Archive for August, 2009
Canaan – 08: The Treachery of Maria
August 26th, 2009
No seriously did you try anything while Canaan was passed out, because if you did we want it animated…
So this post is a bit late though it seems that they did get land lines in this hot and humid mud hole, so in any case after Alphard trolled the world Canaan and Maria try to runoff on a little yuri dayto, and while Alphard was most delighted to see that Canaan and Maria were getting FRIENDLY, but in the end Maria started using her lines and Alphard was left heart broken. Alphard sent Hakko to make sure that things between them did not go too well, but alas only a fully trained Yuri Knight with the Yuri as her ally could have prevailed. In the end Hakko was reduced to pelting Canaan with pebbles though now that Canaan has been blinded by Alphard’s radiance Canaan’s desire to kill has slackened. It also seems that Hakko will never forgive Santana for robbing her of her hopes and dreams of becoming an idol like Sheryl Nome and now no one will LISTEN TO HER SONG as she is now a Bene Gesserit witch. Alphard in her loneliness decides to troll the vice president and congratulates him for having the balls to try take her on.
Oh I see Canaan has learned a thing or two from Alphard onee-sama…
Cummings is at a loss of what Alphard is planning but it seems that our Lady of War is no believer of vicious cycle and actually grasps that capitalism is based on conquering and expanding new markets. Canaan can no longer see people’s colors though she thinks that blue reflects killer intent instead of BURNING PASSION certainly it was no accident that Alphard let her lovely Canaan live for if Alphard wanted her dead Alphard would have shot her like she shot Siam. Siam simply had to die because he was the reincarnation of Souma and Chikane would not let a lass like Canaan go hetero. In the end though since this is pretty much a sequel to Kannazuki no Miko where every one was reincarnated, Chikane’s sacrifice seems to have had some unintended consequences. Himeko is now Maria and has since started fancying herself as the priestess of the moon and so dumb struck that she has started hitting on Mako-chan, now Canaan, who is all too happy to oblige. Certainly underneath the gaze of the ancient stars they did reaffirm their love but Maria’s words were no her’s but Chikane’s. Since saving the world in a previous life Chikane has become mighty in the ways of Yuri and has successfully averted the return of Oorochi. Unfortunately as a result of Alphard overworking herself in trying to make all of her yuri pals happy in this life Maria is being most uncooperative in her delusions of being Chikane, as Maria thinks that she is the moon with Canaan as the sun. Upon feeling a great disturbance in the Yuri Alphard was on the verge of weeping hot tears of rage and sorrow at her predicament. Thankfully Alphard onee-sama held her composure and fired off a few rounds from her FN Five-Seven to calm her nerves…
You know Alphard was much better than Maria at this, I hope that after Canaan experiences it that she accepts no substitutes…
Kabitzin is at a loss to figure out what they Mighty Alphard is up to but I get the feeling that Alphard is trying to make money off this new multi-polar Cold War between the super powers and kill all the servants of Oorochi as an infamous mercenary and distant ancestor to Prince Ali. Clearly even after trolling the peace conference Alphard is starting to make underhanded deals to keep the war economy going until Old Snake puts an end to it. I suspect that while Siam taught her how to shoot Alphard completed her training under the tutelage of the Boss. This of course all speculation though it be pretty damn cool if even a bit of it were true. Nevertheless the admirers of the fair maidens of Canaan have busied themselves in other ways. Zyl has started calling my liege Alphie, which while cute and does reflect her dere dere side hardly speaks of Alphard onee-sama’s skill at arms. However I suppose that is she showed a bit more dere dere Liang Qi would start behaving, Maria would remember her, and Canaan will realize that Alphard likes her now as well as back then. Shin still holds out the vain hope that Canaan will become a guy and that he can have SUGOI intercourse (look in Kabitizn’s post for is NSFW comments with a lewdness level of OVER 9000) with Maria, Shin is showing the last throes of the hetero insurgency. Even Janette thinks the yuri is bursting at the seams but sadly she is not celebrating the yuri advancement of their friendship as they GET FRIENDLY. Alphard will claim her long lost Himeko and make her realize how deep and undying her love is, regardless of the discrimination that hetero otaku churn out. After all Alphard did almost wipe out the annoying people who were getting in the way between her and Himeko, she could easily do it again…
All is not yet lost despite Maria’s wayward ways, as Alphard had called in her reserve and now Yun Yun is embedded with Maria while Liang Qi heard the call and is flying to Alphard onee-sama with all haste. Nene has yet to be activated but when she is I guess her number one fan George (not his real name) the Taxi Driver shall come to the aid of Alphard despite Nene eventually declaring her love for Alphard as well. Whatever happens I eagerly anticipate every episode as Alphard has earned my undying admiration and loyalty unlike ghostlightning who beat a hasty retreat towards the pineapple salad instead of toughing it out. Oh and one last thing neither Santana or Mino-san can sing, may no one ever LISTEN TO THEIR SONG.
I see that Alphard onee-sama’s radiance was such that you became blinded and your shoujo no kokoro was thrown into confusion of what she means to you
VP: So Alphard-sama do you ever choose sides in a conflict?
Alphard: I did it once, it was a bad idea cut my profits in half and almost got me killed. Never again I take work from all sides, you can help level the playing field, draw out the conflicts make more money. A big job for one side doesn’t generate repeat revenue.
Every major power in the world are utilizing my skills to do their dirty work. Now they are in detente all sides are drawing up war plans, less violence more spending, it’s perfect.
Every leader including the VP complains that it’s anarchy and that hundreds are dead, and thousands are displaced. However they all know that if I picked sides less would be displaced, but more would be dead and they might be one of them…
Oh Cummings Alphard doesn’t start wars she didn’t start this one…
…It seems to Alphard that it’s the major powers that want each other dead.
Alphard onee-sama wants to call Sawyer the Cleaner…however…
Alphard onee-sama likes to do thigs herself, Cummings get Alphard onee-sama 50 kilos of C-4…
Use a few of those corpses and stuff them to get what you need into the country, Alphard knows that no one would bother to search them. Alphard figured out that whenever she needed to smuggle something in the open she would have to shoot some one or bribe some one, both of which are bad for business.
Using her powers of Yuri Alphard reached out and contacted Hakko about her modest proposal…
Alphard reminded Hakko of how Santana killed that little boy…and let her know that Prince Alphard had come to help Hakko get revenge
Alphard instructed Hakko to humor Santana and bear her humiliation a little bit more, once Hakko gets them all out there everything will be settled…
Meanwhile Maria was making moves on Alphard’s beloved Kouhai.
I see Maria has also learned a ting or two from her time with Alphard…
Oh Natsume, not even Alphard would let any of her underlings smoke, certainly it seems that the disparity between Alphard and Natsume’s leadership is vast…
And here I thought the color of cowardice was yellow…
I think Canaan meant gluttony…
Blue is most definitely a most intense love, after all if it were killer intent, Canaan would not have survived…
George demands that we all LISTEN TO NENE’S SONG!
Great idea old boy let’s conscript Nene as part of Alphard onee-sama’s harem, certainly if we put Nene next to Maria and Canaan, Alphard might also notice Nene’s charms too!
I like how Nene is working hard, never take the easy route like Ranka, or suffer her fate you will…
As per Alphard’s instructions her goons kept future haremette Nene out of harms way…
I think some one is singing Aimo O.C.
Hakko once dreamed of being like Sheryl Nome, but sadly Santana took that all away and how she is reduced to work for sleazy men and laughing at Santana’s crappy magic tricks…
I think we have found two William Hungs…
Oh Maria where is your iPod when you need it?
Canaan is simply too polite…
CRY SOME MORE!
Soon Hakko, soon. Alphard will make sure this is the last road trip that Santana will make…
Alphard will never forget you Maria, she remembers everything about you…
Surely you must remember something Maria…for Alphard thinks that you are in denial about how deep her loves is.
Hey wait a minute…that’s Chikane’s line! Alphard was right you have been deceitful Himeko…
Alphard thinks otherwise…for you see Maria, Alphard loves your eyes. She loves those eyes which shine like the universe in spring. She loves those kind eyes like the spring sunlight. She loves your hair. Those silken strands which wave in the wind. She loves your lips. Lips that drip with honey with every kiss. She loves those lips that leak the lonely sound of the breaths you breathe. Alphard loves your voice. She loves that high clear pure voice of yours that that echoes SUGOI in her heart. She loves your body. Your narrow waist which might break under the burden of supporting your beauty. She loves the warmth that she feels when she touches those small perfectly shaped breasts. But what Alphard loves most is your heart, fragile and easily ruined…but endlessly pure and beautiful.
Oh did they pull your pigtails when you were little and cut your hair?
Himeko how could you? Chikane returned as Alphard after saving the world and this is how you mock her sacrifice and love?
Deny it all you want but this love between you and Canaan is still nothing compared to how much Alphard loves you, still at least you did better than Souma this time.
I fear something terrible has happened…
How deceitful of the priestess of the sun, I see that Chikane taking your place lat time has caused a great disturbance in the Yuri.
Mako-chan Mk II have you still not forgiven Chikane for visiting you? She didn’t visit everyone she felt you were special then. In fact you are still specail now…
Worry not Hakko having served Miya-sama in your past life Alphard knows your loyalty is beyond doubt.
Hakko is use to staying up late into the night.
First lesson from Alphard was for Hakko to let go of her hate, what better way to do that than have her kiss Canaan and fight the hate with yuri love?
Alphard onee-sama knows that this will be hard for her Yuri Padawan… but she has every expectation that Hakko will eventually succeed.
Canaan is blinded by her hate…
Not ready is Hakko…It seems only a fully trained Yuri Knight who has the Yuri as her allay can defeat Canaan’s hatred and save Darth Canaan.
Please note Alphard onee-sama holds you largely blameless Canaan.
As Maria was using her lines Alphard felt a great disturbance in the Yuri…
Alphard onee-sama’s heart broke when she felt that Maria had falsely assumed her mantle as priestess of the moon.
My liege was very distraught over Maria’s deception, Alphard had waited long to see her reincarnated Himeko.
Alphard’s sadness over this chain of events was deep…
Alphard is starting to feel cold and lonely…
Even if she did not cry Alphard’s sorrow was apparent as she started repeating herself…
Alphard will show them all how deep her love for her wayward lovers is, a special tea party shall be held… Invitations will be made that have razor sharp edges and many buttons shall be cleaved. Said invitations will then be inserted in a place where their meaning will be plain. It is my hope that a night of Alphard with all of them that goes on forever and ever will soon be upon us.
How fitting that Maria gets the bitch seat…
Ugh why are you trying to remind them Maria?
Two hundred thousand dollars is a lot of money. We’re gonna have to earn it…
Hakko will sleep better knowing that her good friend Yun Yun is by her side to protect her.
Welcome back indeed.
Oh good grief will Yun Yun ever get respect?
It’s Siam…He hasn’t showered or bathed in three months…
Oh my it seems Liang Qi is bringing in the big guns…
Perhaps after this Maria will remember her time as Himeko…
Cummings you can get pelleted by Liang Qi after you help Alphard onee-sama mend fences with her yuri lovers…
With your return Alphard onee-sama you can finally set things right. Maria may have proved treacherous but you can only fight such things with your love. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender for your love is true and has endured since times of myth and legend. Never forget that you are an ojou-sama from a distinguished family that has been continued for a thousand years, skilled in both literary and military arts, with wit and beauty, the intensity of summer, the grace of autumn, the pride of winter, and the gentleness of spring…You shall prevail!
Posted in 
Princess Lover 08
August 26th, 2009
Okay…. just as I thought the show would be all SERIOUS BUSINESS, stuff like this pops out.
I’m not gonna take this show seriously anymore. Seriously.
©2009 Kurogane’s Anime Blog. All Rights Reserved.
ok, so, I have a confession to make.
August 26th, 2009
it turns out that a lot of people have been confused about this video that’s been circulating around the internet lately.
a blogger called Jaalin confessed his confusion. He links to other people.
But the thing is.
I am Jason Mraz. [here's my entire life story condensed into a single image, since it's basically worth over nine thousand words]
I have a huge fetish for K-ON. I even tried to write down a lot of the music. Well, the music kind of sucked, but it has a lot of moe, so you can see why I like it.
I wanted to incorporate the sounds of K-ON in my new single to try and bring out a new evolution in western indie music! That would be a lot of fun, right? While the music in K-ON sucks, my music is good, so it balances out. Not only that, but the strange asian music that thinks that it is western brings an exotic blend to my music. I wish to share to all of you otakus my new music that blends east and west, better and less better, my music, and K-ON’s music.
Sora no Manimani Episode 07 – Last Time’s Regrets
August 25th, 2009
After many slow weeks of waiting for episodes we have two fansubbing groups working on SoraMani and now two episodes released rapid fire. And it couldn’t be at a better time too as the show is really going into high gear lately. Several meaningful conversations this episode, a variety of great Hime moments, various backstory bits, and good comedy all packed into this episode.
We have a flashback to Souma-sensei’s college days where he’s sitting trying to figure out what parts of the world he can manage to travel to. After his long haired friend departs he looks up to find young Mihoshi asking him where the faculty office is, looking a lot like none other than Ayu ‘Uguu’ Tsukimiya from Kanon. Zooming out we also see that she’s injured presumably from her fall from a tree that we saw in the first episode.
Loli, check. Wings on backpack, check. Bandages, check.
She’s halfway to being the ‘perfect eroge girl’ from NHK ni Youkoso.
Back in the present Saku is has shut himself up in his room worrying that he made the Astronomy Club depressed by getting jealous and running off to the Literature Club. But as he plays back the events in his mind he remembers everyone being surprised but Mihoshi acting excited after a brief pause, cheering him on as an ambassador for the club. Still, it doesn’t sit right with Saku and he continues to worry. He might be sensing that Mihoshi’s enthusiasm is just a façade.
This is the perfect opportunity for her to be all super-motherly to Saku. And after Mihoshi breaking into his room so many times I doubt the door even locks anymore. Ah, what a wasted opportunity.
Apparently Saku is the roommate of the Great Will of the Macrocosm, but it’s not giving out any advice at the moment.
Awkward.
Mihoshi appears to recover quickly and cheer him on, but I doubt it’s genuine.
Only Hime seems to be aware of the danger to their respective ships inherent in Saku working for Queen Fumie.
Saku is still regretting what he said when he shows up to school. As he’s about to tell Fumie that he’s going to go back to working with the Astronomy Club he sees Mihoshi and Sayo laughing and talking like nothing happened, gets annoyed, and quickly changes his mind telling her that he’s ready to get to work. He receives a warm welcome from the Literature Club leaders and gets to work. His ideas are very well received by them, incorporating the original meanings and stories about Vega into a cover for the publication on the joint activity.
We would be honored if you would join us.
Either Saku’s ideas were great or these two were really trying to suck up to him.
So say we all.
Meanwhile the Astronomy Club is led to their room for the festival, the Las Vegas room (for whatever reason the rooms are named after US cities.) The homemade planetarium is planned out, requiring a dome and a metal pot with holes drilled out for the light to project through. Roma worries about funding, but Edogawa reminds everyone of the wonders of the 100 Yen Store (thanks China) before trying to escape when the actual shopping occurs. Hime, however, will not tolerate deserters and holds him for interrogation. Sayo, Mihoshi, Roma, and Souma head out in Souma’s car(t) to the nearest 100 Yen store where Sayo asks Mihoshi if she’s really alright. Mihoshi again claims that she is, but Sayo doesn’t seem to be buying it.
Nash Bridges!
Indeed, they are powerful tools for broke students.
Hime wants to understand the allure of Fumie. And Edogawa’s really desperate if he’s taking pictures of pictures.
Could you lie to that face?
Sayo knows Mihoshi better than Mihoshi does. I wish we’d learn more about Sayo though.
Sayo doesn’t believe you and neither does this blogger.
We get some rapid fire significant moments here with a little comedy break in the middle. At the end of the day Saku returns to the Astronomy Club room, feeling guilty for leaving everyone. As he lays back on the futon Mihoshi comes in to get a notebook. After a moment she runs up to and hugs Saku. Meanwhile Hime begins her interrogation of Edogawa in earnest, looking for whatever information he has on Saku’s likes and dislikes. Jumping back to the club room, Mihoshi is still hugging Saku and then, all of a sudden, freaks out crying ‘no’…just in time for members of an athletic club to see them in such a perfectly compromising position. Souma-sensei also comes by and jokingly apologizes to them for interrupting. Mihoshi then runs to him and then runs off. Souma invites Saku for a chat on the roof where he tells him that Mihoshi is lonely, tricks Saku into uttering the tsundere version of ‘I like her’, and then gives him some inspirational words on astronomy that Mihoshi’s father once told him. After Saku leaves he says to the sky “Professor, she’s grown.” I think this lends more weight to thinking that her father is dead; eventually the series will have to tell us.
There are five lights Mr. Edogawa.
You will cooperate with the Hime for the good of the Hime and your own survival. Resistance will be punished, cooperation will be rewarded.
Decide already and stop tormenting Saku.
Just as planned?
Tsundere mode: active.
Well played Souma-sensei, well played.
Yet more rumors spread about Saku and Mihoshi after this, dampening Hime’s spirits slightly. Construction proceeds on various school festival projects around the school Later those still remaining in the school are preparing to leave as the day has given way to evening. Fumie is told by one of her underlings that a member of the Astronomy Club has been helping out a great deal with the Literature Club project, the same member that spent time with her over summer break. Going to the club room Fumie notices Saku is the only one left after he supervised that last of the days work. She has a nice conversation with him where she addresses the rumors about Souma and helps him see that he really does love being in the Astronomy Club. Such insight, such compassion! She is truly the rightful Queen of the Student Council. As Saku leaves renewed in his fervor for astronomy by Fumie’s talk, Hime meets him outside the school. All alone together, she would seem to have a chance finally. But she chickens out and hands him the report she’s written of the club project’s progress and then runs away. Still, in an indirect way she gets to communicate some feelings for him. Next time some of the drama between Mihoshi and Saku sounds like it will be further played out against the backdrop of final festival preparations.
Glory to the tsundere pairing!
People in this country are so kind to children.
Happy Fumie is love.
Our Queen knows your failings, but forgives them in Her infinite compassion and love.
Now’s your chance!
Started backing up and Hime chickened out
Must be cracking up, but she chickened out
Teen Astronomy Squad!
Final Thoughts: - Hime, what the hell? This was a perfect chance. Now the window of opportunity created by Souma showing up is closing.
- So much packed into this episode. Especially Saku and Mihoshi in the club room followed by Souma and Saku’s talk. And all of it didn’t feel rushed either.
- I’m still waiting for more backstory/development with Sayo, and to a lesser extent, Roma.
- Souma was much more likable this episode instead of a complete creep.
Animelo 2009 Day 2 Song List
August 24th, 2009
If you’d thought last night’s Happy Material duet was disappointing surprising, guess what happened today….
1 『DISCOTHEQUE』～『MonStAR』/水樹奈々+平野綾 (Nana Mizuki + Hirano Aya)
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
RAGE (╬ ಠ益ಠ)
RAGE (╬ ಠ益ಠ)
RAGE (╬ ಠ益ಠ)
RAGE (╬ ಠ益ಠ)
RAGE (╬ ಠ益ಠ)
8 『霊喰い (Tamakui)』/妖精帝國 (Yousei Teikoku)
9 『last Moment』/妖精帝國 (Yousei Teikoku)
Woot! Yousei Teikoku~! And Tamakui performed live!
23 『魂のルフラン (Tamashii no Refrain)』/飛蘭+奥井雅美 (Faylan + Masami Okui)
Weird choice for a duet, but this sounds interesting.
27 『DANZEN!ふたりはプリキュア （ver.Max Heart）』/田村ゆかり+新谷良子 (Tamura Yukari + Shintani Ryoko)
Woah! Shintani Ryoko + Yukarin duet!
… and the main highlight:
40 『Gimmick Game』/水樹奈々+ m.o.v.e
41 『深愛』/水樹奈々+Suara
42 『悦楽カメリア』/水樹奈々
43 『Orchestral Fantasia』/水樹奈々
Awesome song choices by Nana this year and I can’t wait to hear the duet between her and Suara of Shin’ai. I daresay that would be a real awesome combo. Also Etsuraku Camelia and Orchestral Fantasia combo really hit me, because those are two of my favourite Nana songs from ULTIMATE DIAMOND and GREAT ACTIVITY respectively.
Anyways, full song list for Day 2 can be found here: http://pc.animelo.jp/rebridge/whatsnew/?p=090823_set
©2009 Kurogane’s Anime Blog. All Rights Reserved.
Sora no Manimani Episode 06 – It’s a Sou-nii!
August 23rd, 2009
In this episode we’re introduced to Nozomu Souma, the underclassmen’s new teacher who Mihoshi knows from her childhood. Plans are made for the school festival, Hime renews her efforts to get close to Saku, and the new teacher’s involvement in the astronomy club doesn’t sit well with Saku. Unfortunately the episode is a bit slower compared to others, but we get a great deal of set up for the next episode.
Saku’s responsibility has left her in despair!
The second term of school is beginning and Saku’s mom wants to baby the son she loves so much by waking him up and making an omelet with ‘today starts the second term’ written on it in ketchup. Saku is already awake ready for school though, ruining her fun. Heading off to school he remembers events from the past semester and Mihoshi interrupting his reading even over the break. But as he’s thinking about this on the bus he realizes that no one has pressed the ‘request stop’ button and the bus is so close to the school that no one wants to be the first one to move. However a tall man next to him hits the button and everyone exits.
His mother certainly didn’t have anything to do with this one.
Mihoshi doesn’t take vacations from her true calling.
Are the buses really this intense? Glad I used the train to commute.
When you ride the bus without pressing the button, you’re riding with Hitler.
Arriving at school the new term starts off with some more Mihoshi-supplied innuendo when she comes to Saku’s classroom to show the underclassmen club members the photos from their summer stargazing trip. Hime attempts to defend her home turf after Mihoshi barges in, everyone takes a look at the photos, and we get a few pointers of astrophotography from Edogawa. The true intentions of the Photography Club are proudly displayed as they hold onto the photos of Sayo in her swimsuit like precious treasure. Fumie also briefly appears to remind the plebs that she holds the real power and will not approve the Astronomy Club’s funding request so quickly. Mihoshi in response sounds like she’s confessing her feelings to Fumin, but our Queen has eyes only for Saku.
Mihoshi Akeno: ruining the Astronomy Club’s and Saku’s reputations since 2009.
Poor Hime is always having to react to Mihoshi.
The pictures turned out quite well, but Edogawa and the Photography Club have other priorities…
I guess they figure that if they have multiple members no single restraining order will stop them.
It probably exists in doujinshi form.
A school assembly is called for the start of the new term, and after a long speech by some sort of higher up a new teacher is introduced. Saku, Hime, and Edogawa’s class is getting a new teacher named Nozomu Souma. He gives a short introduction speech but isn’t much for words. But before he’s offstage Mihoshi yells out to him calling him Sou-nii and he recognizes her as Mihoshi-chan. Panic and scandal immediately ensue among both students and teachers as Souma is given a stern looking talk by another teacher and a student orders two others to seize Mihoshi.
*ahem*
Wait, wrong school assembly.
Mihoshi just has a way with words and timing to give everyone just the wrong impression.
Pigtails must be a lieutenant in Fumie’s Royal Guard.
In class Souma-sensei introduces himself to the class and the student just continue on whispering gossip and speculation about his relationship to Mihoshi. This isn’t helped when he refers to Mihoshi as ‘my angel’ when someone does directly ask. Putting this aside he continues on with class and later asks Hime, Saku, and Edogawa to help him with passing out flyers. Mihoshi skids into the hallway in hot pursuit, in much the same manner than she ran after Saku, while Souma tries to escape. Later in the day the Astronomy Club heads to their club room to find him waiting there. He announces that he will be the advisor for the club and Mihoshi runs to him, poking his chin making a doorbell noise and then hugging him and crying, saying that she missed him. The rest of the club is rather shocked at this, and Saku in particular seems uncomfortable with such behavior.
She’s three times faster than a normal Mihoshi.
Not that running has helped Saku.
Is this one of those pressure point attacks from Fist of the North Star?
You know the innuendo particle density is high when even the Astronomy Club is getting weirded out.
Souma starts to dry Mihoshi’s eyes and explains how they know each other. Mihoshi’s father, who along with her mother has remained a mystery thus far, is an astronomy professor who was the advisor for Souma when he was in college. He also looks a lot like Saku. Mihoshi and Sayo used to join the club at times during this period, hence the three knowing each other. Souma shows his Lecherous Lyle side by pre-hitting on Sayo, which she calmly and wisely turns down. Saku continues to be bothered by all of this, and Hime takes notice.
Souma-sensei wants to BE FRIENDLY.
Kazuomi Akeno, Mihoshi’s father. It’s a little disturbing that he looks like Saku and Saku’s mom looks and acts like Mihoshi.
Rumors about Mihoshi and Souma-sensei continue to fly around the school as students see them walking around. Saku is obviously annoyed or jealous, but tries to deny how he thinks of Souma to Edogawa when he asks. Hime is meanwhile crouched outside the door, listening in and deciding whether or not to act. But her two underlings appear to warn her that other girls might move on Saku first to take advantage of his troubled state and criticize her for not acting and holding on to a charm (which matches Saku’s but also the rest of the club’s) as a sign of progress. They launch her like a missile into the room, but by the time she recovers from her crash landing a less cautious girl has beaten her and others to Saku.
Hear us Hime! The road to your love can only be paved with the broken hearts of your competitors!
Fortune favors the bold Hime.
Shortly thereafter all school airwaves become filled with the iron presence of President Fumie. Broadcast from what can only be her own personal EC-130 orbiting high above the school, Fumie announces her plans for the school festival and gives the order for all classes to begin choosing their activities. Flight is the theme and she encourages her subjects to ‘soar’ in all they do. Back in the underclassmen classroom there in intense debate between the guys, who want a haunted house, and the girls who want to wear cute outfits and host a café. Souma-sensei is drawn into the debate and tries to make a tough call. He also decides that the Astronomy Club will construct a mini-planetarium for their activity. Meanwhile in the hallway Hime seems to be getting a good amount of time in with Saku (and without Mihoshi around) before the group wanders into Fumie.
Souma, tread carefully. You may end up in the ‘special hell.’
Hime seems to be getting quite a bit of access to Saku. Too bad for her his mind is preoccupied with recent developments.
Fumie asks Saku if he would be interested in contributing to a Literature Club collection that they will be releasing since he was involved in the joint outing the two clubs conducted over the summer. The offer is open and not mandatory, Fumie seemingly having come down from her overall dislike of the Astronomy Club or perhaps sensing that she doesn’t need to be so forceful when Mihoshi isn’t around. As she leaves Saku is a bit surprised and when Hime asks if he’s going to participate he mumbles about it being all of a sudden. But then Souma and Mihoshi show up, getting along very well. Saku has had about enough of their closeness and immediately decides to leave to help with the Literature Club project. Everyone else is very surprised and we get a close-up reaction shot from Mihoshi. The next episode should be interesting indeed.
Who could resist?
They seem very close.
Saku has had enough.
It might only be getting through to her now.
Final Thoughts: – Not a lot of actual happenings, but a big setup for next time. Also less comedy than usual.
- I’m not really sure how I feel about Souma. He kind of seems like a creep, and not in a charming way like Kimura in Azumanga Daioh.
- I wish they develop or give some more background on Sayo already. We know more about pretty much everyone else, including Souma, than we do about her.
A note on translations: Now that we’re fortunate enough to have two fansubbing groups caught up to the same point, you may wonder what, if any, differences there are. Both are, in my opinion, well done translations. AonE seems to be generally closer to the original Japanese whereas Koharubi adjusts certain words or sentence structures in ways that make them more like everyday English. Both are easy to understand and accurate, it just depends which style you prefer. For example, in the scene where Fumie confronts the club members about their funding request she uses the word 理想 (risou) in reference to what the club is talking about. The word can mean dreams but generally is used to refer to ideals or ideal things. AonE translated Fumin as saying ideals whereas Koharubi translated it as dreams, which to me sounds like a more common usage in English. Each group also ended this sentence differently with AonE having Fumie state that they should ask themselves whether they are realistic and Koharubi going with her asking them to make sure they are sane. Many thanks to both fansubbing groups and their members.
Bakemonogatari 07
August 23rd, 2009
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
Oh my god Senjougahara what is this I don’t even *splurts*
Anyways…err, back to Suruga.
Honestly, I half thought so.
ヽ( >∀∀< )ﾉ AHAHA AHAHA AHAHAHAHA. Opens up lots of 3P possibilities man.
Wow, Suruga really loves Senjougahara.
LOL “uke to your seme” LOL.
Yes, I’ve noticed.
Whoa…. that’s straightforward. By the way, I’m in the boxers camp.
┌( ಠ_ಠ)┘… wait WHAT!
HOLY SHIT.
щ(ﾟДﾟщ)…. well, err.. err… errrrrrr…..
I kinda agree with Araragi here.
God damn dubious answer ffffffff (╬ ಠ益ಠ)!
Loli vampire spotted!
Oh shi….! Someone’s yuri radar got tripped.
A lesbian AND a lolicon. Awesome combination.
Oh man, Suruga’s a pretty intense girl isn’t she. I personally think that this so far is the most enjoyable episode of Bakemonogatari for the all the dirty talk in this episode. Yeah, girls in real life love to talk dirty too don’t they?
©2009 Kurogane’s Anime Blog. All Rights Reserved.
Shin Mazinger Z 16-19: The Seeds of Treachery…
August 23rd, 2009
Man Zeus really knows how to party, Baron Ashura still has a hangover a thousand years later…
It has been far too long an interlude since I made the last post, and certainly my work load is only increasing though I hold out faint hope that I will have more time in October. While super robot is usually about robots kicking the crap out of each other Mazinger Z does this and much more. I really like how Kouji is not just a snot nosed punk raving about justice and world peace, unlike other protagonists with their lousy tacked on tragedies the Kabuto clan is one fucked up family. The tale of the Kabuto clan is almost as interesting as the action and taken by itself is a pretty decent story compared to other series. (Also trying out a new quicker format for posting.)
I am genuinely surprised that Baron Ashura got a whole lot more development than villains usually get. Usually there is some sort of crap justification for why people go bad but here Iseult and Tristan started out rotten and wanted power and godhood. Nevertheless they were still patriots of Mycenae which was starting to get pretty fucked up. Even if they were evil at least they knew something about loyalty which makes their treachery as Baron Ashura all the more damning as Duke Gorgon still believes and seems to rather die a thousand deaths than ever serve Dr. Hell.
Still despite treachery begetting treachery it was a wonderful history lesson about the God of Mecha, Lord Zeus. Even if Zeus was incapable of suspicion and wished to believe that there was some good in Duke Gorgon at least when proven wrong he fought like mad to kill his e enemies instead of weeping over their treachery. I am at a loss of words to describe how EPIC it was to watch Mazinger Z fight alongside Zeus as heir and ally. Improvised Rocket PUNCH was ten kinds of WIN and AWESOME and brought back fond memories of DaiGuard AWESOME type indeed.
A Man of Determination…
Defiantly facing insurmountable odds…
It was sad to watch the doom of the Kurogane Five who are now the Kurogane One. At least they Django and the Master got really good deaths not so sure about Cross and Yasu, especially the latter who walked right into it. Still it Django blowing Duke Gorgon’s brains out was pretty cool. After they were gone Tsubasa just wasn’t herself any more and it seems that Tetsuya be hating on her for taking away his mecha. So it seems that back in the day Tetsuya and Kenzo were like Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin, Tetsuya tells the jokes and Kenzo gets the girl. Though poor Stroheim he held the torch for Tsubasa for so long and he loses out to a wife beater like Kenzo. Still I suppose this is poetic justice as we all know how Patrick and Katie got BEST END, since it was the Katie Punch that altered their fates for the better. This Kenzo slap ont eh other hand cannot compare to the infamous Bright Slap. Even with this Energer Z I still think Mazinger Z can kick it’s ass any day of the week, twice on Sunday, and smack Energer Z back into last week. Still we shall see how Tetsuya is going to kill Tsubasa FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE. Nevertheless I suppose that Karma has finally caought up to Tsubasa after killing the one guy who loved her even after she had some other dude’s kids.
Animelo 2009 Day 1 FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
August 22nd, 2009
１曲目 残酷な天使のテーゼ 石川智晶 angela
HOLY SHIT WHAT IS THIS I DON’T EVEN.
８曲目：マイペース大王/桃井はるこ+manzo
Oh lol Momoi singing this song in a duet?
１６曲目：みっくみくにしてあげる♪【してやんよ】/初音ミク
１７曲目：ブラック★ロックシューター/初音ミク
I really want to know how did ‘Miku’ appear on stage. But BLACK ROCK SHOOTER? Holy shit, it’s a bloody official now.
２４曲目：ハッピー☆マテリアル/堀江由衣+茅原実里 みのりんｷﾀ━━━━━━(ﾟ∀ﾟ)━━━━━━ !!!!
Hocchan + Minorin duet but HAPPY MATERIAL?
ヽ( >∀< )ﾉ AHAHA AHAHA AHAHAHAHA
ヽ( >∀< )ﾉ AHAHA AHAHA AHAHAHAHA
ヽ( >∀< )ﾉ AHAHA AHAHA AHAHAHAHA
ヽ( >∀< )ﾉ AHAHA AHAHA AHAHAHAHA
ヽ( >∀< )ﾉ AHAHA AHAHA AHAHAHAHA
ヽ( >∀< )ﾉ AHAHA AHAHA AHAHAHAHA
ヽ( >∀< )ﾉ AHAHA AHAHA AHAHAHAHA
ヽ( >∀< )ﾉ AHAHA AHAHA AHAHAHAHA
ヽ( >∀< )ﾉ AHAHA AHAHA AHAHAHAHA
ヽ( >∀< )ﾉ AHAHA AHAHA AHAHAHAHA
ヽ( >∀<)ﾉ AHAHA AHAHA AHAHAHAHA
Oh dear now I can’t wait for the DVD/BD.
P.S. No, I did not go for Animelo 09 in person. Just getting second hand reports from 2ch and friends who are there 
P.P.S Official song list for Day 1 has been uploaded: http://pc.animelo.jp/rebridge/whatsnew/?p=090822_set
WTF so fast! But FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF I WANT TO WATCH THE CRUEL ANGEL THESIS DUET.
©2009 Kurogane’s Anime Blog. All Rights Reserved.
THE WORLD SHOULD JUST BREAK: How’s it Like Being a Mirai with No ‘mirai’
August 22nd, 2009
The Melancholy of Onozawa Mirai
For someone named “Mirai”, she sure doesn’t have much hope in the “future”, or more like, she doesn’t even know what that future is supposed to be. She’s discontented with her life at present, but she doesn’t really know what she wants. Confusing huh?
“How do you see yourself 10 years from now”
Mirai found herself mulling over this for the better part of episode 1, and all that she can think of is what she doesn’t want to be, what she hates in this world. She hasn’t found her NARITAI JIBUN yet so the image of her ‘future self’ is still fuzzy, and I can imagine her racking her brains trying to figure out what the heck she’s going to write in her summer assignment if the Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 never happened.
Personally speaking, this is one of those essay-writing activities that I really loathed back in elementary, high school even, second to its “What I Did Last Summer” counterpart. I usually end up spouting a lot of cheesy crap when writing these essays, quoting stuff here and there despite not knowing what the heck I’m saying. But hey, we were just teens then, and teen writing sucks (thanks to coburn and Cuchlann for bringing this post to my attention via GRSI). So it’s totally understandable. *nods*
Many of us can relate with Mirai, I know I can, by a WHOLE LOT. We’ve most likely been through that stage (or still going through it) — the disenchantment stage, trapped in the limbo of childhood and adulthood, the time when you started “hating” anything and everything; you keep on thinking that things aren’t working out the way you want, when in fact you don’t even know what you want or who you really are — you lacked understanding, there’s so much that you don’t know, but you were too prideful to admit it, or too lost to come into terms with that simple fact.
There’s a lot that Mirai should be thankful for at present, a loving brother, being able to study in a prestigious school, friends, or even the lack of hostile classmates. Her mom and dad might not be there constantly for her and Yuuki because of their work, but the openness in their family is something to be envious about. I couldn’t even talk to my dad the way she does, let alone complain upfront to my mom and dad whenever they have their stupid petty fights.
But as the ones before me have said, Mirai’s behavior is but understandable, nothing surprising with a 13-year old kid being selfish and narrow-minded, right? Though of course, that doesn’t mean her bitchy behavior can be excused. But otou-san has already explained much about the Mirai’s true face (or her HONTOU no JIBUN), and she has very well redeemed herself in episode 5 so no need to expound on that 
The Mirai In Me (or you can also say Me-rai *ba dum psh*)
*** Real Life dorama flashback sequence alert *** ~cue cheesy dramatic flashback BGM~
Back in the day I would always envy my classmates’ parents because they didn’t set High-Bar Expectations for their kids, far unlike mine (my father in particular). Just being in the Top Ten was enough of a reason for them to Celebrate!!, while I was required to be on TOP. And of course, there’s nothing to celebrate about that — when I get to the top, I’m just doing as per required, if not — SHAME ON ME. My mom would give me presents in celebration for my triumph, but I always felt it wasn’t enough, not without the recognition from my father, who, despite not really being there as I was growing up, still affected me that much. I grew up from being a friendly assertive and outspoken Murasaki to an apathetic Shinkurou, and I conveniently pinned the blame on my dad.
Up until college I still had that kind of mindset, albeit on a lesser scale, because I found another scapegoat: our thesis leader who “crushed my pride and made me realize how incompetent I am”, after my Blooming Frosh Year. It all started with one Rat In A Maze project where I decided to take the easy way out by joining the group where my geeky superhuman classmate was part of, so I could take it easy and still get High Grades. Boy did I regret that decision, though it’s now a life lesson I shall never forget. I ended up doing almost nothing for the said project because I felt really lost, like THE rat in a maze. I ended up with a spunky 4.0 but close to 0.0 sense of accomplishment.
But things didn’t stop there. Like a willing puppet I continued to team up with our Great Leader and even became part of his thesis group, excelling in other subjects while feeling miserable as I work on our thesis without much sense of achievement. I graduated with flying colors, but it was overshadowed by the incompetence I felt as I went through college under the wing of our “leader”. I couldn’t even feel proud of the graduation distinction I earned because it’s like I “cheated” my way through college, despite how I worked hard for the rest of the subjects.
Looking back, I realize just how much time I wasted brooding over my life all those years, when in fact, I WASN’T DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. When I felt “lost” in our thesis that I can’t even explain the whole philosophy behind our project, I didn’t even go the extra mile to acquaint myself with the system we were making. While our “leader” was at fault for developing about 80% of our thesis project, consulting our thesis advisers without even telling his other groupmates [aka us], I shouldn’t have given up so easily; I should’ve done something to recover from the “sense of incompetence” I felt as I simply stood speechless during our thesis defenses because I felt as if I didn’t have anything worthy to say. All the while I was resigning to my “fate”, conveniently blaming people when things go wrong, when things get f*cked up [from the way I saw it].
In short, I DIDN’T HAVE THE RIGHT TO BITCH ABOUT MY LIFE.
Mirai’s life would’ve turned into a total angst fest, even worse than mine, had the Great Earthquake not happened and opened her eyes to reality — swallowing her little worries as she realizes how insignificant they are compared to what people are facing in this time of crisis, and the little joys people cling to despite this tumultuous time.
Beneath the Aftershocks and Beyond~!
Aside from opening our eyes to the reality of an earthquake crisis (and I’d like to think there are even far worse calamities than this), behind the shambles, tremors and aftershocks, I believe, is this message: Don’t bitch about your life when you’re not really doing anything to make it better; You can’t expect things to happen on its own, you can’t expect people to be mind readers and know exactly what you want without you telling them either. If you think your life/fate is f*cked up, then ROW ROW FIGHT YOUR OWN FATE.
More importantly, don’t ever forget to live each day in gratefulness. It’d be sad if we grow up to become apathetic / ungrateful pessimistic bastards. Even Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 producer Noriko Ozaki mentioned as she explains the motivation behind Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 that “…people live each day without even being aware (or being grateful) of the blessings that each new day brings” [despite the announcements made by the Government Earthquake Research Institude of the 70% chance that an earthquake with a magnitude greater than 7.0 could hit Tokyo in 30 years time, people aren't the least bit alarmed about it, she says]
There’s this one quote from Grey’s Anatomy which I saw once on TV and has been stuck in my mind ever since: “It’s good to be scared. It means you still have something to lose.” Even something so negative as fear can be something to be grateful for
There are things in life that are far beyond our control, things/people/events we can only do so much to change — the parents we’ve had since birth, the people we interact with on a daily basis, disasters like this earthquake, among others. And what really matters in the end is how we steer our lives despite these ‘external forces’, how we’re going to drive through the bumpy road of life so it can still be a ’smooth driving’ experience. How we remain intact despite the crumbling world around us, hopeful despite everything.
Oh boy did I get carried away or what… so much for rambling .__.; * hands a cookie to whoever reads this till the end *
