I don't think this blog would be complete if I don't blog about the last episode of this show.
So I will.
Gokujou Seitokai ep. 24
Well, that was a long break.. oh well, all the episodes I skipped sucked, anyhow.
And so the Taiikusai comes along to Miyagami Gakuen. What the hell? Didn't summer end like 10 episodes ago? It's rare that one would see time move so slowly in anime. But whatever. Thankfully, we never have to sit through any tired sports festival gags.
Kanade's grandfather dies (gasp). Kanade decides to take over the Jinguuji family with her mad ambiguous sup3r powarz. Thus, she announces that she's dropping out of school in front of the entire student body. WTF?? No Kanade = no Miyagami Gakuen!
Allow me to stop there and rant about something I've been complaining about with almost every episode of this show.
Jesus, the art sucked.
Now, I'm really starting to get rather fed up with it all, since this show is once again showing its surprisingly impressive serious side, and the animation is positively leagues behind the acting of Junko Noda, Chiwa Saito etc, etc. I know I point it out every time, and I must apologize, but it can really ruin some scenes..
Anyhow, where was I? Oh yeah. One by one, the Gokujou Seitokai falls apart, from Nanaho vowing to drop out along with Kanade, to Kuon declaring her secret undercover mission of secrecy kaput. But that won't stop Kaori! Oh no, she leaves her younger siblings to fend for themselves while she goes out to find her Kanade-sama. Much to her surprise, she finds Rino had the same thing planned... as did everyone else. Seina even brought transportation! Look out evil doers! There's a busload of school girls headed your way, and they are so ready to open up a can.
*huge sigh*
And so the climax comes along to Miyagami Gakuen. Here's to hoping it will be a good one, and here's to hoping that most of the animation budget was saved for these last two eps. *thumbs up!*
Labels: Gokujou Seitokai
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Friday, August 19, 2005
Gokujou Seitokai Character Single 2
Well, I was pretty wary of this single at first, considering that I thought the first one was DOA. However, I'm glad I changed my mind.
Not only was I was really quite amazed at how well
Junko Noda (Kinjou Nanaho) could sing (a part of me is still caught up on her playing Reki from Haibane Renmei sometimes..), but
Kaori Shimizu (Ginga Kuon) surprised me quite a bit. No offense to Miss Shimizu, but she has always sort of left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth when it comes to her songs, ever since I was first introduced to her singing voice from the ending theme to
Strange Dawn. Maybe some people know what I'm talking about... Or maybe some of you want to skin me for saying that. In that case, then bring it on, bitches.
Either way, this time around, she sounds great. *sigh of relief* At least now, I feel a little more confident for the upcoming final Maria-sama ga Miteru Image Album (that will be released on
9/22)...
The songs really fit the characters as well... It's always best when songs do that, don't you think? I mean, singing about random crap is fine too, but not the same.. But anyway, the upbeat (but not
too ubpbeat) jazzy rhythm of Kuon's song
Dragon Hane suited her wonderfully, and an extra flair was added with the rather sophistocated lyrics, that sounded like something she herself would write.
..can you tell that that one turned out to be my favorite yet? I'll give the lyrics to Nanaho's song to make up for the lack of attention (and because it's just easier on me..)
Oh, and the mini-drama was funny, too. What more could you ask for?
Endless Way
(Japanese Version)
果てないこの夢を乗せて輝く風を
この胸に抱きしめて
手探りの中 真っ暗な闇で
かすかにきらめく光がある
誰も知らない君の足跡
追いかけてはまた失う
目覚めたばかりの翼に
地平の果ては密かに誘いかけてる
ささやき合う海風よ
どうか飛び立てる勇気と力を…fly high
心に舞う優しい景色 そこにはいつも
君がいて微笑む
どこまでも そう海を、 森を、 砂漠を越えて
きっと辿りつける
彷徨いだした真昼の月を
探し出す君の夢見たよ
どこか遠くで呼んでいる声
道しるべにまた佇む
あらゆる悲しみも憎しみも
包み込むような瞳を守っていたい
ひとりにはさせないから
もう二度と離れたりしないよ…trust me
見上げた空 虹の向こう 広がる未来
ひたすらに愛しい
特別な理由なんてなにも必要ないから
ただ そばにいたい
新しい季節が始まる 生まれ変わるように．．．
眩しいこの夢を乗せて輝く風を
今 胸に抱きしめ
いつまでも そう君を、 夢を、 愛を信じてく
この想いよ強く舞い上がれ
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Endless Way
(English Version)
I will ride this endless dream
and embrace the
sparkling wind to my chest
As I fumble about in the pitch darkness there is a faint, glimmering light
I recognize no one but your footsteps and run after them less they slip away
I summon wings
and the edge of the horizon secretly gives me encouragement
its whisper merges with the sea breeze
"Somehow, fly with all of your strength and courage...fly high"
You always exist in the kind, dancing
scenery in my heart
Smiling at me
I'll cross the ocean, woods, desert, it doesn't matter where
I'll always keep going
The aimlessly wandering midday moon seems to be searching for the you I saw in a dream
A voice calls from afar and stops me
in the middle of this familiar path
All of your sadness and hate
is there, wrapped up in those eyes I wish to protect
you'll never be alone again
because I'll never leave you... trust me
I look up at the sky and beyond a rainbow lies a vast future
that is genuinely precious
I don't need a special reason or anything
I just want you by my side
A new season is beginning and it feels like I'm born again...
I will ride this dazzling dream
Now, I embrace the sparkling wind to my chest
Now and forever, I will believe in you, in that dream, in love..
These feelings mightily soar
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Labels: Gokujou Seitokai, Music
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Thursday, August 18, 2005
Gokujou Seitokai ep. 20
Wow, I didn't really see one scene that looked like the animators were drawing while inebriated (much like the last episode). Very awesome, indeed.
...It probably won't last.
Ayu becomes an idol. Ayu becomes a loli sex symbol. Ayu (and consequently Rino) becomes the target of an assassination plot by her ninja twin brother. Just another day in the world of Gokujou Seitokai.
(minty introspection: Huh. So Ayu's from a ninja family... then what about Kotoha? Isn't she s'posed to be a ninja, too? ...Or maybe they're both ninjas.....from separate..clans.. but isn't that sorta ninja overkill? Wait, what am I saying. You can never have too many ninjas.)This episode indeed does explain a lot about Ayu-chan's character, and why she seems so carefree. I've really enjoyed how this series fleshes out seemingly each and every character of this show. well.. except poor Kanrinin-san (what the hell's her real name again..?), but I'm sure her time will come. This was a good episode overall, though not as good as the last one, I think. Definitely worth the time nonetheless.
Anyhow, next ep is a (presumably more serious) Rein episode. Once again, I'm happy for the change, and am looking forward to the secret behind Rein's "powers". Yes. Throwing playing cards at people. Truly, a formidable foe.
I'm kidding, I really do like her.Labels: Gokujou Seitokai
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Saturday, August 13, 2005
Gokujou Seitokai ep.19
Sometimes I forget how on crack this show is. But then I see scenes like two puppets transforming sentai style and then attacking an assailant with their lifeless limbs and everything becomes clear again.
And by clear I mean very, very strange.
Well, after a couple character episodes, we go back to the main story (I was beginning to forget there was one..), and I really liked it. There were a lot of funny moments, such as the aforementioned one, and so many of Ayu's moments, where she expresses the "wtf" feeling this show generally conveys (and exactly what happened last night? o_O). However, hilarity aside, there were really a lot of developments. We find out that Kanade did indeed call Rino to Miyagami Gakuen (as if that wasn't obvious already..) and some foreshadowing on how mysterious Rino really is.... not to mention poor Kotoha getting shot down by Seina's dark side (complete with with change in tone of voice..)
Next ep: Ayu-chan becomes an Idol! Well, it's about time she got her episode. I'm looking forward to it -- she's really one of the funnier minor characters.
Labels: Gokujou Seitokai
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