What in the hell took me so long to speak about this one? It's been a long time since I mentioned any of Rumiko Takahashi's works, after reviewing both Ranma 1/2 (Review #58) and Those Obnoxious Aliens/Urusei Yatsura (Review #115). InuYasha is one of Takahashi's later works, which lasted a little over a decade.
The story takes place in two eras, but the series mainly has its plot set in one. Kagome Higurashi is a middle schooler who resides in the hereditary Shinto shrine of the family. One day, she is pulled into the Bone Eater's Well by a centipede demon and ends up in Feudal Japan, more specifically their Sengoku period. Fifty years prior to this, a dog demon was sealed by the priestess Kikyo, his body pinned to a try and weakened by her sacred arrow. In present day, call it irony or fate, but Kagome, who is Kikyo's incarnation, would be the one to remove this seal, in a desperation move to save herself from the centipede demon, who targets her for the Shikon no Tama, a powerful jewel that was embodied in her. Making short work of the demon, he would have had the jewel as well... had it not been shattered into various pieces, the shards scattering throughout the ends of the continent. With this, the unlikely alliance of Kagome and InuYasha is formed, their task: to get the shards of the Sacred Jewel. But it won't be a simple task, as others also have their sights on them, and one shard can amplify a demon's power greatly. That said, they have to make sure neither one of them dies in the process... lest they kill each first.
As opposed to a comical angle (though it has it's moments), the story takes a more darker route, much like with her other work Mermaid Saga. It still retains the romance aspect from the majority of her works. In total, it bears 193 episodes. Majority of this belonged to the original TV anime, while the latter 26 was made as InuYasha: The Final Act. In addition, there were also four movies as well as a few video games derived from this, which was made from a 56 volume manga series. In the US, both TV anime and the 4 movies were licensed and distributed under Viz Media, who also did such for the manga. In fact, namely all her manga works saw English distribution under Viz, while the same could be said for the licensing for most of the anime made from them, the exceptions being Urusei Yatsura, Rin-ne, and Rumic Theatre. The TV anime was made in the Sunrise studio. The first TV anime aired on both Adult Swim (a late night Cartoon Network block), and Animax Asia. Also licensed here, The Final Act was televised only on Animax Asia, unlike the former. Richard Ian Cox voiced InuYasha for the entirety of the dub, who I earlier mentioned also took up the voice of Ranma Saotome (male) in Ranma 1/2. A little side note, but some of the voices heard from that anime you'll be hearing again in this one. Some people tend to make comparisons as to who in this anime resembles what from the other anime. Getting back on topic, Kagome was voiced by Moneca Stori (who did other voices like Ranma 1/2's Princess Ori, Gundam Wing's Sally Po, and Hamtaro's Laura Haruna.) In The Final Act, she is voiced by Kira Tozer.
InuYahsa has received its love and its share of hate. I still favor Ranma 1/2 over this, but I didn't mind the darker Mermaid Saga, and this one is also okay in my book, so InuYasha gets an 7 of 10 in general. At some point, I might do a 4-in-1 movie review of this title, so be on the look out for that.
2012/03/27
2012/03/26
Ev9: Art of Video Games
While I still await Sakura Matsuri 2012, I took a chance and went to the Museum and Portrait Gallery in downtown Washington, DC, where they had the Art of Video Games exhibit.
The entire 3rd floor had games to show, the history behind them, as well as a few to play. I was so excited to go in there, and it pleased me. Not every system was showcased however, but it did range from the days of old, featuring the likes of Commodore 64 and Atari, the 90's that featured the Sega Genesis / Mega Drive and Super Nintendo, all the way to present day with the current trio: the Nintendo Wii, Sony's PlayStation 3, and Microsoft's Xbox 360.
Hideo Kojima was there, and this man was the creator of popular Konami series Metal Gear Solid. Game enthusiasts and museum goers alike had a fun time, some of which, like myself, gettiing a bit of nostalgia from seeing the consoles of the past. I'm an all round gamer, but I was enjoyed seeing Sega Saturn there, as it's one of my favorites next to the Genesis. It looks as if it'll be around for quite a while so I may go again. But even if you don't see what you want to see, I feel you may get some fulfillment from this exhibit if you go. This is Seiko Takeda, closing another event post for now!!
The entire 3rd floor had games to show, the history behind them, as well as a few to play. I was so excited to go in there, and it pleased me. Not every system was showcased however, but it did range from the days of old, featuring the likes of Commodore 64 and Atari, the 90's that featured the Sega Genesis / Mega Drive and Super Nintendo, all the way to present day with the current trio: the Nintendo Wii, Sony's PlayStation 3, and Microsoft's Xbox 360.
Hideo Kojima was there, and this man was the creator of popular Konami series Metal Gear Solid. Game enthusiasts and museum goers alike had a fun time, some of which, like myself, gettiing a bit of nostalgia from seeing the consoles of the past. I'm an all round gamer, but I was enjoyed seeing Sega Saturn there, as it's one of my favorites next to the Genesis. It looks as if it'll be around for quite a while so I may go again. But even if you don't see what you want to see, I feel you may get some fulfillment from this exhibit if you go. This is Seiko Takeda, closing another event post for now!!
2012/03/22
ST2: Boycotts, Entitlements... really fans!?
Seiko here again. I cannot believe I have do to another serious session, but alas, I can't ignore what's out there. Now an article recently came to my attention, dealing with Marvel Comics, with their live-action film The Avengers a few months away, and boy, am I excited for it. However, you can't please everyone, and some who grew up on comics may not think of such features in a positive way which I expect. But boycotting and entitlements... I just don't know where to begin.
First off, here's the link to the article in question if you feel like reading:
http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/culturebox/2012/02/the_avengers_why_i_m_boycotting_marvel_s_movie.html
Long story short, the author goes into the origins of Marvel Comics, as well as to why he intends to boycott The Avengers when it releases in theaters in May. Majority of his argument deals with Jack Kirby, who worked alongside Marvel familiar Stan Lee. Now to my understanding, he did artwork for Marvel, not getting much back out of it, and not retaining the copyrights from it. To further his argument, he went in on Marvel, remarking the many things that happened to Kirby, the royalties denied when films were made (as well as others this has happened to by Marvel), the lawsuits that occurred, and the general hypocrisy between the superhereoes' "fighting for what's right" script, and the company behind it going the other route.
As usual, as a realist, I won't deny that it is pretty cold of them to do, but the question that boggles me is: "While it may not be right, why should we, as consumers, care?" We are whining about the unfairness of how Kirby was untreated and left in the dust, but at the same time, it's a good portion of us buying their comics, the merchandise, the movies... that said, aren't we kinda hypocritical ourselves? And the sad truth is, it's not just with Marvel that this is happening. A while back, before this even surfaced, Capcom was under fire. Not to crossover into the gaming realm again, but I feel it's a fine time I talked about this seriously. I'm sure some of you know where I'm going with this. The reason's leading up to this differed, but the outcome is more or less similar.
Branching off topic for a minute, Capcom had a rough ride of their own, after Keiji Inafune, the creator of Mega Man, stepped down after his 23 year road of reaching the top (he left to "start his life over", creating start up company Comcept.) Since then, Capcom has took a tumble, starting with the cancellations of both Mega Man Universe and the 3rd MegaMan Legends title, something that was highly anticipated. The cancellation of those two had fans pretty annoyed already, since the last game that was released at all pertaining to the character was the downloadable Mega Man 10. I'm guessing that for the die-hard fans, as well as those fed up with "incomplete fighters" (ala Street Fighter IV and its many expansions), these were the nails in the coffin. For the Mega-fanbase, it was the inclusion of Bad Box Art Mega Man (for those who don't know, check around the net for not only the Mega Man box art for the 1st game, but the character itself in Street Fighter X Tekken) as a Sony-exclusive character. I admit, I was a little upset by that, but more so of the fact that thanks to Microsoft, Xbox 360's version was denied DLC exclusives of their own. Another issue happened on the other side, as Street Fighter X Tekken was "incomplete", since there were on-disc DLC leaked with characters Capcom intends to charge for their official inclusion in game. Even before this, people panned to boycott the company for not appeasing to their fans. Sega suffered the same treatment for a while with the Sonic the Hedgehog games, and BioWare is narrowly avoiding such by redoing the ending to Mass Effect 3, which was made by them and EA (Electronic Arts.)
But those are stories for another day. Getting back to the topic at hand, I'll be a little general first of all, and say that in regards to the artists, they do their work well, but if they freelance for companies like Marvel, this is kind of expected to happen, not to sound condescending. For one thing, they didn't have a copyright to themselves per say. They did the artwork and willfully handed them to Marvel to publish them. It's not as if they had the idea prior to even working there, just to merely submit for Marvel to make a killing of money. All that was done under a salary, a paycheck, if you will. Stan Lee and Jack Kirby didn't own the business, nor did they make them what it is today, and this is something I'll get into a bit later, because too many people are guilty of saying such a profound statement. Kirby and Lee were nothing more than hands hired for work, not sole owners. As such, they did not have intellectual rights over their pieces in the long run. That's like saying that if one worked on the code of a game/program of sorts, by default it's the coder's product. Poor misconception on their part. Perhaps it could be true for an independent coder, but under someone's name, such as Microsoft, things just don't swing that way. If it had, it would be John Doe's Windows 7 instead of Microsoft Windows 7 (yeah, poor comparison, I know.) Besides, had the artist of Archie Comics done that in regards to Sonic the Hedgehog, he would be shot down anyway, since it wasn't even his to start with! Sure, they are greats, but to make a fruitless conflict about it helps no one, especially if you're still intent on buying/looking/etc. with their products.
One last thing. It REALLY annoys me when they say "Without [Insert Name Here], [Insert Company] would be nothing." To that, and pardon my speech, I give a nice cold glass of "Shut up and F**k you!!" One man contributes to a company's success, sure, but that doesn't equal to the fate of the company being on that said man's shoulders, especially if he isn't the big cheese! To idolize someone and recognize him for his greatness is one thing, but it's kind of overzealous as to say that Marvel would have failed if Jack Kirby hadn't stepped in. Who died and said that Kirby was their knight in shining armor? Had it been any other artist, they could have helped Marvel rise or fall. It's like saying Kirby steered this company into great heights, which is simply not true. He drew, edited, and helped them out, it just happened to make a killer income, nothing more! He won no gold medal for saving a company, mainly because he didn't! Such talk is arrogance, even more so if it's a consumer saying such.
This rant is going on forever, so it's time to bring some closure to this before I really get so riled up about it. While it is a shame he didn't get the proper respect, it's not enough to warrant a boycott. But this could be applied to all of the situations I brought up, generally. Second, he did try to capitalize off of his own works, and fell short. Not to mention that he was working under their penny, so while he may have done the artwork, he can't claim intellectual property of them since he was working for Marvel at the time. Still, for so many to get all bent out of shape for what he has been put through, I have nothing against supporting who you love, but this won't halt the release of the Avengers, or any other Marvel works. Rather, it just makes you look like a self-righteous asshole, so quit it. The many issues out there that need fixing right now, and you're getting your tampons in a knot over something that occurred 50+ years ago? Back then, it would mean something to me, but now, it's just an annoyance.
And another side note: what is up with these "We are entitled to this, so the company should just kiss out ass and give us what we want!" complaints? You're only giving them money, you are nothing but a mere consumer, who the hell are you to demand anything!? The way I see it, nobody buying these products dropped a line to tell them what they want, you constantly give money away to support whatever they work on, yet when you find something amiss, you feel to bitch about it. Such ARROGANCE!! They are the one wasting their lives doing whatever they love to do in order to please you, so that said, be grateful. Honestly, you're lucky they even bother to make anything for you at all to play, read, eat, whatever. And you have the nerve to complain... come back when your whiles actually mean anything, then we'll talk!
Again, I apologize if I came off too strong, but that's just how I feel about these kind of things. Hopefully, there won't be another article for a LONG while, so I can try to make more upbeat posts. I'm sure I'll see some backlash from it, but try to be constructive when voicing them so this doesn't turn into a comment spamfest. After all, every opinion will be valued instead of... you know. Anyway, I'm going to find a nice anime to watch to get my mind off of this. Seiko, signing off.
First off, here's the link to the article in question if you feel like reading:
http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/culturebox/2012/02/the_avengers_why_i_m_boycotting_marvel_s_movie.html
Long story short, the author goes into the origins of Marvel Comics, as well as to why he intends to boycott The Avengers when it releases in theaters in May. Majority of his argument deals with Jack Kirby, who worked alongside Marvel familiar Stan Lee. Now to my understanding, he did artwork for Marvel, not getting much back out of it, and not retaining the copyrights from it. To further his argument, he went in on Marvel, remarking the many things that happened to Kirby, the royalties denied when films were made (as well as others this has happened to by Marvel), the lawsuits that occurred, and the general hypocrisy between the superhereoes' "fighting for what's right" script, and the company behind it going the other route.
As usual, as a realist, I won't deny that it is pretty cold of them to do, but the question that boggles me is: "While it may not be right, why should we, as consumers, care?" We are whining about the unfairness of how Kirby was untreated and left in the dust, but at the same time, it's a good portion of us buying their comics, the merchandise, the movies... that said, aren't we kinda hypocritical ourselves? And the sad truth is, it's not just with Marvel that this is happening. A while back, before this even surfaced, Capcom was under fire. Not to crossover into the gaming realm again, but I feel it's a fine time I talked about this seriously. I'm sure some of you know where I'm going with this. The reason's leading up to this differed, but the outcome is more or less similar.
Branching off topic for a minute, Capcom had a rough ride of their own, after Keiji Inafune, the creator of Mega Man, stepped down after his 23 year road of reaching the top (he left to "start his life over", creating start up company Comcept.) Since then, Capcom has took a tumble, starting with the cancellations of both Mega Man Universe and the 3rd MegaMan Legends title, something that was highly anticipated. The cancellation of those two had fans pretty annoyed already, since the last game that was released at all pertaining to the character was the downloadable Mega Man 10. I'm guessing that for the die-hard fans, as well as those fed up with "incomplete fighters" (ala Street Fighter IV and its many expansions), these were the nails in the coffin. For the Mega-fanbase, it was the inclusion of Bad Box Art Mega Man (for those who don't know, check around the net for not only the Mega Man box art for the 1st game, but the character itself in Street Fighter X Tekken) as a Sony-exclusive character. I admit, I was a little upset by that, but more so of the fact that thanks to Microsoft, Xbox 360's version was denied DLC exclusives of their own. Another issue happened on the other side, as Street Fighter X Tekken was "incomplete", since there were on-disc DLC leaked with characters Capcom intends to charge for their official inclusion in game. Even before this, people panned to boycott the company for not appeasing to their fans. Sega suffered the same treatment for a while with the Sonic the Hedgehog games, and BioWare is narrowly avoiding such by redoing the ending to Mass Effect 3, which was made by them and EA (Electronic Arts.)
But those are stories for another day. Getting back to the topic at hand, I'll be a little general first of all, and say that in regards to the artists, they do their work well, but if they freelance for companies like Marvel, this is kind of expected to happen, not to sound condescending. For one thing, they didn't have a copyright to themselves per say. They did the artwork and willfully handed them to Marvel to publish them. It's not as if they had the idea prior to even working there, just to merely submit for Marvel to make a killing of money. All that was done under a salary, a paycheck, if you will. Stan Lee and Jack Kirby didn't own the business, nor did they make them what it is today, and this is something I'll get into a bit later, because too many people are guilty of saying such a profound statement. Kirby and Lee were nothing more than hands hired for work, not sole owners. As such, they did not have intellectual rights over their pieces in the long run. That's like saying that if one worked on the code of a game/program of sorts, by default it's the coder's product. Poor misconception on their part. Perhaps it could be true for an independent coder, but under someone's name, such as Microsoft, things just don't swing that way. If it had, it would be John Doe's Windows 7 instead of Microsoft Windows 7 (yeah, poor comparison, I know.) Besides, had the artist of Archie Comics done that in regards to Sonic the Hedgehog, he would be shot down anyway, since it wasn't even his to start with! Sure, they are greats, but to make a fruitless conflict about it helps no one, especially if you're still intent on buying/looking/etc. with their products.
One last thing. It REALLY annoys me when they say "Without [Insert Name Here], [Insert Company] would be nothing." To that, and pardon my speech, I give a nice cold glass of "Shut up and F**k you!!" One man contributes to a company's success, sure, but that doesn't equal to the fate of the company being on that said man's shoulders, especially if he isn't the big cheese! To idolize someone and recognize him for his greatness is one thing, but it's kind of overzealous as to say that Marvel would have failed if Jack Kirby hadn't stepped in. Who died and said that Kirby was their knight in shining armor? Had it been any other artist, they could have helped Marvel rise or fall. It's like saying Kirby steered this company into great heights, which is simply not true. He drew, edited, and helped them out, it just happened to make a killer income, nothing more! He won no gold medal for saving a company, mainly because he didn't! Such talk is arrogance, even more so if it's a consumer saying such.
This rant is going on forever, so it's time to bring some closure to this before I really get so riled up about it. While it is a shame he didn't get the proper respect, it's not enough to warrant a boycott. But this could be applied to all of the situations I brought up, generally. Second, he did try to capitalize off of his own works, and fell short. Not to mention that he was working under their penny, so while he may have done the artwork, he can't claim intellectual property of them since he was working for Marvel at the time. Still, for so many to get all bent out of shape for what he has been put through, I have nothing against supporting who you love, but this won't halt the release of the Avengers, or any other Marvel works. Rather, it just makes you look like a self-righteous asshole, so quit it. The many issues out there that need fixing right now, and you're getting your tampons in a knot over something that occurred 50+ years ago? Back then, it would mean something to me, but now, it's just an annoyance.
And another side note: what is up with these "We are entitled to this, so the company should just kiss out ass and give us what we want!" complaints? You're only giving them money, you are nothing but a mere consumer, who the hell are you to demand anything!? The way I see it, nobody buying these products dropped a line to tell them what they want, you constantly give money away to support whatever they work on, yet when you find something amiss, you feel to bitch about it. Such ARROGANCE!! They are the one wasting their lives doing whatever they love to do in order to please you, so that said, be grateful. Honestly, you're lucky they even bother to make anything for you at all to play, read, eat, whatever. And you have the nerve to complain... come back when your whiles actually mean anything, then we'll talk!
Again, I apologize if I came off too strong, but that's just how I feel about these kind of things. Hopefully, there won't be another article for a LONG while, so I can try to make more upbeat posts. I'm sure I'll see some backlash from it, but try to be constructive when voicing them so this doesn't turn into a comment spamfest. After all, every opinion will be valued instead of... you know. Anyway, I'm going to find a nice anime to watch to get my mind off of this. Seiko, signing off.
2012/03/21
CCVII: "Dominion: Tank Police"
Another old title, Dominion: Tank Police is another sci-fi anime that takes place in a world that would be considered unfit for humans outside. I never thought I would get to speak of this one, since it's been a long time since I've actually watched it, and saw little fanfare stemming from it. Probably the only memorable thing from there would be the catgirl characters (which oddly enough would be because of 4chan...)
Taking place in Newport, Japan, the air is severely polluted thanks to a bacteria gas. As such, people are required to wear gas masks just to get around. This gas, however, does not halt the process of crime. In opposition, there's the Tank Police squadron, which hence their name, uses tanks to get around and bust crime. Rookie Leona Ozaki is just transferring to the Tank Police from the motorcycle division, with a thrilling passion about her work. She also cares for her tank Bonaparte. Compared to the other tanks in the squad, it's a runt, but it get's the job done. Of course, there is also the super criminal Buaku and his two love dolls/partners AnnaPuma and UniPuma, the latter two sharing a mutual hate-hate relationship with Leona.
Dominion: Tank Police also has a few interesting things about the series. Being 3 OVA series, they have a specific order. Dominion: Tank Police, which was made in the Agent 21 studio and licensed by U.S. Manga Corps, precedes storywise to the original manga. This lasted for 4 episodes. The second series, New Dominion Tank Police, was made as the direct sequel to the original manga, with a pallet change for AnnaPuma and UmiPuma. This OVA lasted for 6 episodes, made in the J.C. Staff studio, and licensed by Manga Entertainment for the U.S., though that license is expired now. TANK S.W.A.T. 01 was the final animated entry of Dominion: Tank Police, set before the events of the series' Conflict arc. Conflict was made as a different storyline from the original manga, as AnnaPuma and UmiPuma are allies in this one. It was made in the DOGA Productions studio, licensing done under Kadokawa Entertainemt. Another interesting thing to know that this title was made by Masamune Shirow, who also worked on the popular Appleseed and Ghost in the Shell titles. Toni Barry voiced Leona in the dubbing of all Dominion: Tank Police titles (also the voice of Noa Izumi of the Patlabor movies), though between the titles, she was voiced by different seiyuus in the Japanese version: Hiromi Tsuru and Rei Sakuma.
Dominion: Tank Police isn't a die-hard memorable title, but it was a stepping stone for the popular Ghost in the Shell media, given what it contains. With how great the successor was, this title scores a 7 of 10 in great respect.
Taking place in Newport, Japan, the air is severely polluted thanks to a bacteria gas. As such, people are required to wear gas masks just to get around. This gas, however, does not halt the process of crime. In opposition, there's the Tank Police squadron, which hence their name, uses tanks to get around and bust crime. Rookie Leona Ozaki is just transferring to the Tank Police from the motorcycle division, with a thrilling passion about her work. She also cares for her tank Bonaparte. Compared to the other tanks in the squad, it's a runt, but it get's the job done. Of course, there is also the super criminal Buaku and his two love dolls/partners AnnaPuma and UniPuma, the latter two sharing a mutual hate-hate relationship with Leona.
Dominion: Tank Police also has a few interesting things about the series. Being 3 OVA series, they have a specific order. Dominion: Tank Police, which was made in the Agent 21 studio and licensed by U.S. Manga Corps, precedes storywise to the original manga. This lasted for 4 episodes. The second series, New Dominion Tank Police, was made as the direct sequel to the original manga, with a pallet change for AnnaPuma and UmiPuma. This OVA lasted for 6 episodes, made in the J.C. Staff studio, and licensed by Manga Entertainment for the U.S., though that license is expired now. TANK S.W.A.T. 01 was the final animated entry of Dominion: Tank Police, set before the events of the series' Conflict arc. Conflict was made as a different storyline from the original manga, as AnnaPuma and UmiPuma are allies in this one. It was made in the DOGA Productions studio, licensing done under Kadokawa Entertainemt. Another interesting thing to know that this title was made by Masamune Shirow, who also worked on the popular Appleseed and Ghost in the Shell titles. Toni Barry voiced Leona in the dubbing of all Dominion: Tank Police titles (also the voice of Noa Izumi of the Patlabor movies), though between the titles, she was voiced by different seiyuus in the Japanese version: Hiromi Tsuru and Rei Sakuma.
Dominion: Tank Police isn't a die-hard memorable title, but it was a stepping stone for the popular Ghost in the Shell media, given what it contains. With how great the successor was, this title scores a 7 of 10 in great respect.
2012/03/19
CCVI: "Eiken"
Just when I thought I saw it all. I felt that the majority of Gonzo's works would fit in excess cleavage, and then there are those fanservice titles like Girls Bravo and Highschool of the Dead. However... it seems there's still much anime out there unknown to me, which Seiji Matsuyama's Eiken happens to be one of. I thought Girls Bravo upped the ante with breasts, but that's nothing compared to this title! I saw clips of this in the fanmade AMV Hell series, so it took me by surprise actually finding this title.
Densuke Mifune is the common plain, nobody-type character, and is the male lead in this title. After an accidental run-in with the busty yet kind Chiharu Shinonome, he is forced to join the exclusive and mysterious Eiken Club by the also absurdly busty Kirika Misono. The interesting part is that, aside from being mysterious, it's a female-dominant club, with Densuke as the only male in it! As with any love comedy, there seems to be affection between Densuke and Chiharu, but as usual, there are others who intervene, wanting Densuke for themselves. For a klutz, he has too much going for him.
Before I go in on this title, it has received harsh criticism left and right. The manga was badly received, the OVA series even worse. You can say that in terms of criticism, it's received as the worst anime ever made, which says a lot. And the fact it was dubbed makes me really concerned. Chances are that my final thoughts MAY coincide with the other critics, but that's likely the worst case scenario for me. To be fair, I do see the merit as to why this is such, but I'll get into that a bit later.
Regardless, you might as well put this into being one of the shortest title around, for there were only 2 episodes, much like the previously covered Animation Runner Kuromi. Made in the GENCO and J.C. Staff studios and released under Starchild Records, it was licensed under AnimeWorks, a subsidiary of Media Blasters. It ran it's awfully short span in 2003, and the manga, which was published by Media Blasters as well, wasn't relatively long either, only lasting 18 volumes, which obviously meant more to the story. Dubbed in English, Densuke was voiced by Bryce Papenbrook, Chiharu by Becky Chiang, and Kirika by Cindy Robinson. Aside from the manga and anime, it also had a radio drama series, which was most likely also short in length. Given the content, it's considered borderline hentai much like how it was for Golden Boy, another titled I covered with good marks.
As for the criticism, the title did have enough faults to warrant it. For starters, the mistranslation, which is something rather common for manga. Aside from the misspellings, there were some inconsistencies with the names of characters and the academy itself. During it's 5 year lifespan (2001-2006), it went from a 16+ range to an 18+ range, since after the 3rd volume, it went to more mature levels. The anime, however, wasn't shown any mercy in comparison to its paperback counterpart. I have nothing against fanservice per say, but there are times where it is too much, as was the case with Girls Bravo. Yet, with that in mind, it wasn't badly received like Eiken, which debuted much earlier than the former (which is kind of sad, given Girls Bravo debuted earlier manga-wise in 2000, for the same lifespan as Eiken save for having less volumes.) Where Girls Bravo wowed the crowd, Eiken was a disappointment generally, some declaring this as a nightmare, and a demeaning anime.
All that said, I'll give my take on the matter as well, since most of the time I CANNOT take these critics seriously. Anyone that follows this blog should sense how reluctant I am to share the same views as them. Regardless, the animation is kind of sketchy, the content is beyond highly suggestive, and the dubbing is somewhat tolerable, yet mediocre. It is an old title, however, so I'll be lenient and say that back then, I wouldn't mind it, but it's been 9 years, and I've heard better voice acting since then. I'll say the voice acting is a little less than okay, at best. While it's common for anime to be created from just part of the manga series, with the material, before it surfaced here, I'd expect more than just a mere 2 episodes. Another Starchild Records title, FLCL (Fooly Cooly), was another short one, but lasted 6 episodes with only 2 manga volumes (though in all fairness, the anime began first.) While it is another Harem comedy, it also falls victim to the same traits as the others, but they took it too far in Eiken.
Despite all that, I still feel they went just a little too hard on this one. It may have received an F for failure, but I won't call it something that shouldn't exist. Still, it is relatively bad, so being lenient, I'll give this one a 4 of 10. A disappointing title, but at the same time, it's something I won't run into the dirt completely. Besides, it did find its fans (heaven knows how) so to say it's the worst ever is jumping the gun (and a little arrogant...)
Densuke Mifune is the common plain, nobody-type character, and is the male lead in this title. After an accidental run-in with the busty yet kind Chiharu Shinonome, he is forced to join the exclusive and mysterious Eiken Club by the also absurdly busty Kirika Misono. The interesting part is that, aside from being mysterious, it's a female-dominant club, with Densuke as the only male in it! As with any love comedy, there seems to be affection between Densuke and Chiharu, but as usual, there are others who intervene, wanting Densuke for themselves. For a klutz, he has too much going for him.
Before I go in on this title, it has received harsh criticism left and right. The manga was badly received, the OVA series even worse. You can say that in terms of criticism, it's received as the worst anime ever made, which says a lot. And the fact it was dubbed makes me really concerned. Chances are that my final thoughts MAY coincide with the other critics, but that's likely the worst case scenario for me. To be fair, I do see the merit as to why this is such, but I'll get into that a bit later.
Regardless, you might as well put this into being one of the shortest title around, for there were only 2 episodes, much like the previously covered Animation Runner Kuromi. Made in the GENCO and J.C. Staff studios and released under Starchild Records, it was licensed under AnimeWorks, a subsidiary of Media Blasters. It ran it's awfully short span in 2003, and the manga, which was published by Media Blasters as well, wasn't relatively long either, only lasting 18 volumes, which obviously meant more to the story. Dubbed in English, Densuke was voiced by Bryce Papenbrook, Chiharu by Becky Chiang, and Kirika by Cindy Robinson. Aside from the manga and anime, it also had a radio drama series, which was most likely also short in length. Given the content, it's considered borderline hentai much like how it was for Golden Boy, another titled I covered with good marks.
As for the criticism, the title did have enough faults to warrant it. For starters, the mistranslation, which is something rather common for manga. Aside from the misspellings, there were some inconsistencies with the names of characters and the academy itself. During it's 5 year lifespan (2001-2006), it went from a 16+ range to an 18+ range, since after the 3rd volume, it went to more mature levels. The anime, however, wasn't shown any mercy in comparison to its paperback counterpart. I have nothing against fanservice per say, but there are times where it is too much, as was the case with Girls Bravo. Yet, with that in mind, it wasn't badly received like Eiken, which debuted much earlier than the former (which is kind of sad, given Girls Bravo debuted earlier manga-wise in 2000, for the same lifespan as Eiken save for having less volumes.) Where Girls Bravo wowed the crowd, Eiken was a disappointment generally, some declaring this as a nightmare, and a demeaning anime.
All that said, I'll give my take on the matter as well, since most of the time I CANNOT take these critics seriously. Anyone that follows this blog should sense how reluctant I am to share the same views as them. Regardless, the animation is kind of sketchy, the content is beyond highly suggestive, and the dubbing is somewhat tolerable, yet mediocre. It is an old title, however, so I'll be lenient and say that back then, I wouldn't mind it, but it's been 9 years, and I've heard better voice acting since then. I'll say the voice acting is a little less than okay, at best. While it's common for anime to be created from just part of the manga series, with the material, before it surfaced here, I'd expect more than just a mere 2 episodes. Another Starchild Records title, FLCL (Fooly Cooly), was another short one, but lasted 6 episodes with only 2 manga volumes (though in all fairness, the anime began first.) While it is another Harem comedy, it also falls victim to the same traits as the others, but they took it too far in Eiken.
Despite all that, I still feel they went just a little too hard on this one. It may have received an F for failure, but I won't call it something that shouldn't exist. Still, it is relatively bad, so being lenient, I'll give this one a 4 of 10. A disappointing title, but at the same time, it's something I won't run into the dirt completely. Besides, it did find its fans (heaven knows how) so to say it's the worst ever is jumping the gun (and a little arrogant...)
2012/03/17
CCV: "Animation Runner Kuromi"
Animation Runner Kuromi is a short title, but to me, it's entertaining either way. If I were to group this with other anime, it would be alongside Comic Party and Genshiken. In actuality, it stands out as being a parody of the actual business of anime production. To this, I would laugh and weep: laugh because of how they parody this sort of thing, and weep because I myself had such aspirations... before the loan debts.
Animation Runner Kuromi centers on the exploits of Mikiko Oguro, nicknamed Kuromi (which makes her the titular character.) Watching Luis Monde III, she decided to work with animation, and enrolls into an animation school. Graduating, she is lucky to nail a job with a small animation studio, that calls themselves Studio Petit. After being shown around, the director falls ill the next day, and Kuromi is appointed as the Production Desk Manager of the second episode of Time Journeys. It's kind of sudden for Kuromi, but she wanted to work in an animation studio, so how will she fare with her new assignment?
A small OVA series, it only lasted 2 episodes. Created in the Yumeta Co. Studio, it was licensed by U.S. Manga Corps, which was a division of the liquidated Central Park Media group. Alongside a few others, it wasn't touched again as far as licensing since then. It was also dubbed in English, with Kuromi voiced by Lisa Oritz, who also voiced Lina Inverse of Slayers, another title licensed under Central Park, and later Funimation. Dan Green also had a role as the voice of Sheiichiro Haryu. The title is a parody of the business, as I said before, and Luis Monde III is a parody of Lupin the 3rd, another title I previously covered long ago. The OVAs were released as separate titles, with the first Animation Runner Kuromi releasing in 2001, lasting 40 minutes. A slightly longer, 45 minute sequel came out three years later as Animation Runner Kuromi 2.
Despite how short it is, I can't dislike it, rather, I wish there was more of the sort. Even so, Kuromi has a spot in my heart, and the OVA series gets a 7 of 10.
Animation Runner Kuromi centers on the exploits of Mikiko Oguro, nicknamed Kuromi (which makes her the titular character.) Watching Luis Monde III, she decided to work with animation, and enrolls into an animation school. Graduating, she is lucky to nail a job with a small animation studio, that calls themselves Studio Petit. After being shown around, the director falls ill the next day, and Kuromi is appointed as the Production Desk Manager of the second episode of Time Journeys. It's kind of sudden for Kuromi, but she wanted to work in an animation studio, so how will she fare with her new assignment?
A small OVA series, it only lasted 2 episodes. Created in the Yumeta Co. Studio, it was licensed by U.S. Manga Corps, which was a division of the liquidated Central Park Media group. Alongside a few others, it wasn't touched again as far as licensing since then. It was also dubbed in English, with Kuromi voiced by Lisa Oritz, who also voiced Lina Inverse of Slayers, another title licensed under Central Park, and later Funimation. Dan Green also had a role as the voice of Sheiichiro Haryu. The title is a parody of the business, as I said before, and Luis Monde III is a parody of Lupin the 3rd, another title I previously covered long ago. The OVAs were released as separate titles, with the first Animation Runner Kuromi releasing in 2001, lasting 40 minutes. A slightly longer, 45 minute sequel came out three years later as Animation Runner Kuromi 2.
Despite how short it is, I can't dislike it, rather, I wish there was more of the sort. Even so, Kuromi has a spot in my heart, and the OVA series gets a 7 of 10.
CCIV: "Hajime No Ippo"
Hajime no Ippo, known also as The Fighting! or Fighting Spirit, is an anime that dwells in the boxing genre, unlike similar titles like Baki the Grappler from the 55th review (that dealt with mixed martial arts instead of one specific discipline.) Alongside Ayane's High Kick, it stands as one of the titles that instantly pops up when boxing is involved.
The protagonist Makunouchi Ippo is the titular character, who is a rather shy and didn't make much friends since he takes priority in helping his mother in the fishing charter business the family runs. When he is picked on and beaten badly, a middle-weight boxer intervenes and takes the injured hero into a gym owned by a retired pro boxer. Venting out his anger on a sandbag, people captured a glimpse at the latent talent Ippo had for boxing. While initially scolded and doubted, Ippo thought long and hard,until he made his decision to pursue a career in boxing, and even undergoes training for it. Potential alone does not make a great boxer, but for Ippo, it serves as a foothold for a man destined to be champion. Will Ippo step into glory by prevailing every match, or will it be too much for him, and prove that his talent was nothing but built up steam? Stand ready Ippo, the bell has rung!
Hajime no Ippo saw two anime series, 2 animated films, and 8 video games, three of which made it to the US for the Sony PlayStation 2 (2) and Nintendo Wii (1). The anime and films were all licensed under Geneon entertainment, and were made in the Madhouse studio, so they retain their visuals constantly. The premier anime, Hajime no Ippo: The Fighting!, saw 2 seasons, bearing a total of 76 episodes. From there, the most recognized fight would be the Ippo vs. Sendo match, which would be revisited in one of the films. This title ran between September of 2000 and March of 2002. A New Challenger was the surname for the second Hajime no Ippo anime, and it was much shorter, since it lasted for 26 episodes, running between January and June of 2009. The two films, both debuting in 2003, were named Hajime no Ippo: Champion Road and Hajime no Ippo: Kimura vs. Mashiba. The manga Fighting Spirit, which debuted in 1990, is still ongoing, so if desired, there may be new material to write from, but this is purely speculation. Ippo is voiced by Steve Staley, who also voiced the lead role of Buso Renkin's Kazuki Muto.
Since then, it has gotten the Youtube Poop treatment with various videos taking that one clip from the show (or Champion Road) and spawning everywhere, or better yet, having its audio paired up with characters that do the same move: the Dempsey Roll. This is such a case for Capcom's Dudley of Super Street Fighter IV, and Namco Bandai's Steve Fox from the recently put out Street Fighter X Tekken. Hajime no Ippo storms a great 8 of 10 overall, and with his punches, he sure delivers some entertainment.
The protagonist Makunouchi Ippo is the titular character, who is a rather shy and didn't make much friends since he takes priority in helping his mother in the fishing charter business the family runs. When he is picked on and beaten badly, a middle-weight boxer intervenes and takes the injured hero into a gym owned by a retired pro boxer. Venting out his anger on a sandbag, people captured a glimpse at the latent talent Ippo had for boxing. While initially scolded and doubted, Ippo thought long and hard,until he made his decision to pursue a career in boxing, and even undergoes training for it. Potential alone does not make a great boxer, but for Ippo, it serves as a foothold for a man destined to be champion. Will Ippo step into glory by prevailing every match, or will it be too much for him, and prove that his talent was nothing but built up steam? Stand ready Ippo, the bell has rung!
Hajime no Ippo saw two anime series, 2 animated films, and 8 video games, three of which made it to the US for the Sony PlayStation 2 (2) and Nintendo Wii (1). The anime and films were all licensed under Geneon entertainment, and were made in the Madhouse studio, so they retain their visuals constantly. The premier anime, Hajime no Ippo: The Fighting!, saw 2 seasons, bearing a total of 76 episodes. From there, the most recognized fight would be the Ippo vs. Sendo match, which would be revisited in one of the films. This title ran between September of 2000 and March of 2002. A New Challenger was the surname for the second Hajime no Ippo anime, and it was much shorter, since it lasted for 26 episodes, running between January and June of 2009. The two films, both debuting in 2003, were named Hajime no Ippo: Champion Road and Hajime no Ippo: Kimura vs. Mashiba. The manga Fighting Spirit, which debuted in 1990, is still ongoing, so if desired, there may be new material to write from, but this is purely speculation. Ippo is voiced by Steve Staley, who also voiced the lead role of Buso Renkin's Kazuki Muto.
Since then, it has gotten the Youtube Poop treatment with various videos taking that one clip from the show (or Champion Road) and spawning everywhere, or better yet, having its audio paired up with characters that do the same move: the Dempsey Roll. This is such a case for Capcom's Dudley of Super Street Fighter IV, and Namco Bandai's Steve Fox from the recently put out Street Fighter X Tekken. Hajime no Ippo storms a great 8 of 10 overall, and with his punches, he sure delivers some entertainment.
2012/03/14
CCIII: "Kare Kano"
Kare Kano is a shortened title from Kareshi Kanojo no Jijo, which means His and Her Circumstances, which the anime is also called. Another old title, you can surmise from the title alone that it's another romantic comedy-drama, but compared to others I've seen, this one falls in the normal category, as opposed to being out there in terms of fantasy. I didn't think I'd accept this title, and back then, avoided this show, but eventually watched it from beginning to end. It was likeable, to say the least.
Kare Kano deals with a girl and a guy, naturally. The female lead this time is Yukino Miyazawa, the proclaimed perfect student. Her grades and looks makes her the envy of others in school, and in the start of the anime, she is a High School freshman. However, while her grades may be the real deal, her looks aren't. It's not said but if others viewed her as a prodigy, she actually studies relentlessly to maintain such grades, but that doesn't vouch for her character. She is actually a slob of sorts, also spoiled and stubborn (not to mention that she wears glasses.) Things are all well and good for her outward exterior, but then enters the male lead: Soichiro Arima. With his grades, she is knocked off of her throne, much to her chagrin, and was initially at odds with him, that is until his confession. He, too, is another who wears a mask in front of others, and throughout the anime, we follow these two as they break away from those, while seeing them acknowledge their feelings for one another.
The anime takes the length of the first 7 volumes of the manga, which was published by Tokyopop, who no longer functions in the US. In the manga, it follows them into adulthood, while the anime stops during the cultural festival, as a way to put an end to things. Composed of 26 episodes, it's been over a decade since it first aired on TV, premiering in October of 1998 and ending March the following year. Created in the Gainax and J.C. Staff studios, it's licensed under Right Stuf International, and has been shown as part of Comcast On Demand's Anime Selects, as well as Funimation Channel. Veronica Taylor voices Yukino in the dub, with Soichiro done by Christopher Nicholas (he has also done additional voices for anime like Patlabor: The Mobile Police.)
Kare Kano is definitely a love story, not the best one, but nothing to rag to the dirt either. A fair 7 of 10 goes for this title, but it also stands as one of those to look back on, as a break from the zany ones of the same genre.
Kare Kano deals with a girl and a guy, naturally. The female lead this time is Yukino Miyazawa, the proclaimed perfect student. Her grades and looks makes her the envy of others in school, and in the start of the anime, she is a High School freshman. However, while her grades may be the real deal, her looks aren't. It's not said but if others viewed her as a prodigy, she actually studies relentlessly to maintain such grades, but that doesn't vouch for her character. She is actually a slob of sorts, also spoiled and stubborn (not to mention that she wears glasses.) Things are all well and good for her outward exterior, but then enters the male lead: Soichiro Arima. With his grades, she is knocked off of her throne, much to her chagrin, and was initially at odds with him, that is until his confession. He, too, is another who wears a mask in front of others, and throughout the anime, we follow these two as they break away from those, while seeing them acknowledge their feelings for one another.
The anime takes the length of the first 7 volumes of the manga, which was published by Tokyopop, who no longer functions in the US. In the manga, it follows them into adulthood, while the anime stops during the cultural festival, as a way to put an end to things. Composed of 26 episodes, it's been over a decade since it first aired on TV, premiering in October of 1998 and ending March the following year. Created in the Gainax and J.C. Staff studios, it's licensed under Right Stuf International, and has been shown as part of Comcast On Demand's Anime Selects, as well as Funimation Channel. Veronica Taylor voices Yukino in the dub, with Soichiro done by Christopher Nicholas (he has also done additional voices for anime like Patlabor: The Mobile Police.)
Kare Kano is definitely a love story, not the best one, but nothing to rag to the dirt either. A fair 7 of 10 goes for this title, but it also stands as one of those to look back on, as a break from the zany ones of the same genre.
2012/03/13
CCII: "Azumanga Daioh"
Azumanga Daioh: The Animation is another rather interesting number that I completed long ago, without much to criticize on. In fact, it's one of those titles that is just too hard for me to rag on. Sure, there are areas here and there that just weird me out, but I just can't be critical about this one in the long run.
Azumanga Daioh follows 6 girls and two teachers in a high school (that is never named for some odd reason.) The personalities of these 6 students make them quite the lively, unusual bunch, though that's only the start. Students and staff alike are a colorful mix, some for the insanely comedic, and others just plain damn creepy, as is the case with Mr. Kimura. There is no terms of plot here, as it's simply a comedy that is set in a high school setting. I won't say it's random, but this title does have its moments. Oh, and did I mention there's a giant freaking cat somewhere in it!? Save for the oddball things that happen in it, it's somewhat realistic in tone.
Azumanga Daioh is an interesting title indeed, down to the very title itself. Reason why this is so is because the title is composed of 3 words. The "Manga" part is a dead giveaway, but "Azuma" came from the last name of the title's author, Kiyohiko Azuma, and the "Daioh" part was place there in reference to the magazine it was originally published on: Dengeki Daioh. It also has a web animation titled Azumanga Web Daioh, but I've yet to cross it. The anime itself lasts for 26 episodes, airing originally between April and September of 2002, so it's quite old. Since it was published in the same magazine, this title bears some relation to the manga Yotsuba&!, another slice of life comedy which does not have an anime made from it. As with the manga, Azumanga Daioh was licensed by two different companies. Made in the J.C. Staff studio, this was a title originally licensed for US under ADV Films (which no longer functions.) Following the closure of ADV, AEsir Holdings took it's place as the one holding the US license, much like how ADV Manga published the manga, and Yen Press took over when the former folded. Here's who you expect to hear as the students in the English Dubbing of Azumanga Daioh:
Azumanga Daioh follows 6 girls and two teachers in a high school (that is never named for some odd reason.) The personalities of these 6 students make them quite the lively, unusual bunch, though that's only the start. Students and staff alike are a colorful mix, some for the insanely comedic, and others just plain damn creepy, as is the case with Mr. Kimura. There is no terms of plot here, as it's simply a comedy that is set in a high school setting. I won't say it's random, but this title does have its moments. Oh, and did I mention there's a giant freaking cat somewhere in it!? Save for the oddball things that happen in it, it's somewhat realistic in tone.
Azumanga Daioh is an interesting title indeed, down to the very title itself. Reason why this is so is because the title is composed of 3 words. The "Manga" part is a dead giveaway, but "Azuma" came from the last name of the title's author, Kiyohiko Azuma, and the "Daioh" part was place there in reference to the magazine it was originally published on: Dengeki Daioh. It also has a web animation titled Azumanga Web Daioh, but I've yet to cross it. The anime itself lasts for 26 episodes, airing originally between April and September of 2002, so it's quite old. Since it was published in the same magazine, this title bears some relation to the manga Yotsuba&!, another slice of life comedy which does not have an anime made from it. As with the manga, Azumanga Daioh was licensed by two different companies. Made in the J.C. Staff studio, this was a title originally licensed for US under ADV Films (which no longer functions.) Following the closure of ADV, AEsir Holdings took it's place as the one holding the US license, much like how ADV Manga published the manga, and Yen Press took over when the former folded. Here's who you expect to hear as the students in the English Dubbing of Azumanga Daioh:
- Chiyo: Jessica Boone
- Tomo: Mandy Clark
- Koyomi "Yomi": Nancy Novotny
- Sakaki: Christine Auten
- Ayumu "Osaka": Kira Vincent-Davis
- Kagura: Allison Sumrall
2012/03/12
More News!!
201 entries so far... I think it's high time I say this, but of you haven't already, feel free to weigh your opinions of the reviews I have done, and now you have more than one outlet to do this on! You can say what you wish to on my blog, or on my FB Page, Twitter, or Google+ on the following:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/OPadSeiko
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I look forward to hearing from you, and you're still welcome to follow this blog if you want to, and Gamer Base is also still active. The vlog I am getting a bit of help on, but it will be a while before I decide to start it up. Anyway, STAY TRUE, FANS AND OTAKU THE WOROLD OVER!! Seiko Takeda-Wolf, signing out for now!!
Facebook: www.facebook.com/OPadSeiko
Twitter: @SeikoOtakuPad
Google+: https://plus.google.com/103496488350745972338/posts?hl=en
I look forward to hearing from you, and you're still welcome to follow this blog if you want to, and Gamer Base is also still active. The vlog I am getting a bit of help on, but it will be a while before I decide to start it up. Anyway, STAY TRUE, FANS AND OTAKU THE WOROLD OVER!! Seiko Takeda-Wolf, signing out for now!!
CCI: "Sekirei" series
Sekirei is another title I passed on for the longest while, and suddenly got roped in when I checked it out. Funny thing is that given the girl advertised, I was expecting a soft, but rather risque and fanservice kind of anime... well, on that regard, I was PARTLY right.
The setting is in Tokyo, Japan, the year here is 2020. The world of Sekirei involves the titular characters as well as their owners, called Ashikabis. One such Ashikabi is named Misato Sahashi. Despite being a ronin that flunked the entrance exam twice, he is the hero of this story, whose fate literally landed on him in the form of Sekirei #88: the fist type Musubi. Because of him, Musubi awakenes in a process called winging, to which they kiss for a Sekirei to awaken. Following an eviction from a single apartment, as well as a chaotic encounter with two others, Misato and Musubi find themselves as residents of Izumo Inn (after dropping there from the sky.) He soon meets other Sekirei, some that forms an alliance with him, and some that oppose him alongside their own Ashikabis: some with good intentions, others the complete opposite. However, Mid Bio Informatics (often addressed as MBI) and it's eccentric founder Hiroto Minaka seizes control over Shinto Teito (a location in Tokyo) to serve as the battleground for a tournament known as the Sekirei Plan. However, some people don't wish to take part, since it has it's penalties: if a Sekirei should lose their symbol, or beaten so bad she/he ends up inactive, that Sekirei and their Ashikabi are separated for good. While he initially knows nothing of it, Minato will discover through battle that he has a bigger purpose in this "game" Minaka started, since he may be the one to end it. However, with other female Sekirei... he has a lot to deal with, that's for sure. While he has to keep his wits about him with the battles, there's another he'll have to survive: the battle for his affection between all of his Sekirei!
Sekirei is a currently ongoing series that has spanned 2 seasons, with enough indication that there will be a 3rd season. The manga itself is also ongoing, so it's not over yet. As expected, it is a harem and romantic comedy, but it also involves action, so that "soft" thing is automatically ruled out. Made in the Seven Arcs studio, it is licensed for US release under Funimation. The first 12 episodes and an OVA were under the title Sekirei in 2008, while 13 more episodes and an OVA (which was made as Episode 0) were made in 2010 as the second season Sekirei: Pure Engagement. Currently, there is no known info as to whether Season 3 will come out, but it will happen, as the last episode of Season 2 suggests so. From my perspective, they made the seasons based of the plot's "stages", so given Season 2's climax, we'll be seeing more of this series. Alexis Tipton voices Musubi, while the role of Misato goes to Joel McDonald (who did other roles as Takumi Fujiwara of the Funimation Dub for Initial D, and he also did other work as part of the staff for other titles, such as script work for Dragon Ball Z Kai.) Chuck Huber, who voices roles like that of Dragon Ball Z's Android #17, also has a role here as the voice of Hiroto Minaka, in all his eccentric glory.
I enjoy romantic comedies, but this isn't why I hold titles like Ai Yori Aoshi in such high regards. Sekirei is another on that list, not saying it's entirely perfect, but it has earned that spot personally for me. The comedy angle aside, the plot thus far has been enjoyable for me, scoring an 10 of 10 and a seat on the Perfect Grade roster. Sure, it isn't over yet, but I'm hoping the future titles fail to disappoint.
The setting is in Tokyo, Japan, the year here is 2020. The world of Sekirei involves the titular characters as well as their owners, called Ashikabis. One such Ashikabi is named Misato Sahashi. Despite being a ronin that flunked the entrance exam twice, he is the hero of this story, whose fate literally landed on him in the form of Sekirei #88: the fist type Musubi. Because of him, Musubi awakenes in a process called winging, to which they kiss for a Sekirei to awaken. Following an eviction from a single apartment, as well as a chaotic encounter with two others, Misato and Musubi find themselves as residents of Izumo Inn (after dropping there from the sky.) He soon meets other Sekirei, some that forms an alliance with him, and some that oppose him alongside their own Ashikabis: some with good intentions, others the complete opposite. However, Mid Bio Informatics (often addressed as MBI) and it's eccentric founder Hiroto Minaka seizes control over Shinto Teito (a location in Tokyo) to serve as the battleground for a tournament known as the Sekirei Plan. However, some people don't wish to take part, since it has it's penalties: if a Sekirei should lose their symbol, or beaten so bad she/he ends up inactive, that Sekirei and their Ashikabi are separated for good. While he initially knows nothing of it, Minato will discover through battle that he has a bigger purpose in this "game" Minaka started, since he may be the one to end it. However, with other female Sekirei... he has a lot to deal with, that's for sure. While he has to keep his wits about him with the battles, there's another he'll have to survive: the battle for his affection between all of his Sekirei!
Sekirei is a currently ongoing series that has spanned 2 seasons, with enough indication that there will be a 3rd season. The manga itself is also ongoing, so it's not over yet. As expected, it is a harem and romantic comedy, but it also involves action, so that "soft" thing is automatically ruled out. Made in the Seven Arcs studio, it is licensed for US release under Funimation. The first 12 episodes and an OVA were under the title Sekirei in 2008, while 13 more episodes and an OVA (which was made as Episode 0) were made in 2010 as the second season Sekirei: Pure Engagement. Currently, there is no known info as to whether Season 3 will come out, but it will happen, as the last episode of Season 2 suggests so. From my perspective, they made the seasons based of the plot's "stages", so given Season 2's climax, we'll be seeing more of this series. Alexis Tipton voices Musubi, while the role of Misato goes to Joel McDonald (who did other roles as Takumi Fujiwara of the Funimation Dub for Initial D, and he also did other work as part of the staff for other titles, such as script work for Dragon Ball Z Kai.) Chuck Huber, who voices roles like that of Dragon Ball Z's Android #17, also has a role here as the voice of Hiroto Minaka, in all his eccentric glory.
I enjoy romantic comedies, but this isn't why I hold titles like Ai Yori Aoshi in such high regards. Sekirei is another on that list, not saying it's entirely perfect, but it has earned that spot personally for me. The comedy angle aside, the plot thus far has been enjoyable for me, scoring an 10 of 10 and a seat on the Perfect Grade roster. Sure, it isn't over yet, but I'm hoping the future titles fail to disappoint.
2012/03/11
CC: "Highschool of the Dead"
(Blogger's note: "ALRIGHT! POST #200!! Sorry it took me so long to finally make one!!")
Wow, what is there to be said about Highschool of the Dead, shortened to HOTD? An insanely popular title back in 2010 and last year, the name is still heard even today, in spite of its short run. First hearing about it, I thought of it as a cross between High School and a bit of Resident Evil (a Capcom franchise), but was taken aback when I sat down to watch it.
Set in present day, the students of Fujimi High School lives their days as normal... initially. Unfortunately for them, this take the turn for the bizarre and deadly when zombies emerge. Takashi Komuro witness this and warns his friend Rei and her bf Hisashi. Soon, a normal day in high school becomes a game of survival, with the students and faculty trying escape with their lives: be it working together, or tossing someone else to take the fall for them. With societal collapse, moral breakdowns, zombies, and crazed survivors, they have no time to think about a mere diploma, as they fight to live against an epidemic of a Zombie Outbreak! Will they live, or will they, too, be driven to become the undead?
Another short series, there are 12 episodes in counting attached with an OVA episode. However, given it's ending, it has grounds for a succeeding season, but alas, no talk is solid for that as of yet, and the plot continues through the manga only. Created in the Madhouse studio, it was licensed for US under Sentai Filmworks, premiering on Anime Network. The Kadokawa Shoten manga was put on haitus as of last year, unconfirmed if it has resumed since then. By then, the anime had it's first run, from July to September of the previous year. Dubbed in English, the voices for Takashi and Rei are done respectively by Leraldo Andzaula (Ken Washiro/G-1 of Gatchaman) and Jessica Boone (Ayumi Mamiya of Magikano/Yuna Miyama of Maburaho)
An addicting show, but it was more so fanservice than horror for me, but it did have its winning moments too. That said, I don't put this series in high marks, but because of plot, I'll go with a 7 of 10 for HOTD. And I only hope that they don't call it quits on the anime with the way they ended it.
Wow, what is there to be said about Highschool of the Dead, shortened to HOTD? An insanely popular title back in 2010 and last year, the name is still heard even today, in spite of its short run. First hearing about it, I thought of it as a cross between High School and a bit of Resident Evil (a Capcom franchise), but was taken aback when I sat down to watch it.
Set in present day, the students of Fujimi High School lives their days as normal... initially. Unfortunately for them, this take the turn for the bizarre and deadly when zombies emerge. Takashi Komuro witness this and warns his friend Rei and her bf Hisashi. Soon, a normal day in high school becomes a game of survival, with the students and faculty trying escape with their lives: be it working together, or tossing someone else to take the fall for them. With societal collapse, moral breakdowns, zombies, and crazed survivors, they have no time to think about a mere diploma, as they fight to live against an epidemic of a Zombie Outbreak! Will they live, or will they, too, be driven to become the undead?
Another short series, there are 12 episodes in counting attached with an OVA episode. However, given it's ending, it has grounds for a succeeding season, but alas, no talk is solid for that as of yet, and the plot continues through the manga only. Created in the Madhouse studio, it was licensed for US under Sentai Filmworks, premiering on Anime Network. The Kadokawa Shoten manga was put on haitus as of last year, unconfirmed if it has resumed since then. By then, the anime had it's first run, from July to September of the previous year. Dubbed in English, the voices for Takashi and Rei are done respectively by Leraldo Andzaula (Ken Washiro/G-1 of Gatchaman) and Jessica Boone (Ayumi Mamiya of Magikano/Yuna Miyama of Maburaho)
An addicting show, but it was more so fanservice than horror for me, but it did have its winning moments too. That said, I don't put this series in high marks, but because of plot, I'll go with a 7 of 10 for HOTD. And I only hope that they don't call it quits on the anime with the way they ended it.
2012/03/02
ST1: Seiko's Message in Response to the Controversy
[This marks the beginning of what I would like to call "Seiko's Thoughts." It's basically where I take a break from the usual stuff and get serious, sharing my views about certain topics I come across. Originally it was supposed to start and end here, but with so much going on... I can't seem to keep my silence. Read and feed in if you desire, just keep in mind of the usual blog conduct. - Seiko]
Seiko Takeda-Wolf here again, with another post. Okay, I know for a fact this has nothing to do with anime or whatever, but I feel as though that, as the problem has raged on for this long, I must voice my two cents on the FGC, that is Fighting Game Community, and the bully-like, sometimes sexist remarks normally said by others, but not at all condoned by important figures of it. Okay, here we go.
The Problem:
Though it has gone on for a while, it recently came to my attention that the FGC is in disarray over some remarks said at 2 events streamed for the said community. The spark of this came from the streaming series Cross Assault, a a live event series broadcast on the net that promotes the upcoming game title Street Fighter X Tekken, which releases this month and made by Capcom. Now then, apparently on that show, there was a little talk going on involving Team Tekken's Coach, Aris, and one of the players of the said team Miranda, or Super_Yan, as she's called. Aris made some rather... distasteful remarks, such as guessing her bust size during a broadcast (which already warrants a red flag for most people), which ultimately made her forfeit a match in which her supposed upcoming opponent gave her prizes out of concern (how thoughful of him.) Natrually, Aris' words sparked an ongoing controversy that erupted within the FGC itself, following an article on Kotaku which covered the whole incedent. While she felt that the community was responsible, she later realized the main one at fault, directing her aim of guilt towards her team coach, who is, as described by people within the community, naturally like that with anyone. Debatable statement maybe, but since then Capcom has apologized, despite the people of Cross Assault not representing the company themselves. It's also surmised that Aris, too, has apologized for his actions, but this is just as well debatable based on his exact wording in that apology.
You would think with that done, the issue would be put to bed, but no, not so fast. Wednesday Night Fights, or WNF, a streaming podcast produced by Level|Up, and sponsored by FGC website Shoruyken (SRK) was another venue in which distasteful commentary was made. After pointing out what was said, through various areas, especially one involving the women of NOS (a type of energy drink, if I remember right.) Regardless, when the statements were said, the community once again fumed on both sides of the issue: between those trying to brush it off, and those that felt that it was wrong (to which most of the time, it normally IS wrong.) The two commentators that were in the episode from 2 nights ago (yes, this was pretty recent) were pulled from commentating anymore WNFs, or any event in which are produced under Level|Up, as well as support provided by SRK were pulled, and along with it WNF's Season One seeding points to Evo 2012, a popular tournament for skilled players in the world. To add, the commentators, Marn Phan and Christan Cain, have apologized as well for their statements from Wednesday night's episode.
The Uproar:
With both of these cases, there were people on both sides voicing their opinions on the matter. Now, quoting something I hear often, though not sparking any controversy much like the one I'm referring to: "An opinion is like an asshole, in which everyone has one." That said, I'm afraid that some opinions just go a little out there, demeaning those of the FGC like myself. First, I'll get into the comments made in response to the respective articles. One such article, involving the Cross Assault scandal, someone mentioned her possibly staging the whole thing, or allowing it to continue, then getting mad off camera. To that I say a few things. To start, what I heard from one guy held a grain of truth. With Aris saying all those things, Miranda could have told him to ease up. But instead of causing a scene on camera, she tries to play it all, which is commendable. And frankly, that's a hell of a lot better than the shots I see take place on actual local news segments. To conclude, she voiced her disapproval over her Twitter (the post themselves now deleted), but as she was offended, to which one should be, I find her actions expected and I do not criticize her for it. But she didn't ultimately reject the FGC, which she initially felt they did to her. That said, reading all of this gave me a lot to think about, especially since I hear sexism shots taken often, but on that note, it doesn't make it any less or any more ignorant as it is already, therefore uncool. There were even talk about alienating females from the FGC, which would normally throw me into a rage (don't ask why it would...), but for the sake of this post, I'll try to say this as calm as I can, without blowing up: Granted in the FGC, there are so few women FGC players over a mainly male-dominant community. This is kind of sad, given the fighting characters in games are diverse in gender, orientation, race, and fighting styles the world over. But with remarks like this popping up, it comes as no surprise that when heard in the wrong ears, something said as a "means of passion" could be taken too far. Inkblot of SRK, who is also one of the founders of EVO, did a few posts pertaining to such behavior, saying things such as:
AS AN FGC FAN, MY FINAL THOUGHTS:
The actions are deplorable, the fact that such beings represents what we are as gamers is insulting, yet some of us thinks it's okay to say such things, making light of how hurtful they can be. Well, wake up: regardless of what is said, how it's said, where it's said, and who it's said to, some things, Freedom of Speech or not, AREN'T okay to say, and if you think otherwise, and feel that saying things like "Rape that Bitch!" or whatever they say (that CAN and WILL be hurtful) is alright, then it's time for you to put down the controller, because it's making other FGC voices/faces look bad. It's enough that the community is mixed with newcomers and pros, spectators and enthusiasts the world over, waiting to see the next big phenom in the gaming world, or to hone their skills to fight and surpass the best. Even with those, newcomers are sneered, but not to the point where it's outright bullying. Some play for fun, some play for keeps, and some play to get better at what they do. What it comes down to is that whether you're a winner, loser, or some bystander looking onward, we should treat one another with respect. That applies to face-to-face match-ups, as well as online battles. That's not to say act like the days of old and kiss someone's hand like in The Godfather, but don't be arrogant, disrespectful, and (above all else) sexist to fellow gamers. It demeans character, regardless of whether it's by word or action. As gamers of FGC, we need to change, so that it's an even playing field for everyone. If you're a newcomer, don't come in just to start beef, and if you're a pro, don't be such a snobbish jerk and play with fairness. And if you're a commentator, watch what you say. But then again, the latter could apply to everyone.
Before I rag on forever (this post is becoming WAY too long) I leave one final message. Accept it or not, it's up to you: Grow up, Step up, and Change up, or put your controller up and go elsewhere. This is Seiko Takeda-Wolf, signing off and saying:
"To FGC fans, prepare for the next battle!"
To the anime fans, sorry you had to witness such an unrelated post, number 200 is on the way, but "Stay True, fans and otaku the world over!"
Seiko Takeda-Wolf here again, with another post. Okay, I know for a fact this has nothing to do with anime or whatever, but I feel as though that, as the problem has raged on for this long, I must voice my two cents on the FGC, that is Fighting Game Community, and the bully-like, sometimes sexist remarks normally said by others, but not at all condoned by important figures of it. Okay, here we go.
The Problem:
Though it has gone on for a while, it recently came to my attention that the FGC is in disarray over some remarks said at 2 events streamed for the said community. The spark of this came from the streaming series Cross Assault, a a live event series broadcast on the net that promotes the upcoming game title Street Fighter X Tekken, which releases this month and made by Capcom. Now then, apparently on that show, there was a little talk going on involving Team Tekken's Coach, Aris, and one of the players of the said team Miranda, or Super_Yan, as she's called. Aris made some rather... distasteful remarks, such as guessing her bust size during a broadcast (which already warrants a red flag for most people), which ultimately made her forfeit a match in which her supposed upcoming opponent gave her prizes out of concern (how thoughful of him.) Natrually, Aris' words sparked an ongoing controversy that erupted within the FGC itself, following an article on Kotaku which covered the whole incedent. While she felt that the community was responsible, she later realized the main one at fault, directing her aim of guilt towards her team coach, who is, as described by people within the community, naturally like that with anyone. Debatable statement maybe, but since then Capcom has apologized, despite the people of Cross Assault not representing the company themselves. It's also surmised that Aris, too, has apologized for his actions, but this is just as well debatable based on his exact wording in that apology.
You would think with that done, the issue would be put to bed, but no, not so fast. Wednesday Night Fights, or WNF, a streaming podcast produced by Level|Up, and sponsored by FGC website Shoruyken (SRK) was another venue in which distasteful commentary was made. After pointing out what was said, through various areas, especially one involving the women of NOS (a type of energy drink, if I remember right.) Regardless, when the statements were said, the community once again fumed on both sides of the issue: between those trying to brush it off, and those that felt that it was wrong (to which most of the time, it normally IS wrong.) The two commentators that were in the episode from 2 nights ago (yes, this was pretty recent) were pulled from commentating anymore WNFs, or any event in which are produced under Level|Up, as well as support provided by SRK were pulled, and along with it WNF's Season One seeding points to Evo 2012, a popular tournament for skilled players in the world. To add, the commentators, Marn Phan and Christan Cain, have apologized as well for their statements from Wednesday night's episode.
The Uproar:
With both of these cases, there were people on both sides voicing their opinions on the matter. Now, quoting something I hear often, though not sparking any controversy much like the one I'm referring to: "An opinion is like an asshole, in which everyone has one." That said, I'm afraid that some opinions just go a little out there, demeaning those of the FGC like myself. First, I'll get into the comments made in response to the respective articles. One such article, involving the Cross Assault scandal, someone mentioned her possibly staging the whole thing, or allowing it to continue, then getting mad off camera. To that I say a few things. To start, what I heard from one guy held a grain of truth. With Aris saying all those things, Miranda could have told him to ease up. But instead of causing a scene on camera, she tries to play it all, which is commendable. And frankly, that's a hell of a lot better than the shots I see take place on actual local news segments. To conclude, she voiced her disapproval over her Twitter (the post themselves now deleted), but as she was offended, to which one should be, I find her actions expected and I do not criticize her for it. But she didn't ultimately reject the FGC, which she initially felt they did to her. That said, reading all of this gave me a lot to think about, especially since I hear sexism shots taken often, but on that note, it doesn't make it any less or any more ignorant as it is already, therefore uncool. There were even talk about alienating females from the FGC, which would normally throw me into a rage (don't ask why it would...), but for the sake of this post, I'll try to say this as calm as I can, without blowing up: Granted in the FGC, there are so few women FGC players over a mainly male-dominant community. This is kind of sad, given the fighting characters in games are diverse in gender, orientation, race, and fighting styles the world over. But with remarks like this popping up, it comes as no surprise that when heard in the wrong ears, something said as a "means of passion" could be taken too far. Inkblot of SRK, who is also one of the founders of EVO, did a few posts pertaining to such behavior, saying things such as:
"If we continue to let the worst elements in the scene speak for us or excuse their bad behavior, we deserve whatever criticism we get. It’s everyone’s responsibility: the players, the content producers, the tournament organizers, and the fans. We need to be just as serious about the way we treat each other and how we reach out to others online as we are about the game."Now while I don't necessarily agree with him all the way, he is right. We do need to seriously consider how we not only engage our fellow fans, but also how we attract others into our world. And making remarks such as the ones said by those 3 individuals (which I will not post here, the articles on Kotaku and SRK were nice enough to provide them) are not doing the job. They're just causing trouble, some belittling the type of people we of the FGC really are. It shouldn't do so, but that one saying "One rotten apple ruins the bunch" seems to apply here as well.
Inkblot, Hurtful Speech: Time To Take a Good Look in the Mirror, Shoruyken
http://shoryuken.com/2012/03/01/hurtful-speech-time-to-take-a-good-look-in-the-mirror/
AS AN FGC FAN, MY FINAL THOUGHTS:
The actions are deplorable, the fact that such beings represents what we are as gamers is insulting, yet some of us thinks it's okay to say such things, making light of how hurtful they can be. Well, wake up: regardless of what is said, how it's said, where it's said, and who it's said to, some things, Freedom of Speech or not, AREN'T okay to say, and if you think otherwise, and feel that saying things like "Rape that Bitch!" or whatever they say (that CAN and WILL be hurtful) is alright, then it's time for you to put down the controller, because it's making other FGC voices/faces look bad. It's enough that the community is mixed with newcomers and pros, spectators and enthusiasts the world over, waiting to see the next big phenom in the gaming world, or to hone their skills to fight and surpass the best. Even with those, newcomers are sneered, but not to the point where it's outright bullying. Some play for fun, some play for keeps, and some play to get better at what they do. What it comes down to is that whether you're a winner, loser, or some bystander looking onward, we should treat one another with respect. That applies to face-to-face match-ups, as well as online battles. That's not to say act like the days of old and kiss someone's hand like in The Godfather, but don't be arrogant, disrespectful, and (above all else) sexist to fellow gamers. It demeans character, regardless of whether it's by word or action. As gamers of FGC, we need to change, so that it's an even playing field for everyone. If you're a newcomer, don't come in just to start beef, and if you're a pro, don't be such a snobbish jerk and play with fairness. And if you're a commentator, watch what you say. But then again, the latter could apply to everyone.
Before I rag on forever (this post is becoming WAY too long) I leave one final message. Accept it or not, it's up to you: Grow up, Step up, and Change up, or put your controller up and go elsewhere. This is Seiko Takeda-Wolf, signing off and saying:
"To FGC fans, prepare for the next battle!"
To the anime fans, sorry you had to witness such an unrelated post, number 200 is on the way, but "Stay True, fans and otaku the world over!"
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