi, however, while revisiting an old building happens upon a rather intriguing young lady... You can probably tell who it is from the picture so why bother explaining.
Back in Japan, Sumire gets an idea from Yoshiki-san that she should find a way to cheer Lucia up. And her brilliant plan is to stage a picnic by luring Lucia out saying there's Virus trouble in the park (stupid, but adorable).
...Granted, this plan of course fails miserably.
Adding insult to injury, Lucia tells Sumire that the two of them are essentially just strangers, and that she shouldn't force herself to reach out to her. Sumire, quite broken now, promptly leaves. Later, Lucia finds the picnic basket Sumire'd prepared on the table outside.
Sumire, while taking a walk to collect her thoughts actually makes it as far as Youji's house (you remember him, right? Tsukuyo's brother, who's quickly becoming a recurring character..). She visits the boy and tells him of Lucia's condition. While the two talk, Sumire learns of the present Lucia gave him, and Youji gives Sumire a letter he wants her to give to Lucia. So she might cheer up.
While returning home, Sumire is approached by Layla who recognizes Sumire..and consequently Lucia, who is suddenly standing right behind her (wtf? did she teleport?). Though once again, the creepy little goth loli poses no real threat, as now it is time for her tea. And just as quickly as she enters, she's gone again.
Kill me, Miriell--erruhh, Sumire!!
Once returning to Venus Vangard, Sumire gives Lucia Youji's letter. It seems to strike a chord within her. Many of Lucia's anxieties and insecurites concerning herself spill out onto the floor in this scene. She refuses to believe someone cares about her, and forces Sumire into Berserk mode, telling her to attack her.
..But she doesn't (if you don't count that slap to get her back to her senses). In a touching scene, Sumire admits that not only can she not kill her friend, but she refuses to treat her like a stranger.
..Touching, that is, as observed by Lola, who's just arrived at the shop and saw the whole display.
Naturally, the girls mistake Lola for Layla (note: you can tell the difference by the mole under her right eye, actually), and promptly attack her... which causes Lola to spill her chocolate (oh hell no). This thus sparks a shortlived free for all between the three that was mostly entertaining.
I'm flying, Jack, I'm flying! ( ´∀`)ノ
Oh god, I cannot hold back my love for this part.
After everything's settled and Lola's moved into Nahashi's room (not before making it her own), Sumire and Lucia discuss their new houseguest. Lucia mentions the she (very wisely) doesn't quite trust her yet. Sumire, put off my Lucia's still cold attitude tries to think of a way to soften her up a little.
And she does.
..and it works magic! ミ☆
...But only for a little while. Just when the two are getting cozy, the mood is broken yet again when Sumire's cellphone begins to ring. It's none other than Yoshiki-san, very awkwardly asking her out on a spur of the moment date. And suddenly, Sumire's on a cloud.
Before she can even get down, her school mates call her to plan some hang out time tomorrow, and Sumire is all for the plan.
..When she finally returns to the room, however, she finds Lucia has pulled the curtain on her bed and decides to go back to her own bed, assuming she'd gone to sleep before her. ...She hadn't. (つД｀)･ﾟ･
Anyhow, the next day, Lola goes out early to do Lola stuff, and Sumire admits to Lucia that she'd actually invited her friends over to Venus Vangard to spend some time. ..News that Lucia takes surprisignly well. The two clean up the previously closed shop and wait for their guests... that very soon come in squawking like geese at everything they see -- Lucia included. The entire scene is all very enjoyable, I think. It was nice to see Lucia in her very un-Lucia-like shopowner-mode again, that we first see her in early in the first volume. And when Lola comes back and the girls all have (a very strange) dinner, we get to end the last chapter on a happy, relatively stress-free note. Something else that we haven't seen since volume one.
Mystery(?) Solved
Oh yeah, and if it wasn't enough, we learn something else about Lucia this volume -- her age (and I guess Sumire's as well). This was actually something I'd been wondering for a very long time. To be honest, I would've guessed her to be a little older (I was thinking along the lines of 16-18, actually), but 15 is just fine.
Impressions:
Well that was awesome.
This volume had everything that I wanted to see. There was very little action in it, unlike the last volume, but where it did exist, it was total win. The first chapter really had me excited, too. It helps that we get the return of Sumire's Berserk side (who strangely enough, is really one of my favorite characters, i think.)
Huh, so Lola isn't an anime-only character after all. I'm not sure if I like the anime's way of having her as a main character to start with, over the manga's way of having her show up later at this point. Either way, I'm not minding this trade out for Nahashi at all.
It's probably a necessary plothole, but I wonder if Sumire and Lucia questioned Lola about her uncanny resemblance to Layla (who I guessed was her twin)? Well, it'll be interesting to see what'll happen when these two meet up again (if they've ever even met before..)
This was a very good volume for Lucia. I mean, really good. Not only do we get to know what goes on inside her head more, but she's put in a great deal of positions where she becomes rather... cute.
It was certainly something to see the usually calm and collected girl go through so many different emotions. And now I like her even more.
Granted, this isn't to count out Sumire, who as always, has her fair share of cute scenes. I for one thought it was adorable that Sumire seemed to be amused by the fact that Lucia's bed smells of a mixture of her perfume and cigarettes. Unfortunately, though, she comes up a little short in terms of character development this time. I mean, this girl REVOLVES around Yoshiki-san as if he were the sun.
Oh, but speaking of the bed scene, as good as that part was, I think the best part was probably the times when after Sumire'd gotten out of bed, there'd be a panel of Lucia's silent frame, as she pretended to be asleep. There's so many things I want to say about it, but.. Oh well.
There are a few other things in the volume that I didn't quite cover, but hey, I've gone on long enough as it is. They're mostly minor details, really, and things concerning the villains and their agenda, which can be given more attention in later issues. This volume was all Lucia and Sumire. And that's how I likes it.
Labels: Venus Versus Virus
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