Well, there you go.

Remember that Women's Studies midterm? The marks took ages to come back, but they're finally here. And...

90%.

No extra notes about the crossed-out GAR paragraph, though, which would have been highly amusing. Still, this calls for bothering you all to wave it in your face. Now return to your previously scheduled day.

For those that complained about Noel's presence in the last entry

Freedom to Read and Compare

Geez, guys, lay off Akiko. This past Kanon episode has caused the blogosphere to form two camps: those that believe that the crash was emotive and point to the real-life crash that everyone seemed to instantly find, and those that laughed at the crash because Akiko was crushed and "disappeared". I am planted firmly in the former camp and think the latter is just trying to get attention for contrariness, for the record, but honestly, this is getting out of hand. I'm almost missing the Nayuki conspiracy theories.

So I couldn't take it anymore and checked out the back covers of a few of the Galaxy Angel manga I'm missing (I never seem to get the right ones so I'm stuck on number four). Let me say that it's very apt that the anime was a parody of adaptation decay. If you don't want to be spoiled, skip to the next paragraph, but apparently Chitose comes in early, Eonia stays around through Moonlit Lovers and beats out the Val-Fasq conspiracy (which, I guess, is probably for the best because they cut out the entire Eternal Lovers arc), Chitose actually turns evil, and who knows what else. Am I buying it? Course I am! Especially since I heard the newly released GAII manga does the characters a lot of justice. A few of my friends that hated Rico on principle now love her to bits, so it can't be that bad.

Happy Freedom to Read Week! In celebration, read something that was banned for a stupid reason.

I found a Sailor Moon RP that can best be described as "magical girl gang war". This is not about that.

I did bring Makoto to school today, but I don't want to bother my computer-illiterate self with learning how to connect to the school's protected server. So I am again typing this on a genuine school computer. My own just came along to play games in Japanese.

In Yes! Precure 5 news, Retasu (well, technically Retasu's benign plant-powered clone, Akimoto Komachi) transformed last weekend. So she's got a shield spell. I guess it's so they can write filler about her guarding, like, buried treasure or something. Also, her hair is too big. I guess they wanted to disguise her clone origins. In any case, can her "earth-shaking rage" control the water?

(Note to new readers: just because I like to equate Akimoto Komachi and Midorikawa Retasu does not mean that I condone in any way the practice of calling all group magical girl series knockoffs. In fact, I despise this practice and cringe whenever I see someone mouthing off about "another Sailor Moon clone". Komachi is Retasu, and to an extent, if Minto and Zakuro were to have a child it would be Karen. But this does not mean that I am condemning the show or the characters. So just please shut up about me being a hypocrite.)

Mint, yes. Cure, if healer counts. I just didn't have any images of Komachi or Retasu.

I try to review Secret Ambition

You've probably heard about this one, too, but someone uploaded a live performance of the StrikerS OP. Still, I'm obliged to blog about it, because if you didn't know, I like Mizuki Nana, and just about everyone in this community likes Nanoha. So on to reviewing it.

I like it. Which is a good sign, considering I hated Eternal Blaze at the beginning of A's, but really liked it near the end. For some reason, it reminds me of a Gundam song, but considering all the comparisons between Nanoha and insert-mecha-series-here, it's a good thing. Someone in the chatbox (I forget who, as I was probably half asleep at the time) said it sounded "more like an OP than a pop song used as one". Thinking about it, I have to agree. It sounds more mature than the previous songs, fitting with the ten-year aging of the protagonists. I can't tell if the clapping in the background is from the audience or actually part of the song, but it really adds to it. It's not glaringly "missing something" like I thought Eternal Blaze was when I first heard it, and the beginning reminds me of Brave Phoenix, my favourite Nanoha song.

This is the only video I could find that uses the song. Putting the previous season's OP animation over it, now that's original. Sorry.

I debated using a different picture because I've already used a Nanoha picture on this page, but... no.

Breaking news: I am NOT disillusioned and retiring!

Fresh out of responding to yet another fanfic reader that yes, it is Hwang Bu-ling, I learned that The Third had been licensed... with another Haruhi-esque viral marketing campaign. Come on, you guys. It was cool with Haruhi. With Rozen Maiden, people were a bit wary. Now it's just silly. Next time someone picks up a good show and tries to have some fun with it, it won't be cool anymore.

So I'm replaying the first Galaxy Angel game. I still don't understand everything because I suck, but at least I get enough to have found all the Shiva CGs last time I played it through. Now to just remember how I did it. I know it was in Forte's thread, so I'll try to play that one next...

What's with everyone getting all depressed lately? The tired aura is just floating around and sinking everybody down. There needs to be something fun to do to get everybody's spirits up. Besides complaining about licenses, because apparently that's getting old. Maybe it's seasonal affective disorder. And the fact that not many people like this winter's shows. In any case, I wish you all the best and some sanity back.

In happier news, Urara's transformation goes between cool and ridiculous. This could cheer anyone up.

I really need to stop using the same series over and over for the pictures.

How to eat your Nozomi

Okay, so I've finally got some half-decent internet back. That means more fluid posts instead of posts for the sake of living! Yay! To start, I'll share something amusing: Edible Nozomi. For all your breakfast needs. There was a Mai, a Saki and a Michiru, too, that I've seen. I wonder if there's an Urara or Karen, their colours are the only ones I'm not allergic to. How would you make them, anyway? They look like they're made of icing. Does anybody know?

Also, just when you thought that the joke about the Haruhi character albums was over, it lives again. At least there's an end to them (and a pretty fun end, too), at least until Shoushitsu airs. I can't get Ryouko 2.0's "Fixed Mind" out of my head for some reason, even though it's probably the least catchy song and certainly the least energetic. Now if I could track down the ones I don't have...

So Tokyopop changed around their ratings system. Good enough, considering the headlines (at least around here) warning parents whose kids buy manga that one 10-year-old was caught being a pervert. Now if they'd just put that money towards, I don't know, decent translations! Their localization attempts are hideous (have you ever seen an ojousama command her teammates to "bust a move, girl"? You will), their marketing is cheesy, they mix up text boxes, remove honourifics, can't decide which romanization system to use between volumes, and snap up too many titles at once. The shounen titles get treated significantly better than the shoujo, but they all get subjected to this fearsome horror. Geh.

Also, Funimation is the NA release anime market share leader of the year, again. Credit where it's due, although-- do I even have anything from them? I don't remember right now.

In response to the last post, my Skype is sana.jisushi; if you are not a French stalker, feel free to bother me. Maybe then the ratio will be settled.

And apparently another season of Onegai My Melody was just announced now. Way to be late, guys.

Dear Tokyopop: her name is Hwang Bu-Ling.

Skype, Makoto and whatever news I could scrape together

You've probably heard, but Geneon's gotten hold of Karin. The only DVD of theirs that I have is the first Fate/stay night, that I can remember, and I'm too lazy to check right now. It was decent, save for Sakura's grating English voice. That reminds me, I should probably see Karin. A bunch of my friends like it, anyway. Maybe I'll mooch the manga off someone.

You have no idea how much of a pain it is to code when Makoto has turned Japanese again. What can I say, I had an urge to play a couple games.

I need to find some way to prevent random French people annoying me on Skype. Then again, maybe it's a sign that I need to add people or something. The amount of legit messages I get on there is vastly disproportionate to the French stalkers.

Wow, something that isn't the same old series over and over.

How bored am I...

Hey, I really like Negima!?. Someone must agree with me. Then again, it's not the first time I've been the only one to like something.

Also. Inspired by the asosbrigade videos and monumentally bored, I started downloading Power Rangers In Space. You can all berate me now.

Because I used a Haruhi picture last time.

Haruhi's gone mad.

Okay, it's not as serious as all that. It simply seems that Negima!?'s ratings suck compared to the rest of TV Tokyo's afternoon block. Which isn't fair, considering how much fun it is. What got the top spot? Kirarin Revolution.

Then again, we can't expect the world to be functioning properly after the discovery that typing "Haruhi Suzumiya" into Google Earth indicates a hospital in Kagawa. Someone get Oharuhi-sama off the hospital drugs!

Who knows what the world will wake up as tomorrow.

Valentine's Post

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone. Can you believe I almost forgot to do one of these? Well, I have yet to see anyone reply to a holiday post,, so it should be fine. They're just... there. By the way, sorry about the delay with the parody this week, if anyone watched the first one. I've been slacking off lately. Next week's will almost certainly be late too, but that's because I'm going somewhere interesting on Wednesday. Where? ...hi*mi*tsu!

2K loves you.

SPRING PREVIEW of doom.

About time I did one of these, hm? Since I kinda kicked off the winter previews, if I remember correctly, and the spring previews have already started. Well, let's get going, then. This should prove to be fun.

We have an ending...

List

Tengen Toppa Gurren-Lagaan

Comedy, mecha, bikinis... okay, then.

Ge Ge Ge no Kitarou

The really old manga that popularized youkai stories is being animated! I wonder if they'll do it in 1960's style. I can't tell because the site refuses to load. Apparently, it's getting a live-action movie, too. The one live-action movie guy is moe~. Least I think so. Perhaps this bodes well for the animated version.

Hayate no Gotoku

Hayate the Combat Butler, that mysteriously very hyped new anime! Yakuza, evil parents, runaway kid, cute small children, and cute romance, apparently. What more could one want?

Heroic Age

The Gold Race called all the other sentient aliens into space. The humans missed the memo and showed up late, so they get the sucky name of Iron Race. Hundreds of years later, they're threatened by the Silver Race. How do you get out of that? Well, they've got a prophecy, a young boy, and a mecha, so they should do fine.

Kaze no Shoujo Emily

Yup, it's Emily of New Moon! Well, all the books, really. It's all bad-animation style like Shoujo Cosette, which makes sense considering what they're trying to emulate. I just want another S-Strain if they're going to update old books.

Seirei no Moribito

So this guy gets pregnant with an egg. A water fairy put it there, probably because it was a sadistic water fairy, but officially because every 100 years, the water fairies have to do that. The egg-guy is also a prince. And the king wants him dead. And there are aliens that want to eat the egg. This is just creeping me out. Next!

Ookiku Furikabutte

Baseball and ugly animation.

Wellber no Monogatari: Sisters of Wellber

The art looks pretty but I couldn't figure much else out. Curse my sucking at Japanese.

Nagasarete Airantou

Runaway finds himself shipwrecked on an island! If you act now, receive a free harem!

Seto no Hanayome

Kinda like Pichi Pichi Pitch, except instead of a mermaid instantly turning into sea foam when her identity is revealed, she gets sentenced to execution. Also, no magical idol singers.

Kaibutsu Oujiyo

The manga's licensed by Del Rey as "Princess Resurrection". Creepy chainsaw girl raises the dead to fight creatures of the night. And by that, I mean vampires and ghosts and stuff. Not, you know, owls. Or mosquitoes.

Claymore

Youma disguised as humans prey on them... therefore there must be someone that fights youma. Enter master race of cute young girls that balance drama about what they have become with kicking monster butt.

Shinkyoku Soukai Polyphonica

Yet another case of "looks cool, what is it".

Lovecon: Lovely Complex

Sounds like a sequel to Lovedol... a tall girl and a short guy are always called a comedy duo and never taken seriously. Can they stop fighting long enough to break the social requirements they don't meet, fall in love, and attract the nightly shoujo drama audience?

The idolM@STER: Xenoglossia

Mecha, girls, music, meh. Might impress me if I give it a chance.

sola

Romance, cute character designs-- hey, is that Karen Clavius, escaped into a better-animated show?

Saint Beast ~Seijuu Kourin Hen~

In ye olden days of ancient whatever, there were a bunch of angels. They were called Saintly Beasts. And they ruled over everything because they were cool like that. Then two of them were all "You suck" and defected. Those two got sealed away. Now they're back. The other four have to stop them from doing... whatever it is they do.

Shining Tears

Guy with amnesia wakes up with two Very Powerful Rings. So it's kinda like Lord of the Rings, but with two. Cause they're all powerful and drive you crazy and make you try to kill people and stuff.

Touka Gettan

Yet more "cool art, what is it". And hey, Ise Mariya's the main character. She's a cute Urara-chan.

Skull Man

Another old manga! Orphan with weird lab-tested powers kills a lot of people to get revenge. DOOM.

Kono Aozora ni Yakusoku wo

Does this sound like something Key would name their games, or is it just me? A small town is about to lose its factories, meaning no jobs, meaning no people. All they have to hold onto is a promise... probably made by the main girl to the main character or vice versa. It was adapted from a bishoujo game, after all.

Bokurano

Bokura no what? A large group of kids (don't worry about keeping them straight, apparently they get killed off a lot) comes upon a strange man advertising a mecha game with just enough beta mechs for all of them. They get trapped inside the game and everything starts to suck.

Koutetsu Sangokushi

Not sure.

Denno Coil

I don't know~

Nanatsuiro Drops

It's so in Japanese!

Hitohira

Shy girl gets drafted into drama club. I was drafted onto the soccer team once. I was played less than people with broken bones, if I recall.

Keitai Shoujo

Based on a cel phone game where you spend real money on your virtual girlfriend, otherwise she thinks you're cheap and dumps you... How's this going to work?

Kodomo no Jikan

Scares me.

Lucky☆Star

It's the KyoAni yonkoma series! I'm surprised anyone hasn't heard of this. Guess after Haruhi went under everyone's radar last spring, people are keeping a close eye on KyoAni.

Kotetsushin Jeeg

Apparently a sequel to Kotetsu Jeeg. Which I haven't seen. Let's see... Kotetsu Jeeg was from the 1970s! Anyone else seeing a pattern here?

Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha StrikerS

YES. I AM WATCHING THIS. YOU CANNOT MAKE ME NOT WATCH THIS. IF YOU TRY, YOU FAIL.

Darker than BLACK -Kuro no Keiyakusha

Because BLACK just has to be CAPITALIZED. Plot? Weird data field shows up in Tokyo. Humans get powers from it. But... oh yeah, they're powers from hell, and make you insane. Great.

Devil May Cry

Yeah, skipping this too.

Eikoku Koi Monogatari Emma: The Second Act

Didn't see the first one. Maids are bleh. Although she doesn't seem to be an average meido.

El Cazador De La Bruja

Loli on the run, suspected of murder. Joins up with the bounty hunter that's supposed to be after her. I doubt that happens in real life. So they go trying to figure out the loli's past, then the loli has some weird destiny, and there's treasure involved.

Kaze no Stigma

Nice sword.

Romeo X Juliet

Verona: *floats*

Romeo: I want to be with you!

Juliet: That's against the rules, isn't it?

Romeo: Screw the rules, I have green hair!

Verona: *still just floats, glad that it isn't Shibuya*

Kamichama Karin

YES. YOU CANNOT MAKE ME NOT WATCH THIS EITHER. PLEASE DO NOT LET IT SUCK.

Terra e

Manga's "To Terra" in English. All I know is that there was some big fight over whether it was shoujo or shounen. And it's in space.

Oh! Edo Rocket

In the old days of Edo, idealistic young children decide to build bottle rockets or something. At this point in the preview, I'm too lazy to correct myself.

Wangan Midnight

Street racer finds a mysteriously fast car in the junkyard. It's not being junked because it's actually a mecha that can save the world or anything. It's because it's cursed. Well, same deal. He's going to drive it anyway.

Blue Dragon

Kids gain the power to make their shadows manifest into monsters. If I could do that, I wouldn't have been teased in kindergarten, oh no. Although I probably would have caused the end of the world. These guys are more sensible, saving the town from some guy that terrorizes the world every ten years when he gets bored or something.

True Tears

Tie-in to a renai game by Broccoli. Well, I played Galaxy Angel, that was good.

CODE-E

Dunno.



Well, that's it. I hope you dound this enjoyable, because I just found it taxing. It'll be amusing tomorrow, I hope. It usually is.

...and a beginning.

I hope you guys are happy

If my Women's Studies midterm mark ends up sucking, I wholeheartedly blame #animeblogger. Why? Because I was answering questions and halfway through one, realized that I had written...

The patriarchy is a social construct that puts GAR men over non-GAR men, who are in turn stronger than women, children and servants; this is why men under the influence of the patriarchy aspire to be GAR, and these last three categories are expected to be weak and a GAR one would upset the assumed natural order of things, especially one that is not also moe~.

You guys suck. And by that I mean I love you all.

And yes, I erased it. Now I know how the famed chatspeak-essay kid feels.

Something that annoys me.

There are, as you may have found out, many things that annoy me. Many of these involve searching. For example, you can't search for good shoujo fanart without finding much besides hentai and stick figures. And just try to find Angelic Layer stuff on eBay. You get wigs. Seriously. A third annoyance is not about my searching: it's about how copyright owners only seem to search and destroy the good things instead of the bad.

In case you haven't heard, YouTube, in its attempt to distance itself from a reputation as a place to find your favourite fansubs, old beloved television shows and your favourite childhood commercial, has a new ally in JASRAC, the JApanese Society for Rights of Authors, Composers and publishers. (Capitalization intentional.) They've been taking down videos in droves as of late, and were apparently responsible for last October's mass deletion too. Of course, I'm saying this because my own account is now down.

But they don't seem to discriminate, copyright-wise. Fansubs and raws are taken down on occasion, but they always find their way back or escape the cuts anyway. What really annoys me is that they treat fanworks using the video footage in the exact same way as they do wholesale posting of the full episodes. AMVs? Taken down for both the music and the picture. Parodies? Not safe. How about fandubs? The amateur voice acting community relies on YouTube to get their work out, especially the fandub sphere, and their hard and dedicated work is dismissed just the same, leaving marks against their records.

Yes, it's against the ToS to post "copyright infringement". But people that see fanworks as copyright infringement are really, really annoying; they don't appreciate the people that made them what they are nor the creativity that their own work has inspired in their fans. That's why I've made it a point not to read the books of anti-fanfic authors and the like. Is it wrong to feel a swell of inspiration and try to have some fun? I'd prefer the world be filled with Sues than the authors of quality fanworks be silenced.

What's in danger next? I don't know, but I do think that YouTube and JASRAC are going about this completely the wrong way. Maybe they should immerse themselves in our communities for a change, and see what we feel. Maybe we watch these series online because they've been licensed by an awful handler that's stuck in the ethnocentric 1980s. Or because they haven't been licensed at all. Maybe we want to bring back memories. Maybe they'd learn that there is nothing wrong with fanworks, unless they're about a new girl named Crystal that outshines everyone on the team and turns them into her personal harem and side characters. Maybe they'd learn how much work goes into what they assume is just passing off somebody else's property without personal effort.

Let's hope so. Until then, I need to find a way to host my Yes! Precure 5 parody fandubs.

Oh, and as for the shoujo fanart? Sometimes you just have to know where to look.

S-Strain figure molds...

Well, they look decent. I'd be scared about the poses, though. Wonder what they'd look like painted?

Come on, is there any S-Strain fanart?

IT'S GOT CHEEESE!

One of my most beloved pastimes is making fun of bad dubbers that think censorship and culture blending are the way to go. However, this must be done both intelligently and humourously, a hard act. I think miharaoujirou has done quite well in both departments; also, he wins for a name from Kidou Tenshi Angelic Layer.

I don't have any Higurashi fanart, so this will have to do.