DEATH IS NOT KIND

Current Anime Status

2012-08-30T14:56:01Z

Oh yeah, better update about where I am with other series.

These are the ones that I am currently still watching; there are a few others that I've finished recently but I hope to talk about those in another post in the future.

Hunter x Hunter (2011); last seen episode 44. UP TO DATE.

Moyashimon Returns; seen episode 4 (behind by 4 episodes). I was sad to realise that I'm just not enjoying this one as much as the first season, but I plan to stick with it to the end anyway.

Space Brothers; last watched episode 10 so REALLY behind with it, but I love what I have seen and am catching up steadily. I was reading the manga but gave up since it seemed to translate so well to anime (someone tell me if I'm missing out on anything by doing so).

Jinrui wa Suitai Shimashita; HOW DID I END UP WATCHING THIS SURREAL PIECE OF CRACK ABOUT FAIRIES AND THE DECLINE OF HUMANITY? I watched up to episode 7 last night. I like a good dose of weird and this series delivers that, plus it is actually cleverer than it appears at first (and it gets more amusing after the first couple of episodes). I find myself going between laughing out loud at how bizarre it is and finding the world and the fairies to be very unsettling (also, I don't think for a minute that it's true but I do enjoy the theory that the series is all a total delusion and Watashi is probably insane). Please give me more of this trapped-inside-manga-panels, time loop, anthropomorphised space probes (VOYAGER IS LOVE), non-linear, unnamed character, social commentary-ish oddity.

It can't be called post apocalyptic (there was no apocalypse) but it is a refreshingly different take on a society where human population has entered a decline. Is anyone else still watching?

Aquarion EVOL END

2012-08-30T13:22:25Z

How has it been more than a MONTH since I last posted?

Okay, that needs to stop. And the only way I can get it to stop is to begin using this journal more again and not allowing myself to fall out of the habit of doing so (because the longer I spend out of touch on here the more insurmountable the whole issue seems and the more avoidant I get about it). I had a lot of things I wanted to post about, but whether or not I get to all of that is something that remains to be seen. But to ease myself back into posting here, the topic of anime seems like an easy and familiar place to start, as I have been watching a fair bit of it again in recent weeks.

I FINALLY FINISHED WATCHING AQUARION EVOL.

AND I LOVED IT.

Those fears I had about an imperfect ending VANISHED. I laughed and I cried and I waited to see how it would all turn out and I adore it so much for managing to be so ridiculous and yet keep that in balance with a plot that made a special kind of sense despite (and this is a bit of a spoiler so look away if you feel like there's any chance you might like to watch this series without knowing the twists) the main character turning out to be (one half of) the reincarnation of a flying space dog with an unrequited crush. OH AMATA I ALWAYS CALLED YOU A CUTE PUPPY BUT WHO KNEW YOU WOULD ACTUALLY TURN OUT TO BE ONE? I was also DELIGHTED that he never did get fused back with Kagura as I suspected would happen, but even so, KAGURA I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD LIKE YOU BUT I DID. (I must admit that after the series ended, I quite liked the thought of Kagura and Zessica ending up together, which I know feels like pairing up the spares, but honestly, for me it could work as a kind of slow and bitter healing but eventually becoming more. I do think there were the barest hints of this at the end, too.)

I'm so pleased with the way this turned out for my favourite ships (well with the exception of those separated by DEATH but none of the deaths in this series were a surprise). I was a loyal fan of Amata the entire way through, and despite feeling a degree of sympathy for Kagura that I never thought I would, it was still so gratifying for me to see that in the end he was not portrayed as incomplete or lacking, but rather that although they were split, he and Kagura were not halves of the same whole but two separate and individual entities who happened to have the same source.

The series was far too fun for me to ever want to criticise it much, but the only real complaint I have is to wonder why those on Altair did not take a more diplomatic approach to their problem? HOW HARD WOULD IT HAVE BEEN TO MAKE CONTACT AND ASK FOR SOME HELP OR SEE IF ANYONE WOULD VOLUNTEER OR EVEN JUST LEAVE YOUR SHIT PLANET AND MOVE TO VEGA?

I get the impression that Aquarion Evol is a love/hate series (wish it had been more popular).

I have only one regret, and that is that I didn't manage to screencap it as much as I would have liked to, because it was the perfect kind of series for that.

ALSO GODDAMMIT IT'S GOING TO BE LONG TIME BEFORE I CAN EAT A DONUT WITHOUT THINKING OF THIS SERIES.

Cover for GK 24

2012-07-19T17:09:58Z

The cover image has been released for GK volume 24:

OH GOD I WANT IT NOW.

But luckily it's not that long until release day (23rd). It will still take some time to get to me, though.

On the same day as volume 24 is released, the newest volume of the Extra comes out too, and the cover got posted on the official Twitter earlier today:

Isn't that a cute cover? If I had the money for it, I'd buy all the Extras just for the artwork on the cover, but unfortunately for me they are not cheap and I just can't afford to do that when the content of the magazines is so heavily weighted towards real football (and also in Japanese so I can't even read it anyway).

15: Meisetsu Chapter 7

2012-07-13T15:20:24Z

So I have a couple of days off work and I'm doing some fandom catch-up. Starting with chapter 7 of 15: Meisetsu (we're into the second volume of three now and I'm still totally thrilled every time I think about the fact that it's being scanlated). This chapter was mainly building tension before their match against Takase (TEAM UNICORN). It also featured Yui looking so attractive that it turned me into fangirl mush. I love the art of this series. And I was also pleased that there were some nice moments between Yui and Akira, because much as I think it's good for Akira to have some friends that match him in age and experience I would hate to see his relationship with Yui sidelined for the sake of that. I'm actually not aware of how this series ends, despite having looked raws now and then, so I'm really looking forward to future chapters of this. I think about this series a lot. ALSO ASUKA/MAKI MUST BE CANON, RIGHT?

Is school-level rugby aired on television in Japan, then? Because that's Yui watching the match in which Maki was injured in the top middle panel.

Anyway, it's clear that Yui is underestimating Takase now by assuming the team won't have been able to move past the loss of Maki as a player, and even though Akira is clearly doubtful, when pressed by Yui he can't put his concerns into words. Yui DOES also say it's not necessary to win here, because simply proving they are able to play competitively against a top team like Takase will show their worth and make them feared by other school teams, but I'm sure Meisetsu are going to be playing to win anyway. This is going to be an interesting match!

Of course, Akira is still easily Meisetsu's most valuable asset.

I've often wondered what a mix of emotions Yui must feel at knowing that his dream of playing at Hanazono might be attaintable only through the presence of someone else. It's interesting because rugby is a team sport but it's not THAT unrealistic for a team to be based around a good kicker (although the realism when it comes to the actual level of Akira's skill is another matter). This chapter does kind of touch on that later, in an indirect way. I think perhaps he might have found it disquieting at first, after the initial excitement of discovery wore off, but I have a feeling that his own determination wouldn't let it trouble him for too long.

OH MAO, NEVER STOP BEING SUCH A TSUNDERE.

UHHH CAN IT GET MUCH MORE SUGGESTIVE THAN THIS?

I mean, it was already clear that there was a bond between these two BUT STILL. THIS SERIOUSLY LOOKS LIKE A PAGE OUT OF A BL SERIES RIGHT BEFORE THEY ADMIT THEY HAVE FEELINGS FOR EACH OTHER AND TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

(Asuka actually says that he wants to play together with Maki for Japan, although CLEARLY he also wants to be with Maki in another way...)

So after establishing Akira/Maki as a couple, Yui and Akira have a very similar conversation about what their dreams are. THESE TWO PAGES ARE WHAT REDUCED ME TO GOO OKAY. I feel a little sad that Yui hasn't given much thought to what he wants to accomplish aside from going to Hanazono, but at the same time he's young and the rest of the future must seem far away (and perhaps deep down he can't allow himself a dream of reaching the level of a professional play because he knows without a doubt that it's not realistic? Or is it just meant as a contrast to the Asuka and Maki conversation in that those two are older and more experienced/mature compared to the Meisetsu players?).

There's something very wistful about this scene. This is what makes me think that perhaps the distance in pure talent between the two of them is something that Yui has for the most part made his peace with, even if he seems a bit rueful here as he mentions it. He's very honest about what he sees in Akira, and this was a really heart-warming moment for the two of them.

I SHIP THEM SO HARD.

It's like the game is also operating as a ship war between these two pairings (note how everyone else is only kind of sketchy in the background). BRING IT ON.

I just love how Yui is both protective and encouraging of Akira, and how Akira is leaning into him ever so slightly (for reassurance?).

I also forgot to mention that the extra/chapter 6.5 from volume 1 was scanlated to my great joy, and not because I was longing for the amusing explanation of how rugby works but because of the brief moment of MAO ON A HORSE (YES I HAVE THIS THING ABOUT SEEING MY FAVOURITE CHARACTERS RIDE HORSES OKAY, I WANT EQUESTRIAN AUS FOR EVERYTHING BUT THEY ARE JUST NOT OUT THERE).

And speaking of horses, this is one I would buy in a second if only I were in the right position for horse ownership. It's going to be several years at least before I can even begin to think about that seriously, but it doesn't stop me from browsing the adverts and dreaming. I like this one, too.

I was going to go the the gym today, but I really don't have the energy.

ON THE WAY~

2012-07-11T19:41:41Z

Oooh just seen that the release date for Giant Killing volume 24 has been announced, for the 23rd of THIS MONTH, WOW THAT HAS SNUCK UP ON ME. No cover image available yet but I will now begin the stalking of Amazon.co.jp each day until I get to see what it'll look like. And again the Google Translated version of the hint/teaser about what the sticker will be makes little to no sense, but it's a nice surprise to see it when I open the volume.

I'm still not caught up with most anime I am watching, but I'll watch the first episode of Moyashimon Returns tonight (hoping it meets my expectations as I got a lot of enjoyment from the first series). So far, I haven't been much tempted by anything else airing this season (well, a lot of it is the kind of entertaining-but-average stuff I would watch with pleasure if I had enough time to indulge, but if I try that right now I would probably die of stress or end up wasting my time by dropping it part way through anyway). Okay, I am mildly interested in Kokoro Connect, but all I know about it is a brief summary of the concept. I haven't read any reviews of the fare from this season for fear of picking up more than just Moyashimon when I can't handle it. But still, there's a chance I might find myself watching something else if I become convinced I'd enjoy it. NOTE TO SELF: DO NOT WATCH ANYTHING JUST FOR CHARACTERS DESIGNS OR VOICE ACTORS.

(ARGH I am so useless at LJ these days.)

Aquarion EVOL Episode 15 (SO LATE OOPS)

2012-06-08T00:53:06Z

Okay, so since I am about to start my backlog of Aquarion Evol by watching a couple of episodes in the bath (even though it's after midnight and I have work tomorrow morning, don't judge) here is where I am with the series at the moment.

As it stands, the last episode I watched was 16 and I remember that I spent large parts of it laughing out loud because it was so ridiculous. I don't think I gave much mention to individual episodes past 14, but 16 is the one that still stands out in my mind because it was the episode where I started to have feelings about Kagura other than wishing he would stay the fuck away from Amata and Mikono. And I also never thought that I would ever consider Kagura to be a legitimate love interest for Mikono, but in the end all it took was one well-executed scene and suddenly that became a possibility to me. AMATA IS THE ADORABLE PUPPY BUT KAGURA IS A CONFLICTED BADASS WOOBIE. WHO SHOULD I SHIP WITH MIKONO? (LMAO BUT IF THE SERIES IS HINTING AT WHAT I SUSPECT IT IS THEN I SHOULDN'T SPEND TOO MUCH TIME ON THAT ONE. DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH I'LL LIKE IT IF IT IS, BUT WHATEVER.)

So I'm at 16/23 that have aired so far.

I'm not going to get this done in one night, I don't think.

But anyway, I wanted to screencap that part of episode 15 since I first saw it, and although it's been ages since it came out, better late than never?

Kagura is wild and Amata is tame.

The main problem I had with Kagura/Mikono right from the start is how he treats her (insultingly and like an object). I am pretty much a ship and let ship type, but it did make me uncomfortable to see some people fangirling over Kagura straight away given that his only redeeming feature in the beginning is an attractive character design. I suspected there might be more complexity to his character in the first place, but I couldn't see how someone so outright abusive could be regarded as the "better" option over the more genuine Amata.

But the series did more with Kagura than I was expecting.

Yes, to some people, lines like those are a great foundation for a relationship!

He also keeps telling her that she stinks. Isn't he charming? So far, this kind of interaction is all we've seen of Kagura's interest in Mikono, plus some scheming Mikage in the background (who has clearly been influencing Kagura in some way and has plans of his own.)

(Okay, I think a lot of the initial interest in Kagura stems from the fact that he is the mystery whereas Amata quite quickly becomes a known quantity. I can understand that. But I don't like the undertones of the cruel bad boy being held above the innocent genuine one.)

I love that even when really weird shit is going on, the emotional responses of the main cast always ring true and are captured very well (although comes across better with animation and voice acting instead of just a cap). Also the music is just PERFECT in this scene and kept me on edge the whole time. One of my favourite episodes so far. I get a lot out of this series considering I went into it for the ridiculous shipping fest / cracked out concept / shiny animation and attack calling.

And then after she says that, KAGURA BLUSHES?

~~SO I WAS PRETTY MUCH DOOMED FROM THIS MOMENT~~

AND I SIT UP AND TAKE NOTICE BECAUSE CLEARLY THERE IS SOME KIND OF REVEAL TO COME.

OH GOD WHAT IS THIS

HOW IS HE BECOMING CUTE

I LOVE THIS EMOTIONALLY CONFLICTED STUFF

ALSO HNNNGH THIS IS WAY MORE ATTRACTIVE THAN IT SHOULD BE

He manages to befriend Mikono's cat, so CLEARLY they are destined to be lovers (but of course even though she feels a pull towards him, at this point she still doesn't trust him or understand his behaviour and NOR DO I COME ON SERIES TELL ME WHAT'S GOING ON HERE)

Anyway, then he tells her again that he hates her and he wants to kill her, only it REALLY doesn't sound like he means that and--

WHOAH, WHOAH.

IS THAT MY ONE REASONABLE OBJECTION TO THIS PAIRING DISAPPEARING?

(I don't quite get how it works since he is able to tell her that he can only lie to her, and that's not a lie, and also he can clearly control some of his actions, but whatever.)

IT'S THAT OLD STORY AGAIN.

Oh, Amata.

I could do a "Mikono-san!" drinking game and get trashed on one episode thanks to you.

THIS IS SO DAMN DRAMATIC.

(Okay, and I'm not ready to jump ship on Amata/Mikono for Kagura/Mikono just yet, because Kagura keeps calling her Sylvie and I still can't buy that a relationship is meant to be because BLAH BLAH BLAH DESTINY or that one is not going to work because of the same.)

Two completely different reactions. LOVE IT.

ANYWAY, as the episode draws to a close, Cayenne intervenes and shoots Kagura, Kagura ends up bleeding on the ground in front of Amata, who now has the gun.

Amata still makes more of the faces that I like, so perhaps he's still my favourite.

BUT AT LEAST KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN WHEN YOU SHOOT SOMEONE, AMATA!

I WAS READY FOR THIS.

This whole situation is such a mess.

BUT IT GAVE ME SO MUCH DELICIOUS CONFLICT.

Anyway, the next episode had a new opening, and seemed to be hinting more at this Amata and Kagura problem that I alluded to earlier. I don't know what to think of the theory that Amata and Kagura are two halves of the same whole, because that surely implies that they need to merge at some point (presumably the merged version will end up with Mikono?). I also don't like the implication that Amata's qualities as they are now are not enough and that he needs some of Kagura's feral nature to be complete (WHY YES I DO SEEM TO BE REALLY PROTECTIVE OF AMATA TODAY, no idea why I feel so strongly about him).

I hope it's less physical than that, and more of a team up and Union to defeat shared enemies thing because I could REALLY get behind that.

PLEASE DON'T HAVE A PHYSICAL AND PERMANENT GATTAI.

Anyway, I have enjoyed what the series has given me so far, so I'm happy to hold back on the issue until I see how it gets resolved.

(This is why I can't screencap as much as I'd like to! I could have watched an episode already in the time it took me to do this post...)

BRING IT TO ME

2012-06-07T23:17:40Z

Trying to wait patiently for a subbed version of the new Yondemasuyo, Azazel-san OVA to emerge online. I watched a video of the opening that got posted on Tumblr and got hit with a need for it even though it still confuses me that I somehow got this into a series that is so frequently gross and crass in terms of humour. I did find a link to the raw being streamed somewhere, but that didn't work for me and I think I'd prefer to wait and get the full impact complete with subs. But really, how can this OVA be anything other than good? (I like how the opening gives a COMPLETELY FALSE IMPRESSION OF THE SERIES during the first 20 seconds and then just descends into what resembles normality for the series LMAO).

The opening video is here, if anyone is interested and hasn't seen it yet. (I am such a Beelzebub fangirl, it is ridiculous. I mean, there's a lot to look forward to about this OVA but it takes one glance of Beelzebub in human form and I start feeling like nothing else matters? Okay OKAY I am keen to see Lucifer and other new characters get animated and I love some of the other characters too...)

AZAZEL-SAN IS THE FANDOM I HAVE NO IDEA HOW I ENDED UP IN.

.

2012-06-06T21:35:23Z

(Okay, so this prolonged more-or-less absence from LJ has got to stop. I tried to cure myself when I last posted, but it didn't really do the trick. I guess my mind has been on other things and in part at least it was a conscious decision to spend less time online/on fandom in an attempt to overhaul my life somewhat, but it's amazing how hard it can be to get back into the habit of regular posting even if you want to. I do feel like I am naturally quite bad at reaching balance in my life, but I'm improving. And LJ and fandom and all my interactions here are a recreational and social activity that is important to me SO I'M HERE AND I'M GOING TO TRY TO CATCH UP WITH EVERYTHING.)

I was just looking at the Summer 2012 anime chart and breathing a HUGE sigh of relief that most of the shows look awful BECAUSE MY CURRENT BACKLOG IS FEARSOME. The only series I even want to watch is Moyashimon Returns. I intend to be all caught up with everything else by the time that airs (hopefully much sooner), and as I have a week to myself in the flat, I may as well list what I want to accomplish in that time (in a purely LJ/fannish sense).

CATCH UP WITH AQUARION EVOL (this is priority number one).
Catch up with Kuroko no Basuke.
Catch up with Tsuritama.
Sort out my LJ icons.
Decide whether I want a Paid Account/icon package again.
Post about whatever I haven't been posting about
(OR forget about that and let it go).
TRY TO BALANCE REAL LIFE AND INTERNET TIME.

(I predict I am either going to spam my LJ with updates or sink back into silence.)

(I'm also behind with Sakamichi no Apollon, but I watch that one with the boyfriend so it'll have to wait until he returns.)

.

2012-05-22T21:25:52Z

WAAAAAH KONBINI-KUN GOT LICENSED

FOR A PRINT RELEASE NO LESS

BUT NOT IN THE UK and thanks to the content of the final chapter it's probably borderline-legal over here ~~STUPID RIDICULOUS LAW~~ (okay so how old are the characters again? Does it even say? Probably doesn't matter even if it does say, since the law relates to how old the characters APPEAR and not how old they are stated to be and I do worry about manga artwork ARGH). BUT ANYWAY more Junko in the world (and an official translated print release) is never a bad thing, right? Even if I can't have it for my bookshelf, right?

I feel Konbini-kun should be okay, personally.

But how to know for sure?

GK 23 IS HERE~!

2012-05-14T03:21:08Z

So TECHNICALLY it has been here for a couple of days, but I am just now (yes at gone 4am shut up) posting about it. It arrived after a long day at work and was just what I needed BUT OH GOD I NEED THE NEXT VOLUME WHY DID IT HAVE TO STOP THERE. I stopped looking for raws after my copy arrived but I don't think any have turned up yet. I'm not going to scan it because I can't bear to ruin the book, but I couldn't resist taking a few pictures of it JUST BECAUSE. There are a few of the cover/inside flap/sticker but anything featuring manga content is going to be spoiler cut so choose to click or not click at your discretion.

I loved this volume. I could say that about any GK volume, but this one seemed to stand out to me (and I say that despite being someone who can't read Japanese; but the flow of the game and the art and the composition is so well put together, perhaps as a consequence of being a volume entirely concerned with a single game BUT WHATEVER THIS VOLUME IS AMAZING). I adore ETU because they have so much heart to them, and it really shows here. This volume is also great for anyone who likes Tsubaki even half as much as I do, and also Kang is cute and Hachiya is HACHIYA and I shouldn't laugh but I think Hoshino is in need of some anger management and needs to stop looking like he's capable of murder when it doesn't all go his way (as always so many interesting characters to notice on the other team).

OKAY NOW FOR THE PICTURES~

These are the non-spoilery ones (unless you count revealing the free sticker and the comment Pakka makes on the inside flap as spoilers).

AHHH HERE IT IS.

Being able to come home from work and have this in my hands was THE BEST.

Okay I KNOW I'm not the only one to find Pakka vaguely creepy. There is enough fanart on Pixiv of him molesting the ETU players for me to be sure that it's not just me. Sometimes I forget that it must be a man in a mascot suit... I mean, Pakka is just PAKKA.

THE STICKER.

I tried to run the Twitter hint about what it was through an online translator before the book actually arrived, and got some garbled sentence about a man standing in the doorway or something? Needless to say, I didn't have a clue what it would be. But it's marginally better than the last one, if only because I have a soft spot for goalkeepers (...ETU goalkeepers).

OKAY and now for some spoilers.

I didn't take many pictures but I can do more if anyone's curious or wants to see a certain character.

OKAY PICTURES CONTAINING SPOILERS ARE UNDER HERE

TSUBAKI WHAT A GOAL

I FELT SO DELIRIOUSLY HAPPY WHEN I SAW HIM MANAGE TO SEND THAT INTO THE NET

(OKAY SO I SPENT MOST OF THIS VOLUME JUST FLAILING OVER TSUBAKI, SO WHAT?)

Tsubaki has been amazing to watch in this game. I love seeing him matched up against teams/opponents he has faced before because it really shows how far he has come. I look back at how he was at the start of the series and it's impossible not to feel proud (proud of a fictional character whose successes and failures I hold no influence over but the sentiment is there nonetheless). He is so adorable I can barely cope!

OKAY SO SERA

YOU NOT ONLY JUMPED ONTO GINO'S BACK IN THIS VOLUME/GAME BUT ALSO GOT TSUBAKI AS WELL?

Sera and Tsubaki as a ship holds no real appeal for me, but I always love celebration scenes (and Sera behaving like a human limpet made me LOL) AND ALSO HAIR RUFFLING (OR IS IT A SUPER-ENTHUSIASTIC HEAD PAT?) I MIGHT DIE. KEEP AT IT ETU.

ALSO IT'S RAINING AND I LIKE SEEING THEM GET RAINED ON.

(I was going to say that this volume could have done with twice as much half-time shirtlessness as it had, but to be honest it would feel really weird to me if GK were to include that kind of content just for the sake of it.)

YEAH DEFINITELY ANGER MANAGEMENT IS NEEDED

I actually like how a character like this who seems breezy and easygoing at first is hiding such a nasty streak but you just can't see it because he's SO GOOD AT WHAT HE DOES. It surprised me when it was first revealed but I think it's an interesting facet to his character.

HNNGH TATSUMI

I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE SAYING BUT I WOULD

(OKAY so this was less of a coherent review and more like just excitement but never mind!)

(I actually watched some real football today, BE PROUD OF ME)

ANYWAY I NEED VOLUME 24 IN MY LIFE AND I CAN'T WAIT 2 MONTHS OR HOWEVER LONG IT IS.

BRING ON THE SAKAI VS HOSHINO SHOWDOWN.

(I didn't mean to have a lack of updates for 2 weeks.

I'll try to post more regularly again!)

Giant Killing Chapter 116 / TSURITAMA

2012-05-01T21:41:19Z

I really REALLY liked this chapter.

OH GOD TSUBAKI. KEEP IT TOGETHER.

He's been having a decent game here, but this just shows how he can easily be rattled by something. Or rather, maybe it's not that he's easily rattled but that CERTAIN THINGS or situations send him into a panic, and Mochida is one of those things (WHICH IS UNDERSTANDABLE REALLY, COME ON).

Great to see Akasaki in this chapter. How come I've only just noticed he's wearing long sleeves?

To me, Akasaki is a player who's thinking the whole time he's playing. He always seems aware of the flow of the game and where everyone else around him is. As a player, he clearly has a lot of aptitude for the game but he's neither relying on natural talent or overthinking things and making poor decisions os suffering from esteem problems as a result. He's a player pretty free of issues, all things considered, and that's refreshing in itself.

(YEAH, I'M FEELING THE LOVE FOR NUMBER 15 TONIGHT~)

PERFECT EXAMPLE OF AKASAKI UNDER PRESSURE.

He's unafraid to go for goal himself but won't do so selfishly if there's a better option available, AND he doesn't panic when being pressed by the other team's players, sending the ball through to Tsubaki where there's space.

~~GK GIVES ME THE CHANCE TO PRETEND I KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT FOOTBALL HA HA HA~~

~~I hope I haven't said anything to idiotic yet...~~

Of course, MOCHIDA IS RIGHT THERE and Tsubaki ends up in a heap on the floor LMAO.

I LOVE THIS WHOLE PAGE SO MUCH *__*

You know, in his own way I think Mochida is actually showing concern for Tsubaki here (and if not that then DEFINITELY interest). And Mochida does have a point. Tsubaki needs to learn to deal with facing opponents like this on the pitch, becaue if it becomes known that it's easily possible to rattle him, then WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN (yeah everyone would pick on him). He must have looked like such a target back when ETU played Tokyo Victory that first time. He needs to keep his head and not get flustered by it.

So hopefully facing Mochida again can desensitise him, rather than it going the other way.

Anyway, Tatsumi weighs in and it's Tsubaki's turn to get called to the sidelines for some one-on-one instruction.

PART OF ME JUST WANTS TO POST EVERY SINGLE PAGE OF THIS CHAPTER

BECAUSE WHEN IT INCLUDES ALL MY FAVOURITE THINGS IT'S HARD OKAY

BUT I SHALL RESIST

ONLY, I LOVE ALL THESE TATSUMI AND TSUBAKI MOMENTS

AAAAAH

OKAY BE PATIENT WITH ME

HIS FACE IN THE TOP LEFT PANEL

THEN HOW HE LOOKS WHEN HE SAYS "OKAY"

AND TATSUMI'S REPLY

BEST THING EVER

Tsubaki just tries so hard. I can't NOT love that. And he's obviously still daunted by what he's been asked to do, BUT HE'S GOING TO DO IT ANYWAY. TSUBAKI, YOU'RE DOING OKAY. And instead of thinking about his previous mistakes and saying internally "I can't do it!" or "It's impossible!" he thinks instead that it's time to redress the balance. YEAH SHOW OFF YOUR DEVELOPMENT.

LMAO MOCHIDA TELLS IT LIKE IT IS

I feel bad for his teammates. I think Shironishi especially has a hard time with him. At first I was feeling kind of wary of the reintroduction of Mochida in this way (bringing him on right at the end of a match), especially after all the development/exposition that Tokyo Victory got here because if it's Mochida who gives them the final push they need and that's all it takes to bring it together, then I felt that would cheapen the previous focus on Victory as a struggling team etc. But I don't feel that so strongly now, because it's not that it's simply Mochida's skill as a player that can elevate them as a team to the next level single-handedly, it's his ATTITUDE and how that affects the others.

(And sometimes, an individual player really CAN have such a huge effect, so it's not like it's unrealistic that Mochida can enliven the crowd and snap his team into playing to win)

His scornful criticism might leave his teammates with sour expressions on their faces, but that's because it's the TRUTH and the truth hurts, but I can believe that hearing it in that way from the most renowned member of the team is something that could turn the tide. I suspect Hiraizumi knows that too.

TACTICS EH.

OKAY TOTALLY IMAGINING MOCHIDA RADIATING A BLACK AURA OF DOOM RIGHT NOW (he basically does have it on the next page with the sky toned an ominous black)

And then on the next page at last is the reference to MOCHIDA = KING that I knew would be in here somewhere, thanks to all that Pixiv fanart.

OKAY IS ANYONE SURPRISED BY THIS

AT ALL

OH GINO, YOU NEVER LET ME DOWN

In other news, I'm still behind with almost everything ever, in RL and in fandom. BUT I have had a chance to watch the three episodes of Tsuritama that are out so far, and it's pretty captivating. I mean, it's so GORGEOUS to look at and I like the music a lot (background and opening and ending) but more than that, there's something about the atmosphere or feel of it that has me hooked (oops that wasn't meant to be a fishing pun). The series so far feels competently executed and it's a good mix of quirky and grounded. I am looking forward to seeing where it goes over the next few episodes. (ALIENS? FISHING AS A METAPHOR FOR EVERYTHING EVER?) HOPEFULLY MORE ADORABLE PERSEVERANCE IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY AND ANXIETY PLUS FURTHER ADORABLE FRIENDSHIP DEVELOPMENT.

(Also, as a GK fan can I just mention how amused I was that Tsuritama features a character known as the "fishing prince", except he DOESN'T want people to use that nickname, and his actual name is NATSUKI? I THINK MY BRAIN JUST BROKE. EVEN MORE SO BECAUSE I REALLY LIKE HIM.)

I also love Haru.

But I feel bad because I don't like Keito as much as the series would like me to, even though compared to other parents in the series (absent / useless) there's nothing so awful about her.

15: Meisetsu (YES I NEED TO REC IT AGAIN OKAY)

2012-04-23T20:55:14Z

SO HAPPY RIGHT NOW.

OKAY SO YOU KNOW THAT RUGBY MANGA?

(OR MAYBE YOU DON'T BUT THAT'S OKAY I'LL TELL YOU IN A MINUTE)

IT'S BEING SCANLATED AGAIN. I never thought I'd see any more of this get scanlated, and to say I'm delighted is kind of an understatement. So if you are already familiar with it and enjoyed it just as much as I did, chapter 6 is available here (say thanks to the group for choosing to pick it up and show it some love). I just read the chapter myself, it's the one where they go to Takase (the team with the unicorn logo and the cute guy with the neck-brace) and AAAH AT LAST I CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'RE SAYING.

I haven't posted a rec for this series for quite some time, since I assumed that the group previously scanlating it had disappeared and no more would be coming out (it's not that far off a year since the last chapter was released), but now let me try to tempt you with it since hopefully the whole series will get scanlated this time. The series is 15: Meisetsu Kougyou Koukou Rugby Bu, and it's about high school rugby. So of course I started to read it for the novelty factor (because rugby is a popular sport in the UK and I hadn't seen a manga about it before) and because I was just starting to realise that sports series often contain a lot of content that appeals to me (COUGH COUGH) and I stayed with it because of the gorgeous art and because, if anything, it's even MORE relevant to my fujoshi interests than I had hoped. So are you in yet? OR DO I NEED TO TEMPT YOU FURTHER.

15: Meisetsu Kougyou Koukou Rugby Bu

The original rec post I made for it is here (complete with example pages and a bit more about the premise). I promise you it's worth the time, and as of now the series is complete at three volumes, so it won't be too long. I just feel like this series deserves more interest (and when the cover of the first volume looks like this and the author/artist draws fanart of his own series like this and AND ESPECIALLY THIS then NOBODY IS GOING TO CONVINCE ME THAT I'M NOT MEANT TO BE SHIPPING THE HELL OUT OF IT). Naruse Yoshiki REALLY likes rugby and has a thing for rugby players AND IT SHOWS.

(My favourite ships are Yui/Akira and Mao/Yui and those are pretty much tied.)

(If you read the manga, try the oneshot AND the chaptered series for maximum enjoyment, because the oneshot is where where Akira CRIES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MATCH and Yui just holds him awkwardly and the continuation/restart has Yui inviting Akira back to his house to discuss tactics for their upcoming match, and so the two of them spend some time lolling around in Yui's room before Yui gets Akira to try and hit him with a plastic bottle in order to illustrate what a counterattack is; because of that this happens and then Akira is kneeling between Yui's legs on the next page and ASKDJASKDASF)

(...it's not subtle, okay?)

Giant Killing Chapters 70-72, 115

2012-04-22T15:24:31Z

(I didn't have a huge amount to say about 70 or 71 at the time they were released, but I may as well pop a few highlights and some thoughts into this post as well!)

70:

UHH NOT SURE WHETHER I LIKE THIS ANGLE.

Looking through Tatsumi's legs...at Natsuki?

In this match (so far) it's been obvious in the body language and facial expressions of the ETU players that they don't believe they can win this one. No doubt they believe that they're playing as hard as they can, but that kind of attitude is limiting and Tatsumi knows it. He needs to get them to engage a bit more, and he knows that if he can get them to the right point mentally then the game will begin to turn in their favour. But more than that, he knows it's something that can't be forced, he can't just TELL them what needs to be done. He needs them to make the cognitive leap themselves, needs it to happen organically.

No wonder they look frustrated.

(I think the emphasis on whether the players are having fun or not can seem reductive at times, but in part that's the wording, because it goes a lot deeper than that. Of course, you can't win a game on enjoyment alone, but I can buy that people tend to enjoy what they're good at and the reverse is also true, that players tend to engage with the game better if they are getting the reward of enjoyment or satisfaction out of it. It's interesting, because I'm reading the scanlations for the second time they face Tokyo Victory as well, and this is the same kind of issue that Victory are facing, and again, the players have to come together under their own effort in order to win.)

And one way of getting players to question their own attitude is to tell them you believe in them (and mean it)!

71:

LMAO HAUER CLEARLY HAD HIS HALF-TIME PRIORITIES SORTED

OKAY SO I LOVE KANSAI-BEN BUT THIS JUST MADE ME LOL

72:

HIS COOLNESS IS LIKE 50% NATURAL AND 50% CAREFULLY CALCULATED

I LOVE IT

(also why does he always look like he should be in a hair advert)

NATSUKI ARE YOU EVER GOING TO STOP FUCKING UP.

I laughed a lot. He totally deserved to get cut down with that look from Gino. GUESS WHO'S NOT GETTING SENT ANY MORE PASSES NOW.

(ALSO EEEEE LOOK AT TSUBAKI TRYING HIS HEART OUT IN THE BACKGROUND)

So glad that I read the Osaka chapter first before 115, because I needed to see something other than Natsuki being a blundering idiot/

115:

(I'm not posting it, but the first page of this chapter was executed really well, I thought. It's hard to show the motion of a fast-paced game like football, but the placement of the panels on that page managed to perfectly communicate the flow of the game.)

Kuro, being complacent or assuming you're safe because you have the lead is DANGEROUS.

Also, I love how steady and observant Dori is. I guess the goalkeeper gets a good perspective of the game, and it's good to see him put his experience to good use and identify where the problems are and even how to fix them (I'll be honest, until I started reading GK and asking a few questions about football to people who know more about it, I never had much of an idea about the goalkeeper's role aside from stopping the ball from going in LOL. Of course, they actually do a lot more than that, especially when it comes to instructing and coordinating the defense).

Anyway, Gino's getting called by Tatsumi from the sideline.

What could he want?

TATSUMI SHIPS IT.

OKAY I HAVE TO ADMIT I AM AMUSED BY THE GINO/MIKUMO SHIP.

Mikumo is probably thoroughly fed up of Gino by now, though. And starting to get wise to him after being duped before.

Tsubaki trying his best and NOT BEING OVERWHELMED BY ANXIETY.

BUT MOCHIDA IS ABOUT TO HIT THE PITCH, UH OH.

Okay, really looking forward to more of this. I always knew that ETU would be facing Tokyo Victory again, but I didn't think it would be as fascinating on so many levels as this. The danger signs are all here at the moment, ETU might be ahead but they are by no means safe, and right now Victory seem more in control of the game, shutting ETU's attacks down and showing much more cohesion as a team. It is an interesting look at the pressure (internal and external) on fading champions and how much rests on the mental state of the players. And now that Mochida is going to get involved, it's going to be a tense finish.

BRING IT ON.

OH ALSO (and I should use a proper spoiler cut for this one) I just realised that volume 23 is going to contain the chapter that features a moment that made me LAUGH OUT LOUD.

...that's going into the net for sure.

BUT THIS IS THE PART THAT MADE ME LAUGH.

SERA DID YOU REALLY JUST LEAP ON THE PRINCE'S BACK.

I would LOVE to see Gino's face at that moment.

(Something else to add, when I first got into GK it was like the signature feature of the art style was the players' knees but I actually think it's more the way the hands and fingers are drawn. You can see it really obviously with Gino because he's fine-boned and tends to splay his hands, but it's also super-obvious and distinctive at other moments, like where Tatsumi is signaling to Gino in chapter 115.)

TWO YEARS AGO

2012-04-21T21:00:14Z

Didn't make it to the gym or out jogging before work this morning, but I did do 20 minutes of skipping which burning around 100 calories, so that's something. And something is better than nothing. I just want to feel like I'm making some progress each day. In the end, it's a simple equation; to lose weight all I need to do is ensure that I burn more calories than I take in (not that I'm counting or anything, just trying to keep that fact in mind and ensure my choices align with it).

THIS TIME TWO YEARS AGO I WAS OBSESSING OVER THE GIANT KILLING ANIME.

I STILL AM (anime and manga), but back then it was airing for the first time AND I FELL IN LOVE WITH IT. I meant to post about it on the date it started, but that was back at the start of this month, and looking at the original air dates the most recent one at this time two years ago would have been episode 3. HOW APPROPRIATE, THAT'S ONE OF MY FAVOURITES (it might not be the most exciting episode but it was at the point where I had just begun to adore the series and I have such fond memories about it all AND ALSO OT3 REASONS). So, I think I might just give in and rewatch that one tonight. (At some point, I would love to go back and rewatch the whole thing and post detailed recap/reviews here.)

I kind of feel like, was it REALLY two years ago?

Has it SERIOUSLY been that long (and there is no S2)?

I just can't see my love for GK fading.

...

2012-04-20T19:40:32Z

Ooh, the cover is out for Giant Killing volume 23.

Release date is the 23rd!.

So I'm realising that watching as much anime as I am right now just isn't working for me. It would be fine if I had more free time or even if watching anime was the only thing I wanted to do when not at work, but that's not how it is. I have other things that should take priority, other interests and even other older series I want to watch but will never get to if I keep falling into the trap of OMG MUST WATCH AND KEEP UP WITH EVERYTHING NEW (seriously it has been OVER A YEAR since I watched the first season of Oofuri and I haven't even started S2 or the manga). I don't want to stress out over something that should be fun. I don't want to neglect the other parts of my life and my other interests (can't ignore that this year has been a bad one for writing so far because I HAVE DONE NOTHING).

I can't watch everything, and I can't post opinions/screencaps of each series I'm into, either. I realised this a while go, and I don't know why it's taken me this long to just DECIDE that I can't do it anymore.

So, I'm staying with Zetman (seen two episodes and am reading the manga) and do want to post about that at some point, but not yet. I'm still watching Shirokuma Cafe because it amuses me and it's good to relax with. Aquarion Evol is still an indulgence of mine and my enjoyment levels have gone UP recently so yeah, I might not be posting about it as much but I am enjoying the series and where it's going (seen up to episode 15 and OMG even if I am not going to be posting caps of every episode I HAVE TO FOR THIS and am going to load it up and get on with that right after I make this entry). I'm sort of watching Hunter x Hunter (when the boyfriend decides he wants to watch an episode). I am still with Kuroko no Basuke (BUT OF COURSE) although haven't seen the second episode yet. I am still waching Uchuu Kyoudai.

I have mostly shelved plans to watch anything else, apart from Tsuritama.

I can't help it, it looks like my kind of thing, and I can make a proper decision about whether I'm ACTUALLY watching it or just trying it out once I've seen the first episode.

Sankarea (perhaps surprisingly) isn't AWFUL and is presented nicely (not as much fanservice as I was expecting), but neither is it great and I don't have that much spare time that I can waste it on the average. For the same reason, I ended up dropping OZMA (lasted two episodes of mediocrity and mild frustration that it wasn't better).

Sakamichi no Apollon (because HOW haven't I mentioned this yet?) is BEAUTIFUL and the first episode was near flawless in my opinion. I would screencap it but if I tried to restrict myself to just a few caps then they would all be of Kaoru's face and if I allowed myself to be unrestrained then I'd just cap every second of the episode. I haven't read the manga and I don't know where it's going but I do know that what I have seen so far is gorgeous and truly highlights how much crap there is out there compared to this. I would rec it to anyone, even if you don't watch much (or any) anime.

Sakamichi No Apollon / Kids on the Slope

So how many of you are already watching this one?

(OH LOL, so much for restricting how much I watch, looking over this post I am STILL watching SEVEN ONGOING SERIES and maybe picking up another.)

.

2012-04-20T19:05:34Z

I think there's something wrong with me, because I have made it to the gym before work two days in a row (and I am not a morning person AT ALL). Saying that, I do know precisely what has caused this, but it's just somewhat sad that it takes full on disgust and intense frustration with not looking the way I want to look to bring me to the stage where I actually CHANGE SOMETHING. So, I am so lazy/unmotivated that it takes actual intense self-loathing before I do what I need to do to fix it. I'm not classed as overweight, but I feel as though I need to lose around 5kg. I have made half-hearted attempts at doing regular exercise before, but I am feeling more of a true and long-term commitment to it now, because I am sick and tired of feeling like shit over something I can change.

I am going to FORCE myself to get up early and put in some time on the cross-trainer before I head to work tomorrow. Or I could go for a jog alongside the river, if it's not raining.

I might start posting weekly exercise logs or something.

Just so I can hold myself accountable and ACTUALLY DO IT.

Scraps of Fabric

2012-04-16T20:42:40Z

So I'm doing that thing again where I lust after items of clothing/accessories that I can't really afford and don't truly need. But they're so pretty. So instead of spending money on them right now I'm posting them here. I might actually go and try the drop hem skirt (which I LOVE although it took me by surprise because I was sure I'd always find drop hems mostly ugly and at best awkward-looking) because it's so gorgeous and I have no real idea whether it is going to fit me or even suit my shape or anything. And I looked online and it's in stock at the nearest Topshop store. I could stop by and have a look after work one night this week. THIS IS SO TEMPTING, SERIOUSLY.

Earth Printed Dip Back Skirt, £32

I love the colours in this. But I need to make sure that it's something I could wear as opposed to another piece of clothing that I love as a piece of clothing but not necessarily as part of one of my outfits (having said that, I've already thought of several complete outfits that incorporate it, so...).

MOTO High Waist Space Hotpants, £34

I don't even know what to say about these, but they're SO FUN.

I wear shorts a lot, and I prefer a high waist, so yeah. I'd definitely wear them. I could see them one me with tights plus shiny black DMs or pastel pink brogues. Or my cream crochet panel boots.

Miu Miu SMU 09NS in Warm Pink, £165-£190

BRB DROOLING OVER THESE AGAIN.

I love them, but I don't know if I can spend that much on sunglasses. I would certainly have to try them on a couple of times first because I have no idea whether they'd suit my face or not. I could also probably find some similar pale pink cats-eye sunglasses for much less if I tried.

I like them in warm ivory, too (and if I could have it my way then I'd dye my hair the colour of the pair above and go for the pale frames as a contrast).

...

2012-04-15T21:34:35Z

JManga are going to be releasing Est Em's Hatarake Kentauros next week (seems they move fast between announcing and releasing their titles). I'm so pleased to see this, since I'd almost given up hope of ever seeing more than the first three chapters after it got dropped by the group who were scanlating it. And since JManga is (to some extent) available worldwide now, it looks like I might be about to support a legal online manga reading site for the first time. But only if I can figure out how it all works and whether that particular title is one that is available for my region. And I have to admit I hate the look of their website and am unsure about the whole subscription/points deal (why can't I just pay for what I want and download it?).

Do any of you use JManga? I'd much rather own print copies, but sooner or later I suppose I'll have to accept that digital is going to become more and more common as a legal distribution mode (and I DO want to support the manga I love by purchasing it where I can). I'm not even sure I can afford it before I next get paid, though.

(I know I've posted a rec for Hatarake Kentauros before, but it's SLICE OF LIFE WITH CENTAURS. WHAT'S NOT TO LIKE ABOUT THAT? I SHIP THE CENTAUR AND HIS COWORKER LIKE BURNING.)

(I am going to watch Sakamichi no Apollon now. SO EXCITE.)

Spring 2012 Anime (First Impressions)

2012-04-12T16:03:42Z

I'm posting for the purpose of CURRENT SEASON ANIME IMPRESSIONS.

I think the Kuroko no Basuke anime should be a fun one. I wouldn't say it's anything remarkable but am crossing my fingers it'll be a solid adaptation and capture the spirit of the original (and it's off to a decent start, even if the background music is sometimes awful). KUROKO IS SO CUTE and his voice is perfect (was concerned that because of his role and stature he would sound more feminine and personally, I don't think that would have been a good fit). I liked the interplay between Kagami and Kuroko in this first episode. (I ship it, and have remained fond of it as a pairing throughout the manga, although as far as I can tell other pairings have more fans. I rarely ship any pairing to the exclusion of all others, though, and KuroBasu is at heart A SHIPPER'S PARADISE. I CAN'T WAIT TO MEET THE REST OF THE CHARACTERS IN THE ANIME.)

ALSO KUROKO IS ADORABLE (DID I ALREADY SAY THAT?) AND HERE ARE SOME SCREENCAPS (won't be screencapping this one on a regular basis BUT I COULD NOT RESIST).

I was going to say that this scene was my favourite, but for extremely superficial reasons ORZ (because HIS MOUTH HIS NECK NNNGH MORE OF THIS PLEASE) BUT IN ALL SERIOUSNESS I did enjoy seeing Kagami completely write Kuroko's abilities off, only to grudgingly reconsider this later. I still think that everyone's natural talent/specialty in this series is kind of RIDICULOUS mainly due to it being exaggerated versions of techniques that could have been realistic were they not inflated for shonen reasons, but whatever, I didn't continue reading the manga for its realism.

(I think it annoys me because it's borderline, it's not completely ridiculous in that fun way.)

ANIME HAS ADDED SPARKLES

MY FAVOURITE DEADPAN DARLING

ON HIS FIRST DINNER DATE WITH KAGAMI

Okay, THIS was my favourite scene of the episode. Good use of lighting to emphasise that whole shadow/light thing, and Kuroko's quiet and decisive determination was spot on.

I REALLY LOVE THEIR RELATIONSHIP (in fact I think it's a charming one regardless of whether you ship them or not)

KEEP THIS UP AND I'LL BE THERE

(ADORABLE INDIRECT HAND-HOLDING THROUGH BASKETBALL AAHHH-)

I really might go and re-read the manga now. I should do like a volume a week, or something.

I won't post anything too spoilery here, just initial thoughts.

Zetman:

Only seen the first ep so far (watching with the boyfriend and am hoping we'll be able to watch the second episode together tonight) so really I can't say much apart from the pacing/development in the first episode was to my liking, as was the high quality of animation. I'll post up some more thoughts on it after I've seen another episode or so and read some of the manga. The one thing I do feel a bit dubious about is that it's apparently only going to be 13 episodes, so I'm not sure how much it's going to compress/omit given that the manga series is huuuge and ongoing. I was going to say it has a somewhat Tiger & Bunny aesthetic (perhaps better phrased as a Western influence on the design?) but of course Zetman precedes T&B by quite some time. Perhaps the fact that T&B was such a success is what led to Zetman getting an anime adaptation, though.

Uchuu Kyudai:

Okay, I really like this one. It's refreshing, but it is lighter in tone than I was expecting (and although I don't know where the plot goes in future I get the impression it's going to stay that way). I've read a little of the manga now and it seems to make a decent translation to animated format (I think this style of story is equally suited to anime and manga). Also, ADULT MAIN CHARACTERS. YES PLEASE. (It also gets points for the rainbow-filled OP). It's pretty much slice-of-life-y/a journey of self-(re)discovery for Mutta that happens to involve space but because of the space setting I can't help but think of Planetes (where the space setting is much more integral - how much of Uchuu Kyoudai is actually about space and how it impacts on humanity as a whole and/or individually remains to be seen).

For me, it would be hard to top Planetes (if you haven't read the manga then GO AND DO IT NOW and then come back to me a better person for doing it), and I was expecting something different from Uchuu Kyoudai than what it actually gave me (my fault for making an assumption without knowing a great deal about it), but what it did give me was fun enough. And a light-hearted series can still strike some deep notes in viewers (I am someone whose sister surpassed me before I even noticed it was happening, and although unlike Mutta I never felt the need to stay ahead because I am older, it was once a complicated issue that has thankfully almost entirely ceased to bother me). In all, I'm sticking with it.

Medaka Box:

I lasted five minutes, and shouldn't have bothered with even that.

Probably a look at the manga would have saved me from wasting those minutes of my life.

Shirokuma Cafe:

Most of you probably know that I work in a cafe. So I had to give this a shot. And it didn't disappoint. Perhaps I missed out on the age/attitude to find slacker lazy reluctant to work or job-hunt Panda cute (or perhaps my dislike is in part a knee-jerk reaction from knowing how difficult it still is for some people to find work despite their best efforts), but I did get a kick out of the concept for the series as a whole - especially that there are still zoos in a universe where a polar bear can run a cafe and nobody bats an eyelid (love that the zoo animals are employees rather than captives and how they perform for visitors, real zoos often make me shudder and I have a lot of complicated thoughts about them which I won't go into here).

The other thing I really love about this is how realistic the designs for the animal characters are, even when they're doing something unnatural for the species. It's a comically appropriate mix of anthropomorphism and realistic proprotions/articulation.

On the whole, the series is a relaxing one to de-stress with.

I need more of OnoD as that Llama, though.

Sankarea:

Yeah, I don't know why I'm watching this.

Probably because I heard it was decently animated and I like the character designs and that just about tipped the balance in favour of giving it a try? I'm not sure what the plot's going to be like after the girl becomes a zombie (is there going to be much of one?). The first episode also spent some time building sympathy for the main character and portraying him as a nice guy, and then he exploits a trouble girl to satisfy his zombie fetish? I'm not going to think on it too deeply. If I get time I might watch more. I do think the zombie angle is more of a gimmick than anything else and this is not going to turn out to be startlingly original (plus I am preparing myself for a lot of fanservice).

And that's it (for now). I'm also watching OZMA still but I can't think of much to say about other than that if it were longer than 6 episodes I doubt I would have the intention of finishing it (which is probably a sign that I should have just dropped it already). I'm going to try Jormungand and of course Sakamichi no Apollon when it airs.

Kasa no Shita, Futari

2012-04-03T21:12:01Z

How did I miss that the first two chapters of Junko's Kasa no Shita, Futari have been scanlated? (I even knew that it had been picked up for scanlation but the actual releases passed me by somehow until now.)

I feel like this story is just MADE FOR ME.

I read a summary of it a while back here and since then was desperate to get my hands on it in a language I could understand and now, having read the first two chapters of it, my love for it is absolute. In a way, it seems a more adult and mature effort than some of Junko's previous works, both in concept and at the level of the character's emotions and their treatment of each other, even though it still deals with the main character Mio coming to realise he's also attracted to men through university student Yugi (who can I just say is so beautiful I might just stop breathing). So I was surprised to read that it didn't receive the best of receptions given that it is so gorgeous; the artwork is gorgeous and Junko's ability to capture emotions in her characters' expressions is a delight to behold (you can feel the heartbreak and doubt and realisation coming up out of the pages and ugh, it might be a painful read but it is SO worth it).

AND THE END OF THAT SECOND CHAPTER.

PLEASE, LET THERE BE MORE SOON.

On the offchance that I can get anyone interested in reading it who's not already, the basic set-up for the plot is that Mio is your average schoolboy with a string of ex-girlfriends, whose relationships keep failing even though, as he says, he's pretty sure he goes about dating just like everyone else. One rainy day he ends up borrowing an umbrella from older university student Yugi, and later when reflecting on his failed relationships is surprised when Yugi's face pops into his mind as he considers whether dating someone older would work. Mio hasn't considered an attraction to men before, but soon he winds up spending time over at Yugi's house with him and his friends, and...things get much more complicated from then on in.

That's as much as I'll give in terms of introduction, but if you want a more detailed account of the plot then there's the blog post I linked to earlier, or alternatively the rest of this post from here downwards is going to include some further (probably spoilery) content.

If you're a BL fan at all, you should definitely try this or one of Junko's other works (I loved Konbini-kun as well, and that's all been scanlated too). I mean, just LOOK at her artwork. I always fall in love with her characters.

OKAY STAY CLEAR OF THE REST OF THIS IF YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT SPOILERS.

YEAH I'M JUST GOING TO AGREE WITH MIO HERE.

Mio soon starts taking more and more notice of Yugi, in a way that is a complete contrast with how I assume he felt about his girlfriends (he really was just going through the motions as far as I can tell, which is why they all broke up with him after complaining like it never really felt like they were dating). It's so clear that he's enthralled with Yugi, maybe a little awed by him given that he's older/has his own place.

But just as he's coming to the realisation that he really might have an interest in men (which he never questions, although he does seem aware that it could be something that will make his life harder) he and Yugi have this conversation about how it's surprising there are 4th year students with enough free time to just bum around Yugi's house drinking and smoking and playing mahjong all the time, and Yugi's friend Tachibana comes up, which is the first hint that there's something more going on there.

(That's Yugi's response when Tachibana is mentioned.)

It's just after this that we find out the umbrella Mio borrowed from Yugi was given to Yugi by Tachibana. It's all indirect at the moment and Mio, who is the focal character, hasn't even started to wonder yet, still navigating the possibility that he's attracted to Yugi, but it's ominously clear where this is heading, especially when Mio borrow the umbrella again and heads out, leaving Yugi and Tachibana alone together.

Something I really love about this is that it's done so simply but the construction capitalises on your emotions; you can see Mio and Yugi have started to form a proper friendship instead of Yugi seeming cold or indifferent as he did to begin with. Yugi is even waving Mio off with a smile, an expression that is unusual to see on his face (ahh but I want to see it more!). And then there's that bottom panel of Tachibana slumped inside the house still drinking, and if at first glance it seems like it's not connected to the rest of the page, then the next page confirms what was introduced here.

Tachibana calls Yugi as he looks out at the rain, where Mio has just left.

I adore these back of the head shots where Yugi seems so inscrutible and closed-off. And even when he turns back to Tachibana his expressions seems quite guarded, or with a sort of inevitable resignation and acceptance that this is the way things are.

Mio also realises that he's left his phone at Yugi's place, and starts to head back, only to see that Yugi has left the window open. At this point it's clear where this is going, but I still want to flail over the art and Mio's reaction and seeing Yugi like that instead of so reserved and composed. Of course, Mio looks through the window and sees Tachibana having messy semi-clothed sex with Yugi, and there's this initial moment of incomprehension and then he's so shocked by it that he can't look away.

GUH WASN'T EXPECTING IT TO BE SO HOT

(And even though it's not confirmed at this point, it's still clear that Tachibana is just using Yugi for sex; he's quite rough with him here and one panel in particular that I didn't post looks like something out of a porn scene which is super-hot but yeah, it looks like they're both getting something completely different out of the experience if you compare their body language and facial expressions. Junko is a master of SHOW AND NOT TELL even if the umbrella itself does turn out to be a bit of a heavy-handed metaphor/plot device IMHO).

Mio just can't get it out of his head afterwards and walks along in the downpour holding Tachibana's umbrella and thinking of Yugi saying Tachibana's name. It's as though actually SEEING the man he has a crush on having sex with another man has flipped a switch inside him concerning his own feelings. So maybe it's that he had never imagined himself as in a position to act on his feelings before, that Yugi wasn't like that, or that he's feeling somewhat sick after realising that Tachibana and Yugi have something going on when he had no idea it was happening. But anyway, he just can't let it go, and the next day he meets Yugi in a cafe to collect his phone and confront him with what he saw.

And that's the end of the first chapter.

In the second chapter, Mio behaves like an idiot high-school boy who isn't really sure how relationships or sexual arrangements work but kind of wants to have a go at getting what he wants anyway (he has a brief attempt at using his knowledge of what went on between Tachibana and Yugi to convince Yugi to allow him to give it a try, but Yugi sees right through him and that's the end of that). He's clearly out of his depth in an emotional sense (he's never really had a relationship with a connection before, even though he's had sex with several people).

He reflects on it later on, after realising that Yugi would rather he not tell Tachibana that he saw them, and personally I don't think he'd really thought that conversation through at all, not least the fact that if it had gone how he wanted it to, then he and Yugi would have ended up fucking or at least messing around together. It's all a bit much for him to handle.

And things get more complicated still when he starts finding it difficult to deal with seeing Yugi and Tachibana together, knowing that Yugi has feelings for Tachibana (and most likely suspecting that it's one-sided and from Tachibana's perspective just a casual thing). It's like now that he knows, it's so obvious to him and it's all he can see, and he just can't handle it.

Oh, Mio. This kind of thing isn't fair, is it?

Mio gets recruited to help gather supplies as Tachibana has plans to bring a group of friends over that night. At this point my heart aches for both Yugi and Mio; Mio because he's stuck in a situation where he can't act on his feelings and Yugi because he clearly feels more for Tachibana than Tachibana does for him. I think Mio can see it, too.

At the party that night, it gets announced that Tachibana's getting married.

OH GOD THEIR FACES.

YUGI SO OPENLY SHOCKED AND MIO ALREADY THINKING OF YUGI.

Mio is distressed by the whole thing, even as Yugi and the rest of the group manage to congratulate Tachibana, and later it all spills out as he confronts Yugi and almost seems angry that he doesn't seem more hurt or betrayed by Tachibana's announcement. But then Yugi reveals that he knew about Tachibana's girlfriend and that their relationship wasn't as Mio thought.

Yugi's response seems a bit guarded. I can buy it was that way for Tachibana, no problem (TBH I get the feeling he was aware of Yugi's feelings for him but just ignored them because that was most convenient for him). But not Yugi. Mio doesn't seem to buy it either, but I don't think he knows what to do. He's also missed his last train, so Yugi tells him he'll have to stay the night now, and they end up sharing a futon.

Mio lies awake staring at the ceiling and wondering how Yugi could have kept a smile on his face, while Yugi sleeps facing away from him.

Only, he realises that Yugi's not truly asleep but is LYING THERE SHAKING WITH SILENT TEARS, and the second chapter ends with Mio reaching out to touch his shoulder and OH GOD THIS IS GOING TO BREAK MY HEART, ISN'T IT?

I can't wait for more of this to be released, seriously.

Is anyone else reading it/has anyone else already read it in Japanese?

Sekaiichi Hatsukoi Chapter 13

2012-04-03T15:34:50Z

I was waiting patiently for this to be scanlated before I even looked at it, and a good dose of the main pairing (my favourites) is just what I needed. (I still sometimes feel like I'm doing it wrong in a sense, because I like it mostly not for how "meant to be" they are for each other but for how dysfunctional they both are. I think most people recognise the problems with Ritsu and how he tries to deny his feelings, but the way Takano acts is symptomatic of his own issues AND I LOVE IT, even though sometimes I think that others see nothing wrong with how he treats Ritsu in the desperation to make Ritsu love him.) Of course, I do enjoy seeing them grow closer and Ritsu begin to acknowledge and own his feelings and stop being so damn resistant! I want a happy ending for these two, and thankfully with a manga like this I've got no reason to believe that won't happen.

Anyway, here are some highlights.

SO amused at the drinking party. Isaka is so awful and OF COURSE poor Ritsu would wind up drinking because he doesn't feel he can say no. You can tell Kisa is an old hand at this sort of event, too. I do so love seeing Ritsu flustered and out of his depth/comfort zone.

Oh Ritsu, it's clear from the start that he's going to wind up far too drunk, and we already know that he doesn't seem to be able to handle his drink that well. I don't even care if it's a cliched scenario but I love it when characters I like get drunk and end up doing or saying stupid things, and factor in the consent issues last time it happened and yeah, that's precisely why I like Takano and Ritsu together. MY HEART ACHES because they're both so hurt because of the past but here they have an opportunity to make things work out in the present.

Isaka LOL. It's a sore point for Ritsu but Isaka TOTALLY DOESN'T CARE and is perfectly happy to mention their shared nepotic status whenever he's around Ritsu.

TYPICAL TSUNDERE INTERNAL MONOLOGUE.

Also, I agree with the sales department girls that Ritsu is REALLY CUTE when he's had a few drinks (I love that he's such a disasterous lightweight).

Kisa was right that Ritsu's being targeted, but he has no hope of fighting them off in that state. But thankfully, Takano shows up to drag him away before matters get worse.

OH GOD THIS WHOLE PAGE, MY HEEEEART.

SO ATTRACTIVE, RITSU. He's even more far gone than last time, so Takano just puts him to bed after Ritsu calls him sempai again. Takano is so quiet and sad sometimes that it breaks my heart (what can I say, I adore the stoic and suffering type). In the morning, Ritsu wakes up groggy and wondering why he feels so heavy, only to realise it's because Takano is lying half on top of him with his arms wrapped around him (he's just so desperate to be close to Ritsu that I suppose he would take any opportunity he can get), and then Takano tries to stop him as he goes to leave.

(REALLY relieved that they didn't have drunk sex that night; Ritsu was just TOO out of it here.)

HNNG that flustered look he gets when he's confronted with his feelings.

STOP RUNNING AWAY, RITSU.

I feel so sad for Takano here. He's found Ritsu again in the present and this is his second chance but the only time Ritsu truly seems comfortable and happy and willing to be with him is when alcohol opens his mouth and makes him think of the past where Takano was his sempai rather than the present day where Takano is so desperate to make it work again. I guess it's because Ritsu is so different from his past self that he finds it hard to admit that he still has feelings for Takano now, but easier to regress to that time of innocence before he had his heart broken and grew up to be a cynical tsundere who absolutely cannot be in love with his boss.

(Oh, looking at the clock and where Takano says he still made it in time, it looks like the night isn't over yet. So how early did Ritsu get drunk and end up leaving with Takano? I guess they just got back to Takano's apartment and Ritsu passed out on the bed, to wake up not long before midnight.)

Then Ritsu awkwardly makes a big deal out of Takano never ASKING him before doing/deciding on things (because the one thing Ritsu seems to struggle with the most is being out of control and I think most of the time he's with Takano he feels that way, because he can't stop himself from feeling the way he does and inevitably, Takano is going to act on his own feelings). So a kiss is okay if Takano asks first? OH WAIT, he doesn't even have to ask for that (Ritsu is so blushy and cute here!).

Takano making a move on his always activates Ritsu's flight response but he must be getting better about it, because although he has a thought about how Takano always makes him feel trapped and like he can't escape, he doesn't even offer up any protestation this time and there's a sex scene where not once does he ask Takano to stop doing whatever he's doing.

As always, I thought this scene was hotter before they actually got to the stage of penetrative sex (probably because I still don't care that much for the art style). LOL at Ritsu's shocked reaction to ALMOST EVERYTHING (like Takano asking Ritsu to touch him too AND THEN JUST SHOVING HIS HAND IN HIS PANTS) but it's that lack of control thing again, even if it's clear he loves Takano and even enjoys having sex with Takano he still seems startled by the fact that it's happening to him again.

I laughed out loud at Takano asking to hold hands.

I mean, it's not that the position is ridiculous (that hands clasped above Ritsu's head thing is pretty hot actually) but it's just such a cheesy sentimental thing to say that I could not take it seriously.

Ritsu gets cornered by girls again the next day.

Takano intervenes again and says they should go out with him instead, Ritsu gets pissed off and Takano tells him rather frostily that he should be more jealous. So he didn't want the girls to ask Ritsu out, and told them they should go with him instead to make Ritsu jealous? YEAH, I DIDN'T LIKE THIS PART. I just don't get what it is with jealousy signifying love. To me, that kind of unfounded jealousy is just unattractive.

I do feel bad for Takano because he's so comfortable being demonstrative about his love for Ritsu and Ritsu is like the exact opposite and after the previous night he's probably starting to doubt whether Ritsu really could grow to love him in the present instead of just the past. Having Ritsu be so unwilling to give him a sign that those feelings are still there when he's not drunk and regressing to their past is obviously what motivates him to take that kind of tactic, but trying to goad someone into feeling jealousy? I could do without that. But happily, Ritsu himself seems to feel that Takano's behaviour here is immature.

So what did Takano buy Ritsu as a present?

I hope the next chapters features these two as well.

Giant Killing Chapter 114

2012-04-01T21:21:06Z

Because I suck at finding time for a catch-up manga review post, I may as well post about each of the new chapters as they come out.

AAAAH even just seeing this, and knowing that they are playing Tokyo Victory again fills me with such delight. By virtue of Tokyo Victory being the first team they faced under Tatsumi's management, it's both an important match AND an extremely interesting one due to the change in circumstances since the last time these two teams faced each other. This manga is constructed so well, much better than most other sports series I have read.

(I'll talk more about this when I do take the time to post some commentary on all the chapters I missed posting about on here. SOON.)

Tokyo Victory dealing with the absence of Mochida is more interesting than I first thought - I love the insights into what it's like to try and motivate a team who have been at the top and are sliding down, as opposed to ETU who were used to losing and had to deal with that "failure habit" in order to become capable of winning. It gives me more respect for Hiraizumi as an opposing manager. And his words about the heart of a team not being one player but needing to be ALL of them are so true (in part because it also rings true for ETU; the story does tend to focus on Tsubaki but I think it also does a successful job of showing how, for them to do well, the team needs to be operating as a cohesive whole - in fact, there are a couple of examples where ETU and Tatsumi exploit a fracture or rift in another team or reliance on a particular player/s in order to win).

In any case, it's probably about the best thing Hiraizumi could say here to try and lift the spirits of his team now that Mochida is out for a while AND boost their morale a little (because it indirectly lets them know that they are all important).

SHIRONISHI IS LOVE.

There's something about him that is so cute here. I don't know how much of it is ego/genuine teacher's pet behaviour (probably most LOL he seems so straight-laced) and how much is the persona of a captain exuding confidence to benefit the team, but ADORABLE (and I laughed at Hori and his ~~tsundere love for his captain~~ proud nature).

As I said before, my respect for Hiraizumi shot up during this chapter.

I just have to admire that the drive for his team to succeed overrides all else, and that even though he's on the brink of being sacked as manager he's still going to do whatever it takes to get them back to the top in the future, because that's the most important thing. He's not seeking personal glory at all.

And after this it cuts back to the match and it's clear that Tokyo Victory have gone from struggling and lacklustre to actually coming together again against ETU, who are in real danger now that their opponents are beginning to play in a more cohesive style.

NATSUKI SHOULD JUST TRANSFER TO ANOTHER TEAM AND NEVER COME BACK. I won't even post his part from this chapter so I don't have to look at his face a second time. (I would say that I hope he gets put back on the bench and never put into a game again BUT HE'S JUST AS ANNOYING THERE.)

ANYWAY it looks like things will get really exciting now.

Also, most of you have probably already noticed because it was announced a while back, but the release date for Giant Killing volume 23 is later this month, on the 23rd. CANNOT WAIT.

Spring 2012 Anime

2012-04-01T20:13:09Z

Yes, I'm doing one of THOSE posts.

One of the ones where I decide to start watching more series than I have time for, despite not having finished everything I picked up last time (as far as last season is concerned, I'm still going and am mostly up to date with Aquarion Evol BECAUSE I LOVE IT even when it breaks my heart, I have the final episode of Another left to watch, am about 5 eps in to Danshi Koukousei no Nichijou and intend to finish it but expect to do so at a slow pace, need to finish Nisemonogatari but kind of left it behind in disgust after the last episode I watched (which had the infamous imouto tooth-brushing section DID ANYONE ELSE WITNESS THIS HORROR LMAO) never got further than episode 2 (perhaps 3) or Brave 10 but one day I will marathon the rest when I feel like laughing at it, dropped Mouretsu Pirates, and downloaded the first 3 episodes of Area no Kishi but never got around to watching it. I am still watching Hunter x Hunter, though.

ANYWAY, this season kind of crept up on me BECAUSE IT'S HERE ALREADY.

Uchuu Kyoudai is my first pick, downloading the first episode now to watch later tonight (and I'm also going to go ahead and read what has been scanlated of the manga so far and then inevitably get frustrated that more of it is not available, so hopefully the anime will be a faithful adaptation).

Zetman is one I've been interested in for a while, not that I know that much about it (although enough that I am preemptively cringing about the treatment of the female characters). I'm interested enough in the premise to try it out, and if I get the time I'd like to read some of the manga before it airs so I have a better idea what to expect. Don't know whether I'll get to that before the first episode is out, though.

Medaka Box, I'm undecided on. I might try the first ep. Or consider watching if someone I trust tells me that it's worth my time.

Shirokuma Cafe BECAUSE HOW COULD I NOT? If the concept isn't enough alone, then one look at the cast decided it for me. ONO DAISUKE IS A LLAMA.

Kuroko no Basuke I AM SO EXCITE. I don't read anywhere near as much manga as I would like to, and this is a rare instance of something I was already reading getting an anime adaptation. For a sports series, it's treading the fine line between realism and unbelievable feats, with a tendency towards the latter (although it stops short before becoming truly ridiculous and is realistic enough to get me interested in the sport). But I'll just go ahead and admit that I'm watching this because sports series tend to give me what I want in terms of character interactions. I still don't understand basketball. BUT SO MUCH TO SHIP.

I won't go near Ginga e Kickoff!! because it's not Giant Killing S2.

I already watched the first episode of OZMA and I will continue with it, but it feels much more bland than I'd hoped for. It feels like a lot of generic elements all cobbled together with a cast of not that interesting characters, although perhaps I'm judging it too early. I do like the concept of sand whales but even that feels derivative.

Sakamichi no Apollon is one that has generated a lot of buzz and I'm really keen on seeing it. Out of this season, this one is the series that I imagine will prove to be objectively the best (although who knows what I'll find myself enjoying the most). The PV does show some male bonding (and of course I sat up and took note at that and then felt vaguely guilty about it because come on, that's clearly not going to be the main thing to take away from a series like this BUT I CAN'T HELP IT IF IT LOOKS ANGSTY AND HOMOEROTIC) but the manga it's based on is josei and seems to include heterosexual romance. This should be a solid, quality series (and incidentally, I am rewatching Cowboy Bebop at the moment, which just makes me anticipate it more).

SO THAT'S FIVE DEFINITES and I'll probably get sucked into more.

I'll try to post some first impressions of each of these once I've seen them.

.

2012-03-27T21:33:43Z

So I just watched episode 13 of Aquarion Evol.

Someone hold me, please?

I'll try to do some screencaps for this one in the morning.

GODDESS OF LOVE

2012-03-19T22:20:34Z

A couple of months ago I posted about a doujin novel where Sakai is a mermaid. I laughed for HOURS because of the concept and the ridiculous cover artwork, but clearly my art knowledge is lacking because I only just realised that the cover art is in fact a homage to Botticelli's The Birth of Venus. Of course, I have to post COMPARISON PICTURES.

The original version.

The Sakai/Sera version (see here)

Sakai is my favourite part of this. Just, EVERYTHING. But especially the fact that because his hair isn't long enough to cover his man parts, the artist has made a new introduction of FLOATING PEARLS. I also like how they have given it a texture that makes it look like an old canvas just for added authenticity. I keep thinking of how mortified real Sakai would be if he were to find out some aspiring artist had recreated this painting with him and Sera, it's all too easy to imagine the look that would be on his face. Sera would probably be loud and embarrassed and Sakai would just want him to SHUT UP OR JUST DIE SO THEY CAN FORGET ALL ABOUT IT.

Seriously though, it was SUCH a weird moment to encounter a picture of the actual painting and think I'VE SEEN THIS BEFORE, BUT WHERE?

AND THEN I REALISED.

OH ALSO because this is on roughly the same topic, check out this site for the UNITED FRONT Giant Killing only event. It's not until June, but I can feel my bank account weeping already. And of course now some of the books released at Haru Comic City 17 are starting to appear online. And I can't REALLY afford to spend anything more right now. BRB SCRAPING TOGETHER ALL MY LOOSE CHANGE AND MY TIPS FROM WORK AND PAYING IT IN RIGHT NOW. SOMETIMES THIS HOBBY SUCKS. There have actually been several GK only events before, there's another one in October as well. BYE BYE MONEY.

(Oh, but to soften the blow somewhat, scans of a couple of doujinshi I was really curious about surfaced recently, that omorashi one featuring Sera as a nurse and the one where Tsubaki gets double teamed by Tatsumi and Mochida ~~I AM A BAD BAD PERSON BUT I'M NOT SORRY)~~

(I don't even care about how OOC that second scenario is, I WANTED TO SEE THAT SO BADLY. Plus, in most cases, show me something like that and instantly my mind starts trying to make it work)