Well, after much hype and excitement ever since it was announced in fall of last year, it's finally here -- Idolm@ster has finally gotten its first anime adaptation!!!
Whazzat..?
....what are you talking about, of course this is the first one.
...Xeno...Xenoglo-what? Sorry, no hablo espanol.
As much as I'm sure that ruse fooled no one, I too watched some of 2007's Idolmaster meets Gundam adaptation, but quit very early on due to lack of interest and time, and due to genuine frustration from the character rapage. Though maybe I'll finish watching it eventually; I've heard it's really not that bad.... if you're not really an Idolmaster fan at all.
However, this OVA, that came with the new
Idolm@ster: Live For You! game, is definitely the real deal -- no swapped professions, new character designs or different seiyuu (though at the same time, no awesome action scenes or SUPAR SUNRISE BUDGET).
Though to be honest, overall I didn't think it was that bad. The art wasn't great (despite it being a one-episode OVA...(;´Д`) ), but I didn't think it was nearly as bad as a lot of people are complaining about it to be. I'd put it roughly along the same lines as what we got in
MagiPoka or something. Also, for nothing more than a 15 minute episode, there really isn't that much to look forward to in terms of story, but it wasn't terrible. Here's a rundown..
All of the idols are getting ready for an event for fans to take place tomorrow evening. On the way home, Haruka tags along with Chihaya who's decided to stay late and do some last minute warm-ups. A little later, Miki comes with drinks. (<-- this is important) The girls wake up after oversleeping on the train they were supposed to take home and are now at a train station in the middle of nowhere, with no way to get back. Miki sees a taxi (<-- also important). But, their luck gets even worse when the taxi they were riding breaks down and they're forced to stay at a creepy old mansion for the night. The three girls take a bath (A bath in the large, frightening, and unfamiliar house filled with strange men. Brilliant.) A little later, Miki wakes the other two up to tell them that their housemates don't exactly seem the friendly type (they've apparently beaten the crap out of the taxi driver), and without delay, the girls are off running for their lives. They (illegally) hitch a ride on a truck and try to make their way back to Tokyo...however, they're caught and are forced off, leaving them again in the middle of nowhere. Apparently, this had all been a stunt for some sort of "Punk'd"-esque television show (Haruka and Chihaya were drugged into going to sleep by Miki, and the taxi driver and men from the house were all actors). However Miki is quite shocked to wake up and find out that things didn't go as planned (they actually got on the wrong truck). With only hours to go before the fan event, the girls call home and find out they must bus-ride their way to a train station to make it to Tokyo in time. How they manage to do so without any money is a mystery. Unfortunately, the girls are too late and the train leaves without them! (aww..) But Haruka taps into that place all innocent anime main characters have and swears to keep going despite all of these obstacles before her -- their fans are counting on them after all! In the end, Miki nudges at the fourth wall a little in mentioning that it would be great if a giant robot of some kind would come down and rescue them. There is no robot, but instead Iori's father's helicopter comes to the rescue, and the girls make it in the nick of time. The three girls happily run to their friends. Haruka falls down (<-- important).
THE END!
Now..
Why would they plan this on the day before such an important event?
Where the hell was the staff in this production supposed to be??
These are among some of the things I would have wondered while watching this, if I wasn't so fucking stoked at the very fact that I was watching it in the first place. Being the huge Idolmaster fan that I am, getting to see these girls do their hijinks in something other than a drama CD was a treat all on its own. Not to mention that since it's so short, I've been able to watch it over a number of times now -- probably around 10, in fact (not including my most recent viewing to take screenshots. Either way, I wish I could stop...)
Of course it would have been nice if the episode wasn't necesarrily so Haruka-Miki-Chihaya centric, but those three do seem to be the defacto main heroines.
But really, probably only 2 of the other characters had more than 30 seconds of dialogue. What a waste..（´・ω・）
By the end of the credits roll, however, I was almost half-expecting a next episode preview or something. Everything about it seemed so much like it was a pilot episode to an actual TV show, what with the focus on the 3 main girls and all. Focus on the many relationships between the other characters could be left for later episodes, and I wouldn't at all mind 12 more episodes of this. Hell, I'd even stick around for another 25.
...but probably no more than that.
Labels: Misc
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Wednesday, December 26, 2007
ARIA series finale
工工工工工工工エエエェェ(;´Д`)ェェエエエ工工工工工工工
Labels: ARIA, Misc
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Monday, October 29, 2007
Yes! Pretty Cure 5 sequel KETTEI!!
I feel a little bad about having my last entry about Pretty Cure sound so dismal. I swear, I still religiously watch ths show (for reasons now beyond me..).
Well, apparently now I can watch it for a lot longer, as the second season has finally been confiremed under th name Yes! pretty Cure 5 Go Go! (As in "Go Go Go!", or, "Go Go God, that's a terrible pun!"). Though really, this isn't much of a surprise. ...To some people, anyway.
Not much has been confirmed about it as of late, unlike the
impressive early leaks for the first season last year. However, some speculations include Milk not gaining a human form in this current season, but in the next one, and of course the standard addition of a new character or two. Also standard, a start date of sometime in February of next year. ...Can't wait!
In other news, I haven't posted much recently, have I?
Hehe...Hm.
well there was once a time when I was working on redesigning the page, but ended up putting that on a shelf in place of school (always school... orz). But I'm sure I'll be back soon. There are a lot of things I want to talk about!
See you then~
Labels: Misc, Pretty Cure
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Friday, June 15, 2007
Hitohira ep. 12
(Warning: This entry contains SOME LIGHT SPOILERS
...and..confusion (the good kind this time..).)
You know, I never did get around to blogging about my favorite show last season, Hidamari Sketch. ..Even though I really wanted to, at times.
...so lazy.. orz
But I wasn't going to let that happen this time around -- oh, no.
That's because Hitohira isn't just my favorite anime for this season, it may very well turn out to be my favorite anime of the year.
Read the rest!
I'm not quite sure why I took so long to write about this -- probably because right after watching it, my thoughts about this final episode were mostly jumbled. Even right now, they still are.
I've also been spending some time watching the ep over a number of times (mostly on nico video. It's good to see that everyone got as confused as I did).
But let's get started.
Coming off of the cliffhanger that was the end of episode 11, I was expecting a lot of things with this episode. Well, I got just about none of them.... And I loved it.
Of course, there were the things that we've come to expect to be in the last episode of this series, such as Chitose finally confessing to Katsuragi, and naturally, lots and LOTS of Mugi stressing about Nono and the others (though especially Nono) leaving after graduation.
What we also got, however, is a very enjoyable party by the Drama Club (which catered to BOTH Drama Clubs) where Nono frankly apologized for splitting up the two, some as to be expected great animation, all topped off by one of the most beautiful mind fucks I've ever been subjected to...but I'll get to that later.
Early on in the show's run, I knew I liked Chitose (or Orinaru, if you've understandable forgotten her name). She's one of the show's biggest sources of comic relief, and yet she's still such a great character. She's pretty stupid, but she at the same time has a good head on her shoulders. She's helped (or at least attempted to) Mugi out of a number of her darker moments. If there's any reason why I would want to pick up the manga from where the anime leaves off, it would be to see how she fares in taking the place of Kayo in Mugi's life.
...Or maybe Kai will be the one to do that.
..Yeah, I...don't think anyone wants that, really. ( ´ε ` )
And after being a mess of emotions and unexpected cuteness throughout the majority of the series, Mirei turned out to be more the beacon of strength in this episode. Heck, this time around it was even Nono who did the crying, not her. The scene the two shared with the Prima Vera costume was quite well done, I'd say. It was short, simple, and yet conveyed what was trying to be expressed so well.
"I'm so sorry, Mirei. I wanted to be on stage with you.."
Hmm.. it's like what the Nono we see in episode 6 wanted to say to Mirei when she saw her in the mirror. Or at least something close to it. I'm really up in arms about these two, however. Is what these two share true love, friendship, or just a sort of actors' camaraderie? You decide (yeah, I'm leaning towards the first one, too, but after the roof scene, it all seems so unclear..).
And so we return to the rooftop.
(gosh, Mugi must have been cold waiting for Nono up there..)
Just thinking about this scene gives me goosebumps. The director and animation staff definitely pulled out all the stops -- and truly there was no better a place.
But of course, after watching this scene (about 5 times now, perhaps) I have many questions.
Why did Mugi have the banner for the Engeki Kenkyuu Kai? Wasn't that given to Nono?
And what else was in that bag that Mugi gave her? Though I guess that should just be all up to our imagination (hopefully it wasn't just a picture frame and card).
And lastly..
WHAT THE HELL JUST HAPPENED??
...in the more literal sense of the question, of course.
"Magic" happened, yes, that much is certain. But... why..?
Given what is obvious to us, Mugi runs up to Nono and hands over the bag she brought for her. Finally, they clasp hands, draw their faces closer to one another and--
**PIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII**
[insert WTF moment here.]
..one minute later, the two are in the same position, and eventually part. Both expressing their gratitude to each other (Nono once again doing that rare feat of calling Mugi by her first name). So... is what these two share true love, friendship, or just a sort of actors' camaraderie..? ^^;; (Oh, does it really matter?)
All in all, I can't remember the last time I felt this way after completing a series; it really was a strange plethora of emotions.
..The feeling of being so happy that its end was so beautifully handled (there are so many other things that struck me about the end but... you really just have to watch it yourself).
..And yet also sadness that with the conclusion, it also means that I won't be able to have this show to look forward to anymore...
And then once again feeling so happy and proud of Mugi for her growth, and for how bloody cool she looked (you know Noriko from Gunbuster? ..Yeah, she doesn't have anything on Mugi. ...okay, that's a lie)
And even my confusion as I tried to makes sense of what went on during Mugi and Nono's...moment.. was also meaningful to me.
And of course on on top of all of that were the emotions I've had building up from the rest of the series. I thought every episode after 8 was especially tear-jerking (with many people joking that each one was a last episode).
But as I listened to the End Theme for the last time (for real this time), I wanted to cry. I wanted to cry loudly, but I couldn't. All I had were those emotions, and a heavy heart that refused calm down after this experience.
...I think this must be what it means to be...moved. (つ∀｀)･ﾟ･
...Okay. So that was pretty terrible, but what do you expect, I just got through watching a a show about drama.
Oh, and lastly, did I mention how incredibly epic the music was in this episode? No? What WAS I thinking?
Labels: Misc
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Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Izumi Sakai (Zard) dies at age 40
Featured Song: Don't You See!I'm certain most people have heard of this already, but it truly is a tragedy.
Singer Izumi Sakai has died after sustaining head injuries in a fall from the edge of a hospital building in Tokyo, her management agency has announced. Sakai, a member of the popular group ZARD, was 40.
Sakai fell about three meters from the slope outside Keio University Hospital in Tokyo's Shinjuku-ku, apparently after coming back from a walk. The slope was slippery due to rain.
A passerby found her lying on the ground at about 5:40 a.m. on Saturday. She had suffered head injuries, and was confirmed dead on Sunday.
Source: Mainichi Daily News
Don't You See! was probably the first song I heard from Zard back in 1997. Perhaps you recognize it as well. They in fact became one of the first Japanese bands I ever followed, and it's incredibly unfortunate that we'll no longer be able to hear any more of Sakai's music..
Labels: Misc, Music
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Monday, March 12, 2007
Rocket Girls ep. 1 & 2
Yukari Morita starts her summer vacation, travels to a remote island, becomes an astronaut, and begins and ends the search for her long lost father all in 2 episodes. ..Am I sure I didn't just watch the whole series?
Read the rest!
Needless to say, I think this show probably shouldn't be taken too seriously... but seeing as it sort of treats itself that way, it gets pretty tough sometimes.
The story revolves around Yukari Morita, a second year highschool student who attends the Neriss School for girls in Japan. ...But we'll get to her later.
SSA (Solomon Space Association) is Japan's mini answer to NASA, is located in the tropical Solomon Islands, and has been planning to send a Japanese into space for some time. ..However, due to an umpteen number of failures, the budget is worn down to nearly nothing. They are left to work with a small, weak rocket that only has power to lift a pilot under 40 kg into orbit. Of course, SSA's trained pilot(s?) are nowhere near that size (nor are they entirely willing to be sent up into that death trap), so SSA's left in a bit of a pickle.
Thankfully, at this moment Yukari just happens to be on her own little expedition to the Solomon Islands (by herself..) -- her motive being to find her father who dissappeared on the remote Axio Island during his honeymoon some 17 years ago. After getting lost and nearly killed, she meets up with a Isao Nasuda, the head honcho over at SSA, who sees Yukari as a gift from God. He offers to help find Yukari's father for her... in exchange that she help them with a little part-time job. What kind of job? Oh it's simple -- so easy, in fact, "a monkey could do it".
..And that's more or less what we get to see in episode 1. Of course, Yukari is left clueless that the "part time job" she volunteered for is actually that of a space pilot until the second episode, but she doesn't take the news too badly (noisily, on the other hand...). After all, to find her father, she'll do anything. ..At least for the summer, anyway.
Luckily, with most of the plot and setting establishment out of the way, the second episode proves to be a lot more enjoyable... especially if you're a bit of a sadist. Scene after scene is Yukari being forced into one embarassing and confusing situation after another on her first day of training, all the while demanding a proper explanation of it all (one particularly embarassing scene worth noting is when Yukari is forced to get naked in cold room in order to get fitted for her space suit. Accentuated by... an incredibly creepy doctor there for the measurements). Of course, all of this torment is still more funny than it is pitiable. ..Or at least I think it is.
The story, however, takes a few unexpected leaps forward after Yukari is shoved out a plane (still training, of course) and lands in a nearby village. She's greeted by a young, happy-go-lucky girl named Matsuri who thankfully speaks Japanese. After Yukari introduces herself, Matsuri notes that the village chief has the same last name as her. What a coincidence!
Long story short, the eccentric village chief is most certainly Yukari's father (verified by Yukari herself) and Matsuri just happens to be his daughter (and therefore, Yukari's half-sister). After a funny/serious scene that included Yukari threatening to take her father home by gunpoint, to two decide on a compromise. Yukari's father (who's name is Hiroshi, by the way) will go home with her, after Yukari goes up into space. This way, Hiroshi has time to say goodbye to his village, and Yukari won't have to ditch the job she just signed up for. So everyone's happy.
That is, if Yukari's father actually believes she'll survive the trip..
Oh and for good measure, Isao hires Matsuri (who also happens to meet the weight requirement) to be Yukari's backup pilot. Two catches in one week! What a lucky man you are, Isao!
Impressions:
Okay, disregarding how realistic it must seem to become an astronaut over summer break, this is turning out to be a pretty good show. Mostly thanks to Yukari, who kind of reminds me of Haruhi (Eri Sendai and Aya Hirano's voices sound similar to me..). This makes the times when things don't exactly go her way all the more enjoyable. Matsuri is good for a token feral girl-character, and has been proven useful (in ep 3) to give way to some surprise yuri (incest..??) moments between her and Yukari. Also, the third astronaut, Akane Miura, hasn't been seen since the first few minutes of the first episode, and I have no idea how or when she'll come into the story. ...But I do hope it'll be soon. She's so cute I fear she may already be my favorite.
Unfortunately, despite all that's going for it, it looks as if this show probably won't get much attention. Seeing as unlike other two mid-season shows (Pretty Cure 5, and Ikkitousen Dragon Destiny) it's not a part of a huge, long-running series with established popularity (former), nor is it a 24-minute panty shot (latter).
Either way, if you're into watching raws, give this show a shot. But I hope it gets subbed sometime, however... granted, with some 40 new shows coming with the Spring season, subbers might become too busy, and this show might be doomed to be overlooked... TT^TT
...Well, at least there'll be more people to sub Idolmaster! （ * °∀°）b
(seriously, even I'm gonna be all over that show.)Labels: Misc
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