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I got my DVDs of AzuDai this week. Now I can watch Osaka whenever I want

:3 I've had them for a long, long time now. XD

Hrm ...

Akane-iro ni Somaru Saka (Episode 3)
[spoiler]To be honest, I still have some trouble telling that Yuuhi is played by Kugimiya Rie and Minato by Hirano Aya. Yuuhi is shaping up pretty fast to be "yet-another-tsundere" ... but at least not a loli one. Well, I think so at least ... she's less loli than, say, Shana, Nagi, Louise, Taiga and so on at least. Though, the preview does make her seem "normal build" but since Minato and Tsukasa (and I think Karen too?) are shown as pretty stacked ... whatever!

Anyway, actual episode ... pretty standard plot of "oh nos haunted school!" and the building up of the relationship (or failing miserably of the building up of the relationship ...). Part of me is wondering if feng has twisted-dark endings ... or, at the very least, a protagonist gets none and hooray Yuuhi x Minato pairing or ... SOMETHING. I'm sounding overly negative but I'll keep up with the series but there's a part of me that just wants some surprise in the end and not something simple in the pairing.

Also, WHAT THE FUCK to his parents.

Oh yeah, thanks to the Next Episode preview (...and, well, the end of Episode 2), it's becoming readily obvious that Minato so wants to [s]rape[/s] wild-hot-monkey-sex her brother. Seriously. Been awhile since the "sister-but-not-really!!!" love interest ... except for the awhile part. ... Oh well.[/spoiler]

ToraDora! (Episode 3)
[spoiler]Hehe ... cute. Lack of other things to say barring some small novel spoilers which I'll do after this. The shed scene, albeit cliche, was cute and Taiga's bike riding (...) was adorable. Nothing really unexpected here.[/spoiler]

ToraDora! (Episode 3 + Novel [v2])
[spoiler]The entire episode, except for the restaraunt, is anime only. Even then, the restaurant scene is changed a lot (including the reason why; I believe Ryuuji is the one that wants to go so badly, not Taiga taking him there) AND this is when Ami is supposed to get introduced as a childhood friend of Kitamura (much to Taiga's sadness).

The restaurant scene is damned long in the novel (as it should be...) so unless I missed something, this change is pretty fucking huge. Then again, they DID cut out about half of the first Volume too so ... whatever. I mean, it's really just a lot of talking that's gone but it's kind of cute and some Ryuuji x Taiga stuff (or, at very least, Ryuuji thinking about Taiga).

The episode seems to be building up to the "revelation" of "one year ago" in the future (...or next episode) so maybe Ami is on the backburner until then. Meh. I like Ami's character (at least more than I like Minori) so I'm a bit sad here. I'm just not a big fan of airhead characters I guess.

Also, for no apparent reason, here's an image:

[/spoiler]

stuff later~

Edit: SkipBeat! [Manga] (v1-v15 spoilers potentially though I'll keep it lax!)
[spoiler]Cute and Kyoko is a pretty unique character so far. Shou is a complete DICK early on and does a damn good job of making you hate him. Ren is pretty typical mystery-bishounen so, really, it's just Kyoko that is a strange character.

The story is building up slowly towards any form of real romance but I suppose it works thanks to the plot (ie, Kyoko's swearing off of love, Ren being the typical clueless about love bishounen, and Shou is a complete dick). I will say the earlier volumes were more interesting than where it is now with Vie Ghoul (BEAGLE) and such ... that and I'm sad at how Kanae has seemingly disappeared since her last revelation ages ago.

However, there's something bugging me still ... what happened to the Love Me book and points and all that? I mean, it still happens since she got points a few volumes ago but she's already had her "debut" performance and that was the entire POINT of the points. Well, whatever ... I like more her trying to prove she can act and those scenes so the current straight DRAMAZ is a bit ... well, boring.

As for the anime, no idea. Haven't started watching it yet >>.

Edit: Also, PLEASE GOD JUST HAVE THE STUPID "Corn" THING BE TOLD AND DONE AWAY WITH. It'll probably be the finale and final "hurdle" for the series.

That or it ends like Tokyo Crazy Paradise and ... that'll be sad.[/spoiler]

argh hidamari sketch is so haaaaappppppppyyyyyyyy

so, so refreshing

Is it sad if my main thought from Gundam 00 s2 so far is ... wow, Soma became pretty fucking stacked. Ditto on Feldt ... these two served as s1's lolis too ... I guess Mileina takes that role now. Seriously though, Soma goes from loli in s1 (age 18) to "...what?" in s2 (age 23). Huh...

I can't wait to see Nena (Kugimiya Rie!) as well and see how she changed after the time skip. Sheesh.

Edit: Irony being I see Nena RIGHT after this post. Go figure. She doesn't look any more stacked than before (though, incidentally, Louise seems smaller ...). Liu Mei seems to have been bumped up a notch though!

...I am also saddened that I have an entire post about a series being about breasts.

Quick anime update:

Bubblegum Crisis: Tokyo 2040 - Women who kick ass? Cool.
Or so I thought. Well, it's not really bad or anything. It starts out nicely, but over time it becomes more like a regular super sentai series. Near the end the pacing gets really wonky, more like stop and go. Good girls thwart villain/part of the week, take a break to reflect semi-dramatically and get drunk with friends, then battle villain again because of some new exposition. So what started out as an interesting series lost points because of a weakening end.

Nana - Hmm, not sure about this. The Nanas are a little too blatantly heterosexual for my taste. I don't mind some straight romance, but one Nana is utterly boy-crazy, and the other seems to be rather hung up about her boyfriend as well. Bleh.
Well, I'll give it a few more eps. So far it's been mostly background on both Nanas. Maybe it'll get better when the series returns to their present-time living together.
Btw, what's up with all the smoking? Over half the characters smoke some kind of cigarettes. It almost feels like a commercial at times. Is this meant to make them look more mature? Or dumber?
A few eps. later, after the flashbacks, it does get better, but not all that much. The over-anxious² 20 year old comedy is getting on my nerves.
Gave up after 11 eps. The comedy isn't bad, but the story didn't really grab me. Nana (Hachi) is supposed to be 20 years old, but she acts like a kid most of the time. All the boyfriend troubles were more like a soap series than a romance too.

Lucky☆Star OVA - Yay, more Lucky☆Star! It's only one episode, but we take what we can get, ne? The characters seem to be a little cuter than usual. Otherwise it was pretty random. But who cares. It's Lucky☆Star!

Ponyo On The Cliff By The Sea - A touching, and beautiful movie. As expected from Hayao Miyazaki of course. This one is even more for young kids than Spirited Away was.

Next are Hell Girl (scary stories, so far without much of an ongoing plot), Stellvia (still downloading), and Futari Wa Pretty Cure (also downloading..). With wacky season titles like Futari Wa Precure Splash Star, Futari Wa Precure Max Heart 2 and Yes! Precure 5 GoGo!, I simply had to know what this is about.

Akane-iro ni Somaru Saka (Episode 4):
[spoiler]

...sums the episode up more or less. Hooray Jun x Minato! ...wait, no that's not ... right. Or moral. Or something.

To be honest, the best part of this episode (outside of BOOBS ... okay not really) was the next episode preview since it at least seems interesting ("Rose Madder Colored First Date"). Looks like the anime really is going the Jun x "Hime" route with the main competition being the sister >>. At least, based on this episode (...the whole him staring at her chest and the later hug scene) and especially the preview >>.

Also, what the fuck is with "NAGO-NAGO" and her magically extinguishing fire. So totally confused by her as, really, the show is almost-sort-of grounded in something resembling "anime" reality ... or something. That and I'm really curious as to anything at all about Jun's family.

And, again ... Yuuhi is so not the normal Kugimiya voice (and the same for Minato and Hirano Aya!).[/spoiler]

Toaru no Majutsu Index (Episode 4):
[spoiler]Kaori is awesome
Index is awesome
Touma is GAR

I eagerly await Mikoto returning to the show with some form of active role >> That and her oh-so-totally-gay-for-her friend.

...

Touma is GAR![/spoiler]

Gundam 00 s2 (Episode 3) + s1 finale spoiler ... but s2 itself is ... just ... oh whatever:
[spoiler]Hooray, Allelujah is back! Also, he totally got the least interesting name change on his Gundam (Kyrios ... to the Arios). The Allelujah and Soma past is interesting and, hell, he's really the most interesting pilot what with the original Lockon being dead. Anyway, the rescue was pretty weak near the end (though Soma totally could've won it if she didn't break) since he somehow miraculously avoids getting shot somehow on foot so many times in close quarters >>. Whatever though, it's nice to see the Meisters just destroying shit again and setting things back up for the new (or returning) ace pilots to start topping them.

Setsuna has changed SO much though so it's awesome to see him going from "I am Gundam" to "We are Gundam." He's just ... not the same prick from the first season. On that note, Nene SCARES THE FUCK OUT OF ME NOW. Oh god ... Wang Liu-mei totally made her her personal bitch.

I cannot wait for Louise to meet up with either Celestial Being in combat or to meet up with Seiji. I really hope she replaces the Thrones for the totally psychotic ace pilot (or I guess Ali Al-Saachez) for this season. She's practically insane as is anyway.[/spoiler]

Skip Beat! (Episodes 1-3)
[spoiler]Follows the first volume pretty religiously actually. I will say that Fuwa and Ren's voices are very different than what I expected though Kyoko is pretty much where I expected though she sounds very different from what I remembered from her prior roles (or at least different than Shion [Hayate no Gotoku] and Yoko [TTGL]).

Kanae (Hayamizu Risa) really shows off how much of a complete and total BITCH she is to Kyoko early on in the series. I wait eagerly to see the early Kyoko acting scenes (Ruriko, Maria, and the commercial especially). And, of course, Kyoko's Mio later on. Just a few more episodes I suppose for at least the Ruriko and Maria stuff![/spoiler]

Edit: ToraDora! (Episode 4):
[spoiler]So I was right on this being the episode for Ryuuji learning about the confession. I wonder if they plan to keep NOT following the novels what-so-ever >>.

Anyway, Ami being introduced and it looks like it'll be done at least the same way (-ish) as the novel.[/spoiler]

Edit: Tales of the Abyss (Episode 3):
[spoiler]They are seriously sticking to the game pretty hardcore. I mean, a lot of the important scenes from the game are done line-for-line here.

Also, Tear is still
Injured Tear is
Tear killing people is ... kind of weird. And

Anyway, Arietta is adorable and makes me feel sad seeing her face when she cries [/spoiler]

Game spoilers:
[spoiler]...and of so sad to see her and everyone else DIE. Totally forgot how depressing the game was until I recalled just how many of the villains die >>[/spoiler]

Honestly, if you haven't played TotA, the anime is a nicely done (thus far) telling of the story and it's the best Tales story in my opinion (well ... I haven't finished Vesperia yet due to time constraints >>). Plus, Tear!

'course, it IS based off an RPG so it is very action-y for those bothered by that.

Doubt (Chapter 16):
[spoiler]THANK GOD THE FATHER DIDN'T DO ANYTHING. THANK GOD.

MITSUKI IS PSYCHO CRAZY HOLY SHIT.

Yuu armed and CRAZY PSYCHO MITSUKI OMG. Though the Hajime thing was a bit bleh but whatever CRAZY PSYCHO.

...

PSYCHO.

Actually, the Hajime stuff brings an interesting question ... if Hajime as "they" know him doesn't exist then Mitsuki's target (the murdering doctor) doesn't exist as well. Hrm ... kind of weird what with all her other meticulous planning so does that mean there IS a doctor like Hajime that exists or not? Also, he mentions OTHER missing people from Rabbit Doubt so is this some series of fucked up "games" gone awry?

I want to guess that the "friend" that betrayed her father was Yuu's father. It just makes sense since his death would match her father's attempted suicide. Then again, Eiji was also hung so ... but since Yuu was saved for the end it makes more sense that way.

I have no idea if I want to see Yuu kill Mitsuki. I honestly have no idea. Maybe a very fucked up confession-murder scene would work or something along those lines...[/spoiler]

I didn't think it was about that, honestly. Yes, there was that dynamic, that had to set things up, but ultimately it was always about the two friendship of the Nanas and that how, no matter how badly the other screwed their life up, the other one was always there to comfort the other. Later in the series, too, things became really hectic when Osaki decides to try to break the friendship and try to do without Hachi, and Hachi, who is going through another set of boyfriend troubles gets REALLY into trouble and does a few things that really REALLY hurts Osaki, but then Osaki realizes what it is that she wants: she DOES want to continue being friends with Nana. But unfortunately her dream of being in a band suddenly collides with this wish.

And the "chasing after" really is dropped later in the season - MUCH later - when the whole drama shit collides with each other. ^_^; But, I can't say anything without spoiling it! OMG IT GETS GOOD, THOUGH!!

If you only stuck it out to episode 11, though, to be blunt: you haven't seen SHIT. :O The best stuff was just coming up!! Episode 15+ is where things just take a twist to the whole story! Even if I were to say spoilers, you wouldn't understand half of it or even how it got to that point.

Oh and I will say this clever, not-so-spoilerish thing: Osaki, later on, puts her crew on a smoking ban :3

... But then, yeah, to be honest, the soaps quality never disappears... though in my defense I HATE soaps... but I LOVE Nana.... <_< *shrugs*

Ah, it's okay. I thought watching it through ep. 11 was quite long to be honest, for an anime I didn't really like much. I mean, usually you'd quit after three or five eps. or so.

*nods* True, but, I dunno... :\ The story of Hachi x Shouji is just so wildly different from the rest of the story and is sorta like a "prologue" and the initial trigger. Osaki isn't really officially friends until

[spoiler]Shouji breaks up with Hachi[/spoiler]

and Osaki steps in for her defense and the whole thing just escalates from there...

if you like, I can spoil you to death:

[spoiler]After the break-up, Hachi falls into a deep depression which Osaki tries to help pull her out from. Then Osaki takes her to her first live concert and she meets someone that is connected to her past. From there, Hachi gets curious and then starts asking about Osaki's past. And eventually sets up to take Osaki to a Trapnest Concert.

Osaki gets back together with Ren and is really so appreciative of what Hachi did that she sets it up so Hachi meets Takumi.

Which brings the story to Hachi x Takumi and sets up the mega-DISASTER when Hachi realizes she loves Nobu. She "tries" to break it off with Takumi and has an affair with Nobu.

THEN she gets pregnant. Who's the father?!

At the same time Osaki isn't sure about her relationship with Ren. He's now the rival and she wants to be miss independant. And this revelation with Hachi does NOT help things.

I didn't watch the whole of the series (I think I missed like 6 eppies) but... the two Nanas left 707... :O will they ever be back together again?! *sobs*[/spoiler]

One of the reasons I stopped watching is because I didn't like all the Drama!, and now you tell me what I missed is MEGA-Drama!?
Yep, I made the right decision then

It's probably just me though. I've heard a lot of people say they loved Nana.

*shrugs* Nah, I was hoping it depended on the "sort" of drama there was, and no, I'm glad I told you the truth and such so that way you can feel like you made the right decision. ^_^

Normally I'd say I hate the drama, but I love Nana for some reason. I think it just did it right in my eyes and I loved how it just revolves around the friendship of the two Nanas and not the fact that it is ONLY about "OMG SHE HAD AN AFFAIR!" Yes the affair is there but it's more of a ":( Osaki, don't be mad at Hachi for going over to the dark side and betraying one of your closest friends! *sob*"

The most devastating and beautiful moments of the whole anime is actually a scene that you catch a glimpse of in the first opening:

[spoiler]One of the strawberry glasses break... well... the first one was accidental, the second one... Osaki does on purpose. She got mad waiting for Hachi who never showed, just shortly before they leave the apartment, but Nana hits the table and the glass dumps, rolls, and breaks. It's one of the most tragic moments and really sends Osaki over the edge. Shea breaks the other in a state of tragic-shock and depression. Sort of a "the relationship is over"... Hachi comes home and finds the broken pieces. *sobs* and the episode ends.... <_< It was so... so... sad... It's even more tragic when Osaki attempts to patch things up by buying new glasses - after she remembers what it was that she did. But, of course... not everything can be fixed by replacing them. ... Well, I dunno, though. Osaki never got to give them to Hachi, who Takumi is keeping in his apartment like some closet-wife >_<. ... And unfortunately I didn't get to watch much farther than that in the series... [/spoiler]