Posting this just for an easily-accessible list.

Context: A friend and I will be starting a new anime blog. The scope hasn't been set in stone yet, but I'll be lobbying for a more accessible (and less meme-ridden) approach for an anime blog at the next editorial meeting.

We have to come up with a name first, though. The absolute criteria is that it has to be easy to remember, and it cannot be similar enough to any other website to create any confusion. Apart from that, I'd like a name that doesn't require much Japanese knowledge. The editor-in-chief suggests something without the word "anime", just to be different (and more memorable). These extra criteria are not especially necessary, but should be kept in mind.

I will add more on the list as I am reminded of them (by said friend). To clear up some misunderstandings: just because they're on the list doesn't mean we're seriously considering them. Some are my suggestions, some are his, the majority were kind of conceived of collectively in brainstorming.

( Alphabetical.Collapse )

Tags: anime, notes to self

Because people on another forum expressed disbelief at my guesstimate of 30d6 damage for Nanoha's Starlight Breaker, I should mention that this is her Everything At Once Huge Last Resort Mega-Attack.

Her regular attack is Divine Buster. It is not as powerful as Starlight Breaker. This, however, is relative.

Nanoha uses Divine Buster. (First episode of StrikerS, mild spoilers for a certain plot point in A's.)

Nanoha uses Divine Buster again. (From StrikerS episode 25. Spoilers for StrikerS.)

Be glad I picked Nanoha as a trial character to stat in HERO, rather than my first choice. And that's mostly because I'm not sure how to express a Power Limitation Side Effect that goes "may result in the world ceasing to exist".

Tags: anime, geekery, hero

If anyone has a Nico Nico Douga account and is really good with identifying anime and miscellaneous Japanese internet culture tunes, please take a listen to this. (Note: you can't watch the video unless you have an account. An account is free, but the whole site is in Japanese, and recently Nico Nico only allows new free users to watch during certain times.)

It's a collection of screenshots from The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, but that's not really the important bit, since it's set to an ten-minute dance medley of all sorts of (synth instrumental) songs. You can keep it in the background if you like and just listen to the music, which is what I'd like identification of.

( What I've managed to identify so far:Collapse )

Obviously there are huge gaps in between.

UPDATE: Solved. It's the Nico Nico Medley.

Tags: anime, geekery, videos

So I'm borrowing the friendslist's.

For those who have the second DVD of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Region 1 version, I would like to direct your attention to the sixth chronological episode (or the last broadcast episode). I'll place the rest under an LJ-cut for spoiler reasons.

( Warning: large pictures.Collapse )

Tags: anime, haruhi, question, screenshot

Evidence of EPIC.

I love this show so much.

EDIT: Also, if any CoH/V players are wondering, yes, Ariusa (Bots/Dark Mastermind) hit 50.

Tags: anime, geekery, links, videos

"Illegal" in much the same way as posting the infamous AACS encryption key for HD-DVD is illegal.

However, considering that the information here is listed on their own site, I'm not sure why posting about it has been discouraged.

Also, it's anime-related. Specifically, anime in Singapore.

( The List, cut for length.Collapse )

Source, copied-and-pasted, from here, accurate as of this date (15th May 2007).

These anime are "protected", meaning that anyone caught "pirating" these anime will be arrested. This is a bit like the "licenced" thing, except that very few of the anime listed here have actually been said to be licenced in Singapore. Even fewer have been actually released, and I will say that calling it "YouTube-quality" will not be much of an exaggeration. (These are on DVDs. No dubs, no extras, just badly-translated subs.)

There is a Chinese saying, which carries mostly the connotation that if you make an example of a few, the rest will follow. There may or may not have been arrests already made, but reports are being suppressed, as is this list itself, for no given reason. It is possible that the reason was given to those who have gotten suppressed, but they are not allowed to talk about it, and so people like myself do not know.

This is just bizarre. It's as though Orwellian tactics are being used on anime distribution.

What, Singapore. What.

Tags: anime, rant, wtf

It is like some sort of rite of passage that one remembers all the old, old cartoons from one's childhood, checks them out on Wikipedia, and realize that it is apparently an amalgamation of two completely different anime. It's probably not surprising, considering Robotech, but it's only now that I know the name of Sengoku Majin GoShogun even though one of my childhood memories is watching its Americanized version Macron-1.

Considering that they could staple two different anime together and not have many people notice until it's pointed out probably says something about either the editing skills of Saban, or how amazingly generic the character designs are.

Tags: anime, ramblings

I have exploded in awesomeness.

Tags: anime

Code Geass in eroge OP style (Original: Nursery Rhyme) (both worksafe)

I'd watch a harem comedy version of Code Geass. Assuming Cecile and Lloyd get more screentime.

Tags: anime, links, videos

Very quick thoughts on a few of the new anime this season.

( Not that long, but just in case.Collapse )

Tags: anime, review

( Sad Dejiko in Snow.Collapse )

In other news (or rather olds), Hare Hare Yukai in full, with storyboarded dance steps. Supposedly slated to appear on the last (R2) disc for Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi, except, yanno, fully animated.

Tags: anime, haruhi, links, review, videos

The 10 fandoms thing I posted went more or less as expected, with the relatively obscure one being the hardest to guess.

4. It's the best show in the world. Maybe not this world, but...

I suppose that I'm one of the few, the very few, who watched and kind of liked Genshiken in a sort of "it wasn't too bad" kind of way... but despite the fact that it's pretty much supposed to poke fun at all the stereotypes and tropes that draw in many anime fans (like myself, I suppose), I absolutely and utterly fell in love with Kujibiki Unbalance.

It's the best show in the (Genshiken) world, and it's also possibly the best show never made.

Futari no Heart Balance, Kujibiki Unbalance...

Tags: anime, geekery

( Episode 48.Collapse )

On another note, Keroro Gunsou is possibly one of the few anime that a sentence like "723 was about to meet 623, but was interrupted by 556 at 966's instigation" actually makes sense.

Tags: anime, pic, screenshot

Natsumi Hinata > all.

Tags: anime

I really hope some of the fansubbers for the new series get to episode 3 by Friday, or I'll have to go dig up my old series and try to remember if we've shown them before.

Tags: anime, notes to self
Apparently now I am: worried

Saimoe website.

E Block results: Yuki Nagato 944 votes, Mikuru Asahina 859 votes.

Yuki Nagato wins. Likely she'll have the support of the entire MoSH legion, albeit some may decide to reprise their insanity in the coming rounds. I haven't laughed like that in a long time; the (fun) chaos was very much in keeping with the basic message of the SOS-dan. Haruhi wishes to stay in the tournament, and she did indeed.

If you're wondering, other participants in this round include Tsuruya, Kyon, Itsuki Koizumi, Kyon's Sister, Ryouko Asakura, Takako Nakanishi (the guitarist from ENOZ), Emiri Kimidori (the computer club president's "girlfriend" who turns out to be fake), "Haruhi's Sister" (which doesn't exist), "Tyon's Sister" (probably a typo), Shamisen (the cat), Marisa Kirisame (Touhou games), Eri Sachikawa (School Rumble, already the winner of A Block), Suiseiseki (Rozen Maiden Traumend, already the winner of D Block), Shinn Asuka (Gundam SEED Destiny), Haruhi Fujioka (Ouran High School Host Club), Akane Suzumiya (Kimi ga Nozomu Eien), a giant cave cricket (episode 7 of MoSH), stale warabimochi (also episode 7 of MoSH), a RL computer virus (which spread itself via fanart and images of MoSH)...

Oh, and Haruhi Suzumiya herself managed to net 79 valid votes. (Total is 396 votes. I suppose people double-voted, first for whomever they wanted for, then for Haruhi.)

Next up, Shana (Shakugan no Shana) vs. Aruru (Utawarerumono). Methinks Shana is going to win this one based on popularity, but then we can't ignore what happened in the Shinku/Chikaru match.

Tags: anime, saimoe

Saimoe site. No, I'm not getting any money from referrals or anything, it's just that if I don't post what I'm talking about people may start wonder what this "Saimoe" thing is.

Quite a surprise on the 12th, in the match between Chikaru Minamoto (Strawberry Panic) and Shinku (Rozen Maiden Traumend): Chikaru won, 1119 to 941 votes. Not huge, but still significant.

For the match on the 13th, Suiseiseki (Rozen Maiden Traumend) DESU-ed over Alice Carroll (ARIA), knocking out the last of the ARIA characters from the tournament (1268 to 997). Suiseiseki had the most number of votes in the tournament thus far, although as the number of contestants get fewer, we'll probably see more and more votes per character.

Currently (14th October, which via the Time Travel of time zones it is in Japan) the match is between two SOS-dan members (ie from Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi): Mikuru Asahina and Yuki Nagato. It's still in the early stages, but what is completely surprising this time around is that apparently some people have decided to vote for Haruhi Suzumiya (from the same series), even though she got knocked out the last round against Yuki. (Yeah, the matchups kind of suck.) Right now, the votes are almost 1:1:1... it'll be interesting to see if this Haruhi-voting trend continues. Likely all Haruhi votes will simply get thrown out as invalid, but it'll be amusing if she turns out to have more than either Mikuru or Yuki, thus unofficially "winning" this round.

UPDATE: The insanity continues.

Last known stats: Yuki Nagato 423, Mikuru Asahina 392, Haruhi Suzumiya 346, Tsuruya 4, Kyon's Sister 2, Ryouko Asakura 2, Kyon 1, Itsuki Koizumi 1, Takako Nakanishi 1, and unconfirmed votes for Emiri Kimidori and Shamisen the cat.

WHAT HATH HARUHI WROUGHT

Tags: anime, saimoe

Kaori: "That was a surprisingly normal introduction to the class."
Yuuichi: "If there's an introduction that's not normal, I'd like to see it."

Be careful of what you wish for, Kyuuichi. Be very careful.

Tags: anime, geekery

Both chronologically and Kyonologically, "Mysterique Sign" occurs before "Day of Sagitarrius".

In "Mysterique Sign", Yuki switches on a computer and heads to the SOS-dan website to show the corrupted SOS-dan logo. Later, she is in the near vicinity of the SOS-dan computer along with Itsuki, although it is unclear who is operating that computer.

In "Day of Sagitarrius", Yuki is fairly clueless about the operation of a computer mouse and keyboard.

I wonder.

Tags: anime, geekery, haruhi

As promised, ( Fall 2006 Anime Season Summary.Collapse )

Total number of shows I'll be keeping an eye on this season so far: 25

Tags: anime, review

There are still a few more shows that haven't aired yet (Bartender et al), but I'm sure everyone's getting sick of my ramblings. (I'm getting a bit tired of quick-translating in my head too. I'm starting to think in anime cliches...) So I'll just leave it be for now, unless there's a new anime this season that someone really wants to hear my thoughts on.

Today: Otome wa Boku ni Koishiteru, Shijou Saikyo no Deshi Kenichi, Kujibiki Unbalance (yeah, I know I said I wasn't going to review it, but I heard that it's so different from the actual KujiAn in Genshiken that it's pretty much a new series on its own), and Gin-iro no Olynsis. (If you ever wonder, I'm listing the anime out here in order of what I watched, and the anime under the cut in alphabetical order. ( Namely, this cut.Collapse )

And that's it for now. I haven't blogged about some other shows (009-1, Super Robot Taisen OG ~Divine Wars~, Jigoku Shoujo Futakomori, and a few others I missed) largely because I have nothing much to say about them, since they're not really my thing.

I'll go post up the shows I'll be following a bit later.

Tags: anime, review

Oh my.

Patrons at "Cosafe" (a play on the words "cosplay" and "cafe") can expect to be served in a relaxing garden atmosphere by girls in Victorian maid attire, in full anime make-up - complete with exaggerated rose-bud lips as well as accessories such as cat's ears and lacy headdresses. The usual greeting favoured at Japanese eateries will be done away with and replaced with "Okaeri Nasai" - which means "Welcome home, Master".

Nitpick: "okaeri nasai" just means "welcome home". Adding "master" would need a "goshuujin-sama".

I'm not entirely sure how to react to this. Cosplay cafes have always struck me as being a bit creepy (yes, even me), possibly because Victorian maid dress isn't really my thing. (Nekomimi (cat ears) may be a bit more my style, but what I'd really go "moe~" for are meganekko (girls with glasses). But anyway, I digress.) Having it all happen in Singapore, of all places... I'm not really sure Singapore is ready for this. Is there even a large enough population of anime fans who are otaku and rich enough to patronize this cafe?

I know entrepeneurship is a risky venture by definition, but I'm beginning to think that this is a bit too much risk.

(Yes, the icon is used on purpose).

Tags: anime, geekery, links, wtf
Apparently now I am: surprised

CODE GEASS - Lelouch of the Rebellion, Mamoru-kun ni Megami no Shukufuku wo, Asatte no Houkou, and Sumomomo Momomo. ( Once again:Collapse )

I've also got Kujibiki Unbalance, but I think I need to get Genshiken to really appreciate it.

EDIT: Also: Kyuuichi gets hospitalized. (Only funny if you're familiar with both Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi and at least the first episode of Kanon.)

SAIMOE EDIT: OMG. Rin Tohsaka (Fate/Stay Night) actually managed to beat Hazuki (Tsukuyomi Moon Phase). Not only that, but with a sizeable margin (892 to 639). From all accounts, the invalid (duplicate) votes for Hazuki outnumbered her actual valid votes.

Tags: anime, review

Just Sasami Mahou Shoujo Club Season 2 this time, because while I could say that it's exactly more of the same as the first season, and that it's a kids' show all about Sasami and her friends as magical girls, I may as well just post a screenshot that should illustrate quite a bit.

( Worth a thousand words?Collapse )

... 以上.

Tags: anime, review, screenshot

Gift ~eternal rainbow~, Happiness, and Kanon. ( You know the drill.Collapse )

Still got quite a few more to go. Lay on!

Tags: anime, review

This time, just Negima?! and Marginal Prince. ( Again, cut.Collapse )

Yeah, this is likely to carry on for a while.

UPDATE: And two more for today: Yoake Mae Yori Ruri Iro Na, and Busou Renkin. ( Cut!Collapse )

On a final note, because it may be expected of me: Saimoe results for right now show that Mikuru Asahina (Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi) handily crushed Alicia Florence (ARIA), as expected. Also as expected, Shana (Shakugan no Shana) emerged victorious over Ana Coppola (Ichigo Mashimaro).

Current matchup is between Haruhi Suzumiya and Yuki Nagato (both from MoSH), and Hayate Yagami (Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha A's) and Aruru (Utawarerumono). Clash of the titans, so on and so forth.

Tags: anime, review, saimoe

Continuing with the new anime season first impressions ( under this cut:Collapse )

Coming up, Busou Renkin, Yoake Mae Yori Ruri Iro na Crescent Love, Negima?!, and Marginal Prince.

Tags: anime, review

Grabbed two more raws of the new anime season: Death Note and Ghost Hunt.

I'm not going to give my first impressions of Death Note, largely because it's fairly true to the manga, which is fairly well-known. Suffice to say that it's quite well-done, and the first episode should be good for DN fans.

As for Ghost Hunt, I'll put the first impression ( under a cut.Collapse )

A quick summary and scoring so far of the raws I've seen ( under this cut:Collapse )

Currently grabbing: Red Garden, Pumpkin Scissors, D.Gray Man, Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge
Currently awaiting: Happiness, Bartender, Code Geass, Kanon, Negima?!, Asatte no Houkou, Sumomomo Momomo

UPDATE: Finished watching the first raw eps of Red Garden and D.Gray Man. This season appears to be filled with either harem (the old standby) or supernatural/horror stuff. As for Pumpkin Scissors and Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge, I'll get around to them tomorrow or something.

Tags: anime, review

Website once again.

( More rambling.Collapse )

Winners of the Group Finals will be shuffled for the Tournament Quarterfinals. So I can't really predict who'll end up facing whom.

Tags: anime, saimoe

To offset the DOOOOOM of the previous ranty post, here are the very short first impressions of four of the new anime season's shows: ( It's not that long, really.Collapse )

More first impressions as the raws come out.

Tags: anime, review