I Can Explode With Sunshine Now

By TheBigN

Now I knew about Hidamari Sketch × ☆☆☆ when it came out, and I’m eagerly waiting for it to debut soon, which makes it good that I currently have the x365 specials to tide me over, and the fourth volume of the manga coming out soon. But hearing that the show has been licensed in the US puts a lot more pep into my step. Of course I’ll be buying it when it comes out this January (who do you think I am?), so now I’ll just be waiting with bated breath a little more. Thanks, ADV Fil- errr…  Sentai Filmworks! errr… Section 9 23!

Now I’m  thinking this might be one reason why a certain someone started blogging again(suuuuure…). Maybe I should finish up those x365 posts soon. 

And this is not that bad, though it might leave bad memories for some.

Wasshoi! \o/

Cut Out A Slice and Put A Spin On It

By TheBigN

So, following Stripey’s lead, I’ll list my top 5 favorite anime at this moment:

1. Gakuen Utopia Manabi Straight
2. Haibane Renmei
3. Kino’s Journey
4. Aria The Origination
5. Hidamari Sketch

I find it’s more fun to find out what others think compared to my own opinion  in cases like these (un”my”ased opinion and all that), so if you care, what do you think this list says about me? What do you think this list doesn’t say about me that would still be true, if this question makes sense?

Miyako's Journey

Anime Nevsky

No, Alexander Nevsky does not return as a magical girl

First Squad: the Moment of Truth is a Russian-written Studio 4C production.

Nazi sorcerors conjure the Teutonic Knights, bringing them back from the dead to reprise “the battle on the ice” in the service of Hitler’s push to the east, and Soviet Intelligence’s Psychic Squad (their most valued remaining agent: 17-year-old Nadya) scrambles to thwart their plan applying the immortal principles of Dialectical Immaterialism.

The film is presented as a quasi-documentary, alternating animated story flashbacks with interviews of live-action talking heads presenting Russian and German veterans, psychologists, and historians all talking about “The moment of truth” portrayed in the film.

No Heroine of the People is complete without her samurai sword nor her Young Pioneer bandana

All the dialogue is in Russian (except for some of the German veterans), all the animated dialogue (including the Germans) is in Russian.

Shuna’s Journey

After years of having the book on my shelf (and having a scanlation on my hard-drive), I finally read Hayao Miyazaki’s Shuna no tabi (Shuna’s Journey).

Shuna is the prototype for many Miyazaki heroes and heroines

It is the tale of a the prince of a small impoverished country. One day a traveller appears, and, dying, tells the story of a rich grain that grows in a land far to the West. In the weeks that follow, Shuna can think of nothing else but finding this grain and returning with it to benefit his people.

I have enjoyed my Time of Eve

Watch Aquatic Language now!

Time of Eve comes to an end (at least a temporary one) with a double-length broadcast centering not on Rikuo, Sammy, nor Nagi, but on Rikuo’s robot-averse friend Masaki.

Taishou Yakyuu Musume: Thoughts So Far

So, as this current anime season in Japan comes to a close, there have been a large amount of series that I’ve been watching that have been damn enjoyable. The interestingly epic combo (Bakemonogatari with SHAFT x NISIOISIN), the action-packed adventure (CANAAN), the juggernaut from last season ( Saki, hell yeah), the emotional investment (Tokyo Magnitude 8.0, despite the writing/pacing problems at the end), the sequel (Spice of Wolf II), one of the typical “TheBigN would watch this, wouldn’t he?” shows (Aoi Hana), the guilty pleasures (Juuden-chan), and so on. And while most of these shows are great, my favorite anime of the season has been Taishou Yakyuu Musume, probably because I just enjoy seeing a group of girls try hard, be earnest and have fun. Or at least, that’s what I keep telling myself.

I don't think Koume believes me.

Shaft despairs

A commenter over at Jason’s place pointed this out.

Zan Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei, episode 7, about 10:02

If the above doesn’t come out as an animated gif, try here.

Text slowed down a bit:

What. outta money after moving to a new office?!
Gotta cut corners to make a profit. huh!?
Your production costs are the same but other companies are selling a lot better!
You really can’t pull this off at the same time as Ghostory, can you!
The pictures aren’t moving! You can’t even call this animation!
The anime industry’s collapsing!

Update: And, two seconds into the much-maligned episode 10 of Bakemonogatari:

Bakemonogatariapology

Mushishinbougatari, pt. 2

Or maybe that should be “Araraginko”.

In the maligned episode 10 of Bakemonogatari, at about 7:57 in the episode, Mushishi fans can hear that familiar three chord descent on the piano, interweaved with a jazzy tune (Mushishi meets Brubeck’s Time Out), as they’re ascending the steps to the shrine once more.

I'd already been thinking that Araragi's one-eyed look reminded me of Ginko

Oshinbo may have the mushi-mastery, but Araragi is the one who keeps trying to solve people’s supernaturally-induced problems.