An-chan, Han-kun Text MagicTheater #2

Scene: (Stairwell after school. Hanako Noriko stands carrying her bag, and long shoulder bag. She is thinking to herself and smiling as she slowly heads home.)

HK(thinking): I did it! Yay. A perfect debut. Finally after three years I'll get to be a girl again. Not only that it looks like I might get some school idol consideration.

Action: (A streaking blur flies down the stairs past Hanako.)

HK(aloud): An-chan? Nah, he'd never run that fast.

Action: (Seconds later three tough looking seniors come running.)

Senior 1: He went this way c'mon!

Senior 2: What should we do when we catch him boss?

Senior Boss: We'll put that skinny bitch in the hospital.

HK: Crap! If it looks like An-chan, sounds like An-chan, and can inexplicably enrage school bullies like An-chan....I need to start charging protection money.

Scene: (Anei Kanashii is cornered in a dead end hallway. The three seniors are closing in.)

Senior Boss: Now, we'll teach you to talk to my girl.

AC: All I did was tell her a different way she could make cookies!

Senior 1: Yeah right! A real man would never bake cookies.

AC: I'm not a real boy! I love desserts!

Senior Boss: Shut up! Taka! Hideki! Make him bleed!

Action: (As the two henchmen close in on Anei there's a flurry of activity. Hanako quickly and expertly attacks with her boken and subdues the thugs.)

Panel: (Hanako stands victorious. To the right of her is the text: “Hanako Noriko: top first year, potential school idol”(this is now crossed out). To the left of her is: “Hanako Noriko: “two time national junior high girls kendo champion” (this is circled).)

HK: An-chan are you ok?

AC: Yeah, thanks Han-kun.

HK: Good! (bonks AC) You ruined my debut! Now I'll never get to be the cute girl! (sighing) Three more years of effeminate boys and dreamy eyed girls hitting on me. An-chan if I have to take a girl to a school dance ever....I'm gonna bonk your girly little brains out.

hair!

I am Gackt's semi sandy look!
Which Gackt hairstyle are you most like?

yet another crazy Gackt quiz
by mcvarmazi

Gackt!

Huzzah for J-Rock stars! Also if anyone can give me a way to find Gackt's Hero's Hero TV short I would be oh so thankful.




Which Gackt are you most like?

quiz by mcvarmazi

An-Chan, Han-Kun Text Magic Theater #1

So, I've had thoughts about characters, scenes, and comics for a while now. However I lack any and all drawing skills. So, I'm going to start posting little scripts for short scenes. More than likely they will not be in any sort of order, but they'll probably involve the same group of characters that live in my head. So, please enjoy, and if you draw let me know! I'll work with you! Well..here we go.

An-Chan, Han-Kun Text Magic Theater #1
Scene:
(High School Girls Locker Room. Various people at various point of changing before gym class.)

Sound Fx:
(Door flying open and slamming shut.)

Action:
(Anei Kanashii comes running into the locker room in his gym t-shirt and boxers. Jumps and hugs/buries his face into Hanako Noriko's shoulder.)

An-Chan(crying): Waaaa! Han-kun the boys threw me out of the locker room and locked me out!

Han-Kun(annoyed): An-chan what are you doing?!?

An-chan: Crying and wishing I had pants?

Han-kun: Where are you?

An-chan: The locker room.

Han-kun: Whose?

An-chan: The girls'.

Han-kun: Exactly! The girls' and you're a boy An-chan.

An-chan: Yeah, but I don't wanna look at the girls.
(pouting) I wanna look at the boys.
Curse your wonderful ass Takazawa-senpai!

Han-kun: Don't stare at people when they're changing!

An-chan: But it was pretty!

Action:
(Hanako hits Anei in the head with her gym shoe.)

Han-kun: Bad An-chan! Now get out before the teacher comes.

Screen Text:
(“The next day.”)

Scene:
(Sign: “Broom Closet”
Below the sign is a boy icon that has a dress on. Below the icon is another sign that reads “Anei Kanashii Changing Room.”)

July Anime Blitz

Hey everybody it's time for the super quick July roundup. This month I will only be updating new series I've started as nothing has happened to the shows I presented last month to change my opinion of them. So, with out further ado...the new shows.

Welcome to the NHK (Ep 1)
Ok, I've only seen one episode of this show, but there is potential here. However, it is potential both ways. The show has the potential to be exceedingly good or it could get bogged down under its own weight and suck horribly. The show itself appears that it will be based around a NEET (Not in Employment, Education, or Training). Basically from my understanding it's essentially a paranoid Otaku shut in. Our main character seems to be pushing three years of only leaving his house to go to the convenience store, and then in the dead of night where the chance of running into to people. Our second main character is a cute girl who has a “project” and proclaims at the end of the episode that she will save the leading man. Visually the show is excellent, quality animation, the trippy dream/hallucination sequences are very well done (if confusing, weird, and maybe a bit disturbing). The obsessively paranoid psychology and inner monologue of our shut in is also excellent. The series has tremendous potential if it doesn't get too high and mighty, avoids trying to out do itself in the trippy sequences, and doesn't fall into the trap of fanservice and moe-ism.

Mayama's Opinion: 1 to 4 depending on how things shake out.

Honey and Clover II (Eps 1 – 3)
This is a follow up series to Honey and Clover. Both the first and second series are based on a manga of the same name. Basically this is just a continuation of the story and I'm going to start blogging about each episode so, I'll be brief. If you like drama, shojo, or the first series you'll pro'ly like this one. Also as a side note my name sake comes from this show who, at times, I have a striking resemblance too.

Mayama's Opinion: 5

Gakuen Heaven (eps 1-13)
Yay! Pretty boys! I've seen prettier, but they're good enough. Ito Keita, mostly out of the blue, gets invited to attend a prestigious all boys high school (amusingly nicknamed BL Gakuen). There isn't anything terrible original to this show. Our cute, somewhat bumbling, but genuinely nice and adorable boy comes to a school of exceptionally talented and pretty boys. Ito feels awkward, but of course half the school has a crush on him. There also are feelings of deja vu upon meeting his neighbor in the dorms Endo Kazuki. The plot progresses through fits and jumps and modest obstacles. There is a pretty cute romance that ultimately blossoms, but it's your standard Shonen-ai fare. Entertaining for fans of the genre, but nothing strikingly original.

Mayama's Opinion: 2.5 (but only if you enjoy shonen-ai)

Yume Tsukai (eps 1-6)
This is a show with an interesting premise, of that there is no doubt, but somehow while intriguing it just doesn't seem to come together. The series centers around a group of people called Yume Tsukai, all of whom are more than a little strange in their own way. There job is to take care of people's nightmares that have found their way into the real world. The interesting parts of the show are the interesting characters and the many different shapes that people's nightmares take. However, this gets bogged down in the “detective” process of figuring out why the nightmare is manifesting itself, and then the fighting of the nightmare. Lamentably these parts don't really let the characters shine through. The show is kind of like a poor man's “xxxHolic” take that for what it's worth.

Mayama's Opinion: 2.5

Binbou Shimai Monogatarai (Ep 1)
I don't know a ton of Japanese, but I do know that binbou means poor. As it turns out the series is about a pair of poor orphaned sisters (one high schooler, one elementary schooler). The first episode seemed like a nice introduction to the characters and their situation. Not a ton happened, and they had kind of a cliched misunderstanding only to have it resolved. However, there was something rather cute about the first episode and I look forward to watching more. I don't think it will be a revelation or anything, but could be some good clean fun.

Mayama's Opinion: 3

Muteki Kanban Musume (eps 1-2)
Ok, while not as weird as “Welcome to the NHK” it is bizarre in its own right. Focused around a hyper active, high strung, ramen restaurant delivery girl the show itself seems to have little plot. Somehow though it manages to be entertaining, but hardly good. I'm not sure what more I can say. It's worth a check out, because you might find it hilarious but you might also hate it.

Mayama's Opinion: 1 to 2.5 (but closer to 2).

Honey and Clover II 1

So, I've kind of decided that I need something to write about, and that has lead me to the decision to do episode write ups for two new shows (Honey and Clover II and Welcome to the NHK). No I am far to lazy to do screen captures or put anything behind a cut, or whatever, so consider this your warning. If you don't wanna know what I think before hand just skip these entries.

To start with, because it's easy to do a write up of, I present you Honey and Clover II 1. Honey and Clover II is a 13 episode follow up to 2005's Honey and Clover. Both are based on the Honey and Clover manga by Chika Umino (her only work as far as I can tell).

Anyways episode 1 is a dreaded recap episode. Yes it was kind of nice to have a little but of a reminder of the gist of the first 24 episodes, and I suppose for one who didn't watch the first series this would be indispensable. However, for someone rather well versed in the first series it was a little bothersome. Takemoto delivered some good narration (most of the narration and soliloquy style musings in the first series are excellent). There was also about 45 seconds of new montagey animation, but that was really all there was to the episode.

Since there wasn't much show to write about here's a quick rundown of my thoughts on the OP/ED.

OP- Ah YUKI I am oh so happy you are back again to squawk the opening theme at us. Actually I don't particularly care for the artist, but at least the song this time is better than the first series. As this iteration of YUKI is fair inoffensive, as opposed to annoyingly bad. The lyrics also are far superior I think. The animation is in the same “unique” style as the first season of the first series. That being said at least there is no creepy dancing food this time around. It is hardly conventional, and strikes me as neither particularly good or particularly bad. However, it did amuse me that there was a random pancake thrust in at the end, as if they just couldn't live without one food item in the credits (as a side note this is a drama that focuses on a bunch of art students and is in no way a cooking anime).

ED- Ah Suneohair you I am very happy to hear again. After doing an excellent job with “Waltz” as the 1st ED in the 1st series I was excited to see they came back for Honey and Clover II. The song “Split” is both excellent musically and has lyrics that are both good and extremely appropriate for the tone and content of the show. The credit sequence is nothing to write home about. The only thing of interest is that they do the next episode preview during the song. This means you get about a 10 to 15 second montage of clips and no narration so, sometimes it's a bit of a mystery, but I like it.

Ok that's it for this time around. There will be more next time as I assume new things will actually happen. As a quick summary OP feel free to skip, ED listen and enjoy.

June Rundown (Christ this Foreign Land Leaves me with too Much Time)

Hi all. Mayama here. Here's my first super quick rundown of the month. Now I haven't watched all of these eps this month, but I needed to go back a little to get started. In the future this will be a rundown of what I've watched for the month. Also in the future you'll get an expanded view of the episode and the series of the month. So, look forward to it!

Aria (Season 1: 1-13 Season 2: 1-6)
Aria takes place in the future on a terraformed Mars. However, the setting itself is a mix of a classical Venice with evidences of technology. The series itself focuses on three girls try to become Undines (female gondola guides). I'll be honest in the grand scheme f things not much happens. There's very little action and while parts are humorous, it is not an over the top comedy. If anything it is a slice of life piece, somewhat in the vein of “My Neighbor Totoro”. All in all though if you don't need something being slashed or shot every couple minutes you should really check Aria out.

Mayama's Opinion: 4.5

.Hack//Roots 1-9
Just in case you thought that all the .Hack stuff was finally over here comes another series, which is paving the way for a new trilogy of games, which pro'ly will only lead to another animated series. In any event .Hack//Roots takes place some time after the first game series. It's not really clear how long, it appears to be a “long time” after, but you knows what that means in terms of the ever changing world of an MMORPG. .Hack//Roots falls into a trap that most of it's predecessors avoided, that being lots of MMORPG speak and terms. For some this won't pose a problem, but to the non gamer they may find themselves going “the hell is that?” Anyways the story is decently intriguing and the characters are ok, but neither live up to the story telling of the previous games or .Hack//Sign, which was a great story. All in all if you like .Hack or things of a gaming or fantasy nature it might be worth your time.

Mayama's Opinion: 2.5

Blood+ 1-32
It really deserves a full blown review, but I think Yukino is on that so I shall keep it brief. Basically unless the only type of show you watch it Shojo, or things with no action in them at all....watch this show. It's awesome. There are good fights, but they don't take over the story or pigeon hole the characters i.e. No one is “that guy with that move”.

Mayama's Opinion: 5

Ouran Host Club 1-10
Ah host club. What don't you have? Cross dressing, comedy, pretty boys, the occasional pretty girl, all the character stereotypes in the rainbow. There's nothing you're lacking. If you like comedy, shojo, or pretty things this show is for you.

Mayama's Opinion: 5

Ray the Animation 1-9
If ER and anime had a baby that had a few mutant genes you'd get Ray. There are conspiracies, operations, and medical terminology galore. There's also awkward romances and unrealistic things that infect or grow out of people. Still it can make for some entertaining watching.

Mayama's Opinion: 2.5

Princess, Princess 1-9
Ah anime about all boys high schools. Here the prettiest of the first years are made to wear girl's clothing to “enrich” daily life at school. In addition to the standard cross dressing hilarity there is some quality problems in life struggles, as well as some standard shojo action. Also, one day, it seems like we might get boys dressed like girls kissing each other.

Mayama's Opinion: 3.5

Fate/Stay Night 1-24
Do you like magic, fighting, and long dead figures from mythology? If yes you should watch Fate/Stay Night. Seven “masters” have each been given a servant out of the world's mythological lore and they're going to fight until one is left standing. To that winner goes the holy grail and the power to make any one wish they want come true. The action and animation are great, and while the secondary characters are a little flat the core 3 or 4 are incredibly well developed which makes it worth watching even if you're not huge into fighting animes.

Mayama's Opinion: 4

Noein 1-23
Holy alternate realities and techno babble (which from what I can tell atleast half of it is in the ball park of being accurate). I'll be honest if it weren't for the translator's notes I'd have only a vague idea of the technical side of what's going on, and I'm college educated. Anyways, one of the “Time Spaces” that exists is trying to assimilate all over “time spaces” into itself. Only one power can really prevent this, which of course is held by a clueless elementary schooler. Also a third “time space” is trying to kidnap aforementioned elementary schooler in an effort to save their dying “time space” by enslaving her and her power. This is pure sci-fi, but it's really entertaining. If you start it give it 2 or 3 eps, and be prepared for a little bit of a slow down in the middle when the technicalities of the physics start popping up.

Mayama's Opinion: 3.5

Ergo Proxy 1-12
Another sci-fi anime, but this one is also dystopian. If Mayama loves one genre in literature it's dystopian tales. This is another anime that you can enjoy just on a surface level, there's sci-fi action, some mystery, suspense, a search for oneself, plus the whole we're all cogs in this society with no freedom. However, there is a lot of dense metaphor, references to mythology, and tenants of psychology operating too. Again is a show that I get about half of, but you have to tip your hat to the fan-subbers. At times, it might seem a bit much, but you should do yourself the favor of reading through the notes, because the show is enjoyable at its surface level, but you gain a whole new appreciation of it's complexity if you dig just a little.

Mayama's Opinion: 4.5

Kamisama Kazuko 1-4
So, being the son of god kind of sucks, because everyone in your family can read your thoughts, of course you can hear theirs too, but everyone seems to be a bit too meddlesome. Everything goes your way and you don't have to really try to do anything, because it always seems to work out no matter what. However, when our son of god finally meets a girl that he wants to whoo on his own, of course everyone gets in the way. Sometimes for the better, sometimes in disastrous fashion. Of course which shojo school love comedy is complete without a a second girl for a handy love triangle.

Mayama's Opinion: 3

xxxHolic 1-10
It's CLAMP! It's a bit occultish and mystical, lots of good spirits and bad spirits, but at the end you really just have to ask yourself do you like CLAMP? If you do good, if you don't bad.

Mayama's Opinion: Pro Clamp: 4 Anti-Clamp: 2

NANA 1-9
It's NANA in anime form! Here's another one that's gonna come down to if you like the source material or not. However, just to add something the animation is fantastic, the voices are good, and they even managed to write some halfway decent songs. Nothing Beck quality yet, but a cut above what you usually get in anime.

Mayama's Opinion: 4

Zettai Shonen 1-24
I don't really know why the series is called “Absolute Boy”, but it is great. A boy goes from his home in the city to spend the summer with his father in a small town. While there strange things happen, and he remembers some of his “otherworldly” friends from his early childhood. The pacing is rather slow, but the characters, their interaction, and the genuine mystery of what's happening is fantastic. A word of warning though. Both seasons are very much their own thing, the themes are the same, but there is a definite break in time between the seasons and the cast and setting change, it takes an episode or two to get back in the swing of things. All in all though it's a really entertaining watch.

Mayama's Opinion: 4.5

Not Exactly a Review. but Nerdish

So, this isn't a review, in fact it will barely be a paragraph. Basically, I want to make a declaration. Though lacking Harrison Ford sipping scotch in damn near every scene the book which inspired the burdensome movie "Blade Runner", "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?", is actually quite good. In fact it is more than quite good, it is probably the best science fiction I've read since "Speaker for the Dead". The world, plot twists, psychology, and questions of identity laid out in the book far surpass anything Ridley Scott's movie tried to do. You should read it, it's only 244 pages, and leaves you with some good points, good questions, and a few nice twists.

Just a note. There are a couple of points in the book where the plot, the characters, and even reality seem to instantly turn on a dime and drag us off in a completely unforseen direction. I liked this aspect a lot, because it's just like real life. You get turned around, flipped over, and inverted without the slightest bit of warning and all you can do is plunge ahead, or atleast you should.

Favorite Quote from the book:
"You will be required to do wrong no matter where you go. It is a basic condition of life, to be required to violate your own identity. At some time, every creature which lives must do so."