PENGUINS

I tell myself I'm quitting anime for the nth time... but then something like Penguindrum shows up. Dammit.

EDIT:

Why can't I get this show's music out of my head?

Sigh

I've pretty much given up on anime, but it needs to be said:

This would've been _so_ much better as a Shinbo/SHAFT production.

Lost in Suburbia

Suburbia desu.
Insanity desu.
Huh?

Cool ED sequence, bro.

Also, loldrama and lolfail.

Bakemonogataring

Ugh, some words are just not meant to be verbified. I was searching bk1 for the Bakemonogatari novels, and was surprised when DVDs and Blu-rays popped up. Now, I know this is old news, but I'm still a little shocked when I see R2 DVD prices: ￥5250 for frickin' two episodes, not to mention 6300 for the special edition, and 7350 for the Blu-ray. There's a little less rage involved for the Mayoi Maimai discs, where you get three — count 'em, three — episodes for a price bump of only 1050 yen!

Anyway, episode three of Bakemonogatari was brilliant, and got me interested in the original novels. As you may expect, there just isn't much discussion in English to be found on the internet about Nishio Ishin... I take that back, since the first Zaregoto novel has come out in English, there's a lot of stuff about that. Aside from that small slice of Zaregoto, though, the only impression I've got is that "Large chunks of Bakemonogatari consisted of dirty jokes run through a nerd filter" and "Katanagatari, shit till the bitter end" (thanks, Andrew Cunningham).

I'm heading off to make a pilgrimage to Kinokuniya today, and wondering whether I should buy the first Zaregoto book. I could buy it in English, or in Japanese, or both, assuming that Kinokuniya's online stock check is giving me accurate information. (As an aside, I don't really understand how Kinokuniya chooses to stock certain series in certain stores, and why they seem to be hopelessly behind when it comes to featuring products associated with currently-airing anime. Also, when I pick up a book and its price tag is dated something like 5/2006, I feel like I'm the only person who buys things at Kinokuniya. But that's a separate matter.) Some of the reviews have given me pause, but I'm still interested to read the author's breakout work, resplendent in its youthful exuberance.

Blasphemous thoughts

This is a mortal sin, but it must be said: this episode was boring. The use of montages was troubling, especially the smooth-jazz backed cicada one, where I was trying hard not to strangle myself. And whoever told Aya Hirano to sing with vibrato needs a swift kick in the pants. Er, manpris.

OK, time to watch episode 3.

Whoo

Out of all of the events in the Haruhi novels, "Bamboo Leaf Rhapsody" is the one I remember most clearly. This is partially due to the relative simplicity of the plot; compared to some of the contortions in later arcs, nothing much happens, but it's all rather straightforward. What I like about this particular story is how casually epic it is. Time travel stories tend to involve dramatic means of making the leap, whether it be via a machine or portal or device. Here, Kyon travels through time in the most mundane way possible. Yet at the same time he's given glimpses of the mind-boggling power that his associates wield. Finally, if I may lapse into sentimentality, there's the sense of destiny. Kyon's actions while time-traveling are integral to the present, a plot device that carries echoes of one of the most satisfying story arcs in Kimagure Orange Road. (And for that reason I think Kyon's real name is Kyousuke.) 

--

I'm actually kind of glad it's taken this long to S2 to start: it's given me enough time to forget the details of the novels. Now I can enjoy the anime instead of getting bogged down in the details.

this is an anime blog, amirite?

So they happen to have a Marshall amp sitting around, but no guitar? And what's the deal with the markup on sunburst patterns (in real life, not just anime)?

I haven't had time to watch any of this until now. It's OK, but I just realized that she's got a Mesousa face all the time. Add the chibi rendition, and, well... Perhaps Shinbo ran out of ideas for this one.

Rather well done, but is anyone going to finish subbing this?

Not really what I was expecting. With a title like Denpateki na Kanojo, I was thinking more along the lines of that girl from Fruits Basket. But no, this is a Serious Business serial murder mystery. High production values, as expected for an OVA. Overall impression: a little original, a little vague, a little cliché, with a nice twist. As consolation, I will accept violent imouto with spats.

Wow... I glad I decided to give this one a shot. Absolutely gorgeous, Madhouse. Pictures at an exhibition.  On the other hand, I'm not sure I want a future that involves self-aware Segways with arms. 

Hahaha, man, this stuff is funny.

Well, here we go again.

I'm creating an anime blog, because I need a place to vent about anime, manga, and otaku culture. (In other words, a platform to troll and fanboy-ize.) Eventually I want to make 4koma, but I need to learn how to draw first.

Anyway, today's subject is Code Geass. I started watching it last night -- I am most impressed. It has that cohesive feel that is the hallmark of a great series. The CLAMP character designs have a pretty significant influence on the show: Suzaku's idealistic intensity, Lelouch's flamboyant anger, and that silly scientist guy's ... silliness.

There are some nitpicks I can make about the series: the excessively upbeat OP, while kinda CLAMP-ish, doesn't really mesh with the darkness of the story. Plus it sounds a lot like Eureka Seven's opening, which, well, is admittedly by the same band.

And the story -- wow. This is serious stuff. While I get hints of Gundam storylines, there's definitely echoes of WWII, not to mention current events. Lelouch's terrorists are obviously the heroes of this story, but do their means justify the ends? We're obviously invited to ponder the nature of insurgency, in light of current events, with some Japanese nationalism thrown in for good measure. It's a complicated brew of current events and fantasy.

What really hit me, though, was the direct allusion to the Holocaust. The Japanese are portrayed as living in ghettos. The language Clovis uses -- "clearing a ghetto" -- made me think back to something I'd read recently about authoritarianism (which, by the way, should be required reading). Specifically, chapter seven, which relates in passing the gradual acceptance of genocide by common soldiers who made up the German "Order Police" in WWII. Geass doesn't flinch at showing the wholesale murder of civilians. Quite frankly, I was shocked at how graphic it was. I suppose there's a collective horror about being on the Axis side of the War which is still being worked out.

I watched way too much Geass last night (through 8.5 ><). Hopefully I'll have more self-control tonight.